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Eric would indeed be sore tomorrow, but it was a soreness Eric relished and would probably beg for again before the night was over.
    “We’d better sit, or we’ll probably fall down,” was his answer to T.J.’s words, and he untangled himself enough to draw them both around the couch, wrapping his hand in T.J.’s as they circled the arm. They both paused when they saw the damp stains on the seat cushions and back of the couch, patches darker than the hunter green of the fabric, with streaks of white that hadn’t yet dissipated. Eric chuckled at the sight.
    “Good thing we don’t have a housekeeper, or that might be difficult to explain,” he said laughingly, pulling T.J. forward again. He didn’t hesitate over sitting on the mess, however, or leaning back to stretch his body out as he pulled T.J. down on top of him. A few moments of twisting and shifting had them positioned more comfortably, with Eric on his side facing the TV and T.J. nestled behind him. It was another moment or two before Eric had gotten the pillows adjusted appropriately, and then T.J.’s arm came to rest around his waist, soothing the abraded skin on his hips, and he pressed his back into his lover’s body. Fingers entwined over his stomach as the captain’s speech came to an end.
    “We greatly regret that errors in our own actions impeded the course of justice at this time, and it is with sincere gratitude that we offer our thanks to Judge Kenczik for correcting our errors before a miscarriage of justice was committed. Thank you.”
    Capt. Carroll turned his back to the cameras immediately after his final words, returning to the doors of the precinct without waiting for questions. Officer Marie Collier was taped opening the door as he made his exit, and her stiff and polished figure vanished through it a moment later. Video cut back to the news station then, and the anchor on duty began his summary of events, more or less repeating the words that Capt. Carroll had said that morning.
    Eric shifted as the anchor’s recital began. He had heard the words in person; he had heard them repeated, and had heard them analyzed and interpreted too many times today. It was what it was—a bullshit speech designed to obscure the real issue. And it was getting old. Talking it to death wouldn’t change the verdict, and while the rest of city spun in circles trying to understand it, Eric couldn’t afford the luxury of standing still. Bottom line: Victor was still out there. And Eric had to move now.
    He had begun the task—quietly—soon after the speech was finished, and the Captain had listened and agreed to let him act but had made no bones about how closely his actions would be watched. Quietly, but very closely. With the weekend in front of him, he had two days to work out the details and cement his plans, and then on Monday, he would begin in earnest. But only if T.J.’s agreement was real….
    A startled gasp escaped him as fingers pinched his nipple, and he realized suddenly that T.J.’s hand had escaped and made its way up to his chest. The fingers soothed the pinch immediately afterwards, and only when Eric felt himself relaxing under the touch did he realize that he must have stiffened as his thoughts turned back to his job. He glanced over his shoulder to find T.J. staring at him with one eyebrow raised as if to say that he knew where Eric had wandered off to. T.J. leaned forward only when he was sure he had Eric’s attention.
    “Relax,” T.J. breathed softly in his ear, punctuating it with a gentle nip of teeth. “Stressing over the details isn’t going to get them worked out any faster. Give yourself a break and some time to think it through.” Another touch of teeth with another teasing pinch. “Didn’t we go over this already?”
    “Yes, we did, thank you,” Eric laughed, not quite whole-heartedly, though he was still smiling as he twisted on the couch, bringing himself face to face with his lover. T.J.’s hand slid around