Dreaming in Color by Cameron Dane (mobi reader .TXT) 📗

left Henderson because of a lot of things that happened after the beating,” he shared. His voice was rough, but he attributed it to the heaviness in this room right now more than any latent anger and hatred for what happened to him following the attack. “The local law enforcement didn't have any real interest in making more than a token effort to investigate my case after they found out homosexual slurs were thrown at me as hard as the kicks and punches. Since the guys wore masks, I couldn't identify them, and the car my boss was able to see them drive off in ended up being stolen without any identifiable prints in it when it was recovered.” His lips twisted with the memory. “It was easy for the man in charge of my case to show he didn't have any real leads to pursue. More relevant to my parents' choice to move us to Austin was the rumors of why I was beaten. They quickly bled out to my little sister, and kids started harassing her. Some of her friends' parents wouldn't let their kids come to our house anymore because of the whispers that I was beaten because I was 'a gay.'“ Colin put his fingers up in quotes. “As much as my mom and dad wanted justice for me—even in the midst of dealing with me confessing to them that, yes, I was gay—they wanted their family safe more. They were very scared something even worse would happen if we remained in Henderson, so as soon as I was physically well enough to make a trip, we moved to Austin and in with one of my mother's cousins. We stayed with her for six months while my parents looked for new jobs and found a house to rent. Jordan was one of the teenagers living on the street where my mom's cousin lived, so that ended up being great.” Controlled passion colored Colin's voice, and a combination of peace, faith, and strength straightened his back. “I went through something horrific, but my parents didn't let it blind me or frighten me to the point that it screwed up my future. They made sure I knew I was valuable and they wanted me, gay and all. And my sister didn't even end up hating me for the move. She ended up thinking Austin was the best thing since sliced bread when she found out they celebrate Eeyore's birthday every year.” He smiled, his heart lifting. “Thank God it was easy to please a ten-year-old.”

Two lines appeared between Marek's eyebrows. “Eeyore?”

God, he's so cute. Colin leaned forward and rubbed his thumb over the furrow, smoothing it out. “Yeah. From Winnie the Pooh?”

“Oh, okay.” A light lit up Marek's eyes, shining through and creating a blue as pure as the ocean outside. “I remember now. The depressed donkey. Right?”

Colin tweaked his nose. “That would be the one. All right, enough of me going on and on.” He pulled his feet off Marek's lap and hopped off the desk. “You were working when I walked in. I apologize; I didn't mean to interrupt you.”

“No problem, but my financial planner is probably wondering where I am.” Marek rolled his chair forward and moved the computer's mouse over its pad, bringing up the work screen. “Yep, there he is.” He glanced up at Colin for a second. “We were instant messaging when you came in, and I told him I'd be back in ten minutes.”

Colin leaned down and pressed a kiss to Marek's cheek. “I'll let you get back to it then.” He lingered longer than strictly necessary, letting his lips absorb the stubble already growing along Marek's jaw and the heat the man's body generated that constantly kept Colin warm. God, how I want this every day. Fear that his need would leak through into Marek turned Colin's voice a little rough. “Sorry I bothered you.” He pecked one more kiss on Marek's jaw and pulled away.

The gentle brush of Colin's mouth on Marek's cheek licked into him and touched the deepest recesses of his body and heart. He spun in his chair and snagged Colin's arm, holding him prisoner in the room. Looking up, he said, “You're never a bother.” Rawness cut jagged edges into his tone, but with everything Colin had just shared, and everything Marek still held buried too deeply, with too much shame to speak, he could not control his voice. “I promise you that.” He tugged Colin to him and toppled the man into his arms.

Colin chuckled, and the wonderful sound rumbled right through their hold into Marek. Turning, Colin situated himself across Marek's thighs and combed his fingers through Marek's hair. “That's not the tune you were singing when I showed up on your doorstep.”

“I was wrong.” Marek caught Colin's hand and trapped it against his chest. “I never should have been suspicious of you.” He realized Colin could feel the racing in his heart and shoved their clasped hands to his lap. “Everything about your quality of character shows on your face, in your eyes, and the way you carry yourself.”

The teasing twinkle in Colin's eyes faded. “Hey.” He shifted again and slid his knees in on either side of Marek's body. Leaning in, he pressed their chests together. His gaze found Marek's and, like a fully coded tractor beam, trapped Marek in its hold. “What's the matter?”

Marek opened his mouth, and the words, his confession, sat right on his tongue. The truth Marek needed to speak ate at him, but a vision of horror and hatred darkening Colin's eyes as he learned the truth about his attack stole the words from Marek's mouth, rendering him mute. He saw Colin storming out the front door and down the porch, away from this house, taking his humor, kind heart, downright sinful sexiness, and the rambling stories he liked to share with him as he walked away, leaving Marek all alone. Marek shuddered, and his