Seducing Jordan: Loving Jordan, #1

By Andrea Dalling

A weekend fling to satisfy their fantasies could destroy their friendship.

Princeton-bound Jordan Callahan is sick of crushing on Rick—his straight best friend and former captain of the football team. He can't wait for college, so he can find a man to drive away his pointless infatuation.

Rick Ferguson can't escape his strange obsession. For months, whenever he dates a woman, all he can think about is Jordan. Satisfying his curiosity is the only way to get his tall, muscular friend out of his system. Right?

On a camping trip just weeks before the semester starts, Rick takes Jordan to a one-bedroom cabin with a king-sized bed big enough for two all-stars to share. But Rick doesn't want forever, and Jordan is in love. Giving in to desire could jeopardize their friendship, and the ugliness of the world beyond their cabin could tear them apart.

 

This steamy gay romance novella has a happy ending and no cliffhanger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Artesian Well Publishing
• Release date: Sep 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781942198000

Andrea Dalling

Andrea Dalling lives in the sexy Southeast U.S., where the summers are hot and the romance hotter. She loves to torture her characters but eventually rewards them with a happily-ever-after.  Married to her college sweetheart, she's an ally and an advocate for LGBT rights. When she's not writing, she enjoys gardening at her Raleigh home and scuba diving in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean.  You can follow her on Facebook (andrea.dalling.romance) or on Twitter (@Andrea_Dalling). For news about upcoming releases, sign up at http://eepurl.com/00WxP or visit her website at http://andreadalling.com. Want free books? Sign up for her ARC Club to receive advance reader copies. http://eepurl.com/2c4DH

Book preview

Chapter 1

2008

Jordan Callahan braced against the dashboard, the SUV lurching as Rick Ferguson pulled hard on the steering wheel to navigate around the hairpin curve. Jordan’s heart slammed into his ribcage and beat double.

His frantic breathing steadied as Rick regained control. Slow down, shithead, Jordan gritted out.

Sorry.

Typical Rick, pushing the boundaries until they pushed back. Maybe it hadn’t been a big risk when they were playing on the monkey bars in first grade. These mountain roads were less forgiving.

Rick’s silence and the tightness at the corners of his mouth showed his consternation. Jordan chewed his lip to keep from smiling. He couldn’t stay angry when Rick knew he’d screwed up.

Jordan clenched his fist to hold back the urge to clutch his friend’s hand. The longing washed over him to stroke the tension from Rick’s body, fingers exploring the arcs of solid muscle. He leaned forward, forearms on his thighs to hide the rising bulge in his crotch.

A lump gathered in his throat. Would this be the last weekend he and Rick spent together? College started in two weeks—new places, new people, new priorities. What would happen to their childhood friendship now that they’d grown up?

He sat back and gazed over the rolling Poconos. Green slopes rose above the haze cloaking the valley in the August afternoon. The SUV’s motor chattered, climbing toward the campground. Not like they’d be roughing it—Rick had rented a nice place, he’d said, for this last trip together before they left for campuses in different states.

The truck pulled into the driveway in front of the cabin, grinding gravel under tires. The cedar siding made the A-frame look like part of the landscape, bushy conifers softening its lines.

Jordan hopped out of the SUV. From the ridge, the campground sprawled below them: tennis courts, hiking trails, a lake for kayaking. Plenty of activities to distract him from the decadent things he wanted to do to Rick’s body. Right?

Rick came and stood by him, patting his back. The warm sensation sent shivers through him.

What do you think of the view? Rick asked.

Beautiful.

He wasn’t talking just about the scenery. He pretended not to notice the shine in Rick’s brown eyes, or the way the breeze tousled his wavy dark hair. A smile brought Rick’s face to life. Jordan burned to kiss that mouth, to nibble the cleft of his chin.

Cyn doesn’t mind you going away this weekend? Jordan asked. Cynthia Darlington, the most popular girl in school, had been Rick’s girlfriend for three years.

Cyn and I aren’t a couple anymore. I mean, we’re still sort of dating, but we agreed to see other people.

And that includes me?

Rick’s cheeks flushed crimson. I didn’t mean it like that.

Of course he didn’t. What a fucking stupid thing to say.

Just kidding.

Smiling, Rick punched his arm, and Jordan pushed him away. The awkward moment passed. Jordan would have to control himself better this weekend. If he said out loud the things he felt, he could lose Rick forever.

RICK POPPED THE HATCH so they could get their gear. The tension in his stomach wound into a knot. In a few minutes, Jordan would know what Rick had in mind for the weekend. He couldn’t hide it once they got inside the cabin.

He stole a glance at his friend. Jordan had lost the bulk from weight training during football season, but a summer job at his uncle’s landscaping business had given him a lean, hard physique. His toned body would get him noticed when he arrived on Princeton’s campus in two weeks.

Hot fingers gripped his heart. Jordan hadn’t had many opportunities to date in their semi-rural hometown, since none of their other classmates was out. The thought of strange men cruising him, only interested in a blow job, raised the bile in Rick’s throat.

Jordan leaned inside the back of the truck to pull out his bag, offering a view of hard, round glutes and thick thighs. Rick swallowed and adjusted his jean shorts.

Jordan slid his duffle over his shoulder, the slanting light of the afternoon sun kissing his blond hair. He was tan from working outside. The darkness of his skin made his eyes shine even bluer. No wonder all the girls at school had lamented he was gay.

Rick retrieved his bag and a small cooler, then led the way along the wood-chip path toward the cabin. It was cleaner here in the mountains. Pine spiced the air. The hills of eastern Pennsylvania stretched for miles below them, filling him with a sense of freedom, like standing on top of the world.

But the next moment, an image of Cyn encroached on his mind, and anxiety bit his gut. Agreeing to see other people hadn’t silenced the voice that told him to escape that trap. Why was he staying with her at all?

Maybe his feelings for Cyn were as good as it got. In the three years they’d been together, he’d never been tempted to cheat on her. Other girls didn’t cross his mind. Was that love?

The view of the lake from here is fantastic. Jordan’s voice broke through Rick’s worry. Water shone like silver in the valley below. I see why you chose this cabin instead of our usual one.

Rick nodded. He and Jordan had been to this campground a few times since they’d gotten their licenses. They’d been in scouts together as kids, but Jordan wasn’t welcome after he came out, and Rick had quit in protest. Anger throbbed in his chest. Jordan was an all-star running back headed to Princeton, yet he wasn’t good enough for that stupid organization.

They reached the door, and Rick fumbled for the key. The view wasn’t the reason he’d chosen a different cabin. Jordan would see that soon enough. Still, Rick wasn’t ready to give up the charade. He clung to the last moments of normalcy between them. This place has a bigger kitchen, too. He tried to sound natural, but his fingers trembled as he slid the key into the front door.

Jordan followed him inside and let out a whistle. You’re not kidding.

Rick shut the door, and his eyes scanned the open space. Off to the right, the black granite countertops of the modern kitchen reflected the shine of the overhead light. To the left was a sitting room with an overstuffed sectional and a big-screen TV. Dominating the room was the king-sized bed on the far wall, the white bedspread contrasting with the dark walnut headboard. How would he explain, when Jordan realized the cabin didn’t have another bedroom?

Rick dumped his luggage at the foot of the bed, then took Jordan’s duffle and set it beside his own bag. Apprehension surged through his belly. He wasn’t ready for this conversation. What if he was wrong about Jordan’s feelings for him?

We should get some groceries, he blurted, then, uh, maybe some sandwiches for dinner. He needed to get them out of the cabin.

It’s only four o’clock.

Right, but, you know how long it takes me to pick out the perfect variety of potato chips.

Jordan arched his brows, then shrugged. Okay.

JORDAN LEANED OVER the shopping cart at the Acme, pressing the heel of his hand into his forehead. The muscles around his eyes were tight, forming a dull ache. The disco music playing through the speakers overhead didn’t help.

It wasn’t just the potato chips this time. Rick lingered over every selection...cookies, soda, cereal. They’d been in the store almost an hour, and they had four items in the cart.

Ooh, pancake mix, Rick said. Maybe we should have that instead of cereal.

Jordan’s jaw tensed. I will fucking kill you.

Why? Rick scowled.

It took you fifteen minutes to decide on Frosted Flakes.

Rick set the pancake mix into the cart. He took out the box of cereal and slid it onto a shelf at random. We’ll need eggs and milk, too.

Jordan massaged his temples to stop his head from exploding.

He followed Rick to the back of the store where the milk was. What do you think? Rick asked. Whole, two percent, one percent, skim—

Just pick one.

Gallon, half-gallon, quart—

Jordan grabbed a half-gallon of two percent and dropped it into the cart. We’re done here. He pushed the cart toward the far corner to get the eggs.

Jordy, are you mad at me?

Jordan clenched his fists and glared. Rick’s eyes were large, his mouth frowning. He looked upset. Jordan looked

Reviews for Seducing Jordan

[stacey68-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slow sweet young love. Confusion at its best. Bi, bi-curious, or gay. A weekend with his best friend to find out.

[Caitlyn Dare · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was an ok story but I find it funny the description specifically said it was a HEA and no cliffhanger, which isn't exactly accurate. There was no resolution or future for the relationship.

[malin0johanna · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn´t. It felt very juvenile (yes I know they where only 18) and reading about kids and sex just felt wrong. Had they been a few years older mayby it would have been different. And the ending... I had to go back and check if I missed anything, it ended so abruptly that I didn´t realize it was the end of the book and it just left me thinking "what the..."