M.A. Church's Blog, page 129

In Enemy Hands - Chapter 6.2

Chapter 6.2
Adlar bent his head closer and nibbled on a patch of skin. Frack, his scent is driving me crazy. Varo shifted, and Adlar felt Varo’s hard cock brushing against his. Adlar nipped a tender patch of skin, and Varo jerked.
Varo’s breathing increased rapidly, and Adlar soothed the small hurt he’d inflicted. Varo sighed with pleasure and moved restlessly against him, their cocks sliding together. His hands tentatively reached up and stalled, almost as if he was waiting to be told if he could touch.
“Go ahead. I want to feel your hands on me.” Adlar attached his lips to Varo’s neck and sucked.
Varo gasped, his hands grabbing at Adlar’s back, his hips bucking.
Adlar sucked the blood up to the top of the skin, marking Varo. He ground against the other male, listening to the helpless moans coming from Varo. He lifted his head and stared at the tanned, marked skin. Varo would be wearing that for a while, and the thought pleased him. Anyone who saw Varo would know who he belonged to.
Adlar released the marked skin and trailed his tongue up Varo’s neck to his ear. “You mark beautifully.” Adlar felt Varo’s hands shake against his back. “As much as I like your hands on me, I want you to put them over your head. I’m not going to tie them, this time.”
Another shudder raced through Varo, but he did as he was told.
“Good. Remember to keep them there. Can you do that? Nod your head yes or no for me.”

Varo hesitated, but finally nodded yes.
“Very good.” Adlar trailed his finger over Varo’s lips and down his throat. His hand moved down Varo’s chest and hovered.
Varo froze, a whimper coming from his throat.
“Such pretty little nipples,” Adlar whispered to Varo.
Adlar’s fingers circled closer to a peaked nub. One day he wanted Varo to scream for him to hurry up and touch them, but he knew today was not that day. But soon, he hoped.
 Varo wiggled under him, panting as if he’d just run for miles. “Please.”
“You want me to touch them?”
Varo moaned. “Yes, please!”
Adlar blew in Varo’s ear. “I’m getting there.”
Varo moaned desperately.
It was the sweetest sound Adlar ever heard. He’d planned to draw this out, but if Varo could admit to what he wanted, then Adlar was going to give it to him. He eased a fingertip over the peaked nipple. Varo grunted and thrust his chest up, begging for more.
“You want gentle?” Adlar laved a nipple.
Varo shook his head no.
“Ah… then maybe a little rough?” Adlar nipped the other nipple, letting Varo feel a fang.
Varo moaned, fidgeting under Adlar. His hands jerked and lifted, but he hurriedly put them back down. “Yes!”
Adlar barely let Varo finished the sentence before pinching Varo’s nipple hard. His callused fingers trapped the aching peak and rolled it between his thumb and finger, worrying it to increasing moans from Varo.
Back and forth between the two peaks Adlar went, touching each nipple gently at first, and then following the pleasure with a tiny bit of pain. Varo arched into his touch. He watched Varo writhing under him silently.
So lost in the pleasure, Varo was holding his breath. Adlar grinned and roughly plucked Varo’s other nipple. Varo gasped, and his breath rushed out.
“Next time I really must remember the nipple clamps I’ve got.” Adlar moved his hand back to the other nipple and flicked his nail over it. “It has a chain that runs between the clamps. I’m going to tug on the chain and watch you react. Would you like that?”
Varo bit his lip, but nodded his head. “Y-yes…”
“Wish I had it now.” Adlar eased his hand down Varo’s stomach. He rubbed his thumb over the damp head of Varo’s dick. “Another time, maybe.”
Varo shifted his legs restlessly. Using his thighs, he spread Varo’s legs open then sat between them. He fisted Varo’s dick, his hand moving up and down. Varo’s cock was exquisite, delightfully long and slender with a slight arch.
The head was already flushed with blood, and the tip was damp with precome. Adlar stroked Varo’s cock, and Varo’s head lolled on the bed. Adlar knew the pressure wasn’t enough to make Varo come, but it was enough to keep him at the edge and leaking everywhere.
He’d bet being told to keep his hands down and basically useless had Varo dizzy with want. Time passed as he tweaked a nipple while jacking Varo. When Varo’s hips thrust frantically, Adlar stopped.
“Please, please,” Varo begged, his hands clenched.  
“Don’t want you to come yet. I’m close too, but not ready yet.” Adlar licked precome off his fingers. “Mmm, uncut. Nice.” He pushed the foreskin back and licked the head. He played with Varo’s foreskin until Varo’s frantic cries caught his attention.
“Please…”
“Want me to suck that cock?”
“Please!”
Adlar took Varo’s dick in his mouth. He had one arm braced for support across Varo’s hips and used other hand to hold Varo’s dick up.
He couldn’t wait. He wasn’t sure he could deep throat the entire length of that, but he was sure going to try. He took Varo in his mouth and quickly built a good rhythm, bobbing his head up and down.
Taking his time, he ran his fangs up the length of Varo’s shaft. His long, deadly teeth caressed the throbbing length in his mouth. A small whimper escaped Varo. Adlar patted the inside of Varo’s thigh to reassure him.
“Please….” Varo gasped.
Adlar ran his tongue the length of Varo’s shaft, and another moan greeted him.
“Please what?” Adlar lifted his head and licked over the top of Varo’s cock, searching for more precome. “Please stop?” Mindful of his fangs, he took Varo’s shaft back into his mouth. When Varo’s hips thrust again, he lifted his head again. “Or please more?”
“More!”
Varo lifted his spread legs.
Adlar had never seen anything more perfect. He stopped sucking Varo long enough to open the bedside drawer and find the lube. Varo stared at him, but didn’t move. Slicking his fingers, he once again took Varo’s shaft in his mouth, sucking and earning him a moan.
Adlar rubbed his ass, then moved his hand down until he could reach Varo’s twitching hole. After playing around for several minutes, he heard Varo grunt. “Yes,” Varo whispered.
Adlar slowly pierced him and slipped inside.
Varo raised his head as Adlar pressed deeper. “More.”
Adlar thrust his finger inside, hunting for Varo’s hot spot. Varo thrust his hips. Seeing the need on Varo’s face, Adlar worked another finger into Varo’s hole. Goddess, he was so tight. Adlar attacked his prostate ruthlessly.
He pulled his finger out and added more lube. Gently he worked two fingers in, scissoring them open as he prepared Varo. He fingered Varo until he was sure Varo was open enough to take him without hurting.
He leaned over Varo. “Wrapped your legs around me. And you can speak now.”
Varo did, and immediately pulled Adlar closer. “Oh goddess, just get in me, please.”
Adlar lined up his cock. There was so much more he wanted to do, but he was as desperate as Varo. Slowly he began to push in as Varo struggled to relax. The guardian muscle resisted, and then finally gave way. He entered Varo in one motion, not stopping until he was seated deep inside. He rested his forehead against Varo’s as he waited for the tightness to ease.
“Stars, you’re thick.” Varo panted as he locked his legs around Adlar’s hips.
“Come on, breathe for me.” Adlar, resting on his hands above Varo, kissed the tip of his nose. “There you go, I can feel you loosening. Ready for me to move?”
Varo moaned out a yes, and Adlar drove in and out of Varo, picking up speed as Varo shoved back against him. Varo gasped and tightened his legs, tossing his head as they moved.
Adlar moaned loudly in surprise when Varo grabbed him behind the neck and pull him down. He plunged his tongue in Adlar’s mouth, eating the other’s hoarse yell. Adlar pounded into Varo, going faster as Varo moved with him.
Adlar ended the kiss and looked down at Varo. He needed to see Varo, so he shoved all that long blond hair of Varo’s out of the way. Adlar watched the expressions that crossed Varo’s face while he pleasured him. Adlar shifted, and Varo yelled again.
“Right there!” The new angle hit Varo’s prostate every time.
Adlar slammed in and out of Varo’s ass, pounding him. One final, hard push and Adlar, growling, jerked back and flashed his fangs.
“Varo…” Adlar moaned. “I’m going to come. Will you let me…?”
Varo turned his head, exposing his neck. “Do it.”
Adlar threaded his fingers through Varo’s. “Just a quick sting.”
Adlar leaned closer and ran his nose along the pulse in Varo’s neck. He tasted the salt on Varo’s sweat-drenched skin, and, overcome with need, he reared back and struck. His fangs pierced the skin at the base of Varo’s neck.
Mouthfuls of the sweetest blood he’d ever tasted filled his mouth. Varo’s very essence flooded Adlar as he drank. In all the years he’d lived, he’d never tasted such. As he drank, Varo writhed underneath him.
Varo’s hand flew up and landed in his hair. Adlar stiffened. Was Varo going to shove him away? Instead, Varo gripped the stands…. and held him closer. Varo tightened his legs around Adlar and moaned. Eyes wide, Adlar’s still-hard cock pulsed, and he came.
Jerking his mouth off Varo’s neck, he screamed… the sound hoarse. Pleasure too huge to contain racked his body. He was unable to move as bliss so intense, and so pure, spread through him. His orgasm triggered Varo’s.
Rapture.
He quickly licked the bite site. Varo lay completely pliable under him, his eyes closed, mouth partly opened. His chest tightened painfully, his heart pounding as looked at Varo. Frack, the ease of which he could fall in love with this male… he’d already taken the first tentative steps.
Varo opened his eyes. His hand snaked around Adlar’s neck urged him closer. Adlar licked his lips, tasting blood and tried to pull back. Varo tightened his hold and pulled Adlar the rest of the way to him.
Their mouth brushed together, and the violence Adlar had expected was missing. This was sweet, lovely, and sensual. Adlar’s cock was still buried in Varo, and this unexpected gift threatened to renew to Adlar’s sex drive.
Then Varo licked the roof of his mouth and a surge of passion swept through Adlar. Being inside him, coupling with him, making love with him, combined with deep and bloodied kisses was more than Adlar could take. The primal, almost savage side of his nature wanted to surface. The need to claim this male rode him hard.
Varo was his!
He moaned his need into Varo’s mouth. Their kisses slowed. Adlar placed one last kiss on those swollen lips and lifted his head. He expected to see Varo backpedaling. Instead Varo looked intoxicated. Blood smeared his face, and his lips were delightfully swollen from their kisses. Varo’s eyes were hazy and unfocused.
“Stars,” Varo whispered.
“I agree.”
“Is it… is it always like this?”
Adlar hesitated. No, it wasn’t, but he didn’t know how Varo would react if he told the other male that. Sex while feeding was always pleasurable, but this was something different. Possessiveness rose up in him.
He’d never wanted to claim any of his sex partners before.
But he wasn’t going to deny what happened either. “Feeding always increases the pleasure, but this was beyond that. Much more than just feeling good. It’s almost like.…”
“Our souls touched.”
“Yes. Sounds silly, but yes. That’s never happened.”
“What does that mean then?”
Something neither of us is ready for. “I’m not sure, Varo. I guess we’ll see what happens.” Adlar rolled off Varo, hoping that would put an end to the discussion. “Would you like to shower?”
“Um, yeah. I probably need to. I, ah… you feeling okay now?” Varo asked,
Adlar stood and stretched. “Good as new. I’m hungry too. Let’s get cleaned up and find something to eat.”
Varo didn’t say anything about them showering together. Adlar was thankful. He wasn’t ready to explain to Varo how he didn’t want to let the other male of out his sight quite yet.TBC

My Sexy Saturday - To Touch the Sky

Welcome to the 85th week of My Sexy Saturday .This week’s theme is Their Sexy Talk and it’s all about how lovers talk to each other. We know you’ve noticed it. Whenever you get into a room of people, where there are other couples, notice how they talk to each other. Sometimes you can tell when there’s tension, other times you wonder just what makes them so happy and there are others still when their happiness is practically contagious.For this hop you post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words. It can be from a WIP or something published. This week I thought I’d do something from my upcoming Dreamspinner release, To Touch the Sky, releasing April 3rd.

Excerpt:Two hours later he was back up, pacing the floor, beyond annoyed. Why was he doing this now? He knew who his mate was supposed to be, and he wanted no part of it. He was responsible for himself only, and he liked it that way. Too bad the spirit that shared his body didn’t agree.
Really? What about all those people at the bar who depend on you?
“It’s not the same thing, and you know it.” A quick glance out his bedroom window confirmed dawn was about to break.
Freaking A, arguing with you is like arguing with a signpost. Why don’t you go stretch your wings, old man? We’ll chill on the breeze. Shift and we’ll find a nice juicy pigeon or rabbit for breakfast. That sounds dee-lish.
Hawk rolled his neck. His totem spirit’s mentality was that of a fifteen-year-old hopped up on sugar and running on three hours of sleep. The spirit was very old, but damned if it acted its age.
Whatever, dude. Just dosomething, will ya?
The crazy thing enjoyed talking him into “doing” things, things Hawk wouldn’t normally do, just to have “fun.” Like skydiving. As a bird shifter, one would assume he’d enjoy the activity. They would be wrong. There was nothing fun about falling from a plane miles above the planet in human form. Hawk had been sure they were either going to die as they raced toward Mother Earth, or he’d have to shift and risk exposing all their kind. His totem spirit, on the other hand, had screamed with excitement the whole time.


Dreamspinner-ebook  *  Dreamspinner-paperback

In Enemy Hands - Chapter Six

Chapter SixAdlar lay in bed, listening to Varo move around the house. How odd not to hear the usual silence that greeted him. It was a change he thought he’d grow to like. That too was a surprise. He enjoyed the breaks he took from training others and the palace.
Those interludes he spent in peace. He wasn’t one who needed others to entertain him, and frankly, dealing with the court at the palace was tiring and often left him fighting the urge to knife someone. Unfortunately his brother discouraged random killing of his court.
Being alone never bothered him. Lying on his back, he stared up at the ceiling, the white sheet draped over his hips. Now that had changed. Everything had from the moment he’d found Varo’s red sash buried in the dirt at the crash site.
And he was fine with that.
He’d stripped after Varo had left and went to bed. He didn’t believe Varo would try anything, which was why he’d left his weapons in the bath. While he never fully relaxed his guard, he was more comfortable around Varo now.
Was that wise? He was unsure. But when he needed help, Varo hadn’t turned his back on him. He was actually surprised Varo hadn’t. Dare he hope Varo had developed some feeling for him? And if so, could he trust Varo?
Oh, Varo wasn’t foolish. He knew there was no way off this planet, but still. Good judgment often fell to the side when desperation kicked in. Varo could have shot Adler with his own weapon before he’d had a chance to activate the collar.
Varo hadn’t.   
For that matter he could have just stood there and let nature play its course. The creature could have killed him. Instead Varo had helped him. They were small steps, but they were steps.
Privately he hoped they were leading somewhere. He stroked his cock leisurely and yawned. And if that did happen, he wasn’t sure how his brother would feel. Having Varo as a prisoner and a sex slave was one thing—having him as something much more significant was another matter.
Taking a mate was serious. And he couldn’t believe he was thinking along those lines. But the urge was there, lurking under the surface. He could probably ignore the urge, if he chose to. But he didn’t want to.
His hips thrust as he continued stroking. Maybe the antibiotic medicine he’d injected earlier was messing with his head. Or the pain medicine. Either way, the idea of taking Varo as a mate was problematic but that didn’t bother him.
He was a Yesri prince, and his people hated the other race. His brother wasn’t too fond of Varo’s father also. Adlar rolled to his side, his eyes heavy. Surprisingly the thought of Varo as his mate wasn’t panic inducing.
He snorted softly and then yawned again until his eyes watered. He was also willing to bet an unlimited supply of Black Phospolrock Varo wouldn’t feel the same. Well, the stubborn male would just have to get over it. He wasn’t going anywhere. Ever. Releasing his dick, Adlar rolled to his side. There was no way he could stay awake a moment longer.
Satisfied with that line of reasoning, he drifted off to sleep. His dreams murky mess of attacks on him and desperation connected to Varo. Pleasure and pain folded over each other until he couldn’t tell one from the other.
Two unit hours later he woke to someone shaking him. Training kicked in and his eyes flipped open. He lunged up, wrapped his hand around the intruder’s throat, and jerked the other person off his feet.
Rolling, he had the other person under him in seconds. His sleep-addled brain heard a terrified squawk as his fingers tightened on soft skin. His gaze was hazy, and his mouth was desert dry. He shook his head, trying to focus. What was wrong with him?
Then he noticed the hard body under him. Male, his brain said. Scared too. An alluring scent rose from the body under his. Still holding the other male trapped, he leaned closer and inhaled deeply.
Mmm, that scent. It cut through the fog in his head and demanded he pay attention and…. What was it about that scent? His mouth watered, and he ground his cock against the body under him. He wanted to bury his fangs into whoever it was he held.
And speaking of which, the body against his felt so good. There was a hard cock pressed against him. He wanted… he wanted to bury his cock deep and feed while he—
“Adlar? Oh gods, please don’t hurt me.”
Reality snapped back into focus.
“Frack!” Horrified, Adlar released Varo’s throat. “Varo? What… what are you…? How did you get here?”
“Y-y-you pulled me down! I-I-I was just trying to wake you up like you said, and then you… then you… gods!” Panting, Varo lay frozen under Adlar. “I-I thought you were going t-t-to….”
Adlar dropped his head, his forehead resting on Varo’s. “I am so sorry, Varo. I would never hurt you, please believe me. The pain medicine must have affected me more so than I expected. Then you shook me—”
“Y-you can better believe I won’t make that mistake again! Now let me up.”
“No.” Adlar refused to move. He needed to calm Varo down. And while Varo might have been scared—and the slight scent of fear in the air said he truly was—he was also hard. Interesting. “Just, let me…. Stay here, please. Don’t go.”
Sighing, Varo settled back into the bed, Adlar still sprawled on top and there was still a hard cock—besides his own—begging for attention.
“I didn’t mean to do that or to scare you,” Adlar said. “Interesting thing is, I wasn’t concerned with trying to kill you, even if I did have your throat in my hands.”
Varo glared up at Adlar. “Really? Sure could have fooled me.”
“I was… controlling you, not strangling you. Your scent called to me, and having your body against mine…. Trust me, killing you wasn’t in my mind.”
“I’m not sure that makes me feel any better.”
“Well, you’d enjoy one more than the other. How’s that?”
“Well, gods!”
Adlar laughed softly. “Until I get used to having you in my bed and next me, it may be a good idea not to touch me while I’m sleeping. Usually when I wake I’m much more coherent, but still, it’s hard to bury instinct.”
Varo goggled at Adlar. “I’m supposed to sleep now after that?”
“You’ll be fine.” Adlar kissed the tip of Varo’s nose. “I think the pain medicine was the cause. Like I said, killing you wasn’t what was on my mind.”
Varo squinted at Adlar. “I could sleep in another room, you know.”
Adlar leaned back and stared down at Varo, who was still hard and pressing against him. “No. I told you. You sleep with me.”
“Okay, fine. I sleep with you. You didn’t mean to scare me to pieces. I won’t be shaking you any more while you are asleep. Lesson learned. So now can you let me up?”
“I don’t believe so.” Adlar moved closer. “Instead, why don’t you tell me what’s got you so hard?”
Varo squeaked. “I-I-I…”
Adlar enjoyed the blush that tented those tanned cheeks. He rubbed against Varo like an overly large feline. “Don’t try to deny it. You can’t.”
“But, but, I don’t know why,” Varo wailed.
Adlar quickly replayed what happened earlier. Suddenly he smiled, and Varo gasped. Yes, he was sure the smile was wicked. Varo’s reaction had to do with the hand around his throat, he was sure of it. He let his weight rest fully on Varo. Hmm, there’s was one way to find out if he was correct. He reached up and grabbed Varo by the throat.
Varo shuddered, and not from fear. No, that was arousal he smelled in the air—Varo’s arousal. Interesting. Had he found a kink Varo didn’t even know he had?
“W-what are you…?”
Varo was all but quivering with need. Mind made up, Adlar stared into Varo’s startled blue eyes. “I want to fuck you, Varo. But I also told you I wouldn’t force you. So, if you don’t want this, you better get up. Otherwise….”
Varo didn’t move.
Adar wasn’t sure he even breathed for a few unit seconds. Okay, Varo was still laying there staring at him, so he was taking that was acceptance. But just in case….
“Last chance, Varo.”
Varo blinked.
Adlar wanted to yell in triumph. Never had he felt such excitement when fucking someone.
“So be it. Don’t say later I forced you.” Adlar waited, giving Varo one last chance. When Varo still didn’t speak, Adlar took that as consent.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Adlar said. “In a moment, you won’t have the right to speak unless you’re saying ‘yes’, ‘more’, or ‘please’. You say anything other than that and I punish you.”
“P-punish? With the collar? But—”
“No, not the collar. You’ll be spanked with the flat of my hand on your naked ass.”
“Spanked?” Varo tried to wiggle out from under Adlar. “ Spanked ? Like a child?”
Adlar rocked against Varo again. “Oh, trust me, there won’t be anything child-like with this spanking. In fact, I’m willing to bet you like it.”
Varo bit his lip. “Y-you’re not going to injure me, right?”
“Of course not. I have no interest in harming you. This… this is erotic pain, Varo. Something totally different.”
“I… I… I’ll like it?”
“I think you will,” Adlar said.
“But what if I don’t?”
“If you so soft while being spanked, I’ll stop.”
Varo paused then finally spoke, “O-okay.”
“Excellent. I’m very proud of you. Let’s get you undressed.”
“What? Right now? But I thought…. Wait! What are you… Stars!”
They spent the next five unit minutes wrestling Varo out of his clothes. It started off intensely, but Adlar found himself soon struggling not to laugh as they rolled around on the bed. After some interesting move from Adlar, Varo’s shirt sailed across the room.
His pants required at little more work, but soon Adlar tossed them across the room too. Even Varo was giggling as they ended up where they started—Adlar on top of Varo. Except this time there was nothing between them. The lighthearted moment passed as they lay there staring at each other.
Varo opened his mouth to speak.
Adlar quickly rested his finger on Varo’s lips. “No. Remember, there’s only three words I want to hear from you, unless you’re ready to see if you like being spanked.”
Varo quickly shook his head.
Grinning, Adlar kissed Varo’s neck, his lips gliding over Varo’s flesh. Varo shivered. Adlar saw goose bumps breaking out over where his lips lingered. Please, Adlar let his warm breath caressed Varo’s skin. Varo’s response wasn’t immediate, but he finally tilted his head back, giving Adlar more access to his neck. 

“Like that?” Adlar breathed in his ear. 

“Yes.” Varo shivered as Adlar nipped his neck. 
TBC

Pride Promotions presents Driven by Fire by Draven St. James

Author Name:  Draven St. James
Book Name: Driven by Fire
Series: Firehouse Six                      Book Number: Four
Release Date: March 24, 2015


Blurb(s): Taber Delane is lucky to be alive, but his career as a firefighter ended the day a beam snapped, resulting in a crushing spinal injury. Most of his friends are willing to give him space, everyone except paramedic, Deacon Hall.
Deacon hasn't met a challenge he couldn't tackle and he knows Taber needs someone in his corner who isn't afraid to stand up to the big bad fireman. The longer he’s around Taber, the more the sexy vulnerability of the man comes through. Deacon finds he doesn’t just want to be Taber’s live-in caregiver, he wants a chance at the passionate man beneath the stubborn shell.
A shell that is cracking, no matter how Taber tries to hold it together. Deacon being in his home starts to open him up—and open his eyes to the man Deacon hides from the rest of the world. Without seeing it coming, Taber soon craves more. A lot more.
Now if only Deacon can get Taber to see that it isn't so bad having him there to assist. Even if and maybe especially when Taber is naked, dripping wet, and angry as hell.
Pages or Words: 43,556 words
Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

Excerpt:“You’re not giving me a sponge bath,” Taber snapped and glowered at Deacon as he wheeled himself into the locker bay. The sweat ran down his temples, his shirt soaked through with it. He took in his motionless legs and grimaced before shooting Deacon another irritated look.
        Deacon sat with his feet on one of the peeling dark blue benches, his back reclined against a bank of gray lockers along the far wall in the physical therapy building. A book was balanced on his knees, and black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His shaggy auburn hair fell to curl around his ears in disarray.
        Deacon peered at him with pale green eyes. “There go my dreams of rubbing you down and tweeting the pics.”




Sales Links: http://www.loose-id.com/firehouse-six-4-driven-by-fire.html


About the author:

Draven St. James is a born and raised Oregonian. She has traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill her books. Her ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where she finds her peace.


Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draven.stjamesFacebook Author Page: https://dravenstjames.wordpress.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/DravenStJamesPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dravenstjames/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7155623.Draven_St_James
Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Dar Albert
Tour Dates & Stops: Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, My Fiction Nook, BFD Book Blog, Amanda C. Stone, Divine Magazine, Molly Lolly, Inked Rainbow Reads, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Kimi-Chan, Carly’s Book Reviews, Kristy's Brain Food, Decadent Delights, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, 3 Chicks After Dark, Rainbow Gold Reviews

Rafflecopter Prize: A book from Draven’s backlist
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pride Promotions presents The Sum of Everything by April Kelley and a Giveaway!

Book Name: The Sum of Everything Series: Pickleville             Book: Two Author Name: April Kelley Release Date: March 15, 2015
Blurb:

They say opposites attract but can they make love last?

Greg Mitchell’s entire childhood was filled with violence and abuse. That was until he came to work on the Heath Farm. His life was forever changed for the better, including meeting Brian Stockwell. From the first moment Greg met Brian he's been in love. But a threat his father made four years ago has always held him back from pursuing any real relationship with Brian. That was until he learns his father is on his deathbed and of no further harm to himself or Brian.

Greg finds out his family ties are stronger than he thought and they hold Greg back from really getting to know Brian the way he truly wants to. Both men discover that they have more differences than they originally thought.

Pages or Words: 41,533 Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Excerpt:Every time Greg Mitchell looked at Brian Stockwell, he hurt. It was like a physical ache in his chest where his heart should be. Greg caught a glimpse of the man he had been obsessed with for the past four years and that ache started up. Brian didn’t even know Greg existed and even thinking about that made Greg feel like he was in high school all over again. Greg was coming out of the barn, just getting ready to get cleaned up for an evening class he had to commute too. This was his last semester of college and he thanked God every day for that fact. He couldn’t wait to get done. The commute from the farm to school was a bitch, especially this past winter when the snow was up to the windows of his truck and his dick practically fell off every time he went from the bunkhouse to one of the barns. Greg was just glad that it was summer for his last class ever. He didn’t have to worry about the roads being covered in ice and the cold seeping into his bones. The sun didn’t go down until about the same time Greg got home from class, so he didn’t even have to worry about driving at night in a large city. Although, living in Pickleville his whole life meant every city was large. Living in a small town also meant driving anywhere after ten o’clock at night was an unusual occurrence for anyone who lived here. For a farmhand like Greg that was especially true. Greg had been so focused on finishing school for so long that he just didn’t have time for any extracurricular activities. Greg sighed as he watched Brian step out of the main house. Brian had shorts on, khaki’s and a dark blue t-shirt. Even from as far away as Greg was, he could see Brian’s cute little nose wriggle his glasses further up his nose. His dark hair had that messy, spiky look that seemed to be at odds with Brian’s nerdy personality type. Greg rolled his eyes at himself. He couldn’t blame his lack of a social life entirely on his college classes. If Brian ever did give him the time of day Greg still wouldn’t pursue any type of relationship. And he longed to have Brian under him, naked. Greg sighed again. Roger Mitchell’s parting words four years ago were not an empty threat. Greg’s father was more than capable of following through on hurting anyone Greg even came close to dating. Roger would know too. Greg had seen him on campus more than once throughout the years he had been attending the University.Yeah, it sounded crazy. It was crazy but it was Greg’s truth. Greg would live in it.
Sales Links: 

Coming Soon pg: http://www.extasybooks.com/The-Sum-of-Everything/?author_id=1031

Once released: http://www.extasybooks.com/The-Sum-of-Everything/


About the author: Living in Southwest Michigan, April lives with her husband and two kids. She has been an avid reader for several years. Writing her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won't stop telling their stories. If April isn't reading or writing she can be found outside playing with the animals or taking a long walk in the woods.
Where to find the author: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraprilk... Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authoraprilk... @authoraprilkell Pinterest: April KelleyGoodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...Publisher: eXtasy BooksCover Artist: Carmen Waters
Tour Dates & Stops: Parker Williams, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Decadent Delights, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, Love Bytes, Inked Rainbow Reads, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Hearts on Fire, MM Good Book Reviews, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Amanda C. Stone, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Molly Lolly






Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘The Sum of Everything’Rafflecopter Code:
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Feathers are gonna fly when these two meet - To Touch the Sky

To Touch the Sky~release date April 3, 2015~
To Touch the Sky TourGoodreads





Pre-order links:AReDreamspinner

Blurb: Leap of Faith: Book Two He can run, but he can’t hide… Centuries ago, Hawk made a terrible mistake which has haunted him since. Fear of responsibility and feelings of unworthiness leads him to denying the mate Wha-tay showed him in a vision. So now Hawk runs his bar, has casual sex, and never, ever dates men with blond hair and brown eyes. But then Simon walks into his bar, and the future he’s feared is about to end up in a brawl if Hawk doesn’t do something—fast. Simon Carter has a smart mouth and a bulldog temperament. So when Hawk runs, Simon pursues the sexy man, only to be rejected. Just as Simon decides to give up, someone—or something—visits him to change his mind… and scares him to death. Now Simon is backpedaling, and Hawk is in pursuit. Desperate to reassure Simon and keep him safe, Hawk is forced to reveal his secrets before he’s ready. Can Simon learn to accept things aren’t always as they seem? Is the connection between them strong enough to help Hawk overcome centuries of pain? The only way the two men will move beyond Hawk’s past is for both of them to take a leap of faith. Pages: 210Cover Artist: L.C. ChaseCategories: Novels Erotic Romance Werewolves/Shapeshifters BDSM Leap of Faith by M.A. Church Paranormal


Excerpt:“Hawk?” Hawk mentally cursed even as he slapped a smile on his face. So lost in his memories, he didn’t hear the guy’s approach. There was a time that would not have happened. “Hey. Um, you ready?” “Yeah. I just…. This is the last time, isn’t it? I mean, it’s a well-known fact you never take the same guy home more than three times. This makes the third time. Am I right?” This was another reason he got his hookups out as fast as possible. He wasn’t into that whole “talking” thing. Finding out what his reputation seemed to be was a little disconcerting, though. Made him sound like a player. Well, aren’t you? Great, just what he didn’t need right now—the spirit he shared his body with yakking in his ear. Unfortunately it happened often. Very often. “Ah, look….” Hawk fought not to fidget. He was drawing a blank on the guy’s name. “Jesus, really?” A disgusted snort came from the man glaring at him. “You don’t remember my name, do you? We’ve gone to bed three times now, and you can’t remember my name. It’s Nicky.” You weren’t even in the right ballpark. “I’m sorry, Nicky. I’m bad with names. But yes, I don’t bring a guy home more than three times. It’s a rule. You’re nice and all—” “Oh God, seriously? You’re giving me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ excuse?” Nicky glared at Hawk. Hawk needed to nip this in the bud. Emotional scenes weren’t his thing either. “It’s not an excuse. It is me. I promise. Nicky, I don’t do relationships. It’s better if I… I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I have my reasons.” Nicky’s anger suddenly fled from his face, leaving what looked uncomfortably like pity. “I’m sure you do, and I’m sorry to hear that. I had hoped we could be more, but I guess not. You’re a nice guy, Hawk, but man, whatever’s eating you, you need to let it go.” Hawk’s head snapped back. “What? How did you—” “Oh, come on. You think you’re the only person on this planet who’s been hurt? You aren’t.” Nicky fished his keys out of his pocket. “Let it go, man, and move on.” Hawk’s mouth was still hanging open when Nicky walked out the door. I like him! Hawk shut the door. “Shut. Up. And there’s no point in you liking him. He’s got dark hair, remember?” You never sleep with blond-haired men. We all get it. Look, we both know he’s not your mate. But here’s a human telling you the same thing we’ve all told you for years. For that reason, I like him. It’s a shame. He could’ve been a good friend to you. “I don’t want a mate, and I don’t need friends.” Everyone needs someone. Even you. Hawk shook his head. “I’m not mate material. Whoever my mate is, he’d do better with someone else, someone who isn’t me. He’d be happier.” And does he get a vote in this? Oh wait, I forgot. You da man. “I’m going back to bed, so stop yapping at me, please.” Yawning, Hawk locked the door. He stripped, then returned to bed and straight back to dreaming about his mate. 


Nice 4 star review for To Touch the Sky

carlys book reviews




Make sure to check out the tour for a chance to win not only Shadows in the Night, but To Touch the Sky. When the book releases, I’m having a giveaway too.~M

Adverse Effects - Saving Caeorleia Book Two by Alicia Nordwell and a Giveaway!

First, a big thanks to my host, M.A. Church, for offering space on her blog so I can talk about my upcoming release. She’s a writer, and reader, after my own heart!

(and I'm a fan of Cia's ~Michelle) 


Sci-fi or… Not?

I’ve been asked if my Saving Caeorleia series should really be considered sci-fi. Well, it depends on the reader perspective, I think. I do have elements of space travel, and aliens, and some medical technology in my story. I also have alien worlds, physical and “spiritual” bonding (like marriage). Oh, and my aliens are super pale with blue blood, blue markings, claws AND fangs. And they like to take a few sips from their respective partners every so often during sex to reinforce their bonding.

So, yeah, it depends on your point of view. I play fast and loose with some of the technology because I can, and other parts of it I do a lot of research on. Hybridization, medical procedures, human anatomy, alien anatomy and speech, nano technology etc… all get tossed in with fruit that has fizzy seeds, weaponized laser pistols, and polygamous brown and green critters that roll about the tree tops. 

In this sequel to The Experiment, we get to see more of both Caeorleia and a whole NEW planet! And that’s what makes it fun to write for me. I love coming up with twisted plot, scene, or character elements to write for my eBooks, no matter what genre you consider their origin.
In Adverse Effects, I’ve included some medical technology that’s definitely out there by harnessing special abilities. Dade, one of my main characters, has been through a lot in the last five years. Unfortunately, as a soldier, he’d been through even worse things, and now he’s scarred on the inside.
Sometimes, what we can’t see can hurt far worse than what we can. That’s definitely why my other main character’s mission in life is to care for others well-being. I don’t want to give away who it is, if you haven’t read the story quite yet, but I hope you’ll enjoy it! 
Adverse Effects Saving Caeorleia Book Two
Published by Dreamspinner Press 


Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6221All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-adverseeffects-1760501-145.htmlAmazon:  http://tinyurl.com/nvcaqqm 


Excerpt: “You can’t eat these, though they smell good. The bright color is an indicator that things are not quite what they appear on Caeorleia. Always use caution when plants you see have a brilliant color.”
I wondered if he included himself in that category, with his eyes like precious stones polished to a rich luster. I pushed those thoughts away with a scowl. Maybe his warning held merit. “What are those?” I pointed up toward the sky.
High up in the trees were these small animals that seemed to sway from branch to branch. Some looked brown, but others had green skin. They were so small it was hard to tell their actual shape. Several seemed clumped together into little balls that were constantly shifting and rolling along the branches.
“Ahh, those are screniups. Their blood is like ours, colder than yours. They cannot regulate their temperature easily with their thin skin, but they also burn in the sun easily. They group into a mate unit, several mates to each breeder, and take turns being in the light while they roll along the trees high in the canopy. They share the warmth, all pressed together like that.”



Author Bio:Alicia Nordwell is one of those not so rare creatures, a reader turned writer. Striving to find an interesting story one day, she decided to write what she wanted instead. Then the voices started... Yep, not only does she talk about herself in the third person for bios, she has voices in her head constantly clamoring to get out.

Fortunately, with the encouragement of her family and friends, she decided for her own sanity to keep writing. Now you can find her stories both free and e-published. When she’s not on the computer typing away, she's a wife and a mom of two in the dreary, yet ideal for her redhead complexion, Pacific Northwest. Except for when she disappears into one of the many worlds in her head, of course!

She can also be found quite often at her blog, where she has a lot of free fiction for readers to enjoy or working hard, or maybe hardly working, as an admin on GayAuthors.org under her online nickname, Cia.
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CONTEST Rafflecopter HTML Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pride Promotions presents Whispers of Home by April Kelley and a Giveaway!

Book Name: Whispers of HomeSeries? Yes.                 Number: Book one.Author Name: April KelleyAuthor Bio: Born and raised in Southwest Michigan, April lives with her husband and two kids.  She has been an avid reader for several years.  Writing her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won't stop telling their stories.  If April isn't reading or writing she can be found outside playing with a farm full of animals or taking a long walk in the woods. Where to find the author:If you wish to contact her please email mailto:authoraprilkelley@gmail.com.You can also find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/april.ott.12?fref=ts
Publisher: eXtasy BooksCover Artist: Carmen Waters

Blurb(s): All Jaron McAllister wanted to do was get out of the small town where he grew up. After being bullied all his life for being gay, that’s exactly what he does. He loses all contact with everyone in the town of Pickleville, including his emotionally distant mother and the only true friend he ever had.When his best friend and mother of the child they share, get murdered he knows he must ask for help in the one place he thought he would never go back to. Coming back home isn’t easy and finding himself attracted to the town man-slut spells disaster. Travis Heath isn’t at all what his reputation suggests though.  



Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance
Excerpt: Jaron looked through the window of the diner from across the street. His mother’s hands gripped a mug, probably full of coffee. Jaron thought he was meeting Brian but apparently Brian had other plans. Brian always did think he knew best, the bastard. Jaron was fully aware his oldest friend had set this up, probably getting in touch with Gloria McAllister right after Jaron had called the first time, telling her when Jaron would be here. Brian had never understood that the relationship Jaron and Gloria had wasn’t like the relationship Brian had with his own father.Looking at his mom through the glass was like watching a movie of her. He had never felt the connection with his mom that he thought he should, even as a small child. Maybe that had been his fault. That he wasn’t quite what she wanted in a son and therefore kept just enough distance to make it seem like miles. Which was why he was confused she had come instead of Brian.When he was eighteen years old he had thought he left because of a burning desire to fit in somewhere, because he certainly hadn’t fit in very well in Pickleville. He needed that connection to another human being, that knowing he was so important to another human being they just couldn’t live without him. Ironically, it was a five year old boy he felt unconditionally connected too. Now that he knew the unconditional love a parent felt for their child, he wondered at his mother’s parental instincts.He stood on the sidewalk in front of what used to be a place called the Hobbyist’s Dream but was now an Asian market. He noticed the place was empty when he had arrived but his back was turned now, his complete attention on the woman in the window. He thought the Asian place probably wouldn’t have lasted long back in the day. Who knows now? The diner was the only one in town, or was until they put in a McDonald’s by the highway. Jaron hadn’t realized that things in this town could change until the bus passed by the fast food restaurant. Somehow he expected everything to be the same, as if time would stand still just because he didn’t feel any different now that he was here.Standing here, he felt that maybe he left to put the physical miles between himself and the only parent he had ever known. He had never fit in with her either.He felt a tug on his hand and looked down at sweet blue eyes. This small boy was as dependent on the next few minutes and the woman in the window as he was. “I’m thirsty,” Bobby said, around the thumb in his mouth.“Me too. Let’s go.” Jaron stepped off the curb and onto the street, gripping onto Bobby’s hand just a little tighter, pausing for a car, and then continuing until he came within inches of his mother, the glass the only barrier now. She looked directly at him, showing more emotion in those few seconds than he had ever seen from her during his entire childhood. He looked away and walked through the door of the restaurant.

Pages or Words: 44,597 words



Tour Dates & Stops:17-Mar Decadent Delights 17-Mar The Novel Approach
24-Mar Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
31-Mar Love Bytes Hearts on Fire Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
7-Apr MM Good Book Reviews Prism Book Alliance
14-Apr My Fiction Nook Because Two Men Are Better Than One Bayou Book Junkie
21-Apr Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews
28-Apr Divine Magazine BFD Book Blog
5-May Parker Williams Bike Book Reviews Sales Links: http://www.extasybooks.com/coming-soon/Whispers-of-Home/ http://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Home-P...Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Whispers of Home’Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway





And now for the interview!

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?

I use a pen name. April is my real first name. Kelley is the name of a pet dog I had when I was little. I’m a big animal lover and even live on a farm now. When I was little I wanted to be a writer, so using the name Kelley is a way to respect my childhood dog and my own childhood aspirations.



Describe your writing space.

I sit in my living room on my couch, most of the time, in my pajamas.



What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I like to spend time outside, going on hikes in the woods around my house.



How do you develop your plot and characters?

Well characters always come first for me. After that, the plot sort of forms around whatever they tell me.



When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with?
Eyes, hair. Definitely the hair, which is a weird thing to start with, isn’t it?



How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’m on my sixth now. I just finish book five in the Pickleville series and started another series.



Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

I’m pretty happy in the M/M romance genre at the moment, but never say never, right? I may stray outside the M/M genre down the road but I won’t stray from the broad LGBT genre.



Are you working on anything at the present you would like to tell us about?

I’m working on a new Series called Lakehouse Security. It will come out in September of this year. I don’t want to give too much away at the moment but it’s about four brothers who own a security company. They get called to help out on a case by the local police in which gay men are reported as missing on a regular basis.



                                                         

Pride Promotions presents Ever The Same by BA Tortuga and a Giveaway!

Book Name: Ever The SameSeries?                                                 If yes, what number? Book one of a seriesRelease Date: February 27, 2015Author Name: BA TortugaAuthor Bio:Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing porn sites in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has headed to the high desert mountains. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Where to find the author:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batortugaTwi... @batortugaPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/batortuga/O... http://www.batortuga.comOther: http://batortuga.blogspot.com
Publisher: Dreamspinner PressCover Artist: Christy Caughie
Blurb(s): Audie Barrack is in it up to his elbows with a sick calf when his son’s school calls. Seems Grainger has gotten into yet another fight. When he walks into the principal’s office, he’s shocked to find his son has been fighting with a little girl named Randi.

A little girl with one blind dad and one dad who recently passed away.

Goddammit.

Dixon has lost his sight, his career, and his husband. Thank God for his brothers, Momma and Daddy, and his little girl, or he would simply give up. The last thing he needs is for Randi to start trouble at school, especially trouble that puts him in contact with another dad who might expect him to be a functional human being.

Dixon is struggling to live as a blind man, Audie is terrified someone might see he has a closet to come out of, and everyone from the school to both men’s families is worried for the men and their children. Unless they get themselves together and commit to change, neither of them stands a chance.  Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, Western/Cowboy
Excerpt: “It’s not like him to pick on someone who’s having a hard time.”“Of course it’s not. Randi’s the one that’s the vicious little bitch, right?” Damn, Mr. Snooty could snap.“Dixon!”“What? She’s had a shit life for the last year. She lost one of her dads, she had to leave Austin and her friends and her school, and suddenly she’s the fucking bad guy?”“Hey, I never said my boy was perfect,” Audie said, snarling a little himself. “He’s managed to get to six without trying to kill anyone, though, so this is new. Back off.”“Enough. No one is saying either of these children are bad. Randi has a huge number of hurdles to overcome, and Grainger is a shy little boy with a tendency to follow the crowd. Neither of these children have mothers at home, and I was hoping we could brainstorm some ways to help Randi feel included with the others.”This was ridiculous. It wasn’t his fucking job to make sure this asshole’s little brat felt like she didn’t need to punch his son anymore.“That’s her teacher’s job, Shannon.” Audie was through with this shit. “I’ll tell my boy to stay away from her. Can we go now?”“Yes. Yes, of course. Mr. White….”“I’ll talk to her. If it happens again, I’ll… shit, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll make it up as I go along.” The guy stood, and his mom handed him a cane. A white cane.Oh, Jesus fucking Christ. Seriously? Seriously, Grainger picked the kid with a blind dad and a dead….Wait.
Pages or Words: 256 pages
Tour Dates & Stops:
2-Mar Amanda C. Stone
3-MarParker Williams
4-Mar Elin Gregory
5-Mar Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words Kimi-Chan Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings Nic Starr
6-Mar Molly Lolly
9-Mar Tara Lain My Fiction Nook
10-Mar Joyfully Jay
11-Mar Fallen Angel Reviews
12-Mar Divine Magazine
13-Mar MM Good Book Reviews
16-Mar Decadent Delights
17-Mar Inked Rainbow Reads
18-Mar Hearts on Fire
19-Mar Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews Love Bytes
20-Mar Book Reviews and More by Kathy Bayou Book Junkie
23-Mar Full Moon Dreaming
24-Mar Cathy Brockman Romances
25-Mar LeAnn’s Book Reviews Guilty Indulgence Book Club Bike Book Reviews Prism Book Alliance
26-Mar 3 Chicks After Dark Because Two Men Are Better Than One Wake Up Your Wild Side Rainbow Gold Reviews
27-Mar BFD Book Blog

Sales Links: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...Rafflecopter Prize: Signed paperback copy of Ever The SameRafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Enemy Hands 5.2

 In Enemy Hands 5.2He cupped Adlar’s face and slanted his mouth over the other male’s.
His thumbs caressed the warm skin under his hands. Adlar stood quietly, allowing Varo to control the kiss. He opened, and Varo thrust in, desperate to taste every inch of Adlar’s mouth. He moaned, and his cock hardened. Adlar pulled him closer, and he jerked in surprise. Their hips were flush, and Adlar’s hard cock brushed against him.
Still frantically kissing Adlar, Varo tugged other male down with him until they both knelt on the soft grass that covered the hill then pushed Adlar onto his back. I can’t believe he’s letting me do this. He waited for Adlar to take over as he’d done all the other times, but the other male willingly sprawled on his back for Varo. Unwilling to believe his luck, and scared it might turn at any time, he covered Adlar’s body with his own.
Forced to breathe, he raised his head and gasped for air. Was that him hissing with need?Adlar opened his legs and made room for his body, and Varo forgot everything, including his name. Adlar grasped Varo’s hips with both hands and pulled him tighter against him. Braced on his elbows, he stared down at Adlar.
Yellow eyes hooded and lush mouth slightly open, Adlar stared right back at him, his lips slightly swollen from their kisses. Adlar shifted under him, and his hard shaft brushed against Varo.
His eyes rolled back as pleasure raced through his body. Oh, that’s good. His eyes snapped open when Adlar tightened his grasp on his ass and began to grind against him. His precome mixed with Adlar’s as they glided against one another, and left him panting.
Is it getting darker in here, or am I about to pass out from lack of oxygen? His wet braid slid across his back, and he jerked against Adlar as it fell by his side. The coolness against his hot skin tickled.
“So good,” he whispered, still thrusting against Adlar. He lowered his head until their lips were inches apart.
“Frack.” Adlar suddenly reached up, grabbed Varo’s braid, and tugged, pulling Varo’s head back. “Going to come soon. Come with me.”
The slight pain of having his hair pulled scrambled Varo’s senses. “Oh, oh, goddess!”
Thrusting madly, his body barreled toward orgasm. The bottom of his spine tingled, and he gritted his teeth. Just a little more! Please, just a little more. I’m almost, almost there. Adlar’s other hand slapped down on his naked ass, and a shudder racked Varo.
His belly tightened and a low growl fanned the flames of his desire. Wait? Growl? The next thing he knew he was sailing through the air. Adlar had thrown him off his body. He landed in the water and sunk below the surface. The sudden shock of water cleared his pleasured fogged mind.
Stars and curses, he’s lost his mind!
He broke the surface with every intention of chewing Adlar out for that stunt, but the sight that greeted him froze his voice. Still flat on his back, Adlar fought a huge, elongated cylindrical-shaped segmented creature. On each segment was one pair of wiggling legs.
It had a flattened head with a pair of extended mandibles and feathery antennae that it waved violently. Adlar had a hold of the creature’s frontal claws. Aw goddess, that’s a Centipes! There was no mistaking the bright aposematic colors of the animal. The creature had a pair of venom claws on the first pair of legs that Adlar desperately held onto.
Varo’s hair stood on end from the growls coming from it.
And Adlar was naked. He had nothing to fight the thing except brute strength. Without stopping to think, Varo plowed through the water then dove in, swimming hard to where they’d dropped their clothes on the other bank… and Adlar’s weapons. He threw himself out of the water, the horrifying snap of the Centipes’ jaws following him as he hurried to Adlar’s weapon stash.
Picking up the phaser, he checked the setting. It was set to stun only, he saw. He turned back to the combatants and took aim, waiting for one clear shot. That’s all I need, just one shot. Come on you ugly son of a freenip, give me a shot!
The creature and Adlar writhed together, a dance of deadly intent. Blood covered Adlar’s sides. Did the animal have burrs on its legs? It had to. Why else would Adlar be bleeding? Even from here he could see its short little legs brushing against Adlar’s sides.
He held the phaser steady, his breathing steady, as he waited for a shot. Then it hit him. What was he doing? By the stars’ fading light this was his chance to escape. Adlar was distracted, maybe possibly injured, and weaponless. And here he was holding the phaser, waiting to shoot the creature. What was he thinking? He needed to aim at Adlar.
He could take Adlar’s shuttle and maybe, just maybe, he could trick the Helkans into letting him past the Satellite Surveillance Network then he could… probably get shot of out the sky. Who was he kidding? He’d never make it.
And he couldn’t stand here and let that animal kill Adlar. Maybe his father was right. Maybe he really wasan idiot. Steadying his hand he waited. The creature was well over three feet in length but Adlar managed to stiff-arm the animal away from him.
Varo took the shot.
The animal screamed, the anger echoing around the cave, but it scampered away from Adlar. Moving faster than Varo thought possible it hit the water and swam toward one of the cave walls. Varo followed its escape with the phaser. He watched it climb the wall and scuttle across the ceiling to the hole in the upper part of the cave.
“Creepy.” Varo watched the tail of the thing disappear from view.
“Indeed.”
Now Varo found himself faced with yet another dangerous animal. Adlar lay on the ground, one elbow braced to hold him up. He plastered his other hand to one particularly bad wound that seeped blood.
Varo lowered the phaser but didn’t release it. One sound and he could have me on the ground thanks to this collar. So, why doesn’t he activate it?
“Varo, they tend to hunt in pairs. Could you… could you come here and help me back? And bring the phaser, just in case.”
Adlar had knocked him out of the way and saved him. He’d risked his life to save him. No one else had ever done such.
“Ah, okay.” Varo knew then that even with the weapon, he was still helpless to Adlar. And it had nothing to do with the weapons. “Keep an eye out while I get over there, please.”
Goddess help him, he was falling for the cursed Helkan.
“Oh, believe me,” Adlar huffed, darting a quick look at the ceiling of the cave. “I will.”
Varo swiftly made his way back to the island where Adlar lay mentally kicking himself the whole way. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. He reached the island and waded ashore. A couple of feet from Adlar he stopped.
From where he stood he saw tension flood Adlar’s body. He didn’t blame the other male. After all he held Adlar’s phaser. For all Adlar knew, Varo had changed the setting to kill instead of stun.
Could he shoot Adlar before the collar activated? It wasn’t worth finding out. He didn’t want to find out. The other male didn’t speak, just waited. Varo clutched the phaser, his knuckles whitening as he moved closer to Adlar. Adlar’s eyes moved from the weapon to Varo’s face, his face carefully blank.
Ever so slowly Varo bent down and held the weapon out to Adlar. “Here.”
Adlar looked at the phaser, then back up to Varo, before taking it. “Thank you, Varo.”
“Yeah, no problem.” Wanting to change the subject, Varo glanced at Adlar’s side. “Is that bad?”
“No, and the burrs on the legs aren’t poisonous. Most of the cuts aren’t deep except the one on my hip. Can you help me get back to our clothes?”
“Sure.” Glad Adlar wasn’t going to question him as to why he’d gave up the weapon so easily, Varo offered his hand to Adlar and pulled him up. “Lean on me.”
As they made their way to the water, Varo noticed the bleeding at Adlar’s side was slowing. The splash of red against Adlar’s pale skin affected Varo more than he would have thought. That creature could have killed Adlar, and that bothered him.
The whole trip was turning into an introspective nightmare he wanted no part of. They entered the water, and Adlar hissed softly as they swam back to where their clothes were. Once they made the other bank, Varo helped Adlar dress, and then dressed himself.
Neither one of them said a word as Varo handed the rest of Adlar’s weapons to him. After they dressed, Varo helped Adlar out of the cave. They still had a ways to walk in order to get back to Adlar’s home. The midday sun was up, even though it was still dim, thanks to the cloud cover.
“Are you capable of making it back?”
Adlar’s lips twitched. “Are you worried about me, Varo?”
Varo kept an eye on Adlar as they walked along the path back to the house. “I, ah… well. Let’s just say I know, have gotten used to you.”
“Better the Helkan you know, eh?”
Varo shrugged. “Exactly.”
The rest of the trip back wasn’t nearly as fun as getting there. Adlar immediately went to the bathroom, washed his hair, and showered. Varo found himself pulled into the impromptu shower with Adlar, but this time there was no playing around.
Adlar washed and got out while Varo stayed in a little longer. Varo finished washing. As he did, he watched Adlar towel dry his hair then open a cabinet and remove a medikit. That didn’t surprise him. He’d kept one in his bathroom at home too.
Although, Adlar’s kit appeared to be better stocked than the one he’d owned. Adlar stripped, then treated the various scratches and cuts left from the attack with a salve from the kit. He used the bandages to seal the wound, and then gave himself a shot of some sort of medicine.
With one last check to his wound, Adlar left the bathroom. Varo ended his shower, returned to the bedroom, and redressed. He found Adlar was sitting on the edge of the bed. The other male looked up when Varo sat down next to him.
“Are you okay?”
“I am. Just a little uncomfortable, but I really am fine.”
Varo nodded. He expected no less. “Just curious. Did you know those things were there?”
“Actually, no. I’ve explored that cave numerous times and never seen them, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. The caves support many different kinds of wildlife. The odd thing is it attacked us. They’re carnivorous, but there isn’t data to support them being man-eaters. We never did find its partner, and they always hunt in twos.”
“Huh.” Varo scratched his chin. “I wonder if it had babies.”
“Possibly.” Adlar yawned. “That would explain why it attacked something as big as us. Anyway, I think I’m going to take a short nap. The medicine I injected earlier has a slight sedation affect.”
“You trust me enough to take a nap?” Varo joked.
Adlar stared at Varo. “More than I thought I would.” Then Adlar suddenly grinned. “Of course, you’re welcome to nap with me.”
“I’m not the one who was injured from fighting a four foot Centipes.”
“True. Let me sleep for two unit hours, would you? Then wake me. Oh, and stay on the premises, please. You may watch some visual entertainments in my office or read. You know how to work the storage unit that holds the disks, right?”

And just like that, we’re back to where we were before. “Yes, it’s a lot like what I had. Thank you.” Varo stood. “And I’ll wake you as you asked.”
“Good.” Adlar lay on the bed.
Varo slipped from the room. It did surprise him Adlar would nap with him close by and awake. But he slept by the male last night and looked like he would every night. Maybe Adlar didn’t think Varo would attack him, and he was right. There was no point. He couldn’t out-fight Adlar.
And now he didn’t think he could kill him… and besides, he had no way off this hunk of rock.
Varo left the bedroom. He was thirsty, so he made his way to the kitchen. He fixed himself something to drink and sat at the table. His mind wandered. He’d seen Adlar feed, and saw that the male he fed from was okay.
He knew Adlar planned to feed from him. While the thought horrified him, it also left him hard. Lately his body wanted things that left his mind reeling. Was there something in the air here? He snorted at the thought. He wished it were as easy as blaming it on the atmosphere.
How much easier would this be if it were related to the ratio of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide? He also had to face the fact he was attracted to Adlar. And now Adlar injured himself while saving him. Gods, his head hurt now.
He finished his drink and washed out the glass. Then he remembered the wet towel he left in the bathroom and returned to retrieve it. He stood in the door, shocked to see Adlar had left his weapons out. Was this a test? Or was it nothing more than him being distracted?
Somehow he didn’t see Adlar forgetting something as important as this. And if Varo did take one of the weapons, Adlar would know. It simply wasn’t worth it. They’d managed to form the most tentative bonds of trust this morning. It was imperative he didn’t damage that trust.
It might be his ticket out of there.
TBC