The Wedding

By T.J. Blackley

Roger Millbourne has a wonderful life -- a doting adoptive father, all the novels he can read, and two rakish best friends, Duke Vincent Pennsbury and Roger’s cousin-by-adoption, Marquess Edward Chesburn. Roger has more-than-friendly feelings for Edward, it’s true, but up until now he has managed to keep them to himself and be satisfied with the friendship they have.

Vincent, however, spurred by troubles in his own recent marriage, has other ideas, and confronts Roger with the possibility that Edward might reciprocate his feelings. Suddenly Roger can no longer live in contentment, with his feelings hidden.

Does Edward love him back? Can Roger be brave enough to find out? And if he does, will Edward be brave enough to accept his love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Feb 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685503895

Book preview

The Wedding

By T.J. Blackley

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2023 T.J. Blackley

ISBN 9781685503895

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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To the Check-adees! Thanks for everything!

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The Wedding

By T.J. Blackley

Roger

Roger was left reeling, as he watched Vincent, one of his dearest friends, walk away from him at the racetrack, the sound of his words still echoing in Roger’s ears.

If you want Edward, you will have to ask for him.

It was impossible, Roger decided, as he forced himself to turn and make his way back to his spot in the stands—his and Edward’s spot. Edward could not possibly love him. Did Vincent think Roger had not looked? Had not obsessively cataloged every expression Edward had ever had, when looking upon Roger’s face, for signs of returned affection? Even the merest scrap would have satisfied Roger, but he had never seen it. They had been close ever since Roger’s father, Edward’s uncle, had adopted Roger at ten years old, after all, and Roger had realized his feelings only a handful of years later; he had had plenty of time to make observations.

Roger had all but convinced himself that Vincent, though clearly it was kindly meant, was utterly mistaken, by the time he made it back to his seat. It was nonsense; Vincent, newly married to his husband, Eiji, was seeing love everywhere, even in places where it did not exist.

But then he caught sight of Edward through the crowd, and Edward caught sight of him, his beautiful face lighting up in that way that took Roger’s breath away. He looked as though he couldn’t be happier to see anyone than he was to see Roger, and some traitorous part of Roger’s heart said, Maybe.

But he had always looked at Roger that way, from the moment they had met as children, when Roger’s father had taken him in, even before the adoption was finalized. Surely Edward could not have loved him all that time. It was only friendship. Edward loved his friends; he looked at Vincent the same way.

Didn’t he?

Roger picked his way through the throng, pressed against the railing, until Edward could catch him by the elbow and draw him to his seat. You’ve come back just in time, Edward said brightly, leaning in close to be heard over the din; close enough that his breath gusted over Roger’s cheek. The race is about to begin.

He let go of Roger, leaving a burning brand around Roger’s elbow where his hand had been, and they sat down again. Their knees knocked together, and Edward repeated the gesture purposefully, smiling at Roger.

Edward, Roger knew, had a horse in this next race, his beloved Sharp Spear. Roger mustered up every ounce of innocence that he had ever been assumed to have possessed, and said, Do you know, I can’t quite remember which beast I’ve bet on.

Edward saw through him, of course, as he always did, and just roared with laughter, his cheeks dimpling as his teeth