Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(58)

“You did? How did they take it?” Key’s forward momentum slowed, and he turned toward Alec. The look of uncertainty that haunted Key when they spoke of his family was right there on his biker’s face. That was one thing about spending the last year with this man, holed up only in his house, Alec had gotten to know Key intimately. He knew Key’s triggers, and clearly, he’d hit several of them this evening.

“With all honesty?” His love gave him a continued side glance that he interpreted to mean absolutely. “It went as expected. I’ve most likely severed ties with them.”

“You okay with that?” Key asked, his steps slowing even more.

“More than. It’s been freeing, if that makes sense. I’ve also crafted my resignation letter to the DA’s office. I haven’t submitted it yet, mainly due to the one case I mentioned before, remember?” Alec hadn’t given many details to Key, but his guy was listening now and nodded once. “I’m meeting with Janice—she’s the one that invited us to her party.” Alec waited again until Key gave another nod.

“Yeah, the one who tried to fix you up with that loser.”

Alec just rolled his eyes.

“Stop. You’ll like her, I promise. I’d like her to volunteer to oversee things until the transition of the file is complete. I crossed lines with this case. I think it was the little girl. She’s so sweet but seems so scared.”

“You’re a good dude,” Key drawled with authority, making Alec smile. Man, he was loving his life right now. Just walking in the dark with this special man by his side made him feel so damn good.

“Thank you. I like your little compliments. They seem genuine.” Alec hip-checked Key then gave him a playful grin. “So I’ll submit my resignation in the next couple of weeks with a month’s notice, then I’ll be free.”

“Big steps. Sure you wanna do all that?”

“Well, there’s more. My dream job, the one I turned down to move here is open again.” Alec studied Key as he said each measured word to gauge his reaction.

“So, you’re leavin’?” Key stopped dead in his tracks, his tone and stance tense, full of accusation as he turned toward Alec. He sensed Key’s protective walls rising, and Alec hadn’t had to deal with those in months. He wanted to say something smart, remind Key of the beginning of this conversation, the part where he wanted to move to a place that suited them both. Alec must not have answered fast enough because Key pivoted around, leaving him in the driveway alone. He watched Key take long strides toward the back porch and garage.

“Babe, the job’s here in North Texas. I’m not leaving. I wouldn’t leave you.” He said the last words with more emphasis as he trailed slowly behind Key. Life changing events and Key didn’t always make for a smooth course. When he rounded the corner of the house, Key was standing in the drive, his hands on his waist.

“Why are you doin’ all this?” Key asked with loads of that heated biker attitude.

“Lots of reasons,” he said, coming to stand directly in front of Key.

“Any of those reasons because of me?”

Alec just blinked at such an absurd question. “All of them are because of you, because of us. And don’t have another panic attack. I’m just filling you in on some changes I’m making. That’s it.” Alec sidestepped Key, going straight to the house. When he pushed through the back door, his mood lifted, touched to find Key had been busy in his absence. The steaks were wrapped in foil, resting on the stove, all the sides were out and ready to eat. Key had even fixed Alec his favorite cocktail and left it sitting on the center island, ice melting, as condensation gathered on the glass.

“No…” Alec said as he turned. Key was so close, and the heat of their bodies mingled. “I’m supposed to be doing all this for you tonight. It’s your birthday.”

“Is all that what you want?” At those words, Alec lifted his hand, tenderly cupping Key’s bearded cheek. He slid his thumb over his lover’s lips and stared deeply into his blue eyes.

“Absolutely, one hundred percent yes. I’ve felt alone my whole life. It’s the only reason I can come up with for letting my family use me like they have. Then I met you and I’m not alone anymore. It was you, not them, that I came to Dallas for.”

Key’s face softened. “I get it. I’m there.”

He took that to mean that he had found a home in Alec too. At least, he wanted to believe their truth was very aligned to one another.

“I’ve always thought we were more the same than different.”

Key remained silent while the sexiest smirk crossed his lips. After several long seconds, the tension in his face vanished as the biker tilted his head to kiss his upturned lips.

“I had a real nice time tonight. I’m glad you pushed me out to the street to hand out candy. It was fun. But I think the perfect ending to a Halloween birthday would be celebrating with ice cream and birthday cake in bed.”

“What about dinner?” Key asked, looking over at the containers and foil-covered plates scattered on the counter.

“That can come afterward.” He shifted so that his hips and swelling cock pressed against his lover’s groin. Key’s enticing grin spread slowly across his face, his heated gaze made his dick even harder. “We can have dessert first.”