Suzie’s House 425 : A Certain Something

Ethan fell back a step. Two men were kissing right in front of him, one of whom had invited him to spend the night.

“Um…” He couldn’t quite keep the worry out of his voice.

He glanced at the trees surrounding the fancy, cubist-style condo on whose front step these two men were absorbed in such a public display of affection. One of them made a little moaning sound, and the hair on the back of Ethan’s neck stood on end. He glanced at the empty driveway leading to the underground parking.

He took another step back and nearly broke into a run, but the metro sexual let Gabriel go.

“Oh. Another lost puppy? Hi. My name is Pete.” The metro-sexual held his hand out to shake.

“Um… Ethan.” Ethan shook Pete’s hand. He felt like wiping it off afterwards, but he had been taught to be polite, no matter who he faced, so instead he stood rigidly on the walk way, still thinking about spending the night in the trees.

“Well, come in, Ethan.” Pete sounded mildly grudging.

Ethan’s sense of pride got the better of him. Did this dandy think Ethan didn’t deserve to spend the night in their sordid love nest? He nearly told them he had no interest in staying for even one night in such a place, but the look on Gabriel’s face arrested him.

It was a look of judgment. If Ethan refused their hospitality, he would be branded a bigot. That might not be particularly special to Gabriel, but it would forever linger in Ethan’s mind as a stain on his honor.

He had grown up with bigots of all varieties. Many of them had condemned him for his upbringing and his opinions. He did not wish to be lumped in with them for any reason.

“Well? If you want a ride somewhere else, that’s fine with me. There’s a homeless shelter down…”

Ethan shivered. A lot worse than witnessing a kiss would probably happen to him at that shelter. He’d already spent one night there. Though he had not bee personally harmed, he had no intention of going back.

“You will be perfectly safe here. Neither of us has any designs on your body.”

If that was true, then why had Gabriel invited him to stay? Ethan couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

“Do you really think an old man would appeal to me more than the love of my life?” Gabriel lifted one eyebrow in question.

“I… no. Of course not.” Ethan took a deep breath, and followed Gabriel into the condo.

“Come. Sit down.” Gabriel guided him to a comfortable chair in a tastefully arranged conversation area. He took a seat on the opposite side of a mahogany coffee table.

“There is a price for spending the night in our home,” Pete said as he came from an open kitchen area. He placed three cups of tea on the coffee table.

Ethan tensed, immediately regretting whatever wild hare had caused him to enter this place. He had no idea what such people would expect of him.

“You must share your life story.”

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