Tag Archives: Gale Stanley

The Boss Blitz

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The Boss cover

 

BDSM Erotica

Date to be Published: August 29, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

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Maxwell Barnes runs the top law firm in the city, owns a private BDSM
club, and has more money than he can spend in a lifetime. He gets everything
he wants, and now he wants his paralegal, Aaron Marshall. Mixing work and
pleasure is a big no-no, but their mutual attraction is off the charts. The
one thing Maxwell isn’t looking for is love, but sometimes fate has a
mind of its own.

 

Praise for The Boss (Roosters)

 


“I found this to be an interesting and sexy short read… I adored Aaron right
from the get-go and found him delightful and really easy to relate to. The
chemistry between the two men is delicious, the kink is hot and well written
and for a fun and quick read this story certainly fits the bill to my mind.”

— Fern, Long and Short Reviews

 

Excerpt

 

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Gale Stanley

 

Fucking traffic. Even at this hour of the day, the streets were as jammed as
my calendar. Doesn’t matter what I drive. My Mercedes-Maybach
won’t get me to the office any faster than a Prius, but my ride got a
lot of looks. It commanded the eye as well as the road. I imagined the other
drivers were wondering what VIP was enjoying all this luxury. The thought
ignited me. Being the center of attention was a turn-on. It was better than
sex.

At last, my building came into view. It was an impressive sight. The Barnes
Building was a soaring glass tower, twenty stories high, and one of the most
prestigious addresses in the city. I helped design it myself. I demanded a
seat at the table with the architects and builders, and my input resulted in a
stunning building that met my needs. If you want something done right, do it
yourself. ‘Nuff said.

I turned into the parking garage and pulled into my reserved spot, savoring
the rewards of success. My car, my building, designer duds, a Rolex, they were
all symbols of my wealth and status. None of it was due to luck. I worked damn
hard to get where I was, long hours, high-profile court cases, good
investments… I was on top of the world. Now I was ready to enjoy
myself. For years work had overshadowed everything else in my life. I had made
a name for myself and accumulated stuff, but I had neglected the hedonistic
pleasures that shaped my life. It was time to focus on the thing that lit me
up. BDSM. Erotic play made me feel complete. It energized me. I just needed
the right partner. Lately, I had wondered whether the man I wanted even
existed. It was a tall order to fill.

I knew who I was and what I wanted — single, gay Dom looking for a playmate,
not a relationship. Nothing serious or exclusive. I wanted a man who was
submissive because he loved the way it made him feel, but finding a compatible
play partner wasn’t easy. In the past I’d had partners who played
at being submissive so they could gain access to me. They were only interested
in my prestige and money. I liked a man who was willing to work hard and make
it on his own. Someone who was constantly learning and wanted to challenge his
limits.

Even with my connections, it was difficult to meet men because my kink was a
well-hidden secret. Submissives who were looking for a Dom wouldn’t know
how to find me. It had been a long time since my Dominant side got any
attention, and it had been frustrating as hell.

Until the day Aaron Marshall showed up. We had instant chemistry. Chemistry
counted for a lot, but it wasn’t everything. There had to be more to it
than attraction. The big question was, could we build something on that
chemistry? This was such an improbable match, I couldn’t believe it was
more than a fluke. But what if it wasn’t? I intended to find out because
I was used to getting what I wanted, and I wanted this man.

I took the private elevator to the top floor. My suite was bright and modern,
a stark contrast to my public office one floor down. There it was all cherry
wood and leather, the warm traditional look I presented to the public. But the
private penthouse was my home when I was working on an important case so it
was all me, a personal office, sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, and a large
bath, even a walk-in closet stocked with some of my favorite paddles and
floggers.

I listened to my voice mail and found a message from Brett Holiday, my best
friend. No need to answer it. I’d be seeing him tonight. I went into the
bathroom to check my appearance before taking the back stairs to my office.

Before settling in, I walked out to the front office to greet Aaron, who was
now my newest paralegal. My current office manager was teaching him the ropes,
a task I planned on taking over shortly. Pun intended.

Aaron always clocked in ahead of everyone, even me. He wanted to make a good
impression, and he had. The man was a quick study and very professional, but
he had other assets that sparked my interest.

I never forgot our first meeting. I liked his looks immediately — dark blond
hair, hazel eyes, slim build, but his stance was what caught my attention.
Aaron stood in front of my desk, his back ramrod straight, arms at his sides,
head up, eyes down. His deference was flattering to the point of overkill. I
saw it as a tendency to yield to the will of another. He was hard-wired to be
a submissive.

We made eye contact and it was hot as hell. I pictured us having wild sex and
I sensed he felt the same. The undeniable connection between us was like an
out-of-body experience. That mysterious attraction couldn’t be forced.
It was what I longed for, but seldom found. Calm down, I told myself. Do not
hire this man because you want to fuck him.

“Have a seat, Mr. Marshall.”

“Thank you.”

I decided to test the water. “Thank you, Sir.”

Aaron’s eyes went wide but he responded immediately. “Yes, Sir.
Thank you, Sir.”

His reaction was beautiful to behold. Being told what to do excited him. I
could tell he wanted me to take control, to dominate him. Anticipation
shivered along my spine. I knew an untrained submissive when I saw one. Aaron
was struggling to recover his self-command, but his desire and arousal shone
like a beacon in a storm. I was intrigued.

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and pencil.
Some
things never change.

Author Links

Visit Gale’s Website

Gale on Facebook

Follow her on BookBub

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Pre-Order Today

 

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Party Animal Teaser

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Party Animal  cover

 

Contemporary Gay Romance, Polyamorous

Date Published: August 8, 2025

 

Casey can get just about any man he wants, except for the one he wants
the most.

 

Casey Cox is a porn star legend. Life is a never-ending party and there’s
always a hot guy or two willing to play. Then Casey meets the one man who
isn’t interested and suddenly it’s a challenge he can’t resist.

 

Party Animal Tablet

 

 
ADULT EXCERPT

 

“Suck me tender.”

“Hey dumbass, I’m the boss here. If you didn’t have a big
shlong, you wouldn’t get any screen time.”

I picked up the towel and covered up my biggest asset. “Jealous
much?”

Max looked like he was ready to blow steam but he clenched his jaw and nodded
toward the king-sized bed. It was all decked out in white linen, the better to
show off our tanned bodies. “I want you and Joey to do a fast run
through, no sex, before we start filming.”

“Time is money,” I said, throwing his own words back at him.
“I don’t need to rehearse.”

“Says you. Did you even read the script?”

“Course I did. Masturbate first, and then Joey walks in and gives me a
hand. It’s not rocket science.” It was an easy scene. I could do
it in my sleep. I never have a problem getting hard, especially when I know
somebody’s watching.

“Okay Mr. Motherfucking-Know-It-All, do your thing.”

I sat on the bed and leaned back against the headboard.

Max spit out one word. “Action.”

I started rubbing my cock through the material of the towel. After a minute, I
flung open the towel and let my dick take a bow. It was stiff and begging for
attention but I ignored it. Slowly I ran my hands down my chest, tweaking my
nipples until they were erect. It didn’t take long. My hot buttons are
super sensitive. A delicious warmth spread through my groin. It was time to
give my prick some attention. I gave it a few easy strokes, taking my time so
I could show off my body. Occasionally I glanced at the camera with a
smoldering gaze. Then I started jerking off in a steady rhythm.

Nobody knows my hot spots like I do. It didn’t take long for my
breathing to speed up. My balls drew up tight and I knew I was close. Where
the heck was Joey? He should have been here by now. I wanted to give him a cum
shower. Max was a shit director. One day I’d direct my own films. I
tried to hold off, but my cock was throbbing. Fuck it. I was too close. One
more hard stroke and I hosed myself down with a massive cum load.

White cream covered my chest, up to my neck and under my chin. I groaned,
scooped some up with my fingers and licked them clean. I knew I looked hot as
hell.

“Cut!” Max stood over me, hands on hips. “I tell you when to
come.”

“You can’t hold back momentum, Max.” One of these days
I’ll quit mouthing off, but not today. “If you could get it up,
you’d know that.”

If looks could kill I would have died right then, but Max couldn’t touch
me. I was golden. Nobody made the studio more money than I did.

“Face it, Max. I know what my audience wants and I give it to them.
That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”

“Get over yourself, princess. You’re a fucking porn actor.
There’s a thousand more waiting to take your place.”

As usual, Paul, the cameraman and peacemaker, tried to diffuse the situation.
“This is good stuff, Max. The guys will eat it up.”

Max gave him a disgusted look and turned back to me. “You got anything
left for Joey?”

“Does a tin man have a stainless steel cock?”

Everybody laughed except Max. Fuck him. He turned his back, but not before he
took another long look at my chest. I smiled as I lay back against the
pillows. Look all you want, Max, but you’ll never get your hands on this
body. But I knew he’d take the film home and masturbate to it all night.

“Hey, Cox.”

My head jerked up at the sound of Joey’s voice. People tend to think
that porn stars don’t have real lives. They think that, given the nature
of what we do for a living, we must be emotionally detached and incapable of
having a real relationship. That’s only partly true. While I don’t
have, need, or want, a significant other, I have my sister, Julie, and my best
friends, Joey and Paul.

Joey is not only a friend, he’s also a great costar. He’s a lean
six feet, with short spiky blond hair and brown eyes. The dude is practically
hairless while I sport a sexy trail of dark hair that leads to a
well-manicured bush. The camera loves the contrasts between us, and so do the
guys who buy our videos. We spend so much time together, it was only natural
we’d become buddies.

Grinning, Joey sat on the bed. “You just can’t help yourself, can
you, Casey?” He started wiping my chest with a warm, wet cloth.

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and pencil.
Some
things never change.

 

Author Links

Visit Gale’s Website

Gale on Facebook

Follow her on BookBub

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Pre-Order Today

 

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Head Over Heels Blitz

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Head Over Heels cover

Contemporary Romance, Second Chances

Date Published: December 27, 2024

 

 

One blind date and I fall head over heels. Then he ghosts me, leaving me
brokenhearted and pregnant.

 

Aaron: When I meet Genesis on a blind date I fall head over heels.
She’s younger than me and I know I don’t deserve her, but I want
to see her again. But before that can happen, I’m arrested,
handcuffed, and imprisoned for something I didn’t do. Thinking about
Genesis is the only thing that keeps me from going crazy—until I find
out she might be the one who framed me.

Genesis: I hate blind dates, but I change my mind when Aaron shows up at my
door. He’s perfect in every way and I’m smitten at first sight.
I can’t wait to see him again, but then he ghosts me, and disappears
off the face of the Earth. Everyone tells me to forget him, but it’s
not that easy. I’m head over heels for him –- and pregnant with
his baby.

Head Over Heels tablet

 

 

EXCERPT

The shop clerk raved over my figure. “You can wear
anything,”

While I called myself skinny, she called me svelte. “You could
model,” she added over her shoulder as she pulled dresses off the rack
for me to try on. She deposited them in the dressing room and told me to
call her if I needed help.

Sighing, I undressed down to my cotton panties and bra, and inspected
myself in the full-length mirror. Not much up top. I hope he won’t be
disappointed.

Fuck him. It was just a blind date.

For the hundredth time I cursed myself for accepting this date. Going
through all this hassle and expense for some loser was beyond ridiculous.
I’d rather get a root canal. The only reason I hadn’t bowed out
was because my mechanic had arranged it. The last time I brought my car in,
he jokingly said that I should date a grease monkey like him. It was how
he’d met his wife. He followed that with, “Hey, I know just the
guy.” And I’d let him talk me into it.

Still, experience had taught me that blind dates never turned out well. Of
course, most of my experience was thanks to my father, the District
Attorney, trying to control my life like he controlled everything in the
city.

I couldn’t even count the times he’d had his secretary fix me
up with political hacks that would further his career. When I started
ghosting them, he orchestrated chance meetings at the endless cocktail
parties he threw for his political cronies. He planned to run for office
someday and having a daughter married to a politico and campaigning for him
would be a major boon to his career. The whole thing felt really creepy and
manipulative. Nothing was more personal than who you fell in love with.
Besides, my father and I were politically diverse. I would never vote for
his bootlickers, let alone marry one. His attempts to play puppet master
were doomed to failure from the beginning and a major reason why I moved out
of his house and into the Dollhouse.

That’s what I named my micro apartment in the Signature Suites
building. That sounded a lot swankier than it really was. My little piece of
heaven was only four hundred square feet; one-room with a sitting slash
sleeping area, kitchenette, and bathroom, but it was all mine.

I turned my attention back to the dresses. The good thing about having
small breasts was that I could wear just about anything. The bad thing was
that most men love big tits. I was enlightened when I turned sixteen. My
father had given me a check and told me to get breast implants. Hurt and
disgusted, I spent the money on a creative writing class and started a blog.
I learned early on to do the opposite of whatever he wanted. If only my
mother hadn’t gotten cancer and died when I was three. I hardly
remembered her. Wiping away the tears, I vowed not to think about that
now.

After slipping a dress over my head, I made a face in the mirror.
“Ugh.” The hem hit the floor and the slinky material made me
look flatter. It went back on the hanger, and I tried on number two. Too
short, too black, too dressy. It was something my father’s secretary
would wear to one of his political functions. I glanced at my watch and
started to panic. I had no time to hit another store.

The green floral print with a halter top seemed promising. I tied it behind
my neck, and twirled. Feminine and flowy, the hem landed between my knees
and ankles. The bare back and built-in bra treaded a thin line between
classy and slutty, but the dress flattered my figure and I had white strappy
sandals that would work with it. The more I checked it out in the mirror,
the more I liked it.

I looked at the tag. The price blew my mind. I hated spending money I
didn’t have. My closet was full of jeans, leggings, and business
casual for the photo ops I used to take with my father. If I cooperated with
Bruce, I’d have a bigger apartment and lots of clothes, everything I
could want, but I’d be selling my soul. Since moving out of the big
brownstone, I’d been happier than I’ve ever been.

I stared at my reflection. I’d have to put it on a charge card. Is it
worth it?
It had been a long time since I bought myself something new and I
looked good in it. That settled it. Fuck the price. It was indeed worth it.
I changed quickly, and looked for the saleslady.

My car was still down the street where I left it. I’d heard that car
thieves preferred old Toyotas for parts, but even they weren’t
interested in my 2009 Corolla. Maybe the leaking fluid puddling under it
warned them off. Shit. I wondered if I should continue to fix it or if it
was time to ditch it. I just hated to cut the cord. The car was paid for and
I couldn’t afford a new one.

I started it up and headed for home. I was a panicker, so when the car
started shaking and vibrating, I freaked out. At least it didn’t die
until I pulled in front of my apartment building.

Shit, shit, shit. I should have said no to the dress and canceled my date.
All that money could have paid for car repairs. Those times when I doubted
my decisions I would go to Kate for a second opinion.

Kate was my bf, my confidant, and my partner in crime. She was a voice of
reason in my chaotic life. She was older than me and whip smart. Oddly
enough I’d met her because of my father. Well, indirectly. Kate was a
secretary in the mayor’s office. Two years ago, we met at a boring
political function. All night we laughed at the pompous civil servants and
public employees walking around with sticks up their asses. Including my
father. Turned out that, despite our age gap, we had a lot in common,
starting with the same sense of humor. We both liked good books and Sex in
the City
, and we could talk about anything and everything. Even when we
haven’t spoken in a while, we could just pick up right where we left
off.

Best of all, Kate didn’t judge me. Being older, she’d already
been through the same things I was going through now. If two people were
compatible then why not be friends, because age is just a number. At
twenty-one I’ve already met so many assholes that I was super picky
about friends and lovers. I didn’t have many of either because I
believed in quality over quantity.

Kate picked up after several rings. “Hi, girlfriend. Getting ready
for your big night?”

“I don’t know. My car died. I’m thinking I should
cancel.”

“Do you want to cancel?”

“I’m torn. I already bought a dress, but I could return
it.”

“Go for it, girl. Do you want to end up like me? Thirty-fucking-five
on my next birthday and still single. Fear of forty is a real thing. Call
him back and ask him to pick you up.”

“I can’t do that. He might be a serial killer. The whole idea
was to meet in a public place.”

“But weren’t you fixed up by someone you know?”

“Yeah, my mechanic. He said he might be shooting himself in the foot
because his friend is a mechanic, too, but he’s willing to lose my
business if I like his buddy.”

There was a long silence.

“Kate? You still there?”

“Yeah. Just thinking. And I think you should keep the date. You might
miss out on something good. Just keep me on speed dial, in case your plans
change again, or you need me to rescue you. I’ll be home all
night.”

“Kate, you’re the best.”

I felt so much better. Kate was right as usual. I really needed a night out
and knowing she was a phone call away made me feel safer. I called Aaron and
he immediately offered to pick me up. So far, so good. Please God,
don’t let him be an asshole.

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and
pencil.

Some things never change.

Author Links

Visit Gale’s Website

Gale on Facebook

Follow her on BookBub

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today

 

 

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‘Tis the Season RELEASE

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'Tis the Season cover

Passages, Book 1

Holiday, Gay, Romance, New Adult

Date Published: December 01, 2023

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

 

Is it possible to be both a good Jew and a gay man? Jonah Dillon
doesn’t think so. He can’t reconcile his faith with his
attraction to men so he turns his back on Judaism. Away at college for the
holidays, he plans to lose his virginity to Christian, the blue-eyed, blond,
goy of his dreams.

But fate intervenes when Jonah meets Aaron Beck, an observant Jew, and they
end up celebrating Hanukkah together. Aaron tells Jonah they’re
beschert—meant to be. Jonah’s not sure he believes it, but he’s
lonely and welcomes Aaron’s company even if he has to celebrate Hanukkah to
get it.

Can Aaron bridge the gap and convince Jonah to take a leap of faith? Or
will they have to give up their desire for a future together?

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and
pencil.

Some things never change.

 

Contact Links

Blog

Facebook

X (Twitter): @GaleStanley

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram

 

Purchase Link

 Amazon

Publisher

 

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‘Tis the Season TEASER

'Tis the Season cover

 

'Tis the Season cover

Passages, Book 1

Holiday, Gay, Romance, New Adult

Date Published: December 01, 2023

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

 

Is it possible to be both a good Jew and a gay man? Jonah Dillon
doesn’t think so. He can’t reconcile his faith with his
attraction to men so he turns his back on Judaism. Away at college for the
holidays, he plans to lose his virginity to Christian, the blue-eyed, blond,
goy of his dreams.

But fate intervenes when Jonah meets Aaron Beck, an observant Jew, and they
end up celebrating Hanukkah together. Aaron tells Jonah they’re
beschert—meant to be. Jonah’s not sure he believes it, but he’s
lonely and welcomes Aaron’s company even if he has to celebrate Hanukkah to
get it.

Can Aaron bridge the gap and convince Jonah to take a leap of faith? Or
will they have to give up their desire for a future together?

'Tis the Season tablet

Excerpt

Copyright ©2023 Gale Stanley

The man’s image in the mirror, framed by small twinkling lights and
swags of spruce and holly, appeared to be just the sort of ornament Jonah
had been looking for all his life — or at least the part of his life that
spanned the years since puberty. The phrase “objects in the mirror are
closer than they appear” came to mind, making him smile. I should be
so lucky.

Unfortunately, Jonah’s plan to remain on campus for the holidays and
lose his virginity to a non-Jew, a goy, wasn’t going according to
plan, although he’d gone to great lengths to make it happen.

The worst part had to be when he told his parents that he wouldn’t be
coming home for Hanukkah. None of the excuses he came up with felt right and
he procrastinated for a long time.

Finally, he could wait no longer. Working up the courage, he called his
mother and blurted out the dreaded words, before he lost his nerve.
“I’ll be staying on campus for the holidays.”

Dead silence followed his announcement, followed by a worried,
“Why?”

Jonah had never been good at lying. He struggled to sound believable.
“I have so much to do. The workload in grad school is much heavier and
the holidays are the best time to catch up.”

“Bring your work home.”

Also not good at asserting himself, Jonah hemmed and hawed.
“I’d be way too busy. No time to interact.”

Unfortunately, his mother was way too good at guilt-tripping him.

Her voice wavered, and she sounded on the verge of tears. “We just
want to see you. We don’t ask for much. And we’ve always spent
Hanukkah together. I’m making your favorites, latkes and sweet
kugel.

A knife pierced his heart, but Jonah thought fast and stayed firm.
“One of my friends is stuck on campus, too, and I promised him we
would study together.” Another lie.

“Bring him home.”

“I can’t, Mom, He’s… it’s just
that…”

“He’s a girl, isn’t he? Well, if it doesn’t work
out, you can always change your mind and come home.”

“Sorry, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Jonah hung up before his mom could ask any more questions. Damn, she
sounded like her world had come to an end. If only he wasn’t an only
child. If he had a sibling to pick up the slack, it would make his life a
whole lot easier. Taking a few deep breaths, he calmed himself. There would
be other holidays.

Now, sitting alone at a bar, he wondered if all the grief he’d caused
his mother had been for nothing. Not many students or professors had
remained on campus, so Jonah had ventured off campus to find a hook-up.
Happy Hour at a bar seemed the best option, but Jonah didn’t have an
ounce of gaydar in his body, and gay guys didn’t go around wearing
sexual ID tags. Luckily, he’d found a gay watering hole in the small
college town. The rainbow flag flying out front had been a dead giveaway,
and the name, The Rainbow Room. Could it be any gayer? When he first saw it,
he wanted to take off like a scared rabbit, but he’d been doing that
for far too long.

Jonah had forced himself to open the door and go inside. It was a gay bar,
so what? Nothing remarkable, nothing to be scared of, just a neighborhood
bar, a place where a guy could have a conversation without screaming over
loud dance music. Actually, there was no dance floor, and that was all good
too. Jonah Dillon didn’t dance, especially with other men. The only
thing that differentiated The Rainbow Room from any other corner dive was
the fact that it was devoid of women.

Wooden stools butted up against a foot rail at the bar and the mirrored
wall behind the bar threw back his reflection. A bearded bartender, sleeves
rolled up over hairy forearms, filled orders. Holiday decorations were
minimal. Other than the lights around the mirror, there weren’t any,
and that was okay because he’d been born and raised Jewish, and a man
assimilated a lot of attitudes and beliefs in twenty-one years. Ridding
himself of them would take a lifetime. At least.

Having to stare at a Christmas tree or a Nativity scene while flirting with
a blond goy would have made him feel even guiltier. Ironic, that the thought
of sucking an uncut cock didn’t inspire quite the same guilt. Or maybe
he was just too fucking horny to care anymore. Lost in thought, Jonah
wondered if he was normal. Between waking up with morning wood and
masturbating before bed, it seemed like he was always thinking about
sex.

When he got to college, he’d settled for hurried blowjobs with other
students. It took the edge off, but Jonah wanted more. It was time to let
someone put their dick in his ass so he could lose his anal virginity.
Finding a willing partner who made him feel comfortable was primary. One
thing he was sure of, he wouldn’t be comfortable having sex with
another Jew.

So here he was, trying to fit in with the goyim, to the point of actually
shopping for one of those ugly red and green Christmas sweaters with
prancing deer. Seeing himself in the dressing room mirror shocked the hell
out of him, but he bought it anyway, and ran out of the shop before he could
change his mind. He wore it like a costume, thinking it would make him feel
less inhibited and able to take some risks.

But as Jonah discovered, the sweater didn’t help him blend in. His
appearance in the bar had triggered a few snickers, and after glancing
around at the jeans-and-sweatshirt crowd, he’d regretted his
choice.

His inner voice told him he was trying too hard and he looked like an
asshole. At the time, it’d seemed like a good idea. Now, he just felt
dumb, but he forgave himself for not getting it right and toughed it out.
Fuck it.

Jonah ordered a beer. The bartender set down a mug wet with condensation,
and a bowl of peanuts. Jonah took a few and cracked them out of their
shells. He tried to look like he belonged, but nobody looked like him and
everybody seemed to be with friends. Ignoring the conversations around him,
he glanced at his watch every so often, as if he were waiting for someone.
It made him feel less alone. Pathetic.

What would his mother say if she could see him now? Come home, boychik. You
don’t belong there
. Thank goodness, she was miles away and oblivious.
He’d never told his parents he was gay. Hell, it had taken years to
admit it to himself.

He concentrated on today’s goal — find a guy to have sex with. How
hard could it be? Pretty damn hard, even in a place that was user
friendly.

Jonah took another swallow of his beer. God, he hated this time of the
year. The holidays always made him feel more alone than ever. His back was
to the room, but he could still see the crowd in the mirror — guys of all
shapes and sizes, pairing up like animals ready to board Noah’s Ark,
while he was mooning over a stranger. It was damn depressing.

Finishing his beer, he scanned the mirror for the blond. Yep, still there,
but focused on the two men who framed him like bookends.

Hooking up with the man in the mirror didn’t seem likely. Jonah would
not, could not, make the first move, and for sure he didn’t expect the
hot blond to hit on him. Why would he? Jonah was a man who didn’t
stand out in a crowd, unless it was for all the wrong reasons. After a
lifetime of doing stupid shit, he’d become an expert at sabotaging
himself. Too bad State College didn’t offer a course in How Not to
Embarrass Yourself.

The hot blond was exactly the type of man he could see himself with. He had
the sun-kissed good looks of a surfer dude — blond, blue-eyed, and
cherub-cheeked — a nice contrast to Jonah’s dark brown hair, hazel
eyes, and stubbled jaw. The nerdy guy and the goy. Pitiful. More than the
width of the bar separated them.

But looking couldn’t hurt.

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and
pencil.

Some things never change.

 

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X (Twitter): @GaleStanley

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@changelingpress

 

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