Duet in Blood by J. P. Bowie

the impression Ron was hedging, but I decided not to press the issue at that point.
    I was just happy that he and I had reconnected. We’d have plenty of time to catch up and meet each other’s boyfriends.
    “No problem,” I said, letting him off the hook. “I’m sure we can arrange something soon. This has been great, Ron. I truly have missed you. I guess until now, I didn’t realise just how much.”
    He smiled and, reaching out, ruffled my hair. “Same goes for me, Micah.”
     

     
    After I got home, I spruced up my place a bit, paying particular attention to the bathroom. I’m not much of a Susie Homemaker, but I figured for Joseph’s first visit, the place should look at least halfway decent.
    I put the bottle of red wine I had purchased on the way home on the kitchen counter. I just hoped it was good enough for him. A wine connoisseur I was not. The phone rang, and I grimaced as I read the caller ID.
    Robert…again. I hesitated. Should I just let the answering machine pick up? No, better not. If he called again later, Joseph would hear him berating me for not returning his calls.
    Jeez, what a pain. I picked up.
    “Yes, Robert?” My tone was deliberately curt.
    “Hey, why so hostile?”
    “I’m not hostile. I’m busy. And Joseph will be here any minute.”
    “Fuck Joseph!”
    “I intend to.” I should have been ashamed of feeling quite so smug, but oh, it felt good.
    “Micah…”
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    “What do you want, Robert?”
    “I told you, we need to talk.”
    “And I told you, there’s no point. Look, I’m seeing Joseph now. I’ve moved on, just like you told me to do when you left.”
    “I…I’m sorry about that. I made a mistake.”
    “Well, I’m sorry too, but I really have to go.”
    “Micah, please—”
    “No, Robert. Now I think it’s time for you to move on. Goodbye.”
    I put down the phone with a heavy sigh. Was I being too hard on him? I wondered.
    He’d sounded so pathetic, so lost…
    But then, I’d been pathetic and lost too—and he hadn’t given a shit about that.
    Payback’s a bitch, all right.
     

     
    At eight, a knock on my door told me my new boyfriend was there, and I couldn’t have been happier. He looked wonderful, standing there in his dark blue Armani business suit, carrying a six-pack of Michelob and wearing a great big smile just for me.
    “For you,” he said, holding out the six-pack.
    I grabbed it—and him—and delivered a big juicy kiss to his waiting lips. I dragged him into the living room, dropped the six-pack on the coffee table and yanked off his jacket, all without breaking our kiss. This guy drove me absolutely wild.
    Joseph smiled as I snuggled into his arms and started to unbutton his shirt. “I met a neighbour of yours on my way in,” he said, kissing my forehead. “A remarkable person called Rhonda.”
    “Rhonda’s great,” I enthused. “After Robert left me, Rhonda was here almost every night listening to my whining and giving me pep talks on how I’d meet someone ‘worthy of me’.”
    “A good friend to have,” Joseph murmured, nuzzling my neck.
    Whenever he did that, it gave me shivers—of the nicest kind. It was like the prelude to something even more incredible. For a moment or two, I stayed very still in his arms, DUET IN BLOOD
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    pressing my neck to his lips…waiting. I felt his lips part. His teeth bit gently at my skin then he pulled back.
    “By the way…” He cleared his throat, and his eyes as they met mine were slightly glazed and out of focus. “Are you free tomorrow night?” he asked, giving himself a little shake.
    “For you? Of course.”
    “One of my clients, who is also a close friend, is having a dinner party tomorrow night.
    He asked us to join him, so I accepted. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “No, of course not. Who is he?”
    “His name is Marcus Verano. He and his forever…uh, I mean, his partner, Roger, live in the Hollywood Hills. We’ll get a