When a night out turns into a matchmaking scheme, they thought communication would be their biggest challenge to their happily ever after....
Signs of Desireby Tempeste O’RileyDesires Entwined, #4M/M Erotic Contemporary Romance Publisher: Dreamspinner PressCover Artist: Reese DanteRelease Date: November 30, 2014 (ebook/print)Length: Novel / 200 pagesPreOrder:
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Simon Tyler knows his job as a gay romance author makes his lack of faith in love more than a little ironic, but he’s tired of being used for his wallet. When a night out turns into a matchmaking scheme orchestrated by his best friends—though he’s not the target—Simon’s not thrilled, but since he’s sworn off happily-ever-after anyway, he goes along with it… until he meets the object of their efforts, Adrian, and finds perhaps he hasn’t given up on love after all.
Professor Adrian Keys has tried to date hearing men before, but being deaf himself, he’s never had any success at making a connection. After his friends con him into going out and Adrian realizes it’s all an elaborate plan to set him up, he braces for yet another failure, only to discover there is a spark—except it’s not with the man his friends had in mind, but with Simon Tyler instead.
Not all their friends have found a way past their romantic failures, but Simon and Adrian might be on the path to happily-ever-after.
They all debated what to
eat and chatted for a little, Adrian mostly staying quiet and watching the
others. He noticed one of the other men seemed just as out of it as he was, the
one Chase had called Grayson. He was handsome, tall, and powerful like Rhys,
but he had long black hair, deeply tanned skin, and light brown eyes that were
almost amber. He was a little thinner than Chase’s partner, though just as
intimidating a presence.
The other man who caught
his attention was named Simon. Adrian knew a little more about him because
Chase spoke of his closest friends often, and Adrian loved meeting Chase’s
friends even if the outing was nerve-racking. Simon had light brown hair, big puppy
brown eyes, and a slender body. The longer Adrian looked, the more he wondered
how Simon would look when dressed in something a little less bulky.
A tap to his shoulder
pulled Adrian out of his musings. He turned and realized the server was back
with their dinners and blushed at how entranced he’d been. He didn’t usually
stare, hating when others did that to him. “Sorry.”
“No sorrys.” Chase hugged Adrian, then
dug into his bowl of chicken and dumplings.
Simon waved to get Adrian’s
attention and smiled when he looked up from his country-fried steak and mashed
potatoes with white gravy. “Chase said you were his teacher before and are now
a friend.” Adrian nodded. “How’d he convince you to go out with his skinny
butt?”
Heat infused Adrian’s face
as he laughed. “Chase was very sweet and asked nicely.”
“I love your laugh, by the
way. It’s deep like your voice, kind of carefree.” Simon looked slightly sad.
Adrian knew he’d had a hard time lately. Chase said he’d been cheated on a year
ago and had refused to date since. Adrian knew the feeling, though he pushed
the thought away, hoping not to dwell on why he was alone.
He ducked his head
slightly. “Thanks? I don’t know how anyone sounds, even myself, so it’s always
weird to get comments like that.”
“I said the same when we
went out,” Chase commented. “But don’t let him fool you. He’s an excellent
teacher and speaks in all his classes. He knows his voice is good.”
“No, I know it’s clear
enough for you to understand. That’s something I work hard to make true, but I
have never heard my voice, so I have no idea how I sound. And well.... Chase
was the first person to ever say something like that.”
He worked regularly with
various computer programs to improve and maintain his speech, knowing if he
didn’t it could cost him his position at the college. He had always struggled
to make sure he spoke well for Hearing people, considering his family’s opinion
of his Deafness. His dad knew sign
language, but his mom
refused to learn, insisting he learn to be “normal.”
Adrian had always thought
that was extremely unfair, especially as a child. Considering his hatred of
being dependent on others for his communication, he was thankful he could read
lips and speak as well as he did.
“Then you know the wrong
people, ’cause he’s right.” Simon nodded to emphasize his point, confusing
Adrian more. Why would he be so determined with his compliments?
Shrugging off his
curiosity, Adrian tried to push past the topic. “What do you do?”
Simon’s eyes tightened at
the edges slightly, his shoulders drooping a little more. “I’m a writer.”
“He’s a romance author, and
a damn good one,” Jamie, or James as he knew the guy’s actual name was, said.
Chase talked about his best friend often, though this was the first they’d met.
“Don’t let him talk down about what he does.”
“James, hush. He’s not
interested in what kind of writing I do.”
“Yes, I am. I love to read.
Would I know any of your work?” Adrian didn’t have a large collection of
romances, but he had read some. He couldn’t think of any authors named Simon,
though.
“You’re an author?” Grayson
asked, turning to join their conversation.
The nod seemed reluctant,
but the smile on Simon’s face, while small, looked genuine. “Yeah, I write
under the name Tyler Jacobs, a pseudonym, but I have a few books out. But, um,
I thought we were trying to get to know Adrian and Grayson, not more about
boring ol’ me.”
“I found it a beautiful tale of unhappiness changed to romance and then love with a happy ending.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews, on “Designs of Desire”
—Sensual Reads, on “Designs of Desire”
—Love Bytes, on “Desires’ Guardian”
—MM Good Book Reviews, on “Desires’ Guardian”
—Love Bytes Reviews, on “Temptations of Desire”
Designs of Desire – Simple Desires*+ – Bound by Desire* – Desires’ Guardian – Temptations of Desire – Truth in Lace* – Desires’ Pride*
*shorts in series +shorts in anthologies
Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual genderfluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what they couldn’t—defy the hate and come out. He has been their hero ever since.
Tempe is a hopeless romantic who loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, they has done many things in their life, yet writing has always drawn them back—no matter what else life has thrown their way. They counts her friends, family, and Muse as their greatest blessings in life. They lives in Wisconsin with their children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.
Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, WisRWA, and Rainbow Romance Writers. Tempe’s preferred pronouns are they/them/their/theirs/themselves. To learn more about Tempeste and their writing, visit http://tempesteoriley.com.
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