Sunday, November 29, 2015

Book Tour: King Stud (O'Connor Family Novel Book 1) by @LivRancourt #Contemporary #Romance @EvernightPub





Danielle’s got three months to make her Grandmother’s rundown Craftsman house livable. Her game plan is to get in, get grubby, and get back home to L.A. She needs a carpenter, and her best friend’s younger brother is a good one. It’s hard to ignore the buffed body under Ryan’s paint-splattered sweatshirts, but her friend declares he’s off-limits so Danielle reluctantly agrees.
Ryan doesn’t have the cleanest record, anyway. His recently ex-ed girlfriend wants him back, and he has a reputation for brawling. He’s also had a crush on Danielle since he was a kid. Despite their nine-year age difference, he knows she’s worth pursuing.
Soon the paint under Danielle’s fingernails starts feeling more natural than the L.A. sunshine. She’ll have to navigate plumbing disasters, money problems, and one seriously cranky best friend to find something she hasn’t had before: a real home, and a man who loves her.



Who I am – Liv Rancourt, a fifty-something mother of two, wife, neonatal nurse practitioner, and writer.
What genres I write in – I write contemporary romance, m/m romance, paranormal, and historical. The common thread is humor – I’d rather crack a joke than angst about it.
Favorite genres to read – For the last couple years I’ve read mostly m/m romance, but under that umbrella I’ll read historical, paranormal, and contemporary.
Favorite TV shows – I’d rather read the book, though my sister’s working in the costume shop in The Muppet Show, so I that’s my default favorite this season.
Last movie I saw on the big screen – Um…this is going to make me sound way more cinematically savvy than I actually am, but the last time I went to the movies was in May. I saw a movie called Front Cover, directed by Ray Leung, at the Seattle International Film Festival. The movie was about two Chinese men, one a big film star from mainland China and the other a New York photographer. They’re both gay, but the actor from China is very closeted and the man from NY isn’t, and the way they fell in love and then end their relationship is both beautiful and terribly sad.  (Just to put this in context, before Front Cover the last movie I saw was probably the 7th Harry Potter movie. I don’t get out much.)
What’s on my Netflix list (to be watched) – I have no idea. The husband and kids maintain the Netflix list.
Coffee or Tea – Coffee
Chocolate or Caramel – Both, thanks :)
Apple Cider or Pumpkin Spice – I can make a case for them both, lol…
Rock N Roll or Country – Really? You’re going to make me choose?
Lumberjack or Police Officer – I married a carpenter, so I think I’ll have to go with lumberjack.
Tropical Island or Winter Cabin – Island, preferably Oahu. 




I write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on whether I’m at home or at work. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal things. Because they’re brats.

I can be found on-line at all hours of the day and night at my website & blog (www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt), or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LivRancourt). For sneak peeks and previews and other assorted freebies, go HERE to sign up for my mailing list.
Come find me. We’ll have fun!
Please visit all the stops on this tour so you don't miss a single peek into this book or what the author has to say! 

11/30 
Sensuous Promos 

11/30
Nicki Day 

12/1
All Book Finds 

12/1
Andrew Jericho 

12/2
Get Cozy  

12/2
The Book Pub 

12/3
Nikki Noffsinger  

12/3
Fantasy Pages 

12/4
Nicole Morgan 

12/4
Nics Book Nook 

12/5
Kelsie Belle 

12/5
Taylor Brooks 

12/6
Darkest Cravings 

12/6
Michelle Roth  

Super Sexy Sub-Dominant by @SageMarlowe #BDSM #MM #GayRomance


Sub-Dominant by Sage Marlowe

Trained by one of the quirkiest Dom/sub-teams in the country, Dom Tyler Kane knows exactly how to handle a toppy sub. He keeps Connor on his toes, er, knees, in the bedroom, but when his capricious lover sets his heart on pushing yet another limit, Tyler finds himself not only with a dominant sub but also with a Dom who has yet to accept his true identity. 

Purchase from Amazon

Excerpt (Chapter 1)
Eric
Eric ushered his guest inside, then he indicated for him to sit in the visitor’s chair. “So what’s this mysterious assignment you’ve been dying to tell me about?”
Tom grinned. “Ah, Eric, you always cut right to the chase.”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Whatever happened to chitchat and offering a visitor drinks and all that?”
Eric sat in the chair behind his desk. He put his elbows on the polished wood in front of him, rested his fingertips against one another and looked at the man he’d known since their school days. “I’m pretty sure you’ve had your chitchat with Rebecca before she announced you were here and knowing her, she’s going to walk through that door with your mug of cinnamon-flavoured café latte right about…now.”
There was a soft knock on the door then it opened and in came Rebecca, Eric’s assistant, carrying a tray with two mugs and a plate of biscuits. She smiled, put the goodies on the table and left after a quick glance at Eric to check whether he needed anything.
Eric flashed a smile. “See? We know how to spoil our guests here at Swann Relocation.”
“I never doubted that, Tiger, and that’s exactly the reason why I’m here.”
Eric let his doubtful frown show over the rim of his coffee mug. “Uh-huh. Drop the smarmy act, Tommy. What do you want me to do for you?”
Tom chuckled. “It’s not about what you can do for me, it’s about what I can do for you.”
Faking a yawn, Eric swivelled his chair to look out the window.
“Okay, okay. Listen. I was approached with an assignment that I think you’d be thrilled to hear about.”
“Uh-huh.” Eric cocked an eyebrow and took a sip of his coffee. “Tell me why that is.”
“Because it’s perfect for you. You’re the man for this job. And when you’ve come to realise that, too, you’re going to thank me.”
“Tom! Tell me what it’s about now, will you? Or do I have to ask Rebecca to walk you out?”
Tom’s smile widened. “Well, it’s quite simple.” He paused for effect. “You’ll get paid a ridiculous amount of money to locate a new home for your client and help him find his way around town for three months. That doesn’t sound like a bad job, does it?”
“No, that doesn’t sound bad at all. But why don’t you do it yourself if it’s such a fantastic job?”
Tom shrugged and bit off a chunk of his chocolate biscuit. “They need someone this side of the Atlantic”, he explained, chewing.
Watching Tom, Eric tried to figure out what the man wasn’t saying. He was a nice guy and a good friend, but he was also a little weasel that had the uncanny ability to sniff a good business opportunity before anybody else did.
“You know this side of the Atlantic very well. You could easily do it. Besides, this client approachedyou, and you know how I feel about passing them on from one agent to the next.”
Tom sighed. He licked his fingers then washed down his biscuit with some café latte. “I know, I know, and I would love to take on this assignment myself, but I don’t really want to spend three months away from home.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s… Well, I’m seeing someone. It’s still fresh, but at this stage, being away for so long would probably be the end before it’s even started.”
Eric smiled. Tom wasn’t too lucky in his choices of potential partners, but that didn’t keep him from trying to find the future Mrs Ketten again and again. “Okay, fair enough, but something tells me there’s still more to this than you’re letting on, so why don’t you just spill the beans now?”
Tom rolled his eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’re not easy to please, dear boy. I’m offering you a well-paid assignment. Don’t you know better than to look a gift horse in the mouth?”
Eric gave a shrug. “In fact, I don’t. I’m not keen on paying the vet’s bill, you know, so I make sure to look a nag not only in the mouth. I also check its feet and take it for a ride.”
“Fine. Thing is, our client wants the relocation agent to keep an eye on his son, too. Make sure he doesn’t skip classes, stays out of trouble and doesn’t fall in with the wrong crowd—that sort of thing.”
“What? He doesn’t want a relocation agent, he wants a fucking babysitter! How old is this son we’re talking about? Does he have to be taken to playgroup, too? I hope your client doesn’t expect you to change the kid’s nappies or give him his milk.”
Tom smacked his hand on the desk in front of him. “Oh, stop being a fusspot, Eric! Connor’s turned eighteen last September.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Your mission, Eric, should you choose to accept it, mainly consists of making sure the kid’s ass is in bed at night. In the right bed, at a reasonable time.” His eyes glittered. “You might be interested to hear that this is a distinctly cute ass we’re talking about.”
Eric sucked in a sharp breath. “You know I don’t mix business and pleasure and apart from that, at eighteen, he’s quite a bit too young for me, don’t you think?”
Tom shrugged. “You’re only eight years his senior and I’m not saying you should put him into your bed. I’m just saying he’s hot. Seriously hot. It won’t hurt you to get an eyeful of pretty boy while you’re doing your job. And as for his age—he may be young, but he’s legal, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“I don’t need to worry about that because I have no intention of getting involved with him.”
“Yeah, I know, Mr Proper. He has probably no intention of getting involved with you either.”
Eric groaned and rolled his eyes. “And what makes you think that?”
“From what I’ve heard, he’s supposed to be straight. But hey, maybe you can bend him a little. Seems to me you don’t need to worry about his virtue either. Apparently there isn’t much left.” Tom waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eric didn’t like the expression in Tom’s eyes. In his experience, that particular gleam always meant trouble.
“There’s a rumour that he was about to start a rather promising career in the film industry—and I’m not talking Hollywood—but Daddy dearest got wind of it and now he has to return to Olde England to go to university and finish his degree like the good little boy he ought to be.”
“Somehow I get the feeling these films had nothing to do with a bunch of girls crying over a romantic hero,” Eric said.
Tom gave him a dirty grin. “Well, let’s say it was the kind of film where a bunch of girls cry out for the hero and it wasn’t so much romance as hard core porn.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Nope. It doesn’t appear to be available on the market. At least not that I could’ve tracked it down. My guess is Daddy dearest has either bought all the copies or he’s had them destroyed. Or both.”
“So I’m supposed to babysit a prodigal son who would much rather spend his time fucking around in front of a camera than go to university.” Eric sneered. “I’m not dumb, Tom. This kid spells trouble and you know it. That’s why you want to reassign him to me, not because you’ve lost your heart to some blonde bimbo with big tits and three brain cells. Why don’t you just tell your client to go find someone else if you don’t want the job?”
Tom sighed. “The contract is signed and sealed. Ricky, we’re talking about Corbin Prescott, the founder of Prescott Acquisitions, here. The man is loaded, and his company has branches in the UK and the US with employees moving from one continent to the other all the time. If we play this right, there could be a lot more business coming our way. This assignment may be a pain in the ass, but it’s worth grinding your teeth. You have to look at the big picture.”
Eric laughed out loud. “I’m supposed to grind my teeth because you’re looking at the big picture? Comeon, Tommy. You should know me better than that.”
Defeat flashed in Tom’s eyes. “Fine. What are your terms?”
“To take the boy off your hands and play nice with Daddy Prescott?”
“Yeah.”
“How much money are we talking about?”
“The usual fee for the VIP-package plus fifty percent extra for dragging the kid around town and making sure he stays on track until he’s settled in.”
“I want ninety percent of the fee plus the full bonus,” Eric said.
“Jesus, Eric. That’s—”
“Only fair and you know it. Oh, and for your ten percent, you’re going to take care of things your side of the ocean.”
“Fifteen percent.”
Eric smiled. “Eight? That’s sweet of you, but you know, I’m still not so sure I should accept it. Even with the bonus, and even assuming the boy is going to behave, it’s going to eat up a lot of my time.”
Tom rolled his eyes and raised his hands. “When have you become so pragmatic, Eric? Think about the money. Three months and you can take the rest of the year off if you want. And there’s still the chance you get a personal bonus out of it.”
“I. Don’t. Fuck. My. Clients. Besides, I prefer my men a bit more mature. An eighteen-year old twink just doesn’t do it for me.”
“Seven percent for me and I’ll take that as a yes, shall I?” Tom grinned and Eric heaved a sigh. The man knew far too well how to push his buttons.

About Sage

Sage is a multi-published author of MM erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction. 

A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.

 

Sage’s Links

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Masters to the Rescue (Prometheus in Chains 13) by ClairdLuneBooks #BDSM #Erotic


Thank you for hosting me for my latest book, Masters to the Rescue. This book releases on November 19th  with Siren Publishing. If your readers would like to they can post questions to me on Twitter using the hashtag ClairdeLune #clairdlunebooks and I will answer them as I see them.


Masters to the Rescue
When the cat's away the mouse will play. But when the cat is a Dom, the mouse better have an excellent reason for her deception.

Master Angus is absent on business, but he knows his sub, Jane is hiding something from him. He comes home early to discover what it is and he finds himself faced with a problem. He finds a unique and satisfying solution with the help of his friends in Prometheus in Chains.

Jane Scott thinks it's better to keep her secret than to worry and her Master while he's away. She's bent on helping her friend Jaimie Wright to sort his life out forgets the price to be paid by an errant sub.

**BDSM with spanking, Kinbaku  and fire-play
BOOK COVER… in a separate attachment
Background to the story
Prometheus in Chains no 13 and the latest episode in the lives of Master Angus and his Jane



STORY EXCERPT:
They arrived at Prometheus in Chains in a very happy mood, after a delicious Italian meal. Angus and Eric parked side by side, and they followed their subs into the club. Jane and Emma went into the ladies' locker room to get dressed, and the two Doms entered the main room. Angus looked around and breathed in deeply. He loved the sights, sounds, and smells of the place. Prometheus had the furniture polished with lavender wax because it reminded him of his mother’s house. Angus loved the smell, because it brought back happy memories of his childhood, too. He loved the slap of paddles on flesh, the screams or moans of the subs, and the smells of wood, leather, and sex. The subs were all in bright-coloured corsets tonight, like a flock of birds of paradise. Llewellyn had his latest class gathered around the raised area, where a demonstration of Kinbaku was taking place. They were all looking on in fascination as the Rope Master bound his sub with a dark-green rope that contrasted very well with his lightly tanned skin. Knowing Llewellyn as he did, that wouldn’t be the end of it. They’d have a clip board soon and would be interviewing the Dom and the sub. Angus smiled. The next generation of Doms and subs were in the best possible hands. One of the subs, seen from the back, looked familiar to him, but he couldn’t place him, maybe when he turned around, he’d recognise him. He was standing next to Niall, whom Angus did recognise. Just then Jane and Emma arrived.
“Goodness, what’s Jaimie doing here,” Jane asked.
“I knew he was familiar, but I couldn’t place him. You can catch him in the subs’ area and find out,” Angus suggested. Then he and Eric escorted their subs to the bar, where Prometheus and Jenny joined them.
“Jane, what a wonderful idea you had. Melanie is setting up the crèche and training some of the younger subs to help. The equipment will be stored in that old office, but the crèche will be in here on the day of the subs’ tea. She suggested that both mothers and babies would be happier if they could see and hear each other to start with. After that we shall see how it goes. It will be wonderful to chat with everyone and not have to keep haring after young Thomas. Melanie will partition off a corner of the room and everyone who has children has contributed some equipment. Let’s hope it’s a success.
“Eric, I need a word, can you come too, Angus?” Prometheus asked. The three Doms set off for Prometheus’s office.

* * * *

Emma and Jenny looked at Jane.
“Isn’t that just typical? We have a night out, and they need to talk business. Let’s go and sit in the subs’ area. There are some new members, and we can find out all about them,” Jenny said.
“Little Miss Snoopy-Pants,” Jane said and giggled, and then she linked arms with them. “Yes, do let’s go find out.”
Emma helped Jane down the steps to the sunken area where the subs gathered when not doing a scene. Llewellyn’s new subs were there, Jaimie amongst them. He stood up and hugged Jane.
“Jaimie, how lovely to see you! How are you? What on earth are you doing here?”
“Hello, Jane. I’m here because of Niall. We’re an item. He’s such a gorgeous hunk.”
“Hang on a bit. Slow down and do tell all," Jane said.
“Well, after your nice meal, I went back to see the flat. He helped me with my stuff and we arranged it together. We had a carryout in front of the TV, and talked for hours. We have so much in common. Over the next couple of weeks we er…got close and…”
“It’s okay, Jaimie," Emma said in encouragement. "Nothing can make us blush. Do tell all."
“Okay. Well he’s drop-dead-gorgeous, and one thing led to another, and before I knew what was happening I was tied to the bedhead. I have to say it was the most amazing sex I’ve ever had, but I expect you all know about that.”
“Yes, we do,” Jenny said. “Doms will be Doms, after all.”
“Well, after that, I did a lot of research and I liked what I read,” Jaimie said.
“All of it?” Jane asked, astonished.
“No, not the most violent things.” Jaimie shuddered. “I discussed it with Niall, and he’s of the same opinion. He suggested that I come along with him as his sub to Master Llewellyn’s class to see how I got on. He’s learning to be a Dom, and I’m learning to be a sub.”
“Well that all sounds wonderful. I’m glad you’re happy. It's about time you had some good luck. I need to ask you a favour. I’m not sure that this is the right place, but here goes.


© Clair de Lune, Siren Publishing, 2015

ADULT EXCERPT
Now let’s eat our sandwiches and drink our tea, then we are going home.” He handed her the plate, and she took a ham and tomato sandwich and bit into it. He took another, and soon they’d worked their way through the whole pile.” Angus sat back and sighed.
“That’s better. I always forget just how good the food is here.”
“Let me get you some cake or a scone from the subs’ tea,” Jane suggested.
“No. I’ve eaten enough. Now I intend to satisfy my other and more pressing need,” he said, and he stroked his throbbing cock, which was pressing against the zipper of his trousers in a painful manner.
“But, the Doms’ meeting and the subs’ tea…”
“Sod the subs and their tea. This zipper is going to do permanent damage to my cock if I don’t get out of these infernal trousers. Besides I want you at home and naked. I haven’t been inside you for almost a week and those 'phone sessions left me frustrated and horny as hell. Hurry up and drink your tea. I can’t wait for you to get your things and get into your car. You, mo run, are going home.”
Jane stood, her tea forgotten as she hurried as best she could to collect her things and go to her car. Angus got into his and followed her out of the carpark. Once at home he abandoned his suitcase and briefcase in the car and followed her into the house. He closed the door and took her in his arms. His mouth descended on hers, and he was lost in the heat and flames of a desire so strong that it made him tremble. This was going to be hard and fast, and to judge by the way she was squirming and wriggling against him, she wanted it that way too.
He lifted her against the wall and freed his cock. He was swollen and painful, but she was going to relieve that pain. She moaned as he stroked her tongue with his. Then he sucked, and she tightened her arms about him. She wore a short skirt and no knickers, as always. He slipped his dick into her pussy. She was wet and slick and so very hot. She grasped his cock and arched her back as he slammed into her. From this angle every stroke rubbed along the ridge that was her G-spot, and the mewling, moaning sounds she made were music to his ears. God how I’ve missed her. He tightened his hold on her. He wasn’t going to last long. He reached between them with one hand and found her clit. She kissed him with increasing passion as one of his long fingers rubbed in circles over her swollen bud. He felt its hardness and knew she was almost there. He increased the pressure as he thrust into her deeply satisfying, welcoming heat.
God, how I’ve missed her. He wouldn’t be leaving her behind ever again. His hips took on a life of their own as he felt his climax gathering. He pressed and pinched her clit, and she jerked uncontrollably in his arms. Her muscles clenched around his dick, their vice-like grip pushing him over the edge as, with a low moan of satisfaction, he came deep inside her. His legs trembled, and he staggered into the lounge with Jane in his arms.
He lowered her onto the sofa and followed her down, his cock still inside her. He knew she loved to feel his weight on top of her, so he stayed there holding her until his softening dick slid out of her and his legs regained their strength, and then he stood, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her deeply.
“I’ve missed you so much, my sweetheart,” he murmured against her hair. Her perfume intoxicated him. The smell of her arousal and his release mingled in a heady scent, and he inhaled deeply. She was his. He’d been foolish beyond belief to have doubted her, but she was his world. She was in his heart, his soul, and every waking moment she was in his thoughts. He should have realized. He should have trusted her. But she should have told him. He wanted full communication. That way there were no misunderstandings or doubts. He’d get them both cleaned up and 'phone Xander at once. His Jane was limping and in pain, and he would sort it out. Then she’d have her arse warmed for making him worried and not telling him right away.

© Clair de Lune, Siren Publishing, 2015



Author bio:


I live in Dumfries and Galloway in Southern Scotland, although I was born in South Yorkshire. I spent many happy years teaching, and when I retired I became bored with just the domestic routine.

My youngest son challenged me to write a novel of my own, and I wrote Initiation, book one in the Prometheus in Chains series. Since then writing has become an important part of my life. It’s been like a roller-coaster ride, and a very pleasurable one at that. When I sent off my first book to Siren, I had no idea what I was setting in motion. I joined Facebook, something I never dreamed I’d do, but I have made many good friends on there, some readers and some fellow authors. Writing has certainly changed my life.

I would love to hear from you and I always answer e-mails or contacts on Facebook.

Social Media Links


Facebook

Friday, November 27, 2015

Jesse's Diner - A Hope Story by Cardeno C. @WeLoveKink #MM #manlove #LGBT

Jesses Diner - Promo Header


WLK synopsis

Two men with a shared history and a mutual attraction must be honest with themselves and each other so both their dreams come true.
Quiet, unassuming Tanner Sellers spends his time running a diner in Hope, Arizona. Not particularly social, twenty-two-year-old Tanner keeps to himself and enjoys his simple life, but he longs for someone to call his own. In his most secret fantasy, that someone is sexy Steve Faus. But Steve is his friend’s father and mentor’s widower and therefore off-limits.
Despite some challenges, thirty-nine-year-old Steve Faus has had a good life. He’s extremely successful at work, has a great relationship with his college-age son, and lives in a wonderful town. Eighteen months after losing his partner, the one thing Steve lacks is someone to share his life. If Steve is honest with himself, that someone is the young man he has known and cared about for years. Steve and Tanner want one another, all they need is a little push in the right direction to make both their dreams come true.
 

BUY LINKS


Smashwords Coupon: YT92D

goodreads-small

Chapter 1
“Tanner, Mike’s on the phone for you.”
“Thanks, Miranda.” I set down the knife I was using to julienne peeled broccoli stems, wiped my hands on my apron as I walked into the tiny office off the kitchen, and then picked up the phone handset. “Hi, Mikey.”
“Hey, Tanner. Did I catch you at an okay time?”
“Yeah.” I dropped into the beat-up leather chair. “Lunch crowd is gone and the dinner rush won’t start for another couple hours yet.”
“What’s for dinner?”
“Your pop’s broccoli coleslaw. Jared McFarland had a great crop this season so he gave us a bunch.”
“Still using Pop’s recipes at the diner, huh? You know you don’t have to.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Same with his name.”
Mike’s father had opened Jesse’s Diner thirty years earlier and everyone in our small town of Hope, Arizona had loved the food almost as much as they’d loved the man. Jesse had been a father figure to half the town, myself included, and a year and a half after he died, we all still acutely felt his loss.
“This will always be Jesse’s Diner,” I said firmly. “I’m just taking care of it for him.”
“He left the diner to you, Tanner. No conditions or strings. He wanted you to run it, not turn it into a mausoleum.”
Unsure of how to respond to the reminder that Mike’s father had left his business to an employee instead of his son, I cleared my throat and wriggled uncomfortably.
“I’ve told you a million times that I have no issue with it. My pop knew I’d never move back to Hope to run the diner and my dad has more than enough money to put me through school.”
Both true statements. Shortly after high school graduation, Mike had moved to Las Vegas for college and immediately proclaimed Sin City as his forever home. His fathers weren’t surprised because Mike had always wanted to live in a big city, and frankly, they were just thankful his new home was only a three and a half hour car ride away. Plus, while the diner had brought in enough money for Jesse to get by, his partner Steve Faus had been the primary bread winner in their family.
“Don’t go silent on me, Tanner. The whole town knows you love that diner as much as my pop did and they’re glad he left it in your hands. Quit feeling guilty about it and doing everything exactly like he did. He would have wanted you to make it your own.”
“I, uh, changed the way we deliver the checks,” I admitted quietly.
After a pause, Mike asked, “The way you deliver the checks?”
“Yeah. You know how we had those black plastic trays?” I rubbed my lips together.
“Uh-huh.”
“I replaced them with old books.”
“Books?”
“Old books.” I nodded even though Mike couldn’t see me. “I picked a couple dozen of them up at Second Hand. Now we tuck the check into the book, bring it over with a pen, and encourage the customers to write a note inside. Everyone’s been having fun sharing comments and reading what other people wrote. It’ll get even better as the years pass and the pages get filled. People can see what they said when they were younger. Kids can see what their parents wrote, someday even their grandparents.”
I loved the idea of ongoing connections through generations. It was something I’d missed in my own life, that sense of being part of something. Living in Hope helped because the community was exceptionally tightknit, but I’d moved there as a teenager so I didn’t have the same ties as many others.
“That’s a…charming idea. Very Hope.”
Exactly. “Thanks.”
“What else do you have planned?”
“What do you mean?” I clenched my jaw.
“Come on, Tanner. I’ve known you since you were sixteen. You have other ideas for the place.”
Intentionally misunderstanding, I said, “Your pop was a great cook. His recipes are perfect.”
“Yes, he was.” Mike sighed wistfully. “And you make them really well. But I meant the diner itself. You can’t let all those hours you spend watching HGTV go to waste.”
“I don’t—”
“Six years, Tanner. We’ve been friends for six years.”
Which meant he knew me better than anyone. I’d met Mike in high school when I was a scrawny junior trying to get away from a couple of seniors who loved to tease and torment me, and Mike was a giant freshman who had no trouble stepping in front of them and putting a stop to the problem. I had been equal parts grateful and surprised. Grateful because nobody had ever stood up for me before then. Surprised because Mike nonchalantly told me he had two dads and anyone who had a problem with gay people would have a problem from him.
I knew I was gay before I reached my teens, and the school bullies probably picked on me because they suspected it, but nobody had ever said it out loud until that moment. And I’d reacted to Mike’s casual proclamation with the same knee-jerk, shame-fueled fear as I did to his observation that I enjoyed decorating shows.
“Fine. I like remodeling shows. So what?” I said defensively.
Admitting I watched television programs marketed toward women played into a stereotype I wasn’t quite willing to embrace and yet couldn’t escape. My mannerisms were too effeminate, my voice too soft, and my body too underdeveloped. Jesse had always said men came in all shapes and sizes and there was nothing wrong with how I looked, but that was hard to believe when I was attracted to guys with larger, hairier bodies, deeper voices, and more rugged features. For that matter, so was Jesse if his partner was any indication. I had nearly swallowed my tongue the first time I’d seen six foot, five inch, two hundred twenty pound former college football player Steve Faus, and six years later, my reaction to the older man was only slightly less humiliating. Thankfully, Steve either didn’t notice my obsession with him or he was too polite to mention it.
“So nothing,” Mike said. “Watch whatever TV shows you like, man. I’m just pointing out that the diner walls probably haven’t been painted in thirty years and the booths are just as old. Don’t pretend you’re fine with the duct tape holding the tears in the vinyl together. You keep that tiny guesthouse you rent from the sheriff shiny enough to do surgery on the floor so I know you’re itching to update the diner and I say go for it.”
I squirmed again, this time because he was right—I wanted to fix those problems and more. “I might freshen a few things up. We’ll see how the money pans out at the end of the year.” And if I had the nerve to push aside Jesse’s memory and truly take his place. “Anyway, I doubt you called me to talk decorating tips. What’s up?”
“My dick,” Mike said and then immediately snorted and giggled.
“That joke wasn’t funny when you were fourteen, and it’s gotten progressively less funny over the years,” I said dryly.
“I think it’s hilarious.”
“That makes one of us.”
“Whatever, dude. You’re too uptight. You need to get laid.”
“I can’t believe girls are actually willing to go out with you when you talk like that.”
“I’m hot.” He lowered his voice and suggestively said, “Besides, I do other things with my mouth they really enjoy. Like Naomi, this girl I’m seeing now, she goes wild when I—”
“Don’t tell me about your sex life, Mikey. I don’t want to know.” It was the truth. Mike was the closest thing I had to a brother, so I’d never had so much as an ounce of attraction to him. Or maybe that was because I’d used up all my attraction tickets on my unhealthy obsession with his dad.
“Hey, man, I’m doing you a favor. Hearing about my action is as close as you are to getting any.”
“For all you know, I’m getting plenty of action but I’m too much of a gentleman to talk about it.” Lies. My sex life was embarrassingly non-existent and my personal life was just as lonely.
Mike scoffed disbelievingly.
I didn’t bother to push the point because, frankly, there was no way he’d buy it. “What do you want, Mikey?”
“I need you to do me a favor and check in on my dad.”
“Your dad?” I squeaked. Lovely. Now Mike would either think I was going through a second puberty or notice my inappropriate reaction to the mention of his dad. Hoping he hadn’t been paying close attention, I cleared my throat and spoke again. “What’s, uh, going on with your dad?”
“The vice president of his company called me. She said he isn’t himself and they’re making him take time off.”
Jesse’s death had come as a shock to all of us—pancreatic cancer that hadn’t been detected until Jesse lay in the hospital unconscious. Two days later, he was dead at the age of sixty-seven.
“He’s mourning the death of his partner. Of course he isn’t his old self,” I said defensively. “And by the way, calling someone’s kid to talk about his job issues is completely unprofessional.”
“My dad’s worked for that company forever and they’re worried about him. His boss and I get along. She didn’t have anyone else to call.”
When Mike still lived in town, I hadn’t known Steve as well as I’d known Jesse. Some of that was because of how frequently he traveled for work—the man was an unrepentant workaholic. But I’d also limited our interactions because I’d been uncomfortable with my reaction to him. After all, it takes a special kind of pathetic sleaze to not only lust after a friend’s father, but also the partner of a man who had taken me under his wing. But now that Mike had moved away and Jesse had died, Steve lived alone, so when he wasn’t traveling, he stopped by the diner for dinner and I always made sure to say hi to him and chat for a little while. That meant I now knew Steve well enough to realize how much he enjoyed his work.
“If they’re so worried, they should talk to him, not you. And your dad loves his job! Why would they take that from him when he already lost…” I didn’t need to finish that sentence because Mike knew exactly what his dad had lost. The whole town mourned Jesse’s passing but only Steve had shared his home and his bed for decades. I couldn’t begin to imagine his pain.
“Arguing with me won’t change anything, Tanner. I’m not his boss.”
Realizing my reaction was over the top, I drew in a deep breath and said, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, but a company doesn’t bench its star sales guy and lose tons of money unless something’s wrong. I have classes and tests, but I’ll drive down there if you can’t help my dad.”
“Of course I’ll help him,” I snapped. After everything Jesse and Mike had done for me, I’d never turn my back on their family. Even if this particular family member had fueled countless inappropriate fantasies and guilt-inducing dreams.
“Cool. Call me after you see him and let me know what’s up. If he needs me, I’m there.”
Seeing Steve Faus meant I’d be up. That much was certain. I mentally smacked myself for using Mike’s bad humor. “I have to go, Mikey.”
“Later, Tanner.”
***
After getting through the bulk of the dinner rush, I filled takeout containers with the daily special, broccoli coleslaw, and a wedge of chocolate cake, and left the diner in Miranda's and Joe’s capable hands. Founded in the late 1800s, Hope was a mix of new and old construction sprinkled in an area just under eight square miles in size and, as always, I enjoyed strolling through town. I used the quiet time to remind myself that I was doing my friend a favor by helping my mentor’s partner; I was not going to ogle a hot guy.
Unfortunately, the half-mile walk from Main Street to Steve’s mint green Victorian didn’t take long enough to accomplish what six years of the same internal lecture had failed to do. So with a resigned sigh, I adjusted my dick in a way I hoped would hide my inevitable arousal, held the bag of food in front of myself for the same reason, and rang the bell.
The house was two levels, each a decent size, so I patiently waited for Steve to answer the door, but as the minutes ticked by, I began to wonder if Mike was wrong about his father being on a break from work. I walked across the wraparound porch and peeked into the windows, not quite sure what I was looking for, but unwilling to abandon Steve if he needed help. Everything looked the same as it had when I’d last been there, which was before Jesse’s death. No lights were on, no shoes or jacket left out, nothing to indicate someone was home.
I stepped off the porch, walked backward across the lawn, and peered at the upstairs windows. The drawn curtains prevented me from seeing much, but the master bedroom light was on and I caught a flash of a silhouette through the glass. If Steve was home, why wasn’t he answering the door? A pang of worry hit me. Maybe Mike was right to be concerned. With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and marched back up the porch steps.
“Steve,” I said in a volume I hoped could be heard through the wood door but not by the neighbors. “It’s Tanner Sellers.” I rang the bell and knocked. “I brought dinner.” After waiting for a full minute, I knocked again. “Steve, I know you’re there. Can you open the door?” I swallowed thickly. “Please?”
A few beats later, the lock clicked and the door swung open, revealing a disheveled, but still gorgeous, Steve Faus. “Hi, Tanner.” He sighed and dragged his fingers through his thick, black, and currently unruly hair. “Sorry. I was on a work call. What’s going on?”
A string of thoughts raced through my mind.
How do you always manage to look so damn hot?
I know you’re not working right now, so you couldn’t have been on a call for work.
Do you bite your lips or are they naturally full like that?
What happened at work?
Can I bite your lips?
Are you wearing underwear under those sweats?
Mike’s worried about you.
Please don’t be wearing underwear.
Thankfully, I had years of experience curbing my brain-to-mouth reflex when it came to Mike’s dad so instead of any of those things, I said, “I brought dinner,” and pushed the bag forward.
“Dinner?”
“Lasagna.” I bobbed my head. “It was today’s special. Broccoli coleslaw too.”
“Thanks, but I have a ton of work so—”
Not wanting him to brush me off, I said, “And chocolate cake. You love chocolate cake.” Which I knew because it had been served at Mike’s fifteenth birthday party, and when Steve had taken a bite, closed his eyes in bliss, and moaned, I had nearly ejaculated in my pants.
“Chocolate cake?” Steve flicked his gaze to the bag.
“Uh-huh. Just made it this morning so it’s still fresh.” I glanced down to make sure the bag still blocked my groin, the memory of those moans and that expression still affecting me five years later. “Do you have milk? I forgot to pack some but I can run over to Smitty’s and—”
“You don’t need to go to the store. My fridge may be bare, but I keep the essentials on hand.” Steve reached for the bag and then stepped to the side to make room for me to enter. “That pretty much consists of salt and vinegar chips, coffee, and because I can’t drink my coffee black, milk.”
I blinked, my surprise over that statement eclipsing my concern about having a noticeable hard-on. “That can’t be enough for a guy your size.” I cringed at my own comment, bit my lip, and hoped the heat in my cheeks wasn’t visible. “It’s a, uh, good thing I brought you dinner.”
“That was nice of you.” Steve put his hand on my back, urged me forward, and then closed the door.
The touch was simple, casual, fleeting, but it still set me on fire. Being around Steve without Jesse, Mike, or a diner full of people as a buffer gave me nowhere to escape. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, willing myself to calm down. So what if Steve Faus tripped every single one of my buttons? I was twenty-two, not sixteen, and a hot guy shouldn’t scramble my brain into oblivion. Not even a guy with a tall, muscular body, thick black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a deep soothing voice.
Oh, who was I kidding? I was sunk.
“Do you want to eat in the kitchen or the dining room?” Steve asked.
Bedroom, I thought. God, I was incorrigible. “Either one’s fine by me. Wherever you’re most comfortable.”
“I’ve been working so much lately that I’m almost never here, but when I am, I tend to eat on the couch or over the kitchen sink.” Steve smiled softly, his expression at once self-deprecating and endearing. “It’d be nice to sit down for a real dinner.”
My heart ached. “Dining room it is then.”
“Thanks, Tanner.”
I nodded, my throat too thick to speak. Resisting Steve was a challenge in any setting, but seeing the normally strong man vulnerable without reaching out to touch him was unbearable.
“I’ll get the plates.”
“Okay,” I croaked. I swallowed hard and walked into the dining room as Steve went to the kitchen.
Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths to calm down. I could do this. I could be Steve’s friend. We’d both lost someone important to us when Jesse passed and we both missed Mike since he’d moved away. There was no reason we couldn’t be there for each other. I was an adult now, a business owner. I was mature and responsible and perfectly able to keep my libido in check.
“Is everything okay?” Steve’s deep rich voice was tinged with worry.
I opened my eyes, ignored my uncooperative libido, and forced a smile onto my face. “Yes, fine. Sorry. I was, uh…”
“Daydreaming?” Steve grinned. “You’ve always done that.”
“I have?” I blinked in surprise.
“Uh-huh.” Steve nodded and set the plates and silverware on the table. “I remember when Mike first brought you around, you used to get this far away look on your face all the time, and when you saw us notice, you’d get embarrassed and blush.”
My cheeks heated. I knew exactly what Steve was describing and they weren’t daydreams. Well, maybe they were, but they were very specific daydreams, the kind people categorized as fantasies, and they were always about Steve.
Needing a change of topic, I said, “Do you want me to dish the food out?”
“Sure. I’ll get placemats.” Steve stepped over to the antique buffet. “Too fancy?” he asked, holding up placemats and cloth napkins.
“No, that’s nice. I can’t remember the last time I used a real napkin.” I opened the bags of food and dished portions onto each of the plates. “It was probably Christmas dinner when my grandmother was still alive.” Which was over three years earlier.
“Same here.” Steve put the placemats down across from each other on the long wood table and then ran his hands over them, making sure they were straight. “Jesse had so many people over for the holidays that we used paper plates and plastic forks. I bought these placemats at least five years ago, but I don’t think we ever used them.”
“I remember those dinners.” I had been one of the many guests at their Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meals. “Jesse was good about giving us strays somewhere to be.”
“He was.” Steve sighed sadly. “I’ll go get drinks. I have coffee, milk, water, and beer. Pick your poison.”
On the one hand, beer usually helped me relax. On the other hand, I barely held myself in check sober, so combining alcohol and Steve was probably a recipe for disaster.
“I’m good with water.”
Quickly dipping his chin in acknowledgement, Steve left the room. When he returned a couple of minutes later, he had a glass of water in each hand and a Heineken tucked under his arm.
“It won’t bother you if I have a beer with dinner, right?” he asked as he set my water glass down.
He was leaning over my shoulder, his body heat warming my back and his breath ghosting across my cheek. If we had been naked, the scene would have been straight out of my fantasies.
“Not a bother,” I rasped. I bit my lip and held my breath, waiting for Steve to move to his side of the table. Looking at the square-jawed face and crystal blue eyes all night without leaping across the table would be an exercise in restraint, but if I had to inhale Steve’s scent and stay close enough to touch him, I’d pass out from sheer desire.
“The food smells great.” Steve straightened and inhaled deeply. “Did you hear that growl?” He patted his stomach as he walked to his chair. “I must be hungrier than I realized.”
“No, uh, I didn’t hear.” The sound of my heart pounding in my ears had drowned out everything else. “But I brought plenty of food.”
“Thanks.” Steve sat down, picked up his silverware, and arched his eyebrows. “You’re eating too, right?”
I glanced down at my plate and then picked up my fork. “Yes.”
“Good.” He ate a bite of coleslaw and then raised his beer bottle to his mouth. “When I’m traveling, I either eat alone in my hotel room or with a bunch of clients so I’m on all night. One of the things I liked best about being home was having a quiet dinner and just talking. But now…” He loudly breathed out, shook his head, and then took another bite. “Thanks for coming tonight, Tanner. This was just what I needed.”
Right then and there, I made a silent promise to bring Steve dinner the following night. And the night after that. And the night after that too. I couldn’t do much to make up for what he had lost, but a hot meal and company I could provide. And I’d find a way to keep my leering and drooling to a bare minimum.
   
WLK Author Bio
Cardeno C - Logo

Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever- after sunset.
Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

WLK Giveaway

EBook of choice from author's backlist (excluding box sets and anthologies)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

presented by:
promo button