GENRE: Gay Historical Erotic Romance
LENGTH: 29,247 words
RATING:

Robert Thorne would prefer not to get married. He enjoys his life: a viscount's younger brother, a lighthearted rake, fond of men and women and sensational novels. Unfortunately, tonight's ball is intended to celebrate his engagement. And his intended husband comes with a fortune, enough to repair the Thorne family's failing finances and secure their future. But they've barely spoken two words to each other, and the young man's very shy and very innocent -- someone Robert's brother's chosen for him, not the person Robert wants.

But the person Robert wants is exactly the person he shouldn't: Anthony, his secretary. Anthony's the best and most organized part of Robert's life -- and off-limits, because Anthony's employed by the family to keep an eye on him ...

Anthony Price has two secrets. Everyone knows that his family used to be wealthy, and that Anthony's needed to find employment to support himself and his mother and sister. But no one knows that he has another life -- and growing success as an author of lurid novels, written under a pen name. And no one knows that he's hopelessly in love with Robert Thorne, who is engaged to another man.

Anthony will do anything to ensure Robert's happiness -- but when the engagement ball ends in disaster, secrets are revealed, hearts are exposed, and everything can change ... on one night in London.

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

Let me take care of you, Anthony had said. Another problem. Another mess to clean up. A dilemma to solve. Robert stared at the corner of his brother's desk until his eyes ached. How had everything gone so wrong, so fast?

He knew the answer. It involved himself. It always did.

James disapproved of him, and Anthony disapproved of him, and Mr. Irving no doubt loathed him -- deservedly so -- and the Thorne family would suffer, all because Robert's heart couldn't stay quiet. It broke some more now, aware of its culpability.

The engagement would have provided financial security. Stability. The ability to help some of the extended family, to offer dowries or Seasons in London, perhaps. Futures made brighter for James's children, Robert's niece and nephew. And even the Irvings would've been happier: status in society secured.

He didn't know whether his engagement had been called off, or remained on -- surely not? -- or required renegotiation. He had not officially repudiated Mr. Irving, nor had Dalton formally rejected him, but probably an outright declaration of lack of desire counted as such.

Robert hadn't wanted to hurt anyone. He never wanted that. His mouth had just opened up and spilled emotions all across a ballroom.

He offered weakly, "I don't imagine it'd help if I apologized right now ..."

"Right this instant? I would doubt it. Mr. Irving made his wishes regarding the sight of you quite clear, and your brother will be attempting to control the situation. As he generally does."

The edge to Anthony's tone swung Robert's head up. "I thought you liked James."

"I do like your brother. He's an honorable man, with good intentions."

"The way you said that, just now ..."

Anthony folded arms and grumbled, "You weren't meant to hear that ..."

"But I did hear it. So talk."

"Later," Anthony retorted. "Stop changing the subject. What do you want to do, right now?"