Bad Habit, page 25
Two hundred strangers singing the words Liam had written about him, about them. Scott wanted to charge the stage, to prove those words right now. It was a perfect form of agony. Intimate and cutting. Everything he’d never been able to say, the pieces of him that he thought were locked safely away, had been pulled out and he’d never be able to bury them again.
The song ended.
Scott’s ears filled with echoes, a rush of sound in and out like he kept going underwater. His skin was soaked with sweat.
He stumbled back through the crowd, past Chai asking if he ever planned to take the empty keg back down to the cellar, through the back door into the alley. It was still hot, but a breeze dried his skin.
He dug at the nicotine patch on his arm, fumbled for the gum, and then gave up and just hunched against the wall with his hands on his thighs, remembering how to breathe.
“So you didn’t like it?”
Scott turned as Liam stepped into the alley.
Like? How did like apply to something that perfectly described the most important thing in his life but let everyone else see it?
“It was something that just came out of me. I couldn’t stop it.”
“It was amazing.” And that was the truth. But he didn’t know when he wanted to hear it again. “Just, you know, some warning would have been good.”
Liam’s face had lit up with Scott’s compliment, but now he frowned. “I wanted to make it, like, a present. I thought it would make you happy that I wrote you a song.”
“Happy? Liam, I am happy. I was happy before you wrote me a song. And I’m happy now. I’m happy when you keep playing me the same five notes and asking me what I think. I’m happy when you fall asleep on me even though I’m already so hot I can’t breathe. I’m happy when your stupid fucking sense of humor makes me laugh at 4:00 a.m. no matter what time I have to get up. Don’t you know how happy being with you makes me?” Scott blinked. Fuck. Was he going to cry? Goddamned stupid song. Goddamned stupid withdrawal.
Liam grabbed his face, thumbs damned close to finding a drop that might have leaked out. “I do now.” He kissed him.
Scott took a shuddering breath. “I love you.”
Liam smiled. “That I already knew.”
Author’s Note
THERE WILL be more Baltimore stories. Thank you so much for reading.
More from K.A. Mitchell
Bad in Baltimore: Book One
Some things are sweeter than revenge.
“I need a boyfriend.”
Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kellan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laughingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.
Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Two
Causing trouble has never been more fun.
Eli Wright doesn’t follow anyone’s rules. When he was seventeen, his parents threw him out of the house for being gay. He’s been making his own way for the past five years and he’s not about to change himself for anyone’s expectations. For now, romance can wait. There are plenty of hot guys to keep him entertained until he finds someone special.
Quinn Maloney kept the peace and his closeted boyfriend’s secrets for ten years. One morning he got a hell of a wake-up along with his coffee. Not only did the boyfriend cheat on him, but he’s marrying the girl he knocked up. Inviting Quinn to the baby’s baptism is the last straw. Quinn’s had enough of gritting his teeth to play nice. His former boyfriend is in for a rude awakening, because Quinn’s not going to sit quietly on the sidelines. In fact, he has the perfect scheme, and he just needs to convince the much younger, eyeliner-wearing guy who winks at him in a bar to help him out.
Eli’s deception is a little too good, and soon he has everyone believing they’re madly in love. In fact, he’s almost got Quinn believing it himself….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Three
Saving lives never used to be this complicated.
Gavin Montgomery does what’s expected of him by his wealthy and powerful family—look good in a tuxedo and don’t make waves. When a friend takes a leap off a bridge, Gavin tries to save him, only to fall in with him. At least at the bottom of the river he won’t feel like such a disappointment to his family. But he’s pulled from the water by a man with an iron grip, a sexy mouth, and a chip on his shoulder the size of the national deficit.
Jamie Donnigan likes his life the way it is—though he could have done without losing his father and giving up smoking. But at least he’s managed to avoid his own ball and chain as he’s watched all his friends pair off. When Montgomery fame turns a simple rescue into a media circus, Jamie decides if he’s being punished for his good deed, he might as well treat himself to a hot and sweaty good time. It’s not like the elegant and charming Gavin is going to lure Jamie away from his bachelor lifestyle. Nobody’s that charming. Not even a Montgomery….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Four
Can a future be built from pieces of a broken past?
Jordan Barnett is dead, killed as much by the rejection of his first love at his moment of greatest need as by his ultraconservative parents’ effort to deprogram the gay away.
In his place is Silver, a streetwise survivor who’s spent the last three years becoming untouchable… except to those willing to pay for the privilege. He’s determined not to let betrayal find him again, and that means never forging bonds that can be broken.
No matter how hard he tried, Zebadiah Harris couldn’t outrun his guilt over abandoning his young lover—not even by leaving the country. Now, almost the moment he sets foot back in Baltimore, he discovers Silver on a street corner in a bad part of town. His effort to make amends lands them both in jail, where Silver plans a seductive form of vengeance. But using a heart as a stepping-stone is no way to move past the one man he can’t forgive, let alone forget….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Five
In a lifetime of yes, no is the sexiest word he’s ever heard.
After one too many misunderstandings with the law, wealthy and spoiled David Beauchamp finds himself chained to the city by the GPS and alcohol sensor strapped to his ankle. Awaiting trial, cut off from usual forms of entertainment, he goes looking for a good time—and winds up with his hands full, in more ways than one. The situation only gets more complicated when he’s summoned for a random drug test and comes face-to-face with the dominant man who took him for one hell of a ride the night before.
Probation Officer Tai Fonoti is used to handling other people’s problems, but he’s horrified when one of the extra clients his boss dumps on him is the sweet piece of ass he screwed the night before. It makes getting a urine sample a pretty loaded situation. Tai’s unique brand of discipline has Beach craving more. But while Tai relishes laying down the law in the bedroom, the letter of the law stands between them and kinkily ever after….
Readers love the Bad in Baltimore series by K.A. Mitchell
Bad Company
“…an entertaining, emotional, sometimes funny, oftentimes sensual story with two likable MCs….”
—Love Bytes
Bad Boyfriend
“I really really loved this book. It was sexy, fun, quirky, heartwarming and everything amazing.”
—Gay Book Reviews
Bad Attitude
“I really loved this book, it’s an interesting look of opposites attracting and finding out that they’re not that different after all.”
—Diverse Reader
Bad Influence
“Great job, KAM, you brought Silver to life for me and I’m very happy to have known him.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews
Bad Behavior
“…this was a phenomenal story. I was sucked in right from the start and I couldn’t put it down.”
—The Blogger Girls
K.A. MITCHELL discovered the magic of writing at an early age when she learned that a carefully crayoned note of apology sent to the kitchen in a toy truck would earn her a reprieve from banishment to her room. Her career as a spin-control artist was cut short when her family moved to a two-story house and her trucks would not roll safely down the stairs. Around the same time, she decided that Ken and G.I. Joe made a much cuter couple than Ken and Barbie and was perplexed when invitations to play Barbie dropped off. She never stopped making stuff up, though, and was thrilled to find out that people would pay her to do it. Although the men in her stories usually carry more emotional baggage than even LAX can lose in a year, she guarantees they always find their sexy way to a happy ending.
K.A. loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at ka@kamitchell.com. She is often found talking about her imaginary friends on Twitter @ka_mitchell.
Email: ka@kamitchell.com
Twitter: @ka_mitchell
Website: www.kamitchell.com
Blog: authorkamitchell.wordpress.com
Tumblr: kamitchellplotbunnyfarm.tumblr.com
By K.A. Mitchell
BAD IN BALTIMORE
Bad Company
Bad Boyfriend
Bad Attitude
Bad Influence
Bad Behavior
Bad Habit
READY OR KNOT
Put a Ring on It
Risk Everything on It
Take a Chance on It
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Bad Habit
© 2018 K.A. Mitchell.
Cover Art
© 2018 Kanaxa.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-747-1
Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-078-1
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63533-746-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018906771
Digital published November 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
K.A. Mitchell, Bad Habit
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The song ended.
Scott’s ears filled with echoes, a rush of sound in and out like he kept going underwater. His skin was soaked with sweat.
He stumbled back through the crowd, past Chai asking if he ever planned to take the empty keg back down to the cellar, through the back door into the alley. It was still hot, but a breeze dried his skin.
He dug at the nicotine patch on his arm, fumbled for the gum, and then gave up and just hunched against the wall with his hands on his thighs, remembering how to breathe.
“So you didn’t like it?”
Scott turned as Liam stepped into the alley.
Like? How did like apply to something that perfectly described the most important thing in his life but let everyone else see it?
“It was something that just came out of me. I couldn’t stop it.”
“It was amazing.” And that was the truth. But he didn’t know when he wanted to hear it again. “Just, you know, some warning would have been good.”
Liam’s face had lit up with Scott’s compliment, but now he frowned. “I wanted to make it, like, a present. I thought it would make you happy that I wrote you a song.”
“Happy? Liam, I am happy. I was happy before you wrote me a song. And I’m happy now. I’m happy when you keep playing me the same five notes and asking me what I think. I’m happy when you fall asleep on me even though I’m already so hot I can’t breathe. I’m happy when your stupid fucking sense of humor makes me laugh at 4:00 a.m. no matter what time I have to get up. Don’t you know how happy being with you makes me?” Scott blinked. Fuck. Was he going to cry? Goddamned stupid song. Goddamned stupid withdrawal.
Liam grabbed his face, thumbs damned close to finding a drop that might have leaked out. “I do now.” He kissed him.
Scott took a shuddering breath. “I love you.”
Liam smiled. “That I already knew.”
Author’s Note
THERE WILL be more Baltimore stories. Thank you so much for reading.
More from K.A. Mitchell
Bad in Baltimore: Book One
Some things are sweeter than revenge.
“I need a boyfriend.”
Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kellan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laughingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.
Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Two
Causing trouble has never been more fun.
Eli Wright doesn’t follow anyone’s rules. When he was seventeen, his parents threw him out of the house for being gay. He’s been making his own way for the past five years and he’s not about to change himself for anyone’s expectations. For now, romance can wait. There are plenty of hot guys to keep him entertained until he finds someone special.
Quinn Maloney kept the peace and his closeted boyfriend’s secrets for ten years. One morning he got a hell of a wake-up along with his coffee. Not only did the boyfriend cheat on him, but he’s marrying the girl he knocked up. Inviting Quinn to the baby’s baptism is the last straw. Quinn’s had enough of gritting his teeth to play nice. His former boyfriend is in for a rude awakening, because Quinn’s not going to sit quietly on the sidelines. In fact, he has the perfect scheme, and he just needs to convince the much younger, eyeliner-wearing guy who winks at him in a bar to help him out.
Eli’s deception is a little too good, and soon he has everyone believing they’re madly in love. In fact, he’s almost got Quinn believing it himself….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Three
Saving lives never used to be this complicated.
Gavin Montgomery does what’s expected of him by his wealthy and powerful family—look good in a tuxedo and don’t make waves. When a friend takes a leap off a bridge, Gavin tries to save him, only to fall in with him. At least at the bottom of the river he won’t feel like such a disappointment to his family. But he’s pulled from the water by a man with an iron grip, a sexy mouth, and a chip on his shoulder the size of the national deficit.
Jamie Donnigan likes his life the way it is—though he could have done without losing his father and giving up smoking. But at least he’s managed to avoid his own ball and chain as he’s watched all his friends pair off. When Montgomery fame turns a simple rescue into a media circus, Jamie decides if he’s being punished for his good deed, he might as well treat himself to a hot and sweaty good time. It’s not like the elegant and charming Gavin is going to lure Jamie away from his bachelor lifestyle. Nobody’s that charming. Not even a Montgomery….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Four
Can a future be built from pieces of a broken past?
Jordan Barnett is dead, killed as much by the rejection of his first love at his moment of greatest need as by his ultraconservative parents’ effort to deprogram the gay away.
In his place is Silver, a streetwise survivor who’s spent the last three years becoming untouchable… except to those willing to pay for the privilege. He’s determined not to let betrayal find him again, and that means never forging bonds that can be broken.
No matter how hard he tried, Zebadiah Harris couldn’t outrun his guilt over abandoning his young lover—not even by leaving the country. Now, almost the moment he sets foot back in Baltimore, he discovers Silver on a street corner in a bad part of town. His effort to make amends lands them both in jail, where Silver plans a seductive form of vengeance. But using a heart as a stepping-stone is no way to move past the one man he can’t forgive, let alone forget….
Bad in Baltimore: Book Five
In a lifetime of yes, no is the sexiest word he’s ever heard.
After one too many misunderstandings with the law, wealthy and spoiled David Beauchamp finds himself chained to the city by the GPS and alcohol sensor strapped to his ankle. Awaiting trial, cut off from usual forms of entertainment, he goes looking for a good time—and winds up with his hands full, in more ways than one. The situation only gets more complicated when he’s summoned for a random drug test and comes face-to-face with the dominant man who took him for one hell of a ride the night before.
Probation Officer Tai Fonoti is used to handling other people’s problems, but he’s horrified when one of the extra clients his boss dumps on him is the sweet piece of ass he screwed the night before. It makes getting a urine sample a pretty loaded situation. Tai’s unique brand of discipline has Beach craving more. But while Tai relishes laying down the law in the bedroom, the letter of the law stands between them and kinkily ever after….
Readers love the Bad in Baltimore series by K.A. Mitchell
Bad Company
“…an entertaining, emotional, sometimes funny, oftentimes sensual story with two likable MCs….”
—Love Bytes
Bad Boyfriend
“I really really loved this book. It was sexy, fun, quirky, heartwarming and everything amazing.”
—Gay Book Reviews
Bad Attitude
“I really loved this book, it’s an interesting look of opposites attracting and finding out that they’re not that different after all.”
—Diverse Reader
Bad Influence
“Great job, KAM, you brought Silver to life for me and I’m very happy to have known him.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews
Bad Behavior
“…this was a phenomenal story. I was sucked in right from the start and I couldn’t put it down.”
—The Blogger Girls
K.A. MITCHELL discovered the magic of writing at an early age when she learned that a carefully crayoned note of apology sent to the kitchen in a toy truck would earn her a reprieve from banishment to her room. Her career as a spin-control artist was cut short when her family moved to a two-story house and her trucks would not roll safely down the stairs. Around the same time, she decided that Ken and G.I. Joe made a much cuter couple than Ken and Barbie and was perplexed when invitations to play Barbie dropped off. She never stopped making stuff up, though, and was thrilled to find out that people would pay her to do it. Although the men in her stories usually carry more emotional baggage than even LAX can lose in a year, she guarantees they always find their sexy way to a happy ending.
K.A. loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at ka@kamitchell.com. She is often found talking about her imaginary friends on Twitter @ka_mitchell.
Email: ka@kamitchell.com
Twitter: @ka_mitchell
Website: www.kamitchell.com
Blog: authorkamitchell.wordpress.com
Tumblr: kamitchellplotbunnyfarm.tumblr.com
By K.A. Mitchell
BAD IN BALTIMORE
Bad Company
Bad Boyfriend
Bad Attitude
Bad Influence
Bad Behavior
Bad Habit
READY OR KNOT
Put a Ring on It
Risk Everything on It
Take a Chance on It
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Bad Habit
© 2018 K.A. Mitchell.
Cover Art
© 2018 Kanaxa.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-747-1
Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-078-1
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63533-746-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018906771
Digital published November 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
K.A. Mitchell, Bad Habit
