Wren is a hardworking archaeologist on his first vacation in years. While he’s tempted to look for ancient artifacts, this is Maui and he needs to focus on taking it easy. So it’s off to the beach to relax. There Wren dives into trouble, literally. Luckily, the backward roll and breathing techniques he learned studying Ninjutsu saves his life, because the shore break called Satan’s Washing Machine grinds him up and spits him out, temporarily blinded and badly battered. A karate dojo owner named Steven takes him to a doctor, a pharmacy, and then back to the beach, only to find Wren’s car and all his belongings have been stolen. So Steven invites him home instead. Will their mutual love of martial arts lead to other a deeper relationship? Or will their shared desire for humbleness and respect for others keep them from falling in love?

Beyond Black Belt

If I hadn’t come here, I would have been recuperating on my own. I wondered what I would have done aboutdinner, or if I would have had any at all. But then I wouldn’t have gotten sand and sea water in my eyes to begin with, would I? I realized suddenly I’d done nothing to indicate how grateful I was for all the help. He’d saved my life, my vision, and if I got my things back, then all of that, too.


“If you’re up to it,” Steven said, “There’s a drag show tonight in town. Let’s go to it!”


His eyebrows rose up to his hair, which was a gorgeous, tousled, sun-bleached blond. His eyes were sparking fire, cobalt blue. I thought I sounded like a romance novel, not that I ever read the things.


I thought, then orated, “His bulge pushed his zipper down slowly, all by itself, as if his dick were a live animal trying to get out…”


Chapter 5