Nora Phoenix's Blog, page 6

Interview with Austin Regan

I was really excited to sit down with Austin Regan and talk about his life after the ordeal he and his two men, Mack and Tan, went through as described in the Ignite series. Out of all my characters, their journey was certainly the most dangerous one, as these three weren’t sure if they would survive. But they did, and now they’re building a new life in the last place on Earth they’d ever expected to end up… Now, if you haven’t read the Ignite series yet, this may contain some spoilers, but in this case, that was impossible to avoid.

Austin, thanks so much for sitting down with me.

My pleasure.

My first question has to be: how are you three doing?

[smiles] We’re good, genuinely good…and I never thought I’d be able to say that. It’s been a year after we arrived here, and while our road has been rough, we’re now finally moving into a place where we can process the past and move on, embracing the future.

That’s gotta be a thrill in itself, knowing that you have a future now.

Very much so. After the United States fell apart and we ended up in the CUS (the Conservative United States), I didn’t think there would ever be a day where I could be myself as a bisexual man, where I could be happy, let alone find not one but two partners. Life was…hard. Dangerous. I mean, one stupid mistake I made got me sent to the reintegration camp. In hindsight, I’m grateful I ended up there because otherwise, I would’ve never met Tan and Mack, but it shouldn’t have been that way. Putting people in a camp just because they’re not heterosexual or because they’re non-binary or trans is wrong on so many levels. I thought humanity would’ve learned from history, but alas.

Your father worked for the CUS government, though.

[sighs] Yes, he did. He thought he could protect me that way, but in hindsight, I don’t know if he made the right call. Being part of that regime, even if he meant well and did what he could to make things better, will forever be a thing he’ll have to live with. But it was an impossible situation for him, I do recognize that. At the core, my father does believe in a small government, in states’ rights over federal powers, in making people responsible for their own lives. But this moral component, that was never his opinion. He fully embraced me when I came out as bisexual, and well, it turned out he wasn’t quite so straight himself… [laughs]

How are he and Pax?

Nauseatingly happy [laughs]. My father is sporting this constant grin whenever Pax is in the room, like the little Zagorian is his sun. And Pax, man, he just worships the ground my dad walks on. He’s so kind and sweet and he makes my dad so happy… And he and Mack are still really close friends. They get each other on a level that the rest of us don’t, and I’m grateful for that. They’re both introverts and they share a history of feeling deeply lonely and different, and I think that’s created a special bond between them.

How are you three finding your way?

Slowly, that’s for sure. Lives have changed, of course, and not just ours. We’re rebuilding Earth and adapting to the new circumstances. In our case, we spend a lot of time growing our own food, making our little farm sustainable, and building a cooperative culture with the people in our town. We depend on each other, and since contact with the bigger world is still complicated, we have to come together and provide each other with what we need. There’s a whole new economy developing that’s more like the old barter culture, and it’s amazing to see. People are specializing and then trading their services with others. We’ve decided to focus on growing produce, especially vegetables. We were able to get more land, and we’re growing enough that we sell in exchange for meat, dairy products, grain, and more. Others have a dairy farm, there’s a few bakers, we have blacksmiths and handymen, and all kinds of useful trades. It’s a whole new world, but we’re making it work.

And personally? 

We still have bad days, Tan especially. He’s still in therapy, and I think he will be for a long time. It helps him, and he’s definitely grown more stable. But he went through hell, more than me and Mack, and that leaves scars. he’ll always have those. People sometimes think that you can get over something like that, but you can’t. You learn to live with it, to give it the proper perspective and place in your life. But it never goes away. Not even when you’re as much in love as we are. Love is amazing…and so is the sex, but it’s no magic cure. That was a hard lesson for me to learn, because I long clung to the idea that we could “fix” him. I hate being powerless. I’m a fixer, and it was hard for me to realize that Tan doesn’t need to be fixed, that I’ll never be able to take that burden from him. Mack was much better at that, but then again, he’s better at almost anything.

Anything?

[grins] I’m better at sex, of course.

Of course. 

[laughs] But seriously, though, his transformation has been amazing. When we met him, he was so shy and insecure, always scared to make a mistake. He was like that poor abused puppy, always fearful to get kicked again. But man, has he bloomed. This whole new life we’re building, he was made for this. His past wasn’t easy either, but it sure as hell prepared him for all of this. And so did Tan’s experience of growing up on a farm. You’d never tell by his glittery heart, but the boy has skills I never thought he had. In fact, out of the three of us…I’m the least useful one. I provide the physical power and maybe the brain power in terms of planning and managing, but the ideas all come from those two. And I gotta be honest, a few years ago, that would not have sat well with me. I would’ve never admitted to not being the best. God, I was arrogant. But if nothing else, seeing everything you once knew get destroyed before your eyes, seeing mankind be all but decimated, it puts everything in a new perspective. Things I once cared about, like wanting to play football in college, are now meaningless. All I want is to be alive and happy, to be with my men and those I love. Nothing else matters anymore.

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Interview with Master Ford

This week’s interview is with the master himself, Master Dom. He first appeared as Rhys’s mentor in Firm Hand, then again as playing Santa in Gentle Hand, but his own story was told in Slow Hand (make sure to read the previous interviews with Rhys and Raf!). It took him a while to be willing to share his story with me, and in this interview, that’s one of the things we discuss.

Master Ford, welcome. How would you like me to address you, as Master Ford or just Ford?

[smiles] Either is fine. The title Master is a specific honorific within the BDSM community, and I wouldn’t expect others from outside that community to use it or respect it.

But it’s a title you’re proud of.

Yes, very much so. The word proud always has that double connotation, as if being proud of something is bragging or rubbing it in other people’s faces, but that’s not what it is at all. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am in that aspect of my live, and I am proud of that. Being a good Dom is a heavy responsibility, and one I take extremely serious.

When did you know you wanted to be a Dom?

Hmm, good question. I think in my early twenties. My parents had always been open and honest about sex, something I deeply appreciate in hindsight. I was not an easy teenager, but we never had disagreements on that topic. I was quite active sexually, and a guy I hooked up with a few times was dabbling in bondage. It got me intrigued, and I managed to get an invite to a club as a visitor. What I saw there deeply resonated with me, even if I didn’t understand why at the time. I started as a sub, but the Dom who took me on recognized I was a switch. To his credit, he allowed me to experiment with my dominant side as well, and that’s when things fell into place.

You were known as a Dom who played hard. Not beginners’ stuff.

In a way, terms like that are meaningless to me. “Hard” is not a well-defined term. It can mean something completely different to me than to others. I think it’s accurate to say I like to push my subs’ limits and have them discover who they are and what they crave. Yes, I definitely have a sadistic side and I do enjoy pain play and impact play, but my deepest gratification was always when I found out what a sub truly needed and provided it to them.

One of the things I noticed when we talked as I was writing your story was that you have very few hard limits.

Yes. I don’t do scat play (play involving feces), modification play (where you alter a subs’ body, for example with tattoos or piercings), or blood play. The latter purely because I don’t have much experience with it, and it’s not something that interests me. It’s a very specific kink and we have a few Doms in the club who excel at it, but it really requires knowing what you’re doing. I don’t feel comfortable, so that’s a limit for me.

Does that mean that most things you do or did turn you on?

No. I’ve done plenty of things that for me, weren’t satisfying in a sexual aspect. They didn’t arouse me, so to speak. But if it was what the sub needed, that was enough gratification for me. It becomes a mental thing, and being a Dom is both. I’ve always tried to find a balance between my own needs and kinks and what a sub wanted or needed. Take golden showers, for example (piss play). It doesn’t turn me on to piss on somebody, but if that’s what cranks their handle, I don’t object to it. You just drink a shit ton of water before a scene and focus on your sub.

Is that part of your life over now that you have Thierry and Jathan?

For the most part, yes. I never thought I could live without it, but I don’t really miss it. My boys… They’re everything to me. The joy they bring me, the satisfaction I get from being their Daddy, that’s all I could wish for. I do still visit the club once a month or so, but it’s purely to train other Doms or do specific demonstrations. Jathan and Thierry are fully on board with it. Otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.

It’s interesting how much you’ve changed. You were the man who never wanted a commitment, who wanted to play hard, and now you’re all settled down.

[laughs] Trust me, no one was more surprised about that than me, and I’m well aware of the irony. I mean, I never even liked daddy kink. Not for me, anyway. And then I found myself with two boys, and everything changed. My boys evoke feelings in me I never even knew I was capable of. I’ve changed, but it’s been a wonderful change. Those two are all I’ll ever need.

You have a very different dynamic with both of them.

Yes. Thierry has fully embraced his identity as a little, but also as a sub who loves to serve. He’s a happy homebody who thrives on serving be and in return, being taken care of. My daddy time with him as little is truly special, and I look forward to it every day. He, Raf, and Saxton have become good friends, and it’s beautiful to see those three play together. We’ve even had sleepovers, and Thierry was in heaven.

Jathan is a whole different story, of course. He’s my stubborn middle, my perfect brat. He challenges me every day, but god, it’s so worth it. Thierry gives his submission and his love easily, but with Jathan, I have to work for it. Sure, he’s grown milder, but submitting still doesn’t come easy for him, even though he craves it. We have a pretty strict schedule with him, and that works well for both of us. And I take time every day to spend with him, without Thierry. Jathan has the urge to always let Thierry come first, so he needs that one-on-one attention from me.

Does he still do scenes with you as well where he dominates you?

God, yes. Rhys still mentors him in that aspect, and that works very well. Jathan respects Rhys, and he’s learned a lot already. He can run scenes now, though Rhys is always there to supervise. Jathan and I both feel that for the foreseeable future, that’s better. My boy still has traumas that occasionally pop up, and sometimes unexpected. We can’t have that happen in a scene where I’d be helpless, so for that reason alone, Rhys’s presence gives both of us peace of mind. And when we do a scene, Cornell spends time with Thierry, and they really get along as well, so that’s been a wonderful bonus. Cornell is a very easy person to talk to and he’s seen a lot over the years, so Thierry feels very comfortable asking him questions or telling him things. I love that he’s found someone he trusts enough to open up to.

It sounds like you’re happy.

You have no idea. Seriously, I didn’t know that a man could be this deeply happy and content. My vow is to do whatever I need to to love and protect these two for as long as I live. They’re the center of my universe.

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Interview with Saxton Truss O’Malley

Today, I’m sitting down with Saxton Truss from Healing Hand. It took Saxton a long time to open up about his story so I could write this book, and I had to promise him I wouldn’t bring up anything in this interview that he couldn’t talk about. That was an easy promise.

Saxton, thank you so much for talking to me.

Absolutely, Nora. My pleasure.

So first of all, how have you been?

Good. That’s the standard answer, I know, but we’ve been really good. Gale is doing well in his job, and I’m almost done with my PhD research. We love our new house, and we even got two cats. Molly and Maddie. We’re genuinely good. Happy.

I’m so glad to hear that. You two deserved it. 

Thank you. It’s been a journey for the both of us for certain, though not so much in our relationship itself. That was surprisingly strong and stable right from the start. Gale says it’s because our hearts recognized we belonged together, but that’s just him and his big, romantic heart talking. He’s so sweet in those things, always making the effort. Gale is like his mom, so full of love and light and hope. It’s almost annoying at times [laughs].

His mom is amazing.

Both his parents are, but yeah. Momma Lori become the mother I never had. We hang out a lot, even without Gale. Just her and me, like I’d always imagined it would be with a mom who cared.

How are things with your father?

Surprisingly good. We saw each other again for the first time in years on our wedding day, and a few weeks after that, he came over to the house and we talked. Superficial stuff, but it was a start. Ever since, we’ve been seeing each other once every two months or so, and it’s slowly grown deeper and more personal. It’s still super hard for me to talk about, but he apologized for how he had handled things, and that meant the world to me. I’m hopeful that we’ll grow even closer over time.

And your mother?

That chapter is closed. I talked about it with my father, and neither of us have any desire to speak to her ever again. But I have Momma Lori and Gale’s father, and of course, all our friends. Lexi, AJ, and George hang out at our place a lot, and I love them. They’re amazing. For someone who sucks as much at making friends as I do, I’ve certainly managed to somehow get a lot of friends.

You and Raf really seemed to connect as well…

[smiles] We did. When we met in the club that first time, we already hit it off, and we’ve had a lot of playdates since. With Thierry as well. The three of us can play together for hours, which makes our Daddies happy. They just sit and chat while we play, and we’ve even gotten Jathan to play with us a few times. I thought he was an asshole at first, but he’s not. He’s super sweet and patient with Thierry, and he’s actually very careful with me and Raf as well. It’s just grown ups he takes issue with, and most of his brattiness is reserved for Master Ford. Or Daddy Ford, I should say. But he can take it. He loves them both so much… We all enjoy hanging out together, even with Rhys and Cornell though they’re not Daddy and little.

Why do you think you’re all such a good match?

[his smile fades] The polite answer would be that we’re all littles, so of course we get along, but that’s not the whole truth. The three of us share traumas in our past. Different ones, but we came out hurting and vulnerable, and that means we get each other. We’re kind and patient with each other. Soft. Because we all know that not all of our traumas is visible on the outside. Raf said it the first time we met: we’re different, and that means we get each other. Thierry still doesn’t like to be touched, for example, and Raf and I both understand that and respect it. We’re physical with each other, but never with Thierry. We hang out with Noah’s family as well, and I love that. They’re so… They’re amazing. Indy and Josh and all of them. There’s so much love in that house that you can just feel it when you walk through the door.

You and I first started talking three years ago, two years before I actually wrote your book. But then you stopped talking. Can you tell me what happened?

I wasn’t ready yet. That’s the simple truth. I’d just found Gale then, and I wasn’t ready yet. My story…it’s not an easy one.

No, it’s not. But it needed to be told.

[nods slowly] Yeah, it does. Being asexual or demisexual is valid and I wish more people understood what it meant. And my story is just one and it’s not typical, but it is valid. I wanted to show people that you can have an amazing, wonderful relationship without sex. Or penetrative sex, I should say. People so often think that because sex is important to them, it is to everyone, but it’s not. Gale genuinely doesn’t care. Or maybe I should say, doesn’t mind. He loves it when we are intimate, but he’s never missed doing more than kissing and frotting and the occasional hand job. And I know he’s telling me the truth. It was really hard to share this all with you, but I’m glad I did. I’ve heard from a lot of people who read my story that it helped them understand what and who they were. That makes it all worth it.

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Coming Soon: White House Men on Audio

I’m so happy that the White House Men will be coming to audio. John Solo will start recording the first book, Press, this week. I’m sure he’ll do an amazing job. If you haven’t read the series yet, now’s a great time to start! Book four, Serve, will be coming out later this month, so you have time to catch up before it does. Just make sure to read them in order, so start with Press.

The White House Men series is, as the name says, set in the White House, but no worries, it’s not all politics. In fact, we spend very little time on politics… It’s a combination of romance, sexy times, suspense, and a dash of humor, with ALL the feels. Seriously, readers are loving this…and telling you to invest in some Kleenex. But no worries: everyone will get their happily ever after.

Continuing series like this are not easy to narrate. The number of voices increases per book, which means they all need to be distinctive enough to keep apart, and the narrator needs to have all these voices in his head as he narrates.

Plus, this series has a mix of suspense, romance, and heat, and that, too, is a combination not every narrator can pull off. Kenneth Obi, who narrated the No Shame series, for example, excelled at it. But so does John Solo. He did an amazing job with the Irresistible Omegas series, which was why I asked him for the White House Men.

Some of you may remember that I had initially hired another narrator for this project. He’s a great narrator, but he turned out to be the wrong fit for this series. I wasn’t happy with the final result, and I’m someone who has a hard time releasing a sub-par product. So I canceled that contract, and asked John.

I’m hoping he’ll be able to catch up soon and narrate all four books that are out/will be out this month, but we’ll see what he can fit in. But keep an eye out for these books because John’s books usually go live super fast on Audible. The last Irresistible Omegas book, Omega’s Truth, went live in under twenty-four hours!

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What’s Next? A Familiar Face

I finished the edits for Serve, book four in the White House Men series, which will release February 28. That means it’s time to start a new project, and I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to write next. I knew it wouldn’t be the next White House Men book. Those books are quite intense to write, so I wanted to do one other project in between before moving on to book five. But what?

I had a lot of options, and that was kind of the problem. There are still SO many stories I want to write, so many ideas I’d love to work on, so many side characters who deserve their happy ending. How to choose?

In the end, I decided I was in the mood for high heat and kink, and that made the choice easy. Plus, with all the character interviews, I’d been reminded of how much fun I had writing the No Shame series…and that I’d love to revisit that world again. And so the next book will feature a familiar face: Wander Dwyer. If you can’t place him, he’s the security guy from No Angel, who protected Indy and his family when he got threatened again.

So what do we know about Wander? Well, we know he’s a Dom, that he’s good at figuring people and relationships out, and that he’d love to have what Indy and his men built: a house full of kinky men. His team of security guys is all kink-accepting and has all colors of the rainbow. And we know that he’s a bad ass…

And I have found him the perfect guy…but I’m not revealing who yet! If you’re in my FB group Nora’s Nook, make sure to check out the live video I did where I shared a little more about this story, revealed the title…and wrote the first couple of hundred words live on screen! I’ll reveal more about this story in the upcoming weeks, but I’m super excited to work on this. The first 6k are already done, and boy, we’re gonna have so much fun with this!

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Whole Irresistible Omegas Series Now on Audio

Yay, we did it! The whole Irresistible Omegas series is now out on audio, narrated by the amazing John Solo. The last book went live in under 24 hours, which is an absolute record both for John and for me, haha. I’m so excited that you can all now hear this epic saga come to life in audio…

If you haven’t read the series yet, you’re missing out. This is a high heat, slightly kinky, super sexy mpreg series with amazing characters, poly love stories (the first two book are MMMM, the others all MMM) found family, a touch of suspense, and all the feels. These men will become like friends to you, like family…and you’ll miss them once you’re done reading.

Narrating this series was a challenge, mainly because it has SO many characters who all need a distinctive voice to set them apart. And we have pack meetings where a lot of them are present and talk.

But John has done a remarkable job. It was my first time working with him, but it definitely won’t be the last. We both feel we’re a good fit. I love the way he brings my stories to life and he likes narrating my books. The flow and style of an author have to fit the narrator, and in our case, we’re a good match. He “gets” my writing rhythm and cadence, and I love it. He’ll be doing my White House Men series next. Press, the first book, was originally released in a narration by someone else, but I pulled it because I wasn’t happy with the final result. I know Joh will kill it with that series as well. I don’t know if you’ve listened to his narration of Tal Bauer’s Executive series, but it’s amazing.

But for now, make sure to dive into the Irresistible Omegas series. A few of the books have been whispersynched already, but not all of them. I know that’s frustrating but it can take thirty days and we can only “complain” once that period has passed. It has for some of the books, but Audible is, as always, still taking its sweet time. Anyway, go listen on Audible (or in iTunes):

Alpha’s Sacrifice

Alpha’s Submission

Beta’s Surrender

Alpha’s Pride

Beta’s Strength

Omega’s Protector

Alpha’s Obedience

Omega’s Power

Beta’s Love

Omega’s Truth

Happy listening! (and make sure to leave a review when you’re done…)

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Interview with Raf

So far, most of my characters needed a little conviction to be interviewed, but not Raf. Granted, he showed up a few minutes late, apologizing profusely, but happy and excited to do this. I had expected a fun conversation because this boy has no filter, but instead, we had an amazingly deep one. Adult Raf showed up, and boy, he’s just as amazing as little Raf.

Raf, thanks so much for coming!

I’m so sorry I was late, Nora. Daddy was at work and I had set two alarms to make sure I was on time. But then I almost tripped over one of my cars and I remembered Daddy had asked me to tidy my room, so I did that, and then I was late. I’m sorry.

No worries, Raf. It’s all good. Does Daddy usually get upset with you when you forget things?

It depends on what it is. If I forget to take my meds, he gets angry with me because they’re important. I rarely forget them anymore. Only when something is different. Like the other week, I was sick and I forgot them, but then Daddy wasn’t mad because he understood I hadn’t done it on purpose. But if it’s something else, he’ll remind me and sometimes, he’ll spank me because it helps me remember better, but he’s never truly angry. Daddy is very patient with me. Unlike my own father.

Do you still talk to your father?

[shakes his head firmly] No. I talk to my mom, and for a while, she tried to pressure me into reaching out to my father, but I held firm. Daddy Brendan had to step in and tell her that she needed to stop. If my father was sorry, it would be something else maybe, but he’s not. I don’t need him. Seeing him only reminds me of how badly he hurt me over the years. It took me a long time and a lot of therapy to get to this point, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that daddy Brendan was right. They were the disappointment. My parents, not me. I was me, just the way I am, and that they couldn’t accept me was on them. I didn’t ask to have ADHD, but it’s a part of me. If you can’t accept that, then you don’t belong in my life.

That’s a powerful statement.

It feels really good that I can see that now. But it took me a long time to get there. And I’m still in therapy. I go once a month now, but it really helps to talk about it. I’m a talker. I don’t know if it’s because of my ADHD or just because I’m wired that way, but I think better out loud. In my head, I always get sidetracked, but when I talk, it’s a little easier to stay focused.

What fascinates me when talking to you is how you switch from being an adult to being a little. It’s seamless.

[nods] It is. Everyone is different, but for me, doing specific scenes doesn’t work. My brain doesn’t work that way. I need something more fluid, and so I move from one headspace into another, and Daddy Brendan just follows my cues, as he says. He’s really, really good at reading me and knowing what I need. I’m… I’m the luckiest boy on the planet to have him. Between him and Rhys, I’m so well taken care of. Daddy had to go away for work the other day and so I stayed with Rhys and Cornell, and it was epic. I had a sleepover with Thierry there, and we had so much fun. We built the biggest train track ever by combining his and my train set and it went through the whole living room. Even Jathan helped. He doesn’t want to say it because he thinks playing with trains isn’t for middles like him, but he secretly loves it, too. He pretends he just does it for Thierry, but I know better. I’m not stupid. [giggles]

I’m so happy for you that you and Thierry have become friends.

Me too. He’s so nice. He still doesn’t talk a lot and some days, he doesn’t talk at all. Those are his bad days, Daddy Ford told me, and that means I have to be extra nice to him. He’s… He’s been through so much, him and Jathan. Well, you know, Nora. You wrote their story.

I do. It was a hard story to write because what they went through was so awful.

It was. It makes me realize how lucky I am to have had Rhys all that time. We never realized it but he already practiced being a Daddy with me. Even when things were bad at home, he offered me a safe spot at his place. Without him…. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. He’s the best friend anyone could ever have, and Cornell is such a lucky boy to have him as a Daddy. And Thierry and Jathan are lucky with Daddy Ford. Now, that was a surprise to me. I didn’t think he was a Daddy because boy, Master Ford was strict. Not with me. I did a shibari session with him before I met Daddy Brendan, and Master Ford was so nice to me. But seeing him as a Daddy now… It just makes me happy. He’s so much softer now. Love will do that. It changes you.

How has it changed you?

[his eyes fill with tears] I never felt good enough. Ever. I always felt like a disappointment, and for the longest time, I didn’t think anyone would ever love me because I was such a hot mess. But now… For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m worthy of being loved, like I deserve it. It’s the strangest feeling. But when I look at Daddy Brendan and everything he does for me, I know he loves me. I can tell by everything he says and does, even by how he looks at me. It’s made me believe that I’m worthy of love, that even with all my faults and mistakes, I’m still a person who deserves to be loved. We all are.

Wow, that’s amazing. I have to admit that it took me a long time to get to that point as well. Even longer than you. But I feel it now.

Isn’t it amazing when you can finally love yourself? It’s helped me make better decisions. Like, deciding to no let my father back into my life, that comes from loving myself enough to not let him hurt me again. I deserve better…and before Daddy Brendan, I would’ve never truly felt that. It’s the biggest gift he’s given me. And not just him. Everyone around me, including Mama Laura and Daddy Daniel, Daddy Brendan’s parents. They’re so amazing, and they love me like one of their own. I spend a lot of time with Mama Laura, and she always makes me feel better. She’s just…. She’s such a mom in everything she does. Fiercely protective, unwavering loyal, and her love is unconditional. It’s no wonder daddy Brendan is the amazing man he is, because with parents like that, he’s had a fantastic foundation. For a while, I was jealous of that and wishing I’d had parents like that, but now I’ve made my peace with it. This was my journey and I wouldn’t be who I am now without the things I went through. That doesn’t make them right in any way, but it does help me accept the things I cannot change…and focus on the here and now.

You keep surprising me, Raf. 

[laughs] I guess big Raf showed up today, huh? It’s just… Thank you for telling my story. I hope that it will help others understand and see and feel that they, too, are worthy of being loved. I know that sharing all of it with you helped me see how blessed I am now.

Thank you. You really touched me with this.

[beams] I’m glad. Just make sure to tell Daddy I was really super good with this interview because he promised me a reward!

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Interview with Rhys

This week, I sat down with Rhys, the main character from Firm Hand, and we talked about Cornell, his passion for his work, life, and more.

Rhys, thanks for your willingness to chat.

No problem. I’m always happy to talk to you.

First of all, how are you and Cornell doing?

[smiles] Really good. It’s been so wonderful to grow closer to him, get to know him even better, and above all, to have the privilege to take care of him in every way. He fulfills me, you know?

How’s he doing physically?

Better, but we both know he’ll never be the same again. I think we’re very close to what’s achievable for him. His knee, for example, will always be a weakness. We’re doing daily exercises to strengthen it as much as possible and he’s been diligent about yoga and stretching, but it’ll never be perfect. But we’re both okay with that, I think. I’m well aware of his limitations, and we plan around them. Kneeling is out of the question, to name but one thing. That one hurt him because it was such an essential part of who he was as a submissive, but we’ve found other ways for him to express his submission, and that works for both of us. I don’t need him to kneel for me, and I think he’s at a place now where he no longer sees that as a shortcoming on his side.

A big part of your work has become to work around people’s limitations.

Yes. When I started my own practice, I did it because I wanted to work from home. I needed to be there for Cornell, who wasn’t ready to be on his own, physically or mentally. I started with any patient who wanted me as their physical therapist. But over time, I’ve found my niche. I started working with one of Master Ford’s subs, a guy names Sean, a veteran with an amputation, and he made such great progress in his mobility, that he told others about me. Through word-to-mouth I ended up with a lot of patients with disabilities, for example in the form of amputations, but also patients who had ended up in in a wheelchair after an accident or those with various diseases that limit their physical abilities. It’s been an absolute privilege and honor to help each of them find more mobility and strength and discover what they still are capable of. By now, my practice is almost only patients like that.

Cornell stopped working. How does he fill his days?

He needed that break from work. I think he was close to a burn out even before the accident and with his recovery, it became too much. But once his recovery had made good progress, he did start to get bored, so now he helps me with the administrative side of my practice. I’ve been lucky enough to find a man who is exceptionally good at details and who loves dong this kind of thing, so it’s a win-win for both of us. He’s actually started taking accounting classes so he can do the financial part as well, god bless him.

Sounds like he’s doing well.

He is. He’s flourishing. I think we both found our ‘thing’, for lack of a better word. He needed a Daddy, and I needed a boy, and we’re just… We complement each other. It still makes my heart so full every time I look at him, knowing that he’s mine. My boy.

How do others look at your relationship?

[laughs] That depends on who these others are. Raf, of course, is over the moon. He’s known about my then-crush on Cornell for years, so he’s just happy. But because he’s a baby boy himself, he understands and fully embraces the dynamic Cornell and I have.

Maybe also because you’ve been a Daddy to him until he met Brendan.

Yeah, even though neither of us fully realized it at the time. All I knew was that I loved him and that I wanted to take care of him, make sure he was okay. Not until he met Brendan, did it click for me that that was exactly what he needed. And he and Brendan are… God, you can just feel the love when those two are in the room. It’s the most pure, amazing love ever. I love that he’s found the safety and acceptance that he missed out on for so many years.

And other than them? Your mother, for example?

[sighs] Yeah, she’s… It’s hard for her. She’s not as antagonistic as she was, but she’s not fully accepted it either. The age difference bothers her, but even more the fact that he was my dad’s best friend. She can’t see that we’re perfect together. But at the end of the day, that’s on her. I think there’s also some unprocessed emotions there about the divorce with my father and him dying. But again, that’s her responsibility. But in all honesty, she’s the only one who has an issue. Master Ford is, of course, fully accepting, but that’s to be expected from a man who has two boys himself. And god, Jathan keeps him on his toes. He’s like a teenager, that one, but they’re doing so, so much better than when he first got them. I love watching them together.

It sounds like you’re happy.

I am. I just wish… I miss my dad. That’s still a constant empty hole in my heart, and it’s the same for Cornell. I wish my dad could see us together.

Would he have approved?

Yeah, he would have. I think it would have been a bit of a shock for him, for sure, but he was the most open minded person I’ve ever met, maybe after Master Ford. If he’d seen the love between his best friend and his son, he would’ve cheered us on every step of the way… And I think he is. I’ve never been someone who’s super interested in spirituality, but losing my father has made me see things differently. Every now and then, I feel him so close to me, as if he’s in the room with me, with us. The other day, I was doing a scene with Cornell in the dungeon, just a mild flogging, and I kept looking over my shoulder because I felt my father’s presence in the room. In the end, I accepted it for what it was, and it made me happy. I’d like to think that my dad pops in every now and then to check in on us, and that he sees how incredibly happy we are together…and that he’s happy too.

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Teaser from Serve

I’m super happy to report that Serve has been sent off to my beta readers. It ended up just shy of 100k words, so another big ass book, haha. But boy, I had fun with these three. Expect lots of banter, a bit of alpha rivalry, plenty of steam, a dash of kink, a super sweet boy, and two very, very stubborn men. Serve will release February 28 and is up for preorder now!

About Serve

Serve is the fourth book in the White House Men series, and it’s a high-heat MMM romance with an age gap, two alpha-type guys, a sweet boy, D/s play, a Dom, a sub, and a switch. Plus, suspense, romance, and all the feels.

First, there’s Milan, the first lady’s brother. He’s a hard ass NYPD detective who’s taken a temporary leave of absence to support his sister and nephew. Milan doesn’t like labels, and he’s a Dom—not that he’s had the chance to play recently since he’s a little too much in the spotlights. He fucks ’em and leaves ’em, and that’s exactly how he likes it.

Then there’s Secret Service Agent Asher. He and Milan have a past. One that involved Milan domming Asher, who is a switch. But after years of denying his sexual identity, Asher has come out, and now he’s ready for a more serious relationship as well. Clearly, that’s not gonna be with Milan, so he’s not interested in continuing what they had. But for him, too, playing has become complicated, so he agrees to a mutually beneficially fuck buddies only thing with Milan.

Until Denali. Denali loves his job in the White House, working in the residence, but what he really craves is to serve. A Dom. Or maybe…two? His connection with Milan and Asher is instant, but Asher warns him not to get his heart involved. Too late. Denali knows no other way than to give himself entirely. But will his heart get broken or is there hope for the three of them?

Of course, the suspense plot has some new developments as well, and the picture that’s emerging is a bleak one. How far will these terrorists go to achieve their goal? Serve will be deliciously hot and steamy right from the start, but it will be an emotional rollercoaster, so buckle up for a ride…

Teaser

Here’s a little teaser:

Milan took his appearance in as he stepped inside. “Aw, you didn’t need to dress up for me, darling.”

Asher rolled his eyes and closed the door behind him. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

Milan raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I answer your booty text?”

“Somehow, the word ‘OK’ didn’t inspire a lot of confidence in you taking me up on my offer.”

“I said OK, didn’t I? As in, I am okay with this invite?”

“I texted you I was off at six. That wasn’t an invite.”

“The invite was implied. It was a booty text.”

“Of course it was implied, but usually, there’s a conversation to be had, no matter how short.”

“Wanna fuck?” Milan asked, and despite himself, Asher laughed.

“Yes, asshole, I want to fuck. You, to be clear. I want to fuck you.”

“Trust me, that was implied as well.”

“You attach a lot of implications to a four-word text and a two-letter answer.”

“You know me. I’m nothing if not efficient…and economical with words.”

“True. If you don’t mind, I am going to finish dinner first. I’m famished and not just for your ass.”

“Damn,” Milan said as he followed Asher into the living room. “I was just about to suggest you could eat my ass.”

“Maybe for dessert?” Asher shoved a forkful of sesame chicken into his mouth. “Want some?” He gestured at the cartons.

“Nah. My standards have been raised considerably since moving into the White House. Eating from cartons is a little below my social standing now.”

Preorder now so you can start reading right away! And if you haven’t started this amazing series yet, what are you waiting for? It has romance, sexy times, a suspense plot that will have you hooked, and alllll the feels… Start with Press!

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Irresistible Omegas 1-9 Now on Audio

Audible has been catching up, and I’m happy to report that book one through nine of the Irresistible Omegas are now available on audio, narrated by the amazing John Solo. That’s right, one more to go, which John is recording this week. We’re almost there! Book nine released last week (Audible likes to make things complicated by releasing them out of order, haha) and book eight this week.

Narrating this series is not easy, I knew that going in. The big challenge is having SO many characters who all need a distinctive voice to set them apart. And we have pack meetings where a lot of them are present and talk, so definitely a challenge.

But John has done a remarkable job. It was my first time working with him, but it definitely won’t be the last. We both feel we’re a good fit. I love the way he brings my stories to life and he likes narrating my books. The flow and style of an author have to fit the narrator, and in our case, we’re a good match. He “gets” my writing rhythm and cadence, and I love it. I’ve already contracted him to do the White House Men series (the first book was originally released in a narration by someone else, but I pulled it because I wasn’t happy with the final result), and I’m sure we’ll do more together.

But for now, make sure to dive into this amazing series. A few of the books have been whispersynched already, but not all of them. I know that’s frustrating but it can take thirty days and we can only “complain” once that period has passed. It has for some of the books, but Audible is, as always, still taking its sweet time. Anyway, go listen:

Alpha’s Sacrifice

Alpha’s Submission

Beta’s Surrender

Alpha’s Pride

Beta’s Strength

Omega’s Protector

Alpha’s Obedience

Omega’s Power

Beta’s Love

Happy listening! (and make sure to leave a review when you’re done…)

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