Rites of Spring Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Rites of Spring blog hop! March 20-23, 2013

Starting March 20, visit the participating authors and bloggers to learn more about current titles and upcoming releases, and for your chance to WIN print books, ebooks, gift certificates, book swag, or other goodies.

GRAND PRIZE DRAW!

1st Place: Kindle Fire

2nd Place: $50 Amazon gift certificate

Falling for the first time. So very sweet, that first glance, first touch, first kiss. In my story WITHOUT AIDEN Tris is single again without wanting to be. In this excerpt, he’s remembering the very first kiss he shared with his lover.

WITHOUT AIDEN

Amazon     ARe Books

Is a gift of love enough to open Aiden’s heart and let Tris back in?

After the car accident that killed his parents and left his sister paralyzed, Tris is left with nothing. His family is destroyed. His reputation is shot. And all he has is the guilt of knowing it was all his fault. People in town know he’d been drinking that night, and know he should never have gotten behind the wheel. And even Aiden, the man he thought he’d be with forever, blames him too much to stay.

But Tris can’t let him just disappear. After months of loneliness and isolation, Tris brings Aiden a gift on his birthday, a hawk he’s carved from a chunk of wood they’d found in the forest during an afternoon of love. A small chink seems to open in Aiden’s heart, the first sign of forgiveness. With renewed hope, Tris takes a job renovating one of the older homes in town and tries to rebuild his life. But the townspeople have long memories, and when his sister’s condition worsens, forgiveness—and Aiden—seem to slip even further out of reach…

EXCERPT

When the last brick was set in place, Andrew sighed and slipped off his gloves. “Excellent. I was hoping to get this done today.” He glanced at his watch and frowned. “It’s almost six. Why don’t you go on home and we’ll pick up tomorrow? I need to shower and get going.”

“Hot date?” Tris teased, then his eyes widened as a blush colored Andrew’s handsome face. “You do have one! Who is it? I know everyone in town…”

He laughed when Andrew threw up his hands. “I’m not telling. Last thing I need is you showing up to embarrass me.”

“I’d never do that. Fine, I’m leaving.” Tris pretended to be hurt and scrambled from the hole when Andrew took a jab at him. He was still chuckling when he climbed on his bike and started down the street. He went through all the women he knew in town, wondering which one would attract his very masculine boss.

“The librarian? Sally at the grocery store? Catherine?” The blare of a horn brought him out of his reverie. Shit! He ducked his head and pedaled as hard as he could, hoping to God Aiden hadn’t noticed him circling the parking lot in front of his apartment. He laughed painfully, recalling the times in high school he’d trolled Aiden’s neighborhood, shirt off, new jeans snug on his hips, silently praying his best friend would see him as something more.

His face warmed when he thought of the time Aiden had caught him. He’d been riding in lazy circles on the street.

“Tris?”

Startled, he’d jerked his head up and nearly crashed into a parked car when he spotted Aiden on his porch watching him, a small grin on the sexy lips Tris had just been dreaming of.

He’d pedaled into the driveway and stopped, straddling the bike. “Um…hi.”

Aiden had glanced over his bare chest, lingered on the bulge growing in his jeans. Tris swallowed a moan at the approval in Aiden’s smile. “What are you doing?”

Tris shrugged. “Just out riding. Going somewhere?” he asked, noting Aiden’s pack.

“The library. Research for that damned essay in English Comp.”

“Want a ride?”

Aiden smirked, lifting a brow, and Tris flushed. Oh God, why had he said that? “Um…”

“Sure.” Aiden laughed softly and stepped onto the bars Tris had put on the back tire to give Candice a lift to school. Tris recalled the heat of Aiden’s body seeping into his back as they traveled the few blocks to the library. Aiden’s fingers burned where they gripped his shoulders, and Tris’s senses caught fire when his friend began to trace circles on his skin with his thumbs. The unexpected caress jolted straight to his cock, and Tris’s heart raced.

He brought them to a stop at the back of the library where a copse of trees and low hedges hid them from view. He waited, chest heaving, tense. What would Aiden…

Tris had shivered when Aiden placed a soft kiss behind his ear and slid his hands down Tris’s chest, rubbed the wisps of hair on his stomach. “I’d like to kiss you,” Aiden murmured, nuzzling Tris’s neck.

Afraid he was dreaming, Tris turned his head, and the lips he adored slid over his, warm, pliant, so sweet. Tris nudged them with his tongue and was invited into the heat and life of Aiden’s mouth. Aiden’s tongue tangled with his, teased, tasted. Tris moaned and leaned back against him, and Aiden lost his perch and stepped to the ground with a laugh.

“That was amazing,” he said, touching Tris’s mouth. He leaned down and kissed him again. Tris trembled when Aiden’s fingers slid along his stomach and outlined his cock through the snug jeans. Tris whimpered. He knew Aiden had been with other boys, but Tris hadn’t. He wasn’t sure what he should do. What did Aiden expect?

Aiden gave him a last sweet kiss then moved his hands to cup Tris’s face. “It’s OK, baby. My parents are out this evening. Come over? About five? I’d like to kiss you somewhere private.”

“Yes,” Tris whispered, voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, knowing he blushed, but his heart sang when Aiden gave him a brilliant smile then turned and headed toward the front of the building.

PRIZE TIME! Please leave a comment telling me of a special ‘first’ you’ve had for a chance to win any book on my backlist. Don’t forget your contact info!

A list of participants in the Rites of Spring blog hop is Here!