Sunday Snog: Promises

It's my first time participating in the Sunday Snog, so it seems appropriate to post a snog from my very first novel, Promises. 

Jared Thomas has lived his whole life in the small mountain town of Coda, Colorado. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Unfortunately, the only other gay man in town is twice his age and used to be his teacher, so Jared is resigned to spending his life alone.

Until Matt Richards walks into his life, that is. Matt has just been hired by the Coda Police Department, and he and Jared immediately become friends. Matt claims he is straight, but for Jared, having a sexy friend like Matt is way too tempting. Facing Matt's affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt's co-workers, Jared fears they'll never find a way to be together—if he can even convince Matt to try.

The snog itself is below…

"Jared, I want to try something. Like an experiment. Is that okay?"

"Last time you asked a question like that, it ended with you not speaking to me for almost two months." I tried to say it lightly, but I didn't quite pull it off.

He lightly wrapped his arms around me and put his face in my hair. "I know. I'm sorry."

I thought about it for a minute. I had an idea what he had in mind. "I don't want to be alone anymore. Whatever you want this to be between us, I can handle it. Just don't leave me again."

"Never. I promise. I learned my lesson."

I took a deep breath, tried to slow my speeding heart, and turned to face him. "Okay."

He pulled me close, then took my face in his hands, and looked into my eyes. I started to put my arms around him, but he tensed up and said, "No. Don't do that."

"I'm not allowed to touch you?"

"Not yet."

"What do you want me to do then?"

"Stop talking." He was so serious I might have laughed if my heart wasn't pounding so hard. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

He was combing his fingers through my hair, and I remembered my birthday—his hands in my hair and his weight against me, his lips against my neck, and then him walking out the door.

"Relax, Jared," he whispered, and I pulled my mind away from that night. It would not end like that. Whatever happened, he had promised not to leave again. I felt him lean in. Felt his breath against my lips and then the faintest brush of his lips over my mouth— soft, warm lips against mine. It was all I could do to keep my hands at my side. Then he actually kissed me, firm but gentle, his lips just barely parted.

He never said I couldn't kiss back.

I opened my mouth, leaned into him, and brushed the tip of my tongue against his lips.

Whatever wall he had been trying to keep between us crumbled away at that slight touch. He moaned, and suddenly he was really kissing me, his arms tight around me, his tongue touching mine, his body pressing hard against me. This time, he didn't object when I put my arms around him.

An eternity later, he pulled back a little. One hand was in my hair, his other arm around my waist, and his forehead was against mine.

"Was that the result you were expecting?" I asked breathlessly.

He closed his eyes but didn't pull away. He took a deep breath and just barely shook his head. "No."

"You didn't think you would like it."

This time, a slight nod. "At the very least, I thought it would be like some of the women I've kissed: pleasant but uninspiring."

That made me smile. "And instead…?"

"Oh God." His breath was shaky. He looked into my eyes and smiled back. "Very inspiring."

 

Buy Promises here. Check out all the hot Sunday Snog action at victoriablisse.co.uk.