Free High-Risk Fever by Lea Bronsen Page A

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    Todd nodded. “Thanks. That might be good, actually.” He stood, helped his lover to his feet, and walked him to the bed.
    Micaela resembled the living dead, with feverish eyes in a pale face and a hunched posture. So unlike the cocky, oh-so-charming bicyclist who had knocked on her door before the storm. Avoiding her, he lay down on the clean sheets with a deep sigh and closed his eyes. His sweaty torso, with black chest hairs glued together above the dark nipples, heaved irregularly.
    Todd sat beside him, leaned forward, and stroked his face with slow, careful movements. His evident love filled her with warmth.
    She couldn’t help wondering why people abhorred attraction between two persons of the same sex. What difference did it make? If fear of the unknown—and hatred, ultimately—came down to the “dirtiness” of anal sex, let it be known that hetero couples enjoyed it, too. Surely what mattered in this debate had to be that lovers were happy together and fulfilled each other.
    Irritation gnawing at her, she found candles in a drawer, lit them, and placed them on the bed tables and the desk. Shadows danced on the now-yellowish walls. It didn’t take much to make this room a little cozier.
    “I wish I’d had time to clean.” She glanced at the bare floorboards. The low light revealed how much dust the previous tenants had left behind.
    Todd turned, features drawn. “It’s not necessary. We only need a place to sleep.”
    “At least I could’ve wiped the floor.”
    “No, no, it’s fine.”
    She shrugged. “Okay. But if you need anything, don’t hesitate.”
    “Thanks. For everything.” His eyes smiled.
    Hmm, if you knew what your lover did to me only minutes ago, you might reconsider ….
    Head buzzing, she picked up the dirty sheets and the flashlight. When she left the room with a last glance at the guys, Todd had taken Micaela’s hand and brought it to his lips.
    She entered the darkened hall, turned on the flashlight, closed the door, and stood outside, eavesdropping, chest tightening again.
    No doubt she envied Todd. A lot. It had only taken the Italian hunk a little fondling for her to surrender and desire him, despite having sworn she wouldn’t let him come close again. At the same time, she was happy these two men had each other.
    A new round of coughing came through the wall. She pictured the suffering Micaela and winced, trying to block out his painful barks. Her stomach knotted; she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
    Todd’s voice rose, insistent but soothing, and after a while, the coughs subsided. He must have given him the mixture. It worked wonders.
    She released the breath she’d held when a muffled moan reached her, and another. Not groans of sickness, this time, but more like long grunts of….
    She blinked. They couldn’t possibly—
    Turning off the flashlight, she strained her ears. A new moan issued from behind the door, and low words she couldn’t understand.
    The hall was empty, and no other sound or light indicated other tenants might be walking up the stairs. And with Brian gone to help a neighbor, she had time to stay in front of the boys’ door. Unable to resist curiosity, she bent and peeked through the keyhole.
    Candlelight reflecting in a glass pane momentarily blinded her, and she squinted. When her sight adjusted, the empty window gaped back. Nothing else. The bed was too low.
    She was about to move away and swallow her disappointment when a male silhouette rose in front of a candle, causing the flame to flicker in the glass. A pale, naked torso and blond head appeared a few meters from her, light painting the contour of Todd’s profile.
    After a moment of gazing down—probably at the bed—he said, voice low and warm, “I love you, Mica.”
    A shiver ran up her spine, and she held her breath.
    “I wish I could kiss you, but….” He lifted his brows with a grimace. “I guess I’ll just have to compensate.”
    A chuckle replied.
    With a grin,