Before You
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,076
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,076
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Fifty
CHAPTER FIFTY
Roth went into the clinic for a week, avoiding small time freelancers trying to find an angle and more than a few lingering paparazzi hoping to hit pay dirt.
He woke up on the nineteenth, missing his man. Rolling up from the mattress, he spotted him in the corner chair. Heart kicking roughly, he asked, “You okay?”
Naked and gloriously beautiful, Adam replied. “I guess. Today I’m thirty-three, Roth. I’ve lived that long under the threat of death.”
“Death’s a constant, baby.” He rose and walked to his mate. “Happy Birthday. Why didn’t you give me a heads-up?”
Adam shook his head. “Don’t know.” His entire manner sharpened. “It’s not some break in my psyche, sweetheart. You’ve treated me with too much love and respect for me to show my ass again.”
His heart jerked. “I’ll never abandon you, baby.”
Adam smiled, “I know. That’s why I came back to you from that place.”
Stomach lurching, he queried, “What place?”
“The place in my head.”
Roth scooped him up and placed Adam in his lap. “Please, never go there again.” Having the other big man in his clutches challenged strength issues.
Adam curled against him, seeming to savor the contact. “I love you.”
Roth melted.
“Roth, a friend of mine is offering a pass on this. Can you have your man in Denver by the third?” Sarah’s voice sounded urgent.
Switching on his turn signal and changing lanes, he glanced in the rear view. “I’ll make whatever deadline you stipulate.”
“Sorry for that. The last-minute notice.”
“No problem, Sarah. I’ll get him there.”
Nathan and Joseph held down the fort. Roth and Adam flew to Denver. Touching down, he called Sarah’s friend. A man answered. “Johnson.”
“This’s Roth Garrett.”
“Go to the FBI lab, ask for Richard Johnson.”
They stood together over the tray containing Eve Taggart’s remains. Adam said nothing. Roth kept his arm around his lover’s broad shoulders. He thought it looked like a cafeteria pan with bones picked bare.
After a while, Adam reached down to touch a sepia-tone rib. He recoiled, staggering into Roth’s embrace. “I have you, baby.” Even as his heart swelled with love, he suffered much fear this would send his beloved back to the ‘place’ in his head.
They returned to Savannah.
Roth wanted something tangible between them. He booked a slot with a local tattoo artist. On the day of it, he did not share with Adam the point of the excursion.
In a chauffeured car, Adam asked, “Where’re we going?”
He smiled. “Somewhere entertaining.”
Adam scowled. “Not some gay strip club. I’m done with anything like that. I’d prefer reruns of ‘Murder She Wrote’ alone with you.”
It warmed his heart. “No, baby. Nothing like that.”
As they arrived at the tattoo location, Adam seemed to read the sign, then turned to Roth. “What’re you thinking?”
“I’m having my family insignia inked at the base of my back.”
Adam hopped out to open his door before the chauffeur. “That I can help with.”
His lover laid beside him on the table, both belly down, their fingers laced, gazes locked, as the tattoo artist made the Garrett insignia part of his flesh. In the same spot as his fiancé’s tat, it felt like a true commitment to Roth. Pain meant nothing in comparison to the experience.
Adam spoke to him in the wee hours. “Sweetheart, don’t scratch it.”
He woke slowly, realizing he had dug at his tattoo. “Sorry. Thanks.”
Adam scooted on top of him. “Never apologize for me watching out for you.”
Roth reached for his lover. “Let me hold you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Roth Garrett, you have lost your mind.” Naddy twitched her finger under his nose, while stretching up to kiss his cheek. “I love you, but you crazy. Building a new wing?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled, noticing her mismatched socks. “Cousin Luc keeping you busy?”
She kicked his shin. When he limped a little she gloated, “Good!”
“I care about you, honey.” Catching himself, he amended, “My friend. Colleague. Just wanting to check up on you.”
Roth woke in the night considering their situation. They could wait, enduring attention and worrying about what came next.
Or they could all run off to the island.
Roth went into the clinic for a week, avoiding small time freelancers trying to find an angle and more than a few lingering paparazzi hoping to hit pay dirt.
He woke up on the nineteenth, missing his man. Rolling up from the mattress, he spotted him in the corner chair. Heart kicking roughly, he asked, “You okay?”
Naked and gloriously beautiful, Adam replied. “I guess. Today I’m thirty-three, Roth. I’ve lived that long under the threat of death.”
“Death’s a constant, baby.” He rose and walked to his mate. “Happy Birthday. Why didn’t you give me a heads-up?”
Adam shook his head. “Don’t know.” His entire manner sharpened. “It’s not some break in my psyche, sweetheart. You’ve treated me with too much love and respect for me to show my ass again.”
His heart jerked. “I’ll never abandon you, baby.”
Adam smiled, “I know. That’s why I came back to you from that place.”
Stomach lurching, he queried, “What place?”
“The place in my head.”
Roth scooped him up and placed Adam in his lap. “Please, never go there again.” Having the other big man in his clutches challenged strength issues.
Adam curled against him, seeming to savor the contact. “I love you.”
Roth melted.
“Roth, a friend of mine is offering a pass on this. Can you have your man in Denver by the third?” Sarah’s voice sounded urgent.
Switching on his turn signal and changing lanes, he glanced in the rear view. “I’ll make whatever deadline you stipulate.”
“Sorry for that. The last-minute notice.”
“No problem, Sarah. I’ll get him there.”
Nathan and Joseph held down the fort. Roth and Adam flew to Denver. Touching down, he called Sarah’s friend. A man answered. “Johnson.”
“This’s Roth Garrett.”
“Go to the FBI lab, ask for Richard Johnson.”
They stood together over the tray containing Eve Taggart’s remains. Adam said nothing. Roth kept his arm around his lover’s broad shoulders. He thought it looked like a cafeteria pan with bones picked bare.
After a while, Adam reached down to touch a sepia-tone rib. He recoiled, staggering into Roth’s embrace. “I have you, baby.” Even as his heart swelled with love, he suffered much fear this would send his beloved back to the ‘place’ in his head.
They returned to Savannah.
Roth wanted something tangible between them. He booked a slot with a local tattoo artist. On the day of it, he did not share with Adam the point of the excursion.
In a chauffeured car, Adam asked, “Where’re we going?”
He smiled. “Somewhere entertaining.”
Adam scowled. “Not some gay strip club. I’m done with anything like that. I’d prefer reruns of ‘Murder She Wrote’ alone with you.”
It warmed his heart. “No, baby. Nothing like that.”
As they arrived at the tattoo location, Adam seemed to read the sign, then turned to Roth. “What’re you thinking?”
“I’m having my family insignia inked at the base of my back.”
Adam hopped out to open his door before the chauffeur. “That I can help with.”
His lover laid beside him on the table, both belly down, their fingers laced, gazes locked, as the tattoo artist made the Garrett insignia part of his flesh. In the same spot as his fiancé’s tat, it felt like a true commitment to Roth. Pain meant nothing in comparison to the experience.
Adam spoke to him in the wee hours. “Sweetheart, don’t scratch it.”
He woke slowly, realizing he had dug at his tattoo. “Sorry. Thanks.”
Adam scooted on top of him. “Never apologize for me watching out for you.”
Roth reached for his lover. “Let me hold you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Roth Garrett, you have lost your mind.” Naddy twitched her finger under his nose, while stretching up to kiss his cheek. “I love you, but you crazy. Building a new wing?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled, noticing her mismatched socks. “Cousin Luc keeping you busy?”
She kicked his shin. When he limped a little she gloated, “Good!”
“I care about you, honey.” Catching himself, he amended, “My friend. Colleague. Just wanting to check up on you.”
Roth woke in the night considering their situation. They could wait, enduring attention and worrying about what came next.
Or they could all run off to the island.