Ah, there it is.
“And I’m not used to working with a partner. I work alone, or at least I have since the PWP disbanded. But hey, I’m adaptable. You and I need to be together on this. Jack isn’t budging. No games, no jokes. This is serious. When we’re surrounded by a bunch of sadistic deviants with nothing better to do than slit throats to get off, we need to be there for each other. I can’t afford to have you too scared to fight back, and you can’t afford for me to be a dickhead who’d leave you to fend for yourself. Trust works both ways.”
“True.” The asshole had a point.
“And quit calling me an asshole.”
“Quit acting like one. And stay out of my freakin’ head.”
Aidan paused. To Gavin’s surprise, he laughed. “You’re no one’s boy all the time, that’s obvious.” He studied Gavin and nodded. “A submissive, but no slave. And apparently only in the bedroom.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Just making some notes about you out loud. And yeah, I know you don’t want me in your head. Look, I don’t want to be there either. So after we go through these files, we’re going to work on your shields. Frankly, you suck.”
The word brought back images of Aidan’s cock and what he’d much rather be sucking at the moment.
Aidan drew in a breath. “That link goes both ways. I need to feel your mind to better map safeguards for myself. We’re going to be really close on this op, so it’s natural your barriers wouldn’t be as strong against me as they normally would. And contrary to popular belief, I don’t influence thought. I read it, I sift through it, but I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to.”
“Good.”
Aidan sighed. “Now if you’re done being difficult about things, let’s get down to business.”
AIDAN WATCHED GAVIN out of the corner of his eye while his new partner scanned all the material Jack had dropped off last evening. Notes on Carl Kerr, his estate, and a dozen other baddies who’d be in attendance in just a few more days. It seemed Stallbridge had made an enemy of a powerful man. Carl Kerr controlled the drug and arms trades in the Northwest. And he apparently had a hard-on for Stallbridge. How that book could take down the millionaire, Aidan had no idea. Jack had only mentioned that Chronicles had much more to it than sexual positions and had left it at that. Aidan’s job would be to retrieve it and not get dead. Period.
He had to love his boss for the cut-and-dried delivery. That, and handing him Gavin Caldwell on a platter. He still had a hard time understanding the almost out-of-control lust he’d felt for his new partner. He’d known Gavin for over a year, had been around the man on a consistent basis, and acknowledged the spark of interest he’d always had but suppressed. For Aidan, the job came first. He didn’t have close ties with others, didn’t have any other hobbies or addictions except work.
He knew how uncomfortable he made everyone. None of the guys said much about it, but knowing he could read their thoughts if he put effort into it made him a pariah. He’d never gone where he wasn’t wanted—well, except for reading Gavin and that brief attempt he’d made with Jack—and he had no intention of compromising the one place he felt at home. Jack Keiser was the best boss he’d ever had. The guy didn’t socialize, growled like a wolf with a paw caught in a trap more often than not, and was intimidating enough to command Aidan’s respect. He also liked having Aidan on his team.
But this assignment made Aidan rethink a lot of things. Gavin’s innocence shone like a beacon, and the feel of his firm yet smooth body had rocked Aidan’s perceptions, big-time. How the fuck had he not anticipated Gavin’s kiss? Or how seamlessly they’d connect when they touched? More than a physical joining, their connection gave Aidan a sense of psychic bonding that smacked of emotion, something he had no intention of exploring.
Gavin frowned and turned another page in the file. “This is insane. This guy is really into all this?”
And another thing. His partner might protest his inclinations, but his body didn’t lie. The faker liked being dominated and tied up. A perfect fit for Aidan—a man who needed to be in constant control.
Aidan cleared his throat. He needed to get a handle on his emotions. Lust he could manage. And it would help if he liked the man he had to work with, though amiable feelings weren’t necessary. His biggest worry should have been that Gavin’s inexperience would get him killed. That was if Aidan’s cock didn’t. Hell. Why couldn’t he concentrate on more than Gavin’s mouth? That tight ass? Those soft, pink lips?
“Aidan?” Gavin scowled at him. “Why are you staring at me like that? Are you reading my mind again?”
He sighed. “We need to build some trust. Put the folder away. Time to do those shielding exercises I mentioned.”
Gavin seemed to perk up at that. His excitement made Aidan feel twice his age, when he only had six years on his naive partner.
Aidan turned his chair so that he faced Gavin, and their knees almost touched as they watched each other. “Keep your eyes on me. Now think about something that makes you happy. Something peaceful, something you can focus on.”
“Like what?”
“That’s up to you.”
“What do you think about?”
Aidan paused. “I don’t. Mine is a natural shield that keeps everyone out. It’s an innate ability. I was born this way.”
“Figures.” Gavin sighed. “Okay. A happy thought?”
“Yeah.” Aidan stared into Gavin’s eyes and listened hard. He heard thoughts that transitioned into images and soon saw a woman’s smiling eyes that looked familiar. Gavin’s eyes. His mother. They walked into an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor and sat down. Moments later, two large sundaes covered in whipped cream and cherries appeared in front of them. Though he wasn’t empathic, Aidan clearly caught the sense of innocence and belonging.
He found himself wanting to know what that had been like, having a woman to call mother, someone to be loved by, someone to love. Maudlin shit he had no business thinking about with a mission about to go down.
With disgust for his ill discipline, he compartmentalized his past and studied Gavin once more. “Now hold that focus, but camouflage it. Brick up that feeling of happiness and make your wall strong. Surround yourself with it, so when I try to punch through, I rebound off it like a rock.”
Gavin frowned and closed his eyes.
“Keep your eyes open.”
“You’re distracting me.”
A drift of desire and unaccustomed need seeped through Gavin’s mind.
“Yeah, you want me. I get it. Now focus.”
“Dickhead.” Gavin flushed. His wall seemed firm, but anytime Aidan moved or made a noise, Gavin lost it.
“You had some solidity there a few times, but you can’t hold it.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Gavin opened his eyes. “This isn’t helping.”
“Not my fault. I’m trying to stay out of your mind.”
“Then quit touching me.”
To his surprise, Aidan looked down to see his hands on Gavin’s knees. He pulled back, annoyed he’d reached out, if even unconsciously to keep the connection. To cover his lapse, he said, “You’re going to be distracted. You have to learn to tune it out.”
“Telepathy and mental shielding aren’t natural to me.” Gavin shrugged. “My abilities manifest physically. All your mental mumbo jumbo gives me a headache.”
“Yeah? Is that the only thing aching?” Aidan smirked down at Gavin’s hard-on. “’Cause I’m thinking you’re not concentrating on your mom anymore.”
“Pervert.” Gavin stood quickly and put the island between them. “I’m not here to amuse you. I’m going to get that book back.”