Desperate Enemies 3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

tried. . . God, that sounds lame even to me.”
    “Your excuses have always been lame,” Marc said hotly, “I just chose to turn a blind eye, every time. But no more. Not when you realize how short and precious life is. It took Aaron dying for me to realize that maybe I don't want to settle for not being enough for you.”
    “Marc, I told you, after a week in this hospital bed, I was just frustrated. . .”
    “I'm not talking about the fucking nurse. . . pardon, the blowing nurse,” Marc said. “Rich, the night of the gallery opening, you showed up with Parker, the two of you out of breath. What, were you fucking him in the back parking lot when you realized how late you were, you rushed in even before you'd recovered from your orgasm? And stupid me, waiting around on the most important night of my life, waiting for the man who just that morning had professed his singular love to me.” Marc let out a sharp laugh. “You know, you talk of excuses, with all that happened that night I didn't get to hear yours. ‘Oh, sorry, Marc, got my foot caught in the bathtub, Parker came along and helped me get it out and we fell, and before I realized it my cock had slipped up his ass. And hell, it was already there, so why not keep going, fuck him hard, it's just sex, it's not love.’ Is that it?”
    “You think I had sex with Parker?”
    “Oh, I know it. You've been fighting it since he showed up in Wonderland.”
    “It wasn't even sex,” Rich said, “It was a power play.”
    “Oh, right. You mean, whoever got to be on top, possessed all the power? So what was the agreement, you fuck him and he goes away, leaves Eldon Court and Wonderland, never to return to our shores. . . well guess what, Rich, you must not have been your usual self in bed or wherever the hell you fucked him, because Parker is still here, and he's got some new agenda, of that I'm sure. So. . .” Marc's face suddenly went ghost white as a sudden realization hit him. “Holy shit, Parker's still here in Wonderland because he has all the power—over us, over you. Well, as I live and breathe, the unthinkable has actually happened. Richard North, aggressive top, dominant lover, has finally bottomed. And bottomed out, too.”
    “Marc, you're over-reacting. . .” Rich said, trying to reach out to take hold of his lover.
    Marc twisted away, leaving Rich's arms to fall impotently to the blankets. Making his way for the door, he stopped only when Rich pleadingly called out his name.
    “Don't leave, not like this.”
    Marc, choking back angry tears, said, “Dammit, this was supposed to be a new start for both of us. You convinced me to come with you to Wonderland, how great it would be. Such a fucking joke, us, all of this, even the damn name of the town.” He paused, trying to keep his breathing even. “Let me know when the doctors are ready to release you, I don't want to be home when you get there. In the meantime, enjoy your sponge baths.”
    “Marc, stop. You can't leave. Eldon Court is our home.”
    “Not anymore,” said Marc, and with that he swung open the door and slipped out. He didn't look back once as he made his way out of the hospital, fearing his resolve would weaken. For once, Marc Anderson wanted to be in control. Power play indeed.
    Good-bye innocence.
    Hello revenge.
    * * * *
    Where the day had gone, Marc couldn't be sure. Night had fallen and it was unseasonably cool as September approached. Summer was waning like the day, twilight a theme in his relationship with Rich as well. He'd gone to the beach and walked for hours, wondering if he really was brave enough to leave Rich. And then do what, return back east and resume his previous life? His art career was off to a meaningless start, what good was reputation when only one man—and a crazy, vengeance-driven man—was the sole owner of your work?
    He'd have to start all over again. With everything.
    Now, turning the car onto Eldon Court, headlights guiding him past darkened houses, he