Excerpt: Cold Hands

The red, pink and blue lights of the wheel spin so fast you can hardly see the carts with people in it. Good luck to him. I don’t really like fast rides. Except if Cass wants to go.

Looking down at him, I relax at the reluctant expression on his face. He looks so gorgeous in his dark, grey woolen coat and thick blue scarf. Every time he exhales, little clouds of steam puff out of his mouth. He doesn't move away when I sneak my hand to the small of his back, guiding him to some of the funfair games. 

I let go of him and we walk side by side. 

“What do you wanna do?” I ask as we walk between the booths, our fingers brushing now and then, sending sparks through my system every time. 

“I don’t know,” he says, but then spots something interesting behind me. “Shoot ducks?”

He answers my big grin with a shy smile, walking ahead of me to the stand. It’s decorated like everything else in the park in red, white and green Christmas decorations. 

“Let’s play for something, all right?” I ask while we wait our turn.

“Like what?” he asks, a little gleam in his eyes I don’t see too often. It makes him look damn sexy. Not that he isn't sexy all the time.

“Like a kiss,” I murmur, leaning toward him with a wide smile. 

“Not here,” Cass whispers, pushing me back, but there’s a playful smirk on his face. 

“Okay.” I step up behind him to whisper in his ear. “If I win, you’ll make out with me on the Ferris wheel.”

“And if I win?” he asks, twisting his torso to look up at me.

“You can ask one thing of me.”

“One thing?”

“Yes.” I steal a touch by sliding my hands along the rough fabric on his coat, over his stomach. “Whatever you want, and I’ll try my best to make it happen.”

“Deal,” he says, still looking up at me, still with that playful gleam in his eyes. 

For a moment we just stand like that, gazing at each other. I’d just have to bend down a bit to kiss him. It looks like he wants me to, but he asked me not to earlier. Does he want to now? I lower my head a little, just to test the waters. He tilts his head up in return.

“Hey!” I jump back at the loud yell from the booth, taking in the middle-aged guy with a black beard. “You guys are up.”

We step away from each other and Cass picks up a riffle. 

“You’re gonna lose,” he mutters, taking his aim as I hand the supervisor a ticket and let out a laugh.

“No way. Got a date to impress,” I say back, watching him as he waits with that little smile still on his lips.

The man flicks a switch and starts busying himself with arranging toys. A line of wooden ducks starts moving back and forth and Cass shoots the first one down. And another. And another. I gawk as he shoots them down one by one until none are left standing. He even has a shot to spare. Cass lowers the riffle with a shy grin.

“Wow,” says the bearded guy, raising the ducks and stopping their movement. “Pick a prize.” He points at the big stuffed animals lining the top shelf.

“Ummm…the zebra,” Cass says. He stuffs the huge animal under his arm, the four long legs dangling.

“Where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?” I ask.

“Joey’s dad runs a shooting range. Did I win already?”

“Not so fast,” I say with a laugh, picking up the riffle and taking my aim. The guy flicks the switch again, now a little more interested in the game. Just as I’m about to pull the trigger, Cass gently bumps into me. I jerk back and miss my target.

The beard guy shakes his head and continues arranging the stuffed toys.

I glance back at Cass who’s got his face half buried behind the zebra’s head, looking back at me all innocent. I chuckle and take another aim.

A black zebra hoof “accidentally” brushes against my face when I take my second shot, missing the duck by a foot.

“Casper?” I say, trying hard to keep the laughter out of my voice.

He looks all innocent again. “Oh, sorry.”

Shaking my head I go for the third shot, but then I feel this cool hand brush against the back of my jeans just as I pull the trigger. “So, it’s gonna be like that, huh?” I ask, barely holding in my laughter.

“Like what?” asks Cass from behind the zebra.

I end up winning a tiny pink dog key chain for shooting one duck—a duck next to the one I was aiming at. Cass breaks out in laughter every time he sees it.

$1.99 on Amazon and All Romance eBooks

Welcome, Brother: Excerpt

Excerpt from Welcome, Brother:

It’s a Friday night and the first Brotherhood private party – no outsiders allowed – will be held on the ground floor. I’m nervous as hell, not knowing what to expect. Will they make us do something?

The house is already pumping with a beat from downstairs and I can hear muffled voices and laughter coming from the hallway. I’m ready to go in tight black jeans and green t-shirt, but I’m still delaying my trip to join the others. Instead, I flip through some random book on my bed. It probably won’t be long before Liu comes knocking on the door.

As if on cue, the door is opened, but instead of Liu, Hunter steps in. He casts me a casual smile and closes the door.

“You’re not going?” he asks as he walks to his side of the room and pulls the white t-shirt over his head. Those lovely muscles I’ve been salivating over for the past week stretch and bunch under the beautifully tanned skin. 

“Uh, yeah. I was going in a minute,” I say and avert my eyes when he looks at me. 

Hunter crumbles up the t-shirt and tosses it in a basket, eyes on me as he walks to his dresser. 

“Were you waiting for me?”

Yes.

“No,” I say, with a dangerous stirring in my pants. I casually cover it with the book. “Or maybe. I don’t really know anyone except for you and Liu.”

Hunter stops with a black button-up shirt in his hands. 

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I should’ve introduced you to everyone by now. I’ll fix that tonight.”

Instead of an answer, I just give him a quivering smile. 

Five minutes later, we’re being swallowed by the sea of guys at the foot of the stairs. I recognize a couple of the initiates standing huddled by a wall while others are mingling or being introduced by their masters. Some Brothers seem very hands-on, touching while talking, though it doesn’t seem to be sexual. It still looks weird to me, as I’m not used to being a part of a group of guys and would’ve thought touching was a taboo. At least, the guys back in high school didn’t seem okay with too much touching. A punch in the shoulder, a little bit of roughhousing, and those athlete pats on the butt maybe, but I never saw them hugging, resting a hand on each other’s chests or even holding hands. Here, no one seems to care or even notice. 

A light touch to the small of my back sends swirling heat to my stomach. Hunter smiles at me and steers me through the crowd, introducing me to so many guys that I forget most of their names. They seem pretty cool. Just regular guys who joke around and laugh. Some of them make me fidget under assessing looks, but others just take one glance, offer me beer and try to involve me in whatever they’re doing. Hunter takes his time, not leaving me alone for a moment, and that’s when I realize that this party is probably some sort of vassal-master thing to make the initiates feel welcome. It’s a tad disappointing as Hunter’s spending time with me because he has to, not because he wants to.

“Kyler, Hunter,” Liu calls from the doorway to the lounge. “We’re playing a game.”

Hunter grabs my hand and pulls me through the throng of boys. His skin is dry and soft and makes me so nervous I can hardly feel the touch. When we’re in the lounge, a bunch of guys sit on the couches, chairs, and some on the floor. A space is cleared for Hunter on a three-seater that’s already seating five guys, and I sit squished in a stuffed chair next to a grinning Liu. 

“What are we playing?” asks Hunter from opposite me.

“I Never,” says a round boy I think is named Danny or Dale. “Everybody know it?” he asks, looking at me and the other two vassals in the group. I’m the only one who shakes his head.

“I say something like ‘I never got a speeding ticket’”-a bunch of guys snicker and take a sip of their beers-“and those who have got speeding tickets take a swig of beer while the others don’t. Then the next person comes up with something. It’s a neat game to get to know you newbies.”

“Okay,” I say, nursing my still untouched can of beer between my hands. 

“I never went camping,” the guy next to Danny (or Dale) says. I don’t bring the can to my lips, because I’ve never gone camping. Hunter and a whole lot of other guys take a sip. Liu doesn’t.

“I never masturbated,” says the next guy, which causes a round of laughter as everyone takes a swig – me, with a flushed face, included.

“I never kissed a guy,” says the next one.

I freeze up, but glance around when some guys take a drink while some don’t. It surprises the hell out of me that they’d admit it, just like that. Hunter, I notice, doesn’t take a drink and neither do I since I’ve never been kissed. Damn, he’s straight. Well, I didn’t really think he wasn’t. Or maybe he’s never been kissed either.

“I never kissed a girl,” says the next guy, and again there’s a mix of some drinking and some not. Hunter, eyeing me, takes a sip. I look down at my can and trace my finger along the rim. Damn…

“I never saw RoboCop,” says the guy next to Hunter. Most of the guys take a drink while I don’t. I was never into futuristic robot movies.

“I never wore high heels,” says Hunter, earning himself some laughter – mostly from guys who take a drink. 

“Does it count when you’re a toddler?” one of the vassals asks. When Hunter nods, I take a drink. Hey, I was two and mom managed to snap a picture as evidence.

We continue and I learn that Hunter played basketball, ate Captain Crunch, and went skinny dipping while he never went to Sunday school, had a pet, or stole money. Liu was guilty of the last offence.

For the past four I Never’s, I’d been dreading my turn. I never wanted a boyfriend, would be a nice way to see if Hunter’s one of those who likes guys but has only kissed girls. Or maybe likes both girls and boys. I seem to be clinging to some fruitless fantasy. Who’s to say he’d even want me if he was gay?

“I never… went… um, fishing,” I sputter lamely. I don’t even know where it came from. Hunter smiles at me as he takes a drink while Liu and I don’t. Looks like Liu’s family is about as big on the outdoors as mom and I are.

“I never played with dolls,” says Liu and takes a sip.

I grudgingly take a drink along with a few others. Like I said, I’ve really only had female friends. 

Liu and I are well beyond tipsy when the game is over. Hunter seems to hold alcohol better, because he took more drinks than I did. Liu drags us off to the kitchen to get cold beers.

“You never kissed anyone?” asks Hunter from behind me as we walk.

“Does mom count?” I ask, glad he can’t see the blush on my face.

Hunter chuckles. “Just figured that someone like you would’ve been popular with girls.”

“I was,” I say while we push through the doorway. “As a friend.”

I always got to play the dad, or the baby, or the groom as a kid. Then I got to listen to boyfriend troubles and gush about guys with my friends as a teen. I knew there were girls who had crushes on me, but I made myself unavailable by hanging out with my friends all the time. Friends who knew about me, but never told anyone. By the ninth grade, though, most kids probably suspected.

“Boys, then?” he continues as we stop. Liu opens the fridge to dig out some cold beers while I stand with my back to the counter, facing Hunter but not really looking at him.

Saturday Seductive Studs: Adam 3

I'm continuing with Adam Maxwell, the hero of A Life Without You. This is his month.

This snippet is from when Jesse goes back home over the holidays. Adam has nowhere to go because he has no family, so he stays behind in the dorm along with his buddy Eric. Jesse’s girlfriend (Anne, A.K.A Chirpy) lives in Jesse’s little hometown and Adam can’t stop worrying about it. Adam, (A.K.A Emoman - as Eric sometimes calls him), is very territorial about Jesse.

My heels kick against the sofa where they dangle over the arm. There’s a split in the ceiling that reaches from the chandelier to the far corner of the living room. A cheesy Christmas movie plays on the TV, but I don’t care to watch it. A copy of Publishers Weekly lies tented on my stomach – I can’t even remember what the article was about.

“Come on, Adam. Stop brooding. Or at least if you’re gonna continue, don’t sit so close to that cactus. You’re bumming the both of us out. See? Its tiny little cock has gone limp.”

The magazine slides to the floor as I turn my head to see the sorry-looking cactus behind the couch. What Eric is referring to as its penis hangs limp on the ‘body’ like it always has.

“Who was that you were talking to on the phone earlier?” Eric asks.

“Jesse.” He’s called me three times in one week. That’s more often than he cares to hear from Chirpy over the same period of time. Chirpy has answered Jesse’s phone twice when I've called him and we ended up snapping at each other like two hissing cats. I know I've given her every reason not to like me – more than she knows – but I have no idea if Jesse knows about our animosity.

The book is available from most online retailers ($6.99). Here are direct links to a few: MLR Press, All Romance eBooks, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. It's also available in paperback from Amazon and B&N ($12.99).

You can read an excerpt here.

Please visit the Saturday Seductive Studs headquarters to find the other authors sharing snippets from their own works ^.^

Until next Saturday!

Adam's character card. I had loads and loads of these printed. Ah jeez, looks like I'll be forced to attend all those conferences! ;)

Saturday Seductive Studs: Adam 2

I'm devoting February's SSS to Adam Maxwell from A Life Without You (with guest appearances in Absolutely Eric). Here's last Saturday's entry, and here's today's.

This snippet is also from A Life Without You. Adam is listening to Jesse talk on the phone with his girlfriend (who Adam calls Chirpy, because of her high and loud voice). Here we can see that he's studying English at the college, and does extra work for the student newspaper. His ambition is to become an editor. He's also pretty tough on the outside, but quite insecure on the inside at this point in the story:

I try to concentrate on my literary assignment, but that annoying chirpy sound is breaking my focus. With a sigh I push it away and pull out the articles that go into this month's student newspaper. I get extra credits for proofreading. More importantly, I like editing and would like to make a career out of it, so this will look good on my resume. But trying to focus on the coverage of last night‘s basketball game is hard. I didn't go since Jesse wasn't playing.

It's been three days since that morning he found out I was gay. He hasn't said a word about any of it. I think I've ruined the easy-going friendship of ours, because his whole attitude is different – formal instead of the carefree joking and teasing. He spends a lot of time studying in the library, and when he's not studying he's watching sports in the living room with some of the other guys. My stomach knots up whenever we're in the same room because I want to fix this, but I don't know how.

The book is available from most online retailers ($6.99). Here are direct links to a few: MLR Press, All Romance eBooks, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. It's also available in paperback from Amazon and B&N ($12.99).

Please visit the Saturday Seductive Studs headquarters to find the other authors sharing snippets from their own works ^.^ 

Until next Saturday!

Saturday Seductive Studs: Adam 1

I'm taking part in the Saturday Seductive Studs, where I'll be posting a max 200-word snippet from my books. I've decided to dedicate each month to a character, except for the short stories where I'll be dedicating each month to a story.

Last month, A Life Without You had its first year anniversary, so I'm dedicating this month to Adam Maxwell. I hope to share a bit of his character through these snippets. 

This one is from A Life Without You. Adam has just given Jesse a nasty scare with his humor, and came out to him as well in a very unusual way. Jesse's still deep in the closet and in denial in this first chapter of the story. Adam's humor is pretty crude, sarcastic, even:

“What, I see yours all the time but you can‘t see mine? That‘s a little unfair, isn't it?” I say in a calm voice that, in no way, mirrors my aching guts. I‘m scared shitless that he‘ll leave. This was not how I was going to reveal my sexuality to him.
“Pants,” he repeats.
I lift my hands in defeat. “All right, all right.”
I put on a pair of blue boxer briefs and help him up. I have to put my arm around his back to lift him because his injury is causing him so much pain, but the firm press of his shoulder blades against my chest sends a jolt down my underwear and my dick does a little throb.
“Dude! Don‘t stand so close to me,” Jesse shouts, trying not to let his lower back touch my front. As a result there is no way he can shield himself when the sheet rolls off his body and pools around his feet. I see that his penis is still erect. He sees it, too.
“Morning wood. Don‘t get any ideas,” he groans out while we make our way to our en suite bathroom.

You can read the entire excerpt here. The book is available from most online retailers ($6.99). Here are direct links to a few: MLR Press, All Romance eBooks, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. It's also available in paperback from Amazon and B&N ($12.99).

Please visit the Saturday Seductive Studs headquarters to find the other authors sharing snippets from their own works ^.^ 

Until next Saturday!

Release Day! Little Stalker by Erica Pike

Closet-case and college student Coby is being stalked by a cute guy...

Little Stalker (College Fun and Gays #4)

by Erica Pike

No Boundaries Press 

Blurb:

College student Coby is being stalked by a young guy and has no idea why, until someone suggests that the stalker may have a crush on him. The idea both excites and terrifies Coby, who is so deep in the closet he can barely manage to think the word “gay” without freaking out.

Excerpt:

He flinches from my touch and backs into the wall, but I follow and thread my fingers through that kitten-soft hair, pushing it aside to see the fading bruise.

Who would do that to him?

As Grayson looks down with flushed skin, his cheek brushes the inside of my palm. He jerks to a stop and holds his breath, just as I hold mine.

Without thinking about it, I lay my palm further against his skin, taking in the warm, soft feel of it. It’s like touching a girl...but still different. His skin is smooth, but there’s a thin line along his jaw that feels rougher, like a hint of stubble.

“Have you ever kissed a guy?” I ask in a low voice, shocking both him and myself with my words. But instead of trying to reel them back, I gaze down at his lowered face. Ray’s words this morning flash through my mind. ‘Just because you’d fuck him it wouldn't mean anything.’ I've been half horny all morning...

He sucks in his lower lip and licks the upper one with the tip of his tongue. It makes my whole groin twitch. The heat in my crotch is almost painful and the rest of my body feels numb.

“Yeah,” he whispers, still looking down.

“What’s it like?” I ask, my voice low and a little thicker than usual. “Is it different from kissing a girl?” It feels like there’s a vibrating rock in the pit of my stomach and its sending shocks to my rapidly beating heart. My fingers on his face tremble, and I’m breaking out in a sweat.

His gaze rises to meet mine, wide and pretty – eyes much too large for his small face. He licks his lips again, cocking his head to the side.

“ I've never kissed a girl,” he says in a low voice, chest heaving rapidly, red lips half parted.

God...

Before I can even think to stop myself, I’m lowering my head, my trembling lips touching his very, very lightly. It’s not enough to determine if it’s different, but it feels soft and wet, and oh, he smells so good. His hair is a little damp after the rain, but his own natural smell... I touch my lips to his again, a little firmer this time, lingering, savoring the wet, ticklish feel that sends all sorts of sparks through my body. My head feels so light it’s like I’m not even in my own body anymore. Yeah, it definitely feels different from kissing a girl; it feels unreal.

We kiss more, each touch experimental, hesitant. My fingers barely touch his face and he trembles less than an inch from my arm.

When I pull back, I gaze in Grayson’s dazed eyes. They mirror my own hazy brain. The warmth from his body is like a magnet, trying to pull mine closer, and I gently position my hands on his hips. I lick my lips and step closer.

He meets me halfway when I bend down to kiss him again, sliding his arms up my torso to rest on my pectorals. He moans once, his mouth opens for my tongue, and my knees go weak with all the fireworks shooting from limb to limb. God, he feels so good. His tongue is thin, nimble, and so hot against mine it burns. He grabs my shoulder when it feels like he’s about to fall, and his other hand clasps the shirt on my back for support. I grab him, holding on tightly as I kiss him with tongue twisting, teeth clashing intensity, grazing his lips with my teeth and sucking on them. I hear myself moan into his mouth and him echoing with added whimpers and sighs. He feels so good.

I break away to rest my forehead against his, just to catch my breath a little.

Available at No Boundaries Press, All Romance eBooks, Amazon, B&N (and others soon).

Little Stalker on Goodreads.

Back with a Bash! (Giveaway + First-Time-Excerpt)

Hi guys! I'm back from my vacation and feel all rejuvenated. Especially after that clubbing I did last night. Ah, I love dancing.

I'm getting back to Jazz's story on Tuesday, since I've got appointments and stuff on Monday, but for now, Elisa Reviews is doing a Giveaway-every-two-days from the GayRomLit2012 authors! I'm up today, so do stop by Elisa Reviews and leave a comment (I don't think you need an LJ account to leave a comment, just leave anonymous reply and put your name and email address in the body of the text).

What's up for grabs? An e-copy of Absolutely Eric.

Oh hey! I'm sharing a very short excerpt from Jazz's story on facebook, because people sent me a challenge. Figured I'd share it here, too:


It’s not like I’m going to get up close and personal with the lead singer, Dean McQueen, anyway. Eric and I are sitting in the back with at least ten rows of chairs between us and the platform. It seems like every news agency in Boston decided to show up for this, and no wonder since the star himself is from around here. 
Eric’s been buzzing about Black Hurricane – or more specifically Dean – and he’s told me over five times that they’re ending their tour in this city.

Eric pulls his white hair into a low ponytail, sky-blue eyes scanning the empty table on the platform. His white skin looks even paler against the deep-red sleeve as he tucks a few strands of hair behind his ears.

“I can’t believe this is happening, Jazz. I’m actually gonna see him,” Eric says, for the tenth time.

I roll my eyes as I slide myself further down in the uncomfortable plastic chair, fiddling with the sparkly pink tag hanging around my neck that screams Glitter Guys Magazine in huge letters. Eric has a matching one. He designed them this morning when he found out he had to have some sort of a tag from the magazine he’s representing. 

The buzz in the room dies down as a couple of people walk onto the platform.

Copyright © 2012 by Erica Pike

A Life Without You Excerpt

Chapter One

"Mmmh," Jesse groans on my pillow and stirs in his sleep.

My thigh was pressed against his when I woke up an hour ago, and it's still there, skin against warm skin. I'm afraid that if I move I'll spoil the beauty of having his naked body in my bed. So for now I lay on my side and watch him sleep.

The skin over his muscles relaxes and tightens as he breathes. I've admired his athletic build since I first saw him. It helped that I got to see him naked on the very first night he moved in.

I'd decided that morning to tell him early and give him a chance to move out if he wasn't cool with my sexuality. After the last guy left, I was sure whoever moved in would just move right back out after learning the truth about me.

As soon as I opened the door that morning and saw Jesse holding out his hand, my irritation evaporated in a flash. I shook his firm grip and gawked in fascination as with a smile, he introduced himself as Jesse Jefferson.

Now why I didn't tell him about my sexuality until a full twelve hours later is still a mystery.

"I hope you don't mind," he'd said after dropping his dusty blue jeans with a wry smile playing on his sensuous lips. "I always sleep naked, so if you see my admiral saluting in the morning, don't take it the wrong way, ‘kay?"

His frankness caught me off guard and he flashed me white teeth as he laughed. I didn't know whether to look at his too-touchable sun streaked hair or his beautifully exposed privates. He seemed so natural standing naked in front of another man that I didn't know what to think of it. I think I may have blushed.

When he finally ducked under his white sheet, I swallowed down my drool and undressed under my own sheet. My penis throbbed hard against my boxer briefs.

He turned off the lights. The throb kept time for at least half an hour as I stared at the ceiling. His breathing told me he was still awake.

I cleared my throat. "So, why are you moving in now? It's already been two weeks since school started."

"My roommate kicked me out because I sleep in the nude."

"That's tough," I said, willing my dick to relax.

"Why didn't you have a roommate?" he asked.

"Because I'm gay," I answered.

It was never a secret. I always answered truthfully whenever people asked.

Jesse, snuggled in his sheet, was quiet for a full second before his back convulsed in a rising laughter. "That's a good one," he said in between laughs. "I suppose I laid that one out for you. I like your humor, Adam. I'm sure we'll get along just fine."

Maybe I should've pursued it. It would have been easier for him to really know it and have his freak-out, before I grew to like him too much.

But a perverse part of me was curious to know when he would figure it out and how he would react. Mostly, I really didn't want him to leave. I thought if we became buddies first he might react more positively.

A month later and he still doesn't have a clue.

I watch his pure face on my pillow as he draws in slow breaths, so peacefully oblivious of my wild fantasies. The heat from his thigh is almost overbearing.

It's like I'm lying to him every day. He innocently says and does things that I snatch up and twist into something sexual in my dirty mind. We've become great buddies and I'd feel crushed if he left, but it's time to tell him how things are.

I wonder what he'll do when he wakes up. Jump out of bed with a scream? Tear the sheet off my body to cover himself and thereby reveal my hard-on? Shove his clothes on and move out? Or slide his arm around my body and kiss me, like I secretly dream about every single day? It's hard to guess.

Jesse groans again and shifts his body to lie on his back. His cock slides fully erect against my sheet as he moves. What I wouldn't give to be the object of his dreams right now.

I want to run my hands down his chest, feel the heat of his relaxed body, and let my palm rest on his slow breathing stomach. I want to tuck the other around his neck, push his head upwards, and then slowly lower myself into a kiss. How would he react to that? I could turn it into a joke if he'd get angry. He's very liberal as it is, so maybe it would be okay. He even smacks me on the butt and winks sometimes when he passes by. Can't I make homo jokes as well, or do such jokes only work between straight guys?

Maybe I should just pretend to be asleep when he wakes up.

My heart thuds in my ears when Jesse's eyelids flutter open halfway. A narrow beam of sunlight flashes in his eyes and bathes his honey-tanned skin in a golden hue. His eyes close and I'm afraid to breathe. These are my last moments of lying next to him with my thigh still pressed against his.

"Oh, man, what did I drink last night?" he says in a raspy voice and rubs his eyes with the heel of his palms.

"A lot," I say, and he jerks, clearly not expecting me to be so close.

He lowers his hands and rolls his head towards me. His eyes shift in and out of focus, like a camera lens trying to capture the best clarity. "What...? Why are you...?"

I can't help it. I push my face against my extra pillow where I lie on my stomach and keep one eye on him with smile on my lips.

"Why am I in your bed?" he asks and lifts the sheet to check. "Naked."

So far, so good, but under my pillow my hands are shaking badly. Even with my insides wrung with worry, I can't help but to tease him.

"How much of last night do you remember?" I ask, lifting my eyebrow.

"Remember?" His brow furrows and he rubs his face again. "Uh, we went to that pub, drank a lot, nearly fell into a fountain, and ate a lot of pineapple someone brought - which I'm never eating again, by the way. I'm pretty sure it was spiked." His hand slides under the sheet and rests on his stomach, just above the nicely outlined erection.

"And then we went to a party," I help and lift myself up to rest on my elbows.

"Yeah, we partied with some foreign exchange students... I didn't smoke anything, did I?" Jesse asks with a frown.

I shake my head and try to keep the corners of my mouth straight.

"Umm, we talked to some people, and...did Chester set himself on fire?"

"It was nothing serious. Eric used the fire extinguisher on him."

Does he really not remember the most crucial moment of my young college life?

"We played a game. Spin the Bottle?"

"Yes."

I swallow several times while I try to still my hands. It feels like my heart is beating in my throat. "And - and - and -" His brow furrows again. "We kissed?"

I gulp down a bucket-full of saliva before I answer in the best casual voice as I can manage. "When Eric challenged you to kiss a man and you wouldn't, he accused you of being insecure about your sexuality. So you kissed me - tongue and all. You're a very good kisser." I wiggle my eyebrows.

"Oh man. I'm so sorry about that," he says and moves to sit up. "Argh!" he groans between bared teeth. "Fuck! Why the hell does my ass hurt so much?" He slowly lowers himself back down.

"You don't remember that, eh?" I ask. I figured he didn't. He was very, very drunk. So drunk that he could hardly stand.

"No?" he responds, his voice reluctant. He's not facing me, but a tawny eye keeps glancing my way.

I inhale deeply. "Well, we came back here, and you wanted to kiss some more. One thing led to another..."

"No." He whips his head towards me, eyes wide. "I would never let a guy ass-fuck me. No way." His response was so fast that it had to have been the first thing that'd popped into his mind when he felt the pain earlier. Not surprising, with two guys naked in the same bed.

I raise myself up and lean over him. His eyes travel down my exposed body, stopping at where my erection is clearly visible under the sheet. "Actually, you fucked me," I murmur with a smirk. I'm having a hard time containing the laughter rumbling in the pit of my stomach, but at the same time I feel like I'm about to empty my stomach of whatever I drank last night. I take a few calming breaths through my nose as I watch him intently. His eyes widen when I move my hands on either side of him and gaze directly down into his eyes. "And when you saw how much I loved it, you wanted to try it too."

He shakes his head, just an inch to either side, eyes large, mouth half parted.

"Yes," I purr with a brief grin. "And although it hurt a little at first, you were moaning, and pleading, and begging me to fuck you harder until you came all over the sheets without either of us even touching your dick."

"No," he whispers. "No way."

His breath rattles when I bend down to brush my lips against his cheek. I rest my weight on one of my arms while the other gently runs through his soft hair. My finger travels down his cheek, jaw, neck and then circles a spot on his muscled chest. "And it looks like you're ready to go again," I whisper into his ear.

Neither of us move in the silence that follows. I don't know what's going through his head, but he's definitely holding his breath. My hand lies flat over his beating heart and I'm tempted to move it downwards, towards the body part that was awake long before the rest of him was.

Sandy blonde locks of hair curl lightly around his ear. His tanned neck is begging to be kissed, but I'm afraid to move. My heart beats so fast that Jesse has to be able to hear it, but his is beating just as fast.

Is Jesse gay after all? This is not the first time I've wondered. Maybe he wants me to kiss him, to release the tension in his lower regions. Without fully registering it, my lips are brushing against his jaw and down to the base of his neck where it meets his gorgeous shoulder. Jesse takes short, rattling breaths of air. I press my mouth against his neck very lightly, licking his skin through my parted lips. When he doesn't move I run a trail of soft kisses up his neck and then I graze my teeth on the soft, stubble-free skin of his jaw. But as I do, my cemented cock rubs against his.

With a startled yelp, he shoves me off and scrambles out of bed crab-style, hitting the floor hard. He looks so beautiful with his face contorted almost as if he's about to climax. Straight, white teeth flashing, jaws set, a little crease between his eyes. Tangled in the sheet, he drags himself away from my bed backwards, not taking his large eyes off me even for a fraction of a second. I look down his body and get a nice view of sexy feet with nicely curved insteps, lean-muscled legs, and his narrow hip that makes my cock drool every time.

"You." He stops to point a finger at me, sprawled wanton on the floor like I've seen him so many times in my fantasies. Only the look on his face is different. Instead of the lusty, needy gaze, I get a heated glare that looks just about as enticing. "You took advantage of me. I was drunk. That's rape!" he shouts, snapping me out of the gutter that is my mind. I didn't realize until now just how much I've scared him.

I'm still bent over where Jesse lay just a moment ago. "Relax, Jesse," I tell him. I try to smile, but my lips are trembling too much. My whole body is. "I'm messing with you. You fell hard on the pavement and I had to take you to the ER. You have a fractured tailbone and some bruising around your rectum."

He sits on his hip and stares at me.

When I push myself off the bed his eyes widen further at the sight of my hard-on. I know my cock is impressive - not a full nine inches, but close enough with a lot of girth. His is lovely as well, maybe half an inch shorter and a tiny bit thinner, but just right to make my mouth water whenever I have the privilege of seeing it - which is every night. Hell, I'll blow off anything not to miss Jesse going to bed.

"It's true," I say, trying to look serious. That feeling of nausea returns when I think about how I would feel if a girl claimed she'd fucked me in my drunken state. I have scared Jesse with my twisted sense of fantasy and humor, and now all I want to do is to caress the horror off his face. "I promise. I have the hospital bill to prove it."

I still have the sweet taste of his neck on my lips. I briefly wonder what could have happened if my dick hadn't brushed against his. If I'd gotten him to the point where his lust would have made it impossible for him to push me away. But then he would have hated me afterwards, and that's something I couldn't bear.

"That's not funny, Adam," he says after he finds his voice again. His shoulders slump down when the real reason for his pain has sunk in. "That's so not funny."

"You keep saying you like my humor," I say, not quite able to shake off my teasing despite all the twisting in my stomach.

"Not when I thought I'd been ass-fucked! Jeez, Adam. That is so not funny."

A nervous chuckle passes my lips and I reach out a hand. "Let me help you up."

"Put some pants on first," he says, still ogling my erection.

"What, I see yours all the time but you can't see mine? That's a little unfair, isn't it?" I say in a calm voice that, in no way, mirrors my aching guts. I'm scared shitless that he'll leave. This was not how I was going to reveal my sexuality to him.

"Pants," he repeats.

I lift my hands in defeat. "All right, all right."

I put on a pair of blue boxer briefs and help him up. I have to put my arm around his back to lift him because his injury is causing him so much pain, but the firm press of his shoulder blades against my chest sends a jolt down my underwear and my dick does a little throb.

"Dude! Don't stand so close to me," Jesse shouts, trying not to let his lower back touch my front. As a result there is no way he can shield himself when the sheet rolls off his body and pools around his feet. I see that his penis is still erect. He sees it, too.

"Morning wood. Don't get any ideas," he groans out while we make our way to our en suite bathroom.

"Wasn't gonna. You want me to help you in here?"

"No, I'm fine," he says and shuts the door in my face.

I close my eyes and rest my head against the bathroom wall. Jesse turns on the shower and then pees in the toilet with a long groan. I smile, even though my body is shaking and my heart is pounding. I don't think I could bear it if he left. My captivation has developed into something so unbearable that my chest hurts every time I think about it.

The touch of his skin still burns on mine. He was aroused even after his shock, fear, and pain. Although I can't allow myself to think anything of it I can't help wondering if the idea of having sex with a man excited him. Or was it my erect cock and my brief kisses?

My hand slides into my boxers. The skin is taut over the wet stiffness and I can't help myself from moving it back and forth, all the while thinking of Jesse on the other side of the wall. By the irregular water falling and splashing sounds, I know that he's in the shower running his soapy hands all over his perfect body. The splashing stops. I hear him force back his moans and I know that he's masturbating, too. I hold my breath while I work on myself, every stifled breath of Jesse's fizzing through me as if he were panting in my ear. It sounds as though his forehead is pressed against the wall and I can just picture him leaning against it with his arm over his head for support. When he draws in a sharp breath, a deep moan vibrates in my throat and I'm sure he heard it, because he stops - just like I do, with a thudding heart - but only for a second. I listen to his half-grunts, as I stroke my cock, and the fact that he probably knows what I'm doing on the other side of the wall brings me fast towards my limit.

I hear it when he comes, the deeply forced back grunt. I grind my teeth and hold my breath to keep from making a sound, but a low whimper seeps out when I come, too.

I wonder what will happen now. Maybe he will call me in and let me into the shower where we can jerk each other off. Maybe he will kiss me with his wet lips and run his hot, soft tongue into my mouth like he did last night. Maybe he will even let me drop to my knees and slide his cock between my lips. If he does then I'll suck him so hard and swallow every bit of him after.

These are wishful thoughts that will never come true. My stomach twists when I think about that reality and the hopelessness of it all.

God, the sweet taste of his lips is forever etched in my memory. He even wrapped an arm around my waist and fisted my t-shirt with his free hand last night, as if he didn't want to let me go. His swollen lips parted from mine and he laughed at whatever expression I had on my face. I wanted to tackle him, press him against the floor, rip his shirt off and run my lips over every inch of his hot body.

Instead I watched him walk off towards the beers and gulp them down. Eric raised his bottle to me and winked with his most mischievous smile. If the idiot thought he was doing me a favor, he was wrong.

I'm still standing with my fingers around my erect cock when Jesse turns off the shower. I yank my hand out, wipe it on my boxers, and change into a clean pair before he limps out the door with a thick towel around his middle and a deep blush in his cheeks.

"You okay?" I ask when he stops, trying to sound as if nothing happened a minute ago.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He is very focused on a pile of clothes at the foot of his bed, ones that haven't made it into the laundry basket yet.

The casual tone in both our voices sounds so fake, because our voices are a little higher than they should be.

"Why don't I get both of us dressed and then help you downstairs to the Box?" I say.

The Box is what we call our kitchen area. Most of the residence in this dorm are guys who don't bother to cook, so everywhere you look you'll see piles and piles of empty pizza boxes or other takeout cartons.

"No, no I'm fine," he says but bares his teeth when he moves again. "Jesus, Adam, you sure you didn't fuck me in your sleep or something, cause I get these stings all the way up my -"

"I'm sure," I try to reassure him with a smile and exhale in relief when I hear my voice go normal again. I find a pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt. "Though I'd be happy to do that if you want."

"You mean you really are gay?" Water drips onto his cheeks as his eyes move up to meet mine.

That ache in my stomach returns while I watch his face closely. Is he going to leave?

"Yes I am," I say after a short moment of silence. "Is that a problem?"

"No," he says after a minute and drops his gaze. "No, I don't discriminate against people that way. I mean, as long as you keep your...your -"

"Penis?" I help.

"Yes. Keep it away from me and we're fine. And don't kiss me again."

"You kissed me," I point out while I button my jeans.

"I mean like you did this morning."

"Sorry," I say with a forced-back smile while I find him some clothes. "I really didn't think you'd take me seriously. And maybe I took the joke a little too far."

"Ya think?"

I bite back a chuckle. "You've always been able to take a joke. You really believed that story, huh?" Most of his clothes are dirty, but I find a pair of grey sports pants that look clean enough and a wrinkled t-shirt stuffed in the corner of one of his drawers.

"With the pain in my ass? Of course I did. Wouldn't you have?"

I shrug, but I can't help smiling. It doesn't look like he's moving out.

"Sorry. I promise to keep my penis to myself, but I'll have to help you dress. The doctor said you'd need help with that sort of thing for a few days."

Jesse nods, his attention now focused on the only piece of clothing on the floor that belongs to me. My blue boxers.

Excerpt: The Walls Have Ears

Harley has a strange relationship with the guy on the other side of his wall...

Excerpt for The Walls Have Ears:

The walls have ears, or more like, the guy on the other side of the wall has ears…and a lovely voice. His moans are deep and sensual. They drive me nuts every time I masturbate to his grunts, like I’ve been doing almost every night since moving in.

I had been dreading going off to live with some stranger in the deep, dark forest that is Philadelphia. The rustle and bustle of city life was scary for a small-town boy like me. It didn’t help that the people I knew, who’d been to Philly, took great joy in stuffing my head full with stories of serial killers, mobsters, and nasty dorm mates. That last part scared the hell out of me, because I was a green-horned little girly-guy. I was sure I’d be pushed down and fucked by the first guy to cross my path. Of course, the idea of being fucked wasn’t all that unappealing, but I didn’t want to be made into the dorm’s butt boy or anything.

Naturally, nothing of the sort happened and I really hit the jackpot with my roommate Ryan. We don’t really run in the same circles. It’s not that he wouldn’t hang out with me if I asked; it’s just that he’s a very busy guy with his sports and other multiple after-school activities. The guy is so busy he barely stays in our small dorm apartment, so it’s almost as if I have it all to myself, which is another plus.

However, it isn’t Ryan who’s moaning so deeply on the other side of the wall. There’s a whole living room-slash-kitchen area between mine and Ryan’s rooms. No, the neighbor is one of the two smoldering hot guys who live in the apartment next to ours.

On my first night here, I was just about to fall asleep on the wooden bed, under my green comforter, when I heard these low, sexy grunts coming from the other side of the wall. He wasn’t alone. In between his deep groans were low gasps and moans coming from another guy. My cock immediately perked up at the sweet sounds. I jerked off as quietly as I could and came hard just about the time the owner of the deep voice did.

There were more nights like that. The guy had a lot of partners, and sometimes it was just him alone. Lately it’s just been him and me. See, one night, about a month ago, we were both getting off on each side of the wall. When he let out a particularly long and sensual groan, my own voice slipped with a low moan. I practically heard him stop for a few seconds, but then he continued and groaned again, only a little higher this time. I was curious, embarrassed, and thrilled all at the same time. Instead of stopping, I kept at it and let out an experimental moan. My neighbor’s voice grew louder and from the sound of things he was definitely masturbating. We ended up fisting our cocks, vocalizing our pleasures with moans, groans, grunts, and gasps until we climaxed. I hid under the comforter after that with a mind spinning like a hula hoop. I thought he’d want us to talk and that would only get me embarrassed, but he never said anything. We did, however, repeat the game every night after that.

With knees pressed in the thick mattress, I lean my head against the red wall with labored breaths. I yank on my cock so fast my vision goes blurry. He breathes equally hard on the other side. His forehead bumps against the wall, right against mine with only the thin wall between us.

“Fuck,” I whisper when the wonderful tightness in my balls gathers in a knot.

He groans deeply in response, which coaxes out a moan from me just before I cry out my groin-twisting ecstasy. His lovely voice lets out a series of deep grunts as he comes. We know each other’s voices so well now that we automatically tune in on each other’s rhythm and almost always come at the same time.

After my boneless body slumps down on the bed, I reach for tissues to wipe myself off. My neighbor runs his fingers along the wall and rustles about, maybe wiping himself off too or getting comfortable on the bed. When all is quiet again, he strokes the wall and whispers good night to me.

“Good night,” I murmur back just before curling up and dozing off.

Excerpt: Grade-A-Sex Deal

Excerpt for Grade-A-Sex Deal:


A light knock on the door brings me out of my misery. The only perk of this job is about to enter, and perky he is indeed.


Troy Anderson pokes his beautiful face into my office, swings his slim, athletic body inside and locks the door behind him.


“Come in,” I say calmly to the young kid who only ever wears skin-tight jeans and sleeveless tops. My guess is that he does it just to tease me. I can’t take my eyes off his thin waist and nicely toned biceps and whenever he catches me ogling, he shoots me a smirk.


“What can I do for you, Troy?”


“You can give me an A on that exam you’re making,” Troy replies in his low, seductive voice. His blue eyes scan the table in front of me. Out of habit I pull a folder over my notes.


“And why would I do that?” I ask in my monotone teaching voice.


Troy’s full lips quirk into a smirk. “Because we have a deal.”


He walks to my desk and traces the edge with a long finger. My eyes follow that finger where it slides off the wood and lands on his growing bulge.


“The deal’s off,” I state matter-of-factly.


An old magazine lies on top of my screen. I grab it and pretend to sink my consciousness in the wonders of the South-American rainforests while everything within me is fantasizing about what he keeps hidden in those jeans.


“No way,” Troy says with a confident smile in his voice. “I haven’t been coming to see you every week for you to bail out now. The exam is next week.”


I count down a full minute before I lower the magazine to answer. “I’m very well aware of that, Mr. Anderson, but you didn’t show up last Monday night. You broke the deal.”


“Oh come on, I was studying,” he says and for the first time I hear a crack in his resolve. It surprises me so much that my eyes fly up to meet his. That gorgeous, sandy-blond hair half covers one of his blue eyes and sweeps the curve of his neck. His slender jaw flexes on his tanned face as he swallows.


“What do you propose?” I ask calmly, trying hard not to reveal how much he affects me. His mere presence is enough to have me jumping hoops. Yes, we do have a grade-A-sex deal, but the more we meet the more I like having him around.

Excerpt: Hot Hands

Excerpt for Hot Hands:

I try to act casual as I walk down the empty hallway, plotting a way to counter Joey’s attack. But when I stop by a small dark space ready to twist around and tackle back, I get pushed into the darkness with speed I didn’t know Joey possessed. My school bag drops to the floor with a thud.

“Joey!” I yelp in surprise as my face is pressed against a wall.

“Joey?” a deep voice vibrates from the back of my neck. 

I gasp out loud. This isn’t Joey. Joey’s voice is much higher. 

“What do you want?” I ask through rattling breaths and a heart that’s ready to pop.

“What do you think I want?” he growls into my ear.

Oh God, when he says it like that, it’s pretty clear. I can’t believe this is happening right here in school. With my mind going numb, I try to escape, but he’s a good six inches taller than me and he’s strong. He pins my wrists to my back and pushes me into a dark room. I’m about to scream for help, when I feel his big hand on my ass. Hot and gentle.

Hot-Hands.

Absolutely Eric Excerpt

Hi guys :) We have an "official" excerpt ready for Absolutely Eric! I'm really excited about sharing this story with the world. It'll probably always remain my favorite simply for Eric himself. 

Anyway, excerpt!

I browse through the aisles and aisles of shelves at the bookshop. I could spend the whole day browsing because I love stationery and read just about any genre. When I’m running my finger along a shelf in the classical section, enjoying the musty smell of books, I bump into someone who drops a whole lot of something at the impact. I fill my lungs and get ready to gush out apologies when I see who it is.

Black shoes, black pants, black woolen coat, sexy smile, cute nose, caramel skin, and deep brown eyes. My heart hurls into overdrive.

“Hey there, Eric. I didn’t expect to see you here. That looks so great on you,” he says, gesturing at my outfit.

“Cute, right?” is all I can think of saying.

“Yeah,” he says with one corner of his lips twisted into a smile. “Adorable.”

I get all tingly when he says stuff like that. Neither of us seems to know what to say next, so we dive down to gather his mountain of books. A shop assistant comes rushing with a hand basket for Alex.

I grab a number of romance novels and a few non-fics. “You sure are buying a lot of books. Is Terry that boring?”

Alex laughs and dumps some of the books into the basket. “No, I’m just scouting authors. We get a lot of queries, but sometimes you want to go on a spying mission to see if there’s anyone with great potential.”

“Ooh, spying mission? Hence the black outfit, right? I can’t wait to become an editor.”

Alex exhales a laugh. “What are you buying?”

“Gay romance,” I answer with a grin, thrusting a few covers in his face. “I like the humorous ones with a good plot. I hear these are excellent. Wanna borrow them after I’m done?”

Alex stuffs the rest his books in the basket and reads the cover of one of my novels while we stand up. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“You know, your publishing house doesn’t have a real focus on anything specific. Maybe you should be focusing on a few genres, like GLBT?”

He glances up from the book. “The sales are too low. It would be better to start a subsidiary and maybe go electronic only if I went into something like that.”

“Oh, yeah.” I take back the book and hand him the next. “You could specialize in high quality stories only. I hate it when I buy a romance that turns out to be about nothing. Then you could transfer the magazine over to the GLBT company and use it to advertise the books. Only you seriously need to change the name of the magazine. Gay Guys Magazine? Did you come up with that?”

“Yeah, I spent two months coming up with a name, and that’s the best I could do. Macy and the others weren’t much help either.”

I grab a pack of cute figure pencils on our way to the cashier.

“Honestly, anything would’ve been better.”

“Like?”

“Like, Glitter Guys Magazine,” I say, spreading my hands out in an arch while I visualize the name.

Alex bites his lower lip to suppress a laugh. “Glitter Guys?”

“Yeah, and you could pep it up a little. More free, fun, and fashion, less negative boring stuff. People would definitely buy that.”

“But the ‘negative boring stuff’ is important, too. It’s about serious issues facing our kind, you know?”

“Well yeah, but you could still pep it up. Less newspaper-y and more glitzy-magazine-y.”

“Maybe I should make you the chief editor of Glitter Guys Magazine, and if it goes well I could consider adding a GLBT department.”

“I’d turn the magazine’s sales around before you could say ‘bend me over and call me Kevin.’”

Alex laughs and takes his bag from the flush-faced cashier and thanks her with a nod.

“But seriously, the magazine is turning out to be too much work for me because I want to expand the company. Do you want to give it a go before I decide if I’m going to cancel it?”

“Really? Would I get better salary?” I stuff my hat on and fix my shades.

“Of course. Chief editors always get a better salary, but I wouldn’t expect you to start until after your finals.”

“That would be great!”

I can’t stop grinning. I’m feeling all gleeful about the prospects of being a real editor. And a chief editor at that.

“Want to talk specifics over coffee?” Alex asks.

Study for a test or have coffee with Alex? Why did I even hesitate?

We stroll through the park by the mall. The weather is surprisingly good for this time of year, and I even zip down my coat when the heat is too much. My body sways a little with the good beat of dance music playing somewhere close by, which has Alex smiling whenever he looks at me. Especially when I start humming along with it.

“So, that ex of yours. He’s totally different from Terry. I mean, he’s even shorter than I am, and that’s saying a lot at only five-six.”

Alex shrugs. “What can I say? Small guys usually catch my eye.”

I kick a loose rock ahead of me as we walk. “But why? Do you have a Tom Cruise fetish or something?”

“No,” Alex chuckles. “I guess I just find them more attractive, and they’re the perfect cuddle size.”

I smile. “But Terry isn’t short or a cuddler. I know that for a fact.”

Alex ducks a low tree branch while I sail right under.

“He makes up for that by being nice, thoughtful, and considerate. And very, very understanding,” says Alex.

I guess that means Terry forgave Alex for the make out incident at Clash last Friday.

“Plus he’s got a hot body,” I say with a tight smile.

Alex nods. “Yes, he does.”

I skip up on one of the many benches along the path and jump back down at the end of it.

“But I really prefer short and sweet over tall and buff,” he continues. “It’s always been like that.”

I get ready to jump onto the next bench.

“Plus, when I’m with someone as tall as Terry I can’t do this.” He yanks the fluffy hat off my head and holds it high in the air.

“Hey!” I protest, trying to look indignant while suppressing the giggles. “I may be small, but I make up for it in other ways.”

“Yeah? Like how?”

He dangles the hat just above my head, trying to bait me into making a grab for it.

“Like this!” I jump onto the bench and fling myself at Alex spider-monkey style. He instinctively drops the hat and catches me. As I sit in his arms with my legs on either side of his waist, I manage to grab the hat as it falls through the air. My shades hang askew so I remove them and stuff ’em into my pocket.

“See? I have a sixth sense for people’s weaknesses, and I don’t hesitate to use it against them.”

“You think you’re my weakness?” he asks, his face so close to mine. I can see that he’s freshly shaven and his usual smell of cologne and soap has my nostrils flaring as I inhale.

“Mmn,” I mumble, wracking my brain for something clever to say. “My sixth sense tells me that you would drop anything to help a person in need.”

Alex just looks at me for a moment without speaking and then smiles. “Looks like you’ve got me all figured out.”

I climb from his arms onto his back and wrap my arms around his neck. His arms automatically loop around my knees to support me.

“Yup, and because I got my hat back so easily you have to carry me over to that ice cream shop over there and buy me a triple-flavor.”

I rest my head on his shoulder and feel the vibration in his body as he speaks.

“Are you kidding? It’s too cold for ice cream.”

“Let’s see…” I say, ignoring his comment. “I’m in the mood for a mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, and pistachio almond with hot fudge.”

My hair sways back and forth when Alex starts walking towards the shop with me leeched on his back.

“That has to be the weirdest combo ever,” he says with a chuckle.

“Jeez, don’t trash it before you taste it. I bet you’re a lame-ass vanilla guy.”

“Mm, nope. I like strawberries.”

I smile against his shoulder while I inhale his scent again mixed with my strawberry-scented hair. Was that a double meaning there?

“FYI,” I say while he walks, “that’s a monstrous banana in my pocket that’s sticking into your back.”

“Didn’t think it was anything else.”

I grin and tighten my hold on him with both arms and knees.

The music gets louder the closer we get to the ice cream shop. I spot four black and two white girls showing each other dance moves by an old-fashioned boom box.

“Hey, that’s Brianna and Taylor from school.” I point at two of the black girls with long brown braids wearing identical clothes.

“Want to go and say, ‘Hi’?” Alex asks, already heading in their direction.

They jog over to us when they see me.

“So why aren’t you two studying for the surprise test tomorrow?” I ask when they’re close enough.

Brianna’s eyes grow large. “There’s a surprise test tomorrow?”

“Well, yeah,” I say, as if everyone should know by now. “History class.”

“How can it be a surprise test if you already know about it?” Alex asks, tightening his hold on my knees when I try to get down.

“A good student never reveals his sources,” I say.

Taylor pulls her long braid over her mouth when she giggles.

“And you’re not studying because…?” Alex asks.

Brianna puts a hand on her hip. “Because he’s a smart ass who always gets A+ in everything. He’s probably already memorized the book.”

“So not true,” I protest. “I still have a chapter to go.”

“Is this your boyfriend?” Taylor asks, glancing up at Alex while her sister bluntly checks him out.

“Yeah,” I say in my girl-chat voice, “isn’t he cute?” I reach forward and smooch Alex’s cheek.

Alex twitches and loosens his grip on my knees. I use the opportunity to slide down.

“Then you must be Rafael,” says Taylor and reaches out a hand for Alex to shake.

“I’m Alexander,” he says as he shakes it.

He only ever uses that name when he’s introducing himself to business colleagues, and hearing him say it now sends hot goose bumps crawling all over my skin.

Taylor’s eyes widen. “Eric, are you two-timing Rafael?”

“Now, why would you automatically jump to that conclusion? Maybe Rafael and I broke up?”

“Did you?” she asks.

I roll my eyes with a dramatic sigh. “No, we didn’t, and no, I’m not two-timing him. I’m not a sorority skank like you, Taylor.”

Taylor covers her mouth again and giggles.

“Well, maybe you would be if you’d followed through with that gayrority  idea of yours,” says Brianna.

We stroll over to the other girls who are watching us.

“They wouldn’t give me a house big enough to found one.”

“Why the hell would you need a big house? Aren’t there, like, five gay guys in our school?”

I purposefully snort. “That you know of. I, for one, know of loads and loads of closet cases who are just waiting for the right opportunity to come out. A gayrority would be a perfect place for them to learn and grow until they’re comfortable enough to go man hunting on their own.”

“Uh huh,” says Brianna. “And I bet you’d be the one to give them that personal guidance yourself?”

“Of course, I’d have to get some kinda repayment, but seriously, Henry from law took over the whole thing; he’s working on it.”

I grab Taylor and place my arm around her shoulders. “So, Taylor. Are you still seeing that gorgeous what’s-his-name with the big biceps?”

Brianna snorts. “She dumped his sorry ass. He asked if he could do Taylor and me at the same time, which is just gross.”

“But you’re identical twins. Wouldn’t it be like having sex with yourself?”

Brianna rolls her eyes. “Guys…”

“Oh, I know,” I say sympathetically as we stop by the quiet boom box. “We’re such bastards. One lover is never enough.”

“Girls, this is Eric; Eric this is the girls,” Brianna introduces. “Oh, and that’s probably one of Eric’s fuck buddies, Alexander.”

I glance up at Alex and snicker when I see his perplexed face. He meets my eyes, and I try to play it cool with a shrug.

“That’s Eric? Will you show us some of your dance moves?” one of the girl asks, walking along with the rest to surround us.

“I see my reputation precedes me, but I don’t wanna put you girls to shame.”

Brianna puts both her hands on her hips. “You’re so full of yourself, Gayman. Come on.”

Alex nudges my shoulder with his fist. “Yeah, come on, Gayman.”

I turn to him and stick my finger in his face. “I’ll have you know that if I were the superhero Gayman, I’d go home with Spiderman every night just to get to have sex on the ceiling. I’d be the awesome-est, sexiest hero and stun the villains with my wicked moves.”

“More like with what comes out of your mouth,” says Alex, shoulders shrugging with chuckles.

I give Alex my best Hugh Laurie glare before I turn to Brianna. “Fine, you evil twin from hell.” I shrug off my coat and dispose of my mittens, scarf, and hat. “But you girls have to dance too.”

“Fine,” Brianna says with a triumphant gleam in her ever scheming eyes. “What’ll it be?” Her baggy pants rumple as she squats down by the boom box.

I take my position on the square area of tiles that currently acts as a dance floor. “Anything with a good beat in it.”

“This one’s perfect for you,” Brianna mumbles and volumes up a remix version of Black Eyed Peas’ “Pump It.”

Locks of hair fly out of my hair tie as I shake my hips and do my thing. The girls try to copy me, and there’s a lot of laughing, a bit of falling, and a whole lot of body bumping.

“How about you, old man?” I ask Alex, who’s watching with a sexy smile on his face. “Know any moves?”

“Of course I do,” he calls back over the music. “I’m gay, aren’t I?”

I roll my eyes while he slides off his coat, revealing one of the pink shirts I made him buy. So damn sexy.