The Rose Man Read online

  “You knew both of them were gay?” Ross asked.

  “You figure it out. Neither was flashy about it—it’s a family store in the middle of nowhere, Kentucky. We have a lot of senior shoppers and churched-up people. Lots of girls on the staff too, and they’d hit on the single guys—young hormones. Those guys showed no interest in any of the single ladies and never brought a date to the Christmas party or the summer picnic the owners throw where kids and significant others are expected to show up. Very family atmosphere.” Nick shrugged.

  “You reported both men, but they work in different departments. No chance you’re secretly going out to a bar they might frequent?” Ben pressed.

  “No, come on. I’m doing the right thing here. I got a wife. I don’t judge ’em, but that doesn’t mean I’m one of them. A couple of the older ladies who work in the bakery tried to set up Jim and Deke. We wanted them to be happy, but someone out there doesn’t,” Nick said.

  Ross cleared his throat. “So they dated for a bit or nothing?”

  “They were sort of embarrassed by it. Like they’re the only two gay guys who work at the grocery store, that we know of right now, and everyone expected them to couple up. They’re young. They’ve got time. I just want them to be safe and back at work,” Nick explained.

  Ben nodded. “I understand. You don’t know of any ex-boyfriends either of them had that might be a danger? Might be possessive or angry about something?”

  Nick shrugged. “No. The deli manager is an older woman who thought Jim was gunning for her job and she wasn’t ready to retire. She brought it to me when he didn’t call or show up. Deke reports to me, so that was simpler. You’re welcome to speak to anyone at the store that you like. We’re down two good employees and people are nervous.”

  “Your surveillance cameras got nothing?” Ross asked.

  “They don’t have any in the parking lot. One guy mentioned a rose to a coworker. The next day he didn’t show up. I wish we had more to go on. You think that in a small community like ours, we’re safe. I’ve checked my doors and windows every night before bed and been locking my car like it’s new.” Nick cracked his knuckles.

  “You don’t seem to fit the profile, but locking up your stuff is never bad. Remember that year we had a rash of small trailers stolen from backyards and sheds? They’re not cheap, but who goes and steals someone’s trailer?” Ben asked.

  “Right. Who goes kidnapping gay men? Is this like that trafficking stuff on the news?” Nick asked.

  “Doubtful. Most traffickers want women or children. Men tend to fight back. Did either of these men have a drug problem?” Ross asked.

  Nick frowned. “Not as far as I know. Never saw marks on them or smelled pot. Neither of them even smoked that I know of. I wish I had more info, but they worked their shifts and went home. Most of the people working there have families, so they have obligations…even the older ladies have grandkids that they babysit. Some people have a second job to get to.”

  “Thank you for your cooperation. If you think of anything else, please call.” Ben slid over a card.

  “That’s it?” Nick asked.

  “Do you have more information for us?” Ross asked.

  “I know it’s more than the two guys from our store. What’s happening?” he asked.

  “We’re doing everything we can. Lots of missing persons simply turn up within forty-eight hours. These haven’t, but we have a lot of leads. Some turn out to be nothing so it takes manpower and time. We appreciate your cooperation,” Ben explained.

  Nick stood. “Please keep me posted.”

  “Of course. I’ll walk you out,” Ben said.

  Ben returned to find Ross on his computer.

  “Something click?” Ben asked.

  “I’m pulling all men on parole and seeing if there is a way to cross-reference the gay ones, maybe get Charlie to look at the list for trouble-makers. We have their pics for the guys on parole.” Ross shrugged.

  “Nice idea, but if they knew him from the bar and he vanished, don’t you think they’d have told us?” Ben asked.

  “If they went to jail, maybe not. It’s worth a shot. I’ll order dinner,” Ben said.

  “No—if we’re going to pull an all-nighter, let’s go back to the motel and order some good ribs. If we stay here and pile stress on top of stress, we’ll do more harm than good.” Ross started packing up his computer.

  Ben had to agree it was a good idea. Alone they could toss around ideas, take a nap and eat to recharge—get rid of stress—in private.

  * * * *

  An hour later, Ben was eating ribs, mashed potatoes with gravy and corn on the cob. The side of buttered biscuits was untouched, but he’d get there eventually. The beer washing it all down was another no-no at the station. “Good idea,” Ben admitted.

  “Told you.” Ross sat across the table shirtless.

  The temptation was growing. “Why don’t you just eat them naked?”

  Ross laughed. “I only brought a few changes of clothing. This sauce would be a nightmare to get out at the creepy laundromat in town.”

  “You could use the washer at my house. We even have an ironing board and steamer. I can look sharp,” Ben said.

  “You do. Good and thanks, but I’d rather not drip this sauce on my slacks or anything else.” Ross went to the bathroom, washed his hands and returned in nothing but his boxers.

  Ben knew where it was all heading when Ross fixed the chain and flipped every lock on the door.

  “Finish your dinner before it gets cold. Then we can review the missing persons,” Ben said.

  “You need a break.” Ross leaned down and licked Ben’s neck before planting a deep kiss on his mouth.

  Ben sat up and reached for Ross, dropping a rib down his uniform.

  “Damn,” Ben said.

  The sauce spattered on both of their skins.

  “Fine, we’ll finish dinner and grab a quick shower.” Ross went back to his food. “We didn’t order dessert anyway.”

  Ben wanted Ross for dessert but grabbed his beer and downed the rest rather than say anything.

  “What?” Ross asked.

  “Once we go down that path, can we stop?” Ben asked.

  “I don’t want to—except long enough to solve this case.” Ross smiled.

  Ben stripped down to his underwear and did what he could to spot-treat the stains. As much as he wanted Ross, he didn’t want to look desperate.

  Fighting the urge to follow him right in and quench that thirst both had clearly been fighting. Ross took his time. It was inevitable—the desire and chemistry were still there despite time and professional distractions.

  Ross entered the bathroom and dropped his boxers to the floor.

  “It’s just me,” Ross said.

  Scaring Ben wasn’t the goal. Ross nudged the shower curtain and slid in behind his gorgeous naked target. Ben’s body had matured into a strong chest with muscled arms. Ben turned and smiled.

  “There’s a little more hair on your chest,” Ross teased.

  Ben shook his head. “You know how to sweet talk a guy. A lot more on yours.”

  “Luckily it hasn’t spread to my back. Is that sexier talk?” Ross moved in and took the soap from Ben. “We’re just going to need another shower later.”

  “We shouldn’t complicate the case,” Ben argued.

  Ross laughed. “We never could resist each other. Consider it stress relief so we can focus better on the case.”

  Nodding, Ben kissed Ross and the world felt right…complete. Ross had everything else, the career he wanted, and his family was good. Without Ben, nothing ever could be perfect. Deepening the kiss, Ross slid his hand down Ben’s six-pack abs until he curled his fingers around that hard cock.

  “All of you missed me,” Ross teased.

  “We’re wasting water. Let’s go to the bed and we can sixty-nine. Then we can clean up.” Ben turned off the water.

  “I’ve got lube and condoms. We don’t have to
limit ourselves.” Ross wanted more than just a hand job or blow job this time. Back in high school, that was all they’d done.

  They’d seen more and had access to supplies at the bar, but they’d been teens and the idea of anal prep or clean-up was a lot. Besides that, the risk of being caught if they did it at one of their homes had been a brake.

  Ben blushed and stepped out of the bathtub, and Ross followed, grabbing a towel.

  “I’ve never done that,” Ben confessed.

  “Taking or giving?” Ross asked.

  “Either. I never wanted to…that’s a serious thing. I never had a relationship that deep.” Ben crossed his arms like he was uncomfortable.

  “Insert deep sex joke.” Touched, Ross couldn’t let that continue. He grabbed a condom and lube packet from his luggage and tossed them on the bed.

  “I’m sure you have a ton of experience, but we don’t have to go that far,” Ben said.

  Ross flopped on the bed and pulled Ben down. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. But if I’m the first you fuck, I’m honored.”

  “You like it?” Ben pushed Ross onto his back and kissed down his chest.

  “I like anything you do to me,” Ross teased.

  Ben sucked the tip of Ross’ dick. “I’m serious. I don’t want to try something you don’t like. Clearly you’ve been playing the field in the city.”

  Pressing a hand to the back of Ben’s neck, Ross guided Ben to swallow more of his dick. “Fuck me any way you want. I need you.”

  There was nothing better than feeling completely safe with someone. Ross had always had that with Ben, except for the threat of his father bursting in on them. He’d have protected Ben any way he had to, but now they were free. Ben deep-throated Ross’ cock while his fingers teased and traced his asshole.

  Suddenly, Ben released the cock and nuzzled it. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, please. I need it,” Ross confessed.

  “Sex or just me?” Ben teased this tip with his tongue.

  “You fucking me.” Ross arched his back, trying to get more contact.

  “First I want this.” Ben sucked and tongued the head of Ross’ cock until he moaned. Teasing Ross’ balls with his hand, Ben worked the tip. Ross lifted his hips and grabbed at Ben’s head, but he couldn’t control anything.

  “Just come—you’re mine,” Ben said.

  Ross took a deep breath as Ben sucked the tip of his penis while stroking the shaft—Ben playing his other hand behind Ross’ sac. Squirming like a teenager all over again, Ross gasped. “Ben.”

  Ben moaned with a mouth full of cock, and it was all Ross could take. He lost control and came without any warning. Shaking in sheer pleasure, he tried to pull Ben up.

  “What?” Ben teased as he licked his lips.

  “Kiss me,” Ross said with a smile. The idea that Ben had never done anal but was hardcore about swallowing only turned Ross on more.

  “I thought you wanted to be fucked. Roll over, face down,” Ben said.

  Ross shook his head. “We can do it this way. I want to see you.”

  “Missionary? It’s so straight.” Ben chuckled.

  Sitting up with his own grin, Ross pulled Ben into a kiss, savoring the salty aftertaste and wanting more.

  “I promise you can fuck me in any position you want, as hard as you want and as much as you want. I’ll screw you in any way you need, but the first time, I need to see your face,” Ross whispered in Ben’s ear.

  Ben nodded and pushed Ross back to the bed. “You don’t need to be quiet.”

  “Make me scream,” Ross challenged.

  Ripping open the condom, Ben smiled at the challenge. He slid the protection on.

  “Want me to blow you first? Think you can last long enough?” Ross teased.

  Ben opened the lube packet and applied it. “I’ve been so hard and crazy wanting you that if I don’t last on the first one, I’ll be hard again in no time, like a damn teen.”

  “Prove it,” Ross taunted.

  Slowly Ben pressed his cock to Ross’ ass. Checking his breathing, Ross relaxed. It was a good thing it wasn’t his first time, because Ben was going right for it. There was no tip tease or rotation—Ben filled Ross tight and held still. The eye contact made the act all the more invasive.

  “You okay?” Ben asked softly.

  “Are you?” Ross tried not to tighten on that thick cock.

  Ben smiled and braced himself on his elbows, rocking back and forth then grinding. Shivering, Ross arched his back and went hard again.

  “Good?” Ross teased.

  Ben pressed his face to Ross’ chest and groaned as he thrust harder. Squeezing on that erection, Ross rocked his hips to meet every motion.

  “I can’t,” Ben said.

  Ross reached down and jerked his cock. “Almost there.”

  Ben nudged Ross’ hand out of the way and worked Ross’ shaft in time with his thrusts. Cursing and moaning, Ross was helpless and loved every second of it as the orgasm hit him.

  “Don’t stop,” Ross gasped.

  Balls-deep, Ben kept going with short thrusts until he froze in his own climax. Ross watched him come down, delighting in Ben’s face, which was contorted in release. Pulling Ben closer, Ross kissed him.

  “Um, I’m not sure what to do now. It’ll be a mess,” Ben said.

  “Ditch the protection and meet me in the shower. There’s another queen bed we can sleep in. Should’ve thrown down a towel, but I was too eager,” Ross confessed.

  Ben nodded, looking a bit uneasy.

  “You made me come all over my chest. You never did mind that,” Ross pointed out.

  “Very different.” Ben licked up some of the drops before biting Ross’ nipple.

  Groaning, Ross stretched. “Keep that up and I’ll finger your ass in the shower until you’re begging me to fuck you raw.”

  “I don’t think I’m ready for that,” Ben admitted.

  “Nah, always need lube, but you’ll beg for it, because it sounds dirtier.” Ross smacked Ben’s ass.

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Ben felt like a new man in every cliché and wonderful sense of the phrase. Before he snuck out of bed, he leaned over and kissed Ross awake.

  “Morning.” Ross reached for Ben’s cock.

  “No, we had the fun. Now we have to do the work. I’ll swing by the house and check on Dad, change and meet you at the station.” Ben kissed down to Ross’ tempting neck.

  Ross pulled the sheet off them, revealing his naked erection. “Sure you don’t want to play a little?”

  “Want, yes. Very much want, but we have work to do. Shower, shave and get dressed. I’ll beat you to the station.” Ben kissed Ross’ chest.

  “You don’t like my stubble?” Ross challenged.

  “I don’t want to show up to work with whisker burn or hickies.” Ben touched a finger to his neck. Sure enough, a spot tingled and ached. Hopefully it didn’t discolor.

  “Fine, but only because work should be our priority. Not because I’m trying to hide what we are or did.” Ross sat up.

  “Are? I don’t remember any real talking,” Ben replied.

  “We can talk when the case is solved. But I’m not going to stop trying to screw your brains out as much as humanly possible while I’m here. I shouldn’t have waited this long,” Ross said.

  Ben turned and put on his shoes, trying to hide his grin. Being desired was something Ben hadn’t felt in a long time. Hooking up at a bar or online wasn’t the same as having someone want him—knowing exactly who he was, flaws and all, and still craving him.

  They’d gotten so lucky finding each other that young, but then it had all gone to hell. How could he have let that happen? Ben blamed himself, but there was no time machine.

  “See you at the station,” Ben said.

  He left the motel and headed for home. The drive was short but fraught with guilt. He hadn’t thought to stop by home before the motel last night. As Ben walked in thr
ough the side door, he knew that was a mistake. Nothing was on fire or screamed danger—but the butter sat on the table.

  A few pieces of buttered toast sat on a paper plate next to a beer, which Dad wasn’t supposed to have too much of.

  The TV was on in the bedroom, so Ben headed there. His stomach dropped as his dad’s bed hadn’t been slept in. Had he fallen?

  Dashing to the front room, he found Dad asleep in the recliner, thankfully snoring with his oxygen still on. No signs of a cigarette either. Ben walked closer and the smell of urine hit him like a wall. Too often, Dad made use of the urinals he’d collected over his hospital visits. They were good when he was having a bad day and coughing so much that getting to the bathroom without an accident was hard, or even the middle of the night—but Dad liked the convenience during TV time too.

  Ben dumped and rinsed the urine before taking a quick shower. After treating his stained uniform, he put on a clean one then tidied the kitchen. Mrs. Blossom was coming today so Ben made a list including butter. Since the eggs were due to expire in a couple days, he scrambled them up and fried some bacon.

  “Where were you all night?” a voice asked from behind Ben.

  “Damn it, Dad. You scared me. I thought you were still sleeping.” Ben turned off the stove. “Food is ready. Sit.”

  Dad poured the coffee. “Good. I wasn’t hungry for dinner, so I had some toast.”

  “Dad, I have all your favorite frozen dinners in here. Plus there was leftover chili Mrs. Blossom brought last week. All you had to do was microwave some of it.” Ben understood the game. Dad wanted the attention and the company. Maybe Mom had wanted his company when she’d been stuck raising a kid? Life wasn’t always easy, but sacrifice seemed to always flow one way.

  “I wasn’t that hungry. Sorry, I left out the butter. I want some rye bread too and some soups.” Dad sat and helped himself to bacon.

  “Add it to the list. I’ve got all the basics. You’re not helpless,” Ben said.

  “No, but it’s not an act either. Forgetfulness. It creeps up on you. You’ll see. Before, I could’ve driven from one end of Kentucky to the other, blindfolded. Knew every exit and twist. You expect your body to wear out, but then your mind thinks it’s still young—until it randomly forgets things.” Dad stabbed some eggs.