Maestro

By M. Crane Hana

Birthday candles on Valentine cupcakes can become a stale joke over the years, but this time Leo's birthday present from his husband Andrew turns out to be...another guy, dreamy Irish violinist Mel. Their hot, no-strings-attached, three-way hookup suddenly becomes something deeper, worth risking separate careers to heal old wounds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crane Hana Books
• Release date: Jan 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781386807148

M. Crane Hana

M. Crane Hana writes erotic romance and space fantasy. As an artist, she's known for jewelry design, book art sculpture, and fiber arts.

Book preview

One

H appy birthday, Mr . Ellson, Andrew said in a smug singsong as he offered Leo a black Ferragamo briefcase and ice-blue pashmina scarf.

With a happy sigh, Leo leaned close and breathed in the other man’s scent. Andrew was still half-dressed, his bare legs incongruous against his briefs, baggy gray sweater, and white undershirt, his long body sunlit from the loft’s frost-kissed eastern windows.

At least it’s not actually on Valentine’s Day. Leo grinned up at his husband. Want to join the annual office pool of how many birthday wishes I get scribbled on red glitter cards this year? Or candles on heart-shaped cupcakes?

Andrew placed a solemn right hand over his heart. Nope. I leave that to your aunt. You’re getting a proper birthday present and a night out. We’ll deal with Valentine’s tomorrow, like everyone else. Today— Andrew’s merry brown eyes crinkled at the corners from his smile. "—today is special. Take the subway."

Subway? Taxies are faster. Leo let his fingers rest on Andrew’s, over the briefcase handle.

Andrew had a little less dark-brown hair and a fraction less muscle than when they’d met. His gentle, goofy smile still contrasted well with a strong face that smoldered whenever any of his passions—writing, good food, art, Leo himself—shone from within. And his ass was still fantastic. Fans twenty years younger drooled after him as he walked into book signings and press conferences.

No hint, to look at Andrew now, of the kidney infection that almost killed him. The same medicines that had managed the infection had destroyed his sex drive and his love of writing for a year, causing more anxiety. New medicines and therapies helped manage both. His kidneys would never be fully functional, but he still had them.

Leo knew every step forward was a step away from despair. He would do anything to keep Andrew from that self-destructive spiral.

Not this morning.

Leo looked down. Andrew’s newest erection tented his boxers. Through the soft gray cotton, Leo palmed his husband’s cockhead with his free hand. A taxi leaves more time for us. Round three?

We don’t have time for that, sweetheart.

Honey, there’s always time for a good blowjob, Leo said as he dropped the briefcase on the carpet beside them. The scarf followed, draped over the handle. He knelt smoothly in front of Andrew, using gravity and his own weight to slip the boxers over Andrew’s hips.

"It’s your birthday!"

And this is one of the presents I’m giving myself. Leo leaned forward, letting just his lips brush side to side across Andrew’s sensitive crown. That sleek, red-purple cock stiffened more as if begging for Leo’s mouth.

Andrew sucked in an unsteady breath. That’s an ‘oh, God, yes’ if you’re waiting for permission, he said and then groaned, gripping Leo’s shoulders with his long, strong fingers.

I was watching your pulse jump. There’s one big vein on the underside I will always want to tongue, Leo whispered and did just that. He tasted musk, sweat, and the traces of middle-of-the-night sex not quite washed away by a hasty shower. It was magic, it was Andrew, alive and reacting again, responding to lust as he couldn’t in the dark, confusing time before diagnosis.

If Leo opened his mouth a little wider than usual, canted his head left to match the slight curve in Andrew’s cock, and took him deeper than normal? Well, they were rushed and greedy. A fast, simple blowjob should do the trick. Closed eyes hid Leo’s brimming tears of joy. And a little fear, at how close Leo might have come to not having Andrew at all...

Right here, now...his husband’s hips surged against him, cock driving deep into Leo’s throat. Andrew moaned, swaying suddenly against Leo.

Leo relaxed his muscles as much as he could, taking the other man to the back of his throat. Only Andrew’s tiny whimper warned Leo before he emptied warm, thick spend. Leo swallowed, controlling his gag reflex and his infinitesimal fear of choking. He waited through the aftershocks, hollowed his cheeks against that hot cock and then sucked as fiercely as he could.

Andrew bucked again, cursed, and then pulled back from Leo’s suddenly bereft mouth. Andrew’s seeking right hand found Leo’s left one, twining their fingers. I don’t...don’t want to get come all over that pretty gray suit.

Today? I’d wear it into the office and dare anyone to say anything, Leo gloated, levering himself upright against Andrew’s firm grip.

Andrew’s brown eyes darkened more, the pupils dilating at some thought or kink that Leo really, really wanted the time to explore.

More so, when Andrew shuttered his expression with a cagy look and said, Duly noted, my little exhibitionist. Andrew leaned forward to breathe a teasing kiss half an inch over Leo’s lips. He tugged Leo’s silk tie, woven in the same pattern and color as the scarf. However, I still guarantee the subway will be worth it.

How? Leo snuggled into Andrew’s shoulder, savoring the other man’s body heat through the dark-gray linen suit.

You’ll know. Just make sure you wear last year’s birthday presents. Andrew tapped the tie just above Leo’s discreet, simple platinum tie bar.

"Hmm. A mystery. Turn loose, love, I need to brush