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heartbeats.
* * * *
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The Center of Earth and Sky
by Sean Michael
He watched the other half of his soul go with a sigh,
watching the taxi until he couldn't see it anymore. Three
whole nights apart. Three whole nights sleeping in different
cities, on different coasts while Raine took care of the final
bits of business in San Fran.
He locked up the store, leaving a note that there would be
no showings until Monday. No showings. No appointments. No
phone calls. No Friday night fun. Nothing but sleeping and
waiting and missing his Raine. He sighed and walked outside
to assure himself that the gallery was locked up too, before
heading upstairs to hibernate.
The rain was bitter cold, sky growing darker, more grim.
There was a man in a dark coat and a black umbrella
standing at the gallery window, looking in.
As he came near, the umbrella tilted back, revealing a
familiar face.
Whit.
 Whit. He smiled, warmth filling him, making him happy
for a moment until he remembered Raine was gone.  You
missed him.
Whit nodded.  I spoke to him on the phone today. I asked
if it would be all right if I came and stayed with you while he
was gone. He said I could, but that you might not want me
to. Brown eyes looked up at him, so full of warmth.  Do you
want me to, Grey?
 Oh... His smile widened, that happiness flaring again
deep inside him. He nodded, words caught in his throat,
trapped. He held out his hand, offering it to Whit. Oh, yes.
Yes, please. Please, stay.
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The Center of Earth and Sky
by Sean Michael
Whit must have heard the silent words because a warm
hand slid into his own, squeezing gently and Whit smiled
brightly.  I brought supper from that Greek place by the
school. Whit held up a bulging white plastic bag and
suddenly looked like a boy with a secret as he stepped close.
 Two pieces of chocolate mousse cake each for dessert.
 Two? Really? He opened the door and let Whit in, taking
a long, slow kiss as soon as the door shut behind them. He
had thought he would just go to bed, hide. But Whit wanted
to be with him, see him.
There were two thuds as Whit dropped the umbrella and
the bag, arms winding around his neck and holding him close.
 Two, really. I thought we could start with dessert. Or
maybe start with each other and work our way up to food.
 Yes. He pushed off Whit's coat, pushing against his lover.
His lover.
Their Whit.
Whit hit the wall with a soft sound, breath whooshing out
of him and into Grey's mouth.  I was worried you wouldn't let
me stay. I was going to bribe you with the extra dessert.
 I might be bad company, he warned. He didn't talk when
Raine was away, didn't know what to say, how to
communicate as only half a man. Half a man with a
thoughtful, dear lover who wanted to spend time with him.
 Will you hold me and eat my dessert?
 Yes. Yes, please.
 That sounds like perfect company to me. Whit pressed
their lips together again in a quick, hard kiss.
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The Center of Earth and Sky
by Sean Michael
 Oh... He took another kiss and another and then one
more, heart beating hard in his chest.
He never thought, never hoped that Whit would want to
spend time with him alone. Raine, yes. Raine talked and
played and laughed and was Raine. Everyone fell in love with
his Raine. Raine fell in love with everyone.
Grey had fallen in love with Whit.
It was Whit who pulled away from their kisses first.  Take
me upstairs, Grey. I don't want to do this in the stairwell I
want to do it in your bed.
 Oh, yes. He bent, picking up the food and the umbrella.
He would love that, love to relax and touch and doze and love
Whit in the soft, warm bed.  Yes.
A warm hand trailed over his bent back, his ass and the
back of his thighs.  Good.
Whit preceded him up the stairs, coat over his arm, trailing
along the stairs.
The apartment was warm, pleasant, and not lonely. Not
silent. Not empty because Whit was there.
He smiled and put the umbrella in the stand and the bag
on the table before turning back to Whit, holding open his
arms. Whit flung his coat toward the hooks and stepped into
his arms, face raised for another kiss.
 Whit. They shared another deep, long kiss, Whit's
sweetness and spice making his head spin, making him need
and want and ache.
Whit moved out of his arms and pulled a Styrofoam
container from the bag. Then his hand was taken and Whit
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The Center of Earth and Sky
by Sean Michael
led him toward the bed.  You don't mind if we eat with our
fingers, do you?
 No. Grey grinned, following closely.  Not at all.
Whit put the container down on the side table, toed off his
sneakers and climbed onto the bed and then turned and held
out his arms in an echo of Grey's own move earlier.
Grey slipped off his own shoes and crawled into Whit's
waiting arms, trembling with the sweet honor of being cared
for.  Hey there.
 Hey, beautiful man. Whit's lips were warm and open,
tongue searching inside his mouth.
He shuddered, pressing down into Whit's body with a soft
purr of pleasure. So warm. So loving. So Whit. Whit's hands
smoothed the shirt down his back as they kissed and then slid
between them, searching for his buttons.
He would have helped, would have started removing Whit's
clothes, but his hands were busy with soft hair, smooth
cheeks, hot skin.
 God, you're so sexy, Whit's voice was soft, almost
reverent except for the need that slid through it like old
whiskey. The buttons of his shirt gave way beneath Whit's
determination and then warm fingers were on his skin,
stroking him.
He moaned into Whit's lips, hunger flaring inside him, his
cock throbbing and caught in his slacks. He focused on the
flavor and heat of Whit's mouth, the need there. He imagined
he could taste Raine in Whit's mouth, a reminder of how good
they all were together.
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The Center of Earth and Sky
by Sean Michael
How much they all loved. How much he loved. How much
he was loved.
Whit's fingers slid across his nipples, coming back to rub
them harder as soft moans and gasps were pushed into his
mouth.
 Whit... He tugged at the bottom of Whit's shirt, cock
throbbing with every touch. His head was swimming, tongue
searching for every bit of passion, every place that made Whit
cry out.
 Oh, God, Grey, I need you so badly. Whit's hands were
roaming wildly, fingers tugging at his belt.
He nodded, pulling back and unfastening his pants,
shoving them over his hips.  Yours too, Whit. Need you.
 Yes, Grey, yes. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]