by
The Australian bush. A Christmas with friends. A chance to mend a broken heart.
Steve Hayes is spending Christmas break away with a group of friends. He's determined to put his two-timing ex-boyfriend in the past and enjoy his week away. Steve is equally terrified and happily surprised to find that Corey Oh, the guy he’s been admiring from afar, has been invited along too. But Steve knows there's no way someone as wonderful as Corey, who could have any man he wanted, would be interested in him.
Can a misadventure with a Christmas pudding help Steve's dreams come true?
Note: This is a re-release. The original story has been re-edited and expanded by the addition of a 5k word epilogue.
- 1 To Be Read list
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Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 18-25
Tropes: Friends to Lovers
Word Count: 21000
Setting: Australia
Languages Available: English
Corey placed his hands at the waistband of his cargo shorts. “Do you mind? They’re not very comfortable to sleep in.”
Steve swallowed heavily and shook his head. He followed the movement as Corey undid the button and lowered the zip before sliding the shorts off his hips and kicking them away. The blood pounded in Steve’s ears when Corey gripped the hem of his T-shirt and lifted it over his head. Steve held his own hands in this lap, grateful they covered the evidence of his now straining erection as the creamy smoothness of Corey’s skin was completely exposed. The only thing covering Corey was a pair of skin-tight pale blue boxer briefs. Steve bit back a moan and looked away. The mattress dipped as Corey slipped under the sheet.
READ MORESteve closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. He tried to will away his excitement by focusing on the burning sensation in his wrists. I can’t believe I forgot about the pain, no matter how briefly. Corey worked better than any medication at alleviating the burn. The problem was he infused Steve with a different type of heat. Steve’s cock refused to be outdone by the scalding and throbbed to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Oh God.
He chanced a glance at Corey, who was lying back against the pillows, his arms folded with hands behind his head. Steve studied Corey as Corey watched the ceiling fan. Corey was slim, with a flat stomach. His exposed torso was smooth, with skin like alabaster. His nipples were small, dark disks. Only a faint smattering of hair, just a tiny trail on his lower belly, decorated his body, the inky colour matching the straight hair at his armpits. Steve was overcome by a sudden urge to nuzzle into him. I wonder what he smells like? Tastes like? The memory of Corey’s scent after their bike ride sent a shiver down his spine and Steve’s cock jerked. He couldn’t help but groan.
Corey instantly tilted his head and looked at him. “You okay?”
Steve’s mouth was dry and he couldn’t respond. He nodded.
Corey turned on his side, propping a hand under his head as their eyes locked. “You sure?”
Steve nodded again. “Yeah,” he croaked.
“You don’t look okay.” Steve knew he didn’t as he lay rigid on the bed, hands held tightly on his lap, melting now-lukewarm ice packs pressed into his erection. “You look… tense. Is it the pain?” Corey asked.
“I….”
Corey touched his arm. Steve’s muscle jumped at the caress.
“That ice is melting. Let me….” Corey reached for the now-soaked tea towel wrapped around the bags of ice, and Steve fumbled to keep a grip.
“Oh!’ Corey’s eyes widened as he looked from Steve’s lap to his eyes. A wave of embarrassment flowed through Steve. “Well, looks like you’ve got another problem.”
“I… sorry—” Steve started.
Corey smiled. “Nothing to be sorry about, unless….”
“Unless?”
“Unless that isn’t for me.” Corey stared him straight in the eye. “That is for me, isn’t it? We’ve been skirting around each other for a while now. I know this is for you.” Corey pushed back the sheet to expose this lower abdomen and, more importantly, the prominent bulge in his underwear. Steve couldn’t tear his gaze away from the damp spot on the pale blue fabric, the spot that widened even as Steve looked at it.
He finally found his voice and gazed back at Corey’s face. “It’s for you,” he whispered.
“Good.” Corey leaned forward. “Very good.”
COLLAPSE
