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

“What?”Andy panicked.Was he breaking his resolution so soon?


“That’s…oh,that’d be perfect.Wow,yes.Thank you.”Luke painfully eased himself off thebed,Andy aching to help him,but knowing he’d only end up hurting him if he did.“I really do love you.”


“That’s good,because I really love you,too.”


“I know it couldn’t have been easy for you,with you not liking your picture being taken.”


“No,”Andy sighed.“But Tom showed me that only the left side of my face was to the camera.”


Luke kissed Andy’s right cheek.“These scars don’t matter;I love you anyway.”


Kissing Luke back,Andy said,“Just like your past career doesn’t matter to me,”he smiled.“We’re a right pair,aren’t we?”


Luke nodded.“Let’s say we understand each other.”


Andy couldn’t help looking at Luke,still dressed in his western shirt.“You’re fucking sexy in that,you know?”


Luke blushed.“Thanks.It’s one of my favourites.”


“Why are you embarrassed?You must have had loads of people say stuff like that to you.”


Chapter 31