"Can I help you?" Seth asked as he opened his door to a tall dark haired man he'd never seen before.
"Seth Leighton?" the man asked as he flashed a police badge. "I'm Detective Elliot Storm. I'd like to speak to you if I may?"
Seth frowned as he stepped back and allowed the man into his apartment. "Am I in some sort of trouble?"
"No, not exactly," Elliot said as he turned to face Seth. "I need to talk to you about your neighbor, Nicholas Rylander."
"I'm sorry, I don't know any Nicholas Rylander."
"Yes, you do, only you know him as Nicky Ryland."
"Like I said," Seth could feel his face cloud as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I don't know the man."
"Look, Nicky doesn't know I'm here," Elliot said. "He'd be pissed if he did, but I felt I had to come."
"I don't know why," Seth replied. "I have nothing to say and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't want to discuss someone I barely know."
"Nicky's in hiding."
"What?" Seth unfolded his arms, suddenly interested in what the detective had to say.
"Nicky witnessed a friend get murdered in cold blood. The man who killed his friend is now after Nicky, and the only way to keep him safe was for him to travel halfway across the country and pretend to be a woman."
"He saw someone get murdered? Isn't there some sort of witness protection or something he should be in?"
"We tried that. The killer found him. If Nicky hadn't thought to sneak out the bathroom window and escape, he'd be dead. As it was, we lost two of our best agents. Nicky is now the only witness to both murders. He can put this guy away for the rest of his life."
"Fuck!" Seth stumbled over to a chair and sat down. He looked up when Elliot sat down across from him. "That's why—"
"That's why Nicky is pretending to be a woman," Elliot said. "That's also why he didn't say anything to you. He told me he met you and I was doing a background check on you before he said anything."
"How much danger is he in?" Seth asked. What he was hearing was almost too hard to believe. Things like this only happened in the movies.
"Let's put it this way, I'm the only person that knows Nicky is here. He left his job, his home, his friends and family, his entire life to move across the country and live as a woman. How much danger do you think he'd have to be in to do that?"
Seth felt totally confused. "Aren't you afraid I could be working for this guy or turn Nicky in to him?"
"I wouldn't be here if I thought that. I had you completely checked out before I even caught the plane out here."
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Nicky is out here all alone. He can't even call home to talk to his mother or any of his friends. I'm the only person he talks to. And then you came along. He's talked of nothing
but
you since the day he met you."
"Me?"
Elliot nodded. "He was devastated when you found out he was a man and not a woman."
Seth felt his anger start to crawl back in. "Because he got found out? Don't worry, detective, you can fly back to where ever you came from with a clear conscious. I won't rat Nicky out."
"That's not why I'm here, Seth."
"Then why in the fuck are you here?"
"Because Nicky is all alone out here and you're the first person he's taken a liking to. I know you told him you never wanted to see him again and he's respecting that. He's staying away, just as you asked. But—"
"What do you want from me?"
"I want you to go talk to him."
"Why? If what you're saying is true as soon as you catch this guy Nicky's just going to head home. What possible reason could I have for getting involved with a man that's just going to leave me in a few weeks?"
"Who said he was leaving?" Elliot asked.
Seth blinked. "What?"
"I never said he was leaving, Seth, you did. I'm not saying that isn't a possibility but you have to give him a reason to stay. Besides, living out here on the west coast is a whole lot safer for Nicky than moving back to Boston."
Seth frowned. He didn't like the way the detective phrased that. "I thought if he testified against this Morales guy that he'd be safe. Won't the guy be behind bars?"
"Yes, and hopefully he'll go away for many years. That doesn't mean Nicky's life back in Boston is a safe one, even with Morales out of the picture."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Has Nicky ever told you what he did for a living?"
"No, I guess we never really talked that much."
"Nicky will kill me if he ever finds out I told you but I guess my butt is in the sling enough for just being here. I might as well tell you the rest of it." Elliot looked hesitant to Seth but he wasn't about to interrupt the man. Curiosity ate away at him. "Nicky and Juan were exotic dancers in a gay club owned by Morales."
Seth's mouth dropped open in shock. Visions of Nicky dancing for him and him alone suddenly filled his head. He could just picture that perfect little body dancing to some music. It made his cock harden and ache.
"When Morales tried to convince them to do a little side business for some of his clients, Nicky said no. Juan said yes. One night Juan didn't show up for work. Nicky went to talk to Morales about it. That's when he saw Morales kill Juan."
"Morales wanted them to sell themselves, didn't he?" Seth asked. His hands tightened into fists as he imagined Nicky selling his body for money. His hard on started to die away.
"Not exactly," Elliot replied. "Morales wanted them to let
him
sell them. I also believe he planned to get them hooked on drugs to keep them pliable. We found large amounts of heroin in Juan's system after he was killed."
"Fuck, this man is a monster!"
"Which is why we need Nicky's help to put him away," Elliot said. "I also hope you can understand why Nicky was posing as a woman. It was the only way we could think of to keep him safe."
Seth twisted his hands together on the table, staring down at them. "Yeah, I understand. I still don't know what to think of all of this or why you've told me."
"I told you because Nicky is a good guy who's been given a really raw deal. He deserves a little happiness."
"And you think I'm the answer for that?"
Elliot shrugged. "I can't say. That's between you and Nicky. I just want him to have the chance. If telling you what is really going on in his life, and why he didn't say anything to you, gives him that chance then I'm all for it."
"Christ! You're a fucking fairy godmother!" Seth burst out laughing.
"Yeah, well, you'll have to forgive me." Elliot chuckled. "I left my magic wand back in Boston."
"Look," Seth said as he glanced around the room, anywhere but at the detective, "I don't mean to be rude or anything but I think I need to go talk with Nicky."
"Hey, no problem," Elliot said. He held his hands up and stood to his feet. "Just point me in the direction of the nearest gay bar and I'll get out of your hair."
"You?" Seth sputtered. "You want to go to a gay bar?"
"How else am I going to get laid?" Elliot smirked. "I don't do women either."
"If you're gay then why haven't you made a play for Nicky?" he asked. "He's the hottest damn thing I've ever seen."
"Nicky is cute, I'll give you that, but he just isn't my type."
Seth whistled. "He sure as hell is mine."
"I tend to like my men with a little more, well, everything. Nicky is cute but he looks too much like a china doll for my tastes. I like knowing that the person in my arms is a guy without having to look."
Seth chuckled. "Let me make a phone call. I think I have just the person to escort you around and show you a good time."
Elliot shoved his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans and balanced on the heels of his feet. "Do tell, please."
"His name is Ricky," Seth replied. "We're old friends."
"Lovers?"
"Once upon a time. The sex wasn't a problem, great in fact." Seth shrugged. "I just can't spend more than twenty-four hours with the guy without wanting to strangle him. He's crazier than a bedbug."
"I doubt I'll be here in twenty-four hours."
Seth grinned. "Exactly."
"He sounds perfect."
CHAPTER 6
Nicky looked through the peephole, frowning in confusion when he couldn't see anything except a picture of two men together on the front cover of a book. He checked to see that the chain was in place and slowly cracked the door open.
The moment he did, he saw Seth standing there, a stack of books in his hands. He held one up. "I was curious about what would be so intriguing about G.A. Hauser's books that you would have so many of them. So, I ordered some online." He put the book on the stack and smiled at Nicky. "And then I curled up and read them. I have to say I was surprised, Nicky. The dialogue was humorous and intriguing. The plotlines kept me turning each page, and the sex scenes had me jerking off on a few different occasions."
Nicky felt his face flame. He dropped his eyes, not sure why Seth was even talking to him let alone sharing such intimate details with him.
"But, you want to know what I liked best, Nicky?" Nicky couldn't have prevented his eyes from rising to meet Seth's if the place was on fire. Curiosity filled him only to be overridden by arousal so hot and strong that it took his breath away.
"I liked the love between the characters, the way
that by the end of the book they had worked out their problems and had a happy ending." Seth smiled at Nicky again. "I like happy endings, Nicky. Don't you?"
Nicky's eyebrows drew together in a frown. This was the weirdest conversation he could ever remember having. But at least Seth was talking to him. That was something. "Yes, I like happy endings."
"Then why don't you open the door and we can work on our own happy ending?"
Images of Seth shouting at him, of the man saying he never wanted to see him again, flashed through Nicky's mind and suddenly he knew that Seth was just fucking with him. Hurt so powerful that it nearly brought Nicky to his knees swept through him.
"Go away, Seth," Nicky snapped as he slammed the door closed and leaned his forehead against it. He took a deep breath then closed his mouth when a sob threatened to escape. He knew what he did to Seth was wrong but he never imagined Seth would be so cruel to him in return.
"Please, Nicky?" Seth said quietly through the door. "Let me come in so we can talk."
Nicky slid the chain off the door almost against his will. He didn't want to hear Seth yelling at him anymore but the guy probably had the right to get it off his chest, especially now that he was sober.
He took several steps away from the door, then wrapped his arms around his waist. He watched the door slowly open and Seth step inside, closing and locking the door behind him. Seth still had a stack of books in his hands. He walked over and set them down on the table then looked over at Nicky.
He looked nervous to Nicky, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans as he glanced around the apartment. "All moved in, I see."
Nicky nodded. "It didn't take long. I didn't have anything else to do."
Seth nodded. "Is that your real hair?"
Nicky grabbed the long locks of curly hair and pulled it through his fingers. "Most of it," Nicky replied. "I had some extensions put in to make it longer."
"It looks nice."
Nicky blinked. He didn't know what to say to that. The words
thank you
just didn't seem appropriate considering the situation.
"Can I see what you look like without your disguise?"
"I—"
"Please, Nicky?"
"It might take a little while."
"I'll wait."
Nicky watched Seth for another moment then turned and walked into his bedroom. He didn't know why he was agreeing to this. He didn't know what difference it would make. But just once he wanted to be a man around Seth.
It didn't take Nicky long to take the specially made bra and underwear off and replace them with a simple cotton shirt and a pair of jeans. The makeup took a little longer, especially the nail polish. He couldn't remove the acrylic nails because he'd need to paint them up again when Seth left but he could remove the nail polish.
Finally, he was done. He looked at himself in the mirror and wondered if Seth would like him now that he looked like a man. Well, except for the long hair. That Nicky could do nothing about.
With a deep breath for courage, Nicky walked out of his bedroom and back into the main room. His heart seized for a moment when he couldn't immediately spot Seth, thinking he might have left. Then he saw him standing by the window. His back was toward Nicky.
"I want to tell you how sorry I am for the way I reacted, Nicky," he said without turning around. "I was upset that you lied to me but I understand why you did it. I just hope you can give me the chance to prove I'm not a complete asshole."
"What changed your mind?"
"I had a visit from your fairy godmother." Seth chuckled and turned around. He sucked in a quick breath. "Fuck me, you're even sexier than I thought you'd be."
Nicky didn't know which statement to address first, his fairy godmother or the sexy part. The sexy part won out when Nicky got a look at the bulge growing steadily in Seth's pants. He could only hope it was meant for him.
"You think I'm sexy?" Nicky whispered. It seemed like forever since someone had looked at him the way Seth looked at him. It made Nicky tingle right down to his toes.
Nicky couldn't move under the intensity of Seth's gaze. He held his breath as the man moved slowly toward him until Seth stopped so close to him that their chests nearly touched. Seth stroked the side of Nicky's face with the back of his hand.
"I think you're breathtaking, Nicky." Seth leaned closer, his lips a mere breath away from Nicky's. "I'm going to kiss you now."
Nicky's eyes dropped down to Seth's plush lips and he watched them get closer until they touched his. He felt Seth's tongue move out to trace over his lips. Nicky groaned and leaned closer to Seth, wanting to feel the man's body pressed against his.
The kiss was filled with more passion than Nicky had ever felt, hunger and heat filling the space between them then enveloping them together. Nicky's hands clenched in Seth's t-shirt. He felt Seth's hands on his back, roaming, caressing.
"I want to see you, Nicky, touch you," Seth murmured against Nicky's lips. "I want you naked in my arms."
Nicky was all for that. He leaned back and whipped his shirt over his head, tossing it across the room, then reached for the buttons of his jeans. Seth's hands grabbed his. Nicky looked up in confusion.
"Let me."
Nicky grinned and let his hands fall away. He could see Seth's hands tremble as the man unbuttoned his jeans and lowered the zipper. Seth parted the material then slowly pushed the jeans down Nicky's legs. Nicky kicked them away and stood before Seth naked.
He would have worried and been nervous if Seth hadn't at that moment growled low in his chest and grabbed Nicky and picked him up in his arms. The next thing Nicky he knew he was upside down looking at a jean encased ass and Seth was walking through the apartment.
Nicky laughed as he was tossed through the air and landed on his bed. Seth immediately followed him down, settling between Nicky's legs. Before Nicky could even catch his breath, Seth's hands were all over him, touching and caressing as he wanted to.
Each touch, each small caress, burned against Nicky's skin. But Nicky needed more. He needed to feel Seth's skin against his. He pulled at Seth's shirt. "Off!"
Seth sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. He dropped it on the floor then quickly kicked his shoes off and pushed his jeans down his legs. Nicky chuckled when he noticed that Seth didn't wear any underwear.
"I like a man that goes commando," he said as he reached for Seth. "Easier access."
Seth climbed right back between Nicky's legs. "You have lube? Condoms?"
Nicky pointed to the nightstand next to the bed. "I bought both the day after I met you."
Seth started to reach for them then paused to stare down at Nicky. "Really? You bought lube and condoms after meeting me?"
Nicky shrugged, feeling his face heat up. "I didn't have any and I hoped that… well…"
Seth grinned. "You hoped you’d get to see me again?"
"Yeah."
Seth rolled over onto his back and spread his arms and legs wide. "Well, here I am. What do you plan to do with me?"
Nicky rolled over and gazed at Seth's incredible body. He could think of about three million things he wanted to do to Seth, and that was just tonight. He'd save the others for next time.
"G.A. Hauser wrote this great story called
Calling Dr. Love.
Did you read that one?"
"Yes." Seth sounded confused.
"Do you remember the scene at the very beginning of the book when they were caught in the dark and they brailed each other?"
"Yes."
Nicky grinned. "You want to get the lights or should I?"
"Fuck, you're going to kill me," Seth hissed.
Nicky climbed over to kneel between Seth's legs. He rested his hands on the man's thighs and licked his lips as he looked down at the hard cock rising before him. "Killing you is not exactly what I had in mind."
"What did you have in mind then?"
Nicky leaned forward until his mouth was directly over Seth's cock. He glanced up to find Seth watching him intently. "Let me show you." Holding his eyes, Nicky lowered his mouth over the head of Seth's cock.
Nicky could hear Seth panting. He watched his eyes widen then close tightly for a brief moment. Just as quickly they flashed back open, as if Seth couldn't stand to look away from what Nicky was doing to him.
"Damn, Nicky," Seth groaned. "Your mouth is fucking perfect."
Nicky grinned around the hard shaft in his mouth before tightening his lips and sliding down to the base. The short, curly hairs on Seth's groin tickled his nose. Nicky inhaled deeply. A strong musky masculine scent filled his senses. Nicky groaned, overwhelmed.
He did feel a little ridiculous sniffing the crotch of another man but he couldn't help it. Seth smelled really fucking good; Nicky could sniff him for hours. Seth tasted even better. He felt pretty sure he would develop a deep obsession with having Seth's dick in his mouth. With the way Seth groaned and squirmed on the bed, Nicky didn't think he'd have a problem with it.
He swallowed, feeling the head of Seth's cock brush the back of his throat. He wanted to give Seth the best time of his life, prove to him that he was all man even if he did dress like a woman. He was determined to drive Seth out of his mind.
The flames of passion burned in both of them. Nicky could feel his cock throbbing just as Seth's pulsed in his mouth. Nicky renewed his vigor. He sucked harder until his cheeks hollowed out. He licked until his tongue felt numb. He caressed silky naked skin until he didn't know where he began and Seth ended.
"Nicky, fuck, Nicky, need—"
Nicky knew exactly what Seth needed. He sat up and knelt between Seth's legs once more. Grabbing the lube, he liberally coated his fingers then reached around to press them inside his ass.
Having Seth's dick in his mouth told him exactly how much he needed to stretch himself out. Seth wasn't massive, but he was big enough. Nicky would need to be plenty stretched if he didn't want to be hurt.
"Fuck! Are you—" Seth leaned up on his elbows to watch. He couldn't see exactly what Nicky was doing but Nicky knew he was imagining it. Seth's cock started jerking with each movement of Nicky's fingers almost as if it anticipated being there instead.
Finally, Nicky rolled a condom down Seth's cock and added more lube. He crawled up Seth's body until he straddled the man. He legs pressed against Seth's sides, his hands rested on his chest.
"Ready for me, handsome?"
Seth just blinked. His chocolate-brown eyes were dazed, his jaw clenched. Nicky could see small beads of sweat dripping down his temples. Nicky exalted at the male strength, the beauty of the man before him.
He watched Seth's face as he slowly lowered himself down onto his hard cock, impaling himself inch by inch until his ass rested against the short curly hairs he'd inhaled moments before.
"Fuck me! Your ass is even better than your mouth," Seth growled. Nicky arched his back as Seth grabbed his hips and pumped up into him. The feeling was glorious. Seth's cock seemed to fill every inch of him, rubbing over his sweet spot with every thrust.
Nicky planted his hands on Seth's chest, abandoning himself to the whirl of sensation searing through his body. It was all he could do to hang on as Seth's hands gripped his hips tightly and he drove his body up into Nicky.
A deep feeling of peace and contentment entered Nicky. Seth was claiming him mind, body, and soul. Nicky savored the feeling of satisfaction that fact gave him. This wasn't just about sex. It was a raw act of possession.
A deep moan slipped through Nicky's lips as his whole being flooded with desire and he was hurled beyond the point of return. His body shuddered as ecstasy arced through his body, igniting his release until he shot pearly white seed all over Seth's chest.
He dimly heard a loud roar and felt Seth's hands tighten on his hips. Seth's body arched into his, the man's cock driving so far into his ass Nicky wasn't sure he'd ever come out. Nicky leaned over and rested his head on Seth's chest as the man's cock pulsed inside of him with his release. He could feel each spurt, each jerk of Seth's body beneath him.
Seth quivered. He panted heavily. His hands caressed Nicky's back. His lips pressed little kisses over Nicky's head and the side of his face. "God, you're fucking perfect, Nicky," Seth whispered.
Nicky chuckled and pushed himself up to look into Seth's eyes. "Maybe next time we can try out a scene from
The Boy Next Door
?"