Today I am so pleased to welcome CD Rachels to Joyfully Jay. CD has come to talk to us about his latest release, The Lines We Draw. He has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving him a big welcome!

The lines we draw banner

 

Excerpt

“I’m supposed to have at least one more decent full body sketch for my portfolio assignment in my advanced fine arts class.” He pulls out a paper that looks like a syllabus. Then, he puts it down and flips to a previous page in his book. The page has a complete nude model sketch of a girl about our age, but the face is blurred with purposeful shadow. The rest of the body looks so real, like a phantom that could leap out at any moment; Steven’s work never ceases to amaze me.

“Wow that’s awesome.”

“Yeah, but what’s NOT awesome is my professor reaming me for turning in an incomplete assignment, AGAIN.” He looks down and runs his fingers through his hair, clearly still frustrated. “She told me it’s bad enough I’m spending so much time in DI-101 that…” he looks up at me briefly, then back down. “Well it doesn’t matter.”

“What can you do?” I ask.

“Nothing. Well I guess I can find something off the internet to sketch, but it’s never quite the same as the real deal.”

Perfect, now’s my chance. My heart is thrumming loudly as I stand up. “Maybe I can help.” I state nonchalantly. I don’t want to overthink this, or I’ll chicken out.

“How?” asks Steven as I walk to the front of the room. I lock the door, and the energy in the room immediately changes.

“How about I be your nude model?” I ask, walking up to the stool.

“Wha… Wha… What?” he says, his eyebrows flying up and his jaw dropping.

I strip off my shirt and toss it beside me. I swear I hear a small gasp from Steven, and his eyes are huge right now. He’s only about three feet in front of me, but I feel the heat coming off him; I want him to feel the heat off of me.

“Well? You said you need the real deal.” I unbuckle my belt. I do it extra slowly while his eyes dart from my crotch to my abs. His mouth is still hung open. Yes, I’m teasing him: I want him to want me. “I’ll be your model.” With a swift motion I pull my jeans down to my ankles and sit on the bench. I’m wearing black briefs (I may have worn my fanciest pair just in case of this exact scenario) and the bench feels cold on my bare thighs, but I don’t care.

How can I focus on anything with Steven’s gaze roaming over my legs, crotch, and abs, darting up and down.

“Well?” I ask again, raising an eyebrow for emphasis.


Blurb

lines we draw coverArtists and Athletes, Book 1

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.


Bio

CD Rachels has been coming up with stories since he was little. At first it was all about superheroes and pocket monsters, but his genre of choice has expanded since puberty.

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 CD:


Giveaway

To celebrate CD Rachels debut release, he is giving you the chance to win a 1 of 3 ecopies of The Lines We Draw! Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

 

  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • By entering you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions set out by Rafflecopter for entries.
  • 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. In order to facilitate prize distribution, the winner name’s and email may be provided to a third party awarding the prize.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
FILED UNDER: Excerpt, Giveaway, Guest Post
TAGGED: