Holding hands, Michael and Christian walked to the
park. They straddled a bench near the pond facing each
other, just staring into each other’s eyes. It was the same
bench where Christian had told him Charm had wanted to
sit and watch the sunrise, but Michael didn’t comment on it
in case it broke the spel . With each little movement
Michael was getting more turned on by the way Christian
ran his hands up under his shirt caressing him gently, it felt
as if his skin was on fire.
It was erotic how Christian shivered as Michael began
unbuttoning his shirt, sliding it off one shoulder. Leaning in,
he bit deeply into Christian’s shoulder but didn’t drink until
Christian pushed his mouth firmly over the wound. He only
needed a little.
No words were necessary, and when Michael had
finished he turned his head to the side. But Christian turned
it back, wanting his mouth instead. He groaned as
Christian lifted him until he was nestled into his lap, the tip
of his tongue circled around Michael’s hard nipple.
Arching his back Michael whimpered as Christian bit
him slowly, deeply, lovingly. As Michael relaxed he wrapped
his arms around Christian’s shoulders and laid his cheek
against the top of his head. Everything was perfect and
Michael softly sang “Something Short Of Paradise” as they
sat there. They stayed waiting until the sun rose and they
slowly disappeared.
“Do you think we wil ever get tired of the need for each
other?” Michael asked as Christian pul ed away. Leaning
down he licked the blood from around Christian’s mouth.
“God, I hope not. What were you just singing?”
He knew Christian wasn’t quite ready to relinquish him
from his lap just yet, so Michael hummed as Christian
wrapped his arms around his waist.
“I haven’t had nearly enough of you,” Christian said.
Michael chuckled, his movements made Christian’s
body respond in kind. “‘Something Short of Paradise’; it’s a
Tim Curry song. What about the promise you made me
earlier?” Michael pressed himself more firmly in place, “or
were you al talk?”
“What? Right here—right now?”
“No one can see us, but we could find a better spot than
this hard bench.” Michael slid off of Christian and pul ed him
to his feet. “Why don’t we finish what we started under the
trees yesterday,” he added before pul ing him across the
path.
Michael loved the way Christian fit perfectly along the
length of his body; it was as if they had been made for each
other. Fighting the need for sleep, his eyes closed for but a
moment, yet it was enough for Sebastian to enter his mind.
“You will pay dearly for crossing me.”
Michael felt the venom with which each word was
spoken.
“You have taken from me so now I will take from you.”
For the first time Michael decided to taunt him back.
“Why do you never show yourself? Are you afraid to face
me?”
“I will face you when the time is right and not before.
There are things still needing to be set in motion before
that day arrives. What you have taken from me I will get
back, but what I take from you will be gone forever. Enjoy
him while you can.”
Michael laughed, “You will never have him back— he is
mine.”
“For now,” Sebastian sneered.
“Forever,” Michael stated with conviction.
§ § § §
Christian knew he was dreaming, just as he knew
Sebastian somehow captured him and brought him into
elsewhere. Sadly he remembered being here before. He
hated this place; hated it with a vengeance and feared it.
Suddenly it dawned on Christian — this time he wasn’t
meant to leave here alive.
It was then he knew Michael had been wrong. He real y
was one of the ones who died. At least he didn’t have to
keep worrying about losing Michael now. Maybe this was
for the best after al .
Grimacing as another wave of pain washed over him,
Christian knew before the end came he would be begging
for his own death. He also knew his death was going to be
as slow and as painful as possible.
“Michael, I love you.” He screamed as darkness came
and claimed his world.
§ § § §
When Michael woke it was dusk and Christian seemed
to be twitching in pain beside him. Worriedly, Michael
tightened his arms as Christian screamed out. When
Christian’s spasms subsided, Michael urged him to get up
before someone came to investigate and found nothing but
two set of clothes. They had discovered that while they
were wearing their clothes they faded out with them, but
once they had been removed the clothes reappeared.
They stood stil for a moment, Michael holding onto
Christian to prevent him from moving as a couple passing
by stopped to listen. When no further movement came they
resumed their walk. Michael had to lead Christian most of
the way home as he couldn’t seem to focus on where he
was going. Twice he nearly walked out into the traffic. In the
end it was easier for Michael to carry Christian as fresh
waves of pain hit his lover.
Pausing in the doorway, Michael nodded to Doyle as he
carried the unconscious Christian to their room. He was too
distraught to answer when Doyle asked what had
happened.
Michael had just laid Christian on top of their bed when a
very worried Charm burst into their room, fol owed closely
by Kerr.
“What happened?” Charm demanded.
Michael shook his head as Christian’s eyes fluttered
open.
“Christian! ” Charm tried to get a response out of him.
“Chris, do you remember anything?”
“Yes,” Christian mumbled. Michael watched as a fresh
wave of pain rol ed through him. “Don’t take your clothes off
when you’re invisible, they reappear.” He tried to laugh, but
it came out more as a groan and Michael’s heart broke al
over again.
“I’m so sorry Michael. I love you!” Christian closed his
eyes and never re-opened them. Dropping to his knees
beside the bed, Michael sobbed.
Charm turned to Michael, “What happened?”
“I think he’s being punished.” Michael’s heart felt
shattered and tears streamed down his face. He got up and
sat on the edge of the bed, tenderly holding onto Christian’s
hand. Every so often he brought it to his lips.
“I had a dream about Sebastian. He told me I was going
to pay for taking what was his. He said he was going to
take what was mine. He said, what I had taken from him he
would get back, but what he is going to take from me wil be
gone forever.” Michael raised his eyes to Charm’s. “I think
he is trying to kil Chris.”
Wrapped up in his world of pain, Christian knew better,
punished, but Sebastian wasn’t trying to kil him — not yet,
anyway. Keeping Christian here was just the distraction so
they wouldn’t realise until too late what Sebastian was real y
up to. Christian knew Sebastian was going to keep him
here, locked in pain as he had done so many times before.
He was devastated when he realised he would never be
able to see Michael’s beautiful face again, and now
Michael would hate him for what Sebastian was planning
on doing.
The whole house came running as Doyle’s blood
curdling scream spil ed out of him. They found him in the
hal way on his knees, his head cradled in his hands.
Kerr dropped to his knees beside him, enfolding Doyle
into his arms. “What’s wrong? What’s happening to you?”
Doyle raised his tear stained face to Michael’s. “Go!
Run! Now!”
Michael stood as stil as a statue. Where was he meant
to run to? Then as the laughter fil ed his head he smel ed
the smoke and heard Gypsy scream deep inside him.
Crying out, he turned and ran through the house and out into
the night. He didn’t stop until his parents’ house came into
view.
He was too late.
Pushing his way through the crowd which had gathered,
Michael dropped to his knees sobbing in pain at what he
was seeing. The house was engulfed in flames so thick it
would have been impossible for anything to survive. It
burned with a strange intense ferocity. It just couldn’t be
natural.
“Son, do you know the family who lived here?”
With tears blinding his eyes, Michael looked up into the
face of a policeman. He found it hard to focus through his
pain.
“My parents, my sister,” Michael tried to stand up to talk
to the officer but he couldn’t. His legs were shaking
uncontrol ably. “What happened?”
“The cause is undetermined at this stage. We’l know
more after forensics has been through.”
A voice yel ed for him and Michael spun around as he
heard his name being cal ed. Only one person cal ed him
Mikey.
“Gypsy!” Michael shouted, shocked. Mrs. Cordel from
next door held Gypsy in her arms.
Gypsy had her arms held out reaching for him, cal ing out
to him again.
“Michael,” Mrs. Cordel had tears flowing down her
cheeks. “Your poor parents. I woke up and found Gypsy in
the yard. She’s hurt her ankle. Charlie pushed her out the
top floor window.” Mrs Cordel was shaking with shock as
she explained.
Michael didn’t object when she pul ed him into her
embrace and held him while he wept.
It seemed hours had passed before the police final y
al owed him to take Gypsy and leave. His head was fil ed
with al the questions they had thrown at him. The walk
home was the longest night in his life. He vaguely
remembered stopping and buying a drink for Gypsy, though
he couldn’t remember if he said anything to the store
attendants — or even what they looked like — or if Gypsy
had even drunk it.
He felt empty… his heart went out to Gypsy. He half
carried her as they walked. How was he supposed to
explain to her their parents were never coming back and it
was completely his fault?
How was he meant to explain anything at al ?
To be continued in book two: Living in Shadows.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NJ needs to write like she needs to breathe… It is an
addiction that she never intends to find a cure for. When
you don’t find NJ writing about the wonderful men in her
stories you find her reading work by others… NJ lives in the
SE of Qld, Australia with her family who al encourage her
writing career even if she does occasional y cal them by
her character’s names… NJ thinks that anyone taking the
time to read her stuff is total y awesome.
TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author acknowledges the trademark status and
trademark owners of the fol owing wordmarks mentioned in
this work of fiction:
10 Things I Hate About You: Touchstone Pictures, Buena
Vista
Pictures,
Walt
Disney
Studios
Home
Entertainment
Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Die Hard: With a
Vengeance: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
“Something Short of Paradise”: A&M Records, Universal
Music Group, Tim Curry, Michael Kamen, and Dick
Wagner
Yoda: Lucasfilms Ltd.
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TA Chase
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The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386
On the Web: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
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Project is a grassroots, non-profit organization founded by
a gay male survivor of domestic violence and developed
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supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy
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Rules Are Meant to Be Broken Page 28
