Something in the Way He Needs (Family #1) by Cardeno C.
Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being the man in charge, and leather bars satisfy his need for dominance—so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, so Asher invites Daniel home. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. With all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. But if Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need
Stong Enough (Family #2) by Cardeno C.
When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience. With a prize like brilliant, sweet Spencer on the line, Emilio decides he is strong enough to face the challenge.Spencer is surprised when he’s approached by the gorgeous construction worker he’s admired from the safety of his office window. Acting spontaneously for the first time in his thirty-eight years, Spencer takes Emilio home. When the casual hookup turns into the potential for love, Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he’ll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again
More Than Everything (Family #3) by Cardeno C.
As a teenager, Charlie "Chase" Rhodes meets Scott Boone and falls head over heels in love with the popular, athletic boy next door. Charlie thinks he's living the dream when Scott says he feels the same way. But his dreams are dashed when Scott moves unexpectedly and doesn't return.Years later, Chase meets brash and confident Adan Navarro, who claims all he wants is a round between the sheets. When they're still together after eight months, Chase is convinced Adan returns his love. But then the time comes to be open about their relationship, and Adan walks away instead.
Time heals all wounds, but when Charlie runs into Scott and Adan and realizes the only two men he's ever loved are now in love with each other, his heart breaks all over again. Scott and Adan tell Charlie they want him back, but Charlie doesn't know if he can trust two people who have hurt him so deeply. And even if he can, why would Scott and Adan want Charlie when they already have everything with each other?
STRONG ENOUGH BY CARDENO C. - EXCERPT
“Hey, hold up!”
Spencer heard the voice behind him and was torn between
following the demand or running the remaining few steps to his Accord .
Ignoring the person calling out to him would be socially awkward. Not that he
was a top authority on social graces, but he was pretty sure running away would
be considered rude. So Spencer stopped, took a deep breath, and slowly turned
around, keeping his briefcase against his chest.
Of course, he had no idea what kind of protection some
leather and paper could offer, or even why he needed protection. Other than the
first day he’d seen the handsome man, he hadn’t been caught staring. Plus, they
were in a public parking lot, in broad daylight. He was safe.
“Hey, uh, hi!” the guy shouted as he jogged over. “I’m
Emilio Sanchez.”
Now that he was face-to-face with the big man, or actually
face to neck, Spencer realized he had been wrong in thinking Emilio was as
attractive in person as he had been through the window. No, as it turned out,
up close and personal the man was even more stunning. The first time he had
walked by the construction site and locked eyes with the stranger, Spencer had
turned away within seconds. But this time, the broad chest was right in front
of him, the sweat-damp T-shirt stretched over muscles Spencer wanted
desperately to touch, and as close as they were standing to each other, the
scent of sawdust and musk born of hard work permeated his nose. And that
quickly, Spencer felt his cock filling.
Not since he’d been a teenager had he experienced
spontaneous erections. And in recent years, he had often found them hard to
achieve or maintain even when he was naked in bed with a man. Orgasms, whether
alone or with someone, were so infrequent that Spencer couldn’t remember the
last time he’d had one. He had chalked it up to age, to stress at work, to some
bad relationships in his past, to the fact that he hadn’t ever had a
particularly high sex drive. But none of those factors were stopping him now.
Just a few seconds next to this man and Spencer was already
achingly hard. Then he gulped and looked up into chocolate-brown eyes and
shuddered as his balls drew up and his dick pushed against his zipper. It was
as close to cumming as he’d been since an unusually active night with his ex
over a year prior. Spencer would have been terrified—should have been
terrified—that the man in front of him would notice his erection, but it felt
so good to want again, to experience that pull in his groin, he couldn’t bring
himself to feel anything but relief as he lowered his arm so his briefcase
covered his bulge.
“We’ve been doing work close to your office, so I’ve seen
you around,” Emilio said, making Spencer realize he had been staring, but not
talking. Then the stranger held his hand out and added, “I’ve wanted to meet
you.”
“Oh!” Spencer looked down at the offered palm and then back
up at the handsome face. He switched his case from his right hand to his left,
making sure to keep it in place, shielding his groin. Then he took the man’s
hand and shook it. “I’m Spencer,” he said, proud that his voice shook only a
tad. “Spencer Derdinger.”
“I was right,” Emilio said, sounding quieter, huskier.
Spencer waited for clarification about that statement, but it didn’t come.
Instead Emilio held his gaze and his hand.
“Right about what?” Spencer finally asked, his curiosity
getting the better of him.
“That you sound as great as you look.”
Not knowing what to say or how to respond, Spencer started
blinking rapidly and stammering. “I don’t… I… what?”
“What are you doing for dinner tonight?” Emilio asked before
Spencer had finished processing the earlier comment.
Feeling completely flummoxed, he didn’t know what to say. He
looked at his wristwatch instinctively, then back at the man standing in front
of him and said, “It’s only three thirty.”
The contrast between Emilio’s shiny white teeth and his deep
tan skin and five o’clock shadow made his smile all the more powerful.
“Good point. We shouldn’t wait for dinner. Let’s start the
weekend now.”
“Start the weekend…. Wait, what are we talking about?”
Spencer asked.
“Well, right now we’re talking about hanging out for a
little while and then getting dinner together.” Emilio hadn’t moved his gaze
from Spencer’s face for even a second. He didn’t remember ever having someone
look at him so intently. It made his legs quake. “But I’m hoping I’ll be able
to talk you into stretching things out longer. At least until after breakfast.”
“Breakfast?” Spencer repeated, hating that he couldn’t seem
to put together a sentence. He was a numbers guy. Words weren’t his specialty
and neither were people, so he didn’t expect to be charming or a brilliant
orator, but a complete sentence would have been nice. Of course, before his
mouth could work, his brain would need to catch up to the situation at hand.
“Yes.” Emilio raised his free hand and covered the back of
Spencer’s with it, making him realize they were still holding on from that
handshake. “I make a mean omelet,” he said as he moved his fingers over
Spencer’s skin with barely there touches. “Do you have jalapenos?”
“No.” Spencer shook his head and then wondered why he had
answered the question. The entire conversation made no sense. “But—”
“That’s okay. We can always pick some up later. I’ll come by
now and check your fridge to see what else we’ll need.”
Truly, the entire conversation was confusing to the point
where Spencer wondered if he was dreaming. He half expected a frog to ride by
on a flying bicycle at any moment. He could think of only one possible
explanation that would lend some logic to the situation, but it seemed very
unlikely. No way was this man looking to hook up with him.
At the risk of getting punched, or worse, Spencer steeled
his courage and said, “Uh, Emilio.” He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
“Are you, uh, coming on to me?”
As soon as he said the words, he realized how ridiculous
they sounded. Emilio was all cut muscles, chiseled features, and perfect hair.
Someone who looked like that wouldn’t have given Spencer a second glance ten
years ago, when they would have been closer to the same age. To think it was
happening now, when he was softer, grayer, and more lined, was positively
preposterous.
But then, contrary to any expectation Spencer had for the
response to his question or, for that matter, the entire conversation, Emilio
lifted their joined hands to his mouth and gently kissed Spencer’s palm.
Spencer was pretty sure nobody had done that to him, ever, and it made his
heart flutter.
“Yeah, I am,” Emilio said. “But if you have to ask, I must
not be doing a very good job of it.” Emilio grinned as he spoke and his eyes
sparkled. “I’ll see what I can do to be more clear once we get to your place.”
The corners of Spencer’s lips tilted up in response. How
could he not smile with this man looking at him like that?
“Oh, holy shit!” Emilio gasped as he let go of Spencer and
pressed his own hand against his chest. “You have dimples.” He sighed loudly.
“I think I’m in love.”
Spencer’s jaw dropped and all the color drained from his
face. “What?”
Without bothering to answer his question, Emilio pointed at
Spencer’s Honda and asked, “Is this your car?” Spencer nodded. “I’ll follow you
to your place, okay?” Emilio didn’t wait for an answer, just dipped his face
down, planted a kiss on Spencer’s cheek, and jogged back to his truck.
It was the single most perplexing exchange of Spencer’s
life. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, what he was supposed to do now, or
what was going to happen. With his entire body trembling, he decided to perform
simple, familiar tasks: walk, open his car door, put the key in the ignition,
and pull out of the parking lot.
He drove home on autopilot, his brain still in that parking
lot processing his interaction with the handsome younger man who had looked at
him in a completely unfamiliar way. Then he glanced at his rearview mirror and
saw the big white truck following him. It was terrifying, like having a freight
train barreling straight at him.
No, that was a bad analogy. With a freight train he’d know
what to do—jump out of the way as fast and as far as possible. But this was a
gorgeous man with an unexpectedly gentle touch. So, contrary to any logic he
should have been smart enough to have or self-preservation instincts he was old
enough to have developed, Spencer didn’t drive to the nearest police station or
a friend’s house or a public place. Instead, with his heart slamming against
his ribcage, his breath coming out at an unusually fast clip, and his dick
still hard as steel, he continued to drive straight home.
Review of Strong Enough
Reviewed by Karen Lee
Emilio has seen the blinds move on the second floor again.
He knows that professor is watching again. Even though he owns the construction
company, he has been hanging around the site hoping to talk to the handsome man.
He seems so skittish when he leaves the building and Emilio is hoping to
start something with the attractive
professor. When the chance arises for Emilio to help with a project at his
house, it is the perfect opening to spending more time with Spencer that Emilio
had been hoping for. But can Emilio help Spencer with his hang-ups and doubts?
Is he strong enough to help him overcome the emotional abuse he experienced in
his past so they can have a future?
Great story that takes a different look at emotional abuse.
Really enjoyed it 4.5 stars
Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.
Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."
Tour organized by:
Be sure to click on the tour banner at the top of the post to view the schedule and follow the tour !
No comments:
Post a Comment