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Title: Tyler Buckspan

Author: Jere' M. Fishback

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: April 10

Heat Level: 2 - Fade to Black Sex

Pairing: No Romance

Length: 47100

Genre: Literary Fiction, YA, Lit/General Fiction, Historical, Family-drama, Coming of age, non-explicit, gay, bi, cisgender, homophobia, in the closet, psychic/medium, sports

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Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Tyler Buckspan lives with his mom and grandmother in 1960s Cassadaga, a Florida community where spiritual “mediums” ply their trade. The mediums—Tyler’s grandmother among them—read palms and tarot cards, conduct séances and speak with the dead.

Tyler’s a loner, a bookish boy with few interests, until his half-brother Devin, nineteen and a convicted arsonist, comes to live in Tyler’s home. For years, Tyler has ignored his attraction to other boys. But with Devin in the house, Tyler can’t deny his urges any longer. He falls hopelessly in love with his miscreant half-brother, and with the sport of basketball, once Devin teaches Tyler the finer points of the game.

In a time when love between men was forbidden, even criminalized, can Tyler find the love he needs from another boy? And is Devin a person to be trusted? Is he truly clairvoyant, or simply a con artist playing Tyler and others for fools? What does Devin really know about a local murder? And can Tyler trust his own psychic twinges?

Exclusive Excerpt

Tyler Buckspan
Jere’ M. Fishback © 2017
All Rights Reserved

On a Saturday afternoon in November, I worked a crossword puzzle, seated on Grandma’s sofa, when a knock sounded at the front door. An auburn-haired guy Devin’s age stood on the porch. He held a rolled-up blanket under his arm and a six-pack of beer dangled from his fingertips. His cheekbones were prominent, his deep-set eyes cobalt blue, his skin was light as ivory.

“Devin home?” he asked in a scratchy baritone.

After I let him in, I pointed to the staircase. “Second room on the left.”

Minutes later, the two descended, Devin clutching bath towels and his cigarettes.

“Tyler,” he said, pointing his thumb at the other guy, “this is Jesse. He works with me at the brickyard.” Jesse raised a palm.

Jesse was slim like Devin, about the same height, also dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt.

“We’re going for a swim,” Devin said. “I’ll see you later.”

Through a window, I watched them walk down the sidewalk, conversing and laughing, both smoking cigarettes. Right away, I felt jealous. After all, I was the one who’d shown Devin the spring. He should only bathe there with me, not this Jesse guy, right? I moistened my lips, watching Devin’s behind twitch in the seat of his jeans. My hands hung at my hips and my fingers flexed. Would the two of them get naked? If so, what would Jesse’s body look like?

Go ahead, chickenshit. Why not find out?

***

I snagged my jeans on the lumber company’s barbed-wire fence, wincing when I heard the denim rip. The jeans were new—intended only for school—and I’d surely receive a tongue-lashing from Mom when she saw the damage.

Damn.

For mid-November, the weather was steamy. My armpits moistened as I crept along the path leading to the spring. Sunlight filtered through trees; it warmed my shoulders. The only sound I heard was the crunching of pine needles beneath my sneakers. Rain had fallen the night before, and now the forest smelled of wet bark and damp earth.

I hadn’t visited the spring since I’d taken Devin there, and the memory caused a tingle in my briefs. I’d only seen him naked that one time.

I came to a tree felled and blackened by a lightning bolt. The trunk was as big around as an oil barrel. This meant the spring was only twenty or thirty yards ahead. After leaving the trail, I took care when parting undergrowth, trying to be quiet. I made my way toward the spring, bending forward at the waist and keeping my head low. Already, my pulse quickened. I’d never spied on someone before, and the thought of peeping at Devin and Jesse seemed deliciously wicked.

I expected to hear their voices when I drew close to the spring, but I didn’t, and then I crinkled my forehead in puzzlement.

Why weren’t they talking? What were they up to?

I passed through a bank of saw palmettos. Sunlight glittered on the spring’s surface. Above me, a squirrel barked on a limb; its bushy tail twitched. I straightened my spine, pulled aside a palmetto frond, and….

Jee-zus.

Devin and Jesse were naked, about thirty feet from me.

Droplets of spring water glistened on their skins. Their hair was damp, but they were not bathing, not now. They lay upon Jesse’s blanket. Their heads bobbed, and their lips smacked. A handful of Jesse’s auburn hair fell across his face, waving like a flag when his head moved.

My knees weakened while my breathing accelerated and sweat trickled down my ribs; I had never seen such a thing. I watched in fascination for several minutes, licking my lips and flexing my fingers. What must their bodies feel like?

What thoughts dwelled in their heads? And weren’t they ashamed? Wasn’t their brand of sex an abomination?

I unbuttoned my jeans and lowered the zipper, taking care not to make any noise. Then I spit in my hand and touched myself, my gaze fixed upon Devin and Jesse. I felt more sexually excited than I’d ever been. Both guys were handsome, their bodies lean and muscled. I especially liked Devin’s buttocks; they were round as melons, porcelain white, and I longed to touch them.

Devin brought his face to Jesse’s, and their mouths met.

For the first time in my life, I saw two males kiss. The vision made me shudder, and I longed to trade places with Jesse.

What does it feel like, having sex with another guy? Especially when you’re in love with him?

When I reached orgasm, I felt as if someone had nudged me with a cattle prod. Purple spots appeared before my eyes; I gasped for air and my scalp prickled. I had never, ever experienced such excitement.

I stood there, catching my breath and shaking my head in wonderment. I’ve just witnessed a secret ceremony of sorts: the kind most people wouldn’t even try to understand.

I closed my eyes and swallowed.

One day I’ll taste another guy’s skin and lips, I know I will.

Okay, all right…

At the spring that November afternoon, Devin had given himself to Jesse. But while my breathing slowed and my body relaxed, I knew Devin had shared something special with me as well.

He had given me—the queerest of boys—a glimpse of what I needed to be happy.

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Meet the Author

Jere’ M. Fishback is a former journalist and trial lawyer who now writes fiction full time. He lives with his partner Greg on a barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. When he’s not writing, Jere’ enjoys reading, playing his guitar, jogging, swimming laps, fishing, and watching sunsets from his deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.