Let It Beatle Box Set - 7 Gay Romance Stories

by J. D. Walker

  He threw himself into my arms and I ended up on my back on the couch with his hot body on top of me. “I won? Really? I can’t…” And then I heard him sniffling, and I rubbed his back and tried to soothe him.

  “You needed this. It’s validation that you still have something to offer the world through your art. And that asshole who raped you that summer didn’t take away who you are, what you can do, the beauty that you can create.” I touched his chest. “It’s here, love. And I’m here, too. Always.”

  He leaned back a little, and I used a hand to wipe the tears from his face. “You’re crazy,” he said before kissing me lightly on the mouth.

  “I know,” I replied, before succumbing to the best kind of “thank you” that had ever been invented.

  Chapter 4: Rafe and Woody

  Featuring characters from the story, “Norwegian Woody.”

  Being sober was probably the hardest thing I’d ever had to do in my life. Well, aside from the time I had to admit to being an alcoholic, and gay, and in love with my baby brother’s best friend. Fun times. Worth it.

  Every time I looked at Woody, at how strong he was, how he never let me get away with any bullshit, how he loved me, I was floored. All the years I’d spent hiding who I was, and I could have had everything I’d ever wanted, right here in my hometown, instead of being a coward. Yup, I was an idiot.

  Now, here I was on a Friday afternoon, having taken a half-day from the precinct, and I was waiting for Serge and René to show up at the house because we were planning a surprise party for Woody to celebrate his finally taking over as Director at his school.

  I had asked my brother and his boyfriend to help me out with the cooking. Woody was at the school right now, and he would be home in a couple of hours. I had already turned on the barbecue grill and had soda and water on ice. As I wondered where the hell the guys were, there was a knock on the door.

  When I opened it, Serge nudged me aside so he could carry a heavy-looking box of stuff down the hall. “It’s about damn time. We parked down the road so Woody wouldn’t see the truck.”

  “Hello to you, too,” I said, smirking as he staggered to the kitchen, sweaty and huffing.

  René snickered as he passed me, saying over his shoulder, “Don’t worry, I’ll sweeten his temper with some pastries he doesn’t know I brought.”

  I grinned as I shut the door. My brother had a weak spot when it came to his boyfriend’s baking. René definitely knew the way to Serge’s stomach and heart. I left them to it and started on the steaks that I’d been marinating.

  When the food was ready, René and Serge sat at the table with a bottle of water each, René feeding Serge a brownie while I headed out the front door to wait on Woody, who should be home any minute.

  And then he was here, and his bright smile and lovely eyes were the best things I’d ever seen. “Welcome home, love,” I said in greeting as I took him in my arms and hugged him tight.

  Woody pulled back and kissed me softly. “That’s quite the greeting. What’s the occasion?”

  “Something I hope you’ll like,” I said as I slid an arm around his waist and walked with him into the house.”

  “I smell barbecue. Are we having steaks?”

  “Among other things,” I replied as I led him out to where Serge and René were now making out like it was the last thing they’d ever do in this lifetime.

  I coughed and they jumped apart, only for Serge to stand and rush over to hug his friend within an inch of his life. “Congratulations, man! You’ll be the best Director that school has ever seen.”

  Woody laughed and hugged him back before René took Serge’s place and did the same. “We’re all proud of you, buddy.”

  I stood there, watching my family and felt nothing in the world could be better than this. I served food to everyone, then heaped a pile of stuff on my plate and sat next to my lover.

  “You’re a softie, aren’t you,” he whispered to me and winked before taking a bite of steak.

  “I’m the big, bad sheriff. It wouldn’t do much for my reputation if word got out, so shut it.”

  He licked a bit of sauce from his lips. “Yes, Sheriff.”

  I blew him a kiss. “That’s better.”

  When it was time for my brother and his boyfriend to go, hours later, Woody and I walked them outside.

  “Thanks again for the surprise meal and the celebration, guys,” Woody said, embracing both men before waving them down the road.

  When they were gone, I took Woody’s hand in mine. “Care for a walk on the beach?” He smiled and nodded, pulling me along behind him to our room to change into old jeans and a T-shirt before putting on sandals and heading with me out to the sand.

  “You’re the best, you know that?” Woody murmured as we sauntered along, listening to the waves, and watching the stars above us.

  “You’ve told me so, once or twice,” I replied, squeezing his hand, briefly.

  “Well, it’s true. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so glad you’re in my life.”

  “Even with all the grief I’ve caused you in the past? It is I who doesn’t deserve you.”

  Woody stopped and turned to face me, taking my face in his hands. “We deserve each other, okay? I wouldn’t be the person I am without you in my life, and I think you’d say the same about yourself. I need you. You need me. End of story.”

  I stepped back a little to sign I love you to him, and he copied the gesture before taking my hand and placing it over his heart.

  “Forever.”

  Chapter 5: René and Serge

  Featuring characters from the story, “Crumbs Together.”

  Serge was in the kitchen baking…something. He wouldn’t tell me what, exactly, just that I needed to stay out, or I wouldn’t be getting my dick sucked tonight. Duly noted.

  It had surprised me he wanted to do this since everyone knew he was obsessed with my baking. It was a good thing he didn’t gain weight easily because he ate my pastries by the truck load, it seemed, and I was more than happy to make them for him.

  He was a true connoisseur and I often tested my products on him. More than half the time, they ended up smushed in the bed linen. I had bought a lot more sheets since we’d gotten together. And comforters.

  As I cleaned up the living room downstairs, I could smell meat…perhaps sausage? And cheese. Whatever he was making, I was getting hungry. My longtime friends would be coming into town tomorrow to spend a few days catching up, so Serge and I needed to make the most of today.

  I hadn’t seen most of my buddies in a while, except for Bryce, who was running the new shop that Serge had renovated for me. He stopped by once a week to let me know how things were going. He wouldn’t be coming around this time, though, because he had a new boyfriend he was taking to Las Vegas. We would catch up when he got back.

  After putting away the vacuum cleaner, I dusted and polished. Halfway through this task, I heard familiar footsteps. I turned around and saw Serge coming toward me with a plate of…muffins? And there were also two bottles of beer on a tray.

  With a sheepish smile, he set everything on the table in front of the couch. “Sorry it took so long. I hope you like it, not that it will compare to what you make on a daily basis.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and I couldn’t resist those puppy-dog eyes.

  I set my cleaning supplies on the nearest surface and walked over to kiss his forehead. “Anything you make is good. I don’t need to have gourmet food every day, and you know I love it when you cook.” I dragged him to the couch and sat him next to me before reaching out to snag a still-hot muffin.

  “Are these sausage and cheese?” I asked before blowing on it and taking a bite.

  As Serge nodded, I chewed on the muffin and the flavors were exquisite. “You’ve been holding out on me, haven’t you?” I said as I quickly finished one and snagged another, not caring that it burned my tongue.

  “You really like them?” he said, looking so earnest I wanted
to kiss him all over.

  “I do. Is this your own recipe?”

  “It’s my mom’s. She would make these for us in the afternoons after school so we could have a snack while doing our homework. I got the recipe from her some years ago but hadn’t had a chance to make it lately.”

  I snagged a muffin and put it up to his mouth. “Take a bite.” He did, making sure to nip my finger lightly before sitting back against the cushions.

  “I can’t believe you did all this,” I said as I took one of the beers and drank a third of it. “What brought this on?”

  Serge shrugged, playing with the label on his own bottle. “I just thought it would be nice to bake something for a change. You love to cook and bake and you’re the best. I just wanted to show my appreciation.”

  I set the bottle aside and did the same for his. “I appreciate it, more than you know.” Pulling Serge into my lap, I took his mouth with mine, savoring the mixture of muffin and beer and something all his own. It was delicious and intoxicating, the most decadent flavor in the world. And all mine.

  Serge pulled back and said, “I would be lost without you, René. I hope you know that.”

  I brushed his hair back and nibbled on his nose. “Same here.”

  And it was another hour or two before we even thought about muffins or beer or anything else but each other.

  Which was the perfect recipe, as far as I was concerned.

  Chapter 6: Bill and Thorn

  Featuring characters from the story, “He’s So Heavy.”

  I knew Bill understood what I’d been through in my life, being on the streets, having to do things because of desperation and self-preservation. The fact he still loved me in spite of the fact that I’d slept with men so I’d have a roof over my head? Just for the night? That floored me every single time.

  When we first met, I hadn’t been very nice to him, but he’d overlooked that, seeing to the reality of things. He’d offered me a place to stay and helped me get back on my feet, despite a falling out with his friends. I hadn’t been very subtle about my feelings for him, but he’d refused to act on them, thinking he would be taking advantage of me, or he was too old, or some shit. Far from the truth. He was the most decent human being I’d ever known, and I wanted the world to know it.

  As I sang at the fall festival with my friend Brian accompanying me on guitar, I kept an eye out for my lover, hoping he would show up soon. He’d had to work someone else’s shift at the last minute and he would be late. I just hoped he arrived in time to hear the song I’d written just for him.

  People applauded enthusiastically after each number, and when we came to the last song, I almost didn’t sing it, filled with despair that Bill wasn’t there yet…until Brian nudged me and tilted his head. I looked in that direction and saw my lover standing near the front of the stage, Austin and Trent next to him and grinning from ear to ear.

  I laughed with relief and blew Bill a kiss before addressing our audience. “Thank you for hanging out with us this afternoon. Brian and I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves and are willing to indulge us in our final song.” A few cheers, then I cleared my throat. “Some of you may know this, if you’re local, but I had a hard life before I landed in this town. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got here, and Bill, that lovely, beautiful man down there in front of the stage took me in and cared for me, gave me a new lease on life. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be, and I wanted to show him, and the world, how much he means to me.”

  I nodded at Brian, who played the opening bars of the song. I closed my eyes and let the words I’d written, the melody, everything about Bill and what he meant flow through me. I poured out my heart and soul, and when I opened my eyes, I could see tears in his.

  I sang about being lost and broken, desperate and angry. I sang about taking chances, finding meaning, and learning to trust again. The melody was bittersweet, with a twist of hope, and I hoped Bill understood what I was trying to say.

  When the song ended, I barely waited for the applause before I jumped off the stage and into Bill’s arms, laughing as he held me tight against that broad chest and belly.

  “You know I love you, right?” I said as he set me on the ground within the circle of his arms.

  “I do. And that song…Thorn, I didn’t know…I love you, too.” He brushed hair off my forehead and cupped my chin. “I am glad I could help you start over, but the rest of it? That’s all you. You had it in you all along.”

  He leaned in to kiss me, and I gave him everything I had, including tongue-sucking and wrapping my leg around his hip, maybe a grind or two. I didn’t care that we had an audience. The only person who mattered was Bill, and giving him all my loving.

  And that was the best melody in the world.

  THE END

  ABOUT J.D. WALKER

  J.D. Walker likes to keep her stories short and sweet, with the occasional novel or novella. A multi-published author, she is also a musician, artist, language enthusiast (German and Spanish), 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!