Shivers

by Remmy Duchene

  “He seems to be out of control once more. He just caused a windstorm in the Sahara. It killed seventeen people, five of them children. Normally, I would not be worried, but we both know Aerios is never up to any good, especially when he disappears for six months then shows up out of the blue. To make matters worse, he then hammered it with rain—more rain than the place has seen in the past forty-five years. The people are furious. We know this is a small scale for him and whenever he does something like this it always leads to—”

  “Something bigger. I know.” Ciro nodded again. “I will have a word with him. I have not heard of any plots and Sisqo has not found anything, either. But lately I have been having this feeling as if I am being watched.”

  “That was probably him.”

  “Or Sisqo is right and I am just being paranoid.”

  Ares chuckled. “What is it the humans say? Just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you? He is rather secretive, which is what I am afraid of. When you wish to find him, he is nowhere and when you wish him gone, he is everywhere. He is so much like a child—when he gets too quiet go and find him for he is up to something, and chances are it’s either painting the dog’s toenails or lighting fires under the bed. Be careful. If you need me and Osaki, we will be there.”

  “And Adrestia, no doubt.”

  Ares chuckled. “But of course. It isn’t a war if my beloved daughter isn’t there.”

  “Touché. Thanks for this.”

  “You be careful.”

  With a smile and a hug, Ciro vanished once more.

  * * * *

  He spent the next few days trying to find his brother, but it was the ultimate lesson in futility. He searched all the usual places with no luck. When Aerios didn’t want to be found—which was most of the time—he remained lost. When he did want to be found, there was always destruction leading right back to him.

  “I am not certain what else we can do,” Osaki said, leaning back in the chair and crossing his legs atop the center table. “We have spent the better part of the last few days searching for a ghost.”

  “Yeah,” Ciro replied. “Do you think I should go and see Mother? Perhaps she would know where I can find him.”

  “I am not sure that is wise,” Osaki reminded him. “I know she gave you her blessings but I do not think she wants to be an instrument in this war.”

  “She may not have a choice.” Ciro got up to grab a couple of bottles of juice from the fridge. He loved the way the grape tasted. “I will just have to show her that leaving Aerios free is worse than having him dead—again.”

  “All this destruction by them for no reason,” Osaki pointed out. “I do not get it. I want them to answer the same nagging question that has been plaguing me for years now—why do this?”

  “You will not get an answer to that, my friend.”

  “I guess. I found that man you wanted me to look for,” Osaki pulled something from the pocket of his luxurious kimono and placed it on the table. “But I must ask this.”

  Ciro sat and picked up the piece of paper. “What?”

  “Is now the best time to look for your mate? I mean, now, when Aerios is so out of control—when he is obviously up to mischief?”

  “I have thought of that.”

  “What is the conclusion you have reached?”

  “I cannot stop thinking of this man. I have tasted him, Osaki. I know the couture of his body, the smell of his flesh… I need him.”

  Osaki nodded. “If you think he is the one Aphrodite has spoken of, then by all means. But I am still a bit confused as to why the oracle was wrong.”

  “I have been wondering about that as well. But my heart and body craves this human, so that has to mean the oracle was not correct.”

  “Are you not concerned by this?”

  Ciro nodded. “I am. But there is nothing I can do about it right this moment. I cannot leave to tend to the oracle, so I will see what happens.” He looked at the paper Osaki gave him and arched an eyebrow. “He is an architect?”

  Osaki nodded and rose. “I must get back to Olympus. I feel my powers beginning to wane.”

  “That still happens? I thought they fixed that.”

  “No. That is the downside of being given a special pass into Olympus. My powers weaken the longer I stay away from it. There is no way of fixing it—that is the fine print they do not warn you about.”

  Ciro stood and hugged his friend. “Thanks again for the help.”

  “Any time, my friend. I will call if I need help,” Ciro promised. “Right now, I must find Carter.”

  Osaki nodded, stepped away with a slight bow and vanished.

  Ciro looked at the piece of paper in his hand once more, memorized the address then shoved it into his pants pocket. He picked up his coat and, while shrugging into it, made his way out of the door.

  He tried figuring out a way to explain how he knew where Carter worked but as he reappeared outside and jogged up the large front steps, he had nothing. Carter Olabasu Architecture adorned the outside of the building, looking quite lovely with a rather elegant logo. A security guard’s desk sat to the far right of the brightly lit lobby. Pictures from unnamed painters hung off the pristine silver walls, and designer light fixtures were suspended from the high ceiling. Ciro was impressed. Carter Olabasu had good taste and was obviously wealthy.

  He stopped at the security desk as per a sign in the center and leaned over the counter. “I’m here to see Carter Olabasu.”

  “Your name?”

  “Ciro.”

  “Hold on.” The officer picked up a phone and dialed. “Hey, Carter—I got a man here to see you. Says his name is Ciro…uh-huh…sure thing.” The officer stopped to laugh at something said to him on the other end. “Will do. And if you keep that up, we’ll both be out of a job…okay, talk soon.”

  When he hung up and faced Ciro once more, he nodded then motioned to the large glass doors straight across from him. “Go ahead. I’ll buzz you through. Go to the twentieth floor and it’s to the right just out of the elevator.”

  Ciro was tempted to tell the guard he didn’t have to be let into anywhere but remembered his powers were to be kept from humans. “Thanks.”

  He allowed himself to be buzzed in then followed the instructions. A smiling woman—one with a fake smile—greeted him then ushered him into Carter’s office. The moment he entered, Carter stood and motioned for him to a seat.

  “Deidre, please hold all my calls,” Carter said in a voice that said all business.

  “Yes, Mr O.”

  Ciro smiled at that. It may not seem like much to anyone else but it said Carter wasn’t only boss, he was a beloved boss.

  He turned and watched the door until it clicked closed. Falling into the chair, he stared at the dark-skinned man and tilted his head. Was it possible he’d gotten sexier over the few days he hadn’t seen him? Then again, the first time he’d lain eyes on the man it had been in a dark club with music blaring and women grabbing his ass.

  Carter sat and faced him. “How’d you find me?”

  “Would you believe Google?” Ciro asked. When Carter tilted his head, Ciro chuckled and shook his head. “It wasn’t like it was hard. Your name is on the outside of the building. I just had to ask around.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Well, there is only one Carter Olabasu in the phone book,” Ciro lied, crossing his legs before him. “I just took a chance, hoping it was you. You are shocked.”

  “Truthfully? Yes. I mean, I didn’t know you were that interested. Normally, these things end in passing flirtations then we both leave Firewall and go back to life as though we never met.”

  Ciro smiled and uncrossed his legs. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, meeting Carter’s eyes. “Trust me—I am very interested. Can I take you out for lunch?”

  Carter eyed the pile of folders on his desk. “Er.”

  “If Mohammed cannot go to the mountain, I must bring the mountai
n to Mohammed.”

  “You would bring me lunch?”

  “I would bring you anything, Carter,” Ciro admitted. “Now, what do you want to eat?”

  A smirk tugged at the corners of Carter’s lips. “That, my friend, is very a loaded question. But I feel a need for Greek today.”

  Ciro nodded and stood, desperately trying to hide his knowing smile “Give me about twenty-five minutes.”

  Carter shook his head but he couldn’t help a smile. He tried getting back to work but just couldn’t concentrate. Instead, he walked to the window, folded his arms and stared out. The view of the city was breathtaking. Each time he looked, he couldn’t help thinking how perfect the choice was to put his office in that corner of the building. It wasn’t overly flooded with sunlight when the sun was high but cast the perfect amount of light and shade. He continued enjoying the view outside. It was part city, part water. When he wanted to hammer out a thought, he stared at the buildings around him, most of which he’d designed and his brother had sold. When he wanted peace and quiet, he turned to the water. Many decisions had been made staring out at that view.

  His mind drifted back to Ciro. He couldn’t remember the last time a man had been interested enough to look him up for personal reasons. All the others had wanted something—money, sex, a break into the architectural world. Something told him it was still early for Ciro to ask for anything but he had a good feeling about this one. He chuckled, feeling silly. There was no way he could know anything about Ciro—they had only met for a grand total of a few minutes. He couldn’t allow the fact Ciro was just so damn sexy have all the bearing on what happened next—even if all he wanted to do was crawl over that desk and tackle his fine self to the floor.

  The ringing telephone jarred him from his thoughts. He inhaled deeply and took a step toward his desk to grab it. “Hello, Olabasu?”

  “Hello, baby brother,” Kofi greeted him. “I have a long lunch today and wanted to know if you would like to be my date. I’m buying.”

  Carter laughed. “I would love to. But I may have a lunch date.”

  “Lunch date? I didn’t know you were dating anyone?”

  “I’m not. Remember that guy from the club?”

  Kofi cleared his throat. “The one who bought you the drink?”

  “Yeah. Well he tracked me down, asked me out to lunch, but my desk is covered in paperwork so he offered to bring me back whatever I want.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I wanted Greek.”

  Kofi laughed. “Is he Greek?”

  Carter blushed. “Yes,” he replied sheepishly.

  “Well.” Kofi chuckled. “Enjoy your Greek. Call me later tonight? I really feel like dirt, the way we left things that night.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Kof. I’m over it.”

  “Just, call me later? Okay? Let’s have a beer together or something. Even if you’re over it, I’ll feel better just seeing you.”

  “All right. I’ll call you the moment I get home and take a shower. We can figure out what’s going to happen then, good?”

  “Awesome. I love you, Carter. I know I don’t say it much, especially after you came out. I just kind of assumed you knew and you didn’t need to hear it anymore.”

  “I do need to hear it. That was the worst part of it, you know? Thinking you no longer—”

  “But I do,” Kofi interrupted. “Love you, I mean.”

  Carter’s heart soared. He smiled. “I know, Kofi. And I adore you too.”

  No other words passed between them. Then there was the distinct click of the line disconnecting. For a moment, he held the phone against his forehead, wondering what just happened between him and his brother. It was true they’d replaced ‘I love you’ with ‘see you later’ or something equally as sterile, but the seriousness of what had just happened between them left him a little jittery. It felt like saying goodbye, but Carter knew better.

  A soft wind blew across his face. He couldn’t figure out where it came from. The windows to his office didn’t open for they were up too high. They were just glass panes that allowed the sunlight in, beautiful and efficient. Still, he felt like he was standing outside and the gentle wind was caressing him in ways he’d never experienced or felt before.

  Carter finally dropped the phone into the cradle and returned to his position by the window. He didn’t realize how long he’d been standing there until he felt someone enter his office. Carter turned around to find Ciro smirking at him with an armload of bags.

  “Where were you just now?” Ciro asked, walking forward. “I tried calling your name but you didn’t answer. I was just going to poke you.”

  Carter hurried around his desk to take two of the bags from Ciro. He set them down. “Close the door, would you?”

  “All right.”

  “Just had a conversation with my brother, and I was thinking,” he admitted, before peering into a bag. “Is that Galatopita?”

  “Yes. I got a few things because I did not know what you ate. Some men are picky eaters.”

  “You should come by my place when my brother Kofi and I are cooking. Nothing picky about it.”

  The two laughed.

  “I was just going to say my men have to know how to eat.” Ciro wiggled his brows.

  Carter chuckled. “I see.” He removed his jacket and rolled his sleeves up.

  Ciro shrugged from his trench coat and tossed it over the back of a nearby chair. Together they sat and ate in relative silence.

  That was until Carter couldn’t take it anymore. He sighed and pushed a piece of chicken into his mouth before shoving his plate away and leveling his gaze on Ciro. “Tell me, what’s a man like you doing single?”

  “A man like me?”

  “Yes—sexy, obviously successful—”

  “You think I’m sexy? And how do you know I’m single?”

  Carter made a face and reached for his plate again. “Answer my question first.”

  “I’m single because I’ve been looking for a specific type.”

  “You’ll have to be a little more specific, Ciro.”

  “Handsome, smart, sexy—open minded.”

  Carter arched an eyebrow. “I see…and what do you think of me?”

  “Well, I think you have most of those things. I know this is way out there, but does it say anything about me that all I have been thinking about doing since I walked into this room is tossing you across that desk and fucking you hard from behind while you yell my name?” He raised his shoulders then let them fall. “Aw hell, I probably should not have said that.”

  In the process of swallowing, Carter almost choked. His cock jerked to attention and began throbbing. He loved the idea of being manhandled by Ciro. But he had to be a gentleman—he had to think like an adult and not with his penis. He licked his lips, and suddenly it was becoming harder and harder to sit still. He bowed his head, silently stewing in his aching arousal.

  “I am sorry. I really should not have said that,” Ciro said softly.

  “Ciro…”

  “I know—it is too fast.”

  “That too. Look, we’re both adults here. If we agree to it, there shouldn’t be any problems. With that said, I’m not a slut. I don’t just sleep with someone because he thinks I’m hot.”

  Ciro smiled. “And I do not expect you to. Honestly, sleeping with someone because they think you are hot is a horrible reason.” He stopped speaking, chewed then continued, “I expect you to sleep with me because I have seduced you and you cannot live without me.”

  “I like that—sure of yourself. Ciro, the truth is that I would love to have you as a lover. But you have to understand that in today’s world, I can’t have you sleeping with others while you’re with me. It probably sounds like I’m asking for a commitment but I…”

  “I have no fear of commitments,” Ciro interrupted. “I would have no need for others—I can tell you know how to please your man.”

  “And how can you tell that? By loo
king at me?”

  For a moment, Ciro said nothing. He merely stared at Carter in a slow, heated way with a smirk on his lips. Carter trembled and hoped it wasn’t visible.

  “You could say that,” Ciro replied, reaching for a napkin. “I can tell because of your mouth.”

  Carter touched his lips. “What’s wrong with my mouth?”

  “Nothing.” Ciro smiled. “It is perfect—that is why. Anyway, I love it that you are a one-man kind of guy. And yes, I understand your worries about sleeping around. But we should take this slow—there are things in my world that you could never understand.”

  “Here we go,” Carter said as he bit off a piece of chicken and chewed, staring at Ciro. “Look, I’ve heard it all before, so save it. Let’s just enjoy the meal and then we can go on to being friends. That whole desk thing and the conversation before it didn’t happen, okay?”

  “Carter…”

  “No—it’s fine, really. I understand.” Carter smiled.

  “No, you do not understand.”

  Ciro walked over to hunch down before Carter. “Carter, listen to me. The moment I felt you, I knew I wanted you. I saw you and every part of me wanted to taste you—touch you, but my life is not something that I should bring someone into. But damn, I want you.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Because I crave you. Lust is a confusing thing.”

  “I’m right here.” Carter cradled Ciro’s face. “Just reach out and touch me.”

  “I don’t want to be selfish.”

  “Damn it, Ciro. I don’t like games, so if this is one of those head games, you can leave the same way you came in and…”

  Ciro snapped his head up and his gaze roamed to the window. He rose as though Carter hadn’t spoken. Stiffly, he moved to the glass and stared out.

  “No,” he whispered. “Not now.”

  “You can’t even focus.” Carter pushed from the seat and walked up behind him. “We’re trying to have a serious…”

  He trailed off from there. Right outside his window, swirling violently and inching closer to the glass, was a tornado. Carter was more than confused but didn’t have time to ask questions. Suddenly, the funnel made its way toward the building, and Ciro tackled him to the floor and covered Carter’s body with his own. Carter’s heart soared but crashed suddenly. The glass shattered inward, and he knew Ciro would get hurt. He struggled to get up, for he had to protect Ciro from the flying glass, but Ciro held him to the ground, shielding his body.