STORY EXCERPT

“My God, she’s dead!” Remy murmured, cupping his mouth, his gaze boring through the news article.

“Yes, she is. Imagine my horror when I sat at my kitchen table this morning to read the newspaper and drink my coffee and found this plastered on page three.”

Remy shook his head. His eyes were still fixed on the text. “I can’t believe it.”

Liam leaned closer, trying to assess his expression and his claim. “Why can’t you believe it? It’s exactly how you described it.”

“Yes, but it was one thing to know that it might happen but to actually see her picture in the newspaper, her mangled body in the car.” He turned away as tears misted his eyes. “It’s just too much.”

Remy’s tears tugged at Liam’s heart. But he had to keep strong to get to the bottom of things. “How did you know someone was trying to kill her? How are you involved in all this, Remy?”

A look of abhorrence overcame Remy’s features. “You can’t possibly think I had anything to do with this?”

Liam shrugged. “You knew what was going to happen before it happened, and you are in here.” Liam motioned to the walls around them.

Remy stood, shaking his head. “What type of monster do you think I am, Liam? How can you possibly think I had anything to do with her death?”

Liam wanted to kick himself for ever accusing him. Before Liam could apologize for badly wording his question, Remy came to sit down beside him again and looked deep into his eyes.

“Do you know why I’m in here?”

Liam shook his head. “No, I don’t.”

Remy gulped nervously before saying, “I’m in here because I helped my sister Emily commit suicide. She was terminally ill and didn’t want to suffer anymore. She asked me to help her end her suffering.”

Liam shot out his hand and touched Remy’s hand resting on the desk. “I’m so sorry, Remy. I know how close you both were.”

Remy’s eyes watered, his head bowed. “Yes, we were. Thanks.”

“How long are you in here for?” Liam asked.

“Six months.”

“Six months? Isn’t that a little drastic? Why not sentence you to house arrest or community service? You’re not a danger to society.” Liam frowned, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

“The presiding judge at my hearing thought that my incarceration would send a message out to others thinking of doing what I did, that assisted suicide by someone other than the attending physician should and will be seen as a crime in Canada and punishable under Canadian law, like all other crimes of its nature.”

“Still, the term is extreme. Maybe if you appeal the verdict, another judge, a fairer one, will lessen the sentence.”

Remy shook his head. “I’ve been through this with my family and my friends. I’m not going to appeal the decision.”

“Why not?”

Remy’s shoulders slumped when he stood. He turned his gaze away, toward the window, but Liam could see a tear trickle down his chiseled cheek. “Because Emily changed her mind after I administered the drug that killed her. I could see it in her eyes that she was scared and didn’t want to die. But it was too late. I couldn’t save her.”

Liam’s heart went out to him. He wanted to get up, hold Remy in his arms, and make the hurt go away. Remy needed it. He was all alone in here with no one who cared for him to help him get through this.

But to hold him in his arms once again, Liam feared would trigger something in him that he had buried deep inside. He couldn’t let it out again, lose the man he so desperately wanted to become.

He tried to help Remy the only other way he could think of that didn’t bring down his shield. With comforting and sympathetic words, he spoke. “I’m so sorry, Remy, that you had to go through that. It was so hard for you and I can understand why you blame yourself for it. But you shouldn’t. It wasn’t your fault. You loved her and were doing what she wished. When she changed her mind, you did everything in your power to help her again. But you’re not God. You couldn’t stop it. It was too late.”

Remy frowned, wiping his tears. His anger was obviously not targeted at Liam but at a higher power when he said, “That’s just it, Liam. You’re right. I’m not God. I shouldn’t have had any hand in it, but I did because I agreed to do what Emily asked. Now I’m paying for it.”

“By staying the full term in this correctional center?” Liam motioned around him.

“Yes, and in another more trying way.”

“What do you mean? Is someone hurting you in here?” Fury rose in Liam thinking that someone was harming him.

Remy shook his head. “No, not that.”

“Then how?”

Remy let out a long sigh, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Never mind. I really don’t want to talk about it.”

After several moments of silence, Remy looked at him, contouring Liam’s body with his eyes. Then he offered Liam a half-grin. “You look great.”

A tingling that stirred in his stomach spread throughout Liam’s body, enticing goose bumps to rise. The way Remy looked at him so appreciatively had him almost swooning.

He looked down as his chest as he said, “I try to stay active as much as possible.”

Remy nodded. “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You look fantastic.”

“Thanks.” He reciprocated Remy’s smile.

Taking a deep breath, Remy asked, “How are things with you?”

Liam harrumphed. “Good. Real good.”

Remy’s eyes widened with interest. As if he were testing the water to see if he should go any further, he asked, “Oh, does that mean you’re seeing someone?”

Liam snorted. “If someone is doing real good, it doesn’t only mean that they are seeing someone or in a serious relationship.”

“So that means you’re not seeing someone?” His head perked up.

“No, I’m not. But that’s okay. That’s what I want right now.”

Remy’s eyes saddened. “I’m sorry. It’s because of what I did, isn’t it? I hurt you so much that now you don’t want to get close to anyone else.”

Liam stood, growling. The audacity! “Boy, did you ever hear that Carly Simon song ‘You’re So Vain’? Well, you know what, that song was made especially for you.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Remy had waited for this and had fantasized about it for so long. Now, it was actually happening. They had admitted they still loved each other and wanted to try again. Yes, his dream had come true!

He poured all his emotions, his love and desires into the embrace. He wanted Liam with his whole body and soul. The sexual excitement mounted in him. His cock was hard with anticipation of making love.

He groaned with pleasure when Liam caressed his back and shoulders. And before Remy realized it, Liam had broken away, leaving Remy’s throbbing, swollen lips to kiss the air.

Opening his eyes and frowning, he asked, “Why did you pull back? Are you having second thoughts?”

The brows over Liam’s worried eyes crinkled. “Yes.” Then he shook his head. “Not about giving us a second chance, but about making contact like this.”

Then it dawned on Remy. “You’re scared I’ll have another vision.”

Liam shook his head. “No, I’m scared you’ll have another seizure or something worse because of it.”

Remy grinned, cupping his cheeks. “Relax, Liam. I’m not having one right now.”

Liam huffed, pulling away again. “That’s just it. How will I know when one is about to come on? I don’t want to cause you any more pain.”

Saddened, Remy replied, “By you pulling away, you are causing me more. Don’t you see how much we need this to heal and grow? If a vision comes because of our physical contact, then let it. It’s no longer in our hands but in the hands of a power greater than you and me. If fate wants me to see more, then let it.”

He took Liam’s hand, kissing the inside of it. The desire and the love he saw in Liam’s eyes were so intense that it burned deep into him. “In the meantime, make love to me, Liam. We’ve wasted too much time apart. It’s time we change that and become one again.”

Remy dipped in to kiss him. Liam’s hot breath against his cheek made him sigh inside. Liam wrapped his arms around him, and with a grunt while never breaking their kiss, he lifted Remy from the loveseat.

Remy moaned in approval, knowing Liam was taking them to the bed. His heart beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings. It was hard to breathe at times. But he didn’t care. He wanted his body’s sexual desires to awaken once again, to feel the gentle yet strong touch of Liam’s fingers over his body, over his cock. He wanted to feel Liam’s tongue elicit cries of ecstasy from him. He sighed with longing and with heat.

Even though Liam slowly laid him on the firm bed, the springs on the mattress creaked. Remy wondered if the place were bugged by the center. Could they hear everything that transpired in the unit, in the bedroom? How many cries of rapture had the staff eavesdropped on in the past? How many would they hear from Remy now? Many no doubt since it had been more than a year he had had sexual release. It was probably as long for Liam, as well.

Liam stood close to the bed, his hungry gaze looking down at Remy as he languidly undressed before him. When he lifted his t-shirt over his head, the muscles in his pecs contracted, and the ridges in his six-pack abdomen stretched.

Liam had been working out with weights vigorously in the past year, it seemed. He looked so gorgeous, every contour, every muscle in his upper body. The light sheen of sweat reflecting in the bright full moon’s light beaming into the room and onto his skin made it glisten and accentuated his glorious muscles.

“Mmm, you are so beautiful, Liam,” Remy murmured with approval.

Liam didn’t respond verbally to Remy’s compliment. He responded instead with a passionate kiss after he loosened his own belt, unzipped his pants, bent down, and kissed Remy hard on the lips. His excited cock rubbed against Remy through their clothing. Unable to restrain his wanton desires any longer, Remy slipped his hand into his briefs. Mmm, he was hard, wet, and ready to make love.

Wasting no more time, because they had wasted enough this past year, he quickly pulled down Liam’s pants and briefs.

Liam moaned with excitement, his lips vibrating against Remy’s mouth. His hand moved down the side of Remy’s body to his pants. He began to unbutton his belt, but after two awkward jerks, he broke free of their kiss and growled. “Fuck it, I can’t wait any longer.”

Remy half-laughed at Liam’s clumsy theatrics. “Need help?” he asked, amused.

Liam smiled slyly, gazing at him. “Hell, yes. Get those damn things off so I can fuck you.”

Remy purred, “Oh yes,” as he quickly unzipped his pants and shimmied out of them in a vertical position. He unbuttoned his shirt and then lay back.

Liam growled, nodding as his lewd eyes caressed Remy. Goosebumps formed on Remy’s skin with their flaming trail. His cock twitched with his anticipation. His body was heating up, his sexual desires rising to a boiling point. He needed satisfaction quick, or he’d explode.