M.K. Lee's Blog: Telling Tales, page 12

July 9, 2021

The Cave

The depths of the cave called as welcome reprieve from the unrelenting midday sun. Flask empty and mouth dry, Kieren ambled over the rocky grass verge, fingers digging into brittle patches for support as he made his way down. His ankle twinged from an earlier stumble, and his neck was surely beacon-like for the steady, painful pulsing of his skin. 

The cave air was blissful; damp, and cool. A trickle from its depths promised a taste of water that for so long parched was too hard to ...

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Published on July 09, 2021 06:19

July 7, 2021

On Being Guided

“I’m sorry for being such a girl about this,” Jason mumbles, and instantly looks up at the click of disapproval Michael is giving him.

“I’ll never understand why being nervous about a new experience is something that is purely a feminine thing,” Michael tells him with a stern look, “or why being ‘a girl’ in this situation is meant to be something derogatory.”

Jason winces, instantly chastised, and reaches out his fingers to tangle around Michael’s. He’s not used to this, not used t...

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Published on July 07, 2021 12:06

July 6, 2021

Nightmare

Maybe it was an exaggeration to call them a nightmare. Mostly because it was the day they seeped mischief into instead of the night.

The moment they arrived – always unannounced, so there was no way of preparing for it – chaos descended and peace was shattered. Cliched words, perhaps, but so appropriate; how can such small things make this much noise and create so much disruption?

A calmer storm might be brought in on the back of a hurricane or flood. At least someone might rescue you fr...

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Published on July 06, 2021 06:12

July 4, 2021

My Vampire

Unlike the modern day nosferatu,
You are no sickly sweet, glittering teen.
You aren’t a chiseled masterpiece,
Though not much of you I’ve seen.
You don’t have superhuman strength,
And time’s not on your side,
You’ve no aversion to the sun,
In no coffin do you reside.
You have no raging thirst for blood,
My mind you cannot read,
In fact there’s not one part of me
That I can think you need.
But still, you drain my life from me,
You’re like my fucking sun.
I wilt without you near me,
And your gaze I can’t outrun....

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Published on July 04, 2021 12:29

July 1, 2021

Always

“Shot time,” she heard and smiled as she watched his hands appear slowly either side of her waist, a glass of sorts in each. She felt him press against her and leaned back in familiar reassurance whilst grinning up at the man before her; his eyes met hers with mild amusement as he shook his head lightly, reached down to kiss her softly on the cheek, and walked away.

“Yes. Shot time,” she agreed, laughing, turning slightly in his half-embrace and accepting the offered drink. “What is it?”...

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Published on July 01, 2021 12:37

The Only Thing That Ever Made Sense

After two army tours and a year serving as a firefighter, Beto’s life is exactly where he needs it to be. But a surprise encounter on a call brings back painful memories, this face from his past a reminder of parts of himself Beto has tried to hide. How did he ever think he could live a life without Aiden in it? And will Aiden give him the second chance Beto needs to make everything right?

New book, published with JMS Books, coming soon!

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Published on July 01, 2021 09:50

Arrangement

Alfie checks the flower arrangement a final time, reaching out to tweak an unnecessary petal, straightening an already perfect stem. He tenses at the cleared throat behind him, turning before he’s fixed his guilty expression.

“It’s good. It’s all good,” his assistant Priya says with a firm nudge of Alfie’s arm.

In the three years they’ve been working together, she’s proven herself to be an exceptional wedding planner. Alfie won’t take any credit for that – Priya is a natural. Which is why ...

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Published on July 01, 2021 06:09

June 29, 2021

Raife and Dexter

Raife and Dexter Are Getting Married

Raife and Dexter are one of those couples who make lonely people reach for a bucket of ice cream and watch Bridget Jones for the hundredth time. They also just happen to be getting married, in the most perfect of venues, surrounded by their closest family and friends. Life couldn’t be better for them. They have good careers, a beautiful house, and still make heart eyes at each other because they are so ridiculously, sappily in love. Doesn’t it m...

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Published on June 29, 2021 15:36

The Only Thing That Ever Made Sense

Hello!

Excited to shared with you that my new book, The Only Thing That Ever Made sense, is coming out on July 10th!

Beto is a former soldier now working as a firefighter and living his best life. A life that is about to be upended by a chance encounter with Aiden, who he used to serve with. So much has changed about their lives since they last met, but some things never change—like need, and want, and all the feelings Beto used to deny he ever had. Does he want to deny them anymore? Doesn...

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Published on June 29, 2021 09:12

June 27, 2021

Joystick

Geoff takes the shiny new joystick out of its Amazon packaging and connects it to his C64. The red of the buttons seems violent against both the joystick itself and the pale grey of the computer keyboard, and it takes a bit of manoeuvering to get used to its grip.

Everything is set up; Geoff hits the volume on the TV it’s connected to and grins for the Donkey Kong music, letting it transport him back to being a teen. He takes a sip of his beer, shoves a handful of crisps in his mouth, and se...

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Published on June 27, 2021 06:35