Jake C. Wallace's Blog, page 10

Diventando: The Vessel to be published by Amber Allure!!

Diventando: The Vessel (previously Diventando: Becoming), my prior weekly flash fiction has been picked up for publication by Amber Allure. The scheduled release date is September 7th. Here is the blurb:

Twenty-five-year-old Owen McIntyre is no stranger to the Grim Reaper. Diagnosed with leukemia at the age of fifteen, he's spent the last ten years slowly dying. With only two weeks before his next checkup, Owen’s body is already warning him that he may no longer be in remission. He’s tired of the countless rounds of chemo and the way his family coddles and protects him. To live and die on his own terms, Owen makes the most difficult decision of all: he decides to forego treatment. When he meets a lively college professor named Turk, conquering the man becomes part of his bucket list. But as Owen gets to know Turk, he starts to see him as more than a fling. It’s a luxury a dying man doesn’t have.
But what if suddenly everything Owen knew to be true was a web of lies and deceit—even his diagnosis of cancer? Suddenly taken hostage, tied to a bed and experimented on, Owen's nightmare of leukemia is a far cry from the horrors he will face. No longer able to trust anyone in his life, including Turk, Owen is alone and cut off from the world. He has to make the hard decision whether to trust those who have betrayed him, or die a lonely death. He must also decide if he can trust enough to love the man he’s come to care for deeply. With time running out, he’ll not only fight to live, but fight to want to live again, and even that might not be enough to save him from the evil that lurks inside.

 

Rain Carrington and Penny's Lane

 Coming soon from Rain Carrington: Penny's Lane 
Brokenhearted and lost, Lonnie begins to search for something to replace the long held love of a man who is in love with another. His search takes him on a dangerous slope with alcohol once more but there to pick him up and dust him off if an unlikely hero. As his life begins to turn around he finds real love and his dreams are all starting to come true, including a dream he didn’t know he had. To be a man’s submissive. While his discovers new desires and feelings that are more intense and encompassing than ever, he finds the road to his dreams isn’t an easy one. More explosive than Rebel Yells, Penny’s Lane will take you on a ride that will leave you breathless with hot love, evil vengeance and deepening friendships.
 Author Info: 
Rain Carrington started writing when she was just a teenager in Trinidad, Colorado but didn’t start writing M/M romance until much later. Through the years many of her gay male friends told stories of heartache and the struggle to find “the one” so she told them stories, fantasies all about them and their future cowboy, fireman, biker or policeman. When she found a writing site that encouraged her to write them down she started what was an adventure like she never had before.
Her first story, Cabin fever, about a young man searching for love and finding it wrapped in a member of a mafia family gained her readers who cheered for more. She knew then that she had found her place in the world. To make stories of love and kink that not only her readers but she could get lost in as well.
Rain now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado but has traveled most of the US. Her last road trip to San Francisco gave her characters still coming out…no pun intended…in her newer stories. Rain has severe scoliosis which makes it hard for her to do all the things she used to love but it did give her the time to write that she never had before. She fights for lgbt rights from her home as best she can now and keeps in close contact with her friends that fight on two good legs to point them where they should go. She is a fervent believer that one door never closes without another opening so there are no limits she can’t get past.
Of all the people in the world no one has encouraged and supported her like her friends, many of them writers themselves, and her family. There is never a dull moment in her home where laughter is in the air 24/7 and everyone knows to avoid the computer screen when she sits in front of it. They never know what kind of beautiful man love they may see. Rain calls it research, they call it, “there she goes again!”
Her latest book, Rebel Yells is getting great reviews and she is currently working on the sequel, Penny’s Lane.

http://raincarringtonauthor.weebly.com/
http://www.facebook.com/rain.carrington

Claire Thompson Visits with a Preview and a Giveaway!!

Today the blog welcomes Clarie Thompson (yeah!!). Get to know her and then leave a comment to win a free ebook!
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  What genre do you write in?

I write BDSM romance and non-con abduction tales, from both the m/f and m/m perspective. My love affair is with all things D/s (Dominance/submission).  I’ve been writing for nearly two decades. My work began as a romantic exploration of the BDSM life style, and then veered somewhat to the darker side of fantasy. I love delving into the dark psyche of a twisted mind, and gaining insight into what might motivate such a person to do what they do. I don’t create all black and white villains and heroes, but rather strive to develop real, complex and flawed human beings. I don't want to simply provide an erotic thrill or evocative description. I seek not only to tell a story, but to come to grips with, and ultimately exalt in the true beauty and spirituality of a loving exchange of power. My darker works press the envelope of what is erotic and what can be a sometimes dangerous slide into the world of sadomasochism. Ultimately my work deals with the human condition, and our constant search for love and intensity of experience.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing all my life, since keeping my first journals in junior high. I have been writing professionally for nearly two decades, and have published over 70 novels. For the past five years, I have taken my work indie, and created my own publishing imprint, Romance Unbound. Initially it was a steep learning curve, gathering the team I needed for success, including topnotch editors, web designer and cover artist, learning to make file extensions that met or exceeded distribution guidelines, and managing my own publicity and marketing. I love the independence and the total artistic and creative control over every aspect of my work, from the title, the cover, the topic, the release date and where I sell my work. It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve never looked back.

What is your latest release?
Coming in mid-June 2014
My very soon to be released newest novel is called The Inner Room. It’s a m/f BDSM romance with a bit of edginess. Here is the blurb:
 The Inner Room – where submissive dreams become reality
Dr. Marissa Roberts takes charge and saves lives by day, but spends lonely nights embracing fantasies of erotic submission. When a friend encourages her to explore her submissive longings, Marissa agrees to an evaluation to become a member of an exclusive local BDSM club. With that act, a door is opened to Marissa, and her long-standing fantasies may just become reality.   
 
Cam Wilder, a nurse at the same hospital as Marissa and an experienced Dominant in his private life, has no idea the prospective slave girl he will assess in The Inner Room of The Power Exchange will be his reserved co-worker. Sparks of desire ignite into flames of passion as Cam recognizes in Marissa the heart of a true submissive yearning for freedom, and she sees in him a Master who speaks directly to her soul.
Their potential BDSM paradise is threatened by the unwanted attention of an arrogant bastard who refuses to take no for an answer. His secret surveillance and devious plans lead to terrifying results that threaten to destroy not only Marissa and Cam’s careers, but the bonds of trust and love they’ve forged together as Master and sub girl.
Click here for a sneak preview: Inner Room Excerpts 

The Inner Room will be for sale at all the usual distribution outlets (Amazon, B&N, ARE, Kobo, Smashwords), but if you wish to my support my indie efforts, please go to my direct publishing site: RomanceUnbound. Sign up for an account, and use the promo code: GrandOpen to save 20% off the purchase price of your entire first order!
 As a token of my appreciation to your readers for indulging me and reading this all the way through, I would like to give away a free ebook download (winner’s choice from my catalog) to someone who leaves a comment on this blog entry. Winner to be chosen by JC.
 Thanks for having me as a guest. I love to connect with readers, and will answer all emails personally and promptly. You can connect with me on my website, the RU publishing site, and my blog, FB account and twitter. Links below!
 
Best, Claire
http://romanceunbound.comhttp://clairethompson.net
http://twitter.com/CThompsonAuthor
http://www.facebook.com/ClaireThompsonauthor
http://clairethompsonauthor.blogspot.com

 

 
 
 

Daniel Kane Visits the Blog with Slasherazzi!!

Thanks to JC for having me, and welcome everyone to the four spot on the Slasherazzi blog tour. As always there will be a giveaway posted toward the bottom, and if you haven’t already visited them you can check out the other stops on the tour by visiting http://www.danielakaine.comfor more chances to enter.
Slasherazzi is my fourth full-length novel, and it’s been such a rollercoaster ride from the time I first picked up the pen, so to speak. So I wanted to talk a little bit today about my writing journey.
In 2009, I began watching anime to alleviate the boredom of being unemployed. And when I had caught up on all of my favourite animes, I turned to fanfiction while I awaited new episodes to be released. In particular, there was one fandom I frequented more than any other – Naruto x Sasuke.
After spending more hours than I could count reading about the sexy escapades of my two favourite ninjas, I decided to try my hand at writing a story myself, and before long I had the boys paired up in an Anita Blake-esque world of vampire hunting. Not long after that, unfortunately, real life got in the way and I had less and less time to spend on writing.
It was at the end of 2009 when the topic of writing came up in a conversation with a good friend. He mentioned that someone he knew wrote a book, and he thought he could do better. When I mentioned that I had an interest in writing, he then encouraged me to write along with him.
I stumbled on the NaNoWriMo boards shortly after this, and with the help of some very helpful people, wrote the first chapter of what is now ‘Dawn of Darkness’,book one in the Daeva trilogy. By June I had finished and the story was sat at 110,000 words. Quite an achievement for my first novel.
It was then that a friend gave me a one sentence prompt which sparked the Slasherazzi story. Yes, that’s right… I started writing Slasherazzi four years ago, and I’ve never been as glad that it took me so long to finish something, because the book is definitely a hell of a lot better than it would have been had I wrote it in full then.
Fast forward to 2012 and I have two books and a short story under my belt. That November, I wrote ‘No Angel’ for NaNoWriMo, with the help of Poppy Dennison, who I had met at GayRomLit in Albuquerque that year. It was in January 2013 that I submitted to Dreamspinner Press, and in March I had a contract in my inbox. My first real contract. Words can’t explain how excited I was at that time.
Going on at the same time, I had been asked to co-write a short zombie story with Ethan Stone for Wilde City Press, who were just starting up at the time. Thus, I had a second contract through shortly after.
‘Zombie Boyz’ and ‘No Angel’ released in July and August of last year, respectively. And then I was stuck… afflicted with an absolutely horrible case of writer’s block. I tried writing several things, and each time ground to a complete halt. Some of you may have noticed me with my laptop out at GRL in Atlanta. That was me trying desperately to write Slasherazzi, and failing. No matter what I tried, the words were not coming. And honestly, there were a few days when I felt like quitting.
I’ve always doubted myself. Never had faith that I could do much. Continuing to write seemed pointless when the returns were almost negligible compared to the time I invested in writing. Thankfully I have made a lot of awesome friends over the last couple of years, and it was their encouragement that spurred me on to continue.
Finally, on 29th December 2013, I had finished Slasherazzi. Three and a half years after its inception. By January, I had it sent off to Wilde City, and now five months later it’s out there, ready to take its first steps into the big wide world.
I’ve worked with some amazing people on this story, from my betas – Lara, Poppy, and Patricia – to the absolutely awesomesauce Val Hughes who did the content edits. I really need to give a big shout out to Val, because she improved the story in so many ways. Couldn’t have done it without you.
And now the initial reactions are in, and finally all the hard work seems to have paid off. The level of validation I felt reading those first reviews and comments, and the support of the M/M community in sharing the news, has made this the best release day yet by a long way. And I can only hope that this is a sign of things to come, because that buzz going around my FB and Twitter feed right now, that’s a big part of why I wanted to write in the first place… to create something that would give enjoyment to others, as those fanfiction stories I read years ago did to me. And all the friends I’ve made along the way, you have made this journey totally worth it. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone.





Book Blurb
Recently promoted to Detective, Alex is out to prove himself and the Slasherazzi case is the perfect opportunity. Mutilated corpses are showing up across Tampa, and when the team discovers the newest victim was tortured alive, Alex becomes more determined than ever to stop the crazed serial killer before the horrific stabbings escalate further.

With the return of Alex’s ex-boyfriend and journalist, Vince, the investigation takes a dangerous twist: the killer starts showing a personal interest in Alex. Can he stop the murders and salvage his relationship with Vince, or does he risk letting both men get away?Book Links
Available from Wilde City

Amazon and other links may take a few days to follow, but I can provide those once they go live.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio
Daniel was born and raised in the Land of Rain, aka England, where he now lives with his four lovable furballs; Mik, Ash, Spidey and Flash. Originally trained as a Biology teacher, Daniel was unsure what to do with his life until he came across fanfiction for his favourite anime and decided to have a go at writing his own. To this day, he still cringes at the memory of the cheesy terminology he used. When not writing, Daniel enjoys a variety of activities, including running, going to the gym, bondage, watching anime, and the mass-slaying of virtual monsters in the hopes of receiving epic loot. One day, he hopes to become a werepanther and invent chocolate that can be eaten all day without making you fat.

Author LinksWebsite:http://www.danielakaine.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/daniel.kaineor https://www.facebook.com/danielakaine.fanpageTwitter:http://www.twitter.com/shiki_boy

Wednesday Brief #8 The Hollow: Soul Seekers

Copyright 2014  JC Wallace
Each Week a group of authors participate weekly in Wednesday Briefs Flash Fiction. Each installment is 500-1000 words long and is posted to our blogs each week. After you read the latest in my story, click on the link at the end to visit the other flashers.

Welcome my new weekly flash story The Hollow: Soul Seekers. My previous story Diventando: Becoming has been pulled so I can prep it for publication. I will let you know in the future a date of publication.


The possibility of rescue quickened his forward movement. The whining of the 2-stroke engine grew louder, and Levi prayed it continued until he located its operator. Another moment in time, running across a chainsaw-wielding stranger in the thick of the woods, would have brought Levi an uneasy feeling.  At this point, Levi would have sold his soul – maybe more - for any bit of warmth.
The brown, wood siding of a cabin broke through a clearing ahead of him. The screaming chainsaw wound down and stopped. Staring ahead with the goal line in site, Levi plowed through brush and thicket that threatened to stop him. To be this close and fail was not an option. As he rounded the front of the cabin, a figure dressed in red halted him in his tracks.  From the darkened edge of the woods about fifteen yards away, set of eyes assessed Levi. A man in a bright red parka leaned forward, one bent leg propped up on a log. The chainsaw still in his hand, a set of safety goggles were pushed up onto the brim of the ball cap that sat low over his eyes. 
The sight of Levi moved the man from his relaxed state. As he stood upright, Levi could see just how long his legs were. The speed at which he was covered the distance between them made Levi cringe. Way too determined. Way too fast. And still, the chainsaw was in his hand. Oh hell, two minutes ago Levi hadn’t cared if Jack the Ripper had saved him, now he really fucking cared.
Levi took three nervous steps back as the large man quickly transversed the space between them. Looking down, he searched for anything to defend himself – a large limb, a large rock – anything. His only thought. No one would hear him scream.
Continuing forward, the larger man emerged into the daylight from beneath the shadows of the thick pine canopy. He was close enough for Levi to see his face twisted with confusion. The growing panic retreated as Levi recognized the ball capped man.
“N-Noah?” he managed to chatter out between his teeth. Yes, Noah Macy from high school, from college. Whoever would have guessed he’d be so thankful to see him? Especially when he was one of the jocks who’d picked on him relentlessly. Pretty Boy. However, the nickname from Noah had never been said with distain or intended as bullying, at least that was what Levi thought. And as far as Levi knew, he wasn’t a psychopathic killer. Well, he didn’t look like one at least but, then again, killers rarely “looked” like murderous monsters so strike that.
Noah’s recognition kicked in and an incredulous look crossed his face as he surveyed Levi from head to toe. For a moment, Levi’s heart stopped. What if he Noah took their secluded location to beat Levi down.
“Pretty Boy? I mean, Levi? What the hell? You’re soaking wet? What are…” The last question stuck in his throat. Noah’s eyebrows raised in a quizzical manner, his green eyes over-flowing with – concern? Instinctively, Noah stripped out of his parka, a black t-shirt beneath flowed around his lean frame, and wrapped it around Levi’s shoulders. The residual warmth of his body made a small dent in the aching cold inside of him. “What happened?”
Biting down on his lower lip, Levi pondered his reply. Well, I was falling asleep in Stats and I thought my head was going to literally explode so I fled to the woods, running like a possessed maniac and left the trail - which I know you should never do - but then I felt something – shit, yes - I actually felt something real, an emotion, then I was hot, so fucking hot, that I jumped into the lake in the middle of March. So what’s up with you? Yeah, that’s exactly what Levi should say.
“I f-f-fell into the l-l-ake.”  Close enough to the truth.
Noah frowned giving him the standard that-was-dumb-look. Levi shrugged his shoulders, way past the point of caring about anyone’s opinion. He was just friggin' cold. Briskly, he rubbed his hands together.
With lightning speed, Noah grabbed Levi’s hands between his, halting Levi’s action. Levi’s hands all but disappeared inside of Noah’s. “Don’t rub. I doubt you’ve got frostbite but, if you do, you could damage the skin, tear it,” Noah advised him.
The comment might have actually halted Levi’s nagging amputation fears if only he could have felt Noah’s hands touching his. Nope. Nothing but numbness.
“We have to get you inside and warm you up, get you out of those wet clothes,” Noah said, surveying the clothes that clung so tight Levi was sure they had melded to his skin. “You shouldn’t walk just in case your toes are frostbitten.” He paused assessing the situation. “I’ll carry you.”
Huh?
Levi’s exaggerated frown brought a curl to the side of Noah’s mouth. Before any form of protest fell from Levi’s lips, Noah scooped him into his arms effortlessly, climbing up to the porch and pushing them through the green door of the small cabin. Levi may be small but, damn, he wasn’t some kind of damsel in distress. 
“F-Fuck Noah, p-put me d-down,” Levi said struggling to free himself from the impressive grip.
Noah chuckled then deposited Levi onto the sofa that set across from an impressive river rock fireplace. A hand-hewn mantle, about a foot thick, was covered with more Adirondack style chachkies and memorabilia. The inside of the cabin was typical Adirondack style - high, beam-exposed ceilings, knotty pine walls, wide plank flooring, the requisite Adirondack chairs, wood floors, walls decorated with antique fishing rods, creels, deer heads and antlers – fishing and hunting stuff were a must - however this was a higher end Adirondack style with several expensive pieces of furniture crafted out of limbs and logs from the area. The cabin called to mind memories of his uncle’s cabin.
Levi pulled his knees to his chest and sunk inside the large down parka. Searing pain spread through his toes and fingers as if flames licked at them. A nagging ache crept up his right side and under his arm. He swore he would never be warm again. At least his teeth had stopped chattering.
“Not sure what I can find here for clothes,” Noah said the voice startling Levi. Shit, he was waiting for something from the jock that came from his buddies at school but Noah’s voice faded as if he had moved out of the room.  “I’m sure I can find something though,” he called out. 
Footsteps signaled Noah’s return but Levi kept his head buried, focusing really hard to block out the screaming pain. The couch cushion shifted as Noah sat next to him. A hand touched his hair and he flinched.
“Levi?” Noah’s deep voice was soft with an undercurrent of worry.
Without raising his head, Levi spoke. “My t-toes and fingers are on f-fire.” 
When Noah had failed to reply, Levi raised his head.
Noah nodded with understanding. “As the cold leaves, they’ll burn, maybe itch but don’t itch,” he cautioned Levi again, pointing a warning finger at him. “I’m more worried about your core temp right now. Need to bring it up before you go into shock.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking to the floor. “Truthfully, I have no clue how you even made it here in such great shape.”
The thought had crossed Levi mind as well. “You a b-boy scout or something?”Noah cocked an amused eyebrow at him then chuckled. “Yeah. Something like that. I found these,” He motioned to the clothes in his lap. “They’ll definitely be too big. Belong to the guy who owns this cabin but they’re warm and dry. You’ll need to take off everything that’s wet.” Noah flashed a nervous smile.
Everything? 
Yeah, this should not be an issue because they were guys and guys saw each other naked just like in the locker room. But Levi had always hated the locker room. Not that he ogled the other guys but Levi imagined it was a lot like a straight guy in a girl’s locker room. You were going to look and get hard right? Although he was pretty sure his dick was a frozen Popsicle at this point, Levi wasn’t taking any chances getting naked in front of a guy, even a straight guy. Levi reached a tentative hand out from under the coat for the items of clothing. He had warmed up enough that his teeth had stopped chattering.
“Is there somewhere I can change?”
Noah glanced back at the room where he’d found the clothes but seemed unsure. Levi cradled the clothes to his chest, wondering why the hesitation.
“Ummm…why don’t you change here.”

Here! In front of you?

##


Check out the other authors flashing by visiting the Wednesday Briefs Blog or click on a name below!
Andrew Q. GordonLily SawyerKazy ReedMA ChurchChris T. KatSarah HayesElyzabeth VaLey Jon KeysGrace Duncan  AveryShelly SchulzJim DunawayJohayanVictoria AdamsCia NordwellJulie Lynn Hayes

Tease Me Thursday!

Welcome to another week of Tease Me Thursday! Here we show you 7 - seven words, seven sentences, or seven paragraphs. Read my snippet and then check out the other authors on the hop!
This weeks snippet is from my past flash story, Diventando: Becoming which is being submitted for publishing. Enjoy!


Three hours later and they’d made their way through a half-dozen games. Owen had needed to test the graphics and performance on each one. Turk gave him a run for his money, proving his gaming prowess. Owen laughed out loud, having a great time, momentarily forgetting the reality of his life. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d played for fun, not work, and on this system, Owen was in heaven.
When they finished their last game, Owen was sweaty, dazed, high on adrenaline and ready for more. When he turned, Turk smirked lazily, his hand outstretched to Owen who took it without hesitation. Turk tugged and Owen found himself engulfed in the strong circle of Turk’s arms. Oh God, just being in the man’s arms, the way he held Owen so gently, in a cocoon of safety. weakened his knees. Owen was sure he’d stopped breathing when Turk gazed down on him and whispered, “I’m gonna to kiss you”.
The tingle created as Turk’s lips touched Owen’s grew and then surged through him with a speed that made him dizzy. Owen wrapped his arms tight around Turk’s muscled shoulders. Strong hands rubbed over Owen’s back, then skated down to squeeze his ass. Owen, allowed Turk to deepen the kiss, and the intimate act, which Owen had avoided  in the past, became his entire focus. Not Turk’s hard cock but his soft lips. How had he not known how absolutely wonderful kissing could be?
The sweat covered Owen’s skin and his muscles cramped as a hot searing pain, lanced through his gut. He grunted and pushed past it. Video games forgotten, his original purpose for the evening stood right in front of him. If the hard bulge against Owen’s stomach was anything to go by, he could easily have Turk, but, suddenly, he was swamped with nervousness. His hands were clammy and he had doubts about sleeping with Turk. Where the hell had the doubts come from? He’d never had second thoughts about sleeping with anyone. Yet, right at that moment, having primal, need satisfying sex with Turk felt wrong.
Another stab of pain punched Owen in the  gut. This time, it was one he couldn’t ignore. His head throbbed and his vision blurred. He stepped back from Turk, who advanced with an expression of concern. He rested a hand on Owen’s shoulder. Owen’s gut ached, but the sharp pain subsided. Maybe he’d eaten too much at dinner.  He’d tried not to offend Turk and had eaten more than his stomach could handle. He nodded, wondering if his meal was going to stay down. The clock on the wall said it was after midnight. Damn, he so didn’t want to puke on a date.


check out the other snippets from these awesome authors!

Wednesday Briefs #7: The Hollow: Soul Seekers

Copyright 2014  JC Wallace
Each Week a group of authors participate weekly in Wednesday Briefs Flash Fiction. Each installment is 500-1000 words long and is posted to our blogs each week. After you read the latest in my story, click on the link at the end to visit the other flashers.

Welcome my new weekly flash story The Hollow: Soul Seekers. My previous story Diventando: Becoming has been pulled so I can prep it for publication. I will let you know in the future a date of publication.



Years had passed since he’d been on the paths by the lake, but as he proceeded in a slow jog on the well-worn path, it all felt so familiar. Had he been on this specific path as a child? Day after summer day had been spent with Logan exploring practically every square foot of the towering forest surrounding the cabin, wherever that was.
Jogging on the wooded path, a powerful, almost over-whelming need pushed him farther, faster. Levi hurdled small puddles and protruding rocks and ducked through showers of low hanging deciduous and evergreen branches. Leaning forward he pushed his legs harder, digging his sneakers into the compacted dirt. Fast wasn’t enough.
Faster... Faster…Faster. Faster.fasterfasterfaster!
He muttered the chant beneath his breath. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, tickling his face, dripping from his chin. Heat rose from his chest and flushed across his cheeks. Picking up more speed, he pushed off with his right leg and flew over a large decaying tree to the right of the path. A cushion of littered leaves deadened his landing. Off-trail he ducked, weaved, and jumped, expertly creating his own trail through thick underbrush and large, round, aged oaks, firs and maples. The same predestined force seemed to drive him forward as had driven his from the college.
Only one thought spurred him on: Faster.
Speed increased, foliage blurred, occasionally a stick whipped at the skin of his arms and face but the momentary stings couldn’t compete. The need to move became a necessity for his continued existence. A faint sensation mounted, ascending through the murky blackness of his mind. A feeling? No, an emotion. Pure, uncontaminated…
Euphoria.
On the crest of a small hill, Lake George peeked between the bare trees. Levi’s blood surged, afire within his arteries, and pumped harder and faster to fuel his muscles. He wondered at the rapturous feeling that expanded and magnified. Heat surged from his pores, filling the air around him, negating any cool breeze he created as he cut swiftly through the sheltered forest. His body’s internal temperature rose rapidly with a new thought: more feeling.
A burning current shot up both of his arms. Energy similar to what he’d experienced earlier, yet magnified hundreds of time. Ecstasy and elation faded into a fiery and all-consuming inferno that invaded his torso, his legs, his arms, his very molecules. Any minute, any second, he’d spontaneously combust. He would explode outward in a blinding light and reduce his surroundings to ash. There was no doubt in his mind.
He knew what he had to do. There was only one remedy for the searing heat rising relentlessly from deep within. Levi bolted to the left down the hill with a speed that threatened to throw him down the rocky and tree-laden hillside. Leaning back, he fought the forward momentum of gravity, the lake well within sight. Dead leaves and pine needles were kicked into the air as his feet half-slid toward the bottom. Tripping over a tree root and stumbling out onto a rock shelf that jutted out over Lake George, Levi pushed off with his left leg, one final effort, and soared, flailing, into the air over the dark water below.
“Oh hell!” he exclaimed when he saw that the water was probably well over 20 feet below him.For a split second, he wondered what the hell had convinced him that throwing himself into the freezing lake was a good idea? Struggling to enter the water feet first failed and he smashed into the surface of the icy water partially prone and on his right side.  Pain exploded into his ribcage, as the icy water enveloped him, icy claws digging into his skin.
An arctic blast extinguishing every last bit of heat and numbed his mind to rational thought. Darkness surrounded him. Shudders of cold cramped muscles and froze joints.  In a matter of minutes, his body would be completely immobilized. Panic. Can’t breathe.  Fraught with determination, Levi pulled at the water above, fighting to inch closer to the daylight. Kicking his legs helped propel him and just as his mouth opened for air he broke through the surface.
“Fuck me, that’s cold!” he managed to say between clenched teeth.
Dog paddling, he felt his feet scrape against the stony bottom of the shallows. A problem however loomed above him in the form of the massive ledge of rock that he had just attempted to swan dive from. He could have sworn the smooth unclimable gray face of that rock was silently mocking him.
Standing in about 2 feet of water, Levi wrapped his arms around his torso, numb almost to the core, and stumbled past the rock to a break in the shore. Just an hour ago he’d been resting comfortably in Statistics and now he had nearly become a drowned rat—a cold, drowned rat. Was it the world that had tilted off of its axis, or him?
Wobbling, he climbed through the brush and collapsed onto the soft brown carpet that had been shed by a grove of cedar trees. To stay there on the ground would almost certainly mean death from hypothermia. Not that moving was necessarily going to guarantee survival either, but the odds were better.
 Forcing himself to sit up, Levi doubted cell service reached this far down the lake. Rolling his eyes, he muttered a string of obscenities and pulled his cell from his pocket. Water leaked from every opening in his body and Levi chucked the useless phone to a watery grave. Could the day possibly get any worse?Rapidly the numbness was fading and giving way to full-on cold. Wearily, Levi stood, his feet aching from the pressure he’d exerted on them. Tentatively, he walked, as if barefoot on hot coals. Each painful movement definitely ruled out trekking back to his car, whatever direction that was from his current location. What new form of stupidity had  the second he’d left his car?  Cardinal rules of the wilderness. You never go into the woods without telling someone where and when. You never leave a marked path. And you definitely never, ever jump into an Adirondack lake in the middle of fucking March—no matter what your core temperature is—and with your cell phone in your pocket!
He let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not lost. Just temporarily misplaced.” His levity did little to improve the situation.
Maybe at the top of the hill he could see something, anything—a path, a camp, a quick way to get help. Whatever energy had propelled him to sprint through the dense woods now eluded him. And what was with the nagging need to go off-road in the woods (much less run doing it)? Better yet what was with the need to be in the woods at all? It wasn’t so great now that he was here.
 With tremendous effort, he reached the apex of the hill and practically threw himself the last few feet. Pain screamed in his fingers and toes, even the tips of his ears.  Real fear surfaced that he might lose parts of his body to frostbite. Important parts. In this cold winter climate, it was more common than he cared to think. Fiercely, Levi rubbed his hands to create friction, then studied his fingers. Red, numb, and cold. Not good.It was imperative he move. His body shuddered in an attempt to warm itself, and his teeth were actually chattering. Looking around, Levi realized moving south would eventually bring him to the state campground. Eventually.
Ignoring the pain in his feet, he stayed near the shore. Each step forward was searing, especially when he stepped onto a rock or accidentally bumped his toes. Although the air was probably a good thirty degrees warmer than the water, the wet clothes clinging to his body kept him from warming up.
“Survive eleven years of a fear-induced hell, thinking I would die from some phantom illness or disease only to die from hypothermia in the middle of friggin’ nowhere,” he muttered. “Classic.”
A loud screaming noise suddenly echoed through the trees. Squawking birds flew wildly from their hidden roosts. A momentary fear gripped icier than the coldness. Wait. That was a chainsaw. A chainsaw!

The possibility of rescue quickened his pace.

# #
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Dare To Love Forever! It's Release Day!!!

Dare To Love Forever Release Day!
DTLF is out now available at Amber Allure  AND is currrently 35% off! 
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Dare To Love Forever Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Dare To Love Forever Blog Tour and Giveaway!

May 30- June 11, 2014
5/30 The Blogger Girls5/31 Wednesday Briefs6/1 RJ Scott - Release Day!6/2 The Hat Party6/3 Up All Night Read All Day6/4 Pants Off Reviews6/5 Rob Colton6/6 Rainbow Gold Reviews6/7 Prism Book Alliance6/8 The Novel Approach6/9 Full Moon Dreaming6/10 Jayson James6/11 Crystal’s Many Reviewers


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Enter the Dare To Love Forever Blog Tour Giveaway!

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