The way Zeb affected me was one of the main reasons I wasn’t going to back out of my semi date I had arranged with Quaid Jackson tomorrow. Quaid was the kind of guy that seemed to like reserved blondes that were more comfortable in front of judges than they were between the sheets, and it didn’t hurt a thing that he was also disgustingly handsome and over-the-top suave. The term lady-killer had been invented for guys like Quaid, and the way I felt around him, pleasant, warm but generally unaffected, was an emotional reaction I was familiar with. Quaid didn’t make me panic or want to strip naked and throw myself at him. Quaid was safe.
He was a criminal defense attorney that had a legendary reputation in Denver. We had gotten to know each other when my firm handled his very messy and very public divorce not too long ago, so I was really hoping all he had in mind was a friendly get-together, because there was no way the man could be ready to jump into anything serious after that kind of train wreck. I was hoping time and attention from the handsome blond attorney would force my hormones to get their shit together and stop screaming Zeb’s name. After tonight, I wasn’t so sure it would work, but for the love of God, I needed to get some sleep and I was desperate.
I straightened out the bed, put the pillows back where they belonged, and hit the lights. I stared up at the ceiling and prayed the rest of the night would be Zeb free. Of course as soon as my eyelids got heavy and sleep began to beckon, I began to wonder what it was like to kiss a mouth that was hidden in a beard—which, of course, led to thoughts about what that facial hair would feel like as it rubbed against other parts of my body. My eyes popped open wide so I groaned and gave up. It was either a cold shower or battery-operated boyfriend time. Neither sounded as pleasurable as the thoughts that were keeping me up in the first place, but a girl had to do what she had to do and sadly I had been taking care of my own needs far too much lately.
Stupid, illogical crush. This was torture and the only solace I had was that in the past, I had always been too cold, too distant from my emotions to ever feel anything like this before. It was my first crush in my entire life and it was a doozy.
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Lando and Dom’s Playlist
I take my book playlists very seriously. So because I felt that there was no way for me to accurately capture the soundtrack that would fit the life of an adorable twentysomething gay man, I asked someone special to put this particular playlist together for me.
Yep, not only did I dedicate this book to Matt, I also asked him to give it a heartbeat with a soundtrack that would bring the boys to life. I then promptly aged myself by telling him I had never heard most of these songs but still trusted that he nailed the playlist for our boys.
So once again, thanks, Matt, for being awesome, sweet and adorable, for loving my books, for loving my boys, and for making sure Lady Gaga is on the list … I do love her and that was my one requirement when I handed this project off to him!;)
Dom’s Playlist “All-American Boy” by Steve Grand “I Won’t Let You Go” by Adam Tyler “Damaged” by TLC
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2011)” by Amy Winehouse “Indestructible” by Robyn
“Fall into Love” by Wrathschild “Not a Bad Thing” by Justin Timberlake “Sure Thing” by Miguel
“Like a Drug” by Adam Tyler
“You and I” by Lady Gaga
“STAY” by Steve Grand Lando’s Playlist “The Beginning” by RuPaul
“One Last Time” by Ariana Grande “Alive” by Krewella
“I Don’t Have to Sleep to Dream” by Cher “Unusual You” by Britney Spears “If I Had You” by Adam Lambert “Peacock” by Katy Perry
“Fuck U Better” by Neon Hitch “Ready for Love (feat. Chloe Angelides)” by Felix Cartal “When Love Takes Over (feat. Kelly Rowland)” by David Guetta “What About Us (feat. Sean Paul)” [The Buzz Junkie Radio Edit] by The Saturdays “Fashion Of His Love” by Lady Gaga “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj
“Insomnia” by Craig David
“We Found Love (feat. Chris Harris)” by Rihanna “We Got The World” by Icona Pop “Do It Again” by Royksopp & Robyn “Beautiful Now (feat. Jon Bellion)” by Zedd “End Of Time” by Beyonce
“Gypsy” by Lady Gaga
Acknowledgments