by David Horne
“Taste of Love”
M/M Gay Romance
David Horne
© 2018
David Horne
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is intended for Adults (ages 18+) only. The contents may be offensive to some readers. It may contain graphic language, explicit sexual content, and adult situations. May contain scenes of unprotected sex. Please do not read this book if you are offended by content as mentioned above or if you are under the age of 18.
Please educate yourself on safe sex practices before making potentially life-changing decisions about sex in real life. If you’re not sure where to start, see here: http://www.jerrycoleauthor.com/safe-sex-resources/ (courtesy of Jerry Cole).
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Products or brand names mentioned are trademarks of their respective holders or companies. The cover uses licensed images and are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any person(s) that may be depicted on the cover are simply models.
Edition v1.00 (2018.07.30)
http://www.DavidHorneauthor.com
Special thanks to the volunteer readers who helped with proofreading. Thank you so much for your support.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
Free Book “Princes of Westlake”
Chapter One
New York LaGuardia, delayed.
New York LaGuardia, cancelled.
Alexander slid further down in the horrible plastic chair, legs stretched out in front of him. It was difficult to get comfortable when he was taller-than-average and having to navigate around his legs would undoubtedly annoy other people, but he was tired and didn’t care.
The flights to New York were either delayed or cancelled, and despite his familiarity with flights never being on time when he had to fly anywhere, it was still a situation he could do without.
It was early, the sun not yet risen, but the airport was still alive with lights; the planes, the airport itself, and vehicles on the tarmac. It was difficult not to appreciate the sight, even with his frustrations, and given a less stressful layover, he could see why Bella was always posting her airport stays to social media.
As he stretched out his arms, working the kinks out of his back, he felt something kick his ankle. There was a surprised yelp and a guy stumbled over his outstretched legs, almost falling flat on his face. Luckily the guy – and his takeout cup of what Alex assumed was coffee – managed to remain upright.
“Sorry,” Alex said immediately, though honestly, the guy should have been watching where he was going.
“No worries.” The reply was chipper, and brown eyes stared at Alex from under a black knit beanie, pulled low over dark hair. The smile, though. That set something hammering in Alex’s chest and his mouth was dry, the effort of trying to talk seemed such a monumental task.
“Uh,” Alex said, eloquently. “Is your coffee—”
“Hot Chocolate,” the guy said, eyes crinkling as he smiled. Oh, he was handsome. “It’s fine. I guess when you’re so tall, folding yourself up is hard.”
Height jokes were guaranteed to make Alex angry, but he couldn’t help but chuckle. Maybe it was the time, maybe it was the fact that he was so tired, or maybe it was the guy’s smile. Alex really hadn’t been in a relationship for so long that he was starting to fantasize about strangers in an airport.
“My legs do seem to have a life of their own.”
The guy huffed out a laugh. He sat down next to Alex, sliding his duffle bag off his shoulder so that he could tuck it under the chair. He wasn’t short, but Alex had a good few inches on him. He looked as tired as Alex felt; dark smudges under his eyes, huddled into his jacket like it was going to protect him from – what, the cold? It wasn’t hot at the gate, but the guy looked ready for a blizzard. Not an Illinois native, Alex thought wryly.
Alex was aware that he was staring, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Catching his attention, the guy gave him an affable smile and curled his fingers around his cup. “Harry.”
Alex inclined his head. “Alexander Wheeler.”
Harry’s lips twitched, and Alex would have sunk deeper into his chair out of embarrassment if there wasn’t so much of him to move.
“Please ignore the fact that I’ve just given you my full name.” Alex felt his cheeks flame with heat.
“Afraid I’m going to stalk you on social media?” Harry’s expression was amused.
Alex thought of all the times his mother had told him to offer only what he intended to be used against him. Shaking it off, he watched Harry’s face, deciding quickly that Harry didn’t seem the type. “No.”
Harry’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but Alex let the silence stretch between them. It wasn’t oppressive, and it didn’t feel awkward, so Alex curled his hands into his jacket pockets, content to wait it out. Now that Harry was up close, Alex could smell the hot chocolate. He hadn’t had a coffee in a long time but the thought of going to get one now, when he was already as comfortable as he was gonna be in the chair, was a journey too far.
Harry took a sip from his cup and stared out at the plane, brow furrowed. “I just want to get home.”
Alex took it for the offering it was and huffed out a laugh. “It is a little early to be awake.”
“Should get into New York at the right time for a good breakfast,” Harry pointed out.
As if in response to the idea of a New York breakfast, Alex’s stomach rumbled. Great, he was apparently destined to be embarrassed constantly around Harry. “Don’t talk about food.”
Harry apologized but didn’t look particularly repentant. “My apologies. I’m sure there’ll be snacks on the plane?”
“Gross,” Alex said. He wasn’t against airplane food—when on a long-haul flight, it was a lifesaver—but that didn’t mean he had to willingly choose to eat if he didn’t need to. It was only two hours gate to gate, without unnecessary layovers, and Harry was right; they should land at LaGuardia in time for breakfast.
“Hey,” Harry started, but he was interrupted by the PA system informing passengers that they would begin boarding soon.
“Finally,” Alex muttered, rolling his eyes as people already started getting to their feet, grabbing bags, corralling children, and rushing to be first on the plane. He had traveled enough to know that rushing didn’t get you anywhere faster. When he turned back Harry was looking at the line of people with trepidation. “All right?”
“Huh?” Harry met Alex’s gaze and gave him a tight smile. “Fine. I uh,” he paused. “I don’t fly often.”
Alex could empathize; when he had first started flying, he had been terrified. It had taken several flights before he’d acclimatized to
the feeling. “I fly too much.”
Startled by the bitterness in his own tone, Alex wasn’t surprised when Harry gave him an assessing look.
“You don’t enjoy it?”
Alex shrugged. “The flying’s fine.”
Harry didn’t ask any more questions and Alex was grateful. He couldn’t work up the courage to talk about his work with his own parents, he didn’t think it right that he start confessing all to a stranger. Though, he thought in a voice that sounded a lot like Bella, a stranger might be the perfect intermediary.
“If you say so,” Harry said instead, still looking a little green.
“Hopefully you’ll be seated next to someone who isn’t a pain in the ass.” Alex grinned at Harry’s expression.
That smile only grew when Harry slid into the seat next to his not ten minutes later, stowing his duffle in the overhead compartment.
“You’re not a pain in the ass, are you?” Harry answered Alex’s smile with one of his own.
Flushing, Alex fiddled with his seat belt, wondering why he couldn’t fit it together when he’d flown so often. Dammit. “Jury’s still out.”
Harry hummed slowly. When Alex finally figured out the seat belt and looked up, Harry was giving him a contemplative, and appreciative, expression. “I don’t think it is.”
Alex flushed, but his heart was hammering again, and Harry’s smile was starting to become a problem. Alex’s weakness for cute guys was quickly narrowing down to cute guys with beanies and a fear of flying who smiled at him with just the tiniest hint of interest.
The flight was going to be so very long.
His estimation was way off. An hour and a half later, Harry cracked open an eye. “Is it over yet?”
Alex snorted, looking out of the window and staring down at the lights below. “We’re landing soon.”
“Oh, thank God,” Harry muttered and unclenched his fingers from the armrests.
Harry’s distress had managed to distract Alex from the boredom of the flight, and though he wouldn’t wish a fear of flying on anyone, it was a mild case, and Alex liked to think that he’d done just as much to distract Harry.
“So, your dog,” Alex asked, latching on to a subject that would suitably sway Harry away from thinking about the landing that was to come.
Harry shook his head. “We’re not discussing her. At all. She doesn’t deserve your attention.”
“Peeing indoors isn’t even the worst thing she could have done,” Alex pointed out, patting Harry’s arm conciliatorily as the plane dipped a little, ready for landing.
“This is fun,” Harry breathed, letting out a strangled moan as the plane started to bank. “I don’t like this.”
“Think of your dog,” Alex said, leaving his hand on Harry’s arm. He squeezed gently as Harry’s breathing started to pick up. He had his eyes clenched shut tight, and he was muttering something under his breath that Alex didn’t understand. “Think of anything else.”
Harry finally opened his eyes and stared down at Alex’s hand on his arm.
Except that. Alex pulled his hand away and dropped it into his lap. “Sorry.”
“It was helping,” Harry pointed out, but he dipped his head, refusing to meet Alex’s eyes. Maybe Alex wasn’t the only one scared of embarrassing themselves.
“All right,” Alex agreed affably, resting his hand back on Harry’s arm. “We’ll have landed soon and then you can grab that breakfast.”
As if on cue, Alex’s stomach gave another half-hearted rumble and Harry laughed, easing up his grip on the seat. He wasn’t looking at Alex, either still embarrassed, or because he didn’t want to catch even a glimpse out of the window, but his lips were curving up into a smile.
Alex kept his hand on Harry’s arm all through the rest of the landing, and only drew back when they were due to disembark.
“Thanks,” Harry told him, looking sincere. “I think that’s the best flight I’ve had.”
Waving Harry off, Alex slipped his phone into his pocket and made sure he hadn’t left anything behind in the seat. “It’s nothing.”
“It was for me,” Harry said gently, and when Alex met his eyes, the weight of what he was trying to say seemed to settle about Alex’s shoulders like a comfortable blanket. “Not everyone would have helped.”
“You have a cute smile,” Alex said, apparently possessed. Thank God Bella wasn’t here for this. She’d have shot off about five messages to Sara already.
Harry blinked, and Alex felt sure he was about to get a punch in the face for being so forward. Instead, Harry smiled again, this time soft and careful.
Alex was glad that he had already unbuckled his seat belt. Just in case his body made any more attempts to embarrass him, he waited for Harry to leave first and trailed after him. Maybe it was sabotage; his coordination and eloquence vanished under the face of a cute guy.
As they made their way toward arrivals, Harry tugged off his beanie, running his hands through his hair. It was apparently a vain attempt to work some order to it, but he failed; it was still mussed up, and Alex gave him a sideways glance. Harry wasn’t drop dead gorgeous, but he was handsome, with a great smile, and yeah, Alex was definitely attracted to him.
More than that, he had just spent an hour and a half telling Harry things about his life in order to distract him. Nobody could ever use the word altruistic when describing him, so there was something about Harry that made Alex want to talk.
“Who’s waiting for you?” Harry asked, breaking Alex out of his reverie.
“My sister,” Alex offered. Bella had been only too willing to come and meet him, especially if it meant she could update him on the latest gossip before Alex had to go back to the office. Thankfully there was only an apartment with a brewing pot of coffee, a bagel with cream cheese, and an extremely chatty sister in his future. “How about you?”
“Nobody,” Harry said, though he didn’t seem sad about this fact. “My parents are both working, and I don’t have any siblings.”
Alex thought of his own siblings; a sister who couldn’t go a day without informing Alex of all the things he needed to change if he was going to find love, and a brother who only remembered to call Alex when his wife reminded him. “You can have one of mine.”
Harry laughed and shook his head. “No offense, but I think I’ll pass.”
“Good call,” Alex told him, gently elbowing him in the side. It felt comfortable, good to have somebody to joke around with that hadn’t been placed in Alex’s orbit by his parents. Friends were hard to come by when he worked so much and had to fly at a moments’ notice, and Alex wasn’t sure whether Harry would even want to keep talking once they were outside of the airport.
Stop overthinking it.
Harry lingered next to him through Customs and baggage claim, and he was making it hard for Alex to think straight. He’d stuffed the beanie back on his head, and was thumbing through his phone, lips quirked up into a half-smile. Alex tried to distract himself with his own phone, rolling his eyes at the texts both Bella and Jason had sent him, mocking him for the shows on his TiVo.
Maybe if you went home to your own apartments….
To be fair to them both, Alex did have things that needed taking care of and he appreciated that they would drop everything to help, but mocking his TV taste was a step too far.
Finally, bag in hand, Alex was ready to leave the airport.
“Uh,” he said, when it was clear Harry’s bag hadn’t come down yet. “It was nice meeting you.”
Harry opened his mouth to say something, and then paused when someone yelled, “Alex!”
Alex turned to see Bella standing near arrivals, waving an arm, phone clutched in her hand. She was in flip-flops. Alex sighed. “My sister is here.”
“I see that.” Harry sounded amused. Shifting his gaze from Bella to Alex, he reached up, squeezing Alex’s hand gently. “Thanks for your help.”
“It was no problem,” Alex started, but seeing Harry’s raised eyebrow, he gr
inned. “You’re welcome.”
Harry nodded, apparently satisfied. “Good. I’ll see you around.”
Alex nodded, wanting to say something more, but not knowing what. He opened his mouth once, twice, but nothing seemed to be coming out. Harry had turned back to his phone, and Alex used that as an excuse not to say anything at all. As soon as he’d seen Bella, his courage had fled, and he was left the bumbling moron who couldn’t say something without tripping over his own tongue.
“Great,” he muttered, tugging his suitcase viciously behind him.
Bella’s eyes were narrowed as he approached, and then she turned away from him to peer around his shoulder. She was watching Harry, and Alex hoped that she wouldn’t bring it up. Like his courage, luck seemed to have abandoned him.
“Leave it,” Alex said immediately, tugging on Bella’s tank top and pulling her around.
Lips pursed, Bella looked half ready to fight him, so Alex gave her a pointed look. “What? He’s cute.”
“He’s been cute the entire flight,” Alex told her seriously, though he could feel his cheeks heating up. “He’s not going to get less cute because you want me to get his number.”
“You could.” Bella sighed, but she dutifully fell into step beside him, tucking her phone into the pocket of her shorts. “I’ll let it go if you promise to change your fabric softener.”
“You’ve been doing laundry at my house?”
Chapter Two
Bella stalked into Alex’s apartment, tossing a grin back over her shoulder. “We even fed your fish.”
“Considering that was the reason I asked you to watch over my apartment, I would hope so,” Alex muttered, closing the door with his foot as he wheeled his suitcase toward the bedroom. “You’re not staying for long, are you?”
“Rude.” Bella dropped onto the couch, thankfully kicking off her flip-flops before she curled her feet underneath her.
Alex rolled his eyes. Ignoring Bella’s pointed look, he disappeared into his bedroom, needing five minutes to have a private freak-out. When it came to guys, Alex did not have a good track record. He tended to flub his speech and trip over his own feet – ironic, given that Harry had tripped over him. With Harry, however, it had seemed all too natural to flirt and chat his way through the flight. Comforting Harry and make sure he didn’t have time to worry about flying hadn’t been as irritating as he thought it would be.