Sensible Commitments

By Susan Laine

A Senses and Sensations Story

After their troubled pasts and their rocky road to “happily ever after,” the time has come for Jordan Waters and Sebastian Sumner to officially declare their love for each other. With the wedding two days before Christmas, the happy couple can’t put off addressing their tenuous relationships with their birth families. Between supportive friends like Jack Waters, Kevin Thompson, Bro Sumner, and Lacey Adair, they've had a taste of what a happy home means, regardless of blood ties. As the wedding approaches, all three couples must make peace with their pasts as they prepare to celebrate friendship, brotherhood, and true love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627983914

Susan Laine

Susan Laine, an award-winning, multipublished author of LGBTQ erotic romance and a Finnish native, was raised by the best mother in the world, who told her daughter time and again that she could be whatever she wanted to be. The spark for serious writing and publishing kindled when Susan discovered the gay erotic romance genre. Her book, Monsters Under the Bed, won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Paranormal Romance. Anthropology is Susan’s formal education, and she could have been happy as an eternal student. But she’s written stories since she was a kid, and her long-term goal is still to become a full-time writer. Susan enjoys hanging out with her sister, two nieces, and friends in movie theaters, libraries, bookstores, and parks. Her favorite pastimes include singing along (badly) to the latest pop songs, watching action flicks, doing the dishes, and sleeping till noon, while a few of her dislikes are sweating, hot and too-bright summer days, tobacco smoke, purposeful prejudice and hate speech. Website: www.susan-laine-author.fi Email: [e-mail] Blog: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5221828.Susan_Laine/blog Facebook: www.facebook.com/Susan-Laine-128697277229180 Twitter: @Laine_Susan

Book preview

tale.

Chapter 1 — Jordan

Two weeks before Christmas, Saturday morning

"YOU WANT to—what?" Jack shouted, evidently more stunned than angry.

I sighed, praying for patience. When caught off guard, my little brother had such a flair for the dramatic. I don’t get why you’re so surprised. I’ve been engaged to Sebastian for ages, and we’ve been together years. Why shouldn’t we—

But, Jordan, why two days before Christmas? Jack whined.

I kept up my mellow attitude as best I could in the face of my little brother’s juvenile behavior. Look, Jack. I know you’ve got a soft spot for the holidays, for quieting that time of the year after all the noise in our lives, but surely our little get-together isn’t going to ruin your whole vacation? When Jack pouted, I went for the jugular. Of course, if you just want to chill out and not attend, that’s fine too. Being a paramedic is tough. No hard feelings.

Jack started growling. That had better be a joke, buddy.

Deciding to try being emotionally provocative, I argued, I spend every day of my life putting you and our makeshift family first, Jack. All I’m asking for in return is one lousy day out of your busy schedule to….

Looking mortally wounded, Jack pouted some more and crossed his arms over his chest. You’re such an ass. Of course I’ll be there.

I smiled, thankful for the reprieve. Good, ’cause I’ve been meaning to ask you to stand by my side as my best man.

Jack’s eyes widened in obvious shock. Then his jaw started to quiver. R-really…? You want me to be…?

I grinned. Abso-fucking-lutely. You’re my only brother. I love you, you knucklehead. Who else would I ask?

I don’t know. Um, Kevin?

He said to ask you first when I told him—

You talked to Kev about your plans before me? Jack’s eyes flashed intensely.

I fear I may have rolled my eyes. It’s not a race. And let’s face it, Jack. Kevin can be way more levelheaded about some things than you.

I knew that was a mistake the moment the words left my mouth.

Jack was positively miffed and definitely hurt. Then I’m sure Kev’s coolness will be of great help to you on your big day with him as your best man.

Jack stormed off, banging the loft’s metal door closed loudly as he went.

Raking a hand through my hair—I’d have to remember to touch up the lilac streaks in the platinum blond before the wedding—I slumped.

I understood Jack’s position and vitriol. Our blended family unit had taken time, effort, and a whole lot of love to form. All of us had issues with our birth families, and being together was tough sometimes. Jack especially felt awfully threatened by other people usurping his position. That made the typically laid-back, easygoing guy a nervous wreck. In this, Jack and I were opposites: when I was calm, Jack wasn’t, and vice versa. When I had been at my lowest point, Jack had saved me from myself. He’d been a rock for me that day.

Of course, when it came to Kevin Thompson, my partner in the Financial Crimes and Fraud unit of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, Jack’s feelings of being left out were ridiculous. Of all the people on the planet, no one would have sacrificed more than Kevin to make Jack happy. They were an item, after all.

I felt a touch on my shoulder, and without looking I knew who it was. Sebastian stared up at me with those baby blues of his, smiling openly in a way that always made my heart and belly flutter with happiness. Being giddy had been a new experience for me, but with Sebastian I felt that way every single day.

How did it go? Sebastian asked, his soft, hollow voice the result of his deafness.

As you might expect. Jack threw a temper tantrum when I let on I’d spoken to Kevin before him about—

You’re such a motormouth, Sebastian teased. I chuckled. That was the last thing I was—except in my busy, busy head, where too many thoughts rambled on every second of every day. I took the needling in stride. Why did you let it slip at all? Sebastian’s wonderment was a portrait of innocence. I was pretty sure half of it was fake.

I pursed my lips in a self-mocking gesture. Damn if I know. I should remember by now how insecure Jack can get about some things. I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings.

He’ll come around. Sebastian burrowed against my chest, and his glossy black hair tickled my face as we embraced. The scent of his spicy new shampoo filled my nostrils. He’s gonna try to argue with Kevin, and Kevin’s going to be all composed and quiet. Once Jack has huffed and puffed enough, Kevin will take him to bed, and they’ll have hot make-up sex.

Eww. I cringed, pulling back so Sebastian could read my lips. "Did you have to give me that visual of my kid brother? Thank you very much."

Sebastian laughed with that curious hiccupy sound I had fallen in love with from day one. Shut up, Grumpy.

I gathered Sebastian close again and kissed the top of his pert nose. At least I’m not Dopey.

Hmm. That depends.

Huh? On what?

On whether or not you have the brains to take me to bed sooner rather than—

Sebastian let out an undignified yelp when I crouched enough to lift him onto my shoulder in a fireman’s carry.

Then I headed toward our bedroom upstairs in the loft with the purposeful stride of a man on a mission.

And all the way there, Sebastian giggled his head off.

I DROPPED Sebastian on the bed. He was still laughing in that hollow voice of his. I grinned. My Sebastian was so beautiful, so positive and upbeat, so full of life. I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.

As Sebastian maneuvered himself to lean against the metal frame of the headboard, I knelt between his legs, unbuttoned his jeans, yanked the zipper down, and slowly pulled the pants off him. Sebastian’s chuckles turned to heavy breathing, and his cheeks, neck, and chest took on the ruddy color of arousal.

My lover was such a mix of opposites. His glossy black hair in contrast to the pure whiteness of his shiny skin, his twinkling baby blue eyes juxtaposed with the his full, red lips, the strength of his muscles belying his slender frame.

He was all mine, and I worshipped him.

No joke.

"Gonna do you slowly, baby," I signed. I had big hands, scarred from my rough life before Sebastian. I lacked the elegant grace he showed when he signed with his long, slim fingers, but he loved me doing it, and I loved him so….

Whimpering, Sebastian nodded. "Whatever you want, love."

I took off his T-shirt and his underwear, leaving him naked on the bedspread. The luster of his skin, the bright light in his eyes, the wet red lips, the shimmying of his hips—all of it beckoned me to devour him and yet idolize him. I knew I wanted to drag this out, to make every moment we spent together last.

I started with his fingers. I brought his right hand up, close to my mouth. I breathed in his scent and brushed over the soft texture with my lips, the contact making my lips tingle. Sebastian shivered. God, I wanted him so bad. I licked around his digits before engulfing them in my mouth, sucking on them softly. Sebastian moaned, and I watched, rapt, as his eyes closed and he licked his lips. The ecstasy of being loved depicted in his expression made me feel ten feet tall.

Sebastian tasted like cookies. He’d been to the cookie jar again. That, mixed with his natural flavor, and I was about to pop in my pants.

Been stealing cookies again, I see, I murmured teasingly against his hand. Frowning, Sebastian opened his eyes, having obviously felt me speak. I repeated what I had said, and watched a new kind of blush creep up his cheeks.

If you didn’t want to lose any, maybe you should lock them away, Sebastian replied with a pout, his full lower lip protruding deliciously. I had to suck on it, so I leaned down and did just that, nipping and licking it too. Sebastian moaned and opened his mouth more so