The Hunt - Ch. 9 (Love, Again Side Story, Patreon Exclusive) (Patreon)

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Chapter Nine – Life’s All About Second Chances

“A date?” Billy asked, a bit annoyed with Robert’s superior smile.

“Yeah, why not? We’ve already shared a bed, what could be wrong with going on a date?”

“Do you mean it like a romantic date?”

Robert’s genuine smile began to close. “You don’t have to look so stricken with the idea. No, it’s not a romantic date. I just have a lot of things to talk to you about.”

Billy scratched his head. “Okay, I guess.”

“You guess.”

All right. Robert was pissed. There was an explanation for that.

He had blown it. The detective had laid it right in front of him, and he had been a moron about it. He could always blame it on Mr. X having hit him pretty badly, but it meant that he would only fool himself for no gain.

“I can do a date,” he said brightly. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Robert said stiffly. “But I think we’ll see each other anyway. The Clarks want to thank us in person, so we’re invited to their place.”

“Ah, right. About that… I thought I would skip it. I’m not sure they have too much to thank me for. I’m only going to charge them for expenses and that’s it.”

“You’ll come,” Robert said. “Florence wants to see you again. You’re not going to break a little girl’s heart now, are you?”

The detective was majorly pissed. It vexed Billy a little. After all, Robert had been so fast to run away… but, on the other hand, he had been a fool, too. 

So, they needed to talk, and maybe, just maybe, by tomorrow, after sleeping on it, he would know not to be a complete idiot and voice what was really in his heart.

***

Robert walked away from Billy feeling like an ass. He had wanted to make a little light of the situation but still let his now ex-partner know that things didn’t have to stop there. Rushing to catch a criminal might not have been the best time for introspection, but he had known, in an instant, that his heart had been in his throat at the thought of something bad happening to Billy.

For so many years, he had locked himself behind a wall. No, he had built a fucking castle to keep everyone away, a castle surrounded by a moat full of demons of his own making.

Now, he had a chance to redeem himself. But, apparently, he was so rusty that he couldn’t land a proper pick-up line if his life depended on it. 

Tomorrow, he would have a second chance, and he would slap himself silly if he wasted it like he had just done.

***

“Billy, please, come in. We’re so happy that you decided to come.” 

Billy hadn’t intended for a moment to disappoint Florence’s parents, but he still needed to let them know that all the good words and wishes of goodwill had to go to Robert, not him. 

The Clarks were more than well-off, but that wasn’t what impressed Billy. Their majestic house was also a home, something rare in the world of the wealthy and affluent, as far as he knew. 

Francis Clark guided him into a large living room. His wife got up from her seat to welcome him, but Florence rushed toward him and hugged him profusely. “You’re the best detective in the world! Thank you so much for saving me!”

Constance Clark cleared her throat. “Florence, you’re embarrassing our guest.”

She wanted to sound stern, but her eyes were swimming in tears. 

“Let her be, honey. She earned the right to be a little enthusiastic after everything she’s been through.”

Florence freed Billy only to wrap her arm around his and take him to an elegant armchair. “You were so cool, lockpicking the door like that,” she bubbled. “Wait till I tell everyone what I’ve been through!”

“I’m glad to hear your voice, Florence,” Billy said. “And also, you have my admiration for being such a strong girl. You may not know it, but your little scribbling on the glass gave me and detective Stryker the opportunity we needed to take down your captor.”

“Oh, he thought I was sleeping, and he was talking on the phone, bragging about how fast he got me,” she continued to speak rapidly. “That’s it, I’m taking karate lessons starting this year. I am, right, dad?”

“Of course.”

Billy could tell by the short exchange between Francis and Constance that they weren’t particularly happy with that decision, but they had no choice.

“You found the earring, and then you let me know you were there by giving it back to me,” Florence continued exuberantly. “I mean, it was like in the books. I left the earring for you to find it, and you did!”

“It was amazingly clever of you to leave it there, I must say. It helped us a lot.”

Florence fiddled with her thumbs and looked down. “The other detective looked kind of scary.”

“Florence,” her mother warned her, but her voice was still soft.

“Detective Stryker is surely the type to make an impression.”

Billy wanted to ask why Robert wasn’t there already, but he didn’t want to come across as rude. Also, he needed to behave like a professional, not like some love-struck teenager who couldn’t wait for his crush to walk through the door.

Despite the imperious need to ask about the detective, he decided to steer the conversation toward the case and what he wanted to tell the Clarks. “I know that it must be painful to talk about this, but was your brother taken into custody, as well?”

He already knew the details from the short communication he had had the night before with Robert’s captain, but he wanted to be as delicate as possible.

Francis linked his hands and frowned. “You deserve all my apologies, Billy. You and detective Stryker. I would have never fathomed that my brother was behind all this. Yes, the police arrested him, and he is now under investigation. He denies everything, obviously. I was at fault for letting him know details about the case.”

“Don’t worry, sir. You couldn’t have known. And it’s not like you shared information with a stranger.”

“I suppose he couldn’t let go of the jealousy he had always felt toward me. I tried to give him everything, from opportunities to money.” Francis sounded surprised, still in disbelief over being betrayed like that by his own flesh and blood.

Billy nodded and offered an understanding smile. “All’s well when it ends well, sir. But there’s something else I want to talk to you about. It is about my role in solving this case. I know you hired me for an outstanding amount --”

Francis put one hand high. “Which you deserve to the last penny. You brought our little girl back. I would give you the moon if I could.”

Billy laughed and looked down, feeling embarrassed. “I would like to give you back some of the sum you already transferred to my account.”

Francis frowned. “But why?”

Billy rubbed his right ear. “You see, Mr. Clark, I didn’t do as much as you think, and it was actually detective Stryker who --”

“Who must be just in time,” Francis said and got to his feet as the front doorbell chimed.

Billy shut his mouth. 

Constance looked at him with thankful eyes. Florence stood by her side, resting her head against her mother’s shoulder, and she smiled at him, too. “I will give you all my allowance until I’m eighteen,” she promised, “if you give dad the money back.”

“Oh, really?” Billy snickered. “Only until you’re eighteen, huh?”

“Yeah. After that, I’ll earn my own money, and pay you from what I make.”

Billy waved, feeling more and more trapped by the Clarks’ open gratefulness. “How are you even going to earn money so fast? You’ll have to go to college.”

Florence waved. “Ah, that can wait. I’m going to become a detective, like you.”

Constance laughed. “We weren’t expecting such a change of heart in our Florence. Until yesterday, she wanted to become an actress.”

“Our dear detective is here,” Francis announced and introduced Robert to his wife and daughter.

Florence shook Robert’s hand solemnly. 

“I believe you two are well acquainted,” Francis offered with a small laugh, gesturing between Billy and the detective.

“Yes, we used to be partners for a few days.” 

Robert’s eyes were like fire as they set on him. Oh, boy, oh, boy, he needed to be ready.

***

“Florence took it well. I’m really glad for her.” Billy began to speak as soon as they were out of the Clarks’ residence.

“She’s an incredible child,” Robert admitted. “Although, I must say, she seemed rather shy. She barely spoke a word while we were there.”

Billy snickered. “That’s because she thinks you’re scary. Until you appeared, she was a chatterbox.”

“Seriously? I’m scary? She definitely was not scared of Mr. X to give away her uncle like that and stand her ground. I don’t think she’s scared of me.”

“Well, you can be rather, how should I say this? Intimidating.”

“Hmm,” Robert offered a non-committal grunt. “Are you coming?” His hand was on the car door.

“On our date? Already?” Billy felt his heart going all pitter-patter. Was it starting?

“If you need more time to powder your nose, feel free to do so. But if not, get in, and let’s get going.”

The detective seemed to know what he was doing. At least, there was someone who did, because Billy really felt at a loss about it all, despite turning and tossing over it all night long.

He stared at the detective’s hands, resting on the wheel. As soon as he closed the door, the air changed, becoming more intimate. Like they were suddenly alone, despite the cars flying by and the evening lights peppering the sidewalk with long shadows.

“Look,” Robert started, “I must confess something.”

“Yes?” Billy asked slowly, his whole heart in his throat.

The detective turned toward him. It was hard to see his face. “I don’t have a clear idea what I’m doing. All I know is,” he stopped for a moment, “that I cannot leave things like this. Does that make any sense?”

“Totally,” Billy whispered. 

Robert turned his eyes to the road in front, but he didn’t start the car. “It’s strange to be the most lucid when your life’s at stake.”

“I suppose good ol’ mother Nature wants to give us a fighting chance,” Billy offered his input.

“Yeah. I guess you can say that.”

“There were no bullets in your gun,” Billy said. They hadn’t spoken about what had happened the day before, and they had to. Sitting there, in the parked car, by the side of the road, sheltered from the rest of the world, offered them the opportunity, as ill-timed as it could be. It was easier to talk about what happened and less about their muddled feelings.

“Of course. I had no intention to put a loaded gun in that scumbag’s hand.”

“I should have thought so. But I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. Unlike you.”

Robert turned again toward him. “It’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. How come he got you so quickly? I thought you were good at your job.”

Billy pursed his lips. Robert was right, of course, but what was that about? “I had some things on my mind,” he mumbled.

“Like what things? More important than your survival? You walked into a dangerous situation with your head in the clouds.”

“Ugh, detective, if I had known I was up for a scolding, I would have worn some protective armor.”

Robert sighed. “I don’t want to scold you. But you scared me again, and, in all truth, I shouldn’t have left your side, to begin with.”

“Ah, is this the part where you chastise yourself, too? For not trusting your gut?”

“No. I shouldn’t do that either. I’m trying to get the right words out of me, and it looks like I’m an incapable schmuck.”

“Well, if you don’t want to scold either of us… what is it that you want to tell me, Robert?”

The detective’s eyes darted away. “I had my judgement clouded when I left you to go alone after Mr. X.”

“Are we still going to call him that?”

“Protocol.” Robert shrugged. 

Billy doubted that was it, but now he was waiting with bated breath for Robert to say the words he longed to hear.

“It’s been so long since I’ve felt anything,” Robert continued quietly. “For anyone. And if you think that whatever happened was just a one-time thing --”

There was only this long anyone could hold their breath. Billy moved and placed his lips on Robert’s mouth. He didn’t do anything more; he just stood like that for a moment, reliving the emotion he had experienced when the detective had kissed him for the first time. It hadn’t been imagined; it was much stronger now.

He moved away and averted his eyes. He had done it. “I’m not good with words, either,” he said.

“You’re good with something,” Robert teased. 

Billy felt first just a little bubble, something like the fizz from a soft drink tickling his nose. Then it turned into a torrent, and he began laughing. Robert could think whatever of him now. There was no more hiding, and there was no case to allow them to do that any longer.

Robert chuckled but quickly joined Billy, their roars of laughter probably looking to anyone like the manifestations of mad people, but who was there to judge them anyway?

It took them a few minutes to get back their bearings. Then, they looked at each other, a few snickers still making their bodies tremble now and then. 

“Do we really need to go on a date?” Billy asked. “I hope you didn’t want to wine and dine me.”

“I had everything in mind, even a movie,” Robert said airily.

Billy punched him in the shoulder. “Tell me, detective, do you… like me and stuff?”

Robert threw him a lopsided grin. “I do. I like you a great deal.”

“And we’re both men. Straight men.”

Robert kicked the engine into gear. “Are we going to get all hung up on labels now?”

“So open-minded. And I’m the younger one.”

“Will you tell me how old are you?”

“I will.”

“And your real name?”

“That’s easy. Sure.”

“And your favorite color?”

“Now you’re really pushing it, detective. Just tell me what you have in mind. For the record, I’m particular to being taken to your place.”

“Done. It’s just what I had in mind.”

***

That wasn’t exactly true, and Robert hadn’t harbored high hopes when asking Billy out on a date, but it worked for him. Since he had had some hopes, albeit slim, that they would end up at his place, he had worked all morning to make it look presentable.

Still, the moment he walked through the door, his tiny apartment looked depressingly drab. 

“So, we’re here,” he said with a forced smile.

Wasn’t it a bit absurd that he felt shy? After all, he had asked another man on a date, and it took guts to do that. Now, his courage was gone, and he was left to wonder if decorative pillows were still in fashion or not.

Billy stopped in the middle of the room, his hands in his jacket. He was back to his usual self, the one Robert had met at the precinct that day. Still, Robert couldn’t go back to thinking that Billy was ordinary in any way. 

His hair curled over his forehead, giving him a somewhat romantic look. And his eyes were hooded, and his lips parted, as he waited. Robert knew it was up to him to make a move.

“Is this the part where we check if what we felt that night is the real deal?” Billy asked in a hoarse voice.

“I don’t think I need to check,” Robert said, his voice low and barely a whisper. 

“Good, good,” Billy replied and looked away as if he needed to make sure things were happening for real.

Robert came closer and placed his hands on Billy’s shoulders. “I’m due an apology.”

“What for?” Kind eyes searched his for the answer.

“For being a presumptive asshole,” Robert said and leaned in to steal a kiss.

Billy’s lips were warm, and a small taste was enough to entice him to go ahead and have more. He didn’t have to check. His partner must have felt the same because their kiss grew heated. 

“How were you that?” Billy asked.

“I thought I should be on top, for some reason,” Robert mumbled.

Yes, he needed strength and courage for that, but it was the right thing to do. He had taken his pleasure from Billy’s body that time, and he couldn’t easily forgive himself for it. Even if his partner had confirmed that he had experienced pleasure, as well, it wasn’t enough.

For the entire night before, Robert had wondered how he should bring that about. In the end, the blunt, direct approach had been the only strategy he could think of. 

Billy’s mouth formed an O. “So… this time, just to make things clear, I should be on top?”

Robert shrugged, although his heart was getting smaller and smaller in his chest. “If you want.”

Billy began to snicker, and his eyes lit up. “Detective, you’re quite the surprise.”

Robert pulled him into his arms. “We’re about to fuck. Call me Robert.”

“All right, Robert,” Billy said with emphasis on each word. “Ready for me, then?”

***

He tried to keep it light, but ever since Robert had mentioned that they should reverse their roles from the last time, Billy felt a dash of cold sweat on his back. It wasn’t like him to have performance anxiety, but he couldn’t precisely recall any past lovers commending him on his skills. True, he had only been with women, but still, that probably didn’t qualify him as an outstanding lover.

Still, a challenge was a challenge, so he took Robert’s hand. “Where’s the bedroom?” he asked in a tone he wanted to sound confident and ready for anything.

Robert offered him a lopsided grin. “There.” He pointed with his chin to his right. “Careful not to lose yourself in my vast castle.”

“I already lost myself,” Billy said promptly. “Damn, that sounded corny, right?”

“I don’t mind corny,” Robert admitted. “Now, please, after you.”

Billy closed his eyes for a moment. He could do it. Everyone always commended him on his smarts, and this was easy, right?

They were now inside Robert’s bedroom, and the simple presence of a bed was enough to make him nervous. 

A warm hand landed on his shoulder. “You know, I didn’t think of asking, but you want this, right?”

Billy nodded. “I do.”

Robert chuckled. “That sounded convincing.”

Billy turned on his heels to face the other. “Sorry if I’m a hot mess.”

The detective surprised him by starting to undo his tie. He had a focused look on his face, the one that told Billy that he could count on him for everything. 

It was easy to allow the other to undress him. How many times had he allowed someone else to take the lead before? But it was comforting to have someone else care for a change. 

“There,” Robert said as he took Billy out of his suit jacket and shirt. “Isn’t it a bit more comfortable now?”

Billy trembled prey to a new sensation under Robert’s scrutiny. He moved one hand across his chest. “Not the perfect twink, right?”

Robert smiled. “You look pretty damned perfect to me.”

That was enough to make him feel bold enough to take a step forward and begin to undress Robert, as well. He could do it if he focused hard enough, which wasn’t exactly easy, not with Robert’s hands wandering down his naked back and making him experience small jolts of pleasure at every step.

To prove that he didn’t plan on chickening out, he valiantly placed his hands on Robert’s belt buckle. What was he nervous for, anyway? When they had done it before, the detective had had no hang-ups of any kind.

His were rooted in insecurities, and it was pretty dumb. Robert had been clear in his actions, if not so much in his words. They both wanted it, only that Billy wasn’t so sure that his performance would rise to imagined self-imposed standards.  

Robert interrupted his self-beating internal speech by tipping his chin gently and kissing him again. “Since I’m the one who’d done it already, I believe I can give you some pointers,” he said in a low, husky voice.

Billy exhaled. “Sure. I don’t mind that.”

With gentle moves, he was pushed to lie on the bed. Robert was slow and deliberate in taking Billy out of his clothes completely. He felt as if he was floating and looked at Robert as he removed his pants, as well.

Robert was a handsome man. Billy knew he felt desire, pure and undiluted, when he looked at him and his naked body. He pushed himself up. “I know what I have to do.”

“You do?” Robert challenged him with amused eyes.

“Yeah,” Billy said, this time convinced. “Just lie down already.”

“Okay, boss,” Robert replied with a broad grin.

Billy didn’t wait for Robert to lie down properly and moved on top of him. “I’m hard,” he said with finality.

“I believe I can feel it,” Robert replied.

Billy aligned their erections, happy to see that the detective was just as into it as he was. Whether it was the anticipation of what they were about to do, or they got aroused by seeing each other naked, or both, it no longer mattered.

Quite aggressively, he took Robert’s mouth into a wet kiss. He grabbed the other’s hands and pushed them above their heads while he kissed his fill. The detective wrapped his legs around him, and they were soon humping against each other. 

“This feels nice, too,” he breathed out.

“I hope you don’t plan of having up dry hump like teenagers,” Robert teased.

“You’re quite the adventurous type, aren’t you, detective… Robert?”

“I guess I am. Ever since I’ve met, I’m like a completely new person.”

“Hmm, and I wanted to meet the old Robert Stryker.”

“Shut up, smartass. And fuck me already before I lose all my courage.”

“Ah, so you’re afraid? Of what?”

Robert shrugged and pulled him into a kiss. He whispered into his ear, “Maybe of liking it too much.”

There was only so much teasing a guy could take. Billy pushed himself back. “Do you have any, you know?”

Robert nodded. “This time, I’m ready. And forgive me for being too rough that time.”

“Don’t worry. It’s payback time anyway,” Billy joked.

He didn’t waste time preparing himself and Robert. At this point, he was doing things by ear, but he had a hunch that he wouldn’t be judged for it even if his performance left something to be desired.

“Oh, oh,” he barely managed, as his cock was wrapped by solid heat. “This is… nice.”

“Wish I could say the same,” Robert teased him.

Billy could tell he was joking. He placed one hand on top of Robert’s sex. The detective was still hard, so having his body invaded like that by a foreign object did nothing to make his arousal wane. 

With unhidden fascination, Billy wrapped his fingers around Robert’s cock and began moving his hand in pace with the bucking of his hips. 

“I can see that you’re already better than I was,” Robert commented in a ragged whisper.

Billy stared at his face. His forehead was sweaty, and his eyes were closed. “You were good, Robert,” Billy whispered. “You have no idea how good.”

Their lips met again, and this time, Billy didn’t let go of them. They moved in unison, two parts of the same whole finally finding each other. There was nothing but pleasure between them.

Billy could feel Robert’s cock in his hand, a living thing, pulsing and wanting. His entire body was the same, and when he reached his peak, he knew that this time he wouldn’t let go. He slowed down and stood there, waiting for his partner to get there, too.

“Together?” he asked hoarsely.

“Yes,” Robert replied, “like this.”

***

“Is it fair to ask you a question?”

Robert almost drifted to sleep when Billy’s voice broke the comfortable silence. “Of course, anything.”

“This thing, is it serious?”

Robert threw one arm over Billy and pulled him close. “Do you need to ask?”

“Yeah. I’m insecure like that.”

He could tell that was a half-joke. “You’re my second chance. I know it might not be the romantic thing you might want to hear --”

“No, it’s fine. Because you’re my second chance, too.”

Robert had a mind to ask Billy what he meant by that. But it could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, they were both too tired to talk anymore.

TBC

Next chapter 

Author's note: Next time, we'll have the epilogue! I hope you enjoyed Billy's entanglement with the detective! Thank you for all your support!