About Nice: Concordant

by J. Rocci
26 pages / 5500 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

Officer Joshua Dabbs has been working long hours due to budget cuts and the holiday crazies, so he’s not thrilled when his patrol partner lets slip that Josh’s husband, lawyer Garrison Williams, has planned a weekend trip for two to New York City right before Christmas.

Josh hates traveling, especially around the holidays, so Garrison shows how persuasive a lawyer can be with tactics not fit for the inside of a court room. Once they’re actually at the hotel in New York, Josh relaxes after Garrison agrees to stay in for the night. Garrison has a plan, though, that results in Josh getting to open a very intimate Christmas present early.

Sample

"So," Josh says as he tries to gauge Garrison's expression over the dining room table that night. He's finished demolishing his lasagna and Garrison looks pleased. "New York City."

"Someone's been talking I see," Garrison muses, setting his fork down and leaning back in his chair, toying with his wine glass. The light from the chandelier highlights the planes of his face, from his shaved head to his high cheekbones. His smoky eyes are warm as he contemplates Josh with the hint of a smile.

"To be fair, we were both sleep-deprived at the time," Josh offers with a lazy shrug.

"Mmmhmm." Garrison swirls the wine in his glass, taking a sip.

Josh sprawls in his chair, hooking his elbow on the back of the chair next to him, and fiddles with the stem of his own glass. He lets the silence drag out. They're both stubborn, patient men, and Josh isn't the one with a surprise vacation plan.

Instead, he just admires the cut of Garrison's bespoke Italian shirt, the way the shade of lavender stands in striking contrast to Garrison's dark brown skin. The top two buttons are undone, revealing the shadows of Garrison's collarbones and the sharp line of muscled shoulders, tie long discarded.

Garrison strokes the tabletop in a calculated move to draw Josh's attention to his long fingers and his wide hands. He's starting to play dirty. Josh is intrigued, but they both have above-average poker faces and if he asks outright, Garrison wins.