by Ally Blue
“Yeah, but ghosts have been known to mess with the equipment.” Andre grinned over his shoulder. “It doesn’t take but one time having a fucked-up camcorder clock before you learn not to rely on it exclusively.”
“I bet.” Sam laughed, excitement lifting his spirits in a sudden rush. “Damn, you know, I realize that this might be a dangerous job, but I fucking love it already.”
“Amen, brother. Gonna be one hell of an exciting week.”
Sam smiled his agreement as they descended the stairs.
Chapter Five
After dinner, Sam, Andre and Amy headed for the little upstairs parlor. Amy flung open the French doors, letting in balmy evening air. The twilight buzzed with the songs of insects and bullfrogs. Somewhere not far off, an owl hooted. The faint scent of honeysuckle floated in on the humid breeze.
It wasn’t long before the rest of the group wandered in one by one to join them. Conversation flowed easily, smoothed by the bottle of pinot noir Bo brought with him. Even Cecile let her haughty attitude drop enough to join in, laughing along with the rest of them. It was nice, friendly and relaxed. Sam couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so peaceful.
As evening deepened into night, Sam found himself drawn more and more to Bo. They ended up sitting close together on the cozy two-person sofa, talking animatedly. Sam liked Bo’s sharp, slightly twisted sense of humor, the way he used his whole body to tell a story, his intense focus when he listened to Sam. He liked everything about the man. In a way, it was nice to know he was capable of feeling something deeper than purely physical attraction; he’d wondered sometimes, during his brief, emotionless affairs. On the other hand, feeling anything beyond friendship for a married man could be dangerous.
It was the frequent looks Bo gave him, a look Sam had seen in more than one bar and seedy motel, that seduced him into ignoring the peril to them both and letting it happen.
By eleven-thirty, everyone else had gone to bed. Amy’s fierce frown when she and Andre left hadn’t made any more of an impression than the warning in her voice when she said good night, both registering in Sam’s consciousness for only a moment before blending into the background. Sam and Bo sat knee to knee on the sofa, taking turns telling stories of strange things they’d experienced.
“So there I was,” Sam said, swilling the last of the wine straight from the bottle, “running through the graveyard at two in the morning, screaming bloody murder. The cops were not amused. Neither were my parents when they had to come to the station to get me.”
“I bet.” Bo laughed. “I don’t blame you, though. Was it really your grandfather’s ghost you saw?”
“Who knows? I’d convinced myself it was, anyhow. The old jackass scared the crap out of me when he was alive, and being a ghost didn’t improve his disposition any.” Sam set the empty wine bottle on the table and leaned back, stretching. “I could’ve sworn I heard him yelling at me, just like he used to when I was little. And I know I felt him hit me.”
“What about your friends? Did they experience any of what you did?”
“Nope.”
“Maybe they were just too far away.”
“Maybe. Or maybe it was all in my mind, huh?”
Bo shrugged, his braid bunching against the couch cushions. “You were twelve. Imagination’s definitely a factor at that age. But hell, he hit you. You had bruises, for God’s sake. Your imagination can’t give you bruises.”
Sam thought of the livid purple marks blossoming before his eyes on the pale skin of the first boy he’d kissed, and didn’t say anything.
Bo’s hand on his knee shocked the painful image out of Sam’s mind. “Sam? What’re you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” The word came out strained and clipped. It sounded rude, but Sam couldn’t help it. The heat of Bo’s palm on his skin stole his breath and scrambled his thoughts.
“Doesn’t look like nothing.” Bo’s voice was soft and strangely husky. His hand slid up a little, fingers brushing the hem of Sam’s shorts. “You seem upset. I wish you’d tell me what it is that upset you.”
Sam swallowed hard. He knew he had to stop whatever was happening before he lost control of his rising desire. In spite of Bo’s surprising actions, he didn’t think the man would thank him for taking it beyond this enticing but ultimately ambiguous touch.
“I’m not upset. Just… I’m just…” Just unbelievably turned on, he thought as Bo’s hand gently squeezed. “Shit…”
Bo didn’t say anything. His hand inched up Sam’s thigh. Sam could hear his own ragged breathing. He turned to look at Bo and their gazes locked. This time, the heat in Bo’s eyes was unmistakable. Without stopping to think about what he was doing, Sam leaned over and pressed his lips to Bo’s.
The kiss sparked along Sam’s skin, electrifying the atmosphere around them. He ran his tongue over Bo’s lips, urging them apart. Bo sighed and opened to him. Blind need flooded Sam’s mind. He cupped Bo’s cheek in his hand and the night grew breathless. The lamplight flickered and dimmed. A sudden chill raised the hairs on Sam’s arm.
Bo pulled back just as Sam pushed him away. Sam felt the loss far too keenly for comfort. Bo snatched his hand from Sam’s thigh, rose to his feet and backed toward the door, eyes wide. The pressure in the air dissipated as quickly as it had built, leaving Sam and Bo staring at each other in shock.
For an endless moment, neither moved or spoke. Sam found his voice first. “Bo, I’m sorry, I don’t know what—”
“Yeah. Me too.” Bo’s voice shook. “I’m, uh… It’s late, I think I’ll…” His gaze darted briefly to Sam’s mouth before looking deliberately away. He turned and left the room without another word.
Sam stayed where he was until he heard Bo’s bedroom door close. Forcing himself to move in spite of his shaking legs, he switched off the lamp then went to change the tape in the nursery camera.
Back in the haven of his room, Sam turned off the lights and went out to the balcony. He sat in the big rocking chair, leaning his elbows against the railing and gazing out over the moonlit front lawn. The night air felt cool on his burning skin. He stayed there for a long time, listening to the crickets and thinking about how quickly and completely things had changed.
Sam’s brief hours of sleep that night were not restful. When he dragged himself down to breakfast the next morning, his eyes felt gritty and his brain sluggish. He was both thankful and disappointed to see Andre sitting alone at the dining-room table, hunched over a cup of coffee. Andre looked up and smiled grimly as Sam sat across from him.
“I’m not the only one who didn’t sleep much, huh?”
“Nope.” Sam yawned. “Dreams again?”
“Shit, yeah. Worst dreams of my life. You?”
“Pretty bad. What were yours about?”
“I can’t remember all of them. But what I do remember is plenty.”
Sam leaned forward, his interest piqued by the hushed quality of Andre’s voice. “Tell me about it.”
“We were all here at Oleander House, just like we are now. There were a bunch of other people too, people I didn’t know. I remember there was a meeting or something, and I left the room and…” Andre stopped. His eyes took on a haunted look. “There were body parts everywhere. Blood all over the walls. And these…things. Fucking awful things, coming out of the air.”
“What sort of things?” Sam asked, though he was afraid he had an idea.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like them before. They were…weird. I couldn’t seem to focus on them or something.” Andre laughed without humor. “Tell you what, I’m kind of glad I can’t remember what they looked like. I think it might not be good for my mind.”
Sam had no idea what to say. Andre’s dream felt uncomfortably familiar to him.
“What about you?” Andre took a sip of coffee. “What’d you dream?”
Heat. Sweat. Wet smack of naked skin against naked skin as he pounded into the man straddling his hips. Knees digging into his ribs,
the faceless man riding his cock hard and fast. A hoarse cry, the splash of semen on his stomach. Reaching to touch his lover, dim light glinting off obsidian claws, and Christ, it was his hand…
Sam shook his head. “I don’t remember the details,” he lied. He nodded toward the kitchen by way of changing the subject. “Is Bo in there?”
“Naw. I found a note in the kitchen saying he’d gone out for a run.”
“You mean we don’t get a home-cooked breakfast? Damn.”
Andre gave him a tired smile. “Sorry. There’s yogurt, fruit and cereal. Eggs too, if you feel like cooking.”
“You don’t want me to cook, believe me.” Sam stood again and stretched. “I’m gonna get some coffee, you need a refill?”
“No thanks, I’m good.”
Sam shuffled into the kitchen. He was afraid he’d find Bo in there after all, but the room was empty. He poured himself a big mug of coffee and stood at the window sipping it. On the far side of the barn, just under the shadow of the pines, he saw a figure moving. After a moment, the figure emerged into the sunshine, jogging steadily toward the house. Sam’s heart did a funny little flip when he recognized Bo.
As Bo got closer, heading for the kitchen door, Sam turned away, unable to face the thought of being alone with Bo. Not yet. The back door opened just as Sam sat at the dining-room table with his coffee. Amy had arrived and was talking in low tones with Andre.
“Good morning, Amy,” Sam said. He could hear Bo in the kitchen, rummaging in the refrigerator.
“Good morning.” Amy’s voice sounded distinctly cool. “Did you sleep okay?”
Sam gave her a sharp look, wondering exactly what she knew, or suspected. He almost asked her. But before he could say anything, the door from the kitchen swung open and Bo came into the room, head thrown back and throat working as he drank from a plastic bottle of orange juice. Sam tried not to stare, but it wasn’t easy with Bo standing there in nothing but a pair of running shorts, bare chest gleaming with sweat, stray tendrils of black hair escaping his braid to cling damply to his face and neck.
“Hey,” Bo panted. “Sorry y’all had to fend for yourselves this morning. I was feeling restless. Needed some exercise.”
Sam heard Amy saying something, heard Bo answer, but the sound had faded to static. He watched Bo’s lips moving and remembered the soft sigh of surrender as those lips opened beneath his. He caught Bo’s eye. Bo looked quickly away. Sam could see the pulse fluttering in his throat.
“Morning, y’all.”
David’s voice broke the spell holding Sam still and silent. He blinked and turned around. “Hi, David.”
David slapped Sam’s back on his way to the kitchen. “You look like hell, Sam.”
“Thanks a lot,” Sam mumbled, and yawned hugely. “Didn’t sleep much.”
“Hey, David?” Cecile said, wandering in at that moment. “Would you get me some coffee, please?”
“Sure thing.”
Amy and Andre glanced at each other with identical smirks. They didn’t seem at all surprised to see David and Cecile being civil to each other.
Bo, however, looked as surprised as Sam felt, though he didn’t say anything about it. “Y’all get some breakfast, then we’ll meet in the library in half an hour and get started.”
“What’s on for today?” David emerged from the kitchen with two cups of coffee. He sat next to Cecile and handed her one of the mugs. “Just watching tapes?”
“Pretty much, yes,” Bo said. “We’ll divide into teams again, and take turns reviewing the tapes from yesterday and the nursery tape from last night.” Sam glanced up at him just in time to see him absently bite his bottom lip. The unconscious sexiness of it made heat pool in Sam’s groin. “I’d like to see if we find anything on the tapes before we decide what our next step should be. They may give us an idea of what area we should concentrate on.”
“Bo?” Cecile sounded uncharacteristically hesitant. “Would it be all right if I helped review the tapes? David can show me what to do.”
Bo’s eyebrows went up. “That would be fine. The more, the merrier, as they say.”
Andre stood and drained his coffee mug. “I’ll go on and start setting up.”
“I’ll help you, babe.” Amy pushed to her feet. “See y’all in a little bit.”
Sam watched them leave the room hand-in-hand and felt a sudden stab of jealousy. He’d never had what Amy and Andre had together. Never felt that way about anyone. He’d never minded before, and wasn’t exactly sure why he did now. All he knew was that for the first time in his life, he felt an aching emptiness inside him. A longing for something he never thought he’d want—true intimacy with another human being.
He refused to consider too closely the reason for this change of heart.
“Okay,” Bo said. “I need to go shower. Be back down soon.”
As Bo brushed past, Sam caught the scent of sweat and heat, bringing him half-erect in the space of a breath. The mental image of Bo in the shower wasn’t helping. Bo naked and wet, his skin slick with soap, palms moving in slow circles across his chest, sliding down his belly, between his legs, one hand cupping his balls while the other stroked his erection…
Sam shoved back from the table, stood and strode out the door, ignoring the wary looks he knew David and Cecile were giving him. He caught up with Bo at the top of the stairs and grabbed his shoulder, whirling him around.
“We need to talk,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.
Bo wouldn’t look at him. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Nothing? How the fuck can you say that?”
“Look, I won’t tell anyone you’re gay, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Sam stared, unbelieving. “Me? What about telling them you’re gay? Or, hell, maybe you should tell yourself first.”
Bo went pale for a second, then flushed red. His hand clamped onto Sam’s upper arm in a crushing grip. “I’m not gay,” he growled, eyes flashing. “I have a wife. And kids, for fuck’s sake.”
“So? You wouldn’t be the first to try to pretend.” Sam dropped his voice to a near whisper. “You had your hand on my thigh, Bo. You let me kiss you. And you kissed back.”
“I…I had too much wine. It was a mistake.” The tremor in Bo’s voice contrasted sharply with his words. “I’m not gay, Sam. I’m not.”
Sam gazed at him, at the wide, frightened eyes that shifted restlessly, the full lips parted just slightly. He pried Bo’s fingers off his arm and stepped back a pace. “Fine. Whatever.”
He started back down the stairs, deliberately not looking back.
“Sam?” Bo’s voice was full of uncertainty.
“It’s forgotten,” Sam said without turning around. “See you in a few minutes.”
He’d reached the bottom of the stairs before he heard Bo’s footsteps in the upstairs hall.
Chapter Six
Sam wasn’t surprised when Bo switched the teams around, pairing himself with Amy and Sam with Andre. That was fine with Sam. Spending the day awkwardly avoiding each other’s eyes didn’t appeal to him any more than it evidently did to Bo. He wondered morosely if they’d ever be able to return to the easy camaraderie of the previous day.
First full day on the goddamn job, he thought as he put a tape in the player, and you fuck it up by kissing the boss. Stupid, Sam.
Almost as stupid as the boss coming on to his new employee when he’s married and trying to pass for straight, the troublemaker in his head answered.
“Shut up,” he muttered.
Andre turned to frown at him. “What?”
Sam forced a smile. “Nothing. Just telling my brain to settle down so I can work.”
Andre laughed. “Weirdly enough, I know what you mean. Sometimes my thoughts get so loud I can’t think through the noise, you know?”
“Exactly.” Sam gave Andre a considering look. “Do you think that’s why we’re having these weird dreams and no one else is? Because of our overact
ive brains?”
“Could be. I’d be interested to know whether the freaky electromagnetic field in this place has anything to do with it, too.”
Sam leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “Hm. I wonder.”
“We should bring that up with Bo and Amy. See what they think.”
Just hearing Bo’s name made Sam’s heart thud painfully against his ribs. He had to fight to keep the turmoil inside him from showing on his face. “Yeah, good idea.” He leaned forward to start the tape rolling, then stopped and sat back again. “Hey, Andre?”
“Hm?”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
Andre popped the tape he was holding into his VCR and grinned at Sam. “You can ask. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
Sam laughed. “Fair enough.”
“So what’d you want to know?” Andre swiveled his chair to face Sam.
“You and Amy have been together a while.”
“Yeah.”
“And you love each other, right?”
“Sure do.”
“Well, how’d you know? I mean, did you know right away that she was the one for you, or did it take a while?”
Andre smiled, dark eyes shining. “Why? You got a girl you’re wondering about?”
“Something like that.” Sam felt his face flame with embarrassment, but he held Andre’s gaze.
“It wasn’t love at first sight, if that’s what you mean. I don’t believe in that. But I knew there was something special about her the minute I met her. I think we both knew right from the start that we were headed for something long-term, even if we didn’t know exactly what it was.”
Sam nodded, his heart sinking. He didn’t want to have those sorts of feelings for Bo, but he was very afraid he did. “Okay. Thanks.”
Andre gave him a narrow look. “You don’t look too happy.”
“Let’s just say that the person I might have feelings for isn’t someone that I should be feeling that way about.” Sam let out a frustrated sigh. “Let’s get to work, huh?”
To his relief, Andre didn’t push the issue. “Sure. Which tape you got?”