Best Friends Forever by Darcy Abriel

There’s something about childhood friendships.  I don’t know if it’s that as children, we possess that sheen of innocence, that certain unquestioning acceptance about the people who are a part of the formative years of our lives.  But there’s also a fear of losing special friendships if we reveal too much of what is in our deepest heart.  The moment is lost and we live with the regret of things not said. Sometimes we move on as we mature to new friendship spheres, and then sometimes not.  And we’re left with that lingering question in the back of our mind, “what if”?

Perhaps we have to move on, experience other things, follow different adventures before, maturing into our true self, like Dorothy discovering where the home of her heart truly lay, we recognize that one person who undeniably touches us heart and soul, giving breadth to our lives in a way we would never know without them.

Eye For the Prize is a discovery not just of an odd, supernatural object, but the rediscovery of friendship, of love, and perhaps the one person that makes anywhere truly home.  What would you give up to be united with that one true soulmate?  How far would you go?  And what if it came down to a choice between the man you love, or the family who raised you, whose blood you shared?  And there was no middle ground.  And what if the incident you’ve been set to investigate will eventually be the thing that changes your whole life?

In every object is a story, in every story there is a pulse of truth.  Finding the truth is Detective Larke Ava’s job.  Find the object is Zhalazti researcher Roan Dwellen’s purpose. Reuniting with the boyhood friend who completed you was never part of the plan for either man.

Eye for the Prize, part of the Tales from the Amber Allure 77th Precinct AmberPax Collection. Mystery, danger, heritage, and love.  Was there ever a more explosive combination?

Here’s just a short excerpt when Larke awakens from an uneasy sleep to discover an unexpected presence in his apartment.

*_*_*

Larke's heart almost stopped beating. A rush of air left his lungs. And suddenly he knew all too well who was in the room with him. He went to turn on the table lamp next to the couch.

"No. Leave it off."

"I want to see you, Roan. It's been a while."

"In a minute."

"How did you get in?"

"I've developed skills, I guess you could say."

"Breaking and entering?" Larke asked.

"Among others. For my line of work it comes in handy," Roan responded.

Larke felt like he was still in a dream world. Could this be real? Was Roan really seated in his apartment here in Seattle? Or was it just part of the dream--the nightmare he'd only recently escaped.

Roan walked across the room and suddenly dropped to one knee before Larke. He reached out and ran a hand through Larke's hair and Larke shuddered at the contact.

"Why are you here?" Larke asked. "Why now?"

"I think you know why," Roan said.

"I have something you want," Larke responded.

Roan stared into his eyes for a long moment. Shadow chased across his face. More mature, more knowing than he had been when he left the island so long ago. Something in that look had Larke's heart turning over, right along with his stomach.

"Yes, you have something I want." Roan's hand tightened in Larke's hair, holding him still as he leaned forward. "Aren't you going to welcome me home?" he asked and then burned Larke through and through with a searing kiss that practically had his toes curling.

The fire in Larke's belly roared to life after so many years. He wrapped his arms around Roan, still afraid it was all a dream, but suddenly not caring. In the moment. He just wanted to be in the moment. He didn't care about the past, the future, right or wrong. None of that mattered. Without breaking the kiss, Roan shoved Larke back onto the couch, and stretched out over him. Larke's cock sprang to life, hardening beneath the onslaught of sensations that rode through Larke.

Larke broke the kiss and stared up at Roan. Roan placed two fingers across his lips.

"Don't say anything. Not now. Not yet. Do you have any idea how many nights I dreamed about this?" And then he kissed Larke again, and Larke forgot everything he was supposed to remember as he pulled Roan closer.

*_*_*

Eye for the Prize by Darcy Abriel is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!