Jake C. Wallace's Blog, page 6
February 9, 2015
Welcome Jon Keys with his new release Razor!
Hey JC! Thanks for hosting me on the stop on the blog visits! Razor’s what I’m here to talk about and it was released by Decadent Publishing on Feb 6th. It’s my first urban fantasy and I’m excited to see what people think. It’s part of Decadent Publishing’s Beyond Fairytales collection. Razor is a retelling of The Little Folk from Brother’s Grimm. Yeah, I’d never heard of it either. LOL. I hope everyone enjoys Razor as much as I did.~ Jon ~
Blurb:When the world crashes down around your ears, sometimes all you can do is punt and hope for the best. That’s exactly what James and Micah decide to do when one of them is diagnosed with cancer, and the other discovers a serious heart defect. When the doctor tells them to start working on their bucket lists, the two take a trip in an effort to create some good memories, and forget the ugly truths, while they focus on their time in each other’s arms.Their vacation turns into much more than they anticipated when they find themselves drawn to a club like sailors to a siren. Several sexy waiters, some unforgettable lap dances, and one whip-wielding stud later, they stumble upon the answer to their prayers. Their sex is wild again, and the pair find themselves living for tomorrow. But with every answer comes questions, and Micah’s search for more may destroy them both.Will they be able to recover from his thirst for the truth? Or will the men always live walking on the edge of a Razor?eBook Links: Decadent PublishingAmazoniTunesKobo
Excerpt from Razor:
Micah made the landing and stood watching James ascend. A few seconds later, he reached the top and looked around. They found themselves outside a door almost as dark as the night, set into a wall of Cimmerian brick that disappeared into the gloom on either side. The doorman standing beside it was equally striking. He stood taller than James’s six feet, and wore only a black leather kilt and heavy boots that seemed to consume the lower part of his muscular legs. No one would dare challenge the man. His torso rippled in ways James had never seen before. His face was rugged, covered with a few days’ scruff trimmed precisely along his jawline. Before he could think of what they should do, the doorman spoke.“Welcome to Razor. What’s your pleasure tonight?”James stood speechless as the deep bass of the man’s voice resonated through the night. “The music. The music is wonderful. We caught it from a few blocks off and wanted to hear more.”A smile emerged on the man’s face and changed him from executioner to guardian. “Of course, the music. You’ve found the right place. Just in time, too. Tonight is drawing to a close.”He grasped the bronze door pull that was easily as long and thick as James’s forearm and opened the massive door with little apparent effort. He motioned them into the portal with a wave. “Go. Enjoy yourself.”The pair moved toward the opening and peered inside. The room was dim, except for an empty stage bathed in warm light. James noticed the musical trio creating the instrumentals that had lured them through the foggy night. They glanced back to the grinning bouncer who encouraged them forward with a nod.They stepped into the room and paused to take it in. From the elaborately carved dark mahogany bar lined with every imaginable type of liqueur, to the lovingly worn floor that had seen thousands of pairs of feet during its existence, it was all club. The couple moved inside as the door closed behind them with scarcely a whisper.As they studied the room, two things struck James. First, they were the only customers. Second, everyone else in the room wore very little and were male. Their smiling waiter stepped to their table. James swallowed hard as he looked at the man standing before him. He dressed in the same boots as the bouncer, which were buckled to just below his knees. The remainder of the waiter’s clothing consisted of a black leather jockstrap filled to capacity.
Bio:Jon Keys’ earliest memories revolve around books; with the first ones he can recall reading himself being “The Warlord of Mars” and anything with Tarzan. (The local library wasn’t particularly up to date.) But as puberty set in he started sneaking his mother’s romance magazines and added the world of romance and erotica to his mix of science fiction, fantasy, and comic books.A voracious reader for almost half a century, Jon has only recently begun creating his own flights of fiction for the entertainment of others. Born in the Southwest and now living in the Midwest, Jon has worked as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, roughneck, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy; with interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to painting and cooking, he draws from a wide range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story.Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
January 29, 2015
Welcome Raine and Sion O'Tierney and their new release Alchemy Ever After!
Welcome the dynamic duo (as well as husband and wife!) - and two of my good friends - Siôn and Raine O'Tierney to the blog!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sharing Worlds
Several years ago, I wrote Raine a silly little M/M story about a rather dense alchemist and his jealous lover. I’ve written a lot of short stories for her through the years, but for some reason, this one stuck in her head and she would always return to it and ask me to tell her more about Maketh and Raj.
It stuck in my head too, and eventually I incorporated it into a larger story that I’ve been working on periodically since high school. I developed the characters further (inspired in part by fan art Raine drew of them), and developed them and the world they inhabit that much more as a result.
When she asked me if she could write a continuation of the world I’d built using her own characters (innocent Idrian and the ice sculpture) I was startled. I knew she’d liked the story, but I wondered why she’d want to enter my world—she has plenty of her own.
What she created as she played in my world was new and exciting and it got me excited to expand further. A collaboration was born. Hopefully, you are as inspired by the world and characters we’ve created as I’ve always been! I can guarantee there will be more world-sharing in the future.
—Siôn O’Tierney
ISBN-13: 978-1-63216-301-1 Pages: 56 Cover Artist: Catt Ford Categories: M/M Romance | Steampunk | Fantasy
BLURB: The city of New Alexandria is filled with powerful magicians-in-training and mechanical follies, the world’s largest library, and marvels beyond compare. The allure of this modern metropolis draws young people from all over the world, but Idrian has come instead for the opportunity to learn the new art of alchemy. He’s been taken as an apprentice by Maketh, a scholar experimenting with new ways to combine technology and the ancient mystic arts. Together they’ve animated a living ice sculpture. Idrian cannot wait to unveil the sculpture alongside the other wonders at the annual Spring Festival.
After witnessing his master in a passionate embrace with another student, Idrian’s mind drifts to things beyond alchemy. And when a warm touch accidentally awakens the consciousness within the living sculpture, Idrian learns firsthand about physicality and the magic of passion.
EXCERPT: Pushing through his fear, Idrian put his palm against the frigid thigh—marveling that the warmth of his hand did not melt the ice. The artisan his master had commissioned was quite talented. The sculpture was crafted into the perfect likeness of a man. Broad shoulders, tight with hard, corded muscles, and a strong, lovely face. The sheet contoured to its body, hiding nothing of its form. Idrian stared for a long time. Did his master feel that the student Raj was lovely, as well? The way he kissed Raj—the hunger in it—Idrian thought he must. Was that all it took? Being in the presence of someone quite lovely?
Idrian would like to know what a kiss felt like.
Made bold by the privacy of the room and his titillated disquiet, Idrian decided he’d try, just once. And so, hair falling in his face, he leaned over the low table and with only a hesitant little gasp, placed his lips against the hand-chiseled lips of the living sculpture. It was as one might imagine kissing ice would be: numbingly cold with none of the passion he’d earlier witnessed. But as he made to pull away, he found his lips stuck for a brief moment as hot skin will stick to ice. Then it was skin to skin. The sculpture had caught Idrian’s bottom lip and pulled it firmly into his mouth. Sucking at it. Nibbling it.
Idrian gasped and tried to yank free, but found an icy arm snaked around his waist, pulling him down onto the slab, holding him there, trapped.
“You… are… warm.” The living sculpture, which should not have even been able to speak, breathed against him.
BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Amazon
GIVEAWAY: Rafflecopter prizes: $10 Amazon.com giftcard and an e-copy of Alchemy Ever after
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Raine O'Tierney lives outside of Kansas City with her husband, fellow Dreamspinner Press author, Siôn O'Tierney. When she's not writing, she's either asleep or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. Raine believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers! Writing for 20+ years (with the last 10 spent on M/M) Raine changes sub-genres to suit her mood and believes all good stories end sweetly. Contact her if you're interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!
Homepage: www.raineotierney.com LGBT Author Interviews: http://raineotierneyhatparty.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaineOTierneyAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaineOTierney Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7770350.Raine_O_Tierney
Siôn O’Tierney is a philosopher and gamer, but above all else, a consumer of stories. The best decision Siôn ever made was marrying his high-school sweetheart a week after graduation. (For the stories, and the sweet, sweet author monies.) These days, Siôn lives in Kansas City with his wife and writing partner, Raine O’Tierney. His free time is spent editing and walking the family's long-haired dachshund, Iron Klaus (maybe that’s not free time after all).
Homepage: Raineotierney.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/SionOTierney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sion.otierney DSP Author Page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/sion-otierney
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sharing Worlds
Several years ago, I wrote Raine a silly little M/M story about a rather dense alchemist and his jealous lover. I’ve written a lot of short stories for her through the years, but for some reason, this one stuck in her head and she would always return to it and ask me to tell her more about Maketh and Raj.
It stuck in my head too, and eventually I incorporated it into a larger story that I’ve been working on periodically since high school. I developed the characters further (inspired in part by fan art Raine drew of them), and developed them and the world they inhabit that much more as a result.
When she asked me if she could write a continuation of the world I’d built using her own characters (innocent Idrian and the ice sculpture) I was startled. I knew she’d liked the story, but I wondered why she’d want to enter my world—she has plenty of her own.
What she created as she played in my world was new and exciting and it got me excited to expand further. A collaboration was born. Hopefully, you are as inspired by the world and characters we’ve created as I’ve always been! I can guarantee there will be more world-sharing in the future.
—Siôn O’Tierney
ISBN-13: 978-1-63216-301-1 Pages: 56 Cover Artist: Catt Ford Categories: M/M Romance | Steampunk | FantasyBLURB: The city of New Alexandria is filled with powerful magicians-in-training and mechanical follies, the world’s largest library, and marvels beyond compare. The allure of this modern metropolis draws young people from all over the world, but Idrian has come instead for the opportunity to learn the new art of alchemy. He’s been taken as an apprentice by Maketh, a scholar experimenting with new ways to combine technology and the ancient mystic arts. Together they’ve animated a living ice sculpture. Idrian cannot wait to unveil the sculpture alongside the other wonders at the annual Spring Festival.
After witnessing his master in a passionate embrace with another student, Idrian’s mind drifts to things beyond alchemy. And when a warm touch accidentally awakens the consciousness within the living sculpture, Idrian learns firsthand about physicality and the magic of passion.
EXCERPT: Pushing through his fear, Idrian put his palm against the frigid thigh—marveling that the warmth of his hand did not melt the ice. The artisan his master had commissioned was quite talented. The sculpture was crafted into the perfect likeness of a man. Broad shoulders, tight with hard, corded muscles, and a strong, lovely face. The sheet contoured to its body, hiding nothing of its form. Idrian stared for a long time. Did his master feel that the student Raj was lovely, as well? The way he kissed Raj—the hunger in it—Idrian thought he must. Was that all it took? Being in the presence of someone quite lovely?
Idrian would like to know what a kiss felt like.
Made bold by the privacy of the room and his titillated disquiet, Idrian decided he’d try, just once. And so, hair falling in his face, he leaned over the low table and with only a hesitant little gasp, placed his lips against the hand-chiseled lips of the living sculpture. It was as one might imagine kissing ice would be: numbingly cold with none of the passion he’d earlier witnessed. But as he made to pull away, he found his lips stuck for a brief moment as hot skin will stick to ice. Then it was skin to skin. The sculpture had caught Idrian’s bottom lip and pulled it firmly into his mouth. Sucking at it. Nibbling it.
Idrian gasped and tried to yank free, but found an icy arm snaked around his waist, pulling him down onto the slab, holding him there, trapped.
“You… are… warm.” The living sculpture, which should not have even been able to speak, breathed against him.
BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Amazon
GIVEAWAY: Rafflecopter prizes: $10 Amazon.com giftcard and an e-copy of Alchemy Ever after
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Raine O'Tierney lives outside of Kansas City with her husband, fellow Dreamspinner Press author, Siôn O'Tierney. When she's not writing, she's either asleep or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. Raine believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers! Writing for 20+ years (with the last 10 spent on M/M) Raine changes sub-genres to suit her mood and believes all good stories end sweetly. Contact her if you're interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!
Homepage: www.raineotierney.com LGBT Author Interviews: http://raineotierneyhatparty.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaineOTierneyAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaineOTierney Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7770350.Raine_O_Tierney
Siôn O’Tierney is a philosopher and gamer, but above all else, a consumer of stories. The best decision Siôn ever made was marrying his high-school sweetheart a week after graduation. (For the stories, and the sweet, sweet author monies.) These days, Siôn lives in Kansas City with his wife and writing partner, Raine O’Tierney. His free time is spent editing and walking the family's long-haired dachshund, Iron Klaus (maybe that’s not free time after all).
Homepage: Raineotierney.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/SionOTierney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sion.otierney DSP Author Page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/sion-otierney
December 22, 2014
Welcome Chris T. Cat with her new release, Swordplay!
Welcome Chris T. Cat to the blog today with an excerpt from a new release, Swordplay!
Buy links: Dreamspinner Press: ebook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5853 paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5854 Blurb: After leaving his dream job as an Atlantic City detective, Jeff Woods has moved to Washington DC with his life partner Alex Fisher and Alex's disabled little brother Sean. Parker Trenkins, Jeff’s ex-partner on the force, has made the move as well, along with his significant other David. Jeff and Parker partner up once again, but in a new way, as owners of their own detective agency.
Life is difficult at the best of times. Sean loses sight in one of his eyes, a direct result of being pushed into the Atlantic by a homicidal maniac a year ago. In his struggle to deal with everything, a restless Alex enrolls in Tai Chi classes at a nearby school.
As it happens, a murder case Jeff and Parker take involves the head of that very Tai Chi School, Charles Cooper. Cooper is a suspect in the murder of a financial corporation official. He appears to have motive. Jeff and Parker's investigation arouses the real killer’s interest, and if they don't uncover his identity soon, it may be too late for them.
Excerpt from Chapter One:
“Earth to Jeff. Someone in there?” Parker was standing next to me, waving his hand in front of my face.
“Fuck off, Parker.”
“Wow. Remind me not to talk to you before you’ve had decent caffeine input. Now, come on, why are you so tired? I’m your new shrink, remember?” Parker blinked his blue eyes at me in mock-offense, flipping a lock of black hair back.
I snorted. Coffee aroma filled the air, and the water bubbled enticingly. After rubbing my hands over my eyes, I leaned back in the chair and looked up at him. The man drove me crazy on a daily basis, but he was my best friend—right after Alex, my lover, of course.
“Oh boy, this is going to be a long story, isn’t it? Hang on, I need to sit down.” With a theatrical flourish, he heeled a chair closer and fell onto it with gleeful expectation written all over his face.
“Sean’s going to lose sight in his left eye.”
Parker’s mouth dropped open, and for a long time neither of us said anything. I stared at him, wondering whether I should’ve cushioned my words a bit. His jaw muscles tightened, and he worked hard to get words out of his mouth. I’d probably worn a similar expression yesterday when Alex broke the news to me after the visit with the eye specialist. Sean was only seven years old—only seven. Didn’t he’d already suffer enough with his cerebral palsy?
“You can’t just drop a bomb like that without giving me fair warning,” Parker protested.
I shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Are you sure?”
I gave a curt nod. My eyes stung stupidly. Alex had tried so hard to keep it together, but in the end he’d wept for hours, cuddled up against me. He’d cried endlessly for his little brother and what he had to go through. I’d feared he’d make himself sick—which he had, but only once—and when he’d finally fallen asleep, I’d lain awake in our bed, helpless and hurting.
“What about another opinion? Maybe—”
“Parker, that was the third opinion. We noticed he was getting clumsier and he was losing focus on his left side. His sight in that eye has gone down to ten percent, and it won’t take long for the rest to vanish too. We’ll cope.”
Whether I wanted to reassure myself or Parker didn’t really matter, did it? At least I’d had enough presence of mind not to throw that platitude around when I talked to Alex. He never bought into any of them. Parker, however, did from time to time.
“Does Sean know?”
Pain closed like a vise around my throat, and I coughed in a deliberate attempt to get rid of it. “Yes. We explained it to him.”
“How did he react?”
I grimaced. “He was worried about his other eye, but the doc said it was okay. Sean’s main concerns were if he was still allowed to go to school and if we’d still love him.”
I bolted from the chair, choking on my last words, and stalked over to the coffeemaker. I poured milk into Parker’s mug, added two spoonfuls of sugar, then attempted to grab the glass carafe. My hands shook.
Parker materialized next to me, nudged me aside, and filled our mugs. I was still blinking against the wetness in my eyes. Maybe it was a good thing I’d had no time for breakfast earlier. I wasn’t sure if it would’ve stayed down anyway. Alex hadn’t even tried to eat this morning. He’d been white as a sheet when I left. I hadn’t wanted to come to work, but the money had to come in from somewhere and—
Chris T. KatChris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.
Links:
Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat
GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKatAmazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q
December 9, 2014
Pink Lace and a Stolen Propsal - Part of the RJ Scott Christmas Tour!
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Welcome to the RJ Scott Christmas Tour. Thanks for stopping by! Twenty authors and twenty short stories. Look for the link to the other authors participating at the end of this story.
Prizes. We have prizes. Leave a comment and an email address to be entered into the drawing for an eBook from my backlist or a $5 amazon gift card. Two lucky winners will be chosen at the end of the month.
Note: When RJ asked us to write about the MCs from one of our previous stories, I went to Facebook and asked readers who they wanted to hear from. Lawson and Greg from Pink Lace and Stolen Hearts were the hands down winners. If you haven’t read Pink Lace and Stolen Hearts, click to read the free story then read Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal
Blurb:All Lawson wants to do is propose to Greg in front of the tree in Rockefeller Center but the fates seem to have other plans.
Throwing down my wrench, I sighed in exasperation. Glancing at my watch didn’t help to decrease my frustration. It was nine AM on a Saturday, December 23rd, my supposed day off. Right. I was the superintendent at an apartment building in Burlington, VT. One of my employees, Bernie was supposed to cover my maintenance duties that weekend at but had an emergency. Something about his wife cutting her finger. He was going to be late. While I felt bad for as I lay under the sink of apartment 2A, I couldn’t help but take out my frustration on the pipes. I might have been banging around a bit too loud.
“Everything alright under there?” the tenant, Mr. Woodard asked.
Grunting, I tightened the coupling of the new pipe I’d installed and scooted out from under the sink. “Leak is fixed and you’re all set.”
Jumping up, I turned on the water, and then crouched to survey the pipe, crossing my fingers nothing leaked. Glancing at my watch again, I cursed inwardly. My plans with Greg had been derailed for the second time that day. First, my truck had a flat on the way into work. And now, if this pipe continued to leak, I wouldn’t be responsible for the hissy fit I would throw. I had made a promise to Greg, the love of my life. A promise I planned to keep.
“Looks good,” I said gathering up my tools at lightning speed. My tension was quickly leaving and my elation growing as I exited the apartment. In less than two hours, Greg and I would be on the road for New York City and Rockefeller Center. Greg was a true romantic and every year he would sigh and awww over the sight of the tree, and the lights and the skaters on TV. Every year, he wished he could visit. This year I had surprised him with an early Christmas gift of an overnight trip to the city. As long as my pag—
The incessant beep of the pager on my belt drew a loud “fuck” from me. The shout reverberated through the empty hallway and I cringed, waiting for someone to call me out on my foul language. After a few seconds, I blew out a breath. There were a lot of kids in the building. All I needed was a complaint from a parent that I was teaching them bad words.
Yanking the pager from its holder, I grinned. Mrs. Reynolds in 4C. She was an elderly lady who couldn’t see well and probably couldn’t find her deaf Chihuahua, Sweetums. Usually, he was always right out in the open. Knowing the task wouldn’t take long, I sprinted up the stairs. My cell rang as I reached the top. My grin widened and my chest filled with a sappy warmth upon seeing it was Greg calling. Damn, if anyone had said a year ago that I would be gaga over a man, I would have balked. But here I was head over heels in love with my best friend of seven years. It had taken me six of those years to get my head out of my ass and realize I was in love. In love with a man. In love with Greg.
“Hey, baby, I just have to locate Sweetums and I’m on my way,” I said rapidly, making my way to Mrs. Reynolds door.
Greg giggled and that sweet sound wrapped around me like a warm blanket. “Those two are something else,” Greg said. “I just wanted to tell you not to worry about packing. Your suitcase and the car are both packed. You just need to hop in and we can go.”
I swallowed hard. Greg always took care of me in so many ways, even when we had only been friends. With his caring nature, he couldn’t help but put others before him, couldn’t help but put me first. Damn, if I was going to let him down. This was more than a trip. This was our future and he deserved what I had planned. When I had finally admitted my love to Greg, he’d told me that he wanted to get married, that he wanted it all, the ring, the wedding, the kids. He wanted it with me, if I would have him. And I wanted him.
“Thanks, baby. You’re the best. I’ll be there by ten-thirty and then we’re off the New York City.”
Greg’s whoop was heartening. As I stepped up to Mrs. Reynolds door, my grin faded as I smelled smoke. Then the building’s alarm went off. Shit.
“I have to go. I’ll see you soon,” I said and clicked off the call and knocked. “Mrs. Reynolds.” Nothing. Banging on the door, my heart rate kicked into overdrive wondering if she was injured or worse. “Mrs. Reynolds! Open the door!”
When she didn’t answer, I scrambled to get the master key from the massive ring I had for the building. “Come on,” I muttered finally opening the door. A grey haze hung in the apartment and there was that charcoal-like smell of something burning.
“Mrs. Reynolds? It’s Lawson. Where are you?”
Sweetums came barreling from around the couch, growling and trying to grab my pant legs with his mouth. Poor thing was probably scared to death. I ignored the dog and raced into the kitchen, the alarm blaring in my ears, to find Mrs. Reynolds trying to fan the smoke out the window. Beside her, more smoke poured from the toaster.
“Mrs. Reynolds, you need to get out of here until the smoke clears.”
“Something is stuck in the toaster,” she said.
I sighed and pulled the plug. “Everything will be okay. Let’s get you out of here and I’ll get this cleaned up.
****
Two hours. Two hours to clear the apartment, deal with the fire department and the other tenants who were pissy because they had had to trudge outside in the cold because of a toaster. I smelled like burnt toast and the plastic of the knife Mrs. Reynolds had dropped into the toaster trying to retrieve the bread stuck in the appliance. She thought she had unplugged the toaster but had unplugged the coffee maker instead.
As I entered our apartment, an hour late, Greg rushed to me but stopped short. His nose crinkled and he frowned. “You smell like smoke. Shower quick.”
“I’m sorry,” I said for the tenth time as he pushed me to the bathroom.
“Just shower quickly so we can get on the road. Clothes are on the sink.”
Before he could shut me in, I turned and smiled then stole a kiss. “How about you jump in with me?” God, I couldn’t get enough of him.
“Shower,” Greg barked but he couldn’t suppress the smirk threatening his lips. “Maybe I’ll give you a little something on the way.”
Quickest shower ever.
****
“Are you sure this is the way we should go?” I asked as the woman on the GPS guided us over Route 100 going south. Greg had to drop off some appliance I’d never hear of to his sister for making pasta, which had revised our route. I had never been on this road before, which wound through the mountains by Mad River Glen Ski resort.
“It’s was the route that loaded when I asked for the shortest way to get there.” Greg frowned looking at the sky. “Is it supposed to snow?”
I glanced up at the bleak, grey blackness. The weather had said a chance of flurries but I’d only check New York since I had planned to head over bridge and hit the highway south.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said grasping Greg’s hand. He tended to worry about the weather and traveling in storms made him nervous.
The reassuring look I gave seemed to calm him. I was the one who wasn’t too sure about the weather. Twenty minutes later, we hit a snow squall going through the mountain pass. I slowed to twenty-five miles an hour, barely able to see a few feet in front of the car. Greg white knuckled the armrest between us. While I should have been worried about the snow and staying on the road, my anger was rising. We were falling farther behind. In my head, I revised out plans. If we didn’t check into the hotel first, we could go straight to Rockefeller Center. In my duffle bag that I carried for work was the silver ring I had bought Greg over three months ago, waiting for the perfect time to pop the question. In front of the tree in NYC was the perfect place.
My irritation grew until I ground my teeth. When I took a sharp corner, the road disappeared beneath a white blanket of snow that had blown over the road. The car began to slide and, even though we were only moving fifteen miles per hour, we slid into the bank.
When the car settled, I reached for Greg. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, wide eyed, his chest heaving slightly. “I’m good.”
When he didn’t say anything more, I put the car into reverse but the back tires spun uselessly. I grumbled as I put the car into park. The snow continued to fall relentlessly as I opened the door.
Greg’s hand clamped down on my wrist. “Where’re you going?” While he was trying to remain calm, I could see that he was scared.
I patted his hand. “I need to see if I can dig us out.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for a plow?”
I reined my anger in for what I deemed was Fate messing with my plans. Greg hadn’t done anything wrong and I didn’t want to tell him that it could be hours before a plow showed up. I’d rather not freeze to death on the mountain. “Just let me take a look, okay?”
When he reluctantly nodded, I cupped the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. His body instantly relaxed against me. When we pulled away he said, “Be careful.”
I nodded, zipped my parka up to my chin and pulled on my hat and gloves. Outside the wind whipped the snow into my eyes. Damn, I couldn’t see much but enough to know the car was entrenched in the snowdrift. Past that, the road looked passable. Without a shovel, though it was pretty hopeless but I had to try. I made sure the tailpipe was cleared of snow then rounded the front and started to clear the snow from around the tires. I unleashed my anger, pushing adrenaline through my veins, increasing my fortitude to get us free and to Rockefeller Center. The ring in my duffle bag was going to get on Greg’s finger that night, so help me God.
Thirty minutes later, I was frozen to the bone. My feet and hands were numb and my entire body, including my eyelashes and face, were caked with snow. I imagined I resembled a frozen Jack Nicholson at the end of the Shining. Greg pleaded with me repeatedly to get into the car but letting him down wasn’t an option.
When the car door opened, I spun around, barking at Greg to get back into the car. He’d tried several times to get out and help but I hadn’t allowed it. This was his special trip and that’s exactly what I planned to deliver.
Greg ignored my harsh words and cupped my icy cheeks in his hands. The warmth barely registered. “Law, please, honey. I need you to get back into the car. Please.” Greg’s breath hitched.
“But I p-promised y-you R-roc-ckef-feller C-cent-ter,” I stuttered out. I hadn’t even noticed my teeth were chattering.
His brow creased and that’s when I saw the shininess in his eyes. I was scaring him. I was a shit.
“Lawson, you’re more important to me than Rockefeller Center. You’re going to get frostbite. Get in the car. We have plenty of gas and we can wait out the plow.”
The warmth of his hands had thawed my cheeks and suddenly I wanted to cuddle with him and get warm. When I nodded, he smiled wide and didn’t hesitate to release me so I could return the heated car.
****
My body had thawed quickly thanks to Greg stripping me of my boots ad jacket. Oh, and crawling into my lap and sitting on my hands. Before long, he had me relaxed and forgetting we were stuck on a mountaintop in a snowstorm. Making out in the car was actually hot. When Greg broke our kiss, I was breathless and hard as I ran my hands over his chest.
He looked at me with his lust-ridden eyes. “Nothing is more important to me than you, Lawson. Where ever you are is where I want to be, even stuck in a car in a snowstorm. I don’t need NYC or anywhere else because where ever we are, as long as we’re together, that is the perfect place.”
He was right. We were here now and I needed to tell him how important he was to me, how right my life had become when he agreed to be mine. I reached up and brushed my hand over his cheek, mesmerized by the love I had for him threatening to burst my heart. Why not here and now? Why not...
A thought caught my breath and I turned to look into the back seat. Panic welled in my chest when I didn’t see my duffle bag.
“Let me up,” I told Greg and practically threw him into the passenger seat. He flailed and managed to get over the console.
“What the hell, Law?”
I clicked the trunk button and jumped from the car. Looking over the contents, I immediately I knew that in my hurry to leave I had left my duffle bag in my truck, along with Greg’s ring.
“FUCK!” I screamed at the grey sky as fat heavy flakes brushed over my face.
I hung my head as Greg rushed to me. I had failed big time. Failed Greg.
He laid his hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, biting my cheek hard to stop from blurting out what I’d done. “I’m sorry for screwing up your trip.”
Greg barked out a laugh that lifted my head. “So you cut Bernie’s wife’s hand and intentionally got a flat tire and made that pipe leak and filled Mrs. Reynold’s apartment with smoke and caused a snow storm?”
“No! But I you deserved something perfect.”
“Jesus, Law, give yourself a break,” Greg snarled. Damn, he sounded pissed. That expression quickly left as he turned his head, his brow raised. “Did you hear that?”
I turned my head back toward the road and saw the lights breaking over the hill.
“Yes!” Greg shouted as the plow turned the corner.
I waved my arms like a loon as if the driver would miss seeing us and drive by. The plow stopped and the window rolled down. A man with grey hair and a red beanie stuck his head out. “Seems like you boys got yourself in quite a pickle. Good thing I came along.”
****
I sighed with relief as we entered the town of Waitsfield. We had followed the plow down the mountain after the plow driver, Frank, kindly pulled us from the snow bank. Even though the snow had let up, I knew we shouldn’t be on the roads. Seeing the Waitsfield Inn and the vacancy sign, I finally relax knowing I’d gotten Greg to safety.
What I hadn’t let go of was the feeling of failure.
Once we were in our room, Greg oohed and awed over the beautiful room with its period decor, whatever period it was I didn’t know. I sank onto the bed as he went into the bathroom. Yes, I was sulking and wanted to cheer up for Greg but the funk was impenetrable.
Or so I thought.
Heading to the window, I pulled back the lacy curtain to see if the snow had stopped. The room faced the rear of the Inn. In the center of the yard was a perfectly shaped Christmas tress covered in white lights. Crowning the small tree was a bright star.
“Isn’t this place perfect?” Greg asked as he exited the bathroom.
Perfect. Greg’s words came back to me. Where ever we are, as long as we’re together, that is the perfect place.
Like the Grinch on Christmas morning hearing the Whos down in Whoville singing, my cold heart swelled in my chest. God, I was such an ass and I grinned. Turning, I ran and grabbed Greg’s coat and shoved it at him.
“Put this on and your boots.”
“W-what?”
I ignored the confusion on his face as I pulled on parka and boots.
“We’re not going to New York City!” Greg insisted, stomping his foot.
I stopped at the door. “Just outside. Come with me, please?” Damn he was so cute with that confused look on his face. I stepped before him and cupped his cheeks as he’d done with me on the mountain. “Trust me.”
He nodded without contemplation, sliding on his boots and coat and blindly following me outside of the Inn, and trudging through the snow. I stopped before the tree and took his hands. Greg smiled, the lights from the tree sparkling in his eyes.
“It’s not Rockefeller Center, but...”
“But it’s perfect,” Greg said.
I studied his face, the gentleness of his smile, the love in his eyes and I couldn’t help but think I was the luckiest man on earth. “No,” I whispered. “You’re perfect.”
I laid a gentle kiss on his warm lips, ready to drop to my knees and profess my undying love when Greg pulled away and sank to one knee. Shock quickly replaced my bewilderment as he pulled a small black box from his pocket.
“I was going to do this in New York but here it goes. You, Lawson, are my knight in shining armor, my hero and my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?” With that, he opened the lid and presented me with a silver wedding band with what looked to be a Celtic design.
My jaw dropped as I stared at the ring, my thoughts frozen. When my thoughts started to process again, I looked at his face, his pensive expression telling me he was afraid I might say no.
I laughed out loud at the irony of the situation and fell to my knees, the cold snow melting into my jeans.
His pensiveness was replaced by confusion. “What’s so funny?”
I rested my hand on his arm. “I was going to propose to you tonight in front of that damned tree. Then everything got screwed up and then I realized I left the ring in my truck. Damn,” I said smiling.
“No wonder you were so pissy,” Greg said. He paused and bit his lower lip. Was it shaking? “You were really going to ask me to marry you?” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes, baby, I was.”
In the light of the tree, his eyes shined and he was simply beautiful.
“Yes,” he said with a shaky breath.
I frowned. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I will marry you,” he said.
I chuckled. “But you asked me.”
He sniffed and then laughed. “Oh, right. Guess I got caught in the moment.”
Leaning forward, I rested our foreheads together. “Yes, Greg. I will be your husband. There’s nothing on this earth I want more. I love you.”
The tears spilled over Greg’s lashed and bright trails streaked his face. “Love you, too, Law.”
Greg pulled the ring from the box and with a shaky hand placed it on my ring finger. The fit was perfect. The moment even more perfect.
Greg wiped his tears as we stood and I pulled him close to me. He sniffled and burrowed his face into my neck.
“How about we go inside and make use of that big bed?” I whispered into his ear. The resulting shudder filled my cock at lightning speed.
Greg pulled away from me and stepped back. A wry smile crossed his face. “I have another surprise.” With that, he unzipped his jacket and pulled up the front of his sweater to reveal pink lace.
Instantly, my mouth watered and my cock throbbed in my jeans. “Is that...?”
He nodded seductively, dropping his sweater, and taking a step back. “Pink lace corset with matching panties and...” He took another step away from me. “Pink sheer stockings.”
Lust drove me toward him picturing him in that pink lace. I growled as he scooted away from me. Fuck, he was teasing me.
“Come and get me,” he taunted, backing away. “I’m yours.”
My heart leapt. “Always,” I declared and the chase was on.
## Thanks for reading Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal. Visit RJ’s blog for a complete list of authors and their stories.
Welcome to the RJ Scott Christmas Tour. Thanks for stopping by! Twenty authors and twenty short stories. Look for the link to the other authors participating at the end of this story.
Prizes. We have prizes. Leave a comment and an email address to be entered into the drawing for an eBook from my backlist or a $5 amazon gift card. Two lucky winners will be chosen at the end of the month.
Note: When RJ asked us to write about the MCs from one of our previous stories, I went to Facebook and asked readers who they wanted to hear from. Lawson and Greg from Pink Lace and Stolen Hearts were the hands down winners. If you haven’t read Pink Lace and Stolen Hearts, click to read the free story then read Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal
Blurb:All Lawson wants to do is propose to Greg in front of the tree in Rockefeller Center but the fates seem to have other plans.
Throwing down my wrench, I sighed in exasperation. Glancing at my watch didn’t help to decrease my frustration. It was nine AM on a Saturday, December 23rd, my supposed day off. Right. I was the superintendent at an apartment building in Burlington, VT. One of my employees, Bernie was supposed to cover my maintenance duties that weekend at but had an emergency. Something about his wife cutting her finger. He was going to be late. While I felt bad for as I lay under the sink of apartment 2A, I couldn’t help but take out my frustration on the pipes. I might have been banging around a bit too loud.
“Everything alright under there?” the tenant, Mr. Woodard asked.
Grunting, I tightened the coupling of the new pipe I’d installed and scooted out from under the sink. “Leak is fixed and you’re all set.”
Jumping up, I turned on the water, and then crouched to survey the pipe, crossing my fingers nothing leaked. Glancing at my watch again, I cursed inwardly. My plans with Greg had been derailed for the second time that day. First, my truck had a flat on the way into work. And now, if this pipe continued to leak, I wouldn’t be responsible for the hissy fit I would throw. I had made a promise to Greg, the love of my life. A promise I planned to keep.
“Looks good,” I said gathering up my tools at lightning speed. My tension was quickly leaving and my elation growing as I exited the apartment. In less than two hours, Greg and I would be on the road for New York City and Rockefeller Center. Greg was a true romantic and every year he would sigh and awww over the sight of the tree, and the lights and the skaters on TV. Every year, he wished he could visit. This year I had surprised him with an early Christmas gift of an overnight trip to the city. As long as my pag—
The incessant beep of the pager on my belt drew a loud “fuck” from me. The shout reverberated through the empty hallway and I cringed, waiting for someone to call me out on my foul language. After a few seconds, I blew out a breath. There were a lot of kids in the building. All I needed was a complaint from a parent that I was teaching them bad words.
Yanking the pager from its holder, I grinned. Mrs. Reynolds in 4C. She was an elderly lady who couldn’t see well and probably couldn’t find her deaf Chihuahua, Sweetums. Usually, he was always right out in the open. Knowing the task wouldn’t take long, I sprinted up the stairs. My cell rang as I reached the top. My grin widened and my chest filled with a sappy warmth upon seeing it was Greg calling. Damn, if anyone had said a year ago that I would be gaga over a man, I would have balked. But here I was head over heels in love with my best friend of seven years. It had taken me six of those years to get my head out of my ass and realize I was in love. In love with a man. In love with Greg.
“Hey, baby, I just have to locate Sweetums and I’m on my way,” I said rapidly, making my way to Mrs. Reynolds door.
Greg giggled and that sweet sound wrapped around me like a warm blanket. “Those two are something else,” Greg said. “I just wanted to tell you not to worry about packing. Your suitcase and the car are both packed. You just need to hop in and we can go.”
I swallowed hard. Greg always took care of me in so many ways, even when we had only been friends. With his caring nature, he couldn’t help but put others before him, couldn’t help but put me first. Damn, if I was going to let him down. This was more than a trip. This was our future and he deserved what I had planned. When I had finally admitted my love to Greg, he’d told me that he wanted to get married, that he wanted it all, the ring, the wedding, the kids. He wanted it with me, if I would have him. And I wanted him.
“Thanks, baby. You’re the best. I’ll be there by ten-thirty and then we’re off the New York City.”
Greg’s whoop was heartening. As I stepped up to Mrs. Reynolds door, my grin faded as I smelled smoke. Then the building’s alarm went off. Shit.
“I have to go. I’ll see you soon,” I said and clicked off the call and knocked. “Mrs. Reynolds.” Nothing. Banging on the door, my heart rate kicked into overdrive wondering if she was injured or worse. “Mrs. Reynolds! Open the door!”
When she didn’t answer, I scrambled to get the master key from the massive ring I had for the building. “Come on,” I muttered finally opening the door. A grey haze hung in the apartment and there was that charcoal-like smell of something burning.
“Mrs. Reynolds? It’s Lawson. Where are you?”
Sweetums came barreling from around the couch, growling and trying to grab my pant legs with his mouth. Poor thing was probably scared to death. I ignored the dog and raced into the kitchen, the alarm blaring in my ears, to find Mrs. Reynolds trying to fan the smoke out the window. Beside her, more smoke poured from the toaster.
“Mrs. Reynolds, you need to get out of here until the smoke clears.”
“Something is stuck in the toaster,” she said.
I sighed and pulled the plug. “Everything will be okay. Let’s get you out of here and I’ll get this cleaned up.
****
Two hours. Two hours to clear the apartment, deal with the fire department and the other tenants who were pissy because they had had to trudge outside in the cold because of a toaster. I smelled like burnt toast and the plastic of the knife Mrs. Reynolds had dropped into the toaster trying to retrieve the bread stuck in the appliance. She thought she had unplugged the toaster but had unplugged the coffee maker instead.
As I entered our apartment, an hour late, Greg rushed to me but stopped short. His nose crinkled and he frowned. “You smell like smoke. Shower quick.”
“I’m sorry,” I said for the tenth time as he pushed me to the bathroom.
“Just shower quickly so we can get on the road. Clothes are on the sink.”
Before he could shut me in, I turned and smiled then stole a kiss. “How about you jump in with me?” God, I couldn’t get enough of him.
“Shower,” Greg barked but he couldn’t suppress the smirk threatening his lips. “Maybe I’ll give you a little something on the way.”
Quickest shower ever.
****
“Are you sure this is the way we should go?” I asked as the woman on the GPS guided us over Route 100 going south. Greg had to drop off some appliance I’d never hear of to his sister for making pasta, which had revised our route. I had never been on this road before, which wound through the mountains by Mad River Glen Ski resort.
“It’s was the route that loaded when I asked for the shortest way to get there.” Greg frowned looking at the sky. “Is it supposed to snow?”
I glanced up at the bleak, grey blackness. The weather had said a chance of flurries but I’d only check New York since I had planned to head over bridge and hit the highway south.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said grasping Greg’s hand. He tended to worry about the weather and traveling in storms made him nervous.
The reassuring look I gave seemed to calm him. I was the one who wasn’t too sure about the weather. Twenty minutes later, we hit a snow squall going through the mountain pass. I slowed to twenty-five miles an hour, barely able to see a few feet in front of the car. Greg white knuckled the armrest between us. While I should have been worried about the snow and staying on the road, my anger was rising. We were falling farther behind. In my head, I revised out plans. If we didn’t check into the hotel first, we could go straight to Rockefeller Center. In my duffle bag that I carried for work was the silver ring I had bought Greg over three months ago, waiting for the perfect time to pop the question. In front of the tree in NYC was the perfect place.
My irritation grew until I ground my teeth. When I took a sharp corner, the road disappeared beneath a white blanket of snow that had blown over the road. The car began to slide and, even though we were only moving fifteen miles per hour, we slid into the bank.
When the car settled, I reached for Greg. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, wide eyed, his chest heaving slightly. “I’m good.”
When he didn’t say anything more, I put the car into reverse but the back tires spun uselessly. I grumbled as I put the car into park. The snow continued to fall relentlessly as I opened the door.
Greg’s hand clamped down on my wrist. “Where’re you going?” While he was trying to remain calm, I could see that he was scared.
I patted his hand. “I need to see if I can dig us out.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for a plow?”
I reined my anger in for what I deemed was Fate messing with my plans. Greg hadn’t done anything wrong and I didn’t want to tell him that it could be hours before a plow showed up. I’d rather not freeze to death on the mountain. “Just let me take a look, okay?”
When he reluctantly nodded, I cupped the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. His body instantly relaxed against me. When we pulled away he said, “Be careful.”
I nodded, zipped my parka up to my chin and pulled on my hat and gloves. Outside the wind whipped the snow into my eyes. Damn, I couldn’t see much but enough to know the car was entrenched in the snowdrift. Past that, the road looked passable. Without a shovel, though it was pretty hopeless but I had to try. I made sure the tailpipe was cleared of snow then rounded the front and started to clear the snow from around the tires. I unleashed my anger, pushing adrenaline through my veins, increasing my fortitude to get us free and to Rockefeller Center. The ring in my duffle bag was going to get on Greg’s finger that night, so help me God.
Thirty minutes later, I was frozen to the bone. My feet and hands were numb and my entire body, including my eyelashes and face, were caked with snow. I imagined I resembled a frozen Jack Nicholson at the end of the Shining. Greg pleaded with me repeatedly to get into the car but letting him down wasn’t an option.
When the car door opened, I spun around, barking at Greg to get back into the car. He’d tried several times to get out and help but I hadn’t allowed it. This was his special trip and that’s exactly what I planned to deliver.
Greg ignored my harsh words and cupped my icy cheeks in his hands. The warmth barely registered. “Law, please, honey. I need you to get back into the car. Please.” Greg’s breath hitched.
“But I p-promised y-you R-roc-ckef-feller C-cent-ter,” I stuttered out. I hadn’t even noticed my teeth were chattering.
His brow creased and that’s when I saw the shininess in his eyes. I was scaring him. I was a shit.
“Lawson, you’re more important to me than Rockefeller Center. You’re going to get frostbite. Get in the car. We have plenty of gas and we can wait out the plow.”
The warmth of his hands had thawed my cheeks and suddenly I wanted to cuddle with him and get warm. When I nodded, he smiled wide and didn’t hesitate to release me so I could return the heated car.
****
My body had thawed quickly thanks to Greg stripping me of my boots ad jacket. Oh, and crawling into my lap and sitting on my hands. Before long, he had me relaxed and forgetting we were stuck on a mountaintop in a snowstorm. Making out in the car was actually hot. When Greg broke our kiss, I was breathless and hard as I ran my hands over his chest.
He looked at me with his lust-ridden eyes. “Nothing is more important to me than you, Lawson. Where ever you are is where I want to be, even stuck in a car in a snowstorm. I don’t need NYC or anywhere else because where ever we are, as long as we’re together, that is the perfect place.”
He was right. We were here now and I needed to tell him how important he was to me, how right my life had become when he agreed to be mine. I reached up and brushed my hand over his cheek, mesmerized by the love I had for him threatening to burst my heart. Why not here and now? Why not...
A thought caught my breath and I turned to look into the back seat. Panic welled in my chest when I didn’t see my duffle bag.
“Let me up,” I told Greg and practically threw him into the passenger seat. He flailed and managed to get over the console.
“What the hell, Law?”
I clicked the trunk button and jumped from the car. Looking over the contents, I immediately I knew that in my hurry to leave I had left my duffle bag in my truck, along with Greg’s ring.
“FUCK!” I screamed at the grey sky as fat heavy flakes brushed over my face.
I hung my head as Greg rushed to me. I had failed big time. Failed Greg.
He laid his hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, biting my cheek hard to stop from blurting out what I’d done. “I’m sorry for screwing up your trip.”
Greg barked out a laugh that lifted my head. “So you cut Bernie’s wife’s hand and intentionally got a flat tire and made that pipe leak and filled Mrs. Reynold’s apartment with smoke and caused a snow storm?”
“No! But I you deserved something perfect.”
“Jesus, Law, give yourself a break,” Greg snarled. Damn, he sounded pissed. That expression quickly left as he turned his head, his brow raised. “Did you hear that?”
I turned my head back toward the road and saw the lights breaking over the hill.
“Yes!” Greg shouted as the plow turned the corner.
I waved my arms like a loon as if the driver would miss seeing us and drive by. The plow stopped and the window rolled down. A man with grey hair and a red beanie stuck his head out. “Seems like you boys got yourself in quite a pickle. Good thing I came along.”
****
I sighed with relief as we entered the town of Waitsfield. We had followed the plow down the mountain after the plow driver, Frank, kindly pulled us from the snow bank. Even though the snow had let up, I knew we shouldn’t be on the roads. Seeing the Waitsfield Inn and the vacancy sign, I finally relax knowing I’d gotten Greg to safety.
What I hadn’t let go of was the feeling of failure.
Once we were in our room, Greg oohed and awed over the beautiful room with its period decor, whatever period it was I didn’t know. I sank onto the bed as he went into the bathroom. Yes, I was sulking and wanted to cheer up for Greg but the funk was impenetrable.
Or so I thought.
Heading to the window, I pulled back the lacy curtain to see if the snow had stopped. The room faced the rear of the Inn. In the center of the yard was a perfectly shaped Christmas tress covered in white lights. Crowning the small tree was a bright star.
“Isn’t this place perfect?” Greg asked as he exited the bathroom.
Perfect. Greg’s words came back to me. Where ever we are, as long as we’re together, that is the perfect place.
Like the Grinch on Christmas morning hearing the Whos down in Whoville singing, my cold heart swelled in my chest. God, I was such an ass and I grinned. Turning, I ran and grabbed Greg’s coat and shoved it at him.
“Put this on and your boots.”
“W-what?”
I ignored the confusion on his face as I pulled on parka and boots.
“We’re not going to New York City!” Greg insisted, stomping his foot.
I stopped at the door. “Just outside. Come with me, please?” Damn he was so cute with that confused look on his face. I stepped before him and cupped his cheeks as he’d done with me on the mountain. “Trust me.”
He nodded without contemplation, sliding on his boots and coat and blindly following me outside of the Inn, and trudging through the snow. I stopped before the tree and took his hands. Greg smiled, the lights from the tree sparkling in his eyes.
“It’s not Rockefeller Center, but...”
“But it’s perfect,” Greg said.
I studied his face, the gentleness of his smile, the love in his eyes and I couldn’t help but think I was the luckiest man on earth. “No,” I whispered. “You’re perfect.”
I laid a gentle kiss on his warm lips, ready to drop to my knees and profess my undying love when Greg pulled away and sank to one knee. Shock quickly replaced my bewilderment as he pulled a small black box from his pocket.
“I was going to do this in New York but here it goes. You, Lawson, are my knight in shining armor, my hero and my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?” With that, he opened the lid and presented me with a silver wedding band with what looked to be a Celtic design.
My jaw dropped as I stared at the ring, my thoughts frozen. When my thoughts started to process again, I looked at his face, his pensive expression telling me he was afraid I might say no.
I laughed out loud at the irony of the situation and fell to my knees, the cold snow melting into my jeans.
His pensiveness was replaced by confusion. “What’s so funny?”
I rested my hand on his arm. “I was going to propose to you tonight in front of that damned tree. Then everything got screwed up and then I realized I left the ring in my truck. Damn,” I said smiling.
“No wonder you were so pissy,” Greg said. He paused and bit his lower lip. Was it shaking? “You were really going to ask me to marry you?” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes, baby, I was.”
In the light of the tree, his eyes shined and he was simply beautiful.
“Yes,” he said with a shaky breath.
I frowned. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I will marry you,” he said.
I chuckled. “But you asked me.”
He sniffed and then laughed. “Oh, right. Guess I got caught in the moment.”
Leaning forward, I rested our foreheads together. “Yes, Greg. I will be your husband. There’s nothing on this earth I want more. I love you.”
The tears spilled over Greg’s lashed and bright trails streaked his face. “Love you, too, Law.”
Greg pulled the ring from the box and with a shaky hand placed it on my ring finger. The fit was perfect. The moment even more perfect.
Greg wiped his tears as we stood and I pulled him close to me. He sniffled and burrowed his face into my neck.
“How about we go inside and make use of that big bed?” I whispered into his ear. The resulting shudder filled my cock at lightning speed.
Greg pulled away from me and stepped back. A wry smile crossed his face. “I have another surprise.” With that, he unzipped his jacket and pulled up the front of his sweater to reveal pink lace.
Instantly, my mouth watered and my cock throbbed in my jeans. “Is that...?”
He nodded seductively, dropping his sweater, and taking a step back. “Pink lace corset with matching panties and...” He took another step away from me. “Pink sheer stockings.”
Lust drove me toward him picturing him in that pink lace. I growled as he scooted away from me. Fuck, he was teasing me.
“Come and get me,” he taunted, backing away. “I’m yours.”
My heart leapt. “Always,” I declared and the chase was on.
## Thanks for reading Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal. Visit RJ’s blog for a complete list of authors and their stories.
November 30, 2014
2014 NaNoWriMo Winner!!!
WOOHOO!!
Yes! I did it!! My goal was only 25,000 but I hit 50,010 words today for the month of November! And I am close to finishing Jerricho’s Freedom! Better get writing some more!!
November 18, 2014
Welcome MA Church and Her Novel Priceless Now Available in German!
Money may be able to buy many things, except true love. And true love is…
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5761
Hey everyone! I’ve very pleased to announce Dreamspinner has translated Pricelessinto German. The release date is November 25th. Pricelessis a romance in which mortals, immortals, and the Greco-Roman god, Cupid himself, find hot sex, overwhelming passion, and, of course, love.
Blurb:
Funken sprühen, als Amor seinen Pfeil auf zwei Sterbliche in Las Vegas richtet: Randy Jones, ein ganz normaler junger Mann im Wochenendurlaub, schaut am Würfeltisch in Garretts Augen und es ist um ihn geschehen. All seinen Prinzipien zum Trotz lässt er sich auf ein leidenschaftliches, zweitägiges Abenteuer mit Garrett ein – und stellt erschüttert fest, dass er sich verliebt hat.
Der zynische Milliardär Garrett Shiffler hat alles, was man sich mit Geld kaufen kann. Da ihn andere Menschen vor allem als Geldquelle betrachten, hat er den Glauben an Unschuld und Liebe schon vor langer Zeit verloren. Doch als Randy verschwindet und ihn mit unerwarteten Gefühlen zurücklässt, nimmt er sich vor, Randy für sich zu gewinnen – und diesmal muss er mit seinem Herzen anstatt seinem Bankkonto kämpfen.
Währenddessen fragt sich Amor, was geschehen ist. Seine Pfeile verfehlen niemals ihr Ziel, es sei denn, das Schicksal selbst greift ein. Wenn Garrett Randy zurückgewinnen möchte, ist er auf sich allein gestellt, denn jetzt kann ihm selbst Amor nicht mehr helfen.
Blurb (in Enlish, lol):
Sparks ignite when Cupid takes aim at two mortals in Las Vegas: Randy Jones, an average guy on a company vacation, looks into Garrett’s eyes at a craps table and time stands still. Throwing aside everything he believes, Randy engages in a torrid two-night affair with Garrett—only to panic when he realizes he’s fallen in love.
Cynical billionaire Garrett Shiffler has everything money can buy, and most of his dates can’t see past the dollar signs. Life has taught him that innocence and love are figments of the imagination. But when Randy disappears, taking with him feelings Garrett thought he’d never know, Garrett wages the most important battle of his life to win Randy's love—but this time he fights with his heart, not his bank account.
Meanwhile, Cupid wonders what happened. His golden arrows never fail unless the Fates interfere. If Garrett wants to win Randy back, he’s going to have to do it on his own, because the Fates have other plans for Cupid.
M.A. Church
M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!
When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.
She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.
Visit M.A. at her blog http://machurch00.blogspot.com
Twitter @nomoretears00
Facebook: M.A. Church http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Chur...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church
DSP author page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_650
November 16, 2014
November 4, 2014
Spooktacular Blog Hop Giveaway Winners Announced!
Thanks to everyone who entered the Spooktacular Blog Hop Giveaway!! And congrats to the three winners of my latest release, Diventando: The Vessel! Kazy, Susan and Carrier!
October 31, 2014
Spooktacular Blog Hop!! Oct 31st through Nov 2nd!! Mwahahaha!
Welcome to the Spooktacular Blog Hop!! October 31st through November 1st!Great authors and great prizes!!! Halloween is one of my favorite times of year not because I love the decorations or the costumes. No, I LOVE scary movies and the entire month of October is filled with them!
I also LOVE to write paranormal novels. So as part of the Spooktacular Halloween Hop I am giving away three eBook copies of my new novel, Diventando: The Vessel. How do I win one of these eBooks you may ask? Easy. Leave a comment and tell me your favorite scary movies! I will pick 3 random winners on NOv. 3rd from those who leave comments so include your email address as well please! Also, read my two free Halloween stories, Thor and the Computer Nerd: A Short Halloween Love Story.And
The Corn Maze
And without further ado. Here is a list (in no particular order) of a few of my favorite scary movies! The House On Haunted Hill (original version)The ShiningHalloweenThe Blair Witch ProjectThe OmenThe Exorcist Now tell me yours and Happy Halloween!!
October 21, 2014
Wednesday Briefs #25 The Hollow: Soul Seekers
Copyright 2014 JC WallaceEach 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 links at the end to visit the other flashers.~~~~~*~~~~~
Levi let out a long sigh escape. Why did she have to mention that? Dr. Winston continued. “The pendant blocks energy. For some reason, Jeb’s energy is having an adverse effect on you. I’ve never seen anything like it.” “Nothing like it? It’s all freaking crazy if you ask me. So it was you every time this thing happened to me?” He pointed to Jeb, accusingly. Jeb stood, arms at his side, very still, too still. “Do you know what kind of hell you put me through? I thought I was going crazy, losing my friggin’ mind. I thought my skull was going to disintegrate. I almost died, at least three times.” He said pushing three fingers toward Jeb. Dr. Winston’s head jerked in Jeb’s direction but Jeb remained deathly still. “Yeah, that’s right. After that first time, you were around at the college; I ended in the lake because I felt like my body was on fire.” A raised eyebrow then low chuckle came from Jeb. “On purpose?” “Yeah, only I don’t see how dropping twenty feet into an icy Adirondack Lake, breaking a rib, then almost freezing to death is funny,” Levi seethed. Jeb flinched as if Levi had swung at him. “The second time, when you were outside my house, I almost swallowed an entire bottle of pills because I couldn’t take the crushing sadness that came after seeing you. And then yesterday when you touched me, my Godm the pain, and then my nose started bleeding and, well…forget it.” Levi plunked down into the chair rubbing his temples hard. “Levi, I’m sorry. We didn’t have a clue it was that bad,” Dr. Winston said. “Well, maybe if you’d asked before sending your goon after me, all of this could have been avoided,” Levi said, wondering how hard he’d have to rub to crush his skull and end all of this here. Slowly, sitting up his headache began to dissipate. Jeb had resumed his relaxed position against the wall, playing with that damned pendant, the only barrier between Levi’s sanity and utter hell when he was near. The corner of Jeb’s mouth curled a bit, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Was the cocky jerk enjoying Levi’s pain? Jeb tilted his head a bit and wrapped his fist around the pendant. His lips parted a bit. Startling warmth flooded through Levi’s body. Levi rubbed began to rub his palms slowly over the tops of his thighs. Jeb held Levi’s gaze. Jeb gave his bottom a slow languorous lick. Levi’s eyes followed the pink appendage. God, what would it be like to suck on that lip? What the hell was that? Levi sat straight up in the chair, the action tipping it a bit. “You okay,” Dr. Winston asked, reaching out to steady the chair “Not really,” Levi said blatantly. Jeb unwrapped his fingers from the pendant but continued to hold it with two fingers. Dr. Winston carried on. “I’m confused about some things you said.” Welcome to my world. “What exactly happened that drove you into the lake and to swallow the pills? Once Jeb wasn’t near, the affect would have ended.” Levi explained the euphoria, the searing heat that followed. He described the sadness and overwhelming despair but stopped before telling about the wanton need for Noah and his murderous desires. “What about yesterday?” Jeb asked. Levi glared at him but Jeb continued. “After I left you.” Levi averted his gaze to his hands unsure how to answer that. “Let’s just say there’s this person,”—no way was he outing himself here—“and, well...” He swallowed hard, trying to suppress his blush. “It was all nice and cozy and then it wasn’t.” “What wasn’t “nice”?” Jeb asked, leaning forward, scowling. “I wanted to kill this person, okay? If I hadn’t gotten away from this person, I might have done it with my bare hands.” Jeb cocked an eyebrow as if impressed with his statement. “You just wanted to kill this person. Nothing else.” Levi narrowed his eyes, wondering what Jeb thought he knew. “Um, first I might have wanted to…you know…”Levi could feel his face turn about ten shades of purple. “What?” Jeb pushed. Levi signed. “We were kissing and you know it got a little out of control and then I felt like I wanted to murder this person,” Levi confessed, unsettled sharing the information. “So after you left Jeb each time you experienced an intense emotion running the spectrum. On one end a mild euphoria which, when untethered, can turn to a raging burning high. Sadness to utter despair and then lust to a murderous rage.” Sounded right. “Can you tell me why I had those emotions? Levi asked. “Not really. I mean they’re normal emotions. Something definitely triggered their intensity.” Levi shook his head. “You don’t understand. I don’t feel, ever. Except for a few times when something really bad happened.” Levi continued without trepidation. Might as well throw all of his most embarrassing details onto that table. “I’m as dead inside as they come. I don’t even cry unless I’m really hurt. I totally pissed off my brother yesterday, hurt him, the only person in my life who has always been there for me and I just did it. Felt a little guilty, tried really hard to cry when I saw the pain in his eyes but nothing.” Levi was disgusted by his hideous behavior toward Logan. Dr. Winston jaw dropped. Jeb didn’t move except to narrow his eyes. Levi really wanted to punch him.
## Check out the other flashers this week at www.wedbriefsfic.com
Cia NordwellM.A. ChurchChris T. KatLM BrownAvery DawesJon KeysMatthias WilliamsonVictoria AdamsCarol PedrosoSarah HayesRavon SilviusTali SpencerJulie Lynn Hayes
