Lane Shawn Accidentally His 2 Becoming His

ECOMING

…“Want to come in?” Toby asked, as they approached his

apartment door. His heart pounded hard in his chest. It was getting
late, he knew, close to midnight, and Lucas probably had to film the
show in the morning.

Lucas stopped his hand as he went to turn the key in the door. He

reached up to grasp Toby’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “I do. If
you want to go slow, though, I shouldn’t.”

Why did he want to go slow? Oh, yeah, to prove he wasn’t some

easy slut. If he let Lucas in tonight he knew they would have sex. And
if he had any regrets after, if Lucas was then finished with him, he’d
have only himself to blame. But if Lucas only wanted him for sex that
wasn’t going to change even if they waited through a month of dates,
would it?

“Toby?”
“Come inside,” he whispered. He fumbled with the key, but got the

door open. Once they were both in the apartment, Toby closed and
locked the door. “My room’s this way.”

Toby bit his lips nervously as he led Lucas down the short hall to

the only bedroom. He’d long since ceased to be a virgin, yet tonight he
felt like one. Skittish, with his heart beating a fast tattoo against his
chest. He wanted this…he did. Ever since he’d met Lucas in the
hospital, Toby had dreamed of this. Yet now that the time had come,
he was so afraid he’d make the biggest fool of himself.

Lucas’s hand rested on his right buttock, sending a powerful jolt of

desire straight to his already half-hard cock. Walking through the
bedroom doorway, Toby turned to face Lucas.

“How about I give you a personal striptease?” Toby licked his lips

suggestively. This he knew. This he could be good at…

LSO

HAWN

ANE

Accidentally His

At Long Last

The Beach House

The Best Gift

Car Wash

Galaxy’s Heart

His One And Only

The Impersonator

Jake’s Regret

Lawyers In Love

Manfred’s Curse

Most Likely To Succeed

Only For Him

Only Forever

Only His Heart

Only In His Dreams

The Other Side

Pieces

Pulling Apart
Pulling Away

Sorcerer’s Lover

Sorcerer’s Lover II

The Squire

Still The One

Sweet Reunion

Ticket To Ride

Twice In A Lifetime

Until The End Of Time

BECOMING HIS

SHAWN LANE

MBER

UILL

RESS

, LLC

http://www.AmberQuill.com

ECOMING

MBER

UILL

RESS

OOK

This book is a work of fiction.

All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the

author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales,

or events is entirely coincidental.

Amber Quill Press, LLC

http://www.AmberQuill.com

No portion of this book may be transmitted or

reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in

writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief

excerpts used for the purposes of review.

ISBN 978-1-61124-127-3

PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 1

Tobias Sherwood wrinkled his nose at the clothes in his closet.

Sure, he loved the vibrant blues, purples, greens, yellows and
pinks. And a few reds, of course. But just now he would have been
happier with brown, black or gray. He adjusted the pink polka dot
Turbie Twist he had wrapped around his wet hair. It had a
tendency to lean to the side whenever he tilted his head. He also
wore a big magenta bathrobe.

“What about that Charlie Brown shirt you had on when you

came to visit me in the hospital?” Kirk Matheson asked from
Toby’s bed. Not that Kirk was in Toby’s bed.

Yuck.
They’d been best friends since grade school.
Kirk lay on it, trying to help, supposedly, Toby get ready for

BECOMING HIS

his day at the television studio. Toby had managed to get an
invitation to see Lucas Cartwright filming the detective show he
starred in on cable. He could barely stand still.

“I gave it away to a homeless man,” Toby explained.
“You what?” He’d seen Kirk earlier lying on his back, his feet

dangerously close to Toby’s pillows, staring up at the ceiling.

“I was downtown and this homeless guy liked my shirt so I

gave it to him.” Toby shrugged, even though Kirk couldn’t see it
from his position in the bedroom. “You know what they say about
giving the shirt off your back.”

“You are just too good sometimes.”
“I don’t think that’s possible to be too good,” Toby said

absently. “Anyway, that wouldn’t have been the look I was going
for anyway.”

Kirk sighed. “What were you looking for?”
Toby cocked his head, listening. He heard the distinct sound of

a tin being opened. He walked out of his walk-in closet and
slapped Kirk’s hand just as he reached inside the Almond Roca
container.

“Hey!” Kirk scowled as Toby snatched the tin away and stuck

the lid back on.

“I told you, stay out of my Almond Roca.”
“Geez, I just wanted one.”
“I don’t share my Almond Roca. There are chips in the kitchen.

Eat those. Or ice cream in the freezer.”

“Damn, you’re such a selfish prick sometimes.”
Toby raised a carefully shaped eyebrow. “Next time buy your

own.”

Kirk grimaced. “It’s not like they stopped making it, you know.

You can buy more.”

BECOMING HIS

Narrowing his eyes, Toby opened the container, fished out a

gold wrapped English toffee and threw it at Kirk’s head. “And they
say I’m dramatic. But that’s it, you get no more.”

Kirk smiled. “What look were you going for?”
Tugging his bottom lip with his teeth, Toby walked back into

his closet. “Well, the truth is, I wanted to look less…flamboyant.”

Kirk appeared in the closet doorway. He leaned against it.

“You do know Lucas has a girlfriend, right?”

“I know that. Melinda.”
“Melissa,” Kirk corrected.
“Whatever. I’m not going to the filming to score with Lucas.”
“Even though you know he’s bisexual?” Kirk asked.
“Yes, even then. I’m not a home wrecker. I just want to see the

show ’cause I like it.” Toby sighed, completely disappointed with
his closet.

“When you say less flamboyant, what do you mean?” He eyed

the array of colors in Toby’s closet.

Toby stared at Kirk for a second, wondering exactly how to put

this without his friend making fun of him. He was so not in the
mood for that. “I want to appear normal.”

“Normal how?”
He rolled his eyes and waved his hands. “Straight.”
Kirk’s jaw dropped.
“Oh, stop bugging your eyes out, meanie. I can be straight.”
“Tob, do you see what you’re wearing right now?”
“This is in the comfort of my own home,” he said.
“But Lucas knows you’re gay.”
“I know that, but this is a studio. I don’t want to embarrass him

or anyone, so I figured if they are nice enough to have me there, I
could be straight.”

BECOMING HIS

Kirk crossed his arms. “You aren’t embarrassing. Why should

you have to change yourself for them?”

“Please, don’t pretend people don’t stare at me sometimes like

I’ve grown two heads. I know they do.”

“Well—”
Toby waved his hands in dismissal. “It’s just for a day. I’ll

make my hair look flat and boring and go without makeup and
wear neutral colors.”

“All right.” His friend nodded. “But, even if you dress the part,

um, Tob, you…er…well, if you open your mouth they might
guess.”

He frowned. “I can talk like a straight guy.”
“Let’s hear it,” Kirk urged.
Toby rolled his eyes, but went along with it. “Hot damn! That

chick is fucking hot!”

Kirk blinked. “Did-did you say fucking?”
He felt his face go flaming hot. “Yeah.”
“But you think it’s crass and trashy.”
“I still do but straight guys use it all the time.”
“Well, sure, but I don’t know if it sounds quite right coming

from you. Stick to the hot damn and the chick is hot,” Kirk
suggested.

“If you say so.” Toby turned his attention back to his closet. “I

suppose I’ll wear jeans. Everyone wears those anyway.” He
grabbed a pair of his favorite. He guessed some people might find
it strange he even kept his jeans on hangers, but well, he hated
wrinkles.

“No, not those.” Kirk yanked the hanger out of his hand.

“Those are the ones that look painted on your bubble butt, aren’t
they?”

BECOMING HIS

Toby smiled. “Yeah.”
“If you are really determined not to stand out as gay at the

studio then trust me, those aren’t the ones to wear.”

“Oh, right. Straight men wear those baggy ones that fall off

their asses and show their…er…unmentionables.” He blushed,
unable to bring himself to speak the word “crack.” So, okay, he
was a total dork. Fortunately, Kirk had become quite used to his
eccentricities.

Kirk sorted through his jeans and handed a pair to Toby. “Try

these.”

“Those? I’ve been meaning to throw these away. They’re too

big for me.”

“Yup. Perfect.” Kirk glanced at the shirts on the other side of

the closet and pointed at one. “How about that blue one.”

Toby glared at him. “That is not blue it is aqua.”
His friend smiled. “Aqua, then.”
He pulled the shirt out and assessed it. “I don’t know. I suppose

it’s better than some of the others.”

“Exactly, and you don’t have time to go pick something out at

a store.”

Toby waved a hand dismissively. “Wait for me out in the living

room.”

“All right, but hurry, I’m supposed to go have lunch with

Elijah.”

He pulled on the jeans but decided they were so baggy he

needed a belt. Unfortunately the only belts he had happened to be
adorned with rhinestones. Well, that couldn’t be that different than
the ones cowboys wore with horseshoes and the like, so he went
with the belt. Then he couldn’t decide whether to tuck in his
buttoned down aqua shirt or leave it out. Tucked in looked too

BECOMING HIS

horrible and he just couldn’t do it, even if a straight man would.

Taking off his Turbie Twist to reveal his still damp hair, he

studied the crayon yellow mass critically. Normally he would
spend hours fixing it in a you-know-you-want-me style. But now he
just combed it flat and grimaced. He reached for his blush and lip
gloss and then his hand froze. He would be sans makeup.

You aren’t trying to attract Lucas.
And he really wasn’t. Sure, Lucas was drop dead gorgeous.

He’d been watching the guy’s detective show even before meeting
him in person, briefly, at the hospital after Kirk’s and Elijah’s bus
accident. He’d even checked out Lucas’s website so he knew the
guy was bisexual and had a girlfriend. So Toby had a teensy tiny
crush on the man. He had no intention of acting on it while Lucas
had said girlfriend.

Toby rolled his eyes at his own appearance and left his

bedroom. He’d wasted enough time.

* * *

Forty minutes later or so, Toby approached the studio visitor’s

parking lot. Having no idea how long he would be allowed to
watch the show or even how long they filmed for the day, Toby
had taken the night off at his job as a stripper at a West Hollywood
gay club. He usually worked only four nights a week, but the
money was good enough to allow him a decent apartment in the
San Fernando Valley. His act was popular enough to earn him
really great tips, too. And a few pain in the butt customers who
thought they should get something else from him other than a
show.

Dream on.

BECOMING HIS

He pulled his little green Mazda up to the guard’s station and

waited for the guard to acknowledge him. The guy was beefy and
black and talking into a walkie-talkie.

Eventually, the man looked at Toby, his expression blank.
“Uh, hi, I’m here to see the filming of Harrow’s Eyes. I’m a

guest of Lucas Cartwright’s. My name is Tobias Sherwood,” he
said, trying to deepen his voice.

The guard said nothing and looked at a clipboard.
Toby smiled and cleared his throat.
“Park in lot C.” The arm lifted indicating Toby could continue.
He found the right lot and pulled into a spot. His foot slipped

off the brake and his car made a sickening thud on the pole in front
of the space. Toby winced and closed his eyes.

Crud, you’re driving, stupid.
He opened his eyes and stopped the car before he did more

damage.

“Well, isn’t that just great,” he said aloud. After he got out he

went around to inspect the damage but other than a little yellow
paint, it didn’t look any worse than the dents he’d put there before.
In fact, if he didn’t mention it to anyone, maybe they’d not notice.
He already had a bad driving reputation amongst his friends.

Toby found his way to another guard’s station to ask for

directions. After that guard confirmed his name was on the list, he
was sent off to a filming lot where a tall, skinny man stopped him.
While looking down his nose at Toby.

“Stay over here, please.” The man indicated a barricade.
Toby could see in the distance Lucas Cartwright and the

Hispanic actor, Miguel Martinez, who played his partner on the
show, in the middle of a scene. He wished he had a better view.

“Can’t I move closer?”

BECOMING HIS

“Were you cleared by security?”
“Two guards let me in,” Toby said patiently.
“Were you searched?”
“Well, no, but I don’t have anything.”
The man sniffed. “So you say. Do you have ID with you?”
Toby nodded and produced his driver’s license. Of course the

picture was hideous and in it he’d worn makeup and his hair had
been dyed black at the time.

Frowning, the man eyed the license and then Toby. “This

doesn’t look like you at all.”

“But it is me, promise.”
“I’ll send Mr. Cartwright over when he’s done with the scene.

In the meantime, I’ll have a guard search you.”

“Okay.”
The man stepped away and approached a big muscular guy in a

security uniform. The security guard glanced his way and
shrugged. After a few more minutes of conversation the guard
approached Toby.

“I’m afraid I have to search you for weapons,” the guard said

with an apologetic smile.

“That’s all right.”
After the brief search, the guard wandered back to where he

was, giving a curt nod to the tall skinny guy.

Toby was left standing on the side viewing the scene from afar

for quite some time. Close to an hour. When he heard the director
end the scene, he watched Lucas walk, not toward him, but toward
an exotic-looking dark-haired woman. His insides flipped watching
Lucas smile at the woman—Lucas had a beautiful smile—and
then, as Toby continued to stare, the woman embraced Lucas and
they shared a brief kiss. On the lips.

BECOMING HIS

Oh.
Toby looked away. It wasn’t that he was jealous or bothered

watching Lucas with his girlfriend, he knew the man had one, after
all. But he supposed it was rather rude to gawk at them.

“Excuse me?”
Toby turned back to see that Lucas had approached him. His

heartbeat sped up, even though he told it not to. Lucas was the
epitome of movie star handsome. Tall, dark and handsome with
perfect white teeth and deep sapphire eyes. The only flaw Toby
could see, if it could be considered a flaw, was a teensy mole to the
right of his lips. The other flaw, of course, was that Lucas had a
girlfriend.

“Lucas, hi,” Toby said brightly.
Lucas frowned. “They told me you were someone here to see

the show filmed and that I invited you. Do I know you?”

Oh. Oh. Geez.
His excitement officially plummeted. His heart finally listened

and stopped beating hard in his chest. Lucas didn’t even remember
him. He blinked, looking away for just a moment, gathering
himself.

When he thought he could speak without sounding like a dork,

Toby looked back at Lucas. “I’m Toby Sherwood. Like the forest.”

Lucas suddenly smiled. “Oh, right. Kirk’s friend. Tobias from

the hospital. I’m sorry. It just took me a moment.”

He nodded, resisting the urge to bite his bottom lip. He didn’t

want to show any sign of vulnerability. “That’s all right, I know I
look different from the last time you saw me.”

“You definitely do.”
Toby wondered if Lucas thought that was good or bad. It was

hard to tell with actors. They were always faking. “I did call to say

BECOMING HIS

I was coming.”

“I’m sure, but the show publicist handles all that.”
Of course he knew that, but somehow he expected Lucas to be

aware he was coming. Now he felt like a complete loser. And to
think he had felt special.

Idiot.
“I won’t keep you from filming, I guess.”
Lucas shook his head. “Actually, I was about to go have lunch.

You can leave your car here. I’ll drive.”

“You-you want me to come with you?” Toby asked, knowing

he sounded a bit stupid.

“Of course. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“All right, then, come on, Tobias. My treat.”

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 2

Lucas wondered how he could have forgotten Tobias

Sherwood. True he had gotten crazy busy lately and true Toby
didn’t quite look the same as he had when Lucas met him at the
hospital during his brother’s stay.

Sitting across from the man at a secluded little booth in the

back of a French bistro Lucas frequented, the day came alive with
just Toby’s presence. Suddenly even the red of the bistro’s menu
seemed to become more vibrant. Everything came into startling
sharp focus. The very day vibrated with energy. All because of the
sexy, hot man across from him.

Toby hadn’t said much since Lucas had invited him to lunch.

He suspected he’d hurt the younger man’s feelings by not
remembering him. Just now Toby’s gaze, the most amazing hazel

BECOMING HIS

Lucas had ever seen, remained on the menu.

For a moment, Lucas stared at him while pretending to decide

on his meal. He already knew what he wanted. He always chose
the same salad. The brass yellow hair lay flat on Toby’s head, not
quite the fashionable do Lucas recalled from the hospital, but there
was no mistaking the high cheekbones dusted with a few freckles
and a touch of pink. Long, curly lashes shielded those hazel eyes.
A small pert nose just turned up at the end added to the absurd
adorableness that was Toby. And those plump, pursed lips tempted
Lucas to sink his teeth into them.

Oh, yeah, the slim, gorgeous man was Lucas’s type. Hell, he

suspected Toby would be anyone’s type.

“What are you thinking of having?” he asked.
“Oh, um, the French Onion soup. I think.”
Lucas smiled. “It’s quite good here.”
Toby nodded and put his menu down. “Melinda didn’t want to

go to lunch with you?”

“Who?”
“Your girlfriend.”
“Melissa,” Lucas said, reaching for his seltzer water with lime.
“Yeah, her. I think I saw you with her on the set.”
He nodded. “Yeah, she’s a production assistant for another

show that films on the lot.”

“That how you met?”
“It is. She had work to do.” The truth was things weren’t going

well with the two of them and Lucas suspected they’d be breaking
up sooner rather than later. It was basically who broke up with who
though. Neither of them were satisfied.

Of course all of that, including the fact he and Melissa had

stopped having sex at least a month ago, was far too personal for

BECOMING HIS

him to reveal to someone he barely knew.

“So, are you a student?”
Toby shook his head. “No. I decided long ago school wasn’t

really for me. I finished high school, but wasn’t really interested in
college.”

The waitress came and took their order of French Onion soup

for Toby and Lucas’s orange, pecans, and field greens salad with
light dressing.

“What do you do then?”
Toby mumbled something.
“What?”
He sighed. “I’m a stripper at a club in West Hollywood.

Lonnie’s.”

Lucas blinked. Yeah, he could see Toby being hired as a

stripper. The man exuded sex appeal. He cleared his throat. “How
long have you been doing that?”

“A few years now.”
His mind went straight to the gutter, thinking about Toby

tearing off clothes, revealing his perfect pale skin and body. His
rounded ass. Lucas took a sip of his water. “What do you dress
as?”

“Different things,” Toby said, looking vaguely surprised. “A

cop and a fireman. My most popular one is an angel.”

Lucas fought against the erection that image caused. He should

not be getting aroused by Toby. Even if he and Melissa were on
the way out, it wasn’t right. But, damn, he was only human. “An
angel?” he murmured, adjusting the way he sat in the booth,
hoping to relieve the tightening in his pants.

Toby nodded, smiling a little. “It’s actually pretty cool. I come

down on strings all dressed like a regular angel, all in white. The

BECOMING HIS

wings are sort of iridescent. As I descend to the stage, I pull at my
costume and the white turns to black like I’m a fallen angel. I wear
sparkly makeup all over my face and lips so I look almost
shimmery. Then I do my dance and take off bits of my costume
until I’m left wearing just a black and white G-string. It’s very
popular as I said.”

His mouth dry, his cock so hard he was going to get a serious

case of blue balls, Lucas struggled for nonchalance. “I’ll just bet it
is.”

“I have a stage name of course. All the performers do.”
Lucas was ready to pour his seltzer water over his crotch.

“What’s your stage name?”

Toby turned a dark shade of red. “Joey Flamingo.”
He laughed before he could stop himself. Toby turned even

redder if possible. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. I know those
stage names are always a bit absurd.”

“Yeah, I didn’t choose it, actually. The owner of the club did.”
The waitress appeared with their food and Lucas covered the

bulge in his pants with his napkin.

“Anyway, when we get back to the studio,” Lucas said, “we’ll

be filming a few more scenes. I don’t know how late we’ll go so
feel free to leave whenever you like. Or stay until we’re finished.
Up to you. It can get pretty tedious.”

“I took the night off so I didn’t have to worry about work, so I

might stay until it’s done, if you don’t mind.”

Lucas stabbed into his salad and wondered how he could

manage to see Toby again without it seeming like a date. He
couldn’t date Toby or anyone until he and Melissa ended things.

“You don’t work every night, do you?”
“No, only four nights a week.”

BECOMING HIS

“Which nights?” Lucas asked, trying to be casual.
“Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. We all work

Fridays and Saturdays. That’s the busiest nights. The club’s closed
Sundays and Mondays and I get Tuesdays off as well.”

“I’m having a barbecue Sunday,” Lucas said, having decided

he would that exact moment. “Maybe you and Kirk and Elijah
could all come. Nothing fancy probably. Hamburgers and hot dogs.
What do you say?”

Toby smiled his first full smile and it was simply so

breathtaking Lucas couldn’t have looked away if the restaurant had
been on fire. Toby had small white, beautiful teeth and the hint of
dimples in the corners of his mouth.

“I’d really like that.”
Lucas mentally patted himself on the back for coming up with

a way to get to see Toby without it being a date.

“Will Melinda be there?” Toby asked.
“Melissa. And I’m not sure. We don’t live together.” Lucas

supposed he should ask her. For a while things had gone great for
them and Lucas even thought, briefly, she might be the one he’d
possibly spend the rest of his life with. But little by little they
began to wear on each other until now, really, he thought each of
them was just waiting for the other to end it.

“Lucas?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you all right?” Toby frowned.
He smiled. “Of course. How’s your soup?”
“Really good. And your salad?”
“Excellent as usual.”

* * *

BECOMING HIS

“Who’s the dweeb?”
“Excuse me?” Lucas scowled at his co-star, Miguel Martinez.

The man had glanced Toby’s way. Toby had been given
permission to move a bit closer to the filming though he was still
safely on the sidelines.

“That guy over there with the yellow hair.”
“He’s not a dweeb.”
Miguel shrugged. “He looks gay.”
Fixing Miguel with his best stone glare, Lucas said, “So?”
“Whatever. Just wondering who he is.”
“He’s a friend who wanted to see us film the show.”
Miguel fished a cigarette pack out of the back pocket of his

pants and shook out a cigarette. “Got a light?”

“I don’t smoke.”
“Jesus, you’re such a pain in the ass,” Miguel declared before

moving away to harass someone else.

Lucas grimaced. He hated Miguel. Truly hated him. He was a

big pain in the ass and if Lucas had his way he’d be replaced for
the next season of the show. He’d already been in talks with the
show’s producers about a new partner for Pete Harrow, Lucas’s
character on the show. Perhaps Miguel’s character could go out in
a hail of bullets. Or perhaps a nice explosion.

That definitely improved his mood and put a big smile on his

face.

They finished filming at about seven that night and Lucas

stopped to talk to his director for several minutes. By the time he
was done, he noticed Toby had left. He’d talked to Toby a couple
times during breaks but they’d not had long conversations since
Lucas had a busy schedule. Still he had hoped maybe to talk to the
younger man after filming ended.

BECOMING HIS

At least he’d be at Lucas’s house for the barbecue he had to

plan now. And maybe he could even go to Lonnie’s and
inconspicuously watch Toby’s performance one of these nights
soon.

“Lucas.”
Melissa, all dark-haired beauty, approached him with a

tentative smile. She had pulled up her dark brown hair and piled it
on top of her head in a sort of sloppy bun. Around her neck she
wore one of those glasses leashes, attached to which was a pair of
pink horn-rimmed glasses. Her knit jersey dress was a becoming
shade of red. She was still one of the sexiest women Lucas had
ever known.

“Hey, Liss.” He embraced her. “How was the show for you

today?”

“I’m exhausted and my feet are killing me,” she admitted.

“You wanted to see me after the show?”

Lucas swallowed. He’d sent the message over after lunch

intending to invite her for the barbecue, but since then, he’d
decided maybe it was time to stop pretending. For both their sakes.
It wasn’t going to be easy.

“Yeah, maybe we could have dinner together?”
But Melissa was studying him, perhaps too closely. “What is it,

Lucas?”

“Over dinner.”
She shook her head. “This is about us, isn’t it?”
Lucas sighed. “Yes.”
“I figured. I don’t need a fancy dinner to tell me it’s over,

Lucas.” She smiled sadly. “I’ve known you were pulling away
from me for a while.”

Pain laced his chest. He did care so much for her, but not the

BECOMING HIS

way he should. He knew that. “I’m sorry.” It sounded so
inadequate even to him.

“Me, too.” She exhaled. “But also relieved.”
“Relieved?”
Melissa gave him a quick kiss. “We’ve been dancing around

this for a while. We both know it. I could blame it all on you, but
the truth is my heart hasn’t been in it either. I care about you,
Lucas, and I always will. But…I don’t love you.”

He nodded and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “I know. And I

feel the same about you.”

“You still want to have dinner?”
“I’m starving,” he admitted.
She hooked her arm in his. “Let’s go get something to eat. My

treat.”

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 3

“The crowd is huge tonight, Toby,” Lonnie told him, coming

up behind Toby as he stared at himself in the mirror. Toby reached
for his makeup.

“It’s Saturday, it’s always busy.”
Lonnie was a middle-aged balding man who was actually one

of the nicest guys Toby had ever known. He and his long-time
partner, Tom, had owned the club for years.

“Yes, but this one is even bigger than usual. Must be the buy-

one-get-one coupons we offered on our website,” Lonnie
speculated, rubbing his hands together.

Toby smiled. “That could be.”
“I was thinking—”
He raised a sculpted eyebrow. “Uh oh. Should I be worried?”

BECOMING HIS

“No, no. I just want you to do the angel act tonight.”
Toby frowned. “Tonight? I was supposed to only do the cop

and fireman tonight.”

“I know and I love those acts, Toby, but you and I both know

everyone loves your angel. You get more tips, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah,” he said.
Lonnie smiled. “I have to tell you that I’m getting more

compliments about you all the time, Toby. You’re in the top five of
my most popular dancers.”

His face flamed. “Well, okay. You want me to do the cop and

the fireman first and then the angel?”

His boss beamed. “That’s my boy. I knew I could count on

you. It’s going to be great, you’ll see.”

Lonnie hurried away to see to something else and Toby

finished applying his makeup and got ready for his first routine.
Doing all three of his routines would make for a more strenuous
night, but he couldn’t deny he liked the angel routine. He’d only
been doing it Friday nights up until Lonnie had just asked him to
do it tonight.

Another performer, Mickey, came in the dressing room, slicked

with sweat and wearing a robe. The stagehands always waited on
the sidelines with robes to cover the dancers when they finished
their routine. His face was flushed red.

“Wow, that was intense,” Mickey declared. The tall, muscular

brunet grabbed a water bottle from inside the mini-fridge they had
in the dressing room and then plopped down in a lounge chair next
to Toby.

“Enthusiastic crowd?” Toby patted the stage makeup on his

face with a sponge.

“Animals,” Mickey muttered, using a hand towel to wipe his

BECOMING HIS

forehead. “Oh, and fair warning, that old guy is here. Um,
Richardson? And he’s already three sheets to the wind.”

Toby grimaced. “Bad?”
“Right in the front row, too. He tried to put a five in my G-

string and before the bouncer could come over his hand dipped in
and groped my cock.”

“Oh, God, and the bouncer didn’t toss him out?”
Mickey shrugged. “He’s a good customer. Alan just warned

him and he claimed he didn’t mean anything. Just warning you,
Toby. Try to stay away from him if you can.”

“For sure.”
Later, Toby got ready for the angel act. So far he’d been able to

avoid any contact with Richardson, but Toby knew from past
performances the angel was a favorite of the old drunk from the
tips he received. He finished applying the under layer of makeup
and then applied the shimmer. When that was finished, he fixed his
hair and put on his costume.

Another dancer came in, this one a black guy whose real name

was Bart. He waved and went straight to the back area behind the
makeup mirrors to the bathroom. Toby heard the shower being
turned on. And that meant Joey Flamingo’s angel was up next.

* * *

Lucas sat in the back of the club waiting for Toby to come out

for a third routine. He’d heard from the whisperings at the other
tables that Joey Flamingo might come out in the angel costume.
From the way Toby had described the act, Lucas couldn’t wait to
see the performance.

He’d been hard as a fucking rock since Toby’s first act as the

BECOMING HIS

hottest damn cop in leather he’d ever seen.

Lucas didn’t even know why he’d ended up coming to

Lonnie’s. Well, that wasn’t true entirely. He’d wanted to see Toby
strip. But he had to be discreet about it. Actors had to be careful,
and though Lucas wasn’t a movie star, he usually ended up being
recognized from his cable television show most places he went.

Since he hoped some day to end up starring in a network

television show, he didn’t want to take too many chances. Being
seen at a gay strip club wouldn’t be the wisest thing he’d ever
done. He was clear about his bisexuality on his website, but he’d
also been dating a woman up until just a couple of days ago.

Years ago, Lucas had been to a strip joint, but those dancers

had been women. He found himself completely enamored of Toby
as he strutted and gyrated to the music. But at the same time he
couldn’t deny a twinge of anger…jealousy maybe, knowing all the
other men in the club wanted Toby as much as he did.

The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed except for a few

whoops.

Soft harps and violins played from the club’s sound system as

mirrored balls reflected flashing lights. A white angel flew down
from the rafters to thunderous applause before a breathless hush
once more descended.

Lucas swallowed, his pulse racing as Toby dressed in

shimmery white with translucent wings lowered from some kind of
string contraption. His yellow hair had been styled almost as a halo
around his face and his pale face had a sort of silvery glow.

Just as Toby’s bare feet had nearly touched the stage, he

yanked at a piece of his costume and it flipped to all black. Lucas
caught his breath and the crowd seemed to give a collective gasp as
the angelic music suddenly changed to hard, pounding, bass heavy

BECOMING HIS

rock music.

Toby unhooked the contraption that had lowered him to the

floor. The crowd cheered as his hips began to sway to the energetic
music. Whistles and catcalls greeted each gyration and each
removal of a part of his costume.

Lucas gripped the edge of the table, his gaze riveted as Toby

turned to wiggle his ass. His mouth went dry and his cock became
so painful he could barely resist taking it out to stroke it. He knew
that masturbating oneself in the club was forbidden.

Toby whipped off another part of his costume, flinging it into

the crowd, then turned to face them once more. He removed more
and more parts of his costume, and Lucas knew he and the other
audience members were salivating.

After a few more minutes, Toby pulled off the last of his

costume to reveal himself wearing only his G-string, half black and
half white. The wings were still affixed to his back as he turned
once more to show the crowd his bare round ass.

Holy Fucking Hell.
Lucas couldn’t remember wanting anyone as much as he

wanted Toby right then. The animal lust nearly made him
lightheaded.

Toby made his way to the right stairs leading off the stage to

perform directly for the front row. Lucas clenched his fists,
wanting to smash in the faces of every single man there as they
slipped Toby dollar bills.

The rules of the club were that the men could only hand the tips

to the performer, not actually touch him, and especially not touch
the dancer’s G-string as Lucas had seen some asshole do earlier
that night to another performer. The bouncer hovered on the
sidelines, eyes watching the men carefully.

BECOMING HIS

Toby kept up his sexy gyrations, taking the tips as he went

along the row. Lucas noticed the same old man who’d touched the
other stripper holding out money for Toby to take. Toby reached
for the tip while glancing at the bouncer, who moved closer. Lucas
watched carefully but the man made no move to accost Toby as he
moved quickly through the rest of the row, and back onto the stage
where he did a few last moves before the lights went black.

* * *

Toby walked out of the shower, rubbing his freshly washed

hair. Wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist, he started to
walk out of the bathroom when voices in the dressing room made
him pause.

“I’ll give you money,” a man said.
“Mr. Richardson, we don’t allow lap dances at Lonnie’s,”

Lonnie said.

Toby inhaled, his heart racing frantically.
“Five hundred dollars. For just an hour with Joey Flamingo.”
“Mr. Richardson, we do not do that here at Lonnie’s. Our

performers are not whores. What you suggest is illegal and I don’t
run my club that way.”

Richardson laughed. “Right. I understand. No one needs to

know. We’ll keep it private between just us.”

“No, we will not.” Lonnie sounded furious. “You aren’t

listening, Mr. Richardson. I do not pimp out my boys. If you
cannot follow the rules here I suggest you seek out another club.
Any more such rule violations and I’ll be forced to have the
bouncers keep you from the club.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Mr. Richardson replied, his tone

BECOMING HIS

cold. “Perhaps I could speak privately to the performer myself
then.”

“Not on my premises, sir. Now, if you’ll follow Alan out, he’ll

escort you to the front door. We don’t allow customers backstage.”

“I need to take care of my bill.”
“We’ve comped your drinks tonight, Mr. Richardson. Have a

good night.”

Toby let out his held breath.
“It’s all right, Toby, you can come out now, the bastard is

gone,” Lonnie said from the dressing room.

Sighing, Toby walked into the main part of the room. “I’m

sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear.”

Lonnie smiled. “It wasn’t your fault. That man is a sleaze. He’s

becoming a real problem with all the dancers. He has taken a
particular liking to you though.”

“I don’t know why.” Toby went to retrieve his gym bag where

he kept his street clothes. It had been a long night.

His boss laughed. “You’re gorgeous and he’s a dirty old man.

Don’t worry. I’m going to talk to Tom when he gets back from the
business trip. I’m going to suggest not allowing him into the club
anymore.”

“I don’t want to cause any trouble.” Toby dressed in his jeans

and bright pink T-shirt quickly, wanting to get out of there and
home as soon as possible. For the next three nights he was off and
tomorrow he would see Lucas again at his barbecue. He was really
looking forward to that.

“You aren’t, Toby. Make sure you get Alan to walk you out to

your car. Good night.”

“Night, Lonnie.”

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 4

Lucas felt elated when he watched Toby get out of the backseat

of Kirk’s sedan, which he’d parked directly in front of Lucas’s
house. Kirk and Lucas’s brother, Elijah, also got out of the car, but
at that moment he only had eyes for the man with the bright,
shocking yellow hair.

He hadn’t been able to get the sexy as sin stripper out of his

mind since he’d seen him dance the night before. Well, really he’d
gone to Lonnie’s last night because he’d been thinking about Toby
since he’d come to watch the show being filmed.

Today, Toby wore jeans so tight they might have been a second

skin and a lime green T-shirt sucked onto his chest. From what he
could see as the trio approached his door, on Toby’s feet were a
pair of lime green Vans. His bright yellow hair had been styled as

BECOMING HIS

though Toby was a runway model, and plum blush dusted his
cheeks. His full lips were covered with clear lip-gloss.

Lucas had never been particularly attracted to men who wore

makeup, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Toby. He was
mesmerized.

He stood aside to let them inside his house, never once looking

away from Toby. The young man even smelled like vanilla.

“I admit,” Elijah said as they entered his living room, “I don’t

remember you being one for impromptu get-togethers.”

“Hmm?” Lucas’s gaze strayed to Toby’s ass.
Elijah poked him in the ribs, a scowl on his face. “What’s up

with you?”

He blinked and looked at his brother. He pointed to his

brother’s glasses. “You have a smudge on the left lens.”

His brother removed his glasses and rubbed the hem of his shirt

on them. “Where’s Melissa?”

“We…we’re not together anymore.”
“Since when?”
He shrugged. “A few days ago. We broke up.”
Elijah frowned. “Wow, I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. It was a long time coming.” He smiled, trying not

to openly stare at the object of his growing infatuation. “What can
I get you to drink? I’ve got beer, wine, iced tea and soda.”

“Beer,” Kirk said immediately.
“Iced tea for me,” Elijah said. “I agreed to drive everyone

home.”

Toby tilted his head as though he were thinking. “What kind of

wine?”

“Why don’t you come into the kitchen and help me and I’ll

show you?” Lucas suggested. “Eej, you and Kirk can go have a

BECOMING HIS

seat on the patio.”

His brother stared at him a moment, looking like he wanted to

say something, but then shook his head. “All right. Come on,
Kirk.”

Lucas put his hand on Toby’s arm and directed him into the

kitchen. Just touching the warm, bare skin sent a jolt of lust
through him. He’d have to get control of himself, at least in front
of Elijah and his boyfriend Kirk.

“So,” Lucas said, “I have chardonnay, pinot noir, white

zinfandel—”

“Wait. Say no more. The white zin, please.” Toby smiled. “It

tastes like punch.”

Lucas laughed, trying not to drool over the man’s adorable

smile. “Coming right up.” He glanced at Toby as he reached into
the fridge for the bottle of wine and filled a glass. “Now you look
more like you did at the hospital the first time I saw you.”

Toby blushed. “Um, yeah, I guess I do. A bit much?”
“Hell, no. You’re gorgeous.”
“Thanks,” Toby said uncertainly.
“I’m serious, Toby. You’re one of the hottest guys I’ve ever

seen. How come you looked so different when you came to the
set?”

Toby crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Are you saying I

wasn’t hot then?”

He laughed. “No, your hotness couldn’t help but shine through,

but I have to admit I like this look a lot better.”

“Hmm. All right.” Toby grinned. “I thought I might embarrass

you a bit if I came in all Full Toby.”

“Full Toby?” he asked, amused.
“Uh-huh. Some guys think, well, that I’m a little too…er—”

BECOMING HIS

“Flamboyant?”
Toby chuckled. “Fruity.”
“Well, those guys are idiots,” Lucas said. He poured his

brother’s iced tea and grabbed a bottle of beer for Kirk. “Toby, I
went to Lonnie’s last night.”

“You did?” Toby’s hazel eyes were as big as saucers.
He nodded. “I really wanted to see you take your clothes off. I

haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since you mentioned it
when we had lunch.”

“And? What did you think?”
Lucas found himself standing in front of Toby, who was

leaning against the kitchen counter. He inched closer, not wanting
any space between them. “I almost came watching you.”

Toby’s breath hitched and he licked his lips, his gaze meeting

Lucas’s.

“I bet you hear that all the time.”
“I do,” Toby agreed. “But I’ve never heard it from you.”
Lucas ducked his head until his lips were just an inch from

Toby’s. “You’re the most beautiful angel I’ve ever seen.”

“That says a lot coming from someone famous like you.”
He grinned, unable to stop himself from doing a bit of

preening. “Famous? I wouldn’t say that. Maybe well-known?”

“Definitely. Millions of people watch your show every week.

Including me.”

Lucas brushed his lips softly over Toby’s. “I want you, Toby.”
Toby shook his head. “Just because I’m a stripper doesn’t mean

I’m easy.”

His thumb grazing over Toby’s full bottom lip, Lucas laughed.

“Oh, believe me, sweetheart, I don’t think there’s anything easy
about you.”

BECOMING HIS

“Lots of guys seem to think if you’re a stripper that equals

slut.”

“Lots of guys are idiots. I don’t care what they think,” Lucas

said. “I want to see you. Take you to dinner, the movies, wherever
you want to go, Toby. I’m not going to pretend I’m not desperate
to get you into bed, but I can take things as slow as you want. I
haven’t been able to stop thinking of you since you walked onto
that set. Please, let me take you out.”

Toby was quiet before he blurted, “I’m sorry about your

girlfriend.”

He smiled. “Thanks. Actually, we broke up the same day you

came to the set.”

“Oh, wow.”
Lucas took his hand. “I think you are the hottest, sexiest thing

I’ve seen in a really long time, but you had nothing to do with my
breakup with Melissa. It was going to happen anyway. Okay?”

Toby nodded. “Okay.”
“So you’ll let me take you out?”
“Yep. But keep in mind, I never said I wasn’t high

maintenance.” Toby winked, grabbed his wineglass from the
counter in one hand and Kirk’s beer and left Lucas standing in the
kitchen.

* * *

“So, you’ve known Toby since you were kids?” Lucas asked

Kirk while munching on a hamburger. The four of them sat around
the patio table in the backyard.

“Yep.” Kirk nodded. “I know all his secrets.”
Toby snorted. “You wish.”

BECOMING HIS

Lucas smiled. “Tell me what he was like. I bet he was cute and

graceful.”

Kirk burst out laughing. “Toby? How many beers have you had

there, Luc?”

“Oh, hush.” Toby kicked Kirk.
“I know he’s graceful. I went and watched him at Lonnie’s last

night.”

Elijah choked on a sip of iced tea. “You went to a gay strip

joint?”

“Hey,” Toby said, arching a shaped brow. “What’s wrong with

that?”

“Nothing, I just didn’t think Lucas would ever go to one.”
“Well, I did, and Toby was spectacular. The best performer in

the show,” Lucas said.

“Thank you,” Toby said sweetly.
“Welcome.”
Kirk chuckled. “That’s the only way Toby is graceful is when

he’s dancing and stripping. Otherwise he’s the biggest klutz you’ve
ever seen.”

“Shut up.”
But Kirk only rolled his eyes. “How many times have you

crashed your car into something?”

Toby shrugged. “A few.”
“A few hundred.” Kirk smirked.
“Anyway, that only makes me a bad driver not a klutz.”
“Uh-huh. What about the time when your mama was having a

tea party and you were helping her?”

“Oh, my God, you are not going to mention that.” Toby’s voice

went up an octave.

Kirk ignored him. “Toby was fifteen and had already come out

BECOMING HIS

to his family. They were really cool about it. Anyway, his mama
decided she wanted a tea party in the spring for Toby’s
grandmother’s birthday. I think she was a hundred or something.”

“Seventy-five,” Toby grumbled.
“Right. Toby decided to dress for tea.”
Lucas blinked. “Dress for tea?”
“With a big floppy lavender hat and matching dress.”
Elijah gasped. “You never told me Toby is a cross-dresser.”
“Because I’m not,” Toby insisted. “Just once in a while.”
“So, Toby came to the tea looking better than most of the ladies

present,” Kirk said.

Toby smiled. “Well, that is true.”
“Damn, I wish I’d seen it.” Lucas grinned.
“High heels even. Which with Toby can be a disaster.”
“Didn’t I already tell you to hush?’ Toby’s cheeks were bright

pink under the plum blush.

“The story is cute,” Kirk insisted.
Lucas felt a tiny twinge of jealousy. At that moment he wished

he’d been the one to know Toby most of his life. Still, he was glad
to be hearing about it.

“His mama gave him the task of pouring tea at his two elderly

aunts’ table and their two equally old friends.”

His eyes widened. “Don’t tell me he spilled hot tea on them?”
Kirk shook his head. “Fortunately for them they’d requested

iced tea ’cause it was unusually warm that day. He approached the
table with a full pitcher of raspberry iced tea and picked that
moment to fall off the heels he could barely walk in and flung the
pitcher at them. The lid came off and doused them all in dark red
tea.”

Lucas, Elijah and Kirk all laughed, but Toby stuck his tongue

BECOMING HIS

out.

Kirk reached over and patted Toby’s shoulder. “Toby’s a great

dancer, but in high school he tried out for a musical and tried to
sing. He sings like a frog!”

The man in question threw down his napkin and glared at his

friend. “I may sing like a frog, but at least I don’t look like one.”

Lucas grinned.
Elijah sighed. “They’re always like this.”
He rose. “Well, as much fun as this is, I should get the table

cleared. Did anyone want anything else?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Kirk said and the other two agreed.
Toby got up, too. “I’ll help you.”

* * *

Later after they’d played a game of Trivial Pursuit, which

Elijah won, the three men got up to leave. Lucas wished he could
think of a way to get Toby to stay but he didn’t want to put
pressure on the younger man, so he just walked them to the door.

“Hey, can you guys give me a minute with Toby? There’s

something I want to talk to him about,” Lucas said as he opened
the front door.

Elijah frowned, but nodded. “We’ll wait outside.”
When Lucas had closed the door, he turned to Toby.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
“This.” He pushed Toby against the nearest wall and covered

the young stripper’s lips with his. He meant to only give those lips
a brief kiss, but once he tasted Toby he couldn’t bring himself to
pull back. He deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue inside, holding
Toby’s arms above his head.

BECOMING HIS

Toby whimpered, his mouth softening beneath Lucas’s, his

tongue tangling with his. Lucas’s cock rose hard and aching
against the tight constraints of his pants. He needed to stop this
now, but he didn’t want to.

And then Toby stiffened. Lucas released him at once.
“Sorry, got carried away.” He offered an apologetic smile. “I

did say I’d take things slow and here I am manhandling you.”

Toby shook his head, his lips curving deliciously. “No, it’s

okay. I loved it. But I should get going.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What do you want to do?” Lucas asked, thinking how he

wanted the man naked, willing, and in his bed.

“How about we go ice skating?”
“What?”
Toby laughed. “There’s a rink in the valley. It’ll be fun.”
He frowned doubtfully. “You know how to ice skate?”
“Nope. You?”
“No, then why—”
Toby gave him an all too brief peck on the lips. “It’ll be a

whole new experience for both of us.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
“It’ll be okay.” Toby took a scrap of paper out of his pocket.

“Got a pen?” Lucas fetched one and handed it to Toby, who wrote
down his address and have it to Lucas. “Pick me up at eight
tomorrow night.”

Toby winked and disappeared through the front door.

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 5

“Oh, my God!” His mother screeched in Toby’s ear. He moved

the cell phone away, but it was too late. His ear was ringing.

“Mama, please, you just burst my eardrum.”
“Tobias, don’t exaggerate.”
He frowned and grabbed a red button-down shirt from his

closet. “I’m serious, that hurt.”

She sighed. “I’m excited!”
He touched his sore ear. “I gathered.”
“To think my son is dating Lucas Cartwright.”
“Well, I’m not dating him, Mama. It’s one date.”
“Pish,” she said. “A cute boy like you. You’ll be dating him.”
He unbuttoned the first two buttons on the shirt and then pulled

it on over his head. “I wouldn’t count on it. He’s a celebrity.”

BECOMING HIS

“I know, I love his show.”
“Me, too.”
“I thought he was straight,” his mama said. He could hear the

banging of pots and pans in the background.

“Bisexual.” Toby walked into his bathroom to style his still wet

hair.

“Oh, that explains it. When do I get to meet him?”
“Maybe never. Look, this may be our one and only date. And

even if it’s not, we’ll probably go on a handful of dates,
we’ll…er…have relations, and then that will be the end of it. The
chances of anything long term between us are almost nothing.”

“I don’t know why you say that. You’re a beautiful boy.”
Toby shrugged and applied eyeliner. “I’ve dated a couple of

other bisexual guys and it’s been my experience that if they want a
relationship they choose a woman to settle down with. Lucas has
dated a lot of women prior to seeing me.”

“Well, if he isn’t interested in something more, why did he ask

you out?”

He rolled his eyes even though his mama couldn’t see him.

“Why do you think?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said primly.
Toby opened his makeup drawer and searched amongst his

blushes. “He just broke up with a girlfriend so now’s the perfect
time to get sex with a guy out of his system for a while before he
finds a new woman to date.”

“Tobias, you are selling yourself short.”
“No, Mama, I’m being realistic.” He’d been burned by guys he

really liked too often to have any real hope of anything serious
with Lucas. Every guy he’d been with thought Toby was sexy and
fun to play around with, but no one ever wanted to have a long-

BECOMING HIS

term relationship. Not with a stripper. They were just for sex.

“Tobias—”
“Mama, he’s going to be here any second. I’ll talk to you

later.”

“Tomorrow. I want to hear all about it, so you’d better call

me.”

“Yes, all right. ’Night, Mama.” Toby hit end call before she

could say anymore. He was adding a few last minute touches to his
appearance when the doorbell of his apartment rang.

Suddenly his stomach was all aflutter. Stupid butterflies. He

flipped his bedroom light off and went through the living room to
his front door.

His breath caught as soon as he saw Lucas standing on his

doorstep looking heartbreakingly handsome. He couldn’t imagine
what such a man would see in him.

“Hi.” He smiled.
Lucas walked inside. “Hi, yourself. You look amazing.” He

wrapped his arms around Toby and kissed him. “Mmm.
Strawberry-lemonade?”

Toby laughed. “Of course. It’s my favorite lip gloss.”
Lucas hadn’t released him. Instead he was staring intently into

Toby’s eyes. “Are you sure we have to go ice skating? We can stay
here.”

“Oh.” Toby tried not to feel disappointed. But he’d been

through this before. “Um, sure, okay.”

“What’s wrong?”
“You don’t want to be seen with me, I get it.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “What? Why wouldn’t I want to be

seen with you?”

He bit his lip. “Either you think I’m too flamboyant and

BECOMING HIS

therefore embarrassing, or you have a problem being seen with a
stripper.”

Long fingers raked through his blond hair. “Sweetheart, you’ve

been with some real losers. I only meant I would love to have you
to myself. I was kidding. Well, half-kidding. I know you want to
go ice skating.”

“So, it’s okay?” he asked, just to be sure.
“More than okay. I have a feeling I’m going to do nothing but

fall on my ass, but let’s go.”

Toby grinned. “Let me get my coat.” He went to his hall closet

and took out his faux rabbit fur-lined leather jacket.

After he shrugged into jacket, Lucas reached for his hand.

“Shall we?”

* * *

“Ouch, ouch, ouch,” Toby exclaimed as his derriere once more

hit the ice. Lonnie would kill him if he showed up to work
Wednesday night with big bruises on his cheeks.

Lucas laughed and helped him to stand. “How many times is

that?”

“I lost count. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.”
Lucas helped him over to the side. “I don’t know, you’re

awfully cute all sprawled out on the rink, your cheeks all pinked. I
have to say, I’m impressed.”

“It can’t be with my skating prowess.”
“Um, no. If I had fallen down as many times as you, I would be

swearing a blue streak.”

Toby felt his face go flaming hot. “Well, the truth is, I try not

to curse.”

BECOMING HIS

“You do?”
“I’m not saying I never do, but for me it’s rare. I think it makes

people…trashy.”

Lucas nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Toby?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve had enough ice skating. Let’s go to the snack shop and

get some cocoa or something.”

Toby sighed. “Thank God. I was hoping you’d say that.”
They moved off the rink and removed their ice skates,

returning them to the rental counter, and then headed down to the
little snack shop.

As they stood in line waiting their turn to order, Toby noticed a

family of four at a table near the line. Each time he glanced at
them, the family stared and the two kids giggled. After they
ordered, the family all waved wildly at Lucas.

“You are Lucas Cartwright, aren’t you?” The woman asked.

“From Harrow’s Eyes?”

Lucas smiled graciously. “Yes, I am.”
“Oh, can we have your autograph?”
Lucas signed his autographs and chatted with the family for

several minutes before finally leading Toby over to a table in the
corner of the seating area.

“I’m so sorry,” Toby said instantly
“For what?”
“When you said you wanted to stay in it never occurred to me

it might because of that. You’re just so normal I forgot you were a
celebrity.”

Lucas laughed. “Toby, most celebrities are pretty normal when

you get down to it. We’re all people. And I wasn’t concerned about
that. Not really.”

BECOMING HIS

“Still, does it happen a lot? People coming up to you?”
“A lot of the time,” Lucas admitted. “You get used to it.”
Toby sighed and took a sip of his cocoa.
“What’s that sigh for?”
He bit his lip. “Well, usually when this happens to you, fans

see you with some hot woman, right?”

“Hmm. Yeah, I suppose. Why?”
“I know you’re pretty open about being bisexual on your

website, but still, isn’t sleeping with someone the same sex as you
still not widely accepted in Hollywood?”

Lucas shrugged. “Somewhat I guess.”
“I bet your agent or publicist wouldn’t be too thrilled if your

picture with the queer was plastered on the nearest magazine.”

“Toby.” Lucas shook his head and reached for Toby’s hand.

“Don’t worry about all that. I’m here because I want to spend time
with you. Stop thinking about who I’ve dated in the past and who
you’ve dated in the past. No one else matters right now but the two
of us.”

Toby realized he sounded vaguely whiney and maybe he really

was being silly. “Okay, I know you’re right.”

Lucas smiled and tossed his empty coca cup in the nearby trash

receptacle. “Shall we?”

* * *

“Want to come in?” Toby asked, as they approached his

apartment door. His heart pounded hard in his chest. It was getting
late, he knew, close to midnight, and Lucas probably had to film
the show in the morning.

Lucas stopped his hand as he went to turn the key in the door.

BECOMING HIS

He reached up to grasp Toby’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “I
do. If you want to go slow, though, I shouldn’t.”

Why did he want to go slow? Oh, yeah, to prove he wasn’t

some easy slut. If he let Lucas in tonight he knew they would have
sex. And if he had any regrets after, if Lucas was then finished
with him, he’d have only himself to blame. But if Lucas only
wanted him for sex that wasn’t going to change even if they waited
through a month of dates, would it?

“Toby?”
“Come inside,” he whispered. He fumbled with the key, but got

the door open. Once they were both in the apartment, Toby closed
and locked the door. “My room’s this way.”

Toby bit his lips nervously as he led Lucas down the short hall

to the only bedroom. He’d long since ceased to be a virgin, yet
tonight he felt like one. Skittish, with his heart beating a fast tattoo
against his chest. He wanted this…he did. Ever since he’d met
Lucas in the hospital, Toby had dreamed of this. Yet now that the
time had come, he was so afraid he’d make the biggest fool of
himself.

Lucas’s hand rested on his right buttock, sending a powerful

jolt of desire straight to his already half-hard cock. Walking
through the bedroom doorway, Toby turned to face Lucas.

“How about I give you a personal striptease?” Toby licked his

lips suggestively. This he knew. This he could be good at.

Lucas grinned. “An offer I wouldn’t turn down in a million

years.”

Toby returned his grin. “Okay, then get naked and wait on the

bed for me.” He didn’t wait to see if Lucas would do as he said, he
just assumed the man would. He disappeared into the bathroom,
grabbing a box of condoms and a bottle of lube.

BECOMING HIS

Running back out to the bedroom, Toby tossed the supplies

toward the bed, quickly noticing discarded clothes on the floor by
the foot of the bed. He didn’t yet look at Lucas. He wanted to wait,
to anticipate.

Next he went into his closet. He toed off his shoes, and then

found his magenta robe, which he slipped on, and a pair of pink,
elbow length satin gloves. After putting those on, Toby located his
old portable CD player and chose a Music of the 80s CD from a
box in the corner of his closet. He was ready.

At the last minute, he grabbed a red feather boa off the top

shelf and wrapped that around his neck. He set the CD player on
the floor just inside the closet door and turned on the music full
blast.

His cock had risen to full hardness just thinking of dancing for

Lucas. He approached the bed where an incredibly hot, naked man
lay. For a moment, instead of doing his stripper act, Toby just
stared, his mouth agape.

Lucas sat up against the headboard, one leg slightly bent, his

dick large, thick and fully erect. His long fingers were curved
around the shaft, stroking it.

Toby had guessed that under Lucas’s clothes was a gorgeous

muscular vision of manliness, and he was not disappointed.
Lucas’s chest was broad and muscular and his biceps bulged. His
six-pack abs would be the envy of many strippers Toby knew.

A devilish smile curved Lucas’s lips and Toby was lost.
His gaze dropped to Lucas stroking himself as Toby began to

gyrate to the 80s tune currently playing. Grabbing the ends of the
boa, he sawed it across his throat, tossing the feathered ends
flirtatiously.

Lucas chuckled.

BECOMING HIS

Grinning, Toby pulled it from his neck and tossed the feather

boa at Lucas, who caught it one-handed. He turned to shimmy his
ass, swaying it from side to side. Looking back over his shoulder,
Toby pulled off a glove with his teeth. Which earned him a wolf
whistle from Lucas.

Facing front once more, Toby yanked off the other glove, then

slowly lowered the sleeves of the robe. His dick strained against
his jeans, begging for relief. Maybe he ought to speed up the act.

He slipped the robe off his shoulders and to his feet, pooling in

lush soft magenta. Now he was once more only dressed in the
clothes he’d worn on their ice skating date. His fingers went to the
buttons of his red shirt, his gaze once more fixed on Lucas stroking
himself. A drop of pre-cum glistened on the top of Lucas’s cock.

“Come on, Toby, you’re stopping,” Lucas urged.
He laughed. “Sorry, it’s hard to concentrate when you’re giving

me a show of your own.”

“Get those clothes off and I’ll give you a show of how I get this

in your sweet ass.”

Toby rushed through the buttons on his shirt, though being

careful not to pop them off as it was an expensive designer shirt.
He tossed it to the floor with his robe and then once more gave
Lucas a view of his backside.

He unfastened his jeans, slid the zipper down and then pushed

the pants down his legs until he wore only his boxer briefs.

Turning around, he said, “Only with this show I don’t stop at

the G-string.”

“I definitely hope not,” Lucas growled. “Come here, Toby.”
Toby slipped the briefs off, then crawled over to Lucas. The

other man grabbed him by the back of the neck and kissed him
roughly. He slid his tongue inside Lucas’s warm mouth and was

BECOMING HIS

about to settle across his chest for a long kiss when Lucas flipped
him to lie on his back.

“Hey,” Toby protested, as Lucas suddenly loomed above him.
“Shh,” Lucas whispered. His lips were soft but demanding

when they once more covered Toby’s.

Though he was no slut, Toby had not lacked for sexual partners

since his first lover when he was sixteen, nearly ten years ago. And
he had never been one to refuse to kiss a guy he was having sex
with. It was all part of the sexual experience as far as Toby was
concerned. But he had to admit, Lucas was an expert kisser.

Moaning, he laced his fingers through Lucas’s soft dark hair.

Toby grazed his hands down Lucas’s sleek back, then moved them
to his firm round cheeks as Lucas continued to plunder his mouth.

Lucas slipped a hand between their bodies, his fingers trailing

down Toby’s belly. Toby’s breath hitched, his mouth opening
wider for Lucas’s tongue. The fingers brushed lower and closed
over Toby’s aching cock.

“Ah,” Toby gasped, breaking the kiss, trying to catch his

breath. He’d barely managed when Lucas kissed him again, so
deeply, so possessively it stole his breath all over again.

The big hand on his shaft jerked him into a frenzy. Toby

wondered at that moment if he’d survive. His body was electrified,
so sensitized, if his mouth had been free he would have screamed.

He wanted…wanted…Oh God.
Tearing his mouth free, he groaned. “Please.”
“Oh, yeah, sweetheart, I’ll give you what you want,” Lucas

promised. He lifted off Toby, reaching for the lube.

“Yes, please.” Toby knew he was begging and didn’t care.
Lucas’s gaze smoldered as he hiked Toby’s legs to rest on his

shoulders, giving him perfect access to Toby’s bottom. The squirt

BECOMING HIS

of the lube sounded loud even though the 80s CD still played from
the closet.

Toby waited, watching, his body quivering. Lucas pushed a

slicked finger inside Toby. His cock leaked on his leg and Toby
reached for it, fisting it even as Lucas added a second finger, his
digits probing for Toby’s prostate.

“Lucas,” Toby yelled, then bit his lip, feeling his face flush.
“Easy, sweetheart. Don’t tighten up on me,” Lucas soothed.
A third finger pushed past his ring of muscle and Toby winced

at the burn. It was worth the slight discomfort. The fullness felt
amazing.

Lucas moved his fingers within Toby, spreading him,

tantalizing him. Knowing he was about to come, Toby temporarily
released his hold on his cock. He wanted to wait until Lucas was
imbedded inside him.

Lucas finally withdrew his fingers and lowered Toby’s legs to

reach for the condom. Toby sighed with relief.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Anxious?”
“Uh-huh. I want you. Now.”
Lucas’s eyes dilated and he grabbed the condom, tearing it

open. He rolled it over his big cock, then slicked it with more lube.
Slipping his arms under Toby’s legs, Lucas poised himself at
Toby’s entrance.

Their gazes locked, heated and intense.
Lucas pushed in. And in and in. Until his balls rested on Toby.
“Move,” Toby pleaded, his own cock aching with the need to

come. His hand closed around himself once more, stroking as
Lucas thrust deep.

Toby had never been a particularly passive bottom, so with

each thrust, he pushed up. He was taking a pounding and might

BECOMING HIS

regret it in the morning, but for now he wanted it rough, hard and
fast. His balls drew tight, warning of his impending orgasm.
Closing his fist tighter around the head of his dick, he jerked
himself.

“I can’t hold it,” he said.
“Don’t. Come for me, Toby.”
A powerful, nearly unbearable tingling at the base of his spine

tore a moan from him as opaque white cum erupted from his cock.
His eyes rolled back in his head as Lucas pounded and pulsed
within him.

“God, Toby!” Lucas yelled, stiffening with three final long

thrusts.

Panting heavily, Lucas withdrew and collapsed on the bed next

to Toby.

He turned toward Lucas, wrapping his arms around Lucas’s

middle, hoping he wouldn’t be rejected. When all Lucas did was
close his arms around Toby and draw him closer, Toby closed his
eyes with relief.

Just when he thought maybe Lucas had drifted off to sleep,

Lucas asked, “Can I stay here with you tonight?”

His heart nearly skipping a beat, Toby nodded. “Of course.”
“You don’t mind? I have to get up pretty early to stop by my

place before I go to the studio. I don’t want to disturb you, but I
also don’t want to leave.”

Toby smiled against Lucas’s chest. “I don’t mind.”

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 6

“Look, I know your love life is none of my business,” Elijah

said to Lucas over the phone a couple of days after his first night
with Toby.

“That’s definitely true.” Lucas opened his dishwasher and

loaded several glasses into the top rack.

“But that’s never really stopped either of us from butting in.”
Pretty much it had been him and Elijah for several years now.

They were the only family they had, really. And he was protective
of Eej.

“So?” he prompted.
“Don’t you think maybe you should wait a while before dating

again?”

Lucas sighed and leaned against his kitchen counter. “My

BECOMING HIS

relationship with Melissa ended because we just didn’t go together
as a couple. We’re still friends. There’s no grieving process.”

“I know, but—”
“But what?”
“Could you maybe pick someone other than Toby as your

rebound fuck?” Elijah blurted out the words so fast they almost
sounded like gibberish.

“Excuse me?”
“Kirk is worried Toby is going to get hurt.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “So this is coming from

Kirk?”

“Yes and me too,” Elijah said.
“I’m having a good time with Toby.”
“I’m sure you are. He’s sweet and sexy. But you know it’s not

going to go anywhere and when you’re ready to move on Toby
will be hurt.”

Lucas grabbed the teakettle off his stove and filled it with water

from his filtered water spout. “What makes you say that?”

“Lucas, you’re an actor. You’ve wanted to be a star since you

were a kid. We both know male stars don’t have long-term
relationships with men. Why do you think leading men have been
hiding their sexuality for decades? One day you’re going to
become somebody above and beyond the cable show—you know
you will. You’ll be expected to date famous actresses. Even if you
wanted to keep Toby around on the side, that wouldn’t be fair to
him or any woman you dated.”

Turning on the fire under the teakettle, Lucas took out a mug

out of his cabinet. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

Elijah snorted. “Right. Even now with all the strides we’ve

made we still fight for acceptance all the time. Hollywood is one of

BECOMING HIS

the worst. It’s okay in your private life but don’t expect to get
starring roles in big films if you walk the red carpet with Toby on
your arm.”

He knew his brother was right, of course. But Lucas didn’t

want to think about it. Not that far ahead. Right now he was
enjoying his infatuation with Toby.

“Whether all of that is true, I’m not going to debate. It’s not

even relevant at this point. Toby and I have barely started seeing
each other. Nobody’s made or expected any promises.”

“He really likes you,” Elijah said quietly.
“And I really like him.”
“Okay, forgetting for a moment that male movie stars date

women, what about his job? I can’t believe your agent hasn’t
thrown a fit over you seeing a stripper. A male stripper.”

He poured the boiling water over his green tea bag. “He doesn’t

know about Toby yet. And if he does say something, I’ll tell him
it’s none of his business either.”

“If someone asked you tomorrow what you would rather have,

Toby or your career, what would you say?”

“My career, of course.”
“See.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “I don’t see anything. I’ve been seeing

Toby for three or four days, Eej. I’m not about to give up my
career for anyone I’m seeing for that time.”

“What about a year from now? You’re in love, having a great

time, and then they ask?”

He scowled. “This is a stupid conversation.”
Elijah sighed. “You’d pick your career and we both know it.

You see this opportunity breaking up with Melissa as a chance to
fuck a few hot guys before you start a new relationship with a

BECOMING HIS

woman. There’s nothing wrong with that, Lucas. I just think Toby
is the wrong guy to play around with. Kirk says he’s been hurt
before. By guys like you.”

“Like me?”
“Guys who claim to be bisexual.”
“I am bisexual, Eej. I like women.”
“I know. But Kirk says—”
“Look, I know Kirk is your boyfriend and I like him. But could

we not go by what Kirk says?” He took his mug of tea out of the
kitchen and into his living room. He was expecting Toby to show
up any time. He glanced at the clock.

“Kirk’s known Toby all his life. They’re—”
“Best friends. I know. Eej, I don’t know what’s going to

happen. But Toby is a grown man who is free to decide whether he
wants to spend time with me or not. I’m not forcing him into
anything. The minute he doesn’t feel right about it anymore, he can
end things.”

His doorbell rang. Talk about being saved by the bell.
“There’s the door. I’m expecting Toby. I’ll talk to you later,

Eej.” He hung up and went to open the door for Toby.

Toby stood on his doorstep, smiling, his blond hair slightly

messy, still wearing his stage makeup, jeans, an orange shirt and
his leather jacket. Lucas wanted him so bad it hurt. He yanked him
inside.

“I didn’t shower yet,” Toby said, breathlessly as Lucas tugged

him close. “I wanted to get out of there in a hurry when I saw your
text.”

Lucas nodded, pushing the leather jacket off Toby’s shoulders.

“I know it’s late, having you come over here. I just really wanted
to see you.”

BECOMING HIS

Toby grinned. “It’s okay. I was really excited to get the text.

I’ve been thinking about you.”

He kissed Toby softly, teasingly. “That sounds promising. I’ve

been thinking about you, too.” He tossed the leather jacket onto the
sofa. He inched his fingers under the orange shirt. “I want you
naked.”

“I should probably shower first,” Toby said as Lucas yanked

his shirt off over his head. Lucas pushed him up against the back of
the couch, his hands all over Toby.

“Mmm hmm. In a minute,” Lucas said. He trailed his tongue

down the middle of Toby’s back, enjoying the tremors going
through the sexy, young man. He reached around and unsnapped
Toby’s jeans, loosening the pants and briefs just enough to reveal
his round, fuckable ass. God, yes, he could hardly wait to be inside
Toby.

Toby laughed, looking over his shoulder, watching Lucas drop

his own jeans to the floor. “I’m all sweaty.”

“Perfect since you’re about to get sweatier.” Somehow he must

have planned this in his mind when he texted Toby to come over
tonight after work. He’d put a condom and a small travel packet of
lube in his jeans, which he now held in his hands. “I can’t wait,
Toby. I’ve been wanting you all night.”

Toby nodded, his eyes dilating with lust. He braced himself

against the sofa and spread his legs. “Fuck me.”

Growling, Lucas sheathed his dick and then squirted the lube

onto his fingers, inserting them none too gently into Toby. He
winced, but Toby gasped and pushed back, spreading himself
wider.

When he finally entered Toby it seemed like he’d been waiting

hours though it had been seconds. Lucas couldn’t remember the

BECOMING HIS

last time he had been this desperate with need for someone. Been
so damn infatuated. Surely it would eventually fade as it usually
did.

His fingers gripped Toby’s hips as he thrust over and over into

the man. He wanted to take him, mark him as his. And only his.
None of the men who paid to watch Toby strip would ever know
this.

“Toby.” He groaned, his release slamming into him. Lucas,

remaining inside Toby, reached around their bodies and stroked
Toby to his own orgasm.

* * *

“So let me get this straight—you’re dating Lucas Cartwright?”

Mickey, another stripper from Lonnie’s, asked Toby a week later
over breakfast at a nearby diner.

Toby nodded, stabbing into his over-easy eggs. “Seems like

maybe I am. We’ve spent every single night together for the last
week. Friday and Saturday nights he even picked me up from the
club after the show.”

Mickey’s dark eyes studied him. “Are you sure you know what

you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”
Mickey shrugged and spread raspberry jam on a slice of toast.

“It’s just that you’ve said yourself most guys seem to have trouble
dating a stripper. I know I’ve run into that problem. And with this
guy being a celebrity, I don’t know, it seems like it might get even
more complicated.”

Toby had thought about it, of course. Once it seemed like

maybe, just maybe, Lucas wanted something more with him than

BECOMING HIS

just a one-night stand of hot sex. Toby had thought of little else.
The truth was, Lucas had turned out to be a great guy. Sweet,
romantic, and attentive. As well as being the best lover Toby had
ever had. Already Toby knew he liked Lucas way more than was
probably wise.

Tucking a strand of his shoulder length dark hair behind his

ear, Mickey smiled. “I don’t mean to poop on your party.”

Toby rolled his eyes. “You’re not. I’ve thought about it myself.

But right now I’m having a great time. I know not to get too
serious too fast.”

Liar.
“Lucas is bisexual?” Mickey asked.
“Yeah, he broke up with his girlfriend just before he started

seeing me.”

“You know his Hollywood agent is liable to want to steer him

toward hetero relationships. It’s better for his image, especially if
he wants to get network television or movies even.”

Toby knew his friend meant well, but just then he wanted to

kick him under the table. He wasn’t naïve. Everything Mickey said
was true. Heck, he’d said the very same thing to Lucas. He sighed
and pushed his eggs around his plate.

“I know, but we’ve just started seeing each other. We’re not

picking out curtains, Mickey.”

“But I know how you are, Toby. You’re very sensitive. You

tell me you know not to get serious, but I already can tell you are.
You like Lucas a lot, don’t you?”

Toby shrugged.
“He’s going to hurt you, Tob. Maybe he won’t mean to, but he

will.” Mickey pushed his plate away. “Are you sure he’s even
really broken up with his girlfriend?”

BECOMING HIS

“What? Yeah, of course.”
“Okay. I just thought maybe he was seeing you on the side just

to get his man fix. He takes you out in public?”

“Yes.”
“That’s good. I hope I’m wrong and that you beat the odds, but

I’ve seen you get hurt before. You think the guy’s going to sweep
you off your feet like some hero in a romance novel, but either all
he wants is a good time with a cute stripper or he wants to change
you to fit what he thinks you should be.”

He hoped he beat the odds, too, but Toby was used to being

realistic in spite of what Mickey thought. He’d already figured his
relationship with Lucas would be short-lived. And if it went on
much longer than it already had, Toby would be in love. When it
ended, he would be heartbroken. But he couldn’t stop whatever
was going to happen now. He couldn’t…wouldn’t end it himself.
Not now.

“I appreciate your concern, Mickey,” he said, reaching for a

now cold piece of bacon. “I guess I’m just going to take my
chances and see what happens. I’ve survived being hurt before,
you know, so I’ll live this time, too.”

Mickey covered Toby’s hand with his and squeezed it. “Okay.

Oh, but there is something else I wanted to tell you.”

“What’s that?”
Mickey glanced around the diner and then lowered his voice.

“Remember that guy Richardson?”

Toby wrinkled his nose, his stomach twisting just thinking

about the dude. “Unfortunately. But I haven’t seen him lately at the
club. Not in the front row anyway. Has he been banished to the
back?”

“No. Lonnie had a talk with Tom and they decided not to let

BECOMING HIS

Richardson in the club anymore. So Alan wouldn’t let him in.”
Toby had learned shortly after getting a job at Lonnie’s that
Mickey was actually Tom’s son. Tom and Lonnie had taken
Mickey away from their hometown when he was a teenage boy,
but Toby didn’t know much more than that about the three of
them.

“Wow. So, Tom agreed? Lonnie must have really thought it

was serious to have talked to your dad about it.”

Mickey nodded. “It was, Tob. Richardson went to another club.

The Polka Dot on Sunset. He followed a dancer out of the club and
tried to force himself on the guy. Richardson then beat the dancer
near to death.”

“Oh my God!”
“I know. Richardson was arrested.”
Toby lost the last of what was left of his appetite. “Mick, that

could have been any one of us. Is the dancer going to survive?”

“They don’t know yet,” Mickey said grimly. “Scary stuff. I’m

glad he was banned from our club, but I’m really sorry he was
allowed to attack someone else.”

Toby shook his head. “That’s horrible. I’d heard the security

wasn’t as good at the Polka Dot, but I had no idea it could be this
bad. I bet Lonnie and your dad are glad now they took that extra
precaution.”

“They are.” Mickey’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the

number. “Excuse me for a second?”

“Sure.” Toby waved him away. Mickey slipped out of the

booth and walked away, answering his phone.

Which reminded Toby. He was supposed to call his mama with

the latest update on his relationship with Lucas. If he had one. He
fished his phone out of his back pocket and was about to hit speed

BECOMING HIS

dial when Lucas’s number popped up.

“Hello?”
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Toby smiled. “Hi, yourself.”
“Listen, Toby, I have to cancel tonight.”
His smile disappeared and his stomach twisted. “Oh. That’s all

right.”

“No, it’s not all right.” Lucas sighed. “I want to see you so

badly.”

Forcing lightness into his tone, Toby said, “You just saw me

this morning.”

“And I want to see you again. My agent called and we’re

having dinner tonight. Wants to talk about the show. I guess they
want to continue for at least three more seasons.”

“That’s great news, Lucas.”
“I know, but I wanted to see you. Maybe if dinner ends early

enough, we can still see each other. I know this is your last night
off before you have to go back to work.”

“No, it’s all right. I don’t want you to worry about it. Just have

dinner with your agent. It’s no big deal.” Toby could probably use
a waxing and do his nails. Sure that would only occupy two hours
of his night, but still, he would do his best not to mope around
about it.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll make it up to you,” Lucas said.
“Okay.”
“I’ll come and get you for work tomorrow and pick you up as I

did before.”

“Have a good dinner with your agent.”
“Toby, I—”
“What?”

BECOMING HIS

Lucas sighed. “Nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.

Bye.”

“Bye.” Toby set his phone on the table. Sure, he was

disappointed, but Lucas sounded like he was, too. It didn’t mean
he’d start making excuses not to see Toby.

Mickey returned to the table. “Sorry about that. Are you

finished?”

Toby nodded. “Yeah, I need to get home. Laundry day.”
Mickey grabbed the bill. “Breakfast is on me.”

* * *

Toby took out the box of nail polish he kept under his

bathroom sink. He switched his cell phone to his left ear as he
sorted through the colors.

“What are you doing?” his mama asked.
“I’m going to give myself a mani-pedi.”
“You could come home and play cards with me and the girls.

They should be here any minute.”

Toby grimaced. “Mama, your card club does nothing but

gossip.”

“You used to enjoy that as much as we did. Grace Halperin’s

going to be here.”

He smiled. He’d always liked Grace. She was one of his

mama’s oldest friends. “I need the mani-pedi anyway.”

“You can do it here.”
“Mama, I don’t need babying.”
“You are my baby, Tobias.”
“Yes, but I can spend a night alone. I’ve done it dozens of

times.”

BECOMING HIS

“You sounded so sad before.”
Toby sighed and chose a shocking pink. “I was having a

dramatic moment. I’m over it.”

“If you are sure—”
“Mama, positive. I’m going to see Lucas tomorrow. Everything

is fine.”

She laughed. “Well, I know that. I have a good feeling about

this, Tobias. Maybe we should see a psychic.”

Toby rolled his eyes and grabbed a bucket from a closet to soak

his feet. “I’m still recovering from the last one we went to.”

“Oh, she wasn’t that bad.”
“She predicted we’d die before we ever left the parking lot,

Mama.”

“Well, that. I suppose she was a bit unusual. Some of what she

predicted came true though.”

“Thank God that didn’t.” He pulled the tie on his magenta robe

tighter. He was freezing. Time to turn on the heat. He walked out
of his bathroom and into his bedroom. “Mama—”

The doorbell rang.
He frowned, looking at the Winnie the Pooh clock on his wall.

Close to nine.

“Mama, I’ll talk to you later. There’s someone at the door.” He

hit end call as the doorbell rang again. What if it was a home
invasion?

Biting his lip, he hurried to the closet to find something to bash

over the invader’s head. It wasn’t like he had any baseball bats or
crowbars in his closet.

The doorbell rang again. Twice in a row. And then his cell

phone sprang to life. He glanced at the number.

“Lucas?”

BECOMING HIS

“Sweetheart, let me in. It’s cold out here.”
“You? That’s you?”
Lucas laughed. “Yes. Answer the door.”
Toby ran out of the bedroom and to the door, sliding the bolt

back and flinging it open. Sure enough, Lucas stood on his
doorstep. His dark hair was windswept, his cheeks flushed, and his
eyes shining with his smile.

Grabbing his arm, Toby pulled him inside and shut the door.
“Oh, my God, I thought you were busy.” Toby threw his arms

around Lucas and held him close.

“I was, but I got done and couldn’t wait to see you.” Lucas

kissed him.

Toby couldn’t help it. Happiness crept into his heart. He was

hooked. And falling in love.

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 7

Having just turned out the light and pulled the covers up over

them, Lucas held Toby close, their bodies slicked with sweat after
having just finished sex. Toby lay with his head resting on Lucas’s
chest. He could definitely get used to this.

“You want me to move?” Toby asked.
“No, it’s perfect the way you are.”
“I’m so glad you came over tonight. I didn’t think I’d see you.”
He nodded. “I know. I wanted to though. I’ve liked spending

our nights together. I decided I’d miss you too much.”

“How was your dinner with your agent?”
“Good. Like I said, the show’s going to be renewed for three

more seasons.” He smiled. “Seasons are a little different on cable
than network. Anyway, very productive.”

BECOMING HIS

Toby kissed his chest. “Did you…well, did you happen to talk

about me at all?”

“You? About what?”
Toby shrugged. “Maybe about him not approving of you seeing

me.”

“Sweetheart, to be honest I’ve not even mentioned you to him,”

Lucas said.

“Oh. Okay.”
“It’s not like I won’t, but it just didn’t come up.”
“It’s all right and probably for the best anyway.”
He frowned. “Why?”
Toby sighed heavily. “He wouldn’t want you with me anyway.

I don’t exactly fit the Hollywood image.”

“Toby—”
“Don’t worry about it, really.”
Toby didn’t say anything for a while and Lucas wondered if he

ought to let it go. For now anyway. Lucas decided to bring up
something else he’d been thinking about.

“What made you decide to be a stripper?”
Toby stiffened a little, so Lucas stroked his back. “I like it. I

love to dance and perform. I like giving guys pleasure and
fantasies.”

“Did you ever want to do anything else?”
“I thought about being a drag queen when I was a teenager.

Singing and performing as a woman, but I’m a terrible singer and I
never wanted to do the lip sync thing.”

“I remember you saying school wasn’t for you.”
“Yeah. But what I do is great for me. I only work four nights,

my days are free, and I get three days off.”

Lucas nodded. “That’s good. I just wondered, because you’re

BECOMING HIS

so clever and cute I thought you have a lot of potential to maybe do
something else.”

“Like what?”
“Well, I don’t know, but it’s something to think about for the

future. That’s all.”

His lover yawned dramatically. “Wow, I’m really tired.”
Lucas shook his head but decided to let it pass for now. The

truth was he was tired himself and had to get up early.

“You want to come have lunch with me tomorrow? At the

bistro?”

“Sure,” Toby said. “What time?”
“About one o’clock.”
Toby nodded. “I’ll be there.”
He leaned down to kiss the top of Toby’s head. “Good night,

sweetheart.”

“’Night,” Toby mumbled.

* * *

Toby parked his car at the far end of the bistro’s parking lot,

several spaces away from the nearest empty spot. No reason to take
any chances.

He’d chosen to wear his favorite tight jeans and an aqua shirt.

He’d spent the morning giving himself the mani-pedi he’d missed
doing the night before. The nails of both his hands and feet were
now painted pink. The day had dawned bright and sunny, so he
wore flip-flops.

When he got into the restaurant he noticed Lucas had already

been seated at a booth and across from him was the actor who
played his partner on Harrow’s Eyes, Miguel Martinez.

BECOMING HIS

Lucas smiled and slipped out of the booth, giving him a quick

peck. “Miguel decided to join us.” He mouthed, “Sorry.”

Miguel looked at him with barely concealed hostility. “Hello.”
“This is my boyfriend Toby.” Lucas let Toby scoot into the

booth first and then he sat beside him.

“Hi,” Toby said, surprised to hear Lucas introduce him as his

boyfriend. Surprised and pleased. In spite of Miguel’s
uncomfortable presence he felt a lot better.

They were half way through lunch when a tall, thin middle-

aged man approached their table.

“Oh, my God,” the man said. “It is you.”
Lucas shared a smile with Miguel. “You’re a fan of the show?”
The man grinned. “Am I? I’ve been to Lonnie’s dozens of

times. I never expected to run into Joey Flamingo here.”

Oh, Lord.
Lucas smile faded and he stiffened. “What?”
Toby’s face was burning. “Um, I…I’m glad you enjoy it.”
“Who is Joey Flamingo?” Miguel asked, his lip curling.
“He is,” the man said, pointing at Toby. “The hottest stripper at

Lonnie’s. Your angel act is just—”

“Thank you for stopping by,” Lucas cut in coolly. “Have a

good day.”

“Oh. Um, yeah, sure.” The guy started to stick his hand out like

he intended to shake hands, but he lowered it after looking at
Lucas. “Goodbye.”

When he walked away, Toby sighed. “You didn’t have to be

rude.”

“That guy was practically salivating over you at our table,”

Lucas said. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at you.”

“He’s just a fan.”

BECOMING HIS

“You’re a stripper?” Miguel shook his head. “You’re dating a

male stripper?”

The way he said stripper Toby figured he may as well say

whore. He lowered his eyes. He felt good about what he did for the
most part, but sometimes he got the reaction he was getting from
Miguel. He couldn’t care less what Miguel thought, but he did care
about Lucas.

“Hey, cut it out,” Lucas said to Miguel.
Miguel shrugged. “Whatever. I’m going to the bathroom.”
Lucas turned to Toby. “Sorry, sweetheart, he can be kind of an

asshole sometimes.”

Toby nodded. “It’s okay.”
“How often do guys like that approach you?”
“Not often,” Toby said. “Honest. In the time I’ve worked there

he’s only the second one who has approached me. I don’t even
really think about it much.” He figured now wasn’t the time to tell
him about what Mickey told him about Richardson and the other
stripper.

“Well, he didn’t look dangerous at least. You going to stay

here? I’ve gotta go to the restroom myself.”

“Sure,” Toby agreed.
After several minutes, having received the check and paid,

Toby got up from the table, intending to wait in the bistro’s foyer.
Then he looked down at the front of his shirt and noticed he had
salad dressing right in the middle of his stomach.

With a sigh, he headed to the restroom and had just begun to

push the door open when he heard Miguel’s and Lucas’s voices.
He let it fall back against him.

“Look, you may not care about your career or the show, but I

do,” Miguel said. “They want to renew for three more seasons and

BECOMING HIS

like it or not, you are Pete Harrow. If you fuck up, the show is
through.”

“Stop freaking out. Toby is my private life.”
“Now, but if you continue seeing him it’s going to get out. You

want to be with men, I have nothing to say to that. I think it’s a
mistake, but whatever. But when you pick a trashy little stripper, I
can’t stay quiet. Do you know what they do, Cartwright? Lap
dances. Money for sex. He’s probably fucking guys like that idiot
out there every night.”

“Toby is not like that,” Lucas said, his voice sounding angry.
“Right.”
“He’s not. He’s going to school during the day. The stripping is

just temporary.”

Toby’s thundering heart seemed to twist in his chest. He turned

away from the bathroom and walked out to the foyer. But he
couldn’t stay there either. He went outside, nearly choking on the
pain.

This was the way it was going to be with Lucas, wasn’t it? His

friends telling him to stay away from the stripper. Lucas lying
about things. Wondering if he really did have sex with Lonnie’s
customers. Lucas either trying to change him to what was
acceptable or moving on to a woman who would be more widely
accepted given his Hollywood career.

It wouldn’t work and Toby had been stupid to ever believe

otherwise.

Toby didn’t wait for Lucas to come outside of the bistro. He

went to his car, got in and drove away.

* * *

BECOMING HIS

Lucas approached Toby’s apartment door, his jaw tight.

Something was up with Toby and he intended to find out. Toby
had left the bistro without so much as a goodbye and then he’d
gotten a voice mail from him saying he didn’t feel well and wasn’t
going to work so Lucas didn’t need to pick him up. Lucas had tried
calling Toby since with no answer.

He rapped on the door. “Toby, open the door.”
Nothing.
“Toby, come on. I want to talk to you.”
After a few more minutes, the door creaked open and a small

sliver of Toby appeared. “Lucas?”

“I want to come in.”
“I’m…I’m contagious.”
“Sweetheart, let me in. Please.”
Toby sighed. “I guess it has to happen sooner or later.” He

opened the door and stood aside. He was dressed in old ratty jeans
and a sweatshirt.

“Are you really not feeling well?”
His lover shrugged. “Why are you here?”
“Because you left the restaurant without a word, told me not to

come and wouldn’t answer my calls.” He took hold of Toby’s
hands and led him to the sofa. “What’s wrong?”

Toby’s hazel eyes were filled with sorrow. “This isn’t going to

work, Lucas.”

He stared at Toby, not certain he heard him right and, if he did,

he knew he didn’t understand. “Excuse me?”

“Us. Things aren’t going well and I think we should stop seeing

each other.”

“What? Toby, what are you talking about? Things are going

great.” Or he had thought they were. He would have sworn Toby

BECOMING HIS

felt the same.

“We’re too different.” Toby pulled his hands out of Lucas’s

grasp. “You’re an actor with a successful show and I’m just a
trashy little stripper.”

“Toby.”
Toby rose from the sofa. “Lucas, I heard you and Miguel

talking at the restaurant. I heard what he said about strippers.
About me.”

Lucas sighed and stood. “Sweetheart, I told you he’s an

asshole. Don’t listen to him.”

“I don’t care what he says about me, Lucas. Do you think he’s

the first person who’s ever thought I was beneath them?” Toby
exhaled. “He’s not. I get that all the time. People judging me.
Thinking because I dance and strip for men I must let them have
sex with me. Well, I don’t.”

“I know that, Toby.”
“I dance and I perform and I take off my clothes and I give a

few men a fantasy. They choose what to do with that fantasy when
they leave Lonnie’s, but once I leave the stage I’m done. I don’t
think there is anything wrong with what I do. But you do.”

Lucas blinked, swallowed. “Me?”
“I heard what you said to Miguel. You made an excuse, told

him I was only doing it while I go to school.”

He winced. He had said that and he wasn’t proud of it. “I’m

sorry. You’re right, I shouldn’t have said that. It was stupid.”

Toby’s smile was sad. “It was the way you feel. You’re

ashamed of me.”

“No.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I can’t deny I hate that those men are getting hard watching

BECOMING HIS

you. Like that guy today at lunch. I wanted to punch him in the
face. It bothers me that you take your clothes off for those
assholes.”

“They’re nothing to me. They’re just the audience.”
“I know that.”
“You didn’t want to admit to your friend I would never amount

to anything other than a stripper.”

“He is not my friend.”
“Whatever. You’ve wondered a few times why being a stripper

was enough for me. We’ve talked about it.”

“I’m only concerned for your future,” Lucas insisted.

“Eventually when you are older, your looks will fade some, at least
as far as performing is concerned, and then what will you do?”

“I don’t know,” Toby admitted. “Maybe I will go to school

then. Maybe I’m saving money for those days. Maybe I’ll be a
waiter or a bartender. I don’t know. But being a stripper doesn’t
make me dirt, Lucas.”

“I never ever thought that.”
“You still think less of me. I’m not good enough for you the

way I am.”

Lucas shook his head, his stomach twisted in knots. “Toby,

that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” Toby’s eyes filled with tears. “Every time I’ve met a

guy I really like he wants me to change. To conform to what he
thinks I should be. It’s been that way my whole life. I’m not smart
enough or cute enough or rich enough or ambitious enough. I’m
not enough.”

Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t

come. His throat was so clogged with emotion he couldn’t get the
words out.

BECOMING HIS

The silence in the room stretched until Toby whispered, “I

thought, maybe, you’d be different.” He walked over to his
apartment door and opened it. “I was wrong.”

“Toby—”
But Toby wouldn’t look at him. His gaze stayed on the floor.
Lucas moved toward the door, wanting to beg Toby to listen to

him, but not sure what to say that would matter. At the moment, he
could barely breathe let alone think clearly.

“At least we found out before we were stupid enough to

fall…in love,” Toby said, his breath hitching just a little.

Fall in love? Did Lucas love Toby? No, he couldn’t. It was far

too soon for that. Love didn’t happen that quickly except in
romances and fairytales. It shouldn’t hurt this much though for
Toby to throw him out the door.

“I—” Lucas stopped. His hand rested on the door. He closed

his eyes briefly. Raw pain seared his chest. “I’m sorry,” he said,
his voice rough. He stepped through the door and Toby closed it
behind him.

BECOMING HIS

CHAPTER 8

Toby glanced at the caller ID on his cell phone. Lonnie again.

He supposed he was going to have to go back to work soon. He
really didn’t feel well. But how long could you call out sick from a
broken heart?

“Hi, Lonnie.”
“Toby, how are you feeling? We’re worried about you.”
And now the guilt washed over him. He had been sitting at

home feeling sorry for himself for the last three nights. Tonight
was Saturday and he knew he should go into work.

“I’m doing a lot better than I was,” he lied. It hurt just as much.

The thought he would never see Lucas again tore him apart. Even
if it was how it had to be.

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. I wanted to tell you not to worry

BECOMING HIS

about tonight. Just rest until your next scheduled day on
Wednesday. Come back fresh then.”

Toby bit his lip. “Lonnie, I—”
“Yes?”
“Nothing. I was just going to say, I can probably work tonight.”

He blew out a breath.

“Toby, take the time,” Lonnie said softly. “I know it’s hard. I

want you to take the time.”

Tears stung and blurred his vision. He didn’t know how Lonnie

knew, but he was certain he did. He hadn’t fooled his boss at all.
His breath shattering, he nodded, even though he knew Lonnie
couldn’t see. Finally he managed to croak out, “Thanks.”

“See you soon.” And Lonnie hung up.
His mama had called him a few times and he managed to keep

the conversations short, but he knew his mama and much longer,
she’d show up at his front door demanding to know what was
wrong.

Toby couldn’t deny he’d been foolish enough to fall in love

with Lucas. While life would go on, he was starting to figure he’d
never find the right man for him. Someone who would accept his
choices, accept him.

Getting up from the couch he had been lounging on, Toby

decided to make himself a cup of tea. He hadn’t bothered to get
dressed that day, still wearing the magenta robe he’d pulled on
after he’d finally taken a shower. The water had just boiled and
he’d poured it over the teabag in his cup when his doorbell rang.

Great, maybe his mama had lost patience with waiting. Or

worse it would be Kirk. He did not want to deal with his best
friend just then. Tempted to ignore the door, Toby finally trudged
out of the kitchen and to the door.

BECOMING HIS

“Who is it?”
“Me.”
Oh, God.
Toby would recognize that voice anywhere. Had watched a

marathon of episodes the night before. He dreamed of that voice,
that man.

Pulse racing, he slid the bolt and opened the door to Lucas. The

man stared at him, hunger in his eyes.

“Hi,” Toby whispered.
“Hi. Can I come in for a moment?”
Swallowing, he nodded and stepped aside for Lucas to come

inside. “Do you want tea or something?”

Lucas turned to face him. “No, I want you.”
“Lucas.”
“Please, Toby, let me say what I have to say. It’s taken me a

while to work up the nerve but I need to say it.”

“Okay. Should I sit?”
“Yeah.” Lucas waited until Toby had and then he knelt in front

of him instead of sitting next to him. “I’ve been thinking about
what to say since I left here Wednesday that would make a
difference to you. And all I can think is to tell you I’ll change. You
don’t have to, because I will.”

Toby opened his mouth to say something, he wasn’t sure what,

but Lucas stopped him by giving his leg a squeeze. “I admit I’ve
been an ass and judged your wanting to be a stripper badly. It was
wrong of me and I know that. I had previous ideas and
assumptions before I ever met you and I let that cloud my
judgment. I don’t want to think that way anymore.”

“The men—”
Lucas nodded. “I know you aren’t interested in them and my

BECOMING HIS

getting jealous or bothered about them getting off on you dancing
is my problem, not yours. And I’ll work on that, too. If you give
me another chance.”

“Why?”
“I hate being without you, Toby,” Lucas admitted, his voice

raw and deep. “I thought I’d get over this…these feelings for you.
This need. But I haven’t, I can’t.”

Toby touched Lucas’s face. “That all sounds good and all, but

what about your career? I know it’s hard enough with you seeing a
man, let alone a man who makes his living as a stripper.”

“You let me worry about that.”
“That’s just it, Lucas. I don’t want to be the cause of any pain,

and if it damaged your career it would be awful for us. I wouldn’t
be able to live with myself.”

“Toby, I’m not going to pretend my acting career isn’t

important to me. It’s what I’ve always wanted to be since I was a
small boy, but it’s not the only thing that’s important to me.” Lucas
held his hand and brought it to his lips. “There’s room in my life
for other important things. Important people. Just give me a
chance.”

“And if I’m never more than a stripper or a waiter or an office

worker?”

Lucas smiled. “You’ll still be my Toby. The man I fell in love

with, I think, when you first wheeled Kirk down to see Elijah in
the hospital after the accident.”

Blinking rapidly, Toby lost his ability to breathe. Or nearly so.

“You…what?”

“I know it’s too soon and I’m a fool, but I am in love with you,

sweetheart. And maybe, if you give me another chance, you’ll fall
in love with me, too.”

BECOMING HIS

He shook his head.
“No?” Lucas frowned, his face twisting in pain.
Toby grabbed Lucas’s arms when he went to get up. “I love

you, too.”

“Really?” Lucas’s grin almost split his face.
“Yes. And I didn’t want to tell you because of the too soon

thing and the stripper thing.”

“We can work on everything else, Toby, as long as we both

want to.”

Toby dropped to his knees next to Lucas, framing his lover’s

face in his hands. “I want to.” He pressed his lips to Lucas’s.

Lucas returned the kiss deeply, his tongue parting Toby’s lips.

Instantly, Toby’s cock hardened. Moaning, he rubbed against
Lucas.

“Oh, yeah sweetheart, I missed you, too.” Lucas lowered him

to lie flat on the living room floor. His hand slid inside Toby’s
robe. “I was hoping you wore nothing but this robe.”

“Lucas, please, I want you.”
“I want you, too, so much.” Lucas sat up long enough to pull

his shirt off and toss it aside. Then he lowered his pants and briefs
to his knees.

“Um, lube and a rubber?” Toby asked, eyes on his lover’s

enormous erection.

“In my pocket.” He produced a condom and a pack of lube.
Toby laughed. “I love a man who’s prepared.”
Lucas grinned and leaned down to kiss him thoroughly. “Turn

over.”

Toby undid the tie of his robe and let it fall from his shoulders.

Then he laid it out as a covering for his carpet and flipped over on
his stomach.

BECOMING HIS

Hot, moist kisses trailed over his bare back, down his spine,

leaving a trail of goose bumps. Toby closed his eyes, content to let
Lucas have his way with him. If he’d been a cat he would be
purring.

Lucas chuckled. “Like that, sweetheart?”
“Like it? I’m dying.”
“Can’t have that.” Lucas rubbed his stubble across Toby’s

lower back and then each buttock. And then the tickle of a tongue
flickered across his crease.

“Lucas.” He moaned.
Lucas’s fingers parted his cheeks and his tongue dipped in his

hole. With all the sex he’d had, no one had ever rimmed him. It
was so amazing. He shook with need and reached underneath to
stroke his hard as nails cock.

He could so get addicted to this, he decided, pushing his ass up

into his lover’s probing tongue. Toby fisted his plush robe.

The tongue withdrew and was quickly replaced by two slicked

fingers. He pushed against them, his entrance swallowed up the
digits.

“Please, Lucas, now, now. I can’t wait.”
“All right, sweetheart.”
The sound of the foil wrapper being torn filled his ears and then

Lucas pressed inside. For a moment they stayed still, joined, both
sharing a sense of contentment or Toby supposed they both felt it.
And then when the stillness became almost unbearable, Lucas
moved.

He thrust deep again and again, brushing his sensitive spot.

Toby stroked faster, pushing back to ride Lucas.

God, he’d missed this, craved it.
“Lucas, please. Oh, God.”

BECOMING HIS

Lucas rammed into him over and over, drawing out each thrust,

until they both panted, both gasped. Lucas looped his fingers with
Toby’s. He leaned close to nibble Toby’s neck.

“I love you,” he whispered in Toby’s ear.
And that was all he needed. His cock twitched and cum spurted

out over his fingers. “Lucas!”

His lover followed him with his own release seconds later.
Toby closed his eyes, letting love and happiness surround him.

He opened his mouth to tell Lucas he couldn’t wait to start their
new life together.

The doorbell rang.
“Um, sweetheart, were you expecting someone?” Lucas asked.

He still lay on top of Toby.

The doorbell rang again.
“No. Probably Girl Scouts selling cookies. Let’s just ignore it.”
“Toby!”
Oh, no.
“It’s my mama.”
“Toby, I want to know if you are all right.”
Lucas frowned down at him. “Toby—”
Toby groaned. “She has a key.”
Lucas scrambled off him and pulled up his pants even as Toby

quickly pulled on his robe.

The front door opened.
“Toby…oh.”
He sighed. “Hi, Mama.”
She beamed. “I guess you are all right, aren’t you? This is him,

isn’t it? Oh, I knew it.”

It was inevitable he supposed. “Mama, meet Lucas

Cartwright.”

HAWN

ANE

Shawn Lane believes love and passion know no boundaries. Shawn
writes both erotic love stories involving men in historical or
contemporary settings and interracial romances between men and
women. Shawn is always looking for new stories and new
characters to create while holding down life in California.

* * *

Don’t miss Accidentally His

by Shawn Lane,

available at AmberAllure.com!

Kirk Matheson rides the bus to work several times a week,
intrigued by the attractive and quiet bespectacled man he typically
sits behind. One day when the bus crashes during a storm, Kirk
finally meets the shy stranger, Elijah Cartwright, and stays with
the seriously injured man until the rescuers arrive.

After Elijah’s recovery, Kirk makes a date with him. Though an
unfortunate event brought the men together, can they find their
way to happiness?

MBER

UILL

RESS

, LLC

OLD

TANDARD IN

UBLISHING

UALITY

OOKS

OTH

RINT AND

LECTRONIC

ORMATS

CTION

DVENTURE

USPENSE

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CIENCE

ICTION

ARK

ANTASY

AINSTREAM

OMANCE

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www.AmberQuill.com

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