Chapter 12

GREGORY WRAPPED Fillian in his arms, doing his best to let go of his worries and just be in the moment. Fillian was hot, and the way he touched Gregory made him forget about everything and everyone. Gregory slid down under the covers, holding Fillian, his solid weight pressing down on top of him. There was something comforting about having Fillian on top of him, like nothing could reach him as long as Fillian was there.

It also meant that as Gregory slipped his hands down Fillian’s back, he could grip that amazingly tight and hard ass. Fillian groaned before covering his mouth with his, kissing Gregory hard, ramping up the heat between them until all Gregory could think about was Fillian. He became the very center of his attention, and Gregory let it all go.

“Damn, I love kissing you,” Fillian whispered before kissing him again. “You taste like salt and even a little butter from all that popcorn, but also you.” He kissed away Gregory’s ability to speak and splayed his hands against his side.

Gregory held Fillian tightly in case he split into a million pieces. His heart pounded and his breath hitched as Fillian slid against him, their cocks pressing to one another. Gregory thrust upward for more purchase, and Fillian gave it to him, rocking slowly back and forth. This was almost more than Gregory could take.

“Fillian… I feel like a teenager.”

“Is that a happy, excited teenager… or a stiff breeze kind of teenager?” Fillian asked. “Because I’m a mixture of both right now.”

“Me too,” Gregory admitted. Something about Fillian really got him going. He could feel him not just physically, but on the inside. Fillian made him feel warm and safe and want things he didn’t think he could ever have, at least not since he got the kids. Gregory had never dreamed that he’d find someone who would be willing to not only be part of his life, but the kids’ as well. That was a lot to ask. And hell, the kids liked Fillian, Gregory was falling in love with the guy, and…. He stilled as the full realization of his thought slammed into him.

“Is something wrong?” Fillian asked, looking deep into his eyes, blinking slowly.

“No. At this moment everything is right.” He smiled and tugged Fillian down, kissing him hard, taking possession of those lips. He wanted Fillian to know how he felt, and words didn’t seem quite adequate.

“Are you sure?” Fillian asked.

“Oh yeah,” Gregory groaned. What he truly wanted had suddenly become clear. Fillian wanted to protect him and the kids, and Gregory wanted to do the same in return. Now he just needed to figure out who had it in for him and get them to back off. Hopefully then Gregory could have everything he’d ever wanted. He looked up at Fillian and fought a sigh.

Fillian kissed him, pulling Gregory out of his doubt and back into the blissful brightness of passion. It didn’t take long for him to find himself in a haze of desire that left him oblivious and uncaring about anything other than Fillian and what he was doing to make him feel like he was on top of the world and the very center of the universe.

And when Fillian slid downward, trailing his lips over Gregory’s skin, he closed his eyes, taking in every single sensation as Fillian drew closer to his aching cock. He held his breath, waiting, praying… until Fillian closed his lips around his length and Gregory sank into delicious, wet oblivion. Fillian had a talented mouth. He could kiss breath-stealingly well, and damn, the man could suck cock like nobody’s business.

The last guy he was with before getting the kids hadn’t enjoyed that part of things, but Fillian seemed to revel in it—and in leaving Gregory breathless with aching need. He gripped the bedding, kept his eyes closed, and held on tight while Fillian drove him out of his mind, a state that Gregory hoped would never end.

“Fillian,” he croaked, trying desperately to keep himself under control, but he was losing it fast.

Fillian backed away. “Am I doing something wrong?” He smirked, his lips a little crooked, mischief shining in those amazing eyes.

“God no.” Gregory breathed deeply and tugged Fillian upward, bringing their lips together. “You make me feel like a teenager again, and I never thought that was possible.”

Fillian chuckled. “Then let me get back to it. I want you to feel that way. Hell, I want you to think that anything is possible, because it is.”

Gregory rolled Fillian over on the bed.

“And I want you to know that you—” Gregory’s voice broke, and he ended up growling instead. “You make me feel like I can do anything.” He kissed Fillian before returning the favor, taking his length between his lips, burying his nose against his skin. Fillian gasped, and Gregory sucked harder, wanting Fillian to feel like a teenager as well.

“Gregory,” Fillian whispered as he backed off. Then Gregory took him deeply again, bobbing his head, the taste of Fillian bursting on his tongue. Damn, he loved that feeling. Fillian’s soft groans filled the room, driving Gregory forward.

Soon they moved together, Fillian thrusting upward and Gregory sliding his lips down to meet him. Fillian groaned louder, his movements becoming less regular, and Gregory knew he was getting close. He refused to stop, loving the moans that rang off the walls until Fillian gasped, his breathing shallow and desperate.

“Gregory, I can’t…,” Fillian muttered between clenched teeth.

Gregory took him all the way as Fillian tumbled into his release, Gregory swallowing his salty essence before slowly pulling away, smiling at Fillian as he gazed up at him with wide eyes full of wonder.

Gregory lay still, their gazes locked together. “Are you okay?” What the hell. “Did I break you?”

“Kind of,” Fillian groaned before pulling Gregory into his arms.

“Look, you don’t have to—” Gregory started.

Fillian cut him off by manhandling him onto the bed. “Damn, you were sexy as hell, and you blew my mind.” He grinned before taking Gregory to the hilt, sending all the air whooshing out of his lungs. His eyes crossed, and once he was able to inhale it took all his willpower not to groan at the top of his lungs and wake the entire damned house. Gregory liked getting his cock sucked, but this was more than that, more intimate and special. Gregory closed his eyes for a second and just let the sensation of wet heat flow through him, but it wasn’t until he opened his eyes that the wave of passion slammed into him. It was the sight of Fillian, strong and so sure of himself, taking him between his lips—a beautiful sight that absolutely stole his breath.

Fillian pulled away for a second, and Gregory tugged him to his lips. They kissed deeply before Fillian slipped back down and slid Gregory’s cock into his mouth until Gregory’s entire body vibrated and he lost control, giving himself over to Fillian and floating on the clouds of their shared passion until he tumbled into a release that left him soaring in Fillian’s strong arms before coming back down to earth.

“Good God,” Gregory muttered.

“You can say that again,” Fillian whispered in return before kissing him. “You need to come with a hotness warning label, sweetheart, because you nearly blew my mind twice.” Fillian held him tightly, and Gregory snuggled down under the covers while Fillian slipped out of bed.

“I’ll be right back.” He pulled on his robe and left the bedroom, then returned a few minutes later after a few stair creaks that told Gregory where he’d been. “Everything is locked up, and both kids are sound asleep.” He slipped out of the robe, his golden skin glowing in the small bit of light from the street. He got back into bed and tugged Gregory into his arms. “Go to sleep. Nothing is going to happen while you’re here.”

Gregory nodded and closed his eyes, drifting off more quickly than he could remember in quite a while.

FILLIAN INSISTED that Gregory and the kids stay at the house for a few days, and Gregory didn’t argue. He’d slept like the dead knowing Fillian had his back and would keep them safe. He tried his best not to think about whoever had left the note as he helped Fillian make breakfast the following morning. After eating, Fillian went to work, and Gregory took the kids to the Y before heading to his first job. It was raining, which for Gregory was a bit of a relief. The kids would be spending their day inside in the gym and activity rooms, which meant, at least to Gregory, that they were safer. The kids were excited when he signed them in, and they took right off for the activity room set up as an awesome obstacle course with tunnels and stuff.

Gregory wished he could stay, but he had back-to-back jobs. Both of them seemed to work out. He had the materials he needed, and everything went smoothly. Fillian texted at lunchtime to make sure everything was okay. Gregory hadn’t seen anyone hanging around to watch him, and he answered that everything was fine. I’m going to stop at the apartment after work to get the kids some more clothes.

Do you want me to meet you there? Fillian texted.

I’m fine. I’ll call if anything is wrong. He got a smiley face as a response and then went back to rewiring Mr. Phillips’s basement, which was going to take the following day to finish up. Everything seemed to be going well, which Gregory refused to think too much about because it was then that things usually went to crap.

I changed shifts and got this weekend off. Do you want to go camping with the kids? And just like that, with a single message, things got even better. Gregory answered right away and started making lists in his head for what he would need to get.

At the end of the day, before picking up the kids, he returned to the apartment, parked in front, and unlocked the door. As he climbed the stairs, the faint scent of smoke still hung in the air. When he reached the landing, he stopped, looking at his door with a folded piece of paper taped to it. He reached out to take it but stopped himself and called Fillian instead.

“There’s another note on my door,” he told him as soon as he answered.

“I’m on my way, and I’ll call Carter. Did you touch it?”

“No. I don’t even know what it says, but it was waiting for me when I got here.” He tried not to think about it. “The locks on the front door weren’t broken or anything.”

“Let me make that call. I’ll be there in five.” Fillian hung up.

Sirens sounded less than two minutes later, growing closer before stopping outside the building. Gregory let Fillian and Carter in and followed them up the stairs. Carter pulled on gloves and took down the note, then showed it to both of them.

Don’t think you can hide from me , it read. I will find you… all of you. It was printed in red magic marker.

Gregory read it and turned to Fillian. “What the hell is going on? Someone is as crazy as shit, and I’m tired of it.” He could only shake his head.

“It seems to be the same paper as the last note, and the writing looks about the same.” Carter pulled out his phone and compared the note to a picture.

“Do you want me to let you in?” Gregory was determined to hold it together as he unlocked both locks on the door. Fillian and Carter went inside, and he carefully followed behind, letting them look around.

“Does it look like anyone has been here?” Carter asked. Gregory looked through the place, checking out the kids’ rooms as well as his own. “The locks don’t seem to have been messed with, and there’s nothing disturbed.”

Gregory went through his room and even checked under the bed, but as far as he could tell, no one had been inside. He was pretty sure of that. “I don’t think anyone’s been here. I can’t see that anything was taken or damaged, and I don’t get the feeling like someone has come and gone.” He sat down in the living room. “So it seems like they got into the building and left the note.”

“Let’s put a small camera in the hallway. We can install it over the front door, looking up the stairs. If someone comes in again, we’ll be able to see them. We’ll need the landlord’s permission,” Carter added.

“I can get that,” Gregory offered. “They’re good people, and they want this to stop as much as I do.” It seemed like a simple solution.

“I have one in my car,” Fillian said. “It’s small enough that no one is going to see it unless they’re specifically looking for it.” He left and returned while Carter went out as well. Gregory stayed where he was, his anger building. He was so tired of all this shit. Whoever was doing this deserved to be hung up by his balls.

Footsteps on the stairs pulled him out of his anger. “I don’t see anything out front. I’d say that whoever got in used a key. I’m assuming you have one to the outer door, and so would the other tenant, as well as the landlord. We’ve already spoken to them because of the last incident. I doubt Chris would let anyone in. The other tenant was away for a couple days the last time, and your landlords were visiting in Virginia. All verified.” Carter read from his notes. “So… do you know of anyone else who has a key?”

“I’ve never given one to anyone,” Gregory said.

“Did you loan your keys to anyone at some point?” Carter asked.

Gregory thought a minute. “I mean, I let Fillian use them once, but he gave them back.” He knew he was being a smartass, but giving out copies of his house keys was something he didn’t do. Not with anyone.

“Okay. Someone likely has a key to the outside door but can’t get any further and is using that access to try to scare you.”

Gregory stood taller. “It isn’t going to work. I’m tired of all this, and I’m damned sick of feeling afraid all the time. I’ll move or add eight locks to the door, but I’m keeping the kids safe, and I’m not letting this crazy sicko dictate my life.” He wanted to hit something, but he unclenched his fists and sighed. “Lawrence is still in jail, right?”

“Yeah. It’s definitely not him.”

“Can I speak to him?” Fillian asked.

Carter shook his head. “Afraid not. He doesn’t want to talk to you, and the chief doesn’t think it’s a good idea either because of your personal connection to the case. I was able to speak with him, though.”

“And…?” Gregory asked. “Way to bury the lede.” He was getting cranky.

“There isn’t much to go on. He admits to following you around because he’s kind of obsessed with you. We are currently having him evaluated to make sure he’s competent to stand trial. But he denies setting the fire in the stairwell or leaving notes anywhere. In fact, when I brought up those things, he got angry… on your behalf.”

“Could it be an act?” Gregory asked.

“I don’t think so. He admits to thinking he had a chance when you were at his house and to following you around town. But he was actually perplexed at the other things, and like I said, he was upset and angry. So I think we have two people involved. The camera is installed here, and I’d say it’s best if you stay with Fillian for the time being, but make a show of coming back here on occasion. Be careful when you head to Fillian’s—make sure you aren’t followed.”

“And park in my garage so no one sees the vehicle.”

“Yeah, I know. But why come back here?”

“Because we want whoever is doing this on camera, and to do that, we want them to think you and the kids are here. Otherwise they will probably try to find out where you are.” Carter turned on some lights and made a point of standing near the front window, keeping his side or back to it. “If you have any timers, put a couple lights on them and make them overlap, or get those Wi-Fi lightbulbs that you can turn on and off with your phone.”

“Okay.” It seemed like a lot, but if he got them, then he could have lights go on and off in the rooms throughout the house.

“We can pick some up and get them installed,” Fillian offered, and Gregory agreed.

“What else do I need to do?” Gregory asked.

Fillian came closer. “The most important thing is to keep yourself and those kids safe, and we’re going to do that. You stay at the house, and call me when you arrive at and leave a job. Or text me where you’re going.”

“Like I’m a kid?” Gregory asked.

“Just so I can know you’re okay,” Fillian said gently. “I’d feel better if you weren’t alone, but this way I can be there with you in a way.”

Gregory sighed. “Okay.” When he put it like that, how could he be a dick about it? Even if he kind of wanted to. “Let me get some things for the kids and then I can go pick them up.” He checked the time and hurried to Weston’s room, then packed some additional clothes for him and then Marnie, knowing they probably wouldn’t be happy with what he picked out, no matter what he brought back to Fillian’s. He also got a few things for himself before joining the others in the living room.

Both of them were on the phone, and Gregory took the clothes down to the truck. When he came back up, they were still on the phones. Fillian wrapped up and joined him.

“Is there anything else you need? Carter is following up on the last note to see if the lab found anything.”

Gregory nodded and leaned close to Fillian. “You know you look really sexy in your uniform.” He winked. “Do you think you could frisk me sometime?”

Fillian smiled. “That could be arranged.” They watched each other until Carter hung up.

“Okay. First, you two are sickeningly adorable together. Second, they didn’t find anything on the last note. No fingerprints, just a few slightly oily smudges. Whoever put it up probably used gloves, maybe the driving kind, because the oil was a leather moisturizer. I’d suspect we’ll find the same thing with this one.”

“Leather gloves in the summer, like that isn’t suspicious,” Gregory chimed in. “Who the heck wears gloves in the summer?”

“They don’t, unless they’re planning to break in somewhere. Whoever it was came prepared, or at least they thought they did,” Carter said. “Let’s get out of here and let the cameras do their thing.” He led the way, with Gregory double locking the door on his way out.

OF COURSE he had brought the wrong clothes or the wrong shoes. Marnie wanted her pink ones, while Weston just took what Gregory gave him and tossed it into his bag before going back to the video game he’d been playing. Fillian had found an old console in one of the closets and set it up.

“It’s okay,” Gregory told Marnie. “It’s just a few days.”

“But I wanted the pink ones.”

Gregory stayed patient. “Did you tell me that?”

“No.”

“Then how was I to know? I brought you what I could find. Now, you can mope all you want, but it isn’t going to change anything.” If he lived through their teenage years, it would be a miracle. “But I do want to tell both of you that Fillian got the weekend off, so we’re all going camping!” He hoped that the cheers and excitement meant that the drama over shoes was forgotten, at least for now.

“Where?”

“Can we go to a place with lakes and stuff?” Weston asked.

“Yes. There will be a place to go swimming. I promise.” He caught each of them in a hug, happy they were happy.

“HEY, WHAT’S with the pasted-on happy face all evening?” Fillian asked once Gregory slipped under the covers. He wore boxers because he wasn’t sure that one of the kids wasn’t going to come in during the night. In fact, he half expected it. Marnie had moved from the living room to the guest room, and Weston was still camping out, but on the floor in the office. They were both asleep the last time he checked, but this was a strange place for them, and if they woke, they’d look for him.

Fillian, on the other hand, wore nothing, and Gregory slipped his arms around him and copped a feel of his tight backside.

“I guess as much as I tried, I couldn’t just let this whole note thing go. Who does crap like that?” Gregory asked.

“I’ve been giving it some thought, and I keep wondering the same thing. There has to be a reason for all of it. Is there a client who might have taken something wrong and thinks you spurned them? Some dispute over a bill?” Fillian shrugged. “I’m running on empty here.” He slid closer. “Is there one of the guys on the team who might be jealous? It’s a pretty mixed bag of guys. I know it sounds weird, but I’m grasping at straws.”

The thought had never occurred to him. “I doubt it. If anything, they’d be upset because of the kids. I used to go out with the guys all the time, but I haven’t done that nearly as much since I got them. Marnie and Weston like to go to Molly’s, but it’s expensive, and I don’t want them in a place like that all the time. So I go out occasionally, and that hasn’t changed recently.” He yawned and closed his eyes. “I hate thinking about my friends this way. I’ve known some of those guys for years. I’m closest to Stevie… but can you see him doing something like this?”

Fillian shook his head. “Not really. These are guys who have an outlet for their frustrations. They don’t keep them bottled up inside. This note writer… I get the sense that they are a whole mess of pent-up resentment. That somehow they think you don’t see them, and it’s spilling over into over-the-top behavior. That isn’t the guys on the team. Not that it couldn’t be, I suppose, but I don’t see it.” His expression grew even more serious, and he pursed his lips. “There is one person we haven’t talked about again, and I think we need to. Your mother.” He winced as he said it. “She wants the kids and has said more than once that they should be staying with her.”

Gregory shook his head. “I know Mom thinks that Arthur and Stephanie should have left her with custody. But my mom is more likely to hire a lawyer to do her dirty work. If she thought she had a chance, she’d go the legal route. My mother doesn’t leave notes, and setting a fire would endanger the kids, and she’d never do that. I really believe that.”

“I had to bring it up because….” Fillian bit his lower lip.

“I know you did, and I’m not shocked or mad at you for it.” He rested his head against Fillian’s shoulder. “I hate this, looking at my friends as though they could be stalkers. Trying to think who might have a thing for me or something.” It was giving him a headache.

“Who says that this has anything to do with having a ‘thing’ for you?” Fillian rolled him on the bed and pressed Gregory against the mattress. “As far as I know, there is only one guy who has a thing for you… and it’s me. I’m not counting Lawrence.”

“As far as you know.” Gregory asked as he batted his eyes at Fillian until they both broke down into laughter.

“You are cute and sexy,” Fillian said before kissing him and running his hands over Gregory’s side, making him laugh.

“You aren’t supposed to tickle,” Gregory said, chuckling lightly and squirming away.

“I heard you,” Weston said from the door, and Fillian pulled up the covers to his neck.

“We’re sorry, buddy,” Gregory said as Weston made a jump for the bed.

“Are you playing tickle monster? I wanna play too,” Weston said as Gregory caught him.

He lifted him onto his arms and stood up. “It’s too late for tickle monster. We were just talking.” He left the room and took Weston back to the office. “It’s time for you to go back to sleep.” He set him down in the office, and Weston slipped back into his sleeping bag. “Are you okay now?”

“Yes, Daddy. I love you.”

Those words never failed to touch his heart but always brought a pang of regret. Gregory adored those words, but when he heard them, he couldn’t help thinking that Arthur should be the one hearing them. He pushed that thought away, hugging Weston before he got settled, and Gregory partially closed the door as he left the room. Then he checked on Marnie, who was sound asleep, before joining Fillian in bed.

“Sorry,” Fillian said softly.

Gregory slipped back under the covers. He rolled onto his side and pressed himself to Fillian’s wide back. “Not your fault. It happens sometimes.” He couldn’t help sighing.

“What’s running through your head now?” Fillian asked.

“I don’t know. Too much.” Gregory closed his eyes.

Fillian rolled over and slid his fingers along Gregory’s cheek. “Stop worrying. I know what this is. And I’m not going to go running into the night because one of the kids interrupted what I hoped was going to be a little sexy time.”

“But I’m sure you never expected to be cockblocked by a six-year-old,” Gregory whispered.

“No, I didn’t. But I also never expected to be part of a family like this. I had cousins to play with, and when I figured out I was gay, I thought I might find someone great to spend my life with, but kids were never part of the picture. Not that I don’t want them or that I don’t love Weston and Marnie, because they’ve worked their way into my heart as fast as you did. I just didn’t see kids as a possibility.”

“And now?” Gregory asked. “What do you see now?” He almost held his breath, waiting for the answer. It felt like this was one of those moments where an answer to a simple question could change everything. “What is it you want, when you know the full breadth of what’s possible?”

“I guess I want it all,” Fillian whispered. “I know I want you—all of you—to be part of my life. What that looks like, I have no idea. And I guess that I have to be patient and let things work themselves out. I know I love you, and those kids could have me wrapped around their little fingers so danged easily, it’s frightening.”

He stilled and let what Fillian had said sink in, warmth spreading through him. “Tell me about it.” Gregory sat up. “Every time I look into Weston’s eyes or when he smiles, I see Arthur so clearly. It’s like he’s right there under the surface. And Marnie… she is the spitting image of her mother, and yet when she’s angry and her brows knit together, it’s Arthur. Those kids….” He closed his eyes. “I get scared that I’m going to do something wrong. I never saw myself as a parent. Like you, I figured I’d never have kids, and then wham, Arthur and Stephanie are gone and I have two kids and a mother who resents the entire situation because she feels that she should be the one to raise them.”

Fillian drew closer. “Maybe that’s why you’re such a good dad. You not only worry about what you might be doing wrong, but you go that extra mile, knowing your mother never could.” He closed the gap between them, kissing Gregory gently and wrapping him in his arms. “You’re stronger than you know.”

Gregory chuckled. “Sometimes I feel like one of those girders inside a building that no one knows is rusted on the inside and completely weak and useless.” He closed his eyes.

“Really? I don’t agree. I’m a little shorter than you, but I’m strong. I’ve spent years building my muscles so I can do my job. But I see you as the strong one… because of what’s inside. And I’m sort of in awe of that.” He kissed him again. “Now we need to be quiet and go to sleep, or else I’m not going to keep my hands off you.”

“I see,” Gregory said before slipping out of the bed. He closed the door and then pushed down his boxers. “What were you saying about those hands of yours?” He hurried back to the bed and right into Fillian’s arms.