Page 92 of Caged
Once he was done and said his goodbyes, he hurried down to find Marshall stacking the report on Larry's arrest into a neat pile. "Can I take those home to finish reading?" He still hadn't gotten to the hospital report which Marshall had hacked in to get him.
"No, we don't want this laying around our home, but I'll keep them here and you can come with me tomorrow to read more if you want." Marshall stood. "Let me put them in a safe place."
While he understood the need to be careful and not have anything around the house link them back to STK, he still hated it. He wanted to know everything, and while Marshall and D had talked him through everything, the reports were a bit more detailed and that was what he wanted. "Okay." He put the rest of the cookies in a container and set it on the counter while he waited.
It had been a long day, but he was now sure it really was Larry they had in custody and that eased his mind. Maybe tonight he could sleep soundly, without the nightmarish thoughts of Larry coming to steal him away in the night. Maybe tonight he could finally let go and move on, letting the fear finally end.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Danny glanced over at Jeremy, second-guessing what they were about to do. This would officially link him to the STK team, and even though he wasn't really part of them, having the knowledge of what they did could be enough to get him into trouble. Did he trust Gary as much as he thought he did?
"You okay?" Jeremy parked the car in the lot behind Gary's office. They'd decided it wasn't smart for D to come since his face was in the news again and he had active warrants out for him from the California arrest and escape.
"Yeah, just hope we've read Gary right and he doesn't call the police on us." Danny wiped a sweaty palm down the leg of his jeans.
"I can always contact him later. You don't have to be part of it. We just thought you might like to be included. We want you to know you are part of STK now, but that doesn't mean you need to take this risk." Jeremy watched him closely as if looking for some kind of reaction.
"No, I want to do this. Maybe looking at me will remind him why what you do is so important. Besides, if he does join, he'd find out about me anyway since I'm dating Marshall." Danny pushed open the passenger door, determined to do this.
"How are things going with you two?" Jeremy asked as they started inside.
"Good, maybe too good. It feels like just yesterday he saved me, but now we're a couple, living together, and talking about the future. It's a bit overwhelming. I'm always afraid that I'm reading things wrong because I don't have the experience others do, but Marshall makes me happy. I don't want what we have to end."
"I'm pretty sure that goes both ways. He's with you because he wants to be. We offered to help find you an apartment if he wanted you to move out, but he was adamant that he wanted you there. He said his life's never been so perfect. You're not misreading anything. You two remind me of when I first met D, minus all the sexual stuff."
Danny blushed. "Did Marshall complain about that?"
What?" Jeremy looked shocked. "No, he never mentioned it. I just meant D and I couldn't be together for five minutes without making out. For us, it started out physical. You and Marshall might be totally different. Not all relationships are as sexual as mine is with D."
Danny paused before they went inside. "I feel bad because I'm not like that. I worry I won't be enough for Marshall."
Jeremy smiled. "Intimacy can be found in many ways. So can pleasure. I've heard of people with no sexual desire at all. They still fall in love. Don't worry about sex. Marshall wouldn't be with you if he needed more than you give him. He's a strong man and wouldn't settle for less than he wants. If he's with you, that's where he wants to be. Sex is different for everyone. You've been through a lot of stuff. Give it time. If I'd been through what you have, I wouldn't want anyone touching me. You're doing amazing if you ask me. Seriously, I think Marshall loves you. Don't doubt him if he tells you he does, okay?"
Danny nodded. He had never doubted the words when Marshall said them other than to wonder how he could live up to being loved by someone. He always felt like he wasn't enough. Was too used or broken. He took a deep breath. "Thanks."
"You can come talk to me any time you need to. Now, should we go shock the hell out of your counselor and see if we can lure him to the dark side?"
"When you put it like that it makes it sound almost exciting." Danny grinned as they walked into the lobby of the office.
A moment later, Gary walked out to the waiting room and greeted Danny. "How are you today?"
"Good. I hope you don't mind I brought a friend with me again. This is Jeremy." He gestured to Jeremy who was standing beside him.
"No problem. It's nice to meet you." Gary shook his hand. "Why don't you both come in."
Danny followed Gary into the room, then took a seat on the couch. He wasn't surprised when Jeremy sat down beside him.
"So, I saw your kidnapper was captured. I have to say I'm relieved. The community is safer with him off the streets." Gary shut the door and sat down in a comfortable chair across from them.
"I could hardly believe it. Even then, I was worried the reports were wrong and it wasn't him. It's going to take time to get used to not worrying about him finding me, but already I feel a lot of the fear easing." Danny glanced at Jeremy and smiled. "My friends have really helped me feel safer."
"I'm glad you've been able to make so many friends. I enjoyed talking to Faith and hearing her story. Are you still living with Marshall?"
Danny nodded.
"It's going well?" Gary asked.
Danny glanced at Jeremy, then back at Gary as he thought about the conversation he'd just had outside. "It's going really well. I'm in love with him."
