Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Silver Flash Day

I was so busy this weekend and just didn't have the time to write a story this week.  BUT I wanted to post the list of my fellow flasher's websites for you to check out and enjoy

I'll be back next week with a story

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

We have a WINNER!

I want to thank all of you who entered my contest.    I have picked a winner.   Congratulations to Dani.

I have e mailed you. 

I hope you all have a great New Years.  I am hoping to have more books to offer to my wonderful readers.

Monday, December 26, 2011

After Christmas giveaway

Hello everyone,

Today is Boxing Day. We don't celebrate it here in the states, but  I thought I'd have something on my blog to mark the day.

I'd like to do a giveaway.  The winner will get a choice of one of my books as their prize.

All you have to do to enter is leave your name and contact into.  I'll be picking a winner tomorrow. 

Happy Boxing Day! 

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Happy Holidays

I just want to wish all my friends and supporters a Happy and safe holiday season and all the best in the New Year

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Silver Flash 44: Tis the Season

It's that time of the week.  I hope you all have a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever you choose to celebrate.

Here is my Christmas story for Ben and Tom.  They've both been good boys,  okay naughty, BUT in a good way :D

Please enjoy and also visit my fellow flashers. Their links appear at the bottom of my story.   Thanks for all your support and comments.  I appreciate it.  



Flash 44

This prompt will be our last before Christmas, and this week's Prompt Diva, Pender Mackie, has risen to the occasion with these prompts:

He/she didn't like secrets.
or

"Smells like pine needles in here."

Use those or my alternate prompts:


Union suit, balance, Hari Krishna or


red balls or  Tis the season to be (fill in the blank)


Tis the Season-by Lily Sawyer

Tom loved everything about Christmas. It was his favorite time of the year—from the twinkling lights to the decorations on the homes to the holiday music.   It made him feel so good inside.   “I’ll be Home for Christmas” was playing on his car radio. The trouble was that instead of pulling into the driveway of the home he shared with Ben, he was pulling into the parking lot of the firehouse.  One of the downsides of being a fire fighter was there were no such things as holidays.    He found an empty spot at the end of the row of cars, turned off the engine, and reluctantly left the comfort of the heated vehicle for the icy cold winter walk across the lot to the front door.  

“Hey, Tom, how’s it going?” Pete Hannigan greeted him. He and Pete had known each other for a long time.  When he became captain of the firehouse, Tom couldn’t have been happier.

“Hey Pete,I’m good, how’s it going with you? Has it been busy?”

“You know the drill, Tom.   People always seem to do dumb things around the holidays.  I’ve lost count of how many fires started by candles we’ve had to go out on.” 

“Oh, don’t I know it.  You’d think people would heed the warnings by now.”

“How’s Ben?” The whole firehouse knew he was gay and about his relationship with Ben.

“He’s good. Bummed that I’m working, of course.  We won’t be together until after Christmas. He’ll be okay.”

Tom’s heart had skipped a beat when he saw Ben’s crestfallen face after he’d found out Tom had to work on the holiday.  He refused to decorate without Tom.

He hoped the presents ‘Santa’ had for Ben would more than make up for his absence on Christmas. His plans for New Years were going to be extra special—Tom would make sure of that.

He worked three days straight, all through Christmas day.  One of the hardest parts of the job was looking at the faces of the children who’d lost everything in a fire.   He was grateful that he and the crew had done some holiday shopping and made sure those kids didn’t miss Christmas.

                                                                                            ****

Monday morning couldn’t come soon enough for Tom. His flak jacket and pants were off so fast it would have amazed Ben if he could have witnessed it.  He almost red-lined it driving back home, The house and their half-acre of property were blanketed with snow, giving their home a picture postcard look.

He flung their wooden front door open.  “Honey, I’m home!”

“Tom!”

He didn’t have time to think before his arms were full of a very ardent Ben, who wasted no time letting him know he was sorely missed.

“Ben,” Their lips smacked together.  “It smells like pine needles in here.” The smell reminded Tom of being in a forest as it wafted throughout the house.  Tom figured that his next project was going to be a trip up to the attic to bring their artificial tree down and set it up, but he for now he had a feeling this was going to be pre-empted.

“Come on, sweetheart, let me show you something.” Ben grabbed him by the hand and led him down the hallway and into their living room.

“Ben,” He couldn’t believe his eyes.  Sitting in the corner opposite the fireplace was a seven-foot tall spruce.  “How… when?” was all he could say.

“I picked it up last night. I wanted to surprise you. I thought we’d decorate our first real tree together.”

“Have I told you how much I love you?”   Tom grabbed his man into his arms and kissed him again. 

“I got all the decorations down, the boxes are over there.”  Ben pointed to several boxes sitting on the floor next to the couch.    They spent the rest of the day getting the decorations put on the tree.  After garland was wound about the girth of the tree, they started on the numerous stars, bows, and even some Star Trek ornaments they’d collected from Hallmark because they were Trekkies after all.

“Here are some red balls.” Ben brought out the set of colored glass balls they’d bought together last year.

Later, after darkness fell and they’d turned on the lights on the tree and stood back, they wrapped their arms around each other and leaned their bodies together.  Christmas music was playing on the radio they’d turned on.  

“I’m sorry you had to spend Christmas without me.” 

“It’s okay, baby, you’re here now, that’s all that matters.” Ben snuggled up against his chest. Tom couldn’t think of a better homecoming then to wrap his arms around his beloved. 

They retired to the bedroom. Tom lay in bed, clothes discarded before he slid between the satin sheets and waited for the surprise Ben promised him after their dinner.

His heart skipped a few beats when his lover appeared in the center of the room wearing a pair of red boxers adorned with Christmas trees.

“Tis the season to be sexy fa la la la la, la la la la.”  Ben wiggled his ass.

“Come here, you elf ,and get your present.” Tom laughed as Ben crawled across their king-size bed and into his arms.  There were plenty of gifts unwrapped and the best present they received was love.


 My fellow flashers


Monday, December 19, 2011

Congratulations to the winner of my contest

First I'd like to thank all who entered my contest.   I have picked a winner.

Congratulations to Gardemarin for winning.  I am going to e mail you so you can let me know which book you'd like

Thanks again and I want to wish you all a Happy and Safe holiday season and the best for 2012

(and I hope to be bringing more books to you)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Blog Hop Event

 

Ho Ho Ho,  Happy Holidays!   We're having a blog hop event,  there are plenty of prizes to be won.  I'm giving away a copy of one of my books, winner's choice.    All you have to do is leave a comment and your contact info.   I will not be able to enter you to win if you don't leave me a way to contact you.

Please visit the party blog to see the other authors who participated and are holding contests too

Blog Hop Spot

Thursday, December 15, 2011

12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza at Romancing the Word


Starting Wednesday, December 14th Kathleen will be kicking off her 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza!!! Over the course of the 12 Days of Christmas, she will be having multiple giveaways, posting excerpts from at least 3 different WIPs, trivia, holiday short stories and much much more. There are nine wonderful authors participating, in addition to myself.


Today, Thurs, is my day on her blog.   Please stop by and check out my wip and enter to win a copy of one of my books.
http://khayes54.blogspot.com/
Also I am posting a peek at my work in progress: "Four Doors Down."

thank you and enjoy your holidays

Four Doors Down a WIP by Lily Sawyer
Blurb:

Alex Perez is a talented artist, lives in a nice quiet community in bucolic Lancaster Pennsylvania.   He lives a simple life and has everything he needs except someone to share his life with.   The house four doors down has stood vacant for a long time until a moving van shows up and someone moves in.     But welcoming the new neighbor proves elusive for Alex and he wonders if the mysterious man in black is hiding something.

Excerpt: (a chap I am currently working on)

“Tristan.”   Alex touched him on the cheek the despondent look in Tristan’s eyes made his heart break.    He wasn’t sure if he was acting on impulse or instinct but whatever it was he couldn’t resist grabbing Tristan by the arms and pulling him against him for a kiss.  He could feel Tristan’s surprise in the tense muscles but soon he relaxed and his arms came around Alex’s shoulders.   The feel of the stubble from Tristan’s five o’clock shade grazed his face making his cock stand up and take notice. 

“Do you want to go lie down?”  Alex asked him as he came back to his senses.

“Yeah.”  Tristan’s slurred voice sounded so sexy to Alex’s ears.    “Come with me.”  Alex allowed himself to be led out of the hallway bathroom and down the hallway to a large master bedroom.   Aside from a master bathroom there was a large walk-in closet and two dressers that lined the wall and a sitting area at one end of the room, but what drew Alex’s attention was the huge king-size bed that could easily fit two tall men like he and Tristan.   It was even better then they tested that theory by lying down on the soft comforter.  

Kissing resumed only it was Tristan who initiated it this time.    The neatly made bed was quickly messed up and their clothes flew off their bodies so quickly they could have gotten gold medals if it were an Olympic sport. 

“I want you, Tristan,  I want you so bad.  But I don’t want to hurt you, you’ve already been hurt enough.”

Tristan’s finger touched his lips and silenced him.  “I want you too, forget about everything else.”  He grabbed Alex’s dark hair and pulled him in for another round of kissing.   “So beautiful,” Alex blushed as Tristan’s gaze raked his body up and down. “Like one of your paintings.” 

“I’m not that great an artist.” Alex modestly pointed out to the other man.

“You’re wrong, you’re better than Picasso.”  Tristan kissed his chest and sucked on a nipple, causing Alex to arch off the mattress.   “Better than Michelangelo.”   His lips traveled slower to Alex’s belly and his warm tongue bathed his belly button.  “Better than Da Vinci.” 

“I wouldn’t go that far.”  Alex sat back on his elbows and was watching Tristan watching him.” 

“I’m going to go farther than that.”  Tristan smiled as he reached the target he’d been wanting to attain for a long time

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Silver Flash 43 links

I have been very busy with promos and other things this week.   SO I was not able to write a Flash story.  BUT I wanted to post the links of my fellow flashers.






LM Brown      (m/m)
AJ Jarrett       (m/m)
Heather Lin      (m/f)
Pia Veleno      (m/m)
Elyzabeth VaLey    (m/f)
Julie Lynn Hayes   (m/m)

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Gay Day over at Ethan Day's site and my contest

Today is Gay Day over at the Ethan Day yahoo group.    To join this group please go to the following link   EthanDay-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

in celebration I am giving away a free copy of my "Somebody to Love"  book.    To enter please leave your name and contact info and I will be announcing a winner this evening.

thank you

Saturday, December 10, 2011

I'm chatting today on Beth Wylde's yahoo group

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know I'm going to be chatting today at Beth Wylde's yahoo group from noon till 4pm

Beth Wylde's group

Please come over and say hello. I'll be talking about my wip and having a giveaway

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I'm featured on Sharita Lira's blog

Hello everyone

I just wanted to let you know I'm featured on her blog today.   I talk about me and about one of my books

Please go over and pay a visit

http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-lily-sawyer.html
thanks

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Silver Flash 42: Lost and Found

It's Silver Flash day


Flash 42


This week our Prompt Diva is Lindsay Klug, who gave us:  "No, I said turn left, not right." or: "I'm not super(man/woman), you know."

My alternate prompts are:

use these three words: velour, circumcision, and balance  or

"Dammit, I'm a (fill in the blank), not a (fill in the blank)! or

eyes closed as if in prayer


Lost and Found

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?”   Tom glanced up from the map of Philadelphia he’d been looking at for several minutes—he was trying to locate the Doubletree Hotel. Planning a trip to the big city to celebrate their fourth anniversary of being together as a couple shouldn’t include getting lost. 

  “Why doesn’t this car have GPS?

“Because you know how I hate those things. I survived using maps all this time, I’ll stick with them,” Ben said.

“So where do I go?” Ben asked a moment later.

“Left,” Tom mumbled distractedly.  He looked up when the car made a wrong turn. “No, I said turn left, not right.”

“Damn, we’re lost.”  Ben turned back around as Tom took out his cell phone and looked up the hotel number from one of the papers he had in front of him. 

“Hello?  I hope you can help me. I’m looking for the hotel.  I think we’re lost.”  Tom told the desk clerk what street they were on and with his help they pulled into the hotel’s parking lot only two hours later then they intended to arrive.

After giving the valet their car, the two men checked in and rode the elevator to the seventeenth floor.   They were all over each other the minute the elevator doors closed.

“I’m sorry I got us lost, honey,”  Ben said through kisses.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’re here now.  That’s all that matters.  Let’s celebrate.”  The doors opened and they couldn’t get into the room fast enough.

They’d booked the anniversary suite and the hotel decked the room especially for the celebration.   A bottle of champagne sat in a bucket of ice next to the love seat; strawberries and a jar of fudge sauce sat on a silver platter on the coffee table. 

“Looks like the hotel set us up well.”  Ben turned around and wondered where Tom had taken off to.  A noise in the bedroom area drew his attention and just as though the pied piper had lured him,  he wandered into the bedroom. Tom stood in the middle of the room, wearing nothing but a robe.  Ben licked his lips as Tom slowly undid the ties and the green robe fell off his muscular shoulders and pooled around his feet.   Ben’s mouth dropped open as he took in his man’s physique.  Being a firefighter, Tom was required to keep fit. Ben felt the need to get closer to Tom as though a magnet pulled him towards his man.   Ben loved running his fingers over the familiar territory that was Tom.

“You know how much I love you, Tom?” Ben grabbed a hold of Toms’ hair and kissed him, his hands traveling a path that included stops to rub Tom’s nipples until they were hard.   His lips joined in the fun, following Tom’s treasure trail, kissing and licking around his belly button, then dropped to the floor to suck on Tom’s cock until he was moaning and frantically combing his fingers through Ben’s hair.

“Yeah, Ben, there right there, I’m going to…uh!” Sweet nectar filled Ben’s mouth; at least that was what he considered it.

“Not fair,” Tom said, once he’d recovered enough to speak.  He plopped down on the bed and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“What’s not fair?” Ben stood before him; the bulge in his pants was about ready to burst.

“That you’re still dressed. I think you owe me a strip show.”

Ben smiled, then slowly disrobed.  “That’s more like it,” Tom said as more of Ben’s body was revealed to his wanton lover.  “Come here,” Tom beckoned him. He stood and wrapped his arms around Ben, hugging him tight.  They fell onto the bed in a heap, their lips locked as their passion reached new heights. Ben fell back under Tom, a position he often found himself in, and one he liked the best, and pulled his legs up until his pulsing hole was exposed to Tom.

“Tom,” he gasped when he looked at Tom’s wet cock.  “I need you, now!”

Tom quickly left the room to retrieve the tube of lube he ‘d had in the luggage that was still sitting by the door, then rushed back into the bedroom.  He quickly slicked himself up and made sure Ben was also ready for him.  He worked his cock slowly into Ben’s tight canal.

“Oh yeah,” Ben’s head hit the headboard, but he didn’t care; he dug his heels into Tom’s buttocks and begged him to ride him like a wild bronco.

They weren’t sure if their neighbors in the next room could hear them or not, but it didn’t matter to the lovers.  Tom held Ben’s cock in his hand and stroked Ben until he cried out and came.  Tom followed close behind.

They weren’t sure how long they lay there, panting,  their sweaty bodies wrapped around each other like a cocoon.

“Happy anniversary, baby,” Tom said as he kissed Ben.

“Happy anniversary, sweetheart.”  Ben snuggled into Tom’s arms, all content and happy.


My fellow Flashers 

Lindsay Klug   (m/f)
AJ Jarrett    (m/m)      FLASH VIRGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sui Lynn     (m/m)
Julie Lynn Hayes    (m/m)

Monday, December 5, 2011

I am featured in Munaty Cooking mag


I am featured in this magazine. I talk about my "Catch of the Day" book and I
have a recipe in there as well

Please check it out, click on issue 11 my article is on page 18

http://munatycooking.blogspot.com/p/munatycooking-magazine.html

Linda

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Six Sentence Sunday

“Yeah, sorry, I just assumed he was. I’m just making a mess of things aren’t I?  I mean I don’t even know if you’re.  He stopped, unsure if he should make this giant leap. It was almost too much to hope for.

“Gay?”  William’s gaze met his again and a wide smile broke out on his handsome features.  He leaned forward, his hand covering Gabriel’s as it rested on the top of the table.  “Well, I am, and I wanted you to know I find you very attractive.”

Available from Amazon.com

and All Romance

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Holiday Crafts fair

I thought I'd let anyone living in the DC/VA/MD area know that my friend and I are doing a crafts fair at the Audrey Moore Rec center this weekend.  All info is on the poster above.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Flash 41: Got Them Good



Flash 41

Thanks to our Guest Diva is Lily Sawyer, who gives us the following:  "This is a bitch of an unsatisfactory situation,"  Or  "I wish I knew how to quit you." or  "Love means never having to say you're sorry."


My alternate prompts are:

8 ball, trailer and use the name of any state in the US or

pizzicato, pie and motor oil or

"Your words are too big for your mouth"

Got Them Good

He didn’t know when he’d lost it. Whether it was the scene with the postcard with the words ‘deceased’ written in red as if to emphasis the tremendous loss of one so precious or when Willie Nelson’s song “He was a Friend of Mine,” started to play.   The sound of sniffing from the man next to him drew his attention.  He couldn’t stop a small smile from appearing on his face as he watched Ben try to hide the fact that Brokeback Mountain made them both cry.  If not for a lot of reasons, Ennis and Jack’s story could very well have been theirs.

“Ben?”

“What?”  Ben wiped his eyes with a tissue and blew his nose. 

“You okay?”

“Sure. Just my allergies acting up.”  His excuse was lame, but he was sticking to it.

“It’s okay, this movie got to me too.” Tom shut off the TV and watched his partner trying to compose himself.   “Come here.”  Tom put his arm around Ben’s shoulders and pulled him against his chest.  “It’s okay.”

“That’s what Jack said.”   Ben nestled into the strong arms that held him. 

“He also said “This is a bitch of an unsatisfactory situation.”

“He also said “I wish I knew how to quit you.”   Ben’s eyes filled with tears again and he wiped them on Tom’s shirt.  “It’s just not fair, Tom. Ennis and Jack deserved to have a happy life, like we do.  I’d never quit you, never.”

“I know, baby, I wouldn’t either. I’m so happy we found each other.”

“They could never be together, I just wish Ennis would’ve said he was sorry about turning Jack away after his divorce.  Jack was so happy, singing “King of the Road”… and then Ennis squashed it all.”

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Tom rubbed Ben’s back; the circular motions eased the tension in his man’s shoulder.

Ben’s arms wrapped around his waist. “I love you Tom, and I’m so happy to have you in my life.”

“I am, too, baby.”

It started off slow, hands caressing faces; nose nuzzles and kisses, plenty of kisses that turned into lovemaking.

They fell asleep, naked in each other arms, smiles of contentment on both their faces.



 Fellow Flashers

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sunday Snog-The Finest Thing

Here is my Sunday Snog,  there are more than just some kissing going on here

check it out (and if you want to see more Dreamspinner Press is having a holiday sale on their books
buy link


After a leisurely dinner and sharing that decadent dessert Paul spoke about, Aidan pushed his chair away from the table and let out a contented sigh.  “Ah, now, that hit the spot.”

“Nothing like chocolate to cure all ails.”  Paul smiled at his happy companion.

“Is that your official prescription, doctor?” 

“Yes, but it’s not something many doctors will admit to prescribing for their patients.”

“Oh, and am I your patient now?”   Aidan smiled suggestively.

“I think I might be able to add you as a patient.  Maybe I should take you back to the office and give you a thorough checkup.” 

Before they knew it they were both back at Aidan’s room at the inn.  “You’re lucky I had an empty timeslot, I’m usually pretty booked up,” Paul said in his professional doctor voice.

“Well, I have some pain in my neck and my back.”

“You do realize I’m an orthopedist, not a chiropractor.”

Aidan unbuttoned his shirt and slowly slid it down off his shoulders. 

“Of course, I could change specialties.”  Paul sat down in a chair opposite the bed and watched the strip show, licking his lips when he saw Aidan remove his jeans to reveal the growing bulge in his underwear.

“That looks pretty painful.  I better take a closer look at it.  Please sit on the bed.” 

Aidan sat on the edge of the mattress.  “Are you going to use a stethoscope?  I don’t like them they’re always so cold.”

“No, what I’m going to do is going to warm you up and make you feel good.”  Paul grabbed the bottom of the sweater he was wearing and pulled it up over his head before he sat behind Aidan.

“Yeah?”  Aidan started to melt the minute he felt Paul’s warm fingers start to knead the tight muscles in his neck and shoulders.

“Yeah,” Paul whispered into his ear.  “I’m going to make it so good for you,” he said in a husky tone.

Aidan felt himself being gently pushed onto the bed so he was lying on his stomach.   Paul went into the bathroom and retrieved some massage oils that the inn had provided.   He poured some oil into his hand and rubbed it all over Aidan’s neck and back, feeling all the tension in Aidan’s body from the confrontation with his father disappear like it never happened. 

“Yeah, right there.   Yeah, ahhhhhh, mmmm,” Aidan sighed in contentment.   Paul continued his massage down his back and slowly slid Aidan’s underwear off.   His fingers dug into his buttocks, then down his thighs and finally to his feet.   

Sometime during the massage, Paul had removed all of his own clothes as well.   He changed his route, and started kissing his way up Aidan’s body. 

“Oh shit,” Aidan murmured when he felt Paul kiss his butt cheeks and then felt a tongue lick his balls.    Paul reached between Aidan’s legs, wrapping his hand around Aidan’s cock, his tongue pushing into his tight hole.

Paul reached over to the nightstand and pulled the draw, grabbing a condom and lube.   He pulled Aidan onto his back and showed him what he had in his hands.  “Okay?” he asked permission.

“It’s been a long time.” 

“We don’t have to, if you’re not ready.” 

Aidan reached out and grabbed Paul by the shoulders and kissed him.  “I am very ready.”  He helped roll the condom onto Paul’s cock and applied the lube.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Silver Flash #40: Love in the Windy City

 When last we saw of Ben and Tom they were on a train heading for Chicago.   Tom was attending a firefighter's function there.   Ben couldn't bear to be left alone in Lancaster PA so he hopped on the train and we join them now in Chicago (note I have never been to Chicago, yet, hope to get there sometime.  So I am doing a little research for this story. Hope it's accurate)


Flash 40  
This week’s prompts:


Guest Prompt Diva Brenna Lyons makes her second appearance on our stage with this gem:  “Did you ever notice that the things people hate about you are the same things you hate about them?”

I offer these alternate prompts:

Use these three words: White Castle, cyanide, evolution  

or

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever"

or

have a character use a foreign accent, one that isn't his own

and finally, our special Thanksgiving prompts:

turkey, stuff, wing and pilgrim

or

immigrants, Led Zeppelin and thanks

 Love in the Windy City

Chicago was amazing; Ben hadn’t been to a big city since a trip to Philly many years ago.  

“You’re going to get your face stuck to that glass if you’re not careful.”

Ben turned away from the window;Tom’s smiling face made his heart soar.  ‘I’m just so excited.”

“Yeah, you’re like a kid in a candy store.”  Tom’s arms wrapped around his lover from behind as they both enjoyed the view from the eighteenth floor of their hotel.  

“Are we going to get to sight see or are you going to be stuck at the conference all weekend?”  Ben made a pout appear on his lips, a match to his begging eyes.

Tom released Ben from his embrace to look at the schedule he had in a folder on his IPad.   “It says I have to go to a panel on safety and public awareness this afternoon at four. It’s only eight.  Let’s go have breakfast and then go take a walk around.”

The hotel had an all-you-can-eat-breakfast buffet until eleven. Tom and Ben chowed down on omelets, pancakes, and bacon.   Juice and coffee rounded out their meal and then they were out the door, into the bright sunlight. 

Since Tom had been to Chicago a few times, he acted as tour guide.   The hotel was right near Millennium Park; there was so much to do within walking distance.  They went to Wrigley Square and saw the Millennium monument.    “It looks like a Greek temple, doesn’t it?”  Ben snapped some shots. 

Next they wandered across the BP Pedestrian Bridge.  It was a girder-like structure that connected Millennium Park with Daley Bicentennial Plaza.   

“Let’s go to the Sears Tower, Tom.  I always wanted to go.”

“You mean the Willis Tower.”

“Huh?” 

“The Sears Tower. They changed the name in 2009.  Sears’ naming rights expired and a British insurance company bought it. Hence the Willis building was born.”

“Wow, you’re a wealth of information aren’t you, Einstein?”  Ben grabbed a kiss from Tom.   They didn’t worry about how it might ‘look’ to passersby. If they had a problem with it,  too bad.   They’d discussed how they were going to act in public at the beginning of their relationship; they’d known far too many gay couples that hid in the shadows.  Well, Ben and Tom decided they weren’t going to hide. They weren’t going to make out like bunnies in the street, but they weren’t going to be afraid to hold hands either.

“Do you want to go out on the ledge?”

“The ledge?” 

Tom pointed to the four box-shaped windows they could just see from the street, way up towards the top of the building.  “It’s an observation area on the one hundred third floor.  Come on, let’s go.”  Before Ben could say anything, he was dragged into the building and whisked up in the elevator to the Skydeck.  

“Isn’t this great?”  Tom looked out at the Chicago River. Ben was squeezing his hand so hard, he thought he’d lose circulation.   “Ben?”

“I forgot to tell you heights are not my favorite thing.”

“No, you didn’t tell me. We could leave…”   Tom started to move away from the view.

“No, this is something I’ve been wanting to work on. It’s not that bad.  I just get a little dizzy.”

“I’m here for you, baby.”  Tom wrapped his arms around him and held his man as they stood next to the windows and he waited for Ben to let him know what he wanted to do.

“It is breathtaking,” He was shaking a bit, but when he was cocooned in Tom’s arms he felt so much better.

Ben had had enough excitement and they decided to go back to their hotel and rest before Tom had to go to his meeting.   On the way back, they stood in Cloud Gate, right next to the ‘Bean’ sculpture, in Millennium Park. 

“It looks kind of weird. You can see yourself in it.”  Ben stood admiring the way his image reflected back on the metal sculpture.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever,”  Tom said as he studied Ben’s image. Turning to look at the man next to him, he smiled his big gorgeous smile.

“I love you Tom.”

“Love you too, Ben.  Let’s go back to our room, I’m kind of tired.”

“Too tired to…” Ben wiggled his eyebrows at his lover.

“Never.”

They made it back to the room in record time.  Resting came some time later after their first round of lovemaking, one of many on that weekend.   It was their way of celebrating Thanksgiving a bit early.  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 
 
Here is a list of this week's flashers: