Wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan and suffering post traumatic stress as a result, Andy Johnson is given a medical discharge from the British army. Shunning attention, Andy lives a quiet and lonely existence on his pig farm in Yorkshire. His peace is threatened when his friends take him to the city for his birthday. They buy him a kiss from Luke Wales, a twink porn star. Overwhelmed and needing some air, Andy escapes outside. Luke finds him there. They talk and Andy begins to relax. It’s cold and Andy gives Luke his combat jacket. However Roger, Luke’s boyfriend appears and the momentary connection is lost. Weeks later, recently separated from Roger, Luke is back in the north of England. He decides to pay Andy a visit, using the excuse of returning the man’s jacket. A snow storm forces the two men to spend time together, and a tentative friendship begins. Neither man is convinced they are worthy of the other. It takes time, plus the encouragement of friends and Andy’s teenage nephew, Craig, to convince the reluctant couple that what exists on the surface only tells part of the story. Andy’s scars and Luke’s past employment shouldn’t stand in the way of them exploring what each feels for the other.

Surface Tension

“So,Lieutenant,what you gonna do with your two days’leave?Wank off to some muscle mag?”Private Luke Wales turned his thousand-watt smile Andy’s way.


The others in the army transport laughed.They knew Andy and Luke had been neighbours in civilian life,and Luke had followed Andy into the army just as soon as he was old enough.


“The pages will be stuck together already,”Seth Wilson,the driver,piped up,turning momentarily from the barely-there track,high in the mountains of Afghanistan.


Everyone laughed,including Andy,who reached over to cuff Luke’s ear.


“Hope there’s some mail from home.Janice said she’d send us some chocolate biscuits,”Pat Bryant,Andy’s second in command,said.


The platoon was returning to base from a routine patrol and would enjoy a forty-eight-hour break.


“Mum said she’d sent some brownies she’d made,”someone else said from the rear of the vehicle.


Chapter 10