Chapter Six
Blair drove home so quickly it might have been Jim behind the wheel. He parked the truck and headed for the stairs. "I'm not waiting for any elevator, man!"
Jim laughed as he followed, walking quickly enough to allow his longer legs to almost keep pace with his partner. Even so, and to Jim's considerable amusement and arousal, Blair had left an absolute *trail* of clothing leading from the front door of the apartment to their bedroom. On a whim, Jim gathered the fallen garments as if they were so many flowers.
Blair sat cross-legged on their bed, wearing only a wide grin, a glint in his eyes and an enormous erection. Jim dropped his armload of clothes, tore his own off with barely a thought of potential wrinkles or dust and pounced.
Jim licked his way down from Blair's nipples to his hard penis while his lover leaned against the pillows and chuckled and moan. "No...no, Jim...not that." Blair pulled away from him and, to Jim's shock, turned over onto his stomach. "Take me, Jim. Now. Hard." His voice was urgent, demanding. Needy.
"Whatever you want, darling." It had been over a year since the last time they'd switched roles. Didn't matter. What Blair wanted, Blair got.
"No talk. Just...now!" He raised himself on his knees and elbows. If Jim didn't know better, he'd have said that Blair was *surrendering* to him, except that Blair didn't know the meaning of the word. Instead, there was only his need. Jim could smell it - arousal and desperation and need rising from his body. His own penis twitched with desire. He wasn't a good or practiced top, but Blair obviously didn't want finesse.
"Come on, Jim. Now..."
Jim fumbled in the night table, taking out a tube of lubrication and two condoms. He slid on both at once, knowing that only one layer would leave him too sensitive, and greased himself up. Then he took a large fingerful of goop. Blair quivered at his touch, but pushed back. He was tight, almost virgin-tight. Jim tried to be careful, tried to be gentle, tried to prepare him as slowly as he could, but Blair wouldn't *let* him.
"Just...get...me ready...please. Now. Now. Stop teasing me, dammit, and get in there!"
It wasn't as if Jim had a lot of patience himself - he was so hard it *hurt* - so, with a kiss to the small of Blair's back and a silent apology, he added more goop to himself and began to force his way in. Blair kept murmuring for him to go harder. Jim did his best to comply, finally forcing his way with a big push, doing his best to ignore Blair's scream. When the push was over, he was in as far as he could be, and Blair was shaking and panting, sweat dripping off his body.
"Blair...sweetheart..." Did he hurt him? Was Blair all right? Damn, he was too out of practice.
"Sh...sh...shush. Just...yes. Oh...move." Jim moved. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to move slowly, not by Blair and not by his own body's needs. Even inside the two condoms, the feel of Blair's body was overwhelming - hot and far too tight. He had no choice. Bracing himself on Blair's hips, he moved faster and faster, letting instinct take over, allowing Blair's moans to set the rhythm, and the rhythm was uptempo, a dance beat that would have worn out the most dedicated club queen, and it just got faster and faster until Blair screamed again and came. His body spasmed around Jim, who could hold on no longer, who had spent the last few moments holding on as hard as he could. Jim let go then, filling his condoms, too exhausted to make a noise.
Unable to support himself any longer, Blair collapsed to the bed, dragging Jim down with him. It took a few minutes for Jim to relax enough to pull himself out, closing his eyes at Blair's brief gasp of pain. He made sure that his clumsiness had not caused any damage, and, reassured, rid himself of the condoms and cleaned them both up.
Blair turned to his side and looked at him, his eyes tired but glowing. He smiled and opened his arms. Jim dove in and kissed him, gently, and then curled up there, after pulling up the covers.
"That was good, man. That was...perfect. I love you, Jim." With that, he closed his eyes and, wrapping himself around his lover, Blair fell asleep.
Jim loved hearing those words, even after two years and more. They'd been the last things he'd heard, like an evening prayer, since their first night together. "I love you, James." Just the thought made him happy...
Jim. Blair had said "Jim."
Well, why not? It was his name. Jim shrugged off the odd feeling and went to sleep in his lover's arms.*****************************************
Jim finished buttoning up his new dark-blue knitted blazer and rummaged through his jewelry box. He chose a simple gold hoop earring that Blair had gotten him for their first anniversary, out of his first PD paycheck. Just as he stepped back to check the full effect of his outfit, enjoying the interaction of the soft jacket, the fine cotton band collared shirt and the pleated wool trousers, he heard Blair walk down the stairs...slowly. He had to smile at that.He gave his hair a final combing and stepped out of his wardrobe to find Blair walking stiffly over to the coffee maker to pour himself a cup. "Good morning, darling."
"gmrng." Blair stared at him through sleep tousled hair. He moved over to the table, wincing visibly as he sat down. Jim's amusement turned to concern.
"Sandburg? Is everything all right?" Jim poured himself a cup.
Blair took a sip and shook his head. "Yeah. It's been a long time, you know? Nothing I didn't ask for." He smiled. "And, man, did you come through."
Jim laughed and walked over to kiss Blair on the head. "Wasn't exactly a trial for me, sweetcheeks. Why don't you get cleaned up while I start breakfast?"
Blair finished his coffee, and stood up carefully. "Thanks, James. I can't *imagine* why I'm so *hungry* this morning..." He smirked and pecked Jim on the cheek as he walked to the bathroom, untying Jim's old terry robe as he went.
Jim took off his blazer and found his favorite apron, and began planning a monster omelet, keeping an ear on Blair's activities. At one point, as he chopped mushrooms, he heard Blair yelp and had to remind him to use warm water and the mild stuff Jim used. "There's that lotion in the medicine chest, too!"
Blair's "Oh, right" was mumbled, but he had to know Jim would have no problems hearing it so Jim chuckled.
Blair emerged, damp and shaven, but walking more easily, by the time Jim had the onions and mushrooms sautéed. He gave the kitchen an appreciative sniff before disappearing upstairs again to get dressed, a process that was finished before Jim had all the eggs cracked or the toast in the toaster.
Blair stepped in next to him and they began the kitchen dance they'd perfected long before they'd become lovers, each performing his own tasks and somehow not getting in each other's way. Five minutes later, Jim put down plates with steaming mushroom, cheese and onion omelets, while Blair had platters of buttered toast and glasses of juice all ready.
"Yum. Cholesterol heaven, James." Blair grinned and began to wolf down his food.
"It's how I keep my girlish figure." Jim neatly cut off a bit of his own. "Does it need more salt?"
"'sperfect. But..."He put down his fork for a moment. "James, you saw Mel last night. You're headed in the same direction as he is if you don't watch out. You have to watch your eating."
"That's because she lost Freddy. Anyway, Evie's taking care of her now."
"And who's taking care of *him*? I have to tell you, Evie looked odd a couple of times last night. He says his T-Cell count is good, but..." Blair shrugged.
"She'll be fine. And *I* have you to watch my cholesterol for me." Jim smiled, but something nagged at him. Some sort of disconnect. "Make sure I get to be an old lady."
"You know that, man." Blair smiled back and squeezed Jim's hand. "That's part of the job description."
"Love you, Blair."
"I love you, too, James." He smirked a bit, as if to fend off the mush, and polished off the rest of his omelet. "Meanwhile, did I tell you? I had this long talk with Dave Michaelson about his new paper on..." Jim buttered a piece of toast and chewed on it, watching Blair wax poetic with his hands and eyes.
Just as they were starting to clear up, the phone rang. Jim closed the dishwasher door and picked up the phone. "Ellison."
"Jim, it's Simon. We just got a call from Hunter. He got another little 'gift' today." Simon did not sound happy.
"Damn. We'll go right to his office then."
"That's just what I told him. Can you be there in fifteen minutes?"
"We can if *I* drive."
Blair, who had stopped cleaning the omelet pan when the phone ran, snorted. "Tell Sandburg I heard that. Get there fast, but get there in one piece, okay?"
"Love you, too, darling. We'll report afterwards. Kiss-kiss." He heard Simon sigh as he hung up the phone.
"What's up?" Blair went back to work.
"Finish that up fast. We're heading out to see Hunter. He got another note."
"Do I have to go?" Blair dried the pan and put it away. "Right now, I really don't want to talk to Hunter."
Jim squeezed Blair's shoulder. "I know, sweetie. But he likes you and he most assuredly does *not* like me."
"Yeah, I know. Maybe I can give him what for for that stunt he pulled yesterday."
"That's my Blair!" Jim kissed him on the cheek. "He won't know what hit him."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." But Blair smiled.
***************************
"Come in, boys. Would you like some coffee?" Mrs. Jones smiled at them both. "I'm so sorry you had to come again...I don't mean that I'm sorry to see you, but not because we got one of those horrible, horrible notes."
"We're fine, Mrs. Jones." Blair touched her hand gently. "Did you find it?"
"Oh, no, no, Dr. Sandburg. Dr. Hunter came in early today and found it himself. Are you sure? It's freshly brewed."
Jim shook his head. "Thank you anyway, sweetheart." Mrs. Jones fluttered and sighed. "I think that *dear* Dr. Hunter is waiting for us. Perhaps you should call him?"
"Oh, oh, yes. Of course. Where is my head this morning?" She hurried to the intercom. Moments later, she was ushering them into Hunter's private office.
Hunter was writing something on a pad when they entered. He looked up. "Thank you, Mrs. Jones." She nodded and left. He stood up. "Detective Ellison, Dr. Sandburg. Welcome. Please, sit down."
"Thank you." Jim took a seat in one of the leather chairs on their side of the massive oak desk, crossing his legs at the knees and folding his hands.
"What about you, Dr. Sandburg?" Hunter looked at Blair, who was standing next to Jim, his legs slightly apart and his hands straight at his side.
Blair looked him in the eyes. Jim followed his gaze. Adam Hunter had very green eyes. He'd noticed them before, but now something tickled him. There was something going on there. There were too many somethings going on. Jim rubbed his hand over his hair.
"Well, Dr. Sandburg? Is there something wrong with my hospitality? Is it...'treif'?" Hunter showed his teeth.
Blair leaned forward, resting his hands on Hunter's desk. He was still almost a yard away from the man. Even so, Hunter sat back in his padded chair. "We listened to your show yesterday."
"Did you, now? Did you enjoy it?"
"That was a truly dumb thing to do, man. Let's just leave aside the fact that you had *no* right talking about me. Although you did not."
"My, my. Aren't we egotistical this morning?"
Blair's knuckles turned white. "Come off it, *Dr.* Hunter. A friend of mine just happened to have tuned in for a minute or two before he became *disgusted* and changed stations. And he recognized me. He asked me how we met."
"I wonder what he recognized? Your hair, perhaps? Or your choice of apparel? Or...your anger?"
Blair's muscles tensed visibly. Jim primed himself to catch his partner before he leaped across that vast wooden plain to attack the man. "Well, I'm angry now. You had no right to make me and my personal life a point in your talk...you had no right to *use* me like that."
"Why, Dr. Sandburg, don't you believe in the first amendment?"
"Oh, yeah. But there are laws against slander."
"There are, indeed. Can you tell me what I said that was not truthful? Certainly, you are a model of anger *now*." He smiled again.
Blair stood up straight, clenching and unclenching his fists. Jim got up from his chair and put his hand on Blair's shoulder. Blair flinched him away the first time, but let him stay afterwards. "That's it, darling. Deep breaths, now." Jim looked at Hunter, whose face was twisted in horror. "Doctor, my partner here isn't just upset over your little bit of radio theater. He's also genuinely concerned about this *case*, which you just may have *queered* with that stunt."
Hunter swallowed. He stared at Blair, and at Jim's other hand, which was stroking Blair's arm. "What do you mean?"
Jim sighed and rolled his eyes. "Blair recognized who you were describing. Our friend recognized him. It's likely that others did as well."
"Yes?"
"You were *told* not to go to the police."
"I didn't describe *you*, Detective. And Dr. Sandburg is not a police officer."
"No, he *isn't.*" Jim could feel his voice go quiet. "But he is my partner, and a lot of people know he works for the Cascade PD. Such as everyone in Rainier University and the people on Stonewall Street. The very crowd whom you suspect is sending you those love notes."
"Oh, sweet Jesus." Hunter slumped down in his chair. "I was a fool."
"Can't argue with that." Jim sat back down and looking at Blair. Blair shot Hunter one last glare and took the other chair. "Now, then. We're here for a reason besides what you said about my partner."
"Excuse me." Mrs. Jones walked in, carrying a tray laden with a coffee set and china cups and saucers. "I thought you gentlemen would want some coffee around now. Dr. Hunter *always* has coffee at this time."
"Mrs. Jones, this is not the time..." Mrs. Jones looked stricken at those words. Hunter shook his head. "I'm sorry, dear lady. Of course, the coffee is most welcome. Please, leave the tray there."
"Oh, no. I'll fix your coffee *just* the way you want it. Please, don't mind me."
"You might as well let her stay, Hunter." Blair got up. "May I help you?"
"Oh, dear, no. This is my work. Go sit down with your friend."
Blair shrugged and took his seat again.
Jim smiled at him and turned to face Hunter again. "Is that today's gift on your desk?"
"Yes. I didn't open it before you came. And I handled it with my handkerchief, just in case." Hunter sounded rather proud of himself.
"Good job." Jim reached into his pockets and pulled on a pair of latex gloves. He picked up the envelope and opened it. "Oh, dear, Dr. Hunter. You made a very bad mistake yesterday." Behind him, Jim heard a coffee cup drop to the floor.