Fighting For Love

By Silas St. James

Sequel to The Language of Love

For their honeymoon, Nathan and Eduardo travel to Puerto Rico, Eduardo’s birth country. Besides lots of romantic time in the Newlywed Suite, Nathan will finally meet Eduardo’s extended family. Nathan is most nervous about meeting Eduardo’s grandmother, who has yet to openly accept Eduardo’s sexuality or mention anything about their wedding. But unbeknownst to Nathan and Eduardo, more serious challenges are on the horizon.

When the couple gets separated in a tropical storm, their new marriage is put to the test. Eduardo is knocked unconscious by a falling tree branch, twisting his ankle and getting a concussion. He wakes up in the care of Alex, an obsessive flame from the past, who wants to rekindle the passion they once shared. Meanwhile, as Nathan anxiously waits by the phone to hear from Eduardo, the hot pool boy who’s been eyeing him finally makes a move.

Separated and without contact, will Nathan and Eduardo be able to resist temptation and remain faithful to their vows? Will they fight for each other, or will their marriage crumble under pressure before the honeymoon even ends?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Aug 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685502010

Book preview

Chapter 1

Are you ready? he asked, holding the door handle.

He looked at me with the most gorgeous brown eyes. Those mocha eyes never failed to make me melt. He wore a rose gold tuxedo with black lapels and a black bow tie that fit snugly around his neck. The neck that I had kissed so many times and knew exactly where to bite to make him squirm. On this important day, with his trimmed beard and fresh haircut, he looked stunning.

The man in front of me was my husband, and that pairing of words—my and husband—was something I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to say.

Eduardo came into my life when I had nearly given up on love. I was in my mid-thirties and painfully single. I had dated of course, but things never quite worked out. No matter how many pep talks I got from my best friend Kat, I still felt resigned to a life unlucky in love.

I met Eduardo in a dreadfully boring pottery class at the local community center. When we realized that we’d both wanted to sign up for the Beginner Spanish class but couldn’t because it had filled up, Eduardo and I ditched pottery. We decided our time would be better spent learning Spanish together, especially since we felt the magnetic pull of attraction.

Thinking back to the moment Eduardo told off the rude pottery instructor, grabbed my hand, and pulled me out of the class with him always makes me chuckle. After storming out of the community center, we stood outside in the brisk fall air and shared our first kiss.

Another important kiss in our relationship was the one we shared watching the sunset over the city after a hike to a great lookout spot. That’s where Eduardo had proposed to me.

However, today’s kiss—the one after we said our vows in front of our friends and family, the one that made our marriage official—was the most important of all.

Nathan? Are you ready? Eduardo asked. He put a gentle hand on my cheek.

It’s all just going so fast, I said. Our friends and friends were waiting for us in the next room for the reception.

That’s why we hired a photographer, Eduardo said.

I almost don’t want this day to end. I remembered how amazing it felt to see the faces of all the people close to me as they stood to applaud Eduardo and me as we walked down the aisle after the ceremony. I had never felt so lucky.

But if today doesn’t end, we won’t get to the fun part, Eduardo said with a smirk.

And what’s the fun part, Mr. Husband?

The wedding night, Eduardo said, flashing the devilish grin that he knew I couldn’t resist.

"Ah, claro que si," I said, kissing him.

He leaned into my ear and whispered what he wanted to do to me. Now that we knew Spanish, it was normal for us to talk dirty to each other in Spanish. Things that sounded cheesy in English sounded spicy and romantic in Spanish.

I giggled at his warm breath in my ear and playfully pushed him off me.

Alright, alright. I’m ready, I said with a smile. Open the door. Let’s show the straights we love so dearly how us gays throw a party.

* * * *

A few days later, we were packing for our honeymoon to Puerto Rico, where Eduardo was born. Though his parents attended the wedding, most of his extended family lived on the island. Puerto Rico would give us a relaxing beach vacation, but also the opportunity for Eduardo to visit his relatives and for me to meet them. I was excited to test out my Spanish with his family, too.

Eduardo was getting his toiletries in order, and I was packing my clothes when I got an email that our wedding photos were available.

Eduardo, get in here! I yelled, grabbing my laptop and crashing onto our bed. I pulled up the link to our photos.

Eduardo sat down next to me and gasped at the first photo.

Nathan, you did well. You married a total hunk! he said jokingly.

Oh, shut up. You sound like a porn director from the 70s.

Some of that vintage stuff is actually pretty hot, he said.

Look how good we look, I said, clicking a candid photo of us laughing in front of a bush of bright pink flowers.

We look so happy, Eduardo said, kissing the top of my head. Aw, look at Kat and Daniel being all cute. He pointed to a picture of my best friend and his twenty-one-year-old son posing together. They really hit it off, huh?

I hope the photographer documented your mom absolutely slaying on the dance floor. She was an animal.

I want to see your old college roommate trying to start a Conga line, he said. I feel like he was smashed before dinner even started. What’s his name again?

Scott, I said. "He still hasn’t given up that weekend warrior mindset. Sobriety tests aren’t the only tests he failed in college. It took