About The Bohemians
Author: Sean Micheal
Word Count: 28000
Page Count (pdf): 111
ISBN: 978-1-988377-64-3
Date Published: June 16, 2017
Publisher: Sean Michael
Price: 2.99
Genre: Contemporary
Pairing: MM
Series name and number: n/a
Heat Rating: 
Summary:
Topaz is a free-spirit, loving easily, though searching for his true soul-mate. As soon as he meets Quincy, he realizes this is the man who has been calling for him in his dreams and he offers his whole self, body, heart, mind and soul, without thought.
Quincy gives away his heart too easily, and has been hurt in love more than once. Still, that doesn’t stop him from falling head over heels for Topaz when he first meets the man.
It seems like a match made in heaven, but Topaz lives with two men who are his best friends, and also his lovers. Will Quincy ever be able to understand that Topaz has more than enough love in his heart for his best friends and his soul-mate, or will Topaz’s bohemian ways be too much for Quincy to understand?
Originally published in the Bus Stories Anthology and released as a stand alone by a different publisher.
Excerpt:
They’d somehow gone from light and flirting to was he lonely now and he wasn’t quite sure how they’d gotten there or how much of himself he was willing to reveal. There was something about this man though… maybe it was the crazy pigtails. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
“Yeah.” Almond-shaped eyes the color of dark honey shone at him. “There’s a cure for that. Geminis need friends. It’s good for air signs.”
“Oh? And what’s your sign?” He blushed hard as the words passed his lips. Had he really said that? Out loud?
The odd little man laughed happily. “Pisces, Gemini rising. Very fun, yes?”
“Does that mean you’d make a good friend?” he asked, embarrassment giving way to the man’s laughter. The man was infectious, in a good way, and Quince had to bite his tongue to keep from asking him out. He asked a different question instead. “And what about your name? What is it?”
“Topaz.” A series of delicate brown flowers were interspersed amongst the blue. “And I’m a great friend. No question. I love to play.”
“Topaz… it suits you.” And it did, it fit with the odd way the man was dressed and coiffed. “I haven’t played in a long time. I hope I haven’t forgotten how.”
Those eyes fastened onto him. “I don’t believe you could. Your eyes want to be happy.”
“Yours want to have fun.”
Quince lowered his gaze to the vase, gasping a little at the arrangement. It was wild and free and shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Kind of like Topaz himself.
“You like?” He wasn’t sure if Topaz meant the arrangement or those eyes.
It didn’t matter though because his answer was the same either way. “I do.”
He looked back up, met Topaz’ eyes.
“Yeah, Gemini. I do too.” Those thin fingers grabbed some twine and a bit of this and that from deep pockets and a simple adornment was on the vase, a blue bead and a tiger’s eyes hanging on a bit of copper wire.
Quince reached out, brushing his fingers over it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His fingers were touched, caressed. “If you decide to play, I’m at the Loft — the artist’s co-op — in the weaver’s shop. I’m very interested.”
“I’ve got your marigolds, Sunshine,” Stephan called out. “And a lovely cluster of crocuses for my Leo.”
Quince started at the sound of Stephan’s voice, but found a smile for Topaz. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you there.”
“I would enjoy that.” He was handed his vase and then Topaz stood, and headed toward Stephan, singing, “For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.”
Quince went in the same direction more slowly, freezing as Stephan laughed and grabbed Topaz by his neck, taking a happy kiss.
“Now, now. What would your mountain man think?” Topaz smiled and hugged Stephan. “Bright blessings, Daisy. And Gemini, do come to play, please? Your eyes are addictions!”
With that, the whirlwind disappeared out the door with a laugh.
Stephan gave him a smile and he thought the man was going to say something about him and Topaz, but the brown eyes lighted on his flowers.
“Oh! How wonderful! The perfect combination. They suit you. And what do you want for the boss’ wife? Something big and showy I’ll bet. I just received some orchids in the most brilliant colors.”
And just like that the moment was gone. It was probably for the best, Topaz wasn’t his type, he had a horrible track record and the last guy he’d been seeing had taken out his heart and stomped it into little tiny pieces. Okay, so that was a bit melodramatic, but it had hurt and he’d declared it the last straw.
Still, nine months was a long time for a man to be celibate and he couldn’t help hoping that something might come of the flirting. Or maybe it was just the wildflowers and Mozart lending him some optimism.