“What does that mean?” Jason asked.
“Basically that Patrick intended on killing you,” Gabe explained. “Baby, listen. This is up to you. If it was me, I’d walk into that courtroom every day to make sure he gets what’s coming to him. But this is up to you. I will support you.”
Jason nodded, searched Gabe’s eyes, then smiled. “Okay. Here’s what I want. We’ll take it. But can we add something?”
Jack tilted his head.
“I’d like him to undergo anger management while he’s there. I need there to be a record that he’s not allowed to legally own a weapon. And when he gets out, I want a restraining order—he cannot come anywhere near me, Gabe, or our families.”
“We will consider it.” Jack promised. “In the end, it’s up to the judge to accept or reject this—just so you know.”
“Noted.” Jason muttered.
“But…,” Gabe started.
“No, Jack—no buts.” Jason glanced to Gabe, then back at the lawyer. “I don’t want this to drag on and on like these cases usually go. I want to move on with my life with the man I love, and I can’t do that with Patrick hovering over us for the next two years. If he isn’t agreeable to the terms, we can go to war and he can go to jail for life.”
Jack nodded. “Okay. I’ll bring these to the defense.”
With the meeting over, Jason allowed Gabe to hold his hand and lead him back out into the sunlight. For a moment he stood in the sun, his face lifted and his eyes closed. The weight of the world slowly slipped from his shoulders as the warmth of the rays wormed their way to his soul.
“The man you love.” Gabe’s voice was soft, cautious. “Is that me?”
Jason smiled but didn’t move. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“No. I mean, you smile at me a lot.”
Jason laughed but did look at Gabe then. “I do love you, Gabe. Every day I think I can’t—I mean, half a year is barely any time at all in relationship time.”
“Only to humans.” Gabe stared out to the parking lot. “That’s like six in dog years.”
“You’re a dick.” Jason guffawed. “Seriously for a second. You’ve been the best man to me. And I am under no delusions that the grass is greener anywhere else. I’ve been in bad relationships. I know what they feel like, and this—Gabe, this feels right.”
Gabe cradled his face. “I love you too.”
The happiness that surged through Jason then made him float on air. He kissed Gabe, softly at first but deeper as Gabe melted into his chest. When he lifted his head, he wanted to take Gabe home.
“I guess I definitely have to meet Tomlinson Senior now, huh?”
Jason grinned, took Gabe’s hand, and led him across the lot. “Oh yeah. Not only are you banging his son, but his son is in love with you. It’s only logical.”
“Of course.” Gabe chuckled. “Well, I will take another couple weeks’ vacation, and we can go with a stopover in South Korea. Deal?”
Jason kissed him. “Deal. Now, my place or yours?”
“Mine—ours.”
Jason arched a brow. “I’d love to move in with you.”
“Good.” Gabe kissed him. “When we get home, I’ll make you lunch, and afterward, I’ll show you where I want to get my tattoo.”
“Oh, Mr. Ford. Talk dirty to me.”
Gabe crinkled his nose and stole another smooch. “Why don’t you put your cycle in the back of my truck?”
“I’d love to.” Jason lowered his voice and wiggled his brows.
Gabe laughed. “Later, baby. But your motorcycle?” He pointed from the black beast to his truck. “The back of my truck? That way you can feel me up on the drive home.”
Jason moaned. “Sir, yes, sir.”
More from Remmy Duchene
The severe bullying he suffered as a teenager left Jack Flemming scarred both physically and emotionally. Now an adult, he has carved out a life for himself as co-owner of the Mechanic Shop. He enjoys his volunteer work with the throwaway boys and has a supportive best friend. When the past resurfaces in a phone call from Zachariah Durban, Jack discovers that while living is easy, forgiveness is much harder.
Zachariah Durban did a bad thing when he was a young punk of a teenager. But right after he did it, he knew it wasn’t right. Still, he ran away and made something of himself as a big shot author. Now, living in the south of France with writer’s block hitting him hard, Zachariah knows something has to change—starting with earning Jack Flemming’s forgiveness.
Anderson “Andy” Hartley Jr. lives the life of a playboy with Daddy’s money, but without love. If his father finds out Andy’s gay, the game’s over. So he restricts his sex life to the pool house and seems content until he meets the gorgeous new groundskeeper, who just might turn his life upside-down. Merrick “Maverick” Washington is African-American, an ex-SEAL, and recently released from prison after his false conviction was overturned. Working for a rich white dude who looks down his nose at him is one more blow to his spirit. But any job is a step toward self-sufficiency, and Maverick’s not willing to risk that for a spoiled brat. Then Andy tugs at more than Maverick’s body, and he’s starting to wonder how things would shake out if they both overcame their fears and let their worlds collide.
One can’t walk the path of darkness and expect to escape unscathed.
At eighteen, Foster Erickson stepped out of the closet into a world of homelessness, prostitution, and drugs. Years later, he’s pulled it together and is ready to rebuild.
Determined not to let the demons win, Foster starts university with a plan to keep others from making the same mistakes he did. The last thing he expects is Sylvester Roberts.
After years of working with his father, Sylvester decides to step out on his own. University at his age is strange, but for him, failure isn’t an option. After flunking a few tests, Sylvester’s professor assigns him a tutor—Foster Erickson. The moment they meet, Sylvester knows Foster isn’t like other guys.
As the darkness hovers and Sylvester begins falling, he will have to decide if helping Foster fight his demons will be worth it in the end.
Wealthy real estate mogul Christophe Lafavre has everything—except any love life to speak of. Though he has a brilliant head for business, when it comes to relationships, he’s often left fumbling in the dark.
To put a stop to the whispers about his pitiful social life, Christophe takes a suggestion from a friend and goes to a club on masquerade night. There, he meets an elusive hottie who calls himself Raj, and though Christophe cannot see Raj’s face, there’s definitely a connection. Over the phone and online, Christophe and Raj get to know each other. Their conversation is easy and arousing. It’s hard for Christophe to believe the strength of the feelings he’s developing toward a man who is still essentially a stranger, but he can’t get Raj out of his head. They eventually give in to their physical longing—but still Raj refuses to show his face or divulge his identity.
When it comes, the revelation will rock Christophe’s world and redefine more than one relationship in his life.
Wounded: Book One
Zane Ashford’s stint in the NYPD comes to an abrupt halt when he is injured in the line of duty. After waking up partially blind in one eye, all he wants to do is crawl into a hole, but his friends and family won’t leave him alone. Reluctantly, he lets his best friend talk him into time away on a ranch in Montana. But the moment he gets there and meets Cyrus Abrams, Zane begins to contemplate murder.
Cyrus Abrams is vulgar, ornery, stuck in his ways, and not about to change for anyone, no matter how good Zane Ashford looks in those jeans. The more they lock horns, the more Cyrus begins to see Zane in a whole new light. But Cyrus has a past, one that left him in big trouble and more broken than he cares to admit—a past no one told Zane about. Cyrus fears that when Zane finds out, everything will come to a screeching halt.
REMMY DUCHENE is a multipublished author who was born in St. Anns, Jamaica, then moved to Canada at a young age. When not w
orking or writing, Remmy loves dabbling in photography, traveling, and spending time with family.
Blog: remmyduchene.blogspot.com
Twitter: @remmyduchene
Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/remmyaedan.duchene
Website: remmyduchene.wix.com/remmymantasy
By Remmy Duchene
Captive to His Wonder
Country Soul
Deliver Me
Tempt Me
With Allison Cassatta: This Is Love
Touch
Trust and Control
With BLMorticia
WOUNDED
Wounded Hearts
Wounded Pride
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Tempt Me
© 2018 Remmy Duchene.
Cover Art
© 2018 Kanaxa.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-512-5
Digital eBook published August 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Tempt Me Page 9