On a whim, Alex signs up to volunteer with an outreach program at a local youth shelter. When Father Nate calls him and asks him to work with Jamie as a big brother, Alex envisions a little kid he'll pal around with. What he doesn't expect is Jamie Owens, an 18 year old boy with a bad attitude who's only two years younger than Alex himself.<br><br>Jamie's hot. Very hot, and nervy, and precocious, and damn sexy, to boot. Even if he is eighteen, Alex feels guilty lusting after the kid. Alex sees himself as a mentor to Jamie, someone to look up to, someone to prove being a gay man doesn't mean casual sex in crowded clubs. He tries to keep his distance, both physically and emotionally, but Alex is sending some very mixed signals, and Jamie is getting pretty frustrated. As their friendship grows, Jamie becomes a part of Alex's life in a way neither expects.

Conflict of Interest

“Jamie!” When he grinned, Alex slapped his leg through the


covers. Jamie giggled and squirmed away. “Now you’re being


“I am not,” Jamie replied. “Which side of the bed do you


Alex shrugged. “I never really thought about it much,” he


admitted. “Scoot over.” Jamie moved to the far side of the bed and


Alex laid down on his back beside him. “I guess I sleep on this


And Jamie was mere inches away, his head resting on the other


pillow, so close that Alex thought it wouldn’t be anything at all


to just roll over and press his lips to Jamie’s furrowed brow.


Suddenly Jamie’s eyes were huge, watching him carefully, watching


the emotions play across his face. Alex knew he could see the


thoughts behind his eyes, images of the two of them together,


writhing in passion, naked and sweating and tangled in the sheets.


Every part of his body ached to take Jamie into his arms, to smooth


out the lines along his forehead and to kiss those deep eyes closed


Chapter 21