Aaron wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he didn’t. He just forced himself to center in and open the program. He quickly scanned the message and hid his inner turmoil. Kreed’s presence in his life inspired a good-versus-evil attitude, and all of a sudden, his current activities seemed to be coasting right on the line between the two. This hack job was a favor to a guy who’d jumped in and helped him when he’d needed. He didn’t really have much of a choice this time. He’d agreed to this when he’d asked for help the last time.
Scolding himself, Aaron closed his eyes. What the hell was wrong with him? He did this all the time. With two or three calming breaths, he opened them again, staring at the flashing cursor on the screen, forcing Kreed from his thoughts. Aaron read the messages, catching himself up, and began working. He was so centered inside himself that he startled when Kreed ran his fingers over the top of his head, ruffling his hair.
“We only have about an hour before we had to get up anyway. I’ll make coffee,” Kreed said from behind him.
“Okay,” he tossed out, eyes on the monitor, trying to stay focused.
“One last kiss?” Kreed whispered against his ear.
One of their last conversations before Kreed fell asleep had the deputy marshal set on cooling this thing between them for the duration of the investigation. Kreed wanted to resume the possibilities between them more fully once the case was closed. Of course, only if Aaron was interested. Kreed placed the ball in his court to decide if he wanted to pick this up when they were done.
After the last thirty-six hours, it seemed that the gallant and probably smart thing to do would be to put this off, but now Aaron wasn’t entirely sure about anything anymore. He couldn’t deny the connection between him and Kreed, and he was quite certain if given the chance, he wouldn’t ever get enough of Kreed Sinacola.
They’d been pretty damn hot for one another. Once they’d made it back inside the bedroom yesterday, they’d only left the bed to eat, and even after all the sex of the afternoon, Aaron had ended up getting a blow job in the kitchen, then he returned that favor in the living room, before spending the rest of the night in Kreed’s arms. Aaron wished he could figure out a way to keep Kreed and his secrets too. But how?
Damn it to hell, he was so fucking screwed. He had done what he said he wouldn’t. He’d let Kreed get under his skin and he still wanted more.
Aaron darkened the screen with the stroke of a key, pretty certain Kreed wouldn’t understand what he might see displayed on the monitor, but he was sure the investigator inside the man was smart enough to retain innocuously gathered information and examine it later. Aaron turned and tipped his head back, sighing as Kreed’s mouth slid against his. He opened, allowing Kreed to deepen the kiss. When Kreed’s fingers pulled against his waistband to slide inside, Aaron had to stop him. Reaching for his wrist, he regretfully ended what he wanted so badly.
“Give me an hour?” Aaron asked. Kreed didn’t hide the disappointment spreading across his face.
“You’re right. We shouldn’t. I just… Kissing you makes me forget everything. As much as I want you, we can’t,” Kreed said, not moving his hand, but not pushing him either.
“We could if you weren’t so damn hardheaded.” Aaron tried for teasing, but he meant those words. He truly believed they could balance the case and whatever all this was going on between them. That “Sinacola resolve” Aaron was learning all too well flashed in Kreed’s eyes, and he shook his head as he stood.
“I better go make some coffee before we both have to repent for our sins, church boy.” Kreed reached out, ruffling his hair again. The words and the tone were all off compared to the hungry lover who’d fucked him senseless last night.
“Yeah, coffee sounds good,” Aaron replied, placing the keyboard on the desk. The look in Kreed’s eyes worried him. They certainly weren’t to the point that he could easily read Kreed, and he was torn over pushing Kreed to talk or letting him go.
“Get to work. I’ve gotta call Skinner. He called last night,” Kreed said from the door.
“What time did he call?” Aaron didn’t remember anything but his few hours online interrupting them yesterday.
“I’m pretty certain it was somewhere between you bent over the couch or you on your knees in the shower. I’m not exactly sure,” Kreed said coyly, snickering as he left the room. Aaron hesitated. He hated seeing Kreed thrown off his game, and from the tone of his voice, the deputy definitely left the room a little concerned he’d missed the call. The urgent blinking of the screen drew him back. After considering his options for a minute more, he decided to get this over with before going after Kreed. He picked up the keyboard and dropped it back in his lap to finish what he’d started.
~~~
Quickly, Kreed dressed for the day. He grabbed a cup of coffee and dialed Director Skinner’s personal cell number as he headed back to the study. When the phone began to ring, Kreed used his foot to close the bedroom door behind him. Nothing about the room had changed since he’d left the bed twenty-four hours earlier. He set the coffee cup on the desk and made his way to the pull-out sofa, lifting the end of the bed and folding it back in on itself. After returning the cushions to their proper place, he dropped the pillows on each end of the couch.
Out of sight, out of mind. It was no longer the giant red flag reminder of his inability to stay away from Stuart. But damn, they were good together. He wanted Stuart, no question there. What surprised him more than anything was that Aaron was a demanding and aggressive lover. The kid knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it. Kreed didn’t have any complaints. He was more than happy to see to Aaron’s every whim. The guy had this way of getting him off and immediately making him rock hard again. Aaron had him acting like a teenage boy in his prime. They’d most definitely fucked like bunnies for the last twenty-four hours. His tender ass was proof of that. On that thought, he smiled and reached for the couch throw, draping it over the back of the cushions.