Wallflowers

So this was my first time participating in an Amber PAX, where five authors write a story based on the same theme -- in this case it was This Old Gang of Mine and it was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to reading the other stories in the PAX to see what other authors' takes are on the theme.

When I thought about the them, two men who'd been frat brothers popped up with a story to tell. They had split up before they'd left college because Ryan was solidly in the closet while DJ was not. Well they meet up again some years later at another frat brother's wedding. Ryan is still in the closet, DJ is still not in the closet, but now he's also blind and, to Ryan, maddeningly zen about the whole thing. The attraction is still there, though, and they indulge in a little wedding nookie. The issues they had before still exist too, though...

Ryan Coulter is a sports science graduate, who's deep in the closet. Returning to his college town to be in a frat buddy's wedding, he discovers he still has feelings for his old college lover, Daniel James Delout. Too bad he's still in the closet and DJ most definitely is not, the main reason why they broke up in the first place. To complicate matters further, DJ is now blind, and is, somehow, almost maddeningly Zen about the blindness, Ryan, everything.

Can Ryan ignore his stronger-than-ever attraction to DJ and just get through the wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception? Does he even want to? And what happens if he and DJ do reconnect? After all, he’s still in the closet...right?

You can pick Wallflowers up here.

You can pick Wallflowers and the other four books in this PAX at a special price here.

Excerpt:

Ryan moved around the car, letting Walter out so the dog could help DJ. Then he grabbed his bag out of the trunk and handed over the keys to the attendant, pocketing the slip he was given.

“You want my arm, man?”

“Please. I’m in room one fifteen.”

He took DJ’s hand and put it on his arm. He liked having DJ touch him, and with Walter on DJ’s other side, it was clear the man was blind so no one would think anything of it. “Why don’t you join me for dinner. As an apology for thunking your head.”

DJ shook his head. “No offense meant, Ry, but I don’t want to sit and worry about eating in public again today.”

“So we’ll do room service. Catch up.” He wasn’t sure why he was pushing. It had been his fault they’d broken up, his inability to step out of the closet. Everything in him urged him not to just let go, though.

“Okay. That’s fine. You can get checked in and then we’ll meet up in my room?”

“Works for me.” He gave DJ his arm again and got the man to his room before going back to the front desk to check in.

He ended up on the first floor, too, right next door to DJ, in fact. He wasn’t sure if it was because they were both using the wedding group discount Anne had set up, or if it was because they were both from Vancouver. He supposed it didn’t matter.

He dumped his bag in his room, pocketed the key, and knocked on DJ’s door.

“Ryan?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” It was a little unreal, being in a hotel room with DJ.

“Come on in.” The lights were off and the curtains closed, the room super dark. Walter woofed at him, softly, the sound almost friendly.

“Hi, Walter. Is it okay to pet him?” He knew it wasn’t always okay to pet a working animal. “And can I turn on the light?”

“Absolutely. He’s not working and sure. I couldn’t find the switch.”

“It’s over here, on the wrong side of the door.” He took DJ’s hand and showed him where the switch was and they flipped it on together. He told himself he was ignoring the way his hand seemed to tingle where their skin touched.

“Thanks, Ry.” DJ smiled, and the man was right there, so kissable.

He blinked at the thought and froze for a half second. Then he groaned, and pressed their lips together. DJ went stiff, hands flailing for a second before they found his shoulders. His own hands found DJ’s trim waist, slid around it. Oh, fuck. He was kissing Daniel James Delout. Again.

It was just as hot as he’d remembered, on those nights where he jacked himself in the dark, lost in memories. Moaning into the kiss, he slid his tongue along Daniel’s lips, begging entrance. Those sweet, hungry lips opened up to him, let him in, let him taste. That had him moaning again; no one had ever tasted as good as DJ.

DJ’s hands moved, slowly, down his arms, the touch burning, heated, and he felt like he was starving for it. He leaned forward, gently pushing DJ up against the wall, his prick firming up quickly.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” DJ murmured the words against his lips, so soft.

“Yes.” It was the first thing that popped into his head, and out of his mouth. It was the truth. No matter what else happened, he still loved DJ and he still wanted the man. Badly.

Sean Michael

smut fixes everything

www.seanmichaelwrites.com