Chapter 3

Will was the first thing on my mind when I woke up. For someone who didn't like people invading their space, I seemed to be okay with him doing exactly that. Maybe that bump on the head did more to me than I'd initially thought? Serving me soup and crackers at the island had been sweet.

Who the fuck was I calling people sweet? Will was making me lose my damn mind. The withering look Will had given me when I'd tried to get up and serve myself had gone straight to my dick. He wasn't having it, and I'd rolled over like a scolded puppy. After telling me to eat and not letting me clear my bowl, he put me to bed. In the most literal sense.

Will had taken my hand to help me off the stool and then walked me to my bedroom with a hand on my back. He'd waited outside the bathroom while I'd done my business. Maybe it'd been a dream, but I had a fuzzy memory of him touching my face and running his fingers through my hair. He must be magic because I'd slept deeper than I had in forever. The rational part of my brain told me this was bullshit behavior.

But it felt…good?

It was more than that though. I felt safe and like he wanted to be there instead of just doing a favor for Cameron. I didn't know how to explain it because I was clearly doing a shit job of it, even to myself.

When Will took charge, it felt natural. Like that was the way it was supposed to be between us. There was nothing in me that made me want to beat my chest and declare myself an independent man. Did I like it? Yes, definitely. It was still a little, okay, a lot, weird. Given how much my morning wood was making itself known, my dick was all about it though.

People naturally expected cops, even off the clock, to come in and take charge. We were the leaders, the alphas, the authority figures. Between my job and my size, it was the natural assumption. Will treated me differently. It was like I was something precious that he wanted to protect.

It sounded stupid, but that was exactly how I'd felt—protected. When my mom hovered, I wanted to scream, but last night hadn't felt the same. Last night, I'd felt fucking cherished by a guy who fed me some crackers and gave me canned soup out of my pantry. Despite my head still hurting, I was tempted to go rub one out to give my dick some relief. That man was doing something to me.

Relationships and I didn't work, so the only one I was involved with was my hand. My few attempts had fizzled out fairly quickly. Guys got bored when they expected something way more exciting, or it was just me who bored them.

My perfect day was to stay home and read a book, which wasn't really a thing that worked at a club. Besides, I got tongue-tied, couldn't get words out, and was left standing there like a fool. A couple of times, the guys literally shrugged and walked away. It was humiliating.

The ferry schedule limited how long I could stay on the mainland, and I sure as fuck wasn't going to date or fuck around with anyone on the island. So unless I was staying at their house or paying for a hotel, the date had to end in time for me to catch the last ferry at midnight.

Even I could admit that outside of work, I didn't have the take-charge personality many of the guys interested in me wanted from their partner. Over the last couple of years, I'd thought about maybe looking for a Daddy to help me shut up the voice in my head.

Unfortunately, not a lot of them were interested in a gym-rat guy who couldn't say shit when out of uniform, had a bad attitude, and had a five o'clock shadow by noon. I was in no danger of being mistaken for a sweet, smooth-faced twink.

Anyway, it didn't matter because Will being nice when I'd had my head knocked around wasn't code for I want you to suck my brains through my cock and say "Thank you, Daddy" when you're done. If it was code for that, I would be down for it. My experience with Daddies was limited to porn searches and what I'd seen at the club, but none were beating down the door for me.

I needed a shower and food, in that order. Putting my feet on the side of the bed took more effort than expected, but I finally managed to untangle myself from the heavy patchwork quilt and sit up.

My head felt better, but not so good that it didn't still send a shooting pain straight through the back of my skull. That sharp jab of pain took the breath right out of me. There was no stopping the groan from low in my throat, but I tried to force myself to pant through the pain and keep my head still. As soon as the sound escaped, Will appeared in my doorway with a stern scowl that morphed into worry.

"Why are you getting out of bed? You've only been sleeping for a couple of hours. The doctor said you need to rest."

The concern in his voice rushed over me like a fast-moving river. Just like when he'd walked me inside and put me to bed, Will being in charge felt so damn right. Under normal circumstances, fussing over me was the quickest way to get on my nerves. I absolutely detested hovering, and being treated like I didn't know my own mind just pissed me off. Will must have the magic because I wasn't bothered. I liked it.

"Need a piss, a shower, and some food." I hadn't been able to force myself off the side of the bed. My head throbbed, and my eyes were covered with gritty sandpaper.

Will crouched in front of me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said in his matter-of-fact way, "Hey, let me get your water started, and you wait here for it to be ready."

His voice was low and calm. I wanted to let him make me feel better. I had to resist the urge to nuzzle my head under his hand like a damn dog trying to get petted. He'd brought my pain meds with him. He passed them to me, along with a glass of water from my nightstand.

Will's hand stayed on my shoulder as he watched me take the meds. I wasn't sure if he realized he was rubbing circles on my shoulder while he stood there, and I sure as hell wouldn't be the one to tell him.

Warmth radiated from his touch. I wanted to lean toward him. I wanted my shirt to disappear so I could feel his touch on my bare skin. He smelled so damn good, like peaches soaked with brandy. He'd changed out of work clothes and put on a sweatshirt and joggers that shouldn't be sexy but were.

Despite my head throbbing, my dick twitched in my sleep pants. The last thing I needed was for Will to see me with a hard-on. As much as I said I didn't want a babysitter, I also didn't want him to feel uncomfortable.

He would be uncomfortable, right? I'd never given him a reason to think I might be into him. When he first moved in next door, he'd tried to be friendly. I felt so fucking stupid every time he waved because what if he tried to come over and talk? I never knew what to say, and it wasn't like he wanted to hear about my books. It'd been easier to ignore him, so I had. Eventually, he'd given up on trying to reach out. He still always gave me a friendly nod and a smile.

Meds taken, Will headed into the bathroom, and I heard the shower start. I already missed his touch. What the fuck was wrong with me? He didn't like me. I'd been a complete dick to him, even if it was an accident, so I needed to get my shit together. The shower had been on for a bit, so I pushed myself off the side of the bed and headed into the bathroom.

"The water should be warm enough. I'm going to find you some clean clothes and get a towel. Yell if you get dizzy in there, and I'll wait outside the door just in case."

Dammit. He's doing the takeover thing again. I should have spoken up and reminded him I wasn't a kid he was babysitting. Instead, I just grunted my thanks and headed toward the shower.

The water was a gift. My muscles relaxed when the hot water washed over me. I got hard again as I imagined what it would be like if Will was here because he wanted me instead of just doing a favor for Cameron. My cousin could charm anyone into doing anything, even if they weren't friends. It was kinda fucked up.

I forced myself to stop thinking about Cameron and return to an infinitely more pleasant daydream about the sexy-as-fuck neighbor joining me in the shower.

Will would strip out of his clothes and leave them pooled on the floor. He'd watch me from across the room as I shampooed my hair. When I started soaping my body, he'd clear his throat, and I'd look over at him. He'd flash a wolfish grin when I glanced down to see him lazily stroking his own cock. I'd keep soaping myself and reach down for my own dick. After I gave it a few tugs, he'd tell me to keep my hands off his property and push himself off the bathroom counter he'd been leaning against.

He'd give me another predatory smile before saying, "Daddy wants a taste."

Then he'd sit on the stone bench I was extra glad I had installed in the shower. With hands on my hips, he'd pull me close and swallow me down whole. I wouldn't be able to stop the wanton moan that his wet heat pulled from me as I felt his throat constrict around my cock.

"Hey, you doing okay in there? Did you hurt yourself?"

Fuck. Will's voice startled me out of my fantasy, and that moan must not have been just in my head. My cock's slit beaded with precum, and I was so hard that I could barely grind out a coherent response.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute. Could you check and see if any mail came?"

Thank God, I heard him walk away from the bathroom door. The mailbox was at the bottom of the steps, so with luck, I could make this work. With him out of the way, I sat on that bench myself and immediately moved my hand back to my cock. The water couldn't make up for the lack of lube, but the pain was worth it.

I hurriedly jacked myself off until my muscles went tight with the need for relief. My balls were somehow tighter to my body. Damn, it hurt so good. I sped up my hand until cum exploded from my cock and spilled over my hand before being washed away by the water. My panting breaths and racing heart slowed to normal. My headache was still there, but it had definitely toned down.

Who knew that jacking off in the shower while fantasizing about hot neighbors was key to head injury recovery? Medical miracles for the win.

I finished my shower and rinsed off the walls. I stepped out and grabbed the towel and clothes Will had left on the counter. He'd found threadbare sweatpants and an old academy T-shirt that was slightly too small. The pants sat low on my hips and the shirt stretched across my chest and biceps. I should've grabbed different clothes, but I skipped it because I didn't want to risk offending Will. Potentially giving him something to look at never crossed my mind. At all. Not even once.

"Hey, big guy, welcome back to the world. Are you hungry? I grabbed some groceries from my house while you were sleeping so we could eat some real food," Will said as I entered the main living area.

Seeing him in my kitchen did something to me that I didn't know how to put into words. It felt right and natural. He'd made himself at home. A few shopping bags full of groceries sat on the counter and some fruit had migrated to a bowl on the counter. He looked like he belonged. I was here for it.

"Umm, yeah, if you wouldn't mind cooking something, I'd eat." Will's face lit up with a smile that could outpower the sun. The barest hint of crow's feet yet to come crinkled the corners of his eyes.

"Perfect! I've been craving some chicken gnocchi soup if that's okay with you. I'm pretty sure the doc wouldn't appreciate me giving you wine, so no worries about that. Any allergies I need to worry about?" Will looked up from rummaging through the brown paper bag on the counter and gave me a curious look.

"No, I'm not allergic to anything, and I have no idea what gnocchi is."

His smile was still in his eyes when he turned to unpack the groceries onto my counter. He sorted the items into different piles and occasionally turned to put something in my fridge or freezer with quiet competence. Will's energy had a calm I craved.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up and displayed forearms covered in a light dusting of hair, though not enough to hide the sinewy muscles that flexed while he chopped. Will wasn't bulky like me, but those forearms were hot. Watching his muscles and lusting after him felt creepy, given that we'd barely spoken. I knew I should look away, but I didn't want to. Given that I'd jacked off to him in the bathroom, claiming some arbitrary high ground was likely pointless.

Besides the occasional need to find a cooking utensil, Will worked mostly in silence and fixed dinner while I sat at the kitchen island. I wasn't sure if he understood my innate need for quiet or if he just didn't have anything to say, but either way, I enjoyed the silence.

My extended family was always so loud, and it wasn't easy to find a moment of peace around them. Even though I was an only child, my parents had been constantly talking, often yelling, but the principle was the same. They needed to fill the silence as much as I needed to be surrounded by it.

Every once in a while, Will gave me a speculative look when he thought I wasn't looking. I grabbed one of my current books, Designed for Dry Feet, and tried to read a little while I waited. Will glanced over and noticed my book had pictures and illustrations.

"What's that about?" he asked when I turned the page to study another illustration.

He'd moved over so he stood at my shoulder. It was hard to breathe with him so close to me. If I turned even slightly, I could pull him close and wrap my arms around his waist. Maybe he'd let me kiss him, and I could stop wondering what those full pink lips tasted like.

There was a faint scent of coconut in the air, which I guessed was his shampoo, but it made me wonder if he liked the beach. That thought had me pondering what he would look like in a swimsuit and if he was a Speedo or board shorts guy. Naturally, that led down a path of what he looked like out of his swimsuit.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me," Will said with a laugh.

"Oh yeah. Sorry. I don't know where my head went." I know exactly where my head had gone, but I wouldn't admit it. "It's a book about how the Dutch have learned to adapt to living on a flood plain below sea level. It's written by an engineer, and he included illustrations to explain some of the processes."

"Oh cool."

Will surprised me by asking questions about the book and what it had already explained. I always had a book with me around my family or at the station to read when at lunch or on break, but it was pretty rare that anyone asked me what it was about, and if they did, there were never any follow-up questions. Will asked questions as if he were keen to know more about it.

I wasn't the world's best conversationalist, but it seemed unnecessarily rude not to reciprocate his attempts at conversation. He had plenty of questions, so maybe it was stuff he'd seen in person.

"Have you ever been to the Netherlands?"

"No, but it's on my list of places to go. My last boyfriend didn't like to travel but also didn't like the idea of me going alone and leaving him at home. The compromise was for me not to go." Will didn't seem too upset about the relationship ending.

"Is that why you broke up?" Oh fuck. I didn't mean to ask that aloud, but I was curious. "It's none of my business. Don't answer."

"Oh, I don't mind. No, eventually, it probably would've been an issue, but that's not why we broke up. He found certain things about me too much, so he dumped me." Will said it with an unbothered tone and a shrug. He was still making some dough and hadn't lost his concentration.

Who the fuck would dump Will? That was next-level crazy. I knew I shouldn't ask the next question, but I'd lost complete control of my mouth. "What bugged him about you?"

"Turns out I like a little bit too much control for some guys," Will said with a shrug. "I wanted to take care of him and ensure he was getting enough sleep and eating properly. I like taking care of my partner, and some people find it smothering."

"Does that extend everywhere?" I must have had a stroke because that was the only excuse for the way I kept running my mouth. I felt the tips of my ears burn hot and a flush climb up my neck. What the fuck was I thinking? My dick joined the party, thickening in my sweats. I twisted in my seat to get some relief in my tight boxer briefs.

His chuckle was sinful, and his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Absolutely. I'll bottom occasionally if my partner wants that, but I much prefer to top. And, yes, I do like to direct things there too. Ha, I like ‘em needy," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "What about you?"

Will stirred something on the stove, looked at me over his shoulder, and winked. It hadn't occurred to me that Will might turn my questions back on me. Shit. I had no idea what to say. If I told him I almost always topped, but I hated it, he'd ask more questions. My preference was side, but sometimes a good dicking down was a goddamn good time.

"Uh, I like—" As I was about to open my mouth and humiliate myself, my cell vibrated on the countertop. My dad. Fuuuuuuck. My secret dream of avoiding a discussion about how incompetent I was wouldn't come true today.

I allowed it to ring four or five times, hoping he'd hang up, but he was holding on until the end. If I let it go to voicemail, he'd call right back. If I let it go there more than once, he'd been known to show up on my doorstep after the next available ferry. It was easier to pick up, let him say his piece, and be done with it.

"Hello, Dad. Now is a bad time…"

"I don't give a shit what you are doing. How the fuck did you let someone get over on you like that? This is why you need to quit before you get your dumb ass killed. If you were a decent cop, don't you think you'd notice someone coming up on you? Jesus, how did you make it through the academy? A real fucking department wouldn't let you go out there by yourself. That chief of yours doesn't know how to fin…"

Dad always spewed for a while when he'd worked up a head of steam, and he never needed or wanted my input. He'd be done soon, and I could stop pretending to be part of the conversation.

The yelling made my head hurt, though, so I held my phone away from my ear. Will looked up with widened eyes when he heard my dad still at it. His eyes quickly narrowed, and his pretty pink lips transformed into a scowl when he saw my pinched expression while I rubbed one of my temples. He made gimme hands and pointed to the phone. What was going on here? Dumbfounded, I handed it over without argument.

"Sir," Will said sharply into the phone. "Beckett isn't in any condition to speak with you right now. The noise is bothering his head, so I'm going to hang up now. Please give him a few days to heal."

"Who the fuck is th?—"

HOLY SHIT.

Will hung up on my dad.