The only thing missing was Matt. If hewere home, Vic’s morning would be perfect. At least he’d get to seeMatt soon—he exercised at the same gym where Matt worked as a poolinstructor, and since Sadie’s daycare was nearby, Vic alwaysstopped in to see his lover before heading to his own job at thecity bus depot. The thought of a few minutes alone with his lovermade Vic eat faster, eager to get going.
* * * *
Matt diLorenzo’s office overlooked the gym’sswimming pool, but at the moment he wasn’t watching thehydro-aerobics class performing in the shallow end. He stared athis computer screen, his e-mail program open, but his gaze didn’tregister the images before him. It was turned inward, where hislover Vic held Matt’s captive attention. ::So Sadie got droppedoff okay?:: Matt asked.
In the confines of his mind, he felt morethan heard Vic’s affirmative grunt. Currently Vic lay on a bench inthe weight room, bench-pressing a barbell laden with eight hundredpounds of weights, and he was just getting started. But thesuperpowers Matt gave his lover during sex awakened in him atelepathic ability that linked the two men’s minds together, andthey could communicate mentally while both were in close proximity.Matt could feel the strain of Vic’s muscles as if he himself liftedthe weights. It always surprised him that what would cripple anormal man—like say, a few hundred pounds of solid iron—barelyregistered with Vic. Thank Matt’s powers again. A thrill ranthrough him at the display of strength and, not for the first timesince Vic had arrived at the gym, Matt wished his early morninglifeguard hadn’t called in sick. Then he wouldn’t be stuckoverseeing the hydro class and could instead salivate over hislover’s feat alongside the other men in the weight room who cheeredVic on.
Only half of Vic’s concentration was on theweights. The rest of his thoughts centered on Matt, where theybelonged. Watching the barbell in his hands as he pushed it awayfrom him, Vic ignored the men surrounding him and told his lover,::She’s fine, Matty. It’s not like I dropped her off at thevet’s.::
::You could’ve brought her in to sayhi,:: Matt told him, not for the first time. Even though he’dseen Sadie that morning, he’d grown very attached to the dog sinceVic had first brought her home, and enjoyed being with her everychance he got. And besides… ::You know Roxie’s scared of her,right? So why you don’t bring her by more often is beyond me. Imean, seriously. I’d keep her here with me if I could. She’d keepRoxie out of my hair. Speak of the devil.::
Matt heard the scrape of the double doorsopen out in the gym, then heard a familiar clomp clomp clompas the gym’s receptionist crossed the tiled floor. When Roxieappeared in the doorway to Matt’s office, he glanced up at her androlled his eyes. Her hair was dyed an unnatural shade of black,with two strands in the front fire-engine red. She had the sidespulled up into tight little balls that sprouted off the top of herhead, the ends spiking out like rays. Her black long-sleeve T-shirtsported a skull and crossbones that wore a pink hair bow, andsuspenders held up a short mini-skirt that flounced when she walkedthanks to the crinoline petticoat underneath it. Capri-length blackand white striped leggings and a clunky pair of black Doc Martenscompleted the picture. Sometimes Matt wondered if maybe Roxiedidn’t own a mirror…did she honestly look at herself before sheleft her apartment in the morning? He didn’t know if sheliked the whole goth/emo appearance she put on or if sheonly did it to attract attention.
When she flashed him a quick grin, her lipsblack with lipstick, he told her, “You better not come in hereafter one. I don’t want you scaring the kids again.”
“Ha ha.” Roxie held a batch of envelopes inone hand, a couple catalogues in the other. “Mail call. Nothing butbills. Lucky you.”
At the sound of Roxie’s voice, Vic gruntedagain, a vibrating sound that sent shivers of delight ticklingalong Matt’s spine down into his groin. ::That does terriblethings to me,:: he told Vic, suppressing a smile. ::If Ididn’t have this damn class to watch over, I’d take you right thereon the bench in front of all your buddies and you knowit.::
::Roxie’d probably want a ringsideseat,:: Vic teased.
That thought doused Matt’s ardor quickly.::Don’t even—::
The envelopes flew over the top of Matt’scomputer screen right into his line of vision. “Matthew!” Roxiecried, her voice cranking up an octave or three. “Are you ignoringme?”
“Heaven forbid,” he muttered under hisbreath. To Vic, he promised, ::Stop by on your way out, sexy. Ihave an angry riot grrl to deal with at the moment.::
“I know what you’re doing,” Roxie announced.“You’re pretending to talk to Vic, aren’t you? Give it up already,will you? That whole my boyfriend’s a superhero routine is gettingold.”
Now Matt did smile. Ever since Roxiehad learned of Vic’s powers and, more importantly, where they camefrom, she refused to believe it. She explained away anymanifestation of the powers, no matter how outrageous. Mattsuspected they made her uncomfortable, which meant he now harped onthem at any opportunity. “Come on, Rox,” he joked, leaning awayfrom his computer to turn his full attention onto her. “You knowyou’re just jealous you’re not getting any super dick.”
She scoffed, “Please. I hate to break it toyou, lover boy, but if I had to choose one? It’d be Vic, handsdown. It’s just my rotten luck he doesn’t like girl cooties.”
“He likes you.” Actually, Matt knew thatwasn’t quite true. Vic tolerated Roxie because she and Matt werefriends, at least while at work. Her outrageous outfits, strangehairdos, and brash attitude put off Vic at the best of times. Viconly bothered being nice—or rather, his semblance ofnice—for Matt’s sake.
With a lofty sigh, Roxie flipped her hairover one shoulder. “I know. How could he not?”
Matt wisely kept his mouth shut and glancedthrough his
