BLOG TOUR, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - C*ck Blocked by KC Cassidy

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
C*ck Blocked
By K.C. Kassidy

Blockers, Book One

Grayson Darling is suddenly the new “it” guy. An American actor turned heartthrob, Gray rose to superstar status through his portrayal of a handsome and brave American military captain in an epic WWII love story now in its fourth season on a popular streaming service.

But Gray needs a break from stardom, from the flashing lights of celebrity and his legions of female fans that mob him at every turn. He needs peace and quiet, and a real holiday during the show’s hiatus and summer break.

Instead of returning to his home in Hollywood, Gray books a month stay at a small B&B in rural Ireland, where he hopes to write his first screenplay and free himself from outside distractions. And time away to decide who and what he wants to be to the world.

What he didn’t expect to find was an attraction to the grumpy innkeeper, Niall O’Reardon. A retired football player now home managing the family’s inn with his sister, Niall is completely unfamiliar with his handsome new guest, and only knows how Grayson makes his insides feel strange and fizzy whenever they interact.

Niall only wants to live in peace and solitude, not interested in the fame or notoriety that his past football career gave him. But when word travels that Grayson Darling is staying in Boyle, the wolves descend, bringing in hordes of rag photogs, ruining his peaceful existence.

At which point, Niall must choose between protecting Gray’s reputation or protecting his own heart.

Universal Link

Goodreads

_____________________________________

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

C*ck Blocked is a Hollywood meets small town romance by KC Cassidy. 

When Grayson shows up in the small Irish town, adorable Niall has no idea who he is. It's cute and left me falling for the sheltered farmer. I definitely enjoy the personal obstacles each man is dealing with. 

I'm always a fan of closeted actors and athletes, so this one definitely had me interested. I love the whole needing a break from Hollywood theme and totally appreciate his predicament.   

This is a complete opposites attract tale, as the two are different as can be. It's fun as they fight their attraction to one another for a long time, creating a slow burn aspect. They also have a grumpy/sunshine thing going on which is always enjoyable. 

And, oh man, I adore Niall's family!

The journey for these two isn't easy, and both make mistakes for sure. In the end, they are together, but the relationship stuff happens quickly, without as much build up as I'd prefer. I was let feeling something was missing. 

I love the author's writing style, but I definitely struggle with some of the Irish slang. That just made it harder for me to connect to and follow. This isn't a problem that's unique to this book, I tend to struggle with this anytime an author uses native slang I'm not accustomed to. 

I also struggle with the title, as it doesn't seem to fit for me. It's definitely confusing in the end.

C*ck Blocked is a decent read. I am an avid fan of this author, who also writes as Sierra Hill. But for this one, something fell a little flat for me. It's okay, but I didn't connect with it fully and fall madly in love with it as I was expecting. 

_____________________________________

---

“How the hell do you stand the smell? It’s vile.”

I scoff because I’ve lived with it all my life and is simply part of farm life to me. When I’ve had to visit Dublin or London, I wondered the exact same thing about the city. The smoke, noise and car exhaust were stifling, and I could barely breathe.

“Sorry to exploit your delicate sensibilities, man. Maybe I can grab you the special scented air freshener I keep just for my city guests.” I reply drolly.

A burst of self-deprecating laughter escapes his mouth, and the sound is fucking glorious. Like church bells ringing on Easter Sunday morning. Except instead of filling my soul, it goes straight to my groin.

He raises a hand and claps me on the back, the warmth seeping through my over clothes. I whip my head to stare at him and he offers me a wink.

A sexy, goddamn wink.

Jaysus, what is this man doing to me?

“I like this about you, Niall. You don’t see the need to filter anything. You’re not only funny but good looking, too. A dangerous combination.”

My mouth dries up like a well in a drought and I swallow down sand particles lodging in my throat. Did he just reveal something about himself? Or am I projecting with wishful thinking?

The last thing I need to do is make a mistake with a guest who may or may not be homosexual like me.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release & tour of C*ck Blocked, K.C. is giving away a signed copy of C*ck Blocked (open internationally)!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57243/?

---

K.C. Kassidy is the pen name of award-winning new adult author Sierra Hill. She/her first MM debut under this new name will be released on June 24th.

Connect with K.C.:

Website: http://authorkckassidy.com/
Email subscriber link: https://www.subscribepage.com/authorkckassidy
BookBub: @kckassidyauthor
GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21289108.K_C_Kassidy
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/k.c.kassidyauthor
Instagram: @k.c.kassidyauthor

---

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RELEASE BLITZ, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - C*ck Blocked by KC Cassidy

 

★ ℕ𝕆𝕎 𝔸𝕍𝔸𝕀𝕃𝔸𝔹𝕃𝔼★

𝐂*𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝, a new MM Romance by author Sierra Hill writing as K.C. Kassidy, is LIVE! A grumpy Irish sheep farmer and a handsome Hollywood actor turn up the heat and laughs in this MM version of the movies Leap Year and Notting Hill.

Purchase links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YM77P3B

Wide: https://books2read.com/u/b5vr0w

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096TWBCXH

_____________________________________

GIVEAWAY:

Subscribe to her newsletter to win! https://www.subscribepage.com/authorkckassidy 

$10 Amazon Gift Card, signed paperback, rainbow socks and swag bag

_____________________________________

 

It’s not easy being someone you’re not. 

Grayson Darling is suddenly the new Hollywood “it” guy and needs a break from stardom. As an American actor turned heartthrob, Gray rose to superstar status as a romantic lead on a popular streaming service – but it’s getting harder to hide who he really is. 

To his legions of female fans, he’s a handsome, single and straight man. 

But it’s all a made-for-TV lie. 

Needing a holiday during the show’s summer hiatus, Gray books a stay at a rural Ireland B&B, where he hopes the scenery and solitude will spark creativity to finish his first screenplay. And allow him time to figure out who and what he wants to be to the world. 

Gruff and steady Niall O’Reardon wonders if this is all life has to offer him now that he’s retired from the Gaelic football league and has taken over his family farm in Boyle, Ireland, where hard work is simply a fact of life. A place where dreams get shoveled up along with the sheep muck. He has no illusions that he’ll find the perfect love or start a family someday.

Until his new handsome American B&B guest shows up, messing with his ideas on what love is supposed to be, giving him hope that he can have it all and that perfect isn’t just a fantasy.

But choices must be made, and the truth has consequences. And hearts and reputations are on the line and need to be protected.

_____________________________________

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

C*ck Blocked is a Hollywood meets small town romance by KC Cassidy. 

When Grayson shows up in the small Irish town, adorable Niall has no idea who he is. It's cute and left me falling for the sheltered farmer. I definitely enjoy the personal obstacles each man is dealing with. 

I'm always a fan of closeted actors and athletes, so this one definitely had me interested. I love the whole needing a break from Hollywood theme and totally appreciate his predicament.   

This is a complete opposites attract tale, as the two are different as can be. It's fun as they fight their attraction to one another for a long time, creating a slow burn aspect. They also have a grumpy/sunshine thing going on which is always enjoyable. 

And, oh man, I adore Niall's family!

The journey for these two isn't easy, and both make mistakes for sure. In the end, they are together, but the relationship stuff happens quickly, without as much build up as I'd prefer. I was let feeling something was missing. 

I love the author's writing style, but I definitely struggle with some of the Irish slang. That just made it harder for me to connect to and follow. This isn't a problem that's unique to this book, I tend to struggle with this anytime an author uses native slang I'm not accustomed to. 

I also struggle with the title, as it doesn't seem to fit for me. It's definitely confusing in the end.

C*ck Blocked is a decent read. I am an avid fan of this author, who also writes as Sierra Hill. But for this one, something fell a little flat for me. It's okay, but I didn't connect with it fully and fall madly in love with it as I was expecting. 

_____________________________________

Add it to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57441314-c-ck-blocked

Vote for 𝐂*𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/156229.June_2021_Most_Anticipated_Romance_Releases

_____________________________________

 

Follow KC Kassidy here👇 

Website: http://authorkckassidy.com/ 

Email subscriber link: https://www.subscribepage.com/authorkckassidy 

BookBub: @kckassidyauthor 

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21289108.K_C_Kassidy 

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/k.c.kassidyauthor 

Instagram: @k.c.kassidyauthor 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sKQVxb

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - C*ck Blocked by KC Cassidy

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
C*ck Blocked
By K.C. Kassidy

Blockers, Book One

Grayson Darling is suddenly the new “it” guy. An American actor turned heartthrob, Gray rose to superstar status through his portrayal of a handsome and brave American military captain in an epic WWII love story now in its fourth season on a popular streaming service.

But Gray needs a break from stardom, from the flashing lights of celebrity and his legions of female fans that mob him at every turn. He needs peace and quiet, and a real holiday during the show’s hiatus and summer break.

Instead of returning to his home in Hollywood, Gray books a month stay at a small B&B in rural Ireland, where he hopes to write his first screenplay and free himself from outside distractions. And time away to decide who and what he wants to be to the world.

What he didn’t expect to find was an attraction to the grumpy innkeeper, Niall O’Reardon. A retired football player now home managing the family’s inn with his sister, Niall is completely unfamiliar with his handsome new guest, and only knows how Grayson makes his insides feel strange and fizzy whenever they interact.

Niall only wants to live in peace and solitude, not interested in the fame or notoriety that his past football career gave him. But when word travels that Grayson Darling is staying in Boyle, the wolves descend, bringing in hordes of rag photogs, ruining his peaceful existence.

At which point, Niall must choose between protecting Gray’s reputation or protecting his own heart.

Universal Link

Goodreads

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

C*ck Blocked is a Hollywood meets small town romance by KC Cassidy. 

When Grayson shows up in the small Irish town, adorable Niall has no idea who he is. It's cute and left me falling for the sheltered farmer. I definitely enjoy the personal obstacles each man is dealing with. 

I'm always a fan of closeted actors and athletes, so this one definitely had me interested. I love the whole needing a break from Hollywood theme and totally appreciate his predicament.   

This is a complete opposites attract tale, as the two are different as can be. It's fun as they fight their attraction to one another for a long time, creating a slow burn aspect. They also have a grumpy/sunshine thing going on which is always enjoyable. 

And, oh man, I adore Niall's family!

The journey for these two isn't easy, and both make mistakes for sure. In the end, they are together, but the relationship stuff happens quickly, without as much build up as I'd prefer. I was let feeling something was missing. 

I love the author's writing style, but I definitely struggle with some of the Irish slang. That just made it harder for me to connect to and follow. This isn't a problem that's unique to this book, I tend to struggle with this anytime an author uses native slang I'm not accustomed to. 

I also struggle with the title, as it doesn't seem to fit for me. It's definitely confusing in the end.

C*ck Blocked is a decent read. I am an avid fan of this author, who also writes as Sierra Hill. But for this one, something fell a little flat for me. It's okay, but I didn't connect with it fully and fall madly in love with it as I was expecting. 

---

“How the hell do you stand the smell? It’s vile.”

I scoff because I’ve lived with it all my life and is simply part of farm life to me. When I’ve had to visit Dublin or London, I wondered the exact same thing about the city. The smoke, noise and car exhaust were stifling, and I could barely breathe.

“Sorry to exploit your delicate sensibilities, man. Maybe I can grab you the special scented air freshener I keep just for my city guests.” I reply drolly.

A burst of self-deprecating laughter escapes his mouth, and the sound is fucking glorious. Like church bells ringing on Easter Sunday morning. Except instead of filling my soul, it goes straight to my groin.

He raises a hand and claps me on the back, the warmth seeping through my over clothes. I whip my head to stare at him and he offers me a wink.

A sexy, goddamn wink.

Jaysus, what is this man doing to me?

“I like this about you, Niall. You don’t see the need to filter anything. You’re not only funny but good looking, too. A dangerous combination.”

My mouth dries up like a well in a drought and I swallow down sand particles lodging in my throat. Did he just reveal something about himself? Or am I projecting with wishful thinking?

 The last thing I need to do is make a mistake with a guest who may or may not be homosexual like me.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the exciting release of C*ck Blocked, we are giving 3 lucky winners the chance to win an e-copy of C*ck Blocked!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57228/?

---

K.C. Kassidy is the pen name of award-winning new adult author Sierra Hill. She/her first MM debut under this new name will be released on June 24th.

Connect with K.C.:

Website: http://authorkckassidy.com/

Email subscriber link: https://www.subscribepage.com/authorkckassidy

BookBub: @kckassidyauthor

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21289108.K_C_Kassidy

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/k.c.kassidyauthor

Instagram: @k.c.kassidyauthor

---

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His Horizon (His #1) by Con Riley

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Temperatures rise when there are two cooks in Jude’s kitchen...

Jude’s drowning in guilt when he can’t save his family business single-handed. The last person he expects to throw a lifeline is Rob, a rival chef who once beat him to first place in a cooking contest.

Two chefs working together won’t be easy. Not when Rob is everything Jude isn’t—popular, extroverted, and a one-time hook-up. What’s worse is that Rob wears his heart on his sleeve while Jude’s still in the closet.

Jude’s dilemma doesn’t end there. Rob’s rescue package comes with conditions that mean sharing everything from the profits to Jude’s sleeping quarters. Sleeping with the enemy will either be a disaster or signal a much brighter future, but only if Jude can meet Rob’s final condition and love him in the open.

Featuring opposites who attract, rivals to lovers, and an out-for-you storyline dripping with hurt-comfort feelings, His Horizon is the first in a shared-world series of standalone MM romance novels from Con Riley. 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

His Horizon is a wonderful book by Con Riley. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the storyline.

Rob and Jude are two cooks who were once competitors, yet are now business partners. Upon being reunited, they are also exploring their continued attraction to one another.

Jude's story is depressing from the start. He's back home to help his sister, having given up hope of finding his parents alive. What he finds is a struggling business and an awkward situation with Rob being in town.

Jude and Rob have a past that consists of one kiss. But the attraction is there and their connection is strong. Their slow burn romance is full of tension, need, and want. There's heat, a sprinkling of humor, and plenty of emotion.

The whole story revolves around Jude's parents being lost at sea. It's heartbreaking throughout, including Jude's issues with being closeted and having never come out to his parents. In general, Jude is weighed down by guilt, grief, and a whole lot of frustration. He's living with expectations, fears, and confusion.

The characters fully come to life in this British romance. It's a beautiful story of regrets, secrets, and acceptance. There's a family secret that comes to light, as well as some good twists and turns. In addition, there's a good mystery.

There's a whole lot to love about this tender, heart-felt read. The writing is beautiful, although definitely more descriptive than I normally prefer. The author excels in writing with a poetic feel, yet never overwhelming me. Written in alternating 3rd person pov, the reader is able to fully understand each man and their emotions.

His Horizon is wonderful in the end. I adore this heart warming second chance romance. I am excited for more in this Con Riley series.

RELEASE TOUR, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - The Deeper You Go (Heartfelt Records #1) by Logan Grey

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:

The Deeper You Go

by Logan Grey

Heartbelt Records, Book 1

Travis Cherry’s record label disowned him in almost every way, shape, and form when he was outed in the media.

The thing that sucked?

He still owed them an entire album. But that didn’t meant he’d make it easy on them.

They were the reason he was there, in that nightclub—the gay nightclub— shaking his ass and making a complete fool of himself.

They were also the reason he met Bailey.

And this is their story.​

Amazon US  *  Universal Link

Goodreads

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Logan Grey's The Deeper You Go is great small town romance. It's the first book in the Heartfelt Records series, leaving off on a cliffhanger. That said, it isn't a troublesome cliffhanger, but rather a placeholder between two connected books.  

Travis escapes to a small town to get off the radar of the public. After being outed publicly, refusing to deny his sexuality anymore and remain closeted, his world is upended. His music career is over, and he's unsure of what his future holds.

Then he meets Bailey, who's also struggling with life. He's grieving his father and helping his mother run her inn. And let's just say his ex Max is one heck of a peach. Not.

This is a story of two struggling men. They are complete opposites who both have an interest in music. Their relationship is one with an awkward first meeting and a strong chemistry, as they are clearly well suited for more than just the temporary arrangement they agree upon.

I love Travis. He's a lovable man whose interests in music are well explored. He just wants to play music, without any of the fame or tabloids. His rebellion in the beginning is well done, in a smart manner. He may look like he's off the rails, but he's quite driven in his actions. And I love it. After that though, I felt some of the alcohol issues were overdone, as they weren't really addressed, but rather just present. 

The writing is good, but I did struggle with it in some parts. There are plenty of enjoyable side characters to entertain. And I enjoy the author's comparison between teenage love versus long lasting love, despite it being quickly mentioned. 

The Deeper You Go is a wonderful story of finding oneself again; of living in the moment. This Logan Grey book left me impressed and excited for the next book.

---

THE DEEPER YOU GO: CHAPTER ONE

TRAVIS

A nightmare. That’s what his life had just turned into. One Travis Cherry had lived through time and time again, only for the sun to rise and save him. But this time he wouldn’t be waking up to discover it was all a dream. He stared down at the eleven missed calls on his phone from various people in his life and shook his head, not really seeing what was in front of him. It was like his brain couldn’t quite catch up to what he knew to be true.

He kept waiting for his alarm to go off and shatter the illusion of the dream, but he knew it would never come. This was real, and it was time to face the music.

He swiped over the most recent call, the most urgent one, and swallowed hard as he pressed the speaker button. Hanging his head, he propped his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor as the dial tone shattered the silence of his apartment.

“Travis! It’s about time you answered that damned phone. I assume you’ve seen the news, yes?”

As his mother’s voice rang loud and clear through his apartment, he glanced across the room to the muted television. Without sound, the entertainment newscaster mimed excitement over the most recent breaking scandal. His breaking scandal.

Clearing his throat sharply, he tried to force his voice out. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ve seen it.”

She paused for a long moment, and Travis’s vision tunneled, his surroundings blurring into a fog he couldn’t touch or see but was real all the same.

“Honey… You know it’s okay, right? I mean, I’ve known for the longest time.”

His heart skipped a beat as his breath exploded, the fog fading until the familiar pattern of his hardwood floor was visible once more. “You have?” he croaked out.

Even her scoff sounded southern, and Travis could have cried were he still not so shell shocked by the news. “I’m not blind, nor am I stupid. This isn’t really how I wanted you to tell me, but I’ll take it if the only other option was never to say anything. I mean, really—”

Travis threaded a hand through his hair and shut his eyes. “Mom, I’m sorry.”

“Well, I mean, I guess it’s okay. It’s really not a big deal, you know. But at least I’ll have something to talk about in book club now. Susan will be so pissed. I can’t wait to put her in her place.”

Shaking his head, Travis allowed himself a smile at his mother’s antics. “Mom, please don’t parade around the breaking news of my sexuality. I really—I need to figure things out with the label first. Hold off on all that, please?”

“Fine. But you let me know when you’ve got everything squared away. They’re all always bragging about their grandkids and new marriages and all that bullshit. Now I’ve got something to one up them with.”

Travis swallowed. “Mom, is telling everyone you have a gay son really worth bragging about?”

“Well, considering I haven’t been able to say anything about your love life thus far, Mr. Rock Star, I’d say it’s a major step forward. Maybe Susan will shut her whore mouth about Bethany and her stupid grand baby. It’s not even here yet, and it’s all we talk about all the time.”

Travis finally laughed, he couldn’t help it. “Thanks, Mom,” he said quietly.

“Shut your mouth. You have nothing to thank me for. But if anyone gives you any trouble, you let me know. I’ll open a can of whoop-ass on—”

“Mom! It’s fine. It’ll be fine,” he insisted with a smile, even though he wasn’t sure if he spoke the truth yet. The next phone call would be the deciding factor.

“It better be. If you need to come home for a few days, you know your room is—”

“I know. Thanks again. I’ll uh… I mean, I still need to call the label and make sure everything is okay.”

His stomach knotted at just the thought, but he hoped his mother’s reaction was a good omen.

“Alright, call me if you need to talk. I love you, and nothing is going to change that, you know?”

“I know.” Now, he added silently. “Bye, Mom. Love you too.”

After he ended the call, he squeezed the phone between his fingers and sighed.

All his life, he’d known he couldn’t control how other people reacted when he came out. But part of him had at least held on to the power that he could control who knew.

And that power had been stripped from him with just a few photos.

He glared at the television, the red bar scrolling across the bottom in all caps.

TRAVIS CHERRY EXPOSED.

Photos appeared on the screen, blurry ones that had been blurred even more to conceal the very exposed parts of him… and the other man he’d been with.

So he hadn’t been able to control it after all. Coming out, that was. But he couldn’t help the relief filling him, and once he recognized it for what it was, he could breathe again. No, he hadn’t made the decision to reveal to the world that he was gay, but now that it was out, he felt a thousand pounds lighter.

The phone slipped from his fingers to bounce against the floor. I don’t have to hide.

He didn’t have to hide anymore, he didn’t have to pretend to date women who were really just very close friends. No more lying, no more—

The phone buzzed on the floor, muffled against the carpet and he gulped as his agent’s name lit up the screen.

Leaning down, he lifted the phone from the floor with a shaky grip. Swiping to answer the call, he parted his lips to say hello, but before he could even get a word out, his agent blurted, “Are they real?”

The intensity of her voice surprised him, and he blinked, unsure how to answer.

“Travis, the photos? Are they real?”

Finally, he cleared his throat and answered, “Yes. Yeah, they’re real.”

Over the line, she sucked in a deep breath and released it, and Travis sat up straighter. It didn’t sound like a sigh of relief, and he suddenly feared whatever came next.

“It’s fine. We can get ahead of it. If anyone contacts you, just deny. Deny, deny, deny. The label is already working on discovering who leaked the photos. All we have to do is—”

“Wait,” Travis interrupted, and waved a hand through the air as if she could see him. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

The pause through the line was more telling than anything she could ever say aloud, and Travis’s heart sank. “Travis, Diamond Nights Records does not want to represent a gay artist. For legal reasons they may not say as such, but you know they’re going to make your life a living hell if you don’t fight this.”

Frustration made his chest tighten.

“But…” He slumped down before he just gave up and laid back on the bed, swiping a hand over his face. “What if I don’t want to deny it? That would just be more lying.”

He’d only woken up an hour before, if that, but in that short period of time, the thought of freedom, of not hiding, was too sweet to ignore. Now that it was all out there, he didn’t want to pretend it was a lie.

She didn’t speak for a long time, instead he heard the clicks of keys as she typed something. “They can’t break the contract with me just because of my sexual orientation. That’s discrimination, right? We could sue them for that,” he reasoned.

“Yes, true. However, while they won’t break your contract for this, they’ll just make your life very, very hard until you break the contract. And if you do, you’ll owe them a lot of money, Travis.”

“Can’t we just amicably part ways or something?”

“Your contract says you still owe them an album,” she argued. “That’s a lot of potential income they wouldn’t want to miss out on.”

He sighed, his stomach rolling with nausea at the thought. “They’re the ones wanting you to shove this all under the rug, aren’t they?” Her pause was all the confirmation he needed. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“No, Travis, I’m on your career’s side. And from a business standpoint, working against your label instead of with them is not a good idea.”

Right then, Travis couldn’t give less of a shit about the label or the album he owed them or anything they wanted from him.

“We can get ahead of this, we just have to release a statement directly claiming the photos are fake, and eventually they’ll forget about it.”

As her words sank in, he let his phone fall to the bed beside him as she laid out a step by step plan to shove him back into the closet. To tell more lies, to erase the evidence, and discredit the witnesses. It didn’t matter if anyone believed his lie, so long as he didn’t ruin the image of Diamond Nights.

It was one thing for some stranger to reveal his secret to the world, but it was completely different for his label to prefer the lies over his truth. Prefer a persona he’d created to who he really was.

A feature film played out in his mind of what his life would be like if he went along with their plan, if he followed their rules. He’d live even more of a lie, deny who he was for the sake of his career, and write an album—all for them. Assuming he could even find the inspiration to finish it, he’d then go on tour, and pretend the entire time that he wasn’t a total fraud, and the label would make money off his music. His name. His creation. And Travis would have to live with that while knowing that they didn’t support or accept who he was, not truly. They only valued him for what he could bring them. So long as he upheld their image.

An idea snaked its way into his head, and once he fully envisioned it, he couldn’t let it go.

What if he didn’t uphold their image?

“Annie, you’ve been great. But you’re fired,” he stated.

“Wait, what? Travis—”

He hung up on her and tossed his phone to the side, ignoring it when she immediately called back.

If he couldn’t drop the label, he’d just have to make it so they didn’t want to represent him as an artist anymore.

~~~

Lights pulsed around him, throbbing and flashing in time with his heartbeat. Music thumped through the club just like his pulse beneath his skin. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but whether that was from the bodies crushing against him or the amount of alcohol he’d swallowed, he didn’t know.

All he did know was that finally, for the first time in weeks, he was free.

We can get ahead of it.

A voice trailed through his head, the memory pulling his lips into a frown, but he tried to push it aside. More than anything, he wanted to lose himself in the sexy twink who was grinding against him, take the guy home, and fuck his brains out. He wanted to stay in this club forever—just another face, just another body in the sea of other bodies. All his problems dumped at the door while he remained an anonymous person with needs. With thoughts. With feelings.

You’re a risk.

Shaking his head against the persistent memory, he slid his palms against the chest of the guy in front of him, fingers drifting across his nipples through the mesh shirt he wore. His head of red hair leaned back onto his shoulder to mix with his own dark locks as their hips swayed together to the furious beat. Head to toe, they were plastered against one another, and he’d never reveled in another person quite that way. Had never allowed himself to. Travis leaned down to lick a stripe up his neck, the saltiness of his sweat like candy against his tongue.

Deny, deny, deny.

Groaning, he threw his head back and stared at the strobes above. The lights were blinding, his heart pounded, and his memories were tenacious. Before he got sick, he tugged the twink with him and pushed through the crowd.

It wasn’t until they were in the back hallway, the lights dimmer and consistent, not flashing like those on the dance floor, that his flavor of the night recognized him.

“Hey, don’t I know you?” he asked, tilting his head to the side in a way that made Travis want to devour him.

“Probably. I’m Travis Cherry.”

His eyes sparkled with recognition. “Oh my god, I love your music.”

He shrugged. “Thanks. Sorry to pull you away. I needed a minute.” More like a distraction.

“That’s okay,” he murmured as he moved closer. “I think I prefer having you to myself instead of sharing you with all those bumping bodies.”

“Just my line of thinking,” Travis replied with a smirk, framing his face with his hands, and taking his mouth like he fuckin’ owned it. Took the rest of him too, before he’d snuck away before the break of dawn.

The next morning, images of himself and the twink wrapped in one another were plastered all over the Internet—scandal.

The next weekend he went to another club. Drank his nerves away and swayed to another beat with another guy.

His night out was trending everywhere the next morning.

The following weeks were more of the same. He drank, he partied a lot, and he let loose more than he ever had before. Travis danced on bars shirtless and kissed random men on the street just so the cameras could blind him with their nosy flashes. Hell, he even tipped them off to his whereabouts so he’d always have an audience.

The afternoons were spent ripping his hair out over lyrics that wouldn’t come, melodies that wouldn’t match.

The evenings became his escape from it all. Drinking, smoking, and kissing.

One morning, several weeks, several scandals, and too many nameless men later, his phone rang. It vibrated the glass table in front of him, seeming loud in the silence of the early hour.

His cheeks concaved as he sucked on a cigarette, pulling the smoke into his lungs as he answered the phone. He didn’t say hello when he pressed accept.

“William would like to schedule a meeting with you,” a bright, feminine voice said.

“When?” he questioned on an exhale, the cloud of smoke pouring into the cold air to dissipate before his eyes. Just like his career.

“As soon as possible.”

“I’ll be there by ten.”

The call ended. Travis leaned over in his balcony chair and stubbed his cigarette into the concrete with a bitter grin.

‘Bout damn time.

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About Logan:

Logan resides in Tennessee, convinced her southern twang is part of her charm. With two cats and a dog, her hands are full, and not just of treats like her pets would like to believe. As a full time author, she dedicates all of her time bringing to life different characters and developing new worlds for her readers to lose themselves in. And more often than not, she loses herself in them, which is her favorite place to be: with a cat in her lap, a snack in hand, and voices in her head.

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