The Boy Who Came in From the Cold by B. G. Thomas Read Free Book Online

hadn’t. As a matter of fact, he’d already blundered by coming on to Todd, who hadn’t appreciated it one bit.
And what about that kiss? What was that about? Why did you kiss him? Talk about objectifying.
    Todd liked it.
Gabe knew he did. Was the kid gay or not? Every instinct told him Todd was, but it was hard to tell. Todd was confused. But hell. So was Gabe. Mixed-up feelings to be sure. But feelings. Very real feelings.
Shitfire! You don’t need to bring someone out.
Wasn’t that the truth. Hadn’t he learned anything? What had bringing someone out accomplished in the past?
Shitfire, I am never going to get to sleep.
Read. That usually helps.
    Gabe pulled on a nightshirt, left his bedroom, went quietly to his office, and took a look at his bookcase. There had to be something. The middle shelf, the one with family pictures, was where he kept the few books he was reading.
What was he reading? He couldn’t remember.
     
Was it the new Patricia Cornwell? No, wait. The Third Gate . And it was good. Why had he put it down?
     
Because you’re a workaholic, that’s why.
Not a workaholic. I just don’t really have anything to come home to.
You’ve got friends. Tommy and Jude, Harry and Cody. They’re all right there, right downstairs.
    Not friends. Acquaintances. If I knocked on their door, they’d answer and look at me strangely and ask if there was something wrong. I’m just not all that social. I like living alone.
    Liar.
“Gabe?” came a call from the living room.
    Gabe looked down at himself. No bottoms, but he decided the nightshirt he’d pulled on covered everything and went down the hall. “You okay, Todd?”
“I don’t know how to turn off the stereo.”
    “Oh. Sure.” He entered the darkened living room and saw Todd standing next to the sound system. “It’s the red light there on the left,” he said, approaching the young man. Todd was shirtless, and even in the dim light, as Todd turned to him, he could see what a nice chest he had. Quite nice in fact. Not as developed his own—
    It’s not like he has a home gym.
—but defined and with a fine dusting of dark hair across his pecs.
    Gabe started to reach for the off button, but Todd was standing right in front of it. “Excuse me,” he said and reached past the young man, barely keeping from grazing him. Todd’s nipples were standing hard and erect, and Gabe wondered what they would feel like, taste like, in his mouth.
    Damn. Get a hold of yourself.
He shook himself, turned off the sound system, took a step back. Todd looked up at him and their eyes locked for what seemed
forever. “Thanks,” he said quietly.
     
“No, problem. I was just getting up for a book. It’s a little early for me—”
     
“I’m sorry,” Todd replied. “I can stay up if you want.” “No, no. That’s fine. You need your rest. Look. Did you want to shower before you went to sleep?”
     
A smile crept across Todd’s face. “God, yes. I wanted to ask, but—”
    “Then you should have. Come on. I’ll get you some fresh towels.”
With Todd following behind, Gabe went to the end of the hall, entered the bathroom, and reached up into the cabinets he’d installed over the tub. With the tall ceilings in such an old building, there had been plenty of room, and the space had only been wasted. It was only as he was grabbing a towel and washcloth that he realized he was flashing his butt at Todd. Shit! Have I lost all sense of decorum?
    He turned slowly, feeling the heat of a growing blush on his face, and saw Todd’s was the same. “Sorry,” he said, holding out the stuff for Todd.
Todd visibly gulped. “N-No problem. It’s not like I haven’t seen a guy’s ass before. Gym class, right?” He turned redder.
    Once again they stood there and looked at each other, neither saying a word. Todd’s head was slightly cocked back, and the muscles in his neck stood out clearly. What would that skin feel like under his lips? Gabe’s gaze was drawn to