Title: Architect of Love
Series: Fated Soulmates #2
Author: John Charles
Genre: M/M Romance
Published: November 27, 2016
He could work miracles with His Hands
Lance Bartner loved working with his hands, made his living refinishing furniture. Nights out were for fun with friends and the occasional hook-up. Though the L word had never been spoken, he would have enjoyed a relationship had the right man crossed his path. But who would want a laborer like Lance? He wasn’t college educated, didn’t live in a fancy loft condo, didn’t drive a Lexus, and didn’t even own a suit.
Forrest Dentren, was an architect and city planner who had become a local name when his design for the Monroe City Center was chosen as one of the top three contenders. Well educated, extremely well built, and as both men and women put it, just plain hot. Some said he was married to his job, others said he was too picky, many said he didn’t want to share the spotlight.
One hot, uninhibited sex-filled night
When Forrest broke his routine and went clubbing on a weeknight, he spotted Lance. The attraction was immediate from both sides of the dance floor. They both felt it. A few drinks later, still feeling it, they left for Lance’s apartment.
It was never supposed to turn into anything more than one hot fuck
Two people from opposite ends of the world, no roadmap, not directions, no ideas how to make it work.
Architect Of Love is a hot and steamy, gay romance novel with no cliffhangers. It is the second book in The Fated Soulmates series and can be read as a standalone.
“This is a steamy and yet also endearingly sweet romance. For a sexy good time, characters to love, and a good combination of sweet and spicy, this gets 8/10 fountain pens.” – A. M. Leibowitz
“This was a good book about how being insecure can destroy what may be the best things in your life.” – Gay Book Reviews
“Its a fun read, a good story, realistic with characters I could get behind, and a sensible mix of story v sex. Stars: Four, a great read with realistic storyline.” – Jeannie Zelos book reviews
“If you like sexy architects, hot craftsmen, fated love, second chance, not a lot of sex but just enough to heat up a story and an all around good, sweet romance this is for you.” – Cathy Brockton
Lance awoke with a start. He was lying in a strange bed and it felt as if someone was sucking his cock. At first, he thought he was still dreaming, dreaming of the amazing night he had with Forrest. But his body told him this was not a dream, it was the real thing. Forrest was an expert at bringing pleasure to Lance. His lips, tongue, and throat were the perfect match to Lance’s sexual fantasies.
“Oh God. I’ve never had anyone wake me like this.” Lance opened his eyes to see Forrest’s emerald green eyes staring back at him. He ran his fingers through Forrest’s blond hair receiving moans of appreciation, moans that vibrated along his erection giving him even further reason to moan.
Forrest used one hand to pinch Lance’s nipples as the other found its way to his rosebud. He had lubed his finger seconds prior to Lance awakening. He teased Lance’s opening driving the now fully awake man crazy. Pushing in to the second knuckle and finding that hot spot always gave Forrest a thrill. He loved how he could make a grown man cry with lust and he was certainly succeeding with the man under him right now.
“I don’t want to cum, it feels too good to end,” cried Lance as Forrest continued working him like a fine tuned instrument. “I need you in me again, please.” Lance was shaking with lust. Both fists were now grasping hands full of the sheets beneath him. His head was flopping back and forth, as Forrest continued to finger fuck him, suck his cock, and tease his hard nipples. When he felt Forrest insert a second then third finger into his hot aching channel, he almost lost it. He shuddered, bit his hand, and literally cried from the pleasure overload.
Forrest had already sheathed his cock and was prepared for this moment. He quickly removed his fingers, lifted Lance’s legs to his shoulders and in one smooth motion sank fully into him. Lance froze from the sudden intrusion. Forrest was big, bigger than any man he had been with in the past, and even opened with three fingers, he felt the invader as it rammed into his body.
They held eye contact as Forrest pulled back until just the head of his cock remained inside Lance, and then he slammed back, driving him hard. He had learned that this big, strong man, needed it hard, needed it with force, wanted to be had, not gentle loving, but hard fucking. And Forrest was prepared to give him exactly what he wanted, what he needed, what he craved.
Sweat dripped from his body as he pounded the man beneath him. Lance wrapped his muscular legs around the slender body above him, used his ankles to pull him tight, and dragged Forrest down for a kiss that drove both men to even higher peaks of lust. They were shaking as they neared climax. Lance came first with a scream, only muffled by Forrest’s mouth on his.
Forrest pulled back to watch the man shoot his hot load on both of their chests. Lance surprised him with the amount he shot, more than enough for two men. Forrest’s climax followed only seconds later with a heart stopping rush that grew from his toes, traveled his spine, and took his breath away. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see, couldn’t remember anyone who had given him such pleasure as this man lying under him.
His arms couldn’t hold him for another second. He fell onto Lance, trying to catch his breath, trying to bring his body and mind back from the bliss he just received. He felt arms encase him, lips touch his neck, hands roam down his back, and legs wrap his, as afterglow sleep took him into darkness.
A short while later Forrest felt himself being rolled onto his side. With the effort of an exhausted laborer, he moaned and tried to pull Lance into his arms. “I’d like nothing better than to stay here with you all weekend, but I have to get going. I never intended to spend the night. Now I have to get moving or I’ll be late and that doesn’t sit well with mother.” As Lance sat up, Forrest struggled to his feet.
“Come on; let’s shower so you don’t smell of hot sex all day.” He guided Lance to the bathroom. Both men wanted more of each other and found it hard to concentrate on bathing. Knowing that Lance had to get home, Forrest kept them on track. “If we start anything now, your mother will have not only your head, she’ll have my ass. And frankly I’d like to keep that for this,” he said as he grabbed Lance’s cock dragging him from the shower.
They toweled each other dry, kissed, and hugged. As Lance made his way to the couch where he left his clothes, his toes curled into the thick white carpet under his feet. I could get used to this. He dressed and stood looking at the still naked man who had brought him so much pleasure. “Will I see you again?” he asked wondering if there could be more than hook-up sex between them.
“I’d like that, but please understand that my life is hectic. Weekends are often open, but not always,” said Forrest as he pulled Lance into a hug. Their lips were so close they shared the same air.
Lance was overwhelmed by all of this. He wanted Forrest, yet knew this man was so far out of his league. “Can I call you during the week? If we can’t meet up, maybe we could talk and get to know each other.”
Forrest pulled back a little, looked into Lance’s eyes and saw a yearning, a yearning that told him the man was scared and uncertain. “You have my number. Understand I may not be able to talk but I will tell you when I’m free.” He pulled Lance into a passionate kiss, and held him for a minute. Then he pushed away and walked Lance to the door. “Go home and get changed for work. Don’t give your mother any reasons to want to kick my ass.”
After Lance left, Forrest leaned against the closed door. I could get used to him in my life. Can he get used to me? With a sigh, he pushed off the door and made his way back to bed only to lay with the smell of sex with Lance fresh on the sheets. He was hard in seconds. Damn, this is going to be difficult.
The sun was rising over the horizon as Lance made his way back to the crappy side of Amity. His apartment certainly was shabby when compared to the one he just left. His mind raced as he drove, wondering how this could have a happy ending. They were two very different people from two very different worlds. Though he was successful, Lance didn’t make nearly as much money as Forest did.
When he arrived at his apartment, he sighed, opened his door, and quickly changed into something suitable for the Alberts estate sale. Checking his appearance in his little bathroom mirror, he left anticipating another long day. On the way to Monroe, his stomach grumbled reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since last night. Though he hated the idea of fast food, he needed to eat something. Even the drive through window smelled of fat and greasy French Fries. He ordered two egg sandwiches, coffee, and hash browns, paid, and continued his drive. Eating on the way and being careful to keep his shirt clean, Lance remembered the last twenty-four hours. Forrest was the perfect host and went out of his way to make certain that Lance was enjoying himself. When they arrived at Forrest’s home, Lance was nervous but Forrest quelled his nerves with ease. It almost seemed that Forrest anticipated his every feeling and had the solution before Lance even felt it.
And the sex! Just the thought made his pants tight. Forrest was an amazing lover, a lover who did his best to make his partner feel wonderful, a lover who gave without seeming to want in return. Lance was getting harder causing him to squirm in his seat. He had to think of something else or his mother would see his excitement. Though he and Emily were close, he didn’t want to give her anything to tease him with.
By the time he arrived at Harold Alberts’ home, Lance had finished eating, stayed clean, and was close to being relaxed. He had a chubby, but he was no longer hard as steel. His mother however, saw something different when he entered the house.
“Oh my, you look like you had a great dinner with Forrest.” Emily could always read her son. They were close and she used that closeness to tease him when appropriate. She also used that closeness to help him when things didn’t go well. Emily was an amazing mother, but sometimes Lance felt as if she was just too nosey.
Lance attempted to keep the conversation G rated. “We had dinner at Mamas and yes, I had a good time.” He looked around as he spoke wondering where the other workers were hiding. “Where is everyone? The line is already growing.”
Emily was not going to be swayed. “They’ll be here shortly. So did you and Forrest do anything after dinner?”
“Mother, when will you learn to stay out of my private life,” Lance said smiling at the nosey woman.
“You know I care. I’m not prying into your personal life.” She swatted his arm as she spoke. “I just want you happy, that’s all.”
Lance was laughing now seeing his mother trying in vain to get what she wanted. “I’ll be in the garage if you need me. Oh and yes we did something after dinner, but that’s all you’re going to get so stop prying.” He walked away knowing that Emily would not be satisfied with that answer. They played this game since he was a baby and she was persistent. He had learned how to manage her insistent yearning to know everything in his life, but it was taxing. This is going to be a hard day.
Larry Thomas aka John Charles spent his youth struggling with reading. Not until his late teens did he discover the cause – dyslexia. Only then, with guidance and professional help, did he learn to read. From that point forward, he discovered his love for the printed word.
Ironically, as a father reading to his children his desire to write was born. Reading to his children was a nightly ritual. “I wanted them to fall in love with books.”
Writing was always part of his professional career, but not until he retired did he move from creating marketing and technical materials to writing novels. Now, as a full-time author, Larry writes Romance / Mystery / Thrillers using the pseudonym John Charles.
His books can be found on Amazon and wherever e-books are sold.