Matt turned in mid-step, heading instead for theshort corridor that led to the reception area. Pushing through theswinging door that put him out behind Roxie’s desk, he tucked hiskey card in his back pocket as he surveyed the cluttered spotaround her computer. Sure enough, a box of Krispy Kreme donuts satunopened underneath the counter, where it wouldn’t be seen bypatrons and any employees who might enter the gym through the frontdoor. “Thank you,” he said, nodding at Roxie in a mock bow. “I’mforever in your debt. Tell me you have Boston cream.”
Sinking into her seat, Roxie opened the box,displaying an assortment of a half dozen hot, fresh donuts. Therewere two chocolate-covered ones in particular that caught Matt’seye. “Just for you,” she said as she held out the box. “I figure ifVic likes you, you can’t be all bad.”
“Ha ha.” Matt snatched both donuts before she couldchange her mind and take them back. The first bite was heavenly—thethick, sugary cream inside melted in his mouth. Much better than the waffles had been, forsure. “You’re the greatest, Roxie.”
Loftily, she replied, “I know.”
As Matt finished off the first donut, Roxie turnedback to her computer to resume checking her e-mail. Matt glanced atthe screen and looked away quickly before she could accuse him ofreading over her shoulder. Then he noticed a chunky black pictureframe sitting by her keyboard. In the frame was a photo of a smallblack and white kitten stretched out across a windowsill, soakingup bright sunlight. Pointing at the frame, Matt asked, “What’sthis?”
Roxie didn’t look up from her computer, where she wasnow scrolling through her own Facebook profile. “A picture.”
Sometimes Roxie could be particularly stubborn. Heknew it was a picture. “Ofwhat?”
Now she gave him a sidelong look that made him feelstupid. “A cat.”
“No, I mean…” He sighed and bit into the seconddonut. “Never mind.”
Too late. Roxie closed her browser window and turnedto pick up the frame. “This is Miss Priss. Isn’t she cute? I gother a few months’ back.”
“I didn’t know you had a cat. We had one thisweekend.” At the odd look Roxie gave him, Matt recounted what hadhappened, going into great detail about Vic’s discomfort around theanimal. “He’s not a cat person, that’s for sure. You should’ve seenthe look on his face when I made him hold it.”
Roxie laughed as she looked at the photo. “That’s it,the wedding’s off. It would’ve never worked out anyway. How can younot like cats?”
“What wedding?” Matt reminded her, “It wouldn’t workout because he’s already shacking up with me. Hands off,sister.”
Roxie gave him a withering look. “Oh, please. This isVirginia, Matt. You can’tmarry him. Let a girl dream, will you?”
He felt like a jealous sibling when he pointed out,“Dream all you want, honey. He’s still mine. Unless you manage togrow an added appendage somewhere—”
“Enough.” She covered her ears with both hands, whichmade Matt smirk in triumph. Who was being childish now? “I don’tneed your wildly homoerotic evil tainting my innocentthoughts.”
Beneath his breath, Matt muttered, “They’re taintedenough already, I’m sure.”
He had to jump back to avoid the small fist swung hisway. “You’re lucky you ate those donuts, mister,” Roxie warned, “orI’d take them back.”
“Indian giver!” he cried.
With a laugh, he pushed through the door before shecould stand and swing again. When he finally reached the pool’soffice a few minutes later, he turned on his own computer to find amessage from Roxie in his inbox. You’re lucky I don’t buy a big strap-on dildo and stealyour man!! He’d leave you for me in a heart beat.
Matt grinned as he typed a short response.Keep telling yourselfthat.
* * * *
Vic woke a little before ten and stumbled to thebathroom. After relieving himself, he splashed cold water on hisface and frowned at his visage in the mirror. Faint lines werebeginning to develop in the corners of his eyes. He grimaced, anintimidating look, but the lines didn’t deepen. So he smiled widelyinstead, and his eyes crinkled. One more thing Matt was givinghim—before he met his lover, Vic hadn’t been much for smilingbefore. Now that Matt was in his life, he had wrinkles.If I didn’t shave it all off, I’msure I’d have grey hair, too, from all the freaky situations hispowers have put me in over the years.
But honestly? He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Without turning, he stretched an arm behind him andtried to will the towel off its rack. Sunday evening they’d madelove the same way they had earlier in the weekend, giving Vic thetelekinetic ability to move objects with his mind. Last night’scoupling had been partially out of curiosity—would the sameposition yield the same results a second time? Plus Vic liked theposition, himself on his belly, his dick stimulated by the weightof his own body and the firm mattress beneath him. The pillow inhis arms, his toes curled in the sheets. Matt straddling him, andhis lover’s weight was a welcome one when he lay above Vic justbefore he came. The telekinetic ability hadn’t been that bad…or, at least, it was easy tohide. If the same position worked a second time…
But the towel stayed in place without so much as awiggle. Maybe the powers had negated each other? Vic had nevertried to cancel a power out by repeating the position that hadgiven it to him. In the past if he drew a sucky ability—say, likethe time his skin paled until it looked like frosted glass, nothingbut a thin membrane stretched taut over his veins and bones—then heand Matt always tried for a different power to replace it. Thattime, with the glassy skin, had been the only time Vic had everinsisted on keeping the lights out when they fucked. The sight ofhis own insides flexing and pumping away had nauseated him so much,Matt had to
