by Joely Skye
“I do remember.” Kiyoshi nodded adamantly until the sad expression lifted from the actor’s face. “I couldn’t forget such a stirring performance.”
“Nakamura!”
They both turned in unison to stare over the railing at the man who’d just burst through the front entryway. His bright red costume was rumpled and soaked with sweat, the feathers crowning the brass lion’s mask under his arm were limp and soggy.
Ryuhei tensed at first and then his shoulders slumped. “Oh no,” he groaned. “It’s Shosei from the Noh idiots…”
“Nakamura!” Shosei bellowed again, jabbing his finger up in the air rather rudely. “We had a show tonight.”
“Did we, Shosei-san?” Ryuhei blinked innocently.
The Noh actor sputtered and then shouted, “Yes.”
“Did anyone attend?”
“What the hell do you mean ‘did anyone attend’? Half this town must have shown up.”
“Did anyone important attend?”
“You—” Shosei’s round face turned the same shade of scarlet as his costume. “I had to play all three roles myself. I’m not paying you to chase ass in these ryokan.”
“You call that two-bit pittance payment?” Ryuhei leaned over the railing, just as worked up as the Noh actor. “It’s robbery. An actor of my skill stuck playing the role of waki—a meaningless secondary character? Insult.”
Kiyoshi looked around, nervous at the attention the scene was getting from the other guests. One thing was certain—this was a far better show than anything performed at the Noh.
“Robbery, is it?” Shosei shouted. “You washed up whore. You’re fired.” With that, he stormed back out of the inn.
Everything was silent in the inn for a long time afterward. Then Nakamura stood up straight and pronounced with all the dignity of an official in the emperor’s court, “It’s a good thing I quit first.”
Kiyoshi contained yet another laugh, rather surprised at how Nakamura brought so much lightness to his long, dreary existence. Oh, the man was most likely insufferable taken in large doses, but the sweetness of Ryuhei’s blood when he put himself into such a stir was undoubtedly worth the inconvenience.
He touched Ryuhei’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Perhaps we should get to our room. There’s no sense giving people a show they aren’t paying for.”
Ryuhei’s arm slipped around his waist once more, his hand gliding down across Kiyoshi’s hip. “Yes, my friend. Private shows have always been my favorite.”
Ryuhei kissed him the instant the innkeeper slid the shoji closed behind them. Kiyoshi responded with a need he hadn’t felt in ages.
The actor’s lips were soft and moist, his eager tongue tasting of the sake they’d drunk together. Kiyoshi pulled back only long enough to set down the bottle of wine he carried, then wrapped his fingers around Nakamura’s obi sash and jerked the man forward into another deep kiss. His nimble fingers made quick work of the tight knot until the obi fell, giving him free access to the burning flesh within the robe.
Ryuhei moaned into his mouth and arched forward as Kiyoshi ran his palm across the growing bulge contained within the front of the actor’s loincloth. Kiyoshi let out his own soft moan as Ryuhei’s lips slid down, the actor’s tongue snaking out to glide along the side of Kiyoshi’s neck as though it were a slice of ripe fruit. He teased the lobe of Kiyoshi’s ear with his teeth, murmuring words of delight when Kiyoshi leaned in for more.
“Oh you sweet, lovely thing.” Ryuhei’s hands stroked through the fabric of Kiyoshi’s kimono the way a musician ran his hands over a beloved instrument. “I haven’t wanted anyone as much as I want you, Kiyoshi-kun.”
A lie, most probably. But it didn’t matter, for the invigorating scent of the man’s blood seeped from his pores, igniting the vampire’s appetite in so many ways. Kiyoshi dropped to his knees before Ryuhei, nuzzling the hard cock through the fabric of the fundoshi. He slipped his fingers inside, fondled the dusky warm flesh incased within the loincloth. Ryuhei, knees quaking, squeezed Kiyoshi’s shoulders to steady himself.
“Oh Gods. I can’t believe the effect you have on me.” Ryuhei moaned as Kiyoshi began to tug the fabric free. “Please don’t make me wait…”
Kiyoshi dropped Ryuhei’s loincloth to the floor, staring as the other’s flesh grew longer and harder still. He gripped the base of the erection and leaned in to stroke the rigid length with his tongue, licking at the top slit and the thick drop of fluid beading there.
“Oh Gods.” Ryuhei tangled his fingers in Kiyoshi’s hair and tried to pull him closer. But Kiyoshi drew away, freed himself and stood as the actor whimpered, “Don’t be a tease…”
Stepping back, Kiyoshi said nothing. He took the rolled futon mattress from the corner of the room and spread it across the wooden floor. Shedding his own clothing, he held out his hand in invitation.
For the BCPI team, facing a horror from another reality could be deadly. For Sam and Bo, facing their own secrets and lies could be far worse.
What Hides Inside
Book Two in the Bay City Paranormal Investigation series
© 2007 Ally Blue
Coming April 10, 2007 to Samhain Publishing
Sam Raintree’s life changed forever when he started his dream job with Bay City Paranormal Investigations. In one fateful week, he learned he was psychic, discovered he possessed the power to open interdimensional portals, and accidentally let loose a horror like he’d never imagined. He also began a relationship with his boss, Dr. Bo Broussard, a man who’d been in the closet all his life.
Now, three months later, the burden of secrets has become too heavy for a fragile relationship to bear. Bo isn’t ready to come out, and Sam is tired of hiding. When Bo hires a new investigator, Dean Delapore, Sam is intrigued in spite of himself. Dean is bisexual, attractive and very interested in Sam.
During the intense investigation of South Bay High School, from which three students have mysteriously disappeared, Sam and Dean draw closer together, while Bo pushes Sam away despite their feelings for one another. When the investigation erupts and Sam comes face-to-face with his worst nightmare, he has to decide whether to fight for Bo’s love, or let him go.
Enjoy the following excerpt for What Hides Inside:
The group ate on the run, grabbing bites of subs and gulps of soda as they worked to get the equipment set up. Sam and Bo remained upstairs, sitting in two borrowed chairs in front of the folding table they’d placed just outside the tunnel door. They watched the pictures from the seven cameras come up one by one on the powerful laptop Bo had finally bought the previous month. The display was crystal clear, every crack in the stone visible.
“Okay, that’s the last one,” David’s voice crackled over the radio. “How’s it looking?”
“Perfect.” Sam glanced at Bo. “What do you think, lights or night vision?”
Bo pursed his lips. “Hm. Night vision, I guess.”
“Use the night vision, David,” Sam repeated into the radio.
“’Kay. Andre, Dean, you got that?”
“Got it,” Andre answered.
“Yep,” Dean echoed. “Done.”
Rising to his feet, Bo thumbed his radio on. “Okay, turn the lights off, let’s make sure we’re getting good pictures with the night vision.”
Sam heard muffled voices, then the camera displays went dark. In the blackness, the stairs and tunnel walls glowed an eerie green.
“That’s good,” Bo said. “Come on up.”
The gleam of flashlights showed on the computer screen, followed by the three men climbing the stairs.
“Damn, it’s like a fucking sauna down there,” David complained, mopping the sweat from his forehead as he emerged into the hall. “Feels good up here.”
“It sure does.” Lifting his sweater up to his armpits, Dean fanned his belly. “I think next time we come here, I’ll wear a T-shirt.”
Sam tried not to look, but he couldn’t help it. Dean’s pale ski
n shone with sweat, putting sleek muscles and hipbones in sharp relief. His cheeks were flushed red, his hair clinging in damp tendrils to his neck and forehead. For once, he didn’t seem to be purposefully flirting. He pulled his sweater back down without a hint of his sly, seductive smile. Sam licked his lips, fiercely turned on by the unconscious sexiness Dean exuded when he wasn’t even trying.
“There’s water bottles in the bag there.” Andre gestured toward the plastic bag sitting beside the wall. “Figured we might need them, with the heat down there.”
Dean lunged for the bag, grabbed three water bottles and tossed Andre and David each one. Twisting the cap off the third bottle, he downed half of it in one breath. “Oh God,” he gasped. “I needed that. Thanks, Andre.”
“No problem.” Andre took a long swallow of his own water. “All right, I’m off for a while. Who wants a ride home?”
“Me,” Cecile said, coming out of Mr. Innes’s office. She’d offered to talk with him about opening the side tunnels since Bo’s help had been needed with the equipment set-up. “I have some errands to run before Andre and I have guard duty. Are we leaving the cameras up until one a.m. since we got started late?”
“Yes, I guess we should.” Bo glanced at his watch. “Well, Sam? You ready to get started?”
The fevered look in Bo’s eyes went straight to Sam’s crotch. He didn’t think Bo was talking about guarding the equipment, or monitoring the cameras.
“Um, yeah.” To Sam’s relief, his voice sounded normal.
“Okay, we’re off then.” Andre jerked his head toward the front entrance of the school. “Come on, I have things to do.”
Sam watched as Andre stalked off without a backward glance. His heart ached for his friend. It couldn’t have been easy for Andre to experience the sort of sensations he’d had in Oleander House, bringing back memories of that horrible night. If he closed his eyes, Sam could still see Amy’s lifeless body. How much worse must it be for Andre, who’d been her lover and partner for years?
“Is he all right?” Dean asked, gray-green eyes full of concern as he watched Andre walk out the door, David and Cecile following arm in arm in his wake.
“He will be.” Bo sighed. “I’ll tell you about it sometime soon. Right now, it’s enough to know he’s going through a tough time. He closes up sometimes. Don’t take it personally.”
“Okay, sure. See y’all later.” With a quick smile, Dean trotted after the rest of the group.
Sam glanced around the suddenly quiet hallway. The knowledge that he and Bo were alone in the building hit Sam like a hammer.
Sam cleared his throat. “Okay. So. What did you want to talk about?”
For a moment, Bo said nothing. Then, just as his silence started to make Sam nervous, he took Sam’s hand and pulled him into the shadows under the stairs.
“Bo, what—”
Bo’s hand against his lips cut him off. “Shhh. Don’t say anything. Just touch me.”
“But—”
“But nothing.” Pressing close, Bo rolled his hips against Sam’s. The unmistakable hardness in Bo’s jeans set Sam’s head spinning. “I need you to touch me, right now.” Bo’s voice was a rough whisper, his lips warm and silky on the skin of Sam’s neck. “Please. There’s no one here to see. Please.”
Sam wanted to protest, if for no other reason than Bo’s resolute refusal to see him openly. Then Bo’s mouth found his, Bo’s hand slipped between his legs, and all thought melted in a scorching wave of desire.
Whimpering into the kiss, Sam cupped Bo’s head in one hand and fumbled Bo’s jeans open with the other. Bo shuddered against him when he wrapped his fingers around Bo’s erection and squeezed.
“Oh God,” Bo whispered, his breath hot on Sam’s lips. “Yes.”
“Yeah.” Sam licked Bo’s ear. “Bo…”
Even as Sam spoke, Bo’s fingers yanked open the button on his jeans and tugged down his zipper. Sam’s legs turned to rubber at the feel of Bo’s hand on his cock, the shy yet eager touch he’d become addicted to over the past few weeks. Letting the last of his reservations fall away, Sam closed his eyes and gave himself up to his need.
The uncomfortable angle soon had Sam’s wrist cramping, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when Bo pushed rough moans into his mouth every time his thumb pressed into Bo’s slit. Bo’s fingers twisted around Sam’s shaft, sending tingling tendrils of pleasure snaking down his thighs. The kiss turned hungry and harsh, both men groaning as they fucked each other’s hands.
“God, Sam,” Bo panted, and bit Sam’s lower lip. “Close.”
Sam nodded, stroking Bo’s prick faster. “Love how you touch me.”
Bo went still, his cock pulsing in Sam’s hand. When he spoke, his voice was barely audible. “Sam, oh my God…”
“Come on,” Sam growled, pulling back enough to see Bo’s face. “Let me feel it.”
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