By Any Other Name

This story is for Jambie Jo, because she had faith in my ability to become a published author long before it happened. I couldn’t ask for a better fairy godmother, or a better friend. Muah. Thank you for the writing challenges, the encouragement, the sounding boards, and the sound advice. And as always, thank you for introducing me to my Balthazar, who gave me the tools to tap into my magic.
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Cover Artist: A.J. Corza
Editor: Val Hughes
By Any Other Name © 2013 Cherie Noel ISBN # CN003
Attention Readers: This book uses Ameriglish.

English speakers from other countries should consider themselves warned… there will be donuts rather than doughnuts.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission of the publisher. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only; any person depicted in the Licensed Art Material is a model.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and
trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned
in this work of fiction:
FetLife: © BitLove Inc
Jeep: © 2012 Chrysler Group LLc GMC Jimmy: © 2013 General Motors Lincoln Town Car: © 1981-2011 Ford Manufacturing Co.
YouTube: © YouTube LLC.
Harlequin: © 2000-2013Harlequin Enterprises LLC.
Amazon: © 1996-2013 Amazon.com Inc. Greyhound:
© 2011-1995 Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Looney Tunes: © Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny: © Warner Bros. EBay: © 1995-2013 eBay Inc. Darth Vader: © Lucasfilm/Disney Wheel of Fortune: ©2013 Califon Productions, Inc. "Wheel of Fortune" is a registered trademark of Califon Productions, Inc.

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Additional Acknowledgements Patrick Fiori
Justin Bieber
Andrej Pejic
James Blunt
Vanna White

Andy stomped his small foot with no regard for the possible damage to his favorite boots. He threw both hands in the air. Gah, what was the point in being worried about Italian leather when this—Dumkopf—kept doing things he had no business doing? Michael’s ridiculous behavior was just too much. After Andy specifically forbade Michael showing up unannounced to replace spark plugs and fan belts, the big idiot had taken to showing up at Andy's job.

Eh, to be fair, it was really where they both worked. Michael didn't give a damn that Andy was his boss. Andy closed his eyes for a moment, burying his face in both hands. For crying out loud, the guys down in the security office were having a field day with the fact that one of Andy's fauxSantas from the Christmas Village kept showing up when he was off shift to work on Andy's bright yellow and black Nova. Andy stomped his foot harder, completely exasperated now.

Michael backed out from under the hood of Andy’s battered Chevy Nova, wiping his hands on a bright red cloth sitting on the edge of the engine. He tilted his head to one side and grinned up at Andy from his bent over position. Andy dragged his eyes away from the finely sculpted ass Michael had on display with difficulty. Michael winked at him, and then once again tried to get Andy to accept charity from him.

“If you'd just let me buy you a decent car, I wouldn't have to spend so much time fixing this old clunker up, Andy. You know I have all that money I saved up when I was in the service. Let me spend some of it on you.”

Andy ground his teeth together, and then marched forward. Grabbing hold of Michael, he pulled at the larger man's arm, attempting to pull him around. Michael just grunted, not moving a single inch, despite Andy giving the effort his all. Andy lifted a booted foot to kick Michael's--well, he couldn't reach the damn giant's ass. He could kick him in the shin though.

Michael set his wrench down with a clang, spinning around to catch Andy around the waist and lift him right off his feet. He took two steps down the side of the car, and then pressed Andy up against the side of the vehicle.

“Andy. Babe, I told you what happens when you misbehave. Do you remember?”
Andy's voice shook as he replied, and his heart raced. “You kiss me?”
Michael bent his head, his deep blue eyes twinkling. A rakish little smile tipped one corner of his mouth up. “You know it babe.”
Andy allowed his inclinations to overcome his good sense, just this once. He let his head fall back, expecting to feel the cold roof of his old car against his hair. Instead, a big, warm hand cradled the back of his skull. A pleased smirk flickered across his cupid bow mouth right before Michael’s firm lips pressed against his. Andy closed his eyes. If he couldn't see the look on Michael’s face, he could pretend a man like Michael would want to kiss him for something besides behavior modification.
Michael groaned, reaching up with his other hand to cup Andy’s jaw and apply pressure against the side. Andy obligingly opened his mouth. Even if it didn't mean anything, he'd learned over the past couple of weeks that Michael kissed exactly the way Andy liked best, wet and deep with a hint that he wouldn't take no for an answer. It didn’t mean anything. Michael was straight. If Andy had a dollar for every time he’d heard Michael say that in high school, he’d have enough money in the bank to pay off a year’s worth of mortgage payments.
Andy sighed when Michael tightened his grip. Michael slid his fingers deeper into Andy's hair, pulling enough to make his scalp sting a tiny bit. Andy melted, all his muscles relaxing to the point he felt utterly boneless. The only exception to the overall relaxation was his cock, which hardened in a rush, pushing and pulsing against the front of his charcoal grey dress pants.
Michael leaned into him, his chest pressing Andy hard against the top of the car. He released Andy's jaw, sliding his hand down along Andy's throat to his shoulder. Michael kept his hand moving, running it down Andy's side to his hip. When he reached the hip, he squeezed, pulling his head back at the same time.
Andy opened his eyes, a whimper slipping from his lips at the same time. “No, don't stop.”
Michael grinned. “Well, I'm not sure that's much of a punishment. Maybe next time you're naughty I ought to not kiss you.”

Even as he spoke the words, Michael knew himself for the liar he was. Nothing on the face of the earth could stop him kissing Andy breathless every chance he got. Nothing. He drew back a little, just to watch the clear crystal blue of Andy’s eyes appear when he blinked them open. They had to talk about Adrien’s job, but Michael really didn’t want to piss Andy off. He’d just coaxed Andy into allowing their first kiss less than a month ago, and he was damned if he wanted to jeopardize their shaky status quo with an argument over Adrien.

Andy beat him to the punch line, as usual. “You’re here to yell at me about Adrien’s job, aren’t you? Michael, it was out of my hands. I’m just the stupid manager here. None of you guys ever get that. I have to follow the rules too. One of the owners fired Adrien, not me. I wish I could do something for him… but I can’t. He’ll be okay. Adrien’s got his folks and Devon to look after him until he finds another job, doesn’t he? He’ll be fine.”
Andy looked down as he spoke. His voice grew tighter the longer he spoke. His shoulders hunched up a little as though he braced for a blow.
In that moment, Michael heard what he never had before in Andy’s voice. The weight of it pulled the air from his lungs. Sucking in a rush of air that felt like splinters of glass stabbing into his lungs, Michael tilted Andy’s chin back up.
“Andy. You do know that we’d all look out for you exactly the same, don’t you?”
Andy shook off his hand, pushing against his chest until Michael relented, allowing the smaller man to slip to the ground next to the battered Nova. He cast a grin that trembled at the edges up at Michael. Then he looked off to the side as he spoke.
“Sure. Um, were you finished poking at my car, Michael? I gotta get home to get things ready for the party tonight. The rest of the guys are counting on me, and I don’t want to mess up.”
Michael lifted a hand to trail his cold fingers along the still tender looking scar high on Andy’s cheek. “Yeah. Give me a minute to reattach everything. Ah, you better let me ride along, though. I’m not sure if I got everything right, and I’d hate for you to get stranded.”
Andy squinted up at him, eyes moving back and forth as he seemed to assess Michael’s sincerity. After a moment, he lifted one shoulder. “Okay. I can’t promise to bring you back right away though.”
Michael grinned down at Andy, noting the way the cold put a red flush in his cheeks and made his perfectly outlined eyes sparkle. “That’s okay, babe. I’ll help you get stuff set up so you have time to bring me back.”
Andy flushed an even brighter shade of red. Pushing away from the car, he stomped around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side door. “Ugh. I keep telling you not to call me babe. Asshole.”
Turning away from Michael, Andy yanked on the rust spotted car’s ever so slightly bent door handle. He huffed and flounced his way into the car. The entire frame shook when he slammed the Nova’s door, and a big flake of rusting metal broke off the bottom edge of the door. Michael stepped back and watched with a smile on his face. Planning out when and where he’d replace the door amused him as he sauntered back around to the front of the car, rapping on the driver’s side window in passing.
“Just give me a second to get everything put back together, alright?”
Then he stuck his head under the hood, replaying the kiss and the possessive feeling leaving Andy’s lips reddened roused in him. Michael muttered to himself as he finished reattaching wires and cables where they belonged.
“You’re my angel, Andy, and one day soon I’ll prove it to you, babe. I’ll figure out how to show you that you belong to me in a way you understand—one that doesn’t hurt you. Then you’ll understand you’ve been my angel all along.”

Andy concentrated on the thump, thump, thumping sound of his wheels rolling over the thunder strips. The soothing sound helped keep him from screaming at Michael every time traffic slowed down and he had to shift gears. The gearshift kept catching on the sleeve of Michael’s coat. The asphalt or cement or whatever it was changed, and instead of a nice humming noise he could distract himself with there was a grating crunch as the wheels rolled against the faded blackish surface of Highway 175. Every single time Michael reached to change the radio, or scratch his nose, or whatever, his hand or the side of his arm would slide against Andy’s arm. They’d barely made it out of the city limits on their way to Auburn, and all Andy wanted to do was veer off at the next exit, find a nice secluded spot and do something wicked enough Michael felt the need to ‘punish’ him. Oh god, he had to stop thinking about this.

Despite the need to keep his cool, Andy stole glances at Michael from the corner of his eye. The way Michael’s head brushed the ceiling, his shoulders reached past the confines of the passenger seat, and his blue-green gaze caressed the right side of Andy’s face was like whisper, or a promise of all of Andy’s dearest dreams. Michael’s size made it easier for Andy to breathe. Nothing could get past the comforting bulk of the man. Andy should know.

The thought jumped straight from his brain to his hands. They clenched on the steering wheel, and for a moment, Andy’s knuckles turned white. A hard knot formed in the center of his chest, sending snaking tendrils out to grasp the back of his neck and hook into the tender walls of his stomach. Everything connected back in a writhing mass of memories as tangled as the uncountable reptilian bodies in a
hibernaculum
or winter snake sanctuary.