Tracy St. John's Blog, page 185

Shalia's Diary Thursday Post

A talk with Dr. Dad.  http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/

Countdown to Clan and Conviction - Two Days

            Lay still.  He couldn’t break free of those two little words.            “Gelan!” he bellowed in desperation.            Laughter met the cry.  “Oh, I do love hearing you scream my name.”            Wynhod snarled at the grinning face.  “I do not scream.  I yell.”            Gelan snickered.  “Sure you do.  Whatever soothes your mighty Nobek heart, my friend.”            Wynhod started to growl, pouring as much ferocity as he could in the sound.  He choked on his attempt at aggression when Gelan seized his other nipple in his mouth.            The bastard continued to laugh at him as he licked and nipped the taut bit of flesh.  Wynhod tried to halt his strangled cries and couldn’t.  It felt too damned good.  He would kill Gelan as soon as he got free again.  But first he would fuck the Dramok until he screamed.            For now, however, Wynhod was trapped.  To make things worse, Gelan headed down his body, that wicked mouth leaving a hot, wet trail as he licked lower and lower.  He treated the Nobek to little darts of pain by biting, pinching, and scratching, leaving livid red welts along the way.   Wynhod gasped under the twin delights of pain mixing with pleasure.  Damn, Gelan hadn’t forgotten a thing when it came to handling him.  If anything, his former lover had become more accomplished in the years since their last meeting.            Like most Nobeks, Wynhod liked pain.  He liked dealing it out and having it dealt to him.  It made him feel acutely alive.  Mixing it with sex was a heady aphrodisiac.  Gelan’s rough treatment had his cocks throbbing.  Hell, they were more than throbbing; they jerked with each and every sting.  No, Gelan hadn’t forgotten one damned thing.            Wynhod couldn’t wait to show him how he hadn’t forgotten anything either.            The Dramok rose up, leering down at him with a satisfied smirk.  His grin was downright hateful as he said, “I know that look, Nobek.  You’re so cute when you’re plotting revenge.”            Wynhod’s angry yell echoed off the featureless walls.  “I am not cute!”            Gelan yanked on one of Wynhod’s boots, pulling it free.  “Adorable.  Cuddly.  Endearing.”  He tossed the boot over his shoulder and grinned.            Wynhod snarled, showing his fangs.  “You.  Will.  Bleed.”            “Promise?”  Gelan pulled off the Nobek’s other boot.  He hooked his fingers in the waistband of Wynhod’s formsuit and yanked until he lay there naked.

Countdown to Clan and Conviction - 3 Days

            “You always said I was an evil influence.  Yet I see it’s me picking up the dinner check.  I’m spending and you’re saving once again.”            “Absolutely.  Are we done with the polite chitchat yet?”            Gelan sighed, relaxing as he drained his own glass of potent drink.  “Thank the ancestors.  I hate that shit.”            “Good.  My home or yours tonight?”            A surge of pure lust coursed through Gelan’s body, making his cocks warm and twitch.  He managed to keep his tone casual and considering, however.  “Hmm.  Good question.  On the one hand, I have some nice things I don’t want to see broken when we fight for dominance.”            Wynhod nodded, his expression just as offhand though his eyes had gone dark.  “No doubt every room of your home is decorated to a tee.  Seems like we were never able to contain our battles to the sleeping room, if memory serves.”            Gelan gave him a dangerous smile.  “On the other hand, I know where all the weapons are.  I rather like having that advantage.”            Wynhod snorted.  “I hate to see you waste money by us destroying your pretty things.  And I definitely don’t want you killing the mood by making me laugh over your attempts to wield weaponry.  We’d better make it my place.  I still haven’t unpacked everything, so there will be plenty of room for me to kick and then enjoy your ass.”            Gelan let his fangs descend so he could bare them at Wynhod.  “Ha!  Good luck with that, Nobek.”            Wynhod flashed a similar feral display before letting his fangs fold back and giving him a searching look.  “It’s good to be with you again, Gelan.  I am sorry about your last partner, but I can’t deny how much I’m looking forward to working with you.  And fucking you.”            “Not if I fuck you first.”            They grinned at each other as a waiter brought their meals and fresh glasses of bohut.  Gelan enjoyed his meal and conversation that followed, along with the anticipation of what would happen later.              Damn, Wynhod was as perfect as ever.  Gelan wondered if it was too early to be thinking about clanning this delicious Nobek.

Countdown to Clan and Conviction - 4 Days

                         A physician stepped out of Hurs’ room, interrupting Gelan’s train of thought.  Gelan knew the doctor on sight, the ever-efficient Imdiko Nameq.  He straightened and called out to interrupt the man, who was busy tapping on his handheld.            “Doctor?”            Nameq glanced up at Gelan in quick acknowledgment before going back to inputting information.  Gelan waited patiently for him to finish his notes.  Nameq was older and already clanned.  Too bad, Gelan had thought more than once.  Every time he saw that sleek-featured doctor, he got deliciously evil thoughts in his head.  Like how the much slighter Imdiko would be easy to dominate, unlike a Nobek.  That thought had Gelan peeking at Wynhod from the corner of his eye.  Of course, fighting for superior position wasn’t all bad either.  Sometimes even losing could be fun, especially to a man like his former lover.            Finally Nameq switched off his portable computer and gave Gelan his full attention.  As always, he was the epitome of  polite competence, getting to the point without being prodded.  “Hello, Investigator.  Your friend Hurs is quite addicted, to the point that the withdrawal is trying to kill him.  It’s going to take some time to flush the Delir completely out of his system.”            Gelan hid his impatience at the news.  He had expected as much.  “How long until I can question him?”            Nameq shook his head.  “Not before tomorrow, I’m afraid.  Nobek Hurs is not even remotely a part of our world right now.  Call me in twelve hours and we’ll see if he’s coherent.”            Twelve hours.  Gelan allowed a sigh to escape before finding graciousness.  “Thank you.”            The doctor’s gaze flicked to Wynhod, who stood at Gelan’s shoulder.  “Your men will be ready this time, I hope?”  Nameq’s tone held a slight edge.            Gelan assured him, “Without question.”            “Good.  I’ve already had to sedate Hurs’ mother.  Any bigger shocks to her emotions, and she’ll be going to need in-house care.”            “Understood.”  Gelan didn’t pretend the grimness he felt.            Nameq walked away.  Gelan turned to Wynhod, whose expression was curious.  Well, the Dramok could satisfy that curiosity and impress on his partner the need for the highest level of security at the same time.            Gelan said, “The last time we brought a live one in suffering from Delir withdrawal, we had actual hope he’d become lucid enough to interview.  It looked good.  Dr. Nameq thought the addict wouldn’t be forced to live his life out in psychiatric care.  However, someone from the gang slipped in.  He killed the poor bastard before we could question him.”            Wynhod’s eyes widened.  “Was he guarded?”            “The investigator in charge at the time didn’t think there was a need.  The junkie had been placed in stasis for the drug flush.  He wasn’t going anywhere on his own until the withdrawal was over, at which time he’d be taken to headquarters for processing.  Everyone felt confident enough to leave him.”            “No one thought anyone would care about a druggie, I take it.”            “That was the idea.  That’s why I ended up heading the case from that point on.”              The two men said simultaneously, “No mistakes this time.”            A grin took hold of Gelan’s face, echoed by Wynhod’s laugh.  Just like the old days, they were on exactly the same page.  It was like the last seven years had never separated them.

Shalia's Diary Monday Post

The end of the first storyline.  http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/.  Don't worry - the second story starts Thursday.

Sunday’s Serving – Countdown to Clan Beginnings: Clan and Conviction – Five Days

            Surprisingly, one side of Gelan’s mouth lifted in a smile.  “I’ll clear you for investigative research, Krijero.  I’ll work on it a bit myself.  Maybe we can even rope Wynhod into doing a little computer time.”            Wynhod’s look was thunderous.  “I hate that shit.”            Gelan grinned at him, the look full of deviltry.  Wynhod’s eyes narrowed and he cocked his head as if to ask what his clanmate was thinking.            Gelan’s grin spread larger and he turned to Krijero.  “The help will cost you, Imdiko.”            Krijero squirmed.  Oh shit, the bastard was going to dangle the ability to continue researching as bait to re-open the issue of courtship.  Gelan had the psych right where he wanted him, and Krijero knew he wasn’t going to spare him one little bit.  He was in trouble.            He couldn’t help but plead.  “Gelan, don’t.”            “Shut up and listen to my proposal.  It may not be as horrible as you think.”            The Imdiko sagged in his chair.  He was so screwed.  “Fine.  I’ll listen.”            “Wynhod and I have been looking to add an Imdiko to our clan.  Things are usually pretty good when we start out, and then—”              Wynhod interrupted.  “They walk out on us.  The complaint is always we make them feel left out.  That we’re too much alike for them to feel a part of the unit.”            Krijero frowned.  “How are you doing that?”            Gelan sighed.  “That’s the problem.  We’re not sure.”            Wynhod leaned towards Krijero.  “You don’t want to join a clan.  At all.  Ever.”            “No.  Absolutely not.”            Gelan said, “Fine.  I won’t push you on that count.  However, I would like you to spend your personal time with us.  To act as if you’re being courted for clanship.”            Krijero blinked.  “Why?”            Gelan and Wynhod exchanged a look.  Then they turned to him again.  Gelan said, “We want to know exactly what it is that keeps us from finding an Imdiko who will stay with us.  We court you, and you tell us how we’re fucking it up.”  His gaze bore into Krijero’s.  “Tonight, you’ll leave work in our company.”  It was an order, not a request.            Wynhod added, “We’ll have dinner.  Talk.  Get to know each other like any three breeds exploring compatibility.”            Krijero stiffened.  He did not want them getting to know him.  He did not want to expose himself like that, not to anyone.  Most certainly not to these two.              It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse them outright when Gelan said, “You play along, and you can have investigative research access.  You can keep working on your theories about Frenzy.  And I’ll do some looking into it myself.”            Knowing the answer, Krijero asked anyway, “If I say no?”            Gelan shrugged.  “Then I can’t help you.  I’ve got a full workload without getting stuck chasing Frenzy ghosts.”            Damn him.  Damn them both.  If Krijero agreed to this, they might find out just how clumsy and stupid he was.  More importantly, he did not want to get emotionally invested in men who would leave him behind.  Especially not a Dramok.            But if he didn’t go along with Gelan’s ridiculous blackmail, his work on Frenzy would end.  The epidemic would grab hold of their territory and spiral out of control until someone got desperate enough to listen to his theories and give them a chance.  It could be ages before that happened.              Delir and Frenzy had been Krijero’s obsession for years.  He simply couldn’t stand to let them go.
Releasing in five days.

Countdown to Clan and Conviction – 6 Days

What better way to celebrate getting another year older (hey, it beats the alternative) than to celebrate a new book?  We are closing in on the release of Clan Beginnings:  Clan and Conviction, the story of Gelan, Wynhod, and Krijero.
Thanks as always to Erin Dameron-Hill.  Her covers never disappoint, and I think this is one of the best she’s done for me.  She captured the three men exceptionally well. 
Big thanks to my newest proofreader/editor Kat.  Any screw-ups in the story are completely mine, as she went over the manuscript with a fine-toothed comb.  She has made sure there is little opportunity for you all to get jerked out of our favorite universe because I flubbed up. 
Believe it or not, I’m going to thank Krijero for being such a pain in the ass of a character.  I really don’t think you can have a satisfying story without conflicted characters, and he brought it to an extreme level.  Even I didn’t know how much trouble he would get into, and he went in as far as possible.  These guys really do take on a life of their own...I just report it back to the rest of you.
And yes, the various distributors have been known to release the book earlier than expected.  If you want to start searching early, I will submit the book to Barnes and Noble on Monday, Amazon on Tuesday, and Smashwords on Thursday to guarantee they’ll be out by the official release day of Friday.
Get ready for the hot man-on-man-on-man action and a cop thriller to boot.  The boys are on their way!

Weekend Wake-up Call – Alien Interludes, Hunted

Tied down.  Amelia’s anxiety tickled despite the intoxication.  He’d never mentioned this as part of his hunting fantasy.  “Surely my big, bad Nobek can overcome a little Earther girl’s defenses?”
“Easily.  But I want you completely helpless.  Mine to play with as I like.  Wrists, Amelia.”  His blue-purple gaze bore into her.  “Now.”
Even as she thought of resistance, her arms automatically obeyed his command, lying crossed in his open palm.  In less than a breath he had her wrists bound together, and he sprang from her body to lash the other end of the cord to a nearby tree.  A moment later he was back, tying cords to each of her ankles.
“Breft?”  Her voice was high pitched, but she couldn’t help it.  She trusted him, but she knew better than to take him lightly too.
“Just a moment.  I’ve almost got you prepared for the kill.”
He ignored her whimper and tied the cords to two nearby trees, opening her legs wide.  Breft looked down at her splayed body, the bulge of his crotch straining his formsuit to its stretchy limits.  “Lovely, my little one.  I’m ready to claim my prize now.”
He stripped his boots and black formsuit from his dark, muscular body.  Amelia groaned to see the beautiful alien nude.  His two penises, glistening from the lubricant they exuded, jutted at right angles from his groin.  She went wet herself and eagerly awaited him to fill her.
Breft knelt between her wide open legs, his eyes sweeping over her vulnerable body.  A growl, purely bestial, erupted from his chest.  Amelia’s heart flip-flopped, and she pulled at her bonds.  There was no give.  She was truly helpless.  If Breft lost control…
He crouched over her, bringing his face close to hers.  His breath wafted across her face, coming in low growls.  She had to close her eyes against the intensity of his stare.
His mouth crushed down on hers, his tongue invading her mouth.  The kiss was brutal, uncompromising in its demands as he plundered the warm interior.  The sandpapery texture of his tongue scraped the roof of her mouth and twined about its twin.  She moaned to be so thoroughly tasted and possessed.  Her body ignited at the sweet violation.
He released her lips and kissed his way down her chin and throat, his soft mustache and goatee tickling her on the way down.  She squirmed in reaction, especially when his mouth landed on the hollow of her throat.  She giggled helplessly then squealed when his teeth scraped her skin.  “Stop!”
He growled in response and continued downward.  When his hand and mouth closed over her breasts, Amelia arched with a cry.  Sensation was a bright electrical blast traveling from her mounds to her sex.
Breft mauled her, sucking one orb as far into his mouth as he could, clutching hard enough to bring pain to the other.  Amelia writhed as much as her tight bonds would allow, at once tortured and delighted by his rough attention.  Her moans carried in the forest, punctuated by an occasional snarl from Breft.
He pinched one engorged nipple and gently bit the other.  Amelia shrieked as a bolts traveled to her wet pussy.  Breft sat up to slap the jiggling mounds from side to side, turning her pale skin pink.  His big hands spanked her breasts, occasionally stopping to tweak the reddened peaks.  Amelia sobbed with agonized desire as he demonstrated his mastery over her again and again.
At last he tired of the luscious torture.  With a lingering kiss on each throbbing breast, his mouth moved down her torso, tasting her skin as he closed in on her aching mound.  Breft paused to tease her navel with the tip of his tongue.  His fingertips drew light circles on her spread inner thighs, coming closer and closer to her hungry sex.  Amelia shuddered to feel his touch so near.  She thrust her hips as much as her tight bonds allowed.
Breft sat back to inspect her wet, open slit.  His fingers moved to stroke the auburn swirls of her pubic hair, as if petting a cat.  God help her, he was so close to her aching parts.  If only he’d touch her.  She made a keening sound of need.
His eyes flicked to her face, and his grin was savage.  “So pretty, my little Matara.  Such soft, pink flesh you have, all for me to play with.  Whatever shall I do first with this lovely prize?”

Available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords 

Shalia's Diary Thursday Post

Finding Eve.  http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/

WIP Wednesday – To Protect and Service: Ravenous Virtue

Once Raven comes to terms with being in an alternate universe and her place in it, she’s given the reason why Daagiis brought her there:
A sense of helplessness overcame Raven.  She’d been kidnapped and brought to another dimension, far from her friends.  No humans to look to for help either.  Made a man’s slave, a man who apparently had no compunction when it came to dealing out pain.  She was still angry, but a lance of emotional pain twisted her insides too.
She swallowed down the grief before it could announce itself in embarrassing tears.  However, she couldn’t hide the tremble in her voice as she asked, “Why, Doug -- Daagiis?  What did I do to deserve being snatched from my home and friends?  Why did you bring me here?”
“First of all, to save you,” he said.  He blew out an unhappy breath.  “And I need you.  Vendeen needs you.  You are strong.  Dedicated to doing what’s right.  Determined to see justice done.”
“You don’t have cops in this dimension?”  She snorted.  “What kind of fucked up world have you brought me to?”
“Raven, Wills is from this dimension.”
She started.  “Wills?”
Daagiis nodded.  “His real name is Taambaa, and he’s one of the Paatiin.  One of my people.”
Raven stared at him, trying to ignore the excitement coursing through her veins.  “Did he come back here?  To this dimension?”
“With all the women he abducted.  He’s taking them to a very bad man who will sell them into slavery.  Real slavery with no chance for escape except death.  We probably won’t be able to rescue them, but we can stop him from taking more.”
Raven’s brows screwed down tight.  “You’re telling me if I accept being Vendeen’s servant, I’ll have the chance to get Wills?”
Daagiis’ grin was a vicious thing.  “Get him and have him brought to justice.  Real justice.  We don’t do ‘technicalities’ here, Raven.  The accused stand trial.  When found guilty, the convicted pay.”
She considered.  She wanted Wills.  She wantedthat bastard.  All those women, abducted from their families and children ... they deserved justice.  
Still, Raven felt Daagiis wasn’t telling her everything.  “What else do I need to know?”
He grinned, sensing she was at least considering the offer.  “We’ll get there.  Don’t worry, when the time comes you’ll be ready.”
“For what, exactly?”
His grin threatened to eat up his entire face.  “Everything.”
Raven thought there was more threat than comfort in that answer.
Releasing in Autumn 2013