Well-known artist Ellis Williams is in a slump and feeling all his fifty-three years. He's lost the joy which used to permeate his painting and despairs of ever regaining it. It doesn't help when he runs into a young man who comes on to him to win a bet, thus destroying more of Ellis's confidence.<br><br>Then, at a party, Ellis meets Martin Lovell, a man his age whose partner died soon after they adopted their son. Will these two middle-aged men learn they should never let go of hope? Or is it too late for men their age to open themselves to the possibility of love and being loved?

Never Let Go of Hope

From there, nature and need took precedence. At first their love-making was exploratory as they learned each other’s bodies. Then it turned heated and ended much too soon, in Ellis’s opinion, although the result was more than satisfactory. When they recovered sufficiently enough to talk, Martin asked with a sly grin, “Ready for that ice cream now?”


Ellis arched an eyebrow. “I hope you mean in a bowl, in the kitchen.”


“You,” Martin replied, tapping Ellis’s nose, “apparently have a wicked mind. Of course it’s what I meant. Although…” He looked thoughtfully at Ellis.


Martin laughed. “That’s not my thing. Too messy. Let’s get rid of these,” he stripped off the condom he was wearing, “clean up, and go get dessert. Then,” he waggled his eyebrows, “we can try for round two?”


Ellis happily agreed. “You know, for two…older men…I think we still have what it takes to do it again.”


Chapter 37