Life, Books, and More....: Beau by Nicole Edwards

Nicole's highly anticipated novel of 2018...

BEAU

Release Date: October 23, 2018

Cover Model(s): Randy & Eisman

THEIR LOVE IS UNDENIABLE…

Happily married for four and a half years, Beau and Ethan Walker are ready for the next phase in their lives. They want what so many people dream of: A baby.

THEIR COMMITMENT IS UNWAVERING…

Expanding their family with a tiny bundle of joy isn’t as easy for them as it is for the rest of the Walker clan. However, they have options and they’re willing to do what it takes because they’ve learned that the things worth fighting for aren’t always easy, but they are definitely worth it.

THEIR STRENGTH WILL BE TESTED…

Despite their deep desire and their endless efforts to start a family, there are outside forces working against them. Some they can see, others they can’t. Every step forward seems to take them two steps back.

Only during their darkest moments do Beau and Ethan realize their true strength comes from the most important things they have: love, family, and each other.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

'Beau' is the continuation of Ethan and Beau's story beyond the HEA of 'Ethan'. Please, please read 'Ethan' first to get a full sense and understanding of their journey and the challenges they faced along the way. It will bring a deeper meaning to this book.

These two have endured so much for being true to themselves. They are incredible men and their vulnerabilities add to you falling in love with them. This book reminds us that beyond the HEA, life continues to throw curve balls and that true love is more than just a HEA. It is the little things as well as the big gestures. It is in the daily struggles and life challenges.

This was just as emotional as 'Ethan' as they are faced with the prospect of never having the family of their own as well as continued homophobia. Their helplessness seeps off the page and gets under your skin and has you so desperately wanting their dreams to be fulfilled.

An incredibly well written book, written with sensitivity and poise. I came away with my heart warmed and feeling hopeful. Hopeful that good people can win out over the bad; hopeful that karma will strike; and hopeful that people can change. This is why Nicole Edwards' books will always be at the top of my must reads.

Friday, July 20, 2018
(Current day)

“So, I was thinkin’…”

Ah, hell.

Perched on the arm of the couch, Ethan Walker glanced over at the stairs willing his husband to stop while he was ahead. Ethan knew what was coming before Beau even finished that statement and now was not the time for--

“Maybe we could skip dinner,” Beau continued, the deep cadence of his voice echoing off the walls as he made his way down the stairs. “And I could just lay you out on the kitchen table and feast on you tonight.”

Every inch of skin from Ethan’s chest to the tips of his ears flamed hot.

Well, technically, his entire body turned into a giant inferno before Beau rounded the landing and started down the second set of steps because, as was the way his life went, Ethan wasn’t the only one to have heard his husband’s sexy proposition.

Not by a long shot.

While Ethan’s life was a twelve on a scale of one to ten these days, it did seem that karma or fate or whatever the hell you wanted to call it was hell-bent on ensuring he suffered as much embarrassment as physically possible. As though life couldn’t be copacetic without a routine dose of mortification.

Today’s dose was a little more humiliating than others.

Ethan swallowed hard and stared at Beau, silently wishing the floor would open up and suck him down. The man Ethan loved more than life was sans shirt, shoes, and socks, wearing only a pair of well-worn blue jeans and a sexy smile.

It could’ve been worse. Maybe. At least Beau was wearing something.

The chuckle that sounded from Ethan’s sister-in-law said their guests were still there and they’d gotten more than an earful.

“Oh, shit.” Beau’s dark brown eyes widened as he came to a stop on the last step, his shocked gaze bouncing from one face to another.

“Hey, babe,” Ethan said tersely, trying to shrug off the embarrassment of having his husband proposition him while their company witnessed it firsthand. “Guess who’s here?” As though Beau couldn’t see with his own eyes, Ethan announced, “Travis, Kylie, Gage, and V.”

“And Zane,” Ethan’s youngest brother declared as he stepped out from the hallway. “I heard it, too.”

Fucking yeah.

Beau didn’t move, his gaze still darting from one person to the next. “Good to see you guys.”

Good wasn’t quite the word Ethan was thinking.

Figuring what the hell, Ethan risked a glance at their guests. Just as he thought, Travis was smirking, Kylie’s cheeks had turned a rosy pink, Gage was smiling, V was pretending she wasn’t there, and Zane was grinning like a loon.

The fucker.

“We were gonna suggest y’all join us at the diner,” Gage said after clearing his throat, his grin far too wide.

Zane—ever helpful—added, “But it sounds to me like you’ve already got plans. You know, with the table and all.”

Ethan coughed to cover a strained laugh. He wasn’t sure why he was laughing. Probably because he was seconds away from Forrest Gump-ing it out of the house. Once he made it past the porch, he’d be home free. Maybe if he ran long enough, one day they’d all forget this ever happened.

He peered up at Travis, then shot a look in Zane’s direction.

Nope. He couldn’t get that lucky. Ethan knew his brothers would never forget—ever, ever, ever—so he might as well save the time and energy.

“Lorrie and Curtis offered to watch the babies tonight,” Kylie explained. “So we thought we’d get outta the house for a bit. We stopped by to see if y’all wanted to join us.”

“Clearly, you two were thinkin’ about stayin’ in,” Travis offered, his deep voice ringing with mirth.

Ethan locked his eyes on Beau, refusing to look at his oldest brother again. He did not want to see any more amusement on the man’s face.

“Well, I think that’s our cue to go,” V said sweetly, grabbing Zane’s hand. “Come on, babe.”

Zane glanced at Ethan and smirked.

Fuck.

“Oh, but Ethan,” Gage stated, grinning as he turned toward the door, “you might wanna reinforce that table before … you know.”

Ethan discreetly flipped his brother-in-law off by rubbing the bridge of his nose with his middle finger.

Gage laughed.

“Come on, y’all,” Travis said, pushing off the wall and taking his wife’s hand. “Maybe we’ll see if Sawyer and Kennedy wanna grab a bite.”

“We’ll go,” Beau added, his tone reluctant. He clearly didn’t want to go.

“Oh, no,” Gage said dramatically. “I suggest you stay here and do exactly what you were plannin’.”

Zane’s head appeared in the doorway. “Far more interesting than a burger and fries.”

Ethan’s gaze shot to his husband’s, noticing the cocky grin that formed on Beau’s mouth.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Ethan blushed.

Again.

His husband liked to do that to him. In fact, Ethan wouldn’t put it past Beau to have known that Travis and Zane, as well as their significant others, were here before he made that raunchy request.

“Talk to ya later,” Travis added on his way out the door. “And reinforce that table, E. Gage is right. Safety’s key.”

Ethan’s brother offered a backhanded wave over his head as he shifted his other hand behind Kylie’s back and urged her out of the house and down the porch steps.

Ethan didn’t hesitate before shutting the door.

Fucking hell.

As soon as they were alone, Ethan spun around to face Beau. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“Who me?” Beau was a picture of innocence, which made Ethan laugh. There wasn’t a damn thing virtuous about his barely dressed husband.

“Asshole,” Ethan grumbled, but he couldn’t stop the grin from pulling at the corners of his mouth.

Beau approached him, wrapping his big arms around Ethan and jerking him closer. “But you love me. Asshole and all.”

Ethan choked on a laugh. “Literally,” he agreed.

“I know what’ll make you love me more,” Beau whispered, leaning in and brushing his lips along Ethan’s jaw. “You know when I do that thing … with my tongue?”

Ethan moaned, tilting his head and offering Beau better access as his lips caressed Ethan’s neck. He stumbled a couple of steps until his back was against the wood door. The man’s mouth alone made his fucking knees weak.

“Yeah. You know what I’m talkin’ about,” Beau mumbled against his skin.

They might’ve been married for four and a half years now, but Ethan had to admit, the honeymoon still wasn’t over for them. In fact, if he had his way, the honeymoon would never be over.

The ridiculously attractive man who was his husband reached down and unbuttoned Ethan’s jeans, then slowly lowered the zipper as he kissed and licked Ethan’s neck.

Ethan placed his hand on Beau’s, halting his movements. “What do you think you’re doin’?”

Beau’s smile could be felt against his neck. “Makin’ it up to you.”

“Making what up?”

“My little blunder.” Beau’s breath fanned his neck. “I’m thinkin’ I can make you forget all about it by using my wicked oral skills on your cock as a distraction.”

Well, hell. Who could say no to that?

“Right now. Right here.” Beau’s words rasped against Ethan’s ear as Beau worked his T-shirt up his torso, then over his head. “My mouth wrapped around your cock.”

“That’s a good start.” A groan escaped as Beau stroked his dick slowly, leisurely.

“Is that what you need?”

“Oh, yeah.” Ethan would never turn down a blow job from Beau. “Put your mouth on me.”

Beau pushed Ethan’s jeans down his hips, freeing his cock. When his big hand fisted Ethan’s shaft again, it was difficult not to get lost in the sensation. The man knew every single one of Ethan’s buttons. He even knew just how hard to press them to make Ethan’s head spin.

“You know I could do this all day, every day.” Beau’s dark eyes were full of heat as he lowered himself to his knees.

Ethan planted his palms against the door behind him, his gaze dropping to Beau’s face as warmth enveloped his cock. He shuddered as the pleasure radiated through him. It didn’t matter where they were, whenever Beau turned his full attention on Ethan, he knew he was a goner. Resistance was futile.

Not that he had any intention of resisting. That desire had died a long time ago, back when Ethan had given in to Beau’s persistence in the beginning. Back when the man currently on his knees before him had insisted Ethan give in and take what was being offered.

Sliding one hand into Beau’s thick blond hair, Ethan tugged him closer, then pushed him back. He repeated the motion, getting lost in the glorious suction of his husband’s mouth.

“Love your mouth,” Ethan moaned. “So fucking much.”

“Well, you’re in luck.” Beau pulled back and licked Ethan from root to tip. “Because my mouth loves your cock.”

“Your mouth loves all of me,” Ethan said on a groan.

“True. Every delicious inch.”

His husband knew that saying shit like that would send Ethan racing to the edge. It always worked.

“Suck me.” Ethan tightened his grip on Beau’s hair. “All of me.”

Beau opened his mouth wide and Ethan took the offer that was given to him. He pushed his hips forward, driving his rock-hard cock deep into Beau’s throat before retreating slowly, watching as his shaft slid over Beau’s lips. The man had perfect lips. Hell, the man had perfect everything.

Ethan reached down and cupped Beau’s head with both hands, then began fucking his mouth hard and deep. The wet rasp of Beau’s tongue caused a tremor to shoot down his spine. Pumping his hips forward and back, Ethan rode the waves of pleasure that crashed into him.

Beau gripped Ethan’s thighs and took every punishing thrust until Ethan’s orgasm was barreling down on him, making him gasp and moan.

“I’m gonna come down your throat,” Ethan warned.

Beau’s only response was a growl of encouragement.

“Fuck, baby.” Ethan inhaled sharply, succumbing to the pleasure as his cock pulsed in Beau’s mouth. “Fuck, yes. Beau … baby … I’m comin’.”

Beau sucked hard and Ethan melted back against the door as his knees threatened to give out, his climax slamming into him, stealing his strength.

Ethan shuddered, weak from the all-consuming pleasure. “I don’t know how you do that.” He attempted to draw air into his lungs. “Every fuckin’ time.”

“The secret…” Beau got to his feet and successfully crushed Ethan between his big body and the door, “is in the fact that I love doing it.”

“What? Embarrassing me?”

Beau’s grin was wicked and contrite at the same time, but his eyes glowed with the love Ethan was so familiar with. “No. Sucking your cock.”

Ethan jerked Beau’s head down and fused their lips together, holding him tightly as he plundered his mouth.

“I would return the favor”—Ethan nipped Beau’s bottom lip—“but I think you deserve to suffer for a little while.”

Beau leaned his forehead against Ethan’s and grinned. “You know I love when you make me wait.”

That he did. While Ethan was all about instant gratification, Beau did enjoy when Ethan tortured him, giving him something to look forward to.

“I love you, E,” Beau said, his lips brushing Ethan’s.

“Love you, too.” Ethan chuckled. “Even if you do insist on embarrassing me in front of my brothers.”

“Me?” Beau pulled back, his dark brown eyes twinkling. “Not me.”

Uh-huh.

Four years or forty, Ethan knew without a doubt that he would never get enough of this man.

Never.