Thanks for the wonderful editing job, Kaytln Hargrave!
Chapter 1
"I came by to check on you." Pocketing his key, Elijah walked into the bedroom and froze. Anthony, his best friend and employee, lay on the bed stroking his erection, moaning softly. Elijah wasn't positive, but it sounded like his name escaped through the full lips of the younger man.
Anthony's eyes opened slowly. They appeared unfocused as they gazed at him. "Elijah?" he whispered, his voice unsure.
"Yeah." He coughed. What was the proper etiquette for something like this? He turned to leave as Anthony closed his eyes and rolled to the side of the bed. Unblemished skin, the color of butterscotch covered a wide muscular back that tapered to a smaller waist and ended with full round globes. Elijah's face heated as he stared a moment longer than appropriate at the high, smooth cheeks on display. Perfectly formed thighs and long full calves shielded the more intimate portion of Anthony's body from him. Swallowing hard, he finally turned toward the doorway, thinking to give his friend some privacy.
"I came to check on you. Secretary said you called in sick again." Elijah paused, not wanting to stay but afraid to leave. They'd been best friends for a long time and had recently crossed a line. It was one of those things un-discussed. "What's...? What's wrong?" Common decency demanded he ask since he'd come on the excuse to check on the man's health, although his racing heart warned him the answer would be trouble.
A crude chuckle escaped Anthony's lips. Elijah's body responded to the sound, and he hated it. Hated the entire situation. "Talk to me, are you sick?" Fear slashed through him that Anthony was truly ill, and not avoiding everyone, especially him.
"I have a bad cold. It seems to want to stick around." The hoarseness of his voice surprised Elijah. "I've been a little nauseous lately, nothing major." A bout of wheezing shook Anthony's body, giving lie to the words he'd just spoken. His hand rose and waved away any comment Elijah would've made. "Just a cough, it comes and goes." He tucked his hands between his thighs and curled into a ball, leaving Elijah with the impression he wanted to be left alone. Well, he'd grant him the unspoken request in a minute. Right now he needed to be sure his friend had everything he needed to recover.
"What're you taking for it?"
"I've got some cold meds." This time the voice sounded bored, distant, and for some reason that hurt. "A couple of choir members brought some stuff yesterday. I'll be okay." He curled tighter, appearing vulnerable.
"I know you'll be okay." He hadn't meant to snap, but it seemed lately, he got everything wrong. His wife wanted kids. His fear of being a worse parent than his father, Bishop Pace, kept him in a state of limbo. He wasn't ready. His father wanted him to take the church in a certain direction. They disagreed. The result was constant friction. This attraction for his best friend came at the worst possible time. Although, when was the right time to want another man, especially when you were his boss and his Pastor?
Eyes closed, he wished he could turn back the clock before they'd acted on their feelings six weeks ago. It started with a hug, a kiss and then mind-blowing sex. How could anything that good, that intense, be wrong? Nonetheless, afterwards, they'd both felt bad and never discussed what happened that afternoon. Cheating on his wife weighed heavily on his conscience. They'd avoided being alone until today.
Elijah sat on the edge of the bed as he'd done so many times before. With their recent past between him, it seemed awkward. Years of easy-going camaraderie vanished as the reality of their actions burrowed into their minds.
"Talk to me, what's really going on?" As much as he hated opening the door, he knew they needed to clear the air so they could move forward.
"Why should I? What difference would it make?" He cleared his throat before blowing his nose. "Just let it go. It doesn't matter much anyway."
Elijah watched the back of Anthony's head. Without thinking, he stroked the soft curls, cheeks and forehead of his friends face. The slight tremor beneath his palm and hitch of breath said more than words how much his friend hurt.
"Talk to me." He squeezed a bare shoulder. "I'm here now, what's wrong?"
Slowly, he rolled over and gazed at Elijah with honey colored orbs. Eyes swollen and red from bouts of crying, Elijah's hand cupped his friend's cheek, as anguish ripped through him. His inability to honor his matrimonial vows set this bright soul on a path of suffering. Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer for wisdom to make everything right. Removing his hand, his eyes widened as long fingers grasped his appendage, holding him in place.
"I'm in love with you." The husky timbre slid through layers of reserve and touched Elijah's closeted heart. It leapt in response as he drowned in the eyes of his closest friend. Nothing would ever be the same. They'd met in Bible School at a time when he desperately needed a friend. His father had just announced his retirement and placed his son's name on the table to replace him in the large community church. At nineteen, he wasn't ready to take on so much responsibility, besides there were things he wanted to experience in life before taking on that particular mantel.
He'd never played sports, or hung out with friends outside of the church. Family vacations were annual minister's training retreats or conferences. It had been a battle to get away for Bible College, but he'd pushed until his father relented. He met Anthony his first year. Although their ministerial interests were different, Anthony's music and Elijah's pastoral, they had enough in common for a strong friendship.
"You're in love with me?" It was stupid. He knew it the moment he spoke. But guys didn't say things like that to one another. Of course, they didn't hug or kiss, either. Anthony sat up, head down, his fingertip drew swirls on the sheet. Soft tufts of hair lay on his upper chest, Elijah glanced at the pointed pink nipples and grew warm.
"Yeah. I am. Probably have been for a while and didn't realize it." Shrugging, he didn't seem concerned as the tip of his penis slid through the sheet. Elijah's gaze slid across the room, not missing the swelling beneath the fabric. The smell of Anthony's arousal hit him hard. Any other time, he'd joke about the man jacking off, but under the circumstances, he refrained.
