and Gerome seemed to draw away from him without ever taking a step. It was the strangest feeling.
“You aren’t my boss or my father. I’ve been taking care of myself for a while, and I can continue to do it. Just because you let me use the apartment doesn’t mean that you own me.” Tucker took a physical step away from Gerome. “I may not have much, but I have my own freedom, and—”
“I know you do,” Gerome said firmly. “I wasn’t insinuating anything else.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know I’m a big guy, but I don’t order people around or force them to do things they don’t want to do.”
Boy, had this conversation gone off the rails. Tucker wasn’t quite sure how it had gone from gentle to harsh in a few seconds. “I never thought you did. All I meant is that Bobby Ramone is after me, and I can’t let you do whatever it is you think you have to.” He watched Gerome, his hands settling on his hips until Gerome faced him. “You know something that you aren’t telling me. Maybe you have your own secrets, and that’s fine. Just because you kissed me doesn’t mean that I deserve to know what it is that you’re holding on to so tightly. But if it has to do with me, then I have a right to know and to make my own decisions. I think you know what it feels like to have others deciding what’s best for you.”
Gerome’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I do.”
“Then at least let me make the decisions that affect me. Is that asking too much?” He wasn’t going to back down with this. Gerome inhaled through his nose, and Tucker thought he was going to fight him. “You know he’s going to be after you too.”
“I can take care of myself,” Gerome muttered and gave Tucker a stony look. Tucker recognized it from earlier at the bar.
Tucker stepped closer. He wasn’t going to let Gerome intimidate him, even if that expression made him nervous. “So can I, Gerome. I’ve been doing it for a while.” He stared right back at him. “What’s our first step?”
Gerome didn’t answer. “I don’t know,” he said, and Tucker snickered. He couldn’t help it. The answer took him off guard. “I wasn’t able to find out where he’s staying or spends a lot of his time here.”
“It has to be close. He stopped into the restaurant today for lunch, and it wasn’t because he was looking for any of us. After he placed his order, he spent his time watching TV rather than watching the patrons. He felt safe there. I think he was surprised when you came in, and then he saw me. I was trying to stay out of his line of sight.”
Gerome nodded. “I’ll ask Richard if he’s seen him around. Maybe he is a local, but I doubt it. His clothes are way too expensive for anything bought around here.”
Tucker figured that was true. “I can’t help you there.”
“Come on. I need to get you to the apartment, and I need to get back to work.”
“That was a pretty long lunch break,” Tucker observed.
“The boss was in the store today and she gave me a couple of hours because of all I worked over the holidays. But I should get back.”
Tucker hoped Gerome would take this private time to kiss him again, but instead he turned back toward the car.
“Gerome,” Tucker said.
Gerome paused and looked back. Tucker caught his gaze, holding it as he drew nearer. This time he initiated the kiss, holding Gerome, pressing hard, taking what he wanted.
The frisson of energy he’d felt during their earlier kiss returned with a vengeance, and Gerome wound his arms around him, sliding a hand into his hair. This time Gerome didn’t hold back, crushing him close enough that Tucker felt Gerome’s excitement hard and firm between them. Holy hell, the man was big everywhere. Tucker kept his eyes closed, his mind on everything that was happening between them. Each firm touch added to the excitement, and Tucker wanted to feel Gerome’s hands everywhere. They stayed on his back, though, holding him in place, which was perfect. Tucker didn’t want to go anywhere.
He used his lips to tug on Gerome’s, earning him a soft moan. He smiled, sliding his eyes open to gaze into Gerome’s. “You liked that.” They were both shaking, and Tucker realized he was the cause. It was heady