that be okay?” Ledger asked the detective.
“That’s fine, the sooner the better. I’m going to head over to the hospital. I’ll need to speak with Mr. Zabel.”
“Please don’t upset him.” Ledger’s protectiveness for his friend made the statement sound almost threatening.
“It’s not my intention to upset him, but lives are in danger here. The faster we act, the quicker it all ends.”
“Thank you, Detective,” I said quickly before Ledger could say anything to anger the man.
“Talk to you soon, Mr. Campos.” He disconnected, and Ledger narrowed his eyes at me.
“If he upsets Ziggy…” But he suddenly stopped talking, his gaze scanning my naked wet form.
“Shit, I’m getting the carpet wet, gimme a sec to get a towel.” I rushed back into the bathroom; water was still going in the shower. “I had this realization in the shower, and I had to…” I came to an abrupt stop at the door when Ledger’s larger frame blocked my way.
“I could use a shower too.” His voice was low, and I barely heard him over the rushing water. He gripped my towel and threw it onto the ground. “Join me?”
He started stripping, and all I could do was nod. He took my hand, and I followed him into the shower and under the warm spray. He wrapped me in his arms, and our slick bodies rubbed together as the water blissfully pelted our skin.
“How is it the world around me is collapsing, threatening to plummet me to hell, and I see you, want you, and stop caring about all the shitty things happening when we’re together?” He licked along my neck until his teeth grazed my ear.
“I feel the same way.”
His hand danced down my side, skimming my flesh like a whisper, and under the temperate water, it left behind a sultry chill. I gasped, gripped his shoulders, and moaned as soon as his hand covered our cocks.
“Just like this,” he said. “Rock with me.” His words were as sinful as his touch, and like a dance, we moved together. My mouth met his in a clash of teeth and tongues; he pumped us faster and when we came, it was together. We stayed entwined with each other and let the water wash us clean.
As the water turned cooler, we caught our breaths. I’d been with men and women but none of them, not one, made me come apart like Ledger did. There was no question he’d ruined me for anyone else.
The following morning we met Ciro in the lobby and ate in the hotel restaurant. He informed us that the gifts, minus the flowers, which had wilted and died, would be driven over to the Crestfox Police Department for Detective Glass. We were supposed to be talking to the detective this morning. We hoped his conversation with Ziggy went well and that Ledger wouldn’t be looked at as a suspect anymore.
“Ciro, can I ask you a question?” The three of us were driving toward the hospital, but something was bothering me.
“You can ask me anything. But I won’t always be able to answer you.”
“Yeah, that right there!” I pointed at him from the back seat. “There’s nothing you can’t ask me that I couldn’t answer for you. I mean, sure I have some embarrassing stories, things I’ve done. But me telling you won’t get anyone killed.”
He glanced at me in the mirror as he drove. “That’s not a question.”
“Before Joker’s Sin, what did you do for a living? How do you know Riordan? Why does knowing who you are get people killed? Why—”
“Shane,” Ledger interrupted with a chuckle. “You said one question and holy shit, have you been holding all this in?”
“I was in security. I worked for Riordan. That’s all I can say.”
“You’re mysterious, that’s for sure.” I smiled at the big guy and while he didn’t return the sentiment, I saw a slight crinkle in the corner of his eyes.
By the time we pulled into the hospital parking garage, we were talking about past jobs we’d had. I totally won for worst job by mentioning I worked in a dive bar and that my boss tried to kill Toby and Atlas.
“Good morning.” The nurse at the ICU desk greeted us.
“Morning,” Ledger, Ciro, and I all said in unison.
“Mr. Zabel is doing well this morning. He even ate some applesauce.” She smiled; the fact that he was eating made a huge difference toward his recovery.
“Great news. Any chance I can go back and see him?”
“Sure thing, Ledger.”
Ledger said to text him