It is my pleasure to welcome back fellow Total-E-Bound author Noelle Keaton. She's sharing an excerpt from her debut erotic m/m romance Trusting The ER Doctor part of Total-E-Bound's Emergency Servicing Anthology. She's even giving away a copy to one lucky commenter.
Pick A Genre Already : Guest Blogger Noelle Keaton
The release this week of Trusting The ER Doctor and the anthology Emergency Servicing, both from publisher Total-E-Bound, produced mixed emotions. First and foremost, I’m thrilled because I love writing and I’m glad that I have a chance to share my stories with a wider audience than just family and friends. However, I’m a little scared too because now I’m confronting the question: Where do I go from here?
I think I’ve answered that question in part by getting another story accepted for another Total-E-Bound anthology, Promoted By The Billionaire. Two stories published means this writing thing isn’t a fluke, right? I’m a full-fledged writer now, it means I have a plan and I know what to do next. Yeah, right. Although I’ve finished the edits for the second story, I’m still asking myself, Where do I go from here?
I’ve been so focused on getting published for so long, now that it’s happened, I feel a little lost. One of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly, guest starred on an episode of Castle and said this to a fellow writer who’d just hit the bestseller list: “You know what I did after I wrote my first novel? I shut up and I wrote twenty-three more.” That’s probably the best advice that I and any other beginning writer can take. Shut up and write. Being the procrastinator that I am, this is easier said than done, but I think I’ll make it my motto for the rest of the year. Shut up and write.
I’d like to give a special thank you to H K Carlton for not only hosting me here on her blog, but for all the support and encouragement she’s given me. I’d also like to thank all the readers and visitors of the blog, and to show my appreciation, I’ll be giving away a free copy of Trusting the ER Doctor at random to a commenter who leaves contact information. Good luck!
Trusting the ER Doctor
Blurb:
People trusted Kyle and Trent with their lives every day, surely the two men could entrust their hearts to each other.
After his last relationship resulted in a nasty break-up, the last thing emergency room physician Kyle Montgomery is looking for is another romance. Yet when he meets hunky paramedic Trent Jones, Kyle cannot deny the immediate attraction and undeniable spark between them. As their love develops, Kyle begins to put the past behind him and focus on his burgeoning relationship with Trent.
Trent, who has been drawn to Kyle ever since he first laid eyes on him, can hardly believe the handsome and sophisticated physician would give him a second glance, much less return his feelings. Coming from a modest background, Trent wonders if he’s in the same league as Kyle and if their relationship can go the distance.
When Kyle’s former lover surfaces with allegations that cause Trent to question Kyle’s true feelings and motivations, it is up to both men to take stock and decide whether theirs is a love worth fighting for, a love worth trusting in…
Excerpt: Trusting the ER Doctor
The snow still fell steadily, but fortunately it was only a light dusting, for which Kyle was grateful since it would make the drive home easier. He wasn’t due back at the hospital for another sixteen hours, and he planned to spend the bulk of it catching up on his sleep.
But his growling stomach reminded him he needed to take care of another priority before he hit the hay. He tried to think of what he had at home to eat, but could only remember seeing half a bottle of mayonnaise and a couple of dried-out oranges. A stop by McDonald’s then home, he decided.
Walking out through the ambulance bay to the lot where he’d parked, Kyle stopped when a man called out, “Hey, Doc, hold up!”
A grinning and slightly out of breath Trent ran to catch up to him. “Hey, I hoped I’d catch you before you left. I wanted to thank you again.”
“It’s not necessary, I’m glad I could help.”
“But I bet you wouldn’t say no to some Zorobos burgers.” Trent held up a large bag from the Greek diner located around the corner from the hospital. “I didn’t think you’d get a chance to eat during the rest of your shift after we left.”
“I didn’t,” Kyle admitted, eyeing the bag hungrily.
“You want to go back in and eat these in the break room?”
“Nah, I’ve seen enough of that place for the day.”
The look of disappointment that crossed Trent’s handsome face surprised Kyle. “Okay, well, why don’t you take this home with you? Two are feta burgers and the other two are regular cheeseburgers.”
Kyle took the bag, and, on impulse, said, “There’s no way I can eat four Zorobos burgers, even as hungry as I am. Why don’t you join me at my place and help me eat them?”
He instantly regretted the invitation, sure that he was making a fool of himself. But Trent’s face lit up and he nodded like the invitation was something he’d wanted or anticipated all along.
What are you doing? Kyle asked himself as he gave Trent directions to his condo, which was only a few miles from the hospital. Hadn’t he already learned his lesson about getting involved with someone at work? Don’t shit where you eat was a motto that definitely applied.
But Trent didn’t work with him, not exactly. He was a paramedic who worked for a company contracted out to several Philadelphia area hospitals. If things didn’t work out between them, it wasn’t like Kyle would have to see Trent on a regular basis. Besides, there probably wasn’t going to wind up being anything to work out. This was just a couple of colleagues sharing some burgers. No big deal.
However, Kyle realised he was fooling himself the moment Trent stepped into his condo and took off his jacket, revealing a taut, muscular torso that was well-defined even underneath the navy paramedic uniform. In contrast, Kyle felt slouchy in his green scrubs and long-johns top, but he was grateful the baggy material hid the growing tightness he felt between his legs.
Gazing around at the glass and chrome minimalist décor, Trent seemed to take no notice of Kyle’s sudden arousal. “This place is nice. Really sophisticated.”
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit. It was an interior decorator’s doing,” Kyle said, deciding not to mention that nothing about the condo’s furnishings was really to his liking. His ex had insisted on decorating Kyle’s condo to his tastes, even though he’d had his own place. While they’d broken up several months ago, Kyle’s long hours at the hospital prevented him from making changes that were more his style.
“I’d like to make enough bucks to be able to hire a decorator,” Trent said, as Kyle went into the kitchen to get some plates. “I live in half a duplex that I share with Mia and Natalie. All we have are odds and ends from the Goodwill or donations from the church.”
“You like this? You can have it.” Kyle watched with amusement when Trent’s jaw dropped open in surprise.
“Have it? You’d give this stuff away? This living room alone looks like it cost a fortune—at least a year’s salary, maybe two.”
“I don’t know.” Kyle shrugged. He settled into a chair across from where Trent sat on the couch, taking a bite out of one of the feta burgers. Damn, it was good. “I didn’t pay for any of the furniture, so I have no idea what it’s worth. I didn’t choose it, either.”
“Leland Ackerman bought this for you? For the two of you to share when you moved here to be with him?”
Avoiding Trent’s intense blue-eyed gaze, Kyle focused on his burger. “There’s not much that’s private at Philadelphia General, huh?”
“Not really, especially when a good-looking doctor suddenly shows up. Everyone gets curious and wants to know what’s the deal.”
“Good-looking, huh?” Kyle teased, amused to see Trent blush. “Is that the Philadelphia General consensus on me?”
Trent put his burger down and took a deep breath. “So were you and Leland Ackerman involved? Are you now? Does he live here? Is he going to show up here?”
The rush of questions showed Kyle just how nervous Trent was. Maybe even more so than he was, and Kyle’s heart galloped to such an extent it felt like it would jump out of his chest at any minute. He moved to Trent’s side and looked directly into his eyes.
“It’s true I moved up here from Baltimore to be with Leland. We first met and became involved while he was doing a fellowship at the hospital where I was working. When his fellowship was up, Leland convinced me to move here with him, where he’d been offered the position as head of the cardiology department. Thinking we had a future together, I quit my job and followed him.”
“What happened?” Trent asked, moving closer to Kyle.
Trent’s nearness and his wonderfully musky, spicy scent was a powerful distraction. However, Kyle was determined to finish, knowing that he needed to clear up any rumours or preconceptions. “Things just changed. Leland wasn’t the same man that he’d been in Baltimore. The power of his new job went to his head, and he became arrogant, rude and condescending. What I thought or wanted didn’t matter anymore. He wanted to call all the shots in our relationship.”
“Like picking out this furniture for you?”
“Exactly. Even though we each had our own places, Leland still wanted to exert his control over my personal space, even though I bought and paid for the condo myself.”
“What an asshole.”
“Yeah, he is. I should have seen it when we were in Baltimore. It would have saved a lot of hassle if I had.”
“I’m sorry about the hassle, but I’m glad you’re here now.” Trent’s mouth curled into a shy smile.
“I’m glad I’m here, too.” Kyle realised it was the first time he’d meant it in months.
As if pulled by a force field, Kyle leaned towards Trent, who, in turn, moved towards him. Their mouths met hesitantly at first, as if both were unsure of what the other wanted. But from the moment he touched Trent’s soft, full lips, Kyle wanted more and he knew there was no way he could stop. And from the massive erection he felt poking against his thigh, he didn’t think there was any turning back for Trent, either.
Buy Link : Trusting The ER Doctor Available at Total-E-Bound
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