The Wages of Cin (Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries Book 4) by Alexie Aaron Page B

glass in the cupboard and made myself one hell of a large drink of courage, Jack and Coke.  Once the drink was made, I wandered out of the kitchen, turning on a few lights and illuminating the small, comfy living room.  The furnishings were male.  Comfort was the main attraction.  There were a few pictures scattered around on end tables.  I picked up a few frames and studied the family shots.  I saw a younger, stouter version of Sidney standing with an arm around Vicki and another older woman, I suspected was his mother.
    “That was taken before my mother died,” he said from behind me.
    “So early?” I asked.
    “Traffic accident.  Damn snow bird ran over her Mazda with a two ton RV.”
    “I’m sorry, Sidney.”
    “I think the only consolation prize for possibly dying from this cancer is that I’ll see her sooner than expected.”
    I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept quiet and moved to the bookshelf.  Sidney turned on the stereo and put on a soft rock station. I saw a series of books that looked like yearbooks.  I took in the dates and almost jumped for joy.  Sidney Stoneridge graduated the same year I did.  I turned around and smiled.
    He was staring at me.  “What are you smiling about?”
    “It seems that we graduated the same year.”
    “And that made you smile, why?” he interrogated.
    “I suspected you were younger than me.”
    “Would that have bothered you?”
    “A bit.”
    “Why?”
    “Vanity and… vanity.”
    He laughed and walked over, picked up my drink and put it on the table.  Next he drew me in for a kiss.  “Come here, you vain vixen,” he said huskily.
    The kiss lasted through the first song and halfway through the next.  By the time we parted, my knees were weak.  The song playing was perfect for a slow dance, and he guided me around the room.  I fought the urge to lead.  When the song finished and while the DJs ran their commercials, Sidney left me and returned with a drink he fixed for himself and some snacks.  He sat next to me.  I took a long drink from my glass.
    “Do you mind if I take my shoes off?” I asked.  “They’re killing me.”
    “Let me,” he said.
    I lifted a foot, and he slid the sandal off and started to massage my instep.  That felt so good.  I think I moaned.  He looked over at me and grabbed the other foot.  After the footwear had been discarded, he massaged that foot and then began working his way up my legs.  I didn’t object when he eased my tights off my legs.
    He sat up and pulled me to him.  The music played on, but I no longer heard it, my heart was beating so hard.  I remember us leaving the living room and the softness of the bed.  But, driven by years of built up lust and the chemistry between us, all I cared about was returning the pleasure I was receiving.

Chapter Six
     
    In the morning light, underneath the shower spray, Sidney asked about the scars.  I told him there were long, painful stories attached to them, and I promised to tell him later.  I ran my hands over his body and laughed as he giggled.
    “I’m very ticklish,” he said as we toweled off.
    I was amazed how relaxed I was.  Here I was in, basically, a stranger’s bathroom, naked, trying to untangle my curls.  Sidney left and returned with a t-shirt and a pair of cut-off sweatpants and handed them to me.  I was amazed that I could pull on the shorts.  The tee was big on me.  I suspected these came from the pre-chemo drawer of clothes.  I was thankful I didn’t have to try to fit into the size Sidney was now.
    I walked out into the kitchen to the smell of bacon.
    “Bacon, I love bacon.”
    “Oh, that’s for me. You get yogurt.”  He watched my face fall and started to laugh.  “Oh, darlin’, I was just kidding.”
    “Very funny.  Bacon is no joking matter,” I said.  “Can I help?”
    “Toast needs buttering.” He nodded in the direction of the counter.
    I started humming “Redheaded Stepchild.”  He looked over