Well past sunrise, Reid wakes up curled on the very edge of the bed. His grandmother’s room overlooks the porch, so sunrises from bed are a distinct possibility. Somehow, the sound of the ocean isn’t the same in here, probably due to the proximity.

     Reid peeks over his shoulder. Joaquim curled up on his side, around a pillow, his back to Reid. He reaches out to touch a mole on Joaquim’s shoulder blade, ready to trace a wake-up path to other ones on his back, when he remembers last night. He’s going to have to face his own music.

   Joaquim’s body is beautifully settled into the rhythms of his deep, sleeping breaths. Reid is no longer angry. Well, he’s a little angry at himself. If I wake Joaquim with kisses, will that be enough? Will he remember the apology from last night and let it stand?

   Eyes closed, Reid scoots closer to Joaquim and puts a hand on his hip. He promised to talk to Joaquim. And even without that promise, they should talk. Joaquim is the potential for a healthy relationship, finally.

   When Reid’s body heat comes into contact with his, Joaquim stills and then stretches. Joaquim’s body is a luxury: muscles tensing and loosening, all stunning bones and inviting skin. Reid wants. He wants to glut himself on this man, to soak up every moment with him while he can.

   “Morning?” he whispers. His hand slides from Joaquim’s hip to his stomach under his belly button.

   “But will it be a good morning?” Joaquim arches a little, rolling his body, sinuous and promising, against Reid’s. Reid puts his face between Joaquim’s shoulder blades, as if he could breathe in the balm of that teasing, that ease. He kisses up to Joaquim’s neck and then bites lightly.

   Nothing more needs saying. Reid loves the hush, loves the ease and intimacy, loves the way Joaquim takes him so far out of his head and into his body he hasn’t any words.

Only 8 days remain until the release of A Tiny Piece of Something Greater! I cannot wait to share Reid and Joaquim with all of you!

Quick reminder that I am holding a pre-order swag giveaway with four prize packs! Pre-orders can be really helpful (and by some vagary seem to occasionally sneak into people’s inboxes early! Don’t quote me on that I know nothing technical about this, it’s just happened to me as a reader). All you have to do is email me your receipt to be entered! (judemsierra@gmail.com). I’ll email back to confirm I received.  For more info (including pictures) check out this post.

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