Book Title: Darkwater House
Author: Samuel King
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Louisa Maggio
Release Date: September, 29 2020
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal M/M Romance
Trope/s: Macho neighbour turns out to be bi sexual, murder mystery/paranormal
Themes: Laying the past to rest
Length: 52 000 words/ 150 pages
It is a standalone story.
Buy Links
Publisher | Amazon UK | Amazon US
When Toby meets his sexy neighbor Sean, he embarks on a new romance,
but there’s also a haunting and a murder mystery to deal with.
Blurb
There’s romance waiting for Toby at Darkwater House. Set on the edge of London’s beautiful Hampstead Heath, what better place for love to blossom with a stunningly handsome stranger?
But as Toby explores a passionate relationship with his dream man, dark forces are stirring within the walls of Darkwater House. There’s an angry spirit haunting the corridors and Albert the creepy landlord might be a killer.
As passion grows between Toby and his new neighbor Sean, they also work at unearthing the secrets of Darkwater House, looking for the evidence that will convict Albert, finally lay the angry ghost to rest and allow their love story to deepen.
Toby was just feet away from his neighbor, about to announce his presence, when thunder struck and the sky erupted into a ferocious downpour of rain. Sean instantly broke into a run, his injured calf slowing him to a jog rather than a sprint, but still opening up the gap between himself and Toby.
Toby cursed and began to trot after Sean, his view of the other man already obliterated by the spears of rain pounding the ground between them. By the time he reached Darkwater House, Toby was drenched. He punched the code into the panel next to the outer gate and ran down the path. Sean was at the front door, entering the second code needed to gain entry to the house. He glanced at Toby but said nothing, pushing open the door and bolting through without holding it open. Toby managed to slip inside before it closed. Sean was standing by the elevator, cursing and dripping wet. He was dressed in the same tight-fitting jeans as the previous night and the rain made them cling to his arse and thighs more snugly than ever, so that every curve and crevice was defined. Once again Toby was overwhelmed by the fact that this beautiful man’s cum had recently soaked his face. His cock stirred as he approached the lift and stood next to the object of his lust.
The elevator arrived with a ping and the door slid open. A young woman with light brown skin and jet-black hair jumped slightly at the sight of them. She was wearing a nurse’s uniform and looked extremely morose. She said an almost inaudible “Hi” as she slid past them and headed for the front door. She swore at the severity of the weather outside, but opened it and bolted up the path.
“Rather her than me,” said Toby, squeezing into the lift beside Sean, who said nothing.
Suddenly Toby felt irritated by the other man’s unsociable, rude behavior, making out he was too macho to talk to his gay neighbor when five minutes ago he’d been groaning with pleasure while another man sucked him off.
“Did you have fun over on the heath?” Toby blurted, once again spurred on by the red wine still coursing through his system. “You sure sounded like you did.”
Sean snapped his gaze onto Toby’s face. He looked shocked and furious in equal measure.
“What are you talking about?” he demanded, his accent made stronger by anger.
“Just now, in the bushes,” said Toby, “I was the guy kneeling next to your…friend.”
Sean jabbed at the button for the fourth floor. His hand was shaking.
Toby lifted up his right arm, shoving the cum-stained sleeve under Sean’s nose.
“Thanks for the facial,” he said, “even though it wasn’t meant for me.”
The lift pinged again and the door opened at the fourth floor. Sean stepped out and turned to glare at Toby.
“Fuck you!” he shouted, before striding to his front door.
“I’d settle for a blow job, but if you insist, I could go for a fuck,” said Toby, following just a few feet behind. “I’ve always been versatile, so happy to return the favor and slip one up your tight arse too.”
Toby didn’t even see the punch coming before Sean’s fist hit his chin. He yelped in pain and toppled backward, landing heavily with a loud grunt. Air left him in one painful whoosh.
“Stay away from me,” said Sean, stepping into his apartment and slamming the door behind him.
Toby lay staring at the ceiling, feeling stunned and sluggish from the punch and alcohol. As he hoisted himself into a sitting position, he heard sobbing coming from the far end of the corridor. It sounded like a woman, and there was something eerie and crazed about the tone of it. It was a horrible repetitive sound, like something recorded and played on a loop.
Toby’s vision was still spinning, but when he squinted, he could make out a figure standing in front of the large window that filled the far wall of the passageway. It was the red-haired woman he had seen that morning—it had to be—but tonight she was dressed in funereal black and her face was aged and skeletal. Even from this distance, Toby could see the madness in her eyes. As he watched, the terrifying figure rose from the ground and began to float toward him, like some ghost-train apparition, still wailing, black dress billowing around its insubstantial frame.
As the horror loomed above him, Toby screamed and closed his eyes. When he opened them, it was Sean looking down at him, not the ghostly woman, and for once he didn’t look aggressive. He looked concerned.
“Are you okay?” he asked, reaching out a hand.
Samuel King is London born and bred, and spent his twenties and thirties hanging out on the London gay scene, mixing with some true characters and even finding romance on a few occasions. Now more likely to be found eating in a nice restaurant on a Saturday night than clubbing, he also enjoys reading across many genres and watching films–especially old horror films and romantic comedies.
He is the author of four hot short reads—The Black Mask, Hard Lessons, Sage the Immortal and Mirror Man. His first full-length male/male romance Darkwater House is out now.
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