Jacob Baumgardner is struggling to get his nonprofit shelter for gay teens off the ground because the building needs a lot of help before it can pass inspection. Raised by his grandparents for part of his life, Jacob feels that the shelter is his chance to honor them, but someone is making things difficult. An anonymous extortionist seems determined to ruin Jacob’s late grandfather’s good name and keep the shelter from opening.<br><br>Luka Smith is struggling to find his place in the world after a traumatic event in his teen years pushed him to run. When Jacob hires him to help with repairs at the shelter, Luka falls for his new boss hard. Luka wants nothing more than to help Jacob realize his dream.<br><br>As they work together to ensure The Promise of Hope Shelter gets off the ground, their feelings for each other only grow. But will a calculating blackmailer close the shelter before it even has a chance?

The Promise of Hope Shelter

He brushed his teeth, then returned to the bedroom. Luka wasn’t sitting up any longer, so Jacob flipped off the light and slid under the blanket next to him. He rolled onto his side and rested his head on Luka’s shoulder, his arm thrown across his waist.


“It feels much better than I thought it would at this point. Pretty good, really.”


Jacob started tracing figure eights on Luka’s chest. “How good?”


Luka grasped Jacob’s hand. “Good enough.”


Jacob pulled away his hand and tweaked Luka’s already hard nipple.


Luka growled low and pulled Jacob on top of him.


“I don’t want to hurt your leg, Luka.”


He fisted Jacob’s hair, claiming his lips in a demanding kiss. He moaned when Luka swept his tongue into his mouth, tasting him, making Jacob rock hard in seconds.


Hands moved everywhere, touching, feeling, reveling in the skin-on-skin contact and the heat building between them.


Chapter 50