Take a look inside my new book!

Take a look inside my new book!

Top to Bottom (His Boy Next Door #38) comes out Feb 14th, but that’s over a week away and that’s almost forever.

So how about a sneak peek? Yeah, let’s do that!

Top to Bottom

Chapter One (partial)

Lounging naked in the sun beside his private saltwater pool high above the streets of Santa Rita, Jack allowed himself to feel blessed. The sun was warm, he was suffused with a pleasant post-workout lassitude, he had no commitments today and nowhere to be. Just this, a moment in the sun. And somewhere nearby—

The telltale click of a digital camera caught his ear, and he smiled. “Enjoying the view, sweetheart?”

He heard Channon laugh, soft and low, and that same click again. “It’s a really good view, Sir.”

Jack opened his eyes, turning his head toward the sound. There was Channon. Jack felt the familiar flood of affection and arousal that came from looking at him. Mine, he thought, possessive and greedy. He’s all mine.

At twenty, Channon had the lean-muscled physique of a swimsuit model, and the pale complexion of someone who worked at a computer desk and used a lot of sunscreen. Jack was several shades darker, but despite that, with the age gap and the same dark, neatly trimmed hair, Jack was sometimes mistaken for Channon’s father.

Less so these days—at twenty, Channon looked considerably more grown up than he had at eighteen, more of a man now, solid and confident. Beautiful.

The sight of him made something in Jack’s chest tighten, this large thing compressed into a small space. He cleared his throat, eyeing the camera in Channon’s hand. “Should I expect to see that on Instagram?”

Channon laughed again, rocking back on one foot. “You’re not safe for work, Sir. But I can post it on FetLife if you want.” He wasn’t entirely naked, still wearing the skimpy speedo he’d put on for his swim, and Jack felt like this was a crime requiring reparation.

“Hand over the camera,” Jack said. Channon did. Jack took a moment to refamiliarize himself with the interface. “Get naked.”

Channon obeyed the command, and then he tucked his hands behind his back, squirming a little as Jack lifted the camera. He didn’t pose, just looked uncertain. Jack took a few shots and then told him to stretch. Channon did this easily, hands clasped above his head, spine arched like a bow. Jack tried to do him justice with the camera, but it was impossible. Jack had no talent for photography and no interest in practicing, even with such attractive inspiration.

He lowered the camera. “Want to show me your photos, sweetheart?”

Channon knelt on the decking beside Jack’s sun lounge, taking the camera back and grinning at Jack’s handiwork. He flicked through the gallery until he found what he was looking for, fiddling with the buttons before offering the camera to Jack, viewscreen tilted in his direction.

Though Jack was probably the opposite of an expert in photography, he thought Channon’s work was improving. This shot was nicely framed, in focus, balanced, and showed a very flattering angle of Jack’s naked body, stretched out hedonistically in the sun.

“It needs work in Photoshop,” Channon said, sounding nervous. “Not, like, airbrushing. Just contrast and, um, color balance and stuff.”

“So you’re not going to remove my stretch marks?” They were barely visible, Jack thought, just pale silvery lines on the undersides of his arms where he’d bulked up too much, too fast, a long time ago.

Channon blinked at him. “What stretch marks?” When Jack pointed them out, Channon blinked some more. “Oh. Um. No? Did you want me to?”

“I’m teasing, sweetheart. I might be vain, but I don’t want to be lied to about the reality of my frail human body.”

This made Channon grin. “Good.” He bent his head to press a kiss to the faint silver marks above Jack’s armpit. “I love your frail human body.”

Jack grinned back at him. “Lucky me.” He brushed the pad of his thumb over Channon’s lower lip, dragging it down and letting it pop back up again. “All packed for the weekend?”

“Yes, Sir.” Channon pressed his tongue to the place Jack’s thumb had been, color rising in his cheeks.

“Um. Did you want me to pack anything special?”

He blushed so easily. Jack found it unspeakably attractive, knowing that for Channon embarrassment was often a precursor to other, headier states of mind. Jack enjoyed his embarrassment too much, sometimes. “Like what?”

There—his color deepened. “Like…anything lacy. Or. Um. Things.”

Jack couldn’t help his grin. “Lacy things? Toys, maybe?” God, Channon’s mortification was delightful.

“Is that what you meant?”

“Yes, Sir,” Channon mumbled.

“Don’t worry. You don’t have to pack anything special.” He reached up to ruffle Channon’s hair. “Are you excited about our trip?”

Channon nodded, chewing his lip. “I’m a bit nervous.”

“About?”

“I don’t know. I just…I haven’t been a guest in someone’s house like this. It’s different with your family because they’re family.” His eyes were wide and open and utterly guileless. He was lovely, and Jack loved him, and his sincerity only made him feel it stronger. “Victor isn’t family. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

This was fair, Jack supposed. Victor Ruiz wasn’t family. He was a friend, but of the kind who did not know everything about Jack and Channon’s lives, which led to some necessary distance. But he was also close to them in one specific way that very few people were.

Jack beckoned Channon closer. “Do you want to fuck him again?” he asked, low and intimate.

That blush. Channon was in danger of burning his face. “If you want me to, Sir.”

“I didn’t ask that. I asked if you wanted to.” Jack touched Channon’s chin, gripping it gently. “You can assume I’m on board with whatever you want. This isn’t a trick question.”

Channon’s lashes were dark on his flushed cheek. He licked his lips and looked up. His eyes were very green in the pre-dusk summer brightness. “Yes, Sir,” he whispered. “If he wants.”

Good boy, Jack thought. But what he said aloud was, “Okay. Let’s find out if he does.”


Excerpt from Top to Bottom (His Boy Next Door #38) by R.J. Moray. Check out the reviews on Goodreads.


😮 What do you think? Want more?

Robin Moray is a carbon based life-form from the planet earth, who likes reading, writing, and daydreaming about the day some awesome supernatural or extraterrestrial being suggests they run away together.

One comment

  1. Tracy says:

    It always feels like an eternity between the books in this series. I’ve missed reading about Jack and Channon so much. I can’t wait for this. I already know it’s going to be amazing!

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