by A. R. Barley
“She lives in the tower,” Sadie babbled excitedly. “I can see her from the back porch. She waves at me sometimes in the morning when I’m eating my cereal.”
The large Victorian next door did have a tower tacked on awkwardly near the back, but as far as Mitch knew there weren’t any women living there. Kelly O’Connor had moved back home at the beginning of the summer, renting rooms to his friends and a few other students from Halston University.
Mitch was pretty sure most of them were gay. They were also young, athletic and unattainable.
Maybe he should try online dating, but it seemed like such a meat market.
It had been almost two years since Melissa’s death, and he was tired of sleeping in an empty bed and having no one over the age of eleven to share his day with. Hell, the only action he’d gotten in the past eighteen months was with his own hand.
It was freaking lonely.
He made one last ineffectual swipe at Sadie’s messy curls and checked his reflection in the mirror by the front door: wrinkled shirt, jeans that didn’t quite fit, and dark circles under his eyes. He looked tired and—at thirty-two—he felt old.
The barbecue would help—there’d be piping-hot burgers, ice-cold beer and adult conversation. Making a real connection with someone was unlikely, but it would be a chance to work on his flirting skills with living, breathing, human men.
Suddenly he couldn’t wait.
“Let’s get out of here.” He popped open the door and led the troops outside. Jack grabbed his sister’s hand as they walked around the Victorian and into the fenced-in backyard where classic rock and bouncy pop crackled over old speakers and Kelly was manning the grill in a red apron. Their host glanced up and gave Mitch a quick wave before going back to the task at hand.
Mitch took a deep breath as he glanced around at the yard full of people. Most of them were men at least ten years younger than him—Kelly’s age—but he recognized Kelly’s uncle Matt McCormick and his wife on the back porch. Matt coached in Jack’s soccer league and Emma had run for the school board.
“Puppy,” Sadie exclaimed as a tiny dog raced around in circles, yapping at friends and begging for treats.
Damn. Mitch swallowed the oath. He’d forgotten about Kelly’s dog. His daughter wasn’t exactly a heavyweight contender, but she could do real damage to the pint-sized canine if he didn’t watch.
Then there was a loud squeal followed by: “Princess!”
She yanked free of her brother’s hand and lunged across the yard. Her blond curls bounced awkwardly and her pink dress streamed behind her in the wind. She finally skidded to a stop in front of a slightly built, dark-haired man.
Hell. Mitch’s stride lengthened.
The man might be short, but there was no mistaking the firm hips under his swishy black basketball shorts or the way his white cotton wifebeater clung to his defined arms. He was definitely male, but that didn’t stop Sadie’s head from bobbing up and down in greeting.
“Easy, sweetheart.” Mitch bent to scoop his daughter up, but Sadie was having none of it. She wriggled out of his grip and latched on to the new guy’s hand, talking about fingernail polish, feathers and glitter.
He ground his teeth together. This was not good, but the guy didn’t look offended. If anything, he looked flattered.
Gorgeous. Mitch grinned. He looked gorgeous with sharp cheekbones, caramel skin, and a slight Latin flair to his delicate features. His nose was slightly crooked, like it had been broken at least once, but it didn’t detract from his looks. If anything, the slight imperfection just made him look more real...
This man wasn’t some pretty doll; he was touchable with his suckable bee-stung lips and black locks that begged for a lover’s touch. What would it feel like to tangle his hands in that soft hair and drag him in close for a kiss? Would he taste as good as he looked? Like some spun-sugar delicacy that would melt on his tongue.
Hazel eyes glanced up at Mitch through long black lashes and his heart skipped a beat. Was that just the hint of mascara and eyeliner? It didn’t matter. Whatever, the way he’d done it framed his eyes perfectly, bringing out bright flecks of green and gold.
Mitch had seen eyes like those before, recently, but he couldn’t remember where.
“See, Daddy!” Sadie exclaimed. “I told you there was a princess.”
“You mean a prince,” Mitch corrected quickly.
Sadie’s new friend rattled off something in what sounded like fluent Spanish. His voice was soft and husky, not deep but lyrical. Whatever he was saying didn’t sound particularly complimentary.
“You speak Spanish,” Sadie squealed happily. “We’re learning Spanish in school.” She mumbled a few incoherent syllables.
The guy’s entire face became animated as he tried to hide his laughter. “You want to learn Spanish, I’ll teach you. And don’t listen to your daddy. Anyone can be a princess if they’ve got the right wardrobe. Mine’s first-rate. I’ll even show it to you sometime.”
“Oh my God!” Sadie’s eyes were as big as saucers. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink. “That sounds awesome!”
A pink tongue darted out to moisten his raspberry lips. “That is, if your daddy doesn’t mind. What do you think, papi?”
One little word, two syllables, and Mitch was back in Ale Mary’s on Wednesday night, heart banging away in his chest as he flirted with a woman who was completely out of his league. He’d just made a fool of himself by spilling beer down the front of his shirt, but he’d still asked her out around the twists in his tongue and the knots in his belly.
“I’d love to, papi, but that’s my cue,” she’d murmured in her husky voice, her lips slick with gloss and hard cider.
When she’d asked him to wait, he’d said yes and meant it.
Then she’d walked up onstage—her pink dress pulling around her apple-shaped ass—and started belting her heart out to the cheers of the crowd.
That’s when he’d known the truth.
The singer wasn’t just out of his league; she—he?—was out of his world. Mitch might have accepted his bisexuality years ago—a gorgeous man got his motor running as fast as a pretty woman—but that didn’t mean he’d know what to do with a guy in his bed. Especially one as sexy and confident as the drag queen strutting across the stage.
Nerves had made his chest clench. He was too young for a heart attack, but with panic tearing at his insides he’d been ready to drop right there. Instead of sticking around to make even more of a fool of himself, he’d left before she finished her set.
Now, Mitch’s breath was coming faster. All the blood that wasn’t rushing down to plump his cock was buzzing through his head, making it impossible to think. For the past three nights running he’d fantasized about those perfect lips forming a perfect seal around his cock, sucking him slowly into a hot mouth while hazel eyes stared up at him. The man had been pretty in a dress, but nothing could compare to his strikingly masculine features.
Mitch wasn’t looking for a wife or a mother for his kids. He’d had one of those already.
But a man who could give as good as he got? Sucking Mitch off while he stroked himself to completion? Yeah, that would work.
Or, maybe Mitch would be the one on his knees, sliding his open lips down his partner’s hard erection, using his tongue to bring the beautiful man to a gasping, eager, completion. The thought made him swallow hard. The last time he’d given a guy a blow job had been during his brief experimental phase in college.
It didn’t matter.
Some things you never forgot.
He gave himself a mental shake, glad he’d thrown on a pair of tight briefs under his shorts. The last thing he wanted to do was sport a hard-on in front of his kids.
Besides, the sassy man’s appearance in his life might have jump-started his libido, but that didn’t m
ean things had changed since their first meeting at Ale Mary’s. He was still gorgeous, funny, talented and eventually he’d want more than just a sloppy blow job from a guy who’d never gone all the way with a man in his life.
Don’t miss OUTSIDE THE LINES by A.R. Barley.
Available now wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold.
www.CarinaPress.com
Copyright © 2016 by Aleah Barley
Also available from A.R. Barley and Carina Press
Boundaries series:
Out of Bounds
Against the Rules
Outside the Lines
Coming soon from A.R. Barley and Carina Press
Books two and three in the Smoke & Bullets series:
Broken Protocol
Shift’s End
Also available from A.R. Barley
The Shore Thing
Chasing His Cottontail
Talk Bunny to Me
About the Author
A.R. Barley has been a book lover since day one. She has a to-be-read list a mile long and an ebook addiction she’s failing to hide from her loved ones. She wrote her first book—a drama about a family of balloons—in kindergarten and hasn’t stopped writing since. She also writes under the name Aleah Barley.
A.R. Barley writes funny, heartfelt romance for everyone while living in Detroit, Michigan, and exploring everything it has to offer. She has a husband who supports her in everything she does, a Labrador who sleeps at her feet, and a cat who is plotting to take over the world.
You can find out more about her—and her upcoming books—at @AleahBarley, Facebook.com/aleahrbarley or aleahbarley.blogspot.com.
Introducing the Carina Press Romance Promise!
The Carina Press team all have one thing in common: we are romance readers with a longtime love of the genre. And we know what readers are looking for in a romance: a guarantee of a happily-ever-after (HEA) or happy-for-now (HFN). With that in mind, we’re initiating the Carina Press Romance Promise. When you see a book tagged with these words in our cover copy/book description, we’re making you, the reader, a very important promise:
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One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
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Get your hands on more A.R. Barley titles!
The Boundaries Series
OUT OF BOUNDS (The Boundaries Series, book one)
Jesse Cole was placed in a new dorm room after his last roommate attacked him. Just wanting to be left alone to heal in peace, he’s shocked when tall, dark and dangerous-looking Nick Moretti walks in. And changes everything.
AGAINST THE RULES (The Boundaries Series, book two)
Ian Larkin knows what Kelly wants—a true Dom, someone who will protect him. Ian knows just what Kelly needs, and he’s the only man who can give it to him. There’s only one problem: Kelly is a student, and Ian is a teacher...
OUTSIDE THE LINES (The Boundaries Series, book three)
Mitch Dalton can’t stop fantasizing about his sexy and confident drag queen neighbor. He wants to make a move, but he hasn’t had a lot of experience with men and isn’t sure Chi-Chi would be interested in a guy who’s never gone all the way.
“A sweet, feel-good story of two young men who help each other heal.”
—Gay Book Reviews on OUT OF BOUNDS
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Keep on reading! Carina Press has you covered on all your male/male romance!
Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert
A sexy new page-turning military series from male/male romance author Annabeth Albert.
OFF BASE (Out of Uniform, book one)
AT ATTENTION (Out of Uniform, book two)
ON POINT (Out of Uniform, book three)
WHEELS UP (Out of Uniform, book four)
“OFF BASE combines a sexy romance with an emotionally dramatic story and is a great start to the Out of Uniform series.”
—All About Romance
Agents Irish and Whiskey series by Layla Rayne
Follow FBI agents Aidan Talley and Jameson Walker as they try to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. But time is running out...
SINGLE MALT (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book one)
CASK STRENGTH (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book two)
BARREL PROOF (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book three)
“In depicting the hurts of living and the healing comfort of love, [A.M.] Arthur hits all the right notes.”
—Publishers Weekly
Clean Slate Ranch series by A.M. Arthur
Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch, home of tight jeans, cowboy boots and rough trails. For some men, it’s a fantasy come true.
WILD TRAIL (Clean Slate Ranch, book one)
“A sweet, feel-good story of two young men who help each other heal.”
—Gay Book Reviews on OUT OF BOUNDS
Smoke & Bullets series by A.R. Barley
Number-one rule for a firefighter: never take your eyes off the flame. Male/male author A.R. Barley is back with a new contemporary romance series.
ON DUTY (Smoke & Bullets, book one)
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ISBN-13: 9781488079221
On Duty
Copyright © 2017
by Aleah Barley
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
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