"This book was phenomenal!!! I loved the characters, the story line, the supporting characters [...] This was a very heartwarming book that had some smoking hot sexy times. If I could give this more than five stars, I would do it in a heartbeat." JLovesReading, Goodreads
Published: October 11th, 2019
Can best friends find true love? What if your best friend is your adopted brother?
Griffin can’t fathom his life without Quincy, but he also can’t ignore the crazy sexual attraction buzzing between them.
When Quincy offers up a contract to determine if the sexual tension brewing between them is worth jeopardizing their nearly decade-long friendship, Griffin finds himself helpless to say no.
Will they lose everything they’ve found in each other, or will they seize the opportunity to turn their friendship into something even better?
Forever Better Together is a male/male opposites attract, friends-to-lovers story with delicious sexual tension, a sizzling hot striptease, and emotions guaranteed to punch you in the gut.
EXCERPT
I snorted.
Griffin was my brother and best friend.
Okay, he wasn’t my blood-related brother, but that didn’t
matter to me. He was my brother in all the ways that mattered. We were sixteen,
but we’d known each other since we were ten. He became my brother when we were
twelve.
“What are you over there snorting about?” My dad, Max,
removed his glasses and looked away from his work like he really was
interested. He was a great guy, and I loved him, but he had a bad habit of
getting too involved in his work and forgetting his family.
“I was talking to Grif, and got to thinking about how much
we clashed when he first moved in.” I shook my head.
“Oh, Momma and Pops told me how terrible you guys were at
first.” Dad laughed. “Glad you finally decided to get along. Pretty sure Momma
would have kicked both your asses if you hadn’t.”
“It wasn’t like we hated
each other; we just clashed. We had absolutely nothing in common and Momma
threw us together and basically expected two ten-year-olds to work out their
differences.”
“Well, you two must have done a pretty good job since he’s
your best friend. Momma usually knows what she’s doing.”
“Yeah, she sure called it right. I never would have believed
it then, but it worked out.” I smiled at the thought of when I first met
Griffin.
Six Years Ago
Momma, that’s what everyone called my grandma, held the hand
of the tiny, fragile looking boy, who was about my age.
“Quincy, this is Griffin. He’s going to be staying with us
for a while,” Momma said. “Griffin will share your room; there’s plenty of
space.” This was said in her no-nonsense way that meant no arguing or backtalk.
Griffin barely glanced at me, but I saw tears in his big
blue eyes.
Damn it. I didn’t
want to come across like an asshole, and Momma would have my ass if I did. But
I didn’t want to share my room.
Bad enough my mom was dead and my dad was overseas building
business startups for years at a time then add in the fact that my
grandparents, Momma and Pops, took in foster kids and I never had any privacy.
Then Momma introduces me to this kid who looked like he would faint if I said
anything to him. Damn it.
I loved my grandparents and knew they had huge hearts to
take care of those less fortunate. I just would have liked it to be in a way
that didn’t require me to share my room. The last time I shared my room, Momma
had rolled in two cribs and I’d spent six months sleeping with babies who’d
cried at every hour it seemed.
“Quincy, say hello,” Momma urged and raised her brows.
“Hi, Griffin. Nice to meet you,” I mumbled and held out my
hand.
Griffin hid his head in my grandma’s side.
“He’s been through a lot. Let’s get him set up in his room.”
Momma left no room for discussion.
Griffin and I followed her up the stairs and down the hall.
“Here we go. This is where you’ll sleep. The bed is very
comfortable.” Momma pointed to the far side of the room where the spare bed was
positioned. “The closet is huge so you both can put your clothes in there.”
“I don’t have no clothes anyway,” Griffin mumbled.
“We’ll get you all set up, sweetie,” Momma assured. “Now,
I’ve got to see about the other children and get dinner started. You boys get
to know each other. I’m sure you’ll be the best of friends.”
Griffin stood in the middle of the room looking scared to
death.
“Look, this is a nice place. Momma and Pops will take care
of you.” I felt the need to reassure him.
“I know you don’t want me here. No one ever wants me
anywhere,” Griffin whispered. “I’m sorry you have to give up your room to me.”
My heart hurt
for the kid. But damn Momma for putting him in my room. He would have been
better with the little ones. He seemed like he was scared to death of me.
Griffin was
short. He likely weighed less than me by at least twenty pounds. His skin was
fair; my skin was dark. His eyes were blue; my eyes were deep brown. His
hair light brown; my hair black. He had a look of perpetual fear and fragileness;
I was sturdy, strong, and not afraid of much.
“Nah, you keep out of my business and don’t bother me, we’ll
be fine roommates.” I plopped on my bed. Did Griffin want to tell me what
brought him to Momma and Pops? Probably not. Most foster kids didn’t have great
stories to tell. “You got questions?”
Griffin sat gently on the side of his bed. “Are Momma and
Pops your parents?”
I laughed. “Not really. They’re my grandparents officially,
but they might as well be my biological parents. My mom died when I was born.
My dad, his name is Max, he’s great. But he works in other countries setting up
businesses. I’ve lived with Momma and Pops since I was about three. I go visit
my dad any time he’s back in the United States.”
“What’s the school like here?” Griffin whispered.
I immediately hated the thought that he’d be going to the
run-down trash public school down the street. He’d either be eaten alive or
he’d be such a non-threat that no one would pay him any attention. I prayed for
the latter. I’d have to tell the few remaining neighborhood kids who went to
the public school to keep an eye out for him.
“Well, it’s not the best school ever,” I hedged.
“Figures. None of the schools I’ve ever been to have been
good.” Griffin ran a hand along the comforter. “Do you at least like it a
little?”
I swallowed hard and tried not to feel guilty. “Um, I don’t
go to that school. A lot of kids in this area go to private schools.”
Griffin’s eyes were wide. “Wow, private school.” He shook
his head. “We are probably the most different kids to ever share a room.”
I laughed. “Possibly.”
“Is there a washing machine? I probably need to get these
clothes washed; I’ve had them on for a few days.” Griffin picked at a spot on
his shirt.
“Momma will do your laundry. She’ll get you some clothes for
now. She’s always got all kinds of clothes in different sizes. Then she’ll
probably take you shopping and get you all set up for school.” I glanced around
the room. “You can do your homework at the kitchen table or on your bed. Use
that little table if you want.” I gestured toward the small table. “I use the
desk for my homework.”
Griffin nodded. “I like to do homework. Keeps me busy and
out of the way.”
I frowned. “You like
homework? Gross.”
He shrugged.
“What else do you like?”
“I like to read and watch movies. Dancing is fun. I like
makeup videos.” He added that last part almost as a challenge.
“Like Halloween haunted house type makeup?”
He shrugged. “Any kind. You think that’s girly?”
I shook my head. “Whatever floats your boat. Momma and Pops
don’t allow us to judge others for what they come from or what they like.” I
glanced at my collection of DVDs. “What kind of movies?”
“Mostly Disney if I can find them,” Griffin said.
“I think I’ve got some Disney down there. I’ve also got a
ton of movies on my computer.” I got up and pulled out the laptop I used only
for watching movies. “I don’t use this for homework or anything. You can use it
to watch movies if I’m not using it.”
The way Griffin’s eyes lit up made me feel guilty for being
mad about sharing my room.
“You like dancing? What about singing?” I asked.
Griffin nodded but looked suspicious.
“There are two girls here who love to dance and sing and put
on shows. I bet they’d be thrilled for you to do their makeup and help with
dancing and singing.”
Griffin didn’t say anything, but I thought he looked pleased
with the idea.
About the author:
A.D. Ellis is an Indiana girl, born and raised. She spends much of her time in central Indiana as an instructional coach/teacher in the inner city of Indianapolis, being a mom to two amazing school-aged children, and wondering how she and her husband of nearly two decades haven't driven each other insane yet. A lot of her time is also devoted to phone call avoidance and her hatred of cooking.
She loves chocolate, wine, pizza, and naps along with reading and writing romance. These loves don't leave much time for housework, much to the chagrin of her husband. Who would pick cleaning the house over a nap or a good book? She uses any extra time to increase her fluency in sarcasm.
A.D. uses she/her pronouns.
Author's Giveaway
Very nice cover and I enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeletevery cool cover
ReplyDeleteVery attractive model on that cover.
ReplyDeleteThe cover art seems appropriate for the book. Good job.
ReplyDeleteWOW this looks amazing, love the cover and the title.
ReplyDeletelooks like a good book, love the cover.
ReplyDelete