Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

froze Daren in shock. "My father and I don't get along because he swears you can't be gay and be a rock star. I disagree, but for years I tried to be everything he wanted other than an attorney. I figured if I wasn't going to do that for him, the least I could do was try to be straight."
    The dark head lifted slowly and Taylor's gaze met Daren's. "But I can't do that any longer. I'm not straight, and I don't want to be. Ever since I met you, it's been harder and harder to be something I'm not. I'm unhappy and I don't want to be." A quaver entered Taylor's voice. "I've been in love with you for five years, Daren. Every man you've been with since we met has driven a stake through my heart. I can't do this anymore. Either it's you and me or I need to not see so much of you because you're breaking my heart."
    " Holy shit ."
    The soft whisper escaped Daren's lips almost without thought as he stared wide-eyed at Taylor. His best friend appeared anguished, his body tense as a bow, eyes glittering with suppressed emotion. Long minutes passed as he tried to assimilate Taylor's words, tried to shift his reality of straight Taylor who would never love him back to gay Taylor who was just as much in love with him as he was with Taylor.
    Finally, Taylor's expression began to turn hopeful. "Dare?" he murmured, the sound almost pleading despite its softness.
    Daren drew a shuddering breath. "I'm trying not to tackle you to the floor like a crazed animal. If you don't want me to do that, then I need a minute to process what you said."
    A smile began to tentatively curve Taylor's lips. "I think it would be okay if you tackled me to the floor if that meant you were going to kiss me."
    The soft words held a wealth of yearning in them that Daren couldn't be nonchalant about. His heart was going a mile a minute and the only thing his brain could truly understand was that Taylor had said he loved him. He raised one arm and pinched the tender underside hard. Pain lanced through his flesh, and he winced. The hope in Taylor's golden gaze grew.
    "I'm not asleep."
    The wonder in his words spurred them both into motion. Daren surged to his feet as Taylor reached out a hand. He grasped the hand and jerked Taylor up, taking a step forward so that their bodies came together with an audible thud. Pleasure and an unbearable growing excitement took hold of Daren. He reached up and framed Taylor's handsome face with his hands.
    "I've dreamed of this moment for five years. I am not going to mess it up," he vowed as he pulled his best friend's head down and rose up on his toes. "Even if I have to stand on my tiptoes to get it done right."
    Daren's mouth took Taylor's with tenderness, his lips slanting over Taylor's with deliberate care. His parted lips coaxed Taylor's open, and he let the tip of his tongue briefly touch the fullness of the other man's lower lip. Taylor shuddered in his arms, the blanket slipping from one shoulder. Daren sipped at Taylor's lips, tasting the Earl Grey tea they'd been drinking. Taylor's hands gripped Daren's waist, his fingers digging into the flesh of his hips, clinging to him tightly as the kiss began to heat.
    The vulnerability he sensed in Taylor had Daren pulling back from the kiss before it could turn sexual. His thumbs caressed Taylor's cheekbones as he took in the shell shocked expression of adoration in his best friend's eyes. Never in his life had a man looked at him with that much emotion. Fear and excitement coiled together in the pit of his stomach.
    "As much as I would love to haul you straight to bed, there are things we need to talk about first," he said. "Wrap that blanket around you so I can concentrate."
    Taylor's hands dropped from Daren's waist and he tucked the blanket around his hips. His mouth curved into a sexy smile and Daren could hardly look away from the full, damp lips that moments ago had been plastered to his. He grabbed Taylor by the hand and pulled him over to the couch. As they sat down, Taylor pressed his body against Daren's, wrapping an arm around him. Left with no other comfortable place to put his arms, Daren curved them around Taylor. His eyes closed as happiness washed over him.
    "You look the way I feel."
    Daren opened his eyes and found Taylor smiling at him. "And what's that? Horny?" he quipped, unable to stop feeling as effervescent as a bottle of champagne.
    "Happy. Bone deep happy," Taylor said on a sigh, his face alight with contentment.
    "Ahhh. Well, you'll be more happy