Where Nerves End

came down the stairs.
    They didnt come into the kitchen. At the bottom of the stairs, they both turned right and continued into the foyer. I released a relieved breath; there was nothing as awkward as bumping into a roommates one-night stand—or first time fuck, or girlfriend he hadnt mentioned until now, or whoever—the morning after. Especially when I wasnt expecting her, and she may or may not have been expecting me.
    In the foyer, Michael said something, and the reply made me choke on my coffee.
That wasnt Michaels voice, but it was damn sure a male voice.
I craned my neck, listening. The front door closed before either of them said anything more, but Id heard enough.
    Fuck. Seriously?
    Jesus effing Christ on a skateboard. So that was why I didnt hear a womans moans this morning.
Oh, you lucky motherfucker . I shivered as I replayed everything Id imagined earlier, but with a man in place of a woman. Ooh, God. The thought of a womans legs wrapped around his waist was nothing compared to a mans powerful legs hooked around Michaels. A mans hands grabbing Michaels arms, Michaels head going up and down over another mans cock…
Another shiver, and I almost dropped my coffee cup. I set it down, just to be safe, and deliberately thought about the clubs books just to keep myself from thinking about Michael driving his cock into another man, or that man driving his cock into Michael, both of them moaning and shuddering and—
The books, Jason. Think about the books.
And then Michael came back in, and the books in my mind went up in flames, leaving me with the fantasies of what he might have done earlier, and the reality of his gorgeous body right here in front of me.
Our eyes met. From the heavy shadows beneath Michaels eyes, I guessed he and his companion hadnt called it an early night last night.
Clearing his throat, he quickly turned away to reach into the refrigerator for something, but not before his cheeks turned pink. “I figured youd still be asleep.”
“Its almost ten.”
“Werent you out until three or four?”
“Yeah, but thats almost eight hours.”
He cocked his head. “Yeah, I suppose it is, isnt it?” He muffled a cough and turned away again, this time getting a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
I sipped my coffee and watched him surreptitiously. Because I am a fucking masochist, I let my gaze slide down his shoulders and back. My heart skipped when he turned just right, and I realized a shadow on his waist wasnt a shadow at all. God, they just had to fuck each other hard enough to leave marks, didnt they? Because my brain hadnt already had a field day without the use of visual aids like a bruise just above his waistband or a hint of a welt on the base of his neck. At least he didnt have any bite marks, or I might have evaporated into a cloud of pure jealousy vapor.
Weird, uncomfortable silence descended between us. He set the bottle down, the quiet tap echoing through the cavernous kitchen.
I tapped my fingers on my coffee cup. Michael folded his arms and drummed his fingers rapidly on his upper arm. I looked at him only when I was sure he wasnt looking at me, but misjudged it and caught his eye when he glanced in my direction.
“So, um…” I managed to get two words out, but couldnt figure out how to follow them. How was your night? What was he like? Whatever he did, I would give my right arm for the opportunity to do better.
Michael played with the bottle cap on the counter. “I, uh…” He paused, keeping his gazefixed on the floor. “Im assuming youre all right with…” Trailing off, he gestured toward the stairs, and raised his eyebrows like he was begging me to put two and two together. Finally he added a whispered, “Guests?”
“Dont worry about it.” I waved a hand, then reached for my coffee. “You live here, Michael. Youre welcome to bring people around.”
“Well, okay, I know, but…” He exhaled. “I guess Im just getting used to the arrangement.”
    Tell me about it.
    “Part of having a roommate, right?” I laughed, hoping it didnt sound as forced as it was.
He offered a thin, unenthusiastic smile, which quickly fell. “Listen, um…” He paused, clearing his throat. “Im sure I dont have to ask, but youll be…” His eyes darted toward the stairs, then back to me. “Discreet?”
“What else would I do?” I asked. “Im not going to put your face on the bulletin board and the club or anything.”
Michael laughed quietly. “Well, no, I didnt figure you