My story in Package Deal, a BBB Publishings anthology, is Hacking Planet Fun, a sci-fi MM romance.
Kam, Master of the Thieves' Guild Academy on the planet Kelthia, deals with a school full of fledgling thieves, con artists, and hackers, and doesn't need attitude from students or faculty. When he rejects a half-feline half-human prodigy for unmanageable behavior, his ex, Brinn, fosters the girl himself.
Brinn handles the unruly child well, and Kam grudgingly agrees she shows great potential as a future thief. Missing Brinn, Kam seeks to win him back. But when the child comes under suspicion as having hacked Planet Fun, an empire-renowned anti-gravity theme park, Kam must decide whether to trust his well-honed instincts... or his long-divided heart.
A twist on academy stories, the male-male science fiction romance Hacking Planet Fun focuses on the staff, and introduces a classroom of tiny precocious thieves who will steal your heart.
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In this scene, Kam had gone to Brinn's household to inform him of a meeting Brinn had missed, but he was also checking up on the little girl Brinn is fostering. Each man has feelings for the other, but neither will bend enough to be honest about his feelings. I'll let this excerpt speak for itself.
Once the others were out of sight, Kam relaxed.
Brinn glared. "Is this an official inspection?"
"The Academy does require a check-in, and since I wanted to tell you about the board meeting, I said I'd handle it."
"As you can see, we have things under control." Brinn jammed his arms across his chest.
The tension in Brinn's posture had eased when he'd been interacting with Dresden about the pet mowt, but now it returned, full force.
"She seems really sweet." Kam adjusted his collar. "I'm glad for her. And for you."
"Why would you be glad for me?"
"Because you need to get back to work. I think helping this little girl might do it for you."
"Just what do you mean by that?"
Why was he so touchy about everything? And what had Kam said now?
"Look," Brinn headed for the door, and Kam followed. "Thanks for telling me about the meeting. Don't worry. We'll take care of your mowt. Send a text when you're back and we'll bring him to you." Brinn opened the door.
"Thanks." He stuck out his hand, and Brinn shook it. "See you in a couple days."
Kam hadn't even gotten off the front steps before the door slammed. Okay, maybe not a full slam, but more than a quiet close. The kind of close when unwanted company finally left. Halfway between good-riddance and don't-come-back.
Could Brinn not let down his guard for one minute? No matter how many times or how many ways Kam found to be in the man's circle, Brinn remained indifferent.
Shutting Kam out. Kam was probably reading more into Brinn's actions than he needed to.
But, knowing Brinn, maybe not.
***
Brinn caught the door before it slammed. He might be irritated, but he didn't want Kam picking up on it. Still, it closed pretty hard.
What was he worrying about? Kam was clueless anyway.
Or maybe he wasn't. With that constant stony-faced expression of his, who could tell? Maybe there was more going on beneath the surface.
Why should he even think about the man? It wasn't like they had anything going on. They'd had a few nights together after completing a huge project. That was it. They'd each been too wrapped up in other projects to continue the relationship. Hadn't they?
So why did his heart race every time he and Kam were in the same room? It wasn't like Kam had any interest. The man found every tiny reason to be in Brinn's business. Questioning his motives. Asking him questions. Finding fault with his answers.
Like coming all the way out here to tell him about a meeting. Come on. No, Kam was checking up on him. Of all the nerve.
Okay, maybe Brinn was reading more into it than it was worth.
But, knowing Kam, maybe not.
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