Into the Light
Clear Water Creek Chronicles #1

Excerpt

Sean was quiet that night, and Paul eyed him curiously as he stirred a pan at the stove. This was their regular Monday night get-together, where Paul cooked because Sean couldn't and would probably live on take-out otherwise. Not that anyone would know it to look at his fantastic body. Six feet three inches tall, the Sheriff of Clear Water Creek usually cut the arms off t-shirts because his biceps were so big. He had his own gym in the basement of his house and could be seen jogging through town as much as five times a week or swimming in the lake or one of the natural pools in the woods. Local girls had been known to spy on Sean from the trees once word got around that he didn't normally take any shorts with him, but he remained oblivious.

When Sean strode out of his patrol car to attend to some trouble —usually something along the lines of Mrs Belmont's cat stuck in a tree or old man Jones causing trouble at Bluey's bar— people sat up and took notice. Paul imagined certain people's knees trembled when they saw Sean in uniform, shirt stretched across his broad chest and shoulders, cuffs and gun rubbing his lean hips, and tight pants which advertised his bulge just right. Paul wasn't gay, but he understood any hot-blooded human wanting to fuck Sean. Who wouldn't?

He glanced once more at Sean, who sat at the kitchen table with his chin resting on his hand, staring out of the window over the garden. His profile was strong, no hint of stubble on his smooth jaw, his mouth wide and sensual. His lashes were thick and long over startling indigo eyes, a blue so dark that sometimes they appeared black depending on Sean's mood. His hair was cut regulation short. Dark brown, verging on black, it was styled neatly, teased into spikes. He always smelled good too. If Paul didn't know any better, he would swear the immaculately coiffured Sean was gay. He smiled to himself.

"You going to tell me what you're brooding over?" Sean was a fantastic brooder, and it was best to leave him alone when he was in a dark mood. This wasn't an option when he was brooding at Paul's house though.

Sean sighed. He took a drink from his bottle of beer and put it down, fingers toying with the damp label, peeling it back a little. He looked up at Paul. "I saw Eden today."

Paul frowned. "Eden who?" He already knew which Eden Sean meant. It was hardly a common name.

"You know which Eden I mean," Sean growled. "He's back. I pulled him over for speeding."

Paul stared in disbelief because Sean had not set eyes on Eden Gray in eighteen years and had never expected to again. "What did he say?"

"He was flippant and arrogant just like he always was. Some people never change. He knew my guilt would prevent me giving him a ticket, and he gloated over the fact." Sean's hand tightened around the beer bottle. "He's still a fucking asshole."

Paul was silent. Sean was showing the familiar resentment and hatred he had once shown towards Eden in high school, the feelings which had sparked a tinderbox of fury one night and led to something terrible. Paul had not expected Sean to be angry if he ever ran into Eden again, but rather, contrite and ashamed. For a moment, he was disappointed in his friend, before he remembered that Sean had anger management issues and usually displayed this emotion far too readily in order to conceal others.

"What's he doing here?"

"I didn't ask. It wasn't exactly a homecoming reunion. But he had his car loaded up with boxes and suitcases, so I'm guessing he's here to stay."

"Shit." Paul's anxiety rose. "What are you going to do?"

Sean shrugged. "Avoid him," he said casually, which was a joke because nobody avoided anyone in this town. "I always knew he'd come back sooner or later. I've been preparing myself for this for eighteen years."

Paul didn't speak. He only took the pan off the heat and started to serve the food.

* * * *

Paul only lived a ten-minute walk away which was good because Sean wasn't in any fit condition to drive home when he left some time after midnight. The night was clear and warm, a full moon hanging low over the trees, illuminating the dirt track down to Sean's house, which stood alone in a clearing overlooking the lake.

Sean still counted his blessings that he had been lucky enough to get this job after what had happened at high school. If his role in that night ever became public though, he doubted he would be Sheriff of Clear Water Creek much longer, and he had lived in fear of discovery since he had first trained as a police officer all those years ago.

He reached his house, which he had left unlocked as he usually did, and went up to his bedroom. There, he stripped naked and pulled on a pair of pyjama bottoms before he took a beer outside onto the porch and sat facing the water.

His mind went relentlessly back to earlier that afternoon, as it had a thousand times, and the black Porsche speeding on the main road into Clear Water Creek. He had eased out of the side road, put his foot down and gave his siren one burst, flashing his lights at the offender.

The driver responded soon enough, pulling over to the side of the road and sitting there waiting as Sean put his hat on and climbed out of his patrol car. His jaw tightened in grim anticipation of seeing whichever rich boy was driving it and giving him a ticket, maybe even arresting him. He took note of the licence plate as he walked up to the car should the joker inside decide to speed off. The car was fairly new and well cleaned, its back loaded with boxes and suitcases as though the owner was moving house.

Sean had stepped up to the open window and bent down to look inside. He almost reeled back at who he saw inside, the ghost from the past in the driver's seat making his heart pound wildly and his lunch threaten to come back up.

Eden Gray turned his head to look at him. He looked much the same except that he was more attractive— less the boy and more the man. His hair, which had gone through various red, black, and blue shades during his Mohawk phase at school, was its natural shade of chestnut brown with hints of deep red. It now skimmed his collar, falling untidily over his face. His eyes were as unsettling as they had always been, a vivid topaz, animal eyes, kaleidoscopic and changing colour with the light. He was clean shaven and his skin, which had always been pale porcelain in winter, was lightly tanned with a sweep of freckles over the nose. The lines of his profile were graceful and his mouth small and pouting.

He smiled slowly, showing perfect white teeth, not looking remotely surprised or fazed. "Hello, Sean."

On the roof of the car, Sean's fingers curled against the paintwork, holding him there as though he would pass out. His legs were weak with fear, something he had not felt in many years.

"Do you know how fast you were going?" he asked stiffly, his voice cold.

Eden shrugged, feigning boredom. "Forty? Fifty?"

Sean's teeth clenched. "Fifty-nine," he said between them. "I caught you on radar."

"It's a fair cop," Eden said airily, holding up his hands. "Want to cuff me now, Officer?" His eyes held Sean's steadily, a provocative look in them.

"Licence and registration," Sean barked, ignoring him.

Eden rolled his eyes. He leaned over to the glove box and produced his papers, handing them to Sean who scanned them without reading a word and dropped them back into Eden's lap.

"Step out of the car."

"Come on." Eden's casual manner evaporated and irritation edged his tone.

"I said, step out."

Eden sighed loudly. He swung the door open violently —narrowly missing Sean as he stepped aside— and slammed it hard, putting his back to it to face the Sheriff. He had grown tall, only a few inches shorter than Sean, his body lean and toned. "Well, aren't you going to ask me to bend over the hood? That's the position you prefer me in, isn't it?"

Sean's jaw twitched, the only outward sign of his inner turmoil. "You were driving dangerously in a small town at a time of day when children are crossing the road. I should arrest you now and let you spend the night in the cells."

Eden stared at him sullenly. "You won't though, will you?" He lifted one eyebrow sardonically, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air between them. Sean had the sudden violent urge to grab him by the hair and slam his head into the car door.

Eden smiled slowly, his eyes cold and sparking with hate. "It was nice to see you again, Sean. I'm disappointed I don't get a homecoming hug though." He turned around, wrenched open his door and climbed back in. Sean turned away and started to walk back to his car, his fist clenched.

He climbed in and started the engine, staring ahead, waiting for Eden to move. The Porsche set off at a sedate speed, and the horn blared before a hand came out of the driver's window, middle finger extended.

Sean clenched his jaw so hard his teeth hurt. His hands clutched the wheel, leaving damp marks. He was overwhelmed with such emotion that he trembled violently. Pure fury streaked through him at Eden making a mockery of him, along with anger at himself for not having the balls to give him a ticket, and sheer terror that the time had finally come for Eden's retribution after all these years. He lowered his head onto the wheel, eyes closed, and told himself to get a grip. He had gone completely to pieces and this was not a familiar way for him to behave. He felt weak and afraid. He guessed now the shoe was on the other foot and finally, he knew how Eden must have felt that night.