Allyn and Ransom – 40

 

Ransom groaned when he heard his condo buzzer. Glancing at the clock beside his bed, he sighed. How did it get to be three already? He knew, actually. He'd spent a couple of hours after leaving Allyn's home filling his people in on what had happened with Grigore.

 

It was an exercise in evasiveness since he had to do it without revealing what he, Allyn, and Grigore were. He was finally able to convince them that Grigore had been caught, but had managed to make a run for it while Ransom was tending to Allyn's wounds.

 

"Stupid, I know," he explained. "I turned my back on him for two minutes and he took off, even though he was cuffed." He grimaced. "I guess he learned how to escape detection from the game he forced his victims to play. He made it as far as the bayou when I finally caught up with him. Apparently he thought he could navigate it safely, because he went into it. The crocs had other ideas."

 

"Like what a tender morsel he'd make?" Thornton commented.

 

"Exactly," Ransom agreed.

 

After writing up his report, he called the chief of police for Grigore's district. Telling him a simpler version of the story he'd given his people, Ransom ended by saying he had discovered what he thought was Grigore's burial ground for his victims. The chief promised to check it out ASAP and let him know what they found.

 

When Ransom finally got home, it was close to ten in the morning. He took a fast shower and fell into bed, hoping to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep.

 

"Guess whoever's downstairs has a different idea," he grumbled, going to see who it was.

 

"Are you up and moving?" Allyn asked through the call box.

 

"I am now," Ransom replied, buzzing him in. While he waited for Allyn to make it up to the condo, Ransom went to put on a pair of jeans.

 

Allyn whistled softly when Ransom opened the door to let him in. "I like the half-dressed look."

 

Ransom chuckled. "Not like you haven't seen it before. Many times, in fact."

 

"Yeah, but that was a hundred years ago."

 

"Fifty, actually, but who's counting," Ransom retorted, before pulling Allyn into his arms.

 

"Not me," Allyn managed to get out before Ransom's lips descended on his.

 

The kiss became everything Ransom expected—and more. For him it was both the beginning and the end. The end of his living on memories of their past. The beginning of a new life for them. "I want…no, I need, you," he barely whispered between the first kiss and the one that followed.

 

"I've needed you since the day we met," Allyn replied after yet another kiss. He leaned back in Ransom's arms, gazing at him. "I didn't do so well in letting you know, but I did."

 

"We both made mistakes," Ransom said, kissing his forehead. "Lack of communication, I suppose."

 

"Or trust," Allyn said softly. "At least on my part. I didn't—"

 

"We aren't going to rehash the past," Ransom told him firmly. "It is the past. I promised you something, a day or three ago."

 

"We promised each other. When we stopped Grigore, we would…I'm not sure celebrate is the right word. We would see if what we're feeling now is real or just the result of what we've been through the last couple of days."

 

"It's real for me." Ransom kissed him again. "I hope…"

 

"I think I loved you, back then. Now…" The kiss Allyn gave Ransom was toe-curling, expressing both Allyn's physical and emotional need for him.

 

"I think love about covers my feelings too." With one swift move, Ransom picked Allyn up, carrying him into the bedroom.