Sylvan

Back home in Sylvan, the small Western lake town where he grew up, Mal Harrison is grieving over the loss of his grandmother and his former life as an Olympic swimmer. He’s building a new life but just doesn’t know where to begin; then he meets Leif Gunnar and finds the instant crackling chemistry between them might just be a place to start.

But Leif is carrying a heavy burden in caring for his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. It consumes his life, and despite Mal’s efforts to woo him and his own frustrated desire for Mal, Leif just can’t let him get close. To find happiness and a future, they’ll have to agree that searching together is better than being found alone.

Sylvan is a sweet, realistic story of the burdens we carry and how love can lighten them. At first, Mal came across as a bit self-centered, and he was. Like many people who have been focused on a particular goal only to lose it, he has to find himself again. I really felt for Leif, with his insistence on caring for his father at the expense of his own life and happiness. They both have issues to work through, and a lot of emotional upheaval, before they can find a way to be together. I really enjoyed the slow pace of the relationship in Sylvan, and the likeable, and believable, characters--Cassie from Joyfully Reviewed.

Excerpt from Sylvan

The cottage was charming, maybe built around the 1920s. There was still an outhouse in the hedge-screened front yard. They walked up creaking front stairs and Mal opened the screen door, inviting Leif inside.

He switched on the lights and nothing happened.

"Fuck."

"No worries," Leif said, used to older cottages. The wiring sometimes suffered from being old and having weathered a lot of storms. "Have you got a lamp?"

It was dark and close inside the kitchen. He listened as Mal opened a drawer, rooting around, and then a moment later lighted an oil lamp. The light was even more flattering on Mal's sleepy features than the moonlight had been, and that was saying something.

Leif opened the vintage fridge and pulled out some milk while Mal pulled out a tin of old-fashioned cocoa and some sugar to sweeten it. Two green mugs in hand and they moved into the dining room where the woodstove sat. Mal opened it up and put a match to the newspaper balled inside along with slivers of kindling and a chunk of fresh log.

Leif knew he had to get home soon but even as he saw it was almost Four A.M., he wanted to stay and watch Mal make him cocoa. That was the real treat.

Mal's hair was as dark as the wing on a crow, silky looking. Leif could imagine feathering it through his big callused fingers. His eyes were startling in contrast, brilliant blue.

But before they could drink their warming cocoa, Mal surprised him. He discarded the jacket Leif had lent him and hooked a thumb under his swimming trunks, tugging them down and off in one heart-pounding movement.

The moonlight and soft glow of the lamp were very revealing, as was Mal's body. He stared into Leif's eyes and then he climbed on Leif's lap and Leif found himself grabbing hold of lake water cooled ass. "What are you doing…?"

"Come on…" Mal whispered in Leif's ear before he nipped it.

Leif was panting, and his hands betrayed him for a moment, smoothing down firm skin, but then he took a deep breath and gently lifted Mal off his lap and stood up. He was conscious that the moonlight must be revealing of his own condition also."I have to go now," he said.

"What?" Mal laughed.

"Home. I have to go home. Papa might wake up, miss me…"

Mal shook his head, moving forward like the siren Leif had pulled from the water, arms winding around Leif's neck. He rubbed his hardness wantonly against Leif, made him burn. "Leif."

"You said I wasn't cute," Leif said, disengaging Mal's arms.

"Who cares what I said?" Mal said. He had his hands on his hips now, blue eyes narrowed and flashing annoyance. "Look, you like what you see. Let's just-"

"That's not how it's done," Leif said primly, picking up his jacket. He tried not to look at Mal. He was...

"Not how it's done?" Mal's voice rose in disbelief. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Copyright: Jan Irving

Purchase Sylvan HERE.

Also available, the spin off Luke HERE.

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