GENRE: Gay Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 17,203 words
RATING:

Jest has been on his own since his mid-teens and still blesses the chance that let him realize his dream of playing percussion in a band that has become his substitute family. Although he misses the close sharing, he doesn't expect to find a partner and certainly not one as clearly out of his element as the man who one night wanders into the club where Jest's band plays, looking totally lost and friendless.

Greene has struggled to build himself a life far from the undisciplined communal community in which he grew up. He's lonely though, and not sure how to remedy that, so he works as a game programmer in Silicon Valley until he makes a faux pas at a party. Traveling aimlessly, he meets Jest and the other members of Taken By Storm, and is intrigued but terrified of slipping back into a disorderly world like the one of his childhood.

They say opposites attract, but can a rebel drummer and an uptight programmer find enough common ground for a relationship?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

Jest finally turned around not a second after Greene mentally gave in to the insistent tug of desire and excitement. "Well," he said, "Made up your mind about me?"

It was uncanny, as if the other man had read his thoughts. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Jest grinned. "I know you were looking. I was too. Shit, it's not illegal to look. Or to do anything else we want to for that matter. Nobody's likely to come out here at this hour. I'm the only one in the band who's an early riser. I think Ben and Marsh took off after the rehash last night, anyway. Marsh has him a gal friend and not sure about Ben. Bella and Annie have their own place, back out toward the main road. So what do you fancy?"

Greene fished for an answer, still torn between desire and caution. Jest seemed so sure and confident. That gave him pause, different from Mickey but still daunting.

While he'd been tangled in thinking, his body had not been hampered by the inner conflict. His feet, almost of their own accord, began to cross the cool tiles to where Jest stood, in a pose almost taunting. His cock thrust out bold and ready. He'd fisted both hands on his hips, shoulders back and a grin on his face. Yeah, he did have a good body, looked as if he either worked out or did something a lot more physical than only drumming. Tight abs, muscular legs, all the things Greene appreciated in another man.

"Man, I fancy you and that's no bullshit. Anything and any way you want me."

Jest arched one eyebrow. "For real? How do those high tech guys do it up there in Silicon Valley? You a sub or something?"

Greene shrugged. "Not really but I don't usually make the first move. I take what I can get."

Jest's expression changed. The taunt faded, along with the come-get-me dare in his eyes. He gave a slight nod. "Okay. I don't usually have to go prowling. When you're a musician, there's always groupies -- both sexes and every variety. You can't help but stumble all over them. I can take my pick, well after Marsh for the girls and Ben for the guys, since Tom and Stormy are exclusive. Not many girls, just not my thing but ..."

"I've been told I give a good BJ, if that's something you'd like."

Jest met Greene's gaze for a moment, his face suddenly serious. "That's always good, all right, but I'm not just a taker. How about you getting off, too?"

Greene felt himself grin. "Sixty nine works for me so long as it's nothing too acrobatic. I've got some condoms, too, in my pocket."

While Greene retrieved a pair of rubbers, Jest threw a couple more towels down on a bench or low slatted table in the middle of the room. "Top or bottom? You choose."