Clay Richardson is a well-known artist who owns his own gallery. Quint Hawk, a police detective, makes contact with Clay when he sees a portrait Clay has painted in the window of the gallery -- a portrait of a homeless young man who was murdered just days before. Unfortunately, Clay has no idea who the subject was. Several months later, Quint contacts Clay to again ask about one of Clay's paintings. The subject has been murdered, as has a third man in another of his paintings. The reclusive artist and the handsome detective are drawn to each other as they try to determine what is happening and why. They come up with a plan to catch the killer -- a plan that could end up in their deaths before they can decide if there is more to their feelings than a couple of very good nights in Clay's bed.

The Element Case

“It doesn’t have to be,” Quint said long moments later when they’d broken apart.


It took Clay a puzzled second to understand Quint was answering his question. Then he smiled, getting to his feet. “The bedroom is…”


“I know where it is. So why are we standing here?”


“You’re not—standing, that is. And I’m not carrying you in there.”


“Your lack of romantic gestures—”


“Has to do with the fact that you’re a hell of a lot bigger than me.” Clay took Quint’s hands, pulled him to his feet, then wrapped his arms around him to kiss him again as he walked him backward out of the kitchen.


“Keep this up and we won’t makeit to the bedroom,” Quint pointed out breathlessly when they reached the living room.


“The bed’s undoubtedly softer and more comfortable.”


“Only one way to find out,” Clay replied as he began unbuttoning Quint’s shirt.


By the time they’d made it to the bed, they were naked, their clothes littering their path


Chapter 15