Free Justice by Bailey Bradford

“Isn’t there a saying about crazy people not thinking they’re crazy?”
    Paul’s smile was slight but beautiful to see. “So I’m not insane because I think I am? Somehow that makes less sense to me.”
    Justice found the fluttery spot on Paul’s neck where his pulse was racing. “I’m a cop in Phoenix. I’ve seen crazy, and believe me, you’re not it.”
    “A cop?” Paul’s eyes looked positively huge. “You’re a cop?”
    “Only recently,” Justice told him. “I was in the Marines for a decade, then I applied to the Phoenix PD. I’d managed to get a degree online over the years, which helped. That, and being a vet.” He chuckled. “Man, I thought Grandma was going to fly out to Phoenix and rip everyone at the training academy a new one because I was going to miss the annual family reunion.”
    “Marybeth is something,” Paul said. “What’s happening? Between us?” Paul clarified. His face turned an even brighter shade of red. “I mean, something is, right? I can’t understand why you’re touching me, or talking to me—”
    “Your self-esteem needs some lifting, because you should know you’re one gorgeous fucker, Paul.” Justice traced Paul’s lips with his thumb. “Your eyes—damn, you could ask me for anything, to do anything, and I’d do it just because you looked at me like you’re doing now.”
    “I don’t understand this,” Paul muttered, lowering his lids but still watching him. “I haven’t been able to let another man touch me since I was freed, and yet I want to snuggle right in.” His sharp bark of laughter showed his surprise at either his admission or the urge itself. “Oh damn, I can’t believe I just said that.”
    Which answered Justice’s question. “Paul.” Justice eased him closer but didn’t embrace him. He wanted to shout for joy when Paul tentatively put a hand on his hip. Justice took a deep breath, inhaling Paul’s soap and citrus scent. The man smelt delectable. “We’re mates,” Justice said as he exhaled, keeping the words as soft as his heart when it came to Paul. Already Justice knew he’d give the man anything. That in itself was proof to him of what they were to each other.
    Paul jerked his head back and those eyes went wide again. Instead of red, though, he went pale as a ghost. “M-mates? No, we can’t be.”
    That didn’t sound good at all. Justice didn’t stop Paul from moving away from him this time. Paul was shaking his head, staring with those wide eyes, hope still in them though Paul seemed to be trying to deny it.
    “I’m too messed up. Look at today. I just wanted to get off—”
    “And you touched me, like you haven’t anyone else,” Justice continued when Paul stopped to take a breath. “You let me touch you, too, up until you scooted away. Is it so horrible, the idea of us being mates?”
    Paul backed up another step and stared at him. Justice was about to give up on him answering when Paul finally spoke again. “Not for me, no, but for you? Come on, Justice. How am I supposed to think you’d be happy about being stuck with me? Do you have any idea how many men have fucked me? What they’ve done to my body, my head?”
    The anger in Paul’s voice matched the anger flaring inside Justice, but he kept it buried. It wouldn’t help Paul right then. “I wish they hadn’t hurt you, Paul, but they did, and I can’t change that. All I can do is tell you it doesn’t—it won’t—stop the way I’ll feel about you. It won’t stop you from wanting me, either. The mate-bond is very strong. I’d always heard it was so, but feeling it…” He pressed a hand to his belly, where need was uncoiling and spreading to his groin.
    Paul nodded, glancing down at his hand, then lower still to where Justice’s dick pressed against the inseam of his jeans. “Right, but you’re getting the short end of the stick in the deal. There’s… I can’t even—fuck. I can’t talk about this!”
    It was a dismissal, Justice