“People tend to run from the things that scare them,” Samson said. “Especially when you’re a kid, and it’s all new to you.”
Katt tried to wrap his mind around the possibility that Todd had realized he was gay all those years ago. He shook his head. “We were best friends,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t have cared if he were gay. I would’ve still been his friend. He could’ve told me.”
“Most likely,” Samson said, “he didn’t even want to admit it to himself… if that’s what was going on. Apart from being scared, he was probably embarrassed, even ashamed. To this day, it can be a scary thing to admit you’re gay.” He gazed warmly at Katt. “Not only for kids.”
Katt immediately caught the implication and averted his eyes, which, he realized, only added substance to the big man’s inference.
“But why would he dothis?”Katt murmured. “I don’t understand.”
“Maybe he wants to find out if you’re gay,” Lucas chuffed. “Figures if you go all the way with one of us, then that means you’re gay, too, because no 100% straight guy would fuck a man, no matter the stakes.” He shrugged. “Or maybe he’s just pissed at you because you didn’tturn gaywith him, and this is him trying to get you back for it.”
Katt raised his eyes. “You think he’s trying to get some kind ofrevengeon me by making me do…gaystuff?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Lucas drawled. “Which makes him adick,andnotyour friend.”
Deep down, hadn’t Katt been coming to the same conclusion? Especially the part about Todd not really being his friend. And Franco? “Do you think the otherbrotherswere in on it, too?” Katt asked with a sick feeling.
“Like your buddy Franco?” Garrett raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” Katt whispered.
Samson touched his knee. “Are you more upset about Todd’s betrayal… or that Franco might have betrayed you as well?”
Katt wondered at the answer. It made no sense, but the thought of Franco’s participation in the cruel rusedidhurt more. But… why?
“You hearing this?” Daniel murmured.
Gideon nodded. “I knew there was more going on with that boy. Something didn’t feel right.”
“Are you upset with him?” Daniel asked. “For lying about why he signed up?”
“No.” Gideon sighed. “Maybe it wasn’t as much of a lie as he thinks.”
Daniel leaned against the console. “What do you mean?”
“It sounds like there’s more going on inside him than he realized. And you saw how he took to the twins and Samson.” He cleared his throat. “That wasn’t the sexual behavior of a completelystraightman. A hardcore heterosexual man would not haveengagedso quickly or easily, and probably not at all. He was 100% aroused. No resistance in him whatsoever, even when Marcus…”
Daniel’s cheeks flushed a bit, not frombashfulness, but for the same reason Gideon’s face began to warm: the recent memory of what that scene had ignited between them.
“Yes.” There was a slight rasp in Daniel’s voice. “He was certainly into it. His enthusiasm matched that of your boys during an active scene. I think that says a lot.”
“I agree.”
“Are you going to talk to him?”
Gideon watched the monitor. “Not yet,” he said quietly, thoughtfully. “Samson and the boys are doing fine.”
“Mm.” Daniel nodded. “What are your thoughts on this Todd fellow?”
Gideon pressed his lips tight. “Not sure. But I’m inclined to agree with Lucas; he doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”
Samson’s eyes didn’t waver from Katt’s face. He knew what the man was really asking. Katt didn’t know what to think about that, didn’t know if hewantedto think about it. He’d never thought of Franco inthatway—and Franco had certainly never thought ofhimthat way, why would he? Franco was straight as an arrow. They werefriends,that’s all.
Still, Franco’s betrayal—allegedbetrayal—hurt like hell.
“Yeah.” Katt swallowed. “I-I don’t know why, but… but thinking Franco helped him… it hurtsmore.”
Samson leaned back as if he’d received the answer he expected. “Let me ask you something, Katt.” He slowly bent forward again, resting his elbows on his muscular thighs. His slacks strained around the thick muscles, the fibers stretched to capacity. Katt absently wondered how his flesh didn’t blow open the very seams of his pants—especially thecrotch.Even unaroused, the man’s “package” was larger than most men at full mast.
