It's an intense time for my friend Jessie. Just a few days ago her book Sex, Serendipity and Salacia Station was released by JMS Books, and now she has a new Sci/fi story out with Evernight! I have grabbed hold of her as she passed by like a whirlwind, and here's a lovely and thoughtful guest post about the book!
"Dear Katherine, thank you very much for hosting me today with my new release, His to Cherish. In this book I’m going back to Tusnua for my second
empath-anchor couple,
and this time my lovebirds are not emotionally robust, well-adjusted people.
Much of the story focuses on healing from the burdens imparted by one’s
parents. In fact, as I wrote, Gabe revealed himself to be a much more damaged
character than I’d originally envisioned, and I think he’s all the more
compelling for it.
The interesting aspect of Gabe’s
character is that he’s not consciously aware of just how much damage his cold,
inattentive parents did, and the way this pain influenced his outlook on life
and interactions with other people. This is something I see frequently in the
world around me, because taking that long, hard look at childhood pain isn’t
easy when a person has years of defensively ignoring the hurt, and was anyway
too young when it occurred to recognize and name what wounded them.
Without peeling back the layers of
self-defense, though, one can’t identify the pain, which is the first step to healing.
Sometimes, as in Gabe’s case, circumstances come to a point where our old hurts
scream to be addressed so we can move forward in life. Certainly, it’s much
easier to have a successful romantic relationship when one has moved past the
immediacy of childhood pain, and that’s the heart of Gabe’s journey. "
Love may be within his reach… if he is able to trust in it.
Gabe Thorne was disgusted by his sister’s plan to purchase an
empath. She wanted someone who would be compelled to please her, and only her
sudden death interrupted the plan. The empath she’d chosen, Ignacio, needs to
bond with an anchor almost immediately, and Gabe volunteers to prevent him from
being auctioned off to an abuser by his greedy parents.
Ignacio proves to be a sweet, enchanting guy, and soon Gabe begins
to develop real feelings for him. Despite this, and the lifelong commitment he
made when he let Ignacio bond to him, Gabe doesn’t believe they can have a real
relationship. His long habit of pessimism has protected him from a lot of
disappointment over the years. This time? Expecting the worst might ruin any
chance of a happy relationship.
Excerpt:
Having Nacio
around and frequently reading, Gabe found himself reading more as well. So he
was lying in bed, finishing a short story before going to sleep for the night,
when Nacio said, “Gabe, I think it’s happening.”
“You’re bonding
with me?”
Nacio nodded. “I
can’t fight it.”
“Hey, you don’t
have to fight it.” Gabe set aside his tablet and rolled on his side so he could
face his bedmate. He pulled Nacio into his arms. “I’m here for you.”
“This is
forever. I’ll always need you.” Nacio’s blue eyes darted around, a sure sign he
was nervous.
“I know.” While
it was rushed and he’d have liked more time, they didn’t have that option and
he truly thought this was the best thing for Nacio. It was nerve-wracking
because Gabe didn’t know if it was the best idea for himself.
If they were
fortunate, they might just end up in the kind of relationship Gabe wanted, two
men in a long-term, loving, monogamous sharing of lives. He was far from
certain that would happen, and if the future didn’t work out the way he hoped,
Nacio would forever be in his life in some capacity. Gabe knew what he was
signing on for and he would honor the commitment, whatever the personal cost.
He could do no less for this endearing man who trusted him so completely.
He kissed
Nacio’s forehead. “I’ll always be here for you, and I’m not going to take
advantage of you. There’s no need to fight, okay? You have so much to deal
with, sensing all those emotions. Let me help you.”
Nacio clung to
Gabe, face pressed into his shirt. “I’m glad it’s you.”
“Me too.” As
much as this was upending his world, Gabe spoke the truth. He did not at all
like the idea of Nacio having someone else as his anchor, someone who might not
appreciate him or support his individuality as much as Gabe did, and in the
short time Nacio had been with him, he’d grown incredibly fond of the young
man. “Is there anything I can do to make this easier?”
The answer was
spoken into his chest. “Don’t let go.”
Simple enough.
It felt so good, so right, to hold Nacio. They had similar builds and heights,
with Gabe slightly broader-chested but not as long-limbed, and it was easy to
align their bodies for optimal contact.
“I’ve got you,
sweetheart.” He rubbed circles on Nacio’s back in what he hoped was a soothing
manner. “You don’t have to fight it.”
“You’re so uncertain.”
“Well, sure. We
haven’t even known each other a week, and we have no clue what our future is
going to look like. Doesn’t mean I’m changing my mind.”
“Good. I really
want you for my anchor, Gabe. Not because of your family or money, because
those aren’t so very important. I want you because you’re kind and thoughtful,
and you make me smile a lot. Also, the fact that you’re such a good person
despite your family speaks very highly to your character.”
It was an
incredible privilege to be Nacio’s anchor, and while Gabe wasn’t convinced he
was worthy of the honor, he’d do his very best. “I feel the same way about you
with your parents. They’re so terrible and yet you’re a great guy.”
Nacio smiled.
“I’m glad you think so. I really am very lucky to get you for my anchor.”
Gabe wasn’t sure
about that, but hearing it felt damn good all the same. “I’m not big on making
promises,” he said, “because if I make one, I keep it. I’ll promise you this,
though—I will never, ever deliberately take advantage of being your anchor, and
if I don’t realize I’m doing it, tell me and I will stop.”
“I believe you,”
said Nacio quietly. “With you, bonding isn’t frightening the way I’d thought.”
“Good.”
For something as
mad as agreeing to be Nacio’s anchor, it felt remarkably right to hold him.
Gabe was content to lie in silence and let Nacio deal with the empathy. He
didn’t think he’d be much help in that department.
“You know,
everyone uses the term anchor, but now that it’s happening to me I think an
old-fashioned compass might be a better analogy,” said Nacio. “I’m pulled to
you like a magnet, and you’ll help keep me oriented in a sea of emotions.”
The description
made sense to Gabe, who wasn’t very well versed in empathy. He resolved to work
on increasing his knowledge. “So you can feel the bond forming?”
“Yes. Don’t let
go, please.”
“I won’t.” In
fact, he held Nacio a bit tighter. “I’ve got you.”
Nacio’s next
move could only be described as nuzzling followed by a murmur of contentment.
Gabe wasn’t sure any physical contact had ever hit him the way this did. All
the protective and nurturing instincts he usually tried to ignore rushed to the
surface, along with great affection.
Nacio looked at
him, wide-eyed. “Oh, Gabe.”
Wishing he could
hide his feelings if only to protect his heart, Gabe resigned himself to the
fact that he was falling hard and fast. It would probably come back to bite him
in the ass later, but with Nacio looking at him with such wonder, in the moment
he was having a hard time finding the regret he knew was lurking just around
the corner.
“Would you mind very much to kiss me? I want
to know what it feels like.”
As if he could
refuse Nacio anything. Since this was presumably the younger man’s first kiss,
Gabe kept it light, a gentle press of his lips on Nacio’s, followed by another
which lingered a little longer. The third kiss Nacio shyly returned.
“So that’s
kissing,” he said. “I can see the appeal.”
Find His to Cherish
at Evernight (with new release discount):
https://www.evernightpublishin g.com/his-to-cherish-by- jessie-pinkham/
On Amazon: http://mybook.to/HistoCherish
On Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/his-to-cherish-mm
On Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/ books/view/820898
at Evernight (with new release discount):
https://www.evernightpublishin g.com/his-to-cherish-by- jessie-pinkham/
On Amazon: http://mybook.to/HistoCherish
On Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/his-to-cherish-mm
On Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/ books/view/820898
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