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 Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan.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

“I’ll take that as payment for services rendered,” Finn said with a wink. “Now, if you’d like to leave a tip?” Finn winked again.


Julian laughed. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, he found there was something likeable in the young hunk that stood before him.


“Oh, all right,” he said with a chuckle. He leaned in and kissed Finn again.


“That’s not exactly what I was thinking, but it’ll do,” Finn said with a smile.


“Well, goodbye and thanks again,” Julian said, pulling back, and starting for his car.


Julian turned back to look at him. Finn was standing with legs spread, cupping his package through his shorts.


Julian shook his head and gave a brief laugh. “You’re…you’re…incorrigible.”


“I think horny is more the word you’re looking for, professor,” Finn said, a broad smile on his handsome face.


Chapter 9