But Peter has no interest in getting rid of Josh. In fact, he
wants to find a way to make their partnership permanent.
What People Are Saying
Peanut Butter Kisses was a touching, sexy little story. Both
Josh and Peter heated up every page. I loved Peter’s easy mannerisms.
The fact that he constantly ate those Peanut Butter Kisses that
only come out at Halloween was a perfect and creative way to characterize
him. He was the perfect counter-balance to Josh’s more tightly
wound character. At the competition I wished I could have had
a better visual of the candy sculpture as a whole, but the way
Josh and Peter interacted with each other gave some idea of what
the sculpture could have looked like, after all the sculpture
did represent them as a couple. Peanut Butter Kisses is not to
be missed.--Five
Angels from FAR
Pepper Espinoza writes from the heart and it's clear from her
characterizations that the protagonists in Peanut Butter Kisses,
who work in a very competitive field, are three dimensional and
quite engaging. The conflicts in the story are obviously not earth
shattering but do have real consequences in terms of future business
opportunities and prestige for both of them. Even more important
for Josh is the possibility of a personal relationship with Peter.
The author did an excellent job of drawing me into the story and
she had me rooting for both characters, as Josh and Peter identify
and address each issue that conflicts with their shared desires.--4.5
Stars from Wave
Excerpt
"I've got three I like," Peter said, laying out three
large pieces of paper over the desk. "Come here and see."
Josh did as he was instructed, leaning over the table to study
each one. The theme for the national competition was dreams,
and each design reflected a Dali-inspired, surrealist, candy
landscape.
"You don't like them?" Peter asked after several
beats of silence.
"I do," Josh assured him quickly. "I'm just…trying
to absorb them."
"They're a bit out there."
"They're brilliant."
Josh was so absorbed in the sketches that he didn't notice
Peter move. Until he was standing directly behind him, his chest
against Josh's back as he leaned over to point at the third
piece of paper. Josh closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying
the warmth and the unfamiliar pressure. His cock even began
to stir a bit, and he quickly refocused on the sketches, trying
to calm his accelerating pulse.
"I like the shape of this one, but I'm not sure if the
piece will support itself."
The shape was a sweeping grand gesture, each piece stacked
on the one below it perilously. Josh knew how to fix that particular
problem, but he couldn't concentrate with Peter standing so
close, and he couldn't very well ask the man to move. For one
thing, he didn't want Peter to step away.
"No, no, it'll work." Just don't ask me to explain
how. "What about the colors? What were you planning?"
"The globes will be purple. Spun sugar. The chocolate
pieces here and here will be white. The rest of these will be
just a kaleidoscope of colors. Clashing."
"I like that. Well, if I get a vote, I vote for this one."
"Why wouldn't you get a vote?"
Peter still wasn't moving. It took everything Josh had not
to push back, pressing his ass against Peter's cock.
"It's your design."
"But you're my partner."
"Assistant."
"Partner."
If he didn't get away from Peter, he was going to melt. Or
break. Or something. He didn't know. He just knew that Peter
smelled like toffee and beer from dinner. They both needed a
shower, but that was a dangerous thought to have. He didn't
need to be thinking about Peter in the shower, about both of
them naked and slick, about pressing his body to Peter's and
feeling his warmth and his pulse. He had never seen Peter unclothed,
or even partially clothed, but he knew exactly what Peter would
look like because he could feel that muscled chest against his
back.
"Okay. Partner."
"Good."
Josh
Boothe is one of the best pastry chefs in the nation, but he chooses
to work as Peter Summers’ assistant, creating elaborate and
beautiful pieces of art from sugar. He knows Peter is the best,
and he wants to do everything possible to ensure Peter earns the
gold medal at the California Confectioners Pastry Competition
he deserves. Unfortunately, they’ve placed second three years
in a row, and Josh fears Peter will find a new assistant.