TOUCHED BY A STAR (M/M)

0.03

-VENUS-

The blazing midday sun shines relentlessly in my huge room, through the loose curtains as specks of dust dance in the shaft of afternoon sunlight, that tilts through the window and parted curtains. I groan out loud realizing how stressed I've been lately, trying to come up with new ideas for my latest novel. I adjust my lens and flex my wrists which feels sour and achy from using my hands a lot. Twisting my head from side to side, I try to figure out how to start the first chapter.

FATES INTERTWINED. An LGBT story.

Let's get this straight. Pleasure is all I gain from writing this type of Genre and honestly, this has nothing to do with my s****l preference. My laptop looks right back at me, waiting for the next data.

I stretch my legs to their full length on my comfy king-sized bed making sure my laptop does not fall from my lap.

"Okay...here it goes" Pumping my fists in the air, I turn on the A.C. "...[ I believe in Unicorns. I believe in princes turning into frogs. I believe in Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. And I believe in stars and the three fates. To me, man has to first exist before making his destiny and not the other way around for man is not a thing that has a fixed nature.]..." I read out loud and ended it with a full stop. I set my MacBook aside in much need of a break.

Being an author is tedious work especially when you're full of ideas but everything seems so mixed up in your head that you're clueless about where to start and end. Don't get me started on writer's block. Aside from the backaches, sore eyes, and lack of sleep, I appreciate writing and publishing my books from home. What do you expect from a naive anti-social rich

Young master if not this?

I don't get to wake up early on Mondays for work as my siblings do. I don't have to be bothered about being stuck in a traffic jam or thinking about how to persuade new partners to cooperate with my business on a beneficial project. Heck! I don't have a mount of paperwork to attend to.

I wake up mostly around noon and if I'm not writing, I'm making calls to check up on the Art industry I purchased recently. So lost in la la land, I'm unaware of my Grandma's intrusion on my privacy for the fifth time today.

"Mi querida!" My dear. She calls out, taking royal strides toward my bed.

"Abuela" Grandma

Her lips make contact with my face, probably leaving red prints all over much to my aversion.

She is dressed in her signature attire. A long bright yellow dress that glitters like diamonds with her face full of makeup as a compliment. As usual.

" You're always drained from typing when you should be resting as the baby of the family." She scolds in Spanish as my blonde waves become her new plaything.

I open my mouth to retort only to be cut off.

"Sé lo que quieres decir. Te encanta ser independiente y bla, bla. Ahora, vamos, chico. Tómate un descanso. Salir con Alex o Leo o tus amigos. I can even arrange a trip for you" I know what you want to say. You love being independent and blah blah. Now, C'mon boy. Take a break. Hang out with Alex or Leo or your friends.

Perks of being homeschooled is having no friends aside from Leo who managed to worm himself into my boring life. Something Abuela seems to forget all the time. She's in her eighties so I pardon her for that.

"Alex y yo rompimos". Alex and I broke up. My words are muffled into the comfort of my sheets. She messes with my hair, earning an annoyed groan from me.

"Te engañó?" Did he cheat on you?

"That too,"

She falls for my pleading eyes.

"Estás preciosa" You look good. My compliment manages to divert her attention from my problem. She waves a hand dismissively, spotting a light pink hue on her wrinkled cheeks. Her hazel eyes glow and I'm once again reminded of my blue orbs. So distinct from the rest of my family.

Disregarding that familiar thought, I grin at Grandma, mentally grateful for always being the reason behind her big smiles.

"Me siento halagado ... has hablado con tu

madre?" I'm flattered... You have talked to your mother?" She reminds.

My Grandma has taken care of me since my birth here in Madrid while my family resides in New York.

I'm only able to see them via phone calls and rarely video calls with how busy everyone is. This arrangement does not bother me. Actually, I'm glad as it helps reduce the awkwardness every time I speak with them.

I'm looking forward to staying with them for a while. I won't

call it running away from my problem. A fresh heartbreak, emotional abuse, and my nth relationship at that... There's so much I can take.

Mother never told me why she gave me to my Grandma and I also never asked, since I appreciate my grandma that much.

The Vasech family is a wealthy business family known for dealing in Gold-related materials and manufacturing vehicles. There are also minor businesses and we're known to be descended from aristocracy.

" I talked to her yesterday...about spending

some time with them for a change of environment." My response is in my native tongue to her dismay.

"You know I love you, Abuela" I hurry to cup her hands in mine," I just, you know...want to spend some time with them. With Amaury. I'll come back to you safe and sound, I promise. You can even visit if you think I'm taking too long" I explain, hoping her worries and fears will be soothed.

"When are you planning on leaving?" She questions in a thick Spanish accent that leaves me rolling under the sheets in no time.

"Don't laugh my English, young boy." She feigns a frown.

With a clap from her, three female maids enter with a different variety of foods,

drinks, and fruits.

" I could have eaten downstairs and I'll leave a week today" I tie my shoulder-length hair into a bun.

"You deserve this and more. I'll leave you to finish this. All of it

and oh... Leonardo is downstairs, I'll send him in" She sends kisses my way and exits with the maids.

A plate of cheese and serrano ham. Also my favorite soup, sopa de pescado y marisco and rape al Limon. I wet my bottom lip with a swipe of my tongue, practically drooling over the

sight of my bed. My door opens right when I'm about to dig in.

"Who do we have here?"I mumble, shifting my gaze to meet a pair of dazzling grey ones.

"Leonardo Perez in case you've forgotten. Y'Know -". He gestures to himself. Here we go again. '6 feet 4 tall, tall, broad, and with the packs to die for. Self-made multimillonaire. Spain's handsome fuckboy -"

"I'm glad you remember that." Cutting him off with an eye roll, I pat my side as an invitation. I hold onto the large tray to prevent any food from spilling when he flops on the bed, kicking off his shoes in the process.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"When I have a P.A.? Nope...¿Qué pasa?." What's up? He brushes his face, revealing a sharp facial structure that's equivalent to addictive.

"Nothing"

I reply, ignoring his failed attempt to steal an apple. His eyebrows furrow and he drops the apple on the plate. I watch the corners of his full lips set in a straight line.

"Hey, what's wrong ?"

"I just..."

"Just what?"

"Alex broke up with me" I murmur, pushing the tray of food aside from the instant loss of appetite. Leo bursts into laughter as I had predicted. Cherry wakes up, meowing at Leo, showing her detest for the human.

"Sorry fatass" Leo teases between little chuckles, patting the

little space between us as an invitation which Cherry sassily ignores by flicking her tail at him in a drowsy state. Cherry

leaves her little comfy bed on the tiled floor after a moment to admire the fish tank that is out of reach from him, unfortunately.

"I told you she'll continue hating you if you keep calling her that." My words fall on deaf ears.

"Ven aqui fatass" Come here, fatass.

Disregarding Leo's open arms, Cherry lazily moves to my side of the bed. I get her in the middle of Leo and I. My fingers sink into her fur, lulling her to sleep.

"I want the details"

"He broke up with me" I shrug, nonchalantly despite the sudden ache.

"It was meant to happen anyway"

"You're not helping, you know?." My brows knit together.

Leo scoffs and grins naughtily, knowingly.

"A relationship shouldn't be centered on s*x alone." This is so stupid of me to say and my raspy voice proved it all.

He pats my hair like he would a teary child.

"That's true -"

"Says a playboy as yourself," I snicker.

He chuckles.

"Okay." He raises his hand in mock surrender. "I know I'm the last person to seek relationship advice from but hey, you can trust my producer side. Most of my works have the lots in them."

"Okay, Mr. C.EO. Mr. President. I'm all ears."

"s*x shouldn't be everything a relationship should be about. But it's also necessary... something valuable that connects not just the body but the minds of both parties. It's like a sort of an imaginary rope binding both parties and building trust in a kinda way."

His words are well-received. Not as if I never knew that.

Leo takes a sip of my orange juice.

"That should not be why he has to break up with me" I insist. I ignore how pity flashes in Leo's eyes for a moment.

Yes, I'm pitiful. I should be sorry for myself for being this way. I should be ashamed. And I will be all these if that's what it takes to feel loved.

I'm aware of Grandma's love for me. I appreciate Leo's undying affection just as much as the family I'm yet to see in flesh. Yet I desire to be loved like a lover.

"Were you even listening? In conclusion, you two should have had s*x by now. You're still a virgin and this is what-" He pauses to count his fingers, " Your nth relationship. You've kept your virgin ass to yourself for 22 years, Vee... What is the problem You can talk to me?" He rattles on and on. I can only listen with a rigid body, unsettled heart, and a tight lip.

"Venus." He holds my hands, pecks my lips and then my forehead, and stares dead-straight into my trembling eyes. " I've been your closest friend and brother for ten years now. I cherish you a lot. You can tell me anything...right?' His face contours into seriousness and hope.

I nod, unsurely.

"Do you have any STDs?."

I look at his waiting face for a few seconds before shaking my head in response, soaking in the warmth from his caresses.

"You think I have STD?... In this modern era where protection is a common thing and I'm a virgin for Christ's sake ... of course not,"

He mouths an 'oh'

"Are you, maybe, scared of having something stuck down there?."

Okay, that terrifies me sometimes but I think I can handle that when it gets to that.

"Nope...it's just that..."

Can I tell him?

Yes. I trust him.

"What?"

"Don't freak out, okay?."

"Okay."

"You know Fernando?." I ask

"Yeah. The cute family doctor of yours." He states and I nod.

"When I reached puberty, he called me. And he...he kind of said I'm different."

"As in?"

A brief anonymous silence reigns.

"I'm sorta of an intersex."

An edgy silence reigns.

"Oh," He looks taken aback, a slight pink hue coating both cheeks.

"Yep, and that's just the intro." I rub my nape shyly, avoiding his gaze and the caresses he gives to my free hand. " I have external male genitals and internal female reproductive which enables me to carry children of only one sperm donor. The first male to have unprotected s*x with me will be the only one to impregnate me for my lifetime."

" So you produce both semen and eggs?"

"Mmm." I nod with a heated face. Contraceptives aren't that safe and Alex prefers it without a c-condom. That's what

scares me. I love him yet I don't think I can trust him with my condition." He nods to my reasons with the utmost concern.

His face holds no hint of contempt that would have made me regret telling him. His smile reaches those grey orbs.

"Come here." Leo pulls me onto his lap easily. His arms envelop me in a warm hug with my head resting on his broad chest. A sigh of relief slips from my parted lips.

"When did it happen?"

"Yesterday. He hasn't picked up any of my calls since then. I'm

frightened, Leo. I still feel for him ... a lot." My voice cracks at the end and I fist my hands into his chest, roughing the silk fabric up a little. My tears betray me and roll down my cheeks. I instantly brush it away with the back of my

hands, overlooking the burn on both cheeks from my roughness. I loathe moments like these. Moments that I'm vulnerable and wimpy. Moments that I'm driven to depend on others for strength. And these moments are mostly all the time.

We stay like this for a moment. I, relishing in his embrace and he, giving me all his attention and care.

A hug that was much needed.

"I need a break, Leo...from all this" He nods supportively. I pick up a sleeping Cherry on my lap when my hands itch to feel.

"¿Qué planeas hacer?." What are you planning on doing?

"I wish to spend some time with my family for a while. My parents have been informed and will be expecting me next week"

He stays silent but his tight grip on me betrays him. Tilting my head up, I hold his neatly shaved stubble cheeks so his distressed eyes finally settles on mine. Leo has always been my rock just as I, his. We have never been far from each other and this impulsive decision will wound the both of us. I peg his jaw.

"I prefer your lips on mine," He sulks, pulling me closer as if there was ever a space left between us. I give him a brief kiss.

"More." He whines and earns a smack on his chest.

"I know what you're trying to do." I pretend to scold.

He feigns a hurt expression, bringing a hand to his left side chest.

"You wound me, love...I'll spend my two months' vacation at N.Y. then. You ain't getting rid of me that easily."