Vic frowned in consternation. Dinner was thelast thing on his mind at the moment. “What?”
With a grin, Matt explained, “I want us togo—”
“Yes!” Vic growled like a caged beast, hungryto satiate his desire. “I don’t care, whatever you want, I promise.Just fuck me already, will you?”
Kissing Vic’s nose, Matt whispered, “I loveyou, big guy. Where’s the lube?”
Vic knew exactly where Matt kept it.
* * * *
Later, Vic stood in front of the bathroommirror, a towel around his waist and a disposable razor in one handas he studied his reflection. A thin film of mist covered themirror, which had fogged up during Vic’s shower. He’d shavedalready, but found he tended to miss spots around his ears whenshowering alone. All the more reason to entice Matt to joinhim…
He sent that thought to his lover, wholaughed from the bedroom where he was getting changed. “Idid join you!” Matt called out, bringing a smile to Vic’sstern reflection. “It’s not my fault you decided to shaveafter I left.”
Vic held the razor and leaned on the counterto better assess the few straggling hairs behind his right ear.“You didn’t have to rush through it,” he said, raising his voicewhen he turned on the water. “We could’ve taken our time.”
Matt appeared in the doorway, buttoning up ablack shirt with verdant pinstripes that matched his eyes. A slowgrin crossed his face. “Any longer in there and I would’ve fuckedyou again.”
Flicking his wet fingers at Matt, Viccountered, “Like I would’ve said no.”
Matt stepped closer as he tucked his shirtinto his jeans. “I’d like to go to dinner before the place closes,”he murmured, kissing Vic’s bare shoulder. The touch of his lipssent a shiver of lust through Vic, stirring his libido again. “Getsomething to eat, have a few beers, get drunk…”
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively—Vic knewwhat that meant. A drink or two and his lover would be ready torumble again. Alcohol made Matt horny, and the prospect of anothercoupling loomed ahead, making Vic’s palms sweaty and warm.
Too warm. As Vic leaned over to catchMatt’s next kiss on his lips, the razor in his hand grew hot,hotter, scorching his fingers. The sink’s countertop also heated upwhere Vic leaned against it. There was a moment of perfect clarity,frozen in time, sealed by their brief kiss, when the only thoughtgoing through Vic’s mind was a weary, Not again.
Then the razor in his hand detonated like asmall bomb.
With a shocked cry, Matt stepped back. Vicpulled his hand off the counter fast and frowned at the red imprinthis palm had scorched into the linoleum. As he watched, the thinveneer began to bubble from intense heat. In his other hand,nothing was left of the razor but a few flecks of black ash.
“Vic!” Matt cried.
Glancing down, Vic noticed faint trails ofsmoke curled up from the floor where he stood on the bathroom rug.“God damn,” he muttered, stomping his feet. What new power wasthis? He’d had a similar one before—everything he touched had burstinto flame, and he’d been forced to stay in the bathtub naked untilit wore off. If he’d drawn that unlucky card again, dinnerwas out. They’d have to order in and eat in the bathroom until Vicstopped setting the world on fire.
Closing his eyes, he calmed his ragingthoughts. Deep breaths helped steady his nerves, until he couldhear the pounding of his heart in his ears. Then he picturedhimself holding tight to the power, whatever it may be. In hismind’s eye, it took the form of long, red-hot cables, spitting andhissing like downed electrical wires. Vic imagined he held thosecables in both hands—his flesh sizzled beneath the power but hisgrip didn’t slip. As he concentrated, he breathed in and sawhimself reel those cables toward him, reining in the power. When hebreathed out, he kept his hands fisted tight, unwilling to letgo.
The heat simmering on the balls of his feetcooled. He flexed his hands—physically, not mentally—and couldn’tfeel the power building in his fists. This wasn’t that same power,he realized. Or rather, if it were, his own prowess had grown tothe point where he could control it now. It wouldn’t get away fromhim again.
To test this, he grasped the towel around hiswaist. Matt gasped. “Vic, no.”
But a moment passed without incident, andanother, and another. No heat built up in Vic’s hands, and thetowel stayed unsinged. Vic let his concentration slip just a notchand felt the first smolder in his palms, but he quashed it quickly.“It’s okay,” he assured his lover. “I can handle it.”
Cautiously, Matt stepped up behind him andtouched his shoulder. Matt’s fingers were cool on Vic’s still dampskin, but when he didn’t get burned, he rested his forehead againstthe back of Vic’s neck. With a shaky sigh, he muttered, “Ihate these powers. What happens if it gets out of hand whilewe’re eating? What if you blow up the whole restaurant, or set thedamn car on fire?”
“Matty, I’ve got it.” Turning, he eased hisarms around his lover’s shoulders and hugged Matt close. He kepthis hands bunched into fists, though, to avoid losing hisconcentration. How many times did Vic have to tell Matt the powerscame from their love? From him—they were a gift Matt gavehim, no matter how bizarre or inconvenient they could be. Vicwouldn’t give them up if it meant he had to lose Matt in theprocess. He loved the man too much to allow something as stupid askinetic manipulation get in the way of their relationship. Thepower was transient, as fleeting as the flames it conjured, andwould burn itself out soon enough.
In the meantime, they had a date Vic intendedto keep. Planting a kiss on Matt’s temple, Vic’s voice was gruffwhen he promised, “We’ll get through dinner just fine. And hey,when we get back home? If you’re still interested in doingsomething about this power? Maybe we can see if we can’t switch itout for something new. If you’re up for it…”
Matt’s grin lit his face. “Get a few beers inme and I may not wait until we get home to have at you again.”
* * * *
It wasn’t a fire ability, exactly; Vic haddealt with that before.
