Sean Michael's Blog, page 27

TGIF!

Yay, it's Friday.

I'm posting over on torquere_social today. Come by and comment for a chance to win a $10 Torquere gift ertificate.

Thursday Three (plus Two)

I have a blog post up on Emily's Birthday Bash Month. It includes a loose reading order for Velvet Glove, a contest, and a new snippet featuring Tyg and Dane from Puppy Love. You can find it here.

I'm also at the TRS Release Party today. I'll be talking about The Favor, Revving it Up, Rose and Thorne 2: Tending to Rose, among other things.

Tomorrow is my day on the Torquere LJ.

Revving it Up comes out on Sunday!



Jon and Bryan have been dating for about six months. While things were hot and heavy in the beginning, they’ve since cooled down to a low simmer. Still, Bryan’s looking forward to seeing Jon again tonight after his shift at the bar. But a game of Truth Or Dare has left him wearing a plug and it’s making him aware of every single step he’s taking.

Will Bryan be able to make it through his date with Jon without going crazy? Or will Jon find out why he’s got that extra wiggle in his walk tonight and do something about it?

You'll be able to pick it up here.

I just got the cover for a new story from Amber Allure -- it's coming out May 26.



It's a contemporary novella and I hope you like Jaxsom and Dave.

The Favor, a Hammer Club story now out!

Erik wants to know what his subs feel, so he’s planning on losing his virginity. To that end, he enlists the help of his best friend and mentor, Lion. Things get intense when Lion insists the only man he trusts for the job is himself. How will this affect their friendship?

buy it here


Lion's lips twitched and when Brandon left, a little extra wiggle in his walk, his best friend chuckled. "And you called me a flirt."

"Hey, a man needs to get him some ass sometime."

Lion put his head back and laughed. God, Lion looked good. Blond and buff, looking like the picture of the All-American boy -- no sub could resist the man. Sometimes Erik thought no hot-blooded gay, sub or not, could resist the man.

"So what's on show tonight?" Lion asked.

"Hell, man, shit if I know. I've been working." He shrugged, rolling his head on his shoulders again.

Lion's foot nudged his under the table. "You not interested tonight?"

"Huh? Interested in what?" God, he needed to just get out of his head.

"Well, I did mean the show, but maybe you're not into dinner either."

"What? No. Shit, no. I look forward to this all week, man." He sighed, pushed his hand through his thick hair, smoothing it back into its ponytail. He should cut it short like Lion, really. It would be less trouble. "Honestly, I got something on my mind and I don't know how to bring it up."

"It's not like you to be shy. Especially with me. Just spit it out."

"Bossy old man." He chuckled. He'd known Lion since they were teenagers. Hell, Lion was the best Dom he knew; the man had trained him to top.

"Yeah, that's me." Lion chuckled, sat back and shot him a look. "So?"

"I. Well, to be honest." Erik swallowed hard. "I want you to help me find someone to help me lose my virginity."

Author Spotlight Tuesday -- Ari McKay

Boxers or briefs?

McKay: Boxers - much sexier to me

Arionrhod: Definitely boxers - anticipation is a very good thing

Favorite position to write?

McKay: Up against a wall. I like the idea of the characters being so desperate for each other, they can't wait long enough to get to a bed.

Arionrhod: Face-to-face. I like the characters making eye contact and being able to see each other's pleasure.

Favorite kink to write?

McKay: Cross-dressing - I could probably write a whole blog post on how much - and how long - I've enjoyed exploring the idea of blurring gender lines.

Arionrhod: I love biting, especially to leave a mark or show possession.

Tattoos or piercings?

McKay: Tattoos - ink seems more personal somehow. People choose what image they're going to have permanently drawn on their body, and they choose where it will be placed. Most people I know who have tattoos have personal, sometimes very emotional stories behind each one.

Arionrhod: I love tattoos! They can give such wonderful insight into who a person really is.

Cut, uncut or I love them all?

McKay: No preference

Arionrhod: Definitely cut.

What's your favorite thing about Blood Bathory: Like the Night?

Mckay: Primarily, I'm happy with all the world-building we've done for the Blood Bathory universe. We sat down and did a lot of brainstorming and planning to make this world as plausible as possible, which is still on-going since we've got two more books set in this universe in progress. We've got a notebook in Evernote just for Blood Bathory material, and it's stuffed full of notes, snippets of IM conversations, character bios, photos, and even a timeline of events.

More than that, however, my favorite thing is that Blood Bathory is being published this summer! This is the first original novel that Ari and I wrote together when we decided to move away from fandom writing and try our hand at original writing. It's our first "baby", so I'm like a proud mama right now.

Arionrhod: I'm ecstatic with having the room to explore the characters and their relationship in the kind of depth it takes to really bring them to life. Short stories are great, but I love working in a format where nuances of character history and personality can be explored in depth. Every character we write has a back story, whether we have room to show it or not, and I'm just thrilled to be able to share all the things that make our characters special to us, and that will hopefully help them to resonate with the people who read the book.


Here's where to find Ari McKay's books.




Evan St. John, a young fashion photographer fleeing the pain caused by the death of his younger sister, is thrilled when he is offered a job with House of Nadasdy, a leading fashion house in Paris. What he doesn't know is that Elizabeth Nadasdy, the elegant and powerful owner, is not at all what she seems on the surface; she is actually a centuries-old vampire with a penchant for collecting beautiful people, and to Evan's horror, he is turned into one of her "children". Unable to bear what he has become, Evan flees back to New York and to his best friend, police officer Will Trask.

For years, he has nursed an apparently unrequited love for Will, but he also knows that Will is the one person who will protect him. As Evan and Will grow closer and deal with Evan's condition, they are drawn into the world of the theriomorphs: shape-shifters who are guardians of life and the sworn enemies of vampires. Caught in a struggle between two powerful supernatural forces, Evan and Will find that they must choose sides, because if they are to have any chance to ever be together, they're going to have to destroy Elizabeth Nadasdy before she can destroy them.

Excerpt:
Will firmly crushed the desire to pull Evan into his arms, not certain that Evan would welcome the contact. ”Okay, I can tell something’s wrong.” He gestured toward the sofa. “Sit down and tell me what I can do to help.”

Evan sidled past him in a way that he would have labeled “furtive” in anyone else and perched on the sofa. His radar pinged even more as he watched Evan scrub his palms on his jean-clad thighs, a gesture he knew from their long history denoted nervousness. It certainly wasn’t the kind of reunion he’d imagined when he’d allowed himself to think about the possibility of them finally meeting in person again.

“I need help,” Evan said in a matter-of-fact way that belied the conversational bombshell.

“Help?” Surprised yet again, Will sank down on the opposite end of the sofa, giving his friend another searching look. If he hadn’t known Evan as well as he did, he might have thought it was a joke, but this didn’t feel like a prank -- especially not if Evan had come all the way from Paris after three years just to ask for his help! If Evan was in trouble, though, he’d come to the right person. “Do you need a place to stay? Or do we need to go to the police?”

“No!” Evan shook his head vehemently. “We can’t involve the police. It wouldn’t do any good even if they believed me.” With a sigh, he raked one hand through his unkempt hair, his expression troubled. “I need a safe place to stay.” He glanced up, his pale eyes fixing Will with a searching look. “You have to promise you won’t open the door to anyone you don’t know.”

Will blinked. “You’re safe here. Well, as safe as I am, I suppose.” The fact that Evan didn’t want to go to the police didn’t surprise him; he’d learned there were many people who didn’t trust the authorities to help them with their problems, even when their lives were at stake. Or perhaps especially when their lives were at stake. “Fine, no police. And I’m the paranoid type, you know that. I’m not going to invite someone I don’t know into my home. But it might help to know if there’s anyone particular I should watch out for.”

“I can’t tell you that.” Evan raised one hand as if to ward off the protest Will was about to make. “Not because I don’t trust you or because I don’t want to, but because I can’t. I don’t know who she’ll send. She won’t come herself, that’s for sure. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“She? She who?” Will could well imagine his friend could have had his pick of the young women he photographed if he leaned that way -- which he didn’t. “Have you picked up a stalker? Just how much danger are we talking about? I’d like to know how paranoid I need to be, and the more I know, the more I can help you fix this.”

“It’s a matter of life and death,” Evan replied, and then he laughed, although the sound was more manic than mirthful, and his eyes looked haunted. “Although we’ve already had the death part, in a way. It’s life I’m looking for now.” He wrapped his arms around himself and trained his gaze on the floor. “It’s not a stalker. She wanted me, and she got me already, so there’s no need for that kind of chase.” He looked at Will again, his expression pleading. “I want to tell you everything, but I don’t know if you’ll believe me.”

Will had always been protective of those he cared about, and Evan was no exception, especially since Evan’s attractive face, slender build and “out and proud” attitude had occasionally made him a target on campus. It had been that way since their freshman year, and it was no different now. It was ridiculous, perhaps, and no doubt part of that White Knight thing Evan had always teased him about, but Will couldn’t help it; it was just the way he was.

“You might as well ‘fess up now, because I’m going to get the story out of you one way or another. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you if I can do anything about it. We stick together, right?” Will’s tone grew serious. “I mean it, Evan. You know you can count on me. You’re my best friend.” It was still true, even though they hadn’t been face-to- face in years. No one had ever taken Evan’s place in his life; no one ever could.

“Even if I tell you I’ve been working for a vampire?” Evan asked softly. “I don’t mean that figuratively, either. I mean literally. She’s a monster. She’s killed her own models. She turns people into monsters like her.”

For a long moment, Will couldn’t do anything but stare at his friend, wondering if this was a joke and he was somehow missing the punch line. Evan’s blue eyes were haunted but guileless; the man was a lousy liar, at least when it came to Will, and there was too much pain in Evan’s gaze for it to be some elaborate trick. Whatever was really going on, Evan, at least, believed what he was saying, and that was the most horrifying part of it. Whatever had happened to Evan in the last few months had damaged him in a way that Will was afraid he wasn’t going to be able to fix.

It was painful to face the fact that his best friend had apparently suffered some sort of mental breakdown, and Will cursed himself for not having tried harder to get in contact when Evan’s communications had grown infrequent. Obviously Evan had been going through something terrible, and Will knew that he had to do whatever he could to get Evan the help he needed. Which meant making sure that Evan remained here for now, until Will could figure out how to get him to a doctor.

“Let me make sure I understand what you’re saying,” he replied, keeping his voice quiet and reassuring. “Elizabeth Nadasdy, the famous fashion designer, is a vampire who kills people. That makes sense, I suppose. Or at least it explains why the models all look as though they weigh five pounds.” His attempt at humor sounded hollow, but it was the best he could do at the moment. “And she’s after you?”

Evan leaned back away from Will. “You don’t believe me. You think I’m crazy.”

Will hated to see that look on Evan’s face, the question of sanity aside. “Evan, it’s not that I don’t want to believe you, all right? But you know how it sounds, don’t you?” He knew his tone was pleading. “Vampires don’t exist. I can tell you believe it, though, and that makes it hard, because I know you’d never lie to me. But how can I believe it? How can you believe it?” He reached out and touched Evan’s arm in mute appeal. “How?”

Evan met Will’s gaze, his expression steady and calm, no trace of madness lurking in his gaze. “I don’t just believe it. I know it. I know it because I’m one too.”

My God It's Monday!

Some Mondays are fine and dandy, some are candy -- today is a groan Monday. I did so not want to get up out of bed. And it's a busy week, too!

This week I'll be taking part in Emily's Birthday Bash on Thursday. I'll be giving away a copy of the Velvet Glove ebook of the winner's choice.

I'll also be at the TRS Release Party on Thursday. There I'm giving away a Hammer Club book of the winner's choice.

And I'll be posting on Torquere's LJ on Friday. There will be a $10 Torquere Gift Certificate as a prize there.

On Wednesday The Favor, a Hammer story comes out at Torquere Press.

Erik wants to know what his subs feel, so he’s planning on losing his virginity. To that end, he enlists the help of his best friend and mentor, Lion. Things get intense when Lion insists the only man he trusts for the job is himself. How will this affect their friendship?

And on Sunday, Revving it out comes out at Amber Allure.



Jon and Bryan have been dating for about six months. While things were hot and heavy in the beginning, they’ve since cooled down to a low simmer. Still, Bryan’s looking forward to seeing Jon again tonight after his shift at the bar. But a game of Truth Or Dare has left him wearing a plug and it’s making him aware of every single step he’s taking.

Will Bryan be able to make it through his date with Jon without going crazy? Or will Jon find out why he’s got that extra wiggle in his walk tonight and do something about it?

Isn't Gronk a great name for a character? It's short for Gronkavaliavianstadriastusalimanitak. No, really. See, he's a dragon shifter and while dragons have no problem with Gronkavaliavianstadriastusalimanitak, the human tongue finds it a bit -- okay extremely -- awkward, so he goes by Gronk.

Ari McKay is tomorrow's Author Spotlight Tuesday author.

And that's it for this Monday.

Suddenly Saturday

I'm over at Dawn's Reading Nook today, with information about Revving it Up, my upcoming story with Amber Allure.

I've got three books on ARE's bestseller list today:
End of the Line is at #20
Shibari Auction House is at #18
Seeing Love is at #15!

Salted caramel cupcakes for the win!

I'm feeling vaguely movie-ish, I just don't want to have to think too hard...

Up next week -- The Favor and Revving it Up -- both short stories.

Okay, that's all my brain has today -- it's a Saturday after all.

Fiction Friday

Here it is, the last chapter of Club Fantasy.


It wasn't that Michael didn't believe he and Seth were going to do it, were going to play the fantasy slots and win and wish for their freedom. It was that he didn't think they were ever going to find the time to do it.

It was busy work, running the club, and the boss kept calling, demanding to know what they'd done about the leak.

Michael was beginning to think the boss was just yanking their chains. Who cared if there was a leak? What exactly would a leak be... well, leaking? It wasn't like they had anything to hide, aside from their angel and demon natures and that certainly wasn't anything that would make the boss' panties get into a bunch.

He had a growing suspicion that he and Seth were being set up. What for and why, he didn't know, but Seth's plan to play the slots and win their freedom sounded better every day and he was beginning to feel a sense of urgency. They needed to do it, and they needed to do it now, before the boss, or anyone else, got their claws into him and his demon.

As soon as Seth got back from dealing with the damn liquor license people -- again -- they'd go do it. They'd go out onto the floor, put their chips into the fantasy slots and pull the fucking lever, win, wish, gain their freedom.

It was a plan. Maybe it relied on luck a little more than he'd have liked, but it was a plan nonetheless. Besides, he and Seth were due a little luck.

He checked his watch. Seth had been gone an awfully long time. Maybe something else had come up. Maybe he should go check. Maybe he should stay and wait -- Seth would be back, just like he'd said he would.

Michael was going to start pacing soon -- any minute now -- and a pacing angel was not a pretty sight.

He glared at the phone and then moved over to shelves, picking up the dreadful Hummel figures Seth so loved, putting them back down again. He was beginning to believe something was wrong with Seth or something had happened to him. This wasn't natural to be gone so long.

Once the idea popped into his head, it took root and he began to panic. What if something evil had waylaid his demon? What if the boss was really pissed and this was a part of that? What if it was already too late?

Michael checked his wings and strode for the door.

The door opened as he walked up to it, Seth hurrying in. "We have to do it now, beloved."

"What happened, what's wrong?" He ran his hands over Seth's hot little body, searching for signs of an injury.

"The boss is coming. Here."

"What? When? Why?" He shook his head. "No. It's not possible." He grabbed hold of Seth's arms. What if the Boss tried to separate them? What if they were about to have the mother of all punishments brought down on their heads and they were going to have to face it alone instead of together? That thought was worse than anything else he could think of.

"Then come on. We'll play." Seth looked so serious.

"Are we going to win, Seth?" Because he had a hunch, if they did this, that would be it, they'd have broken rules, crossed lines that weren't supposed to be crossed and there would be no going back at all.

"If we don't, we're no more fucked than we are anyway." Seth looked scared, but determined, eyes serious. "There's something up, beloved, something bigger than either one of us."

Michael nodded. "I think so, too, and I'm not convinced we're not being set up to take whatever fall there is to take." He grabbed Seth's hands. "As long as we're together, it doesn't matter."

Seth nodded, squeezed his fingers. "Together."

He opened the door and stepped out, holding on tight.

This was crazy, what they were doing, taking a chance an on the fantasy slots working for them. It just might work, though. He could almost smell their freedom.

The place was quiet, nearly dead, and they slipped down the stairs toward the main floor. The staff was cleaning, readying for a busy night and the boss' visit.

The boss.

Here.

A shiver went through Michael and he nearly let his wings loose, wanting to flap them. If this didn't work, he hated to think what would happen to him and Seth.

"Don't. It will work." Seth had the most serious face.

"Are you okay?" He'd never seen Seth look this grave -- and his lover was a demon!

"I'm scared, Michael. I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either. We could run. Just walk out and never come back." Could they do it? Could they find a place to hide? It was so tempting.

"No. No, they'll find us. They can, you know that."

"I know." He squeezed Seth's hand tight. "Let's do it, then. We'll play that fucking slot until we win."

"We will and then we'll be together and free."

"Where will we go? What will we do?" Really, he didn't care where they went, as long as they were together. As to what... well, he had a few ideas on that and most of them involved a lot fewer clothes than they were currently wearing. That thought actually made him smile.

"Does it matter?" His impractical, dreaming demon.

He stopped Seth and looked into his lover's eyes. "No. You and I, we're what matters. I'll do anything for you and with you and to you."

"Then we'll be fine." His demon smiled for him, gave him hope.

He leaned in and kissed those smiling lips. He would do anything for his demon. Anything.

The staff applauded lightly, hoots and hollers filling the main floor. Michael only had eyes for his Seth, though; he didn't care what the staff thought. They'd be gone soon, anyway, if things went right. Probably even if they didn't.

A handful of chips were pressed into his hand. "Come on, beloved. Let's pull the handle. We're running out of time."

He jangled the chips together in his palm. "We'll do this together, too."

Seth nodded at him and they headed over, the huge machine seeming to mock them.

The Fantasy Slots.

How many winners had they worked their magic for? How many people had played these slots and had their lives changed? How many? More than he could count. More than he could remember.

He and Seth, they'd put in their time. They deserved a little happy ever after. They didn't even want much, just each other and to be left alone, to be free, together.

He put the first chip in and then put his palm on the handle. Seth's hand covered his.

Together they pulled the lever down.

Author Spolitght Tuesday -- M.L. Rhodes

Boxers or briefs?

I like boxer-briefs the best. Or, in my fantasy books, usually nothing!

Favorite position to write?

Wow...I have to choose? :) I tend to love best whatever works for the guys I'm writing about at the time, but face-to-face is nice for emotional reasons. Up against a wall is probably one of my fave quick and dirty positions.

Favorite kink to write?

I've written several, but probably what shows up most in my books is a little D/s in bed between the right characters. There's just something hot about showing a dominant or submissive side in a hero you might not expect it from.

Tattoos or piercings?

I like piercings, especially ears and nipples on guys. But tattoos are my fave. I love 'em in real life, too. To me, they're incredibly sexy!

Cut, uncut, or love 'em all?

Yeah...all. Definitely all. :)

Favorite thing about An Unexpected Magick

My favorite thing about An Unexpected Magick is that it gave me a chance to delve deeper into Wen and Wesley's characters and give them a chance to be the heroes of their own story. They were secondary characters in my first three Draegan Lords books and I loved getting to know them more intimately and falling in love with them more deeply than I already was!





Having lived his entire life under the veil of the high sorcerer’s repression, Wen Daneson grew up with a sword in his hand. Now, at twenty-eight he’s already earned the rank of second lieutenant in the draegan lord’s guard and been granted the privilege of sitting on the lord’s council of advisors. In spite of his achievements, he’s made a point of keeping his distance from personal relationships. He’s seen too many people develop close bonds and share their hearts, only to have everything torn apart with one slash of a sword. Which is why his attraction to the human Wesley Brannock unsettles him so much. There’s something different about Wesley. Wen doesn’t want to care about the younger man, but when he’s tasked with training the inexperienced yet naturally talented Wesley for a position in the guard, being around him stirs powerful emotions he can’t understand.

Wesley grew up living in secluded villages, learning at a young age to hide from prying eyes and keep to himself. Having spent most of his formative years with little company, when the settlement where he lives is attacked by the sorcerer’s soldiers, he’s frustrated that he doesn’t have the skills to fight back. The draegans who came to their aide encourage the residents to relocate to the draegan camp, and when they do, a new world opens to Wesley. He’s determined not only to learn how to protect himself but to join the draegan lord’s guard and be part of something that matters. But when he’s paired with the passionately intense Lieutenant Daneson, he begins to doubt whether he’s suited for the guard at all. Not only does the lieutenant push him hard while never letting him close, keeping Wesley constantly torn over his feelings for the man, being around so many people after years of isolation makes it hard to keep the secret he’s spent his whole life protecting.

On the eve of war, the two young men have to decide if facing their secret fears will destroy them or give them unexpected strength to face the coming darkness.

Buy links:
Amber Allure
ARE
Kindle

Excerpt:

Jarrad returned to his own position and he and Allend lifted their bows and went back to target practice, while tossing out occasional good-natured jibes at each other.

Wesley on the other hand stood stiff and felt even more awkward than he had earlier because even though he could no longer see him, he felt Lieutenant Daneson standing behind him, watching him. Knowing he couldn’t keep dawdling like an oaf, he finally nocked the arrow he’d been holding. He lifted the bow and began to draw, but stopped when he felt hands on his shoulders and the warmth of a tall body close in behind him.

Holy gods. The contact between the lieutenant’s hands and his skin, even through his shirt, was a searing brand that sent ripples of awareness through him. Now what was he supposed to do?

He felt his face flush again as the draegan said softly against his ear, with a hint of humor in his voice, “Breathe.”

He did, sucking in a gulp of air and letting it out slowly.

“Loosen your shoulders.” The lieutenant squeezed them gently for emphasis. “Widen your stance a little.”

Wesley did, but at this point he was just going through the motions as he was told, because he couldn’t think at all with the draegan so close to him. So close he could actually feel the warmth of his taut, muscular body seeping through the back of his shirt. He’d taken off his own cloak earlier when the combination of their daily training exercises and the pale winter sun had left him overheated, but now he felt overheated for completely different reasons.

He could have sworn he heard a low chuckle, as if the lieutenant knew exactly what he was thinking. But he couldn’t, of course. Draegans had a form of magick they used, but they couldn’t read minds. Damn…could they?

“Elbow up.” A hand on his arm put it in the correct position, and once again Wesley allowed himself to be arranged. “Pads of your fingers on the string. Good. Now sight your target as you draw, hold for a moment, then release.”

Wesley did, hoping the shot wouldn’t totally embarrass him.

It did, of course, wobbling and falling to the side of his bag.

Before he could say anything though, the lieutenant gave his shoulder another light squeeze and said, “It’s okay. Do it again.”

With a hand he hoped wasn’t shaking, he pulled another arrow from the quiver next to him and nocked it.

“This time let’s try something different,” that husky voice said, still so near to his ear. “I want you to close your eyes.”

“What?” That jarred Wesley out of his dream-like stupor.

The draegan’s soft laugh made his skin tingle. “You heard me. Close your eyes.”

“I…”

“You have good form, but you’re overthinking, trying too hard, and this is going to help.”

“But—”

“Trust me, Wes.”

His heart skipped a beat at the warm, easy way the lieutenant used his nickname. Wesley did trust him; that wasn’t the problem at all. It was himself he didn’t trust. The lieutenant left him so rattled just by being near that he could barely keep his thoughts together, much less expect his body to behave and not give away, in blatantly obvious fashion, just what his presence did to him. But he didn’t want the draegan to know how in over his head he was right now, so he let his eyes flicker shut.

“Good. Now, I want you to imagine for just a second what the target looks like. Then take a deep breath as you draw. Let it out. Open your eyes. And release.”

“When? Now?” Wesley felt completely awkward and self-conscious, but he was also buzzing with tension and anticipation.

“Whenever you’re ready. I don’t want you to think or plan.”

Wesley took a deep breath as instructed, but was certain this would never work. How could he not think about what he was doing? How could he aim if he wasn’t looking? How could he—

“You’re still thinking too much.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because your shoulders are bunching up again and I can practically feel the questions vibrating inside you.” His tone once more held a note of humor. “Trust me. You can do this. Clear your mind.”

Wesley sighed and tried again, this time attempting to shut down the questions in his head. He really tried. But his mind didn’t want to be quiet and his body had no interest in cooperating either. He could still hear Jarrad and Allend teasing one another. Could hear Captain Rizik somewhere nearby talking to someone. And was far, far too aware of the man standing behind him.

“Relax.”

“I can’t.” He sighed and opened his eyes, turning his head to look at the lieutenant. “I’m sorry. Clearly this is hopeless.” He hated to admit it, but at this point his embarrassment was already complete, so he figured it was better to be honest than to keep digging himself in deeper.

The draegan smiled, which pretty much tied Wesley’s stomach into more slithery, warm knots. “No, it’s not. Let’s try this… Close your eyes again.”

Wesley did, but almost jumped out of his skin when the lieutenant settled a hand on his shoulder once more. He hated to tell him, but if he wanted Wesley to relax, touching him wasn’t the solution.

“I want you to picture in your head the most peaceful spot you can think of. Someplace where no one can disturb you, where you’re at ease, happy, relaxed, with no worries.”

His tone was soft, sensual almost. Intimate. And as he spoke, his hand slid down Wesley’s spine until it rested at his lower back, radiating heat. Yet, instead of causing Wesley’s heart to pound harder and his body to tense more than it already was, something about the lieutenant’s voice was actually having the opposite effect on him. It was hypnotic, sliding through his veins like warm liquid, making his knees weak and his mind turn to mush.

“Can you do that for me?” the lieutenant asked softly. “Find that place?”

For him? If it meant he’d keep talking to him in that low, intimate voice. “Yes,” Wesley whispered.

~~~~~~~~

Thanks for letting me play, Sean! For those who are reading this, I'm giving away an ebook copy of An Unexpected Magick (or if you've read it already, anything else you'd like from my backlist). Leave a comment to enter.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

xoxo
ML

My God It's Monday

New contest up on the webpage today.

Get 20% off at Torquere until midnight tomorrow with the code tax2013

A couple covers for upcoming works:



Revving it Up comes out April 28 from Amber Allure.

Rose and Thorne 2: Tending to Rose comes out May 2.

Also The Favor, a Hammer story comes out on April 24.

ML Rhodes is on tomorrow's Author Spotlight Tuesday.

And today -- so a Monday.

Fiction Friday

Club Fantasy - Chapter 40


Seth wanted out.

He knew there was something going on; he knew it, and he wanted out. His tail lashed as he paced, horns feeling heavy on his head. Michael slipped into the room, bringing with him a fresh, bright scent. Seth sniffed, turned toward his angel. He wanted to get Michael out, too.

Michael gave him a brilliant smile. "There's my little devil. I was looking for you out on the floor. You weren't there. Obviously."

"I was busy, beloved." He reached out, hands sliding around Michael's waist.

"And what are you so busy doing here? Machinating, no doubt."

"That's me, the machinating wonder." He thought about things so much more than Michael. Worried.

"Which sounds way dirtier than it is." Michael laughed and pushed close, mouth meeting his. Seth blinked, the heat and hunger behind the kiss surprising him, stunning him.

Michael groaned, hands sliding around to his ass. One grabbed a cheek, the other felt him up before grabbing onto his tail through his trousers. He thought about asking what was up, but his mouth was busy, hungry. Michael didn't seem inclined to stop kissing and explain, either, his lover proving he wasn't in a very angelic mood at all.

Seth hummed, tongue licking into Michael's lips, tasting. Michael's fingers slid away from his tail and ass, moving to start undoing his buttons. His lover moved so slowly, teasing terribly.

"You're hungry." As was he.

"You make me hungry. I swear, Seth, I can't ever get enough."

He chuckled. "I don't sate you?"

"You do. But I'm addicted to it. To you." Michael licked at his lips, tongue hot.

"My angel." His claws wrapped around Michael's hips, dragged him in close.

"Yes. Yours." Michael bucked, rubbing their groins together. He could feel his lover's heat, hard and full, pressing against his own needy cock.

He dropped to his knees, mouth on Michael's slacks. "Fuck my lips, beloved. Show me."

"Fuck! Shit, yes. Wanna fuck your mouth with my cock." Such a filthy mouth, his Michael had. Especially for an angel.

His dear fallen angel. He opened Michael's fly, the heavy cock pushing out toward his lips. Moaning, Michael wrapped his hands around Seth's head and fed that wet-tipped cock into his mouth.

Sweet. His angel was sweet. He moaned, pulling Michael deeper and swallowing, adoring the flesh on his tongue.

"Seth. Oh, my demon -- such a wicked tongue you have." Michael was beginning to pant, his hips starting to rock.

He curled the tip around the shaft, teasing, letting it drag.

"Fuck!" Michael bucked once, and then settled, letting him work.

That made Seth chuckled, so he did it again. And again. And again. Michael's hands tightened and loosened on his head, over and over, as sweet sounds poured down onto him. His tail lashed, horns growing, sliding into Michael's fingers.

"Yes! Seth!" Michael's fingers curled around them, pulled him in deeper.

He fed upon Michael's need, Michael's hunger.

Hips beginning to move again, Michael fucked his mouth. It was slow at first, long strokes sliding the thick cock along his tongue. The hands on his head moved in time, stroking up and down firmly.

"Seth, oh, Seth." Michael moved faster, cock and hands both, making him feel like he was the one getting the blow job.

Of course, he was a fan of reciprocity. A big fan.

"Gonna make me blow, devil-boy."

He chuckled -- he couldn't help it, laughing around the prick in his mouth. Michael laughed as well, the sound husky, needy as anything. Then that laugh morphed into a cry, Michael pushing deep as he came down Seth's throat.

Seth swallowed every drop down, groaning around the heavy cock. A deep shudder moved through Michael and his lover stayed buried, holding him on the long cock, keeping his nose buried in angel pubes.

He breathed slowly, eyes closed as he tasted his lover.

"You could keep me hard, you know."

He swallowed, nodded. If he did that, he'd get taken. Michael's smile promised him exactly that.

Thumbs rubbing his horns, Michael licked his lips and stayed buried right there. Seth watched Michael's face, swallowing hard, lips rubbing up and down the shaft. The heat in his angel's eyes was likely to burn him up on the spot. His hands ran over his body, driving his own arousal higher.

Michael's nostril's flared. "Okay, you sexy devil, get your ass up here and let me touch you."

He backed off, teasing the tip of his beloved's cock with his tongue. "Say please."

Groaning, Michael took a breath. "Please come up here so I can ravage your hot little body."

He chuckled and stood, his prick battering at his jeans.

"Better." Michael took his mouth, tongue sweeping in.

His fingers worked Michael's shirt open, off, while Michael just tore his.

"I'll buy you a new one," Michael told him, eyes flashing.

"Of course you will." He traced Michael's lips with his finger. His lover chased his finger, biting at the tip. "Toothy." He snapped back, tore open his jeans.

"Uh-huh. Pointy, too, in all the right places." Michael tugged his jeans down over his hips.

Seth's tail slid around, wrapped around Michael's wrist. Michael moaned; Seth knew how much he liked that.

"Bend over for me, lover."

He turned, swept the mess off the desk with one arm, bent and spread.

"Fuck, yes. Just like that." Michael's hands were on his hips. "You want the burn, lover?"

He had been made for the burn. He nodded, growled deep in his chest. "Beloved."

"I am yours." The hot prick pushed against his hole, hot and solid, and then it breached him. His entire body arched, claws digging into the top of the desk as he moved. "And you're mine." Michael pushed in hard. "Mine."

"Are you sure?" He thrilled at the possession, the need.

"More about this than anything else." Michael pushed in again, and then again.

Yes. His love bubbled up inside him, grew and spread, devouring everything else.

Michael set up a hard, eager rhythm, calling out his name. His tail wrapped around Michael's arm, holding them together, keeping them close. Michael's other hand circled his cock and began to pull.

"More." He wasn't too proud to beg.

"Everything." Faster, stronger, Michael pushed into his ass and pulled on his cock.

It wasn't until Michael's wings spread, though, the feathers battering against his sides, that he could come, moan and jerk and give himself up. He felt the heat of Michael's seed burn inside him, more than anything else ever had.

Then his own angel lay against him, panting softly, feathers resting all around him.

"Beloved." He reached out, fingers stroking the feathers.

"Yours, Seth, for all time." Michael kissed his shoulder and then took a deep breath. "Do you really think we have a chance? With the fantasy slots, I mean."

"I do." He had a soul to gamble with, after all.

Michael turned his head and pressed their mouths together. The kiss was awkward and wet and so very hot.

"All right, lover. Let's do it."