Schoolteacher Julian Reynolds is disillusioned with the seedier side of gay life in New York City with its self-absorption, vanity, and preoccupation with sex. When his long-time relationship with his high school sweetheart ends, he returns to his hometown and vows to live a simple life free of the extremes of the gay lifestyle and romantic entanglements. With that end in mind, he rents the carriage house next door to a large Tudor-style home.<br><br>Tate Butler, a former student of Julian’s, lives in the big house with his mother. Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan. Fearing rejection from his mother and blaming himself for his father’s death, Tate stays firmly in the closet and punishes himself by refusing to learn how to walk again.<br><br>Can Tate and Julian help heal each other’s pasts and forge a real and lasting future together? Or will the driveway that separates their houses prove too wide a gulf to cross?

The Marine Next Door

There were hoots and laughter from the crowd. Julian shifted uncomfortably.


“As I was saying, you hold the cutout cock in your mouth, but you can use your hands to locate your target!”


This was too much for Julian. Amid the cheers that went up in the room, he decided he’d had enough. He had put up with this party nonsense as long as he could. He’d moved back to Mayfair to get away from crap like this. Since he was planning on pulling himself out of the gay community, what difference did it make whether or not he offended them now, by refusing to be humiliated by playing their stupid games? He didn’t know many of the men in the room anyway. Those he did know—well—he didn’t give a fuck what they thought. The only one he remotely cared about was Craig.


Julian held up his hands. “Guys, guys!” he called out. The group quieted down and turned to him. “I really appreciate all Craig and Stephen have done to give this party, but I’m just not up to playing these games.”


Chapter 7