His fingers caressed over the sloping shoulder-- gently-- lightly, tips tracing along a developing muscle line, leaving a small trail in the light sheen of sweet glistening there as they moved in a slow stroke.
 Cosmo’s gasp of surprise jerked Ace back to reality. He stared as his young friend turned slowly, feeling a hot blush attack his face.
 What was he doing?!
 One moment he had been helping Cosmo with the free weights and in the next... In the next he had been absolutely fascinated by the muscle rippling beneath pale skin; feeling a strange attraction, watching the play of young power displayed before him.
 “Ace?” Cosmo said in a small, confused voice, brow quirked in a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Ace couldn’t look at him. He just couldn’t.
 “I’m sorry, Cosmo.. I.. I,” he stammered. How the hell could he explain it? He didn’t even understand what he had just done. It was just.. what he wanted to do. To.. touch that young body. To explore.
 The blush deepened at the warmth that touched him in his chest and in his groin at the ideas conjured by that one word alone. Explore.
 Cosmo reached out and lightly touched his arm. Ace flinched back, catching sight of the confused look the teen was giving him. Not angry -surprisingly- just... confused.
 “Ace? Ace, are you okay?”
 No! his brain stated unequivocally. Not in the least. Not when he started thinking of his young apprentice not as a friend or partner but as... as more. As someone warm... caring.. sensual. The heat arose again and Ace took a deep breath, trying to drive it back.
 “I’m okay,” he lied calmly. “Forgive me.. I don’t know why I did that. I assure you I meant no harm,” he mumbled. He truly hadn’t meant any harm. Would never bring any harm. Never, never to Cosmo! Ace simply wanted to touch. To feel...
 Damn! What was he thinking? This was his partner, friend and another man on top of that.
 Cosmo was silent for a moment, biting his lip and looking at the floor.
 “Uh.. Ace,” he started slowly. “Have you been... thinking about me?”
 The flinch didn’t come as Ace would expect. But the dread did. Yes, he had been thinking of Cosmo. In ways he damn well shouldn’t. In quiet moments, strange thoughts would suddenly appear. Some harmless, some.. provocative. Thoughts of gently touching the red hair, of lifting off the red and purple shirt in the soft hush of night to reveal the body beneath. Arousal started to stir and Ace slammed the lid shut on his memories. Locked the chest and tossed the key. Wrong. It was wrong!
 But it felt right.
 He groaned silently, not able to answer.
 A hand snaked into his field of vision, slender fingers wrapping around his wrist, tightening as he tried to pull back, refusing him the retreat. Then, Ace found his hand pulled closer, lifted and carefully deposited to the bare chest of his younger partner. His heart skipped a beat as Cosmo’s hand fell away, his own fingers spreading over the slightly heaving chest. It was like one of his musings had suddenly come true as Ace turned his fingers slowly, letting them explore the muscular torso. It was not as strongly built as his own, but gaining in definition. Evidence of their work outs together. Beneath the lean muscle Ace felt the muffled beat of Cosmo’s heart. Its heavy rhythm utterly fascinated him as he pressed his palm flat. He wanted to feel every beat, to feel every breath. It was a sudden and strange realization. And strong, that to. Almost overwhelming.
 Slowly, Ace forced himself to look up. To look into the gray eyes watching him, Cosmo’s face shining with uncertainty, concern.
 “I..” Cosmo stammered quietly. “You’re not the only one.. thinking, Ace.”
 He heard the words, but they didn’t register, didn’t seem able to register. For a moment it was all Ace could do not to run, feeling the heartbeat of his partner and staring into those clear gray eyes.
 Something was happening. Between them. Cosmo was thinking.. about him? The fact was exciting. Unimaginably exciting. Damn, why? He had Mona. He was happy.
 Wasn’t he?
 Moments played back in his mind's eye. Brief glimpses of Cosmo talking with him, helping him when the magic grew unbearable. The young man taking extra care around the magician on a bad day. Their playing together when silliness struck. Both laughing. Happy.
 What was he doing? It was wrong.
 But it felt... right.
 Damn.
 Cosmo stepped closer. Ace kept his hand one the teen’s chest as he approached. Now, slowly, Cosmo’s hand raised and laid on Ace’s own chest. Fingers splayed against the thin, sweat stained fabric of his t-shirt. Ace shivered all the same. In his musings it had always been him touching, initiating, but now... The heat shot straight through him at the young man’s touch, even if the fabric of his shirt was a barrier.
 Cosmo’s eyes dropped closed and the hint of a smile played over his lips.
 “Can feel it,” he murmured with wonder in his voice. “Your heartbeat.”
 Ace stifled the sigh that wanted to escape as Cosmo’s hand moved slightly, dragging lightly over skin that seemed suddenly way too sensitive. They.. he.. they couldn’t do this. Feel like this. Cosmo was his partner.. his apprentice and underage.. hell just a lot younger then him on top of it. It was wrong.
 But damn it. It felt right.
 Nothing seemed harder than Ace pulling his hand away from the chest of the teen. To lose contact with the other man’s heat, presence, heartbeat. But he did it, stepping back. Cosmo didn’t follow, letting his hand fall away as well. Confusion glittered in his eyes and a distant touch of pain, as if realizing Ace’s thoughts and finding them counter to his own. They were counter to what Ace truly wanted. At least, what he thought he wanted. It was all so confusing. Strange and unexpected.
 And... nice.
 “I.. I think we’d better call it quits for today,” Ace mumbled hesitantly.
 Cosmo licked his lips, eyes dropping. Slowly, he nodded. “Okay.. I’ve got to.. go meet the gang anyway,” he returned, equally unenthused. Then, he glanced up, trying to capture Ace’s eyes. At last, Ace relented and Cosmo frowned slightly at his guarded expression. The seconds dragged as the young man looked for something in his older partner’s gaze. Ace wasn’t sure if he found it as Cosmo nodded absently again.
 “I’ll.. see you later, Ace,” he declared tremulously, walking past, pace slightly hurried. Everything in Ace screamed at him to follow. Talk. Listen.
 He stood still. Afraid, uncertain and confused.
 So damn confused.
 What the hell was happening?! Was it right? Was it wrong?
 Ace had no easy answer as he stared at the closed door Cosmo had just left through.