The Poison Bottle by LM Somerton
Book 3 in the Treasure Trove Antiques series
General Release Date: 26th July 2022
Word Count: 58,408
Book Length: NOVEL
Pages: 231
Genres:
ACTION AND ADVENTURE,BONDAGE AND BDSM,EROTIC ROMANCE,GAY,GLBTQI,MYSTERY,THRILLERS AND SUSPENSE
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Book Description
There’s no antidote to the malignant craving for power and wealth.
Landry Carran should know better than to get involved in yet another murder mystery, but it was hardly his fault that someone dumped a dead body on the doorstep of Treasure Trove Antiques. He can’t resist recruiting his friends to help him play detective.
Meanwhile, Landry’s partner and Dom, Gage Roskam, is doing real detective work that proves hazardous to his health and brings with it the assistance of an annoying Englishman who Gage believes should be behind bars.
The case twists and turns across Seattle’s antique trade, and the bodies multiply. As clues are solved, it becomes apparent that those closest to Gage are in grave danger. He’ll need to control his errant sub, deal with the most irritating Brit ever born and solve the case if he wants to prevent more death.
Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence, abduction and murder.
That evening, Gage was late getting home. Landry kept a plate warm for him and waited up, curled into a corner of the couch. He’d showered, changed into his warmest jammies and a pair of fluffy socks then dragged the comforter from the bed into the living room so that he could burrow beneath it. Gage had texted that he’d be home around midnight but showed up ten minutes before that looking rumpled and drawn. Landry poked his nose out of his nest.
“That’s lucky.”
“What is?” Gage managed a soft smile even though he was obviously dead on his feet.
“You made it back before the Cinderella hour.”
“And the significance of that is?” Shucking his jacket, Gage kicked off his shoes before working his way beneath the comforter. He pulled Landry onto his lap. Nuzzling his hair, he took a deep breath. “You smell of…chocolate. I’m afraid to ask but why does your hair smell of chocolate?”
“Free shampoo sample from the mall and the Cinderella hour is when I turn from a gorgeous prince into a frog.”
“I think you’re mixing up your fairy tales.”
“Yes, but I’ve always thought that a glass shoe would be excruciatingly uncomfortable whereas you’ll have to kiss me after midnight to turn me back into a prince.”
“Sound logic. If I weren’t so tired, my anticipation level would be off the scale.”
“You want food? I saved you something.”
“I could eat. You might have to prod me to stop me face-planting in the plate though.”
“It’s mac and cheese, so that would be so icky.” Landry fetched Gage’s meal then kept a close eye on him while he ate. He did not want to be picking soggy noodles out of Gage’s hair.
“Thanks, love. That was great. I’m going to take a quick shower, then fall into bed.”
“You need me to make sure you don’t drown in there?” Landry asked as he headed to the kitchen to clean up the dishes.
“Thoughtful, but no. I think I can make it.” Gage’s wry tone made Landry smile.
With the kitchen clean and tidy, Landry hauled the comforter back to the bedroom. He bashed the pillows until they were nice and plump then stripped off his jammies. Gage liked to sleep naked, and Landry had no problem with skin-to-skin contact. Gage was always warm and never complained when Landry stuck his cold feet on him. Of course, he usually threatened a spanking but that didn’t deter Landry. He liked spankings—a lot. Tonight though, Landry wanted his Dom to be warm, cozy and to get a decent night’s sleep. A new case was always frantic to start with and Landry had gotten used to Gage’s unsociable hours over the time they’d been together.
Landry had just snuggled beneath the covers when Gage, a towel slung around his hips, strolled into the room. Landry willed the towel to fall. Firm pecs and strong thighs were drool-worthy, but the best bits were still covered.
“I toweled my hair but it’s still a bit damp,” Gage muttered.
“And very sexy. Love that tousled look. You want the hairdryer?”
“No, I’ll deal. It’s warm enough in here.” Gage dropped the towel then did a long, slow stretch.
Landry gaped. “How do you expect me to sleep when you do that right in front of me?”
“What?” Gage got into bed, grinning. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Flaunting that sexy bod. No fair.”
“Stop pouting. I saw you wishing that towel away.” Gage yawned. “Don’t think about denying it, I know you.”
“I didn’t say a word, how did you know?”
“The lustful expression on your very cute face. Come here.” He pulled Landry closer, turning him so that he became the little spoon. “Much better.”
Landry gave a happy sigh. He adored having Gage’s cock wedged against his ass. “Good night.” He didn’t get a response because Gage was already snoring.
* * * *
“Landry. Lan!”
Landry sat bolt upright with a yelp. He was soaked in sweat and a scream froze on his lips. “Gage?” His voice shook.
“Right here. You were having a bad dream.”
“Oh God, I’m sorry. What time is it?” Disorientation rode Landry hard.
“About three.” Gage wrapped his arm around Landry’s trembling shoulders.
“You’ve had less than three hours’ sleep. I’m so sorry. I kept seeing his face, Penton’s that is, and a bloody knife. Someone was plunging it into Penton’s body over and over again. He was jerking and his eyes… The terror.” Landry gave a strangled sob.
“I thought you were coping a little too well with what happened this morning. That clever mind of yours got busy as soon as you were asleep, didn’t it?”
“Apparently.” Landry sighed. “Mr. Lao and I were on the computer, researching Penton’s business on and off for part of the day. I guess he was foremost in my mind. I’m so sorry, Gage, you need your sleep.”
“So do you. You want some hot chocolate?”
“That sounds good. I’m gonna grab a shower real quick, I’m all sweaty and gross.”
After freshening up and drinking the mug of chocolate that Gage provided, Landry felt much better. “If I go back to sleep, is it just going to happen again?”
“I won’t let it,” Gage growled.
“I don’t think even your Dommy-ness stretches to controlling my dreams,” Landry murmured, but he let Gage arrange him so that he was on his side, one arm slung over Gage’s chest and a leg across his thighs. Gage rested a hand on the small of Landry’s back. “I have you. You’re safe with me, and I will take it as a personal affront if you have another nightmare.”
Landry giggled. “Yes, Sir. I promise to dream of fluffy clouds and rainbows, nothing else.”
“I should think so.” Gage’s hand drifted south to rest on Landry’s ass, and Landry drifted back to sleep with a broad smile fixed to his face.
Even though the rest of the night proved to be much more restful, Landry did not want to get up the following morning. Gage was just as reticent and stayed in bed much longer than he would usually, declaring that he’d be no use to the case if he went into work half-asleep. Landry made them both bowls of porridge laced with honey because he wanted Gage to have a decent meal that would keep him going until he remembered to eat again. He resolved to text him at lunchtime as an additional reminder.
On second thought, I’ll text Sancha. She’s much more sensible and she’ll force-feed him if she needs to.
They danced around each other getting ready, then Gage treated Landry to a lingering kiss before he left. As the door slammed, Landry brought his fingers to his tingling lips and smiled. He wondered how long it would be before they had time to engage in more strenuous morning activities again. “More research for me today. The sooner this case gets solved, the sooner I get sexy times with Gage and if that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is.” With a few bedroom scenarios in mind, he bounced down the stairs to find Petey waiting in the hall.
“I thought you might like me to raise the shutters this morning,” Petey said. “After yesterday… You know…”
Landry welled up. “That’s so sweet of you!”
Petey blushed and shrugged. “You’d do the same for me.” He grabbed the pole that he needed to lift the shutter then headed outside. Landry unlocked the door from the hall into the store then made his way to the cash desk to sort out the register. He cast a few nervous glances toward the front of the store until the shutter creaked upward. He took the lack of screaming as a good sign and strolled down the aisle to turn over the closed sign. Outside, Petey waved at him and gestured at the empty porch. Landry gave him a thumbs-up. One dead body that week was more than enough. He made some exaggerated hand gestures to signal Petey that he was in need of coffee, then realized that he could have just opened the door. He unlocked it then pulled it open.
“Why are you waving your arms around like a demented octopus?” Petey asked. “We’ve just opened so why in the world would you think that I wouldn’t realize that you’re in need of coffee? You’re always in need of coffee.”
“I had a disturbed night, okay? I’m all confuddled. I do want coffee but nothing to eat, thanks. I made porridge for breakfast and I’m really full.”
“There has to be a joke in there somewhere about Goldilocks and the one bear.”
“Gage isn’t a bear. I mean, he has a hairy chest and lots of muscles but… Oh my God, he is a bear. A baby bear. That sounds kind of cute.”
“More like a full-on raging grizzly,” Petey quipped. “But you as Goldilocks, that I can see.”
“I don’t like the direction this conversation is taking, not before coffee anyway. Get round to the café and while you’re there, ask Mary if she got the hot garbage guy’s number.”
“Hot garbage guy? Have you been withholding gossip from me?”
“There was a lot going on yesterday so pardon me if I didn’t remember to pass on every single detail. Besides, you were too busy texting Carson all day to focus on quality gossip. Bring me life-sustaining liquid and I’ll fill you in.”
Petey thrust the shutter pole at Landry then flounced next door to the café. Landry went back inside Treasure Trove, chuckling. His friend could be the biggest drama queen when he wanted to be.
Landry puttered around until Petey got back with his extra-large, extra-hot vanilla latte, then the two of them settled behind the cash desk. Landry’s first sip of his drink generated a satisfied sigh. “So good. I’ll buy the next round.”
“Mary went bright red when I mentioned hot garbage guy. She said they have a date on Saturday night. He has tickets for the ballet. Apparently he’s a big fan and so’s she. Seems like a match made in heaven to me. So how did they meet, and how come your sticky fingers are involved?”
“My fingers are not sticky, thank you very much. The hot garbage guy is called Elton. He and his crew were working the street when I found the body, and they stopped to help. Elton was the one who found the missing padlock that whoever dumped the body had tossed away. He hung around because he knew that the cops might want the contents of all the dumpsters so he made sure another crew wouldn’t collect them. Mary was supplying everyone with drinks and pastries and that’s how they met. That girl has game. She couldn’t have made her attraction more obvious. Poor Elton didn’t stand a chance. Mind you, he bears a remarkable resemblance to Bobby Wagner, so she has excellent taste.”
“I didn’t know you had any interest in the Seahawks.”
“I don’t know one end of a football from the other, you know that doesn’t stop me looking at the pretty players though.”
“Fair enough, though Wagner isn’t with them now, I heard he’s going to the Rams.”
“And now you’ve lost me.” Landry scanned the store. “Some corners of this place are looking a bit sparse. I hope Mr. Lao is out acquiring new stock. We’ve sold quite a few of the bigger pieces recently.”
“The film people doing that period drama did us a solid favor taking those two triple wardrobes. I swear I expected to find the doorway to Narnia through the back of one of those.”
“Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Not Narnia specifically but having a secret doorway to another world. That would be fun.”
“It so would. Mind you, Carson transports me to other worlds quite effectively every night.” Petey grinned. “Last night he decided I needed my mind taken off dead bodies. By the time he was done, I couldn’t even string a sentence together.”
“You’re lucky. Gage was exhausted when he got in and then I had a nightmare and woke him up. I could have done with a bit of pre-sleep distraction too.”
“Will he be working the case? He’s always stupid busy when he and Sancha start something new.”
“As far as I know. He wondered if there might be a conflict of interest, but his only involvement in Treasure Trove is me and the body was found outside, not in the store. I’d say he’s in the best position to investigate, not the worst.”
“So, are you going to help? I can help too. We worked really well together when it came to solving the case of the gilded mirror.”
“Mr. Lao and I did some research into Penton’s Antiquarium yesterday while you were stocktaking the rare books, and by the way, I know you were reading more than you were checking prices. We didn’t get that far because all those inconvenient customers kept coming in and Mr. Lao seemed to think they were important.”
“There were too many for me to handle on my own. Plus Mrs. Schonberger won’t let anyone serve her but you,” Petey said. “But Mr. L’s priorities are all wrong.”
“Exactly. That’s what I said, but he threatened me with polishing the silver stock if I didn’t behave. Honestly, the working conditions here are substandard.”
Petey snorted into his drink and Landry collapsed into gales of laughter. The bell over the door chimed as it opened, and a crowd of customers hustled into the store. “Time to earn our pay,” Landry said. “We’ll get back to the investigation later. Not a word to Carson. He’ll tell Gage then neither of us will be sitting comfortably for the next few days.”
Petey linked his little finger with Landry’s. “Pinky swear.”
Landry shook it. “Go do your thing with the customers. We’ll start the Scooby stuff when it’s quiet.”
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L.M. Somerton
Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.
She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She’s fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.
You can follow Lucinda on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.
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