About Winston Quirk

by Martin Delacroix
36 pages / 7800 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

When Winston Quirk, a twenty-two-year-old black man, is beaten by racist bullies on the Bahamian island of Man-O-War Cay, Dane Barger comes to his defense. Dane’s a white college professor who has prejudices of his own, but he feels a strong attraction to Winston. Does love have a chance between them? Set in 1975, Winston Quirk explores interracial love and the fears and cruelties it sometimes engenders.

Sample

He emerged from his shower wearing white briefs and nothing else, carrying the rest of his clothing and his sandals, and the sight of his athletic physique made my mouth go sticky. I swallowed and tried not to stare but it was hard not to. His belly was flat and striated, and the pouch of his underwear displayed a randy bulge. A line of dark hair descended from his navel, contrasting nicely with the lighter color of his skin.

He placed his clothing and sandals on a ladder back chair, then sat on the sofa next to me, smelling of soap and shampoo. I looked at his muscular thighs, at his calves dusted with dark fuzz, and I felt a tingle in my under shorts. Trickles of sweat slid from my armpits, making their way down my rib cage. My voice cracked like a teenager’s when I asked Winston what time he’d like to rise in the morning.

“I’ll make us breakfast,” I said.

Winston looked at me and smiled, then he leaned toward me and kissed my cheek and my belly fluttered at this intimacy. He said, “You’re awfully sweet, Dane. Are you this nice to everybody?”

My face flamed and I dropped my gaze, thinking, Holy shit. Maybe …

“What’s wrong?” Winston said.

I looked up at him and drew a breath. Go ahead, Barger, ask him. If he’s not interested, he’ll say so.

I said, “You don’t have to sleep on the sofa. You could sleep in my bed if you’d like.”

Winston’s gaze remained locked onto mine while his lips parted in a grin. He said, “Would you be in the bed also?”

I nodded.

“Sure,” Winston said. “I’d like that.”