Sunday, July 7, 2019
Sunday's Short Stack: Pride of Place by Helena Stone
Six months after meeting Cian, the start of the rest of Mitch’s life is so close he can almost taste it. With his high school exams behind him, he can look forward to a long summer, his first Pride festival in Dublin, and, best of all, moving in with Cian when Mitch starts college in September.
Cian can’t wait to accompany Mitch to his first Pride, or for the moment they’ll start sharing a home and their lives. But while the festival is everything they could have hoped for, unexpected news that Cian is about to lose his room in Dublin puts their life together under threat.
Objections to their plans from the home front and a shocking lack of affordable housing in Dublin could shatter Mitch and Cian’s dreams, but perhaps a second miracle is exactly what they need to find their pride of place.
There is still so much to love about this pair. Mitch and Cian are still in the honeymoon phase of their growing relationship and that newness is beautifully depicted in Pride of Place. Not only do we get to see their love grow even more but we get to see them experience Dublin's Pride festival as well.
Don't get me wrong there is some drama thanks to mom but also an unforeseen hiccup, however it's not heavy on the angst. Pride of Place is a lovely romantic look at the next leg of Mitch and Cian's journey that will warm your heart. Is the solution to their housing issue a bit convenient? Perhaps, but their love story is a novella series so the timing may seem not quite realistic but it is by no means rushed either. Let's face it, sometimes things in life do fall into place at just the right time in just the right way so the boys' unexpected good tidings really isn't impossible or hard to accept. Add to that the title telling of their first meeting was A Miracle in the Library, perhaps the solution that's "dropped in their laps" now is simply serendipitous.
Helena Stone definitely has another winner with Pride of Place that is worth the time to read and if you haven't already explored the beginnings of Mitch and Cian's journey in A Miracle in the Library and Lessons in Love, I highly recommend giving them a read first. Trust me, you won't be sorry, Mitch and Cian are a pair of lovely lads finding love and navigating life that will make you smile. I for one, hope we haven't heard the last of this young duo.
RATING:
Chapter One
Late June
Mitch
Late June
Mitch
Done!
Mitch wanted to shout, maybe do a little happy dance as he and his almost former classmates made their way through the deserted school toward the exit. He’d reached the end of his secondary education. No more exams. No more high school. And if he wasn’t very much mistaken, he’d done well enough in his exams to get the points he needed to be accepted for the psychology course he’d set his heart on.
“How did you do?” Cormac, a classmate and one of the few people who hadn’t tormented him in the past, sidled up to him.
Mitch shrugged. “Okay, I think. How about you?” He knew better than to say he thought he’d aced it. Not only would he look a right fool if that turned out not to be the case, but it would also be very disheartening for Cormac if the same wasn’t true for him.
“I’m not sure,” Cormack confessed. “Some of it was fine, but some other questions…” He bowed his head for a moment. When he looked up again, he grinned. “But I’m not going to worry about that. There’s nothing I can do about it now, and since we won’t find out how we did until September, I’m not going to obsess about it.”
Mitch stayed silent as they pushed their way through the double doors and out of the school into the welcoming sunshine. Mitch was almost surprised to discover the weather was still glorious. True to form every one of the twenty days the exams had lasted had been sunny and warm, and he wouldn’t have been shocked to discover grey clouds and rain now that he actually had time to be out and about.
He was inclined to agree with Cormac. There was little point agonizing about the results, but he was sure that was unlikely to stop him from lingering on the uncertainty at regular intervals during the summer. If he had failed to get the points he needed, he might not get a place in his preferred college in Dublin. And if he couldn’t go to Dublin….
His pessimistic fears fled his brain as soon as he recognized the familiar and oh-so-cherished features belonging to the main reason he wanted to make it to the capital. Cian! Mitch’s heart skipped a beat or two. He’d had no idea Cian had plans to come back to Castleforest today. In fact, during their last conversation the previous night and again, that morning, in his daily text message, Cian had been infuriatingly vague about when they might see each other next.
“Are you going out tonight?” Cormac’s question reminded Mitch of his presence.
“Probably,” Mitch said, not really thinking about his answer. If Cian hadn’t shown up, he might have joined his classmates for a drink or two. Now he wasn’t sure what the rest of his day might look like, except that whatever he did would include Cian.
“Fair enough.” Cormac said, “I might see you later, then.”
Mitch nodded vaguely in Cormac’s direction before heading toward the school gate where Cian waited with a backpack slung over his shoulder and a huge smile on his face.
I missed him. He’d never known quite how long three weeks could be. When both his mother and Cian had agreed that it would be best if Cian stayed in Dublin during the exams, Mitch had wanted to argue about it. In retrospect, he couldn’t deny that being able to focus solely on his studying had been a good thing, but that didn’t change the fact that before the exam madness started, he and Cian hadn’t been apart for longer than a week.
When he reached Cian, Mitch didn’t even think about it. He stretched his neck and pressed his lips against Cian’s. “Hey,” he said a moment later, “didn’t expect to see you today.”
Cian grinned at Mitch, his eyes wide. “Obviously you’ve no objections to being surprised.” He winked. “Or afraid to show your approval.”
Taken aback by what he’d just done, Mitch glanced around him, relieved to discover his classmates were too caught up in their own happiness to pay him any attention. Then he slapped Cian’s shoulder, the impact a little harsher than just playful. “Of course not. It’s great to see you. I just didn’t expect it. I thought it would be Friday before we’d get together.” A worrying thought occurred to him. “We are still going to Dublin, aren’t we?”
The idea of going to Dublin for the Pride Festival had been one of the very few thoughts that had kept Mitch going over the three-week exam period. Every test he’d sat had brought him one day closer to a weekend when he wouldn’t feel the need to check his surroundings while interacting with his boyfriend.
Cian grinned. “Of course we are. As if I would miss Pride.” The expression on his face made it clear he thought Mitch was being ridiculous. “What are your plans for today?”
Mitch shrugged. “I was going to go out for a few pints.” He really didn’t care what he did next anymore, as long as he could do whatever it was with Cian.
“Sounds good,” Cian said. “I need to go home first and get rid of my stuff.” He indicated his backpack.
“Me too. I can’t wait to get out of this for the very last time.” Mitch waved a hand at his dark blue school uniform. “And resist the temptation to burn it,” he added.
Cian laughed. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“You have no idea.” Mitch grinned at Cian until he spotted his raised eyebrow. “Fair enough, I guess you do.” His elation about being done with school, about never having to return to the place that held so many dreadful memories for him, had made him forget that he was merely one among thousands of teenagers who had finished their secondary education minutes ago and that his was only one generation in a long line of pupils to experience this sense of freedom.
“I get it,” Cian said. “So, when do you want to get together?”
“Give me an hour or two.” As much as Mitch yearned to spend time with Cian, he knew his mother had taken the afternoon off work and would want to hear all about how he’d done.
“That works,” Cian agreed easily. “I don’t think me ma would be impressed if I just dropped off my bag and disappeared again.”
“Tell me about it,” Mitch muttered. “See you in a bit.”
Cian turned to make his way home.
“And Cian?”
He looked over his shoulder at Mitch.
“Thanks for coming. You made a good day fabulous.”
Cian winked. “Hey, that’s what boyfriends are supposed to do.”
Mitch watched Cian as he walked along the street toward the estate where his family lived, before turning the other way and making his own way home. It was as if he was half the weight he’d been when he got out of bed that morning. His heart was light, and all the tension he hadn’t been able to shift for over a month seemed to have evaporated, as if Cian’s appearance had magically rounded up his stress and discarded it.
“I’m in the kitchen.”
His mother’s voice greeted Mitch as soon as he closed the front door behind him. As much as he wanted to get out of his uniform and under the shower, Mitch knew better than to keep her waiting. After all, she’d been on the receiving end of his stressed-out, at times, foul moods for long enough.
He found her sitting at the kitchen table with what looked suspiciously like a slice of chocolate cake with a burning candle on top, in front of her.
“You survived the ordeal.” Her wide smile took any possible sting out of her words. “How did it go?”
“Okay,” Mitch said. “Cian was waiting for me when I walked out.” He couldn’t stop his voice from betraying his delight as he sat, and had no doubts his face showed the same.
“That’s nice.”
His mother’s less than enthusiastic response took him by surprise. She knew how much he’d missed seeing Cian, especially on the weekends. Because he didn’t understand her reaction, Mitch decided to ignore it. “I’m meeting him in a few hours for a night on the town.”
“Good for you,” she added, still disturbingly lackluster.
“At last we can start making plans for after the summer.” Mitch said. “Decide on when I’m moving in with him.”
His mother pushed the cake in his direction before averting her gaze.
Mitch took a bite of the chocolatey treat, almost moaning when the moist, rich, texture filled his mouth.
“I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“About what?” Mitch asked, only half listening as he brought the fork to his mouth again.
“You moving in with Cian.”
Mitch froze with the fork still between his lips as his mother’s words sank in. He pulled it out, and swallowed the suddenly tasteless chunk of cake.
“What’s there to talk about?” He had a feeling he wouldn’t like her answer, but he couldn’t argue without having all the facts first.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to move in with him now, straight from home?”
Mitch blinked at his mother, trying to figure out what might have triggered this surprising course of action. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t look forward to it if I didn’t, would I?”
“You’re so young. Both of you.” His mother had a sympathetic but determined expression on her face. “Don’t you think it would be better to live on your own for a while first? Figure out what you want from life before you start sharing it with someone else?”
“Where’s this coming from, Ma?” Mitch ignored her questions for a moment, far more curious about the timing of this conversation. “In all the months I’ve been talking about our plans, you never said a word against them. And now that the moment has arrived, you’re suddenly objecting?”
“I was never crazy about the idea,” his mother admitted. “I didn’t start the conversation before today because I didn’t want to distract you from your exams. Cian’s your first boyfriend. I’m not saying he can’t be the one for you, but how can you be sure unless you are free to play the field, so to speak?”
“Trust you to encourage your only child to sleep around. You must be the only parent in Ireland to come up with something like that.” Mitch meant to shock her, and if her frown was anything to go by, he’d succeeded.
“I never said you should sleep around. I just think you should be open to other opportunities, starting with where you’re going to live.”
“I have a place to live. I don’t need to look for anything.” Mitch’s shock turned to anger. “Way to ruin a fabulous day, Ma.” He pushed what remained of his slice of cake to the middle of the table, his taste for it suddenly gone.
For a few long moments, she just stared at him, her eyes sad. Then she nodded. “You’re right. My timing isn’t the best.” Her mouth stretched into what obviously was a forced smile. “You go and celebrate. Enjoy yourself. We can have this talk some other time.”
Mitch opened his mouth to state that he’d just as soon never have that particular conversation before thinking better of it. He was going to go out and enjoy himself if it killed him. Prolonging their discussion would almost certainly make that impossible.
“Right.” He got up. “I’m going to have a shower and change.”
When he walked past his mother toward the hall, she reached for him, her fingers brushing his wrist. He pulled his hand back. He’d no idea what had gotten into his mother’s head all of a sudden, but he didn’t like it, and the last thing he needed from her right now were shows of affection.
Mitch heard his mother’s hand drop to the table but continued walking down the hall and up the stairs. He was going to forget what she’d said for the night. They could talk after he’d partied his remaining exam stress away. Then he’d put her straight on why her suggestion made no sense whatsoever.
Chapter Two
Cian
Cian mentally shook his head at himself. He couldn’t believe how impatient he was while he waited for Mitch to come around the corner and join him in front of the pub they’d agreed on via text message. The past three weeks had been long…too long. It didn’t make sense, but he’d missed Mitch something terrible. He’d gotten used to spending every single weekend together, and the three weeks he’d stayed away had felt like a lifetime.
He inspected his surroundings, seeing numerous happy teenagers but not the one man he wanted to appear. He guessed a few more minutes wouldn’t kill him, not when they were about to start the next phase of their relationship where they would be able to spend all their time together.
For a moment his mood dropped, but before he could delve into bleaker thoughts, he spotted a familiar mop of raven black hair, and his spirits lifted. We’ll figure it out.
“Hey,” Mitch said when he reached Cian. “Were you waiting long?”
“Just got here.” Cian studied Mitch’s face. The shining joy he’d seen on Mitch’s features earlier seemed to have dimmed over the past few hours. “You wanna go in here?” He pointed at the pub behind him. Loud music and even louder voices reached them through the open front door.
Mitch looked past him before shaking his head. “Somewhere quieter, maybe.”
Something’s definitely off. Cian swallowed the questions he wanted to ask. He had a feeling they both needed a drink before they talked.
They slowly walked down the main street, passing several pubs packed with celebrating youngsters. On a quieter side street, Cian paused in front of a smaller bar. “How about here?”
“Works for me,” Mitch said before leading the way inside.
Cian instantly understood why the partying school leavers ignored this pub. While he welcomed the lack of music and television screens, he had no doubt it made this place boring to those who wanted to party the night away.
Less than a minute later, they sat opposite each other at a small table and simultaneously raised their pint glasses to their mouths. After they’d both drained about a quarter of their cider, they placed their drinks on the coasters and stared at each other. Mitch’s intense gaze suggested he was searching for something on Cian’s face, although Cian had no idea what the question might be. Then again, maybe he did.
“I just had the most surreal talk with me ma.”
Mitch’s eyes widened before a frown formed on his forehead. “You too?” He took another sip from his drink. “Let me guess. She thinks we shouldn’t move in together.”
Cian wanted to be surprised but found he wasn’t shocked at all to discover that his mother and Mitch’s had gotten together and discussed their sons’ futures.
“I don’t understand why they’re only coming up with this shit now.” Cian voiced the thought that had been bothering him ever since his mother broached the subject. “We’ve been talking about you moving in with me for at least two months.”
“Me ma said she didn’t want to upset me before the exams.” Mitch’s voice was flat. “I guess that’s fair enough. But she could have waited another few days. I was feeling great until she opened her mouth.”
Cian shrugged. He could think of one or two reasons why Mitch’s mother had thought the time was right, but lacked any urge to come to her defense. Mitch had just finished three weeks of exams; surely she could have allowed him one night of carefree partying?
“So, what are we going to do?” Mitch said. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to give in. Not about this. But she’ll be paying my rent. As much as I want to, I can’t ignore her.”
“We need to find a way of convincing them their idea doesn’t make sense.” Cian spoke slowly as an idea formed in his head. He straightened in his seat. “Actually, postponing the discussion until after the weekend is perfect. That gives us time to come up with proof that accommodation in Dublin is next to impossible to find, mostly substandard, and ridiculously expensive.”
“It’s not as if they can actually stop us, is it?” Mitch’s wide eyes begged Cian for reassurance, making him look very young. “I could always look for a job and pay for it myself.”
“They can’t,” Cian admitted. “But do you want to end up arguing with your ma for the foreseeable future or never have a free minute between college and work?”
Mitch’s almost hopeful expression vanished from his face. “No. I don’t.”
Cian was struggling but didn’t want Mitch to know as much. He couldn’t wait for the moment Mitch moved in with him, and the urge to make a rash decision and deal with the consequences later was hard to suppress. For both their sakes, he wouldn’t. As upset as Mitch was with his mother right now, it would break his heart if they fell out about where Mitch would live from September. No matter how close they were, Cian wasn’t sure their relationship would survive if it caused a rift between Mitch and his mother.
“We’ll do nothing for now. We gather information while we’re in Dublin; then we’ll talk to them.” He forced a smile to his face, hoping against hope it would convince Mitch. “In the meantime, we’ll celebrate the start of your holidays and enjoy ourselves.” And each other.
Mitch nodded, then picked up his pint and drank until it was almost empty.
“I don’t know about you,” Mitch said, looking at Cian with newfound determination shining from his eyes, “but I’m not going to let our parents spoil the Pride weekend for us.” He finished his pint. “Or ruin this evening, for that matter.” His gaze moved from Cian to the bar, then back to Cian. “It’s early, and it’s a nice day. Feel like going for a walk in the forest?” He wiggled his eyebrows, and if the movement seemed a bit forced, Cian wasn’t going to comment on it.
They walked in silence from the pub to the gates into the forest, but their lack of conversation no longer felt tense. Cian wasn’t convinced he’d manage to keep his mother’s suggestion out of his thoughts for a full week, but he was going to do his damnest. He’d looked forward to celebrating Pride with Mitch for ages and wasn’t going to allow anything—or anyone—to wreck what promised to be a fabulous weekend.
They made their way deeper into the forest, still in silence as they encountered other people out for an early evening stroll. A few minutes later, Mitch grabbed Cian’s hand and pulled him off the established path onto a trail Cian hadn’t noticed. They had left the others behind and couldn’t hear their voices anymore.
“Where are you taking me?” Cian asked, intrigued, as they moved deeper into the forest.
“Here,” Mitch said as they emerged from among the trees and entered a small clearing.
Cian inspected the open space. “Nice.” He especially liked the tree trunk in the middle of the glade, which was flat enough to function as a low bench.
“I found it about a month ago.” Mitch pulled Cian along toward the fallen tree. “I spent a lot of time here. Even brought my notes out to study when I couldn’t bear to be indoors for another minute.” He lowered himself to the trunk and grinned up at Cian as soon as he sat. “In all that time, nobody has ever stumbled across my hideout.”
Being nobody’s fool, Cian recognized an invitation when he heard one and sat next to Mitch, straddling the trunk so that he faced him. Reaching out, he cupped Mitch’s neck, turned his head, and did what he’d been longing to do ever since he’d seen Mitch walk out of his school, hours earlier.
He couldn’t imagine ever getting tired of Mitch’s mouth, of the softness of Mitch’s lips against his, or of the soft sounds escaping Mitch as Cian deepened the kiss. I missed this. Three weeks apart had done more to make it crystal clear how important Mitch was in his life than the prior six months of regular contact. When they were together, everything fitted better, as if the jigsaw that was his life was missing pieces when he was alone.
“God, but I needed that,” Mitch said when they pulled apart for a moment. “Needed you,” he added a moment later, much softer.
Cian’s heart stuttered, then soared. He couldn’t believe all the feelings Mitch awoke in him. He’d lived the first nineteen years of his life blissfully unaware that he was capable of emotions like those Mitch triggered in him. Is this love? If it was, he’d sign up for a lifetime worth of being in love. He was more when he was with Mitch, better somehow, a brighter and lighter version of the person he’d been since the day he was born.
“We will find a way to be together next year.” Cian’s lips brushed Mitch’s as he whispered his vow, before his need took over, and he claimed all of Mitch’s mouth again.
Somehow they ended up on the forest floor together, Mitch on top of Cian, his weight grounding Cian, anchoring him. He slipped his hands between Mitch’s shirt and his back, stroking the soft skin, treasuring the feel of it against his fingertips, and rejoicing when Mitch’s response was to undulate against him, pressing their groins together. Obviously, Cian wasn’t the only one getting increasingly excited.
Mitch broke their kiss and pulled away, creating enough space between their upper bodies to push Cian’s T-shirt up. Mitch stroking his chest sent the most delicious shivers running up and down Cian’s spine. When his fingertips teasingly brushed across first one nipple, then the other, Cian had to bite his lip to stop himself from groaning out loud.
“I want more.”
Mitch gave voice to the words screaming in Cian’s mind. This was why they had to room together. They needed one place where they could really be together, without worrying about passers-by or parents.
“Me too,” Cian answered, pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind. “But here? It’s too risky.”
As if to reinforce Cian’s words, voices drifted their way. Whoever was out there talking was still a good distance away, but it was a stark reminder that they were in a public space and should behave accordingly.
Mitch’s dark eyes filled with the same regret Cian experienced. He pressed his lips against Cian’s one more time before rolling to the side, coming to rest on his back next to Cian.
“I know you just got here,” Mitch said a few minutes later, “but I would really like to go to Dublin tomorrow.”
Cian turned on his side, resting his chin on his hand. He looked down at Mitch and drank in his features, taking advantage of the fact that Mitch had closed his eyes. With his long dark lashes, his raven black unruly hair, and his lush lips turned up in a small smile, Mitch’s beauty took Cian’s breath away.
“Sounds like a plan.” Cian wondered if Mitch just wanted to get away from his mother or if he, like Cian, couldn’t wait until they were alone together.
Mitch opened his eyes and gazed at Cian. “I want to be with you.” Mitch carefully enunciated every syllable. “Alone with you.”
Cian nodded, momentarily lost for words. His heart soared to hear Mitch echo his thoughts. His constant longing for Mitch scared Cian at times. Somehow the idea that Mitch’s need might match his lessened Cian’s fear.
“We’ll take the evening bus tomorrow,” Cian said once he was sure he had his voice under control. He chuckled. “We’ll look less desperate to get away, and we won’t need to hurry.”
Mitch’s smile was lazy. “And then we’ll have four days of just the two of us.”
Cian listened for a moment. He could still hear the voices, but they appeared to be no closer than they’d been before. He leaned forward and kissed Mitch, making the contact tender and lingering.
It really would be just the two of them. Cian’s housemates were both in Spain for two weeks.
Author Bio:Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
GOOGLE PLAY / KOBO / MeWe / iTUNES
EMAIL: helenastoneauthor@gmail.com
Pride of Place #3
Miracle in the Library #1
Lessons in Love #2
Series Recap: Dare Ménage featuring A Daring Journey by Jeanne St. James
Title: A Daring Journey
Author: Jeanne St James
Series: Dare Ménage #6
Genre: M/M/F Romance, Poly, Adult
Release Date: July 6, 2019
👀Each of the stories are standalones but should be read
in order only because of reoccuring secondary characters.👀
Summary:
Two paths: one new, one familiar. And a burning desire to choose them both...
When Damon spots a stunning redhead on his plane, the pilot’s determined to get to know her better. It’s been a long time since he’s experienced an instant connection with anyone. The last time was with his former lover, who left without an explanation over five years ago, devastating him. Though now cautious when it comes to relationships, MacKenzie just might be everything he’s looking for and more.
Not expecting to meet the tall, dark and handsome captain on her flight home, Mac finds Damon’s domineering persistence a turn-on. She decides to take a chance on him, which, in the end, might be a mistake when a person from his past returns. A man Damon loved and still does.
The last five years had been dark journey for Trevor, and he’s now ready to return to the light. He’s back in Boston to not only ask for forgiveness but to reconnect with Damon, since he still loves the man. However, there’s a complication. Damon is seeing someone else and Trevor might be too late.
Summary:
What could be better than waking up next to a hot guy? Waking up sandwiched between two of them.
Quinn Preston, a financial analyst, is not happy when her friends dare her to pick up a handsome stranger at a wedding reception. What better reason to give up men when her previous long-term relationship had not only been lackluster in the bedroom but he had cheated?
Logan Reed, a successful business owner, can't believe that he's attracted to the woman in the ugly, Pepto-Bismol pink bridesmaid dress. And to boot, she's more than tipsy. After turning down her invitation for a one-night stand, he finds her in the parking lot too impaired to drive. He rescues her and takes her home. His home.
The next morning Quinn's conservative life turns on its ear when Logan introduces her to pleasures she never even considered before. And to make things more complicated, Logan already has a lover.
Tyson White, ex-pro football player, is completely in love with Logan. He has mixed emotions when Logan brings home Quinn. But the dares keep coming...
Summary:
Never in her life has she been so bold to propose something so daring...
Since losing her husband years ago in a tragic accident, Eve Sanders hasn't dated. Her husband's death proved life is short, so why waste time denying her unfulfilled desires. Eve desires two men, but not just any two. Both happen to be former Super Bowl champions and best friends.
When both men participate in a Celebrity Date Night charity event, Eve's determined to not only be the winning bidder for the retired NFL quarterback Lawrence "Long Arm" Landis, but also Cole Dixon, his former Boston Bulldog's teammate. However, Ren not only has a problem with another man dating the same woman, but he definitely isn't planning on sharing her in the same bed. Even if it's with his best friend.
Openly bi-sexual, Cole is sexually attracted to Ren and has secretly wanted him for years. He's never acted upon it, assuming Ren wouldn't want to be with another man. Eve's daring proposal gives Cole hope his dream with Ren will come true.
Being with two men is one of Eve's fantasies, but never in her life has she been so bold. Not only is she nervous about proposing something so daring to the two men, but will both be willing?
Summary:
He was dark. So dark, she couldn’t keep her gaze from him…
When Paige Reed spots a man across the room at a party, she’s fascinated and decides she wants him in her bed. Fortunately, her husband, Connor, doesn’t mind. He’s attracted to the powerful man too.
Always bi-curious, the right opportunity has never presented itself to Connor Morgan. Until now. He doesn’t mind bringing another man into their marriage as long as it doesn’t drive a wedge between him and Paige.
Former NFL player, Graedon Ward likes to be in control. He’s more than pleased with Paige's obvious interest. However, she makes it quite clear: it's a package deal. If he wants her, he has to take on her husband too, and past experience has taught him that’s a dangerous road to travel.
The chemistry between the three is explosive, but it’s Grae’s desire to share the same level of intimacy he sees between Paige and Conner that puts real pressure on the threesome. And it may cause it all to crash and burn.
Summary:
Take two defense attorneys, add one troubled NFL QB who needs them, and what do you get? A threesome of hot, sexy conflict.
Gryff Ward made a serious mistake when he hired the hot-as-hell defense attorney Rayne Jordan as an associate in his high-profile legal firm, even though she’s one of the best. Now he’s struggling to keep it professional, especially when she insists on calling him “Boss.”
Rayne’s been attracted to the firm's top attorney ever since her interview. And she’s well aware that calling the conservative man “Boss” drives him crazy…in a very good way.
Add Trey Holloway, their newest client, a troubled NFL quarterback, into the mix. Tension arises when it’s clear that both Gryff and Trey want Rayne and Gryff is willing to fight for her. However, Trey doesn’t hide the fact that he wants Gryff too.
Now Gryff’s having a hard time fighting not only his attraction to Rayne but to another man. Even though he stubbornly refuses to admit his deepest, darkest desires.
Then Rayne takes control. She’s determined to have them both in not only her bed but her life, and she won’t give up until she does.
Summary:
One woman, two men, a fierce attraction and a danger that could destroy them all...
Olivia Holloway’s life has never been easy. On her own at sixteen, she’s fought to survive ever since. When she finds herself in a dangerous situation that even she can’t handle, she has to break down and ask for help. She reluctantly seeks it by showing up at her estranged brother’s law firm. However, it’s not her brother, Trey, who steps in, it’s the firm’s private investigator, Elliot Stone and his husband, Grant Lane. They agree to hide her at their home to keep her safe after she witnesses a powerful Senator commit murder.
Together for a decade, Eli and Grant’s marriage is solid and they’re still deeply in love. But when Olivia shows up at the firm they both work at, Eli feels a pull toward the woman he can’t deny. Only now he needs to convince his husband that bringing her into their relationship will not destroy what they have but only enhance it. However, will Grant agree?
And will the trouble that’s following Olivia put them all at risk?
A Daring Journey #6
Trevor stood on the stoop staring at the dark blue painted front door. The house was a modest two-story, the yard well-maintained, the landscaping professionally done. The paved driveway was empty, and he only hoped that the two-car garage held Damon’s car as he knocked on the door.
After the other night at the bar, it had taken every bit of strength and determination he had to show up at the man’s home. But he couldn’t give up so easily. He understood Damon’s anger. In fact, Trevor embraced it.
Simply because he deserved every drop of it.
But he couldn’t move forward unless Damon forgave him. Even if his former lover wouldn’t accept him back, wouldn’t give him a second chance, his soul might settle a little with forgiveness.
Even so, Damon didn’t owe him anything.
What Trevor did was wrong. Awful, in fact. To hurt the one person in the whole world that loved you completely was...
Unforgiveable.
Trevor closed his eyes and pressed his fists to the sides of his thighs.
He should leave. But seeing Damon the other night had wrecked him. Especially when he saw that this “Mac” Damon had a date with was a woman.
Truthfully, it probably would have bothered him just as much if Mac had been another man.
He hadn’t pushed it, he let Damon leave with his date without another incident. Instead, Trevor had sat at the bar and did something he normally didn’t do anymore, drank until some of the sharp edges of the pain had dulled.
Then he went home.
Or back to his apartment, more like it. He had only moved in a few weeks ago so it still didn’t feel like home.
Truthfully, nothing felt like home since the day he left Damon all those years ago.
It had taken too long to realize Damon was “home” to him. Not being with him made Trevor homeless.
No matter what, he couldn’t keep standing in front of Damon’s home pitying himself.
But he struggled to pull himself from that darkness caused by missing a man so deeply that it was crippling. Damon had always been his light that kept that restlessness at bay, until Trevor had done something stupid and extinguished it.
As he lifted his hand to knock again, a car pulling into the driveway had him turning his head. The garage door lifted as the black Lexus sedan with tinted windows remained in the driveway, even after the door was open.
Trevor waited. The car waited.
Trevor’s heart thumped heavily in his chest, but he couldn’t make himself unfreeze his feet from the concrete stoop.
Then the engine revved slightly as the car pulled into the garage. Before Trevor could force himself to move, the garage door closed.
He remained at the front door, willing it to open.
Fifteen minutes later, he nodded, whispered, “I’m sorry,” turned on his heels and went back to his car.
Damon wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Quite possibly, he might never be.
Trevor stood on the stoop staring at the dark blue painted front door. The house was a modest two-story, the yard well-maintained, the landscaping professionally done. The paved driveway was empty, and he only hoped that the two-car garage held Damon’s car as he knocked on the door.
After the other night at the bar, it had taken every bit of strength and determination he had to show up at the man’s home. But he couldn’t give up so easily. He understood Damon’s anger. In fact, Trevor embraced it.
Simply because he deserved every drop of it.
But he couldn’t move forward unless Damon forgave him. Even if his former lover wouldn’t accept him back, wouldn’t give him a second chance, his soul might settle a little with forgiveness.
Even so, Damon didn’t owe him anything.
What Trevor did was wrong. Awful, in fact. To hurt the one person in the whole world that loved you completely was...
Unforgiveable.
Trevor closed his eyes and pressed his fists to the sides of his thighs.
He should leave. But seeing Damon the other night had wrecked him. Especially when he saw that this “Mac” Damon had a date with was a woman.
Truthfully, it probably would have bothered him just as much if Mac had been another man.
He hadn’t pushed it, he let Damon leave with his date without another incident. Instead, Trevor had sat at the bar and did something he normally didn’t do anymore, drank until some of the sharp edges of the pain had dulled.
Then he went home.
Or back to his apartment, more like it. He had only moved in a few weeks ago so it still didn’t feel like home.
Truthfully, nothing felt like home since the day he left Damon all those years ago.
It had taken too long to realize Damon was “home” to him. Not being with him made Trevor homeless.
No matter what, he couldn’t keep standing in front of Damon’s home pitying himself.
But he struggled to pull himself from that darkness caused by missing a man so deeply that it was crippling. Damon had always been his light that kept that restlessness at bay, until Trevor had done something stupid and extinguished it.
As he lifted his hand to knock again, a car pulling into the driveway had him turning his head. The garage door lifted as the black Lexus sedan with tinted windows remained in the driveway, even after the door was open.
Trevor waited. The car waited.
Trevor’s heart thumped heavily in his chest, but he couldn’t make himself unfreeze his feet from the concrete stoop.
Then the engine revved slightly as the car pulled into the garage. Before Trevor could force himself to move, the garage door closed.
He remained at the front door, willing it to open.
Fifteen minutes later, he nodded, whispered, “I’m sorry,” turned on his heels and went back to his car.
Damon wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Quite possibly, he might never be.
JEANNE ST. JAMES is a USA Today bestselling romance author who loves an alpha male (or two). She was only thirteen when she started writing. Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages. Want to read a sample of her work? Download a sampler book here.
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A Daring Journey #6
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