M.L. Skye's Blog, page 15

Sunday Snippet: Crash and Burn

Had a weird week. The weather is still doing the yucky back and forth stuff, which makes me unhappy. My sinuses go insane when the temperature rises and falls and won't make up its mind.

Still super busy with work projects. I think I'm slowing down productivity-wise and that's disappointing, but I also tend to not work on three projects at the same time.

Not a bad week for television but I didn't get a lot watched. I did finish up the Silent Witness episode I started last week. Nikki ends up in trouble on a frequent basis and I like that she's always willing to put herself out there to solve a mystery.

I started a new season of Strangest Things and should have it finished up later this week. I kind of love digging into weird things from history and watching the group of commenters explain what they think things are.

I also caught another episode of Battlestar Galactica. "Water" is a terrific episode that lays the groundwork for a lot of what follows in the rest of the season. Frankly, the first season of Battlestar is as close to perfect as anything I've seen. There's not a wasted episode in the batch of thirteen. There are stronger episodes, obviously, but every installment has important information and terrific character moments. I'm so excited to watch another episode this week!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Crash and Burn, a novella that puts a sibling rivalry as a conflict and hurdle for a happy ending.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Pepper Strand met the wrong brother first and when her personal feelings get in the way, she takes the easy way out. When it leads to the death of Bax's sibling, she drowns her guilt with alcohol and Bax decides to make her crawl out of the bottle and into his arms.

And a sneaky peek…

Pepper didn't want to talk. She wanted Bax in her bed, preferably naked.

She blinked and swayed a little. "I want you." Her mouth ghosted kisses along his jawline.

A rumbled huff escaped his lips. "I can tell." He gently guided her backward until her legs hit the edge of the bed. "And I'd love to be with you…" His mouth finally caught hers in a lingering kiss. "But let's slow this down a little."

He started undressing her, but in a clinical way. Jerky movements, barely any touching, and zero eye contact. At least it seemed that way to her inebriated brain. And, dammit, she wanted the steamy movie playing in her head.

Pepper grumbled. "Don't wanna slow down." She made a bold move and cupped his groin when he stood up from helping her get her legs out of her pants. "You don't wanna either." His dick, hard and ready, couldn't lie.

Bax grasped her hand and brought it up to his chest. "You're right. I'd love to continue." He pressed a kiss against her fingers. "But I want you to be fully present and participating completely when we're together." He eased away from her and reached out to turn the bed cover down.

When. He said when we're together.

He drew her forward. "Let's get you to bed, okay?" He patted the mattress.

Pepper didn't argue, she put a knee on the surface but paused. She didn't want to be alone. Not when her emotions were raw and jumbled.

Angling her head around, she met his gaze. "Join me?" She tried to make it clear it wouldn't be for sex.

He studied her for a long moment, tilting his head to one side, then glanced at the door.

She added a quiet plea. "Please." Tears prickled behind her eyelids, but she wouldn't cry.

She wouldn't.

He gave a nod. "Yeah, okay. I'll stick around." He shucked his pants.

She crawled onto the bed and slid between the sheets. Bax settled in beside her, staying on top of the cover. She didn't care. She curled up to him, putting her head on his chest, content to listen to his heartbeat until she drifted off.

I could get used to this…

I'm excited to finish this one. Pepper and Bax don't take a traditional route to become a couple and that's so much fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Covert Hearts

Whew. What a long week. I've got three work projects going and some movement on my possible new venture. And crazy weather that keeps hopping back and forth from super cold to very mild. I'm not a fan.

Had a somewhat decent week of television. I'm not back to my normal schedule because my work projects need solid focus. But … I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things.

I finished up the Midsomer Murders I started last week and really enjoyed the episode. I have a lot of love for Barnaby and Winters.

I caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm in season nine and what I consider the home stretch since there are three seasons left after this one. Not a bad episode but I do miss some of the recurring characters from earlier seasons.

Continued my Battlestar Galactica rewatch with my friend. Season one starts with what I consider to be one of the absolute best hours of scripted television ever. "33" is in my top ten episodes of Battlestar and probably in my top ten episodes of television. Edge of your seat viewing for the entire episode. Terrific stuff.

Watched an episode of Classic Who and finished out the arc. I have ten episodes left to finish out the full run of classic episodes. I think I'll be starting a Death in Paradise run after I conclude with Classic Who.

Started the first of the final two episodes in season twenty of Silent Witness. I'm looking forward to finishing it up and seeing where things go.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Covert Hearts, a novella that puts an established couple in a terrible spot.

Here's the mini-blurb:

An impossible task. A couple sworn to carry it out or die trying. One big test of the depth of their courage and love.

And a sneaky peek…

Emma arrived at the scheduled time. She ran a hand over her sleek ponytail, checking to make sure the simple style stayed in place, and then knocked on the door.

"Enter." The chancellor's voice, even when muted by solid wood, held authority.

Emma entered briskly and stumbled to a stop, catching sight of Rick seated at the conference table enjoying breakfast with her boss.

The chancellor rose. "Ms. Wells, prompt as usual." He nodded toward the empty seat at the table. "Join us, please."

Emma made her way toward the men, wondering what the hell, but hoped she might finally get some answers. "Thank you, Chancellor." Her lips turned up when he pulled out the chair, waiting until she'd settled on the seat before gently pushing it back in.

Rick the Asshat hadn't bothered with the customary gesture of rising when someone new joined the meal in progress. Instead, he lifted a brow and smirked. Emma bit back a nasty retort and smiled sweetly in his direction.

The chancellor didn't waste time. He poured her a cup of coffee and got down to business. "Emma, you've been with me how long?"

She didn't hesitate. "Five months, sir." And she'd enjoyed the time.

McBride repeated her words. "Five months." He nodded. "And you've met Mr. Mannix how many times?" He steepled his fingers.

She answered honestly. "Several. We bumped into each other at a gala fete we each attended. Not long after that in your office. And last night. In my apartment." The thought still pissed her off.

McBride inclined his chin. "Ah, yes. That particular meeting has caused quite a conundrum for me." He met her gaze. "It shouldn't have happened, and I'm afraid I have to take action." He casually picked up his mug of coffee.

Take action?

Her eyes narrowed. "Disciplinary action? With all due respect, what for? It's not like I invited him over for drinks." Although he'd certainly helped himself. "Frankly, sir, he's lucky I didn't shoot first and ask questions later."

The chancellor shot Mannix a sideways glance. "I'm aware Mr. Mannix dropped by uninvited, Emma. I'd like you to tell me why." He snapped his attention back to her.

Shit. Truth time.

She rolled a shoulder. "Something's off, sir. I don't trust him, and my job is to make sure your bases are covered. To that end, I've had him under surveillance for the past few days." On her own time and off the books.

McBride pounced. "I don't recall giving you an order to keep tabs on Mr. Mannix."

She glanced away. "You didn't, sir." Her voice lowered. "I'm sor—"

Mannix interjected, "For gods' sake, Dad, let her off the hook."

The rest of her apology squeaked out. "ry, sir." Her head jerked upward. "Wait. Did you just say, Dad?" Her gaze met the chancellor's sheepish one.

He heaved a sigh. "Ah, Rick. You had to jump the gun, didn't you?" Rising, he moved to stand by his desk. "Emma, effective as of ten seconds ago, your security clearance has been raised to A1." He opened a folder and turned it toward her.

She blinked. "A1?" She didn't know such a level even existed. "What the hell is going on here? And exactly how much trouble am I in?" She barely waited a beat before adding, "Sir."

Rick finally rose from his spot. "You're not in trouble. You've been promoted to the inner circle, Ms. Wells." He held out his hand. "Agent Rick McBride. Deep cover ops."

Emma automatically shook the extended hand. "Well, shit. That explains a lot." Her face flushed with heat. "Um, sorry. Need a minute to digest everything."

The chancellor had kindly given her exactly sixty seconds to wrap her head around the buttload of information before handing her a pen and launching into a full scale debrief on what his son did and her new job duties.

Emma hadn't looked back since.

Al did indeed mean the inner circle, with less than five people having that level of clearance. Working closely with highly classified information and witnessing the intense drain on the chancellor's time and energy changed her. She made a conscious effort to get through the red tape and nail down details before the chancellor had to get involved in anything. After her promotion, she got involved on a personal level with the younger McBride and had zero regrets.

The object of her thoughts entered his dad's suite and crossed the floor. She pressed the link on the communication unit to buzz for the chancellor. He'd been expecting his son for an important debrief.

Rick nuzzled her neck, wrapping her in his embrace. "Not much longer until our handfasting." His lips brushed her temple.

She didn't get a chance to reply. The chancellor entered and they got down to business.

The elder McBride gave Emma a nod. "Your report on the summit location needing more security is spot on. I'm glad I can rely on your strategies—your gut instinct rarely leads me wrong."

Rick gave her a quick smile then updated them with the scuttlebutt he'd overheard in the elevator.

The elder McBride frowned. "You have a go to be more intrusive."

Rick leaned forward. "I have to deliver lunch to Hix's suite today."

McBride nodded. "Go early and use an amplifier to catch anything you can."

Emma made a note and signed a requisition. Things were getting hot and her gut didn't like where that heat might lead.

I love to write a couple that has a solid foundation then shake things up to see how sturdy it is.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Come Here Often

Well, February has so far been a crazy mix of freezing, in the teens temperatures and mild almost spring-like weather. Mother Nature is in a mercurial mood right now and it's wild trying to figure out how to dress for the day. I miss being able to get my winter stuff out and not having to bother with warm-weather clothes for a couple of months.

Had a busy week with work projects and have a couple more lined up in the near future. I'm kind of happy they're all different types of manuscripts and none are in the same stage of editing.

Had a slow week of television. I'm still working to get everything from the old PC to the new one and ran into another snag with trying to set up my email accounts. Spent a large portion of the week trying to figure that out and get it working. Bleh.

I did catch the pilot episode of Pennyworth and really enjoyed it. I've heard great things and now that I know season three is the end, I'm going to attempt to watch before it disappears too.

I also watched the second part of the Battlestar Galactica miniseries with one of my friends. I'm so excited to have this rewatch party to look forward to each week. We'll be trying two episodes a week starting with season one.

Got a start on the latest season of Midsommer Murders. Barely got through the opening credits so I'll have to finish up this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Come Here Often, a novella that explores how a couple reconnects and moves forward after a troubled past of not being on the same page.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Neely survives a war but not without considerable emotional damage. When Ace offers her everything she's ever wanted, she turns him down, believing they can't pick up where they left off. Ace aims to prove they don't have to.

And a sneaky peek…

Ace had a reputation for digging in with his heels—and teeth—when a situation warranted the extra effort. Neely's freedom did.

Hence the heated discussion he found himself in with the base commander, Brett Jones.

Jones shook his head. "I'm telling you it's not going to happen." He folded his arms over his chest.

Ace laid his objection out. "Neely deserves her freedom. She's earned it." She'd gone through every test, every interview, every fucking thing the brass asked of her.

Then did everything all over again with the government delegates.

Brett sighed. "I don't disagree, but I'm also stuck. The peace accord is still new. Ink's not even dry on the page yet. I can't, in good faith, just let Neely wander around unsupervised."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Bullshit. You can do what you want." The guy had a set of iron-clad stones.

Jones lifted one shoulder. "To a degree, yes. But the delegates won't risk the hard-won peace by letting a former POW roam free to wreak havoc if the enemy decides to start up the fighting again." He made a disgusted sound.

Ace got his commander's dilemma, but he'd keep pushing. "Neely is slowly losing hope. She doesn't trust herself and half the battle of making sure she can't be used is making sure she's healthy on a mental level. Tell me you get that."

Brett jerked his head. "I do. And I agree with you, but I can't promise the delegates will."

This time, Ace folded his arms over his chest. "Who do I need to speak with to make this happen?" He'd go through all twenty-five if he had to.

Jones arched his brows. "You're serious?"

Ace gave a nod. "Completely." He only needed a name.

The base commander cocked his head. "Enough to guarantee you'll keep a constant eye on her?"

Ace schooled his features. "You want me to spy on her?"

The commander lifted his chin. "In a word? Yes."

Ace frowned. "She won't like that." He leaned forward. "Frankly, neither will I. It's a betrayal of trust." And he didn't want to jeopardize their current status by keeping things from her.

Brett rolled a shoulder. "It's that or she waits until the delegates, namely Rian Weylon, are certain she won't be used as a weapon."

Ace growled. "Shit. This sucks." He sighed. "Fine. I'll keep an eye on her and report regularly—but only to you." He'd figure out what to do about Weylon if necessary.

The base commander inclined his head. "Deal."

I like where this story is going. It's a bit of a departure from the norm for me and I'm pretty sure there's going to be a follow-up book once this one is finished.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

 

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Come Back to Me

I had a jam-packed week of setting up a new PC and transferring files while trying to also stay on top of my work projects. In all honesty, I can't complain about the process. Of course, things went wrong because that's how it always goes. I didn't have the right cable to connect my monitor to the tower, but I found one in my stash of never-throw-away-this-type-of-thing pile of stuff I keep for that sole purpose. And once I figured out how to configure the network, transferring files has gone pretty smooth. I have a couple of final things to work out but I can take some time to do that stuff.

Didn't watch a lot of television because I needed to focus and my desk had several variations before I got the final layout figured out.

I did finish out season three of Batman: The Animated Series. I'm happy I got it done before the great wipeout from all existence. The episodes to complete the series were "Judgment Day," which I loved, "Beware the Creeper," which I also kind of enjoyed, and "Mad Love," which seems like a weird episode to end on because it's all about the Joker and Harley, but it's actually a terrific endcap for the series, because it's also about the role Batman plays in that relationship.

I also started a Battlestar Galactica rewatch with one of my best friends. We're doing weekly viewings and we've started with the miniseries. There were so many little things I'd forgotten and a lot of iconic stuff I definitely remembered. This show had such an impact on me and I'm kind of excited and terrified to travel on the journey again. LOL

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Come Back to Me, a novella that explores what happens after a couple reunites but a blast from the past returns to possibly wreak havoc.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tania and James love each other deeply but have a complicated relationship. When Tania has a chance to right a wrong, James has to trust she'll keep her promise to come back to him.

And a sneaky peek…

James didn't want the conversation to end and Tania didn't disappoint.

Tania tucked her feet under her thighs. "Denny couldn't adjust, knowing on a deep level I would always love you." She glanced away. "And I'm ashamed to admit it, but I catted around. Mainly because I couldn't settle. I was always restless because of my feelings for you." She sighed. "Denny deserved a chance for a normal life and now he won't get it. He probably never would have either because of me."

James cocked his head. "You don't think, given enough time, you'd have found a way to make it work?" Tania has an almost pathological will to never admit defeat.

Tania shook her head. "No, but I could have set him free … would have if he'd come back from the raid … but he didn't." Her voice went still and quiet.

James gave a grim nod. "I'm truly sorry."

Tania's palm curled into her fist. "And now, when I want to fix my mistakes and be with the man I want, it feels wrong. Why can't I ever get the timing right?" She smacked her thigh.

James jumped in. "We can't get it right. There're two of us, here."

Tania snorted. "Would you wanna be that guy? The one who jumps right back in?" She tsked. "Kind of seems like winning on a technicality, right?"

James shrugged. "Maybe, but it's not a competition." He paused. "Or is it? Am I competing with Denny's memory?"

Tania frowned. "No. And it sounds stupid when you put it that way."

James shook his head. "I don't mean to make the idea or you sound dumb. I guess I want to know what you want here. From me. For us." He cupped her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

Tania moved closer. "I want us to be together but I don't want tongues wagging because we are."

James cocked his head. "Why does it matter?" Being grist for the rumor mill usually didn't bother her.

Tania huffed out a breath. "Because, for once, I give a shit about the fallout and what that does to you."

Touched she cared, he countered. "Look, we've wasted a lot of time. If we're ready and finally on the same page, can we walk away?" He couldn't.

Tania sighed. "No."

James clasped her hand. "Then we live our lives and be together. No fanfare. No grand announcements. Just you and me."

Tania squeezed his fingers. "You can't really think it'll be that simple."

James shrugged. "I don't care. People can talk all they want, but eventually they'll find something else to discuss." Took him a long time to figure that out.

Tania's eyes widened. "And you're okay with that?"

James tugged her closer. "I let outside influence drive us apart once before. I don't plan to let it happen again."

Tania gave him a happy smile. "Then let's start living now." She straddled his lap and leaned in close.

James did the one thing he'd wanted to do since she came back aboard the ship … he caught her lips with his and melted into the embrace.

I'm so happy with how this story is unfolding. Tania has some ghosts floating in her past and that means James is also haunted by them.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Cockpit

Had a fairly decent week with work projects coming together and the upper respiratory yuck staying solidly in the background. I continued improving and the cough is down to a manageable level with over-the-counter meds. Whew.

I'm almost finished with Batman: The Animated Series and then I'll get back to a wider variety of shows again. This week's episodes were "Love is a Croc," "The Ultimate Thrill," "Cult of the Cat," which I go back and forth on whether I like it or not. "Critters" is not one of my favorites. I do love "Animal Act" because Dick gets to revisit his circus family and it's followed by my favorite season three episode of "Old Wounds," which shows the messy breakup of Batman and Robin and how Batgirl played a role. I have a few issues with season three and one of them is the way Bruce / Batman became a complete hardass and, quite frankly, a giant dick a lot of the time.

"Legends of the Dark Knight" is fun because it's a complete departure from the norm and explores a couple of alternate versions of the dynamic duo.

Almost forgot about "Girls' Night Out," with Live Wire and Supergirl guest starring. That's a fun episode.

I finished up with "Chemistry," which is kind of a meh episode for me. I think I have three more episodes and I'll have the rewatch completed.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Cockpit, a novella that features a character at a crossroads when she runs into her past and it helps her decide her future.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lark Fisher pulls R&R and hits the most happening bar on Virgonon, the Cockpit. Imagine her utter stupefaction when she finds out its owner is not only an old friend, but the one who got away.

And a sneaky peek…

Lark soaked up the atmosphere of the bar but wondered what took Fox so long. She downed another shot. How long does a shower take on Virgonon?

An ugly thought hit her. "What if Fox has someone?" Shit.

She didn't stop to think he could be married, or living with someone. Dammit. She needed another drink.

She caught Charlie's attention and held up two fingers. He brought a couple of glasses and filled each. She picked one up and tossed it back, waiting for the burn to subside. She repeated the process, then met Charlie's amused gaze.

She shrugged. "What? I needed to drown out a horrible thought." She glanced over her shoulder then back to Charlie. "So … thirty minutes to shower?"

Charlie folded his arms over his chest. "No, he's not involved with anyone right now."

Lark frowned. "I asked about the shower. I didn't ask about a significant other."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "You didn't have to." He refilled her glass again. "His last girlfriend accepted a transfer to Cecil-778 six months ago."

Lark lifted her chin. "Ah. Is he nursing a broken heart?" None of her business, but her curiosity burned with questions.

Charlie snorted. "Not likely. But the boss can tell you himself." He glanced over her shoulder.

Lark spun around and sucked in a breath. Holy shit. Hair still wet from his shower, Fox took her breath away. Low-slung pants in a soft caramel shade hugged his thighs and fit like a glove. His brown T-shirt—a rich coffee color—accented his muscular arms and molded to his torso, hinting at the toned abdominals underneath. His bouts in the ring obviously kept him in good shape.

Mouth dry, she tapped the bar behind her and Charlie filled her glass, chuckling.

She shot him a sideways look. "Shut. Up." He laughed and made his way to the other end to fill a drink order.

Fox quirked an eyebrow but said nothing when he settled onto the stool next to hers.

Lark swallowed the liquid. "Your bartender is in the wrong business."

I like how this story is coming together. Lark is getting ready to face what her future could look like and Fox is going to cautiously help.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Clubbing on Space Station Delta

Ugh. What a week. I ended up succumbing to the upper respiratory yuck that started with my middle kiddo. I took him to the doctor on Monday and by late that evening, I already started feeling pretty ick. Slept most of the day on Tuesday—not kidding, about fifteen hours—and still felt terrible on Wednesday, with worsening symptoms, continuous cough, inability to breathe regularly, and basically everything hurt, up to and including my hair. Got in to see the doctor on Thursday afternoon, got tested for the flu, which came back negative, got something for the cough and came home. Finally got some additional sleep and started feeling slightly better by Friday evening. Continued to improve Saturday and finally think I've turned the corner. Going to take everything nice and slow through Tuesday and follow up with the doctor, but at least I can think clearly again. Definitely a wild ride for a few days.

Did not get a lot of television watched. Well, I did. But I don't remember a huge chunk of it. I did get some additional episodes of Batman: The Animated Series in before falling off the cliff of craziness.

Finished up "Joker's Millions," which I remember but forgot how much I actually enjoyed. Also caught "Growing Pains," "Mean Seasons," a truly excellent episode, "The Demon Within," "Over the Edge," and "Torch Song."

I hope I can still finish up the final season before HBOMax sucks the joy out of life by removing it from their service. Fingers crossed I don't end up with a new yuck thing to deal with.

That's more than anyone wanted to know about my life this week! Tonight's post is from Clubbing on Space Station Delta, a fun little space romp where perceptions are turned on their head and fun ensues.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Macie Gunn discovers a very different side to Nix Handleman, her commanding officer, when they get some downtime on Space Station Delta. Macie likes what she sees, but wonders if Nix will keep the stick out of his ass once they return back to duty. Nix loves taking Macie by surprise but doesn't quite trust her enough to take things further … after all, Macie never met a secret she didn't want to spill. Each has to show some trust in the other's ability to change and they only have a weekend to do it.

And a sneaky peek…

By the fifth song, Macie needed to quench her thirst, and maybe something else ... if she read Nix's body language correctly. And she rarely missed when it came to mutual attraction. She simulated downing a drink and sashayed to the bar.

Nix followed and dropped down on a stool beside her. "You've got some moves, Macie." He ordered a tonic water and juice.

She cracked a smile. "High praise coming from you. I'll take it." She downed the shot and ordered a glass of juice.

Nix's lips quirked. "Gotta replenish the system after all that gyrating."

She laughed a little. "That and I have the early shift on watch." She yawned. I gotta call it a night. I didn't have time catch any sleep before heading out." She slid off the barstool.

Nix got up also. "How about I walk with you to your quarters. The first night of leave usually brings out all the bad ideas." He fell into step beside her.

Macie squashed a thrill and couldn't resist a comeback. "One person's bad idea is another person's idea of fun." They crossed the entertainment hub lobby and headed for the turbolift.

She spoke too soon, because when they exited the lift, a group of crewmen were weaving and swaying and jostling each other. Nix grasped her arm and edged her close to the wall. The rowdy bunch took up most of the corridor and Nix draped an arm over her shoulder to shied her from the horseplay.

Macie welcomed his arm around her. "Thanks. Guess I didn't realize I landed on the party floor." She gave Nix the room number of her quarters.

He got them to the door and she pressed her keycard to the monitor. The door lock snicked and Macie turned, hoping to extend her time with Nix.

Leaning in, she lifted her chin. "Thanks for the escort." Her lips covered his.

Nix responded, deepening the kiss and slipping his tongue past her teeth. The embrace nearly melted her brain. Not only could the man dance, he had lip-locks down to an art form also.

Easing away, she invited him in, thinking the night would have a very satisfactory conclusion.

But he shook his head. "I gotta decline."

Stymied and frustrated, she blinked. "I thought you wanted me."

Nix put a hand on the wall beside her. "It's not about want, Mace…" He pressed the hard ridge of his cock against her. "The want isn't lacking. It's about trust. And we're not there yet."

She moaned, her eyes sliding shut. "I thought maybe the whole what happens in Loco stays in Loco…" She glanced down, eyeing the hard bulge. "Could apply to Delta, too."

Nix flashed a smile. "I'm not saying it can't. But your track record with discretion is pretty much nonexistent." An arched eyebrow dared her to deny his statement.

Macie groaned. Hoisted by my big, damn mouth.

She met his gaze. "So … you don't trust me?" She honestly couldn't blame him.

He leaned in and his mouth nuzzled her throat. "Mace, I want and need you." His lips brushed over hers. "But, no, the trust isn't there yet." He eased away from her.

Macie sighed. "What can I do to convince you?" Short of committing murder, she'd do just about anything.

Nix lifted his chin. "Meet me at Loco tomorrow night. We'll talk more."

Macie weighed trying to cajole him to come into her quarters against letting the tension build a little.

Nix decided for her.

He caught her lips in a kiss. "Good things come to those who wait, Mace." Backing away, he headed down the corridor.

She opened her door and shuffled inside, stripping off her skirt and shirt and falling into bed. Dejected and disappointed, she drifted off to sleep with plans to prove he could count on her to keep her mouth shut.

This story went in a direction I didn't think it would. Nix had a definitive idea of what he wanted and wouldn't let me deviate from his chosen route. I love it when that happens.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Close Quarters (Scorched Galaxy)

Well, the first week of 2023 is in the books and we're off to a wild start. Here's hoping the weird and bizarre world stage eventually settles in to what's supposed to be the Age of Aquarius. I have my fingers crossed.

Had a busy work week with multiple projects being added to my schedule. I'm excited to get started on them! The weather did it's usually mild temperatures dropping down to cold ones. I'm okay with the cold … if it stays cold.

Had an okay viewing week. I'm still continuing my rewatch of Batman: The Animated Series. I think I'll have it completed before HBOMax removes it from screening. Then I'll probably start back on my usual schedule.

I finished up the second season, which had a strong finish with "The Terrible Trio," "Showdown," "Catwalk," "A Bullet for Bullock," and "The Lion and the Unicorn," which is one of my favorites because it dives into Alfred's backstory.

Season three begins with "Holiday Knights," which is a favorite holiday-themed episode. I do wonder and can't remember if it ended up being shown out of order in the original run. I'm too lazy to check Imdb to find out.

I have some feelings about the drastic change in animation style for season three. There are a few things I really enjoy, but I'm not a fan of the reimagined villains or the complete total makeover they gave Bruce. I am fond of the updated storylines, moving Dick Grayson to Nightwing and adding Tim Drake. I left off on "Joker's Millions" and should finish that episode this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Close Quarters, the second book to the Scorched Galaxy series, an epic space saga and so much fun to write.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After trying to outmaneuver their crew mates who bet on whether they'd ever hook up, Molly and Sloan discover an abiding love and embark on a committed relationship. Their biggest problem? Trying to figure out how to live in close quarters without making each other insane.

And a sneaky peek…

Three days later, Sloan grabbed the last two boxes from their quarters and started for Molly's newly assigned office space. The deck crew had converted one of the empty cargo holds on C-Deck into two new offices. Only Molly had been allotted to use one for the moment, the other was being held in reserve until necessary to use.

Sloan huffed out a breath. "I wonder how many more alterations we'll see on the MacGregor?" He had a feeling there'd be a bunch.

As for Molly's space, her area had room for a desk, three chairs, and filing cabinets—not very big. Right now, she worked out of boxes and the fact didn't please her. She wanted to spread out and get back into the thick of things with weeding out the new recruits.

He shifted his grip on the boxes. "A massive undertaking and a new class has to be set by the end of the week."

As it looked right now, they had enough interested candidates for two full classes and that included the applicants already disqualified. Considering only 100,000 or so people remained of their former life, kind of amazing there were so many willing prospects. But how many could make the transition? Hopefully enough or they'd have big problems.

He shook his head as he rounded the corner of the entry. "Hey, what are you doing?" He found Molly standing on a ladder trying to reach the light fixture on the ceiling in her office.

She had a light bulb between her lips and both hands occupied with the fixture.

He set the boxes down and quickly strode over to steady the swaying ladder. "Molls, we have technicians specifically trained in the most effective method of changing light bulbs." A lame observation, but he grinned up at her.

I love these characters so much. Molly and Sloan go through a lot with their fellow characters and they have a lot to figure out.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Call to Come Home

Welcome 2023! Here's hoping everyone has a great year filled with everything good and terrific!

The final week of the year ended up being crazy busy. The weather started out pretty frigid but by the final day, we had temperatures in the fifties. I'm taking extra precautions because rapid changes in the weather wreak havoc on my sinuses.

I got a few more episodes of Batman: The Animated Seriesviewed. "Harley's Holiday" is one of my favorites. There's a lot of good stuff in that episode.

"Make 'Em Laugh" is also a fun episode. Very interesting to see the Joker as a regular Joe … until he's not anymore.

Batgirl returned and became pals with Catwoman, which ended up being a lot of fun to watch. I do have some questions on how Selena knew to post her message on the campus message board. Just saying.

"Lock-Up" is one I'd forgotten about, but I enjoyed it. I loved the ending where he pretty much gets exactly what he wanted in a weird, twisted way.

I also got to watch "Deep Freeze" and enjoyed having Victor back for a bit. Also nice to see another familiar face, which if memory serves, we might see again.

I'll be continuing the rewatch and hopefully get through the rest of season two and all of three before they're removed from the streaming service. I'm very annoyed over losing great shows for someone else's bottom line. Grrr.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Call to Come Home, a novella that puts the characters in a reunion situation at the worst possible time.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hollace is on a mission in enemy territory to retrieve power cells to keep their temporary base station running. She bumps into a man she shares a past with, the presumed dead son of her commanding officer. When Verge refuses to leave with her, ignoring the call to come home, she takes matters into her own hands to reunite father and son … and to pick up where she and Verge left off.

And a sneaky peek…

Verge glanced up from the inventory list when his scout party leader rapped on the door jamb. "Marins, you're back early. What's the report?" He shuffled the papers into a folder.

Josh Marins stepped inside the office. "Sir, we found a lone traveler snooping around the depot."

Verge's eyes widened. No one went near the supply storage area unless they were fully armed and ready to rumble with the sentry guards.

"I was not snooping, you moron. I had a specific purpose for being there, which I tried to tell you—"

Verge couldn't believe his eyes … a face from the past came barreling through the doorway.

She stopped midsentence. "Holy shit." Her mouth hung open.

Holy shit, indeed. The odds of meeting here, like this, were astronomically wild. And he had no damn clue how to respond.

Since they parted on cosmically terrible terms, he opted for snark. "Well, if it isn't Hollace Winters." His long-ago one and only. "What brings you to my base of operations?" The surprise and shock of seeing her gave his tone a bit of a dickish quality.

Too bad. He tried in general not to be a bastard—too many people counted on him to stay alive—but … he'd learned from the very best.

Hollace closed her mouth and schooled her features. "Verge Olafsson." She huffed out a breath. "As I live and breathe."

Marins swept his gaze back and forth between them. "Um, you two know each other?"

"In another lifetime…" they answered in unison.

Verge dismissed Marins. "Go ahead and finish your perimeter recon then report." He nodded toward the door.

Hollace waited until Josh left the room before speaking again. "Should've known you'd survive." Her voice rumbled on the last word.

Verge narrowed his gaze. "No doubt about it. I'm too damned stubborn to die." And he'd been lucky in the extreme.

She pinned him with a hard look. "Doesn't hurt you've got your old man's blood running in your veins." An eyebrow arch dared him to contradict her.

He didn't, but he did respond. "Wrong thing to say." As if either needed a reminder on that touchy subject.

She snorted. "I don't give a shit if that pisses you off. Vasser will be over the moon to know his kid survived the bombings."

He didn't want to talk about his old man. "Why are you here?" Seeing her again unsettled him.

He'd thought they'd be spending their lives together … until his old man got between them. He didn't like ultimatums and neither did Hollace. His dad issued one to Verge and Verge, in turn, gave one to Hollace when he decided to drop to reserve status. He considered her the one that got away because no one else mattered the way she had.

She took a moment before answering. "To retrieve the power cells so we can get the hell away from here." She barely paused before following up with a question of her own. "How did anyone survive the initial attacks?"

This story is coming in bits and pieces but it's moving along. I love having family dynamics play a role in breaking a couple up and getting them back together.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Breaking Through (Book two of Mind Games)

Happy holidays to those who celebrate. We had a lovely day, even if the temperatures were in the mid-teens. It's way better than the minus ten degrees we had earlier in the week.

I had some catching up to do with a work project and didn't get much watched, but I did catch a couple more episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I guess I'll be watching all next month also because it's going to be removed from HBOMax.

I got to catch a couple of good episodes, featuring The Joker and Harley. Bane made his first appearance and the Clock King showed up again. Harvey and Two Face along with the Riddler both had episodes. And the episode with Baby Doll ended up being better than I remembered.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Breaking Through, a novella in what I'm calling the Mind Games series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Race Markington finally has Echo Dart, the woman he wants to spend the future with. His one problem? She's been brainwashed by the enemy and he has to find a way to break through and get his Echo back.

And a sneaky peek…

Race followed Echo into the cockpit. "I don't like this. Trussing you up for the flight back to the carrier sucks on seven different levels." They didn't have much choice, but didn't mean he liked it one damn bit.

Echo settled in the copilot seat and slid her gaze in his direction. "Having me as a captive audience? How can that suck?" Her lips twisted in a wry smile. "You can't take the chance I'll go off the track again. Crashing would not be on my list of things to do today. I wanna get the hell out of here." She nodded toward the base of the chair, indicating what he should do.

Heaving a sigh, he approached from behind and used two tether strips to bind her legs to the metal rails. "At least it's a short trip." Unless they encountered enemy fire before they cleared atmosphere.

Echo lifted her chin. "There is that." Her features softened. "Never thought I'd get to go home … even if the welcome won't be warm." She kept her gaze straight ahead.

Race strapped in and started the preflight process. "No one knows the sitrep yet. Not even the old man." They'd have to handle her arrival with some caution.

Echo twined her fingers together then straightened them out. She couldn't do much else with the zip cords around her wrists. Race didn't envy her limited mobility … even if two days ago he'd have been close to thrilled to have her under lock and key.

She finally glanced toward him. "We won't be able to keep anything from anyone when I walk off this ship with my hands bound. The whole saga of Race and Echo is going to begin all over again." Dejection filled her tone.

Race's lips quirked. "Probably. But the sequel's gonna have a different ending this time." He wouldn't give up on her anymore.

Echo tsked. "It might. But there's no guarantee it'll be a happy one." She lifted her bound hands. "We might not be able to figure out how to keep me from maiming and killing people."

Race shook his head. "That's true. But we'll exhaust all options and, if we fail, I'll still be there." He made a controlled liftoff into the lower atmosphere then continued. "Could be interesting to have dinner every evening with a lance corporal standing guard over us."

Echo reacted the way he wanted her to. She sputtered out a chuckle then threw her head back and laughed.

The sound filled him with hope.

This series is taking some twists I didn't foresee and I'm totally okay with that. I think there will be one or two more follow-ups, but the sages are keeping me guessing about that.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Breaking Point (Scorched Galaxy)

Think I'm finally over the hump with the ear infection and tooth issues. Feeling much more clear-headed and able to function. Low-grade discomfort is such a distraction.

Had an okay week watching more Batman: The Animated Series. I finished up season one and got started on season two, which is much, much shorter than the first one.

Enjoyed the opening of season two with "House and Garden." Ivy can be very intriguing and watching her playing normal family ended up being fun.

Also enjoyed Ra's Agul's return. I like the fact he isn't part of the usual rogue's gallery and doesn't haunt Gotham like the rest of the villains do.

I'm hoping to finish out the year with the rest of season two and three, then maybe dive into some of my favorite Justice League episodes with Batman.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Breaking Point, book three of the Scorched Galaxy series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Molly and Sloan are rock solid until the fleet reaches its breaking point and their relationship is one of the casualties … or so they want everyone to think.

And a sneaky peek…

"The explosion is just the beginning. The initiative is everywhere … and nowhere…

And we have nothing to lose."

Sloan sat going over the tape again. He'd made a full pot of strong coffee—not because he needed it to wake up—hell, he'd slept a solid six hours. A deep, dreamless, dead to the world, much needed rest.

His body ached in the best way. Molly had wanted more than a repeat performance. She demanded several encores, not that he'd complain. Something about physically exhausting himself with sex made his head very clear.

His lips quirked. "Leave it to Molly to know exactly what I needed." Somehow being replete, spent, and sated made his energy level even out and knocked the cobwebs loose in his overtaxed mind.

He heard the words on the tape with different ears, picking up on nuances he'd missed before. The speech had been practiced and designed to carry weight and have impact on a group of weary travelers. The initiative would gain momentum and, if Sloan didn't miss his guess, make a move to gain power and take over the fleet.

Molly staggered out of the bedroom and made her way to the coffee, pouring a mug then blowing across the top. Sloan sat back, watching her take a tentative sip, her slow, blissful grin drawing a quick one from him.

She turned and made her way to the desk, leaning down to catch his lips in a toe-curling kiss. "I love you." Planting a hip on the edge, she brought the cup to her mouth again.

Sloan chuckled. "You love the coffee." His fingers trailed playfully down her thigh.

Molly laughed. "Well, there is that. But I love you more." She settled more comfortably on the desk. "Now play the tape and let me listen to it."

I love writing this couple. At some point, I really do hope to get this saga out into the universe because Molly and Sloan are so much fun.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye