THOSE GOLDEN EYES

by J.W. Smith

CHAPTER 6

After leaving the Eyrie, Paul and Johnny had gone back to the station to write up their reports before going home. Paul raised his head and studied his partner of three years, who sat at the desk butted up against his. Johnny was unaware of the scrutiny. Paul had known Johnny all his life. He'd long suspected that the reason he had a new woman on his arm all the time was because he wasn't really interested in them. He suspected that it was out of habit and loneliness that he was constantly out looking for someone new. He thought about Johnny's reaction to Dave kissing him.

It hadn't been a one sided kiss. He had seen that Johnny was kissing Dave back. And he'd seen that it was Dave, not Johnny, that had pulled away from the kiss. He'd also seen the bulge in Johnny's pants afterward. Paul had made a joke of having to arrest Dave to relieve the tension and to cover for Johnny, drawing attention away from him. He wondered if Johnny realized that. Paul stood up and stretched. "I'm through. See ya tomorrow, man. Has this been a busy day or what?"

"Sure has. Hold on, I'll walk out with you." Johnny gathered his things and headed out with Paul.

"That was a nasty gash on Dave's cheek," Paul commented.

"It took nine stitches to close it."

"It's going to leave a scar."

"It's a shame to mar such a handsome face." Johnny said.

Paul stopped and looked at his partner. Johnny walked on until he noticed that he wasn't beside him and turned around. "What the matter?"

"You say some of the damnedest things."

Johnny thought for a moment recalling what he'd just said. "You don't think Dave's one of the best looking men you've ever seen?"

"Yes, but I don't go saying it out loud."

Johnny tilted his head and cocked his eyebrows. He thought for a moment. "Oh." He turned and continued toward his car. His head was whirling in confusion. What was going on? He never had openly said something about another man's looks before. His mind turned to thoughts of how handsome he thought Tim was. His stomach made a queasy lurch. He wondered if Paul had noticed anything.

Paul watched Johnny turn and hesitantly walk toward his car. He shook his head and after a moment, followed. "See ya tomorrow, Buddy." He called out as he got into his car.

Johnny just waved.~~~

Ten minutes later, Johnny sat in his car across the street from the Tower. He watched Tim's replacement take over the desk. Tim disappeared through the garage door. Johnny waited for his car to come out and then followed it at a discreet distance. He wondered for a moment what he was doing and then refused to think about. It was just something he had to do. Period.

When Tim parked on the street in front of an older apartment building, Johnny drove on by and parked around the corner. He already knew which apartment was Tim's; he had gotten that information while interrogating Tim about Dave's abduction. He sat in his car thinking about the sexy young man. He had a roaring hardon the like of which he'd not had since highschool. It excited Johnny that Tim was also very intelligent. There was something about seducing someone who had brains that really turned Johnny on. He'd always gone after the intelligent women. The dumb ones were of no interest. He'd always enjoyed women, they were ..... more acceptable. The problem was that he never met one that could hold his interest.

A wall of inhibition had crumbled the day that Dave had wrapped his arms around him and kissed him thinking he was his brother. He'd been shocked that he was enjoying kissing him back, but he hadn't backed off. It had been Dave that did that. Johnny had just stood there bemused, wondering at all the feelings the kiss had let loose. All his life, he'd seen guys that he thought he'd like to make it with, but he had never followed up on any.

And then he met Tim. Even with all his fellow cops milling around him that afternoon, Tim was the only one Johnny could concentrate on until Joe had shown up. Even while dealing with his brother, Tim was in the forefront of his mind. Johnny didn't think about Tim being the first man he was actively going after. He didn't think at all. He was going with his animal instinct. An Alpha Male on the prowl. He found himself outside Tim's door rehearsing what he would say.

~~~

Tim popped the top of a can of Coke and sprawled in the single club chair in his little studio apartment. It had been a really exciting evening. Every other night he was nearly bored to death sitting behind the lobby desk greeting the tenants and pushing buttons to open elevators for them. The good thing about the job was that he was allowed to study while on duty.

Dave's quick recovery by the police had made a big change in how Tim felt about himself. In the beginning he'd felt that he'd failed by letting the kidnapper get Dave. He really felt good now. He'd been quick on getting the police right on to the rat that abducted Dave. He was thankful that he had a photographic memory.

He replayed the whole scene with all of the police. It was so cool. In three years he would graduate from college and would apply to the police academy. He wanted to be a detective just like that handsome Detective Paolini, Joe's brother. Johnny had spent a lot of unnecessary time with him, and every time that Tim had looked at him he was looking back. But Tim couldn't understand the expression on his face. Tim wondered if there was a chance he might be gay like Joe. Nah, the chance of two gays in one family were slim. 'Boy, he is a looker, Tim thought, 'even more handsome than his older brother.'

Since he had an early class in the morning, he thought he'd better hit the sack. He stood up, stretched, and kicked his shoes off as he unbuttoned his uniform shirt. He took it off and hung it up, and then shucked his t-shirt, tossing it into the hamper. He raked his fingers though the thick patch of dark auburn hair that covered his chest and hard belly. He undid his belt, unbuttoned his pants, let them drop and stepped out of them. Just as he picked them up there was a light knock on his door.

"Yes? Who's there?" He asked through the closed door.

"John Paolini."

"Just a moment." He slipped his pants back on and opened the door as he buttoned them.

"Come in, Detective."

"Hi Tim. I know it's late, but I figured you would still be up."

"Yeah, I just got home from work."

Johnny combed his fingers through his short blonde hair. He was nervous. He couldn't keep his eyes off of Tim's muscular chest. "Exciting afternoon, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." Tim agreed as he watched the detectives eyes travel down his body. His blood surged. This handsome brute was looking him over, checking him out.

Johnny snapped his eyes back up to Tim's. They studied each other for a moment. "I was really impressed with how you handled the situation," he said. "Most people would panic and forget to get the information you gave the police. The guy didn't have a chance with your description of him, the car and the license plate number. Dave Gates' really owes you, Man, as well as the police force."

A whole other message was being delivered as they stared into each others eyes while Johnny talked. Tim couldn't help feeling a rise in his pants. He didn't dare drop his eyes to check out the detective's. "I have a photographic memory. It wasn't anything special," he said.

"I think you may be very special."

Tim didn't know whether it was the vibration of Johnny's low husky voice or the touch of his fingers on his cheek that made him quiver. He couldn't think of a reply so he just stared back into Johnny's eyes.

"You are receptive to this, aren't you, Tim?" Johnny asked.

" Yes." He whispered.

"I had a feeling you would be. I also figured you would be a hairy bear cub with a six pack. You've got a hot body, boy." He ran the backs of his fingers down Tim's abdomen. Tim quivered again. He thought for a moment that he'd pass out, or just fill his shorts with sticky stuff.

"Just how much experience have you had, Timmy?"

Tim blushed. He could feel the blood flowing to the surface over his whole body. "None." He whispered

"As good looking as you are, that's hard to believe."

"I'm saving myself for the right man," he blurted out.

Johnny chuckled and then asked, "Do you think I'm the right man for you, young Tim?"

"If you're l-looking for a r-r-relationship like Joe and Dave have, you could be."

"What if I just want to ravish your beautiful body, Tim? Would you let me?"

"Y-y-yes. But I w-want more than just that," Tim whispered.

Tears were building in Tim's eyes as Johnny looked into them. He suddenly felt guilty for what he was attempting. He dropped the hand with which he had been caressing Tim's body. He looked around the room. Why was he feeling like this? He'd seduced female virgins and never gave it a second thought. He shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped around Tim. Tim turned with him. Johnny sat on the arm of the club chair. He studied this boy/man standing in front of him. It would be so easy to just have his way with him and leave. But there was something about Tim that he didn't think he could leave nor forget. No, Tim would stick in his heart like a thorn if he did that. He locked eyes with him. "I'm sorry Tim. I was teasing, playing with you. You didn't deserve that."

Tim stood before him in a high state of excitement, vulnerable. He did nothing to hide his rampant hardon. Johnny held out his hands to him. Tim stepped up and took them. Johnny rose and embraced him. "Tim. I'm going to go home. If we both still feel like carrying this further after we've cooled down, we'll see what happens. Okay?"

He felt Tim nod agreement against his neck. Johnny pulled back and looked at him. He placed his hands on each side of his face kissed him on the lips. Tim eagerly kissed him back.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," Johnny said pulling away from him. He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Tim didn't move for several seconds and then his hand slowly raised to his lips. He smiled to himself. "Yes." He thought and turned to get ready for bed.

~~~

Johnny sat in his car for a long time, finally thinking about what was going on in his life. He admitted that he had enjoyed kissing Dave. He admitted that Tim really turned him on. But getting emotionally involved just wasn't his M.O. He looked at his watch. Shit. It was three f--ing o'clock. He went home and crawled into bed.

~~~

The next morning Paul was already at his desk when Johnny straggled in. He looked up at Johnny and grinned. "Heavy date last night?"

"What are you talking about?" he mumbled.

"Man you look like you didn't get any sleep last night."

"Yeah, so it was a tough night."

"Wanna tell me about it?" Paul asked.

"What's to tell. I went home, went to bed and tossed and turned until time to get up."

"So what's bothering you."

"Nothing," Johnny growled.

"Yeah, right." Paul said, waiting for Johnny to tell him.

It was obvious that Johnny wasn't going to talk, so Paul just let him be. Later that morning they were assigned to investigate a reported break-in at a downtown liquor store. Paul drove. Johnny kept looking at his watch.

"What's with the time keeper, Johnny?"

"What?"

"You've looked at your watch at least ten times since you got in the car. What gives?"

"Nothing. I've just got things I need to do."

"What's her name?"

"His name."Joe corrected him without thinking. There was something about Tim that wouldn't let Johnny hide behind using the feminine in referring to him.

"His name?"

"Damn, forget I said that. Would you stop with the questions already?"

Paul shrugged. He kept glancing over at Johnny wondering what had happened between him and Tim last night. Johnny fidgeted. He looked resentful that Paul was inquisitive. "It's okay with me, Johnny. You know I love your brother as much now as before he came out."

Johnny exploded. "You think I'm gay? Fuck you, Paul. I'm not gay. I'm--I'm just confused."

Paul pulled over and parked. "Look, Johnny you know I love you like a brother. It doesn't matter to me what you are. You'll still be my little bro and best friend."

Johnny stared out the window. Paul watched him. Neither one spoke for several minutes. Finally Johnny broke the silence. "You don't know what I did last night. I almost seduced the kid. He's virgin for Christ sake." He closed his eyes and visibly shuddered, and then turned to look Paul in the eye."God that turned me on. I could have done anything with him. He would have done anything I told him. Almost, Paul. I almost did it." He ended in a whisper.

"Tim McFadden?" Paul asked

Johnny blinked. "How did you know."

"I've got eyes. I saw how you looked at him. I also saw how he looked at you. You couldn't do better. That kid is a whiz. He's going to make a great cop."

"You've checked him out?"

"Of course, I did. I can't have my partner chasing just any guy, now can I?"

"So how long have you known about me?"

"Let's see. I watched you go through puberty. You hid it pretty good through high school. You always had one of the prettiest girls on your arm, but never the same one for long. When you came back from college you were still carrying on the same pattern. Always a different beautiful woman. Never serious about one. I started to suspect. I observed. I discovered that a good looking dude will always turn your head. I was just waiting for you to figure it out and act on it."

Johnny thought about what Paul said and could see that it was true. He found it wasn't as difficult to admit to himself as he'd thought it would be. And while he was making admissions he added one more aloud. "You know why I became a cop don't you?"

Paul grinned at him. "I have my suspicions, Johnny." Johnny studied Paul a moment. He could see the comradely love in his look.

"I always idolized you, Paul. If you'd been gay I would have chased after you until I caught you."

Paul chuckled. He had an easy going way about him that always put Johnny at ease. "I think you did that anyway, Bud.

Johnny grinned. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"Well, I love you, Johnny. Just not that way."

"I know. And you know how I feel about you. You are my best friend, Paul."

"Ditto. So what are you going to do about young Tim?"

"Well, I think I'll wine and dine him and court him until he agrees to be mine."

"From the way Tim was looking at you, that should take about one meal and one glass of wine and a short evening." Paul chuckled.

End of chapter 6