Chapter 25

Josh couldn't fall asleep,which really irked him considering Dixon had just fucked his brains out. That was usually enough to guarantee a few solid hours. He put his insomnia down to the disturbing conversation after dinner.

Who the heck is Robert Vreeland and what does he have to do with this business?

What troubled Josh was that Vreeland's demise could still be laid at his door. Sure, he'd helped to get the program shut down—at least temporarily—but the death count concerning anyone involved in it was increasing.

Beside him, Dixon snuffled softly in his sleep. Josh gazed at him in the half-light of the bedroom. He looked so different when the weight of the world wasn't on his shoulders. Softer, gentler even.

Josh's heart gave a thump, and he wondered momentarily if there was a medical explanation for it. He seemed to be experiencing a lot of them lately, especially when he thought of Dixon. Maybe I should go to the doctor and be checked out. That was for later, though. Right this minute, he wanted to sleep.

Josh slid out of bed and went into the kitchen, where he pulled out a mug and a packet of hot cocoa mix that Dixon had brought home. Josh smiled at the memory. He'd been beside himself because it was the same brand his grandma used to buy for him, and it had been such a comfort to drink it.

Lord knew he needed that comfort now.

He added some milk to the cup, heated it in the microwave, then added the cocoa powder and gave it a good stir. The first sip brought back so many memories of sitting with her. He could still hear her voice, telling him his life was going to be interesting.

He snorted. Grandma, you had no idea. How would his life have changed if he hadn't started hacking? For one thing, he wouldn't have been forced to work for the government, but he couldn't really complain about that. The crime was his, and so was the punishment. And while he hadn't liked it, he couldn't say it wasn't just.

There was a positive flipside, however. If he hadn't done it, he might never have met Gary or Michael, and he sure wouldn't have met Dixon. If he had simply stayed in his room sulking like an ordinary teen, he would never have helped form CrossBow.

And I don't have any regrets about that.

His phone chimed, and Josh glanced at the screen. Who in the hell would be texting him at almost eleven o'clock?

Dr Malone, this is Chalmers. Need 2 know if u could come tmrw to give us ur opinion on the toxin used to kill Vreeland. I'll be flying in overnight, so can meet with u in mrng.

It took Josh several attempts to understand the shorthand Chalmers used. Tomorrow? They must have found something—otherwise, why would they ask Josh? And why would it be so important they'd have to meet in person?

His thumbs flew over the screen.

Yes. Let me know where and when. I will have Dixon with me.

The reply was swift. Dixon? Excellent! I can't wait to see the big stud.

A surge of hot jealousy rushed through him, which surprised him. What did he have to be jealous about? Josh pulled up a mental picture of Chalmers. Yeah, why should he be jealous? Just because Chalmers had a slender, swimmer's body that he obviously worked to keep in shape? Or how about those insanely dark eyes and hair? Or that stupid smile of his? There was no reason to be jealous, right?

Josh's stomach churned as he typed a response.

Will talk to you tomorrow.

"Doc?" Dixon stood naked in the doorway to the bedroom, scrubbing a hand over his eye. "What's going on?"

Josh lifted his mug. "Couldn't sleep. Wanted some hot chocolate. Thank you for buying it, by the way."

He smiled. "Anything for you."

Josh's heart gave another jolt. Sure, they could have been just words, but to his inexperienced ears, it sounded as though Dixon actually meant them.

Josh waved his phone. "Just got a text from Chalmers. He's on his way to town to talk to me about Vreeland. He wants to meet tomorrow."

Dixon scowled. "What the fuck for?" He grabbed his own mug and hot cocoa packet.

He shrugged. "No idea. Guess we'll find that out tomorrow." He drew in a breath. "You're not… you know, interested in him, are you?"

Dixon's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. "What?"

"I mean, I could understand it. He's good-looking and confident and brash and…. You're not, right?"

Please say you're not. I don't think I could stand that.

Dixon widened his eyes. "Interested? In Chalmers? That smug prick? No fucking way." He walked over to Josh, leaned in, and kissed him. "Besides, I'm a one-guy kinda person." He smiled. "And I've found mine."

Okay, that went a long way to soothing Josh's disquiet.

He watched as Dixon made his own mug, then took a seat beside him. "It's a little distracting, having you next to me in that state."

Dixon chuckled. "You saying you want me to put some clothes on?" He batted down his rising cock. "Go back to sleep, you. You've played enough tonight. Keep going at this rate, and you're likely to fall off."

Josh laughed. "I still can't get used to you talking to your dick. It's as if it's a person with its own personality."

"You mean yours doesn't have one?" Dixon lapsed into silence for a moment before turning his head toward Josh. "So you know, Chalmers will be coming here. I'm not having you go outside of CrossBow."

Josh knew Dixon had his best interests at heart, but while the need to be safe was front and center in Josh's thinking, another need was quietly taking prominence.

"I thought we might meet him in town," he said in as even a tone as he could manage.

Dixon blinked.

Before he could refuse, Josh plunged even deeper. "There's this bakery I used to go to. It has the most awesome pastries. There are a couple of tables too. We could meet him over coffee and a bite to eat. And I haven't seen Adele—the owner—in ages. She'll be wondering what's happened to me." He threw in a bout of puppy dog eyes for good measure.

Dixon cocked his head. "Awesome pastries, huh?"

Josh nodded, hopeful his entreaties had landed on fertile soil. "They do the most amazing eclairs. Chocolate icing, and inside, this delicious coffee custard. Adele says she got the idea from a pastry shop she visited one time in Paris."

Dixon laughed. "Great. And how do you think I could watch you putting an eclair into your mouth—and sucking the custard out of it—without getting a hard-on?"

"I could just lick off the tip," Josh suggested. "Slowly." Dixon opened his mouth, but Josh wasn't done. "Look, I'm going a little stir-crazy in here, okay? I know I used to spend most of my life either in the lab or at my place, but at least I got to see the outside world. I need a break, Dixon."

He could do no more.

Dixon regarded him in silence, sipping his cocoa, and with each passing second, Josh felt the probability of his getting to taste Adele's wonderful pastries slipping through his fingers.

At last, Dixon sighed. "You know I'll have to run this past Gary and Michael."

Josh's heart sank. "They'll never agree to it."

Dixon's eyes twinkled. "Then I'll have to do as big a snow job on them as you just did on me." He grinned. "Puppy dog eyes? Really?"

Josh chuckled. "Hey, you work with what you have."

"And you used it in spades." Dixon nodded toward Josh's mug. "Finish your cocoa, Doc, and let's get you back in bed." He smiled. "You need to be alert if we're going to meet Chalmers."

A lightness suffused him. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Gary and Michael haven't said yes yet." Dixon held up a hand. "But you've got me in your corner." Another grin. "Besides, I wanna watch you eat an eclair."

"You could start right now by watching me eat something else," Josh suggested in as seductive a tone as he could manage. The way Dixon's pupils reacted told him he'd hit the mark, and damn, that was an amazing feeling. Maybe it was that he wanted to drive away all thoughts of Chalmers from Dixon's mind, because Josh knew, balls to bones, that he couldn't compete in the looks department.

That hungry expression etched over Dixon's face was going a long way to making Josh feel a whole lot better. More than that, it filled him with something he hadn't even known he'd wanted.

The power to melt Dixon into a puddle of come.

To blow his mind.

Josh stood, grabbed Dixon's hand, and tugged him toward the bedroom.

"You're in an awful big hurry, Doc," Dixon said with a raw chuckle.

He grinned at Dixon. "So would you be if you knew what was coming."

That got him a snort. "Oh, I think that part is guaranteed. What've you got planned?"

Josh paused at the door. "Actually, it's more a case of what you have planned. Because once we get in there?" He leaned in and kissed Dixon on the lips, slow and sensual, then pulled back a little to look him in the eyes. "You get to do whatever…." Kiss. "You…." Kiss. "Want."

The speed with which Dixon flung open the door and propelled him toward the bed was all kinds of gratifying.

Josh clung to Dixon,his arms locked around Dixon's neck, his thighs around Dixon's waist, while Dixon took Josh's weight in his hands and bounced him, spearing him with his dick as he pushed Josh against the door, a standing fuck that robbed Josh of any coherent words. Nonsensical noises tumbled from his lips, and he gave himself up to the effects of gravity, impaling himself over and over again, loving the guttural groans that poured from Dixon's mouth.

Josh was so close, but he didn't want to come before Dixon. He hung on, panting, as Dixon's moans increased, and suddenly there it was, the warmth Josh had sought, filling him, pulsing into him.

What brought him to the edge, however, was Dixon calling out Josh's name as he shot deep, and pride swelled Josh's chest.

I did that.

Not only that, he came hands-free, a thing he hadn't even imagined was possible, and Dixon's heartfelt groan sent him soaring ever higher, so high that he didn't want to come back down to earth.

It doesn't get better than this.

Then Dixon carried him to the bed and laid him on it as though Josh were made of crystal that would shatter if handled harshly. He held Josh to him, kissing his forehead, nose, cheeks and lips, his words the same kind of babble that Josh had uttered moments before.

I was wrong. This is perfect.

They were both hot and sticky, and while Josh knew eventually they'd take a shower, right then, he just wanted to bask in his newfound power, and leave the world and its worries outside the bedroom door.

Dix managedto be patient with Chalmers for all of ten minutes before he took the gloves off. "Okay, you've showed Doc the chemical breakdown of the toxin. He's told you he's never seen anything like it before. So why don't you tell us why you're really here?"

Chalmers frowned. "Excuse me? I told Dr. Malone why I needed to see him."

"Sure, but you could've sent him that in an email. You could've asked him about it over the phone." Dix leaned in. "So why the need to meet face to face?"

Doc stared at him. "Hey. Is there something going on I need to know about?"

Dix shrugged, then pointed to Chalmers. "Ask him."

"Okay, okay," Chalmers remonstrated. He took a breath. "My boss is on us to tie this up with a pretty little bow. From what we gathered about Tanner, he was working for the government for a while. Oddly, records indicate Dr. Malone was there about the same time. Coincidence? Maybe. But Josh did know him, and this is all being looked into from the top down. And since this guy Vreeland was dumped at the exact same spot where you found Tanner's remains…."

Dix waited for more information.

Chalmers rolled his eyes. "Do I have to spell it out? My boss thinks Josh might be involved in this poisoning."

Dix gaped at him. "You're telling us you think Doc is involved somehow in this guy's death? What about the detective? He was found there. Was Doc involved in his death too? And how could he do that from inside CrossBow? Because that's where he's been ever since we left Racine."

"The detective's part of this whole circle. He did question Josh. And no, I don't believe the doc is involved."

"But someone else does, is that what you're saying?" Dix didn't break eye contact. "Come on, Chalmers. You've gotten this far."

"They think I'm the killer?" Doc's jaw fell. "But that's insane."

"That's what I told my boss," Chalmers replied. "After all, I've been on Dr. Malone's case for several years. I know damn well he's no psychopath. But…." Another deep breath. "My boss told me they searched your apartment, Doc."

Dix bristled at the word. You have no fucking right to call him that. It was all he could do to keep his hands on the table.

Doc widened his eyes. "Nice of them to ask. Did they water my plants while they were there? I've neglected them."

"They found samples there."

Dix froze. "Samples of what, exactly?"

Chalmers wore a mask of misery. "The same toxin that killed Vreeland." He sighed. "I was sent here to feel you out, even though I told my boss I didn't buy it. But he sent me anyway." He swallowed, and in that moment, Dix felt a brief flicker of sympathy for the clearly troubled agent. Then he remembered who Chalmers worked for.

"Dr. Malone?—"

"Josh," Doc replied.

"Okay, thanks—Josh. I asked to meet with you because I'm trying to find out what's really going on here."

Dix snorted. "You yourself said we don't have a good working relationship with the government, so why in the fuck would we trust anyone who works for them? You know, like the goddamn feds?"

Chalmers ignored Dixon's outburst. "Josh, do you remember the incident with the toaster? The one that had the helicopter hovering over your place?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

Chalmers tilted his head to one side. "Ever wondered why they didn't simply kick down your door to get inside?"

Doc stared. "Now that you mention it…."

He nodded. "Me and my men were there, and we made them wait until we had confirmation of anything. They wanted you in cuffs, hauled out, and taken to an undisclosed location." He gestured to their surroundings. "How about that time you were in here, waiting on your order, and you realized you didn't have your wallet?"

Doc's breathing hitched. "Now wait a minute. How did you?—"

"The owner said not to worry about it, didn't she? But you were frantically trying to find someone to come pay for you. So while you were on the phone, I came in here and took care of it, then left."

"That was you?"

Chalmers nodded. "We've been watching and trying to keep you out of trouble. And speaking of trouble, I'd say you're in it pretty deep." He glanced at Dix. "No offense, Dixon, but I have resources you might not have access to."

Dix was done. "I think we've heard enough. Doc, we should get going. Did you grab enough eclairs?"

Doc blinked. "Yes. I got two dozen of them. One for Gary, one for Michael."

"And the rest for the refrigerator?"

Doc managed a smirk. "Now would I do that?"

"Seeing as your performance eating one of them required an R-rating, I'd say yes."

"The two of you are so cute together," Chalmers said, then promptly stuck his finger in his mouth and gagged.

The flash of humor dispelled a little of the conversation's intensity.

"Jealousy is an ugly color on you, you know," Dix teased.

"Yeah, well we can't all be lovey-dovey now, can we?" Chalmers stood. "Dr. Malone—Josh—thank you for coming."

"What are you going to tell your boss?" Doc demanded.

"That unless he has evidence he hasn't shown me, I think he's on a wild goose chase." He held out his hand and shook with Josh, then turned to Dix and repeated the gesture. They walked out of the bakery, Chalmers leading. The sidewalk was busy, shoppers going about their business. He pointed left. "I go thataway."

"And we're in the opposite direction."

"I nailed it, didn't I?" Chalmers smiled. "You two are an item."

Dix grinned. "You worked that out all by yourself?" He glanced at Doc, who stood with his back to the traffic. Despite his recent attempt at a lighthearted comment, Dix could see he was still a little shaken.

He slipped his arm around Doc's shoulder, pulled him in, and leaned closer. "Mind if I test out my own theory?"

Doc's eyes widened. "And what's that?"

"Whether coffee-flavored kisses are even better than the original recipe." He cupped Doc's chin and held it steady as he brushed his lips against Doc's.

A crack rent the air, and Doc was shoved into him, sending Dix falling to the ground, landing on his back on the concrete, Doc tumbling with him. Dix reacted automatically, covering Doc with his own body, aware of the screams of the passers-by, the sound of feet as people scuttled for safety.

"Keep the fuck down!" Chalmers yelled.

Dix's ears were filled with Doc's erratic breathing. "I've got you," he whispered. "Just stay down till I say, okay?"

"Dixon…." Doc's eyes were huge.

He wasn't sure how long they laid there. So many screams…. It reminded Dix of the mall incident. Then came sirens in the distance. Finally, everything around them blurred into one big noise, until Dix was conscious only of Doc beneath him.

"Dixon? He's gone. We're searching the area, but we doubt he's still here. Is Josh okay?"

No, he fucking isn't okay, asshole. He's just been shot at. Dix stood slowly, in case he needed to cover Doc again. When he got up, he was ready to pull Doc to his feet when Chalmers gasped. "Oh my God."

It was then Dixon saw the blood covering his shirt and Doc's back, staining the sidewalk a deep brick red.

Dix found it hard to breathe. Why the fuck had he agreed to this? Yet he had, and now Doc was lying on the ground, in a pool of his own blood.

When Dix found out who did this, someone was going to fucking pay.