Sin & Salvation by Laura Baumbach

Author:Laura Baumbach [Baumbach, Laura]
Language: nld
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Nausea rolled through Trevor’s stomach and a

flash of pain made him jump and gasp. He opened

his eyes to the lamplight of Ian’s bedroom and a

flood of disjointed, horrific memories embroiled him

in their chaotic rush, stealing his air and his voice.

He ran his hand over his smooth, hairless chest,

noting the coolness of his flesh and the ivory tone of

skin. Panic shot down his limbs, exploding in his

chest, the sharp stabbing pain of his attackers’

weapons suddenly remembered by his body in vivid

detail. More detail than he had been aware of at the

time of the assault. Enough detail that Trevor knew

he should not be lying comfortably in Ian’s bed,

naked, aware, and unmarked. Enough detail that his

hand slid to his left breast and lay there searching for

the familiar thump of his own heartbeat.

His chest was still and cold.

As terror rose up in his lifeless heart, but before it

could burst out, a hand slid along his arm and his

fingers were firmly laced together with larger, blunt

ones. Trevor stared at the interwoven hands for a

moment, then turned his eyes up to meet Ian’s

waiting brown ones.

Ian had been lying beside him, still and silent as

the dead. As Trevor stared at his lover, a yellow cast

gave his warm brown eyes a luminescent glow.

Trevor thought he should be frightened or repulsed,

but Ian’s eyes remained warm and loving, his face

open and concerned. Trevor couldn’t help but be

reassured and beguiled by the small tentative smile

on the large man’s usually firm mouth. It was the

first time he had seen Ian anything but supremely

confident in his action.

Trevor wet his dry, cool lips, his gaze searching

Ian’s face for answers, dreading an explanation, but

needing to hear his lover’s soft, commanding voice.

“Am I dead, Ian? Are you?” Trevor’s gaze

flickered around the confines of the luxurious room

and soft bedding. “Are we dead, together, in heaven,

then?”

He heard his own voice waver. Trevor clamped

his jaw shut to keep in the whimper that rose in his

throat. Maybe it was the set of Ian’s mouth or the

odd color of his eyes, but something told him it

wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Not heaven, my beauty, but not hell, either.” Ian

squeezed their entwined hands, the touch firm,

gentle, and real, anchoring Trevor. “Not as long as

we are together.”

Despite the stillness in his chest, Trevor didn’t

feel “dead.” Indeed, he felt strangely energized and

hyperaware. The threads of the fine linens were like

rough twigs under his back and the snowflakes

hitting the window sounded as if pebbles were being

pelted against the rippled glass.

Suddenly, the light of the smoking lamp was too

bright and the weight of the down comforter too

heavy. Trevor flung the blanket off his naked body,

shielding his eyes from the light with his free hand,

panic and confusion fueling his jerky movements.

“Then what am I? What’s been done to me? Why

am I not dead?” Trevor’s voice rose, his eyes burning

bright. “I was killed in the alleyway, I know it. I

remember the knife in my chest and the slowing of

my heart. I know I died!”

He tried to fight his way free from Ian’s hold, but

the bigger man slipped behind him and pinned

Trevor’s back to his broad chest.

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