Robbie nodded and smiled as they all waved at him. Dave introduced his friends to him, going around the tight ring. "I'll get you a chair," Dennis offered to Robbie. He thanked him.
Dave watched as Dennis went around the room asking if any of the vacant chairs were available. When he returned with one, and they were all seated in a tight circle, Barney said to Dave, "We saw you on TV, man. I'm glad you finally shot the fucker. He was making me sick."
"Ain't you that FBI agent that was going after him?"
Dennis asked as he relaxed and drank his beer from the bottle.
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"I am." Robbie smiled.
"Now that it's done, are you leaving to go on another case?" Willie asked.
"Yes. I've been called back to Quantico."
Dave quickly met his eyes. They hadn't discussed anything. It was as if they were afraid of the conversation and its end result and had been holding back from making any comment on a farewell.
"All I know about the FBI is from the
X-Files
," Steve laughed.
"Yes. That's exactly what it's like," Robbie nodded as if it were true.
"Are you back out on the street now, Dave?" Barney asked, leaning closer to be heard over the loud music.
"No. Not yet. Not until the inquest. Then there's another panel that reviews it. It should be soon."
"I can't imagine you'd be too anxious to get out there again. After shooting a guy," Dennis said.
"I don't know how I feel about it." Dave looked at Robbie again. Robbie's eyes hadn't left his since the discussion began.
"I don't know why you want to be a cop, man," Dennis shook his head sadly. "You have a college degree. What did you waste it for? You can get killed out there. It ain't worth it, man, I'm telling you."
"You should've played ball, Dave," Barney replied, finished with his beer and toying with the bottle, tossing it from hand to hand. "You should be playing for the Hawks as a running back. What a waste."
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"I'm not good enough for pro!" Dave choked, laughing at the absurdity. A chorus of protests followed. Again he met Robbie's stare and smiled at him affectionately.
"I'm telling ya, the streets are getting more and more dangerous, man. You need to quit while you're ahead. Tell him, Rob. Tell him to get off the fucking streets while he's still alive." Dennis pointed at him as if impressing upon him the urgency.
Robbie just smiled sweetly and said, "It's not my place to tell him what to do."
"You know he's got a degree in chemistry?" Dennis shouted, as if the conversation was angering him. "He's a fucking Einstein and he's a cop! You tell me what's wrong with him."
"Einstein?" Dave coughed in a laugh. "Shut up, Dennis.
You sound stupid! How many beers did you have?"
Steve shook his head sadly. "Graduated with honors, Dave. We were all in the same class. You can't lie to us."
"What are you all doing now?" Robbie asked.
Dennis pointed to Steve and Willie and said, "They're both working for Microsoft, Barney's over at Boeing, and I'm coaching basketball at the U'Dub. The one with all the fucking honors is a cop!"
"All right, Dennis, lay off him," Steve chided. "If he's happy, who gives a shit?"
"I just don't want to go to his funeral! You see the nut-jobs out there?" Dennis pointed over his shoulder, as if they were right outside the bar.
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"Are you my mother now?" Dave laughed at him. "You sound like my fucking mother, Dennis. So cut it out."
"You're lucky I'm not your mother. If I was your mother, I'd kick your ass until I knocked some sense into you."
"Now you really sound like her!" Dave burst out laughing.
"All right, lay off him," Willie shouted, and then asked, "So, what do you do, Rob, with the FBI? Just investigate crimes like the one here? Serial killings?"
"Mostly. I just go where they send me."
Dave zoned out of the conversation momentarily. They had to talk. Before Robbie left, they had to talk.
* * * *
"Shit. I knew it."
"Paperwork's done. I can't stay." Robbie watched as the reality seemed to hit Dave. He walked closer to him and touched his arm.
"Shit ... well, I knew it was coming."
"I don't want to leave." Reaching for Dave's hand, Robbie led him to the sofa and they sat down together on it. "After listening to your old college buddies, I think they think you're not living up to your potential."
"Don't you start on me." Dave became defensive.
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"Look, babe ... I won't lie to you when I say I have ulterior motives for wanting you to leave the police. I don't think I want to live with you on the other side of the planet from me."
"No. I don't like that option either."
"Come back with me. Come to Quantico and let me get you an interview with one of the directors. They'd gobble you up in a heartbeat."
"Why? Short on black agents?" Dave teased.
"Short on educated ones. Smart fuckers like you. You'd earn more, and you'd be challenged. And ... you'd be with me." As Dave thought about the offer, Robbie clasped his hand and kissed it.
Finally Dave whispered, "You really want me there?"
"Really. I'm crazy about you."
"Like for a committed relationship? I don't want to uproot my life and find you're going out on me."
As if he were cut to the quick by the comment, Robbie drew close enough to Dave to lick his cheek. "Never," he hissed, "Never."
"Never's a long time."
"What else can I say to reassure you?"
"Nothing. You've said it all. It's just a case of trust."
"Exactly." Robbie pressed his lips against Dave's cheek, nuzzling his face. "Do you trust me, hot stuff?"
A smile began to spread across Dave's lips.
"Get over here, you." Robbie reached for him, squeezing him tight. "I'm not gone yet."
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Dave chuckled softly, then dug his hands through Robbie's long hair and cupped the back of his head, kissing him. When Robbie's mouth opened and that luscious tongue met his, Dave melted. Instantly the frenzied ripping of clothing was back. Maybe it was relief, maybe it was just a way to release stress, but it was necessary and felt as if it was a tonic to their worn out emotions.
Dave shoved his hand down the front of Robbie's trousers and groaned at the feel of his lovely cock and pubic hair. "I can't get enough of you, you know that?"
"Good," Robbie smiled. Making sure every piece of their clothing had been removed and lay in a heaped pile on the floor, they stretched out on the couch and wrapped around each other tightly. With the view of the ferries lit up on the dark water over the Sound like ghostly luminaries, they satisfied each other, hoping it wouldn't be for the last time.
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Wearing a dark suit and tie, Dave sat in front of a desk with his file of paperwork on it as the director looked through it quietly before he asked him any questions.
"I see you have three letters of recommendation from three of the agents you worked with on that case in Seattle."
"Yes, sir."
"And an accommodation for Officer of the Month for the same."
"Yes, sir." Dave swallowed down his nerves.
"Will you have any trouble relocating to this area? Have you consulted with your family?"
Since his parents weren't on speaking terms with him any longer, he said, "I have all that worked out, sir. No problem."
"When can you start?"
His heart skipped a beat. "I just need to give my notice to the police department and sell my place."
"I think we can live with that. Welcome to the Bureau, Officer Harris. It's an honor to have you with us."
Dave reached out to shake his hand. "Thank you, sir."
When he stepped out of the office Robbie was lingering in the hallway and hurried over to him. "Well?"
"You don't think they're just filling some minority quota?"
"Shut up and give me a hug, will ya?"
Dave embraced him and smiled sweetly at him. "Well, you're stuck with me, Agent Taylor."
"Damn, what rotten luck," Robbie replied, tongue in cheek.
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"Where to?"
"Back to my place to celebrate." Robbie hooked his arm and escorted him.
"Oh? You up to it now? No more sore ribs?"
"I'm up for it. Believe me."
Dave paused and made Robbie look into his eyes. "Read my mind."
Robbie stared into his eyes intently, then whispered,
"Okay, you on top."
"Cut it out, I mean it. What am I thinking?"
Making his face into a serious mask, Robbie finally said,
"How much you love me."
"Right."
"See? That's why I get paid so much," Robbie chuckled, and resumed their pace. After a moment, Robbie whispered,
"Christ, I adore you. You don't need me to tell you."
"Says you," Dave laughed.
Once they were in the dim parking garage, Robbie shouted out loudly, "I love Dave Harris!"
Hearing it echo in the cavernous space, Dave burst out laughing and wrapped around him, lifting him off his feet.
"Kiss me, you insane man."
Robbie went for his lips and kissed him passionately. They swayed side to side, savoring the closeness and excitement.
Dave felt free and alive for the first time in his life. When they parted lips he shouted back, "I'm out!"
"Christ, I love you," Robbie crooned. "Let's go so I can screw you senseless."
"My pleasure, Agent Taylor."
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"Oh, no, the pleasure is mine, Agent Harris."
Dave tilted his head and said, "Agent Harris, yes. I like it."
"Thought you would. Come on. The bed awaits."
Climbing into Robbie's sports car, Dave felt as if a new life was upon him, and he never felt happier.
Robbie squeezed his hand and whispered, "I'm glad."
"Now cut that out!" Dave shouted.
Robbie burst out laughing and drove out into the sunlight.
The End
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About the Author:
G. A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. She now resides in Hertfordshire, England with her husband and daughter. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website at:
www.authorga.com.
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Other works by G.A. Hauser:
The Kiss
Twenty-five year old actor Scott Epstein is no stranger to the modeling industry. He's done it himself between acting jobs. So when his sister, Claire, casts him in a chewing-gum commercial with the famous British model, Ian Sullivan, he doesn't ask any questions. He's a professional. He'll show up, hit his mark, say his lines, and collect his paycheck. Right?
Ian Sullivan is used to making heads turn. Stunningly handsome, he's accustomed to provocative photo shoots where sex sells everything from perfume to laundry soap. Ian was thrilled when Claire Epstein cast him in the new Minty gum commercial. He has to kiss his co-star on screen? No problem. Until he finds out Scott is the one he has to kiss!
Never before has a commercial featured two men, kissing on screen. Claire knows that the advertisement will be ground-breaking, and Scott knows that his sister needs his performance to be perfect. As the filming progresses and the media circus begins around the controversial advertisement, the chemistry between Ian and Scott heats up and the two men quite simply burn up the screen. Is it all an act? Or, have Ian and Scott entered into a clandestine affair that will lead them to love?
For Love and Money
Handsome Dr. Jason Philips, the heir to a vast
fortune, had followed his heart and pursued his dream
of becoming a physician. Ewan P. Gallagher had a
different dream. Acting in local theater, the talented
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twenty-year-old was determined to be a famous
success.
As fate would have it, Jason happened to be working in casualty one night when Ewan was admitted as a patient.
Jason was more than flattered and surprisingly aroused by the younger man's obvious attraction to him. The two men entered into a steamy affair finding love, until their ambitions pulled them apart.
Now, one year later and stuck in a sham of a marriage that he entered into only to preserve his inheritance, Jason is filled with regret. Caught between obligation and freedom, duty and desire, Jason finds that he can no longer deny his passion. He plans to win Ewan, Hollywood's newest rising star, back!
A Question of Sex
Sharon Tice seems to have it all. She's beautiful, confident, sexy, and holds an executive position in her father's prestigious firm. But when her father puts her in charge of his latest building project, Sharon soon discovers that her life is missing something ... Mark Antonious Richfield.
Mark is one of Los Angeles' most eligible bachelors, charming, charismatic and successful. His first encounter with Sharon takes him by complete surprise. The attraction between the two is undeniable and when they give in to the impulse to satisfy it, and one another, it's positively explosive.
After his first taste of Sharon, Mark is left wanting more, and the sultry blonde is more than willing until she's introduced to Jack, Mark's roommate, and begins to suspect 240