About Citywide
A record-breaking heat wave engulfs the Five Boroughs, and emotions run as hot as the temperatures.
In Rerouted, Chris Mendez is trying to live a drama-free life. That doesn't include another threesome with Jace and Aiden Fairbairn. But then a citywide blackout leaves them trapped together, and Chris is forced to re-examine everything he thought he knew about relationships and his own heart.
In Gridlocked, former Marine Tonya Maldonado is keeping real estate heiress Meredith Stone on permanent ignore. Mere isn't Tonya’s type. Not even close. Who cares if she kisses like a dream and has the filthiest mouth this side of the East River? But then a security detail at a summer party ends with her saving Mere's life and discovering they have more chemistry than she’d ever imagined.
In Derailed, Stephanie Quinones escapes the heat and her complicated love life by going on a company retreat. Trouble is, it's a couples’ retreat, and she lied about having a boyfriend. Unfortunately, the only person willing to play pretend is her on-again/off-again fling, Angel León. They’re currently "off again,” but after a week in the woods, Stephanie realizes she wouldn’t mind them being permanently on.
The QFindr
Photoshoot, Jace’s perspective
Timeline: After
Interborough
Jace Fairbairn
Somewhere around
the time the photographer arranged us for a group shot, the lines started
blurring between the Queens crew and the Manhattan crew. I had problems wrapping
my head around not being included on the Queens side.
Sure, I was poly
as fuck, in an open marriage, and partook in activities at exclusive sex clubs
with Manhattan’s elite, but at my core I was still the kid from Edgemere Houses
in Far Rockaway. The kid who’d come up surrounded by drug dealers and drug
addicts, and who’d been taken in by Aiden and his mom at fifteen. I’d been
feral. I was still a little feral.
Sometimes, I
wondered what my new rich friends—Ashton Townsend and Meredith Stone, the celebutantes
and billionaire heirs—thought of my background. Most people I’d met after
leaving the Rockaways had just assumed things. Because Aiden’s father was one
of the richest people in the city, I’d found myself constantly surrounded by
the mega wealthy. I also now wore designer clothes priced far above my income.
As a result, I’d been labeled as yet another privileged rich guy.
I had the feeling
Ashton and Mere were just too polite to ask about my past and my parents,
considering the complex relationships they had with their own. Stephanie
Quinones, one of the Queens crew, had pegged my accent almost as soon as I’d
opened my mouth.
So had
Christopher.
Chris was exactly
the kind of sweetheart who got my motor running. Huge brown eyes, cute nose,
dimples, and the most honest and unabashed grin I’d seen in a while. He also
kept aiming it at me. And winking. Probably because I hadn’t taken my eyes off
him since he’d stepped into the studio. I’d eyefucked him nonstop and promptly
demanded he take a selfie with me.
Not only had he
taken the selfie, he’d let me crawl into his lap and cuddle against him while
we did so. He’d smelled delicious. And the fact that he’d joked and teased me,
complimented my long hair? I was infatuated. Plenty of guys hit on me. Few flirted
so sweetly.
Good Jace was
whispering at me to leave this poor hetero man alone.
Evil Jace hissed:
Must. Destroy.
Decisions
decisions. I texted Aiden.
Jace: Do you want a threeway with a cute boy?
Aiden: The photographer, makeup artist, and
stylist are all on QFindr payroll.
Jace: Wow.
Aiden: What
Jace: You assuming I want to fuck one of your
stupid employees. We’ve had this conversation a million times and it was YOU,
sir, who got drunk on the Fourth of July and made out with Clive. Your lawyer.
Aiden: lol you right
Jace: Sooooo. Cute boy? Threeway?
Aiden: who
I sent him the
picture of me and Chris. He was grinning against my cheek and holding me
against his chest. He was only a few inches taller than me, but his body was
tight and compact and he had the cutest fucking dimples.
Aiden: He’s into it? Thought he was straight.
Jace: Honey. You know I don’t approach a playmate
before I settle with you <3
Aiden: Good boy. But. Uhhh. Idk. I mean I’d love
to fuck him, but I’m pretty sure he’s straight? Don’t wanna proposition one of
the Rodriguez’s friends unless I know for sure they won’t be offended.
Jace: Babe.
Aiden: what
Jace: If he was straight, why the hell would he
be at this damn photoshoot? That’s why their other friend, Angel, didn’t
participate. He knew QFindr wanted it to be a queer campaign for a queer
product full of queer models. No straight boys no matter how cute.
Aiden: No Nick Jonas effect?
Jace: Basically. There’s no way Chris is
straight. I reject the possibility!
Aiden: or you could like ask
Jace: Omg. Fine. But, if he’s open minded enough
to be plastered all over the city on a queer advertisement, I have faith he
won’t tantrum. So I’ll ask.
Aiden: sounds like a plan. I look forward to
tearing that ass up.
Jace: I look forward to watching.
Aiden: oh shit before I forget, can you stop by
Rite-Aid and bring me some contact solution?
Jace: -_-
Aiden: come on
Jace: Just wear your glasses!
Aiden: fuck that they make me look old
Jace: You are old.
Aiden: ill remember that tonight when you come in
trying to get dicked down when im already dead asleep
Jace: NOOOOOOO I was kidding!
Aiden: contact solution
Jace: FINE. I love you.
Aiden: love you too
“Jace!”
The photographer
gave me a slightly impatient look. It took everything in my power not to glare
back in response. I’d learned a long time ago to respond to rudeness with
uncharacteristic kindness or else people would trigger Evil Jace, who did not
care that he was only 5’3” and barely a buck twenty soaking wet. Evil Jace
would start a ruckus and make sure everyone got in on the fight.
But this
photoshoot was for Aiden’s new company, so I smiled sickly sweet while wishing
Mr. Photog would die.
My hostility only
simmered down after I realized I was doing a set of photos with Charles
Jovanovic and Chris. Charles was gorgeous in a vaudeville type of way, but we
were so much alike that we’d both identified that it would be dangerous to
spend a lot of time together.
Whereas I’d learned to channel my rage and
control myself, Charles was a firecracker with a wild temper. It was way too
easy to feed into that and start showing those characteristics myself.
The photographer
instructed Chris to pose a couple of feet away while peering at the QFindr app
on his phone while Charles and I stood with our own phones in hand, gazing at
him and smirking. I made sure to position myself closest to Chris. Because why
not?
“Okay,” the
photographer said. “Pretend you guys met him on QFindr and now you’re all about
to hookup for the first time.”
Chris cocked his
head. “But there’s three of us.”
Oh.
Oh no.
That poor baby.
Charles clapped
his hands and hooted so loud his voice could probably be heard down on
Broadway. It was only then that understanding dawned on Chris’ face.
“Ooooohh . . .”
I leaned in,
patting his shoulder, and said right in his ear, “No worries, boo. All-dude
threesomes are my area of expertise. I know where everything fits, and I’ll be
gentle.”
His eyes grew
large, but other than a slight tensing of his shoulders . . . there were no
other signs of discomfort. He didn’t jolt away, sneer, or narrow his eyes with
hostility. All he did was scan my face as if checking my level of seriousness,
arch an eyebrow, and then shrug.
“Does that mean I
get two dudes buying me dinner first?” he asked. “Because that’s what’s up.”
Charles fell on
the floor laughing, and I couldn’t help joining him.
Evil Jace was
definitely going to get his way.
And
to read the follow-up novella where Jace, Aiden, and Chris get their happily
ever afters, order CITYWIDE
now!
And
to read more free stories about what happens after Chris meets Jace and Aiden,
download THIRD
RAIL now.
About the Five Boroughs Universe
New York City—home of soaring skyscrapers, concrete boulevards, and the hopes and dreams of millions. A city where opposites attract and romance is found in unlikely places. From the glittering penthouses of Manhattan to the blue collar neighborhoods of Queens, values get tested, cultures clash, and connections made. Men of diverse backgrounds examine their lives, test their sexual boundaries, and seek success in an unforgiving urban landscape that moves fast and stops for no one. Despite the odds, there’s love to be found in the five boroughs as long as they’re willing to work for it.
About Santino Hassell
Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Connect with Santino:
Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Citywide, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 18, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!
