...The old man pulled at his chin, peering over the squared-lensed glasses balanced on the end of his nose. “I have some things you might find interesting back there.” He waved his hand toward the back of the store. “Follow the aisle and take the first branch to the right.”

John had every intention of making an excuse and leaving, but instead he found himself walking in the direction the old man had indicated. I guess it won’t hurt to look. I’ve got…

He frowned at the watch. Wasn’t it saying it was earlier now than it had been a few minutes ago?

He shook it. Held it to his ear. The second hand ticked steadily on.

Shrugging, he lowered his arm. Must have read it wrong before.

Formica-topped tables. Shelves filled with best-sellers no one remembered. Tallboys packed with tinted jars and bottles.

The woman at the liquor store had been right. Most of the stuff was junk, though here and there he saw pieces that looked like they might be worth something.

The store went back much farther than he’d expected and he hadn’t come across a clear turning point yet.

Disgusted with himself for wasting his time, John was just about to turn around when he saw the aisle. Hesitating for only an instant, he started down it. He was here now. Might as well take a look.

The items here were of much better quality than those in the front of the store. Displayed better, it was possible to actually see what each object was.

A box on a marbled-topped table caught his eye. He stopped for a closer look.

It was about the same dimensions as a Monopoly box, long, not very high, and carved from a darker-grained wood. Mahogany maybe, he thought as the overhead light picked up a red sheen.

His brown furrowing, he set down the bottle of Chablis and picked up the box. What were those carvings? Rubbing his thumb lightly over them, his frown deepened. At first he’d thought they were Meso-American, his area of expertise. But now that he looked closer, the carvings seemed to be of tiny human figures. It was extremely fine work.

Lifting the box to examine it further, he was surprised by how light it was. There was nothing inside then. Turning it in his hands he found a carved catch and opened it.

The heavy scent of mint and something else arose and enveloped him. Normally strong scents bothered him, bringing on a sneezing fit. But this one…this one.

He inhaled deeply, his eyes closing.

Sex. It made him think of hot, slow sex on a lazy summer day. Sex with Ray. His mouth wrapped around the other man’s hard cock, moving up and down the length of it while Ray moaned and urged him on.

The box closed with a sharp click, the scent locked within.

John stared at it. His chest heaved. His body trembled under a layer of sweat. He was rock hard and ready to come.

Damn! That scent was dangerous.