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.He d grown upin a home with a mother who loved him enough to keep him, but notenough to forgive him for separating her from her parents.He d lostevery friendship he d had as a boy, pushing the others away as hebecame more and more aware of his own sexuality.He d entered theservice wanting an escape, and instead&.Miguel pushed thosememories aside. You didn t ask to get pushed out of your life whenthe others said your parentage was questionable.And your ancestor,who knows what happened to her.Maybe she was raped, or she fell inlove with someone who then rejected her.Nikolai pushed the dish away. The world isn t always kind. The world is hardly ever kind, Miguel corrected him. You re quite the pessimist. Nikolai reached up and ran a fingerover Miguel s arm.He could feel the energy gathering between themlike summer heat.Urban Shaman | 227 I m a realist, Miguel corrected him. The world is cruel andunfair, and all we can do is try to make a happy corner for ourselves. Or for our tribe, Nikolai added.His fingertips hesitated over thetiny round pock-shaped scars scattered down his arm like aconstellation.Several of his arm hairs stood out stark white against hisdusky skin. What caused this? Shrapnel from the bomb that burned my face, Miguel answered.He watched while Nikolai continued to explore the scars, his fingersmoving up until they slid under the sleeve of his T-shirt to feel the oneshidden on his shoulder. Can I see the rest of them?Miguel raised an eyebrow. Are you trying to get me naked? That would be a pleasant side effect, but I really am curiousabout the scars.You know, part of the shamanic rite is the gaining of ascar and accepting death before returning from it. I m not a shaman, Miguel pointed out as he shrugged his shirtoff.As he moved too fast, his side gave another warning twinge and hewinced in pain. No, but you re more than human.Do you hurt? Enough to make me miss the good drugs, Miguel admitted.Tossing the shirt aside, he laid down on his good side.Most of theshrapnel damage was on the same side as the new bullet wound.Acrescent shape was burned into his shoulder blade, but most were tinydots where fragments had burned through his uniform.His face hadbeen the only part seriously burned, and Miguel had thanked God everyday that his eye had been miraculously saved.Sitting up, Nikolai ran hands over Miguel s skin reverently.Hepaused at each scar, his fingertips brushing over the puckered skin as ifhe could read it like Braille.Miguel lay still while Nikolai swept overhis body, his hands following the lines of muscle until Miguel wasbreathing hard, his cock aching in his jeans. Find something interesting? Miguel finally asked.If Nikolaiplanned to do this all day, Miguel was going to embarrass himself in away that hadn t happened since ninth grade.228 | Lyn Gala Strength. Nikolai s hand moved up to cup Miguel s scarredface. Nikolai. Miguel stopped, not sure what to say.He wanted this,but it had been a long time, and they were both so very damaged rightnow.Instead of answering, Nikolai ran a thumb over Miguel s lip.Reaching up, Miguel captured the hand and placed a kiss on the palm. I m not sure&.Nikolai looked at him, amusement lighting his eyes. You don tknow if you want me? He looked down at the all-too-obvious bulge inMiguel s jeans.In his own defense, Miguel had spent twenty-fourhours at the hospital chased by dreams of Nikolai s hands ghosting overhis body.It had been the longest, most erotic dream of his life, and nowhis cock was determined to test the fantasy against reality. I don t think I can deny that, Miguel said wryly. But you reexhausted.You should be dead after four days of not eating orsleeping. Not drinking or sleeping, Nikolai corrected him.At Miguel squestioning look, Nikolai shrugged. Anyone can go four days withouteating.Four days without sleep or water requires the stamina of ashaman.Miguel shook his head. And I ve been shot, and your door isunlocked.My interest is not in question, but the circumstances could bebetter. Circumstances can be changed.Only desire is required. Nikolaistood, forcing Miguel to release the hand he d captured.Walking overto the door, Nikolai threw the lock, and the click seemed to echothrough the room.With a smile, he then went to the kitchen and poureda glass of water, drinking it so fast that it almost looked like amagician s trick like he had poured it down his own throat withoutswallowing. So, Nikolai said, wiping his mouth on the bottom of his shirtbefore pulling it over his head and dropping it on the wood floor as hepadded over in his bare feet.His chest was more muscular than Miguelhad expected, but his ribs stood out painfully, like a starved dog. Am IUrban Shaman | 229really that ugly? Nikolai asked, stopping in front of Miguel on the pileof pillows. What? No.You re&. Miguel studied Nikolai: the curve of hisshoulder, the line of muscle down his arm, the firm chest muscles andsmall nipples. You re elegant.Both Nikolai s eyebrows went up. Elegant?Miguel knew full well that words were not his strength, but thistime he had chosen exactly the right one. Elegant, he repeated. Youhave the grace and strength of a hawk.I just hate seeing you so thin. Elegant. Nikolai echoed the word weakly. I can t decide ifyour inner eye is really so accurate that you can see spirit animals or ifyou need glasses. I don t need glasses [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]