“You and I need to have a talk about literature…no, not now. All right, then. You said you did have money. I won’t ask if you tell me not to, but…” Robert hesitated, awkward, anxiety lacing tropical oceans. Robert, Anthony realized abruptly, was afraid for him. “You’ve not been…you haven’t been…you mentioned that book, and…you’ve needed money, I know, and you say you…like men…you haven’t been doing what he, ah…was doing…oh, hell. Has anyone…they haven’t…hurt you?”
Anthony had been braced for any possible question except that. He nearly physically fell over. “No!”
“Because I wouldn’t hold it against you—” Robert reached out for him: with hands, with voice, with emotion that wanted to gather Anthony in under a big bold shining shield. Large and impulsive and ready to jump in front of all i
