STORY EXCERPT

Jared Carter sat in his apartment, strumming his guitar, his fingers walking across the strings. He closed his eyes, gently swaying his head to the beat and tapping his foot. It was always the early morning hour that inspired him. Inhaling, he grinned. The coffee shop under his apartment was just opening, the fresh grounds brewing. He loved his life—in the mornings he wrote songs, the afternoons were spent working behind the counter at the coffee shop, and the nights he was on stage, performing in front of an audience.

There was a light knock before his bedroom door opened and his best friend, Gabe Austin, strolled in with a coffee cup in his hand.

“Good morning, pretty man. It’s fresh.” Gabe grinned, holding out a full cup of Jared’s favorite blend.

He stopped playing, placing his guitar behind him on the bed, and reached for the mug. Although he didn’t mind the endearment, he really hated being referred to as pretty. With his long hair, most men and women alike thought he was pretty or beautiful. It was a little irritating, but he didn’t mention that to Gabe.

“Mmmm…thanks.” He inhaled the familiar scent before taking a sip. “You’re so good to me.”

“Yeah, well, don’t forget it.” Gabe winked.

“I never do.” Jared took a sip of the hot coffee as Gabe leaned down, placing a kiss on his forehead.

The two men had been close ever since being placed in the same group home when they were barely fifteen. They’d been best friends and, eventually, became lovers. Gabe was one of the sweetest, kindest souls Jared had ever met. The day Gabe walked into his life, Jared made it his mission to be the young man’s protector.

Over time, though, the dynamic of their relationship changed. They became adults and Jared felt a deep need to go out into the world on his own. He just didn’t know how to bring up the conversation with Gabe. He didn’t want his friend feeling as though Jared had abandoned him.

“What time are you coming down to the coffee shop?” Gabe asked, taking a seat next to Jared, cuddling close to his side.

It felt good in a familiar way, but the heat and passion between them was missing. Jared didn’t have the heart to tell Gabe. So he just wrapped an arm around the other man and held him. When Gabe’s hands started to wander, Jared stopped him.

“I’d better get ready for work.” He handed the coffee mug to Gabe before standing and heading toward the bathroom.

Clicking the lock, Jared sighed as he started the shower. It was getting harder and harder to keep his thoughts and feelings from Gabe. How was he supposed to tell the man that he wasn’t in love with him? How could he break the sweet guy’s heart?

I’m such an asshole. He deserves the truth. If you don’t tell him now, you’re going to hurt him more in the long run.

He gave himself the same speech every day, and each time he built up enough courage to open up and tell Gabe everything, he couldn’t do it. Gabe’s puppy-dog eyes prevented him from being honest. He didn’t want to see his beautiful green eyes fill with moisture. He didn’t want to see tears leak down his cheeks. He couldn’t take that, not after all they had endured together, not after years of having the man by his side.

Jared climbed under the spray and took care of business, washing, soaping, and conditioning. When he was done, he shut the water off and used two towels—one for his long hair and the other for his body. He wrapped the towel around his hips and grabbed the doorknob, hoping that Gabe wouldn’t still be inside his bedroom. Opening the door, his eyes swept across the small space and he hated the relief he felt when he noticed Gabe’s absence.

I’m such a fucking jerk.

Pulling the towel off, he threw it to the ground and quickly got dressed. He put his hair into a low ponytail before heading downstairs to his day job. When he spotted Gabe behind the counter, he gave a little wave and a smile. He would always love Gabe, but the two didn’t have a future.

I should probably just leave Portland. If I can’t tell Gabe the truth, that’s the next best thing, right?

Rolling his eyes heavenward, Jared headed to work.

The morning slowly ticked by. Jared stayed busy, serving coffee, wiping tables, and sweeping the floor.

“Jared Carter?” A man asked and Jared turned around, looking the man up and down.

“Yeah.” He nodded to the suit. “How can I help you?”

“My name is Thomas Creed and I’m a private investigator. I was hired by William Rickett to track you down. Here…” He held out a large manila envelope and Jared took it. “The information in there is time-sensitive. I hope you have a nice day.”

The suit turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Jared standing in the middle of the coffee shop, bewildered.

ADULT EXCERPT

Jacob leaned down and placed a kiss on Jared’s lips. Cupping the young man’s cheeks, Jacob deepened the kiss slowly. There was an electric shock of awareness that ran through him, shaking him to the core. Jared’s lips parted a bit, and Jacob pushed his tongue in. He kissed in a slow rhythm, in and out, curling his tongue around Jared’s, twisting and swirling.

Jared slowly pulled back and licked his lips. “Do you want me to be your baby boy?” he asked, his voice small and vulnerable.

Jacob smiled, pushing his fingers through Jared’s hair, cupping his skull. “More than you know.”Staring at the man kneeling at his feet, Jacob remembered his question and ordered, “I want you to suck my cock, baby.”

He watched closely as Jared ran his tongue over the delicate knot of nerve endings under the head before flicking the flared ridge. He shuddered as the moist heat of Jared’s mouth surrounded the cap, suckling gently. Pushing his fingers through the man’s hair, he gripped Jared’s head with both hands and let out a deep groan when Jared sucked him deep. He held his baby boy’s head in position as he began rocking his hips, thrusting gently at first, then he slowly increased his speed. Jared slid his lips up and down Jacob’s shaft, moaning in pleasure.

He stared at the man’s angelic face and hollowed-out cheeks as he sucked, big blue eyes staring at him. He pressed deeper. Jared took every inch of his length into his mouth and swallowed. The man’s nose buried in the dark curls above his cock was the last straw and Jacob almost lost it right then.

“Your mouth is so pretty wrapped around my cock. Do you like sucking my dick, baby boy?” Jared asked even though he didn’t expect an answer. Jacob merely nodded his head. “You’re such a good boy.”

Jared responded by sucking harder, increasing his efforts. Jacob was pulled closer to orgasm. Jacob pulled back, stopping Jared’s actions abruptly. He couldn’t take Jared’s talented mouth, not if he wanted to sink into the man’s ass.

“Bedroom” was all he could manage.

Holding out his hand, Jared took it and he helped the young man to his feet. He stripped Jared down quickly before picking him up and taking the naked young man into his bedroom. He wanted to spend hours exploring his baby boy’s body, but in his current condition—riding the edge of an orgasm—he could barely think straight.

He gently deposited Jared in the middle of the king-sized bed. Yanking open a drawer in the bedside table, he grabbed a bottle of lube and a condom before joining Jared on the bed. He took the young man’s lips in a gentle kiss, moving in between his spread thighs. Jacob flicked open the bottle of lube and slicked up two fingers. He stared down at Jared’s gorgeous body and felt a shiver race through his own. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this excited. Without being told, Jared lifted his legs off the bed and held them to his chest, exposing himself fully.

“Damn,” he whispered, staring at Jared’s ass.

Jacob circled Jared’s ass with his fingers before pushing them into the tight, hot channel. He felt Jared’s body shudder before the young man let out a low moan. Jacob started a slow rhythm, thrusting his fingers, twisting them, and building up the pace, getting Jared stretched.

When Jared started moving, fucking himself on Jacob’s fingers, he added another digit.

“So good,” he moaned. “Oh, God…need more.”

“Do you like my fingers fucking your ass, baby boy?” Jacob stared at Jared’s face. He wanted to hear the words. He wanted to know how much Jared liked it. How would Jared respond?

“Yes, Daddy.” Those two little words were music to his ears.

Jared moaned as he moved his body on Jacob’s fingers, writhing on the bed.

His fingers embedded firmly in Jared’s ass, he reached for the condom and lube. He couldn’t wait another second. He needed to be buried inside his baby boy. Removing his fingers, Jared quickly rolled the condom into place and drizzled extra lube on his hard, aching shaft.

“Hands and knees for Daddy, baby boy,” he said, and Jared complied immediately. He spread Jared’s ass cheeks wide, lined up his cock, and slid into his boy’s ass. “Oh, fuck.”

His eyes rolled back inside his head as tight heat surrounded his shaft.

Fucking perfect, boy.

He’d never felt anything so intense. Grabbing Jared’s hips hard, he held onto the flesh tightly, keeping his boy where he wanted him. It took him a few seconds to feel calm enough to start moving.