by V. L. Locey
Davy gave me a dry over-the-shoulder look. “What is it with you and the captain? Should I be worried?”
“You know I love a man in uniform.” I patted his ass, happy to feel the tight orb through his swim trunks. “Shame you didn’t pack your dress jacket.”
“Okay, stop talking like that. I can’t be sporting an erection if you want me to enter this silly contest.”
I kissed him on the back of the neck and then stood behind him as he signed up while rolling his eyes continually at me. That was fine. He could roll those pretty peepers all he wanted. This Panthers alumni cruise was the most amazing thing ever. We’d only been on the ship for two days, and I could see the tension leaving Davy hour by hour. It had been a stressful Christmas. Dunny had taken a bad tumble on Christmas Eve day. Thankfully, I’d been in the house when it had happened, and I’d been able to get him up off the bathroom floor—darn throw rug had been tossed out despite his protests about it being one of Rose’s favorites—and into the car. The x-rays at the ER over in Chicory showed no broken bones, but he was going to be sore for a while. That episode gave us all a scare. It also got him one of those elderly folk alarms they wear around their necks. Sure I was just a shout away, but what if the windows were shut as they always were in the winter? What if I went out to dinner with Davy some night? What if, what if, what if. Worry was a constant companion. And then there was the legal shenanigans with the Markson’s…
“You’re stressing. I can see it on your forehead. Are you thinking about Dunny or the damn Markson’s?” Davy asked as we lingered by the pool. “He’s fine and enjoying the hell out of the Florida warmth.”
“I know, I just wonder if I should be doing more…”
“Babe, short of living with him which he will not allow or moving him to a home which you won’t allow, I’m not sure what more you can do. He’s spending a few weeks with your folks while we cruise, he’ll be fine. Maybe he’ll decide to stay in Florida once he gets a taste of it.”
“Pfft, yeah right. He’s too damned contrary to go somewhere warm and safe. It’s much better to toddle around on the ice to feed the songbirds and toss bread to those stupid geese.”
He smiled and pecked me on the cheek. “Oh stop grumbling. You love having Dunny there and you love those geese.”
“Do not,” I countered then pouted. I kind of did but I was never going to cop to it.
“It’ll all work out. I keep telling myself that.”
“Yeah, it will. Sorry I’m bringing us down.” I clapped my hands. “Right! So, you’re entering the sexy chest contest, and I’m going to join the best belly flop competition!”
He shook his head and I grabbed it and kissed it. His dark hair was hot from the brilliant sun shining down on us. The activities director blew her whistle and called for the sexy chest contestants to gather by the pool. I helped Davy shed his shirt. Mm-mm-mm. Only two days in the sun and his skin was a beautiful acorn color. Mine was hot pink and ouchy across my back and shoulders. Much rubbing of sunscreen took place this morning before I was allowed to leave our cabin. The man was such a worrier. I liked it though.
“Oh, baby, you so got this won.” I ran my fingers through the short black hair on his chest. “Go make Daddy proud.”
He ambled off, obviously embarrassed. A few of our fellow cruisers walked up, both Panthers fans who had signed up just to spend time with me and the other old warhorses who were sailing the high seas. We chatted for a bit, talking about games past and current players, the Panther’s future, and my boyfriend’s killer abs. When Davy won first place, I wasn’t surprised because roar, the man had sexy oozing out of him.
The days melded into each other. Hours spent exploring the ports of call, eating gourmet food, lounging by the pool, and dancing the nights away. By day eight I’d decided to sell the studio and live on a cruise ship. I even told Davy so he could get used to the idea.
“Not sure you can do that,” Davy told me as we strolled along the promenade deck under a black sky lit by a hundred thousand stars. “Where would the geese live?”
“Why in the pool, silly.” I slipped my hand into his and led him to a railing. The moon was full and heavy and the color of a pumpkin. Music from the house band drifted up to us on warm Caribbean winds. We rested our elbows to the rail, enjoying the moonglow on the waves. “Speaking of the geese…”
“They’re fine. Mom has taken to chopping them greens daily.” A sweet smile played on his lips.
“Ugh, she’ll have them so spoiled I won’t be able to do a thing with them when I get home,” I teased, bumping his hip with mine. “Any news about the Markson trial? You have worry wrinkles at the corners of your eyes.”
He sighed, turning to face me, his hip resting on the railing. “They’re still saying they felt threatened by the fact that you came to the lumber yard and confronted—”
“Oh, horseshit. He confronted me, twice!”
“Look, we knew they were going to try to make this sound like it was all our fault, that we harassed them because of their strong moral stance against our chosen sexualities.”
“Okay, first of all, we don’t choose to be gay we’re born this way, secondly—”
I didn’t get to make my second point because Davy captured my flapping lips in a searing kiss that stripped away most of the irritation. Most, not all. We were scheduled to testify in court sometime in February, and I was ready. I’d tell my side of things today, but the legal system was a slow crawl not a sprint. Shame really, I’d much rather limp into court than be able to stride in, but striding was how I was walking now unless it was damp and rainy, then the combination of the deep scar and a bionic knee gave me a gimp.
“We’re not doing this now,” he whispered, taking my face between his hands. “We’re not letting the Markson’s intrude on this trip. This cruise is about us. The rest of the world can go to hell right now. Hatred kept us apart for far too long. It is not rearing its ugly head here. We’ll deal with that when we’re back home.”
“You talk so pretty,” I ground myself into him, capturing his mouth this time. The kisses went on and on, long sweet things that stoked a raging fire that only his loving would be able to extinguish.
“Mm, I want to ask you something,” he purred between tastes and touches.
“Yes, I did eat your crab cake, it wasn’t Mrs. Miller as I’d claimed, even though she did look guilty about it.”
“I knew it was you. You had tartar sauce on your chin. Still do.” He wiped at the glob of mayo and relish with his thumb. “What I wanted to ask you has nothing to do with dinner. It has to do with the studio, and the geese, and Dunny, and our lives together. I was wondering if you’d like to get married?”
Higher brain functions slammed down. I stammered for a moment, gazing into his beautiful face as the moon and stars danced above us.
“Married? As in husband and husband?” Ah words. Stupid words but words just the same. “Here on the boat?”
“Well sure, we can. I think we might need to do the legal stuff once we’re back in port, but this could be a symbolic sort of thing.”
“You weren’t thinking now, were you?” I knew the man, could read him pretty well by now.
The hesitance clouding his features disappeared. “Doesn’t matter. Let’s do it. Now. Let’s find that damn handsome captain and have him marry us. Then when we get home, we’ll do a legal thing, make the folks happy because my mother will be so mad we did this on a cruise ship outside Grand Cayman!”
“Oh shit, my mother will tar and feather me. Okay, yes, symbolic now, legal later. Yeah? You good with this?”
He grinned like a jack-o-lantern. “I am crazy good with this. But I don’t have rings. I mean, I thought we’d just kind of discuss it and not leap on the moment.”
“Davy, we lost too many moments already. We’ll get rings in our next port. Real cheap ones that turn our fingers green. And we’ll get drunk and have sex on the beach and be moved to the newlywed suite where we can fo
ol around in heart-shaped jacuzzi and—”
He kissed me into silence yet again. This was getting to be a habit. “You talk too much. Let’s go find the captain and do this before we lose one more second.”
And off we ran, hand-in-hand, to locate the captain.
It wasn’t much of a wedding, just us two besotted kids, a handful of Panthers’ fans, and a spattering of the crew who clapped and tossed confetti into the air. We drank pink champagne, kissed, laughed, cried a little, and danced until the orange moon sank into the rolling sea.
The End
What is next in the Colors of Love series?
Look for A Brush of Blue
Colors of Love #5 coming 8/12/20
The most difficult of life’s choices might be the one we make when we open our hearts to another.
Landon Reece is the ultimate Manhattan athlete. The elite goalie for the New York Metros is rich, handsome, generous, and purposely single. His life has been a whirlwind of fancy cars, beautiful people, museum galas, and championship rings. Landon now has one year left on his multi-million dollar contract, and the talk around town isn’t good. Despite carrying his team to the pinnacle of success, the aging goalie is hearing rumors that his contract might not be renewed next season. Hoping to curtail the rumors and show the Metros he still has what it takes, Landon and his agent set up a press tour to hopefully remind the fans—and Metros’ management—just how important Landon is to New York City.
During one of a hundred appearances on the tour, Landon finds himself a guest on the newest and hottest late night talk show in the Big Apple. There he meets Montrell Pittman, leader of the show’s band, A Brush of Blue, and his senses come alive. He resolves to do his best to woo the upbeat, sexy musician who ignites his blood like no other person ever has. As the two men grow closer, Landon’s ice time shows how happy his new romance is making him. Then a tragedy rocks his world, and Landon finds himself wallowing in despair and in danger of losing the one man who might be the only one who can clear his blues away.
A note from the author…
If you enjoyed Slow Dances Under an Orange Moon, Colors of Love #4, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could leave a review on a major retailer site, BookBub, Goodreads, or on your personal social media platforms.
Reviews are the reason someone else might decide to give this book a try!
Deepest thanks,
*squishy hugs*
V.L.
Meet V.L. Locey
USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey
Penning LGBT hockey romance that
skates into sinful pleasures.
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee.
(Not necessarily in that order.)
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.
vllocey.com | [email protected]
If you want to keep up with all the latest news about her upcoming M/M releases, sign up for her newsletter by visiting her website:
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Other books by V.L. Locey
LGBTQ Releases
Holly & Hockey Boots
Life is a Stevie Wonder Song
Blue Line Collection #1
Improper Fraction
Playmaker – A Venom Novella
The New York Nightwings Collection
An Erie Collection
Nightside—An Erie Vampire Tale
Love is a Walk in the Park
Shake the Stars
Tales of Bryant
Nine Small Sips – A Tales of Bryant Wedding
Fade In – A Tales of Bryant Romance
Reserved – A Tales of Bryant Romance #2 (Coming 4/8/20)
Cayuga Cougars Series
Point Shot Trilogy Boxed Set
Snap Shot—Cayuga Cougars #1
Open Net – Cayuga Cougars #2
Coach’s Challenge – Cayuga Cougars #3
Overtime – Cayuga Cougars #4
One-on-One – Cayuga Cougars #5
A Star-Crossed Christmas – A Cayuga Cougars Short
Overtime – The Trilogy
Rebound – Overtime #1
Final Shot – Overtime #2 (Coming 13 May, 2020)
Draw – Overtime #3 (Coming 14 October, 2020)
Harrisburg Railers Series
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Changing Lines—Harrisburg Railers #1
First Season—Harrisburg Railers #2
Deep Edge—Harrisburg Railers #3
Poke Check – Harrisburg Railers #4
Last Defense – Harrisburg Railers #5
Goal Line – Harrisburg Railers #6
Harrisburg Novellas
Neutral Zone – A Holiday Novella
Hat Trick
Save The Date
Owatonna Eagles Series:
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Ryker - Owatonna Eagles #1
Scott – Owatonna Eagles #2
Benoit – Owatonna Eagles #3
Christmas Lights - a Christmas Novella
Arizona Raptors Series:
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Coast to Coast—Arizona Raptors #1
Across the Pond—Arizona Raptors #2
Shadows and Light – Arizona Raptors #3 (Coming 29 March 2020)
Colors of Love Series
Lost in Indigo – Colors of Love #1
Touch of a Yellow Sun – Colors of Love #2
The Good Green Earth – Colors of Love #3
Slow Dances Under an Orange Moon– Colors of Love #3
A Brush of Blue – Colors of Love #5 (Coming 12 August, 2020)
Laurel Holidays
The Christmas Oaks - Laurel Holidays #1
The Christmas Pundit – Laurel Holidays #2 (Coming 9 December 2020)
The Christmas Tenor – Laurel Holidays #3 (Coming December 2021)
M/F Releases
Pink Pucks & Power Plays (To Love a Wildcat #1)
A Most Unlikely Countess (To Love a Wildcat #2)
O Captain! My Captain! (To Love a Wildcat #3)
Reality Check (To Love a Wildcat #4)
Language of Love (To Love a Wildcat #5)
Final Shifts (To Love a Wildcat #6)
Clean Sweep (Venom #1)
Twirly Girl (Venom #2)
Tape to Tape (Venom #3)
Angle Play (Venom #4)
Flow (Venom #5)
Blueline (Venom #6)
Roster Addition (A To Love a Wildcat novella)