If All the Sand Were Pearl

By Pepper Espinoza

As a youngest son, Jag Martin has eagerly walked a life-long path toward the priesthood. Then his once-great family falters under a mountain of debt. Their only hope -- marry Jag off to an appropriately wealthy suitor.

Brace Rivers desperately wants more than just a short fling. However, his economic and political reality makes finding an appropriate male partner next to impossible. When the Martin family offers Jag's hand, it's a dream come true. But he fears the young man is being forced into an unwanted marriage.

Following tradition, Brace offers Jag a pearl ring valuable enough to save his family's fortune. Jag has twenty-four hours to accept the gift and turn his back on Brace, or return the gift and accept Brace's hand. Brace only hopes he will convince Jag that a life together is worth more than all the pearls in the sea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jan 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646562350

Book preview

If All the Sand Were Pearl

By Pepper Espinoza

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2020 Pepper Espinoza

ISBN 9781646562350

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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 Vivien. For everything.

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If All the Sand Were Pearl

By Pepper Espinoza

Chapter 1

The small square box was the first direct communication between Jag Martin and his husband-to-be.

Jag cradled the box in his palm, wondering if he should open it. Nobody had told him what to do should Brace Rivers send him a gift. He supposed nobody had thought to mention it because it had never happened before. All messages, all gifts, all introductions, should take place between the families of the intended. Had his parents seen this tiny box? Did they know who delivered it? It must have arrived while Jag was in the bath, applying the strange concoctions and oils left for him by Drake, the family’s only servant.

The box arrived without a card, but Jag knew the gift came from Rivers. The box had the traditional mark of a wedding present—two purple entwined vines growing towards the ruby sun. The mark had infused his life for the past several tidal cycles, appearing on contracts, gifts, and clothing. His mother had even borrowed a large tapestry of the design to hang in the room where both ceremonies would take place. Was he supposed to smuggle a present to the other man? He looked around his small bedroom—he had nothing to give. His intended husband would know that. His family’s current humble situation was no secret. The two of them wouldn’t be betrothed otherwise. His mother might have mentioned the gift to him that afternoon before she left to oversee the first ceremony, but there was so much to remember that it might have slipped his attention.

He untied the heavy purple ribbon and slowly unwound it from the box. He didn’t recognize the rich material, but it felt like fabric from a fine coat, or a heavy blanket, not a humble ribbon on a small box. He traced the sharp points and the smooth lines of the box before carefully easing the lid back.

Jag was almost afraid to learn what was nestled inside. His stomach had been in knots for the past two months, and now all those knots tightened until he couldn’t even take a breath. He looked around the room, expecting somebody to barge through the door and take the gift from him. But nobody barged in. And nobody was spying on him through the window.

Jag tilted the box up to the light and his face flooded with heat from pleasure and surprise. The yellow glow from the lamp above his head reflected off a perfectly black, perfectly round, perfectly smooth pearl, delicately balanced on a silver band. Pearls were almost mythic. He had never even heard of a pearl on the Timotai Peninsula. There were dozens of stories and legends about the lack of pearls in the rich waters surrounding the Peninsula, including stories of ancient curses and bloody feuds, but every telling ended with lost pearls. He took the ring between his forefinger and thumb, gently lifting it from the box to examine it. Ornate designs wound around the silver band. He recognized the pattern after several seconds of scrutiny. The mark of Rivers’ house. The mark of his new home.

Jag slid it over his right ring finger. It fit perfectly. He stared at the exquisite piece of jewelry, his wrists tingling with excitement. A pearl that size, without any visible imperfections, would be worth a literal fortune. He imagined calling his mother into the room and presenting the ring to her.

Here, Mother, he would say, sell this and pay off your debt and use the remaining money to buy back my freedom. I can stay here.

The first ceremony had already begun, when the parents stood in for the bride—Jag in this case—and took care of all the legal business with the new groom. In the big room with the new tapestry, his parents were making promises, signing contracts and exchanging money. It was too late to call everything off. Even if Brace Rivers had given him the very thing that would render the ceremony unnecessary. Even if he was certain his mother would take the ring and do exactly as he suggested. Even if he was more than a little frightened to learn what his wedding night held for him.

And the wedding would be the easy part. What came after that? Jag

Reviews for If All the Sand Were Pearl

[jshillingford_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really like gay romances where two men are forced together from circumstances beyond their control only to fall in love. This story was exactly that, but was also delivered with beauty and elegance.The setting is never specifically revealed, but has a medieval feel to it which I liked. Jag was destined for the priesthood, but when his parents find themselves in dire financial straights, they must marry him off to save the family. Brace has always wanted a loving spouse, but despite his nobility, few families are willing to offer son when there is no hope of them begetting heirs. So, this opportunity with Jag is likely his only. But, Brace doesn't want the man forced into a marriage unwilling. He sends Jag a rare and enormously valuable pearl ring. Which he could sell and save his family. Brace has only one night to convince Jag that marrying him would be more worthwhile.One feature that made this story so special was that it focuses soley on the couple. Though Jag's parents are mentioned, and a butler has a few lines, the entire story is Jag and Brace and their night together. We learn almost everything about the men directly from them (there are no flashbacks). This was quite refreshing. Their conversation is awkward at first, as the feel their way, but gets playful as they grow comfortable with one another. It was so realistic, yet never loses the element of fantasy. The sex was graphic, but also very sensual. Jag is a virgin, and Brace treats him with tenderness.This novella has the prerequisite happy ending (for which I am profoundly grateful), but managed not to be flatly predictable. The story is part of a multi-author series called "A Calling of Souls." With this as an example of what to expect, I will definitely look for more, and also more of Espinoza's solo efforts. Highly recommended!