Chapter 10
Arliss awakened to dawn’s grayish light filling the room. He immediately sensed he was alone in the bed. He turned on his side and verified that, yes, Sean’s side of the bed was empty. He ran a hand over the pillow and the sheets on his lover’s side of the bed and found them cool to the touch.
This was unusual. Sean never left him alone in bed—at least, he hadn’t until this morning. Something about it just didn’t feel right. The apartment was quiet. The living room was just off the bedroom, but there was no soft murmur from the TV or the stereo. Arliss tilted his head up, looking at the crack where the bottom of the bedroom door met the floor, and saw no strip of light.
Had Sean left? Was he sitting out there in the dark? Could he not stand to lie next to him? Whatever way he
