Just a Bit Shameless (Straight Guys 8)

“Why are you so late?” Sammy said, his cheek pressed to the side of Dominic’s chest.

“Long story,” Dominic said with a sigh, stroking Sammy’s arm up and down. “I was at headquarters all morning, coordinating with our agents in Columbia. We had to make sure it’s really Richard Whitford and he’s really dead—it wouldn’t be the first time someone faked their death—but it’s him; there’s no mistake.”

“And now what?” Sammy said, running his fingers idly over Dominic’s bare chest.

“I don’t know,” Dominic said, pulling Sammy tighter to him. Gradually, the cold feeling faded away. When he was with Sammy, it always did. “The helicopter crash was unlikely to be an accident. Our agents in Columbia suspect the local crime boss Alvaro Lopez, but there’s no proof. And…”

“And what?”

Dominic opened his eyes. “We’ve found something interesting. A few weeks ago, Alvaro Lopez had a meeting with a certain Russian oligarch.”

“Really? The same man who’s suspected in kidnapping Luke Whitford?”

“Yes. Roman Demidov. What a coincidence, huh?”

Sammy’s dark red brows furrowed. “But what does it mean? Demidov kidnaps Whitford’s son and then lets him escape a few months later. Luke seems unharmed and denies Demidov’s involvement. Then, just a few weeks after Luke’s return, Demidov arranges for Luke’s father to be killed? That… Huh. It smells kind of fishy.”

“Yes,” Dominic said. “I thought Luke was a good guy who wouldn’t harm a fly, but maybe I was wrong.”

Sammy looked at him curiously. “You really think Luke conspired with his kidnapper against his father?”

Dominic stroked Sammy’s nape. “Maybe. Roman Demidov is a handsome man. By all accounts, he’s straight, but he’s one ruthless, manipulative son-of-a-bitch. Luke could be a victim of Stockholm syndrome. It wouldn’t be the first time. It actually happens more often than you’d think.”

Sammy worried his bottom lip. “But if Luke is involved in his father’s death, that means he’s dangerous. You could be in danger.”

“No more than I was before. Besides, Luke could be completely innocent. We have him under surveillance and he hasn’t been in contact with Demidov since his return to England. And Luke seemed genuinely shocked by his father’s death.”

Sammy stiffened against him. “You were with Luke?”

Dominic nodded, studying the boy’s face. “I was with him at Grayguard when he received the news. His shock seemed real enough, though he didn’t seem particularly upset. But then again, he and his father weren’t very close, so it isn’t all that surprising.”

“He might be a good liar,” Sammy said. “Appearances can be deceiving.”

“They can be,” Dominic conceded, watching Sammy carefully. “Are you upset that I was with Luke? That isn’t why I came home so late.” He didn’t even know why he felt the need to explain himself. Sammy wasn’t his wife—or his husband. “It was a hell of a day at Grayguard. I had to work late because I wasn’t at work until late afternoon.”

Sammy pursed his lips. “If you’re implying I’m jealous, I’m not.”

“Of course you aren’t,” Dominic said mildly, suppressing a smile and dropping a kiss on Sammy’s forehead. Truth be told, he didn’t mind Sammy’s jealousy. “You have no reason to be jealous. By the way, why are you wearing my clothes?”

Sammy flushed. “It wasn’t because I missed you or something,” he said sulkily.

Dominic kept his face straight. “Did I say it was?”

Looking at him suspiciously, Sammy said, “I don’t have many clothes.”

Dominic’s amusement disappeared. “What?”

Sammy dropped his gaze, tracing lines on Dominic’s chest with his finger. “I threw out my old clothes when I got recruited—they weren’t very good and I was issued clothes for trainees anyway—but now…” Sammy made a shrugging gesture, avoiding Dominic’s eyes. `

Dominic stared at him. “Are you saying you have no clothes?”

“I do,” Sammy said, looking anywhere but at him. “Just not many. This t-shirt isn’t as fancy as the rest of your clothes so I figured you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it. I can wash it later—”

Dominic took his chin and forced him to meet his eyes. “I don’t mind. You can take whatever you like. But tomorrow we’re going shopping. If you gave back all of your MI6-issued belongings, you’ll need more than just clothes.”

Frowning, Sammy opened his mouth, but Dominic cut him off before he could say anything. “It’s not charity. I won’t accept no; you can’t change my mind. Can we move on now? It’s a non-issue, Sammy.”

Sam heaved a long-suffering sigh and smiled wryly. “You do realize that now you’re pretty much my real sugar daddy, right?”

Dominic chuckled, pinching Sammy’s cheek. “Does that mean you’re my real sugar baby?”

Sammy smiled wider, looking him in the eye sleepily. “I don’t mind being a sugar baby as long as I’m yours.”

Dominic’s cock twitched. Sammy’s words pushed all the right buttons for him—or rather, all the wrong ones, his selfish possessiveness rearing its ugly head again.

He cleared his throat, threading his fingers through the boy’s hair. “You shouldn’t stay stuff like that. I’m trying to be a better man here.”