New Give Away- Risking It All

EXTENDED TO SEPT 3 - ENTER TODAY! 

Coming EXCLUSIVELY to Breathless Press on 

September 7, 2012

Giving Away an advance copy of Risking It All. 

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Simply comment here with the name of your favorite Blake Brother and your email address. 

Winner will be announced on this page on August 31st, so check back! 

After nearly a year, Bastian Grey is growing discontent with the lack of intimacy in his relationship with Rick Claremont. Can an adopted cat be the key to a real relationship?  

EXTENDED EXCERPT

Chapter One

Friday

"Turn over." Rick's raspy voice caressed his lips before he drew away to kneel beside Bastian.

"I want to gaze into your eyes while you make love to me," Bastian protested. Rick avoided intimacy whenever and however he could. Rick's eyes narrowed at the words make love, but he didn't respond, no doubt choosing to ignore the comment. Nevertheless, his slender, strong hands guided Bastian onto his side, stroked gently down his spine. Bastian relaxed. At least like this he could see Rick's face, could watch his eyes darken, his cheeks flush.

Rick pressed a warm, soft kiss at his nape, and Bastian moaned softly. Rick could call it fucking but there was too much gentleness, too much caring in his touch, in the brush of his lips, to be anything other than affection and lovemaking.

The smaller man brushed his fingers down, tracing the muscles of Bastian's back, teasing him into relaxing, coaxing him into position. Bastian drew his knee up to the side, giving Rick access to his body. A cap snicked and a slick, gentle finger probed between his cheeks, massaging gently at the opening there. Bastian sighed, pushing into the touch. He needed that touch so much. It shocked him sometimes how much he relied on these "dates" with Rick.

"Good idea." Rick murmured against his spine.

"Uh?" His body focused on the pleasure of Rick's touch, on the heat of his breath whispering across his skin, stirring the fine hairs. The furor of his heartbeat in his ears, the loud rush of blood nearly drowned the words out.

"Meeting at this place today." This place meant the hotel closest to Arden's office complex, a small, discreet establishment in the business district that probably catered to more than its share of nooners and cheating spouses.

"Oh, ooooh." The acknowledgment turned to a moan of pleasure as Rick's finger slipped past the ring of muscle and wiggled its way to his prostate. "Yes." Good idea. Like he'd have been able to do otherwise.

The picnic lunch he'd brought from the deli sat untouched on the little table in front of the window. He'd barely managed to set the basket down and unpack it, scarcely shut the drapes to ensure their privacy, when Rick arrived.

Rick hadn't taken a moment to survey the room, to recognize the romantic scene he'd set. Hadn't sampled the deli meal with fresh strawberries drizzled with creamy white chocolate and champagne served in his sister's best crystal. He'd tugged Bastian into his arms and swept him into a tide of passion that had rapidly pulled him under. They'd landed on this bed, naked, moments later.

And now, "Now." He groaned. Rick hummed, his mouth hovering at the base of Bastian's spine.

"Not yet." Rick worked a second finger in alongside the first, stretching him with frustrating slowness. Bastian writhed, wanting more of that touch on his gland. Always with Rick, he wanted more than the man seemed to give.

"Please." Begging for more, his cock ached, his balls tightened against his body. "I need you." I need you to need me.

Rick stilled and withdrew his touch. Sensation after sensation flooded Bastian. A hot kiss slid along his tailbone. A rough tongue stroke dragged to his hip. A sharp bite shocked him.

Bastian grabbed his cock and stroked it roughly. Rick gasped behind him, and Bastian whimpered. The tearing of the condom wrapper edged into his consciousness. He hated that sound, hated what it meant. After a year of exclusive intimacy, Rick still refused to abandon the protection. Bastian understood that meant Rick didn't trust him. And that hurt.

The blunt head of Rick's sheathed cock nudged against his slicked hole, and Bastian moaned again, arching into the thrust. The stretch and burn of entry faded quickly and Rick hissed in pleasure behind him. Bastian flexed his buttocks, squeezing his lover tightly.

"Oh yes. Honey," Rick murmured, close enough for breath to brush across Bastian's lips. He opened his eyes to find Rick bent forward over him, and grasped the opportunity to stare into his eyes as he slid slowly, completely home.

When Rick's mouth met his, he opened eagerly, sucking the tongue that stroked along his lips, into his mouth. Rick shoved him away and gripped his cock himself. Bastian sighed, clutching the sheets in one clenched hand and the headboard in the other. A bit of a control freak Rick might be, but that obsessive control most definitely paid off in many ways.

His thumb swept across the head of Bastian's cock with perfect pressure, slid through the beads of precum at the slit and dragged them down to smooth his way as he stroked in rhythm with his thrusts. The dual friction was like fire to gasoline, and he spiraled out of control, rapidly finding himself on the verge of orgasm.

"Hmm." His muscles seized, his heart pounded in his chest, and the sudden gush of warmth splattered the sheets and his belly. He jerked a few times as Rick continued to hold him, slowly becoming aware that Rick too experienced the throes of orgasm, his body jerking as he came, filling the condom with muted warmth.

Rick drew away so quickly, catching his breath, that Bastian didn't have time to wonder again what that would feel like, to have his lover's heat splash inside him, coat him intimately.

Bastian rolled to his back, lifting his arms to capture Rick for another kiss. Rick retreated from the kiss before it had even begun, though.

"What? Do I have bad breath all of a sudden?" He teased, but it hurt. Intimacy was withdrawn once sex ended. No cuddling, no snuggling.

"My lunch hour is up. I have to get on to work." Rick scooted backward off the bed, refused to meet Bastian's eyes. He scooped up his underwear from the chair, and hopped, searching for his clothes as though he'd rather look anywhere than at Bastian.

"Wait. Rick, I'm leaving town for my long weekend this afternoon. You have time off too. Arden told me," he added as Rick appeared tempted to deny it.

"Yeah, I have a four-day weekend." The reluctant confession stabbed at his heart.

"So, come snowboarding with me?" He held his breath as Rick stepped into his pants, smoothing out creases with ridiculous attention.

"I can't. I have to study for an exam next week."

"You can study in the room. I got a room with a fireplace in a chalet. It'll be great. We can spend the mornings outside and study in the afternoons, make love in the evenings." God, he was nothing if not a persistent fool.

Rick's face set in stubborn lines, his lips thinned. "No, thank you. I'm not a fan of throwing myself off mountains and waiting to see how many bones I break on the way down."

Ignoring the unsolicited opinion of his hobby, Bastian continued desperately. "Then you can stay in the room, keep the fires burning while I board, and we'll meet up in between runs."

Rick's eyes narrowed as he tugged on his shirt. He'd only unfastened the top buttons and jerked it over his head earlier. Now he had only a few buttons to do and he'd be able to leave. "No. Thank you. I'm not a fan of cold weather, snow, or smoke from fireplaces." He tucked his shirt in now. Time was running out.

Bastian leaped off the bed and snatched his own jeans off the floor, tugging them on and fastening the buttons swiftly. "Rick, we never have off at the same time."

"But..." Rick extracted a comb from his pocket, ran it through his hair, and crossed to the table. He perched on the hard edge of the boxy chair, bare, elegant foot bobbing as he glared at Bastian.

Subtly, Bastian kicked Rick's loafer under the bed. He should be ashamed, but he needed a few more minutes and his sister wouldn't freak out if Rick didn't return to the office on time. She might ask nosy questions and draw accurate conclusions, but she wouldn't be upset.

Rick's gaze darted around the room, seeking his shoes and socks, no doubt. Bastian crossed to the table and poured champagne into the two crystal goblets. He passed a glass to Rick who accepted it reluctantly and slid deeper into the opposite chair. He sipped from his glass, contemplating his wary lover.

"I'll stay home with you then," he offered. Spending uninterrupted time with Rick was worth losing his deposit.

"No, I have to study." Rick's blue eyes met his, and he could tell from their guarded expression that Rick felt pressured.

Guilt washed through him, and he leaned against the chair. "I won't distract you from studying, Rick. I realize how important this is for you." More important than him, that much was abundantly clear.

Rick gulped from his glass, sputtered, and then wiped his hand over his mouth and jaw with a grimace. "Bastian, you are a distraction simply by virtue of being you. I need space, and you, you just don't give me any." His gaze lingered on Bastian's chest, then he grabbed the blue T-shirt off the floor and threw it to him. Bastian caught it reflexively.

Rick stood and crossed the room, returning with his socks. Bastian pulled the tee on and slid his feet into the sandals he'd abandoned under the table when he arrived.

Rick stood, fists on hips, scowling around the room in frustration. Finally he burst out, "Do you see my damn shoes?"

Clearly he couldn't coax Rick into changing his mind. Sighing, Bastian rose and flipped up the disheveled comforter. He kicked Rick's shoes out into the open. "There you go. Will you at least eat with me before you leave?"