Page 78 of Dark Obsession

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Between himself and Demmy, they managed to get their core group to agree to meet up at Clarabell’s around six that evening. Zenona had agreed to come, even after he told her what they’d expect her to share. That left them just enough time to clean up before hitting Margie’s for a quick dinner.

Cody showered first, and when it was Demmy’s turn, Cody went out to feed Trevor. The raccoon was nowhere to be seen, so he left some veggie scraps in the aluminum bowl. Clouds had returned and thunder rumbled off in the distance. Cody caught himself grumbling about the timing of storms and monsters as he went back inside.

He sat on the couch, TV off, and tried to corral his racing thoughts. He’d hoped to have a little more time at home. The night before with Demmy had been playing on a loop in his mind all day. He’d been wild last night, hungry for Demmy, to reestablish their connection. He’d needed his touch, his body, to be inside Demmy, bond with him again and assure each other they were meant to be together.

While the sex had been scorchingly hot and a needed release, he now longed for them to have more time together. To be able to lie together, slowly work each other up, and then trade off positions. It had been a few weeks since Cody had bottomed, and he missed that feeling of fullness, of completeness, that came from having Demmy inside him.

But, they had monsters to fight, and something big was coming, Cody could feel it.

Thunder rolled again, still a ways off, but creeping closer.

“You’re deep in thought.”

Demmy’s voice made him look up and smile.

“Thinking about last night.” Cody stood and pulled him close for a kiss. “Wishing we had more time.”

Demmy put his arms around Cody’s neck and smiled. “Me, too. How about we take the weekend off? We have a few jobs, but I can see if Jugs will handle them.”

“A whole weekend together with no critters to catch?” Cody frowned. “What would we even do?”

Demmy ran a hand down his chest, flicking his nipple through his t-shirt before moving lower to cup his bulge. “I think we’d figure something out.”

“You trying to make us late?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Demmy pulled his hand away and feigned surprise. “Should I not have done that?”

Cody grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly against his crotch. “You should always do that, no matter the time or place.”

“Sounds like you’re giving me free rein to grope you.”

“How are you just now figuring this out?”

They shared a smile and a kiss. Demmy’s phone buzzed where he’d left it on the coffee table, and Cody ducked his head to press his forehead to Demmy’s as they both sighed.

“We’d better leave now if we want to eat first,” Demmy said.

“That is definitely a priority. I’m on the edge of hangry.”

Cody offered to drive while Demmy checked texts and filled him in on the latest. Dave and Oliver would be there, along with Tracey and Lucia. Gayle was going to skip this time.

“Uh oh,” Cody said, glancing at him. “That doesn’t sound good.”

Demmy made a face. “I know.” He looked out the window as they entered the downtown area. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called Lucia out like that, but it was such a surprise to figure it out. I mean, I guess it makes sense she’s been going off on her own to handle these kinds of things since the department really hasn’t come around. But it’s dangerous.”

“And it keeps us in the dark.”

“Which may also be a reason she’s done it.”

Cody nodded in agreement as he slowed on Main Street, looking for a space. It was busy for a Tuesday evening, but he found a spot in front of Hollow Grounds, several doors down from Margie’s. Cody grabbed quarters from the tray and plugged them into the meter. From the corner of his eye, he caught Demmy smiling and waving to someone inside the coffee shop, and he turned to look.

Robin, the kid Ollie had met over at Bishop Point University and who now lived with Clarabell, was wiping down tables, their light brown Hollow Grounds apron spattered with stains. When Robin caught Cody’s eye, they smiled and waved to him as well, and Cody waved back before miming back about the apron. Robin shook their head, waved him away, then grinned and returned to the counter.

“I like them,” Demmy said, taking Cody’s hand as they walked past The Purple Orchid gift shop.

“Yeah, me, too. They’re a good kid. Took me a while to get used to the pronouns. I think Mrs. Lundquist’s grammar lessons were drilled in deeper than I thought.”