Breaking Ground (available now at Ellora’s Cave)
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Buddies since kindergarten, Ray Jenkins and Eric Richards have never crossed the line into a sexual relationship. But when Ray breaks the news to Eric that he’s leaving for war, their friendship suddenly slides into something deeper, and what’s intended to be a guys’ night in turns out to be a guys’ night in bed.

Two years later, their one night of hot sex is a distant memory and having heard nothing from Ray since his abrupt departure, Eric can’t believe it when his old friend shows up. Using his mouth and his hands, Ray makes it clear how much he still wants Eric, and unable to resist, Eric falls right back into Ray’s bed. But fear that Ray will leave again holds him back, and despite the passion growing between them, Eric can’t let go of the pain he suffered while Ray was gone. Ray has to convince him that this time ’round he’s not going anywhere or else their burgeoning relationship will be over before it has the chance to begin.

Friends to lovers is never easy…

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, watching the anger flare in Eric’s eyes. “I should have—” he broke off as another surge of emotion caught him off-guard. “I should have told you first.”

“Damn right.” Eric sat back slowly then scrubbed his hands over his face. “Why do you always have to play the fucking hero?” he hissed through his fingers. Dropping his hands, he glared at Ray. “You tried it before and you screwed up your knee. Why the hell can’t you leave it there?”

Stung by the hero comment but accepting Eric’s right to be mad—hell, if their roles were reversed Ray would kick his ass—he just shrugged. “I need to go back, it’s the right thing to do.”

Eric swore under his breath and grabbed another beer from the table. “What if you get yourself killed?” he challenged, twisting off the bottle cap. “Will it still be the right thing to do then?”

“I’m not going to die.”

“No?” Raising a brow, Eric gave a short, humorless laugh. “You sure about that?”

Of course he wasn’t sure about that but he wouldn’t enter a warzone with a death wish. If he had a chance of getting out alive, he had to believe he could do it. So instead of responding to Eric’s demands, he waited for the guy to cool off.

“What did your Mom say?” Eric asked after a few minutes of tense silence.

“Not much. She’s upset but she knew it was coming.”

“And Sara? Is playing soldier worth losing her over?”

Ray slanted him a warning look. “It’s no game, Eric.” He took a sip of beer and let the cold liquid wash down his throat. “Besides, we would have broken up anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t working.”

“Bet she didn’t think so.”

“No,” he was forced to admit. Then noting the bunched muscles beneath Eric’s t-shirt, he reached out and rubbed Eric’s shoulder, softening his tone as he said, “I’ll be okay, buddy.”

Eric gave a small smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You think you’re invincible, Jenkins.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t summon the energy to be mad anymore. “That’s always been your problem.”

“Guess you’re right.” Ray offered a sheepish grin and let his hand slide from Eric’s muscled shoulder. Needing to lighten the atmosphere, he rose to his feet and strode to the end of the room. “You up for a game of pool?” He patted a hand on the felt-covered table. “Gotta get the most out of her while I’m still around.”

The smile on Eric’s face tightened as he rose up from the sofa. “No, I think I’ll take off,” he said, grabbing his leather jacket from the back of an armchair.

Ray frowned, his stomach locking with dread. A sudden rush of fear nearly choked him. He didn’t want this to be the last time he saw Eric. “Already?” he asked, the word higher than it should have been. “It’s not even nine yet.”

“I’m pretty beat.” Eric turned and started toward the door. Ray jogged after him, catching the door before it swung closed.

“Hey,” he said, grabbing Eric’s forearm. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Eric’s mouth lifted in a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Just don’t get killed.” He started to pull away again but Ray tightened his grip on his arm.

“I don’t want to leave things like this,” he said, his tone urgent. Eric meant way too much to warrant such a short goodbye.

Eric’s gaze shifted to his and the pain Ray saw in the blue depths of his eyes twisted his stomach. “Then how do you want to leave things?” Eric faced him fully and Ray belatedly realized the proximity of their bodies as Eric’s clean smell of soap and leather surrounded him.

He breathed in the scent then asked, “What?”

“How do you want to leave things?” A daring note laced Eric’s tone as he searched Ray’s eyes. “What do you want me to say?”

Ray faltered then held his breath as Eric stepped forward, his lean-muscled body seeming a helluva lot more intimidating when he stood so close.

“I don’t know,” Ray said on an expelled breath. “I mean we—” He wanted to tell Eric how much he meant to him but he couldn’t get his mouth around the words. “What about you, how do you want to leave things?”

The flare in Eric’s eyes stole the very breath from his body. He read the desire in the man’s dark pupils, his clenched jaw, the harsh line of his mouth. He’d always been aware that Eric was gay and it had never been an issue between them. It wasn’t an issue now, not even as Eric dipped his head and his firm lips covered Ray’s.