Introducing Tom and Lucas Part 2

Hi there!

Here's another snippet from Claiming Mister Kemp.

Tom and Lucas have been close friends for years. For most of that time they've been in love with each other—and doing their best to ignore the attraction between them.

But now Tom's back from soldiering, and things are about to change. In fact, they already have changed.

Last night Lucas was drunk and things went further than friendship. Way further. Lucas wants to pretend it didn't happen, but Tom refuses to pretend any more.

[This scene is in Tom's point of view, so the italics are his thoughts.]

Lucas lengthened his stride, walking even faster. Trying to outrun the memory of last night? Trying to outrun the silent, sexual frisson between them?

Or is it only me who feels it?

Tom didn’t think so. Something—instinct, hunch, gut feeling—call it whatever one wanted—something told him that the attraction wasn’t one-sided. That it had never been one-sided.

Lucas swung right and cut down Avery Row, striding fast.

“Lucas—”

“Not now.”

“Yes, now.” Another five minutes and they’d be at the Albany, where Smollet was waiting and where any chance of private conversation would be lost.

“I told you: I don’t―”

The Brook Street Mews loomed to one side, a black cave in the darkness. Tom caught Lucas’s arm and pulled him into the mews.

Lucas tried to jerk his arm free. “Look, I don’t want to talk. I’m tired―”

“Tough,” Tom said, propelling Lucas backwards until his back thudded up against a wall. “Because I do want to talk.”

“Damn it, Tom―”

Tom leaned in and kissed him. He couldn’t see Lucas in the darkness of the mews; the kiss fell off-center, catching the very corner of Lucas’s mouth.

Lucas stiffened, and jerked his head back.

Tom heard their breaths—short, sharp—and then he kissed Lucas again.

This time he found his mark.

So, there you have it. Their friendship is changing—and this time, Lucas can't pretend it's not happening.



[Image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum's collection of public domain images.]