Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

Sam didn’t break it until Bo’s legs opened to cradle Sam in the space between his thighs. Drawing back, Sam stared down into Bo’s heavy-lidded eyes. Bo’s pupils were dilated, his breath coming short and quick. The sight made Sam’s chest ache.
“I love you,” Sam said, putting his whole heart into the simple sentiment. “Maybe these dreams and visions of yours mean something, and maybe they don’t. I think they do, but I don’t know for sure. All I know is, I’ll do anything to keep you safe. Even risk you hating me.”
The lingering anger in Bo’s eyes faded into a familiar affection. He reached up and laid both palms on Sam’s cheeks. “I could never hate you. I’m grateful every single day to have you in my life.”
Sam’s throat closed up. He couldn’t say what he felt right then, but he thought Bo understood.
Bo’s gaze dipped to Sam’s mouth. When he looked up again, lust had replaced the tenderness in his eyes. Sam’s body responded with a predictable rush of desire. He tilted his hips, rubbing his naked prick against Bo’s equally bare crotch. Bo moaned, low and rough. His thighs slid against Sam’s ribs, one heel lodging in the small of Sam’s back. Sam could feel Bo’s cock filling, the hardness pressing against Sam’s own growing erection.
A tiny corner of Sam’s brain wanted to disentangle himself from Bo’s arms and legs and continue the conversation Sam was beginning to realize Bo had successfully distracted him from. But the clutch of Bo’s limbs around him, the increasingly frantic movement of Bo’s hips and the needy little sounds he made, silenced that part of Sam’s mind. One arm beneath Bo’s neck and the other braced on the bed, Sam took Bo’s mouth in a bruising kiss as they thrust against one another.
It was over far too fast. Bo shook and whimpered when he came, his teeth digging into Sam’s shoulder as his semen spread between them and mingled with Sam’s. Sam collapsed onto his side with Bo still plastered against him. He pressed a kiss to Bo’s forehead and let his eyes close.
When Sam woke again, late morning light flooded the room. Bo was gone. Once again, nothing had been resolved between them. With a deep sigh, Sam hauled himself out of bed and went to get dressed.
Chapter Six
    Jogging along in the humid shade of the live oaks lining the footpath, Sam stared at Bo’s bare back with a mixture of irritation and longing. Dragging Bo away from evidence review for a run had been hard. Convincing him to try the recreational pathways through the nearby public park instead of running to the fort again had been even worse. Bo had eventually agreed, but only after Sam accused him of having an unhealthy obsession with the fort.
    He hadn’t spoken a word to Sam since. They’d run in silence, with Bo staying several strides ahead. Sam couldn’t help but wonder if keeping Bo away from everything to do with the case had been worth it. He missed their usual camaraderie, the way they’d tease and prod each other to keep up the pace and pass the time.
    Stop blaming yourself. He’s the one being unreasonable. He is obsessed with the Fort Medina case, he just won’t admit it. It’s not your fault he’s acting like a child.
    Bo turned a sharp corner of the path and disappeared from Sam’s view. Wiping the sweat from his eyes, Sam forced his feet to move faster. His limbs felt slow and heavy in the sticky afternoon heat. He and Bo were usually pretty evenly matched in their running pace, but today Sam struggled constantly to keep up with Bo. He didn’t know whether he was slower than usual or Bo was faster, but it was frustrating either way. For reasons he couldn’t define, he was anxious to keep Bo in sight.
    Putting on a brief burst of speed, Sam rounded the bend. He nearly plowed into Bo, who was standing stiff and still in the middle of the path, head bowed and hands clenched at his sides. He didn’t even look up when Sam skidded to a halt beside him.
    Sam touched Bo’s arm. “Bo? Are you okay?” No answer. Heart galloping and mouth dry, Sam walked around until he could see Bo’s face. Bo’s eyes were wide and blank, staring at the ground.
Sam’s stomach knotted. He grabbed Bo’s shoulders. “Bo!”
Bo gave a violent start. His head snapped up. “What? What’s wrong?”
“You tell me.” Sam let go of Bo and stepped back, watching Bo’s face. “You were just standing there, staring at the ground. You didn’t even answer me when I asked if