Steve smiled, the rug not only pulled out from under him but rolled up and put away.

You saw me, though. In the alley. You looked at me and you saw me. I was hiding, but I couldn't hide from you." ~ Chenco to Steve

Why do you stay with me?" he whispered. He wished he hadn't said it once the words were out of of his mouth, wished he could pull them back, but Laurie didn't seem fazed at all. In fact, he just smiled a crooked smile and kissed him again. "Because I don't want to dance by myself," he whispered.

Jules rested the violin and bow on the case and sat down next to Jason. He hesitated for a moment, watching the older man with uncomfortable intensity, then reached for Jason and brushed a single tear from his cheek. For Jason, the touch was electric, and his physical response unexpected.

“Bach always touches my soul,” Jules half whispered. His fingers still rested against Jason’s cheek. “He must have known great love, and great pain, to write something so powerful.” Jason realized that his own pain must be showing on his face, because Jules, too, looked sad.

"I’ve never been religious,” Jules said, his eyes never leaving Jason’s, “but I played this piece in a tiny church once. It was like God was there with me, speaking through me.”

When Jason remained silent, Jules leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. At a loss to explain the intense emotional and sexual response of his own body and equally unable to stop himself, Jason
reached for Jules and returned the kiss. The younger man’s lips tasted of wine and musk, and Jason realized that he was hungry for more.

I've never felt better in my life, Fred. Never.

You still want that little secret to stay secret?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t. Not unless I heard you talked. In which case, all bets would be off.”

“You’re a fucking bastard, Nick. I thought you were better than—”

“I’m a paid killer, Mike. What the fuck were you expecting?