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

“Oh,Luke!”Andy held the man gently and felt him shift even closer.


Andy wanted to kiss Luke’s head,but settled for sniffing his white-blond,closely-cropped hair instead.Even though personal grooming couldn’t have been easy for Luke with one hand,the man still smelled as magical as Andy remembered.


Andy felt his crotch tighten.He prayed Luke wouldn’t notice.As he continued to hold the slight form,he told himself that he wasn’t like Luke’s fair-weather friends.He liked him for who he was,not what he did.Sure,the film he’d seen had been arousing,erotic,whatever.The Luke he saw on screen wasn’t the Luke he knew and had befriended.


He knew he was growing more attached to Luke.He’d have to be careful.It was obvious Luke appreciated Andy’s friendship,but that was all it could be.Luke was too young,too beautiful,too fond of nightclubs and all that for the likes of him.Andy knew he could settle for having Luke just as a friend.


Chapter 17