Guest Blogger Cynthia Arsuaga

Happy Valentine's Day! Today I am privileged to have author Cynthia Arsuaga as my guest. She has also answered the same Rick Reed questions. Let's see what she had to say. Also, she's talking about her February hot and romantic releases. Why don't you all get comfortable? I think I'm going to make us some cappucino. Go ahead, Cynthia.

The Questions  - Cynthia Arsuaga

1)      You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

Well, let’s see. Hubby, of course! And since he’d probably pick one thing, like matches, I’ll say a weapon, a sharp knife. With that we can protect ourselves and use to cut vegetation, fish, etc. to eat.

2)      Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

Wow! A tough one. I love musicals, but is there one that best describes my life? If I had to choose, I’d say Damn Yankees and the part of Lola. She’s misunderstood. Deep down she’s good, but when she wants to be bad, she is.

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  block, hardback, like

The chip resting on his shoulder begged for someone to knock it off. His arrogant attitude made that chip seem more like a large block and no one in the room had the balls to challenge him. Then a young man of slight build approached the sonofabitch ruining the study time at the library and coldcocked the brute with the closest thing he could find—a beautiful leather-bound hardback copy of Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.

4)      You’ve just been let loose in the world of fiction, with permission to do anyone you want. Who do you fuck first and why?

OMG! Julie! I think I’ll plead the fifth. Hubby could be reading this.

      What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

Depends on the time we have. If it is one night, probably dinner and talking. If we have time to get away, then to a romantic place like a Greek Isle or Caribbean Island, someplace warm and indulge in a few spa sessions, sight-seeing, eating decadent foods.

       When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

Most of the time a mini-plot expanded from an idea. From there I see the characters and then build on the idea. The first plot idea usually changes as I write. I don’t use an outline. The characters guide me.

        If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

Well, hubby always says I remind him of Katherine Hepburn, but since she’s no longer with us, I’d say maybe Jennifer Garner.

8)      Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

I don’t know horror, don’t watch or read, so I’d have no idea how to answer this.

9)      Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

A crush, depends upon what you mean by crush? Man or woman? A man that I’d like to meet perhaps, not necessarily have a crush on would be Alexander the Great. I’m doing research now for a story and the man was fascinating considering what he accomplished in such a short lifetime. A woman I’d like to meet would be Cleopatra. I love Egyptian history and she was a dynamic woman. I admire her strength, intelligence and cunning abilities.

10    Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

A story with reincarnation elements, historical elements mixed in the contemporary setting.

FOUR WOMEN, FOUR FANTASIES, ONE NIGHT 

Come on an erotic ride in a 1976 Bubble Gum Pink Cadillac Fleetwood limousine to a mysterious nightclub where the VIP package fulfills the fantasies of four women. Mistress Claudine, the owner and hostess at Nightfall, invites each woman in for her choice of pleasure. Beware, no fantasy is beyond reach once night falls.

CASSIDY’S FANTASY

Accompany Cassidy Morgan as she discovers how one night with a dark and deliciously dangerous man satisfies the craving to be claimed—to experience and learn the meaning of belonging to a vampire.

With the scene over, Cassidy feels disappointment that the time ended. As the night falls into morning, a new man walks into her life. In the end, will she get more than she paid for?

Tagline: Four Women, Four Fantasies. The Night Falls for One.

BLURB LOST IN THE SEA OF YOU

Part of the Valentine’s Anthology – Five Hearts from Secret Cravings Publishing

He found the boat in late afternoon, on a February day as cold and dry as it gets in Maine. That’s how the adventure began for Mikael Larson, ex-Army, relatively new sheriff and unattached man in a small town. Starting uneventfully at home, by the time he walked into the station, the day turned weird on the way to unexplainable and a lifetime of love satisfied in death.

INFO ON THE FREE GIFT:  

Get the Five Hearts Valentine's Anthology absolutely free with your paid subscription to the Cravings Club between now and 2/14/12! This book is not available for sale to the general public. It's our free gift to you!

Cravings Club

We invite you to become a Charter Member of the Cravings eBook Club and receive  Taming The Cougar* by Sandy Sullivan and Hunting Jaguar** by D. McEntire absolutely FREE! As a club member, you’ll receive 4 BRAND-NEW EBOOKS, specially selected by our Editorial Director, every month for a total price of only $9.99 for all 4. This comes out to barely $2.50 per book, much less than the retail price and you’ll be able to enjoy your books even before they hit Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

*Taming the Cougar, a western, erotic romance:

Marla isn't looking for love or anything else from a man. Can Marla put aside her distrust of men for a younger man? Can Chris convince her he's not like other guys?

**Hunting Jaguar, paranormal erotic romance:

Rachel Hayes' Father set out to prove the existence of the Miloni temple and the Jaguar people. Tumi is a descendant of the Miloni race and is sworn to protect their secret with his life. Will he be forced to uphold his vow at the cost of his heart and Rachel's life?

As a club member, you will also receive:

1. Our monthly newsletter

2. Sneak previews of new books

3. Exclusive interviews with your favorite authors

4 Special offers not available to the general public

You will be charged, automatically, through PayPal, only $9.99 every month.  Your books will be shipped within one day after PayPal payment has cleared. You may cancel at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” button located on the Cravings Club tab at the bottom of our website and keep the FREE BOOKS as our gift. 

BLURB A VAMPIRE IN PARIS

The attraction is instant, but their new found love is tested on the journey to love eternal.

For over two hundred years, London-based security and private investigator, Ramsey Weiss has existed as the quintessential confirmed bachelor. New Years’ Day he is dispatched to Paris, France, to rescue an abducted cosmetics company heiress. In the melee, he butts heads with an unexpected woman.

Camille du Bassin is the head chemist at Institut de Beauté Biologique and her niece has been kidnapped. She teams up with a private security investigator with special skills hired by her brother. The two unlikely pair work together playing a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse not only with each other, but battle an evil ancient vampire determined to take Camille as his consort. Somewhere along the journey, Camille and Ramsey are surprised by the physical attraction that develops between them, denying the attraction.

Just when the two lovers' think their love can be forever...Fate steps in to challenge the power of their love.

Speaking of hubby, I see him now.  I hope you two have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Thanks for stopping by, Cynthia, it's been a pleasure.











What does Valentine's Day mean to you? Have plans? Going in or staying out? We'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Guest blogger Raine Delight

Welcome if you will author Raine Delight! She's bravely answered my infamous Rick Reed questions. Plus she's going to add to the Valentine's Day spirit with a little Red Hot Magic - Devon Falls style. So sit back and relax while she and I make ourselves comfortable on the beach and summon a handsome waiter to do our bidding. In the meantime, go ahead and answer the questions, Raine.

The Questions

1)     1) You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

RD: Oh man I can’t have two??? *begs prettily then pouts* Well if I can’t have two then I guess Johnny Depp or Gerard Butler would be my choices. Have to flip a coin to see which one though. *grins*

What I would have…my toy box. *winks* Hey I never said it was empty. :-:P

2)      2) Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

RD: Oh sweet god….*thinks a minute* maybe Phantom of the Opera….and I want to be Christine and NOT pick the good guy Comte….I would go for the Phantom…especially if it’s Gerard Butler like in the Movie. :-P

3)         3)  Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  oxygen, organized, damage

RDR: Dante looked around as the spaceship jerked and the noises of explosions reached his ears. Checking his oxygen levels, he tried to get a sense of the damage the space pirates did to his ship, The Lucky Lady. Shaking his head, he got his thoughts organized and went to work.

4)        4)You’ve just been let loose in the world of fiction, with permission to do anyone you want. Who do you fuck first and why?

RD: Oh sweet bejesus….talk about a proverbial gourmet buffet here. *thinks* Well for an appetizer I would take Diana Galbadon’s Jamie from her Outlander series. Something about him just steals my heart….the Scottish accent helps as well. *grins* Then for main course….maybe a little Masters of Shadowland men…maybe Master Z and Master Cullen. Something about those Shadowlands men that leave me all hot and bothered. *fans face*

5)           5)What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

RD: I love going to dinner and maybe a movie, bowling or off to the arcade to play video games. *nods head* Yes I know not very romantic but it’s what we like.

6)            6)When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

RD: Actually I get snippets really of a story or I get a character just talking away in my head. Drives me nuts because then I have to figure out the beginning/middle/end part but I love it.

7)             7)If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

RD: *blinks and then claps hands* Really? Hollywood finally saw the box office appeal of my life. Ok now I have to think on this one…..maybe Drew Barrymore since I can be a bit quirky. J

8)              8)Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

RD: *shudders* oh no...no horror for me. I get nightmares on top of nightmares. LOL

9)               9) Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

RD: *thinks* Um…..nope, not that I am aware of.

10      10)   Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

RD: *grins* Not really…..though that may change. LOL

Now, let's get into the holiday spirit! Tell us a little something about Red Hot Magic.

Get in the Valentine's spirit with a little RED HOT MAGIC (Devon Falls 2)

Red Hot Magic
Devon Falls 2
Paranormal/Light Bondage/Contemporary
Secret Cravings Publishing
Buy link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=125
Book Trailer link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZcr8ubIr8

Raven Demarco has sworn off men after one too many disastrous dates and soon begins dreaming of a mystery man who makes her feel things that she never expects to feel again. When the auction comes closer, her sensual dreams become more than she can handle and she finds herself wishing her dream man would show up and sweep her off her feet. What will she do when the man himself comes to claim her: Heart, body and soul?

Jean-Claude LeFever is a dream walker and has searched for years for his mate and finally found her in Raven. With his seduction of her in her dreams driving them wild, he makes sure to come to Devon Falls and make her his for all time as time is running out for him and their love. If she doesn’t fall in love with him by midnight, Jean-Claude is destined to walk the planes of dreams for the next hundred years before finding his love again. Can he be able to steal her heart and make her his for all time? Or will it be too late for them?

adult excerpt:

Soon it was time for the man of the hour. It seemed the energy in the room went up a hundredfold. The women looked as if they eagerly awaited a rock star.

Raven saw from the corner of her eye, Jenna smiling at Marc craftily. They were up to something, but what was beyond her grasp at the moment. Raven turned her full attention to the stage where the most magnificent man walked amid the catcalls and cheers, so supremely handsome that he took her breath away.

That chiseled face and those bright eyes…the rock-hard body in a tux tailored to look as if made just for him…the way he walked… sex on legs, all hot and molten.

God, when he turned around, the room went in a tizzy with screams. Man, did he have a nice, tight ass. Raven almost came right then and there when she thought about how her hands would feel holding on to those cheeks. It was a perfect ass in her opinion—perfect to grab, wrap her legs around, and never let go of.

The bidding started with a furious passion, and soon it soared over a thousand dollars.

“Go ahead, honey, bid on the man!” Jenna encouraged as she practically climbed out of her seat with excitement. “The dog is so cute, with its scrunched face. The colors are amazing on the Boxer. I know how you like that breed.”

Raven blinked. The man looked right at her from the end of the runway. Gulping quickly, she raised her paddle to bid twelve hundred dollars on him.

Before she knew it, she was in a bidding war with Hailey Meredith.

“Two thousand,” Raven called out.

The crowd roared as each bid went up even more.

“Two thousand five hundred!” Hailey’s voice called out.

Raven gulped and bid the last amount she knew she could afford and prayed as hard as she could, never taking her eyes off this man. “Three thousand dollars!”

The crowd groaned as no one bid again. As the gavel went down once…twice…three times, Raven almost fell off her chair in shock. The gavel rang down as sold…to her!

Stunned disbelief raced across her face as Jean-Claude came down the stairs, with Jeb. He looked at her and smiled a slow, sexy grin all too familiar…yet he was still a stranger.

Oh my god! I just won that sex god!

Raine’s Bio:

Raine Delight loves to be pampered by her harem of men that exist solely for her pleasure. Wait…..that was in a movie she saw. Hey, she can dream. J Raine loves to fight with her muse, attack her manuscripts and find a way to silence the many voices in her head. Inspiration hits at odd times and for Raine, a blank word document page gives her many possibilities on story ideas.  Living with her two kids, a significant other who supports her every move in writing and doesn’t seem to mind she gets up at 2 am to type away on the computer. With a love for Johnny Depp, movies and 80’s hair bands, Raine finds a way to bring all her chaotic thoughts into a story that tells her readers about love and romance.

Raine Delight is a pseudonym of a self-professed book lover and after one too many TSTL characters, decided to see if she could write something a little better. Well many drafts later, Devon Falls series came together. Check out my book pages to see what is going on with me. My muse is a male nut who likes to leave me to go sip mai tais on the beach and leave me foundering for words; though eventually he takes pity on me and gets my words flowing and characters start settling down.

Personal notes: I live with my own boytoy and two kids. I love Johnny Depp movies and enjoy hiking, reading and watching movies with my family.

My links:

Website: http://authorrainedelight.com

Raine’s Blog: http://authorrainedelight.wordpress.com

Author/Reader Loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Author_Raine_Delight

Email me: rainedelight@yahoo.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorRaine-Delight

Secret Cravings Publishing: www.secretcravingspublishing.com

Haunting Magic book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8G5qDzyllY

Red Hot Magic Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZcr8ubIr8

 Have any questions for Raine? Any comments? She'd love to hear them. Just post them here, she'll get to them, in between flirting with the cute guys and drinking!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

With Love Valentine Blog Hop

Valentine's day is coming soon, a day traditionally associated with chocolate and hearts and, most of all, love! Now let's fill it with something more - we're having a blog hop to celebrate this day of love, and over 150 authors are participating. Go to their blogs, they're each running a contest, with prizes that run the gamut from books to GC to more. You'll be able to find the list of participating authors here

These contests run from today through midnight on February 14th. Here's my contest. All you have to do is comment and leave an email address. If you'd like to follow my blog too, that would be great. Let me tell you a little about me. I've been writing for many years, and most of my published works are in the m/m romance genre, although I have a book in the m/f under the name Reinette. I forgot to mention - the prize I am offering is anything from my backlist.  Let me show you a couple of my covers.

This is Max, my gay werewolf. For Love of Max is his story, sequel to To the Max. He's a forty-something guy, in a long term relationship with the love of his life, Richard. He has his family and friends and tries to lead a peaceful existence. But things just seem to happen.

Samantha loves vampires and the Tarot. Which works out well as she works at the McHenry House of Horror and Museum of the Supernatural in St. Louis. She's been engaged to one of the owners, Fowler McHenry, for a while, but has never set a date. The cards tell her something or someone is coming that will be her destiny. When the mysterious European investor, Eric Vargas, arrives, she wonders if he's that destiny. Little does she know that he is not only handsome, but he is also a vampire.

Fisher Roberts and Hunter Long have been best friends since they were small. Now in their thirties, they live in a house they bought together, and life is good. But something seems to be changing - Hunter seems to be changing - and Fisher is afraid he's going to lose his best friend... before he can tell him that he loves him. The fact that it's Halloween isn't helping, as Fisher is not a fan of this or any other holiday, and Hunter revels in them.

If he tells Hunter the truth, will he lose him? If he stays quiet, he might lose him too. What's a guy to do?








Those are just three of my titles. Be sure to leave a comment, along with your email address. And if you like what you see, follow my blog. I try to update almost every day. I look forward to seeing you here!


Happy blogging!

Refugees Review

Refugees   

Author: SL Danielson

Publisher: SL Danielson

American release date: November 16, 2011

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/M/M Romance/254 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

David and Robert’s lives have taken a turn for the worse. Each has been dumped by his lover. What they don’t know is that their exes are now together—and their own paths are about to cross. Fate or Karma? You decide.

Synopsis:

David returns one night to the home he shares with Andrew, only to discover his lover and almost fiancé gone, along with his small daughter. Stressed out, David finds life in the ER a bit too much to handle, so his understanding boss and friend finds him a spot as a physical therapist in a quiet office.

Robert loves Phillip with all his heart, but he knows that he’s never had Phillip’s heart, so it’s no surprise when he leaves, although it still hurts. So much so that while trying to take out his aggressions on a punching bag, he hurts his hand, and his sister takes him to get help.

David and Robert meet, although each is unaware of who the other is. At first David is taciturn and not very forthcoming, but Robert works on him until he begins to talk, and then they discover, to their amazement, that they have more in common than they’d realized.

Bound in mutual misery, they become friends, commiserating together over the men who broke their hearts. They’re both lonely and unhappy, and it seems logical that they should live together. There’s an attraction between them, but will they be able to act on it? Or will the spectre of love lost hang between them forever?

When David sees a news story about an assault and realizes it involves his ex, he can’t help but be concerned, and he and Robert fly to lend their support. This is the first time the four men have been together in one room and awkwardness ensues, but also some clearing of the air.

David and Robert take their relationship to the next level, and all should be well. Except it’s not, and ghosts are still getting in the way. Will they ever be free? Is their love real? Or is it just a pale imitation of what came before? Are they both just refugees? Forgotten and unloved?

Commentary:

Refugees is the sequel to Ms. Danielson’s, For the Heart of Phillip, which I reviewed previously. It’s basically a love story about picking up the pieces and moving on, not being afraid of getting hurt again, and taking chances. Both David and Robert feel as if they’ve been thrown away, like refuse, so it’s hard to be able to trust anyone with their hearts again. Ironic that Fate has brought them together, united in their joint misery.

You can read this volume without having read the first one, but I don’t recommend it. The first one explains a lot, and you see how the obsessions begin, whether you understand them or not. Especially the one concerning Phillip, but I ranted enough about that in the first review.

Ms. Danielson’s style is unique in its sparseness. She doesn’t waste words, but gets down to brass tacks quickly. Those people who eschew lengthy descriptions—or almost any descriptions at all—will enjoy this brevity on the author’s part.

She delves down to the heart of the matter, to the feelings of her characters, and draws them out, sometimes almost painfully. Her men are not stereotype beauties often found in m/m novels. They have hairy legs, and sometimes they need to lose weight, and they do have bodily functions.

However, in this novel especially, I find that these men do not stick out in my mind individually, and I often cannot remember one from another. They are almost interchangeable, with nothing giving particular definition or any defining characteristics.

Sometimes there are lapses in continuity or in common sense, things that make me scratch my head and say huh? A real wtf moment, for me, occurs late in the book. Okay, the law of probability is somewhat bent that Robert and David get together, considering that their exes are together, but putting that aside, there is a scene in which Robert and David, while at the mall, run into two other of their exes (one of whom is English and was in England), and these two exes are….. wait for it…. Together? Seriously? This defies odds, for me. Just unbelievable.

Also, her men cry at the drop of a hat. People, not just men, don’t cry as much as these guys, who turn on the waterworks whenever they’re thwarted, crossed, or frustrated. Got on my nerves. Also the interfering father who threatened to cold cock Phillip. For God’s sake, these men are way too old for parental inference, either one. Grow a backbone, boy.

Notwithstanding, her fans will enjoy it. It’s an interesting read, although I have to say that the cover is a little creepy. My daughter, while I was reading it, insisted I turn it over. The men on the cover look like zombie Sims. I think Castaways would be a more fitting title; they look like they’ve been languishing on Gilligan’s Island before the picture was taken.

Ms. Danielson certainly has her fans. I would recommend this as a light read, for anyone who finds flowery words too much to bear, and simply wants to get to it. Bare emotions, albeit sometimes illogical and confusing.

Silver Shorts: Closet Case

Silver Publishing is now running their own flash fiction, which they've titled Silver Shorts. Each week will see a new anthology of these shorts, available for free download at the Silver site, while the individual authors will be posting their own stories at their blogs.  This is my story from the first anthology, available at Silver now.  My story used the prompt: "This closet isn't big enough for both of us..." I call it Closet Case.  Enjoy!

Closet Case

Brad Kenyon hunched over his drink. His eyes bored into the dark wood of the bar, staring at the spots where the wood was peeling as he willed himself into invisibility. But a man of his height—he stood six foot four in his bare feet, and weighed a solid two twenty-five—wasn't someone who blended easily into the woodwork. Plus, he had a face that was far too famous to dwell in anonymity for long.

He busied himself with the plastic stirrer he'd gotten with the White Russian. Round and round and round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows. He created a white whirlpool in the center of the glass; it swirled around the cubes of ice. That was his life now. Caught in the midst of a monstrous Charybdis, being sucked down into… into what?

He wished he knew.

His first thoughts, as he'd made the mad dash from Kevin's apartment, had been to find a bar and drink himself into oblivion. But not a sports bar, or even a reasonable facsimile thereof. Too many televisions, all sports oriented, and all bound to be blaring the news. He didn't need to see it—he was living it.

He'd hopped into a cab and told the driver to just go, nowhere in particular. He'd know his destination once he arrived. And when he was tired of being driven, he told him to stop, in a seedier part of town, and sent him on his way.

So that's how he'd ended up here, at the Hotel Ferdinand, sitting in the hotel bar, along with maybe a half dozen other people. Maybe it wasn't exactly quality accommodations. And maybe Michelin would be hard put to give it one star, if that. But it was quiet, and it was out of the way, and right now, it was just the haven he needed. No one seemed to know him here. And the single sorry excuse for a TV was situated on a shelf behind the bar, tuned to some program he'd never seen before. Something with vampires. Not his style, but at least it wasn't sports.

"Is this seat taken?"

Brad turned his head away from the sound of the smoky voice.  Go away. If he ignored him, the guy would surely leave him alone.

He heard the creak of wood as the stranger eased himself into the seat beside him. Some guys just couldn't take a hint.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

Is this guy blind or something? Brad's drink was virtually untouched, unless you counted playing with the straw. What was he hoping, to get lucky or something?  Not tonight, pal, you're straight up out of luck here. Move along, little man.

He heard the sound of a striking match, smelt sulfur, caught the illumination from the corner of one eye. Despite himself, he turned slightly, eyeing the newcomer with misgiving. He couldn't help but notice that he held a lit candle in his hand. What the hell?

"You celebrating something?" he heard himself say, the words seeming to come from a great distance, as if reluctantly dragged out.

"No, but I think you are."

Brad swiveled fully in his seat, facing his undesired companion, afraid of what he might find. Or who. This guy was a stranger to him, though; he was sure he'd remember if he'd seen someone so good looking before, especially among the vultures of the press. Even in the dim light of the bar, his looks stood out. Tawny hair swept back from his smooth forehead, well coifed. Dark eyes which fairly gleamed; a nose that looked as though it had been broken at least once, but wore its injury with dignity and sensuality. And lips that begged to be kissed.

He pushed that thought to the back of his mind. That was the last thing he needed. A one night stand. He had far bigger fish to fry.

Besides, this guy obviously knew something. Or thought that he did.

"I think you got the wrong person." Brad help up the White Russian. "And I already have a drink, as you can see."

"I can see that, Brad, just wanted to get your attention."

Brad's heart sank. So it had begun. Why had he thought that he'd be able to hide out, enjoy a drink, and escape the attention which was undoubtedly headed his way? Even in this small hole-in-the-wall hotel, he'd been outed.

Ironic choice of words.

"Who the fuck are you?" he brazened. Stripping the drink of his play toy, he took a long drink, then set it down onto its napkin, one stamped with the picture of a cartoonish bull. The hotel's logo or something.

The stranger held out one hand. The one that didn't contain the candle.

"Garrison McKenzie."

The name meant nothing to Brad. He looked askance at the proffered hand.

"Let me guess. You're a sports reporter, and you want to talk to me about tonight?"

The handsome man shook his head. "Reporter? Not me. I couldn't write to save my life. And I have no interest in sports. No offense."

"None taken," Brad automatically responded. Without thinking, he reached out and took the other's hand in his own. It was warm to the touch, sent electric tingles that traversed down his spine.

"Then what is it you think you know about me? And why the candle?" Brad was intrigued, in spite of himself.

"I know who you are, if that's what you mean. I've been looking at your face all night. On TV, I mean, not here," he amended. "A very nice face it is."

Brad felt his very nice face warm at the compliment, before focusing on the other words. The damning ones. He knew it. He'd just known that's how it would play out. Sticking his head in the sand and playing ostrich changed nothing. It was out now, and nothing to be done about it.

That didn't explain the candle, though.

"Charlie, turn on Fox, will you, please?"

At Garrison's request, the bartender clicked a button on the remote. The picture changed. What was once a pouty vampire became a sports commentator. Brad couldn't think of his name. But he knew the name of the man sitting beside him. Kevin O'Leary. Sports reporter for a growing online site. Hungry as they came. Possessed of unbridled ambition. Not to mention that he was Brad's ex.

And now he was famous as being the man who'd just outed Brad Kenyon, star quarterback, to the world.

Brad had begged him not to do it. He said it would damage his career. Ruin it. Kevin didn't care. He'd laughed, in fact. That was when Brad had punched him and ran. He eyed the asshole on the small screen, a growl escaping his lips. Make-up did hide a multitude of sins. Including black eyes.

He still remembered Kevin's parting words, as he headed toward the door of his dumpy apartment.

"This closet ain't big enough for the both of us..."

So he'd jettisoned Brad without a second thought, while remaining safely inside.

But that didn't explain this guy, this Garrison. Or what he wanted.

"I'm not into sports, just good looking men." Garrison tightened his clasp. The electricity surged between them again. "I have a place, not too far from here. No one would find you there…"

Brad searched the other man's eyes. He couldn't help but notice again how handsome he was. He took a deep breath.

"So, you don't care… I mean, about what they're saying? About me?"

"Now really, that would make me a hypocrite, wouldn't it?" The candle flickered in an errant breeze; Garrison puckered his sexy lips and blew it out, setting it on the bar.

His voice was doing things to Brad, things he hadn't experienced in quite some time. He let this handsome stranger help him from his seat, welcomed the feel of his hand against the small of his back as they headed toward the door.

They walked closely together out of the hotel and into the night, fingers twined against the evening chill.  Brad couldn't help but wonder if maybe his ex hadn't just done him a big favor by outing him. Too bad that he'd stayed in the closet himself, the coward. His loss.

Once they reached his place, Garrison's first kiss erased the memories of Kevin. They spent the rest of the night in making new ones.

The End

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Wednesday Briefs: Dallas in Wonderland #12

Happy Hump Day and welcome to another Wednesday Brief, brought to you by the fine authors that comprise the Briefers! We're having fun, and we hope you're having fun too! This week our prompt was:   I got you under my skin. The alternate prompts were:  Use Paul Bunyan, bad food, and wishes or use paper mache in your story or make a Doctor Seuss reference. Betcha curious to see who did what, aren't you? You'll find the links to the other Briefers at the end of my story!

Dallas in Wonderland continues. Dallas and Dr. Levi are together, and what happens next is anyone's guess!  Enjoy!

Dallas in Wonderland #12

Dallas attempted to get the words out, force his thoughts into some semblance of coherency—so many questions welling up inside his brain—but the longer they kissed, the more he stopped wondering what anything meant. Anything other than the feel of this magnetic man, that is. Even as their lips tangled, the dance continued, rhythmically swaying from one foot to the next, back and forth, their bodies pressed tightly together.

Dallas felt Samuel’s fingers in his hair, caressing his ear, stroking his neck.  He shivered at the possibilities inherent in this scenario. It had been a long time for him; he hoped he was reading the other man’s non-verbal cues correctly.

Reluctantly, he felt the kiss broken as the need to breathe emerged.

“You have amazing lips,” Dr. Levi whispered breathily, strumming his fingers along Dallas’ cheek. Dallas felt the caress of the well-manicured nails lightly scratch his skin. His cock tightened, filling his trousers to overflowing.

“Let me see you,” he murmured.

Startled, Dallas gazed into his topaz eyes. His mouth opened, but he wasn’t sure what to say. He hadn’t expected to hear such a request, especially not from the sexy doctor.

Dr. Levi traced Dallas’ upper lip with one finger, never breaking their locked gaze. “I’d like to see your beautiful body. With your permission, of course.  Permesso?”

Dallas wasn’t sure of the language, but he had a good idea what he was being asked, and echoed the word in return. “Permesso.”  Insecurities instantly filled him. What should he do now?  Should he take off his clothes, or should he allow the older man to do as he wished… or what? He’d never been in quite this position before. When he was with his former lover, Quentin had demanded and he’d simply obeyed. It seemed as though he actually had a choice here. He didn’t want to assume anything, though.

The music changed. Dallas recognized the new song as an old Cole Porter tune.

Taking one of Dallas’ hands, Dr. Levi spun him about, encompassing him in his embrace. He felt the other man pressed familiarly against his backside. Felt his warm breath against his ear, as he whispered, “I’ve got you… under my skin…”

Dallas had never felt so close to fainting in his life. At least, not from sheer desire.

A warm hand slid beneath his shirt, caressing his skin. Dallas caught his breath at the welcome intrusion. He felt his free will melting, surrendering himself to an overwhelming passion. One that threatened to override any common sense he possessed.

Cooler air blew across his skin; he felt his shirt being pushed upward. Now his nipples were exposed. Samuel brushed his palm over each in turn, hardening them. Dallas moaned.

“Raise your arms, per favore…”

Dallas obeyed, without hesitation. As the fabric passed over his head, he was engulfed in darkness for a moment, triggering a feeling of panic. His heart rate accelerated as he flailed slightly. And then he was free once more, and the doctor’s lips were sliding along his neck, pressing against his pulse point, tethering him once more. He leaned backwards against him, relieved that the decision had been made for him. Or had he somehow managed to relay his wishes, and Samuel had acted on them? Reaching back, as if for reassurance, his hand grazed the doctor’s cool cheek, deriving comfort from the slight touch of stubble beneath his palm. It lent the other man a certain solidity, an affirmation of his reality. Under the circumstances, Dallas felt his uncertainties were warranted.

“Shoes,” Doctor Levi directed in the same breathy whisper, and Dallas quickly toed them off.  They landed somewhere out of sight. Feeling emboldened, he gave his ass a slight shake. He was rewarded with the touch of Dr. Levi’s hands, squeezing and kneading his ass, before reaching around Dallas’ waist. There went the first button. It had been precariously placed at best; it popped off and disappeared. Second button fared better, sliding smoothly through the hole.

Dallas’ cock strained against the material, as the zipper began its careful descent. He thought it would never end, the teeth seeming to taunt him as they disengaged in agonizing slow motion, but it did. His briefs openly bulged now, an embarrassing wet spot no doubt visible, but Dallas didn’t care. The jeans were being pushed down, taking his underwear with them, setting goose bumps free to cascade along his bare skin. And then he stepped from them, and kicked them away.

“Spin for me, pretty baby,” the ethereal doctor coaxed, taking a step back.

Dallas stood uncertainly for a minute, but his body began to react, almost without his volition, his hands rising up above his hand, meeting palm to palm, as he began to turn, slowly, pivoting on an unseen axis.

“Yes, that’s right,” Samuel encouraged him. “Just like that.”

Dallas increased his speed, spreading out his arms to provide better balance; he’d never felt so secure, so sure-footed in his life. He could do anything; Doctor Levi made him invincible. That thought made him smile.

As he rotated, he lived for glimpses of his doctor, his Samuel, basking in the approbation on the handsome man’s face. He was doing something right, for once, and someone actually cared. As he spun, the room seemed to darken, everything else fading from his vision until only Dr. Levi remained, the one bright spot of color in the darkness.

A pair of bright eyes blinked open in the darkness. What was that? The more Dallas spun, the more confused he became. Whose eyes were those? Who was here? He tried to scream a warning of peril, but his throat muscles seemed to have locked up, his vocal chords refusing to work. He spun faster, racing the phantom. Closer it came, and closer, to his Samuel.

He grabbed at one of the arm chairs to halt his frenzied spinning; his feet began to slide…

…and then darkness kissed him.

 to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Nephylim    m/m

Sara York    m/m

Lindsay Klug    m/f

Lily Sawyer     m/m

Victoria Blisse    m/f

Pender Mackie   m/m

Mathilde Watson   m/m

 Have a wonderful week and join us next time for more of our Wednesday Briefs!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie