First & Forever Series by Alexa Land – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

First & Forever Series by Alexa Land – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:05:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png First & Forever Series by Alexa Land – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 The Bucket List (First & Forever #14) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/the-bucket-list-first-forever-14-read-online-alexa-land Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:05:47 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/the-bucket-list-first-forever-14-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)

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What would you do if you thought you only had a few months to live?

I may not believe in anything supernatural, but Devon Hughes does. He’s totally convinced he won’t make it to thirty, after a psychic tells him there’s a curse on his family. Since none of his male relatives reached that milestone birthday, that’s all the proof he needs.

With his thirtieth birthday looming, Devon’s all about making the most of every single day. He’s working his way through his bucket list and needs someone to share his adventures, which is where I come in. Since he’s the most fascinating and charismatic man I’ve ever met, not to mention gorgeous, I’m more than happy to get caught up in his whirlwind. But when things between us start to heat up, he’s clear about one thing—this can’t turn into anything serious, because he won’t start something he can’t finish.

I can’t help but wonder… if Devon makes it past his thirtieth birthday, will he want me to be a part of the future he never thought he’d have? Or will it turn out I was just another check mark on his bucket list?

The Bucket List is part of the Firsts and Forever Stories collection, and it can be read as a stand-alone. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy a feel-good, opposites attract gay romance. All the books in this collection feature endearingly quirky characters, found family, and a satisfying happily ever after

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1

Kit

“Heads up!”

A split second after someone shouted that warning, a huge duffle bag landed right in front of me. I jumped back with a startled yelp and looked up at a guy hauling ass down a fire escape.

Once he reached the bottom level, which was maybe ten feet off the ground, he could have lowered the ladder and climbed the rest of the way down. Instead, he launched himself over the railing, landing nearby in a superhero pose—down on one knee, left arm back, right hand lightly touching the ground in front of him. Clearly, he had a flare for the dramatic.

When he raised his head and smiled at me, it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping. He had tousled dark hair, a sparkle in his eyes, and a face so handsome it probably let him get away with murder. There was also a sexy rock star thing going on, with his leather motorcycle jacket and the electric guitar slung across his back.

“Sorry I almost squashed you with my bag. I didn’t expect anyone to be in the alley,” he said, as he straightened up and approached me. He towered over me, since I was barely five-foot-six. Then again, so did a lot of people, but he had to be close to six-one.

“I was taking a shortcut on the way home.” I could hear a man yelling and banging on a door somewhere inside the building with the fire escape, so I asked, “Out of curiosity, did you just rob someone’s apartment?”

“Technically, yes. We should go, in case he decides to come after me.” I started power walking away from this guy, but he grabbed the duffle bag and jogged to catch up with me. “Don’t worry, I’m not a criminal. I’d rented a room in some guy’s apartment, but he turned out to be a creep. After I shot down his super aggressive advances, he took my key and kicked me out. Totally unfair, right?”

When I didn’t say anything, he continued, “I had to get my stuff, so I came back today and jimmied open a window. He was supposed to be at work, but he came home early and got super mad when he saw me. I locked the bedroom door to give myself time to escape, which is why you heard that pounding and yelling.”

I started walking faster. “It seems like you don’t believe me,” he said, “but I can prove this is my stuff.” He hurried ahead of me, dropped the bag, and pulled out a T-shirt, which he held to his chest. “See? It’s my size. Plus, it’s got Green Day on it, and I love them. Want me to sing you one of their songs, so you know this belongs to me?”

I stepped around him, barely breaking my stride as I muttered, “You don’t need to prove anything to me.”

He grabbed the bag and ran after me. “I do, though. Otherwise, you’re going to be totally freaked out, because you’ll think you had a run-in with a criminal in a dark alley⁠—”

“It’s three p.m.”

“What?”

“It’s only three. It’s still light out.”

“The alley was kind of shadowy, though. It’d be the perfect place to run into a marauder, or a desperado.” I couldn’t help but grin. Who talked like that? “In fact, you should really stop taking shortcuts down seedy alleyways. Someone as cute and little as you could get snatched up—not by me! Again, I’m not a criminal.”

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Advertisement The Hookup (First & Forever #13) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/the-hookup-first-forever-13-read-online-alexa-land Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:07:05 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/the-hookup-first-forever-13-read-online-alexa-land Genre: Contemporary, M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)

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What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas

When Ryder and I met in Las Vegas, both of us were clear about one thing—this was just a hookup, nothing more.

Neither of us was looking for a relationship. Besides, we came from totally different worlds. I was an aspiring fashion designer from San Francisco, and he was a cowboy running a horse rescue in rural Texas.

Even so, that Sin City hookup led to another. And another.

We know we should stop before someone gets hurt. But every time we get together, every time he holds me and touches me and whispers my name, I find myself wondering—is there any world where Ryder and I could make this work? Or were we right from the start, and is an occasional hookup the best we can ever hope for?

This low-angst, opposites attract gay romance is part of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Stories collection. It features a dual point of view, and it can be read as a stand-alone

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1

Hal

Waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee was awesome. Realizing I wasn’t in my own bed? Less so.

I raised a lid and found myself nose-to-nose with some sort of grinning, pink creature. Automatically, I jerked back and blurted, “What the f⁠—”

Fortunately, I didn’t finish that sentence. It wouldn’t have been great to teach my best friend Logan’s three-year-old that colorful new word.

The toddler was standing beside the couch I’d fallen asleep on, wielding a strange stuffed animal like a microphone. He’d stuck it in my face as if he was looking for a quote, and he’d almost gotten one. I muttered, “Hi, Owen. What’ve you got there?” The blanket someone had draped over me pooled in my lap as I sat up.

“Lotto.” That made absolutely no sense, but I nodded anyway.

“It’s an axolotl,” Logan explained, as he brought two mugs and a sippy cup into the family room.

“Which is what, exactly?” I pushed my long hair out of my face and thanked him when he handed me a cup of coffee.

“Apparently it’s some sort of aquatic salamander. Owen picked it from a huge wall of stuffed animals at the toy store. I personally would have gone for the giraffe, but he insisted on the squishy pink thing.”

He gave his son a cup of juice before crossing the room and plugging in the Christmas tree. It was ocean themed, just one of seven uniquely decorated trees Logan had put up throughout his house for the holiday season. I couldn’t even imagine having the energy for something like that.

After I took a big sip of coffee, I said, “Sorry for being the worst dinner guest ever. I can’t believe I fell asleep. Your husband must think I’m incredibly rude.”

“Lucky and I both understand. You’ve been working really hard, so no wonder you’re tired. Even now, during winter break, you’ve barely given yourself any downtime.”

“That’s because I’m totally behind. Everyone else in my class has already planned out their entire collection. A few people have even started sewing their garments! Meanwhile, I’ve got nothing, and that’s not okay. I’ve come too far, only to end up choking on my senior project.” Owen was watching me closely as he drank from his sippy cup, so I flashed him a smile.

Logan sat down beside me with real concern in his dark eyes. “You’re putting too much pressure on yourself, Hal. When school starts back up in January, you’ll still have five months to figure this out. I know how fast you can sew, which means once you nail down your designs, you’ll be able to knock out a six-piece collection in a matter of days. Doesn’t it make sense to relax a little, so you can start your final semester rested and refreshed?”

Of course it did. Logically, I knew that was exactly what I should be doing. It was hard to take a step back though, when it felt like not just my degree but my entire future was on the line.

I left it at, “You’re right,” and drank some more coffee before changing the subject. “Where’s your husband?”

“Lucky wanted to do some Christmas shopping. We’re meeting at the p-a-r-k in about two hours, so you-know-who can play on the you-know-what. Want to join us?” If he hadn’t spoken in code, his son would have insisted on going immediately.

“Thanks for the offer, but I have to finish those two dresses I told you about.”

As much as I loved watching Owen shriek with delight on the toddler-sized swings, I felt like such a third wheel whenever I tagged along with Logan and his family. That was on me though, because they always went out of their way to make me feel included.

We chatted for a few more minutes, and then I got up and tucked my shoes under my arm. “Thanks for dinner, and the coffee, and for letting me pass out on your couch. I promise to be a livelier guest next time.”

“I don’t need you to be lively. I just need you to take care of yourself, Hal.”

After I said goodbye to Logan and ruffled his son’s blond curls, I left by the back door and walked home barefoot. It took less than thirty seconds to reach my destination.

My best friend lived directly behind the funky pink Victorian I shared with six people, including his brother. When Logan and his husband bought their house, everyone decided to take down the fence between the two properties and create one big yard. My housemate Dylan was studying landscape architecture, so he and his boyfriend had turned it into a lush, beautiful oasis. As nice as it was though, I had things to do, so I didn’t linger.

When I stepped through the kitchen door, my housemate Lark muttered, “Aw, that’s too bad.”

“What is?”

He put down the dishtowel he’d been using and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “I thought you might have spent the night doing something—or someone—fun. Instead, you must have fallen asleep on my brother’s couch again.”

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Advertisement The Loophole (First & Forever #12) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/the-loophole-first-forever-12-read-online-alexa-land Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:14:18 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/the-loophole-first-forever-12-read-online-alexa-land Genre: Contemporary, M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)

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My family has given me an ultimatum—get married, or kiss my inheritance goodbye.

I planned to tell them where they could stick their money, until my restaurant failed and I lost everything. Now I guess I have to play their game. But the deadline is looming, and I can’t find anyone who's willing to marry me—except for a guy I just met named Embry Jayne.

I’m straight—but that shouldn’t matter, right? It’s a fake marriage anyway, and the terms of my inheritance didn’t specify that I needed to marry a woman. In fact, marrying a man might be the perfect loophole. Not only is it a way to push back against my controlling family, it also means I can’t possibly catch feelings during this little charade.

To make this convincing, Embry and I will need a crash course in getting to know each other. We’ll also be spending time in close quarters during an upcoming family vacation. Good thing he’s really sweet and easy to talk to--not that I’m into him or anything…

This is just pretend, and after I collect my inheritance, we’ll go our separate ways. That’s what I want… isn’t it?

This upbeat grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract MM romance features a cranky chef who just might have a bi-awakening in his future, and a sweet little cinnamon roll who thinks of himself as a walking disaster. It’s part of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Stories collection, and it can be read as a stand-alone.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Embry

I loved hanging out in coffee houses, because they were the perfect place to eavesdrop. Okay, yes, the drinks and pastries were good too, but my fellow customers were more entertaining than most TV shows.

On this particular Tuesday evening, I’d been picking sides in a squabble between siblings, while watching a hipster with an honest-to-god manual typewriter slowly peck out the Great American Novel with one finger.

This was San Francisco, so the typewriter wasn’t even that weird. But this particular hipster was doubly entertaining because every time he finished a sentence, he’d read it out loud. The last one was, “My ennui sat upon me with the crushing weight of infinite dying suns.” Just wow.

Then the holy grail of eavesdropping opportunities presented itself. A blind date began to unfold at the table behind me. It started out pretty lackluster, though.

“Hey, you must be Bryson. I’m Theresa.”

“Yes, hi, thanks for coming. Can I get you some coffee?”

“No, thanks. I’m fine with water.”

“Okay. Um, have you been here before?” To Starbucks? Dude, step up your game.

“I usually go to the one by my office, but they’re all pretty much the same, right?”

“I guess so.” Poor guy, he sounded nervous. He had a nice voice, though. I wanted to turn around and find out what he looked like, but since he was directly behind me, all I’d see was the back of his head. “You work as an administrative assistant, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“How do you like it?”

“It pays the bills, but it’s only temporary.”

“Yeah, your profile mentioned you’re an actress. That’s actually why I decided to reach out to you.” That was a little odd.

“That’s a little odd.” I had to fight back a giggle when she said exactly what I’d been thinking. “Do you have an acting fetish or something?”

“No. The thing is, I’m not exactly looking for a date.” Huh?

“Huh?” This woman and I were definitely on the same page. I wondered if he was cute, at least. I could forgive a lot of quirks if a guy was cute.

“I want to get married.” Dude, too soon!

“That’s nice. I do too, someday. Like, maybe in five years, or⁠—”

“No, the thing is, I have to get married now. I’m on a deadline.”

“Are you trying to get your U.S. citizenship? Because I can sympathize, but⁠—”

He cut her off again, this time with, “No, it’s a condition of my inheritance.” Plot twist! “I need to get married this month, or I’ll lose a small fortune. It doesn’t matter who I marry, as long as it happens before December twenty-second.” Just what every girl wanted to hear.

“What the hell?”

“I’ll make it worth your while,” he said. “I need a one-year commitment because I’ll only get the money after being married for a year. At that point, I’ll pay you a hundred thousand dollars.”

I heard the sharp sound of a chair scraping over the floor as Theresa yelled, “You’re trying to pay me to be with you? What do I look like, a whore? Fuck you, you overprivileged douchebag!”

“No, it’s not like that! I⁠—”

He never got to finish that sentence, because she threw her drink in his face and stormed off. Fortunately, it was just water, since I was caught by the overspray. I heard heels clicking and turned to see a petite blonde stomping out the door. Good for her.

That bit of coffee house drama attracted the attention of everyone within earshot. Twenty heads swiveled in our direction. But there wasn’t much to see anymore, so they soon returned to whatever they were doing before this guy publicly humiliated himself.

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Advertisement Surrender (First & Forever #11) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/surrender-first-forever-11-read-online-alexa-land Sat, 05 Oct 2024 02:29:49 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/surrender-first-forever-11-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)

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I never understood what people meant when they called someone a Golden Retriever—until I met Everett Daley.

My new roommate and I couldn’t be more different. I’m a quiet introvert, and he’s an outgoing fitness influencer with millions of followers, who lives his life in the spotlight.

Even though we have nothing in common, there’s still an undeniable attraction between us. We both have our reasons for avoiding relationships though, and even if we didn’t, there’s no way we’d ever fit together.

Maybe what we need is to surrender to temptation and have a fling—one that comes with an expiration date, since he’s just here for a couple of months while his new home is being renovated. We can just have fun, enjoy each other, and then walk away… right?

Or are we about to get so much more than either of us bargained for?

Surrender is a grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract gay romance set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Prologue: Tracy

February

It was one of those nights, the kind where lust overrode my higher brain functions, and all I could think about was sex.

This was always problematic, because I sucked at flirting, or even making conversation. Actually, I wasn’t good with people in general. They were messy and unpredictable, and I tried to avoid them as much as possible.

But every so often, I needed to get skin-to-skin with someone. I started craving it. What began as a whisper in the back of my mind grew louder and louder, until I finally had to give in and find someone—just for a night. That was all it took to silence that voice, at least for a while.

It was screaming at me tonight, so with a sigh, I rolled over in bed and reached for my phone. I’d signed up for yet another gay hookup app a few days ago, because I knew I’d need it soon. When I logged on, I found I had several messages. All of them were variations of the same theme—cute little twinks in their twenties, who wrote: Hey daddy, come over and fuck me.

I hated being called daddy, but apparently this was my lot in life now, at thirty-six. Should I have lied about my age? Nah, it probably wouldn’t make a difference.

Even in my twenties, I’d attracted men who took one look at me and made assumptions. I was a huge guy, six-foot-six with a muscular build. That had to mean I was your typical alpha male, a top who liked to be in charge. Honestly, most of the time I was fine with taking on that role. I definitely preferred calling the shots, because that way there were no surprises.

But I’d always fantasized about handing over control to another man, and letting him pin me to a mattress and absolutely pound me. In reality, I’d never bottomed. Not once in my life. It took more trust than I was capable of, and it would have made me feel way too vulnerable.

Fortunately, there were other ways to satisfy that need, like kneeling in front of a random stranger and sucking his cock. That was something I could let myself do, and exactly what I wanted tonight.

I exited out of my messages and opened a chat window, which listed local men who were currently online. Even though it was almost two a.m., I had a lot to choose from.

The first few names all turned out to be bottoms seeking tops. When I clicked one further down the list and his picture popped up, my jaw dropped. He’d posted the same thing I had—a shot of his shirtless, muscular body—and it was utter perfection.

His screen name was fairly generic—GymDude24752. But then, mine was SFguy4U36, so neither of us were going to score points for creativity. I clicked on his name and brought up his profile, which told me he’d signed up for the app the day before. All his bio said was: In San Francisco for the weekend, HMU.

He hadn’t even bothered to write out “hit me up.” Although, with that body, he didn’t need to make much effort. He probably had people throwing themselves at him everywhere he went.

I scrolled down to his stats, which were only half filled out. They told me he was thirty-eight and single with brown hair and blue eyes. Also, he was six-foot-seven. Fuck yes. He was actually taller than me—by only an inch, but still. That was incredibly rare.

He sounded too good to be true. It was probably a catfish who’d found that photo online. But if there was even a five percent chance I might end up kneeling in front of this dream man tonight, I was willing to roll the dice.

I actually felt nervous as I sat up and clicked on the chat icon. When the message box popped up, I wrote: Hey. What are you looking for on here?

After I sent the message, I sighed. I had no game whatsoever. None.

A reply popped up moments later. He’d written, You, maybe, followed by a smiley face. Right away, he came across as flirty and playful. I should take notes. Another message appeared: I like your photo.

I sent back, I like yours, too. That was putting it mildly. It made me want to lick my phone screen. I almost told him that, but I was worried it would come across as weird and pervy instead of funny.

His next message said: In your profile, it says you’re a top. Just to be up front, I’m not into bottoming.

I wrote: That’s totally fine. I just want to suck cock tonight. That message made me cringe. Normally, I’d never be that blunt with someone I’d known for less than two minutes. But I reminded myself I was on a hookup site and hit send.

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Advertisement Payback (First & Forever #10) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/payback-first-forever-10-read-online-alexa-land Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:52:54 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/payback-first-forever-10-read-online-alexa-land Genre: Contemporary, Insta-Love, M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)

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What do you do when your ex-boyfriend breaks your heart? You get revenge, of course.

It wasn’t just that my ex cheated on me. He also humiliated me and treated me like dirt. But I know how to get back at him.

All I have to do is catch the eye of Malcolm Sterling—my ex’s dad, who happens to be a sexy, single silver fox. Since we’ve never met, he’ll have no idea who I am when I make my move. My goal? Arrive at a swanky, upcoming family wedding on Malcolm’s arm, and make my ex totally regret his life choices.

But Malcolm may prove to be more than I bargained for--and he just might have a plan of his own.

Payback is a lighthearted gay romance full of bad ideas, a sketchy plan for revenge, a misguided main character, and a smoking hot older man with a few tricks up his sleeve. It’s set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series, and it can be read as a stand-alone.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Daniel

Once upon a time, I had a boyfriend named Bradley Sterling.

He turned out to be a lying, cheating douchebag.

That’s where my story begins.

“You know, a lot of people get cheated on,” my friend and housemate Hal pointed out, as we both worked up a sweat on a pair of exercise bikes. “Me, for example. He broke my heart, and I’m still not over it, but it never occurred to me to seek revenge on my ex-boyfriend.”

“But maybe if you had, you wouldn’t still be carrying around that heartbreak. Revenge can be extremely cathartic.” I pedaled harder and pushed my damp, blond hair off my forehead.

“Yeah, but I’m worried you’re going to end up getting hurt if you go through with your plan.”

“That already happened. I caught my boyfriend balls deep inside his boss, and he fucking smirked and chastised me for taking so long to figure it out. I spent almost a year of my life with this guy and thought we’d probably get married, but in the end I was nothing but a joke to him. It’s not possible to be hurt more than I already was.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Daniel. It really is awful. But explain to me again how dating his dad is going to get back at your ex.”

“Brad totally failed to see my value. What better way to demonstrate exactly what he lost than by showing up on his dad’s arm, looking devastatingly handsome at that fancy, upcoming family wedding? It’s like, oh, you didn’t appreciate me? That’s okay, because your daddy does.”

Hal asked, “So, how far are you willing to take this? Is your goal to become Brad’s stepfather and spend his inheritance?”

I chuckled at that and shook my head. “I’m not that vindictive. All I want is to be Malcolm Sterling’s date to his sister’s wedding. But if Brad believes it’s more than that, even better.”

My friend slowed his pedaling and sat up straighter. “Wait, his dad is Malcolm Sterling? As in, the songwriter and composer?”

“You’ve heard of him?”

“He’s famous.”

“Kind of. I know he’s had a lot of success in his field, but composers and songwriters mostly work behind the scenes. They’re not exactly household names.”

“The first time I heard of him was when he won an award for a film score. He’s also written songs for some of the biggest names out there.” Hal leaned forward again, resting his arms on the handlebar as he pedaled faster. “It actually might be tough to get near him. Rich and famous people tend to be pretty cut off from the rest of society.”

“I have a plan for that.” Since I was starting to gasp for air, I asked, “When can we be done with these bikes?”

“I’ll be at this another half-hour. You can stop if you want to, though. And maybe you should, since you’re turning alarmingly red.”

I dramatically melted off the bike and landed spread-eagled on the gym floor. “As much as I wanted to keep up with you, it’s impossible. I bow down to your superior fitness and overall hotness.” Hal was a former model, and he worked out as hard now as he did when he got paid to look good. We’d already done an intense workout before hopping on the bikes, and my entire body was protesting.

“You need to go at your own pace and do what feels right to you.”

“What feels right to me is being a slug and never going to the gym. But if I want to make my ex regret his life choices, I need to look hot as fuck when I show up at that wedding. My skinny little spaghetti arms and chicken legs aren’t going to cut it.” A couple of people stepped over me on their way to the locker room, and as they shot me looks of disdain, I called, “Yes, that’s right, I’m workout road kill. I’m sorry if my lifeless corpse is an inconvenience to you.”

Hal ignored all of that and asked, “So, what’s your plan for getting close to Malcolm Sterling?”

I sat up and used the hem of my shirt to wipe my face. “He recently returned to San Francisco after spending the last couple of years in New York, and a friend of his who posts literally everything on social media is throwing him a big welcome home shindig. I plan to crash the party and shamelessly throw myself at him.”

“What if he doesn’t take the bait?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“Well, for starters, because you’re his son’s ex-boyfriend.”

“But he won’t know that,” I said. “Brad had some sort of falling out with his dad about a year ago. Since they were barely speaking during our entire relationship, it’s not like I would have come up in conversation. That’s also why I doubt Brad will be at the party.”

“Okay. But what if you’re not Malcolm’s type?”

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Advertisement The Escape Room (First & Forever #10) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/the-escape-room-first-forever-10-read-online-alexa-land Tue, 08 Aug 2023 17:46:16 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-escape-room-first-forever-10-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)

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I’m done with dating, since my last relationship ended in complete disaster. My friends are worried about me though, so to humor them, I agreed to attend a singles event and enter a raffle. It was for charity, so why not? I never thought I’d actually win one of the prizes—a blind date at an escape room.

My date turns out to be a sassy barista with pink hair and a love of makeup. He’s definitely not my type. In fact, I doubt we have the first thing in common. But as the evening takes a turn for the unexpected, I find myself wondering—is this man exactly what I needed all along?

This 12,000-word short story originally appeared in the charity anthology Heart2Heart, Volume Two, which is now out of print. It has been re-edited, and an epilogue has been added. Other than that, there are no significant changes to the story. This stand-alone is set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

“I haven’t been this uncomfortable since my dad and his last girlfriend showed me photos of their vacation.” Skye glanced at me, and I explained, “They went on a clothing-optional yoga retreat. I still get twitchy whenever anyone utters the phrase ‘downward dog’ around me.”

My friend looked sympathetic. “I know you really didn’t want to come here,” he waved his hand to indicate the crowded nightclub, “but I’m proud of you for giving it a shot.”

I slid off the barstool and yelled over the relentlessly upbeat dance music, “Can we go now? If we hurry, we can still make the nine o’clock screening of Aliens at the Piedmont.”

“You know you own that on Blu-ray, right?”

“What’s your point?”

Just then, a skinny guy with a mustache worthy of a 1980s porn star swooped in and asked me, “Wanna dance, hottie?”

“No, thanks.”

Pornstache got up in my personal space and ran his gaze down the length of me. “You’re cute. What are you, Black? Asian?”

“Yes.”

That threw him off his game for a moment. “Yes to what part?”

“Yes, I’m Black and Asian, and no, I don’t want to dance.”

“Come on, sexy. Just one spin around the dance floor.”

“You know, I would,” I told him, as I scratched my chest, “but my full-body herpes is flaring up, and dancing makes me itch something fierce.”

He couldn’t get away from me fast enough after that. Skye raised a brow and asked, “Is full-body herpes even a thing?”

“God, I hope not. So, we can still make the movie if we leave right now.”

I started to inch toward the exit, but my escape route was cut off by my friend Dare, who intercepted me while juggling a trio of huge, over-the-top cocktails. “Oh, come on.” He sounded exasperated. “We’ve only been here fourteen minutes, and you’re already trying to leave? You haven’t even had a drink yet. Grab the blue one in the center, before I drop these.”

The beverage in question had several items jutting from it, including a massive fruit skewer, a swizzle stick in the shape of a merman, and a purple bendy straw. I shot him a look. “Really?”

Dare handed his husband a frozen drink layered to form a rainbow. Then he brushed his dark hair out of his eyes and told me, “Skye has a thing for touristy cocktails, the kitschier the better. I figured you and I should join in, because why not?”

“Um, because I already don’t blend in, and now I look like my turnip truck is parked out front?”

“Speaking of blending in,” Skye said, “can I—”

“Fix me?”

“You don’t need to be fixed. I was just going to suggest a few minor adjustments.”

I took a sip from the bendy straw, then set aside my drink and said, “Knock yourself out.”

Predictably, the first thing he did was take off my tie. Skye was a metal sculptor with blue hair, and he’d actually worn a pair of overalls to the bar, along with a T-shirt that featured a picture of a Smurf. No wonder my necktie was at the top of his hit list. Meanwhile, Dare had come straight from his dance studio and was wearing an oversized black sweater with warm-up pants, so neither of them qualified as fashion experts.

Skye unfastened the top three buttons on my light blue Oxford shirt and suggested rolling back my cuffs, so I’d seem more relaxed and approachable. I did as he asked, then refastened two of the three buttons. He and Dare leaned back in unison and assessed my look, and Skye swooped back in and tried to fluff my slicked-down hair. “Dude, there’s a shitload of gel in there,” he muttered. He wiped his hands on his overalls before declaring my new look “better overall.”

When I turned on the camera and held out my phone so I could see myself on the screen, a guy with pink hair and sparkly gold eyeshadow bounced into the frame. He yelled, “Photobomb,” tapped the button to take a picture, and flashed me a huge smile before disappearing into the crowd.

“He was cute,” Dare said. “You should go ask him to dance.”

I returned the phone to my pocket and shook my head. “He was obnoxious, and I don’t dance.”

Dare stared at me as he pointed out, “You’re literally a dancer, Rick.”

“That’s totally different. Just because I moonlight with your dance troupe doesn’t mean I want to go out there and do what the rest of those guys are doing. Most of them aren’t even dancing. They’re either wiggling or dry-humping, sometimes both simultaneously. A choreographed routine is one thing. But I’m not going to wedge myself into that sweaty mass of bodies and improvise.” I noticed the pink-haired guy had gotten himself into a bear sandwich, right in the center of the packed dance floor.

Dare asked, “What’s the one thing I keep telling you, over and over again?”

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Advertisement Boyfriend by the Hour (First & Forever #9) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/boyfriend-read-online-the-hour-first-forever-9-read-online-alexa-land Sun, 11 Jun 2023 19:41:52 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/boyfriend-read-online-the-hour-first-forever-9-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >69

I've never worked as an escort before. I never even considered it.

But when a wealthy CEO makes me an offer, it’s too good to turn down. It's not just about the money, though. He’s never been with a man before, and I love the idea of being his first.

This arrangement comes with an expiration date, and we've agreed there are no strings attached. The only problem? I’m starting to fall for my client.

Is there any chance this could turn into something real? Or am I headed for heartbreak?

This spicy, lighthearted gay romance is set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series, and it can be read as a stand-alone.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Timothy

This could only end badly.

I knew that as soon as I saw the Godzilla-sized wave rolling in, but I made the terrible decision to go for it anyway. Quick glances to my left and right told me the other students in my beginning surfing class were hanging back. They probably cringed when I started paddling, because they all knew what was about to happen.

I was committed now though, so I paddled with everything I had to try to stay in front of the wave. This all came down to timing. When I felt the swell begin to lift my board, I leapt to my feet, and my arms shot out automatically for balance. Suddenly, it was happening—I was hurtling forward, riding the wave, and it was glorious!

As the wave crested overhead, I felt like such a bad-ass. I was shooting the curl, like a dude on the cover of a surfing magazine. Hell yeah! I, Timothy Pasternak, was a natural, a surfing legend in the making. The Hawaii 5-0 theme song started playing in my head.

Two seconds later, about a billion gallons of water came crashing down on me.

I drew a quick breath as the board shot out from under my feet and I hit the water. The wave spun me around like a sock in a washing machine. For a few seconds, I didn’t know which way was up or down. It felt surreal when I noticed a fish directly above (or below?) me, getting carried along by the same wave. He looked as startled as I felt, but to be fair, he probably always looked like that.

Then I bobbed to the surface, sputtering and wheezing with the tang of salt water in my mouth. The next wave pushed me toward the shore, and I started swimming in that direction.

Eventually, I dragged myself—and by default, the surfboard tethered to my ankle—onto the beach. As I sprawled out on the sand, I muttered, “Ow.”

A minute later, my friend Romy jogged up to me. His surfboard was tucked under his arm, and he looked a lot less bedraggled than I probably did. I asked him, “Did you see me? I actually caught that monster wave.”

“I did. Those two seconds were very impressive. Are you okay, though?”

“Not entirely.”

“What’s wrong?” As a former EMT, he was all set to launch into some sort of life-saving intervention.

“I tweaked my back, but it’s nothing serious.” It ached as I got to my feet, and I ran my palms over my borrowed wetsuit and said, “You know what my biggest mistake was?”

“Forgetting you’d only been surfing for two weeks?”

“No, lying in the sand. I coated myself like a catfish filet on the way to the deep fryer.”

I raised my sandy hands to show him, and Romy said, “I see your point. Come on, class is over, and we need to turn in our wetsuits.”

Predictably, our instructor was less than enthusiastic about my accomplishment. He lectured me about ‘knowing my limits’ while Romy and I peeled off the wetsuits, and I pretended to be contrite. But as we headed to the parking lot, I told my friend, “I regret nothing.”

“Even though you got banged up?”

“It was totally worth it. That ride might have been short, but it was epic while it lasted.” He looked skeptical, so I added, “The whole reason we’ve been taking these classes, both the pole dancing ones and now surfing, is to push our limits and find out what we’re capable of. That’s what I was doing when I decided to go for it.”

“Sure, but that doesn’t mean we should be reckless.”

That was the thing about Romy—he’d spent most of his life as an extremely cautious person. Recently though, he’d quit a job that made him miserable, and he’d gotten engaged to a gorgeous man who happened to be a former criminal. I had mad respect for him, because he was finally stepping out of his comfort zone. But at his core, he was still inherently cautious.

“It was a calculated risk,” I told him. “I may be new to surfing, but I’ve been snowboarding and skateboarding forever. It’s a similar skill set, so I thought maybe I could pull it off. Turns out no, but I owed it to myself to find out.”

When we reached the SUV he’d borrowed from his brother, we had to spend a couple of minutes trying to fit the surfboards in the back. Instead of using the loaner boards provided by the instructor, I’d impulsively purchased a pair of secondhand boards before the class started. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I hadn’t factored in what a pain it would be to haul them around.

Once we were finally on our way across town, Romy asked, “So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >69

Advertisement My Brother’s Enemy (First & Forever #8) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/my-brothers-enemy-first-forever-8-read-online-alexa-land Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:04:03 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/my-brothers-enemy-first-forever-8-read-online-alexa-land Genre: Erotic, M-M Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >61

I never planned on falling for my brother’s mortal enemy
When I first met Marcus, I had no idea he was the gangster who’d been waging a turf war with my older brother. He was just this gorgeous, sexy guy who was there for me when I needed a friend. By the time I found out the truth, it was too late—I’d already fallen for him.
But my family doesn’t just hate him—they’re actively trying to hunt him down, and so are some mobsters from his past. How long can we keep our relationship a secret, and what’s going to happen when all is finally revealed?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Romy

“Take a chance, Romy.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so.”

“But that guy at the end of the bar keeps looking over here,” my friend Pete said. “He’s definitely interested, so you should go introduce yourself.”

“Actually, he’s been checking you out, not me.”

No surprise there. Pete looked like a model with his bleached white-blond hair, big brown eyes, and high cheekbones. It didn’t hurt that he was dressed in a tight, royal-blue T-shirt and shorts, which showed off his long, lean body. Meanwhile, I looked like a duck hanging out with a peacock—drab by comparison, especially in my baggy jeans and oversized sweatshirt.

He reached across the bar and refilled my coffee cup as he insisted, “You’re wrong about that.”

I snuck a glance at the guy in question, who was cute and probably in his mid-twenties. Ever since Pete had started working at my mom’s bar, he’d been attracting a younger and hipper clientele. It was interesting to see them mingling with the regulars, including a number of senior citizens who’d been coming here for decades.

A minute later, the guy came over and slipped Pete his number. Then he winked at him before heading for the door. Once he was gone, I said, “See?”

My friend looked disappointed as he muttered, “Oh,” and swept the scrap of paper off the bar. But then he perked up again and asked, “What about that guy in the hockey jersey? I saw you checking him out when he came in.”

“I was looking at the logo on his chest, and wondering which team had a super pissed off saber-toothed tiger as its mascot.”

“The Nashville Predators.”

“You just made that up.”

“Nope. It’s a real team.”

“And you know that why?”

“Because I watch hockey.” He raised a brow and asked, “Why do you look surprised?”

“I just remember how much you hated all things sports-related when we were in high school.”

“I’ve broadened my horizons in the nearly ten years since we graduated. In this case, I started watching hockey while dating a guy who was totally into it. I ended up kicking him to the curb after a month or two, but my love of hockey lives on.”

Pete and I had been friends in our teens, but we’d drifted apart after high school and gotten back in touch just a couple of months ago. He really had changed a lot over the years, while I was pretty sure I was exactly the same.

He went back to scanning the crowd. Then he indicated a tall guy by the restrooms and asked, “What about him? He’s cute. You should go over and introduce yourself.”

“Once again, I’ll pass.”

“Why?”

“We’ve talked about this, Pete. I’m not interested in meeting anyone.”

He shook his head. “I know what you said, but come on. So, you’ve had a string of bad relationships. Who hasn’t? That doesn’t mean you should give up on love, not at twenty-seven. It’s bad enough that you never go out, and—”

“I’m out right now!”

“This doesn’t count. It would if you got your flirt on while you were here, but you only come in to visit me or your mom. And then the rest of the time, you’re either at work or home alone in your depressing apartment.”

“How is my apartment depressing?”

Pete shrugged. “It’s small, and you live alone.”

I was about to argue that it was small because I lived alone, and how much space did one person need? But one of the bar’s regulars joined us just then, greeting me with a back-slapping embrace as he exclaimed, “Romy, my boy! Good to see you!” The little old man let go of me and grabbed Pete’s hand, shaking it vigorously as he said, “I’m Henry Kissinger—not the famous one.” He’d been introducing himself that way all my life. Probably longer.

“Pete DiChanza. What can I make you, Mr. Kissinger?”

“Hot tea with brandy. Mandy knows how I like it, but I guess she isn’t in today.”

“No sir, my boss went out to dinner with her fiancé,” Pete said. “But if you walk me through it, I’ll remember your drink order for next time.”

After Henry explained his usual—black tea with two sugars and a splash of apple brandy—he turned to me and said, “I’ve been with my sister in Arizona. She fell and broke her hip. Terrible, at our age.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“She’s fine now,” he said, “so I came back home, and everything’s different here at the bar! Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy your mom got engaged and has been taking some time off. I always told her she worked too much. But I feel like I missed a lot in the few months I was gone, including some big excitement. A couple of the fellas were just filling me in.” He gestured at a pair of regulars in their seventies, who could be found in their favorite booth most evenings. “They said back in October, two hoodlums with baseball bats came in and started smashing up the bar. They also said it was meant to be a message to your brother, Adriano.”

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Advertisement Cabin for Three (First & Forever #7) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/cabin-for-three-first-forever-7-read-online-alexa-land Sat, 03 Dec 2022 10:16:21 +0000 http://www.teennovels.net/cabin-for-three-first-forever-7-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance, Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >28

A week in a rustic cabin sounds like the perfect holiday getaway to Kel, Hudson, and Noah. Maybe it’s also the perfect time to finally act on the couple’s unspoken attraction to their best friend. But if they do, can what’s started in private survive in the real world, especially when one of them is a public figure who’s struggling with coming out?

This MMM sweet-with-heat holiday novella features characters introduced in Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Kel

“Have you decided what you’re getting your boyfriends for Christmas?”

I turned to look at my friend and housemate Lark, who was in the process of wrapping a sixth and seventh knit scarf around his neck. “Boyfriend. Singular. I only have the one, remember? Huge, blue-eyed blond named Hudson?”

“And then there’s Noah, the equally huge brunet who’s always with the two of you.”

“Noah’s my best friend.”

Lark tucked a lock of dark hair behind his ear as he shot me a look. “You know he’s more than that, Kel.”

“You’re right, he’s also my business partner. Are you done trying on scarves? Because if we don’t get out of this noisy, overcrowded department store soon, I’m going to collapse in a heap and melt down like a toddler.”

He began unwinding the scarves and returning them to the display as he said, “No, don’t do that. We both know I’d burst into tears and join you on the floor, which could cause a ripple effect. Pretty soon everyone would be crying—our fellow shoppers, the sales clerks, that big, beefy security guard by the exit. How about regrouping in the food court instead?”

“Can’t we just go home?”

“Sure, but then what? You’re the one with a ton of shopping still to do, and Christmas is a week away.”

He had a point, so I said, “The food court is an excellent idea.” Then I led the way out of the department store and into the mall, with its relentlessly upbeat Christmas music, cranky kids in strollers, and equally cranky grown-ups. The total lack of holiday cheer was depressing.

Along the way, I added, “This is impossible, though. Hudson already has everything, and Noah lives in a tiny apartment and doesn’t need or want anything.”

“Let me ask you something,” Lark said, as he pushed back his sleeves. The sweatshirt he was wearing featured a 3D unicorn head wearing a Santa hat, which perfectly suited my colorful friend. “Do you want to spend the same amount on both of them?”

“Yes.”

“Exactly, because they’re both your boyfriends, and you don’t want to play favorites.”

We reached the food court and joined a very long line at the coffee place. “Because they’re the two most important people in my life, and they both deserve something special,” I clarified.

“You could find ‘something special’ that costs ten bucks for one of them, and a hundred bucks for the other. But you don’t want to do that, because—”

“Don’t say they’re both my boyfriends again.”

“—because you’re part of a throuple.” I sighed at that, and he said, “You have to see it. It’s so obvious to all of us.”

“Who are you including in that statement, our housemates?”

He nodded. “That, and everyone who’s ever met the three of you.” When I didn’t say anything, Lark asked, “Have you and Noah and Hudson talked about this, at least?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“What’s there to say?”

“A lot! And once you finally have that discussion, then you can all move in together.”

Okay, so that actually struck a chord. I flashed on a memory of the three of us laughing and cooking dinner together a week ago in Hudson’s apartment, which had been such a good time. But I shook my head and told him, “Even if this was something I wanted, Hudson would never go for it. He’s not even out. How could he possibly cope with being in a throuple?”

“Granted, Hudson has a few things he really needs to work out, especially where his homophobic dad is concerned. Plus, I know he’s in the public eye as a sports analyst and former NFL player, so coming out is a big deal to him. But all of that’s true whether he’s in a relationship with one guy or two.”

“I guess.”

Lark really wasn’t letting this go. “Let’s say Hudson was on board,” he said. “You’d want to bring Noah into your relationship, wouldn’t you?”

I lowered my gaze and muttered, “Let’s change the subject.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel like I’m being a terrible boyfriend for even entertaining this idea. It’s like saying Hudson isn’t enough for me, and that’s not fair to him.”

“It’s not that at all, Kel. It’s about having room in your heart to love and cherish two people, not just one. It’s also about acknowledging how special Noah is, not just to you, but to Hudson, too. When you and Noah first met and decided to go into business together, I think Hudson felt a bit threatened. But over the last few months, I’ve watched all three of you grow closer, and there’s so much genuine affection there.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >28

Advertisement The Thief and The Gangster (First & Forever #7) Read Online Alexa Land http://www.books2020.com/the-thief-and-the-gangster-first-forever-7-read-online-alexa-land Wed, 02 Nov 2022 21:50:13 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-thief-and-the-gangster-first-forever-7-read-online-alexa-land Genre: M-M Romance, Romance Authors: Alexa Land Series: First & Forever Series by Alexa Land
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Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >86

Adriano:
It started as the hottest hook-up of my life. Jack was gorgeous, and the spark between us was intense. But the night ended with me chasing him through the streets of San Francisco half-naked, after he stole my late father’s watch. Awesome.
Days later, I finally tracked him down, just as I got the news that all hell was breaking loose back home in Las Vegas. Now I have to bring Jack along while I deal with the mobster who’s targeting my family—as if a road trip with that little thief is even sort of a good idea. But what choice do I have? If I let him out of my sight, he and my most prized possession will disappear forever.
I can’t deny it, I’m still drawn to Jack—but how can I trust him?

Jack:
I like to think of myself as a modern-day Robin Hood. I rob from the rich and give to—well, to me. I’m poor, so that counts. Not that I’d planned to rip off Adriano Dombruso when he picked me up in a bar, but that vintage Rolex was just too tempting to pass up.
It sucked when he managed to track me down. Then, before we could retrieve his watch, an urgent call from home set him in motion. Now I suddenly find myself in Vegas. The bad guys are closing in, and the smart choice would be to escape and save myself—after all, self-preservation is what I’m best at. Somehow though, I hate the thought of leaving Adriano to deal with this on his own.
Am I actually falling for that big, burly gangster?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

Adriano

The blond at the bar was trouble. I knew it the moment I saw him.

There was mischief in his smile, and in this coy game he was playing. Two men were vying for his attention, and even though he’d been encouraging them and letting them buy him drinks for the better part of an hour, his gaze kept straying to me.

He had my full attention as I circled like a shark. The bar was a free-standing island in the center of the room, so I did a slow lap all the way around, weaving through the Saturday night crowd while closing in on the only man in here who’d captured my interest. It allowed the anticipation to build, so by the time I reached him it was palpable.

I slid in between this guy and one of the douchebags in a cheap suit, who’d been trying and failing to seal the deal. Finally, I got a good look at my quarry. He’d been cute from a distance, but up close he was perfection. He had the face of an angel and was almost too pretty, but his short, scruffy beard provided some balance.

Just because I liked figuring people out, I tried to guess his age. I would have said late twenties, except for those big, green eyes of his. It wasn’t the delicate lines at the corners that drove the number up. Instead, it was that tinge of skepticism, which suggested he’d been around the block a few times and learned some hard lessons along the way. I placed him at maybe thirty-three, thirty-four.

A flirtatious smile curled his full lips and drew my attention. That was one hell of a mouth. Luscious, that was the word for it. I really wanted a taste, but not yet.

I looked away long enough to order two shots of top shelf tequila from the bartender before turning back to this guy and asking, “Want to get out of here?”

This amused the blond and annoyed Cheap Suit Guy in equal measure. Blondie asked, “Just like that? Aren’t you going to buy me a drink first?” Meanwhile, the second douchebag who’d been hitting on him—probably with a pipe dream of a three-way—had already given up and wandered off.

I handed him one of the shots and said, “I just did.” Then I picked up the other one and clinked our glasses together before tossing it back.

He downed his without so much as a flinch and smirked at me, holding my gaze so steadily that it felt like he was issuing a challenge. I grinned at him and tossed a hundred-dollar bill onto the bar top, then turned toward the door and held my arm out.

My kid brother would call dropping that C-note a flex—needlessly showing off, in twenty-something speak—and he’d be right. But I figured this guy would notice and appreciate it. He seemed the type, someone who didn’t grow up wealthy but was ambitious and looking to upgrade his station in life. It was written all over him, from his expensive haircut and artfully subtle highlights to that aspirational blue suit—probably the very best quality he could afford, but not quite in the big leagues.

Sure enough, he glanced at the hundred and reached some conclusions about me, the same way I’d reached some conclusions about him. Then he linked his arm with mine.

Cheap Suit Guy wasn’t giving up easily, though. He got in our way and asked me, “What do you think you’re doing?”

He had balls, I’d give him that. At six-two and with my big build, it was obvious I could crush him like a bug, but his arrogance and sense of entitlement bolstered his courage. I shot him a look that a smarter man would have heeded as a warning and said, “I’m taking doll face home with me. What does it look like I’m doing?”

Cheap Suit turned his attention to the blond and tried another tactic. “You’re leaving with this asshole, just like that? After I bought you three vodka tonics?”

The blond bristled at that and growled, “What the fuck did you think, that you were buying me for the price of three cocktails? That’s not how this works, you self-important, entitled prick! Besides, I paid for those drinks—not with money, but with the hour of my life I spent listening to you droning on and on about yourself. Newsflash, investment banking isn’t that interesting, and if you were any good at it you wouldn’t be wearing that polyester atrocity you’re trying to pass off as a suit. Want some advice? Stay away from open flames, because that cheap-ass fabric would go up like a fucking dumpster fire.”

I was grinning ear-to-ear as we stepped around the shell of a man Blondie had just eviscerated. Cheap Suit Guy muttered, “You two assholes deserve each other.”

“It’s your fault, you know,” my companion told me, as we headed for the exit. “If you hadn’t taken for-fucking-ever to make your move, I wouldn’t have had to spend my evening listening to that douchebag talk about himself.”

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