GENRE: Gay Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 29,497 words
RATING:

Hayden Marsh watches his local amateur rugby league team play every Sunday afternoon. He doesn’t understand the finer points of the game, but then he’s more interested in the finer points of the number 13. Kenny Jacobs is big, strong, and has an alpha male streak a mile wide -- everything that Hayden desires in a lover. It doesn’t hurt either that Kenny looks drop dead sexy in his rugby kit on the field or his leather jeans off of it.

As Hayden’s father’s best friend, Kenny has been a part of Hayden’s life for as long as Hayden can remember. Because Kenny has always been an out and proud gay man, when Hayden began to realise his own sexuality, coming out to his parents was pretty much a non-event. However, tensions rise when Hayden announces his intention to date Kenny. His parents don’t like the idea of their son being with an older man who’s also a family friend. Kenny has his own reservations, too.

With so much stacked against him, will Hayden be lucky enough to win the heart of his number 13, or will he be shown the red card and be forced to admit defeat?

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

Blinking back tears and staring at the man who meant more to him than anyone, probably including his parents, Hayden said, emotion clogging his throat, “I don’t want anyone else. Since, like, forever, you’ve been everything to me. Always been there for me, especially when I realised I was gay. I’ve read about kids who really struggled with coming out, thinking they’d be rejected, kicked out. But I knew you were gay, you wouldn’t reject me.”

“Nor would Dennis and Janice.”

Hayden nodded. “Yeah, Mum and Dad were good, they accepted you, but I still worried. My dad having a gay best friend isn’t the same as having a gay son.”

Kenny shrugged. “But they did accept you.”

“Thanks to you. You paved the way. And it wasn’t just that. I loved spending time with you as a kid. Especially liked going on your overnight runs with you.” Kenny was a long-distance lorry driver. “Remember when you would hold me at night in the back of your cab and tell me ghost stories when I got scared when it was stormy outside?”

Kenny smiled and nodded.

“You used to tell me you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. I believed you. I felt so safe, so protected, and yes, loved.”

“I do love you. Just --”

“And ‘cause of all that and loads more, you were my hero. Still are.”

“Fuck!” Kenny said again. “Hayden, you’re just a kid. You’re confusing hero worship for something deeper.”

“I’m not a kid!” Hayden shouted, his voice echoing off the tiled walls. “I’m in love with you, Kenny Jacobs. Full on, totally, no ifs, buts, or maybes.” He paused to draw breath then went on at a more normal volume. “Okay, so I might only be eighteen. But I can drink, vote, join the army. I know what I want, and I want you.” He closed the short distance between them and got between Kenny’s spread legs. Kenny’s sexy-as-fuck muscled and hairy legs.

Time seemed to stand still. Kenny stared up at Hayden, and Hayden gazed down at Kenny, at the full red lips of the man he loved with all his heart. He started to lean down.

The door to the changing room crashed open and the rugby team started to clomp their way in.