Hearts of England Read online

  A happy for now finish left me wondering if perhaps there might be a sequel in the works. The story, as it's written, works quite well, either way—sweetly erotic, subtly romantic, and seriously fun."

  —Top2Bottom Reviews

  Reviews for "Dreaming of You" in CHASING THE DREAM say:

  "This is a brilliant little novella, the storyline is fantastic and the characters are great. The sex is scorching hot and they all find love. The story also flicks to 1861 and it really adds to the book, this is great for those who love the paranormal."

  —MM Good Book Reviews

  Reviews for THIRST say:

  "Lisa Worrall has crafted a smart and interesting story of soul deep connection and love against a backdrop of vampires, retribution and loss. This is a hot and sexy romance first and foremost, and we never forget it. Max and Carter steam the ink off the pages.

  Ms. Worrall's strength lies in the characters she creates. Strong, wonderful and complete men who dare to love. Max is all bluster and cop attitude, but underneath a man searching for someone strong enough to make him his. And Carter, so resigned to his life and how it has to play out, but so wanting and needing of a connection.

  The background characters are wonderfully written also. Lyle and Boyd add tension and interest. Especially Lyle. I would like to see his story told next.

  Hot. Rich. Sexy.

  Great job, and another great book from Ms. Worrall."

  —A Bear on Books

  Reviews for MASQUERADE: BEHIND THE MASK say:

  "I am convinced Lisa Worrall is some kind of literary medium. That is the only explanation for her ability to write well across so many genres. In A Nanny for Nate, she showed her sweet side. In Thirst, she went to dark places. And now with Behind the Mask, she's made angst sexy.

  … There isn't a lot of sex in this book, but what's there is very sensuous and loving. The story unfolds in such a way that you have to turn the page. Very well plotted and paced.

  I can honestly say, I've never read a Lisa Worrall book that I didn't love. Highly recommend."

  —MM Good Book Reviews

  Reviews for LAUREL HEIGHTS say:

  "This is a brilliant story that drags you in and keeps you hanging on as it throws red herrings at you.

  The characters in this book were brilliant. The mystery surrounding the murder/suicide is good and keeps you on tender hooks throughout the book.

  The sex in this is hot between Will and Scott and there are some erotic scenes involving some of the other characters as well. I will give warning, we do see evidence of partner swapping and there are also some scenes of physical abuse.

  So this book I recommend to those who love thrillers, mystery, hot sex, confused macho men, a brilliant story, a group of friends that seem incredible and an ending that will make you want to hunt down Lisa Worrall and force her to write the next book NOW. (Hmmm She lives in England, I think I need to visit the seaside soon)."

  —MM Good Book Reviews

  This Morning

  Neil doesn't expect his son, Alex, to tell him he doesn't want to go to South Africa with him and his husband, Baz. Unless Baz understands Neil's son must come first, Neil faces losing the love of his life.

  This Morning

  Sue Brown

  Dedication

  To all the mums and dads of the morning school run. I admire your dedication.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  EastEnders: British Broadcasting Corporation

  McDonald's: McDonald's Corporation

  Nirvana: Nirvana LLC

  Serenity: Universal Pictures

  Chapter 1

  At the shrill sound of the alarm clock, Neil automatically hid his face in the pillow to avoid his husband's arm which flew over his head, as it did every morning, to smack the snooze button. Despite Neil regularly pointing out that the clock was on his side and that he was perfectly capable of dealing with the alarm himself, Baz insisted on turning the damned thing off. After ten years, Neil had learnt to keep his head down to avoid being hit in the face.

  Still buried in the pillow, Neil heard his husband groan loudly. He raised his head to see Baz rolling onto his back, groaning again as he stretched out the length of the bed, accompanied by the sound of joints clicking and popping. When Baz finally settled, Neil rolled into his side, appreciating the warmth of his body for a few more minutes before he had to face the world.

  "Time to get up." Baz yawned as he patted Neil's back.

  It prompted an answering yawn from Neil. "Go back to sleep. You don't have to get up today." Neil stroked Baz's furry belly. He grinned at Baz's satisfied hum and his unconscious arch into Neil's caress.

  "Still gotta get Alex to school, though. He doesn't get a day off, thank God. Today it's just you and me."

  "I'll take him to school. You stay in bed." Despite hating to get up in the morning, Neil thought it was only fair he made the effort this time. As a local GP, the poor man got precious little time off. Normally Baz drove Alex to school on his way to work while, as he was self-employed, Neil got up later and tidied the house when everyone was gone. Neil's commute to work was walking into the back room, his office for many years. He was appropriately sympathetic to Baz's grumbles about the commuter traffic he had to face daily.

  "That would be wonderful. Are you sure?"

  Neil pressed a kiss to Baz's shoulder. "I'm sure. Go back to sleep." He grinned as Baz murmured his appreciation.

  With five more blissful minutes before he had to get up, Neil took the opportunity to snuggle with his husband, pressing in as close as he could. Baz's hand slid down Neil's bare back to cup his arse.

  "Mmm, this is nice," Baz murmured. "I could get used to this."

  "We do this every morning," Neil pointed out.

  Every possible morning, since they'd met as post-graduates a decade ago at university, and fallen for each other over stale sandwiches in the cafeteria. They hadn't spent more than half a dozen nights apart since then, and each one of those had been lonely miserable nights for Neil. There was another reason, of course. Neil didn't want to let Baz out of his sight in case someone else snapped him up. He didn't mention that one, but he had the feeling Baz already knew and was just pandering to his insecurities.

  "So we do. I'm not sure how I'd cope if I didn't have you next to me," Baz agreed, rolling over to face Neil, his large eyes blinking sleepily at him. Neil spent a lot of time staring into Baz's eyes, which changed with his mood. Currently they were a deep blue which meant he was either sleepy or horny―or at the moment, probably both.

  Neil blinked away the image of an empty bed and leaned forward to kiss his husband. "I thought you were going back to sleep."

  "Got a few minutes before you get up. I thought you could give me an extra-special morning treat."

  "Oh? And what did you have in mind?"

  Baz didn't answer, but the unsubtle thrust of his hips made it pretty damned obvious.

  Neil raised his eyebrow. "Hmmm, and what part of me would you like to give you your treat?"

  "Want your mouth," Baz mumbled.

  "My mouth? Here?" Neil kissed him on the shoulder again.

  "Nope."

  Neil kissed Baz's chest, just over his heart. He snuffled a little as Baz's chest hair tickled his nose. "Do you want my mouth here? Or here?"

  "No-oh!" Baz said, his breath hitching as Neil sucked his nipple, working it to a hard nub.

  "How about here?" Neil swirled his tongue around his navel.

  "Getting warmer. Bastard!" Baz hissed, thrusting his hips up again.

  Neil smiled against the warm, furred skin of Baz's belly and kissed down his dark happy trail, ignoring the hard cock nudging insistently at his cheek.

  Baz carded his fingers through Neil's hair. "Please," he begged. He begged so prettily.

  "Hmmm?" Neil took pity on his husband a
nd leant forward to lick a stripe up his prick.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Poised and ready to suck Baz's brains out, Neil started at the loud banging on the bedroom door. He was lucky not to be kneed under the chin as Baz tried to move and pull up the covers at the same time.

  "I'm up. Get out of bed or I'll be late for school. I'm not gonna be late for school today," Alex growled. "Put each other down."

  Cockblocked by his son, Neil collapsed back onto the bed next to Baz as he heard Alex stomp down the stairs.

  "I'm going to kill him," Baz promised. "Slowly and painfully."

  "Be my guest," Neil agreed. "Then I'll revive him and take pleasure in killing him all over again."

  "Why is it whenever we get a chance to have some fun, your son interrupts us?"

  "Why is he always my son when he's in trouble?"

  "Because he is your son," Baz pointed out in that long-suffering tone he always adopted when he thought Neil was being particularly thick. "I'm just the stepdad, remember?"

  Neil huffed. Logic had no place in this conversation, and his mood wasn't improved when Baz chuckled at him.

  "Never mind, Neil. You go and look after our son, and I'll stay here nice and warm in bed."

  "I hate you. You know that, don't you?" Neil grumbled.

  He blinked as Baz moved suddenly, straddling his hips to grin down at him. Even though he approached forty, Baz still managed to take his breath away. His dark hair was peppered with grey and crows' feet fanned out from his eyes, but his dark eyes, blue with frustrated lust, still twinkled brightly, and Neil thought he was the most gorgeous man he'd ever met.

  "I know you do," Baz said. "Now hurry up and get Alex to school so that you can come back here and give me the blow job I so richly deserve."

  With some difficulty, Neil managed to sit up and pull Baz in for a quick kiss. "If I'm sitting in that traffic, I should be the one getting blown."

  Baz moaned against his lips, kissing him again before responding. "Come back quickly and you can do anything you like to me, or me to you. How does that sound?"

  Neil's answer was another kiss, their mouths open and tongues entangled―hot and dirty.

  "Where are the pancakes?" Alex yelled up the stairs.

  Baz dropped his head against Neil's shoulder. "Go now, before I wring his neck."

  "So much for you sleeping in," Neil said as he headed for his dressing gown.

  Baz snuggled back under the duvet with a satisfied groan. "Don't worry about that. If I don't have to move from this place all day I'll be happy."

  Neil dropped a kiss on Baz's temple. "Keep this place warm for me."

  One eye slowly opened and Baz gave him a sweet grin that made Neil's toes curl. "Always."

  Chapter 2

  Alex had his mouth stuffed full of pancakes and syrup when Neil made it downstairs. Neil thought about making a sarcastic comment on how he'd miraculously managed to find the breadbin, but honestly, he wasn't up to a fight—not today.

  "Going round to Jennie's after school. Won't be back 'til late," Alex said as he put the pancakes back.

  "Oh? Do you want dinner?"

  Alex shook his head. "Nah, I'll get a McDonald's if she doesn't feed me."

  "Okay. Don't be too late. I know you aren't going to school tomorrow, but we've got a long day."

  "Can't be anyway. She's got an exam tomorrow." Alex headed out of the kitchen, effectively ending the conversation.

  Neil made coffee for him and Baz. He didn't have time for the coffee machine to do its thing, so he spooned out the instant. As he waited for the kettle to boil, Neil looked out of the window at the overgrown garden full of weeds as none of the household enjoyed gardening. Perhaps he ought to arrange for the whole thing to be paved over while they were away so that the neighbours would quit complaining about the brambles that invaded their perfectly manicured flowerbeds. Four days was probably too little time to arrange it, nevertheless Neil added garden to the ever growing list of things to do on the notebook by the kettle.

  Once he made the coffee, he went upstairs to the bedroom with the mug for Baz. Judging by the snores emanating from the duvet Baz had fallen back to sleep. He'd leave the coffee anyway. Baz might wake at some point before it got cold. As he quietly got dressed, the lump in the bed moved.

  "Do I smell coffee?"

  Neil grinned. A fresh coffee worked every time. "Yep."

  Baz sat up, blinking against the sudden light. "My hero."

  "I know," Neil agreed. "All yours." He finished getting dressed, leaning over to kiss Baz and grope him at the same time. "I'll be back with that blow job as soon as I can."

  "You'd better." Baz drained the cup and settled back down to sleep. "Now go away and stop disturbing me."

  "Yes, sir." Neil took away the empty cup and headed downstairs for breakfast. He'd probably just have time to stuff some toast in his mouth before they had to leave.

  Neil's fingers beat out an impatient rhythm on the steering wheel as he waited for his errant son to make an appearance. He was tempted to blast out on the horn again but that would only have Mr Williams from next door glaring at him again, and have zero effect on the teenager, who was probably texting his girlfriend for the fiftieth time since he had opened his eyes.

  Reluctantly, he dragged himself out of the car and went to the open front door. "Get a move on, slowcoach. You're going to be late," Neil yelled up the stairs.

  "Yeah, yeah. On my way." Alex didn't sound that bothered.

  Alex was never bothered about anything, except his girlfriend and the latest score on his computer game.

  "If you don't hurry up, I'm going to leave without you."

  "You don't have to leave at all if I don't go to school," Alex pointed out as he walked down the stairs―painfully slowly as his attention was on his phone. "You can go back to bed."

  "Like I can do that." Neil scoffed at the notion. "Some of us have work to do."

  "Sure you do." Alex didn't sound too impressed. "That's not what you told Baz fifteen minutes ago.

  Neil would not blush. He would not blush. He willed the rising colour away. The thought of his sixteen-year-old son overhearing exactly what he had told his husband was way too embarrassing.

  "Never mind what I may or may not have said to Baz. We need to get going or you're going to miss your exam."

  "Huh, as if I care." Alex threw his bag into the back of the car and slumped into the passenger seat.

  Neil sighed, remembering the times Alex used to bounce in his seat, impatiently waiting for his father or Baz to take him to school. "You cared enough to bang on the door this morning."

  "Come on then." Alex looked at him with a bored expression. "We're late, remember?"

  "Huh? Yeah." Neil switched on the engine and pulled away, swearing as he narrowly avoided the milk float coming up the road.

  Alex clutched onto the door handle. "Jesus, Dad, get it together. I want to get to school in one piece. If you're that desperate to get back to screw Baz, I'll walk."

  "Alex!" Neil could feel his face burn. "I am not desperate as you so crudely put it. I was distracted, that's all."

  He turned the car around and headed up the hill, waving in apology at the milkman who glared at him as they passed the milk float.

  "He'll spit in the milk, you know that," Alex mumbled as he played on his phone.

  "Don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't do that." Although Neil wasn't convinced―the milkman was huge with muscles on muscles. Okay, so Neil might have eyed him up once or twice―particularly in the summer time when the guy wore shorts and a really tight t-shirt.

  "How do you know?" Alex argued. "He could be prising the top of our milk and hawking into it as we speak."

  "Alex! God, you're disgusting."

  "I'm just saying, that's all. Just 'cause you stare at him all the time doesn't mean to say he won't do it."

  Neil sighed again. It was one of those mornings.

  Despite the queues of mums in four by fours crowding the roads, tak
ing Alex to school was a painless process. The boy could have walked but once he'd realised Baz passed by the school every morning, Alex had given up independence in favour of a cushy ride.

  For once, Alex wasn't on his phone as they drove the short journey. He was chewing on his bottom lip as he stared out of the window, a sure sign something was bothering him.

  "What's the matter?" Neil asked, even though he knew what the problem was.

  "I don't want to leave."

  Neil was surprised it had taken so long to say it. He'd been waiting for Alex to rebel since the moment Baz had sat him down to tell him about the overseas job he'd been offered, setting up a doctors' clinic in a poverty-stricken area. Instead Alex had seemed overjoyed at the prospect of leaving his old school and spending a year in South Africa.

  "Leave school?" he asked, being deliberately obtuse.

  "Everything," Alex said. "I don't want to leave my friends, school… even though it's shit. And my bedroom. I'm not going." His words ended on a gasping rush, as if he was trying not to show how upset he was.

  Neil nodded slowly. "Okay. Do you want Baz to go by himself for the year, and we'll stay home? Or do you want to live with your mum for a year?"

  "No!" Alex sounded horrified.

  "Those are the options. Have a think about it."

  "We can't let Baz go by himself. What if he doesn't come back?"

  That was Neil's biggest fear too, although probably not for the same reason as Alex. He had never admitted to Baz that the thought of the two of them spending the year apart scared the living daylights out of him. The thing was Neil was forty-five. What if Baz found someone younger? Traded him in for a newer model? Baz was still under forty and gorgeous. Neil was just old.