incident.”
Mark tugged on the zipper of Shepherd’s hoodie. “And Jet?”
Shepherd snorted. “He made it through with barely a scratch and lived for another five years. Thaine’s hellhound is based on him.”
“Are you more like Jack or Thaine?”
Shepherd went quiet for a few moments. “Jack is the person I wish I could be. Strong. Witty. Always with a ready comeback. He wouldn’t be scared to make public appearances. He wouldn’t have botched it the first time a guy tried to talk to him. Jack would’ve gone after his man right from the start. Well, if he was gay, anyway.”
Mark reached up to cup his scruffy cheek. “Jack is hot and fun to read about, but it’s his grouchy, sexy creator who twists me up inside. Even before I knew who you were, I wanted you. I think you know that.”
“I do.” Shepherd smiled softly. “I wanted you too.”
Mark stretched, knowing his shirt would ride up to show a glimpse of his happy trail. During their two nights together, he’d discovered Shepherd loved to follow that line of hair to the trimmed patch at his groin. “So now that you have me, what do you intend to do with me?”
Shepherd circled Mark’s navel with a finger, causing him to shudder. It both tickled and turned Mark on at once. He laughed, breathless, torn between arching into the touch and shying away from it.
“I can think of a few things,” Shepherd said. “Remember that bathroom scene in book four?”
A quiet moan slipped past Mark’s lips. “Oh yeah.” How could he forget? Sex scenes were rare in The Drake Chronicles , which was a shame, really, because Shepherd wrote better smut than any erotica author Mark had ever read. The scene Shep referred to had been between Jack and Alicia, not Mark’s fantasy of Jack and Thaine, but it was still hot enough the memory alone made him hard.
Shepherd grinned. “I’m feeling dirty. I think a shower might be in order.”
Mark laughed, adoring this playful side of Shepherd, and still not quite believing they’d somehow gotten to this point. Three months ago, he couldn’t have imagined this—being close to Shepherd, sharing jokes and casual kisses—but he’d take it, however long it lasted.
He slid from the couch and held out a hand to Shepherd. “Well, that makes two of us. We’re a pair of dirty boys, Mr. Knight. Let’s get cleaned up.”
Seven
The day of Halloween dawned bright and windswept. Downtown Heartsville was awash in decorations, from cute to creepy, and the golds and reds of changing leaves. Mark unlocked the door to Bookmarked, buoyant with happiness, relishing the slight burn in his lungs as he inhaled the crisp fall air. The rich aroma of coffee wafted toward him from the direction of Market Café. He’d have to stop in later for a pumpkin spice latte. For now, he was content, belly stuffed full from the tea, toast, and scrambled eggs he’d eaten at Shepherd’s place that morning.
A voice called his name, and Mark turned to see Milo walking past.
Milo gave him a little wave. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Hey!” Mark motioned him over. “I know you’re a Shepherd Knight fan. If you’re interested in seeing him again, he’ll be here tonight for the NaNoWriMo kickoff party. We had to put a cap on the spots, but we have room for you if you want to come.”
Milo bounced on the balls of his feet. “Oh, I know. I saw the fliers, but about the only writing I do is taking down orders. I’m sure it’ll be awesome, though. I’d jump at a chance for advice from him if I was an author.” He grinned.
“I’ve been kind of desperate to get business in the doors, but the response has been great for it being so last minute. Had to try out some new activities, you know? See what works. So many bookstores are going under these days.”
Milo’s smile dimmed. “Yeah, and I’d hate to see Bookmarked go. The neighborhood wouldn’t be the same without it. I hope it all works out.”
“Me
Mark tugged on the zipper of Shepherd’s hoodie. “And Jet?”
Shepherd snorted. “He made it through with barely a scratch and lived for another five years. Thaine’s hellhound is based on him.”
“Are you more like Jack or Thaine?”
Shepherd went quiet for a few moments. “Jack is the person I wish I could be. Strong. Witty. Always with a ready comeback. He wouldn’t be scared to make public appearances. He wouldn’t have botched it the first time a guy tried to talk to him. Jack would’ve gone after his man right from the start. Well, if he was gay, anyway.”
Mark reached up to cup his scruffy cheek. “Jack is hot and fun to read about, but it’s his grouchy, sexy creator who twists me up inside. Even before I knew who you were, I wanted you. I think you know that.”
“I do.” Shepherd smiled softly. “I wanted you too.”
Mark stretched, knowing his shirt would ride up to show a glimpse of his happy trail. During their two nights together, he’d discovered Shepherd loved to follow that line of hair to the trimmed patch at his groin. “So now that you have me, what do you intend to do with me?”
Shepherd circled Mark’s navel with a finger, causing him to shudder. It both tickled and turned Mark on at once. He laughed, breathless, torn between arching into the touch and shying away from it.
“I can think of a few things,” Shepherd said. “Remember that bathroom scene in book four?”
A quiet moan slipped past Mark’s lips. “Oh yeah.” How could he forget? Sex scenes were rare in The Drake Chronicles , which was a shame, really, because Shepherd wrote better smut than any erotica author Mark had ever read. The scene Shep referred to had been between Jack and Alicia, not Mark’s fantasy of Jack and Thaine, but it was still hot enough the memory alone made him hard.
Shepherd grinned. “I’m feeling dirty. I think a shower might be in order.”
Mark laughed, adoring this playful side of Shepherd, and still not quite believing they’d somehow gotten to this point. Three months ago, he couldn’t have imagined this—being close to Shepherd, sharing jokes and casual kisses—but he’d take it, however long it lasted.
He slid from the couch and held out a hand to Shepherd. “Well, that makes two of us. We’re a pair of dirty boys, Mr. Knight. Let’s get cleaned up.”
Seven
The day of Halloween dawned bright and windswept. Downtown Heartsville was awash in decorations, from cute to creepy, and the golds and reds of changing leaves. Mark unlocked the door to Bookmarked, buoyant with happiness, relishing the slight burn in his lungs as he inhaled the crisp fall air. The rich aroma of coffee wafted toward him from the direction of Market Café. He’d have to stop in later for a pumpkin spice latte. For now, he was content, belly stuffed full from the tea, toast, and scrambled eggs he’d eaten at Shepherd’s place that morning.
A voice called his name, and Mark turned to see Milo walking past.
Milo gave him a little wave. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Hey!” Mark motioned him over. “I know you’re a Shepherd Knight fan. If you’re interested in seeing him again, he’ll be here tonight for the NaNoWriMo kickoff party. We had to put a cap on the spots, but we have room for you if you want to come.”
Milo bounced on the balls of his feet. “Oh, I know. I saw the fliers, but about the only writing I do is taking down orders. I’m sure it’ll be awesome, though. I’d jump at a chance for advice from him if I was an author.” He grinned.
“I’ve been kind of desperate to get business in the doors, but the response has been great for it being so last minute. Had to try out some new activities, you know? See what works. So many bookstores are going under these days.”
Milo’s smile dimmed. “Yeah, and I’d hate to see Bookmarked go. The neighborhood wouldn’t be the same without it. I hope it all works out.”
“Me
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