According to Design Read online

  Keegan wanted to go to him, but continued to wander around. The storm rose deep inside. To control some of the nervous energy, he rubbed his hands together. He needed to calm down this panic attack. There was no logical explanation for this to happen.

  Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. He repeated the mantra in his mind, then said under his breath, “This night is for Wyatt. Don’t fuck this up.”

  “Did you say something?”

  Keegan breathed in deep, held it for a count, then released it while he continued to calm the internal storm. “Just talking to myself, nothing big.”

  “Are you leaving?”

  “No, I promised I would be here for you. I don’t skimp on my promises.” Keegan folded his arms on top of the bar. “What are you going to do with me?”

  A small smile lifted one corner of Wyatt’s mouth. He took the final sip of water, then left the glass in the sink. “I’m so damn out of it and not really up to doing anything.”

  “We don’t have to do anything fancy,” Keegan said.

  “Oh, forgot to ask you. Why do you have a go bag in your car?”

  Keegan glanced at the duffel then back to Wyatt. “You never know what you’ll run into at a crime scene. I wear a full coverall, but it doesn’t always work. Sometimes a smell can permeate anything no matter how many precautions you take. Plus, according to Malcolm, it makes me appear funny-looking.”

  “Like skunk squirt. Mal finds humor in almost anything.”

  “That could be one possibility, but I’ve landed in things far worse than the most pungent skunk spray. Even for a quick drive home, I’m not sitting in my car and stinking up the joint. Not my style. Plus I would need to do more cleaning and just…” Keegan grimaced with a quick shake. “Nope. Hate cleaning as it is, but to deal with a funk. Yuck.”

  “Yeah, that would be nasty.”

  “Time-consuming.”

  Wyatt studied the bag again. “So, if it’s for work. Guess it wasn’t there only because you’re planning on staying with me.”

  “While it’s there for another purpose, I always intended to ask you about staying a night. Especially spending this evening with you.” Keegan caressed his thumb down the side of Wyatt’s face. “I’m here to give you the support and comfort you need to get you through the night.”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Yes, you weren’t like this on our date.”

  “Our date gave me that punch of energy to get through the rest,” Wyatt admitted. “I did promise we would take things slow. Date for a bit. Not jump into anything.”

  “We’re not jumping into anything. I promise.”

  “But you’re standing here in my home. Spending the night with me.”

  “To sleep, but not sex. Since neither one of us are a ‘jump in bed on the first date’ kind of man, I believe we’ll behave ourselves.”

  “Why are you doing this, Keegan?”

  “No reason, other than hold you close so you don’t have to sleep alone tonight. I can’t offer more, not at this point.” Keegan slid one hand into a pocket.

  “It’s all I want tonight. I haven’t gotten much sleep.” Wyatt dragged fingers through his hair. “Do you want coffee, tea or something else?”

  “No, I’m good. What time is it?”

  “Oh, I have no idea.” Wyatt pulled out a phone and pressed a button to activate the screen. “Damn. It’s almost eleven. I didn’t think things went on that long.”

  “How about you go clean up and change clothes? I’ll follow later. I would ask for the second bathroom, but I’m sure that belongs to Collin.”

  “Yup, I’m pretty positive it’s a biohazard.”

  Keegan draped his jacket and tie over his arm. He handed Wyatt his jacket and picked up his duffel. “Guess I shouldn’t chance it.”

  “Nope, not unless you’re wearing one of those crime scene suits,” Wyatt said.

  “Typical teenager.”

  “Something I’m learning as we figure out our way through this. He’s a good kid.”

  “Yeah, he’s a good kid. He’s doing so much better since our talk with him. I’m impressed by how he turned things around.”

  “Same here. Talking to the counselor is helping him get things off his shoulders. I’ve seen him working out to get in shape. Other than being an artist, he dreams of joining the national soccer team and become an Olympian. It’s a lofty goal, but he has the talent.” Wyatt stuffed the silk tie in a pocket and flipped his jacket over his shoulder. Then he led Keegan through the great room and made his way to the master bedroom suite. He clicked off lights as they went. “Lemme find hangers for your suit and shirt. Don’t think you’ll want to ball them up in the bag.”

  “Not really, it’s my only good one that I use for when I make an appearance in court,” Keegan said. The colors within the room reflected the beautiful beach and ocean, but in a muted fashion. Sand was dominant within the pale wood furniture and walls. Accents of blue were in the curtains, bedding and a couple of throw rugs on the natural bamboo floor. “This isn’t what I imagined as a room for an artist.”

  “I work with colors all day and couldn’t handle it when I tried to relax. So I chose quiet shades. Nothing fancy on the walls. It’s soothing.”

  “Understandable,” Keegan said.

  “What about you?”

  “My place? I’m in one of the apartments by the beach so can’t really decorate much. Other than the stacks of boxes I haven’t unpacked.”

  “Why haven’t you settled in?”

  “I’m searching for a more permanent place so I didn’t want to unpack everything only to put it all back in a couple of months.”

  “How’s it going? The search I mean?” Wyatt entered the closet while talking. He returned to the main room without his jacket and tie. He held out two hangers. “You can hang your stuff in here or on the door.”

  “I’ve put things on hold to concentrate on school and the precinct work,” Keegan said with a smile. “Go on and take a shower. I’m sure you want to relax a bit.”

  “Do you want one?”

  “Nope, I’m good. Just need to do normal night crap, but I can wait.”

  Wyatt disappeared back in his closet to get a few things. He left with a bundle in his hands and opened the other door, which Keegan presumed was the bathroom.

  Keegan didn’t hear the lock click. While he waited for Wyatt to finish his shower, he went to the armchair in the corner next to a stuffed bookcase and reading lamp. He draped his tie and jacket on the side of the chair and dropped his bag on the cushion. With a few movements, he was down to his boxers.

  A sharp cry rang out from the bathroom.

  “Wyatt?” Keegan raced across the room. He shouldered open the door and skidded across the tiles to the glass-enclosed shower stall. He discovered Wyatt crumpled in the corner.

  Concerned at the sight of Wyatt breaking down, Keegan entered the stall. The warm spray soaked his boxers as he stepped under it and adjusted the showerhead. Wyatt pulled his knees in tight and wrapped his arms around them. Wyatt rocked, his sobs audible under the noise of the shower.

  Although Wyatt was in so much internal pain, Keegan couldn’t help but look at the tattoos he’d managed to see during their initial meeting. All of the ink was displayed in full glory. The single arm sleeve was filled with intricate details and vivid pigments. In contrast, his other arm remained completely bare.

  “Wyatt, hey there.” He kept his tone soft so as not to startle Wyatt. He rested his fingers on Wyatt’s forearms.

  At Keegan’s call, Wyatt unwound to twist and curl into Keegan’s embrace. His weight and neediness forced Keegan to fall onto the tiled floor. Keegan held Wyatt tight against him, wrapping both his arms and legs around him. Their breaths mingled together. Keegan smoothed Wyatt’s hair. He pressed soft kisses along the dragon’s head and body inked across Wyatt’s shoulder. He traced the line of Wyatt’s tattoos with his fingers.

  Other than weeping, Wyatt remained quiet for a l
ong time. He kept one arm around Keegan’s neck. He didn’t move farther away from Keegan’s closest pectoral.

  The shower changed from warm to cold. The moment lingered between them.

  Keegan’s teeth chattered. His boxers were clammy and uncomfortable. “How about we try getting out of here?” He tucked one lock of Wyatt’s hair around his ear.

  Wyatt lifted his head. Swollen and reddened skin circled his eyes.

  Keegan traced his fingers from Wyatt’s hair then down the side of his face. “Can you stand?”

  “Yeah,” Wyatt said, his voice thick and rough. When the cold spray hit some sensitive parts, Wyatt cursed. He reached up to press the panel to turn off the water. He took a deep breath and kept his eyes downcast.

  “Come on. On your feet,” Keegan encouraged.

  Together, they unwound their limbs and managed to climb to their feet.

  “You didn’t get much of a shower,” Keegan said.

  “Don’t want it.”

  Keegan opened the door to let them step out. He snagged the towels, finding them warmed from the special rack, and wrapped one around Wyatt’s body. His wet boxers were uncomfortable. He pushed them down. They fell with a plop. He covered his lower body with another towel. After he maneuvered Wyatt to sit on the closed toilet seat, he grabbed one more towel to dry Wyatt’s longish-layered hair. He used the comb he found on the counter to disentangle his locks. Wyatt didn’t say anything.

  “Do you want gel or something in your hair?” Keegan asked.

  “No.”

  Keegan rubbed the back of his knuckles against the light growth on Wyatt’s chin. “How about a shave?”

  “No, just this…” Wyatt placed one hand on Keegan’s hip and forced him to step between Wyatt’s thighs. He rested his forehead on Keegan’s belly, his arms circling Keegan’s waist and legs. His shoulders rolled forward. A long sigh escaped.

  Keegan left the comb on the dresser and fingered Wyatt’s hair. He traced his fingers along the second dragon inked in sapphire tones across Wyatt’s upper left back. The green dragon was its perfect match while it stretched and climbed across his upper chest and shoulder. He liked how the dragons’ tails twisted together around a gay pride flag.

  Wyatt huffed and shifted away from the light touch. “Ticklish.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to tickle you. I’m admiring all of this beautiful ink.”

  Wyatt adjusted his position but didn’t let go of Keegan.

  Keegan returned his hands to Wyatt’s shoulders, neck and hair. He kept them there until Wyatt lifted away first. He picked up the sleep pants Wyatt had chosen earlier and handed them over. “Can you change into these on your own?”

  “Yeah, I’ll manage.”

  “I’m gonna get my pants. Meet you by the bed.” Keegan placed his lips on Wyatt’s temple. He stepped back away from Wyatt’s touch.

  Wyatt lifted his head. His pale green eyes glistened with tears. “Wait, don’t leave.”

  “What is it?” Keegan crouched in front of Wyatt. He rested his hands on Wyatt’s bare legs.

  Wyatt kissed him to stop any more talking or arguments. Keegan made a tiny shocked noise but relaxed into the kiss. He wrapped his fingers around the back of Wyatt’s neck to hold them together. Their lips met, parted then slid together again within the gentle kiss. Everything about this moment was far different than anything they’d shared. Keegan knew he wouldn’t ever forget this one.

  When Wyatt retreated, he blinked, appearing a little dazed from the kiss. Not wanting to let the connection go, Keegan pulled Wyatt back in for another. He hoped the touch of their lips could take Wyatt away from his pain. If only for a little bit. This time Keegan moved away first.

  Wyatt touched their foreheads together. “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. I’m here for you.” Keegan disentangled himself with care then went to the bedroom. After the towel had dropped, he grabbed his pants to hike them up his legs.

  “You’re a beautiful man, Keegan.”

  Keegan’s cheeks warmed from Wyatt’s compliment. He didn’t get them that often, not since his time with his ex, Dwayne, messing him up. He knew some scars remained upon his body after his ordeal. He kept the memory locked down since his ex had no reason to be in this room.

  Wyatt stood next to Keegan. He drew his fingers along Keegan’s cheek. “Your hair is curling around my fingers.”

  “It does that when I don’t tame it down with gel and stuff,” Keegan said.

  “What does it look like all natural?”

  “A mess.”

  “I doubt anything about you could be considered a mess,” Wyatt said as he brushed their lips together. He walked away to the bed, where he yanked back the covers. He flopped down with a groan.

  After he’d made sure their phones were close, Keegan flicked off the lights before he crawled across the massive bed. He found Wyatt once he’d slid under the covers and spooned behind the larger man. He wrapped his arms around Wyatt, cuddling him close, and nuzzled the back of Wyatt’s neck.

  “Sleep. I have you. I promise,” Keegan said and continued to whisper until he heard Wyatt slip into a deep sleep. Soon he followed him.

  * * * *

  When he opened his eyes again, the front of him warm and his cock harder than a normal morning woody, Keegan stretched his legs one at a time carefully. He flexed one arm and Wyatt moaned in his sleep. Keegan breathed in Wyatt’s morning scent. Taking care not to disturb Wyatt, he tilted his hips back to give his erection some relief.

  “Hey, I liked that against my ass,” Wyatt muttered in a sleep-thickened voice.

  “Thought you were sleeping.”

  “You moved.” Wyatt looked over his shoulder. “You’re still here.”

  “I promised not to leave you alone.”

  Wyatt wiggled until he was on his back. He stretched and yawned, but settled back in place next to Keegan.

  Keegan liked how Wyatt’s hair stuck up in all different directions. “How did you sleep?”

  “Yeah, best I had since I got the call from Jeremy.” Wyatt brushed his thumb along Keegan’s scruffy jawline. “Thank you for being here.”

  “I couldn’t be anywhere else. Except for the bathroom. Nature calls,” Keegan said with a wink. He rolled away to get to the bathroom and relieve himself. To his utter embarrassment, morning gas escaped.

  Wyatt chuckled.

  “Sorry,” Keegan muttered.

  “Farts happen whenever they want.”

  Keegan concentrated on keeping his penis on target. “Since you’re up and all, I can use some coffee.”

  “Okay. Okay,” Wyatt said.

  The bed creaked with shifting weight.

  He’s doing better. With the reassuring thought, Keegan flushed the toilet then tucked his bits back in place. He dealt with some morning cleaning, though he didn’t bother with shaving. He liked the idea of staying scruffy like Wyatt. Minty fresh, he dug around his bag to find a shirt. “How the hell could I not stuff a simple T-shirt in here?” he muttered. “Shit.” He stared at Wyatt’s dresser. “What the hell.” He yanked out different drawers until he found the shirts, and chose a soft, faded one from the folded piles. He tugged it over his head and left.

  In the kitchen, Wyatt remained only in his sleep pants. They hung low on his hips, revealing more skin and the upper shadow of his butt-crack. Keegan wanted to slide his fingers down the shadow to follow it. He hadn’t only set up coffee, but had made breakfast for everyone.

  Keegan smelled bacon and pancakes. Wyatt flipped multiple pancakes on the griddle with ease. Keegan gave a low whistle. “That’s impressive.”

  Wyatt glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “Practice. I’ve lost many of them to either the floor or ceiling in my time.” He motioned with the spatula toward Keegan’s shirt. “I recognize that.”

  “It’s yours. I didn’t pack one. Is this okay?”

  Wyatt’s grin turned into a smile. “It’s perfect.”

  The heat of a
light flush warmed his cheeks at the approval. It somehow made the day even more special. “I didn’t expect a full breakfast. I’m good with coffee.” Keegan poured the fragrant brew in a mug. The he doctored it with some cream. He stirred and sipped.

  “I smell bacon.”

  Both of them turned when they heard Collin’s voice. They chuckled at the sleepy teenager shuffling toward them like a zombie rising from the dead.

  “Go sit at the table, Collin,” Wyatt said. “Keegan, could you get the plates and silverware?” He pointed out the cabinet and drawer.

  “Sure.” Keegan gathered what they needed to enjoy Wyatt’s breakfast. It didn’t feel awkward or strange, especially since Collin and Wyatt included him in their conversations.

  The main point was how none of them had to go to work or school. They figured out plans on how to spend their day.

  “Umm. Marissa’s brother, Lucas, invited me over to their place,” Collin admitted as he twirled a piece of bacon through a pool of syrup.

  Wyatt lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Yeah. He got the new Call of Duty: Black Ops III game and asked me if I wanted to play. Can I go? They live down the street,” Collin said.

  Wyatt glanced at Keegan, who shrugged. Keegan didn’t know why this surprised Wyatt. To Keegan, it was a good thing that Collin had made a friend.

  “Ahh, sure. Have fun,” Wyatt said.

  Collin whooped with glee.

  Keegan wiggled a finger in his ear. “That woke me up.”

  “Sorry. Been wanting to play this game. Thanks, Uncle Wyatt,” Collin said and hopped out of his chair.

  “Dishes,” Wyatt warned.

  “Right. Sorry.” Collin scooped up all of the dishes then carried them to the kitchen to make quick work of scraping, rinsing and placing them in the dishwasher.

  “His chore whenever I cook,” Wyatt explained. “One of many.”

  “I see. Always good to give him some work,” Keegan said.