Read Love Comes in Darkness Online
Authors: Andrew Grey
Readers love
Andrew Grey
Whipped Cream
“…is a story about two wonderful characters who have been through a lot of pain, only to discover that life can still be fun when they find each other.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews
Artistic Appeal
“Mr. Grey’s amazing storytelling ability captured this reader’s attention from the first word and kept me enthralled with the story and the characters within the book until the very last word.”
—Night Owl Reviews
The Best Revenge
“…one of the most romantic and heartwarming stories I’ve read.”
—JeffandWill.com
The Good Fight
“…has created great characters, used vivid descriptions, a fast pace, a well scripted plot and all the emotional turmoil I could handle.”
—Literary Nymphs
A Helping of Love
“Andrew Grey handles the M/M romance with the hand of a pro and has earned his praises with years of good books to show for it.”
—Randy’s Book Bag
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Readers love
Andrew Grey
Burnished by Fire
Andrew Grey never ceases to impress me in that he always presents such likable and strong characters, and sweet, heartfelt storylines.”
—Joyfully Jay
A Foreign Range
“…a story that will leave a smile on your face and introduce two characters who steal your heart.”
—Dawn’s Reading Nook
In Search of a Story
“Reader beware, you will get involved with these two men, you will go through the gambit of emotions, you are going to laugh, you are going to cry, you are going to get mad and you will be a happy reader when you are done.”
—Paranormal Romance Guild
Legal Tender
“I highly recommend any Andrew Grey book, and especially
Legal Tender
.”
—Mrs. Condit & Friends
A Wild Ride
“If you like stubborn, sexy alpha males then this is a must read for you.”
—MM Good Book Reviews
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Novels
by
A
NDREW
G
REY
Accompanied by a Waltz
Dutch Treat
A Wild Ride
Three Fates (anthology)
Work Me Out (anthology)
A
RT
S
ERIES
Legal Artistry • Artistic Appeal • Artistic Pursuits • Legal Tender
B
OTTLED
U
P
S
TORIES
Bottled Up • Uncorked • The Best Revenge • An Unexpected Vintage
C
HILDREN
OF
B
ACCHUS
S
TORIES
Children of Bacchus • Thursday’s Child • Child of Joy
G
OOD
F
IGHT
S
ERIES
The Good Fight • The Fight Within • The Fight for Identity
L
OVE
M
EANS
… S
ERIES
Love Means… No Shame • Love Means… Courage • Love Means… No Boundaries
Love Means… Freedom • Love Means … No Fear
Love Means… Family • Love Means… Renewal • Love Means… No Limits
S
ENSES
S
TORIES
Love Comes Silently • Love Comes in Darkness
S
EVEN
D
AYS
S
TORIES
Seven Days • Unconditional Love
S
TORIES
F
ROM
THE
R
ANGE
A Shared Range • A Troubled Range • An Unsettled Range
A Foreign Range • An Isolated Range• A Volatile Range
T
ASTE
OF
L
OVE
S
TORIES
A Taste of Love • A Serving of Love • A Helping of Love • A Slice of Love
Novellas
by
A
NDREW
G
REY
A Present in Swaddling Clothes
Organic Chemistry
Shared Revelations
Snowbound in Nowhere
Whipped Cream
F
IRE
S
ERIES
Redemption by Fire • Strengthened by Fire • Burnished by Fire • Heat Under Fire
C
HILDREN
OF
B
ACCHUS
S
TORIES
Spring Reassurance • Winter Love
L
OVE
M
EANS
… S
ERIES
Love Means… Healing • Love Means… Renewal
W
ORK
O
UT
S
ERIES
Spot Me • Pump Me Up • Core Training • Crunch Time
Positive Resistance • Personal Training • Cardio Conditioning
Published by
D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
5032 Capital Circle SW
Ste 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
USA
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Love Comes in Darkness
Copyright © 2013 by Andrew Grey
Cover Art by L.C. Chase
http://www.lcchase.com
Cover content is being used for illustrative purposes only
and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Ste 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-62380-951-5
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62380-952-2
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
August 2013
To all the people who work tirelessly to bring companionship and independence to those who cannot see.
“Y
OU
’
RE
going too fast,” Howard Justinian said. He sat with his arms planted on the armrests.
“I’m going sixty in a fifty-five,” Cedric returned sarcastically.
“I didn’t mean that and you know it,” Howard retorted. Riding in strange cars was always very disorienting for him. He had no idea how fast he was going, and the sound of the road varied with tires, pavement, and even the wind. Cedric had shown up at Howard’s with what he said was a new car. But there was none of the scent he equated with a “new” car, and the seats had enough lumps that Howard had to consciously keep from fidgeting. He only hoped he wasn’t riding in some sort of death trap.
“Howie,” Cedric began coaxingly, “it would be so much easier for me to help and take care of you if I was living with you. You need some help, and if I was there, I could make sure everything was the way you like it.”
On the surface the offer sounded good, and a few days ago, Howard probably would have said yes without question. Before what had happened. Cedric lived just down the street in a second-floor apartment. It was summer, and when Howard had opened his front door, he’d felt the sun on his face, so he’d decided to take a short walk. He’d picked up his cane and made sure he had his keys before he closed the door behind him and navigated the two steps down to the walk. Eight steps later, he reached the sidewalk and began his careful journey to Cedric’s. The air had been warm, and people must have had their windows open, because he’d heard snippets of conversation mixed with television programs as he made his way.
He knew where he was by the feel of each section of the sidewalk. To most people it felt the same, but to Howard’s keen senses, small differences in pitch, places where tree roots had raised slabs, even cracks, were like signposts telling him exactly where he was. At the large crack that made one piece of the walk rock slightly, Howard took two more steps, then made the turn as he verified with his cane that he was truly where he thought he should be. He took the twelve steps and climbed the three stairs to the porch in front of the house. He stepped across the porch, careful to avoid the loose floorboard. Howard felt for the doorbell and was about to ring it when faint sounds drifted down the fourteen steps he knew were in front of him.
Howard pulled open the screen door and quietly took a step inside. Yes, it was what he’d thought. Loud moans reached his ears, and then a cry of, “Fuck me,” in what was most definitely Cedric’s voice. Howard stood stock-still, unable to move.
A Harley-Davidson rumbled as it came up the street, the
potato-potato
sound vibrating around him. Howard opened the door and stepped out, then let it close behind him. Then, as dejection cascaded off him, Howard had slowly made his way home.
“Don’t ‘Howie’ me,” Howard said now, as he felt the car slow down a bit. “You’re not moving in with me.”
“But you need help,” Cedric said again, and Howard refrained from grinding his teeth. “There are so many things I can do.” Cedric stroked Howard’s leg, so Howard pulled it away, shifting closer to the door. When they’d first met, Cedric had been solicitous. He’d helped without intruding and had actually made Howard’s life easier and better. Howard had fallen in love with him quickly—way too quickly, it turned out.
“I don’t think so,” Howard said. “Just give it a little more time.” They were on their way to a party being given by his friend Ken, and he just wanted to get there and have a nice evening. He should have canceled on Cedric and called to see if Ken could pick him up.