by Ally Blue
“Sure, Dad. Happy Thanksgiving. I love you.” Adrian turned to Sam. “You too, Sam.”
Sam smiled. “Love you, Adrian. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“And Happy Thanksgiving from me too.” His father gave him a wide smile. “Let us know about Greg. I love you, son.”
The picture froze. Adrian stared thoughtfully at it. In the hazy still, his dad leaned forward, one arm reaching toward the laptop. A bit behind him and to his right, Sam sat gazing at his husband as if he formed the center of the universe. Maybe for Sam, he did.
Adrian had caught his father and Sam looking at each other that same way many times in the past. For years, witnessing such unabashed affection pass between them had made Adrian feel very peculiar, like he had a nest of live worms squirming in his stomach. Now he finally realized why the naked emotion had bothered him so much as a youngster—he’d wanted that kind of love, so badly it rubbed his insides raw, yet he’d had no way to recognize such a thing in himself or to articulate it even if he had.
I still want that. I want someone to look at me the way Sam’s looking at Dad right now. I want to have someone I can look at like that.
He refused to wonder if Greg could be that person. It was far too soon to be thinking such things, no matter what his heart tried to whisper to him in his more vulnerable moments.
Chapter Twelve
Adrian pulled his Toyota hybrid into the shaded drive and cut the engine. “Well. Here we are.”
Beside him, Greg gazed at the two-story cottage with naked terror in his eyes. “What if they hate me?”
“They’re not going to hate you.”
“But, what if—”
“Greg. Stop.”
Greg turned and regarded Adrian with a solemn trust that warmed him right to his toes. Smiling, Adrian reached out to cup Greg’s cheek. “Relax, okay? My family is going to love you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am.”
“You better be.” Greg unbuckled his seat belt, leaned across the console and wrapped both arms around Adrian’s neck. “Kiss me before we go in there.”
Chuckling at the nervous quaver in Greg’s voice, Adrian undid his own seat belt and tilted his head to press his lips to Greg’s. The soft moan Greg let out set off a minor explosion of lust deep in Adrian’s belly. He wound one arm around Greg’s shoulders and buried the other hand in his hair, pulling him as close as possible with the console in the way. Greg’s mouth opened, Greg’s tongue slid against his, and something in the dashboard rattled in response to the spike in Adrian’s powers. Adrian whimpered, his hand clenched in Greg’s hair.
They both jumped when someone rapped on the driver’s side window. Adrian tore himself from Greg and whipped around, heart in his throat. Sean grinned from the other side of the glass. “Hey. I’m not interrupting, am I?”
Adrian groaned. “Jesus Christ, I’m going to kill him.”
“So that’s the famous Sean Broussard, huh?” Greg leaned over and peered out the window. Sean waved at him. Greg waved back.
“The one and only.”
“Uh-huh.” Plopping back against the seat, Greg drew a deep breath and blew it out in a slow, steady stream. “Okay. Let’s go before I lose my nerve.”
Adrian gave Greg’s hand a quick squeeze. He popped the trunk, then opened his door and climbed out into the sharp chill of the Alabama December evening. Sean enveloped him in a bone-crushing hug before he could even shut the car door behind him. Laughing, he wrapped both arms around his brother and clutched him tight.
“It’s great to see you, bro,” Sean declared, his voice suspiciously shaky in Adrian’s ear.
Adrian swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. He remembered vividly how much it had affected him to see his family again when he first came home for the holidays freshman year. This was the first time he and Sean had seen each other since August.
He patted Sean’s back. “Great to see you too, Sean. Videochats just aren’t the same, are they?”
“No way.” Sean drew back. His wide smile remained firmly in place, but the faint redness edging his eyes gave him away. He held out a hand to Greg, who walked up at that moment. “You must be Greg. I’m Sean, Adrian’s brother.”
“I know.” Greg grasped Sean’s hand and they shook. “It’s nice to meet you, Sean.”
“You too.” Letting go of Greg’s hand, Sean moved toward the trunk of Adrian’s car. “Come on, I’ll help y’all get your stuff inside. You must be worn out after that long trip.”
“Ten hours.” Greg trailed Adrian and Sean to the back of the car. “And Adrian wouldn’t even let us take a real lunch break.”
“We stopped at Krystal.” Reaching past his brother, Adrian heaved his suitcase out of the trunk. “That only took fifteen minutes. If we’d gone to a sit-down restaurant, we’d still be on the road right now.”
Sean laughed. “Get used to it, Greg. Adrian inherited the tyrannical driving gene from our dad.” He lifted Greg’s suitcase and a bag stuffed with presents and stepped back. “Adrian, you can get that last bag, can’t you?”
“Sure.” Adrian grabbed the large backpack containing odds and ends that hadn’t fit anywhere else. “Greg, will you shut the trunk for me?”
“Yeah.” Greg pushed the trunk closed. He reached for the suitcase Sean held and frowned when Sean swung it out of the way. “Hey, I can carry my own stuff.”
“Obviously. But you’re our guest.” Sean strode toward the porch, throwing a grin over his shoulder. “My mom would kill me if she found out I let a guest carry his own bags in.”
Greg glowered. Adrian leaned over and kissed his cheek. “He’s right. Our mom’s kind of weird about stuff like that, and one of the neighbors would definitely tell on us. But my hands are full, so could you grab my keys and lock the car for me, please?”
“Yeah.” In a shockingly sudden move, Greg grabbed Adrian’s hair with both hands and kissed him hard. “Thanks for that.”
Adrian grinned. “You’re welcome.”
The shine in Greg’s eyes made Adrian’s heart thump hard against his sternum. He followed Sean on wobbly legs. Behind him, the car door slammed. Greg caught up to him just as he got to the porch stairs. They climbed the four shallow steps together.
Just as Sean reached the front door, it swung open. Adrian’s father stood on the other side. His face broke into a wide smile. “Hello, boys. Come in.”
He stepped back. Sean walked into the hallway that ran from the front door to the back. Adrian followed, with Greg beside him. The spicy scent of chicken gumbo permeated the room, making Adrian’s stomach rumble. The minute they were inside, Adrian set the bags on the floor at the foot of the stairs and swept his dad into a hug.
“It’s good to have you home, son,” his father’s voice rumbled against the side of his head. “I’ve missed you. Sam and I both have.”
Adrian’s eyes stung. He swallowed against the lump in his throat. “Me too, Dad.” He pulled back and reached for Greg’s hand, drawing him forward. “Dad, this is Greg Woodhall. Greg, this is my father, Dr. Bo Broussard.”
“Please, call me Bo.” He held his hand out, smiling. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Greg. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“It’s great to meet you too, sir. Um, Bo.” Greg shook the offered hand. He seemed much more at ease than he had in the car. Adrian doubted anyone but him would’ve noticed the too-wide eyes or the rapid pulse fluttering in Greg’s throat. “Thank you for inviting me here for Christmas, I really appreciate it.”
“We’re happy to have you.” Adrian’s father let Greg’s hand slide out of his grip. He walked a few steps toward the kitchen door on the left at the other end of the hall. “Sam!” he called. “They’re here. You and Maia come on out.”
“They’re making blackberry cobbler with some of those berries Dad froze this summer,” Sean explained. “Maia wanted to make dessert and made the mistake of letting Sam help.”
“Sean, that was ugly.”
Their father glared, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
Adrian stifled a laugh. Sam liked to help in the kitchen, but he really wasn’t much of a cook. Dad had learned subtle ways to keep him out years ago.
The kitchen swung open and Sam strode down the hallway toward them, followed by a petite, curvy girl with a wild halo of dark curls and big amber eyes sparkling behind a pair of cat-eye glasses. Sam trotted up to Adrian, laughing, and hugged him hard. “Adrian. God, it’s good to see you.”
“You too, Sam.” Adrian coughed when Sam thumped him on the back. He hugged Sam back, grinning. “Sam, I’d like you to meet Greg Woodhall.” He pulled back and nodded toward Greg. “Greg, this is Sam Raintree, my step-dad.”
Sam took Greg’s hand and shook. “It’s great to meet you, Greg.”
“You too, Sam.” Greg returned Sam’s smile. “I was just telling Bo how much I appreciate y’all inviting me to stay here. I want to thank you as well.”
“We’re happy to have you. The more the merrier, as they say.” Sam dropped Greg’s hand and took his husband’s, weaving their fingers together. “Sean?”
“Yep.” Sean walked over and slung an arm around the young woman’s shoulders. “Greg, Adrian, this is Maia Marchand, the most beautiful and talented woman on the planet. Maia, this is my brother Adrian and his boyfriend Greg.”
A pink blush stained Maia’s mocha cheeks, but the look she shot Sean was a fond one. She held out her hand. “Nice to meet y’all.”
“Same here.” Adrian shook her hand. “Did Sean say something about blackberry cobbler?”
“I hope so, because that’s my favorite.” Greg took his turn shaking hands with Maia. “And speaking of food, whatever’s cooking smells amazing.”
Adrian’s dad laughed. “Chicken gumbo, dirty rice, cornbread and green beans. Nothing fancy.”
Leaning against Adrian’s shoulder, Greg let out a moan that had Adrian fighting off a surge of lust. “Man, that sounds fantastic. Especially after nothing but a granola bar and coffee for breakfast and a couple of Krystal burgers for lunch.”
“You ate seven,” Adrian muttered, but he doubted anyone heard him over the explosion of laughter.
“Why don’t you two go ahead and put your things up in your room?” Sam suggested. “We should have dinner on the table by the time you get back downstairs.”
“Okay.” Adrian gave Greg’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll give you the grand tour too, after we drop our bags.”
“Sounds good to me.”
They moved apart. While Greg crossed to where Sean had set his luggage, Adrian slung the backpack over his shoulder and lifted his suitcase. He allowed Greg to take his own bag and the sack of presents without saying anything. Greg might take that sort of pampering from Sean, but Adrian knew better. He didn’t much feel like hearing the choice words it would earn him later if he tried to carry Greg’s things for him.
Adrian led Greg up the stairs and to his room at the front corner of the house, overlooking Carlen Street. They both set their bags on the floor in front of Adrian’s closet. Adrian gazed around at the familiar earth-toned walls, burgundy bedding and matching drapes with a smile. Ever since they moved here when he was fourteen, this room had been his sanctuary. He’d never shared it with anyone before. The idea of sharing it with Greg made his heart beat faster with a mix of anticipation and fear.
“So.” Sauntering up to Adrian, Greg wrapped both arms around his waist. “This is your room, huh?”
“It is.” Adrian settled his arms around Greg’s neck and kissed the end of his nose. “What do you think?”
Greg grinned. “I think your dad’s hot.”
Adrian was shocked into laughter. “Oh my God, don’t even talk about my dad like that.”
“Why not? He’s a good-looking man. Him and Sam both, actually, but yeah. Your dad’s definitely hot.” Greg’s fingers traced up and down Adrian’s spine, creating a wave of gooseflesh in their wake. “He looks just like you in thirty years.”
Good grief, my boyfriend’s lusting after my dad. Adrian had no idea how to react to that. He fought the urge to squirm. “Okay, so I know what you think of my dad. Which I really, really didn’t need to know, thank you very much. So why not answer my real question now?”
Greg snickered. “Yeah, so, I also think I wish we had more than a few minutes, because I’d sure as hell like to try out that bed.”
Adrian smiled, pleased to see Greg looking so relaxed. “Trust me, we’re giving the bed a workout later.”
Desire flared in Greg’s eyes. “Good.” He tilted his head up to catch Adrian’s lips in a brief but sizzling kiss. “Come on and give me that tour, before I drag you to bed right now.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s a good idea.”
Stealing one more swift kiss, Adrian took Greg’s hand and led him into the hall to begin the tour of the house. Voices and laughter drifted from downstairs, along with the mouthwatering smells of dishes Adrian had been eating all his life. God, it was good to be home.
He glanced at Greg, who smiled and squeezed his hand. Warmth blossomed in Adrian’s chest. Yes, it was good to be home. Better than ever, now.
~ * ~
“And then, Mr. and Mrs. Van Housan both scream like a couple of little girls, and she says, ‘That’s her, that’s our Miss Puffy Pants!’”
Adrian snorted into his coffee. “Seriously? Did you see it?”
Sam nodded. “Yep. One toy poodle ghost, hovering as dramatically as you please right over the dog bed just like they’d claimed it did.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Neither did we.” Sam sipped from his cup. “And we were right. David found some state-of-the-art projection equipment set up behind the Japanese screen Mrs. Van Housan had in the corner of the room. It turned out to be the granddaughter doing it.”
Adrian shook his head. “For Christ’s sake, why?”
“Who knows? Brand-new degree from Cal Tech, no job, living with a couple of folks as gullible as those two? Hell, she probably did it for the sheer entertainment value.”
Laughter bubbled up from Adrian’s chest. It was nice being able to spend some time alone with Sam. Sean and Maia had gone back to their mom and Lee’s place last night after dinner, and Dad and Greg were both still sleeping. Adrian had woken before dawn to find Sam already up and making coffee. They’d sat down together at the kitchen table and talked, just like they had so many times during Adrian’s teen years, when fear and bitterness kept him up late and woke him early.
So far, their conversation had been much lighter this time. Adrian was glad.
Setting down his coffee mug, Sam yawned and stretched. “Anyway, enough about the adventures of BCPI. What’ve you been up to, other than studying and going out with Greg?”
And there goes the light conversation. Adrian had thought about how and when to approach Sam about the subject of Lyndon. In fact, it was the main reason he’d woken so early that morning. He’d been out to the castle several times in the last month or so, and had continued to make contact with Lyndon, but he kept getting the same images over and over again. He was stuck. If anyone could help him make the breakthrough he needed to solve Lyndon’s case, it would be Sam. However, the discussion would be anything but superficial.
Resting his elbows on the kitchen table, Adrian gazed at the steam rising from his red and green mug. “Actually, I’ve been kind of doing an unofficial investigation of one of the campus buildings. I wanted to ask you about it.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Adrian chewed his lip, thinking hard. He didn’t want to lie to Sam, but he also didn’t want to tell him all the details. What Sam knew, Adrian’s dad eventually knew as well, and he was nothing if not a stickler for the rules. He’d tear Adrian a new one if he found out Adrian had been basically breaking and entering in order to communicate with a ghost.
Sam’s hand touched Adrian’s. He looked up to meet Sam’s concerned gaze. Sam frowned. “Adrian, what’s wro
ng?”
“The building’s definitely haunted,” Adrian answered after a moment, deciding on the SparkNotes version of the truth. “I’ve been able to establish communication with the spirit several times. I know he died young, and he died in some sort of violent manner. But I can’t get any further than that. I’ve been there four times in the last few weeks, and he keeps sending me the same images every time.” Adrian sighed. “I’m stuck, Sam. I want to figure out exactly how he died, maybe find his body so he can move on, but I can’t seem to get any further than I’ve gotten already, and I don’t know what to do.”
Sam listened with an unreadable expression. When Adrian finished, Sam grunted, lifted his mug and drew a long, thoughtful mouthful. Adrian squirmed in silence while Sam studied his face.
Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. “So? What do you think I should do?”
Sam’s eyebrows lifted. “First off, I wonder why this is so important to you.” He raised a hand, halting the protest on Adrian’s lips. “But it clearly is important, and you’re an adult now, so I suppose the why of it is none of my business.”
Adrian stared at the table and said nothing. His cheeks burned under Sam’s unrelenting scrutiny. After a few seconds that dragged on forever, Sam began speaking again.
“I think the problem may be that you’re holding yourself too much in check when you’re communicating with the spirit.”
Startled, Adrian raised his head. “No, that can’t be it. I’m opening my mind as much as I can.” So much it scares me sometimes.
Sam gave him a gentle smile. “I don’t doubt it. But I know you, Adrian. After all you went through as a child, and as hard as you worked for so many years to get your psychokinesis under control, keeping a tight rein on yourself is second nature to you at this point. I think being able to let your guard down and open yourself up completely would take some hard work and a deliberate effort in the other direction. I don’t think it’s something you’d be able to just do with a few quick and dirty relaxation and meditation exercises.”