Chapter 1: Truth and Consequences
The tall, powerfully built, expensively dressed man sighed impatiently. Jackson, Jaze Kingston had been separated from his partner and he had been locked in a large, damp cellar. There were no windows and no other door and the assorted bits and pieces strewn around didn't lend themselves to being of any use as potential weaponry. Jaze flicked at imaginary dust on his lapel as he tried not to think of what might be happening to his partner.
Stewart, Stewie Donovan was Jaze's idea of a perfect partner and not just the type to work well alongside him. A few years younger than Jaze, smaller, slender, with shoulder length blond hair and beautiful blue eyes that often sparkled with mirth or mischief, but could look like chips of sapphire if the younger man was angry. It wasn't that a relationship was forbidden. In fact their Chief was of the mind that relationships made the group stronger, less likely to take risks or go out on unnecessary limbs. What had stopped Jaze was his uncertainty as to how Stewie would react to a relationship with the man who was also his Team Leader; the Team Leader of Cobalt Blue. Nor was Jaze sure Stewie would even be interested in a relationship with a man. So the older man had kept a mental store of Stewie fantasies and had watched and waited for the past few months to gauge how Stewie might respond.
Now the bigger man feared that his caution may have been for nothing. They had walked into a trap. Stewie had been dragged away only partially conscious. Two big goons had beaten the smaller man to the ground as Jaze had been forced to watch. The Drug Baron asking questions of Jaze the bigger man literally couldn't answer. It seemed they had stumbled into someone else's territory. Jaze could only hope that the distress signal he'd activated in his watch had been received before it had been removed by one of the goons and that a rescue team were on their way. He stared worriedly at the cellar door. A lot of damage could be done in the meantime even if they were. He made a mental promise to discover whether he stood any chance with his young partner once they were out of danger.
The sound of raucous laughter snapped Jaze out of his reverie and the big man tensed, ready to attack if the opportunity arose. As the door opened and a small blond figure was thrust inside, all thoughts of escape fled Jaze's mind. Stewie's hands were tightly handcuffed behind his back. Stewie's face and body displayed the evidence of a further beating. More worrying still was the fact that all Stewie now wore were skimpy baby blue bikini briefs. Jaze felt his heart in his throat as he caught the restrained young man before he could fall face down on unforgiving ground. Glancing into Stewie's face, Jaze could see the dazed look that could herald either concussion or drugs. He drew the young man into his lap as he sat on the cold, damp ground, not wanting the more vulnerable man to have to sit on it. He cradled Stewie without embarrassment as he glared at the goons.
"Have fun, boys," one of the two goons that had originally beaten Stewie called from the doorway. "We have to go out now, but when we finish we'll be back to play with pretty-boy."
The door slammed shut and Jaze could hear them laughing outside. Jaze's arms tightened around the slender form, feeling sickened. He knew exactly what form that 'play' would take.
"Stewie," Jaze spoke softly. "You with me, Stewie?" He looked worriedly into the bruised visage, the superficial damage not distracting from the blond's beauty. That beauty intensified as a smile of genuine pleasure lit up the beloved face as Stewie recognised Jaze.
"You're here," Stewie said.
"Did they give you something, Stewie?" Jaze asked with concern. Stewie didn't seem to realise his state or their predicament.
"Mmm," came the less than eloquent reply.
"What, Stewie? What did they give you?"
Stewie blinked owlishly, his blue eyes wide as he gazed at Jaze. He smiled widely again and Jaze groaned inwardly. Under almost any other circumstances he would have loved to see that smile directed at him.
"Sodium pen'thol," Stewie replied. "The big bad guys wanted to shoot me up with other stuff but the Boss said not yet. Wanted to make sure we weren't lying. Just wanted me truthful. Didn't answer him, though," Stewie said, and then added. "I couldn't, so they hurt me again."
Jaze looked at the saddened face wishing he could ease the younger man's hurts.
"I'm glad you're here." Stewie said smiling again.
"Are you?" Jaze asked with a smile of his own.
"I'm always glad when you're around," Stewie declared then looked shocked.
"You don't always show it," Jaze teased gently.
"That's cos it's a secret that I can't tell you," Stewie said, his face sad once more.
Jaze decided he really didn't want to see that look on the helpless young man. Then he frowned at Stewie's words.
"You liking me around is a secret?" he asked rhetorically. Then his eyes opened wide. Could there actually be a possibility? "Do you like me, Stewie?" he asked quietly, trying to make the slender man look at him. Stewie's eyes were still wide and the look of shock came back as Jaze took in the nod of Stewie's head. "Really like me?" the older man pressed relentlessly. At the hesitant nod, Jaze took in a deep breath and prayed he wasn't wrecking a good working partnership and an even better friendship. "Speak to me, Stewie," he commanded softly. "Do you love me?"
"Yes." The word was the barest whisper and yet the sweetest sound Jaze had ever heard. But he was concerned to see that now Stewie didn't just look shocked, but frightened and pained.
"Does loving me hurt you, Stewie?" Jaze asked perplexed at Stewie's demeanour.
"Yes," came the whispered reply and Jaze could feel the younger man trembling in his arms.
"Why?" he asked, needing to know how to reassure his new lover.
"Because you don't love me," came the mournful reply and a large tear slid down Stewie's bruised cheek.
"Oh, Stewie, love," Jaze smiled. "There have been several women in my life and some men. It's easy to have an open relationship with a woman but I had to be careful with the men I dated. I had to be even more careful not to make the wrong move when it came to you, you were too special." He removed his handkerchief from the suit breast pocket and carefully wet it. Gently he cleansed the blood from the cut to Stewie's lower lip and then covered Stewie's lips with his own. His reward was a soft sweet sigh that went straight to the older man's heart. He broke the kiss to gaze lovingly at the now panting young man in his arms.
"Jaze," Stewie gasped, his eyes were now filled with a mix of shock and what Jaze hoped was love. "I don't...you didn't..."
Noises from behind the cellar door stopped the disorientated young man from continuing his confused ramblings and instead Jaze heard a small whimper of fear. "They said they would...they wanted. Jaze, I've never..." Stewie said brokenly.
