Steal My Heart

Chapter 14

GRAN WAS sleeping off her wine. Ruth said she’d had three glasses. As soon as Brian had gotten her home and in bed, the dogs took up their places on either side of her, and now she was snoring like a sailor. Occasionally the dogs lifted their heads to see what the racket was before putting them down again. Brian partially closed the door and went downstairs.

“Do you want to go to my place?” Hilliard asked.

Brian wanted nothing more. “I can’t. She had a lot of wine, and what if something happens?” He sat on Gran’s sofa, and Hilliard moved from the chair to sit next to him.

“I understand.” He smiled and nudged against Brian. Before he knew it, Hilliard leaned in, kissing him gently at first, but adding pressure. Brian held on to him, holding Hilliard as he pressed him down against the cushions, the energy between them crackling like a live wire. Brian felt like he was on fire, he needed more so badly. He had spent the entire evening thinking about Hilliard. At one point he had stretched, and it took all Brian’s willpower not to caress that strip of honey skin along his belly. Not that Hilliard did anything on purpose, but still, Brian’s fingers had ached to touch, and he had to keep reminding himself that they weren’t in Hilliard’s bedroom.

“We should stop,” Brian whispered when he took a breath. He sat up, straightening his clothes. “We really can’t do this here.” He felt himself coloring.

“Why not? Your grandmother is asleep, and she isn’t waking up any time soon.”

Brian rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to make out with you on my grandmother’s sofa. I’m not a teenager, and I feel like I’m doing something naughty.”

“No problem.” Hilliard slipped down onto the floor and pulled Brian right along with him. He grinned and ran his fingers over Brian’s cheek, drawing him closer. “Are you feeling less naughty now? Because I can make you forget everything except your name if you let me. But now isn’t the time for that.”

Brian quivered as Hilliard kissed him, gently, carefully, like he was something special. Kissing Hilliard was always an amazing experience. Brian’s body seemed to know what it wanted and reacted to him within seconds, and this time was no exception, but Hilliard didn’t deepen the kiss or press him down onto the floor. Instead, he held him, kissing gently, leaving Brian breathless and a little confused. “You know, you’re right. Now isn’t the time to make love—it’s the time to be loved.” Hilliard stroked his cheek and then got up to turn out the lights. Once the room was dark, he shimmied behind him and held Brian between his legs. Hillard wrapped his arms around him and tugged Brian against his chest.

He sighed when Hilliard didn’t move, just holding Brian in his arms. He relaxed and lolled his head back, letting go of the tension that was his constant companion. “Do you really think we’ll be able to unravel this mystery?”

“Yes,” Hilliard breathed softly.

“I just want this over and to put it all behind me.” Brian sighed. “God, this feels good.” He turned slightly. “I always thought that being with someone….” Suddenly he didn’t have words that didn’t sound stupid.

“Would be about nothing but sex?” Hilliard asked. Brian nodded. “A relationship is about more than that.” He held him a little tighter. “Though I didn’t know that when I went into my last one.”

“What was Alan like? I know he’s an asshole, but I’m assuming he wasn’t always that way.” He really wanted to know.

For a moment Hilliard grew quiet. “I think at the beginning I was attracted to his confidence. Alan always seemed to have these visions of what was possible, and then he made them happen. It was kind of sexy watching him bend the world to his way of thinking. And he was a man of action, both in law school and afterwards. He got both of us prime positions, and we made names for ourselves. I always thought he was looking out for both of us.” Hilliard released him with one hand. Brian took it and held it. “But I see now that it was all for him. He did things because he thought he was going to benefit from them. We had good résumés and were well trained and bright. We started our own firm and we beat the bushes. I thought we were happy and had it all, but Alan wanted more.”

Hilliard tensed, and Brian wished he could see him. “I know I told you I caught him cheating, but I turned a blind eye to it. I was such a fool.” He shivered, and Brian moved out of his embrace, knelt in front of him, and held Hilliard’s watery gaze. “I thought if I were better or if I gave him more of what he wanted then everything would be great. But he simply took and went on as before as long as he got what he wanted. The firm was doing well, and….”

Brian got it. “He didn’t need you anymore.”

“He just bought me out, and I haven’t heard another word from him. And I probably never will again.” He lowered his gaze. “I was just something he could throw away.” Hilliard shrugged.

“Then he’s an idiot. Because anyone who would do that is a complete jerk. I know it’s still raw, but I don’t treat people like that. I’ve been on the other end, so I know how it feels.” He wished he could do something to help.

“I know that I come off as confident and decisive, but it’s so easy to believe the worst.”

“Tell me about it,” Brian said softly. “But we have to do our best to silence those voices. The put-downers are just people who want something from us. They want control.” He leaned closer. “Good people don’t take advantage, and they don’t tear you down to build themselves up. Those people really suck.”

“And not in a good way,” Hilliard added.

Brian smiled at his moment of levity. “No. We have to put their crap out of our heads and trust in ourselves. You can do whatever you set your mind to, I know that. Alan is a real loser, and I bet he’s going to find out that it isn’t so easy to do things on his own. And once people find out what he’s really like, there won’t be others who will want to work for him. He’ll get what’s coming to him. You called him a shark? Well, they have a tendency to eat the other fish, even their own kind.” Brian held Hilliard’s gaze. He loved looking into those deep eyes, wishing he knew more of what he was thinking. “I do have to say one thing, though. If you stay here, you are not likely to ever see him again or end up in a courtroom with him.”

Hilliard hugged him, chuckling as tears ran down both their cheeks. “You chose this moment to make your case?”

Brian held him tighter. “I don’t have that much ammunition, so I keep my powder dry and only use it when I think it will do the most good. I’m a handyman who is trying to clear his name, and you’re a lawyer who could work just about anywhere. I need to make my shots count.”

Hilliard pulled back. “No, you don’t. You just have to be honest and tell me how you feel.”

Brian nodded. “Then I want you to stay, but not just for me. I want you to keep your great-aunt’s house, live there, and build a life here. I want you to be happy, and I want us to have a chance. So if I’m spelling it out, that’s it. I know it sounds like a lot, but it’s what I hope will happen.” He sighed because he had never spelled things out like that. It seemed like whenever he let himself hope for something good, it went to hell.

“Then I guess I have to figure out how to make that happen. Starting over is hard, but I think trying to return to Ohio would be worse. I have everything I need here, and while I don’t know if there is enough work here to sustain a practice….”

“There is. Gran said that there used to be a number of lawyers in town, but they either moved or passed away. People here have money, and if you earn their loyalty and have a sound reputation, they will support you, I know it.” He cleared his throat. “I’m getting more work now than I ever have, and they’re willing to forgive my somewhat checkered past.” He wiped his cheeks.

“Okay. I’ll do my best,” Hilliard said. “There are a lot of things I need to do before I can open shop, so we’ll have to take things one step at a time.”

“I think I can live with that,” Brian whispered. The last thing he wanted to do was try to extract a firmer commitment from Hilliard. He had never given Brian a cause to doubt him, so he’d take him at his word. He leaned closer, holding him hard, letting himself savor the moment, hoping that everything worked out the way they both hoped.

“THAT OLD shit,” Hilliard said as soon as he answered Brian’s phone call the following morning.

“Excuse me?” Brian wondered what that was about.

“Sorry. My uncle. He served me with papers last night when I got home. They were waiting when I got back. It seems he’s trying to challenge the will.”

“Can he do that?” Brian asked.

Hilliard humphed. “He can try, but it isn’t going anywhere. The man is a bully, and this is just one of his tactics. I’m willing to bet that he’s looking for something to make him go away. But it takes a lot to mount a successful challenge, and his claim doesn’t meet that level—quite far from it.”

“And let me guess: you were up half the night researching standards and reviewing the will to make sure that your case was solid.” He expected that Hilliard didn’t get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.

“Yeah, kinda. I left a message with my aunt’s attorney so he would know what was going on.”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to have breakfast and talk things over before we go to Violet’s later, but maybe this isn’t such a good time.”

“No, it’s fine. I have a few things to do. But I’ll meet you there.” Hilliard disconnected, and Brian set down his phone as Gran came in, moving slowly.

“Don’t talk to me. Whatever they put in that wine was evil,” Gran said. Brian snickered softly. “Don’t give me any of that, young man. I took one for the cause and got Violet to play nice. Just because she now knows you didn’t rob her doesn’t mean that she’s your best friend or anything.” She sat down, and Brian brought her a mug of coffee. “Damn, I’m going to put you up for sainthood for this.” She sipped and closed her eyes. “Remind me to never do that again.”

“You had some wine and you slept all night. You should be ready for another bender,” he teased.

Gran glared at him for a second but wasn’t able to hold it. She groaned before sipping a little more coffee. “Is Hilliard coming for breakfast?”

“No. He has an issue of his own that he’s working through. He’ll meet me at Violet’s.” He sipped his own coffee and wished there was a way he could help. Not that he knew anything about wills. Maybe the best thing he could do was to leave Hilliard alone. “Timothy is challenging the will, and Hilliard was notified last night. I think this really has him thrown.”

Gran lifted her gaze from the table. “Then get dressed, make some breakfast, and take it over to him.”

“He’s busy, and—”

She sighed. “I’m not hungry, and I need some quiet with my coffee before I’ll feel like anything other than the walking dead. In the meantime, he needs your support. I know you can’t do anything to make this go away, but you can be there for him.” She drummed the table with her fingers and then stopped and clamped her eyes shut. “Just trust me. Be there for the good and the crap. That’s what you do when you care about someone.”

Brian knew she was right. He stood and slipped on his shoes as he headed for the door.

“Sweetheart, you might want to put on something other than what you were sleeping in.”

Brian looked down, sighed, and hurried upstairs to change his clothes.

“I THOUGHT we were going to meet at Violet’s,” Hilliard said when he answered the door.

“Poppy and Gigi needed a walk, and I figured you would need breakfast and maybe some coffee.” Brian wrinkled his nose. “And maybe a shower?”

Hilliard sniffed and made a face of his own. “I think you’re right.” He stepped back, and Brian brought the dogs inside. They immediately made themselves at home, exploring the room before settling together on the sofa, watching the humans as though there was going to be a show. “I’m going to clean up. There’s nothing more I can do about the will right now anyway. I got a message that the lawyer wants to meet on Monday, but he says Timothy doesn’t have a leg to stand on and he’ll draw up a response.” Hilliard didn’t sound convinced.

“What has you worried?” Brian stood in front of him as Hilliard bit his lower lip.

“I don’t know. The things Timothy alleges in his argument aren’t true, and it sounds like a self-entitled rant, but….”

Brian shrugged. “He got you thinking.”

Hilliard drew closer. “Actually, what he did was help clarify things for me. Aunt Grace was very specific in her will, and she left Timothy some money, so she made her wishes clear. No doubt about that.”

“Then what do you do?”

“I’m going to fight him. I have fond memories with Aunt Grace, and Uncle Timothy has to be a real loser if his own mother cut him out of her will. I had nothing to do with that. The only contact I had with her was the cards she sent me at the holidays and the ones I sent her. That’s about it.”

“I see.” Did that mean that Hilliard was staying? Hilliard had said that he was. But maybe this fight with his uncle would have him rethinking his plans.

Hilliard smiled. “I need to clean up quick. I’ll be right back.” He headed upstairs, and Brian sat on the sofa next to the dogs, wondering if coming here was a good idea. Maybe he should have just met him at Violet’s.

Brian huffed, and Gigi climbed into his lap. He stroked her, looking upward the stairs. The water came on, and Brian gently moved the dog away, then went up, following the sound of the water before gently knocking on the door. “Hilliard…?” He swallowed hard, wondering if this was too forward.

The door opened to Hilliard in only a towel. “Is something wrong?”

Brian cupped Hilliard’s face in his hands. “I thought you might be lonely.” He kissed him hard, and Hilliard drew Brian into the bathroom and closed the door.

“I was a little.” Hilliard dropped the towel and stepped under the spray.

Brian slipped out of his clothes and joined him. “You know, we’re supposed to conserve water, and I haven’t had my shower yet today.” He pulled the curtain closed behind him and pressed against Hilliard’s back.

“So that’s what this is—you came this entire way to save water?” He turned around, tugging Brian to him. “How ecologically responsible of you. Maybe you should be rewarded for your thoughtfulness.” He winked and sank down, taking Brian’s cock between his lips in a single motion.

“Oh God,” Brian whimpered. Clamping his eyes closed, he let the sensation wash over him, because… damn. He backed up slightly, pressing to the tile, using the cool, hard surface to keep upright as Hilliard played him like a fine instrument. When Hilliard took him the whole way, all Brian could do was groan and hold on as Hilliard’s water-slick head bobbed in front of him. “Hill… I’m…,” he warned as he tried to control his errant body. Hilliard seemed more in control of him than he was, and didn’t stop, sucking harder until Brian lost it completely, shooting down Hilliard’s throat as he leaned against the wall, hoping he didn’t end up on the floor of the tub in a heap.

He breathed deeply as Hilliard made soft noises, and Brian looked down just as Hilliard climaxed below him.

Brian gently lifted him back to his feet and reached for the soap, rubbing it between his hands before slicking Hilliard’s chest and then his shoulders and arms before letting his hands slip down to the really interesting bits.

“If you’re trying to raise an interest, I think it’s a little soon again, but if you give me time….”

Brian grinned. “I think I’m just making sure everything gets a good wash.” He patted Hilliard’s hip, and he turned around. Brian slicked his hands again and soaped his back and down over Hilliard’s perfect firm bubble butt.

“I see. And do I get to return the favor?”

“I’d hope you’d want to.” He slipped his fingers between Hilliard’s legs and then up his back again before finishing at his shoulders. Brian let him rinse off and then stepped under the spray so Hilliard could wash him.

He closed his eyes, letting the warm water run down his back as Hilliard soaped his front, breath hitching as he stroked his awakening cock. When he turned around, Hilliard soaped his back and then pressed to him, his hard cock sliding along the crease of his ass. “Didn’t take long.”

“Not with you,” Hilliard whispered and pressed them both forward, the water sending the soap down the drain. Hilliard turned off the water and got them both towels. “I’d really like to spend the next couple hours finishing what we started.”

Brian sighed. “I know. But we need to get dressed and go to Violet’s.”

Hilliard kissed him. “Yeah. We need to keep our minds clear, and right now, you are one hell of a distraction.” He left the room, and Brian got dressed. Then he met Hilliard downstairs, where they had a quick breakfast. The man still looked edible in jeans that hugged his ass and a T-shirt that showed off his arms. Brian was tempted to try to lure Hilliard into staying a little longer, but they were expected. And who knew? They might actually figure something out about the burglary.