STORY EXCERPT

“Will you stop looking like you’re about to pass out?”

Matthew Honeywell glanced over the town—as much as he could see from the steps of city hall—and shook his head. “I’m still not sure this was a wise investment.”

“Too late to back out. Construction has been going on for a few weeks now. You’re heavily invested in this, just like we are,” Seoul Gardener said.

We. Matthew and his three friends had lost their minds when they’d bought a town. Seoul had come to him with the idea six months ago, and Matthew had dragged his feet about undertaking such an enormous project. The venture wasn’t something he took lightly, and he was still unsure if he’d made the right decision.

Dagger Sloane and Glen Hunt stood next to them everyone soaking it all in.  Matthew had met Dagger through a mutual friend. They’d tried dating, but found out early on that they made better friends than lovers. Dagger was a nice enough guy, but he had a troubled past he never talked about, and Matthew had too many issues of his own.

Glen had been Dagger’s best friend since high school, so when Dagger befriended Matthew and Seoul, Glen was just included in their group. Matthew liked Glen’s sharp business mind, and Glen had gotten all the data together on the possibility of owning Wildfire.

Wildfire was a Podunk town, and Matthew wasn’t sure how successful it would be. Aside from rehabbing a lot of the buildings, or simply building new ones, they needed revenue to keep the town from going bust.

Which was the reason it had been sold to them in the first place.

“Seoul and Glen already said they’d open up a division of their companies here,” Dagger said. His real name was Dagonwise, but Dagger hated that name. He’d gotten the nickname from his mercenary days, the dagger being his favorite weapon of choice. Or so Matthew had been told. He wasn’t too sure that story was real.

“My cousin is moving here as soon as we have the restaurant up and running,” Glen said. “And who wouldn’t want to move to a gay-friendly town?”

All four of them had caught hell sometime in their lives for being gay, and when Seoul had brought the idea to them, he’d been excited about making the town a safe haven for those who lived an alternative lifestyle.

But Matthew couldn’t help but worry. He felt they were putting targets on their backs by forming an LGBTQ community.

“You worry too damn much, Matthew” Seoul said. “You have more money then you’ll ever be able to spend. Why not do something with it besides making more?”

“I happen to like working.” Matthew had grown up dirt-poor and had busted his ass to get where he was. He was now the president of Honeywell Corporation, a company that specialized in cutting-edge military technology. He sold weapons. Plain and simple. But he did it the legal way. Even so, that knowledge had never really let him sleep at night. He made millions with his top of the line and advanced weaponry, but for years he’d long to do something worthy with his money.

But a town?

Matthew was an aggressive and savvy businessman. He normally didn’t second-guess his investments.

But a town?

Seoul chuckled as he patted Matthew on his shoulder. “Go see the sights. There are construction workers retrofitting a few of the houses. From what Dagger tells me, most of them are hot.”

Matthew scowled. “I didn’t buy a town to get laid.”

“Why not?” Seoul winked at him. “I did.”

With a roll of his eyes, Matthew headed down the steps and started up the street. The town hadn’t been completely abandoned. A few stores were open, and a few residents had clung to the hope that Wildfire would one day return to its former glory.

How they’d survived without a steady flow of residents or income was beyond him. Matthew had offered to buy them out, but they had refused to leave the town they’d grown up in.

Matthew passed Keefer’s Bed-and-breakfast. Mariah Keefer ran the place, and he still recalled the first night he and his friends had stayed there after they purchased Wildfire. Matthew had never met a nicer woman. The plump, middle-aged lady didn’t give a hoot who resided in Wildfire just as long as the town thrived again.

Her words, not his.

As Matthew passed a white house with blue trim, he noticed a few of the workers outside. One in particular caught his eye. He wore a dark blue T-shirt, his muscles flexing as he used his power tools.

Matthew had always been a sucker for a hardworking man, especially a muscled one. Sweat coated the back of the man’s shirt, and his jeans encased his ass nicely. Matthew quickly turned away when the worker looked up and saw him staring.

Regardless of what Seoul said, Matthew wasn’t there to scope out prospective bed partners. Since he'd made an investment in the town, he wanted to make sure the restoration of Wildfire ran smoothly.

He stopped when the worker headed toward him. Hot and hunky didn’t even begin to describe him. “Hi, you must be one of the investors. I’m Darien Lockmere.”

Darien stuck out his hand. Matthew shook it. “I’m Matthew Honeywell.”

The calluses on Darien’s hands felt rough against Matthew’s smooth palm. He held on to Darien’s hand longer than etiquette required, but Darien didn’t seem to notice.

Finally, Matthew pulled his hand away and tucked them both in the pockets of his slacks.

“I just wanted to introduce myself,” Darien said with a smile that could make the sun rise.

Matthew tried hard not to stare at Darien’s thick biceps or broad chest, but his gaze roamed over the worker anyway. Darien’s chest flexed, making Matthew’s gaze snap to his gorgeous blue eyes. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Wait.” Darien pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his faded jeans and handed Matthew a business card. “Just in case you need anything. You can call me day or night.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“I don’t bite.” Darien patted the space next to him. “Have a seat.”

Matthew sat, slid his sandals off, and wiggled his toes. “I’m sorry I’m so preoccupied.”

Darien pulled his boots and socks off, sighing at the feel of the warm air ghosting over his bared toes. Too bad this wasn’t his house. He could imagine sitting out here like this after a hard day’s work.

“I can help you take your mind off things.” Darien pulled Matthew closer, tilted his head back, and brushed his lips over Matthew’s.

Matthew moaned, and Darien took that as a good sign. He swept the interior of Matthew’s mouth with his tongue, groaning himself at how sweet the man tasted.

He started to lean in, but Matthew surprised him by pulling away. Matthew licked his lips, his breathing ragged, then hopped up from the step and moved to the lawn.

“What’s wrong?”

Matthew pressed his fingers to his lips. “Would you be willing to sign something?”

Darien’s cock had been running the show. It took his brain cells a few seconds to kick back in and take over. “You want me to sign some kind of waver to kiss you?”

Matthew paced in front of the steps. He looked like a caged animal that was deep in thought. His shoulders sagged and he waved a hand in front of him. “Never mind. That was a stupid thought.”

“I’m obviously not kissing you thoroughly enough if you’re able to think at all.” Darien leaned back on his elbows and spread his legs, planting his feet farther apart on the steps. “Get back over here so I can taste you some more.”

Darien chuckled when Matthew launched himself into his arms, straddling his lap. “Just don’t hurt me.”

He had no idea what that meant, but Darien didn’t plan on hurting Matthew. He planned on fucking the guy into a coma. Darien had even thought ahead when he’d gotten ready for dinner. Inside his pocket was a condom and a packet of lube.

That might’ve been presumptuous, but he was hoping Matthew truly did feel the same attraction Darien felt.

And he’d been right.

Their bodies molded together, their hard cocks lining up as Darien grabbed Matthew’s hips and plunged his tongue inside his mouth. Matthew wiggled against him, driving Darien crazy with need.

He broke the kiss and peppered kisses and nips along Matthew’s jaw. “Get naked, handsome.”

One of Matthew’s brows rose. “Out here?”

“Nobody’s around. We’ll be fine.” Darien reached between them and unfastened Matthew’s tight jeans. “Need to feel you in my hand.”

Matthew rolled off Darien and wiggled his way out of his jeans as Darien pulled his shirt over his head. Watching Matthew undress was a bit comical. He must’ve painted those jeans on because he was wrestling to get them down his legs.

Darien shoved his jeans and underwear down and off, his hard cock slapping his stomach. He set his jeans aside, wanting them close when he needed to go for the supplies.

As soon as Matthew was free of his clothing, Darien settled his soon-to-be lover on the steps, lowered himself to his knees, and kissed Matthew’s inner thighs.

“Darien?”

“Hmm?” He nipped Matthew, eliciting a gasp.

“I thought you were hung up on me sucking you off?”

Darien curled his arms around Matthew’s upper thighs. “Oh, I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to treat myself to your taste.”

Matthew hissed when Darien mouthed the man’s heavy sac. He lapped at the wrinkled skin, moving his tongue lower until he reached the skin that lay between Matthew’s balls and his puckered hole.

“Jesus,” Matthew moaned.

“Darien. Get it right,” Darien teased. He spread Matthew’s cheeks apart and licked at the pulsing entrance.

“Fuck!” Matthew squirmed. “I’ve never had anyone do that before.”

With a shit-eating grin, Darien licked and sucked, pressing the tip of his tongue just inside Matthew. The muscle clamped around his tongue as it pulsed. Darien was shocked when Matthew cried out his name. He pulled back to see cum coating Matthew’s hand and chest.

“You have an easy trigger, sweetheart.”

“Been a long while,” Matthew said between pants. “But luckily my recovery time is still phenomenal.”

Darien moved over him and kissed his jaw. “But mine isn’t, and I’m dying to be buried balls-deep inside you when I come.”

Matthew hooked his hands under his knees, pulled his legs back, and spread himself like a buffet. “I’m all yours.”

Darien stared at the hole glistening with his saliva. His cock throbbed as he reached for the packet of lube. From the brief encounter he’d had with Matthew’s ass, he knew he had to take his time and stretch him.

He tore open the packet with his teeth and wet his fingers. Darien fused their lips as he drove two fingers inside Matthew’s tight body. Matthew hissed into Darien’s mouth as he wiggled again.

Kissing Matthew was like kissing liquid sunshine. Darien couldn’t get enough of his sweet and delicious taste.

“I need,” Matthew whimpered against Darien’s lips.

“You asked me not to hurt you,” he reminded Matthew. “Need to get you ready.”

“I wasn’t talking about…I’m ready.” Matthew tugged at his shoulders. “Get inside me.”

His hands wandered down Darien’s chest, skimmed over his biceps, then traveled down his sides. Matthew grinned as he gripped Darien’s ass. “Nice.”

“Got something even nicer for you.” Darien grabbed the condom from his jeans and rolled the latex down his length. “You ready for it?”