by Amy Lane
“Biology?” Cheryl McDaniels said, fascinated. “I had no idea that was your major. What made you decide to go into that?”
Olivia smiled slightly. “My dad’s a science teacher. He spent a lot of our childhood taking us into the world and showing us that it was full of wonder. I mean, scientists are going to save the world, right?” She smiled brightly. “I’ll join them when I can.”
Oh! She was lovely. Charming. Quirky. She was Larx’s daughter down to her toes. Aaron didn’t see how anyone wouldn’t love her as a new daughter—but the McDaniels family tried.
“I’m not really sure scientists are going to save the world,” McDaniels intoned, and Aaron barely refrained from rolling his eyes.
“Well, it’s not going to be the politicians,” Kirby muttered to Christiana, and she snorted, drawing the attention of the rest of the table.
“Really, young man? Who do you think is going to save the world?” Oh God. He was one of those people who condescended to teenagers. Aaron was supposed to be running for an elected office, and he could hardly sit at the same table as this guy. Not good, not good, not good!
“The teachers, sir,” Kirby said boldly. “I’ve never learned anything from a politician, but all my best decisions come from information and a working brain. It would be great if the politicians paid them more thought—just, you know, in case you want to take that into your day job.”
There was general laughter at the table, and McDaniels retreated long enough for the family to order. Larx had told Aaron that his order would depend on what kind of asshole McDaniels would be beforehand. He’d been civil but unsubtly trying to show up pretty much the entire family. Larx ordered the steak and lobster, and while Aaron ordered the fish on diet principle, he admired Larx’s decision greatly. Aaron was reasonably sure the meat wasn’t going to be the only thing being grilled while they waited for their food.
However, McDaniels’s first targets had proved to be unexpectedly resilient in the poise department—he chose his next victim with an easy kill in mind.
“So, Jaime—”
“Hai-me,” Jaime corrected. “You don’t say the J in Colombia. It’s pronounced Hai-me.”
Elton’s father swallowed and tried again. “Jaime—are you and your brother going to be living with my son for long?”
And for a moment, Jaime looked bewildered. “We’re renting the rooms from Deputy George, sir. It’s like people in an apartment complex, except we all went in together and got a dog.” The smile that popped out on the young man’s delicate features could have made angels swoon. “We gotta live there together for a little while at least, sir. It’s a real good dog.”
“As long as you and Berto need to,” Aaron reassured.
“It’s actually a lot better than living at the dorm, Dad,” Elton intervened. “We take turns making dinner, Olivia makes breakfast for everybody, and we clean the house twice a week. It’s nice having a family there.”
“But these people aren’t related to you!” Shawn McDaniels burst out, and Larx and Aaron both hid their smirks behind their hands.
“What?” McDaniels demanded.
“We were just wondering how long it would take you to get there,” Larx said dryly. “Elton’s the father of my grandson. He’s family. And even if he wasn’t, we like him. We’ll keep him as long as he wants to be here.”
“Thanks, sir,” Elton said, holding his hand out for the five.
“My man.” Larx gave back. “Now seriously, Shawn, are you done poking at us? I thought we were here to get to know each other, not be deposed.”
“Good word,” Kellan said from Aaron’s elbow. “I was trying to think of something that meant ‘grilled like a trout’ but sounded like a grown-up would say it.”
Larx regarded him with mock severity. “Aren’t you going to be eighteen in a couple of months? I mean, won’t you be a grown-up then?”
And Kellan shook his head with horror. “Hey, I was promised a two-year addendum to my childhood when I moved in. I’m not claiming grown-up until I’m twenty.”
“Addendum.” Larx winked. “Nice word!”
Everybody laughed except Shawn McDaniels, who managed to suck all the light out the world as he was sucking down scotch.
“I’m just trying to get a feel for who my son will be spending his time with!” Shawn protested. “You have to admit, your… lifestyle is somewhat unorthodox.”
“The working-parent lifestyle?” Aaron asked drolly, figuring it was his turn to take a hit. “Because my wife worked—she had to. We needed the money. Or did you mean something else?”
McDaniels regarded him with an unfriendly glare. “You know very well what I mean.”
“No, sir,” Christiana said, dimpling evilly. “Spell it out for us.”
And now McDaniels was on the receiving end of eight very unfriendly sets of eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m just old-fashioned—”
“Why is it people use that word as an excuse for doing something really awful?” Christi asked, like they were having a different conversation. “Right before someone does something really racist or dumb, they’re like, ‘I’m just old-fashioned, but I think children should be beaten and not heard!’ Or, ‘I’m just old-fashioned, but I think women should vote like their husbands do.’”
“Wait!” Kirby said, like an excited student. “I’ve got one! ‘I’m just old-fashioned, but I think girls are too dumb for science!’”
“Or athletes shouldn’t be in drama!” Kellan added.
“Or I’m just old-fashioned, but I think Mexicans should go home,” Jaime said, disgusted. “I’m not even Mexican. Do people think that’s the only country south of Texas?”
“I’m just old-fashioned, but I think a father should give cows to his in-laws so they know how much his daughter is worth,” Elton said pointedly, and Olivia smacked him on the arm.
“Twenty. I am a twenty-cow woman.”
“And an entire coop of chickens, my love,” Elton said, smiling sweetly.
“Hey,” Aaron said, eyes twinkling. “Old-fashioned isn’t always bad, you know?”
He watched Larx’s eyes widen across the table, because Larx could read his mind.
“Examples, Aaron,” Christi demanded—but she trusted him, so her smile never dimmed. “We need examples.”
“Okay,” Aaron said, watching as Larx shook his head in panic. They hadn’t said anything to the family—not once—about their conversation three weeks ago, about the tremendous monumental thing they’d agreed to, about the direction their lives were heading. “How about, I think when two people are really in love, and their lives join seamlessly, and they want to be together even when they’re super pissed at each other, that if it’s important to them, they should get married.”
Olivia and Christi caught on first.
“Daddy?” Olivia asked hesitantly.
Larx mouthed “You asshole” at him before turning to the kids. “Yes. Aaron asked and I said yes.”
The table erupted into applause and whistles and good wishes, and Aaron watched as Shawn McDaniels conceded defeat. Nobody here was going to let him make them feel small—not a soul.
“Congratulations, gentlemen,” he said when the hubbub had died down. “Do you have anything planned? A date? A venue?”
“Venue should be our front yard,” Aaron said, smiling. “I’m pretty sure there’s flowers in the spring and summer, and we can barbecue in the back.”
“But when?”
“Sometime not winter,” Jaime burst out. “I’m sorry—I know you people are all, like, ‘Okay! It’s spring! Hurray!’—but there’s still snow in the shade, and I think you all are full of it!”
More laughter, and the food arrived just then, but Aaron winked at Larx’s glare from across the table and knew he’d be in for it later. There’d be kids in the back of the minivan, though, so Larx would just have to wait until they got home.
“THAT ENDED better than it began,” Larx said as he was getting ready for bed.
Larx looked at him sideways before hanging up his sport coat and setting his belt on the dresser. “Feeling frisky, Deputy,” he said primly.
“Hey, I’ve been cleared to run with you,” Aaron said. “I think that means we can do the other thing too. The big thing. The thing you’re dying to do, and don’t deny it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Larx said with a wink. Then he sobered. “One more week at home—will you live?”
Aaron shrugged, resigned. “I’m on desk duty for another month, and Eamon wants to ride with me for a week or two to make sure I, you know….”
“Stop flinching,” Larx said softly.
Driving—it was still a problem. So far the kids had missed it, but Aaron felt Larx’s hand on his knee whenever they got within fifteen feet of another car, no matter which one of them was driving. Larx knew.
“Yeah.” Aaron leaned back and massaged the knot forming between his eyes. He had plans for this evening, dammit, that didn’t include worry. “But that has nothing to do with what I want from you tonight.”
Larx laughed and then crossed his arms in mock irritation. “After dropping that bomb on the kids, you think I’m going to put out?”
“What did you think we were going to do, Larx? Run away to Tahoe and elope?”
Larx scowled. “Have you been talking to Yoshi?”
“No! I just know you—you don’t want the ceremony for yourself. Well, tough.”
The tension bled from Larx’s shoulders, and he took off his slacks and folded them before hanging them up. “Good luck with that,” he muttered. “Nancy and Yoshi have plans for us. You have no idea. I mean, I think they’ve picked a date and everything.”
“Well, good. Have them coordinate with the kids—seriously, all we’ll have to do is hire a housecleaner and show up for the ceremony.”
Larx guffawed. “My God, you have no idea what you’ve done, do you. Do you have any idea how bananashit this whole thing is going to get?”
Aaron shrugged. “As opposed to our lives during the last six months? And hey—Kellan and Kirby graduate in a couple of months, and there’s going to be a baby in August, and—”
Larx threw his hands in the air and stalked to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Aaron used the time to remove his boxers and take off his T-shirt, stashing them neatly under his pillow. Larx might talk a good game about getting too irritated for sex, but once he got in bed to find Aaron naked, the whole world would come to a halt.
Aaron was really looking forward to that happening tonight.
Larx came back into the room and shut off the light, not even looking at Aaron before sliding into bed. Aaron rolled to his side and pulled Larx into his arms, finding his mouth even in the starry vision of the new dark.
Larx groaned in total surrender, just that quickly, and ran his hand down Aaron’s flank and hip, gasping slightly.
“Wow, Deputy,” he teased. “It’s like you’re in the mood to do the thing.”
“Not the thing,” Aaron whispered in his ear. “The fucking thing. I’m in the mood to do the fucking thing.”
And oh, Larx moaned again, responsive, giving, all his irritation turning to passion in a flash of desire.
Aaron took his time, seduced him, used his mouth, his teeth, his hands, his tongue, brought Larx to wanton, begging submission, and Larx urged him on.
“Yes! Oh… there. Kiss… oh please, touch… let me touch you—please, Aaron, let me suck you—”
Aaron’s cock grew hard from Larx’s words alone.
And when he followed words up with touch, Aaron’s need amped up from hard to unbearable, to swollen, aching, throbbing with arousal.
He’d wanted to spend an hour, but he needed much sooner than that. It felt like moments, heartbeats, a few cries in the night before he had Larx where he wanted him, thighs spread, ass lifted on a pillow, slicked up and dripping and waiting for possession.
His body welcomed Aaron like the cave welcomed the dragon—hot and moist and ready for invasion.
And passion.
And tumult and frantic chasing after glory.
Larx found his first, arching up, tightening around Aaron’s cock, spewing, thick and urgent onto his stomach as Aaron watched in the faint light. Aaron’s own climax rippled through him, clenched his stomach, knotted his chest, exploded outward into sound, even as Larx gasped under him, hand shoved in his mouth to muffle his cries.
Aaron never wanted to leave the haven of Larx’s body.
He fell forward, feeling his recovery in every sinew, regretting nothing.
“Oh God,” he groaned into the hollow of Larx’s shoulder. “I needed that. Did you need that? I needed that.”
“I so needed that,” Larx panted, wrapping his legs around Aaron’s hips, his arms around Aaron’s shoulders. “I needed that more than air.”
Aaron rolled to the side and grinned at him, and Larx grinned back. His narrow face relaxed as it so rarely did.
“Did you need it as much as our family needs our wedding?” he asked, making sure.
Larx groaned, a totally different kind of groan than he’d let out a few minutes ago. “Oh, fine. I get it,” he admitted. “It needs to be big. They all need to know. It needs to be a deal.”
Aaron closed his eyes, relief and orgasm making him weak. “Good. Because us being in love? In spite of all the chaos of our lives? That’s a big deal to me.”
He felt Larx’s kiss on his shoulder as Larx rolled to his side so he could rest his head there next. “Me too. We’ll make it a big deal to the world. I promise, Deputy.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Principal.”
“Mm….” Larx was falling asleep, naked and despoiled, and Aaron thought he’d wake him to dress in a few minutes. Right now Aaron could hold everything that had been missing from his life for so long in his arms, against his chest, next to his heart.
He knew—they both knew—what a rare and strange thing happiness was. They knew enough to grab on to it with both hands and carry it with them into an ever-changing future.
Yellow
Amy Lane Lite
Light Contemporary Romance
Bonfires: Book One
Ten years ago Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron George lost his wife and moved to Colton, hoping growing up in a small town would be better for his children. He’s gotten to know his community, including Mr. Larkin, the bouncy, funny science teacher. But when Larx is dragged unwillingly into administration, he stops coaching the track team and starts running alone. Aaron—who thought life began and ended with his kids—is distracted by a glistening chest and a principal running on a dangerous road.
Larx has been living for his kids too—and for his students at Colton High. He’s not ready to be charmed by Aaron, but when they start running together, he comes to appreciate the deputy’s steadiness, humor, and complete understanding of Larx’s priorities. Children first, job second, his own interests a sad last.
It only takes one kiss for two men approaching fifty to start acting like teenagers in love, even amid all the responsibilities they shoulder. Then an act of violence puts their burgeoning relationship on hold. The adult responsibilities they’ve embraced are now instrumental in keeping their town from exploding. When things come to a head, they realize their newly forged family might be what keeps the world from spinning out of control.
Pierce Atwater used to think he was a knight in shining armor, but then his life fell to crap. Now he has no job, no wife, no life—and is so full of self-pity he can’t even be decent to the one family member he’s still speaking to. He heads for Florida, where he’s got a month to pull his head out of his ass before he ruins his little sister’s Christmas.
Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth is at his own crossroads—he can keep being Hal, massage therapist in training, flamboyant and irrepressible to the b
ones, or he can let his parents rule his life. Hal takes one look at Pierce and decides they’re fellow unicorns out to make the world a better place. Pierce can’t reject Hal’s overtures of friendship, in spite of his misgivings about being too old and too pissed off to make a good friend.
As they experience everything from existential Looney Tunes to eternal trips to Target, Pierce becomes more dependent on Hal’s optimism to get him through the day. When Hal starts getting him through the nights too, Pierce must look inside for the knight he used to be—before Christmas becomes a doomsday deadline of heartbreak instead of a celebration of love.
A Winter Ball novel
Mason Hayes’s love life has a long history of losers who don’t see that Mason’s heart is as deep and tender as his mouth is awkward. He wants kindness, he wants love—and he wants someone who thinks sex is as fantastic as he does. When Terry Jefferson first asks him out, Mason thinks it’s a fluke: Mason is too old, too boring, and too blurty to interest someone as young and hot as his friend’s soccer teammate.
The truth is much more painful: Mason and Terry are perfectly compatible, and they totally get each other. But Terry is still living with his toxic, suffocating parent and Mason doesn’t want to be a sugar daddy. Watching Terry struggle to find himself is a long lesson in patience, but Mason needs to trust that the end result will be worth it, because finally, he’s found a man worth sharing his heart with.
The Mannies
Growing up and falling in love…
Sometimes family is a blessing and a curse. When Tino Robbins is roped into helping his sister deliver premade dinners when he should be studying for finals, he’s pretty sure it’s the latter! But one delivery might change everything.
