GENRE: Gay Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 5,167 words
RATING:

Sequel to Facing the Curse

A month after moving in together, Tito and Leo visit Matt’s grave so Tito can find closure. Tito vents his feelings at Matt’s gravestone and lays his past relationship to rest. Feeling freed of his confused and angry grief, Tito explores the idea of deepening his intimacy with Leo, the man he hopes to spend his life with.

After celebrating a Celtic harvest holiday together, Tito reveals his desire to Leo, but he’s also nervous about his childhood sexual trauma getting in the way. Leo assures Tito that he never has to do anything he’s uncomfortable with. Tito and Leo head home and fill the bathroom with lit candles, setting a romantic mood. Can two people who are healing from childhood sexual trauma find both love and pleasure in each other’s arms?

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

Tito slipped into the bathroom, pulling jar candles off the shelving unit in the back corner. The entire bathroom was white, including the cabinetry, and with the lights on, the effect could be glaring. He wanted to soften the atmosphere.

“I suggest we shower first.” Tito smiled over his shoulder at Leo as he stepped into the doorway. “And I suggest we set the mood. Lammas is a holiday, after all, and I want this to be the perfect end to our celebration.”

“Sure.” Leo grinned. “Sounds sexy.” He stepped over and accepted jar candles from Tito, lining them up on the vanity.

Thanks to his building arousal, Tito felt too hot in his clothes. Romantic men really turn me on. I had no idea. Matt was rarely romantic. Tito hadn’t gotten serious with anyone before Matt, so he was still learning about his own preferences. “You and I are already a better match sexually than Matt and I ever were -- or probably ever could have been.”

“I doubt that takes much.” Leo laughed. “But I’m glad.”

They lit seven candles and turned off the light, leaving the bathroom filled with a soft radiance. Then they slipped off their clothing. Tito had grown half hard already, but this part still made him slightly nervous. He was intersex, so his body hadn’t been pressed off cookie-cutter style in the baby factory. Leo, though, seemed to find him genuinely sexy, and he never stared at Tito’s body or made disparaging remarks. As far as Tito could tell, Leo was as good as his word: he loved Tito just as he was.

Stepping over to the tub-shower, Leo bent down and turned on the water, and as soon as it was hot enough, they both climbed in. Tito grabbed the bottle of body wash, squeezed out a handful, and inhaled the evergreen scent, relaxing. Then he soaped up Leo’s chest, grinning up at him. He’d never considered himself attracted to taller, broad-shouldered men like Leo, usually dating smaller, shorter men his own size. But Leo was gorgeous.

A soft moan escaped Leo, and his nipples flashed hard. He ran his arms around Tito as the hot water ran over them in rivulets. “Are we even going to make it to the bedroom?”

“Maybe ...” Tito cast his tone to sound playfully doubtful. Then he grew serious. “But considering what I want to try, we should probably make sure we do.” He ran his hand lower, caressing Leo’s growing hardness.

Leo gasped and ran his hands over Tito’s back. “And what would that be?”

Tito hesitated momentarily. “How do you feel about oral?” He hated the word blowjob and never used it. “I only went down on Matt once -- I felt violently repulsed, which probably should have told me something -- and I don’t know if I can do it even now. But I’d like to find out.”

“I would love to go down on you,” Leo murmured. He leaned in, kissing Tito and mouthing his lips.