Sexy Summer Fling

By Kimberly Gardner

Copyright 2010, all rights reserved.

One

The beaded curtain hung utterly still in the humid air. It was supposed to add to the air of mystery, but all it did was block what little air might actually reach the back of the shop from that piece of shit air conditioner that wasn’t big enough for the space even if the temperature outside hadn’t been a hundred freakin’ degrees in the shade.

“Welcome to Wildwood in the summer.” Cody lifted his long dark hair up off his neck and used it to fan himself. With his sleeve he armed sweat off the back of his neck and let his gaze stray to the clock. Just an hour to go then he could get out of this get-up and go home where the air conditioner actually worked.

Cody stood up. He needed to take a leak. But just as he was about to push aside the hideous beads they stirred and Seth poked his head in.

“Madame Marie, you’ve got a customer.”

Cody sat down. So much for his bathroom/smoke break. He arranged his long skirt and assumed what he thought of as his mysterious, I-can-see-your-future look and nodded to Seth who turned and spoke to someone over his shoulder.

“Okay, Madame is ready.” Seth held the curtain aside which meant that the customer was a good-looking girl, otherwise no way Seth would be so solicitous or even polite.

A little blonde of maybe fifteen or sixteen stepped past him. She wore black bike shorts and a red tanktop and her ponytail hung past her shoulder-blades. Cute, if girls happened to be your thing.

Her eyes settled on Cody and she smiled. “Hi, Madame Marie? I’m Kelly.”

Cody smiled. “Good evening.”

His voice was naturally soft so it didn’t take much to make himself sound like a woman, a woman with a contralto but, hey, you could only do what you could do.

“Sit down, my dear.” Cody gestured to the chair on the opposite side of the table.

She sat. But when Cody reached for the deck of tarot cards she shook her head. “I want my palm read.”

Great. He hated the palm reading. At least with the cards he had some props to distract the customer from the line of bullshit he was feeding them. Somehow that distraction seemed to make the shit go down better, or at least easier. But with the palm reading he was on his own.

Ah well.

Cody took her hands in his and pretended to examine both palms closely. After a few moments he tapped her left hand. “This one, I think.”

He bent over her hand, his dark hair falling forward to curtain his face, a few strands clinging to his sweaty skin. “I see you have a very long lifeline.”

“I do?” She leaned close, trying to see.

He leaned back. “Just try to relax.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Let Madame do the work.”

He ran the usual schpeal about her lifeline and loveline, extracting little bits of information about her life along the way, things that would help him improvise his ‘reading’ to seem more personal to her and less like the line of crap that it actually was.

At the end of ten minutes, Cody sat back. “It’s been a real pleasure. I don’t often see a palm with so strong a …”

Just then the beads moved and a vision appeared in the narrow doorway.

Tall, blond and suntanned with the face of a Greek god and shoulders that filled the doorway and a thunder cloud hanging low on his brow.

“Kel, I’ve been looking all over for you.”

She stood up. “I was just getting my palm read.” She slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him. “Don’t be such a grouch.”

“You could have told me where you were going.”

“Why don’t you get yours read.” She tugged him further into the little room. “This is Madame Marie. She’s really awesome.” She turned to Cody. “This is Oscar the grouch also known as Sean.”

Cody let his gaze travel the length of that toned and muscular body so attractively encased in faded denim and a dark blue t-shirt stretched taut over those phenomenal shoulders.

Their eyes met and Cody felt that thrilling little flip in his belly, the one that told him this guy was interested. He smiled before he remembered that he was supposed to be Madame Marie, gypsy fortune-teller extraordinaire, not Cody Jenkins, horny college student.

Oscar’s lips thinned into a cranky line. “We don’t really have time–”

“Oh, c’mon. Don’t be a stick in the mud.” She shoved him toward the chair. “It only takes like ten minutes.”

“You need to pay first.” Cody couldn’t stop staring. The guy was totally lickable. In fact he wanted to lick him from head to toe then start over again.

“How much is it?” Oscar reached for his wallet, produced some bills and looked expectantly at Cody.

“Five for a palm reading. Is that what you want?”

Kelly nodded. “Yeah, that’s what he wants.”

With a sigh, the bills were handed over and the young god held out his hand palm up.

“She needs to see both of them.” Kelly leaned over and took Sean’s other hand and put it on the table.

Cody took both his hands. God, but he had pretty eyes. Light blue with darker flecks around the center and pale gold lashes.

Cody’s pulse picked up. He leaned over and studied the hands while under the table his prick perked up.

He’s probably straight. Still it never hurt to imagine. Cody had a feeling this guy was soon going to be starring in his fantasies, straight or not.

He had beautiful hands too. Warm and dry with wide palms and long tapering fingers, Cody could just imagine how they would feel holding him down as this blond Adonis pounded into him. Or how they might feel wrapped around his prick and jacking him off. Or–”

“So …” the big blond cleared his throat. “Are you like going to tell my fortune, or what?”

“She has to study your palms first,” Kelly said. “Don’t be so impatient.” She punched him in the shoulder.

Cody glanced up into those gorgeous eyes. He skimmed his thumb over the left palm. Oh, he would so be flirting if only he wasn’t dressed like some ridiculous gypsy slutgirl.

“This one.”

Of course given that his blond hottie was probably straight, it might be the only chance Cody had to flirt. He leaned close and dropped his voice into a sultry murmur. “You have a very deep love line. Did anyone ever tell you that?”

“Um, no.” Blondie leaned a little closer and peered down at his own hand. “What does that mean?”

Cody inhaled. He could smell sunscreen and sweat and the hint of lemon that might have been shampoo. His cock stiffened, straining against the jock he wore to keep himself in place when he was in costume.

“It means you’re extremely passionate.”

Kelly giggled.
“Is that what it means?”
Was it his imagination or did blondie sound just the slightest bit breathy. Probably his imagination. Down boy. The dude is most likely straight.

Cody held that hand in both of his, studied the palm and smelled Sean’s skin while he created a little fantasy in his head. He let the usual thread spin out as he told Sean’s fortune, caressing his palm from time to time as he talked. Oh baby, how he wanted those hands on him.

Entirely too soon the ten minutes was up. Cody wanted to keep Sean right where he was, keep that hand in his, keep those eyes focused on him. But the beaded curtain stirred and Seth appeared. “Madame, you’ve got other customers.”
Which was Seth-speak for quit making eyes at that blond and get it moving so we can pay the rent.

Cody sat back and released Sean’s hand. “You have beautiful hands.”

Under his tan, Sean’s cheeks colored just a little. “Thank you.” He pulled another bill out of his pocket and held it out. “Thanks, for the fortune and all.”

Cody watched them leave, admiring the way Sean’s jeans clung to his very fine ass.

When they disappeared he glanced down at the bill in his hand and unfolded it. Another five dollars.
Cody tamped down the disappointment. He’d been hoping for Sean’s number. Ah well, An extra five bucks was good. If he couldn’t have the man himself at least they’d be a few bucks closer to making the rent for the month.

He went to pocket the bill and sighed with frustration. Hiking up the long skirt, he tucked the bill into the pocket of his shorts.

Two

“Closing time, Madame.” Seth’s voice sang out from the front of the shop.

Thank God.

Cody stood up. His sneaker caught in the hem of the skirt. He heard the unmistakable fart of tearing fabric. Great. Seth was going to be pissed if he ruined the costume. If he ripped it what would the next Madame Marie do?

The next. He hoped like hell that Seth found someone to fill the bill and soon. Cody was sick of this bullshit. Not the fortune telling, that part wasn’t so bad, but the heat and the shitty air conditioning and the long hours were the real bitch. Because their hole in the wall operation was right in a prime location on the boardwalk, their busiest times were also the best times for having fun, the best times for checking out the hotties.

At the thought of hotties, the image of that blond Adonis popped into Cody’s head.

Shit, but he’d been gorgeous. If only he’d been gay. Cody had to chuckle at that. Even if the guy had been gay, how the hell could he, Cody have gotten his number dressed as he was in his Madame Marie attire complete with eye makeup, lip gloss and girl’s underwear.

At first he’d objected to the underwear. But Seth had pointed out that he needed some boobs and how the hell was he going to pull that off unless he had something to stuff. And the thong really did hold him better than his usual boxer briefs would have.

Cody untied the peasant blouse and began to loosen the laces when he heard a male voice from the front of the shop. His hands stilled and he listened.

“I need to see Madame Marie.”

“We’re closing, dude. Come back tomorrow. Madame’s done for the night. She packed up her crystal balls and went home already.”

Crystal balls. This was Seth’s little attempt at humor. Of course no one would get it but him. That didn’t seem to matter though.

“I’ll only take five minutes.”

Was it?

Cody went over to the beaded curtain and peered out. His blond god was standing in the middle of the shop arguing with Seth who was trying, none to subtly, to shepherd him out the door.

What did the guy want?

With fingers that weren’t quite steady, Cody laced up his blouse and tied the laces. He threw a glance at himself in the mirror. Not too hideous, especially since Seth had already turned out most of the lights.

Cody shoved the curtain aside and stepped out. “Can I help you?” He smiled his very best gypsy slutgirl smile at the blond god.

Those pretty eyes widened slightly then the hottie threw a look in Seth’s direction that was not at all friendly before he turned back to Madame Marie and smiled.

“I’m Sean. I don’t know if you remember, but you read my fortune earlier tonight.”

Cody nodded. “Of course.” He lowered his lashes. “You’re the boy with the deep loveline. Yes?”

Was that a blush? Oh my God, this boy was definitely lickable.

Sean nodded. “I bet you say that to all the guys.”

It was a cheesy line, but he had a great smile and …

“I know you’re getting ready to close and all but, could I talk to you for a minute?

A giddy thrill slid through Cody which he thought he did an admirable job of concealing. Instead of jumping up and down and singing I’m getting laid tonight he nodded and smiled before motioning Sean toward the back.

“Madame,” Seth sounded pissed off, “we’re getting ready to close up so–”

“We’ll just be a minute.” He left Seth grumbling and led Sean through the curtain and into Madame’s chamber.

Cody swept a hand in the direction of the guest chair. “Sit down.”

Sean shook his head. Now that he was here he didn’t seem to know what to do. His gaze flicked from the table with its array of fortune-telling paraphernalia to the beaded curtain to the poster of a gypsy wagon by a campfire that hung on the wall. He looked everywhere but at Cody.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

There, that got his attention.

He looked startled then he laughed, a rich sound that slid over Cody’s skin like a caress and had his cock perking right up. Down boy.

“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my little sister.”

Oh, yeah. This was a good piece of news.

“Really?”

He nodded. “I dropped her back at the condo. I wanted to see if …” His gaze slid over Cody, lingering a little on his breasts before traveling down and back up to his face.

Great. A tit man. Cody sighed inwardly. Guess this isn’t happening.

“I was wondering if maybe we could do something.”

“Do something?” Despite his misgivings Cody’s pulse picked up.

Sean reached out and fingered the heavy necklace Cody wore draped over his fake cleavage. “Yeah, you know, go out.”

Cody swallowed. Oh, that was such a bad idea.

“What did you have in mind?”

Three

“You did what?” Annette’s feet came down from where they were propped on the porch railing with a thud and she gaped at him.

“It’s no big deal.” Cody shifted uncomfortably. They sat side-by-side on the swing outside Annette’s apartment. At the rental across the street, a family was packing their car to go home.

“No big deal? You’re going out with a guy who thinks you’re a girl and you think that’s no big deal. Are you nuts?” Annette grew serious. “What’s going to happen when he finds out, Code? Honey, you could get hurt.”

“He won’t find out. It’s not like I’m going to have sex with him.”

“Pfft. I hope he knows that.”

Cody dropped his gaze. It probably was a stupid thing to do. Annette was right. And he’d meant to say no, he really had. But when Sean had looked at him with those strangely beautiful eyes, all his resolve had gone out the window along with his good sense and he had said yes.

“We’re just going out for pizza.” Cody picked at a loose thread on his shorts. “In the middle of the day.”

“Oh, like people don’t do the hot and nasty in the middle of the day? Code, please? Call him back and tell him you changed your mind. Tell him your dog died. Tell him anything, just don’t do this.”

“I don’t have his number.” Which was the truth. Cody had been so excited by the prospect of going out with the blond god, he hadn’t even gotten Sean’s cell number or given him his own.

“Well, what if I say no, you can’t borrow my clothes. Then you’ll have to cancel.” Annette looked please with herself for coming up with this solution.

Cody shook his head. “Then I’ll just have to go shopping and buy something to wear.”

Annette’s grin faded. “The minute he touches you he’s going to know.”

“How?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know.”

“No. Explain.”

She huffed out a breath. “The minute he kisses you and you get a hard-on he’s going to know you’re not a girl.”

“I’m not going to let him get that close to me.”

And he wouldn’t. As much as he wanted to, he wouldn’t. Because Annette was right, the minute Sean’s lips were on him, Sean’s arms around him, his cock was going to stiffen right up and he would be busted, because no matter what kind of underwear he wore, nothing was going to keep his cock down once Sean started touching him.

“Okay, Nette, I got to go. I have shopping to do.” Getting to his feet, He headed for the porch steps.

“Wait.”

He paused and held his breath, hardly daring to look back.

“Since I can’t talk you out of this, I might as well help you look good.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the door that led into the apartment. “I have just the outfit for you.”

Four

“I never heard of the name Cody for a girl.” Sean took a bite of pizza and spoke around a mouthful of sauce and cheese. “I mean, isn’t that usually a guy’s name?”

Cody watched the muscles work as he chewed and swallowed. “It is, mostly. But it can be one of those unisex names. Like Sean, right?”

“I don’t know any girls named Sean.” Sean picked up his Pepsi, found the cup empty and set it down.

“Here, have some of mine.” Cody pushed his drink across the table. “What about that singer Shaun Colvin? She’s a girl.”

“Who?” Sean picked up Cody’s soda and sipped.

Cody felt a little faint as he watched Sean’s lips sucking on the end of the straw, right where his own lips had been only seconds ago. Oh. My. God.

Cody’s dick stirred inside the three pairs of underwear Annette had made him put on. They had agreed that three layers should be enough to hold him in place, but it looked like that wasn’t going to work.

“Shaun Colvin.” Under the table, Cody rearranged the folds of his gauzy skirt, crossed then uncrossed his legs. “She’s one of those chicks with a guitar.”

“Never heard of her.” Sean eyed Cody’s plate. “Something wrong with your pizza? You’re not eating.”

Cody looked down. He’d taken only one bite of the pepperoni and mushroom slice Sean had bought him. The truth was he’d been far too busy watching Sean’s face for any flicker of suspicion to even think about actually eating.

Not that he didn’t look good.
Annette had done a terrific job with his clothes, hair and makeup. The long flowing skirt was feminine while concealing enough to hide a number of less-than-female body traits, like the fact that Cody had no hips and the off-the-shoulders, peasant blouse hinted at cleavage without really showing anything. Not that Cody had anything to show.

“Cody?”

“Huh?”

“Your pizza, is it okay?”

“Sure. It’s fine. I’m just not that hungry. Why don’t you eat me? Er, I mean, mine, er, the pizza, I mean.”

Sean laughed.

Cody’s cheeks flamed. Had he really just said that? Hurriedly, he shoved his plate across the table toward Sean.

“I’m actually kinda full. Why don’t we get out of here.” Those dreamy blue eyes met Cody’s. “We could go for a walk up the boardwalk or something, if you want?”

Outside the pizza place the heat slapped Cody in the face like a wet towel. The July sun, hot and bright, shone in a sky so blue it hurt to look at it. Gulls wheeled and cried overhead while all around the sounds of summer filled the heated air.

Sean took Cody’s hand as they walked, interlacing their fingers. Cody’s pulse picked up.

Oh, he should so put an end to this right fucking now, before he got busted, and maybe got his ass kicked into the bargain. But Sean’s hand felt so good closed possessively around his, and beside him he could smell the other man, sun and sweat and something that was just Sean. What could it hurt to let it go on just a little longer?

Overhead one of those ad planes flew along the beach. It trailed a red, white and blue banner advertizing Arty’s Crab Shack! All you can eat for just 10.99!

“It’s pretty hot out here,” Sean said.

“Yeah, it is.” With his free hand Cody lifted his hair off his neck. He wished he had a rubberband or something to tie it back with.

“C’mon.” Sean tugged on Cody’s hand.

“Where?”

“Down here.” Sean pointed to a set of steps that led off the boardwalk. “We can get out of the sun.”

Under the boardwalk? Was he kidding?

Cody hung back. “I don’t think–”

“It’ll be a lot cooler.” Sean paused and studied Cody for a long moment. “You’ll be perfectly safe. There are tons of people around. And I’m not going to do anything you don’t want. I promise.”

And therein lay the problem. Cody wasn’t sure there was anything Sean could do to him that he didn’t want.

Still, even knowing it was a bad idea, Cody nodded and let Sean lead him down the steps.

Sean had been right. It was a lot cooler under the boardwalk.

They walked along in silence, their fingers still entwined, the sound of footsteps overhead mixing with the distant crash of the ocean and the shouts of little kids as they played on the beach.

They came to a large pipe half buried in the sand, Sean stopped. “Want to rest a minute?”

Without waiting for an answer, he sank down in the sand and propped his back against the side of the pipe. After only a brief hesitation, Cody sat beside him.

Sean turned to him. In the half shade his eyes were luminous and as achingly blue as the sky. His gaze dropped to Cody’s mouth and lingered. “I really want to kiss you, Cody. Would that be all right? If I try to kiss you, would you let me?”

Cody tried to speak, found he couldn’t and just nodded.

Sean leaned in and touched their lips together, softly, sweetly, just the lightest brush.

Oh. My. God.

He did it again, lingering a little this time, but still not using any tongue, not deepening the kiss.
It was Cody who reached out, sliding his hand to the back of Sean’s neck where the skin was warm and damp and tangling his fingers in all that glorious blond hair. Cody who pulled Sean in for another kiss. Cody who was the first to open his mouth and trace his tongue along the seam of the other man’s lips.

A small sound escaped Sean. His lips parted and his tongue slipped out to tangle with Cody’s. And then they were really kissing, a full contact, tongue on tongue lip lock with all the heat and promise of true sexual foreplay.

They slid sideways, Cody wrapping his arms around Sean, devouring his mouth like a starving man at a banquet. He tasted of pizza and Pepsi, salt and sun and sweat and all the best flavors of a sexy summer fling. And oh man, he was just what Cody wanted, what he’d been wanting all summer.

God!

Suddenly Sean broke the kiss. “Cody, stop.”

“What? No. Don’t want to stop.” Brain still fogged with lust, Cody tried to pull Sean back down.

“Stop, I said.” Sean held him off, pushing him back into the sand and sitting up. “I have to go.”

“What? Why?” Cody heard the hint of a whine in his own voice. He cleared his throat. “What’s the matter? Did I do something?”

Shit. Had Sean figured out that he wasn’t a girl? Annette’s words came back to him.

* He’s going to know as soon as he touches you.*

Cody studied him. He didn’t look pissed. He looked … What? confused?

“What is it?”

“You’ll think I’m an asshole.”

“No, I won’t.” Cody touched Sean’s arm. “C’mon, tell me.”

The sand felt cool through the thin material of his shirt. The skin of Sean’s arm, warm under his fingertips. His cock and balls ached in his too tight underwear.

Sean rubbed a hand over his face and blew out a breath. “Okay. Well, I’ve never been with a girl before.”

What the hell?

“Never?”

“I’m not a virgin or anything,” Sean rushed on. “I just … I’ve always gone out with guys, because I’m gay. Or I thought I was.”

“You’re gay? For real? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I just really liked you and I thought … I don’t know.” Sean shrugged. He got to his knees, then to his feet. He turned away. “I told you you’d think I was an asshole.”

Cody couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He lay there in the sand as Sean started to walk away. Then he heard Annette’s voice in his head.

*What the hell are you waiting for? Go after him, you idiot!*

“Sean, wait.” Cody scrambled to his feet. Reaching up under his skirt, he yanked off the three pairs of underwear and tossed them aside. The relief was so great it made him lightheaded and he swayed.

Sean stopped and turned around. “What is it?”

“I have something to tell you too. Or show you.” Cody went over to Sean and slid his arms around the taller man’s neck. “I’m not really a girl.”

He pressed close, letting Sean feel the bulge of his cock through the thin fabric of Annette’s skirt.

Sean’s pretty eyes widened. “What the hell?”

“It’s true. I just pretended to be a girl because I thought you were straight and I wanted to go out with you and– Ah hell, now who’s the asshole, right?”

“You pretended to be a girl just to go out with me?”

Cody nodded. “Yeah. I know it was a dumb thing to do. Are you mad? You’re not going to kick my ass or anything, are you?”

A grin broke across Sean’s face and a dimple flashed in his left cheek. “Shit.”

Sean yanked Cody against him, his leg sliding between Cody’s thighs and pressing up against his crotch. Then Sean kissed him. A real kiss, a hard kiss full of passion with lots of tongue and just a hint of teeth. His hands slid down and gripped Cody’s ass through his skirt, squeezed. He nipped Cody’s bottom lip.

“Not going to kick your ass. Maybe something else, but kick it, nah.”

Cody laughed, giddy from the feel of that hard, male body and the hands gripping his ass. He rocked against Sean’s thigh and kissed back, tangling his fingers in Sean’s hair. So it looked like he would get his sexy summer fling after all.

I sit in my office, or even better, on the porch swing, and listen to the quiet, drink my tea and think my thoughts which are usually my characters’ thoughts.

This morning as I sit I’m thinking the thoughts of a young man who has chosen a particular path for his life and now, I mean right now, is wondering if he’s made a mistake. You see, he’s met someone who changed everything with their first kiss. And that scares the hell out of him.

I’m about halfway through the first draft of this guy’s story and his moment of truth is fast approaching, the time when he’ll have to decide which path he’s going to follow. Guess which one he’ll choose. And remember, I’m a romance writer. *g*

So I’ll enjoy a final moment of morning quiet and take the last sip of my tea–maybe I’ll have another cup, but this one I’ll have at my desk because that young man is waiting for me to tell his story. And as any writer will tell you, you can’t keep the characters waiting. They get very impatient.

She: By any chance, did you have a story that you were thinking of submitting for the Red anthollogy, but then didn’t?
Me (cautious): No … Why do you ask?
She: Well, we could sort of use another story and I was just thinking …
Me: How long would it have to be?

Yes, I have a hard time saying no to Kris. *g*

The concept of the red anthology is this: write an erotic m/m romance and include the color red, a pebble, a cricket, a splash of ice cold water and the scent of blood oranges. It was a fun challenge and one that my muse evidently enjoyed.

My story is called Blush and I wrote it in what is, at least for me, record time. So here’s a little taste of it.

Blurb

Once Vinn might have believed that vampires were nothing more than legend and myth. But when his life is threatened by a legend, it takes a myth to save him.

Excerpt

Copyright 2010 by Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved.

Vinn went over to the box and lifted the lid. “Look, are they weird looking, or what?”

Julien looked and felt the stirring of a nearly forgotten pleasure. He picked up one of the small globes. It was cool in his palm. He held it up. “They’re called Moros.”

“Moros? You’ve seen these before?”

“Indeed. They’re blood oranges and I’ve eaten them.”

“I thought–”

“Not in a very long time, Vincent. But I have tasted their flesh.” With his thumbnail, Julien split the skin of the fruit and pulled the halves apart. The air was immediately filled with the rich tangy scent of citrus, so sweet it was nearly painful to breathe, or maybe that was the memory.

Vinn’s stared down at the fruit. “It looks almost black, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” Julien separated a slice of the orange. Held it out. Juice ran through his fingers and over the back of his hand. The urge to lick it away, to taste that sparkling sweetness was almost irresistible. But instead he held it to Vinn’s lips. “Taste.”

Vinn hesitated only a moment then he opened his mouth and took the fruit from Julien’s fingers. He bit down, his eyes drifting closed on a moan of the purest appreciation.

“Mmm. Oh man.”

“You like?”

“Oh man. That freakin rocks.” He swallowed. “Can I have some more?”

Julien chuckled. “As much as you want, my love.”

But when he offered the rest of the fruit, Vinn shook his head. “Will you peel it for me and … you know.” His cheeks flushed. “It’s sort of sexy, you feeding it to me like that. That’s how I want to eat it, from your hand. Can we do that?”

Julien felt something inside him shift as Vinn’s gaze met his. “We can do that. But first, take off your clothes. I want you naked.”

Vinn let out a long, slow breath. “Okay.”

As he began to undress, his gaze stayed on Julien’s face, never wavering.

He’s watching me watch him, Julien thought and felt that funny shift inside him again. Vinn had from the first showed no fear of him. Even after he knew what Julien was, he had never hesitated to look him in the eye, never shown the least revulsion at the coolness of his touch. In short, had never shown him anything less than the desire and affection of a lover. And perhaps that had made the difference.

Vinn kicked free of his jeans and stood before Julien, naked and aroused, his cock jutting long and thick and dark with blood from its nest of pale curls. The scent of healthy, young male mixed with the tang of citrus. It filled Julien’s head and made him quite nearly giddy.

“How do you want me?” Vinn whispered.

“On the bed,” Julien replied. “Lie back and I’ll feed you.”

Vinn lay back on the futon, his upper body propped on pillows.

Julien reclined beside him. He separated another section of orange and held it out. Vinn opened his mouth and Julien slipped the fruit between his lover’s lips. But rather than take it, Vinn bit in. Juice spilled over his lips and over Julien’s fingers. It dripped down Vinn’s chin and onto his bare chest.

Gods be damned, Julien thought and lowered his head. With his tongue he followed the trail of juice down Vinn’s chest until it was lost in the trail of pale hairs that bisected his flat belly. The taste was as sweet as he remembered and Julien had to close his eyes, so strong was the memory of the last time he’d tasted such sweetness.

He trailed kisses back up Vinn’s torso, over his collarbone, up the long line of his throat to his lips, where he lingered and savored.

Vinn moaned into Julien’s mouth. Arms and legs wrapped around him and the young man clung, his erection pushing against Julien’s abdomen. Vinn humped against him, needy little whimpers bleeding from his lips. His fingers plunged into Julien’s hair and fisted there.

It was Julien who broke the kiss. Leaning back, he put space between them. “Easy now. You’ll be coming before I ever get inside you.”

“I can’t help it.” Vinn’s breath came in little pants. “It’s just so fucking hot.”

“What is?”

“Me and you. Being naked when you’re still fully dressed. It feels like … I don’t know, like you could do whatever you want to me and I’d let you.”

“That’s a dangerous thing to say to me, Vincent.”

“I don’t care. I’m not afraid of you.” Vinn wrapped himself around Julien once more. “You get me so hot, so horny, I can’t think. It’s never been like that before, not with anybody else.”

Julien closed his eyes.

Damn it. Just damn it.

“What? What did I say?”

“Nothing. It’s all right. Just … it’s nothing.”

Vinn was looking at him, studying him with those pale blue eyes that seemed to gaze right through Julien. They would have pierced his soul if he’d had one.

“You fed tonight,” Vinn said.

“I did, at the mall before I came to you.”

“So you can fuck me, right?”

“Yes.” Julien wrapped his fingers around Vinn’s cock. The flesh was hot to the touch, the pulse beating against his fingertips clawed at Julien’s control. He gave the hot hard length a stroke. “Or if you’d rather I could–”

“No.” Vinn covered Julien’s hand with his. “I want your cock up my ass. I want you to fuck me hard and deep. I want you to use your teeth and make me come.”

My most excellent friend Laura Baunbach won an Eppie last night for her fabulous novel, Mexican Heat which she coauthored with Josh Lanyon. The book won in the category mystery/suspense erotic romance and a richly deserved honor it is too.

Congrats Josh and Laura!

Buy the ebook.

http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=BOUNDPL1

Brought together for pleasure, bound together by love.

Blurb

Jason doesn’t do monogamy, and as a much sought-after Dom he doesn’t have to. But when he gets the chance to play with Benny, his sweet young assistant who wants only to please him, Jason holds back.

Benny’s no sub, but for a chance to be with the sexy Dom he’s sure he can change. Except he’s only fooling himself, and deep down he knows it.

Enter Rain, a sexy badboy who’s got a taste for the lash and pretty young things, like Benny. What’s a man to do when the two men he lusts after are determined that even a hook-up is not in the cards? Why, orchestrate one single night of pleasure, of course.

But when the whip comes down, and one night isn’t enough, it’s love, not leather, that’s bound to please.

Excerpt

Copyright 2010 by Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved.

“Hey, is Jason here?” Rain, now wearing a pair of jeans so low-slung they showed those little divots just beside his hipbones, sashayed into the room and over to the desk. He leaned across the paper-strewn surface and smiled. “It’s Benny, right?”

“Right.” Like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Benny tried to close the page so the man wouldn’t see what he was doing. But the damn mouse chose that moment to stop working. He clicked and clicked and nothing happened.

Fuck.

“I’m Rain. But you probably knew that already. You got a problem there?”

Before Benny could answer, Rain slipped around to his side of the desk. He reached for the mouse and stopped, staring at the computer screen.

Oh fucking shit!

Now he was going to look like a pervy little dweebe in front of Rain. Ah well, screw it. He didn’t give a crap what he thought anyway.

There was a moment of silence then Rain laughed. “You Googled me.”

Benny opened his mouth but nothing came out. And what the hell was he supposed to say anyway? No? Because obviously he had.

“Uh, I was just–”

“That site’s no good.” Rain grabbed the mouse, jiggled it a couple times then reached for the keyboard. “They don’t let you see anything there unless you give them your credit card, and you don’t need to do that. Here, let me show you where the good stuff is.”

Pulling the keyboard over in front of him, Rain’s fingers flew over the keys. After a brief pause, a warning filled the screen. Rain clicked it away. “You’re over eighteen, right? Have to be or you wouldn’t be working here.”

A video clip filled the screen. It showed a naked Rain, suspended in some kind of leather harness with all his goods on display. Two huge and very hairy guys, also naked, were taking turns fucking him up the ass. And the man himself appeared totally blissed out. Eyes half closed, lips parted and head thrown back, he swayed in his harness, rocking back and forth between the two men and looking for all the world like there was nowhere he’d rather be.

“Geez,” Benny breathed. Not that it was all that edgy as porn went, but to see it right up there on the screen like that with the man himself right next to him.

“You like it?” A warm hand settled on Benny’s shoulder and squeezed.

“What site is this?” Benny tore his gaze away and turned to Rain. He had one hip propped on the arm of Benny’s chair and he was watching him closely.

“This is my personal web site. It’s the members area. This is a scene from an old movie I did.”

Benny looked back at the screen. “How old were you?”

Rain chuckled. “I was totally legal.”

“Doesn’t look it.”

“I know. That’s why they liked me so much, because I looked liked jailbait but wasn’t.”
He studied Benny. “You’ve got that same look. How old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-four. Almost twenty-five.”

“You look like you could be about nineteen, maybe even younger.”

“Yeah, well– Holy shit! Look at him.”

The video on the screen had changed. It was now showing a naked guy with the biggest dick Benny had ever seen.

Rain laughed. “You don’t watch much porn, do you?”

“Some, but I never saw him before.” He glanced at Rain. “You know him?”

“You could say that. We did a film together. I think it’s called Back Door Slam or something like that. I forget. I don’t get any input into the titles. I can get you a copy, if you want.”

“So you really are a pornstar.” Benny glanced back at the screen.

“Who told you that?”

“Adam.”

I’m not really a star, just an actor. Just like most everybody else. And I haven’t done much lately.”

“Why not?”

Rain shrugged. “How many years can you spend taking it up the ass for money? I just had enough is all.”

The unguarded frankness surprised him. “I never really thought about it before.”

“Most people don’t. But it’s the money that keeps guys in the business. It’s not like–” He cut himself off. “Anyway, as soon as I find a regular gig I’m so out of there.”

“I thought you were a model.”

Rain snorted. “Not hardly. I just sort of fell into the modeling thing for some extra cash.”

Like a magnet, the action on the screen drew Benny’s gaze. “So you and that guy with the monster dick …”

“He fucked me, yeah.”

“Was it– I mean, did it, you know … hurt?”

Rain nodded. “Yeah, but that was sort of part of the plot. I was supposed to be this virgin and it was my first time.” He shrugged. “But the guy’s a real asshole too. He doesn’t give a shit if he really hurts you. It’s just all about him.”

“I don’t see how he could help but hurt you. They should require him to have a permit to carry that thing around.”

There was a pause then Rain burst out laughing, a full rich chuckle, very sexy. It sent an unexpected shiver down Benny’s spine.

He ducked his head, feeling the grin break across his face.

“Require a permit. Oh man, that’s good. Mind if I steal it?”

“No, go right ahead.”

“You have a great smile.” Warm fingers trailed along Benny’s jaw. “And dimples too.” His chin was tipped up, his head turned from side to side.

Suddenly he was very aware of how close Rain was, perched there on the arm, leaning way into his personal space. He could smell the slight sweat and something else. Tobacco maybe?

“You’re a good looking guy, Benny. You know it? Very sexy.” Rain leaned in even further, his breath wafting across Benny’s lips. His eyes were huge and heavily fringed with dark lashes, the color caught somewhere between gray and blue.

Benny tried to lean back out of Rain’s magnetism, but only succeeded in tilting his head further back as if he were deliberately presenting his lips. Which he wasn’t. He did not want Rain to kiss him.

“You know it, don’t you?” Slipping off the arm of the chair, Rain straddled Benny’s lap, one leg on either side of his hips. Slim hands framed his face. Benny’s lips parted as if of their own accord just a heartbeat before Rain’s mouth claimed his.

Rain’s lips slid over his, firm and soft at once, controlling the kiss, taking what he wanted. It was hot and wet, the tongue that thrust into Benny’s mouth insistent and aggressive.

Benny shut his eyes. These lips that were on his had been wrapped around Jason’s cock not so long ago. Though he knew it was impossible, he imagined he could taste just a hint of Jason’s spunk in Rain’s mouth. That thought, combined with the skill and intensity of the kiss, made him hard. He shifted in a vain attempt to relieve the pressure of his zipper against his cock.

He reached for Rain, wrapping his arms around that slim torso and plunged his hands into all that glorious hair as his tongue dueled with the other man’s.

Rain hummed into his mouth. He rocked forward on Benny’s lap and ground their pricks together. “Mmm, you’re so hard. You hard for me, Benny baby? You like the thought of that big cock up my ass? You thinking about what it would be like, you and me?”

Rain’s hand slipped between their bodies and squeezed Benny’s shaft through his pants, his thumb grazing the head.

Benny whimpered and thrust up into Rain’s grip.

“You saw us, didn’t you?” Rain nipped at Benny’s lower lip. “Tell me, Benny. Tell me how you watched us.”

“Wha–?” Benny’s eyes fluttered open. “Watched who?” He tried to press into Rain’s hand, but the hand slid away, teasing.

“Uh-uh, baby. Answer me first. Did you watch us, me and Jason? Did you watch me suck his cock? Did you see him jam it down my throat and make me swallow his load? Did you?”

Benny hesitated. It was a natural response to deny everything. Not that Rain would care. He didn’t think so anyway.

“I watched,” Benny whispered. “I came to find Jason because Mario was here. The door was open just a little and–”

“I don’t care, baby.” Rain kissed the corner of Benny’s mouth. “Did it make you hard, watching like that? Did it make you jealous?”

Benny stiffened and turned his face away. “No. Why would I be jealous?”

He felt Rain’s shrug more than saw it. “I don’t know. No reason. I was just teasing you. Hey, don’t be like that.”

Strong fingers gripped Benny’s chin. He consciously relaxed and let Rain turn his head.

“C’mon, I was just fooling around, baby. You know, just talking shit.” Rain leaned forward and caught Benny’s lower lip between his teeth. Tugged then released. “Got a smile for me?”

Benny took a long quiet breath and forced a smile. “It’s okay.”

“Yeah, it is.” He slid his arms around Benny’s neck and pressed their cheeks together. His skin felt so soft, almost like a girl’s.

Benny rubbed his cheek against Rain’s, nuzzling the other man’s jaw. He couldn’t seem to help himself. There was just something so appealing about him.

“That’s better,” Rain purred. His lips brushed Benny’s ear, his tongued flicking briefly inside and sending a shiver of sensation down his spine, renewing his erection. He thrust up against Rain’s crotch.

Rain laughed and leaned back. “I like you. We should go out sometime, me and you. What do you say?”

Before Benny had time to answer, he heard a sound at the office door and it opened. He jumped, spilling Rain off his lap and onto the floor.

“Whoa! Christ, Benny! Easy man.”

Jason stood in the doorway, his gaze taking in the scene, his expression betraying nothing. He stepped inside, instantly filling the space, his presence, at least for Benny, seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the room.

“Benny, did you find the membership papers I asked for?”

“They’re on your desk.” Benny’s heart thudded so hard and so loud he was sure everyone in the room must be able to hear it.

Jason turned to Rain who looked incredibly nonplused for someone who had just been dumped on his ass. A grin tugged at his lips. “Am I interrupting something, boys?”

“I was just showing Benny how to sign on to my web site so he could see the good stuff.” Rain sent Jason a blinding smile, complete with dimples that took five years off his already youthful appearance.

“Oh yeah?” Jason glanced at Benny who felt the blush starting at his neck. “And you look like you just got caught kissing the preacher’s son.” He chuckled. “This isn’t high school, you know? You’re allowed to watch porn.” He laid a hand on Rain’s shoulder. “There’s somebody I want you to meet, if you’re finished here.”

“Yeah?” Rain’s tongue slipped out and wet his lips. He glanced at Benny. “Let me just–”

“No, it’s fine.” Benny straightened, stepping behind the corner of the desk to hide his hard-on. “I think I got it.”

“You sure?” But Rain was already walking with Jason toward the door.

Jason glanced over his shoulder just before they left the office. “Benny, when you’re done there, go take over for Dante at the front desk. I have something else for him to do.”

“Will do, boss.”

The door closed and Benny was left alone in the office. His head spun and his cock throbbed.

Did Rain really mean it about the two of them going out? And did he really want to go out with Rain? Rain who would almost certainly be getting fucked by Jason tonight. Rain who had probably had more sexual partners than Benny could count on all his fingers and toes.

He licked his lips. He thought he could still taste the man’s kiss, still feel the press of that lean body, the heat of that hard cock.

Yeah, he did want that.

Available now in ebook. Soon in print.

This story is a sequel to Woman’s Weeds which appeared in the Bravo! Brava! anthology, also from MLR.

Blurb

Once David thought he and Kieran would be together forever. But when their careers take different paths, the powerful lure of ambition pulls them apart. Thrown together again by fate and introduced as strangers, each tries to resist the spark of desire that still burns bright. But when sparks turn to flames, the resulting blaze threatens to consume them both.

Afraid of future heartbreak, yet bound by love, each must find a way to convince the other that at long last, he’s found His Leading Man.

Excerpt

Copyright 2010 by Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved.

Kieran stirred his drink then carefully plucked an olive off the stirrer and popped it in his mouth. The salty flavor burst over his tongue as he watched the entrance of the hotel bar. From the corner of his eye, he saw a guy seated several stools away spread his legs and discretely adjust himself as he not so discretely eyed Kieran up and down.

Like a chunk of meat on a stick, Kieran thought. He switched the cross of his legs, letting his skirt ride a little higher on his thighs. Picking up his drink, he took a slow sip and licked his lips. Did the guy realize he was mentally undressing another guy? Maybe. Maybe not. When he dressed up, he frequently got mistaken for a woman. He sent his admirer a smile then quickly averted his gaze as if he were too shy to maintain the eye contact.

Tonight he’d taken some trouble with his appearance, and not just because of that crap with Will. He’d done it for David and for himself, because putting on makeup and sliding into something sexy made him feel better, like someone else, someone whose life was not a total mess. And when exactly had feeling like someone else become so important?

Hooking his stiletto heel over the rung of his barstool, Kieran signaled the bartender for another drink just as David entered the bar.

God, he looked good. Faded jeans and an open-neck shirt that might have been blue or black emphasized his lean build. His hair gleamed, bronze and gold and curling just over his collar.

Kieran watched him scan the bar. He lifted a hand and waved. He knew the moment David saw him by the pure pleasure that lit his features.

Kieran’s heart skipped a beat. How could he have ever let this man slip away? And for what?

The bartender placed a fresh napkin and his drink in front of him just as David reached his side.

“Hey, you look amazing.” A warm hand settled on Kieran’s bare shoulder and David leaned in for a kiss. His lips were so soft, the contact so brief and Kieran felt that funny little flip in his chest again.

“So do you, like you just stepped out of GQ.” He ran a fingertip up David’s chest then cupped the back of his neck, pulling him in for a longer liplock.

When he leaned back, David’s cheeks were slightly pink. “Wow.”

Kieran laughed and slid a glance at the guy down the bar, the same one who had been checking him out. The dude’s gaze was resolutely fastened on the flat-screen TV above the bar.

David propped a hip on the stool beside Kieran’s and signaled the bartender.

“Do you mind if we sit at a table?” Not waiting for an answer, Kieran picked up his glass and got to his feet.

Once David had a drink in hand, they moved to a booth in the back where the shadows were deep and they could have more privacy. David slid in on one side of the booth and Kieran took the bench opposite.

“When did you start drinking martinis?” David stirred his drink, the ice rattling against the glass.

Kieran smiled and lifted his glass. Sipped. “I like the way they look. Classy, you know?”

David laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I look for in a drink. How am I going to look drinking this?” Reaching out he caught Kieran’s hand in his and held it. Their gazes locked. David’s eyes warmed. “Frankly, I think you’d look good drinking a carton of chocolate milk. Then I could lick your moustache.”

“I don’t have a moustache.”

David’s smile was warm and sweet. The dimple at the corner of his mouth flashed. “Everybody has a moustache when they drink chocolate milk.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

There went that little trip in his chest again. No other man had ever been able to make him feel that. And David had done it from the first, seemingly without even trying.

Under the table, Kieran slipped off his shoe. He trailed his stockinged foot up David’s calf then back down, watching for a reaction. He wasn’t disappointed. His lover’s—ex lover, Kieran reminded himself—ex lover’s dark eyes heated, his gaze dropping to Kieran’s mouth and lingering there for a long, long moment.

“It’s probably way too soon to say this, too fast.” David’s fingers tightened on his. “I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“We saw each other just this morning, silly.” He laughed, the sound overly loud, overly flirty even to his own ears. He lifted David’s hand and pressed it to his cheek before rubbing his lips over the knuckles.

“Kieran, stop. I’m trying to be serious and you’re distracting me.” He brought their joined hands down to the table. “I’ve missed you. I just about gave up on seeing you tonight.”

Kieran tugged his hand free and grabbed his martini glass as if it were a lifeline. He took a large swig and set the glass down. “Never give up on me, babe. You should know better than that.”

Why was he suddenly so nervous? His heart fluttered like a trapped bird, his stomach churned. David looked so serious, so intent. Kieran wanted to press his finger to David’s lips, to stop him from saying whatever he meant to say next. Why couldn’t they just keep it light, flirty and sexy? He so wanted flirty and sexy and not this seriousness. When things got too serious, people got hurt. He got hurt.

“I nearly didn’t go to Christine’s party last night. Gavin guilted me into it. He said if he didn’t show up with someone, his sister would be fixing him up with every gay guy at the party.” David laughed, his eyes growing serious as they looked into Kieran’s. “Now I’m really glad I did.”

“David—”

“I don’t think I knew how much I missed you until you were standing in front of me. But then it was like…” He spread his hands, momentarily helpless to find the right words. “And then you were right there and I was kissing you and—”

“Stop.” Kieran raised a hand in a warding off gesture as if he could push the words back into David’s mouth, make him unsay them. He couldn’t do this, couldn’t hear this, couldn’t deal.

But David didn’t seem to hear. “I want to try again, Kay. I knew it the minute I kissed you, the minute your lips opened and I tasted you again. Nobody ever—”

“We can’t. I can’t. David, I’m seeing someone.”

Brought together for pleasure, bound together by love.

Blurb

Jason doesn’t do monogamy, and as a much sought-after Dom he doesn’t have to, since on any given night he has his choice of potential playmates. So when he gets the chance to play with Benny, a sweet young thing who wants only to please him, it’s game on.

Benny tells himself that a chance to serve the sexy Dom is all he needs. But when the rules change and they’re playing for keeps, it’s love, not leather, that’s bound to please.

***

Benny sipped his drink and scanned the crowded lounge. Rumors of the impending knife play were spreading like the proverbial wildfire. Small knots of partygoers drifted toward the door, no doubt on their way to the fish-bowl.

As usual with the bimonthly members bashes, tonight’s festivities were very well attended. Despite the current exodus, the dance floor remained packed. Sweaty, half-naked bodies writhed together in twos and threes to a vintage Nine Inch nails track, pumped through the club’s excellent sound system. Men danced with other men, women with women. Large groups formed and broke apart seemingly at random, the dancers not caring what music played as long as it was loud and constant.

From the corner of his eye, Benny caught sight of a commotion at the far end of the room. A familiar figure, clad in only a black jock-strap, stood atop the bar. His bright blue hair fell in wild waves around his shoulders and cascaded to the middle of his back.

Rain. Jesus, he really was a show-off.

Side-stepping glasses and ashtrays, Rain pumped his slender hips and flailed his arms in what looked, at least to Benny, more like an epileptic fit than a dance. Still, the crowd at the bar didn’t seem to care. They hooted and cat-called. A hand reached up and tucked a bill in his jock. Further down the bar, several others waved money in the air.

Rain flailed and swiveled his way along the dark wood surface, accepting the attention of his audience like it was his due. He flirted outrageously, collecting tips and blowing kisses.

“Man, he is such an attention hound.” Adam dropped onto the couch beside Benny, a glass of orange juice in his hand. “How’s it hanging, Benny? Good party.”

Benny shrugged. “It’s okay. Pretty much like all the other parties.”

Adam eyed him over the rim of his glass. “Maybe if you got up and danced and mingled a little you’d have more fun, instead of sitting there like a wallflower.”

“I’m working.”

This got him an eye roll but no comment.

“Where’s Jimmy?”

“He’s up at the bar talking to Rod Grinnell about municipal bonds or some boring crap like that.” He sipped his drink. “So what’s the matter? You look like somebody just pissed in your Diet Coke.”

“Nothing’s the matter.” Benny watched Jason watching Rain. There was that same intensity in the look that Benny recognized from earlier, a connection that made him ache inside.

“Rain is like the worst dancer ever.” Adam laughed. “He’s a good model though, and a really nice guy. Give you the shirt off his back if he happened to be wearing one.”

Benny hummed noncommittally. Rain did seem like a nice guy and he was an awesome kisser, a thing he probably didn’t need to mention.

“I talked to him for a while earlier when he came in the office looking for Jason. He showed me his web site.”

“The porno site? It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it? You should see his movies. Man, he’s done things in front of a camera that I never even dreamed about.”

At the bar Jason leaned over and said something to Shannon who nodded. They both glanced around then back up at Rain who was much closer now.

“He says he isn’t doing porn anymore.” The ice cubes rattled in Benny’s glass. He set the empty on a side table.

“I know. Did he tell you why?”

“He said he’s tired of it, that you can only fuck for money for so long.”

“That’s not the real reason, that’s just what he tells people.” Adam leaned close, his voice dropping to a confidential tone, barely audible over the music. “The real reason is that a good friend of his got HIV from somebody on a set. The guy, the one who gave it to him, was working somewhere out of the country for a couple years, South America or somewhere, I think. Anyway, when he came back, he did a film with this friend of Rain’s. Then when he got tested they found out he was positive.”

Benny’s jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. “No shit?”

“No shit.”

“What about Rain? Is he–”

Adam shook his head. “No, Rain’s fine. But it shook him up pretty bad. And he hasn’t made a movie since.”

“Wow. For real?”

“For real.” Adam sipped his drink. “It caused a shitload of trouble between him and the guy he was living with, his producer, manager, whatever he was. He kicked Rain out.”

“Did he tell you all that?”

“No, Theo told me. I don’t think Rain knows I know so don’t say anything.”

“Are you sure he’s clean?”

“Why? Is he trying to get into your pants?” Benny hesitated and Adam laughed. “Dude, he tries with everybody. It’s not like you’d be kissing and telling.”

Still up on the bar, and not ten feet from where Jason and Shannon sat, Rain pulled the money from his jock and tossed it in the air. Bills showered down around him and several people laughed.

He leapt off the bar and landed on all fours, lithe as a cat. For a moment he stayed just as he’d landed, head down, hair obscuring his face, ass in the air. Then he dropped to his knees and began to crawl toward Jason and Shannon.

Maybe it’s not Jason he wants. Maybe it’s Shannon or somebody else. Please let it be someone else.

Even as he had the thought, even as he sent up his little prayer, Benny knew he was only fooling himself. Of course it was Jason Rain played to. Who else would it be?

He recalled Rain’s words from that afternoon. Did it make you jealous, watching us?

Was Rain trying to make him jealous? And was his pining for Jason so obvious that a near total stranger had seen it?

Benny licked his lips as if it had been he, rather than Rain, who had given Jason that blow-job earlier. His mouth, rather than Rain’s, that Jason had fucked with such gusto. His tongue that had tasted the silky steely length of Jason’s cock.

But it wasn’t. And it wouldn’t ever be.

It was Rain. Just as it would be Rain, not him, who would no doubt share Jason’s bed tonight. If he’d had a farm he would bet it.

Rain had reached Jason’s feet and prostrated himself. One cheek pressed to the top of Jason’s boot, a long hank of hair hiding his expression.

Jason said something to Rain, No doubt chastising him for his boldness. He didn’t allow subs to touch him without permission.

Rain lifted his head, not quite looking directly up at the Dom. Another no-no. And as Benny and everyone in the room watched, he licked a long wet line up the arch of Jason’s boot.

Jason nudged him away, a clear if subtle reprimand, more of a game than a real correction.

Beside him, Shannon reached over with her own stiletto-heeled boot and gave Rain’s bare shoulder a far less gentle shove. He stopped his boot licking as she spoke to him.

Though Benny couldn’t hear what she said on account of the distance and the music, he watched her lips. He missed some of it, but the ‘pushy little slut’ part came through loud and clear.

Rain would have to stop now.

And stop he did, rolling over onto his back like a submissive dog. Flipping the hair out of his face, he smiled up at Shannon. One hand went to where his erection pushed out the front of his jock. He stroked himself. He got another sharper nudge from the mistress’s foot and he stopped.

Jason got to his feet. He said something to Shannon who in turn spoke to her own sub who knelt quietly beside her barstool. The man rose and together with Jason headed for the dais at the front of the room. Rain rose to his knees, but when he started to get to his feet Shannon shook her head. She gestured after the other men then pointed to the floor. You can go, the gesture said, but on your knees.

Rain returned to all fours and crawled after Jason and Hainey.

A wave of anticipation rolled through the room. Clearly something was going to happen and everyone knew it. Maybe Shannon was going to whip Rain for his impudence.

Benny’s cock stirred at the thought. He’d never been whipped himself, couldn’t imagine it, not in reality. Still there was something exciting that happened when a skillful Dom Prepared to take a willing sub to that transcendent place. An electricity filled the air as the assembled spectators held their collective breath.

Shannon’s sub led Rain to the flogging post on the dais and cuffed his wrist above his head.

Jason said something to Hainey who went to the glass-front case that held a dizzying array of whips, canes, paddles and floggers. He opened the case and removed a slender and very flexible rod. He returned to Jason, knelt and held it out on his raised palms.

The music was turned off and the room grew quiet.

Jason took the cane, examined it and nodded. Hainey rose and returned to his mistress as Jason turned to Rain. He ran a hand down Rain’s back and murmured something for Rain’s ears alone. The man nodded and Jason stepped back.

The cushion shifted as someone sat down on Benny’s other side. He tore his gaze away from the compelling scene at the front of the room.

Mario smiled. He rested a hand just above Benny’s knee, leaned in close and spoke directly into his ear. “It’s exciting, isn’t it? The moment just before a scene begins?”

Benny nodded. He watched Jason give the cane several experimental flicks, testing. He could feel the heat of Mario’s hand on his leg, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Jason.

The cane whistled through the air and cracked across Rain’s ass. The white horizontal stripe formed a red welt almost instantly. Rain tensed, a visible shudder racing through him. The assembled spectators sighed.

The cane fell again and again and again. A criss-cross of angry red stripes appeared on Rain’s pale flesh. His tension was clear as he hunched in on himself, seeming one minute to shrink from the blows and the next to anticipate them.

“He isn’t there yet,” Mario breathed in Benny’s ear. “See how tense his shoulders are, how he braces when he hears the sound of the rod? He hasn’t yet accepted the pain. He craves it and yet he fights it still.”

The hand on Benny’s leg began to rub small circles, not a caress exactly, but … something, like Mario was soothing him.

Benny realized that he’d been holding his breath. That indeed, his shoulders were hunched up tight as if in sympathy for the man being caned, for Rain.

A movement from Benny’s other side pulled his attention away from the scene and from Mario. Adam was watching him, not the scene, but him. His dark eyes dropped to where Mario’s long-fingered hand stroked Benny’s thigh but he said nothing. He didn’t have to.

His friend had been pushing him for months to tell Jason how he felt. And for months Benny had resisted. Now Adam was watching him with Mario, the unspoken question as clear as if it had been blaring over a loud-speaker.

Benny looked away.

“Watch him, Benny. He’s nearly there.” Mario leaned forward, his fingers flexed on Benny’s leg, his breath quickened. “Ah yes, there it is. So beautiful.”

Rain moaned wordlessly. The tension ran out of his body and his knees gave out. He slumped against the post, his wrists the only thing holding him upright.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Mario whispered. “Isn’t it beautiful, boy?”

Benny swallowed. “I … I guess so, sir.”

Mario chuckled softly. “Do you ever think about it, Benny? Do you ever imagine submitting and feeling the kiss of the lash or the sting of the rod?”

Benny tore his gaze away from Rain and Jason. He met Mario’s dark eyes. “I don’t know, sir.”

“Certainly you know if you’ve thought about it.” Mario’s tone was unflinching despite that they spoke only in whispers. He would brook no evasions.

“Yes,” Benny admitted, dropping his gaze. “I’ve thought about it.” He was suddenly flooded with shame as if he’d confessed to something dreadful.

But Mario only smiled and nodded. With one finger he lifted Benny’s chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. “I know you have. And it’s all right.”

This is an excerpt from my current WIP, Bound To Please, which will be available some time this summer in both print and ebook from MLR Press. BTP is Benny and Jason’s story.

* This is an unedited excerpt and as such all errors are my own.

***

“That’s such a girlie thing to drink.” Benny eyed Rain’s wine cooler and grinned. Grabbing the bottle opener he popped the cap off a bottle of Sam Adams lager, raised it to his lips and drank deeply.

Rain grinned back. “Yeah well, I hate the taste of beer. I have ever since …” He paused, took a drink and set down the bottle on the coffeetable. “–ever since I was a kid.”

Jason cracked open his own beer and drank. “We won’t tell anybody.” He set down the bottle. “Who’s got the movie? It’s Blue Velvet, right? Isn’t that what you said? And where are Adam and Jimmy? They should be here by now.”

Thursday movie nights had become a tradition. Benny, Jason, Adam and Jimmy, and sometimes even Shannon, would gather at Jason’s to watch a movie, the choice of film rotating among the attendees.

Benny and Rain exchanged a look before Benny seized his beer once again.

Adam should have called by now to say that they weren’t coming to movie night. That was the plan. Something must have gone wrong.

Benny’s stomach danced with nerves even as he did his best to appear casual. “The disk is already in the player. Where’s the remote?”

Jason’s phone rang. He pulled it off his belt, glanced at the display and flipped it open. “Yo, Highland, where are you guys? We’re all here waiting on your sorry asses.” Jason listened.

Though he couldn’t hear Adam’s end of the conversation, Benny imagined him telling the story they had concocted to keep their little gathering down to just the three of them. Would Jason go for it?

Sure, he would. Why wouldn’t he?

Rain bumped his shoulder. “Psst, quit staring.”

The words were little more than a breath.

Benny grabbed his beer and glugged down a restorative mouthful. This was so not going to work. He’d been so nervous about going through with the plan that he hadn’t even watched the DVD of him and Rain when it was finished.

I don’t need to see it,” he’d said when Rain had proposed watching it. “I was there, remember?”

He’d tried to make a joke out of it, keep it light. But he hadn’t wanted to see the final video, knowing that if it was bad, hell, even if it wasn’t, he would surely lose what nerve he had left for this crazy scheme.

Rain had seen through his feeble attempt at humor. He’d nodded, dropped a light kiss on Benny’s lips and handed him the disk. “Have it your way, sugar.”

So no one had seen the actual video once it had been edited by Theo, which meant this really would be its first screening.

Benny felt a nervous laugh bubbling up inside and he swallowed it down.

“All right, well, I hope everything works out,” Jason said into the phone. “Right. I will. See you.” He closed the phone. “Adam and Jimmy can’t make it.”

Benny waited for him to say more, but Jason just dropped the phone on the table next to his beer and picked up the remote. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Rain took Benny’s hand and gave it a brief squeeze. Benny held his breath while Jason started the DVD.

That copyright warning thing flashed on the screen and Benny had to suppress a laugh. Theo had done a cool job making this look like a real movie. Hell, there were even previews that Jason was currently skimming through.

“Here we go.”

The movie started with a longshot of a bed, two figures on it, their genders indistinguishable though it was clear what they were doing, twined together as they were, naked as they were.

“What the hell? This isn’t Blue Velvet.”

The camera moved in, panned slowly up their nude bodies–bare feet, bare legs, thighs. Ah yes, now it was clear that both of the lovers were very male and very aroused. Two hard cocks came into the frame, two hands mashing them together, stroking, the only sound the heavy breathing of genuine arousal.

Benny felt Rain’s arm slide around his shoulders and pull him close. Rain’s lips brushed his ear. “Kiss me.”

Jason was watching the screen, his attention captured by the mutually masturbating hands.

Benny turned his head. He couldn’t look at Jason. If the man so much as glanced his way now he was going to lose his nerve for sure.

Rain caught his chin and covered his mouth. “You’re thinking too much, sugar,” Rain murmured against his lips. “Quit thinking so hard and kiss me back.”

What the fuck. This was either going to work or it wasn’t. No backing out now.

Benny wound his arms around Rain’s neck and shut his eyes. Rain’s tongue parted his lips, invaded his mouth. The sweet taste of wine-cooler mixing with the beer Benny had drunk.

Rain’s hands yanked Benny shirt out of his waistband, rucking it up and finding the bare skin of his back. Fingertips played along his spine then drifted down and dipped inside the waistband of his jeans.

Was Jason watching? Had he noticed yet what they were doing? He couldn’t look.

“Jesus shit,” Jason swore softly.

Benny tried to break the kiss and turn his head but Rain wouldn’t allow it. He nuzzled Benny’s jaw, his lips near Benny’s ear. “He’s watching. Just kiss me and don’t look.”

Benny squeezed his eyes shut. He could do this, wanted to do it. And Jason hadn’t started to laugh yet. He wondered what was on the screen just then but didn’t dare look there either.

Rain ground his crotch down on Benny’s thigh, dry humping as his hand wormed its way down the back of Benny’s pants. Rain’s dick was so hard, his mouth so hot and so hungry, devouring him like he couldn’t get enough. His fingertip dipped into Benny’s crease, teasing and making promises.

Goddamn.

Benny squirmed. His cock stiffened, finally deciding to join the party.

The other man used his weight to push Benny back on the couch. But rather than falling back against the slick leather cushions, Benny was caught in a pair of strong arms. Jason’s arms.

God!

Hands dragged his shirt up to his arm-pits. Cool air licked at his bare chest and belly. His nipples tingled, two hard points of arousal. Rain flicked one with his tongue then bit down.

Benny jumped and his dick jerked.

“Watch it, boy. Don’t hurt him.”

Raising his head, Rain smiled angelically and nodded. “Yes sir.”

And that fast, with a single exchange, they were all in this together, Jason directing the action, Rain doing his bidding, Benny the object of both men’s lust.

Jason tugged Benny’s shirt higher. “Raise your arms, boy.”

Benny raised his arms. The shirt was pulled up and over his head. His wrists remained trapped. He tugged.

“Be still.” Jason dragged the shirt from Benny’s arms then shifted his upper body so he was lying back in the vee of Jason’s legs, his back pressed to Jason’s front. The steely length of Jason’s dick pressed against Benny’s lower back.

Their plan was working. Jason wanted him.

Rain had been right all along.

Rain. His sometime lover and all around fuck-buddy trailed his tongue down Benny’s torso. Reaching the top of his jeans, he paused long enough to pop open the button. Gripping the zip with his teeth, Rain drew it down, slowly tooth by tooth until Benny wanted to scream.

“Hurry,” he groaned. But when he reached down, his wrist was caught.

Jason’s fingers completely encircled it like a living cuff. “Put your hands around my neck, lace your fingers together and keep them there.” Jason’s breath wafted warm in his ear and he shivered. “Rain is going to suck your cock and I’m going to watch.”

Lifting his arms, Benny interlaced his fingers behind the bigger man’s neck. The silky strands of Jason’s ponytail trailed over his fingers. One of the Dom’s big hands splayed out over his belly. It moved in slow circles, petting and soothing even while it aroused.

“And you’re going to come, but not until I tell you.” Jason’s lips touched just under Benny’s ear. “Understand, sweetheart? Want to come for me?”

Benny tried to speak and couldn’t make his mouth work. At some point the connection between mouth and brain seemed to have broken. He nodded.

“That’s good. You’re so good. So pretty and so good.”

Rain dragged his jeans down. Yanking off Benny’s sneakers he pulled off the pants and underwear, tossing them aside.

“Beautiful.” Jason’s fingers played over his abdomen, dipping down to trace that intimate crease between groin and thigh. His fingertips combed through the curls at the base of Benny’s cock and brushed lightly over his balls.

Benny shifted.

Jason nipped his shoulder, then immediately soothed the sting with his tongue. “I said, be still.”

Obediently, Benny stilled. A drop of clear fluid welled from his slit and slid down his shaft. Jason caught it on his fingertip and brought it to Benny’s lips. “Taste yourself, baby.”

Baby.

With a sigh, Benny opened his mouth and closed his eyes. Jason’s finger slid between his lips and Benny tasted his own pre-cum. He lapped at the finger, sucking long after the flavor was gone.

Jason’s cock thrust against his back and he groaned. He pulled his finger from Benny’s mouth.

“Take off your clothes, bad boy,” Jason said, turning his attention to Rain who knelt with his head on Benny’s thigh, watching their play with hot, hungry eyes.

“Yes sir.” Rain scrambled to his feet and began to shuck his clothes.

“Slow down. We want a show, don’t we, baby?” Jason’s hand slid down and wrapped around Benny’s cock. He pointed it at Rain. “If you’re good, you can suck this pretty cock when you’re done.”

“Mmm.” Rain swayed slowly, moving to music only he could hear. He drew off his shirt, lingering over the task then tossing the garment aside. Shoes, jeans and underwear went next.

Jason stroked Benny’s cock while they watched Rain strip. Benny fought to keep his eyes from drifting closed. It felt so good being touched and held like this, the need building low in his belly with each caress of Jason’s hand.

Now naked, Rain continued his slow, seductive movements. You couldn’t really call it dancing, more like … Benny didn’t know, but he looked damn good doing it.

Rain ran his hands over his own nude body, the way he would caress a lover, the way he’d caressed Benny the times they’d been together.

His palms slid over his hips and down his thighs before traveling back up to tweak his nipple-rings. He tugged, his eyes drifting closed, his cock jerking as if attached to some internal wire.

Rain’s hands moved lower and lower still. His fingers wrapped around his shaft while his other hand cupped his balls. He held the whole package forward like an offering before letting go and wrapping his hands around his thighs. Leaning over, Rain curled in on himself and closed his lips around the head of his own dick.

Benny and Jason groaned in unison, Jason once more thrusting against Benny’s back as the smaller man bucked up into his hand.

Rain sucked his own cock for several seconds then unfolded his body. Shaking back his hair, he smacked his lips and grinned. “Didn’t know if I could still do that. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

Jason chuckled. “Get your ass over here, bad boy. It’s time for your reward.”

Rain slinked over to the couch and dropped to his knees by Jason’s hip. His gaze raked down Benny’s body and he licked his lips.

Benny mirrored the gesture, his mouth watering at the sight of Rain’s long thick cock still wet with spit, a fresh drop of pre-cum clinging to the slit.

He didn’t speak for a long moment, and at last Jason prompted him.

“Well, my talented slut, what will it be? What would you like for your reward?”

“Please sir?” Rain lowered his cheek to the back of Jason’s hand, the same hand still holding Benny’s dick. “What I’d like, is to jerk off while I watch you fuck your boy.”

RL is a bit hectic today with my family coming over. We’re going to the spring garden festival, an annual event in our community and something we all enjoy.

So instead of a blog post, I’m giving you a little taste of my WIP, an m/m contemp called Bound To Please. The book will be out some time this summer from MLR Press.

Here’s the blurb.

Jason doesn’t do monogamy, and as a much sought-after Dom he doesn’t have to, since on any given night he has his choice of potential playmates. So when he gets the chance to play with Benny, a sweet young thing who wants only to please him, it’s game on.

Benny tells himself that a chance to serve the sexy Dom is all he needs. But when the rules change and they’re playing for keeps, it’s love, not leather, that’s bound to please.

Copyright 2009 by Kimberly Gardner

Excerpt

Returning to the basement, Benny hesitated just outside the dungeon room. The door was cracked open maybe two or three inches. Had he left it like that?

Then he heard it, a few murmured words ending on a groan. His pulse accelerated and he leaned in and peered through the opening.

Sprawled in the director’s chair he himself had been sitting in before he left to answer Dante’s phone call, was Jason, head thrown back and eyes closed, his hair spilling over the canvas back of the chair. His long legs were spread and between them a figure knelt, like a supplicant with his head bent, though definitely not in prayer, not unless he was paying homage to the patron saint of blow-jobs.

One of Jason’s big hands cupped the back of Rain’s head, the fingers twined in the long blue strands. “Ah Christ, baby. Just like that. God, your mouth.”

Rain’s head bobbed. Up and down, up and down, up and down, the wet slurping sounds very loud, the only competition coming from Jason’s breathing and his murmurs of encouragement and praise for Rain’s skill.

Benny scanned the room beyond. Where the hell was Adam? Nowhere that he could see.

He should leave. Just back away, go back upstairs and let that blue-haired slut do his thing.

But something kept him rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to look away.

Jason groaned. His fingers fisted in Rain’s hair. Rain’s head was forced down, Jason’s hips bucked up.

Inside his jeans, Benny’s cock jerked. So much for getting rid of his hard-on.

Benny reached down and palmed his dick through the worn denim. Gripping his shaft he stroked, matching his pace to the movement of Rain’s head and the thrusting of Jason’s hips. From where he stood, he could just see Jason’s dick as it pistoned in and out of Rain’s mouth, the length gleaming with spit every time he pulled back. Rain’s cheekbones stood out as he sucked. His eyes were closed, the lashes long and dark against his pale cheeks.

“Open your eyes, baby.” Jason’s words came out a little breathless, the command ending on a moan as he raised his head and focused on the man sucking his dick. “I want to see you when I shoot my load down your throat.”

Rain pulled back and opened his eyes, his gaze locking with Jason’s.

Shit, could Rain see him from where he knelt?

No, He was just being paranoid. There was no way, not with the way the chair was turned and his mouth full of Jason’s cock.

Rain took Jason deep, making him moan. His fingers flexed in Rain’s hair.

Benny squeezed his prick and bit back a moan of his own. He jacked himself right through his jeans. God, he was going to come in his pants, but who gave a fuck. This was just too hot and he was just too fucking horny to care.

“Coming,” Jason gasped. His hips jerked and he thrust once, twice then the third time he shoved into Rain’s mouth and held himself there.

With a strangled gasp, Benny came, his dick throbbing and pulsing as he shot, wet heat soaking his underwear.

Rain pulled off of Jason’s cock with a soft pop. He smiled and licked his lips. “Mmm. Thank you master.”

Jason laughed a little breathlessly. Leaning forward, he reached for the man on the floor.

Benny stumbled back from the door. If Jason was going to kiss Rain, he didn’t want to know about it. There were just some things he didn’t need to see. And that was definitely one.

* This is an unedited excerpt, so all errors are my own.

Today I’d like to give you an update on what’s going on and how the chapter is growing.

I’m thrilled, as are all the board and chapter members, by the level of support and enthusiasm we receiving from just about everywhere. Our chapter has now grown to over 50 members and still growing.

Alan Chin wrote a lovely article in the SF LGBT Literary Examiner, for which we’d like to thank him. You can read that article at the following URL.

http://www.examiner.com/x-9327-SF-GLBT-Literary-Examiner~y2009m4d30-Romance-Writers-of-America-has-a-new-GLBT-chapter

We also have appearances upcoming at the Smart Bitches blog.

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/

The Knight Agency blog,

http://knightagency.blogspot.com/

And Writer Unboxed blog,

http://writerunboxed.com/

So keep an eye out for all those and more. And if I’ve missed any mentions of RRW, please leave a heads-up in the comments.

And visit the RRW web site at,

http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com/