Second String

by Ari McKay

Part of the The Road to Rocktoberfest 2025 series:

Editions:Kindle

ISBN: B0FFDD3JL2

Dmitri has been second cello in the F-Holes since the beginning of the band, but he's never been made to feel second best - or at least not musically. He's mostly drifted through life, happy enough at any given moment, but lately he's begun to wonder if there's ever going to be anything more. With most of his bandmates in committed relationships, he's starting to feel like the odd man out; especially since the man he wants seems to have put him firmly in the friend zone.

As the F-Holes gain momentum from their tour and the sensational romance of their lead cellist, Luka, and superstar bass player Kit, drummer Andre finds himself for the first time truly in the public eye: and it's not a place he's comfortable being. It's hard enough nursing an unacknowledged attraction to his bandmate Dmitri, but Andre has secrets he'd rather not be brought out into the light. Faced with a choice of doing what his family wants, or what his heart wants, will he be able to cast off the bonds he took on far too young and find happiness at last?

Published: October 24, 2025
Genres:

Contemporary

Tags:

author - american

Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 3
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Office / Workplace Romance
Languages Available: English

About the Author

Ari McKay is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who have been writing together for over a decade. Their collaborations encompass a wide variety of romance genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, and action/adventure. Their work includes the Blood Bathory series of paranormal novels, the Herc’s Mercs series, as well as two historical Westerns: Heart of Stone and Finding Forgiveness. When not writing, they can often be found scheming over costume designs or binge watching TV shows together.

Arionrhod is a systems engineer by day who is eagerly looking forward to (hopefully) becoming a full time writer in the not-too-distant future. Now that she is an empty-nester, she has turned her attentions to finding the perfect piece of land to build a fortress in preparation for the zombie apocalypse, and baking (and eating) far too many cakes.

McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills of a gnat, she’s relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse.

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