STORY EXCERPT

Jim Everett sat on the bar stool inside the Silver Bullet flanked by his two friends and co-workers, Kenny Reeves and LeeAnn Price. He didn’t want to be inside the bar. It was a meat market—half-naked men dancing and grinding. Most would disagree with his assessment, but after losing the love of his life, Jim hated going out. This wasn’t his scene.

He didn’t want to be alone, but he wasn’t quite ready to date either. His partner, Anthony Summers, had been gone for ten years and still, Jim couldn’t move on. He couldn’t abandon the memories or let go. The past was the only thing that kept him going. It gave him strength to get up each morning and live, even after his beautiful Anthony was gone.

Picking up his glass from the shiny bar, Jim took a sip as he scanned the dance floor and booths. As his eyes glided over the back corner, someone familiar caught his attention and Jim stared intently, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. After a moment, his mouth slowly dropped open, and his heart beat kicked up a notch. Jim made eye contact with a man sitting calmly in one of the booths.

Anthony.

Looking away, he blinked rapidly and shook his head. No. It’s not possible. He’s a figment of your imagination. You’re just wishing it was Anthony. Taking a deep breath, Jim looked back toward the booth.

“Oh my God,” he gasped in shock.

It was Anthony, and he was staring at Jim with an unreadable expression on his face. Even though Anthony was sitting in a dark alcove, inside the club, it didn’t matter. Jim would recognize him anywhere. He looked exactly the same, except he wasn’t. Ten years had turned him into a raggedy version of the man he once knew.

His hair was grown out, a wild nest of black and silver curls. His facial hair, which he normally kept clean and closely shaven, covered his face in a messy array of strands. The Anthony that Jim remembered had short black hair with a few silver stands throughout, full beard and mustache, tanned skin, and wide shoulders. Jim knew what he was hiding underneath his clothes. He’d memorized the man’s body—firm and muscular chest covered with a thick pelt of silver hair with a few black, a flat stomach, and toned thighs. Even in his current condition, Anthony was unforgettable. 

“I…uh…I think I’m going to call it a night,” Jim suddenly announced to his friends.

He needed to get the hell out of the club. He had to get to the safety of his home so he could think. What the hell was Anthony doing alive in New Orleans? What was he doing at the Silver Bullet? For the last ten years, Jim assumed his lover was dead. There was never any proof, but he knew Anthony and believed that his partner would never abandon him. Or at least he thought he knew the man. It seemed he was wrong.

The scab that covered Jim’s heart ripped off like an old Band-Aid, exposing the tender wound and making it hard to breathe. Lifting a shaky hand, Jim touched his chest over his heart, as if trying to prevent the fragile organ from breaking all over again. But it was useless. He was in the same place he’d been all those years ago.

“What? Why?” LeeAnn asked. “We just got here.” 

“Believe it or not, I’m tired and I need to get home to feed my cat,” Jim snapped.

He felt guilty almost immediately. LeeAnn and Kenny were his friends, people he trusted and loved. But seeing Anthony sent him spiraling toward the dark depths of pain once more and Jim didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to handle this situation.

“But you haven’t even finished your drink. You said one drink,” Kenny said.

Jim lifted his glass and swallowed the contents in one gulp. The alcohol burned a trail of lava down his throat, but that didn’t stop him from jumping off the bar stool. “Another time, I promise. I just…I need to go.” Jim barely managed before he left Kenny and LeeAnn, speed-walking through the crowd of people.

Jim didn’t look over his shoulder. He didn’t check to see if anyone was following him. He picked up the pace, weaving through the crowd until he was finally outside. Taking deep breaths of the cool night air, Jim didn’t stop moving. He started running.

ADULT EXCERPT

Jim wanted to laugh as he watched Anthony. The man grabbed the bar of soap out his hand and started washing himself. He slipped and slid around the slick tile in his haste, but managed not to fall. When he was done, Anthony tossed the bar of soap aside and shut the water off. Picking Jim up off his feet, Anthony threw him over his shoulder and marched out of the bathroom.

“Towel!” Jim shouted.

“We don’t need them.”

“You won’t want to fall asleep on wet sheets.”

“Fine.” Anthony turned on his heel and went back into the bathroom. He grabbed a few towels before hurrying back into the bedroom.

He dropped Jim onto the bed and fell down on top of him, covering Jim’s body with his own. Jim was going to ask for a towel, but all thought left once Anthony’s lips claimed his in a passionate kiss. Anthony flicked out his tongue, teasing the seam of Jim’s lips. He quickly opened, meeting Anthony’s tongue with his own.

Jim moaned when Anthony’s cock pressed against his. He moved his hips, rubbing their erections together. The kiss turned wild then, spiraling out of control. Jim submitted to Anthony’s kiss, following his mate’s lead, allowing the other man to be in control. Anthony seemed to sense his submission and ended the kiss. He nibbled, licked, and kissed his way down Jim’s neck and chest. Jim moaned.

He spread his thighs, giving Anthony complete access to his body.

“You’re mine,” Anthony said.

Jim nodded his head. He couldn’t string together a sentence, let alone speak, as Anthony’s hot mouth got closer and closer to his shaft. He felt Anthony’s breath right before the man’s lips wrapped around Jim’s cock. When Anthony tightened the suction around Jim’s erection, his eyes rolled back, and he gripped the sheets, hoping he wouldn’t come too soon.

Anthony swirled his tongue around the head of Jim’s cock. He growled when he swallowed Jim’s length down his throat. Jim lost all control. His hips jerked upward and Anthony grabbed his waist, pressing him back down against the bed and holding him in place. Anthony bobbed his head up and down, building up his pace and sending Jim to the edge. Right before falling over into bliss, Anthony pulled back.

Jim growled and Anthony laughed.

“I’m want to be buried deep inside you when you come, love.” Anthony winked.

He moved back and Jim followed each move he made. Anthony grabbed a bottle of lubricant off the side table before joining Jim back on the bed. He flipped open the lid, coating his shaft before rubbing the rest of the slippery substance onto the crack of Jim’s ass. Anthony pushed one finger into Jim’s ass, swirling the digit, stretching him.

“Oh, god…” Jim breathed out.

Anthony winked before adding a second finger, scissoring the digits. It was sweet that Anthony was taking such care, wanting him stretched and ready, but Jim was about to lose his mind.

“I want you. Right now,” Jim demanded.

Anthony pulled his fingers free of Jim’s ass. He lifted Jim’s legs over his forearms, stretching Jim wide open. Anthony lined up the head of his cock with Jim’s ass. He pushed in and paused for a moment before thrusting in.

“Oh, fuck!” Jim shouted as Anthony filled him completely.

Jim lifted his arms and grabbed ahold of the metal headboard. He wrapped his fingers around the rods as Anthony started to move.

Anthony thrust in and out, slowly building up his rhythm. Jim moaned as the sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room. It was wild and erotic. His brain short circuited, all thought abandoning him. Sensations rushed to the forefront of his mind. He focused on the sensations and tried to focus.

Anthony’s cock driving in and out of him…

Fingers digging into his hips, holding him in a bruising grip…

The head of Anthony’s shaft hitting his prostate on each stroke…

This was heaven.

But Jim knew he wasn’t going to last much longer. Needing a closer connection with his mate, Jim wrapped his arms around Anthony’s neck, forcing him down, and connecting their lips.

“Anthony!” Jim shouted as he grabbed his mate’s shoulders.

His release tingled at the base of his spine and Jim knew it was over. He cried out Anthony’s name over and over again as he fell over the edge, filling the space between them with sticky semen. Bliss surged through him as his cock unloaded, hot seed shooting between their bodies.

Harder and faster, Anthony rode him.