Turn by Erin M. Grillot

Author:Erin M. Grillot [Grillot, Erin M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, contemporary, undercover/secret agent, childhood poverty, HFN
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

The sauce turned out well, and both our meal and the rest of the evening pass in quiet companionship. Eli convinces me it’s a good idea to eat the gelato on the couch as we watch old episodes of some TV show he’s a fan of.

It is the calmest day I’ve had in a long time, relaxing and productive. As Eli and I lie next to each other later, bare, sweaty skin touching, I think for the first time, I might be happy.

*

Eli sees me ready myself and sends me off for a mission but once. Only once. He struggles with the morality issues and doesn’t like to acknowledge what it is I do, what he aids in. And I’m late for the first time ever as Eli discovers an apparently previously unknown fetish for suspenders and gun holsters. Eli is more aware, now, of the true side of what we do, what I do, but he still struggles with it, still prefers to pretend it doesn’t exist. But he refuses to leave my side, both literally and figuratively.

I’m finishing up strapping the holster over my shoulders and turn toward the bed where Eli is sitting to grab my jacket. He suddenly stands directly in front of me, no room between us.

“That’s hot,” he whispers, running a finger over my white dress shirt along the gap between the holster band and my suspenders.

A shiver runs up my spine. I stare at him.

“It shouldn’t be,” he continues, “knowing what you’re going off to do. But, you, like that— You’re like a hot superhero. Batman in a goddamn three-piece suit.” He breathes out the last part, half lost as his eyes sweep across my chest, fingers trailing along and rubbing the muscles down my arm.

My smile is wry, despite my body’s response as I lean in to him, kissing along his jaw.

“Don’t.” My voice is low, insistent. “Don’t sugar coat it or try to make me into something I’m not. For good or for bad.”

“You’re too hard on yourself. I keep saying it; someday you’re going to listen.”

I don’t have an answer to that, not one that would make sense anyway, so I simply push him back onto the bed and attempt to show him without words, hoping, as always, it will be enough.

When I finally rush down to meet the car twenty-some minutes later, I am unable to meet Robert’s eyes as he takes in my disheveled look. When a small smirk hits his lips, I momentarily think of firing him but decide it isn’t worth the hassle. I do flip him off as I climb into the back seat of the car. He merely laughs in return as he settles into the driver’s seat.

*

Despite how sending me off on that one mission went, I have to mark it as positive, and even though Eli is never again with me during prep work, the memory is one I’ll always have.

On the flip side, I’ve never allowed Eli to see me fresh from a mission, and I plan to work hard to ensure it stays that way.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.