“Oh fuck.”
“Is that all you can say?” Jasper asked.
“You’ve had months to get used to this. I feel like I’ve slid down a rainbow.”
“Ah yes, talking of that, I’ve brought a check with me from Fintan for a hundred thousand dollars. He upped the prices on those pieces you took to London and sold them all.”
“Oh my God.” Calum gulped. “A hundred thousand?”
“He’s pissed off he didn’t ask more.”
Calum almost choked.
“The market’s huge. He’s talking of going to Europe with more pieces for an exhibition. Wants to know what else you’ve got and if you’ll go. He still has that bronze in the window, but when I showed him the sculpture you’d left, he almost hyperventilated. That’s his new favorite. Mine too. He called it Cowboys Getting Down.”
“Christ.”
Jasper took a deep breath. “Something else I need to tell you. I spoke to your father this afternoon.”
Calum grabbed his hand and held it. “That you’re still here says something. Tell me he didn’t yell or say something sexist.”
“We had a long chat,” Jasper said. “I told him about Ben and my father, and how I felt about you. I know I’m not what he would have chosen for you, but I pointed out it wasn’t his choice to make. I think he’ll tolerate me, maybe one day he’ll smile at me. He seemed impressed Frank had given me a job and that I was going to study in Wyoming.”
Jasper shivered and Calum tugged him to the door. “You need proper gear to wear, not a London coat, though it’s turning me on big time.” He turned to look at Jasper. “You did bring your ties?”
“Yep.” Jasper laughed.
They left the barn and headed for the ranch, snow still falling heavily.
“Course, when I decided where I’d like to study, I didn’t know it was so damn cold,” Jasper said. “Maybe I should have gone to California. Probably not too late to change.”
Calum growled and leapt at him, knocking him to the ground. They rolled around in the snow, laughing. Calum’s Stetson blew away and Jasper stuffed a handful of snow down his neck and in return received a handful down his.
Eventually, Calum pinned him down and landed a wet kiss on his lips. “I know what you’ve given up for me. Thank you.”
“California sun. But it wouldn’t have been the same without you there.”
“You’ve made me so happy.”
Jasper smiled and licked a melting snowflake from his lips.
“I’m cold and I’m wet,” Jasper said.
“Is that right? Sounds like you need a shower, cowboy.”
Jasper’s smile widened. “Want to wash my back?”
Calum tugged him to his feet. “And your front.”
He slung his arm over Jasper’s shoulder as they headed for the ranch.
Note to self: Now that I have him, don’t ever let him go.
Jasper’s heart was so full, he wondered if it could burst. All those weeks waiting for paperwork to be sorted, for the right people to say yes—it had all been worth it to see that look on Calum’s face.
Note to self: Now that I have him, don’t ever let him go.
About the Author
Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.
Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.
Visit at www.barbaraelsborg.com or barbaraelsborg.blogspot.com.
Look for these titles by Barbara Elsborg
Coming Soon:
Worlds Apart
When the boat’s a’rockin’, don’t come knockin’!
Barging In
© 2011 Josephine Myles
Out-and-proud travel writer Dan Taylor can’t steer a boat to save his life, but that doesn’t stop him from accepting an assignment to write up a narrowboat holiday. Instead of a change of pace from city life, though, the canal seems dull as ditchwater. Until he crashes into the boat of a half-naked, tattooed, pierced man whose rugged, penniless appearance is at odds with a posh accent.
Still smarting from past betrayal, Robin Hamilton’s “closet” is his narrowboat, his refuge from outrageous, provocative men like Dan. Yet he can’t seem to stop himself from rescuing the hopelessly out-of-place city boy from one scrape after another. Until he finds himself giving in to reluctant attraction, even considering a brief, harmless fling.
After all, in less than a week, Dan’s going back to his London diet of casual hook-ups and friends with benefits.
Determined not to fall in love, both men dive into one week of indulgence…only to find themselves drawn deep into an undertow of escalating intimacy and emotional intensity. Troubled waters neither of them expected…or wanted.
After all, it’s not like he’s in love with Luke anymore. Right?
Warning: Contains one lovable tart, one posh boy gone feral, rough sex, alfresco sex, vile strawberry-flavoured condoms, intimate body piercings, red thermal long-johns, erotic woodchopping, an errant cat, a few colourful characters you wouldn't touch with a bargepole, and plenty of messing about on the river.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Barging In:
Robin caught Dan’s eye, and it was like he’d been captured by the current, pulled in against his will. It wasn’t fair. Someone like Dan shouldn’t have eyes that beautiful. He was mesmerised by the flecks of green and amber and that band of ginger freckles sprinkled across the bridge of his nose.
And then, before Robin could say anything else, Dan pulled him into a kiss. His lips pressed hot and soft against Robin’s. Perhaps it was the effect of the pint he’d just had on an empty stomach; perhaps it was the sweet, musky scent rising from Dan’s body; or perhaps it was simply the relief of being saved from Charles’s advances. Whatever it was, against his better judgment Robin sank into the kiss, parting his
Dan slid his tongue into Robin’s mouth and made a delightful discovery. Not only did Robin have rings through his nipples, but there was a barbell through his tongue as well. Dan moaned as the metal ball made contact with his palate, his tongue. There was a tiny click every time it clashed against his teeth. God, he wanted that hot mouth around his dick so fucking badly. It had been a while since he’d had head from a bloke with a pierced tongue. Wonder if he had piercings anywhere more intimate?
He stretched on his toes to deepen the kiss, wound his arms around Robin’s neck and pressed against him, body to body. Robin must be able to feel how much he wanted him, what with the way his prick was starting to harden and rub against Robin’s thigh. He rocked his hips to emphasise the point.
Robin froze and started to pull back from the kiss.
Dan thought fast. He couldn’t lose his advantage now. Not when he had Robin exactly where he wanted him. He sank back onto his heels, gave his sultriest smile and took one of Robin’s unresisting hands, lacing their fingers together.
“Come on, gorgeous, we’re running late.” He tugged Robin after him and headed for the door, turning to call back to the old geezer with the Robin fixation. “Thanks for looking after him for me. He gets into all sorts of trouble when I’m not there to keep an eye on him.”
The pub door swung shut behind them. Dan led Robin around the corner and found a large pillar in the shadows outside a closed shop to push him up against. Robin was still dazed, his eyes hooded and his jaw slack. Yeah, that had been a great kiss. Guys were always telling him he had a talented tongue, and seeing what it had done to Robin made him swell with pride.
He dropped his hands to Robin’s hips and purred seductively.
“Now, where were we?”
Robin made an alarmed sound in his throat and pulled back slightly, his body trembling. Dan gave a delighted smile. Surely the big guy wasn’t out of his depth, was he? But yes, fear lurked in his eyes.
“No need to worry, you’re in safe hands. I’ve done this plenty of times before.”
It was as if the words broke the spell his kiss had cast. Robin’s eyes widened, and his body stiffened, but not in the place Dan wanted it to.
“How many times?”
“What?”
“How many times have you done this before?” Robin snarled, pushing Dan away with a shove to his chest. “You make a habit of picking up strange men, do you?”
Oh God, it was back to Mr. Shouty again, was it? “You’re not that strange. I even know your surname, which is more than I do with some guys.” He’d been aiming for light banter, but the disgust on Robin’s face made him realise he’d misjudged. Dan backpedalled. “I dunno, you just seemed like you needed a hand, and I knew I owed you one, and then I couldn’t help myself, you looked so delicious.”
“Yeah, well… I was doing fine by myself, thank you very much.”
“Didn’t look like it from where I was standing. You looked like you were struggling with how to let the guy down without being rude. That’s always a recipe for disaster. Best to be honest and get it all out in the open.” Dan grinned, but it didn’t seem to make an impression on his quarry.
“What makes you think I wasn’t interested in him? I suppose someone like you wouldn’t shag an old queen like him if he were the last man on earth, although you’d quite happily work your way through every sleazy little whore at a place like the Hussars.” Robin’s lip curled up in a sneer.
“Look, I’m not a one-man kind of bloke, and I don’t see why I should be ashamed of that.” Dan stuck out his chin. He was buggered if he was going to let Robin take the moral high ground here. “I’m a player.”
“You’re a slut, you mean.”
“Fuck you.”
“Not a chance. I’ve got a girlfriend anyway. Mel. You remember?” There was no mistaking the challenge in Robin’s eyes. It was that defensiveness that fundamentally honest people always betrayed when they were lying through their teeth. “I’d better get going. I’m supposed to be meeting her at the Hat and Feather.”
Dan wasn’t going to let him get away that easily. “Funny that, I figured you were gay, the way you kissed me back in the pub. The gay pub, where you were having a drink with a gay man.” Bloody hell, if that wasn’t a blush spreading across Robin’s cheeks and making him look even more edible.
“I’m bi, but that’s nobody’s fucking business but my own, okay? Not that it matters, anyway, because I’m off to see my girlfriend. Good-bye, Dan.” His voice was sharp enough to make Dan wince, and it deterred him from following after Robin as he stalked away.
“See you soon, Robin,” he called.
Robin didn’t turn back.
Sighing heavily, Dan wrapped his jacket closer around his body and headed off towards the Hussars. Robin was right; that probably was more his kind of place, and there was no point wasting the evening. There’d be plenty of opportunity to get to work on Robin before he had to go back to London. He’d have him by the time his trip was over.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
Robin wouldn’t know what had hit him. Dan was going to rock his world.
True love has no brakes.
Pit Road
© 2011 Anah Crow and Dianne Fox
Running Under Caution, Book 1
Denny Clay never had much going for him, until the racing circuit took him out of the trailer park and away from his bigoted family. Luck smiled on him, and now he’s settled down—in the closet—with his crew chief and boyfriend, Sully Price.
Though they’re winning races and the fight to keep their relationship secret, Denny can’t shake the feeling he’s going to have to pay up for all this happiness. He never imagined reckoning would come in the form of a rare medical condition that might cost him his career. And maybe Sully too.
For once, Sully’s at a loss, with nothing in his fix-everything toolbox designed to repair his broken lover—or stop Denny’s inevitable slide into a black hole of self-loathing. With a little creativity and a few kinky accessories, Sully shifts into overdrive in the race to get Denny turned around. And prays that his stubborn persistence doesn’t drive their love into a ditch.
Warning: Broken heroes, hot sex, and one man’s hardcore determination to keep his lover in one piece.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Pit Road:
Crawling into the shower behind Denny, behind the seat, Sully pressed kisses to the long line of Denny’s spine. So much more could’ve gone wrong in that crash. He tried not to think about that.
Surprisingly enough, the kisses earned him a sigh of pleasure. As Sully ran his hands over Denny’s back, he could feel the knots in the muscles, even without pressing. He started working at them, and Denny whimpered and grabbed at the sides of the tub.
“I’ve got you, sugar,” Sully murmured against the nape of Denny’s neck. He started with light touches at the base of the spine and worked his way up. “You coulda said something. I’da rubbed your back before.”
Wasn’t as if he was going to say no to any chance to get his hands on Denny, sex or not.
“Just don’t want to get used to it, is all.” Denny was almost melting in his hands, shaggy golden head dropping so his chin hit his chest. “God, that feels good, Sully.”
“Why the hell not?” Sully bumped his nose against Denny’s head, frustrated with his stubbornness. He used to be able to take it but since the crash, he wanted Denny to let him help. They were as together as two people could get without the wedding part, and Denny trying to do this alone made zero sense. He worked his hands over Denny’s back, smoothing out the muscles until everything was as loose as he could make it.
Denny sighed and leaned against Sully. “’Cause you have to go to work again and I have to manage. I’ll get better, and you won’t have to worry none about it, Sully. That’s what I wanted—you’d come home and I’d be at least halfway to better. None of this limping and whining and hurting.”
“You dumb son of a bitch.” Sully wrapped his arms around Denny’s chest and held on to him gently. “You think I ain’t been worried sick about you this whole damn time I been out on the road?”
“I can’t help it if you’re a damn girl, Sully.” Denny leaned his cheek against Sully’s. “But I can sure as hell not be one about all this shit.”
“You get cleaned up, and I’ll take you on into the bedroom and show you what kinda girl I am.” Sully snorted, huffing against Denny’s cheek like a horse demanding treats. If Denny wasn’t gonna let him help, Sully was gonna help himself, that was certain. “Did me some shopping today.”
“Lord have mercy. What the hell did you do?” Denny turned his head, peering at him over his shoulder. He looked more than a mite skittish at the prospect of Sully going shopping for anything but car parts.
“Made damn sure next time I wanna fuck you, I ain’t gonna hurt you no more than you’re already hurting.”
Denny’s eyes went real wide and he shook his head. “You did what?”
Sully chuckled and petted Denny’s chest with one hand. “I bought a sling, one a them hammock-looking things you hang up from the ceiling so’s you don’t hafta kneel on the bed or nothing. I figured you weren’t gonna be up for that, what with your leg hurting you so bad. I improvised.”
“Are you out of your fool mind?” Denny didn’t look too pleased.
“Get yourself cleaned up, sugar.” Sully wasn’t going to let Denny’s foul mood bother him. “I ain’t gonna hurt you.”
Denny finished washing, and then he hauled himself up. “Damn right you’re not gonna hurt me. Not gonna hurt me because I ain’t playing around in any damn contraption.”
“You are such a stubborn little shit,” he muttered, carrying him out of the bathroom.
In the bedroom, he settled Denny in the seat of the sling and started sorting out the straps before he could protest too much.
Denny swore a blue streak, coming up with new words and calling Sully things he’d never called him before. He didn’t fight much, he just grabbed hold of the chains and hung on hard enough his knuckles went white. There was no way he could get loose without hurting himself, so he was almost helpful.
“Hush,” Sully murmured. Once Denny’s feet were set, Sully focused on making him feel good. He got his hands between Denny’s legs, toying with his balls.
“Oh, God.” Denny was strung up, legs spread and cradled in padded straps, his body held up securely, his hands clenched on the chains. He was all spread out and Sully’s touches were already working. He sounded damn insincere when he whispered, “I fucking hate you.”
Sully cupped the back of Denny’s head in one hand and brought him in for a kiss, slow and easy, as his fingers slipped down to rub and press at the smooth skin behind Denny’s balls.
“So much,” Denny added breathlessly. “There’s a fucking hole in our goddamn ceiling, Sully. This contraption better not break our condo or I’m throwing you out.” Somehow, his words lacked emphasis, especially the way he was rocking already, trying to work Sully’s fingers into him.
“I’ll fix the hole when we move out, sugar.” Sully grabbed the lube and slicked up his fingers, then started to tease in earnest. “More worried about another hole, right now.”
Denny’s head fell back, and he groaned, a shudder running through him. His nipples were hard and his cock twitched. “Christ. Sully…”
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