Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all that jazz! Holiday stories are all the rage at this time of year. A little escape is a nice thing but there’s a place for acknowledging that life in 2017 America has not been easy, especially for marginalized people. So if you don’t mine realism in your holiday romance, A Holiday Crush will supply it, along with a healthy dose of sweetness.

EXCERPT

Michael sat snuggled up to Brad in the booth, resting his head against Brad’s shoulder. Setting down his fork, Brad put his arm around him and pulled him closer, then dropped a kiss on the top of his head.

“You guys are too cute.” Bao appeared tired but content. His mother sat next to him fussing with his food. Bao had abandoned it for the Scotch, which he was drinking steadily.

“Are we?” Brad asked. It had been years since he’d been called “cute.”

“We are.” Michael’s sleepy voice amused Brad.

“Hey, sleepyhead, I’m the old man in the relationship. Shouldn’t I be the one yawning?” He peered at Michael, who merely butted his head against Brad like an affectionate cat.

A cuddler. Brad had never been with someone who cuddled before, much less cuddled in public, and he found that he was in favor of it. He was also in favor of the scorching hot blow jobs they’d exchanged in the back seat of the town car. Lust and cuddling—a fine combination.

Brad picked up his Scotch with a dreamy smile. He was in favor of the whole damn world tonight, except for the creep in the White House and the cowards who kowtowed to him. That reminded him. “Linda.”

“Yes?”

“Are there any job openings at the ACLU? Here in San Francisco?”

“I’m pretty sure there are. And even if nothing’s officially open, we’re always looking for good lawyers. Ones with trial experience are gold. Why?” She winked at him. “You got someone in mind?”

“I may.”

Michael lifted his head. “You’re going to work for the ACLU?”

Was he? Why not? The world, specifically this country he loved, was going to hell at an alarming rate. He’d prefer to spend his time fighting for justice rather than racking up billable hours and holiday bonuses.

“I am. If they’ll have me.”

Linda and Bao laughed and clapped while Michael kissed his cheek. “My hero.”

****

Here’s to a happy ending for everyone and for the world, if not in 2017, then sooner than we dare to believe.

CJane

After years of hearing characters chatting away in her head, CJane Elliott finally decided to put them on paper and hasn’t looked back since. A psychotherapist by training, CJane enjoys writing sexy, passionate stories that also explore the human psyche. CJane has traveled all over North America for work and her characters are travelers, too, traveling down into their own depths to find what they need to get to the happy ending.

CJane is an ardent supporter of LGBTQ equality and is particularly fond of coming out stories.

CJane is the author of the award-winning Serpentine Series, New Adult contemporary novels set at the University of Virginia. Serpentine Walls was a 2014 Rainbow Awards finalist, Aidan’s Journey was a 2015 EPIC Awards finalist, and Sex, Love, and Videogames won first place in the New Adult category in the 2016 Swirl Awards and first place in Contemporary Fiction in the 2017 EPIC eBook Awards.

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