The Carpenter and the Fairy Cassandra Gold
Published by Phaze Books Also by Cassandra Gold “Trust” from Broadly Bound
This is an explicit and erotic novel intended for the enjoyment of adult readers. Please keep out of the hands of children.
www.Phaze.com
The Carpenter and the Fairy A Phaze Raven HeatSheet by
CASSANDRA GOLD
The Carpenter and the Fairy copyright 2009 by Cassandra Gold All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Phaze Production Phaze Books 6470A Glenway Avenue, #109 Cincinnati, OH 45211-5222 Phaze is an imprint of Mundania Press, LLC. To order additional copies of this book, contact:
[email protected] www.Phaze.com Cover art © 2009 Skyla Dawn Cameron Edited by Will Belegon
eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-507-7 First Edition – October, 2009 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Chapter One “I don’t think this is such a good idea, man.” Mason Larue eyed the costumed crowd in the club skeptically. “You know I’m not into this masquerade crap.” “Come on, Mase. Give it a chance. There are some real hotties here.” Stan Allen, Mason’s friend of thirteen years, indicated a sexy, well-built guy in a toga. Mason snorted. “Real original.” Rolling his eyes, Stan grabbed Mason’s arm and dragged him out of the doorway. “You’re going to have fun, or I’m going to kick your ass. Get out there.” He pushed Mason into the seething mass of bodies on the dance floor. Before Mason could get his bearings enough to go after his fleeing friend, the wall of men closed around him. He was trapped. To his right, a guy dressed as Spock from Star Trek did some sort of spastic, flailing dance move. The pumped-up gladiator to his left gave him a blatant onceover and a leer, and then flexed his arms to show off. Mason liked muscular men, but the guy’s creepy expression and blatant showboating were kind of a turnoff. He smiled and shook his head. The gladiator shrugged as if to say your loss and turned to ogle someone else. The center of the dance floor was crowded, noisy, and hot as hell—but not in a good way. The tight confines and flashing lights made Mason’s head pound. He pushed his way through the crowd, needing to get out of the crush. When he finally reached the edge of the dance floor, he leaned against the wall. Away from the crowd, the air was cooler. He could breathe easier, and he could also see the dancers a lot better. Something sparkled in the bright, moving club lights, catching his attention. A few feet away, on the edge of the dance floor, a slim young man danced in smooth, sinuous movements. The young man was shirtless, with wispy, dragonfly-like wings
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on his back. The only clothing he wore was a long green loincloth and a pair of sandals. His dark, curly hair was tousled and dusted with glitter. A vine wreath rested among the curls. Was he supposed to be a woodland fairy or something? As if sensing Mason’s stare, the fairy turned around. His full lips turned up in a smile. To Mason’s shock, the fairy walked toward him. Up close, the guy was stunning. He was about five-footeight, at least six inches shorter than Mason, and he had one of those lovely, androgynous faces fit for a runway model. His big eyes were outlined with dark eyeliner, and his eyelids sparkled with a hint of makeup. He was not at all Mason’s type. Mason went for men built more like himself: big, tall, muscular guys, not slim waifs who wore makeup. Still, as the fairy came to a stop right in front of him, Mason felt an unexpected surge of desire. Something about the younger man’s pretty eyes, which Mason could now see were green, or maybe his soft mouth made Mason want him. His cock stirred in his worn jeans. “Hi.” The young man brushed his unruly curls away from his face. “I’m Avery.” Avery’s voice was sweet and a little husky, a surprisingly sexy combination. Although Mason told himself he should just walk away and find a guy that was more his speed, he found himself replying, “I’m Mason.” Avery’s slender hand traced Mason’s bicep through his tight t-shirt. “Nice costume, Mason.” Mason searched Avery’s face for any signs of mockery. Stan had certainly laughed his ass off when they met up earlier. He’d said Mason’s costume was too simple and made him look like one of the Village People. Mason knew it was lazy to wear work boots, worn jeans, a t-shirt, and a carpenter’s tool belt, but he hadn’t wanted to come to a stupid Halloween costume party anyway. It wouldn’t be Halloween for another week, which made the party even dumber. He gave Avery a wry grin. “I guess it’s not technically a costume. I’m really a carpenter.” Avery laughed, making his wings shiver. “And I’m a fairy. Truth in advertising.”
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Against his will, Mason laughed, too. He had to admit the man was clever. “So what brings you out tonight, Avery?” “Other than the chance to wear these fabulous wings?” Avery grinned and peered up at Mason through his eyelashes. “Maybe I came to meet you.” On anyone else, the coy expression would have looked ridiculous, but on Avery it was alluring. Mason shook his head, unable to believe his own thoughts. Avery was one of the prettiest men he had ever seen, and as far from Mason’s usual hook-up as was humanly possible without being a girl. What was he doing? He opened his mouth to give a polite brush-off, but what came out was, “You’ve met me. Now what?” Those full, sexy lips curved up in a slow smile. “Now you carry me off into the sunset. Or your bedroom. Whatever.” Mason’s cock surged to full, aching hardness at the thought of carrying Avery off somewhere and sinking into him. He shivered. “Fuck, Avery.” “That’s the idea. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear before?” The teasing words made Mason laugh again. “I got it. I’m just surprised, I guess.” Avery ran his hand up Mason’s chest, his voice going low and throaty. “Looking like this, you shouldn’t be.” To his horror, Mason felt his face heating. He hadn’t blushed in years, yet here he was getting all red-faced. To hide his reaction, he grabbed Avery’s arm and yanked the smaller man to him, crushing their mouths together in a hard kiss. Rather than pulling away, Avery twined his arms around Mason’s neck and kissed him back. Their tongues tangled, and Mason got another surprise: Avery’s tongue was pierced. The sensation of the metal barbell teasing the sensitive tissues of his mouth sent another frisson of desire through Mason. Avery dragged his mouth away from Mason’s, panting. “Want you.” “God, yes.” Mason couldn’t remember ever wanting anyone with quite this much intensity. Part of his brain wanted to freak out about that, but since most of his blood had been diverted to his dick, he couldn’t really stress out about anything.
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Where could they go? Home wasn’t an option—he’d never make it. The bathroom seemed too dirty and tacky, although he might be desperate enough to settle. About ten feet away, Mason spotted a small, dark recess under a staircase. The stairs were roped off, so he doubted anyone would be hanging around there. Well, other than himself and Avery. He reached up to catch one of Avery’s hands, still wrapped around his neck, and made a beeline for the little alcove, tugging Avery along behind him. “What—oh.” Avery let out a quiet laugh as Mason pulled him under the stairs. “This is much better than a bathroom stall.” Mason didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled Avery against him and kissed him again. Now that they were away from prying eyes, he let his hands roam over Avery’s slim but hard chest and flat stomach. He teased Avery’s nipples until the smaller man whimpered. In return, Avery pushed Mason’s t-shirt up and slid his hands underneath it, stroking his fingertips over whatever skin he could reach. He lingered over Mason’s pecs before running his fingers along the thin trail of hair leading from Mason’s navel to his cock. Mason hissed as Avery slithered down his body until he knelt before him. Avery’s nimble fingers made quick work of the button and zipper on his jeans without even taking off his tool belt. His dick sprang out the second Avery got his pants open, hard and throbbing for release. Avery didn’t try to tease or draw out the anticipation. His big green eyes locked on Mason’s face, Avery swallowed Mason’s cock to the root. “God, Avery, don’t stop.” Mason forced the words out through lips gone numb from the sudden onslaught of pleasure. Avery’s mouth was hot, wet perfection. The way the tongue stud rubbed against the head of his cock nearly drove Mason insane. He wanted to hold back but he couldn’t. He started thrusting into Avery’s mouth, stifling a cry when Avery opened his throat and let Mason go deep. Twining his hands into Avery’s soft curls, Mason fucked Avery’s mouth with long, smooth strokes. He couldn’t get over the sight of his cock disappearing between Avery’s pretty lips. 9
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The whole time, Avery’s long-lashed eyes stared into his face, watching him. With the wings on Avery’s back and the wreath on his head, it was like being sucked off by a debauched angel. “Gonna,” Mason mumbled, the one working brain cell he had reminding him to give fair warning. Avery didn’t pull off. If anything, he sucked harder. Mason wanted to prolong the pleasure but he couldn’t hold back anymore. Heat poured through him as he came down Avery’s throat. Avery took every drop and licked him clean before getting to his feet. “God, that was hot.” Mason reeled Avery in for another kiss, tasting himself on Avery’s tongue. Avery whimpered and ground against him, obviously needing relief. Mason shoved the loincloth aside and found the tiniest, and sexiest, jockstrap he’d ever seen. He groaned and palmed Avery’s dick through the thin material. “Please, touch me.” Unable to resist the plea, Mason pushed the jockstrap aside and fished out Avery’s cock, which was stiff and longer than he’d expected. He took Avery’s mouth in another hard kiss while he stroked Avery’s dick with quick, rough movements. Avery thrust into his hand only a few times before he arched, his erection pulsing as he came. Jets of hot semen gushed over Mason’s hand and onto the floor. Avery collapsed against him, breaking the kiss. For a long moment they stood in the shadows, both breathing hard. Sated lassitude and renewed desire fought for dominance in Mason’s mind. Then Avery caught Mason’s sticky hand and licked his own come off it with slow, measured swipes of his tongue, his eyes once again locked on Mason’s. The desire won out. Releasing one of Mason’s fingers from the hot cavern of his mouth, Avery whispered, “Come home with me?” Mason nodded. “Good. Come on.” Avery took Mason’s hand and led him from the alcove.
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Chapter Two They had almost reached the door when Mason realized he needed to let Stan know he was leaving. If he just left Stan would figure it out eventually, but that would be rude. He stopped and removed his hand from Avery’s. “I need to let my friend know I’m leaving. I’ll meet you at the door.” Avery smiled and kept walking, not seeming concerned about whether Mason would ditch him. Mason shook his head and scanned the room. He spotted Stan at the end of the bar closest to him and waded his way through the crowd. Stan noticed his approach and clapped him on the back. “Hey, buddy! Where’ve you been?” “Around.” Mason shrugged, not wanting to explain. “I’m taking off.” “What? Why?” Stan frowned. Mason shrugged again. “I kind of met someone. I’m going home with him.” He waved in the direction of the front door, where Avery stood waiting. Stan’s eyes widened. “Tell me you’re not talking about that guy by the door.” His friend laughed. “What the fuck, man? He’s not your type at all.” A surge of defensive anger rose, even though he himself had thought the same thing only a few minutes earlier. “So? It’s not like I’m marrying the guy. And didn’t you say to have fun?” Stan laughed harder. “You’re joking, right? Come on, man. He’s dressed like a fairy, for Christ’s sake. That guy’s so gay he makes a drag queen look manly.” Part of Mason thought Stan was right. He and Avery were way too different, and that was probably a bad thing. The rest of him remembered the way Avery had sucked the come off his fingers. There wasn’t much of a fight. “Goodbye, Stan.” He spun on his heels and strode toward the front door, and Avery. 11
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Behind him, a cackling Stan called, “I want details later!” Mason scowled and kept walking. His angry stride carried him to Avery’s side in only a few seconds. “I called a cab.” Avery touched his arm. “Are you okay?” Shaking off his annoyance, Mason smiled down at the smaller man. “I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.” **** The ten-minute cab ride to Avery’s apartment was torture. Just looking at Avery half-naked would have been bad enough, but Avery made it worse by running his hand along Mason’s arm and thigh. By the time they reached their stop, Mason was almost ready to rip the loincloth off and fuck Avery in the back of the cab. He considered leaving the wings on, though. That would be interesting. Fortunately for Avery’s costume, they arrived at their destination just before Mason put his thoughts into action. Avery handed the cab driver some money he’d somehow hidden in his miniscule costume and grabbed Mason’s hand. Together they rushed up the stairs to Avery’s third-floor apartment. At the door Avery produced a key from one of the straps of his sandal and unlocked the door. Mason pressed him up against the door the second it closed behind them. “You’ve been driving me crazy,” he panted, nuzzling Avery’s neck. “I want you.” Avery shivered. “Take me, then. Fuck me.” Mason had to stifle a shiver of his own. “God, yes. Where’s your bedroom?” “End of the hall, on the right.” Anything else Avery might have meant to say dissolved into a yelp as Mason lifted him into his arms and carried him down the hall. With any other guy Mason had fucked, it wouldn’t have been possible, but he could carry Avery easily. It helped that the smaller man didn’t complain or struggle. He just melted into Mason’s arms like he belonged there. In the bedroom, Mason dropped Avery onto the mattress. Avery landed on his ass and bounced a couple of times,
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laughing. He stopped laughing when Mason stripped off his tshirt and went for the tool belt. Avery crawled to the edge of the bed and got up on his knees. “God, your chest. Let me touch you.” Mason didn’t protest as Avery’s fingertips skimmed over his chest, pausing to tease his nipples. He liked the way Avery touched him, with a sort of heated tenderness he hadn’t felt before. The tool belt dropped to the floor, and he popped the button on his jeans free. Soon Avery’s tongue followed the path his fingers had already taken. Mason groaned. “Avery.” With a devious grin, Avery took hold of Mason’s arms and yanked. Taken off guard, Mason fell onto the bed. Avery laughed. “Now I’ve got you right where I want you.” One quick roll later, Mason straddled Avery. For good measure, he grabbed Avery’s slim wrists and pinned them over his head with one hand. “Oh yeah?” Pure, hot desire flashed in Avery’s gaze. “Yeah.” As if to prove the truth of it, he writhed in Mason’s grip, rubbing their erections together. Mason couldn’t resist the blatant invitation. He released Avery’s wrists and kissed him. They rolled again, and Avery shifted to strip off his wings, loincloth, and jockstrap. When he was fully bare except for the forgotten wreath in his hair, he attacked Mason’s jeans and boots. Mason tried to help, but his hands felt huge and clumsy next to Avery’s. In moments they were both naked. Avery crawled to the head of the bed and rummaged in the bedside table. He thrust a condom at Mason. “I need you in me.” The words alone had Mason throbbing. Watching Avery lube up two of his fingers and plunge them into his own ass was almost enough to make him come. He looked away, concentrating on rolling the condom onto his rock hard erection. He didn’t look up again until the bed shifted. Avery had moved to his hands and knees, and he peered over his shoulder at Mason with pleading eyes. Mason couldn’t have said no to those eyes. He closed the small space between them, spread the cheeks of Avery’s tight, perfect ass, and thrust. They both moaned as Avery’s body 13
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opened to accept the invasion. Mason paused for a long moment, not only to give Avery a chance to adjust but also to give himself a chance to regain control. It didn’t work. Avery’s body gripped him like a fist, hotter and tighter than anything he could remember. He withdrew almost all the way and plunged back in, the sweet friction even better the second time. At the next thrust, Avery cried out and pushed back to meet him. They moved in unison, fast and hard. Feeling his orgasm building quickly, Mason gripped Avery’s cock and jacked it in time to his movements. With a cry, Avery came, his body tensing. Mason grunted at the extra tightness on his dick, but kept thrusting through it. He wanted to prolong the pleasure for as long as possible. As long as possible turned out to be only a couple of minutes. Mason’s orgasm washed over him in a sudden, fierce burst of ecstasy. He managed a few more uncoordinated thrusts before he filled the condom. As carefully as he could, he pulled out and rolled to the side so he didn’t crush Avery. With the tiny bit of energy he could muster, he grabbed a tissue and disposed of the condom. The smaller man collapsed next to him, lying on the wet spot but not seeming to mind. Minutes passed as they lay there, breathing heavily. Mason felt sleepy and energized, satisfied and wanting, all at the same time. His brain still wasn’t up to analysis, but he couldn’t remember ever feeling that way before. For the most part he was content with one night stand hookups or casual friends-withbenefits setups, and after each encounter he felt the same way: sleepy, satisfied, and ready to go home. A loud growl from his stomach cut off his attempts to think. Avery snickered. “Hungry?” Without moving from his sprawl, Mason shrugged. “Apparently I am.” “I’ll be right back.” Avery hopped out of bed with a disgusting amount of energy for someone who’d just been fucked into the mattress and left the room. Mason stayed where he was. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to marshal enough brain cells to think through what he’d attempted to consider a few minutes earlier. Apparently in the middle of the night, right after sex, and while hungry wasn’t the 14
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best time for deep thoughts. He ended up half-dozing instead of thinking. A quiet rattle from the doorway roused him. Avery entered the room. He carried a small tray with two mugs and a plate. His face was scrubbed clean. Bare of the makeup, Avery looked younger, and vulnerable. Mason sat up and scooted back against the headboard. “What’s this?” Avery ducked his head, a faint pink tinge appearing on his cheeks. “I brought cocoa. And cookies.” “Thanks.” Mason helped Avery set the tray down on the bed. To have something to do with his hands, he picked up a mug of cocoa and took a sip. The drink was warm, rich, and obviously not from a packet. “You’re welcome.” Avery gave him a shy smile. The expression should have looked odd after Avery’s wanton behavior earlier, but for some reason it didn’t. They drank their cocoa in silence for a bit. An awkward, confused feeling nagged Mason. He wasn’t sure what to think about tonight, and Avery. The man had seemed like nothing more than a trick earlier in the night. Somehow a scorching blow job and an even hotter fuck had turned into something else. He didn’t know what, exactly, and that bothered him. To cover his unease, he snagged a cookie and took a bite. The soft, chocolatey cookie melted in his mouth, and he wolfed it down in a few bites. “Wow. That was a damned good cookie.” His words spurred a full-on blush. Avery ducked his head again. “Well, it’s my job. Or it used to be. Now I pretty much just make cakes. You know, for weddings and special occasions.” Mason paused to swallow part of his second cookie before replying. “You’re a baker? If your cookies are this good I’d almost be afraid to taste your cakes.” Avery laughed. “Thanks, I think.” Looking at that sweet, laughing face, Mason felt another surge of desire. He lifted the tray and moved it to the bedside table. “Come here.”
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Their lips met before their bodies did. They moved together, kissing and touching. It was slow and easy, and as smooth as if they’d been together a hundred times. They worked together with condom and lube, and Mason rolled Avery to his back and pushed in with a long glide. Avery rolled up to meet each of his thrusts. By the time Avery came without a hand on his cock, and Mason followed just watching his face, it felt like making love. **** The room was dark when Mason awoke. It took him a moment to remember the source of the light, even breathing next to him. His eyes finally adjusted to the dimness. He looked around at the room, with its purple décor and spindly white furniture. The contrast to Mason’s own place, furnished with heavy, dark furniture he’d made himself and walls painted in greens and blues, was extreme. Then he looked at the face of the man sleeping next to him. Even after the late night, Avery was stunning. He looked almost ethereal with his soft curls and delicate features. Mason’s chest clenched with a mixture of protectiveness and horror. What was he doing here? He and Avery couldn’t have been less alike if they’d tried. He should have left last night, right after they fucked the first time. If he’d been really smart, he would have never come home with Avery in the first place, although he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Giving himself a mental shake, Mason slid out of bed and searched for his clothes. Fortunately they were all near the end of the bed, and he slipped them on quietly. He saved his boots for last and carried them, not wanting to wake Avery. After a last look back at the bed, and its sleeping occupant, Mason left the room. He paused in the living room to put his boots on. He hadn’t looked at the room before, in the mad dash to get to the bedroom. The bright jewel tones and plants scattered around gave the room a warm feel. Avery’s stuff screamed out who he was: out and proud in a way that couldn’t be denied—and shouldn’t be.
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Mason didn’t belong here. He’d spent years hiding his sexuality in the Marines, and even now he wasn’t always comfortable with himself. Coming here had been a huge mistake. He quickly laced up his boots and left the apartment. He’d call for a cab once he got outside.
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Chapter Three Avery Adams sighed as he finished the last spider on a custom-ordered sheet cake. The whole week had been busy, culminating in the decoration of countless cupcakes and today’s deliveries of three Halloween-themed wedding cakes. He couldn’t complain about the workload. Not only did each cake mean more success for his business, but throwing himself into baking and decorating also gave him a chance to get away from his thoughts, which had been less than pleasant lately. Waking up alone on Sunday morning had been like a bucket of ice water to the face. Avery had thought he and Mason had a real connection Saturday night. At first he’d thought it was just a strong attraction, but sometime during the night things had changed, at least on his end. Of course, waking up to an empty bed without even a note had made it painfully clear that Mason hadn’t felt the same way. On Monday, his assistant and right-hand woman, Becca, had pried a bit of the story out of him. He hadn’t told her everything, of course. She had commiserated with him about what jerks men could be, which he appreciated and found amusing at the same time. One thing she couldn’t do was give him a reason why Mason had left. Avery had no idea whether Mason had someone else, was in the closet, wasn’t into commitment, or just didn’t really like Avery as anything more than a one-off. The uncertainty bothered him more than he cared to admit. He’d gone over his behavior on Saturday night in his mind, trying to find something he’d done wrong. Maybe the cookies had been too much like an attempt at intimacy, or made him seem too girly? Some guys didn’t like his baking, or his clothing, or his occasional use of eyeliner. And the fairy costume had been over the top even for him. 18
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The more he considered it, the more likely that explanation seemed. Everything about Mason screamed tough guy, from his almost military haircut, to his job, to the small Marine Corps tattoo on his shoulder. Mason was probably either still in the closet or he didn’t want a guy who was quite as obvious about his sexuality as Avery knew himself to be. No doubt he’d only gone home with Avery because he was really horny. Avery boxed up the cake and cleaned up his work area on autopilot. He was almost finished when Becca entered from the front counter area. Her eyes were wide and she was grinning. “There’s a guy here to see you.” He frowned. “Okay. Is he ordering, or picking up?” “Picking up, I hope.” She laughed and tossed her head, sending her blonde hair flying over her shoulder. Rolling his eyes, Avery stalked past her. Sometimes Becca’s jokes were horrible. She gave him an innocent look and stepped aside to let him pass. “I’ll just finish cleaning up back here.” He didn’t bother to reply. It would only encourage her. Instead, he stepped through the employee door and moved behind the counter. He pasted on his most professional smile, which faltered when he saw who had come to see him. “Hi, Avery.” Mason stood by the counter, his hands behind his back. He looked better than he had any right to in a snug black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He also looked nervous. A flurry of emotions—attraction, hope, nervousness, anger—flooded through Avery so fast he couldn’t process them. He grabbed onto the anger and held tight, summoning up his iciest voice. “Did you need a cake? Or maybe some cupcakes?” Mason shuffled his feet like a little boy. “No. I came to apologize.” Avery’s mouth dropped open, but nothing came out. After a moment of silence, Mason continued. “I was a total dick last weekend, and I’m sorry.” He brought his hand from behind his back, revealing a single lavender rose. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you all week. I had to track you down. I knew your name, and that you made cakes, so…” He shrugged.
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Avery took the rose Mason held out to him without conscious thought. He stared down at the perfect, velvety petals. Mason had tracked him down to apologize and give him flowers. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He touched a petal with his fingertip. “Okay. I accept your apology. Now what?” When he lifted his gaze from the rose, Mason’s deep brown eyes met his. “Now I ask you if you’ll give me another chance.” Avery’s mind flinched away from the idea. He didn’t want to get hurt, and Mason’s behavior to this point wasn’t reassuring on that front. He bit his lip. “I don’t know, Mason.” Before the other man could protest, he held up a hand. “All week I’ve been trying to figure out what I did wrong. I thought last weekend was wonderful, but obviously something about it didn’t work for you. How do I know you won’t do the same thing again?” Shoving his hands into his pockets, Mason stared down at the glass countertop. “You didn’t do anything wrong, and last weekend was wonderful. I freaked out because I’m an idiot. I got hung up on you being different than the guys I’m used to, and on how I felt when I was with you. It’s not usually like that for me. I guess I don’t handle surprises well.” Avery wanted to understand. Since Mason seemed willing to talk, he asked, “What were you expecting? When you went out that night?” Mason shrugged again, still gazing at the counter rather than Avery. “I didn’t really want to go out at all. My friend dragged me. Usually when I go out I pick up a guy for a blow job or a quick fuck and we go our separate ways.” He finally looked up again, meeting Avery’s eyes. “At first I thought that’s all it was with you and me, too. But you were so sweet and passionate and I couldn’t get enough of you. I got scared.” Avery had to respect such painful honesty. He touched Mason’s arm. “I was a little scared myself. You don’t think I bring everyone cookies and cocoa, do you?” Mason laughed. Then he sobered. “Does this mean you’ll give me another chance?” It probably made him an idiot of epic proportions, but Avery couldn’t say no. “Okay. When?” Mason’s smile made it all worthwhile. “Tonight?” In for a penny, in for a pound. Avery smiled back. “Sure.” 20
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**** Although it was Halloween, Mason had told Avery to dress casually. They were going to dinner, but Mason hadn’t told him where. Avery stood in front of his closet for half an hour debating what to wear. He wanted to make a good impression. In the end he decided to err on the side of caution. He put on a pair of khakis and a green-and-white-striped oxford shirt, and he layered a forest green sweater over the shirt. The outfit was boring, but not likely to scare Mason off. The doorbell rang as he was finishing his hair. He hurried to answer the summons. Mason stood on his doorstep, looking edible in jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. He gave Avery a slow onceover. His lips quirked up into a half-smile, and he touched the collar of Avery’s oxford shirt. “Not that I don’t like your outfit, but which is more you, the fairy costume or this?” Avery ducked his head. Honesty compelled him to say, “The fairy costume.” A large hand tipped his chin up until he met Mason’s gaze. “I know it’s Halloween, but I don’t want you to wear a costume for me. Wear what you want. I’ll wait.” Warmth filled him at Mason’s words. He’d been afraid to be himself, not wanting Mason to think he was “too gay,” as a guy he’d once dated for a few weeks had called it. Maybe they had a little bit of a chance after all. “I’ll be right back.” He went back to the bedroom and stripped off his clothing. In its place, he pulled on his favorite jeans, a tight purple t-shirt, and a slim-fitting white leather jacket. He even added a touch of eyeliner, just because. He smiled at himself in the bedroom mirror and headed back out to where Mason waited. Mason looked him up and down again. He smiled. “You look great.” Letting out a breath he hadn’t even been aware he was holding, Avery grinned back. “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.” “Ready?”
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At his nod, Mason followed him out. As he’d expected, Mason drove a big truck. The large black vehicle had a toolbox in the bed, so it was probably for work as well as his personal vehicle. Avery had a little trouble getting in, but he managed. Of course, the much taller Mason had no trouble at all. During the short ride downtown, they chatted about their businesses. Mason talked about a historic house he was making custom trim for, and asked Avery about the cakes he’d made. Unlike some guys, he didn’t laugh or tease when Avery talked about making wedding cakes. Instead, he seemed curious about the rise in Halloween weddings. The small Italian restaurant Mason chose turned out to be nice and cozy. Over dinner, they discussed their varying tastes in music, books, television, and movies. They had a few things in common, more than Avery expected given their very different jobs and personalities. He couldn’t help but laugh when Mason confessed that he liked romantic comedies almost as much as action movies. When they’d eaten the last bite of chocolate cannoli, Mason gazed across the table at him. “I’ve really enjoyed tonight.” He paused for a moment. “I don’t want it to be over.” Avery’s heart beat a little faster at the quiet admission. “I don’t either.” Mason smiled. “You want to go dancing? I promise I won’t drag you under the stairs with me. Unless you want me to.” Laughing, Avery nodded. “Let’s go.” **** The club was having a Halloween bash, and no one without a costume was allowed inside. Fortunately, a local costume shop had a small booth at the entrance featuring a large array of masks. After about two minutes, Mason picked out a plain black Zorro-style mask with an elastic band. Avery had a bit more trouble picking out his own mask. There were so many to choose from. He considered several, including a purple feathered Mardi Gras mask, before he picked out a simple but elegant black and silver Venetian columbine. 22
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Mason paid for both their selections. He slipped his mask on and grinned at Avery. “Do I look mysterious?” “Very.” Avery smiled and attempted to put his on as well. The ribbons in the back were difficult to tie without being able to see the back of his head. Apparently noticing Avery's struggles, Mason held out a hand. “Let me get that for you.” Avery handed it over and turned around. The mask settled over the top half of his face. “Can you see okay? Is it too tight?” He smiled at Mason’s concern. “It’s fine.” Mason tied the ribbon, pausing to smooth Avery’s curls over it. The gentle touch made Avery shiver. When Mason’s hand dropped, Avery turned. He struck a pose, one arm raised. “How do I look?” One corner of Mason’s mouth turned up. Even behind the black mask, Avery could see his eyes heat. “Stunning.” Avery ducked his head, sure he must be blushing. He grabbed Mason’s hand. “Let’s go dance.”
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Chapter Four Like the previous week, the club was packed with men in every conceivable costume. Despite all the guys around, many of them half-naked, Mason only had eyes for Avery. Avery had dragged him into the center of the dance floor before he could protest, but once the smaller man started dancing all thoughts of complaint flew out of Mason’s head. The smooth, sinuous movements hypnotized him. The mask, a pretty yet somehow masculine design, gave Avery an air of mystery, which should have been hard to pull off wearing jeans and a t-shirt. They danced for several songs, mostly techno tunes that blurred into each other in a long stream of sound. Then the music changed to something with a dark, pounding, primal beat, and Avery turned and ground his ass against Mason. Mason’s cock stiffened. Even through the layers of clothing separating them, he could feel the heat of Avery’s body. He sucked in a sharp breath. The urge to throw Avery over his shoulder and haul him off somewhere to ravish him rose, but he shoved it down. Reminding himself he was supposed to be showing Avery a good time rather than jumping straight into his pants again, Mason settled for running his palms over Avery’s chest. The tight purple shirt left little to the imagination. Avery’s nipples beaded, straining the material. Mason almost swallowed his tongue. Desperate to get himself under control, he leaned in close to Avery’s ear. “I need to get something to drink.” Avery smiled up at him. “Okay. I’m going to hit the men’s. I’ll meet you at the bar.” At the bar a few minutes later, sipping a soda, Mason tried to relax. Much more of the dancing, and he’d be tearing Avery’s clothes off right there on the dance floor. He was trying to be a 24
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gentleman. It was hard to remember that when Avery’s tight little ass rubbed against his dick. A big hand clapped him on the shoulder. “Mason! What’s up, man?” He turned, stifling a sigh when he saw who’d greeted him. “Hey, Stan.” His friend gave him a mock-angry look. “You were supposed to call me last week. What happened?” He shrugged. He hadn’t wanted to discuss his cowardly actions, or his intense attraction to Avery, with Stan. He wasn’t about to tell the man that. Stan took the bar stool next to him. “Nice mask, by the way. I thought you didn’t like Halloween stuff. If I’d known you wanted to come we could have ridden together.” “I’m here with somebody, or else I’d have called you.” Mason spotted Avery weaving through the crowd and smiled. What was it about the man that made him feel so hot and so protective at the same time? Stan spotted Avery and frowned. “Hey, that guy looks familiar.” He eyed Mason and his eyebrow rose. “Is that your date?” Mason caught Avery’s hand as he reached the bar, and reeled him in to put an arm around his waist. “Yep. Avery, this is Stan. Stan, Avery.” Eyebrow somewhere in the vicinity of his hairline, Stan nodded at Avery. Avery gave Stan a sweet smile. “Hi.” The smile must have had the same effect on Stan as it seemed to have on everyone else, including Mason. His eyebrow went back to its normal position, and he smiled back. “Nice to meet you.” Snuggling into Mason’s side, Avery leaned up until his lips brushed Mason’s ear. “Ready to go home yet?” Mason shivered. Being a gentleman was overrated. And besides, Avery wanted him, too. “Definitely.” He threw a distracted smile Stan’s way. “We’re gonna take off. I’ll call you Monday.”
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Without waiting for a reply, Mason stood and found Avery’s hand again. He heard Stan’s chuckle as they headed for the door. **** Mason deliberately chose his place, for two reasons. He wanted Avery to see his home, of course, but he also wanted to reassure the other man that he wasn’t going anywhere in the morning. Running from his own house would be pretty pointless. “Wow. Nice place.” Avery glanced around the living room as they entered, his gaze lingering on the furniture. Mason smiled. “Thanks. I made a lot of the furniture myself.” “Really? That’s so cool.” “I even made the bed. Want to see it?” Mason waggled his eyebrows in an exaggerated leer when Avery grinned at him. “I think I would, actually.” Mason didn’t have to be told twice. He pulled Avery along behind him, leading the way to his bedroom. A king-sized sleigh bed took up much of the floor space. He’d spent a lot of hours working on the frame, wanting to make it perfect. Now he was glad he’d spent the time. Eyes wide, Avery ran his fingertips over the footboard. “You made this? It’s beautiful.” The honest appreciation warmed him almost as much as his arousal at seeing Avery in his bedroom. He closed the distance between them in a few short steps. “You’re beautiful.” The smaller man peered up at him through the mask, a blush creeping across the part of his face that was visible. Before he could voice the denial Mason was sure he meant to speak, Mason continued. “You are. And you’re sweet, and funny, and sexy.” He pressed a soft kiss to Avery’s lips. “I won’t forget that this time.” Those pretty green eyes went misty. Avery leaned into him, twining his arms around Mason’s neck. “Good. Now kiss me.” Mason laughed and did as he’d been ordered. He brushed his lips over Avery’s in the barest caress once, twice, and then 26
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kissed him in earnest. The moment their lips met fully, Avery opened to him. He teased Avery’s tongue with his own, loving the way Avery whimpered and pressed against him. He wasn’t loving the way the masks kept getting in his way. Why the hell were they still wearing them? He nipped Avery’s bottom lip and broke the kiss. He reached up and carefully untied the ribbon holding Avery’s mask on. “I want to see you.” He reached for his own mask next, but Avery caught his hand. “Leave it on. It’s kind of sexy.” “You think so, huh?” He grinned and let his hand drop. “Your wish is my command.” “Ooh. I like the sound of that.” The devilish grin Avery gave him made his cock twitch. “Come here, you little tease.” Mason peeled off Avery’s leather jacket and tossed it onto a chair in the corner of the room. Laughing, Avery attacked the buttons on Mason’s black shirt while Mason tried to peel off Avery’s t-shirt. The resulting tangle of arms and clothing ended with them both laughing and concentrating on their own shirts. Within moments, they were shirtless. Mason crushed Avery to him for another bruising kiss, relishing the feeling of their chests rubbing together. For such a small guy, Avery’s chest was really solid. Mason maneuvered Avery until he was sitting on the bed and leaned down to lap at his nipples. The little nubs of flesh hardened. Avery moaned. “More.” More was just what Mason wanted, too. Still teasing the nipple with his tongue, he popped the button on Avery’s jeans. Avery’s cock sprang out when he lowered the zipper. He went to his knees and took the bobbing erection into his mouth. “Mason!” Avery grabbed the back of his head but didn’t try to pull him closer. Mason pulled Avery’s hips to show it was okay to move. Apparently taking the move as it was meant, Avery thrust his hips forward, fucking Mason’s mouth. Mason’s dick throbbed at Avery’s reaction. He responded by yanking Avery’s jeans down as far as he could manage—far enough to tease his hole with a fingertip. 27
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An incoherent cry from above him was the only warning he got before Avery was coming down his throat. He swallowed everything and kept sucking. He didn’t let go until Avery squirmed and pushed at him. He smiled up into those lovely eyes, highlighted by faint eyeliner. How strange that he thought the makeup was hot. Avery pulled him up for a soft kiss. “I would say ‘fuck me’, but that seems wrong somehow. So I’ll just say I want you.” “I want you, too.” Mason stripped off his pants and went to the bedside table for lube and a condom. He paused to meet Avery’s gaze. “And for the record, it won’t be fucking for me, either.” Avery smiled. After that, they spoke very little. They moved to the center of the bed, kissing and touching. Avery opened the condom and sheathed Mason’s cock. He stroked it a few times, teasingly. Mason poured lube over his fingers. He opened Avery’s body with gentle fingers. Avery shuddered and arched under his ministrations, letting out a cry when Mason rubbed over his prostate. “Please.” After slicking his erection with a few quick swipes, Mason moved into position. Avery pulled his knees back to his chest and stared up at Mason, his eyes full of need. Then Mason pushed into Avery’s tight hole, and they both sighed. The second he was fully sheathed in Avery’s body, Mason knew he wouldn’t last long. “God, you feel good.” Avery just smiled. They moved together in perfect rhythm, Mason thrusting and Avery rising to meet him. Their eyes met and locked, and for the first time he didn’t want to look away. He held Avery’s gaze, watching the emotions flit through his expressive eyes. All the while, his orgasm built at the base of his spine. He ripped his mask off, wanting nothing between them. When he came, he could see an answering joy in Avery’s face. The ecstasy of it left him stunned. He collapsed onto Avery’s chest, burying his face against Avery’s neck. Avery stroked his short hair. “You okay?” 28
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It had never been like that before. Never. All the quick fucks with guys that were his “type” couldn’t hold a candle to being with one sweet, sexy baker who liked purple and wore eyeliner. Mason smiled against his lover’s neck. “Never better.”
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Chapter Five Bright sunlight woke Avery. For a moment he was confused. His bedroom window didn’t face east. Then he opened his eyes and remembered. He was at Mason’s. He rolled over in the enormous bed, wondering what he’d find. Warmth filled him at the sight of Mason, sprawled on his back, sleeping deeply. The part of Avery that had feared waking up alone again quieted. He scooted over to cuddle against Mason’s side. Mason’s dark eyes opened. He smiled. “Hey.” “Good morning.” “It is now.” Mason kissed him gently before giving him a little grin. “Want to make it even better?” Avery laughed. “And how exactly could I do that?” “Let me show you.” **** Over an hour later, Mason served Avery eggs and toast, which he claimed were the only things he could cook well. They didn’t talk much as they ate, concentrating on their food and their coffee. Finished before Mason, Avery gathered his dishes and took them to the sink. By habit, he started to fill the sink to wash them. Then he paused. “Oh. Sorry, force of habit. Is it okay if I wash these?” Mason gave him an assessing look. “Sure, if you’ll let me help.” Avery nodded. He felt silly, but his embarrassment faded when Mason came over to the sink and dried the dishes he’d washed.
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The awkward silence was broken when Mason blurted, “I like this.” Raising an eyebrow, Avery grinned. “What, me doing the dishes?” “No.” Mason rolled his eyes. “You. Me. Us together. We don’t seem like we should fit, but we do.” Aw. Avery couldn’t help getting a little mushy over that. “I think so, too.” He handed Mason the last dish, removed the stopper from the sink, and rinsed his hands. Mason caught his hand, apparently not minding that it was wet. “Does that mean you’ll go out with me again?” Like Avery would say no. He grinned. “I’d love to, as long as I get to make breakfast next time.” With a bright smile, Mason pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. “It’s a deal.”
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About the Author By day, Cassandra Gold is a (relatively) mild-mannered middle school teacher. At night, she lets the characters in her head out to play as she writes stories of men falling in love. Some of her favorite things are reading, chocolate, and finding creative ways to procrastinate. You can find out more about Cassandra and her work at www.cassandragold.com.
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