Excerpt
Chad had to focus. His natural state resembled a helium balloon. So in order to appear as though he was lying on the bed, he’d have to concentrate on not letting his body rise. He was in a tiny bed with a man that exuded sex out of every pore and he couldn’t do a thing about it. The Fates were cruel.
Sekou licked his lips. “You do realize, come morning, I’ll probably be inside you.”
Chad closed his eyes. If only that meant what he wished it did. “Don’t worry. If you start to roll onto my side I’ll use the blankets to mummify you.” Chad demonstrated what he meant by making the top blanket rise through him and wrap snuggly around Sekou.
The shaman didn’t struggle against his encasement, but instead laid his head down on the pillow and fell asleep.
Chad had planned to spend the night reading, but he couldn’t help but watch Sekou sleep. He looked so peaceful. The steady rise and fall of his chest was mesmerizing. He didn’t roll out of place even once. Chad hadn’t met any shamans other than Sekou. Were they all so carefree?
Running his fingers through Sekou’s hair, Chad tried to imagine what his dreads would feel like. When Chad was found in front of the fire station as a baby, he was wrapped in a blue wool sweater. Once he was old enough to understand what the sweater meant, he wore it every day, even though it reached past his knees and he had to put rubber bands around his wrists to hold the sleeves up. Out of the many things he forgotten, he still remembered the feeling of wool against his skin. That’s what he’d imagined Sekou’s hair felt like from the moment they met.
Morning came far too fast. Chad had done nothing but watch Sekou sleep. The door opened and Bayne stepped in balancing several boxes. Bayne’s eyes went wide at the sight of Chad in bed with Sekou, but his shock quickly faded to a grin. “Glad to see you getting along so well with your new roommate,” he said as he dumped out the boxes. Clothes, books, runes and a talisman made a pile on Bayne’s bed, Sekou’s belongings.
“Huh?” Sekou said, rubbing his eyes.
Bayne turned to Sekou. “Lucas and I have been talking and we’ve decided it’s best if you and I trade rooms.”
Chad smiled. Sekou, day and night. Then it hit him. Sekou, day and night! How could he possibly hide his feelings if he lived with the guy? Not to mention what if Sekou started dating. Chad would be stuck watching Sekou and some other person doing all the things he longed to do. It would be hell.
“Don’t I get some kind of say in this? After all, I’m affected by this change too.” Chad said.
Bayne began to pack his stuff into the empty boxes. “But you and Sekou get along great, and this way, no one will interrupt my quality time with Lucas. And hey, their room is immaculate. You won’t have to fuss about my mess anymore.”
“Uh...that was all Lucas. I’m a bit of a slob actually,” Sekou said.
“Well, Sekou is much quieter than I am. It’ll be much easier for you to read in the room,” Bayne offered.
Sekou shook his head. “I play drums.”
“You aren’t helping in the least.”
Sekou stretched out across the bed. “That’s what you get for throwing me out.”
Chad looked between the two of them. Bayne was intent on his plan and Sekou didn’t care enough to argue. Chad had to stop this. Living with Sekou would be like waving a glass of ice cold lemonade in front of a thirsty man with no throat. “Swapping rooms is against the rules. I’ll report you to the administration!”
They both laughed.
Chad floated through the door. He’d show them.
Chad had to focus. His natural state resembled a helium balloon. So in order to appear as though he was lying on the bed, he’d have to concentrate on not letting his body rise. He was in a tiny bed with a man that exuded sex out of every pore and he couldn’t do a thing about it. The Fates were cruel.
Sekou licked his lips. “You do realize, come morning, I’ll probably be inside you.”
Chad closed his eyes. If only that meant what he wished it did. “Don’t worry. If you start to roll onto my side I’ll use the blankets to mummify you.” Chad demonstrated what he meant by making the top blanket rise through him and wrap snuggly around Sekou.
The shaman didn’t struggle against his encasement, but instead laid his head down on the pillow and fell asleep.
Chad had planned to spend the night reading, but he couldn’t help but watch Sekou sleep. He looked so peaceful. The steady rise and fall of his chest was mesmerizing. He didn’t roll out of place even once. Chad hadn’t met any shamans other than Sekou. Were they all so carefree?
Running his fingers through Sekou’s hair, Chad tried to imagine what his dreads would feel like. When Chad was found in front of the fire station as a baby, he was wrapped in a blue wool sweater. Once he was old enough to understand what the sweater meant, he wore it every day, even though it reached past his knees and he had to put rubber bands around his wrists to hold the sleeves up. Out of the many things he forgotten, he still remembered the feeling of wool against his skin. That’s what he’d imagined Sekou’s hair felt like from the moment they met.
Morning came far too fast. Chad had done nothing but watch Sekou sleep. The door opened and Bayne stepped in balancing several boxes. Bayne’s eyes went wide at the sight of Chad in bed with Sekou, but his shock quickly faded to a grin. “Glad to see you getting along so well with your new roommate,” he said as he dumped out the boxes. Clothes, books, runes and a talisman made a pile on Bayne’s bed, Sekou’s belongings.
“Huh?” Sekou said, rubbing his eyes.
Bayne turned to Sekou. “Lucas and I have been talking and we’ve decided it’s best if you and I trade rooms.”
Chad smiled. Sekou, day and night. Then it hit him. Sekou, day and night! How could he possibly hide his feelings if he lived with the guy? Not to mention what if Sekou started dating. Chad would be stuck watching Sekou and some other person doing all the things he longed to do. It would be hell.
“Don’t I get some kind of say in this? After all, I’m affected by this change too.” Chad said.
Bayne began to pack his stuff into the empty boxes. “But you and Sekou get along great, and this way, no one will interrupt my quality time with Lucas. And hey, their room is immaculate. You won’t have to fuss about my mess anymore.”
“Uh...that was all Lucas. I’m a bit of a slob actually,” Sekou said.
“Well, Sekou is much quieter than I am. It’ll be much easier for you to read in the room,” Bayne offered.
Sekou shook his head. “I play drums.”
“You aren’t helping in the least.”
Sekou stretched out across the bed. “That’s what you get for throwing me out.”
Chad looked between the two of them. Bayne was intent on his plan and Sekou didn’t care enough to argue. Chad had to stop this. Living with Sekou would be like waving a glass of ice cold lemonade in front of a thirsty man with no throat. “Swapping rooms is against the rules. I’ll report you to the administration!”
They both laughed.
Chad floated through the door. He’d show them.
