Lotus Position

THE POSITIONS OF LOVE BOOK X: LOTUS POSITION by J. M. SNYDER Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com

Lotus Position An Amber Quill Press Book This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com http://www.amberheat.com http://www.amberallure.com

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review. Copyright © 2008 by J. M. Snyder ISBN 978-1-60272-361-0 Cover Art © 2008 Trace Edward Zaber Layout and Formatting Provided by: Elemental Alchemy

Published in the United States of America Also by J. M. Snyder All Shook Up Beneath A Yankee Sky The Bonds Of Love Crushed Matching Tats On Company Time Persistence of Memory The Powers of Love The Regent's Knight Under A Confederate Moon Wanted With This Ring The Positions Of Love Book I: The Positions Of Love Book II: Two Pillars Position Book III: Clasping Position Book IV: Hammock Position Book V: Two Dogs Position Book VI: Cowboy Position Book VII: Kneeling Butterfly Position Book VIII: Pillar And The Ivy Position Book IX: Tripod Book X: Lotus Book XI: The Arc Book XII: Sideways

LOTUS POSITION In the summer, Vic Braunson signed up for double shifts at the garage where he worked as a bus driver for the City of Richmond. He drove two routes back-to-back to cover for those employees who took time off to vacation with their families. Vic used to volunteer simply for something to do--he'd had no one in his life who demanded otherwise, and it helped pass long, hot evenings he would have spent alone. Until he met Matt diLorenzo. Because the summer was a busy time of the year for Matty, who worked as a swim instructor and pool administrator at the gym downtown, Vic still agreed to work double shifts from the first of June through to Labor Day. After that, he took his own vacation. Last year, Vic had just met Matt, and his vacation had been spent falling in love with the man who would change his life in so many ways. This year, he looked forward to two weeks of nothing but downtime, the two of them twined together in the bed sheets or snuggling on the couch. Vic could think of no better way to pass the time. Matt, on the other hand, had something different in mind. He wanted a real vacation. "Come on," he cajoled as Vic ate dinner one evening. "A few days on the beach, what do you say? It'll be fun. I'll rub suntan oil all over your back, massage it into your scalp..." Matt stood behind him, kneading the taut muscles in Vic's shoulders. His hands worked their way up the base of Vic's neck, their touch invigorating after the long day Vic had had. "We can take walks by the water, or have sex on the beach, and I'm not just talking about the drink, either."

Vic grunted. "Sounds like you've already made up your mind." "I have," Matt declared. "I'm just trying to talk you into it, too." With a shrug, Vic admitted, "I'll go wherever you want to go." Matt wrapped his arms around Vic's neck in a tight bear hug. Planting a wet kiss on Vic's ear, Matt murmured, "Good thing you said that, because I already booked us a room at a seaside resort and I'll be damned if I'm going alone." Using the psychic bond they shared, Vic dipped into Matt's mind--he loved the telepathy Matt gave him because it made communication between them intimate and immediate. Instead of spending the next hour or so talking about the trip Matt had planned, Vic could access the information within seconds, knowing what Matt knew and picking up his lover's excitement. The resort was on an island off the coast of New Jersey, a place called Wildwood, where Matt had spent his summers growing up. His memories were colored with childlike wonder and awe--the beach with its clean sand and clear water, the waves that rolled in high enough to surf, the boardwalk stretching along the shoreline, lined with piers full of amusement park rides and arcades. Kite flying and cotton candy, fresh crabs and roller coasters, the sea and its sun and its spray. Everything about the resort glistened in Matt's mind like a precious pearl hidden among the folds of everyday life. Matt sent a mental image to Vic: the boardwalk at night, the beach beneath it dark and empty, the sea churning in the distance like an unsatisfied lover. Matt leaned against the railing of the boardwalk with Vic behind him, their bodies melded together in a comfortable stance. Vic held Matt tight in his arms as a stiff breeze blew in off the ocean, buffeting them. The scent of salt and brine was sharp in the air around them, so heady, soreal , that for a moment Vic was sure he smelled it in their small apartment--it drowned out the scent of the pot roast he was finishing off. It overrode his senses, disarming him. Suddenly no amount of dinner would satisfy Vic's appetite. He wanted something more, something meatier. Setting down his fork, he caught his lover's wrists to keep Matt draped over him. When he turned his head to the side, he found Matt studying him with a faint smile on his face. "You like?" "I want," Vic answered. "Now." Matt kissed his nose, a quick peck, then slipped out of Vic's grip to lunge for the hallway. "Race you to the bedroom." Vic turned over the chair in his hurry to give chase. **** Wildwood was a six-hour road trip from Richmond. With his lover's memories as his guide, Vic found himself recognizing landmarks and road signs he had never seen before--the blue signs with white seagulls on them that pointed the way to a local ferry, the Delaware Memorial Bridge that spanned the bay, the green markers counting down the miles to Wildwood. Then the small drawbridge that led onto the island itself, spanning salt marshes whose tall reeds rustled in the breeze off the ocean, the sky that looked almost colorless where it touched the water at the horizon, the large Ferris wheel that stood like an imprint against the edge of the world. As they crossed the drawbridge, Vic rolled down his window and drew in deep the wharf-like stench of the marsh. Beside him, Matt stirred. With a languid stretch, he squeezed Vic's hand in his and murmured, "We there yet?" "Just about." Vic glanced over at the Ferris wheel--it looked insubstantial at this distance, like lines drawn with ink on the clouds. "Is that the boardwalk you keep talking about?" Matt sat up and turned in his seat, a smile already spreading across his face. "That's it." Then he leaned against Vic, clutching his arm as he cozied up to his lover. "I haven't been here inyears. I'm so excited!"

Vic gave him a bemused grin. "No, really? I couldn't tell." The boardwalk seemed to follow them as they drove down the main street, Atlantic, that ran the length of the island. At each intersection, Vic glanced to his right and could see the raised wooden platform stretch across the street behind Matty. Even this late in the season, and this early in the day, people strolled along the boardwalk, shopping bags in their hands, eating cotton candy or ice cream or soft pretzels. At one end, long piers stretched out over the beach and into the ocean; amusement park rides covered the piers like neon barnacles, their gaudy lights already flashing amid calliope music that drifted through Matt's open window, tantalizing. Matt sat with his face to the window like a kid peering into a toy store at Christmas. Anticipation crackled around him--Vic felt it easily through their psychic bond, and it was hard not to allow it to color his own feelings. He'd never been to Wildwood before, but Matt loved the place, and Vic suspected before the week was out, he would, too. Their motel was at the far end of the boardwalk. Here the rides petered out into souvenir shops and token arcades. Every few blocks, a large ramp led to the boardwalk from the street. The beach began immediately under the boardwalk, with the sea twinkling in the sun almost a mile away. Dune buggies crossed the stretch of sand, transporting people down to the water. Others walked, their arms laden with umbrellas, towels, and water toys. There were a lot of families, Vic noticed, mothers with two or three little ones who shrieked in delight as they cavorted in their tiny swimsuits. And alot of bikinis. Everywhere Vic looked, young women traipsed around half dressed, and guys lounged in swim shorts and nothing else. The island atmosphere was pervasive, slowing traffic to a crawl, making pedestrians linger at street corners or along sidewalks. Their room at the motel was a large suite--on one side a queen-sized bed sat on a dais, raised to overlook the rest of the room. Two loveseats huddled around a wide-screen TV in one corner; behind them, a kitchenette with a small breakfast bar provided a place to cook and eat. The back wall was nothing but window panes from floor to ceiling, covered by thick drapes that pulled back to reveal a spectacular view of the sea. As Vic deposited their luggage in the small living room area, Matt pulled the drapes wide and stood, hands on his hips, as he savored the moment. When Vic joined him, Matt wrapped both arms around his lover's waist and hugged him tight. "It's gorgeous," he sighed, his breath hot and ticklish through Vic's T-shirt. Vic ran a hand across Matt's shoulders, pulling him close. "You did good, Matty. I might never want to leave." "Like that's a bad thing?" Matt joked. **** Matt made Vic lie down and relax while he unpacked. After the long car ride, it felt good to stretch out along the motel's firm bed. With his hands folded behind his head, Vic alternately watched his lover move around their suite and stared out the open drapes at the ocean beyond. At some point he dozed, and woke when the rich smell of hot cheesesteaks aroused his senses. "The real deal," Matt told him, unwrapping the hoagies he'd bought. He set them out on the breakfast bar as Vic stretched awake. "Not those imitation sub sandwiches they serve back home. It's beenyears since I've had an honest to God Philly cheesesteak hoagie, and Al's are the best, I'm telling you. They don't call him the Steak King for nothing. Eat up." After dinner, Vic turned around one of the loveseats, away from the television--he couldn't imagine they'd be watching it any time soon, not with the view they had. They cuddled together, a couple of cold beers in hand, and watched the last rays of light dip below the swells of the ocean. The beach took on a wild, windswept beauty as one by one, the people enjoying the sand and surf called it a day. Vic had a nice buzz building inside him, a warm, pleasant feeling brought on by the alcohol and Matt's hand resting on his belt buckle, palm pressed against the slight erection hardening at his crotch. A half-formed thought wafted through Vic's mind--the two of them nude in the bed, the lights out, the drapes still pulled wide. No one outside would see them in the darkness, but they would be able to watch the sea roil beneath the moonlight as they made love... A damp kiss on his chin roused him. He turned to find Matt grinning, eyes glistening with

anticipation and drink. "I've got a better idea," he said. He caught his lower lip between his teeth as if he couldn't wait to tell Vic what he had in mind. But when Vic brushed over his lover's thoughts, he just picked up a blur of lust, nothing definite. Even one beer was enough to make Matt horny, and from the look on his face, he was ready to rumble. Vic felt his own libido rise at his lover's desire. Downing the last of his bottle, he asked, "What are you thinking?" The hand on Vic's belt dropped to his crotch and squeezed his dick through his jeans. "Slip out of these," Matt commanded, "and put on a pair of swim trunks." "What?" Vic frowned at him. "Why?" With a shrug, Matt said, "In case you get wet." "You betterget me wet," Vic growled. Matt laughed. "Come on, play along. Let's start with a walk by the water and see where it leads." "Back here to this bed," Vic replied. And if that were the case, why not cut out the walk and just get to the loving already? But Matt shook his head. "It's dark out there. No one willsee us..." Trailing off, he waited for the implications to sink in Vic. The beach was dark, empty this time of the night, and they would be very much alone... ::Sex on the beach,:: Matt prodded mentally. As if goosed, Vic surged to his feet. He tried to play it off with a stretch, but Matt snickered at his eagerness. "What the hell are we waiting for?" **** Just as they'd hoped, the beach was deserted. A forgotten bucket high above the tide line was all that remained to prove tourists had been there earlier in the day. In the distance, the night sparkled with the neon signs and flashing lights from the boardwalk, and sounds drifted down to the shore, calliope music, shouts and laughter, barkers enticing people to step up and play their games. The wind pulled the noise out like taffy, stretching it over the beach before tossing it to the restless waves. In the darkness, the boardwalk seethed with activity, and the beach seemed bleached and bare in comparison. Along the waterline, Vic shuffled his bare feet through sand still warm from the day's light. Every now and then, a tendril of water would tickle his toes or lap his heel, testing him, tasting him. Matt walked so close beside him, his hip bumped Vic's with each step. His arms were around Vic's waist, his head resting back against his lover's chest. Vic had an arm around Matt's shoulder. By turning his head just a little, he could bury his face in Matt's thick curls and breathe deep his clean scent. Together, the night and the man in his embrace aroused him--in the confines of his loose swim trunks, Vic's balls hung low and his cock swung, heavy, at half-mast. A little way into their walk, the water splashed offshore as something large breeched the waves. Matt stopped in mid-step and turned; Vic glanced over to see the shiny back of a dolphin in the moonlight. Then Matt touched his face, turning him away from the sea. "Vic," he sighed. "Here." He covered Vic's mouth with his own, preventing any reply. His tongue parted Vic's lips, insistent; his fingers wrapped around Vic's ear, tugging him closer as their kiss deepened. The windbreakers they wore crackled as they rubbed against each other, and Vic grabbed fists full of Matt's jacket as he held his lover tight.::Matty,:: he thought, the word crashing around them like the waves by their side.::Here? Are you sure? What if--:: He didn't get to finish that thought--Matt took a step back and stumbled, falling away from him. "Shit!" he cried, laughing. Vic held on, tumbling to the ground after his lover. The sand softened their fall. Vic found himself

in Matt's lap, something hard and demanding prodding his chest. When Matt tried to scoot out from under him, Vic nipped at the erection tenting Matt's trunks. "What's this?" "Three guesses." Matt crawled backwards like a crab, scuttling out from under Vic. "First two don't count." Before he could get very far, Vic snagged a mouthful of fabric. Matt turned, trying to get away, but Vic kept his jaws clamped shut and the swim trunks slid down Matt's slim legs, exposing the twin pale moons of his ass. "Hey!" With a palm flat against Vic's forehead, he tried to push his lover away. "No fair." Releasing his shorts, Vic stuck out his tongue to lick the cleft between Matt's buttocks. Matt rolled onto his stomach, his hips arching away from the sand to press his backside against his lover's face. "Yes," he hissed. That was all the encouragement Vic needed. He climbed over Matt, kissing and licking his way around the secret mounds of flesh. His lover's scent filled him like a heady perfume, exotic, intoxicating. Matt's shorts slid down farther as he pushed himself up onto his knees--he raised his hips higher and spread his legs wide, allowing Vic full access to the tender skin that quivered above the heavy sac of his balls. With his tongue, Vic traced the taut tendons that stood out like thin wires along the underside of Matt's fuzzy nuts, then nosed through the ticklish curls to take the dangling weight in his mouth. "Gah!" Matt gasped as Vic's tongue danced over his genitals. His hands dug into the sand, seeking purchase, his cheek pressed to the still-warm grains. Through their bond, Vic felt the heat on his own face as the sand molded to Matt's features and gave way beneath his fists. It felt harsh and foreign on Matt's cock, the strange irritation arousing in its own way as Matt humped the ground. His shorts were gone now, and his windbreaker had ridden up to expose the smooth stretch of his back. "Yes," he sighed as Vic used his lips and tongue to massage his balls. "Yes, God,yes. " Suddenly cool water trickled up Vic's legs to splash against Matt's thighs. Vic caught a face full of brine as the small wave crested over Matt's knees. He sat back, sputtering, only to find himself sitting in the sea. The water seeped through his swim trunks and tickled along the length of his own hard dick. "What the hell?" With a laugh, Matt rolled over, then did his little backwards crab walk to get away from the next wave. "The tide's coming in," he told Vic. "We should move up a little. Hey! My shorts!" His swim trunks had slipped off his legs and now floated a few feet away, riding the waves like an oil stain. Vic lunged for them but the next surge pushed them out of reach. "Vic," Matt whined, a pout evident in his voice. "My shorts are going away." "I'll get them." Vic pushed himself up from the sand and splashed through the water after the shorts. What a way to ruin a moment, he thought. Another few minutes and he would've had Matt right where he needed him, flat out on the sand, stiff and wet and ready to fuck. Now they'd have to get back to that somehow, but the spontaneity would be gone. When the tide went out again, Vic stepped on the shorts before they could follow it out to sea. The fabric was soaked, and he wrung it out as best he could before he turned back toward Matt. "They're a little wet..." He trailed off when he saw his lover. The moonlight danced in Matt's hair, turning the black curls a deep blue. It sparkled in his eyes, darkening them to a shade of green so primal, so raw, that it grabbed Vic by the nuts and refused to let go. Matt's lips shimmered with stardust and spit. The windbreaker was gone--he sat cross-legged in the sand, every inch of his body bare to the elements. The dark hair covering his dusky skin conspired with the shadows of the night to draw Vic's gaze to the dark thatch at Matt's crotch, from which his ruddy cock rose like a promise. The thick shaft glistened in the moonlight, and Vic noticed a small bottle of suntan oil discarded by Matt's knee. The rich smell of coconuts filled the air. In a voice as seductive as warm honey, Matt told Vic, "Lose the shorts." He didn't mean the ones in his hands. Vic tossed those aside, then hurried to step out of his own.

The moment his dick slipped from his trunks, it stiffened to attention, and Vic's sphincter clenched in sudden need. "Matty," he sighed, discarding his shorts alongside his lover's. The windbreaker followed suit, and Vic almost stumbled over Matt in his desire. Facing his lover, Vic eased himself down to straddle Matt. With one foot on either side of Matt's crossed legs, Vic knelt before him. Matt licked out to taste Vic's cock as it passed before him, his tongue leaving a wet stain that trailed up Vic's length, over his shaved pubic mound, over his lower belly to tickle his navel. Then over his firm stomach, his hairless chest--he felt the tip of Matt's dick bump against his ass and he wrapped his arms around Matt's head, hugging his lover to him. "Please," he sighed, wriggling to position himself. "Fuck me, Matty. God, please, I want you." Hands slick with oil cupped his large buttocks. Strong fingers eased between his ass cheeks and spread them apart. Matt's cockhead found Vic's trembling hole; the sensation was maddening. "Yes," Vic cried, thrusting his own dick against Matt's chest as he hugged his lover close. Now he was the one begging, but he loved every breathless second. His lover's mouth hot against his neck, the hair clutched in his hands, the gentle fingers guiding the large cock into his ass. "Yes," he said again, louder this time. "God, please,yes. " Minute grains of sand stuck in the oil rubbed against his tender skin as Matt worked his way into Vic, fueling the flames of desire. He loved the stretch, the burn, the discomfort that dissolved the moment Matt was fully inside him. Vic sank to his knees, taking his lover in completely. Turning Matt's face toward his, Vic kissed him, insatiable.::Yes,:: he thought, his mind a blur of love and lust.::Fuck me harder, faster, Matty, please.:: Matt could only hold him tight--in this position, Vic did all the work. He rocked against Matt, back and forth, up and down, and sometimes moving his hips in a circular motion, anything to drive them together. The boardwalk behind them seemed to mimic their frenzy; the screams from the rides grew louder, punctuating the night. Vic's own dick rubbed along his lover's lower belly amid hungry kisses, guttural moans, hands clasping together. Cool sea spray beaded along Matt's legs, Vic's ass.::Yes, fuck me, yes, Matty, YES!:: The ocean itself seemed to revel in their love. Every time Matt's cock bumped Vic's prostate, the waves crashed around them, in rhythm with their movements. Hard, pounding, eternal. They came in unison, a perfect way to start their vacation off right. **** Even without theirKama Sutra book handy, Matt had a name for the position. "Lotus Position," he told Vic as they walked back to the motel, hand in hand. "I think it's some kind of Asian flower, or something. I guess it just sounds a little more romantic than 'Fucking with Legs Crossed Indian Style.'" Vic didn't care what the position was called--he had loved the grit of the sand on his skin, in his ass. A wild abandon had risen in him, borne from the elements around them, the ocean at his back, the wind on his bare skin, the boardwalk nearby with its lights and sounds. Matt filled the hollow spaces in him; he kept Vic sane. When they returned to their suite, Vic led his man to the bathroom, where they shared a shower amid soapy kisses. Later, they lay curled together in the bed, Vic wrapped tightly around Matt, both mind and body. The distant surf lulled them to sleep. In the morning, Vic woke to find Matt grinning beside him. "Hey, lover," he murmured, planting a kiss on Vic's chin. "What do you say we pay a visit to the boardwalk today?" "I just woke up," Vic reminded him. Matt ducked his head and rolled his eyes. With a sardonic look on his face, he prodded Vic's mind with his own.::Please? For me?:: Vic growled, a low sound that only made Matt snicker. Leaning against Vic's side, he kissed him again, on the chest this time, his lips puckering over one hard nipple. "That means yes," he said. "So get up and get dressed, Superman. Time's a-wasting." Superman.Vic paused to mentally assess himself. While different sexual positions helped keep

their love exciting and fresh, Vic always dreaded the morning after. Would it be something he would have to hide? Something he couldn't control? Or just something inconvenient? How many times had he called into work "sick" because the powerdu jour kept him from leaving the house? How many times had he had to assure Matt he didn't mind the powers--it was the man he loved, not the abilities he gained during sex? But fortunately he felt no different than he had the night before. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It'd be nice if he had no obvious powers this time, though Vic would never admit such a thing out loud or eventhink it lest Matt took it the wrong way. Vic loved him completely--sometimes the depth of emotion he felt for Matty took his breath away and left him shaking and scared. But his lover was sensitive about the strange ability that gave him the power to empower his sexual partners; rightfully so, Vic knew. So he held his tongue and refused to allow himself to dwell on the powers, good or bad. They came from loving Matt, and they would never inconvenience Vic enough to give up his lover. The boardwalk was a raised platform that ran the length of the beach. Shops and arcades lined one side, facing the beach--bookstores, souvenir shops selling sea shell trinkets and T-shirts, candy stores, kite and bike rental shops, fast food restaurants, snack shops, ice cream parlors, nickel arcades with ski-ball and video games and slot machines. Vic took one look at the seemingly endless line of stores and groaned. Matt's grip tightened on his hand as if his lover were afraid he'd turn around and head back to the hotel. Vic was tempted to do just that. "You never said anything about shopping." Matt pressed against him. "Don't be a grump." When Vic narrowed his eyes, Matt sighed. "We don't have tobuy anything, Vic. We don't even have to go inside every single store." "I'm going to remind you of that," Vic muttered. Suddenly, spending the day on the boardwalk didn't interest him all that much. No wonder Matt had such loving memories of this place. Fortunately, his lover was content to window-shop, pausing in front of each store long enough to peer in but not forcing Vic to enter. Most of the stores were trinket places, carrying tourist crap made from shells or carved from driftwood. The word WILDWOOD was written everywhere--on postcards, T-shirts, backpacks, sun visors, even flip flops and beach towels. The arcades were dark dens of electronic noise which Matt glanced over. He kept Vic's hand in both of his, and whenever they stopped in front of a display, he would lean against Vic's arm, a warm, welcome weight, his hands pressing Vic's against the front of his shorts. More than once, Vic had flexed his fingers and goosed Matt, a gentle squeeze that made him bury his face in Vic's shoulder as he laughed. "You're bad." "And you're sexy," Vic replied. "Those shorts are so tight, they should be illegal." "Are you complaining?" Matt wanted to know. Vic grinned. "Hell, no." The first shop they did enter was a candy store. "I want some salt water taffies," Matt declared, stepping out of the flow of traffic and pulling Vic along behind him. Vic was tired--of walking, of jostling through the crowd, of stopping every so often to look at the overpriced trinkets and souvenirs. He stood his ground and felt Matt tug his arm, the muscles stretching in his lover's grip. For a brief second, it seemed his armdid stretch--Matt continued toward the store without stopping while Vic stayed where he was, his arm pulled taut between them. What the hell...? Then someone nudged him from behind, setting him into motion. He closed the distance between himself and Matt, his arm once again normal length. He shook it, turned it over, and stared hard at his forearm, but there was no extra skin dangling from his elbow, nothing odd about his arm or out of place. It had been the sun, perhaps, and the noise and the crowd. He was tired and hot. Seeing things. Because what kind of stupid power would that be, to be able to stretch his arms like, like... Stretch Armstrong. Matt glanced over his shoulder at Vic, a smile toying around the edges of his mouth. "Buy me

some candy, big guy. What do you say?" Stepping up behind his lover, he wrapped his arm around Matt's waist. It was normal length, nothing extended or stretched about it--he still reached the same spot on Matt's abdomen he always did when he hugged him close. "I got your candy right here," Vic murmured, planting a kiss on the nape of Matt's neck. **** In line at the register, Matt patted down his shorts before he realized he didn't have his wallet with him. "Are you sure this isn't it?" Vic teased, poking at the front of his shorts, where his dick curled into a thick knot. "You don't have any change in there somewhere?" "Now who's the one being bad?" With a laugh, Matt slapped his hand away, then eased a hand into the back pocket of Vic's jeans. His hand curved around Vic's butt cheek, pinched it playfully, then extracted his wallet. "I'll pay you back later," he promised. Mentally, he added,::In more ways than one.:: While Matt paid for his candy, Vic glanced around the store. A couple of boys stood behind them, just kids really--brothers, Vic thought, touching their minds to make sure. The tallest was Brandon, age thirteen; the other was Billy, ten. Brandon stared at the cashier, ignoring everything else around him, his eyes dewy and mouth agape.::Real sexy,:: Vic thought, projecting into the kid's head without meaning to.::She's gonna eat you up.:: The boy snapped to attention, startled, and a thin blush crept into his cheeks. Beside him, his brother held handfuls of candy--lollipops and rock candy, Gobstoppers, sour gummies, salt water taffies. He glared at the cashier as if it were her fault they were waiting in line in the first place; Vic thought maybe it was. He wondered how often big brother Brandon dragged his little brother up to the boardwalk, luring him with the promise of candy just so he could drool over the cute chick behind the counter. Change clattered to the ground. "Shit." Matt fumbled dollar bills into Vic's wallet and nodded at the floor. "Can you get that for me, babe?" Behind them, the younger boy snickered. "Hey Brandon," he whispered, loud enough for Vic to overhear. When his brother didn't respond, he tried again, louder. "Brandon." Absently Vic reached for the change. He knew the boy wanted to make a joke about that "babe" comment; Vic justwaited for it. When he did, Vic would turn around and glare at him with so much menace in his face, the kid wouldn't eventhink another homophobic thought for the rest of his life.Come on, I dare you. Head cocked as he waited for that first slur, Vic felt his fingers scrape over the coins on the floor and he picked them up, one at a time. Behind him, the kid gasped. "Brandon," he sighed, his voice now thick with awe. "Brandon, look!" Vic glanced down. His hand plucked at the coins but he had been too busy listening to the kids to realize he hadn't bent to retrieve Matt's fallen change. Instead, his arm had stretched the length of his body. As soon as he realized it, the skin snapped back into place, knocking the coins to the floor again where they scattered at his feet. So much for no obvious powers. "Brandon!" Billy cried. He kicked his brother in the shin and ignored the vicious look Vic threw his way. "Did you see that? Did you? He's like Plastic Man or something. Brandon..." For a second, Brandon's gaze flickered to Vic, but whatever he saw there made him avert his eyes quickly. "Billy, shut up." "Did you see his arm?" Billy asked. The whisper was gone from his voice, and both Matt and the cashier looked at Vic. Billy dropped the candy in his hands as he held them out to show his brother, "It stretched likethis long. I swear. I saw it." Vic felt Matt's thoughts touch his.::What's he talking about?:: Before Vic could answer, Matt rooted through his memory and found the incident. Dull anger flushed through Matt--his usual response when Vic gained a new power. He blamed himself for putting his lover in harm's way.

::When did you plan on telling me?:: ::Just found out about it myself,::Vic replied.::Matty, it's cool. No one will believe him--he's just a kid.:: Before Matt could object, Vic squatted to scoop up the change. Billy dropped to his knees as well, retrieving his candy. He stared openly at Vic, and when they were close enough to speak, the kid muttered, "I know what I saw." "You eat too many sweets," Vic told him. "Lay off the sugar, Billy. You're seeing things." Too late, he realized his mistake. Billy's mouth dropped and his eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know my name?" Vic stood and smoothed out his jeans, then deposited the change in his pocket. Shopping bag in hand, Matt moved around him to tuck his wallet in his back pocket, too. Billy stared up at them, amazed. "Whoare you?" he wanted to know. With a shrug, Vic assured him, "No one." Then he took Matt's hand and left the store. **** As if determined to keep Vic's arms their normal length, Matt held tightly onto his lover's elbow while Vic carried their bags. The candy store wasn't Matt's only stop. He picked up some T-shirts, a few toiletries he had left at home and probably could've bought cheaper elsewhere, a couple sea shell knick-knacks and postcards for his coworkers. A little after noon, they stopped for lunch--hot dogs dripping with decadent toppings, large icy drinks, and snow cones to finish the meal. Matt also bought a soft pretzel, which he tore into large chunks and fed to Vic as they walked. When they reached Midway, his gaze drifted to the amusement park rides, whose lights flashed ineffectively in the bright sun. "Let's go on a coaster," he told Vic, a childlike gleam in his eyes. Hefting their shopping bags, Vic asked, "Where are we going to leave these?" Matt's smile faded so suddenly, Vic had to suppress a laugh. "The rides are half the fun." "How about we come back tonight?" Vic suggested. He didn't think he'd be hiking the length of the boardwalk again anytime soon, but perhaps they could drive down here later. He wasn't big on crowds and wouldn't mind spending the whole week in their motel room, truth be told, but the carnival atmosphere he'd seen from the beach the night beforedid appeal to the kid in him. With a smirk, he added, "Unless you wanted to take another walk tonight." A slow grin eased across Matt's face. "Can't we do both? Or hey, like the song goes, how about under the boardwalk?" Vic likedthat idea. "We could find a good spot now." Instead of answering, Matt craned his neck back and said, "Or we can ride that." He pointed to the giant Ferris wheel Vic recalled seeing as they had driven onto the island. It loomed above the rest of the rides at Midway, taller than any of the roller coasters or log flumes. It rose so high, Vic had to shield his eyes with his hand to look up at it, and still the spokes seemed to disappear in the sun. Before he could reply, Matt had a hold of his elbow, tugging him through the crowds. "Come on," he said, determined. "We'll get a bucket all to ourselves and cuddle at the top." Nowthat didn't sound too bad. At this time of the day, the line waiting for the Ferris wheel was pretty long. Matt stood behind Vic, arms around his waist, and leaned against his back, his chin on Vic's shoulder, that bulge at his crotch pressed sweetly against Vic's ass. They got a few disgusted looks, mostly from mothers who hurried to distance their children from two snuggling men, but Vic kept a harsh glare on his face that deterred commentary. When he heard excited whispers behind them, he reached

out with his mind to assess the situation and found that kid Billy waiting in line with his brother, still talking about Vic's arm. "That's them," he said. "Isaw it, Brandon. His arm wasthis long. You gotta believe me." "You're being stupid," his brother replied. Vic saw that the older boy's thoughts were still on the cashier at the candy store--he didn't evenknow what his brother was talking about. "Stop pointing or I'll tell Mom." With a pout, Billy said, "I'lltell her you dragged me up here just to stare at Jessica." He sang out the name and giggled, then ducked when his brother swung at him. Matt's arms around Vic's waist tightened and he blew gently in Vic's ear. "What'cha thinking?" Vic glanced behind them at the scuffling boys. "That's the kid from the candy shop." "Is he bothering you?" Matt asked. Mirth laced his voice. "Because I can probably take him out, if you wanted. He better step off if he's hitting on my guy." Vic didn't find that funny. "He saw me stretch." "Oh please," Matt sighed. They took a step forward and found themselves next in line to board the ride. "You said it yourself, he's just a kid. No one's going to believe him." Fifteen minutes later, the Ferris wheel stopped, and Vic stepped into the empty bucket at the bottom of the ride. Taking a seat on one side, he untangled the shopping bags from his fingers and deposited them in one corner. Matt climbed in as well and sat across from him, their knees bumping together in the close confines of the car. The ride attendant closed the door behind them and latched it, then stepped back as the ride started. They only moved one space--while they dangled a few feet off the ground, the ride stopped again to let the next bucket empty. Vic groaned as Billy and his brother clambered into the car right behind them. Glancing over his shoulder, Matt saw the two boys, who sat on the same side of the car and stared openly at Vic. With a grin, Matt teased, "You've got a fan club." Then he patted the seat beside him. "What are you doing all the way over there? I thought we were going to cuddle. Unless you plan to use this new power of yours..." Without a word, Vic moved over to the seat beside Matt. As he draped an arm around Matt's shoulders, he glared at the boys behind them. Directly into Billy's mind, he thought,::You saw nothing back there.:: The little boy gasped. "Oh my gosh, Brandon--he's telepathic, too! He's like all the X-Men rolled into one!" Matt cozied up to him. "You should just quit while you're ahead," he murmured. "Forget about him already, will you? Concentrate onme. " That was the best idea Vic had heard all day. **** The Ferris wheel offered an amazing view--on one side, the ocean seemed to stretch out forever, and on the other, they overlooked the whole island. Matt pointed out Vic's car, a tiny brown pinprick parked in front of the small gray box that was their motel. A stiff wind off the sea whipped his laughter away, and his earlier excitement bubbled over as he recognized landmarks and places he had visited as a kid. "We'll have to go there," he kept telling Vic as he reeled off restaurants and stores and attractions he remembered from his youth. "You'll love their pizza. Oh, and the Hereford Lighthouse. We're going there tomorrow. Oh, and that place has thebest ice cream. We can go there tonight." Vic savored the ride for two reasons: he was off his feet for the first time all day, and he was with Matt. His lover's shirt was warm from the sun and Vic rubbed a smooth spot between Matt's shoulder blades, enjoying the moment alone. The next time Matt leaned across him to get a look at the beach far below, Vic took the opportunity to kiss the corner of his mouth, which curved into a sensual grin. Matt's gaze shifted his way, finally, and the hand on Vic's knee drifted north

to cup his crotch. "Is someone feeling neglected?" Matt purred. "This had been your idea," Vic reminded him. With a faint jolt, the Ferris wheel halted. Vic felt it stop beneath his feet and buttocks, then the bucket began to swing slightly in the breeze. They were miles above the boardwalk and very much alone. If they were ever going to steal a few moments, this was the time. Matt settled back into the seat, once again in the span of Vic's embrace. Resting his head on Vic's shoulder, he leaned back, eyes hooded, lips pursed. A hint of pink tongue darted out to lick his top lip, a sexy gesture that spiked Vic's libido. "So," Matt sighed. "Kiss me already, will you?" Vic obliged. Leaning into his lover, he touched Matt's cheek with the back of his hand; his fingers glancing over soft skin still smooth from Matt's morning shave. With the gentlest nudge, Vic turned his lover's face up to him until their lips met. Matt licked out, tasting Vic, then his hands fisted in Vic's shirt and he pulled his lover to him, demanding. His mouth parted, letting Vic in.::Can you imagine...:: The thought dissolved into a randy image of Vic kneeling on the seat, nude, hands gripping the steel bars of the Ferris wheel bucket and his ass bared to the air. Matt sat on the seat behind him, also naked, his hands on Vic's hips, his hard cock jutting from the curls at his crotch to poke between Vic's buttocks. As Vic sat back on Matt's dick, the bucket rocked gently with the movements of their lovemaking, and though in reality they were both still clothed, Vic's jeans bit into a sudden erection. As they kissed, Matt asked,::Now wouldn't that be fun?:: He pressed Matt back against the bars that hemmed them in.::Oh, sweet Lord, yes.:: The bucket above them creaked; their own car rocked gently in the steady wind. But the noise seemed incongruent with the breeze--metal squealed, and from far away, a thin voice cried out. "Sit down! You're rocking the car, Billy. Listen to me--I said sitdown. " And then, urgently, "Billy!" Vic sat back, a scowl already darkening his face. Damn kids, interrupting them. Lying against the railing, a dazed look on his face, Matt murmured, "We're going back to the room after this. I need a piece of you--" "Billy!" The voice rose to a shriek and Vic glanced up to see a round face peering over the railing of the bucket above theirs, mouth open in a perfect O of surprise. It grew larger, wider, until Vic realized the kid wasn't just leaning over the bars anymore but falling. For one breathless moment, the world seemed to freeze and Billy hung, suspended, in the air. Then gravity kicked in and he dropped, fast. With awhoosh! he fell past them--Vic heard nails scrape against the side of their car, felt it shudder as Billy brushed by. Without thinking, he stood and leaned over the side, reaching for the kid. His cry mingled with Brandon's above. "Billy!" The kid's scream followed him down. Energy flared through Vic--it coursed out from the center of his being and raced like wildfire through his veins. He felt his arms lengthen, the bones extending, the muscles stretching. His fingers caught the back of the kid's shirt and Billy's voice cut off in mid-scream, choked as his shirt tightened around his neck. Behind Vic, Matt's face was buried in his hands. "Oh, God," he muttered. Vic could feel his lover's rapid heartbeat stutter through his own body, Matt's fear adding to Vic's own adrenaline. "Oh shit, oh Christ, oh hell, oh fuck." For the moment, Vic ignored that. His arms stretched four or five feet in length; his fingers grappled for purchase in Billy's shirt, then found Billy's arms and grabbed hold of the kid. In the bucket beneath theirs, a teenage couple huddled in one corner, lip-locked. Beneath them, a couple of kids pointed at Vic and chattered excitedly amongst themselves. And far below, at the base of the Ferris wheel, a crowd had begun to form.

As carefully as he could, Vic eased Billy into the bucket with the other children. "Did you see that?" they asked one another, and when Billy was dropped into their midst, they huddled around him as if he were a celebrity. "How'd hedo that? What happened? Who was that?" From between his fingers, Matt sighed, "We're fucked." Even without reading his lover's mind, Vic knew what he was thinking. There went a quiet vacation. Dread curled in the pit of Vic's stomach, and he pulled back, his arms returning to their normal length. With an exhausted sigh, he sank down to the seat beside Matt as the Ferris wheel started again. Their bucket descended with slow precision, carting them to their doom. **** Incredibly, no one rushed Vic when they climbed off the ride. He got a few odd glances, but there were no reporters hurrying toward him, no police waiting for a statement. Had no one seen a thing? Reaching out with his mind, Vic glanced over the thoughts of those around him and found that most of the people on the ground didn't know what exactly had happened. They had heard Billy's scream, true, but at that height, they hadn't seen anything much. The sun was in their eyes, and the Ferris wheel was so tall, they didn't see the kid fall. Billy stood to one side of the line, eyes wide, the ring of children around him watching in awe as he recounted his tale. The fall, the catch. But a mother nearby simply shook her head in disbelief. "You kids shouldn't joke about stuff like that." "It's no joke," Billy assured her. He saw Vic and pointed. "That's the guy who saved me. Ask him." The woman took one look at Vic's tattooed visage, bald head, and heavy piercings, and promptly snatched two of the kids from Billy's circle of newfound friends. "That's enough," she snapped. "You're just asking for trouble now." As she left, Vic stepped up to Billy, Matt at his side. This close, Vic knew he was intimidating, and one by one the other children drifted away. Vic's arms were once again laden down with shopping bags, and Matt held onto his elbow with a death grip, not so much to keep him close but to keep himself from shaking.::God,:: Matt thought, over and over again.::If anyone had seen you...:: ::They didn't,::Vic assured him. Aloud, he said to Billy, "No one's going to believe you." Billy shrugged. "Doesn't matter," he said, frowning up at Vic. "I know what I saw. I know what you did." Saved your ass, Vic mused, but he kept that thought to himself. "Vic," Matt murmured.::I want to leave. Please.:: Vic let Matt pull him away, but they only got a few steps before Billy called out, "Thank you, whoever you are! Your secret's safe with me!" People turned to look at them, curious now.Some secret. Vic glared ahead and followed Matt back to the motel.

J. M. Snyder An author of gay erotic/romantic fiction, J. M. Snyder began self-publishing gay erotic fiction in 2002. Since then, Snyder has released several books in trade paperback format and has begun exploring the world of e-publishing, working with both Aspen Mountain Press and Amber Quill Press. Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online atRuthie's Club , Tit-Elation ,Sticky Pen , and Amazon Shorts, as well as in anthologies by Aspen Mountain Press

and Cleis Press. A full bibliography, as well as free fiction, book excerpts, purchasing information, and exclusive contests, can be found at: http://jmsnyder.net

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