Page 34 of Valor on the Move
Rubbing his face, Shane nodded. After a few moments of hesitation, he confessed, “He kissed me.”
Darnell’s brows drew together. “Who? Your partner on the detail? With the sick kid?”
“No. I wish. Well, I don’t. Fuck.” Shane took a chug from his beer bottle, gripping the foam cooler. “Rafael Castillo.”
Eyes wide, Darnell whistled softly. “The other one kissed you?”
An insane surge of protectiveness filled him. “Rafa’s not that gangly little kid anymore.”
“Whoa.” Darnell held up his hands. “It’s Rafa now?”
“Everyone calls him that.” Shane waved dismissively.
“But everyone doesn’t kiss him.”
“He kissed me.”
Darnell regarded him silently for a few moments. “You didn’t kiss him back? Not even a little?”
“Well…” Shane sighed, remembering the hot slide of Rafa’s tentative tongue, the feel of his body, and his little gasp. “Just for a few seconds. It was like my brain temporarily shut down and my dick took over. But I put a stop to it fast.”
“Okay. Good save. But the question is, did you want to keep kissing him? And then some?”
Shane was silent for too long.
Darnell sighed heavily. “This is dangerous territory, my friend.”
“I know. Fuck, I know. I just met him a few weeks ago, but there’s something… I can’t explain it. I mean, he’s not even my type. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. This is beyond inappropriate. I’m practically twice his age.” Sure, Rafa was twenty-one and an adult, but he was still a kid. A smart and thoughtful one that Shane liked to talk to, but that was irrelevant. Entirely fucking irrelevant.
“But this is not a typical situation. Be careful, Shane. You may be older, but that kid’s the one with the real power. He could tell his father anything, and who would they believe? Your career would be over.”
“I know. Fuck, man. I have no idea what’s wrong with me. I’ve protected way hotter guys. Hell, I once drove Bradley Cooper around DC with the California senator. I barely even looked at him. I’ve never let it distract me. But Rafa makes me…”
“Horny?”
Shane glared. “No. Well, yes.” He groaned. “This is not how I do things. Jesus, he’s probably a virgin. At least as far as men go, or his other details would have known. I’m almost forty. I have no business messing around with a virgin. But…” He realized he smelled smoke, and quickly flipped the charred burgers. “But he’s been so isolated. So held back. He’s a really good cook, but his parents don’t want him anywhere near a kitchen. He wants to move to Australia and learn to surf. And for some bizarre reason…I want to teach him.”
Darnell whistled softly. “As I live and breathe. Mr. Independent is taking the fall.”
“Shut up.” Shane rolled his eyes. “I’m not in love, for fuck’s sake.”
“Not yet. But you could be down the road, couldn’t you? You always said you’d never found someone you wanted to wake up to every day. That’s how you’d know he was the one. Are you wondering how Rafael Castillo looks with bed head?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I barely know him.” His curls would be all over the place, falling over his forehead…
“Well, you’re certainly in lust, and you’d better reel that in quick.”
He sighed. “I know.”
“Could you ask for a transfer?”
Gripping the spatula, Shane shrugged. “I could. They usually say no. They’d rather transfer us at their whims, not ours. Moved me to three different field offices in seven years, and then the PD in Montana.”
“Right. Protective detail on our illustrious ex-president. I still want details of just how batshit that guy really is.”
Shane tried to smile. “Maybe one day if you get me drunk enough. Anyway, I finally worked my way to DC last year for the first time since training. Gotta be honest—I really don’t want to go to another field office. DC’s the big time. I could get on PPD in the next couple years. Guarding the president.”
“The big show. I hear you. Well, then you’d better get yourself back into your usual control. This is a phase. You can outlast it. Just lock that shit down, and keep your eyes on the prize. And off Rafael Castillo’s tight little ass.”
Shane huffed out a laugh. “I thought you said his brothers were the hot ones?”
“Well, he’s still got a nice caboose. There aren’t many tight asses I can’t admire. So he’s gay, huh? Or bi? It’s about time we had a queer in the White House. Woo boy, I bet his parents will not be happy about this. His momma might choke on her pearls.”
One of the guys called from inside Darnell’s bungalow. “Hey, runners are on first and third with no outs!”
“Coming!” Darnell yelled. He scooped the patties onto a plate. “Now just make sure you don’t come anywhere near Rafael Castillo.”
“Thanks for the sage advice as always.” Shane followed inside, hoping beer, burgers, and baseball would help clear his mind.
