Chapter 26

Elliot turned his head toward Mick, rose to his toes so he could reach and nuzzle his nose against Mick’s cheek, and enjoyed the light rasp of stubble. Mick’s eyes were knit tightly together, and his mouth was set in a thin line. Elliot rubbed a little harder, wanting to erase the worry from his lover’s face. He tilted his head and pressed a kiss on Mick’s cheek, followed by another, and another, working his way down Mick’s jaw. Determined to elicit a smile, he opened his mouth and nibbled on Mick’s chin, and that had the desired effect. Mick’s mouth quirked in that fabulous question-mark smile Elliot loved so much, and Elliot couldn’t stop the giggle that slipped out.

“Feel better?” Mick murmured. Elliot nodded. “Ready to get out of here?”

Elliot raised his head and locked eyes with Mick. The storminess was replaced with calm, lapping waves that made Elliot’s stomach flutter.

“Kiss me,” he breathed against Mick’s lips.

His lover closed the distance, and Elliot moaned as Mick’s lips touched his. It was a chaste kiss without tongue, but full of comfort and love. Elliot sighed when they parted, incredibly happy Mick had been there waiting for him when he came home.

“‘M ready now,” Elliot mumbled.

Mick reached out and turned off the water.

They dried off and had a quick bite to eat before crawling into bed. Elliot loved spooning, so he lay down on his side with his back to Mick, inviting his lover to come close. Mick didn’t disappoint and curled his tall frame around Elliot. Mick wrapped his arms around Elliot and pulled him so close, there was hardly room for air between them. Elliot closed his eyes and reveled in the intimacy of their naked skin touching.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mick asked after a few minutes of cuddling.

Elliot’s first instinct was to say no, but he knew Mick deserved to know. So he told him everything.

As the words spilled out of Elliot’s mouth, Mick stiffened behind his back, and after a few moments, he started trembling. Elliot slid his hand on top of Mick’s and weaved their fingers together, giving them a squeeze, wanting to calm him down.

“I’m fine,” he said, amazed to realize it was true.

“But…”

“I’m fine,” he repeated.

Mick nodded, but his grip on Elliot’s waist tightened. “Then what happened?”

Elliot told Mick about the relief he’d felt when all the kids were safe. Kenny’s creepy smile had vanished when the other students had evacuated the classroom, but he’d kept spinning the knife in tight frantic circles. He hadn’t said anything, not even answered when Elliot had tried to reason with him. Elliot had kept his distance, but hadn’t taken his eyes off the boy.

Kenny, on the other hand, had looked everywhere but in Elliot’s direction.

Elliot had considered walking out, too, but hadn’t dared to leave Kenny unattended. What if he’d harmed himself with the knife when he was left alone? Elliot would never be able to live with himself if something like that had happened.

“And then what?”

Mick had relaxed again, and his fingers played with the hair on Elliot’s torso, drawing squiggly patterns around his chest, making Elliot smile. Mick loved playing with his body hair and could never keep his hands off Elliot. Teasing fingertips ghosted along his treasure trail, danced lower and lower, but Mick’s hand changed direction before he got to any of the interesting parts.

Elliot took a deep breath, forcing his mind back to his story. “Security finally arrived. When the boy saw the guard, he dropped the knife like it was a snake. And then he started pleading with me. He begged me to tell them he didn’t do anything. He said it again and again.”

Elliot shuddered when he remembered the desperation in Kenny’s voice.

Please, Mr. Dunn, tell them I didn’t do anything. I didn’t mean any harm. Mr. Dunn, you have to tell them!

Kenny had even squeezed out a few tears as the guard led him by Elliot on their way out. If it hadn’t been for his racing heart and sweaty palms, Elliot might have been persuaded by Kenny’s misery, but he’d been so jittery, he hadn’t been able to tell if the boy had been sincere or if it all was an act.

Then, of course, he’d been subjected to Daryl Coleman’s rage. Kenny’s father had tried to make it the school’s—and Elliot’s—fault that his son had brought a weapon to class. Principal Billings had shot down that argument immediately. The counselor had shaken her head at Elliot and given him a small smile that said she realized he was blaming himself and that she would have none of it.