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/

What A Drag

Copyright 2009 by Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved.

The screen door on the tiny office banged open. Drew glanced up from the bicycle tire he was patching and let out a silent whistle. From where he sat at the work-bench in the garage, he had a perfect view into the rental office of We Be Bikin’, the bicycle rental business he ran for his parents.

At the counter stood the most gorgeous specimen of college boy good looks Drew had seen in a long time. Which was saying something considering the influx of very hot man-flesh he had seen around town over the last few days. God, how he loved spring break week!

He let his gaze slide down the athletic body from the broad shoulders to the narrow waist, slim hips and very fine ass and further down the mostly bare and very tan legs lightly dusted with brown hair.

Mmm. He could so imagine those legs wrapped around his waist as he pounded into that delicious little ass.

Except this one had straight boy written all over him.

Drew grinned to himself. Maybe he just hadn’t met the right guy yet. Laying the tire aside, he slid off his stool and sauntered into the office.

“Can I help you?” Drew smiled his very best, not-quite-professional smile, the one that got him laid pretty much whenever he wanted. And right now he wanted.

“Oh, hey.” Collegeboy turned from his examination of a flyer advertising the local spring break events. “I’d like to rent a bike.”

Drew’s breath caught. Up close, the kid was even better looking than he’d first thought. His hair was cut in one of those shaggy, this-is-not-an-expensive-haircut haircuts. And the color which he’d at first taken for a nice medium brown was, upon closer examination, every color from deep chestnut near the roots to sun-dipped gold at the ends.

Drew imagined running his fingers through that luxurious mop as he fed his cock inch by inch into collegeboy’s pretty mouth.

“Well, that’s handy because bikes we got. How long do you want it?” Drew slipped behind the counter and reached for a rental form.

“How long can I have it?”

I got one that’s just the right length for you, babe.

“You can have it for a day or a week or …”

“A week would be good.”

“You here on break?”

He nodded. “Till Saturday.”

Drew slid the form across the counter. “I’ll need you to fill this out. Name, address, where you’re staying and a cell phone number. Then I’ll need to see your license and a credit card for the deposit.”

“Do you have a pen?”

Drew grabbed one from the cup under the counter and held it out. When collegeboy took it their fingers brushed.

Drew’s dick stiffened. Thank FSM for the counter between them. His cutoffs weren’t up to hiding this degree of interest.

He watched as collegeboy filled out the form. God, even his hands were sexy, long-fingered with a light sprinkling of gilded hairs on the backs. As he wrote, Drew followed along upside-down.

“Your name’s really Oliver?”

“Yeah. You can call me Ollie though. Most people do.” He signed the form then pushed it and the pen back across the counter before reaching for his wallet and extracting a credit card and driver’s license. He held out the cards. “And what can I call you?”

Drew lifted his gaze and met Oliver’s melt-you-in-your-sneakers blue eyes. “I’m Drew.”

“Yeah? You look Asian. Where’d you get a name like Drew?”

“Same place you got a name like Oliver, I imagine.”

“Really? You mean we have the same parents? That’s funny, I don’t remember ever running into you at the breakfast table.”

Drew laughed. Oh man, not just pretty but with a sense of humor too. Please, let him be gay, or at least willing to experiment.

“If you got a breakfast table maybe we can fix that.”

Oliver’s grin flashed.

Oh my god, look at those dimples!

Drew entertained a brief fantasy in which he stuck his tongue in each of those dimples as well as any others he might find on this boy.

Before he could get carried away, he picked up Oliver’s rental form and slipped it into the standing file he kept for current rentals. As he turned back around, Oliver quickly glanced away.

Collegeboy was checking him out.

Hmm, maybe not so straight after all.

“The bikes are around back. Come with me.” He led the way through to the garage and brought out a bike, midnight blue with white racing stripes. “This one okay?”

Oliver nodded.

“try it out. Make sure it’s the right height.”

The other man threw one leg over the bike and perched experimentally on the seat.

Oh, what he wouldn’t give to be that seat, tucked up all cozy between those strong thighs.

Drew held up a wrench. “Need me to adjust your seat?”

Oliver laughed, his teeth very white in his tan face. “You can adjust my seat anytime, Drew.”

Drew’s head spun as all the blood rushed from his brain to his dick, and what was polite interest only a moment ago suddenly became a raging hard-on.

Oliver knew it too. He let his eyes slide down Drew’s body and linger at his crotch. He licked his lips.

Oh yeah!

“Can I maybe take you out later?”

“I’ve got to work tonight,” Drew said with real regret.

Pale brows lifted. “Do you rent many bikes at night?”

Drew laughed. “I work in a bar at night.”

“What a coincidence. I drink in a bar at night. Maybe we could make it the same bar.”

Drew hesitated. This was the point where he most often lost out. What to do? What to do?

Oliver’s smile dimmed considerably. “If you’d rather not …”

“No, I’d like that. I was just … thinking, is all.”

What the hell? What did he have to lose anyway?

From the pocket of his shorts he pulled a business card and the stub of a pencil. He scribbled the address of the club and passed it to Oliver. “Try to get there by nine if you want a table. The show starts at nine-thirty and it gets crowded after nine.”

Oliver took the card and slid it into his pocket. His eyes never left Drew’s face. “There’s a show?”

He nodded. “Oh yeah. It’s an awesome show.”

“Cool.” He propped one foot on the pedal. “I’ll see you tonight then.”

Drew watched him peddle away.

Oh yeah, He hoped he would be seeing more of Oliver tonight, a lot more.

***
Backstage at Mango Mango, Drew peered at his reflection in the makeup mirror and adjusted the waist-length curly black wig he wore. He didn’t much like the wig. It was hot and it made his head itch. But at least the dark color went with his Asian looks and golden skin-tone.

He smoothed his hands down the green sequined gown that hugged his false titties and clung to his slim hips.

One of the other “girls”, a blonde bombshell named Ingrid, poked her head into the dressingroom. “Ooo, very sexy hon. Love the dress. Is that for the mermaid number?”

Drew nodded. Uncapping a tube of scarlet scandal lipstick, he carefully rouged his lips. “How much time do I have?”

Ingrid glanced at her watch. “About two minutes. Shall I tell Randy you’re ready?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

As Ingrid disappeared, Drew picked up a black leather rosebud from the dressing-table and tucked it in his fake cleavage. He studied the effect with a critical eye. Yeah, it would do.

Sliding his feet into his green sequined high-heels, Drew went out to wait for his cue. As the music came up and Randy’s voice boomed through the club, Drew peeked through a space in the curtain.

Was Oliver out there? When he realized what sort of club Mango Mango was, had he turned his very attractive tail and run screaming into the hot Florida night? Or was he even now sitting at one of the high round tables and wondering where Drew was?

“And now ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your hostess for the evening, Salacia Cummings!”

Lights flashed, music blared and Drew stepped through the curtain. Sashaying to center-stage, he scanned the faces of the patrons seated at the front tables. He smiled and blew kisses as he searched for Oliver in the crowd.

He wasn’t there, at least not up front.

Drew picked up his mic and made as if he meant to suck on it.

The audience cheered.

“Hello my darlings,” Drew called in his most seductive drag-queeny voice. “How is everyone tonight? Are you ready to have a good time?”

More cheering.

The intro music faded. Drew’s music came up and he began to dance.

He continued to look for Oliver as he lip-synced, danced and flirted his way through his routine. He changed costumes, glugged water, freshened his makeup and fought for space in the cramped backstage, all while still hoping his collegeboy had not blown him off. But by the end of the show when he left the stage and began working the crowd for tips, Drew had to make a real effort to keep his flirtatious smile in place and not let his disappointment show.

Then he saw it. At a table in the back, a familiar head of sun-streaked hair atop broad shoulders.

Drew’s heart, as well as other parts of his anatomy, lifted and he danced over to Oliver’s table.

Drew’s skirt swished as he danced, the thigh-high slits in each side revealing lots of leg and sparkly fishnet stockings. He straddled Oliver’s lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. The other man’s gaze lifted to meet Drew’s. Clearly he had no clue that the drag-queen on his lap and the boy from the bike shop were one and the same person.

“How’s it going, sweetheart? You got a tip for me? Or maybe can I have the whole thing?” Drew leaned close and placed his lips next to Oliver’s ear. “It’s me, Ollie. Drew. From the bike shop.”

Blue eyes widened. Luscious pink lips formed a silent O of surprise. And for one frozen moment nothing happened.

Ah well, win some, lose some.

But when Drew started to slide off of Oliver’s lap, hands closed on his hips and dragged him close. Oliver fused their lips together. The kiss hot and hard and hungry and just what Drew liked. He wrapped himself around his collegeboy and kissed back.

Oh yeah, he so loved spring break!

Who would have thought it? Certainly not me, but then I live in the northeast, about two hours from NYC. And I think those of us who live close to either coast can sometimes be a bit clueless regarding the vast midsection of our country and what goes on there.

From the HRC web site,

“This is a truly historic day for Iowa and a proud day for every American who believes in the promise of equal rights and fairness for all,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The Iowa Supreme Court did its job by recognizing that gay and lesbian couples who form committed relationships and loving families deserve the same level of respect afforded to heterosexual couples. The unanimous court made forcefully clear that the state constitution guarantees the same rights and protections for all Iowans. This decision strengthens Iowa families and makes a strong statement for equality all across the nation.”

The unanimous decision was handed down on April 3, in the case Varnum v. Brien and makes Iowa the third state in the nation and the first midwestern state to recognize the right of same-sex couples to marry.

“Speaking for the unanimous court, Justice Mark S. Cady wrote that “[w]e are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective.” The court rejected the possibility that civil unions—or any institution other than civil marriage—could satisfy the guarantees of the state constitution.”

“The court’s decision does not entitle gay and lesbian couples in Iowa to receive the federal rights and benefits extended to married couples. The so-called federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) discriminates against gay and lesbian married couples by denying them over 1,000 federal rights, benefits, and responsibilities including social security benefits, the ability to file a joint federal tax return, and the right to petition for a spouse to immigrate. A lawsuit filed in federal court in Massachusetts last month challenges a portion of DOMA.”

So although this ruling is a reason for celebration, there is still a long way to go before gay and lesbian couples can enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Still, let’s high-five Iowa for coming over to the right side of the issue.

You can read the HRC article in its entirety at the following link.

http://www.hrc.org/12434.htm

The Shape Of A Heart

Blurb

Still grieving his partner’s death after two years, Zach Jensen takes solace in his work and his memories. But when his sexy new employee offers more than just help with the inventory, Zach is forced to face the fact that the past is cold comfort.

Keith Hart is used to life on the run, treating each new place as no more than a temporary stop. Until he meets the man with the hole in his heart. Against his judgment, Keith reaches out to Zach while a dark menace from the past reaches out for Keith.

Will the threat prove to great? Or can they come together and win their future in the shape of a heart?

Excerpt

Keith opened the refrigerator, grabbed the wedge of Locatelli Romano from the top shelf and set it on the counter. What else? While the cool air caressed his heated skin he reviewed the ingredients for the dinnerhe was cooking for Zach.

The salmon in its white paper sat next to the colander of spring mix, rinsed and ready to go. The little basket of raspberries for the vinaigrette peeked out from behind the tall, dessert glasses filled with chocolate mousse. Maybe they would eat the mousse in bed. That would be fun.

He set garlic, olive oil and a bunch of fresh basil on the counter beside the cheese. He would make thepesto then the dressing for the salad before he went and changed his shirt. He needed shoes too but he hadplenty of time before Zach arrived.

It was a long time since he’d last cooked dinner for a man and he’d missed it. Everything from planning the menu to selecting the ingredients to the actual cooking and eating of the food, he loved it all. Food was so sensual, the sharing of a meal so intimate, it truly was one of the great pleasures of life, a pleasure he would share with Zach tonight. But not the only pleasure they would share if he had his way, and he thought he just might.

Humming quietly, Keith took the grater down from the cabinet and set it next to the bowl. He unwrapped the cheese and had just begun to work when the doorbell rang.

He glanced at the clock. Too early for Zach and he didn’t know that many other people in New Hope, none well enough for them to just drop in.

He set the cheese in the bowl and the grater down next to it. Going to the window, he Twitched the curtain aside and peered out.

Zach stood on the front step, one hand in the pocket of his beat-up leather jacket, a wine bottle tucked under his arm. His head was turned and he was looking back toward the street, his profile cast in shadows by the fading light. He looked incredible. Dark and sexy and just a little dangerous.

And I look like shit, Keith thought with a grimace. Nothing he could do about that now.

He ran his fingers through his messy hair, not that it would help, then opened the door, a ready smile curving his lips.

“Hey, Zach, you’re early.”

Zach turned, a frown creased his brow and his eyes snapped with blue fire. “You always just fling the door open without asking who it is? I could have been anybody.”

Zach was scolding him for not being careful. It should have pissed him off. But far from that, the lecture made Keith feel warm all over. God, he was so gone on this guy it was pathetic.

“I looked out the window.”

Then, because Zach looked so serious, “Besides, you aren’t just anyone, you’re you.”

“That’s not the point. I could have been-”

“Whoa.” Keith held up a hand. “What are you, the door police?”

Some unreadable expression flickered in Zach’s eyes. “No, forget it.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just forget it. Please?”

That was weird. Keith shrugged it off. It didn’t matter. Zach was here.

“So, are you just going to stand outside all night, or are you coming in?” He opened the door wider.

Zach stepped inside and, pausing in the tiny foyer, held out the wine. “This is for you. It’s … Wine.”

Keith laughed. “I can see that.” He took the bottle and turned it so the light fell on the label.

“Chardonnay, perfect.”

Zach said nothing.

Keith looked up from his examination of the label and found Zach’s gaze on him. His mouth went dry and his pulse sped up. The small foyer and Zach’s size combined to bring the two of them thrillingly close.

They stared at each other in silence. Keith’s gaze fixed on Zach’s mouth, those tempting lips he had yet to sample.

What the hell.

Keith set the wine bottle down on the hall-table. Laying his palms on Zach’s broad shoulders, he rose on tiptoe and pressed his mouth to Zach’s.

For the space of several heartbeats, Zach stood frozen, not touching, not kissing back. Keith wasn’t even sure he breathed.

Shit.

A voice in Keith’s head whispered, bad idea, dude. His heart beat wildly but he refused to chicken out. He wanted this kiss, had wanted it for a long time and if Zach wouldn’t give it then, damn it, he would just take it.

He ran the tip of his tongue along the closed seam of Zach’s lips, asking for entrance.

Zach made a sound in his throat, half sigh and half growl. All at once his arms wrapped around Keith’s waist and Keith was dragged against him. Zach’s lips parted and his tongue met Keith’s. Met, conquered then invaded his mouth as Zach took control of the kiss.

Held tight against Zach’s body, Keith found himself on the receiving end of a soul-searing, heart-stopping lip-lock that was everything he’d dreamed it would be and more because it was real, a no-holds-barred full contact kiss. His mouth was plundered as hands rucked up his t-shirt and found skin. A wave of pure lust swept through him, at once hardening his cock and weakening his knees. He’d been swept up in hurricane Zach and all he could do was hang on.

So much for a slow seduction.

As suddenly as it began the kiss broke. Zach tore his mouth from Keith’s and practically shoved him away.

“Christ.” Zach scrubbed the back of one hand over his mouth.

Keith crushed the hurt that wanted to come. Zach’s hand trembled and that hurt turned to triumph. He’d shaken Zach, and done it with just a kiss.

Damn.

Keith resisted touching his fingers to his own bruised and puffy lips. He settled for smiling up at Zach.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Zach’s expression softened. One of those rare smiles curved his lips. It reached all the way to his eyes making them sparkle and bringing those sexy crinkles at the corners.

Keith’s heart did a little back-flip and his stomach fluttered with excitement. Oh yeah, tonight they would be sharing much more than a meal.

“Want to come in?” He grabbed the bottle of chardonnay from the hall-table and held it up. “I’ve got wine.”

Buy it from AMP

http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-releases/shape-of-a-heart/prod_227.html