BlackMoonRising (2 page)

He glanced around him, but saw nothing to put him on alert.
Definitely no large dogs on the loose looking for trouble or cats with an
attitude. His nose tilted upward to breathe in the fresh, cool night air. A dog
howled in the distance, but was far enough away that it didn’t matter.

As he jumped with one fluid movement onto the first fire
escape platform, he stayed still for a moment to make sure safety wasn’t an
issue. There was noise inside the second-story apartment. He peered through the
slats of the blinds on the large, double-hung window. A woman and child could
be seen watching television in the neighboring room but there was no sign that
Chef Mike lived here. Steve moved up the stairs to the third and fourth floors
without any luck. Once he made it to the fifth-floor platform, he hit the
jackpot.

Not only did he see Mike, but possibly the fugitive Herman
Fleming as they conversed in the living room. A drop of drool ran down his
chin. If this was Herman, he was even more handsome than his picture. Thick,
wavy dark hair and muscular shoulders and arms. Just as he’d picture the firefighter
of his dreams.

He would be a hard man to resist and Steve didn’t think he
could if given the chance. Normally, attractive fugitives didn’t bother him but
there was something different about Herman. Something familiar. Was it his
furrowed brow and way he paced that reminded him of someone? Herman wasn’t
angry but appeared to be frustrated. Steve listened but could barely make out
what they were saying.

“Stay as long as you want,” affirmed Mike. “We don’t care.”

“I hate that the police already came to talk to you at work.
I should have never used my cell phone to call you.”

Mike put his head down. “They’ve already been here too,
Herman. I told them you said goodbye. You didn’t tell me where you were going.”

“I’m sorry to bring you into this. I appreciate your faith
in me but I can’t hide forever.” Herman shook his head. “I don’t know what to
do. How can I prove I’m innocent when I’m hiding?”

“But you can’t find the killer if you’re in jail.”

“I know.” Herman fell into a chair and placed his hands on
his cheeks. “I’m such a lousy son. I didn’t even go to his memorial service.”

“You’d have been there in shackles. You did the right thing.
I’m sure your dad would forgive you.”

A small brown cat sauntered into the room and immediately
looked toward the window with questioning eyes.

Instead of a confession, Steve heard the opposite. But it
wasn’t his job to believe or not. His job was to bring Herman in. While he
debated what to do next, one of his hind legs slipped on the fire escape’s
steel grating. A screech involuntarily shot from his mouth.

“What was that?” Herman looked alarmed as he glanced toward
the window.

The cat in the house loudly hissed.

“I didn’t hear anything.” Mike shrugged. “Just my cat acting
out at every little noise. Don’t freak out on me, dude. Amelia will be home
soon and she’s in a whole different place, being pregnant.”

As the men resumed their conversation and moved to another
room, Steve decided to keep a low profile until he thought things through. It
might take him all night to figure out what to do. The words he heard
definitely bothered him.

Steve jumped to the highest level of the building, a tarred
flat roof. He immediately loved the view from the top. The lights of downtown
Chicago’s tallest buildings glowed brightly against the dark sky. What a
beautiful sight. Too bad he couldn’t sit still long enough to enjoy it. He felt
the need to get to the ground quickly and dig a hole.

After getting home, Steve tried to rest, but it was one of
those nights where sleep never came. It started with the dad dream. His father
lying on the sidewalk, guts spilling to the ground after an attack of claws
left him helpless. He stood there as a boy, watching a horrific scene, a scene
that no one should ever have to watch.

Kneeling by his dying father, all he could do was look into
his eyes. A hand took his. The shaky voice murmured, “I’m sorry. Remember that
I’ll always love you.” As Steve watched the boy, he and the boy became one. The
screams were his own as he woke up choking and trying to catch his breath.

Later on that night, he dreamed about the ex-lover. That
lover had fallen for Steve too. He was sure of it. Steve could tell by the
gentle kisses and soft caresses as they met up again after being apart. Their
time together was passionate, tender and all-encompassing. Each sexual
encounter seemed more important than the last. Neither preferred to be a bottom
or top and that was fine by Steve. Being inside that man was heaven and Steve
thought they had connected on a level even deeper than their fucking.

But the lover refused to share details. Wanted things to
stay anonymous, even though Steve knew they were close to having a breakthrough
in their relationship.

Unfortunately, he never found out. One day his lover didn’t
come back for a scheduled hook-up. Steve searched for him to no avail,
wondering if there was something he’d said or done that last night. He’d used
all the tricks at this disposal to find him. The tears poured down Steve’s face
in his dream and now in real life as he woke up.

It was either the nightmare about his father dying or the
dream of his lost love. Sometimes both in the same night like tonight. It
seemed he tossed and turned and never slept well whether he had the dreams or
not.

Herman bounded down the five flights of stairs and out the
front door to the street. It was an easy start to his cardiovascular workout
with those steep stairs—no elevators in old apartment buildings like this one.
He stood on the wood porch and took a couple of deep breaths as he glanced down
the deserted residential street. Barely any parked cars or people out. A
workday for most.

Even with a warrant out for his arrest, he refused to turn
himself in to the police. He knew he was taking a huge chance leaving the
apartment but it was in his character to take chances. As a firefighter, he
faced danger and took risks every day. His job was all about self-sacrifice and
putting his life on the line.

That’s what he was still doing. He was determined to figure
a way out of this horrible situation and catch the real killer. He lived by the
mantra that a firefighter never gave up until there wasn’t any hope left.

And Herman still had hope.

His dad was gone and that couldn’t be changed. Thinking
about it put a lump in his throat. They had finally been on good terms and then
the unthinkable had happened.

He ran his hand over the top of his head as he hopped down
the wooden steps to the sidewalk. After Amelia had gotten home, she’d insisted
on cutting his hair short to help with his disguise. It felt strange to have it
this way. Growing a beard was something he hadn’t done in years either but he
had to do what was necessary. It now had seven days’ growth and he no longer
looked like himself.

Seven days since this madness started. He shuddered as a
chill permeated his body. Was it from the cool afternoon breeze of this sunny
February day or from his predicament? He pulled the zipper on his jacket higher
as he started to run.

It didn’t take long to get to the private men’s gym and
bathhouse, which was only about a half-mile away from Mike and Amelia’s
apartment. This place was one of Herman’s old haunts during the days when he
was estranged from his father. It was familiar, brought back warm memories, and
was what he needed today. Didn’t look like it had changed much. A nondescript
brown building with half-moon windows at the top for natural light and located
on a quiet corner.

Herman hadn’t been here in years. Not since he had fallen in
love with a man whom he had unceremoniously dumped. It had always troubled him,
as that lover definitely didn’t deserve to be treated that way.

What had happened was his dad had suddenly wanted him back
in his life. He asked for forgiveness after admitting he had missed out on
years with his son because he couldn’t accept that Herman was gay. He didn’t
want the remaining period of his life to be without him.

Herman had valued their time together, even though much of
it involved doctor visits and hospitalizations that never seemed to end. His
dad’s wife, Barbara, wasn’t much help, as she always had some kind of excuse
once Herman was back in the picture. Between the time spent with his father and
the rest of his life devoted to a crazy work schedule, it wasn’t long until
those omitted gym days sadly turned into weeks, which turned into embarrassment
and sadness at not considering someone else’s feelings. He hadn’t meant it to
happen, but time slipped away.

He let out a breath as he thought about those happy few
months with his lover before he stopped going to the gym. Their hook-ups were
exclusive but anonymous. The man always greeted Herman with a warm smile,
excited to see him at each tryst. Each time they made love, they became closer.
Whether it was a hand that stayed longer than it needed to on a thigh or an
extra kiss on the earlobe, they’d seemed so connected after sex. Sometimes they
massaged each other or held hands and talked about items as mundane as the
weather and it was enjoyable.

It wasn’t just a sex hook-up. They were comfortable
together. Their time alone was a respite from the outside world and Herman
thought something more was happening. He had wanted to tell the man his name
and was close to it a couple of times but he was scared. Not afraid of the man,
but anxious at admitting out loud that he was a gay man in love. His dad gave
him a reason to run away, and he did.

Wouldn’t it have been great to go out in public as a couple?
It was easily done in this neighborhood. Gay men were everywhere, holding hands,
kissing, living. Freedom was here if it was desired and he had missed out. His
own fault.

The walls of this gym held Herman’s emotions as tightly as
his lover’s arms. Herman felt guilt, remorse and the feeling that he had lost
his one chance for everlasting happiness. There might have been a happily ever
after but he would never know. If his father hadn’t reached out to mend their
torn relationship, Herman’s gym liaison might have turned out differently, but
he could have missed out on the relationship with his father. Forcing the pain
out of his mind, he entered the building.

The gym offered a daily rate of ten dollars and all you had
to do was fill out a fake name, address and gym release form.

Herman filled out the forms and smiled at the heavily tattooed
man behind the counter. “Thanks. Haven’t been here in a while. Still two bucks
for a towel?”

“Three,” said the man as he handed one to Herman.

Herman pulled the cash from his jacket. A small sign on the
wall stated that the gym was clean, safe and discreet. Just the way a Boystown
gym should be. As he glanced around, he noticed the place had had a facelift
since he had been there last. It now had a massive array of cardio and strength
equipment in the fitness room. Impressive.

He jumped on the treadmill. Out of the corner of his eye, he
saw a handsome blond man enter the gym. He had an impressive-looking physique
in baggy shorts and a tank top. Shoulders as broad as a barn door and full of
muscle. Was it his imagination, or was the hunk looking at Herman in the
mirrored wall?

If he hadn’t been on the run from the law, he might have
been interested. It had been too long since he had dated, much less had sex.
But it could be too dangerous, even having anonymous sex like he used to love
to do at this club. He frowned. It was definitely too dangerous. He tried to
put the thoughts out of his mind.

There were more important things he needed to concentrate
on. Such as what was he going to do with his life going forward as a fugitive?
He wasn’t even sure how to find the real killer. He needed help but he didn’t
know where to turn. Who could possibly help him? He looked up at the television
and watched the local news to take his mind off his problems. Hopefully he
wouldn’t be on it.

“Hey there,” a voice called out.

Herman looked down from the treadmill as he continued to
run. It was the cute blond guy he had been admiring earlier. “Hi.”

“Sorry to bother you.” The man continued to do biceps curls.
“Do you happen to know if there’s a place for a Caesar salad around here? One
where I can get a nice piece of grilled salmon on top.”

He slowed down the treadmill, breathing heavily as he
talked. “There used to be a place around the corner to the left. It’s a bar but
has decent food. Don’t know if it’s still there. I haven’t been to this gym in
a while.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll check it out. Been craving salmon for
days.” The man grinned. “That sounded ridiculous. I really don’t crave salmon.”

Herman smiled back. Hazel eyes, short blond hair. When he
laughed those hazel eyes turned up at the corners. Why did they look familiar?
“Hey, sometimes I crave salmon if I happen to be eating fish that week.”

“Ha ha. Me too. Seems I go from pescetarian to vegetarian to
vegan and back again.” The man laughed again. “Sometimes all in the same week.
By the way, I’m Gerry.”

“Nice to meet you, Gerry. I don’t mean to sound unfriendly
but I don’t give out my name.”

“Okay by me.” Gerry shrugged and walked back to the mirror.

Herman watched as he lifted weights. That man knew where he
wanted to go with his circuit training. It was funny, but he felt like Gerry
kept looking at him out of the corner of his eye. They were both strong, fit
men. Definitely a turn-on for Herman to hear the groans of working hard and see
the exhilaration in someone’s eyes brought on by the natural high of an
endorphin release. He liked them handsome and he liked them strong.

He couldn’t help but stare at Gerry, with his muscular body,
strong jaw and a handsome face with a five o’clock shadow that suited him. A
slightly crooked nose, which might have been broken in the past, showed Herman
that Steve was probably a tough guy and also made him look even more rugged and
sexy. He admired the broad shoulders that dipped down to a small waist. Lean
hips and muscular legs. Gerry was a few inches shorter than Herman’s
six-foot-two frame.

Herman smiled, something he hadn’t done in days. Finally
something to take his mind off his troubles. He was experiencing the pleasure
of just looking at a male. It had been too long since lust had taken over his
body. With everything he’d been through over the last week, damn if he didn’t
deserve it.

His cock pushed hard against his briefs and he felt his own
endorphin release. His sweat increased, along with his heart rate. Whether it
was from his treadmill run or the hot man in front of him he wasn’t sure. What
he was sure of was that he could drop his pants to have his dick sucked or bend
himself over the sloped preacher’s curl bench and be taken from behind.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a finger slip into his ass to stretch him and
follow it up with a thick shaft? He couldn’t help but grin. The brain was as
powerful a tool as a stiff cock.

Herman wanted to tell the man behind the front desk to turn
the ceiling fans on high and prop the front door open for some cool air. Gerry
was making Herman sweat.

He wasn’t sure what to do next. Gerry seemed friendly and
accepted that Herman didn’t give out his name. Anonymous sex. He used to like
it. Liked it until he fell for Steve. There. He finally said the name of his
old lover. Couldn’t say the last name because he never knew it. Here he was
thinking about Steve again and he hadn’t even been at the gym an hour.

Herman frowned. Gerry looked a little like Steve. No. Maybe
not. Steve wasn’t as strong as Gerry, and Steve had brown shoulder-length hair.
At least he did all those years ago. But one thing was for sure—Steve would
never be a vegetarian. He’d always told Herman his favorite meal was a filet
mignon and a baked potato with two pats of butter, not one.

Herman turned off the treadmill and Gerry was suddenly in
front of him. Herman stepped down and they circled one another. The air in the
room felt thick and Herman’s breathing became heavier. He inhaled the masculine
sweat that permeated the air and it made him feel weak.

“I saw you looking at me.”

Herman shook his head. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“I didn’t see anything rude about it. You’re a handsome
man.”

“Likewise.” Herman needed to move the conversation away from
the attraction he felt. He wasn’t ready to take action.

Time to change the subject.

“I couldn’t help but notice how you worked on your circuit
training. Really intense.”

“I’m into strength and endurance. Doing a pretty good job of
it too. I’ve put on quite a bit of muscle the last few years.”

“It’s obvious you’re strong. You don’t even appear out of
breath.”

“Oh, I’m out of breath.” Gerry smiled.

Herman saw those hazel eyes turn up at the corners again.
Was he the reason that Gerry was breathless? The temptation was back full force
and his cock twitched.

“The strong, silent type? Oh, come on. With that hard body?
You must have many admirers.”

Herman tried to smile. “I work out regularly.”

“Next question. Boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Then I feel free to say that I’m incredibly attracted to
you.” Gerry placed a hand on Herman’s waist and let it wander slowly down his
thigh. “Watching your body move on that treadmill gave me serious wood.”

Herman shuddered at the touch. “That feels good.”

“Can I interest you in a shower, Mr. Anonymous? I’d like to
know you a little better in a more private location.”

Herman hesitated. This wasn’t what he’d expected to happen
the first time back at this gym. He wasn’t ready for a sexual encounter,
although it was nice to think about one with this cut man whom he was equally
attracted to. A blowjob? A fuck? It had been so long. “I’m sorry. Not today.”

Gerry threw his hand up in the air. “You were throwing out
the signs. I thought I’d read them correctly.”

The atmosphere in the room became chilly, like the air
conditioner had been turned on high. “Again, I apologize. I’ve been going
through a bad time.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. Gerry seemed to stare,
as if trying to see into Herman’s soul. It made Herman incredibly
uncomfortable. Damn, those eyes looked familiar! He felt like he had gazed into
them a million times, a million years ago. His heart pounded. Could this man
possibly be Steve? His Steve? Herman couldn’t even fathom the idea right now.
It was too much for his brain to handle.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” Gerry broke the stare and
glanced down to the floor.

“I don’t know,” murmured Herman, unsure of what to say next.
“I’m kind of in transit right now.”

“Okay.” Gerry shrugged. “Understood. I’ll be here around ten
in the morning. If I see you, maybe we can talk again.” He turned and left the
fitness room.

Herman was shocked by the abrupt nature of the exit but it
was just as well. He needed his blood pressure and breathing to return to
normal. The whole encounter had left him shocked and unclear about what was
going on.

Steve. Even the name caused pain in his heart. But if Herman
had any balls, he would be here tomorrow.