Author's Note: I went back through Chapters One - Six and made corrections/minor edits. I made the most edits to Chapter Three, adding more content between Jack and Aster. I felt like that chapter was a bit rushed. I'm done making changes now, I swear! I don't have a beta so bear with me. You guys rock and thank you for the reviews!
Chapter Seven
Aster braced his hands on the shower wall, letting the hot water ease the tension from his shoulders. How the hell had this day turned into such shit?
His erection still throbbed hungrily. He couldn't get the sight of Jack out of his head. The need in his blue eyes, the look on his face as he came, the way he begged for more. He licked his lips, remembering the taste and feel of Jack on his tongue.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
Sighing loudly he turned off the shower and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around his waist he headed into the hallway. He paused in front of Jack's bedroom door, almost willing it to open. Was Jack still there? Had he left?
He couldn't blame Jack if he had.
"Jack?"
He waited but there was no response. Shaking his head he went into his room and shut the door. As he dressed he heard Jack's door open, followed by the shutting of the bathroom door. A moment later the shower turned on.
So the other man hadn't left…yet.
What the hell are ya doing? Jack clearly didn't want to take things to a sexual level. Why did he have to push it on the other man? How was he supposed to ignore the obvious look of hunger on Jack's face? He felt like he was being pulled in opposite directions. He was twisted up and turned around and he couldn't seem to right himself.
Jack was his partner. The last thing he should be trying to do is get into the guys pants for fuck sake. He was a grown man, not some horny teenager. Have some self-control.
He'd fucked up big time.
"Arg!" Pulling at his hair he stared at the ceiling. The whole situation was beyond frustrating.
His cell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. Snatching it up, he checked the caller ID before answering. "What's up Tooth?"
"Yo Bunny. Who do you love?"
A bolt of excitement shot through him. "What ya got for me?"
"Just heard a deal is going on downtown. The buyer is McCullen. You nail him and you got all the eyewitness testimony you'd ever need."
His heart raced at the news. Roy McCullen was one of Pitch's top thugs. If they nailed him it would be all over for Pitch. "That's awesome. How many perps?"
"Nothing you can't handle. Just McCullen and the seller. McCullen isn't supposed to be using so he's trying to keep it quiet. Pitch doesn't know."
This was better than good. This was like being handed Pitch on a silver fucking platter. This day just got brighter. "I fucking love ya Tooth. You're the best."
"I know. I'll text you the address. Go get 'em tiger."
Ending the call Aster tied back his hair and booked it to the bathroom. Banging on the door he shouted, "Frostbite, open the door!"
He heard Jack swear followed by the telltale sound of the shower curtain before the door creaked open. Jack's head and upper body peeked out of the doorway, his lower half wrapped in a towel. His white hair was wet, plastered to his head as water dripped down his pale skin. Aster swallowed and fought down on another wave of desire.
Jack scowled up at him, soap suds running down his arms and chest. "What's going on?"
Clearing his throat he managed to say, "Deal going on downtown. Get dressed."
Jack's eyes widened, "Give me two minutes!" Ducking back into the bathroom Aster heard a loud thump followed by a curse. A moment later Jack emerged fully dressed and running a towel vigorously over his hair. "Let's roll."
"Gun?"
"Oh shit." Booking it to his bedroom Jack reemerged a second later strapping his gun holster to his belt. "Okay, now let's roll."
Strapping on his own holster he headed out the door, explaining the situation to Jack on the way to the car. Jack nodded in understanding as he sat in the passenger seat. Starting the car he called in the location to the precinct and hit the lights. His heart was hammering as he maneuvered into traffic. He gritted his teeth, this was it. He was going to nail that son of bitch.
"You good?" Jack asked suddenly.
"Yea, just can't wait t'get this asshole."
Jack was quiet for a moment before stating, "This will be our first bust together."
Glancing over at the smaller man Aster asked, "Ya worried?"
"No, excited mostly." Jack shrugged. "A bit nervous maybe."
"I've got your back Frostbite. You're my partner. I won't let anything happen to ya." He shocked himself with how determined he sounded.
"I thought you didn't want me…as a partner," Jack added quickly.
Aster sighed, twisting his hands over the steering wheel. "Honestly, where you're concerned I don't know what the fuck I want. I don't know what I'm doing Jack," he confessed. "Ya got me all twisted up."
To his surprise Jack smiled, "The feeling's mutual Bunny."
He felt a sense of relief, so he wasn't the only one confused by all this. And maybe he hadn't completely ruined things with Jack after all. "Listen Jack, I can't help the way I feel about ya. I tried, I really did."
"Me too," Jack admitted quietly.
"It's hard for me to ignore ya. Especially when ya look at me..." Aster broke off, swallowing audibly. "Well ya know what I mean."
Jack blushed. "Yea."
"What I do know is I would never do to ya what that prick did. In fact if I ever meet the wanker I'll beat the living shit out of him."
Jack stared at him for a moment before laughing softly. "I'd like to see that, you're like twice his size. He'd be so screwed."
Glancing over at Jack he asked carefully, "So are we good? Ya not gonna leave are ya?" Jack remained silent gnawing on his bottom lip. Sucking in a breath Aster said in a rush, "Ya killing me here Jack."
"Sorry, I was just thinking." Jack looked over at him, his blue eyes wide and unsure. "I'd like to stay."
Aster relaxed, relieved. "I promise I'll keep my hands t'myself."
Jack laughed, "You promise huh?"
Shrugging Aster shot him a grin, "Well, I promise t'try. Ya get me hotter than hell Jack, not gonna lie."
There was no mistaking the shot of desire in Jack's eyes, "Sorry..."
"Don't be. Maybe we could start over, yea?"
Jack grinned, little dimples appearing in his cheeks, which was beyond fucking adorable. "I'd like that."
Focusing his attention on the road Aster added, "I'll even let ya call me Bunny."
XXX
Jack tried to stamp down on his excitement as they pulled in front of a white town house. The old place looked as if it should be condemned. The front porch was slanted far too the right, several windows were busted with junk littering the yard.
"This is it?"
"Yup." Aster glanced up at the house before getting out of the car. Jack followed, going around to the trunk. Aster pulled out two bullet proof vests handing one to Jack while he strapped on his own and re-holstered his gun.
Putting on his vest Jack dragged in a deep breath. The nervous excitement in his stomach had him shaking slightly. Damn, it had been too long since he'd been out on a bust.
Aster patted his chest roughly and asked, "Good?"
Checking his gun Jack nodded. "Think so."
"You want me t'call back up?"
"No, it's just two perps. We can handle this."
Aster nodded, "Okay. Wanna take the back and I'll take the front?"
"Sounds good." Stepping towards the house Jack paused before turning around. Grabbing the front of Aster's vest he pulled the bigger man towards him and kissed him. The kiss was over in half a second but it left him breathless. He broke away with a blush. Aster blinked, staring down at him in surprise.
"Just in case," Jack mumbled, before turning back towards the house.
Aster caught his arm, spinning him around and pulling him against his chest. He gasped as the other man kissed him deeply, devouring his mouth. He gave in on a groan, meeting Aster's tongue and kissing him back just as roughly. This kiss was hot, intense and over far too quickly.
Aster let him go, giving him a smug smile, "Just in case."
His face burning Jack turned around and jogged towards the house. He made his way around back, pressing low against the siding and pulling out his gun. He could hear voices arguing as he approached the back. There was an open door off the back of the house, the screen hanging off its hinges. Hiding behind a tree he peeked around and inside a small kitchen.
There were two men pointing guns at each other. One was massive, well over six foot two and heavy set. His head was shaved and there were tattoos over his neck. The other guy was thin and sickly looking, with red hair and a scruffy beard. Judging by the way his gun hand shook Jack guessed the red head was Roy.
Roy waved his gun around as he yelled, "This ain't the fucking price we agreed on!"
"Yea well, the price's gone up," the dealer replied coolly. "Either pay up or get the fuck out."
"Fuck you asshole, do you know who I am?" Roy shouted back.
"Yea I do. And unless you want your boss to found out you been scoring I suggest you pay up."
Roy gaped, his eyes going wide. "You're fucking black mailing me?"
The dealer shrugged, "Take it how you want. You ain't gonna pay then you're wasting my time."
"I'll kill you!" Roy took a step forward.
"Hold it!" Jack jumped up on the back step, leveling his gun at Roy. "Police. Drop the weapon."
"The fuck!" Roy shouted. "You ratted on me!?"
"It weren't me!"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes Jack ordered calmly, "Put your damn guns down."
Roy shook, his eyes shifting between Jack and the dealer. The dealer remained calm, keeping his gun level at Roy while glancing over at Jack with boredom. "You gonna make me Whitey?"
Jack scowled, "If I have too." Roy shifted nervously and Jack could tell he was thinking on turning his gun on him. "Point that gun at me and I'm gonna shoot you," Jack warned him. "Put the guns down and we can end this nice and quite."
From behind the dealer Jack saw Aster appear silently in the kitchen doorway, gun drawn.
"You think you can take us both?" the dealer asked incredulous.
"No, I'll just shoot this one." Jack nodded towards Roy. "My partner will get you."
The dealer's eyes widened as he peered over his shoulder at Aster. "Shit."
"Fuck, it's you!" Roy exclaimed.
Aster smiled, "Hey Roy, how are ya mate?"
"Detective, you fucking prick," Roy hissed. "How did you find me?"
"A little birdie told me, now put your weapons down."
"Pitch wont stand for this," Roy smirked. "He's gonna kill you just like he did your partner."
Aster frowned but didn't take the bait. "Keep talking Roy and I'm gonna shoot ya just to shut ya up."
Suddenly there came the sound of a door banging at the front of the house, followed by another man's voice, "Yo, Mikey I couldn't find the ciggs you like...Oh shit!" The other man broke off with a hiss as Aster spun around.
Then all Hell broke loose.
Jack heard the audible sound of a gun shot. His heart froze. He was aware in the back of his mind of Aster stumbling back before firing his own gun. Roy swung his gun towards Jack. He didn't make it halfway before Jack fired, putting a bullet in his arm.
"Fuck!" Roy yelled, dropping to his knees, his gun clattering to the floor.
The dealer turned his gun on him before another shot sounded. Jack jumped as the big man's face paled with shock before he fell over on the floor. Aster stood leaning back against the kitchen doorway, his gun pointed at the dealer.
Rushing forward Jack kicked Roy's gun away. As adrenaline pumped through his body his brain suddenly registered that his partner had been shot. "Aster!?"
"I'm alright, vest got it," Aster reassured him with a grunt. "The other guy ain't so lucky." Leaning back he clasped a hand over his chest.
"You fucking shot me!" Roy screamed, clutching at his bleeding arm. "You fucking bastard!"
Snatching up a dish towel he tossed it at Roy and snarled, "Shut the fuck up, it barely scratched you."
"You're gonna regret this. Mark my words," Roy sobbed.
Jack ignored him, checking the dealer for a pulse while Aster called for an ambulance. Finding none he checked the third man in the hallway.
"He alive?" Aster asked.
"Nope."
"Good." Sliding to the floor Aster groaned, "That did not go the way I expected."
Rushing over to Aster's side he checked the other man's vest, needing to confirm for himself that the bullet hadn't gone through. The skin under his vest was already forming a dark bruise. "Jesus Bunny."
Aster smiled, "Worried about me Frostbite, that's cute."
"Shut up." Slumping down on the floor beside Aster he dragged in a deep breath, ignoring Roy's curses from the kitchen. "I need a beer."
"You and me both." Sitting quietly for a moment Aster asked suddenly, "Did that prick call ya Whitey?"
Jack glared over at him. "Don't even think about it."
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was fun but challenging to write. For those who follow my work I started a tumblr page. I'll post updates and sneak peeks.
winterstarfireDOTtumblrDOTcom
