Zack and the Dark Shaft

Zara's Bois 1

Zack and the Dark Shaft Spoiled, aimless party-girl Zara Benjamin has never had to work a day in her life. At twenty-eight, she's just discovered something she wants as much as her best friend since college, the unattainable Quincy Powers. But when an elevator door opens minus the car, all these hopes and dreams are forever dashed…or are they? Successful financial whiz Quincy Powers made his fortune on Wall Street before his thirtieth birthday and left the rat race behind before the stress of trading could claim his sanity. Instead of the game keeping him awake, however, he now has the horrible sound of his best friend's screams to haunt his nights. Until two angels intervene and send Zara on a mission in the body of her twin brother, Zack Benjamin... Sensuality Rating: SCORCHING Genre: Alternative Romance (M/M): paranormal / angels / interracial / reincarnation Length: Novel (25,000 words)

ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT Zara’s Bois 1

Gracie C. McKeever

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THIS E-BOOK: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to one LEGAL copy for your own personal use. It is ILLEGAL to send your copy to someone who did not pay for it. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT Copyright © 2007 by Gracie C. McKeever ISBN: 1-933563-11-7 First E-book Publication: October 2007 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2007 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT Zara’s Bois 1 Gracie C. McKeever Copyright © 2007

Prologue “So, what do you think?” Zara did her best Vanna White imitation, waving her arms with a flourish to encompass the 10,000 square foot loft space. Quincy looked at her with his patented ‘Doubting-Thomas squint,’ and she could see his mind whirring a mile a minute, measuring his next words like a U.N. diplomat. Not like her, who just blurted things out regardless of what anyone thought, come what may. “It’s nice.” “Could you be more non-committal? Sheesh. It’s more than nice. Don’t you see the possibilities? It’s perfect.” Zara led him through the cavernous space towards the exit where they had first come in. “I’m not following you, Zar. Possibilities and perfect for what?” He trailed behind her as far as the threshold and before she could answer him, his onyx eyes lit with understanding. “Oh, wait a minute. I know what this is about.” “Before you go shooting me down, once I have the place up and running, you’ll get back your initial investment at least threefold.” “That’s what you said about your bakery idea, your dog walking venture, your personal shopping undertaking…” “This will be different, Quince.”

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“I’ve heard that before.” Zara stopped short of pouting and stomping her foot. Neither of those tactics worked too well on Quincy, at least not often. “Why are you being a miser? It’s not like you can’t spare it.” “I’m a miser because I’m not giving into the princess’s whims?” “Exactly.” Zara gave him her most engaging smile, even though it had failed to work on her parents only a few hours earlier. But she could count on Quincy. Quincy wasn’t like them. Quincy understood her despite their disparate backgrounds. “The answer is no.” Zara gaped, trying to wrap her mind around her best friend’s denial. This was going to be a harder sale than she first thought. Fine, she’d just have to pull out the big guns. She threw up her hands, turned her back on him and walked several steps away into the hallway before she turned back to glare at him. “Well, why the hell not?” “Because for once you’re going to have to stand on your own two feet.” “That’s what I’m trying to do.” Quincy just stared, looking so regal and commanding in his darkchocolate beauty that Zara licked her lips before she realized what she was doing. No time for lust. This was business, serious business. “Borrowing money from me for your latest get-rich-quick scheme is not standing on your own two feet, Zara.” “I’m not asking for a loan. I’m asking you to be an investor. This would be a partnership. My ideas and your capital.” Quincy sighed, shook his head and closed the space between them. Zara craned her neck to take in his gorgeous, exotic eyes. If she wasn’t so mad at him and Quincy wasn’t just scenery, she might give in to the desire sending a moist dose of warmth between her thighs. As it was she just looked at him, disbelieving. Quincy rarely said no to her unless he was trying to teach her a lesson about her flightiness. Then Zara could usually just bat her long-lashed, blue eyes

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and pucker up her already pouty mouth to get him to come around. No one would ever accuse Zara Benjamin of not working the womanly wiles that God had given her. She placed her palms flat against his hard chest, stopped just short of fondling the muscles she felt there. God, Zack was right and she needed to have her head examined for wanting this man so much. By mere virtue of his sex, at least her brother had a chance with Quincy. But her? She knew where things stood. Quincy never lied to her about what he was, or how he felt about her. He loved her like a friend, like the little sister he never had—nothing more, nothing less. “I know I can make this gig work, Quince. I’m really passionate about this.” “I’ve heard that before too.” He frowned. “Did your parents already turn you down?” “I’d rather not discuss them right now.” “That means they did.” “It doesn’t matter. Zack’s helping me out. He believes in me.” “Zack’s blood, your twin. He’s supposed to believe in you.” “So is my best friend.” “And you still need a major investor.” “Yes and if you would just listen to my propos—” “You actually have one this time?” “Don’t be a wise-ass. I always have a plan. Maybe not exactly foolproof…” “At least you’re owning up to your shortcomings.” “My, it must be National Snide Day and you’re the grand marshal.” Quincy chuckled and Zara did stomp her foot this time. “I’m telling you I’ve changed! I’ve grown. I know what I want now and this nightclub—” “So that’s what this little undertaking is going to be then? Some hangout for all your rich, druggie friends?”

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“That’s not fair and you know it.” Zara peered at him, realization about Quincy’s stinky mood finally dawning. “Did your mother just visit you to borrow some money or something?” “She has nothing to do with this.” “She did and now you’re taking out your anger and frustration with her on me.” “You’re taking a giant leap and it’s in the wrong direction.” Quincy took her hands in his and brought them to his mouth. Zara had to stop herself from trembling when he brought his full lips to her hands and brushed them across her knuckles, the soft stubble around his mouth and on his chin tickling her skin. She noticed the contrast of their flesh— his smooth, chocolate skin against her fair, creamy complexion—and wondered what it would feel like to have him sliding his large, dark cock inside her. Zara shook her head to clear it. No wonder he wouldn’t take her seriously. She had a one track mind, at least where he was concerned, and that track invariably led to only one place: inside Quincy Powers’ pants. “I can’t give you the money and it has nothing to do with my mother and everything to do with your fly-by-night past.” “I can’t believe you’re holding stuff I did as a veritable child against me.” He snorted. “You’re twenty-eight years old, Zar and the period we’re talking about isn’t that long ago. In fact, your last ‘passion’ overtook you just a couple of years ago.” “Well, we can’t all be the perfect, staid financial whiz that you are.” She jerked her hands out of his grasp. “Fine, be that way. If you don’t want to invest in my business venture, then I’ll just have to find someone who will.” She turned and flounced off in her best rich-girl-annoyed-with-the-world imitation. She punched the down elevator button, huffed, crossed her arms across her breasts and impatiently tapped her foot against the dreary gray carpeting. That was one of the first things to be done in her redesigning: get rid of the cheap, funky floor covering. After a few moments, she felt Quincy closing the gap between them, and cursed the elevator for taking so long. Modernizing the ancient deathtrap was her first order of business once she got a loan to renovate this place.

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“Zara, we should talk about this some more before you go off all halfcocked—” “There’s nothing more to talk about. You’ve said your peace and now I have to go find investors who’ll believe in my dream as much as I do.” She heard him curse under his breath right before she felt his hands seize her shoulders. Zara pulled away to avoid his embrace, and took a step back. “Don’t be this way.” She was getting to him, she knew it. Just a few more minutes and his guilty conscience would completely overwhelm him before he would beg her to take his money. She knew Quincy well--almost as well as he knew her. She still needed to make this look good, make her dramatic grand exit. Then there was almost a ninety-nine percent chance he would come behind her wanting to make amends. He wouldn’t give her everything she was asking for, but something was better than nothing. Zara turned to give him one more frosty look. “You had your chance.” The elevator door opened and she took a step forward. Her expensive designer pump dangled over a gaping maw for just an instant before she heard Quincy’s urgent shout behind her. She felt his fingertips caress a sleeve of her couture dress right before she lost her balance. Zara’s last thought before she went tumbling headfirst into the endless abyss was that she’d never get to tell Quincy “I told you so” at the grand opening of Zara’s. **** Afraid of what she would find, Zara dragged her eyes open to bright lights and fluffy clouds all around her. There was no pain, in fact not much feeling at all except the sense of floating in an endless, soft void. This was definitely not the elevator shaft. Had someone made a mistake? “Not exactly, my child.”

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Zara turned this way and that, but could see no one in the void with her, realized she’d only heard the voice in her head. Okay, she’d play along. “Am I in heaven or hell?” A second voice answered her, more stern and less benevolent than the first. “Neither. It is limbo or your waiting room.” “Waiting to go where?” “In time. First, you must learn the rules.” “Rules?” “Yes, the provisions of your return to earth.” She was going back? Maybe she could still get her nightclub up and running, maybe she could— “You have more important things about which to worry.” “My immortal soul?” “Micah, stop being so gruff. You are frightening her.” “She needs to be frightened, Jamaereh.” Oh God, they were angels! Well, what did she expect, really? “So I’m, uh, going back?” “You have two weeks to fulfill your desire and be with the man you love,” the one called Jamaereh answered. They were giving her Quincy? “No one is giving you anything, young one,” Micah said. “You must earn him, and even then only for two weeks. After that time you must return for a ruling on your final destination.” “That’s it?” “That is not it. That is all you are being allowed to know for now.” “Okay, fine.” He didn’t have to be such a grouch, sheesh. “I can hear you,” Micah said. Zara shuddered at the sternness in his deep voice and lowered her eyes like the recalcitrant child he was treating her. “Sorry.”

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“Enough of this dawdling. It is time for you to depart.” “But what else do I need to—” Before Zara could get out another word they whisked her away faster than it had taken her to tumble down that elevator shaft and for her life to change. **** “I hate it when you play bad cop like that,” Jamaereh said. “Why? You like playing good cop,” Micah said. “That is all well and good, but I still do not like it. And you know what I like even less?” “What is that?” Micah took a seat on one of the many clouds surrounding them and arched his brows in a this-I-have-to-hear gesture. “When you play Devil’s Advocate.” “Me? I only did His bidding.” “Do not remind me.” “Are you still feeling the sting of the Jack incident centuries later?” Jamaereh gritted his teeth as if to grind away the memory of the felled beanstalk and the murdered giant. “Jack was a foolish and selfish little thief who would not recognize a blessing if you handed it to him on a silver platter.” “Which we did.” “Unfortunately.” “You take things too personally. It was not our fault what happened. And the child did get his just desserts eventually.” “Not before ending the life of that hardworking, innocent giant for no other reason than to sate his immature materialism and envy.” “Do you think Zara Benjamin will discover His loophole and make the same mistakes?” “Dear God, I hope not.”

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Chapter 1 Zack Benjamin’s Loft – Ten Months Later He was broken, ached all over, every bone shattered. Zack glanced around, eyes unable to penetrate the blackness. He thought he was blind, especially when he blinked several times and no light infiltrated his world. Slowly he got to his feet, shocked that he was able to accomplish the feat. He felt his way around his environment, hands thrust out in front of him, arms swinging back and forth until his fingers brushed a wall at the same moment shouts from above diffused the pit—loud shouts of desperation. Urgency. The latter was the most clear, reaching him when all his other senses failed. Zack understood why when he glanced up and saw a vague shaft of light hundreds of feet up, slowly growing dimmer as the elevator car streaked towards him. He opened his mouth to scream, to let Quincy know that he was alive down here and needed help but no sound came out. Zack tried again, his shouts drowned out by the descending elevator car. The screech of rust and grinding metal assaulted his ears and Zack tried to run for cover, but there was nowhere to go. Walls were on every side of him. He was trapped. The car accelerated, coming dangerously closer with each passing second. Zack closed his eyes, said a prayer and flattened himself against the cold, hard floor.

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There was no escape, no reprieve. He was going to die just like his sister. **** Zack woke with a scream dying on his lips. He blinked open his eyes expecting the dark, surprised by the summer sun seeping into his bedroom through the Venetian blind slats. He felt Zara’s spirit this morning stronger than he ever had when she was alive, stronger than he had in the last ten months since her death. It was like she knew the grand opening of her namesake was taking place tonight and was determined to make an appearance. Zack smiled at the thought, trying to hold onto the feeling of Zara alive and vibrant while he stumbled from his bed and headed to the bathroom. His efforts worked a lot better than he thought for when he glanced in the mirror he saw a clear vision of his sister’s reflection staring back at him instead of his own. Gasping, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “Get a grip, man. Get a grip.” After several seconds, he opened his eyes and released his breath when he saw his own face, dark-blue eyes, tousled, caramel-brown waves and all. The only difference from the previous image was the more chiseled, masculine features, shorter hair and cleft chin. Otherwise, and aside from their sex, he and his sister had been almost indistinguishable. Zack turned on the shower, adjusted the temperature and stepped into the old-fashioned claw-footed tub, reveling in the warm spray as it coursed down his body. He took a bar of soap from the shower caddy and slowly soaped his body, lingering over his stiff cock before he abandoned the soap altogether and just fisted his hardening shaft in one hand to firmly pump it. After several strokes, Zack leaned his free palm on the tile wall in front of him, groaning and squeezing his eyes shut against his fast approaching climax. Cold heat spread from his groin down to his feet while his balls tightened against his body. He’d never been so ready to come at a mere caress, like his own equipment was a novelty to him and he’d never masturbated before.

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Within a minute he spurted his seed against the tile and shouted at his release like he was experiencing his first orgasm. Hell, he’d always enjoyed coming. He did it with gusto any opportunity he got—though opportunities were few and far between the last several months—but never with this much enthusiasm, especially not alone, not unless he was entertaining his favorite fantasy featuring one Quincy Powers. And he hadn’t even had a chance to conjure up an image of his sister’s best friend before he was shooting his load down the drain. Shit, he was acting like one of his randy students. What was wrong with him? Zack leaned a shoulder against the tile wall, panting while he stroked his semi-erection and surprised himself when he got hard again. He fisted his cock, taking particular pleasure in the sensation of it throbbing against his wet palm, enjoying it like a cherished new toy. I never realized how much fun this could be with a dick or that you were such a hunk. Wow, I hope Quincy thinks so too! He was hearing voices! It was the only explanation. He was nowhere near as conceited as half of those thoughts would have anyone believe. Maybe he could hold off on a visit to the shrink until after the opening tonight, or even a little longer. Lounging on a therapist’s couch for forty-five minutes and blaming his parents for all his problems was more Zara’s speed anyway, not his. He loved his sister but he, better than anyone, knew her flaws. Besides, he promised Quincy he would make it tonight come hell or high water. Zack guessed he could add hearing voices to those parameters. He grasped his cock tight, pumping several times and coming even faster than he had a few minutes ago. Zack took the soap in hand again, quickly washed himself then got out of the shower as fast as he could and before he had a chance to rev up his engines again. He quickly dried himself with a towel, dressed and got ready for school. He had a couple of remedial summer courses to teach before he’d be free for the day. Sure he didn’t have to. He didn’t have to teach another class at a public school or otherwise work another day in his life if he didn’t want to, but he wanted to, needed to.

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Sometimes he wished he could be more like his sister and just enjoy the fruits of his mother and father’s labor in a generous trust fund. But he didn’t have it in him. He wasn’t the gadabout, partying kind. Zack used to watch how Zara went about her life a happy-go-luck, Holly Golightly and he envied her, especially her free and easy way with everyone-especially her free and easy way with one particular someone. His heart pounded at the idea of seeing Quincy come this evening, and he mentally chastised himself for acting the hopeless, lovesick friend like his sister had for the last several years of her life. Despite his sexuality being more compatible with Quincy Powers’ preferences, Zack didn’t see where he was in any better position to benefit from the man’s affections than his sister. It was pretty obvious Quincy had no interest in him except as the brother of his now dead best friend. But we can change that! Zack closed his eyes against the strangely familiar voice in his head. First his sister died, and now he was losing his mind. Either this or she was haunting him, neither an attractive option. Hell, it was going to be a long day. **** Zack hadn’t visited the club in the last three months—trying to avoid both temptation and grief—and the progress that had been made in the interim astounded him. He entered the building through the VIP entrance where a burly bouncer waved him through after Zack showed his ID. He walked through the marble, art deco lobby and headed for the bank of elevators. He swallowed hard when he stepped onto the first one that arrived. It didn’t matter that everything about Zara’s was new and improved, stateof-the-art. Ever since the accident, Zack couldn’t get onto an elevator without thinking about his sister and what happened to her in this building. He hoped he could make it through the night without having any flashbacks.

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When he stepped off the elevator and into the plush-carpeted vestibule, the strains of a bouncy reggae song drifted out to him. Zack followed the music, stopping on the threshold of the main hall, a grin slowly creeping up the side of his face while he watched Zara’s long-time friend chatting with staff and circulating the room with an undeniable air of authority befitting the executive that he was. When Quincy had gotten a gander at Zara’s nightclub business plan, he’d taken up the torch, investing capital, calling in favors soliciting other investors and just generally being a real bulldog with the construction, insisting that the club had to be up and running by Zara’s birthday. The fruits of his tireless efforts and personal attention to detail were obvious in every corner and crevice of the place. More than an investment, Zara’s was an obvious labor of love. This was especially evident in the wall murals. Zack admired the 3-D underwater scenes now. One side of the room depicted predators of the sea in various sharks and rays and the other side of the room depicted their more intelligent and domestic prey in dolphins and whales. The scenes were painted with fluorescent paint which made the animals and other wildlife glow under the UV light. The full effect was spectacular and Zack knew how much his sister, who was in love with anything to do with the Caribbean and the sea, would have loved it. “Zack! You made it!” Quincy kissed a few cheeks and pat a few backs before he made his way across the shellacked wooden floor. Zack thought of meeting him halfway, but stood rooted to his spot, too enthralled by the wide breadth of Quincy’s shoulders and his towering presence. Dressed all in black the man looked and moved like a panther, the sensual play of muscles beneath the T-shirt, leather vest and matching pants, making Zack salivate. Automatically, he stuck out his hand for a polite shake. Quincy laughed, ignoring Zack’s hand and pulling him into a bear hug. Zack gasped and tried not to dissolve within the other man’s firm embrace. He closed his eyes instead, took a deep breath and indulged his olfactory senses to a dose of heaven-on-earth.

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God, Quincy smelled good! His masculine scent was a spicy mix of sandalwood and musk that made Zack’s nostrils flare and his cock harden in his navy chinos. Quincy pulled away and grasped him around the biceps, staring at him with a slow, sexy grin like he was ecstatic to see Zack. He had always been friendly with Zack, but this greeting was different. This was playful, shameless and hungry. This went beyond the bounds of a you’re-a-nice-guy-and-I-like-youbecause-your-my-best-friend’s-brother greeting and slid toward the realms of Ilike-you-because-you’re-a-hot-man, let’s-hook-up greeting. Or was Zack just entertaining wishful thoughts? “I like the outfit.” Quincy gave him the once-over and licked his lips, unabashed when he met Zack’s gaze again. “That blue complements your eyes.” Zack didn’t know whether he meant the black-striped, cobalt blue polo shirt he was wearing or the navy jacket he had on over it, and he didn’t care. He was just glad he could put a pleased smile on the man’s usually somber face, made even more so since Zara’s death. “Uh…thanks.” Zack wanted to make all kinds of comments about Quincy’s surprisingly laid-back attire, miles away from the crisp corporate gear he usually wore, but his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. “I’m glad you made it,” Quincy said, voice reverberating and buttermelting, dark eyes serious and sincere. Zack had to remind himself not to sigh before he responded with a, “Someone from the Benjamin clan had to represent.” Quincy chuckled, put a hand on Zack’s shoulder and squeezed. “And I can’t imagine Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin popping in for a nightcap.” Zack’s mother and father’s idea of evening entertainment went more along the lines of a thousand-dollar-a-plate dinner party or fundraiser for some political bigwig. Neither of them would be caught dead in a hot and trendy nightclub, especially not a gay club like Zara’s. Granted “hot and trendy” clubs came a dime a dozen, but the gay landscape was a new player, and remarkably lucrative with lots more earning potential than just another vanilla club. Despite the positive numbers and his own preferences, however, Zack initially had his doubts when Zara first approached him with her idea. But once he

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saw Zara’s business plan, and consulted with Quincy and Quincy’s other investors, he’d seen what his sister had described before her death as “possibilities.” Zack smiled at the idea of his mom and dad surrounded by what amounted to riffraff and upstarts in their eyes. Even now he could hear his mother apologizing in her inimitable way with a, “Not that there’s anything wrong with you or your people, Zack.” “No, I wouldn’t count on them making it,” he said, and he and Quincy both laughed. “Look, I’ve got some last-minute details to take care of, but the place is already jumping as you can see.” Quincy waved a hand at the floor where at least a hundred people were dancing and standing at the main bar. Damn, the club had just barely opened for the evening. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable while I circulate and make nice with the natives, and if you need anything come get me.” Zack had no safe reply for that one, so he said nothing. When Quincy suddenly leaned in, his heart leapt and sped at the other man’s body heat and nearness. “Don’t forget to save me a dance,” Quincy planted a soft kiss on the corner of Zack’s mouth before nibbling the flesh as if to emit a message…or a warning. “Preferably slow,” he murmured before standing straight. Zack gaped when Quincy walked away, wanted to frame a picture of the man’s firm, round ass for future reference. Why take a picture when you can have the real thing? Zack closed his eyes against the suggestive voice in his head and wondered how much longer he was going to have to put up with it before he finally lost it altogether. Not much longer, brother. Not much longer at all.

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Chapter 2 Quincy dodged several groping hands and requests for a dance when he made his way through the sinuous throngs and straight to his suite of offices at the back of the club. He closed the heavy ebony door, squeezed his eyes tight and leaned back against it while he took several deep breaths. He’d finally done it and there was no turning back now. Hell, passes didn’t come anymore blatant than the things he had said and done to Zack. Surely the man couldn’t ignore Quincy’s challenge? He waited for the regret he expected from a foray into taboo territory, or maybe a bolt of lightning to strike him for his disloyalty, but nothing came except anticipation and hunger at the idea that Zack would finally take him up on his offer and see him as more than just his dead twin’s best friend. He hadn’t been so turned on or unsure of himself around a guy since he’d first come out at sixteen, and he had to admit that Zack made him feel like a horny teen 24/7. Quincy wasn’t sure if it was Zack’s rebel-with-a-cause, socially conscience aura that incited him so much, or his ethereal beauty and lean, surfboarder’s body. He just knew he wanted the man in the worst and best possible ways and had since their first meeting five years ago when Zack had popped by Zara’s just from a Peace Corps stint in Kenya. Quincy and Zara were friends for a few years by then and understood each other’s neuroses: Zara’s parents tried to buy their children’s love with money, and Quincy’s single mother blamed her alcohol and crack addiction on his homosexuality. Thus, Zara and Quincy figured they were an instant match made in hell, reveled in and recognized this while they spent their days turning negatives to

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positives, partying, studying and making plans to get away from the root of their problems at home. The same height as his sister at 5”9, his head barely reaching Quincy’s shoulders, Zack burst onto the scene fresh as the future and whimsical as his sister, but with a grounded and selfless edge that almost belied the twins’ connection. Smaller stature notwithstanding, Zack’s energy and thirst for life immediately turned Quincy’s head no matter how much Quincy questioned the wisdom of getting involved with the brother of a girl who was already hopelessly in love with him. Just a blink of Zack’s indigo eyes and a lick of his full, luscious lips and Quincy had been a goner. His well-exercised libido in overdrive ever since Zara introduced him to her older-by-six-minutes brother. So what are you doing hiding in here? Quincy couldn’t help thinking that the one person who could have helped him answer that question, the one person he would have trusted with his dilemma, was the dead twin of the object of his affection. How freaking ironic was that? Quincy swallowed against the rising tide of grief and loss that rose up in his throat, threatening to drown him. He had a flash of an argument he’d had with Zara one of the first times she’d borrowed money from him for one of her schemes. He told her not only that he didn’t trust her scheme, but that he wouldn’t trust her to set a clock for him. Despite that he’d eventually given her what she’d asked for, and though the insult seemed to roll off Zara’s slender, carefree back, Quincy winced now at the memory of it. Damn this! He wasn’t one to wallow in guilt or self-pity and he definitely wasn’t one who left things to chance. When he saw something he wanted, he went after it. Zack Benjamin should be no different. He needed to go out there and press his advantage before Zack had a chance to think about everything that was wrong with a relationship between him and Quincy, and convince Zack of everything that was right.

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**** Almost three hours later and Quincy still hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to Zack, much less dance with him. He’d been too busy being a manager and running interference between security staff and unruly customers, or quashing a number of mini crises involving food and beverage distributors. He had to settle, instead, for glimpses of Zack playing the bell of the ball and dancing the night away with several different bois and twinks while he was stuck handling business. He wasn’t normally a jealous man, but Zack was in his house, and this was his time these new jacks were hogging. Not that he could blame Zack’s partners because if Quincy was free he would have been monopolizing the man’s dance card for the rest of the night. Quincy finally got some free time around midnight and went in search of Zack. For the first time since Zack had arrived, Quincy didn’t see the other man on the dance floor. He looked for him at the principal bar and the several tables dispersing the main floor. Having no luck in either of these venues, Quincy took a chance and ascended the acrylic, spiral stairs to the VIP lounge where, sure enough, he found Zack dozing in one of the several half-moon leather couches lining the mirrored walls. He was sandwiched between two other guys who were wide awake and sipping some fruity concoctions from each other’s glasses. For an instant, Quincy wondered if the two men in question had put something in Zack’s drink or otherwise drugged him. He knew how some of these twinks operated and that a couple got their drugs passed even his alert security and bouncer staff. Quincy had already personally ejected a couple of patrons that night for getting high in the bathroom, didn’t play that shit especially where his business was concerned. He wavered now between storming across the floor to extricate Zack from the cozy tableau or just punching out the other two guys’ lights before carrying Zack off to his suite and tucking him into the queen size bed he had there. But then, Zack sat up, knuckling his eyes before glancing at Quincy and smiling like he knew what was on Quincy’s mind. “Hey, big handsome.”

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Quincy barely heard him over the salsa song that was reverberating throughout the club, but he crossed the carpeted floor, drawn like a lost soul to the light. He stood by the glass table to glare down at Zack’s companions. “Move it or lose it,” he growled. The two guys didn’t hesitate, immediately scrambling off the couch and from behind the table without giving Quincy or Zack a backwards glance. Quincy slid in beside Zack, resting an arm on the back of the sofa behind the other man’s head. “Decided to hang up your dancing shoes for the night?” Zack ducked his head ever so slightly, and Quincy’s heart tightened at the flush of color that rushed to the other man’s high-sculpted cheekbones. Damn he wanted this man under him, over him, all around him and soon. Five years of waiting was long enough. “Just taking a break,” Zack said. Quincy pushed several wavy strands of caramel hair away from Zack’s face and tucked them behind his ear. “Got enough mileage left in those tootsies for a whirl on the dance floor with me now?” “I’ve got all kinds of energy for you, Quince.” Quincy frowned at the nickname. It wasn’t that uncommon for friends and relatives to shorten his name—Zara did it frequently, especially when she was upset with him—but Zack had never called him “Quince.” He wondered exactly how many drinks Zack had had tonight. He’d seen him with at least one but wondered if that was enough to loosen the other man’s inhibitions enough to make a night with Quincy seem a viable option. As much as it pained him to do so, Quincy decided to give Zack an out just in case. “I know you’re not used to hanging out like this, what with your early hours teaching and all. I’ll understand if you—” “Speak for yourself, old man.” Zack scooted to the opposite end of the couch and stood up. “Never let it be said that I let someone of your advanced years dance me under a table.” He extended a hand, palm up and waved his fingers in a come-and-get-me gesture. Quincy laughed. Zack was only a year younger than him, but when he smiled at Quincy the way he did right then, he looked like a naughty teen.

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“You know how much I like a go-getter.” “We’ll see how much you like it once I get you on the dance floor.” Quincy walked around the table, caught Zack’s hand and pulled the other man against his body, smiling when Zack fell into his chest and stared up at him with so intense a look of hunger shining out of his blue eyes it rocked Quincy from his head to his toes. “Do you know what you’re getting into?” “I have an idea.” Quincy followed Zack’s tongue when the tip came out to lick the lips he wanted to taste. He licked his own lips, cock heavy and hard in his pants. Throbbing. “C’mon.” He dragged Zack down the stairs behind him and onto the dance floor among the crush of rocking and rolling bodies, seeking safety in numbers. Now that he had the man so willing and close, he didn’t want to ruin things by rushing. He wanted to take his time romancing, at least for the next couple of hours. He figured he’d survived this long, he could hold out a little longer. **** For the next couple of hours, Quincy was treated to a side of Zack he had never seen before: a wild party animal. The younger man danced with tireless energy and rhythm, downed drink after drink and flirted like a horny frat boy but still had coordination to keep up with Quincy’s sober strides like he didn’t have an ounce of alcohol in him at all. If Quincy didn’t know better, he would have sworn the man was possessed. Not that it mattered one way or the other since he decided he liked this side of Zack—the footloose and fancy free side that was so different from Quincy’s own usual, all-business demeanor. “I should have bet you some money to see who would conk out first.” Zack draped his arms around Quincy’s shoulders from behind while Quincy sat at the main bar. Quincy chuckled when the other man bent his head to stick his tongue in Quincy’s ear, slowly tracing the shell until Quincy shuddered.

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“I like making a big man like you tremble in his motorcycle boots,” Zack whispered. “Oh you do, do you?” Quincy swiveled around in his seat and caught Zack around the waist. “You’re playing with fire, little one.” “I can take the heat. Besides—” Zack bent his head again to trace Quincy’s lips with his tongue, “—the bigger they are, the harder they fall.” “I fell for you a long time ago,” he admitted and wondered who was tipsier now: him or Zack. When he caught the answering look of longing in Zack’s eyes, however, he knew he had done the right thing in pursuing the other man tonight. He knew that he had done the right thing to admit his feelings. He only regretted he wouldn’t be able to take full advantage and experience the wonders of Zack’s slim, smooth body any time soon. The club would be open for another couple of hours, and Quincy had to be available every minute of it to make sure that the rest of the night went smoothly. But after, he intended to make up for lost time, intended to— “Yo, boss man! We got a little situation here…” Quincy turned to the voice of doom sounding behind him and saw one of his bartenders with a look of concern creasing his young brow. “What now, Carlos?” “Seal couldn’t hold out any longer and ditched for the rest of the night.” Damn, he had half-expected this when Seal showed up at the beginning of his shift claiming illness. Quincy thought Seal’s condition convenient when one of Zara’s few competitors had started advertising job openings just that morning. He told himself he should have been better prepared for a defection, despite his preoccupation with all the details involved in the opening and his expecting certain special guest. Seal was one of his most skillful and popular bartenders and would be difficult to replace on such short notice. Quincy’s immediate problem, however, was who to get to fill in for the rest of Seal’s shift. “You want us to shut down one of the satellite bars?” “Over my dead body.” Quincy eyed the throngs surrounding bars one and two with the overflow drifting towards the third bar where one of the principal

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bartenders was already filling in. He wouldn’t be able to do this for too much longer, however, and still cater to every customer in a timely manner. He absently rubbed his chin for several seconds, mentally going over his options. If worse came to worse, he’d man the bar himself and… Zack poked him in the ribs with an elbow. “I can fill in.” “What? You?” “Don’t look at me like that. I happen to be a superior mixologist.” Was this the same Peace Corps volunteer, teetotal teacher that Quincy had met five years ago or a pod person? Or, even more likely, was he a reincarnation of…? He shook his head before he could complete the thought. The mere idea was total lunacy and yet... “This I have to see.” “Put your money where your mouth is?” “You pull this off, and I’ll pay you Seal’s remaining salary for the evening.” “You’ve got a deal.” Quincy put his hand in Zack’s and shook, looking forward to watching him for the rest of the night under the guise of legitimate business. He directed Carlos back to the third bar to relieve the current bartender to his duties back at the main bar. He guided Zack to his station and introduced him to the other two bartenders. He lingered behind the bar while Zack acclimated himself with his surroundings and did a quick bottle count with the other two bartenders. Zack noticed him watching and came to the end of the bar to pat his hand resting on the bar. “I don’t need a baby sitter, big handsome. I can do this.” Quincy didn’t usually let his dick make important business decisions for him, but his instincts told him he was doing the right thing and could trust Zack behind the bar. Silently, he nodded and left the bar to circulate and find another crisis to solve. He didn’t make it far, too curious to see what type of job Zack would do. After twenty minutes, Quincy realized he needn’t have worried, that Zack had made an understatement when he said he was a superior mixologist. He not

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only mixed cocktails with scientific precision, he was a real crowd pleaser going off-menu to mix his own specialties. Quincy was impressed with Zack’s dexterity and people skills, and figured a background of managing New York City junior high school kids came in handy when it came to social entertainment. On top of all this, he hadn’t seen moves like Zack’s since Tom Cruise in Cocktail. Or Zara during one of her last gigs bartending. Quincy shook his head at that last thought. He knew those type of thoughts could only lead to trouble…or complete insanity.

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Chapter 3 Quincy stopped just short of running roughshod over his staff to close up shop once it hit four a.m.. He even oversaw security as they hustled the patrons out of Zara’s while the wait staff initiated clean-up. All in all, the evening and morning had been a rousing success. The coffers showed a tidy profit at final ring-off, and once Quincy balanced the tills and locked the safe he left his office eager and ready to give Zack his full attention. He played it cool to keep from running down the hall to the main dance floor, but almost lost it altogether on the threshold when he saw Zack doing a sexy bump and grind to the piped-in strains of a hip reggae beat. The place was deserted except for the two of them, all the staff having punched out twenty minutes previous, and Zack turned abruptly at the sound of Quincy’s motorcycle boots echoing in the cavernous hall. “Alone at last.” “Sounds like you have something in mind, big handsome.” Quincy smiled and made his way across the floor. At six-four, and two-hundred pounds, he was used to being called all kinds of big. In fact, when she wasn’t teasing him about being a cautious perfectionist, Zara called him ‘big handsome’ all the time. She’d been the only one who used that moniker to address him. Quincy was having a hard time hearing the particular nickname from Zack. Zack closed the few feet between them, staring up at Quincy with a longlashed gaze that had heat spiraling up and out from Quincy’s core like someone had touched his groin with the business end of a live wire.

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When Zack reached down to cup Quincy’s erection, Quincy rumbled and bent his head to take Zack’s mouth with his. He dipped in his tongue, mimicking the sex act, darting it in and out of Zack’s mouth. His control slipped when he stroked Zack’s tongue and heard the other man panting beneath the onslaught. Zack tasted like innocence and sin, sweet and tart and everything Quincy had been craving since kissing him earlier in the evening. But that had been chaste, nothing like the heated melding of mouths he shared with Zack now, nothing like the real live thing that was Zack’s luscious mouth. This was primal—pure and simple. Heart thundering in his ears, Quincy back stepped Zack towards the main bar, grabbing his tight, round ass and lifting him onto the shiny, hard wood. He cupped Zack’s face and held him in place like he thought he would try to leave, delving deep inside Zack’s hot mouth as if for treasure. He’d never been so desperate to have anyone, to get inside anyone, in his life. He knew he wasn’t the only desperate one when Zack tugged his polo shirt out of his pants over his head before flinging it aside. Quincy’s cock throbbed at the sight of Zack’s ripped abs. The creamy skin of his lean and smooth torso was just like Quincy had always imagined, the heat and spicy-sweet aroma from Zack’s body inviting. He curved his fingers around Zack’s slim waist, caressing Zack’s hipbones with his thumbs before slowly sliding his hands up to cup Zack’s face again. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Zack’s, trying to rein in his emotions before they completely ran away from him. “Do you know how much I want you right now?” “I can guess.” Zack reached down and cupped Quincy’s eager cock and lightly squeezed. Quincy put his own hand over Zack’s and ground his pelvis against the other man’s palm. He could have come that instant had Zack not retreated to slowly unzip Quincy’s pants and dip his hand into the opening. “Zack, wait…” “For what? I want you and you want me.” “I don’t have anything here.” Quincy shuddered when Zack gripped his shaft and thumbed the pearl of liquid at the head of his penis.

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“Not even in that big suite of rooms in the back?” Quincy jerked his head up. Zack grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “I asked around.” “I do more work in that suite of rooms than anything.” “Not even a little hanky panky?” “Not really. No time.” “Tsk, tsk,” Zack bent his head to lick the side of Quincy’s neck, “there’s always time for hanky panky, big handsome.” Other than masturbation, there hadn’t been time for anything sexually pleasurable in a long while for Quincy. He’d been too busy getting Zara’s up and running. Been too busy blocking out the reason he had involved himself in the project to begin with. “Who are you saving yourself for?” Zack licked and nibbled a hot path from Quincy’s neck to his ear before circling the shell with the tip of his tongue. Damn, Zack had a talented mouth! Quincy imagined what Zack could do to the rest of his body with that tongue instead of teasing his ear. “What if I said I was saving myself for you, Zack?” He raised his brows at Quincy. “No problem.” He pulled a string of NYC Condoms out of his pocket and wrapped his legs around Quincy’s waist to draw him closer. Quincy chuckled when he recognized the MTA logo and remembered his bartenders stockpiling the packets in glass bowls behind the main bar. He never thought he’d benefit from his libidinous staff’s hoard. Zack replaced the condoms in his pocket, pushed Quincy back and jumped down from the bar to unbutton Quincy’s pants. He slid them over his hips and down his legs along with Quincy’s boxer briefs until the clothing was all bunched around his ankles. Even though they were completely alone, and it was his nightclub, Quincy hadn’t done anything so bold in a long while. Zack’s brazenness had Quincy’s legs noodling to the point that he had to reach for the bar. He balanced his weight against it with both hands when Zack slid down to his knees and grasped Quincy’s throbbing cock in one hand.

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He stroked Quincy experimentally, gently scraping his nails from the base of Quincy’s shaft and back to the head where he thumbed the slit. It was the most erotic sensation Quincy had experienced so far, but his body tensed, waiting for the rest. Zack didn’t disappoint, swirling the pad of his thumb around the head of Quincy’s penis until the digit was nice and moist with pre-cum. Then he popped his thumb in his mouth and sucked off Quincy’s essence with a low moan. He gaped at the serene look of appreciation on Zack’s face, heart hammering as Zack reached for him again. This time Zack grasped Quincy’s balls and juggled them as if they were a pair of Chinese therapy balls before lowering his head to take Quincy’s hard jutting cock into his mouth. Quincy hissed a breath out through his teeth and closed his eyes, his hands drifting to Zack’s soft, caramel waves when the wet warmth of Zack’s mouth surrounded him. He grazed Quincy’s erection with his teeth on the way down to the base and Quincy fisted his hands against Zack’s scalp. He was torn between pulling him off, sliding to his knees and taking Zack in his arms or pushing him further, torn between immediate physical need and wanting to satisfy his emotional needs with just Zack’s company. Quincy closed his eyes and intensified his thrusts, stroking his dick deep into Zack’s throat while the other man eagerly took him in. His balls drew up tight against his groin, signaling an approaching and long- awaited orgasm. He tried to hold it off a while longer, wanted to stretch out the enjoyment as long as he could, taking pleasure in the feel of Zack loving his dick. He slowed his movements and did the multiplication table for seven in his head, but Zack reached behind him and traced his anus with a finger. He got to seven-times-two-equals-fourteen before he shuddered and clenched his ass cheeks against the teasing touch, gasping when Zack slid a finger into his anus and caressed his prostate. “Oh fuck…” Zack increased the pressure with his mouth, taking Quincy deep, sucking hard, and simultaneously rubbing the muscular tissue inside with his finger until Quincy lost it completely. He plunged into Zack’s mouth, releasing a hoarse shout and shooting his cum deep.

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Zack pulled him in, swallowing Quincy’s spunk while Quincy circled his hips, vibrating in Zack’s grasp like a strung-out junky after a powerful and satisfying fix. Quincy waited just long enough for Zack to release his dick with a resounding pop before he finally did sink to his knees, and pulled Zack close for a drugging kiss. He worshipped Zack’s mouth as it deserved, nibbling and sucking the other man’s full lips before sliding his tongue in to tangle with Zack’s. They kissed for several long moments, Quincy unzipping Zack’s pants and plunging his hand inside to finally grasp the other man’s sizable, firm cock—just long and wide enough to make Quincy hard again. He pulled back, mouth watering with the idea of tasting the other man. Zack abruptly stood, grabbed a chair from one of the nearby tables and dragged it to Quincy. “Here. Sit.” “What are we doing?” “I thought you knew by now.” Zack toed off his loafers, slid the string of condoms out of his pocket before he pulled down and kicked out of his pants and shorts then hastily peeled off his socks. Quincy stared when Zack stood before him amidst his discarded pile of clothes, completely naked, gorgeous and lip-smacking like Quincy always suspected he’d be. He licked his lips at Zack’s peaches-and-cream complexion, a blush of color rushing to Zack’s cheeks and ears as Quincy got his fill of the other man’s lean-muscled physique. “Don’t just kneel there. Get in the chair.” He did as he was commanded, and couldn’t help liking the bossy tone of Zack’s voice, couldn’t help thinking how much he sounded like his twin who could be a bossy little cuss when she wasn’t acting the spoiled brat. Quincy smiled, liked the idea of Zack taking the reins. Normally, he didn’t do submissive, but he felt comfortable, settled back against the chair’s leather cushions and watched Zack rip open a foil pack and approach. “Want to do the honors or should I?” “You’re in the driver’s seat…for now.”

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“For now.” Zack grinned and reached for Quincy’s ramrod dick. Instead of putting on the condom, he lowered his head and dipped his tongue into the slit, scooping out the pearl of liquid gathered there and licking his lips. “If you don’t hurry up with that condom, you’re going to get a face full of something you didn’t bargain for.” “And that’s my incentive to hurry?” Zack chuckled, slowly rolled the latex down over Quincy’s cock and further until he reached the base. “Kind of snug. Sorry.” “I’ll survive.” Just barely, Quincy thought, for as unhurried as Zack had put the condom on, Quincy got the idea the man was definitely into torture— sensual and leisurely torture. “Next time we’ll make sure to get the extra large to accommodate my big handsome.” Quincy’s chest tightened at Zack’s proprietary tone, his allusion to a next time. He liked that this wouldn’t be a one-night-stand, especially because he didn’t intend one. As if reading his mind, Zack said, “If it’s any consolation, I know Zara would approve.” Quincy quirked up a brow. “Oh, would she?” “She would.” “Well in that case,” Quincy caught Zack around the waist and pulled him closer, “we shouldn’t disappoint her.” “My sentiments exactly.” Zack opened his legs to straddle Quincy’s and gasped when the other man lifted and held him aloft, his ass hovering over Quincy’s stiff penis. He sought Zack’s gaze and held it before slowly lowering him so that the broad head of his dick teased Zack’s anus. He lowered him further, simultaneously thrusting his hips up to impale him. “Oh, God!” “Did I hurt you?” Quincy didn’t think there was nearly enough lubricant on the condom to ease his entry and anxiously looked at Zack’s face to see his eyes squeezed tight.

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Zack bit his bottom lip and shook his head, grinding his ass against Quincy’s lap and taking his full length like he wanted to prove how much Quincy hadn’t hurt him. “It feels good. I was just surprised by how big and filling you really are.” Quincy’s chest swelled and he just barely hid a smile. “You’re sure you’re okay?” “I’m good. I want you…rough and raw.” Quincy shook his head, laughing as he leaned in to rest his mouth against Zack’s throat. Rough and raw he could easily give, it was what he usually did, but he was tired of rough and raw, tired of meaningless sex. He wanted the gentle and tender, wanted it from Zack, with Zack. So, he closed his eyes and relished Zack’s pulse beating against his mouth, and slowly sucked the warm skin and nibbled before drawing back to soothe the spot with a kiss. He hadn’t given a hickey and marked his territory in a long time, but Zack brought out his possessiveness, his need to say “Mine!” “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again. “You’re not moving.” “I’m just enjoying the feel of you inside me,” Zack murmured and leaned in to cradle his face in the crook of Quincy’s neck. Quincy growled at Zack’s low, sexy tone and the feel of the other man’s warm skin against his when he wrapped his arms around Zack and held him close. Zack slowly began to rock against Quincy. The tension built until Quincy plunged into him, matching and building on Zack’s rhythm. They were both engaged in a lusty, sexual dance of push-pull that drove them to the edge of ecstasy. Zack shook in Quincy’s arms, clenching his ass cheeks tight around Quincy’s cock as he shot cum onto the other man’s chest. Quincy squeezed Zack tight to him, holding onto the indescribable liquid fire and pleasure that tore through his body when he exploded inside Zack, the other man’s powerful climax bringing on his own. He nuzzled Zack’s throat, inhaling the musky-sweet scent of him before kissing a path from Zack’s neck, over the light whiskers on his chin and cheek until he got to those delicious lips. He traced Zack’s full mouth with the tip of his tongue, sated yet still overwhelmed with need.

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Zack pulled back to stare at him and frowned. “What are you thinking about?” Quincy leered and pulled him close. “I’m thinking about how I’m going devour and take you over and over again for the rest of the morning.”

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Chapter 4 Zara woke the next morning achy and invigorated, stretched her limbs to test their flexibility. Or rather she stretched and tested Zack’s flexibility. She didn’t know whether to thank Micah and Jamaereh or curse them for this divine sex-switch until she remembered her night and morning with Quincy. He was everything she’d ever thought he would be and more in a lover. Even with the unexpected development of her having to finally enjoy his tender and firm strokes as a man—her twin brother no less—she still found herself looking forward to their next session of lovemaking with a strong mixture of hunger and anticipation. She sat up in bed beneath the navy-blue, satin sheet, and hugged herself. She felt like a bride on her honeymoon, every nerve tingling with afterglow. Could they top all of the orgasms they achieved last night? Zara smiled, eager to find out until she glanced over at Quincy. Poor baby was sprawled face down, lightly snoring and looking totally wasted. She would have roused him until she remembered the opening last night and how hard he’d worked tending to everyone’s needs and making sure the nightclub was a success. Her nightclub. Zara got all choked up when she remembered Quincy smiling down at her surrounded by all the trappings she’d described in her nightclub business plan. He’d followed her outline all the way down to the minutest detail.

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She was so grateful, she could have hugged Quincy last night when she’d first emerged in Zack’s body while Zack drifted to sleep in the VIP lounge. But she was stuck playing it cool for fear that she might give too much away too soon. Her brother liked to have a good time, but was nowhere near the party animal that Zara was, and Quincy would have noticed Zack acting out of character. Bad enough she’d slipped several times and called him ‘big handsome’ when no one else in the world used that nickname for him but her. Not that Quincy had noticed. He’d been too busy pursuing and drooling over Zack every free moment he had away from his staff and customers. Zara smiled knowing the two people she loved most in the world had finally gotten together. It wasn’t an ideal situation, especially not for Zack, but at least she’d got them over their first hurdle. Somewhere down deep she thought she should be jealous of her brother and how much Quincy had enjoyed being with Zack when he’d never wanted to give her the time of day where sex was concerned. She knew she was being unreasonable, that Quincy was gay, but it didn’t stop her from wanting more of him for herself. Didn’t stop her from wanting him to know exactly who he had made love to last night, that it wasn’t just Zack. Okay, maybe she was being an egotistical, spoiled brat, but old habits died hard. Zara closed her eyes against a sudden wave of dizziness. She could barely keep her eyes open they felt so heavy. Zack was waking up. She could feel him scratching and clawing his way to consciousness even while she tried to hold onto awareness herself. Damn it, she wanted more time! This was so unfair. Why were those two angels toying with her like this, giving her only a taste of Quincy through Zack? She wanted her own body. She wanted Quincy for herself. Do not take for granted the gifts you have been given. Micah. She recognized the reprimand in his deep voice right away. I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m just— Wishing for things that can never be.

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But why can’t they be? Tread carefully, human. Fine. She’d tread carefully. But she still didn’t get it. They were angels. They had the power to do what they wanted, give her what she wanted and needed to accomplish this cockamamie ‘mission’ they had sent her on, unless this entire trip was just some big, cosmic joke. And if this was the case, the joke was on them. She intended to milk the situation for everything it was worth, and if that included getting Quincy Powers into bed as many times as possible in the next two weeks, so be it. She didn’t know what sort of spiritual journey they intended to take her on, or morally enlightening lesson they intended to teach her by sending her back, but they had picked the wrong girl. Even while Zara mentally argued with her benefactors she felt her hold on Zack’s body slipping. She tried to fight it, but her control waned. Zara fell back on the bed when she could no longer stay upright, no choice except to give in. Zack took over, still the majority stake holder of this vessel...for now. This didn’t always have to be the case. She had taken control once. She could do it again. She just needed to wait until Zack was unaware and— Careful child. You are about to make a grave error. That was the kinder and gentler Jamaereh. How? I’m only using what you’ve given me to fulfill my desires. Remember your time on earth is limited. I know. But while I’m here I intend to take full advantage of what I have. And you did give me two weeks. I’ve only been with Quincy one day. And not even an entire d— You’ve been warned, Zara, Micah said. **** Zack woke to a suffocating sensation, like someone held a pillow over his face and was trying to smother him. The feeling was ten times worse than being in the elevator shaft in his dream, unable to escape as the car approached.

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Gasping, he opened his eyes to take in his surroundings and was totally dumbfounded. Where the hell was he and how did he get here? Did he drink that much last night? Or were the voices he’d heard earlier in the day only the precursor to deeper mental illness, like blackouts and losing time? Damn, the last thing he did remember was falling asleep in the VIP lounge to his dead twin’s decidedly seductive and hypnotic voice. Before this he’d shared several lively dances with a few guys on the dance floor, before heading upstairs to take a break from the noise and grind. Zack remembered feeling all of sudden drained and half-heartedly thinking that someone had put something in one of the two drinks he’d had. And now he was here, wherever here was. “Hey baby…” Zack almost leaped out of his skin when a pair of well-muscled arms slid around his torso and pulled him close. “Take it easy, Zack. It’s just me.” He didn’t want to look and spoil the fantasy, so for a moment he just leaned back into the hard, warm wall of flesh, stopping short of melting in Quincy’s embrace. “You were a tiger last night. Or should I say this morning?” “You can say anything you want, just don’t let me go.” “I don’t intend to.” Wait a minute! What was he doing? He was in bed with a man he’d coveted for years with no recollection of how he’d gotten here. Something was wrong with this picture and Zack needed to make it right somehow. He pulled out of Quincy’s arms and sprang from the bed. “What’s wrong?” “That’s what I want to know.” He turned on Quincy with a glare. “What happened between us last night?”

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Quincy grinned and the wicked look gleaming out of his dark, sultry eyes made Zack weak in the knees. “Want to get your role-playing on, huh? I can get with that.” “I’m not role-playing.” But God, he wished he were. He’d give anything to have Quincy blindfold or bind him and play out one of Zack’s favorite scenes from 9 and ½ Weeks. His mouth watered at the mere thought of Quincy feeding him peaches and strawberries and whipped cream straight from the fridge. Or better yet, Quincy licking said food items off Zack’s naked body. Zack closed his eyes and shivered at the image. When he opened his eyes, Quincy was standing before him on the plush-carpeted floor, eyebrows puckered in an expression of concern. Christ, the man moved like a cat! “You’re serious? You really don’t remember what happened last night?” He could hear the edge to Quincy’s voice, like he was on the verge of being insulted if Zack answered in the affirmative. He didn’t want to hurt Quincy’s feelings, but he needed to know what happened. “Um, I remember most of it,” he lied. Quincy waggled his eyebrows and wrapped his arms around Zack’s shoulders. “The best parts, I hope.” Zack sputtered, ducked out of Quincy’s embrace and took a few steps back. He frantically searched the room for his clothes while Quincy stared at him. “I didn’t think you’d had that much to drink but now you have me wondering.” “I didn’t really have that much. I just don’t tolerate alcohol very well.” That was true enough. Now if he could just find his clothes and get the hell away from the man he might be able to get his head straight and think this through to its logical conclusions. Christ, Zack never thought he’d see the day when he was eager to get away from Quincy, but the man was entirely too enticing and unsettling. He couldn’t think with Quincy standing there in his birthday suit, three feet away, looking totally edible.

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Zack’s cock spasmed at the idea of licking Quincy’s chocolate brown body all over, from head to toe, until he was sated on his Quincy cream cone. When Quincy moved to close the space between them Zack had a flash of them in the club all alone last night. He was naked and sitting on Quincy’s lap and Quincy was— Oh shit! That couldn’t have happened! He would have remembered something so rapturous happening to his body. Wouldn’t he? “You don’t look well, Zack. Do you have a hangover, or did one of those twinkies slip something into your drink?” “No and no.” Zack stepped back again, angry that Quincy would think he’d be dumb enough to let someone drug him, despite the fact that he had thought the same thing himself. Hell, drugs and madness were the only logical explanations for him not to remember being intimate with Quincy, although his ass certainly remembered it, his cheeks and anus even now tingling with nostalgic heat and pleasure. Zack evaded Quincy’s outstretched arms, walked to the king-sized bed and searched for something to put on. He found his shorts tangled in the sheets at the foot of the bed and quickly donned them. “You’re not thinking of leaving now, are you?” It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had no choice. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be too tempted to stay and repeat what they’d done last night. Would that be such a bad thing? Yes, damn it, when you don’t remember what already happened! Zack almost sighed with relief that the voice in his head belonged to him and not the haunting voice of his sister. He stood up from the bed to search for his clothes only to have Quincy hand him a hanger with his pants on them and his socks neatly rolled up. “Thanks.” “Your shirt and jacket are on a hanger in the closet.” Zack didn’t say anything, just sat down and pulled on one sock before Quincy sat on the bed beside him and stopped him from going any further. “Stay and take a shower with me.”

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Zack grinned. “Trying to say I stink?” “You smell like me and sex, so yeah. You stink so good. C’mon.” Quincy caught him by a hand and pulled him to his feet. “I want to get you wet and sudsy before you go.” Christ, the man was irresistible when he turned on the charm like that and smiled. But resist is what Zack had to do. He needed some space to sort this all out. He had to go. Don’t go! Stay! Zack gaped and pulled his hand free of Quincy’s. That had definitely not been his own voice. That had been Zara, bossy and desperate, but his twin nonetheless. “I have to go!” Quincy frowned watching Zack dash through the room gathering his clothes and practically donning them on the run. “What is going on with you?” “Nothing.” Zack slipped on his loafers, jerked on his jacket and headed for the door. “Then why are you running out of here like you’ve seen a ghost?” More like heard a ghost, Zack thought, and froze with his hand on the doorknob. He closed his eyes and made a conscious effort to slow his breathing. What must Quincy be thinking of him? Probably that his lover from the evening before was either insane or an insensitive jerk and either description did not paint a pretty picture, at least not one Zack wanted to own or resemble. “Zack, whatever’s bothering you, you can talk to me about it.” Yeah right. Not likely. And confirm my madness? Count me out on that one. “I’ll have to catch up with you another time.” “This isn’t over, Zack.” Zack opened the door but not before the voice in his head echoed Quincy’s sentiment: I’m counting on it, big handsome. ****

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Something he said? Morning breath? Fear of commitment? Quincy recalled the horrified look on Zack’s face right before the other man left. He knew that Zack’s leaving was less to do with waking up next to a lover the morning after and more to do with betrayal and guilt. He was feeling a little of both himself and couldn’t understand why. He and Zara hadn’t been lovers, only friends. She had been his closest friend, his best friend, but he only loved her like a sister, nothing more, so it wasn’t like he was cheating on her memory. But he didn’t love Zack like a brother. He plain loved Zack—had loved him for a long time. He could see himself spending his life with him, in fact. The fact that he was able to admit this to himself and use ‘love’ and ‘Zack’ in the same sentence should have been a warning signal for him to back off. It certainly seemed to be a warning for Zack. Maybe that’s why the younger man had hightailed it out of Quincy’s suite. He’d seen the look of possession and need shining out of Quincy’s eyes and decided it was too much too soon. Damn how the mighty had fallen. He’d been a high-roller on the Street not more than three years ago, wheeling and dealing and commanding respect from billionaires twice over. Even out of the game, he still raked in the bucks and admiration from associates and peers working as a freelance financial consultant. No more seven-to-seven grind. Quincy called his own shots, was his own man in every sense of the term…except where his love life was concerned. Where his love life was concerned Quincy had turned into a mushy puppy looking for romance in all the wrong places, or completely shutting his emotions down and not looking at all. Shit, he was pathetic. No wonder Zack had run out on him. Yet, Quincy had to know for sure. He hated making assumptions and second-guessing himself. He had to know what was between him and Zack and if it was worth pursuing. He had to find out why the hell Zack had run out on him. He picked up his cell phone from the nightstand and flipped it open before he realized he didn’t have Zack’s cell number, only his home phone number. He

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was sure Zack hadn’t made it to his loft yet, though fast as the man was moving it might have been a possibility. Quincy closed his cell and reclined against the headboard, plotting his strategy. What he and Zack both needed was a little breathing room, not much, but just enough to give them some perspective, a few days maybe. He’d give Zack enough time to think about what had happened between them, enough time for him to start craving Quincy as he assuredly had last night, and then he’d make his move. Quincy licked his lips at the idea of a pursuit, blood running hot and rushing through his veins like it used to when he caught the scent of a hot stock. Once he wanted something and put his sights on it—whether it was an account, a stock or a person—Quincy eventually obtained what he was after. And he most definitely had his sights set on Zack Benjamin.

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Chapter 5 “Quince, there’s something I have to tell you. I think I’m possessed by the spirit of my dead sister.” Nothing. No response, just dead silence. Zack wondered how silent it would be when he made his confession out loud in front of Quincy instead of alone and in front of his own bathroom mirror. The idea of making such a confession to anyone, much less the man he cared for, had him more nervous than he’d been twelve years ago when he came out to his parents. You’re not really thinking of telling him are you? Zack closed his eyes intending to ignore the voice, knowing in the long run his efforts would be futile. Over the last few days it had been increasingly difficult to keep his sister out of his head, out of his life. He had more success during the day after a good night’s sleep. But lately, even during the day, she pervaded every facet of his life. She was with him when he woke up, with him in the shower, getting off when he got off, with him when he got ready for work, with him when he helmed his math classes at school, and with him when he came home after work. Nights were the worst. The closer his mind moved towards sleep, the stronger his sister’s power and influence. It made him paranoid about going to sleep, wondering what she would do, where she would go when he wasn’t aware. Where would the control end? Zack, are you thinking of telling him? “Like he would believe me?” That, and it would just be a mistake to say anything.

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“Why? You think if I reveal my insanity I won’t be attractive to Quincy? Or maybe Mom and Dad will have me committed and you won’t get another chance to be with him?” Don’t pretend you don’t want the same thing I do. Don’t pretend you don’t want to be with him as much as I do. “Yes, but that’s different. It’s my body. You used it to get your swerve on and without my permission, I might add. I’m not going to let you do it again.” You owe me. Zack turned on the cold water tap, cupped some water with both hands and splashed his face, hoping to block out his sister’s insistent voice, her tone of…entitlement. How was this happening? Who thought it would be a good idea for two far divergent souls to share one body with the same goal? Fine, they both wanted Quincy, but they both couldn’t have him. Who says we can’t both get what we want? Zack wiped his face dry with one of the guest towels hanging on the rack before replacing it and stomping out of the bathroom into his bedroom. But he couldn’t escape the voice in his head, Zara following him like a hound on a scent. Zack, you owe me this. When she said it calm like that, her desires almost seemed reasonable, achievable. If she achieved what she wanted, however, where would that leave him? How long was this co-existence supposed to last without him completely losing it? And what other type of damage was his supernatural roommate doing to him besides to his psyche? You make me out to be some sort of molester or interloper, Zack. It’s not that bad. “Isn’t it?” He couldn’t believe he was having a regular conversation with someone who wasn’t there, someone who’d been dead almost a year. Maybe his serenity was a sure sign that he had resigned himself to the madness. Look big brother, I didn’t ask for this. I’m a victim just like you.

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Zack didn’t think his sister had ever been a victim in her life. She’d always been too busy getting her way. I resent that remark! “Will you get out of my head!” God, did the woman ever sleep? Did spirits even need to sleep the way humans did? His sister was always up and around whenever he was and it made Zack wonder if she also slept when he did. We have things to discuss, Zack. “I know. You already mentioned something about me owing you?” At least another chance to be with Quincy. “How do you figure I owe you that?” Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy every minute of being with Quincy that night at the opening. “I don’t even remember it!” Zack threw his arms up, pacing the room like he could get away from Zara, and raking a hand through his hair like this could extricate her from his brain. Trust me. It was good. He was great. “I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it.” Don’t be this way, Zack. I’d do it for you. And it’s the least you could do after I brought you two together. “Who says we wouldn’t have gotten together without you hijacking my body?” Oh please! I didn’t hijack your body. And you guys have been dancing around your desire for each other for years and haven’t done anything about it. “Ever think there’s a good reason for that?” What? Trying to spare my feelings? “We’re not all as…” Go ahead and say it. You think I’m selfish. “Zara, you’re my sister and I love you. But we all know how you…were.” All right, fine. I get your point. You don’t have to remind me of what a bad person I was.

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“No one’s saying you were a bad person, just—” Zack cut himself off when he saw Zara pouting in his mind, arms folded across her breasts as she flung herself backwards. The next thing he knew he was flat on his back on the sofa. “What the—” Zack! I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Zack shook his head and sprang to his feet, arms thrust out like an inexperienced ice skater on a frozen pond. He took two steps away from the sofa, testing his legs as if he expected them to go out from under him any second. Are you okay? “I think so.” He was shook up, heart pounding at the idea of losing his free will, losing his bodily functions to another consciousness even if that consciousness was his sister’s. Zara had never exerted power over his body while he was awake. She communicated with him, intermittently buzzing in his head like an annoying fly throughout the day, but never had she been able to manipulate his body to the point of…flinging him. If she did have the ability, she’d never shown it before now. What else could she do with his body? What else could she do to him, and without hurting herself in the bargain? I’m still your sister, Zack. Just Zara. Not some ogre who wants to hurt you. “Fine, then leave me alone to deal with Quincy in my own way.” I can’t do that. I don’t have much ti— Someone rang the doorbell and Zack almost ran to answer it, glad for the break, until he opened the door and saw who was on the other side. “I should be used to that just-seen-a-ghost expression on your face by now. I see it when you’re going and when I’m coming.” “Quincy! What are you doing here?” “Nice to see you too.” Quincy leaned in and pecked Zack on the cheek. All Zack could do was accept it and step aside while the other man eased passed him into the apartment. Zack closed the door, gaping when Quincy stopped in the middle of the living room and turned back to him. When he showed no intention of going

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closer, Quincy crossed the floor back to him. “If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain…” He firmly cupped Zack’s face with both hands and Zack shuddered at the electric tingles that shot through his body and Zara’s like vibrations echoing through him. He wasn’t going to make it through this encounter if he had to deal with his own emotions and reactions and hers too. “You look like shit.” “Gee, you sure know how to woo a guy.” Zack heard Zara giggling in his head at the same time Quincy chuckled in his face. “What I meant was, you need a break. You work too hard.” “You should talk. I saw what kind of time you put in getting Zara’s up and running.” “I’m not here to talk about Zara, Zack. I’m here to talk about you and me.” Yes! “Don’t get your hopes up,” Zack mumbled for Zara’s ears only and watched as Quincy arched his brows. “Are you upset because I waited so long to come to you?” “Four days is long?” “It’s an eternity to stay away from someone you want so much,” Quincy murmured. The heated look in his dark eyes made Zack’s heart flutter. He stopped gaping long enough to swallow and answer Quincy. “I didn’t expect you to come to me at all.” “You must really think I’m some asshole then for me to not want to follow up with the man who rocked my world last weekend.” Quincy smiled and leaned in for another kiss, this one on the lips. He added tongue, slowly tracing Zack’s mouth, nudging his lips apart before sinking it deep. Zack heard moaning in his head and wasn’t sure if it was his own, Quincy’s or Zara’s. What a crazy, freaking threesome! Zack pulled away, gasping. “I can’t do this.” “Just so you know,” Quincy said, “I’m not an asshole.”

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“I never said you were, but—” “Then why do you keep running from me?” “I’m not.” Zack bumped back against the wall at Quincy’s approach, the man’s path relentless as he stalked Zack. How had he thought he could avoid Quincy’s determination for long? He knew how the man operated. It was his single-minded approach to everything that had Zack and so many others attracted to Quincy. “Looks like you’re running to me.” Quincy bent his head to nuzzle Zack’s throat, trailing a wicked path of destruction from his throat to his earlobe with the tip of his tongue. “Tell me what’s bothering you.” “There’s uh…there’s something you need to know about me.” Don’t do it, Zack. Quincy pulled back to look at him. “I’m all ears.” Zack opened his mouth before he knew what was going to come out and in his mind he saw Zara push out with both hands. Zack shot forward with such force had Quincy not been there to catch him, Zack was sure he would have crashed into the wall across the room. “Hey man, are you all right?” “I just stumbled.” Quincy held him close, grinning. “I’d like to think it was my irresistible magnetism that drew you to me.” Zack laughed, wondered why he was fighting Quincy so hard, fighting his desire, except that it was dishonest to lead Quincy on like this. The man was under the impression that he was getting involved with a normal guy and this wasn’t the case. Why do you have to be so literal? What Quincy doesn’t know won’t hurt him. But I know. “So, uh, why did you come by? You never said.” “Didn’t I?” Quincy quirked his lips in another one of his devastating grins that sent an effusion of lust straight through Zack’s dick. “I was in the neighborhood on a consulting project and thought I’d drop by, see how you were.”

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“As you can see, I’m fine.” “Maybe.” Quincy nodded and pulled Zack closer, rubbing his erection against Zack’s abdomen. “But it seems to me we have some unfinished business that needs tending to.” “Mmm.” Zack closed his eyes, arms going around Quincy’s back of their own volition. Or was it Zara’s volition? “I don’t like leaving things unfinished.” “Me either.” “So you’re agreed our getting together again is way overdue.” Quincy two-stepped Zack across the room until they were in Zack’s bedroom. He fell back onto his queen-size bed with a whoosh of air exhaling from his lungs when Quincy pushed him down and followed him up onto the mattress. Zack gawked when Quincy speedily unbuttoned his shirt and slid his arms out of the sleeves before discarding the garment like it wasn’t a designer piece worth two hundred dollars. “You think I’m moving too fast?” Quincy straddled him, bracing his palms on each side of Zack’s head effectively confining him when he bent his head to put his face in Zack’s. “I, uh…no.” “Good because as far as I’m concerned, we’re five years behind schedule.” “Five years?” Was he saying what Zack thought he was saying? “I’ve wanted you since we first met.” Quincy kissed him at the same time he reached between their bodies to rub Zack’s raging erection. “Oh God…” “I know I should have said something a long time ago instead of letting things go so far without addressing how I feel about you. But the timing just didn’t feel right.” “Because of Zara?” Quincy shrugged. “Does my wanting you make you uncomfortable?”

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Zack thought about it for a minute and didn’t feel any sign of disgruntlement from Zara. Finally he shook his head. “It doesn’t.” “That’s a relief.” Zack arched a brow. Quincy chuckled, the sound nervous and self-deprecating, so unQuincylike. “I came over here prepared to explain and justify my feelings, but I can’t help who I want and that wasn’t Zara, not in that way. But I did love her.” “I know you did.” “I wasn’t in love with her, could never be.” Zack reached up a hand to caress Quincy’s whiskered cheek, nodded his head. “Losing Zara…” Quincy closed his eyes and paused as if searching for the right words. After a long moment, he opened his eyes to stare at Zack. “Your sister’s death made me realize I’ve been wasting time on all the wrong things, for all the wrong reasons. And seeing you at the club off and on these past ten months, getting to know just a little about you has made me hungry to know more…much more.” “I feel the same way.” “You know you’re not getting rid of me now.” “I’m not?” Quincy shook his head and closed the tiny space between them, thrusting his tongue into Zack’s mouth and tangling it with Zack’s in a come-to-me-now, you-belong-to-me gesture. The inherent aggression in the action had Zack moaning into Quincy’s mouth, writhing beneath him and hungry for hot, skin-to-skin contact. The kind he hadn’t experience in a long time, the kind he almost forgot could exist between two people. God, it had been so long for him. He hoped he didn’t mess this up. Oh please. It’s like riding a bike. Besides, I’ll help. Great! He hadn’t needed instructions on how to get off—by himself or with a man—for a long time. And now he was going to get pointers from his sister about how to have sex with a man. Just freaking wonderful!

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He unzipped Quincy’s pants and slipped his hand inside to grasp Quincy’s hard cock. The contrasts were like an orgiastic treat for his senses—soft, smooth skin over hard steel, sweet, earthy scent wafting—so warm and throbbing Zack imagined what holding a beating heart in his hand would be like. The thought energized him, boldly pushing him forward where before he’d been uncertain, almost afraid to pursue something with Quincy. Like the man was taboo. That was only in your mind, Zack. Yours and Quincy’s. Just accept what’s happening and be happy with it. Will you be happy with it? I could learn to be. Zara groaned in his mind when Quincy slid up Zack’s T-shirt and bent his head to lick a pebbled, upright nipple. Oh God that feels good. I want him inside me so bad. Are you going to stay with us the entire time? I’m not going anywhere. Damn. That’s what he’d been afraid of. Zack sat up, pushed Quincy onto his back, and straddled him while he unbuckled the man’s belt. Once done he proceeded to pull down Quincy’s pants, the other man toeing off his own shoes and lifting his hips to help Once Zack got Quincy’s pants off he sat back on his heels to drink in his fill, didn’t think he could ever get enough of the man’s long-muscled, chocolate beauty. “Christ, you’re fine!” I told you. Is this what I missed the other night? This and more. Zack reached out to caress Quincy’s smooth chest, the muscles twitching beneath his fingers as Quincy sighed at the contact. “I like when you touch me like that.” Zack liked it too, kneading the warm flesh and moving his way up to the other man’s broad shoulders before he leaned in to take Quincy’s mouth in a scorching soul kiss that left them both breathless after several moments.

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“Get out of your clothes.” Zack needed no more prompting, peeled off his T-shirt and jeans in record time and reached for the lube in the top drawer of his nightstand. “You have condoms too?” “It’s been a long time. They’re probably expired.” “Damn, that long?” Blood instantly warmed Zack’s face at Quincy’s shocked tone. He felt simultaneously embarrassed and proud when he saw the look of ownership on Quincy’s face. The man looked very pleased with himself. “Check my pants pockets. I brought a few with me.” “Pretty sure of yourself, huh?” “Pretty sure you want this.” Quincy thrust his hips up to emphasize his point. “Maybe.” Just get the condoms so we can do this! Zack almost laughed at his sister’s impatience, didn’t want to think how weird this experience was going to be with her participating. He quickly retrieved a string of condoms from Quincy’s pocket, experiencing a vague sense of déjà vu, his anus aching with unheard-of anticipation. Zack had been with this incredible man before and could barely remember it. He couldn’t help feeling robbed. Don’t be such a baby. He’s here now, ours for the taking. He ripped one condom off the string, tearing it open while he climbed back on the bed and lay beside Quincy. Quincy trailed a long finger from his brow to his chin, and lifted Zack’s head. “I can’t figure out which I love more: the bold man at the club or the shy man in the apartment.” “They’re both me.” Mostly me anyway. “Did you say love?” Quincy nodded, leaning in for another kiss and stroking Zack’s dick until Zack thought he would implode. Instead, he closed his eyes and whimpered when

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Quincy bent his head to tease Zack’s slit before taking Zack’s cock into his mouth and sliding two fingers into his ass. Zack bucked his hips once before Quincy grasped and held him still with one hand. “Christ, that feels good! I can’t hold it….” Zack gasped. Quincy lifted his head, but kept up the pressure, fisting Zack’s shaft like a human cock ring and pumping his finger inside Zack. “Yes you can.” He fondled Zack’s balls in a soothing gesture with one hand, took the condom from his lifeless grip with the other and quickly donned it. “C’mere.” Quincy pulled Zack across his body and rolled onto his back. He raked a hand through Zack’s hair, massaging the other man’s nape until Zack shuddered against him. Quincy took the tube of lubricant and squeezed a liberal amount into his hand, applying it to his ramrod dick and Zack’s anus in equal measure. “No buyer’s remorse and no regrets this time, right?” “Right.” Before Zack could blink or say another word, Quincy flipped him onto his back and hooked Zack’s knees over his shoulders. He poised at Zack’s opening for a brief second before pushing inside passed his sensitive rosette. Zack had a moment to gasp before Quincy slid deep and circled his hips. Oh yes, Quincy. That’s it, baby. Yes… Zack agreed with his sister, but was too busy concentrating on the penetration to say anything, too busy enjoying the feel of Quincy stroking in and out of him—so firm and torturously slow—that he almost forgot to breathe. Quincy’s dick teased his prostate and Zack panted, moving his hips to match Quincy’s rhythm and try to repeat the magic of that brief touch. “Oh, yeah. There….right…there…” Zack groaned while Quincy alternated between pumping and rolling his hips, driving Zack mad with the motion, pushing him to the edge of a world-rocking climax that made stars explode before his closed eyes. Quincy leaned in to kiss his lips right before Zack cried out and shot his load just above where their bodies met. Quincy didn’t stop thrusting, instead sped his movements until he finally stiffened above Zack and came on a long shuddering groan of rapture.

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Panting, Quincy lowered Zack’s legs and pulled him down across his body as he lay on his back. He leaned close to lick cum off Zack’s chest. He vibrated beneath Quincy’s teasing and tender mouth. I love you, Quincy. Zack closed his eyes against his sister’s admission, but couldn’t bring himself to repeat it out loud himself. He couldn’t bring himself to drag Quincy into his own special hell.

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Chapter 6 Zara wanted Quincy for herself. She knew it was impossible, that that ship had sailed, but why else had He sent her back? He must have had something in mind for her than just these brief interludes of bliss to last her through eternity. Why else would He give her the capability to influence Zack’s actions one way or the other? He must have been preparing her for something bigger, something more. With Quincy. Zack, ever her conscience long before she’d had two angels leaning on her shoulder telling her what to do, was being a total wet blanket about the whole thing. He’d stayed away from Quincy, refusing any contact and generally making things more difficult for Zara. Had Quincy not taken matters into his own hands and dropped by, Zara didn’t know to what lengths she would have been forced to resort to see him. Was she asking for so much? All she wanted was to spend some time with Quincy, to love him the way she hadn’t been able to love him, and be loved by him, in life. She’d been more than patient, restraining herself from going to Quincy while Zack slept (and lately these intervals had been few and far between for her poor, paranoid twin) and getting what she needed. Getting what she had been sent back for. You have two weeks to fulfill your desire… Why did it have to be only two weeks? Who said she couldn’t extend it? She was already manifesting strengths and abilities that surely they had given her. Why imbue her with such gifts if not for her to use them to her advantage? She sensed her brother’s weaknesses, the little gaps in Zack’s consciousness and will, his control over the body they now shared not absolute.

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Zara no longer thought of her dwelling as just Zack’s body. They were one, sharing thoughts and feelings as strongly as they had in life without being one. What would be the harm if she…took over? What would happen to Zack? Would he be relegated to spectator status like she had? Or, would he just…cease to exist? No! She wouldn’t think like that. Zack was a survivor like her. Whatever she decided to do, however she decided to handle his body, she knew he would be okay. She wouldn’t hurt him. She loved him. He was her other half. Now they would just be one...with Zara in charge. She had to make this move before she ran completely out of time. **** “I knew sending her back was a mistake, but would anyone listen to me? Nooooo.” “Micah—” “Do not Micah me, Jamaereh! You know I am right. Against all the odds, it is happening again. His and our best intentions are being turned back around on us.” Jamaereh shook his head. He could not understand what happened. He fully expected Zara to go back to earth, fulfill her desires, make peace with her brother and Quincy and be done with it. But the child was planning a corporeal coup d'état. It was sacrilege and Jamaereh had expected so much more from Zara Benjamin, so much better. Unfortunately, she appeared to be vain and selfcentered like many of their other ‘pet projects’ who did not know how to accept a good thing when it was offered and not ruin it with cupidity and good intentions. “I am going to stop her.” “We cannot, Micah. You know that. It is forbidden. Besides, we would be no better than her if we interfered in His plan.”

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“Then we will be leaving Zack at her mercy. We will be leaving them both at her mercy.” “He does not make mistakes. His will be done.” Micah grumbled and Jamaereh tried not to chuckle in his face. Micah was a cynical curmudgeon on a normal day, always believing the worst of human nature and never giving the benefit of the doubt. It was why Micah and He butt heads so often. Micah didn’t believe in second chances and He believed in giving chances until an individual got it right, reincarnation one of his favorite methods of redemption. “We should at least appeal to Him, show Him what is going on.” Jamaereh arched a brow and silently stared at Micah until the other angel saw the error of his thinking. Micah did some more grumbling and kicked his foot through a nearby cloud. “Well, I think He has fallen down on the job. Why else would He let this travesty continue if He is actually aware and watching?” “Perhaps He knows something about our young Zara that we do not.” “What? That she is a spoiled brat?” “Micah—” “Well, it is no longer just herself she will be affecting with her selfish acts. She is planning to kill her brother!” “I do not think she realizes the damage she will be doing to him if she continues on her present course. And I do not believe she will let it go that far.” “That is wishful thinking. I believe she is very well aware, just choosing to ignore the repercussions since they will interfere with her pursuit of fulfillment.” “Will you stop pacing? All that friction is going to cause a thunderstorm, and I for one was enjoying the beautiful summer weather.” “Jamaereh, we have a serious situation here! Who cares about the weather?” “There is nothing we can do unless you want to go up against Him directly and question His authority. And you know what happened the last time you tried that, do you not?” Micah fiercely blushed. “I remember perfectly well what happened.”

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“Besides, I truly believe she is like a new bird and is just trying her wings.” “Her wings end where Zack’s nose begins.” “Unfortunately, our Father is not into civil liberties like He is into divine rights.” “She has discovered His loophole and is drunk on the power now. There is no telling what the girl will do before this is all over. And I, for one, do not want another dead innocent bystander on my hands.” “She is not Jack, Micah. She is much smarter, and more sensitive than that, and I believe she can be redeemed.” “Then we all are gambling with Zack’s life.” “I know.” **** They paused at the elevator. Zara with her back, stiff and straight to Quincy, and her arms folded across her breasts. Quincy wanted to reach out and touch her, but her haughty, peeved stance warned him to stay away, at least until she was ready to forgive him for not granting the princess her wish. He smiled, ready to give in, at least a little, right before the doors to the elevator opened and he noticed too late that there was no car. Zara took a step. It seemed she moved in slow motion, still disappearing so fast into the dark void that when Quincy shouted and reached for her, only his fingertips brushed a sleeve of her dress. The echo of Zara’s scream followed him when he dragged himself from the depths of his dream and woke up reaching and grabbing for someone who was no longer there. “Quincy, wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”

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Lean, strong arms wrapped around him and held tight. A soft voice whispered soothing words in his ear. “You’re all right, baby. It’s just a dream. You’re okay…” He couldn’t decide if his psyche would be safer asleep or awake. In the dream world he had to face the death of his friend again and again. Awake he’d have to look into the familiar eyes of Zara’s twin knowing he had let her die. Quincy opened his eyes, immediately met with the penetrating, indigo gaze of his lover and slid his arms around Zack to return the other man’s hug. “Were you dreaming about the accident?” “All the time.” “Me too.” Quincy arched a brow and released Zack to lean up on an elbow. “Why?” Zack shrugged. “Not exactly sure. Probably for the same reasons you do.” They never really discussed Zara’s death at length before, probably because they were both there—one in body and one in spirit—and didn’t need to dissect what each had experienced. But maybe it was time that they got it out in the open. “Want to talk about it?” Zack sat up and silently faced him, blue eyes so dark they looked black. “It might help us both to get it out.” “You really think so?” “Couldn’t hurt.” “Speak for yourself.” Quincy chuckled and put an arm around Zack, pulling him close to his side and holding him. “We’ll be each other’s therapy.” “That was Zara’s gig you know, therapy and self-improvement. That girl never met a self-help book she didn’t like.” Quincy laughed. “I know what you mean. But she tried.” “She did that.” Zack cuddled closer. “I miss her.”

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“I do too.” Quincy cupped Zack’s chin and tipped up his head. “Do you blame me?” “Of course not!” Zack sprang up to sit against the mahogany headboard and gaped at Quincy. “Why would you ask that?” Quincy wasn’t sure himself until the next words left his mouth: “Sometimes I blame myself.” Who was he kidding, sometimes? Not a minute went by that he didn’t feel responsible for what happened to Zara. “Why? There was nothing you could have done.” “That’s the party line I recite to keep the guilt at bay. But it doesn’t work very well.” “It was an accident.” “If she hadn’t been so angry with me she might have been looking where she was going, not so eager to flounce away. If I had reacted a little quicker I might have saved her.” “And if wishes were horses, I’d own a horse ranch by now.” “What about you? What’s your story, Zack? You felt her didn’t you? Felt her slip away?” Quincy noticed Zack wince and wished he could take back his words except for the curiosity. The twin bond was one that had always fascinated him, especially the bond between Zack and Zara, two of the most important people in the world to him. That one was gone and one was hurting from that loss tore at him daily, made him question pursuing Zack when all he wanted to do was have him in his life and keep him safe. “Is that why you want to be with me, Quincy?” Quincy couldn’t even get angry at Zack’s words since he had wondered at his own motivations a time or two. Then he’d remember his first time meeting Zack, the instant attraction and lust that had grown into genuine affection the more he had been around the other man, and he knew the answer. “I’m with you, because I love you.” Zack settled back against him, a pleased grin on his face. It didn’t escape Quincy that the other man didn’t return his declaration, nor did it surprise him. It had taken Quincy years to admit his feelings for Zack. It had taken an accident to finally bring them together to admit his feelings to Zack. He didn’t doubt it would take some time for Zack to come to the same conclusion that

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Quincy had come to months ago: that he wanted to be with Quincy for the rest of his life. **** It should have been her. It should have been her that Quincy professed his love to. It should have been her snuggled close to his hard, warm body, benefiting from Quincy’s sensitive caresses and assurances. Why couldn’t he profess his love for her the way he professed his love for Zack? She wasn’t his little sister and resented being treated like one. She deserved to be with him. She’d earned him. Zara had been friends with Quincy first. She had been with him through all his college highs and lows long before Zack had shown up to steal her thunder. When Quincy’s mother berated his sexuality again and again because he refused to fund her crack and drug habits, it was Zara who’d been there to pick up the emotional pieces. When Quincy had gotten dumped by yet another guy who didn’t recognize a good man right under his nose, Zara had been there to console, cajole and take Quincy out on commiseration benders. When Quincy had gotten sick with the flu their freshman year in college, it had been Zara who fed him homemade chicken noodle soup (her specialty and the only thing she cooked) and plied him with medicine for a week until she’d nursed him back to health. But Zack showed up on her doorstep one day in his bohemian, khaki shorts and his hippy-liberal-slogan T-shirt, and Quincy fell head-over-heels for him like Zara never existed, like the previous four years hadn’t happened. She knew her jealousy was unwarranted--illogical even--but couldn’t help feeling it nonetheless. She’d never been a logical person. She ran on emotions, spontaneity the name of her game. Logic was Zack and Quincy’s territory. Zara inhaled, pulled air in through Zack’s lungs and sampled Quincy’s spicy, sandalwood musk while Zack fell asleep. She was the most insidious kind of voyeur, spying from the inside out, and it had taken everything in her to stay quiet and listen to Quincy’s professions of love to Zack without making her presence known.

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Why wouldn’t Zack say ‘I love you’ in return? Did he not know a good thing when he saw it, when he had it in his grasp? Zack was no better than the other twinkies and bois who had come and gone in Quincy’s life while she remained ever faithful, ever in love. Her brother didn’t deserve Quincy. She did.

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Chapter 7 Something weird was going on with Zack. Quincy had felt it a little the night of the opening, but was more convinced of it in the last week that he and Zack had spent together. And it wasn’t just a spiritual and mental weirdness. Something was happening to him, changing, physically. No matter what Zack ate, or how much food Quincy plied him with, Zack seemed to be wasting away before Quincy’s eyes. A diet was one thing, but as lean as Zack already was, without an extra ounce of fat on his 5’9” frame, Quincy didn’t see the need for one. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear Zack was on the pipe, bulimic or that he had the monster. The latter he knew wasn’t true because since Quincy’s first visit to Zack’s when they’d agreed to be exclusive, he and Zack had exchanged their most recent medical information. Zack’s last negative test had been six months before, just like Quincy’s. Bulimia was as unlikely. Zack had a healthy appetite and ate his share, but what he put in his body didn’t seem to stick. Also, he and Quincy had been in each other’s company almost constantly for the last week and Quincy never saw Zack make any of those tell-tale trips to the bathroom after a meal. Weird and creepy and it reminded Quincy of that Stephen King book, Thinner. That left the pipe. Quincy knew the signs of crack and drug abuse better than anyone. He’d spent the better part of his late teen years ministering to a mother too fragile to deal with the realities of her husband’s desertion and her only son’s homosexuality.

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Otherwise healthy, Zack had all the classic signs of crack addiction—rapid weight loss, dark circles under the eyes and, sometimes, ashen skin tone. He knew from the last several nights that Zack didn’t get enough sleep, and certainly not restful sleep. This alone could have been behind the dark circles, even the weight loss. Whatever was going on, Quincy decided he was going to put a stop to it, even if he had to stage a one-man intervention. **** When Zack opened the door, Quincy held up a picnic basket filled to the brim with a little bit of everything he thought a growing boy needed to put on weight and stay healthy. Zack gestured at the picnic basket. “What’s all this?” He stepped aside to let Quincy into his loft. Quincy peered at him, noticing his sculpted features looked a tad sharper, more pronounced, just this side of gaunt. Not much better or worse than he’d looked yesterday. He guessed that was a good sign. “We’re going on a picnic.” Zack chuckled. “Can you be anymore corny? Or obvious?” “It’s called being spontaneous and romantic. You should try it sometime, you ingrate.” Zack slid his arms around Quincy and nuzzled his chest. “I appreciate the thought.” He pulled back to look Quincy in the eyes. Quincy melted from the sincere intensity he saw glowing from the depths of those well-loved, blue eyes, but he wasn’t going to be swayed from what he wanted to do. “I appreciate you, Quincy.” Quincy put down his booty to lift Zack into his arms. Zack automatically wrapped his legs around Quincy’s waist and his arms around Quincy’s neck. “How did you get to be so irresistible?” “Am I?’

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“You know you are.” Quincy pecked his nose and ran his thumb from Zack’s forehead to his chin, tracing the bones before shuddering. “You need to eat more.” “If I eat anymore than you and my mother insist on feeding me, I’ll explode.” “You should see a doctor.” “We’ve had this discussion already. And I told you, the doctor said I’m fine and that the weight loss isn’t anything to be alarmed about.” “Because he doesn’t know what’s causing it,” Quincy grumbled. “He doesn’t need to because I…I know what’s causing it.” “Care to enlighten me?” “Not yet.” “What is it you’re trying so hard not to tell me?” Zack unwrapped and lowered his legs, signaling that he wanted to be put down. Quincy acquiesced and let Zack slide down his body back to the floor, but didn’t release him, instead pulled him close and held on. He stared down at Zack’s face. The kid was skin and bones, his striking cheekbones more defined than usual beneath the thick, feathered lashes. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, Quincy.” “Don’t be so sure of that.” He cupped Zack’s face and pulled him close. “You’re not alone so don’t ever feel you can’t come to me with your troubles. I’m a good listener with a strong shoulder. That’s what partners are for.” Zack fisted the front of Quincy’s cream polo shirt in both hands and buried his face against Quincy’s chest. “Damn, you make it so hard to keep a secret.” “That’s the idea.” Quincy put a hand under Zack’s chin to lift his head. “Hey, I’ve shared more with you in the last week than I ever have with lovers I’ve been with for months and years. There’s nothing you can’t share with me.” “I wish that were true.” “Zack—”

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“Listen, let’s get a move on enjoying the feast for a small army that I’m sure you’ve packed, okay?” “Okay.” Quincy nodded and lifted his basket. “But this isn’t over.” **** They spent the rest of the afternoon playing and eating in Central Park. The day was sunny and pleasant, perfect for outdoor activities of all kinds and they partook in as many as they could except the one Quincy really wanted to partake in with Zack. But he guessed he could save something for later. He smiled at the thought now while he watched Zack make a diving catch for the Frisbee that he had just thrown a good foot over Zack’s head. Thin and all, he still looked edible, the muscles beneath his creamy skin flexing as shirtless Zack glided through the air, fully extended, arms reaching for the plastic orange disk. He landed on the grass of the Great Lawn with the Frisbee clutched in both hands, bounded to his feet and trotted back to where Quincy was standing beneath a tall oak. They’d had turkey-and-Swiss sandwiches and iced green tea beneath the same tree a couple of hours earlier, and Quincy intended for them to eat at least once more before he took Zack out on the lake to cap off the day. Quincy laughed and caught Zack against him with one arm when the other man moved to tackle him. “Ready for a break?” “Let me guess. To eat again?” “Don’t tell me you haven’t worked up an appetite with all the running and catching.” “I have.” Zack licked his lips and took the large bottled water Quincy offered him. Quincy leaned in to nibble the other man’s full lips before Zack could lift the bottle to his mouth. Zack’s lips were so juicy and inviting he couldn’t help himself. “Do you know how much I want to get you back to your house so I can ravish you?”

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“No. How much?” Quincy wrapped both arms around him in a loose hug and pressed his lower body against Zack just enough so that the other man could feel the erection pulsing behind his zipper. “This much.” “Well, we’re just going to have to cool you off until we get back to my place then.” Zack moved out of his grasp so fast Quincy had no time to protest before the other man dumped half the bottle of water over Quincy’s head. Quincy shook his head, sputtering while Zack eased behind the tree. “You little shit!” “Now Quince, I was just doing my part to help a brother out.” “And I just want to show my gratitude for your thoughtfulness…” Quincy took off after him, not surprised with the speed that Zack circled the tree to duck him. After several circuits around the large trunk, Zack finally lost his footing in the damp grass, crashing to the ground and cracking up by the time Quincy made it over to him. “I guess you’re okay since you’re laughing so hard.” “I’m fine, especially when I remember the look on your face at your dousing.” “Ha-ha, I’ll show you dousing, smart-ass.” Quincy wrestled the bottle from him, surprised there was still water in it after all of Zack’s running, and dumped the rest of the bottle over Zack’s head while the other man chuckled and sent up half-hearted objections. Panting, Zack leaned up on an elbow and grinned at Quincy sprawled beside him. “So that’s how you show your gratitude?” “Just one of the ways.” “I can’t wait to see the other ways.” Zack bent his head to kiss Quincy’s nose, but Quincy tilted up his face to catch Zack’s mouth with his. He thrust in his tongue, breathless as Zack met it with his and reached between them to grasp Quincy’s aching cock. At this rate, Quincy would need a swim in the lake to cool off instead of just rowing around it in a boat. “You about ready to make that move?” “Ready when you are.”

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Quincy stood up and reached down a hand for Zack. Zack took it and let Quincy pull him to his feet. He almost slipped and said something about Zack’s light weight, but didn’t want to ruin the day and push the other man back into his shell. Zack helped Quincy repack the rest of their meal and get rid of their refuse in the nearby receptacles. Quincy decided they could eat on the lake once he took them to the Loeb Boathouse several blocks away and rented a rowboat. He’d briefly played with the idea of taking a gondola ride, but wanted Zack to himself. A half-an-hour later they were settled in the middle of the lake full of Quincy’s homemade fried chicken, three-cheese-macaroni, more green iced tea, and lazing under the early evening sun spilling down from the clear blue, Manhattan skyline. Zack reclined with one knee hooked over the side of the boat, swirling the cool lake water with his bare toes and looking like a contemporary Huck Finn. Quincy admired his relaxed, half-naked state and licked his lips when he imagined Zack’s warm chest pressed against his. Zack kicked water in his direction, most of it hitting Quincy squarely in the face. Quincy spluttered. “You are just determined to keep me wet today aren’t you?” “Wet and hard, yeah.” Quincy cupped some water with one hand and got Zack back. Before long they were engaged in a full-fledged water fight, enough water in the bottom of the boat to make it look like they had sprung a leak. Laughing, Quincy finally wrestled Zack to the seat of the boat, pouring water over the other man’s head from his fishing hat. “Give up, smarty?” “I give! I give!” Zack gasped. “Good. Now, c’mere.” Quincy pulled him to a sitting position, dragging him onto his lap and planting a big wet one on his lips. Not able to get enough, he added tongue, tangling with Zack’s and alternately pulling back to nibble and suck on the other man’s lips.

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Quincy briefly opened his eyes to look at Zack and got an unpleasant surprise when he caught Zara’s face superimposed over her brother’s. “What the—” Zack’s eyes drifted open and he stared at Quincy, his own glance confused and hazy with lust. “What’s wrong, big handsome?” There was that nickname again, the one only Zara used. He hadn’t heard Zack use it again since the opening…until now. “I’m not sure.” Quincy gaped. Zara’s face still in front of him, plain as day like it was sharing space with Zack’s. When Zack’s face moved, Zara’s face moved a second after it, like she was…chasing Zack. What would she do when she caught him? He squeezed his eyes and shook his head before opening his eyes to stare at Zack again. “Quincy, what is it?” Zack palmed Quincy’s face, brow furrowing with concern but the face was finally all his. Quincy knew he’d never say anything to Zack but wondered now if Zack’s physical condition of late, his ‘secret,’ had anything to do with what he had just seen. Was it possible that Zara’s spirit lived in and drained Zack?

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Chapter 8 What had Quincy seen when he looked at him on the boat the other day? The question made Zack reluctant to look in the mirror this morning before he got into the shower and prepared for work. Did Quincy’s reaction have anything to do with Zara? Had Quincy seen her? Felt her? She’d been so low-key the last few days, Zack wondered if she was still around, still with him, in his body. He hesitated on the threshold of the bathroom now, putting off his morning ritual of staring in the mirror in disbelief and getting on the scale with dread. He’d never had a problem with his weight one way or the other until a week ago, thus the need for a scale always peripheral to Zack. Since Zara’s arrival, it had become a daily tool to monitor the effect his sister’s influence and presence was having on his body. Zack tapped the bottom corner of the scale with his bare foot then stepped on when the zeroes appeared. He squeezed his eyes tight for a few seconds before opening them to look at the digital readout. One-forty. Damn, he’d lost ten pounds in a little less than a week without even trying, that is if you didn’t consider constant strife with your twin trying. If he didn’t know about Zara and the struggles he’d been enduring to stay in control of his own body, he would have put the weight loss down to an illness or some other mystery. Not only did he know about Zara, his doctor said all his tests were within healthy limits. The man didn’t seem overly concerned with the weight loss since Zack was still within ‘normal’ ranges, with a healthy body mass index for his age and body type.

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Zack laughed at the idea of ‘normal.’ His life had ceased to be normal almost two weeks ago when he started hearing his sister’s voice in his head. He’d been putting it off, but he supposed the next doctor he needed to see was a psychiatrist, despite knowing this wouldn’t help. The only thing that would help him was getting rid of Zara. No response, no reaction. Was she gone? Zack stepped over to the bathroom mirror over the sink and stared at his reflection as if seeing it for the first time. He turned his face this way and that, couldn’t remember his features being so angular before, or him being so skinny since he’d been a lanky teen fifteen years ago. The dark circles were still under his eyes, but he hadn’t had much sleep, even without Quincy staying over to keep him up into the wee hours with fantastic and heated sex. He did look like shit, and wondered why Quincy even bothered to stay with him under the circumstances. Because he loves you. Zack cringed at the familiar voice, heart pounding with growing anguish. He hated feeling so negative about his own flesh and blood, or what used to be his flesh and blood, and forced himself to look into the mirror where Zara’s reflection stared back at him. Why don’t you feel the same way about Quincy as he feels about you? “I do feel the same way.” Then why don’t you tell him? “You know why.” Don’t blame me for your cowardice. “I’m a coward because I don’t want to drag the man into my nightmare?” Are you calling me a nightmare? “If the shoe fits.” Zack saw it coming before he felt Zara’s fist land squarely in his gut. He doubled over, gasping for breath and clutching his middle with both hands.

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Zack! I’m sorry! “I’ve heard that one before.” He coughed and sat down on the edge of the bathtub, felt Zara’s fingers ruffling his hair like she was sitting beside him and not inside him. He tried to shake her off, but couldn’t get away from her completely, more than attached at the hip. She was in his marrow. The more he fought with her over domain, the weaker he got and the stronger Zara got. She seemed to have this to the victor goes the spoils attitude going on. But with the constant battle his psyche and anatomy were undergoing, Zack wondered what would be left after the battle. What condition would the spoils be in? Not only did Quincy notice the changes in Zack, but his parents, two of the most self-absorbed people Zack knew outside of Zara, noticed and commented on his condition during his last visit to their townhouse for lunch the other day. His mom, never the June Cleaver, maternal type had actually tried to ply him with chicken noodle soup. His dad, as usual, had spent the afternoon trying to get him to come back to the family business and take the edge and stress off of working in “that blackboard jungle.” Zack wondered if his parents would believe him anymore than Quincy would if he told them about Zara. They had never been very spiritual when he and Zara had been growing up, worshipped the all-mighty dollar rather than any messiah. Zack, I really am sorry to put you through all this. He felt her sincerity even while he tried to catch his breath from her most recent assault. Could he trust her? It won’t be for much longer. “What do you mean?” He wondered if Zara could hear the wariness in his voice. Tomorrow’s my last day here. After that you won’t have to worry about me anymore. Zack was still skeptical, heart stuttering between remorse and relief. How could he have such ambivalent feelings for someone who had once been his other half? “Why? What’s so significant about tomorrow?”

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After tomorrow, my time will be up. She had mentioned something about running out of time that afternoon that Quincy had first showed up at Zack’s door. That was almost two weeks ago. That’s how much time they gave me. “To be with Quincy?” Yes. “They who?” Zack asked, already knowing the answer when he felt his sister shrug. Just a couple of guardian angels. God, the kid had been over to the other side and sent back on some demented mission of love, and he’d begrudged her every little minute, trying to put a muzzle on her existence, trying to deny her. What had he done? How could he be so selfish? There’s a way you can make it up to me, Zack. Zack frowned. “How?” Let me be with Quincy tonight by myself. Just me and him. That was a tall order. Zack wasn’t even sure if it was possible. For one, he didn’t totally trust Zara. Second, he wasn’t sure he could purposely fade into nothingness and give her free reign of his body. On some level, even when he was asleep, he was always aware of what Zara was doing, more attuned with her psyche and intent than in the beginning when she’d first appeared, as attuned to her as she was to him. The longer they shared his body, the more…fused their consciousnesses became. Sometimes, Zack didn’t know where he ended and Zara began. On a smaller level, it had been like that when she’d been alive. When she scraped her knee, he felt the pain. When he got beaned on the baseball diamond, Zara got the hickey on her head from the blow. But what he’d been experiencing with his sister for the last two weeks was even more intimate than all that, more insidious. Zack didn’t understand the science of it, never had, and he was sure he didn’t want to.

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When he didn’t respond to her last suggestion, Zara asked, Don’t you trust me, Zack? “Zara, I—” Look, I know I haven’t given you any reason to trust me in the last couple of weeks but I’m asking you to give me a chance to make things right. Give me a chance to make things between us the way they used to be. Was that even possible anymore? Please, Zack. Just give me tonight. How could he refuse her? She was still Zara, still his sister and he loved her. Zack closed his eyes and sighed, hoping he didn’t regret his next words. “Okay. I’ll give you tonight.” **** Her brother had always been a soft touch, especially where Zara was concerned. All through their years growing up together, Zara could count on Zack to smooth things over with their parents when she had a misstep in school or around their ritzy neighborhood. He took his older brother status seriously, even if it was only by six minutes, and he didn’t like to see anyone he cared about unhappy or in pain. Zack was at his best when playing the mediator, the peacekeeper, softening things between Zara and their parents, sometimes taking the fall completely for something that Zara had done wrong, just to keep everyone happy and things on an even keel at home. Missed curfew? No problem. Zack was Johnny-on-the-spot with a legitimate reason or story to appease parental sensibilities. Uncovered birth control and pot stash? Zack assured their parents it wasn’t Zara’s at all, but that the stuff belonged to his girlfriend who of course he had already broken things off with because she was much too fast and irresponsible (this was of course right before he had come out to their parents). Received a ticket for driving without a license or under the influence and getting into words with the cops on the scene?

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Zack would come downtown to bail her out and make sure their parents never found out. Yep, Zack was her sweet, gallant twin. The noble fool. Did he really think she would just give up and walk away? Did he really believe she was just going to fade away into oblivion like a nice little girl without putting up more of a fight? Fat chance. This was too important to Zara. Quincy was too important to give up. She had lost him once before for circumstances beyond her control. Why should she suffer because she had been born the wrong sex or because she liked to have fun and party? When she’d initially come to him with her plans for Zara’s, she’d needed an investor, yes, but more she’d needed Quincy to believe in her, to see her as more than just a fickle social butterfly with no substance or sense of dedication and responsibility. She needed him to see a woman of conviction, passion and strength and not just the lovesick damsel in distress he had grown to care for and defend. Tonight was her last chance to prove her worth to him, to prove that she could be everything to him that he needed. Tonight was her last chance to make her move towards staying permanently. She wasn’t sure how she was going to achieve this, wasn’t sure how she was going to keep Zack at bay long enough for her to take over his body completely, wasn’t even sure that she could, but she was going to give it a try. She would have Quincy. Or neither of them would have Quincy.

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Chapter 9 Zack came home directly after school, eager to take a hot bath and a nap in preparation for the evening with Quincy. He still wasn’t sure how or when this transference with Zara was supposed to take place, but wanted to be fresh and ready either way. Turned out he didn’t need to worry what needed to be done, since Zara knew exactly what she was doing and took control of everything. When Zack woke a couple of hours after drying off and throwing on some threadbare jeans, he found himself in a padded room with no visible door and one barred window ten feet above him. What the hell was going on? I’m sorry I have to do things this way, Zack, but I can’t take a chance on your ruining things for me tonight with Quincy. “Zara, what do you think you’re doing? And where am I?” I think I’m doing what needs to be done for me to get what I want. And in answer to your other question… Zack listened to her giggle, the sound echoing through him and chilling his marrow. You’re in the little secret room to where I’m relegated when you’re in control. “But how am I supposed to get out of here?” You’ll have to figure it out like I do, Zack. If you do, then you’ve truly earned the right to this body. “Earned the right to my own body?” That remains to be seen.

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“You can’t do this!” But my dear, sweet brother, I already have. Zack growled and kicked a wall with the sole of a cross-trainer. “You wanted me to trust you, but you couldn’t trust me?” This is just my way of taking out a little insurance. “I told you I would give you tonight.” What if I’ve decided I want more? What if one night isn’t enough for me? He wanted to tell her that wasn’t his problem, but evidently it was. Zara had made it his problem and made tonight a life-and-death issue for him rather than just a night on the town as a freeloader inside his own body. Fine. She wanted a war, she’d get one. No way was he going to sit still why she hijacked and flew solo with his body. He’d find a way out of here or die trying. That’s the spirit, Zack. The sound of his twin’s musical laugher vibrated throughout his prison until he couldn’t hear her anymore. **** Quincy wasn’t surprised to see Zack at the club that evening, just hadn’t expected to see him so early before Zara’s opened for the night and started letting in patrons. When he caught sight of the shiny caramel waves beneath the dim light of the main floor, his heart stuttered then sped. Damn, if Quincy hadn’t known it before, he knew it then: he had it bad. When Zack met him half-way up the stairs to the VIP lounge, Quincy also knew why Zack had showed up so early. “Got a moment for your favorite guy, big handsome?” Zack grabbed his hand and dragged him the rest of the way down the stairs. “My only guy.”

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“Right. You know that’s what I meant.” Quincy frowned when Zack pulled him through the main floor towards the back of the club to his suite of offices. He wanted to ask Zack if he was all right until he realized Zack hadn’t been the one seeing things the other day: he had. Once they were behind closed doors, Zack didn’t waste time jumping Quincy. The smaller man pushed him against the door with such force Quincy’s teeth rattled. “Hey, babe, take it easy. We’ve got all night.” He leaned in to kiss Zack’s forehead. “In fact, we’ve got the rest of our lives together.” “You mean that?” “Of course I do.” The assurance didn’t stop Zack from ripping the buttons off of Quincy’s shirt in an effort to get the garment off. “I want you so much, Quince.” Quincy caught Zack’s hands and imprisoned them against his own chest. “You know I want you too.” He bent his head to nibble Zack’s earlobe, circling the shell of the other man’s ear as he slid one arm beneath Zack’s legs and the other around his shoulders to lift him in his arms. Quincy carried him to the king-size bed at the back of the suite and dumped Zack into the center of it. “Two can play the wild and kinky game.” He brought his palm down against Zack’s tight ass hard enough to elicit a gasp before Zack turned onto his back and smiled. “I like wild and kinky.” “Watch what you ask for.” Quincy kicked off his shoes and quickly shed his pants and boxer briefs before stalking Zack up the mattress while the other man crawled away on his elbows and heels. When the back of Zack’s head bumped the headboard, Quincy stopped, leaned in to kiss Zack’s lips hard and thoroughly before pulling back to nip Zack’s full lower lip. “You’re lucky I keep spare shirts here to change into, otherwise…” “Are you going to punish me?” “I think my little twinkie deserves some form of discipline, don’t you?” Zack answered by groaning and writhing beneath Quincy.

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Quincy flipped the other man onto his stomach and straddled him while he reached for the right side of the headboard where a pair of Velcro cuffs dangled. He slipped the loose end around Zack’s right wrist and secured it. “You were ready for me, huh?” “I’ve been thinking about taking you like this for a while now.” Zack chuckled. “Should I be worried?” Quincy leaned in to suck and nip Zack’s throat where the pulse beat. “Only if you’ve been a bad boy.” He leaned over to the left side of the bed where another pair of Velcro cuffs dangled. He slipped on and secured this cuff to Zack’s left wrist, then sat back on his heels to admire his handiwork before pulling Zack’s pants and shorts down. “Oh God…” “You’re at my mercy now.” “Please…take me.” “I intend to, but when I’m ready.” Quincy gave Zack’s ass another whack with his palm and marveled at the rosy glow spreading across Zack’s skin before he whacked the opposite cheek to achieve a twin effect. Zack frantically wriggled beneath him and Quincy knew he was trying to get his shit off with the friction so slapped both cheeks once each in quick succession. “No coming until I say so.” Zack barely stopped moving. “Okay, but…please…I need you inside me.” Quincy straddled Zack’s hips, tsking. “Such impatience.” “I’m desperate.” “We’ll have to see about taking care of that, won’t we?” Quincy grabbed the lube from his bedside dresser, spread generous amounts of it in and around Zack’s anus before lubing his own throbbing cock. He covered Zack’s smaller body with his, feeling incredibly protective and savage at the same time, heart pounding with the fierce love and desire that Zack always brought out in him.

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Quincy rose up to balance his weight on his palms and tease the crack of Zack’s ass with the head of his penis. He brushed the sensitive tissue right at Zack’s entrance, slowly circling his hips before surging forward. Zack panted, eagerly pushing back against Quincy’s groin and seductively wiggling his hips. “I can take it, baby. Deeper…go deeper…” Quincy slid in to the hilt, stroking delicate nerves on his way in and on his way out before he picked up a rhythm to taunt Zack’s prostate again and again with the bulbous head of his dick. “Yes, Quincy, yes! Take me. Take all of me…” Quincy squeezed his eyes, pumping his hips like a piston before he stiffened above Zack in the throes of an earth-shattering orgasm that took him right over the edge of paradise into the realms of sublime. Zack shuddered beneath Quincy in an orgasmic spasm of his own, squirming against the bed covers and clenching his inner muscles around Quincy’s shaft when he too came. Reluctantly, Quincy pulled out and reached for the right cuff. He unfastened it, slid his arms around Zack and held him close. “I wish I could stay here with you all night.” “Me too.” “But I’ve got customers to tend to.” “Business first.” Quincy grinned, leaned in and pecked Zack’s nose. “As tempting as it would be to leave you here chained to my bed,” he reached over Zack’s body to release the other cuff, “I guess I’d better let you go so you can get decent and come back out for the night’s festivities.” “I guess you should.” Zack sat up to pull up his shorts and pants. Quincy cupped Zack’s face and growled when he leaned in to plunder the other man’s mouth with his. He pulled away long moments later, breathless and determined. “Don’t use up all my dances with the club twinks.” “I’m saving all my dances for you. And all my love…” ****

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Zack felt the afterglow of his sister’s orgasm all the way down to his toes. Was this what Zara felt when he was with Quincy and came? Christ, that had to have been torture for her since it was killing him now. He had to find a way out of here! So far he’d spent the night banging his shoulders and kicking against the walls looking for a weakness or opening with no success. He’d tried reaching the window with the same results. And just to make things really interesting he’d been screaming his head off since Zara locked him down, also to no avail. Zack sat against a padded wall in a corner of his prison with his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, hoarse and on the verge of tears. This was a freaking nightmare, an unbelievable, weeks-long nightmare that he wanted to wake up from so bad he could taste freedom on his tongue like a parched man tasted water. He was going to die in here, wasn’t he? And without ever having told Quincy how much he loved him. No! No freaking way was he letting his sister get away with this. If Zara was at the club with Quincy, it was almost a guarantee she’d have a few drinks and dance her pretty little ass off. Climax plus alcohol and aerobic activity had to add up to Zack’s opportunity. The alcohol alone would dissolve her inhibitions and hopefully drop her guard. Some time during the night she would be open and vulnerable. All Zack needed to do was bide his time and hope Zara didn’t do anything irrevocable before he found a way out of here. **** Quincy watched Zack close, and true to his word, the other man hadn’t danced with anyone all evening despite being approached numerous times throughout the night. This was all well and good except he was downing more than his share of liquor and playing the flirty coquette to perfection from his table.

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If Quincy didn’t know better, he’d swear he was watching Zara. He shook his head at the thought. First he was seeing her face in Zack’s, now he was seeing her actions in her brother. “What’s wrong, big handsome?” Quincy turned with a start when Zack slid a hand across his shoulder before taking the seat beside him at the main bar. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.” “If you like views, I’ve got a great one for you.” Quincy opened his legs to accommodate Zack squeezing between them and slid his arms around the other man’s waist. “What do you have in mind?” “C’mon.” Zack caught Quincy’s hand and dragged him across the room to the elevators. Zack pulled Quincy into the first car that arrived, standing on his toes to kiss Quincy while he pressed the button for the top floor. Upon arriving, Zack pulled Quincy along toward the staircase leading to the roof. “What are you up to?” “It’s a beautiful, clear night. The stars are out in force. I thought it would be nice to do a little stargazing.” “And I thought I was a romantic.” “You are the most romantic.” Zack opened the door, strolled to the middle of the roof, stopped and tilted back his head to take a deep breath and glance up at the indigo sky. Quincy did the same, the night skyline reminding him of Zack’s gaze. He slid his arms around Zack’s waist and pulled him back against his chest while Zack covered Quincy’s hands with his own “Quincy?” “Yeah, baby?” “Would you go with me to the edge and jump?” What? No way had he just heard Zack right. “You don’t mean literally, do you?”

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Zack turned in his arms and nodded, such a beatific and sincere smile on his face, Quincy was willing to go to the ends of the world for him. Quincy! It’s not me! Don’t listen to her! Quincy frowned. Don’t listen to her? And why did the voice in his head sound so much like Zack’s. He stared at Zack’s face to see if he was speaking, but the other man’s lips weren’t moving. Quincy! I’m in here. Inside! Zara has me trapped! Oh, no. It was happening again. Only this time he saw a vision of Zack jumping up and down and waving his arms superimposed over Zack-in-his-arms instead of Zara superimposed over Zack. “What’s the matter, Quincy?” “Did you say something?” “I asked if you’d go with me to the edge and jump.” “That’s what I thought you said.” Quincy, help me! “I’d do it for you.” Quincy grasped Zack’s shoulders. “Baby, whatever’s going on, there’s nothing bad enough to want to kill yourself over. I told you we have the rest of our lives to spend together.” Zack shook his head, and that’s when Quincy saw Zara’s wavering features before him and Zack’s anxious expression in the background. Quincy, if you can hear me, see me, I need your help. Please… “I was right. You are inside him and you’re draining him.” Zara frowned and tilted her head to one side. “You can see him?” “And hear him too.” Quincy shook the body in front of him, no longer sure who it belonged to anymore. “What are you doing to him, Zara?” “What you did to me!” “What?” Quincy dropped his hands and stepped back. “What are you talking about?”

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“Why did you let me walk into that shaft, Quincy? Why did you let me die?” Quincy gaped, his own shock mirrored in Zara’s horrified expression. “You don’t really mean that.” He stepped closer to put his arms around her and for a few moments she let him hold her before pushing him away and moving towards the edge of the roof. “You weren’t there for me when I needed you most.” “You’re right, sweetie, I wasn’t. I should have been there for you, to save you. But what happened at that elevator was between me and you. You don’t want to punish Zack for my failure do you?” “Why did He let me die, Quincy? Why did He take me away so soon? I wasn’t finished. I wasn’t…” Zara burst into tears, sobs racking her body. “It’s not fair!” “I know it’s not, honey. But if you still love Zack, if you ever loved me, you’ll let him go before it’s too late.” “Who loves me, Quincy? Tell me, who!” “I love you, damn it! But if you do this, you’ll be taking away the only man I ever loved.” “Oh God, he was right.” Zara backed away from him shaking her head. “I’m as bad as Zack said I was.” “No, sweetie, you’re not bad, just hurting.” Quincy watched her inching towards the edge of the roof with growing alarm and extended a hand. “Please, Zara. Don’t take him from me.” She glanced to her left then her right as if searching for an escape. In the next instant, her eyes went completely white and she teetered backwards, towards the rooftop rim. Praying for a miracle and arms outstretched, Quincy rushed forward.

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Epilogue One minute Zack was screaming for all he was worth and banging on the walls of his prison even while they quickly closed in around him and the window above disappeared, the next minute Quincy was cradling him in his arms. “Zack!” He felt a firm slap against his left cheek right before someone thumbed open his eyelids. “Please be okay, baby. Give me a sign that you’re still you…” He guessed he should take the man out of his misery, huh? “Zack, please…If you’re in there, say something.” Zack coughed after several long moments. “Something,” he croaked. “And you call me corny?” Zack sat up and Quincy stared at him. “Is it you or…?” “It’s me.” “And…Zara?” She is with Him now. Zack jerked his eyes toward the sky the same instant Quincy did. Zara is being given another chance to prove herself before her final disposition. “Disposition?” Zack gasped. “You’re not going to—”

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Do not fret, child. She will not be forsaken. He is going to reward her final act of self-sacrifice. “She left your body of her own free will?” Quincy asked but another voice, this one sterner than the first, answered before Zack could. She did the right thing. “Oh God! It’s really over. She’s…she’s gone.” Zack threw himself into Quincy’s arms and wept when the reality finally crashed down on him. Do not mourn her, Zack. Celebrate her life and know that she is in a better place and…remember to love each other the way she loved you. “We will,” Zack and Quincy chorused. After a long moment of silence, Quincy burst out laughing. Zack frowned at him, wondering if everything were finally crashing down on him too. “What’s so funny?” “I’m just wondering whose life Zara’s going to make a living hell next.” Zack laughed, too. Knowing his sister the way he did, Zara would keep Him busy sending her back to earth again and again until she got it right. God, he wanted that to happen so that he could talk to Zara again!

ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT Zara’s Bois 1

THE END GRACIECMCKEEVER.COM

AUTHOR’S BIO

Gracie McKeever is an author from the Bronx, and aside from several side trips along the way, has lived and worked her entire life in the New York City area. She has been writing since the ripe old age of seven when two younger brothers were among her earliest, captive audience for various short story readings and performances. An eclectic and voracious reader whose audience has grown outside of the supportive family members, she's had the great fortune of being able to incorporate two of her favorite passions and talents—reading and writing—as a book reviewer for several online e-zines, both as a regular staff member and freelancer. Her short stories, novellas and poetry have seen exposure in various lit and art magazines and other venues—online and in print. Of particular note, heard over the airwaves on KFJC’s morning show, Dancing In The Fast Lane With Ann Arbor (Unbedtime Stories) out of Los Altos Hills, CA (New Life Incognita was the story of the month for March 2000). She's also proud to be a member of the ("Worlds' Oldest Active Homeless Paper") Street News family and has seen numerous articles, poems and novel excerpts published within its pages as well as having had a poetry reading on Pseudo On-line Network (Street News Review). In 2001, Gracie caught the erotica bug, sinking her teeth into her first erotic ebook for a review, and hasn't looked back since, an instant affinity for the genre

spawning her first erotica title, Beneath The Surface, published in 2006 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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Visit Gracie’s website at www.graciecmckeever.com

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Books by Gracie C. McKeever ETERNAL DESIGNS [Erotic Interracial/ Reincarnation/ Suspense] Gale Sinclair is a marriage counselor who has broken the cardinal rule of psychotherapy and fallen in love with one of his clients. Dying in a head-on collision and returning to life in the body of Zoelle Sutherland's estranged husband turns out to be the least of his worries. "Will put you on an emotional rollercoaster and won’t let you off until it’s finished ... a testament to what a wonderful writer [Gracie] is. 4.5 Blue Ribbons" —Romance Junkies, "[Romance] works well as a suspense story and kept me hanging until the very end. 4 Stars" —Just Erotic Romance Reviews. BENEATH THE SURFACE [The Matchmaker 1] [Paranormal/ Psychic/ Light BDSM/ Interracial] The fix is in, and even EJ Vega's telepathy can't save him from his matchmaking sisters once they decide he and Tabitha Lyons belong together. "5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques, "5 Magic Wands" —Enchanted Ramblings, "4.5 Blue Ribbons" — Romance Junkies, "4.5 Stars" —Euro Reviews, "4.5 Roses" —A Romance Review, "4.5 Hearts" —Love Romances TERMS OF SURRENDER [The Matchmaker 2] [Contemporary Paranormal/ BDSM/ Interracial/ Suspense] Advertising execs Nick and Slany are thrown together on a marketing assignment and by Nick's matchmaking sister Angela who decides the two are soul mates. "fraught with more twists than a coiled-up Copperhead. 5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques, "throbbing with both sensuality and danger. 4.5 Kisses" —Two Lips Reviews, "4 Stars. WINNER 2006 Reviewers' Choice Award" —Ecataromance.

MANIFEST DESTINY [The Matchmaker 3] [Paranormal/ May-December Romance] Older city slicker Evelyn Vega's arrival at Freeborn Ranch incites younger cowboy Jason Makepeace's temper but, more importantly, spurs his late-blooming fey gifts into action. "magnificent, full of twists and turns, the reader will never know just what the irrepressible Evelyn will come up with next. Classic McKeever. 4.5 Flags" — Love Romances and More, "great fun, Jason Makepeace was a pure delight. 4.5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. NINE INCHES OF SNOW AND THE EBONY PRINCESS [An Adult Fairy Tale] [Erotic Paranormal: Urban Fantasy, Light BDSM, Interracial, Shape-shifting] When a wealthy philanthropist is critically injured by a spiteful friend-withbenefits, only the kiss of a dedicated and empathic young nurse can bring him out of his coma. "Witty and sensual. I was intrigued from beginning to end. Talented Gracie C. McKeever has created an exceptional story. A Joyfully Recommended Read" —Joyfully Reviewed, "delightfully well crafted with a guaranteed special twist! 4.5 Flags" —Euro Reviews, "bon-bon of a tale, another fantastic story by the great Ms. McKeever. 4 Hearts"—Love Romances and More. BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT [Paranormal/ Psychic/ Interracial] High school social worker Zane Youngblood wants to save the world one child at a time…Reluctant psychic, Nova Foxx, wants only to save him. "The best read this year. 5 Angels" —Fallen Angel Reviews, "This book enthralled me. Erotic love scenes make you drool. 5 Roses" —My Book Cravings, "intriguing, steamy sensuality interwoven into a wonderful storyline. 5 Kisses"—Two Lips Reviews, "I didn't want to put it down. Recommended. 5 Sistah Hugs" —SistahFriend Book Club.

4 STARS —Romantic Times BOOKreviews IN PLAIN SIGHT [Interracial/ Reincarnation/ Suspense] Part Amazon, part seductress, all trash-talking cynic, Dara Kelly is murdered in front of her latest skip. Her job on earth, however, has only begun. "Any book by Ms. McKeever is well worth a first read and subsequent rereads, but this is one of her best! 5 Kisses"— Two Lips Reviews, "gripping, edge-of-your-seat, cut-throat suspense, sizzling erotic scenes that simply melt your most sensual parts. 5 Sistah Hugs" — SistahFriend Book Club, "Wow, Ms. McKeever, wow! This one is truly a tour de force. 5 Hearts"—Love Romances and More. SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS [Paranormal/ Shape-shifter/ Urban Fantasy/ African-American] In the predawn hours during a solitary ride on her ranch, Montana Freeborn collides with Seth Phoenix, centaur-turned-man and the embodiment of her psychic visions. "a talented author ...this book is a definite must read. 5 Stars" — Euro Reviews, "a beautiful romance and a suspenseful plot promising several twists! 4.5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques, "a romance to-die-for, and sizzling sensual peaks. 4.5 Kisses" —Two Lips Reviews GUARDIAN SEDUCTRESS [Sisters of Emsharra 1] [Urban Fantasy/ Shape-shifter/ Interracial] Alex Ryan discovers he's not who and what he thought he was from a woman who's been watching him his entire life…and who isn't human. "a double scoop of Moose Tracks ice cream. 4.5 Stars!" —Just Erotic Romance Reviews, "prolific writer of erotica... demonstrates her remarkable talent. 4.5 Flags!" —Euro Reviews, "exceptional ...sure to heat up anyone's warm night! 4.5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

PREDATOR'S SALVATION [Sisters of Emsharra 2] [Urban Fantasy/ BDSM/ Interracial] Embittered after her exile from Emsharra, LaMia Enlil meets her match in empath Mateo Diaz whom she kidnaps and falls in love with. But can he forgive her for the deaths of his father and his brother years ago? "passionate, boiling sex made my toes curl. 4.5 Stars/Orgasmic" —Just Erotic Romance Reviews, "Exceptional... will keep you involved from the start to the finish. 4.5 Kisses" —Two Lips Reviews SISTERS OF EMSHARRA [Print Collection] Guardian Seductress : Predator's Salvation [Urban Fantasy/ Shape-shifter/ Interracial] Unrest is afoot in Emsharra. Genesis and LaMia, two opposing Sisters, are left to their own devices to quash the rebellion. "4.5 Klovers" —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques, "4.5 Stars" —Just Erotic Romance Reviews, "4.5 Flags" —Euro Reviews, "4.5 Kisses" —Two Lips Reviews

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