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Picked Fresh

by Posy Roberts

Naked Organics #2

Is five thousand miles far enough to say I love you?

Hudson Oliva loves stability. Jude Garrity makes his life crazy. Better, but Hudson craves more. He knows he has to be satisfied with their temporary exclusive status and that Jude will eventually navigate his full sexual awakening with their other housemates.

Despite the chaos, Hudson has a journey of his own to make, to settle his grandmother’s estate and face demons from his past. He plans to use his time away to figure out how to temper his feelings for Jude, but when Jude joins him on his trip, Hudson falls even deeper in love.

If he wants a chance at a stable future with Jude, he has to tell him the truth about his feelings, even if it ruins the harmony he’s tried so hard to preserve.

86,000 words, 308 pages

Published:
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tags:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 5
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 36-45
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Age Difference, Coming Home, Coming Out / Closeted, Cultural Differences, Families/Raising Kids, Find Love and Come Out, Healing Power of Sex, Hurt / Comfort, Interracial Relationship, Love Can Heal / Redemption
Word Count: 86000
Setting: USA, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, Kentucky
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Excerpt:

Jude moved where Hudson directed him, but his mouth was soft now. He ended up with Hudson’s nipple under his lips, tongued across it, gave playful bites, and even a few harder ones until Hudson’s breath caught in his throat.

Jude looked up again and whispered, “Last night wasn’t enough to satisfy you?” He moved to kiss the other nipple, then the mark.

“Not sure I’ll ever be able to get enough of you.”

Jude stood and smirked, then popped a quick, chaste kiss to Hudson’s mouth. “As much as I’d like to put that theory to the test, I have to get to class.”

“I know. You always have to get to class.”

“Give me five minutes to deliver these to the kitchen, then meet me at my car?”

“More kisses?”

“You betcha!”

READ MORE

Hudson nodded as Jude picked up the egg basket and walked away. It wasn’t like Hudson had time to test how much he needed of Jude to get enough. He had to do a load of laundry if he wanted clean underwear for his trip, so he pulled his T-shirt back over his head on his way to the spring house to see who’s washday it was. Purple House was written in neat script on the chalkboard. He made a mental note and kept on walking.

In the gathering circle right outside of Unity House, Hudson met up with Jude, who held out his hand the second he was within reach. Hudson took it, weaving their fingers together and allowing Jude to lead him to where Jude parked his tiny little hybrid. There Hudson leaned Jude against the driver’s door and gave him a few playful pecks.

“See you tonight?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah. I should be back around sunset. I’ll be there by suppertime, for sure.”

“Sleep in my bed with me?”

Jude nodded, closed his eyes in a soft way, and then gave Hudson what he knew was a parting hug.

“Gotta go.” Jude got in the car, opened the backpack he’d left sitting on the passenger seat last night, and slipped his phone in the protected inner pocket. “Well, have a great day!”

“You too,” Hudson said as he shut the driver’s door.

Hudson waved as Jude drove off the Kaleidoscope Gardens’ land for his busy day at Portland State. Once the car was out of sight, Hudson pressed the mark Jude had sucked right above his heart. It was sore, more from the bite than the sucking, but as Hudson peered down the neck of his shirt and studied the red mark, he smiled. He knew it would only get darker. Maybe even purple, which would be perfect, because it would just be fading to yellow by the time he got home again. He couldn’t take Jude with him to Kentucky but he could take his mark.

COLLAPSE

About the Author

Posy Roberts has always been enamored with romance novels, but the smell of textbooks soon replaced the sweet stories, and her days of reading for pleasure came to an end. When she opened a romance years later, it was like slipping on a cuddly hoodie . . . that was a little too restrictive. She yearned for more.

She couldn’t wait to read stories about gay characters falling in love and finding their happily ever afters. She wanted to explore characters navigating life’s uncertainties while carving out satisfying lives. So Posy picked up her favorite fountain pen and ink.

Her stories have been recognized as a Rainbow Award finalist and have been featured as “Happily Ever After” Must-Reads by USA Today. When not writing, Posy edits for other gay-romance authors, spends time with loved ones, and embraces all the weather Minnesota has to offer.