RELEASE

Written for Becky

“Van's dead Starsk.” That's all he said. He didn't need to say anything else I could hear the pain in his voice. I was toweling off after my post-run shower when he called. I was out of the house within five minutes and with the siren screaming despite the lack of traffic this early in the morning. I was in Venice within fifteen minutes.

The first thing I saw was the body; he'd already thrown a sheet over her. He was sitting, no slumped, on a chair in the kitchen. He looked totally dejected and stunned.

I took a quick look at Vanessa; she was wearing one of his old shirts and not a lot else and she smelt of his shower stuff. Hutch's Python can do a lot of damage at close range and the wound was close…but there was no powder burn on the shirt; I looked around and saw the pillow. Someone had been pillow-fighting but it was a one way match. The gun was on the floor beside her body and it was still warm.

I covered her again. He hadn't moved a muscle. He was sitting there like a puppet with its strings cut. I went straight to the cupboard and pulled out the bottle. He didn't take any notice of me as I sat down; just went on staring at his fingers. I poured a good measure into the glass and pushed it towards him. “What happened?”

He sipped the glass but I don't think he noticed what he was drinking. I waited.

What is it with Hutch, he can look so damn vulnerable sometimes; like a kid waiting for trouble to hit him. It brings out all the protective stuff in me; just like when Nicky went too far and mom went to find the big wooden spoon she used to swat his butt with.

I asked him again. This time he looked at me.

“She stayed the night. I went out for my run and when I came back I found her…like that.”

“She stayed the night?” I couldn't help myself.

“You don't need to be jealous Starsk; she slept on the couch”

I winced. That wasn't how I meant it to sound.

“I just thought it strange that the woman you told me you hated spent the night here, that's all.”

He grunted and drained the glass. “Suit yourself.”

I reached over and touched his arm with the tip of my finger. I ran my finger along the golden furze and looked him in the eye. “You're upset,” I said gently.

“Sure I'm upset. There's a corpse in my apartment with a bullet from my gun in it.”

“And because that corpse is your ex-wife.”

He looked up at me and I could see the need. His eyes said ‘help me deal with this.'

I thought quickly.

“Go get a shower, I'll call Dobey and …”

“And then you'll take me in; is that it? You think I did it and you're going to arrest me!”

He held out his hands and glared at me. “Go on then, cuff me and let's get this over with.”

That was a red rag to a bull!

I flipped out the cuffs and clipped one round his left wrist. I led him to the bedroom and attached him to the bed.

He started to protest but as I started to pull off my jacket his protests died down.

I took my time. I know he likes to watch me undress; the sight of my abs rippling turns him on. I toyed with the button of my jeans and eased the zipper down and pushed the rumpled denim down to my ankles. I kicked off my shoes and stepped out of the jeans. Hutch pulled at the cuffs and swore.

I knelt on the bed and pulled off his shoes and sweat socks. He swore again and I knew that I was getting the right effect. I slid my hands under his butt and found the elastic; two for the price of one. I had his sweat pants and underwear off before he could lift his butt to help me.

His cock was already hard and quivering with expectation. I ran my finger down the underside and watched his face redden with frustration as I stroked and played with him. I leaned forward and kissed the tip of his cock. He knew what was coming next….or maybe I should say who.

“Oh god Starsk….”

“Ssh.”

I wanted to play it out longer; but this was for Hutch not for me.

I went down. His cock pushed against my teeth as I gently lip-nibbled at that irritating little flap. As I opened my mouth I tasted the first droplet. My tongue pushed the barrier out of the way and I took him deep into my mouth and throat. As I sucked and licked Hutch started to moan. I eased off the pressure and he pushed into my mouth again. This time I opened my throat to take him that little bit further towards his own personal paradise. I felt the last spasm against my tongue and as the hot wad spurted into my mouth he screamed “Van!”

I resisted the temptation to make him kosher with my teeth.

I sat up and looked him in the eye.

“Van? Is that who you were thinking of?”

He looked sheepish. “Sorry.”

I fished the keys out of my jacket pocket and released him.

“Go get a shower and shave; we need to talk to Dobey.”

He shuffled off to the bathroom and I dressed quickly. I spent the next five minutes taking a good look at the crime scene. It didn't look good for him and I had to find a way to keep him on the streets while we found whoever had killed her and why.