Tarnished Hero Read online

  “What’s to identify? He wore a mask that was half torn off.”

  “Then you must have seen half his fuckin’ face.”

  “It was dark.”

  “Dark, hell. There are lights all over that place. Just tell them what you know. The mask the face…whatever. You can do that can’t you?”

  “All right, let’s get this over with. My name is Adam Dunbar. I’m…I’ll be twenty-five in November. Twelfth to be exact. I’m not working right now, but I’ve got a job waiting for me at KingStar Advertising on Wall Street. Anything else you need?”

  “Wall Street, huh? Fancy address.”

  “Don’t be too impressed. It’s just one of those rag-tag businesses that clusters around Wall Street for the prestige it gives them. CitiBank is a good example.”

  “Okay, so what do you mean, ‘waiting for you?’”

  “It just means that I won’t be going to work right away, not until after…”

  “Not until after what?”

  “Does that have anything at all to do with why I’m here?”

  “I won’t know that until you tell me. Besides, since you object to giving me your home address, I’d like to at least know where I can find you if I need you.”

  “Well…unless it’s something I can help you with in the next few days, I’m afraid you’ll be out of luck. I’m going abroad very soon to take care of…something.”

  “Something? Something like…what?”

  Adam took a big, impatient breath, and said, “If you must know, I’m going to Sweden for a medical procedure.”

  Sweden…medical procedure. The minute Eddie heard that, his radar went up. “Say, isn’t that where they have all those, se…uh…what kind of…”

  “None of your fuckin’ business! Jeez! I’ve never seen anybody so friggin’ nosy about things that don’t concern them!”

  “I hope it’s not life-threatening because we can order you to stay in town in case we need you.”

  “For a friggin’ lineup? Look, Demon, I’ve told you all I’m going to tell you. If you want to keep me in town you’ll have to lock me up.”

  “Look, I don’t want to do that. Can you at least give me some kind of timeline? What are we talkin’ here, weeks…months?”

  “I’m not sure how long it’ll be, but I figure I should be back in about three to four weeks.”

  “How soon are you leaving?”

  Adam gave a slight shrug. “Sometime in the next few days.”

  “Are you gay?”

  “Wha…”

  “Do you feel like a woman trapped in a man’s body?”

  “What the hell…you have got more gall…all right, yes, I am gay, but…that’s it. If you want to know anything else, too bad. You’re digging into stuff that doesn’t have a fuckin’ thing to do with this case.”

  “I guess I was right then. About your panties I mean. Are they pink?”

  Before Adam had a chance to answer, he felt Eddie’s hand slide gently over his, and turned his curious gaze downward. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Feeling your hands. They’re nice and smooth. Whatever you do, you don’t do it with your hands.”

  “I could turn you in for groping me.”

  “Groping you?” Eddie said, surprised. “Don’t you know the difference between touching and groping?”

  “Touching or groping, they’re both against the law,” Adam said as he jerked his hand away.

  “You want me to show you what groping is?” Eddie said as he leaned over, and grabbed Adam’s thigh and squeezed it. “That’s groping.” He began moving his hand up, coming dangerously close to Adam’s crotch. “And this?” he continued, clamping his hand down on Adam’s cock and rubbing it. “This is foreplay.”

  Adam almost came up out of his chair. “My God, what…what the…”

  “Ever been with a cop, kid?”

  “If…If I had I wouldn’t be too proud of it.”

  “If you had you’d remember it. Like the bumper stickers say…we do it better.”

  Adam indicated toward the mirror on the wall. “If I were you I’d be worried. There are people watching.”

  Eddie smiled. “That’s not the observation room. It’s in another part of the precinct. That’s just a mirror.”

  “Damn,” Adam said.

  “Yeah,” Eddie said, his words breathy as if he was turned on. “We could even do it if we wanted. No one would know.”

  “They would if I told them.”

  “You think they’d listen to a hooker? By the way, what’s the going rate for a quick fuck?”

  “I’m not a fuckin’ hooker, but if I were it would be more than you could afford.”

  “Not a hooker? Okay. Would you turn your ass up for a free ride out of here?”

  “What are you talking about? I can go anytime I want.”

  “Not if I say otherwise. All it would take is a word from me and…”

  “Now I know why they call you Demon.”

  “Just chalk it up to education, kid. And while you’re doing that, pull your fuckin’ pants down.”

  “So that’s it,” Adam said as he stood and slowly began unbuckling his pants. “I’m not here because I’m a suspect, you just wanted a good fuck, right?”

  “Hey, a cop has to get it wherever he can,” he said as he quickly reached over and locked the door while Adam was leaning over the table, the man’s beautiful, perfect butt exposed and ready for action.

  Eddie walked up behind Adam, his hands squeezing and caressing Adam’s smooth cheeks. He felt his cock rise in response to this gorgeous hunk of flesh. Eddie was mesmerized by something he didn’t see often—his clean, incorruptibility. He was hot and alive, and it had been a long time since he’d been so quickly aroused by anyone. He was used to having quick encounters in dark alleyways, his cop car, or along the side of a building with those who were willing to fuck for favors. The sidewalk fucks were easy. The hard part was returning home alone. But this one, he wanted to take slow, he wanted to savor Adam’s body on a nice big bed. Eddie wanted to see all of Adam, feel the man’s beautiful lips sucking his cock—but this wasn’t the time or place.

  He looked around at the scarred walls, the ratty conditions. Hell, he couldn’t do this. Not in a fuckin’ interrogation room. It was wrong—even if the guy was a hooker.

  “Pull your pants up, kid.”

  Adam whirled around. “What? You’re not going to fuck me?”

  “Did you really think I would?”

  “But why not? What made you change your mind?”

  “I don’t know,” Eddie said, looking at Adam, wanting him. Finally, he turned away, hating himself. “An attack of conscience, I guess.”

  “You bastard, you don’t have a conscience! You did this just to humiliate me. Well I don’t humiliate so easily, copper!” Adam yelled while adjusting his clothes. “You made me want it, then you refused me. Demon is not the right name for you, freak. Satan! Beelzebub! The Prince of Darkness. Try those on for size.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Eddie said as he slowly began to boil. Moving quickly, Eddie turned Adam around, pushed him against the wall and grabbed his pants, and practically ripped them apart in getting them down. “You want it? You want to be fucked, blue eyes? Okay, I’m game.” Eddie quickly pushed Adam down on the table, undid his own pants, and pulled Adam’s butt toward him and opened the man’s cheeks. Just as he had his cock in his hand, and was about to penetrate Adam’s ass, he said, “You just remember when the chips are down this was your idea.”

  “Yeah? Was it me that locked that door over there? Was it me that grabbed your cock? May I remind you that you threatened me with lock up if I didn’t cooperate?”

  The truth hit Eddie between the eyes. Had the simple need for human warmth turned him into a monster on the make? No! No! This was different—something deeper than desire surged through him. He couldn’t make up his mind.

  Adam waited, standing still until he turned suddenly. “What’s it gonna be?
You gonna fuck my ass, or what?”

  Eddie looked at Adam. “What the hell do you care? Maybe you should just leave.”

  “Leave? Now? Now that I’m here with Eddie Scarlett, the Demon, feeling your hands on me, feeling your rock hard cock against my ass? Begging, wanting, determined to stick it in? Now, tonight, I’m your prey. Every single stroke of your hand burns me. You’re holding me in place. I’m trapped—like a fly.”

  “Look, I don’t know who the hell you are, and why you’re saying all this, but…”

  “Demon, fuck me for God’s sake. The truth is, I’ve been wanting this for a long time. Ever since the first time I ever heard about you.” With that, Adam turned, leaned over the table, inviting Eddie with a naked butt to fuck him.

  Eddie was tempted. He looked down to Adam’s perfect butt, and knew he should throw the guy out, but instead Eddie grabbed Adam, pulled him up, and slammed him against the wall.

  “If you want to get serious, then it can’t be on that table, it’s too shaky,” he said as he pushed his stiff cock against Adam and they meshed together as though they belonged together. Eddie could feel Adam nudging against him, the smell of his cologne clinging to him, and with a hunger as big as the whole outdoors, Eddie licked at Adam with his lips and tongue while kissing him breathless.

  “Are you going to fuck me,” Adam growled, “or are we going to stand here all night eating each other?”

  “You sure you want to? Remember, I’m a cop.”

  Looking right into Eddie’s eyes, he quirked an eyebrow, and said, “We’re wasting time.” Sliding his gaze over to a door, he asked, “Where does that go?” Not waiting for an answer, he pulled away, opened it, and looked back over at Eddie. “Well, look what we have here. Is this where it all goes down? Is this where you cops fuck ass?” He quickly walked into the small room, sat on the cot, and tested its weight.

  As he did, he looked up at Eddie with a cool, liquid stare that dried Eddie’s mouth. He gave Eddie a seductive, fuck me trash-boy look that would melt Eddie in his tracks, but it was the sinister, almost cool-sly secret smile that hinted at the exciting mysteries of his flesh that really reeled Eddie in. Eddie was mistaken. He’d thought this Adam Dunbar was one of those childish boy-whores you see on the street all the time, but he wasn’t. Since he usually got his on the street, he was used to a hard street smell, the feel of dirty, torn jeans, the soft, worn odor of a leather jacket, and the musty, unwashed smell of lank hair, but this guy was so clean, he squeaked.

  “We use it for whatever we need it for,” he said as he walked over, stood over Adam, and then slowly crouched down over the man. “You gonna yell rape after it’s over?”

  “Not me, but you might want to,” Adam teased.

  “Don’t bet on it,” Eddie said with a groan.

  Eddie was ready to burst. He wanted his balls to be massaged, licked, and sucked. He practically tore Adam’s shirt off and grabbed the man’s arm, assaulting the snake tattoo. He then traced his tongue along Adam’s collarbone, licking at the man’s skin.

  Suddenly Adam grabbed at Eddie’s shirt. “You’re overdressed. Take it off.”

  Eddie quickly began unbuttoning it, but only had time to pull it open before Adam’s mouth assaulted his nipples and grabbed Eddie’s waistband to pull him forward. Eddie was reaching for Adam when he noticed Adam watching him with eyes that were roaming seductively over his body as if they’d never seen anything like it.

  Eddie looked down at himself. “What the hell are you looking for? Another limb, an extra eye, or something?”

  “You’re a fuckin’ god,” Adam breathed as his hand reached out, stroking Eddie’s iron hard jaw with a mere shadow of a beard. His eyes roamed over his rough demeanor, his lush mouth, and the line of dark chest hair that tapered down into his trousers. “Hell, man, they don’t call you demon because you’re fuckin’ mean, they call you demon because you’re the very picture of hot demon sex.”

  Feeling electricity in the air, Eddie’s decision was made. Nothing would stop him from taking this man or boy, or whoever the hell he was. A bittersweet ache spread like a wildfire across his groin. He wanted Adam beneath him, naked and willing and raw with passion, and totally out of control.

  But the sensation of being overpowered washed over Eddie. Usually he was the one in control, but after what Adam had told him, he wasn’t too sure. And then suddenly one of his fingers was captured by Adam’s hot mouth. He watched his fingers being devoured, his heart pounding in his chest, his temples throbbing and the blood in his veins on fire. By the time Adam released his fingers he could barely catch his breath. It was too late for regrets, so he went down on Adam, and began to grind his hard cock against Adam’s beautiful body so hard he knew if he didn’t pull back, he would come in his pants.

  To remedy that, he ripped at their clothes until they were undressed, and laying on the cot pressed together tight and hot. Adam’s long, strong fingers were wrapped in Eddie’s hair while their lips came together in a kiss.

  They exchanged moist breaths.

  Lips, rough and demanding.

  Eddie didn’t hold back when he was met with the full force of Adam’s lust. Their bodies met with the hard impact of rippling muscles, and the heat between them burned away every doubt in Eddie’s head. Finally the kiss ended as he fought for air. His skin felt flushed even though he knew using the Interrogation Room for this purpose could end his career.

  Eddie loved the feel of Adam’s legs opening up and circling his body. It was an invitation he couldn’t let pass by, so he quickly reached down and grabbed his own cock, and pressed it against Adam’s hole. He pushed—oh, God, it felt good. He was slow, savoring each inch he gained until it felt as if Adam’s hole was almost sucking him in. It was a welcome that Eddie didn’t expect. Almost like a whore’s tongue licking him. The warmth, the wetness, the continuous rubbing in and out. It was a sensation that was sending him into heaven—or was it Hell?

  The tiny bed creaked, each creak playing a sensuous melody, only because Eddie knew what was causing it. And then suddenly his movements became hotter, harder, in and out while Adam climbed him. He was devouring Adam with his tongue while his cock pushed and pulled, and the bed played the hellish melody.

  Eddie could feel Adam’s cock getting harder and harder as it rubbed against him, so he reached between them for it, and began jerking the man. It took them both higher and higher, and the moans that filled the small room seemed to heat the air, making it moist as the bed kept bumping against the floor.

  Finally, Eddie mumbled, “Oh, God, I’m coming.”

  With that Adam’s hips began to move in synch with Eddie’s harder and harder until they both exploded, their bodies jerking like a mad whipcrack.

  The two men lay there for a moment, their breathing labored and heavy.

  “You were right,” Adam said, finally getting up and beginning to adjust his clothes as he moved away. “Cops are good.”

  “I said they were better.”

  “Well…I can hardly make that judgment after only one time.”

  “What makes you think there will be a next time?” Eddie asked while raking his fingers through his disheveled hair and straightening his uniform.

  “Because you’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

  “Look, kid, if I were you I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Eddie said as he slipped his feet into his black patent, regulation shoes.

  “Me? You think I’ve got nothing better to do than sit around waiting for you to come and fuck my ass? Think again, Eddie Scarlett.”

  “You were calling me Demon before. What are you, wishy-washy?”

  “You’re a demon all right, for many reasons,” Adam spat out. “If you see me on the street, just keep going.” He slammed the door open, but just before he went through, he turned and said, “Answer a question for me. Why are you so sure it’s not me? I mean, I was there, and I was running away when the cops caught me.”

  “You’d better quit while you’re ah
ead, kid.”

  “No, no. I’d like to know.”

  “Well, first of all, for someone who just committed a murder with so much blood everywhere, you didn’t have a drop on you. There was no time to change, and no weapon in your possession, and according to the impressions on the ground the killer has about twenty pounds on you. Besides that, you’re just not the type. One more thing. Those baby blue eyes…”

  “Like I said. You’re a smartass.”

  “Yeah? Well, listen close, Mr. Red Socks. You may be walking free now, but you’re being watched as a person of interest…”

  “What?” Adam cried out. “You just fucked the hell out of me, Demon. That ought to give me…”

  “Hey! Stop right there. You need to learn something right here and now. I’m a cop first, last and always, fucking be damned! And as I was saying, all you have to do is give us just one small reason, and we’ll pick you up. If we do, I’m afraid Sweden will have to wait.”

  With movements that told Eddie Adam was fed up with his sarcasm, he gave Eddie a dirty look as he slammed through the door, and left. As soon as Adam was out of sight, Eddie wasn’t sure why, but he got out his pocket calendar, found a possible date, and penciled in something he didn’t want to forget.

  Sweden.

  Chapter 2

  One week later at the precinct

  “Eddie, can you wrap that up real quick? I need to see you in my office.”

  Eddie turned, seeing his chief leaning around his door frame, and said, “Be right with you, Chief.” After he finished up what he was doing, he hurried into the chief’s office where he was invited to take a seat. “So, what’s up?”

  “We found another body, but this time it’s on the West side. Apparently he’s branching out. This one’s red hot because we’ve got some new leads to go on. I’m sorry, but it’s going to require you to go undercover.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, Chief. What can you tell me about it?”

  “Only that we found out that this guy is an employee at KingStar Advertising—”