Rediscovery

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 2 Rediscovery

MICHAEL paid his registration for the Houston Gay Gamers Convention and picked up the schedule. Even though he was a local, he‟d decided to stay at the hotel so he wouldn‟t have to worry about how late he stayed up or how much he drank if the partying got wild. He‟d been to cons where everyone was in bed by midnight, but not many. Staying up ‟til four or five—or not going to sleep at all—was far more likely. He could afford a couple of nights at the Holiday Inn, even the one across from the Galleria. A closer look at the schedule showed nothing starting before later that night, so he took a moment to wander toward the dealers‟ room. He hoped to pick up a new dice bag and a few other things, and he‟d found great deals in dealers‟ rooms, people selling old games and magazines, things he couldn‟t find anywhere any more without paying far more than he could afford to spend. He walked into the largish ballroom, impressed at the number of dealers. The room hadn‟t been this large or this full the previous year, which raised his hopes for the potential success of his search. Other than the few practical items he needed, he didn‟t have a set shopping list so much as a wish list of things to buy if he found them. The more vendors, the better in that respect. The T-shirt booth always caught his eye because of the hilarious, sometimes irreverent sayings on them, but he had enough T-shirts since he could only wear them on the weekends. His job didn‟t require him to wear a tie, but he had to wear a dress shirt to work every

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 3 day, and that generally meant not wearing a brightly colored T-shirt underneath. He worked his way around the room, checking out the selection of other merchandise until the smell of leather caught his attention. Looking up, he saw a new addition from last year, a booth full of leather corsets, vests, and other fetish gear. He shuddered slightly. He was a live-and-let-live-kind of guy for the most part, but the kink community still made him uncomfortable. The one run-in he‟d had with them in college had left a bad taste in his mouth, even several years later. The man working the booth started toward him, but Michael moved on quickly, not meeting his eyes. He had no desire to end up some dominant‟s fucktoy. The next booth caught his eye, though, and he stopped to look at the collection of books for sale. “What do you like to read?” The question startled him from his perusal of the covers, which ranged from evocative to provocative. “I‟m sorry?” he said. “What do you like to read?” the woman behind the table asked again. “We have such a wide variety of genres that I always ask, so if someone has a particular interest, I can point out some books they might like.” “Oh, well, a little bit of everything, I guess,” Michael said. “What do you have?” “We publish gay romance, as I‟m sure you‟ve figured out,” the woman continued, “but beyond that, we have historicals, mysteries, paranormal if you like vampires or

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 4 shapeshifters, sci-fi, and of course the simple contemporary romances.” “Wow, I didn‟t know there were books like this out there,” Michael said. “Take your time, pick them up, read the backs,” the woman continued. “Ask questions if you‟d like. I‟ve read most of the books on the table, and my friend who stepped out for a minute has read the ones I haven‟t, so if you want an opinion or more information on any of the books, we can provide it.” “Thanks,” Michael said, picking up the book that had first caught his eye. The woman turned her attention back to her computer, so he didn‟t feel like she was hovering. He looked at a couple more, finding the kind of love stories his sister loved to read, only with two men instead of a man and a woman. “How much are the books?” “Ten or fifteen, con special discount,” the bookseller replied. “Twenty to thirty-three percent off the list price.” Before he could ask another question, two small children, no more than two and four, came running past him. “Edward! Patricia! Wait for me!” The children paid no attention, running behind the booth and into the arms of the bookseller. “Aunt Kelly!” She hugged them both before handing them crayons and paper to draw on. They settled for the moment on the floor between the book table and the leather booth. Michael glanced toward the leather seller, sure he would be annoyed by the children‟s presence, but he waved at them with a

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 5 bright smile, and the kids waved back before resuming their drawing. “Sorry for the interruption,” the other woman said, joining Kelly at the table. “My child care fell through at the last minute, so they got to come with me.” “It‟s fine,” Michael said, glancing toward the next booth again. “I think I‟ll browse a little more before I decide what I‟m buying, but I‟ll definitely be back.” “We‟ll be here,” Kelly said. Michael moved on around the room, but he found his eyes going back to the leather booth. The warm smile the vendor had given the children didn‟t fit at all with his expectations, and it unsettled him. Then he heard his name called, looking up to recognize one of his acquaintances from the previous year‟s con. Forgetting entirely about the leather seller, Michael followed Drew out of the dealers‟ room and into the game room to play Risk.

WHEN he was alone in his room later that night, the image of the leather dealer popped back into Michael‟s head. He couldn‟t get that smile out of his mind. He hadn‟t spent a lot of time looking at the man, but enough to see that he was undeniably handsome. The leather vest he‟d worn had revealed strong arms with a thorny vine tattoo around one bicep. His face had been average, evenly spaced eyes, slightly crooked nose, average mouth, until he smiled. By whatever magic, that smile had transformed his face from ordinary to

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 6 spectacular. Michael had always found laughter extremely sexy, and that smile had hinted at a wealth of humor, the smile lines around his mouth suggesting he spent a lot more time smiling and laughing than not. Shaking his head at his own foolishness—it didn‟t matter if he found the man attractive, nothing was going to come of it at a weekend con even if he could deal with getting involved with a leather guy—he turned off the light and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

MICHAEL ran into the booksellers and the leather man again the next morning at breakfast. The two women and two kids were at one table, the kids obviously enjoying their breakfast while the two women yawned over their coffee cups. The leather seller sat at the table next to them, dressed entirely in leather today instead of only the vest and a pair of jeans, making faces at the kids, who giggled uproariously. The image was so incongruous that he found himself staring. The younger of the two children, who was walking but didn‟t look like he was more than two, was dressed in a yellow shirt and blue plaid shorts-overalls. Michael couldn‟t think of anything more clean-cut or middle class, yet the boy laughed and played with the leather man like they were best friends. Even more interestingly, the boy‟s mother seemed perfectly content with the arrangement. It made Michael stop and reconsider his own ingrained reaction. The guy might dress in leather sometimes, but he also entertained little kids like he knew how they would react, something the dom at the club he‟d visited that one time would never have known.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 7 The waiter brought Michael‟s food, the vendors at the other tables left, and Michael‟s thoughts turned to the panels he wanted to attend that day.

BEFORE lunch, Michael had a few minutes to return to the dealers‟ room. The book table was swamped, both women at the table handing over books and taking money as fast as they could move. Michael wondered where the children were. When he moved deeper into the room and could see around the crowd, he saw the children on the floor of the leather booth, playing pick up the crayons with the leather vendor, peals of laughter ringing through the room. “We make everything you see here,” the vendor said, looking up from his place on the floor and handing Michael a card. Lee Mitchell. “I‟m not really into that lifestyle,” Michael demurred. “Many of my customers aren‟t,” Lee said, “but that doesn‟t mean they can‟t enjoy a pair of custom leather pants or a vest or a kilt.” Michael flushed. “No, I suppose not. I was really waiting to look at the books.” “They‟ve got some good stuff there,” Lee said. “I bought one last night that they recommended. I didn‟t get very far into it because it was late, but I was really enjoying it.” “Which one did you get?” Michael asked, curious despite himself.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 8 “I don‟t remember the title,” Lee said, “but it‟s the one with the two pairs of feet sticking out beneath the covers.” “I‟ll take a look when the crowd dies down.” The boy tugged at Lee‟s hand, drawing his attention back to the game. Michael watched them play a little longer before looking at the pair of pants closest to him. “How long does it take to make something like this?” Lee looked up. “We do standard sizing as well as custom work. If a standard size fits you and we have it here, you could take it with you. If you need a standard size but we don‟t have the color you want at the con, we can usually have them done in a couple of weeks. If we do something custom, it could take a couple of months because we make the pattern first. Are you local?” “Yes,” Michael said, “but I‟m not in the market for anything. I was just curious.” Lee nodded and went back to playing with the kids. Michael looked over at the book table and saw that the crowd had thinned out. Kelly smiled at him when he approached, but the other woman, the children‟s mother, only nodded as she walked over to the other booth. He could hear her checking with Lee to make sure the kids weren‟t bothering him as Michael browsed the books on the table. Finding the cover Lee had described, he picked it up and flipped it over to read the blurb on the back. The synopsis introduced two ordinary men who met in the course of their ordinary lives and fell in love. “If you‟re looking for a sweet, tender love story, that‟s definitely a winner,” she said. “The author and his husband have been together for twenty years

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 9 and couldn‟t be more in love with each other if they tried. They‟re the cutest things I‟ve ever seen.” Michael looked at the book, over at Lee, and back at the book. “Lee said he was enjoying it too.” “Yes, that‟s what he said this morning. If that one is not exactly to your taste, I can show you some other contemporary romances,” Kelly offered. “No, I think this one is a good start,” Michael said. “I haven‟t read any gay romances before.” “This is a wonderful introduction to the genre,” Kelly agreed. “A slow, sweet build to a romantic, emotional love scene at the end. Nothing to shock anyone‟s sensibilities on a first read. I recommended this one to my grandmother too.” “Your grandmother? Really?” “Really,” Kelly said. “She told me she wasn‟t interested in the details of gay sex any more than straight sex, but she loved a good romance, and why didn‟t I write something she could read? So while I was writing something she could read, I gave her this one instead.” “And what did she think?” “She told me the next one could be a little spicier,” Kelly said with a laugh. “I think we‟ll skip the hardcore ones yet, but I‟ve got another one for her.” Michael shook his head. “Go figure. How much is this book?” “Ten dollars.” Michael pulled out his wallet and paid for the book, looking back at Lee, bemused once more.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 10

AT THE hotel restaurant that night, Michael was standing at the hostess station when Lee walked in and requested a table for one. She told him it would be at least a thirtyminute wait. Lee nodded and left his name, looking tired, hungry, and more than a little frustrated. He had changed out of his leather vest and pants, Michael noticed, and in jeans and a soft T-shirt, he looked exactly like the kind of man Michael would go for. If it weren‟t for the leather, Michael would have been all over him. Except that his experiences in college with the leather scene hadn‟t included Lee‟s silly humor, his patience with the kids, his willingness to help out the women at the book booth, or his clear enjoyment of the little ones‟ antics and energy. On impulse, Michael took a step forward. “I‟m two from the top of the list to sit down,” he said, catching Lee‟s attention. “Do you want to join me? One or two, it‟s only one table, and that leaves an empty table for them later, and you can eat sooner.” “Are you sure?” Lee asked. “I wouldn‟t want to impose.” “You aren‟t imposing,” Michael assured him. “I invited you.” “Well then, yes, I‟d like that,” Lee said. “I didn‟t get your name earlier. I‟m sorry.” “It‟s Michael. Michael Donovan.” “Lee Mitchell,” Lee said, holding out his hand. Michael took it, feeling the calluses on his palm as his hand was enveloped in a strong grip. Not a crushing one, but a confident one, the kind that made Michael weak in the

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 11 knees. “Nice to meet you, Lee. You look different without all the leather.” “I love leather,” Lee said as they waited for the hostess to call their table. “That‟s why I work with it for a living, but it‟s nice sometimes to wear soft cotton and jeans too.” “So this is really what you do full time?” Michael asked. “Is there a lot of demand?” “A fair amount,” Lee said. “There‟s the bondage community, of course, but there are also a lot of guys who want a leather vest to wear to the honky tonk on Friday night. Or the girls who want a leather skirt for the clubs. Leather doesn‟t have to be about kink.” “I guess you get that assumption a lot, don‟t you?” Michael said, recognizing the sound of defensiveness when he heard it. “Donovan, party of one,” the hostess called. “That‟s us,” Michael said. “Party of two now,” he added to the hostess. “That won‟t be a problem, will it? I ran into my friend, and it seems silly to sit at two tables.” “Of course not,” the hostess said. “Let me get another menu.” When she had seated them, Lee grinned at Michael. “Your friend?” “Why not?” Michael said. “It‟s not like I was going to tell her you were the guy I‟d been staring at in the dealers‟ room.” “Were you?” Lee asked, his grin widening.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 12 Michael felt heat climbing up his cheeks. “Maybe a little. Seeing you with the kids…. It surprised me.” “I love kids,” Lee said. “I keep waiting for my sister to get married and give me nieces and nephews to spoil, but so far she‟s resisting. Kelly and Nicole are great ladies, and the kids are adorable, but they‟re kids. They have a lot of energy that needs to be channeled appropriately. When Nicole isn‟t busy at the table, she keeps them occupied, but when there‟s a rush like there was today, she can‟t do everything. I like kids. Patricia and Edward like me. It seemed a logical solution.” Michael could see the logic, but it didn‟t make it any less surprising. “I didn‟t see any of the other vendors offering.” “They‟re farther away,” Lee said. “It‟s easier for me. Besides, I got there while they were setting up, before anyone else had arrived yet. I‟d already offered by the time everyone else got there. If my booth gets busy, I send the kids back, and everyone‟s happy.” “Good evening, gentlemen,” the waitress said, interrupting their conversation. “I‟m Holly. I‟ll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you something to drink? A beer, a cocktail, a glass of wine?” “I‟ll have a Heineken,” Michael said. “Just water for now,” Lee said. “It‟s a con and you aren‟t drinking?” Michael joked. “What‟s wrong with you?” Lee laughed. “I don‟t need alcohol to have a good time, and watching the drunks around me is always entertaining.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 13 “I‟ll remember that,” Michael said. “Fortunately it takes more than one beer to get me drunk, but maybe I‟ll switch after I finish this one.” “Give it a try tonight,” Lee proposed. “Let me show you the world through a different lens.” Michael hesitated a moment, remembering the things he had seen at clubs in college, but despite the leather earlier in the day and the fetish gear in the booth, Lee wasn‟t giving off the dominant vibe Michael had gotten pretty good at picking up after he‟d decided that life wasn‟t for him. “Okay, you‟re on. Can I drink the beer I already ordered?” “You can do whatever you want,” Lee said. “Like you said, one beer probably won‟t get you drunk. Then after dinner, we‟ll paint the town red, my way.” The last two words gave Michael pause, but he pushed the nerves away. Lee hadn‟t given him any reason to be nervous other than making leather items, and his kindness to the children was plenty of reason to give him a chance. “We should look at the menus. The waitress will be back soon.” Almost as if summoned by Michael‟s comment, the waitress returned with their drinks. “Do you have any questions about the menu?” “What‟s the soup of the day?” Lee asked. “Chicken tortilla soup,” the waitress said. “We also have an entrée special. This evening, we‟re serving cocktail de camarones. If you‟re ready, I can take your order now, or I can come back in a few minutes.” “I‟m ready if you are,” Michael said to Lee.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 14 “We‟ll go ahead and order,” Lee told the waitress. “I‟ll have beef fajitas, please, with extra guacamole.” “I‟ll take the special,” Michael said. “That sounded really good.” When she had left, Michael leaned forward. “So, do you have a shop somewhere?” “I have a workshop where we do all the cutting and sewing,” Lee said, “and I do see customers there if they‟re local and want to come in, but I do most of my business at shows like this one and online. That way I don‟t have the overhead of a huge stock or the cost of retail space. I converted a barn on my family‟s property into the workshop so the only cost is electricity and then the equipment and supplies, of course.” “Of course,” Michael said, his own business background adding to his curiosity. “It seems like an odd profession to get into.” “I learned from my grandfather,” Lee explained. “He was a leather worker, all the way from the tanning to the finished product. I don‟t tan the hides myself. I always hated that part, but I learned to love the finished leather and everything that could be made with it. The problem is that fewer people use leather regularly these days than in my granddad‟s day, so I have to be creative with the products I make. People don‟t want to spend enough on wallets and purses these days to make that profitable, but when I was first starting out, an acquaintance referred me to a local BDSM club. Talk about a shock for a poor country boy, but once I got over that, I started looking at the gear in the room. Ninety percent of it was made of leather, so I looked a little closer, and it

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 15 was all stuff I could make. Not stuff I knew how to make, but stuff I could learn how to make. So I asked the owner if he‟d be willing for me to leave some cards on the bar or in the bathroom or somewhere. He agreed, and that‟s how I got started.” “So you aren‟t into the leather scene?” Michael asked. Lee shook his head. “Afraid not. I hope you‟re not disappointed. I‟m really rather vanilla.” Michael smiled. “I‟m not disappointed. Relieved might be the better word.” “I still love leather, and I love wearing it,” Lee said, “so it was easy to put together outfits for cons like this or visits to clubs that draw attention and show off my workmanship. People see what they want to see. If it helps my business, I‟m all for it.” Michael could hardly argue with that when he had fallen into the same trap. “But if I wanted a leather wallet or satchel or something like that, you could make it too?” “Sure,” Lee said. “I still have all my grandfather‟s old patterns, and the satchels especially are popular because they‟re smaller than a briefcase or a backpack without being as feminine in appearance as a purse.” “Are most of your clientele men?” Michael asked. “About half and half,” Lee said. “I‟ve got the web site divided into two catalogues at this point, although there‟s some overlap, obviously, for items that could appeal to either gender.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 16 The waitress interrupted once again with the meals, and they grew silent as they ate. When they finished, Michael said, “So what‟s next?” “That depends on you,” Lee said, “but my suggestion would be to start with a trip to Hermann Park.” “Okay, why?” Michael asked. “Because it‟s a beautiful place to walk at night,” Lee said. “Shakespeare in the Park is going on this weekend.” “You like Shakespeare?” “What‟s not to like?” Lee asked. “He‟s a brilliant comedian, and his tragedies are heart-wrenching.” “You‟re full of surprises,” Michael said. “I keep thinking I have you figured out, and then you say something like that.” Lee shrugged. “I‟m a pretty ordinary guy, really. I own my own business. I work the occasional weekend, but for the most part, it‟s weekdays nine to five. I like to read, pretty much anything I can get my hands on. I travel when I can afford it and surf the Internet for ideas of places to go next when I can‟t.” “And help out your fellow vendors at a con by playing with their kids,” Michael said. “That isn‟t ordinary.” “It is when you grew up in the country,” Lee insisted. “My mother‟s friends would come to visit with their kids in tow. As the oldest, I ran herd on all of them, from the one two months younger than me to the baby, when I was sixteen. I‟m not sixteen anymore, but the habit hasn‟t faded.” “You didn‟t get tired of it?”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 17 “Not yet,” Lee said. The waitress brought their checks. They paid and Lee led Michael to the door. “You said you‟d let me show you the world through a different set of eyes. Will you come walking with me?” “Why not?” Michael said, not really expecting much to come of it, but it couldn‟t hurt. After all, drinking aside, how different could Lee‟s view be from his own?

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THE time they reached Hermann Park, Michael had

already started revising that opinion. Lee had chosen to drive down all the back streets instead of taking 59 like Michael would have done. They didn‟t get there as quickly, but they saw so much more, with Lee pointing out a bungalow in Bellaire, the last one left on the street, and telling Michael about his mother‟s parents who had lived in the area before it was fashionable and sharing his memories of visiting a little bungalow almost exactly like that one for years as a child. When his grandparents finally had to move into a nursing home, they had sold the house for nearly four times what they had paid for it. Within a week, the new owners had torn it down and started building one of the huge McMansions that now filled the lots almost completely. From there, he had taken Michael up Buffalo Speedway and shared the story of his sister, who as a child had always wanted to know where the buffalo were and why she never saw them speeding. Michael had laughed so hard at Lee‟s recounting he could barely see. He‟d driven by Buffalo Speedway hundreds of times without ever thinking twice about the name. Now he‟d chuckle every time he passed by.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 18 That led them down to North Braeswood and one of the four big bayous that drained the swamp Houston had been built on. “They built on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, you see,” Lee explained, “and then as the city grew, it expanded into the swamp, so they had to create miniature bayous to drain into the existing ones so they could keep building.” Braes Bayou ran down to Fannin and the first light rail line in the city. Michael expected Lee to turn up Fannin to the Medical Center since the park was on Fannin, but Lee kept going straight. “That‟s the part of the park everyone knows,” Lee said. “We‟re going to start with the road less traveled.” He continued almost to 288 before turning onto a street Michael had never been on before. “There used to be a stable here where people could take riding lessons, but they moved farther out 288 past Beltway 8. You used to see them taking trail rides through the park.” Lee parked on a side street and got out. “Shall we walk?” Intrigued by all the discoveries about a city he‟d thought he knew, Michael jumped out of the car, ready to follow Lee pretty much anywhere. Lee led Michael back toward the bayou. “This is a natural regrowth area,” Lee said as they walked along the edge of the brush and bushes that grew up between the huge live oak trees. “They‟re actually studying it to watch the progression of natural species now that it‟s a no-mow zone. The wildflowers came first, but those have mostly been pushed out now by the taller wild grasses and the next generation of live oaks. Then there are the crepe myrtles and the oleander too.” With each plant he named, Lee pointed them out to Michael, touching the leaves with a reverence Michael could not explain.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 19 “How do you know all this?” Michael asked. “I pay attention,” Lee said. “I don‟t pay a lot of attention to what‟s going on in the broader world—and don‟t tell me how dangerous or stupid that is. My sister has already told me. That‟s out there. I want to see what‟s happening right here around me. I want to know the whys and hows of my home or of the place I‟m in at that moment. I want to see and understand the changes around me. That has to happen first. If I understand that, then I can understand the world outside, but if I don‟t know my here and now, how can I understand the rest?” “Some people would say that without an understanding of the wider context, you‟re missing something,” Michael said. “That‟s just it,” Lee said. “I travel quite a lot, and I learn so much from it because I do have my eyes open to the world around me. But when I travel, I look at my destination the same way I look at Houston. I want to see and understand on the most local level possible because that is how you understand on a larger level.” “I don‟t follow,” Michael said. “Give me an example.” “I went to Créancey, France,” Lee said. “It‟s a town of two hundred people. Maybe. In front of the church, there is a pillar, and on it are the inscriptions of all the men and boys from Créancey who were killed during World War I. There are forty names on that list. One fifth of the town‟s population died in the Great War.” “Yes, and?”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 20 “And that explains history. People scoff at the French for the Maginot Line because it failed to stop the Germans during World War II,” Lee said impatiently, “but that‟s hindsight talking, and it‟s Americans talking. For a young mother in Créancey, holding a baby boy and facing another war, the Maginot Line let her sleep at night. Look at the local level, the impact of events on the narrowest plane possible, and suddenly the reactions make sense. Maybe not immediately, but over time. But if you stop watching and thinking, you might miss the thing that makes it all click.” “So what does the restored natural area here tell you?” Michael asked. “That there‟s an increasing awareness of the importance of green spaces, of native plants,” Lee said. “There may be a portion of it that‟s flood control in that keeping the waterways free of erosion will help them flow more quickly and accept more water before they flood. It‟s a small improvement, but it is one.” When they neared the Texas Medical Center, “the largest collection of hospitals in the world,” Lee mentioned, they turned to stroll up Cambridge and then along Hermann Park Drive toward the more frequently visited section of Hermann Park. At that hour of the night, the golf course was empty, giving it a slightly eerie feel. Without even realizing what he was doing, Michael walked closer to Lee‟s side. “You don‟t have to worry about this area of town,” Lee assured him. “Between the traffic from the Medical Center and from Rice University, there‟s always someone driving along here if you need help, and tonight there‟s also

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 21 Shakespeare in the Park, which means the zoo lot will be full too.” “That doesn‟t mean they‟ll stop,” Michael said. “No,” Lee agreed, “but it usually means the unsavory element chooses to hang out elsewhere. You can‟t jump the fence into the zoo anymore the way my granddad talked about doing when he was a boy, but sometimes you can hear the animals if it‟s really quiet at night. The wolves are on the other side of the fence, as are the elephants, a little farther up.” They walked past the parking lot, crossing into the park toward Miller Outdoor Theatre where the play was still going on. Lee didn‟t lead Michael up the hill to the point where they could see down into the amphitheater, taking him instead around to McGovern Lake. “If it weren‟t so late, we could go out on the pedal boats,” Lee said, “or take the train around the park.” “That stuff is for the kids,” Michael scoffed. “Really?” Lee said. “When was the last time you did something „for the kids‟ to see if you still enjoyed it? And if you tell me it was when you were fifteen, I‟m going to smack you.” “How about if I tell you it was when I was sixteen?” Michael said, flinching a little in anticipation. Lee smacked him on the shoulder. “You were sixteen, too cool for anything that might have challenged your dignity, except that at sixteen, everything challenged your dignity. You aren‟t sixteen anymore. I bet you‟d enjoy it a lot more than you expected if you tried it again now.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 22 “So what do you suggest?” Michael asked, intrigued enough by the idea to want to hear more. Lee shook his head. “You make the suggestion. Think about something you loved to do, somewhere you loved to go as a kid. Something you outgrew because it was „kid stuff‟. When you figure it out, we‟ll do it together.” “There‟s not much open this late on a Saturday night,” Michael said, “at least not that would be kid stuff.” “It doesn‟t have to be tonight,” Lee replied. “You‟re local; I‟m local. It can be a week from now or a month from now. Whenever you‟re ready to relax and look at something familiar through new eyes.” He‟d already done that tonight, Michael thought as he looked at Lee. He‟d looked at the familiar if undesirable world of leather and seen a new layer to it, a layer that was purely about the hide, not about a lifestyle that didn‟t fit Michael‟s interests. He‟d seen a side of his hometown he‟d never noticed before. Lee had shown him that much. It made him wonder how much more Lee could show him if he let it happen. “It‟s a deal,” he said. “I‟ll think of something and call you when I do.” Lee smiled. “You won‟t regret it.” Impulsively, Michael leaned forward and brushed his lips over Lee‟s, the dry contact fleeting. “I know that already.”

MICHAEL didn‟t return to the dealers‟ room before the end of the con on Sunday. He wasn‟t ready to face Lee again. He

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 23 needed to think about everything he had heard and learned the night before first, and by the time they made it back to the hotel, it had been too late for any serious reflection. The intervening week had given him plenty of time for thought, though, as he caught himself studying the details around him and wondering how Lee would interpret them. The following Saturday, he picked up the phone and called the number on the card Lee had given him. “Lee Mitchell.” “Hi, Lee, it‟s Michael Donovan, from the con last weekend,” Michael stammered, wondering if Lee would remember and make the connection. “I remember. How are you, Michael?” “Fine. And you?” “Quite well, especially hearing your voice. I wondered if you‟d call.” “I‟ve been thinking,” Michael said, irrationally pleased that Lee had thought about him, “and I came up with something I loved doing as a kid and haven‟t done in years.” “What‟s that?” Lee asked. “Brazos Bend State Park,” Michael replied. “We used to go down there in the fall and spring, when it wasn‟t too hot yet, and hike. Sometimes we‟d even camp. Or we‟d look at the stars from the Observatory. I haven‟t been there since I was twelve, probably, and my older brother decided he was too cool for the trip, so of course I did too.” “It‟s too late to go today, and I have plans for tomorrow already,” Lee said, “but we could go next Saturday if you

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 24 want. We‟ll drive down, have a picnic, hike as long as you‟d like, and see how the day goes.” Michael grinned, even knowing Lee couldn‟t see him. “That sounds wonderful. Do you want to meet me there, or would you rather drive together?” “I‟ll pick you up,” Lee offered. “No,” Michael said, “this date is my idea. I‟ll drive.” “So it‟s a date?” Lee asked, his voice teasing. “Quite a plan for a first date.” “Second,” Michael said. “Last Saturday was the first.” “Second date, then,” Lee agreed. “What time do you want to leave?” “It will take an hour to get down there from the Meyerland area where I live,” Michael said. “It depends on where we meet, or where you live if I pick you up.” “Picking me up would be out of the way,” Lee said. “I‟ll meet you at Meyerland Plaza, and we can drive together from there. What time?” “At nine?” Michael suggested. “That will get us to the park a little after ten and we‟ll have two hours to hike before it‟s time for lunch. I‟ll pack a basket. Is there anything you don‟t eat?” “Anchovies,” Lee replied. “Anything you‟d find at a picnic,” Michael retorted, laughing.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 25 “No, I‟m good with any sandwich meats, cheeses, chips, fruit, that sort of thing,” Lee said. “Water would be my beverage of choice.” “For a day in the park, that‟s the best choice,” Michael answered. “It‟s not June yet, but I don‟t expect it to be cool either.” He heard the sound of a keyboard clacking. “They‟re predicting clear weather, high in the upper 80s,” Lee said after a moment. “We‟ll be warm, but not miserable.” “And it‟s always cooler in the park under the trees,” Michael added. “So I‟ll see you Saturday at nine?” “See you then,” Lee agreed, hanging up and leaving Michael feeling alternately elated and nervous. He wanted to see Lee again, to see if the incredible ease of the evening together in Hermann Park would recreate itself, but he feared it wouldn‟t work out that way, that the magic of the shadows would fade in the light of day, leaving him with only a tarnished memory. Telling himself to stop being melodramatic, he pulled up the Brazos Bend web site so he could refamiliarize himself with the park, the better to impress Lee next weekend.

THE weather Saturday morning was as clear and perfect as Michael could have hoped, although he suspected it would be hot before the day was out. He had a cooler stashed in his trunk with a selection of prosciutto, salami, and cheeses along with a crusty baguette and plenty of water. It wasn‟t the most romantic picnic ever, but it was practical and tasty.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 26 As he pulled into the Meyerland shopping center parking lot at ten ‟til nine, he looked around for Lee‟s Prius, not seeing it yet. He was early, though. Getting out of the car, he leaned against the trunk, watching the cars go by on 610 and wondering what direction Lee was coming from. The card gave his phone number and web site, but not a business address. Lee arrived five minutes later, pulling in next to Michael and climbing out of the car. In deference to the heat, he wore a pair of hiking shorts and a thin T-shirt along with heavy hiking boots and a baseball cap. He looked good enough to eat. “Have you been waiting long?” Michael shook his head. “Five minutes maybe,” he said. “I didn‟t want to make you wait on me. Do you need anything from your car before we leave?” “Nope, I‟ve got everything I need. Sunglasses and a cap,” Lee said. They chatted about their week as they drove down 59 to the park, Lee relating the work he‟d done for the orders from the con as well as two special orders he‟d gotten since then. Michael talked about the new account at the advertising firm where he worked and how demanding his bosses had suddenly become because of it. “It sounds like you needed today as a break,” Lee said. “Yeah,” Michael agreed, rubbing away the tension that settled in the back of his neck whenever he thought about work. “I love my job, but the past few weeks have been crazy. I have to keep telling myself everything will settle down again soon. It‟s the only way to stay sane.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 27 “It will help,” Lee said, “but really staying sane is about more than pushing back the meltdown. It‟s about truly letting go and relaxing. We‟ll do that today. You‟ve vented. I‟ve shared. No more talk about work. We‟re here to enjoy ourselves and see the world through a kid‟s eyes again.” Michael thought that sounded wonderful. He paid the entrance fee at the park, waving aside Lee‟s offer to split the cost. It was hardly expensive, and Michael liked the idea of treating Lee to the day. They grabbed water bottles, leaving the cooler in the trunk, and started down toward the lake. “This was your suggestion. Tell me about the park,” Lee said as they walked. Smiling, Michael gave Lee a brief history of the park, its founding and expansion, its conservation work and facilities. “Now look around me and tell me what you see,” Lee prompted. Michael grinned, pointing out a spider web stretched between the branches of one of the live oak trees that bordered the path they walked on. “Do you know what kind of spider it is?” Lee asked, stopping to study the web. “No idea,” Michael replied cheerfully, “but it‟s a striking web. You rarely see one that big and perfect at the same time. At least I rarely see them that way.” “No, you‟re right,” Lee said. “Usually by the time they get to be that size, they‟ve caught a fly or two, and there are holes or places where the spider has repaired the web. Those are interesting too, but they aren‟t the even perfection of a fresh web.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 28 “I remember coming here with my parents when I was a kid and trying to see how many different kinds of birds we could see,” Michael said with a smile as they left the spider web and walked on. “I read somewhere that over three hundred species of birds have been spotted within the park. We never saw anywhere near that many, of course, but we got pretty good at identifying the common ones.” “There‟s a bench over there,” Lee said, pointing to a shaded rest area under the branches of a huge live oak tree. “Let‟s sit for a few minutes and see what comes to visit us.” “I don‟t even know if I‟ll recognize any but the most obvious anymore,” Michael warned. “It isn‟t about knowing every kind of bird,” Lee said, “but about taking the time to look around you again. You knew how to look as a child. Let that come back.” “The best place for serious observation is the tower in the center of the park,” Michael suggested. “Michael,” Lee scolded, “relax and look up at the tree over your head. There‟s plenty to observe right there.” Michael leaned back, bracing his hands behind him so he could peer up into the branches of the tree. A cardinal flitted by, followed shortly by a raucous blue jay. Michael chuckled at the noise, hearing Lee sharing his laughter behind him. “Look over there,” Lee said softly, drawing Michael‟s attention to the next tree. “It‟s a hawk, I think, although I don‟t know what kind.” “A broad-winged hawk,” Michael said, recognizing the bird. “I don‟t remember a lot of birds from when I was

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 29 younger, but I remember that one.” He sat up and looked a little closer. “It looks like a juvenile. It‟s small, and its feathers aren‟t the right color yet.” Lee smiled and rested his hand on Michael‟s shoulder. “You remember more than you realize. Do you want to keep watching or walk on?” “Let‟s stay a little longer,” Michael said, looking around with greater interest. They lingered for another half an hour, Michael growing more and more excited as he saw birds he had not seen in fifteen years or more. “Yes, I know, they‟re probably all around me in Houston,” he added when he shared his excitement with Lee, “but now I‟m looking again.” “That‟s the important thing,” Lee said, his hand sliding down Michael‟s arm. “The past is done. You can‟t change it now, but you can choose not to repeat mistakes you‟ve made and learned from.” “I thought that‟s what I was doing when I avoided you at first at the con,” Michael admitted. “I saw the leather, not in the typical cowboy style, and I walked away rather than get sucked back in.” “Back in?” Lee asked. Michael nodded. “I dated a guy in college who was a real leather freak. It was kind of fun at first, getting dressed up, going to clubs. What‟s the harm in a pair of leather pants, right?” “I‟m not going to argue that one with you,” Lee said with a grin, “but the leather pants weren‟t the problem.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 30 “No,” Michael agreed, “I was fine with the leather pants. I was even fine with the occasional bit of role play. He tied me up a couple of times, which didn‟t do all that much for me, but it did wonders for the sex because he was so into it.” “There‟s definitely something to be said for a partner who‟s really into what you‟re doing,” Lee said with a laugh. “It can make you feel sexy as hell. So what happened?” “He talked me into going to a different club,” Michael said. “An S/M club. I was twenty-one, barely old enough to drink. My boyfriend tried to style himself as a Dom, but he wasn‟t any older than I was, and the real Doms descended on us like flies on honey. Nothing awful happened. I was obviously freaked out, too freaked out to give any kind of consent. One of the Doms realized I was way out of my element and took me to a back room. Of course that freaked me out even more at first. He gave me a stern warning about getting in over my head and showed me the back way out with the assurance that if I came back, he‟d teach me a thing or two about respect. It‟s not like I was abused or anything, but it was one of those experiences that leave a bad taste in your mouth, even years later. I decided I wasn‟t going back down that road, and everything about your booth looked like that‟s where it would take me.” “So what changed your mind?” Lee asked. “Watching you with the kids,” Michael said. “Kids are smart, a lot smarter than people give them credit for. They know when someone‟s genuinely interested in them. They might have spoken to you the first time without prompting, but they didn‟t stay and play with you simply because you were there. The image of you in your leather gear holding

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 31 little Edward didn‟t fit with the image in my head, but the image of you and Edward was real, which meant there had to be something wrong with the one in my head. Once I accepted that, I was ready to give you a chance, and you aren‟t at all like my ex or any of what I saw in that club, despite the leather clothes.” “I like leather,” Lee said again, “and I often wear it just because, but I also know my clients, and creating the very image you tried to avoid is what lures a lot of them in. If they think I‟m part of that scene, or at least familiar with it, they‟re more comfortable describing what they want, especially if it‟s something more toward the fetish side. It‟s a business decision that‟s paid off for me more than once.” “That makes perfect sense,” Michael agreed, swatting at a fly that buzzed around his head, “but it took Edward to make me open to the idea that it could be a business decision without being a lifestyle choice. That and seeing you in jeans instead of leather at the restaurant on Saturday night.” “You don‟t really expect me to believe your ex wore leather all the time,” Lee teased. “No, of course not, but I‟m not sure I would have given into the impulse to approach you if you‟d still been in leather,” Michael explained. “The bugs are getting bad. Let‟s walk and give them a less stable surface to land on.” Lee rose immediately, catching Michael‟s hand in his as they walked off the main walkway onto one of the smaller paths. “And now that you do know me?” Lee asked. “Will it bother you if I wear my leathers sometimes?”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 32 “I don‟t think it will,” Michael said, a thrill going through him at the thought of holding hands like a couple of teenagers. “A pair of leather pants at a bar doesn‟t set me off. It was more the combination of nothing but leather clothes and all the gear in the booth.” “I‟ve gotten used to it because I make the stuff all the time,” Lee said, “but I remember what it felt like to be unnerved by all the restraints and floggers and the like. I usually keep them at the workshop anyway, so you don‟t have to worry about them being around if you ever come over to my place.” “Is that an invitation?” Michael teased. “If you want it to be.” Michael stopped on the path, turning to face Lee as he reached for the man‟s other hand. “I want it to be.” Lee‟s smile flashed across his face, stealing Michael‟s breath much as it had the first time he saw it. He had leaned forward to kiss Lee a second time before he even realized what he was doing. This time, though, he didn‟t pull away immediately and neither did Lee. Lee‟s lips were smooth against Michael‟s, not even a hint of stubble on his upper lip, making Michael wonder how carefully the other man had shaved that morning. His lips were warm and supple, returning the kiss eagerly without demanding more. Michael appreciated the restraint even as a part of him wanted to see it crumble. He didn‟t want to rush, though. For one thing, they were on a path in a public park in broad daylight. Not exactly conducive to anything but bug bites and getting caught. More than that, though, he liked

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 33 the idea of spending the day with Lee without constant sexual tension between them. Drawing back slowly, he squeezed Lee‟s hands. “Let‟s finish our hike. We have a picnic waiting for us.”

THE picnic went over exactly as Michael had hoped. When they had packed up the leftovers, all five bites they couldn‟t eat, Lee had shown no interest in rushing back to Houston, so Michael suggested they hike some more. They‟d ended up wandering the park until nearly dark. “I‟ve got some steaks at the house,” Michael said as they started back to the city. “We could toss a couple on the grill and watch a movie or something if you don‟t have anywhere you have to be.” “I think that sounds wonderful,” Lee agreed, which was how they had ended up sitting on Michael‟s couch, steaks and sodas on the coffee table, and Raiders of the Lost Ark playing on TV. “I can‟t believe you want to watch this,” Michael said as the opening credits rolled. “I can‟t believe you have it and don‟t watch it at least once a week,” Lee retorted. “Come on. Harrison Ford all dusty and sweaty and doing the hero thing? It‟s like a wet dream come to life.” Michael flushed a little. “He was my first crush.” “Good taste,” Lee said. “Mine was Johnny Depp.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 34 “Donnie Brasco?” Michael asked, trying to think what movies might have been out at the time Lee was fourteen or fifteen. “21 Jump Street all the way,” Lee said. “I saw it in reruns, but I was so in love with him.” “They‟ve both gotten even better with age,” Michael said. “It gives me hope.” “Hope for what?” “That I‟ll still be able to catch a man‟s eye when I‟m their age,” Michael replied. “You don‟t have anything to worry about,” Lee assured him. “They still look good, for sure, but it‟s character that holds the eye, not looks. That‟s what all the good ones, the ones we follow for years, have. It‟s true for actors, but it‟s also true for friends and lovers. The ones we stay with are the ones with depth, not the ones with pretty faces.” “The pretty face doesn‟t hurt,” Michael joked. Lee shook his head. “That face,” he said, pointing to the screen as it showed a close-up of Harrison Ford, “has never been pretty. Attractive, handsome, chiseled, drop dead gorgeous, but never pretty. It‟s the interesting faces that catch our eye and the interesting characters that hold our attention.” Michael had to admit the truth in that statement when what had caught his eye about Lee was the way his smile changed his face from average to stunning. Lee‟s flustered expression when Michael told him that was too adorable for words, so Michael settled for kissing him instead.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 35 “I thought we were watching the movie,” Lee said, his voice slightly breathless, when they parted. “We are,” Michael said, putting his arm around Lee‟s shoulders and relaxing against the back of the couch, “but don‟t tell me you never sat on a couch with a boyfriend and made out while you watched a movie.” “Maybe once or twice,” Lee chuckled. “So is that what we are now?” “I thought it fit,” Michael said. “We‟ve had two dates, a handful of very enjoyable kisses. You‟re sitting on my couch watching a guilty pleasure movie with me. What else would you call it?” Lee grinned. “Perfect.” Michael grinned back and settled in to watch the movie. It didn‟t take long before he was caught up in the action. It didn‟t matter that he could recite half the dialogue with the characters because Lee could recite the other half, it seemed, and so before long they were cracking each other up with their imitations of the characters. “Do you have the others?” Lee asked when the first movie finished. “Do I have the others?” Michael scoffed, pulling out Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. “Of course I have the others.” “Good. Put it in while I stretch my legs for a minute,” Lee said. “We‟ll make a marathon of it.” Michael grinned as Lee went down the hall to the bathroom. He couldn‟t remember when he‟d had such an

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 36 enjoyable day. Everything seemed fresh again, even a movie he‟d seen a hundred times. It made him wonder what else would be fresh with Lee involved. When Lee came back, Michael took his turn in the bathroom, lingering a moment to swipe a damp wash cloth over his neck and under his arms to get rid of the worst of the sweat from their day spent outside. He had no idea what the rest of the evening would bring, but he didn‟t want to be too disgustingly sweaty if Lee showed any interest in more intimate activities. Lee had already jumped through the credits when Michael returned so they could start watching immediately. They fell back into the same routine of quoting the film, but the heat of the day had sapped their energy, and as the film continued, they spoke less and less. Michael‟s last thought before he fell asleep was that he ought to offer Lee the guest bed down the hall.

SUNLIGHT through the blinds he hadn‟t closed last night woke Michael the next morning. He blinked a couple of times to clear his thoughts and remember why he was sleeping on his couch instead of in his bed. As his vision cleared, he saw Lee on the other end of the couch, his mouth slightly open as he snuffled in his sleep. The sight was too endearing to resist. He shifted on the firm cushions so he could lean over and kiss the slack lips. Lee stirred beneath him, his eyes fluttering open. Michael lifted his head enough to give Lee space to pull away

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 37 if he wanted, but Lee‟s arms encircled his neck, pulling Michael down on top of him instead. It was all the permission Michael needed. Their lips met, a familiar sensation now, but Michael lingered, all of their conversations about taking the time to really look at things playing back through his mind. The day before, there had been no stubble on Lee‟s upper lip, but Michael felt the telltale roughness now. He didn‟t mind—he liked the reminder that he was kissing a man—but it served to remind him of the day and night they‟d spent together, even if the night was unintentional. That, in turn, drew his attention to the slightly stale taste of his own mouth. Wanting to spare Lee his morning breath, he nuzzled his way across the stubbled cheek instead, enjoying the rasp of dayold beard against his lips. Lee turned his face into the caress, assuring Michael that he enjoyed the gesture as well. His hands stroked encouragingly up and down the length of Michael‟s spine. Letting his lips wander over Lee‟s face, Michael relaxed into the moment, wanting to be here and nowhere else with Lee quiescent beneath him. Even as he brushed his lips across Lee‟s forehead, he took in the sensation of the muscular body beneath his, its wiry strength as much of a turn-on as the scent of his skin or the way his body moved beneath Michael‟s. He worked his way down to Lee‟s ear, brushing the hair away from the elegant curve of flesh. Lee shivered beneath him, the movement rubbing them together from head to toe. Surprised and aroused in turn, Michael licked the smooth whorl, wanting to see if the reaction would repeat. It did.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 38 “Tell me if it gets to be too much,” Michael whispered, his breath sending another shiver through Lee‟s body. “It won‟t,” Lee gasped, turning his head to give Michael better access. Michael took his time, licking and sucking on Lee‟s ear, blowing into it, even slipping his tongue into the canal and back out again. Lee moaned and writhed beneath him, clearly as delighted with Michael‟s actions as Michael was with Lee‟s reactions. When he had finally exhausted his creativity with that swath of skin, he moved lower, thinking of the spot on his own shoulder that he loved to have sucked or bitten. He pushed aside the collar of Lee‟s shirt, tantalizing the juncture of neck and shoulder. Lee subsided beneath him, not pulling away, but definitely without the same enthusiastic response attention to his ear had garnered. “What else do you like?” he murmured. Beneath him, Lee chuckled. “Take your time and find out.” Michael rolled his eyes teasingly, but his body thrilled at the idea. Like everything else he‟d done at Lee‟s side, sex suddenly seemed new again, exciting in a way it hadn‟t been since he was sixteen and making out on the couch with his first boyfriend. Michael rocked back onto his heels for a moment, stripping out of the T-shirt he still wore from the day before and then pulling Lee‟s shirt off as well. He‟d gotten glimpses of the other man‟s arms and shoulders and the top of his chest when he wore his leather vest at the con, but this was

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 39 Michael‟s first chance to see him fully shirtless. Lee‟s chest was completely smooth, making Michael hope Lee wouldn‟t mind his own pelt of chest hair. Lee didn‟t seem to mind at all if the way he dug his fingers into the thick mat was any indication. Michael let him play, taking his time exploring the vine tattoo that ran around Lee‟s bicep and up across his chest. Lee rocked beneath him, urging Michael to linger. Michael‟s fingers traced the edges of the ink, teasing around the circle of one aureole, wringing a hoarse cry from Lee‟s mouth. Smiling, Michael bent his head and kissed Lee swiftly, his lips wandering from Lee‟s mouth down his neck to the hollow at the base of his neck. He had intended merely a meandering journey on his way to his lover‟s nipples, but the sudden intake of breath when Michael‟s tongue teased the slight indentation changed his mind. He stretched back out full-length along Lee‟s body, his fingers continuing their teasing as he licked and sucked at Lee‟s skin. Lee‟s hands tightened in Michael‟s chest hair and on his back, the pressure nearly painful. “Are you telling me it‟s too much?” Michael asked, lifting his head. “I‟m telling you I‟ll hurt you if you stop,” Lee gasped. Michael grinned. “Then don‟t tug quite so hard, or you‟ll be hurting me while I try to continue.” Lee‟s hand flattened immediately, his fingers loosening their grip on Michael‟s chest hair. Michael returned to the very enjoyable process of driving Lee wild, his own body thrumming with desire as he wondered what other surprises he could discover. Lee‟s ear, the hollow of his throat… two

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 40 things he had learned already from focusing completely on his lover rather than assuming he knew what Lee would like. Lee rutted against him like a teenager as he continued, giving Michael ideas. He‟d had his first boyfriend at sixteen. They had shared hand jobs and rutted against each other like wild men, but it had been a couple of years and a boyfriend later before Michael had been ready for more. Shifting so he was lying on top of Lee again, he ground his erection against the other man‟s. “You‟re going to make me come in my pants,” Lee gasped. “I know,” Michael said. “How long has it been since you wanted it so badly you couldn‟t even wait?” “Years,” Lee said. “I learned finesse somewhere around the time I learned the joys of anticipation.” Michael rocked harder against Lee. “Forget everything you learned and remember what it felt like the first time.” “I don‟t have a clean pair of shorts.” “I‟ll lend you some,” Michael said, feeling his own climax bubbling in his blood as Lee started thrusting back up against him. “I know I‟m not alone feeling this way.” “No,” Lee said, his head falling back. Michael dove onto the offered neck, nibbling and sucking at the tendons of Lee‟s throat as he continued to drive them toward release. It tore out of him at the hoarse shout that escaped Lee‟s mouth along with the rush of wet heat between their bodies. Lee collapsed beneath him, all tension gone from his body as the aftershocks continued to rack Michael.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 41 Michael lifted his head finally. “I think a shower is in order, and then maybe some breakfast. Will you stay?” “I can‟t go anywhere without a shower,” Lee said with a laugh. “That didn‟t answer my question,” Michael pressed. “Will you stay?” Lee smiled, his expression shyer than any Michael had ever seen on his face. “Yes.”

“WOULD you like to come out to my place this weekend?” Lee asked as he and Michael chatted on the phone on Wednesday night. They had spent all of Sunday together as well, although they hadn‟t, somewhat to Michael‟s surprise, ended up in bed. Instead they‟d finished their movie marathon, played basketball, and caught up on the work Michael needed to do in his yard. Michael had tried to argue that was hardly a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but Lee had made it fun, laughing and teasing and tackling Michael at random intervals for light, playful kisses that could easily have turned more passionate and yet didn‟t. Since then, they‟d talked on the phone every night but hadn‟t managed to see each other again. “For the whole weekend?” Michael asked hopefully. “I hope so,” Lee teased. “I spent all of last weekend at your house.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 42 “I‟ll pack a bag,” Michael said, smiling at the simple thought of another weekend with Lee. “Anything in particular I should bring?” “Comfortable clothes,” Lee said. “I wasn‟t planning on anything fancy. I thought we‟d meet somewhere for dinner on Friday and then you could follow me home. I live out of town a bit, and it‟s sometimes hard for people to find it.” “So where do you want to meet?” “There‟s a new sushi place I‟ve been wanting to try,” Lee said. “Feeling adventurous?” Michael hesitated for a moment, not entirely sure how he felt about sushi, but Lee hadn‟t led him wrong yet. “Sure, I‟ll give it a try. I‟ve never had sushi before.” “If it‟s good, there‟s nothing to compare,” Lee said. “If it isn‟t good, it‟s pretty much awful. If it isn‟t good, we‟ll try somewhere else, and I‟ll take you to Miyako‟s for good sushi another time.” Lee gave Michael the address, which he noted in his phone so he wouldn‟t lose it. They talked for awhile longer before it got late enough that Michael had to hang up so he could go to work the next day.

ON FRIDAY, Michael arrived at the restaurant early, but he‟d been afraid he wouldn‟t be able to get home from work and to the restaurant on time, so he‟d taken his bag with him that morning. That had put him at the restaurant a good thirty minutes before he was supposed to meet Lee. He took

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 43 a seat at the bar and ordered a beer to sip while he waited. His stomach was tied up in knots, despite his internal lectures to the contrary, but it seemed even their two dates had not completely eased his nerves about Lee‟s profession. Other than that first impression, nothing Lee had said or done had given Michael any reason to worry about Lee‟s inclinations. Hell, Lee had given in completely to Michael last weekend on the couch, lying beneath him, not passively, but without any attempt to take control of their interactions. It seemed almost too good to be true. Michael decided that was what was bothering him, even more than the leatherwork Lee did. He couldn‟t be this wonderful all the time, could he? There had to be some quirk, some flaw to make him human rather than the ideal Michael had built up in his mind. He shook his head at himself. This train of thought would bring him nothing but more nerves and a headache. “You‟re early.” Michael jumped, unprepared to hear Lee‟s voice already. “So are you,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I thought I‟d check out the place before you got here so we could go somewhere else if it didn‟t look good,” Lee explained. “I didn‟t want to be late,” Michael replied, “so I came here straight from work. I haven‟t even changed clothes.” “I noticed,” Lee said with an admiring glance at Michael‟s dress shirt and slacks. “You look good dressed up.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 44 “They don‟t make us wear ties unless we have a meeting with a client,” Michael said, “but they do expect one step up from business casual.” “That makes sense for an advertising agency,” Lee said. “You never know when a new client will come in unannounced, and if you were all sitting around in shorts and T-shirts, it wouldn‟t make a very good first impression. Shall we get a table?” Michael nodded and paid his tab at the bar. The hostess seated them immediately. “You‟ll have to tell me what to order,” Michael said, “because I have no idea what‟s good.” “Why don‟t I order a combo platter and you can taste a little of everything?” Lee proposed. “There‟s very little I don‟t like, so you can have what you want and I‟ll eat the rest. And if you don‟t like any of it, they have tempura and other things you might be more familiar with.” “I‟d like to try the sushi,” Michael said. “I have friends who get it all the time, but I‟ve never had anyone to introduce me to it, and it doesn‟t seem like something to jump into without a guide.” “But jumping into things is so much fun,” Lee grinned. “Where would we be if you hadn‟t taken that leap and asked me to share your table at the con?” “That was different,” Michael said. “It was a table in a hotel restaurant. There wasn‟t any risk.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 45 Lee raised an eyebrow. “I don‟t know. Given what you told me about your ex and what you thought you knew about me at the time, it could have been a huge risk.” “You weren‟t wearing leather then. You aren‟t nearly as intimidating in jeans.” Lee laughed. “Intimidating?” “Probably not to anyone else,” Michael agreed, “but everything about you in full leather set my nerves on edge. If it hadn‟t been for the kids, I wouldn‟t have taken even the risk I did.” “Maybe coming to my house isn‟t such a good idea after all,” Lee said slowly. “Why not?” Disappointment filled Michael at having the invitation rescinded. “Because I have a lot of leather at my place,” Lee said. “The workshop is out back, and sometimes I bring stuff in the house to work on while I‟m cooking or watching TV at night or whatever. You aren‟t going to be comfortable there.” “As long as you aren‟t trying to use anything on me, I‟ll be fine,” Michael insisted. He couldn‟t let this be an issue if they had any hope of having a relationship. He couldn‟t very well demand Lee change jobs because Michael had a bad memory of a leather bar from college. “I‟m vanilla through and through,” Lee reminded him, “but that‟s not going to help if the stuff is lying around.” Michael shrugged. “I‟d really like to see your house. If it‟s too much, we can take things back out to your workshop. I‟ll get past this. Please?”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 46 “All right, but tell me if it gets to be a problem,” Lee insisted. “I don‟t want to make you uncomfortable.” “I‟ll tell you,” Michael promised as the waiter came to take their order. Michael let Lee order for both of them and breathed a sigh of relief when Lee changed the subject after the waiter had left, asking instead about Michael‟s week and his new account at work. The platter of sushi, when it arrived, was both colorful and copious, making Michael glad they were sharing it rather than each ordering something different. Lee picked up his chopsticks with obvious ease and started pointing out the various kinds of sushi. After only a moment, Michael shook his head. “Information overload. How about I decide which one looks good and ask you what it is?” “We can do it that way,” Lee agreed. “This is wasabi. It‟s pretty spicy. I mix it in with soy sauce and dip my sushi in it, but you may want to stick with the soy sauce the first time out, particularly since I don‟t know how much wasabi the chef put on the sushi to begin with.” Michael poured some soy sauce into the dish but didn‟t add any wasabi. Picking up his own chopsticks with somewhat less flair, he pointed to one of the pieces of sushi. “That‟s obviously shrimp.” “Yes,” Lee said. “It‟s cooked, so it‟s a good start for someone who isn‟t sure how they feel about the uncooked stuff.” Michael picked it up precariously, dipped it in the soy sauce, and ate it, the flavor exploding over his tongue. When

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 47 he‟d managed to swallow, his eyes watering slightly, he said, “I think the chef was generous with the wasabi.” “Eat some of the ginger,” Lee suggested. “It helps break the oil in the spices. Or I could order some sake for you.” “No, it‟s fine,” Michael said, blinking away the moisture. “It‟s delicious. I just wasn‟t expecting quite that much heat.” The next bite was easier, and the rest of the meal passed in easy conversation. When they‟d finished eating, Michael followed Lee out 290, past Cypress Fairbanks and into the country. They turned off the highway and onto little country roads that made Michael glad he wasn‟t trying to find the place on his own. Finally they pulled into a long driveway and up to a country farmhouse. “This is beautiful,” Michael said, getting out of his car and looking around at the house. “My great-grandparents built it,” Lee said. “The barn is my workshop now, but other than that, and a few modernizations in the plumbing, it looks pretty much the way it did when it was new. Come inside. I‟ll give you the nickel tour.” Michael followed Lee across the wide, wraparound porch and into the house. The inside was exactly what the outside proclaimed: a turn-of-the-century farmhouse, with all the rustic charm of such houses. He could see the little touches Lee had added: new windows, a fresh coat of paint, refinished floors, but much of it could have been original. Lee led Michael through the ground floor and into a small bedroom. “I didn‟t want to presume, so I put clean sheets on the bed down here for you. I want to spend the

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 48 weekend together, but that doesn‟t mean you have to spend it in my bed.” “Thank you,” Michael said, setting his bag down next to the foot of the bed. “I appreciate having the choice.” “You always have a choice,” Lee assured him, putting his arms around Michael‟s waist. Michael leaned into the embrace, resting his head against Lee‟s shoulder. “This is nice,” he said after a moment, “standing together this way. No pressure, no demands. Just being together.” “There‟s definitely something to be said for being together,” Lee agreed. “Do you want to see the upstairs too? There are two more bedrooms and my office.” “It‟s a big house.” “My great-grandparents had a big family,” Lee replied. “Or I can show you the workshop if you want.” “Tomorrow,” Michael declared. “Tonight, I want to sit with you on the couch and enjoy being in your house instead of my condo.” “Sounds like a plan to me,” Lee said, leading Michael back out into the living room. “It‟s too warm for a fire, although the fireplace does work if we want to build one this winter. Do you want to watch a movie? Or we could play cards?” “We watched a movie last weekend,” Michael said. “Do you have Risk?” “No, but I have Senet,” Lee grinned. “It‟s an Egyptian game, supposedly the oldest board game in the world.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 49 “I‟ll give it a try,” Michael said with a laugh. “We met at a gaming convention. You know I‟m up for all sorts of games.” “Me too,” Lee said, “but only out here. I don‟t play games in the bedroom.” Michael smiled, finding it far easier than he would have expected to ignore the half-finished leather flogger sitting on the chair across the room. Lee rummaged in the cabinet next to the fireplace and came back with the game. “This will be easier around the table than here on the couch.” “Let‟s go,” Michael said with a grin. They set the game up and settled down to play. Three hours later, Michael admitted defeat. “This is something else! It‟s going to take some getting used to. I want a rematch tomorrow.” “You‟re on,” Lee said, putting the game pieces back in the box. “Do you want something to drink before bed? Some coffee? Anything?” Michael shook his head, rising and following Lee to the game cabinet. When Lee turned around from putting the game away, he turned right into Michael‟s arms. “I‟m far more interested in bed than in drinking.” “Are you sure?” Lee asked. “I‟m sure.” “My room‟s upstairs,” Lee invited, but Michael made no move to back away and let Lee show him the way. He simply leaned into the other man‟s body, pinning him to the cabinet

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 50 with his weight. Their lips met tenderly, their first kiss of the evening, brushing back and forth as the shadow of their beards rubbed against each other. The gentle contact wasn‟t enough for long. Michael parted his lips in invitation. Last weekend, he had taken control of their interactions, but tonight he was in the mood to give rather than take. Lee‟s tongue explored his lips and teeth carefully, with that same attention to detail he gave to everything else, and Michael relaxed. Even now, Lee was asking, exploring, rather than taking. The last of Michael‟s hesitations fled as he stood still and let Lee ravish his mouth. The kiss continued for what seemed like forever, until Michael could barely breathe with the joy of it. Lee broke the kiss, his breath as rushed as Michael‟s. “Let me take you to bed, baby?” Michael nodded, stepping away enough for Lee to slip free and pull him toward the stairs. Like the lower level, the second floor was decorated in turn-of-the-century style, but Michael didn‟t take the time to look closer than that. He had far more interest in the man leading him down the hall. Lee switched on the light, revealing the master bedroom, the pale blues of the walls and bedspread cool and comforting. This was a safe room, a comfortable room. Michael moved easily into Lee‟s arms at the foot of the bed, renewing the kiss from downstairs with eager passion. Lee responded in kind, his hands beginning to explore the rest of Michael‟s body, running up and down his back and finally over his backside, pulling Michael closer into the cradle of Lee‟s hips so their burgeoning erections rubbed together through the layers of their clothes. Michael groaned into the kiss, suddenly

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 51 resenting anything that kept him from his lover‟s body. He pulled back to unbutton his shirt, but Lee caught his hands. “Don‟t rush,” Lee said. Michael groaned in protest, but he stopped what he was doing and ceded control to Lee again. Lee took over the task, unbuttoning the top button on Michael‟s shirt and tracing the deep vee with the tip of one finger. Michael squirmed in Lee‟s embrace, the touch so light it almost tickled. Lee freed another button and bent so he could kiss the uncovered patch of skin. His teeth tugged gently at the hairs that poked free. “I love a hairy chest,” Lee said, looking up and meeting Michael‟s eyes. “I always hated my smooth skin until I realized how good it felt against a thick pelt.” “I‟m glad,” Michael said hoarsely. “So when am I going to get to feel that again?” “Soon,” Lee promised, undoing another button and rubbing his cheek against Michael‟s sternum. The slow unveiling had the desired effect on Michael. His body already ached with erotic tension, but his heart and mind felt the deliberate care instead, relaxing into the caresses and the moment, as surely Lee had intended. Finally, Lee had the last button undone, Michael‟s shirt hanging open. Lee stripped his polo shirt off over his head quickly and pressed his lips to Michael‟s navel, slithering his way up to standing again, his chest rubbing against Michael‟s the entire time. Michael groaned as Lee‟s lips crashed down on his again, all patience suddenly gone. He clutched frantically at Lee‟s hips, trying to keep his balance

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 52 beneath the onslaught, but Lee was having none of it. He spun Michael around and tipped him backwards onto the bed. “Fuck,” Michael gasped as the movement broke their kiss. His body pulsed with need, his thoughts scattering before the rising passion, and with it, his ability for coherent speech. “Please.” “Soon,” Lee promised, kneeling between Michael‟s legs to strip off his shoes, socks, and pants, leaving Michael naked before his new lover for the first time. Michael had a moment of worry that he wouldn‟t meet Lee‟s approval, but the look on Lee‟s face put that notion to rest immediately. Lee looked like a kid in a candy shop, and Michael was his desired treat. Wanting to keep Lee‟s face in sight, Michael pushed up on one elbow, waiting to see what Lee would do next. To Michael‟s surprise, Lee lifted one of his feet and set it on a jeans-clad thigh, tracing over Michael‟s instep with gentle fingers. “Careful,” Michael gasped. “I‟m ticklish there.” Lee added a little pressure to the caress so it stopped tickling. Michael relaxed into the touch again and shivered as the firmer touch sent tingles up his leg to his groin. He‟d never known his feet were so erogenous. Like with everything else, though, Lee seemed a step ahead of him, massaging his legs in all the right places until Michael was sure he couldn‟t feel any better. Lee‟s hands kept working, though, adding sensation upon sensation.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 53 Finally, Lee set Michael‟s foot back on the floor, only to pick up the other one and repeat his attentions on the other side. Michael bit back another plea, trying to relax and let Lee take his time, but he felt like he‟d explode if he didn‟t come soon. Right now, in fact. It would be easy enough to reach for his aching cock, but he didn‟t want the pleasure to be self-delivered. He wanted Lee‟s hands on him, or better yet Lee‟s mouth. As if reading his mind, Lee suddenly swept down on Michael‟s cock, sucking it deep until the tip hit the back of his throat. Michael tried to call out a warning as the unexpected heat and pressure pushed him over the edge, but the words didn‟t make it past his lips. Lee didn‟t seem to care, though, licking and sucking at Michael‟s shaft until it finished twitching. Michael slumped back on the bed, panting as the stimulation continued, keeping him hard despite his climax. “What?” he managed to gasp. Lee lifted his head, his hand taking over the caresses. “You didn‟t think once would be enough, did you?” “Once is all I‟m usually good for,” Michael admitted. Lee smiled. “Then you‟re in for a treat. Trust me?” Michael groaned, the promise in Lee‟s voice enough to have him turned on again already. Not to mention that with Lee‟s hand stroking him so intimately, he didn‟t seem to be softening. “Yes.” “Good. Lie back and relax,” Lee urged. “Give me half an hour, and I‟ll make you come again.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 54 “And what are we going to do for half an hour?” Michael asked, only half teasing. “I‟m going to make you feel good,” Lee said. Michael moaned in delight at the thought, but his innate sense of fairness protested. “Shouldn‟t I make you feel good too?” “You will,” Lee promised. “When you let me inside you, it will feel amazing, even through the condom.” Michael wasn‟t sure that was enough, but Lee‟s hand moved with more purpose along his erection, stealing Michael‟s breath again. His other hand slid up Michael‟s stomach to his chest, tangling in the thick hair in search of his nipples. Finding them, Lee tweaked and pinched at them, keeping the stimulation constant and distracting. Michael‟s eyes closed, the lids too heavy to stay open beneath the onslaught of sensation. He undulated on the bed, completely uncaring of how wanton or needy his movements made him appear. Lee‟s hands never paused, so he obviously wasn‟t disturbed by the show. Michael‟s eyes flew open when he felt cool fingers press against his entrance. He had no idea where Lee had gotten the lube, but he spread his legs wider. “Roll over,” Lee murmured, kissing the inside of Michael‟s thigh. Michael rolled onto his stomach, moving at Lee‟s urging to the middle of the bed. He looked back over his shoulder at his lover, still dressed from the waist down, kneeling between his legs. One hand settled reassuringly in the small of Michael‟s back while the other delved into his crease.

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 55 Michael pulled one knee up to the side, letting the new position part his cheeks and put his hole on display. If the sudden groan from Lee was any indication, the posture met his approval. Michael smiled and lifted his butt invitingly. Lee nipped at one curved cheek. “Behave yourself.” “Why?” Michael quipped. “Because you‟re too tempting already,” Lee said softly, “and if I get inside you too soon, I won‟t be able to hold back until you can come again.” Michael shivered at the thought of Lee fucking him to completion. “I‟ll be good,” he promised. Lee‟s fingers found their target again, playing teasingly around the edge of Michael‟s entrance until he thought he‟d go wild with the sensation. Only when he was squirming and pushing back against Lee‟s fingers did the other man finally work one inside him, no more than to the first knuckle, slipping in and out until Michael sobbed out his need. As if that were the signal Lee had been waiting for, suddenly the finger went deeper, probing the walls of Michael‟s passage until he cried out again at the pressure on his prostate. A second finger joined the first, but Michael was too far gone to do more than register the stretch in passing as Lee massaged his sweet spot with unerring skill, leaving Michael feeling like he could come again any second. Lee didn‟t let him, though, always backing off when he felt his release nearing. “Please,” Michael begged. “Fuck me already.” The sound of foil tearing had never been so welcome. The fingers disappeared for a moment, to be replaced by the

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 56 blunt tip of Lee‟s cock. Michael almost asked to roll over, wanting to see Lee‟s face as they made love, but then Lee filled him, and Michael changed his mind. He didn‟t want Lee to pull away for anything, even that. There would be other opportunities, maybe even this weekend, to make love face to face. For now, he needed to come, almost as badly as if his previous climax had never happened. Lee seemed to sense his urgency, rocking into him steadily, rhythmically. Michael pushed up to meet each thrust, moving up onto his elbows to give him a greater range of motion. Lee‟s hands closed around his hips, helping him keep his balance as they moved with greater force, the bedsprings creaking beneath them as they strove for release. Every thrust of Lee‟s cock across Michael‟s prostate added to that need, a little jolt of pleasure that built and built and built until he thought he couldn‟t stand it anymore. The brush of the sheets along his shaft as he moved was almost unbearable, another layer of stimulation on already over-stimulated flesh. His elbows gave out as a particularly powerful thrust forced his climax out of him. He grunted as Lee lost control behind him, thrusting erratically now until he finally collapsed across Michael‟s back. They lay like that for several moments until the stickiness beneath Michael grew uncomfortable and the necessity of dealing with the condom became urgent. Lee rolled to the side, pulling Michael with him even as he withdrew. “That was amazing,” Michael said with a long sigh of repletion. “I didn‟t know I could feel like that.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 57 Lee grinned at him. “Let‟s get cleaned up, and you can return the favor later tonight. If you want to stay up here with me, that is.” Michael‟s arms tightened around Lee, even knowing why his lover started to pull away. “Try to make me leave and see what happens.” Lee laughed. “Not interested. I‟d much rather keep you here.” Michael let Lee go long enough to dispose of the condom and to return with a warm cloth to clean them up. When that was done, Lee snuggled into bed, his body curling around Michael‟s. Michael sighed again, with contentment this time, still amazed at everything Lee had made him feel. He had no idea when Lee had finally removed his pants, but they were skin to bare skin now, and that only added to his enjoyment of the moment. Lee‟s lips nuzzled at the back of his neck, bringing a fresh smile to Michael‟s lips. “I could get used to this,” he said softly. “So could I,” Lee said, snuggling even closer, “but we don‟t have to rush into anything. If this is right between us, it will still be right in a month or six months. We can take our time and let things develop naturally.” Michael rolled in Lee‟s arms so they were facing each other. “Or we can realize what we have and grab onto it with both hands. When it‟s right—and nothing has ever felt as right as being here with you—time doesn‟t matter.” “We‟ve known each other three weeks,” Lee reminded him. “We‟ve had a total of three dates.”

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 58 Michael shrugged. “My parents met at a wedding. They saw each other the next weekend, and the weekend after that, they got engaged. That was thirty-five years ago.” “So you believe in love at first sight?” Lee asked. “I believe in love,” Michael replied, “whatever that looks like. How can I not with that kind of example in front of me? I‟m not saying we should run away to Massachusetts and get married right away, but if you feel the same way, is there any point in not admitting it right away and making plans based on those feelings?” “I didn‟t think you‟d want to move that fast,” Lee admitted. “You were pretty nervous around me when we first met.” “And since then you‟ve shown me I have no reason to be,” Michael reminded him. “Other than those unfounded fears, everything about you is exactly what I need. Even not seeing you every day, the past three weeks have been the happiest I can remember in years. I want to hold onto that.” Lee smiled. “Then that‟s what we‟ll do.”

MICHAEL paid his registration at the Houston Gay Gamers Convention and picked up the schedule. Lee had already taken their bags up to the room and probably had the booth set up by now, but once Michael had his badge, he headed toward the dealers‟ room to check anyway. He couldn‟t stop the smile on his face when he caught sight of his lover, wearing jeans and a T-shirt still at this point rather than his full leather gear. He‟d save that for tomorrow when more

Rediscovery | Ariel Tachna 59 attendees were wandering around. Lee wore a leather vest over the T-shirt, though, a little bit of advertising even now. Looking around, Michael found the booksellers‟ table, the same publisher as the year before and the same women, but no kids. “Hi,” the redhead said as he approached. “What do you like to read?” “Everything you publish,” Michael said with a laugh. “You hooked me last year, and I haven‟t looked back. The kids didn‟t come with you this time?” “Not this year, thank goodness,” the other woman said. “We survived the weekend thanks to Lee, but it‟s not an experience I‟d care to repeat. Nice vest. Is it one of Lee‟s?” Michael looked down at the brown leather vest he wore, fingering the hem. “Yes, he made it for me.” He looked across the room at Lee and then back at the booksellers. “I‟m almost sorry your kids aren‟t here this year. If it hadn‟t been for them, I never would have looked at Lee twice.” “Michael? I could use a hand with this.” “Excuse me,” Michael said. “Work is calling.” He went over to Lee‟s booth, helping him hang up the items they‟d brought for display. When they were done, Lee kissed him swiftly. “Enjoy the con, baby. I‟ll see you at dinner tonight.”

About the Author

ARIEL TACHNA lives in southwestern Ohio with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. A native of the region, she has nonetheless lived all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her career and her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She started writing when she was twelve and hasn‟t looked back since. A connoisseur of wine and horses, she‟s as comfortable on a farm as she is in the big cities of the world. Visit Ariel‟s web site at http://www.arieltachna.com/ and her blog at http://arieltachna.livejournal.com/.

Novellas by ARIEL TACHNA

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Novels by ARIEL TACHNA

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Copyright

Rediscovery ©Copyright Ariel Tachna, 2011 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design by Catt Ford This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America February 2011 eBook Edition eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-847-1