Blurb:
When a ghost from his past begins to haunt him, Griffin loses the only man he’s ever loved. Not one to be knocked down for long, he joins the local police department, donning the badge once more, determined to catch his lover’s murderer. But the killer isn’t done with him yet.
When a rash of crimes breaks out, all
targeting Griffin, he knows that his dates are numbered if he can’t catch the
person responsible. With fellow officer, Garrett Peterson, aiding his
investigation, Griffin knows it’s only a matter of time before he catches the
killer. What he doesn’t count on are the developing feelings between Garrett
and him.
But how can be possibly make time for
love when his life hangs in the balance?
Be warned: m/m sex
Excerpt:
“You should
take the day off,” Garrett said. “I’m sure the captain would agree if he were
here.”
“You heard the
paramedic. I’m fine. The burns are mild and won’t keep me from doing my job.”
“Would you quit
being a stubborn S.O.B. and take some time to calm your mind and lay low for a
day? The last thing you need to do is give him another shot at you while you’re
rattled. Don’t make me attend your funeral. I don’t think I could take it.”
Griffin
frowned. “If you’re trying to say something, just spit it out.”
“Dammit. Don’t
you know how I feel about you? You can’t deny there’s an attraction between us.
I know we haven’t been close before this case opened up, but I’ve always
watched you. Not in a creepy stalker way, but in that desirous, gut churning
way. I just never knew how to approach you. You’re kind of intimidating.”
Griffin was
more than mildly surprised. He’d spent quite a bit of time with Garrett over
the past few days and hadn’t noticed the other man’s attraction to him. He’d
been so focused on the case that it had left little time for much else in his
life. He was flattered a man as attractive as Garrett would be interested in him,
but now wasn’t the time to start a relationship. He wouldn’t be responsible for
another lover dying, and Griffin knew without a doubt that the killer would
come after Garrett if he thought the man meant anything to him.
“You didn’t
know, did you?” Garrett asked.
Griffin shook
his head. “It isn’t that I’m not flattered, because I am, but now isn’t the
time to start something. Not until this asshole is caught and behind bars—or
dead.”
“I was afraid
you’d say something like that. Like it or not, I’m glued to your side until
this case is wrapped up. Which means I’ll be camping out on your couch.”
Griffin was
shaking his head, but there was a determined look in Garrett’s eyes and he knew
he would lose the battle. It seemed the man’s feelings were deeper than Griffin
had realized, but it wasn’t something Griff could think about right now. He
wasn’t sure he could ever allow himself to feel for another man again. It
didn’t just feel like a betrayal to Justin’s memory, but he never wanted to put
himself in the position of losing someone important to him. He didn’t think he
could survive another loss like he’d experienced the day Justin died. It had
damn near killed him. Only his determination to seek justice had given him the
strength to carry on.
“Fine. But
don’t expect me to like it.”
Garrett’s lips
tipped up on one corner. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I need to
change. Then you can give me a ride to the station since it seems I’m without a
ride until I can replace my car.”
Garrett leaned
closer and sniffed. “You are a bit smoky.”
Griffin snorted
and turned toward his house. He could feel Garrett’s presence behind him as he
entered his home and left the door open for the other officer. If he was
determined to play bodyguard, Griffin supposed he would have to let him. In his
bedroom, he quickly stripped out of his uniform of jeans and a dress shirt, and
pulled a clean set out of the closet. He pulled on his pants and slipped on his
shirt. Leaving it hanging open, he gathered his boots and walked back to the
living room. Through the open door, he could see his fellow officers milling
around his yard as they examined the scene.
He felt
Garrett’s gaze on him and he met the hazel eyes caressing his body. It hadn’t
been an intentional temptation when he’d come in half dressed, but it seemed
Garrett was taking it that way. Garrett stepped closer until their bodies were
nearly brushing. Despite his intentions to hold the other man at bay, his heart
sped up, leaving Griffin wondering if maybe he felt more for the man than he’d thought.
Garrett gripped
the back of his neck and pulled him down for a scorching hot kiss, his lips
rough and demanding as he took what he wanted. Griffin could have pulled away,
could have put a stop to it, but as Garrett’s tongue flicked against his lips,
he found himself opening, wanting more, needing Garrett’s taste on his tongue.
He dropped his boots and his hands rose of their own volition, gripping
Garrett’s waist and pulling him closer. So lost in the moment, Griffin didn’t
care if someone saw them. It was no secret that he was gay and the guys on the
force didn’t seem to have a problem with it. It was completely out of character
for him to flaunt it though.
The deep,
devastating kiss was both exploratory and fierce. Garrett demanded that Griffin
give in to him and Griffin found himself powerless to do anything else. It was
a long, drugging kiss, Garrett’s lips lingering as if he couldn’t bring himself
to pull away. Garrett’s tongue thrust into his mouth again, dancing, curling,
coaxing. The kiss turned seductive and Griffin couldn’t fight his body’s
response to the other man. His cock stirred with interest and for the first
time in six months Griffin wanted more than basic human contact: he found
himself desiring another man, needing him with an urgency he thought he’d never
feel again.
When Garrett
finally pulled away, Griffin was panting, his heart hammering against his ribs,
his body hard and tense, wanting a release that he knew wouldn’t come. Not yet
anyway. After that kiss, Griffin knew if Garrett pursued the growing attraction
between them that he would be powerless to turn the other man away. His body
craved satisfaction, but now wasn’t the time. He wanted more than a quick
tumble, wanted more than to just take the edge off.
“I’m not giving
up on you, Griffin. We will finish
this later. Count on it.”
Griffin
swallowed hard and nodded. He’d always initiated any intimacy between Justin
and him so Garrett’s aggression was different, and a definite turn on. He had a
feeling they would fight for dominance in the bedroom, both of them alpha males
and used to getting their way. With Garrett’s promise hanging in the air,
Griffin quickly finished dressing and followed Garrett out of the house and to
the waiting squad car.
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Author Bio:
Married since 2000 to a man she isn’t
sure is quite human, her husband and children (whom she fondly calls the demon
spawn) keep her busy, but never too busy to write. Is there such a thing as too
busy to write? Most mornings you can find Dulce set up with her laptop, a cat
curled up next to her, and a steaming cup of coffee just an arm’s reach away.
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