STORY EXCERPT

Bayard Stanton rolled his eyes as he followed his friends into some backwoods bar they had come across on their drive through the middle of nowhere. He thought it was stupid to stop, but Jace insisted, said he was thirsty or some such shit.

“It’s just a bar, Liam,” Jace argued. “They can’t keep us out.”

Bay was pretty sure they could. This place wasn’t the absolute end of the earth but it was damn close. He was pretty sure they were in the middle of inbred central. He expected banjo music to start up at any moment.

“You think not?” Liam laughed, sounding very nervous. “We’re in redneck hell, Jace. Not only can they keep us out, they can tar and feather us. That is what they do in these backwater towns, isn’t it? Tar and feather people?”

Bay snorted when Liam glanced back at him. “Normal people, maybe. Queers like us?” Bay shook his head. “They string us up, and like, throw lawn darts at us or something.”

Liam’s eyes rounded.

“Oh please,” Jace replied. “This is a public place. We have as much right to be here as anyone else.”

“Honey, I hate to break this to you but we’re not anyone else.” Bay snickered. “We’re loud, flaming, flamboyant queens.” He waved a hand toward one of his friends. “Hell, the eyeliner on Rue’s face alone could get our asses kicked.”

Jace frowned.

Rue blushed.

Bay laughed. Jace was constantly going on about Rue wearing eyeliner. He’d have a coronary if he ever learned that Rue got the eyeliner from Bay.

“Jace, honey, if someone looked up gay in the dictionary,” Bay said as he gestured between them all, “they’d find a picture of us.”

“We’re not that bad,” Jace insisted.

Hell, yes, they were.

“Jace, what color is my shirt?” Bay asked as he plucked at the silky material with his fingers.

Jace’s eyelashes fluttered, a clear sign that the man was confused. “Azure blue, why?”

“And Liam’s?” Bay continued.

“Chartreuse.”

“Uh-huh,” Bay said, “and what type of piercing does Rue have?”

Jace glanced back at Rue, grinning. “Guiche.”

Bay planted his hands on his hips. “Honey, face it, we’re gay!”

Jace laughed.

A deep blush crept up Rue’s face again.

Unless someone was blind and deaf, they’d see that all four of them were clearly gay. They talked gay, they walked gay, and they looked gay. They were the stereotypical twinks society so often associated with gay men. Loud, bright colors, makeup and piercings, even the effeminate body movements, they had it all, in spades.

Christ, two of the four of them had little sequined purses under their arms.

“Okay, so we’re gay. So what? That doesn’t mean we don’t have as much right to be here as anyone else,” Jace said as he grabbed the door handle to the bar. “Besides, maybe we can teach those hicks a things or two about fashion and makeup.”

Jace was laughing as he opened the bar door and took a step inside. He came to a screeching halt at the scene before him. Bay plowed into him from behind, Liam and Rue running into his back. When Jace’s laughter slowly died away, Bay glanced beyond his friend for the reason.

When Jace’s laughter slowly died away, Bay glanced beyond his friend for the reason, and groaned. Jace had a unique way of dragging them into more messes that Mr. Clean could get rid of. Granted, most of it was done innocently, but still…as he faced a sea of rough, muscle-bound, jean-clad, cowboy-boot-wearing, beer-drinking rednecks, Bay knew they were in deep shit… again.

The country music was thumping to the point that Bay could feel the bat through the peanut shell riddled wooden floor. He doubted anyone could hear anyone else, but he could hear his heart thundering.

The place basically looked like every backwoods bar that Bay had ever envisioned…pool tables, beer and peanuts, country music, and rednecks. Bay doubted there was a gay man in the bunch. No one was stupid enough to go into this place if they were gay…except the four of them.

Bay didn’t like the grin he saw cross Jace’s face. He knew it meant trouble. He loved Jace, really he did. They were best friends, but Jace always seemed to be dragging the four of them into one scrape after another.

Jace didn’t much care that the four of them stood out like warts on a thumb. Jace wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he was gay, that he loved men. He didn’t care if his demeanor made some people uncomfortable. He was who he was and he wasn’t going to change that for anyone, not even a room full of rednecks.

Bay loved that about his friend.

He also hated that about his friend.

“Come on in, boys.” Jace giggled “There’s eye candy as far as the mascara-wearing eye can see.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“Do you and your brothers always pick men up in bars?” Bay asked as he leaned against the side of the truck and looked at Stefan.

Stefan chuckled. “No, not always.”

“But you do? Pick guys up in bars, I mean?”

“You’re a special case.”

“I don’t suppose you want to explain that statement?”

“Not really,” Stefan replied. He took a deep breath and did something he never did. He flirted. “Truthfully, I’d rather find out if your lips are as kissable as they look.”

Bay blinked.

Stefan slowly stepped closer. He moved gradually, placing one hand on the truck on either side of Bay, giving him plenty of time to move away. The high-hanging parking lamp gave off just enough light to see the shock in Bay’s features.

“Can I kiss you, Bay?”

Bay’s eyes were wide, the gray glint in them turning almost black as he nodded. Stefan took just a moment to grin before lowering his head. He licked the small seam of Bay’s lips until the man opened his mouth, and then Stefan delved inside.

Stefan groaned into Bay’s mouth and pressed his body against the man, trapping him between Stefan and the truck. Bay tasted amazing. He felt even better. Stefan could feel the hard press of the man’s thick cock push against his own.

Small little whimpers of need seemed to come from Bay. Stefan lifted his head to be sure. He never wanted to do anything to Bay against his will. He grunted a moment later when Bay dug hands into his hair and yanked his head back, hungry lips devouring his.

Stefan took that as invitation to continue. Again, he moved slowly so that Bay could stop him if he wanted. He reached for the hem of Bay’s silk shirt and started to pull it up. Bay pulled away from him.

Stefan almost whimpered in protest until Bay whipped his shirt off over his head and tossed it away then reached for the buttons on Stefan’s shirt. Stefan gladly gave up his shirt, grabbing the edges and pulling it free, buttons flying in every direction.

Bay’s hands pushed the material down off his shoulders. Stefan let it drop to the ground as he moved in for another taste of Bay. Lush lips eagerly met his, Bay’s tongue warring for dominance then submitting.

Stefan’s entire body felt like it was on fire. The smoldering flame he saw in Bay’s eyes startled him. The man seemed to be as aroused as him. Stefan prayed that was true. He had a burning need to claim him forever mate.

A passionate fluttering grew in Stefan’s stomach as he stroked Bay’s skin moving his hands down the man’s body to his waist. It felt unbelievable to be holding his forever mate in his arms.

And Bay was so damn responsive.

Stefan kissed his way down Bay’s jawline to his throat where he would soon bite the man, binding them together. Every swipe of his tongue brought a new explosion of sensation across his tongue.

Bay’s tormented groan went straight to Stefan’s cock. He shuddered, his control barely there. Bay touched him, his hands caressing Stefan’s body. Each touch, each skim of Bay’s fingers against his skin inflamed Stefan’s desire until he burned out of control.

Stefan’s fingers fumbled with the buttons on Bay’s slacks. Frustrated, he extended his claws and tore the buttons, yanking the pants from the man. Bay didn’t even seem to notice. Stefan’s own jeans took less time. He just needed to get them open and pushed down his legs.

His cock leaking copious amounts of pre-cum, Stefan lifted Bay up into his arms and pressed the man’s body back against the side of the truck. He grasped the man’s ass cheeks and pulled them apart so that he could rub along the crack with his wet cock.

Stefan nudged his cock to the opening of Bay’s body and started to push forward. Bay gripped his shoulders, his eyes wild.

“Stop!”

Stefan immediately stopped moving and looked at Bay, waiting.

“Condom.”

Stefan grinned. “Already taken care of, sweetness.”

“Lube?”

“That, too,” Stefan said as he pushed home in one thrust. Bay wailed, his head falling back against the side of the truck. Stefan struck, sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of Bay’s throat.

“Oh my god, you’re biting me,” Bay cried out.

For a moment Stefan thought Bay would protest. Then he felt the Bay’s hands clench in his hair. One of Bay’s hands held Stefan’s head to his neck. The other stroked the strong tendons on the back of Stefan’s neck.

“Oh god, that is so fucking hot!”