According to Design Read online

  “Fuck. What did he get?”

  “I’m not sure, but it’s enough for him to learn about the high school and where it’s located. A quick search on a website for the address and he has something to follow to Florida. I’m sure Morris is driving, using cash and staying under the radar. He was a detective, an undercover narcotics officer for a long time. He knows how to hide and cover his tracks.”

  “So he could show up anywhere.”

  “I’ll have patrols watching the bridge and main roads into Shore Breeze. Someone will patrol your neighborhood and the apartment complex. I spoke with the principal and I’ll get another detail on the school. Keegan’s safe at my precinct and lab. No one will touch him there,” Robin said.

  “It’s everywhere else he goes that we need to worry about.”

  “Unfortunately, yes, but it’s the same way with anyone. I can spread resources only so far,” Robin said.

  “I know. Just wish I could do more to help Keegan not be so afraid,” Wyatt said.

  “Keep him close. Encourage him to stay with you and Collin. We’ll watch out for him, I promise.”

  “Thanks, Robin.” Wyatt clapped Robin on the shoulders. “By the way, damn fine legs on you. I enjoyed your gladiator costume.”

  “So did Beau,” Robin said. He put on his sunglasses and headed to the door. “I’m going to get after this bastard with the muck. I’ll keep you updated.”

  “Thanks,” Wyatt said and locked the doors behind Robin. He made sure the sign was flipped to Closed.

  Wyatt scrubbed his hands through his hair several times. Rubbing a hand over his face, scratching at the scruff of the morning beard, Wyatt snagged hold of the bag of breakfast then jogged upstairs. When he heard the shower still running, he placed the bag in the fridge. He set the coffee machine to brew a fresh pot. Knowing Keegan would need clothes, he made his way to the storage closet where he kept personal items. There had been many times he’d stayed instead of driving the few minutes to home, so he’d ended up creating a personal stash of stuff, kept out of the way of the students. From one of the bins, he found a pair of drawstring pants, another T-shirt and pack of unopened boxers.

  Wyatt carried the clothes to the bathroom. He knocked and found the door opened easily. He stepped inside to place the pile of clothes on the counter. Keegan’s glasses were on the end and a pair of boxers were puddled on the floor along with the blanket. Steam poured out from the edge of the curtain.

  “Keegan? I found some new clothes for you. I’m leaving them on the counter. Need more towels?”

  When Keegan didn’t reply, Wyatt stepped further inside. “Keegan?” He studied the shadows behind the curtain but didn’t see a standing figure. “Keegan, talk to me. I’m going to open the curtain.” Grabbing hold of the edge, he tugged the double-layered curtain back. “Keegan…”

  After seeing the sight of Keegan curled in the corner, under the steaming hot spray, arms wrapped tight around his legs, Wyatt felt the anger rise inside of him at the thought of someone hurting his quiet man. He made a quick decision and yanked off his clothes. Keegan helped him through a bad spot just like this and now he could return the favor. He adjusted the water temperature so neither of them would be scalded. He enclosed the curtain around them and crouched to Keegan’s level.

  “Hey, Kee, it’s my turn to help.”

  Keegan flinched from the gentle touch. He lifted his face and stared at Wyatt with dark eyes, almost blank with the hidden pain.

  “Kee, you’re with me, with Wyatt. You’re safe.”

  “Can’t get clean,” Keegan whispered. “Still feel it all over.”

  “I’m here to help. Can you stand up? I’ll make sure to wash every inch of you.”

  “Promise?”

  “I’ll go over you with a fine-toothed comb and the softest paint brush I have if I must,” Wyatt said and held out his hands.

  Accepting the offer, Keegan placed his hands on Wyatt’s palms. He let him pull him to his feet and ended up leaning against Wyatt.

  After grabbing the bottle of shampoo, Wyatt squeezed a good pile onto his palm. He rubbed his hands together then slid them through Keegan’s golden brown hair. Keegan kept his hair styled and layered to deal with the thickness of his locks and unruly curls. Using his fingers, he massaged and scrubbed at Keegan’s scalp, making sure to get every possible grain of muck out of the soft locks. Supporting Keegan’s head with one hand, he used his other to work the shampoo along the back of Keegan’s skull and nape like a beautician did in a salon.

  “You have knots the size of golf balls back here. How are you holding up with all this tension? Do you need some aspirin or something?”

  “Got tense after what happened.”

  “Do you want me to take you home? Either your apartment or my place?”

  “Don’t know… You have to work on the sculpture,” Keegan said.

  “You come before any sculpture,” Wyatt said as he tugged Keegan close for a tight embrace. He pressed his lips on Keegan’s clean shoulder and nuzzled him with his bristled cheek. “Time to rinse.” He gently pushed Keegan forward to let the hot spray cleanse the shampoo and muck from his hair. Wyatt sifted his fingers through Keegan’s hair to help rinse everything. When he finished, he poured conditioner into his palm then massaged it into the tortured hair.

  After letting the conditioner sit for a while, he found the squeeze bottle of a scrub and wash combination. Wyatt stretched a hand outside the curtain to snatch a fresh washcloth from the stack. He poured a good glob of the body wash and worked up a froth. He scrubbed along Keegan’s shoulders, nape of his neck then down the length of his back. For a school teacher and forensic tech, Keegan kept himself in shape. Fashioned after a tennis player with strong shoulders, toned abs, slender hips and long lean thighs, Keegan was gorgeous.

  Even with all their nights together, Wyatt realized he’d skipped a lot of foreplay and time to learn his lover’s body. He would need to remedy this grievous mistake. Keegan deserved a helluva lot more than simple frottage to get off or any other kind of lovemaking. Keegan needed the tenderness and care a lover could give him and Wyatt would do his damned best to make sure he gave Keegan his all.

  “Looks like we’re getting everything,” Wyatt said, tracing his fingers along one tight butt cheek. He slid his thumb ever so lightly within the crack. “Want me to double check here?”

  “Everywhere,” Keegan said, his voice a little breathless from Wyatt’s exploration.

  “I think I can accomplish that request. Press both hands against the tile and lean forward. Push your ass out toward me.”

  Keegan glanced over his shoulder at Wyatt, uncertainty flaring in his dark gaze.

  “Lemme take care of you. Are you sore from last night?”

  Keegan flushed and it wasn’t due to the shower.

  “Come on, I’ll clean you up and we’ll get something to eat.”

  “Always with the crazy teasing of my libido and clenching it tight,” Keegan muttered.

  “Makes you even more ready to pounce on me when we’re alone,” Wyatt said and concentrated on his task of cleaning his lover’s beautiful body. He cleansed even more than he needed to, to make sure Keegan would be ready for any kind of lovemaking.

  Keegan leaned back against Wyatt and draped an arm over his neck. He wrapped Wyatt’s fingers around his erect cock.

  “What do we have here?” Wyatt teased then he licked Keegan’s neck and flicked his earbud.

  “Jack me, please. Get me off. I need it,” Keegan whispered. He glanced to the side to meet Wyatt’s stare. “I need you.”

  Wyatt let the washcloth fall to the tiled floor. He shifted his hips and nestled his dick between the luscious globes of Keegan’s ass. He pumped his hips to make sure Keegan felt him. “Want this?”

  “Fuck yes.”

  With the conditioner and body wash, Wyatt used it to keep their motions slick. He released Keegan’s cock and grinned at Keegan’s whine. He worked his hands down Keegan’s t
highs, kicked one of Keegan’s feet to spread them. Keegan opened eagerly to his touch. Keegan’s cock was swollen and curved toward his belly, begging for attention.

  Wyatt stroked Keegan’s inner thighs with both hands. When he brought the strokes up, he reached to Keegan’s balls. He cupped and pulled on the wrinkly sac.

  Keegan whined at the sensitive touch and manipulation between Wyatt’s agile fingers.

  “Hmm. They’re ready to blow. I feel them pulling up inside the sac. Is that what you want?” Wyatt teased before he nipped the length of Keegan’s neck.

  “Yeah… More… Please…”

  Wyatt rested one hand on Keegan’s upper hip. His fingers were right on the V where Keegan’s abs met his hips. He pressed Keegan tighter against him, pushing his cock deeper between Keegan’s cheeks. He smiled when Keegan placed his hand on the wall to lift his hips back.

  “No. I do the work,” Wyatt ordered.

  He cradled Keegan’s sac in his balls and slowly brought his hand up until he wrapped his fingers around Keegan’s shaft. He slid up, an inch at a time, and barely let his fingertips reach Keegan’s cockhead. He swirled one fingertip around the head.

  Keegan moaned and clutched at Wyatt’s hair. He anchored himself to Wyatt’s body with one arm on the wall.

  Wyatt worked Keegan’s thick cock and realized he wanted to feel this shaft deep inside his ass. It would stretch him perfectly with every thrust.

  Next time, Wyatt told himself. Concentrate on Keegan first.

  With those orders in his head, he continued to jack and work the shaft. He swirled the edge of his palm around the head. In counterforce, he circled his hips and thrust his cock against Keegan’s crack. He tightened his grip on Keegan’s dick.

  “Come on, make me cum,” Keegan pleaded.

  “Put both hands on the wall in front of you and spread your legs. Clench your ass around my dick.” Wyatt walked both of them closer to the wall. He shoved the showerhead to the far side.

  Keegan planted his hands on the wall and pushed his ass back toward Wyatt. The movement almost drove both of them to their toes at the force.

  Wyatt cradled Keegan’s sac in one hand to pull and manipulate the balls. He worked his dick against Keegan’s crack. He wrapped his hand around the shaft and beat it. He clamped his hand like a vice around Keegan’s cock and pulled, pushed and stroked until Keegan groaned, whimpered and called out his name.

  He looked over Keegan’s shoulder and saw him blow his load. Ropes of cum decorated the shower stall and dripped down. He continued his hard jack to draw every last drop out of Keegan until he cried out for no more. With a few extra pumps, Wyatt’s body contracted and he shot his load all over Keegan’s ass and lower back. He dropped his head and bit into Keegan’s shoulder. His balls continued to empty. He draped over Keegan, feeling the slight tremble in Keegan’s body.

  “Good?” he asked.

  “Yeah. You shot all over my back.”

  “Yup. Gonna have to clean you a second time. Though this is a more enjoyable mess.”

  Once more, Wyatt took care tending to his man.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Wyatt finished the remaining details of the sculpture. He split it into three large pieces and worked with Sully to have a flat-bed truck and crane to help him deliver it to the high school. In anticipation of finishing the sculpture, Wyatt took a trip to the high school to oversee the pouring of the concrete base and the placement of the iron reinforcement and stand he needed to attach everything to for a firm, tight hold. He watched Sully’s crew do the job to perfection and let the concrete cure.

  This was the final move of the massive sculpture.

  At the beyond early bird hours of dawn, Wyatt forced himself to leave his nice warm bed and Keegan’s embrace. Keegan mumbled and shifted position.

  “Where ya going?” Keegan said in a slurred speech. He cracked open one eye but didn’t fully wake up.

  Wyatt tugged on his briefs and jeans and grinned at his sleepy lover. He bent over and kissed Keegan’s temple. He nuzzled their bristly cheeks together. “Delivery day,” he said, the response simple since he doubted Keegan would remember anything else.

  “’Kay,” Keegan said and slid back under.

  Wyatt kissed Keegan’s bare shoulder and trailed his fingers down his spine. No longer falling, he was deeply in love with this man. He wanted Keegan to stay in his life. Forever. If only Robin would be successful in tracking down Keegan’s ex and removing him permanently from the picture. Only then could Keegan feel free to imagine permanent dreams and love.

  Leaving his lover and nephew in the dark house, Wyatt dressed for the chilly morning then walked out. He saw Sully and his big truck waiting for him. He yawned while he climbed into the passenger seat.

  “Damn, forgot to make coffee,” he muttered and scrubbed his face. “Thanks for doing this.”

  Sully pointed at the extra cup in the console. “That one’s for you.”

  “Oh, thank you so much.” Wyatt cradled the cup in his hands and breathed in the fragrance. He sipped carefully at the brew and let the coffee do its job of sweeping off the remaining cobwebs. “Thanks for doing this. Did you wake Chandler?

  “This is important and I promised to help out. No, I left Chandler asleep and plan on going back to him, but don’t think I will.” Sully drove the big truck through the empty streets.

  “Where’s the crane and flat-bed truck?”

  “On their way to the school. I have my top foremen, Victor and another man, Lou, driving the rig. I have the tools you need to assemble everything in the back,” Sully said and hiked a thumb toward the window.

  “Great. What about the sheet?”

  “Yes, it’s there too.”

  “How are you awake in the morning?”

  “I’m not. I loaded it all up yesterday.”

  Wyatt snorted then drank the coffee.

  “So…” Sully drawled out the word.

  Wyatt rolled his eyes. Then he shifted his head on the seat to glance at Sully. “What? Spit it out.”

  “How’s the man sleeping in your bed? I do like Keegan. He’s an asset to the town,” Sully said.

  “Damn small-town gossip,” Wyatt muttered and sulked.

  Sully chuckled and drove through the early morning darkness.

  * * * *

  It took a couple of hours, but thanks to the crane and extra hands, Wyatt got all three pieces up. He used the portable arc welder to secure the iron framework together. Once the interior frame was done, he welded the last few coverage pieces he’d left loose in order to put the sculpture in place. With everything done, he turned off the machine then backed away several feet with Sully and others to check the placement and alignment.

  “Day-ummm,” Sully drawled out and added a low whistle.

  Wyatt glanced over at Sully and lifted an eyebrow.

  “Every time I see a new piece of your work, I’m dazzled by your talent. This is beyond anything you’ve done previously.”

  “I thought I had taken on more than I could handle when I accepted this contract. I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out, but yeah, I’m damn proud of it,” Wyatt said. “Let’s cover her up and get her ready for her big presentation.” He left to get the extended sheet from Sully’s truck so they could hook it up to the crane.

  It took all of them, but they managed to get the entire sculpture covered and secured so it wouldn’t lift off with the wind or a light pull by a curious kid.

  “Okay, we’re wrapped up. Thank you for getting up so early to help me,” Wyatt said to everyone.

  Sully sent his crew home and returned to his truck with Wyatt. He drove them home to catch a couple of hours sleep, if possible. The clock showed it was a little after six a.m. “Chandler should be getting up about now and going for his first cup of coffee,” he said on the edge of a yawn. “Wonder if I can coax him back to bed with me.”

  “Don’t think it would take much to convince him,” Wyatt said after his own yawn. H
e finished the dregs of the cold coffee in his cup. “Send me an invoice for the use of the crane and your guys’ time.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  Wyatt looked over at his friend. “This is a job I was finishing. No, I’m not kidding. Send me an invoice.”

  Sully grumbled. “Fine.” He pulled into Wyatt’s driveway then parked. “Why are you insisting?”

  “It’s part of my business. Send it to me,” Wyatt said. “Thank you for everything this morning. Will you be at the presentation?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it. Think the whole town is going to be there.”

  Wyatt groaned as he opened the door to get out.

  “Better make sure you look spiffy and not a scruffy aggravated artist,” Sully teased before Wyatt shut the door on him.

  Wyatt swore he saw Sully laughing as he drove away. With another shake of his head, Wyatt entered the house. He didn’t hear anyone moving around or smell coffee brewing. There were two hours until Collin and Keegan had to be at school. He went closer to Collin’s side then heard the faint sounds of an alarm beeping. He tapped his knuckles on the door.

  “Get moving, Collin,” he called out.

  Collin mumbled something, but Wyatt couldn’t distinguish it.

  He banged the door again then walked away. His nephew wasn’t a morning person. He headed to the kitchen where he loaded up the coffeemaker and set it to brew. Figuring he’d better wake up Keegan, if he wasn’t awake already, he turned toward the bedroom and opened the door.

  The room remained dark, with light coming in around the pulled curtains, but Wyatt could make out a sleeping figure on the bed. He stepped out of his boots and pulled off his grimy, sweaty shirt. He climbed onto the bed and crawled up.

  As he knelt over Keegan’s back, Wyatt grinned and bent to press light kisses along Keegan’s shoulder. He brushed his bristled chin against the length of his spine. Keegan’s skin and muscles reacted and he let out a soft grunt.