Pestilence (21 page)

“At times you have to let fate take a hand in things.” Aldo kissed him again, hard and fast.

“You’re right, love. Who knew a virulent unknown disease could be the beginning of a love affair?” Bart held up his hand to let Aldo slip the ring on his finger.

Aldo leaned closer. “Well, when you fall in love with Pestilence, it makes sense.”

Epilogue

“Are you telling us there is a way for us to become human again?” War glared at Death. “And you knew about this all along?”

Death didn’t look at the Red Horseman. He kept his gaze off into the distance, ignoring the swirling desert sands and blinding sunlight of the war-stricken country they stood in. He watched for the flicker of life, for the moment the new Horseman joined them.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you.” War dropped a heavy hand on Death’s shoulder.

Looking down at the hand, he stared until War removed it. He met War’s accusatory gaze and nodded.

“There must always be four Horsemen. The balance between good and evil must be maintained and that’s what we are here for. Yet you can still return to what you once were, if you find the right person to love you.” He shrugged and returned to studying the horizon. “I’ve known about it, but I never thought it was true until Aldo fell in love with Bartholomew and changed back to what he was before he became a Horseman. I thought it was just a legend, or carrot given to us to keep us from giving up completely.”

“Now he’s human again and living with some man in Boston with a second house in Tuscany? How quaint,” War sneered.

“Don’t think badly of them. Wait until it happens to you, because it will, War. You won’t know what hit you when you meet the person you love.” Death thought back to the man he’d loved and all the things he’d done for him. Things that had ended with him killing a nobleman and becoming Death, the fourth Horseman.

“I’ve never been in love. Have no interest in doing so either.” War grunted with disgust. “Caring for someone only means they have the strength to hurt and betray you.”

Death glanced over at the other Horseman, hearing the sourness of bitter memories in his voice.

“Maybe, but be happy for Aldo. He’s found forgiveness and allowed himself to accept it. Something you might not be able to do.”

“I might not be able? What about you?”

“Since I feel no guilt for what I did, I can’t ask forgiveness for my actions.”

A beacon of light flashed in the distance and he exhaled sharply. The white stallion standing next to him neighed loudly and took off, racing toward the person standing where the light had been.

“It starts anew,” War murmured.

“Yes, but remember, there is hope if you choose to look for it.”

Death simply nodded at War and motioned for his own pale stallion to approach. He mounted and headed toward the new White Horseman, resigned to answering all the questions and helping the confused human understand who he’d become.

At times, being Death was far more difficult than people would believe.

* * * *

Four years later

Aldo strolled out onto the veranda, barely paying attention to where he was going as he studied the note in his hands. Bart grabbed him right before he ran into the table.

“Hey,” he said. “Watch where you’re going, love.”

“What?” Aldo glanced up then looked around. His eyes widened slightly as though he’d just realized where he was. “Thanks.” He leaned down to press a kiss to Bart’s cheek. “Got caught up in this invitation and lost track of where I was walking.”

Bart chuckled as he directed Aldo to the chair next to him. “What’s got you so bothered? And who would be inviting us anywhere? None of our friends are celebrating anything…that I know of,” he clarified.

“I wouldn’t consider them friends of ours.” Aldo smoothed the invite on the table before shoving it across to him. “I’m shocked he would ask us to visit him. Of course, I’m simply assuming who he is.”

“Gatian Almasia wishes to invite you to the occasion of his wedding to Pierre Fortsecue in Paris, France.” Bart dropped the heavy, expensive vellum and stared at Aldo. “You know Gatian Almasia? Where in the world would you have met him?”

Aldo gave him an indignant glare. “Why are you shocked that I would know Almasia? You know I lived several lifetimes before you and I met.”

“But you lived most of that in the Amazon rainforest. Almasia was a recluse for years before he met Fortsecue, but I’m pretty sure the rainforest wasn’t where he hung out.” Bart tapped his fingers on the edge of the invite. “How did you meet him?”

“If he’s who I think he is, we met while I was Pestilence, and I thought I’d never see him again now that we’re both mortal. I guess he must be mortal as well now, though I wouldn’t put it past him to say screw the rules and marry a mortal.”

“Almasia is who?” Bart used his foot to nudge Aldo’s knee. “Are you going to tell me?”

Aldo shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter. You know better than to talk about it to anyone. Gatian Almasia is—or was—Death.”

Bart gaped at him for a second then shut his mouth with a snap. “No shit? I never would’ve thought that.”

“He was the only one of us who remained in touch with humans, though he was still reclusive. Just because he didn’t really like people didn’t mean he couldn’t make money off them.” Aldo grimaced, and Bart figured he was thinking about Almasia.

“Do you think the others that you knew were able to become mortal again? Is that possible?” Bart covered Aldo’s hand then squeezed. “I don’t like to think we were the only lucky ones to find each other and fall in love. I hope the other three were able to as well.”

Aldo rolled his eyes. “Who knows? I don’t think Lam really gave me the whole answer about love and what all the possibilities were if we did fall. I never considered the idea that all we needed was to love someone and we’d be free.”

He climbed to his feet then walked around the table. After pushing Aldo’s chair back, Bart sat on his husband’s lap. Aldo wrapped his arms around Bart’s waist, pulling him tight to his chest. Sighing, Bart rested his head on Aldo’s shoulder.

“I’m so glad you found me,” he mumbled. “And didn’t walk away.”

“There was still some of the doctor inside me. Besides, even sick, you were the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in all my long years.” Aldo nuzzled his hair.

Snorting, Bart eased back enough to meet Aldo’s gaze. “That doesn’t say much for the people you saw. I was pretty sick and couldn’t have looked that great. Also, you must not have good taste.”

Winking, Aldo pressed a hard kiss to his lips. “I think my taste is perfect. You are gorgeous.”

Silence drifted over them as Bart bit Aldo’s bottom lip then sucked on it to soothe the sting. He licked along the inside of Aldo’s mouth, tasting the spices from the lasagna they’d had for dinner. Grunting, he rocked against Aldo.

Aldo broke the kiss. “Maybe we should take this inside. I’m feeling like I want to spend the rest of the night making love to you.”

“Hmm…I think that sounds like an awesome idea.”

He jumped off Aldo’s lap then held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

After taking his hand, Aldo stood. They started to head indoors when Bart stopped.

“Wait.” He dashed back to snatch the invite off the table. “We don’t want to lose this. You’ll call him and RSVP tomorrow.”

“I will? What makes you think I want to go to Almasia’s wedding? We weren’t friends when we were Horsemen. I’m not sure we’d get along now.”

“Oh yes. I want to meet Gatian and Pierre. Maybe see how the other half lives.” He burst out laughing as Aldo grabbed him around the waist then dragged him into the house. “Hey, be careful. I’m fragile.”

“How the other half lives? I think we’re doing quite well here.” Aldo slapped his ass. “Fragile? Seriously? Good thing I’m a doctor.”

Bart agreed, but kept his mouth shut. He did want to go to Paris and meet the Pale Horseman who might be mortal again. Neither Bart nor Aldo knew if the same thing that happened to them would be available to the others. He’d always hoped the other three Horsemen would come and visit Aldo, but none of them had. Maybe it was a rule that they couldn’t fraternize with former Riders. They’d head to Paris and Bart would get to meet the infamous Pale Horseman without having to die to do it.

He yelled as Aldo tossed him onto the bed. Bart held out his arms to his husband and smiled.

“We can honeymoon in Paris. It’s supposed to be the most romantic city in the world.”

Aldo’s sigh and roll of his eyes told Bart he’d won. Paris for a Horseman wedding. It could be the most interesting vacation Bart had ever taken.

Also available from Pride Publishing:

What’s his Passion?: Climbing the Savage Mountain

T.A. Chase

Excerpt

Chapter One

Toby let the door slam behind him as he entered his house. “Jensen? Are you here?”

No answer and Toby’s heart started to race. He tossed his keys in the bowl on the table in the foyer before he took off his jacket. Even a year later, he always panicked when he came home and Jensen wasn’t around. One would think he’d be over worrying that Jensen would leave him again.

Last year when Jensen Brockhoff had shown up out of the blue after disappearing for six years, Toby had convinced himself to forgive him and give Jensen another chance. Hell, Jensen had promised he’d never leave Toby again, and for the most part, Toby believed him. Yet there was just a small piece of his heart that figured Jensen’s wanderlust would kick in, and Toby would come home to an empty house with only a note explaining where Jensen had gone.

“Jensen?” he called again, picking up his briefcase before stalking down the hallway toward the back of the house.

Sometimes Jensen would be in the kitchen, wearing headphones while he cooked their supper. Toby had told him a hundred times just to plug his iPod into the stereo system that ran through the entire house, but Jensen said he liked feeling surrounded by the music—whatever that meant.

He left his briefcase in his study then walked into the kitchen. No Jensen. Toby took a deep breath, trying very hard not to start thinking bad things. He’d known something had been bothering Jensen the past week or so, but when Toby had asked him about it, he just brushed it off as mid-winter blues. He’d let it go because he’d been swamped at work.

Next time don’t let him distract you. Keep at him until he tells you what’s wrong. He’ll leave if you don’t get him to talk.

Toby stripped off his tie then unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt. He’d hung his suit coat on the banister, so he’d remember to take it upstairs later. After flinging the tie on the island counter, Toby braced his hands on the edge of the granite, closed his eyes and took two deep calming breathes.

“Hey man, I didn’t hear you come in. Been home long?”

Jumping slightly, Toby whirled around to watch as Jensen strolled in from the back yard, a pair of tongs in his hand. His headphones were hanging around his neck, which Toby took to mean he really hadn’t heard him yelling or the car pulling into the driveway.

Jensen set the tongs near the sink before coming over to Toby. He encircled Toby’s waist then pulled him tight against his body. Their mouths met and Toby sighed as all the tension he’d been feeling drained from him. He buried his hands in Jensen’s long hair, twisting his fingers to keep his lover still while he bit his bottom lip. Toby swept his tongue in when Jensen opened for him.

“Hmm…” he hummed, tasting something spicy as he kissed him. When they broke apart, he grinned. “Are we having chips and salsa along with our steaks tonight?”

“I might have already sampled the salsa.” Jensen winked. “Have to make sure it’s just spicy enough for my guy.”

Toby rolled his eyes, but didn’t try to move away when Jensen kissed him again. This was one of the things he’d grown to love now that Jensen was back and they were living together. It was something they hadn’t had when they were dating the first time. It had been more like friends with benefits, though Toby had always wanted more. Jensen had disappeared before Toby was able to say anything.

He whimpered when Jensen slid his hands to get two handfuls of his ass and squeezed. When Toby let his head drop back, Jensen licked a trail from the corner of his lips down to the soft skin at the base of his throat. Toby shuddered at the thought of wearing a mark like that as a sign that he belonged to Jensen. Keeping his hands in Jensen’s hair, Toby pressed his mouth a little tighter to his skin, wanting it more than he could ever voice.

Finally, Jensen exerted enough pressure to break free of Toby’s hold on him. He stepped back a few inches and smiled. “I need to go check the steaks. Why don’t you grab the salad out of the fridge? The table’s set and I made some apple cider for us.”

“Can I go change first?” He gestured to his dress clothes then to the ripped jeans and long sleeve sweater Jensen wore. “Someone’s a little more comfortable than I am.”

Jensen chuckled. “Go ahead, man. Wouldn’t want you to get your work clothes dirty. I can finish getting everything on the table.”

“Thanks.” Toby swooped in for another kiss before he dashed toward the back staircase. “I’ll be right back down.”