Page 26 of Four for a Boy

Chad averted his gaze. “Nothing. Dave says the concentration of chloroform was enough to kill him. It would’ve been an enclosed space. No sign of a struggle. No defensive marks.”

“Odd.”

“So why were you outside The Desperado?”

“I was curious.”

“It’s too risky, Romeo.”

“I know.” He pressed his lips in a grim line. “I won’t do it again.”

“That is … the real reason, right?”

“Yes.” Romeo narrowed his eyes. “Why would I lie?”

Chad slumped. “You wouldn’t.”

Romeo stood up from the table. He tried to keep a smile at bay but it twitched his lips. “There was something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Chad took a deep breath. “That explains the candle-lit meal and the flowers.”

“Can’t I treat you?”

“You tell me?”

Romeo stepped around the table. He came up behind Chad, stooped over and embraced him in a hug. Chad stiffened, waiting for Romeo to reveal what was on his mind. Instead, Romeo kissed up the side of Chad’s neck to get to his ear.

“I was thinking…”

Chad swallowed. “Thinking?”

Romeo nipped his ear, then chuckled. “I was thinking the next one could be yours.”

Chad frowned. “Mine?”

Romeo nodded, brushing his stubble against Chad’s jaw. “Yes. I can’t stop fantasizing about you with your hands around someone’s throat, squeezing the life out of them, loving every second of it—”

Chad pushed back from the table, trying to escape but he ended up ensnared in Romeo’s arms. Chad’s pounding heart whooshed blood through his ears. He fixed his wide eyes on the flickering candle. His mouth and lips twitched, but his voice box had been stunned to silence. Romeo’s voice sounded like it was underwater as he continued,

“—and the thought of watching you do it.” Romeo shivered so violently it went through Chad too. “It’s a verynicethought, and now that I know you’ll kill for me. I want to see it for myself.”

Chad brought his hand up to Romeo’s arm across his chest. He wanted to escape the hold, but instead his palm brushed across goosebumps, and Romeo hugged him tighter. Romeo pressed desperate kisses up and down Chad’s neck, murmuring words into Chad’s skin he had no hope of hearing.

“I’m…I’m on a case.”

He’d been aiming for a flat-out refusal but the excited tremble going through Romeo and the attention he lavished on Chad’s skin chased it away. Romeo snorted softly beneath Chad’s ear, then pulled him out of his chair.

Chad legs refused to cooperate, and he let Romeo take charge of turning him around and perching him on the edge of the table.

He tipped Chad’s chin up with a finger. “I know.”

Their eyes met. Romeo’s shone the same black they turned in the midst of murder. His lips moved into a smile as he cupped Chad’s face and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Romeo’s huge body shook like he was trying to hold himself back.

“You don’t need to look so afraid.” Romeo said.

Afraid didn’t do it justice. One emotion was far too simplistic. Chad had too many thoughts and feelings about Romeo’s request he couldn’t function. Even blinking felt like a chore. Romeo slid Chad further onto the table, knocking Chad’s plate into his glass. It tipped, spilling wine, but Romeo didn’t react.

“I’m working a case.” Chad repeated.

---