Both Brandon and Shunichi want to spend their lives together, but when a new opportunity comes to Brandon, he must decide whether to follow his career dreams or to act on his love for Shunichi.
Chapter One Excerpt:
Brandon held the Suzuki GSXR-1000 steady with one hand, his
other rested on his hip. Now that he was nearly home, cruising slow and easy,
he could relax from the chaos of maneuvering the motorcycle through the heart
of Chicago. Entering his home neighborhood always brought an instant calm over
him and he needed as much calmness as he could get right now.
The audition…it hadn’t gone well, to put it mildly. To be
perfectly honest, he hadn’t bombed so bad in a performance since he was playing
Captain Hook in his junior high’s production of Peter Pan when, as he tried to add some flourish to ol’ Hook, he
fell off the pirate ship prop onstage. In his defense, the ship had been built
by pre-teens and early teens, and it was about as unsteady to walk on as if it
really did roll and rock on the waves of the high seas. At least then he’d
still remembered all his lines, even when he fell off the damn ship. Not like
today.
He forgot his fucking lines!
Brandon tossed his head back, throwing the blue sky a quick
glance as though he could find the answer up there to why things had gone so
wrong. Really, he knew the answer and didn’t have to look anywhere else for it
other than within himself. He hadn’t prepared enough. Why hadn’t he prepared?
That was a tougher question to answer and there was no single answer to it.
There were many combined and tangled reasons that he was still trying to sort
out and understand.
He wouldn’t look at it any other way than he wasn’t excited
about the role, or the play. It was a dramatic piece, a brand new play by a
young playwright looking to make his break. All in all, the script was pretty
good; the story of a husband and wife whose marriage was falling apart when the
husband couldn’t hold back his true self and deny being gay any longer, and
yet, there was still love between him and his wife. Emotionally, it was very
powerful. On a personal level, the role should’ve been a perfect fit, as
Brandon had struggled with his own sexuality.
Maybe that was part of the problem, it hit too close to home.
He loved to lose himself in a character, become someone he could never be in
real life. Or maybe he hadn’t done his best in the audition because of it being
a dramatic piece rather than a musical. He could do drama, no problem, but it
wasn’t his preference in roles and it’d been a long time since he’d done it.
Then again, maybe because it was a smaller production, more low budget than he
was used to, it felt like he was taking a step back in his career, rather than
forward…
Brandon placed his other hand on the handlebars and clenched
on with both hands. Now that was
hitting too close to home. He didn’t like to think the last factor had any
bearing on his performance during the audition, but truthfully, it did. He’d
gotten used to big productions, having the spotlight shining on him and
following him wherever he went. When he’d walked into the little theatre that
morning, the building plain and tucked away from its bigger and grander
fellows, he felt as though his spotlight had dimmed.
Brandon let out a rough snort. He’d always teased Jesse about
being the prima donna between the two of them. Things weren’t looking too good
for Jesse keeping that title.
But having reached a high level of success, it was hard to
take a step…down. He’d walked the
hard road in his career, taking any role he could get just to be involved in
theatre, trying to build recognition for himself, his name, his talent. From
free community theatre gigs to low budget productions, he’d paid his dues and
fought for every moment of success he’d gained.
He had starred in some of the largest, most successful plays
in Chicago. He’d worked steadily, supported himself as an actor, earned respect
in the theatre community, and there was no shortage of roles offered to him.
Until recently. Lately, the quality of the offers had gone down and those high
profile leading male roles were harder to come by. The thing was, he didn’t
know if it was a low in the business, or if it was him.
In theatre, there was always a hot actor or actress on the
rise. Someone new and dynamic to fill the seats. What if that’s all he’d been
and now his popularity was on the decline? What if his career had already hit
its peak and he’d gone as high as he could with it?
Maybe that’s why the funding fell out from under Jersey Boys; the investors might’ve
thought he wasn’t relevant enough to fill the house anymore.
Brandon tried to shake off the last thought. No one had said
such a thing to him when Jersey Boys
was canceled, never even hinted at it. Those things happen. A lot of
productions depended on investors to help them get it off the ground and
sometimes, for whatever reason, the investors get spooked and pull out. It was
no one’s fault.
So why did he keep blaming himself?
Brandon huffed out a frustrated sigh. He guided the blue and
white motorcycle left around a turn. The sense of calm strengthened and took over
his frustrations and worries as he saw the Miyamoto Dojo—home. The sweeping roof of black tiles and the building of timber
siding mimicked classic architecture of Japan. A broad picture window in the
front gave a shadowy view inside, but he didn’t see any figures moving on the
other side of the glass. Several cars were in the stone and gravel parking lot,
and he knew at this time, assistant master, Hiroshi Yoshida, would be putting
on a kendo lesson, and Shunichi was between lessons.
Brandon swung the bike into the driveway, the need to see
Shun making him crank the throttle and cruise faster than usual past the dojo
and the bamboo-lined privacy fence. Beyond the fence was his and Shun’s little
sanctuary, a Japanese-style garden. It was where they’d shared their first
kiss, where he realized he’d found the man he’d always been looking for. They’d
spent many evenings in the garden, talking, enjoying each other’s
company…kissing…touching…
He veered the bike toward the garage. The home cloned the
dojo in style and architecture, blending aspects of the seventeenth century
with modern day amenities, the Japanese and American influences blending.
Bringing the bike to a halt, Brandon knocked the kickstand
down. He switched the motorcycle off and swung his leg over the back as he
dismounted. He pulled off his helmet, tucking it under his arm, and bounded up
the steps to the wraparound veranda. A light breeze sent the wind chimes
singing in melodic random notes and carried the scent of flowers to him. He
opened the front door, locked it behind him, and took off his shoes, placing
them on a wooden rack by the door then set his helmet on the rack. Shaking his
fingers through his hair, he stepped up into the family room. It always felt
good to come home, but today it felt especially so. The house had been
Shunichi’s before they met and it was the home Shun had grown up in. When Shun
had taken over the dojo from his father, his parents had also signed over the
house to him. Not long after he and Shun started dating, they’d moved in
together. Never had he fallen so fast, so hard, or so deeply, for someone.
And nothing had changed. That June, two weeks ago, they’d
celebrated their one year anniversary together. It amazed him. He felt as if he’d known Shunichi for
longer, and he’d felt that way the moment he met him. A deep connection and
comfort level had blossomed between them and it’d only grown stronger with
time. On their anniversary night, when they’d lain in bed drawing out their
lovemaking as long as their bodies could take it, he knew he’d never been
happier in his life.
He wanted it to last. Deep down, he knew it was his main
reason for being upset over the audition. It was one thing to disappoint
himself. It was another to disappoint Shunichi. To have to tell him…he’d
failed. Shunichi wouldn’t say he was disappointed in him, but he wanted to be a
man Shunichi would be proud to be with.
Brandon walked through the family room and picked up faint
music, the rock band Black Heart Down, and it guided him toward the kitchen. He
turned left to go through the broad, open doorway leading into the kitchen and
stopped short. His worries, his frustration, his disappointment all faded away
at the sight before him.
Shunichi was bent over the sink scrubbing at a pan. The night
before, after having put in a long day, they’d both only had enough energy for
one of two things: they could either clean up the kitchen from cooking dinner,
or they could have sex. It was an easy decision to make. Before he left that
morning, he’d told Shunichi he would clean the kitchen when he got home,
knowing Shun wouldn’t listen. So seeing Shunichi cleaning wasn’t what made him
stop and stare. It was that Shun was wearing nothing but a white jockstrap as
he did it.
Brandon watched the muscles in Shunichi’s back work and
shift. From years of practicing martial arts, Shunichi’s body was chiseled
perfection, lean and hard with toned muscle. Brandon let his gaze roam down the
V of Shunichi’s upper body to the rounded and muscled ass cheeks.
He managed to glance away from Shunichi and spotted the white
karate uniform neatly folded on one of the kitchen chairs, Shun’s black belt
rolled and placed on top. Brandon put the pieces together. Shunichi had
probably tried to hold off on cleaning for as long as his obsessively neat self
could take it and when he’d finally caved, stripped off the uniform rather than
risk tainting it with a stain.
A smile slipped onto Brandon’s lips. From Shun’s fine body to
his brilliant mind, his athletic skill to his beautiful face, his gentle heart
to his quirks, Brandon absolutely loved this man.
And he should probably let him know he was home early,
especially since he was so damn hard now. He just needed one thing first.
Brandon backed out of the doorway and crossed the family room
again, aiming for the hallway to the left. He darted down it and swung into the
bedroom, snatching the bottle of lube off the nightstand beside their bed. He
headed back to the kitchen with quick steps, slowing when he walked in. He
tucked his hands behind his back.
Brandon took a breath and lifted his voice over the hard
driving rock beats of the music, “I’m so
pissed at you right now.”
Shunichi jumped and spun around, soap suds flying off of the
sponge in his hand. His dark eyes were wide with surprise, but his startled
expression quickly faded with a warm smile. “I know, I know. You said you’d
clean everything, but it was driving me crazy.”
“Yeah, I’m sure, but that’s not why I’m pissed.”
“No? Then why?”
A flirtatious edge entered Shunichi’s smile, telling him Shun
already knew the answer but was more than willing to play along.
Keeping one hand behind his back, Brandon motioned at
Shunichi’s body…his lower body in particular. “Because you never clean like
this when I’m home!”
“Probably because I know I wouldn’t get anything done if I
did.”
Brandon stepped into the kitchen, moving toward him. “I know
one thing you’d do and get done damn
good.”
Shunichi tossed the sponge back in the sink and wiped his
hands on a dish towel. He lifted his arms, looping them around Brandon’s neck
and drawing him close. “And you know how much I love doing that.”
A pleased moan rumbled in Brandon’s throat as he touched
their lips together. Having Shunichi’s soft lips on his own, Shun’s hard body
pressed against him, the disappointment of the day felt like a distant memory.
Shunichi opened his mouth, and Brandon slipped his tongue inside and glided it
along Shun’s. He wrapped his arms around him, setting the lube on the counter
behind Shunichi.
Shunichi’s skin was smooth and warm under Brandon’s hands. He
rubbed down Shunichi’s back to the firm ass cheeks, curling the fingers of one
hand between them and caressing down toward Shun’s hole.
Shunichi smiled through the kiss. “I have a class in…” he
glanced toward the stove and digital clock, “an hour. Fifty three minutes, to
be exact.”
Brandon lowered his head, placing a tender kiss, then a light
nip on Shunichi’s neck. “I can make it quick. Give me fifteen minutes.”
Throaty chuckles left Shunichi. He stepped back, sliding out
of Brandon’s gentle hold on him. “That’s what you always say, then I’m running
across the garden barely making it to my students on time.”
Brandon met Shunichi’s gaze and the playful shine in Shun’s
eyes betrayed he was teasing him. Shunichi’s hard cock pushing out the cloth
pouch of the jock revealed he was more than in the mood. Brandon moved a step
forward for the one Shunichi had retreated. “If you let me play with you, then
I won’t have to play dirty to get you.”
Shunichi’s smirk broadened. He placed both hands behind him,
bracing himself back on the counter’s edge. “I kind of like the sound of that.
How’re you going to play dirty?”
Brandon moved closer to him again. “I won’t tell Jesse you
were listening to Black Heart Down instead of Conquest.”
Shunichi broke into laughter. He gave Brandon a shove back.
“That’s not playing dirty. That’s all out blackmail!”
Brandon hooked his fingers over the top elastic strap of the
jock, giving it a tug away from Shun’s body. “When you’re running around in
nothing but this, you don’t give me any other choice.”
Shunichi took hold of Brandon’s belt and gave him a sharp
jerk forward. “Guess I should clean like this more often.” He paused. “Hey, you
got me so distracted, but how’d your audition go?”
Brandon froze. He locked his gaze with Shunichi’s, but only
for an instant before he looked away. He shook his head. “Not good. I blew it.”
“What?”
Brandon heard the shock and disbelief in Shunichi’s voice. He
didn’t want to look at him, to see the same in Shunichi’s dark eyes, but he
forced himself to look at him and both of those emotions were there on
Shunichi’s beautiful features. “I really don’t want to talk about it right
now.”
Shunichi gazed back at him, silent. The worry in his
countenance gave away to understanding. He took Brandon’s hand and flicked his
head toward the hallway. “Come on. Your fifteen minutes are burning away.”
Relief and gratitude rushed through Brandon. Shun always
understood him and what he was feeling, sometimes before he knew himself.
Brandon called up a smile and reached behind Shunichi to the bottle of lube. He
held it up for Shunichi to see before setting it on the counter again. “Good
thing we don’t have to waste time walking to the bedroom. And what do you mean my
fifteen minutes are burning away? My time doesn’t start until we’re naked.”
Shunichi glanced at the bottle. “Sneaky. So that’s how it
works, huh?”
“You got it.” Brandon spun Shunichi to face the counter and
wrapped one arm around his waist. He pulled Shunichi tight against him,
pressing his hard cock to Shun’s ass. He drifted his hand down the front of the
jock, caressing the hard line of Shun’s cock through the fabric. “And since I
can fuck you while you’re wearing this, you’ll never be fully naked, so it
could take a while.”
Copyright 2015 by S.J. Frost and MLR Press
