Throwback Thursday!

A Horizons Series Novella

Zeb Araneda leaves his privileged but closely supervised life in the Philippines to study architecture at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where his new roommate is openly gay Luca Dilorio.

Alex Boulet is a successful print model who appears to have it all, but on closer inspection, the ready smile never reaches his mesmerizing green eyes. Tired of living alone, Alex moves in with fellow model Chyna Davidson, Luca’s boyfriend.

Away from his father’s watchful eye, and with Luca’s help, Zeb learns to navigate his new environment, and experiences freedom of choice for the first time. This fresh perspective allows him to step out of his comfort zone and act on his attraction to Alex.

The holiday season has always been difficult for Alex. Sappy commercials tug at his heart, and storefront windows depict idealized scenes that remind him of what he’ll never have: a loving partner willing to accept his truth. Will this Christmas be another disappointment, or will Santa finally make his wish come true?

Excerpt

     The tiny stall could barely fit one person, let alone two. Alex lit the joint he’d pulled out of his pocket and took a long drag. He bent down and captured Zeb’s mouth, shotgunning the strong fumes and turning the experience into delicious foreplay. They did that a couple of times, then flushed the last of the weed down the toilet. Alex lifted Zeb’s chin, waiting a second to see any signs of rejection, but Zeb opened up eagerly. The gentle nibbling gained momentum, turning hungrier in response to his reaction. When Alex’s hands slid down to his asscheeks, Zeb didn’t shy away. He moved closer and began grinding against Alex’s hard thigh, which he’d inserted between Zeb’s legs. Zeb never stopped to wonder what the end result would be. All he knew for sure was that he was craving release, and the corresponding growl rumbling from Alex’s throat told him his feelings were reciprocated. By the time Alex led him to the dance floor, he was painfully hard and looking forward to whatever was coming next.
     Blaming weed for this sudden urge to climb all over Alex would be easy, except that was only a part of it. Granted, it had broken down self-imposed barriers and given him the extra boost of confidence to listen to his body instead of his brain. For the first time in recent history, Zeb had acted on impulse, and the result wasn’t unwelcome, just surprising.
     He’d had sex with a few women, but none of them had left an indelible mark. Sure, he’d gotten off and could proudly state he was no longer a virgin, but that was it. The physical release had been welcome but the connection that was supposed to follow was missing. Deep in his heart, he felt cheated. Which had led him to the next logical conclusion. Would it be better with a guy?
     Fantasizing was one thing, but acting on the attraction was a game changer. He’d never dared to experiment back home, but what could stop him now? Only his scruples, and those faded away as soon as Alex kissed him. The hot lick of desire coiled around his guts like nothing in recent history. Zeb wasn’t sure when the spark between them had been ignited. It could have started that afternoon during the emotional tour or afterward at lunch, when Alex cleared up a few misconceptions about transgender men. Zeb knew his thirst for knowledge was oftentimes misinterpreted, but Alex had been patient instead of telling him to fuck off and mind his own business. He’d also kept his criticism of Zeb’s situation to a minimum. Privately, Alex might have thought the worst, but he’d only exuded sympathy, which had made it easier for Zeb to discuss his father’s draconian rules.
     Empathy notwithstanding, there was something about Alex that made him irresistible to Zeb. It wasn’t his eyes, even though they were heart-stopping green, or his generous mouth, which begged to be kissed. His broad shoulders and ripped arms were definite eye-pleasers, but they weren’t what pulled Zeb. Alex could have easily been a domineering asshole, given his size and fame, but he wasn’t. Admittedly, he commanded your full attention when he walked into a room, but he was quietly watchful, preferring to keep to himself, instead of brazenly taking up center stage. It was this humble, almost reticent side of him Zeb found most appealing.

You can purchase Being With Him at Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, KOBO