Work Text:
“Is this seat open?”
The standard question spoken in a husky Irish drawl immediately peaked Ben’s interest. “I was saving it just for you,” he said with a cheeky grin.
When none of the other players objected, Qui pulled out the chair at the left edge of the high stakes, six-player blackjack table and sat down. Glancing at the dealer’s name tag, he addressed the others seated at the table. “Has Ben been good to you?”
“It’s been back and forth,” a beautiful bronze skinned woman said. “But he’s so charming that it almost negates the pain when he’s taking our money.”
“Depa, darling, you’re making me blush,” Ben replied, with a wink.
Qui chuckled along with the rest of the table as he studied the dealer. Ben Kennerly was a man in his mid thirties who looked like he could have walked off the pages of a men’s fashion magazine. Fit and trim, he made the casino’s standard dealer uniform look like haute couture. The high collared white shirt, satin collared black and purple brocade vest and slim black slacks fit like they been tailored specifically for him. His perfectly mussed red gold hair reached the bottom of his collar and his well-trimmed beard accented his face.
But what drew you in was his infectious grin. Ben’s smile totally transformed his face. His eyes sparkled, laugh lines appearing at the corners and two perfect dimples forming on his cheeks. It was an open, honest expression that was a refreshing change from the fake smiles that filled this over-glitzed city. Forcing his mind away from the handsome face and back to the task at hand, Qui pushed his marker across the table to Ben.
Ben picked up the casino slip and studied the information. Looking up, he smiled at Quintrell Jinnsen. “How would you like it broken up, Mr. Jinnsen?”
“Two thousand in one hundreds, the rest in five hundreds and one thousands,” Qui replied.
Ben made quick work of pulling out the requested chips. After sliding them into the first seat’s space, he folded the slip in half. “Fifty thousand marker in for Mr. Jinnsen,” he said to the pit boss who’d appeared at the edge of the table. At the woman’s nod, he pushed it into the slot and picked up the double deck of cards. When everyone had placed their bets, he waved his hand over the table. “Let’s see if Mr. Jinnsen will change the luck.”
“Just call me Qui, please Ben. Especially since you’ll most likely be relieving me of my money.”
“It’s all up to the cards,” Ben quipped as he placed the first card face down in front of Qui.
As Ben dealt each hand of the game, he studied the newest addition to the table. Appearing to be in his late fifties, the man was well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular build. With short silver-streaked brown hair, Qui had the rugged features of a 1950’s leading man, marred only by the slight bump of a once broken nose. His brilliant blue eyes were his most expressive feature, corners crinkling easily when he smiled or laughed. Dressed in a single breasted, gray Tom Ford suit with a dark blue dress shirt open at the collar, he appeared every inch the type of wealthy entrepreneur that frequented the Starbird Casino. But something in his demeanor was off, as if this wasn’t the normal environment the man preferred to be in.
Qui was glad the money on the table had come with his cover, when he after the first five hands, he was down ten thousand dollars. Although he’d played blackjack for years, sitting at this table was very different from the twenty-five dollar minimum tables he normally played at. From the top shelf liquor to very attentive staff, it was as if he’d walked into another world.
As he watched Ben’s long fingers shuffle and deal the cards, the investigator part of him wondered at the man’s background. His ability to deal comfortably with the elite was well cultivated but not a natural state. Two partially healed cuts on the top of his left hand spoke of some type of manual labor, but whether from necessity or hobby was impossible to tell.
Pulling his attention from those hands, Qui returned his focus to the reason he was here. Sitting across from him in seat six was Mark Amedda, second in command of the Moralo crime family, whose main business was laundering money for the cartels. Qui had come to Las Vegas in an effort to connect Amedda to his current investigation of the Bardack Cartel. If he could obtain proof that the Bardacks were funneling their illicit drug and prostitution profits through the Moralo syndicate, the FBI could take down both groups. They had received intel that Amedda was set to meet with Lars Bardack sometime this week here in Las Vegas. Now he just had to follow Amedda and record the two of them doing business.
Earlier today, another agent had gone into Amedda’s room in the guise of housekeeping. While Amedda was in the shower, Adi Galen had placed an invisible tracker on the side of Amedda’s left shoe of all three pairs of shoes in the suite. This would give Qui the ability to know where Amedda was at all times, and follow him discretely. Now all he needed to do was wait.
By the time Amedda left the table two hours later, Qui’s luck had changed and he was up over eight thousand dollars. He played two more hands as he watched Amedda take his chips to the cashier’s cage before pushing his chips towards Ben. “Need to stretch my legs and eat. Any recommendations?”
“Chez Dexter’s is my first choice. Their Chicago cut rib eye is the best in town,” Ben replied as he colored up the chips.
“Sounds great.” Qui took a purple chip from the smaller stack that was given back to him and handed it to Ben. “Hopefully, I’ll be back later.”
“Thank you. I’m here until 2am,” Ben replied, as he banged the five-hundred dollar chip on the table before sliding it into the hole in the tip box.
Qui slipped the chips into his pocket and walked away in the direction he’d seen Amedda heading. Time to get to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui didn’t make it back to the tables until two days later. Amedda must have been one of Ben’s regulars, because when he headed into the gaming area, he made a beeline for Ben’s table. After Amedda sat, there was only one seat open, so Qui hung back, sitting at a nearby slot machine until someone else left the table.
“Welcome back, Qui. How was Chez Dexter’s?” Ben asked as he slid into one of the open seats.
“I never made it. I met up with a friend and they wanted to leave the casino.” Qui-Gon pulled out his chips from the other day and pushed the eleven five-thousand dollar chips towards Ben. “One thousands, please.”
Ben collected the smaller chips and pushed them back to Qui. “Good luck.”
This session went longer as Amedda was winning and didn’t want to let go of his good luck. He’d been playing for almost five hours when Qui-Gon caught sight of his partner leaning against a post. “Guess I’ll call it a night,” he said pushing his much smaller pile of chips to Ben. “Any chance Chez Dexter’s is still open?”
“No, they close at midnight,” Ben replied as he colored up the chips and passed them back. “But the Saber Bar has some decent food and they’re open until four.”
“I’ll try that,” Qui-Gon said. “Good luck everyone,” he said to the remaining players and walked away. He nodded at his counterpart as he discretely handed him the tracker and went on his way.
He had just finished his prime rib sandwich and was sipping from his second glass of Jamison’s Reserve when a voice beside him drew his attention. “Mind if I join you?” He looked up to see Ben, now dressed in jeans and a faded button-down shirt smiling at him. “Please do.”
“How was your dinner?” Ben asked as he dropped into the second chair at the small table.
“It wasn’t a rare rib eye, but it was very good,” Qui replied. “I’m trying to decide if I want dessert.”
“They have the best cream buns here,” Ben said. “Almost as good as me mum's.”
“That’s as good of a recommendation as anything could ever get,” Qui chuckled. “Want to share one with me? Unless you need to have dinner first.”
“Had dinner on my break, so sure. They're definitely big enough to share.”
Qui waved the waiter over. “Want a drink? Whatever you want. I’m expensing it,” he added with a laugh.
“In that case, I’ll have Glengoyne, on the rocks,” Ben replied.
When the waiter arrived, Qui ordered dessert and Ben’s drink before turning back to his companion. “With your hint of a Scottish accent, I don’t think you’re a Las Vegas native?”
“No. I was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, but my family moved back to Scotland when I was five,” Ben explained. “I moved here when I was in my early twenties to try and break into show business. I got parts in a number of casino shows but after about ten years I was sick of hustling for a new job every six months so I became a blackjack dealer. I’ve been at the Starbird for seven years and in the high limit room for the last three. It’s a decent gig and I get to meet interesting people. What about you? I’m pretty sure you’re not local.”
“Born in Northern Ireland. Came to the states for college and stayed,” Qui replied. “Went to school at Franklin Pierce College, which is also in New Hampshire.”
A light bulb went off in Ben’s head as Qui spoke. He looked around the half empty bar and when he saw no one was paying them any mind, he spoke softly. “You’re law enforcement. I knew there was something else under that Tom Ford suit.”
Surprised that Ben had read through his persona so easily, Qui quickly interrupted him. “You need to forget that, Ben. For both our sakes.” When Ben nodded, he changed the subject. “So, tell me what shows you were in. I may have seen one of them.”
They chatted for a while about a bunch of little things. Ben spoke about the shows he’d been in and some of the famous people he’d crossed paths with over the years. Qui told him he’d been an amateur boxer before college and lived in a suburb of New York City. Qui liked American football but Ben was more of a soccer fan. Time flew by when their discussion turned to music. They both liked most classic rock, though Qui was a dedicated Beatles fan when Ben was more into Nirvana. They remained at the table getting to know one another until the bartender announced ten minutes to closing.
Qui paid the check and they left the bar. They walked together until they reached the walkway to the hotel proper. “How long will you be in town?” Ben asked.
“I should be here a few more days, at least,” Qui replied. “I’m glad you asked to join me. I enjoyed talking to you.”
“I did too. Hopefully you’ll find time to come back to my table before you leave.”
“I’ll do my best.” Qui placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Take care, Ben.”
“You too.” With a last look at the older man, Ben started down the walkway to the employee parking garage.
Qui blew out a breath and squared his shoulders as he watched the younger man walk away. He liked Ben and enjoyed talking to him. Why couldn’t he have met the man at some bar in Greenwich Village instead of twenty-five hundred miles from home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was another two days before Qui’s surveillance assignment brought him back to the Starbird casino. Amedda had led him all over the area, one trip taking him all the way to Reno, but the meeting between Amedda and Bardack still had not occurred. During his last check in with the New York bureau chief, he’d been told that if the meeting didn’t happen in the next few days, he’d be called back to New York.
Hidden behind a row of slot machines, Qui watched as Amedda slid into the empty seat at Ben’s table. Not wanting to seem too obvious, he waited through the next empty seat, only approaching the table when another seat opened up thirty minutes later.
“Good to see you, Qui,” Ben greeted. “Didn’t think I'd see you again after you left so much cash here the other night.”
“I’m hoping lady luck will be less fickle today,” Qui quipped, as he passed a new marker to Ben. When the chips were set out per his previous request, he smiled and drew back all but two chips. He placed the one-thousand-dollar chip in the betting circle and the one-hundred-dollar chip above the circle. “Let’s see if the cards can be good to both of us, Ben.”
Ben finished shuffling, dealt everyone two cards face down and then dealt his own. He made his way around the table again, asking “Hit or stay?”
When Ben got to his position, Qui flipped the two cards over to show the ten of hearts and the ace of spades. “I think I’ll stay,” he chuckled.
Ben paid out both bets and dropped the two hundred fifty dollars in chips into the tip jar. “Thanks for the bet,” he added with a smile.
Qui played for a few hours, his level of chips shifting up or down in turns. When his overnight replacement finally appeared in the bank of slot machines a short distance away, he pushed his chips towards Ben. “Color me out, please. This was fun but I need to get some sleep. Good luck everyone,” he added as Ben handed him the larger denomination chips.
“Glad lady luck was shining on you tonight, Qui, and thanks for the bets,” Ben said. “Will we see you tomorrow night?”
“Hopefully.” Qui left the table, transferring the tracker as he passed his counterpart before heading toward the hotel elevators.
As he shuffled the decks, Ben glanced up in time to see the man that Qui acknowledged and more pieces of the puzzle that was Quintrell Jinnsen fell into place.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Reaching his room, Qui called down to room service before heading for the shower. He’d just finished drying off and was pulling on a pair of boxers, when there was a knock on his door. Looking through the peephole, he was surprised to see Ben standing beside the food cart, wearing a room service jacket.
“Your order, Mr. Jinnsen,” Ben said as the door swung open. He shook his head to prevent the questions he knew were coming as he pushed the cart into the room and closed the door behind him.
“What are you doing here, Ben?”
“I needed to talk to you privately and this was the only way I could insure no one would overhear,” Ben replied.
Qui stared at the younger man; disbelief evident on his face. “So, you just happened to be in the kitchen when my order was ready?”
“Really, Qui. Stuff like that only happens in spy movies,” Ben said with a shrug. “I told one of my friends who was working in room service that I had the hots for you and wanted to give you my number. When your order came in, he sent one of the cocktail waitresses over to tell me and I met him outside the kitchen when I went on break.”
“You have the hots for me?” Qui asked incredulously.
“Duh. But that’s not why I’m here. I figured out who you’re investigating and I came to warn you.” Ben took a deep breath and then continued. “Mark Amedda is a very dangerous man. A girl who worked here told me she overheard a conversation between Amedda and one of his underlings about a money drop. She went missing that same night and her body was found in a shallow grave in the desert a few months ago. And that’s only what I know for certain. There have been rumors for years that he’s responsible for a number of unsolved disappearances and murders.”
“You shouldn’t be here, Ben,” Qui insisted. “I’m fully aware of what Mark Amedda is capable of and if anyone saw you come in here, it could put you in danger.”
“I came up on the staff elevator. No one saw me,” Ben retorted, glancing at his watch. “I have to get back. Please be careful. I don’t want to read about your disappearance in the Las Vegas Times.” He pressed a square of paper into Qui’s hand and walked out the door, disappearing down the hallway in a matter of seconds.
Qui stood in the doorway, gaze shifting from the paper in his hand to the empty hallway. He needed to resolve this situation soon. Ben might think he’d covered his tracks, but Mark Amedda had eyes and ears everywhere. He typed Ben’s number into his encrypted list of contacts and sent a text to him with the number for his phone before tearing the paper into small pieces. And the last thing he wanted was for Ben to be caught up in this, but if he’d been seen, he needed to ensure that Ben could contact him if the need arose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It took another two days of he and his team following Amedda and his associates all over the city before they finally uncovered the details of the meeting. Amedda and Lars Bardack were scheduled to meet at 8pm in an abandoned warehouse near sunset park.
Much of the area was run down, with very few residences and business still occupied, which was good for them. The IT team had been able to slip into the warehouse to hide the video and audio equipment they needed to get their evidence. There were also enough buildings to provide cover for both their approach and their personnel.
Qui was sitting in the observation van a short distance from the warehouse, monitoring the video and audio feeds. As he glanced from one monitor to another, he hoped that they’d be able to pull this off without suffering any collateral damage.
Amedda and his underlings arrived first, entering the warehouse by a door on Russell Road. Bardack and his associates arrived about ten minutes later, entering by the same door. A total twenty people were inside the building, with another four from each crew positioned at various points surrounding the warehouse.
One of the IT specialists took his place at the monitors and Qui prepared to set his team into position. When he exited the disguised van, he walked to the group of agents and SWAT officers hidden behind a nearby building. He gave the personnel their assignments and led his group to a door on the opposite side of the building. The other groups moved as close as possible to the other entry points while still staying concealed.
Finally, the words he’d been waiting to hear came through his earpiece. “Go, go, go,” Qui shouted into his microphone. Within seconds, a swat officer had used a battering ram to open the door and they were entering the room. “FBI, don’t move,” he yelled, but unsurprisingly none of the criminals obeyed his command. As shots rang out, they dove for the nearest cover, giving back as good as they were getting. He could also hear shots ringing from outside the building and knew the other teams were engaging the guards outside. The remaining four teams breached in quick succession and soon he had personnel blocking all five points of escape.
Gunfire was coming from all directions and individuals on both sides were being hit. “Drop your weapons. There’s no way out,” Qui yelled, hoping to keep the carnage to a minimum. As he peeked around the corner to see if the criminals were complying, a bullet slammed into his left arm.
“Jinnsen, you okay?” one of his counterparts asked.
“I’m fine,” Qui growled. “Let’s end this.” Glad it wasn’t his right arm, he aimed his gun and fired multiple shots at the criminals, taking down three more in quick succession.
After a few more minutes of exchanging gunfire, most of the underlings were down. Amedda and Bardack dropped their guns and raised their hands in surrender and the hired muscle who were still standing did the same.
Qui holstered his gun and pulled his handcuffs off his belt as he approached Amedda; his partner doing the same as he approached Bardack. “Mark Amedda, you’re under arrest,” he said as he pulled the man’s arms behind his back and fastened the cuffs. The other agents and officers did the same to the hired muscle still upright.
“Jinnsen. You bastard. I should have realized you were a fucking fed,” Amedda growled as recognition came to him.
“Looks like you’re not as smart as you think you are,” Qui retorted, before turning to the swat officer beside him and ordering, “read him his rights.”
Turning away from Amedda, Qui looked around the room to assess the situation with his personnel. A number of people were on the floor but only Grant looked to be seriously injured. Emergency personnel had been put on standby when they’d breached so two paramedics were already working on him. “How is he?” he asked as he reached the agent.
“Touch and go,” the paramedic replied as he helped his partner lift the man onto a gurney. “We managed to stop the bleeding but it appears he hit his head on the floor when he went down. We have a neurosurgeon on standby at Elite Medical Center and its less than five minutes away.”
As Qui watched Grant rolled away, another paramedic approached him and pointed to the blood running down his jacket. “You need attention yourself, Agent.”
“Not until everyone else it taken care of,” Qui insisted. “It’s just a flesh wound.” He could tell the woman wasn’t happy with that answer, but his expression must have been enough to dissuade her.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Between clearing the scene and taking a side trip to the hospital to get his arm taken care of, it was 2am before Qui arrived at Las Vegas swat to collect his prisoners. An FBI plane was waiting for them at the North Las Vegas airport to take his team and their prisoners back to New York. One of the local agents had collected his things and checked him out of the hotel while he’d been at the hospital.
Securing Amedda and Bardack in the swat transport, Qui and his partner slid onto the bench beside them as the officer closed the doors. The trip to the airport was quick and uneventful, and soon he had the prisoners secured in the aircraft and they were on their way.
His arm was throbbing painfully as the lidocaine wore off, but as he was transporting prisoners, Qui wasn’t comfortable taking the pain meds he’d been given. The wound was a through and through, luckily not hitting either bone or large blood vessels but it still hurt like a bitch.
He’d worked on his report for a time, but he’d given up when his fingers couldn’t manage to hit the correct keys on his keyboard. He tried to sleep, as the other agents were watching the prisoners, but he’d been unsuccessful. Every time he’d closed his eyes, all he could see was Ben’s face. He felt bad about leaving without a word and wished he’d been able to at least say goodbye.
It was 12:20 EST by the time the plane set down on the runway at LaGuardia and was taxing to the private gate. Qui pulled out his phone and used the time to write a text.
Good morning, Ben. I’m sure Amedda’s arrest has been all over the news by now. Sorry I wasn’t able to get back to the Starbird to say goodbye but the powers that be wanted us back in New York right away. Meeting you made what I had anticipated would be a miserable work trip, very pleasant. I just wish we’d had more time to get to know one another a little better. You’re a remarkable person, Ben. Thank you for sharing your jest for life within this hidebound, old relic. Stay safe, Ben. Maybe fate will allow us to cross paths again someday.
Looking back through the words, Qui wondered if he’d said too much, but any chance to revise it was taken from him as the plane pulled up to the gate. Throwing caution to the wind, he hit send and dropped the phone back into his pocket. Time to return his focus to the task at hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was after midnight by the time Qui left the office and made it back to his apartment. Between his lack of sleep and the endless paperwork, exhaustion was too weak a word for how he felt. He kicked off his shoes and headed straight for his bedroom. He couldn’t get undressed fast enough and it was only out of habit that he pulled his phone from his pocket. As he connected it to the charger, a little orange 2 sitting at the corner of the text icon caught his attention. The two messages were from the same number and the one with a time stamp of 4:10am PST appeared as he touched the icon.
Rumors of the arrest were spreading through the staff, but it wasn’t until my shift ended and I caught the newscast on the TV in the breakroom, that I realized how serious the situation was. I have to admit I panicked when they said that multiple agents had been injured. I changed and headed over to Elite Med but by the time I got there and found someone who could tell me anything, you’d already been discharged. I tried to call you when I got home but it went straight to voicemail so I opted to text you. Glad you weren’t seriously injured and I can’t wait for you to tell me all about it in person tonight.
The second message had a time stamp of 11:40 am PST and was written after Ben had received his text.
I just saw your message. Must have come in after I went to bed. The fact that you never mentioned that you’d been injured makes me wonder whether your injury was really minor or you’re just being a tough guy FBI agent. I must admit I was disappointed to hear you’re already back in New York. I’ve met thousands of people in my years as a dealer, but I can count on one hand those I’d desire to actually develop a friendship with. I’ve enjoyed my time with you this past week, more than I have anything in a very long time. Maybe if we both beseech fate, she’ll create the opportunity we both desire. Since asking you to stay safe is out of the question, I’ll just ask you to be careful. If fate grants our request and we get a chance to get to know each other better, your gorgeous body better be all in one piece.
A laugh erupted from Qui as he read Ben’s last line. He didn’t believe there was anything special about him. He was too tall. His features were too stark. His nose showed clear signs of an old break. His graying hair was coarse. He could go on and on. Ben was the gorgeous one. The athletic body, those expressive eyes, the infectious smile, that shiny red hair. He couldn’t understand what that striking man saw in him. He was just extremely grateful that he saw something. Now he just had to find a way to get back to Las Vegas and see where this could go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Qui, the next six weeks passed in a flurry of meetings, depositions and testimony prep. The charges from the raid itself were cut and dry. Everyone involved had already been charged with assaulting federal officers, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder, but they were looking for more. The true purpose of this years-long investigation had been to dismantle the Barback family’s illicit empire once and for all and the only way to do that would be to prove racketeering charges against them. The opportunity to take down Amedda’s money laundering and loan sharking operations had been an unexpected bonus.
The first four weeks had consisted of reviewing the evidence. Every bit of the investigation had been inspected and reviewed, long days were spent discussing each stake out, every informant’s information and every bit of evidence they’d collected. All the vetted evidence would be presented to a federal grand jury, along with hours of personal testimony given by Agent Jinnsen and his team.
Qui had spent most of the next two weeks in and out of that hearing room, being questioned about the evidence presented. When not in the hearing room, he was in the small anteroom that had been provided to the FBI, discussing additional evidence with the federal prosecutors. The days were long and exhausting, beginning with reviewing the day’s evidence and ending with assessing how things had gone. He didn’t even get a break on the weekends, with his time spent in meetings with his team or the prosecutors, or in his home office reviewing evidence.
The only pleasures he’d had during those six weeks were his texts and video calls with Ben. At first the texts had been sporadic, sharing pictures or a few sentences about something thought-provoking they had heard, read or seen. After the first few days, they’d become more frequent and a bit more personal. At the end of the first week, they’d actually managed a video call in the late hours of the New York evening on Ben’s day off.
As the weeks passed, both the texts and the calls became more regular. Qui looked for funny or interesting things to share with Ben, as he was unable to discuss anything involved with the grand jury hearing. He sent pictures of various New York landmarks, John Lennon’s memorial in Central Park, Time Square and Broadway marquees, among others. Ben would share funny tidbits about his clientele as well as pictures of his activities outside of work. Pictures of the sunset after a hike in red rock canyon, a giant cocktail steaming with dry ice at a friend’s drag performance or a cream bun from the Saber Bar would pop up on his phone at random times. It wasn’t the same as being together in person but the quick messages and phone pictures gave them little insights into what made both of them tick.
On the morning the grand jury had been sequestered to deliberate; Qui made his way back to the office with a feeling of great relief. He’d done all he could to get justice for the tens of thousands of people whose lives had been damaged or cut short by these two major crime organizations. Now it was up to the twenty people who’d heard all the evidence to decide if the prosecutors had fulfilled the burden of proof needed for them to be indicted and brought to trial.
When he reached the door to his office, his assistant was waiting for him. “Koon wants you in his office pronto,” Tahl declared, reaching out at hand to take his briefcase. “I’ll let his secretary know you’re on your way up.”
Qui couldn’t quite stifle his sigh of frustration as he handed over his briefcase. He’d known the bureau chief would want to see him but he’d hoped to at least be able to have a cup of coffee before he’d been summoned. He took the elevator to the twentieth floor and blew out a breath as he disembarked.
“Go right in, Agent Jinnsen. SAC Koon is waiting for you,” the secretary said with a smile.
“Thank you, Ayala,” he replied as he did as she bade. He was a bit surprised to see another man in the office with Koon and that surprise turned to shock when he recognized the bald man as the assistant director for criminal branch, Maurice Windell. “You wanted to see me Special Agent in Charge Koon,” he said politely.
“Take a seat, Jinnsen” Koon said, pointing to the only open chair. “You remember Assistant Director Windell,” he added pointing the man.
“Indeed. Good to see you again Assistant Director,” Qui greeted as he reached out and shook his hand.
“You too, Jinnsen. Great job on this investigation,” Windell said. “From what legal tells me, the jury will be hard pressed not to indict. Do you agree with that assessment?”
That question started a back-and-forth dialogue that lasted for over an hour. Qui rose when Windell took his leave but remained standing by the desk.
“Is there something else, Jinnsen?” Koon asked.
“I’d like to request approval to use two months of my accumulated leave, to begin once the grand jury deliberations have concluded. I know it’s short notice, but I’ve ate, slept and breathed this investigation for the past three years and I need some time.”
Koon laughed at he looked at his senior agent. “Quintrell Jinnsen requesting vacation time. The apocalypse must be upon us.” He looked intently at the man he’d known for thirty years. “Granted, Qui. Take whatever you need. You deserve it.”
“Thanks, Paul. I appreciate it,” Qui replied. “And it’s good timing since the Bardack case was my sole assignment for the past year.”
“True enough,” Koon replied. “Go home, Qui. Sleep, read a book, play mindless video games or whatever. Just keep you phone on until a decision is reached, in case I need to reach you.”
“You sure?” Qui countered.
“Yes. The extra hours you’ve worked in just the past few months would have blown up my payroll budget if you’d been hourly.” Koon smiled. “Tell your assistant you’re working from home until the grand jury comes in.”
“Okay.” After shaking his boss’s hand, Qui headed back to his office, his mind already filled with possibilities.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had been months since Qui had been home in the middle of the day without hours of work in front of him. He sent a text to Ben letting him know he was home and to call him before he left for work if he had a chance. After making himself a sandwich and grabbing a beer, he’d settled down on the couch with the TV remote and his laptop. Being the middle of March, he knew there would be spring training games on so he spoke “Boston Red Sox” into the remote. He’d started following the team during his years at university in New Hampshire and even his years living in New York hadn’t broken his loyalty to that team.
With one eye on the game, Qui opened his laptop and pulled up his personal email. A friend who travelled often had sent him some links to a few vacation home sites, so he clicked on the first one and began to search. It took him a couple of hours but he finally found a place that filled his needs. An open concept, two-bedroom home, located a few miles off the strip. The nicely landscaped yard was surrounded by a high fence and included an in-ground swimming pool. By the time the ballgame was over, he’d filled out the paperwork and used his credit card to pay for a two-month rental beginning tomorrow.
He'd just pulled up the American Airlines website when the video call icon began to flash. He opened the app to Ben’s smiling face and smiled in return.
“What are you doing home in the middle of the afternoon?” Ben asked, confusion on his face.
“Deliberations started this morning so my boss gave me the afternoon off,” Qui replied.
“You deserve way more than an afternoon off,” Ben countered.
“It’s more than I expected, so I’ll take it. What have you been up to? Qui asked, using a quick change of subject to prevent revealing any hint of his plans.
They chatted for a while, discussing all kinds of things. Ben talked about his vague plans for his days off on Monday and Tuesday and Qui talked about maybe taking in a show over the weekend. Finally, Ben needed to end the call to get ready for work.
“This is the longest we’ve ever been able to talk over video,” Ben said. “I hope we get to do this again soon.”
“So, do I. Take care, Ben,” Qui replied.
“Stay safe and out of trouble, Qui,” Ben retorted, closing the connection before Qui could reply.
Closing the app, Qui returned his attention to searching for flights. He hoped that the upcoming weekend would entice the jury members to come to a decision quickly. Deciding to take a chance, he booked a first-class flight for late afternoon on Sunday, opting for the fully refundable option in case he needed to change it.
Dropping his empty dishes in the sink, Qui moved into his bedroom to pack. March and April weather in Las Vegas would be upper 70s and low 80s, which would be great for many outdoor activities. Placing two suitcases on the chest at the end of his bed, he went through his clothes, packing an assortment of items to be properly dressed for any activity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the first time in a long time, things had worked out the way Qui had hoped. The jury had voted to indict very late Saturday evening, and by noon on Sunday, he was walking out of the office. He made a few quick stops before hailing a cab home and spent a couple of hours finalizing his packing, putting a hold on his mail and informing the building super that he'd be away. All his bills were set to autopay from his checking account so that was one thing he didn’t need to worry about. Grabbing his suitcases, he headed out of the building. The cab he’d called for arrived after a few minutes and he was headed to the airport. The ride to LaGuardia was surprisingly painless. He got checked in and through security relatively quickly and had time to stop for a drink in the first-class lounge before heading to the gate. His flight would be called shortly and he was overcome with anticipation at the prospect of seeing Ben again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaving McCarren in a rental car, Qui made a side trip to Albertson’s for groceries before making his way to the house he’d rented. Using the key he’d retrieved from the coded lockbox, he was very pleased when he opened the door and stepped inside. The house was exactly as it had been depicted in the photos and described. It took some time for him to bring in his luggage and the groceries and get everything unpacked and put away. Even seated in first class, airline food was never great, so he made himself a snack and turned the TV on to the news. The fact that the press conference to announce the indictment was set for Monday morning in New York had helped make it possible to keep his arrival a surprise.
At 1am, Qui got in his car and made his way to the Starlight Casino. He valeted his car and headed inside. He skirted the high limit table area and entered the Saber Bar. He walked up to the bar, relieved that the bartender was a man Ben had introduced him to when he was here. After ordering a drink, he asked for his help. “Keith, I was hoping you’d be willing to get a message to Ben. Ask him to come over to the bar, but don’t tell him why. I didn’t tell him I was coming.”
Remembering how often his friend had spoken about the man he’d met weeks earlier, Keith quickly agreed. “I’ll send someone over to ask him to come and see me after his shift.”
“Thank you,” Qui said, as he grabbed his drink and settled at a corner table. Seated at this table, he’d be able to see Ben but Ben wouldn’t see him as he approached the bar. He kept looking at his watch, the fifteen minutes since he’d sat down crawling by. Finally at 2:06am, he watched the man he’d been dreaming about saunter in and approach the bar.
Keith said something to Ben, then pointed to where Qui was sitting. Ben turned around, his eyes widening in surprise as he rushed over to the table. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I wanted to surprise you.” Qui took Ben’s hand and gently pulled him into the chair beside him.
“Well, you definitely accomplished that,” Ben retorted, eyes moving down from Qui’s face to take in the man’s appearance. Even in jeans and a button down the man looked like a million bucks. “How long are you staying?”
“That depends on you,” Qui replied, squeezing the hand he was still holding.
“Then forever,” Ben said softly but their conversation was interrupted by Keith coming over. He replaced Qui’s empty glass of Jameson’s with a full one and placed a glass of Glengoyne in front of Ben. “Cheers, gentlemen,” the bartender said as he walked away.
“Are you staying here?” Ben asked after sipping his drink.
“No, I rented a house in the outskirts.”
Ben’s surprise increase at those words. “For how long?”
“The contract is for two months but that’s flexible,” Qui replied. He took a deep breath and then continued. “I had to leave so suddenly and there was so much left unsaid between us. I know we discussed some of what we felt in texts and video calls, but it’s not the same as being together in person. I realize that after spending more time together, we may decide that we’re not as well-suited as I believe, but I had to try. Otherwise, I would have spent the rest of my life wondering about the possibilities.”
“I’m so glad you did. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Trying to figure out how I could arrange a trip to New York to see you.” Ben reached up and ran the fingertips of his free hand along Qui’s cheek. “You’re an enigma, Quintrell Jinnsen. I want to get to the know man behind the veneer of the FBI façade and under the Tom Ford suits.”
“I have to warn you that what’s under those high-priced suits is nothing remarkable,” Qui joked.
“Let me be the judge of that,” Ben retorted. “And under that ever-shifting persona?”
“I’m not sure I even know who that person is anymore,” Qui admitted. “For over thirty years, being a special agent has been the entirety of my life. The demands of the job made relationships outside of work so hard to maintain that eventually I just gave up on them.”
“That sounds lonely,” Ben said softly, before shaking off his sadness. “I’m off until 6pm on Wednesday? Have you thought about what you want to do while you’re here?”
“Besides spending time with you? I really haven’t thought about it. Though the house I rented has a lovely enclosed yard and a swimming pool so I guess we could start there,” Qui looked over at Ben, uncertain. “We could head there now. It has two bedrooms so you don’t need to feel pressured.”
Wearing a smug smile, Ben leaned in and whispered in Qui’s ear. “I’ve wanted to jump your bones since the first time you sat down at my table. Why don’t we just take it as it comes.” The grin deepened with his emphasis on the word comes.
“You must have been a hellion as a child.”
“Who’s to say I’m not still a hellion,” Ben quipped. “Are you brave enough to find out?”
“What’s that annoying saying? The only way forward is through.” Qui reached up and grasped Ben’s chin. “Though I fear dodging gunfire may be safer.”
“But definitely not as much fun. Let’s me go change out of my uniform and grab the bag I keep in my locker. Should I meet you back here?”
Qui looked at him askance. “You keep a go bag in your locker? Is there something you want to tell me?”
“Silly man. It’s my gym bag. I come in early to swim or use the gym some days so I keep toiletries, a swimsuit and a change of clothes in case I need them.”
“That’s the pretext a spy would use,” Qui said, unable to keep from laughing. “Meet me at the valet entrance, unless you’d rather drive your bike over.”
“No, I’ll leave it here. We can run by my apartment at some point to get the things I need.” Ben downed the rest of his drink and rose from his chair. “I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”
Qui finished his drink as he watched Ben walk away. A smile bloomed as his keen eyes caught the thumbs up the bartender flashed at Ben. It had been too many years since he had even considered pursuing a serious romantic relationship with anyone. History told him this was more likely to end in disaster than to work out. But he knew he had to try. A spark between them was definitely there and he could only hope they could nourish it into a perfect flame.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui had no time to get nervous as he and Ben arrived at the door to valet parking simultaneously. He handed his ticket to the attendant and they slipped outside. It took only a few minutes for the car to be brought up and for them to be on their way. Since it was 3am, traffic was light and the trip to the house was easy.
Ben glanced around the neighborhood as Qui pulled the car into the driveway and smiled. “This is a pretty exclusive area. How’d you find this place?”
“Google,” Qui chuckled as they got out of the car. “I spent the better part of my afternoon off searching for vacation rentals in the Las Vegas area. It took a while but I finally found this gem. It was a private listing, available immediately and had everything I was looking for. Me mam would have said it was meant to be.”
“I think she’d be right,” Ben said, as he walked through the door held open for him. “Although more properties are being turned into vacation rentals, the nice ones like this usually have to be booked months in advance.”
“Whether it was a reward from the fates or just dumb luck, I’ll take it,” Qui said. He took Ben’s bag from him and dropped it against the wall. “Let me show you the yard.”
The expanse they entered from the sliding doors could have been cut from a gardening magazine. Motion lights illuminated the area as they stepped onto the stone patio. It contained an umbrella covered table surrounded by four chairs as well as an area containing a propane grill, a sink and a large food prep area. Beds overflowing with a variety of plants stood on each side of the patio, with solar lights interspersed with the foliage. A variety of lounge chairs were set in the space between the patio and the pool, bushes of birds of paradise and other flowering plants set randomly around them. Lights were set into the inner walls of the pool, illuminating the inviting blue water.
Stepping off the patio, Qui motioned Ben to sit in one side of the two-person hanging wicker swing before settling into the other side. “So, do you approve?”
“Hell yes. My apartment is going to feel like living in the slums of Greenock after being here,” Ben declared, inspecting the area around him. “You can see the love and care involved in creating this space. This is someone’s home, not just a place they purchased for an income stream.”
“I agree. No one creates a place like this just to rent it out to strangers.” Taking hold of Ben’s hand, Qui smiled. “Though for me, present company adds to its allure. Since you’re my guest, what would you like to do? Take a swim, sit here and look at the stars, take a walk.”
“Well, since you’re leaving the choice to me, I know exactly what I want to do.” Wrapping a hand behind Qui’s neck, he pulled him over and pressed their lips together. At first his touch was gentle but when Qui responded, Ben became more insistent. Pushing his tongue out, he licked at the lips beneath his, immediately pressing inside when Qui’s lips opened in invitation.
By the time they finally broke from the kiss, Ben was panting and his erection was pressing against his jeans. “I’ve dreamed about doing that since the first night you sat down at my table.”
“And did it live up to your expectations?”
“Not sure. I think I’ll need a few more samples to make that assessment.” Ben rose from the swing and repositioned himself astride Qui before kissing him again. One kiss turned to two, then three, then many more as their lips and tongues nipped, licked, and explored. Finally, Ben jumped up from Qui’s lap and reached out a hand. “Let’s move this someplace more comfortable.” When Qui hesitated, Ben sat back down beside him. “Sorry. Am I moving too fast for you?”
Qui took a couple of deep breaths before replying. “Maybe. My body is definitely on board, but my heart and mind are wary. We’ve spent so little time together. We’ve never even been on an actual date. Damn it. I probably sound like an idiot but I’m scared. You intrigue me, Ben. More important, I like you, a lot. But I’m twenty years older than you and I’ve built up a lot of baggage over the years. For so long, my connections have been limited to one-night stands, vacation flings or attractions that started hot and burnt out just as fast. I feel we have the possibility of more, but I have no idea how to make that happen. See, stupid, I know.”
“You’re not stupid. Just cautious and I can understand why. But think about this. We may not have spent much time together in person, but over the last six weeks, we texted almost every day and talked on video calls for hours. I’ve told you things about myself that I’ve shared with very few people.” He reached up and cupped Qui’s face in his hands. “I’m glad that you want me and I’m sure there’s no doubt that I want you too. But I care enough about you that I don’t want to pressure you into something you’re not ready for.”
“Thank you for understanding and I’ll think about what you said,” Qui declared, putting his arm around Ben shoulders.
After a few minutes of silence, Qui brought up the topic of sexual safety. They both confirmed that they hadn’t been intimate with anyone since before they met and each of them had tested clean recently.
They sat outside for a while longer until both men were fighting yawns. “I think it’s time to call it a night,” Ben said, and when Qui nodded his agreement, they made their way back into the house. He picked up his bag and started for the second bedroom when a hand on his arm stopped him.
“This may come across as me sending you mixed signals, but would you share the master bedroom with me?” Seeing the shocked expression on Ben’s face, Qui continued quickly. “I know I said I wanted to move slowly on sharing full intimacy but the image of falling asleep with you in my arms has been haunting my thoughts for weeks.” The silence that followed his question had Qui reversing course. “Nevermind. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I don’t want you to ever feel you need to censor your thoughts or words. The request just surprised me.” Ben looked into Qui’s eyes and smiled. “I’d love to sleep in your arms as long as kisses and cuddles are allowed and you won’t get upset if my body reacts to your nearness.”
“As long you won’t consider me a tease if mine does the same thing,” Qui replied with a chuckle.
“We’re grown men. I think we can handle it,” Ben quipped as he followed Qui into the master bedroom. Like the rest of the house, this room was warm and welcoming. Plants were set in random locations and a large bookcase dominated one side of the room. The blue and green swirled print of the thick cotton comforter set off the dark wood of the king size bed’s headboard. A variety of knickknacks, all appearing to be mementoes from vacation excursions, adorned the two dressers, completing the lived-in look.
Qui took the first turn in the bathroom while Ben gathered his toiletries. When Ben came back out, he pulled his shirt over his head and unbuttoned the fly of his jeans. “Boxers or naked?” he asked.
“Boxers, I think. At least for tonight,” Qui replied already down to the suggested garment. He pulled back the covers of the bed and settled into one side.
Once he’d removed his jeans, Ben laid down beside Qui and moved into his outstretched arms. They shared kisses and caresses until Qui yawned for the second time. “You need sleep. If you were in New York you’d be headed to work at this point and I can’t imagine you got much sleep on the plane.”
“No, I didn’t,” he replied shifting onto his left side.
After a quick kiss, Ben rolled onto his side, shimmied until his back was pressed to Qui’s front and pulled Qui’s right arm over his waist. “This okay?”
“Perfect.” Qui answered pulling Ben a little closer and breathing out a happy sigh. The late hour and the emotional effects of the evening quickly took their toll and both men drifted off to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui fought to hold onto his dream, the lithe body pressed against him in it almost feeling real. When the sound of birds chirping outside brought him to full awareness, the reality of the warm body beside him filled his senses. He buried his nose in Ben’s hair, pulling back in mortification when the movement pressed his erection against his lover’s ass.
Ben reached back and pulled Qui back against him. “Don’t move. Feels nice,” he slurred sleepily. He grasped Qui’s hand and pulled it tighter around him, inches from his own cloth-covered erection. “Better than any dream.”
Now fully awake, Qui’s body was in direct opposition to his mind. He wanted Ben, more than he thought possible, but he was still afraid. He’d never had problems finding sexual partners, but this was different. He didn’t want a fling; he wanted a relationship. As his anxiety sought to overwhelm him, he thought back to Ben’s words. They had learned a lot about each other during their chats these past weeks. But would it be enough for the foundation a real relationship would need.
Feeling the tension in the body against him increasing, Ben shifted until he was facing Qui. “Hello there,” he said, before pressing their lips together. His tongue pushed inside, licking and exploring as his hand stroked down his lover’s back. He was elated when Qui copied his motions, tongue and hands exploring eagerly. When their months finally separated, he smiled. “What was the first thing you noticed about me when we met? Beside my hot body.”
Although surprised at the question, Qui answered quickly. “Your smile. It was so open and honest, no hint of the Vegas façade. It lit up your whole face.”
“For me it was your eyes,” Ben stated. “Oh, your body was impressive, but your eyes held me spellbound. They hold a warmth and kindness that you very seldom see in our divided world, the crinkles at the corners appearing only when something truly amuses you.” He reached up and ran a fingertip along one of those laugh lines. “Do you want me, Qui?”
“Fuck, yes,” he admitted.
“And I want you, desperately. Don’t be afraid of that desire. It only a part of what draws us to each other, no more or less important than anything else.”
Qui looked intently at Ben, weighing his words as well as his tender expression. “That’s easier said than done,” he mumbled before asking Ben. “How did you get so wise?”
“Volumes and volumes of pedantic textbooks. Or did you forget that I have a Master’s degree in psychology?” Ben quipped.
The comment brought back the memory of a very pleasant video chat, when Ben had explained the decisions he’d made when his attempt to support himself as an actor had fizzled out. “I didn’t forget exactly. I just never considered the everyday applications of that knowledge,” Qui admitted, somewhat embarrassed.
“All that obscure knowledge floating around in my head definitely affects the way I interact with people,” Ben said. “Today there is no black or white, only shades of grey as the old Monkees’ song goes.”
“Aren’t you a bit young to have been a fan of the Monkees?” Qui asked, using the question as a distraction from his unease.
“My parents were big fans of the 60’s and 70’s music scene,” Ben stated. “That’s all they played at home when I was growing up.”
“Well at least I know you’ll be familiar with the music in my collection.” Still struggling within himself, Qui rolled out of bed and extended a hand to Ben. “How about an early morning swim? Then I’ll make us breakfast and we can plan out our day.”
Trying to hide his disappointment, Ben accepted the outstretched hand and moved into Qui’s arms. After a brief kiss, he gazed into those intense blue eyes. “Whatever you need.”
When Qui headed to the bathroom, Ben grabbed his swimsuit from his bag. Removing his boxers and slipping on the trunks, he looked down at the tented fabric. Although not how he’d hoped things would go, at least the cool water would resolve part of his current difficulty.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The day passed in a flurry of activity. After the morning swim and a leisurely breakfast, they’d decided to take advantage of the pleasant March weather and chose to go for a hike in Red Rock canyon. After making sandwiches for the trip, Qui packed them in his backpack with water, snacks and other hiking necessities. He’d dressed in a T-shirt, jeans, thick socks, and his hiking boots while Ben had thrown on his clothing and sneakers from the night before. They’d made a side trip to Ben’s apartment so he could change into clothes for the hike as well as grab other clothing and things he would need and then were on their way.
The drive to Sandstone Quarry took about a half hour and it was a little after two when Qui pulled into the parking lot. After grabbing a trail map in the visitor center, they were on their way. Ben had hiked in the area many times, but this was a new experience for Qui. The contrast between the brilliant color of the rocks of the calico hills, the muted tones of the desert and the brilliant blue of the desert sky was spectacular.
About an hour into the hike, they’d found an outcropping that gave them a perfect view of the area and settled in for lunch. “I’m so glad you suggested this hike. The view is amazing,” Qui said as he passed a sandwich and water bottle to Ben.
“It’s very unique and such a contrast to the trails I hiked growing up in Scotland,” Ben said, after taking a drink from his water bottle. “My parents were avid outdoorsmen and we spent many hours exploring the mountains, lakes and streams but I’d never seen anything remotely like this until I moved out here.”
“Mine were the same,” Qui agreed. “The wilderness areas in Ireland are spectacular and I spent a lot of time hiking in New Hampshire and Vermont while at university, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“The only downside to hiking here is the snakes,” Ben quipped. “Make sure you check carefully before you sit down.”
“Now you tell me,” Qui retorted before tucking into his sandwich.
“Shouldn’t an experienced investigator like yourself, always be aware of the dangers inherent in their surroundings?” Ben teased.
“Touché. Though as my host and tour guide, advanced notification would have been welcome.”
The corner of Ben’s eyes crinkled as he fought a smile. “Touché to you as well. I will endeavor to be more forthcoming in the future.”
Faithful to the carry in - carry out policy, they repacked everything in Qui’s backpack before continuing on their way. The cacti and Joshua trees of the lower elevation had shifted to cottonwood and numerous varieties of colorful wildflowers as the elevation rose. The animal life shifted with the terrain as well. The desert floor was home to snakes, lizards and toads as well as a few large mammals like burros. As shade appeared, squirrels, rabbits and rodents could be seen scurrying between the vegetation. They also caught glimpses of fox and deer as they ascended.
As they reach the apex of the trail, Ben nudged Qui. “Look up.”
Following the line of Ben’s finger, Qui took in the sight of a number of bighorn sheep walking along a narrow ledge on the canyon face. He stared at the majestic animals, in awe of their splendor.
As Qui stared at the animals, Ben took a moment to explain. “The two sheep at the furthest part of the ledge are males. The rams have longer, curved horns and usually travel by themselves or in small groups. The larger group just starting across the ledge consists of ewes and lambs. The females have smaller horns, with only a slight curve. The male lambs stay with the herd until the ewes are fully grown.”
“That’s very detailed information for a lay person,” Qui said. “Or did your varied work history include being a national park guide?”
“Caught me,” Ben laughed. “I worked as both a guide and in the Sandstone visitor center when I first moved here while I was looking for acting gigs. I still volunteer out here when they have large events if I can work it in with my schedule at the Starbird.”
“I should have realized that, with how knowledgeable you are about the area,” Qui admitted. “The more I learn about you, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
“Isn’t that what this trip is for?” Ben asked as he started back down the trail. “For us to learn all about one another?”
“It is. But I fear that the staid details of my life will be immensely boring in comparison to your diverse and unique experiences,” Qui declared as he followed.
"As if chasing criminals and dodging bullets could ever be described as boring," Ben retorted, over his shoulder.
As they made their way down the trail, Ben pointed out the dens and habitats of various animals, nesting areas of birds and the rare and unique flowering plants. By the time they made their way back to the parking area, Qui had a newfound appreciation of the younger man’s diversity.
As Qui drove back towards the main road, Ben motioned to an intersection coming up. “Take a right here. There is a scenic lookout about ten miles up this road that will give us a perfect view of the sunset.”
Making the turn, Qui became aware that the sky was beginning to darken but their view of the sun was currently obstructed by the canyon walls.
By the time they reached the outlook, the sky was ablaze in a multitude of shades of orange. Exiting the car, they stood side by side, an arm wrapped around each other’s waists, staring at the sky. When the brilliance of the sunset finally faded, Qui pulled Ben into his arms. “Thank you for setting up such a perfect day.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” Ben replied. “I hope there will be many more perfect days in our future.”
As they settled back into the car, the smirk on Ben’s face peaked Qui’s interest. “What?’
“I was just thinking about dinner. I’m in the mood for a burger. Will that work for you.?”
“Sure, but your burger craving doesn’t explain your current expression.”
“Are you still feeling adventurous?” Ben asked, his eyes crinkling.
Qui cocked his head as he answered. “Not sure why I’d need to be adventurous to go to a burger joint.”
“Have you ever heard of Holsteins?” When Qui shook his head, Ben continued. “They have the best burgers in Las Vegas but their real specialty is their bam-boozled shakes.”
“Do I dare ask what a bam-boozled shake is?”
“It’s a milkshake, enhanced with flavored liquor, topped with cake, candy and cookies, to name a few. A drink and dessert, all in one,” Ben explained. “It’s considered a sacrilege to eat at Holsteins and not try one.”
Qui shook his head in disbelief. “Is that supposed to sound appealing?”
“They’re amazing. I’ve tried all seven varieties but the black hole is my favorite. They're pretty big so it’s usually best to share.” Ben turned a challenging look at his companion. “Would I steer you wrong?”
“Okay, tell me where I’m going,” Qui replied.
As they neared Las Vegas Boulevard, Ben’s directions had them going on side streets and through casino entrances until they reached a parking area. After pulling the car into a vacant space, they exited and Ben led the way. Qui breathed in the ambiance as they made their way to the restaurant, able to relax in a way he hadn’t during his previous trip. They waited in the entrance for a few minutes before they were escorted to a table.
Both the food and liquor menus were more extensive than Qui expected, so he turned to Ben. “Any suggestions?”
“Definitely need to have the garlic-parmesan fries with our burgers and if you like onion rings, they’re great,” Ben said. “Everything here is good, so be adventurous.”
It took a few more minutes but they finally decided, waved the waiter over and placed their order. Over Qui’s hesitancy, Ben ordered them a black hole to share, and as they waited, he brought up tomorrow. “I’d like to make the plans for tomorrow, unless you have some objection. I have a few ideas and I thought this would be a good way to see how well I know your taste.”
“That’s fine with me,” Qui replied. “I’m here to spend time with you so anything is fine as long as we do it together. Are you planning to give me any hints?”
“Absolutely not,” Ben quipped. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
The bam-boozled shake and philly egg rolls were delivered to the table along with large glasses of ice water so they turned their attention to the food. Their fries and burgers arrived soon after so conversation was limited. When the waiter came back to clear their plates, Ben looked over at his companion. “So, what did you think?”
“The food was great. The egg rolls, the fries, the burger, all amazing,” Qui said. “I even have to admit that the shake was decent. A bit sweeter than I normally like, but the combination of flavors was perfect.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Ready to head home or do you want to wander for a bit?” Ben asked.
“Wander, I think,” Qui replied. “It’s a nice night.”
They spent the next few hours walking along the strip, checking out some shops and a couple of casinos along the way. They played some slot machines as they walked by and even settled at a blackjack table for a while. Qui ended up breaking even but Ben was up over four hundred dollars by the time they headed out.
“So, it appears that luck follows you on both sides of the table,” Qui joked as they made their way back to the car.
“Not normally. Must be the company,” Ben replied.
They stopped in front of the Bellagio and watched the water show before returning to the parking lot. They made a quick detour to the Starbird’s employee parking lot so Ben could pick up his motorcycle before continuing on to the house.
When they’d entered, Qui wrapped his arms around Ben and leaned in for a brief kiss. “Thank you for a wonderful day.”
“It’s not over yet,” Ben quipped as he maneuvered them to the sofa. He pushed his companion down and then positioned himself in his lap. “I’ve been waiting all day to be able to do this.” Kisses replaced words until they were both out of breath and tugging at the front of their jeans.
As they separated, Qui pushed Ben back onto the sofa. “You’re heavier than you look and my legs are falling asleep. Shall we move into the bedroom?”
Ben jumped up and tugged at his companion. “Don’t have to ask me twice.”
As they had the night before, they stripped down to their boxers and took turns in the bathroom before settling into bed. It didn’t take long before the kisses and caresses became more. Ben’s lips moved on to Qui’s neck, where he kissed and licked before sucking a passion mark at the junction of neck and shoulder. He slid down, fingers skimming and pinching the bronze nipples before his mouth took over the task.
Qui arched his back and tangled his fingers in Ben’s hair as his nipples were sucked and nipped. Heat rushed through his body at the enticing touches, his rock-hard cock tenting the fabric of his boxers.
As Ben’s lips sucked, his fingers moved lower. Throaty moans filled the air as he worshiped the body beneath him. A shiver ran through the long body as his fingers slipped under the boxer’s waistband and traced a line along the skin just below his navel.
Ben lifted his head, passion-darkened eyes staring at Qui. “Keep going or stop?” he asked, voice husky with arousal.
“Don’t stop,” Qui growled, pressing his groin against Ben’s stomach.
Obeying, Ben slid lower. He tugged the boxers down the long legs and tossed them over his shoulder before returning his attention to the thick penis. Wrapping one hand around the base, he ran his tongue over the drops of fluid leaking from the tip. “Perfect,” he whispered, before taking the tip fully into his mouth.
Ben tried to keep the pace slow, but Qui’s erratic thrusts and wiggles made that impossible. Pressing his own cock against his lover’s thigh, he sucked and licked the flesh filling his mouth.
Whether it was his long period of celibacy or the fact that it was Ben, Qui had never come to the brink so quickly. “Fuck, I’m going…” he groaned as he tugged on Ben’s hair trying to warn him.
Ignoring the tug, Ben continued, and within seconds, his mouth was filling with the salty taste of Qui’s release. He gentled his motions as he drew out his partner’s orgasm until the hard flesh softened under his tongue. Releasing it, he slid up and watched as his lover’s eyes slowly opened.
“When I figure out where my brain went, I’ll return the favor,” Qui promised.
Ben barked out a laugh and drew one of Qui’s hands to his damp boxers. “No need. Your squirming body did the job for you.”
“You’re young. I’m sure I could revive …” The rest of the sentence was swallowed by a giant yawn.
“You need to sleep. Remember, you went through a three-hour time zone change and this is only your second night here.” Ben rolled out of bed. “I need to get cleaned up. Do you want your boxers or should we go au naturale?”
“After our recent activities, wearing boxers seems redundant,” Qui said with a smirk
“Works for me. Be right back.”
True to his word, Ben returned minutes later and settled quickly into Qui’s arms. After a few more kisses, he rolled over and molded himself into the curve of his lover’s body. It was only a couple of minutes before soft snores sounded behind him. Not quite ready to sleep, he considered the past twenty-four hours. Even in his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined that Qui was the reason he’d been called to the Saber Bar. But he was and the time since then had been filled with so many amazing moments. Maybe it was too much to hope it would always be like this, but they’d made a great start.
~~~~~~~
The sensation of warm breath over his neck and large hands sweeping over his chest and stomach, brought Ben into the waking world. “What a wonderful way to wake up,” he said, as he rolled to face his lover. “Hello there.”
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Qui asked.
“Very well.” Ben looked around in confusion. “What time is it anyway?”
“A little after noon,” Qui replied.
Ben wrapped a hand behind Qui’s neck, pulled him closer and pressed their lips together. When the back and forth of the kiss finally ended, Ben rested his palm on the other man’s cheek. “How long have you been awake?”
“A couple of hours.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Ben grumbled.
“I was enjoying having you in my arms and feeling your unconscious responses to my kisses and touches,” Qui explained. “Well, that and contemplating my plans for when you woke up.”
“Care to share?”
Qui ran his fingertips from the hollow of Ben’s throat to the patch of hair that framed his groin. “Since I never got my turn at exploration last night, I plan on devoting all my attention to rectifying that omission this morning.”
A sexy smirk blossomed on Ben’s face as he rolled onto his back and tucked his hands behind his head. “I’m all yours.”
Drawing on the challenge inherent in the posture and words, Qui dove in for a kiss. He pressed his tongue inside and spent long minutes, licking, biting and exploring every centimeter of his lover’s mouth. When he finally released the kiss-reddened lips, he moved on to nose, eyelids, eyebrows and forehead before shifting down to ears and neck.
After drawing a passion mark onto the pale skin of Ben’s neck, Qui slipped down until his lips hovered above a peaked nipple. “I wonder how sensitive these are?” he whispered as he flicked the nub with his nail. The squirming beneath him told him all he needed to know. Continuing to rub one nipple, he covered the other with his mouth and blew.
Ben’s hands flew to Qui’s head, tangling in his hair and pressing him tighter. “Stop teasing,” he whined.
Qui pulled back and met his lover’s eyes. “Bite? Suck? Pinch?”
“Yes,” Ben growled.
Qui did as he was told, biting and sucking at the nipple in his mouth as he pinched the other. The sounds coming from Ben urged him on until hands attempted to push his head lower.
“For fuck sake,” Ben groaned as he pushed harder. “Don’t make me do it myself.
With a last suck, Qui slid down to his lover’s needy cock and licked the fluid from the tip. When another streak of swearing reached his ears, he gave in and slid his lips down the leaking penis. He licked and sucked at the engorged flesh as Ben moaned and thrust. Fingers tightened in his hair seconds before his mouth was filled with the taste of his lover’s pleasure.
Qui held on as Ben’s orgasm washed over him, pulling away when his lover went limp under him. He moved back up, leaning on one elbow as he looked into the pleasure slackened face. When the green eyes opened, he leaned down for a kiss. Tongue slipping inside, he shared Ben’s taste with him as the younger man recovered.
When the kiss ended, Ben pushed Qui onto his back and glared at him. “I’d never have guessed you had a mean streak.”
Qui’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t enjoy my meticulousness. Patience and diligence are an inherent part of the art of fellatio.”
Ben couldn’t help but laugh at the haughty statement. “Only you could put together a sentence like that after sucking my brains out through my cock.” He stopped any retort with his lips and spent the next few minutes kissing his lover as he used his hand to bring Qui to completion.
When Qui’s breathing returned to normal, Ben laid his head down on the broad chest and kissed the skin under his lips. “I think I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered. “Please don’t break my heart.”
Hearing the words that hadn’t really been meant for his ears, Qui wrapped his arms around the younger man and pressed a kiss to the red-gold hair. “No chance of that. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you smile. I just was afraid to admit it.”
They remained snuggled in each other’s arms for a while longer before getting up to begin their day. They made and shared breakfast before heading out to the yard. Qui laid a beach towel on the grass and got down on it. He spent the next thirty minutes doing pushups, sit-ups, planks and leg lifts. Ben stood admiring the view for a couple minutes before laying out his towel and joining in. They jogged in place for twenty minutes before jumping into the pool and swimming laps for ten.
They floated around the pool for a while as a cool down then got out and dried off. Ben made a quick trip into the kitchen, returned with a bowl of cut fruit, a pitcher of ice water, a cribbage board and a deck of card in his hands.
“Do you know how to play cribbage?” Ben asked, as he placed all the items on the umbrella covered table.
“Oh yes. I’ve spent many a protection detail or surveillance op playing hand upon hand of cribbage or gin rummy in a dingy hallway or car,” Qui replied.
“Well at least the setting here is more pleasant,” Ben teased as he dropped into one of the chairs at the round table.
“As is the company,” Qui replied, leaning in for a kiss before sitting in the chair across from Ben.
They played cards until the time on the clock by the cooking area caught Ben’s attention. “Time to shower and get ready for tonight.”
“Together?” Qui asked, his tone hopeful.
“Sadly, we don’t have enough time for that.” Ben picked up the items on the table and turned towards the door. “Dress code is suit and tie. I’ll grab my things and use the bathroom in the other bedroom.”
“What if I didn’t bring one?”
“There is no way you would have come out here for two months without packing at least a couple of suits,” Ben chided. “You're too old school for that.”
An affronted look blossomed on Qui’s face. “Are you calling me old?”
Ben laughed at his lover’s expression. “After having to push myself to keep up with you the past few days. No way. I’m just certain that a man of your upbringing never goes anywhere without planning for any and all possibilities.”
“Another point for that psychology degree,” Qui quipped. Grabbing the towels, he enjoyed watching Ben walk away before heading into the house himself.
~~~~~~~~~
Thirty minutes later, Qui walked out of his room to the sight of Ben looking like he’d just walked off the pages of GQ. The light gray Armani suit clung to his body in all the right places. The black dress shirt and variegated purple tie were the perfect contrast to the pale gray. The black brought out the gray-green of his eyes and the ginger in his hair. “You look incredible,” he declared, when he finally stopped staring.
Ben took a few steps forward as he drank in the vision of his lover. The medium blue Canali suit, the blue and white pinstripe shirt and the navy blue tie highlighted the blue of Qui’s eyes and the strands of white sprinkled through his hair. He appeared even taller in the monochrome look and the cut of the jacket accented his broad shoulders and narrower waist. “You look absolutely edible,” Ben teased. He crossed the space between them and placed his hands on his lover’s shoulders. “Maybe I should cancel our reservation and just have you for dinner.”
Qui leaned in and kissed his lover. “Not on your life. I’ve been trying to parse out your secret plans all day.” He wrapped his arms loosely around Ben’s back and winked. “Plus, I’ll be the envy of everyone, walking hand and hand with you.”
Ben’s eyes sparkled with mirth at Qui’s words. “I think that’s my line.” He slid one hand behind Qui’s neck and kissed him. “More than that will need to wait until later.” He pulled out his phone when he felt it vibrate. “I called an uber so you don’t have to worry about driving back. It’s outside.”
Locking the door behind him, Qui followed Ben to the car. As they left the residential area and got closer to the strip, the scenery changed dramatically. Being a passenger allowed him to take it all in, the glitz, the glamour, the diversity. He was amazed at the assortment of people walking on both the side streets and the main thoroughfare. Women dressed in form-fitting tops or extravagant dresses and men in tank tops or expensive suits comingled on the sidewalks. Couples, families, and small groups of people of all ages took in the scenery as they traveled along sidewalks too crowded to allow for a slow pace.
The uber driver took a left turn off Las Vegas Boulevard into the driveway leading up to the Mirage. Completing his payment on the app, Ben thanked the driver as they disembarked. Ben directed them through the front entrance of the Mirage, past the atrium and to the entrance of the restaurant.
“Tom Colicchio's Heritage Steak House,” Qui stated. “Even the elite chefs in New York rave about this place. How did you manage a reservation here on such short notice?”
“I have friends in low places,” Ben whispered, before approaching the host. “Good evening. Reservation for Kennerly.”
The host looked to his tablet with the table listing and smiled. “This way please, gentlemen.” He led them to a two-person table, set against the edge of the flora from the atrium. He handed them each an elegantly scripted menu before asking. “Would you like a wine list?”
“No, thank you,” Ben replied.
“Your server will be with you momentarily,” the host said before stepping away.
Almost immediately the server appeared holding a crystal water pitcher. Turning the water glasses over, he filled them as he looked Qui up and down before smiling at Ben. “Good to see you, Ben. And is this towering sequoia of sex who I think it is?”
“Quincy, I like you to meet my friend, Quintrell Jinnsen. Qui, this ill-mannered arse is Quincy Vosen.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Jinnsen,” Quincy greeted. He turned back to Ben and smirked. “Please tell me he’s built proportionally.”
“You’ll never know,” Ben returned.
“Oh well. What can I get you gentlemen from the bar,” Quincy asked.
“I’ll have Jamison’s Reserve over ice,” Qui said.
“I’ll have Glengoyne’s neat. Make them both doubles,” Ben said.
When the server disappeared, Qui turned to his lover. “I take it you two have known each other for some time.”
“We met when I first moved out here. We lived in the same rooming house,” Ben explained. “I did tell you I had friends in low places.”
Qui decided to change the subject. “You’ve dined here before so what do you recommend?”
“Only on leftovers from Quincy’s fridge,” Ben admitted. “The French onion soup is amazing. The foodies rave about the charred octopus and the roasted beet salad as well as any and all steaks, since this is an elite steakhouse.”
When Quincy returned with their drinks, he took their orders and they settled in to wait.
Ben lifted his glass towards Qui and smiled. “To many more nights like this in our future.”
“Definitely,” Qui replied, clinking his glass against his lover’s. After taking a long sip, he placed it back on the table. “I don’t want to pry but I’ve been wondering about something?”
“You can ask me anything. What is it?”
“You finished your Master’s degree months ago but you’re still working at the Starbird. Is there a reason you haven’t pursued a job in your field?” Qui asked.
“A reasonable question. At first, I stayed for the money. I still had some student loans to pay off and I was making more money at the casino than I would as a counselor. I’d just finished paying off the last of it when I met you.” Ben took another sip from his glass before continuing. “After you went back to New York, I started to search but none of the jobs I looked into felt right. After our texts and video calls became more frequent, my heart just wasn’t in it. All I could think about was you, us. My focus turned from searching for a career position to searching for a way we could have a future together.”
“I must admit, I was doing the same,” Qui admitted. “Every minute I wasn’t working or sleeping, all I thought about was finding a way to be with you. My boss was shocked when I asked to take two months of my accrued leave time. I even let him think it was because I needed to recover from the stress of everything when that was only a small part of it.”
“Seeing that news broadcast about the carnage during the raid brought home to me how dangerous your job really is,” Ben admitted. “The idea that things could change in an instant, terrifies me. I know I’ll have to find a way to deal with it but I have no clue how I’m supposed to do that.”
“It scared me too,” Qui declared. “The possibility of being injured or worse, never factored into my decisions before. But that night as I watched the paramedics tend to Grant, all I could think about was never getting the chance to find out what we could have.” Qui reached a hand across the table, took hold of one of Ben’s.
Their discussion halted when Quincy delivered their appetizers. He must have sensed that he’d interrupted something important as he said. “Push the plates to the side when you’re ready for me to put in your steaks.”
“Thanks, Quincy,” Ben replied with a nod. He speared a piece of octopus from one of the plates set between them and Qui did the same with a chunk of roasted beet.
After a few bites of each, Qui changed to a less volatile topic. “Is there a specific area of counseling you want to delve into?”
“I switched to psychology for my master’s because I wanted to be able to help LGBTQ youth,” Ben explained. “I was lucky. My parents and the rest of my family were always very accepting of my choices, but I’ve met so many people who weren’t so fortunate.”
“You’d be great working with young people,” Qui agreed. “You’re insightful and excel at reading people and knowing how to get through to them.”
“Thank you. Your opinion means a lot to me.” Ben placed the empty appetizer plates at the edge of the table. “I fear we don’t have time to delve into this topic fully at this point since I have additional plans for us after dinner. Would you mind if we shelve this discussion until a later time?”
“No problem, whenever you’re ready,” Qui agreed. “Maybe you’ll reward my patience with a hint of those additional plans?”
“And ruin the surprise. No way,” Ben chided, given his lover a questioning look. When their dinners were placed in front of them, they tucked in, sparse conversation about their food interspersed between bites.
When they’d finished and Ben had settled the check, he led Qui from the restaurant. Ben took them on a meandering path through the casino until they were standing in front of the Beatles Shop. “Would you like to look around?” Ben asked.
“Please,” Qui replied, heading through the door. He walked through the small shop, looking over each and every display. After making his choices, he paid for the items and turned to his lover. “Where to now?” he asked, taking a few steps back towards the casino area.
Grasping Qui’s arm, Ben directed him back into the hallway they’d just exited. “Unless you want to miss the beginning of the show, we should head into the theater and find our seats.”
“Seeing ‘Love’ is your plan for the rest of our evening?” Qui asked, glancing at the overhead sign.
“It is, unless you have some objection?” Ben replied.
“Are you kidding? I’m thrilled,” Qui declared, pulling his lover closer and wrapping one arm around his shoulders.
After a quick stop at the bar and to purchase a program, they made their way to their seats. As he settled into his front row seat in section 102, Qui turned to Ben. “Great seats. Is this another result of your friends in low places?”
“A gentleman never tells,” Ben quipped. Twining their fingers together, they sat back and waited for the show to begin.
~~~~~~~~
Between the later show, another stretch at the tables and a stop for dessert, it was almost 2am by the time they made it back to the house. As soon as the door closed behind them, Ben pressed his lover up against it and kissed him.
When the passionate kiss finally broke, he shifted back and sighed. “I’ve been dying to do that all night.”
Qui tugged Ben forward by his tie and initiated his own probing kiss. When he released him, he agreed. “So have I. Shall we take this into the bedroom?”
“Race you,” Ben called back as he ran to the bedroom. By the time Qui entered, Ben’s jacket and tie were tossed over the back of a chair, his shirt was unbuttoned and he was unzipping his slacks.
Qui was mesmerized when Ben’s pert ass appeared as his slacks and boxers dropped to his ankles and he bent to untie his shoes. Toeing them off, he pulled off his socks, tossed the clothing in the direction of the chair and flopped back onto the bed.
“Why are you still dressed?” Ben asked as he posed shamelessly.
“I was too busy watching you,” Qui admitted.
“Well, you’d better get moving if you want some of this,” Ben teased, arms held out wide.
Holding Ben's gaze, Qui did as he was told, though much more sedately. He placed his coat and tie carefully with Ben’s, unbuttoned his shirt and sat down to remove his shoes and socks. His slacks and boxers came next, until he stood wearing only his open shirt.
“Leave it on,” Ben ordered as Qui reached up to pull it off. “You look damn sexy standing there like that.”
Drawn by the hunger shining in his lover’s eyes, Qui made his way to the bed. He straddled Ben’s outspread body, knees resting against his lover’s hips and tails of his shirt skimming over his chest. “You look pretty sexy yourself,” he said before leaning forward and pressing his lips to Ben’s.
The repartee faded as need took over. Lips and hands burned paths over sweaty skin and the quickly rising penises slid together. Breathing quickened and moans filled the air as the passion they’d been holding in check finally erupted.
Suddenly Ben pushed Qui back and twisted to reach over to the nightstand. Grasping the small bottle sitting there, he pressed it into Qui’s hand. “Please, I need you inside me,” he begged. He squirmed under his lover’s weight, pushing Qui’s free hand down between his legs.
Qui popped open the top of the lube bottle and poured some over his fingers. Gaze still locked with Ben’s, he slid a finger into Ben’s body. He quickly spread the slick substance inside the warm channel before pressing a second slick finger in beside the first. When he removed his fingers to apply more lube, Ben grabbed his wrist.
“Enough. I’m ready,” Ben growled as he shoved Qui’s hand to the leaking cock he wanted inside him.
After spreading a generous amount of lube over his cock, Qui shifted so he knelt inside Ben’s spread thighs. He shoved a pillow under Ben’s ass, rested his lover’s legs against his chest and positioned his cock against Ben’s anus. Gaze locked with his lover, Qui pressed slowly forward, sinking inch by inch into the tight heat of Ben’s body.
“Fuck, yes,” Ben sighed when Qui’s cock was fully seated inside him. When his lover remained motionless, he wiggled his ass. “Move,” he ordered.
The look of blatant need that shone in Ben’s eyes, broke Qui’s paralysis. Shifting his hands to Ben’s hips, he did as ordered. He tried to keep his pace slow, to draw out this first coitus, but the body beneath him thwarted those plans. The wiggling ass, the tight heat surrounding him, the breathy moans and whispered fucks and yeses made it impossible. He tightened his hold, drawing Ben’s hips back as he pushed in, over and over.
The pace quickly took its toll as they strove for completion. “Ahhhhhhhhh,” Ben cried out as semen spurted from his untouched cock. Qui quickly followed, the tightening sheath of Ben’s body milking him dry.
Collapsing sideways on the bed, Qui struggled to regain his breath as he slipped from Ben’s body. He smiled at his lover’s blissful expression, entranced by the fluttering of Ben’s eyelids. “Are you with me?” he asked when the green orbs finally opened completely.
“Not sure,” Ben groaned as he ran his fingers through the semen coating his stomach. He brought his hand to Qui’s chest and rubbed the creamy fluid into his lover’s skin. He laughed at the confused look on Qui’s face. “Just marking my territory until I can recover enough to do it properly,” he quipped before kissing the spot his fingers had just coated.
“Something to look forward to,” Qui replied, wrapping Ben tightly in his arms. His kissed his lover gently before tucking Ben’s head under his chin. “Thank you for an amazing night. It was perfect, in every way.”
“It was fun, wasn’t it,” Ben agreed. “Though if I had to pick my favorite part, there’d be no contest,” he added, pressing his spent cock against his lover’s hip.
“You’re incorrigible,” Qui retorted, a wide yawn distorting the words.
“And you love it,” Ben rejoined around of yawn of his own. Words faded as exhaustion won over, sleep enfolding them as completely as Qui’s arms held Ben.
~~~~~~~~~~
Reality returned with the early afternoon sun, as they shifted into Ben’s work week mode. They exercised, swam some laps and shared a hearty breakfast at a time that, for most, would have been an early dinner. As Qui cleaned up from their meal, Ben showered and dressed.
When he was ready to leave, Ben asked, “What are your plans for the night?”
“I think I’ll just hang out here, read, glance through my work emails, and maybe watch some baseball,” Qui said. “I think the Sox are on a west coast stint.”
“Sounds boring,” Ben countered as he sidled up for a passionate kiss. “Try not to miss me too much,” he quipped, when he’d broken the kiss.
Qui leaned in for a kiss of his own, one hand sliding between them and stroking Ben’s cock through his slacks. “If I get too bored, I can always pull out my toybox.”
“You can be a right bastard, Quintrell Jinnsen,” Ben grumbled. “Now that’s all I’ll be able to think about.”
“When you play with fire, you risk getting burned,” Qui chided.
“Without risk, there can be no reward, as me mum always says,” Ben retorted. “On a more practical note, I left a list of places that are good for take out on the kitchen counter if you are feeling lazy.”
“Thanks, but I’ll probably just throw something together here,” Qui replied. He kissed Ben softly. “I’ll see you when you get back. Have a good night.”
After another kiss, Ben opened the door. “I’ll bring home some cream buns from Saber’s.”
“Sounds good.” Qui stood in the doorway long after Ben disappeared from view. He’d known Ben would have to work while he was here, but after the pleasure of being together every minute for the past two days, he found it harder than he expected.
~~~~~~~~~~
That set the pattern for the majority of his visit. Qui puttered, wandered and hung out on the days that Ben worked, filling the hours with a multitude of mundane things. Ben would send texts during the course of the evening, sometimes with pictures or racy comments. He did the same, sending quick bits about things he’d seen or done.
They lived for Mondays and Tuesdays, making the most of every minute of Ben’s off days. Qui would meet Ben at the Saber Bar at 2am on Monday morning, beginning their personal time at the place they’d first spoken casually. They’d share drinks and dessert, while they talked. Afterwards, they’d head back to the house, teeming with anticipation for the bouts of lovemaking they both craved.
They went on a number of sightseeing trips and partook in a variety of activities. They visited the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and even took a kayaking trip down the Colorado River to Emerald Cove. All of these things were fun and interesting but the most important part was doing them together. They learned so much about each other as they shared these experiences; the spark that had ignited with a look over a blackjack table had blossomed into the bight flame of love.
~~~~~~~~~
Qui had been in Las Vegas for almost six weeks when he finally found the courage to ask the question that had been lurking in his brain since he’d arrived. As they sat together on the two-person swing, he took Ben’s hand in his. “These past six weeks have been what I’d imagine being in paradise would be like. You have embedded yourself deep in my soul, Ben Kennerly, and I’ve thanked every deity in existence that fate brought me to that seat at your blackjack table that day. But we must return to the real world at some point, so tell me, where do we go from here?”
Ben squeezed the hand wrapped around his and looked intently at his lover. “I honestly don’t know where we go or how we get there, but I know one thing. I want us to do it together. I love you Quintrell Jinnsen, with all that I am and living my life without you in it is something I refuse to contemplate.”
Qui’s heart swelled with Ben’s words and he leaned in to his lover. When their lips parted, he brought up the conversation they’d begun over dinner at Tom Colicchio's. “Weeks ago, you told me why you’d pursued a degree in psychology and what you wanted to do with that degree. Have you considered your options any further?”
“I’ve done a bit more research,” Ben said. “The need for professionals in the field of mental health is great so I don’t expect to have difficulty finding a position. I just have to find the right fit.”
“Do you want to remain here in Las Vegas?” Qui asked hesitantly.
“Not necessarily,” Ben replied. “The location matters way less than the ethics of the agency and the resources they provide.”
“Would you consider the east coast?” Qui asked.
“New York City?”
“I was thinking of Virginia or DC as possibilities.” At Ben’s questioning look, Qui continued. “I want to be with you more than I’ve ever wanted anything but I fear that the danger inherent with my career would cause you great stress.” When he saw Ben look to interrupt, he hurried on. “For years, the director has been trying to get me to take a position at the FBI academy in Quantico but I’ve been adamant that I wanted to remain in the field. I’m now rethinking that stance.”
“But you love being in the thick of things and you love New York. You’ve told me how important your work is and what it means to you,” Ben insisted. “I can’t ask you to give that up.”
“You’re not asking,” Qui asserted. “I’ve been injured myself or seen others injured or killed in the field a number of times and none of them ever scared me as much as the night of the Amedda raid. Going out each day knowing that if the worst happened, I would be leaving you alone to deal with that anguish would slowly destroy me. Plus, I would only have a little over a year left as an agent as the mandatory retirement age for agents is fifty-seven. If I took the job at Quantico, it would push my retirement age to sixty.”
“As long as you’re sure this is what you want, for yourself, for us, not just for me,” Ben said. “Even if it’s only for a year, I don’t want you to end up resenting me if you decide, down the road, that you regret your decision.”
“I could never resent you. I’ve thought long and hard about this, among other things,” Qui admitted. “Many of my nights while you were working were spent thinking about the future. Which brings me to another, less than pleasant topic. My age. I’m twenty years older than you, Ben. I know I’m being a hopeless romantic, but I want us to spend the rest of my life together. At some point, I will leave you, or worse still, I could get sick and you’d be forced to take care of me.”
“I’m not a twenty something that lives their life with rose colored glasses. I’m a highly intelligent, thirty-five-year-old, who is aware of life’s possibilities,” Ben insisted. “No one knows where life will lead them. One of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Would I grieve if something happened to you? Yes, I would. Just as I’m sure you would if something happened to me. Grief is the price you pay for love, and I for one, would never sacrifice the love we share for some vague possibility that may never happen.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you don’t know your own mind,” Qui said. “I just love you so much and want you to have a happy and fulfilling life.”
“To have that happy and fulfilling life, I need you to be a part of it,” Ben insisted. “Guess I’ll need to do some research on mental health facilities in northern Virginia. Have you spoken to anyone at the agency about wanting to transfer?”
“I put a few feelers out and there is interest but I need to speak to the assistant director in person to take it further and I need to go back to New York to do that,” Qui said grudgingly.
Looking over at his lover, Ben could see the reluctance he was feeling at that idea echoed in Qui. “What would you think about me going back to New York with you?”
“For a few days?”
“No, permanently. I’m making a big assumption here since I haven’t actually been invited but my thought was I could give my notice and move to New York with you until we’ve worked the rest out,” Ben said hesitantly.
“Are you serious?” Qui yelled. “Then consider yourself invited, intreated, beseeched, begged, and any other verb you can think of. E mo theach do theach,” he added with a smile
“Then it’s settled,” Ben said with a chuckle. “I’ll go into work early tonight and speak to HR. They won’t be surprised. I’m sure they’ve been expecting me to quit since I finished my degree. We can go back to the apartment on my next day off, pack up my clothes and personal belongings and get them ready to ship. I know a couple of people at work who are looking for apartments who might be interested in taking over my lease. If not, I’ll donate the furnishings and pay the final two months’ rent on my lease but that’s no big deal.”
“As easy as that?” Qui asked, his voice holding a hint of disbelief. “Since our first week here, I’ve thought about suggesting you move to New York with me but thought it would be asking too much for you to completely uproot your life.”
“I’ve been thinking about it since you left to go back to New York but I figured I’d need to find a job before I could even consider the attempt,” Ben said. “But if you’re seriously considering relocating to Virginia, I could use the free time to look for a position there and maybe we could take a trip there to check it out and start looking for an apartment that we could choose together.”
“What would you think of looking for a house, a place like this where we could have a landscaped yard and maybe even a pool?” Qui suggested. “I bought my apartment in New York over twenty-five years ago, and with the real estate market the way it is, it would sell for much more than I paid for it.”
“As much as I would love that, it might be out of reach for me financially,” Ben admitted. “I’m sure I could swing half the rent on an apartment, not sure if I could swing half a mortgage payment, especially since being a mental health counselor is not a very financially lucrative career.”
“Ben, let me clarify. I love you and I want us to share our lives as any couple in a permanent relationship would,” Qui said. “Contributions don’t need to be equal. We can pool our resources to cover our expenses and do the things that bring us joy. Not my money and your money, but our money. I know we haven’t known each other that long but I truly believe we’re meant to be together, always.”
Ben’s eyes widened in shock as he processed his lover’s words. “Are you saying that you want to marry me?”
“I’m getting ahead of myself, but yes, I do.” Qui confirmed. “Not the most romantic way I could have asked but sincere just the same. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Ben Kennerly.”
A wash of emotions flashed over Ben’s face as he stared at his lover. Although he’d been attracted to and highly intrigued by Qui since their initial interaction, they’d only been lovers for six short weeks. He was all for being spontaneous with small things but this was massive. After careful thought, he replied. “I’ve been happier than I can ever remember being since I met you and I believe the love we feel for each other is strong. But a month and a half spent together in an idyllic vacation setting is not real life. I think we need to figure out where our lives are going and how we handle reality before we even consider anything more.”
Qui fought to suppress his disappointment when Ben did not immediately say yes. “I understand. While you’ve been at work, I’ve spent much time contemplating the future.” He cupped Ben’s face in his hands. “Sharing experiences with you has brought so much joy into my life, not to mention this sexual reawakening you’ve inspired.”
Ben swallowed the last word in a passionate kiss, his lips and tongue exploring until they were both breathless. “I love being with you and I do want to see if we can build a life together. My fear is that you’ll eventually start to resent it if we settle into a situation where you have to take a greater responsibility for every day expenses.”
“That won’t happen,” Qui insisted. “I’ve been with the FBI since I was twenty-four and pretty much lived my job. I’ve traveled some and taken vacations, but after the first ten years, I’ve always earned more than I spent. I made some good investments, socked away a substantial amount in my retirement account and other savings. Let’s just say I have more than enough money accumulated to cover the rest of my life and then some.”
Ben’s serious expression shifted to impish. “Just as long as your friends don’t expect you to share when they think I’m just your current boy toy,” he quipped before he burst out laughing.
Qui’s laughter joined Ben’s as the tension broke. “Guess my hellion description all those weeks ago was right on the money.”
“You’ll just have to keep me around to find out.”
“Oh, I intend to,” Qui chuckled, pulling him up from the swing. He slapped Ben’s ass as they made their way into the house. “Better get a move on if you want time to go to HR before your shift.”
Ben sighed as he glanced at the clock. “And here I was hoping you were planning on taking your boy toy for a test run.”
Qui watched as his lover sprinted off to avoid the hand again aimed for his ass. Although his impromptu proposal had not elicited the reply he’d wanted, Ben had agreed to move to New York with him. He was a patient man. He could wait for the rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next two weeks were a plethora of activity. Fitting in everything they needed to do between Ben’s shifts left them little time for much else. One of Ben’s coworkers took over his apartment as is, so all they needed to do was pack Ben’s clothing and personal items and get them shipped. Qui contacted his building manager to let him know that the boxes could arrive before his return and arranged to have them placed in his unit.
The Monday night after Ben’s last shift at the Starbird, a large group of Ben’s friends gathered with them for a farewell party at the rental house. The party went well into the early hours so Qui was thankful that he’d booked their flights for mid-afternoon. Qui-Gon had retained the cleaning company the owner used to do the weekly cleaning, so he’d arranged for them to come for a final clean up after they left. They done most of their packing the day before so they were able to enjoy a leisurely bout of lovemaking before showering and getting dressed.
They loaded the car a little before eleven and headed to McCarren airport. After returning the car, they took the shuttle to the terminal. Once they’d gone through security, they headed to the Centurion Lounge. They had a light lunch and relaxed in the luxurious space until it was time to board their flight. They both blew out sighs of relief as they settled into their seats in the last row of first class.
Qui motioned Ben into the window seat, sensing that his lover was feeling both excited and apprehensive about his departure. He ordered drinks for them both when the flight attendant approached.
Ben reached for Qui’s hand as his gaze shifted between the other passengers boarding and the view outside the window. He’d been living in Las Vegas for over twelve years and before that fateful night months ago, he’d expected to live here for many more. But a chance encounter with the man sitting beside him was setting him on a path to a new life.
Ben’s eyes were glued to the window as the airplane taxied down the runway and slowly rose into the air. He watched as the skyline of Las Vegas got smaller and smaller until it was obliterated by the fluffy white clouds the plane passed through. He pulled his gaze from the window and looked into the warm, blue eyes of his lover. Fate had brought Quintrell Jinnsen into his life with a hand of cards and ignited a spark between them that was continuing to build and grow. He didn’t know where this new path would take them but he was certain of one thing. The hand of fate that had connected them, had placed them on that path together. And that was all he needed to know.