But it was one thing to chat with a woman in line atthe grocery store because her locker used to be beside his on theback hall senior year. It was another thing to run into the firstguy he ever fucked at an ex’s cookout.
Matt couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it. Hedidn’t know how he felt about seeing Jordan again, or how heshould feel. The recent phone calls had seemed to come outof the blue, but Matt knew Jordan had read about the shooting inthe paper, same as the reporters who’d tracked him down for hisside of the story. His name was mentioned, the paper said he workedat the gym…it just took a little sleuthing to work out which gymhad a diLorenzo on staff. It wasn’t exactly a common name. Thefirst phone call had been a definite shock; the second disturbedhim more, because it suggested that Jordan planned to call until hecaved in.
Thank God Vic had been there for that secondcall.
As he wrapped his lover’s injured hand in clean whitegauze, covering a large bandage that rested in Vic’s palm to stopthe bleeding, Matt struggled to figure out what it was he felt.He’d been full of himself just a half hour earlier, flirting withVic as if they were alone, touching his lover’s body, claiming himwith kisses they usually kept out of the public eye. Kyle’sdiscomfort emboldened Matt, egged him on—though he had nothing toprove, he still couldn’t help rubbing it in his ex’s face.See? he wanted to say whenever Kyle looked his way. Hewasn’t a frigid bastard or a cock tease, someone who kept his pantson and firmly belted despite all efforts to get into them. Itwasn’t me, it was you. He wanted Kyle to see just how loving hecould be, just how completely he could give himself to another, theright other.
To Vic.
Matt frowned at the gauze as he continued to wind itaround Vic’s hand. His lover’s lips rested on the back of Matt’sneck, just below the hairline, and every so often, Vic’s tonguewould lick out and taste Matt’s skin. ::You’re too good tome,:: Vic mused, the thought passing between them unbidden.::What would I do without you?::
Aloud, Matt teased, “Bleed to death, I suspect.”
A different answer rose in his mind and before Mattcould tamp it down, Vic plucked it like a weed from his thoughts.::Without me, you wouldn’t have these damn powers. You wouldn’thave blown up the cooler, and you wouldn’t be bleeding right now.Without me—::
Vic snipped the rest of that thought off like abruised bud and threw it away. ::Without you, I’m not me,::he answered, his lips pressed against Matt’s nape, as if he couldpour his own thoughts and emotions into Matt, fill him up with thelove he felt and crush any doubts that might remain.
* * * *
The minutes passed, each one long and drawn out, likewarm taffy on a hot day. Outside Matt could hear laughter, thesplash of water in the pool, male voices calling out to each other.Once he heard Kyle in the kitchen, slamming cabinet doors andyelling for them to hurry up, the food was about to hit the grill.Then footsteps creaked across the hardwood floor to stop on theother side of the closed bathroom door; even without Vic’s superpowers, Matt knew it was their host, hovering, an ear against thedoor and one hand raised to knock as he debated on whether or notto interrupt them. Matt heard or imagined he heard faint measuredbreath, and he wrapped Vic’s injured hand in both of his, waitingKyle out.
Vic spoke, startling him. “We’ll be right out,” hesaid, his voice gruff and loud in the small bathroom.
Kyle knocked on the door twice in confirmation. “Youall right in there?”
“Fine,” Matt replied. He waited for the footstepsthat led Kyle away, then stood with a stretch. The bathroom was soclose, so intimate, that he was loathe to leave it. And what, goback out there? With Kyle, and Jordan, and God knew who else?
Reading his mind, Vic pressed his face into the smallof Matt’s back and murmured, “You want to ditch this party?”
“No.”
If they left now, what would be said? Jordan wouldthink Matt was running away, Kyle would think Vic had been moreinjured than he was, and everyone else would think these few quietmoments spent together had been a booty call they were rushing hometo finish. No, he didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to run andhide. Why should he? What had he done wrong?
No, he could do this. Vic’s arms eased around hiswaist, hugging him tight, infusing him with strength. With Vic athis side, what would Jordan say? What could he say? His ownboyfriend was here; regardless of whatever shit he’d been talkingon the phone, Matt suspected that Jordan wouldn’t be so quick tobother him with Kyle nearby. And if he did?
Well, Matt didn’t think Vic would stand for that.
“Damn straight,” his lover growled, his voicereverberating down Matt’s spine. “You enjoy yourself, Matty. Youhear? Let me deal with that ass. If he so much as looks atyou, I’ll blow his fucking head up next.”
With a laugh, Matt stroked Vic’s arms. “I like thisside of you,” he admitted. “So…possessive.”
“You’re mine,” Vic said, “and I ain’t giving you upany time soon.”
* * * *
Chapter 17
After the cool interior of the house, the brightsunlight outside made Matt squint as he stepped onto Kyle’s backporch. The smell and sizzle of grilling burgers filled the air. Atthe bottom of the porch steps, Jordan stood over the hot grill, apair of tongs in hand, an unctuous grin on his wide lips. Kyle wasnearby, arranging burger buns on a platter. From where he stood onthe porch, Matt could see sun-pinked scalp shining through Kyle’slight, thinning
