Siren's Song

by Kaye Draper

  Luca pulled up in front of Grey’s trailer and put the car in park. Grey unbuckled his seat belt, but Luca grabbed his arm before he could get out. “Grey. Just…will you just listen to me? Seriously? It’s been years since The Change. There’s nothing to say that things will ever go back to the way they were. And even if they did, it would only complicate things!” He looked down and when he spoke again, his voice had softened. “I love you. I don’t think I should have to hide that.”

  “Luca….” Grey’s eyes welled up with tears. He was being unfair to Luca. The stubborn guy was willing to turn his whole world inside out and upside down just to love him. But Grey couldn’t let him. He wasn’t that selfish. “It’s just easier this way,” he said softly. “Then no one gets hurt.”

  Luca lifted his hand to cup Grey’s cheek. “Except us, right? Cause I don’t know about you, but I think this hurts.”

  Grey closed his eyes. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Luca’s lips brushed his and Grey leaned into him, drinking him in. He felt more conscious than ever of his strange male body. His thin, hard frame. The way he grew hard just from the press of Luca’s wide mouth on his. Luca was like a drug, and wanting him made everything else seem unimportant. Like he’d do anything to get one more hit of Luca—one more touch, one more kiss, one more smile.

  Grey pulled away. He couldn’t do this. Not today. “I’ll…see you later.” He made to exit the car, but Luca stopped him with a hand on his wrist.

  He snaked a long arm behind his seat and came up with a small, neatly wrapped package. “Take this with you.”

  Grey took the package without comment. He slammed the door and didn’t look back as he made his way through the snow to the front door.

  Grey was concentrating so hard on his own feet, trying not to slip and fall on the icy sidewalk, that he didn’t notice his father right away. A pair of shiny dress shoes came into view and he lifted his head, surprised. “Oh, hey, Rick.”

  His father’s expression was thunderous. Panic clawed at Grey as he followed his father’s gaze to the classy lines of the black Monte Carlo pulling away from their house. Even from this distance, Grey could see Luca behind the wheel. Which meant you could see whatever transpired within the car from here. Well, shit. Cat’s out of the bag.

  “Uh…hey, it’s cold. I’m going inside.” Grey made to step around his father, but Rick caught his arm in a bruising grip.

  “What the hell was that?” His father glared, outrage painted clearly on his face.

  Grey tried to shrug free. “I don’t know,” he said, tired of this whole mess. “You tell me.”

  “Are you…gay?” He said it like it was a dirty word, disgust dripping from every syllable. Wow…that was new.

  Grey laughed bitterly. “Gay? Gay?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Yeah dad, I’m gay. Have you missed the fact that I’m a girl?”

  His father grabbed his shoulders and gave him a sharp shake. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re a man, Grey.” He sneered at his daughter-turned-son. “Do you see a girl anywhere around here?”

  Stupid tears welled up in Grey’s eyes. Why should it even fucking matter anyway? “Dad….”

  Rick shook him again. “You will never see him again!”

  Grey had had enough. He threw up his arms in a violent motion, breaking his father's hold. “I’m a fucking adult, old man. I’ll do whatever, or whoever I please!”

  His father slapped him. Hard. “Grow up!”

  Grey didn’t think about it. He really didn’t. One minute he was standing there, face stinging, tears streaming down his cheeks like a bawling toddler, completely done with everything. The next thing he knew, his father was lying sprawled on his back in the snow, rubbing his jaw, eyes unfocused as he fought to stay conscious.

  Grey shook out his stinging knuckles. “You’re right. I’m not some obedient little girl. Make your own damned dinner tonight.”

  He turned and walked away, feeling tall for the first time in his life.

  *****

  Later that night, Grey sat on his bed avoiding Rick and staring at the package Luca had given him. “All that, and you still gave me a gift.” His boyfriend was so kind-hearted, so tolerant of all Grey’s hang-ups. Grey shook his head. Boyfriend. It just sounded absurd.

  He should give the gift back to Luca first thing in the morning. He had caused the man so much pain lately, Grey didn’t deserve his gifts. But before he realized what he was doing, his fingers were picking at the expensive ribbon—some ridiculous gray silk stuff shot through with pink plaid. The knot came free and he tore open the shiny silver paper.

  Inside was a neatly folded lavender scarf; the one he had admired when they were out shopping with Cameron what felt like ages ago. Tears filled his eyes and Grey flung himself back on his bed, one arm covering his eyes as if to hide his girly emotions from sight. Luca had been thinking of him, wanting him to be happy and accept himself, even then.

  Of course he had. This was Luca we were talking about. He was the most insightful, amazing person Grey knew. Luca deserved so much better.

  He rolled onto his side and brought the soft scarf to his face, guiltily inhaling the lingering scent of Luca that clung to it like a ghost.

  Chapter 46

  Grey and Luca’s next date didn't go as smoothly as the first one. And that was saying something, since the first one was a fucking disaster.

  Grey watched as the blond woman eeled her way around the dimly lit bar, smiling the smile of the truly, gluttonously happy. Every eye followed her as she passed. She swept by their table, her presence leaving behind the scent of sea air and the fading notes of the tune she was humming.

  Seeing her again, Grey was convinced. It really was his mother. She was here on the island, she was still a woman—somehow—and…there was something really creepy going on here.

  Luca’s eyes glazed over, and Grey shook him. “Not you too!”

  The guitarist shook his head and turned his slightly unfocused blue eyes on Grey. “Sorry, what?”

  Grey sighed in exasperation and tried to spot the golden-haired woman again. She had that mesmerizing effect on everyone she passed—like just being near her made people lose their damned minds. “That woman…there’s something odd about her.”

  Luca nodded slowly. “Yeah. She was in the café last night too.”

  Grey narrowed his eyes at him. Luca sounded just a tad bit…wistful. Grey stifled his instinct to bite out a snarky comment. Luca was right. The woman—his God damned mother—had been there last night, wearing a clinging red dress that was way too skimpy for the frigid weather and looking way too pleased with herself. Grey was just trying to figure out how to deal with her. So far, he’d chosen avoidance, but now she was popping up everywhere he went. “She seems a little too pleased with herself, don’t you think?” he muttered.

  Luca laughed, but it sounded hollow. “All of the tourists are overly pleased. They’ve been elevated to the status of goddesses by The Change. Any woman who comes here has a whole island of horny men at her beck and call.”

  Grey gave him a wry smile, but he was turning something over in his mind. Something about Luca’s words rang just a bit too true for comfort. “Do you think that’s it?” He grabbed Luca’s hand, drawing his full attention. “Do you think—I mean if it was possible—what if a woman did this to us just to have all the men to herself?”

  Luca raised a dark eyebrow, looking a little more with it…and like he was afraid of what kind of crazy Grey was going to spew next. “That’d be one hell of a trick.”

  Grey sighed. Okay, yes, it sounded crazy, even to his own ears. But honestly, something wasn’t right. Familiar, tinkling laughter filtered to him over the noise of the bar. Grey's mother, Anna, again, smiling the toothy grin of a predator while she laughed at a joke from the flustered bar tender. She was watching Grey and Luca from her place at the bar, her elbows resting on the wooden countertop and her generous breasts jutting out invitingly. As Grey w
atched, she slowly licked her lips. The bartender tapped her on the shoulder, and she took the two drinks he handed her, heading their way.

  Grey turned away as she sauntered over, but he could feel her behind him like a cold breeze. She came to the table and set a drink in front of each of them. Then she slipped into the booth beside Luca. “Mind if I join you?” she purred. Did she even realize that Grey was her daughter?

  Luca stared at her as if mesmerized, not protesting when she leaned close and slid a hand onto his thigh. “Beautiful men like you should never be alone.” She lowered her long lashes and feigned coyness.

  Grey felt his color rising. He instantly hated this bitch and wanted her out of his sight. Or dead. Run over by a truck would work. Or dismembered with his bare hands and fed to sharks. “Actually,” he said, managing to keep his voice cool, “we weren’t alone.” Grey slid his drink back to her. “I’m sure one of the other couple dozen men in here would love your company. But we’re not interested.” He turned a glacial stare on Luca. “Right, Luca?”

  Luca had been staring at the woman as if he was completely enamored. At the sound of his name, he blinked, then turned wide blue eyes on Grey and visibly shook himself. Grey’s irritation rose until there was a rushing in his ears, a sound like ocean waves that drowned out all the background noise in the bar. “Get your hand off him.”

  The woman stared at Grey. She didn’t seem offended at all, just surprised. Her eyes widened even further when Luca very deliberately grabbed her wrist and lifted her hand off his lap, setting it on the table like a dead thing.

  Her green eyes narrowed. She inhaled, long and slow. “I remember you now, trespasser...we met before, on the beach. Who are you?” Her voice held barely restrained fury.

  Grey shrugged. “None of your business, sweetheart.”

  She hissed—honest to God hissed—at him, showing teeth that were too sharp to be human. “You need to leave this island immediately, interloper.”

  Grey raised his eyebrows at her. Interloper? “Well, I can’t very well do that, now can I?” He gestured to his lovely male body as evidence. “Tell you what, how about you leave my island. Now.” He was surprised by the possessiveness in his own voice.

  A dawning look spread over the woman’s features. Her perfect lips stretched into a sly smile. “I see,” she said slowly. “Oh, I see.” Her gaze bored into Grey. “You are as stubborn as the man you call father. But we cannot share territory little one. Even if you are no longer female.”

  Her eyes darted between Luca and Grey. “You’d better hang on tight to your delicious little pet,” she said, reaching out to brush a silky black strand of hair behind Luca’s ear. “Or I just might eat him up.”

  With that, she stood and glided away. To Grey’s surprise, she grabbed up her little sequined purse from behind the bar and made a hasty exit from the building altogether.

  Grey turned to Luca to find himself being studied by a guarded blue gaze. "Someone you know?" Luca asked cautiously.

  Grey shook his head, still in denial, but the words were out of his mouth before he could think. "You could say that. But I've never seen my mom act that way before." His head was pounding, and he still felt all…off balance. Angry. How dare that bitch touch Luca.

  Luca looked uncomfortable. "You seemed like you didn't know her at first."

  Grey nodded, trying to get control of his raging craziness. "She's...different. She even looks different than I remember. I wasn't sure when I saw her on the beach that day, but it's her."

  It was hard to focus. His head was throbbing and his whole body itched with the need to…who knew? Hit something? Scream? Throw Luca on the table and rip his clothes off just to show everyone who he belonged to?

  What the actual fuck?

  The rushing ocean sound in his ears was still there, drowning out reason and common sense.

  “You okay, Grey?” Luca took out his wallet and put a couple of bills down on the table. "How about we call it a night?" he asked, his eyes darting around the room as if he was on edge too. Then his gaze locked on Grey, and a warm sensation started in Grey’s gut. "Come home with me?"

  Grey suddenly forgot all about his estranged parent, which he strongly suspected was Luca's plan. But he didn't care. He recognized that look in Luca's eyes. Neither of them were drunk this time, but Grey was willing to bet they wouldn't spend the night sleeping, and the strange possessive yearning inside him demanded he hurry the fuck up.

  Chapter 47

  Luca kissed Grey slowly, with a restrained passion that Grey could feel humming through his body like a tremor. Luca’s graceful musician’s hands cupped Grey’s face, then slipped upward through his hair, cradling the back of his head. Grey sighed into the slow, devouring kiss, and Luca moved lower, trailing his lips along Grey’s throat, dragging his graceful hands over his body, making him ache for more.

  Grey’s hands slid along the smooth planes of Luca’s broad shoulders and sculpted back, soaking in the feel of Luca’s heated body pressed to his. They’d played around a bit before, but this time was different. This promised to be more than just a brief moment of drunken passion. And he needed it so bad it burned. Grey's hands shook and his heart pounded, that ocean sound in his ears receding until all he could hear was the sound of their breaths, soft and gasping, filled with desperation and need. He had no idea what to do, only that he didn't want to stop.

  They slowly peeled each other’s clothes off between hungry kisses and caresses. Grey felt like he’d never get enough, like he was starving, his hands drawn right back to Luca’s skin every time he tried to focus on anything else. Eventually, they were naked, and Grey shivered at the contrast between his cool body temperature and Luca’s warm skin. Luca radiated heat, blushing and still a little awkward over being with a guy, but clearly determined not to let that stop him.

  They tumbled onto the bed and Luca continued his assault, leaving a path of breathless, shivering destruction in his wake. Luca’s touch was gentle, worshipful, as he slid lower. His big hand wrapped around Grey's erection and his silky hair tickled Grey's stomach as he bent his head to kiss the inside of Grey’s thigh while he stroked his throbbing cock. His motions were excruciatingly gentle and slow. Obviously, he wasn’t new to sex…just sex with a man. Grey wondered if this was the way Luca made love to a woman, so sweet and lovingly.

  Of course it was. And the realization brought sudden anger. Luca was touching Grey the way he would touch a girl. Wooing him, coaxing his body to respond to him in the only way he knew how. In the way he had learned to make love to Christine.

  The thought was absurd. But for some reason, Grey couldn’t make himself let go of the sudden, searing flash of jealousy.

  Grey’s hand fisted in the blankets, hating Luca’s touch even as his body thrilled to it. He dropped an arm over his eyes. Grey was just a weak substitute for Luca's lost girlfriend, though he could never be anything remotely like her. He was just the stand-in. A “for now” until the curse was removed, and life went back to normal.

  A sudden wash of desperation brought Grey surging upward just as Luca’s soft lips touched the sensitive tip of the throbbing proof that Grey was not, and could never be, his girlfriend. Luca looked up at him with surprise in his wide blue eyes, hastily sitting back on his heels.

  “Did I…did I do something wrong?” Luca’s deep voice was so vulnerable and hesitant, unsure. His long lashes swept downward, hiding his embarrassment. “Sorry. This is still a little new for me.” He cracked a lopsided smile. “And last time we were both a little out of it.”

  Grey couldn’t stand it. He caught Luca’s passion-dark eyes as he moved closer. Grey reached out to grasp the back of Luca's neck and pull him in, anger and jealousy burning in his chest, determined to show Luca just how unlike her Grey really was. Grey strained upward to meet Luca as he was pulled forward. He met Luca’s lips aggressively, his tongue plunging into Luca’s mouth, demanding and dominating. He took Luca's bottom lip between his teeth, teasing the p
iercing there, as he grasped his long, hard cock firmly in his other hand. Luca sucked in a sharp breath, and his hands spasmed against Grey’s back in surprise.

  Grey pulled back to find Luca regarding him with a sort of startled amusement. Grey released him, planted a hand in the center of Luca’s beautiful chest, and pushed. Luca toppled over willingly, his amusement fading in the wake of the desire that darkened his eyes. He started to speak, but Grey leaned forward, straddling him, and silenced him again with his mouth. Luca’s hands moved to embrace him, but Grey grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the bed beside him. Luca was bigger than Grey, and no slouch in the muscles department. He could overpower the smaller man if he really wanted to, but it wouldn’t be easy. Not like the fake struggle between a man and a woman.

  Grey worked his way down the long column of Luca’s throat, alternately kissing and nipping—contrasting the soft and the rough. He moved lower, pausing to tease Luca's nipple piercings with his teeth. Luca’s long arms tensed, straining against him slightly as Grey held him down and toyed with him to his heart’s content.

  Grey glanced upward once and nearly lost his nerve. Luca’s eyes were snapping with emotion, deep pools of steely blue that promised retribution. It sent a thrill through Grey’s body and he moved lower, pausing to slowly lick the sensitive skin along the groove of Luca’s hip. He resolutely kept his eyes on Luca’s and pretended that he was in charge—everything in him screaming that Luca was his.

  Finally, Grey released Luca’s arms, needing his hands elsewhere. He grasped Luca firmly, purposely rough as he pushed back his foreskin and took him into his mouth. Luca’s big hands tangled in his hair and Grey moaned a little, humming against his taught skin. He took in the length of him aggressively, roughly, trying to wash away any lingering thought of femininity from the act. Luca urged him on, his hands fisting in Grey’s hair, pulling it slightly as he thrust upward in time with Grey’s movements.