Page 33 of No Surrender
Vic winced. “Not funny. Are you talking ‘feed’ like a vampire?”
Simon shrugged. “Yes—and no. There are beings that can feed in other ways than taking blood. They can feed off energy, memories, and fear.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, that was my thought.”
“Do you think either the Slitter or the fanboy called this…entity?” Vic asked.
Simon paused. “Not necessarily. No one has to call vultures to roadkill. They can smell it. It could be that if enough people are in extreme psychic distress, it’s like ringing a dinner bell.”
“Awesome,” Vic replied sarcastically. “Can they drain someone dry—or kill?”
“Depends on what the entity or creature is,” Simon answered. “I need to do some research, and I also need more information about how people are being affected. If I’m right, I’d bet that the judge and the D.A. also had extremely weird dreams—more like night terrors.”
Vic looked up as a question occurred to him. “If Ross has been targeted by this entity-creature, why haven’t I?”
Simon gestured around them. “Wardings. As long as you sleep here in the bungalow, there are strong spells and protections all around us to keep out exactly that sort of thing. I wouldn’t advise taking a catnap at the station—or anywhere else. The hex bag might protect you—but then again, it might not.”
Vic scowled. “Hunting a killer is something I know how to do. This other stuff…I’m out of my depth.”
Simon took Vic’s hands in his. “Good thing you’re not alone, huh?” He rubbed his thumbs over Vic’s palms. “How about we give all this shop talk a rest for tonight? Let’s take a hot shower, blow off some steam,” he added with a suggestive grin, “and I’ll give you a back rub. I’m pretty sure I can take your mind off work.”
Vic gave a low chuckle. “Oh, I don’t doubt that.”
Vic let the shower warm up while he drew Simon into a kiss. Sometimes their lovemaking was hungry and fast, but tonight they moved slow, savoring each touch. Vic knew they were both weary and worried. This connection was as much about reassurance as it was slaking their thirst.
“Love you,” Simon told him as they undressed each other, taking their time.
Vic brushed his fingertips down Simon’s cheek, then across his lips. “Love you too. Please, Simon, be careful. There are layers to this situation, and we don’t know all the players. Stay safe.”
“Same for you,” Simon murmured. “I know it’s your job. But we’re partners—in everything. So please, don’t shut me out to try to protect me.” He turned and backed into the shower, pulling Vic with him.
Vic ran his hand through Simon’s chestnut hair as the water poured over them. “We’ll hunt this one together,” he promised. “No secrets. Don’t take crazy chances.” Vic slid his palms down Simon’s soap-slick skin, memorizing the feel.
His hand paused over the scar from a bullet wound that had nearly claimed Simon during the Slitter case. Simon’s touch faltered over the lookalike scar where a stalker from Vic’s past had shot him.
“This is why we both have to be careful.” Vic took Simon’s hands in his own and held them over his heart. “I can’t lose you. You can’t lose me. So we have to fight this smart, okay? Promise me.”
Simon nodded, and Vic could read the raw emotion in his eyes. “I promise. But that goes both ways.”
“I promise.” Vic cupped the back of Simon’s head with one hand and reached down to squeeze his ass with the other. “Let me seal that with a kiss.”
Vic turned so that Simon’s back was to the water and sank to his knees, sheltered from the shower spray. He took Simon’s half-hard cock in his mouth down to the root, nuzzling the wiry hair at the base. Vic let his tongue swirl over the head and sucked. Simon’s prick plumped quickly as Vic’s hand slipped between his legs and rolled his balls, then traced his hole with a fingertip.
Simon had one hand on Vic’s shoulder and one in his short hair, willing to let Vic set the pace and depth. “God, Vic, feels so good.”
Vic hummed in response, loving the shiver that went through Simon’s body and the immediate reaction as his stiff cock jumped in Vic’s mouth. He palmed a globe of Simon’s ass and squeezed, letting a fingertip on the other hand tease the sensitive taint. Vic tasted pre-come and knew Simon was close.
He picked up his pace, licking and sucking until Simon’s hips bucked and his body went rigid. Vic swallowed down Simon’s release, flicking his tongue to capture the last drops from the now oversensitive knob. He looked up, enjoying the blissed-out expression on Simon’s face.
“Relaxed?” Vic smirked.
“Mm-hm.” Simon pulled Vic to his feet and turned him, so they stood back to front, then slicked his hand with the lube they kept in the shower and took Vic’s hard cock in hand.
“Let me show yourelaxed,” Simon murmured next to Vic’s ear. One hand tweaked Vic’s nipples as the other pumped his dick in a slow rhythm that gradually picked up speed.
Vic let his head fall back against Simon’s shoulder, giving himself up to his lover’s touch. “You hit…all the right spots,” he managed, knowing that after the day’s stress, he wouldn’t last long.
