When Danny met Horatio... (The Band Book 1) by Heather Mar-Gerrison (2)

He smiled and lay down next to me, “I really did.” He said, “Although I’m gonna have to change the sheets. The bed’s a bit of a mess – I came so hard when you shot your load.”

Wow. Everything he said was sexy. “I can’t believe I found you.” I murmured.

Horatio grinned, “Right back atcha.” he said.

I bit my lip. Did I dare ask him for what I wanted to try? Well, why not? It wasn’t like he wouldn’t be up for it, surely?

“Rayshe?”

He had his head on my shoulder and his arm and leg slung over me possessively as we lay in his bed, “Mmm?”

“I wondered…” Fuck. How was I supposed to ask him to fuck me?

“What, baby?”

I turned my head to face him. He looked up at me. As our eyes met, all of my anxiety seemed to dissipate, “I really want to feel you inside me.” I said.

His eyes seemed to darken with passion, “Oh, baby.” He said, “We can definitely do that – and you can return the favour too – I would love nothing more than to be pounded into the mattress by you.”

Oh, holy shit. He wanted me to fuck him? Wow…

“I’m guessing you might need a bit of loosening up first.” Rayshe said, “And I can really help you with that.”

I nodded, “What do I have to do?”

He smiled, “You just have to lie back, legs apart – and let me at you.”

Oh, my God… “Okay.” I squeaked.

He smiled at me and stroked his fingers down my body. “Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, “Oh, God, yeah – but don’t you want me to shower first?”

He shook his head, “No, baby.” He said, “I’m good.”

Rayshe shuffled down the bed and as I held my thighs apart to give him full access to me, he started to pay attention to my balls with his tongue as he worked my cock gently with his hand. He sucked one of my balls right into his mouth, making me gasp at the new sensation. Holy shit, that felt good…

He swapped to my other ball, sucking it into his mouth and giving it just as much attention as my other one had just been treated to.

What he did next though, completely blew my mind. His tongue got lower and lower until he found my hole. Oh. My God… He fluttered it around the entrance before he started to really lick it, like he was really enjoying it.

I groaned with the pleasure of the feel of it. He stopped and looked up at me, “Enjoying that?” he asked.

I nodded, “Incredible.” I gasped.

He smiled and went back down. This time he covered my hole with his whole mouth and sucked. Fuck me! That was intense. I think I might have let out a bit of a squeal because he laughed and then almost put me in orbit as he stuck his tongue right inside me.

“Oh, my God,” I groaned, “I’m gonna come.”

And I did, just from him rimming me.

He sat up, wiping his mouth, “Fuck, man.” He said, “I came again.” He said, “We really need to change these sheets now.”

I smiled at him.

He grinned back, “You’ve loosened up brilliantly,” he said, “I think we’ll be able to try making love later.”

I nodded, “I’ve uh, done it with a dildo before.”

He blinked and then raised his eyebrows, “Really?” he drawled, “Do tell.”

I found myself blushing and stammering through my explanation of Mara servicing me with a dildo in our early relationship. “I haven’t done it with her for months,” I told him, feeling slightly mortified, “But I have kept up playing with it on my own.”

Horatio nodded, “Good.” He said, “It’ll make things much easier for us. Now, let’s go and get something to eat.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.” I agreed. My legs were still shaking from the power of my orgasm. Horatio was, without a shadow of a doubt, the best lover I’d ever had…

We went through to Horatio’s kitchen, still completely naked. He poked around in the cupboards and turned to me with a slightly apologetic look on his face, “Well, babe.” He said, “it’s toast – or a takeaway.”

I smiled, “Toast’s good for me.” I said, “I think we’ve got a little too much flesh on show to answer the door.”

He chuckled, “I could put some clothes on to answer the door.” He said.

I shook my head, “I prefer you like this.” I said, closing the distance between us and kissing him.

He closed his eyes and melted into me, wrapping his arms around my back and hugging me close, “Mmm.” He murmured against my mouth, “Me too.”

We finished our toast as fast as possible and pretty much ran back to his bed. “Wait!” he said, “The sheets are icky.”

I laughed, “Icky?”

He nodded, laughing, “Yeah. Let me get some fresh ones out.”

He grabbed a blanket, “This’ll do.” He said, “I can’t actually wait to make love to you.”

I shook my head, “Me either.” I said, “I really want you.”

He started kissing me again and we fell onto the bed, still kissing and wrapped around each other.

I stared up at Horatio as he eased himself inside me, “Oh, my God.” I whispered over and over again, “Oh, my God!” I covered my face with my hands.

“Danny?” Rayshe asked, sounding a little panicked, “Oh, God.” He said, “Is it that bad?”

I shook my head, “It’s amazing, it’s fantastic. Keep going.”

He grinned, “Oh, thank God.” He said, “Because you feel incredible. You’re so tight, baby.”

I nodded, “And you’re massive.” I panted, “Massive.”

He grinned and winked, making me laugh. “Yeah, baby.” He said, “I am – and all yours.”

 

 

Chapter 15 – Reality check…

 

Danny

 

“Oh, my God.” I jumped out of bed, wincing slightly as I did so. I was a little tender this morning but I still felt on top of the world after making love with Horatio all of last night. Nothing would ever be so perfect again in my life, I was sure. “I really have to go, Rayshe – if I don’t get the house cleaned…” I bit my lip as my eyes met with his.

“Don’t go back to her.” He said softly, “Just pack your stuff and come back here to me. Leave her, Danny – she doesn’t deserve you.”

I nodded, “I will – but I should tell her that I’m leaving her at least.”

He nodded, sighing, “If you think she deserves an explanation.” He muttered.

I sighed and sat back down on the bed, “I don’t really think she does,” I said, “But I can’t help being the way I am – I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just slunk away from my marriage. I need to tell her that I’ve met someone else and that I don’t love her anymore…” I now realised that I actually never had. This was love, what I had with Rayshe. We might not have told each other with words but we’d shown each other with our bodies last night.

He sat up, “Yeah,” he sighed, “You’re right,” he smiled at me, “But you’re not leaving without some breakfast.” He jumped out of bed and grabbed his boxer shorts. I admired his perfectly rounded behind as he pulled them on and then his sweatpants. He turned to me, his chest bare and looking absolutely fucking magnificent. My God, his body covering mine – and him being inside me had felt amazing last night…

My mouth watered, “Oh, God.” I groaned, “Please put some more clothes on – you’re killing me, man.”

He chuckled and reached for his hoody. Pulling it over his head, he looked at me, “Better?”

I nodded, “Yeah, thanks. I might have a chance of walking around without a massive boner now.”

He grinned and walked over to me, “I need to see this massive boner.” He said, sliding his hand inside my boxer shorts and giving my cock a playful squeeze.

I shook my head, “You’re insatiable!”

He growled and wrestled me down onto the bed, straddling me, he leaned down and started to trail little kisses all over my face, “And you’re adorable.” He murmured between feathery little kisses. I’d never felt more cherished in my whole life.

 

*

 

I got home and started to tidy and clean the house immediately.

“Shit.” I whispered to myself as I saw that I’d left my toothbrush on the side instead of putting it back in its holder. I’d left the tube on the side of the sink too. Mara would have gone ballistic if she’d beaten me home…

I checked around the rest of the house, biting my lip nervously as I went. I was really nervous that I was going to give myself away somehow that I’d slept with another man last night. I felt like I had a big beacon glowing above my head that screamed ‘queer’ to everyone. Of course, it was all just in my own head. No one other that Horatio and I knew what had happened last night…

I stopped what I was doing for a moment whilst I allowed myself to remember Horatio’s kisses and his touch… Remembering him entering me and making me his for the first time, “Christ.” I muttered to myself, “Stop thinking about it! You’ll have a boner that you won’t be able to explain!”

Because there was no doubting that it wouldn’t happen just because I hadn’t seen my wife in a few days. We both knew that… being beaten up all of the time kind of took any desire out the relationship.

My thoughts drifted to when I’d first met Mara and I’d fancied myself in love with her. It was a far cry from the way I felt about Horatio and I seriously wondered what the hell I’d ever seen in her – and how I could have mistaken whatever it was I’d felt for her for love. Desperation to be ‘normal’, probably…

We’d dated a couple of months before she fell pregnant, which had shocked the life out of me because we’d been very particular about using protection. I’d been invited to go on holiday with her and her parents to Centerparcs. Looking back, I was beginning to think that she’d just been manipulating me from the word go…

I’d left her on the sunbeds and had gone for a swim. When I got back to the sunbeds there was absolutely no sign of her at all. All of our stuff was there but she’d disappeared.

I spent the next couple of hours frantically searching for her – with her parents, who were very alarmed that their only daughter had gone missing, only to find her in the gift shop.

“Where’ve you been?” I panted, feeling heartily relieved that she was safe and well.

She turned on me immediately and turned everything around, making out to her parents that I’d neglected her by going in the pool. I was flabbergasted. Had I really been so thoughtless?

“I’m really sorry.” I found myself saying, “I thought I’d only been gone a couple of minutes.”

Surely it had only been a couple of minutes? I went back over what I’d done. I’d done two lengths of the pool and then I’d helped a young mother to get her two little kids out of the pool and then I’d headed straight back…

Ahh, so that’s what had been the problem. The young mother. She’d been so jealous of me talking to another girl that she’d deliberately gone to hide from me to make me worry.

“Fuck’s sake, Dan,” I muttered to myself, “You married a fucking psycho.”

My phone rang then, making me jump violently. I looked at the home screen. Mara…

“Hi, babe.” I greeted her automatically. She was as far removed from a ‘babe’ than anyone could possibly be.

“Hi, sweetie,” she gushed. She must have been with her workmates. She was always really nice to me when she was in company, “We’re staying another night – it’s going really well.”

My heart lifted, and not just because it gave me another day to get the house ship-shape. It gave me another night with Horatio… “Oh, okay…”

I asked her how it was going and she went on and on about some team-building exercise she and Jason had devised. Jason was her immediate boss and I’d wished on so many occasions that she’d just fall in love with him and divorce me…

“Sounds like you and Jason have got it totally sussed.” I said warmly, “Have fun.”

We said our goodbyes and I ended the call. Within a second, I was calling Horatio…

“Danny?” he sounded like he was smiling.

“Hi, Rayshe.” I said, “I’ve got another night alone…”

 

*

 

Oh, my God. I could do this every night of my life and never get bored. Rayshe was kissing my neck and his hands were roaming all over me, making me hard and dying to get my hands on him too. “Rayshe.” I breathed.

“Danny,” he whispered, “I want you naked. I need you naked.”

I groaned with desire, “Oh, God.” I whimpered, “That sounds amazing.” It was only three in the afternoon.

He chuckled and took my hand, “Come on.” He said, “let’s go to bed – I’ve changed the sheets.”

It occurred to me that I’d never once had sex during the day with Mara. And she’d always insisted that we do it in the dark.

But doing it with the sun, albeit rather weakly, streaming through the windows, being able to really see Horatio fall apart in front of my eyes from being sucked by me was such a turn-on. I never wanted to do this with anyone else. I just wanted to be with Horatio – forever.

“I’m getting close, baby.” He murmured.

I nodded and hummed a reply. There was no way I was going to pull off him, I really wanted to swallow his come. And I wanted to give rimming him a go too. I’d been taught a few things last night that had completely blown my mind and I really wanted to try them out for myself. I was a very willing pupil…

“Oh, God!” Rayshe cried out as his cock exploded in my mouth, “You’re amazing.”

I swallowed most of what he gave me but I wasn’t experienced in this activity at all and a fair amount dribbled out of my mouth and down my chin and neck. I didn’t care. I just wanted to keep sucking him.

Eventually his cock softened. I slipped my mouth from him and looked up.

He was watching me with his mouth slightly open, “No one’s ever sucked me till I went soft before.” He said.

I blinked. Shit. I’d just been really enjoying it, “Did I do it wrong?” I asked, feeling suddenly foolish.

He smiled and shook his head, “No, baby.” He said, “It was incredible.”

I looked back at his cock. “I just want to suck you all of the time.” I admitted, “I can’t get enough of it.”

He nodded, “I feel the same way about you.” He said, “Wanna suck each other at the same time? That’s intense.”

I nodded, “Fuck, yeah.” I agreed. “Sounds awesome.”

We shuffled into position and I felt Horatio’s gorgeous full lips engulf me completely. Oh, my God, that was good. His mouth was so warm and so wet… I started lapping around his shaft, aware that he would still feel a little sensitive from his very recent blowjob.

His hands started to massage my arse and then I felt his fingers start to tease my entrance. Oh, wow. He was going to finger me while he sucked. I wondered if I could do the same to him…

I ran my hands down Rayshe’s fabulously toned body and around to my goal. Feeling brave I stroked a finger across his hole. I felt him tense up. Did he like it? Didn’t he? I pulled off him, “Is that good, baby?” I breathed, “Or shall I not?”

He groaned a response and sucked my cock with a little more vigour. I took it that he really did like it. It spurred me on. With a flash of inspiration, I wet my fingers with spit and then, when they were sufficiently slippery I sucked his cock deeply to the back of my throat and slipped my fingers back around to his hole.

I teased his hole with my fingertips and then, applying a little more pressure, slipped one inside him. I really had no idea what to do next so I just went with copying what Rayshe was doing to me. I was pretty sure he had two fingers inside me, so I slipped a second finger into him, too and continued to lap and suck at his cock. God, he was so big, it was incredible to have his cock bumping the back of my throat and to still be able to have my hands around the base of him. I was sure that when he was deep throating me I was completely engulfed by his mouth with my balls slapping his chin… Still, he said he thought I was beautiful. I was sure he wasn’t all that bothered about the size of my cock.

The next second I knew what he’d been doing with his fingers. He’d found my sweet spot.

I groaned. God. He was absolutely amazing at making me come. I didn’t even have chance to warn him. I was just coming hard, spurt after spurt being swallowed down by him as he continued to stroke my prostate.

I tried to find his too and was rewarded by a mouthful of his come as he too came hard.

I pulled off him, gasping for breath and I swear I could see stars.

“Fucking incredible.” Horatio murmured next to me, “You are fucking incredible.”

I crawled up the bed and collapsed next to him, throwing an arm over his chest and hooking my leg over his, “You’re incredible.” I murmured, “I would have never experienced anything like this in my life if we hadn’t met.” I love you… I couldn’t say that out loud. I was too scared that I might just be a flash in the pan for Rayshe – I’ll admit I was a little intimidated by the size difference between us.

He kissed the side of my head, “You’re wonderful.” He murmured, “Fancy topping me later?”

My dick stirred. “I would love to.” I said, “But I really need something to eat – and some sleep.”

He chuckled, “Sleep first.” He said, “I can’t move after that.”

I nodded, closing my eyes. Seconds later we were both asleep.

 

 

Chapter 16 – Grandma…

 

Horatio

 

Once we’d had a well-earned nap after our very energetic love-making, we headed out to my family home, where my mum, her sister (my aunt) and my youngest brother lived. Grandma was visiting from Jamaica and I was trying my best to go over every day to see her before she had to go back. One day, I would take Danny over to see her there and show him the beautiful country I originated from.

“Horatio! My beautiful boy!” Grandma greeted me in her wonderful Jamaican accent.

“Hi Gran.” I went over to her and gave her a big hug, “I want you to meet a really good friend of mine,” I turned back to Danny and caught his hand in mine, pulling him over to meet my wonderful gran.

She looked up at him with her bright eyes and smiled, “Ahh,” she said, nodding approvingly, “You did good this time, son.”

I beamed at her and turned to grin shyly at Danny who beamed back at me, going bright red in the face.

“Stop embarrassing the boys.” Mum scolded, appearing out of the kitchen with a tray of drinks for everyone, frowning at her. Gran wasn’t fazed in the slightest and sat with a big smile on her face.

Danny had been a bit nervous about meeting my family but I’d told Mum all about him and she’d been eager to meet the man who had finally made me want to settle down and had made him very welcome in her home.

“Where’s Otto and Celia?” I asked.

“Oh, Otto’s out with his friends somewhere – the skateboarding park – you know how much he loves that board of his,” she rolled her eyes, making me smile, Otto was absolutely skate-board crazy. “and Celia’s at her art class.”

I looked at Danny who was looking back at me with a slightly puzzled look on his face. I realised that I’d never mentioned them to him.

I smiled, “Celia’s my aunt who lives with us – she’s very artistic and she teaches a class of mature students. I’ve even modelled for her class before.”

Danny blinked, registering that I’d been the subject of a painting class, “As in…?”

I grinned and nodded, “Oh, yeah.” I said, raising my eyebrows at him, “Buck naked.”

 

 

Chapter 17 – Breaking it off…

 

Danny

 

Fuck’s sake. He needed to come complete with a public health warning. I was going to be popping boners every few minutes dating him…

“And Otto’s my little brother. He’s straight and very, very annoying.” He chuckled, “He calls me a fag – but I don’t think he really means to be insulting. He generally thinks it’s pretty funny that I’m gay and into white guys.”

I blinked, “What?” I asked, feeling ever-so-slightly embarrassed to be asking questions with his family within earshot, “You’ve never dated black guys?”

He shrugged and shook his head, “Everyone has a type.” He said a little defensively.

I smiled, “When I’m very glad I’m your type.”

He smiled back at me, “You’re my one and only.” He murmured.

“What are you doing for Christmas, Horatio?” His mother asked, “Are you home or are you spending it with the boys?”

He looked at me and bit his lip, “I’m, uh, not sure at the moment.”

I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking we could spend it together if I’d already left my wife – and I really wanted that to be the case too. I just wasn’t sure if I had the balls to actually come on out and tell her that I was leaving.

Horatio squeezed my hand, “Let’s not worry about that yet – we’ve got time to think about it.”

I nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “You’re right.” Phew. I really didn’t want to get into a discussion about my personal arrangements with his mother and gran around to throw in their opinions…

We stayed for a couple of hours – long enough for his Gran to cook up some of the most delicious chicken I’d ever tasted and then, since I still had plenty of time to get home and get the place looking somewhere near decent before Mara got back from her course, Rayshe and I headed out to see the band he’d got tickets for.

“Oh, man – they are so great.” Rayshe exclaimed as we made our way out of the venue and headed down to the fast food joints that surrounded the arena.

I nodded, “They’re fantastic.” I agreed, “We’ll have to go and see them again some time.”

He took my hand in his and stopped, “We will.” He said, “I want so many first times with you – I want to have a day at the races, theme parks, cinema dates, I want to go on holiday with you…” he trailed off, “I just want to be with you.” He finished, looking a little embarrassed.

I pulled him close and wrapped my arms around him, “I want all of that too and I will talk to Mara – I just need to find the right time to tell her that it’s over.”

Horatio gazed at me, a worried frown on his face, “Are you sure it’s wise to actually tell her that face-to-face?” he asked.

I nodded, “I have to.” I said, “It’s not right to break up with someone over the phone – or worse, by text.”

Horatio grinned, “Yeah,” he agreed, “That sucks. So, when are you gonna tell her?”

I was beginning to feel a little like he was pressuring me into telling her and that was making me defensive. I’d had enough of Mara putting pressure on me – I didn’t want to have the same thing happen with Horatio. “When I’m ready.” I snapped.

Horatio recoiled from me as if I’d slapped him. I felt instantly ashamed of myself. I was behaving as badly as Mara did… “Okay.” He said, holding his hands up, as if in surrender, “I’ll give you some space.”

I nodded, “I think that would be best.” I agreed, grasping at straws again, “We could probably do with a little time apart.” I said, “And besides, nothing more can happen between us while I’m still married to her anyway.”

Horatio gaped at me, “But you could be married to her for ages yet, waiting for the right time – are you saying that you don’t want to see me anymore?”

I shrugged, “If you think that’s best.” I muttered.

He scowled at me, “I think you’re burying your head in the sand,” he snapped, “thinking everything will be rosy when she gets back.” He shook his head, “You’re choosing the wrong person, babe – you’re choosing to be miserable with her instead of happy with me.”

I knew he was right and it was killing me. I had to get out of there, “I’ll see you around, Rayshe.” I said, “I’m so sorry.”

Turning my back on him, I walked away and reluctantly headed home; with every step I hoped and prayed that he would follow me and try to talk me out of it but he was a decent guy and deep down, I knew he’d respect what I’d decided to do, even if it was breaking both of our hearts in the process.

After I’d checked everywhere and made sure the place was spotless, I headed for bed and tried to get some sleep.

It was impossible. I went over every possible outcome of how Mara was going to react to me wanting to finish our relationship.

I was hopeful that she’d be as relieved as I was that we were going to go our separate ways. The lease on our house was up in two months, so I could give her the money for the rent up to the end of February and we didn’t have to renew it – or she could stay and take it on alone. I wasn’t bothered. I just wanted out of everything.

I was aware that my timing was absolutely the worst possible. Who wanted to break up on Christmas Eve? But it was what it was. If she’d not stayed on her course for extra days, it wouldn’t have fallen on that date…

I must have finally fallen to sleep because the next thing I knew it was the next morning and I had to get up and get my stuff packed. Once I told her I was leaving, I was going to make sure I was ready to go. She was unpredictable at the best of times – being told her husband was gay and was leaving her for another man might just tip her over the edge of reason…

 

*

 

At three o’clock I heard her key in the door. I was shitting bricks at the idea of telling her but I was determined that I was going to. I couldn’t stay here any longer I couldn’t take any more of her mood swings and her violent outbursts. Not anymore – not now that I knew there was a whole different way to live. I’d been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day and it had made me realise that going through the motions, pretending to be happy when all I wanted to do was get up and leave was just stupid. I was wasting my life here and all I wanted to do was to go and spend the day with the real love of my life – Horatio.

It was well past time that I told her. I was leaving her. To think that I could have even considered choosing her over Horatio was utter madness. There was no way I could stay and allow her to keep on abusing me all of time. But I was going to tell her the truth about Horatio. I felt that it was the only way to go and to keep my dignity. I was leaving her for a guy – and I was proud that I had finally found someone who loved me back in the way I loved him.

She came into the living room and stood in front of me. I swallowed. Something was already off. I could tell by her face.

“Hi, babe.” I said, “Good course?”

She nodded, “It was fine.” She said shortly, “But I probably didn’t have as good a time as you did here.”

I frowned at her. What the hell? “I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at.”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with some black guy.” She said, “And I’m assuming that you’re a bit more than friends. Are you?”

I blinked. How the fuck had she found out? “We’re quite close, yeah.” I hedged. I had no idea how much she knew or if she was wanting to trap me into giving myself away.

She tossed an envelope down onto the sofa next to me, “These pictures tell me that you’re more than close.”

Ohhh, fuck. I knew without even looking at them that they were from the other night when I was about to leave Rayshe’s house and then turned around. We’d kissed in the open doorway.

“I want to explain…” I want to tell you that I’ve found someone who is truly capable of loving me.

She looked at me incredulously, “Explain?” she spluttered, “What’s to explain? I’m married to a fucking queer! How fucking dare you do that to me?”

I winced. There was really no need for her to call me a queer. “I’m sorry.” I whispered, “I didn’t know…”

She sneered, taking a step towards me. “You didn’t know?” she asked, “Your own brother’s as gay as gay gets – how the hell didn’t you know? When the hell did you realise, then?”

I looked up at her, “When I met Horatio.” I said, “I totally fell for him and I’m really sorry.

She nodded, “You’re right.” She said, “I think we need a little time apart. I’d like you to leave.”

I nodded and got up. I’d got everything ready packed in the boot of my car. It was just a case of picking up my holdall in the hall that held all of my university stuff…

 

 

Chapter 18 – Heartbroken…

 

Horatio

 

I was in such a funk. Well, it was far worse than that but I could hardly start crying about it.

I’d been so sure that Danny would call, so sure that he’d change his mind and choose me. But when nine o’clock came and went on Christmas Eve night, I figured that I’d take the hint and try to get on with my life.

I’d gone around to Karl’s with the rest of the band members for practice, not that we’d got anything done. I’d spent the entire time bemoaning the fact that Danny had chosen his wife over me.

“Are you sure?” Noah asked, wide-eyed, “I was so sure he was into you.”

I sniffed, “Yeah, well.” I mumbled, “I guess he was just filling his time up.”

Karl frowned, “I don’t know, man.” He said, “The sort of guys that mess around generally keep it to the clubs – they’re not the type to stay over – and meet the family. Look at Martin – he never even wanted to meet us.”

Noah nodded, “Yeah,” he grimaced, “He was all about keeping everything a closely guarded secret,” he rolled his eyes, “I thought it was all so exciting at the time – all the sneaking around was fun to begin with but it soon got boring. I should have known he was never going to leave her…”

The guys were right. I was being a tit hankering after a straight man that was experimenting with me. Shit, he really was no better than Martin... I should have ended it as soon as it started. He really couldn’t have thought as much of me as I did him. He’d been playing me – and he’d gone and ended it two days before Christmas.

I got home and headed for bed. I lay, staring that the ceiling, torturing myself with ideas of what he and Mara would be getting up to. I had no idea what she looked like, but in my thoughts, she resembled Cruella De Ville… They were probably having a fake romantic night at home, drinking cocktails and feeding each other over their candlelit table or something equally as vomit inducing... And I was alone, nursing a broken heart and a hangover from hell from drinking myself into oblivion with heartbreak. Well, not oblivion as such but to say I was a lightweight when it came to drinking was an understatement. The bastard. I didn’t need him. Only trouble was, I really did...

My phone pinged, making me jump. I’d been so lost in my dark thoughts that minutes had passed.

I blinked as I looked at the text. It was from Danny. “Help me.”

I frowned. Help me? What the fuck was he on about? He’d told me it was over. He’d chosen Mara... hadn’t he?

I sat us straight and sent a reply, a cold shiver going down my spine. Had she hit him? “What’s going on?”

A message pinged back almost immediately, “Please, just come.”

Fuck. Something was definitely wrong. Danny was wordy. He never did short sentences... I didn’t even think about it. I shot outside, started up my car and started driving to where he lived – fuck getting pulled over for being over the limit. He needed help – and if he needed my help there was a chance he needed me. And I would always be there for him. Always. I loved him – and maybe I was delusional that we could someday be together but not loving him or being there for him just wasn’t an option.

 

 

Chapter 19 – Punishment…

 

Danny

 

I was cautiously optimistic as I headed back down the stairs. I couldn’t believe Mara had taken our break-up so well.

I was surprised, since she’d taken the trouble of having me followed – well, of course she’d done that – she was always one step ahead of me.

She knew what I’d been doing and whom I’d been doing it with. I guessed that she must have had time to come to terms with it.

I came back into the lounge with my holdall, just to tell her I was going and found her pacing the floor. She was furious – well, that was more the way I’d expected her to react and you know, I figured that was totally understandable – I mean, I guess I would have been too, had the tables been turned…

The first thing that alerted me to the fact that I was about to really regret coming back in to the lounge was the frying pan in her hand.

“So, who the fuck is this guy?” She asked, her eyes blazing and holding up a photo of Horatio and I kissing on his doorstep in her other hand.

I swallowed. Fuck. She was really angry, “H-He’s a m-mate from five-a-side – his n-name’s Horatio.”

“Which you shorten to Rayshe?” she murmured, “I get it now...”

“Well, yeah, that’s his shortened version...” What was her problem? She seemed to have completely forgotten that she’d just told me to leave – and that I’d just confessed to being gay.

“And you’ve been having an affair with him?”

I shook my head, swallowing hard. “I haven’t. I swear. That kiss was only this weekend – well, you already knew that…” Her private investigator hadn’t been able to come up with any other incriminating photos of us together because there weren’t any to take. We’d done nothing before this weekend…

I probably would have done if I’d got the balls to do it but I hadn’t. Instead, I’d told him nothing else could happen between us while I was still married to Mara and I’d finished things before they could even really begin. He’d been totally pissed off with me for choosing her over him when he knew I wasn’t happy with her. He’d called me a coward and accused me of choosing misery over happiness – and he’d been absolutely right. That was exactly what I’d done.

As soon as I’d left him I knew I’d made the wrong decision. I’d been working up the courage to break things off with her for a while but I’d been really frightened to before – now though, well, there was no going back from confessing I was gay, was there? Horatio might not want me back, but I was choosing freedom at the very least...

I took a deep breath. It might be bad timing – being Christmas Eve and all but this was it – the moment my life changed forever. I looked at her and started talking. “I’m not having an affair, Mara.” I said, which probably wasn’t technically true – what actually constituted an affair? Was there a specific timescale? Because this had only been a couple of days – but I was in love with him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Still, I didn’t think it was wise to tell her that, so I had to tread carefully, “But I have got really strong feelings for him and – and I want a divorce.”

She stared at me for a full minute and then she lost her shit completely. She went absolutely ape...

 

*

 

I had no idea how many times she hit me before I passed out – and certainly no idea how many more blows I got after I’d lost consciousness. All I knew when I regained consciousness was that I was one, still alive – hallelujah! Two, alone – thank God – and three, sore all over. I dragged myself up to the sofa and sat myself down very gingerly. Could I move? Yes, just about. Could I drive? Well, fuck – I really didn’t think so but I was going to have to get the hell out of the house before she came back and finished me off altogether.

After deliberating over how well I could actually move, I decided that however difficult, I had to move before she came back.

I limped over to the mirror. I looked absolutely fucking terrible. My eye was closed and I was quite sure that my nose was broken. I sure as hell wasn’t pretty anymore – not that I’d ever really thought I was – those were Horatio’s words, not mine. Never mine...

At least my hair still looked pretty good – apart from the sticky patch of blood at the back. I wondered vaguely if I had concussion or if I felt sick because my ribs were broken. I was in so much pain, I felt nauseous.

I needed someone to help me. I had no clue where my mobile phone was – after assuming that Mara had taken it with her, I could have cried when I spotted it on the floor by the sofa. I couldn’t call Horatio. I’d left things so badly with him... But who else could I turn to?

I agonised over calling him for far too long before I actually made the decision to text instead. Then I panicked about what to put. Feeling terribly dramatic I sent just two words.  He’d wonder what the fuck had happened when he read them but I had nothing else, “Help me.”

His reply was thankfully quick, “What’s going on?”

I hadn’t got the energy to start a full on typed conversation like I usually did, so I just typed, “Please just come.”

I was terrified the whole time it took for Horatio to arrive that she’d be back to finish me off. Thankfully, he arrived before she did.

“Danny?” he called through the front door that was still open.

“In here.” I croaked.

He came in and sank to his knees on the floor beside me. “Oh, my God.” He whispered, reaching out his hand to touch my swollen face, making me flinch. I really didn’t need anyone touching me right now. “I’m sorry,” he snatched his hand back away and just looked at me helplessly, “Shall I take you to hospital?”

I shook my head, “Could you just take me to my brother’s house?” I managed to mumble through my swollen lips. She wouldn’t find me there but if she was still having us followed, she would definitely be able to find us at Horatio’s...

He nodded, “Of course,” he said, “Anywhere.”

I nodded and got painfully to a standing position, my head was swimming but I had to stay focused. “I’d recommend you go and stay at a mate’s house tonight, Rayshe.” I mumbled, as he leaned towards me to help me, “She’s been having us followed.”

He took a step back and raised an eyebrow, “You’re joking?”

I shook my head, “No,” I said, “She had photos of us kissing the other night.”

“Fuck.” He murmured, “Well, okay, I can do that – but I’m coming back for you in the morning and we’re going to spend the rest of the Christmas break together in a hotel or round at one of the guys’, deal?”

I nodded, “Sure.”

After he’d gotten all of my bags transferred out of the boot of my car and into his, he got in. He’d made me get in and just sit there while he did everything, including locking up after me.

We drove over to Julian’s in almost complete silence. I guess I was in shock and Horatio probably was too. I must have looked a right sight.

We pulled up outside Julian’s house and Horatio leaned across the centre console and kissed me lightly on the side of the face. “I’ll come and see you in the morning, okay? Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded and opened the car door. I made my way painfully down the path, afraid that I might slip on the ice and hurt myself even more.

It felt like an age to get there, but finally I was on the front doorstep. I rang the doorbell and waited. I felt crushingly guilty. This was his first Christmas with his boyfriend and I was gate-crashing a really special day. God, I was such a fucking loser...

The door opened and I looked up hopefully.

Jules stared back at me in horror, “Danny?” he asked.

Shit. I really must have looked bad...

“Jules,” I managed, “Can I come in? I have literally nowhere else to go...” If I went to Horatio’s we’d both still be in danger. Mara needed to be put away for the way she’d acted. She was deranged...

He pulled me in, looking me all over as he did so. I couldn’t blame him. I was in a pretty bad way. My lip was killing me where she’d smacked me with the frying pan. I was amazed I still had teeth. My left eye was completely closed and my head was throbbing where she’d given me another good smack on my forehead. My arm was killing me, but my ribs felt even worse.

“Fucking hell, Dan. What the hell happened to you?” he asked in horror, “Were you jumped or something?”

I shook my head, really mortified for him to know the truth, “I can’t tell you...” I muttered, “I just need to sit down.”

“Yes,” he said firmly, “You can – and you will if you want me to put you up after the way you’ve treated me my whole fucking life.” Harsh, but fair, I guessed.

“Mara kicked me out.” I mumbled through my split lip, “Well, no. That’s actually not true.  I was already leaving her but she took it badly.” I added, “She kicked my arse and then I threw myself out as soon as I regained consciousness.”

Jules stared at me in horror, “What?” he asked, “Why?”

I shook my head, “Because I told her I was gay and was leaving her.”

He blinked, “And are you?”

I guess it was a reasonable enough question. Jules had seen the way I acted around Horatio. He’d seen me dancing with him and even though we’d never done anything else in his presence, that had been the beginning of everything – the reason for me to finally grow a pair and telling Mara that I wanted a divorce. I’d tried so hard not to cheat on her, I’d tried to be a better man but I couldn’t deny it, I’d been guilty of having an affair and my heart definitely belonged to someone else now. Still, as far as Horatio was concerned, I’d still ended it – his suggestion that we spend the rest of the Christmas break together was hopeful but by no means a declaration of us being a permanent arrangement... “Yes.” I said firmly, “I’m gay and I was definitely leaving her.”

He nodded, allowing me past, “Come on in. I’ll put the kettle on. Go and sit down. Chas is through there. I’ll bring the drinks through.”

I dragged myself through to the lounge. Chas was lying on the sofa. No doubt he and Jules had been snuggling on there together before I’d rocked up with my misshapen face and I felt bad for being a selfish bastard intruder.

He looked up at me and gasped, “Oh, my God!” He jumped up and started fussing around me immediately. Within a minute I was sat down with a flannel pressed to my lip and a couple of paracetamol tablets forced upon me.

Jules came through from the kitchen with drinks for us all. I took one with shaking hands. “I’m sorry for barging in like this.” I looked between him and Chas, “And I’m sorry for everything I ever said about you and your...”

“Sexuality?” Jules asked softly.

I nodded, “Yeah.” I said, “I was insensitive and unforgivably rude about you – for years.”

He shrugged, as if it really wasn’t a big deal and maybe for him now, in his secure relationship with his wonderful partner it wasn’t, “Meh, you were just being my big brother – it’s called sibling rivalry, I think.”

I smiled, “Well, thanks – you’re a better man that I am.”

He grinned, “Not sure about that – you’d have to check with Chas,” he grinned across at him and winked, “He’ll tell you – I was a right shit before I realised he was the one.”

Chas chuckled, “I’m not sure I’d go that far – you were a challenge, though...”

I sighed, “Yeah.” I murmured. Horatio had had the patience of a saint with me too, “Maybe...”

Jules was looking at me with a frown on his face, “Has Mara hit you before?”

Ohh, fuck. I knew this would come out now... “Uh...”

He raised an eyebrow and looked at me in concern, “Danny?” he asked, his voice worried, “How long have you been putting up with this shit?”

I couldn’t look at either of them, “Since forever.” I whispered. I looked at him, “Do you think I’m weak?” I asked. I really needed to get his opinion.

He stared at me as if I was completely mad, “What?” He asked, “Because you’re a victim of domestic abuse? Or because you’ve fallen in love with a man? Either way – fuck, no!”

I shook my head, feeing sheepish. “Not because of that...” I hadn’t meant it that way. I just wanted to know but Jules had a point, “but I did used to think I had to be gay if I couldn’t fight back...” I shot him another sheepish look, making him roll his eyes at my stereotypical thinking.

“Okay.” He said, “But physical strength and being gay aren’t actually related – you do know that, right?” He was looking at me with a real frown on his face.

I shook my head, “Yeah,” I agreed, “I know...”

“So, you really do fancy guys, then?” He smiled at me.

I bit my lip and looked at the floor. The answer was yes... well, I fancied Horatio. Hell, I’d slept with Horatio and loved every second of it. I had to be gay.

“Oh, my God – you totally do...” His smile was incredulous but genuine. “When we went to Studs, I thought you were just crushing on the guy…”

I sighed and shook my head, “We were just mates, then, I swear...” Why the fuck was I trying to argue the point? We were far more than mates now. We were lovers. Fuck it all to hell – I was in love with him...

Chas stood up and came over to me, “I think you need to get some sleep and then we can talk this out tomorrow – are you sure you’re okay and don’t need to go to the hospital or something?”

I shook my head, “I think I’ll be okay – I thought she’d broken my ribs but they’re not too bad now, so they’re probably just bruised.”

Jules showed me to his spare room and I collapsed onto the bed. I still had no idea how to explain everything to Rayshe. What if he’d decided that I was too much trouble? What the fuck was I going to do then?

 

 

Chapter 20 – Christmas Miracle…

 

Horatio

 

It was Christmas Day but it was as far removed from any Christmas Day I’d ever experienced before. I was frantic with worry about Danny – and I had absolutely no idea what to do about it.

A tentative knock on my bedroom door had me scrambling to a sitting position, “Hello?”

Noah poked his head around the door and grinned at me, “Merry Christmas.” He said with a smile, “Fancy some scrambled eggs on toast?”

I smiled, food was always the most important part of Noah’s day, bless him. “Yes, please.” I said, “I’ll be down in a minute, I just want to call Dan.”

He nodded, “Sure.” He said, “Take your time.”

I nodded.

I’d arrived last night and Noah and I had talked late into the night about my relationship – or rather, my lack of one with Danny – and I’d confessed that I was actually in love with him even if he was married to someone else and had told me that we had no future together.

“So, he told you it was over?” Noah asked, “but then he called you again?” Noah was puzzled and I was finding it hard to work everything out.

I nodded, “She beat him up and I guess she must have told him to leave. She’d found out about us and she’s got a history of violence towards him.”

“Fuck.” Noah shook his head, “What are you going to do?”

I smiled, “That’s easy.” I said, “I love him. I’m going to let him get better, get divorced and then I’m going to marry him.”

Noah smiled, “Good for you.” He said.

I reached for my phone and pressed the dial button. I needed to talk to him.

“Hello?” He sounded groggy.

“Hey, Danny.” I said, “How are you feeling this morning?”

He groaned, “I feel like shit.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not surprised. Listen – can I come over?”

There was silence for an excruciatingly long time and then finally, he sighed, “Are you sure you want to get involved with a guy like me?” He asked in a small voice.

“Absolutely. I was already involved, baby.” I said softly, “I got back involved last night when you asked me to help you.”

He swore softly, “I’m really sorry about that.”

“Don’t be.” I said, my heart aching for him, “Just say you’ll see me and we’ll work things out.”

 

*

 

It only took me twenty minutes to get ready, get the cup of coffee and the scrambled eggs that Noah had thoughtfully made for me and then to hotfoot it over to Danny’s brother’s place.

Jules came to the door and smiled at me, “Hi.” He said. “I’m sorry that we didn’t invite you in last night – God only knows why Danny let you go to your friend’s house – I guess he just wasn’t thinking straight.”

I nodded, “Uh, yeah.” I agreed stupidly, “Guess not.”

Jules was still grinning, “So you and he are, uh...”

I blinked. My God, being in love with Danny was a little like riding a roller-coaster. I never knew what was going to happen next. He’d told his brother about us? What the fuck?

“Lovers,” A voice from behind him said, “The word you’re looking for is lovers, Jules.”

I grinned as Danny’s beautiful, if rather battered, face peeped out from behind Jules.

“Danny,” I breathed, stepping through the front door and gathering him gently to me, so as not to hurt him, “Baby, are you okay?”

He snuggled into me and nodded, “I’ll live.” He mumbled.

“I take it you’re both staying for dinner?” Jules asked, “We’ve got plenty and as much as we thought we’d love to have our first Christmas alone, it’ll be nice for us to have you guys for dinner.”

I pulled away from Danny slightly to look at him, “What do you think, Dan?” I asked, “Wanna have dinner with your brother and his fiancé?”

He nodded, “That would be great.” He said.

 

*

 

“You have to press charges, mate.” Jules said as he looked at Danny’s face across the dining table.

I looked at him too, his face was puffy and a mass of differing coloured bruises. He was still my beautiful boyfriend, but shit, he looked a mess.

He sighed and shook his head, “What am I supposed to say?”

“You say that she’s a violent husband-beater that’s been making your life impossible.” He said hotly, “When was the last time you actually spoke to your family?”

He frowned down at his plate, “God.” He whispered, “Apart from picking you up that time, ages ago.”

Jules nodded, looking angry, “I should have realised what was happening,” he said, looking more distressed than angry now that I came to study him, “She’s just like Ashley was – a controlling bully that was trying to cut you off from everyone who loved you and cared about you.”

Danny nodded, “Yeah,” he agreed, “She did. She’s a fucking psycho.”

“I think I’ll call the police.” I said, “You need a restraining order at the very least.”

Danny looked at me, his eyes full of tears, “Would you do that for me?” he asked.

I nodded and smiled, “Anything.” I said, “I would do anything for you.”

 

 

Chapter 21 – Reporting the crime…

 

Danny

 

True to his word, Rayshe made the call to the police station and two days later, two plain-clothed police officers came to see us at Jules’ house.

“Mr Lewis?”

I nodded, “Yes, that’s me.”

“Hi,” the first of the two young men grinned at me and stuck out his hand, “I’m PC Colby,” he said, shaking my hand heartily, “And this is my partner in crime, PC Harrison.”

I shook his hand too and we all sat down, “So, I uh, understand that you’re a victim of domestic abuse?”

I nodded, feeling my eyes beginning to get hot. I really didn’t want to do this. I just wanted a quiet life.

Horatio squeezed my hand and spoke up for me, “I don’t think Danny will mind me telling you this,” he said, “He confided in me only a few weeks ago that his wife has been manipulative and abusive from the beginning of their relationship together.” He looked at me to check that I was happy for him to continue. I nodded and smiled, sending a silent thank you to him. Horatio smiled at me, “she hid from him on holiday to make him worry for her, she told him she was pregnant so he would have to marry her…” It went on and on.

PC Colby made notes and PC Harrison asked questions.

“And she beat you unconscious?” PC Harrison asked.

I nodded, “Yes.” I said, “I came around and she’d gone – that was when I called Horatio and asked him for help.”

PC Colby looked at me, “It’s a good job you did.” He said, “She’s a very dangerous woman.”

I blinked, “What do you mean?”

They exchanged a glance, “Two years ago, a young man of similar age and actually, similar looks to you, went missing. His name was Derek Slade. He’s been registered as a missing person ever since but we have no idea if he’s still alive and in hiding or if she actually killed him. She behaved similarly with him as she did with you – only she didn’t claim to be pregnant and she obviously didn’t marry him but this – you coming forward – means that we can arrest her – and charge he with attempted murder.”

Attempted murder? I looked at Horatio who stared back at me, “Holy shit.” He murmured, “You had a lucky escape, baby.”

I nodded, “What do we do in the meantime to stay out of her way.”

PC Colby looked at me gravely, “Don’t go back to the house.” He said, “And you’d be better to stay away from your house, too.” He looked at Horatio.

Horatio nodded, “We’ll stay in a hotel until she’s behind bars.” He said.

They stayed for a little longer, told us what would happen next and then they were gone.

I looked at Horatio, “Thank you for looking out for me – and for putting up with my drama.”

He shrugged, “It just comes naturally,” he said “But that’s what lovers do for each other.”

I nodded, “I want to be your rock through life too.” I said.

He smiled, “Then come to support me at Studs tonight.”

I nodded. I could do that…

 

*

 

I looked towards the stage and smiled as I saw the guys taking their positions on the stage.

One of the dancers was stood on the stage with a mic in his hand, “Hey guys.” He said, “Good to see you all again.”

They all smiled and did the fist-bumping and man-hugging thing guys did. He then turned to the crowd and introduced the band, “Here’s what you’ve been looking forward to all Christmas!” he shouted excitedly, “Xavier’s Sister!”

I leaned back in my bar stool to watch them and had just taken a sip of my drink when a voice to my left made me freeze.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

I turned and found myself eye-to-eye with Mara. Fucking hell. She was supposed to be in police custody by now, wasn’t she? Who the hell let her in here? And why the hell hadn’t the police caught up with her yet?

“Mara.” I said, relieved that my voice hadn’t wavered, showing how nervous I was to be this close to her. “What are you doing here?”

She looked me up and down, “I wanted to see you.” She said.

I blinked. Why the hell did she want to see me? “Really?” I raised an eyebrow and registered that it still hurt to do so, “Why?”

“You’re still my husband.” She said, her voice taking on an edge, “Even if you are fucking other guys.”

I just looked at her, “Just one guy,” I said, “And it’s not fucking, Mara – it’s so much more than that – not that it’s any of your business anymore – we broke up, remember?”

She shrugged, “I could forgive you, if you promised never to see him again.”

Was she for real? Trying my best not to upset her, I shook my head, “No.” I said, “We’re definitely better off without each other.” I was trying my best to keep her from flying off the handle – there was a glass next to her…

She reached out a hand and grabbed my arm. Fuck, what was she going to do next? “But I love you.” She said earnestly.

No, she didn’t. She had no idea what love was if she thought she loved me but had treated me the way she had…

I looked down at her hand before pulling my arm away from her and hopping down from the stool. Now that I had my feet on the ground, I had the chance to run if need be. I had to tell her how it really was. “You have no idea how much I agonised over my feelings for Horatio – how I’ve fought them...”

Mara looked at me with contempt; clearly she’d instantly decided that forgiveness really wasn’t an option again, “Oh, don’t give me the sob story,” she sneered, “I always had my doubts about you. I actually wondered if you were gay when I married you.”

I looked at her incredulously. She was completely and utterly bat-shit crazy… “So why do it then? Why go ahead with the marriage?”

She shrugged, “I wanted the wedding.” She said petulantly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Oh, my God. I’d been so fucking stupid… “Well, I’m sorry I was such a disappointment to you – but thank you for helping me to see what’s important. I never felt good enough for you – but I can see now that it wasn’t my failing – it was yours.”

“Jason loves me,” She blurted out, “My boss – he’s in love with me.”

Whether he was or not was nothing to do with me. I heartily wished that for his sake, he wasn’t stupid enough to get involved with her because his life would never be the same again once he knew the real Mara. I forced a smile, “Good.” I said, “I’m glad he does.” Because he’s going to have to remind himself of that every time you lose control of yourself and beat him to a pulp. “And Horatio loves me, too. So, we can divorce easily – agreed?”

She nodded, “I’m in love with Jason,” She said, “So a divorce can’t come soon enough.”

While part of me felt terribly sorry for the hapless Jason, who, if she was telling the truth, clearly didn’t have a clue that she was about to be locked up for a long time and would likely be shocked and heartbroken to lose her, mostly I was relieved that I’d finally escaped.

I didn’t feel the need to tell her that I was in love with Horatio. It was none of her business and I didn’t have to tell her anything about us.

“Mrs Lewis?”

She turned and relief flooded through me as I recognised Harley, one of the dancers’ partners who was an officer that worked with PC’s Colby and Harrison.

She turned, “Yes?”

His face grim, he took her arm, “You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of your estranged husband…”

Horatio had stopped playing and had abandoned the stage to alert Harley who was actually off duty. He’d called for back-up though and very soon after he’d read her rights, she was being bundled into the back of a police car and driven away.

I leaned against Horatio. “Oh, God.” I murmured, “I honestly thought she’d glass me.”

He nodded, holding me close to himself, “Me too.” He said “I saw her as we were playing. I’d better get back up there.”

I smiled and nodded, “Go and nail it, babe.” I said.

“He took my hand, “Come with me.” He said, “You can sit at the side of the stage.

Well, I was happy to do that…

 

 

Epilogue

 

One month later

 

Danny

 

“You made this?”

I resisting the urge to flinch. Usually those words came just before the plate hit the wall with a resounding crash. I took a deep breath. Horatio wasn’t Mara, who’d been given twelve years for what she’d done to me and to her previous lover who was still missing and presumed dead.

Horatio was a gentle, loving man that would never strike me. I nodded, “Yeah, I’m sorry it’s not really very good,” I found myself apologising, “I’m a work in progress when it comes to cooking.”

He blinked, those fabulous dark eyes looking at me in surprise, “A work in progress?” he asked incredulously, “Fuck, dude – don’t put yourself down – it looks delicious – and I’m sure it’ll taste fantastic.”

I smiled, feeling my face heating up at his compliment. I was so used to being abused that I didn’t actually know how to take a compliment, “Thanks,” I muttered, “But it’s only lasagne.”

He grinned, “I’m a crap cook.” He said, “Grandma tries and tries to show me how to make her spiced chicken but I’m so desperate to just eat it, I barely take notice of the spices she uses never mind the quantities!”

I chuckled, “That spiced chicken she makes is amazing. D’you think she’d let me have the recipe?”

Horatio smiled at me, his even, pristinely white teeth flashing and making my heart spike, “She thinks you’re the cutest white boy she’s ever seen, so I think you’re in with a chance.”

I chuckled, “Were they surprised when you rocked up with a straight, white boy then?”

He shook his head, “Nah, not really.” He said, “You could say I have a type – or I did have a type before I met and fell in love with you. I’ve never dated a black guy. So, with regards to you being white – not a surprise at all. They were a little shocked when I told them you were married to a woman, though.”

I blushed anew, “Fuck.” I muttered, “What are you doing, wasting your time hanging around with me?”

He smiled and took my hand in his, “I’m with you because I love you.” He said, “I love your eyes, I love your mouth, I love that you get all flustered when I compliment you on a nice meal.” I immediately blushed again and looked down. He put his finger under my chin and gently tilted my head back up so he could look me in the eye, “I love that you don’t think you’re as attractive as you really are – you’re stunning, mate, stunning – I fell in love with you the moment we met.”

I shook my head, “You couldn’t have done,” I scoffed, even though I’d been pretty damned bowled over when I first laid eyes on him too.

He nodded. His face serious, “I did.” He said, “You can ask any of the guys.”

I smiled, “Well, thanks, Rayshe.” I said softly, I feel the same way about you.”

He raised his eyebrows, “Do you?” he asked, “You’ve never said.”

I took a deep breath. My insecurities weren’t all about being in an abusive relationship with a bully of a wife. They were also about being gay. I’d grown up believing that it was kind of wrong to be gay – and I’d hated that my brother was so out there – flaunting his flamboyance for all to see and so proud of his sexuality. It had pissed me off because I was so not like that. I’d fancied men in just the same way as he had – but I hadn’t looked gay. No one considered that I could be gay – and I’d therefore gone along with being straight – and knowing deep down inside that I was living a lie and that I was the one in the wrong for wasting my wife’s life. I guess I’d allowed her to treat me so badly because I felt that I deserved some of her contempt – because I felt that exact same contempt for myself.

I took a deep breath and looked at him, really looked at him, “I love you, Rayshe.” I said softly, “I really love you – you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

His eyes filled with tears, “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that, baby.” He whispered. “I kind of knew you did – the way we, you know... connect.” I nodded, biting my lip to stop myself from crying, “but to hear you say it – it’s like magic.”

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him, “Oh, Rayshe.” I sighed, “I want to be with you forever.”

He blinked and then the biggest grin spread across his beautiful face, lighting it up in that amazing way it always did, “Babe,” he said, “You’re really going for it today! Was that a marriage proposal?”

I chuckled, “Well, technically I’m already married,” I said, “But not for too much longer,” thankfully...

Horatio kissed me on the end of my nose, “I will happily marry you as soon as your divorce comes through – or never if you don’t want to go down that route again, it’s your call – but I’ll be your guy until the day I die.”

I smiled at him, “I can’t believe how much my life has changed over the last year – this time last year I was as miserable as could be. I was jealous of my stepbrother for the way his life was going and wishing that I’d never got involved with Mara...”

He smiled, “And now you and your brother are great friends and Mara’s a thing of the past, locked up where she belongs.”

I nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “Thank God.”

I swear she’d have come back and killed me if Rayshe hadn’t come to my rescue that night. He’d rescued me from her, risking his own safety since he was the guy I was cheating on her with.

Horatio’s band mates were coming around tonight. Karl had penned a new song and wanted the rest of the guys’ opinions. I was fascinated. I’d never known anyone who could actually write music and lyrics before and I was quite excited, which Rayshe thought was cute and pretty funny. He’d invited them all around to his place – that was actually now our place since I’d moved in – so we could get to know one another better.

“You’re adorable,” he said with a laugh, “You’re so adorable that I want to take you upstairs and show you how adorable I think you are.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Oh, yeah?” I asked, “have we got time for that?”

He wrinkled his nose, “Probably not.” He said, “I don’t like to rush things.”

I grinned, “Heaven forbid.” I murmured.

Noah was the first to arrive. He came in and immediately made a beeline for me, “Danny!” he shook my hand heartily, “Good to see you again, mate.” He said, “How are you?”

I smiled and nodded, “I’m really good.” I said Better for being free from my nutter of a wife. “How are you?”

He grinned and nodded, “I’m great.” He said, “I’ve been over to Cheshire today. Dad and I went to look at an old vintage Ford Cortina – I bought it. She needs a fair bit of work on the bodywork and the engine needs a rebuild – but it’ll keep me out of mischief.” He grinned.

I grinned back. Noah was a really nice guy.

Justin and Karl arrived together. Karl eyed me from the doorway suspiciously. Justin punched his shoulder, “Come and say hello.” He said.

Karl followed behind the smiling Justin, “Good to see you again, Danny.” He said.

I shook his hand and exchanged pleasantries, all the while wondering where Horatio had disappeared to. I was beginning to get a little nervous. Karl really didn’t seem to like me.

Finally, we were face-to-face. “Danny.” He said in his deep voice. Man, the guy was enormous – and really quite intimidating.

“Karl.” I managed to greet him without squeaking, “Good to see you again.”

He smiled, “I just wanted to tell you that I was really pleased that your ex-wife got a decent term behind bars. I’ve gotta tell you man – I wasn’t impressed that you were seeing Horatio behind her back – but that was before I knew the circumstances. How’re the divorce proceedings coming along?”

I pulled a face, “Slowly.” I said, “But I think it’ll go through okay – since I went to the police over the abuse.”

He nodded, “You did the right thing.” He said.

Horatio finally reappeared with a tray of drinks and crisps.

I raised an eyebrow, “Dude,” I said, “I thought the lasagne had been enough.”

He chuckled, “It was.” He said, “This lot’s for the rest of them.”

I smiled.

Karl got his guitar out. It was funny. I had no idea he played guitar too. “Wanna hear the song?” he asked.

We all gathered around and he played the guitar and sang. His voice was fabulous and the song was amazing.

Horatio beamed at him “Oh, my God.” He breathed, “That’s fantastic – we have to play it at our wedding.”

I blinked. “And when’s that gonna be?” I asked.

Horatio grinned and leaned into me, “As soon as the ink’s dry on those divorce papers.” He said, “But only if you want to.”

I grinned, “That sounds like a really good plan.”

The guys stayed for a couple of hours and then they all left together.

Horatio held out his hand to me, “Come on, you.” He said, “Bed.”

My cock was instantly hard at the way he looked at me. The word bed wasn’t all that sexy, but the erotic images whizzing through my brain of Rayshe stroking my face with his big, hard cock and then allowing me to suck him down my throat was…

We made our way to the bedroom slowly, kissing each other all the way there. “My cock is so hard.” Rayshe murmured, “And I can’t wait to get inside you.”

I groaned, “Me either.” I whispered.

He smiled, “You still haven’t gotten inside me.”

I bit my lip. The truth was that I was afraid he was going to find me lacking. His cock was easily three inches longer than mine.

Horatio frowned, “What’s the matter?” he asked looking slightly hurt and worried, “Don’t you want to top me?”

I looked up at him. I had to tell him what was bothering me because I didn’t want us to have stuff we couldn’t talk about. I’d had one toxic relationship – I didn’t need another one. I took a deep breath, “I’m worried that I won’t be enough for you.”

He blinked, his jaw dropping. “Not enough for me?” he asked incredulously, “Do you have any idea what you mean to me?”

I bit my lip again; my eyes were getting hot and I was going to be making a fool of myself in a minute…

He stopped and very gently, cupped my face in his hands, “I love you, Danny.” He said. “I have never felt this way about anyone before – and I have never bottomed for anyone before either. I want to bottom for you because I want to be part of you in a way that I’ve never been a part of someone before. Do you understand that?”

I nodded, “It’s just…” God this was going to sound so lame. “I’m not as big as you.”

He grinned, “You might not be quite as big as me – so what?”

I pulled a face, “When you’re inside me, I can really feel you there. What if it’s not the same for you?”

He shook his head, “Stop overthinking everything. I think your cock is perfect – just like the rest of you. Okay?”

I nodded, “Okay.” I leaned in for a kiss, “I fucking love you.” I said.

He looked at me, looking as if his heart was about to burst, “Oh, baby.” He said, “I fucking love you too.”

 

*

 

He looked up at me. His lips looked swollen with passion and shiny from our kissing and his eyes were glazed, “Oh, my God.” He murmured, “I never knew it could feel like this.”

I smiled, my hands on his hips as I moved inside him, “I know.’ I said, feeling slightly light-headed at his tightness and the heat surrounding my cock, “I didn’t either. I never enjoyed sex before I met you.”

Horatio nodded, “I know what you mean,” he groaned as I grazed his sweet spot and conversation was halted. We both came at the same time, I filled the condom and he spurted both of us with streams of his hot come.

I collapsed on top of him, smearing us both with his come and totally revelling in it. Horatio kissed me, “Before I met you,” he murmured, “It was only about getting off, you know?”

I nodded, “Yeah,” I said, “I get that. Everything’s different when you fall in love.”

Horatio smiled, “It is.” He said, nuzzling my neck and planting a little kiss in the hollow of my throat, “It’s completely different – and I’ve definitely fallen in love with you.”

 

 

The End

 

Thank you for reading…When Danny met Horatio. If you enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could help others enjoy it too. Please help other readers find it by recommending it to your friends and/or discussion groups. Please tell other readers why you liked it by reviewing it. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

 

Coming Soon

 

When Tobias met Noah…

 

 

Prologue

 

Tobias

 

“I’m not going to argue about this, Tobias.” Uncle David glowered at me over the top of his reading glasses, “You start on Monday – it’s not their busiest night so you can get used to it over the week before the weekend hits.”

I stared at him, “You’re expecting me to work every night of the week including the weekend?” He has to be winding me up...

Uncle David nodded, not a hint of a smile or any sort of forgiveness in his expression. I’d really fucked up this time... “You will work seven days straight and then you can have three days off, then back in for seven and then three days off – the same as every other employee.”

But I wasn’t just one of the employees. I was the boss’s son and heir even if that fact did stick in both of our throats... “And what did my father say about this?” Surely he’d have at least a little heart left for me?

Uncle David smirked, “He said I was being overly generous and that you should be working your sorry arse off in the kitchens every night straight for a month instead of the front of house, so you can thank me for getting you a better deal.”

I blanched. I’d been in those kitchens ten years ago when I was fourteen and Dad had wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a chef. Uh, no thanks... Not for me... “Right. So, I’m a waiter, huh?” I tried a winning smile that probably came across as a grimace, “Well, I guess I have do my bit towards my keep... Yeah, okay. I’ll do it – what do I have to wear?”

Uncle David pinched the bridge of his nose. I was quite clearly giving him a headache, “Your father, as you well know, is one of the top chefs in this country – with three Michelin stars and five very successful restaurants – do you seriously think we don’t have corporate clothing?”

I winced, “Oh, God.” I muttered, “Please tell me they’re tailored?”

He smiled at my petulance, “Corporate clothing for Duvall employees doesn’t do ‘one size fits all’,” he said pompously, “You’re working for one of the most prestigious companies in the country. You will report for duty as Lawrence Prince – that way the paparazzi hopefully won’t get wind of you. No one will ever remember that you were once little Toby Prince.”

I winced. Lawrence was my middle name – which I hated since it was my grandfather’s name and he’d been the most homophobic old bastard the world had ever had the misfortune to encounter and Prince was my mother’s maiden name – the name I’d grown up with until Dad came back on the scene to claim me at the age of ten years old when Mum died. No one would make the connection because no one remembered my beautiful, sweet mother.

Dad and his new wife were the famous ones – the darlings of TV with their perfect little family – and no, I wasn’t included in that wonderfulness since I’d been the product of his first disastrous relationship. I was the black sheep of the family; his embarrassment...

I was just his rich kid that dragged his ‘brand’ through the mud all of the time – and this time, which I guess was to be expected, he’d had enough...

David was still droning on. I frowned at him. What the fuck? “You’ll be taken by Frances to the salon this afternoon to have something done with your appearance – Mandy is waiting for you – and then you’ll be fitted with your uniform.” I nodded, “and Tobias – you will not let the Duvall brand down whilst you’re are working at the restaurant. You’ve done enough damage with your recent antics.”

I nodded. I guess I had been behaving pretty appallingly, but what else was I supposed to do? I’d gone to university – had a wild time, I grant you but I’d also got my degree – with a first at that – but then I’d graduated and found that I’d got nothing to do with it. I’d been drifting for the last six months...

Dad wanted me to work for the company but had no idea what he wanted me to do with it.

I’d been full of great ideas when I was fresh out of uni with my business degree but no one really wanted to listen to me – so I’d played the part of the rich, spoiled playboy instead. I’d taken off around the world with my equally brattish friends and we’d screwed our way through most of the posh totty around the world, falling out of nightclubs with an array of young men and women alike. Oh yes. I could party with the best of them – and I could sleep with them all too.

And if Dad thought a stint in his restaurant at the busiest time of the year was going to teach me a lesson, then he was in for a surprise, because I wasn’t going to be told how to live my life. I’d put up with a month – because hell, I was damned sure I could pull that off – but then I was out of here. I was going to go and live in the US – and as far away from the Duvall brand as I could possibly be. I’d reinvent myself there and find a company that did want my ideas...

 

 

Chapter I – New recruit...

 

Noah

 

“A new guy?” I raised my eyebrows at Shona, the head waitress and my best friend and flatmate at the restaurant and smiled at her hopefully.

She grinned and snapped her gum. “Oh, yeah.” She waggled her eyebrows at me, “I wonder which team he bats for.”

I chuckled, “Probably yours – because I’m just not that lucky.”

She grinned, “Yeah,” she agreed, “I have no idea why you don’t get lucky more often. You’re so damned adorable.”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Sometimes it would be nice to be described as something other than ‘cute’ or ‘adorable’. Sexy every now and then could work for me – only I really wasn’t so the point was moot...

I was definitely out of the ‘cute’ category... I had what you’d probably describe as dark-blonde hair and blue eyes with a rosebud mouth. I was your typical gay boy next door. As far as I could remember, no one had ever used the word ‘sexy’ in the same sentence as ‘Noah’. “It’s because I don’t date guys that just want to use me for sex.” I said as primly as I could muster.

Shona chuckled, “Yeah – you’re one of life’s keepers. I really wish you were straight and my boyfriend.”

I winked at her, “Lovers in another life, huh?” I asked.

She grinned, “Definitely.” She said, leaning in and placing a big smacking kiss on my mouth, surprising me into momentary silence.

A second later however, I’d recovered. Resisting the urge to wipe my mouth I asked, “When does he start?”

She grinned, “At nine am.” She said, “He’s full time for seven days – looks like the higher management want to get him up to speed for the Christmas rush. I really hope the agency haven’t lied about this one – can you remember Winston Jones?”

I nodded with a grimace. He’d been buddied up with me and he’d been absolutely clueless. “Oh, my God – don’t remind me.” I shuddered as I remember just how many plates and dishes he’d broken, “Uh, do you have any idea who this guy’s buddy’s gonna be?” I really hoped it wasn’t going to be me again. I needed to get away as early as possible for the gig on Friday night and if I was his buddy, I’d more than likely be given the task of cashing up with him to show him the ropes – even if we got started with that tonight, he’d still be a novice by the end of the week...

She shrugged, “Dunno.” She said, “I guess that’ll be up to Gary.”

Gary was the head chef and he was essentially in charge of the whole running of the restaurant even though we also had a bar manager and myself – the restaurant manager, which really meant that I oversaw the waiting staff and did all the other jobs that no one else wanted to do... “Won’t Billy have a say?” I asked in surprise. Billy was the bar manager, which made her front of house most of the time. She was excellent at meeting and greeting the customers, but she could also be a total ball-breaker...

Shona grinned, “Oh, yeah, I suppose she will.” She said, “God, I hope the poor guy does have some experience or she’ll have him for breakfast.”

I chuckled, “Yeah.” I agreed, “Let’s hope so.”

 

 

Chapter II – Transformation

 

Tobias

 

I looked at myself in the mirror of the salon and swallowed hard. In that instant, I hated Mandy. Hated her because, fuck, I looked about fifteen.

I’d always had a baby face and that was the main reason I sported my facial hair – to try to make me look at least my age. Clean-shaven and with my hair stripped back to my natural red, which as far as I knew hadn’t been seen in public since I was around thirteen when I started having it dyed dark brown to match my eyebrows and eyelashes, I looked ridiculous. Staring at myself in horror, it dawned on me that I looked like a fucking cherub. I’d always been more pretty than handsome. I scowled at my reflection, “What’s this?” I asked, “Are you trying to get me picked on? Who the fuck doesn’t pick on a ginge?”

David grinned, “No one picks on people with ginger hair anymore.” He said, “You can thank Rupert Grint for that when you next bump into him. He’s totally made being ginger cool – and so has Ed Sheeran, Damian Lewis...” He trailed off, running out of red haired celebrities to prove me wrong with.

I grimaced. He was probably right but I still didn’t like to see myself the way I was supposed to look. It made me feel vulnerable. I was used to acting a certain way when I was out in public. It was a version of me, but it wasn’t the real me. Because the real me was still that kid Mum left to face the world on his own... and now I felt as if all of my confidence had been stripped from me and I was seeing the real me for the first time in ten years – and it really didn’t sit well with me. I was looking at the boy that believed his mother cared so little for him that she left without a backwards glance; the boy who went off the rails and picked on the one boy in school that would probably have been his friend if only he’d handled things better.

I’d been utterly heartbroken and convinced that she’d left me because I was gay with ginger hair... I knew that was ridiculous now; she’d just got sick and had died, but at the time it was very real. I hated being the little, skinny, red-haired and freckly Toby Prince – and I took it all out on some little blonde kid who’d been really sweet. I was absolutely foul to him and I can only imagine how relieved he must have been when my family moved away – with Dad’s blossoming career.

I really didn’t like the person I’d become and took the opportunity when we moved to reinvent myself as a new Tobias Duvall. My new self was dark-haired. I was still full of sass and I still had a smart-arse mouth on me that got me into trouble – but I didn’t pick on people in an attempt to balance out my own failings. No, this time I decided to embrace my sexuality – much to Dad’s chagrin – and it worked. It got me noticed and got me more guys – and therefore more dick – than you could shake a stick at...

I’d been absolutely stoked when my beard started to grow through and was more or less the same colour as my eyebrows instead of my natural red hair colouring. That had been a total stroke of luck.

The red hair aside, I was still pissed off. He could dress it up anyway he liked but this was definitely a punishment for bringing the Duvall brand into disrepute and no one – me especially – wanted the media sniffing around the restaurants, making my punishment into some sort of reality TV circus. It was bad enough that I’d got no real choice in what was happening. I did have a choice. Of course I had a choice. I could leave without a penny and make my own way in the world – but that was extreme and I was, essentially, a spoiled brat. I had no idea how to make a normal man’s wages last from one day to the next, never mind pay rent, bills and food. I was as far removed from reality as it was possible to be. I made the ‘Made in Chelsea’ crowd on the TV look modest... I was a fucking disgrace.

I really was a bit pathetic when I took a hard look at myself – something I wasn’t prone to doing because I really didn’t like what I saw – it reminded me that I hadn’t really changed all that much over the last ten years...

I should have told Dad to stick his money years ago when I left for university. I’d lived with common people back then and I’d enjoyed their company and I’d gotten used to living a much simpler existence. But then I’d gone home – back to the lavish lifestyle and back to my real ‘friends’ who’d all talked me out of trying to find my own way in the world and really what the else was I gonna do? I was good for absolutely nothing – my business degree was pretty much worthless. If I tried to make my own way in the world, no one would hire me for my actual worth – only for my name and what they could get out of who I was. I was screwed whichever way you looked at it.

I guess to some people I was a pretty big deal. I was, after all, Tobias Duvall, eldest son of Darren Duvall, TV chef extraordinaire. I was deemed to be some sort of international playboy... I was on the cover of every gay magazine – and most other magazines and newspapers for that matter – but not for anything that I’d done that was worthwhile.

They were usually snaps of my friends and I falling out of nightclubs with various dubious hangers-on... I might be able to boast a great sex life – but at the end of the day, it was just meaningless sexual encounters with a load of random guys that wanted a bit of notoriety... It was all just so shallow and empty and quite frankly I was getting kind of tired of it. I didn’t dare admit that to any of my friends though. They’d all think I was a pussy – a quitter... But where the hell were our lives heading? I couldn’t fuck around with numerous horny guys forever... someday I wanted someone to love...

I was, if I was going to be completely honest with myself, as equally relieved for something to do as I was pissed off. To be forced to have a break from my so-called friends and everything they stood for was actually quite a nice change.

They were off on holiday to some exotic island for their winter break and I was supposed to be joining them in a fortnight – for New Year – but now I had to do this for a month so there was no way I’d be able to leave mid month to go and party with them.

The excuse I’d given them was exhaustion. They’d laughed and told me to make sure I’d got my stamina back for a New Year blowout party. The sad thing was that they wouldn’t really care whether I was there or not. No one was going to miss me. Not really...

I caught the eye of my stylist, Mandy. “I look like a kid.” I grumbled.

She smiled back at me, “Actually, I thought you looked really handsome.” She said, “Handsome and wholesome and young and full of ambition.”

I resisted the urge to look back in the mirror and rolled my eyes at her instead, “Yeah, whatever.” I grouched. Wholesome? Was she having a laugh? I was about as far removed from ‘wholesome’ as it was possible to be. Man-whore was a closer description – hence the punishment...

She chuckled, “I prefer you like this than the swarthy prima donna that walked in here.”

I shrugged, slightly hurt at her choice of description, “Yeah, well...”

David appeared at my side and looked at me through the mirror, “That’s a whole lot better.” He said, beaming at me.

I scowled up at him, “I look like a kid.” I grumbled.

He shook his head, “No.” He said, “You look like a fine young man that’s about to find out what a real day’s work is like.”

I pulled another face. David shook his head, “This will be good for you, Tobias.” He said firmly, “Your dad and I know what hard work is all about – we had nothing when we started this business and we worked our arses off to get where we are today. All you’ve ever done is piss it up the wall.”

I frowned. Seriously? He was making me out to be some sort of loser... I wasn’t a loser. It wasn’t my fault that I’d grown up wanting for nothing... I knew there were people in the world worse off than I was... I’d just never really thought about it because it had never affected me before.

David grinned at my discomfort, “Welcome to the real world, Tobias. You’re going to be rubbing shoulders with real people.”

I raised an eyebrow, “I’ve rubbed far more than just shoulders with real people before, you know – some of the ‘real’ guys you’re talking about go to posh nightclubs too and they like to have a bit of TV royalty rubbing them up the wrong way – or the right way as it were.” I grinned and winked.

David gave me one of his looks. He hated it when I got lewd. “There’s really no need for you to talk about your sex life to me. I don’t share intimate details with you about mine – I’d prefer it you could extend me the same courtesy.”

Prudish bastard. I shrugged, looking at myself in the mirror again. Jesus. I couldn’t get over my naturally carrot-red hair? But why red? Why couldn’t he have made me a blonde? Dad was just being cruel now... “Yeah, whatever.” I said.

David smiled at me, “Oh, and Tobias – you have an apartment that’s reasonably close to the restaurant. You have one month’s allowance to allow you to get by until you get your first week’s wages and then you’re expected to get by on the same as all of your colleagues.”

My jaw dropped, “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

He shook his head, “Your dad wants you to understand a little of what he went through at your age.”

“But that’s so pointless.” I whined.

He shrugged, “He’s the boss.” Was all he said and then he was gone.

 

 

 

Short Stories by Heather Mar-Gerrison

 

 

Friends

Zoe’s First Date with Fate

Save The Last Dance (Dance #1)

Can We Dance (Dance #2)

Inevitable…

Seven

Something Stupid

Maybe Never…

Kiss The Boy (Boy Next Door #1)

Are We Good...? (Boy Next Door #2)

Equal Measures (Boy Next Door #3)

Some Kind of Paradise (Boy Next Door #4)

Without You... (Boy Next Door #5)

Looking for Trouble (Boy Next Door #6)

Best Boyfriend Ever... (Boy Next Door #7)

Racing Hearts... (Boy Next Door #8)

I need a little time... (Boy Next Door #9)

 

What If... I Belonged to You? (What If? #1)

What If I want commitment? (What If #2)

What If… I told you a secret? (What If? #3)

What If… We could start again? (What If #4)

 

Coming Soon

 

What If... I Remember? (What If? #5)

 

 

Contemporary Romance by

Heather Mar-Gerrison

 

The One That Got Away

If I Can’t Have You

Summer Break (Summer Break series #1)

Operation Boyfriend (Operation Boyfriend #1)

All Kinds of Trouble (Operation Boyfriend #2)

The Trouble with Tyler (Operation Boyfriend #3)

What Happens with Vegas (Operation Boyfriend #4)

 

True… Love (Riverside #1)

Tomas… Enchanted (Riverside #2)

Tatum… Undercover (Riverside #3)

Toby… Captivated (Riverside #4)

Trey… Unbelievable (Riverside #5)

Sam… Distracted (Riverside #6)

 

Peyton... Protected (Studs & Steel #1)

River... Redeemed (Studs & Steel #2)

Alfie... Abused (Studs & Steel #3)

Buzz... Bedazzled (Studs & Steel #4)

Stake Out (Studs & Steel #5)

Simon… Spellbound (Studs & Steel #6)

Seth… Saved (Studs & Steel #7)

Thai... Troubled (Studs & Steel #8)

 

Looking out for Lorenzo (A Studs & Steel Novella)

A Shoulder To Cry On (A Studs & Steel Novella)

Dangerous Love (As Studs & Steel Novella)

 

Coming Soon

 

 

Emilio… Enraptured (Riverside #7)

Riverside… The Weddings (Riverside #8)

 

Back for Good (A Studs & Steel Novella)

 

When Noah Met Tobias (The Band #2)

When Justin Met Max (The Band #3)

When Karl Met Devon (The Band #4)

 

 

 

Check out my blog at https://www.heathermar-gerrison.blogspot.com for news of my upcoming books.

Follow me on Twitter: @hmgwriting

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.margerrison.5

Follow me on Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/heathemg

 

 

About the Author

 

I live in Nottingham, England with my lovely, long suffering and incredibly patient husband and my two beautiful daughters. We also have two cats that we adopted from the RSPCA, Bella and Romeo... and we have the beautiful Enzo, our Border Terrier...

When I’m not looking after a wayward dog – I’m generally writing a book, any spare time I get between these two pursuits, you can either find me curled up with a good book that someone else wrote and a cat or a dog on my knee in place of the laptop, or I’ll be pottering about in the greenhouse, whilst plotting my next storyline in my head, muttering to myself like a crazy woman.... It’s not easy living with all the voices of my characters in my head!