Calling Calling Calling Me by Natasha Washington

Publisher: Natasha Washington (self-published)

Release Date: September 4, 2018

Subgenre: Contemporary Queer Romance/New Adult

Tropes/Themes: college romance, first time, fish out of water

Direct Links:

Author Website

books2read.com/u/38rVDO

Book Synopsis: Patrick Mahoney has one goal in mind: get out of his native Fresno and find freedom in the rainbow and glitter-painted streets of San Francisco. As a college freshman, he’s sure he’ll finally have the chance to be himself, away from the judgmental eyes of his conservative hometown.

Josh Dirda’s never wanted to be tied down before, preferring the emotional ease of the one night stand. But when Patrick moves into the apartment that Josh shares with three friends, Josh is caught up in Patrick’s sly wit and quietly creative spirit. As Patrick’s self-appointed tour guide, Josh can be Patrick’s introduction to the city he loves. But after a drunken Halloween hook-up crosses lines, Patrick and Josh must reckon with their true feelings—and decide whether they can let go of the ghosts that haunt them.

Excerpt:

Patrick felt as if his whole body were on fire. Josh placed the guitar beside him on the bed. Patrick couldn’t help but watch the curve of Josh’s spine move under the X of the suspenders and let his eyes trace down to where Josh’s pants hung low, barely hitched up far enough to cover the swell of his ass.

When he stood, they were face-to-face.

Patrick lifted his eyes to meet Josh’s. Josh’s lips were parted, most of his lipstick gone. God, Patrick wanted to…he wanted to do so much. Things he’d fantasized about. Things he’d never done. Things he’d never even thought about. Everything.

Josh’s hand moved from Patrick’s wrist to his face, fingertip tracing his cheekbone.

“Beautiful,” Josh said. “You’re beautiful.”

Patrick didn’t know whether Josh meant his body or his soul or something else, but he couldn’t—he couldn’t keep doing this. He couldn’t keep wondering if Josh felt what he felt, couldn’t keep setting himself up to fall.

He had to know.

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the gentle touch of Josh’s fingers and his heat, so close.

“Please,” Patrick said, his voice hoarse. “Josh—please.”

The pause between the moment those words left his mouth and the moment Josh’s lips touched his felt like the longest he’d had to wait for anything he’d ever wanted. Longer than all that time waiting to escape a town that wanted nothing to do with him, longer than all his years of silence and fear and isolation.

Josh tasted like fruit punch with a touch of liquor, the pressure only slight at first, too soft. Patrick exhaled and grasped Josh’s arm, tugging him closer. He felt Josh’s breath hitch, then both his hands came up to cup Patrick’s face as he kissed him harder, faster, tip of his tongue running along the seam of Patrick’s lips.

Patrick opened for him and sucked Josh’s lower lip between his own, biting softly, and Josh made a surprised noise like a moan. Patrick’s hands found the dip of Josh’s hips, pressing into the bare skin above the waistband of his pants. Josh dropped one hand from Patrick’s face to slide under his shirt, making Patrick shudder.

“Jesus,” Josh murmured, pausing to catch his breath.

He helped Patrick out of his shirt, skimming his hand across Patrick’s stomach and watching as Patrick sucked in a breath, muscles moving under his palm.

“I want…” Patrick said, but he realized he didn’t know exactly what he wanted, not really. Standing here in Josh’s room way past tipsy with Josh touching him like this—finally, finally touching him—and he wanted everything, but everything was too much, and he felt all these things at once.

Josh watched him with blurry eyes, his cheeks flushed. “Do you want…I don’t want to make you do anything that…”

“I want this,” Patrick blurted out. “I’ve wanted this since the moment I first saw you.”

Damn that devil booze. Patrick wanted to smack himself.

Josh hiccupped out a laugh, but he didn’t move away. He pushed his hand up Patrick’s chest, his thumb catching on Patrick’s nipple, and Patrick gasped.

“You’re so hot.” Josh said. “You have no idea. Fuck. Patrick.”

The way he said his name, low and urgent, made Patrick’s stomach twist up.

About Natasha Washington: Natasha Washington lives in Philadelphia, where she writes queer love stories in both YA (as Sonia Belasco) and romance. She has spent much of her professional life working with young people as a mentor, tutor, or therapist. When not writing, she is likely cooking, taking long, meandering walks, or listening to dance music or 90s hip-hop.

Connect with Natasha: Website | Twitter | Instagram