Showing posts with label slayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label slayer. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Blogger Review: Finding Michael by Megan Slayer

Summary:
Going home could be just the thing his muse needs and his heart desires.

Tristan Paulson needs the words to return. He loves his career penning novels of small-town love, but his muse has gone missing. Since he can’t write, he goes back to his roots to sort through the items his recently deceased uncle left behind. Once in Sullavan, Ohio, he realizes just how much he loved the place. Then he sees the handsome librarian—Michael is just the kind of guy he’s always wanted. How can he go back to the big city when Sullavan calls to him?

Michael Kane wants nothing more than to be surrounded by his books and the written word. He knows heartbreak and isn’t in the mood to put himself out into the dating pool again…until he sees Tristan. He wants to be with Tristan, but he’s too shy. A handsome man like Tristan wouldn’t be interested in someone quiet like Michael…would he?

Reader advisory: This book contains reference to stalking, harassment, emotional abuse and attempted suicide. There is a scene of a hostage situation containing a gun threat.


When Tristan Paulson finds that inspiration hasn't touched him lately and with a deadline looming overhead he decides its a perfect time to leave New York to go through his late uncle's estate.  Michael Kane is happy being surrounded by the books in the library even if he's reluctant to open his heart again.  When these two meet, the attraction is obvious but is either man ready or willing to put themselves out there?  When Tristan finds inspiration again in his new surroundings and in Michael, will he be able to convince Michael that its worth the risk?

Finding Michael is a lovely read.  I can't put it much simpler or sum it up more honestly, its just a lovely read from beginning to end.  Don't get me wrong, I wanted to knock some sense into both Tristan and Michael at times but I also wanted to give them a big hug to let them know someone cares.  Having lived my entire life in relatively small towns I can certainly understand Michael's feelings of staying in Sullivan and that New York is just not for him so that probably tipped the scales in his favor as to which corner I found myself in more.  That's not to say I didn't like Tristan because I loved his determination to make Michael see how great they could be. 

I really won't touch on the plot at all but Finding was just the right blend of romance, friendship, drama, and with just a hint of mystery to make it a very satisfying read.  Sometimes we find exactly what we need even though we never realized it was missing to begin with and when we find that missing piece everything else just falls into place.  This is what Finding Michael is about and Megan Slayer had me hooked from page one.  Truthfully, I was sad to see the last page come.  Finding Michael has definitely earned a spot on my romance shelf and future re-reads list.

RATING:


“I’m so stuck it’s not even funny.” Tristan stared at his computer screen and groaned. He hadn’t written a word in more than a week. Writer’s block wasn’t his enemy and the occasional day without writing wasn’t the end of the world. But he hadn’t been able to work out an idea or even sketch a thin plot for anything.

He glanced over at the doorway. He hadn’t seen his butler in a while and didn’t like talking to himself. “Dennis?” He drummed his fingers on the desk top. “Are you there?”

The dry spells in his writing were getting closer together. He hadn’t produced a bestselling novel in the last two years. His last three books were well reviewed and had sold a good number of copies, but none were the fourth breakout book he needed. If he didn’t come up with a novel that sold well, he’d lose his contract with his publisher.

Part of him wanted to be angry. How dare they dump him? He’d sold over a million copies of his first three books and made the expected lists with all four. His publisher should have been grateful to have him on the roster.

Then there was the other part of him that never could quite come to terms with his ability to write. Throughout his life, all he’d wanted to do was make stories seem real. He could spin a yarn with the best storytellers, but he tended to downplay his talents. All the people who’d told him writing a book was easy would come to mind and he’d give in to his fears that he’d never produce another great work.

God, he needed a drink, a vacation and a good fuck. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any booze in the apartment, hadn’t gone away in a year and wasn’t in a relationship.

He’d have to settle for his hand and porn later. Damn it.

Then there was his muse…the uncooperative asshole. The muse wasn’t talking to him, which meant the characters weren’t either. Once he went down the rabbit hole of thinking about his inspiration, or lack thereof… That was when he got himself into trouble. If he didn’t write the next big thing, he’d have to dip into his trust fund to finance his career. He snorted. Most people wouldn’t think twice. If they were in his shoes, they’d use the money his parents had set aside for him and have a life. Not him. He’d prefer not to touch the surplus he’d saved up until it was necessary. But if he didn’t bring in cash soon, he’d have no choice.

Dennis strolled into the room and nodded. “Yes, sir.” He placed a stack of letters onto the desk, then clasped his hands together. “Did you need me?” If nothing else, his butler had great timing. Another minute longer and Tristan would’ve given in to another bout of depression.

“Thank you.” Tristan flipped through his correspondence. Dennis had been the father-figure Tristan hadn’t had often as a teenager. He knew Tristan better than anyone and tended to keep him on course. “Denny, I don’t know what to do about this writer’s block.” He scanned the return addresses on the letters. One from his publisher, one from a former boyfriend and three bills. He sighed. Bills sucked. He noticed the blank space on one of the envelopes. His address had been typed. “What’s this?” He turned the letter around. “I don’t remember signing up for mailing lists or anything that wouldn’t put a return address on it.”

“I saw that. Perhaps it’s one of the letters from a neighbor for one of the local fundraising groups.” Dennis cleared the empty takeout boxes from the coffee table. “I’ll be right back.”

Tristan waited for his butler to leave the room, then opened the odd letter. His chest tightened as he read the words. He should’ve guessed the plain envelope would contain a letter from his stalker-slash-fan.



Write about my town—Lewiston. I’m waiting.



He sank back in his seat and tossed the letter onto the desk. All of his stories were based in small towns. He’d picked the states at random and made up the names of his towns, but each was based on little burgs and crossroads he’d passed through during his various travels. He stated in the acknowledgments of each novel that the towns were fictitious representations of many places…never anywhere in particular.

He should turn the damn letter over to the police. But what would they do? He hadn’t been threatened. He’d been asked rather bluntly, yes. Threats? No. And he had no idea who the letter-writer was. How could he inform the cops if he had no leads?

Tristan closed his laptop, then scrubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. He couldn’t seem to put a foot right of late. Everything seemed to be disastrous—he’d lost his last boyfriend to another man, he couldn’t write for shit, if he didn’t write he’d be dropped, he had a bitching fan…what else could go wrong?

“Sir?” Dennis returned to the room. “This letter just arrived certified. I believe it’s from a lawyer. A Jamie Meyer. According to the accompanying letter, it concerns your Uncle Al.” He offered up the thick envelope.

“Uncle Al? Jamie Meyer?” He hadn’t heard from his mother’s brother in ages. “Hang on, I don’t know what this is about.” He opened the envelope, then withdrew the stack of pages. He barely read the words beyond the first two sentences. His uncle, his last link to his mother’s side of the family, had died and Tristan needed to collect his inheritance. Died. Uncle Al? The man might have been in his early eighties, but he was strong and healthy…wasn’t he? He turned back to his laptop and searched online for the lawyer. After the directive from the reader to write about a specific town, would that person be devious enough to cook up a false letter to get him to come to…? Nah. Sullavan wasn’t called Lewiston—that he knew. His thoughts were running away with him. Still, he wanted to make sure the lawyer was real.

The website for Jamie Meyer came up in the search. He clicked on the page. The photo stopped him short. Jamie Meyer was a darn good-looking man. Perfect hair, perfect teeth…a perfect suit based on what he could see from the shoulders-up pose. Tristan wondered what his voice was like. Christ. He needed to get laid so he’d stop wasting time with pictures on the screen and considering the guys as possible dates.

“Sir?”

He glanced up at Dennis. Shit. He needed direction. “My uncle has passed. I’ve got an inheritance coming and I need to sort it out with the lawyer.”

“Mr. Meyer?”

“Yes.” He opened a new tab on his internet browser. He had to get his act together and plan his last-minute trip. Well, fuck. “I’ll need changes of clothes for at least a week. I doubt this will be a quick process.” Maybe he’d get a story out of the situation and a better understanding of the uncle he hadn’t seen in forever. The last thing he needed was to get mixed up with the lawyer handling his uncle’s estate.

“Do you want me to secure flights and accommodation?” Dennis asked. “I can look in to renting a private jet. I know how you hate crowds.”

“You’re right, I hate going out into crowds.” But he had to do this himself. He couldn’t rely on servants forever. “Just give me an hour and I’ll have you help me pack.”

“I see.” Dennis didn’t sound convinced.

Tristan logged in to his email, then paused. “If my agent calls, I’m writing. I’m going to email her in a moment, but she can be persistent. If Jordan calls, just take a message. We’re not together, but he doesn’t seem to know that.” His ex had been the one to call off the relationship, yet he’d show up when he wanted something—a place to crash, money, sex… Tristan didn’t have the time for him any longer. “If any more of those strange letters come without a return address, just put them aside. I don’t want to be bothered.”

“Why? Is that reader still writing to you?” Dennis folded his arms. For a man of sixty, he didn’t look his age. He kept his salt-and-pepper hair trimmed and stayed in shape. If the age gap hadn’t been so wide, Tristan might have made a play for him.

“Yeah. I’m not scared, but I don’t trust him or her.”

“There wasn’t a signature on this letter?”

“No,” Tristan said. “Nothing. Not even an initial. The writer simply wants me to create a town based on Lewiston. I have no idea where that place is.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“Me either.”

“I’ll be careful, sir, and I think you should, too. I’ve got some laundry to finish. When you need me, let me know.” Dennis turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving Tristan with his thoughts.

Tristan cracked his knuckles, then placed his hands on the keyboard. He hadn’t been to his uncle’s home in years. Was Sullavan, Ohio, still on the map? He brought up the street map, then located the town. Not any bigger than he’d remembered, but still in existence. If he wasn’t mistaken, the small town was about an hour’s drive from Cleveland. Not great, but it’d give him time to plot a new story. Besides, Sullavan would be good fodder for his trademark small-town setting. His spirits brightened. He had no idea what he’d inherited, but if he could use the situation to plot his next book, he’d be golden.

Half an hour later, Tristan had the plane tickets purchased and a rental car secured for when he arrived in Cleveland. He’d emailed his editor and explained the situation—he had an outline started and would be getting her up to speed within the next week, but after he spoke to the lawyer about his uncle’s will. He shut down his laptop and placed the three memory sticks in his messenger bag. He’d finish gathering his writing things together once he’d packed.

Tristan headed down the hallway to his bedroom. Dennis had left his open suitcase on the bed. Instead of thinking too hard about what he had to do, Tristan set about putting his bathroom essentials into his bag.

Dennis strode into the bedroom with a basket of clean clothes. “What should I do if your Aunt Salina calls? Should I tell her where you’ll be?”

Tristan zipped his bag. “No. I’m not on her social calendar unless she wants something. She’s obsessed with her step-daughter’s wedding and I, the son of her only brother, don’t matter. Babsy is much more important than I ever will be.” Not that he cared. He hadn’t been particularly close to his father’s side of the family and they only liked him when they wanted to flaunt his status in the book world or to bolster their place on the social registry.

“Don’t refer to your cousin Jean as Babsy.” Dennis tucked the bag into the suitcase. “It’s her mother’s right to want to spoil her.”

“Whatever.” He didn’t fault his aunt for the spoiling part, just the lack of interest.

“You could have a wedding,” Dennis said. “It’s not illegal.”

“Ah, but no one wants to marry me.” He pulled a stack of T-shirts out of the dresser. He laughed, despite not finding the situation amusing. He’d like to be with a man who craved him, not one who wanted his money. “I can’t seem to keep a relationship going. That doesn’t sound like the right start for a marriage.” He paused. “I should probably find a man before I get too deep into planning the wedding, too.”

Dennis took the shirts from him. “Alec wasn’t too bad. He seemed sweet.”

“Anyone’s sweet when they see dollar signs.”

“What about Cody? You liked him. I believe you were going to have him move in with you.” Dennis packed the T-shirts, then opened the closet. “What about pants? Are you wearing jeans or do you need something dressier?”

“Denim.” He counted out seven pairs of jeans, then offered them up to Dennis. “Cody was a good man, but I couldn’t compete with him. Every time I turned around, he’d be checking himself out in the mirror. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m not awful. When I stood beside him, I felt so…ugly.” He turned his back on Dennis. Truth be told, whenever he looked at his reflection, he saw the chunky kid he had been in junior high. Growing twenty years older hadn’t changed his body image problems. He’d worked out, lost the weight and ate much better than during his school years, but his inner chubby kid lingered. He closed his eyes. Now wasn’t the right time to let himself think about his inadequacies.

“And Justin was bad, how?”

“He wasn’t.” Justin hadn’t been the issue. “We clicked in bed, but there wasn’t anything otherwise.” Tristan had gotten himself so wrapped up in his own self-esteem problems, he hadn’t given Justin enough of a chance. But that was in the past. He needed to move forward.

“Uh-huh.” Dennis nodded once. “This trip is about the will and research, isn’t it? You’ll get a book out of the situation if it kills you, won’t you?”

“That’s the plan.” He tossed underwear and socks into the suitcase. “My career is off track. This will be the push to get it righted.” He hoped. “Where are my notebooks?”

“In your office,” Dennis said. “I’ll get them and your fountain pen set.”

“Thanks.” Tristan walked into his closet and appraised his collection of shoes. Christ. He had money. He didn’t have to work. Using the trust fund cash wasn’t horrible. Lots of others lived perfectly happy lives paid for by the money from someone else’s hard work. Why couldn’t he do the same? His parents had given him the cash without question. He grabbed his running shoes and a pair of casual ones, then closed the door.

He’d built his career as a writer. Constant funding and huge paychecks weren’t guaranteed. He’d lived on less and done just fine. He could do so again—especially if the story panned out and he found his muse. Who knew a will could hold so many possibilities for creativity?

Author Bio:
When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.

When she's not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school.

She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best.


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
BLOG  /  KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  iTUNES
GOOGLE+  /  SMASHWORDS  /  AMAZON
EMAIL: wendi.zwaduk@gmail.com



AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  B&N
KOBO  /  iTUNES  /  GOOGLE PLAY

Monday, January 23, 2017

Monday's Montage Mantlepiece: Brothers in Arms


Summary:
One Night with You by Megan Slayer
One night to find the man of his dreams in the least likely place…

Airman Tate Gibson thought going to a party at the local college with his friends would take his mind off his troubles. He’ll head back to Korea in two days’ time—after the funeral of his baby sister. He’s always taken responsibility for her and he’s not ready to deal with her being gone. He wants someone to help him deal with his sadness and give him a reason to get through his deployment.

Raine has had a crush on his neighbor across the hallway, but once he spots the hunky airman his thoughts center on Tate. He wants to strip the handsome blue-eyed hunk down and lick him everywhere, but geeks like Raine never get the man. He’s stuck playing the perpetual wallflower.

Will one night tear them apart before things get hot or will it be enough to bring these two wounded souls together for a long-term engagement?

Spoil of War by Helena Maeve
One man’s prize is another’s nightmare.

When Briar’s partner Kai returns from the Federation’s latest skirmish with a handsome prisoner in tow, Briar is both envious and wary. It is common knowledge that the tribespeople of Ganymede are violent brutes who delight in murdering and enslaving their enemies, and Dallan can be no different.

As an officer with the Federation’s propaganda machine, Briar has produced plenty of material to substantiate the need to wage war in the asteroid belt. Kai, for his part, has slain many enemies while on active duty and watched just as many of his friends perish in combat.

For a foe to save rather than end his life is unusual in the extreme. Sparing him the horrors of a prison camp seems like a fair exchange, even if the only alternative he can offer is thralldom.

Would You Wait for Me? by Anna Lee
Kip made a promise to Lucas that he’d come home to him after his tour overseas, but will Lucas be waiting for him like he promised?

Kip Foster is nearly finished with his tour overseas and is ready to leave the hot desert and constant threat of danger. He hopes to reunite with his lover, Lucas Danvers. When he calls to ask Lucas to meet him at their hotel, however, Lucas breaks it off with him. Lucas no longer wants to be his dirty little secret. He says he’s waited long enough for Kip to make a choice and he hasn’t. Devastated, Kip realizes how much he loves Lucas and that if he’s to win him back he needs to do something big. He needs to not let hate and fear control his life. So he makes plans to start living life the way he wants to. Will Lucas still be waiting when he comes home, though?

An Interesting Find by Lucy Felthouse
A relaxing summer holiday is turned upside down by an interesting find…

Nathan and Lee are on a relaxing summer holiday in the UK. They plan to do lots of walking and exploring in the beautiful English countryside. Naturally, typical British weather derails their plans on their first day, leaving them cooped up indoors with little to do but read.

When the weather clears, the men eagerly put on their hiking boots and head out for a walk. However, when they reach their destination—a pond a little distance from their holiday cottage—they make a shocking discovery. An odd-looking bundle of rags turns out to be an unconscious man. With no one else around, and no mobile phone signal to call for help, they manage to get the stranger back to their cottage to get him warm and dry, and figure out what to do next.

When their unexpected houseguest regains consciousness, things just get more complicated. The stranger—a British soldier called Jonny—doesn’t want the authorities to be notified of his presence. As the three men try to come to some agreement, the sexual tension in the air becomes apparent, and suddenly the last thing on any of their minds is leaving the cottage…

Gods of Vengeance by Thom Collins
United in passion. Driven by vengeance.

Owen Hazard, a young farmer, is dead. Murdered while he tried to prevent a robbery on his land. His older brother, Captain Mark Hazard, returns home for the funeral. Owen’s best friend, Riley, runs the local pub. He has information about the night Owen was killed—he knows who was responsible. The police are doing nothing. Vengeance is their only option. United in their passion for each other and a thirst for revenge, Riley and Mark must take the law into their own hands if there’s going to be any justice for Owen.

Reader Advisory: This story contains scenes of violence.


One Night with You
I need a night to remember and forget. Tate Gibson sat in his car in the parking lot of Donovan Apartments and stared at the building. Although he saw the shadows moving in front of the windows, he wasn’t paying any attention. He had too much on his mind. He hadn’t planned on making the detour home and sure as hell not for the reasons he’d come back to where he’d grown up.

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. His friend Blake had sworn the party would be a good way to get his mind off his troubles. He had to be crazy. Coming to the college for a night of drinking and possibly hooking up with someone wouldn’t take his mind off anything. Still, he hadn’t driven across town to sit in his car.

Tate left the vehicle and hit the lock. In less than forty-eight hours’ time, he’d be on his way back to South Korea. He scrubbed the top of his head with his palm. Jesus. He’d been through too much in the last year. He didn’t mind coming home, but not for a funeral. He was too young to deal with this kind of heavy psychological stuff.

“Get your ass in here,” Blake shouted out of his front window. “Been waiting for you.”

He sighed. Trust Blake to know when he needed to be pulled out of his own head. He strode across the parking lot to the apartment building. Someone had propped the door open and people milled around the foyer as well as up the stairs to the second level. He snorted as he approached the door to Blake’s. A thick rock held the door open and music blasted into the hall.

Blake appeared in the doorway and held a plastic cup. “About damn time.”

“It’s not a good day, okay?” He stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. “Lay off.”

“I’ve got someone here I want you to meet.” Blake draped his arm around Tate’s shoulders and steered him into the apartment. “He’s sweet and handsome and loves to suck cock.”

Finding a fuck friend for the night appealed to Tate, but he disliked when Blake set him up. “I don’t know.” Blake’s taste in men left more than a little to be desired.

“Bullshit. You do, too. You want someone to make you forget, right? Even if for an hour? He’ll hit the spot.” Blake marched Tate up to a man with blond hair and a tattoo on the side of his neck. The man grinned and folded his arms. The muscles in his upper body bulged.

“This is Lance. He’s up for anything and clean.” Blake pushed Tate into Lance. “You’re welcome.”

Tate eased back a foot and forced a smile. He didn’t mind tats on anyone, but the neck tat of a skull breathing fire turned him off.

“So, I hear you’re in the Army.” Lance nodded. “You’re a runner, too?”

Oh fuck. “Yes, on the runner part. It’s how I blow off steam, but no on the Army part. I’m in the Air Force. I oversee maintenance on the planes and work on them when they break down or are damaged.”

“Uh-huh.” Lance’s eyes widened. “Sounds exciting.” He sipped from his plastic cup. “Uh, do you want a beer?”

“Sure.” Truth be told, he didn’t need the alcohol, but he doubted Lance would keep up the conversation without it. He drifted to the edge of the living room and surveyed the crowd. For only twenty-six, he felt a lifetime older than the rest of the people at the party. Most of the men and women were still in college, worrying about papers, exams and life beyond graduation. Not him.

He’d spent the last two days talking his mother down from her emotional ledge and suppressing his own feelings. He shook his head. He didn’t belong there. He’d been given five days’ leave and should be at home. Christ, there was so much to do. He refused to let anyone down again. What did he think he’d accomplish by going to a party? He could hear his sister’s voice in his head, reminding him to have fun. Fat lot of good that did for her. He’d gone off to join the Air Force and left her behind. She’d told him she’d be all right. Promised him she’d stay out of trouble. He should’ve known from the first moment he’d seen her latest boyfriend, Aaron, she’d be in for a world of hurt. He hadn’t held up his end of the deal. He’d let her live her life and in return, she ended up dead. His mother blamed him and Aaron, despite being the reason she’d gotten into the damn car, swore Tate’s leaving had caused her to act recklessly. Fucking hell. He so did not belong at a party.

Tate kept his hands in his pockets and strode across the room. At the doorway, he collided with a solid body. “Sorry,” he muttered. When he glanced up, he stared into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. “Whoa.”

The owner of the blue eyes grinned. “Hi.”

“I’ll get out of the way. I was just leaving.” Tate ducked into the hallway and the cooler air.

“Are you okay?” the man said. “You look lost. Did someone slip you something? I told Blake not to have that shit here.”

“Huh? No.” Christ. The last thing he needed was an illegal substance in his body. “No, I’m good. Sober and clean.” He appraised the man and bit back a sigh. Tall, dark hair with a hint of curl. A slight dimple in his cheek and perfect teeth. The T-shirt clung to his upper body like a second skin. So the man was a little thin? He knew how to wear the shirt and jeans. Why couldn’t Blake have set him up with this one? Probably because this guy was already taken.

“Cool.” He extended his hand. “I’m Raine. Like the stuff that falls from the sky.” He shrugged and blushed from his hairline to his collar. “My mom was a hippie.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a little creativity.” He shook hands with Raine. “I’m Tate. I have no idea where my mother got my name.”

Raine grinned. “I take it parties aren’t your thing?”

“Normally, I’m game for a few beers with my friends, but Blake… He knows how to throw a party that can get out of hand in seconds.” Tate leaned on the wall. “He’s one of my oldest friends, so I put up with a lot of his shit.”

“I’ve lived across the hall from him for almost a year. He’s a piece of work all right.” Raine tipped his head. “If you want a little kind of silence, I’m right over here.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the party, then swept his gaze over Raine again. He’d said he wanted to forget his sadness. Raine fit the bill physically. “Got a couple of beers?”

“I do.” Raine opened his door. “Come on in.”

Tate strode across the hall and followed Raine into the other apartment. Once Raine closed the door, the sound from the party lessened. Tate sighed. “Is he always this loud? Blake?”

“Every weekend.” Raine opened the refrigerator and withdrew two amber bottles. “It’s light beer. Blake brought it over and never took it home.” He handed one over to Tate. “What’s your major?”

“Me?”

“Shit.” Raine rummaged through a drawer. “I don’t have an opener. I forgot these aren’t the twist ones.”

“I’ve got a church key.” He pulled the bottle opener from his wallet. “I got this when I got my first promotion.”

“A church key?” Raine tipped his head. “Is your mom or dad a minister?”

“No.” He stared at Raine. “You’ve never heard of a church key?” He held up the credit-card-sized piece of metal. “Back in the day, the deacons at the church had keys and supposedly they looked like this. I don’t know, but that’s what I’m told. Anyway, my old man always called bottle openers like this the church key. It stuck.” He popped the top on the bottle. “Hand me your beer.”

Raine watched him as he opened the second bottle. “Huh. I never knew that.”

“Now you do.” He surveyed the apartment. Where Blake’s was crowded with furniture and usually people, Raine had a minimalist theme going. “Mind if I sit?”

“I’d be offended if you didn’t.” Raine perched on the arm of the lone couch. “So you and Blake. He’s not your boyfriend or anything?”

Tate shook his head. “Blake isn’t the type to settle down and I’m not into guys who can’t keep it in their pants.”

“That’s Blake.”

“I’ve never seen him with the same man twice.” He sipped the beer. The tangy brew slid down his throat and cooled some of the fire in his belly. “But he does pick out good alcohol.” Shitty at matchmaking, too.

Raine clinked bottles with Tate. “Here’s to Blake’s lousy taste in men, but decent one in booze.” He rested his feet on the coffee table.

Tate downed more of the beer, then stared at the table. “That’s milk crates and plywood,” he blurted. “Sorry. I’ve never seen such a situation.”

“Oh, yeah. I needed something to put my laptop on when I’m working and didn’t want to buy a desk. This is easier to pack up and move.” Raine crossed his ankles. “Until last year, I had to get a new place at the end of each year. Since I’m going into the master’s program in the fall, I don’t have to move.”

Tate sighed and gripped the nearly empty bottle. He shifted on the seat enough to look at Raine. “You asked me, so I’ll ask you. Where’s your boyfriend?”

“Don’t have one.” The blush returned. “Single and ready to mingle or whatever it’s called.”

“Oh.” Perfect.

Raine waved his hands. The beer sloshed in his bottle. “Strike that. I mean… Christ, I don’t know what I mean. I don’t have a boyfriend. The last time I tried to date, the guy said I was too nerdy and turned me down.”

He placed his palm on Raine’s thigh. “What if I said I wouldn’t?”


Spoil of War
The sky was an iridescent crimson, streaked with the white contrails of seven frigates slowly closing on Rune Station. Forty-eight days ago, there had been three times that number. Without the ceasefire, there would have been far fewer.

Relief at the sight of the battered Valiant overrode Briar’s distaste for the armistice. His heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, he fought the urge to rush ahead of his fellow officers. There were only a dozen of them, far fewer than the hundreds of civilians gathered to welcome back their loved ones, and none of his peers were given over to displays of sentiment.

Flexing his hands behind his back, Briar blinked back the moisture in his eyes.

One after the other, the massive hatch doors of the ships hissed open, disgorging blue uniforms, then gray, then the familiar black of the Expeditionary Forces, more colloquially known as the Executioners. Murmurs rippled over the crowd, cresting into shouts of bewilderment and consternation.

Not all of the men and women exiting the frigates did so on their own two feet. Steel boxes draped in the Federation flag gleamed under the dull morning sun.

Suddenly, the mob rushed the barricades, leaving the infantry guardsmen torn between repelling what was beginning to look like an insurgency and treating inviolable military families as though they were cattle.

A familiar pair of shoulders stretching a black jumpsuit distracted Briar from the budding fracas. Could it be? The procession thinned gradually to reveal the silhouette in its entirety, all six feet two of it mercifully stalking down the landing strip unaided, head down, hair a little longer than Briar had last seen it. His fingers itched to knot in those reddish strands. His chest ached even as the weight upon his heart lifted.

All around him, men and women wept and kissed and embraced, their voices like so much white noise, and yet he stood there, frozen, waiting for Kai to glance up.

Briar knew the precise moment when he was recognized. Kai’s whole frame loosened, his full lips almost twitching into a small smile. Then, shadow, his features darkening. Briar’s first thought was that Kai had been wounded, that something was wrong. He even thought he might be hallucinating. But no, that was very much his partner marching toward him, his broad strides now slightly less purposeful. It took him a long beat to register the silver lead in Kai’s hand, tethering him to the bound wrists of the prisoner beside him.

In the forty-eight days since Kai had left, Briar had imagined and reimagined what he would say when they were reunited. At no point did he expect to begin with, “What have you done?”

He also didn’t expect Kai to look to the handsome stranger on his right and say, “Briar, meet Dallan. He’s—”

“Yours.”

Between those dark eyes and dimpled cheeks, even a saint would’ve forgotten himself with the man—never mind a lonely captain in a high-stress environment.

“Ours,” Kai corrected, though it was visibly a technicality.

The cacophony of sobbing and laughter echoing all around them finally pierced Briar’s bubble. “I see,” he said, making himself nod. “The cog’s this way.”

He turned away before Kai could see him grimacing, the pressure on his chest well and truly restored.

 * * * *

Nothing’s changed,” Kai breathed, his voice laced with stupefied disbelief as he peered out of the rounded portholes of the cog.


The cinder-gray walls of their compound had been visible on the horizon for some time, but it was only as they approached that the mirage gave way to the solid lines of a twelve-foot-high perimeter wall, clustered domes and slanted rooftops barely visible beyond it.

Briar said nothing. He had envisaged telling Kai about their neighbors’ new pet and the updated policies on rationing and fair use of oxygen, but with a stranger peering over his shoulder he was unwilling to breach such private topics. He drove the cog to the pressurized security checkpoint, where he flashed his wrist for identification, then out the other end, into the square grid of Theta Compound.

Their unit lay halfway between the main entrance and the communal area. Briar guided the hovercraft through at a slightly elevated angle, carefully ascending to their level so as to spare Kai the climb. “Some things changed,” he said, unbuckling. He mustered a smile as he led the way inside.

Per regulations, their unit was minimally furnished and only with items provided by the Federation Corps. A member of the Expeditionary Forces had no more right to luxury than a humble cadet in the Sanitation department. The same thinly padded backrests and low table made up the seating area in the front room, and the same foam mats made up the bedding. Administrations inspectors could be persuaded to turn a blind eye to variations in personal arboretums, but that was about it.

Kai stood before the glass wall of the hydroponic garden with an unreadable expression. “Is that…?”

“Fennel,” Briar confirmed, childishly pleased. “Lettuce and chives. The basil seeds rotted before I could use them, but I’ll try to get more.” All he’d had to do the last time was trade half his month’s ration of water—easily done when Kai was away on a mission.

Of course, it hadn’t crossed Briar’s mind that while he was trying to make ends meet and coping with solitude, Kai had been hard at work taking his pleasure elsewhere.

A press of fingers around his sent a shiver up his spine.

Briar glanced down at their joined hands, Kai’s rough and scarred, his own shamefully soft. It was real. Kai was real.

He had come back when so many had not.

Umbrage dimming slightly, Briar let himself be tugged forward, too weak to deny himself the kiss he’d craved for so many sleep-cycles spent all alone in their bed. His mouth parted for Kai’s as thoughts of the prisoner fled his mind.

Cool glass met his shoulders. Kai deepened the kiss and pressed against him with the full length of his body. He had to stoop a little to slide his hands down Briar’s flanks, but he didn’t seem to resent the added effort.

“I’ve missed you,” he rasped, pulling back for breath.

Briar clasped him at the nape. “Prove it.”

Air left his lungs in a sudden rush as he was lifted by the hips, his legs naturally winding around Kai’s waist to hold him up. He briefly considered a protest—Kai was fresh from the battlefield, where he had surely amassed new aches and pains—but desire got the better of him. He felt more than saw the partition slide open and shut, sealing them into the bedroom portion of their unit.

Kai lowered him down to the bedroll and stretched over him, muscles rippling in the confines of his uniform. Between them, they got the top part of the jumpsuit unbuttoned and shoved out of the way of Briar’s greedy hands. He hadn’t been wrong to assume the existence of new aches. A trio of pink scars showed evidence of surgical intervention on his left shoulder. Dark bruises marred his chest and belly, and a particularly ugly mark, shaped vaguely like a boot, vanished under his waistband.

Briar’s gaze ticked up. “What—?”

“They put up a good fight,” Kai said and sat up to strip off his uniform and underwear. His boots had been toed off by the door. Once his socks followed, Kai was left to kneel, naked, astride Briar’s hips, his expression pinched with worry. “I wasn’t sure—”

“I was.”

Although his post in the Federation’s Propaganda department didn’t exactly lend itself to guessing military strategy, Briar had systematically cleaved doubt from his mind whenever it arose. He couldn’t afford to believe the Valiant might not return. He couldn’t afford dread whenever his office had to spin reports of a new tragic loss into a blessing in disguise.

He curled a hand into Kai’s long hair and yanked him down for another kiss. The memory foam bedroll sighed and squeaked as he reversed them. Briar made a mental note to put in a request for a replacement. His partner was a returning hero. Surely that would carry some weight with the fastidious compound administrators.

“Get these off,” Kai bit out, tugging at Briar’s uniform with very little success. He couldn’t seem to stop arching his back, his arousal evident as a flush crept over his pale skin, highlighting his natural freckles.

Briar bit lightly at the shelf of his jaw. “Can’t go a month without me, can you?”

“A month?” Kai groaned. “It’s been two hundred days for me.”

“Two hundred days of celibacy? Sounds trying, indeed…” The quip was cruel, the loose clasp of his fingers around Kai’s cock doubly so. But if Kai had wanted a fair lover, he would have pledged himself to someone else. Instead he had promised fidelity and to a man wicked enough to take his sweet time before giving him satisfaction.

He cursed a blue streak as Briar took him into his mouth at last, arching off the bedding. His inner thighs tensed and spread wider around Briar’s shoulders, as if in invitation.


Would You Wait for Me
As he kissed along Lucas’s jaw, Kip wished they could stay here in this moment. Freeze time. He didn’t want to leave his lover. But his duffel was by the door and in the morning he’d drive back to the base and be deployed to Iraq.

Lucas pulled him in for a kiss. “Stay with me, babe.”

“I want to,” Kip whispered, gazing at him. He knew Lucas meant in the here and now but he voiced his thoughts. He braced his hands on either side of Lucas’s head. Their naked bodies entwined with the twisted sheets. They were both still half-hard even though they’d just made love.

“I know.” Lucas’s sea-blue eyes teared up. “Promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“Come home to me. Make it through this tour and get back here. I don’t… I can’t lose you.”

He moved and wrapped Lucas in a hug. “You won’t.” He brushed his lips to Lucas’s forehead, pushing back his brown curls. “Promise me you’ll wait for me?” He wanted to be everything Lucas needed. And he hoped his promise would be enough.

“I will,” Lucas swore, giving him a small smile.

“Then I’ll do anything I have to so I can get back here to you.” Kip kissed him softly, but the kiss became fueled by need and the desire to not part. He rolled Lucas over so he was on top once again, their cocks languidly sliding together. “I love you, Luc.”

“I love you, too.” Lucas clung tightly to him as they rocked toward their climaxes. They reached it together, falling into pleasure as they held onto one another. Kip wanted to sear this into his memory—this would be a moment he’d remember to get him through the rough and lonely days ahead.

* * * *

The next morning came way too soon. Kip showered and dressed as Lucas ordered them breakfast. They shared pancakes and coffee on the unmade bed. As they ate, Kip wondered when they’d be together again. He had his orders, but he could return sooner or even later. Eight months was a long time. They could write letters, sure, but phone calls would be few and far between to avoid suspicion. And Skyping was out. Any rumors could get back to his father, the base commander, and he’d be forced to come out. He wasn’t ready for that yet. He wanted to openly declare he was in a relationship with the beautiful man beside him, but he was afraid of the risks. There were so many to think about where he was going. He sighed and Lucas looked up from his cup. “What is it?”

He reached over to caress Lucas’s cheek. “Nothing. You know we’ll have to celebrate our anniversary when I get back.” Four years ago, when Jax—Kip’s German Shepherd—had fallen ill, they’d met while Lucas had been doing an internship. They’d just clicked and Lucas had been a good friend when he’d made the difficult decision to put the dog to sleep as he’d had a brain tumor. Friendship had slowly become more, and Lucas had agreed to keep their relationship a secret during his first tour. Since then, they’d fallen in love, but were still hiding it from everyone. And here he was, ready for the next deployment.

“Four years next month.” Lucas smiled. Then he ran a hand through his hair. “I wish I could go with you right now. See you off.”

“I know, but it’s better this way. We can say our goodbyes and I can kiss you all I want.”

Lucas leaned over and gave him a coffee-flavored kiss. “Promise you’ll at least think about me being at the homecoming when you get back?”

“I will.” Kip gazed at him. “I’m really going to miss you.”

“Me too.” Lucas bit his lip. “I’m going to start interviews next week. I’m hoping if I can get a decent job I could get a bigger place. Then we wouldn’t have to come here all the time.”

Kip was staying in the barracks, and they could barely turn around in Lucas’s apartment, so the hotel was a nice place for them both to get away from it all. “Didn’t Brianna say she’d have a spot for you once you got your degree?”

“She did.” Lucas nodded. “And my aunt might be moving to Florida, so there’s another option.”

“Oh, yeah? She’ll give you the house?”

“Not outright, but it could be mine… Ours,” he said quietly.

“That would be great… I gotta go, baby. We’ll talk about this more later, okay?” Kip grabbed his duffel and cap. He checked the clock. “I’m already pushing it.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Lucas jumped up and walked over to him. He adjusted Kip’s jacket, then cupped his face and kissed him so softly it took Kip’s breath away.

He put Lucas’s hand on his heart. “I’m leaving this here, keep it safe.”

There were tears in Lucas’s eyes and he just nodded. For a moment he was silent, then he said, “I’ll write you every day.”

 “And I’ll call when I can.” Kip embraced his lover and breathed him in. It took every ounce of willpower to step away and go to the door. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“You’d better be.” Lucas gave him a watery smile. “Love you, Kip.”

He turned back and grinned at Lucas, putting on a brave front and feigning confidence he didn’t feel. “Love you, Lucas.” He hefted his bag over his shoulder and walked away, already wishing he didn’t have to leave.

* * * *

Eight months later
Just two more weeks and Kip would be outta this nightmare Away from the hotter-than-hell, bug-infested desert. Away from flying bullets, IEDs and insurgents. He’d be going home. This second tour had been tougher, he was more homesick, more lonely. He couldn’t wait to see Lucas again. Eight months was too long without his smile, his laugh, his touch. He missed how good it felt to be in Lucas’s arms. Kissing him. Making love with him.

It was why he was taking a bit of a risk now and calling him. No one knew he was gay. None of the guys in his unit had a clue. He either claimed he was single or got vague about the details. He was too afraid of how they’d react. What they’d do to him if given a chance. Nate Mathers in particular worried him with his constant homophobic slurs.

Shaking the thoughts away, Kip waited for Lucas to answer. There wasn’t anyone in the small room and it wasn’t like they could know who he was talking to.

“Hello? Kip, are you okay?” Lucas’s soft voice was filled with worry.

“I’m fine. I just wanted to call.” Kip whispered the next part, “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. How’s it going?”

“I’m ready to come home. That’s why I’m calling.”

“I was hoping you would. I wanted to ask you, can I meet you when you get home?”

“At our hotel?” Kip got excited. They were on the same wavelength. They always met in secret and stayed the weekend at a hotel outside town. In their own little bubble, they would relax, make love and dream of living like that once he left the army. His dad wanted him to stay in, but Kip wanted to go to school. He planned to study law. Lucas had encouraged him to enroll after this tour and he’d decided to. His four years of active duty would be done when classes started and he’d be in inactive reserve.

“No, I was thinking at the homecoming on base.”

“Luc, you know my parents are gonna be there.”

“And we’re best friends, we could make up something. Can’t we? You promised me you’d think about it.”

Kip had thought about it. He could just imagine the fit his father would throw. And there were a few guys he feared would be nasty, he couldn’t expose Lucas to that. Mathers always had something homophobic to say. He didn’t want Lucas hurt. “I did and it’s too risky,” Kip told him. “We haven’t seen each other in so long. I want to be able to hold you and kiss you when we do.”

“So, why don’t you?” Lucas countered. “We’re not kids anymore, Kip. I’ve got a job now at the vet’s office, Brianna hired me. I’m looking into moving into a bigger apartment. I want to start making a future. For us.”


An Interesting Find
Closing his book with a very final slap, Nathan then put it on the coffee table in front of him. He leaned back in his chair. Stretching languidly, he said, “Bloody good, that was. Though, admittedly, I thought it’d last me all week. Wasn’t expecting to get through it on day one.”

Raising an eyebrow, Lee shot Nathan an amused glance. “Not far off myself. Fucking storm. Stupid us, eh, going on holiday in the UK in summertime—not like you can guarantee the sodding weather, is it? Should’ve gone to the Canaries.”

“No, we can’t guarantee the weather, but…” Nathan gave the window a sidelong glance, “I do have some good news.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. The torrential downpour has stopped.”

“Seriously?” Lee slammed his own book closed and scurried over to the window. “Oh, wow, it’s cleared right up, and I can see a rainbow. Wanna head out? Just a little wander down to that pond we saw on the way here, maybe? Get some fresh air. We’ve got loads of daylight left, haven’t we?”

Nathan checked his watch. “Yeah, plenty. Especially if we’re only nipping to the pond. It’s probably only a fifteen-minute walk.”

“Fantastic. I was going a bit fucking stir crazy in here. I’ll grab our coats and shoes.”

Lee had disappeared into the hallway of their rented holiday cottage before Nathan had the chance to reply. Shaking his head with a smile, Nathan collected their empty mugs from the coffee table and took them into the kitchen, then got a bottle of water from the fridge. He doubted they’d need a drink during their short trek along the road, but he could just shove the bottle in his coat pocket and forget about it. At least it’d be there if they wanted it.

When he returned to the living room, Lee was just about to tie up his laces.

“I got water,” Nathan said, brandishing the bottle.

“Cool. Shoes are there.” He nodded to the chair Nathan had been sitting in. Sure enough, his trail shoes were waiting on the floor in front of it.

“Thanks.”

Within a few minutes, they were headed out of the door. Nathan locked up, pocketed the key, then checked the handle. He doubted very much the place would get broken into—they were in the middle of nowhere, after all. There were farms nearby, but the closest village was about a mile and a half away. So any thieves would have to make a considerable effort to get to the cottage in the first place, never mind attempt to break into it. Rolling his eyes at his own paranoia, he turned and followed Lee, who’d already started walking slowly along the road in the direction of the pond.

After falling into step beside Lee, Nathan pulled in some deep breaths, enjoying the fresh air after being cooped up in the cottage. It was a beautiful and cozy place, but it was supposed to be a base for them to go walking—somewhere for them to eat, sleep and shower, not to be stuck in for hours on end, staring at the walls. Or climbing them.

He admired the rainbow as they walked, its vivid colors painted across the watery sky. It seemed the clouds had literally exhausted themselves—only occasional wispy streaks of white now interrupted the never-ending blue. The sun beamed down, heating up the ground and beginning to evaporate the huge puddles. It would take some doing—one such puddle stretched across the width of the road, and they had to skirt around its edge to avoid getting wet feet.

Nathan smiled. Though the storm itself had been grim, the washed-out aftermath made everything feel fresh, clean somehow.

“You look thoughtful,” Lee said, breaking into his reverie. “A penny for them?”

“Mmm. It’s one of those things that sounds better in your head than said out loud.”

“Try me.”

Shrugging, Nathan replied, “Nothing major. Just admiring the rainbow, the sky, the clouds… Thinking how everything looks so fresh and clean after a good storm. Like it’s been purified or something… Ugh, it’s stupid.”

Lee stopped and reached for Nathan’s hand. His green eyes were wide and filled with wonder. “No, it isn’t. Not at all—I was thinking something similar myself. It’s kinda romantic, isn’t it? Purification, rebirth, and all that.”

“In a roundabout way, maybe. I dunno.” He shrugged again.

Lee’s eyes narrowed, and his lips curved into a wicked grin. “We could make it romantic.”

“How so?”

“Come here and I’ll show you.” Still gripping Nathan’s hand, Lee tugged him close and moved in for a kiss. Nathan went into the embrace willingly, the smile on his face soon smothered by Lee’s hot lips.

Twining their arms around each other, they deepened their kiss. Mouths opening, tongues searching, stubble scratching. Nathan moaned, tucking his hands under the back of Lee’s waterproof coat and gripping his firm, muscular arse cheeks. Arse cheeks he’d parted a thousand times, exploring between them with fingers, tongue, cock…

His head swum with erotic images, and he suddenly wished more than anything that they were back at the cottage so they could take things further. Oh, the irony—they’d been in the place all bloody day, eager to leave, and now they’d left, he wanted to return.

Reluctantly, he broke the kiss. “Phew.” He blinked rapidly, trying to reclaim his equilibrium. Blood and adrenaline rushed around his body, making him a little unsteady. “That was…intense.”

“And romantic.” Lee grinned, the mischief and arousal in his eyes blatant.

“Yeah, all right.” Nathan mirrored the grin. “It was romantic. But we’d better carry on walking now, otherwise romantic is rapidly going to turn erotic, and no matter how remote this road is, I don’t think taking our clothes off here is a good idea.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He briefly tightened his grip on Nathan’s hips. “But it’s to be continued later, okay?”

“You’ll get no arguments from me.”

“Good.” Dropping a much more chaste kiss on Nathan’s lips, Lee released him and took his hand again. “Now let’s get moving, before I change my mind.”

Nathan chuckled as they turned and continued walking along the quiet road, with nothing but the sights and sounds of nature around them, the moorland stretching for miles in each direction. He sighed happily—what could be better than this? A beautiful location, fantastic company, some rest and relaxation—that was what this trip was supposed to be about. The fact that their first day had been mostly written off by shitty weather had made him forget all that. But he’d been reminded now, and he was going to make the most of it, the most of his time with Lee. At home, they didn’t get a lot of alone time—they both had busy careers, and Lee worked shifts, so sometimes they didn’t see each other properly for days. Now, they had a solid, uninterrupted week together, and it was going to be blissful.

Soon, their destination came into view, and they crossed the road again, then walked a little way along a track, before heading off it and down into the dip that held the pond.

“Wow,” Lee said, letting gravity carry him the rest of the way down the slope. He came to a stop beside a bench. “This is cool. Right next to a road, and yet, it feels so remote.” Glancing around, he added, “It’s kinda eerie, actually.”

“Yeah,” Nathan replied, joining him, “I know what you mean. If you ignore the bench, there’s such little evidence of man. Someone could send us back in time a hundred, a thousand years, and I reckon this place would look pretty much the same.”

“Nice to be reminded there are still lots of unspoiled places left in this country, isn’t it?”

“It is. Come on, let’s sit. Our coats should be long enough to keep our bums dry. If not, a damp bum never killed anyone, did it?”

“Nah.” Lee tugged at the bottom of his coat, trying to cover his rear, and sat. “I promise to warm your bum up if it gets damp and cold, though.”

“You’re too kind.” Nathan shot his lover an amused glance as he took a seat. “Likewise.”

They lapsed into silence then, contentedly admiring the world around them—the craggy steel-gray hills in the distance, the undulating grass and moorland between, the steep banks either side of them, and the dark, spooky body of water behind them. Nathan turned one hundred and eighty degrees on the bench to get a better look. It really was spooky—the surface of the pool was completely flat, undisturbed. As though it was utterly devoid of life. He suppressed a shudder, not wanting Lee to take the piss out of him and his often vivid imagination.

Something that didn’t look quite right drew his gaze. Focusing hard on the area on the other side of the pond, he tried to figure out what exactly he was seeing—if anything. The more he looked, the more he was convinced there was something at the bottom of the sheer slope leading up to the road—not that one could tell that from here.

“Um, Lee?” he finally said, unable to ignore his instincts any longer.

“Yeah?” Lee also swiveled on the bench.

Nathan pointed. “Does something over there look…not quite right…to you?”

“Where— Oh. Shit. Is that what I think it is?”

“I dunno. What do you think it is?”


Gods of Vengeance
It rained the day they buried Owen Hazard at the church on Hammerscliffe Peak. None too heavy—just a misty drizzle to match the muted sky and the gray spirits of the mourners who gathered at the church and, later, the graveyard. They laid Owen to rest in the grave beside his grandparents. It was a family plot, and many tears were shed at the sight of his coffin going into it too soon. He was only thirty-three.

Riley Brook held his own tears in check. He had cried enough already—all of this last week. Let the others weep. They needed it now—he didn’t. His pain and grief had been replaced by colder, far harder emotions—anger and the unremitting need for revenge. The cold rain ran down his forehead, over his narrow brow and into his eyes. He didn’t blink it away, didn’t flinch as it dripped from the tip of his long, straight nose. He felt it on his neck and down the collar of his white funeral shirt, but it didn’t bother him. That kind of discomfort was irrelevant now.

The turn-out for the funeral was immense. The farming community came out en masse to honor their dead. Especially the loss of someone so young. A son, a husband and a father—the tragedy of Owen’s death touched every person in that ancient churchyard. Somber-faced men in long overcoats held the hands of wives and girlfriends, unified by the senselessness—a life over too soon.

Owen’s wife, Susan, mother of his three children, just about kept it together. Sandwiched between Owen’s sister, Julie, and Pam, her best friend from the village, her features were a transparent mask of suffering. Riley had never seen grief etched so large on a human face. His mother and father stood close by in bewildered misery—it was every parent’s greatest fear, to see their children buried.

Next to them stood a man who Riley had not seen in almost ten years. Mark Hazard, Captain Mark Hazard, Owen’s older brother. Though he was undoubtedly handsome, Mark’s face was devoid of any emotion. He stood rigid with his shoulders back and spine straight, as if he was on the deck of his ship, ready for inspection. Mark had changed little in all those years. The lean jaw, wide mouth and neat brown hair were just as Riley remembered. Mark looked stronger now. Broader. There were lines around his eyes but they suited him. He’d grown more handsome with age.

Mark had been posted in the Eastern Mediterranean when his brother had been killed. He’d come back yesterday in time for the funeral. Too late for Riley to see him first. He would find the time. Later.

At last, the service was over. Owen’s parents came forward. They scraped up a handful of earth and tossed it into the grave. That was when his mother lost it. Wailing, inconsolable, she was led away by her husband and Mrs. Leaven from the village. The muscles around Riley’s heart tightened. He felt their grief, every painful stab.

It fueled his fury.

None of this was right.

He knew a way to make it better.

But it would take time.

Those less acquainted with Owen stepped respectfully back to allow his family and friends nearer to the grave. More earth and flowers were thrown into the hole. Riley waited until almost the end. Owen had been his best friend, had been since they were four years old, but he waited. An unnatural feeling of calm imbued him. It was so different from the heightened emotional state he’d been in since the terrible news had hit. A tiny part of him was frightened by these feelings. Terrified.

But anger was a bigger emotion than fear and his lust for vengeance was greater still.

As he walked forward to throw a handful of earth into the hole, Riley watched Mark Hazard across the grave. Mark’s opaque eyes stared into his. Time seemed frozen as they held each other. It was a devastating moment.

Something inside Riley shifted—a great impression of relief accompanied by a rush of fear—like a frightened child engulfed by the tide. He knew something with chilling certainty—Mark Hazard was the man who could change everything. No—would change everything.

As he stared into his eyes, he realized Mark was maybe thinking the exact same thing.

* * * *

Riley ran a pub called The Hammerscliffe Peak. It stood at the highest point of the town. Its large terrace and broad windows offered panoramic views of green hillsides, sweeping meadows and majestic mountains. The wake for Owen Hazard was packed. There looked to be more people in the pub than had been in the church.

“Such a waste.”

“Senseless.”

“He was always a nice boy. Ever since he was small.”

The pub had hosted plenty of wakes, but Riley had not experienced such a strange atmosphere in the place. He’d never had to bury his best friend before. Maybe that was it. He was too close to the deceased on this occasion, it was inconceivable to stay detached. But no, it wasn’t just that. Normally, when the mourners arrived at the bar and raised their first drink to the departed, there would be a shift in attitude. Sorrow often gave way to a more meditative, almost celebratory mood, where the dead would be remembered with fondness—funny stories and memories would be shared.

There was none of that today. The grief was too raw. Owen’s death was too unjust, too soon. His life had been too short to be revered in the conventional way.

Author Bios:
Megan Slayer
When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.

When she's not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school.

She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best.

Helena Maeve
Helena Maeve has always been a globe trotter with a fondness for adventure, but only recently has she started putting to paper the many stories she's collected in her excursions. When she isn't writing erotic romance novels, she can usually be found in an airport or on a plane, furiously penning in her trusty little notebook.





Anna Lee
Anna Lee graduated from the University of California Riverside with a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing. Living with a disability, she has overcome many challenges and puts her passion for life and love into her writing. She lives with her family and dogs and enjoys writing late into the night. When she isn't writing Anna enjoys chasing her nieces and nephew or chatting with her friends about her favorite books and tv shows.

Anna has four stories published with MLR Press: As Time Goes By, Family is Forever, The Prince of Galerir and Christmas Hopes. She also has one story published with Silver Publishing: The Broken Road.

Lucy Felthouse
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women's Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter.

Thom Collins
Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, with Pride Publishing. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and promptly confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonkbusters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but since taking his first cruise in 2013 he realized that sailing is the way to go.


Megan Slayer
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
BLOG  /  KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  iTUNES
GOOGLE+  /  SMASHWORDS  /  AMAZON
EMAIL: wendi.zwaduk@gmail.com

Helena Maeve
TWITTER  /  BLOG  /  KOBO
B&N  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS
EMAIL: helena@helenamaeve.com

Anna Lee
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
iTUNES  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Lucy Felthouse
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
AMAZON  /  KOBO  /  SMASHWORDS
EMAIL: lucy@lucyfelthouse.co.uk

Thom Collins
TWITTER  /  BLOG  /  KOBO
B&N  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS



AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  B&N
KOBO  /  iTUNES  /  GOOGLE PLAY

Monday, August 8, 2016

Monday's Montage Mantlepiece: Out of Bounds


Summary:
Making the Pass by Cheryl Dragon
On the field and in bed, Aiden and Jack are a perfect match. But when reality and pride interfere, will they be able to become a team?

Aiden and Jack are both hot, gay men and play weekend football for the Griffons. Their similarities end there. Jack is blue collar and sees both the attraction to Aiden and the divide between them. His career is delivering packages to fancy offices, including the one where Aiden works. On the field, they spark and win, but it takes a friend’s nudging before Jack turns the mutual macho posturing to passionate sex.

The physical connection between Aiden and Jack is easy, but they’ll need extra practice for the relationship part. Aiden tries to fit in with Jack’s friends, but when Aiden invites Jack to an office party, Jack refuses. Thankfully, the rift won’t stop the game from progressing, and neither man is a quitter!

Reader Advisory: This story contains a white collar geek, a blue collar stud, and rough sex from a locker room to a fancy office. Contains scenes of anal sex, sex toys, fisting and love between two consenting males.

Crossing the Line by Megan Slayer
Opposites can attract and sometimes come together with explosive results.

Ryan Malone punts for the Dragons and likes his life as an art restorer. Love isn’t in his game plan—unless Paul Toth is involved. They’ve known each other forever but have never taken the next step. Ryan’s not sure if Paul can accept his kinky needs. All it takes is one chance to see if sparks will fly.

Paul’s ready and willing to snag the sexy punter. He doesn’t care what team Ryan plays for as long as he’s got Ryan at night. But Ryan’s holding something back. Can Paul unlock whatever he’s hiding before their burgeoning affair gets struck down by penalties?

Line of Scrimmage by Stephanie Burke
Can Dolton and Dean withstand the rain of opposition when they come together and cross the line of scrimmage?

Dolton is a strong black man, confident in what he wants in life and how to get it. The adjunct professor at Northeastern University has multiple degrees and has travelled the world, learning from the people he observes. So why is it that blond hunk Dean Majors has his mind twisted, his cock hard, and his reactions all out of whack? Dolton knows he has to have the beautiful man, and will do anything to get the long-haired god in his bed and in his life.

Dean Majors is a construction worker by trade and the heart of Team Griffon. He is not closeted gay man, but he doesn’t advertise is orientation, either, something he is happy about when his old friend Robbie Keton joins the Griffons. Robbie’s negative attitude is something he has to distance himself from, especially when he realises he has a more than man-sized crush on the team’s uber-intelligent and exotic middle linebacker, Dolton Pride.

Together the two men are a potent fire, their lust burning hot. But can it withstand the bitter rain of opposition and threats that threaten their happiness when they cross the line of scrimmage?

Reader Advisory: This book contains mild bondage, light BDSM, football-related violence.


Making the Pass by Cheryl Dragon
Aiden Brewer kept his eye on the ball and the field. The last summer wind blew over his arms as the evening brought cooler temps to the New England football field. It was just a practice so the stands were empty and after he’d bruised his ribs in the last game, Aiden wasn’t pushing too hard. Looking over at Jack Allman eased the pain with a jolt of lust. A field full of hot men and Aiden had to want the one who showed no real interest. They were friends but not really that close.

It made Aiden nuts. Especially when he had to target Jack with the ball. The wide receiver had good hands and fast feet. He also had sexy boy-next-door looks on an athletically muscled body with buzzed reddish brown hair. His chest hair tempted Aiden even more. Those deep brown eyes of his never missed a thing in the locker room.

Aiden had to lead and shook off the fantasy of tackling Jack naked. Facing the same direction, Jack squatted a few feet away. Aiden was always aware of where Jack was since passing the football to Jack was Aiden’s job. As he reached for the ball, Aiden swore Jack was looking at him.

Ignoring Jack, Aiden took off and ran the play. He found Jack down the field and hurled the ball with precision. His ribs screamed and Aiden held his side. His teammates didn’t tackle him and Paul came over. Aiden watched Jack’s strong body power down the field and make a touchdown. His ass looked so good in that uniform, Aiden wondered if he’d ever get over the friend who seemed oblivious.

"You okay?" Paul asked.

"Just the ribs. Damn, still sore." He tried to shake it off.

"You’re thirty. You’re not going to bounce back like those wild twenties anymore." Paul patted him on the back.

"I just didn’t want to sit it out." Aiden shrugged.

"Why not? You won’t turn rusty in a week." Despite Paul being a good friend, Aiden didn’t want to hear it.

Aiden nodded to the other end of the field. "Jack as usual. Being a dick."

"He said something?" Paul asked.

"In the locker room. He’s two years older but no sympathy." Aiden knew Jack’s job was more physical. The advantage of having more muscle was all with Jack, at least for muscle and power. The perfect throws were Aiden. The engineer had to hit his mark.

"You should just freak him out. Kiss him or something. I bet that’d solve a lot of problems," Paul teased.

Aiden shook his head. "I’m not being the butt of more of his jokes. The guy has it in for me."

"Not how you think," Paul said.

That train of thought would only get Aiden into trouble. Jack could take the teasing if Aiden chose to dish it back.

The assistant coach blew his whistle and the team headed in. "Good job. Hit the showers. Aiden, don’t push it next practice. Rest the ribs so you’re good for the game. Sitting out one won’t kill you."

"Sure." Aiden pulled off his helmet.

"But hit the gym so you stay loose." Jack grinned as they walked towards the showers.

"You’re the coach now too? Why don’t you just pass yourself the ball?" Aiden shot back.

The team laughed and headed for the showers. Aiden knew his banter with Jack was expected. Theduo always delivered. He found Jack and Jack somehow managed to outrun the tight end and nab the pass. They were connected and the team counted on them. Plenty of guys gave them crap about being a couple. Practising at home and on the side—Aiden wished!

He was last in the steam-filled college locker room. The facilities were updated and well-maintained. He sat on the extra-wide bench down the middle of the rows of lockers. There was no rush. As annoying as Jack could be, Aiden hated leaving the games and practices.

Paul helped him get the pads off to spare his ribs. When the material cleared his head, Aiden caught Jack watching. The man was nuts! Running his mouth and then acting jealous. Paul was a friend and had eyes for that kicker on the Griffins’ rival team. Aiden hated to turn the tables of teasing on Paul, but it’d work.


Crossing the Line by Megan Slayer
How come the right fit is never there when you want it?

Ryan Malone sighed and pressed the last glazing point into place. He wished he was working on one of his paintings rather than framing artwork for the local high school. The man in the painting stirred something deep within him, something exciting and unattainable. He tapped the point into the frame, double-checked the fit.

The man in the painting wasn’t just any guy. No, Paul Toth surpassed most men. Gifted in the art classroom and smooth in social situations, he turned heads with his effortless style. Ryan flipped the painting over. Staring at Paul for the last two months had seared his visage into Ryan’s memory. The guy had grace and damn was he cute. Brown eyes with just a hint of wonder. Thick, dark brown hair combed like he’d just walked out of a salon…and that body…Muscles where a man should be sculpted, but not boxy or bulky.

Thank God Ryan had closed his office door. Anyone passing by would’ve seen the bulge in his pants. On the outside, Paul embodied everything Ryan wanted in a man.

"But he plays for the other team," Ryan said to himself. His phone beeped, reminding him of his appointment with the principal. "I haven’t met with a principal since I was in school." He chuckled. Thinking about school didn’t make him feel much better.

He wrapped the artwork in butcher paper, then grabbed his keys. Thirty minutes later he stood outside Northwood High School. He pressed the button to lock his Jeep.

Just take the painting in, he probably won’t be there. Ryan gripped the painting and strode into the foyer. Northwood happened to be the home of the soon-to-be-named Teacher of the Year, aka Paul Toth. He pushed the second door handle, but nothing happened.

"We need to buzz you in," came a voice over the loudspeaker.

Ryan cringed. He hated being caught off guard. "I’m Ryan Malone, here with the Teacher of the Year painting."

"Very good," the woman said. "Door’s open."

Ryan headed to the office. The quicker he made his delivery, the sooner he’d be able to leave. Seeing Paul wouldn’t help things.

"Mr Malone."

Ryan grinned at the principal. "Hello, Mr Laubenthal. I have the painting."

"Perfect." George Laubenthal rubbed his meaty hands together. His salt-and-pepper eyebrows bobbed and his moustache twitched. "It’s been eating Toth alive not to be doing this for us this year."

"The painting?" He handed the principal the package. "I know he teaches art, but I wasn’t sure if he created the portraits."

"Yes. Mr Toth has painted the last four winners. I couldn’t exactly have him paint himself. Let’s show the girls in the office." Laubenthal led the way to the main office. "Girls, you’re going to love this."

"Well, we can only hope," Ryan muttered.

"Nan, see if the work room is empty. Don’t want wandering eyes." Laubenthal placed the painting on the nearest desk. His eyes sparkled behind his thick glasses. "I’m excited to see it."

When the secretary came back grinning, George unveiled the painting. He picked at the tape holding the paper closed, then gasped. "This is fantastic." George stepped back from the painting and pulled an envelope from his coat pocket. He handed Ryan the envelope. "That’s for you. Board approved. We truly appreciate it."

Ryan stared at the image of Paul and suppressed a sigh. In the bright light, the highlights in Paul’s dark hair stood out. His brown eyes sparkled with poise and mischief. He’d folded his arms in the photo and Ryan had taken the opportunity to define his biceps a bit more. When he’d created the painting, he hadn’t been able to tear his gaze from Paul’s. Now, seeing the image with others around, Paul took his breath away. Paul embodied control and strength. Ryan forced himself to look away from the image that had haunted his dreams.

"I’m glad you’re happy." Ryan nodded and placed the folded envelope in his back pocket. "I’d love to hang around and gawk at the painting, but I’ve got some other things to attend to so I’ll be going. Thank you for asking me to do this for you."

"I’m glad Professor Pride suggested you." George Laubenthal offered his hand. "I’ve seen your work down at the NEU Galleries. We’re honoured to have a piece here, as well. Thank you."

Ryan shook hands with the principal, then made his way out of the office. Only a few more steps and he’d be back outside in the safety of his Jeep and the seclusion of his office.


Line of Scrimmage by Stephani Burke
"Twenty-seven! Thirty-six! Fifteen—hike!"

In the back of his mind, Dolton heard the words. His blood jumped at the sound of the snap, but his eyes were focused in on his goal.

The quarterback from his rival team, the Rockville Rocs, was going down.

He watched as the quarterback stepped back, looking for a receiver, and Dolton thought to himself, Not today.

He dodged to his left, avoiding the defensive lineman who was attempting to keep the pocket, the grouping of men using their bodies as a wall to protect the quarterback, and neatly slipped in between two of them. He caught a glimpse of movement off to his right, but instead of slowing down, he hunkered lower and kept moving, ploughing everything out of his path. Dolton was not the tallest man on the team but he made his low centre of gravity and his ability to slide through tight spots work for him.

The quarterback never saw what hit him.

"That is a sack, folks, and the end of this game! The play clock has run out and the Griffins have tossed back the Rocs like so much cheap beer!"

Dolton didn’t pay much attention to the announcers or the quarterback who was crushed beneath his weight. His new focus was on a glorious head of blond hair trailing down the back of a gold and black jersey.

Dean Majors, right tackle, all-around good guy and of late, the star of his masturbation fantasies, placed his hands on the ground, his head low and his ass high in the air before he gave up and rolled himself onto his back. Huffing in exhaustion, he extended his right hand up towards Dolton for assistance.

Feeling his heartbeat beginning to race, Dolton reached for the hand, gripping it tightly just as the rest of the team enveloped them, tossing Dolton in the air and yanking his hands from Dean’s grasp.

The disconnection was almost painful.

"Dolton! Dol-ton! Dol-ton!" His name was being chanted as he was carried triumphantly off the field, but Dolton couldn’t resist turning back one more time to stare at the mass of blond hair now revealed fully as Dean pulled off his helmet.

Sparkling blue eyes met his and for a moment, Dolton felt like he had been punched in the chest. But that feeling passed quickly as a brown-haired man enveloped him in a massive hug, lifting him off his feet and spinning him around.

Dolton lost sight of Dean and Robbie as the team carried him into the locker rooms and to the grinning face of their manager Tina Edmonson.

"I am so proud of you," the portly Asian woman chuckled. "So very proud. The Rocs are no pushovers, but you guys handed them their collective asses!"

She paused as more cheering echoed around the state-of-the-art locker room. Dolton was grateful that his university had such a modern place for them to practise and recover. Of course the local weekend league only used the field when the college team wasn’t bent on killing each other to impress the scouts during the season, but it was a privilege for them to be able to use the same equipment and facilities.

"And because you guys did so well, next game we face our rivals the Dragons."

There was good-natured booing and hissing which was more amusing than threatening. If anybody sounded like a bunch of overgrown lizards at the moment, it had to be them.

"So rest up and avail yourselves of the Jacuzzi and steam room if need be, and I will see you all next week to go over strategy and look at film."

There was one final cheer for their totally badass performance on the field and then Tina was slipping out so they could get on with the business of getting clean and comfortable.

And for Dolton that meant looking for Dean and getting as close to him as he could in the showers to get more fodder for his spank bank.

Yes, he was a healthy twenty-nine-year-old and masturbated frequently. He was never ashamed of that particular bodily function and loved to share in the joys of self-love with whomever he was seeing at the time, though right now he wasn’t seeing anyone.

He desired to change that real soon, he reminded himself, as he moved towards his locker and his waiting toiletry kit.

Author Bios:
Stephanie Burke
Stephanie is a multi published multi award-winning wife and mother of two whose unparalleled imagination causes her no end of trouble. From sex shifting shape-shifting dragons to under sea worlds, up to sexually confused elemental fey and homo erotic mysteries, all the way to pastel challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do more.

Stephanie is co-founder of the charitable organization Write 4 Hope, Co Creator of the Japanese Culture and Anime Convention Mikomicon, Home-school Mom, English Tutor, an Orator on her favorite subject of writing and world building, a sometimes teacher when you feed her enough coffee and donuts, an anime nut, a costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing cons where she can be found leading panel discussions or researching more and varied legends and theories to improve her writing skills.

Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female characters, believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and interracial that make the reader sit up and take notice.

Cheryl Dragon
A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance or suspenseful mainstream paranormals. Never at a loss for ideas, there are plenty of stories in her brain waiting to be written. Her two favorites book settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans...where anything can happen!

Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she crunches & analyzes numbers as an Assistant Controller for a division of a large international conglomerate which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance and paranormal suspense novels.

Megan Slayer
When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.

When she's not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school.

She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best.


Stephanie Burke
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  BLOG  /  KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY  /  ARe  /  B&N  /  AMAZON
EMAIL: flashcat2004@aol.com

Cheryl Dragon
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
BLOG  /  KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  ARe
SMASHWORDS  /  B&N  /  AMAZON
EMAIL: cheryldragon@hotmail.com

Megan Slayer
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
BLOG  /  KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  ARe
GOOGLE+  /  SMASHWORDS  /  AMAZON
EMAIL: wendi.zwaduk@gmail.com



AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  B&N
KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  ARe