Jaxx Steele's Blog

Welcome to the Hot Halloween Hero Hop!

Jaxx Steele here offering big hugs to warm you on the upcoming warm days and cool nights. This is my favorite time of year. Though I am not a fan of horror, gore or brutal dismemberment that is usually associated with October, I do love Halloween- mostly because it gives me reason to dress up. I am a visual writer. The stories unfold in my head and I write what I see. If some horrific scene was stuck in there I would never get to sleep!
Anyway, knowing that I still wanted to stretch my "writing wings". So I decided to take the step into horror...well soft horror. Today I have Healing the Beast Within. Lots of voo-doo-esk rituals, curses, strange transformations, all that. Keith Turner is my Hot Halloween Hero!



Cursed for a crime he did not commit, Keith Turner had given up on love. Even after making that decision, he still spent every night being tortured. His brother Kevin was confident that they could find a way to break the curse, but it wasn’t until Keith met Marcello that he ever took Kevin’s ideas to heart.


Excerpt:
It was just before his lunch hour when Keith finished with his last client of the morning. Instead of waiting in his office, as usual, he went in search of his brother. Kevin’s office was on the other end of the building. As he walked the long corridor, his leisurely gait slowed to a stop. Something out of the ordinary was on the air. He inhaled deeply then turned slowly to look up and down the hall. His brow crinkled in confusion.
Fire? Smoke? Burnt popcorn? No...something else.
He took another breath. Woodsy and spicy scents filled his nostrils. His cock responded to the smell readily. A chill snaked down his back, making his nipples hard and goose bumps rise on his skin.
What is that?
He shook off his anxiety and moved on. The scent grew stronger as he walked along the hallway, the effects causing havoc on his senses. He popped his head into Kevin’s office.
“Kev?”
Keith closed the door and continued to look for his brother. He stopped just outside of exam room one. The unknown aroma was now overwhelming, as it wrapped around him. A sudden burst of heat surged through his body. His cock throbbed mercilessly and pressed against the inside of his pants. The sound of his breathing filled his ears. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and rolled down his temple. He griped the door frame to steady himself. His lab coat grew tight on his back and his tie felt constricting. He yanked at the knot gasping for air.
What the hell is going on?
The smell came from inside the room. He was positive of it. His brother was in the room, Keith sensed him, but Kevin was not alone. The scent did not come from Kevin. It had to be from whoever was with him. It was an intoxicating fragrance, something Keith had never experienced before. His perception was on high alert. The smell was so strong that he could almost taste this person. He was salivating at the thought of savoring him.
Him?
It was a man! Never before could he perceive the scent of another person without being in his other form. His awareness had not been so precise during the day.
Why could he smell this man now?
The question floated through his consciousness leaving him stunned and more confused, but no answer followed it.
Oh my God! What if I’m changing now? During the day!
Suddenly, he was very aware that anyone could walk down the hall and see. Fear and adrenaline added to the lust that already surged through his blood. It took a huge effort on his part to calm his breathing and will his coursing blood to slow. Success left him wet with perspiration and gripping the doorframe so hard that it splintered beneath his fingers. Once he regained his composure, Keith fixed his clothes and straightened his tie before finally knocking on the door. There was a slight pause before a reply came.
“Yeah! Come in.”
Keith was calmed somewhat by his brother’s voice, but when he opened the door he was struck with wave of consciousness from the unknown man. It was as if he had stepped into a sauna. Keith’s nostrils flared as the scent that drew him down the hall assailed his nose once again. Kevin had his back to him as he kneeled before his patient. Keith’s breathing accelerated immediately as he looked at the patient’s face.
He was an older man with more black than grey in his short cropped hair. Although pain filled the man’s intense brown eyes, Keith could see sparks of intelligence. His strong jaw line was covered in a five o’clock shadow that made him look ruggedly handsome. His skin was dark from the sun. A heavy tan lined his biceps, another rounded his shoulders and one more was at the top of his shoulders. All were visible in the tank top that he wore. The sweat on his chest caused the flimsy shirt to cling to his stocky torso invitingly. The muscles beneath were defined and full from obvious manual labor. The patient gripped the edge of the exam table, his muscles taunt. The man made low grunting sounds as Kevin moved one of his legs up and down. Keith stared transfixed on the hand identical to his own as it massaged the knee, then push the patient’s jean shorts up further.
Keith easily imagined the hand was his. The thought made his nostrils flare again. His eyes closed as he let the scent saturate his entire body. A visual of flipping and bending the man over the table formed in his mind.
“Hey, bro, I’m almost done here. Have you met Mr. Torres?”
Keith’s eyes popped open and the vision vanished. The sound of his brother’s voice broke the trance he was in.
 Healing the Beast Within is available now at Phaze!

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Welcome Wicked Warriors Hoppers!

 

Greetings Everyone! Welcome to the Wicked Warriors Hop! I am happy to participate and introduce you to one of my wicked warriors. My warriors are not “wicked” as in bad, instead they are wickedly good. J Today I would like to introduce you to Mark DeLonco from Marked for Life . He is a wolf shifter from a strong and proud clan. Extremely handsome, fiercely loyal and unwavering patience would best describe him. When he set his site on Victor nothing would stop him from claiming him as his mate…not even time. When he finally has Victor to himself their time together is nothing short of ‘wickedly good’. I will give you a short peek of their meeting.  

Victor Bradley was raised by a tree sprite after the death of his parents. When he became an adult he moved to the city, but the pull of the forest never left his heart. He took a leave of absence to take care of the only mother he ever knew, but was it his concern for her that brought him back to the forest or was it fate?
Excerpt: "So who are you? Why do you seem so familiar to me? Have we met?" The stranger smiled and relaxed back as well. "Yes, we have met, but it was many years ago." He looked around the room. "Where is the sprite?" Eyes widening, Victor sat up with a gasp. "How do you know about Yaya?" "The sprite and I have met on several occasions. I am Mark DeLonco. Has she told you about me?" he asked, extending his hand. Victor took his hand and opened his mouth to speak, but gasped instead. The moment their hands touched, images formed in Victor's mind. He closed his eyes, trying to get a lock on something to bring understanding to what he was seeing. They were mostly incoherent pictures, flashes of wolves and men he didn't recognize. He became dizzy from trying to decipher the knowledge. Suddenly the imagery started to slow and some things started to make sense. Victor's heart sped up as things fell into place. As a child he'd dreamt of a black wolf all the time and thought nothing of it, but now… Mark is the man and the black wolf, he thought with a gasp. The knowledge didn't frighten him, but intrigued and comforted him somehow. Now he remembered a wolf watching him play in the back of his house from the opening of the trees when he was a small boy. Could that have been him? He cleared his head with a shake and opened his eyes. "Do you know why the other wolf attacked me today?" "He sought to destroy you because he smelled my mark on you." In his mind's eye, Victor saw the two wolves fighting. Yaya saved the dark wolf. That's when she took me in. Victor let go of Mark's hand and reached up to touch the scar on his left shoulder. He knew now how he got it. "I thought I got this when I was young from falling or something," he murmured. Mark shook his head negatively. "I gave you the mark when you were an infant so that when we met again you would know me. With it, no other male could claim you." Victor nodded. Although he was not a virgin, he'd never had a real relationship with anyone. He'd had many partners, but only to experiment with sex and sexual positions. Victor realized at an early age that he was interested in men and not women, but neither managed to satisfy him completely. Over the years he became more selective about whom he took to his bed. His lovers came few and far between and they didn't stay long. He always found something wrong with them and eventually broke everything off. "Why are you here, Mark?" he asked, giving the man a sideways glance. "You know why I am here, Victor," Mark answered with a sly grin. Victor thought for a moment and Mark was right. He didknow. Mark was there to claim him. What the hell did that mean? How did a wolf-shifter claim a man? As a wolf, or as a man? Would it be painful? Would he die? Would he like it? Would he turn into a wolf, too? He had a life in the city; not a great life, but it was the only one he knew. Did Mark want him to give all that up? The questions slammed into his brain one after the other. Fear started to well up inside him. Victor blew out a breath. His chest heaving, he rested his arms on his knees and lowered his head, taking deep breaths to calm his rapidly beating heart. "Victor…" Mark's smooth voice soothed him. He turned his head to Mark. "There is no need to fear me. I could never hurt you. I have known who you were since the day I laid eyes on you." He let out a soft chuckle of surprise. "I must say, gazing upon you as an infant gave me no idea you would grow to be such a handsome man." Mark moved closer. "Your dark skin is intoxicatingly beautiful. I especially love the way your almond-shaped eyes glisten when you speak. Your body is strong and firm and very appealing. It is a relief to know that." "A relief? I don't understand." "It is a relief to know my embrace will not harm you," Mark explained. "The sprite fed you from her body. Her enchanted milk made you stronger than what you would have been." Mark stared at him for a moment and then continued. "I have loved you from the moment I tasted your blood, but I had no idea your physical appearance would be so pleasing to me." Victor was speechless at Mark's description of him. He sat very still, staring at him as he continued to speak, his tone changing from adoration to desperation. "Being this close to you and not being able to have you is driving me to the edge of insanity, but if it takes me a lifetime to ease your fears so you can come to me on your own, I will wait. I have waited twenty-five years to be here with you; I can wait a little longer." Mark's confession struck a chord in him. "Are you saying you haven't been with anyone else?" "There is no one else for me." Shocked, Victor sat up and shook his head. "Wait, you mean you haven't had sex with anyone in twenty-five years? You've been waiting for me to grow up?" ********
Marked for Life is available now at Silver Publishing! I will be giving away a copy of Marked for Life. Leave your comments below if you are interested in reading Mark and Victors journey. 
To continue on the hop just click the banner!
 

Welcome to the Slippery When Wet Hop!

Hello M/M lovers!Welcome to the Slippery When Wet Hop! This hop will be lots of fun for those who enjoy hops. We have many excellent M/M authors showing off their books. Each one will do their own giveaways but their will also be a grand prize giveaway to the person who visits the most authors. A $50 GC! If you want it to be yours be sure to leave a comment with your email addy on each page you visit. In honor of Halloween and this hop, I will be giving away a copy of Ghost of a Second Chance! Good Luck!
I do lots of hops during the beginning and the end of the year and the biggest issue I always have is what to write. This time, however, with a title called Slippery When Wet a wanted to do something that had to do with water! A Day on Plunderer’s Pride fit the bill.
I love pirates! They are usually sea roughened men hardened by the choices they have made in life.Most pirates are not educated men thus their code of conduct is simple. If they want your shit they’re going to take unless you’re man enough to stop them. It is crude and hardly accepted among common society so they stay on the seas where other men like themselves are.
Captain Hazard is the leader of several men of this nature. He is also a man like that, but he possessed people skills as well having dealt with his government from time to time. Pirates were issued a Letter of Marque and told to ambush ships and bring back the goods. They were given a small percentage for services rendered, but then were hunted and executed without trial for doing what they were told.
On Plunderer’s Pride you will find men like this, but I wanted to show another side of them. As we know no matter how tough your man is, you are privy to a different side of him. Let me introduce you to Captain Julian Hazard and his quartermaster, Nigel.


 "A pirate’s life is for me!"Life is hard, but worthwhile on the pirate ship Plunderer's Pride. Follow Captain Julian Hazard and his band of ruffians as they go about their daily business. As you endure their daily struggles and nightly rewards you may find that a pirate's life may be for you, too.Excerpt:
Captain Hazard walked along the empty deck toward the gang plank. All off-duty crew members were in town, adding to the usual chaos of Port Royal. Nigel hardly ever left the ship when they were docked, preferring to stay by his captain’s side in all things. Julian liked it that way as well. Nigel was not only his quartermaster, but his favorite as well.
“The men are on standby, Nigel?” he inquired as they walked along the pier.
Julian knew the answer even as he asked the question. Nigel was an exceptional quartermaster. He knew what Julian expected from him and his crew and he had not been disappointed since Nigel officially took the position.
“Aye, sir, waiting for my call.”
“Good man.”
The governor’s house was not far from the shoreline but away from the denser streets filled with taverns, homes, and the noise that filled the heart of small coastal city. In a short while they were on the stone pathway that led them directly to the door of his stately two-story home.
“Good day, Captain Hazard. You are expected,” a servant told him. “Please follow me.”
The governor was an Englishman with all the comforts his position afforded. The house was large and immaculately decorated. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, plush crimson carpet covered the floors, while the walls showed the succession of the men in his family in large golden frames.
“The governor will be with you shortly.”
The oversized room they were left in was scarcely furnished: a few cushioned chairs and small tables to separate them and a circular staircase leading to the upper level. The ceilings and walls were as bejeweled as the rest of the rooms they passed. Captain Hazard looked around the room, frowning before he turned his gaze to his companion. Nigel stood unmoving, staring straight ahead. His sturdy legs were spread as he stood erect with his chest out and hands clasped behind his back. A light sheen of perspiration glistened faintly on his bald head in the light of the room. His wide chest rose and fell steadily under the tattered tan shirt he wore.
Julian glanced at Nigel several times as he paced the floors, admiring his quiet patience. Luckily, before Julian’s intolerance for waiting wore too thin, he heard the clump of heeled shoes on the steps. He turned to the sound. Sir William Pendleton smoothed the ruffles on his pristine white blouse as he descended the staircase slowly. Two large silver buttons on his abdomen closed the black satin overcoat that swayed along the back of his calves. He exaggerated each step, overextending his legs, causing his foot to hit the stair heavily.
“Greetings, Captain Hazard. So good of you to stop by.” His voice was light and jovial.
“I am here at your request, Governor,” he stated just as cheerfully, walking over to meet him.
“Quite so. Well, in that case, I thank you for answering my summons,” the governor amended, offering the captain a limp wrist handshake. “I am a blunt man, Captain. I will come right to the point of this meeting. You have a reputation of attacking other ships, taking whatever riches they have on board, the crew as well. Is there truth to this accusation?”
Captain Hazard wrapped his arms around his chest and raised a brow. “Aye. I take what I want and trade what I don’t need.” Irritation tinged his voice as he confirmed the allegation without faltering.
The governor raised his hands in surrender. “That is not a criticism, my good man, by no means. I ask because I am in need of such skills.” Governor Pendleton produced another scroll from a nearby desk draw. “This is a Letter of Marque. I would like you to stop a trade ship on its way back from the Americas. It is a Spanish galleon that makes birth out of Santa Domingo. It is said that they carry gold, silver, spices, silks, ivory, and the like. Whatever the cargo is I want it.”
Captain Hazard looked over the letter and nodded. “What is my cut?”
“Bring me half of the goods, and the other half is yours. That seems fair, does it not?”
Hazard thought on his offer. “What of the galleon’s crew?” he asked with a raised brow.
Sir Pendleton waved away his question. “Do what you will with them. Lay waste to whole lot for all I care. They are of no concern to me, only the treasure matters. Do we have an agreement?” he asked impatiently.
Captain Hazard looked over his shoulder at his companion. They had been sailing together for many years. He could read the man very well. Julian looked for signs of caution in Nigel’s handsome but blank expression, but saw none. Satisfied, he re-rolled the scroll and handed it over to Nigel before turning back to the governor.
“Aye, Governor, we have an accord.”
“Excellent! My spies tell me that the ship was due to leave the Americas just this morning in route to Santa Domingo loaded to the brim with my riches. If you leave with the rising sun you should be able to intercept them as they move past Cuba toward Haiti. I do not wish them to return to Hispaniola with riches I have already determined to be mine, Captain Hazard. Do not disappointment me,” Governor Pendleton added pointedly with an air of arrogance before turning on his heels to return to the stairs, abruptly ending their meeting.
The captain and his mate left the room quickly. “Gather the men and meet me on the ship, Nigel. We leave before dawn.”
“Aye, sir,” he said, lagging behind him, already in motion to do his bidding.


Plunderer’s Pride is available now at  Muse it Hot
Find Jaxx at:  Website    Blog    Facebook   Twitter
Follow the rest of the hop HERE

 
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The winner is...

Thanks so much for coming by my first hop of the season. I hope you enjoyed the excerpts I posted. Posters along the side of my blog show the other hops I will participate later this year. I hope you will return for them. Now, without further ado the winner of Summer Concert Series is…

Carolyn!*tosses confetti*
I will email you with a PDF copy of the book today. My thanks to you and everyone who made comments.
Jaxx Steelewww.jaxxsteele.com

End of hop gift!

Hi Everyone!Thanks so much in participating in this year’s Hot in Fall Hop. I hope you enjoyed stopping by everyone’s blogs and reading all the interesting stories, excerpts and learning about the authors. On this last day of the Hot in Fall Hop, I wanted to share one of my favorite hot toddys. 
If you have read a few of my books you will notice that a lot of my characters are chefs and teachers. It would seem that I am partial to smart men who can cook. :)
This drink is usually my Friday night relax after work drink during the fall and winter. I try to incorporate it in my stories when I can and now I’d like to share it with you.
The winner of Summer Concert Series will be posted tomorrow morning. Come back and see if it is you!


Ingredients:Lemon tea (I use lemon tea instead of a slice of lemon so you don’t get the bite that the lemon rind leaves behind in your drink). 
Honey
Cinnamon (I use ground so the stick doesn't poke me in the face when I'm drinking)
2 shots (works for me) of your favorite brandy (I like Hennessy).
Make your tea. Fill a tall glass ¾ full. Mix in the honey, the brandy and the cinnamon. The euphoric smell, warm sensation and lulling feel the heated alcohol creates eases the mind and warms you from the inside out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Jaxx has left the building.www.jaxxsteele.com www.facebook.com/jaxxsteele

Day 6 is here!

Hi everyone! I’m baaack! This time I wanted to show you my twisted zombie story. For the traditionalists this may seem very- let me see if I can remember the quotes I got in a few reviews. Oh yes.- ridiculous, childish and unrealistic. Apparently they didn’t think zombies could exist in a funny kind of romance. 
In my defense when you write fiction I thought all those things were up for grabs. In the world I create I can do what I want. I know that some things are basically “written in stone” like vampires drink blood and have some kind of sensitivity to light, Greek gods live on Olympus and that sort of thing. To change that stuff could hinder your reader’s ability to get into your story.
Anyway, my zombies are zombie-like. Their flesh falls apart, the move steady but slow and they eat flesh to change others into zombies. The story around it is a romance. Two guys in a long term commitment taking a road trip to move across country to make a better life for themselves. It’s a light horror mixed with funny situations and hope. If you like that than I Love You to Death is for you.


To start their lives anew, Mike and Bill are leaving the chill winters of Chicago behind for the warm breezes of San Fernando Valley. On their cross country road trip they experience different foods, cozy country towns and…zombies??
Excerpt:Mike grunted and turned off the main highway following the dirt road that led into the small town. Bill’s mouth dropped open at its appearance. A quick shift of his eyes showed him that Mike’s expression mimicked his own. Having grown up in a major city like Chicago neither of them had ever seen a ‘small town’. It was like something straight off of television. Mike drove pass Scooter’s general store, Bob Cat’s hardware and Mick’s gas station all on the same block. They stopped at a four way stop and continued down the street to pull up in front of Ellie May’s Diner. The buildings were weather beaten and dull looking against the dusty sidewalks they rested on.“Are you having a Mayberry moment, too, or is it just me?” Bill asked Mike with a laughing grin.“Man! I’m half expecting the inside of the building to be in black and white.”Mike roared with laughter as he left the vehicle. Bill followed and they went inside. The inside looked just as Bill suspected it would. A long marble-like counter with red top stools expanded to the left and right before them as they entered. Two men who appeared nothing alike in coloring or facial features, yet they both looked like they could easily go by the name Bubba, sat at the breakfast bar eating. To their left and right were booth tables, but only the left side had occupants.Bill figured the bells on the door were there to alert the only waitress he saw to new customers into the establishment, but it also brought the ‘Bubbas’ and everyone else’s eyes in the diner to them as well. So many heavy gazes on him at once, no matter how vacant, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Bill turned to Mike, but before he could say anything he headed toward a seat for them. Bill picked up pace behind him and slid into the booth across from him.“Okay so how far off course are we?” Mike asked.“Well, we crossed the Utah state line a few hours ago so…” Bill paused to spread the map across the table. “We were here. I remember passing this town,” he started trailing his finger over a windy red line, “Then we—““Then we veered off track to take a picture and got lost,” Mike chimed in.Bill narrowed his eyes and twisted his lips, but Mike’s cheesy grin defused his anger.“Anyway, as I was saying…” Bill looked back at the map, but his assuredness faded as he scanned the paper. “Huh, I don’t know where we are, but we need to find the way back to I-15 so we can hit Vegas before going into Cali.”“You are right here, honey,” a voice declared as a pale finger with a bright red nail came down on the map.Bill and Mike’s head turned at the same time looking up. A woman with dark brown hair twisted into a tight bun at the base of her neck, large flushed cheeks and bright crimson lips to match her finger tips stared down at them.“You are in beautiful Blakely, Utah, population one hundred thirty-seven counting Becky’s new baby and home of our famous green bean and mountain oyster pie.”“Becky had twins, Mabel,” one of the Bubba’s corrected aloud.“Thirty-eight,” Mabel amended with a quick smile.Bill looked across to Mike. He didn’t see the disgust he felt on Mike’s face, but his features were screwed up in apparent confusion. Bill turned his attention back to Mabel.“Green bean and moun—“ Bill started.“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, hun,” she quipped cutting him off. “What can I get you all to drink?” she asked pulling a small pad from the front pocket of her red and white checker board apron.“I’ll just take which ever cola you have,” Mike told her.“Uh-huh and you,” Mabel said pointing at Bill.“Do you have organic products?”The woman’s bushy eye brow rose as she looked down on him. Mike turned away to smother a laugh. Bill swallowed hard and licked his lips.“I’ll just have water,” he modified.Mabel nodded and wrote on her pad. “Be right up. I’m Mabel in case you didn’t hear. The menus are by the window,” she told him indicating the direction with her pen before walking away.“I was afraid to ask if they had bottled water. She might have stabbed me with her pen or something,” Bill said trying to fold the map back into a carrying position.
Available now at Secret Cravings Publishingand all online distributors 
Jaxxwww.jaxxsteele.com 

Hop into day 5!

Jaxx Steele back atcha to show you my ghost story. With Halloween coming I thought it appropriate. In Ghost of a Second Chance there are rituals, superstitions, family secrets, disbelief, sacrifice and ghosts of course.Carter is a young practical and logical man. Believing in ghosts never occurred to him. It was the stuff of fiction, but because he has a good heart he comes out of his closed mind to help a ghost live again. Here is a look at part of the ritual he had to endure.

Carter McDaniel inherited a house in New Orleans from a relative. His plan was to go there, claim the home and the sell it as soon as he could to get back to his life in Indiana. While there he was asked to complete a ritual to help free a ghost that had been trapped for over two hundred years. Carter didn’t believe in ghosts, but the more he learned the more he wanted to help. Could believing in ghosts change his destiny?

Excerpt:
“Carter…Carter, wake up.”The soft masculine voice caressed his ear pulling him from his sleep.“Hmm,” he said sleepily.“Open your eyes, Carter,” the voice insisted.Carter’s lids fluttered then opened. Looking up from his reclined position he saw a man. As his eyes focused, they widened at the sight of him. He drifted along the ceiling looking down at him.“What the hell!”“No, Carter, don’t get up. I will come closer to you.”He descended slowly toward the bed. The closer he got to Carter the clearer his translucent features became. His cat-like eyes were as smoky as the rest of him and held no distinct color. Along with a strong jaw line and full sensual lips that still held their form his handsomeness was evident albeit strange to behold.“How do you know my name?”“I have been with you ever since you left my house.”His brows furrowed. “Your house? What are you talking about? Who are you?”“My name is Jean-Pierre Petit. I’m a ghost. I have come to you to ask for your help so that I may be set free.”Carter laughed “This is a joke, right?”Jean-Pierre’s features did not change.“So you’re saying you’re a real ghost?”The apparition nodded.“Well if that’s the case then we have a problem. I don’t believe in ghosts.”“Never the less I am here and I am a ghost.”Carter rose to his elbow and Jean-Pierre sat on the edge of his bed. “Let’s say for argument’s sake that I’m awake and you are a ghost, why are you here?”“I want your help.”“My help? To do what?”“To be free.”“Yeah, okay. Look Jean-Pierre, I’ve had a long day. I did some sightseeing after I took care of some business and the time change thing has completely worn me out,” he muttered beating his pillow. “So if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to force myself back into REM sleep, okay,” he added and let himself fall back.“What can I do to convince you that I am real? In order to help me you will have to overcome your disbelief.”“Then I’m not your guy, JP. I don’t believe in ghosts,” Carter repeated firmly.“Let’s see if this changes your mind. Though I cannot feel pleasure for myself, I am capable of giving pleasure.”Carter felt the unmistakable pressure of lips touching his. The kiss felt as real as any other he had ever experienced. His eyes popped open but almost immediately he forced them closed. He gasped disappointed when they left moments later. Jean-Pierre’s mouth against his cheek felt just as good. The gentle pecks moved down to his chest. He jumped when Jean-Pierre brushed against his stomach.“You have nothing to fear, Carter. No harm will come to you.”He’s right. You can’t be hurt in your own dream.Though he remained a little apprehensive Carter did relax some. After he had broken up with David right after the Fourth of July barbeque, Carter chose to be off men to focus on work.Did sex in a dream count?
 Available now at Secret Cravings Publishing
Make your comments below!
Jaxx www.jaxxsteele.com

Day 4 is here!

Greetings again Fall hoppers!Today I have another look into a scene that takes place in the autumn. This soft horror is called Indian Blood Moon. Though I'm not a fan of traditional horror I do enjoy vampires, hunters of evil and stuff like that. 
So I did my own with a Jaxx Steele twist upon it. :) In Indian Blood Moon our leading man, Dante finds that covering a routine Halloween party article out of town would indeed change his life.
 

Small town reporter Dante Tyler lives his mundane life wishing for something more. When he was sent to cover a Halloween party for his newspaper he finds that the most horrible encounter of his life turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Excerpt:“Not a bad looking sight, huh?”
Dante looked up, following the voice. A pirate stared down on him. His costume was similar to Dante’s own, but clearly not identical. The man had only one eye visible to him as a black patch covered the other. Dante could tell that this pirate was shorter than he and very slender. His feathery blond hair, cheeks rosy from drinking, and pink bow lips made him handsome in an angelic-looking way.
“Mmm hmm, not bad at all,” Dante agreed.
The pirate smiled at him. “Mind if I join you?”
“No, please, join me,” he said, making room on the chair.
“Great. I was about to get me another drink, can I grab you one, too?”
Dante thought for a moment. He was a little dizzy from the first one, but he could handle one more without being too buzzed to work on his article.
“Yeah, that would be great. I was drinking a Long Island.”
Dante watched the pirate nod and disappear through the small crowd. He returned quickly and handed him the drink.
“Thanks, umm…”
“My name is Jack. Nice to meet you.”
He shook the man’s outstretched hand. “I’m Dante.”
A soft shock traveled through his arm at their connection. He looked at their hands, then to Jack’s uncovered blue eye before he slowly pulled his grasp free.
“I like your costume,” Jack said with a laughing grin, taking the seat beside him. “I guess great minds think alike.”
“Yeah, it would seem so.”
They sipped their drinks and brought their attention back to the dance floor, focusing on the dancing men. Two male couples occupied the floor now. The first couple on the left mesmerized Dante. The way they swayed together suggested that they knew each other intimately. They touched each other openly, kissed and gazed into each other’s eyes. It was very sensual.
Dante sipped from his glass and turned his attention to the other couple, a lead male and a more subservient male. The submissive wore black shorts and nothing else. The shorts rode high on his muscular thighs as he pressed his leg into the groin of his Dom and kissed the length of his master’s chest. Topless as well, the dominant male wore sheer genie-like pants. His face expressed pleasure in the acts of his passive partner.
Dante watched the sub move from one nipple to the other, feeling his own nipples tingle in response. He cut a look at Jack and saw him smiling as he gazed at the couple also. Taking a long drink from his cup, Dante shifted in his seat trying to relieve the pressure in his pants at his growing erection. Bringing his attention back to the couple, he turned just in time to see the aggressive male spin his sub around and bent him forward.
A soft gasp left Dante’s lips as the Dom slid his hands down his sub’s back. To the beat of the music, he ground slowly against the submissive’s ass as he held onto his shoulders. The move demanded Dante’s attention, calling to his baser needs that had been asleep from lack of a lover for over two years. He envied the man being dominated by his lover. Visions of himself being bent over like that with a strong and powerful lover behind him worked its way into his mind.
Many times he had been told that he was a large and intimidating looking man. The men he often attracted expected him to top them for that very reason. Dante was an attentive lover and did what his lovers requested of him, but he found that it was difficult for those same men to do him the way he wanted to be done. Not too many men were large enough or strong enough to take him that way. It led to dysfunction in his sex life and rendered his relationships far and few between. He thought he heard Jack’s voice near his ear trying to cut through his fantasy, but it wasn’t until he felt a touch on his hand that he turned his way.
“Huh? I’m sorry, did you say something, Jack?”
“Yeah, I was asking you if you were here alone.”
Dante nodded. “Yes, I am, but I’m actually here working.”
“Working?”
Dante nodded, sipping from his glass. “Yes, I am a reporter and I’m doing a story on this party.”
The sinister gleam in Jack’s smile came and went before he responded. “Sounds like a fun job. Going to parties and writing about them, I could get paid for doing that. Maybe you should have some extra fun to add a little spice to your article.”
Dante looked away from the dance floor to Jack. His voice was soft and smooth, filled with the lust Dante was feeling at the moment. 
Could he have a little fling with this cute little pirate? He wasn’t really his type, but…
“Maybe I could.”

Welcome to day 3!

Greetings again Fall hoppers!
Today I have another look into a scene that takes place in the autumn. It is one of my “soft horrors”. Since I am so not into horror, reading or writing them, I did write 3 to stretch my writing wings. I will give you a look at them for the rest of this hop since they fit the Halloween season and the “fall into romance” theme as well.
Today we have Healing the Beast Within.  The first born of twin boys, Keith Turner, has reaped the benefits of a century old curse on his family. Punished for a crime he did not commit, if you will.  However, being men of the 21st century they refuse to believe there is no way out. And as we all know there is a way out of every box, and a solution to every puzzle for those who work diligently to find them. That is Kevin’s, the un-cursed twin’s, philosophy. Here is a look at a cool fall night the day he fell for the love of his life. 

Cursed for a crime he did not commit, Keith Turner had given up on love. Even after making that decision, he still spent every night being tortured. His brother Kevin was confident that they could find a way to break the curse, but it wasn’t until Keith met Marcello that he ever took Kevin’s ideas to heart.
Excerpt:   He was an older man with more black than grey in his short cropped hair. Although pain filled the man’s intense brown eyes, Keith could see sparks of intelligence. His strong jaw line was covered in a five o’clock shadow that made him look ruggedly handsome. His skin was dark from the sun. A heavy tan lined his biceps, another rounded his shoulders and one more was at the top of his shoulders. All were visible in the tank top that he wore. The sweat on his chest caused the flimsy shirt to cling to his stocky torso invitingly. The muscles beneath were defined and full from obvious manual labor. The patient gripped the edge of the exam table, his muscles taunt. The man made low grunting sounds as Kevin moved one of his legs up and down. Keith stared transfixed on the hand identical to his own as it massaged the knee, then push the patient’s jean shorts up further. He easily imagined the hand was his. The thought made his nostrils flare again. His eyes closed as he let the scent saturate his entire body. A visual of flipping and bending the man over the table formed in his mind.  “Hey, bro, I’m almost done here. Have you met Mr. Torres?” Keith’s eyes popped open and the vision vanished. The sound of his brother’s voice broke the trance he was in. “No, I haven’t. I’m Dr. Keith.” A slight electric shock shot up his arm when Mr. Torres reached out to grip Keith’s hand in a firm handshake. The sensation left the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Keith stared at their hands for what seemed like an eternity before lifting his eyes to meet the other man’s. Confusion mixed with the fading pain in Mr. Torres’ eyes. The sparkling orbs crinkled in the corners as a touch of wonder replaced the uncertainty there. Keith could tell that whatever he just experienced, Mr. Torres had felt it too. Keith locked his gaze onto what he saw in the smooth chocolate pools. He squeezed the strong hand that held his. Slowly Keith retracted his arm, attempting to pull Mr. Torres off the table, but his brother stood and broke their intense connection. Keith snatched his hand back. “Okay, Marcello. I think that’s enough for today. You’re doing very well.” “Thanks, Doc, but it’s all because of you, you know.” Mr. Torres’s voice was heavily accented as it vibrated through the air. Keith sighed softly as it filtered into his ears and locked itself into his memory. “Nah, physical therapy only works if the patient participates by doing the exercises we give them when they leave the office, too,” Kevin responded modestly.Marcello lowered himself to the floor using the table to gain his balance. His head came to about Keith’s nose and proportionate for his build. He used a small towel from his back pocket to wipe the perspiration from his face and chest. “I knew that your brother shared your practice with you, Doc, but I did not know that you were twins,” Marcello mentioned leaning against the table. “Yeah, it shocks people when they first come to us. We decided to drop the Dr. Turner and just go by our first names. It helps the secretaries and the clients distinguish between the two of us,” Kevin explained writing in his folder. “That makes sense. I guess it would be a little confusing to send someone to see Dr. Turner at Turner Therapy. Then come to find out that you don’t know which doctor you’re supposed to see because they’re at the same place, with the same name and look just alike, too,” Marcello said with a soft chuckle. Marcello reached for the cane that leaned against the table. He looked at Kevin, and then turned a scrutinizing gaze upon Keith before turning back to his doctor. “You may be twins, Dr. Kevin, but I see a few differences in you, too.” Keith’s eyebrow rose. People always had difficulty telling them apart when they were growing up. He and his brother got into a lot of trouble because of that and also had a lot of fun. “Is that right?” Kevin said still writing in his chart. “What differences do you see, Mr. Torres?” Keith asked. He turned to look at Keith again and smiled. “Please, Dr. Keith, call me Marcello.” Keith’s cock jumped in his pants as his name rolled off of Mr. Torres’ full lips. He found he could not put any words together to confirm comprehension of his request so he nodded and Marcello continued. “Well, since I’ve been coming here I noticed a scar over Dr. Kevin’s lip, one on his cheek and another on the top of his left hand. While you, Dr. Keith,” he paused to scan his face again, “seem to be scarless. Of course I didn’t know those were differences until seeing you. But now that I have met you, Dr. Keith, I also notice Dr. Kevin wears glasses and you don’t. Are you wearing contacts or did you opt for that Lasik surgery?” he inquired. Marcello’s astuteness impressed him. Keith’s vision had corrected itself long ago. The scars he had acquired in his youth disappeared along with his bad vision just after his eighteenth birthday. His overall health had greatly improved. He was no longer allergic to pollen, he never got sick again nor did he get another scar. No matter how bad a cut was it healed over perfectly in a short amount of time. No one besides him and his brother knew any of that.“I wear contacts,” Keith finally answered. Marcello used his cane to help turn his body and take a few steps closer to Keith. “Ahh, so was it vanity that prompted that decision or the urge to be different from your brother?” he asked bringing a mischievous grin close to Keith’s face. Keith couldn’t speak. Marcello’s proximity was overwhelming him. The room began to spin, and his knees buckled. “Whoa! Hey Doc, a little help here!” Keith heard Marcello shout as he felt his body guided slowly to the floor. The clash of the man’s cane as it hit the floor and the squeaking wheels on his brother’s chair sounded as if they came from a distance.
Healing the Beast Within is available now at Phaze!
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Greetings fall hoppers!

Hello Hoppers and welcome to day 2!
Since this is a 'fall' hop I decided to show you an excerpt from one of my books that takes place during the fall. Papa knows Best is about two college teachers and how they’re relationship progressed during the school year. Can you get anymore ‘fall-like’ than that? Dominic “Papa” Pappas, a young and skilled photography teacher falls for the well known for being a hateful, but brilliant philosophy professor Bradley Louis. 
This is their first meeting. Be sure to make your comments on their meeting I the comment section to be entered into the contest. :)


Excerpt: Just a few more seconds, almost in position… “Papa, what the hell are you doing? You can’t just take pictures of people without their consent,” came an urgent whisper out of nowhere. Startled by the voice, Dominick jerked the camera away. “Damn it, Ben. You made me lose the shot.” He sat up and started flipping through his latest pictures. “I told you before, man, you can’t do that. This isn’t that small college you used to work at. Everyone knew each other there and didn’t mind when you walked around snapping pictures. They knew eventually it would end up in the paper somewhere and they would have their fifteen minutes of fame.” Pleased with the latest shot on his camera, he greeted his friend. “I’m having a great day, Ben. How are you today?” “Papa, are you listening to me? Seriously, you have to stop snapping pictures of people you don’t know, especially that guy. You don’t want to be messing with him. Do you know who that is?” Ben’s uneasiness brought him away from his camera again. “No, do you?” The waitress reappeared with her pad in her hand. “Hello, Ben, can I get you something?” “Yeah, whatever the special is today will be fine with a large Dr. Pepper. Thanks, Deb.” When she was out of earshot, he answered his friend. “That’s Professor Louis, he teaches psychology. He’s been here forever.” Papa put the camera on the table and sent a glance over to Professor Louis. He was still sipping his tea and reading the paper. “Psychology, huh, what else do you know about him?” Papa asked as Ben reached over to take his Coke. “Well, I hear he’s a very good teacher. He’s brilliant and he really knows his stuff, but he has the reputation of being the grumpiest professor on campus and he isn’t very social, either. He’s never been seen at any faculty functions, big or small,” he said with a chuckle, then took a gulp from the glass. Papa chuckled, too. “Really? What else do you know?” “What,” he said, putting the glass down. “Uh-uh, I know that tone.” “What tone?” “That ‘I want to get to know him, so tell me everything you know’ tone.” “Come on, man, I’m not using a tone. I’m just asking a question.” “Papa, that man is old enough to be your father, shit, your grandfather!” Ben said in an astonished whisper. Papa sat back in his chair. “Geez, Ben, I just wondered what else you knew about the man. It’s not like I asked if you knew if he was gay or not, or if he had a lover or even where he lived.” Papa sent another quick look over to the professor and then leaned back on the table and added, “Unless you know any of that stuff and want to tell me.” Stunned anew, Ben looked at him wide-eyed and then laughed. “Uh-uh, no way.” “Come on, Ben, I just want to meet him.” “No, I’m not getting into that. Do you know how much trouble you could get into? It’s not good practice for teachers to be fooling around with one another. Well, unless you were married or already fooling around before you got here. This school is bigger than the last one you taught at, but it’s not big enough to hide a scandal of two male teachers getting caught fooling around.” “What the hell do you think we’re going to do? Sneak kisses in his office or walk around campus holding hands like two giddy school kids? Get real, Ben.” Ben held up his hands. He knew that tone, too. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to say you don’t know how to be professional. I’m just trying to look out for you. When you and Rick were first together it was kinda like that, all carefree and unconcerned about what anyone else thought.” “That was a long time ago, and there is a time and a place for that. Rick was all about PDA and breaking rules. I wouldn’t put mine or Professor Louis’ career in jeopardy like that.” “You’re right, I know you better than that.” “Look, think about it like this, you’ll just be introducing two fellow teachers. This is my first year here. He could show me around campus and tell me where the good eating spots are. Besides, he teaches psychology, maybe he could teach me something,” he added, giving him a laughing grin. That familiar disbelieving look appeared on Ben’s face, telling Papa once more that he was full of shit. He had seen it many times over the years. He and Ben met in college when Papa was a freshman and he a sophomore. They were in the same photography club. Ben liked taking pictures, and Papa had a gift. Their teacher helped get him a job as a freelance photographer to help pay his way through school. With his friend being an education major, the teacher thought it was a good idea if Papa took his gift and shared it by teaching others, and thus he followed his friend into teaching. With two other Dominicks in their group of friends, it was Ben who started calling him Papa as a play on his last name. It had been twelve years since he graduated from college to pursue his teaching career behind his friend. They were the only ones in their group who stayed in touch and became as close as brothers, leaving Ben the only one to still call him Papa. “You don’t even know if he’s gay, Papa. You go over there and approach Professor Louis like that and he’s not gay, that’s going to freak him out.” “Yes, yes, I know, but one knows his own, Ben. I got a good feeling about him.” Ben glanced conspiratorially at the professor. “I don’t know, Papa. Even if he is gay, you know how those old schools are. They grew up in a different time. Most of their generation isn’t very tolerant of ours.” Papa sighed. “I know, Ben, but there’s just something about him. Look, I’m not going to do anything crazy. I just want to meet him, that’s all. Can you introduce us?” Ben sighed and picked up Papa’s Coke again. “All right, all right, I’ll see what I can do. My freshman English class is down the hall from his office.” “Thanks, man.” The waitress returned with Ben’s lunch and they ate quietly. Papa continued to look over at Professor Louis to keep up with his progress. When Papa finished the half burger and the few cold fries that were left on his plate, he wiped his mouth and stood up abruptly. “Where are you going?” Ben asked with his mouth full. He picked up his camera. “I’m going to ask permission to use the pictures I took of Professor Louis, like you said. He’s almost done and I have a class in half an hour. So it’s now or never, right?” Papa walked away before Ben could swallow and talk him out of the move he now deemed stupid as he stood in front of the man trying to find his voice. Professor Louis looked up at Papa over his glasses. Papa continued to stand there mute for several long seconds until Professor Louis leaned back in his chair, wiped his mouth, and held out his hands gesturing toward him. “Well, are you just going to stand there watching me eat or did you actually have a reason for coming over here?” Papa’s lips moved, but no words came out, then suddenly the audio connection to his brain returned and blurted out, “My pictures!” Professor Louis raised an eyebrow. “Eh? How’s that again?” Papa cleared his throat and tried again. “Mind if I sit?” he asked as he pulled out the chair and sat down.A smirk showed on Professor Louis’ lips and his eyes glistened with amusement. “Obviously not. What can I do for you? Are you a student?” “What? No, no, I’m not a student. I’m a teacher.” “Is that right?” “Yes, my name is Dominick Pappas. I teach photography here,” he said and held out his hand. ”I came from another school and—” Professor Louis shook his hand and leaned on the table, cutting him off. “Yes, yes, that’s quite the tale. What does all that have to do with me?” “Oh, yes, well, as a photographer I take lots of pictures, you know.” “Really?” Professor Louis said with false astonishment, muffling a laugh. “One would never have guessed.” Papa paused, staring at the professor for a moment, then sent a look to his friend, who was peeking at them from behind the menu Papa had earlier. He took a breath before addressing the professor again. “Yes, well, I did have a reason for coming over here. I took a few pictures of you and I wanted—“ Professor Louis’ face no longer appeared amused. He straightened up in his chair and held Papa in place with a stern look. “You did what? When?” he asked crisply. “I, uh, well, while you were eating,” Papa answered in almost a whisper. Professor Louis pressed his lips into a thin line and then pushed his chair back abruptly. “You did what?” His voice still held its crispness. “You had no permission to do so. I don’t know you and I don’t like my picture taken. That’s three reasons for not doing what you did. You will erase those pictures from your camera immediately, and I don’t want to see them anywhere. Is that understood?” He snatched his jacket off the chair and his ticket from the table. “Good day to you, photography teacher,” he said ending their conversation, and walked away. Papa watched him as he paid for his meal at the register and left the restaurant without making even the smallest backward glance. He left the chair and returned to the table with Ben. “Well, that went well.”
Papa knows Best is available now at Phaze! or your favorite online retailers.
Jaxx is out until tomorrowwww.jaxxsteele.com