Book Title: Separate Development
Author and Publisher: David Blyth
Release Date: May 1, 2023
Genre: Contemporary LGBT Fiction/Literary Fiction
Tropes: An Intercontinental Love Story
Themes: LGBT, Bisexual, Interracial, South African, Apartheid, Medical (Doctor)
Heat Rating: 2-3 flames
Length: 120 000 words/420 pages
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
An intercontinental love story
Author’s note:
Separate Development is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Many names, places and timelines have been altered to provide anonymity to third parties. Character names do not reflect anyone, living or deceased, whom I have ever known. However, I would like to thank the real-life members of the family portrayed in this book for being part of my life, and for their understanding and acceptance. I recognise that their memories of the events described in the novel may be different from my own. There was never any intention to misrepresent anyone; in fact, I am honoured to have known them.
Blurb
At twenty-five, recently qualified Dr Jonathan Conner leaves his comfortable life and love in London, taking up a charitable post during the last months of South Africa’s apartheid system. Weeks from a planned visit by his long-standing girlfriend, he falls in love with a young African man in the northern homeland of Venda.
Their passionate, heart-rending love story unfolds against the backdrop of conflict between social tolerances that lag behind political freedoms.
Returning to England after eight years, he’s forced to confront the consequences of his decisions for those left behind in two very different worlds.
Through this story of love’s endurance beyond society’s acceptance and geographical separation, can the enduring power of the human heart overcome adversity?
Jono and Rufus have been 6000 miles apart for months. They visited a London club the previous night – a unique experience for Rufus.
We stayed in bed until lunchtime the next day. Jude had spent the night at Gemma’s and we told her to keep him occupied. I lay, trying to remember my last visit to Heaven, and had a vague idea it was where I met Martin, a sweet guy, though I felt very different with Rufus at my side to what I felt the morning after that event. I wasn’t great with dates, but it must be approaching seven years since we’d first made love, after six months of desperately wanting to. And lazy, still dopey from sleep, and hanging on to a headache from the volume at the club, I could look across at him and get turned on for the third time in twelve hours.
“I can’t get enough of you,” I admitted, starting again with lips and moving lower, kiss by kiss. “I’m addicted!”
“It’s all yours, Jono. But I think today’s the last day for your beard. I love it, but by tomorrow I think it’s got to go.”
“Well, I’d better do my tickling while I can. Where d’you fancy scratching an itch?”
“Where’s your favourite, Jono?”
“Now, don’t be mean! You know quite well…. And last time you said … what was it — ‘I’m not accustomed to it’? You have the strangest way of saying no sometimes. But it’s very sweet, and I would never do anything you didn’t like. You know this, don’t you? So what about here?” I suggested, rubbing my cheek on the hardest stomach I’d ever felt in my life.
When he rolled over, I felt a pang of regret for my previous research. “I trust you, Jono. You won’t hurt me will you?”
“Rufus, you know I never would. And I know you well enough to realise you really don’t want this. So please turn back again.”
“But you want it. I know.”
“No, I don’t! Turn over, please.”
“I will get used to it, Jono. Just be gentle.”
“Turn over, will you! Damn it!” He did, but his expression was far from compliant after my tone. “This isn’t us, Rufus. Let’s just be us — you not liking to talk about sex and me just doing what I know you love to like. Why are you behaving differently? What I want or don’t want is what you show me you like. And now you’re asking me to be a different person. Is it anything to do with that fucking club?”
“It has to work both ways, Jono. You’ve mentioned my … bottom … so many times since I arrived. I just thought….”
“That I wanted to fuck it! Go on, say it if you mean it, mate.”
“Jono?”
“Rufus, my darling, I’m not cross. In a very disturbing way, I love you for thinking like that. And I do love your arse — sorry if it’s left a misleading impression in your head. And if you tell me I can’t see it, touch it or kiss it, I’ll probably go crazy. But the way you did this is wrong. The way we got into this conversation is wrong. I think you’re right — we’re better off just doing, not talking.”
“Or asking?”
“Yes, you can ask me anything, anytime — you know this. I love you.”
“Okay. As you know I love you too — more than my own life — certainly, much more than my ass, I will. Do you want me to make love to you that way?”
It was one of those situations where consideration was very unwise. “Yes, Rufus, I do…. I would like you to be the first person I’ve ever wanted to. And because it’s you, I know I will enjoy it. And love you even more for being considerate enough to ask. And maybe, one day, or maybe next time, I’ll ask the same thing. But I tell you now — it won’t make any difference what your answer is — as long as you honestly mean it.” There was little doubt of the unfortunate misunderstanding having quenched the moment’s passion — likely, after recent activity it would have been a rather damp squib. “I know this is going to be a bit of a downer on lovemaking, but can we reschedule?” I explained, smiling then kissing him. “Trust me, I’m a doctor, and though I’m no specialist in this subject—”
“Like your mother?”
“Christ! Yes! Thank God, you never suggested she’d mentioned the concept…. She didn’t, did she? Please, God! I’ll kill her!”
“Never talks to me about sex. I’d shrivel up and die if she did.”
“Thank God! But, as I was saying, it will be better with some … preparation…. And, if you like, I’ll tell you about it tonight?”
“Jono, I told you I was pretty good at sciences, especially biology. I think I understand.”
“Thank goodness,” I replied with some considerable relief. “Arses have their … disadvantages! Tonight, then? I’ll ask Gem to have Jude again.”
David Blyth was born in Staffordshire, in the UK. He graduated from Nottingham and Wolverhampton Universities with a BSC.hon and a PGCE. He lived for many years in South Africa, where he witnessed the political and social transformation during and after apartheid.
His interests, apart from writing, include anything that helps him to stay relatively sane.
Separate Development, which is in fact, his second novel, was written at his home in the English Midlands. It is due to be published in the spring of 2023.
His first novel, The Scars of Life, was written during a two-year overland exploration of southern, central and east Africa. Much was achieved sitting under the shade of a huge mango tree on the shores of Lake Malawi, always with a beer near at hand. It will be published during the summer of 2023.
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