Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

staring at my flagpole." Taylor's amber eyes glittered with a lethal combination of lust and amusement.
    "No kiss for good luck then." Daren heaved another sigh, this one decidedly dramatic. "I suppose all my praise and accolades for what you're doing will have to wait until we're alone."
    Taylor leaned close and whispered in Daren's ear, "The next time we're alone, you can praise and accolade your cock right into my ass."
    A surge of lust pressed Daren's dick up against the metal buttons of his jeans. He reached for the car door muttering, "And I thought I was the girl in this relationship."
    "Oh, no," Taylor said with a wide grin. "We get to take turns. Makes it all so much more fun that way."
    "How the hell did you get so comfortable being gay so quickly?" Daren got out of Taylor's SUV and shut the door. "I swear it took me years to talk to a man the way you talk to me."
    Taylor came around the back of the truck and took Daren's hand in his, lacing their fingers together. "I'm comfortable with you. I'm comfortable with feeling happy for the first time since I was a kid. If being gay means I get to feel like this every day, I think they should bottle it and sell it. It would end all the wars."
    "Now, you're turning all liberal on me." Daren returned Taylor's grin with one of his own. "Let's get this over with before my flagpole decides to make an appearance. Wouldn't do to be showing that off in front of my ex."
    At the mention of Stone Bradley, Taylor's face clouded a little, but Daren squeezed his hand and they walked across the parking lot to the door of the coffeehouse. The instant they stepped inside, the scent of coffee and fresh baked bread swirled around them. Daren had always loved how the Grinder smelled. It had made working there during college less of a chore. Of course, he'd loved going to work because he'd known he would see Taylor too.
    The manager waved at them from behind the counter and they both returned the wave, Daren with his right hand and Taylor with his left. And that was the moment that everyone noticed they were holding hands. The band, seated on a couch and loveseat around a coffee table in a corner of the room, stared wide-eyed as they strolled over, Taylor leading Daren.
    The drummer, a dishwater blond, surfer lookalike named Alex, shook his head in shock. "Wow. Way to make a statement Sutton."
    Keene, the rhythm guitarist who doubled as keyboardist, pursed his lips and looked them both over from the top of their heads to their feet and back again. "Whatever floats your boat, Tay. At least you have good taste," he said with a nod toward Daren.
    A loud yawn drew their gazes to the bassist, a skinny guy dressed all in black with gauges in his ears. "I'm fuckin' sleepy. Is this why you dragged me outta bed? So you could show me that you banged Daren? Dude. I don't care who you bang. If you're happy, I'm happy for ya."
    "Thanks, Ron." Taylor smiled at the bass player, who propped his Doc Martens on the table, crossed his skinny arms over his chest and closed his eyes.
    Finally, Daren got the nerve up to look Stone Bradley in the eyes. Shock rippled through him right down to the soles of his feet. The smug little smile on Stone's chiseled lips was a perfect accompaniment to the knowing gleam in the singer's aquamarine eyes. His broad chest expanded on a satisfied sigh.
    "I don't know which one of you finally made the first move, but I have to say, I'm thankful one of you did." He shook his head, his long blond mane flowing over his shoulders in a way that usually made the female fans of Stone Sutton sigh with longing. "I thought for sure I was going to have to lock the two of you in a room together or something. I've never seen such a pair of pathetic, lovelorn divas. Both of you were so busy wallowing in unrequited love that you never saw the truth."
    Daren and Taylor exchanged an astonished glance. "Explain," Daren demanded of his former boyfriend.
    Stone waved a hand at the other loveseat and Taylor tugged Daren down beside him, his fingers squeezing Daren's reassuringly. They both turned to Stone who sipped his coffee nonchalantly while stealing a piece of Ron's chocolate muffin. He popped it into his mouth, his smug expression never changing even as he chewed.
    "Dude, I saw that," Ron said in an accusing murmur, his eyes never opening.
    "Go fuck yourself," Stone told him pleasantly.
    Ron snorted. "I will. As soon as all the drama is done and I can go back to my bed."
    "That's a bad