by
Colin Campbell had been a champion all his life. Nothing had ever beaten him, not even a drug lord’s bullet. And he approached law school the same way he approached everything in life, with cocky confidence fizzing through his veins like ginger ale. He had it all. He had the looks, the brains, the experience, the know-how and he also had the love of his life at his side. He couldn’t be defeated.
But he hadn’t counted on the gravitas of law school, the reading, the preparation, the cases, the competition, the Socratic Method, the concepts, the grading curve, the expectations, the finals, memos, study groups, outlines... all of it piled and heaped upon those preparing for a career as an attorney until it wasn’t surprising that some of them simply imploded under the weight of it all.
Suddenly Colin was spinning out of control, scrambling to keep up, rarely ever seeing Joshua. His grades slumped as he tried desperately to balance the opposing forces in his life, but his only solution was stretching himself thinner and thinner, until he feared he’d be torn in two. Joshua pleaded with him to slow down, but Colin refused to lighten his load and the path before them grew darker and darker.
They’d been through so much and survived. Would law school be the storm they could not weather? Would it do what a drug lord’s bullet could not - hand Colin Campbell the bitter defeat he never believed he’d have to face?
Or would the man he loved find a way to draw him back from the abyss.
- 4 To Be Read lists
Publisher: Independently Published
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Alpha Character, Fated Mates / Soul Mates, Hurt / Comfort, Love Can Heal / Redemption, Married Life, Most Mindblowing Sex Ever, True Love
Word Count: 74,890
Setting: Charlottesville, VA
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Colin lay on his side as Joshua gazed at the stars, his eyes fixed on Joshua’s face. His fingers brushed across his husband’s forehead, caressing his skin, sliding Joshua’s dark locks between his fingers. “Not half as beautiful as you are,” he whispered. “Jesus, seeing you like this, seeing the stars reflected in your eyes…” He breathed out a soft sigh. “You take my breath away.”
READ MOREJoshua’s face tilted toward him. “Talk about beautiful,” he said, lifting his hand to cradle Colin’s face. “You, my beloved Irishman, are the most exquisite creature I’ve ever seen or ever hope to see.” For a moment, his face was shadowed, then he offered the shy, sweet smile that Colin adored. “Which matters a lot less to me than it used to,” Joshua admitted slowly, sliding his fingers into Colin’s tousled, sandy hair. “Took me awhile to understand that your beauty flows from who you are, rather than how you look.” He grinned up at his husband. “Though,” he added, “you still look pretty damned hot.”
Colin laughed and bent to kiss him. “Well, thanks for that. Hate to think I’m losing my sex appeal.”
Joshua scoffed, skating his fingers up and down Colin’s arm. “Fat fucking chance of that,” he said. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that what I love most about you has less to do with your gorgeous face and body, and more to do with the great heart that beats inside it.”
“And I would say the same about you,” Colin murmured, nuzzling against the side of Joshua’s neck, sighing as he lost himself in a contentment so soul deep that it seemed to stretch into infinity, becoming one with the stars that twinkled above them. He never would have believed this kind of joy could exist for him.
He laughed softly and tugged Joshua’s body another inch closer. “Jesus, I’m so fucking happy with you, Josh,” he whispered. “I keep expecting to wake up and discover that you’re a dream or a wish I made on a star one night long ago.” He sat up, leaning on one elbow, his face hovering over Joshua’s. “Thank you,” he said, his voice softly blending with the muted nighttime noises all around them. “Thank you for being my one dream—my one wish—that actually came true.”
COLLAPSE
