Skipping Stones Page 5

  "You do that, baby!" Mark hollered after him, draining his glass. "Enjoy yourself in that bed all alone, and be sure to lock the door because tonight I just might not take no for an answer, you fuck!"

  The glass in Mark's hand flew across the floor and smashed. He put his face in his hands.

  Leo felt his pain but he was helpless to do anything for him. "Why do you stay?" he asked softly, curling his fingers around Mark's wrist. "Why do you stay if he doesn't want you? He's hurting you and--"

  "I keep waiting for him to forgive me," he whispered through his fingers.

  "Forgive you for what?"

  He shook his head. "Nothing. It doesn't matter. I'm sorry." He looked at him suddenly. "I drank too much. Reed's right." He wiped his eyes. "When I drink, I'm...I lose control, say things I don't mean. I feel sick. I think I'll just lie down on the sofa. I'll be okay in the morning. I'll eat my humble pie then."

  He stumbled up out of the chair. Leo went to help him but he shook his head. "I'll be okay. I'm sorry, Leo. I'm sorry," he muttered as he staggered over to the sofa.

  Leo sighed and began to pick up a little as Mark crawled onto the sofa. By the time Leo had put the glasses into the dishwasher, he heard Mark snoring softly. He glanced at the defrosted cheesecake, sitting on the counter ready to eat, and shook his head. He scooped it up and put it back into the fridge.

  He turned off the lights, checked the locks, and headed upstairs. The door at the end of the hallway stood open, and the light was on. Reed hadn't gone to sleep yet.

  He took a deep breath and walked to the door. He knocked twice. "Reed?"

  Reed appeared immediately. He'd taken his shirt off but, thankfully, he still wore his jeans. He placed a hand on the doorjamb and looked at him curiously. "What is it? You need some help to get Mark upstairs?"

  "No. He sacked out on the sofa. He apologized before he... He's in a lot of pain," Leo confessed, meeting his eyes. "It's none of my business, but--"

  "You're right," he said abruptly, "it's none of your business. Was there anything else?"

  "You can be a real ass," Leo accused. "Mark said you were insensitive."

  "I'm sure Mark said a lot of things."

  "He's my friend."

  "Then what are you doing standing here talking to me? You don't even like me. You think I'm an insensitive son of a bitch, don't you, Leo?"

  Leo studied his face. Reed's expression didn't give him away but this time his eyes looked stormy.

  "I know what you've put Mark through."

  "Well, then there's nothing left to say, is there?"

  Leo swallowed.

  "Look, I appreciate that you love Mark. I don't understand why the two of you aren't together."

  "We might have been if not for you." There. It was said. And Leo didn't even mean for it to come out like that.

  Reed seemed lost for words for once. He just looked at him.

  "It was a long time ago," Leo said apologetically.

  Reed nodded. "Are you still..." He paused, looking down at the floor. "Still in love with Mark?"

  "Would you care if I was?" Maybe Reed still harbored some feelings for Mark.

  He looked up again. "I wouldn't stand in your way if he's the one you want, Leo."

  "I...I just came out of a bad trip. It's too early for me. I don't know what I want. I love Mark. I'm just not sure if it's more than just...you know, the kind of love you have for a friend."

  He nodded.

  Silence hung in the air, a silence filled with something almost compelling, and, to Leo, it made no sense. He looked at Reed again, fighting the urge to run his gaze down over his remarkable chest and arms.

  "Was there something else?" Reed asked him suddenly.

  Leo didn't realize that he'd been just standing there, saying nothing. "No," he muttered. "Nothing. Sorry. I went into some kind of trance. I think I'm tired."

  "Well, then you should go to bed. Good night," he said and closed the door.

  Leo stared at the door. He waited to hear the lock turn. It didn't. Leo almost reached for the handle, then gave himself a mental slap and headed to his own room.

  * * * *

  Leo had some problems sleeping. He was up the next morning early giving a second coat to the shed. An hour later, just as he was finishing the trim, Reed appeared fresh from the shower with two mugs of coffee in his hand. He handed him one.

  "Thanks," Leo said, surprised but grateful for the coffee. He took a sip and sighed.

  "Looking good," Reed announced.

  "Me or the shed?" He laughed a little when he saw Reed's grin. "I'm high on paint."

  "I see that," he said, sipping his own coffee.

  "You're not going to get any hankering to paint me again, are you?" Leo asked, taking a step back.

  "Not today," he replied, glancing up at the sky. "It might rain later."

  "It never rains here."

  "I feel it." He looked pensive.

  "Is Mark up?"

  "No, he's still sleeping." He turned in the direction of the house. "I cleaned up the kitchen. Thanks for putting the things away last night."

  "No problem." That was it. He was already halfway back to the house. What a curious man he was sometimes. He'd never expected Reed to bring him coffee. It just didn't fit with the character description, but then a lot things didn't seem to fit anymore.

  By the time Leo had finished the second coat, Mark had risen from the dead, so to speak, and Reed had gone roaring off down the road on a motorcycle. "I didn't even know he had one," Leo commented as Mark handed him a chicken sandwich and a beer.

  "He's had that old thing for ages," Mark waved at him.

  Leo handed back the beer. "I'll pass. I'm off alcohol today. I had my quota last night."

  Mark sat with him at the table. "So what blubbering thing did I say last night?" Mark grabbed Leo's beer and took a swig.

  "Everyone does nonsense when they're drunk."

  "Um. So, let's have it." He eyed him.

  "You mouthed off a bit at Reed."

  "Nothing he didn't deserve, I'm sure. Is that all?" He took a bite out of his sandwich.

  "You said something to me, after he'd gone upstairs, about forgiveness. What did you mean that you wanted Reed to forgive you? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

  "Forget it." He looked away.

  "Mark, talk to me. I want to help you. I think you should leave here and start over. I know it was hard for me to leave Paris, knowing I'd never see Pierre again but--"

  "Reed has offered me the chance to buy him out. He told me this morning." Mark gave him a sad smile. "So you see there's no need for me to leave here."

  "Oh, Mark, I'm sorry," Leo said, leaning his head over and resting it against his forehead. There were tears in Mark's eyes. "But maybe you should just... I don't know...sell it. You'd have money to start over." Leo pulled back and searched his face for a reaction.

  "I don't want to start over," he said, getting to his feet. "I want Reed."

  Leo shook his head. "Mark, he doesn't love you."

  "Did he tell you that?" Mark demanded.

  "No, but I can see it. He's tried to tell you in many ways. He doesn't sleep with you anymore; he stays away for months at a time. That should tell you...Mark?" Leo stood and took his shoulders in hand. "He's a toxic guy. He's the kind of man you should avoid at all costs. He's making a fool of you. Maybe he likes to see men crawling at his feet. He's arrogant and cruel."

  Mark wasn't looking at him anymore. His gaze was fixed on some place over Leo's shoulder.

  Leo turned around to see Reed standing there. He had a helmet dangling in one fist, a grocery bag in the other. He didn't say anything for a minute, his face an unreadable mask. "So," he said finally, "I, ah...bought some crab for dinner tonight. Hope you like crab, Leo," he said, looking at him. "I'll just go and put it in the fridge."

  Leo closed his eyes for a second when he disappeared. He'd braced himself for the worst, but Reed acted like he hadn't heard any of
it when Leo knew he had. "Oh shit," he muttered.

  Mark patted his arm. "Don't worry about it. He's got a big...eh...ego, among other things. He'll be all right."

  "I need to apologize. I didn't hear the bike...I..."

  "He put it in the garage. You wouldn't hear it." Mark sat back down at the table. "I understand what you're saying about Reed, Leo, but it's more complicated than that."

  Leo didn't intend to discuss it anymore. Reed was within earshot, and he'd already called him toxic, arrogant, and cruel, among other things. "Forget it. I was out of line."

  Mark shrugged and finished his sandwich. A few minutes later he announced that he was going to go down to Adrian's cabin to see if he needed anything.

  Leo decided to attempt that apology now while Mark was out of the house. When he walked into the kitchen, Reed was making coffee.

  "Hey," Leo said, not sure if he should duck, or not.

  Reed glanced at him. "Hello, Leo."

  "I don't know how else to say it. I...I shouldn't have said what I did. I..."

  "It was a private conversation I wasn't intended to hear. What you say to Mark about me doesn't really concern me."

  Leo's eyes widened. "Don't you care that I called you a..."

  He put up a hand. "I know what you called me. You don't need to repeat it. What would you like me to do, Leo, beat the shit out of you?"

  "No, but at least defend yourself."

  "Why? You've already made up your mind about me. What can I possibly say to change it?" He met his gaze.

  Leo didn't answer. He was right.

  "I'm not the kind of man who wastes his breath, Leo. I say what I have to say. I refuse to get into a battle with you about your opinion of me, especially since you don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

  Those last words were said in anger, and it was really the first time he'd heard Reed raise his voice.

  He turned his back to Leo, and Leo let his gaze wander over the light blue shirt he wore tucked into tight black leather pants.

  "I'm sorry." He swallowed. "Do you accept my apology?"

  "You don't need to apologize to toxic people." Reed glanced at him. "The best thing you can do is to keep your distance." He put down the knife he was using to chop up parsley. He turned around again and leaned his hip against the counter.

  "Did Mark have an affair when you were together?" Leo blurted.

  "No."

  "Then what does he want you to forgive him for?"

  "Ask him," he said, then turned and walked out the back door.

  Leo followed him outside. "I doubt he'll tell me."

  "Well, maybe you should leave it alone then," Reed said between clenched teeth, clamping a hand on his shoulder.

  Leo reached out and took his arm before he could walk off. "Look at me. Mark is my friend and..."

  Reed lowered his head and looked into his eyes. His nearness was suddenly too much. Leo was shaking.

  Reed pulled him closer. "I am looking at you," he breathed, his mouth close to his. "Stop this, Leo." He grunted. He gripped his shoulder hard. Leo felt his groin hit Reed's hip.

  "Stop what?" Leo demanded but he didn't move away.

  "You know what," he insisted. "If I'm toxic, then keep your distance." He released him suddenly and walked off.

  Leo's chest heaved. "Fuck" came out of his mouth. "What in hell was that?"

  That was a whole lot of sexual energy and it had wrapped around the two of them like some kind of giant web. There was no denying it. And Reed seemed to be even more aware of it than Leo was, or maybe Reed was just more capable of accepting it. But it made no sense to Leo. It was as if his head was thinking one thing and the rest of him...well...the rest of him wanted Reed. Maybe it was just the bad boy thing, this sexual fixation on insensitive, yet heart-stoppingly beautiful fuck machines that'd take you to paradise and give you that one night of raunchy, unadulterated sex, then kick you in the head in the morning. But it wasn't going to happen. He wasn't going to give himself to Reed, because one night in his arms would never be worth the heartache that came with it. Mark had fallen into that trap, and five years later he was still caught up in it.

  But there was more going on between Reed and Mark than met the eye. Leo felt sure of that as he got into the cold shower and stroked his hard cock.

  "Fuck Reed," he muttered. "Damn you and those intense blue eyes."

  * * * *

  Mark seemed quiet at dinner. Reed drank a light beer and they all ate the crab salad.

  "It's very good," Leo commented, looking at Reed. "Compliments to the chef."

  Reed lifted his beer in acknowledgement but didn't actually reply.

  "Reed cooks well in and out of bed," Mark commented, draining his glass of wine.

  "Don't start," Reed said with a sigh.

  "I wasn't starting anything. I was just stating a fact."

  Reed went back to eating his salad.

  Leo stared at his fork.

  Mark got up suddenly and pushed his plate away. "I'm going for a swim in the pool. Anyone want to join me?"

  "I will," Leo said, swallowing his last bite. "I don't have a bathing suit though."

  Mark chuckled. "You don't need one."

  Leo glanced at Reed.

  "I'll pass," he said. "Go ahead. I'll clean up."

  "That's not very fair. You made dinner," Leo replied.

  "When is life fair? Go on."

  * * * *

  The heated pool had a solarium right beside it with a jungle of plants. "I didn't see the solarium yet," Leo expressed to Mark as he walked in.

  Mark was already in the pool. His clothes lay in a heap on the ceramic floor. A pile of big fluffy towels sat on one of the deck chairs. Mark swam over to the side of the pool and looked up at him, pushing some of his wet hair out of his eyes. "Come on, Leo, I haven't seen you naked since college. Take them off, unless you're shy," he taunted, snapping water at him.

  Leo jumped back and laughed. "I've never been modest. You know that. You're the modest one."

  "Oh, I've long since gotten over that." Mark floated on his back, his erection bobbing up through the water.

  Leo's eyes zeroed in on the helmet shaped head as he began to undress. There'd been a time in his life when he would have done anything to have Mark, to make him want him, but he wasn't sure anymore. Did he want him if all Mark wanted was Reed?

  Leo felt Mark's gaze caress him. He saw desire there. Leo could feel it in the pit of his stomach. He smiled at him. "Better move. I'm ready to dive in."

  "Go for it," Mark called out.

  Then the laughter died in Leo's throat as the door opened. Reed walked in, and there Leo stood, stark naked. It was one thing to be naked in front of Mark, and quite another to be naked in front of Reed. And Reed was looking at him.

  "I didn't mean to interrupt," Reed said, his voice sounding quite normal. He held the phone in his hand. "It's for you, Leo. She said she was your sister. And it was important."

  "Shit," he muttered, holding his hands in front of him.

  Reed picked up a towel and handed it to him along with the phone. "Here," he met his eyes.

  Leo put the phone to his ear, holding the towel in front of him. Reed left the room. "Meg, what is it?"

  "Hi, Leo," she whimpered "Is this a bad time?"

  "Are you crying?"

  "I just can't live in this house anymore. Can I come to you?"

  "Meg, what's going on?"

  Tearfully, she told him about how Mom and Dad didn't approve of her new boyfriend, and how they were trying to keep her prisoner in the house. "I'm seventeen years old, Leo. Either you take me to live with you or I'm running away."

  "Don't do that. Meg, I'm not living on my own, I..."

  Mark was at his shoulder suddenly. He motioned to him for the phone. "Meggy, it's your Uncle Mark." Meggy had always called him that. "Sweetie, you are always welcome wherever I am, but you need to work it out with your parents first. Why don't you come for a visit during the
summer vacation? I'll talk to your folks and get it all squared away. You can stay for as long as you want. The boyfriend...ah...we'll see about that. For now, just try to tough it, okay?"

  They talked a few more minutes, Mark telling her that her new boyfriend sounded great. "I'll pass you to your brother," he said, handing Leo the phone.

  Leo took it, smiling his thanks to Mark. "Yeah, I know honey. I know how it is. Okay, I'll call you soon. Bye. Love you."

  Mark took the phone from his hand and put it on the chair.

  "Thanks," Leo said, suddenly realizing Mark stood very close to him, gloriously naked. He ran his gaze over him. He'd put on a bit of weight around the middle since college, but his body was still nicely toned. And he had a great ass.

  "Thank me right then," he insisted, meeting his eyes. "Fuck me."

  "But what about Reed?" He hesitated as Mark pulled the towel out of his hands.

  "What about Reed?" Mark lowered himself to his knees and took Leo's cock in his hand.

  "He's, ah..." Leo looked around.

  "He's a big boy. He's knows what fucking is. And he doesn't care who I fuck. God, Leo, I don't remember you having such a luscious cock." He licked up the center.

  Leo shuddered, his eyes closing, but still his body was tight as a coil. What if Reed should walk in?

  "Hey," Mark said, looking up at him. "Relax, will you?" He went to work on sucking his cock and for awhile Leo allowed himself to be carried away, but every once in awhile he looked around, worried about being interrupted by Reed.

  Mark was determined, and worked diligently on Leo's cock with his tongue and lips, making it tough for Leo to continue worrying about Reed walking in on them.

  Leo's hand sank into Mark's hair. He moaned. "Um, nice, keep it up. Keep sucking it like that. Damn, you have a hot mouth, Mark."

  That spurred him on. He doubled his effort.

  Leo let out a cry, his head going back as he pumped into Mark's mouth. Mark grabbed Leo's hips and took it all, then came off of his cock as it went soft in his mouth.

  Leo licked his lips, grunting out his satisfaction as Mark pulled him down on the cold floor. Lying back on his elbows with his thighs spread open, Mark's erection brushed his cheek as Leo lowered his head.

  "My turn." Leo smiled. "Do you know how badly I wanted to suck your cock back in high school?"