by Anyta Sunday
"Feel free to come visit me down there," Will said, dropping his arms to his side.
Paul coughed at that, but smiled, too. "See ya, Will. You can tell us all about it when you get back."
Once Will was out of sight, Paul wrapped Karl in his arms and smothered him in kisses.
"I was going to do it right in front of Will," Paul said, "so you'd know I'm really out, for me, for us. But I couldn't do it, because I worried about his reaction. Not in the way you might think, though. I can prove that." Paul grabbed him and kissed him, tongue and all, right there on the open street. Almost pressed up against the restaurant window. A wolf whistle came from behind them, sniggers from in front.
Paul shrugged. "I want everyone to know you're mine. The reason I couldn't do it in front of Will was because I didn't want to rub what he'd lost in his face. I mean, one part of me really wanted him to get just how together we are—because heck yeah, I'm jealous you're still friends with the guy—but he really did lose something amazing. And I didn't want to make him feel any more miserable for it."
"Amazing, huh?" Any disappointment had dissolved, and Karl was cracking a grin again.
"Yes." Paul nipped another kiss. Then held his gaze, "God, yes."
"So, what do you want to do now? Stroll to the waterfront? Or the park?" Spring had come sudden and early this year. Buds could be seen on the trees. A walk would be nice, together, hand in hand.
Paul hesitated. "Sure. Or, um, if we make for home now, we could relieve Tirone and Gill from babysitting, and then . . . you know," he gripped a thumb and finger on his tie and ran them down its length with a suggestive waggle of his brow.
Karl got it. Yeah. A good shudder. Damn good.
"What're you thinking?" Paul asked, eyeing him as if to read his expression.
Karl let his breath go in drabs. "Whether I want to run to the car or have you drag me."
He chose to run, barely beating Paul there. Breathing hard, they collapsed into the car and made for home.
Charlie was still up, but pajamaed and ready for bed. Tirone and Gillian wanted all the details about how Paul had acted in front of his ex, while Paul read to Charlie and put him down.
When the two left the apartment, Gillian winked and grabbed Tirone's hand, linking it with hers. The last thing Karl caught as the door shut was Tirone's winning smile and twinkling gaze as he watched her.
"Charlie wants you to go in and say goodnight."
Karl almost jumped at Paul's voice behind him. "Right." He smiled and kissed Paul on his way past, then continued down the hall to the boy's room.
"You tired, buddy?"
"Never."
"Want me to read you another story?"
"How about five?"
"Settle at two?"
"'kay, but they have to be long ones."
Karl chuckled and heard another muffled laugh coming from the hall. Paul was standing there listening in, huh? He smiled.
After reading two fairytales, picked out by Charlie after he'd counted how many pages they had, he sat up straight. "I like these stories."
"Oh yeah? What do you like about them?"
"They all end good."
"You probably don't want to read the originals then."
"What?"
"Nothing. Good endings are the best. Now it's time for you to settle and close your eyes for the night."
"Still not tired. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to hang out with your papa."
Charlie poked his tongue out. "You gonna kiss him, too?"
Karl was glad for the limited lighting, as he was sure his cheeks had just exploded with color. What to say? "Um . . . "
"'Cause that's what people do if they love each other, right?" His voice rose at the end.
Karl looked out the doorway, at the socked foot poking from behind the door-frame. "Yes, they do. And I love your papa very much." The socked toes curled, and Karl smiled. "Now let's get you all comfy and lights out."
"Good, then you'll stay with us forever." Then he got to his knees, cupped two hands to Karl's ear, and whispered, "See, my magic is real." Then he cried 'yippy', got to his feet, and bounced on the bed.
Karl just laughed; inside he wanted to join the monkey. He glanced to the door again, this time Paul stood in the middle of it. Their gazes caught, tender, warm, and Paul mouthed the words back at him. I love you, too.
"She-sha, she-sha," Charlie yelped, and tripped into Karl's arms. "We'll all live happily ever after."
>>The End<<
Acknowledgments
Thank you first to my wonderful family, whose support has been so warm and inspiring. To Gay Authors for finding so many friends along the journey of creating this story and for all the amazing help they’ve offered to make my writing better. To Natasha Snow for the amazing cover-art. And to Lynda Lamb who edited this second edition.
Thank you all.
About the author
A born and raised New Zealander, Anyta Sunday has been exploring the literary world since she started reading Roald Dahl as a kid. Inspired, stories have been piling up in her head ever since. Fast forward to her mid-twenties and jump a few countries (Germany, America, and back again), and she started putting pen to paper. When she’s not writing or chasing her kids around, she’s reading, hiking, watching a Joss Whedon series, attempting pilates, or curling up with her two cats. Updates on her projects can be found at www.anytasunday.com.
Anyta loves writing romance, mainly contemporary gay M/M. Another favorite genre of hers is fantasy, but also there the romance is never far away. Her books have been translated into German, Italian and French.
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/?page_id=386
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The series continues...
“William”
Enemies to Lovers Book 3
William needs to learn to think before he speaks. He accidentally outed his last boyfriend to his bigoted family. Looking to make a new start, he escapes to the most distant place he can think of: New Zealand. There he boards with a substitute mom and her too-hot-to-be-real son, Heath, but Heath and his homophobic friend Rory want William to leave before things “crash and burn,” whatever that means.
Unfortunately, traveling to the end of the world isn’t far enough for William to lose his runaway mouth.
But is it far enough to lose his loneliness?
“William”- available now
ALSO AVAILABLE
MADE FOR YOU
Love & Family #2
Ben wants to find a new home.
Twenty-four-year-old Ben McCormick is the primary caregiver for his brother Milo after their parents’ death. A year into the job, he’s totally got the hang of it. Mostly. Sort of. Not at all?
Defeated and thoroughly chastised for his lack in parenting skills at teacher-parent night, Ben slumps away with the resolve to finally get his life sorted: be a better role model, and sell their parents’ house for a fresh start.
But first, he needs to spruce up his house to hit the market. He’s no DIY king, but Milo’s hot-as-hell woodwork teacher is...
Jack wants an old home to fix.
Thirty-nine-year-old Jack Pecker is waiting for the home of his dreams to come on the market in the summer. What better way to wait the interim months than working on a small renovation gig?
Only trouble is, the gig is for the McCormick brothers. And working in close quarters to red-haired Ben McCormick won’t be easy. Not with the attraction that simmers between them. Attraction Ben makes no effort to hide.
But Jack’s professional. Dating a parent is highly discouraged at Kresley Intermediate, and he’d never cross the lines...
Ben and Jack. Two guys searching for a home –
– a home that might just be where their hearts lead them.
~ - ~ - ~
Set in New Zealand, Made For You (Love & Family #2) is an MM gay romance featu
ring two guys at very different places in their lives – but both finding out they are looking for the same thing.
Can be read as a standalone.
Tropes: friends-to-lovers, slow burn, age gap, found family
Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance
ALSO AVAILABLE
Leo Loves Aries
"Leo Loves Aries" is a sweet, slow burn, M/M romance with HEA. This New Adult, college, GFY, friends-to-lovers novel can be read as a standalone.
A new person will enter your life in the early year, Leo. Look past any moments of frustration they might bring and laugh—this could be the start of a thriving friendship.
Theo Wallace usually laughs at the horoscopes his mom sends. Still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and practically friendless, this one begs him to reconsider. Because a friendship that stuck, that thrived...
Well, that would be a reason to leave past pains behind and look to the Bright Future.
When his sister Leone challenges him to find her the perfect date for a spring wedding, Theo uses it as a chance to make new friends. Theo’s ex economics tutor and newest roommate Mr. Jamie Cooper seems to be a possible and convenient match. Real convenient. Like written in the stars, convenient.
All he has to do is make sure this Jamie is good enough. Could really be The One for her, and the friend for him.
But watch out, Leo, the stars have a surprise in store...
Other Books by Anyta Sunday
Gay Romance
(Enemies to Lovers Series)
Shane & Trey
St-st-stuffed
William
The F Words
*
(Signs of Love Series)
Leo Loves Aries
Scorpio Hates Virgo
Gemini Keeps Capricorn
Pisces Hooks Taurus
*
(Love & Family Series)
Taboo For You
Made For You
*
(True Love Series)
True Luck
True Colors
*
Liam Davis & The Raven
Rock
Nest
Shrewd Angel
Novellas
Briefs (Gay Romance Collection)
Get It
DJ Dangerfield
The Douglas Fir
500 Kisses
Noticed Me Yet?
Bird Meets Cage
German Translations
Experimentier Mit Mir: Taboo For You
Verzettelt: Noticed Me Yet?
500 Küsse
fels
DJ Dangerfield
*
(Wahre Liebe)
Wahre Liebe... Bringt Glück
Wahre Liebe... Bekennt Farbe
Italian Translations
Il Mio Tabu
Ora mi noti?
Rock - la mia roccia
(Da nemici ad amanti)
Quello che non sai
Quello che non dici
Quello che non vuoi
Quello che non ami
(Segni d’Amore)
Il Leone ama l’Ariete
Lo Scorpione odia la Vergine
Il Gemelli si tiene stretto il Capricorno
(Il vero amore)
La vera fortuna
French Translations
Petits mensonges et conséquences
Rock
(L'horoscope amoureux)
Leo Loves Aries
Scorpio Hates Virgo
Gemini Keeps Capricorn
Spanish Translations
Nota que estoy aquí
(Signos de amor)
Leo quiere a Aries
Thai Translations
Leo Loves Aries