Page 20 of Duped

Tarek gasped. It was beautiful and definitely real. There were a lot of pearls, and he was blown away. The piece draped over his clavicle and poured down his chest.

Portland kissed his shoulder as he ran his fingers over the piece. “I knew I had to see this against your skin. You have no idea how much your neck fascinates me.” His lips swept down Tarek’s nape. “It should be draped in something beautiful.”

Tarek thought he might cry. “You do way too much for me, and I don’t even know how to return the favor. I want to spoil you too. I want to make you feel special the way you do for me.”

“You have no idea how special you make me feel.” Portland shifted positions and eased Tarek onto his back. He straddled Tarek. “There’s no way you can know what it’s like to have you love me for real. It’s not an act, and it’s so fucking beautiful. Every day, I wake up and you’re still here and I’m floored. You can have anyone and yet you choose me. I know there have been plenty of times you should’ve run from me, but you didn’t. You just love me, purely and completely. There’s no way you can know,” he repeated.

A tear slipped from the corner of Tarek’s eye and slid back into his hair. His breath stuttered when he tried to speak. “I love you more than anything. In my eyes, you’re perfect.”

“And that’s priceless to me,” Portland whispered as he brushed his lips across Tarek’s. As his full weight lowered onto him, Tarek knew Portland settled in for the long haul and this would be a long night. That sounded like heaven to him.

Chapter Nine

Tarektrailedfromroomto room, walking on clouds. Portland had a meeting, but he had kept it to only one again today. It would likely take half the day, but they would still get extra time together. Portland’s leather duffle still sat on the kitchen floor where Tarek had stepped over it the other night. He grabbed it and hauled it to the bedroom before someone tripped and killed themselves. That someone being him. As he dropped the bag on the bench at the end of the bed, the doorbell rang. As far as Tarek knew, there wasn’t anyone scheduled to come by today. It wasn’t a normal cleaning day and the landscape people had just been there two days ago. He made his way to the front door. As always, Tarek checked the peephole. A police officer stood on the other side. Fear shot through Tarek. Had Portland been in an accident? He practically tore open the door. The middle-aged brown-haired cop looked a little surprised at the sight of Tarek, which he found odd.

“Can I help you?”

“Is Portland Wales here?”

Tarek shook his head. “He’s working today.”

The guy held up a piece of paper. “We have a warrant to search the premises.”

Everything inside Tarek went on full alert and in guard dog mode. This was his home to protect when Portland wasn’t there. Plus, he had a bit of anger issues with police being used against him. That had been one of his parents’ favorite tactics: claiming Salem held him against his will.

“Let me see it, then.”

Tarek continued blocking the path while he read the warrant. “This warrant is only for the kitchen.” He lifted his chin and locked eyes with the cop. “You can bet damn well I’ll be watching every step to ensure that’s where you’ll stay.” He pointed toward the side of the house. “Round that corner and meet me at that door. It leads to the kitchen. You won’t be stepping inside any other room.”

The guy looked a little proud of Tarek for some reason. “Yes, sir.” It was a sarcastic agreement, but Tarek didn’t care. They weren’t friends.

Tarek closed the door and internally panicked. He needed to call Portland. Why in the hell was there a warrant to search any part of their house? He dialed Portland’s number as he moved to the kitchen door.

Portland answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

“The police are here with a search warrant. It’s real. I checked it, but it’s only for the kitchen. I’m letting them in through the side door, so they won’t have an excuse to check anywhere else.” He spoke quickly. The words poured from him in his panic.

Thankfully, Portland stayed calm. “I’m over an hour away, but I’m turning around. Do not answer a single question.” Portland emphasized every word. “I’ll call my attorney. Shaw can get there faster than I can. Anything they ask, tell them your lawyer is on the way and will handle anything they need to know. Don’t worry, baby. I’ll take care of this.”

Tarek squared his shoulders. He was a lot stronger than he looked. “I got this until the lawyer gets here.”

“Good boy. I love you. Just hang tight.”

Tarek disconnected the call and let the police in. A lot more cops than he expected poured in. Tarek immediately moved to the kitchen doorway, blocking the way to the sitting room, where he could ensure no one moved outside the warrant zone.

The man who issued the warrant stayed glued to Tarek. “So you are…”

Tarek held his stare, ensuring the guy knew he was serious. “Waiting for my lawyer.”

“Your lawyer? So I assume you’re the son or…”

Tarek rolled his eyes.

“Yeah. I get it, but I’m just asking for a name. I’m Bryan.”

Tarek still refused to respond.

“What do you think I can do with your name?”

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