Slow Bloom

Mychael Black, author of Going Home, writes: Eighteen-year-old Ricky Talbot is home for the summer, and what better way to spend it than to work for the guy he’s been crushing on forever? There’s only one catch: Ricky isn’t out--especially to his folks. Jack Corson, a workaholic author with a penchant for cigars and grumbling, has held a soft spot in Ricky’s thoughts for many years, despite the fact that Jack is thirty years older. Ricky doesn’t care about that so much, though, not with the way Jack makes him feel wanted.

With life throwing its usual curveballs, though, it makes turning a summer fling into something more a whole lot harder. Do they have what it takes to stand up through the obstacles?

The absolute greatest thing about Slow Bloom, for me, is the age difference. I’m beyond thrilled to find a story with an older man who sometimes feels his age yet still loves to enjoy his partner. Jack is a breath of fresh air. With him, touching takes on a whole new meaning, as Ricky quickly discovers.

I’m a huge fan of Anah and Dianne’s, and this is definitely one of my all-time favorites of theirs.
Sample
Ricky told his parents he was going to thank Jack again for his help. It was true. He didn't mention that he had other hopes for the visit. He didn't think his parents would really want to know that part.

He thought about changing his clothes, about putting on something that he knew looked good on him, but he thought his parents would probably get suspicious. Instead, he stuck with the cargo shorts and white T-shirt he was already wearing. Ricky stood outside Jack's house for a moment, building up his courage, before he finally rang the doorbell.

There was a long pause and then Jack pulled the door open. He was wearing a pair of old cargo shorts, a belt, and nothing else, and he looked disgruntled. That look faded when he saw Ricky standing there. "They let you out of their sight today." He stepped back to let Ricky in. "I'm surprised."

"Yeah. They probably watched to make sure I made it across the street, but I'm allowed out." Ricky smiled as he stepped inside. He didn't mind; his parents had a right to be worried after what had happened. "I came over to thank you again."

Jack closed the door behind him. "I told you, it was nothing." Jack crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Ricky with a slightly stern expression. "Just get better so you can get back to mowing my lawn. Also, the damn pool is full of bugs."

Ricky laughed. "I could probably handle a skimmer, you know." Maybe not the lawn mower, though, even the new one.

"Not until the stitches come out." Jack shook his head, frowning at Ricky. "Sorry. Until you're better, Mr. Torres is going to do it when he brings Anna over to do the cleaning."

"Okay." Ricky was having a hard time figuring out whether Jack was still interested, whether it was a good idea to say anything or not. Finally, he just shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his head back to look up at Jack. "Guess I'll have to come up with some other way to make it up to you. Got any ideas?"

"I don't think you owe me anything." Jack looked down at him, frowning. "It doesn't work that way."

Ricky frowned, shaking his curls back. "That's not what I meant." So much for tentative flirting. "I fell asleep. I didn't mean to. I wanted... Well. I wanted you. Yesterday morning didn't really seem like the time, but I thought maybe if I came back today, you'd still be interested."

"You needed to sleep." Jack's expression softened, turning almost tender. "You had a shock to your system." He reached out and cupped Ricky's face in one hand. "And I'm still here today. Probably here tomorrow... for a while, if I'm lucky."

"Just because you're here doesn't mean you're still interested in me," Ricky pointed out, but he was already turning his face into Jack's hand, brushing his lips over the palm.

Jack exhaled, a soft snort of frustration, then stepped in closer and kissed Ricky on the mouth, hot and slow. The hand that wasn't sliding into Ricky's hair slipped up under Ricky's untucked T-shirt and caressed the small of his back. After a long, perfect kiss, Jack pulled back to murmur, "I am very interested in you," against Ricky's kiss-slick lips.

"Oh." Ricky knew it sounded stupid, but he was surprised at the way Jack said it. "Good." He tilted his head and kissed Jack again, his hands coming up to rest against Jack's big chest.

This time, Jack kissed him harder, with a little rumble, one hand tight in Ricky's hair and the one at the small of his back moving and cupping his ass. Jack's hand was big, splayed wide, kneading gently. One step, then another, and Ricky was backed up against the wall with Jack's weight leaning into him as they kissed.

Backing into the wall surprised a little noise out of Ricky, but then he wrapped his arms around Jack and licked at Jack’s tongue. He liked the way Jack was so heavy and solid against him and the way Jack's hand felt on his ass, reminding him of the ways Jack had touched him before.

Just when Ricky was starting to relax and get into it, Jack drew back. "How about we talk some about me being interested in you, and you being interested in me, if you think we might be interested in each other more than once or twice," he murmured.