The Mating of Michael

Readers love the

S
EX
IN
S
EATTLE

series by Eli Easton

The Trouble with Tony

“With a light, slightly sweet and definitely interesting story, Ms. Easton has managed to make me a fan of not only her characters but her storylines and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from her!”

—The Blogger Girls

“This story was warm, funny, entertaining, and made me feel all sunny inside. I will definitely be reading more by this author.”

—Hearts on Fire

“I have enjoyed both of the books that I have read by Eli Easton. Both made me laugh and left me feeling good. I am definitely looking forward to her next publication.”

—Live Your Life, Buy the Book

“The writing was very solid. I give this book 4.5 stars because I wanted it to be longer! And I’m hoping for a sequel!”

—The Novel Approach

The Enlightenment of Daniel

“A love story between friends with true complications in their lives that was both touching and beautifully written.”

—The Romance Reviews

“I can honestly say that it is a book that won’t leave you emotionally uninvolved, since it is quite a turbulent read, but it is worth all the drama!”

—Pants Off Reviews

“If you like your friends-to-lovers romance realistic, sensual and poignant, you’ll love this. Recommended.”

—Top 2 Bottom Reviews

By
E
LI
E
ASTON

Closet Capers (DSP Anthology)

A Prairie Dog’s Love Song

Puzzle Me This

Steamed Up (DSP Anthology)

Stitch (with Sue Brown, Jamie Fessenden, and Kim Fielding)

S
EX
IN
S
EATTLE

The Trouble with Tony

The Enlightenment of Daniel

The Mating of Michael

Published by
D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Published by

D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS

Where Dreams Come True...

International publishers of quality gay romantic fiction since 2007

5032 Capital Circle SW
Suite 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886

USA

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Mating of Michael

© 2014 Eli Easton.

Cover Art

© 2014 AngstyG, www.angstyg.com.

Cover content is for illustrative purposes only

and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-015-7

Digital ISBN: 978-1-63216-016-4

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

June 2014

This paper meets the requirements of

ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

To beautiful, brave, talented, loving, extraordinary Raleigh. Fight on.

It’s a challenge to tackle characters with very specific jobs or disabilities. I’d like to thank my beta readers for helping me gain confidence in what I was portraying and in helping me see the rough spots. Thanks to Stacia Hess, Mandy Lebron, Kim Fielding, and Kate Rothwell.

I also found some excellent resources and would recommend them to those looking for more information.

On Polio:

7 Wheelchairs: A Life Beyond Polio
—by Gary Presley

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio
—Peg Kehret

Broken Wings
—documentary directed by Rainer Loeser (on Amazon Instant Video)

A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America
—documentary directed by Nina Gilden Seavey (on Amazon Instant Video)

On Sex Therapy:

Sessions of a Sex Surrogate
—by Joanne Ferro

Private Practices
—documentary directed by Kirby Dick about surrogate Maureen Sullivan (on Amazon Instant Video)

Seattle, February, 2014

“G
IN
! D
UDE
,
you’re history!”

Tommy laid down a set of fours and a run in hearts and laughed in triumph. The words and the laugh sounded garbled, thanks to the damage to his throat and palate, but Michael understood him just fine.

“Damn, man! You are wicked lucky today.” Michael Lamont shook his head, trying to look disappointed. But he didn’t really mind. Making Tommy laugh was more than worth losing a few card games.

“Well, Monday
is
my lucky day,” Tommy said with a wink. He pushed his chair away from the table.

“Are you flirting with me?”

“Yup.”

“I see how you are. First, you trounce me, then you try to butter me up. Do you wanna play again?”

Michael asked because he always asked. It was part of their routine. Three rounds of gin, which Tommy won more often than not. After cards came the massage. But Michael asked anyway, even when, like now, Tommy had pushed back from the table and already had the start of an erection in his shorts. The look in his eyes said he’d forgotten all about gin rummy.

“No more cards,” Tommy said quietly.

“Okay, champ.”

Michael stacked the cards neatly while Tommy went over to the bed. A large photo of the Seattle Mariners, inscribed with “To Tommy, best wishes,” and signed by all the players, was framed and hung over Tommy’s bed. He’d gotten that, Tommy had once told Michael, when he was in the hospital after the fire, and they didn’t know if he would live. It was one of Tommy’s most prized possessions.

Tommy dropped his shorts, leaving on his oversized T-shirt and briefs and sat on the edge of the mattress. He watched while Michael put his gym bag on the table and unzipped it. Michael carried everything he needed in there—a large bottle of Eucerin lotion, massage oil, wipes, condoms, a few styles of vibrators, and a few simple toys. He rarely used the toys, but he carried them all the same. He removed his shirt and folded it neatly on the bag before picking up the bottle of Eucerin.

He stood at the side of the bed while Tommy looked at him. Tommy liked to start by gazing at Michael’s chest for a while, and then touching it lightly with his damaged fingers, getting himself aroused. When he was ready, he laid down on his stomach. As always, there were no blankets on the bed, only sheets, so clean they smelled of fabric softener. A few small towels were stacked on the bedside table. Tommy himself had been freshly bathed, and even his ever-present baseball cap looked new. Michael appreciated the effort. He knew Tommy’s mother was very particular about his care. The house was on Lake Washington in the Madrona district and was easily worth several million. But he had a feeling it was Tommy himself who insisted on everything being perfect on Mondays. The thought caused a small ache in Michael’s chest as he gently tugged up the hem of Tommy’s T-shirt and rolled it tight near his shoulders.

Tommy didn’t like to have his shirt removed. Michael thought it gave him a sense of modesty to be able to pull it down over his scars quickly, even if he never did. Michael squeezed a line of lotion up his ravaged back.

Tommy’s life had been devastated one terrible night six years ago. He’d been sleeping over with a friend when the house caught fire. Michael had never been told what had caused the fire or the details of what’d happened, only that Tommy had been severely burned over 70 percent of his body. Despite years of what must have been painful surgeries, including extensive cosmetic reconstruction, no one would ever look at Tommy and not see a burn victim. No one, that is, except Michael.

His fingertips soothed the lotion into the scar tissue, rubbing in circles. Tommy gave off a little moan.

Michael took his time. He massaged Tommy’s back, then pulled his briefs down and off and worked his arms and legs. The scar tissue had been well cared for. It required daily massage to avoid getting painfully tight. Tommy’s mother or his PT routinely massaged him, but Michael’s massage was different. He kept it sensual rather than functional. He placed both hands on the backs of Tommy’s thighs and massaged firmly up to the cheeks of his ass, repeating the move a dozen times before massaging Tommy’s buttocks. They were only mildly scarred, and Tommy liked to have them handled.

“Wanna turn over,” Tommy said in a rough voice.