Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

grinned. "I know. You should have seen the time we had filling out your paper work."
    "I'm gonna be paying this bill for the rest of my life."
    "We'll figure it out."
    We talked a few more minutes, and then Ray came in. He didn't look disgusted by me or anything— just a little wary. "Hi, James" he said. He stuck out his hand. "I, um, guess we haven't formally met. I'm Ray."
    I shook with my good hand. "Hi." I couldn't think of what else to say, so I said, "Sorry I threw you."
    Ray shook his head. "This is too strange." He turned to Jax. "All this time…" he said.
    "I'm really sorry," Jax said. " We're really sorry."
    Ray put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Jax closed his eyes. "I'm gonna go grab something to eat. James? You need anything?"
    "I'm fine," I said. "You two go eat."
    Jax looked at Ray, who nodded. "Come with me."
    Jax leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Be back soon."
    ****
    They left, and I was alone, staring at the hospital ceiling until a new visitor came in. He was tall with pale skin and dark hair and one brown and one blue eye. He sort of slunk into the room, as though he wasn't sure he was supposed to be there.
    I smiled at him. "Dominic."
    He perked up then. I could imagine him as Kingston, wagging his bobbed tail.
    "You look good without the fur," I said.
    "So do you."
    "Sit," I said, nodding at the bedside chair.
    He sat instantly. Then he blushed. "Sorry. Jeez. Obedience school."
    "You went to obedience school?"
    "I flunked."
    "Bad boy."
    He grinned. "I don't roll over for anyone."
    "Good for you," I said softly.
    He flushed. "I might for you."
    "I don't know. You sure did spend a lot of time ignoring me," I teased.
    "And you called me 'dumb mutt.' And 'fleabag.' And kibble breath.'"
    "Just trying to get your attention."
    "Maybe I could make it up to you. Take you to dinner when you get out of here. Somewhere you can eat one handed. You like fried chicken?"
    "I'm a vegetarian."
    "Oh. Is that because…?"
    "Just a personal choice."
    "All right. We'll work it out. Salads. Thai food. Just say you'll go to dinner with me."
    "I'll go to dinner with you. But I have no idea where to go after that."
    "Me either."
    "Did you change just to see me?" I asked.
    He blushed deeper. "Had to make sure you were okay."
    I noticed some bruises at the base of his neck. "Are you okay?" I asked.
    "Yeah. Had to get a couple of cuts cleaned up. But I'm all right."
    "Thank you," I said. "For fighting."
    "Anytime." He stared at the floor. "James, I'm sorry. I'm not so good at this. I don't know what to do next."
    "That seems to be a common theme right now."
    I looked at him. I thought about Derkin and how it felt to be in love. I thought about Ray, who didn't want to stay where he wasn't treated right. And Jax, who'd give his address to a stranger and let that stranger carry him home. Dixie, who clung to her beliefs because maybe she didn't have anything else. Everybody restless and alone and searching. Imagining the next step would bring them a little bit closer to happiness.
    "Just sit," I told Dominic. "And stay."
    THE END
    Author bio: J.A. Rock lives in Alabama with a dog, Professor Anne Studebaker— who is not, to J.A.'s knowledge, a shifter. J.A. is the author of m/m BDSM romance novels By His Rules and Wacky Wednesday , and a third novel, Calling the Show , due in July 2012. All three are published by Loose Id.
    ****

NO DISTRACTIONS
    by Em Woods

    Two men sitting together on a bean bag chair kissing, surrounded by skull knickknacks, paintings and abstract art.

    Dear Author
    Can you see us. It's the only free weekend we have had together in months. With me working on developing the latest game prototype for the company and my lover's days teaching and grading and our proclivities towards collecting skulls and strange paintings, we've not had as much alone time as we have wanted in a long time, and our sex life has become almost nonexistent. But, I have a plan. There will be no distractions from the real world or from skulls and paintings, and we will spend the weekend alone in our home. Hopefully, the weekend will help to revitalize our relationship.
    Sincerely,
    Alessandra

    genre: contemporary
    tags: established couples; hurt/comfort; teacher; sexual content semisweet
    word count: 5,873
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    NO DISTRACTIONS
    by Em Woods
    Ted Westerberg scrubbed his hands over his face again and glanced at the clock. Four-thirty. He shuffled the quizzes from his sixth-grade math class to the