Friday, October 31, 2014

Spooktacular Blog Hop 2014: Day 1

Happy Halloween and welcome to the Spooktacular Blog Hop! Thanks for stopping by!



There's something very special about Halloween, a time when the veil between this world and the other grows thin. When anything is possible, and it's easy to believe in things that go bump in the night. Our fantasies are fueled by vampires, and werewolves, and ghosts - oh my! And where there are fantasies, that's where you'll find a lot of writers, taking notes and naming names.

Today at work, we're having a Halloween lunch - how cool is that?  For my contribution, I made a cheese ball that I like to call Mason Verger. Okay, the actual recipe name is the Flayed Man, but you get the idea (since Mason cut his face off and ate under the influence of Hannibal Lecter). It was actually easier to make than I thought it would be, and I didn't bother to use a mold. I figured I could shape it myself, and I did.

This is pretty much what mine looks like.














Another important fact about today is that Be My Human was released today from Dreamspinner Press! This is the second book in the Moonlit Skies series by M.A. Church and myself.

For the first day of the blog hop, I promised to finish the flash I started Wednesday, A Crescent Bay Halloween. Well, here's part two. I hope you enjoy it. But before I post it, every good blog hop needs a giveaway, so this will be no exception. I'll be giving away to three commenters, randomly drawn at the end of the hop, a copy of anything from my backlist, including books that are unavailable. How do you win?

Every day, I'll ask a question. All you have to do is answer it. And don't forget your email address. Without that, I can't contact you.

Today's question - could you love a werewolf or a vampire, if you met one in real life - why or why not?

Now here's my second part of my flash, enjoy!

A Crescent Bay Halloween, Part II

Raoul hadn’t celebrated Halloween in years. Twenty years, to be precise. Despite the fact that the holiday brought a plethora of partiers to Charisma from far and wide, hoping for glimpses of the supernatural set that frequented the place, Raoul never set foot there on Halloween night, preferring the solitude of his cabin in the woods. No desire to fuck, to drink, or display himself as the reigning prince of Charisma. On that night, he preferred to remain alone… and brood.

Tonight was different. Tonight he simply wished to be with Alexx, to celebrate this special day with him, for reasons that had nothing to do with any Samhain festivities. It was Alexx’s birthday, and that meant more to Raoul than anything. Therefore, Charisma was the last place he expected to be. And yet, here they were.

“But it’s your birthday, I thought we could do something special. Just you and me…”

And by something special, he meant making love, all night long. Put his vaunted werewolf stamina to the test.

Surely making love hadn’t become stale already? Not that there wasn’t more to their relationship than the physical, but there was nothing wrong with spending an evening in bed, either. Sometimes there were things the heart could only express with the assistance of the body, times when mere words became inadequate to express the desires of the soul.

“We belong at Charisma,” Alexx insisted. “Especially tonight of all nights.”

Raoul had accepted Alexx’s decision with as good a grace as he could muster. “Anything you wish, my love,” he whispered softly in Alexx’s ear. They sat together in their cabin, discussing the night to come. For a moment, Raoul thought he felt Alexx tremble, but the moment passed, and he saw nothing but Alexx’s complacent smile. So be it, he thought. Charisma it is.

It was too late to even think about costumes, not that Raoul really cared. Those days were long dead for him, but if Alexx wanted to, he would have. But Alexx didn’t push the issue, so they’d dressed as themselves. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but being together.

When they’d walked up to the front door of the nightclub, they found Paolo and Francesco checking IDs, and they received wide-eyed stares from both bouncers. Well, to be fair, they were staring at Raoul, for reasons he knew only too well.

‘B-boss, you’re here,” Paolo stuttered.

“Glad you noticed,” Raoul growled, but there was no bite in his voice, despite his words. “We’re just here to celebrate—”

“Hey guys, happy Halloween,” Alexx interrupted, so smoothly anyone else might have believed it was unintentional and born of enthusiasm for the occasion. But not Raoul. That move was deliberate. As if he didn’t want to be reminded of his birthday. Odd, now that he was legal to get into Charisma, Raoul would have thought Alexx would want to bask in the fact. But no, he seemed to be hiding from it. The question was why?

“C’mon, wolfboy, can’t stand here all night. The party’s inside, isn’t it?” He took Raoul’s hand and tugged him toward the door. Raoul rolled his eyes and shrugged, allowing himself to be led inside Charisma.

Charisma was awash with brilliance, with lights and laughter, high spirits, glitter, and a contagious buoyancy that swept through the club like wildfire. There were a few faux werewolves and vampires—de rigueur for Halloween night—but there were other, more imaginative and creative characters. After all, when one has the real thing in ones midst, a costume is simply a costume and cannot compare.

“Drink first or dance?” Alexx asked, once they were inside the main area. Techno music thrummed around him, and the dance floor was full of energetically writhing bodies.

“Your day, your choice, what would you like—” Something in Alexx’s eyes stopped him cold. Something was wrong. Something was damn wrong, but Raoul had no idea what, just that whatever it was began with Alexx and was creeping its way up his spine with ghostlike precision. He shivered, in spite of himself.

“I… I need to use the men’s room. Be right back.” Alexx’s voice was barely audible, but with Raoul’s supernatural hearing, he caught every nuance. Including a trace of pain. He reached out to take Alexx’s arm, but Alexx was faster, for once, and melted into the crowd around them faster than butter on a hot pancake.

Raoul’s first instinct was to go after him. Follow him into the men’s room, find out what was wrong and make it right. But a hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks. He turned in annoyance to find himself looking into the eyes of a strangely familiar-looking blond. It took a moment for the memory to register.

Miller. In the wig he’d worn as a disguise on the fateful night when Raoul had been kidnapped and Alexx shot by the same insane socialite—Foster Levine.

Miller was one of those guys who couldn’t hide what he thought or felt, his eyes were indeed windows to his soul. And right now, his eyes were full of sympathy and compassion, seemingly directed at Raoul.

Okay, he knew something. That much was apparent to Raoul.

“What are you supposed to be?” Raoul asked. “Surely not the other man?” That had been Miller’s part on that night, when it was imperative they convince Foster that Raoul and Alexx were no longer together. Of course, that was long past and buried.

“What? Oh, the wig.” Miller shrugged. “I didn’t have time to get anything else, and this was sitting in my closet… Hey, you’re not exactly dressed up either.”

“No, I’m not,” Raoul agreed. ‘You and I need to talk.”

“Maybe we should get a drink?” Miller piped up hopefully, but at Raoul’s growl, he seemed resigned. Raoul took Miller’s arm. They threaded their way between the revelers until they reached a relatively quiet spot further from the dance floor.

“Miller, something’s going on and you know what it is.”

“Um… er… Raoul…” Miller began to whine, almost defensively, before he gave up, pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded, a bit reluctantly. His deep sigh carried easily to Raoul’s ear.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what I think’s wrong, but remember, I could be wrong,” Miller warned him.

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong with Alexx?” The hackles on the back of Raoul’s neck began to rise.

“No, no, not like you think. Calm down, please. Let me try to say this so it makes sense,” Miller implored. He glanced at Raoul, then at the floor, then up at the bright disco balls that decorated the room. Raoul curbed his impatience, but it wasn’t easy. Finally, Miller spoke again.

“I think he feels guilty.”

“Guilty?” That was something Raoul hadn’t expected. “Why? About what?”

“About being happy … and alive… especially today…. I mean, it’s his birthday, and other than me, he’s never had anyone who cared enough to celebrate it with him. But now he has you… and he’s also aware that his birthday is the day you lost… you know…”

“Jamie.” Raoul supplied the name.

“Yeah, Jamie. He loves you too much to hurt you by celebrating what’s probably the worst day of your life.”

At one time, yes, it was the event that shattered Raoul’s world, and sent him into a twenty year tailspin. But all that was behind him now. Now he had Alexx, who may or may not be Jamie McKenna reincarnated. But regardless, he was the love of Raoul’s life, the light in his eyes, his new reason for being.

Nothing else mattered.

And now everything made sense. Coming to Charisma. Alexx wanting to make sure Raoul had a good time. Raoul’s heart ached at the pain Alexx must be hiding. Damn, he felt like an insensitive lout for not catching on sooner.

He caught sight of Alexx, emerging from the hallway where the restrooms were located, looking about for him.

“Miller, I hope you won’t be insulted, but you’re on your own tonight. No offense, but I don’t want to be here, and I don’t think Alexx does either.”

“None taken,” Miller assured him. “In fact, I think I might go home myself. Nothing here for me.”

Raoul gave the other man a sharp look, but Miller only laughed. “It’s okay, go on with you. Be with Alexx. Make each other happy.”

Raoul swooped in and gave Miller a quick peck on the cheek, a far cry from the liplock he’d laid on him the last time. “Later,” he told him, then hurried away, easily catching up to Alexx, who seemed relieved to see him.

“There you are, Raoul. Thought I lost you for a minute. Everything okay? I saw you talking to someone…”

“Miller, but he’s leaving. And so are we.” He slid his arm around Alexx’s waist.

“Leaving?” Alexx looked confused. “But we just got here.”

“And now we’re just going.”

“Where are we going?”

“Home. Where we should have stayed to begin with.” He walked Alexx back through the crowd, until they found themselves outside of the night club once more. Alexx didn’t protest, didn’t question, but a slight tremor seemed to run through him, as if he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

They bid good night to the two confused bouncers, then crossed the parking lot to where Raoul had parked his sports car. He unlocked the car, as he walked Alexx to the passenger side, but stopped beside the door.

“Alexx, do you realize how very much I love and need you?”

“Well, yes, I think I do, but—”

“But nothing. You are, without question, the best thing that ever happened to me, and I thank the powers that be every day that you came into my life. All I wanted tonight was to celebrate your birthday with you, that’s all.”

“I know, Raoul, I know, but how can we… how can I…” A small moan escaped Alexx’s lips, despite his best efforts to contain it. His lower lip quivered. Raoul quickly stilled it with a kiss.

“This is your day.  Your very special day. The day that set you on the path to me. Anything else is done, and in the past. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing, Alexx.”

Alexx gave him a sharp look, and then his bright blue eyes flashed with realization. “That was Miller, wasn’t it? Damn, I thought I recognized that wig, even from a distance. He shouldn’t have told you…”

“He should have, since you didn’t.” Raoul gave Alexx a no-nonsense look. “Didn’t we promise no secrets from one another?”

“Well, yeah…”

“Don’t well yeah me, we did, so let’s just continue doing that, all right?”

Alexx nodded, as if he didn’t trust his voice.

“You are all that matters to me, Alexx. Not being at Charisma tonight, not Halloween, nothing else but you. Do you know that? Really know that?”

“I do now.” Alexx stretched up, caught Raoul’s lips in his own, and kissed him long and hard. By the time they came up for air, the kiss wasn’t all that was hard.

“Take me home?” Alexx murmured, and Raoul consented with alacrity.

The drive to the cabin was shorter than usual. And Alexx didn’t complain once about Raoul breaking the speed limit.

Raoul parked the Ferrari as close to the cabin as he could, and they raced inside, shedding their clothes on the way to the bedroom.

They fell together, naked, on the bed, mouths joined, and hearts beating as one. There was no further need for talk; a consensus had been reached, a mutual accord. And although there’d been no actual fight between them, who was to say they couldn’t indulge in make-up sex anyway? Lovemaking by any other name…

They kissed and licked and sucked, touched and tweaked, exploring to their hearts’ content, delving into one another like explorers on a strange continent. And once every facet of their mutual terrain had been re-discovered, Alexx lay on his back and drew up his legs, exposing his pink bud to Raoul’s lustful gaze.

“Take me,” he begged. “Make me yours all over again.”

Luckily, lube was just an arm’s reach away. Raoul groped for the tube, popped the top handily and prepped his achingly hard cock.

“You are mine, and no other,” he swore as he slid easily into Alexx’s waiting channel. “You are my everything, Alexx. Never forget that.” He drove inside Alexx with one long thrust, and Alexx received him, gripped him tightly as they came together in the intimacy of their own personal dance. Their lips crashed together, again and again, and when they’d found their mutual release and exhausted one another, they cleaned up and then curled together in their bed, breathing more easily.

“Raoul?” Alexx said softly, twining his fingers in Raoul’s tendrils of dark hair that curled over his shoulder.

“Yes?”

“Best birthday ever. Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” Raoul replied.

“For what?”

“For being a part of my life.”

Alexx’s face lit with the most beautiful smile Raoul had ever seen. They gazed deeply into one another’s eyes by the light of the moon, before giving themselves over to sleep, and the realm of the Dream Lord, for another night.

Now go visit the other participants of the Hop!










Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Wednesday Briefs: A Crescent Bay Halloween Part I

Here it is Wednesday again, so it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! This week being so close to Halloween, we threw some Halloween prompts out there, and some of us rose to the challenge, myself included. My story contains two men who might be familiar to you, if you've read When Will I See You Again. Yes, I mean Alexx and Raoul. This is their first Halloween together, which is also Alexx's birthday - as well as the anniversary of Jamie's death. I'll post the second part on Halloween, to kick off the Spooktacular Halloween Blog Hop! This actually takes place right before the start of the second book, When Will I Be Loved.

Don't forget to visit the other Briefers, whose links follow my tale. Enjoy! And don't worry, Marshall and Lee will be back next week!

A Crescent Bay Halloween, Part I


“Yeah, I can understand your dilemma. That’s a tough spot to be in.” Miller speared another French fry and dipped it into the ranch sauce he’d slathered on his plate. Alexx’s own food was barely touched. Despite the fact Miller had taken him out to lunch for his birthday, like he did every year, Alexx had little appetite.

“I just feel funny about the whole thing, you know?”

“Well, yeah, he’s your boyfriend’s ex-boyfriend. And he’s dead. A bit awkward you were born on the same day he died.”

“It’s not that. It’s not like I’m jealous of him or anything.” He couldn’t help but notice the dubious look Miller shot him. “Okay, I was at one time, I admit. But Raoul and I worked that out. That’s not it. Not anymore.”

“Then what is it?”

“I wish I knew.” Alexx shrugged.

“I’m sure Raoul has something special planned for you, don’t you think? For your birthday?”

Alexx gave up all pretense of eating and pushed his plate back. “It’s also Halloween.”

“Gosh yes, how could I forget that? Not like anyone in Crescent Bay is celebrating—No, wait, everyone in Crescent Bay is celebrating. It’s the biggest supernatural holiday there is. Only thing bigger here than Halloween is the Lupercalia Ball. Well, for the wolves, anyway. No idea what the vamps do for kicks.” Not like he knew any. He glanced at Alexx’s untouched food. “You’re going to get a doggy bag, right? Eat it later?”

Alexx shook his head. “No, you can have it. Sorry I’m such a wet blanket today. I don’t mean to be. I appreciate you taking me out to lunch. Honestly, I do.”

“I know that. What are friends for?” Miller reached across the table and took Alexx’s hand into his own. “Look, you know Raoul loves you, right?”

Alexx nodded, his gaze fastened on the table. There was no question in his mind about that. Raoul loved him as fiercely as he loved Raoul.

“Then just relax and go with the flow. Are you two going to Charisma tonight?”

“I guess. We go every night. I’m sure something special is going on there, what with the holiday. Are you coming?”

“Um… well… I dunno. I hadn’t thought about it.”

Alexx looked up in surprise. “But I’m sure it’ll be a big party night. Maybe you can hook up or something.”

Miller wrinkled his nose, as if he found the suggestion distasteful. “Meh. I’m not sure I want to do that.”

Alexx freed his hand from Miller’s grip, reached over the table and placed it against Miller’s forehead.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking to see if you’re running a fever. You don’t seem to be in Miller’s right mind.” He managed a faint smile.

“Yeah, I know.” Miller rolled his eyes. “I dunno. Just doesn’t hold the same appeal it used to, you know? Watching you and Raoul… well, makes me wish—” He broke off whatever he’d been about to say and turned his head, but too late. Alexx had seen a glimpse of tears in his friend’s eye.

“Hey, don’t ever doubt you’re gonna find someone. A really great someone. You’re too special a guy not to, Miller. You have to believe in yourself. I know I do.” He watched Miller chew at his lower lip for a moment, before he turned his head to meet Alexx’s gaze.

“Yeah, I keep telling myself that. I’m all about kissing those frogs to find that prince, you know?”

“Kiss a few toads, have you?” Alexx’s words produced a soft chuckle, followed by a smile. That was better. “Hey, why don’t you come by Charisma tonight, and we’ll all hang out together?”

“Are you sure? I mean, you and Raoul… you should do something together. Something special. This’ll be your first birthday with him.”

“And we’ll celebrate it at Charisma with our best friend.” Alexx’s voice was stronger, more confident.

“Well, I doubt Raoul feels that way.” Miller laughed.

“He doesn’t kiss just anyone like that,” Alexx teased, producing the expected blush.

“That was the wig, not me. And anyway, that was all for you and him, it didn’t mean a thing—”

“I know, I know,” Alexx said soothingly. “Just yanking your chain. Oh, you are coming tomorrow night, right? To the party at Le Petit Croissant?” His future in-laws had insisted on throwing a birthday party for Alexx at their upscale restaurant. How could he say no?

“Hell yeah. Not like I can afford to eat there. I’m just a poor working stiff.” Miller glanced at his watch. “Shit, speaking of working, I better get back to the Chronicle before I find out I’m not working, if you know what I mean.” He grabbed the bag with Alexx’s leftovers, which the waitress had been kind enough to package for him when he paid the bill, and they both rose.

“If you’re really sure…”

“I am.”

“Okay, see you tonight. I’ll try to find a costume. Not sure what.”

“It doesn’t matter. Come as you are. It’s not mandatory.”

“Okay, later.”

Alexx watched Miller race for the door, turn, and give a final wave before bolting outside. Once Miller was out of sight, Alexx grew thoughtful once more.

Ordinarily, when he was troubled about something, he turned to Raoul. But not this time. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Anything that was potentially harmful to Raoul was anathema to Alexx. So he’d just have to suck it up, pull up his big boy pants and just get over himself.

Once he figured out what his problem was. Sighing, he pushed his hands in his pockets and left the restaurant, his thoughts flitting about his mind like rabid bats in a belfry.

Damn. Vampire analogy. Better not let Raoul hear that.

He had to make sure Raoul didn’t suspect anything, or subject him to his foul mood. He had to make tonight special for his lover, no matter what the price. He loved him that much.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!






Virtual Book Tour: The Scent of Jasmine


Book Name: The Scent of Jasmine
Author Name: Lila Bruce
Author Bio:
Lila Bruce lives in the North Georgia Mountains, where the air is sweet and the summers are hot. When not writing, she spends her time adding to her ever-growing pack of basset hounds and dreaming of being able one day to leave behind her evil day job.



Author Contact:
Publisher:
Cover Artist:
Blurb(s):
Four years ago Jessica Taylor thought she was ready to leave small town living behind and headed West. Now she's back in Cedar Creek, a little older, a lot wiser, and ready to live the quiet life for a while.

It's been eight months since her fiancée walked out and shattered Grace Donnelly's dreams of a happily ever after. Her friends tell her it's time to start living again, but the breakup with Emma was still just too raw for Grace to wash her hands and move on.

After a chance meeting at her brother's bakery, Jessica finds herself unable to get Grace off of mind. She's sure she feels an attraction from Grace as well, but will Jessica be able to convince Grace to stop living in the past and take a chance on a future together with her...


Categories: Contemporary, Lesbian Romance

Excerpt:
Jessica Taylor stood there grinning, a slight dusting of flour decorating the bridge of her nose. She held a rack of cinnamon rolls at chest level, drawing Grace’s gaze to the slender woman’s chest, the white t-shirt and bright green apron seeming to accentuate the fullness of her breasts. She had long, dark hair that was tied back into a pony tail. And her eyes…her eyes seemed to dance as they stared at Grace from other the display case.
Holy hell, she is fucking gorgeous.
Grace opened her mouth to respond but looking at the other woman’s emerald eyes, could suddenly think of nothing but purple dildos. Mortified, she just stood there, saying nothing.
Keeping her gaze on Grace, Jessica slid the rack of cinnamon rolls into the case.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
Grace flushed briefly and the shook her head. “Oh no, that’s ok, you just startled me, that’s all. I didn’t hear you come out from the back.”
“So how would you like it?” the woman drawled. Gone was the nerdy teenager with wire-rimmed glasses. This woman looked more like she had just stepped off the runway rather than out of a kitchen.
Grace shook her head and blinked at her. “Um, I…um, excuse me?”
“Your cinnamon roll. Would you like it in a box or bag?”
“Oh. A box please,” she said quickly. “And I need sex…I mean six! I need six cinnamon rolls,” Grace added, reddening as she spoke.
Oh my word, I have got to get out of here, she thought to herself.


Words: 16,930


Tour Dates: October 29, 2014
Tour Stops:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: E-Book copy of ‘The Scent of Jasmine’
Sales Links:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Scent-Jasmine-Lila-Bruce-ebook/dp/B00O7VKVDE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1


Saturday, October 25, 2014

My Sexy Saturday #22: Leonardo DiCaprio is a Vampire

Today's My Sexy Saturday has a Halloween them, so I thought I would show a little bit of my Halloween story, Leonardo DiCaprio is a Vampire.



Hunter and Fisher have been friends forever. Fisher has feelings for Hunter he's afraid to admit to. But somehow he finds himself in a position where the truth might just come out, wish it or not.

And yet the very next moment, the most incriminating words in the world had left his lips, albeit in a very small, very tight voice. "Did you have sex with him?"

He felt the movement before he saw it. Hunter's face was closer to his than ever, those light blue eyes boring into his own. Fisher could do nothing but look back, speechless, as Hunter seemed to dive into his very soul through his eyes. "Never," he replied softly, his voice a husky whisper. "I could never do that to you."

Fisher trembled, waiting for something to happen. He didn't have to wait long. Suddenly those beautiful lips were touching his, and then they were kissing, truly kissing. No, it wasn't Fisher's first kiss, but it was his first with a man. His only kiss with a man. And he was amazed at what a difference there was between this kiss and the others. Not because of gender, but because it was with Hunter.

He felt himself giving in to those lips, melting into that touch, with a heat that penetrated his entire body, vibrating in its intensity. Now Hunter was nibbling at his lips, soft tender kisses that shook him to his very foundation. His head was reeling, and he was on the verge of losing all sense of self when he felt the first raindrops splash upon his upturned face.

What the hell. He pulled back at this sudden insertion of reality into a very unreal scene, his mouth forming a large "O" of amazement, his eyes going into saucer-plate mode. But even as he did, Hunter moved forward, sliding closer until their knees touched. From this position, luckily, they couldn't get much closer, or Hunter would realize what else he had raised, besides Fisher's blood pressure.

He was going to do it again. Fisher just knew it, he could feel it, and oh God how badly he wanted it, as he felt a whimper rise in his throat, indicating a neediness he wasn't aware he even possessed. But the drops were turning thicker now, more of them, and they were brutally cold. A definite shock to the system. His brain was screaming to him to get out, get out now.

Even though this was what he wanted, exactly what he wanted. So what was the problem? What did he think would happen if he gave in to his feelings? He didn't know. He was afraid of things that he couldn't even explain to himself.



Now available at Torquere Press!

Blurb:  

‘Tis the night before Halloween, and Fisher Roberts wishes it was over, not being a fan of this or any other holiday.  But he tolerates it because his roommate/best friend Hunter Long takes a childish glee in all things Halloween.  And Fisher has a vested interest in keeping Hunter happy.  If only he could find the nerve to tell his childhood friend that he loves him, and has for a very long time.

Fisher thinks Hunter is carrying things a bit far this year, though.  First Hunter claims to be a vampire, and he just won’t let the silly joke go.  Then he forces Fisher to go to a costumed Halloween party which Fisher would rather avoid, especially when he realizes where it’s being held, and whose house it is. Things at Fisher’s job might just be going south, too, when he receives a mysterious summons to report to the editor’s office the next morning.  And then Fisher goes and does something stupid—like kissing Hunter!

Bad leads to worse when Fisher ends up at the Halloween party from Hell, and he learns something that threatens to destroy his and Hunter’s relationship forever.  Running from his fears, Fisher encounters a strange young man with an unusual resemblance to Leonardo di Caprio, who shows him things he never realized before, truths about his life and the people in it.

Can Fisher find his way back to Hunter, and can he find the courage to do what his heart wishes?


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Tease me Thursday #33: Don't Look Back

When it's almost Friday, and you're itching to do something fun, come on in, and have a tease! It's Tease Me Thursday, and we're going to show you our 7! Whether 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs.

So sit back and relax, think about the weekend, and let's have a little bit of fun!



This week's tease comes from my ongoing flash story - Don't Look Back. Marshall and Lee have an unusual relationship, a very loving one. This week, they're having some fun in the sun. Enjoy!

Lee knew what Marshall wanted—Lee always understood Marshall’s needs. Marshall watched as Lee moved his hand from Marshall’s balls, picked up the lube and one-handedly pushed open the cap. He spilled a small amount of the lube onto Marshall’s stomach; it was cool to the touch, not unpleasantly so. Setting the tube aside, Lee dipped his fingers into the substance, slicking them. “Spread’em, sweet cheeks,” he directed, and Marshall happily obeyed.

Marshall pulled his legs back and held them against his chest, knowing this would give Lee greater access.

“How many?” Lee wanted to know, licking the top of Marshall’s cock.

“Three.”

“Let’s work up to that, why don’t we? Start with two?”

Marshall nodded his assent. Lee slid two fingers slowly inside Marshall’s channel, even as he devoured his cock once more. Oh God, that felt good. He clenched his muscles about Lee’s fingers, hoping to keep them there forever. He knew what was coming, and he braced for it.

Sure enough, Lee reached Marshall’s prostate and pushed against the bundle of nerves. Marshall yelped; Lee did it again.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Wednesday Briefs: Don't Look Back #19 (4.4)

Happy Wednesday to everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who like to play with flash fiction. Every week we post a flash between 500 and 1000 words, inspired by at least one of that week's prompts.

Don't Look Back continues this week with Marshall and Lee taking a day for some fishing, and fun in the sun. This story has mature themes, and it's not for everyone. Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Don't Look Back #19 (4.4)


Lee’s lips were soft, his breath warm, and his fingers were doing the most amazing things to Marshall’s flesh.  Marshall ate up the attention. Not that he didn’t have Lee’s attention on a regular basis, but today was special, and he felt like a kid on Christmas morning, waiting to see what Santa had brought. Except in this case Santa had brought Lee, and Lee brought joy to Marshall’s world.

When Lee backed off and rose, Marshall moaned at the loss.

“Just for a second,” Lee assured him. “Be right back.”

Marshall’s eyes fastened on Lee’s hot ass as he knelt beside the cooler and rummaged through their bag. He licked his lips appreciatively at the sight. When Lee returned, he held the honey bear in one hand, the lube in the other. Now Marshall was even more confused as to Lee’s intentions.

“You hungry?” he ventured a guess.

Lee gave him a knowing smile. “Always hungry for you, aren’t I?”

Marshall had to grin at that.  Familiar warmth stole through his body at Lee’s words. “Yeah, but that doesn’t explain… Oooh….” 

Lee tossed the lube onto the blanket. He opened the bear and removed the seal that proved it was virgin and untouched by anyone else. Upending it, he began to slowly drizzle honey over Marshall’s nipples, first one and then the other. Marshall watched the process with fascination. What in the world was Lee up to?

When Lee touched the tip of his tongue to one nipple, Marshall began to understand. Even more so, as Lee licked around the pink nub before taking it fully into his mouth and sucking. Marshall moaned in appreciation. Lee repeated the procedure on the second nipple. By the time he was done, they were rosy and stiff peaks, and ached pleasurably.

Lee leaned back and squatted on his haunches. His eyes hungrily grazed over Marshall, who writhed impatiently. Marshall knew better than to whimper. He bit his tongue as he waited for Lee to make his next move. He didn’t have long to wait.

Lee moved farther south, and turned the bear upside down again, holding it over Marshall’s hard, weeping cock. The viscous substance oozed out, hitting the cockhead, sliding slowly down the side.  Lee used his fingers to help coat Marshall’s erection with the sweet stuff, before he bent over it and took it into his mouth in its entirety.

Lee’s mouth was warm and wet around Marshall’s cock, and his tongue was doing things that in certain societies might be considered criminal. Marshall arched his back, digging his fingers into the blanket beneath him. A gentle breeze stirred the air, and purple blossoms descended upon them in a colorful shower.

Lee took Marshall’s hairless balls in one hand, rolling them between his fingers. He’d given them a quick going over in the bathroom last night, just in case. Not that they were all that hairy to begin with. Lee had a lot more hair down there than Marshall did.

“Finger,” Marshall moaned needily. “Please,” he added as an afterthought, although today he knew it wasn’t mandatory. Still, couldn’t hurt.

Lee knew what Marshall wanted—Lee always understood Marshall’s needs. Marshall watched as Lee moved his hand from Marshall’s balls, picked up the lube and one-handedly pushed open the cap. He spilled a small amount of the lube onto Marshall’s stomach; it was cool to the touch, not unpleasantly so. Setting the tube aside, Lee dipped his fingers into the substance, slicking them. “Spread’em, sweet cheeks,” he directed, and Marshall happily obeyed.

Marshall pulled his legs back and held them against his chest, knowing this would give Lee greater access.

“How many?” Lee wanted to know, licking the top of Marshall’s cock.

“Three.”

“Let’s work up to that, why don’t we? Start with two?”

Marshall nodded his assent. Lee slid two fingers slowly inside Marshall’s channel, even as he devoured his cock once more. Oh God, that felt good. He clenched his muscles about Lee’s fingers, hoping to keep them there forever. He knew what was coming, and he braced for it.

Sure enough, Lee reached Marshall’s prostate and pushed against the bundle of nerves. Marshall yelped; Lee did it again.

“More!” he gasped, and felt Lee add the third finger he’d promised.

Marshall felt full, but in a good way. There was only one thing better than having Lee fingerfuck him, and that was being filled by Lee himself.  He closed his eyes and gave in to the sensations that bombarded him, to the glory of the moment.

Cool air hit his cock as Lee pulled off again, and removed his fingers gently from Marshall’s ass. “I think you’re ready. Roll on your side.”

Marshall wasted no time in doing as directed.  Lee lifted one leg and raised it to his shoulder before he pushed inside Marshall with one thrust.

“Go ahead and touch,” Lee gave his permission. Marshall quickly wrapped his hand around his cock and pumped, even as Lee began to thrust in and out in a quick rhythm.

Marshall’s control began to slip. He was about to come, and he knew it. That familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach that began to grow, radiating outward, rapidly. The feeling sparked and caught fire as his cock began to spasm and Lee thrust harder. Marshall kept pumping his cock, ejaculating in quick spurts that coated his hand and chest.

A few hard thrusts later, he felt Lee’s release fill him warmly, heard Lee moan his name aloud as he came, before he collapsed onto the blanket, pulling Marshall close.

Damn, that was good.  If the fishing was even half as good, it would be a perfect day.  Drained, he was tempted to close his eyes for a moment. It was a struggle not to give in. But in the end, he gave up and fell asleep against Lee, inhaling his familiar scent.

to be continued

Now go see what the rest of the Briefers have been up to!










Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Virtual Book Tour: Bar V5 Dude Ranch series

Please welcome author Melissa McClone, here to talk about her Bar V5 Dude Ranch series. The series consists of three stories.

1. Mistletoe Magic - a short story, available for $.99 at Amazon and Nook, FREE at Smashwords
2. Kiss Me, Cowboy - eBook novella, $.99 on Kindle Oct 17-22
3.  Mistletoe Wedding - eBook novella New release! Only $2.99

 Melissa will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC and a Mini Swag Goodie Bag to one randomly drawn commenter  via rafflecopter during her tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find out where the other stops are, go here.  Look for the rafflcopter at the end of this post.


Bar V5 Dude Ranch Series
by Melissa McClone

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BLURBS:

Three couples. Three stories, where you can follow one pair from meeting to wedding day!

1. Mistletoe Magic – short story – available for $.99 at Amazon and Nook, FREE at Smashwords
2. Kiss Me, Cowboy – eBook novella — $0.99 on Kindle Oct 17 - 22
3. Mistletoe Wedding — eBook novella — New Release! only $2.99


Mistletoe Magic

Spending a quiet Christmas housesitting and reading novels about hot cowboys sounds perfect to Caitlin Butler. Until a stray kitten brings her face-to-face with Noah, her crush from college. Watching the handsome vet in action melts Caitlin's heart and brings back long forgotten emotion. She would be safer back at the house lost in the pages of a book. But a toe-curling mistletoe kiss tempts her to stay. Maybe she won't be spending this Christmas... alone.

Veterinarian Noah Sullivan isn't a Scrooge, but the Christmas Eve tradition of hanging mistletoe in the clinic's waiting room annoys him. Kissing doesn't belong at the Copper Mountain Animal Hospital. Noah rethinks his position when Caitlin arrives with a stray kitten she found freezing in the snow. All he wants now is to maneuver the pretty preschool teacher under the mistletoe. If he's not careful, he'll wind up on Santa's naughty list.

Kiss Me, Cowboy

She didn’t mean to kiss him…

When dude ranch wrangler Charlotte – aka Charlie – Randall kisses Zack Harris in an act of empathy, she falls hat over spurs for the handsome military veteran turned cowboy. Zack has too many demons, however, and refuses to get involved. A year later, he's still stonewalling, and Charlie needs to move on with her life so she can find a fulfilling relationship, not frustrating unrequited love. Putting distance between them seems the best way to get Zack out of her head and heart...but that means quitting the job she loves and accepting a position in Colorado.

He didn’t mean to kiss her back…

Growing up, Zack longed for a real family, and had one with his squad while deployed in Afghanistan. Now, he's back in the States and doesn't want anything messing up his new ranch family, no matter how much he's attracted to the sexy, hard-working Charlie. She could break his heart and ruin the comfortable working relationship they and the other wranglers enjoy. Besides, her friends claim she's looking for the perfect guy, and perfect he's not.

A kiss is just a kiss…or is it?

When Zack learns Charlie's thinking about leaving the ranch, he decides to find her a boyfriend — someone so good, so perfect, she has a reason to stay in Montana. Until he realizes too late that the only cowboy he wants her kissing is him. Can he commit to love and convince Charlie not to leave? Or has she made up her mind to put the past, and the kiss that started it all, behind her and move on without him?

Mistletoe Wedding

Longer: Event planner at the Bar V5 Dude Ranch, Meg Redstone is dreaming of a white Christmas with twinkling lights, sparkly decorations and strategically placed mistletoe. She loves making dreams come true for others, whether planning a holiday wedding or giving her young daughter the best Christmas ever.

Ranch foreman Tyler Murphy loves the holidays, but his newest employee has taken over his barn with her over-the-top decorations. He admires Meg’s desire to give her daughter the perfect Christmas while planning a winter wonderland wedding, but he wants to show her that a Montana Christmas is more than glitter and lights.

After raising his younger sister, an instant family is not on Ty's Christmas wish list. But he finds himself falling hard for the single mom and her little girl. Meg, however, is not interested in a romance with a cowboy like Ty, or any man. Getting her under the mistletoe is going to take a Christmas miracle . . . or a little help from Santa.

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EXCERPT:


KISS ME, COWBOY

A few minutes later, Charlie stepped out of the barn. Two copper braids hung down from her hat. The only time he'd seen her wear make-up had been at Nate and Rachel's wedding. Charlie had worn a dress showing off long, toned legs no one expected, east of all him. He'd had to keep his distance that night and keep the other wranglers away from her, too.

She might act like a cowboy, rough and tumble, ready to jump into a fight if called upon, but she was girl-next-door pretty, with blue eyes that sparkled and a generous mouth that
readily curved into a smile. He didn't let himself think of her as a woman often. Treating her like a guy kept him from focusing on her soft lips, sweet scent, and sexy curves.

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Thought you'd be at the bunkhouse by now."

He shrugged. "Was waiting for you."

She inhaled sharply.

Ty was right about them not getting along. She seemed more pissed off today. He jumped off the fence and closed the distance between them. "Got a few minutes?"

"For?"

The blues of her eyes reminded him of two tempting, deep pools of water. Perfect to jump into when he was hot and sweating. Truth was, drowning in her didn't sound like a bad way to go. The reason that would be a mistake poked at him like hungry mosquitos.

"I want to talk," he said.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~



AUTHOR Bio and Links:


With a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, Melissa McClone worked for a major airline where she traveled the globe and met her husband. But analyzing jet engine performance couldn’t compete with her love of writing happily ever afters. Her first full-time writing endeavor was her first sale when she was pregnant with her first child! Since then, she has published over thirty romance novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She’s also been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her driving her minivan to/from her children’s swim practices and other activities. She also sends care packages to deployed service members and fosters cats through a local no-kill animal shelter. Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house. They do!

Website: http://www.melissamcclone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMcCloneBooks

Twitter: @melissamcclone

Buy links:

1.         Mistletoe Magic
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Magic-Copper-Mountain-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00GUZ195O

Smashwords:

Mistletoe Magic is FREE on Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/380641

2.         Kiss Me, Cowboy
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Cowboy-Montana-Born-Rodeo-ebook/dp/B00NF0LNFI/

3.         Mistletoe Wedding
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Wedding-Montana-Born-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00NPMPNE8/











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