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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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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Tangled in Tinsel #1
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Heathens to Hearts #3
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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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Saturday, March 11, 2017

Saturday's Series Spotlight: Galactic Alliance by KC Burn


Spice ‘n’ Solace #1
Summary:
The Galactic Alliance’s most important negotiator, Jathan One-Moon, is responsible for ensuring the yearly negotiations with the Ankylos are successful. If he fails and the Ankylos go to war, the human race will likely be exterminated. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s under pressure to marry and produce an heir. When he mistakes the brothel owner, Kazha Deinos, for his escort prior to the negotiations, the resulting evening makes Jathan realize his life is missing a man who can be a true partner to him.

Kaz never met his most important client, and Jathan’s misconception allows Kaz the freedom to give in to desires he’s never let himself indulge in before. But Kaz has a business to run, one that a rival is trying to steal, which will force him to reveal his true identity to Jay. There’s also the little issue of Jathan’s impending marriage. Kaz is not interested in being a boy on the side of Jay’s marriage, no matter how much he’s come to care for Jathan. Will Jathan and Kaz find a way to be together, or will losing the man Jathan’s grown to love be yet another price he must pay for saving the human race?

Alien 'n' Outlaw #2
Summary:
R'kos, son of the Ankylos Emperor, is expected to settle down. But he's much more attracted to human males than to his own species. Eager to explore his forbidden longings, he steals a ship and heads to Elora Ki to see if he can find the right human guy.

Darien robs the corrupt to give to those in need, but now he needs a ride off Elora Ki, stat. Pursued by drug lords, he accepts help from the amorous stranger who calls himself Ricky. As they fly together along Darien's route, their friendship quickly turns into passion.

But when Ricky is injured, Darien must contact the embassy to get his alien lover the medical care he needs. As Darien finds himself accused of kidnapping, and Ricky fears his family's disappointment, can the two protect their growing relationship? Or are their differences just too great?

Voodoo 'n' Vice #3
Summary:
After nearly causing a galactic incident, fleet captain Gideon Arcturus is disgraced, demoted and exiled with nothing to do but pass the time at a seedy club on seedier planet Elora Ki. It's no place for a straight-laced soldier, but following the rules is what got him there in the first place. When he meets a mesmerizing fire dancer, he'd do anything to get close to the flame.

Tai doesn't date customers—it's far too dangerous for a man who was once for sale. But the shy, awkward Gideon entices him, and the two spend Gideon's leave tangled together, neither knowing the passion that stirs within them won't soon subside.

When a violent drug lord forces Tai back into slavery, Tai has no choice but to give up his new love. But when Gideon learns that Tai's fate lies with those who brought about his own ruin, he'll need to revisit his own difficult past in order to save them both.


Spice ‘n’ Solace #1
The unmistakable lurch of a shuttle docking coincided with the chirping of Jathan One-Moon’s comm unit. Bram Hakers was beginning to piss him off. Jathan silenced the device, wondering what the alliance’s undersecretary would do if he turned it off. He’d talked to Hakers every day of his trip to Elora Ki, and he wasn’t doing it again. For some reason Hakers—and the rest of the alliance—treated this brief sojourn as nothing more than an exotic vacation for Jathan, with the alliance picking up the tab.

Jathan did charge the alliance an enormous amount, but they were the reason Jathan had been forced to become a negotiator in the first place. His other negotiations paid well, but they were on a much smaller scale. For the Ankylos negotiations, Jathan charged the alliance in proportion to the almost unimaginable consequences of failure. Because if Jathan failed, the human race could be snuffed out.

Every year he returned to Elora Ki, the site chosen because of its position as the farthest planet from the center of both the Ankylos Empire and the hub of planets ruling the Galactic Alliance. Every year he repeated the negotiations on behalf of the human race.

In truth he’d do the negotiations for free. Diabolical not to, since the Ankylos wouldn’t negotiate with anyone else after his father died. Without him the Ankylos Empire would renew the Wolframite War with the Galactic Alliance. But people didn’t respect things they got for free, and Jathan wanted the alliance to respect his services. Unfortunately Hakers acted as though the exorbitant fees meant Jathan was his slave for the length of the negotiations. With the Ankylos refusing to negotiate with anyone but a person in his father’s bloodline, he was a prisoner of sorts.

A knock sounded at the door to his quarters.

“Come in.” The military escort to his headquarters had arrived.

“Sir. We made good time. We’ve docked early.”

Dammit. Should he contact Spice ’n’ Solace? With his escort due to arrive the next evening, was it worth altering those arrangements? “Yes, thank you. I’m almost ready.”

Jathan fastened his bag and hefted it to his shoulder.

“Sir. Let me take that.” The well-put-together soldier moved into Jathan’s personal space, took the bag and smiled.

Jathan looked down at the man’s face, assessing his motives. The blond was good-looking, although broader and more muscle bound than his usual type.

The soldier used his firm chest to pin Jathan against the wall—under other circumstances a move like that would have made Jathan’s cock swell. Before the negotiations, though, the aggressiveness didn’t work for him.

“We’re on unexpected furlough for the night.” The soldier might have been making conversation, but the erection pressing into Jathan’s hip made his words an invitation.

“Tempting.” Jathan pushed all inflection out of his voice and painted on his most disdainful expression. This wasn’t what he needed. Not now. Military men weren’t equipped to give in, to submit. “But not a good idea.”

The blond quirked a brow. “Sure? Everyone knows how you spend your nights on Elora Ki.” His hips undulated against Jathan’s. Lies, clearly. If everyone knew what he did—he peered at the shorter man’s name patch—Williams would know this wasn’t the approach to take.

Although the forthright invitation was at odds with a man on duty, starfuckers were rather single-minded. He’d fucked others, but it made him uncomfortable. Still, the blond was quite attractive.

“You going to be part of my escort on the return trip?”

“Mmm, I think so.”

On the way home might be a different story. “We’ll talk then.”

“Yes, sir.” Williams stepped back before leading the way out of Jathan’s quarters. In many ways Jathan preferred to pay for his pleasure. No strings, no expectations on the part of the escort and Jathan could take what he needed to make it through another year of negotiations.

Jathan took out his comm unit, still unsure if he wanted to call for an escort. The unit chirped in his hand. Undoubtedly Hakers again, toadying little suck-up. Screw it. He’d had enough. Jathan turned the device off, determined to pretend that for at least one night no one relied on him to save countless human lives.

Alien 'n' Outlaw #2
Weaving through alleyways and streets, both deserted and crowded, R’kos quickly became lost. Darien’s circuitous route had to throw off their pursuers. R’kos had no idea if they were in the same sector as before and he wasn’t even sure he could follow his own scent trail back to the pub.

“Hold,” he called, Darien for a change within speaking distance.

Darien turned around, gaze flitting around like prey being hunted. “Did you see them?”

“No, but someone’s coming. Might be them.” Unfortunately, Viko’s men were not the only ones who smelled of weaponry, and he’d been concentrating more on Darien’s scent than identifying the motley bunch that followed them.

Darien glanced both directions along the alley. R’kos wondered if they’d retrace their steps or try to move past the threat ahead. Instead of moving, Darien shoved R’kos, sending him stumbling back into a doorway.

“Wha—” The uneven, unyielding surface at his back scraped at his skin through the thin fabric of his robe. His heart thudded, and he could only imagine the scent cocktail he was emitting. Thank all the stars in the universe there wasn’t an Ankylos tracking them. Not yet.

“Shhh.” Darien crowded against him and the air between their bodies heated.

That wasn’t fair. Not at all. R’kos looked up into the inky shadows in the corner above them, willing himself to ignore the scent of smoke and spice in the soft hair sneaking into his hood to tickle his chin. He pulled his hips back as far from Darien as he could in the close space. Why didn’t his people have more information on human mating customs? R’kos didn’t know how much they differed from his own, but Darien wouldn’t want to know how close he was to stripping Darien’s clothes off and licking him all over. The tips of his fingers slid lightly over the oiled cloth of Darien’s coat. He’d shaken hands with a few humans, as was their custom. Did the rest of their skin feel the same as their hands? Did they have hair everywhere?

After a brief clatter of boots against loose pebbles, both scent and sound faded, and R’kos unclenched his muscles even as he sensed the tension bleed out of Darien’s body.

Darien stretched up. “You are a big one, aren’t you, Ricky? Let’s get going while we can.” Darien’s whisper heated his ear.

Jaw tight, R’kos only nodded, afraid any involvement of his mouth would result in an involuntary response like moaning or tasting. The urge to lick the warm skin so close to his lips was almost unnerving in its intensity, and he reveled in the freedom to experience those emotions.

“Quick now.” Darien’s voice was almost inaudible.

Should be easier to follow this time, as his eyes had become accustomed to the lighting, more or less. Holding close to the side of the alley, Darien sped away and he followed as stealthily as possible. Darien halted and R’kos followed his lead, looking around. Surely they had not reached a destination. Nothing distinguished this alley from any of the others they’d passed through, as far as he could tell.

Bending over, Darien grunted and hoisted a circular metal plate out of the street. Darien curled his finger downward, gesturing for him to descend. He peered down past the circular entry into black nothingness, and a whole host of new scents wafted up.

“What is this?”

“Storm sewer,” Darien whispered.

Storm sewer. Sounded ominous. He’d never been on Elora Ki during their storm season, and he hoped they didn’t have any unusual storms while he was trapped down there. Gritting his teeth, R’kos lowered himself into the blackness. He’d trusted Darien thus far, no reason not to continue. Carefully he climbed down. Through his tight grip on the cool metal, he knew when Darien landed on the ladder above him, but he didn’t dare look up. At the bottom, he splashed as he stepped off the ladder and moved out of Darien’s way, into the palpable darkness. The light from the alley, as dim as it was, illuminated a faint circle on the shallow pool of water gathered on the ground. The grate clanged shut above him, cutting off even that meager source of visibility. He was well and truly blind down here.

A muffled shout sounded as Darien leaped off the ladder, accompanied by a flare of blue light.

“They saw me. Time to run.”

Voodoo 'n' Vice #3
Demoted. Captain Gideon Arcturus scrubbed his face with his hands before he reread the memo on his console. The words hadn’t changed. They hadn’t stripped him of his rank, but he was no longer the head of the Galactic Fleet’s interplanetary criminal division.

How could this be happening? With a growl he stood, his chair tipping back and thudding to the ground behind him. He barely suppressed the temptation to upend his desk, as well. Gideon stalked around the office, the one they were ‘allowing’ him to keep, with two words echoing through his mind: Why me?

He’d been following orders, for fuck’s sake. Just like he was supposed to. Following them slavishly, in fact, because deviation from orders and protocol had been the reason he’d been exiled to this pit of human civilization on Elora Ki.

The agitated pacing wasn’t helping. Gideon returned to his desk, righted his chair and slumped down in it. Too bad Elora Ki was already at the outermost edge of the Galactic Alliance. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to escape. Unless he wanted to end up in Ankylos territory, and those damned aliens had already caused him enough trouble.

How long before some sucking-up little asswipe went running to his father or brother with the juicy gossip of his demotion? He rested his forehead in his hands. Would his father even bother expressing his disappointment this time? Or would General Arcturus merely pretend he didn’t have a second son? Stowing him out of sight on Elora Ki must make it easy to act like Gideon and his disgrace had never happened.

The door opened, and the big, blond bane of his existence on Elora Ki walked in. Gideon took a deep breath and clenched his fists out of sight underneath the desk. No way would he let anyone see how much this demotion had rattled him.

Author Bio:
KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own--getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she's had in a long time, and she hopes you'll enjoy them as much as she does.


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Spice ‘n’ Solace #1
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Alien 'n' Outlaw #2
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Voodoo 'n' Vice #3

The Stranger's Voice by Grace Harper

Title: The Stranger's Voice
Author: Grace Harper
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 8, 2017
Summary:
“Can you hear me?”

Adaline Starling needs a new tenant for the flat above her store, and Callum Hague needs somewhere to live.

Adaline is a genius, hiding in a magazine store, she has never opened. She is trying to convince the world that she is whole, that there is nothing wrong with her.

Callum Hague likes to fix things, preferably thousands of miles away from his hometown. He’s returned from a year long project in Nairobi where he has built a school.

They both have hidden imperfections that have shaped their lives from childhood. If they were left to their own devices, they would both become reclusive.

Their best friends think they would be perfect for each other and set about fixing them up.

It takes a serious incident for them to confess their invisible flaws, but will they accept each other’s hidden imperfection?

With supporting characters that include a cheeky apprentice and an overbearing charity chairwoman.

Will Adaline turn a deaf ear to everyone’s advice to own her imperfections?


“Sod him. Does that mean your flat is available to rent?” Steph asked me, she stared intently on my reactions. I made a fish impression, trying to break her scrutiny, she only lasted thirty seconds before breaking into fits of giggles. I raised my eyebrows still making the fish an impression with my lips. My cheeks hollowed out, and I increased the tempo of my lips moving up and down. Steph threw her cloth napkin at me, and I grinned.

“Why do you want to know?” I leaned forward, my eyes wide, raising one eyebrow. I knew what she was up to, she reeked of a cunning plan. It was written all over her sheepish looking face. I threw her napkin back at her, folded my arms under my breasts and waited for her to answer.

Steph straightened up and took a deep breath. “Eliott’s best friend has just come home from overseas. He stays with us, but after a day, he feels uncomfortable imposing on us. We’d have him there forever, but he thinks because we’ve been married less than a year, we should have the freedom to have sex wherever and whenever we feel like it. He thinks that him being around will dampen our sex life.

“That’s pretty considerate. Is this person good looking?” I asked. I don’t want a hot guy moving into the flat opposite mine. I don’t need the distraction. I’d never met a handsome man who wasn’t an arsehole.

“No, I don’t think so,” she frowned and looked up to the sky for divine help. “No, definitely not handsome.”

“You’re a shit liar. Is he rich?”

I thought rich, handsome men were the worst kind. I should know, my university was full of them. Steph had fixed me up on a few dates with her friends. All of them stunning in the looks department and had a decent bank balance. All of them rude, arrogant and self-centred. I had no interest in those kinds of men. Give me a poor, plain looking man, any day of the week. So long as he had rugby player thighs.

“Um,” she pondered this question, looking left and right. Who, she thought was going to help her with the question I had no idea. Unless she hoped the seagulls sauntering around our table knew the answer.

“Let me make this easier. Is he richer than the Beckhams?”

“Um,” she paused again.

“Bloody hell Steph, you had to think about that? Why the hell would you be trying to get him to rent the flat if he’s minted?” Irritated temporarily I took a swig of my latte, only to find it freezing cold. Politeness dictated that I swallowed the liquid. My upbringing would have had me spitting out on the paving stones next to us. The term, dragged up, applied to me.

“He is really down to earth, normal like you, Eliott and me. You won’t regret letting him move in, I promise.” Steph commenced fluttering of her eyelashes, blowing me smooch kisses and clasping her hands in a begging motion.

“I want to interview him first, if he passes my strict questions, then he can move in. But, the flat is a state. Jeff left it in a real mess, the doors are hanging off the hinges in the kitchen, the carpet needs replacing. None of which I can afford. The shop is a money pit too. I need to sell a decent comic to finish the renovations.”

“Did I mention, he’s a carpenter?”

Author Bio:
British author who loves to write about strong women and handsome men. She writes steamy romance novels that will warm your heart.

Writer of the Brodie Saga and the Geary Series, Grace immerses you in stories of love, or rather, love's pursuit to bring together two people who were meant for each other. It's not always quick or easy but it will happen eventually.

When Grace is not writing, she can be found mooching about in stationery stores. Grace might have a Maltesers addiction but is not ready to stand up and own that just yet.


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