The Chimera Affair: Gay Romance

by Keira Andrews

  The man nodded and pulled on the cord of the motor, which roared to life. Sebastian and Kyle sat beside each other on the bench at the front of the boat. They cut through the water, back toward the lights of Positano. Sebastian looked back up at the villa, which was still in darkness. He’d knocked out all the circuits in the power box, which he’d found in the cellar pantry. Ben, please be okay. Please.

  He replayed the events of the past hours in his mind, flashes of images appearing. The Serbians collapsing, blood flowing into the wreckage. Kyle on his knees, Sebastian’s father holding a gun to him. Kyle being choked almost to death. Ben’s eyes shining, pulling the trigger, their father stumbling. The bloom of red on Arrigo’s chest as Kyle finished him off.

  A moment of grief overwhelmed him, and he swallowed a sob, blinking rapidly. Kyle’s warm hand covered his where it rested between them on the bench. Breathing deeply, Sebastian gripped it tightly and met Kyle’s eyes in the brightening night as the rest of the clouds rolled out.

  Sebastian wanted to tell Kyle he loved him. That he didn’t want to live his life without him.

  But he faltered. Kyle had been kind to him, no doubt. He’d saved his life. They’d shared their bodies. But Sebastian couldn’t fool himself into ever thinking it could be more than that. Tomorrow it would be over, and they’d never see each other again. Sebastian let go and folded his hands together in his lap. Kyle’s brow furrowed and he seemed to want to say something, but Sebastian turned away.

  As they approached the harbor, the driver removed his goggles and turned on the boat’s lights. They weaved among other vessels as they entered a marina in the south end of Positano. Marie stood on the end of the jetty, and as they neared, Sebastian saw she was smiling.

  She looked as polished and unruffled as she had several hours earlier—not a hair out of place, her lips freshly glossed. Sebastian felt as if he’d been through a meat grinder. They disembarked quickly, and the fishing boat disappeared back into the harbor.

  Marie led the way down the pier. “Mr. Brambani. I underestimated you. I saw there was a struggle in your room. I didn’t expect to see you again.”

  “Well, I’ve learned a few things this week.”

  She smiled. “Indeed you have. It’s a shame we can’t keep you, resourceful lad that you are.” Walking between Sebastian and Kyle, she slipped her hand through each man’s arm. “So. Do you have it?”

  Kyle nodded, and Sebastian remembered that the vial was still tucked away in the pack. He presumed Kyle had put it in a pocket unaffected by the parachute deployment.

  Marie exhaled. “Well, that’s one thing that has gone right this evening, then.”

  “Director?” Kyle was barely able to scrape the word out.

  Marie clucked her tongue, concern sharpening her features. “Do you need medical attention, Mr. Grant?”

  Kyle shook his head impatiently.

  “He escaped. But the cat’s out of the bag. He can’t return now. We just need to hunt him down. Not that it will be easy, but every agent in the world will be on the lookout. Do you know who the buyer was?”

  Shaking his head again, Kyle grumbled. His bare feet slapped on the sidewalk as they walked up to their hotel, and he seemed very tempted to kick something.

  “Well, one problem at a time, yes? I have a conference call with the section chiefs in twenty minutes. Kyle, you’ve made arrangements for Mr. Brambani? He should be gone first thing in the morning. For now there will be more than enough confusion and topics of conversation to distract them.”

  “What about the Chimera? How do we get rid of it?” Sebastian asked.

  “I have a courier waiting to take it to a lab. If the test is positive, they’ll…deactivate it, for lack of a better term. It involves chemical compounds and neutralization and things I don’t understand. But they’ll render it harmless, which is all that matters.”

  Outside the hotel, Kyle removed the Chimera from Sebastian’s pack and gave it to Marie. She smiled. “Enjoy the rest of your night, gentlemen. Mr. Brambani, it’s been a pleasure. Take care of yourself, mon cher.” She leaned in and kissed Sebastian on each cheek and then was gone.

  Kyle and Sebastian garnered a few puzzled glances as they hurried through the lobby, both wet and looking worse for wear. Inside their room, Kyle ensured the door was securely locked, and Sebastian locked the large window the Serbians had jimmied. When he turned, Kyle was squatting by a few drops of blood, drying into the faded marble. His nostrils flared. “You killed them?” His voice was barely there.

  “I never thought I’d be capable of that. But I was. I am. I…” He closed his eyes and tried to banish the memories from his mind. He stood up straighter. “I know they would have killed me. I did what I had to do.”

  Kyle nodded. They stared at each other for a long moment before moving together as one.

  One night left. Sebastian decided to enjoy every moment of it. Pressing gentle kisses to the bruises appearing on Kyle’s throat, Sebastian leaned into him, tightening his arms around Kyle’s waist. They undressed slowly and made their way to the shower, where they kissed softly and soaped each other’s bruised bodies.

  There was no fire in their caresses, and Sebastian felt that by unspoken agreement, they both wanted to make it last. His body hummed with building desire as they kissed and touched, finally making their way out of the shower. Kyle tried to speak as he ran a towel over Sebastian’s back, and grimaced.

  “Shh.” Sebastian put his finger to Kyle’s lips. “You’ll make it worse. Let the swelling go down.” He kissed Kyle’s neck, his tongue tracing the Adam’s apple. “I’ll talk for you.” He ran his fingertips down Kyle’s spine. “How do you want me?”

  Kyle groaned low in his throat.

  Sinking to his knees on the tiles in the steamy bathroom, Sebastian flicked his tongue over the head of Kyle’s cock. “Do you want me to suck you?” He teased Kyle’s balls with his fingertips as he took him into his mouth from tip to root before pulling back. “Do you want my mouth?”

  Kyle caressed Sebastian’s head as Sebastian swirled his tongue around the shaft, tracing the throbbing vein on the underside. Kyle rocked forward, clearly eager for more, but Sebastian eased back, sitting on his heels. “You want that? Or do you want my ass?”

  With a final kiss to the tip of Kyle’s cock, Sebastian stood and turned around. He spread his arms and leaned over, his back arching. “You want this?”

  Kyle moved in behind him and rubbed his cock along the crease in Sebastian’s ass as he reached around to pinch Sebastian’s nipples. Sebastian bit back a moan as he jolted with pleasure. Where they’d been all slow and steady, calm and gentle just minutes ago, now Sebastian felt as though a fuse had been lit, burning across his skin. “Do you wanna fuck me?” He arched back against Kyle’s rock-hard cock. “I want you to. I wish you could come inside me, fill me up.”

  With a strangled moan, Kyle grabbed for his shaving kit, tipping it over and yanking out a foil square. Sebastian knew they had to use protection, but God he wanted it raw. “I wish I could feel you without anything between us.” He gasped as Kyle pushed inside. He wasn’t using lube and it was rough and Sebastian pushed back. “More. Fuck me hard. Make me feel you for days.”

  Kyle grunted as he thrust in, and Sebastian moaned loudly as Kyle stretched him. Reaching around, Kyle wiped his palm over the mirror above the sink, and as the fog dissipated, Sebastian watched himself. Pupils dilated, he panted as Kyle slammed into him, one hand on Sebastian’s hip, the other wrapped around his chest for leverage.

  Their eyes met in the mirror, and as Sebastian moaned, Kyle nodded. Sebastian moaned again, louder. “I love your cock. I love it inside me. I love…” He gasped for breath, and then Kyle hit just the right spot inside and Sebastian could only cry out as his body flexed and vibrated.

  He felt as if he was being fucked out of his skin, and when Kyle took hold of his cock, Sebastian came, shooting all over the counter, even up onto the mirror as Kyle continued ramming
him. Then Kyle was shuddering, his mouth open in a silent cry as he filled the condom deep inside Sebastian.

  Both panting, they leaned against the counter, utterly spent. Sebastian tried to smile at Kyle in the mirror. Tried to keep his tone light. He wasn’t sure he was successful. “Did I leave anything out?”

  A bittersweet smile lifting his lips, Kyle simply pressed a kiss to Sebastian’s shoulder.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kyle rarely lingered in bed in the mornings. He usually woke at dawn, no matter what time he’d gotten to sleep the night before, and woke fully within a few seconds. He had no need for a snooze function on the rare occasions he set an alarm.

  Yet on this morning, Kyle stayed in bed, eyes closed, long after the first rays of dawn woke him. He listened to Sebastian’s gentle snore and held his warm body tightly against his own. Spooned behind him, Kyle kissed the back of Sebastian’s neck. Hair tickled his nose, and Kyle found himself smiling.

  Of course, what he should have done when he woke was get out of bed like every other morning. Go to the bathroom. Shower. Work. Do what he was supposed to do. Put Sebastian on the morning train. Stop thinking about him. Get back to normal.

  The thought of a return to routine should have been appealing. Comforting. A relief.

  Yet all Kyle could think of was how much he’d miss the man sleeping in his arms. How much he’d miss everything about him. His determination. His courage. His smile. His kisses. His body. His…everything. Kyle would miss everything.

  Sebastian stirred, and after stretching his sore, battered limbs, he turned in Kyle’s arms and rolled on top of him. He smiled sleepily. “Hi.” His smile faded after a moment, and he sighed. “I guess this is it.”

  Kyle reached up, brushing Sebastian’s cheek with the back of his fingers. He gazed intently at Sebastian’s face, memorizing his features. He’d never see it again—after the surgery Sebastian would be unrecognizable. He’ll be safe. That’s all that matters. He deserves a normal life.

  But the thought of never seeing this face again cut Kyle down to the bone, slicing through his resolve. A burst of energy and fear and longing flowed through him, and he drew Sebastian down for a deep kiss. Sebastian straddled him, his tongue meeting Kyle’s.

  When they broke apart for air, Sebastian sat up. Running his hand through Kyle’s hair, he smiled sadly. “I should get ready.”

  Kyle nodded but held on to Sebastian’s hips. He cleared his throat, which was still damn sore. “I’m sorry about your father.” His voice was better than the night before but still gravelly.

  After a moment Sebastian replied. “I’m not.” He shook his head. “I’m really not. Does that make me a bad person?”

  Kyle shook his head and brushed back Sebastian’s hair. “Your father was a bad person.”

  “But he was still my father. I should…I don’t know.”

  “Fathers aren’t always the men we want them to be.”

  Sebastian ran his fingertips across Kyle’s chest. “What about your father?”

  Kyle turned his head. “We should get ready.”

  “What did your father do to you?”

  Sighing, Kyle faced Sebastian’s inquisitive gaze. “It’s nothing. He didn’t take a hit out on me or anything. I shouldn’t complain.”

  Sebastian’s smile was rueful. “It would be hard to top that.”

  “All my life I wanted to be a cop like my dad. But I wasn’t like my older brothers. They won all the races, joined all the teams. I used to say I wanted to be a cop, and everyone would laugh. It wasn’t…” He cleared his sore throat. “They weren’t trying to be mean. But they didn’t think I had it in me.”

  “Clearly you proved them wrong.”

  Kyle wished he could feel satisfied about that, but there was only lingering sadness. “My brothers joined the force, and I worked my ass off in senior year to get in shape and pass the physical. I did, and I got into the academy.”

  “Didn’t that make your dad proud?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled wistfully. “He was really proud.”

  “So what happened?”

  “He caught me in the shed with Tommy Narracott from up the street.” Kyle remembered it like it was yesterday: his hand down Tommy’s pants, Tommy’s moans hot on his neck as Kyle got him off. His father’s disbelief. His rage. “He beat me black-and-blue. Kicked me out.”

  Sebastian watched him, sorrow pinching his features. “I’m sorry.” He still sat astride Kyle, and he rubbed soothing circles on Kyle’s chest.

  “He told me I’d never be a cop in Pittsburgh as long as he was alive. That I’d be a disgrace to the badge. To our family.”

  “What about your mom? Your brothers and sisters?”

  Kyle gazed at the ceiling as the memories burned white-hot. “I came back the next day, and there was a duffel bag on the stoop. Some of my clothes. A toothbrush. A wad of cash.” The money had been dusted with flour; he knew his mother kept a hidden stash in the canister in the kitchen. “I know they were inside—my mother and sisters. I could hear them crying. The walls were always so thin in that house.”

  “I’m sure they were afraid of your father.”

  Kyle clenched his jaw. “They could have stood up to him. They could have done something.”

  “Like my mother did?”

  “It’s not the same. My father loved them. He would never have hurt them. They could have tried to convince him.”

  “Maybe they did.”

  Kyle shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now. I left and never went back. The Association recruited me a month later. I was living in a Y in Philly. I don’t know how they found me, but that’s what they do.”

  “You should talk to your family. They must worry about you.”

  “They’re all fine. Lots of kids to take care of. They don’t need to worry about me.”

  Sebastian smiled. “You totally have files on all of them, don’t you?”

  Kyle had to laugh. “Of course.”

  “If they could see you now. I mean, maybe not right now, but in general. You’d kick any cop’s ass.” He leaned down and kissed him. “Thank you for telling me.”

  Kyle returned the kiss. He felt strangely lighter. He’d never told anyone about his family, not even Marie. Holding Sebastian close, he rocked his hips, rubbing their cocks together. This time they didn’t rush, and Kyle shuddered with desire as he watched Sebastian open himself up with lube-coated fingers. He rolled the condom onto Kyle’s dick.

  Sebastian had to be sore, and Kyle let him set the pace. Sebastian was hot and tight and good, and he rode Kyle quietly, moving up and down slowly, squeezing. They kissed languidly, tasting every inch of each other’s mouths, breathing together as they stoked the fire bit by bit until they tumbled over the edge. Kyle tried to ignore the mournful voice in his head telling him it was the last time. Sebastian rested on top of him, and Kyle held him tightly.

  But after a few minutes reality set in, and they silently untangled and got cleaned up and dressed. Kyle repacked his duffel and waited by the door. They left without a word.

  Marie had left the keys to the rental car with the front desk, along with a note.

  I’ll be in touch soon, Mr. Grant. I’ve been called to meet the section chief in person in the morning. Unusual. Let’s hope it’s good news.

  In the meantime, don’t mope too much. It’s unnerving.

  M. xo

  The drive to the Naples train station was largely silent. Kyle had no idea what to say, and Sebastian wasn’t talking. Kyle knew this was for the best. It was inevitable. In his line of work, a…relationship was just not practical. He had to be realistic.

  They walked through the crowded station side by side, not touching, although Kyle wanted to reach out and tangle their fingers. But he didn’t. Make a clean break. Instead he scanned the crowd automatically. As they neared the platform, he caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man boarding ahead. Something flickered in his memory, and he stopped.

  “What?” Se
bastian peered into the cluster of people waiting to board.

  Kyle ran through a mental file folder of Association operatives. No matches. Maybe he was just being paranoid. Only Marie knew he was putting Sebastian on the train. With all the confusion and upheaval involving the director, tying up this particular loose end would certainly be lower on the to-do list. And his gut told him to trust Marie.

  “Kyle?” Sebastian leaned in, whispering. “What is it?”

  “Nothing.”

  The conductor blew his whistle, and they walked on. Reaching into his inside jacket pocket, Kyle removed an envelope and passed it to Sebastian. At Sebastian’s questioning look, Kyle said, “Bank account information. To pay for…everything.” New papers. New face. New life. “Transfer it to a new Swiss account when you have your new name. That way…” I won’t be tempted to find you and put you in more danger. “It’ll be safer.”

  Sebastian swallowed thickly. “Kyle, I…”

  The conductor called from the bottom of the steps ten feet away. “Gentlemen, it’s time to board.”

  Nodding to the man, Sebastian faced Kyle and opened and closed his mouth, as if he had something to say and couldn’t quite find the words. Instead, he grasped Kyle’s hand as he kissed him, a final brush of lips. He turned and practically ran up the steps into the train. He didn’t look back.

  Kyle forced himself to walk away. Don’t stand there and watch the train leave like some lovesick schoolboy. He put one foot in front of the other, trying to ignore the strange hollowness in his chest. If this was love, he never, ever wanted to feel it again.

  In the bustling station, he examined people on autopilot, looking for signs of potential trouble, identifying various routes of escape. Something nagged at the back of his mind, and he gave his head a mental shake as he thought about Sebastian riding him that morning, moaning and so beautiful.

  Stop! Stop thinking about him. He would pretend he’d never met Sebastian Brambani. It would take mental discipline to wall in the memories, but it was the most logical course of action. He needed to get his life back on track. Back to normal. He’d been out of control on this mission, and it couldn’t happen again. Besides, it wasn’t fair to Sebastian. Sebastian deserved a better life.