Excerpt 1:

“Last straw…” Ollie glanced at the clock on the wall. He’d known three months ago that the relationship was a long shot.

He’d spent the last two hours staring at the television but not paying attention. As much as he loved Jeff, Ollie wasn’t going to put up with bullshit. At this point in his life, he wanted a stable mate, not a hit-and-run lover.

For their last three dates, Jeff had pulled a no-show. The first two times he had called early enough for Ollie to change his plans. The last time, he hadn’t bothered.

The next time they spoke, Jeff acted as if they’d never had plans. Ollie called him on it and at least Jeff hadn’t lied. He’d even seemed ashamed but offered no explanation for his absence.

This time Ollie had cooked dinner so he wasn’t sitting alone in a restaurant waiting for someone who never showed. Worried out of his mind something awful happened because Jeff wouldn’t answer his cell phone. But tonight was the last straw. Another no-call, no-show. He’d fired employees in the bakery for stunts like that. Jeff had his last free pass. No more.

A knock on the front door surprised him out of his thoughts. A little hope sprang up as he jumped to his feet. Then his determination stomped all over the little bit of joy. If it was Jeff, Ollie had to tell him it was over.

Another loud rap on the door echoed through the outside hall. Ollie was in no hurry. His apartment was the only one up here. His bakery downstairs was closed. No one to disturb except himself.

“Ollie!” The thick door muffled Jeff’s voice but not the hint of a slur.

Drinking? Jeff? Now that was unusual. Curiosity moved Ollie’s feet faster. When he yanked the door open, his wayward lover fell forward.

Out of sheer irritation, Ollie sidestepped Jeff’s frantic lunge.

Jeff’s arms twirled in an effort to stay on his feet. One hand landed on Ollie’s shoulder, saving him from the fall.

Ollie resisted the urge to shrug it off and let him hit the floor. “What are you doing here?”

Jeff’s feet almost tangled when he twisted around to face Ollie. “We had a date.” His hands caught Ollie’s shoulder.

The hint of whiskey surprised Ollie. Jeff wasn’t exactly a teetotaler but he didn’t hit the hard stuff. Wine, a margarita now and then, but his breath smelled as if he’d been drinking whiskey straight from the bottle.

“Had a date. Past tense. You missed it. Again.” Ollie backed up until his back was against the open door.

Jeff pushed forward until his body pressed against Ollie’s.

Jeff’s reasons for showing up late and half-drunk might not be obvious, but one thing was perfectly clear. The ridge of his hard cock pressed against Ollie’s groin. Seemed Ollie was good for a quick fuck but not for a real relationship. A few years ago, Ollie wouldn’t have minded. Maybe even a few months ago, before he let his feelings get in too deep. But he wasn’t looking for friends with benefits.

“Sorry.” Jeff breathed the distillery he had drunk into Ollie’s face.

“Again?”

“Yeah, again.” Warm lips pressed against Ollie’s. “Sorry again.”

Ollie started to ask why he hadn’t called but stopped short. Curiosity wasn’t worth the loss of dignity by ranting like a bitter hausfrau. Besides, Ollie didn’t really care what the reason was. The fact he’d let things get this far was bad enough.

“Well, sorry isn’t good enough.” Jeff’s lips got in the way of his mouth. Ollie turned his head to the side. “I think you should leave.”

“Don’t be mad.” Jeff nuzzled the sweet spot at the base of Ollie’s neck, just where the shoulder started. He played dirty.

For some reason, soft lips right there seemed to make Ollie’s brain stop functioning. And his dick took over. Maybe the old joke about men was true—not enough blood for both heads to function at the same time.

His hand found Jeff’s head. Fingers curled through his short hair, pulling him closer. Maybe one for the road. Remind Jeff what he was losing…

Then again, maybe this one was for Ollie, something he’d wanted since Jeff walked into his bakery three months ago in search of a wedding cake for a friend.

Jeff’s uptight attitude toward some of Ollie’s toys had kept their sex life confined to the bed—or occasional sofa sex. A little too vanilla for Ollie’s tastes, but he had patience. He’d hoped to work Jeff into something more erotic eventually.

But since Jeff had been a bad boy, maybe it was time for a little punishment.

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