“Matt,” Vic started.
But Matt shrugged his lover’s hand off his arm andpushed his chair away from the dining table, putting himself out ofreach. “Jesus, Vic. Why don’t you tell the whole world while you’reat it? Take all our privacy away.”
Frustration flashed in Vic’s blue eyes, turning themstormy. His voice was hard, hurt. “Matty, that’s not fair. You toldJordan—”
“I was hungry,” Matt muttered. “Shit, he more or lessalready knew. But she—”
“I needed her help,” Vic tried to explain. He reachedfor Matt’s hand, caught it, and held on to keep him from pullingaway. “It was the only way I could think of to get her to help mefind you. I did it for you.”
Matt glared at a spot on the wall above Vic’s head,unwilling to meet his lover’s gaze. “What happens when she writesit up in her report?” he wanted to know. “When the papers find out?When I’m fending off advances from every Tom, Dick, and Harry whowants a taste of the spotlight?”
“I don’t think she’s like that,” Vic assured him.
But Matt didn’t buy it. “How the hell do youknow?”
A sardonic grin tugged at the corner of Vic’s mouthbut he tamped it down. “I think I’m a pretty good judge ofcharacter,” he said, giving Matt’s hand a light squeeze that almostmade Matt smile back. “Seeing as how I can read minds. Our secret’ssafe with her, hon.”
With a gentle tug on Matt’s hand, he reeled Matt backto the table, his chair squealing across the tiled floor. Then heraised Matt’s fingers to his lips, but instead of kissing them, heopened his mouth and closed his teeth over one bent knuckle in aplayful bite that made Matt laugh. Vic’s smile widened, and hekissed the marks his teeth left on Matt’s skin. “And the first Tom,Dick, or Harry who comes on to you better step off,” he promised,“because I’ll take them out. You’re my man. I ain’t sharingyou with anyone.”
* * * *
At ten to three, someone knocked on the front door.Matt looked up from where he stood in the hallway, sorting darkclothes from lights for the next load of laundry, but didn’t moveto answer it. His heart kick-started in his chest; his handstrembled, he felt sweaty and hot, and he wondered if maybe itwasn’t too late to refuse to comment. Had it only been a few scanthours since he lay on the floor of Kyle’s closet, bound and gagged,as Jordan fondled him? Why did it seem like it had happened amillion years ago, to someone else?
And why did he have to relive it for the cops?
The knock came again, impatient. Matt waited; then hesaw Vic’s shadow on the wall as his lover crossed the living roomto answer the door, and Matt turned back to the laundry. He had somuch cleaning to do, so much that needed to get done. He hoped thepolice wouldn’t stay too long. He had the rest of his life to geton with here.
From the corner of his vision, he watched Vic openthe door. It must’ve been the cops, because he closed it again,unlatched the chain, then opened the door wide to let their guestsin. The first woman Matt remembered from the hold-up—she wore thesame crisp blue uniform, her hat in her hands and her blonde hairpulled back into a smart French braid. Another woman followedbehind her; this one Matt didn’t know. She was short and plump, andthough she held out a badge to show Vic, she was dressed incivilian clothes, a plum blazer over jeans and a white shirt. Herbrown hair was wispy and highlighted with gray, though otherwiseshe appeared young. Her gray eyes looked harsh, unsympathetic, andthe thin line of her lips gave her a disapproving air. When sheglanced at Matt, he turned away.
The women disappeared into the living room. Vic askedthem if they’d like drinks, which they declined. Then Matt heardthe creak of hardwood flooring beneath bare feet, and felt a firmhand touch his elbow. “Matty?” Vic murmured, his voice low betweenthem. “If you’re ready…”
“Yeah.” He shoved the rest of the laundry into thewasher and turned it on, then followed Vic into the living room.::Might as well get this over with.::
Vic sent a silent reply. ::I’m right besideyou.::
The women sat on the couch; as Matt approached, theystood and shook his hand, first the officer, then her partner. “Mr.diLorenzo,” Officer Jones said, her genuine smile startling Mattinto smiling back. “I’m so sorry for the ordeal you’ve just beenthrough, but I’m glad to see you’re home again. I’m Kendra Jones.We met the other weekend, if you recall?”
Matt nodded and glanced at her partner. Officer Jonesintroduced them. “This is Catherine Reynolds. She’s an officerassigned to our Sexual Assault Outreach Program. We call it SOAPfor short. I thought you might be interested in what services theyhave to offer—”
“I’m fine,” Matt said, his smile souring. “It wasn’treally assault.”
Officer Jones pursed her lips, but before she couldreply, Ms. Reynolds answered for her. There was no smile on herface, and the sobering stare she turned Matt’s way dried up anyprotest he might have made. “The definition of sexual assault, Mr.diLorenzo, is any sexual contact against your will or without yourconsent. This can be an inappropriate touch, or a kiss, orsomething much, much worse. Officer Jones is here for your side ofthe story. But me? I’m here for you.”
Matt crossed his arms around his waist, hugginghimself. “I don’t need you,” he told her. He felt Vic’s hand on hisback and strength flooded him at his lover’s touch. “It’s over withalready. I’m fine.”
Without taking her gaze off him, Ms. Reynolds askedsoftly, “So you’re fine with the fact that Mr. Dubrowski’stestimony states you were a willing participant in his littlesexual frenzy?”
Matt’s insides froze. Jordan didn’t…surely theywouldn’t believe…
Ms. Reynolds continued, her voice damnable and soft.“He claims you came onto him, Mr. diLorenzo. He said youwanted him to tie you up so you could get off on hearing himand his boyfriend have sex in the next room. That it was really allyour idea
