Josh, a lonely trapeze artist, thinks he’s cursed. It’s an old family superstition. He can’t have sex on a day he flies or he’ll fall. Maybe that’s why he’s never had a steady boyfriend, though sometimes he dreams of one. In his show, a strange melody plays in the background. It follows him and surfaces from time to time on the street. When Josh’s uncle hears about the music, he tells his nephew to bring the old ring, passed down from generations since the time of the curse. Steve is a realtor who always reaches his goals, in sales or otherwise, and he moonlights as a dancer in an all-male review on The Strip. All his friends his age are married, and his best friend’s wife Genie wants to see him hitched, too. He’s a little bit challenged in the relationship department, though. He has some growing up to do, or maybe it’s his problem in bed, where he’s somewhat one-sided. Steve and Josh meet one crazy night when Josh breaks all the rules used to protect him from the curse. After that, he runs. If it wasn’t for Genie’s matchmaking, Josh and Steve might never see each other again. Though not yet ready for a boyfriend, Josh does need a realtor. What a good way for he and Steve to get to know each other, while Josh works up the courage to tell Steve about the curse. Still unaware of Josh’s problem, Steve falls in love with him. When Steve finds out about the curse thing, it’s a big disappointment, but he wants Josh anyway. There’s no doubt Josh is worth the wait. Maybe the curse isn’t real after all. Can lonely Josh overcome his fear of it? Can horndog Steve handle a curse? Is the answer in the ancient ring?

The Curse of Flight

Good to go now, and in a precise order, Steve turned off the water, got out, dried off, applied deodorant, combed his hair, shaved, put on his cloths, went to the car, and headed for Josh. Then it started again, that pressure south of the navel and deep within. It intensified not to a burn but an irritation, not a pain but a heat needing escape. He knew the sensation well and what relieved it.


In the old days, he would go to The Pariah, call a buddy like Chris, or maybe find someone online. Things were different now. He wanted Josh, who might find out and never talk to him again. What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas, no help there. They always found out.


He had jerked off more times that week than he cared to admit to himself. This didn’t count for infidelity by his standards. He didn’t know Josh’s take on it, but anyway, no one was talking.


Chapter 45