Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

stray tendrils of black hair escaping his braid to cling damply to his face and neck.
“Hey,” Bo panted. “Sorry y’all had to fend for yourselves this morning. I was feeling restless. Needed some exercise.”
Sam heard Amy saying something, heard Bo answer, but the sound had faded to static. He watched Bo’s lips moving and remembered the soft sigh of surrender as those lips opened beneath his. He caught Bo’s eye. Bo looked quickly away. Sam could see the pulse fluttering in his throat.
“Morning, y’all.”
David’s voice broke the spell holding Sam still and silent. He blinked and turned around. “Hi, David.”
David slapped Sam’s back on his way to the kitchen. “You look like hell, Sam.”
“Thanks a lot,” Sam mumbled, and yawned hugely. “Didn’t sleep much.”
“Hey, David?” Cecile said, wandering in at that moment. “Would you get me some coffee, please?”
“Sure thing.”
Amy and Andre glanced at each other with identical smirks. They didn’t seem at all surprised to see David and Cecile being civil to each other.
Bo, however, looked as surprised as Sam felt, though he didn’t say anything about it. “Y’all get some breakfast, then we’ll meet in the library in half an hour and get started.”
“What’s on for today?” David emerged from the kitchen with two cups of coffee. He sat next to Cecile and handed her one of the mugs. “Just watching tapes?”
“Pretty much, yes,” Bo said. “We’ll divide into teams again, and take turns reviewing the tapes from yesterday and the nursery tape from last night.” Sam glanced up at him just in time to see him absently bite his bottom lip. The unconscious sexiness of it made heat pool in Sam’s groin. “I’d like to see if we find anything on the tapes before we decide what our next step should be. They may give us an idea of what area we should concentrate on.”
“Bo?” Cecile sounded uncharacteristically hesitant. “Would it be all right if I helped review the tapes? David can show me what to do.”
Bo’s eyebrows went up. “That would be fine. The more, the merrier, as they say.”
Andre stood and drained his coffee mug. “I’ll go on and start setting up.”
“I’ll help you, babe.” Amy pushed to her feet. “See y’all in a little bit.”
Sam watched them leave the room hand-in-hand and felt a sudden stab of jealousy. He’d never had what Amy and Andre had together. Never felt that way about anyone. He’d never minded before, and wasn’t exactly sure why he did now. All he knew was that for the first time in his life, he felt an aching emptiness inside him. A longing for something he never thought he’d want— true intimacy with another human being.
He refused to consider too closely the reason for this change of heart.
“Okay,” Bo said. “I need to go shower. Be back down soon.”
As Bo brushed past, Sam caught the scent of sweat and heat, bringing him half-erect in the space of a breath. The mental image of Bo in the shower wasn’t helping. Bo naked and wet, his skin slick with soap, palms moving in slow circles across his chest, sliding down his belly, between his legs, one hand cupping his balls while the other stroked his erection…
Sam shoved back from the table, stood and strode out the door, ignoring the wary looks he knew David and Cecile were giving him. He caught up with Bo at the top of the stairs and grabbed his shoulder, whirling him around.
“We need to talk,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.
Bo wouldn’t look at him. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Nothing? How the fuck can you say that?”
“Look, I won’t tell anyone you’re gay, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Sam stared, unbelieving. “Me? What about telling them you’re gay? Or, hell, maybe you should tell yourself first.”
Bo went pale for a second, then flushed red. His hand clamped onto Sam’s upper arm in a crushing grip. “I’m not gay,” he growled, eyes flashing. “I have a wife. And kids , for fuck’s sake.”
“So? You wouldn’t be the first to try to pretend.” Sam dropped his voice to a near whisper. “You had your hand on my thigh, Bo. You let me kiss you. And you kissed back.”
“I…I had too much wine. It was a mistake.” The tremor in Bo’s voice contrasted sharply with his words. “I’m not gay, Sam. I’m not.”
Sam gazed at him, at the wide, frightened eyes that shifted restlessly, the full lips parted just slightly. He pried Bo’s fingers off his arm