Syncopation
Series: Twisted
Wishes #1
Publisher: Carina
Press
Release Date (Ebook):
April 9, 2018
Length (Print &
Ebook): 104,000 words or ~295 pages
Subgenre: contemporary
romance; m/m romance
Includes: Rockstars,
BDSM, Angst, Pansexual/bisexual, Aromantic
Links:
Synopsis:
There’s no resisting
the thrum of temptation in this male/male rock-star romance from genre-favorite
author Anna Zabo!
Twisted Wishes front man Ray Van Zeller is in one hell of a tight spot. After a heated confrontation with his bandmate goes viral, Ray is hit with a PR nightmare the fledgling band so doesn’t need. But his problems only multiply when they snag a talented new drummer—insufferably sexy Zavier Demos, the high school crush Ray barely survived.
Zavier’s kept a casual eye on Twisted Wishes for years, and lately, he likes what he sees. What he doesn’t like is how out of control Ray seems—something Zavier’s aching to correct after their first pulse-pounding encounter. If Ray’s up for the challenge.
Despite the prospect of a glorious sexual encore, Ray is reluctant to trust Zavier with his band—or his heart. And Zavier has always had big dreams; this gig was supposed to be temporary. But touring together has opened their eyes to new passions and new possibilities, making them rethink their commitments, both to the band and to each other.
Twisted Wishes front man Ray Van Zeller is in one hell of a tight spot. After a heated confrontation with his bandmate goes viral, Ray is hit with a PR nightmare the fledgling band so doesn’t need. But his problems only multiply when they snag a talented new drummer—insufferably sexy Zavier Demos, the high school crush Ray barely survived.
Zavier’s kept a casual eye on Twisted Wishes for years, and lately, he likes what he sees. What he doesn’t like is how out of control Ray seems—something Zavier’s aching to correct after their first pulse-pounding encounter. If Ray’s up for the challenge.
Despite the prospect of a glorious sexual encore, Ray is reluctant to trust Zavier with his band—or his heart. And Zavier has always had big dreams; this gig was supposed to be temporary. But touring together has opened their eyes to new passions and new possibilities, making them rethink their commitments, both to the band and to each other.
Excerpt #2:
They cleaned up for the signing lines—Ray
back in a T-shirt—and managed to get through everyone before midnight. Then it
was back onto the bus and off to Utah. Long trip, but one with a hotel room at
the end and a day off from playing. Even with Ray giving him those long, hooded
looks, Zavier didn’t have much energy left, either to dominate or fuck. Still,
when Ray headed toward the back of the bus, he followed.
Mish and
Dom both had smirks. Zavier rolled his eyes at them, but smiled anyway. He
pulled the privacy curtain closed.
Ray
stood in the space, swaying with the bus, and staring at the couch on which
they’d taken so much pleasure. “I had to ditch the bracelet. It was pretty
disgusting by the time the concert was over.”
“That’s
fine.” Zavier swept a hand over Ray’s back. He felt the shudder when he cupped
Ray’s neck. “Figured that might happen.”
“Hence
string and not leather?” Ray met his gaze. There was a hunger there, a deep,
deep hunger. But none of the other signs that meant Ray was a live wire of lust.
“Exactly.”
He let his hand fall away. “Is there something you want?”
Ray
nodded slowly. “It’s—not sex, though. I’m beat.”
“Ditto.”
“But my
mind won’t stop. I—god. Do you ever get music and words and everything
just—tangled up in there?”
“No, but
other things, yes.” He pulled Ray toward the couch. “Tell me about it.”
Ray sat
and dropped his hands into his head. “The words are easy to get out. I write
them down, even if they’re shitty. But the music—the colors and the shapes and
the lines—I can’t stop seeing them. Feeling them in my blood.” He lifted his
head. “I bet that makes no sense. I’ve tried to tell Mish and Dom, but they
don’t get it.”
“Don’t
worry about it making sense to me.” Zavier focused on Ray, whose gaze shifted
from object to object in the room. “Tell me anyway. I want to know.”
“I…see
music, Zav. Like see it. Shapes and
colors and…” He shrugged. “Been that way forever. I put hues and forms together
on the guitar until they look right.”
Fuck, Ray really had been a musical
prodigy. Hell. Someone should have
noticed. “Synesthesia,” he said.
Ray
nodded. “Yeah. I found out there was a name for it on the internet.” He
laughed. “Was kind of a relief.”
One
Zavier knew well, for different reasons.
“I do
note things down with colored pens and stuff. But sometimes my brain gets so
fucking full.” Ray sighed and
collapsed against the back of the couch. “Would it be weird if I—knelt at your
feet? Like the first time? Not for sex. Not even to submit or whatever it is I
do when I get all out of my head to obey you—but just to be here? With you?”
The
worry there. Warmth spread through Zavier, and his chest ached. “Ray, you can
always kneel like that if you need to. Or we can sit. Whatever you need from
me.” He dropped his hand on Ray’s knee. Kept it there.
Ray
relaxed under his touch. “Told you I was a burden. Just ask Dom.”
“Shush.
I bet Dom would disagree.”
“Oh, he
would, just to spite me.” Ray rolled his head and met Zavier’s gaze. “He’s put
up with my antics for years, but we’re not like this.” He gestured between the
two of them. “He’s not touchy-feely. You like touching me.”
“Like I
said, not entirely altruistic on my part.”
Ray
laughed. “But it’s not always sexual.”
That was
true, too. He pulled Ray’s head down into his lap. “This okay, or do you really
want to kneel on the floor with your forehead on my shoes?”
“Wanna
do both. But this is fine.” Ray’s words were soft, and his body relaxed.
Zavier
stroked his hair. “Tell me what you see.”
“I’m
calling it ‘Dare to Be.’” Then Ray whispered words and colors. Shapes.
Sometimes he spoke so low, Zavier couldn’t hear. He also tapped out a beat on
Zavier’s thigh, one Zavier echoed and improvised with on his back, until Ray
was humming and singing and then slipping into sleep. A continuation of the
song Ray’d been working on before. And now Zavier had the name—one even Mish
and Dom didn’t know. He held on to that like a talisman.
How many years had it been since he’d
had a friend like Ray? One he could sit and be with? He couldn’t remember. Once
sex came into the picture, everyone had always expected more from him. Some great romantic connection. Dinners and presents
and declarations. But Ray didn’t seem to need that and it was a fucking
miracle.
About Anna Zabo:
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before
returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they
were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what
they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever
possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps
a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a
penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of
cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill
University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never
looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon
University.
Connect with Anna
Zabo:
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