Virtual Book Tour: Desire to Fall

Please welcome author Shona Husk, who is here to talk about her new release, Desire to Fall.  Shona will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Desire to Fall

by Shona Husk

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GENRE: Sci-fi Romance

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BLURB:

Kya Hawl is an architect on the Precinct One redevelopment, a prestigious and contentious project in the city-state of Velli. While she is happy with her part-time female lover, Judge Elmi Chadee, she wants more. She wants a family and children, for that she needs two men willing to put their life on the line to breed.

Tref Xant and his partner Dru Macon seem like the right guys; however, Tref has secrets and Dru is about to deploy to Precinct One, one of the roughest precincts in Velli--the redevelopment can’t come soon enough. Tref would like to see the place burned to the ground. But even that wouldn’t be able to erase his memories of growing up there.

With Dru away Tref finds himself falling for Kya. Jealousy sparks between the men. A triad can never form as Dru wants Elmi and she has sworn off unions after her sister ran away to join the Terrin Sect.

As riots erupt and the redevelopment is threatened Dru realizes he has to fight for what he wants--something Tref learned long time ago. A four-way union--while unusual--would work. But will the women agree when they learn of Tref’s past?

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

EXCERPT:

People stood to go, and he started packing up. A flutter of wings caught his eye, and he lifted his head from his handheld prismi-screen. Kya was preparing to leave. Could he walk over without it being obvious? What exactly was he trying to achieve? He watched as her wings partially opened, and she stretched after being forced to sit and watch a talk on electrics and security grids. Dull for most people. Fascinating for him. Almost as fascinating as functioning wings.

For a heartbeat he was transfixed by Kya. Her golden skin was almost translucent between the bones of her wings. So fragile, yet able to soar. He curled his fingers. He’d love to run his fingertips over those fine bones. Kiss where her wings joined her back. He and Dru hadn’t shared a woman in a while. She was definitely Dru’s type. Lithe with full lips that were always turned up at the corners.

Longing surged, but he tamped it down. Dru might get the wrong idea and think he’d changed his mind.

Kya headed toward the door. She spoke to another person and smiled. Would she smile at him? Why did he care? He should just let her leave. He could, but he knew he’d end up telling Dru about her and then trying to explain why he hadn’t acted on the attraction and at least said hello. There was only one reason, and it always caused an argument. Children were the one sticking point between him and Dru—Dru wanted a family, a triad. Tref didn’t want that responsibility. He’d seen how hard it was to keep a family together. He was holding Dru back. Tref resisted the urge to touch his wedding ring. Dru had married him for a reason.

Fuck it. She won’t bite—yet.

Tref strode over to Kya. He could call it professional courtesy. Casual interest. Even if it was attraction, it didn’t mean anything, and it didn’t mean he had to say anything beyond hello.

Kya’s head turned as he approached, and she stopped walking, as if she was waiting for him. Her gaze raked over him, too slowly for it to be anything but an appraisal. The heat in her eyes almost made him take a step back. He could hear the warning in his heartbeat that he was going to get burned by this one, but he still extended his hand in greeting.

The backs of their hands touched, and it was enough to send a jolt through his nerves that sizzled. He hadn’t felt attraction this strong since he’d met Dru, all dark eyes and muscle wrapped in a cop’s uniform. That had been five years ago, and he’d never expected to feel it again.

“Glad to finally put a face to the name, Kya.”

“You too.” She smiled, her blue eyes as dark as midnight. Her gaze flicked from his face to the ring in his ear.

In that fraction of a heartbeat, he didn’t want her to think he was unavailable. He wanted her to know he was interested in getting to know more about her and introducing her to Dru. That would be fun. Unless she wasn’t into the straight-up, honest-to-the-button-type guy. That wasn’t Tref’s type either, but Dru was something else.

“I’m glad you stood up to the Razor.”

Tref forced a smile at the manager’s nickname. It wasn’t quite as funny after growing up in Industrial 13. “I knew it would be coming, but it’s better to ask for everything first and then offer a cut.” He paused. She had no rings in her ears. What sect was she? Famili or Poli? He wasn’t sure what to say next, yet he wasn’t ready for the conversation to be over, so he kept it neutral and safe. “You work in this building?”

She nodded. “Yeah, up two levels.”

Of course she was up a couple of levels. He could picture her flying onto the top of the building and walking down the stairs to her office while he climbed up the stairs to his. He swallowed. The room was now empty except for them. He had to do something or say good-bye and try again another time, but that wasn’t who he was. He usually grasped every chance that came his way. “If you ever want to get drinks after work, there’s a nice bar in Tower A.”

Dru would be so impressed that he’d managed to make that suggestion.

Kya tilted her head. “You don’t like the Yellow Hop?”

Three floors down, it was popular with the office staff. However, he’d much rather catch a gondola across to Tower A and have a bit more privacy. Besides, from Tower A it was another short ride to his apartment. “Too many people from work.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She gave him another smile, her gaze lingering on him. “See you soon, Tref.”

He watched her walk away, her wings semispreading before closing as if she really wanted to shake them out. He wanted to see them extended, arching over his lover. The thought hardened his cock instantly. If they met for drinks, he’d be able to find out a bit more about her. And her about him. That thought was enough to kill the heat in his blood. He didn’t like anyone knowing too much about him. They judged too quickly. Women knew he wasn’t mating material once he mentioned growing up in Industrial 13, soon to be the cheap and trendy P1.

With a grimace, he turned away and packed up. It would be better if she didn’t take him up on the offer of after-work drinks.

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.

With over forty published stories, ranging from sensual to scorching, she writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.

You can find out more at www.shonahusk.com 

www.twitter.com/ShonaHusk

www.facebook.com/shonahusk

Newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/119074/join

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shona-Husk/e/B003O781E8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1443698408&sr=8-1

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: Vicious Circle

Author Name: Elle E. Ire

Book Name: Vicious Circle

Series: Guardian Assassin

Book: One

Release Date: November 4, 2015

Blurb:

Assassin meets innocent. When sweet and attractive Kila asks Cor to eliminate her abusive brother, Cor is more than willing to take the contract, but things aren't what they seem, and for Cor, her trust and love aren't easy to give.

Pages or Words:  92,800 words

Categories: Lesbian Romance, Science Fiction

Excerpt:

Kila might not pose a threat, but she was not what she appeared to be.

She pulled the covers from me and examined the wound on my arm. It showed no signs of infection. She’d done a good job, a better job than a barmaid should have.

My eyelids grew heavier. The room became dim, and I blinked to clear my vision. “You’ve had medical training.”

“You could say that.” She wrapped the blankets around me and tucked them in like a mother for her child. Something about her made me feel warm and safe. I fought to shake it off.

“What else could I say? Who are you?” I demanded.

She smiled cryptically. “I’m the least important member of my family. Not like you.”

I scowled at her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” My voice rose and fell in my ears, echoing in a disconcerting manner.

             She turned away from me, instead facing my table, the bag, the book. “You are

Corianne Sandros, the Core of Sardonen. And I want to hire you to kill my brother.”

Buy the book:  http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200&products_id=4529

Meet the author:

Elle E. Ire resides in the Disney-created town of Celebration, Florida, with her spouse, twin daughters, and two dogs. A graduate of the University of Miami, she earned her Bachelor's degree in creative writing but left the MFA program when they refused to allow her to write genre fiction, instead receiving a Master's in Literature mostly made up of writing courses. Currently, she teaches writing to seventh and eighth graders. She and her spouse run several writing groups, as well as present at many local and statewide conferences.

Where to find the author:

https://www.facebook.com/ElleE.IreAuthor

http://www.elleire.com/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27427219-vicious-circle

Publisher: Torquere Press

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Jessie G. Books, Full Moon Dreaming, Bayou Book Junkie, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Inked Rainbow Reads, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Unquietly Me, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Bonkers About Books, The Hat Party, Havan Fellows, Nephy Hart, Velvet Panic

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of 'Vicious Circle'

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: A Prince of a Guy

Please welcome author Eileen Dreyer, who is here to tell us about her new release, A Prince of a Guy. Eileen is giving away a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one random commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the rest of the stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

A Prince of a Guy

by Eileen Dreyer

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

When New Yorker Casey Phillips visits the tiny country of Moritania, she simply wants to see where her ancestors came from. Instead, she's mistaken for a princess.

The real princess has been kidnapped, and Crown Prince Eric von Lieberhaven insists Casey—a dead ringer for the missing royal—step into the princess's shoes until she can be freed.

As Casey upends royal tradition, Eric finds himself hoping the cheeky American never returns home. But can a secretary from Brooklyn really find happiness with a prince?

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

EXCERPT:

The Royal Palace of Moritania, the Alps, 1987

Eric handed her up the steps before him as a silent groom appeared from somewhere and took the Bronco away. Casey half expected him to sweep the cobblestones behind them. When they reached the door, it magically opened, another liveried servant bowing and smiling as he passed them on.

"Rolph," Eric said, easing Casey along when she slowed, "is Her Majesty the queen available for visitors?"

"I shall check for you, Your Highness. Refreshments?"

He stole a look at Casey, who was rubbernecking the paintings on the walls with undisguised astonishment. After a moment he nodded. "Yes, I believe they will be needed. In the Great Hall, if you please."

Rolph dispatched a discreetly questioning look, but bowed and moved away. Casey was still trying to take in the extent of the entryway.

Train stations were smaller. The walls extended up some thirty feet, decorated with what looked suspiciously like old masters and terminating in a high, vaulted ceiling that some brave painter had gotten his hands on. It was all light and froth, cherubs and swirling gold banners swimming around a vault of milky white. The floors were of gleaming dark wood covered in what had to be priceless Oriental rugs. The effect was one of immense space, the inside of the building mirroring the image given by the outside. Quiet, understated grace and wealth.

No need for ostentation here. It only made her want to see more.

"Like your decorator," she finally managed, casting a sidelong glance over to where Eric was enjoying her reaction.

"Moritania might not be big—" he bowed a little in acknowledgment, "—but it is a country rife with good taste. I'd like to show you something, if you don't mind."

"The only thing you could show me to beat this would be the Sistine chapel."

Walking to the right side of the hall, Eric opened a great oak door. Casey walked past him into an even more impressive room. It was long, with six matched sets of crystal chandeliers and floor-to ceiling windows that reflected in the mirrors along the opposite wall.

"Been to Versailles, had they?" she breathed, coming to a stop.

Eric wouldn't let her. Instead, he took her by the elbow and gently propelled her down the parquet flooring. "I'm sure you don't know," he was saying, "but my brother just died recently."

Casey immediately turned to him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't."

He nodded with a sad little smile. "He was much older than I, and his heart was bad. The upshot of it is that next week his daughter, my niece, will become the new queen of Moritania. She is his only child, and his wife is also dead."

Casey had no idea where the conversation was leading. He seemed so reluctant to tell her that she knew it was something important to him. She couldn't think of anything more to do than nod.

Then he stopped walking. Turning to her, he took hold of both of her arms, his eyes trying to communicate something of import. They had softened. Casey felt even more confused.

"What?"

"The portrait here at the end of the Great Hall has just gone up. It is a painting of the next queen of Moritania, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Cassandra."

He turned Casey to face the painting. Casey's jaw dropped. Looking back at her from the canvas was a young woman with delicate features, a gently molded face with deep, wide-set hazel eyes and a small, straight nose. A small mouth curved just at the ends as if she was amusing herself immensely with a private joke. Diamonds and rubies glittered at her throat, and a mane of tawny hair swept back, thick and styled sleekly away from tiny ears where teardrop diamonds hung.

Casey turned to Eric and then back to the picture and then back to Eric again, unable to speak. Then she turned once again to the portrait and finally admitted what he'd been trying to prepare her for. She was staring at a portrait of herself.

"And here I thought losing the car was going to be the high point of my day."

Copyright Eileen Dreyer

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

New York Times bestselling, RWA Hall of Fame author Eileen Dreyer has published 31 romance novels in most genres, 8 medical­forensic suspenses, and 10 short stories.

2015 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her foray into historical romance, the Drake’s Rakes series, which Eileen labels as Regency Romantic Adventure that follows a group of Regency aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. She is also working on her first non­fiction book, TRAVELS WITH DAVE, about a journey she's been taking with a friend's ashes.

A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and

large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

Website - http://eileendreyer.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EileenDreyer

Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/EileenDreyer

Purchase Link

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Korbel-Classic-Romance-Humorous-ebook/dp/B015ES5NZO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442885725&sr=8-1&keywords=a+Prince+of+a+Guy+Eileen+Dreyer

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday Briefs: Rose and Thorne #9

Happy Hump Day, one and all! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of writers who bring you our best flash fiction every week, from 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts!

This week is a temporary good-bye to Vinnie and Ethan, but hopefully you'll be able to see them in their entirety after I sub them to a publisher, so keep your fingers crossed! There is no Moving Forward this week, but Marshall and Lee will be back next and for a long time to come after that, until their second book is done. I still plan to offer the first book as a free read, just haven't had a chance to get it ready yet.

Appropriately enough, in this week's episode, Vinnie and Ethan are making love. 'Nuff said! Don't forget to see what the other Briefers have been up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Rose and Thorne #9 (2.5)

We began to move together in the rhythm of our familiar dance. Every nerve ending I possessed thrummed with pleasure. I was never so complete as when Ethan and I were joined, I never felt as whole. It wasn’t like I was incomplete without him, or considered myself less of a person, but when we were together, we were one.

I reached for my aching cock and began to stroke it, the need to come so strong I could taste it. He gently wrapped his hand around mine and pumped along with me, mirroring his powerful thrusts inside me.

When his movements became shorter and harder, I knew he was close, just as I knew I was almost there myself. He tightened our combined grip about my slick shaft. I responded with a moan. My balls drew back against my body, tightening almost unbearably. I had to release, had to do it right damn now.

I came long and hard, my cock spasming as I covered our hands with cum. My entire body was alive with the orgasm that shook me as I screamed Ethan’s name.  He continued to pound inside me. I wanted him to come, needed to be filled by him. I tightened my muscles around his cock, meeting him thrust for thrust. He covered my mouth with his own, our lips melding together as I felt the warmth of his release inside me.

Afterward, Ethan leaned his forehead against mine as he caught his breath. I never got tired of looking into his eyes. Soulgazing, he liked to call it. He claimed he could see how beautiful my soul was. Ethan is just chock full of Southern charm, isn’t he? No wonder I’m crazy mad in love with him, and have been ever since we first met.

Well, mostly.

“Is this your idea of resting, Detective Delarosa?” He quirked his lips into a sexy smile which belied his words.

“I didn’t exactly hear you say no, Detective Thorne,” I countered, placing a small kiss at the corner of his mouth.

“I should make you do without for a week to teach you to take care of yourself…”

“But then you’d have to do without this beautiful bod for that same week, and I don’t think you can do that.”

“I guess this is what’s known as a Mexican standoff, isn’t it?”

“Looks that way.”

He kissed me softly, then rolled onto his back so I could lay my head against his chest, my favorite post-coital position. I could feel the comforting rise and fall of his heart beating against my ear. I knew we had to get up soon so we could get cleaned up and go to sleep, but I didn’t want to move. I just wanted to bask in our afterglow as long as possible and treasure this moment with Ethan.

“Do you think we might get lucky?” I asked sleepily.

“What do you mean, Vin?” He was playing with my long dark hair, winding it around his finger, curling it. With hair this long, who needed a wig? I think that’s one reason why I ended up wearing a dress more often than not on mugger stakeouts.

“I was just thinking maybe we won’t get another assignment right away. Maybe we can stay here and relax another couple of days before we move on. See a little more of Roanoke, you know?”

“That would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?” he agreed. “We can catch up on our laundry, too. And you can rest your pretty legs.”

I gave him a knowing leer. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” I had definite ideas on how I wanted to spend any downtime we got. And that didn’t include sitting inside some Laundromat, watching the spin cycle go round and round. As for my legs, all I wanted to do with them was to wind them around Ethan’s neck while he fucked me into the mattress.

It’s good to have dreams.

“We’ll see about that.” But I knew better. He had the same damn ideas I did, and I knew it.

I kept reminding myself we needed to get up, but my limbs refused to obey. It didn’t help that Ethan had started to rock back and forth, something he liked to do. He said he started doing it as a child, and I can’t say I exactly objected, once I got used to it. The motion was both soothing and comforting… and it was also something we definitely kept to ourselves. I wasn’t about to admit that I liked to be rocked to sleep. I knew we’d never hear the end of it, especially me.

I was spiraling into slumber, drowsy and content and boneless, when a strange sound brought me wide awake and alert. What was that? It almost sounded like something scratching at the door. What the hell?

“Ethan, you hear that?” I cautiously raised my head from his chest.

“Hear what, Vin?”

“Wait for it.” Sure enough a moment later, I heard the scratching again, this time followed by a whimper. And suddenly I knew.

“Oh damn. It’s just the dog.” I flopped back on the bed with a sigh. What had I been thinking? Dogs were like kids. You put something in, you got something out. But with animals, you had to deal with it by taking them out to do their business, instead of putting a diaper on them. Diapers would have been easier.

My idea, my problem to deal with. I began to rise, albeit stiffly, but Ethan drew me back down.

“I’ll take Benny out, you go back to sleep.”

“I can do it,” I half-heartedly objected. “I got us into this, I can—”

“I don’t mind, I’ll just take him out to the parking lot. Be right back.”

I think I was still arguing with him when I fell back asleep. The last words I remember were, “Don’t call him Benny.”

I don’t think he was listening.

I hope you're enjoyed reading about Vinnie and Ethan... and Benny! I'll keep you posted on their progress from flash to novel! In the meantime, go visit the other Briefers, and see what's up with them!

 Jon Keys

Carol Pedroso

Mann Ramblings

Kazy Reed

Ravon Silvius

Cia Nordwell

Jim Dunaway

Rob Colton

Virtual Book Tour: Nighttime Promises

Nighttime Promises by M.A. Church

Are we alone in the universe?

One of the most widely asked questions you’ll hear today is “are we alone in the universe?” News flash, folks—you’re in the minority if you believe no intelligent life exists in the universe.

In the US alone, at least half of all Americans believe we’re not alone. Many staunchly believe there’s some form of life on other planets. Even more say intelligent extraterrestrials have already come to Earth and have been doing so for some time. 

Why do these people feel this way? Well, there are multiple reasons why the extraterrestrial question continues to gain popularity. Here are just a few:

1. The Size of the Universe

Counting the stars in the universe is like trying to count the number of sand grains on a beach… it’s just not possible. Although estimates vary among different experts, the general consensus is that there are at least between 100 billion and 200 billion galaxies in our universe. Now, think about that for a moment. That’s a lot of uncharted territory.

2. Whistle Blowers

The past few years have seen a surge of whistle-blowers who have come out and said some remarkable things. The reality is hundreds of whistle-blowers who have come forward have verified credentials and backgrounds.

3. The Evidence of UFOs

Within the past few years, dozens of governments admitted to allocating resources and having programs to study the UFO phenomenon. 

4. Mass Mainstream Media Attention

Media outlets of all kind are covering the topic, almost every movie that comes out these days has something to do with space or some kind of extraterrestrial intelligence. We’ve been bombarded with the topic for a while now, so it’s not hard to see how it’s on the minds of many.

These are just a few things to think about. So, what do you think? Are we alone in the universe? Bryan and Shawn would tell you—quite loudly, actually—that no, we are not, lol. So what in the world possessed me to write a story about tentacles? *laugh* Originally the idea came from an anthology submission. While I’d written sci-fi before, tentacles was a new one for me.

Most of those stories I’d read were dark and edging on toward scary. So I decided to do something different. My alien does indeed have tentacles, but they look more like dreads and are on his head. On the males of the species, they’re part of his reproduction system. So, yes, the tentacles like to come out and play. *wink *

I didn’t make the 25K word count cut off. Not only did I not make it, the story ended up close to 90K! It ended up with not one, but two, humans and several tentacled alien warriors. What can I say? They all had a story to tell.

It didn’t take long to see that while the alien’s tentacles were very much a part of the story, the books themselves didn’t revolve around just that. I actually ended up devoting a lot of time to world building. The series starts on earth and then ends up in outer space—on the alien’s planet!

Buy Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nighttimepromises-1908642-340.html

NOTE: This is a previously published work. The title, author, and/or publisher may have changed.

Book Description:

When you wish upon a star… it comes true in ways you never expected.

Things have gone downhill since Sheriff Bryan Coltrane got involved in the FBI’s investigation of a recent UFO crash. Not only is a homophobic agent pushing his buttons, but he’s made contact with one of the aliens…who wants him for a mate!

Daroshi, a warrior with tentacles from the planet Maz’Rar, monitored the rescue of his captain, Ziang. Impressed by the courageous and brawny human male, he wants Bryan for his own despite knowing little about the race. Neither man is prepared for the problems arising from Daroshi’s desires, or the passion exploding between them.

What’s an alien to do when his mate harps on his civil rights and makes demands? He makes the wishes come true.

Excerpt:

“I had two big-ass aliens after me, of course I tased him. What did you expect after the way you busted through the window? You think I was going to offer you a beer? And fuck, my house is probably gonna burn down since I left the damn stove on!” Bryan yelled. “Son of a bitch, I left the damn stove on.”

The door to Medical opened and Shawn walked inside, with Blayno guarding him. He’d heard most of the conversation from outside.

“Huh, I did tell you he wouldn’t come without a fight.” Smirking, Shawn took in the flushed faces of Daroshi and Bryan. “Think I also warned you to disarm him.”

Daroshi threw his hands up in the air. “Are all humans like this?”

“Only the ones half scared out of their minds.” Shawn turned to Bryan. “How’s it hanging, dude?”

“Shawn?” Bryan whispered, relieved to see another actual human. “Is that really you? They didn’t, like, turn you into a pod person or something, did they? It’s really you?”

Shawn choked back a laugh. “It’s me.”

He walked closer to Bryan, and Ziang growled loudly, the sound bouncing off the walls. “Shawn, do not move any closer to him, he has a—”

“Chill out, E.T. I’m not the one he’s threatening.” Shaking his head, he jumped on the medibed and sat down next to Bryan. “Bryan, they aren’t going to hurt you, I promise. But the knife has to go, dude.”

About the Author:

M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children. She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.

For more information on other books by M.A., visit her official website: www.machurch00.blogspot.com

Social Media links:

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * The Harvest FB fan page * Goodreads * Amazon

There is a tour giveaway too:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112ffc1213

Into the Spider's Web (Halloween Rose and Thorne) Part V - Conclusion

As promised, I'm bringing you the last part of the Halloween Rose and Thorne story. I hope you enjoy it! Now, here's the surprise I mentioned! I'm going to give one commenter a copy of anything from my backlist. What do you  have to do? Just comment on this post, and tell me what you think of Vinnie and Ethan, and would you like to see more of them? That's it. Than I'll pick a winner in a few days. Be sure to leave your email address, can't win without one!

I hope you've enjoyed this story even half as much as I enjoyed writing it! Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Into the Spider's Web Part V

“I’m very flattered, sir.”

Suddenly, I found her Hollywood smile a little too phony for my taste, and I thought she found Ethan entirely too appetizing. Especially since I was standing right there. Hello? Remember me? The Cleopatra that’s gonna send your poisonous ass to the moon if you don’t stop ogling my man? She held out her hand and Ethan bent over it like he was playing the courtier to her queen in some period drama.

Hey, wasn’t I supposed to be the queen here? I took a deep breath, forcing back words that would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap when I was a kid, my eyes trained jealously on the tableau before me.

If I saw even the slightest hint of his lips touching her flesh… well, let’s just say what would happen next wouldn’t be pretty.

Ethan raised his head, his lips never making contact with her skin, and I released my breath.  Unpleasant scene avoided.

Someone must have been looking out for us, for just at that moment, the actor we’d been discussing earlier made an appearance, his attention all for Miss St. Clair. “Caroline, darling!” he gushed. “Here you are! I’ve been searching everywhere for you. There’s someone you simply have to meet.”

With an apologetic shrug and a backward wave, Miss St. Clair allowed herself to be dragged off by the eager beaver, and we were alone once more. Relatively speaking.

“Back to business,” Ethan said in his no-nonsense voice, as I pushed the actress out of my head for more important matters. “I was watching Spider and the two cauldrons, and who he gave what to, and I’m pretty sure there’s something in those “special” bags he’s giving out. So I followed one of the recipients and relieved him of it when he wasn’t looking.”

“How did you do that?” I asked, amazed.

Ethan waggled his fingers at me and grinned. “Just a little skill I used to have, although I haven’t practiced it in quite a while. I guess I haven’t lost my touch.”

“I guess not,” I said in open admiration. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

“Could be,” he said—somewhat evasively, I thought—before changing the subject. “I think we need to check this out, and see if it’s what I think it is.” He held a small cloth bag in his hand, a far cry from the cheaper ones we’d been offered. He rolled it in his palm as if to gauge it.

I glanced around us. The party was in full swing by now, and everybody was too preoccupied with what they were doing to notice us. “Let’s go into that hallway. I don’t think anyone will notice.”

“Probably not,” he agreed. Taking my hand, we casually but urgently strolled through the other guests, who were laughing and drinking and having a generally great time. At least one person was doing a line of coke. I made a mental note to do something about that later.

We darted into the hallway, no one paying us the slightest attention.  I kept an eye on the crowd, while Ethan opened the bag into his palm and whistled.

“What is it?” I glanced back at what he held.  “Wow, is that what I think it is?”

“Yep. Diamonds.” He moved his hand so that the stones caught the light, sparkling like tiny stars in his palm. “Can you imagine what these must be worth?”

“A whole lot more than you and me together.” I had a sudden thought. “Just think, if each of those bags had this many diamonds in it….?”

“That’s a whole lot of ice,” Ethan agreed. “Time to remove the spider from his web. I think we need to bring Anderson into this. He’s just waiting for the word to bring in his men.”

“But if he does that, how do we link Spider directly to the jewels? He’ll just say he doesn’t know anything about them.”

“You have a point.” Ethan frowned in thought. Then his brow cleared, as if he’d just thought of the solution to our dilemma, and he gave me one of his aren’t I so brilliant but you’re not going to like this looks.

I felt uneasy already.

“What?”

“You need to get Spider to give you one of those bags. Personally.”

“How the hell do you expect me to do that? Ask him? Please, Mr. Spider, can I have some of your lovely illegal jewels you’ve been smuggling as a souvenir of our non-existent relationship?  I’m sure that’ll go over well.”

“I don’t think I’d put it quite like that to him, Vin.”

“Gee, really, Ethan?”

Ethan tried not to grin, but he failed. Miserably. “Use your feminine wiles on him.”

Wasn’t he just making things better?

I started to huff a very scathing retort when I heard a familiar voice intone,” My queen, you promised me a dance,” and the next thing I knew, I was being queen-handled into the main ballroom, headed for the dance floor, in the grasp of one Spider.

For a short, fat man, Spider moved surprisingly well. I tried to tug out of his hold, but to no avail. I caught sight of Ethan following behind us, indirectly, skirting the other guests in order to keep us in sight. I threw him a helpless glance. He held up one finger, as if to say be right back, then disappeared.

Great. I was all alone. Caught in the spider’s web.

As we approached the dance floor, the music, which had been thumping and bumping, turned soft and romantic. I had to believe that wasn’t a coincidence. His next words verified my impression.

“I told them to play something soft and slow,” Spider told me with a lascivious leer. Other than Ethan, why did I seem to attract such creeps? I wondered where Mrs. Spider was. Probably guarding the goodies. He probably gave her some excuse, or maybe he just told her to stay there.

Spider might not have eight legs, but I sure thought he had at least that many hands, and they were all over me. As soon as I removed one from my ass, another found its way to my fake bosom. I wondered why he didn’t know the difference. Maybe his marriage wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Not my business and I didn’t really care.

“Ah, ah, ah,” I kept warning him, trying to maintain a girlish lilt when what I really wanted was to kick him in the nuts and tell him hands off. By the time the music ended, I knew how a fresh piece of fruit at the supermarket must feel, constantly being groped. And I was still no closer to the jewels. 

Not his, the diamonds.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. “Mr. Geist…” I began.

“Please, call me Spider. All my friends do.”

I forced myself not to gag and gave him a brilliant smile instead. “Spider,” I conceded, “how about we get some fresh air?” I wondered if he would take the bait, considering how smoggy the air over LA generally was. But he seemed very amenable to my suggestion and before I could even get in another word, he was power walking me toward the front door.

I was making this up on the fly, and I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do, but I knew I had to do something.  As we headed into the foyer, I was hard put not to fall behind. You’d think he was on his way to a fire. I was grateful that the sandals Ethan had gotten me were flat. I’d hate to think what would have happened if I’d had to stumble after him in heels.

I spotted his waspish wife where I thought she might be—by the cauldrons. I wondered how she would take his hauling me out the door like he’d just won me in a box of Cracker Jacks? Probably not very well. Probably like a woman scorned… Hmm, I wondered…

As we came abreast of the cauldrons, I managed to dig in my heels, enough to slow him down, since he wasn’t expecting any resistance on my part. Mrs. G gave me a suspicious look, and her husband a very dirty one. I noticed the one cauldron held far less than it had before. If I didn’t act soon, there would be no jewels, and he’d have succeeded in eluding arrest once more.

“Oh, Spider, thank you so much for a wonderful time!” I impulsively threw my arms around my unsuspecting victim and hugged him. He sure didn’t put up much of a fight, especially considering his wife was standing right there. And there went that pesky hand again, right to my ass. Didn’t he even know what a woman’s ass should feel like? Mine sure didn’t feel like that, I knew.

“Frederick!” his wife hissed, probably trying to maintain some sense of decorum when what she really wanted to do was scream at him. Ignoring her, he dove in for a kiss, and I barely managed to side step him.

“Naughty boy!” I managed to haul my royal ass to the other side of the cauldron, next to his wife. Without pausing for thought, I plunged my hand into the cauldron, feeling about for one of the cloth bags which I knew held the jewels. I picked one at random and lifted it out.

“What are you doing?” Mrs. Spider gaped at me.

“Spider promised me,” I lied, hoping to light a spark inside of her.

It worked.

“No, you can’t have that, you silly little tramp. He never gave you those, you’re lying, I know you are.”

“But they are his to give, yes?”

“Yes, but he would never give them to the likes of you, you’re not on the list…”

“”Madeline!” Spider realized what was happening, too late, and lunged for the bag in my hand. Being taller, I managed to hold it out of his reach. Furious, he snapped his fingers. I should have seen that coming. Didn’t it stand to reason he had bodyguards? Big burly ones who looked as though they meant serious business, and wouldn’t care if I was a woman or a man.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it ends here,” Spider said. “Return those to me this instant.”

“You mean I can’t have them?” I pouted, thrusting out my lower lip as sexily as I could. “You want them for yourself?”

Come on, say it, buster, say it….

“They are mine, you silly bitch!” He thrust his hand out. “Either give them to me or suffer the consequences.”

The first bodyguard had reached me by then. He was big and burly and built like a gorilla. “Be a nice girl and give that back,” he tried to cajole me.

“Don’t wanna be a nice girl,” I told him just before I kneed his nuts and ran toward the door.

“Get her!” Spider screamed.

I was dimly aware of an ensuing pandemonium as all hell broke loose. Guests screamed, the bodyguards were chasing me, and I was doing my best to get the hell out of Dodge. One of the gruesome team managed to get ahead of me and tripped me, sending me flying. I held tight to the small bag as I skidded across the floor. Once I stopped moving, I rolled onto my back as he closed in for what he thought was the kill, only to back off when I punched him unexpectedly hard in the jaw.

“You don’t hit like a lady,” he complained.

“I wonder why,” I muttered, regaining my feet just as the front door burst open, and in came the cavalry, led by my own personal hero, Ethan.

“Vinnie, watch out!” he yelled, pointing behind me.

I ducked and whirled, only to find Spider, his gun aimed at me. He fired over my head, thanks to Ethan’s warning. I pulled my weapon from my thigh holster and trained it on him. He stared at me open-mouthed, even as his wife began to screech, “You sure know how to pick’em, don’t you? A lady cop? You idiot!”

“Shut up, Madeline,” he warned her before he turned to me and his eyes grew big. I looked down at myself and I realized why. My falsies had come awry, and one boob was a lot higher than the other. I wrenched the offending bosom back into place.

“What’s a girl gonna do?” I gave him a sweet smile and watched as one of LA’s finest cuffed him, and began to read him his rights.

“There’s where the jewels are,” Ethan pointed out to Anderson even as he hurried to me, concern written all over his face. “Are you okay?”

“Never better.”

He threw his arms around me and pulled me close, and we held on to one another in the midst of the chaos as arrests were made, and the guests were politely taken aside and asked to please give statements.  More real excitement than the dramas they generally saw on their movie sets.

We were still standing there when Anderson  approached and patted each of us on the back. “Good job,” he said. “You did good work. We got everything on tape, thanks to your wire, plus we have the evidence. He won’t be able to easily wriggle out of this one.”

“Good. I hope they throw the book at him, handsy little bastard,” I muttered.

“Handsy little… what did he do?” Ethan demanded to know, and I saw his own green-eyed monster rise to the occasion once again. I admit to feeling a little bit of satisfaction at that.

“He tried lots of stuff, but he got nowhere,” I assured him. “Can we go now?” I turned big puppy dog eyes on Anderson. Sometimes they worked on him.

“Yeah, sure, go ahead. I’ll get your statement tomorrow. Get some sleep, why don’t you?”

That sounded like a damn good idea. I wanted nothing more than to put this behind us. To go back to our apartment in Richmond and leave LA far behind.

That night we lay in bed together, snuggled tightly about one another. I’d stripped off every vestige of the Queen of the Nile, more than happy to shed that heavy ass wig, and that dress, and all of it.

“I don’t understand how he didn’t know,” I repeated for about the tenth time. “Seriously, I do not look like a woman.”

“Baby,” Ethan tried to explain again, “when you get all made up and put on one of your dresses and everything… you’re as beautiful as any woman.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that and decided to let it go for now.

“You know something, Eth?”

“What’s that?”

“If that’s what a Hollywood party’s like, I hope I never see another one.”

He laughed and held me closer. I snuggled into his warmth and decided it wasn’t worth thinking about. “Happy Halloween,” I murmured sleepily.

“Happy Halloween, Vinnie,” I heard him respond just before I fell asleep.

Edit: Here's a picture of Vinnie, as I see him, without his make-up

As to how he learned how to make-up, I believe that happened when he received his first assignment to play a drag queen :)