By Any Other Name by Tia Fielding Page A

had just witnessed, he was ashamed of himself. But what shocked him the most was the fact that when he conjured the mewling sound Dru had made from his memory and added Thom’s chuckle into it, his cock twitched in his sleep pants.
     
    He was turned on by his friends making love. He felt sick to his stomach. He had to be some sort of a pervert to invade the privacy of the people who had given him a roof over his head and were so good to him. What the hell was he thinking? Maybe his therapist could help him with this, maybe not, but he had to talk to someone before the guilt swallowed him whole.
     
    Skye turned onto his side, burrowing under his blankets, and tried to let sleep claim him. He tossed and turned for hours before his body and mind finally gave up and let him fall asleep.
     

Chapter 7

     

     

     
    Thom
     

     
    Thom was lying in the grass in the backyard. The sun was shining, and for once Thom felt completely relaxed and happy. There were no doubts in his mind now. Not after yesterday—or last night, rather. Skye had insisted that they do their separate things, giving time and space for Thom and Dru. It had led to a nice evening and lovemaking once they went to bed. Thom hadn’t been able to get enough of his responsive lover, who wasn’t afraid to ask for what he wanted. The memory of Dru writhing underneath his tongue last night was making him hard again. Shaking the thought away, he rolled over and balled the T-shirt under his head. He got comfortable again and sighed contentedly. It was a good day today.
     
    He felt more than heard the steps in the grass and squinted his eyes to see Skye walking into the backyard with a book in his hands.
     
    “You came to enjoy the sunshine too?” Thom asked and made Skye’s head snap up. A startled gaze locked with his.
     
    “Ye-yeah,” Skye said and moved to walk closer to where Thom was.
     
    “I was going to fall asleep just now. If you’re somewhere close, can you poke me awake in a bit so I won’t burn?” Thom asked.
     
    “Sure, I’ll be here in the shade.” Skye nodded toward the tree nearby.
     
    Thom did fall asleep almost immediately. It was a dreamless sleep, and after a while he felt something annoying trying to penetrate his sleep. He frowned in his sleep, and then suddenly the noise, someone talking, came closer.
     
    “Thom, time to wake up.”
     
    He struggled against the pull of the voice, wanting to just sleep in the comfortable spot of his.
     
    Then someone shook him a bit. “Thom, come on. You don’t want to end up burned to a crisp,” the voice said, and Thom gave in.
     
    He twitched and opened his eyes a bit, enough so he could see, but not enough that the sun would blind him.
     
    “Skye… how long was I out?” he mumbled, looking at the man squatting next to him.
     
    “Half an hour. You have a bit of a tan, but it’s not enough for more. Don’t wanna burn,” Skye said in a neutral tone.
     
    “You’re still touching me,” Thom pointed out, squinting at the hand on his shoulder.
     
    Skye pulled his hand away so fast Thom had to blink.
     
    “Didn’t mean it like that. I’m glad you’re comfortable enough to do that, Skye.”
     
    “I… it’s….” Skye frowned a bit and looked away from Thom.
     
    Thom rolled onto his side and got to a sitting position.
     
    “Sit down. Speak to me, Skye,” he said in the tone he usually used when interviewing clients who needed comforting while explaining what had happened.
     
    Skye sighed and dropped down from his crouch to sit in the grass. Thom waited patiently, not staring at the brunet but giving him time. He knew by now that Skye would talk eventually if he wasn’t pushed.
     
    “When did you know you were gay?” Skye asked, looking somewhere past Thom’s left elbow.
     
    Well, it wasn’t exactly what he had been expecting, but it was a start. Thom had no idea how this related to anything, but he had asked for the conversation, and there it