Weaver thought he had left his bad decisions and bad past behind him. But now they returned to demand a favour: distract a cop during a drug buy. When he sees his target, he wishes he could mix business and pleasure.
When things go wrong, they find themselves in an unwitting alliance. Is that enough to melt the ice of a freezing winter night?
Sinclair Richmond stopped dead. Doug sat on the side on his bed, his gaze focused on the dark blue carpet. Sin briskly hooked the towel around his lean waist. âWhat are you doing here?â It wasnât meant to sound harsh, but he supposed it did.
âYou donât need to cover up.â Doug lifted his head. âItâs not like I havenât seen it before.â
âI thought you left your key.â Sin didnât approach. He ran a hand through his wet, shoulder-length dark hair and sighed heavily. He didnât need this, today of all days.
âWe made a mistake.â He stood. âWe really need to think about this, Sin.â
âItâs over, Doug. Stop this.â
âItâs not over for me.â
Sin met his gaze for a moment; misty blue eyes. âIt was a mistake from the beginning, Doug.â
âWeâve always been close; you know that, Sin. Youâre my best friend. What am I going to do without my best friend?â
âI told you this could happen. It was my greatest fear. Itâs too late to go back now.â
âI miss you so damn much. I canât think about anything but you. It canât end like this.â
âDoug, Jesus. I canât do this now,â Sinclair snapped. âTonight is a very important night for me. It could make or break my career, everything Iâve been working for. I have to focus.â
He nodded. âIs it dangerous?â
âYou know the answer to that.â
Doug reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He held it up. âI had a spare.â He placed it on the bed. âI know you never wanted this. It was all me. It wasnât fair the way I took advantage, but I thoughtâŚâ He shrugged, his fair hair falling into his eyes. âYou know.â
âYes,â Sin nodded, âI know.â Doug walked out of the bedroom. He looked thin and a little pale. He was always fragile in some way, always in need of someone to protect him, soothe his hurt. Sin had been pretty much doing that since they were six years old.
He missed Doug, too, but not for the same reasons. Dougâs absence left a big hole in his life. Heâd feared something like that would happen from the moment theyâd brought their relationship to a new level. Sex. The moment theyâd become lovers, it had been a disaster, a downward spiral to ugliness. Doug had struggled with his sexuality since he was a teenager, whereas Sin had always known who he was. Sin used to tease Doug, accuse him of living out his unacknowledged gay fantasies through his sexual romps. Doug denied it, but heâd always ask Sin to tell him every detail about his numerous one-night stands. There were many nights that Doug would ditch some girl to spend the night with Sin, listening to his sexual adventures.
Then just last year, Doug made the plunge and slept with a man. He couldnât stop talking about it and confirmed to Sin that he was gay. Sin was happy heâd finally come out, and he never suspected that Dougâs desire would be directed toward him. To Sin, Doug was like a brother, and then a few months ago, Doug took Sin out barhopping one night and got him drunk. When Sin woke up the next day, Doug was in his bed, naked. He wasnât sure what to do, what to make of it. He assumed nothing happened until he saw the used condoms.
Doug gave him every reason why they were perfect for each other, and before the morning was out, they had sex again. Sin really wanted skyrockets to go off, and although it was pleasant, it confirmed to Sin that he didnât feel the same way about Doug.
Sin was afraid to hurt him. Doug was so excited about their new relationship. He assumed that they were a couple. Heâd always had a key to Sinâs place, but suddenly he was using it and coming in whenever he wanted. He even began talking about moving in together. Sin tried to avoid sleeping with him again, but several times Sin woke up with Doug beside him.
Doug became possessive. He was a Federal Marshall, and he always gave the impression that his job was more important than Sinâs. When Sin made detective and began to work on the streets with the drug squad, Doug started to insist it was too dangerous, and that he should change jobs. Sin suspected that Doug was jealous of his promotion.
For a little while, Sin desperately tried to let Doug know that this couple thing between them wasnât working out. He just wouldnâtâor couldnâtâtake the hint. Finally, Sin knew they needed to have âthe talk.'
Doug didnât take it well.
âI knew this would finish our friendship,â Sin told him. âI love you, Doug, but as my best friend, not as my lover. I regret letting it go on this long. I didnât know how to tell you andâŚI donât want to lose you.â
Doug had always been sensitive. âIâm all right as a friend. Not good enough to share your bed, though.â The argument had escalated from there. Sin lost his temper, as he was prone to, and demanded his key back. Now this afternoon, three weeks later, Doug is sitting on his bed. It couldnât have happened at a worse time. Tonight, after a lot of investigative police work, heâd finally pinned down the location for a major drug buy. It was dangerous but exciting as hell, and Sinâs adrenalin was pumping even now thinking about it. He couldnât let his feelings about Doug get in the way.
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