"And you are..." Michael inquired, coming closer. He held out his hand.
"Jason," he replied coldly, ignoring the outstretched hand, and walked out of the room.
Michael stared at him until he disappeared. "He yours?" Michael asked Juan.
Juan laughed. "Not so far."
"Did you and Dad share him or something?"
"Me and your dad?" Juan narrowed his eyes. "I think you've mistaken me with..."
Before he could finish, another man came into view. He was wiping his face on a towel and wearing navy nylon shorts and a white tank top soaked with sweat. He was the most beautiful man Michael ever seen. He couldn't take his eyes off of him.
Jason was there again, a hand on one of the man's muscular biceps. "This is Michael," he said, tossing his head in his direction.
Michael came closer. He smiled. God, whoever he was, he was sexy as sin. He had to have that. "Hi." He ran his gaze over him, making no attempt to hide his interest. "Call me Mike. Christ, if I knew the men out here looked like you, I'd have come for a visit."
"Really?" the man replied in a deep voice, lifting a dark eyebrow.
Michael nodded. "Oh, yeah. Where have you been all my life, baby?"
The man's gaze met his, brown, beautiful eyes filled with sudden fury. "You want to know where I've been all your life, Mike?"
Michael narrowed his eyes, not sure where the sudden hostility was coming from.
"Most of your life," Anthony responded softly, leaning closer, almost touching his lips with his, "I've been here with your father. I'm Anthony. Welcome to L.A."
Michael paled. "I ... I'm ... sorry ... I mean ... I ... didn't know who you were. Dad liked them young, didn't he?"
Anthony's face changed. "Pardon me?"
"I thought his lover would be a bit older and..."
Juan laughed out loud.
"I'm not your father's lover," Anthony muttered. "I'm his son."
"Son?" Michael's eyes widened. "What in hell do you mean by son? Dad had another ... son?" Oh my God, was this guy his half-brother?
"Adoptive son. Michael's lover's name was Daniel. Daniel adopted me when I was a teenager."
"I ... I didn't know that," Michael said uneasily.
"How could you?" Anthony bit back bitterly. "You never came out here to see your father."
"Where is ah ... Daniel?" Michael looked around, then, glanced at Juan.
"He died in a car accident two years ago," Anthony told him.
Michael fell silent. Then he said, "I didn't mean to ... well..."
"Come on to me like that? It's all right, and so appropriate."
Michael looked down. Adopted son? Damn, his father had deserted him and then went and made himself a new family. How fucking convenient!
"Now listen to me," Anthony was saying gruffly. "You can stay here until we see the lawyer, but you keep the fuck out of my way. Is that clear?"
Michael nodded. "Sure, whatever."
"And you better had brought a suit with you, because you're going to the funeral."
Michael looked up at him, and blinked. "I haven't decided yet if I..."
"You will be there, because he was your father. And if he was good enough to leave you money, he's good enough to have his son present at his service."
"He was a drag queen who disowned me when I was born, and from the looks of it, he went out and got himself a new kid." Michael burst out. "I didn't owe him anything, but he sure as hell owed me."
Anthony's face tightened. "Michael tried to contact you. He wanted to know you, but it was you who..." Anthony broke off.
Juan came over and placed a hand on Anthony's arm now. "Hey, come on, honey. Your temper is showing."
Anthony took a deep breath, lowering his voice. "You will be there by my side at that funeral for your father's sake. After we visit the lawyer, you can leave. We never have to lay eyes on each other again."
"Suddenly you're in charge. You weren't even his blood." Michael scoffed.
Anthony glared him at him, then turned, and walked out of the room.
"I'm supposed to show you where you'll sleep," Jason announced suddenly.
"What are you, the house boy?" Michael mocked.
"No, I'm not the houseboy," he replied sarcastically. "Michael and Daniel took me in awhile back."
"They sure as hell liked collecting pretty little boys, didn't they?" Michael walked up the stairs to the second floor.
Jason shot him a dirty look. "Fuck you," he muttered, leading him to the room on the end.
Michael laughed. "So where does Mr. High and Mighty sleep?"
"He has a name. It's Anthony, and he sleeps down at the other end. And don't be getting any ideas about comforting him in the middle of the night 'cause..."
"...'cause that would be your job?" Michael met his gaze with a slow smile appearing on his lips.
Jason didn't reply.
"I wasn't born yesterday. And don't worry, stud, I won't be encroaching on your territory. I wouldn't do that one if he was the last cock on earth."
"You are so full of shit. I saw your eyes pop out of your head when you saw him."
Before Michael could answer, Jason disappeared down the hallway.
)
