STORY EXCERPT

She was going to jump.

Detective TJ Raines was the first on the scene with SWAT doc Parker Woods.

Parker and TJ had been on their way back to the department from a training session in Covington on standoffs when they spotted the jumper on the bridge.

Rain slanted off the Big Mac Bridge that connected Ohio and Kentucky. The bridge was closed with state troopers blocking the north and south sides with lights flashing. Traffic was backed up for miles and miles on either side of the river.

There were days TJ wanted to jump off the bridge, too, but he put the brakes on it to do his job.

TJ edged closer, making eye contact with Parker several feet away. Parker shook his head no once. Yeah, TJ knew it was a bad idea to try and grab her, but that wasn’t going to stop him from the risky decision.

Rain hit Parker in the eyes, clinging to his thick eyelashes. TJ cut his gaze back to the girl. He was going to do what he wanted anyway.

Vacant eyes stared through TJ. This jumper would haunt his career if he didn’t get her off the bridge edge and to the hospital for help. Parker eased closer as TJ worked his way along the thin, steel ledge.

“What’s your name?” TJ asked.

Blank stare. The lights were out upstairs but the power was still on. They had to make a move. TJ cut his gaze to Parker again. Parker shook his head no. Yeah, he knew protocol. They were supposed to wait for tactical to arrive on the scene. Problem was, there was no time to wait for SWAT to gear up.

Parker eased forward. TJ could tell he didn’t want him to make the grab he was planning to make on the thin steel ledge. TJ scaled the barrier that separated the road from the walkway, easing carefully over the side.

The two-foot-wide grate was slick with rain and oils from the highway. The river thrashed below his feet. Parker’s eyes were hard. Yup, TJ knew he was taking a chance that could get him killed, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t live with another death on his hands. There were enough bad dreams that woke him up in a sweat at night. TJ knew he had to go for it anyway. He had nothing left to live for except the job. TJ took a deep breath. The jumper’s gaze moved out over the water. She was going to go. He had to move now.

TJ sprung, tackling the woman to the grate. Parker jumped the barrier, protecting them both from falling over the open edge and into the raging Ohio River a hundred feet below. Police officers rushed the side. The woman struggled within TJ’s arms. They needed to get her off the ledge before someone got hurt. Parker grabbed her around the waist, helping TJ lift her over the barrier. The cops on the other side grabbed her by the arms, trying to get her safely over the cement barrier.

The woman kicked out, striking Parker in the chest and chin. Knocked off balance, Parker started falling backward. His arms shot out to grab the steel supports. Fear spiraled through his eyes.

He was falling off the bridge.

Everything moved in slow motion as TJ jumped the three-foot divide that separated them. He reached out snagging Parker by the tie, yanking him toward safety. It was too late. His momentum was taking him down to the thrashing waters below. Parker cried out as he reached for TJ, grabbing his arm that held the tie. Parker’s hand gripped onto his forearm as his feet left the grated platform. TJ grabbed his arm, anchoring him as Parker swung backward off the bridge. TJ flew forward, between the supports to the grate below his feet.

Everything sped up as TJ’s body made impact with steel, cutting into his ribs. “Parker! Hold on!”

Someone over the wall jumped to the grate, grabbing hold of Parker’s arm, too. Another officer leaned over the side with his cuffs, locking the cuff around Parker’s arm and onto his own wrist. The officer swung his legs around, bracing them against the supports to pull him back up.

TJ was sliding. He couldn’t stop his momentum from going through the support beam. Sweat dripped down the side of his face. If they didn’t move faster, he was going to go over the edge too. Life flashed before TJ’s eyes as he saw cold fear wash through Parker’s face.

“Hold on. I’ve got you.”

His words were meant to comfort Parker, but they were little comfort to either man. Time was running out. TJ knew he couldn’t hold on much longer. Another cop jumped the barrier, cuffing Parker’s other wrist. He was slipping from TJ’s hands.

ADULT EXCERPT

Parker came in close. His voice was low and bordered on threatening. It turned TJ the fuck on. His cock hummed, begging to be tugged on. He wanted Parker to be doing all the tugging.

“I decide what I want and when I want it. You won’t decide for me.”

A shudder of desire vibrated through TJ’s cock, making pre-cum weep from the tip. His heart raced for all the right reasons that seemed suddenly as important as breathing air. What if he let go with Parker? What if he said yes again to another forbidden kiss? TJ got off on Parker taking control on the mats. It was one of the reasons TJ liked training with him when he could. Parker pressed his hands against the wall, blocking him in. He leaned down so close that they were eye to eye.

“I decide what I want. Not you,” Parker said.

Heat shimmered in those blue eyes, making TJ’s mouth go dry. It felt as though Parker was marking his territory by drawing a line in the sand. What would happen if TJ crossed that line? TJ so wanted to find out. “You don’t want a fuckup like me. Trust me.”

“Say it one more time. I dare you.”

Parker’s threat was too good to ignore. Maybe TJ wanted this fight. Maybe he wanted to be punished. Maybe he wanted this fight with Parker to get his mind off other things. He leaned in closer, so that they were only a breath away. “I’m a fuckup. You don’t want me.”

A growl came out low from Parker, sending an exotic tremor of anticipation through TJ’s body. “You asked for it.”

TJ was knocked off his feet and flung into the island with a controlled force that rattled his teeth together. Parker was holding back. He could do more damage. He was just proving a point right now. Parker locked his arms under TJ’s. A thick cock pressed between the crack of TJ’s ass, making him groan in surprise. TJ had to buck the urge to rub his ass up and down on that pole. The feel of Parker’s cock tight against his body had him almost ready to give up the fight.

Almost.

Right now, he was scared that Parker was changing the rules of their relationship without his consent. “Release me.”

Parker’s lips brushed over his ear. “No. Not until you take it back. You will not say you’re a fuckup ever again.”

TJ’s heart raced. He was serious. He wanted him to take back the truth of how he felt and what he was when the lights went out at night. Parker’s hold tightened, and his hips rubbed hard. His cock pressed solidly between the crack of TJ’s ass, thumping seductively against his anus.

TJ was breathing hard. “Why do you care?”

“I just do.”

“Parker.”

“Say it.”

“I can’t.”

Tension eased from Parker’s arms as he loosened his hold. Parker dropped his hands to the island, blocking them in. Heat licked over TJ’s neck as Parker dropped his mouth, kissing his way over his nape. A shiver went through his body as he magically found his erogenous zone with no trouble at all.

“Turn around.”

The command came on a long husky note accented with a sharp staccato of hurry up. TJ obeyed and was shocked when Parker came in fast and hard with a brutally honest kiss. There was an animalistic quality to his kiss that made TJ feel owned. All the pent-up fascination and desire TJ felt for Parker exploded into a white hot need of desperation. TJ didn’t want to chain down the lust he was feeling. He wanted this, and he wanted it now.

Parker’s cock flexed hard through his jeans, causing pre-cum to spill from TJ’s cock in response. TJ wanted to get down and dirty, fast and hard. He rubbed his hand down over Parker’s thick cock and was rewarded with a groan of approval. How far would they go and how fast should he take it? It seemed so wrong that their first kiss would lead to screwing, but TJ wasn’t going to stop this from happening. TJ cried out as Parker’s hand locked onto his cock through his jeans. He was on the edge of coming.

TJ pulled away. “I’ve waited too long for you. Stop, I’m close.”

The corner of Parker’s mouth lifted and fell into a hard line. “Don’t come yet. I have plans for you. For us.”

TJ was certain Parker could feel the hum of his cock through his pants as he gripped him tightly. TJ licked his puffy lips as he tried to make sense of what was happening between him and Parker, but deep down he didn’t want to make sense of it. He just wanted it with his best friend. Maybe it was going too fast, and he should put a stop to it before either one of them did anything they would later regret. Parker reached for the zipper on TJ’s fly.

Too late.

Parker unzipped him and muscled out his cock, palming it tightly and giving it a possessive stroke. TJ cursed as Parker stroked again, using his pre-cum for lube. “We should stop this.”

“Not yet,” Parker said. “I kind of like what we’re doing here. Oh, fuck, TJ.”

It was the reaction men tended to give him when they saw his cock for the first time. TJ was thick and long with a big cockhead that was ready to explode. TJ looked down, watching Parker stroke his heavy cock. Parker led him by the prick through the kitchen and into the living room. Like a dog on a leash, TJ didn’t mind being dragged along. Parker positioned him in the living room in a black leather chair.

“I like to watch,” Parker said. “Stroke it off for me.”

He was serious. “Do you?”

“Yes.” Parker gave TJ a lingering kiss. “Stroke it. I’ve waited too damn long. I want to see you. Now.”