Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

fuck me…”
    The whispered voice held a hint of the familiar, but Sam couldn’t see the face of the man straddling him any more than he could make out where exactly he was. The room seemed cramped and blurry, the angles all wrong. Strong thighs pressed tight against Sam’s hips, snug heat around his cock. He thrust up with all his strength, his lover slamming himself down to meet each blow.
    Fingers raked his chest as the man came, his prick twitching. Semen splashed onto Sam’s lip. He licked it off, the taste sharp and bitter and head-spinning. His cock swelled against the pulsing hole encasing it, tingling heat spread outward from his groin and he came with a growl, shooting deep inside the mysterious man’s body.
    The sight of hard black scales and claws instead of his hand shocked him. But part of him relished the power it implied. Something dark and primitive bubbled up inside him, and he obeyed its unspoken command without question.
    One swipe of those long, curved claws was enough to eviscerate the man he’d just finished fucking. The gutted body crumpled without a sound, falling backward onto the bed. A beam of moonlight illuminated the dead face, and Sam couldn’t even scream this time…
    Sam’s eyes flew open. He sat up and stared around, half-expecting to see a dead man in a pool of blood in his bed. All he saw was a tangle of sweat-damp sheets. He collapsed onto his back, weak with relief.
    “Fuck, it was so real,” he said out loud.
    Part of him was very glad he couldn’t remember the dream man’s face.
Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed, Sam headed downstairs to the kitchen. No one else was there, but someone had made coffee. Sam poured himself a cup and wandered out to the sun porch, wondering where everyone had gone.
The low murmur of voices drew him to an open window. Bo stood not far from the back steps, wearing nothing but the same tiny shorts he’d worn the previous morning and a pair of battered running shoes. His bare skin shone with sweat, putting every defined muscle into sharp relief. Sam almost didn’t notice Amy standing next to him, talking in low, urgent tones.
Sam started to call to them. The words dried up in his throat when he heard his name. He drew back a little and strained to hear.
“I’m not stupid, Bo,” Amy was saying. “And neither is he. You think he’s not gonna notice? You think no one else will?”
“For the last time,” Bo said through gritted teeth. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Nothing’s going on. I haven’t—”
“I’ve seen the look you get on your face when he’s around,” Amy interrupted, hands on her hips. “Do you really want me to remind you how I know what that look means?”
Bo looked away. Amy laid a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s been years since it happened.” Her voice was so soft Sam could barely hear her. “I believe you when you say it hasn’t happened since. And I believe that you’ve been faithful to Janine, and that’s admirable. But you’ve been lying to her and to yourself, and that’s not so admirable.”
Bo shook his head. “I’m not gay, Amy. Just drop it.”
“What about Sam?”
“What about him? I told you, there’s nothing.”
“Just stop thinking about yourself for one second, huh?” Amy started pacing, red curls flying in the breeze. “You want to pretend you’re not attracted to him? Fine. Whatever. But what about Sam’s feelings?”
Sam’s chest went tight. Oh fuck, she knows. He leaned against the windowsill, trying to breath.
When Bo spoke, his voice sounded shaky and uncertain. “What makes you think Sam feels anything for me?”
“I’m not saying it’s anything serious. Hell, I barely know the man, maybe I’m way off base. Maybe he’s as straight as he seems.” Amy stopped and gave Bo a serious look. “But I can tell that he’s at least attracted to you. Possibly more than that. If you’re going to keep hiding from yourself, then for fuck’s sake stop giving him that come-on look. Don’t let him think you’re interested if you’re not.”
Bo’s face went blank. “That’s enough. I don’t want to hear any more of this crap.”
He whirled and headed for the mudroom door. Amy caught his arm and jerked him around to face her. “Just because you don’t want to hear it doesn’t mean it’s not true. You can’t just shut your eyes to this, Bo. And I’m not just talking about Sam.”
Bo stilled. “Amy, stop.”
“No! I can’t just