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

Josh’s tender caress was to no avail. His hands only tensed Steve further. This wasn’t going to work.


Steve’s body spoke. The insidious nature of fear revealed itself. Its sinewy fingers clutched at his flesh. Though perhaps unaware to him and against his will, the muscles along his spine arched rigid, which did nothing to protect him from the perceived threat nor to prevent it. To no purpose, he reacted as under attack. The muscles turned to knots and tired. They twitched, and Steve sighed with fatigue.


It was a lesson for Josh. On the trapeze tonight, this mustn’t happen to him. He would observe every tension and release it, any fear wherever he found it in himself, down to the blood and the bone.


He pinched Steve’s butt. “You’re not ready. Another time maybe.” He could have made it happen now, he supposed. If it were in him to do so. Though angry, he still loved Steve, and didn’t want to hurt him.


Chapter 77