Release Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway:
The Moves We Make by CD Rachels
Artists and Athletes, Book 2
Landon
On my university soccer team, people see me as an obnoxious loud-mouth, but this semester, I’m turning over a new leaf. Part of that involves supporting my best friend and his new relationship (with a guy!). Ravi being gay has really thrown me for a loop. The way he looks at Steven, it makes me feel… jealous? I’m not gay, but no girl has ever made me feel the way those two feel about each other. To top it off, I’m forced to take my university arts requirement in the form of a dance class! I have to fumble around trying not to fail while the teaching assistant Dane refuses to take it easy on me.
Still, the longer I spend in dance class, the more I get to know the real Dane: he’s fun, interesting, sweet, attractive, and… did I say attractive?! No way, that’s not what I meant. Because if I actually feel that way then… turning over a new leaf just got a LOT more complicated.
Dane
Dance is my life, and being a performing artist is my ultimate goal. That’s why I took this university TA position and why I’m hoping to secure an internship in the big city. I refuse to get distracted by some (admittedly handsome) jock that I’m tasked with teaching. He’s uncoordinated, but eventually, I can tell that he’s actually trying, so I cut him some slack. There’s also the tiny detail that he admits he may not be 100% straight.
That’s fine by me. It’s not like a guy like that would go for someone with a messed up face like mine. Still, as the weeks go by, something shifts and we become closer. I can’t let myself become sidetracked in catching feelings for a boy who’s new to being queer. I just need to disregard the burning chemistry we have whenever we’re in the dance studio alone. It’ll be easy to ignore the way he makes my heart flutter when he talks to me, or how charming he is when he lets down his guard.
Well… maybe one kiss won’t hurt, right?
The Moves We Make is a low-angst, male/male romance, opposites-attract story involving hands-on movement lessons, road trips, drunken dance floors, soccer games, and discovering what love and sex with the RIGHT person can actually lead to, HEA guaranteed. It is the second of the Artists and Athletes series but can be read as a standalone.
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“I have to say this before we start…My name is Dane, I’m the vice president of Queer Pride Union, and I’m running this office hour of QPU Safe Space. Anything you say here will be held confidential, unless you’re planning on hurting anyone.”
I put my hands together on the desk and try to remain neutral sitting across from Landon. Of all the people I could think of, he was literally the last person I expected to see at QPU.
“Dude, I know who you are.” He’s making it sound like a joke, but he actually sounds nervous.
“I’m mandated to say that for every student.”
“Wei gave me the same speech.”
“Then he’s a good man.” There’s an awkward pause as we silently look around, avoiding each other’s gaze. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Uh…” He looks down at his thumbs.
“You’re not here as like a prank, right?”
“No!” he replies indignantly.
“Alright!” I raise my hands. “I believe you. I promise. So, what did you want to talk about?”
“Um…” He scratches the back of his head and I once again catch a glimpse of his sexy arm muscle. Focus, Dane. Landon is obviously serious and nervous about being here. I took an oath when I joined the QPU E-board to run Safe Space office hours in an accepting manner. I need to support him in any way I can.
Another moment of silence passes, and it’s clear he’s too nervous to say what’s on his mind—which is totally understandable when you’re questioning your sexual identity. After more awkward quiet, an idea strikes me. “Do you play video games?”
Landon looks at me puzzled. I get up to turn on the nearby TV and Wii console. “Do you want to play Smash Bros on the Wii?”
A smile slowly breaks out on Landon’s face. “Do you have GameCube controllers?”
I smile back. “Landon, this isn’t amateur hour, of course we do.” He laughs, and I immediately hand him a controller and bring a chair close to him so we’re both seated equidistant to the TV. As the game fires up, I notice we’re less than a foot apart. My dick takes an interest in the idea of me sitting closer—preferably on his lap— but I quickly squash that hormonal fantasy.
Landon is just a jock who can barely dance. We have very little in common. So what if he’s questioning his sexuality and he’s kind of attractive? It doesn’t change the fact that nothing is going to happen between us.
“Your ass is mine, Poorweisz.” My eyebrows jump as I glance at him and see him grinning at the TV. I really wish he hadn’t said those exact words.
We spend the next several minutes laughing and trash-talking as we play the fighting game. Four Smash Bros matches later—we each won twice— Landon leans back and looks down, his face turning serious again. I feel tension build between us, but I don’t want to interrupt this moment.
“When did you… How did you know you were…”
“Gay?”
“Yeah,” he replies, his voice barely a whisper. I hear him swallow, and he’s still not looking at me.
“I guess… it was around puberty. The other guys talked about boobs and long hair, and I realized my ideal partner was someone more masculine…with a toned body.”
“Huh.” He’s still not looking up.
I take that as my cue to continue. “When I think of someone I want to date, someone who really makes me happy, I picture someone with a deeper voice, a toned, athletic body, and shorter hair. That’s really all it boils down to.” I look up and see him staring at me already. Did I say too much?
“Gotcha. Well…I guess I’ll see you in class on Wednesday.” He’s looking at me intently, but I don’t know why.
“Definitely.”
He stands up and puts his fist out and I bump it. He smiles and darts out the door. Landon is the one who came here for answers, so why am I the one with more questions than before?
To celebrate CD Rachels new release, he is giving you the chance to win a 1 of 2 e-sets of the Artists and Athletes Series so far (2 eBooks)!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Check out Book 1: The Lines We Draw
Ravi
I’m perfectly fine in my comfort zone. As co-captain of my university soccer team, I know my place. I play hard on the field and my teammates look up to me. Would they look up to me if they knew I liked guys? Probably not, so I’m okay staying a closeted virgin.
That is, until I’m forced to take an arts class, and I’m seated next to the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen. He helps me pass art class, makes me laugh, and has me wanting things I never thought were possible. As the semester goes on, we get closer, and trying to keep my hands off him and stay away from him becomes nearly impossible.
What will happen to my position on the team if I ask him out? I don’t think I’m willing to find out. Now I just gotta stop dreaming about kissing him and holding him… Damn.
Steven
As a fine arts major, I have to focus on creating good work and impressing my professors. Part of that entails sitting in on this beginners arts class, and I just so happen to be next to a gorgeous athlete this semester.
Relationships are a sour note for me, but flirting with the co-captain of the soccer team could be fun. I know it’s not going to go anywhere- he’s straight. Over time, though, becoming friends with Ravi, teaching him how to visualize his art, and learning about his life makes me question what we’re doing.
I don’t know if I’m ready to let someone else into my heart again, least of all a potential closet case (no matter how sexy he is). Still with the way he makes me smile and how my heart beats when I’m near him, I think we’re both in too deep now.
The Lines We Draw is a low-angst, friends-to-lovers story involving art classes, soccer games, nude models, drunken parties, and discovering what sex and love can really feel like, HEA guaranteed. It is the first of a series and can be read as a standalone.
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He’s been consuming young adult gay fiction since he was a teen, but within the past five years moved up to the big leagues of gay adult romance. In 2020 during quarantine, he burned through more male/male romance books than he ever had in the previous 29 years combined.
He lives in New York City with the love of his life and works in health insurance. When he’s not reading and writing, he’s playing board games and practicing music. He is honored to become a self-published author, and if you’re reading this, your support means so much to him that it’s giving him a tingly feeling (in a good way).
Follow him on instagram: @cdrachels
Or join his group on Facebook: “CD Rachels’ Chill Discourse Room”
Catch up with Sam:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/cdrachels/
Amazon Author’s Page: CD Rachels Author Page
Facebook Author Group: CD Rachels’ Chill Discourse Room
It would be great to be able to enter the giveaway but I’m not on any social media sites. Perhaps CD could open more options such as Bookbub sign up or following on Amazon?.