M.A. Church's Blog, page 168

Wednesday Briefs - Nighttime Dreams #5

 
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: 
"If you wish upon a star"
use pea soup in your story
or have your character make some sort of comfort food
or "When I'm away from you, I feel..."
or use an overdue book fine at the library
or "My .... is bigger than your ..."
or "round and round the mulberry bush"
or "She slid her thumb gently across my lips and I thought I'd melt"
or have your character Google something
~ ~ ~
~Nighttime Promises is the 3rd book in the Nighttime series, which is published by Romance First. I'm using the prompts to help me get going on this book. Yes, this is a tentacle story lol.
 
Fair warning! I'm going to pull this about 3/4th of the way through, expand it, and send it off. Most of the story will be shown on here though. I'm giving this warning so no one will be caught off guard when I pull the story.
 
Nighttime Promises #5
Daroshi tapped a button on the device he wore on his wrist. The blank screen next to the medibed shimmered, and a holographic image appeared in front of them.
“Ah, good. I was hoping there was one of those in here.” Bryan stuffed a pillow behind him and nodded at the replicator. The scene was the size of a huge 80-inch big screen TV he’d seen in a sports bar. “You know, you need to show me how to use that thing.”
Daroshi moved toward the machine. “Yes, I do. Why don’t you watch what I do so you can learn how to use it? It’s like a computer, just more advanced.”
Bryan shrugged. “It would be better if I tried it instead of watching you. I tend to learn quicker by doing than watching.”
Daroshi glanced over his shoulder. He noticed Bryan’s color was better. The nap Bryan had seemed to have helped, but he still didn’t intend for his human still to get up. “That may be, but I don’t want you out of bed yet. You look better, but I’d prefer to be careful. Would you mind waiting?”
“Sure. I’ll just watch for now.”
Daroshi moved his hand in front of the screen and the image changed, as a menu came into view. Daroshi flipped through several screens before finding what he wanted. He tapped a few places on the holographic image and a list of beverages appeared.
“Shawn has added some things, I see.” Daroshi looked at Bryan. “Can you see from there?”
Bryan squinted at the screen. “Yeah. You have Coke. Cool. Let’s go with that. It should settle okay.”
 Daroshi clicked on the tab. “Would you like something to eat? Shawn has added human food to the main computer and… pea soup? What in the name of the gods is pea soup?” Daroshi heard a snort from behind him. “Never mind, I don’t believe I want to know. Anyway, all replicators throughout the ship should have human food on their menus now.”
“Yeah, let’s just skip the pea soup. I won’t be asking for that. Um, is there anything simple? Like maybe toast or oatmeal? Last thing I want to do is upset my stomach and start throwing up again.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, now that the antidote has had time to work. Let me check… Hmm. By simple you mean easy to digest, correct?”
“Right.”
Daroshi flipped through several screens. “Here we go—bread products. There is plain toast, sugar toast, cinnamon sugar toast, cheese toast, toast with different kinds of jellies… Everything except the plain toast sounds overly sweet.”
“Sugar toast will do. Three pieces, please.”
“Are you sure you want something that sweet?”
“It’s not as sweet as you think.”
“Okay.” With a shrug, Daroshi tapped out what Bryan wanted then jumped back to the original screen. “Would you like the substance called oatmeal? There are several varieties to choose from.”
“Is there one called peaches and cream oatmeal?”
Daroshi scanned the holographic screen. “Yes. Interesting combination. Would you like that too?”
“Hey, don’t knock it until you try it, and yes. That, along with the sugar toast. And the Coke to drink.”
Daroshi shook his head as he placed the order. Bryan had said he wanted something easy to digest but none of the items seemed to meet that criterion. Bryan must know what he was doing, though. Daroshi certainly hoped so. Watching his human regurgitate hadn’t been pleasant.
There was also the fact that right before Bryan woke, their ship had dropped out of warp. They were not far from the home world. By Earth time, they would be entering orbit in two hours. They would still have to dock, run a systems check, do all sorts of things… but he really wanted his mate to walk off Ziang’s ship when the time came. Having to be carried would be seen as a sign of weakness.
Yes, Bryan had been poisoned, but that wouldn’t be a well known fact until later. Daroshi considered Bryan a warrior in his own right, and… Daroshi huffed out a silent breath. He wanted his mate to be seen as strong among his people… and that was pride talking. The welfare of his human was more important that his own standing in the community.
“Ah… are you going to let me eat or glare the food into submission? I’m actually kinda hungry and oatmeal isn’t all that great cold. Just saying.”
Daroshi made an odd clicking sound of disgust. What was he doing? How long had he been staring at the food? Bryan probably thought he was… What was the word? Ah yes… crazy. Daroshi retrieved the food and bought it to Bryan. “I apologize. My thoughts were elsewhere.”
Bryan tasted the oatmeal cautiously. “Damn, this tastes like the real thing.”
“Of course it does.”
“Hey, I didn’t know what to expect, and we’ll save the smart-assed comments for another time. What’s got you worried wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the fact we must be getting close to your world, would it?”
“How did you know?”
Bryan tapped his head. “Memory like a rusty steel trap. In other words, you told me after my nap we’d be close.”
Daroshi frowned. “How does memory and a steel trap have anything in common?”
Bryan laughed softly. “A rusty trap doesn’t open real easy… so once something gets in it and it snaps close, it doesn’t get out. Follow me?”
“In a twisted sort of way, yes. And yes, we are two Earth hours away from my planet.”
“Well, then, guess I’d better finish this and get cleaned up.” Bryan made eye contact with Daroshi. “Because I’m telling you now, I’m not going to be carried off this damn ship. Not after what you’ve told me about your species and how they respect strength. And this isn’t up for debate, big guy. Understand?”
Daroshi grinned. “Understood.”

TBC

Victoria Adams Lily Sawyer A.R. Von J.A. Harmon Nephylim Cia Nordwell   Renee Stevens BL Morticia Tali Spencer Andrew GordonJulie Lynn Hayes

Welcome TC Collins

Hi and thank you so much for having me! Shadows of Light is on Evernight Publishing's coming soon page with the release date set to July 29th. Be sure to drop by and pick up a copy! I hope you enjoy my first baby released out into the world. I am so happy and excited to share a little bit of my crazy thoughts with you. Here's a little teaser to perk your interest, LOL.

Happy reading,

TC 
**** 
Shadows of Light  
amazon link:http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-Light-ebook/dp/B00E7AA1CQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375067899&sr=1-1
evernightpublishing link: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/shadows-of-light-by-tc-collins/ 
Excerpt 
Adam walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He’d obviously just gotten out of the shower because his skin glistened.
I watched, mesmerized as a water droplet began its slow, delicious descent from his neck, to his surprisingly hairless chest, past the fresh bandage a nurse had just applied before leaving the room, and down his very sexy six-pack, to the intriguing treasure trail to disappear into the towel.
I licked dry lips, vaguely aware of the increase in my heart rate and choppy breathing. The only thing I could think of was following the trail of the water droplet.
Oh my, I breathed.
Adam’s towel began to tent as I watched. Drawn like a bee to honey, I was halfway to Adam before I became aware of it. I stopped in front of him, nervous, and reached out a hand laying my palm on his chest. My heart was pounding as I touched an erect, brown nipple.
Adam groaned and grabbed my wrist. I looked up at him, dazed. His lips moved but I was beyond hearing.
Must taste. The urge obliterated everything else.
I stood on tiptoe, grabbed a handful of his dark hair, and yanked his mouth to mine. Delighted moans filled the silent room. Adam wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me into all that hard male strength. My knees buckled and my erection stretched within the confines of my jeans.
Adam licked into my open mouth, his tongue chasing and dominating mine. I shuddered at the heat smoldering inside me. Pleasure flowed, heightening sensitive nerve endings. I pressed further into Adam, trying to get as close as possible. His hands journeyed from my hips to my bottom, kneading.
Oh god!
It was the hottest thing I had ever felt. A whimper escaped and I felt Adam’s groan vibrate in his chest. Pre-cum leaked from my cock. I rubbed it against his stomach to help alleviate the pain. I’d never been so turned on in my life and it was exhilarating. I felt as if I was flying and free-falling simultaneously through a pit of molten lava.
Adam twined his tongue around mine, trapping it. His tongue tasted every crevice in my mouth, leaving no part unattended. His kiss left me feeling ravished and the feeling became addictive.
I broke our kiss to gulp fresh air. Adam rumbled his protest and one of his hands left my butt to grab a handful of my hair and jerked me back to his lips. I had never felt so needed before in my life and I melted into the kiss, my surrender complete. Adam snarled his approval and tightened his grip. He staggered us to the bed. I felt him wince and pulled back from our kiss.
“Maybe we should—” I began before Adam claimed my lips again.
I looked down as he laid me on the bed. Oh wow! Adam’s towel had slid to the floor and he was enormous. His cock had to be at least eight and a half inches long and he was thick. The mushroom-shaped tip was an angry red, pointing straight toward me as if in silent accusation.
Fear shot through me and I scrambled backward on the bed. What the heck do you think you’re going to do with that thing? I shouted at him through our bond. There was no way I was letting him get within six feet of me with that monster leering at me.
Adam laughed and grabbed my ankles to keep me from kicking him. He dragged me toward him spreading my thighs so he stood between my splayed legs. He leaned down and nuzzled my neck before placing a soft kiss there. Despite my fear, I shivered in reaction.
Is this your first time, baby? he whispered, using our bond. Goose bumps pebbled my skin. His voice was just so…sexy and using telepathy heightened its appeal.
I grabbed a handful of his hair and buried my face in his neck. Shyness had overcome me and I found it difficult to meet his gaze. My gift and the threat of Dr. Johannasan wouldn’t let me get close to anyone. Plus I didn’t trust anyone enough to try.
Adam lifted his head and the fierce possessiveness seared me in place. Good, he growled. Adam lowered his head to kiss me again.
****
Author Bio 
I write erotic fiction which usually has a paranormal twist. I am a firm believer in happily ever after, so though I may torture my characters upon occasion, they will always get their HEA. I live in the southeastern region and can usually be found sipping a cup of white chocolate mocha. 

  
I can be found at www.tccollins283.blogspot.com
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/avidreader_01
Check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Collins283

Revelations outtakes - Julie Lynn Hayes

 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-ebook/dp/B00BCO2JHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374886749&sr=8-1&keywords=revelations+julie+lynn+hayes Muse: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=657&category_id=140&manufacturer_id=293&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-revelations-1054936-145.html Revelations is a story that is very dear to my heart, one that was over forty years in the making. When I first began to write, hearing Judas’ voice in my head, I had no idea what would happen, just a basic idea about their reincarnations. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Judas’ longstanding obsession was  Jesus, that he’d loved him silently for years.  I didn’t know where that would take him, if anywhere.
As the story progressed, and I realized that Jesus felt the same way about Judas but didn’t understand his feelings, being entirely innocent of such matters, I hoped they would work things out. But then the question arose—how far could I go with them?
There is a scene in the book where they consummate their love. But the scene I wrote and what you will find in the novel are not the same. My publisher and editors tore it apart (I’ll leave it there, but trust me, I was upset).
However, I decided to do something else, and thanks to M.A. for giving me the chance to do it. Here is the scene, uncut and unedited, seen here for the first time anywhere. Enjoy these outtakes!
 
Now the question is, where do I begin? Despite all the years I’ve spent dreaming of this moment, of being in just this very position with Jesus, I seem to have neglected to formulate any sort of a game plan for what I'll do now that I’m here. I don’t want it to be painful, but pleasurable, for both of us. Damned short-sighted of me, don't you think? I know I think so.
            But not an insurmountable problem. We've already gotten past two thousand years of lusting after one another in our hearts, just in order to be here. What else can compete with that? Seriously? Certainly not the lack of any proper sort of lube about my person. I wasn't expecting this, I admit it. I don't carry a tube of lubrication about on the off-chance I might be in the mood to have sex and might find a willing partner. But nature is known to produce her own, so we’re still very much in business, as the saying goes.
            My first thought is simply to make him comfortable with his body and mine, with our bodies together. I shift my weight so I’m not directly on top of him, but lying beside him, propped up onto one elbow. I reach for one of his hands, he gives it willingly. First I kiss each fingertip, lingeringly, my eyes locked onto his, feeling him shiver at my touch. I take one sweet finger between my lips and suckle at it gently, which elicits an unexpected moan from Jesus. An auspicious start. And to think, we've only just begun.
            "Do you want to touch me?" I ask. He nods almost shyly. I take his hand and touch it to my bare chest. The hair there is neither thick nor abundant, being rather fine and difficult to see, as light as it is, against the backdrop of my pale skin. I pass his fingers over each of my nipples, and I mirror this by touching his own duskier nubs. Women don't have the market cornered on having erotic nipples, after all, far from it, but not all men realize that fact, or utilize it. Once I see he gets the idea, I take his hand again, and show him how to lightly pinch one of my nipples, just enough to cause it to stand up and take notice. His touch feels so good. I can't help but be pleased that he’s so eager to learn. As eager as I am to teach.
            "Touch me," he murmurs, willing me to take the lead, and of course I comply. I’d do anything he asks of me, and I don't mind being first. He can always follow my lead.
            I begin with his beautiful lips, but rather than devour them, I pace myself, taking my time, showing Jesus of what use a tongue can be. He allows mine entrance, and I move inside his mouth, touching his tongue, touching the roof of his mouth, everything I can reach, encouraging him to touch me in a similar fashion. If at first he seems hesitant, he quickly grows bolder, sucking at my tongue eagerly before moving inside of my mouth, reversing our positions.
            He’s a quick study.
            When I draw back from our kiss at last, I can feel his disappointment, his body arching toward mine involuntarily, and I press a soft kiss against those slightly swollen lips. "You'll like the rest," I promise. I am rewarded with his beautiful smile—I would kill to protect that smile, I would.
            I want all of him, and I want to touch him—everywhere—and do everything that my fertile imagination can conceive of, and yet I also know we don't have time for everything. Not right now, anyway. Is it arrogance on my part that presumes there will be another time? Or is it that I know him so well I know he hasn’t entered into this lightly, there must be something in the future for us? But our time is so short, just a few days left. A very few days. Didn't I say I just knew this would be the hardest incarnation of all? Now I know why.
            I push unpleasantness aside, concentrating on this beautiful man I love so very much. Nothing else. Not now. Nothing exists besides him and I. Nothing. We’re here and now and that’s all that matters.
            I begin a trail, starting with his mouth, my fingers stroking and reassuring as I kiss and nip along his jaw line, before beginning a more southerly journey. Down along his neck, pausing at his pulse point, feeling his life with my lips. I find myself fascinated, and for a few moments I hold my position there before I begin to move once more, slow and easy, across his chest, grateful that it is a warm night, and also that there is more than enough moonlight to see this most beautiful sight.
            I can't resist kissing each nipple lightly, pulling one into my mouth, suckling at it, my actions eliciting more moans from Jesus. I've always wondered what Jesus would say when caught up in the throes of passion, surely not his own name? Now I know…the only name he utters is my own. And yes, it’s a balm to my aching soul.
            I pause long enough to look up into his eyes, the starlight reflected in their dark depths, and I see his aura is pulsing about him. I imagine my own is too, my entire being alive with this very moment.
            I resume my kissing of his beautiful body, licking and tasting his tan skin, touching him everywhere I can reach. I can feel his fingers in my hair again. His very touch is taking me far too close to the edge for comfort, and I need to find an image that will stem this treacherous tide before it releases prematurely, against my will. I have it, the very thing—Mary M naked.  A repulsive thought in and of itself that serves to bring the situation under my control once again.
            Having traversed the soft flesh of his chest, I now reach his hard cock, and yes I admit to being very proud at having the ability to induce this state in Jesus, a state that matches my own. I bury my nose in the dark nest of his curls, inhaling him as much as I can, taking in his scent—a sensuous mixture of olives and lemons with just a hint of musk, and something else that is wholly Jesus.  I’m extremely hard, and my own hardness is weeping profusely. A good thing, I know, and rather useful.
            Jesus is my first and only priority—his comfort, his needs, his pleasure, his everything.  He’s the first virgin I’ve ever been with. First and last now, actually, for I’ll never have another lover. Ever.  I don’t want to frighten him, or to displease him. And I definitely don’t want to move too quickly either, although my body has other opinions on the matter. Luckily, I’m still in control of my second brain—at least at the moment.
I kiss the tip of his cock. My eyes search his face, looking for a reaction, as I gently begin to lick around its pretty pink head.  I know he's never been touched here before, and if I had to guess, he's probably not touched himself either. Hopefully he’ll enjoy the sensations I’m about to offer him.  One look at his expression reassures me, his kiss-swollen lips are parted breathily. He seems to be very content with what we are doing, with what I’m doing to him.  So I continue.
            Slowly I take him into my mouth, resisting the urge to swallow him in one bite—he’s no mere snack, to be summarily ingested and done with—he is the crème de la crème. He is the best that could ever be. He’s been my heart's desire for as long as I can remember. This is undoubtedly every dream I've ever had come true, and I can only fervently pray he feels much the same.
            Although I’ve long dreamt of this very eventuality, I’m discovering the reality far outstrips the fantasy in every way. I’m all too aware of his hardness within my mouth, my tongue laving him with infinite tenderness and care. My fingers never cease to caress him, strumming along his inner thighs, soothing him, as well as stirring him. I can feel his vibrations, his excitement matching my own. His moans reach my ears—sounds of pure pleasure that go straight to my cock. I whisper into his hardness, murmur the words I've been waiting two millennium to speak—how much I love him, how much I’ve always loved him, and how I’d do anything for him. Anything.
            His fingers tighten their grip on my hair, and I can tell from the way his body is tensing that he’s about to come. I become more aggressive, sucking at him as I move him in and out of my mouth, as if I am fucking myself with his cock, willing him to completion.  A few more strokes are all that’s  needed, all that’s required until he reaches his climax, and all of that loveliness is spilling into my mouth, as he comes. Oh kyrie eleison, the most marvelous taste I’ve ever experienced explodes onto my taste buds, sweet nectar such as I’ve never tasted before. I swallow as quickly as I can, as his cock pumps out its load, entire body quivering with the force of his orgasm. Until he has no more to give.
            Oh my God, that was so amazing. Although maybe that’s a poor choice of words. Seeing as that's his dad and all. But holy shit doesn't seem any more apropos, no matter how accurate.
            What I need right now, more than anything, is to kiss him, to feel his lips against mine, to know that he's all right with what we're doing, and to make sure he likes it. Of course he likes it, what's not to like. I mean what I'm doing. To him. With him. Gah, I'm so inarticulate all of a sudden. I just need to make sure he's okay.
            I slide up his warm body in order to claim that kiss, but his lips are on mine before I can even say a word, and he’s taking my very breath away with the intensity of his need and I cease to question anything anymore. Everything’s perfect. Just like him.
            Our bodies are pressed tightly together now, as tightly as our lips, and all I seem capable of are guttural moans, but that's okay, he's making them too. At least we're speaking the same language, whatever that might be.
            And then he surprises me. Not by the words of love he whispers into my lips, not in the way he caresses my name with his tongue, almost like a prayer. Or even the look in his eyes that speaks volumes more than mere words ever could. No, it's not these things that surprise me, but rather it’s his hand upon my very hard unrequited cock. His touch is both gentle and confident. I might have to rethink that whole never touched himself thing, I think.
"I love you," he whispers, pumping my hardness with a purpose, and any thoughts I once possessed of doing anything else have flown from my head, to be resurrected at a later date, no pun intended. This feels too good to stop, this feels too amazing, even. And it feels too immediate.  I shatter into a million pieces with the force of my orgasm, and he picks me up, every last piece, and puts me back together again. He is perfect.
            For once I’m speechless. Anything I can think of to say falls into the category of too trite, too banal, or too stupid. Perhaps words are simply not needed.
            "Stay with me, tonight," he asks, and I cannot deny him this request. Not now, not ever.  "Please don’t leave me…" As if I ever could. I think he knows better than that. At least he should, by now.
            I offer to go get a blanket from the tent, to cover us, but at my suggestion he clings to me and simply says, "No, don't go"
            In the back of my mind, a niggling thought attempts to make itself heard, but I push it aside, intent upon preserving this moment for as long as possible. This perfect moment. This perfect fucking moment. Everything's perfect, all's right with the world, as we cuddle together in our post-coital bliss, hold one another, and bask in the glow of our newly-confessed love.
 
            And that's the moment, of course, when all hell breaks loose.

Welcome Sage Marlowe

Hey everyone, come on in and join us! Today I have Sage Marlowe at Decadent Delights. :) Sage is here to talk about Stockholm Syndrome, which will be released August 16th by Total-E-Bound.

Pretty cool title, huh?


    Stockholm Syndrome Gay MM erotic romance / thriller / suspense, super novel
 
Blurb
We don’t get to choose who we fall in love with—and sometimes we fall too far… 
Daniel Eames is a bodyguard. Usually assigned to protecting politicians, he has fallen out of his boss’s good books after getting too close to his last charge’s son but when rising Hollywood star and Academy Award nominee Bryan McTiernan receives peculiar letters and requires the best possible protection, Dan is put on the job.  While he agrees that the letters are more than harmless fan mail, he finds it impossible to narrow down his suspicions and Bryan isn’t helping by alternately seducing and irritating the hell out of him. Against his better judgement, Dan falls for Bryan’s manipulations, but the more he gets to glimpse behind the façade of the young actor, the more he realises that something in Bryan’s past has a strong hold over him. While both Dan and Bryan are aware of this, neither sees the full extent of his fixation.
With the help of Gabe, a fellow bodyguard and friend, Dan pursues different theories and even hires a private investigator to learn about Bryan’s well-hidden past. What he discovers has the potential to destroy more than just a promising career and in the end, Bryan has to make a choice—allow for his past fixation to take him hostage again or run away and into Dan’s open arms? 
 
Excerpt I looked up from my desk and tossed aside the paper clip I’d been toying with. "Seriously, an actor? You know that’s not my usual clientele. Tell them to look elsewhere. Or send someone else, I don’t care. I’m not interested."
Michelle met my scowl with perfect calm. "Bronson wants you for the job, Daniel."
"Why on earth does he want me?"
"Make an educated guess."
Michelle was my boss’s secretary. As she stood there in my office, arms crossed in front of her chest and hips tilted, I realised once again that she combined the looks of an Afghan with the personality of a Doberman. I let out a weary sigh. "Babysitting Hollywood wannabes really isn’t my field of expertise," I pointed out. "And he’s on the other side of the fucking continent. Have they run out of bodyguards in LA?"
She snorted. "Hardly, and it’s not that they want to haul your ass over there because you’re so fucking fabulous either. They guy lives here in New York and you know, this is just a thought, but maybe Bronson wants you away from your so-called field of expertise after the, ahem, cock-up you made of your last assignment." I didn’t like the sugary tone in her voice, but she ignored the indignant stare I shot her and added, "Besides, Bryan McTiernan is hardly a Hollywood wannabe. He’s establishing himself as a household name. His last three films were huge box office hits, he earned himself an Academy Award nomination last year and his current film will probably win him one of the little golden boys."
"Good for him. If he’s such a big star, he ought to have at least a dozen bodyguards by now. Why don’t they take care of him?"
"Well, apparently Mr McTiernan has never been too concerned about his safety and doesn’t think he needs any security at all except for the usual muscle at big events. He wasn’t even the one who asked for protection. His management, however, has a different opinion. They want him to be safe and they’re willing to pay pretty much any price."
My curiosity was raised, despite my better judgement. "If they really said that, the boy’s got to be worth something."
"He’s just entered the eight figure league if that’s what you’re asking."
"Ten million bucks?"
She smirked. "Double that."
Impressed, I whistled through my teeth. "Not bad. Tell me more. What’s his problem exactly?"
Michelle gave me the kind of knowing half-smile that made me think she’d read my thoughts. "Stalker," she said.
I reached for my coffee and leant back, considering my options. When I’d started working in personal security a few years ago, I’d promised myself to never get involved with the Hollywood babes, no matter which place they called home, or with the rich and the famous. As far as safety was concerned, it was hard enough to protect someone who didn’t lead a life in the public eye, or had crazy fans that needed to be taken into account. But even I recognised a big fish when I heard about it and if the guy was worth that kind of money, then this case might be the perfect chance for me to prove my own value to my employer. I put down the cup and took a breath. "Is it serious?"
Michelle gave a shrug. "I really have no idea, but it sounds serious enough. Looks like his stalker is the kind who believes themselves to be his soul mate or some shit like that."
"I see. What do we have?"
"A bunch of letters."
"Okay. Threats?"
She shook her head.
"Personal contact of any kind?"
"No."
I paused briefly, then I said, "Could be nothing."
"I know. And yet it might be everything. Either way, it’s not as though you’ve got anything else to do at the moment, and as you can probably imagine, Mr B is dying to bag himself that assignment. You know you’re not in his good books right now. This could be your chance to jump right back into the first chapter."
So my thoughts hadn’t been all that wrong. "Bronson can just go fuck himself," I grumbled. "Why doesn’t he look after the kid himself if he wants the job so badly?"
Michelle rolled her eyes. "He wants you to do it, Dan, and he wants you to do it well. Extremely well. He can charge McTiernan’s management basically anything he wants for this job and they. Will. Pay. Having you as his watchdog is still cheaper than what they stand to lose if anything happens to him. And as for Bronson fucking himself—rumour has it that you are the one who will be seriously fucked if you don’t give Mr B a reason for keeping you, so do I really have to tell you that this is going to be a test for you?"
"Fuck. Really?" I’d suspected as much, but knowing I was officially on the boss’s shit list put a dent into my well-polished box of self-esteem.
"Really. As I said. He wasn’t impressed with what happened the last time."
I bit back a groan. As if I needed reminding. "Fine. I’ll meet the kid. Make an appointment, would you?"
Smirking, Michelle turned and walked to the door. "Already did. You’ll see him at three. The address is in your phone."
"Oh, what would I do without you?" I heaved a theatrical sigh.
"The same as you always do—try to knock down walls with that stubborn head of yours and collect bruises in the process."
* * * *
At five minutes before three, I pulled up at the address Michelle had helpfully typed into my electronic calendar. I was surprised at what I found. Instead of the huge, overpriced villa or town house I’d expected, I parked in front of an apartment building that could have been the address of any average Joe. An up-and-coming Hollywood star was certainly not who I would have imagined to live in this neighbourhood. But then again, underneath the makeup, big hair and larger-than-life personalities the media created for them, they were all just ordinary people and the Big Apple took another shade off their shine anyway.
I decided to wait for a couple more minutes as I didn’t want to appear overly enthusiastic by showing up early. It was true, I basically had to take on this assignment, but that was something my client didn’t know. Besides, lingering around for a little longer gave me an excuse to check out the hottie who’d just come running up the street. Yes, running was the right expression. Instead of the moderate pace many joggers, myself included, employed, the guy approached at full speed. He slowed down a bit when he reached my car and looked straight at me in passing. He quirked a dazzling smile, then he shot me a wink and bolted up the stairs to the apartment building. I was still staring at the door after it had fallen shut. Weirdo. Extremely pretty, though, from what I’d seen. I shook off the incident, unclipped the seatbelt and got out of the car. Time for a first security check.
 
Buy link:
Total-E-Bound: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2244 
Stockholm Syndromebecomes available from all good distributors on August 16th 
 
About the author 
Sage is a multi-published author of MM erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction.

A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.   
 
Contact and buy links  
Sage’s website & blog: www.sage-marlowe.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sage.marlowe0
e-mail: marlowe.sage@yahoo.co.uk
Twitter: @SageMarlowe
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SageMarlowe
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sagemarlowe
For all books published with Total-E-Bound, go to: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=224
For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe

Wednesday Briefs

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: 
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"
or "anchors aweigh"
or "I want to have my way with you"
or use a scale in some way
or make a reference to any old TV doctor
or have a character break into song unexpectedly
or use a horseshoe
or use an unexpected flash of boobs
or use a beautiful sunset/sunrise.~ ~ ~

~Nighttime Promises is the 3rd book in the Nighttime series, which is published by Romance First. I'm using the prompts to help me get going on this book. Yes, this is a tentacle story lol.
Fair warning! I'm going to pull this about 3/4th of the way through, expand it, and send it off. Most of the story will be shown on here though. I'm giving this warning so no one will be caught off guard when I pull the story.
 
Nighttime Promises #4
Anger threatened to overwhelm Daroshi again.
Are you sure about that? echoed in his head. The mere thought that someone other than Haya tried to poison his mate sent adrenaline spiraling through his body. Daroshi fought to keep his heart rate from spiking. The deep-seated need to attack, defend, to rip body parts off, to battle any threat, flooded him. Tentacles twisted, reaching toward Bryan.
Bryan watched Daroshi’s reaction to his words—the heaving chest, blown pupils, and the jerking tentacles. “Hey there. I didn’t mean to piss you off, but it’s something you need to consider. We’ve talked about this, Daroshi. What if she’s not the one? Killing her isn’t going to do a damn bit of good if she’s not responsible.” Bryan patted the empty space next to him. “Since you pushed the two medibeds together, there’s plenty of room. Why not get out of that chair and lie down with me? I’m tired.”
The overpowering need to kill receded. What was he doing? The last thing he needed to do was upset Bryan. Daroshi understood Bryan was trying to comfort him… him—a warrior who had proven himself in battle. He’d fought his way up through the ranks in their society. He was strong, fierce… Daroshi sighed. Who was he kidding? He wanted to hold his mate.
Daroshi adjusted the medibed to monitor only Bryan. He climbed behind his human; his tentacles wrapped around the body snuggled close to him. Bryan fit him perfectly. He couldn’t help the surge of pleasure that spread through him as Bryan sighed and relaxed.
“I want to have my way with you, but…”
“Yeah. Don’t need to get the ol’ blood pumping just in case all the poison isn’t out of my system.”
Daroshi leaned closer, Bryan’s hair tickling his nose. “I can still smell the lingering effects of the poison but it’s faint. Sleep now. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Bryan yawned, his eyes watering. “Didn’t you tell me we’d be arriving at your home world soon?”
“Yes. Very soon. By the time you wake again, we should coming out of the jump.”
“Okay.” Bryan closed his eyes.
Minutes later, Daroshi felt Bryan go limp against him. Silently, he contemplated the situation with Haya. Ziang had downgraded her rank and ordered her kept in lockdown in her quarters. Ziang had also sent the transfer request on ahead, so there would be no wait on getting Haya off Ziang’s crew. As much as it angered Daroshi, Ziang had been right in his refusal to kill Haya.
Haya had two members of her family Crest on the Guardian Council. If Ziang had let Daroshi extract punishment without proof, Daroshi could’ve ended up in front of their leadership. While Daroshi had a family member of his Crest on the Council, that was no guarantee said family member would side with him. Daroshi could find himself challenged by both members of Haya’s Crest, possibly at once. If he was killed, Bryan would be free to be claimed as either a pet or a mate.
Daroshi tightened his arms around Bryan. He would gladly sacrifice his need for revenge to keep Bryan safe. As much as he’d like to be covered in Haya’s blood, Bryan came first. Getting Haya off Ziang’s crew would have to be enough. Daroshi smirked. Being transferred from such a battle-proven crew would be grievous insult. The list to get on Ziang’s crew was long, and only the bravest were taken.
In the meantime, neither Shawn nor Bryan were allowed to go anywhere without an escort if either he or Ziang were unable to accompany their mates. Which worked nicely, since neither human knew their way around the ship yet. Ziang had suggested Blayno to guard Bryan, which Daroshi had found acceptable. Bryan and Blayno knew each other and seemed to get along. Blayno had shown great patience when dealing with humans, especially Bryan.
Daroshi had also requested Bryan be allowed to carry a knife he owned. It was a primitive weapon, but Bryan acted like he knew how to use it. Daroshi thought of the knife scar he’d seen on Bryan’s shoulder. Yes, Bryan seemed to have experience with knives. Daroshi would show Bryan where their vulnerable spots were—where to strike to cause the most harm.
Ziang had granted permission, and even went on to comment that since Bryan was a cop, it might be a wise choice. Daroshi remembered Bryan hadn’t hesitated to use the taser on Ziang when they went to collect his mate. His human was a warrior, too.
Daroshi held Bryan as the hours passed. At one point, Bryan became restless, and Daroshi released his tight hold. He rolled to his back, Bryan following him. He managed to get the medibed pillow under Bryan’s head before Bryan cuddled up to his chest. One of Bryan’s legs wormed its way between Daroshi’s. The position wasn’t the best for defense, but he could get to his stunner easily if anyone attacked them. And… he liked having Bryan sprawled across him.
Still on alert, Daroshi ran his hand through Bryan’s dark hair. How utterly fascinating this is, and so soft. The rest of the hair on Bryan’s body intrigued him, too. Humans were totally different from their species, but he found he liked the differences, especially the hair.
The medibed made a low beep and Daroshi looked up at the screen above their heads. Bryan was getting dehydrated. 
Daroshi gently shook Bryan’s shoulder. “Bryan, you need to wake up. You need fluids. Bryan?”
Bryan’s eyes snapped open and he glanced around. “What’s up with the beeping?”
“That’s the medibed. You’re getting dehydrated. I can give you an IV or you can try to take fluids by mouth.”
Bryan sat up. “I feel pretty good. I’d like to try drinking something.”
“That’s good.” Daroshi eased off the medibed. “Be right back.”
~TBC
Victoria Adams  A.R. Von  BL Morticia  Andrew Gordon  Lily Sawyer      Nephylim    Cia Nordwell Julie Lynn Hayes  
 Tali Spencer

Winner of the Shadows print giveaway...

Guys, let me say first off I wish I could give every last one of you a copy. :) Thank you all.



And the winner is... MommaB. I'll be emailing you shortly. :)  
And hang on to you hats, I have something coming early August to celebrate hitting the 300,000 view mark on my blog, lol. I also have a month packed full of guest blogs and a possible giveaway for a Wednesday Briefer. I'm just waiting for her to confirm the dates. :)

Busy, busy month lol. September I have Faded Love being released from Storm Moon. That's the story in the Carved in Flesh anthology. :) Then October will be here! And y'all know what happens in October, right? Hehehe, Book 1 in The Harvest series comes out. ;) If you're curious as to why I broke the series up... all together the story was close to 200,000 words. That's just too long for most publishers. So it had to be two books.

Also, I'll be in the Atlanta area the middle of October for GRL.

Love you guys!

~M

My Sexy Saturday

Happy Saturday and welcome to My Sexy Saturday! For this hop you post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words. It can be from a WIP or something published. For this week, I thought I’d do something from a WIP that's being beta read. The novel is called Wrapped in Leather. It's the first novel in a three book series.

~ ~ ~ Jase shifted in the booth, trying to find a position that was comfortable for the swelling in his jeans. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this affected by a simple smile. But damn, Toshi had a nice smile. Jase noticed the button up shirt Toshi was wearing was open at the throat, and what little of his chest he could see looked to be smooth. Jase’s dick swelled more as he imagined that smoothed chest lay bare before him, and that blush of his, dear God. When he blushed, it was all Jase could do not to yank Toshi upon the table, pull his jeans down, tie those slim legs open and have him for dessert. He’d look good covered in chocolate, some cream of Jase’s making, and Toshi could supply the… ah, nuts. Jesus. Jase wrenched his mind back to the present. “Look, I know how it feels. I got dumped by mine on Valentine’s Day in the middle of a restaurant. I was expecting a ring, got walking papers instead. He knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t cause a scene in a place like that, the bastard, which was why he did it there. And, he was right.”Toshi took a deep breath, and let it out. “Yup, a total bastard. Jase, that’s horrible. What kind of asshole would do something like that?”Jase let the memory float away. Funny, but the sting of it suddenly wasn’t as bad as it had been in the past. “A very talented asshole. So yeah, I know about feeling stupid and bruised egos. I also know what that can do to you.” Toshi’s face was bright red, the anger clear to see. “You’re a bigger man than me. I’d have thrown my drink at him. Hell, maybe even the table. I’m more of an ‘act now, think about it later’ kind of guy.” Well now, that sounded interesting and could lead to all sorts of reasons to punish…. Jase shoved the thought away. They were having dinner, not setting up a damn scene, for crying out loud. “I’m thinking you didn’t just walk away. So, fess up, what did you do?”
Make sure to visit the other hoppers~

Giveaway for Shadows in the Night print copy

Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.
~Joyce Allston 
Hey everyone! I’m doing a giveaway for a print copy of Shadows in the Night. Just leave me a email addy so I can find you lol! Contest ends the 21st and is open to US residents only.One of my main characters is Jason, a Native American shifter—a black cougar. Here are a few facts about cougars:
~The cougar (Puma concolor)—also known as the puma, mountain lion, panther, or catamount—is native to the Americas. Its range extends from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America and is the greatest of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.
~The cougar is an adaptable, generalist species and is found in most American habitat types.
~It’s also the second heaviest cat in the Western Hemisphere, after the jaguar.
~The cougar is solitary by nature and nocturnal; it’s closely related to smaller felines and is genetically closer to the domestic cat than true lions.
 
Now here’s the interesting part lol.
~There are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic (a development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or appendages and is the opposite of albinism) cougars. Melanistic cougars have never been photographed or shot in the wild and none has ever been bred. Unconfirmed sightings, known as the “North American black panther”, are currently attributed to errors in species identification by non-experts, and by the memetic (an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture) exaggeration of size.
In other words, according to the experts, there is nosuch thing as a black cougar. Huh. Guess someone should tell my black cougar shifter that, lol. ;) And someone may want to tell Jason he’s involved himself with a guy, Chip, who is a modern man with modern ideas. *grin* The fur is sure to fly when these two, from such different times, come together.
Oh, and let’s not forget there’s another shifter out there who has Chip in his sights and has murder on his mind. Time has brought with it an enemy that harbors a deep-seated hatred for Jason; an enemy who will use whatever means necessary to bring Jason to his knees… including Jason’s own mate.
When these two worlds collide, who will be the winner? Can the Native American shifter learn the ways of this new culture? But… can Chip accept there are beings out there that are… less than human? Will Jason be able to treat Chip as an equal? And lol, will Chip let Jason do anything else, for that matter? Can Jason accept a ‘white man’ as his mate?
As Chip is drawn farther and farther into a world he can’t escape from, one thing becomes clear to him. He’s going to have to learn to trust the man he’s coming to care for and take a leap of faith.
 

Blurb:
When Chip Riley's beloved granny passes away, she leaves him all her money, her land, and a house that needs some tender love and care. She never mentioned the legacy comes with a Native American shifter who intends to claim Chip as his mate.
Jason Sky has lived since buffalo roamed the land. When his totem spirit, a black cougar, saves a little girl, he doesn’t realize that generations later, her grandson will become his mate, leaving him to take on a modern man with modern ideas. But that’s the least of his problems.
Garon, another shifter with a long-held hatred for Jason, plots to kidnap Chip and lure Jason to his death. Soon Chip finds himself in an untenable position between a rock and a hard place. A leap of faith may be the only way to save himself and the man he’s learned to love.
Pages: 200
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3990
Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3991
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-in-the-Night-ebook/dp/B00DW0GTGE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373660379&sr=8-2&keywords=shadows+in+the+night+by+m.a.+church
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadowsinthenight-1230863-145.html
  Excerpt:
A DULL strand of coppery red hair worked loose from the haphazard bun at the back of her neck, and with a sigh, Eva brushed it back behind her ear. It was early morning, but the heaviness of the air promised another scorcher.
“’Ranny! ’Ranny!”
A delighted smile lit Eva’s face as the precocious three-year-old came running around the corner of the house. He couldn’t quite pronounce the “G” sound, so instead of Granny he called her Ranny. The bright morning sun hit the little boy, and his light auburn hair once again reminded her of a living flame. He had inherited her red tresses and moss-green eyes.
“Over here, Chipper.”
Her grandson was her pride and joy… and more special than anyone knew. It was a shame his mother and father couldn’t see that, but her daughter didn’t care for anyone but herself. Their relationship was stilted, at best. Chip’s father was more concerned with making money than having anything to do with his son. Eva hated to admit it, but she didn’t have much use for either of her grandson’s parents. As a result of both parents neglecting Chip, the older the little boy became, the more time he ended up spending with her. Which, secretly, relieved her. Fate had big plans for the little guy; she had seen that firsthand in one of her visions.
“Go fish now?”
She had promised him last night they’d fish in the pond close to her house. It was just the two of them now; her husband Ed had died of a heart attack a year ago. The man had been in his late fifties, active, didn’t drink or smoke—and one morning had dropped dead of a heart attack. Eva grieved that Chip would never remember his grandfather.
“Yes, sweetie, we’ll go to the pond and fish for a while.”
Eva had the poles, a small tackle box, and a picnic basket ready to go. With any luck, they’d be having catfish for dinner. Of course, that depended on how soon the little bundle of energy dancing around her tired out.
“Ride horsey?”
“Oh, sweetie, remember? I told you that Horsey may or may not show up today.” Eva glanced at the tree line as the animal Chip called “horsey” moved toward them. “Although something told me he’d be here.” The large, black cat moved nearer with a grace that belied the strength and deadliness he possessed. Keen, humanlike intelligence showed in his eyes. Eva was unsurprised. She knew full well this animal was more than what he appeared. “Horsey!” Chip squealed and raced in the direction of the animal.
“Had a feeling you wouldn’t miss this.” Eva, a smile on her lips, shook her head as a happy rumble sounded from deep within the animal’s chest. He lowered himself to the ground so Chip could climb on his back. “Okay, come along you two. Daylight’s a-wasting.”
Eva followed the huge cat, her grandson babbling merrily to the animal about whatever hit his fertile mind. The trip to the pond was a short one, and soon they arrived. But even with the small child riding on his back and talking nonstop, the creature never lowered his guard. His ears twitched as he listened to the woodland creatures, alert for any signs of danger. Eva trusted his instincts—in fact, trusted him with her and her grandson’s lives. Without him, she wouldn’t be alive. The beast had proven his loyalty to her and her parents a long time ago, and a friendship had been born.
Eva found a shady spot by the pond and laid out an old sheet she’d brought. There she laid the picnic basket, along with a few towels. After she cast out her line, she turned to watch as the animal and Chip played by the bank.
“Go get it!” Chip hollered as he threw a small ball she had brought.
The creature chased after the ball, and Chip ran after the beast. They pursued each other, the animal allowing the small child to catch him. He was always careful to keep his claws retracted as they played. Giggles and an occasional yip drifted to her.
Chip made his way to her side after he grew tired of the game. “Ranny, go swim?”
“Sure, sweetie.” Eva reeled in her line and helped the little boy take off his shoes, socks, and shirt. The beast waited patiently as she readied Chip, then followed the youngster to the water. “Have fun, boys.”
The water wasn’t deep where they splashed and frolicked. Anytime Chip wandered too deep, the cat herded him back to shallower water. Eva giggled like a young girl when the beast splashed Chip with his paw.
Chip wiped the water from his eyes. “No fair!”
“Oh, you’ve done it now.” Eva chuckled.
The beast turned his head to look at her and a sound rumbled from it that sounded amazingly like a laugh. When he turned back to the little boy, his greenish-yellow eyes widened. Chip floated on his back, kicking furiously. A tidal wave of water crashed down on the animal. Soft, playful growls and shrieks of laughter could be heard echoing through the woods as the beast and the small human child mock-fought. With a gentle nudge of his head, the animal ushered Chip from the water.
“Think it’s rest time, Chipper. You hungry?”
“Uh-huh.”
Chip rubbed his eyes with his fists as Eva dried him off. To the side, the beast licked his coat dry. Eva laid out the sandwiches and poured a cup of juice for Chip. A bowl filled with fresh water sat near her grandson’s plate. Chip and the creature settled down on the sheet to eat lunch. The animal took breaks from slurping water from his bowl to eat bits and pieces of the sandwich Chip fed him. Soon the little boy was curled up next to the creature.
“I’m going to try to get a little fishing done,” Eva whispered as her grandson slipped off to sleep. Purring softly, the beast nodded his head. “I won’t be far.”
When Eva returned a short time later with her catch, she stopped and watched the huge, black animal and the little boy sleeping next to each other.
“I’m back.” Eva sat down next to the beast. A long black tail rested across Chip’s legs, and greenish-yellow eyes focused on Eva. “You know this can’t go on much longer, my friend. He’s smart for a child his age, and soon he’s going to ask questions about you.”
The creature rumbled in agreement.
“I know it’ll be hard for you. But another year—maybe two—and you’ll have to disappear from his life. The time isn’t right yet for you to make yourself known.”
The creature rumbled again, sadness in his eyes.
Eva ran her hand over the thick black coat. “I know, dear. But the time will come. You and I both know that. It will come, and he’s going to need you. Take care of him for me, okay?”
The beast nodded his head again. His time would come, but not for many years yet. The little boy had to grow into a man first.

Winner of the Cia giveaway...

  
Tasha M Congrats! Cia will be emailing you shortly!

Wednesday Briefs

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:   "You want to bury your bone where?" or use a bare cupboard in your story or it's THAT time of the month (play this any way you like) or use: penny, cranberry, doctor or find something interesting to do with soup or use something cold, such as ice cubes or "My mother always warned me about guys/gals like you..." or have a character reflect on a memory of band camp or use a rap on the knuckles   ~Nighttime Promises is the 3rd book in the Nighttime series, which is published by Romance First. I'm using the prompts to help me get going on this book. Yes, this is a tentacle story lol. Fair warning! I'm going to pull this about 3/4th of the way through, expand it, and send it off. Most of the story will be shown on here though. I'm giving this warning so no one will be caught off guard when I pull the story.   Nighttime Promises #3 “Why don’t you go back to sleep?” Daroshi checked the panel above the medibed. All of the monitoring systems were working again, now that Bryan was back on the bed. “Hmm, your body temperature is one hundred. That’s still somewhat elevated, yes?” Bryan wiggled around, punching the pillow until it felt comfortable. “A little. Average temperature for a human is ninety-eight point six. It’s up a bit, but not bad.” Bryan yawned then shivered as a chill nailed him. Why did medical places always keep the rooms so damn cold? He pulled the blanket up. “It’s just enough to make me feel like crap.” “Are you cold? I can warm the room if you wish.” “It’s probably just the fever. I’m fine. Aren’t you cold? Wait, are you warm-blooded or cold-blooded? Jesus, that’s not something you ask a person every day and actually mean it.” Daroshi sat by the medibed once more. “We are warm-blooded, just as you are. Our temperature runs a little cooler than a human’s though.” “Ah, okay then. I guess you don’t have to bask in the sun to warm up like an alligator, huh?” Daroshi frowned at Bryan. “Alligators are ectothermic. They rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature which we do not. We are mammals. Why did you reference an alligator? That’s a reptile.” “Hey, you’re the one with body parts that look reptilian and ah, ah…” Bryan stared at Daroshi’s head. “Well, other parts look amphibious. I mean, you have tentacles, man.” “And you find that odd, right?” Bryan pointed a finger at Daroshi. “Now hold up, I didn’t say odd. Don’t go putting words in my mouth.” “Bryan, you are a different species. I find it a bit disconcerting you don’t have tentacles, and you do have hair on your body. But that doesn’t meant I don’t find you sexy.” Bryan struggled into a sitting position. Damned if he was going to have this conversation while flat on his back. “Look, I jumped the gun once already when I didn’t feel anything hard poking back against me when we kissed. I made an assumption without knowing all the facts—something I know better than to do, especially since I’m a cop. Now don’t you go doing the same damn thing. I never say I didn’t find you sexy, dammit.” “So you do find me sexy?” Daroshi grinned. Bryan’s mouth snapped shut. Well hell, he’d certainly walked into that one. But for all the arrogance in Daroshi’s face, there was a hint of uncertainty. The damn alien could break him in half and he was worried if Bryan found him sexy or not? Just a little more of Bryan fell in love with the big alien. “Yes, I find you sexy. Those screams you heard when you fucked me weren’t screams of pain, Daroshi. It was the most exhilarating, frightening, and fucking hottest sex I’ve ever experienced. And I swear to God, if I spring wood talking about this, and we can’t take care of matters because I’m supposed to be resting, I’m gonna be pissed.” Daroshi reached across the bed and took Bryan’s hand, a silly grin twisting his lips. “Understood. No more sex talk. But, for the record, you brought that up. I asked if you thought I was sexy.” Bryan flopped back on the pillow. “Oh good God, you just have to have the last word, don’t you?” Daroshi laughed as he helped Bryan snuggle into the medibed. “Can’t get the last word in with Ziang since he’s my commander, so yes, I do.” Bryan yawned again. Wow, I had no idea a trip to the bathroom and a little conversation would wear me out like this. “You know, my mother always warned me about guys like you. And, while I don’t mind taking the submissive role in the bedroom, I’m not going to just let you walk all over me, either.” “I’d hurt you if I… Oh, that’s an idiom, isn’t it?” Bryan shook his head. This was really going to make things interesting if Daroshi didn’t study up on the English language. “Yup, big guy, it is.” “Your language is very confusing.” “I guess it is to a non-native speaker. Just remember, your culture and society are just as confusing to me.” “That may be, but there will be times I need you to… follow my lead is the saying, I believe.” “I agree. Last thing I want to do is piss one of you guys off or do something that could get you in trouble.” Bryan shrugged. “Enough of that. We can talk about your society later. Speaking of trouble, I’m surprised Shawn hasn’t been by yet.” “I asked that no one be allowed to visit in the interim. You need to rest and regain your strength. Shawn has commed me and I’ve updated him. He knows you are recovering and that I’m here to watch over you. I will not allow another attack upon your person, you have my oath.” Daroshi made a low, violent clicking sound, his tentacles writhing on his back. “Until Haya is transferred off this starship, or I’m granted the right to kill her—” “We’ve talked about this, Daroshi. There’s no proof she poisoned me.” “It has to be her. She’s already put her hands on you and caused injury. There is no one else, Bryan.” “Are you sure about that?” TBC. Make sure to visit the other Briefers... Andrew Gordon 
Nephylim   Cia Nordwell    A.R. Von  Lily Sawyer    Victoria Adams 
Tali Spencer Julie Lynn Hayes