Today I am so pleased to welcome Sloan Parker to Joyfully Jay. Sloan has come to share an exclusive excerpt from her latest release, More Than Most (More Book 2). She has also brought along a copy of both books in the series to give away. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Excerpt

Matthew sat up and asked, “What happens in the nightmares?”

The side of Luke’s jaw twitched as he clenched his mouth shut. With agitated strides he crossed to the window opposite our bed. He stared out at the city lights for a minute, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, the muscles in his defined back and shoulders tight.

Without facing us, he said, “He’s hurting one of you guys, and I can’t get to you. I’m right there. I can see what he’s doing to you, but I can’t move. I can’t stop it.” He removed his hands from his pockets and scrubbed the top of his head in a frustrated move. “Fuck.” He slapped the wall on each side of the narrow window, then kept his palms pinned to the surface like he had to hold up the wall or his entire world would come crumbling down. “I hate that I can’t let this go.”

I got off the bed and went to him. “He fucked with your head for a lot of years.” I pulled him backward to lean against my chest, and he reluctantly dropped his hands from the wall. “It’s not going to disappear overnight. Just because he pleaded guilty to the charges and is in prison does not make the worry and fear and betrayal simply disappear.”

Matthew swept a hand over my back as he slipped past me to stand between the window and Luke. He searched Luke’s face, and I knew Matthew wanted to do anything he could to wash away the pain. I held back on telling him that there were things that could never truly be erased. A man just had to learn to live with them, and Luke would.

“Your mom mentioned therapy,” Matthew finally said.

I was glad he’d brought it up. Although talking about Luke’s mom was probably not the best way to have this discussion. He was still reluctant to do things how she suggested.

“Maybe it’s worth a try,” I offered. “The therapist might know how to make the dreams stop.”

At that, Luke tensed again.

“Just give it some thought,” I added. “It’s an option. That’s the point. Your dad’s not in control. You are. You have choices.”

He didn’t respond, but he seemed to be considering that. Then slowly, like he might decide to take it back at any moment, he nodded.

I asked, “Has he called again since those two messages?”

“No. If he had, I’d have gone to the cops. I’m not letting him harass me again.”

“Good. See? You’re in charge.” I kissed his bare shoulder. “If he does call, I want to know right away. None of this keeping things to yourself. You call me at work or whatever. If I’m in a meeting, tell them they need to get me.”

He shook his head. “Don’t do your overreacting thing.”

That had Matthew laughing.

Luke leaned in and kissed him, then faced me. The corners of his mouth were turned up in what was almost a smile. “Thanks. I’ll think about what you said.” His gaze dropped like he was giving it more consideration right then, but then he lifted a hand and traced the scar across my chest, starting at my right nipple and moving to my left underarm. He’d been fascinated by that old scar since we met, and even more since I’d told him how some homophobic assholes had given it to me one night at a college frat party.

I was fairly sure Luke still didn’t understand why he’d always been drawn to it, but I knew. It amazed him that I held a physical reminder of a trauma that hadn’t tainted who I’d become.

Or had it?

Had that night changed me?

Like that day I’d hurt Anne.

She was right. There was a part of me that was still fucked up about that.

Luke kept tracing the scar with his forefinger. Then all his fingers ran over my pecs, his attention no longer on the scar but on all of me. He met my stare as he reached up and gripped the sides of my neck in both hands. It was a tense, controlling grip, but I had no fear he would hurt me. This wasn’t about me, but about what he was feeling—the frustration and lack of control where his father was concerned.

He pressed our foreheads together. “God, I’ve missed you.” The words were barely a whisper against my lips.

So maybe this was about me.

“Come here.” I pulled him to me.


Blurb

More Than Most (More Book 2)Richard, Luke, and Matthew return in this sequel to MORE, a Rainbow Award winner for Best Gay Contemporary Romance.

Investment manager and always-in-control Richard Marshall has just landed a historic estate he’s waited years to acquire. Gone a lot for his work, he’s seriously craving his men. Yet it’s more than just the sex he’s missing. Emotionally-traumatized Luke is still dealing with the aftereffects of his father’s attempt to kill him, and Matthew’s trying to find his way as part of a menage relationship.

When Luke and Matthew come clean with Richard about what they’ve been feeling, he knows there’s only one way to solve all his problems: keep them close by accepting their help to investigate why someone wants to destroy the mansion he’s trying to save. When it becomes clear he’s put his family in danger, Richard has to choose between giving up control and pushing away the men he loves right when they’ve started to heal and have rekindled the explosive chemistry that brought them all together.

A menage relationship is hard enough. Add in danger, intrigue, a haunted mansion, and three sexually frustrated men, and it’s not a typical love story. It’s much more.


Bio

Sloan ParkerAward-winning author Sloan Parker writes passionate, dramatic stories about two men (or more) falling in love. She enjoys writing in the fictional world because in fiction you can be anything, do anything—even fall in love for the first time over and over again. Sloan lives in Ohio with her partner and their neurotic cats. Her greatest moments in life are spent with her family, her friends, and her characters.

To contact Sloan, find out about her books that are available for purchase, and read free stories, visit: www.sloanparker.com. If you’d like to be notified of new releases and get exclusive sneak peeks, be sure to sign up to receive Sloan Parker’s newsletter via her website.


Giveaway

Sloan has brought a copy of  both More and More Than Most to give away to one lucky reader (or choice of two books from her backlist). Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Friday, May 22nd at 11:59 pm EST.

  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
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