A brilliant scientist out to save the world. A jaded agent looking to save the one he lost. And a conspiracy that spans oceans, reaching into the deepest parts of American national security. Lennon is a genius. He’s devoted his energy and his time to designing products to save lives. He’s gotten rich doing it, too. This time he’s created something to revolutionize war, crime, and policing -- a bullet that heals. He’s on top of the world and the one thing he needs is someone to share it with. The one he loved disappeared without a trace years ago, and until he gets closure he can’t commit. Ben is an agent with an agency so secretive for years people didn’t know it existed. He screwed up years ago and fell in love with the man he was supposed to be guarding. Now his lost love is in danger again. He’s developed a product bad actors all over the world will want to get their hands on. When Ben’s superiors order him back to Lennon’s side, he goes without hesitation. There’s only one catch -- Lennon can’t know he’s there. When one of those bad actors strikes, all the rules go out the window. Can Lennon overcome his mistrust once he knows the truth about Ben? When the enemy turns up the heat, will Ben manage to save Lennon from people who want him to kill?

Under His Skin

He hoisted himself out an hour later. His limbs burned with the effort of a solid workout and his mind was much calmer than it had been when he got into the pool. More residents had entered the small pool area as well, with a new swimmer sliding into his lane just as Lennon’s feet hit dry tiled land.


Ben handed Lennon his towel. Their hands brushed for the barest of seconds before Ben pulled away. Sadness tugged at Lennon, but he’d asked for that, hadn’t he? “Can we get out of here now? I’m not quite as used to the stink of chlorine as you are.”


Lennon rolled his eyes and followed Ben out of the room. They took the elevator back up to the sixth floor, even though Lennon usually took the stairs. Maybe Ben had some kind of warning about the stairs that Lennon didn’t. Maybe he just didn’t like stairs, or maybe Ben was just feeling stiff after the long night. Lennon didn’t know, and he didn’t want to open the floodgates by asking.


Chapter 21