Welcome to this week’s Mid Week Tease!

Continuing a tour of the WIP pile brings us to The Pledging, a contemporary college romance with interesting bits, which is in that difficult stage of first draft edits. This clip finds our protagonists Ron and Charlie having a private tour of the Alpha Gamma Pi workout building:

“Sit, relax!” As Jamal walked toward the fridge, he pulled off his shirt in one fluid motion, tossing it aside on a chair. “We’ve got water—bubbly or flat—juice, soda. No liquor is allowed down here, so it’s all virgin—present company excluded, that is!” Again that wonderful laugh. 

Ron knew he was staring, but he couldn’t look away—Jamal had broad shoulders, an incredibly slim waist and not an ounce of fat. Textbook definition on the fraternity brother’s back made Ron want to run his fingers along each of the clearly visible muscle groups. They flexed and relaxed, dancing under Jamal’s skin, as he rummaged around for drinks. “What’ll it be, dudes?” 

“Water,” Ron managed to croak; his fingers weren’t the only thing that wanted to play with the half-naked brother. He glanced over at Charlie who was clearly trying to look anywhere but at Jamal. “Definitely water.” 

“H two O, it is.” With three sweating bottles, the AGP brother returned to the sofa and handed out the water. When he flopped down between Ron and Charlie, a tangy scent wafted around him. Patchouli, Ron thought, and he had to squirm to get more comfortable; he twisted a little to lean against the arm of the sofa, trying to seem casual and still disguise the growing bulge in his pants. 

On the other side Charlie sat ramrod straight, his hands clasping the unopened bottle in his lap. He perched on the edge of the sofa like he were in church—or on trial. He always seemed so self-possessed—he was out, proud and didn’t take shit from anybody—why would he be nervous now? Ron wondered at that. 

A sharp crackle made Ron jump. Jamal was rubbing himself with the cool water bottle; some of the condensation had beaded in the curly hairs scattered across his equally magnificent chest. Two silver bars pierced his nipples. Ron’s pants had definitely gotten too tight. 

“I wanted us to have some quiet time.” Jamal crushed the plastic bottle and tossed it into the nearby recycling bin. “You know, to answer any questions you might have.” His glance slid between them as his arms settled across the back of the sofa. “To get to know you guys better.”

Thanks for stopping by!

Please leave a comment before visiting the other Teasers!