2017 Top Ten Gay Romance

by J. M. Snyder

  He chuckled and kissed me again before taking two big steps back. “Tempting, but I am still recovering from my trip and many late nights, so let’s do this again, say, Friday night? Bring an overnight bag ‘cause you’ll be staying over.” He started walking backward down the hallway. “Lunch tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” My voice was a little hoarse, so I cleared it. “See you. Have a safe trip home.”

  “I will.” He blew me a kiss, then headed for the elevator. I waited until he got on, then let myself inside the apartment.

  The evening had gone well, despite my snafu with the champagne. Maybe we could make this, whatever it was between us, work.

  * * * *

  Naturally, my high from the night before disappeared abruptly when Mr. Watkins called me into his office out of the blue at ten in the morning. I hadn’t done anything I could think of to merit a meeting, but, who knew? I hoped it wouldn’t affect my lunch date with Jaiden.

  I presented myself with seconds to spare in my boss’s office. He wasn’t scowling at me, which was a first. “Sit down, Alister.”

  I sat.

  “I’ve heard nothing but good things about the work you did in Finance and how instrumental it was to the company. I think you’re wasted in this department and I have recommended you for the Analyst position that has just opened up in the Finance department.”

  I was probably gaping at the man, but he either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

  “You will have an interview with the CFO this afternoon at three, and a decision will be made by the end of the day. You may be awkward and socially inept”—gee, thanks—”but you are an excellent analyst, and it’s time you moved on. HR has nothing to offer you and you’ve suffered here long enough.” As I remained speechless, he cracked a smile. “Nothing to say?”

  “I-I…I don’t know what to say, Mr. Watkins. I’ve been feeling a bit restless lately and was considering changing jobs, but this…this is unexpected.” And I would be working in the same department as Jaiden. My heart did a little happy dance at the possibilities ahead.

  “You’ve earned it.” He gathered the documents on his desk and stashed them in a folder. “You can go back to your desk. Make sure to have those documents you were working on to me by noon.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” I said as I stood and walked to the door. Before opening it, I added, “And I’m really sorry about the incident at the party on New Year’s Eve.”

  “I’m in a good mood, Alister. Don’t spoil it.”

  “Sorry, sir.”

  I closed the door behind me and tried not to skip back to my desk. If I got this job, it would change my life in so many ways. I couldn’t wait to tell Jaiden. I forced myself to focus on the tasks at hand so I could enjoy lunch with my sort-of boyfriend?

  When I got a text at twelve-thirty to meet in the lobby, I dashed to the elevators so fast I almost ran into a few people. I laughed at myself as I rode down to the lobby. Had I ever felt this giddy about anything in life? Probably not.

  I calmed myself as I walked through the lobby, on the lookout for Jaiden. When I spotted him at the security desk, my calm disappeared once more. Why such a wonderful man ever saw me as dating material, I didn’t know, but I wasn’t about to question it.

  “Hey, Jaiden,” I said in greeting.

  He turned to me and smiled. “Alister.” With his hand on the small of my back, he led us out of the building and across the street to the Thai restaurant a few blocks away. “I love that tie you’re wearing. Was that one of your purchases on that shopping spree with your roommate?”

  “Yeah. I have enough clothes to last me awhile.” Once we were settled in at the restaurant and had placed our order, I said, “Mr. Watkins recommended me for a job in the Finance department. I have an interview at three today.”

  “That’s great!” he practically yelled, causing people to turn and stare. “Sorry, I’m just so excited for you. I told my boss about the great work you did and how pivotal it had been for Toronto, and he said that we needed more people like you in the department.”

  I blushed. “I appreciate you saying that about me. I hope I interview well. Sometimes I get so nervous, I spout stupid shit and just ruin everything.”

  He took my hand in his. “You’ll be fine. Just keep in mind that we’ll be working together, and we may travel, too, since I will sometimes need help with some of the presentations and meetings I have in various cities.”

  “Wow, really? I thought I’d just be a desk jockey, though that’s not all bad.” He let my hand go and I sat back as our orders were placed before us. The coconut shrimp smelled divine.

  “No. This position has about fifty percent travel, so be prepared for that. There may be some late nights, too, so your beauty sleep may suffer. You hardly need it anyway, as handsome as you are.”

  “Charmer, aren’t you?” I said, trying not to blush again. This sort of attention could go to a guy’s head.

  “Where you’re concerned, certainly. Tell me if I’m coming on too strong, though. When I’m interested in someone, I’m all in and it can be overwhelming, I’ve been told.”

  I smiled. “You’re doing fine so far.”

  * * * *

  Friday night, Jaiden and I decided to check out a movie, then have a late dinner. We watched Logan, which we loved, and ended up at a Greek place afterward.

  My overnight bag was in the trunk of his car, and halfway through the meal, my nerves started to get the better of me.

  “What’s wrong, hon?” Jaiden asked as I spilled some ouzo on the tablecloth for the second time. “You should be jumping for joy. You got the job, sweetie.”

  “I know, and I am happy about that. Ecstatic, even.” I sighed. “Sorry, it’s just…I shouldn’t be nervous, but I’ve never done this”—I gestured between the two of us—”before, not this way and, while I definitely want it, I’m scared, too.”

  “There’s no timetable for sex or getting serious, Alister. We can go as slow as you want.”

  And didn’t that just make me feel like more of a coward. I shook my head and drank down the ouzo, coughing a little when I slammed the glass back on the table. “I don’t know why you put up with me, but I’m so glad you do.”

  “You’re like a breath of fresh air. It’s been a long time since I’ve been drawn to someone, and I’m so glad it’s you.” He took one of my hands again and kissed the back of it. “Now let’s finish our meal and I’ll take you to my house, give you the grand tour.”

  I laughed. “Can’t wait.”

  We made desultory conversation for the rest of the meal, then left after Jaiden paid the bill and added a generous tip. It took twenty minutes to get to his house, and he held my hand the whole way.

  Without the people and the noise from the party the last time I was here, I could better appreciate the surroundings. Again, I couldn’t wait to see the house in daylight. He led the way inside, and after he hung up his keys, he took me on the tour he’d promised, still holding my hand.

  “Here’s the kitchen that I almost never see. I tend to eat out a lot or order takeout.” There was a marble island in the middle. The cabinets were dark brown wood, and the whole place looked shiny and untouched.

  “Do you have a cleaning service or something?” I asked as he led me down the hall to another room.

  “Yeah. They come in once a week. I’m just so busy, if I didn’t do that, this house would be a pigsty. Here’s the dining room, and over here is the living room.”

  There was a huge TV and two leather couches with pillows and throws everywhere. It looked inviting.

  “You spend a lot of time here?”

  “Sometimes I fall asleep on the couch without even touching the remote.”

  He led me to two other rooms, one a home gym, the other an office, then we went upstairs.

  “There are four bedrooms up here. The master is at the far end.” He turned to face me on the landing. “If you want to spend the night in separate rooms, that�
�s not a problem. I just want you to be comfortable. Having you here with me is more than I—mmphf.”

  I had to show Jaiden how grateful I was to have him in my life, and I couldn’t pussy out now. I loved that we were the same height because neither of us had to crane our necks to lock lips, and his taste was out of this world.

  Jaiden’s hand crept into my hair and held my head steady as we plundered each other’s mouths. He pushed me against the nearest wall and I felt every hard inch of him pressing into me in the best way possible.

  My dick was like steel. And would you believe it? I was almost ready to blow. “Jaiden,” I mumbled against his lips. “Take me to bed or do me right here. I’m about to burst.”

  He cupped my face in his hands before kissing me softly, then dropping to his knees on the plush carpet. “I want to see you come,” he said as he unzipped my pants and pulled it and my boxers down to get at my cock. “I love the Star Trek underwear, by the way, but I want you in my mouth. It’s all I’ve been dreaming about for weeks.”

  “I…shit!” I exclaimed as he took me inside, hot, wet, and so tight. He didn’t stop until I hit the back of his throat, then he worked me over in earnest, and it didn’t take long at all for me to find release. He swallowed every bit of it, too.

  I would have been embarrassed, except the look of lust Jaiden gave me kept me half-hard. “I want to see your bedroom,” I whispered as I ran my hands through his thick black hair, making it even messier than before.

  He groaned as I helped him stand, then he kissed my cheek and led me down the hall as I held onto my pants and underwear with one hand. Jaiden’s bedroom suited him. The bed was done in shades of cream, red, and brown.

  The curtains had been tied back so the moonlight shone inside. It was bright enough that we didn’t need to turn on the lamp on the bedside table. There was a chest of drawers against one wall, and a huge closet that was open and seemed to have nothing but suits, and all of them high end.

  “Do you even own a T-shirt?” I asked as I wandered over to look at his wardrobe.

  He sidled up behind me and put his arms around my chest. “I own several. They’re folded in the drawers. The jeans and shorts, too.”

  I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck, my pants and underwear falling to the floor. “You are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

  “As long as you like them, that’s all I care about.” He kissed me again, then nuzzled my chin and cheek, likely leaving love bites behind as he removed my jacket and shirt and walked me backward until my legs hit the mattress. Thankfully I didn’t trip over my feet.

  “Take off the rest,” he said as he stripped himself.

  My cock, still half-hard, became fully erect once more on seeing Jaiden naked before me.

  “You are magnificent,” I uttered helplessly, watching the smooth, sexy way he moved toward me, his long, thick legs and muscled torso leaving me without thought.

  “As are you,” he said, helping me with the rest of my clothing and shoes since I hadn’t done either. “Lie back on the bed,” he whispered, and when I did so, he crawled slowly up the mattress toward me, finally, finally lying on top so we were skin to skin.

  I wrapped my legs and arms around him as we kissed each other, rolling our hips, our leaking cocks rubbing against each other, begging for more.

  Jaiden broke away briefly to get supplies from the drawer, then kissed his way down my chest to lap at my outtie belly button and lick at the hairy trail to my cock. “You smell so good down here, you don’t even know.”

  I bent and spread my legs so he could do whatever he wanted, which included sucking on my balls—hell yeah!—and preparing my hole with his tongue. I’d never experienced that before and I had to grab the base of my cock and squeeze so I wouldn’t go off again. I wanted us to do it together this time.

  He sat back on his knees, wiped his mouth, and smiled. “Intense, right?”

  “I never knew…wow.”

  “Good to hear.” He leaned over and grabbed a condom and lube. As he rolled the condom down his hard dick, he said, “I want to…shit…make sure you’re well prepared and enjoy this as much as I know I will.” He jacked his cock a little with lube, his hips thrusting, then let go to focus again on my ass.

  One cold, wet finger went in, then another. He took his time, touching my prostate only on occasion, which was a good thing, and a means of torture.

  “Please, Jaiden. I’m ready, I swear. Fuck me.”

  He kissed the tip of my cock before pulling out his fingers and aiming his erection at my hole. Without a word, he pressed inside, and it was like butter, his cock sliding in until he could go no further.

  I was so full, it was unbelievable. His cock was thick and I wanted to feel him pounding into me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and squeezed. “Take me for a ride, man.”

  “You got it,” he replied, and when he pulled out and thrust back in, I had to put my hands on the headboard so I didn’t slam into it. “Like that?”

  All I could do was nod as he took us on a journey that I never wanted to end. By the time we came, grunting, swearing, and begging each other to give it up, I was sore and blissed out.

  Jaiden collapsed on top of me and stayed there. I didn’t mind. I loved how he felt on me. I might even love him, but it was too early to tell. I knew I could fall for a guy like this, though.

  “Let’s take a nap, sweetie. This isn’t the end, by a long shot,” Jaiden mumbled into my chest.

  I ran a hand through his damp hair and yanked up his head so I could kiss him. “You better have the moves to back that up, buddy.”

  ‘You betcha,” he replied as he rolled off me with a groan, took care of the condom, and disappeared into the bathroom to return with a damp rag to clean us up. He tossed it on the floor when he was done and snuggled next to me, pulling the covers over us.

  “Thanks for taking a chance on me,” I murmured, kissing his shoulder.

  “I should be thanking you. Who knew I’d have anything in common with someone as a-dork-able as you?”

  “Did you really just say that?”

  “You said you were a dork, and I think you’re adorable. I just made one word out of it.”

  “Shut up, Jaiden.” I would not admit it was cute. I wouldn’t.

  “You love it. Don’t pretend.”

  I sniffed. “You know nothing of the sort.”

  We bickered back and forth in between yawns and finally dozed, to wake up much later and enjoy each other all over again.

  Who needed perfection? Jaiden would do just fine.

  THE END

  About the Authors

  Kris T. Bethke

  Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. For more information, visit kristbethke.com.

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  Becky Black

  Becky likes nothing more than trapping her characters in tricky no-win situations and watching them figure a way out. When not chasing her characters up trees and throwing rocks at them Becky can be found working in an office—where she’s usually drinking tea and thinking about the next rock to throw. For more information, visit beckyblack.wordpress.com.

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  Linn Edwards

  Linn Edwards worked the entertainment industry in Los Angeles in a myriad of positions and responsibilities. He was a freelance television writer in primetime and did an amazingly short stint in daytime. Now he writes a newspaper column and sometimes teaches at a local university in Southern Ohio.

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  Casper Graham

  Casper Graham is an aspiring writer. Writing is a passion. Inspiration comes in all sorts of formats. In his spare time, he also loves to read, listen to music, or watch a movie. For more information, visit alcasgraham.blogspot.co.id.

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  Nell Iris

  Nell Iris is a romantic at heart who beli
eves everyone deserves a happy ending. She writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angst, and wants to write diverse and different characters. For more information, visit nelliris.com.

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  Shawn Lane

  Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romance. She lives and works in Southern California. She has been published by Loose Id, Amber Quill Press, Evernight Publishing, MLR Press, JMS Books, and Ellora’s Cave. For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

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  J.L. Merrow

  JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards. For more information, visit jlmerrow.com.

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  Jessie Pinkham

  Married to her own Mr. Right, Jessie acknowledges his support and encouragement. She enjoys exploring the diversity of the universe and cannot commit to a single subgenre of male/male romance. She’s also a chocoholic, avid reader, and travel enthusiast. For more information, visit jessiepinkham.net.

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  Rick R. Reed

  Rick R. Reed explores the romantic entanglements of gay men in his fiction. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery, and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love. Rick lives with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever “at work on another novel.” For more information, visit rickrreed.com.

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  J.D. Walker

  J.D. Walker likes to keep her stories short and sweet. A multi-published author, she is also a musician, artist, and lover of all things knit and crochet. For more information, visit lifebyjo.com/jdwalker.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!