Title: Shawn and Henry
Series: Take a Shot, Book Two
Author: Jessica Skye Davies
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 08/09/2022
Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex
Length: 42600
Genre: Contemporary romance, LGBTQIA+, enemies-to-lovers, Aussie race car driver, Wales, long distance relationship, age gap, slow burn, London, amateur historian, light BDSM
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Description
James and Merrick (Take a Shot, book 1) are just beginning to navigate their relationship, and their best friends, Shawn Lasting and Henry Martin, are doing their best to be cautiously supportive. Shawn and Henry frequently come into contact, but after the tension and animosity of their first meeting, they remain wary of each other.
When Shawn finally confronts Henry about his animosity, their tension proves to have been sexual all along and quickly transforms into a long-distance relationship. With encouragement from Shawn, Henry explores his sexuality far more than he’s ever previously allowed. Meanwhile, Henry encourages Shawn to work toward making some of his own lifelong dreams a reality.
When Henry informs Shawn he’s in love with him, Shawn balks and explains that he’s always been a no-strings sort of guy, leaving Henry feeling stung and rejected.
A difficult family experience at his mother’s funeral makes Shawn question some of his preconceptions, and he realises that what he feels for Henry is love. Now, he needs to ask Henry’s forgiveness and hope that it will be enough to let them both have a love neither ever thought possible.
NOTE: The beginning of this story runs concurrently with book one, James and Merrick, but is told from the POV of their best friends, Shawn and Henry. Because of the overlap, this one can stand alone and readers do not have to read book one first.
Shawn and Henry
Jessica Skye Davies © 2022
All Rights Reserved
Henry was stretched out on a lounge chair on his balcony, enjoying a cool glass of sauvignon blanc and the warm breeze off the ocean, when his mobile lit up and rang on Monday night.
“Rack off, ya bloody device,” Henry grumbled at the phone before reluctantly reaching for it. “Oh,” he said, swiping to answer. “All right, Mezza?”
“Your new mobile is brilliant, Henry. I can’t remember the last time you actually answered when I rang,” Merrick teased.
“Fuck off. I’m usually under a chassis when you ring.”
Henry could hear Merrick snickering down the line. “Of course. Who are you under this time?”
“It’s what, eleven in the morning your time? Don’t tell me you’re bludging on the job just to slag me off.”
“No, actually, I’m on a tea break and ringing to say hello because I’ve unfortunately got used to speaking with you regularly again instead of approximately once a month.”
“Aw, thanks, mate.” Henry grinned.
“Why aren’t you doing something mechanical then? Everything okay?” Merrick asked.
“Yeah, just taking it a little bit easy tonight, for a change. Thought I’d actually use the veranda I bought the damned unit for in the first place. It’s nice out here, fresh breeze, rush of the waves, moonlight reflecting on the ocean…all that romantic, natural stuff. Hey, how was the big do? That was Saturday, wasn’t it?”
“Yep, it was,” Merrick said. “It was pretty…well, really bloody incredible, actually.”
“Yeah? Well, come on, let’s hear about it. Oh, you got any snaps? I wanna see you an’ James all dolled up.”
“I think James should have all the photos in the next day or so. I’ll send the link. But I gotta tell you this part first, because I was seriously sure you put James up to it, but he swore you didn’t. You remember when we having dinner at his and you were teasing me about whether we’d got to the Savoy-weekend stage yet?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, we have now,” Merrick said. “He rang me up on Friday saying he had a surprise in store, and I should bring an overnight bag for Saturday and that he’d pick me up a bit early. And then on Saturday, not only did he get us matching boutonnieres, but instead of driving right out to the do, he drove us up the Strand and turned into the Savoy forecourt. I really thought it was a wind-up and wondered how far he was going to take it. He was absolutely for real though. It was fucking gorgeous, Henry. And then he only went and booked us in for the afternoon tea yesterday as well.”
“Wow. That’s splashing out a bit,” Henry said, impressed.
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t get past the ‘Are you sure? though’. He said he wanted to do something special to make the weekend perfect for us.”
“You did alright with him after all, Mez. Good onya, mate.”
“I’ve never had anything like this, Henry,” Merrick said. “Never would have imagined…”
“I’m glad I was proven wrong, for once,” Henry said sincerely. “And glad you followed your heart, even if it was against all sense and reason. I think he really loves you.”
“I know he does,” Merrick said softly. “Didn’t take this weekend to convince me of it either. Well, look, I can’t chat long, gotta get back to work in a minute. I’ll send you the photos when we’ve got them.”
“Oh, now I get it. You just rang up for a bit of a skite about your dream date. Go on, then, back to work in the real world, sunshine. Tell James I said g’day and to keep giving you the posh treatment because you deserve it.”
“Right,” Merrick laughed. “Talk to you later, yeah?” he said, ringing off.
Henry put his mobile back on the table and poured another glass of wine. He stood and leaned on the balcony rail, feeling the night breeze carding his hair like a tender lover. He would never admit it to anyone else, but if he was honest with himself, he knew he was rather jealous of what Merrick and James had.
There had been a few longer-term relationships in Henry’s life, but none that ultimately panned out. Either the initial attraction wore off or chemistry degraded over time or whoever he was seeing got tired of his on-the-go lifestyle or refusal to be public about the relationship, but never had any break-up been especially painful on an emotional level.
Henry knew that was a sign he’d never really been in love, and as the years went on, it got to be more concerning. He sometimes wondered if he would ever find love, if mid-thirties was officially too old for finding love, or if it was maybe better he didn’t anyway. He knew the odds of him falling for a woman were staggeringly low, and the odds of a coming out being warmly received by the motorsport world not much better.
Henry sighed and polished off the wine, deciding a night-time walk on the beach was in order.
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Jessica Skye Davies has been a writer since her first works were “published” in her grandparents’ living room and written in crayon. She’s been a professionally published author since 2011. Jessica lives in Pittsburgh and is active in the community, having served with a local LGBT community center for several years and currently serving with the local Welsh society. She’s often found spending time with friends, attending the symphony, watching hockey, rugby, or soccer, and moonlighting as human pillow/concierge for her official writer’s cat, Squidge.
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