Hi Jo here using my monthly blog post to share with you all an Exclusive Excerpt of my upcoming release
Rivals Within.

Officer Thomas Webber made a vow of marriage to his wife, a vow to his God to resist temptation, and a vow to uphold the law. But when Tom is forced to shelter a dark-haired stranger from the tornado raging over the county, long suppressed desires are brought to the surface and he is powerless to resist. Ben Parker has hidden his true nature his whole life. The laws in 1952 are very clear, and to expose himself would mean rotting in jail, shunned or worse, a possible death sentence. Unable to find a job, he turned to crime. Seven years later, he’s still angry and tired of hiding who he really is from the world. After meeting Thomas, Ben can envision himself settling down for the first time. The only problem is, he’s already forced Thomas to break the law and become his alibi. And then there’s the little obstacle of Tom’s wife, family, and commitment to the town of Ramer. Ben knows what he wants, but in order to get it, Tom will have to turn his back on society and the vows he’s made if they are to find the happiness they deserve.

Coming to Dreamspinner Press December 29, 2014

Buy Link: Dreamspinner Press

Ben’s gaze shifted to the window that looked out back and then settled once again on Tom. Ben’s smug grin was firmly in place when he said, “I’m pretty sure the tree is no longer standing.” Ben rubbed a hand over his flat belly, sliding it upward, drawing Tom’s eye. “Besides I told you—” Ben cocked his head to the side, his expression thoughtful as he stared at the front door. After a few seconds, he asked, “Do you hear that?”

Tom narrowed his eyes and concentrated on the sounds around him. “Sounds like a train.”

“I didn’t cross over any tracks coming into town,” Ben pointed out as he stubbed out his cigarette between his fingers.

“What? No. Closest train track is about twenty miles over,” Tom told him as an uneasy feeling settled into his gut. His head was still swimming from the conflicting emotions raging through his system, and it took him a moment to catch up with the turn in the conversation.

“Unlock this door!” Ben demanded, his voice rising, a panicked look in his eyes. When Tom only stood there, Ben clutched the bars and yanked, rattling them. “C’mon, man, let me out. If that’s not an engine roaring down on us, then it’s a fucking tornado!”

That got Tom throwing off the last of the fog of lust and anger, and he pulled his keys from his pocket. Adrenaline surged through his system as he fumbled to unlock the cell, his hands shaking nearly as hard as the walls.

“C’mon! C’mon! C’mon,” Ben chanted, his knuckles white where he gripped the bars.

The instant the key turned in the lock, Ben shoved the cell door open, narrowly missing Tom. In full survival mode, Tom rushed to Frank’s desk and shoved it out of the way, exposing the trapdoor in the floor. He gripped the metal ring and pulled it open.

“Here, take this.” He shoved the flashlight into Ben’s hand. “Get down there. I’m going to grab the lamp.”

Tom didn’t wait for a response and could only hope Ben wasn’t stupid enough to ignore his instructions. Tom raced to the filing cabinet and snatched up the lantern just as the front window blew out. The room erupted in a swirl of flying papers, debris, and rain, the sound deafening. Keeping his head down and eyes shielded with one arm, Tom made it to the opening of the cellar, relief washing through him when he saw Ben standing below and shining the flashlight on the ladder.

“Take this,” Tom screamed and held out the lantern as he started down. Ben rushed over and took it from him, freeing up Tom’s hands so he could get the hatch closed. The floorboards shook violently, and Tom cried out his rage when the bolt initially refused to slide into the latch. It took every bit of strength he could muster—and more than a few ripe curses—but the bolt finally slid home, and Tom slumped down the ladder, breathing heavily.

“Whew! That was close,” Ben whistled.

“It’s not over yet,” Tom grunted and pinched the bridge of his nose as his head began to throb.

The scents of damp earth and mold assaulted Tom’s nostrils, and the chill of the underground room seeped into his flesh and bones, causing him to shiver. The building had been constructed before the turn of the century. Its original purpose prior to the town buying it and converting it to a police station in the thirties had been a general store. The small ten-by-ten room he now shared with a practically naked stranger who caused his blood to boil had once been used as cold storage. The irony would almost be funny if the threat of possible death by tornado wasn’t looming over their heads.

“You’re right,” Ben said huskily. “It’s only just the beginning.”

Goose bumps blossomed across Tom’s skin, and he shivered again at the suggestive tone of Ben’s voice. Jesus H. Christ, was the man not afraid of anything? A deadly storm was wreaking havoc above their heads, bodily injury or even death was a real threat, and still Ben provoked him, taunted him with wickedness. Tom was afraid to turn around and face the man. He wasn’t sure how he would react to Ben’s nearness—throttling him and kissing him were equal desires.

Tom curled his hands into fists and, without turning around, asked, “Why are you here?” His voice sounded defeated, even to his own ears.

“I think it’s pretty obvious, don’t you?”

“No! No, it’s not,” Tom growled and spun around to face his tormentor. “Why the fuck are you in Ramer?” He let his anger take the forefront, his vision going red, blessedly blurring the hard, chiseled muscles of Ben’s chest and stomach.

Ben didn’t flinch away in the face of Tom’s anger; instead he took a step closer. This bastard was either one crazy son of a bitch or had a death wish. Tom was vibrating with anger, face flushed, and he was armed. How could Ben be so calm? How could he have the balls to continue to taunt Tom? Tom’s first instinct was to draw his nightstick, beat the man into submission, and force him to back down or at least show some signs of discomfort or fear. It was only fair, goddammit. He was done being intimidated.

He took a step closer. “I asked you a question. Why are you in Ramer?”

Ben set the lantern on the shelf and stepped up closer until there was only a foot of space between them. His dark eyes reflected the lamplight, as if fire burned within him. He studied Tom, stared at him as if he were looking through flesh and bone and contemplating the secrets of Tom’s soul.

Maybe he was, because Ben’s nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply and groaned, “Just looking for a little release.”

“Goddamn you,” Tom growled before he grabbed Ben roughly by the waist, pulling Ben against his body and smashing their mouths together.

Tom groaned the instant his lips touched Ben’s firm ones, and he gripped Ben’s side tighter, digging his fingers in to the soft flesh. With his other hand, Tom grabbed Ben’s head, fisting the dark, silky strands and forcing the man’s head back as he shoved his tongue past those lush lips. He took Ben’s mouth in a furious kiss and explored with the urgency of long-denied desire. The clash of lips, teeth, and tongue had a hard, painful edge, and Tom wanted more. He wanted to take it deeper, harder, just… fucking wanted more.

Blunt fingers dug into Tom’s back, and he felt the power in Ben’s hands and arms and body…. Christ, Tom needed to devour this man. The harder he tried to dominate the kiss, the more forceful Ben became, giving as good as he got. That alone pushed Tom’s need to a feverish pitch. His anger and fear morphed into passion and desire.