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

Eagerly Jamie turned the knob, listening as the voices singing


on the tape increased in pitch, higher and higher the further the


knob twisted. Laughing, Jamie clapped his hands and sank back in


his chair, leaning his head against Alex’s shoulder. “They sound


It’d be so easy to lean forward and kiss him now, wouldn’t


it?Alex mused. Just lean a little closer, let his tongue lick


out to taste that smooth upper lip, just dampen it a bit…Jamie sat


there watching him, lips parted in a breathless sigh, eyes wide and


staring at Alex’s lips. As he leaned closer still those eyes


slipped shut in anticipation. Alex felt his heart pound in his


throat as he let his own eyes close, and he could taste


Jamie’s moist breath, he could smell Jamie’s clean scent, and those


soft curls brushed against his ear as Jamie sat up a little,


wanting him, wanting this, wanting it now—


Behind them the door opened. “Alex, I’ve got…”


Chapter 26