As soon as I’d gotten the text from Andy letting me know someone had broken into Elise’s apartment I was in my car and headed across the city. I’d seen this coming, but now everything was even more complicated by the kiss. It wasn’t like the thought hadn’t entered my mind. Yet I’d promised myself I would keep my distance. But Andy’s lips were soft and gave just right under mine. When he’d pulled away, I’d almost grabbed him to pull him back against me—just for one more kiss. If I was truthful with myself, I wanted more than a kiss, and I needed to figure out how to—what, forget about it, because that wasn’t happening.

I’d been enough of a nuisance to get into the apartment just to grab what I’d dropped off to Andy yesterday. It appeared my reputation got me at least a toe in the door. I didn’t know how much leverage I’d have when I started to dig deeper into the case.

The interior of Elise’s trashed apartment spoke of rage and in my gut, I knew this had to do with more than just the killer wanting to make a threat. No, this was someone becoming unhinged. When Andy said he was staying with me, I didn’t have any other choice than my place.

The ride to my house seemed to take forever since it was made in silence. The shabby exterior came into view. It wasn’t in the best neighborhood, but this was the place I grew up and when my mother died it came to me. Luckily, it was paid off. I’d hate to lose it. Unfortunately, my job wasn’t paying the bills for both the office and home.

I drove into the garage and hit the opener causing the door to come down, sending the interior into darkness except for the light streaming through a single window over my dad’s old workbench.

“Here we are; come on, I’ll get you settled.”

Andy just nodded and I wondered if it was finally catching up with him. I grabbed the bags from the backseat, and we exited the garage into an overgrown backyard. It reminded me, yet again, I hadn’t kept up like I should have; my mom would be ashamed at what I’d let go.

I unlocked the back door and stepped aside to let Andy go first. When I walked in behind him, I dropped the duffel bag on the floor and draped the suit bags over the back of a chair.

“You live here by yourself?”

I chuckled at Andy’s question, I swore there was more to it than wondering if I had a roommate. I removed my jacket and threw it onto the island.

“Yeah, my dad died when I was in my teens, and my mother about five years ago. When she passed away, the house became mine.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. My mother was miserable for a long time without my dad. She tried, but she was never the same.”

My parents were the epitome of happily married. They were that couple that all others looked up to, and I was a shit growing up. I’d made my mom’s life more difficult after dad had died.

“Do you spend a lot of time here?”

Andy walked past the kitchen table and drew a line in the dust.

“No, as you can see, it’s a bit of a mess. Let me show you to your room, and then we can go to the store to see about getting a few things. The fridge is empty.”

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“You’re not. If you’re staying here, there needs to be food and coffee. Coffee is a requirement for functioning.”

“Definitely.”

I liked that he was more relaxed and as I passed him, I stroked my hand along Andy’s lower back. When he attempted to move closer, I released him and strode toward the stairs. Andy’s little frustrated huff was cute. I had to admit it stroked my ego a bit. Problem was I was unsure if the attraction was some transference type thing. He was reliant on me keeping him safe and maybe it was gratitude for my help. I really needed to get my shit together. It wasn’t like I was averse to a little fun, but Andy kind of had this aura of someone who liked commitment, and what promises could I make in this situation?

I led him upstairs and to the room across from mine.

“Here you go, bathroom is at the end of the hall.” As I spoke I opened the curtains to let in the light, and then turned on the lamp. “My room is across the hall.”

“Ray?”

“Yeah.”

“I…I really just appreciate this. I know I didn’t give you much choice.”

“Andy.” I approached him and raised my arms to wrap my hands around his slim biceps. “It was probably going to happen at some point. I should’ve anticipated the warning.”

Andy stood a few inches shorter than me, and I couldn’t miss the way his gaze kept dropping to my mouth. I didn’t think about it, I took one step and another until I backed him up against the wall beside the door. He licked his lips and I forgot all the excuses why I couldn’t let it happen.

I stroked my left hand up his arm and over his shoulder. I loved the way his pupils dilated as I fisted my hand in his soft hair. With a gentle jerk I brought his lips to mine. The groan that rumbled my chest at the contact took me by surprise. I used my heavier mass to trap him against the wall. Andy’s hands flattened on my lower back.

I bit at the full curves of his lips. I didn’t rush, people might think I was big and gruff with not enough manners, but moments like these I needed to savor. I kissed him until he was moaning and arching into me; I teased his tongue with mine. My cock jerked where it was pushed to his, and it brought me back to my senses.

Reluctantly I broke the kiss and rested our foreheads together. Our breathing was ragged and we kept moving our mouths closer as if we couldn’t resist just one more connection, no matter how brief.

“We should go.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Andy’s voice wavered, and his cheeks flushed. I could tell he was embarrassed.

“No, fuck, no, not…not in the least, we just…” I angled my head to the side to steal one more kiss. My control balanced on the edge, and it wouldn’t take much to push me over. Andy felt delicate and just right against me. The young man stole my control so easily. “I can’t keep you safe if all I can think about is getting you in my bed.”

“I’m an adult, I know what I want, Ray.”

My hand in his hair angled his head to the side until I could nip at his throat, and I retreated to take in the heaviness of his eyelids. “I know you’re an adult. We just can’t do this, not right now. Fuck, you make it impossible to think.”

I brought my right hand up to cup his jaw, my thumb caressing the pout of his bottom lip. I rubbed our covered dicks together, and he was so pretty when he whined and trembled. With one last kiss I made myself put distance between us. I studied Andy, the way he leaned heavily against the wall, and his chest moved in a frantic rhythm as he tried to catch his breath. The arch of his body pulled his t-shirt up to expose a pale, smooth strip of belly.

The awe that I could do that to a man as young and beautiful as Andy made me speechless. All I wanted to do was grab him and take him to my room, lay him across my bed. My hard-on was getting out of control.

“We’re going to leave and go to the store in ten minutes. I’m going to go change and meet you downstairs.”

I escaped and when I passed Andy, I resisted the urge to pull him back against me. One more kiss wouldn’t be enough, and if I didn’t put distance between us, I was going to take this to a place neither of us were ready to go.

When I entered my room, I shrugged off my shoulder holster and laid it on my dresser. I worked the buttons of my dress shirt free and removed it and the t-shirt under it to throw it in the overflowing laundry basket. I didn’t waste time, I changed into jeans and a black t-shirt that exposed the numerous tattoos that covered my arms but concealed the others. Some of them weren’t ones I was proud of, but had kept them to remind myself of the past. My mistakes shaped who I am, and I still had friends who could help. I felt my mouth pull into a smirk at what Andy would think about his prospective protection detail. We’d save that reveal for the next day.

My arousal was barely under control. It would kill me to stay away. I was going to keep my cock under control no matter how much I wanted Andy. It wouldn’t be fair to him.

“Ray.”

I turned to find Andy in the doorway. I grabbed my tactical boots and sat on the edge of my bed to put them on.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I was thinking if it was safe enough for me to be here, maybe I’d just stay here while you go shopping.”

“Are you sure?” I didn’t like the thought of him being alone, but the store was only down the street. A little neighborhood mom and pop store. My alarm system would alert my phone, and the motion detectors would send pictures of anyone who came on the property.

“Yes.”

“Okay, stay in the house and away from windows. I’ll turn on the alarm system before I leave.”

“Ray…”

“Andy, it’s going to be fine, I promise. No need to be scared. Just remain cautious of your surroundings. Tomorrow, be prepared to go to work with me. Get some rest and just relax until I get back.” I straightened and closed the distance between us. “I promise, Andy, I’ll make sure you stay safe. You just have to trust me.”

“I do.”

I raised my hand to stroke Andy’s smooth cheek and he leaned into the touch. He was so receptive to my affections. It went to my head quicker than my favorite Scotch. I had to remind myself this wasn’t permanent, that I couldn’t keep him, no matter how much my brain and body wanted to hold on and not let go.