Tracy St. John's Blog, page 16

Releasing June 23 - First Mataras: Irene

 

A once-big name takes notice of a new band and its music

As soon as the last song ended and theband began to make their way backstage…the blind singer helped by herbandmates…Parlek hurried to meet them. He had to weave through the crowd, buthe got to the stage a couple of seconds after the spenruk, the last through thecurtain, disappeared.

The three Nobeks serving as crew eyedhim suspiciously, pausing their breakdown of the set when he joined them on thestage. “That was amazing. I used to manage bands, and I’d like to talk tothem,” he babbled, hoping they wouldn’t toss him out on his ass.

One nodded and waved for him to go on.He rushed to catch the band before they left.

They were standing around, grinning andbabbling in Earther when he burst in. The spenruk, a Nobek, immediately steppedin front of the woman to glower at Parlek. Parlek put his hands up in a peacegesture.

“Dramok Parlek. I used to manage Bodiesin Chains, Bloodletter, Venomous—”

“And Unrestrained Carnage.” The howler,obviously a Dramok, stepped forward. His demeanor offered no friendliness.

“Yes. Them too.” Parlek forced himselfmaintain a level gaze. “My greatest success and failure, as everyone knows.”

“I still can’t believe you didn’t go toprison camp.” The trasbu player rolled his eyes at the rest.

Parlek was tempted to turn and leave.Even bands hungry for notoriety and a deal weren’t hungry enough for him.

His mouth had different ideas. “I’venever heard this rimnastin music you played.”

“Because we invented it. This is thefirst time it’s been played in public.” Despite his obvious disdain for Parlek,the howler’s pride brought a smile to his face. He couldn’t restrain himself.“Did you see their reaction? They really liked it!”

“They did.” Parlek was awed. “How couldthey not? It’s new, and it’s amazing. So much power and yet there’s melody andthe singing…wow, the singing. It didn’t matter I couldn’t understand the words.She’s incredible.”

“She is.” The howler grinned at thewoman, who peered over the Nobek’s shoulder despite her seeming lack of sight.He jabbered in her language, and she smiled.

“You don’t manage now,” the trasbusaid. His hostility had lessened to cautious curiosity. “You were run out ofthe business, weren’t you?”

“More on the order of frozen out,”Parlek admitted. “I lost all my clients. No one would talk to me. So yeah, I’vebeen done for a while.” He had a sudden inspiration. “Which means I havenothing to lose by representing you.”

The three men stared at him. The howlersaid, “Having you as a manager would be a death stroke to our careers.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found aKalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earthforcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company.Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own pathas a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard,driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show theirdisapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live.Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them thatopportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene andClan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent onsnatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfitmusicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?

Releasing June 23 - First Mataras: Irene

 

Band and woman on the run

Irene sat at the dinette, her back tothe table, when Rusp returned. He looked deflated, as if he’d sufferedmisfortune.

“It go same as always, huh?” Jemi satnext to Irene, holding her. She’d almost stopped shaking. He reached andbriefly squeezed his Nobek’s hand as Rusp passed.

“I never be his favorite son.” Ruspsmiled weakly, indicating it was an attempt to joke. His clanmates smiled asfeebly.

He stood next to Sherv, who’d pausedpacing at his entrance. The Dramok patted his shoulder. “Thank you for talkingto him. What he say?”

“Is bad. Earther and Kalquorian canhave children together. Empire claim they rescue human women, but I thinkkidnaps are because we have three hundred years to extinct.”

“Three hundred years?” Jemi paled, thenshook his head. “Still not right to take women from station.”

“Not only station.” Rusp gazed at Irenemiserably. “Kalquor take all Earther Mataras they find off Earth. Give toclans.”

Cold sliced through her. “It’s like theChurch said. They’ll make us sex slaves.”

“No, not…well…they promise you be equalto us. Live in best home, with biggest rank clans. Not slave, but you have tobe clan Mataras.” He shook his head. “Maybe it is slave if no choice. I don’tknow. This is too insane for me to understand.”

Irene shoved past the horror of whathis world was doing. “How much trouble are you in for helping me?”

Rusp shrugged. “If caught, arrested.Face charges.”

Sherv’s jaw jutted stubbornly. “No matter.Irene wants home and parents. We find a way to take you there, don’t let Niltake you to Kalquor.”

Rusp nodded, his gaze meeting Irene’s.“Is correct to keep you safe, no matter what happens to us. I tell father I doit, and I mean it.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. They’d riskedeverything. “You shouldn’t be in this position. I don’t want you to sufferbecause of me.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found aKalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earthforcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company.Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own pathas a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard,driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show theirdisapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live.Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them thatopportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene andClan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent onsnatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfitmusicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?

Releasing in One Week - First Mataras: Irene

A conversation with a disapproving parent

Rusp went to the clan’s sleeping roomto talk to his father privately. He couldn’t stand Irene to see him belittled,even if she wouldn’t understand what was said.

Sherv and Jemi’s parents hadn’t beenthrilled by their sons’ determination to make their livings as musicians. LikeRusp’s, they wore their disapproval openly, constantly asking when the youngmen would stop goofing off and settle into real careers, start building somerank.

Then there was Rusp’s Nobek father,Ezrob. A high commander of Kalquor’s ground forces soldiers, he’d held histhree Nobek sons to exacting standards. Two of those sons, having risen tocommander ranks themselves, had made him proud. Rusp, on the other hand…

He settled on the edge of the sleepingmat and stared morosely at the desk com, which had the power to reach Kalquorfrequencies. He calculated what time it would be in the capital city of Kalquorwhile he inhaled the scents of love from the night before. Irene filled hissenses, reminding him she needed his help and protection. He instructed the comto contact Ezrob at his office.

His father’s assistant answered, adelay he didn’t mind. “Good morning, Lieutenant Elti. It’s Rusp.”

“Yes, I recognized the frequency. We’rerather busy this morning. I could have the high commander com you back when hegets a moment.” The Dramok’s clipped tone was all business. He was usuallypleasant to Rusp.

Rusp was tempted to tell him it wasfine, but he had a suspicion whatever was occupying his father might havesomething to do with the situation putting his clan at odds with Captain Nil.“Is Kalquor kidnapping Earther Mataras? I just helped one escape a destroyercaptain.”

There was a second of silence. ThenElti said, “Hold on, Rusp. I’m putting you through.”

A beat of quiet followed, then thevoice he dreaded spoke. “What the hell did you do, Rusp?”

 

Releasing in one week. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found aKalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earthforcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company.Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own pathas a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard,driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show theirdisapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live.Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them thatopportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene andClan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent onsnatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfitmusicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?

 

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

No time to cry

She wasn’t sure if he was careful because Rusp had beenrough or because he needed to go slow because he felt so intensely. When heentered her, still on top of the table, it was in gradual increments. She experiencedevery inch of his tender invasion and reveled in it. When he reached his end,she basked in the complete joining all the more for having so thoroughlyexperienced it.

They lay quiet for a long while. Sherv gazed into her eyes,his hair curtaining their faces. They might have been the only two people inexistence. Irene’s fingertips traced his features, committing him to touch aswell as sight. The arched brows over his large, mesmerizing eyes. The sculptedcheekbones. The nose that was a hair from being too big, but lent it character.The strong chin. The well-shaped lips begging to be kissed.

She memorized him, in pieces and as a whole. She saw thestrong man and the sensitive soul housed in him. She verified how she lovedhim, feeling it as thoroughly as she had with Rusp.

It was darkly funny to have discovered the great goal ofhumans since time’s beginning: perfect love. It was as stupendous andearthshaking as the romantics claimed. It was also soul shattering, theharshest sentence fate could possibly pass. Irene had no idea how she wassupposed to survive leaving them behind. She doubted she could.

Sherv began to move at last, slow and easy. She rocked along,meeting his leisurely thrusts, grinding deliberately so electric thrills wokeand chased through her. They writhed on the table in sinuous accord. Their kisseswere unhurried tastings rather than desperate devouring, but they fed from eachother just the same. There was no nuance Irene didn’t mark: the way the creasebetween his brows deepened as passion grew, the hard planes of his chestagainst hers, how he repeated motions when her breath caught.

They climbed passion’s peak bit by bit, pausing when theynoted they’d gone too far, too fast. Insistent bliss jabbed Irene, begging tobe unleashed, but she set it aside in favor of extending the journey. She wasin no hurry to reach her destination, and Sherv apparently wasn’t either.

The only reason she knew she wept was thanks to the tearstickling her skin as they escaped. Sherv collected them with kisses. Shefelt the sadness that brought them, but she concentrated on the perfection ofjoining. There would be plenty of time to cry later.

Releasing June 23. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

  The Kalquorian Empire vs. the band

Irene planted her palms against Weapons Commander Amig’s back and rose up. Sheunleashed a scream, desperate for someone to hear and help her. Herwell-trained lungs and voice delivered, and her shriek echoed along thecorridor.

Her captors sighed in its wake. Amig picked up theconversation where they’d left off. “Rescue or not, you have to agree doing itthis way is the height of dishonor. I might resign from the fleet.”

A dark streak appeared, shooting into sight from behind thecurve of the bay. As it drew close, a second blur shot from the rapidlyshrinking opening that led to Clan Sherv’s vessel.

Captain Nil snarled, “Do you think I like—”

The first blur lowered. As Amig started to turn toward it,it collided with the backs of his knees and became Rusp.

At the same instant, the second blur smacked Nil, knockinghim forward, out of Irene’s sight. Then she was falling with Amig as Rusprolled away to avoid being crushed beneath them. An iron grip found her arm,yanking her free of the weapons commander’s grasp. Irene was momentarily inRusp’s embrace, then shoved to her feet and behind him.

He was also standing and facing the snarling Amig, who wentfor his blaster…and found his holster empty. Rusp pointing it at him onlyseemed to piss him off. He jerked, as if to attack.

“Don’t do it, Nobek, or your captain will be in a world ofhurt.” Sherv was there, out of Amig’s reach, pointing another blaster at thestunned Nil, who was slowly climbing to his feet. Sherv backpedaled, keepingthe blaster he’d apparently stripped from Nil trained on the weaponlesscaptain. “Irene, get in our ship.”

Amig’s fury was short-circuited by obvious shock. He gapedat Irene. “Them? You were with them? The lemanthev band?”

“Go to the ship, Irene.” Sherv and Rusp stood between herand the destroyer officers, backing slowly away.

“Listen, boys,” Nil warned, he and Amig advancing towardthem, step for step. “It’s a rescue, not a kidnapping. Our orders came from thehighest offices to get her away from Earth custody.”

“I don’t know of many ‘rescues’ where a woman is crying andscreaming for help from her supposed saviors. It isn’t a good look for theempire’s fleet officers.” 

Releasing June 23. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

 Caught in the act

Irene had opted to go to the theater first and put away thedisguise. Valentina had been hovering within sight far too often since nearlycatching Irene hanging the Odeergin costume on the rack. Irene wasn’t positivethe tempestuous star was watching her, but she hated to take chances. It seemedmore likely Valentina would figure out the same cloak and headpiece appeared inMrs. Hoffman’s laundry bag than Irene being caught in the hallways without achaperone in the dead of night. There were other costumes in wardrobe she couldput on to help her sneak to her quarters unidentified. Though they wouldn’thave the same effect as the frightening Odeergin getup, she believed they’dhelp her escape detection from casual curiosity.

She used the quiet service corridors to reach the theaterand slipped in. She pulled her headgear off and rushed to the prop area. Ittook her only a moment to shove her disguise in the trunk.

She turned to find Valentina standing there, smirking ather.

“So. Our rising starlet is sneaking around without herchaperone as an Odeergin, How very interesting.”

Irene’s heart relearned to beat with a vengeance. Ithammered in her chest as if it would break free. It took her a moment to noteValentina wore a man’s outfit, padded to disguise her curvaceous figure. Nomakeup, though her features were too lovely and soft to be mistaken for aman’s, but the absence of her black wavy hair under a newsboy’s cap, no doubthidden by a wig cap would have kept her safe under casual scrutiny.

“It looks as if you’re sneaking around too.”

“Oh, but Rosalie is with me, as is proper. She’s waitingoutside the door while we have our little talk. I’m not in violation of Churchlaw. I’m also not spending hours on a Kalquorian ship doing heaven knows whatwith alien men.”

Dread was a weight in Irene’s gut. Two witnesses had seenher do the unthinkable. “You followed me.”

“For days, when I could sneak out. I wondered where you wentin that terrible Odeergin outfit…an impressive disguise. I do give you creditfor that.” Valentina softly patted her hands together in sneering applause.

 

Releasing June 23.

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

 An impossible relationship

Sherv stared at the text message on his com, his emotionsroiling. You���re leaving soon. We won���t have many more opportunities to seeeach other, and you aren���t playing tonight. Can I visit your ship after myperformance?

It wasn���t signed, but as his com had been forced totranslate the words from English to Kalquorian���his ability to read the alienlanguage lagged far behind his speech���he knew it had come from Irene.

It had been two days since he���d last seen her. Two days thathad crept by in excruciating slowness. Two days of her voice singing in hishead. Two days to think about kissing and holding her. Two days of wonderingwhat she was doing in a given moment.

Rusp was quiet, moodier than he got after talking to hisparent clan. Jemi was the opposite. He kept begging to go to the opera again.���We don���t have to talk to her. Just seeing her and hearing her sing would beenough.���

Except it wouldn���t be enough. Sherv knew it just as sure ashe knew letting Irene return to the ship would be a huge mistake. Give herpermission to court being caught by those who���d harm her? It would be theheight of selfishness to let her put herself in danger so they could what���playmusic no one else would ever hear because he couldn���t imagine anyone elsesinging it? So he could look into those deep, dark eyes? So maybe, if theyhadn���t scared her into eternal chastity by going too far when he���d kissed her,he might be able to wrap his arms around her again?

Only to let her go in the end, probably to never see heragain.

���What���s up?��� Rusp sat at the dinette across from him andbrushed crumbs from their breakfast to the floor, where the robotic sweeperwould eventually collect and dispose of them.

Sherv hesitated, then pushed his com over for his clanmateto read.

���Ah, shit.��� Rusp spoke quietly, his gaze darting to thecorridor to make sure Jemi was nowhere in earshot. Their Imdiko would clamorfor the visit if he knew Irene had asked. Rusp rubbed his hand over his eyes,then scratched his bearded chin. ���It���s like dangling a ronka steak in front ofstarving zibgers.���

���No kidding. Of course she shouldn���t come here. It isn���tworth the threat.���

���I don���t see you sending her the message.��� Rusp managed agrim smile. ���Wrong to say yes, impossible to say no?���

���Why does her government have to be so fucked up?��� Shervscowled at his com, fighting the urge to fling it across the room. He couldn���tafford to replace it. ���And why is this so hard? We���ll be out of here in a fewdays and probably never see her again. What���s the point?���

���One-two punch. Music and her. Mostly her. Mother of All,she���s the total package.��� Wistfulness sat strangely on Rusp���s strong-featuredface.

She was more than the total package. She was magic.

 

Releasing June 23

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

 Caught in the act by a rival?

Irene pulled her Odeergin outfit from the laundry bag and hung it in itsusual place on the rack, stowing the headgear in one of the cloak’s roomypockets. She shifted the other clothes so the cloak was mostly hidden behindtheir folds.

She turned from the task. Valentina stood right behind her,her eyes narrowed.

“Sweet prophets! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Irenegrabbed the clothing rack for support, her knees turning to jelly at thesurprise.

“Oh, it’s you. I wondered who was lurking back here.”Valentina’s gaze shifted momentarily to the clothes where Irene had hung thecloak. “Giving up on singing? Tired of coming in second to me, so you’ll becomea laundress?”

“I was helping Mrs. Hoffman. Nice people do that, you know.What are you doing here so early?”

Valentina waved her hand as if shooing off a fly and turnedaway. “Fausto and I wish to change some of the blocking in the third scene ofthe second act. He keeps stepping on my dress. Come out when you finish playingin the clothes; see how professionals work.”

Irene scowled but remained silent as Valentina swayed offtoward the stage. Her heart was still pounding, her gut ice-cold.

Had Valentina seen her hiding the Odeergin disguise? Howlong had she stood behind Irene?

Releasing  June 23.

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

Taking responsibility

So many hands on her. Too many. Three men and one woman.

A bolt of ecstasy shot between her legs, as if transmittedby the fingers massaging her there. She tore loose from Sherv’s kiss to cry outas surges of rapture rolled through her. The vague knowledge of faces hangingover her, watching her succumb to pleasure, did nothing to quiet the violentpulses shaking her from head to toe.

There was no end to it. Both breasts were kneaded, and thedelicious friction of her clit continued, drawing another spasm of incrediblepleasure. Her cries rang out with each sweet paroxysm.

It lasted longer than any joy she’d elicited from her ownattempts. It was also over too quickly. A bit of Irene’s soul wept as theexquisite throbs tapered off.

She returned to her senses. The unlikely scent of sugarycinnamon hung heavy in the air, but she dismissed it almost at once. She staredat the awed expressions of Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi hovering over her.

“Um.” Sherv blinked. “More than kiss. We get excited forIrene and...”

He made an apologetic face, but he and Jemi continued to cupher breasts. Rusp’s fingers had stilled, but they remained on her tinglingclit.

She was aware of a hardness poking her buttock. Sherv waserect. Very erect, from the feel of it. He was excited, all right, and she’dcaused it.

“I…I, uh…”

Sherv interrupted her stuttering by lifting her off his avidlap. Pulling her loose from the others, he sat her on her chair again andfussed with straightening her skirt. After a second, Jemi put her rumpledblouse to rights. Rusp, his eyes lowered, returned to his seat. Irene noted hesucked on his fingers as he did so. She also saw the crotch of his pants weretented. They were tight enough that she realized what she saw couldn’t beaccounted for by a single penis.

He had two?

The question was lost in the confounded morass of herjabbering thoughts. Jemi and Sherv, having made her appear proper once more,retreated to their seats. They watched her, appearing at once scared andperplexed.

Sherv broke the silence. “You are all right, Irene?”

“Uh. Well. I’m…I’m sorry.”

“Why you sorry? We do more than kiss. You ask only forkiss.” He shifted and pulled at his trousers, perhaps to relieve theirtightness against what was definitely two large and eager appendages.

“Yeah, but now you’re…uncomfortable. If I hadn’t dared youto kiss me, you wouldn’t be.” She found it difficult to avoid looking at theircrotches. The tight pants weren’t leaving much to the imagination.

Sherv looked at his obvious excitement. “Oh. Well, youbeautiful. Especially when you climax. Can’t help liking it.”

Heat filled her face. She’d done exactly what the Churchaccused women of. She’d tempted these men into lust.

“It is no problem,” Sherv said, his attention on her again.“It is just good feeling. What is the saying? No big deal.”

“But I…I made you…”

“Feel good. That is all you made, and it is not your problem.Now we apology. You only want kiss, not climax.”

“I am sorry, Irene.” Jemi smiled hopefully. “You not get madplease?”

“I am sorry too,” Rusp added. “Earther women different, butI treat you like other women who show need and expect pleasure. Forgive me?”

Irene gaped. They were taking responsibility for this? Theythought they were in the wrong?

Releasing Summer 2023

WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

A new experience

Sherv didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached and cuppedher jaw in his calloused palm as he leaned forward. Obeying his gentle tug,Irene tilted toward him, watching as his purple eyes filled her vision. Beforetheir lips touched, she closed her eyes against the nearness that becameoverwhelming.

His lips brushed hers. Her insides felt as if they melted atthe tender contact. After the solidity of Jemi’s body, she’d somehow expectedSherv’s lips to be hard. They were soft as they moved over hers, however. Softand warm and lovely. The melting within grew, liquifying her within.

Having only known the quick pecks on her cheeks of herparents, Fausto, and Mrs. Hoffman, Irene was surprised at how long the kisslasted. This was no perfunctory buss, but a slow, careful exploration, Sherv’slips investigating hers with languorous care. As the seconds passed, she lostherself in the intimate contact.

Then, raspy wetness. He licked her lips, then sucked thelower. A jolt of excitement flashed through her, and she gasped in surprise.

When her lips parted, his tongue slid into her mouth. At thesame instant, he lifted her from her seat and settled her on his lap. Ithappened so fast, Irene had no opportunity to react. All at once, she was inSherv’s arms, pressed against him, his tongue stroking hers.

Confusion kept her from struggling. An avalanche ofsensations barreled through her, holding her helpless as the Dramok tasted andexplored her in a manner she’d never imagined. She was aware her tongue parriedhis, some involuntary instinct guiding it to investigate its rougher twin, tolearn his masculine flavor. Her fingers, shed of the gloves, roamed of theirown accord, discovering the swells of muscle beneath his soft shirt.

Shock gave way to a roar of clamoring within. An eager,ticklish sensation bloomed in her lower belly. In her sex, which was abruptlywet. The vague sensations that had prodded her to touch herself in her teensand led her along the path to thrilling discovery were nothing compared to thisdevouring, demanding ache.

She had no defense against such yearning. She obeyed itsdemand she yield to the man waking her as she’d never been awakened before. Shesoftened in Sherv’s grip, surrendering to his increasingly intent kiss.

Releasing Summer 2023