Page 26 of Skin Game
That was the only reason Casey noticed the red and blue flashing lights. He stopped walking and peered south. From where he was standing, Casey couldn’t tell for certain, but it looked like the police were responding to an incident on or near the bridge.
He watched for a few minutes until Bowie returned to nuzzle his hand and let him know he was taking too long.
“I’m coming, silly dog. Are you hungry?”
Bowie woofed and raced back to the sailboat with Casey once again following him.
The lights continued to flash as he climbed aboardThe Barbaraand were still flashing when Casey took the trash out to the dumpster an hour later. An uneasy feeling took root in the pit of his stomach.
Whatever was going on out there, it wasn’t good.
The single-bulb porchlight was a welcome sight. Before he and Bowie managed to get out of the car, Gabe had the door open and was smiling at them, beckoning them to hurry up and get inside.
“I wasn’t sure you were really coming back,” he said, an uncharacteristically shy expression lurking in his eyes.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure either, but then I thought, ‘That’s plain stupid, Casey.’ So, here I am.”
“You had something to eat?”
Casey nodded. “Bowie too.”
“He’s a good boy though, so surely a biscuit is in order.”
Shutting the door, Gabe moved to the kitchen, opening a cabinet and pulling down a box of dog treats. Bowie, who knew he was a darn good boy, followed him quickly and sat down on his haunches in the middle of the kitchen floor, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
“Who’s a good boy? Are you?”
Bowie woofed, just the one time. Gabe tossed the biscuit into the air, and Bowie caught it with practiced ease and chomped it down. Returning the box to its shelf, Gabe turned back to Casey.
“And you? What can I get you?” He sauntered to where Casey stood watching his two favorite beings. “I’m sure I can find a cookie to throw in the air for you somewhere around here.”
“You’re ridiculous, you know that right?”
“I prefer fabulous, thank you very much.”
“Well.” Casey eyed Gabe’s handsome face. “You are sort of fabulous.”
“Sort of?” Gabe fake frowned and pulled a skeptical face.
“There could be a better descriptor. You know I’m not good with words.”
“I’ve heard that actions speak louder than words.”
“You are demoted back to ridiculous.”
“Nah, I’m not. You know what I am? Tired. I was just thinking about changing into PJs, but I could be convinced to sleep in my birthday suit. As long as you do too.”
Hooking a finger through the belt loop of the jeans Casey wore, Gabe tugged him down the short hallway to his bedroom. Since sleeping with Gabe in his bed was what Casey wanted the most and had brought him back here, he did not protest.
“Your head?” he asked.
“My brains are perfectly fine, and I will feel even better after this. Sleep better too. Endorphins,” he said with an eyebrow waggle and a wave of his hand. “First, let’s get rid of these pesky clothes.”
Sex with Gabriel was much like Gabe himself. Unpredictable. Changeable. Variable. Sometimes it was a breathless, wild ride that left them both panting and in need of a shower afterward. Other times, like this one, they came together slowly, gently, savoring the connection between them. But Casey had the feeling they would still both need a shower afterward.
Occasionally, Casey was in the driver’s seat. But many times, like this night, it was Gabriel who led the charge. Gabriel who pushed Casey back against the mattress and peeled his clothing off. Slowly and with intent. Savoring. Tasting. And, yes, snuffling. For whatever reason, Gabe had a habit of running the tip of his nose against Casey’s skin, from shoulder to hip, as if he could literally breathe Casey in like a backward genie.
By the time Casey was fully naked and exposed, he was rock hard, needy and desperate.