Jamie
MacDonald, a young Scot mourning the deaths of his father and
brothers in the ill-fated battle of Culloden, decides to take his
mother to the New World. But tragedy and unforeseen circumstance dog
Jamie’s journey and he is pressed into service aboard a pirate ship
commanded by a ruthless Spaniard.
Antonio
Rodriguez is a man with a dark past, but also with an allure Jamie
cannot resist.
The
two men embark on a stormy relationship—but can their feelings for
each other survive the danger that surrounds them, threatening not
only their love, but their very lives?
Excerpt
Rodriguez’s
dark eyes flashed as he walked slowly toward Jamie. “You are a deal
too arrogant, my friend.”
“Friend?
Is this how you treat your friends? ‘Thank you for your bravery,
Jamie, now it’s to the brig with you where you’ll rot till I have
appeased my Spanish pride!’”
For
a moment he expected Rodriguez to shout for Hugo to drag him back
below, but instead he stared at Jamie, his face a mask, unable to be
read. Then he said, “You are a brave man. A man I would like to
have by my side and call my friend. Can I call you my friend, Jamie?”
Jamie
searched Rodriguez’s eyes trying to see if he could discern the
slightest trace of mockery there. He could not, nor could he break
away from the steadfast gaze the man returned.
“Aye,”
he was at last able to say, his own voice sounding strange to his
ears. “Thatyou
can.”
Rodriguez grasped Jamie’s arm. “Come then,” he said. “I have some fine Jamaican rum for a toast.”
“A
toast to what?”
“To
our friendship, what else? A toast to show you how much I value this
moment.” Rodriguez poured the rum into two small glasses, then held
them up to the light. “Venetian glass,” he said, his voice low
and sensuous. “Only the finest will do for you, my brave Scotsman.”
Jamie
felt his cheeks redden at the effect the silky compliment had on him.
His hand trembled slightly as he raised the glass to his lips. He was
intensely aware of the other man’s unwavering gaze that remained
locked on Jamie as they lowered their glasses.
“I envy where that glass has been, Jamie.”
“I envy where that glass has been, Jamie.”
Rodriguez took a step closer, then with a great tenderness, he brushed Jamie’s lips with his own. Jamie gasped, his body jolted by sensation. He reached out and grabbed the man’s arm, at first to thrust him away, then as the kiss deepened, found himself holding onto that arm, pulling Rodriguez into a tight embrace. Never in his life had Jamie experienced a sensation that seared him with pleasure like the feel of Rodriguez’s soft yet demanding lips on his. His cock flared to life as the Spaniard’s tongue slipped inside his mouth, and all Jamie wanted to do was respond in kind.
“Wait!”
Jamie jerked backward, finding his voice, hoarse though it was.
“Stop… this is wrong. I canna’ do this, Captain. We are two
men. This isna’ right.”
“It
is as right as it feels, Jamie.”
The
Spaniard still held him, and loathe as he was to admit it, Jamie did
not want to break free—but break free he must! With a rough
movement, he pushed the other man away.
“No,
I won’t give in to this.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his
hand and glared at Rodriguez.
The
Captain’s sardonic smile tried to hide the hurt expression his eyes
could not. “I am sorry, Jamie. I took advantage of you, and for
that I apologize. Please forgive me. It will not happen again.”
Jamie
stared long and hard at the man, trying to understand what he was
feeling at this moment. His mind was a turmoil of emotion. He liked
this man! There was something about him that inspired him, thrilled
him. There was no ignoring the way his cock had reacted so damned
quickly… And yet, was this not a sign of weakness among men? He had
no experience of these things, only what he’d heard in church of a
Sunday when he was a child, and didn’t fully understand. Jamie was
not a big believer in the Bible or its teachings. He had no fear of
God in his far off remote heaven, uncaring for the suffering of the
people he was supposed to have created.
Antonio
Rodriguez was not a weak man. He was brave—reckless maybe, but
brave—and a respected captain. He was handsome, intelligent and
would be, Jamie instinctively felt, a loyal friend. But he should not
give in to the urges that now coursed through his body.
“I
am sorry, Captain. I canna’ give what it is you want from me.”
“I
understand, Jamie.” Rodriguez’s gaze slipped away from Jamie’s
face. “I will not trouble you again. You may go.”
Jamie
turned and left the cabin, closing the door quietly behind him. He
breathed a deep sigh, not of relief, for that he did not feel. What
he did feel was a strange sense of loss. He walked to the ship’s
side, and gripped the rail until his knuckles turned white, while
below him the waves churned and slapped against the side of the ship.
Damnation.
These feelings the captain had invoked in him were not so easily
shaken off. He could not deny the man’s attraction, or the sense of
excitement he felt in his presence. Could he go where Rodriguez
wanted to take him? Could he put aside his dislike of what that
meant? No, not dislike—fear, perhaps. Aye, that was it. He was
afraid—afraid of what he now felt. Afraid of the sensations
Rodriguez’s lips had kindled in his body. Even now the memory of
those soft, lush lips on his own eager mouth brought a rush of blood
to his groin. He groaned with frustration and stared for a long time
at the door to the captain’s cabin. Did he dare? Could he go back
and face the man and tell him he’d been a fool to reject him? Could
he?
He
took one uncertain step toward the cabin, and then stopped. Above him
the sails, sharply etched against the darkening blue of the sky,
billowed and flapped in the wind. He clenched his fists and took a
deep breath to steady his resolve, then he knocked on the cabin door.
His nerve almost failed him when he heard the command to enter.
Swallowing hard, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
About
the Author
J.P.
Bowie was born in Aberdeen Scotland but has lived most of his life in
London and ultimately in the US – Nevada and California to be
exact. After giving up a life in show biz both on the board and
backstage he began writing gay mysteries and romance in 2000. In 2008
he wrote his first vampire novel, My Vampire and I which started out
as a short story and ended up being an eight part series. Many more
vampire and detective stories followed. He wrote The Journeyer some
years ago and is delighted that Pride Publishing are reissuing it as
a three part serial. The Journey Begins is Part One and is currently
available. The New World and The Fight for Freedom will be released
shortly.
My
sincere thanks to Lisabet Sarai for taking the time to promote The
Journeyer – The Journey Begins on her blog.
1 comment:
Thanks for the lovely post, Lisabet!
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