Many moons ago - 2009 and 2011 respectively - I wrote two
short-short stories for the late Torquere's Sip range, and the rights have long
since returned to me. Recently I re-discovered them on my hard drive, and
decided to do something with them. But what?
The answer was to write another short story featuring my two men
that would detail the beginnings of their friends-to-lovers affair. Then I extensively rewrote
the 2009 one, comprehensively tweaked the 2011 story, and combined them under
the title, Love In Three Moves.
The first two stories are set in Canary Wharf, London, so I
wanted to have the cover reflect that. I found the perfect photo on Pixabay -
Canary Wharf at night.
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BLURB
Love in Three Moves -
Three short stories chart a passionate love affair: yet true love so rarely
runs smoothly.
It Takes Two
David Grainger and Ben Tremayne are perfect partners in business
and friendship – and finally they give in to the temptation of taking that
further. Their passionate love has been brewing for a long time, and everything
about their new affair is wonderful - until it isn't.
Breaking Point
Ben hasn’t seen his ex-lover David, for a year. He lives alone
with his remorse for breaking up their affair, overwhelmed by his fear of
commitment rather than his love for David. When, out of the blue, David asks
him for a favour, Ben grudgingly agrees. The simple errand takes a complicated
turn.
Clue Game
Once instrumental in reuniting Ben and David, their friend Barbara
Curtis now needs the couple’s help with her own love-life. Despite being in
Paris on their pre-honeymoon, Ben and David are caught up in the ensuing
puzzle, involving a Paris art gallery, the works of Shakespeare, a devious
crossword, a pair of precious earrings – and satisfaction for Barbara’s heart.
Excerpt
1st Move - It Takes Two
"It's me," David Grainger called as he
opened the front door and walked into the large studio apartment. "Are you
back? Babs has been nagging me again. Did you get the Stravinsky commis - ?"
He stopped in his tracks. Yes, Ben was back from Geneva. The room looked like
Selfridges at the end of a sale day. Cushions, bedcovers, pillows and odd items
of clothing lay scattered over floor and furniture, and the warm air was heavy
with an exotic, expensive perfume. But over all hung the scent of sex.
Who was it this time? David wondered, irritated. Roger,
Melanie, or both? Not that he gave a damn who Ben took to his bed. No, he was
peeved because he'd heard nothing from the man for several days. Phone calls
and texts had all been ignored, and Barbara wasn't the only one pissed off
about it. Important matters hung on the success of Ben's trip to Switzerland. Sometimes
the man was an irresponsible pain in David's arse.
Fastidious as a cat, he picked his way across the
room, nose wrinkling as the assorted aromas assaulted his nostrils, and David
thanked whichever gods looked after dissolute idiots that the used condoms had
ended up in the waste bin and not on the floor.
Ben, the other half of Grainger & Tremayne
Antiques, enjoyed a varied love life. Ten years of friendship, five of which included
a highly successful working partnership, meant they'd shared keys long ago and
had free range of each other's homes in the same Canary Wharf up-market
apartment block. It wouldn't be the first time David had strolled in at the
wrong moment. He was bisexual himself, but his own exploits in the relationship
arena were a lot less adventurous. Or numerous.
"Ben? Are you still alive?"
"No…" The voice came from the other side
of the half open bathroom door. David grinned, despite his exasperation. As
usual, he found it difficult to stay angry at his mercurial but charming
friend.
"Don't tell me they've worn you out after,
what, only two days?"
"And nights." The muted, sleepy grumble
made it easy to imagine Ben's smirk. "And it's she, not they."
Snickering, David strolled to the bathroom and
lounged against the doorframe. Pools slopped all over the tiled floor and Ben
leant forward on the side of the bath, half-kneeling in the foaming water. He'd
obviously been lunging for the towel on the heated rail when David had
announced his arrival. Now he rested his head on his hands and slanted a sultry
blue gaze over his shoulder. Despite his action-packed weekend, Ben still had
the energy to flirt. It was a reflex action, David knew. Ben could no more stop
doing it than he could stop breathing. So, as usual, David paid no attention,
even though the warmth of desire throbbed in his groin. Once again the urge to
take Ben up on his flirtatious invitations heated his blood. But it was only a meaningless
physical response to Ben's overt sensuality. It didn't mean a thing.
~ * ~
Love In Three Moves - 1st edition
2017 Chris Quinton
Containing
It Takes Two - 1st edition 2017
Chris Quinton
Breaking Point - 1st edition 2009:
2nd edition 2017 Chris Quinton
Clue Game - 1st edition 2011: 2nd
edition 2017 Chris Quinton
~ * ~
