***
“There you are.” Sylvia Lewis said when Shane entered her bedroom. She was sitting in bed with her back against the headboard, reading. She removed her reading glasses and patted the space beside her. “Come sit here.”
Shane toed off his loafers and went to sit beside his mother. “Before you say anything, I’m not sleeping in a separate room.” He stated.
Sylvia turned to stare at her son for a moment and then burst into laughter. “I didn’t expect you to son. Even when you were kids, I couldn’t stop you two from sleeping in the same bed. Not going to try now.”
“I’m glad we understand each other.” Shane grinned.
“So… Chris huh?” Sylvia said softly.
“Yes. Chris. Are you okay with it?” Shane asked quietly.
“And what would you do if I wasn’t?” Sylvia shot back.
Shane gave a deep sigh and shrugged. “I guess I’ll be sad because I can’t stop being with him, Ma. He makes me feel whole.” Shane whispered. “Like that piece of myself that’s always been missing has been filled. I just…after all he did to me, I told myself I was better off with him out of my life… I tried to convince myself that I hated him. I thought I was in control but… I just couldn’t help myself.”
“Listen to me son, when you love someone, you have no control. That’s what love is…being powerless.” Sylvia gave a tremulous smile.
“All he has to do is smile at me and suddenly, everything is perfect.” Shane shook his head slowly, his eyes showing the intensity of feeling he had for Chris. “I guess it’s true what they say huh? First cut is the deepest. I love him, Ma. I never stopped loving him. And when I saw him again, I just didn’t stand a chance.” Shane gave a deep sigh. “I just hope I’m not making a mistake, Ma.” Shane whispered, finally letting out that tiny shred of uncertainty and fear. What better person to pour his heart to than his mother, he asked himself shakily.
Sylvia turned and gathered her son into her arms. “You’re not making a mistake son. You love him. And that boy loves you. Take a chance on him. And for the record, I still love him too.”
“Thanks Ma. You’re the best.” Shane murmured squeezing Sylvia lightly. “Thank you for forgiving him. He was a mess.”
Sylvia laughed softly as she sat back. “Well, unlike your stubborn self, I forgave him a long time ago. I made sure I knew where he was and what he did. I wanted to know that he was okay. I even attended Mr. Donovan’s funeral.” Sylvia picked up her book, suddenly looking like she was more interested in what had been written in there. She could feel the shock waves coming off her son and braced herself.
Shane wasn’t fooled by his mother’s sudden interest in the book even for a second. Maybe if she’d been smart enough to put on her reading glasses… “What?” No wonder his mother had made Chris out so easily. To say Shane was shocked would be an understatement.
“He was my boy, Shane. Get over it.” Sylvia didn’t even look up from her book.
Shane looked at his mother’s bent head for a moment. “I love you, Ma.” He said and leaned forward to kiss his mother on the cheek.
“Love you back, son. Now go be with your man.”
And that night, in Shane’s bed, the two men didn’t have sex. They simply held each other, grateful to whatever supreme power that had made their paths cross once again.
***
“So Dean did this?” Shane asked as they went through the gate of Chris’ classically elegant home.
“Yep.”
“He’s good. This is simply beautiful.” Shane looked impressed.
“Wait till you see the inside.” Chris grinned.
When they landed at the airport, Shane had suggested they go to Chris’ house to spend the night. He would go home in the morning and change for work. So there they were, with Shane excited about going round to see the beautiful work of architecture Dean had put up.
“Wow!” Shane breathed when they entered the foyer. “This is classy. Don’t you have a housekeeper or something?”
“I do.” Shane chuckled, looking through the mail on the unique table standing tall in the foyer. “Well my real housekeeper has traveled to take care of family business. The one I have now was supposed to step in for three months. Not as good as the original but…can’t complain.” Chris shrugged. “I’m sure she’s probably out or something. I did tell her I was traveling and would be back today anyway so I’m sure she hasn’t gone far. I’ll just put my stuff upstairs.” Chris said, picking up his bag and turning towards the stairs but the phone chose that moment to ring, making Chris groan.
“Listen to it.” Shane said, reaching for Chris’ bag. “Let me take this up. Which room?” Shane asked as he started up the stairs.
“First room to your left. Thanks.” Chris called out as he reached for the phone. “Chris here…”
Shane was so impressed with the work and skill that had gone into the building. When he got to the top of the stairs, he went to stand in front of a beautiful painting and admired it. He wasn’t surprised Chris’ home would have such a painting. The man loved art. When Shane got to the door to the room that Chris had said was his, he placed the bag on the floor and opened it.
“It’s about time, baby.” Purred a guitar-shaped, naked red-head on the bed.
Shane froze.
The scene that met Shane’s eye was like an erotic one, out of a karma sutra movie. The voluptuous lady on the bed was stark naked. She had on really high red fuck-me heels and her eyes were tied with what looked like a red neck tie. Scattered across the bed, like rose petals, were packets of condoms. Even those were red too. If not for the fact that Shane was too shocked and distracted, he would have laughed at the fact that Chris was expected to use all those condoms. What shocked him even more was the way the red-head was busily playing with herself. Shane almost laughed.
“What are you waiting for, stud?” Crooned the lady. “Haven’t you missed me? I sure did miss that huge cock. See how wet I am for you? I need this hungry hole filled like yesterday, baby.” She was by then vigorously fucking herself with her fingers and pulling on her nipples.
Shane couldn’t move a muscle. He just stared at the lady totally shocked, till her shocked voice snapped him out of his trance.
“You’re not Chris.” The red-head gasped the obvious. That was when Shane realized she’d taken off her blindfold and was staring at him. “Who are you? And where’s Chris?” She asked, looking neither scared nor upset. It rather looked like she was checking out Shane. At least she had stopped fucking herself, Shane thought with relief.
“Err… I’m sorry.” Shane said in a surprisingly normal voice. “Chris is downstairs. I’m sure he’ll be with you in a moment.” With that, Shane turned around and left.
Tracy stared at the empty doorway and smiled. “Well, that’s one hot guy.” She murmured. Then taking a deep breath, she screamed. “Chris, where the fuck are you?”
Chris had just started up the stairs when he heard Tracy’s voice. He froze. His heart didn’t freeze too though. It pounded so hard and loud he wouldn’t have been surprised if it had fallen out of his chest…still beating.
“Oh crap!”