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Strange, isn't it? One minute you're surrounded by all your friends, yakking up a storm, then suddenly, as if by magic, everyone drifts off, and you're left to sip your drink alone and stare vacantly around the room.

Later, I discovered it was a kind of magic. Because, it was then that I saw him, standing outside on the patio, his eyes fixed on me, unwavering, unapologetic. Hot! He was my age or maybe just a couple of years older. Tall, dark - and gorgeous... Why's he out there? I wondered. Oh, maybe he's a smoker...yuck. No sign of a cigarette though... As if propelled by some unseen force, almost as if someone had given me a good shove, I started walking towards him. He was dressed in black, as befits a vampire. It really was a very good costume - not at all cheap. Excellent cut on the tux - and the cape looked like heavy silk, fastened at his throat by a gold chain. The face above the chain was to die for - pale and interesting, I think my grandmother used to say.

Thick, black curly hair framed a face that was a lot more than merely interesting. If I said his skin was incandescent, it wouldn't be enough. If I told you his eyes were like dark green emeralds, I wouldn't be lying, just not saying enough. As for his mouth - wide, generous, full - it was all of those, yet to say that isn't enough either. Even now, I can't find the words to describe his beauty. His very real, dark beauty. For what seemed an eternity, we stared at one another, neither of us moving - just staring at one another, still and silent.

Then he smiled, showing perfect white teeth. "Good eeevening," he said, his pearly whites almost glowing in the darkened patio. Oh, he's good, I thought - a great Lugosi impersonation.

"Hey..." I returned his smile with one I hoped was as enticing as his. "Why don't you come on in...join the party?"

And, in an instant, he was by my side. I blinked into his green cat-like eyes, dizzied by his presence and intoxicated by the faintly exotic scent he exuded.

"How...how did you do that?" I stammered.

"Do what?" he purred, his voice low and husky.

"You...you didn't walk in. You just were here. First you were out there. Then you were standing here, next to me..."

"Next to you. Where I belong." He raised his glass, one I hadn't seen until then, and clinked it gently against mine. "Happy Birthday, Roger."

I quivered. "How do you know my name?"

"I'm clairvoyant," he replied with a smile that turned my knees to water. "Also, not hard of hearing. Your name was shouted by almost everyone in here when you arrived."

"Of course. Stupid of me."

"Not stupid - endearing." His smile hypnotised me. His eyes scanned my body from top to toe, lingering for a moment somewhere in the middle. "I like your costume - or should I say, the lack of one?"

"Thanks...is it a bit too much?"

"I think it's just right." He touched my arm, sending tingles over my skin. "May I give you a kiss for your birthday?"

"Huh? A kiss...?" I was acting like some dumb, stage-struck queen. I looked up into his eyes. I had to look up - he was a good six two to my more modest, but compact, five ten. "Jeez, I'm sorry. You must think I'm some kind of hick."

"Was that a yes?"

"Y...yes." He leaned forward and took my lips with his own. It was a gentle kiss, at first. Just the meeting of flesh on flesh; nice, warm, full flesh...taking control of all of my senses.

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His cell jangled on the seat next to him, and he flipped it open. "Royce Chandler."

"Hey, Boss."

"Parker? You all right?"

"Yeah. Listen. 'Bout what happened - "

"Yeah, I know. Shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry about that."

"I'm not sorry. Felt nice."

Listening to Parker's low husky tones, Royce felt his cock harden inside his jeans. Parker's chuckle so close to his ear sent tingles all through him.

"Guess what, Boss?"

"What?"

"I've got a hard-on just thinkin' about you. Too bad you're not here to take care of it."

Royce groaned. "Parker..."

"It's okay. I know you think you made a mistake. I just wanted to let you know how great you made me feel. Real great."

Royce hesitated for a moment then said, "I really liked it too, but..."

"I know. It wouldn't do for you to hook up with the likes of me."

"No, believe me, that's not the reason." Royce bit his lower lip as he thought of what he had to say. "My dad doesn't know about me being gay. He'd have a stroke if he found out. My mom knew, but she made me swear I wouldn't tell him. It would kill him, she said." There was a long silence on the other end. "You still there, Parker?"

"Uh huh. You sure he doesn't know?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Why d'you ask?"

"Well, because he said somethin' to me one day..."

Royce tensed. "What did he say?" he asked through tight lips.

"He said you were the best son a man could ever have - even if, you'd probably never marry and give him a grandkid."

Royce was stunned. His father knew? Then why hadn't he...

Wait, could he really trust what Jones had just told him? "Parker, you're not lying to me are you?"

"'Course I'm not! I wouldn't lie about something like that. I know how important something like this is."

"And you, Parker?" Royce was hesitant. "How many know about you?"

"One or two of the guys. They're cool about it for the most part. They don't know 'bout you, though. And Royce...you know that thing I was supposed to have said about you when you came back from law school?"

"Yes. I wouldn't have a place on the ranch if it wasn't for my old man."

"Well, I never said that. I've never even thought it."

"But - "

"Yeah, I know someone told you that, but they were lyin'. I hope you believe me."

"Parker, I don't know what to say."

"Say you believe me."

"I believe you. But that first time I tried talking to you, you practically turned your back on me."

Parker chuckled. "That's because I was tryin' to hide the bulge in the front of my jeans."

"Oh..." Royce smiled and was silent for a beat or two, catching a vision of that bulge and feeling a tingle of excitement in his own groin. Clearing his throat, he asked, "How are you feeling? Still in pain?"

"Not so bad. I think you kissin' me made me forget all about the pain."

"I could come back..."

"Visitin' time's over. Maybe tomorrow?"

"I'll be there soon as I can."

"Thanks, Boss."

Royce heard the sound of a long, loud yawn.

"Shit," Parker continued. "They gave me somethin', and now I can't stay awake."

"That's good. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Parker."

"Only if I dream of you."

Smiling, Royce closed his phone. What a day, he reflected as he drove on to the ranch. If anyone had told him that Parker Jones and Royce Chandler were going to share a kiss while Parker was lying in a hospital bed, he'd have laughed in their face. And not just a kiss, but a desire to take it much, much further, and if it hadn't been for his being so darned pushy and forgetting Parker was actually in a hospital bed because he'd been hurt, who knows where it might have gone?

Thinking back on that moment when their lips first touched, Royce could again feel the excitement that the kiss had brought him. Suddenly, he couldn't wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow they would have time to spend together, to talk, and to find out if what had passed between them was just a physical attraction or something much more.

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The rain had indeed ceased, and the night had taken on a balmy feel. A gentle breeze ruffled Robert's curls as he and Charles stood together looking down across the verdant sweep of the lawn, only just visible beneath the lightening sky.

For a while, neither man spoke then Charles turned and smiled at Robert. "May I say, sir, that you are a very pleasant addition to my aunt's usually rather boring soirees?"

"Thank you." Robert felt his cheeks glow at the compliment. "And may I say that I did not expect to meet a dashing cavalry officer this evening?"

Charles chuckled. "Emily been keeping me a secret, has she?"

"She mentioned in passing that she had a brother..."

"Only in passing?" Charles affected mock displeasure. "I shall have to have words with my dear sister."

"She did say I would like you. And in that," Robert added shyly, "she is correct."

"Then I have forgiven her already." Charles met Robert's eyes, and Robert had to fight the urge that threatened to overwhelm him. The urge to forget all propriety and fling his arms about Charles, hold him pressed to his own eager body and taste the sweetness of his full lips. He trembled from the need building inside him. His cock throbbed and pushed against the front of his trousers, and he flushed with embarrassment at the sight he must now present.

"Shall we stroll a little?" Charles suggested.

Robert could not find his voice to reply but simply nodded once, so sharply he almost did his neck an injury.

They walked down the steps that led to the garden path and were soon swallowed by the darkness, the moon having scudded behind some clouds that loomed overhead. They paused to look back at the brightly lit house, from which emanated the sound of voices and laughter. Robert jumped slightly as he felt Charles slip an arm around his waist, then he leaned against the strong body and let himself be steered towards a large oak tree.

"No one can see us here," Charles said, his voice low and strangely husky. He pulled Robert into his arms and held him, his lips a mere inch from Robert's, his breath sweet and warm on Robert's skin.

"Dear God," Robert heard himself whisper as Charles kissed him. His lips were taken by a moist warmth that caused his head to thrum. For a moment, he thought he might swoon then he was kissing Charles back, his lips parting to let the other man's tongue slip inside his mouth. Charles moaned, and his erection ground against Robert's. Both men shuddered as their desire swept through them. Their arms tightened about one another, their kiss deepened, tongues meshing, tussling, caressing...

All too soon, Charles broke away, slightly out of breath. "Not here, Robert. Not here amongst this mud and wet grass."

Robert thought he might fall over without Charles to support him. He reached out and gripped Charles by the shoulders.

"You...you're right," he stammered. "It wouldna' do for our first time. I have rooms in Mayfair, if you would do me the honour of accompanying me there."

"I am the one who would be honoured, Robert."

"How can we make our excuses?"

"I'm staying at the officer's club in Marylebone while I'm in town. I will tell my aunt that I'm taking you there to introduce you around to the chaps, that kind of thing."

"Excellent. Let's away then."

Charles chuckled. "Patience, Robert. Though I am flattered at your eagerness, we must not just rush away. We'll go in and chat for little while then - "

"Every second we tarry will seem like an hour."

"And every hour we spend together will seem like a second," Charles murmured, kissing Robert's lips gently. "Come now, let us go in."

Just before they entered, Charles turned to study Robert in the light thrown onto the terrace from the salon. Gently, he brushed down the lapels of Robert's coat and straightened his collar. "There," he said his voice once again strangely husky. "You are quite presentable, sir."