“No thanks.” Sky felt slightly guilty. It was bad enough he was crashing at his cousin’s apartment, dampening any shreds of privacy the man had. Now he’d interrupted what was happening between his cousin and Ruby, his perky girlfriend with curly red hair and the biggest tits he’d ever seen on a woman the ripe old age of twenty-one. Barely. He shook his head and offered a small smile. “Sorry, man. I’ll keep it down.”
Bottle and cigarette in one hand, Billy ruffled Sky’s short, spiked brown hair with the other. “Nah, it’s all good. Just remember… The prick is gone. Prolly doing time in Leavenworth by now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
Sky hugged his arms around his chest. “I know. Damn it! I’m fucking tired of these nightmares. Makes me look like such a pussy.”
“It doesn’t. You had a fucking broken shoulder, man. Even three months after the surgery and physical therapy, I know it still twinges. Prolly never be normal.”
“Thanks for that.” Sky smiled at his closest relative in the world. Billy had been like a brother growing up in Kansas. When his aunt had moved Billy to Colorado for her job, they’d both taken it hard. They’d kept in touch, and any time one of them needed the other, they’d come running.
Like Billy had, when Sky’s former partner Duke had ratcheted domestic violence up to a whole new level. He’d thought his cousin was going to kill the man, but there hadn’t been anything Sky could do about it from his hospital bed. What he had had a choice about—and what Billy could never understand—was Sky’s going home with Duke when he’d been released from the hospital. That fact was still a sore subject between them.
“If you’re sure you’re okay…” Billy motioned toward the other room.
Sky nodded. “Thanks for the water—and everything.”
“Any time, dude. Get some sleep.”
“You do the same.”
Billy grinned. “No promises.” He backed out then closed the door.
It wasn’t five minutes later that Sky heard his cousin’s headboard banging against the wall. He had to smile.
He polished off the last of the water then tossed the empty aside. Leaning back, he tried to face his demons because the therapist he’d seen a couple of times had told him that could make the bad dreams go away. It hadn’t worked yet, but Sky had hopes.
Duke. He closed his eyes, picturing the man he’d loved passionately for three years. Big and burly, with long, unruly brown hair and a full beard to match, Duke was ruggedly handsome—a definite bear in the gay community. Sky wasn’t a twink—at six foot two he was strong and muscular in his own right—but Duke was just so much bigger than him.
It had all been good in bed. Back then he’d loved being dominated by his aggressive partner. Until Duke had begun taking small steps over the line, eventually ending up miles away from the nice guy Sky had fallen in love with.
“Fuck him!” Sky swore, determined to break the hold Duke had over his dreams. “He’s in prison, and I’m in Colorado working at the best bike shop in Lakewood. Life is great.”
He closed his eyes but knew sleep wouldn’t come that quickly. “Leave me the fuck alone, Duke.”
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About the Author
Jenna Byrnes could use more cabinet space and more hours in a day. She’d fill the kitchen with gadgets her husband purchases off TV and let him cook for her to his heart’s content. She’d breeze through the days adding hours of sleep, and more time for writing the hot, erotic romance she loves to read.
Jenna thinks everyone deserves a happy ending, and loves to provide as many of those as possible to her gay, lesbian and hetero characters. Her favorite quote, from a pro-gay billboard, is “Be careful who you hate. It may be someone you love.”
Email: byrnes.jenna@yahoo.com
Jenna loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Jenna Byrnes
Convincing Cate
Second Time Around
Carnal Collision
Secret Santa
Night Shift
Stroke of Luck
Practice Makes Perfect
Legal Maneuvers
Unexpected Love: Nothing to Lose
Unexpected Love: Worth the Risk
Unexpected Love: Having It All
Cattle Valley: Truth or Dare
Cattle Valley: Fool’s Gold
Rose and Thorn Society: Switching Seth
Rose and Thorn Society: Never Say Never
Kansas City Heat: Dixon’s Duty
Kansas City Heat: Peyton’s Pursuit
Kansas City Heat: Cameron’s Code
Kansas City Heat: Taylor’s Task
Lasso Lovin’: Fortune’s Way
Hard Riders: Clear Blue Sky
Pleasure Bound: Aloha Kaua
My Secret Valentine: Secret Rendezvous
Frost Bite: Night Fall
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