STORY EXCERPT

Logan James glanced up when the bell over the main door chimed. Normally, the music was so loud that the bell couldn’t be heard over the thundering beat. Whoever was walking in was there before the evening crowd had arrived and the music was merely background noise for the early birds in the bar.

Logan had been pissed when Mack called in sick. He had already worked since early in the morning going over the books, putting in orders, and generally making sure the bar was running smoothly. The last thing he wanted to do was man the bar for his sick bartender. But there were things he had to do as owner of Club Refectory, and filling in for his sick bartender was one of them.

And then Logan got his first good look at the handsome man that walked into the bar, his eyes darting around the large room as he scanned the place. Logan didn’t know if the man was looking for potential danger or a potential hookup.

He knew what he hoped for.

“What can I get you?” he called out to get the gorgeous man’s eyes on him. The little cutie didn’t need to be looking anywhere else. The man’s eyes sparkled with delight as he sauntered over to the counter and slid onto one of the barstools.

“What’s cold?”

Logan winked. The man shouldn’t be surprised. He was in a gay bar after all. “Everything but me.”

S–Arctic blue eyebrows perked up, and then the sweetest, hottest little smile Logan had ever seen in his life slid across the man’s gorgeous plump lips. The guy held out his hand. “Joey Macintyre.”

So that was the name of the love of his life…Joey Macintyre.

Logan shook Joey’s hand, smiling at the tingle that shot up his arm when their palms met. Yep, Joey was the one. Logan could feel it in his bones. Call it intuition. Call it love at first sight. Call it an overactive libido. Whatever it was, Logan just knew Joey was the one he had been waiting for.

“So, what can I get you, handsome?”

Joey’s cheeks reddened as he grinned. “Just a beer.”

“ID?”

Logan could barely hold his amusement in as Joey dug out his wallet and then handed over his identification card. Logan was pretty sure that Joey was old enough to be in the bar and drinking. He just wanted to be sure.

He also wanted an address. He smiled when he realized Joey didn’t actually live that far away. It was a little more than walking distance but close enough that he could see Joey on a regular basis without seeming like a stalker.

He handed the ID back and then went to get Joey a beer, choosing his favorite brand. If Joey was going to become a part of his life, the man needed to know what Logan liked to drink. Now was as good a time to start Joey’s training as any other.

Logan handed over the beer, watching Joey bring the bottle to his lips and tilt it back. His throat muscles moved as he swallowed. It was such an erotic motion that Logan’s cock started to ache with need. He had an insane urge to jump he man right there and then.

And yet he knew he couldn’t.

The uncertainty and hesitation Logan could see just under the surface of Joey’s demeanor said the man was innocent of the ways of the world—at least Logan’s world.

And that meant Logan needed to wait before claiming the gorgeous man until they knew each other better and Logan could introduce Joey to his world slowly.

Logan sighed as he watched Joey sip his drink, his arctic-blue eyes dancing as they darted around the room.

This so sucks.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’m going to go check on the coffee,” he said as he quickly jumped to his feet and headed for the kitchen. He needed to put some space between him and Logan before he made a complete idiot out of himself.

Joey grabbed two cups and set them on the counter. He reached for the sugar and creamer, setting them down next to the coffee cups. Spoon… he needed a spoon. Reaching into one of his drawers, he grabbed one and set it down next to the cups, sugar, and creamer. Did Logan take sugar and creamer in his coffee?

Maybe he should ask instead of assuming. He turned to go back into the living room and ran smack into Logan, who was leaning against the kitchen doorframe. Joey let out a surprised yelp.

“Sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t see you there.”

He closed his eyes, half in embarrassment he’d run into Logan, half delighted he’d run into him. Joey could die a happy man pressed against all those hard, sculpted muscles.

He raised his gaze to Logan’s face. “Sorry, I was going to ask you—”

“Ask me what, Joey?” Logan asked after a moment when Joey didn’t continue with his statement.

Joey’s eyes nearly crossed at the low, rough sound of Logan’s voice. If he didn’t know better, he would think Logan was aroused. But that was ridiculous. Logan didn’t desire him… did he?

“Logan,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to Logan’s lips. This is a really, really bad idea. But even as he told himself he was making a mistake, Joey rose up on his toes and placed his lips against Logan’s. He ran his tongue over Logan’s lips, begging for entrance. His hands curled into Logan’s shirt as he pressed his body against him. He knew Logan could feel his erection, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t help it. Logan turned him on more than any man he had ever met.

“Joey.”

“Yes?” Joey whispered against Logan’s lips. Yes, yes, yes, anything you want.

“Joey.” This time Logan’s agitated voice worked its way through the deep haze of lust surrounding Joey’s brain.

“Joey,” Logan repeated again.

Joey lifted his head and looked up into Logan’s eyes. What he saw there made him wish the floor would open up and swallow him whole. Logan’s eyes were half-closed, his dark brows drawn together. But it was the tight clench of his teeth, the tic in his cheek that said it all.

He didn’t want to kiss Joey.

Joey quickly dropped his gaze and released Logan’s shirt. He took an unsteady step back and tucked his hands together against his chest to hide their trembling.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. He couldn’t believe he had attacked Logan like that. He had no right. He wouldn’t be surprised if Logan didn’t want anything to do with him after this. The man had just come up for coffee, and Joey had practically attacked him.

No wonder no one wanted him.

Joey turned to face the counter, his back to Logan. He couldn’t face him. He couldn’t stand to see the contempt and disgust on Logan’s face. Doing so would take away the one thing he had left—his fantasies of being with Logan, no matter how impossible they may be. And Joey didn’t know how he would survive if he lost his fantasies.

“Joey—”

“I made a mistake. Please, just go,” Joey begged, his eyes filling with tears at the softening of Logan’s voice. He could take anything from Logan except for his pity.

* * * *

Logan stared at Joey in shock. When Joey started kissing him, Logan had nearly gone out of his mind. Joey tasted so good. Logan wanted to go on kissing him until they both passed out. But if he gave in to that desire, Logan knew he wouldn’t be able to stop with just one kiss. He would want it all, every inch of Joey’s body. And there would be no going back from that point. The decision on whether to give Joey time to get to know him would be taken out of his hands. Joey would be his.

But seeing him turn away, knowing he thought he was being rejected—it was more than Logan could deal with.

He’s in agony, and it’s all my fault.

Logan stepped up behind Joey, pressing his body tightly against his smaller frame. He grabbed Joey by the hair at the back of his head and twisted his head around, plastering his lips over Joey’s. He wrapped his other hand around Joey’s waist to pull his body back against his chest.

He didn’t just kiss Joey. He devoured him. His tongue ran the length of Joey’s lips before pressing in, demanding entry, exploring every inch of his warm, sweet-tasting mouth. He felt Joey start to respond, slowly at first, and then it was as if a dam broke.

Joey opened up, throwing himself into the kiss with absolute abandon. Logan’s cock hardened against Joey’s hip as he ground against him. Heavenly. Joey moaned and whimpered as he pushed back against Logan.

Logan knew Joey couldn’t fail to feel his erection pressing against him. As he moved his hand down Joey’s waist to his groin, he wondered if he would find the same hard length in his jeans.

Damn! Joey was so hard his zipper was about to bust. Logan cupped him in his hand, squeezing, gently at first, then with more pressure. The harder he held him, the more unglued Joey seemed to become. He was so damn responsive.

“Logan, let me come,” Joey whispered against Logan’s lips as he thrust his cock against Logan’s hand.

Logan wasn’t even sure Joey realized he’d whispered the words out loud. He lifted his lips from Joey, growling into his ear. “How do you ask if you want something?” he demanded in a growly voice.

“Please,” Joey whispered.

“Please who?”

“Please, sir, please let me come,” Joey pleaded.

Logan flashed a feral grin as he unzipped Joey’s pants and pulled his cock out, wrapping his fingers around the thick shaft. His little man deserved a reward for asking so nicely.

“Good baby,” Logan said against the side of Joey’s neck.