Page 53 of Devil's Hour

“Yeah, it’s a fucked-up situation. Holly asks me all the time why I even bother trying to fix things with them. I always thought it’s what my mom would want.” Royce leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Sawyer’s. “I know there’s no fixing things now, because they don’t want to change, and they’ll never accept me as I really am or that I chose you. I’m making peace with it. I’m sorry if I made you doubt me today.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, babe. We’ve had this conversation, and I know the score.”

“No,” Royce said emphatically. “You don’t take a backseat to racists, homophobes, drug addicts, felons, and wife beaters.” He took a deep breath, choosing his next words. “That is the family I come from, and like it or not, they’re a part of who I am. Are you sure I’m the one you want?” Royce held his breath and gripped that cliff as hard as he could just in case Sawyer rejected him. If Sawyer said yes, he’d embrace the fall.

“God, yes,” Sawyer whispered against his lips. “More than anything.”

When Sawyer led him to his bedroom and removed his clothes, it wasn’t just Royce’s flesh he laid bare. Royce silently offered Sawyer everything he had—heart, body, and soul. No more emotional barriers, no more fighting his feelings, and no more holding back or hanging on. Royce let go of the cliff and let himself plummet into love, giving himself fully and freely. Nothing had ever felt so right or so good in his life.

Sensing his submission, Sawyer’s lips playfully twitched before he said, “It’s about fucking time you surrendered to us.” Then he set the room on fire with his kisses. The need to hurry and to ravish was at war with the urge to savor and cherish; each need equally demanding. Royce was greedy to experience it all, so he would.

Royce rolled Sawyer to his back, pinning him beneath his weight. Sliding his hands into Sawyer’s hair, he ran his fingers through the silky, dark strands and stared into the chocolate brown eyes that had captured him from the very first moment. Royce cupped Sawyer’s face and kissed him long and languidly like he didn’t have a damn care in the world, and his dick wasn’t throbbing with urgency. He felt the answering need in the man he loved, but Sawyer seemed as content to take it nice and slow.

“So good at this,” Sawyer whispered when Royce kissed a path down his body and wrapped his lips around his cock. Royce kept a firm grip on the base, working his lips up and down, using different tempos and suction to drive him wild. Royce worked him to the edge, then pulled back before he could push him over, not letting up until Sawyer’s thigh muscles quivered. Aching to be filled, Royce grabbed the lube and a condom from the drawer.

“Let’s get tested right away,” Royce said, rolling the latex down Sawyer’s thick erection. Just the thought of bareback sex had him ready to blow. Royce poured some lube on Sawyer’s fingers, then straddled his thighs. Sawyer wasted no time, reaching between Royce’s legs to caress and tease his pucker before working him open and carefully stretching him.

Hurry. Savor. Ravish. Cherish.

Royce slowly lowered himself on to Sawyer’s shaft, delighting in the stretch and fullness of penetration. Sawyer’s eyes worshiped him as he began to move, slowly undulating his hips and moaning from how good it felt as his orgasm built and swelled inside him. He’d always loved sex, but this was so much more than just two bodies working toward a climax together. Royce finally knew what making love meant.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Sawyer said, his voice growly with want and awe. “Wanna make you mine.”

“I am yours.”

The pleasure in Royce felt so good it bordered on painful. Sawyer gritted his teeth and dug his fingers in Royce’s hips, either fighting the urge to come or the impulse to rock Royce harder and faster on his dick.

Sawyer unclenched his jaws and whispered, “Need you.” He reached up and cupped Royce’s face with both hands pulling him down toward his mouth. “Don’t want to do it alone.”

Royce knew Sawyer wasn’t talking about his orgasm, but it snapped his control, unleashing the primal beast who needed to mate, claim, and mark. “I’m right here with you, baby.” God, he was so there.

Their languid lovemaking became a hurried frenzy of touching, kissing, and fucking. Needy whimpers gave way to lusty moans as they orgasmed together loudly, sweaty and replete.

Royce collapsed on Sawyer, ravishing his mouth until they were starving for air, and even then, Royce only pulled back far enough for them to catch their breath. Sliding his right hand down to Sawyer’s neck, Royce felt Sawyer’s pulse pounding wildly beneath his thumb. Home wasn’t a place; it was a heartbeat.

Royce had found the one he wanted forever.

The ringing phone jerked Royce out of a deep, peaceful sleep. Sawyer roused beside him and answered it. “Hello.” He sat up suddenly, going on high alert, which caused Royce to do the same. He flipped on the bedside lamp and looked at Sawyer. “Yes, Chief. I’m awake. What’s the address?” Sawyer rattled off a street number and name that sounded familiar, but Royce’s brain wasn’t awake enough yet to compute. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes or less.” Sawyer stiffened and looked at Royce with his mouth gaping open. He collected himself and said, “Locke?” Sawyer listened for a few seconds while scowling at Royce. “Yes, ma’am. Hold on.” He extended his cell phone to Royce. “She’d like to speak to you.”

Royce accepted the phone from Sawyer and smiled ruefully at him. “Yes, Chief?”

“I’d tell you good morning, but it would be a blatant lie. I think The Purists have struck again, and the thing we feared the most has happened. They’re not just arsonists any longer; they’re killers.”

“Oh fuck,” Royce said. “I’m getting dressed and heading in.”

“At least it’s one-stop shopping when I need to call you both,” Rigby said. “However, I would prefer not to have to call your boyfriend every time I want to speak to you. Find your phone, Locke,” she admonished before disconnecting the call. Royce scrubbed a hand over his face, then handed the phone back to Sawyer.

“I must’ve left mine in the car,” Royce told him.

“Rigby might consider this rubbing our relationship in her face. She’s going out on a limb for us.”

“She’d be more pissed if you weren’t also needed on the scene.” Then realization struck him like lightning between the eyes. Royce knew precisely where their next crime scene was, and panic seized him.The Alley Cat.

Unaware of Royce’s inner turmoil, Sawyer got out of bed and crossed the room to his dresser. Royce tried to call out his name, but his mouth had gone instantly dry even if his body had broken out in a sweat. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and his chest felt heavy as if an elephant were sitting on it. He opened his mouth, trying to suck air into his lungs, but they’d stopped working.I’m going to die,he thought.

He must’ve made a sound of distress because Sawyer snapped his head around and then dashed to the bed. “Royce? What’s wrong?” Royce just stared at him, unable to speak, pleading with his eyes for Sawyer to help him. Realization dawned on Sawyer instantly, and he placed Royce’s hand on his chest, over his heart, and said, “Breathe with me, baby. I know it feels like you can’t, but it’s just a faulty signal. Deep breath in, then hold it.” Royce mirrored Sawyer and released the breath when he did. The panic prevented him from filling his lungs fully, but he did feel better. “Again,” Sawyer said. “Bigger inhale this time.” They repeated the process several more times until Royce felt the panic ebbing.

“Holly,” Royce croaked out when he could find his voice.