Page 61 of The Mayor and the Mystery Man

If one looked up “going out in a blaze of glory” online, they’d find the video of this moment.

The volume of the crowd was deafening. The only thing louder was my heart racing in my ears.

“Mr. Mayor.” Jimmy looked back at me and extended his hand, which I took in one of those arm-wrestling-esque handshakes. “That was awesome!”

I took a bow and pointed at the band, trying to be modest but also loving the fanfare. Let’s just say you didn’t go into politics if you hated attention.

I scanned the mass of people and found the face in the crowd I cared about most, the one I wanted with every cell of my body.

I waved for him to join me on stage. Dusty didn’t hesitate. It wasn’t for PR or appearances. I wanted him by my side.

Dusty pointed at me and looked at the audience likeCan you believe this guy?

But I didn’t care about the audience. I wanted Dusty so bad I was going catch fire.

I pulled him to my chest. He wrapped his arms around me, and our kiss elicited a more ravenous response from the crowd. His lips tasted amazing, salty and warm. I couldn’t get enough of them. I couldn’t stop looking into those eyes, couldn’t stop thinking about the way he looked up at me.

I rested my forehead on his and the world faded away for a moment.

A brief moment.

“Sourwood, you guys know how to party!” Jimmy yelled into the mic. “All right, let’s start this show!”

The roadie ran out, unhooked my guitar, and motioned for us to get offstage. I didn’t acknowledge my scowling opponent when we got into the wings. I pulled Dusty into a curtain for another kiss, my hands cupping his waist.

“That was incredible.” His breath danced on my lips. He spoke and kissed me at the same time. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

“You are fucking incredible,” I said, fully in the middle of an out-of-body experience. I pulled him closer to me so he could feel my erection. He let out a tiny moan. “You know, they say sex is the fastest way to ruin a friendship.”

He stared back at me with a dark storm of lust in his eyes. “Promise?”

17

DUSTY

Ionce read a study that said willpower was like a battery that got drained throughout the day. If that was the case, my willpower was running on fumes because when Leo kissed me, I lost all resistance. Every warning in my mind that told me not to cross this line melted away. I was left with a primal hunger to jump my best friend’s bones.

When he left that stage, Leo had transformed into a full-blown rock star. People mauled us as we left Applefest. They wanted selfies and to tell him how awesome he was. A not-insignificant amount of men and women propositioned him for sex, with a few saying I could join in. Small town Sourwood had a kinky side, but I wanted none of it.

I only wanted Leo.

“Did you want to stick around?” I asked him, scared of his answer.

He looked at me with a force I felt in my core. “No.”

Through sheer force of will, we made it to the car, where I lunged for Leo again. Our tongues twisted and swirled in each other’s mouths. We were well past the nice kisses. This was hardcore making out with an end goal. I wanted Leo inside me. I wanted him on top of me. Nobody tell Scarlet O’Hara, but I had a feeling my heterosexuality was gone with the wind.

“If we keep going like this, we’re not going to make it back to the house,” Leo growled into my mouth. His warm, calloused hands caressed my cheek and down my chest. I never realized how strong he was. But I’d seen the pictures. I knew the body that hid under those suits and button-downs.

I was so revved up I would gladly lose my butt virginity in the backseat, to hell with the logistics and lack of lube. Ever since I arrived in Sourwood, every minute with Leo had been foreplay in disguise.

“Baby.” Leo pulled back, his pupils wide as saucers. “Let’s go home.”

“You called me baby,” I said while still catching my breath.

“Is it weird?”

“Yeah.”

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