Yew

By Emily Carrington

Mike and Aidan have raised a daughter together and are looking to foster a second child. But fear and prejudice are even more dangerous enemies than the memory of Rick Hanlon, who molested Mike when he was a teenager.

When Hanlon is paroled, Mike and Aidan must rely on their allies, or their love will not survive.

Publisher’s Note: Mike and Aidan’s story begins in the White Oak/Black Mahogany Duet (Heartwood 1) and continues in Thorn (Heartwood 3)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Apr 10, 2020

Book preview

Yew (Heartwood 2)

Emily Carrington

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2020 Emily Carrington

BIN: 009310-03015

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

315 N. Centre St.

Martinsburg, WV 25404

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Crystal Esau

Cover Artist: Angela Knight

Adult Sexual Content

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Table of Contents

Yew (Heartwood 2)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Emily Carrington

Yew (Heartwood 2)

Emily Carrington

Mike and Aidan have raised a daughter together and are looking to foster a second child. But fear and prejudice are even more dangerous enemies than the memory of Rick Hanlon, who molested Mike when he was a teenager.

When Hanlon is paroled, Mike and Aidan must rely on their allies, or their love will not survive.

Chapter One

Mike was thrilled. His and Aidan’s first foster child, Candice, was graduating from high school. And she wasn’t their foster child anymore but their adopted daughter. She’d become so about a quarter of the way through her seventeenth year. As he waited for her name to be called, Mike caught his husband’s hand and grinned.

Under him, the auditorium chair squeaked. Marisburg, Pennsylvania was a small town but they drew in students from several even smaller villages -- hence having the resources to build an auditorium and a high school with two floors.

And Candice is going to go far. Mike scanned the stage but didn’t see her. His chest tightened. Had she gotten cold feet at the last moment? He knew that could happen, although it wasn’t Candice’s style.

And now the superintendent was walking toward the podium.

Lowering his voice to the barest whisper, Mike breathed, She’s not on stage.

Aidan chuckled quietly. She will be.

Just that small reassurance calmed Mike. Aidan obviously knew something he didn’t. Wasn’t that always the way? Aidan was much better at surprises than Mike was. On their last anniversary, Mike had tried to sneak a cake into the house… only to have Aidan poke his head out of their shared office and ask, Is that for tonight?

Mike’s grin resurfaced and he relaxed. Wherever Candice was, she’d be along.

Aidan’s smile grew as if he could read Mike’s mind. Breathe, he murmured. She’ll be out in a moment.

There was a sense of impending joy in Aidan’s voice that made Mike relax. Something good was going to happen.

The superintendent walked to the podium. He looked out at all the people and Mike swore the man’s gaze flitted over Aidan. It hadn’t been so long ago -- only a little over a decade -- ha ha -- since that man had given Aidan grief. Now he was about to make a speech.

Mike was tempted not to listen until he heard their daughter’s name.

Connected to the word valedictorian.

Candice Delaney walked on stage, and she was glowing. The speech she made was full of humility and when she mentioned her parents, Mike glanced at Aidan, saw the knowing smile on his face, and understood. Back in March, Candice had been talking about the final tallies for the position she’d now gained but then she’d quit mentioning it and Mike had assumed the worst. Now, he knew that not only was she being honored as the student with the highest grades, but she and Aidan had kept it a secret from him.

And he loved them both for the surprise.

* * *

Mike closed the door to their bedroom and locked it. Candice was out with her friends on their graduation afternoon, but it was habit. And when Aidan turned on some music, a relatively chill heavy metal band, Mike knew his husband was doing the same. He crossed to Aidan and hugged him from behind, laying his cheek against the softness of the suit jacket that covered his muscular shoulders. You knew she was valedictorian.

Aidan was reading his phone, or rather, it was reading to him at a speed so quick most people couldn’t understand it. But then he set his cell on the night table and turned to Mike. Guilty as charged. Are you mad at me? He sounded amused rather than worried.

Mike loved him for that confidence. They’d been married over eight years. Having that kind of trust was the bedrock of their relationship. Nope. How long did you keep it a secret?

Since the end of April, when the final tallies were counted. Aidan turned and pulled Mike even tighter against him. I’m so proud of you.

Me? Why?

You taught her everything she knows about schoolwork coming first.

And you taught her everything about being committed to her work.

Aidan laughed, his white teeth flashing in the light from the window. You’ll never take a compliment without spreading it around, will you?

Probably not, Mike admitted.

Well, that’s okay. It would be boring being married to a perfect man. Aidan kissed him.

Mike stood on his tiptoes so it was easier to plunder Aidan’s mouth and have his claimed in return. He ran his fingers through Aidan’s shoulder length auburn hair and smiled when Aidan took off his sunglasses. His husband’s eyes didn’t see but they were a beautiful cornflower blue, just like all the other Kellys that made up Aidan’s Irish family.

Not that Aidan was a Kelly anymore. He’d taken Mike’s last name, claiming that one, there were plenty of male Kellys to keep the family name going, and two, that it only seemed fair since Mike took him in bed. Mike had never quite gotten to the bottom of the truth about why Aidan was so insistent about taking his last name, but every time he thought about it, about Aidan being called Mr. Delaney at his job or as a member of the Town Council, he glowed. You’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, he told his husband as Aidan drew back.

Something, a flickering shadow maybe, crossed Aidan’s face. For a moment, he looked thoroughly distracted. Then he said, Ditto.

Mike laughed, stepped back, and punched Aidan’s arm lightly.

Hey, I’m allowed to say that.

Considering you can’t see anyone…

Okay, fine, Mr. Technicality. Would it make you feel better if I said ‘I have no idea what you look like, you could be one ugly motherfu-’

Mike laughed. Okay, so maybe I was being Mr. Technicality.

Aidan drew him close and kissed both of his cheeks, then his forehead, and finally his lips. You feel wonderful under my mouth.

Mike groaned and cupped Aidan’s balls through his dress pants. I love you.

Aidan smirked. I know. Then he caught Mike’s hand when Mike would have punched him again.

Mike went very still. When you do spooky things like that, it’s easy to remember you’re a third-degree black belt.

It’s easy with you because I know you well. Anticipating other people isn’t half as natural. Aidan kissed the hand he held. Now, are we going to keep talking or was that ball-grab a promise of something more?

They stripped quickly, but Mike took the time to admire Aidan’s muscles as his husband took off his suit jacket, shirt, and undershirt. Aidan was freckled all over, though less so where the sun rarely touched, and he had the world’s most glorious six pack. His pecs were… drool-worthy. And his arms were bulky with the muscles he used to keep in shape. He wasn’t an instructor, but he sparred with a couple of MMA groups in the area. Karate was his strict pursuit and he didn’t mix it up with any other martial arts, but he often wiped the floor with his opponents.

Aidan dropped his trousers and Mike groaned in appreciation. His husband’s considerable package was beautiful to behold, even if it was hidden by