Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

placed his tape on the “reviewed” pile along with Sam’s. “Let’s go. I’m ‘bout ready to hit the sack.”
They trudged upstairs in silence and parted ways at the top of the steps. Sam shuffled into the bathroom, yawning so hard his eyes watered. He brushed his teeth then stumbled across the hall to his bedroom.
Bo was sitting on his bed. It took Sam a few seconds to realize that it wasn’t his imagination.
“Bo?” Sam leaned against the doorframe, too tired to stay upright without support. “What’re you doing here?”
Bo rose slowly to his feet, fiddling nervously with the hem of his T-shirt. “I wanted to apologize. For last night, and for this morning.”
“There’s no need to—”
“Yes, there is.” Bo stuck his hands in his back pockets, took two steps toward Sam and stopped. “I shouldn’t have let things go so far last night. And I sure as hell shouldn’t have brushed you off this morning. You were right. We need to talk.”
Sam pushed away from the door, suddenly feeling very awake and wanting answers. “Okay. So talk.” He took a step toward Bo, watching Bo’s gaze flick down his body. “Why’d you let me kiss you? I know you’re married. You say you’re straight. So why’d you let me kiss you?”
“I…I just…” Bo ran his tongue along his upper lip as Sam moved closer. “I don’t know.”
The mingled fear and lust in Bo’s eyes made Sam bold. He reached out and lifted a strand of Bo’s silky black hair, letting it slide between his fingers. Bo gasped and stepped back.
“You wanted me to kiss you.” Sam dropped his hand. “Didn’t you?”
Bo wouldn’t look at him. “Maybe I did.”
Sam laughed, the sound short and sharp. “Maybe. Yeah.”
Bo made an impatient noise. “Come on, Sam. Don’t be like this.”
“Like what?” Sam brushed past Bo, pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the floor. He could practically feel the weight of Bo’s gaze on him. “Look, Bo, it’s pretty obvious that you have issues. That’s none of my business. You have to work them out for yourself, I can’t help you.” Sam turned to look at Bo. “But until you can admit that you’re attracted to me, we have nothing else to discuss.”
Bo’s expression hardened. “What about you, huh? I’m not the one that made the move, in case you forgot.”
“May as well have. You had your hand on my thigh.”
“You kissed me, not the other way around!”
“Yeah, I did.” Sam sat on the bed and leaned back on his hands, legs spread. “Because I want you. I can admit it, why can’t you?”
Bo crossed his arms. “You’re gay. Fine. I’m not. It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe it,” Bo continued before Sam could say anything. “Doesn’t much matter what I want, either. I’m married. I have a family. Nothing can ever happen between us, Sam. Nothing. You have to understand that.”
Sam stared at Bo’s flushed cheeks and snapping eyes and wished he could argue. He wanted to throw Bo to the bed and show him exactly how good it could be. But he knew he couldn’t. No matter what he wanted, no matter what Bo wanted, it wasn’t going to happen.
Sam sighed. “I know. I can’t pretend I’m not disappointed, but I do understand. But, Bo, why can’t you at least admit that you want me too? It won’t go any further than this room, I promise.”
Bo looked away, running a hand through his hair. “Please don’t do this.”
“I just want to know,” Sam said softly. “That’s all.”
Bo stared at Sam, his expression unreadable. “I can’t give you what you want, Sam. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
The tension in Bo’s body told Sam clear as day that he wasn’t budging an inch. Sam nodded stiffly. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Okay.” Bo edged toward the door, watching Sam warily. “So, are we good?”
Sam forced a smile. “Sure. ‘Night, Bo.”
Bo returned the smile, clearly relieved. “‘Night. See you in the morning.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Bo hurried out and pulled the door shut behind him. Sam flopped back onto the bed with a deep sigh. He lay there staring at the ceiling and thinking for a long time. Wondering why he needed so badly to hear Bo admit that he wanted him. Why did he need for Bo to say it, when he could see the desire in Bo’s eyes every time they looked at each other?
Eventually he fell asleep, sprawled half-on and half-off the bed in his jeans and sneakers, with a thousand unanswered questions whirling in his brain.
    “Harder. God, yes,