Mmm...first encounters. I love it when characters in both movies and novels meet for the first time. It sets the tone for what's to come. Sometimes there's snap, crackle, sizzle...or maybe there's that slow burn of borderline contempt that you just know is gonna be fun to watch.
Is it Lust at First Sight...or Maybe Not Quite?
Is it Lust at First Sight...or Maybe Not Quite?
It's all about the men this weekend on Kisses, Caresses & Whispers in the night! Today we're taking a peek at the first meeting between the sexy men of 'Stripped Bare', a highly rated gay erotic romance by Author Susan Mac Nicol.
He was distracted from his
thoughts as he heard a loud noise at the entrance. Matthew watched curiously as
a man came flying into the waiting area. The man moved over to the reception
desk. The whole waiting room could hear his rambling words, delivered in a
voice reminiscent of Richard Armitage, one of Matthew’s favourite actors. It
went well with his persona. He was dressed in a very expensive and dapper grey
business suit and had an air of panache that, despite his concern, seemed to
ooze off him like he was born to the good life. He’d obviously been running. He
was slightly out of breath and there was the sheen of sweat on his face. His
dark blonde hair fell over his forehead in loose swathes.
“You had a friend of mine brought
in earlier,” the man said. “His name is David Debussy. Is he all right? Can I
see him?”
Matthew’s next thought was, God he has a sexy voice, followed by a
certain sense of envy. From the way he
was carrying on, this man is a good friend of David’s. David is a very lucky
man.
He could see the receptionist
trying to explain to the man that David was in recovery and only family were
able to see him. The more she explained, the more the man got agitated.
“You don’t understand. I could
have fucking stopped him. I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t get hold
of him. I shouldn’t have let him go back home to his fucking father-”
Matthew’s ears pricked up at that
last sentence even as he winced at the foul language coming out of the younger
man’s mouth in a public waiting room full of sick people. Matthew wasn’t averse
to bad language when used in private or in the bedroom, but frowned on it in
public. There was just no need to subject everyone else in earshot to
profanity.
If Matthew was being employed to
do damage control, he’d better bloody do it before this man made any more
rather inflammatory statements.
He glided over to the reception
window, seeing the young woman’s look of relief as he tapped the agitated man
on the shoulder. The man turned, and Matthew was pierced by the most incredible
blue gaze he’d ever seen. The man’s eyes were clear, bright lapis lazuli blue,
and at the moment, angry and frustrated. He blinked, seeming taken aback at
seeing Matthew standing behind him. A strange expression flitted over his face
and then he scowled.
“Yes?” he growled. “I’m having a
bloody conversation here; can you wait your turn?”
He turned back to the
receptionist and Matthew sighed.
“I’m the Debussy family lawyer. I
think I might be able to help you, Mister…?” He raised a quizzical eyebrow at
the man who’d now turned back and was watching him suspiciously.
“Templar. Shane Templar.” His
face tensed. “Lawyer? Are you here to try and clean up after the old bugger
then? Shove it all under the fucking carpet?”
Matthew took hold of the man’s arm,
smiled at the receptionist and pulled Shane over to the corner of the waiting
room. The man’s muscles tensed under his jacket, and Matthew braced for a
possible punch.
“Leave me the fuck alone,” Shane
hissed, wrenching his arm out of Matthew’s hold. “I don’t remember agreeing
that you could touch me.”
“Mr. Templar, if you want any
chance of seeing David, then I suggest you get me on your side, not alienate me.” Matthew’s voice was hard and
uncompromising. It was the tone he used when he was in full lawyer mode. “David
is unconscious but he’s being looked after.”
At the words, the other man’s
body relaxed. His eyes closed and Matthew was struck by how long and dark the
man’s lashes were. Then that blue laser stare was back on Matthew’s face.
“What happened to him?”
Matthew crossed both sets of
fingers on his hands as unobtrusively as possible. Better toe the party line
until he knew what this young man knew about this evening’s events.
“He was assaulted by someone as
he drove in to his home. He hit his head, and that’s why we’re all here.”
The one thing he hadn’t been
expecting was the explosive laugh that came from Shane. A very nice mouth in a
square jaw, Matthew noted distractedly. Full, well-shaped lips, white teeth in
a mouth currently twisted into a wolfish snarl. He certainly had a je ne sais quoi for Matthew.
“Don’t fucking give me that
bullshit. I know his old man had something to do with it. David was bloody
petrified when he left me earlier. And I fucking let him go.”
Matthew closed his eyes. “Do you
think you could tone down the swearing?” he asked as he opened them again. The
other man looked at him in disbelief. “This is a hospital waiting room, there
are children here, and I don’t think it’s doing anyone any good.”
Shane looked around, seeing the
wide-eyed stares of the few boys and girls. He looked shamefaced.
“I get your point,” he said
between gritted teeth. “I’ll see what I can do. But don’t try feed me any more
crap.” He looked uncomfortable at swearing again and gave a guilty glance at the
watching children. “Something was wrong earlier on, and I just knew something
bad was going to happen.”
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Ooo...I want more, don't you? I can feel the tension! Let's read the back cover blurb...
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Boroughs Publishing Group | http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare |
Amazon.com | http://amzn.to/16j78uL |
Amazon.co.uk | http://amzn.to/19wW6oO |
All Romance ebooks | http://bit.ly/18MvZHK |
Kobo | http://bit.ly/1cnHE1X |
Smashwords | https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339469 |
4 comments:
Amber, it's so exciting being here and I certainly hope people enjoy the extract from Stripped Bare. Shane and Matthew definitely have the 'crackle and sizzle' between them and their first meeting was just the beginning...
There's no escaping you is there, Susan. Good for you!
Stripped Bare sounds like an awesome read. Definitely getting added to my tbr list
My door is always open for you and your sexy men, Susan. I wish you many sales! Happy writing!
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