Maggie Blackbird

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Blessed, book one in The Matawapit Family series, a m/m contemporary romance. Don’t forget to check out the other book hooks by participating authors here.

A mixed-blood Catholic seminarian struggles to discern his true calling: the priesthood or his ex-lover, a proud but damaged Ojibway man.

It’s been ten years since Emery Matawapit sinned, having succumbed to temptation for the one thing in his life that felt right, another man. In six months he’ll make a life-changing decision that will bar him from sexual relationships for the rest of his life.

Darryl Keejik has a decade-long chip on his shoulder, and he holds Emery’s father, the church deacon, responsible for what he’s suffered: the loss of his family and a chance at true love with Emery. No longer a powerless kid, Darryl has influence within the community—maybe more than the deacon, and he intends on using his new-found power to destroy Deacon Matawapit and the church.

Hoping to save the church, Emery races home. But stopping Darryl is harder than expected when their sizzling chemistry threatens to consume Emery. Now he is faced with the toughest decision of his life: please his devout parents and fulfill his call to the priesthood, or remain true to his heart and marry the man created for him.

Genre(s):  Multicultural, M/M Contemporary Romance, First Nations Romance, Adult, LGBTQ+, Inspirational.
Heat Rating:  Level 3
Publication Date:  July 6, 2018
Publisher:  eXtasy Books

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The grass rustled as Darryl moved around Emery. “You’re doing it again. Pissing me off. I’m trying my damndest to respect your devotion to your god. Now we’re behaving no better than a couple of twelve-year-olds.”

“I’m not sulking.” Emery ground his teeth.

Darryl cocked his brow. “I am. I don’t want you kissing anyone but me. Knowing…” He flexed his fingers. “Knowing you were trying to erase me, erase us, by dating women, I’m about ready to push the damn tree on you.”

“I admitted I was wrong to do that. I had no right to abandon you when you needed me. Everything about it was wrong. I didn’t have any feelings for those girls.” Emery swallowed. Was a bomb ticking inside him, ready to go off? “The-the only time it f-f-felt right was with you.”

Darryl’s eyes shone brighter than onyx. “Trying to make yourself straight?”

The crazy heat kept creeping along Emery’s cheeks. “It was a stupid idea. I told you, Father Arnold helped me accept who I am.”

“You said your sexuality is a work in progress. Has this weekend helped?”

“Yes.” Emery wiped his hands on his shorts. “When I’m out here… What we did wasn’t about lust or self-satisfaction. It was two people giving themselves to each other. To give from here…” He tapped his chest. “Requires trust. You make yourself vulnerable. Humble. That is Christ’s way.”

Darryl’s palms glided over Emery’s shoulders. “I’ve been waiting ten years to hear you say this.”

“And if I didn’t?” The stiffness in Emery’s spine vanished.

“I’d still love you.” Darryl’s hand moved across the nape of Emery’s neck, urging him to lean downward.

They were so close the scent of bug spray and sweat pricked Emery’s nostrils. Although they hadn’t bathed since Friday morning and had sat outside in a sauna for two days, none of it mattered. He slid his mouth over Darryl’s.

When Darryl’s arms wrapped Emery’s shoulders, their chests melted together. As their lips moved in the same slow rhythm, a light fever consumed Emery. His limbs weakened, and he clutched Darryl, who moaned.

Moist breaths fanned Emery’s nose. Darryl’s tongue flicked at Emery’s mouth. He parted his lips. Wet heat invaded him. He licked Darryl’s tongue that swirled and lapped at Emery’s.

It’d been too long since Emery had last kissed someone. Not someone. He was made to join only with one person, and he held the special man God had created for him in his arms.

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