Twin Temptations by Carol Lynne Page B

“We both know how that ended. We tried for two nights to sleep apart. Ryker would try and hold my hand from his bed. Dad came in almost every hour to make sure we were separated. Finally it was too much, so we moved out.” He looked around the apartment. “We were damn lucky Mr. Zook let us live up here and finish high school.”
    Running his hand over Ranger’s wet curls, Sonny sighed. “I won’t begin to understand the bond the two of you have. I don’t think anyone could understand unless they had the same thing.” Sonny stood and walked over to the front window. He saw Ryker and Lilly sitting on the bottom step.
    “Society thinks it’s morally wrong to want what you want, but it used to be acceptable. Just look at all the old Royal families. They married within their own family quite often. Over time, people decided it was wrong. I think a lot of it has to do with inbreeding, but hell, you and Ryker don’t have to worry about that.” He tried to chuckle but it stuck in his throat.
    “My point is we think it’s wrong because someone told us it was. You’re two grown men, and as private as the two of you already are, I see absolutely nothing wrong with expressing your love the way the two of you want.”
    He looked back toward the couch. Ranger was looking at him in awe. “You mean you wouldn’t be grossed out?”
    “Ranger, everyone already thinks the two of you are making love. And I mean everyone. The people who still love you and talk to you are the ones who’ve looked beyond society’s code of morals to their own set. And what they see is two people very much in love.” Sonny walked over to the door. “There are a couple of people sitting out here that would like to talk to you. Just be honest with them.”
    Sonny opened the door. Ryker and Lilly were already standing, looking up expectantly. Turning back once more, he smiled at Ranger. “I love you, brother, I’ll always love you.” He turned and walked down the stairs to stand in front of Ryker and Lilly. Seeing Lilly’s face he placed a kiss on her nose. “He’s coming down from a pretty good drunk. He was lucky he emptied his stomach of a lot of the whiskey but be warned, it smells like the inside of a Jack Daniels bottle in there.”
    Ryker grabbed him up in a hug. “Thank you.” He looked at him for a few seconds. “Can you tell me what it was that set him off?”
    “Shame.” Sonny kissed Ryker’s cheek. “Talk to him.” Sonny looked at Lilly. “If you’d sit down here with me for a few minutes, I’d appreciate it.”
    Seeming to understand, Lilly turned to Ryker and kissed him. “Go get him and talk him into coming home.”
     

     
    As he walked up the stairs, Ryker’s mind played through a dozen different scenarios of why Ranger would feel so ashamed he’d leave him. Didn’t he understand nothing would ever make him want Ranger gone?
    With a twist of the knob, he was standing inside the apartment that held so many memories. Damn, Sonny hadn’t been kidding about the smell of the place. He shook his head and walked toward the couch. Holding out a hand, he gestured toward the back of the apartment. “Let’s go talk.”
    After a few seconds hesitation, Ranger took his hand and managed to stand. Leading him to the bedroom, Ryker put his arm around Ranger’s waist. They’d always had their most serious discussions spooned back to front in bed. It only seemed right that they do that now.
    Not bothering to take off their shoes, both men stretched out on the small twin-sized bed that had been Ranger’s growing up. The only difference was now, Ranger needed to be held. He spooned his body to the back of Ranger’s and wrapped him in his arms. “Don’t ever do that to me again,” he whispered, kissing Ranger’s neck.
    “Hold judgement until I tell you why I left,” Ranger said. As he told him his reasons, Ryker began to hold him even tighter. He wasn’t sure what would explode first, his head or his cock. Over the