Denise

Safety In Numbers by Jessie G : Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 15, 2015 by Denise

“Bros stick together no matter what.”

When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to.

“No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.”

When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own.

“We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.”

When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave?

Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.

Author Name: Jessie G.

Book Name: Safety In Numbers

Series: Sizzling Miami

Book: Five

Release Date: October 31, 2015

Pages or Words: 76,000 words

Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Jessie G. Books

Cover Artist: Andrew Reyna

That silence hid a lot from their friends, but Liam knew Chris was plagued with memories far worse than his. That’s why they decided not to celebrate alone this year. Billy and Owen were expected any minute and it was the first time they invited anyone to join them. The anniversary was bittersweet for them and they chose to celebrate it because becoming brothers meant that much to them. “Do you think they’ll find it stupid?”

Chris just shrugged as if it was no skin off his back what they thought and Liam knew that was just bravado. Fact was, they both very much cared what the two men thought. “Liar.”

His brother sighed and dropped his head back. As if shit wasn’t fucked up enough, they fell for two bastards just as fucked up as they were. “I know you’re worried about Owen. The business with Colin is growing out of their control and I’m not sure why he thinks it’s a good thing. Is he trying to prove something? And the middle of the night phone calls from the FTR? He’s looking more and more fragile every day.”

Liam knew he wasn’t stating anything new. What he didn’t know was what Chris intended to do about it. Lately, when it came to Owe Back Cover Safety In Numbers - 400w n, Chris conveyed zero intent and seemed to be waiting for Owen to read him as effortlessly as Liam did. Their brother bond had been forged through blood and he was afraid Chris’s expectations of Owen were unreasonable. “Do you see his face every time he thinks he’s failed to understand you? The weight of it is crushing.”

Instead of regret, all Liam saw was anger in Chris. It wasn’t a common emotion for Chris and Liam could name every time he saw it. The fact that Chris knew what he was capable of if provoked had made him extremely conscious of that emotion and he often went to great lengths to contain it.

Owen was the very definition of insecure. Just the type to inspire Chris’s protective instincts, which Liam knew for a fact Owen did. Hell, he inspired Liam’s protective instincts. Owen was stubborn though and he often distanced himself, keeping things bottled up until they manifested elsewhere. Like in panic attacks that felt like heart attacks, which he also tried to hide. Liam nearly lost it when they found out that Billy was keeping Owen’s secret.

Chris nodded slowly, as if he completely followed Liam’s train of thought and waited for him to connect the dots. And just like that, Liam understood. “You’re pissed because he doesn’t come to you when the panic sets in. That he hides it from you and they hide it from us.”

It made total sense, but he had to wonder if they were expecting too much. After all, they couldn’t call what was going on with either man a relationship. No, they were four fucked up bastards trying to come together in some romanticwhat? Not a foursome, eww…he loved Chris, but yeah, that just wasn’t happening. And Owen wasn’t his type any more than Billy was Chris’s type. But—always with the fucking buts, right?—what was happening was very definitely happening to the four of them, and Liam now had to wonder if that was the problem, because trying to come together was definitely not the same as being together.

Chris shook his head and shifted in his seat. No, he was right. It wasn’t just their brother bond that made it impossible to move forward as two separate couples. Billy and Owen had formed their own unique friendship in prison and were no more likely to move forward without the other one either. “Just once, couldn’t we have done something the easy way?”

The fire door banged open and Liam turned to see Billy and Owen, arms full of brightly wrapped packages, struggling to pull a huge cluster of balloons through the door. It was a shocking contrast to their dark thoughts and so uncharacteristically sweet of both men. Billy caught their surprised stare and yelled, “Is this where the party’s at?”

“It is now.” It might seem silly, but it was exactly what they needed and exactly who they needed it from. Maybe they hadn’t been expecting too much at all. Liam rose to give them a hand and glanced down to see the look of longing in Chris’s eyes and thought maybe it was time they all expected more.

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Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I’d begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it’s a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With six published books to date, three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it’s been amazing to have made this dream my reality.

I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics and happily ever after. I’m a lover of strong secondary characters and series filled with families, biological or chosen. All are themes you’ll find throughout my books.

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Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessiegbook

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JessieGBooks

Facebook Author Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jessiegbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessieGBooks

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jessiegbooks/

TSU: http://www.tsu.co/jessiegbooks

Ello: https://ello.co/jessiegbooks

G+: https://plus.google.com/+Jessiegbooksmm/posts

Tumblr (NSFW): http://jessiegbooks.tumblr.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bhuja1

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bike Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, 3 Chicks After Dark, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, KathyMac Reviews, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Charley Descoteaux, BFD Book Blog, V’s Reads, Molly Lolly, Multitasking Mommas, Carly’s Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, The Hat Party, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Gay Media Reviews, Velvet Panic, Sassygirl Books, Gay Book Reviews, Jill P Rand

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Jack of All Trades by Sean Michael : Blog Tour, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 14, 2015 by Denise

Brad is crashing in his cousin Stephen’s room while he tries to sort out his life. A perpetual student, he still hasn’t settled on a major after a half dozen years at University. He loves learning, but so far that’s the only thing that’s been a good fit.

Dill is a full-time Dom who hasn’t found the right sub yet. He’s not worried about it — he figures it’ll eventually happen and in the meantime, there’s plenty of boys at the Hammer Club who are eager to share a scene with an experienced master.

When Brad and Dill meet at a party at Barney and Devon‘s house for subs, the attraction is immediate and undeniable and Master Dill feels that Brad is the perfect sub for him. He also believes that as his submissive, Brad will learn the focus he needs to fulfill his potential and find satisfaction with his life. Now he just needs to help jack-of-all-trades Brad see they belong together.

Author Name: Sean Michael

Book Name: Jack of All Trades

Series: Box of Nails

Book: Four

Release Date: September 30, 2015

Pages or Words: 40,000 words

Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26816391-jack-of-all-trades?ac=1

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Chapter One

Dillinger Robinson raised his hand to knock on the door, but it flew open before he had a chance to and two adorable twinks all but fell out onto the stoop. They stopped short when they saw him, one boy gasping softly.

“Sorry, Master, we didn’t see you there.”

Dill chuckled and nodded. “I take it this is where the party is?” He’d been invited by his good friend Jeff, both of them members at the Hammer, though he’d known Jeff from earlier. It was nice they had that in common. Friends not in the lifestyle didn’t always understand it.

The boy who’d spoken nodded. “Almost everyone’s in the backyard.”

“Thank you.” He stepped to the side and the two of them continued their headlong rush down the stairs and to the street.

Chuckling, he went in, closing the door behind him. From there he went up the half-set of stairs, following the noise to a large room with a circle of couches and chairs that opened up into a kitchen on the right.

There were maybe a half-dozen sweet young things there, and he could see through a window that there were indeed more people out back in the yard and on a lovely, large deck.

Jeff caught sight of him from the yard, waved, and called out loudly. “Dilly! Come on out. You want a beer?”

“Jeff!” Grinning, he headed for his friend. “A beer would be great.”

He skirted a couple more giggling boys at the door, and shook his head as he joined his friend. “You’ve got quite the zoo here.”

“You know it. It’s like herding horny cats.”

That had him laughing and clapping Jeff on the back. “You’ve been very scarce lately and now I know why.”

“Busy working and making love to my boy, man.”

“So do I get to meet this amazing sub who captured you?”

Jeff hadn’t been looking very hard, he knew that. Which meant his boy was special.

Jeff didn’t hesitate for a second. “Paul, come meet Dilly.”

A sweet boy came over with two beers in hand and Dill recognized him from the Hammer. He was one hell of a bartender, quick and clever and charming as hell. “Master Dilly. Welcome. Would you like a beverage?” The beer was held out.

“Thank you very much, Paul. It’s really nice to meet you formally.” He took the beer. “You can call me Master Dill, though.” Only old friends got to call him Dilly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Master Dill. Of course.” Paul ducked his head, pinked so prettily.

“It’s okay, boy, you didn’t know.” Dill blamed Jeff.

“Can I get anyone else anything?” Paul asked.

“I’m good with the beer — thanks.” He smiled at Jeff as Paul wandered off again. “He’s a sweetheart.”

“He is. Honestly, he’s everything I’ve ever asked for.”

“I’m so glad for you.”

“Me too.”

Honestly, he’d never seen Jeff so happy. “So tell me about this house. It’s yours?”

“Oh, no. I manage it for Barney and Dev. They’re the owners.”

“A pair of Doms?” Dill asked, looking around.

“Barney’s the Dom. He’s… you see the guy holding that watermelon? That’s Barn. Devvie’s probably in the center of the guys.”

“Why is he holding a watermelon?” Dill asked. A Dom and a sub owning a house full of subs. That was interesting.

“I think it’s a contest, but really, who knows?”

“A contest…” Dill chuckled and shook his head. “Okay… I’m guessing it’s quite the madhouse around here.”

“You have no idea. I have twenty-two boys right now, twenty-three if you count the castaway who everyone pretends isn’t living here.”

Dill felt his eyes widen. “Twenty-three? Wow.” He grinned. “And what exactly is a castaway?”

Jeff rolled his eyes. “Stephen has a cousin, Brad. He’s a broke perpetual student. He works wherever he can pull a shift, was sleeping on sofas. Now he has a cot and a sleeping bag in Stephen and Aaron’s room. At least he’s safe.”

Dill nodded. “It’s a good thing you’re doing here. The boys need a safe place, especially if outsiders find out what they’re into.”

“It’s a safe place. A good home for those just starting out.”

“I think that’s awesome.” Dill did love the BDSM community here. They were good people.

His eye was caught by a willowy, lean boy with a goatee and a little ponytail. He suddenly had the urge to control the boy with that ponytail. His cock went rock hard, his entire body responding to the thought. He breathed in, keeping his calm, but unable to keep his eyes off the boy in question.

“That’s my castaway,” Jeff noted. “He’s… he’s something else.”

Dill knew what he thought. “He’s stunning.”

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Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004713810507

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites

Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanmichael09

Blog: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca/

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, BFD Book Blog, Lee Brazil, KathyMac Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Inked Rainbow Reads, Foxylutely Book Reviews, QUEERcentric Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Jessie G. Books, The Jena Wade, 3 Chicks After Dark, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie, Molly Lolly, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Nautical Star Books, Charley Descoteaux, Velvet Panic

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Triple Play by Sloan Johnson: Release Day Review, Book Blast and Giveaway

October 13, 2015 by Denise

Triple Play
by Sloan Johnson
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Sports

Triple Play

Amazon • Nook • Kobo • iBooks

Drew Jackson seemed to have it all. He has a family who loves and supports him, a tight circle of friends, and is a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks. Then, it all begins to unravel. Cam, the only man he’s ever loved, falls head over heels for Drew’s teammate. He makes a critical mistake in the playoffs that he’s not sure he’ll be able to recover from. And then, his world really crashes around him…

Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he’s still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that’ve been growing for his roommate, Drew. That’d be much easier if Drew wasn’t hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.

Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they’d be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Mavericks’ short stop.

As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew’s recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?

You know the feeling you get on Christmas morning! The excitement, anticipation and all out good feeling that morning brings. Well – that right there is exactly how Triple Play made me feel. It was like taking a package from under the tree and slowly unwrapping all of the yumminess, getting giddy from what you were seeing and loving all of the juicy scenes.

I generally don’t read blurbs. The main reason is I like to be surprised. I don’t want the blurb to give me too much of the story so after the first few chapters of Triple Play I immediately thought the story would be a love triangle. I prefer to stay away from those as they are not my cup of tea…..NOW…..I really, really, really, really hate giving any spoilers away BUT there is no way around this one and if you read the blurb you already know that this little gem is a MENAGE. Yes you heard – a ménage. I was so stupidly excited when I realized it was not a love triangle. OK – well now that I feel horrible for telling you that I think it is only fair that we meet our fabulous TRIO….

Drew Jackson, rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks, just had the worst day of his life and its not over yet. Unfortunately it only gets worse.

Eric Sapp, former Mavericks player & roommate to Drew, comes to the rescue of a man in need. After the traumatic event he realizes he is starting to have feelings for Drew.

Bryce Shaw (aka Sex On A Stick), is relocated back to Milwaukee to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach. He is best friends with Jason and an acquaintance of Drew.

Drew goes through a difficult time and needs Eric to help function. What Drew didn’t realize was that he needs Bryce just as much. Drew doesn’t want to give up whatever is going on between him and Eric as well as him & Bryce. Will Eric feel as if he should step back and allow Bryce to go forward with Drew? Will Bryce be forced to leave the only thing he has loved and hand over to another man? Could three work instead of two?

Holy Bananas Sloan Johnson did me in and gave one hell of ride with these three delicious men. I love ménages….like really love them, especially when they are done with such flawless writing. The character development was superb. I adored the fact that the previous characters from Wild Pitch & Curve Ball were popping up all over the place. Triple Play was fun, entertaining, heart breaking, and just an all around fantastic story. It had just the right amount of sexiness with some hot-panty-melting sex. Johnson had those pages on fire to the point I was blushing. She did a sparkling job in making the ménage more than just sex – more than just a quick night of fun. She made it raw, real & so, so right! FREAKING BRILLANT!!!!!!!!!!

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unbelievable story with one KICK A$$ characters. If ménages are not your thing please give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

5 SEXY STARS – Reviewed for Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Bryce, Eric, and Drew stole my heart. My heart broke when Drew was hurt, but I really liked that Eric stepped up to help. These three guys together was so good, once you got past the initial getting together part. There were a couple times in the beginning before they actually got together where I was frustrated with the situation. I loved Bryce’s take charge attitude that led up to the three of them getting together. Their interactions with each other and how they make the relationship work was very well done. They way they stood by each other, and stood up for each other was beautiful.

Also in the Series

About Sloan Johnson

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

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A Lone Stranger by Layla Wolfe: Book Blast, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 12, 2015 by Denise

Ride on. Ride on.

HARTE: After a world-altering run-in with the guy I thought was my father, I went on the road to find myself. I patched over to The Bent Zealots MC, an out-and-proud club on the Colorado River. A cock virgin, I raced to experience all I could, eagerly sniffing every nook and cranny, a whole new existence offered up by Grindr. But when Ormond Tangier was assaulted by a rival club, I quickly got down to brass tacks, to show my new brothers I was all business.

Too bad that business involves Bond Blackburn, jailbird brother of our Prez, Turk. That guy is so far in denial he’s practically Egyptian. But he even he can’t deny what I saw with my own eyes at the gay club. Sure, I was on my knees paying homage to a Daddy Dom, but Bond can’t pretend he wasn’t getting some oral praise as well. And now they’re telling me I have to work with this hypocrite?

BOND: This club is a fucking joke. How’s a man supposed to make a new start after the joint? First, my own brother forced me to prospect. I couldn’t automatically rise to the top of the heap through my family connections. No, I’m supposed to labor in a noxious sweatshop making product for their pot dispensary. And I have to sneak downtown if I want to get some halfway decent head, because I don’t even want my gay so-called brothers knowing about my shameful hobby.

Now we’re reaching out to the cops to even the score with those Hellfire Nuts who abused Ormond. And that delicious Harte Saxonberg is getting my goat, so by the book, such bleeding heart. I just want to strangle him—or fuck him.

HARTE: I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, one that slab of a man, Bond Blackburn. He kisses me, then punches me. Fucks me, then ignores me. He’s got me so upside-down I’ve lost the clarity I had a week ago when I rode west. Ride west, young man. I could be a steam train if I could just lay down my tracks. But the only name I’m calling out is that sexy convict’s.

Ride on. Ride on.

Publisher’s warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. It contains scenes of gay sex, consensual BDSM, illegal doings, vaguely legal marijuana operations, and violence against men. There is no cheating or cliffhangers, and HEAs for all.

Lessons for Sleeping Dogs by Charlie Cochrane : Blog Tour and Giveaway

October 12, 2015 by Denise

LessonsSleepingDogs_TourBanner

Cambridge, 1921

When amateur sleuth Jonty Stewart comes home with a new case to investigate, his partner Orlando Coppersmith always feels his day has been made. Although, can there be anything to solve in the apparent mercy killing of a disabled man by a doctor who then kills himself, especially when everything takes place in a locked room?

But things are never straightforward where the Cambridge fellows are concerned, so when they discover that more than one person has a motive to kill the dead men—motives linked to another double death—their wits get stretched to the breaking point.

And when the case disinters long buried memories for Jonty, memories about a promise he made and hasn’t kept, their emotions get pulled apart as well. This time, Jonty and Orlando will have to separate fact from fiction—and truth from emotion—to get to the bottom of things.

Lessons for Sleeping Dogs is the twelfth story in the Cambridge Fellows series of romantic mysteries. You can find the full list of stories (with freebies and some rather silly additional content that I must have created in a very mad moment!) here on my blog.

People ask me how the series originated and the answer is simple; I was desperate to find some classic age style mysteries that featured a gay couple. I couldn’t, so I wrote my own!

As Charlie Cochrane couldn’t be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes, with titles published by Carina, Samhain, Bold Strokes, MLR and Cheyenne.

Charlie’s Cambridge Fellows Series of Edwardian romantic mysteries was instrumental in her being named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, International Thriller Writers Inc and is on the organising team for UK Meet for readers/writers of GLBT fiction. She regularly appears with The Deadly Dames.

Connect with Charlie:

Website: http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk/
Blog: http://charliecochrane.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @charliecochrane
Facebook profile page: https://www.facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/goodreadscomcharlie_cochrane

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for your choice of an a ebook from Charlie Cochrane’s backlist (excluding Lessons for Sleeping Dogs.) Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on October 17, 2015. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to add your contact information so we can reach you if you win!

Choosing Us by Aria Grace : Release Tour

October 10, 2015 by Denise

Title: Choosing Us

Series: More Than Friend #10

Author: Aria Grace

Genre: M/M Romance (Menage)

Release Date: October 10, 2015

Adam is almost done with culinary school when Lee, his instructor, kicks him out of school, his apartment and his life. Adam quickly becomes a member of the working poverty, living on the streets, and just trying to survive. With nothing positive to look forward to, Adam resorts to the only way he knows how to escape from his life.

Joey finds Adam sick and alone in Waterfront Park one night and takes him home. Steve and Joey want to help but Adam may not be ready to accept it or them. It’ll all come down whether the three men are better off together or apart.

Joey

The energy at The Pot has been weird all day. People seem antsy. Anxious. I don’t know if it’s the non-stop rain, but something just feels wrong.

“I’m heading out with Bryce to look for Kurt.” Kim is pulling her jacket off the coat rack by the door. “You gonna stay much longer?”

I pull the chewed up pencil out of my mouth and look at her. “Um, no. I’ll probably head out soon too.”

“Okay, just be careful driving home. It’s practically a typhoon out there.”

I shiver just thinking about being stuck outside. “Where are you guys looking?”

“We’re going to drive through Kelly Butte Natural Preserve to see if anyone has seen him out there. Then we’ll swing by Waterfront. He stays at both places so hopefully we’ll find him.”

“What are you going to do if you find him?” On particularly wet nights, The Pot fills up quickly. We try not to ever turn anyone away but once the beds are full and the floors are all littered with bodies in sleeping bags, it’s hard to justify going to find someone just to bring them back.

“We just want to make sure he’s fine. He’s usually here every few days so people are getting worried. There’s been some bad black going around. I’ll feel better if I know he’s alive.”

I nod then blurt out my next words without thinking. “I’ll go to Waterfront. It’s on my way home anyway. Call me if you find him before I do.”

“Will do. Have a good night, Joey.”

“Yeah.” I shut down the computer I was using to pay some bills then stand to leave as well. “You too.”

~**~

Looking for someone on a dark and stormy night is even harder than it sounds. I can’t see my hand in front of my face without my flashlight blazing. And because I don’t want anyone to think I’m a cop, I keep the light mostly shielded. Only a dim beam illuminates the pathway in front of me.

There are a few corners where junkies are known to party, so that’s where I start. Under a thick copse of trees, four people huddle together under a tarp. Keeping my voice friendly and my light low, I call out toward the group, “Is Kurt with you?”

No response so I take a few steps closer. One guy jumps up while the others fumble around behind him.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Hey, it’s cool, man. I’m not a cop.” I turn the light toward myself so they can see my plain clothes. “Just looking for a friend. Do you know a guy named Kurt?”

A girl turns on a headlight, almost blinding me with the beam before she clicks it into red mode. “I know Kurt. What do you need from him?”

“I don’t need anything.” I slowly turn the light toward her face so I can see her without shining it directly in her eyes. “Just checking to see if he’s okay. I’ve been trying to reach him for a few days.”

She shakes her head then looks at the half-conscious guys next to her. “Nah, it’s been a while but he was fine the last time I saw him.”

That’s helpful. Not.

“Well, if you see him, can you tell him to go see Joey?”

No one even looks up as I turn and head out. There’s a person on a bench near the water so I walk quickly toward them. A street light casts just enough light over the person that I can tell it’s a man, about the size of Kurt.

“Kurt?” I call out when I’m about ten feet from the man. His feet are up against his ass and his head is tucked into his bent knees. If he didn’t startle at my voice, I would have been afraid he was dead.

“What?” The man turns his head and coughs twice into his knees.

The familiar voice makes my blood run cold. Please let this be Kurt.

“Is that you, Kurt?”

“No Kurt here.”

The man buries his face into his bent knees again and coughs violently, causing me to take a few steps closer.

“Adam?” I whisper as I raise my light across his curled up body. “Is that you?”

Adam’s legs hit the ground and he stands at attention like a solider at boot camp. “Joey? Hey, how’s it going?”

He’s trying to sound casual but it’s clearly an act. He’s nervous and jittery.

“What are you doing here, Adam?” I look around to see if he’s with anyone but he’s totally alone. “It’s freezing.”

“I’m fine.” He runs his palm across his face, wiping off the water collecting there. “I like the peace of being alone out here.”

“Can I give you a ride home?” I don’t know where he’s living but he shouldn’t be walking anywhere in this weather.

“Oh, no.” He clears his throat and puts his hands in his pockets. “I’m cool, but thanks.”

I move the beam of light directly over his face until he has to squint to keep from being blinded. “No, you’re not cool. You need to get out of this rain. That cough sounds bad. Where do you live?”

Adam’s head drops and his chin lands on his center of his collar bone. “I’m fine, Joey. Really.”

His words are whispered but the anguish in his voice is unmistakable. I step right up to him and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “What’s going on, Adam? Why are you out here?”

Adam’s shoulders rise and fall until I feel his arms slowly close around my waist. He completely ignores my question while breathing into my neck. “It’s so good to see you.”

My hold on him tightens. “Why don’t you come back to my place so we can talk?”

His head bobs up and down, but Adam doesn’t say a word. After another moment, I release one arm from around his shoulders then start walking back to my car with him pressed tightly to my side.

Steve

Rain is falling in sheets as I drive the short distance home. I closed up at eight forty because the mall was dead. I normally would have waited it out but I was anxious to get home to my little duck.

Relief fills me when I see Joey’s white Ford Escape tucked away for the night in the garage. I park next to him and practically jog inside, anxious to get out of my damp clothes from the walk through the mall parking lot.

“Baby, I’m home,” I call out as soon as I step into the kitchen.

“We’re in the family room.”

I pause for just a second. Did he say we?

I inhale deeply then walk into the family room. Joey is sitting in the center of the sofa, his body turned toward the guy beside him.

My stomach churns as I take in the scene. This guy doesn’t look familiar but I trust Joey implicitly. I know whatever reason he has for inviting a stranger into our home, particularly when I’m not around, must be a good one.

I round the sofa and stand on the other side of the coffee table, facing Joey and hopefully the guy he was looking for. But it’s not Kurt. It’s Adam. The guy from the wedding.

Born and raised in California, Aria enjoys the year round sunshine and laid back environment of the west coast. She lives with her husband and two children on a quiet hill that gives her lots of time to read and write. Once she ventured into the exciting world of gay romance, she never looked back. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to drop her a note or visit her at www.ariagracebooks.com or join her mailing list for updates and free book opportunities.

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