Sunday, March 12, 2017

Sunday's Safe Word Shelf: Strict Consequences by Morticia Knight


Summary:
One proposition, one night. Could it be the beginning of a forever after for a Master and sub?

Garson teaches poetry and literature at the local college, but what he does on his own time is much different. His need for pain and dominance is strong, but his fear of letting go is stronger. He won’t let any Dom touch him sexually, and his other hard limits are even more extreme. But lately, his one-hour-a-week sessions haven’t been satisfying him anywhere near enough.

Jarvis finds the bookish and reserved Garson captivating. His love of extreme pain is thrilling. But there’s also a hedonistic wanton hiding beneath the surface of the detached sub, and Jarvis aches to be the one who sets him free. After waiting for a year to crack Garson’s carefully constructed shield, Jarvis conceives of a plan.

Garson knows he shouldn’t give in to Jarvis’ proposition that they spend an evening getting to know each other, but the reward of unlimited time in Jarvis’ dungeon is much too tempting. Or is it Jarvis who’s the most tempting thing of all?

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released as part of the His Rules anthology with Pride Publishing.


Damn. Not one Dom here I’ve played with before.

Club Consequence was unbelievably crowded for a Wednesday night and Garson doubted there’d be a room available at all. When he’d asked the host if there were spots still available if one of his regular Doms came in, he’d informed Garson that they were all full, but that the public areas were always an option.

Not a chance.

Garson treasured his privacy and the focus of a Master for the one precious hour they shared together. From where he leaned against the bar, he glanced around the room again, sipping on his usual soda water with three slices of lime, searching for a familiar face. He readjusted his black-rimmed glasses on his nose. He wasn’t in the mood to linger all evening with only a chance that he might get in. Garson didn’t hang out at the club for any other reason than to have a hardcore session. He didn’t dance, didn’t socialize, didn’t make friends with the other subs or pander to the Doms. He was only interested in one thing. Pain and submission. Once he’d had his dose, he was good for another week. Usually.

He’d shown up on impulse, only five days since his last appearance at the club. After Garson gave a lengthy introduction to the influence of women on nineteenth-century poetry, the lack of attention he’d experienced from his freshman students at Pasadena City College had sent him straight to Club Consequence. He needed a balm, something to center him.

No room. No Jarvis.

The night’s prospects were dismal. Garson’s repeated scan of the crowd had failed to produce a sighting of his favorite and most commanding Dom. The knowledge that showing up on a night other than his regular Friday might mean that he’d have to settle for a different Dom hadn’t prevented him from attending. But it didn’t mean that he hadn’t held on to hope.

Sighing, he angled his body to rest his elbows on the bar’s copper surface, his cool drink clutched between his hands. No one spoke to his need stronger than Jarvis. In the five years since he’d discovered the joy and release of BDSM, Garson hadn’t found a Dom as attuned to him as the daunting man. Once he’d met the stunningly handsome Master the previous year, it’d been a blissful time under the sure hand of the Dom. Even if they weren’t always able to scene together when Garson made his weekly appearance, the majority of Garson’s interludes had been with him. They didn’t have each other’s contact info, which meant there was no guarantee that they’d hook up. Garson never gave out his number and he’d never presumed to ask Jarvis for his.

And why would he? Garson had no interest in seeking out anything other than what he could get at the club. It made setting up a time to meet near impossible, but it was better that way. Then he wouldn’t be bothered by pesky invites he had no intention of accepting and he would be the one to maintain the control over any playtime meetings. Besides, he never interacted sexually with his Doms other than the occasional demand of a blow job from one, or if he was being stretched with a toy. Those were permissible activities on his list of limits. Anyone he played with received a copy before they began their first scene together.

His own orgasms, however, were a hard limit—his alone. It kept the encounters from becoming too personal and immediately eliminated the suggestion that an exclusive arrangement might form. Emotional entanglements and drama were nothing he was interested in—only the pleasure of the pain and the satisfaction of giving himself over to another man’s will. After a rousing session at the club, he’d go home and take care of his own needs himself.

Then why is it that I think about Jarvis when I’m bringing myself off?

He took a nervous sip of his drink, the leather he wore suddenly too hot, the sensation that there wasn’t enough air in the crowded, stuffy club almost overwhelming. It was all the more reason not to have Jarvis’ number or to give the strict Dom his info. Too tempting. He was too boring and nerdy to ever capture the attention of such a popular and sexy Dom. He’d already learned that the hard way. At least if he kept Jarvis—or anyone else—at arm’s length, he could still get his needs met without all the gut-wrenching pain of rejection.

“What a pleasant surprise.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, the smooth tone of Jarvis’ voice washing over him. His length filled as though his dick were trained to stand at attention whenever he heard the Dom’s initial words. Garson immediately fell into the beginnings of his subspace. No other Dom at the club affected him that way.

Very convenient. Helps to move things along.

Since the rooms were only available for one hour at a time, he appreciated the practical aspect of succumbing to another man’s dominant spell so swiftly. He was sure that had to be the reason his heart beat a little faster, that his face flushed hot, his cock swelled with interest whenever Jarvis was near.

He faced Jarvis but kept his eyes cast down. “Good evening, Sir. I’m pleased to see you too.”

“Since it appears that you’re not playing tonight, I won’t bother you. But I did want to come over and at least say hello.”

Garson drew his eyebrows together in confusion. He glanced at his wrist. How could I forget to put my bracelet on? It was if he’d subconsciously given up once he’d discovered that there were no rooms to be had.

“Forgive me, Sir. I don’t how I could’ve done such a thing. I’d originally intended to play, but I somehow forgot to indicate I was available.”

“Do you have your green bracelet with you?”

“Yes, Sir. I do.”

“Then put it on.”

Instantly responding to Jarvis’ command, he dug his fingers into the tight confines of his low-slung leather pants. Garson’s body was lean but defined. For the type of vigorous, intense play he enjoyed, it was necessary for him to maintain a stringent workout schedule. After retrieving the club-issued accessory, he stretched the neon green glow-in-the-dark bracelet over his hand until it snapped around his wrist.

“Good boy. Let me check us in with the host and put us on the list for the next available room.”

“Excuse me, Sir? If I may interject?”

“Go on.”

“The rooms are all booked for this evening.” He shook his head, inexplicably flustered. “That’s why… Sorry. I should have mentioned that before I put the bracelet on. I was actually about to give up for the night.”

“It’s unusual for you to be here other than your regular Friday. You’re in immediate need, aren’t you?”

Garson held in a moan. Jarvis knew him. “I don’t do any public or group play. It’s noted on my list of limits.”

“I remember. I know every single one of your limits, boy.”

He does?

“Look at me.”

Garson raised his head, gazing into the icy blue eyes of Master Jarvis Moore. His almost platinum blond hair was cut short then slicked back, the overall effect only highlighting his severe mien. The cut of his features was sharp but masculine. His square jaw sported a dusting of stubble along it as well as on his upper lips. Just enough to scrape Garson’s sensitive skin if he’d ever allow the touch of Jarvis’ mouth to his naked flesh. He swallowed hard.

“No, boy. Waiting two more days will cause you too much stress, and we can’t have that.” Jarvis glanced around the club, frowning. “I didn’t check the schedule, but I imagine there’s an event this evening.” Jarvis turned back to him. “I have a proposition for you.” He paused as if considering whether he should go any further. “But it would involve some of your hard limits and I respect that boundary too much to lay out my offer without your consent first.”

Garson glanced around the immediate area, checking whether anyone was listening in. While he’d never had a discussion with any Dom, ever, regarding his hard limits, he was aching to scene with Jarvis. He should protest, tell Jarvis that even asking was off limits, but he couldn’t bring the words to his lips.

Maybe he just knows of another club we can attend. That could work. After the first club he’d gone to, then subsequently refused to attend again, he’d only ever been to Club Consequence. He also typically preferred to have as much information as possible regarding new experiences, but Jarvis was right. He was all twisted up inside and he needed someone with a strong hand to untangle him.

“I’d like to hear your offer, Sir.”

“Thank you. But before I get into the details, did you eat before you came here?”

Garson’s cheeks heated. He’d been punished more than once for not having had enough to eat when they’d done sessions together. He’d be so excited for his weekly scene that he’d get himself too worked up. Since he’d impulsively decided to attend the club after a class that ended at nine and hadn’t had his leathers with him, he’d needed to rush home to shower and change. That had left him precious little time to get to the club. Eating was the last thing that’d been on his mind.

“No, Sir, but—”

“No excuses, boy. Your health comes first. Before we do anything else, I’m taking you to dinner.”

Garson shook his head. Oh no. No, no, no. “Sir, forgive me, but that’s on my list as well.”

Jarvis tapped a finger to his chin. “Let me make sure I have the wording correct. ‘Interaction is confined to the scene only. The sub will not socialize with the Dom or anyone else either inside or outside of the club.’” Jarvis shrugged. “That’s the essence anyway. And one of your hard limits I was referring to.” He fixed Garson with a probing stare, the corner of his mouth pulled up in a curl.

“I don’t understand.”

“Then let me give you my proposal. You agree to have dinner and socialize with me for two hours. No alcohol, only food and conversation. I get to ask you whatever I want about you and your life, and you’ll answer me with complete honesty. I’ll do the same for you. Whatever you’d like for me to divulge personally, I’ll give you the information freely. In return, I’ll scene with you to your heart’s content at my home dungeon. No time limit. No one-hour cut-off.” Jarvis moved in closer, enough that Garson could feel his heat, inhale his distinctive scent. “I guarantee that my playroom will be to your liking, that the equipment and available implements will be more numerous than you’ve experienced and of the highest quality for your enjoyment. If you don’t agree, you don’t have to stay.”

“I…uh…” He licked his lips. No time restrictions. Unfettered exploration. Garson winced. Two hours of personal chitchat? Nuh-uh. “I’d be more than happy to grab something light then accompany you to your dungeon, but I’m afraid that any sort of discussion of a personal nature is out of the question.”

The cloud of disappointment that passed over Jarvis’ features made his stomach clench. It made no sense to him why he should overly concern himself with the Dom’s feelings. Why should it matter to him one way or the other?

“That’s unfortunate. Perhaps I’ll see you Friday. Goodnight.”

Before Garson had the chance to take a breath, Jarvis was walking away.

“Sir! Wait!” He surged forward as he clutched at Jarvis’ arm, the solid muscles near impossible to grasp.

What the fuck am I doing?

Jarvis halted abruptly then glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me, boy.”

Garson dropped to his knees. Right there. Right in the middle of the narrow pathway that was the only recourse for the crush of patrons.

I’ve lost my mind.

Jarvis wrapped his large hand around Garson’s upper arm then yanked him to his feet.

“You’ll be trampled, boy.” His tone had descended into a growl. “I’ll attend to you outside.”

Jarvis practically dragged Garson through the club to the entrance. Once they’d made it outside and to a lush group of bushes at the end of the building, Jarvis stopped. Garson was grateful that the fall air remained warm—it was one of the few advantages to living in Southern California—since all he had on besides his leather pants was a thin silk shirt, open at the collar. He dressed to code, but since he wasn’t seeking sex, he didn’t display himself overly much. With all the nervous sweating he’d done inside the club, he could catch a chill otherwise.

Jarvis regarded him with a frown. “Talk to me.”

“Talk to you?” God. He sounded like one of his fresh out of high school students at PCC instead of a twenty-eight-year-old English professor.

Jarvis let out a sigh. “You yelled after me. I’m assuming you wanted to tell me something?”

He shook his head as if to loosen his thoughts. “Of course. Forgive me. I wanted to suggest to you that we perhaps go out for an hour instead of two, but keep the personal inquiries to a minimum. Then I’ll go with you to your dungeon.”

He gazed hopefully at Jarvis, the Dom’s flat expression unreadable. “As I said, goodnight, Garson.”

He gasped. It was like a punch in the gut. Jarvis hadn’t used his given name since they’d met. “Sir. Please. I’m trying to negotiate.”

Jarvis stopped again, his back to Garson. After a moment, he whirled around to face him. “I wasn’t negotiating and I’m not now. That was my proposition. Take it or leave it.”

After a few seconds, Garson became aware that he was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. “I…” It was all too much. The whole day, the unexpected offer from Jarvis. He’d already broken his routine by going to the club on a different night, and he’d even allowed Jarvis to discuss his hard limits. Some of his wall had been broken down. “I don’t know what to do.”

Jarvis’ expression softened. “You have a safeword, right?”

Garson frowned. “Of course.”

“Then use it if you have to. Now go change into your street clothes, boy, and be back out here in precisely ten minutes. Don’t keep me waiting.”

Jarvis’ forceful tone spoke to his need and the mention of his safeword reminded him that he held the power. It eased his tension and Garson could breathe again.

“Yes, Sir.”

Author Bio:
M/M Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys hot stories of men loving men forever after. They can be men in uniform, Doms and subs, rock stars or bikers - but they're all searching for the one (or two!) who was meant only for them.

When not indulging in her passion for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She is currently working on more installments of Sin City Uniforms and The Hampton Road Club, as well as the follow-up to Bryan and Aubrey's story from Rockin' the Alternative.


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EMAIL: MorticiaKnight@gmail.com



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Sweet as Sugar by Stacy Eaton

Title: Sweet as Sugar
Author: Stacy Eaton
Series: Celebration #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 12, 2017
Summary:
Missy Moresco might be Celebration Police Department’s police dispatcher, but she’s also got her thumb on the pulse of the township. When FBI Agent Casper Princeton shows up in town on a case, Missy and Casper go undercover to protect the real reason he’s there by pretending they are a couple.

With Missy’s snarky comments and Casper’s quick comebacks, these two find it hard to keep a professional distance. When Casper needs to rush home to a family emergency, Missy is torn on whether it’s a good thing or a bad one. Just when she decides it doesn’t matter, Casper shows up on her doorstep with his five-year-old daughter.

Can Missy and Casper keep the fake relationship going while they wait for his case to come to a head, or will his daughter and his job come between them before Easter arrives?

The Celebration Series
Welcome to the fifth book in the Celebration Township Series, Sweet as Sugar. This series consists of thirteen novel and novellas that take place over the course of a year, beginning with Christmas. During that year, twelve more stories will unfold in the Township of Celebration, Pennsylvania, and each release will coincide with an upcoming holiday.


It had been like this for the last two hours. I still had four hours left of my shift, and I was dead tired. I hated working in snowstorms, especially when they surprised us. We had expected four to six inches, and the storm stalled over us and dumped a foot of snow in several hours.

If it were light and fluffy, it wouldn’t have been as bad, but this stuff was heavy and causing havoc everywhere: Power lines were down, trees were falling, cars were stuck on every roadway in the area.

The worst bit was that I was also dispatching for Dexter Township tonight. A massive tree fell down on their dispatch tower, and we were their backup while they repaired it. It made everything twice as bad.

“Celebration Police, what’s your emergency?”

“Hey, Missy, I know you’re busy. It’s Todd Cummings over in Dexter.” Todd was a police officer in the neighboring township. He was a young guy, only on the force a couple of years, but a good officer and not too bad to look at either.

“Yeah, I’m slammed. What’s up, Todd?”

“I’ve got a guy here trying to get through to you. He says he has official police business to attend to in Celebration, but we have two big trees down on the road. Do you by chance have any road crew that could head over this way?”

You have got to be kidding me, I thought. If he has official business, then he is probably in law enforcement of some kind—which means he should understand how serious our situation was right now.

“No, my crews are up the creek without paddles right now. We have trees down everywhere, and my plows are leading my police cars and ambulances around trying to get them to where they need to be.”

“But he says it’s important. He’s with the—”

I cut him off. “I don’t care if he’s the president of the United States. We’re in emergency mode up here, Todd. You know that. I don’t have anyone who can come down there and remove a stupid tree right now. Close the damn road and turn his ass around. There are no police officers available to help with whatever official business he might have anyway, so tell the city slicker to turn the hell around and go home. He can call our chief or Thad after the storm is over and speak with one of them then.”

“But, Missy—” he started to say.

I snapped. “Todd, I have been on one call after another for the last two hours. I have two calls holding right now, a house on fire, and a guy who just cut his hand off in a snowblower. My head is killing me, I haven’t peed since I got here four hours ago, plus I’m starving. I don’t have time to listen to his whiney ass even if he did get through. Tell him to take a hike. There are people that need my attention right now, and he is not one of them. Did you get that?”

“Um, yeah, we got that,” he answered, his voice subdued.

“Good.” I hung up to answer one of the two lines that were flashing as I heard the fire chief calling out for another fire truck to respond. The house on Cedar Street was fully engulfed. Damn, that was a shame, but I didn’t have time to feel for them. Later, I would, but now, I had more work to do.

“Celebration Police, what’s your emergency?”



Making Mom Mad #6(April 12, 2017)
Summary:
Corrine Wagner is determined to make a good life for herself and her son while hunting for the perfect man to complete her family. Unfortunately, with her crazy schedule of school and work, her patience begins to run thin with her constantly-in-trouble, five-year-old son, Tommy.

Nolan Tigues has lived across the street from Corrine his whole life—and carried a torch for her almost as long. When Nolan tries to help Corrine with Tommy, she takes it all the wrong way. She can’t believe Nolan thinks she’s a bad mom.

Can Nolan find a way to prove to Corrine that he cares about her—and about Tommy—as more than just a friend, or will Corrine push away the man who could give her everything she’s dreamed of her whole life?

Author Bio:
Stacy Eaton began her writing career in October of 2010 and as each year goes by, she releases more and more novels. Stacy recently took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service, with her last three in investigations and crime scene investigation.

Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement, and her teen daughter who is working toward her second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and on the choral and cheerleading squads at school. She also has a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy.

Stacy is very involved in Domestic Violence Awareness and served on the Board of Directors for her local Domestic Violence Center for three years. She continues to volunteer with them when she has time.


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Sweet as Sugar #5
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Making Mom Mad #6

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Incense and Peppermints by Cathrina Constantine

Title: Incense and Peppermints
Author: Cathrina Constantine
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: March 10, 2017
Summary:
Peace demonstrations, sit-ins, and burning the U.S. flag following the escalation of the Vietnam War are leading to a catalyst known to the world as the Sixties, and a musical revolution, flower power, hippies, marijuana, and drugs are carrying the generations—young and old—into a new decade. All the while sixteen-year-old Mary Monroe is caught between being an innocent good girl and an autumn of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary ignores the rumba in her brain and takes a walk on the wild side. Plunged into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, she meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer, and she’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Caught up in the danger and excitement as they drift from party to party, into underground fight clubs, and through a series of drug and alcohol fueled adventures, Mary follows her new crush into a world where young girls are never truly safe from the predators lurking in the shadows and young men are hiding from the harsh reality of war.

Feeling buzzed and as if her life is spinning out of control, Mary is assaulted by an unknown man at a party, and she’s left questioning if the enigmatic Michael is truly her hero or if he is the face behind the terrible attack. With every piece of information Mary learns about Michael, her doubts grow deeper, but with every minute she spends in his presence, so does her love.

With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.


“My name is Mary.”

Perceptive eyes smiled at me beneath a layer of lashes.

“Not Bambi.” My disloyal vocal chords warbled.

A breeze ruffled his ebony hair, making him appear like a model posing for Seventeen Magazine. His aristocratic nose led to full lips and a squared, bristly chin. He more than adequately filled out a sleeveless T-shirt detailed with the Steppenwolf band logo “Born to be Wild.” Michael lifted his arms, propping them behind his head. In doing so, he exposed a hint of a flat stomach over his beltline. I tried not to stare. No luck. The guy was visibly out of my league.

Mary…” he said, his voice buttery sweet. “You look young, like a fawn in headlights with those big eyes and freckles.”

“I’ll be sixteen next week.” Is he being rude?

“Well, then.” His mouth stretched into a charming smirk. “I guess you’re ready for just about anything. Right, Bambi?”

I wanted to slap the smirk off his gorgeous face.


Author Bio:
Cathrina Constantine is the Best Selling author of Don’t Forget To Breathe. Her book won Readers’ Favorite International Book Award for 2015 and The Literary Classics Seal of Approval and Literary Classics Gold Award. Her Paranormal Fantasy, Wickedly They Come has been awarded the 5 Star Seal from Reader’s Favorite. Tallas from her dystopian series received Literary Classics Silver Award and Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

Cathrina resides in Western New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and her cat, Bones. Author @chbbpublishing. Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. When not attached to her computer, she likes to take long walks in the woods with her dogs, drink way too much coffee, and is an avid movie watcher. She loves music and doesn’t need a dance floor to shake a leg.


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