Safe and Sound (3 page)

Chapter 4

“Wow. You really like this,” Lane said softly as Henry did his impression of a baby bird and held his mouth open as he bounced in his seat. He collected a spoonful and was about to aim it at Henry’s mouth when he spotted Aiden peeking at the top of the stairs. “I made you breakfast too,” Lane called and he heard a loud sigh. “Your pancakes are getting cold,” he warned and Aiden cursed under his breath as he slowly stepped down the stairs. He frowned as he watched Lane waving the spoon in front of Henry.

“What is that?” Aiden asked and Lane laughed as Henry grunted and spluttered.

“Oatmeal and bananas,” he said and Aiden frowned.

“I don’t think he likes it. He’s spit out more than he’s eaten,” he said and Lane shrugged.

“That’s how babies eat. He hasn’t gotten the hang of it yet, so it’s going to be messy,” he explained and Aiden shook his head as he scooted farther away from Henry’s mess radius.

“I don’t think I was ever that uncivilized,” Aiden muttered and recoiled as Henry stuck his fingers in his mouth then whipped them out, sending an arc of spit and paste across the table. Lane wiped Henry’s face and hands and when he turned back to the table, Aiden was gone. So was his food. Lane stood up and pulled his lips in to keep from laughing as he leaned over the table. Aiden’s plate was on his seat and he was sitting on the floor, quickly cutting his pancakes into neat squares.

“You probably weren’t. I think you’ve been thirty your whole life,” Lane said as he sat down. “He’s almost finished. I think it’s safe for you to come up,” he said and he could almost hear Aiden shaking his head. His head appeared and Henry laughed hysterically. It was contagious. Henry thought Aiden was playing peek-a-boo and his fat little hands waved in the air as he roared.

“I think I’ll stay here for a while,” Aiden mumbled and Lane shook his head.

“It’s just a little cereal, I’ve got it all over me and I’m just fine,” he said. “Actually, I need to rinse this,” Lane said as he inspected the washcloth and gave Henry the spoon to entertain himself. He turned on the water and Henry shrieked gleefully then Lane heard what he suspected was the spoon hit the floor.

“I’ll get that,” Aiden said and Lane turned and leaned against the counter as he watched Aiden carefully approach Henry’s high chair.

Aiden bent to pick up the spoon and Henry reached over the side of the seat for Aiden. A loud hiccup sound came from Henry and Aiden looked up as chunks and thick white fluid gushed from Henry. Aiden flinched and scrambled back but it was too late. He screamed in terror as he fell back and raised his hands to protect his face. A projectile shower of oatmeal, bananas and milk splashed onto his face, neck and chest. Lane winced as he spotted chunks in Aiden’s hair.

“No, no, no!” Aiden yelled as he got his knees beneath him and scrambled across the floor. “Lane! Why is there so much? How can oatmeal and bananas make this much mess? And it’s all over me!” He made a strained whimpering sound as he frantically spit and tried to brush it off of his skin and shirt. “I think I got it in my mouth! I don’t like bananas!” Aiden complained loudly. “How can there be so much?” He cried as he looked at his hands and Lane cringed.

“He had a bottle too,” he said weakly and Aiden’s head snapped up.

“A bottle of…?” he asked and Lane considered lying. Or grabbing his phone so he could record Aiden’s reaction.

“Breast milk,” Lane said cautiously and Aiden went as white as a sheet.

“I’m covered in breast milk. I got breast milk in my mouth,” he said faintly as he slowly backed toward the stairs.” Aiden’s eyes were pleading as they searched Lane’s. He was waiting for him to deny it. Lane nodded slowly and Aiden made a desperate gulping sound as a sheen of sweat covered his skin. “Kat’s breast milk. In my mouth.” Then, he was slipping and skidding on the floor as he tried to get to the stairs. A loud gagging sound escaped from between Aiden’s fingers as one hand clamped over his mouth and the other clawed at the wall as he climbed.
“Are you going to be ok?” Lane called and Aiden shook his head wildly.

“No!” He gasped before he dove into the hall. A moment later, Lane cringed as he heard loud retching sounds from the master bathroom.

“Good thing I didn’t want kids,” he said under his breath as he squatted in front of Henry and quickly wiped his hands and face. “He’d probably leave me,” Lane said as he stood and reached for the paper towels. The shower came on and he sighed. “Poor thing, I’d be sick too if I accidentally drank Kat’s breast milk,” Lane said. He didn’t mean to but a laugh burst from his lips. He ducked and clapped a hand over his mouth. Aiden would be livid if he caught Lane laughing. He’d have to be very careful when he told his dad and brothers. And Chief. And a few of the guys in the department.

Chapter 5

Aiden refused to think about Henry or The Attack. He could hear Kat cooing and laughing in the living room but he wasn’t going out there. He couldn’t look at her. Somehow, she managed to cross a very strict boundary without being present. He knew he couldn’t actually blame her but he wasn’t ready to forgive all those involved. Or go anywhere near the scene of The Attack. She was leaving soon. He’d come out after she was gone. Eventually.

Work. Work would save him. He nodded decisively as he spread crime scene photos on the desk. There was still no way to link Langley to any of the arson sites. None of them held any meaning to Langley. There was no emotional or symbolic motive for any of the locations he chose, as far as Aiden could tell. He was reaching for a report when his eyes glanced over an odd shape. They narrowed as he leaned closer.
Why would a chair be there and on its back?
Aiden wondered and he studied the window. It was destroyed but from the inside out.
This isn’t from the fire.
He grinned as he reached for the file containing photos of the library before and after the fire. He flipped quickly until he found a picture of the large stained glass window. There were no chairs anywhere near it.
Rage. He hated this window or this location.

I’ve got you,
Aiden thought as he grabbed a Sharpie and circled the partially melted chair. He turned in his seat and scooted closer to his computer. He quickly wrote and sent an email to Graves and the District Attorney in Chicago.

He’s a narcissist. I knew there had to be at least one site that held some significance to him. They couldn’t all be random. Interview his colleagues, friends, family and anyone you can find associated with this library. Some event took place by this window or the window itself means something.

Aiden hit Send and silently congratulated himself. An emotional trigger was always helpful. Langley was much smarter than the city’s legal team but if they could get him to react emotionally on the stand, he would make mistakes. They were able to use Aiden’s assessment of Langley’s personality and demeanor during questioning to get him to crack.

“It’s always their ego that trips them up,” Aiden said to himself as he gathered photos.

“You’d make an amazing criminal. You have no ego whatsoever,” Lane said and Aiden turned and glared when he found him leaning against the door frame.

“I’m too rational and self aware to have an ego,” Aiden muttered as he turned back to the desk. “I understand my weaknesses as much as my strengths and I’m often limited by them,” he added and ignored the warmth that filled the air as Lane pushed away from the door and crossed the room. Hands glided up Aiden’s back and he shrugged them off. “I’m still upset,” Aiden announced and Lane made a soothing shushing sound as his lips found Aiden’s ear.

“I’ve apologized a dozen times. Let me make it up to you,” he said and Aiden’s lips pulled tight and he shook his head.

“I think I’m emotionally traumatized. Probably for life,” he said and Lane’s hands rubbed Aiden’s shoulders and he made a sympathetic sound as he pressed his body against Aiden’s back.

“I understand. What if I promise unlimited blow-jobs for life?” Lane asked and Aiden’s eyes flicked upwards as he considered.

“You’ve never been particularly withholding, I assumed I already had that,” Aiden murmured and Lane’s laugh was silky warm damp against Aiden’s neck. It made him shiver despite his intent to remain aloof.

“I was planning to cut back at some point. I’m getting old,” Lane said and Aiden frowned as he turned in Lane’s arms. He studied Lane’s face and sensed that while he wasn’t being completely serious, there was a kernel of truth in the statement. In Lane’s mind at least.

“Based on the life expectancy of the average American male, you’re considered middle aged. You’re in excellent health so you could live for several years past your peers,” Aiden said and Lane shook his head as he untucked Aiden’s t-shirt.

“I don’t feel very young anymore. Some days, I feel a lot older than I am,” he said and Aiden’s eyes swept over Lane’s face, hair and down his neck.

There were little signs here and there, small changes that gave away his age that Aiden saw but never really considered. To him, Lane looked as handsome and potent as ever, just a touch more distinguished. Like his experience and time had created a patina that only enhanced his appearance. There were fine wrinkles by his eyes and flecks of grey here and there in his hair.
He said ‘feel’. Is his body changing in ways I can’t see?
Aiden wondered. He hadn’t noticed a decrease in stamina or Lane moving with any less athletic grace and power than when they started having sex. If anything, he’d improved over the years, if that was possible.

“Your age doesn’t seem to have effected your sexual performance, yet,” Aiden said and there was another laugh that Aiden felt in the center of his chest and stomach that caused his cock to throb.

“So far, it hasn’t. Thank God,” Lane murmured as his lips brushed gently over Aiden’s. “You still get me so hard my dick hurts and all I can think about when we’re alone is how good it feels when I’m deep inside of you,” he added and Aiden groaned as heat pooled in his groin and his passage tingled and ached. He was supposed to be mad at Lane. Begging Lane to bend him over the desk and fuck him would not convey anger or blame. Lane’s tongue flicked at Aiden’s lips and he clenched his jaw as he tilted his face away. Lane moaned softly in protest as his tongue traced the curve of Aiden’s ear and his fingertips glided along the waist of Aiden’s jeans. “Don’t be like that. Who knows how many more years I’ll be able to do this,” he argued and Aiden gave him an impatient look as he leaned back in Lane’s arms.

“Probably several,” he stated. “Your health and the thriving market for pharmaceutical male sexual enhancement makes it possible for you to be sexually active well beyond your sixties. If you’re so inclined,” Aiden said and Lane grinned as he flicked the button at Aiden’s waist and unzipped the fly.

“If you haven’t left me, I think I’ll definitely be inclined.” His voice was gravelly and deep as he freed Aiden’s erection.

“Why would I leave you?” Aiden had to swallow hard and he licked his lips, they were suddenly too dry. Lane’s eyes darkened as they followed his tongue and he groaned.

“Please, kiss me,” Lane begged as he stroked and Aiden nodded drunkenly as his hands closed around Lane’s face.
Why weren’t you kissing him?
He wondered as his lips pressed against Lane’s. He hummed in delight as his tongue twisted with Lane’s. He tasted crisp and clean as Aiden pushed his fingers through Lane’s hair. Lane’s hands worked quickly, pushing Aiden’s boxer briefs and jeans down then untying and working off his sweatpants.

“Fuck me, now,” Aiden demanded and Lane nodded as he stepped back.

“In a minute,” he said then turned Aiden. He pushed Aiden’s chest onto the desk and dropped to his knees. Strong hands closed around Aiden’s ass cheeks and he sighed happily as Lane parted them as his lips dipped into the cleft of his ass. Searing wet hot slick bathed Aiden’s flesh and he hissed when Lane’s tongue lapped at his hole. It swirled and probed and Aiden grabbed the edge of the desk as a gnawing hunger bloomed in his passage.

“I need you, Lane,” Aiden urged as he kicked his feet free of his jeans and spread his legs wider, giving Lane more access. He heard Lane spit and the sounds of a hand stroking a slick, hard cock had his body trembling with lust and anticipation. Then, Lane’s body covered Aiden’s and his breath thundered in his ear.

“Never stop needing me,” Lane said and Aiden nodded and he bit his lip as the head of Lane’s erection pressed against his puckered entrance.

“Always,” Aiden promised as he pushed back and a soft sting bounced along his nerves as Lane slipped past the tight ring of Aiden’s ass. It was hot and electric and mingled with the tingling and gnawing. It was beautiful and Aiden moaned ecstatically as it coursed through him. “That’s so good,” he panted as he pushed off the desk and took Lane deeper. He chuckled hoarsely as he flexed his hips.

“You’re always in a rush when it’s my turn,” he teased and Aiden grinned over his shoulder.

“I have to take what I can get, when I can get it. Who knows how much longer you’ll be able to do this,” he said and Lane snorted.

“I’m not ready to slow down yet, genius,” Lane ground out as he thrust hard and Aiden gasped as pleasure and pressure burst from his prostate and radiated through his legs and up his spine.

“Don’t slow down,” Aiden commanded as his head fell onto the desk. “Faster,” he breathed and Lane’s fingers dug into his hips.

“I can still do that,” he said and Aiden had to lock his jaw to keep from calling out as Lane drove into him. Aiden clenched the muscles gripping Lane’s thick length and he heard Lane gasp. “I’ll never get enough of this. Of you,” he whispered and there was warmth and joy in Aiden’s chest.

“I’m so close,” Aiden said as the pressure squeezed his sack and pushed up his shaft. His body flickered with hot golden glowing pleasure and his vision blurred but the swirling bright glittering ball of bliss and Lane in his chest was getting stronger. “I love you so much,” he gasped and Lane’s hips slammed into his ass.

“Christ!” Lane yelled as he rose on the balls of his feet and bucked hard before he arched and twisted behind Aiden. “Love you,” he panted before he hauled in a shuddering breath and froze. “I love you, Aiden!” Lane ground out as he thrust deep and molten heat flooded Aiden’s passage.

Aiden’s eyes rolled as the heat shot through his clenching tightness and rushed up the length of his cock. He screamed and clawed at the desk as his nerves exploded and come burst from the head of his erection. The flaring pleasure was everywhere. It was in his fingertips and lips and for a moment, Aiden could taste something citrusy happy light and he hummed contentedly as Lane rubbed his cheek against his shoulder.

“I think I’ve forgiven you,” Aiden said as the energy drained from his body. If they were in a bed he could have wrapped himself around Lane and rested his head on his chest. He wanted that now.

“I assumed. Let’s go upstairs and take a nap,” Lane said and Aiden’s lips tilted into a soft smile.
You can’t be mad and fall asleep with your body wrapped around him,
Aiden pointed out.
Fine. Forgive him but don’t let him forget about the unlimited blow-jobs,
he decided.