Forged in Steel

Losing his parents in a train crash was bad enough, but having the bank seize their home, leaving him homeless in his final weeks of high school was almost more than Trace could bear. He got that diploma though, and then headed to Minneapolis, hoping to find work. Little did he know how difficult it would be for a young man with no job experience and no place to live. Instead of working, he finds himself foraging for food, sleeping in alleys, and doing his level best to simply survive. It isn't the life he'd imagined for himself, but there is little he can do but take it day by day. When industrial artist Finnigan Marlow finds Trace rummaging around in the dumpster behind his shop, he takes pity on the wretched young man and offers him food and a job cleaning up around his shop. It's not as if he has the time to pick up after himself when there are sculptures to finish making, exhibits to organize, and metal to forge. Finn might enjoy creating but the business side of things has him wanting to pull his hair out so Trace might be the answer to his prayers. What neither expected was for their days spent together to forge an attraction between them there in that hot, sticky room. As Trace learns skills like soldering and how to bend metal without causing it to snap, he is also learning the more sensual art of seduction. Finn can't help but be drawn to Trace's eager smile or his need for gentle correction. But can he give Trace the one thing he desperately needs: A home?