Simon... Spellbound

By Heather Mar-Gerrison

Sitting in my booth at the club I rarely frequented, while nursing my glass of cola, just to be doing something rather than being at home on my night off where it was becoming more than unbearable to be, I couldn’t help overhearing a conversation going on in the booth right next to me.
Some guy was having a drink with another guy – but the arsehole of the two of them seemed to be under the impression that the other one wanted to go home with him – and that really wasn’t what it sounded like to me...
“Let go of my arm, dude.” His voice had gone up in volume and he sounded kind of annoyed as opposed to scared, but you know how you get a feeling sometimes?
That was it. I’d heard enough... I shot out of my seat and rounded the corner, “You heard him.” I snarled, “Let go of my friend’s arm.” I’d acted on instinct and well before I’d even had a good look at the aggressor. I wasn’t unduly worried – being built like a rugby player (I played at school but I really didn’t fancy ending up with cauliflower ears or a broken nose and missing teeth and gave it up before I left for university) I was pretty well built and strong enough to take on pretty much anyone – that said, I wasn’t a street-fighter kind of guy and I wouldn’t dream of carrying a knife – but I knew nothing of this guy... At this point I still hadn’t even looked at the guy being manhandled. As much as I knew, he might have been totally able to take care of himself for the notice I’d taken before wading in. It was a terrible weakness of mine...
I decided to check at that moment and I’m not gonna lie to you, my knees about buckled when he looked around at me with a slightly surprised look on his beautiful face. Holy shit, Date Guy was the most beautiful guy I’d ever laid eyes on – and since he was on a date with another guy, I was pretty confident that he must also be gay...
The bully decided it was time for a sharp exit as he looked up, and up again (six feet five – what can I say? I’m huge) and Date Guy smiled up at me, “Thanks.” He said, “I was handling it – but thanks anyway.”
This is number six in the Studs & Steel series and is Simon and Bailey's story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mar-Gerrison
• Release date: May 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463990421

Heather Mar-Gerrison

I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. #happyheatherafters

Book preview

Prologue

Bailey

Oh, my God. I really must have been losing my mind since breaking up with Joss.

Just what the hell was I doing here? It might have been a classy place but this guy was a total creep – even compared to Joss, he was bad... I really had to get out of here. I stood up and picked up my jacket.

He looked up with a puzzled frown as I stood up. Hey, he scowled at me and grabbed my arm as I made to leave, Where do you think you’re going? We only just got here.

I shrugged, I have something better to do. I said truthfully – even though it meant watching Netflix alone in my room. It was still preferable to spending another second in this twat’s company, I’m going home.

He shook his head, Nuh-uh, he said, "You’re not going anywhere. I was told on good authority that you were a sure thing."

A sure thing? How fucking rude? I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, And, uh, who told you that? I asked.

I believe she said she was your sister. He grinned at me but it was really more of a snarl. In that split-second moment, all I felt for Laura was utter hatred. But no... She wasn’t that bad, he had to be exaggerating. She could be a right bitch when she wanted to be, but she wasn’t that bad… not deep down.

Taking a deep, calming breath I decided that I was prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt and to believe that she meant well and was trying to set me up with a new guy to make me feel better following my utterly disastrous relationship with Joss – after all, I was a better person than that… So why was there still that nagging feeling that I couldn’t let go of, that she’d totally set me up with this creep? I made a mental note to give her a piece of my mind when I got back…

Laura? I scoffed, "Are you actually serious?" Would she really be so crass? Actually yes, she totally would but not in a malicious way. Laura was my foster sister and we were definitely not what you could call particularly close. It hadn’t always been that way – when we were little, we got on great guns... It was just lately that we’d become a little more distant with each other – what with both of us looking for boyfriends…

I shook my head as he continued to grin at me in that predatory way. I was no one’s bitch… Well, she was mistaken – and she’s not my sister anyway, dickhead, she’s only my foster sister and we don’t really get along. Okay so it was a lie but I was beginning to get a little desperate, I’m guessing she thought this was some kind of joke, so I’ll apologise on her behalf and I’ll be on my way.

His grip on my arm got tighter and his expression turned ugly. Well, that was just great, wasn’t it? I could see that I was going to have to show him that being gay didn’t mean being a pansy as so many people seemed to labour under the misapprehension of… Let go of my arm, dude. I said in a warning voice.

Hey! Another voice to my left shouted, making us both jump. I turned to find the most gorgeous guy I’d ever had the pleasure of seeing stood in front of me and Dickhead looking heartily annoyed, You heard him, he snarled, Let go of my friend’s arm.

I was about to open my mouth and tell him quite indignantly that I was not apprehending Dickhead at all when Dickhead spoke and I realised that Gorgeous was actually speaking to him.

"Your friend?" Dickhead sneered, looking him up and down as if he were a cockroach or something equally as horrible.

Gorgeous took a step closer, That’s what I just said, isn’t it? He asked sarcastically.

Dickhead dropped my arm and snorted, He was a crap date anyway, he muttered and walked away.

I turned towards Gorgeous, Thanks. I said awkwardly, I was handling it – but thanks for the support all the same.

He just smiled and nodded, Glad to be of help. He said sticking his hand out, My name’s Simon, Simon Porter.

I grinned and took his hand in mine. It was warm and slightly roughened, making me wonder what he did for a living. Bailey. I said, It’s uh, it’s really nice to meet you.

Simon nodded, Likewise. He said looking at me with unguarded interest, Do you really have somewhere you have to be, or would you like to stay for a drink with me? I promise I’m not a creep and I will let you go whenever you’re sick of me.

I grinned. Being hit on by someone that looked like him was rare – and very welcome… A drink sounds pretty good, actually. I agreed.

Chapter 1 – Wading in…

Simon

Sitting in my booth at the club I rarely frequented, while nursing my glass of cola, just to be doing something, rather than being at home on my night off where it was becoming more than unbearable to be, I couldn’t help overhearing a conversation going on in the booth right next to me.

Some guy was having a drink with another guy – but the arsehole of the two of them seemed to be under the impression that the other one wanted to go home with him – and that really wasn’t what it sounded like to me…

Let go of my arm, dude. His voice had gone up in volume and he sounded kind of annoyed as opposed to scared, but you know how you get a feeling sometimes?

That was it. I’d heard enough… I shot out of my seat and rounded the corner, You heard him. I snarled, Let go of my friend’s arm. I’d acted on instinct and well before I’d even had a good look at the aggressor. I wasn’t unduly worried – being built like a rugby player (I played at school but I really didn’t fancy ending up with cauliflower ears or a broken nose and missing teeth and gave it up before I left for university) I was pretty well built and strong enough to take on pretty much anyone – that said, I wasn’t a street-fighter kind of guy and I wouldn’t dream of carrying a knife – but I knew nothing of this guy... At this point I still hadn’t even looked at the guy being manhandled. As much as I knew, he might have been totally able to take care of himself, for all the notice I’d taken before wading in. It was a terrible weakness of mine...

I decided to check at that moment and I’m not gonna lie to you, my knees about buckled when he looked around at me with a slightly surprised look on his beautiful face. Holy fucking shit, Date Guy was the most beautiful guy I’d ever laid eyes on – and since he was on a date with another guy, I was pretty confident that he must also be gay…

The bully decided it was time for a sharp exit as he looked up, and up again (six feet five – what can I say? I’m huge) and Date Guy smiled up at me, Thanks. He said, I was handling it – but thanks anyway.

I smiled back at him, my heart in my mouth. He had dark wavy hair and dark brown eyes that I swear were made up with mascara and a little guy liner – something I’d only used when I was staying over at a friend’s house or when Mum and Dad were away on business. They would totally freak if they saw me wearing anything other than jeans and a tee shirt and make up was definitely not an option at home – it was something they would never accept in a million years.

Date Guy was looking at me with open interest but I had no idea what I was going to do now that I’d charged in and helped. I was utterly crap at the whole chatting up thing. Hell, I was crap at the whole dating thing, truth be known...

My brother had come out when I was only around thirteen but his confession that he was gay had struck a chord with me. It had never really occurred to me that I didn’t really find girls all that attractive like some of my mates did. I’d just thought I might be a bit too much into rugby – but actually it was because I liked the guys that played rugby...

My parents reacted badly to Buzz coming out and that made me feel really uncomfortable about doing the same, so I played it down, telling them I thought I might like guys as well as girls and then, I actually allowed them to try to talk me out of it.

Since they were now convinced that they’d had me cured, I was terrified of anyone ever finding out and enlightening them again.

Still, there was something about this particular guy that I couldn’t help being drawn to. I stuck my hand out – I know, I know – I’m way too formal and old before my time… Glad to be of help, I said, My name is Simon.

His answering smile made my heart beat even faster. He grabbed my offered hand and pumped it, I’m Bailey. He said, It’s really nice to meet you.

Chapter 2 – Knight in shining armour?

Bailey

I got home a couple of hours later – with Simon’s phone number and a promise that he’d call if I didn’t.

Rich, one of my foster dads was still up when I got in. To be fair, we weren’t really their foster kids anymore – we totally just lived with them still, having both turned eighteen a while ago. Hell, I was twenty-one already and Laura was nineteen. We’d just been with them since forever and they wouldn’t hear of us leaving them just because we’d become young adults and they no longer got any funding. I loved them so much. They were my parents as far as I was concerned – and Laura’s too.

He looked up from his laptop, Hey Bailey. He said with a grin, Good night?

I shrugged, I’ve had better, I said, And worse. I added, as I recalled Simon and his incredible body and cute face. Damn, he was everything I’d dreamt of in a boyfriend…

He frowned, Wasn’t this a friend of Laura’s? he asked.

I shrugged, Yeah, well…

He shook his head, frowning at me, What happened? he growled.

He wasn’t a nice guy. I said shortly, Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

Rich’s frown became a scowl, Do you need me to have a word with her?

I shook my head, I dealt with it. He won’t be bothering me again. Thanks to Simon…

Rich raised an eyebrow, a small smile on his face, "So if it