Release Day Falling Through

How do you know if you’re going mad?

Today it’s time for Larry and Travis to find their way out into the world. Falling Though is a novelette about a man his ghost, or maybe more about a ghost and his man.

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Larry shouldn’t get agitated, but it was hard to ignore the ticks from the kitchen clock as they drifted all the way into the bedroom. Shadows shouldn’t care about the humans around them, but he liked living with Travis, liked looking at Travis, liked pretending…

He often found himself smiling at Travis’s funny little quirks, like the way he grumbled when his tousled brown hair refused to cooperate in the mornings. He liked watching Travis’s brows crease in concentration as he wrote down his numbers, how he rubbed his chin when he thought, and when he allowed himself to laugh at something on the TV. He definitely liked watching Travis in the shower. There wasn’t much entertainment around here, and Larry wouldn’t let a chance like that pass him by. It never got old, watching the suds run down his lithe body. But no matter how much he liked watching Travis, the absolute best thing about him was that he didn’t make much noise—and he never brought any obnoxious friends over.

Larry shuddered as he recalled the young woman who had lived here before Travis. If he hadn’t been dead already, he might have tried to take his life then.


30274488Travis is running himself ragged. He’s trying to keep two jobs just to pay his rent. If he has to flirt with some creepy old women at the pub to get a little extra tip money then so be it. One day, he’ll have someone special waiting for him when he gets back home from work, or is that too much to ask? Right now isn’t the best of times to get a boyfriend anyway since Travis is going mad, but one day… Every so often, Travis gets the feeling of not being alone, and sometimes, he sees things. But he tries to stay positive; maybe there’s a strapping young fella waiting for him in the looney bin.

Larry’s existence was dead boring until Travis moved in. Now he spends his time watching Travis, fantasising about touching him, kissing him… Their movie nights would be a bit cosier if Travis knew he was there, but sometimes, you have to settle for what you can get. As far as roommates go, Travis is the best Larry has ever had, and it isn’t Travis’s fault he can’t see Larry – no one has been able to since the day he died.

When Travis loses one of his jobs, both he and Larry fear for their future. Larry can’t imagine being without Travis, and Travis is desperate to find a way to pay his bills. While Travis searches for a solution to his money problems Larry has to decide if he’s willing to risk existence as he knows it for a chance of a better life.

You’ll find Falling Through here:

books2read.com/FallingLarry *


* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Are You Looking For Some Easter Fun?

How do lumberjacks celebrate Easter?

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I might or might not have gone a bit overboard with the lumberjacks. Today one novella and one short story are published in the Nortown series, turning it into a series in fact. I’ve had so much fun writing these stories, though I admit the thought of anyone reading The Empty Egg makes me blush…and giggle.

Once in a Forest is about Tom and Jason. Jason is a friend of Aiden’s who is visiting Nortown over Easter. Unfortunately, things get a little out of hand and Jason ends up with a dog on the run and without a place to stay. While searching for his dog he comes across Tom who is working in the woods. Tom is instantly attracted to Jason but he has no intentions of acting on it, and that would’ve been easy if it wasn’t for the fact that Jason ends up staying with him.

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The Empty Egg is a short story and I’m afraid it’s pure filth. It’s about Aiden, Tristan, and an Easter egg containing some silky satin. So for all of you out there who like a little lingerie with your men…

As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now there are quite a few tropes in these stories, maybe not as many as in Once in a Snowstorm, but trust me when I say they are there. In Once in a Forest you’ll find some Out for You and Bottom for You along with some city boy/country boy, or rather lumberjack, conflicts.

books2read.com/Forest *

books2read.com/EmptyEgg *


* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

The Trap | Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Cover the Trap Claire Davis Al Stewart

The first story in Love Unlocked is The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart. Sal is to make a sculpture alongside the magnificent Matthew Picard. It starts out easy enough but soon we’re in a whirlwind of emotions and chaos. As always in Davis and Steward’s stories the characters are fabulous. I loved it, loved Sal. The title is perfect and I happen to love the cover made by the fabulous Noah Homes.


Blurb:

New job – sexy boss – fate – Art…

When Sal attends an open exam for an apprentice artist to work alongside the infamous Matthew Picard, the last thing he expects is to be the winner. But then his role is revealed and nothing is ever the same again. As he toils day and night on the unique sculpture, strange sensations begin to affect both him and the watching master artist.

Matthew Picard thought he was through with men and love. What he wanted was for Sal to help him create one final monstrous masterpiece – The Trap.

But as he observes his young apprentice, his focus shifts, and so do the very walls of the gallery.

Is it the beauty of art, or something more magical at work?

As the sculpture is created, a power is unlocked.

Can love save them, or will they be trapped forever?

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Excerpt:

Sal gulped, and stepped forward. Matthew was sitting at a large old-fashioned desk. He raised his eyebrows and indicated the chair. “Please,” he commanded.

Somehow, Sal managed to get across the room and into the chair without falling over, fleeing, or speaking, because he couldn’t do anything except stare.

Long, black hair framed a handsome face and intense dark eyes. “Good morning. I trust my staff dealt with all the necessary…things?” Matthew asked, extending a hairy arm. For a second, Sal thought he was meant to kiss that strong-looking hand, but thankfully his manners took over. He seized it and shook, perhaps a little too vigorously, because Matthew looked surprised.

“Good morning, Mr. Picard,” Sal squeaked, watching Matthew’s hand as it left his. He had touched Matthew Picard!

Matthew’s dark eyes watched him thoughtfully, his mouth turning into the infamous half smile. It transported his face into two halves—one of a chilling smile, the other a stony shell. Sal was unable to look away, thinking both of Dorian Grey and Heathcliff.

“Just Matthew. Remind me. Your name?”

“Sal, sir.”

“What do you know of love?” Matthew barked suddenly, leaning forward across the desk, his hair running like water across his face, and Sal thought, That’s it. He’ll see through me for the fraud I am. I’m just a nobody who knows nothing about love or art, moved here to be near this gallery because I’m fucking crazy. He knows about eBay!

But Matthew seemed to require no answer. He stood, sweeping the chair away from him with a flourish, and began striding towards the double doors at the end of the room. “Come,” he called sternly.

Sal scrambled up after him, confused and excited, and trying not to let his eyes linger too long on Matthew’s long legs as he flung open the doors and stalked through.

***

The next day, Sal tried to work in clothes. Maybe there was still time to save himself. Tears were at the back of his eyes, waiting and ready. Even the sculpture could not lift his spirits, but he doggedly carried on.

He cemented the last of the artefacts into the outsides of the wall, creating patterns and bumps that would be interesting for the viewers to touch. After this, he could paint, and then the outside was finished, the early stages of love complete.

He was aware of Matthew by now as soon as he entered the room. Normally, he would stand and watch for a while before coming to assist, and then to touch. Sal did not feel whole anymore until those hands made contact with his skin.

But today, Matthew tapped him sharply on the shoulder. “Turn,” he ordered in his most frosty voice. Sal almost giggled as he turned defiantly to meet Matthew’s eye.

Matthew said nothing, but calmly began to undress Sal. First the t-shirt: he lifted Sal’s arms, pushing the top up past his body, over his head, and off.

He undid the button to Sal’s jeans while Sal concentrated on breathing, so confused he did not know if he wanted to cry or laugh. His erection popped up as the jeans slid down his hips. Soon he was naked again.

Matthew nodded once as he quietly left the room.

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books2read.com/TheTrap


Cover Love UnlockedLove Unlocked is a collection of seven short stories and novellas – unique LGBTQ romances inspired by the Love Lock Bridge.

THE STORIES:
The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart
Writer’s Lock by Victoria Milne
Locked in the Moment by Dawn Sister
The Weekend by J P Walker
The Scarlet Lock by Caraway Carter
He Melted Us by Ofelia Gränd
Chain of Secrets by Debbie McGowan

books2read.com/LoveUnlocked


* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.