Monday, June 6, 2022

🌈Monday's Musical Melody🌈: Three Shots by Brigham Vaughn



Summary:

Poly in Pendleton #1
A musician, a computer designer, and a tavern owner walk into a bar: it’ll take three shots to get this right …

When Reeve Jenkins picks up his guitar to sing at a local dive bar, the last thing he expects is to bring a guy home that night. Grant McGuire is a man drowning his sorrows in beer after a painful breakup. Having some fun in bed is easy for the two of them but while hookups are simple, pursing a relationship never feels quite right.

Rachael Bradford has seen plenty of attractive men walk into the Hawk Point Tavern but she’s too busy running the place to worry about taking any of them home.

The chemistry between them is off the characters but when Reeve and Grant offer her more than a quick fantasy, they’ll have to figure out how to navigate an openly poly relationship in the small town of Pendleton Bay.

Originally released in 2017, Three Shots has been re-written with an additional 40k words of content, set in the Pendleton Bay Universe, and re-edited.

Original Novella Review February 2017:
Sweet isn't the first word that often comes to mind when reading a mΓ©nage novella but that's exactly what you get with Three Shots. Don't get me wrong, this story is hot as hell with both M/M and M/M/F scenes but it's also sweet, funny, well it's just plain beautiful. Reeve and Grant have an insta-connection that is clear and real even if they walk out afterwards as only friends with benefits. Then they meet Rachel and it's pretty obvious that none of their lives will be the same, the connection is there from the minute their eyes meet. What first is completely sexual and steamy becomes more and considering Three Shots is classified as a novella, the outcome is believable and not rushed at all.

I loved how Reeve and Grant being bisexual is addressed when the three of them sit down to get to know each other. Rachel has questions, she asks them, she gets answers with honesty and respect all of which is done without the author teaching a lesson or stressing an agenda. Three Shots is entertaining that will bring a smile to your face, warmth to your heart, leave you breathless, and personally, I'm hoping that we'll see where Reeve, Grant, and Rachel again to find out where they are in the future.

Not that I'm surprised but Brigham Vaughn has done it again she has yet to leave me disappointed. I just love it when one of my few automatic 1-click authors prove my faith in their storytelling abilities and that is exactly what she has done with Three Shots.

RATING:



ONE 
Reeve 
Strumming his guitar softly, Reeve Jenkins caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. Reeve carefully tuned the Gibson 6-string as he surreptitiously watched the man he’d been eyeballing earlier slide back into his seat with a scowl. The familiar rhythm of tuning and warming up for a show was so automatic by now Reeve could do it with half a mind elsewhere. 

Reeve couldn’t say exactly why he’d been watching this guy or when he’d started, but his gaze kept returning to him. He was slouched in his seat, and he’d already polished off a bottle of beer and was quickly working his way through a second. His slumped posture, glowering expression, and pained eyes told Reeve he was an unhappy man. 

Despite that, he was handsome, with shaggy, dirty blond hair drawn back at the nape of his neck and stubble highlighting a strong jaw and square chin. His shoulders were broad, and from what Reeve could see, his body was long and lean. He was dressed in a well-worn pair of jeans, boots, and a black, long-sleeve t-shirt that fit his body snugly. When he downed the rest of his second beer, his Adam’s apple bobbed. Reeve shifted on the stool, feeling the pressure against the fly of his jeans at the mental image of the stranger swallowing Reeve’s cock to the base. 

The question was, would he be open to that? 

The man signaled for another beer, and his interaction with the waitress was cool and distant despite her attempt to flirt with him. Reeve couldn’t decide if that was a good sign or not. Gay or just in a shitty mood? Even if he were attracted to men, Reeve wasn’t sure how far he’d get; this guy hardly looked like he was eager for company. If Reeve hadn’t been set to play soon, he would have already been at the guy’s table flirting, but performing would hopefully give Reeve a chance to suss him out a little better. And seduce him with his voice. Reeve grinned down at his guitar. It wouldn’t be the first time he'd done that. 

Done tuning, Reeve half-listened when the bar manager announced that the show was about to begin and looked out at the crowd. Aces was a shitty dive bar on the outskirts of Pendleton Bay, Michigan, and the seats were only half-full. Reeve was a no-name singer and guitar player who picked up random shows. He wasn’t trying to make a career of it, but he loved playing, and the occasional gigs were enough to satisfy his need to perform. 

Lukewarm applause greeted Reeve when the manager stepped aside. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the most enthusiastic crowd. Still, he’d take what he could get. 

Reeve adjusted the mic on the stand. “Good evening. I’m Reeve Jenkins, and my first song of the night is going to be Heart of Gold by Neil Young.”

As Reeve began to play, the man he’d been eyeing earlier glanced up and met his gaze. His stiff posture slowly relaxed as Reeve strummed the familiar chords, and they exchanged glances throughout the set. 

He really seemed to like the late 1960s and early ‘70s songs Reeve covered, and as Reeve transitioned from I Put a Spell on You to Sweet Jane, the stranger leaned forward in his seat, watching more intently. Something passed between them, some connection, and Reeve suppressed a triumphant smile. Excellent. Now, he was even more determined to talk to him after he was done performing. 

Reeve’s final song was by Bruce Springsteen, and he made sure to look right at the blond-haired man when he crooned the final lines about being on fire. 

A smattering of enthusiastic applause wrapped up his set. That was pretty good for Aces, which had a crowd that was more known for their heavy drinking than their appreciation of music. Reeve must have really nailed it tonight. He stowed his guitar in its case, stashed it out of the way backstage, then walked out into the front of the bar. A band was setting up as Reeve approached the object of his interest. He was nursing a bottle of beer—his third or fourth, Reeve wasn’t sure which—and Reeve hoped the guy could handle it. 

Reeve raised an eyebrow as he reached for the chair opposite him at the little table. The guy nodded once, slowly, his gaze never wavering. 

Reeve slid into the chair, then held out his hand. “Reeve Jenkins.”

The stranger chuckled but didn’t reach over to shake. “I figured that out from your intro. Good show, man.” 

His speech was low and slow, with a seductive hint of a southern drawl that had Reeve eager to hear him whisper dirty, dirty things in Reeve’s ear as he fucked him from behind. 

“Thanks.” Reeve motioned for the waitress and ordered a beer. The as-yet-unnamed stranger shook his head when Reeve offered to buy him one. 

“I’ll take water, though.” 

“I’m glad you liked the set,” Reeve said once the waitress was gone. 

“I did. You’ve got a great voice.” His posture still seemed wary, and his expression was neutral. 

Reeve pressed. “I didn’t catch your name.” 

He raised a single eyebrow and gave Reeve a crooked smirk that made dimples pop out on his cheeks. “Didn’t give it, but you knew that. It’s Grant. Grant McGuire.” 

“Very nice to meet you, Grant.” Reeve held out his hand again, and this time Grant took it, his palm cool and damp from the bottle of beer, the back of his hand warm. His handshake was firm though, and his skin felt good against Reeve’s. It seemed like they were both a little reluctant to let go, so Reeve pressed on. 

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“About your show? Sure. I liked the Van Morrison song you did. One of the best covers I’ve heard of Someone Like You.” 

Reeve shook his head and leaned back in his seat, only half-aware of the waitress bringing their drinks. “Thanks.” He nodded absently and took the bottle. “And, thank you, Grant. But I meant why you’re morose and drowning your sorrows in umpteen bottles of beer tonight.” 

Grant raised an eyebrow again. “You sure don’t mince words.” 

“Do you want me to?” Reeve asked, amused. 

Grant shrugged. “I don’t particularly need to spill my guts to a stranger tonight. If I had, I would have sat at the bar and unloaded on the bartender.” 

“Come on,” Reeve coaxed with his most charming smile. “What do you have to lose?” 

“Fine. I ended a relationship.” 

“Shouldn’t you be celebrating?” 

Grant cracked a smile, but pain lurked behind his eyes. “I loved her. But she needed something I couldn’t give her. I ended it because I knew it was best in the long run, but it hurts like a son of a bitch.” 

“I’m sorry,” Reeve said honestly. “But at least you ended it before it dragged out even longer.” 

“There is that.”

“So, did you just come to this bar to drink away your troubles, or were you looking for something else?” Reeve asked, trying to get a feel for Grant. Apparently, Grant had an ex-girlfriend, but given the looks he’d been shooting Reeve, there was definitely some attraction there. And if Reeve was lucky, looking to get laid tonight. 

Grant shrugged. “Mostly the drinks. Although, I was glad to see they had some musicians playing. I was surprised when I heard you sing. You’re better than I expected.” 

Reeve gave him an amused grin. “Thanks, I think.” 

“Naw, you know how it is. Half the people who play in places like this can’t carry a tune to save their life.” 

“True,” Reeve agreed, taking another drink of his beer. 

“You do this for a living?” Grant asked. 

“Nope. This is just for fun. Actually, my brother and I own a music shop over on First Street.” 

“Huh, I figured you were from out of town and passing through or something,” he said. 

“Nope, I grew up here. You?” 

Grant shrugged. “Moved to Michigan for a job in Fort Benton six years ago. My family is originally from Tennessee.” 

“So I gathered from the accent.”

He chuckled and drained his water. “There’s no hidin’ that, I suppose.” 

“I wouldn’t want you to,” Reeve said flirtatiously. “In fact, I can think of a few things I’d really like to hear you say.” 

Grant quirked the eyebrow again. “What are they?” 

“Words definitely not suited for polite company.” 

Grant glanced around and shook his head. “I wouldn’t call the crowd here at this bar polite company.” 

Aces wasn’t too rough, but it wasn’t a gay bar either. Not unfriendly, but not exactly friendly either. Reeve shrugged and decided to lay it all out there. “Well, definitely not the kind of crowd who wants to hear two men talking dirty to each other either.” 

Grant smirked. “Where did you have in mind?” 

“My place. How about you come home with me and let me see if I can make you forget all about your recent breakup?” 

“I’m not sure I’d be very good company tonight.” The smirk became a bitter little twist of his lips. 

“Let me be the judge of that.” 

“You’re persistent, aren’t you?” he asked wryly.

Reeve gave Grant his most winning smile. “I try to keep on this side of charming. If you want me to back off, just say the word.” 

Grant stood abruptly and nodded toward the door. “What the hell. Why not?” 

Reeve stood, too, but a bit more slowly. “Now if that isn’t the least enthusiastic response to asking someone to come home with me I’ve ever gotten, I don’t know what is.” 

Grant grimaced. “Sorry, I’m rusty at this. I don’t remember all the dance steps.” 

Reeve grinned. “I’m pretty good at dancing; I’ll be happy to show you all the moves you’ve forgotten. And maybe a few you’ve never tried.” 

Grant stepped closer, his expression lightening. “You think you can teach me something new, huh?” 

“Maybe. Even if I can’t, it’ll be fun trying,” Reeve said huskily. 

The corners of Grant’s lips curled up in a grin, and his eyes brightened. “Now that I believe.” 

Up close, Reeve could smell the subtle allure of Grant’s cologne. It made Reeve want to bury his nose right up against Grant’s neck and twist his fingers into his hair. He settled for slowly wetting his lips with his tongue. Grant’s gaze followed his every movement. When his breath stuttered, Reeve suppressed a grin then stepped back. “Let me get my guitar, and we can head out.” 

Grant nodded, something a little dazed and surprised in his eyes as he turned to the bar. Reeve hustled backstage to grab his belongings. Clearly, there was an attraction there, but Reeve was still half-afraid that when he returned carrying his guitar, Grant would be gone. 

Thankfully, he found Grant leaning against the bar, elbows planted firmly on the scarred top, and a booted foot drawn up on the rung. The way he stood stretched the material of his shirt across his pecs, and Reeve had the urge to press his palms to them and feel the hard planes of his muscles. 

Reeve sauntered over to him, letting his walk become a looser-hipped swagger. “You ready?” 

“Mmmhmm.” One corner of Grant’s mouth turned up in a smirk. “I think I am.” 


They went through the usual talk of assessing each other’s sexual health as they walked out into the parking lot. It saved them an awkward conversation in bed later, and Reeve was grateful he was fully stocked with condoms and lube; nothing killed the mood like running out mid-fuck. 

He gave Grant his address so he could follow Reeve to his apartment. It was nothing special, just a decent one-bedroom place on the north side of Pendleton Bay where he’d lived for about a year. Mostly, he liked not having to deal with the bullshit of roommates on the rare occasion he took someone home. 

Reeve pulled into his designated spot as Grant parked a few rows down. Grant followed him into the building, up the stairs, and into his place. Reeve heard the door click shut behind him as he walked into the living room, tossing his keys and wallet onto the coffee table in a habit so ingrained he didn’t think twice. 

Reeve leaned his guitar against the wall, then turned to Grant. “Want a beer?” 

Grant shook his head and stalked toward Reeve. There was something predatory in his walk and gaze that made Reeve’s stomach tighten and his cock twitch. The time for talking was clearly over. Grant didn’t stop until he was pressed right up against Reeve, one hand on his back and the other cradling his head. His lips were soft but eager, and Reeve closed his eyes, glad to see Grant had lost whatever reluctance he’d felt before. Grant didn’t hesitate to slide his tongue into Reeve’s mouth, tasting faintly of beer and a cigarette he’d smoked on the way over. 

Reeve tangled one hand in Grant’s hair, deepening the kiss. He wrapped the other around Grant’s hip and tugged him close. Reeve was dying to learn the way he’d move against him. When they pressed together, cocks brushing through the layers of fabric, Grant made a low, throaty sound. Reeve kept their lips connected as he moved his hands up under Grant’s shirt, exploring all his hot, smooth skin. Skimming the shirt up over his chest, Reeve grazed his nipple with the side of his hand. Grant let out a strangled gasp of pleasure and ground their hips together harder. At that, Reeve tore his lips away so he could pull Grant’s shirt off. He raised his arms to help, his gaze glittering hungrily. 

The moment they were both stripped to the waist, they pressed their lips against each other again, eager and rough. This time, the kiss was harder, more frantic. Reeve backed up toward the couch until it hit the backs of his knees and fell onto it, one finger in the waistband of Grant’s jeans, tugging him down. More controlled, Grant lowered himself, their booted feet tangling together as their hips met and their bare torsos pressed together. Grant's skin had a light, golden tone, and it felt scorching hot against Reeve’s. The rough, deep kisses continued as he ground down, the pressure making Reeve’s cock weep and an ache build in his balls. 

Fuck, it had been too goddamn long since he’d been with someone. With Grant tugging at his hair and leaving wet kisses on his jaw, Reeve could hardly think straight enough to remember who it was he’d been with last. A woman, he thought hazily. Fun redhead—explosive in bed, but a little too clingy out of it. Reeve ended things after a few times together. His cock had missed her, but the rest of him sure hadn’t. 

“What are you thinking about?” Grant asked roughly, the vibrations of his voice against Reeve’s throat sending another wave of lust through him. 

“Trying to remember the last time I got laid,” Reeve said a little breathlessly, pressing a hand to the nice swell of Grant’s ass, forcing their hips together. He let out a groan at the increased pressure on his dick. 

“And?” Grant prompted, grazing his teeth across Reeve’s Adam’s apple. Reeve swallowed convulsively. 

“Too fucking long ago. In fact, if you’re not careful, I’m going to come in my fucking pants.” Reeve groaned again and shifted. He was way too close to the edge. 

Grant immediately pulled back, reaching for Reeve’s belt buckle. “I’d rather you come in my mouth.” Grant made quick work of the metal clasp, and without removing the belt, unbuttoned the fly of Reeve’s jeans. Reeve raised his hips, and Grant hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his boxers then pushed downward, but everything got tangled up when he reached his ankles. 

“Shit, wait.” Reeve sat up, chuckling. “Fucking boots,” he grumbled as he hastily untied the laces and yanked one off his foot. “Keeping me from having your mouth on my cock.” 

“Tell me about it,” Grant muttered, struggling with his own, and Reeve couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped his lips. Grant looked over and grinned. It was the first true amusement Reeve had seen on his face, and Reeve laughed harder. Grant joined in, too, laughing together at the absurdity of the moment. The mood went from charged to something lighter, more relaxed. A sense of camaraderie suffused the air as they both finally got their boots off and looked at each other again. 

They reached for each other simultaneously, until Reeve was pressed to the cool, smooth leather of the couch again. Grant hovered over him and closed a hand around Reeve’s length. The low, rumbling groan that tore from his chest grew louder as Grant began to stroke. Reeve loved women, but there was something about a man’s larger hand, the firmer grip, the way a guy knew precisely where to focus the attention; they all combined to push him right to the edge. 

“Thought you wanted me to come in your mouth,” Reeve said roughly. 

Grant smirked. “Oh, I do.” 

“Then you better get your fucking mouth on my dick because I’m way too close,” Reeve growled. 

Grant released him and slid down the couch to settle with his head between Reeve’s thighs, propped up on one elbow. Reeve widened his legs, drawing one knee up so his foot rested flat against the couch. Grant began with Reeve’s balls, his fingers hot as he gently cupped and rolled them in his palm. 

“Christ,” Reeve groaned, clenching his eyes tightly closed as he reveled in the feeling. Grant dragged his teeth across Reeve’s inner thigh before his hot breath ghosted across his cock. With no warning, he swallowed him. He didn’t deep-throat Reeve, but it was damned close, and the feel of his dick suddenly engulfed in the shockingly warm wetness sent a shudder through Reeve’s body. 

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Reeve gasped when Grant began to slide his mouth up and down. He moved smoothly, easily; sucking, flicking, and tapping with his tongue, using his hand on Reeve’s balls, tugging and rolling them expertly. Reeve slammed one hand down on the cushion of the couch and buried the other in Grant’s soft hair. 

Reeve’s entire body was rigid with tension, strung so tight he felt like he’d splinter into a million little pieces; needing, wanting. He could hear the wet sounds of Grant sucking his cock, felt the way his tongue cradled it, and the rough ridges along the roof of his mouth as the head of it slid in and out. Reeve’s body burned for his release. He felt it everywhere: in his fingertips, in his toes, but nowhere more strongly than at the base of his dick. It was agonizing and perfect, and when Grant swallowed, increasing the suction, sensation thundered through Reeve. It incinerated him, burned away everything but the pleasure. Time seemed to slow. He could focus on nothing but the feel and sights and sounds of Grant swallowing every spurt of his release. 

There was a roaring in Reeve’s head, and his mouth fell open, a hoarse, agonized sound reverberating in his throat. “Fucking hell.”

Eventually, time sped back up, and he became aware that he gripped Grant’s hair tightly. He loosened his hold, stroking the soft strands in gratitude as Grant lifted off, making one last slow, sweet stroke of his mouth up the shaft, then curling over the head before letting him go with a press of his lips to the tip. 

“Jesus, Grant. That was the best fucking head I’ve ever gotten.” Reeve’s body still trembled, every muscle gradually loosening as the tension seeped out of him. 

Grant sat back, a smug little smirk playing across his face. “And here I was thinkin’ you were supposed to be teaching me some new moves. Seems to me like it’s reversed.” 

Reeve sat up, bracing his arms on the couch. “I suggest we move this to the bedroom then because it’s about time I deliver on my promise.” 

Locked together, hands roaming and lips meeting, they stumbled through the apartment. Grant gripped Reeve’s bare ass and ground against him as they passed the kitchen. Reeve lurched over to the table, bending Grant backward over it as he ravaged his mouth. When the pressure of his renewed erection was too much to handle, he tore his mouth away and stepped back. He stripped Grant out of his jeans and boxers before pushing him down into a chair. 

Reeve knelt on the floor at his feet and nipped at his inner thighs, grazing them with his teeth, teasing him the way he’d teased Reeve earlier. Burying his nose against the crease of Grant’s leg, Reeve inhaled the faint, musky scent of his skin mingling with something clean and soapy. He moved his mouth to Grant’s sac, placing soft, wet kisses across it. When Reeve gripped his dick, Grant moaned lowly and his head fell back, lips parted. Reeve made a few slow, experimental strokes with his hand, and Grant’s thighs tensed. Their dicks were close in size, although the head of Grant’s flared wider, and Reeve shivered with anticipation at the thought of Grant pushing inside him. 

Reeve sat up, stretching to reach Grant’s chest as he continued to stroke with his right hand. He brushed his left thumb over one nipple while he used his mouth to tease the other. As Reeve continued, Grant’s cock twitched in Reeve’s hand, and his chest rumbled with a groan. By the time Reeve switched sides, Grant was panting and squirming in the chair. Reeve was still on his knees, stretched out over him, and stroking became awkward with the limited space between their bodies. 

Reeve lowered to take Grant’s cock in his mouth. He took Grant in as far as he could before drawing back to tease the head with his tongue. Grant was sprawled in the chair, his hands gripping the edge of the seat. The corded muscles of Grant’s thighs and the lean definition in his stomach stood out as his body tensed. Grant threaded a hand through his hair, encouraging him, and Reeve closed his eyes, allowing Grant to guide him. He wasn’t rough, using just enough pressure to set the pace, and Grant moaned when Reeve took him a little deeper. Loving the way he responded, Reeve eagerly continued until Grant pushed him away with a tortured-sounding groan. Reeve sat back, wiping his lips on the back of his hand. 

“Bedroom?” he asked quizzically. 

Their gazes locked, and Grant’s expression made Reeve shiver with anticipation. “No. Kitchen table. I want to fuck you, now.”

Reeve hurriedly got to his feet and had hardly straightened before Grant spun him and bent him over the table, running a hand down his spine. Reeve moaned at the graze of Grant’s cock across his ass cheek. 

“Shit. Where are the condoms and lube?” Grant asked roughly. “I can’t wait any longer.” 

“Over there,” Reeve pointed across the kitchen. “Top drawer.” 

Grant strode over and yanked it open, fishing them out before slamming the drawer closed with a solid thud. He swiped a towel from the counter on his way back to the table. “You’re going to have to tell me why you keep them in here.” 

Reeve grinned and twisted his head to watch Grant. “It’s a long story.” 

“After, then.” Grant ripped open the condom wrapper and skillfully sheathed himself. 

Reeve heard the sound of a bottle opening and then a cool, wet finger slid between his cheeks. Reeve widened his stance. Grant slid his finger across Reeve’s entrance, moving over it teasingly before applying gentle pressure. He pushed in a little way, giving Reeve a moment to acclimate before sinking in to the last knuckle. Reeve moaned and dropped his head to where his hands rested on the table, arching his back so Grant could prepare him more easily. 

Grant worked him open until sweat broke out on Reeve’s forehead and he shoved back on Grant’s fingers, begging for it. “I’m good. I’m good. I need your dick in me.”

“Thank fucking God,” Grant muttered. A moment later, he settled behind Reeve, his palm warm on Reeve’s hip as he aligned himself. He pushed in slowly, allowing Reeve time to accommodate, but the moment Reeve relaxed and pushed back, he began to move. Grant’s cock felt better than Reeve had dared imagine, and the fluid rhythm of his hips made Reeve moan. 

“Christ, that’s good,” Grant groaned. “Goddamn.” 

“I know,” Reeve panted. “Harder.” 

Grant pounded into Reeve hard enough to send the table screeching across the tile floor. “So fuckin’ tight.” 

Resting his forehead against the wood, Reeve reached his arms wide, gripping the edges on each side so he could get better leverage. The edge of the tabletop bit into Reeve’s stomach, but he didn’t care, too caught up in the way Grant fucked him to worry about it. Reeve’s cock throbbed as one particularly deep thrust grazed over his prostate. “Fuck,” Reeve cried out, shaking. 

Reeve heard the squirt of lube before Grant hauled Reeve upright, one arm wrapping around his chest, the other gripping his dick. Grant’s hand was slick, and Reeve moaned at the rough strokes as Grant shoved in again, sending the bottle of lube clattering to the floor. Grant used one arm around Reeve’s torso for leverage, as he slid his other hand over Reeve’s cock. The quick rhythm Grant set, coupled with the deep fucking, made Reeve’s eyes roll back in his head. 

“I’m gonna come soon,” Grant ground out between clenched teeth. “Are you gonna shoot for me, Reeve?”

Reeve slammed his palm down onto the table, scrabbling for the edge again as he pushed back to take more. “I’m close. Oh God, I’m close.” 

With a harsh, rough cry, Reeve came just a few strokes later, feeling like his body was being turned inside out as he erupted all over the table. Pleasure burned through him, white-hot and electric. He clenched around Grant’s cock. Grant let out a rough groan as he buried his face against Reeve’s back, his breath hot against his bare skin. After a few erratic jerks against Reeve’s ass, he stilled, panting. 

“Holy fuck.” 

After a few long moments as their ragged breathing smoothed out, Grant straightened and gently withdrew. Reeve winced—it had been a while, and they had gotten pretty rough at the end—but he wasn’t sorry he’d still be feeling it tomorrow. That had been a fuck worth remembering. Grant dropped onto the chair beside the table, but Reeve stayed bent over, arms braced on the table, panting. 

After a moment, Grant chuckled lazily. “You were right. You did show me a few new tricks.” 

“Oh, yeah?” Reeve turned his head to look at him, his body still trembling a little. 

“Never fucked anyone over a kitchen table before. And I can’t think of the last time I came that hard.” 

Reeve grinned and stood, exhausted and exhilarated all at once. “Glad to hear it.”



Saturday's Series Spotlight
Naughty in Pendleton




Author Bio:
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga.  She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Her books range from short stories to novellas. They explore gay, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.

To stay up to date on her latest releases, sign up for the Coles & Vaughn Newsletter.


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Three Shots

Poly in Pendleton Series

Naughty in Pendleton Series


Sunday, June 5, 2022

🌈Week at a Glance🌈: 5/30/22 - 6/5/22

















🌈Sunday's Safe Word Shelf🌈: Badge of Loyalty by Jude Tresswell



Summary:

County Durham Quad #1
Mike Angells is an openly gay CID inspector based in North East England. There are three men in his life: Raith Balan, Phil Roberts and Ross Whitburn. Mike is particularly close to Ross.

Following a routine but significant investigation into thefts of farm machinery, Mike investigates the suspicious death of a footballer. The suspect’s father threatens to expose a crime Ross committed many years earlier, unless Mike withholds evidence that would incriminate his son. Mike must choose which badge he is loyal to—the one he was given when he joined the Force or the tattoo he wears that symbolises polyamory. His decision leads to a brutal conclusion when two men who bear grudges, an ex-con and Balan’s ex-lover, combine to exact revenge.

Interspersed with Mike’s story are comments made by Raith, Phil and Ross about Mike, each other, and the nature of their polyamorous relationship. It works for them, but, as Phil explains, they work at it.

Neither full-on erotica nor hard-boiled crime, and with many light moments, this is a story about love, hatred, and the price which is paid for loyalty.

**Warning: Adult Content**



CHAPTER 1
Phil
There's an Irish song about an angel that loved a human. I don't know anything about the deity the angel worked for, other than it was a bloody cruel one. It stripped the angel of its wings. I like to think that they were rainbow coloured.

The problem was, the angel wasn't meant to love the clay. What happens, though, when the clay loves the angel? That song is still playing.

The painting I'm looking at isn't a typical Raith Balan. It's a scene in a leafy garden. As such, it's markedly different from the wild waterfalls Raith paints for his own satisfaction and from the erotic ceramics that he sculpts primarily for the pleasure of others.

There are four men seated round a pub-style table, a parasol advertising lager unsuccessfully staving off the heat; all four men look hot. Raith himself sits on the left. He's leaning forward, talking urgently with animation. Obviously, one can't infer that from the painting. Though Raith's work is admirable — or so they tell me, anyway — he hasn't managed to make it speak yet, other than to the emotions, of course! But I know, because I'm the figure on the right holding a half-empty bottle of brown ale. Probably brown ale. Raith remembers the details of that day in the garden with greater clarity than I do. But then, Raith can recall most things he sees, and his hand can reproduce exactly what is held in his memory.

Ross is seated between us, worry adding to his thirty-something years. You can see the concern in the knit of his eyebrows and in the tightness of the muscles in his neck and bare arms. Concern for the fourth man, whose face Raith has never painted. Mike Angells, the man all three of us love and who, somehow, manages to love all three of us. Raith and I both know that we aren't the ones he'd risk his life for, though. If only Ross had had a different surname, not one named after a town in northeast England. Whitburn-Howe. That's Ross's surname. He usually only uses the 'Whitburn', and that was the part that caused us so much trouble. Within bell-ringing distance of Sunderland, and it rang one bell too many for our comfort.

* * *

"Anybody we know being reinflicted on society this week, Ron?" asked Superintendent Flaxby.

"One we might want to keep an eye on, yes," Detective Chief Inspector Fortune replied. "Remember seven years ago, that shooting at Merton's warehouse on Cantrill Industrial Estate?"

"I certainly do. The Babcock brothers. Angells' case."

"That's the one. Luke Babcock got sent down for ten years, along with his brother, but he's being let out early. The brother's got another year to do."

The super nodded. "I'll worry more this time next year when the two of them are running round loose again," he said phlegmatically.

"One for the inspector to lose a bit of sleep about, I'd have thought, though," said the DCI.

Flaxby could almost hear the glee in the chief inspector's voice as he offered his news. Luke Babcock had always maintained that he was merely a bystander, innocently caught up in a vicious attack on a warehouse security guard. According to his lawyer, he'd even tried to stop the attack. The judge had had none of it. Angells' case was technically sound and the evidence was watertight, so Babcock had been led away swearing not-so-sweet revenge.

"Does he know?" asked Flaxby.

"Not yet. I was going to tell him when he came in."

I bet you were, thought Flaxby.

"I need to see him anyway. I'll tell him myself," he said aloud, adding, too quietly for Fortune to hear him, "I'm not giving you the pleasure, you jealous sod."

The first thing Flaxby did when he got into his office was telephone the governor at Blay Fenn Prison. Ten minutes later, he felt fairly reassured. If Babcock did have thoughts of retribution, he hadn't been voicing them recently. But then, you never knew, and for that very reason, you couldn't allow yourself to worry much. For Angells' sake, though, he'd have liked to have had the bastard watched for a week and, hopefully, seen him off his turf; but cuts were cuts, and he didn't have the officers to sort out the urgent tasks clogging up his in-tray, his desk, his chairs, his room ... let alone the non-essential ones.

It would probably be all right. The badge was a great protector. Anyway, there were more pressing things to think about. So he left a message on Inspector Angells' desk. See me when you get in.

Mike Angells, pronounced with a hard 'g' like go and get. Not that hard 'g's meant anything to Raith, who habitually addressed most folk as 'babe' and, knowing an angel when he saw one, preferred to call all five foot eleven of Mike his 'Angel Baby'. At work, his nicknames were less flattering. As long as the super was out of earshot, Ron Fortune called him 'Angela'. Mike always ignored the provocation — a wise move, as Detective Chief Inspector Fortune was his immediate superior in the Tees, Tyne and Wear CID.

Fortune and Angells disliked and distrusted each other, but while Mike had the self-discipline, respectfulness and courtesy to subjugate personal dislike to professionalism, Fortune had no such scruples.

Suspicious of those he still referred to as poofs and queers, and most definitely not the face of modern policing, he envied his younger colleague's standing with the super. Fortune was furious to think that, with the upper echelons bending over backwards to nail their rainbow colours to the mast, kowtowing to the law if not to the zeitgeist, he would find his path to superintendent blocked, whereas 'a fucking sodomite like Angela' would doubtless make it sooner or later. Probably sooner: he was rising steadily. So Fortune made sure that, if he had to be ordered around by a fucking fairy in the future, he'd order the slack-arse around now.

Flaxby knew all this, and would have liked to have Fortune transferred, but in a shrinking force, with recruitment at an all-time low and experienced cops retiring early, he needed all the skill and knowledge he could get to keep his Warbridge division running smoothly. So, he deflected the slings and arrows whenever he was able to, and it was he, not Fortune, who requested Angells' presence on that particular morning.

There was a knock on Flaxby's office door, and Angells pushed the door open.

"You wanted me, sir?"

"Come in. Sit down, man."

Flaxby waited until Angells had deposited the pile of paperwork that took up both available chairs onto just one of them.

"Do you want me to take some of this stuff off you, sir?" he asked, sitting down.

"You mean you've nothing better to do, Mike?" Flaxby said, smiling.

"Wouldn't go as far as that. If it helps, though."

"No, but thanks. Something's come up. Mike, what's the word on the street about these farm machinery thefts?"

"Not being funny, sir, but would that be on the street in general, or are you specifyin' my Street and gossip at the Tunhope Arms?"

The stretch of narrow, winding road that ran from Tunhope on the 689 through to Tunhead at the head of Tun Beck was called 'The Street', and the Arms was the only pub for miles. Thus it was the inspector's local, if a local can be three miles away from home as the crow flies and ten if you stick to poorly maintained tarmac.

"Your Street. Much being said?"

"I'd say the farmers are worried, sir. We've had nuthin' taken up the Tun yet, but the farms to the east of ours have been hit and that's gettin' too close for comfort."

"What sort of stuff's going?"

"Old stuff, as far as I know. The only kind of machinery these hill farmers have. They can't afford all the new gear. If the goods are endin' up abroad, which is what the thinkin' is, the thieves want the old stuff. Mechanics not electronics. Things you can fix with a screwdriver and a bit of gaffer tape, not a load of fancy engine management linked to a computer. There's quads gone too, though," he added. "At least three that I know of, and that hits these farmers really hard."

"What's security like?" the super inquired.

"Well, non-existent usually," the inspector replied. "There's all this advice goin' around from us and from the insurance companies — perimeter fencin', CCTV, security lightin' — but it costs an arm and a leg. Mostly, the farms rely on their dogs and geese to tell 'em if sumthin's up. And they daren't take their guns to anyone now. Not that I'd be wantin' them to do that, mind."

"So what's the feeling in the pub?" asked Flaxby.

"Oh, you know how it is, sir. City lowlife. Boro, Sunderland ... Newcastle maybe."

"You think so too?"

"Maybe. I'd like to know a bit more first," said Angells with his characteristic caution when faced with a lack of evidence. "It just doesn't sound like opportunists to me. It's not exactly the same as nippin' in and nippin' off with the family jewels while the owner's havin' a night out at the Metro, is it?"

He was referring to the Metro Centre — a large leisure complex on the outskirts of Gateshead. It was a lengthy drive from the becks on the Wear but there wasn't anywhere as large and as exciting that lay closer.

"You've got to know how to drive a tractor, and they don't exactly do the ton on the motorway, do they?" Angells added. "That's if they are driven away. From what I've heard, they just seem to vanish."

"OK, Mike," said Flaxby. "This farm thing has fallen into our lap. Don't want it — got a hundred other things to do — but there it is. The chief con and I went to a big meeting about these thefts yesterday, and she's come back full of ideas. Seems like you're one of 'em. She wants to see you, so ... off you go upstairs."

"Now?"

"Right now."

Angells rose, but as he went to open the door, Flaxby called him back.

"Look, son," he said. "One more thing. Luke Babcock's out this week. I'm not expecting any problem — talk is easy, action's a hell of a lot harder — but, just in case, keep my personal number on your speed dial. One word — Babcock — and I'll get onto it and track you. OK?"

"OK, sir. No worries. Thank you."

"Oh, and you might as well take that pile of stuff with you, seeing as you offered!" Flaxby said lightly. "Computers seem to generate paperwork, not cut it down."

Angells smiled and returned for an armful of files before going out of the room and shutting the door behind him. He wasn't fooled by the super's parting levity though. First he checked he had Flaxby's number on his phone, and then he went to the chief constable's office.

* * *

Mike Angells, Raith's Angel Baby, was no sour, dour, angst-ridden misery! He'd got into all the normal childhood scrapes, spent the usual number of hours in A&E with a frantic mum as medics checked limbs damaged in climbs and tumbles, pubbed, clubbed and danced the night away, and had never had to come 'out', having never made much of an issue of being 'in'. He'd known he preferred Sam Mitford's company to that of any other kid in his class and when, mid-teens, he started to see that their mutual fondness went deeper than the need for a mate to kick a ball around with for an hour after tea, he accepted the realisation with the same good-humoured shrug of his shoulders as he accepted most other things. Most things — for, when he was eighteen years old, six months off his A levels, his father died and he got his first inkling of something Raith had known for years, that life wasn't always fair.

Bob Angells had worked in the stone industry, a quarryman loading the local 'marble' into trucks and sometimes driving the lorries himself. One November afternoon, after three days solid rain, the stretch of road he was driving over subsided, and he was buried under twelve tons of limestone.

With three younger sisters and a younger brother, an elderly grandparent living in the house as well, and bread to be put on the table....

"It doesn't brook no argument," Mike had told his mum. "There's still work over Kielder way. Not on the reservoir itself. They're buildin' this tunnel to transfer water through to Frosterley so that the towns on the Wear don't go short in the summer. I can get there on Dad's bike. I'm quittin' school."

And so, for the next two years, he developed his social skills and his muscles on a construction site, travelling the only way a carless youngster in a bus-free world could: on two wheels, his two powered by a 600cc engine. Whenever he had a day off, he rode to Durham, to the hall of residence where Sam was living while he studied archaeology, and they'd spend their free hours exploring the hills and the coast and the country pubs before finding somewhere quiet and secluded where, for an hour or two, they lay closeted in each other's arms. No two ways about it: the two men were in love, and they were still in love, four years later, when Sam died too.

Waiting for Mike to bring the bike round in the car park of Emelda's, a gay nightclub close to the Metro Centre. Ploughed into by the drunk driver of a Merc, and dead on arrival at the hospital three-quarters of an hour later. So Sam had been buried in the little churchyard in the village where he had been christened twenty-five years earlier, and Mike applied himself to work with a single-mindedness that left as little room as possible for thinking about loss and what might have been. Fortunately, the job he was in by then didn't leave much time over for thinking.

The Kielder Project over, he'd joined the police and done his two-year probation. He'd proved his competence, completed a stint of 'ordinary' police work and then moved to the RPU, the Road Policing Unit, patrolling the busy north-east section of the M1/A1 on a big, hefty looking BMW R1200, twice the size of his own crimson Yamaha. But when government cutbacks affected policing, as well as other local public services, the RPU was scaled down and, thinking ahead, Mike had applied to CID, been interviewed, been accepted and found he had the money to go where he wanted. The problem was that the person he wanted to go where he wanted with was lying in Tunhead graveyard.






Author Bio:

Jude Tresswell lives in south-east England but was born and raised in the north, and that’s where her heart is. She is ace, and has been married to the same man for many years. She feels that she understands compromise. She supports Liverpool FC, listens to a lot of blues music and loves to write dialogue.


WEBSITE  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS



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Saturday, June 4, 2022

🌈Saturday's Series Spotlight🌈: Haven Hart by Davidson King Part 3



Secret Simon #8
Summary:
Simon
Being the nephew of one of the most infamous mob bosses in the world isn’t easy. Our family has enemies everywhere, and no one is safe without protection. Here I am at college with a fresh start, a new last name, and secrets hidden from those around me—life is going according to plan. Then one day on campus, I see him…and I want him to strip me bare…in more ways than one.

Rush
Abernathy is more than just the university I attend. It’s my destiny, my namesake. Singing and entertaining are who I am, but my father wants me to major in something more appropriate for the name I carry. I’ve resigned myself to being who my father wants, doing what he wants. Then Simon comes into my life…and turns everything upside down. Now I have a reason to fight for what I want.

Who knew our love story would lead to secrets revealed, murderous plots, and finding our forever buried under so many lies? Hopefully we’ll live long enough to see it.

(While Secret Simon is a Haven Hart Novel it is not linked to the 7 book story arc)

*Warning: Violence and mention of suicide*



Head Rush #9
Summary:
Rush
All I want is to finish college, live life as a musician, and love the man of my dreams. That man, however, is Simon Manos, nephew of crime boss Christopher Manos, and there’s a war brewing on the streets of Haven Hart. Achieving my dreams has to be done while ducking bullets, trying not to get blown up, and hoping enemies don’t kill me.

Simon
I love Rush and want him to have everything he could ever hope for—all that his father denied him. As the heir to the Manos family business, it’s not quite that simple; I have responsibilities to fulfill. Haven Hart is getting dangerous, enemies need to be dealt with, and unfortunately, our dreams of the future must be put on hold.

We call on old friends and band together to face a common threat. When we’re forced into hiding, the situation escalates and the odds don’t seem to be in our favor. We do the only thing we can…stand our ground to the bitter end. As our lives start to fall apart, the unasked question is posed: Will someone have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save everyone?


Secret Simon #8
Original Audiobook Review April 2022:
How in the world has it taken me so long to listen to Secret Simon?!?!?!?! The audiobook was released last October and here it is nearly May, again HOW?  Oh well, no matter how long it took for me to listen, I've listened and once again I fell even further for Haven Hart.  Having recently read book 2, Head Rush, everything was fresh in my mind but that didn't lessen the depths I fell again for Simon and Rush.  Truth is, there's not much more I can say to the story itself or the storytelling genius that also goes by the name of Davidson King.  

What I will say is this: I never listened to a dual narration before King's audios and was leery going in but loved it instantly.  I'm not sure why I had any hesitancy because I love the old radio shows of the 30s and 40s and a good audio portrayal always reminded me of the classic radio platform.  Truth is John Solo and Alexander Cendese bring so much passion and strength to the characters that I can almost hear Harlow Wilcox breaking in with the ad for spark plugs he pitched on Suspense all those years ago.  Not only do they bring Simon, Rush, and all the characters to life, I can hear the sound effects, I can hear the studio audience gasping with "oohs" and "ahhs" with each new revelation.

Another winning combination of author's words and narrators' voices to heighten the enjoyment of Secret Simon, the new Haven Hart-connected journey.

Original Review June Book of the Month 2021:
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! OMG! The Force is with us all!  We have a new Haven Hart book by Davidson King!!!!!!

Okay, I got that out of my system, lets continue.  

I should start by pointing out as the author mentions at the end of the blurb, Secret Simon is not linked to the original 7 book arc, story-wise at least.  We see a few of the characters and of course "Simon" is Eight all grown up(he's still Eight to Snow but I have a feeling Snow will still be calling him Eight when he's 60).  So if you haven't read Davidson King's Haven Hart universe you can start here although I don't know that I would want to, you won't be lost in any way, shape, or form.  To be honest, I am a series-read-in-order kinda gal and Haven Hart is one of my all time favorite series of all genres.

Secret Simon.  Flat out brilliant!  This story has it all(okay there's no sci-fi or apocalyptic end of the world stuff although going after Christopher Manos' family probably won't end well for anyone) romance, mystery, heat, action, friendship, danger, love, family, and it wouldn't be Haven Hart without mayhem and plenty of well . . . heart(see what I did thereπŸ˜‰πŸ˜‰).

Lets talk characters.  Simon has become as wonderful an adult as he was when we first met him at 8.  He may be blood to Christopher but Snow has made a lasting impression on him as well, which will only enhance his future role in the Manos family.  Now, in case you haven't read Haven Hart's original 7 book arc, I won't go into too much detail for the I'm-a-spoiler-free-zone kinda gal but I will say there is a very important reason the book is titled Secret Simon.  Don't worry, just because I won't spoil anything, the author doesn't leave you up in the air with a hundred questions of "why? what? who? or where?", King makes sure you got a feel for what's going on.  As for Rush?  He has a future written for him but is it the future he wants to write for himself?  Yeah, you know what's coming:  you have to read for yourself to find out.  Trust me you will enjoy every minute of finding out.  Put the two together and the chemistry just screams out at you.

What more can I say?  I could say a lot but I'm going to end here or I'm afraid the longer I go on the more chance I'll get loose lipped(or loose fingers) and reveal more than I want.  So I will just say this: Secret Simon has reinforced my love of Haven Hart and proven to me that it is an author's universe that belongs on my short list of "Whether they write a 4 paragraph holiday coda or 100 full length novels I'll be first in line to gobble them up".  Davidson King once again provides her readers with an unforgettable tale that entertains and captures their attention from beginning to end, further cementing her place in the world as a topnotch storyteller.


Head Rush #9
Original Review March Book of the Month 2022:
When Raven's Hart was published 2-1/2 years ago I was afraid we'd seen the end of the Haven Hart gang, I knew the author was already planning Joker's Sin, a spin-off series of stories centered around the gay bar in the dangerous city we all knew and loved called Haven Hart with it's own cast of characters.  HOWEVER, personally I was not ready to bid adieu to the original Haven Hart crew so when Secret Simon came out last year, I was all kinds of HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!  In a way you could say these new entries are the next generation or a second story arc.  Whatever you call it, I call it: OMG! PLEASE LET THERE BE MORE!

In Head Rush, we again follow Simon and Rush as they move onto life within the city limits of Haven Hart biding their time until Liam Brennan strikes.  Simon grew up in this world, Rush not so much.  I think he adjusts and adapts perfectly.  I say "perfectly" not because he has no problems with the life of danger and mayhem but because he finds a way to balance his internal struggles of "how can this be" and "it has to play out this way" and it's that balance that is perfect.  You know what?  That's all I'm going to say to the plot because I'm afraid once I start I won't be able to stop and I won't spoil it for anyone.  The mens' journey is chock full of allies, friends, and enemies some we know intimately and others are introduced(or explored further).  

I gotta be honest, I'm still not quite use to Eight being all grown up, for part of me he will always be that little boy Snow saved way back in the early pages of Snow Falling.  Despite that forever image burned into my psyche, trust me when I say Simon is all adult now and with Rush at his side, anything and everything is possible.

Davidson King has a knack for the darker side of life where you find yourself cheering for good guys who are not-so-squeaky-clean and bad guys who are easy to hate for their despicableness.  Yes, there is a thin line at times between good and bad, especially in fiction and some might say King's Haven Hart universe is a little too violent, too dark, but me? I think the balance is all kinds of righteous yummyness.  But beyond the violence of the mafia stoked world of Haven Hart, Davidson King shows the world that being gay, being LGBTQ doesn't make one weak.  I won't say "doesn't make them men" because violence isn't just a male characteristic, it's a human characteristic and there's plenty of strong women in her world too, some entries more so than others but good or bad they are there too.  Maybe I'm just babbling but what I'm trying to get across is Haven Hart isn't just about violence and darkness, at the barest core is heart, family, friendship, and strength.  Doing what you have to to protect those you love.  I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say this, in Head Rush, Rush Abernathy may not have been born into this world but he steps in and does what he must.

Now you may wonder what got that thought stirring in my brain, after all Head Rush is book 9.  It was something one character said but I won't tell you who because I don't want to spoil who showed up and who didn't.  Just know that it gave me pause, literally, one line of dialogue made me put my kindle down and think about the statement and the opinion I stated above.  When an author of fiction can make the reader stop and think that strongly with only one line of dialogue, half a dozen words, you know you found an author who truly puts their whole being into telling said story.  That it is more than just endless hours at a keyboard with dozens of post-it notes scribbled with tiny details to remember and research files of seemingly useless facts and specs for accuracy and continuity, the work they give to the world is part of them, they have poured their heart and soul between the covers.  That's what gives Davidson King's work a special something that can be hard to put into words(even though through my babbling I do try), the same special something that makes Head Rush deserving of the Haven Hart brand.

I don't know how many more stories the men and women of Haven Hart have to tell Davidson King but I know I'll be ready and willing to read every journey she gets let in on and in turn shares with us.

One final note, if wondering about reading order, you do need to read Secret Simon before Head Rush.  Some may say you don't need to read the original Haven Hart stories prior but I can't imagine having not experienced them first.  Yes, there are characters from the original story arc books and no, technically you don't need to know their individual journeys to enjoy Simon and Rush's arc but I think the friendship and family chemistries flow better.  However you read it, Davidson King's Haven Hart universe is 200% storytelling at it's purest form.

RATING:



Secret Simon #8
Prologue 
My name is Simon, but you can call me Eight—I’ll explain that later—and this is the story of how my hope for a quiet drama-free college life blew up in my face…all because I fell in love. 

Yes, I know, cheesy. But here’s the thing—it really is true. It’s more complex than that, and it wouldn’t be much of a story if it was all, “Met a boy, he was cool, we fell in love, the end.” 

Truth is, I chose to go to college five hours from Haven Hart, where I grew up, not because I had a bad childhood or hated my family, but because everyone knew who I was there…Hell, everyone knew who I was for miles and miles from there. If you don’t know why, let me fill you in real fast. 

I’m the nephew of the most powerful mob boss in Haven Hart, Christopher Manos. He isn’t your typical mobster, though. I’ve seen the documentaries on Al Capone and Joe Bonanno, and yeah, sure, my uncle killed and isn’t clean in a lot of ways. But he’s also the best man I know. My mom died when I was a baby, and he loved me as a son and raised me as far away from his lifestyle as possible…Or at least, he tried to. No matter how hard he tried, though, there was no way to hide that kind of stuff forever. 

As a child I saw a lot of things I shouldn’t have, but when I was eight everything changed. There’s that number again. See, I got bored waiting in a car while my pops’s driver—Pops is what I call my uncle—went into the ice cream shop to get me some rocky road. So, I left the car and wandered around. That wasn’t a good idea, and yet it kinda was. 

A couple of guys started hassling me. One was named Roy Sokolov, and he tried to kidnap me. But from the depths of a dark, dank alley came my guardian angel. His name is Snow. He saved me that day, and we saved him too. He and my pops fell in love, and that’s how I found the second-best person in my life. Snow, he calls me Eight—the age I was when he saved me—and because when he asked me what to call me, I wouldn’t give him my name and only my age…I think you get the picture. 

After that night, I saw so much more. Years later, my pops and I were actually kidnapped. There was no escaping the life he lived and so, when it came time to go to college, I decided it should be far away in the hopes that no one would know who I was. 

Snow suggested I use a different last name, and while it hurt my heart to do it, I knew he was right. There were forgeries made, and abracadabra! I became Simon Mancia.

Thankfully, I got through my first year of college easily. No one knew who I was—at least no one said anything. I dated a few people. Penelope for about six months, but we didn’t click the way a boyfriend and girlfriend should…Instead, she became my best friend. Then there was Raul. He was amazing, but he cheated on me after two months, and yeah…that sucked. I hadn’t been with anyone since. That was, until I saw Him. He was singing karaoke on the green at campus when I returned my second year. It was some welcome-back thing, and he was right there and…Wow. 

Penelope told me his name was Rush, and that was all she knew. I decided it would be my mission to find out more and hope beyond hope that he’d take me up on an offer for coffee. 

Well, there’s something to be said for falling in love with someone; you will risk it all. I did just that and more. 

So, sit back and find out how my finally calm life was turned upside down…all because I fell in love.



Head Rush #9
PROLOGUE 
Rush 
Living in Haven Hart wasn’t how I thought it would be. When Simon and I left Abernathy University and I said good-bye to a life I never wanted in favor of one filled with love, I’d hoped for peace…to fulfill my dreams…and maybe to not get shot at. 

But the love of my life is Simon Manos, nephew of mob boss Christopher Manos—and did I mention, he’s the heir to the mafia kingdom? Yeah, so, while being the man Simon loves has its perks, there are also downsides—like having a bullseye over my head for every person who wants to hurt the Manos family to aim at. 

I’ve lived in Haven Hart for a year now, and the day we got here Simon warned me there was a war brewing, which I knew already. See, there’s this other mob boss, Liam Brennan, and he pretty much tried to have Simon and me killed when we were at Abernathy. Revenge for that was put on the back burner in favor of dealing with a different enemy. One that threatened not only Liam Brennan and Christopher Manos, but also Simon, me, and Liam’s son, Fred. That bad guy? He was my dad. Was being the key word, but I try not to think too much about the was factor. It becomes depressing. 

Once dear old Dad was gone, the Manos family decided it was time to deal with Liam Brennan, and that wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be. 

I’d been going to my classes with about four bodyguards, all of them armed, and I couldn’t even stand outside by myself most days. I heard Christopher talking to his husband, Snow, one evening about how they’d hoped this sort of violence in Haven Hart was long gone. I guess there’d been a serious shit storm some years back. 

I tried to stay out of Simon’s business—not because he told me to, but because I genuinely wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted to sing and perform; that was my dream. But the more I turned a blind eye, the brighter the lights shining in my face were, and I was beginning to think I couldn’t ignore the dangers in favor of music. 

Any doubts that I could pretend my life was normal were thrown out the window one chilly night as I was walking out of Hart University, heading toward the car that would take me home. 

It happened as fast as all the books and movies tell you it does. One minute I was talking to one of my bodyguards, and the next, he was on the pavement, dead with a bullet through the head. 

I was thrown to the ground, someone was on top of me, and the sounds of shouts and gunshots filled the night. I closed my eyes and wished it would all disappear, knowing this was my reality, this was what I’d chosen. All because I fell in love.


CHAPTER ONE 
Simon 
“Mace, stop!” I tried walking faster to get away from him, but he was clearly inhuman and able to keep pace with me. 

“It’s something I learned while doing yoga, though. Bill and I were able to get creative with it in the bedroo—” 

“I swear, if you keep talking, I will shoot you.” 

He rolled his eyes. “Sure. As I was saying, you take your leg—” 

“Mace, you’re fired.” 

His laughter echoed through the large foyer of the Manos mansion. He wasn’t deterred. “Some stretching is required before you begin…All the stretching, if you get my meaning.” When he winked, I groaned. 

“Sadly, I do understand.” I stopped walking, and I chuckled when Mace wasn’t prepared for that and tripped on the carpet.

“What the—” He glared at the offending floor, then looked at me. “Why’d you stop?” 

“Mace, remember when I was younger, and you never wanted to taint my mind with horrible things?” 

He pursed his lips, his gaze shifting upward. “Nope, I don’t.” 

“Well, I do. Let’s pretend I’m thirteen and—” 

“Eew.” Mace took a step back. “I’m not role-playing with you!” 

Of course that was the moment Bill, Mace’s partner, and Snow, my stepfather, walked out of the study. 

“Shit.” I sighed, all energy leaving my body. Where was Rush? I needed him home. He had a way of shutting Mace up. 

“What in the ever-loving wrongness did we walk into?” Snow’s piercing blue eyes pinned Mace in place. “Don’t think I don’t know this is all your fault.” 

“I’m offended.” Mace pressed his palm to his chest and walked over to Bill. “Sweetheart, do you hear how he speaks to me?” 

“Yep.” Bill kept walking, and fortunately Mace followed after him. 

“Yep? That’s all you have to say? How dare…” Mace’s words became distant as they entered the kitchen, and I leaned against one of the pillars by the stairs. 

“I’m not asking what that was all about.” Snow pointed in the direction Mace and Bill had gone. 

“Thank you.” 

“Dinner should be in an hour.” Snow turned toward the grandfather clock in the foyer. “Shouldn’t Rush have returned by now?”

I shrugged. Rush sometimes ran late because he had study group after classes, or he’d stop to get coffee on his way home. 

“Has he texted?” Snow arched a brow. “Have you?” 

“Snow,” I huffed. “He has, like, four huge guys with guns accompanying him. If something happened, I’m sure—” 

“Something happened!” Bill came running over to us, phone in hand. 

Snow shot me a look before his expression became serious. “What is it?” 

“Rush—he was attacked outside of the university; he’s fine.” Bill made sure to add that part quickly, but it didn’t stop my heart from practically beating out of my chest. “Hank’s dead, shot. Del and Gino are on the way back with Rush; Donny stayed behind to talk to the cops.” 

“Call Chris,” Snow said to Bill. While Bill left to do that, Snow and I went to the study. “This is a bold move for Liam Brennan, that cock-sucking piece of shit.” Snow started slamming things on the desk; I was just trying to keep it together. I needed to see Rush. 

“Why would he make a move like this?” I paced in front of the desk while Snow began texting—probably everyone. 

“Fear, idiocy. All I know is, Christopher is going to lose his mind. One thing we have prided ourselves on is keeping the streets clean. No blood in Haven Hart. For years we have been able to achieve that.” 

It was only a matter of time before Liam came to Haven Hart. We’d brought the rage to him for the past year, and surprisingly, he was much more guarded than we’d thought, and now he was pushing forward…into our territory.

“We need to end this.” I leaned over the desk, my hands splayed across the blotter. Snow’s fingers froze, and his eyes met mine. 

“You know we will, Eight.” 

We were in a holding pattern. We were waiting for Pops to get back from a meeting and for Rush to return. It was agonizing, and I thought I’d wear a path in the carpet with all my pacing. 

Fortunately, everyone let me be—no one dared to tell me to stop. I wouldn’t have listened anyway. 

It felt as though an eternity had passed when the front door opened and Del, Gino, and Rush walked in. I couldn’t tell a soul how the bodyguards looked, because my eyes were assessing every inch of Rush. 

His clothes were rumpled, there was a tear in the knee of his black pants, and his hair was messy. When he turned toward me and I saw a scrape across his cheekbone, I was overtaken by rage. 

“What the fuck happened?” I roared, surprising everyone. I was normally in control—the calm, rational one—but seeing Rush any less than put together set me off. “How’d this happen? There were four of you, for fuck’s sake!” 

“Simon, listen—” Del began, but nothing was going to appease me. 

“No, don’t tell me to listen.” 

“Si.” Rush was suddenly in front of me, hands on my arms, and like a gush of water on a fire, I calmed. “You asked, he was answering, and you need to chill the fuck out. This”—he pointed to his cheek—“was when Donny pushed me to the ground so I didn’t get shot. And my clothes and hair? Who gives a damn about them? I’m alive. They all did their jobs, and Hank died for me.” Rush’s gaze hardened. “You want to be mad, fine, but not at them. They did their jobs!”

As I stood there, properly chastised by Rush, Snow swooped in. “Del, Gino, head into the study. Christopher is on his way; he should be here soon.” 

Snow placed a hand on my shoulder and one on Rush’s. “Why don’t the two of you go upstairs, wash up, get changed and bandaged? Meet us in the study when you’re all set.” His smile was soft, but his eyes were as cold as ice. “This will end.” 

Rush sighed and ran up the stairs without a word. 

“He needs you, Eight.” Snow gripped my hand. “When I say you, I mean the man he loves, not that beast you unleashed a moment ago. That’s not going to help him or this situation. He’s not made for this life, but he lives it because he loves you. Don’t let him slip away.” 

My words got stuck in my throat, so I simply nodded. Snow went into the study, Bill and Mace on his heels, and I went upstairs to face Rush. I wasn’t sure which man I’d encounter, and that scared me more than anything Liam could throw our way.



Saturday's Series Spotlight
Haven Hart
Part 1  /  Part 2  /  Part 3

Joker's Sin


Westford
🎧Monday Mysterious Mayhem🎧



Author Bio:
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

When she's not writing you can find her blogging away on Diverse Reader, her review and promotional site. She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she'd tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you're afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.


EMAIL: davidsonkingauthor@yahoo.com



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