Kade Boehme's Blog, page 12

What A Month: Updates and New Stuffs

Well. July has been a helluva month and it ain't even over! Gah! So first, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who bought Don't Trust the Cut. I've gotten so many positive comments and to everyone who took the time to message me, I'm humbled. The reviews have been blowing me away, man. I'm just completely in awe. I never expected people to react so wonderfully to Jesse and Tucker's story. It was very personal, even being a romance with some fictionalized situations, so i was very nervous about releasing it into the world but the biblio gods saw fit to bless my little story.

You'll have to excuse the fact that my heart can't handle all the feels right now. People are just ... y'all rock!

I mean, when Don't Trust the Cut landed in USA Today's Happy Ever After Blog after getting 4.5 stars from Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews and 5 Stars from JESSEWAVE! Yeah, my heart may have developed an irregular beat. Like, srsly. I'm suffering.

Er. I'm fearful, though, that I set the bar too high with my first story, haha. Like On the Dock  I kinda surprised myself with all the emotion I put into the story so I hope I won't be judged too harshly if I throw out some "fluffier" (for me, anyways...) stuff. Even I need a break from the insanity of all the angst, sometimes. I have been working on Logan & Gianni's story (Gangster Country) and it's been a killer to write. The head space I have to live in is intense for me. Gianni's kind of unlikeable, but I love him cuz he's mine haha. So I'll get more info on that out when I get closer to finish it. (should be within the next week or so)

Well, to ease the pain of the process of writing Gianni I paused for a moment to write a short, Dear John, that is about 8k words that'll be released on my blog VERY soon (i'm working on mobi files etc). I'm also working on a 20-25k novella titled A Little Complicated that I'm almost finished with. I'll drop a blurb soon. It's a relatively simple little romance, but the guys are sweethearts so it's been fun to write, if brief.

Still waiting to hear back on my novel Trouble & the Wallflower. (blurb/picspiration here) It will be released no matter what. Trust me on this. Gavin & Davy (and the rest of my Market Boys) will see the light of day because I love them wayyyy too much.

And finally, my friend AnonymousBlogger (she's THE EFFING BEST, completely invaluable. Authors I seriously recommend you give her a shout out) is all over the proofs for the re-release of Wide Awake which has a lovely new cover from the AMAZING (and my bestest bestie) L.C. Chase. Wide Awake will be released with extended content, newly edited and IN PRINT as well as eBook!! (160 pages, paperback) I'm so effing stoked! When I have more info on that I'll let you know but it will be available August 15 in both formats. So now, for anyone who hasn't seen yet, I give you the new cover!

New eBook Cover
    Print Cover
I. Love. Them. She did suuuuch an awesome job. Those models kill me. So MANY MANY good things coming, I hope. Bear with me! 
Keep Reading and Party Fucking On!
<3kaderade





 

Buy Links, Bloggy Things And GIVEAWAYS!

Don't Trust the Cut is now available on 3rd party sites for those who buy from Amazon and ARe


Oh and I wrote a "moment" where Jesse, Tucker and Alison are discussing the release of Don't Trust the Cut together titled Release Day. It's posted over at Babes In Boyland (<3 my Babes!) Go check it out. It's about 1400 words.

Also don't forget to check out my badass interview and Monique's review/giveaway over at Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews. I had a blast with those questions.

And Joyfully Jay is running a giveaway so go over there for a chance to win a free copy!








  LooseId    GoodReads

We Have Been Released!

Jesse and Tucker, go forth into the world and do great things. Thanks to everyone who helped get Don't Trust the Cut into tip top shape.

Don't Trust the Cut is officially available to purchase on the LooseId website. They also have a new blurb AND a new excerpt up (and I love both of them). So go! Go now!! And I hope everyone enjoys because I'm thrilled y'all are all helping me live my dream. 


LooseId   GoodReads<3kaderade

Release Week Wowness

Wow.
Just wow.
When you've waited so long for the release of your book and it finally arrives it's like OMFG IDK if I'm as ready for this as I thought... Haha. But here it is and no I'm not ready. Way too many feels about people finally getting to know Tucker and Jesse. But I worked long and hard on their story and it was a really personal thing for me. It was my first attempt at a full length novel that I finished long ago but sat on it fearfully. I did what one does when venturing into writing something like this for the first time and I wrote what I know. Guys, it's bleak a couple of times but don't doubt that it came from something genuine, even if it's not your cup of tea. So with that...I drop you just a few more lines to tease...

God, but Tucker could have used his mama in the last couple of years. He wondered if she would have accepted his sexuality or if she would have thrown him away like his father had. He doubted it. In fact, he imagined part of the reason his dad had been so unaccepting was because he did not have Tucker’s mother around. She would have made him understand. That was one conviction Tucker really had in this life.
He hated to think of the things she would have disapproved of. It was why he could not stand the disappointment in Alison’s face sometimes. He knew his mother would have given him that same look.
She certainly would have been disappointed in his scars. He pulled up the sleeves on his sweatshirt and looked at the mess of horizontal lines on his forearms. The world tilted a little as he truly studied them for the first time. He still felt ashamed, but he felt stronger than he had then. He knew he would not hurt himself anymore.
I hope.
He sighed. As if his mother decided to lift his spirits in that moment, snow flurries began to softly fall from the heavens. The first snow. And he was in his place. Now that was how it should be. He held out his hands and enjoyed the cold flakes landing on his skin, feeling much like his mother kissing the boo-boos.
He smiled wistfully.
What a nice thought. 

So don't forget to check out some of the DTtC Blog tour stops. Joyfully Jay has an excerpt from #DontTrustTheCut & I gave her a copy for a giveaway! So follow the link below and get yourself entered for a chance.
http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/07/excerpt-and-giveaway-dont-trust-the-cut-by-kade-boehme.html

On a final note, I'd like to thank everyone for their support and the response to my post about what it meant to me to have Article 3 of the Defense of Marriage act stricken down. It was awesome to hear from all of you and a huge heartfelt thanks from me to you.

So, happy reading. Hope you all go forth and read Don't Trust the Cut tomorrow (July 2). I'll post buy links as they become available in the morning.

<3kaderade





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DOMA Dreams of a Southern Kid

I dont think people understand why I'm so passionate about the politics of being gay sometimes. Sure everyone I know thinks being gay -- or any minority for that matter -- means your life is automatically a cause, but no one ever stops and asks if it's deeper than that. For some LGBTQI people I know it's about the intrinsic right to equality and personal freedom that comes with being a citizen of a developed nation. Some gay/lesbian friends (because let's not even joke anything being passed comes close to helping the trans community [and WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT!] yet and that's a fucking shame.) have their relationships that were affected by DOMA or some other law similar that affected their rights to serve in the military, adopt children or be recognized as their partner's family so they picked up the cause. Now, I totally am down with all of those. Yes, we are guaranteed equality, should be recognized in our relationships and should be able to serve openly if we are willing to die for our country, but my heart is bursting over DOMA because the little boy in me was made so cynical so long ago that I never allowed myself to imagine I'd see any of this in my lifetime.

I come from the South. The Deep South. I never try to hide that fact or play it down. I'm Southern. You can hear it in my accent, tell it from my colloquialisms. I was taught the fear God and say yes ma'am and hold doors for ladies. I love my heritage and the nicest people I've known in my life were "Southern by the grace of God" (no shit, people still say that). I have no issue with this. It's who I am and where I come from. It's my family and my friends and when you call us hicks it pissed me off cuz honey I've lived a little bit of everywhere in these Unites States and from Poughkeepsie, New York to Yelm, Washington there are "hicks" in every state. I'm probably better educated than some of the "Yankees" I know, to be honest so it's quite a rude generalization. But I digress.

Because there is such a conservative atmosphere where I come from, and since I still came up in the tale end before momentum for LGB rights had begun to advance so quickly, missing the current upswing by about 2 years, I didn't see any of the goodness in my teenage years. I was shunned by classmates, got gun threats in school for standing up for myself against hate speech, and when I was sexually abused by a classmate it went unnoticed because people just arent comfortable with such things. Then my family found out I was gay and I was set aside, quickly and with quite a bang. This was all part of the experience though. This was being gay, especially in the South. What else was I supposed to expect? And you know what, NONE OF IT surprised me. I can't remember honestly being shocked at one point during any of those events. I went through it all with a cool, hard knowledge that this was how my life was always going to be so if I just bit the bullet and survived then I could one day move somewhere more accepting and consider these things stepping stones to a better tomorrow.

Well, I didn't do that. I dated other Southern guys, always ones about as damaged, if not more damaged, than me. I let their closet and their issues hold my life stagnant because, again, this was the plight of the Southern homosexual who was self-loathing and only dated closet cases and men who wouldn't hold your hand in public because who'd wanna hold hands in public and have people think you're queer?! Not me, no way.

So I let it make me bitter. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. Sometimes we do things to help us survive, but sometimes we're just cynical. Some of my relationship issues stem from not wanting to be as desperate and clingy as my father, nor wanting to find my validation in my relationships with other men like my mother. It's not all being gay.

And I don't for one minute think that being gay isn't one of the most amazing parts of my life. It has made me resilient and a fucking fighter and a survivor and made me different and stronger.

It was the lack of a dream or for hope of that Happily Ever After that made me cynical. I tried not to dream. Who wants to get their hopes up. Then holy shit I moved to a state that legalized gay marriage... IN MY LIFETIME...and I'm only in my early 20s! WTF?! Is this real? That's a long way from hiding who I am so I don't get hung by my testicles in the woods to being able to walk into a courthouse and sign papers declaring me someone's husband in front of God and everyone in my State.

But then there's the couples who were still being discriminated against because of DOMA and I made that the next thing to make me cynical. Okay, so now I won't date, I won't try to find someone because with my luck I'd find a partner from another country and we'd end up star crossed lovers in the middle of a horrible immigration dispute where we're work for years and still lose everything. (my cynicism knows no bounds) Again, I dared not hope that even a semblance of full equality may exist. Because maybe if it did, those things I'd grown up hardwired, that my family had been hardwired with, would have cost me that family and a happy childhood for nothing.

Eh, so now I look at it a little less dramatically and see, HOLY SHIT...I've wasted so much time. I, like so many little Southern boys who grew up playing on dirt roads and learned to drive in their grandaddy's pasture never dared dream I'd ever have the ability to have a REAL, legal fairy tale wedding. I grew up in the age of rich gays running to Vermont for commitment ceremonies that were considered a joke from an episode of Will & Grace to the people sitting in the pews of the Tri-County Baptist Church where my family attended.

It's possible. For some reason I got lost in thinking that was so impossible to dream about while I'm well-known for believing other things are so incredibly possible that now I feel silly. Yeah, I have mommy issues and I've had shitty relationships, but who hasn't? It's like... this moment of clarity occurred as we drew nearer this court decision and I realized either way that I can have that dream wedding. No one is guaranteed the happy ever after, but it's a possibility. And maybe, just maybe it's time to stop being trapped under what being gay meant I was limited to when I was growing up where people didn't understand homosexuality and better than they understood why boys needed to pass 8th grade if they could play football better than anybody in the county.

So I apologize to anyone I brought down with my jaded behavior. It was really more out of fear in believing I could have something, that we all could have something this simple yet this big... but it's why I was always there fighting for it. I guess I'd just shored up my defenses for the life-long fight many other activists have had on this front and didn't stop to ready myself for the day it actually happened.

So yeah, this means alot to me. My heart is overjoyed, overwhelmed. I thank everyone who got out there and marched and fought. I think I will be in shock for a while, but I'll keep going. There's still much to be done. For the kids who are being bullied, for the trans woman who can't use the right bathroom, for the couple who got beat for kissing in the park, for the man who was raped and due to masculine culture was shamed out of reporting his attacker there's still so much to do. But I won't let that fear, that lack of hope, hold me back any more. So yes, this was a very important day for me.

It's a new day and we did it. And I've never been so proud. And hey, all you Southern boys out there, what do you want your prince charming to wear to your wedding? I'm thinking khakis, linen shirts and bare feet on a beach. (okay so there's a little part of me that still feels silly thinking it, but they call that social conditioning so sue me) I may never be comfortable holding hands in public. But it's one step at a time, huh?

Congrats to everyone. This was a win for America. And despite how sad I am for my family and how wrong they were about me and my "lifestyle", that they let something so trivial come between us, this was a win for ME and my heart and I never realized just how important it was until I broke down at the news this morning, and I have no shame in admitting it.

So thanks. Thankyou thankyou thankyou SCOTUS for the right decision. And thankyou America for being my home. It took a while, but we're getting it right.

Peace, Love & PRIDE
<3kaderade

Busted: A Don't Trust the Cut Teaser

Hey guys! We're only a week away from the release of Don't Trust the Cut and I'm so excited that I wanted to do a little more teasing. I thought I'd drop one of the lighter moments in the book that's er... awkward in the end. DTtC was listed as "surprisingly light despite the subject matter" so I figured I'd show one of those moments. Like Seven Sentence Sunday this won't be a very long excerpt. I mean... it is a teaser after all. So... yall enjoy!

Tucker placed the plates at the table. Jesse and Alison gave him entertained looks. “What?” He was confused. “Oh, nothing.” With a laugh, Jesse shook his head dramatically. “You’ve only been sitting there laughing at the roast for ten minutes.” Leave it to Alison to always make sure he blushed every shade he could. He sat down in his chair as far away from the two of them as possible, hunching his shoulders in embarrassment, wishing he was a turtle so he could sink his head into his shell. “Oh, come on, Tuck. It was cute.” The doorbell rang just as Jesse reached a conciliatory hand across the table to Tucker. Alison wagged her finger at Jesse as she stood to answer the door. “Big burly men should never use the word cute.” The doorbell rang again. “I’m coming!” she screamed through the house. Tucker took Jesse’s offered hand shyly. Jesse made it clear he would have none of that. He grabbed Tucker’s hand firmly and pulled Tucker to meet him in the middle of the table as he leaned over to give him a sweet kiss. They didn’t use their tongues, but tongues weren’t necessary. This was a hello. Like coming home. Oh no. That was not a good thought. “Uh, boys.” Alison broke up their kiss, but they still lingered on each other for a moment. “Don’t let us be a bother or anything, but I was just telling Miranda here that she and Marmaduke seem to have a talent for stopping by on the same day.” Both men snapped their heads at Miranda’s face. Alison’s face was trying to conceal laughter. Jesse seemed to tense, and Tucker’s gaze dropped at the unreadable look on Miranda’s face. There had definitely been that same hidden fire in them that he had seen at their last meeting. “Nice to see you, Tucker, Jesse.” Her words were cordial enough. “Nice to see you too, Miranda.” Tucker never took his gaze off the table. Why did he feel guilty? “Guess complaining about exes is off the table as a topic,” Miranda said drily.

 Hehehe, I laugh at the image of this scene in my head. Miranda and Jesse have a few awkward moments like this. It's pretty amazeballs while painfully awkward. So don't miss that and more of Alison's...er...wit when Don't Trust the Cut releases at LooseId on July 2nd. I will be providing buy links when available.

<3kaderade


GoodReads    LooseId

Pride Month and Projects Galore

Hey guys!

I'm super stoked. So many good things going on these days. I'm gonna burst with all these feels. Oh em gee! Of course I'm all giddy cuz it's pride month and I've been volunteering for everything under the Pacific Northwest sun. Yours truly gets to wrangle shirtless boys all morning at the pride parade for Seattle Out & Proud. It may sound like a chore...I assure you, it is not. ;)

Anywho...

So first we have Don't Trust the Cut dropping in 2 effing weeks! I'm. So. Excited. *does the Jessie Spano freak out version of I'm So Excited* Now that I'm done with that.... I finished some serious dragon-writing throw-down fuck that manuscript hard and put it away DONE writing. 3 wks, 63k words and Trouble & the Wallflower is submitted to the publisher. *flails* I really am so stoked for y'all to meet Gavin and Davy. Also in the next couple months my weekly serial Room 1224 will begin (August 10) and Wide Awake is being re-released on August 6th with a re-edit, extra content AND a new cover by my bestie (and the best cover artist EVAH!) L.C. Chase (who did the cover for Stars and is pretty much doing every cover of mine ever from this point on......except DTtC cuz they didn't let me pick that artist but Dar Albert was fabulous so I digress.) Oh yeah. Wide Awake will be available in print on that day, as well. *happy dance*

By then we'll be making out way *THIS* much closer to my Gay Romance Northwest Meet-up,  Atlanta Pride (hometown, represent!) and GayRomLit retreat. I'm. So. Stoked. Been getting my swag ready for them all and hearing from alot of readers that I'm so excited to meet! Y'all have been so rad!

Which brings me to my next order of business. I have rolled right along into my next manuscript. Another day another gay, they say. (he he he) So I thought since I'm in a fantabulous fucking mood I'd share the picspiration and blurb for this novella I'm gonna hammer out in the weeks to come. I'm really excited about this one. I got a thing for bad boys and goddammit does Gianni fit that bill. I present to you... Gangster Country.

Logan Marshall
Gianni Rodrigues

Gangster Country by Kade Boehme

Logan Marshall moves to New York to be a social worker where he feels he's needed most. Logan's always had it good. His Daddy is a preacher, sure, but he preaches a laid back, tolerant congregation who accepted Logan's sexuality gracefully.  He's from a ranch in nowhere, Texas, which makes him a hot ticket in the clubs with his tight, work strengthened body and his cute accent. He's out of his element in New York, not looking for Mr. Right Now but Mr. Right. Until he meet's the hottest guy he's ever seen. Gianni is no good and that's a challenge. But Logan's up for a challenge.
Gianni Rodriguez grew up in Brooklyn. Nothing could be further from the way he was raised than innocent, good hearted Logan was. Gianni is fascinated that people like Logan even exist. And parents that not only are God-fearing, but also accepting?
Gianni has been carrying pot for his older brother, Miguel, since he could cross the street without someone holding his hands, and carrying a gun in his waisteband since he was old enough to shoot without making his arm feel like jelly. There's nothing accepting about the streets he roams. His Mexican father would sooner have a murderer for a son than a faggot and his Italian mother goes to confession if she accidentally flips the channel to an episode of Jerry Springer.
No. There's no acceptance for Gianni. Not even from his friends. As second in command of Los Cuervos, his brother's not-so-merry band of drug runners and pimps, Gianni's life would be in serious jeopardy if anyone ever knew the truth. That's why his growing attraction for Logan is a bad thing.
Logan is called in his capacity as a case worker on one of the Los Cuervos's suppliers' family and when he decides the children should be removed from the home, Gianni is the one called in to take care of the little problem. When Gianni realizes his mark is Logan all he can think to do is hide him and fast, risking everything, even his family for a hot piece of ass. One that may not even want him once he realizes what a monster the man he's been sleeping with really is. Could Logan be Gianni's reason to go straight? Or will they both go straight to an unmarked grave in the Poconos?    

 Yay! I hope that whet your appetite for more. I'm having wayyyy too much fun writing these guys' smexy times. ;) 
Don't forget Don't Trust the Cut is out July 2 at LooseId. And thank you guys for giving me the ability to do what I love. Y'all are the fucking bestest and I hope I keep making y'all as happy as y'all make me!
Peace, Love and Motherfucking PRIDE<3kaderade 

Seven Sentence Sunday

Time for another Seven Sentence Sunday with Tucker and Jesse. We're only two weeks out from the release of Don't Trust the Cut (yay!!) so I thought I'd give a few more lines than just seven. As much I like to tease, seven just seems such a small number. So you get like nine in stead. Haha.

Anywho. In the following scene Jesse has stopped by to see Tucker and Tucker is making them some "hot chocolate". After revealing Miranda had come by to talk earlier in the night, Tucker is feeling a little guilty.


 

Jesse took Tucker’s shoulders and spun him around so they were face to face. Tucker looked hurt. “Hey, you, I know exactly what I’m getting into here. I never said it would be easy for me. This is the first time since high school.” Tucker looked surprised. “What, you thought I was just gay for you? You’re pretty, but I didn’t think you were conceited. Sheesh.” He could not help teasing the shy man. “Miranda knew this about me going into the relationship. You are not the other woman. I stepped back from a relationship that was going south fast to make sense of my feelings for you. I know that is not exactly what you want to hear, but please take it for what it is. I will not let you be collateral damage. That I can promise.” “Don’t you know how to charm a boy?” Tucker said, playfully. “Marshmallows?” He held the bag up between them.

 
Alrighty! This has been another Seven Sentences, brought to you by that sexy snow man mug up there. Hope y'all enjoyed! It's almost here! Don't Trust the Cut releases July 2nd at LooseId. Stay tuned for giveaways, blog tour info and more teasers here at Kaderade: In Your Face (gosh, I'm so classy).
<3k

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I do not own the rights to the photo of that damn sexy little snow man mug. Unfortunately.

Don't Trust The Cut Teaser: Jesse Meets Tucker

Alright! Another teaser from Don't Trust the Cut. Here's that welcome home party from the prologue. We meet Miranda and see how Jesse and Tucker's first meeting bombs hard core. Enjoy!

Jesse Bauer sat in a corner, playing with the label on his beer. He hardly knew most of the crowd here for this travesty of a welcome-home-slash-birthday party. His girlfriend had forcedthe issue of attendance since he was one of the guests of honor along with douche-bag Nate and some guy who’d been on vacation for two weeks in Canada. Yeah, our homecomings are definitely similar. He rolled his eyes and huffed at the thought. Coming home from a war with a GSW to the shoulder and a vacation are definitely the same. Another snort.“There you are, baby.” Miranda wrapped one of her slender hands around his bicep and smiled at him. She was trying to make her overly painted face seem polite but wasn’t doing a very good job of it. He knew she wanted to bitch about his lack of interest in the party but would never do it with so many people around. He scrunched his nose at the strong smell of her vanilla perfume that didn’t mix well with the beer on her breath. She scoffed.“I haven’t seen you in months, and you’re looking at me like I’m repulsive?” She obviously noticed his scrunched nose.He shamelessly avoided her question. “Miranda, I’m jet-lagged, sore, and don’t know anyone. How am I supposed to enjoy this shit?”“You could give it a try.” She practically gritted her teeth to stifle the urge to yell. He knew she was trying to help, but damn if he didn’t just want to be at home with some pizza and a movie. Maybe something with explosions. He missed explosions. Not the death part, but the sounds were fun.“I just want you to stop sulking. You’ve been doing it since you were put in the hospital. I know it’s not easy, but you can at least try to move on. This party is the best place to start. With people who care.”He couldn’t tell whether his face turned red with anger or embarrassment when she brought up the shoulder injury that had forcedhim into medical retirement after only ten years in the marines. He lived and breathed that job. Either way, she got the hint from the color of his face and his narrowed eyes and stopped whatever else she had to say.“I’m going to refill my drink. I’ll be right back.” She stalked off, heels clacking. She looked like an emotionally injured Scarlett O’Hara, whom she strangely resembled, aside from the bleached hair. He scanned the crowd for a minute; the door opened.Alison Marks came through. He remembered her from a Christmas party Miranda had thrown several years ago. He was about to make the effort to say hello to the one person he recognized when a man followed her in whom he didn’t know.He couldn’t help but take in the sight of the man. He was slender but not too thin, with a lightly freckled face that spoke of a childhood in the sun. He was wearing a black henley, jeans, and a baseball cap that he’d turned backward. His clean-shaven face was almost too pretty to call masculine, and it was obvious he had a mop of black curls by the few strays poking out over his ears. He looked terribly uncomfortable as several people descended on him with pats to the back and hugs, shoving a beer at him.Must be our Canadian explorer.The man slowly scanned the crowd, and when his honey-brown eyes landed on Jesse’s stare, Jesse couldn’t  look away. Pow! Crack! was all he could hear in his head as a flame started to ignite between them. He could see a light pink blush creep into the other man’s face. How cute. Jesse felt a warmth spread throughout his body as they continued to look at each other. Miranda’s sudden reappearance broke the spell. Jesse saw the other man’s long, dark lashes flutter, and looked away, clearly embarrassed at the sight of her nearly crawling into Jesse’s lap. Jesse almost impulsively threw her off to go comfort the other man, who was now swallowed by more well-wishers.Jesse looked back to Miranda, who was—not subtly—staking her claim on him. She must have noticed the eye sex he’d had with the other guy. He admonished himself for being so blatant, but she knew his preferences going into their relationship, hence the lap crawling and tight hand around his arm. He could not hide the annoyance on his face. Why not just piss on my fucking leg?He didn’t know why he still dated Miranda. She had been the best option for keeping up the façade while he was in the marines during the whole “Don’t ask, don’t tell” era, but he was retired now, and that policy was dead; he didn’t necessarily have to hide anymore. Except from his marine buddies. And his mom.Never mind.Miranda was still the safest bet. And she was sweet when she wasn’t like this.“Let’s get out of here.” She had worked herself up. He felt a bit like prey.“All right. Let me hit the john. Then we can head out.” He handed her his beer and made his way to the upstairs bathrooms Nate had insisted no one would use. He was wrong. Honey-brown eyes met him in the mirror when he opened the door. The man from before. He lookedembarrassed as he pulled his sleeves down and pocketed what looked to be some sort of ointment. Jesse heard the Pow! Crack! in his head again and had to suppress the urge to hug the embarrassmentright out of this man.“I’m sorry. All done in here. I’ll just get outta your way.” The man spoke so quietly the words were barely audible, but Jesse could definitely pick up on a Southern accent that added to the man’s appeal. The man turned and cast his eyes downward as he tried to leave.“You’re good, man.” Jesse couldn’t stop himself from word vomit, wanting anything but for this man to leave. “I saw you come in. I’m guessing by the reception that you’re Homecomer Number Two. I’m Homecomer Number One.”The man raised an eyebrow. “Why do you get to be Number One?” Jesse held himself in careful restraint when the man smirked playfully.“I got here first.” Jesse shrugged and gave a friendly smile. The other man’s eyes sparkled with good humor and looked more confident, even if it was for a fleeting moment.“Jesse.” He held out his hand.The other man looked at it for a moment before taking it in his grasp and shaking, saying “Tucker.” Tucker’s voice was barely audible, unlike when he’d attempted to be funny. Their eyes met again. Tucker licked his lips, making warm-fuzzy things happen inside Jesse. Jesse was not accustomed to losing control, ever…around anyone. That didn’t stop him from descending on Tucker’s lips.Tucker tensed for a moment, sending a nervous shudder down Jesse’s spine. Jesse hoped like hell he did not read the signals wrong. But he knew he’d read them right when Tucker relaxed against him and opened his mouth for a deeper kiss, albeit shyer than Jesse would have liked. He still fell into the man’s mouth, feeling unstoppable. Tucker tasted like beer and toothpaste. He smelled woodsy and slightly of cologne that Jesse could only think was what the color blue would smell like. How strange.Jesse couldn’t think of a better taste or smell . Tucker put his hands on Jesse’s chest and sighed into Jesse’s mouth. Jesse reached up and firmly gripped Tucker’s arms. What he thought would be a passionate move ended in a loud cry from Tucker, whose knees buckled like he was in pain. Tucker immediately drew within himself, looked around like a feral cat, and apologized as he darted out of the bathroom.Jesse followed but couldn’t find Tucker or Alison to ask what the hell had happened or if he’d hurt Tucker. Someone said they’d left in a hurry. He did, however, find Miranda, who seethed in annoyance. He gave her an apologetic look.“Can we go now?” she asked, obviously trying for seductive instead of annoying. He felt like an unimaginable bastard. He hoped she wouldn’t be able to smell the other man on him. He’d come entirely too close to cheating. He never wanted to be that kind of man, but Tucker was like a drug Jesse had never known was out there to indulge in.He felt like an even bigger bastard when he thought of the other man as he fucked Miranda that night.And the next.

And that's it! Don't forget that Jesse and Tucker's story is out July 2 over at LooseId (of course it'll be on Amazon, BN, ARe, etc) See you for Seven Sentence Sunday!

<3k

Trouble & the Wallflower (Teaser)

I just felt like teasing today so I thought I'd give an excerpt from Trouble & the Wallflower. I'm giving you guys the first 1500 words here. The OPENING SCENE!  :-0 (this is some rough dragon written ish here so there's been no editing)

Hope it makes you want more. I give you Gavin and Davy...

Chapter One



Davy passed an ice cream cone loaded with two black licorice ice cream scoops to a beaming toddler who was bouncing in her father's arms. After a thanks and a tip from the dad Davy gave his typically shy smile and nod routine. He was pretty sure he was the only person who managed to ever get tips off of shyness but he figured it was because working in an old fashioned soda shop where the majority of clientele was tourists and children, being unassuming was preferable to being over-eager. People were at ease around his shy nature and it paid his bills so he had stuck with the same job he'd had since high school for one reason alone: he'd never have to leave his comfort zone. He figured that meant his worst fears had come true and the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree after all, but his life worked for him.


The bell that hung above the door jingled, followed by laughter, signaling that he had customers. When he turned to greet the new customers he couldn't even muster a smile when he recognized the group of five guys walking in. Okay. So there was occasionally something about his job that wasn't quite so comfortable and these guys – more specifically one of these guys – rattled his cage and he wasn't sure why.


Well, that was a lie. He knew why. They were around his age and attractive, his opposites in every way and they were guys. Cute guys. They had the hipstery look of most Seattle twenty-somethings and spoke freely with one another, laughing raucously at their own ridiculousness. They came in at least once a week. In fact, he knew most of their orders by heart at this point. He also knew they were all openly gay after having heard plenty of their care-free conversations. He knew they were students and all of them worked in the area surrounding the market at Pike's Place. He'd seen most of them daily, though he was certain they never noticed him. Not many people did. He liked it that way. But one of them always noticed him. Whether they were in Bart's Soda Shop where Davy worked or if they bumped into one another on the street this one guy rattled him the most because he saw Davy.


Davy had figured out the guy's name was Gavin, mostly because the guy had told him. About a hundred times. Gavin always zeroed right in on Davy even as the rest of the world passed quiet Davy by like he was a ghost. It was unnerving. Davy didn't know what to do around other guys in general. He could sit in the club for hours being a wallflower, seeing the occasional guy look his way and never once leave his spot. He'd flee before anyone thought to approach him. He wasn't a total freak, but being around other guys, especially gay men, tended to make Davy a nervous wreck. But damn that Gavin if he never gave up.


Gavin with his beanies and skinny jeans that hung low in the crotch and his wicked grin that sported two devastating dimples was definitely someone Davy couldn't ignore. And those eyes. Big brown eyes that were slightly darkened under a ridged forehead and prominent eyebrows. Those eyebrows were perfect. Dimples and glinting brown eyes aside, Davy had heard enough of their conversations to know Gavin wasn't exactly a blushing virgin. Not by a long shot. Davy didn't intend to be a notch on that guy's bed post any time soon. Not that he was a notch on many guys' bed post willingly but he did his damnedest to avoid it where this guy was concerned.


Of course, Gavin's gaze locked on Davy's before any one else's as his small group of friends made it to the counter. Gavin shot Davy what he must think was his most winning grin. Davy gave his usual response. He rolled his eyes. Gavin laughed, his friends shook their heads at him, but he was never discouraged damn him. He hung back, as usual as his friends came up one at a time to order their milk-shakes, floats and cones. Davy kept peeking out of the corner of his eye as, one by one, he handed each of the other guys their treats. They looked at him apologetically, rolling their eyes right along with Davy, always confirming that the only reason they came in the shop was so Gavin could throw himself at his conquest: Davy.


Davy often wondered how Gavin was so certain that Davy was gay. Not that he wasn't gay. He most definitely was. But it still seemed he was way too quiet for anyone to make an assumption other than perhaps thinking he's asexual. Perhaps Gavin hit on all men that shamelessly but he seemed overly confident that he might have a chance with Davy. Which he did not. At all.


Finally, it was Gavin's turn and Davy plastered on his best fake smile, but crossed his arms over his chest as Gavin slid smoothly up to the counter with that annoyingly sexy smile and those devilish eyes and leaned as close as he could, elbows propped on the top of the counter, chin in his hands. Davy quirked and eyebrow as Gavin shamelessly appraised him, causing Davy to blush. Damn his easy blushing for giving him away every time. Didn’t matter that his skin was naturally a honeyed tan, his blush still shone bright on his high cheek bones. Gavin's smile grew smug every time Davy’s cheeks colored and it really pissed Davy off. Another one of many reasons he wouldn't give this guy the time of day.


“Heya, Davy.” Gavin's voice dripped with suggestion and Davy rolled his eyes. Again.


“Hello, sir. Cherry lime-ade, as usual?” Davy kept his tone even.


Gavin gripped his heart dramatically and his friends snickered behind him. Davy's lips thinned in annoyance. “Ouch, Dave-o. I remember your name. Do I mean so little to you?”


“Less than you'd think.” Davy said with a glare. He hated this guy for getting a rise out of him. He tried to tell himself it was because he couldn't stand the guy but he knew it was because he actually wanted to jump the counter and lick the guy from head to toe. Thankfully Gavin didn't know that he was the only person that inspired any type of reaction out of Davy who was normally shy enough he wouldn't backtalk someone who jumped line in front of him. Damn this Gavin dude.


Gavin leaned in again with a smirk. “Now, I just don't think that's so, Davy. I don't see you talking smack to my friends. I don't see you talk back to anyone, really. So I think you're just playing hard to get.”


Shit. “Whatever.” Clever.


Gavin's eyes practically widened in excitement. Davy's horrible poker face must have shown that Gavin kinda figured him out. Although he'd call it never-gonna-get before he'd say hard-to-get. He looked to Gavin's friends, beseeching the strangers with his eyes to intervene. They were all too busy turning red from laughter or shrugging apologetically. No help there. Before he embarassed himself with this jackass any further Davy turned to the soda station and started squeezing limes for the cherry lime-ade. He just wanted them gone.


He concentrated on the work at hand, breathing in and out. If only Gavin understood. He'd give anything to be normal enough to just take his number one of the million times he'd offered it. He'd love to go have that coffee with him. But Davy wasn't normal. He was struggling past a panick attack, now. The only thing stopping him from freaking out totally was the familiar actions. Cut the lime in half, juice it, add sugar and carbonated water. Shake. Shit. He forgot grenadine. He had to look at Gavin again because the granadine was under the counter. Damn. He avoided eye contact but he could feel the smirk on Gavin's face and part of him wanted the throw the guy's drink in his face. The rest of him wanted to run in the back and hide. He hated being noticed. Why couldn't Gavin just figure that out?


When he went to pour the drink into a to-go cup Gavin cleared his throat, making Gavin look up at him startled. “Something got you flustered?” Gavin's smugness really really made Davy reconsider running and vote for slinging the drink in the guy's cocky mug. Gavin nodded down to Davy's hands where Davy noticed he'd dumped the damn lime-ade on the floor instead of into the cup.


Shit!

So that's it folks. Hope you enjoyed the OPENING SCENE (haha). Only about 15k to go til it's ready for betas! :) Keep checking back on my blog for more info in T&tW and don't forget that my new novel Don't Trust the  Cut is out at LooseId on July 2.

Happy reading, y'all!
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