STORY EXCERPT

Nicola gazed at the book, then up at Adam, who peered at him with a curious look as if he waited for some type of reaction. “A book? You give me a book.” The poor lighting had Nicola turning and twisting the book so that the streetlight’s illumination a few feet away could beam on it.

“Look at the name.” Adam gestured with his extended finger.

Nicola’s brow lifted when he read the name Nero Thorn. “Look at that. One of my favorite erotic suspense authors has a new book out.” He flipped the trade paperback over to check out the back cover blurb, but the unreadable black print made him squint. “You shouldn’t have,” he joked.

Adam’s eyes rolled. “It’s not a present.”

Nicola nodded. “I figured that. But how is this book The Messenger’s Gift going to prepare me for my meeting with Captain Moore tomorrow?”

“Read the back cover and see if it reminds you of anything.”

Nicola groaned. “Sorry, I can’t see it. It’s too dark.”

“Wait a second…”Adam took out his cell phone and slid his thumb on the screen until he found whatever he looked for. “I have the perfect app for just this situation.” All of a sudden a bright light beamed from the phone’s screen.

“A cell phone and a flashlight, too. Will wonders never cease.” Nicola marveled at it.

Adam half laughed. “I got a ton of apps just as cool as this that I can show you.”

Nicola put up his hand. “Nope. Not interested. A cell phone was made to make calls, not be a multipurpose gadget.”

Adam grumbled, turning off the light feature, and began to place the phone back in his pants pocket. “Fine, then forget the whole thing.”

Feeling like a horse’s ass, Nicola halted his movement. “Sorry. Bad joke. But you know I’m not a tech geek.” He pointed a wagging index finger at the phone. “Go on, give it to me.”

Once Adam did as he asked, Nicola began to read the blurb, which described one hell of premise. “Damn, that’s good,” he said once he finished.

Adam gave him a big-eyed, sideways glance. “And?”

“And what?”

Adam rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t it remind you of a murder that happened here just two months ago?”

Nicola shook his head. “Sorry. I hadn’t been keeping up with the news in Chicago. So, a dismembered body was found in this park?”

Adam nodded. “Exactly how it’s described there in that book.”

Nicola frowned. “Well, it’s probably some whacko who wanted to make Nero’s fiction story reality.”

Adam shook his head. “No, can’t be.”

“Why?”

“Because the murder happened before this book was ever released.” Adam crossed his arms.

“So then Nero based his story on the murder.” Nicola shrugged.

Adam chuckled. “How could he base his story on a murder that still hadn’t happened?”

He shook his head. “What? You’re not making any sense, dude.”

Adam exhaled deeply and then answered, “Nero wrote the story a year ago, before the murder ever happened. But the story was only released a month after the murder happened.”

“Well, maybe the murderer got an advanced copy of the book and was inspired by it.”

Adam shook his head again. “Not possible as no advanced copy was available yet. The book was supposed to be released this week, but the publisher decided to publish it little more than a month after the murder happened. They thought it would boost sales. And they were right. Sales soared and it’s a best seller.”

Nicola stared at the copy. “Okay, that’s creepy and one hell of a coincidence. But I don’t get what it has to do with us and why we’re here talking about it.”

“Because, partner, that is what Captain Moore is going to talk to you about tomorrow.”

“What? About the murder?”

Adam added, “Yeah, we’ve been assigned to the case. You and I. I’ve been working closely with the captain for the past month and he’s been prepping me.”

It dawned on Nicola. “Oh, so that’s why you know so much about this book and the murder.” He flipped the book in his hand as he stared at it. “So Nero is a suspect?”

“Sort of. But he has one hell of an alibi for the night of the murder. And reliable witnesses to back up his alibi, too.”

“Then he’s not the murderer.”

Adam tipped his head from right to left. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

Nicola stood and stretched his legs. A cramp had begun to form, tightening his neck and shoulder muscles. “Did Captain Moore tell you what I’ll be doing?”

“Oh, yeah. Since Nero isn’t considered an official suspect, it won’t be your everyday detective’s work. So you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to.”

Nicola knew that look Adam gave him. “Oh, no. It’s that bad?”

“Well, it depends on how you look at it. If moving into the condo next door to the sexy author who you once told me you’d do anything to have one night with, just to see if he’s as good in bed as the heroes in his stories, doesn’t appeal to you, then yes, it’s that bad.”

Nicola’s jaw dropped and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Excuse me! Did I hear correctly? The captain wants me to move into the condo next to Nero’s?”

Adam’s lips tightened and he nodded.

“What, as in an undercover operation?”

“Exactly! An unofficial undercover operation.” Adam pointed at him as if he had just deciphered a phrase in the game of charades.

“Why me? I’ve never done undercover work. What if I goof up and blow the whole operation?”

“You’re the best man for the job. You’re one of Nero’s biggest fans, and since you don’t yet feel up to working full-time in homicide at the precinct, it’s a good assignment to start getting your feet wet.”

Nicola sat down again and shook his head.

Adam frowned. “Why are you doing that?”

“I’m still in shock. It’s like I’ve just been cast in the lead role for a story in Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Things happened so quickly, Nicola felt like he had no control. Nero steered this boat they sailed in, guiding Nicola along by the hand. Yet Nicola couldn’t say he wasn’t enjoying this journey. He delighted in it and wanted to experience more. But his inner voice warned him that Nero could be a possible suspect, a serial killer, and Nicola putty in his hand. That voice started low and quickly dwindled away as Nero gently placed his hand around Nicola’s neck and drew him in. Nicola’s lips puckered in response and Nero kissed him.

The kiss began as sweet, a light-pressured touch, but when Nicola’s heart started to race with excitement and his breath deepened, the kiss intensified. Nero’s lips opened and his tongue traced the crevice Nicola’s lips made joined together. It tingled and tickled and on instinct, Nicola opened his mouth, allowing Nero’s tongue full passage. He explored it and twirled Nicola’s tongue, arousing Nicola, who then wrapped his arms around Nero’s neck to pull him closer, slipping his own tongue deeper into Nero’s mouth.

Nero moaned in pleasure. The hand that had lightly rested behind his neck snaked into Nicola’s hair. His fingers urgently combed through the mass. Goose bumps of pleasure formed on the back of Nicola’s neck, which then travelled down his spine and buttocks. Nero groaned, slowly pushed him down onto the sofa, his hard cock leaning against Nicola’s pelvis. His hands switched from caressing his hair to slipping into the open collar of Nicola’s dress shirt. His fingers circled his chest hair.

Nicola slipped his hands down over Nero’s back, sliding up and down his spine in wanton demand. He attempted to grab Nero’s full lower lip to suck it when Nero slowly pulled his head and lips away. Panting, he stared into Nicola’s face and said, “This is amazing. You are amazing.” He caught his breath to continue. “Do you want this as much as I want it? Or am I going too fast and you’d like us to slow down?”

Nicola stared at him, his heart about to burst out of his chest. His mind told him this was happening way too quickly, but after being dead to emotions other than guilt and sorrow for months, it was exactly what he hungered for. He needed to feel alive, to satisfy his sexual desires and pleasures. Right at this moment he wanted nothing more than what Nero offered.

“No, I want this. I want you.” After giving his lust-filled answer, he pulled Nero to him, bringing his demanding lips back to where they’d been. He sucked Nero’s lower lip, while his hand probed his muscular chest, opening his shirt one button at a time. Nero unzipped Nicola’s pants, pushing them and Nicola’s tight boxer shorts downward. Nicola’s cock sprung up, the cool air in the room hitting it, sending his libido to overdrive. Goose bumps of pleasure spread everywhere on his body and his cock hardened in Nero’s hand. Nero’s hot touch and up-and-down strokes on his shaft had Nicola thrusting in sync with Nero’s movements.

Nicola moaned and wanted to pleasure Nero as he pleasured him, when Nero moved away, sliding his body off the sofa. On bended knee, Nero stared at Nicola, waiting for permission. “I want to give you a blow job.”

Even though Nicola wanted to speak, no words escaped his mouth. His hormones and body spiraled out of his control, no longer tamable or contained without release.

His breath caught in his throat with his anticipation. How he yearned to have Nero’s full, sexy, super hot lips surround his cock. He only nodded and stared at Nero as he first licked his cock’s head.

The pre-cum on the tip disappeared on the first lick. Next came Nero’s lips and mouth over the top. Up and down he went, his lips encompassing his shaft, caressing it like Nicola had never been pleasured before. Nicola stretched his arms to touch Nero’s hair. He twirled his loose black curls in his fingers, gazing at Nero with desire and excitement. Nero returned his gaze, the same uncontrolled hunger and excitement shining there.

He quickened his movements and closed his eyes, as if concentrating on the satisfaction he gave Nicola. Nicola followed suit, shutting his eyes and letting his emotions take over.