To Unmake a Boy

Heise held out the crimson umbrella, presenting the handle first, toward Ru.

Ru wanted to take the umbrella, fingers brushing against the man's. The umbrella was heavier than expected.

Then—

Heise shrugged off his robe.

The embroidered silver brocade slid from his shoulders like liquid shadow, pooling at his feet in a wet, glistening heap. Beneath, there was nothing but the perfect, honed lines of a swimmer's body, still slick with the river's embrace. Water beaded on his skin, tracing the hollow of his throat and the sharp ridges of his collarbones, before cascading down his chest in shimmering rivulets.

Ru's breath caught.

'Control yourself.'

He forced his voice to be steady. "Would you like a towel to dry off with?"

Heise allowed his hair to flow freely. "I like the rain on my skin." He took a step forward. The candlelight caught the sapphire shining in his eyes, turning them molten. "But you..." Another step. Ru could smell him now. "You're soaked."