Free Racing the Moon by BA Tortuga Page A

to find our way back."
    "You'll keep me close to shore. You're that kind of guy."
    Oh. Oh, damn, Sonny was exploring, slipping down to cup him in one hand.
    "You sure you won't get us killed?" He couldn't remember if this was a let-it-all-hang-out place or a protect-your-nuts-at-all-costs place.
    "We're pretty private." He got a wet grin. "I made sure of it. Helps when your traveling companion is unconscious."
    Bastard. His hand shot out, goosing Sonny's ass good and hard.
    "Ooph." Sonny flailed, going under for a moment before popping back up like a bobbing cork. "Man, you're awfully brave, I could've grabbed something sensitive."
    "I am fearless, man. It's in the job description." Fearless, dexterous and possibly able to talk his way out of almost anything.
    Except being kidnapped by a meth lab loony.
    Sonny chuckled, moving back in, clinging like a barnacle. Talk about dexterous. "So how do you get a job like that?"
    "It's sort of a volunteer thing. I have clients who find me, let me know what they need, and I let them know if they need me." He had principles.
    "Yeah, but..." Sonny turned to float on his belly. "How do you gain those particular skills, Precious?"
    "How'd you learn to do what you do?" Asking questions was always easier than answering them.
    "Shit, I grew up doing it." Making lazy circles around him, Sonny went on, "My granddaddy was a ridgerunner. My uncles all ran illegal beer and cigarettes. It's in my blood."
    "Yeah? Illegal cigarettes like weed?" Illegal cigarettes... Bizarre.
    "You really have a skewed idea of what's legal, man. Anything that Uncle Sam doesn't get his taxes on is illegal, and highly sought after..." Splashing him, Sonny laughed and struck out, swimming strongly out into the bay.
    MJ chuckled. Legal, illegal -- he sort of avoided that whole issue, if possible. It was sort of... fluid for him.
    He didn't follow Sonny, really. He just started moving, letting his muscles stretch and work, making him feel good.
    It wouldn't pay to get sloppy. Though really, he could rest a little bit after being beaten and drugged and...yeah. Hell, Sonny still looked like he'd been through the mill, dark bruises standing out on his skin, easily visible in the clear water.
    He was still studiously avoiding looking at his own face and throat in the mirror. He'd caught a couple of glimpses before and, damn, he was not winning any beauty contests. It wasn't all vanity either, damn it. People remembered bruises and bloody noses.
    "You're gonna drift away with the tide if you keep thinking that hard, Precious. What's up?" God, that man swam like a fucking eel.
    "Hmm? I was just looking at your bruises and wondering how mine were doing. I'll have to be healed before I start thinking about taking another job."
    "You bruise so well." One dark eyebrow waggled. Asshole.
    He slapped some water across, eyes rolling. "Don't make me beat you. Again."
    "Oh, like you could." They'd had this discussion about a zillion times, hadn't they? Sonny just kept poking it, though, like a kid with a washed-up jellyfish. "You're something else, MJ, I tell you what."
    "So I've been told a few times." Man, what accident of karma threw him into Sonny's path?
    "I bet. You probably have this effect on most folks." Sonny flipped to his back again, skin shining. "Though I have to admit, I've never kidnapped anyone before."
    "No? You were so good at it; it felt very natural." His hand reached out, slid along Sonny's back almost of its own accord.
    "Thanks. I try. My daddy always said you should excel at whatever you do." Humming, Sonny pushed into his touch, all male animal. All happy male animal.
    He chuckled, thinking of his own father with his little wire-rim glasses and his closet full of BDUs. Yeah. The man was a fan of excelling.
    "I'm sure he's proud. You're rather focused." Psychotically focused.
    "You have no idea." He got the hottest damned look before Sonny swam back in toward shore, finally standing and wading out. That same look