Page 52 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

The hookers were out of control now, whistling at him, and clapping.

“Big men are the best!” the one said.

When Gene got in. Ethan didn’t let him talk.

“They were hitting on you, and I wasn’t worried. They thought your body was better, and I didn’t get scared that some other man would take you away. Why?” he asked, and then answered himself.

Because why not?

“Because we made a commitment to each other. We promised to stick together. I believed you meant it. I can’t fight you and this demon that rides my soul,” he said.

“It makes me worry about everything, and you were the one thing I didn’t have to worry about—my one safe thing.

Now, I find out that there’s something eating away at you that might break us, and that scares me. ”

Gene saw he was being ridiculous.

“You’re right. Putting myself down puts you in a bad place, and not trusting what we have breaks it down and scares both of us. That was shitty to do to you because you never make me feel like I don’t fit perfectly with you.”

Ethan said nothing.

Gene wasn’t done.

“And more importantly, I shouldn’t be jealous. I should trust that you wouldn’t hurt me. You’d never just walk away from me or from what we’ve made.”

Ethan was to the point.

“You’re the ONLY good thing I have in my life,” he said, tears in his eyes.

“I’d die before walking away from you. You once told me that if Javier Hughes ever got me to do whatever it took to survive.

That you’d find me and save me. Why wouldn’t I fight to the end to be with you?

Why would I give up something so special as a man who would rescue me? ”

Gene knew he was right.

“I love you,” Ethan admitted. “When I say your body is perfect, I mean it. They picked you over me. I know they’re hookers, but Gene, you’re an attractive man, and I’m not attracted to someone like Corbin, or Greyson.

I’m madly, stupidly in love with you. I told you we could leave the FBI, and I would for you. ”

Gene palmed his cheek.

“I understand. I hurt your feelings by criticizing something that you value and love. I also doubted your fidelity, and I showed no sense of faith in our relationship. I will say that you went hella far with the hookers though,” he said, smiling.

Why?

Because that was love.

“It hurts me to know you’re fearing some part of my life jumping out and scaring you. I’m very gay, Gene. I’m also very straight. I’m both, clearly, but in this moment, I couldn't imagine being with anyone but you. I promise.”

And that was more than enough.

Gene knew it.

Slowly, he pulled his mouth toward his and found his lips in a warm, sultry kiss that showed Ethan how much he wanted and cherished him.

The mating of mouths was filled with passion, and it was beyond amazing.

It.

Was.

Perfect.

As he was kissing Ethan, someone knocked on the window, and he knew who it would be.

He broke the kiss.

“This is what happens when you make friends with hookers on the street, Ethan.”

He laughed.

And rolled down his window.

“Yes,” he asked the hooker.

She leaned down.

“If both of you would like to meet me at the motel, I’d be more than happy to warm you both up.”

Gene didn’t have being propositioned by a hooker on his BINGO card, but here he was.

He pulled his badge and held it up for her to see it.

“He’s homicide. I’m more Vice.”

She winked at Ethan.

“I wasn’t going to charge. I like the big man too,” she stated.

It made Ethan laugh.

He rolled up the window and pulled away from the curb to keep driving.

“I can’t let you out of this car anymore,” Gene stated. “You’re a menace,” he added, looking over. “Are we good?” he asked.

Ethan was to the point.

“We will be if you stop thinking I’m ever getting off this ride, Gene. You’ll have to dump me because I’m never being an idiot.”

He kissed their joined knuckles as he drove them toward the luxury hotel not far away.

“Never going to happen.”

Ethan was to the point.

“Then, neither of us has to worry,” Ethan admitted. “So stop stressing me leaving. I just let you toss me over your shoulder and carry me past a gaggle of hookers.”

That made Gene laugh.

“Point made, Ethan.”

He was glad.

“Were you really going to kiss a hooker?” Gene asked curiously.

He laughed.

“No. I figured you’d jump out and tackle the first one who puckered up. That’s why I had a fifty out. I figured they’d be happy with that after you rolled them in the snow,” he admitted.

Yeah, probably.

“I love you, nut,” Gene said.

Ethan held his hand, and was damn glad that his man did love him, and had a sense of humor.

“And I meant what I said. I like cuddling after sex with ice cream or tacos,” he stated.

It appeared they had avoided a fight, and instead, handled it like an insane couple.

As they drove, and the drama was over, Ethan was curious.

“What are we going to do about our vacation? Are we really bringing the crotch goblin along? That’s a threesome I never want to happen.”

Gene was amused, and he was also aware that Ethan was done talking about the previous situation.

All was forgiven.

He snorted.

“Hell, no. When we go on vacation, that’s going to be all about you naked all of the time. I shoved our suitcases into the closet. That banana hammock and that lube are going to be essential to my mood the next few weeks—as in all that thinking about it will get me through the wait.”

“I love you,” Ethan admitted.

Yeah, well, he had news for him.

“Don’t ever think I don’t feel the same way. You’re my whole world, and now, I see I’m yours too. That changes everything in my heart. I’ll never doubt it.”

That was good.

As they turned into the hotel, it was time to focus on work.

“We’re here,” Gene said, as he parked the car.

As soon as he put it in park, Gene forced himself to begin thinking about work, as he put everything else, like their vacation on the back burner.

As they got out, they grabbed their bags so it would look like they were checking in.

Now, they were officially on duty.

At the desk, they mentioned the room, and the man smiled.

“You’re all booked in and paid up. Enjoy your stay, Gentlemen.”

Well, that was hella easy.

As they headed to the elevator, when they got in, they were alone. Instead of standing side by side, Gene placed Ethan in front of him, and he pulled him backward into his body.

Why?

To whisper kinky things in his ear. The concierge clearly believed they were a couple checking in, so why not act the part?

Yeah, he was going to prove he could turn on the perversion whenever he wanted it to come out.

And it got the response that he wanted.

Ethan reached behind him, giving Gene’s dick one hell of a squeeze.

It made the man shake.

“God, I love being with you,” he admitted. “You make my world perfect. I was an idiot to think you’d leave me behind. I can’t wait until we retire one day, Mr. Blackhawk. I want to put a ring on it, and not that kind of ring.”

That made Ethan’s heart skip.

It was clear that the little hooker episode fixed what had been brewing. Who knew that would have happened?

A hooker being helpful?

“Oh, well, I could say the same. Maybe you and I can take a night and get away. I could use a date night,” he admitted.

That was something he’d work on.

Gene wanted that in the worst way. It wouldn’t be Puerto Rico , but it would still be amazing.

“Maybe I can make up for Tala never being able to get truly dirty in Bull’s Biker Bar with you.”

The whole time, Gene pictured it.

“Deal,” he said, as the door opened, and they headed out and toward the rooms.

The sign on the wall said ‘suites’ , and it looked like they were meeting their mystery texter in a nicer place.

Not that there were any cheap rooms here.

That was for damn sure.

Money bought privacy and anonymity. So there was no shock they were meeting there. This place was the epitome of wealth in Philly , and the people who worked here were known to keep their mouths shut.

And turn to look the other way.

Hell!

They could have brought all the hookers in here, and no one would have said shit.

At the door, they slid their key card through the scanner, and the light blinked green. Immediately, Gene put Ethan behind him.

Just in case.

Oh, and his partner knew what he was doing, too. He rolled his eyes.

Gene was going to be Gene, and he had threatened to kiss a hooker, so he gave him this one.

When they went into the room, the lights were on, and no one seemed to be there.

They thought that until a figure stepped out of the corner, surprising Gene.

He pulled his gun and trained it on the man.

“Don’t move,” he said, as he took in the scene. The dude was in all black, had tattoos on his arms, and a gun at his hip. On his head, he was wearing a mask, the ski kind, but on it, there was a skeleton skull.

Well, this was interesting.

“You can put your gun down, Agent. I’m who you’re meeting,” the man said.

Gene didn’t recognize his voice, and he certainly didn’t recognize the tats on his flesh that were showing.

The man had a flag and dog tags on one arm, and that clued him in.

This was definitely a military guy.

“Who sent you to meet us?” Gene asked, before lowering his gun.

The masked man figured they were going to play twenty questions first since Gabe had warned him that the big man was paranoid, and the Native man had a wicked right hook.

He said one thing.

“The Dragon Slayer.”

Well, shit.

Clearly, Gabe knew people called him that.

Because the man wasn’t moving, and was legit, Gene put the gun away. As he did, the man went to a table not far away.

On it, there were a few things.

A laptop.

An envelope.

And two burner phones.

Oh, and a case that was closed.

“He sent me with provisions,” the masked man said. “I’m hoping you left your phones at home. The last thing you need is to be tracked.”

Yep.

Dirty deeds for the US government, party of two.

Gene knew what they were doing.