All In

By Nikki-Jo Mars

How far will you go for love? How much will you sacrifice for family? Boyd Hargrave is the only child of a wealthy family, but he has lived most of his life in isolation. Denied the love he craved from his parents he finds it in unlikely circumstances. Allan Fisher is an orphan who knew the love of parents and a sister. Tragedy struck and he is left to his own devices. Can he open his heart to love again, or will he let hurt deny him the chance. An unlikely pairing and an unexpected gift, would it be enough to heal them and let them go "All In" for love? *Author warning - this book is intended for readers 18 years and older. If you find homo-erotica offensive, please do not purchase.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387398157

Book preview

All In

All In

An M/M Novel

By Nikki-Jo Mars

Blurb

How far will you go for love? How much will you sacrifice for family? Boyd Hargrave is the only child of a wealthy family, but he has lived most of his life in isolation. Denied the love he craved from his parents he finds it in unlikely circumstances. Allan Fisher is an orphan who knew the love of parents and a sister. Tragedy struck and he is left to his own devices. Can he open his heart to love again, or will he let hurt deny him the chance. An unlikely pairing and an unexpected gift, would it be enough to heal them and let them go All In for love? *Author warning - this book is intended for readers 18 years and older. If you find homo-erotica offensive, please do not purchase.

Disclaimer

All In is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are use fictiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This book contains sexually explicit content in a male/male relationship and is not intended for readers below the age of 18 years. This is a previously published title, the author and some edits have been made.

Copyright © Joanne Reid-Haynes

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-387-39815-7

Warning: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the police and is punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Contact the publisher for further information.

Artwork cover by Joanne Reid-Haynes.

Chapter 1

The men walked together to the car. There was much between them left unsaid. To look at them together would be sensory overload - both tall and sculpted, broad around the shoulders, narrow waists, strong arms and legs. But there the similarities ended. One with pale skin and piercing blue almond shaped eyes. His mouth seemed to want to pull into a smile under his straight nose. His blond hair cut almost military short. The other with olive skin and eyes the color of dark chocolate. His mouth seemed pulled into a permanent scowl under a nose that had been broken and improperly fixed. His black hair flopped straight over his forehead and fell to his shoulders. There was also a difference to their bearing. The tall blond god had a presence about him that made you want to pay attention. His olive skinned companion seemed to want to blend into the shadows.

Why do you always do that? the blond one asked, frustration seeping from every pore. He dragged his bag on wheels behind him and opened the back door of the car to put the bag in.

The dark one shrugged his shoulders and tugged his bag from his shoulder to drop it behind the passenger side of the vehicle. He slouched into the car and buckled the belt. They were leaving a large white, plantation styled house. The property felt cold and uninviting. Every visit was a test of the blond god’s patience and a trigger for his dark-haired friend. He always felt like he needed armor when they were summoned and if it were up to him, they would have ignored the summons.

I don’t want to talk about it, his voice was a deep rumble in his chest, but he knew his companion too well. His friend would push until he vented.

You can’t keep it all bottled up you know, the blond god said strapping himself in before starting the car. He saw the stress lines around his dark friend’s mouth and knew he was trying to prevent himself from a blow out. He braced himself when he saw his friend’s hands start to shake.

Boyd, did you take your pills this morning? he asked, but he already knew the answer. The shaking would lead to a seizure and he would have to take his friend to the hospital, again.

Allan, his friend groaned through clenched teeth. Full body spasms began and Boyd strained against the seatbelt.

It’s okay, I’m here, Allan unstrapped himself and pulled Boyd to his chest holding him tight so he wouldn’t hurt himself, stroking his hair saying nonsense words waiting for the worst of it to pass. After a while Boyd settled in Allan’s arms his breathing calmer. Allan knew that wasn’t the end. He hated that his friend had to suffer like this, but unless he took his pills and tried to avoid stress there was nothing to be done and a visit like this was never stress free.

Allan didn’t even bother to alert the residents of the cold house what had happened, he knew what their reaction would be, so he started the car and drove to the hospital. Once a seizure was triggered, without help Boyd could have multiple seizures within the hour.

Boyd Hargrave. 911. 10 minutes. Allan texted to Boyd’s doctor. We’re almost there, okay. Just hang on. He reached out and squeezed Boyd’s leg. He tried to keep his voice even. They’d been through this so many times. Dr. Espenson was Boyd’s specialist. He kept warning Boyd about missing his meds and the possible brain damage from a seizure, but does he listen? Allan fumed in his head as he drove to the hospital.

Boyd Hargrave, he had a seizure 20 minutes ago. Don’t think he took his meds this morning, Allan told the receptionist after he settled Boyd on a chair. I texted Dr. Espenson on the way over, is he on call?

Please fill the forms and I’ll see if I can get Dr. Espenson, the red-head behind the counter said pleasantly. Years of routine assured that once Boyd Hargrave was admitted Dr. Espenson was called from whatever he was doing, where ever he was doing it.

Allan went back to sit next to Boyd. They had done this so many times Allan could fill the form with his eyes closed – date of birth, address, health insurance, the last episode before this – his whole medical history.

Allan recalled the first time this happened how scared he was. They had just met in college and were trying out for the basketball team. After practice, Boyd just collapsed in the locker room and flopped like a fish on the floor. It freaked everyone out including coach. For some reason Allan didn’t understand he went with him to the hospital. Rooting through Boyd’s bag then, he found the medical card with his information. That’s when he first met Dr. Espenson who had been Boyd’s specialist since childhood.

The resignation Boyd had for his situation nearly broke Allan’s heart. He couldn’t understand Boyd’s parent’s lack of concern when he called to let them know what was happening with their son. Boyd’s dad was so detached as if listening to a news report. The curt, Another hospital stay, Dr. Espenson will forward the report. Goodnight, raised Allan’s hackles and he wanted to find them and rail at them. Their son was in hospital and they couldn’t be bothered.

Allan shook off the bad memories as Boyd stirred next to him. He looked up and saw Dr. Espenson hurrying down the corridor to them.

Sally, get Milo down here with a wheelchair. We need to take Mr. Hargrave to the third floor. The doctor’s keen eyes turned to him, Allan, any more since?

Dr. Espenson was in full take-charge professional mode. He was dressed in a button down white Oxford long-sleeved shirt tucked neatly into black slacks. A white doctor’s coat looking fresh from the cleaners went over his outfit with his name proudly displayed on a silver pin anchored in the left breast pocket. There was an outline of a notebook and the cap of a pen sticking out the top of the pocket.

No. He’s been quiet.

I told you, you need to check his supplies.

I know, doc, but we were in a hurry this morning and his folks wanted to see him today.

An eloquent string of curses slid out the doctor’s mouth.

This is going to set him back. Has he said anything?

No, but he walked in with a little support.

As they spoke the orderly appeared with a wheelchair and they all walked to the elevator after settling Boyd into the chair.

I’ll have to give him the usual post episode treatment and monitor him for any additional episodes. If all goes well he should leave tomorrow with an increased dose for four days then back to the regular dose. You should know the drill by know. The doctor kept his tone of professional detachment.

Allan sighed, unfortunately he did.

They rolled into a private room and Dr. Espenson pulled the drapes for privacy as Milo helped Boyd into proper hospital wear since he seemed not to have the energy to do it himself. Drips and anti-seizure medication went into Boyd. The heart monitor was attached. Dr. Espenson was entering data on the patient chart when Boyd started seizing again. The heart monitor went wild, his whole body thrashed against the bed making the metal frame rattle.

Milo the restraints, Dr. Espenson puffed trying to hold down Boyd. It was terrifying to witness. Boyd’s head thrashing from side to side, his body flailing on the bed, heels pressed into the firm mattress leveraging his hips. As soon as it began it stopped. Boyd seemed so out of it. Allan waited for the staff to finish hooking him up to the monitors.

If he has more seizures tonight I’ll have to send him for an EEG and a MRI, Dr. Espenson muttered.

Can I stay? He didn’t know why he asked because he always stayed.

The doctor looked at him and then Boyd, he sighed. "If