STORY EXCERPT

GJ moved the eggs around on his plate as he contemplated whether he did the right thing or not by letting Shane stay. No, not just stay. GJ invited him to stay with him.

“Don’t look like you just lost your best friend.” Boulder cleaned up the mess he’d made as he fixed breakfast for the mass of callers at the Farm.

“Didn’t I?”

Wind took a pot from Boulder and dried it. He leaned his back against the counter and rested those pale-hazel eyes on GJ. “He’s back, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why did you agree to let him stay?”

He had no idea. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Now, as Shane showered at the cabin they used to call their home, GJ had his doubts.

“I don’t think it’s an act,” Boulder offered.

GJ glared at him. “Get out of my head.”

He brought his hands up and then buried them in the sudsy water. “Just trying to help.”

“Are there any more eggs?” Char asked as she skipped into the kitchen.

Boulder grinned at her. “You had two huge platefuls.”

She shrugged those tiny, bony shoulders. “I’m still hungry.”

“Here,” GJ said and pushed his plate away. “Take mine. They’re cold anyway.”

“So heat them up.” To demonstrate, she held her hands over the plate and called until they glowed. The eggs steamed in seconds. “See? Burns taught me.”

“That’s pretty cool, Char.” GJ tried to smile.

She tilted her head at him and stared with those large, brown eyes. “You’re sad.”

Not her, too. “I’m fine.”

“You’re lying.”

“Char, not now.”

She turned to Boulder. “I don’t understand why grown-ups lie.”

“Neither do I,” he told her with a firm nod.

That seemed enough to pacify her. She took a seat, grabbed a fresh fork, and went to work devouring the eggs GJ gave her. He’d never seen anyone so small eat so much. All the other callers knew if they wanted their fair share of the meal to get there before Char did.

Wind accepted another pan from Boulder to dry. “I got the chocolate truffles you wanted. It wasn’t easy. I had to fight off this weird little guy that looked like a frog.”

“My hero.”

“Oh, sure. Mock me. Next time you take on the reptiles.”

Boulder chuckled. “Derek, frogs are amphibians, not reptiles.”

“Are you seriously going there?”

“Oh, I went there.”

GJ rolled his eyes and pushed away from the island. He hated seeing them so damn happy. It reminded him of everything he wondered if he’d ever have again with Shane.

Wind and Boulder broke into warm laughter as they bumped shoulders.

“Am I interrupting?”

GJ whipped around to see Shane standing in the doorframe, his dark hair disheveled the way he always wore it, his bluish-gray eyes clouded with a mix of uncertainty and that playful arrogance GJ loved. He had on GJ’s favorite pair of black Levi’s and a black T-shirt. Just seeing him again, knowing he didn’t run away, had GJ’s heart in palpitations.

He grinned at GJ and nodded at the clothes. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Mind? GJ wished he looked that good in them. “It’s fine. Why didn’t you wear any of your clothes?”

GJ never could bring himself to pack any of Shane’s things away.

“I have clothes here?”

GJ’s heart pinched, and he dropped his gaze to recover.

“I guess it’s a good thing you two wear the same size.” Wind grabbed the dish from Boulder to dry. “Well, Torch, looks like you did the right thing by ignoring the rest of us when we told you to get rid of his stuff. I guess sometimes holding on to the past really does pay off.”

Boulder laughed gruffly. “Anyone living for the past can never embrace the present, let alone look to the future.”

“Are you two through?” GJ glared at them both, hating the way they constantly ignored the awkward and obvious, and instead chose to talk about it.

Wind and Boulder exchanged loving gazes and both chuckled.

GJ locked gazes with Shane. He curled the corners of his lips into a grin. Walking over, he stopped next to GJ and whispered in his ear, “Is everything the same size?”

Heat slapped GJ’s cheeks, and he grinned as his gaze hit the floor. Yes, he wanted to say. They had incredible similarities.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because,” he said as he sat down on the corner of the bed, too scared to get any closer. “I remember our first time together. At least I think I do.”

GJ sat up. “Tell me.”

Shane looked at him and his ears grew warm as heated embarrassment took over. “GJ, come on. I’m not going to tell you about it. You were there.”

“Seriously, Shane. Boulder says if you describe your memory out loud, it helps to retain it.”

Blowing out a breath, he dropped his gaze to his hands, too mortified to look GJ in the eye as he described the images in his head.

“You were on the bed—this bed—and I joined you. I remember being so nervous I felt like throwing up. I sat on the edge of the bed and just looked at you, lost in you.” He glanced up to see GJ’s gaze dancing as he grinned.

GJ chuckled and his eyes glimmered wickedly. That was an interesting look. And, once again, Shane was lost in him. “I reached for you.”

And then he reached for Shane.

Were they going to reenact their first time together? Shock and excitement coiled inside him, flooding his cock and tightening his balls.

“What happened next?” Shane licked his lips. He really didn’t remember every detail and bounced his gaze down to GJ’s mouth, hoping he knew what came next.

“We kissed.”

Shane swallowed thickly as he cupped the back of GJ’s neck with his hand and drew their lips together. At first he barely brushed their mouths together, testing the waters. When GJ hummed and licked at Shane’s lips, he opened his mouth to join their tongues together.

Sweet and addictive, GJ’s taste intoxicated Shane. He grew dizzy as he really kissed GJ, stroking his tongue against GJ’s, taking their connection a step deeper.

GJ’s hands were soft, hypnotic as they caressed Shane’s back. After several heated moments lost in their kiss, Shane nipped at GJ’s lower lip before pulling back and licking his taste from his mouth.

“Do you remember what you did next?” GJ asked, his voice thick with lust. He looked at Shane as his brown eyes darkened.

He didn’t remember but would have given anything to recall what he did to GJ to make his gaze glaze over like that. Shane reached down and found GJ’s cock, and lazily stroked it.

“Exactly,” GJ groaned and rocked his hips, fucking Shane’s hand.

The breath tore from his chest when GJ fisted his cock and squeezed before he stroked him in time with Shane’s movement on GJ.

“Oh, baby.” Shane scooted closer until they touched, chest to chest, skin to skin. And then he kissed him again.

GJ arched to him and moaned into Shane’s mouth. He spoke against Shane’s lips as he said, “You didn’t say that.”

“I’m ad-libbing.”

“Times like this I really like the new Shane.”

“Oh, yeah? How about we make another memory?” He laid GJ flat on the mattress and covered him with his body. Brushing GJ’s hair off his forehead, Shane then stared down at him. “You are so damn stunning when you look at me like that.”

GJ lifted his mouth to Shane’s and fused their lips together. Desperation fueled their kiss and Shane felt it. He’d longed for this and hadn’t even realized it.

Shane moved and rubbed his cock against GJ’s hip. They both shuddered, and when GJ shifted, granting Shane access, they both shuddered again.

Wedging his leg between GJ’s thighs, Shane brought their cocks together with a thrust of his hips. GJ groaned and did the same so that they were perfectly wrapped in each other.

GJ’s passion debilitated Shane’s control. He tasted it in his kiss and felt it in his touch. They devoured each other as they moved against each other, stroking their dicks together in perfect time. All this aching, of this feeling that something was missing, became crystal clear.

He finally found that missing piece in GJ.

“You drive me wild,” he groaned against GJ’s lips. GJ bit down on Shane’s lower lip and Shane saw stars.

“That’s mutual.”

A fine film of sweat broke out over them both. Lust bit into Shane’s balls as he rocked his hips faster, the friction between their bodies driving them higher, his movement faster. His cock surged as his orgasm coiled inside him like an angry snake about to strike.

“Oh, Shane. Oh, baby. Love me.”

The need reflecting in GJ’s eyes scared Shane. He’d never seen anyone stare back at him like that. He’d remember something like that. The stark, vivid hunger burned into him like a white hot poker, searing his soul.

“GJ,” Shane whimpered as he moved faster, rocking their hips together. He should stop. He knew it. He didn’t come back here for this, but as they both drove higher toward their joined release, Shane lost all track of anything other than loving this man.

“You’re going to make me come.” GJ ground his cock up against Shane’s, faster and faster. Shane longed to be inside the depth of GJ’s wet, hot ass. Just one time, he told himself. Just this one time he’d break the rules and let himself enjoy the moment.

But, deep down, he knew one time would never be enough.