Happy Birthday to Me (about 9,000 words) will be released by Dreamspinner on June 1, 2011. You can pre-purchase the anthology, First Time for Everything, now. On June 1, individual works within the anthology will be available.

And now, they are available! Here’s the direct link for Happy Birthday to Me, http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2326.

Without further ado, the excerpt:

November 19, 2112

Matt turned 25 today. He knew James would never remember. It didn’t bother him; that’s the kind of guy James was. He did lots of things on regular days of the year to make Matt feel special.

And if Matt had anything to say about it, James was about to make Matt’s birthday very, very special.

“James?” He knew his voice was a little tentative, but he was asking for something he’d never asked for, and it was a little… freaky. As in the kinky kind of freaky.

James was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the news on a comp tablet, not really paying attention. Matt could tell James wasn’t picking up any psychic signals from him. If he was he’d be focused on Matt. James wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else, not with how horny Matt was. Not to mention Matt didn’t always let James into his head, so when he did, James usually paid attention.

Usually. When he noticed.

When James didn’t answer right away, Matt tried again. “James?” He might normally get snappy at this point, but not this time. He wanted something.

He really, really wanted something.

“Hmmm, baby?” James didn’t turn to look, preoccupied. But just the sound of that deep voice made Matt squirm a little. Even though James wasn’t really paying attention yet.

Matt took a deep breath. “Will you spank me?” He said it so fast it almost ran into a single word.

James sat straight up in his chair, set down the tablet, stared out the window across from him and didn’t say a word. His broad shoulders looked tense.

Uh-oh.

Slowly, James turned, and Matt could feel the mental connection now. His body sideways in the chair, eyes heavy-lidded and partially obscuring their honey color, James rumbled at him, “You really want me to, don’t you, baby?”

Oh god. Matt fucking loved the rumbly voice. He nodded mutely, looking at James and fingering the drawstring on his thin cotton pants. Squirming a little more, thighs rubbing together, balls caressed by rough hair and smooth skin. Wishing it was James’ hair and skin against him. Getting harder than his imagination had managed up ’til now.

James reached out a hand and captured Matt’s wrist, stroking the soft inside with one calloused thumb. “Oh, yeah, baby. I can spank you.”

But instead of drawing Matt forward, yanking down his pajama pants, throwing him over his lap and whaling on his ass, James stood up. Matt whimpered a little in disappointment and need. He looked at James from under his lashes. James quirked a lopsided smile at him.

The psychic link wasn’t infallible. Sometimes all James got were feelings and impressions, sometimes words, and occasionally images. Matt had been really hoping James would get the image. The one of Matt, naked over James’ lap, ass bright pink as James’ hand landed on it over and over (and over) again. James fully clothed, pinning Matt’s wrists behind his back with the hand that wasn’t abusing his ass.

James chuckled at his whimper. “I know what you want. But we’re doing this my way. How long have you wanted me to do this?” He stepped in closer to Matt. James was broader and more muscular, and when he used his size to intimidate just a little it always made shivers run down Matt’s spine. In a really good way.

He looked in James’ eyes, just the tiniest bit ashamed, still. But the need won out. He gave a faux-nonchalant shrug. “Couple months?” He looked back down at the drawstring he was fingering, then back up.

James smiled more fully. Still stroking his wrist, he pulled Matt in and kissed him gently, rubbing his chapped lips against Matt’s. “We’re doing this my way,” James said again, breathing the words across Matt’s lips. Matt felt goosebumps prickle their way up his back. “Tell me again you want it,” James rumbled against his ear, caressing Matt with his stubbly cheek.

Matt took a deep breath and pulled back to look James in the eye. “I want you to spank me.”

“No more talking,” James said in that voice. The in-control voice he only (well mostly) used when they were playing. “You don’t say another word until I give you permission. You can make all the other noises you want.” James turned and pulled him into their bedroom by the wrist. Thank god, he’s going to do it.