“It has a waterproof adhesive backing that gets placed in the shell of the ear, not in the canal like other devices. And when it senses the pulse, it automatically activates, and transmits data to your designated outside source…in your case…that’d be me.”
Hart didn’t know what to say.
Free nibbled on his bottom lip. “At least while doing the trial run. Then you can transmit directly to your own command center.”
“I can’t believe you invented this. This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. It can save lives, baby.” Hart rubbed his hand along Free’s back in encouragement. He should really be proud.
“Well, I hope it can.” Free opened an overhead cabinet and pulled out a fake ear. It was the appearance and size of a normal one, but it had a silky-textured coating on the outside. “This is similar to human skin on this ear model. I’m gonna show you how it works.”
Hart watched in fascination as Free connected a mini electrical cable to the bottom of the fake earlobe, to simulate a human-like pulse needed to activate the device, and transmit information back to his laptop. The minute Free sent the current, his computer immediately came alive with a bright red beacon blinking on a map. The map kept reducing until there was a live visual of Hart’s driveway… with Free’s camper sitting on it. Hart was so excited he could barely sit still. The cool-ass trick had all happened in seconds.
The next minute a faint smell of smoke reached his nose. He looked away from the monitor and saw the device was steaming and the ear sizzling and melting quickly. “Len!”
“Oh shit.” Free grabbed the long tweezers and peeled the—now brownish-tinged—silicone away from the singed ear and returned it to the dish. He yanked the magnifying glass over, frowning through the thick layers.
“Is it ruined?” Hart was afraid to hear the answer.
“No. Just the silicone. I have plenty of that. The inside mechanics are fine. There’s a safeguard around them.” Free smiled. “No problems.”
Hart touched his ear. “Um. I beg to differ.”
Free laughed that beautiful sound he was beginning to cherish. “Trust me. Minor little nothing. I’ll adjust those levels later. I’m trying to make it powerful enough to transmit from space, but I might have to limit it to Earth for right now.”
He’s a pure fucking genius. “Is it wrong that I want to throw you up there on that bed right now and do all kinds of things to you?”
“Absolutely not.” Free stood, leaving his invention. “Does my technical talk turn you on?”
“You turn me on.”
“Good,” Free murmured against his lips, before they were kissing again.
Hart reluctantly let those soft lips go, because there was still something weighing on his mind. “You were getting ready to say something to me earlier before you answered the door.” Hart stroked Free’s flushed cheek. “Care to finish now?”
“I do want to finish.” Free stroked Hart's beard, then gazed up at him. “Ivan, the moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be someone very special in my life. Whether it was work partners, friends, lovers, whatever. I just knew I wanted to be around you. I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you.” Free touched Hart’s chest. “Even in a car chase. I was afraid, yeah because it was insane. I never wanted to fully experience those guys’ jobs like that. But I wasn’t crippled with fear like I can get. Like I used to get.”
Hart held him close.
“I wasn’t terrified because I knew you’d come. And when you couldn’t…even though you weren’t there. You have men and women on your team who care about you enough to break the rules, forget about protocol, threaten their jobs and mobilize without you to save the man that loves you. To save the only man that will love you as much as I love you.”
Hart inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. After so long. God, he’d waited so damn long.
“Look at me, Ivan.”
Hart hoped like hell he didn’t start weeping. He opened his eyes. His lashes felt moist. Everything Free said to him was always so heartfelt and warm, but when they were said in that slightly proper British lilt, he also made it sound so damn romantic. Like he was dreaming.
“I do. I love you. Already. And you may be wondering how, but you’ll just have to trust me and let me show you with time. I will be good to you. I promise. I’d never mistreat you. Ever. Because I couldn’t bear it if you mistreated me.”
“Never.” Hart squeezed him. “I’ll protect you with my life, Len.”
“I know.” Free smiled, then said it again, “I love you.”
Free
Free had grabbed the things he needed from his camper and put them into a small overnight bag. Most of the lights were off inside Hart’s house except for the warm glow beneath the door calling to him at the end of the hallway. He could hear Hart’s shower going, so he took his bag to the guest bath and got himself ready. It was awfully considerate for Hart to have a massaging shower head in the guest bath, because he needed it on his neck. He wouldn’t tell anyone just yet, but he was a little stiff from the chase and his knee ached from when he’d stumbled on the concrete.