by Shawn Lane
Gasping, Robbie broke the kiss and stared into the eyes of Curtis Macintyre. But yet…so much of Aaron lingered. He could swear the eyes looking back at him were Aaron’s.
“Aaron?”
“Yes, Robbie. I’m here, but so is Curtis. We both are.”
He shook his head. “I need to sit down.”
“I’m sorry,” Curtis said. “I should have thought of that. Come on.”
Curtis grabbed his arm and helped him over to the sofa. Curtis sat and then pulled Robbie down to sit on his lap.
Robbie scooted off and sat directly on the sofa. “I don’t need to sit on your lap.”
Curtis’s cheeks were red. “Sorry, Aaron is very persuasive.”
He closed his eyes. “This is real, isn’t it? Aaron’s really inside you?”
“Yes. When I decided to go see you, Aaron decided to come along. He thought he’d be able to come back out when we came back to the apartment but it didn’t work. He’s still inside me,” Curtis said. “I need to get my life back.”
Swallowing, Robbie wiped at the tears streaming down his cheeks. “I didn’t think such things were possible.”
Curtis smiled. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Robbie snorted. “You always did have an annoying habit of quoting Shakespeare, Aaron.” And then his stomach gave a sickening flip. “Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick.”
He struggled up from the couch and ran down the hall. He’d been in this apartment before so he knew where the guest bathroom was located. The remodels hadn’t changed that.
Robbie dropped to his knees in front of the toilet and heaved. His stomach emptied, the muscles clenching tight.
When he thought he’d finished, Robbie used the sink to haul himself up and helped himself to the mouthwash sitting on the counter next to the medicine cabinet.
Curtis was waiting for him when he left the bathroom, holding out a large black mug filled with steaming liquid. “I thought you might like some tea.”
“Thanks.” Robbie grabbed the mug and took a sip. “Sorry about that. It’s…it’s so overwhelming.”
“I know. Want to come back and sit down?”
Robbie nodded and took his mug of tea and returned to the couch. Instead of sitting next to him, though, Curtis stood behind him and massaged his shoulders.
“Okay,” Robbie said slowly. “I believe you. I didn’t really before. I mean, I wasn’t really sure, but now, I guess I do.”
The massage felt great and weird, too. It was like it was Aaron, but Curtis. The truth was he still had trouble wrapping his mind around the whole thing. But if he thought too much he’d end up barfing again.
Robbie’s cock had deflated from his recent heaving, but now with the rubbing of his shoulders and back, it perked back up to half-hard, pressing against his admittedly too tight jeans. Which he’d paid a fortune for.
Damn, I’m easy.
“Tell me what you remember about the murder,” Curtis said.
Way to throw ice cold water on him. Blowing out a breath, Robbie said, “Maybe you should take a seat and stop that.”
“Um, sorry.” Curtis walked around to the other side of the couch. “I can’t seem to stop touching you.”
He nodded. “How about sit in that chair instead of next to me?”
Curtis grinned sheepishly, but took the suggested chair. He picked up a legal pad from the table next to the chair. “Might as well take notes then.”
Remembering Aaron’s murder was definitely tops on his list of things he never wanted to do, but in reality it was also burned for all time on his brain. He leaned back against the couch and hugged the mug of tea to him like that would offer him some sort of comfort.
“What do you want to know?”
“Did you see Aaron at all that day?” He scowled. “Aaron says no, but I want to hear your experiences not his.”
Robbie bit his lip and forced his thoughts to that dreadful day. “I last saw him Monday morning when he dropped me off at my apartment after we spent the weekend together. We always spent the weekends together.”
“Aaron told me.”
“I had clients to see that Monday but I wanted to go home first. Usually Aaron picked me up Fridays and dropped me off Mondays. You barely need a car at all in San Francisco let alone two, so we left mine behind.”
“Did you speak with him?”
“Yeah several times on the phone.” Robbie rubbed his hand over his eyes. “And yeah, we spoke on that day.”
“Was…did anything seem out of the ordinary with your last conversation on that day? Did Aaron seem agitated or distracted or upset? Anything like that?”
“No. I’ve thought about it a lot over the years, actually. I wish there had been some sort of clue as to what was about to happen but there just wasn’t. It was like any other conversation we had every Tuesday. We didn’t see each other most Tuesdays, but usually he’d come spend the night with me on Wednesdays.”
Curtis nodded and wrote on his legal pad. “Do you remember what time it was when you and Aaron last spoke? Was he at home or still at work?”
“Home. Probably around seven or so. I’d just gotten home from my last appointment. He said he was going to heat up some leftovers, watch television, go over some legal briefs, and then go to bed.” His stomach flipped again. If he’d known then it would be the last time he ever spoke to Aaron there would have been so much he would have said. Sure, Aaron was here now, sort of, but it wasn’t Aaron’s voice. “And that was the last time we spoke.”
Curtis hung his head for several seconds before meeting Robbie’s gaze. “Aaron sort of remembers that but says it’s kind of fuzzy. He doesn’t remember what happened after that.”
“Aaron didn’t show up to work on Wednesday and one of the partners became concerned,” Robbie explained. “He knew Aaron was very punctual and he also didn’t answer any phone calls. So the guy came here and knocked and Aaron wouldn’t answer, but he could see Aaron’s car was still in the underground garage. So, he got the landlord to open Aaron’s apartment and that’s how they…they found him.”
“Martin Enos,” Curtis said softly.
“Yes, that was him. He’s the one who called me to tell me. He knew I was Aaron’s boyfriend. We’d met a few times.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry you found out like that.”
Robbie had no doubt these were Aaron’s thoughts. “I’m sorry it happened at all,” he said around the lump in his throat. “It’s been five years so I’ve tried to move on.”
Before he knew it, Curtis had discarded the legal pad and moved from the chair to kneel in front of Robbie. He grabbed Robbie’s hands. “I should ask…do you have a boyfriend now? I didn’t think to find out before. That was selfish of me.”
“There’s no one. Not serious anyway. Just casual stuff.”
“I want—” Curtis bowed his head.
“What?” Robbie touched his jaw.
Curtis met his gaze. “I want you to be happy, Robbie.”
“I’m trying,” Robbie whispered.
Curtis rubbed his face on the palm of Robbie’s hand. “I’m sorry if the police bothered you. Did they question you?”
He nodded. “Of course. They had to. The first suspect is always the significant other.” He smiled.
“I guess. But they must have eliminated you pretty fast.”
“Yes. What now? What do we do, Aaron?”
“I don’t know. We don’t know.” Curtis sighed. “Me, Curtis, I guess I question some of the people involved in Aaron’s life. I think it was likely someone Aaron knew. I don’t know if Aaron saw the person and was fleeing and has blocked that out, or if the murderer surprised him. Whether Aaron’s family and such will talk to me, I don’t know.”
“I’ll help you in any way I can,” Robbie vowed.
* * * *
“I just need a few days off to take care of some personal stuff, Jose,” Robbie said, sitt
ing on the bed in Curtis’s bedroom. He’d given Robbie privacy while he made some calls.
“What am I supposed to do with your appointments?” Jose whined. In the background Robbie heard people in the salon chatting and working.
“They can be rescheduled or Jason can do them. Everyone loves Jason. Or you.”
Jose sniffed. “You’re looking into opening your own salon, aren’t you?”
Robbie sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, Jose. It’s just some personal stuff. I’m not leaving you.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Well, all right. But call me every day.”
“Yes, yes, I will. Talk to you later, Jose.” Robbie hit the end call button with relief. Now for the really hard phone call. Still he needed to do it. For Aaron.
The phone rang and rang. Just when he was sure he was going to get an answering machine a man answered.
“Yeah?”
“Zane?”
“Who is this?” A pause. “What do you want?”
“I’m…I’m calling about Aaron.” Robbie closed his eyes, his throat raw. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
Zane Carmichael sighed. “Robbie. This isn’t a good time.”
“Is it ever?”
“No. Do you need money?”
Robbie shook his head and then remembered he was on the phone. “No. I’d never ask you for money. None of you. But especially you.”
After Aaron’s funeral, a drunken and grief stricken Robbie had a sexual encounter with a drunken and grief stricken Zane. They’d both admitted it was a mistake afterward. But they couldn’t take it back. Yeah, Aaron was gone, but Robbie wasn’t proud of drowning in sex with Aaron’s little brother.
“Then what is it? Are you in trouble?” Zane asked.
“No. I…look, I need a favor. A big one. There’s a man. A writer named Curtis Macintyre.”
“The horror guy?”
“Yeah. He wants to talk about Aaron’s death.” Robbie exhaled, shaking all over. “He’s wanting to write a book or something. Do you think you’d be willing to have us come over to the house to talk to you and your parents? And Colton?”
Robbie knew the Carmichaels all lived in a big mansion in Marin County. It reminded Robbie of the family ranch on the television show Dallas. The Carmichaels were like that. With Walter being Big Daddy and Colton being JR.
“I’ll have to talk to them about it.”
“Can you not? I know it’s a lot to ask, but if we just came over and surprised everyone—”
“Fuck, Robbie.”
“I know it’s a lot to ask.” Robbie had always suspected Aaron’s killer was very close to him indeed. He couldn’t say that to Aaron. Not his ghost anyway. He couldn’t even tell Curtis because then he’d be telling Aaron. Robbie had given his suspicions to the police at the time, but they’d gone nowhere. The Carmichaels had power.
“You got that right,” Zane said softly. “When?”
“Tomorrow afternoon at say, one? Will that be okay?”
“Fine. But I don’t think this is a good idea, Robbie. I don’t think my parents are going to want to allow this guy to write a book about Aaron.”
Since that really wasn’t their purpose, Robbie didn’t care. It was just the reason they were giving the Carmichaels. He almost asked Zane to have Marianne there, too, but really, he didn’t think Marianne had anything to do with it. Robbie was pretty sure he did know who did, though.
“Okay, Zane. Thank you so much. See you then.”
The bedroom door opened and Curtis came inside the room.
“All set?” he asked.
Robbie pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. “Yeah, he’ll see us.”
Curtis sat on the mattress next to Robbie. “Zane was always the one Aaron was closest to.”
Robbie nodded. “Yeah. They…had a lot in common.”
“Everything’s going to be all right, Robbie.” Curtis reached over and tucked a strand of Robbie’s hair behind his ear. “You’re trembling.”
“I know. I can’t help it.”
“Come here.” Curtis wrapped his arms snugly around Robbie.
He closed his eyes and leaned into Curtis. The same scent he’d smelled earlier assailed his nostrils.
Aaron.
Robbie lay on the bed and drew Curtis down to him, his arms encircling his neck. This should be wrong. It was so odd. Aaron wasn’t really here. This body, this man was Curtis. Even if Aaron possessed him.
Curtis lowered his lips over Robbie’s. “Robbie, please.”
And he was lost. “Yes.”
Chapter 6
He framed Robbie’s face with his hands and stared down into the beautiful face. Robbie had always been rather ethereal in appearance. Too pretty, too cute to be masculine, but not exactly feminine either. He’d reminded Aaron of an elfin creature with his pert little nose, eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea, and his dark auburn stylishly coiffed hair. Just now Robbie had golden highlights throughout and to Aaron it added to the whole magical look of Robbie.
Oh, yeah, he’d always been besotted.
Aaron supposed he shouldn’t be attacking Robbie like this, with Curtis as his body. Or at all, really. It wasn’t fair to Robbie or Curtis, maybe. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself from taking every opportunity to have contact…any contact with Robbie.
Their lips brushed, too briefly. It wasn’t enough. Threading his fingers…or rather Curtis’s fingers…through Robbie’s hair, he crushed their lips together in a long kiss.
::You’re right, Aaron, Robbie is gorgeous, breathtaking.::
Of course. His tongue slipped inside Robbie’s mouth, teasing, tasting the tongue waiting for him. His hands roamed down Robbie’s torso, to scoot under Robbie’s T-shirt and over his flat, sculpted stomach.
Robbie shivered and covered Curtis’s hands with his, helping to scoot the shirt up to his underarms. An invitation he wouldn’t resist. Curtis broke the kiss and grazed his tongue over Robbie’s right nipple.
“Oh, God.” Robbie gasped, tugging at Curtis’s hair. Aaron remembered how sensitive Robbie was there. Everywhere really.
“Let’s get you naked,” Curtis said softly, returning his lips to Robbie’s. “Can’t wait to see you.”
Maybe he should have asked Curtis for permission to use his body this way, but Aaron didn’t. He couldn’t go back now and Curtis didn’t seem to be protesting. In fact, his cock was rock hard, so even if Curtis wanted to mentally resist, his body was all for it.
Still this was so freaky being inside someone else’s body. And they were there, too. Sharing the thoughts, the feelings, everything.
Robbie lifted up just enough for Curtis to pull his T-shirt over his head. Aaron had always been enthralled by the pale, slim body underneath Robbie’s clothes. Curtis’s hands grazed the heated skin of Robbie’s abdomen.
::God, this is hot.::
Robbie smiled and drew Curtis down for more kissing. Deep, passionate kisses that had them all aching, wanting.
“Is this some sort of ménage à trois?” Robbie asked against Curtis’s lips.
He nodded. “Yeah, I guess it is in a way.”
Curtis tore off his own shirt then, discarding it in a heap on the floor. He reached for Robbie’s hands and, threading their hands together, he held them above Robbie’s head, pressing their bodies together, bare chest to bare chest.
Robbie’s jean covered erection pressed against him. Curtis released one hand to cover the bulge with his hand, rubbing it through the denim.
“Fuck.”
“Oh, yeah,” Curtis agreed.
Now he was desperate to feel Robbie’s naked cock. To stroke it, taste it, possess it in every way. He tugged at the buttons and zipper of Robbie’s pants.
Robbie laughed, batting Curtis’s eager hands away. “Wait, wait. Let me. These are expensive. Don’t want them ripped. Take off your own.”
Curtis nodded, watching Ro
bbie undo the zipper and then shimmy out of the tightest pair of jeans he’d ever seen. He wasn’t surprised at all when he saw Robbie hadn’t worn underwear. Where the hell would it have gone in those tight jeans?
Slack-jawed, Curtis could only stare at the long, thick hard cock jutting between Robbie’s legs.
“Sweet mother,” he murmured.
Giving him a saucy wink, Robbie said, “Um, yours?”
“Oh, yeah, mine,” he agreed, leering and reaching for the naked perfection.
“No,” Robbie said. “Your pants.”
He nodded, rather dazedly, and slipped out of his own jeans and briefs. It had been a couple of months since Curtis had been with anyone, and probably a couple of years since he’d been with anyone as hot as Robbie, and well…Aaron was another story altogether.
Before Curtis pounced on the sexy-as-sin man stroking his cock on the mattress, he grabbed a condom and lube out of the drawer next to the bed. His blood pounding fast in his veins, he knelt on the bed.
This was real, whatever it was. Them, him. All of them. Strange, odd, spiritual, all of that, but it was happening.
Closing his hand around Robbie’s dick, Curtis fused their mouths together, pressing so hard their teeth clacked, but neither of them cared.
Robbie’s hands slid across Curtis’s back, down his spine, to the curve of his buttocks. Every touch, every press of skin to skin was more intense, more felt on every level. It was Aaron with Robbie all over again, but now there was Curtis, too, adding an element none of them could have guessed at or explained.
“Need you,” Robbie whispered against Curtis’s lips, then moved his mouth to the pulse of Curtis’s throat, nipping there.
Shaking with fierce need, Curtis trailed his lips and tongue along Robbie’s chest and stomach until he reached the beautiful cock his fist still worked on. Pausing briefly to admire the glistening tip, Curtis swiped his tongue to lap up the drop of pre-cum.
“Ah, geez,” Robbie rasped out.
Closing his mouth over the head, Curtis slowly sucked Robbie’s prick farther into his mouth. Robbie thrashed under him, his body quaking as Curtis’s mouth worked on his shaft. The man lifted from the bed, pushing himself deeper.