M.A. Church's Blog, page 159
December 30, 2013
Happy New Year's Eve
So, anyone have any New Year's resolutions they want to share???Mine usually are:
1. Stop smoking
2. Eat better
3. Exercise
Well, I'm doing those lol. Didn't have much of a choice. Guess that means I really don't have any this year, they're already met!
* * * *
My writing goals for this year are:
1. Get five novel length books out. (Wrapped in Leather is included in that, so is The Harvest: Journey's End, and Be My Human from the Moonlit Skies series. So, that really leaves just two books to do lol.)
2. Get at least three novella's out. I have a couple of idea's on that. (Nighttime Promises is included.)
Hope everyone has a great 2014. Hard to believe it's here already.~M
December 29, 2013
Welcome Dawn Kimberly Johnson - Button Down
Thank you for having me today at Decadent Delights.
Button Downis my third novel, and it’s been a long time coming. My first novel, Broken and its sequel Home, were published in 2009 and 2010, respectively. After that I focused on short stories and novellas, submitting work to collections and anthologies. But I just couldn’t find another story that spoke to me long enough to become a full-blown novel. And then Ford and Gus came to me, and I saw their love blossom in front of me like magic. I immediately knew who they were, where they were going, and why. And I just had to be the one who told their story. For the longest time, it was exciting, but now it’s a bit sad because their out in the world now, where they’ll be either embraced or pulled apart by the public. It has been a journey of extremes. In solitude I nursed Gus and Ford along, playing with the words, trying to paint a vivid picture of them and tell a solid tale, but on Dec. 23 my fellas were suddenly swamped by light, noise, expectations, and judgment.I asked for it, didn’t I?I remember Oprah discussing her project Belovedonce. It wasn’t well received critically, and she said it was like someone had told her that her baby was ugly. I thought that was funny at the time, but not now, oh, not now.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Listen….” Gus ushered him toward Loretta’s porch and encouraged him to take a seat on the steps. They sat side by side, and Gus continued. “That night with you was amazing. I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in months, feeling… hopeful.”“But?”“No ‘but.’ I fully intended to see you for lunch. Hell, I even called Lin and bowed out of the meeting with Reilly’s… well, with you, I guess, because I just wanted to keep feeling good. I didn’t want any fighting over this contract to spoil my buzz.”“Are you saying you were high on me?” Ford smiled, putting a hand on Gus’s knee, but the look on the architect’s face prompted him to remove it with a sigh. “Now here comes the ‘but.’”“Sorry, Ford. My ex left to find a cure for ‘the gay,’ and he thinks he found it with Family Strong.” Gus clutched the cylinder tightly. “And believe me… it twists my gut to turn these designs over knowing that organization has a hand in this community center,” he growled. Then his expression and voice softened as he looked at Ford. “But, about us… I just… I can’t go there again. I won’t get involved again with someone who hates himself.”What? “I don’t hate myself!” Ford said, standing up. “Just because I’m not marching in a parade or don’t have a rainbow stuck to my bumper, doesn’t mean I hate myself, Gus!”“It’s not about parades and bumper stickers, Ford. I don’t have one on my car, either.” Gus got to his feet. “It’s about being comfortable in your own skin, knowing that you’re okay just as you are. And even though few people ever accomplish it”—Gus reached out and placed his hand over Ford’s heart—“it’s about knowing it strongly enough in here that no one can ever make you feel not okay.”Looking into each other’s eyes, Ford could feel the heat from Gus’s hand as if it were seeping through the cotton of his shirt and beneath his skin, reaching his heart. Ford could feel his heart beating stronger, faster, and he was sure Gus felt it too. They leaned in, coming so close they could sense the other’s breath through slightly parted lips. Their eyes closed, but at the last second Ford stiffened and pushed Gus’s hand away.“It’s not that easy,” he said, looking nervously around the darkened street and up at the curtained windows of the neighboring homes. “My family….”Gus stared at him for several moments, nodded, and leaned over to pick up his things. “Thanks for walking me over.”Ford watched him walk up the steps, fish a set of keys out of the blue planter by the door, and, tucking the cylinder under one arm, unlock Loretta’s front door. He didn’t look at Ford again before closing and locking it behind him.
*****
Thanks for having me, M.A.
Blurb: When he finds himself captivated by a movie-star handsome stranger he meets in a bar, lawyer Ford Reilly watches a simple one-night stand develop into a taste of what living honestly might bring him.
Out and proud Gus Hansen has built a small architectural firm from nothing, but could lose it all as he tries to break a contract he signed before knowing about the project’s antigay ties.After Ford discovers he spent a passionate night with the man on the other side of the dispute he’s handling, he finds himself in more than one quandary. He can either maintain the status quo, enforcing the contract to the letter, or he can defy his overbearing father and break free of the closeted life he's built for himself in order to be with Gus.
Gus has his own choices to make. He knows the sting of loving a man who hides himself, but the longer he lingers in Ford's presence, the more difficult it becomes to deny their attraction.
Buy Links: Button Down is currently available at Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=button+down&osCsid=0t0580okvttf50ifu8lq643v84&x=-1047&y=-329
Bio: A native of West Virginia, Dawn Kimberly Johnson earned a BA from the Marshall University W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications and worked as a copy editor at The Charleston Daily Mail for eight years.
Blog link: http://kimswritingagain.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @Dawn_KJ | https://twitter.com/Dawn_KJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnKimberlyJohnson
E-mail: KimsWritingAgain@yahoo.com
Button Downis my third novel, and it’s been a long time coming. My first novel, Broken and its sequel Home, were published in 2009 and 2010, respectively. After that I focused on short stories and novellas, submitting work to collections and anthologies. But I just couldn’t find another story that spoke to me long enough to become a full-blown novel. And then Ford and Gus came to me, and I saw their love blossom in front of me like magic. I immediately knew who they were, where they were going, and why. And I just had to be the one who told their story. For the longest time, it was exciting, but now it’s a bit sad because their out in the world now, where they’ll be either embraced or pulled apart by the public. It has been a journey of extremes. In solitude I nursed Gus and Ford along, playing with the words, trying to paint a vivid picture of them and tell a solid tale, but on Dec. 23 my fellas were suddenly swamped by light, noise, expectations, and judgment.I asked for it, didn’t I?I remember Oprah discussing her project Belovedonce. It wasn’t well received critically, and she said it was like someone had told her that her baby was ugly. I thought that was funny at the time, but not now, oh, not now.Here’s an excerpt:
“Listen….” Gus ushered him toward Loretta’s porch and encouraged him to take a seat on the steps. They sat side by side, and Gus continued. “That night with you was amazing. I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in months, feeling… hopeful.”“But?”“No ‘but.’ I fully intended to see you for lunch. Hell, I even called Lin and bowed out of the meeting with Reilly’s… well, with you, I guess, because I just wanted to keep feeling good. I didn’t want any fighting over this contract to spoil my buzz.”“Are you saying you were high on me?” Ford smiled, putting a hand on Gus’s knee, but the look on the architect’s face prompted him to remove it with a sigh. “Now here comes the ‘but.’”“Sorry, Ford. My ex left to find a cure for ‘the gay,’ and he thinks he found it with Family Strong.” Gus clutched the cylinder tightly. “And believe me… it twists my gut to turn these designs over knowing that organization has a hand in this community center,” he growled. Then his expression and voice softened as he looked at Ford. “But, about us… I just… I can’t go there again. I won’t get involved again with someone who hates himself.”What? “I don’t hate myself!” Ford said, standing up. “Just because I’m not marching in a parade or don’t have a rainbow stuck to my bumper, doesn’t mean I hate myself, Gus!”“It’s not about parades and bumper stickers, Ford. I don’t have one on my car, either.” Gus got to his feet. “It’s about being comfortable in your own skin, knowing that you’re okay just as you are. And even though few people ever accomplish it”—Gus reached out and placed his hand over Ford’s heart—“it’s about knowing it strongly enough in here that no one can ever make you feel not okay.”Looking into each other’s eyes, Ford could feel the heat from Gus’s hand as if it were seeping through the cotton of his shirt and beneath his skin, reaching his heart. Ford could feel his heart beating stronger, faster, and he was sure Gus felt it too. They leaned in, coming so close they could sense the other’s breath through slightly parted lips. Their eyes closed, but at the last second Ford stiffened and pushed Gus’s hand away.“It’s not that easy,” he said, looking nervously around the darkened street and up at the curtained windows of the neighboring homes. “My family….”Gus stared at him for several moments, nodded, and leaned over to pick up his things. “Thanks for walking me over.”Ford watched him walk up the steps, fish a set of keys out of the blue planter by the door, and, tucking the cylinder under one arm, unlock Loretta’s front door. He didn’t look at Ford again before closing and locking it behind him.
*****
Thanks for having me, M.A.
Blurb: When he finds himself captivated by a movie-star handsome stranger he meets in a bar, lawyer Ford Reilly watches a simple one-night stand develop into a taste of what living honestly might bring him.
Out and proud Gus Hansen has built a small architectural firm from nothing, but could lose it all as he tries to break a contract he signed before knowing about the project’s antigay ties.After Ford discovers he spent a passionate night with the man on the other side of the dispute he’s handling, he finds himself in more than one quandary. He can either maintain the status quo, enforcing the contract to the letter, or he can defy his overbearing father and break free of the closeted life he's built for himself in order to be with Gus.
Gus has his own choices to make. He knows the sting of loving a man who hides himself, but the longer he lingers in Ford's presence, the more difficult it becomes to deny their attraction.
Buy Links: Button Down is currently available at Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=button+down&osCsid=0t0580okvttf50ifu8lq643v84&x=-1047&y=-329
Bio: A native of West Virginia, Dawn Kimberly Johnson earned a BA from the Marshall University W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications and worked as a copy editor at The Charleston Daily Mail for eight years.
Blog link: http://kimswritingagain.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @Dawn_KJ | https://twitter.com/Dawn_KJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnKimberlyJohnson
E-mail: KimsWritingAgain@yahoo.com
Nighttime Promises
Okay, guys, here's the hunt between Daroshi and Bryan. I didn't show the whole hunt, but you do find out who tried to kill Bryan. I'm very close to the end now so I'll be pulling this soon. It is under contract with Romance First too. Yay! So, after I finish it, I'll send it off for publication. I'll be starting a new flash Wednesday. No tentacles this time, lol. ~M
What the hell was that? Animal? Not an animal? Daroshi? Shit, shit, shit, where did it come from? Off to the right?Bryan gradually sat up, slowly scanning the area around him, his heart pounding. Damn, can whatever’s out there hear that?It certainly sounds loud to me. He had to stop sucking air before he passed out. Darkness surrounded him, but his eyes had already adjusted so he could see somewhat. His hand crept across the space until it landed on one of the weapons nearest him. Gently, he pulled it closer, barley daring to breath, careful not to make a sound. Something moved not far away, the brush shaking as… Bryan sighed. A small animal shot across the clearing hot on the heels of another animal. He didn’t know the name of the bigger one, but the small, darkly furred animal reminded him of a fox. It could be dangerous, but wasn’t a top predator. He relaxed as it moved on, intent on what it was chasing. Well, guess I’m a little jumpier than I thought. Bryan laid the weapon down. A lone bead of sweat trickled down his face. Irritated, he brushed it away. Okay, so he was a lot jumpier than he thought. Being prey was hard on the nerves. Bryan sighed again as he looked around. Well, hell. He pulled the canister of berries out. Well, so much for that; he was damn sure wide-awake now. Maybe he managed a few hours. It was enough to keep him going for a while. Eventually, he’d have to take a break and sleep. He finished the berries, cleaned up his little hiding spot, and repacked his gear. Might was well keep moving.Sounds echoed around him as he crawled out of his hiding spot. There were the chirps and calls of the nighttime predators, and the small sounds of prey skittering through the brush around them. Some of the sounds reminded him of things he would’ve heard at night on Earth. Other sounds… yeah, not so much. He walked for a time, listening for anything that didn’t belong to the night. The sound of rushing water caught his attention first. Then the smell wrapped around him. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs. Water. The cool mist on the air currents drew him to a waterfall. Plant life grew in abundance near the bank. They were the usual browns and grays that were so prevalent here, but the plants were healthy and large. The water was clear and sparklingly. There was no foul smell from the water, but he wasn’t taking any chances. The tables would guarantee the water didn’t make him sick. Bryan checked the water then knelt at the bank, moved his weapon so it rested across his back, and washed his hands. Cupping his hands, he dipped as much water as he could and dribbled in across his face. Man, that feels good. Bryan did a quick recon of the area, and not seeing a threat, removed the weapon and placed it near him. Yeah, he wasn’t stupid, that weapon was staying close to him. But now, at least, he could get his shirt off. Nothing sounded better than washing the sweat off his upper body. After he washed, the slight breeze dried him. From his backpack he gathered what he needed to purify the water. Using the plastic container, he filled it with water and dropped a tablet in. Bryan looked around while he waited. It was actually half way decent here. No color, of course, but he was getting used to that. Didn’t necessarily like it, but getting used to it. No, the area had something… Bryan glanced around again. Outside out the landscape being so alien, it reminded him of… the country in a strange way. The colors were certainly wrong, the plants weren’t right, but it felt… nice. Homey. Bryan wondered why Daroshi hadn’t built closer to the waterfall. He damn sure would’ve. He’d love to strip down and bail off in all that cool water, but knowing his luck, he’d look up and there would be Daroshi. And as tempting as being fucked here was, he wasn’tready for their hunt to end. And… he’d never hear the end of it if Daroshi caught him with his pants down. He checked the water, and seeing it was ready, took a swig. Smacking his lips, he took another drink. Man, that’s good.His stomach growled. Yeah, that was next on the list. He needed to eat, really eat. He should’ve shot that little fox-like animal he’d seen earlier. He stood and put his shirt back on, buttoning it up. After that, he strapped his weapon back on. With a last longing glance at the waterfall, he turned and began walking again. When their hunt was over he’d mention the waterfall to Daroshi. He wanted to come back here, at night, with his mate… and make love. What the hell would it feel like getting fucked by those tentacles in water? Bryan shivered. Damn good, that’s what he’d bet it’d feel like. He shook his head. Now was not the time to get lost in what he’d like Daroshi to do to him. He sure didn’t need to get distracted.This waterfall was nice, though. He certainly intended to come back here with his mate. It was one of the few places he truly felt at home. And there he went again, letting his mind wander. Bryan dragged his thoughts back to the here and now as he walked farther into the wooded area, keeping his eyes open for things he could eat. Those berries from earlier were long since gone. Man, he’d love to kill something, skin it, and cook it over an open flame… and that would bring Daroshi to him at a trot, no doubt. The whole point was to hide, not send up smoke signals that would lead Daroshi straight to him. But damn, meat sounded real good. Great, now his mouth was watering. And he really, really needed to get his mind off his stomach and on what the hell he was doing. He was trying to hide his trail, but he didn’t have to blunder through the woods leaving all sorts of clues everywhere, either.Some of the never-ending clouds that surrounded the planet seemed to have thinned. One of the moons peeked through; a weak, silvery moonlight covered the land. Giving himself a little shake, he made certain to watch what he touched around him. Broken limbs were a dead giveaway he’d been by. He gently brushed a low hanging branch out of the way. It had been a couple of hours since he set out. Frankly, he was surprised he hadn’t seen or heard anything from Daroshi yet. He peered into the darkness. Damn alien had to be out there somewhere, he’d bet on it. Could Daroshi be close enough to see him? Smell him? Was he out there right this very minute, crouched in the top of some tree, staring down at him… waiting? Bryan shivered as a breeze caressed his neck and looked up. Straining his eyes, he grunted. Wasn’t like he could see that well in the darkness. All this accomplished was straining his neck. He looked back down and slowly reached back to massage the sensitive skin on his neck that was suddenly covered in chill bumps. He stared into the darkness, his heart rate picking up. Was Daroshi watching him now? Plotting his next move? Had the regular nighttime sounds that surrounded him suddenly stopped, or was he just now noticing how quiet it was? Did… did something move out there in the darkness? And… and… Jesus fuck, what the hell was he doing? Well, besides freaking himself out? Bryan glared at the night that surrounded him. Maybe Daroshi was out there, watching him. And if he was… Bryan held his hand up, slowly folded his fingers down until one certain finger was left raised… and flashed a big cheesy smile at the darkness around him , to take the sting out of the gesture. If Daroshi was out there, he’d know what that meant. Bryan snorted. He could just imagine the look on Daroshi’s face if he did see that. He stood there, listening closely for a return snort. Huh. Nothing. Not a damn thing. Maybe he hasn’t caught up to me yet. Bryan frowned at nothing, thinking. Swear to God, if he waits until morning to hunt me, and I’m out here tromping around in the woods while he’s… If I find out he’s been in that nice, comfy bed while I tried to sleep on the ground… Bryan huffed out a breath. Well, what he’d do wouldn’t be pleasant. “Yeah, right. He’s too much of a big, badass warrior to be laid up in bed instead of hunting me.” He had less than two days now to avoid Daroshi, and he knew, just knew, Daroshi was out there somewhere. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better.Bryan pushed his hair off his forehead as he continued to walk. He found several long curving cylinder-shaped brown fruit hanging from a tree. The bottom end narrowed to a point and the top end had a thick stem that attaches the fruit to the tree. He plucked the fruit, peeled the skin back, and ate the insides. Huh, damned if the thing didn’t kind of taste like a banana. He raided the tree, eating quite a few, then packed the rest for later. He buried the peels—leaving them lying on the ground would be a dead giveaway. After he buried the peels, he smoothed leaves over the fresh dirt. Taking a couple more swigs of water, he moved on. Maybe he should find a spot to rest. The little sleep he’d gotten earlier wouldn’t do him for long.Bryan stopped by a nice grouping of rocks. Maybe if he found a long stick he could use that to sweep out under the overhang. He damn sure wasn’t getting climbing under there until he knew nothing else was there. This would make a nice sleeping spot and provide coverage. And, if he managed to sleep until morning, it would provide shade. He prowled around until he found a long enough stick. He swung his weapon off his back, placing it next to him on the ground, then used that to stir up the area under the rocky overhang. “Okay, so far, so good. Nothing came out of there wanting to take my head off.” Bryan poked the stick around a bit more. Better to be safe than sorry. He started to ease his backpack off his back when something caught his eye. A red dot shining on the rock next to him. Fuck!Reality warped then slowed to a crawl. Sound fractured, distraught echoes bouncing around him, then silence reined. A loud buzzing prowled through his head. His skin chilled, his breath froze deep in his chest. His vision wavered as he stared at the red dot. His muscles locked. Frozen, he watched as the little red dot slowly tracked closer… closer. Closer to him.A wild animal called out, the plaintive wail breaking the silence that cloaked the land. Reality snapped back, fear crashing around him. Bryan dropped to the ground, instinct kicking in. Red dot, red dot, red dot… oh, fuck me, oh shit. No, no, no. Get out, go… Hide… run, go! Now!Bryan crawled across the ground, backpack and weapon balanced on his back. Keep your ass low, get those elbows going, and fucking move it. The ground cover scraped across his face, sticking and poking tender areas of exposed skin. Sweat dripped in his eyes and his throat dried out from panting. The roaring in his ears wiped out everything else. His vision waved as he frantically crawled across the ground. Dots danced before his eyes. Breath, stupid! Gasping, he filled his lungs. Stop panicking and think! He spotted a group of tangled trees surrounded by a heavy thicket a few yards off and made for that. He’d rather have something a bit more solid than trees, but this would have to do.On his belly and head low, he wrenched his way through the sharp briers that mauled any exposed skin. The trees provided cover and the thicket was head high. He wouldn’t be quite such an easy target now. His head spun… he was a fucking target. Someone out there was shooting at him…. And it wasn’t Daroshi. He wouldn’t do that—he wouldn’t shoot at him even as a joke and certainly not aim so close. He would never risk Bryan’s life that way.So who the fuck was out there shooting at him?The low, hissing clicks of Maz’Rarian warrior drifted across the land to Bryan. Everything around him narrowed down to a tunnel of pure white, his body went numb, and sound receded. The deadly clicks of a lethal predator bent on killing him slide over his sweat-slicked skin. The hair on the back of Bryan’s neck stood up and chills raced over his body.I’m fucked. A soft laugh drifted to Bryan, breaking the fear-induced trance that held him. That sumobitch is laughing at me? Fucking laughing at me? Bryan eased his weapon off his back. Damn thing didn’t have a laser site. Wonderful. Now what was he going to do? And better yet, how was he going to keep this fucker from killing him?
Chapter EightZiang had an arm full of giggling human when his comm went off.With a sigh, Ziang lowered Shawn to the ground. Both of them stared at the offending equipment on Ziang’s wrist, neither moving. It went silent then another shrill beep rang out, unmindful of the death glare both alien and human were giving it. “Well hell, are you going to answer that?”“I suppose so.” Ziang raised his arm. “It had better be important, though. I’m off duty until we report back in a few days.”“It’s always important,” Shawn mumbled as Ziang turned away, engaging the privacy mode on his comm. All Shawn heard now was Ziang’s end of the conversation. He knew what being a starship captain entailed, but he had no idea the job followed Ziang home. He snorted at his thoughts. How funny. This complaint seems to be universal. Of course, he was willing to bet there weren’t too many humans out there in the great beyond having the same thoughts running through their heads. Well, he assumed there weren’t too many humans out there. Huh. But I don’t know that. There may be more out there than I think. I mean, here I stand, after all. He snorted again at the internal conversation he was having with himself. He really needed to—“You dare to comm me? I thought I made it perfectly clear that… What?”The walls shook. Jesus, what a fucking sound. Shawn shivered, every hair on his body stood up. He stood frozen, unable to move as Ziang’s roar faded. Hell, he might have stopped breathing for a second. His breathing kicked in, followed by an eerie silence. Now he was panting, sucking air. He’d never heard Ziang use that tone. Never. He’d heard Ziang mad, worried, and even hesitant, but he’d never heard this driving rage. Ziang’s tentacles writhed on his back, an angry, squirming movement that drew Shawn’s eyes. The movement was hypnotizing. It reminded him of when Ziang went into rut, except for the fury. The power that surged through the room from Ziang left Shawn lightheaded, just like before, just for a different reason. Ziang’s eyes narrowed as he listened, the red pupils even more daunting than usual. His lips pulled back, a snarl twisting his face. The growls Ziang made sounded like a rabid fox Shawn had to put down once. But the hissing clicks, those sounds had his heart thumping. This… this was truly a killing rage. And what was more frightening… Ziang hadn’t said another word since that shouted ‘what?’ Jesus. Since leaving Earth with Ziang, he’d never feared the big alien, but… now he didn’t know what to think. Ziang snarled again, one hand clutched in a fist. “Are you one hundred percent certain? You have irrefutable proof? Why were you on my ship to begin with? Ah, I see. How did you get those logs? You hacked them? Gods, how… never mind that for now.” Ziang nodded his head as he listened. “The main computer verified his logs hadn’t been tampered with? Excellent. So they are indeed the originals? There is no question?”Shawn frowned. The urge to ask questions nearly overcame him, but he wasn’t getting any closer until Ziang calmed down.“What made you think it was him? There were others around him after you… Yes, he was alone with Bryan in Medical, but… That means he had to have planned this ahead of time. I know he has medical training, that’s why Daroshi gave him permission to treat Bryan after you… Yes, I’m aware of that. No, I didn’t know he wanted to mate with Daroshi. Look, I’ll alert the Council that the attack made on Bryan, Daroshi’s mate, has been… What? You did?” Confusion covered Ziang’s face and he snarled loudly. Shawn stayed where he was. “Did you inform them as to who the suspect is? Yes?” Ziang glanced at Shawn and his eyes widened. Slowly he held out his hand as regret crossed Ziang’s face. Shawn watched Ziang pack that need to kill away. Zaing’s tentacles calmed. Didn’t mean to scare you, love, Ziang mouthed. I am so sorry… please, come here.Shawn hurried into Ziang’s arms. Ziang pulled Shawn close and took a deep breath. “Where are you? What? You’re… where?”Shawn jerked as another roar filled the room. “Did you contact Daroshi? No? By the gods, Haya, why not? Do you have a death wish after all? That should’ve been the first thing you did. No, what you should have done was not go on Daroshi’s land! If Daroshi sees you he’ll open fire without bothering to ask why you’re there. You must know that. What? You’re trying to help? I think what you mean is you’re trying to redeem yourself, right?” Shawn inhaled sharply. “Daroshi won’t believe her.”“Oh gods… Daroshi. Daroshi still thinks that you…You’re there now? On his land? Listen to me, hold your position. Daroshi is hunting Bryan for fun and… What do you mean he’s vanished? The Council sent guards and he wasn’t there? They can’t find him?”Shawn squirmed in Ziang’s arms. “Loosen up the hold, E.T.”Ziang eased his grip on his mate, eyes trained on Shawn as he stepped back. “I’m going to comm Daroshi right now. You stay where you’re at until I contact Daroshi and inform him of the situation. I’ll… What did you say? Are you sure there’s someone else in the woods besides you? Are you sure? By the gods, tell me you’re armed? Keep him alive, Haya, until we get there… and thank you.”Ziang shut the comm off, his face pale. “Okay, I got most of that. Haya somehow figured out who poisoned Bryan, she can prove it, she told the Council, and unbelievably… she’s taken it upon herself to help Daroshi. She’s there, on his land, now. As luck would have it, Bryan is out there in the woods, alone and pretty much unprotected. And yeah, she’s not doing that out of the goodness of her heart. She wants something.”Ziang rubbed both hands over his face. “Of all the stupid, irresponsible… She should have contacted me and let me handle this. She should have commed Daroshi and toldhim instead of going there. She should have done anything but this! She’s going to get herself killed by either Daroshi or possibly Bryan. And if Bryan sees her out there in the woods…gods, what a mess.”“He’ll shoot first and ask questions later.” Shawn hugged Ziang then stepped away. “On second thought, he might not. He is a cop, after all. And he has said from the start he didn’t believe Haya was the one that poisoned him.” “He was right.”Shawn crossed his arms. “So?”“So… what?”“Don’t be cute, E.T. Who did it?”“Blayno. The warrior I assigned to watch both you and Bryan. A male I thought I could trust. Instead, I nearly got Bryan killed.”“Hey, you had no way of knowing.”A growl worked loose from Ziang’s chest. “I know now. And soon, so will Daroshi.”Shawn hugged himself. “Bryan’s out there, alone, Ziang. He has no idea what’s hunting him, seriously hunting him.”“Daroshi will do what he must after I tell him. I’m going there, too. Haya is out there and she is more than capable of handing Blayno.”“We hope.”Ziang frowned at Shawn. “No, she has the ability. She’s dangerous when her temper doesn’t rule her actions.”“That’s not what I mean.”“I’m aware. Shawn glared at Ziang. “She’s hurt him before.”Ziang glared right back. “Again, I’m aware.”“She may hurt him again.”Ziang tapped out Daroshi’s comm ID. “I don’t think so, Shawn. I think… hope she’s being honest about helping. For now, that’s the only backup Bryan has out there.”
“Well stars, really Bryan?” Daroshi knelt, examining a broken shrub. The lead Daroshi gave Bryan hadn’t helped. Maybe he should’ve given Bryan more time. From the looks of it, Bryan wasn’t making as good time as Daroshi figured he would. He examined the broken section of the shrub, shaking his head. What a stupid, stupid mistake. Bryan really should have been more careful how he brushed against native plants. Bryan might know how to survive in the wilderness, but he had no clue how to be prey. Tracking him had been absurdly easy. Bryan had made an effort to disguise his trail, but he still left clues everywhere. They’d have to talk about that once this was over. He scanned the trees, finally choosing a suitable one. Climbing it quickly, he settled down in a nice bend near the middle of the tree. He’d just wait here, give Bryan a little more time. Crossing his ankles, he leaned against the tree, hunting for a comfortable position. They had a mission coming up soon, but after that they’d come back here and focus on tracking skills. He had no doubt Bryan would pick up the skill quickly. He dozed, letting his mind wander, and time passed. When he woke again, it was still dark. Daroshi stretched, popping his back, slightly disgruntled at how stiff he’d become. Too much time spent on a spaceship and not spent hunting. Maybe he’d find Bryan again and have a little game of... he believed it was called Cat and Mouse. A slight smirk crossed his face. Yes, that was exactly what he’d do. There was nothing better than a good, exciting hunt in the great outdoors. Just thinking of it, his pulse increased. How long had it been since he hunted on his lands? Months? Of course, the last time had been for food. Daroshi’s excitement faded as he remembered Bryan’s reaction to the planet he’d be calling home now. Bryan hated if here, truly hated it here. Oh, he’d tried to hide his real feelings, but the flash of disgust had been hard to miss. What was he going to do about that? What could he do? He’d promised he’d make Bryan happy. How could he fulfill that promise?Darosih rubbed his hands over his face. Later. They’d talk about all this later, and somehow he’d find a way to make Bryan happy. Right now, there was a hunt to continue, and a mate to fuck into the ground. Pleased with the plan, he lowered himself to the ground. He’d taken two steps when his comm link vibrated. Frowning, he looked at the display link. Why the stars is Ziang buzzing me, especially right now?Ziang opened the link. “Ziang? Um, I’m right in the middle of… What? Why are you asking where am I? I’m outside, of course, in the woods. No, the hunt isn’t over yet, I just… What? What!” A scream crept up Daroshi’s throat, threatening to claw its way out. He clamped his lips shut. He would not, would not, give in to whatever was choking him. Daroshi struggled to control his breathing as he listened to Ziang. He lost the battle and the scream tore from his throat anyway at Ziang’s next sentence. “Who is out there, looking for him? No! No, she has no right to… I don’t trust her, Ziang. I don’t care that she has proof, she has hurt Bryan before. I also find it hard to believe Blayno is the one behind this. Are you sure about this, Ziang, absolutely sure?” Daroshi closed his eyes as Ziang continued to talk. Stars, he sounded sure. His eyes snapped back open when Ziang continued to speak. “I see. Why would Blayno do this? Is there anything in his logs that tells why?”Daroshi nodded his head. “You’re right, the reason doesn’t matter. I must find Bryan, Ziang. Immediately. I need to… Okay, I understand. Thank you.”Ziang informed him he was coming to help and to set his comm to send a locator signal. Movements wooden, Daroshi ended the conversation with Ziang and set his comm as Ziang had instructed. Emotions swept over him in waves, threatening to drown him. His head pounded as he fought the sensations. His chest tightened and his breathing spiked. The harsh sounds of panting echoed around him. Bryan was out there, alone and unaware a hunter was stalking him. Daroshi panted faster, trying to drag air into his lungs. He leaned against a tree, lungs screaming for air, head spinning. So this is fear?In all his life, he’d never felt such an emotion. The helplessness was overpowering. His mate needed him. He was out there all alone, and in danger. He couldn’t lose Bryan, he just couldn’t. Wave after wave of fear crashed over him, and Daroshi gritted his teeth, his hand slamming into the tree. Pain radiated up his arm, leaves fell from the tree, raining down on him… but his mind cleared. The suffocating fear receded. A quick glance showed bruises already forming, but the skin wasn’t broken nor were bones. He flexed his hand—sore, but it worked. With the calmness came clarity. The situation had two troubling aspects. Haya had involved herself and he didn’t trust her. She’d already hurt Bryan once and he saw no reason to think she wouldn’t do it again. Her reasons for helping were entirely self-serving. If she helped save his mate, she could use that to regain her lost honor. He doubted such an act would get her back on Ziang’s starship, though. Blayno was the other threat, one he hadn’t factored. The younger male was a science officer from the Astrology lab on Ziang’s ship. He was a warrior, yes, but he focused more on science than combat skills. That didn’t make the danger less for Bryan, but it did mean Daroshi was the better warrior. He certainly had more kills than Blayno. Before the night was through, he planned to add another kill.He moved quickly through the underbrush, following the trail Bryan left. Now he wished he hadn’t left his exo-suit at home. Being invisible was a tool he could have used. Instead, he was dressed normally. He took a moment to thank the gods his clothes were dark and nondescript. Bryan had talked about creating clothes in blues, greens, reds… Daroshi swallowed. He couldn’t think of Bryan right now, couldn’t dwell on the drabness of their clothes, or roll his eyes when Bryan complained about how uncomfortable his furniture was… and he couldn’t do this. He’d get himself killed if he wasn’t careful. If only he could communicate with Bryan, warn him of the dangers.He really could kick his own ass for not giving Bryan a comm unit. Fear climbed up into his throat again as he stalked through the woods. Haya was out there, and stars, so was Blayno. Ziang was on his way, but who knew if he’d get there in time. For now, it was him against one warrior with killing on his mind, and another warrior he wasn’t sure he should trust.
Regardless, blood was going to flow this night.
What the hell was that? Animal? Not an animal? Daroshi? Shit, shit, shit, where did it come from? Off to the right?Bryan gradually sat up, slowly scanning the area around him, his heart pounding. Damn, can whatever’s out there hear that?It certainly sounds loud to me. He had to stop sucking air before he passed out. Darkness surrounded him, but his eyes had already adjusted so he could see somewhat. His hand crept across the space until it landed on one of the weapons nearest him. Gently, he pulled it closer, barley daring to breath, careful not to make a sound. Something moved not far away, the brush shaking as… Bryan sighed. A small animal shot across the clearing hot on the heels of another animal. He didn’t know the name of the bigger one, but the small, darkly furred animal reminded him of a fox. It could be dangerous, but wasn’t a top predator. He relaxed as it moved on, intent on what it was chasing. Well, guess I’m a little jumpier than I thought. Bryan laid the weapon down. A lone bead of sweat trickled down his face. Irritated, he brushed it away. Okay, so he was a lot jumpier than he thought. Being prey was hard on the nerves. Bryan sighed again as he looked around. Well, hell. He pulled the canister of berries out. Well, so much for that; he was damn sure wide-awake now. Maybe he managed a few hours. It was enough to keep him going for a while. Eventually, he’d have to take a break and sleep. He finished the berries, cleaned up his little hiding spot, and repacked his gear. Might was well keep moving.Sounds echoed around him as he crawled out of his hiding spot. There were the chirps and calls of the nighttime predators, and the small sounds of prey skittering through the brush around them. Some of the sounds reminded him of things he would’ve heard at night on Earth. Other sounds… yeah, not so much. He walked for a time, listening for anything that didn’t belong to the night. The sound of rushing water caught his attention first. Then the smell wrapped around him. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs. Water. The cool mist on the air currents drew him to a waterfall. Plant life grew in abundance near the bank. They were the usual browns and grays that were so prevalent here, but the plants were healthy and large. The water was clear and sparklingly. There was no foul smell from the water, but he wasn’t taking any chances. The tables would guarantee the water didn’t make him sick. Bryan checked the water then knelt at the bank, moved his weapon so it rested across his back, and washed his hands. Cupping his hands, he dipped as much water as he could and dribbled in across his face. Man, that feels good. Bryan did a quick recon of the area, and not seeing a threat, removed the weapon and placed it near him. Yeah, he wasn’t stupid, that weapon was staying close to him. But now, at least, he could get his shirt off. Nothing sounded better than washing the sweat off his upper body. After he washed, the slight breeze dried him. From his backpack he gathered what he needed to purify the water. Using the plastic container, he filled it with water and dropped a tablet in. Bryan looked around while he waited. It was actually half way decent here. No color, of course, but he was getting used to that. Didn’t necessarily like it, but getting used to it. No, the area had something… Bryan glanced around again. Outside out the landscape being so alien, it reminded him of… the country in a strange way. The colors were certainly wrong, the plants weren’t right, but it felt… nice. Homey. Bryan wondered why Daroshi hadn’t built closer to the waterfall. He damn sure would’ve. He’d love to strip down and bail off in all that cool water, but knowing his luck, he’d look up and there would be Daroshi. And as tempting as being fucked here was, he wasn’tready for their hunt to end. And… he’d never hear the end of it if Daroshi caught him with his pants down. He checked the water, and seeing it was ready, took a swig. Smacking his lips, he took another drink. Man, that’s good.His stomach growled. Yeah, that was next on the list. He needed to eat, really eat. He should’ve shot that little fox-like animal he’d seen earlier. He stood and put his shirt back on, buttoning it up. After that, he strapped his weapon back on. With a last longing glance at the waterfall, he turned and began walking again. When their hunt was over he’d mention the waterfall to Daroshi. He wanted to come back here, at night, with his mate… and make love. What the hell would it feel like getting fucked by those tentacles in water? Bryan shivered. Damn good, that’s what he’d bet it’d feel like. He shook his head. Now was not the time to get lost in what he’d like Daroshi to do to him. He sure didn’t need to get distracted.This waterfall was nice, though. He certainly intended to come back here with his mate. It was one of the few places he truly felt at home. And there he went again, letting his mind wander. Bryan dragged his thoughts back to the here and now as he walked farther into the wooded area, keeping his eyes open for things he could eat. Those berries from earlier were long since gone. Man, he’d love to kill something, skin it, and cook it over an open flame… and that would bring Daroshi to him at a trot, no doubt. The whole point was to hide, not send up smoke signals that would lead Daroshi straight to him. But damn, meat sounded real good. Great, now his mouth was watering. And he really, really needed to get his mind off his stomach and on what the hell he was doing. He was trying to hide his trail, but he didn’t have to blunder through the woods leaving all sorts of clues everywhere, either.Some of the never-ending clouds that surrounded the planet seemed to have thinned. One of the moons peeked through; a weak, silvery moonlight covered the land. Giving himself a little shake, he made certain to watch what he touched around him. Broken limbs were a dead giveaway he’d been by. He gently brushed a low hanging branch out of the way. It had been a couple of hours since he set out. Frankly, he was surprised he hadn’t seen or heard anything from Daroshi yet. He peered into the darkness. Damn alien had to be out there somewhere, he’d bet on it. Could Daroshi be close enough to see him? Smell him? Was he out there right this very minute, crouched in the top of some tree, staring down at him… waiting? Bryan shivered as a breeze caressed his neck and looked up. Straining his eyes, he grunted. Wasn’t like he could see that well in the darkness. All this accomplished was straining his neck. He looked back down and slowly reached back to massage the sensitive skin on his neck that was suddenly covered in chill bumps. He stared into the darkness, his heart rate picking up. Was Daroshi watching him now? Plotting his next move? Had the regular nighttime sounds that surrounded him suddenly stopped, or was he just now noticing how quiet it was? Did… did something move out there in the darkness? And… and… Jesus fuck, what the hell was he doing? Well, besides freaking himself out? Bryan glared at the night that surrounded him. Maybe Daroshi was out there, watching him. And if he was… Bryan held his hand up, slowly folded his fingers down until one certain finger was left raised… and flashed a big cheesy smile at the darkness around him , to take the sting out of the gesture. If Daroshi was out there, he’d know what that meant. Bryan snorted. He could just imagine the look on Daroshi’s face if he did see that. He stood there, listening closely for a return snort. Huh. Nothing. Not a damn thing. Maybe he hasn’t caught up to me yet. Bryan frowned at nothing, thinking. Swear to God, if he waits until morning to hunt me, and I’m out here tromping around in the woods while he’s… If I find out he’s been in that nice, comfy bed while I tried to sleep on the ground… Bryan huffed out a breath. Well, what he’d do wouldn’t be pleasant. “Yeah, right. He’s too much of a big, badass warrior to be laid up in bed instead of hunting me.” He had less than two days now to avoid Daroshi, and he knew, just knew, Daroshi was out there somewhere. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better.Bryan pushed his hair off his forehead as he continued to walk. He found several long curving cylinder-shaped brown fruit hanging from a tree. The bottom end narrowed to a point and the top end had a thick stem that attaches the fruit to the tree. He plucked the fruit, peeled the skin back, and ate the insides. Huh, damned if the thing didn’t kind of taste like a banana. He raided the tree, eating quite a few, then packed the rest for later. He buried the peels—leaving them lying on the ground would be a dead giveaway. After he buried the peels, he smoothed leaves over the fresh dirt. Taking a couple more swigs of water, he moved on. Maybe he should find a spot to rest. The little sleep he’d gotten earlier wouldn’t do him for long.Bryan stopped by a nice grouping of rocks. Maybe if he found a long stick he could use that to sweep out under the overhang. He damn sure wasn’t getting climbing under there until he knew nothing else was there. This would make a nice sleeping spot and provide coverage. And, if he managed to sleep until morning, it would provide shade. He prowled around until he found a long enough stick. He swung his weapon off his back, placing it next to him on the ground, then used that to stir up the area under the rocky overhang. “Okay, so far, so good. Nothing came out of there wanting to take my head off.” Bryan poked the stick around a bit more. Better to be safe than sorry. He started to ease his backpack off his back when something caught his eye. A red dot shining on the rock next to him. Fuck!Reality warped then slowed to a crawl. Sound fractured, distraught echoes bouncing around him, then silence reined. A loud buzzing prowled through his head. His skin chilled, his breath froze deep in his chest. His vision wavered as he stared at the red dot. His muscles locked. Frozen, he watched as the little red dot slowly tracked closer… closer. Closer to him.A wild animal called out, the plaintive wail breaking the silence that cloaked the land. Reality snapped back, fear crashing around him. Bryan dropped to the ground, instinct kicking in. Red dot, red dot, red dot… oh, fuck me, oh shit. No, no, no. Get out, go… Hide… run, go! Now!Bryan crawled across the ground, backpack and weapon balanced on his back. Keep your ass low, get those elbows going, and fucking move it. The ground cover scraped across his face, sticking and poking tender areas of exposed skin. Sweat dripped in his eyes and his throat dried out from panting. The roaring in his ears wiped out everything else. His vision waved as he frantically crawled across the ground. Dots danced before his eyes. Breath, stupid! Gasping, he filled his lungs. Stop panicking and think! He spotted a group of tangled trees surrounded by a heavy thicket a few yards off and made for that. He’d rather have something a bit more solid than trees, but this would have to do.On his belly and head low, he wrenched his way through the sharp briers that mauled any exposed skin. The trees provided cover and the thicket was head high. He wouldn’t be quite such an easy target now. His head spun… he was a fucking target. Someone out there was shooting at him…. And it wasn’t Daroshi. He wouldn’t do that—he wouldn’t shoot at him even as a joke and certainly not aim so close. He would never risk Bryan’s life that way.So who the fuck was out there shooting at him?The low, hissing clicks of Maz’Rarian warrior drifted across the land to Bryan. Everything around him narrowed down to a tunnel of pure white, his body went numb, and sound receded. The deadly clicks of a lethal predator bent on killing him slide over his sweat-slicked skin. The hair on the back of Bryan’s neck stood up and chills raced over his body.I’m fucked. A soft laugh drifted to Bryan, breaking the fear-induced trance that held him. That sumobitch is laughing at me? Fucking laughing at me? Bryan eased his weapon off his back. Damn thing didn’t have a laser site. Wonderful. Now what was he going to do? And better yet, how was he going to keep this fucker from killing him?
Chapter EightZiang had an arm full of giggling human when his comm went off.With a sigh, Ziang lowered Shawn to the ground. Both of them stared at the offending equipment on Ziang’s wrist, neither moving. It went silent then another shrill beep rang out, unmindful of the death glare both alien and human were giving it. “Well hell, are you going to answer that?”“I suppose so.” Ziang raised his arm. “It had better be important, though. I’m off duty until we report back in a few days.”“It’s always important,” Shawn mumbled as Ziang turned away, engaging the privacy mode on his comm. All Shawn heard now was Ziang’s end of the conversation. He knew what being a starship captain entailed, but he had no idea the job followed Ziang home. He snorted at his thoughts. How funny. This complaint seems to be universal. Of course, he was willing to bet there weren’t too many humans out there in the great beyond having the same thoughts running through their heads. Well, he assumed there weren’t too many humans out there. Huh. But I don’t know that. There may be more out there than I think. I mean, here I stand, after all. He snorted again at the internal conversation he was having with himself. He really needed to—“You dare to comm me? I thought I made it perfectly clear that… What?”The walls shook. Jesus, what a fucking sound. Shawn shivered, every hair on his body stood up. He stood frozen, unable to move as Ziang’s roar faded. Hell, he might have stopped breathing for a second. His breathing kicked in, followed by an eerie silence. Now he was panting, sucking air. He’d never heard Ziang use that tone. Never. He’d heard Ziang mad, worried, and even hesitant, but he’d never heard this driving rage. Ziang’s tentacles writhed on his back, an angry, squirming movement that drew Shawn’s eyes. The movement was hypnotizing. It reminded him of when Ziang went into rut, except for the fury. The power that surged through the room from Ziang left Shawn lightheaded, just like before, just for a different reason. Ziang’s eyes narrowed as he listened, the red pupils even more daunting than usual. His lips pulled back, a snarl twisting his face. The growls Ziang made sounded like a rabid fox Shawn had to put down once. But the hissing clicks, those sounds had his heart thumping. This… this was truly a killing rage. And what was more frightening… Ziang hadn’t said another word since that shouted ‘what?’ Jesus. Since leaving Earth with Ziang, he’d never feared the big alien, but… now he didn’t know what to think. Ziang snarled again, one hand clutched in a fist. “Are you one hundred percent certain? You have irrefutable proof? Why were you on my ship to begin with? Ah, I see. How did you get those logs? You hacked them? Gods, how… never mind that for now.” Ziang nodded his head as he listened. “The main computer verified his logs hadn’t been tampered with? Excellent. So they are indeed the originals? There is no question?”Shawn frowned. The urge to ask questions nearly overcame him, but he wasn’t getting any closer until Ziang calmed down.“What made you think it was him? There were others around him after you… Yes, he was alone with Bryan in Medical, but… That means he had to have planned this ahead of time. I know he has medical training, that’s why Daroshi gave him permission to treat Bryan after you… Yes, I’m aware of that. No, I didn’t know he wanted to mate with Daroshi. Look, I’ll alert the Council that the attack made on Bryan, Daroshi’s mate, has been… What? You did?” Confusion covered Ziang’s face and he snarled loudly. Shawn stayed where he was. “Did you inform them as to who the suspect is? Yes?” Ziang glanced at Shawn and his eyes widened. Slowly he held out his hand as regret crossed Ziang’s face. Shawn watched Ziang pack that need to kill away. Zaing’s tentacles calmed. Didn’t mean to scare you, love, Ziang mouthed. I am so sorry… please, come here.Shawn hurried into Ziang’s arms. Ziang pulled Shawn close and took a deep breath. “Where are you? What? You’re… where?”Shawn jerked as another roar filled the room. “Did you contact Daroshi? No? By the gods, Haya, why not? Do you have a death wish after all? That should’ve been the first thing you did. No, what you should have done was not go on Daroshi’s land! If Daroshi sees you he’ll open fire without bothering to ask why you’re there. You must know that. What? You’re trying to help? I think what you mean is you’re trying to redeem yourself, right?” Shawn inhaled sharply. “Daroshi won’t believe her.”“Oh gods… Daroshi. Daroshi still thinks that you…You’re there now? On his land? Listen to me, hold your position. Daroshi is hunting Bryan for fun and… What do you mean he’s vanished? The Council sent guards and he wasn’t there? They can’t find him?”Shawn squirmed in Ziang’s arms. “Loosen up the hold, E.T.”Ziang eased his grip on his mate, eyes trained on Shawn as he stepped back. “I’m going to comm Daroshi right now. You stay where you’re at until I contact Daroshi and inform him of the situation. I’ll… What did you say? Are you sure there’s someone else in the woods besides you? Are you sure? By the gods, tell me you’re armed? Keep him alive, Haya, until we get there… and thank you.”Ziang shut the comm off, his face pale. “Okay, I got most of that. Haya somehow figured out who poisoned Bryan, she can prove it, she told the Council, and unbelievably… she’s taken it upon herself to help Daroshi. She’s there, on his land, now. As luck would have it, Bryan is out there in the woods, alone and pretty much unprotected. And yeah, she’s not doing that out of the goodness of her heart. She wants something.”Ziang rubbed both hands over his face. “Of all the stupid, irresponsible… She should have contacted me and let me handle this. She should have commed Daroshi and toldhim instead of going there. She should have done anything but this! She’s going to get herself killed by either Daroshi or possibly Bryan. And if Bryan sees her out there in the woods…gods, what a mess.”“He’ll shoot first and ask questions later.” Shawn hugged Ziang then stepped away. “On second thought, he might not. He is a cop, after all. And he has said from the start he didn’t believe Haya was the one that poisoned him.” “He was right.”Shawn crossed his arms. “So?”“So… what?”“Don’t be cute, E.T. Who did it?”“Blayno. The warrior I assigned to watch both you and Bryan. A male I thought I could trust. Instead, I nearly got Bryan killed.”“Hey, you had no way of knowing.”A growl worked loose from Ziang’s chest. “I know now. And soon, so will Daroshi.”Shawn hugged himself. “Bryan’s out there, alone, Ziang. He has no idea what’s hunting him, seriously hunting him.”“Daroshi will do what he must after I tell him. I’m going there, too. Haya is out there and she is more than capable of handing Blayno.”“We hope.”Ziang frowned at Shawn. “No, she has the ability. She’s dangerous when her temper doesn’t rule her actions.”“That’s not what I mean.”“I’m aware. Shawn glared at Ziang. “She’s hurt him before.”Ziang glared right back. “Again, I’m aware.”“She may hurt him again.”Ziang tapped out Daroshi’s comm ID. “I don’t think so, Shawn. I think… hope she’s being honest about helping. For now, that’s the only backup Bryan has out there.”
“Well stars, really Bryan?” Daroshi knelt, examining a broken shrub. The lead Daroshi gave Bryan hadn’t helped. Maybe he should’ve given Bryan more time. From the looks of it, Bryan wasn’t making as good time as Daroshi figured he would. He examined the broken section of the shrub, shaking his head. What a stupid, stupid mistake. Bryan really should have been more careful how he brushed against native plants. Bryan might know how to survive in the wilderness, but he had no clue how to be prey. Tracking him had been absurdly easy. Bryan had made an effort to disguise his trail, but he still left clues everywhere. They’d have to talk about that once this was over. He scanned the trees, finally choosing a suitable one. Climbing it quickly, he settled down in a nice bend near the middle of the tree. He’d just wait here, give Bryan a little more time. Crossing his ankles, he leaned against the tree, hunting for a comfortable position. They had a mission coming up soon, but after that they’d come back here and focus on tracking skills. He had no doubt Bryan would pick up the skill quickly. He dozed, letting his mind wander, and time passed. When he woke again, it was still dark. Daroshi stretched, popping his back, slightly disgruntled at how stiff he’d become. Too much time spent on a spaceship and not spent hunting. Maybe he’d find Bryan again and have a little game of... he believed it was called Cat and Mouse. A slight smirk crossed his face. Yes, that was exactly what he’d do. There was nothing better than a good, exciting hunt in the great outdoors. Just thinking of it, his pulse increased. How long had it been since he hunted on his lands? Months? Of course, the last time had been for food. Daroshi’s excitement faded as he remembered Bryan’s reaction to the planet he’d be calling home now. Bryan hated if here, truly hated it here. Oh, he’d tried to hide his real feelings, but the flash of disgust had been hard to miss. What was he going to do about that? What could he do? He’d promised he’d make Bryan happy. How could he fulfill that promise?Darosih rubbed his hands over his face. Later. They’d talk about all this later, and somehow he’d find a way to make Bryan happy. Right now, there was a hunt to continue, and a mate to fuck into the ground. Pleased with the plan, he lowered himself to the ground. He’d taken two steps when his comm link vibrated. Frowning, he looked at the display link. Why the stars is Ziang buzzing me, especially right now?Ziang opened the link. “Ziang? Um, I’m right in the middle of… What? Why are you asking where am I? I’m outside, of course, in the woods. No, the hunt isn’t over yet, I just… What? What!” A scream crept up Daroshi’s throat, threatening to claw its way out. He clamped his lips shut. He would not, would not, give in to whatever was choking him. Daroshi struggled to control his breathing as he listened to Ziang. He lost the battle and the scream tore from his throat anyway at Ziang’s next sentence. “Who is out there, looking for him? No! No, she has no right to… I don’t trust her, Ziang. I don’t care that she has proof, she has hurt Bryan before. I also find it hard to believe Blayno is the one behind this. Are you sure about this, Ziang, absolutely sure?” Daroshi closed his eyes as Ziang continued to talk. Stars, he sounded sure. His eyes snapped back open when Ziang continued to speak. “I see. Why would Blayno do this? Is there anything in his logs that tells why?”Daroshi nodded his head. “You’re right, the reason doesn’t matter. I must find Bryan, Ziang. Immediately. I need to… Okay, I understand. Thank you.”Ziang informed him he was coming to help and to set his comm to send a locator signal. Movements wooden, Daroshi ended the conversation with Ziang and set his comm as Ziang had instructed. Emotions swept over him in waves, threatening to drown him. His head pounded as he fought the sensations. His chest tightened and his breathing spiked. The harsh sounds of panting echoed around him. Bryan was out there, alone and unaware a hunter was stalking him. Daroshi panted faster, trying to drag air into his lungs. He leaned against a tree, lungs screaming for air, head spinning. So this is fear?In all his life, he’d never felt such an emotion. The helplessness was overpowering. His mate needed him. He was out there all alone, and in danger. He couldn’t lose Bryan, he just couldn’t. Wave after wave of fear crashed over him, and Daroshi gritted his teeth, his hand slamming into the tree. Pain radiated up his arm, leaves fell from the tree, raining down on him… but his mind cleared. The suffocating fear receded. A quick glance showed bruises already forming, but the skin wasn’t broken nor were bones. He flexed his hand—sore, but it worked. With the calmness came clarity. The situation had two troubling aspects. Haya had involved herself and he didn’t trust her. She’d already hurt Bryan once and he saw no reason to think she wouldn’t do it again. Her reasons for helping were entirely self-serving. If she helped save his mate, she could use that to regain her lost honor. He doubted such an act would get her back on Ziang’s starship, though. Blayno was the other threat, one he hadn’t factored. The younger male was a science officer from the Astrology lab on Ziang’s ship. He was a warrior, yes, but he focused more on science than combat skills. That didn’t make the danger less for Bryan, but it did mean Daroshi was the better warrior. He certainly had more kills than Blayno. Before the night was through, he planned to add another kill.He moved quickly through the underbrush, following the trail Bryan left. Now he wished he hadn’t left his exo-suit at home. Being invisible was a tool he could have used. Instead, he was dressed normally. He took a moment to thank the gods his clothes were dark and nondescript. Bryan had talked about creating clothes in blues, greens, reds… Daroshi swallowed. He couldn’t think of Bryan right now, couldn’t dwell on the drabness of their clothes, or roll his eyes when Bryan complained about how uncomfortable his furniture was… and he couldn’t do this. He’d get himself killed if he wasn’t careful. If only he could communicate with Bryan, warn him of the dangers.He really could kick his own ass for not giving Bryan a comm unit. Fear climbed up into his throat again as he stalked through the woods. Haya was out there, and stars, so was Blayno. Ziang was on his way, but who knew if he’d get there in time. For now, it was him against one warrior with killing on his mind, and another warrior he wasn’t sure he should trust.
Regardless, blood was going to flow this night.
December 25, 2013
For the Love of Home and Hearth
For the Love of Home and Hearth Part II Jason held the mug, letting the heat warm his hands. He blew gently at the rising steam while eyeing his mate… his very aroused mate. Jason discreetly sniffed the air, enjoying the results of his words on Chip. Carefully hiding his grin, he sipped his hot chocolate. The marshmallows had melted, adding to the taste. The fire roared at his back, he held his favorite drink in his hand, and the love of his life sat across from him on the black, furry rug. The smell of burning wood, melted chocolate, and the sharp, aroused scent of Chip lay heavy in the air. “You have…” Chip frowned, gesturing at Jason.“Huh?” Jason looked down at his naked chest. “What?”Chip licked his lips. “You got some… The marshmallows melted and… Aw, hell...” Jason eyed hooded as Chip leaned forward. One of Chip’s hands tangled in Jason’s long hair, pulling him closer. Gently Chip brushed his mouth over Jason’s, his tongue creeping out to rub against Jason’s lips. He licked the white gooey stuff from Jason’s mouth. Jason heard Chip’s happy humming and his cock stiffened. Suddenly Chip scooted even closer, tightening his hold on Jason’s hair. He pulled Jason’s head farther back, exposing his neck. Taken aback, Jason allowed the action, surprised at the groan from Chip. Jason’s lips were pried open and Chip’s tongue plunged inside, seeking. Tongues dueling, Jason lost himself in the kiss until the need for air forced them apart. Jason, slightly stunned at Chip’s sudden aggressiveness, leaned back and nipped Chip’s bottom lip. “Hungry, huh?”Inches apart, Chip chewed at the lip Jason nipped. He slowly eased his hand from Jason’s hair. “Oh man… I, ah… oh jeez, you, um, had marshmallow mustache. But I took care of it. God, Jason, hope your cougar didn’t think I was challenging him. Seriously, I know who the alpha is here. I… ah, got carried away. You’re just so damn sexy sitting here in front of the fire, all that long hair everywhere…”How cute his mate looked. Not so much the aggressor now. “No worries, babe. You just surprised him, and me.” Jason didn’t add that his cougar wasn’t threatened, more curious as to where the unexpected aggression came from. He was aware Chip was going to be incredibly strong when he fully came into his cougar. Jason knew Chip worried that he and his cougar couldn’t yet communicate. Jason’s cougar wasn’t worried, so neither was Jason. When Chip’s cougar was ready, he’d make his present know. Indeed, Jason wondered if that kiss wasn’t a warning shot, so to speak, from Chip’s cougar. Chip might not be content to be the justthe sweet bottom he’d been for much longer. Jason reached out to his cougar in him mind. So, how do you feel about bottoming, O Wise One? Think you can handle it?By the Great Spirit, I’ve never thought about it. I’m not sure, Jason. I’ve always been the one in control, as have you. How do you feel?I don’t think Chip is really challenging you for position. I think Chip’s cougar just wants a little control. Can’t blame him for that with what happened with the inheritance and the speed at which I forced him to mate me. True. As long as we can see him, I think it’ll be okay. I don’t think I can handle him taking us from behind.I agree. Chip continued to gnaw on his bottom lip. “Okay, what are you two talking about? I’m feeling a little left out. Jason, I really wasn’t trying to—”Jason winked. “Hush. It’s all okay. So… you sure you got it all? All the marshmallow, that is? Better come back here and make damn sure.”Chip’s eyes widened. “But, but… What are you saying, Jason? I thought… You’ve never hinted that you were… I really, reallywasn’t trying to… God!”Jason ran his thumb over Chip’s lips. He wished he could freeze that expression on Chip’s face. Such innocence, such hope… such lust. “Let me ask you a question, and I expect you to answer honestly. Do you want to top me?”Chip swallowed, mouth abruptly dry. “Usually I like bottoming, you know that. But, here in the last few days, I’ve… Okay, yeah, I’ve thought about it. I can’t get the idea out of my head. But, I didn’t figure… Both you and your cougar are more dominant. You are the Alpha, and I know that… my cougar knows that.”Jason raised an eyebrow. “Is that a yes?”Chip blew out a breath. “God, it is, yes. Are you mad? Is that going to be a problem? Look, I’ll try to not to… Um, what are you doing? Jason?”Jason moved until he was flat on his back. He had his answer. The throw Chip had covered him with earlier ended up pushed down around his hips. The fur from the rug rubbed against him, and the firelight gave the room a soft, gentle look…. romantic, even. Almost as romantic as when he turned Chip. Jason raised one knee and held out his hand to Chip. “Though you wanted to top me.”Chip’s mouth fell open, his eyes blinking in shock. Jason sprawled the fur rug, hair spread out around him, one leg raised. The bulge under the blanket clearly showed Jason was hard. “Holy Mother of God… and thank you too, Wha-tay.” Chip still hadn’t moved. “Are you sure, Jason? Both of you sure?” “We are. Just… we need to be facing, Chip, when you enter me. That way, my animal spirit won’t feel challenged. Keep in mind I’ve never bottomed, either.”Chip’s eyes stung. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? I’ll be the first one ever inside you… the only one ever inside you. This gift… I feel… Jesus, I love you.”“I love you too. Merry Christmas, love.”Chip snorted as he leaned closer. “You’re not a Christian.”Jason cupped Chips face as a shower of sparks lit the surrounding area. By the Great Spirit, his mate’s deep red hair glowed in the firelight. Chip was simply gorgeous. “No, but I know this holiday means something to you. I can celebrate it regardless of my beliefs. I mean, you didn’t manage to overlook the tree and the massive amount of gifts under it, did you? No, I know you haven’t. I’ve caught you under it shaking gifts more than once.”Chip pouted. “I can’t help it. They’re just so… pretty and shiny.”Jason snorted. “You are such a kitty.”“Oh, really? Want to talk about the laser pointer?”Jason squirmed on the furry rug, his cock resting against his thigh. “Um, aren’t you supposed to be doing something other than harassing me about that damn laser pointer?”Chip bent over his mate, eyes locked with Jason. “You’re surethis won’t change anything?”Jason threaded his hand through Chip’s hair. Such concern. How could he not give this to Chip? “My manhood isn’t tie to whether or not my ass gets fucked. I know some men feel different. But babe, I’ve been alive for a long time, seen things that are better left to the hazy fog of memories, and… I’ve bathed in the blood of my enemies. Getting my ass reamed isn’t going to shake my identity.” “Okay. I just don’t want… problems.”“I can’t promise I’m going to love it like you do. I don’t know since I’ve never done it. Let’s just see what happens, okay? You seem to feel such things… I hope I feel the same things.” Jason’s hand released Chips hair and dropped back onto the rug, leaving his body opened. “I’m damn sure going to try and blow your mind, I promise you that.” Chip slanted his mouth over Jason’s again. He didn’t linger, but moved down Jason’s body quickly. Unable to speak, Jason’s hands fisted the furry rug as Chip left sloppy kisses on his way down Jason’s chest. He moaned deep in his throat when Chip licked across a hard nipple. Jason’s cock jumped, pointing straight towards his stomach. His body flushed and suddenly he couldn’t wait to get that blanket off him. Where he’d been cold earlier, now he was burning up.
For the Love of Home and Hearth Part III Chip jerked the blanket off Jason’s body. “You’re so fucking sexy. God, you make me crazy, I just want to eat you up.” Chip surged to his knees with the intention of crawling between Jason’s legs. Jason’s hand on Chip’s cock stopped him. “How about you leave this up here by me?”Chip shuddered in Jason’s grasp. “You want to sixty-nine?”Jason stroked the cock that leaked in his hand. “Stop asking questions, please, and leave this where I can get to it.”“Not a problem.” Chip didn’t know what Jason planned, but he didn’t care. He was a man on a mission. Not far from his face was a cock he was just itching to get in his mouth. Still on his hands and knees, he nuzzled Jason’s dick. He was going to cram that piece of meat down his throat and choke on it until Jason yelled. Yeah, he totally dug that idea. He’d make Jason wiggle all over this fur rug and scream his name… like Jason often did to him.Just love him, Chip. This is a big deal for them.Chip froze. That was his cougar. Oh freaking God, that was his cougar! Can you hear me too?We can talk later. Right now something needs our attention.“Um… Chip?” Jason patted Chip’s ass. A slightly hysterical laugh threatened to break loose. “Sorry. My, ah… Good Lord. You’re not going to believe this, but my cougar finally decided to speak to me.”Jason raised his head, staring down at Chip. “Just as you’re getting ready to suck me?”Chip broke eye contact and rested his head on Jason’s hip, a giggle fighting to escape. “Yeah, what timing, huh?”Jason snorted. He shifted his hips, his cock bumping Chip’s chin. “Sounds like he shares your sense of humor. And… hint, hint.” “Heaven help us, then. And it’s kind of hard, ha-ha, to miss your hints.” Chip smirked at his joke then closed his mouth over Jason’s cock, tongue caressing that long, hard shaft. Jason’s smell alone made Chip’s cock strain. That clean manly scent and a hint of something wild, a musky scent that made Chip’s dick twitch. He bobbed his head up and down while rolling Jason’s balls. He pulled back and closed his lips over the dome of Jason’s shaft, sucking the crown. He sighed in pleasure as, taking an inch at a time, he went back down, driving his mate completely insane. A harsh groan behind him made Chip smirk mentally. Jason was groaning now? Oh, his mate had no idea. He relaxed his throat, closed his eyes, and lodged that thick cock deep, lips pressed against Jason’s groin. The strangled sounds Jason made pleased him.Then he made his own strangled sounds when a finger brushed down the crease of his ass. Now he understood why Jason wanted him to stay at his side and move down between his legs. It was all about access. Jason’s finger teased Chips hungry hole. He moaned encouragement as that finger entered him, the usual tightness slowing Jason’s entry. Chip pulled off Jason’s cock. “Oh fuck, Jason.” He pushed back as Jason hunted for his hot spot. “Aren’t I’m supposed to be doing that to you?”Jason spread his legs. He gently removed his finger and pushed the lube down toward Chip. Chip got the message loud and clear. “Oh yeah, my turn. I’m going to make you feel so good, mate.”At a gentle tap, Chip moved between Jason’s legs. A small puddle of precome pooled on that toned belly. He heard the slight moan from his mate as he ran his fingers through the liquid on Jason’s stomach and licked his fingers. “You taste good.”Jason’s arms jerked forward, reaching for Chip before Jason caught himself. He fisted his hands on the bedding.Chip stoked Jason’s cock. “I want this to be good for you, you know, just in case you never let me do this again. Try to relax, okay? I’m not going to hurt you.”“I know, babe. I trust you.”Chip held Jason’s shaft upright. He kissed the head, then closed his lips over the dome of Jason’s shaft again. He knew how much Jason like that. He sucked on the crown, running his tongue over the head and teasing the slit. Precome flooded Chip’s mouth. Maybe that was the trick. Keep Jason focused on his dick and off his ass. Good thing the lube Jason pushed down was within reach. Chip used his tongue to keep Jason’s attention on his cock and flipped the top of the lube opened. He released Jason’s cock and quickly poured some into his hand, warming it. Panting, Jason pulled his legs higher, giving Chip access. His finger teased Jason’s hole, a barely-there touch that had Jason twisting on the bed. He played there, massaging that hot little hole no one had ever entered until Jason finally moaned.“Chip... do it. I want to feel you in me.”Chip had lubed Jason’s hole well. He pressed his finger in slowly and twisted, hunting for Jason’s hot spot. “Burns.”“I know, but it’s about to get better.”Chip lowered his head and sucked Jason’s cock back into his mouth. He smiled at a startled yelp from above and ruthlessly attacked that bundle of nerves. He gently worked two fingers in, scissoring them open as he prepared his mate. Jason leaked precome from the constant attention to his prostate. “Fuck. Do it.” Jason pulled his legs higher. “Just get in me, please.”Chip let Jason’s cock pop out then stuffed a pillow under Jason, raising his hips. Frantically, he slathered more lube on his aching dick and rested his cock against Jason’s hole. There was so much more he wanted to do, but he was as desperate as his mate. Slowly, he pushed in as Jason fought his body, straining to relax. The guardian muscle resisted, then gave way. Chip entered in one motion, not stopping until he was deep inside. Leaning over Jason, Chip waited for the tightness to ease. “Damn, you’re thick.” Jason panted as he locked his legs around Chip’s hips. “I’m not nearly as big as you. Breathe for me, Jason, and try not to fight.” Resting on his hands above Jason, Chip kissed the tip of his nose. “Oh thank God, you’re loosening. Ready for me to move?”“Yes.”A little slide in, a little slide out. When Jason’s breath caught, Chip moved a little faster… a little hard thrust, a little quicker withdrawal… making sure to constantly nail that sensitive bundle of nerves. Jason moaned. Chip was damn certain it wasn’t from pain—Jason was rock hard.“More,” Jason gasped.Oh hell yeah, he’d give Jason more. Chip drove in and out, hard, as Jason tightened his legs around Chip. He pounded Jason, going faster as Jason moved with him. Chip stared at his mate, watching the stunned pleasure that crossed Jason’s face. Beautiful.One final hard push and tingling started at the base of his spine. “Gonna come. You ready?”“Fuck, yeah. Fill me up.”“Oh Jesus, I… love…” Chip grunted, his orgasm barreling down. “You….”He’d never forget the smile on Jason’s face as he came.
The fire still burned and the snow still fell. The Christmas tee lights glowed. Held securely in Jason’s arm, Chip turned to look at his mate. “Merry Christmas, love.”“Merry Christmas to you too. Ready to go to bed?”Chip yawned. “Can’t we stay where we are? I like it here. The fire and a couple of blankets will keep us warm. I want to lie here, stare out the window at the snow, and enjoy the lights on the tree.”“If you want to stay here, then here we’ll stay.” Jason ran his hand through Chip’s hair as they cuddled closer. “Anything for you, my mate, anything at all.”
The End
December 24, 2013
Wednesday Briefs Christmas brief
Welcome to the Wednesday Briefers flash group. The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the bottom to the other flashers. The prompts for this week are:
I’m using a picture prompt this week~
For the love of Home and Hearth
“Come on, come on…”
He loved snow, but God, the damn stuff was freaking cold when you didn’t have fur covering you any longer. He’d wished for a white Christmas down here in what he now affectionately called Freaksville, but he hadn’t really thought he’d get it. Didn’t snow here often. Not only had he gotten his wish for snow, he’d gotten nearly a foot of the stuff. Merry Christmas to him!
But now he was freezing. With chills chasing across his skin, Chip fed more kindling onto the fire, slowly nursing the flames. Desperate for heat, but determined not to rush things, he leaned closer and blew gently on the growing flame. A sudden pop sounded then an explosion of sparks raced up a piece of wood, igniting one of the bigger logs. Chip sighed, relieved. “There we go.” He tended the flames, coaxing forth a nice roaring fire. He loved that the fireplace was real, not gas. They were a mess, sure, but nothing beat them. And the bricks were old, very old, and hand-laid by his grandfather. A burst of heat engulfed him, warming his chilled skin. He moved back slightly, rearranging his body. Soft fur suddenly tickled his foot, making him grin. In front of the fireplace was a huge, furry black rug. Jason had brought it with him when he moved in months ago. Chip loved the damn thing—it was so soft. And okay, yes, it reminded him of something…or rather, someone.From the kitchen the microwave beeped, drawing Chip’s attention. “Oh, thank you, God.”Chip hurried into the kitchen, jeans still unbuttoned at the top, no shirt, and no shoes. That was all he’d bothered to throw on when they came inside. His toes curled on the new tile floor. He and Jason had laid every square of that tile themselves, and he was damn proud of their work, but damn it was cold. He and Jason were updating the house he’d inherited upon his granny’s death not long ago. Little did he know the place came with a Native American shifter who planned on claiming him. They’d had a rocky start, but things were settling now into normalcy. Chip snorted. As normal as things could be, considering he’d mated a black cougar shifter. And oh yeah, he was now a shifter too. Normal had a new meaning.He opened the microwave door and removed the mugs of heated milk. Shivering slightly, he mixed in the homemade hot chocolate mix he’d prepared earlier. “Damn, damn, damn, please tell me there are marshmallows left from the bonfire last night.”Chip opened the pantry door, shoving things around as he hunted the needed ingredient. “Ah-ha, there they are! And shoved toward the back, of course.”Bending at the waist, he reached into the pantry. They really needed to widen this thing. His fingers just brushed across the package when a heavy weight leaned against his legs. The smell of crushed grass, wild animal, and something more pronounced—a woodsy musk—enveloped him. Breathing deeply, he inhaled the scent. God, he loved that smell. A low purr greeted him and, damn, something nudged his ass. “Jesus, behave.”Backing out of the pantry, he straightened quickly. At his feet was one of the biggest cougars he’d ever seen. But that wasn’t the most intriguing thing about the cat. No, what was unique, besides the fact the cat could shift into a human, was the color of the cat’s coal black coat. There were no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars. The animal didn’t exist, except for the one currently purring and rubbing its head against his thigh, scent-marking him. “Kitty want some milk?”Greenish-yellow eyes narrowed and a fang flashed. A rolling growl floated through the kitchen. A long black tail skittered across the tile floor. Then the cougar once again head-butted Chip, only this time harder. Chip stumbled back, laughing aloud. He rattled the back of marshmallows at the cougar. “Hey! I have the marshmallows for the hot chocolate. Be nice or I’ll put’em up the top shelf.”The cougar turned up its nose and stalked out of the kitchen. Chip watched as the cougar flopped down on the black furry rug by the fireplace. It was hard to tell where the rug ended and the cat started, especially since there was only light from the fireplace. Amused at his thoughts, Chip fixed the hot chocolate and carried the mugs to the fireplace. He left the mugs on the bricks and sat. The big cat rested a paw on his leg, staring at Chip.“It’s supposed to snow tonight. Tomorrow I’ll shift, and you guys can go play in the snow… all day, if you want. Does that sound good?”The cougar purred loudly.Jason and his cougar were separate identities, with the ability to speak internally, so Chip treated them as such. Chip still hadn’t developed the ability to speak to his cougar, but the animal spirit was there. Chip felt him. “Well then, in that case, come back to me, babe. I have hot chocolate.” Chip cringed at the screeching of bones popping, rearranging. The tearing sounds that filled the room made his body hurt. Finally, a low groan sounded from the rug. “Fuck, Jason, I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to those sounds.”“But it’s worth it, right?” Jason trembled, shivers racing across his body. “It’s kind of cold in here now without the fur.”Chip jerked a throw off the couch and threw it over Jason. As much as he hated covering that hunky body, it was cool in the den. No problem, though. After Jason warmed up, Chip planned to remove that covering… with his teeth, if needed. The mere thought of long, black hair spread out and—Chip gulped—all that toned, naked skin just waiting to be loved on, had his cock pushing against the fly of his jeans.“Yeah, we should’ve turned the heat up before we left this morning.”He retrieved the hot chocolate and held it out to Jason. “Drink up. I even added the little marshmallows you like so much.”“Thanks, babe. And just as soon as I warm up, I’m going to remove you from those jeans. Thought I’d throw that out there.”The blood flowing to his cock so suddenly made Chip dizzy. “Well, then, drink up.”
TBC.
JC WallaceLily Sawyer Jon Keys Nephylim Shelly SchulzRob ColtonCia Nordwell Victoria AdamsTali SpencerAndrew Q. GordonGrace Duncan Chris T. KatJulie Lynn Hayes
Merry Christmas, everyone! May your day be filled with things that make you happy. Best wishes for a safe holiday. :) Try not to eat too much... which I probably will do. Chip and Jason are the characters from the novel Shadows in the Night. The rest will post on the 26th.
~M
I’m using a picture prompt this week~
For the love of Home and Hearth
“Come on, come on…”
He loved snow, but God, the damn stuff was freaking cold when you didn’t have fur covering you any longer. He’d wished for a white Christmas down here in what he now affectionately called Freaksville, but he hadn’t really thought he’d get it. Didn’t snow here often. Not only had he gotten his wish for snow, he’d gotten nearly a foot of the stuff. Merry Christmas to him!
But now he was freezing. With chills chasing across his skin, Chip fed more kindling onto the fire, slowly nursing the flames. Desperate for heat, but determined not to rush things, he leaned closer and blew gently on the growing flame. A sudden pop sounded then an explosion of sparks raced up a piece of wood, igniting one of the bigger logs. Chip sighed, relieved. “There we go.” He tended the flames, coaxing forth a nice roaring fire. He loved that the fireplace was real, not gas. They were a mess, sure, but nothing beat them. And the bricks were old, very old, and hand-laid by his grandfather. A burst of heat engulfed him, warming his chilled skin. He moved back slightly, rearranging his body. Soft fur suddenly tickled his foot, making him grin. In front of the fireplace was a huge, furry black rug. Jason had brought it with him when he moved in months ago. Chip loved the damn thing—it was so soft. And okay, yes, it reminded him of something…or rather, someone.From the kitchen the microwave beeped, drawing Chip’s attention. “Oh, thank you, God.”Chip hurried into the kitchen, jeans still unbuttoned at the top, no shirt, and no shoes. That was all he’d bothered to throw on when they came inside. His toes curled on the new tile floor. He and Jason had laid every square of that tile themselves, and he was damn proud of their work, but damn it was cold. He and Jason were updating the house he’d inherited upon his granny’s death not long ago. Little did he know the place came with a Native American shifter who planned on claiming him. They’d had a rocky start, but things were settling now into normalcy. Chip snorted. As normal as things could be, considering he’d mated a black cougar shifter. And oh yeah, he was now a shifter too. Normal had a new meaning.He opened the microwave door and removed the mugs of heated milk. Shivering slightly, he mixed in the homemade hot chocolate mix he’d prepared earlier. “Damn, damn, damn, please tell me there are marshmallows left from the bonfire last night.”Chip opened the pantry door, shoving things around as he hunted the needed ingredient. “Ah-ha, there they are! And shoved toward the back, of course.”Bending at the waist, he reached into the pantry. They really needed to widen this thing. His fingers just brushed across the package when a heavy weight leaned against his legs. The smell of crushed grass, wild animal, and something more pronounced—a woodsy musk—enveloped him. Breathing deeply, he inhaled the scent. God, he loved that smell. A low purr greeted him and, damn, something nudged his ass. “Jesus, behave.”Backing out of the pantry, he straightened quickly. At his feet was one of the biggest cougars he’d ever seen. But that wasn’t the most intriguing thing about the cat. No, what was unique, besides the fact the cat could shift into a human, was the color of the cat’s coal black coat. There were no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars. The animal didn’t exist, except for the one currently purring and rubbing its head against his thigh, scent-marking him. “Kitty want some milk?”Greenish-yellow eyes narrowed and a fang flashed. A rolling growl floated through the kitchen. A long black tail skittered across the tile floor. Then the cougar once again head-butted Chip, only this time harder. Chip stumbled back, laughing aloud. He rattled the back of marshmallows at the cougar. “Hey! I have the marshmallows for the hot chocolate. Be nice or I’ll put’em up the top shelf.”The cougar turned up its nose and stalked out of the kitchen. Chip watched as the cougar flopped down on the black furry rug by the fireplace. It was hard to tell where the rug ended and the cat started, especially since there was only light from the fireplace. Amused at his thoughts, Chip fixed the hot chocolate and carried the mugs to the fireplace. He left the mugs on the bricks and sat. The big cat rested a paw on his leg, staring at Chip.“It’s supposed to snow tonight. Tomorrow I’ll shift, and you guys can go play in the snow… all day, if you want. Does that sound good?”The cougar purred loudly.Jason and his cougar were separate identities, with the ability to speak internally, so Chip treated them as such. Chip still hadn’t developed the ability to speak to his cougar, but the animal spirit was there. Chip felt him. “Well then, in that case, come back to me, babe. I have hot chocolate.” Chip cringed at the screeching of bones popping, rearranging. The tearing sounds that filled the room made his body hurt. Finally, a low groan sounded from the rug. “Fuck, Jason, I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to those sounds.”“But it’s worth it, right?” Jason trembled, shivers racing across his body. “It’s kind of cold in here now without the fur.”Chip jerked a throw off the couch and threw it over Jason. As much as he hated covering that hunky body, it was cool in the den. No problem, though. After Jason warmed up, Chip planned to remove that covering… with his teeth, if needed. The mere thought of long, black hair spread out and—Chip gulped—all that toned, naked skin just waiting to be loved on, had his cock pushing against the fly of his jeans.“Yeah, we should’ve turned the heat up before we left this morning.”He retrieved the hot chocolate and held it out to Jason. “Drink up. I even added the little marshmallows you like so much.”“Thanks, babe. And just as soon as I warm up, I’m going to remove you from those jeans. Thought I’d throw that out there.”The blood flowing to his cock so suddenly made Chip dizzy. “Well, then, drink up.”
TBC.
JC WallaceLily Sawyer Jon Keys Nephylim Shelly SchulzRob ColtonCia Nordwell Victoria AdamsTali SpencerAndrew Q. GordonGrace Duncan Chris T. KatJulie Lynn Hayes
Merry Christmas, everyone! May your day be filled with things that make you happy. Best wishes for a safe holiday. :) Try not to eat too much... which I probably will do. Chip and Jason are the characters from the novel Shadows in the Night. The rest will post on the 26th.~M
December 23, 2013
Happy Christmas Eve
Um... yeah.
HA! There's my other string of lights!!!!
Message? What message??? OH, that one!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...
December 22, 2013
Fun and interesting things about Christmas
Want to know some fun and interesting things about Christmas? Check out the facts below!
§ Christmas is an annual Christian holiday held on December 25th celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Christmas trees are also known as the Yule-tree.
§ Christmas trees are evergreen trees, usually either a fir tree, pine tree or spruce tree.
§ It is believed that decorating Christmas trees originated in 16th century Germany when Christians would bring decorated trees into their homes.
§ Some people say the Christmas season officially begins when Santa arrives at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. § Did you ever wonder where X-Mas came from? X means Christ in Greek so to shorten the word Christmas we sometimes use X-Mas.
§ In 1836 Alabama became the first state in the US to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
§ Oklahoma became the last state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1907.
§ In June of 1970 Christmas became a federal holiday in the US.
§ Christmas trees were first decorated with foods such as apples, nuts and dates.
§ In the 18th century Christmas trees began being decorated with candles.
§ Electric Christmas tree lights were first used in 1895.§ Did you know that giving presents were once banned by the Catholic Church? It was believed that gift giving was connected to paganism.
§ If you received all the gifts from the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” you would have 364 presents.
§ Do you know why we say the Twelve Days of Christmas? It is believed that it took the 3 kings 12 days to find baby Jesus.
§ The song Jingle Bells was written by James Pierpont in 1857. It was originally called “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was made for Thanksgiving.
§ Many years ago in England a traditional Christmas dinner included a pig head served with mustard.
§ The tradition of naughty children getting a lump of coal in their stocking comes from Italy.
§ Did you know that tinsel was once made of real silver! It was invented in Germany in 1610.
§ There are two islands named Christmas. Christmas Island (formerly Kiritimati) in the Pacific Ocean and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
§ The tallest Christmas tree ever displayed was in Seattle Washington in 1950. The Christmas tree was 221 feet tall!
§ It is said that candy canes were invented by a candy maker in Indiana. He wanted to use them to spread the name Jesus around the world.
§ Santa Claus is also known as St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Grandfather Frost and Kris Kringle.
§ Santa is believed to bring gifts to good girls and boys on the night before Christmas (December 24th).
§ There are three towns in the Us that are named Santa Claus. One in Georgia, one in Arizona, and one in Indiana.
§ Santa Claus eight reindeer are named: Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donder, Blitzen.
December 21, 2013
Traditions… then and now
One of my favorite traditions has been trimming the tree. *laugh* Okay, yes, it’s a pain getting the tree down from the attic, setting it, and so on. When the kids were young, I’d haul it down a day or so after Thanksgiving. They were off for Thanksgiving break and that Saturday we’d get started on the tree. That was *always* the first thing done. And man, I had boxes of ornaments. Ornaments from the very old, the very expensive… to things made by the kids in school. Our tradition was the kids helped me dress the tree—it was naked when it came from the attic, so it was up to us to dress it. That’s what the kids called it, lol. When they were young, they couldn’t wait to get at all the shiny, twinkly things, lol. The delight in their eyes when they saw all the cool stuff… man—such sweet innocence and wonder.But as time passed, they grew up. They had things to do, or so they told me. There were friends to meet up with, riding up and down the streets, and much hanging out to be done in the Walmart parking lot. *rolls eyes* It was my pleasure to tell them fine… as soon as the tree was dressed. *wink* Of course, they had to get the prerequisite gripping in, but the tree got done, lol. Now the kids are no longer kids. They’ve grown up and moved out. And the past few years have been rough with the passing of my Mom. The kids were close to her too. Christmas hasn’t been the same, and we just went through the motions. Christmas was a chore.Well, for those who know me, you know I had a serious health scare in early October. My life got turned upside down, and I’m still struggling to cope. But, know what? That scare brought us back together. We have plans for that Saturday after Thanksgiving, lol. My son’s bringing the tree from work for us to dress. My daughter knows she’s going to have drag all the boxes of ornaments out since I can’t. They’re both so excited, like they used to be… and so am I. As I type this, I’m listening to Christmas music on my laptop. I’ve finally found my holiday spirit. There’s something to be said for traditions, lol. They bring peace and comfort. I’m really looking forward to this one again. Merry Christmas, everyone!~M
December 20, 2013
Welcome Sharita Lira
Hey everyone! Today I have author Sharita Lira visiting Decadent Delights! So come on in, grab something hot to drink, and lets get to it, lol!~ You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have? SL: I better say my husband. *laughs* Other than the essentials, something that played music. An IPod dock, a record player, CD player, doesn’t matter.
~How do you come up with a title?SL: The characters usually pick the title, or the muse. Believe me I’m just the fugure head. I let the muses play as they want.
~When do you do your best writing… morning, afternoon, evening, night? SL: Night into early morning because the house is asleep. I have 2 small children.
~Out of all the stories you’ve written which one are you most proud of? SL: This changes daily but it’s my m/m I just finished called Something Like Jayden. I was really happy with how it turned out and I love my character Jayden DeMario. He is a sweet kid!
~Do you plan your stories and, if so, to what extent? SL: I have tried chapter outlines (with Jayden), writing character arcs which I still do. I can’t do full outlines. They don’t work for me. Really its better when I let the muses take over and I add details as I go along. I have set scenes in my head and write those down.
~ Take one of your stories and tell us what you would change about it if you would do it over again.SL: Only one? *laughs* I’ll have the opportunity to do Michael’s Second Chance story over again. I’ll be getting my rights back from the publisher soon. I’d like to make it longer, delve deeper into the characters. When I first started, I didn’t do that enough. Now I know better so I’d like to go back into that one.
~ Where do you get your best ideas?SL: From everyday life and looking at hot men. *laughs*
~What do you do to relax? SL: Reading a good book with music in the background!
~Do you listen to music when you're writing? SL: Yes I do. All kinds and it really depends on the story I’m doing at the time.
* * * *
My two latest releases. One under BLMorticia, the other under Rawiya
Blurb: Bryant is still trying to convince his lover how great the holidays could be but Nathan isn’t buying into the holiday cheer. However, the Lieutenant has some tricks up his sleeve to show his husband to be the true meaning of Christmas.
ARe Smashwords Amazon
Blurb: Denny Brothers is upset about being alone. After spending it with the man he’d been gushing over for years, he’s wishing for his sad existence to be change and little does he know witch Shelba Marrisco already has plans in the works. Enter Paul Alexander, a charming and sexy package handler with a special after Christmas gift they both can enjoy for the rest of their lives but in order to have a chance, Denny has to let go of his beloved chocolate lab, Preston, in exchange for everlasting love. Link
Author Sharita Lira: In one word, crazy. Just crazy enough to have 3 different muses running around in her head, driving her to sheer exhaustion with new plot bunnies and complex characters.
This happily married mother of two beautiful children loves music, computers, reading, and still enjoys reading and writing fanfiction. She’s a proud member of the Erotica Readers & Writers Association, as well as an advocate for rights of LGBT citizens. She’s also a contributor to the heavy metal ezine Fourteeng.net.
For more information, please visit http://www.thelitriad.com as well as her Facebook fanpage, The Literary Triad.
The Literary Triad - http://www.thelitriad.com/#!
Michael Mandrake – http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com
BLMorticia – http://blmorticia.wordpress.com
Rawiya - http://rawiyaerotica.wordpress.com
TriadPromo – http://triadliteraryworks.blogspot.com/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/rawiyamikembl
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/TheLiteraryTriad
AuthorGraph – http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/rawiyamikembl
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And the winner is
Jim D
I've emailed the winner!
* * * *
That's not all!!! Since there were so many comments I picked another winner. So...
Misty Luh
You are a winner too. Email has been sent. :)
