Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds
Love of Sports 1
Samhain Publishing
M/M Contemporary
[Ebook] [Print]
Can a sexy nightclub owner convince an all star basketball player to risk it all?
Professional basketball player Kasey Johnson makes a point of keeping his sexual preference under guard and out of the public eye. Empty, off-season flings are all he can look forward to until he retires. He figures his secret is safe—until he meets Ingram Fletcher, a nightclub owner who ignites a passionate inferno in his body.
Gram has lusted after Kasey ever since the long, tall basketball player was traded to Phoenix a year ago. But with Kasey’s twin brother running interference, up until now Gram’s been unsure if it’s safe to make a play. Then some incidental contact in the crowded club leads to a kiss that starts Gram wondering if a relationship is possible—now, and beyond March Madness.
A romantic weekend together answers that question. Now the only one remaining is if Kasey is ready make a fast break out of his comfort zone.
Product Warnings: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, nekkid man love, creative usage of chocolate, whipped cream and strawberries.
Excerpt:
Kasey Johnson leaned against his doorframe, fumbling with the keys in his pocket. A road trip this early in the season always wore him out. The team had headed up to Salt Lake City and over to the West Coast, ending in L.A., before heading home to Phoenix. He looked forward to finding his bed and sleeping. As he managed to slide his key into the lock, the door jerked opened.
“About time you got here.” His twin brother stood in the doorway.
“I’m not in the mood, Garrett.” Kasey dragged his ass inside the apartment, dropping his duffle bag on the floor next to the couch, and fell face first onto the cushions.
“You’re always like this during the season. I’ve never understood why you play basketball if you feel like shit after every game.” Garrett slapped Kasey’s ass as he walked to the kitchen.
“I’m good and I enjoy playing. I just don’t like the road trips.” He turned his head to look at his brother. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you and Rich were visiting his parents this week.”
“Ah, yeah, well.” Garrett frowned.
“You broke up.” Kasey pushed his aching body up. “How many times has it been?”
“Four, but we’re not counting. He took off and I decided to stay here. We need time away from each other.” Garrett sighed, leaning against the counter and running a hand through his hair.
“Why do you keep getting back together? All you do is fight and break up.” Kasey thought about standing up, but his knees protested and he settled back against the cushions. “Can you bring me some water?”
“Sure.” Garrett grabbed a bottle out of the fridge and tossed it to him.
He caught it, raising an eyebrow at his brother. “Are you going to answer me? You two never fought this much before you made it big.”
Garrett frowned down at the fancy black leather dress shoes he wore. “I know. I don’t think Rich wants to be a Hollywood wife. It was fun to talk about when it didn’t seem very likely it’d happen. Now it’s a reality and he’s getting upset with the fact I’m in the tabloids all the time. As one of the few openly gay actors, I’m far more interesting than the other guys.”
“Add to the fact your twin brother is a starting point guard on a pro basketball team and you’re a tabloid reporter’s wet dream.” Kasey twisted the cap off the bottle and took a drink. “What are you doing here?”
“Take a shower and get dressed. We’re going out.”
Garrett’s chin stuck out and Kasey knew there was no point in arguing. He’d go out, have a drink and hope some of Garrett’s friends would show up to distract his twin, so he could come back home and sleep. “I hate you. You do realize that, don’t you?”
Garrett gave him a quick hug as Kasey made his way past him down the hall way to his bedroom. “I know you do. Thanks.”
Kasey shut the bedroom door and leaned against it with a sigh. He didn’t want to go out. He tried to avoid doing anything besides staying home during the season. Most of his time was taken up by basketball. He didn’t have the energy to be social. Also, being gay and playing professional sports didn’t mix well. More like oil and water. He’d learned to be lonely most of the time. He’d come out to his family and close friends at the same time Garrett had. He wasn’t out to the public yet. Never found any guy he considered worth the trouble of constant scrutiny from the public and his own teammates.
Stripping, he tossed his suit on the bed and headed into the bathroom. He turned on the water, climbed in, and let the hot spray beat down on his aching muscles. There was a bruise on his thigh where an opposing player landed the night before. Reaching for the shampoo, Kasey scrubbed his hair.
It was his first full season as a starter and after each game he felt like he’d been in a war. He braced his hands against the tiles and lowered his head, allowing the suds to cascade over his body. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the pounding of the shower.
“Are you done yet?” Garrett’s voice came from the other side of the shower curtain.
“Yeah. I’ll be right out.”
Kasey shut off the water, toweled down and got dressed. He checked out his reflection in the mirror. His black slacks fit his ass well. He didn’t go in for “tighter than a glove” clothing. Wasn’t into showing that much of his body off. Not after running up and down the court in a tank top and shorts all night. A dark blue button-down shirt completed the outfit. He slipped on a pair of dress shoes. Dark circles under his eyes attested to his lack of sleep, but he figured no one would really pay much attention to him with Garrett around and he liked it that way.
A splash of cologne and he headed out to where his brother waited for him. Garrett was dressed in black leather pants leaving nothing to the imagination and a tight mesh shirt. Kasey laughed. No matter how much alike they looked, they couldn’t be more different. Garrett was flamboyant and interested in everyone around him while Kasey was introverted. Garrett looked at him and grinned. “Come on. We’ll go to the Liverpool. There’ll be a ton of straight people there, so you won’t get harassed for being in a gay club.”
“Thanks for understanding.” Kasey grabbed his keys and wallet, locking the door behind him.
“No problem, bro. Hollywood is more accepting of gay leading men, but it doesn’t mean the rest of the world will be as open.” Garrett flipped open his phone. “I’ll call Quentin. He’s bored waiting around for me. Letting him drive us to the club will give him something to do besides guarding me. Samantha and Tina are going to meet us there with a few friends.”
Kasey nodded, but didn’t comment. Sam and Tina were two of their closest friends, plus they knew about Kasey as well and weren’t opposed to playing his girlfriend if he needed one. They’d all been friends since high school. He wouldn’t feel bad about leaving Garrett with them when he decided to call it a night.
“Why take a car when it’s only a couple blocks to the club?” He followed Garrett to the elevator.
“I can’t be seen walking up to the club. Big stars don’t walk places.” Garrett shook his head at him.
“Stars who aren’t complete assholes and don’t think too highly of themselves do.” Kasey jabbed an elbow into his brother’s side.
“You’re right, but I don’t feel like walking and being stopped in the street by rabid fans. Yours, not mine. It’s not like you don’t stick out.” Garrett winked at him.
The only differences between them were their eye color and weight. They stood six-five, but Kasey weighed in at around two hundred pounds. At one hundred and eighty pounds, Garrett was several pounds lighter. Kasey’s eyes were a darker green, moss colored, and Garrett’s were grass green. It was their stunning platinum blond hair and green eyes that had gotten them named two of People’s 50 Sexiest People. It helped they were twins and both famous in their chosen professions.
“Genetics. What can I say? I got the looks and you got the talent.” Kasey smirked.
They laughed as Garrett punched him.
“The car’s here. Let’s go.”
Kasey felt his exhaustion lift. Maybe his brother was right. Relaxing with friends might be what he needed to unwind from the grueling road trip.
