Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Cover Reveal For Adios By Bethany Lopez

~ COVER REVEAL ~

Title: Adios

Series: Stories about Melissa, book 6

Author: Bethany Lopez

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Cover Design: Makeready Designs

Release Date: Dec 16, 2015


Junior year is halfway over and Melissa is thrilled to be going with Jess, Jimmy, and Brian to Cabo San Lucas for Spring Break. Things at home haven't been great, and she could use the break that the sun and sand of Mexico is sure to bring. But things don't go as planned and the perfect vacation changes things for Melissa and her friends. Will the damage done be permanent and will life at home ever get back to the way it used to be?


Special Pre-order Price - $.99







If you haven't read the other books in this YA series, now's the perfect time to get caught up!

~ SERIES SALE ~


The Stories about Melissa series is a coming of age series that follows Melissa, her family, and her friends. Similar to Sweet Valley High, each book is novella length. There will be eight books in the series.

Stories about Melissa reading order:

Ta Ta for Now! (Book 1, FREE)






xoxoxo (Book 2, 99cents)


Ciao (Book 3, 99cents) 






TTYL (Book 4, 99cents) 






With Love (Book 5, 99cents) 





Thursday, August 13, 2015

Lady Reader's Bookstuff Tours Presents The Last Of The FireDrakes By Farah Oomerbhoy Virtual Book Tour

About The Book:
The Last of the Firedrakes By: Farah Oomerbhoy Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing Pub Date: August 15, 2015 Pages: 488 Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
A fantastic adventure story that will transport you to a dazzling world of myth and magic. 16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad. Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way.  Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear. With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.
Pre-Sale / Purchase Links:
About The Author:
For Farah Oomerbhoy, writing is a passion and reading her solace. She is a firm believer in the fantastic and magical, and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. Farah lives with her husband and three children in their family home in Mumbai, India. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Mumbai.  Farah's first novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of the Avalonia Chronicles will be published worldwide August 15th, 2015.
Website |Twitter |Instagram |Pinterest |Goodreads |Wattpad |Facebook
Pre-Sale Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Firedrake Facebook Party:

Don't miss the 2-day Facebook Party to celebrate the release of THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES, featuring several guest authors, lots of prizes and even a few secrets. 


https://www.facebook.com/events/1005203076178206/

August 14th and August 15th 10am - 8pm Eastern Time.
Event Hosted by:

Friday, July 3, 2015

Be the One (Crave #2) by Nina Levine On Sale For 2.99 *Limited Time*


Synopsis:

Presley & Jett's story continues.

Jett Vaughn has one thing on his mind these days - Presley Hart. He will do anything it takes to make her his. At least, he thinks he will.

Presley Hart wants one thing in life - a man who will make her his number one. After being married to a man who never put her first, she swore she'd never settle for second best again. At least, she thought she wouldn't.

When Jett's life comes crashing down around him, his flaws are laid bare for all to see. Presley stands by her man but there's only so much she can do to help him. She loves him and wants to be with him but she has her limits and Jett's about to reach them.

In the midst of hurt, loss and destruction, can love win out? Can a man who is struggling to find his way, show the woman he loves just how much he wants her to be the one? Or is there only so much a heart can take before enough's enough? 

Goodreads:

★★★ Love a HOT ROCKSTAR ROMANCE? Be The One by Nina Levine is LIVE! ★★★

** SPECIAL RELEASE PRICE OF $2.99 - LIMITED TIME ONLY **








GOOGLE PLAY: http://bit.ly/1TR8Agn

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

BOYSTOWN Season Three by Jake Biondi Book Review


BOYSTOWN Season Three

“The wait is almost over,” Biondi told fans of his ‘BOYSTOWN’ book series. “Due to the success of the first two books in the series, fans from all over the country have been emailing me to know when the third book would be released. They want to know what’s coming next for their favorite characters and couples. Well, their wait is finally over.”

Biondi added, “’BOYSTOWN’ fans are the best. I am so humbled by and grateful for my readers and their positive response to the books. I regularly receive notes from fans who are connecting with the characters and want to know what the future holds for them.”

Biondi promises that readers won’t be disappointed. “’Season Three’ picks up with the aftermath of the New Year’s Eve explosion. While I won’t reveal who lives and who dies, I will say this: lives will be forever changed.” Biondi also previews that ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three’ continues the storylines from the first two books while introducing new ones -- and some hot new characters, too!

As in his second book, Biondi pays tribute to and features some of his favorite performers in ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three.’ The “Whiskey & Cherries” trio, singer Amy Armstrong, and pop sensation Steve Grand are all featured in the third ‘BOYSTOWN’ book. “Meredith, Danielle, and I are thrilled to again be written into the ‘BOYSTOWN’ series. As an avid fan of our musical trio Whiskey & Cherries, Jake Biondi has included us as the musical entertainment for the fundraiser at the end of the book. As in book two, it’s always exciting to read about yourself interacting with the primary characters and being a part of the never-ending twists and turns in the brilliant plot line,” said Brian Felder of W&C. Amy Armstrong added, “I’m so excited that I got to be a part of this outstanding series.”

The ‘BOYSTOWN’ series has a fascinating history. It began as an online story released in installments, each ending with a cliffhanger that left readers wondering what would happen to their favorite characters. Enthusiastic ‘BOYSTOWN’ fans from all over the world petitioned Biondi to release the installments more quickly; they simply couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Overwhelmed by and grateful for the fans’ responses to the series, Biondi began to write more quickly.

In 2013, Biondi published the first ten ‘episodes’ in book form as ‘BOYSTOWN Season One.’ The sequel, ‘BOYSTOWN Season Two,’ was released in July of 2014. Ending in a spectacular cliffhanger, ‘Season Two’ left the lives of several main characters in peril. Readers were left wondering who would survive and what would happen next. Now, ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three’ answers readers’ questions and, of course, provides even more twists and turns for the fans.

Early reviews of ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three’ are very positive. Journalist and ‘BOYSTOWN’ fan Dustin Shrader, who previewed the book, said, “Iconic writer Jake Biondi has done it again. ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three’ is an emotional roller coaster with page after page of twisting thrills and crafty curveballs coming along at such speed that readers are left breathless. They will not want to get off this ride.” Editor and ‘BOYSTOWN’ fan Lisa Tepper said, “This story is amazing; it's filled with excitement, drama, romance...you name it, it has it.”

Biondi sponsored a nationwide search for models whose images would be used in promotions for the ‘BOYSTOWN’ series. These handsome men have come to be known by fans and readers as the ‘BOYSTOWN Boys.’ BOYSTOWN’S Director of Art, Design & Advertising Michael Vargas designed the fantastic book cover for ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three.’ The cover features several of these famous ‘BOYSTOWN Boys.’

Like the first two books, ‘BOYSTOWN Season Three’ will be available at bookstores across the country as well at online at amazon.com, bn.com, and itunes. The series is available in paperback and all e-book formats. Readers may also order autographed paperback copies of the books directly from Biondi’s website: www.JakeBiondi.com

For additional information or to schedule an interview with author Jake Biondi, please send an email to BoystownTheSeries@yahoo.com.



Review:

Okay, so let me start this review out by saying I have typed this review 11 times and deleted it 11 times because after reading this story I was amazed, shocked, stunned, and everything in between! I mean I was literally brain fu&^%$! I mean, I have never read a story like this one. 

BOYSTOWN is written in "episodes," each ending in a cliffhanger. As you go through the episodes things start to heat up and you're like, holy eff what the hell is going on? 

So we have Jesse and Cole who are in college and they are graduating and looking for jobs. They have both found their dream jobs in Chicago and are looking forward to graduating and starting their new lives.

Then you have the happy couple Joyelle and Derek. They are the perfect couple as Derek travels for work and Joyelle is an ER nurse and loves her job. They have been married for years and Joyelle is ready for more. She wants to make her family complete. But there is one thing about one of these individuals that will rock this relationship to the core. Will they survive this or will they walk away from each other?

Emmett and Keith are the perfect couple. They are so in love and do everything together. So much so that Keith is planning on doing something special for Emmett. But just as Keith thinks he is going to get his HEA, someone has decided that he will not get his HEA yet, and they plan on doing something very very naughty. Will Keith and Emmett survive this new (or old) threat to their relationship? Will someone try and hurt them? I will say this I LOVE Emmett and if something happens to him I will be flying to Chicago a lot sooner.... hint hint Jake!

Max and Logan have been together for a long time and everything seems to be spiraling out of control. One of them has a drinking problem and the other is left trying to help him when he does not want help. So what do you do when the person you love does not want you anymore? Do you move on quietly or do you fight like hell for the person you love to keep them even though you know they don't want you?

See what I mean? So much going on with these characters and then we add to the mix some other characters like Jacqueline who is one of the character's mother who finds herself in a relationship with someone younger and when her son finds out who it is, all hell is going to break lose because that guy has a HUGE secret and when it comes out, I don't think anyone will be left standing.
Then we have Ben who is connected to two of the characters and is falling in love with one of them but when the secrets and lies come to the forefront, all hell is going to break lose. Whoop whoop! What drama we get from my man Ben. He is a chocolate God, sex on wheels but I would not want to be him when shit happens.......

Then we have Nick, Todd, and Justin who are related to some of the characters by blood and by relationships and boy oh boy when the drama unfolds and shit hits the fan and the police are called who will be left standing and who will be dead??

Oh and that police officer is actually detective Michael Martinez and boy does he have a story to tell. Lord, makes me need some ice cold water something fierce because I was feeling very feverish reading about Michael. lordy....... lordy..... lordy.... CALIENTE! 

So Boystown is a real place in Chicago and after reading this book, I told my husband I need to go there and visit because I have this image in my head that Jake put in it and I just have to go there and visit and get my book signed by Jake. I am so fan girling it is not funny. I mean I want to be in his brain so bad because that ending was like WTF? Really Jake? No you did not! Man oh man why is one of my favorite characters there? 

This is a MUST READ male/male and male/female book but most of all I felt like I was there right in front of the characters living their lives with them, going through all their ups and downs and all their pain and grief they had. Jake you are BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Review:

Holy Boystown has done it again!

I am not sure where the hell my review went but here we go again.

Boystown season two picks up right where season one left off and holy mother lover it starts off with a bang. There is so much going on between the characters and there is an introduction of new characters and some are good and some are bad.

What would this story be like without the relationship drama and man oh man what a bomb shell happens when a couple ends up together that no one expects and they get married. Then another couple ends up together and engaged and there is so much drama going on around them that they will have an uphill battle to stay together. Then another couple are in hiding because they want to be together but they can't.

As if things are not popping off we have a character who is set on getting the person of his dreams. Jake has set up such a remarkable story that once you start reading you can't put it down. You need it no matter what because you need to know what is going to happen next! 

I need season three right now!


Review:

First off I have to say that Jake has created a series that is incredible and should become a TV series because it is so good you need to see the characters live once you have read the book. I started following and stalking Jake after reading Boystown Season One.

The first season describes the characters and builds up to a climatic ending and then season two picks right up where season one leaves off and you start to see the characters for who they are and what they want. In season two you also get lots of twists and turns and things start to kick off before the new year.

Season Three picks up on New Years Eve and lordy lordy I have to say that Jake really had me on the edge of my seat because there are pregnancies, cheating, drinking, attempted murders and maybe the most shocking is one of my favorite love to hate characters is shot and may be dead. All the couples are in the thick of things and we get to meet new characters and find out who mugged Cole. We also get to find out who Jesse's father is.

Stuff is popping off and this is a MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need season four right now!



















Friday, June 19, 2015

Lady Reader Bookstuff Tours Presents Post-Traumatic Brazilian Wax Syndrome (Paperback) by Tamara Lyon

About The Book:

Post-Traumatic Brazilian Wax Syndrome By: Tamara Lyon Pages: 348 Published: May 29, 2015

Bristow Sparks, an interior designer in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has just landed the contract of a lifetime, working for the Cherry Wyeland, volatile reality star and CEO of Wine-A-Lot. Designing for a crazy person is an around-the-clock commitment. It frays Bristow’s nerves and forces her to compromise in unimaginable ways, but, given that the finished product will be featured on The Decorating Network, she must succeed.

While her professional life is hot, her personal life is barely room temperature. After surviving the relentless media spotlight because of a personal tragedy and a traitorous ex-boyfriend, Bristow flies so far under the radar she can’t even be detected. A homebody to the core, she binges on episodes of the Showtime series, Dexter, lives in sweatpants, and is addicted to exercise and Oreos.

As for relationships? She has fallen hard and fast for witty and adventurous Jack Hoffmann. However, after their disastrous first date where Bristow collides with a park bench among other mortifying mishaps, they are unfortunately just friends. At least there’s one male sharing her bed, even if it’s only Vegas, her theatrical golden retriever.

For her twenty-ninth birthday, Bristow goes out of her comfort zone and gets a makeover at an elite spa. Post-Brazilian wax and in excruciating pain, Bristow realizes that she’s been in a post-traumatic state for years. She vows to start taking risks again. When she finally goes after what and whom she wants, no matter the cost, tragedy strikes again . . .
Purchase The Book:
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Review:

Okay as most of you know I love a good book that makes me laugh and gets me frustrated all at the same time and this book did that for me. I loved it from the beginning to the end. I mean I laughed so hard at times I cried and my husband said what the heck is so funny so I asked him did he know what a Brazilian Wax was and he said no does it come Brazil? I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair and proceeded to tell him and show him on google what it was and his answer was holy hell I would never do that! Are these women crazy or what? Laughing I said women will do what they have to do to be beautiful.

This story is so much more than the was though and I loved all the characters because they fit in place and they all had their say and I loved that. You know sometimes some characters like the main ones get most of the book but this was equal and fun and I need to read another book by Tamara soon because lord she had me hooked and laughing and wanting to try a Brazilian Wax for myself but I decided HELL NO bush here we go!

Excerpt:

For those of you who are blissfully ignorant as to what a Brazilian wax is, allow me to enlighten you. All of the pubic hair is removed, or, in more accurate terms, wrenched out by the roots through a barbaric, insidious waxing process. 

Sounds like fun, right? Currently post-Brazilian, I’m trembling, disgustingly sweaty, and on the verge of fainting. My crotch is a raging inferno. 

Yes—I’m exaggerating a bit. Flames aren’t shooting out of there. No fire extinguisher needed. No stop, drop, and roll required. Although how that technique would work in this instance, I’m not sure. Clench, drop, and roll?

Since I’m a worst-case scenario gal, I have serious concerns. What if I end up with an infection or weird skin disease? What if it hurts like this for months? Will I have to waddle like a duck so it doesn’t chafe? What if the hair never grows back? Or, what if it grows back in strange patches and I’m forced to do this again so that I won’t look like a mutant? What if my nerves have been permanently damaged down there? What if—and this would be devastating—I’ve ruined my chances of enjoying sex?

To ease my fears, I should take a look at the poor thing to make sure that I’m not horribly disfigured or in need of emergency medical care. I hike up my skirt and bravely yank my underwear down to my knees. With one eye squeezed shut, I tentatively peek and discover sparse drops of dried blood on my swollen and bright pink mound. 

That can’t be right! I must be seeing things! I’m going to need twenty-twenty vision for this inspection. I force my closed eye open. With my skirt bunched and awkwardly tucked under my drenched armpit, I widen my stance and curl my upper body downward for an up close and personal view.

Yep, blood. Granted, a few droplets don’t qualify as a catastrophe. It’s nothing to indicate how much pain I’m in or the torture I endured for twenty-three minutes fifteen and a half seconds according to the bronze wall clock in the torture chamber, otherwise known as the waxing room.  
The worst part is that I willingly subjected myself to this heinously trendy atrocity. And for what? To turn myself into a modern and sophisticated woman in hopes that a man might find my disturbingly pre-pubescent vulva beautiful? Not that I would let any man near my crotch. Well, except for one . . . only he doesn’t want anything to do with that part of my anatomy because we’re just friends.
Follow The Tour:
June 15th – Heather Ann's Book Reviews – Review

June 16th – J & J Book Bangers – Review 

June 17th – Bookish Lifestyle – Review 

June 18th – A Diary of A Book Addict – Review 

June 18th – Room With Books – Review 

June 19th – Laura's Interests – Review/Top Ten

June 19th – All For The Love of the Word – Character Interview/Top Ten

June 19th – Books & Bling – Author Interview 

June 19th – The Reader and The Chef – Review 

June 19th – Pixie Vixen Book Reviews – Review 

June 19th – Kaidans Seduction – Review/Guest Post

June 19th – Nicole Alamillo – Review
About The Author:

Post-Traumatic Brazilian Wax Syndrome is loosely inspired by an unfortunate, painful event that occurred three years ago and is critically acclaimed author Tamara Lyon’s sixth novel. Her previous works include The Ugly Tree series, a Flamingnet Top Choice Award winner, 2011 Next Generation Indie Finalist, Eric Hoffer Finalist, and Midwest Book Award Finalist.

In 2010 her novel, Fixing Forever Broken, earned an IPPY Award for romance. Lyon has taken her recent books in a decidedly chick-lit direction and creates characters and stories that are refreshingly and humorously real. She makes her home in Wisconsin with her talented husband, cycling-superstar son, and counter-surfing golden retriever, Macy.
Social Media Links:
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway image by Allison at The Reading Escape
Event Hosted By:

Monday, June 1, 2015

Cover Reveal For Wild Pitch (Homeruns #1) by Sloan Johnson


Wild Pitch Cover Reveal

I have once again teamed up with the amazingly talented Eric Battershell Photography and Cover Me, Darling for the cover of Wild Pitch, the debut novel in the Homeruns series! This cover features Johnny Kane, a model who is not only beautiful, but also incredibly talented and kind. 

Make sure you scroll down for your chance to win an advance copy of Wild Pitch or a $5 Amazon Gift Card!


Blurb:

There’s never been any question in Sean Tucker’s mind that he’d do whatever it took to make it to the major leagues and be one of the best pitchers of his time. The day he acknowledged to himself that he was gay was also the day he vowed to stay in the closet in order to chase his dreams. The problem is, he never counted on Mason Atley.

Sean showed rookie short stop Mason Atley the ropes, both on the field and off. The two forged a friendship which continued as both of them moved through the ranks of the farm system and into the majors. Unfortunately, there’s always been one secret Mason never felt he could share with Sean. Until now.

For seven years, Sean lived with the fact that he loved a man who would never reciprocate. When Mason admits that he’s always known he’s bisexual but has never allowed himself to pursue a relationship with a man, will Sean be able to put aside his reservations about starting a relationship with the friend he’d always assumed was straight? And more importantly, will they be able to find a way to stay together when their careers keep them apart more than they can be together? 

Exclusive Newsletter Excerpt

It took me a minute to get my bearings when I first opened my eyes. Light streamed into the room from a door in the hall, so I knew I wasn’t in my hotel room. Then I remembered Mason coming in to check on me, to take care of me. I scrubbed my hands over my face, trying to sort out reality from dreams, because I vaguely remembered him standing in the doorway, muttering to himself when he thought I was asleep.

The clock on the nightstand read a few minutes after one in the morning. The condo was still as I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. I leaned on the granite countertop, wondering if anyone but Mason had figured out what Eric and I had been doing in hotel rooms across the country. If they had, no one said anything, but that wasn’t any sort of assurance. It wasn’t exactly cool to go up to another guy and ask if he was plowing his roommate into the mattress, so they might be keeping their assumptions to themselves. And if those thoughts were floating around, today would have only helped to confirm their suspicions.

“God, you’re an idiot sometimes,” I scolded myself. “You have to be more careful, otherwise you’re going to turn into a media spectacle, which is exactly what you’ve been trying to avoid this whole time.”

“You need more help than I thought if you’re talking to yourself.” Mason’s rich voice startled me, causing me to spill half a glass of water all over the counter. I looked up and saw him leaning in the doorway, looking drop-dead gorgeous. He was silhouetted by the light streaming down the hall. His dark brown hair was long on top, sticking up in every direction from sleep. The heat of his nearly brilliant green eyes cut through the darkness. “This is why I wanted you to talk to me. When you talk to yourself in the dark, you come across as a little crazy.”

I allowed Mason to lead me into the living room and we sat next to one another on the couch. He slid closer to me and I tried to ignore the heat of his body, or the way his sweat pants shifted lower on his hips as he tried to get comfortable. He placed a hand on my knee, and my cock began stirring.
Don’t do this, I warned myself. He’s your very straight best friend. You cannot sport wood just because he’s touching you. 

Maybe Mason was right; maybe I was losing my mind. “Are you feeling any better after a nap?” he asked, squeezing my knee. Yes, the nap took the edge off my anger and bitterness, but those feelings were quickly being replaced by desires I couldn’t possibly entertain.

“Yes, Mom.” I sighed dramatically. “As much as I appreciate you worrying about me, it’s really not that big of a deal. I’m angry that they traded Eric, not so much for myself but because he’s a good guy and he was happy in Milwaukee.”

“You say that, but I still worry about you,” he responded. He scooted close enough to me that I felt the heat of his body against my left. “There’s something else on your mind and you need to talk about it. It’s okay to miss him.”

“Mason, I’m fine,” I insisted. “Eric got a bum deal, I was upset that I let him leaving throw me off my game, and I got over it. Now, are we going to blow some shit up or what?”

I leaned forward to grab the controllers and looked down to see Mason’s hand still on my leg. I sunk back into the cushions, handing him his controller as I settled in beside him. A chill raced through my body when he removed his hand. He had only placed it there as a way to reassure me that he was there for me, but I missed the contact. The pressure reminding me that he had strong hands that’d feel like heaven on other parts of my body.

Every once in a while, I’d see Mason glance over at me, but the look on his face wasn’t that of a concerned friend. His eyes wandered down my chest, once landing on the slight bulge growing in my jeans. His cheeks flushed when he realized I’d caught him.

“Um, Mace…” I set my controller back on the table and turned to face him. His chest rose and fell unsteadily and his pupils were dilated to the point I barely saw the ring of emerald around the edge of his irises. My body had reacted the same way to him in the past, but never expected to see such lust radiating from him.

“Yeah?” He turned to mirror my position, not balking when his arm rested on mine and he wrapped his fingers around my forearm. I had to still be sleeping. There was no way in hell that my best friend, who happened to be very much straight and I had the memories of nights spent listening to women scream his name to prove it, was flirting with me.

Rather than ask what was on the tip of my tongue, I looked down at my arm, to where his thumb was lightly tracing circles near my elbow. His eyes followed, and then he looked back up at me. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re the one who has some explaining to do,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual.

When Mason tried to move away from me, I placed my free hand on his leg. He looked down and back up at me and he seemed nervous. Mason Atley never got rattled. If he did, he never let anyone see it, and yet he sat inches away from me picking at lint on his pants while still rubbing his thumb over the hair on my arm.

“Fuck, I promised myself I wouldn’t do this, but I don’t think there’s any other option right now,” he groaned. He tried to pull his hand away from my arm, and I reached up to still him.
“Wouldn’t do what?” I pressed, needing to hear from him that I wasn’t delusional.

“Look, there’s something I haven’t told you. I don’t know why, since you would have understood, but I didn’t. And now, part of me thinks I’ll go crazy if I don’t tell you, but the other part of me is freaking out that you’ll be pissed,” he said quickly. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship, which is why I haven’t said anything.”

“Good God, man! Spit it out already. If it helps, I promise I won’t hit you, no matter what it is that you’re trying to decide whether or not to say.” As I waited for him to speak, I wondered if it was possible that he was getting ready to blow my mind. The juvenile part of my brain got stuck on the thought of him blowing parts of my body and decided there were much better places he could blow. “Mace, you know every skeleton hiding in my closet and you’ve never judged me for any of it, so what makes you think I’d get upset with you?”

“Because this is some pretty major shit,” he admitted. “Okay, but you have to remember that you promised you wouldn’t hit me. And if you do want to relocate my jaw, remember that you have to pitch again in a few days, and it’d suck to have to go on the DL over me.”

“Got it.” I briefly released his hand to make a cross over my heart. It was such a stupid gesture, but we’d long ago passed the point of acting like adults around one another.

“So, it’s like this…” he paused long enough to get his thoughts in order. “You’ve met my parents. You know that they’re old hippies who’ve kind of refused to grow up.”

I did know that. It was part of what I loved about Bill and Virginia Atley. They were completely opposite of everything I thought parents were; they were cool, easy-going, and Mason loved spending as much time with them as his schedule allowed, where it was like pulling teeth for me to spend more than a few hours with most of my own family. I nodded and squeezed his fingers, urging him to continue.

“When I was younger, my dad always told me that it didn’t matter what package love came in, as long as the heart inside that package was good. Looking back, I wonder if he knew about me long before I ever did, because he was constantly reminding me of that.” He huffed out a weak laugh.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m bi.”

Had I been standing, I’m pretty sure Mason could have knocked me over with a feather. Not once in seven years had I thought of him as anything but strictly straight. As I sat there replaying his words, I repeatedly clenched and released my fists. He was right to make me promise I wouldn’t hit him, because that was exactly what I wanted to do. I was pissed, not because of what he said, but because he hadn’t mentioned anything in all the years we’d known one another. If he had, everything might have been different. Then again, that could have been good or bad.

“I don’t understand,” I responded stupidly. “You were the playboy of the PCL when we were out there. Even the veterans looked up to you because all you had to do was look at a woman and she’d practically drag you into a dark corner.”

Mason leaned closer to me, sliding his hand up my bicep to my shoulder. “That’s what I wanted everyone to think,” he whispered. He was so close now that all I’d have to do was lean in and I could fulfill a long-standing fantasy. But I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t be the one to take the first step, especially since he knew the truth about Eric and me. “I knew it’d be easier that way, so I tried every flavor out there to try and find a woman who’d do it for me, the whole time wondering what it’d be like to have a strong man with broad shoulders drilling into me.”

My cock sprang to full attention at that little bit of information. Not only was the man of my wet dreams telling me that he was interested in guys, he was a bottom as well. Life seriously couldn’t have gotten any better than that.

Mason closed the gap between us, brushing his lips oh so lightly over mine. I slid my arms around his back as I opened my mouth, inviting him to deepen the kiss. “People change,” he continued when he broke contact to take a breath. “But some things always stay the same. I thought that if I found the right woman, everything else would fade into the distance, but that didn’t happen. I thought if I convinced myself that I was in love with Teresa, I’d forget about the one person I really wanted.”

“Are you saying what I think you are?” I asked, my mind still holding me back from pushing him back on the couch to give him what he seemed to be begging for.

“Yeah, I think I am.” Throwing caution to the wind, I placed my hands on his shoulders and shoved him back. His wavy hair felt like silk under my fingers as I plundered his mouth with a crushing kiss.

My cock begged to be freed from the confines of my jeans, pleaded with my hands to reach between our bodies and pull his sweats over his hips, but I couldn’t. Just like my performance earlier in the day, I allowed someone else to weasel his way into my mind and I choked.

“Mace, we can’t do this,” I said with more than a trace of resignation behind the words. “I don’t want you doing something with me because you think it’ll take my mind off what happened earlier. You deserve better than that. If you’re really interested in guys, that’s awesome, but I can’t be your guinea pig. You mean too much to me for me to lose you when you decide you want to go back to women. I wouldn’t be able to stand being pushed aside because your tastes change.”

Mason’s face contorted as if he’d eaten something sour. “Dude, you make it sound like it’s a banquet dinner and I’m going to decide I picked the wrong entrĂ©e! Why can’t life be a buffet? If I’m in the mood for a steak, I’ll have the steak. If I want the salmon, I’ll grab a piece of that. Life’s short, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to get to St. Peter and regret never trying steak. Unfortunately for me, the only cut I’m interested in is you.”

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I countered. “Let’s keep going with your ridiculous analogy, because you seem to understand more when we’re talking about food… what happens when you try the steak, only to decide that you can’t stand it? What if you realize that what you thought was steak was closer to a nasty, fast food burger? I don’t want to take that chance.”

Mason shoved me backward, reversing our positions. He sat up on his knees, steadying himself with his hands on my shoulders. “You would never be a disgusting hamburger,” he whispered before leaning in to kiss me.

I knew it was a bad idea, possibly the worst I’d had in a long time, but I wrapped my arms around Mason’s waist as I deepened the kiss. By the time we stopped exploring one another’s mouths, we were both left trying to catch our breath. “So tell me, what cut of steak would I be?”

“Mmm, I’m thinking a Strip,” Mason teased, pulling my t-shirt over my head. He playfully bit down on my shoulder before nibbling his way to my neck. As his mouth moved higher on my body, his hands traveled down my back, sliding beneath the waistband of my jeans. “As appealing as flank sounds, I think you’re too good for that.”

I arched my back at the searing heat of his fingers digging into the flesh of my butt. “Mason…” I pleaded, although for what I didn’t know.

He continued massaging my ass as his mouth tormented every inch of the skin from my chest up. “I was thinking a tenderloin because you have no fat on your body, but feeling this, I’m thinking maybe you’re more of a bottom round roast.”
“I’ve gone from being a steak to being a roast?” I laughed, worried about where he would go if I let him keep rambling.
“Well yeah,” he responded, pulling back to look at me with those dark, soulful eyes. “Not only is your bottom nice and round, but you’ve always been home to me.”

“Okay, I think it’s time for you to shut up,” I warned him. God help me, but there was no way I could stop what he had started. He opened his mouth to speak, so I pressed my mouth to his, my tongue tracing along his lower lip.

He reached for my hand and I allowed him to lead me down the hall, knowing chances were good we’d both be filled with regret come morning. “One last thing before I let you show me everything I’ve been missing…” he turned to face me, cupping my jaw in his hand. “Don’t ever think you’re only a phase to me. I’ve wanted you since the day I met you, but by the time I knew you were gay, I’d gotten so used to hiding my feelings that I didn’t dare approach you. I meant it when I said you’re the only man I’m interested in doing this with.”

I tried convincing myself that it was a huge mistake to get involved with Mason. I didn’t want to be someone for him to experiment with, but the thought of him screwing around with random men churned my stomach. No, if this was something he really wanted to do, I would be the one he turned to, even if it wound up killing our friendship in the long run. I simply had to hope and pray that wasn’t going to happen.

“Okay,” I conceded. There was entirely too much talking going on and my balls were aching for release. I didn’t care if it was Mason’s hand or lips on me, I simply needed. And I wanted more than anything to take Mason’s cock into my mouth and show him what a blowjob was like from someone who knew what they were doing. I didn’t have any sort of proof, but I couldn’t imagine there was a woman on Earth who sucked cock as well as a man. We had the benefit of knowing what we liked and we used that information to our advantage when giving head.

Mason pushed me backward through the bedroom until I flopped onto the bed. He stood over me, staring down at my bare torso. “See, this is what I’m talking about,” he rambled. “Do you have any clue how hard it was for me to hide the hard on I would get whenever you walked around our shitty apartment without a shirt on?”

“Mace, would you please shut up and do something,” I pleaded. The corner of his mouth turned up in a cocky smirk before he fell onto the bed next to me. He propped himself up on an elbow as he stared down into my eyes. The man was a serious cocktease, and I was about to flip him onto his back and take control away from him.

“What would you like me to do?” he teased, trailing one finger from my neck, through the valley between my pecs, all the way to the trail of hair leading to my now painfully erect cock. He cupped my length and my hips bucked into his touch. “Is that what you want? Or do you want me to show you what I used to think about when you’d walk through the locker room with that ratty towel wrapped around your waist?”

“I seriously don’t care, as long as you stop chatting like an old woman at tea.” Mason draped his leg over mine, grinding his cock against my hips as he sealed his lips over mine. Good Lord, this man knew how to kiss. His tongue ventured deeper into my mouth and the moan he exhaled sent a shock straight to my dick. Pretty soon, I was going to come in my pants and I couldn’t have cared less, as long as he kept doing what he was doing.

I slid my hands down the length of his back, pausing for a moment before I took his ass in my hands, pulling him tight to my body. He followed my lead and tentatively reached between our bodies to release the buttons of my jeans. Never before had I been so grateful to Levis for inventing the button-fly.

“Damn, that’s sexy,” he moaned as he ran his hand up and down the length of my dick. The cloth of my boxers was damp with pre-come, which seemed to fascinate him. “I want to taste you.”

I lifted my hips off the bed, allowing him to strip me naked. He took his time pulling the denim down my legs, then ran his hands from my ankles to my thighs. Part of me still wondered if this was all a dream, but if it was, it was the best dream ever. I let out a gasp when his hand dipped between my legs and he rolled my balls around in his palm.

I reached for him, stilling him when I thought I saw a moment of hesitation. “Mace, we don’t have to do this,” I assured him. “I’d be just as happy jacking off while watching you do the same if you’re not ready.”

“Liar,” he countered.

“Okay, so not as happy, but it’d still be really fucking good.” The light from the hall cast shadows over Mason’s body that made his deep golden skin glisten. Without thinking, I licked my bottom lip and sighed when I could still taste him there. “The point is, if we’re going to do this, it’s going to be on your terms.”