Read Six Degrees of Lust Online
Authors: Taylor V. Donovan
Tags: #MLR Press LLC, #Print ISBN#978-1-60820-414-4, #Ebook ISBN# 978-1-60820-415-1
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355
starting to realize being alone is not such a bad thing. I’m working
on me, doing what’s best for me, and Julian wasn’t.”
“I have to agree with that. It doesn’t sound like it was a healthy
relationship.”
“Not at all. But it’s all good now. I’ll be out of the country
for a while. You remember about those editorials I told you I’m
shooting in Europe, right? And I’ve discovered this boy I want
to paint. If things go according to plan, I’ll be working on that as
soon as I come back to New York.”
“I’m sure the distance will help with leaving the Julian
situation behind you.”
“Exactly. Then I’ll be going back to my old hunting grounds.
Get my dancing on, see if I’ve been missed,” he finished with a
laugh.
“Which is where?” Logan took a long, deep drag from his
cigarette, letting it warm him up from the inside out.
“Why, Tangerine, of course! Best meat market in the city.
Not that I want to hook up, but I’ll definitely check out the boys.
Have you ever been there?”
“Way too many times. More than I care for in the past month
alone.” He put the cigarette out and looked at Chris straight in
the eyes. “I’d suggest you stay away from that place.”
Chris frowned. “Why is that?”
“Don’t you watch the news?”
“Not if I can avoid it!” A nervous laugh escaped him. “What
is it?”
“There’s a serial killer in our midst, Chris, one that preys on
gay guys.”
“Are you serious?” He covered his mouth with one hand, the
other arm holding his stomach, stunned by such news and the
fact that he’d had no idea. As a gay man with mainly gay friends,
that was something he should’ve heard about; then he realized he
hadn’t seen most of those friends in months. Had he been that
consumed by his drama with Julian?
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“Eleven bodies sound serious enough to you? Most of the
victims were last seen at Tangerine, so you stay away from that
place, you hear me?”
“Oh my lord…” Christian whispered, his mind working fast,
probably wondering if he knew any of the poor guys. Then he
straightened up and swatted Logan’s shoulder with one of his
perfectly manicured hands. “Are you out of your mind? You tell
me there’s a killer and you’ve been to Tangerine ‘more times than
I care for in the past months’?” He finished, making quotation
marks with fingers “What is wrong with you?”
“Not a thing. My presence in Tangerine is part of an ongoing
investigation. We’re on this fucker’s ass and won’t stop until we
catch him.”
“When you told me you were a federal agent I thought you
meant you worked for the IRS or something like that.”
“I’m a Special Agent with the Bureau,” Logan clarified. He
could tell Chris was really upset.
“The Bureau? As in FBI bureau?” The moment Logan
nodded Chris bombarded him with a hundred questions. “Why
is the FBI involved? Are you working with the NYPD?”
“We’re in charge of the investigation.”
“Why is that?”
“Because bodies have been found in different states and that
makes it a federal case.”
“Which states?”
“New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island. We started interviewing artists and gallery owners
in the area after the killer left some artwork with the victims.”
“Are the pictures you showed to Gabi when you went to
Metaphora related to the case?”
“Yes.”
“I want to see them before I leave for Europe.”
“I can email them to you.”
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357
“That works. What do you want me to do with them?”
“Just look them over and let me know if you’ve seen them
before, okay?”
“Can you email them tomorrow?” Logan nodded and smiled
his thanks to the guy. “I’ll look into it. I just don’t get why some
people can’t live and let the rest of us do the same. That’s why I
don’t pay attention to the crap I get. Don’t need anyone telling
me I’m going to hell because I like to do guys.”
“What crap is that?”
“Anti-gay propaganda and literature. They have it all over
the place now. The internet, the mail…” He shook his head and
sighed. “Please. If there’s anything we can do to help, we will.”
“Thank you, Chris.” He smiled and grabbed the guy’s arm
softly. “But tonight, let’s just have some fun, okay?”
“Hold on a second.”
“What is it?”
“Just…hold on…give me a minute…” He massaged his
forehead with his fingers and paced around a little, which
confused the shit out of Logan. “What about Texas?” He finally
asked.
“What about it?” Logan repeated carefully.
“Have any bodies been found in Texas?”
“Why do you ask?” Not wanting to influence Christian,
he didn’t mention there was a chance similar crimes had been
committed in that state.
“Brax was here a few months ago. I remember he was upset
because he got word of a murder,” Chris explained, finally
stopping in front of Logan, his expression dead serious. “Same
shit. Gay guy, last seen at a club.”
“Are you sure? When was this?” Logan couldn’t believe what
he was hearing. Could it be possible? Could it be the same perp?
They were still waiting for either Detective Callahan with the
HPD to come back from his way too long medical leave or his
358 Taylor V. Donovan
newly assigned partner to contact them. They hadn’t been able
to confirm a thing, and Duncan wasn’t traveling to Houston for
a few more days. The new wave of murders had delayed his trip.
“Yes, I’m sure. Positive. Brax was very upset over it. He
mentioned it wasn’t the first body the police had found under the
same circumstances.”
“Shit!” Logan covered his mouth with both hands and started
pacing himself. “When did it happen, Chris?”
“Well, Brax was here in early May. That’s when he mentioned
it. I’m not sure when the other murders took place. Do you think
it could be connected?”
“One thing we don’t believe in is coincidence, Chris.” He
walked over to his friend and hugged him tight. “Thank you for
the information. We’ll look into it.”
“Will you keep me posted?”
“Definitely.” He smiled “Will you stay away from Tangerine
when you come back to New York?”
“I promise.”
“Thanks.” He hugged Chris again, then turned the guy’s tall,
lean body towards Besitos. “Now, I insist we have some fun
tonight. Please?”
“Come on.” Chris flashed Logan one of his flirty, infectious
smiles and grabbed his hands, pulling him towards the restaurant’s
door “I haven’t danced in…forever. Let’s go shake our asses
some. ”
And so they danced, and Logan had an excellent time,
alternating between the party room and the sidewalk whenever
they wanted to have another cigarette, and he managed to not
think about the Leviticus case for a few hours, or worry out of
his mind about Sasha, a kid that reminded Logan way too much
of himself.
Briefly he considered asking more questions about Gabi and
finding out her feelings toward Sam, but quickly squashed that
idea. A guy like Christian would never discuss his best friend’s
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359
painful past, and Logan admired the man for it. Besides, after
listening to Gabi that night, he wasn’t sure he wanted Sam to talk
to her anymore.
Especially not now that he seemed to be doing slightly better.
Sam deserved some happiness in life. He’d punished himself
enough for something he’d never been quite responsible for,
even if everybody else involved thought it was fine to hold him
accountable.
And if his best friend didn’t return from his vacation with
a few chinks in his armor, Logan would eat his favorite comic
book series.
All nineteen volumes and one hundred and twelve animated
episodes of it.
August 30, 2009
South Beach, Florida
The bright morning sun coming through the window was
unbearable, waking Mac up way before he was ready. Shit. Why
didn’t he think to close the curtains before going to bed? Slowly
he tried to open his eyes, but they seemed to be glued shut, and his
head felt like someone had poured cement straight into his brain,
making it very difficult to remember a goddamn thing. Then he
heard a soft moan and couldn’t help but sigh in complete bliss.
Every night Sam went to sleep almost at the edge of their
gigantic bed, but somehow always ended on top of Mac. His
black head rested on his shoulder, his arm surrounded Mac’s
waist, and his long leg covered Mac’s, firmly keeping him in the
bed.
Mac sighed again, happy to be sharing his body heat with the
sexy guy… sad that their vacation together was about to end. He
literally tried to shake that thought away and ended up wincing
miserably. Why the hell did his head hurt so fucking much?
He took a deep breath and waited to see if he’d woke Sam
up, but the guy just snuggled closer to Mac and snored a little.
Careful not to disturb him, he kissed his black head softly and
rearranged the covers around them.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and let clips of the
previous two days play in his mind.
They’d been like kids at Busch Gardens, going from one
amazing ride to the next, eating all kinds of junk between
attractions and taking pictures of everything in sight. Mac had
even managed to capture several of Sam’s sexy smiles.
After the park they’d gone for seafood and turned themselves
362 Taylor V. Donovan
in early to enjoy another night filled with passion, but still
managed to make it to the golf course around seven a.m.
Sam wasn’t able to relax.
At all.
He was far too competitive to just hit the ball and go with
it. Instead he’d put his all on the course, set on reaching Tiger
Woods’ level by the time they checked out of the hotel a little
before eleven.
Mac stretched a little and smiled.
It was Mac who drove them back to South Beach while
Sam dozed off on the passenger seat. They had sex as soon as
they made it to the hotel, and dinner was served in their room,
accompanied by the greatest wine. Then dessert had turned into
more sex.
They showered, finished the wine, and finally left the room.
Next stop was a gay bar with hot Go-Go boys and really good
music. That’s where the body shots started. After a while Mac
had made a comment about his admiration for the way people
let loose when they danced and Sam had said they should go to
a club.
Yeah… that was… yeah…
No way would Mac ever be able to forget what went down at
that club.
There was swaying, bumping, and grinding. Sweat and hot
breath and he’d been out of his mind crazy about the way Sam
had rubbed his perfectly pert ass against his cock all night long…
about the way in which Sam had kept him tucked against his side
whenever they’d gone for a drink.
He remembered going for a walk on the beach and stopping
by a tattoo parlor on their way back to the club, but everything
was a blur after that.
Had Sam really almost slugged a guy for shaking his ass
too close to Mac’s crotch even though the sexy guy had done
everything but pee in a circle around him to mark his territory?
six DegRees of Lust
363
Had they gotten into a fight or something?
Mac really didn’t think so, but made a mental note of keeping
a safe distance between himself and other males if Sam happened
to be around, as his guy seemed to believe thirty feet was still too
damn close.
Watchful of his throbbing head, he disentangled himself
from Sam and swung his legs over the bed to try and get up, only
to be stopped by a strong hand on his thigh and some mumbling
he couldn’t understand.
“Wheuing?”
He brushed Sam’s hair away from his forehead and smiled at
the guy. “What was that?”
“Where the fuck are you going?” First he winced, then he
groaned. “God, I think my head’s internally bleeding.”
“Going to the bathroom, I’ll be right back.” He kissed Sam
lightly on his forehead and got out of bed. Once his stomach
settled down, he made it to the bathroom without throwing up
all over the place.
After using the toilet he washed his face, brushed his teeth,
and gulped down a glass of water, but it wasn’t until he looked
at his reflection in the mirror that he noticed the bandage on his
left forearm.
“What. The. Fuck.”
Mac knew they’d stopped by the tattoo place, but what the
fuck had happened after that?
A loud blast came from the bedroom, but he was too
distracted by what he suspected was new ink he didn’t remember
getting to care enough to go check on Sam.