M.L. Skye's Blog, page 10

Sunday Snippet: Manifest Legend

Well, the shortestmonth is off to a banger start. I had a full slate of projects and managed toget through two before their deadlines. The other two aren't due until midweek,and I have two more starting this week. I'm so excited to have a full calendar!

Had a semi-solidweek of viewing. Made it most of the way through my current round of shows andI'm hoping to continue the same this week. We'll see if the workload allows forit.

Started off with a MyLife Is Murder behind the scenes interview with Lucy Lawless. Ended upthoroughly enjoying it. Should be ready to start season three this week.

Finished up thetwo-part Agatha Raisin. Somewhat disappointed with how the storylineplayed out with James and Agatha. But also really enjoyed the mystery. I lovethe reveals from Sarah's past and Bill and Toni better stay together or I'mgoing to lose my mind.

Caught the secondhalf of Silent Witness and I'm rather happy my fear did not come tolight and the grad student didn't drug Nikki's drink. I also love that she basicallysaid, yeah, no thanks to him. I would not mind if Nikki and Jack took theirshot. We'll see how that goes.

Watched anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. I really don't remember any of this one,so it was nice to have no expectations going in. Actually enjoyed the mysteryunfold.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. Very fun watching Sherlock interact with Joan's familyand the way her mom kind of planted the seed for Joan to stick around and workwith Sherlock.

Caught another episodeof The Batman. I remember watching this the first time around, but I guessI was thinking Batgirl didn't show up until season three. So wrong on thatcount.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Again, these were two vignettes that I didn'tremember, so it was nice to have new to me stuff to watch.

I'm enjoying thesecond season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Episode two had somegood reveals and I'm kind of excited to see where things go in the next one.

Caught anotherepisode of Peak Practice. I'm really, really not interested in the wholeAndrew and Kate saga. The ex-husband is a total dick and Andrew is a blockheadif he can't figure out Richard is behind everything. Will be skipping the nextepisode and moving on to Will's return.

Didn't have time formy Battlestar Galactica rewatch this week and I skipped VIP becauseI wanted to get Peak Practice in. I'll try to pick up with those if timeallows.

That's pretty much itfor the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Manifest Legend, aprequel setup for the Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island universe.

Here's theminiblurb:

Insula Ara is a mystical island offering sanctuary tothose in need, but when she reveals herself for the first time, Cedric EdwardTeasdale, former crewman of a privateer, almost blows his chance for refuge …and a reunion with his lost love.

And a sneaky peek…

A warm hand smoothedthe side of Ceet's face, and he turned over in his sleep. "Dammit,Emaline, ye haunt me even in my dreams."

Feminine laughterfilled his ears. "Well, Cedric, you deserve no less. Leavin' me the yedid. But I'm not ahauntin' you, ye daft man. I'm sitting right besideyou." A sharp pinch on his bicep followed the statement.

Ceet bolted upright andscrambled to the edge of the bed. "Emaline? What? How?" He blinked andshook his head. "This can't be possible." Or could it…

He reached under thepillow and retrieved the compass. Did you bring my love back to me? Thedevice grew warm under his palm.

Ceet threw the coversback and slid to the edge of the bed. "Emaline Gruder, I've missed ye, Ihave." His hands cupped her face. "And I love you." His visiongrew misty, and his head dropped.

Emaline threw her armsaround him. "And I you, Cedric." She eased back. "And if Iunderstand how this is supposed to work, we'll have all the time we ever wantedto be together." She hugged him close again.

Ceet wrapped his armsaround her. "Ah, Emaline. I surely hope so. I surely do." He shiftedhis position and patted the bed then tugged Emaline down beside him. "Thisisland, Sanctuary is her name, is wonderous and full of marvels you've neverimagined." His gaze went to the rafters of the room. "She can createbuildings, like this here abode. And she made a barn and provided animals formy use." He met Emaline's gaze. "But you have to be certain aboutwhat you want, my love. Once yer committed, you can't leave. At least that'show it works for me." And he didn't regret his choice … except for the loneliness.

Which seemed to beresolved.

Emaline placed her headon Ceet's shoulder. "My darling, Cedric. Why would I want to leave? I'vewanted to spend my life with you for as long as I can remember. When I got illand you didn't return, my heart broke." Her voice grew thick and heavy."And then I was somewhere in between. Dead but not. Wavering but tetheredbecause I didn't get a farewell from you." She clasped his hand. "NowI'm here and we can have a life together…" Her head angled so she couldmeet his gaze. "But it's a little different for me. When someone elseneeds the island, I'll have to go away. But I'll always return to you.Always." She straightened and glanced around the room. "And to my newsanctuary … Insula Ara."

Ceet hauled her close."Then it's time to start our life together…" His mouth claimed hersand everything in his world turned bright and brilliant.

This one is almost completeand I'm excited to get it out there and maybe spark some interest in the InsulaAra universe.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Make the Call

Geez. I can't believeJanuary is almost over. It's been a month. Hell, it's been a year and we're onlythrough the first month. Heh.

Had a crazy-busywork week and I'm so thrilled! Several new projects are in my calendar and I'mmoving full steam ahead on my new venture. Truly hoping I'll have it ready tolaunch in the next few weeks.

Solid week ofviewing. Didn't quite make it through my full list of shows, but the new workprojects are taking priority and I'm totally okay with that.

Started with MyLife Is Murder. So much fun to see Renee O'Connor acting with Lucy Lawlessagain. A great episode.

Enjoyed another AgathaRaisin episode. Nice to have James back even though I have a feeling hewon't be a permanent fixture. The episode ended on a cliffhanger so I'm lookingforward to picking back up this week.

Watched the firstof a two-part Silent Witness. The tension building in this episode endedup being excellent. I'm a bit disappointed in Nikki's story thread. The studentseriously screamed creepy stalker from the first moment he popped up on screen.I have a very sneaking suspicion he did something and if true, I really want a majorrepercussion. I'm also hoping like hell Jack's family isn't going to be smallerby the end of the next episode.

Caught another episodeof Death in Paradise and had seen bits and pieces of this one. So glad Igot to watch the whole thing. I like getting backstory for the island cast.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. Kind of loved Sherlock sort of being there for Watson atthe end. The dynamic between the two characters is fun to watch. Getting aglimpse of Jane's backstory is also nice. Makes me wonder about the lawyer guythough. I'm not a fan of fast and loose storytelling.

Started season twoof The Batman. I remember being so disappointed they changed the themesong. I do rather like the introduction of Batgirl.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Loved this the first time it aired andthoroughly enjoyed again. So much fun.

Starting my viewingschedule over again. The Secret Life of Amy Benson, VIP, and BattlestarGalactica will hopefully get a watch this week. I also need to pick back upwith Peak Practice in the near future.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Make the Call,a novella that puts a former couple back on track to a reunion.

Here's theminiblurb:

Gia Pimm has everything she wants, but a reminder fromher mother—that Gia will always suffer when good things happen—makes her walkaway from Nolan Curry. But when she needs antibiotics, she swallows her prideand makes a call to the man who has them—Nolan.

And a sneaky peek…

After finishing his call to theship, Nolan turned at the sound of someone entering the yurt much sooner thanexpected. "That was a lot—" He broke off when the colony leader gavehim a brief smile.

Lila lifted her chin. "Will Ibe seeing transfer paperwork for one of my best protégés?" She noddedtoward the couch and followed Nolan over to sit.

Nolan winced. "Er, yes. And Ishould've talked with you before calling up top to get the processstarted." He shrugged and kept his mouth shut, unwilling to dig a deeperhole.

Lila sighed. "This isn't acomplete surprise. Gia hasn't been happy down here, even if she's been an assetto the committee. Her experience on both sides of the fence gives her a uniqueperspective to work from." Leaning forward, Lila rested her elbows on herknees. "So, I have to ask if you're sure about letting her reenlist."She pinned him with her gaze.

Nolan didn't blink or waver. "I'msure. Always have been. Gia's the one you should probably ask about beingcertain." His words lacked heat, but the undercurrent couldn't be missed.

Lila tilted her head, studying hima moment. "Do you know why she cut ties and ran?" She straightenedand settled back against the cushions. "Have you ever wondered what she'safraid of?"

Nolan's head jerked back."Gia?" He snorted. "Pretty sure she has no fear. Have you everseen her in action?" Gia held her own better than most men.

Lila's lips curved. "I have,yes. But I'm not talking about being a soldier or even a leader down here. I'mreferring to her past." She sobered. "I'm not breaking a confidenceor anything. My question stems from watching her with you on the way here thenobserving her with Rand down here. Mr. Simpson is what I call a safe bet. Hemakes no demands on Gia, and he definitely doesn't challenge her status quo.Instead, he takes passive aggressive action by doing the exact opposite of whathe should." Lila met Nolan's gaze. "That's why he's in medical. Andit's why she's finally ready to face the truth. They're not meant to betogether."

Nolan narrowed his eyes. "Thenwhy?" He stopped and shook his head. "Actually, never mind. I think Iget the point you're trying to make." Pausing a moment, he turned herwords over before continuing. "To answer your original question, no. Ican't say I've given thought to what she might be afraid of." But he wouldbe now.

Lila nodded. "I kind offigured. That's why I wanted a few moments with you. I don't care about theproper protocols for Gia returning to the military. But I do care abouther." She gave him a sheepish smile. "And you, too. The protectionyou provide by staying in orbit is paramount to our success with this project. Iwant you and Gia to be happy together."

Nolan lifted his chin. "Iappreciate the insight you've given me. It's probably way past time for Gia andme to have a heart-to-heart conversation." He tamped down theembarrassment of not ever doing so before.

Lila arched her brows. "Iassume you won't be dipping into the population for your endless supply offemale companionship anymore?" Her lips twitched … just a little.

Nolan flushed hotly, but herefused to squirm under her scrutiny. What happened between consenting adults shouldn'tconcern Lila. And he made sure anyone who came to visit had a clear definitionbefore they set foot on his ship.

He shrugged. "After Gia left, Iswore off getting entangled with anyone else." He focused back on Lila."With her coming back, my time will be spent working on our relationship."

Lila grinned and patted his hand."I'm very happy to hear that."

I love writingcouples who find their way back to each other. Nolan and Gia have a journey totake and they're finally heading in the right direction.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

 

Sunday Snippet: Major Issues

Still bitterly coldin Ohio, but by midweek, we'll see high forties and low fifties and lots ofrain. We're going to have a lot of sick people in the near future. The back-and-forthweather is horrible for keeping folks healthy.

Busy work weekagain, which I'm so thankful for. I'm also working on my new venture and shouldhave news soon. I'm hoping by February.

Decent viewingweek. I didn't quite make a full run-through of all my shows, but I got veryclose.

Started with MyLife Is Murder again. Very interesting episode with some fun backstory. I lovegetting more information about the characters.

Watched a holiday episodeof Agatha Raisin. This one kicked off season four and it ended up beinga lot of fun. I loved the mix of characters.

Finally continuedmy rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with the feature of Razor. We had tobacktrack a little to pick up with this one. I'd forgotten how much I loved Leein this special feature.

Caught an episodeof Silent Witness, which finished up a two-parter. I feel for Jack, andI loved getting some more details about his family. I feel for what Ryan's beenthrough, but I'm glad Jack is finished covering for his brother.

Watched anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. This is another episode I didn't get tosee, and I quite enjoyed following the clues. Looking forward to anotherepisode

Enjoyed another episodeof Elementary. Lots of twists and turns in this one. Also loved Joantrying to find Sherlock a sponsor and him not quite being able to just say hedoesn't want her to leave at the end of her contract.

Caught the final episodeof The Batman season one. Excellent finale with three of the big badstrying to unmask Batman. Also loved the introduction of Commissioner Gordon.Looking forward to starting season two.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. Both vignettes were ones I didn't rememberso nice to have something new to me.

Started season twoof The Secret Life of Amy Benson and rather liked the first episode. I'ma little curious how much book detail is being left out, but I don't think ittakes away from what we're seeing.

Also started an episodeof VIP but didn't get to finish it. I'm not even sure what's going onyet.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Major Issues, anovella that cements a couple's relationship by pitting them against an oldfoe.

Here's theminiblurb:

Ellis Wright, a damn good pilot who works hard at herjob, runs into an old nemesis—Major Anton Bernhard—and he tries to put her onthe defensive again. But Ellis isn't the same raw cadet from five years ago. Thistime around she'll bring in her backup—Trey Shuttleworth—if she can convincehim the rumor about her affair with the major isn't true.

And a sneaky peek…

Trey Shuttleworth stood outside hisdad's quarters ready to knock on the bulkhead. But his hand paused midway tothe metal framing. The elder Shuttleworth had the handset to his ear and hishead bent over a fitness report.

Trey lowered his arm and waited …interrupting Will Shuttleworth, commanding officer of the ship, never went well.Not even if Trey happened to be related to him.

"Yes, admiral. I've got the jacketright in front of me. Ellis Wright, ensign." He flipped through severalpages. "Looks like she's more than qualified. Her scores are damn close tomy son's."

Trey's eyes widened. "Shit. I'dlike to meet this Ensign Wright." Especially if her stats almost matchedhis.

Because he worked his ass off totop the roster when he went through flight school. Anything less would've been untenable.When your dad sets the bar high, you learn to hit altitude at an early age.

That had been his reasoning. Hewondered what Ellis Wright had to prove…

"She did what with whom?"

Trey risked a quick look inside hisdad's quarters. His dad quickly flipped to the last page of the file andscanned the contents. Trey bit back a groan when Will frowned.

Not a good sign.

Will leaned back in his seat."Is this information verified? With qualifications like hers, she wouldn'tneed to—" He broke off and listened for a moment. "Right. Okay. Iappreciate the heads-up, admiral. I'll keep this in mind." Another pause thena quick nod. "Yes. Thank you." He ended the call and heaved a sigh.

Trey tried not to form anyjudgments about his dad's new pilot, not when he only had one side of theconversation. But the part he'd overheard sounded pretty damning. Whatever EnsignWright did and who she did it with—and frankly, it wouldn't be much of stretchto guess—an admiral felt the need to warn her new commanding officer.

His dad pinched the bridge of hisnose and shook his head.

Trey took the opportunity to knockon the bulkhead. "Hey, Dad. Did I catch you at a bad time?" He tookone step into the quarters.

Will glanced up with his eyebrowsarched. "You're here early. You made good time." He closed the fileand absently tapped it with his forefinger.

Trey tucked his cover under his armand nodded. "I did, yeah. I can come back later if this is a badtime." He'd like to catch up with his old man, but only if he wouldn't bedistracted.

Will lifted his chin. "Whydon't I meet you in the mess? I've got a couple of things to check on then I'llbe free to visit." He rubbed his palm over the file.

Trey put his cap back on."Sure, Dad. You want the usual spicy noodles with stir-fried veg?"

Will's lips curved. "Soundsgood. Thanks." He glanced down to the fitrep again.

Trey turned and headed for thehatch.

His dad picked up the handset butcalled out. "Hey…"

Trey angled his head around."Yeah?"

Will gave him a tired smile."It's good to see you, son. I won't be long."

Trey flashed a quick grin andexited quarters. His mouth twisted into a frown as soon as he cleared thethreshold. He had a new mission as soon as he got back to his ship … track downwhatever information he could get on Ensign Ellis Wright.

I like how thisstory is coming together. Trey is going to have a lot of fun trying to figureEllis out.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Luck Runs Out

Brrrr. It's coldoutside. Thankfully, we only lost power once during the first gusty windstormand didn't lose it all while the wind howled over the last three days. And Ican live with a couple of inches of snow. Not a huge fan of temperatures in theteens but layers help when I have to take the dogs out.

Had a super-busywork week and I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up with projects. I liketo stay steady because it keeps me motivated and focused. When I have too muchfree time I get lost in a haze.

Not a bad week forviewing. I made a full circuit through my regular shows minus the rewatch of BattlestarGalactica. The power blip caused a delay there.

Started the week withMy Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. The mystery ended up beingpretty decent.

Caught the second halfof Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed. The cast really hits on all cylindersand even though I miss James, I love the vibe of these characters.

Started a new two-partSilent Witness. I'm kind of happy to see Jack's familial issues. Hisbrother is a piece of work and I'm interested to see where things go with him.Rather like the new colleague. Looking forward to seeing how she fits in.

Watched another episodeof Death in Paradise. I didn't really remember this one so I enjoyed it.Fun to see the commissioner on the suspect board.

Caught anotherepisode of Elementary and quite liked the way Sherlock ended up being onthe outs with both Joan and the captain. Fun episode.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I'm nearing the end of the first season and allthe players are established for the most part. And the episodes are holding upfairly well.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes soreally enjoyed watching both.

Finished out thefirst season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued andinterested in how things are going to play out in the next season, which I'llprobably start this week.

Also managed tofinish the episode of VIP that I started last week. Looking forward to anew one this week if time permits.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Luck Runs Out, a novella thatfits into the Queen City, Mars universe established in the Furlough 99 series.

Here's theminiblurb:

Domino Montgomery and Webb Wellesley are totallydifferent personally and professionally, but they work seamlessly together.When they land an off-world transport assignment, they have to babysit acondemned prisoner and deal with an impish captain who's hiding a wee bit of asecret of his own.

And a sneaky peek…

Alarm bells went off in Webb'sbrain. "What's the situation?"

Bilar lowered his voice. "Yourguy is in an induced coma, and he needs to stay that way."

Domino frowned. "Not exactlySOP, but also not out of the ordinary realm. What's going on, Captain."

Webb winced a little. She alwaystook liberties. And often demanded things out of their reach.

Captain Christian held her gaze."The prisoner is the zoner who released Sheen at the Underground. He'saltered because of the reaction." Bilar leaned forward. "He went frombasic fun guy to full on sociopath because of the drug." He held up a handwhen Domino opened her mouth to ask a question. "The concern here is hisaccess to a trust account, which means he could try to buy his way out offacing charges. His family already got him relocated to Venus for histrial."

Webb caught the brief flash ofsomething—a mix between rage and pain—in Domino's gaze. Wonder what that'sall about? Then a memory hit him. She'd lost a friend at the rave.

Domino kept her voice steady."I'm supposed to keep this guy sedate and comfortable when he caused morethan a hundred people to die?" Her fingers gripped the arms of her chair,her knuckles going white.

Bilar grunted. "You'resupposed to do your job. I know this is a tough one, but you've never let medown and I'm counting on both of you to not start now." His tone softened."The change in venue isn't going to save him from prison. Doesn't the ideaof him never seeing the light of day mean something?" His eyebrows arched.

Domino slumped. "Yeah, Isuppose it does." She exhaled on a long, slow breath.

Webb braced his forearms on hisknees. "The only thing better would be a one-way journey to theunderworld." The image of dragging body after body out the rave reared upin his mind.

Captain Christian agreed."True, but we won't he sending him there." He picked up the panelswith their briefing notes. "Wheels up in ten. We're flying you to the LuckyShamrock and you'll pick up duty from the prison medics."

Domino slipped her device into her rucksack."Sir." She got up and quickly left the room.

Bilar gave Webb a long look."Goes without saying she'll get the job done but keep an eye onthings."

Webb nodded. "Copy that."He slung his duffel over his shoulder and made a quick stop on his way to thehangar.

He definitely needed to get thatdeck of cards.

This story iscoming together and I'm excited to see where it ends up. Very pleased with theprogress so far.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Lover's Lament

Well, January inOhio has been the usual weird warm one day, cool the next, and hey, let's throwsome snow into the mix. It's not a lot of snow, but it's enough to be annoyinguntil we get the first really good blanket of the white stuff.

Solid work week. Ihad a bunch of projects going and added a few to my calendar. I'm kind of excitedto be delving into some new territory. I also got a lot done on my new ventureand updating my website, which is very much needed. I've neglected it for fartoo long.

Had a decent weekof television. Didn't quite make it through every show, but I got most of mycurrent slate watched.

Stared the weekwith My Life Is Murder and kind of liked seeing a bit of Alexa's past evenif her friend ended up being the culprit.

Caught the firstpart of a two-part Agatha Raisin. Enjoyed it for the most part. I'm nota fan of the whole lack of progress with Bill and Toni, but I loved having Royback.

Finished up thesecond part of Silent Witness and I'm disappointed they lost Adam after ahandful of episodes. What a twist though.

Watched another episodeof Death in Paradise, starting the fifth season. I'm very much enjoyingbeing able to watch all the episodes in chronological order.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I kind of like the lack of boundaries and the need toestablish them. This episode kind of brought that idea home in a big way.

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman. "Grundy's Night" ended up being so muchfun and it's one I didn't quite remember from my original run through.

Watched another ClassicRugrats. I actually didn't remember either of these, so it was fun towatch.

Finally, started anew episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm enjoying this series,but I also feel like a lot is being left off the screen. Probably the biggestfallback when adapting books for viewing. That said, I love that Passionflix isdoing this. So many books to choose from and they've chosen some of the verybest.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Lover's Lament, a novella thatexplores what happens when things are stretched too thin.

Here's theminiblurb:

Taryn Untied and Holmes Selari, two soldiers under aconstant stream of pressure, start making mistakes due to lack of any kind ofdown time. Their superior officer finally orders them to take R&R on the Lover'sLament and promises to conveniently forget their location if anything else goeswrong. Thirty-six hours of alone time should clear up their cranky attitudes.

And a sneaky peek…

Holmes Selari attempted to tightena bolt on the landing strut of his bird. "Come on, dammit." Thewrench slipped and his knuckles grazed the undercarriage of the craft."Son of a bitch." The tool went sailing through the air and skiddedacross the floor, which did nothing to ease Holmes's frustration. "Whyisn't there a number five hex wrench over here?" Is it too much to ask to have the most commonly used tool available forrepairs?

Holmes riffled around the pile ofequipment, searching for the elusive size he needed to finish the job on hislanding gear. Unable to locate a number five, he whirled around and cameface-to-face with the chief. The wrench Holmes tossed got placed on theworkstation.

Newman folded his arms over hischest before he spoke. "We're short on the size you need, so you'll haveto check the station next door." He stomped over and grabbed the correctwrench then returned. "I'm going to suggest you save the temper tantrumsfor the rec room, sir. Tools do not get thrown on my deck." Robbie steppedin and tightened the bolt on Holmes's plane.

Which only pissed him off more."Maybe if you had the tools we need while we're covering your ass, shitwouldn't get thrown." Okay, I'mbeing a dick, but damn, it's been a day.

Taryn strolled over with her headtilted to one side. "Yeah, chief. This crap with your deck crew notcatching things and having empty workstations is getting old."

Robbie leaned in closed, his voicedropping to a snarl. "They're doing their best. Doesn't help when you guyscome down here and do nothing but bitch the entire time … from the moment youstep foot until you leave."

Holmes snapped, his voice rising."Don't talk to me about doing your best when you're the one asking mypilots to help out." They couldn't be stretched any thinner and the deckchief knew it.

Robbie pushed back. "None ofyour other pilots put my crew at risk by throwing shit."

Taryn added her two cents. "Isthat right? How about your crew putting us at risk because they're not doingthorough evaluations?" She stared Newman down.

Say,what?

Holmes growled. "Why am Ihearing about this now? When did this happen?" If he missed a memo or anafter-action report, his ass would be in a sling.

Taryn held up a hand. "Ithappened earlier today, and I'm on the hangar deck so I could find you and fillyou in."

Robbie rolled his eyes. "Nice,lieutenant, don't even give me a chance to address the concern with the crew.Terrific." He flung an arm out.

Holmes lost his cool."Goddammit, chief. This is—"

"Enough!" A voice boomedfrom the direction of the corridor.

The XO poked his head out from thebriefing room, a harsh glare on his face.

Holmes sighed. Well, fuck. Now shit'llget interesting.

Having a bit of funwith this one. Holmes and Taryn definitely need a break, but at this point,they're hoping it won't be in the brig.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Lottery

Well, it's kind offitting that my last blog post for 2023 is on the actual last day of the year. I'mtaking that as a good vibe to carry into 2024.

Had a semidecent week.Finished up a couple of things that needed attention and started to get my websiteupdated after a very long dry spell. I'm also very close to launching the newendeavor I've been working on for several months.

Did pretty much afull run-through of my usual slate of shows. I have a whole lineup of holidaystuff I want to watch also. I know it's weird to wait until after the holidayis over but I've been very Scrinch-like the past couple of weeks, mainlybecause of the yucky cold.

Started out with MyLife Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. I will say I still get a little putoff by how prickly Alexa can be. I'm sure that's by design, but it annoys me.

Agatha Raisin kind of crushed me a little. I love Agathaand James and having them kind of end things breaks my heart. But I do love theyended on a soft goodbye instead of a harsh one. Looking forward to the next episode.

Started a newtwo-part Silent Witness and I'm kind of surprised how things played out.Did not expect the new guy to have such a dark secret. I love that he exposedit himself. Can't wait to see how this ends.

Caught an episode ofDeath in Paradise and it's one I'd seen before. Meeting Humph's dadexplains so much. I love how this episode played out. Looking forward tostarting Beyond Paradise to see if there's more of Humph's family.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary. Loved diving into Joan's previous life a little. I'mvery intrigued by her and having glimpses into her former profession is alwaysfun.

Finally continuedmy rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This episode had some great momentseven if it ended up being heavier on the cylon lore. Hoping to catch anotherepisode in the near future. Also need to backtrack a little and watch the webisodesand movie.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I actually remembered this one because Alfredended up being a lot of fun. I love it when he steps out of his comfort zoneinto his former life.

Caught an episodeof Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of this one, especially Angelicatrying to be silent. In all fairness, she got robbed for once.

Watched anotherepisode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I have one more left for thefirst season. So far, I'm enjoying it, but I'm glad I have season two ready to gobecause I have feeling the first is going to end on a cliffhanger.

Finished up my episodeof VIP from last week and started a new one. I forgot I didn't get allthe way through the episode because I remembered how it ended.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Lottery,a novella that creates a dilemma for an established couple.

Here's theminiblurb:

A devastating illness tears through a space colony andrepopulation is paramount for continued survival. Veronica Fine and GarrettDelroy think they'll be exempt from the lottery which will match up primecandidates for procreation, but word comes down all members of the colony haveto participate, even members of the military. When they're matched up, bothsuspect some behind the scenes maneuvering from the planetary leader.

And a sneaky peek…

Ihate it when he's right.Veronica hadn't prepared for a cagey back and forth. She'd pretty much reliedon her righteous anger to make the chancellor see the error of her ways.

Biting back a sigh, she muttered, "Somuch for that." She followed Lydia into her inner sanctum.

Veronica took the time whencrossing to the desk to shift gears and strategize. Garrett quietly closed thedoor and joined them.

Lydia gave each a bright smile."I have coffee available and cold drinks in the cooler. Would you likeanything?" She raised an eyebrow.

Garrett shook his head, butVeronica played a hunch. "I'd love some coffee. You have the best around,so the scuttlebutt says." Put Lydia in the subconscious role of servingand catering to them all while adding compliments about her taste.

Garrett's lip kicked up in a smallgrin. "Nice." He voiced the word in a low tone.

Lydia turned and made her way tothe coffee pot. "My assistant Josie gets all the credit. She's got veryspecific ideas on what makes for a perfect pot of coffee." After pouring amug for Veronica, she sent Garrett a questioning glance. "Are you sure Ican't get one for you?"

Garrett gave a nod. "You'vesold me on trying. I'll take a cup, thank you."

Lydia returned with both coffeesand retrieved a carafe of water from the cooler. Taking a moment, she retrieveda large glass and set it beside the pitcher. She also took time to pull herchair out and get settled.

She poured some water then pinnedVeronica and Garrett with her gaze. "Vying for the advantage is fun, butlet's get right to the reason you're here. You don't want to participate in thelottery, is that correct?"

Veronica blinked. "Geez. Youdon't ease into anything, do you?" She might be pushing their luck, but ifthe chancellor wanted plain-speaking, Veronica would provide some.

Lydia wielded her answer with bluntforce. "No. Not when the fate of our survival depends on me." She droppedthe pretense of domesticity, got up, and leaned forward. "It depends onyou also. Everyone has to do their part." Straightening, she added,"Including you."

Garrett took a sip of his coffee."Does doing our part include being manipulated into producing a kid?Because there's no way some behind-the-scenes shenanigans aren't involvedhere."

Veronica wanted to kiss him.

Lydia's shoulders twitched. "Idid make sure you and the lieutenant were matched. It's a perk of being thechancellor." Her tone lacked remorse.

Lydia started to doubt how much ofa hand the elder Delroy could have in this situation. Her heart sank a little. Shereally did get Garrett's uncertainty now.

Lydia propped her hip on the edgeof the table. "Let me explain how all this works." She placed a flowcharton the surface. "You have six months to conceive a baby, or you can optfor egg-sperm fertilization." She pointed to the two-pronged approach. "Eithervia carrier or via Veronica."

Veronica tsked. "I'm not downwith that. I hate the idea of tubes and equipment making a child." She shouldknow.

She'd lived the experience ofhaving no parents because she'd been conceived via a test tube.

But she also couldn't get on board withbeing forced to copulate with Garrett. Not because she didn't find himattractive. Hell, she wanted to jump his bones on a regular basis … but not tohave a kid.

Lydia frowned. "I'm presentingyour options. You can decide how you'd like to proceed with Captain Delroy. Ionly mentioned outside fertilization as part of the plan."

Veronica shot back. "If youcan game the system, you can keep us out of the loop. Being presumptuous isn'ta license to wreck the status quo. And you were casting a long line with theassumption Captain Delroy and I would welcome this intrusion … at this time …in this way." The low boil of anger started rolling again.

Lydia quirked an eyebrow."Would you rather take your chances to match with others?"

Garrett growled low in his throat."Not a chance."

A kick of something primal settledin Veronica at his forceful answer. "What he said." The very idea ofGarrett hooking up with someone else pissed Veronica off.

Lydia clasped her hands togetherand placed them in her lap. "Then we could explore harvesting an egg andusing Captain Delroy's sperm to fertilize and implant into a surrogate."

Veronica popped out with a harsh"No fucking way." She jumped to her feet and leaned forward. "Willyou make me do this."

This story iscoming together in an unexpected way and I'm happy for that.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Losing the Light

Happy holidays toall who celebrate. We're having a quiet weekend at home to avoid spreading allof our cold germs to anyone else. I'm very okay with that.

Started two newprojects this week and slowly getting back to semi-normal while fighting thecold making the rounds through our house. My husband currently has it again.

Made an almost fullrun through of my current slate of television shows. I've been trying to makesure I get plenty of sleep, so I hopefully don't end up with a setback with thecold.

Watched an episodeof My Life Is Murder and remembered I'd seen most of this episodebefore. Enjoyed watching it again.

Started anothertwo-part Agatha Raisin and rather enjoyed the dynamic between James'ssister and Agatha. Looking forward to the second half.

Finished the secondhalf of a Silent Witness two-parter. I'm kind of excited to see wherethings go with a new person on the team.

Caught another episodeof Death in Paradise. I don't remember watching much of this one before,but I do have recollection of at least one scene. Interesting that one of theguest stars is a regular on Agatha Raisin.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. This show definitely intriguesme.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of The Batman. I think there might be one more episode of seasonone left.

Caught anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered both of the vignettes andenjoyed watching them again.

Watched another episodeof The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm still intrigued by everything andcan't wait to find out more about Amy's past.

Finished the weekout with an episode of VIP. I have vague memories of watching thisduring the initial run of the series. Lots of fun.

That's it for thepersonal life update this week. Tonight's post is from Losing the Light,a novella that brings a couple back together after a bad breakup.

Here's theminiblurb:

Walker Garrett always does the right thing—except when itcomes to Barret Danks. Barret never listens when she doesn't want to hearwhat's said, but Walker's ultimatum has her accepting a post on a newlyterraformed planet. With him in the air and her on the ground, working outtheir issues doesn't seem likely … until Walker gets a call to meet withBarret's boss.

And a sneaky peek…

Walker shot up out ofthe chair. "You want me to do what?" He raked a hand through hishair.

Laura held his gaze. "Ithink I made myself clear. I'd like you to pick a group—a small one—of trainedsoldiers to help form a security force down here." She leaned back in herseat.

Walker snorted. "Youwant an official goon squad." She'smad.

Laura shook her head."No. Not official and not a goon squad. This would only be temporaryassistance." She got up and walked the length of the small room.

Walker huffed out abreath. "Temporary show of force you mean." He pinned her with a hardstare. "That's how the public will read this, especially with the wordforce in the title." She should know better than anyone how word choiceworked.

Laura hand-waved hisconcern. "Call it whatever you want. A tactical unit, a unified detail,the semantics will work themselves out. The key idea is promoting safety andour current police enforcement isn't trained or equipped to handle the kind ofmaneuvers the opposition is using." She sighed. "I wish this wasn'tnecessary. The group opposing unification is well organized and vocal. But themajority of settlers elected me and I'm the duly recognized leader whether therabble rousers like it or not." She paced back and forth. "We're in aunique situation here, Captain Gansett, not one I like being in but here we are."

Walker found herargument sound even if he didn't like it. "When you lay everything out, Isee the hurdle you have to overcome. So, okay, I'll find a team to help outdown here." Hopefully without stretching themselves too thin.

Laura paused. "Idon't think you understand. You need to lead the team. I trust you and Iwant you to head up the new task force." Her emphasis kept gettingstronger.

Walker bit back anothersigh and sank back down into his chair. "You realize that's gonna put mein a very uncomfortable position, right? I'll have to assign someone to takecommand up top." And he barely had his 2IC on board.

Laura gave him apointed look. "You're not going to like my next request either. BarretDanks will be your second in command. I insist on it."

Walker blew a gasket. "You'vegot to be kidding me." He got up and paced. "First you steal her, andnow you're going to make working with her a stipulation?" He met her gaze."You know our history, don't you?"

She would. Lauraresearched everything down to the last detail.

She had the grace tonod. "I do. But I also know you two to be professional and more thancapable of putting aside any personal drama you might have for the greatergood."

Well and truly trapped,Walker put the ball back in Laura's court. "If this is a dealbreaker, youshould probably let Barret in on her new role." Because no way did Barretknow yet.

Laura's cheeks wentpink. "I already planned to do just that." She gave him a smallsmile. "I didn't mention our meeting to her because I wanted youragreement first." She hooked her hand around his bicep. "I'll havequarters assigned to you and expect to see you in two days."

Resigned, Walker gave anod. "Yes, Madame Premiere. I'll see you then."

Heading back to histransport, he not so calmly accepted his life would be chaos for theforeseeable future.

Reunion romancesare some of my favorite to write and Walker and Barret's story is one I'menjoying a lot.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Lockdown

I got slammed witha nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my dailyrelaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week orstart over again for the new year.

Finished up severalwork-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new yearoff with a full slate to stay busy.

Not a bad week oftelevision, even with the icky cold making me super tired and exhausted.

Watched anotherepisode of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed it. I'm still trying to getused to the New Zealand locale with the second season. Still a fun show.

Caught the secondhalf of Agatha Raisin. Feel very badly for James, who kind of seems likethe odd man out of the group. Loved how this one played out.

Started a new two-partSilent Witness and not sure on the new pathologist. He's not bad, Iguess. Clearly, it's time to shake things up for Jack, which probably meansthings won't go well when his brother gets out of prison.

Enjoyed another Deathin Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphreyepisodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched anotherepisode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interestedin getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock isdefinitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the firstseason then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have misseda season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up thesixth season.

Continued with TheSecret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued by how the season is unfolding andI'm kind of interested in where things are going to go.

Finished out theweek with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in thisone. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty muchit on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lockdown, anovella that brings a couple together in a unique situation.

Here's theminiblurb:

Tod Langkowski and Mitzi Stahl are trapped when a poweroutage aboard their ship locks them in the training area. The commander and hisCAG have a unique opportunity to examine their relationship—and where it shouldgo—with zero interruptions.

And a sneaky peek…

Mitzi loved the lower deck gym thatdoubled as a training area. "Especially when I'm pissed off due to arun-in with Major Pain in the Ass Moore." She continued punching the heavybag while listing her issues with the XO. "She's nosy." Jab-jab. "Annoying."Jab-punch. "And she has the whole control freak thing down cold."Punch-jab. "And stupid Tod thinks she's all that. And I'll neverget why." She jabbed the bag with a double right-handed punch.

A voice called out from behind her."Maybe stupid Tod picked the best candidate out of a limited pool ofpeople."

Fuck.

She gave the bag another hardpunch. "It figures you'd overhear me letting off steam." She pausedand glanced his way.

He moved into the gym then stopped,his arms folded over his chest. She liked the way his shoulders pulled at hisuniform T-shirt. The man stayed in shape. She'd give him full credit.

A lot of officers that made theleap from being in the trenches—so to speak—to working behind the line lettheir fitness suffer. Granted, Tod only had a year commanding a carrier underhis belt, but Mitzi doubted he'd be one of the flabby flexers. He'd never throwhis weight around, literally or figuratively. Not his style.

She quirked a brow. "Why areyou here? Is this a torment Mitzi thing or a commanding officer to CAGthing?" She'd bet her next pay grade Belinda the brave gave Tod an earful.

Tod's lips twitched. "Can't itbe both?" Not a confirmation or a denial.

Mitzi shrugged. "Whynot?" Except it hadn't been both lately.

The fact they hadn't found theirfooting yet bothered her. They rarely took more than a few days for their usualpatterns to emerge. Belinda played a role this time around.

Tod snapped his fingers. "Mitzi.Where did you go?" A tinge of concern entered his gaze.

She shook her head. "Sorry.Zoned out for a minute." She'd never admit where her head went because hedidn't need the added pressure. "What did you need?" After doingbattle with Belinda, Mitzi didn't want to throw down with Tod, too.

He frowned at her change ofsubject. "Had a briefing with Belinda about engineering and—" Hestopped speaking when the lights flickered, flashed bright … then went out."Ugh. That." Tod growled. "Shit." His eyes slid closed."Wait for it."

The autolock engaged on the hatchleading into the training area.

Well, hell. She really should'veexpected the safety measure, especially on a newer ship. Perfect. Just what sheneeded.

Mitzi rolled her eyes. "Guesswe're stuck." Won't this be fun?

Having a bit of funwith this story. Mitzi and Tod are getting an outside hand from the personMitzi least suspects of help.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Living with Scars

I'm having a weirdmonth so far. I'm doing well with posting daily relaxation, stress reducerthings to avoid becoming the Scrinch (Scrooge and the Gringe combined), yet I'malso feeling kind of down, which is not the norm for me. I'm thinking a happymedium might be the best I'll do this year and I'm okay with that.

Had a week ofbusywork projects, which ended up being kind of fun. I like jumping around andmoving back and forth between jobs. Keeps me on my toes and paying attention.

Had a solid week oftelevision. A lot of what I worked on this week let me have background noiseand I got a lot of shows watched!

I started with the firstsixtieth anniversary special for Doctor Who. Thoroughly enjoyed havingTen and Donna back together. Looking forward to the second special this week.

Trying out a new tome show with Elementary. Watched the first two episodes and I like it sofar. I didn't watch at all when it originally aired and I'm looking forward toseeing more of this show.

Caught two episodesof The Batman and should be semi-close to the end of season one. Lookingforward to more of this one.

Enjoyed two episodesof Classic Rugrats. Liked both and loved the play on vintage TV showsthe ghost stories episode had.

Watched two episodesof VIP and remembered one from the original airing of the show. Lots offun with the ice bullets before they were really a thing.

Caught anotherepisode of My Life Is Murder and ended up liking it a lot. The dragqueen setting was fun and the snark fest between Alexa and the manager deservesa chef's kiss.

Enjoyed another AgathaRaisin episode. It's the first of a two-parter so I'm excited to see whathappens next. Very fun to watch Agatha and James navigate living together.

Finished the secondhalf of a two-part Silent Witness. Actually liked how this one playedout. It's cool to revisit old cases and the one they went back to ended upbeing an important one.

Caught another Deathin Paradise episode. I'm enjoying Florence and Humph working together. AndI'm fond of the JP and Dwayne dynamic.

Also started a newPassionflix series with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Got the first episodein and I'm intrigued so far. Looking forward to seeing how the two seasons playout.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Living with Scars, anovella that explores the reunion of a couple after one has a traumaticexperience.

Here's theminiblurb:

Britta Dane, a woman who avoids entanglements, lets YaleSullivan get a little too close. But when she finds a way to put some distancebetween them, she lands behind enemy lines. When she finally returns, a littlebroken and torn up with guilt, she has to find a way to get her brand of normalback.

And a sneaky peek…

Ralinda "Rally" Andersonquickly became the bane of Britta's existence. Rally got a taste for being asquadron leader while Britta served her penance in maintenance. And the youngerpilot didn't want to give up her new-found status.

Britta figured a nice little chatshould take place. "Hey, Rally. Hold up a minute."

Ralinda's shoulders tensed, but shewaited by the exit. Britta struck a casual pose, leaning against the bulkheadwith a foot propped on the surface. Then she stared Anderson down with a calm façade.It's the best way to get the upper hand.

Rally huffed out a frustrated sigh."Did you want something?"

Britta lifted a brow. The girl hada set of brass ones. Britta would give Ralinda props for pushing back.

But Britta quickly set the tone."I'm sorry. I think you meant 'Did you want something, sir'." Brittastraightened, pulling rank and enjoying it. "Last I checked, I'm alieutenant and you're still junior grade."

Anderson's nostrils flared, but shekept her cool. "Is there something I can do for you, sir?" Shesneered the question, barely keeping a civil tone.

Britta smiled at the cracks in thepilot's armor. "You can tell me what your problem is."

Rally's eyes widened. "Withwhat? Unless you mean you specifically, sir."

Smart girl.

Britta nodded. "Sure, Rally.Let's start there." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I've beenback on rotation two weeks and you're either on my ass or so far up it, I cansmell what you had for your last meal."

Rally flushed, but terselyexplained. "You're a menace, sir."

Britta laughed. "I'm supposedto be, Lieutenant. Our job is to do as much damage to the enemy aspossible."

Rally shook her head. "Not mymeaning, and you know it."

And finally, they were gettingsomewhere. "Okay. Why don't you explain—specifically—why you think I'm amenace?"

Rally loosened up. "You'rehungover … All. The. Time. You've lost discipline. You have zero focus. Andsometime, probably in the very near future, you're gonna get yourself—or one ofus—killed." She heaved for breath, dragging air into her lungs.

Britta quirked a brow. "Wow.Been saving that up for a while, haven't you?"

Ralinda lifted a shoulder."Look, you asked. I don't wanna fly with you—veteran hot shot ornot."

Britta slowly lifted her chin."Good to know. But just to be clear…" Britta lifted one finger."Haven't had a hangover in a month…" She added a second digit."I've never had discipline outside of a cockpit." A third fingerjoined the first two. "Even unfocused, I still fly circles aroundyou…" She lifted her little pinky. "And the weight of that chip onyour shoulder will kill someone before I everdo." Britta moved to stand toe-to-toe with the other pilot. "Youdon't have to like me … but you'd damned well better respect the rank Ihold." Britta pinned Ralinda with her gaze. "If you can't do that … I'msure we can find some transport ships for you to pilot around the fleet."

Ralinda sucked in a harsh breathand opened her mouth to blast Britta. She quickly snapped it shut again andheld her tongue, looking away to hide the angry flash in her eyes. A very wisechoice.

Britta smiled and patted Rally onthe shoulder. "Nice start. Keep the attitude in check and we'll do justfine." Turning, Britta walked a few steps before angling her head back."You're dismissed, Lieutenant."

Continuing down the corridor,Britta felt better than she had since she got back. One problem down, a zillionmore to go. Including one gigantic challenge named Yale.

I'm trying to reinthis story in. The sages keep feeding me ideas and I won't be able to use allof them but it's a great problem to have.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Little More

Not sure I'm readyfor December. The last few months have really flown by, and I can't seem to keepup. I must be getting old. Or life is coming at me fast and that's why I'm strugglingto stay in the moment.

And because I'm failingat staying in the moment, I started a daily post for self-care on Instagram andBlue Sky. Each day I'm going to post something that I do just for me to help meshed stress and enjoy a few minutes of me time.

To that end, Imight be including some television shows, so keep an eye out for a few specialsthat aren't in my normal rotation.

I did get two episodesof My Life Is Murder in this week. I'm a little puzzled by the change inlocation from Australia to New Zealand, but I'm running with it for now.

I also finished upthe bonus episodes from Agatha Raisin season two and caught the premiereof season three. I kind of miss Gemma but Toni is a lot of fun.

Watched twoepisodes of Silent Witness. Hard to say goodbye to Thomas and it's weirdto not see Clarissa at the Lyell anymore. I do like the new vibe Jack and Nikkihave. Looking forward to seeing if they add any new cast members.

Also enjoyed twoepisodes of Death in Paradise. Camille left for Paris and Humph isworking through the new dynamic. I really enjoy this show and I'm so glad I cansee it in chronological order.

Finished OnlyMurders in the Building and I did get the villains right. Excellent thirdseason and I'm excited about season four because who saw that one coming withthe new victim?

Caught anotherepisode of The Batman and enjoyed it. The dynamic between Bruce andAlfred is a lot of fun.

Watched anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones I remembered andenjoyed the first time around. I love it when the parents truly have no ideawhat's going on.

Enjoyed another episodeof VIP. The over-the-top villains are always entertaining. I truly missthat sometimes.

Also watchedanother episode of Peak Practice. Once again, I'm not interested at allin one of the storylines, but I do love the two new cast members and what'sgoing on with them.

And that's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from A Little More, a novella thatbrings a couple together and makes them deal with how to work and play together.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lexie Krost and Tighe Milligan work and live together—anda little more—on a remote base in the depths of space. They shouldn't act ontheir attraction, but the pull is strong and once they've crossed the line,they have to figure out how to be a little less.

And a sneaky peek…

Lexie's nerve endings still tingledand once they made it to quarters, she turned to face him. "Your rack ormine?"

Tighe nudged her around and movedher up against the hatch. "Don't care." He grabbed a screwdriver andshoved it into the latch to maintain privacy.

When his mouth ghosted over herskin, making her hot and flushed, she moaned. "Mine's closer." Maybeby two whole feet, but still…

He smirked. "Yours it isthen." He picked her up, putting her hot core close to his hard dick.

She ground over his shaft wheretheir hips joined. "Doesn't take you long to recharge." And, holycrap, she couldn't wait until he filled her.

Tighe rolled a shoulder. "Likeyou said … we only took the edge off. I'm ready to experience the full Lexietreatment." He made the short walk to her bunk.

Lexie flicked her tongue againsthis ear. "Mmm … and I'm ready to give it to you."

They reached her berth, and he settledher inside. She stripped off while he shucked his boxes and yanked his shirtover his head. His hard body made her mouth water.

Tracing the ridges of his abdomen,she glanced up to meet his gaze. "You getting in or what?"

He put a knee on the edge and slidup into her space. She yanked the curtains shut and moaned again when Tighe'smouth clamped onto a nipple. Her boobs were erogenous zones and he had seriousskill. While he worried one with his lips, teeth, and tongue, he treated theother to a mix of kneading the whole globe combined with tweaks and tugs usinghis fingertips.

She threaded her fingers in hishair, holding him close to her, humping his hair-roughened thigh. She searchedfor and found his hard cock and did some playing herself. Fisting the girth,she tugged firmly then lowered her palm to his balls. Fondling the sacs, shealso stroked his perineum.

He let her nipple escape his mouth."Oh, fuck, yes."

She grinned. "You like alittle ass play. You have no idea how much that turns me on."

His tongue flicked over her othernipple. "Lexie, babe, you can do whatever you want with my ass."

She gushed more fluid at thethought "I'll definitely keep that in mind. But. right now, I kinda needthis hot, hard dick buried deep inside me."

Tighe grabbed her hips and shiftedher around to straddle his thighs. "I'm all yours." His hands slid upher sides to cup her breasts.

She shuddered with anticipation,rose up, and sank slowly over his rigid length. "Oh, yeah. Perfectfit." He filled her, stretching her out a little.

He held her gaze and closed hislips over her areola, sucking hard. Lexie planted her hands on either side ofhis shoulders and rocked her hips. Tighe switched sides, drawing the other pebbledtip between his teeth, worrying the nub then flicking his tongue over it.

She responded by getting wetter andmoving a little faster. "Won't last long. You feel too good insideme." More like incredible.

Tighe leaned back and gave her aquick grin. "I'm primed and ready. Let's see if we can get you off morethan once." He bucked up against her, flexing his thighs.

Her eyes slid closed at theexquisite sensations rolling through her. He might be the death of her. Butwhat a way to go.

I'm having a lot offun writing this one. The sages decided to lean in to the erotic side of thingsand they keep trying to up the heat factor.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye