Kelly Apple's Blog, page 32

Inspiration and Other Strange Things…

We’re a third of the way through November and I can say, definitively, that writing’s going well for me. Which is FANTASTIC. It would be nice if I was writing what I thought I’d be writing, but my weird zombie apocalypse love story set on a deserted cruise ship is fun so I can’t complain.

That said, I feel like I should confess I have a deep weakness for zombie stories. Actually, it’s not zombies so much as the post-apocalyptic leanings of our world after something terrible has happened. I like adding zombies to it because they give a dangerous little zing to anything you do in those post-apocalyptic wastelands.

Dead things trying to kill you can turn even a walk down the street into a harrowing fight for your life. Yesssss.

I wasn’t born loving zombies and broken societies, however. I think all that stems from a little gem of a movie called Night of the Comet. The first time I saw it was in… (hold on, I’m thinking)…junior high (maybe!) at a sleep over and HOLY WOW IT WAS FUN.

Seriously! LOOK AT THAT COVER!

Zombies! Spunky heroines! End of the world shenanigans!

It was campy and it had plot holes big enough to drive a delivery van through, but I loved it. I hunted down a copy of that thing years later and I pull it out whenever I need an end of the world pick-me-up.

If you ever wonder why I head into zombie apocalypse romance territory every so often (and I guess I should mention I have QUITE A FEW unpublished zombie apocalypse romances sitting on my hard drive), blame that movie. It wired my brain to love feisty heroines battling the dead (and the corrupt living!) while trying to figure out how they’re going to survive once it’s all done.

I’m a sucker for camp and destruction and I won’t apologize for it.

On that note, it’s time to dive back into this abandoned cruise ship and the dangers it’s hiding!

The post Inspiration and Other Strange Things… appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Wicked Pride Short – Girls’ Night

The next set of series shorts feature the crew of the Wicked Pride series. Cami and Luna are up first. Enjoy!

 

Girls’ Night

Wicked Pride

Cami and Luna

“OHMYGOD, Cami, stop smirking already.”

For all she tried to rein it in, Cami’s smirk intensified at Luna’s melodramatic wail.

“Not all of us are lucky enough to be banging the hottest piece of wolf-flesh who ever walked the earth. Have mercy on my poor, neglected lady garden, will you!”

Cami didn’t even try to keep her laughter in when Luna said that. Her poor, neglected lady garden, Cami’s foot. Luna had a collection of self-pleasuring devices that would make most cats blush. Seeing as how cats were notoriously un-prudish, that was saying a lot.

When she could find the breath to speak again, Cami rolled over and pulled up the website for their favorite take out place on her phone. “I’m thinking we need a girls’ night.”

“God, yes.”

“We can tell the boys to stay away and gorge ourselves on wontons and ice cream.”

“Fantastic.” Luna flopped down beside her on the bed and looked at the menu over her shoulder. “I want hot and sour soup. And eggrolls. And chow mein.”

“Do we have ice cream or do we need to make a run to the store?”

“We have half a carton of mint chocolate chip and half a carton of something with caramel in it.”

They looked at one another. “Run to the store,” they said in unison.

Luna laughed and bounced up. “Awesome. Let me brush my hair and put on some pants that don’t have brain matter on them while you call in our order.”

Making a face at the reminder of their day job, Cami scrolled through the rest of the menu offerings before deciding on sweet and sour pork, orange chicken, and broccoli beef. After a brief moment of contemplation, she substituted Szechuan beef for the sweet and sour pork on her mental list. The sweet and sour sauce was a little too close to jellied brain goo for her to be comfortable eating it after they day they had.

Biological cleanup was a rough job and she didn’t want to have any flashbacks to what they’d been scraping off the walls while eating.

By the time she’d called in the order, Luna had changed and was bouncing on the balls of her feet by the front door. “C’mon, chica! I’ll drive. I want decadent frozen goodness and enough Chinese food to choke a man.”

Both were doable.

As they got into Luna’s car, Cami fired off a quick text to Bran to let him know she was staying in with her best friend for the night. Her sexy werewolf got growly when he was left out of the loop.

That’s what you got for hooking up with an Alpha, though. They felt responsible for everyone and weren’t afraid to tell them.

A text chime just moments later had her looking down at her phone and snorting out a laugh.

Sexy slumber party?

What a dork. Bran spent almost as much time at her place as he did at the new pack house he had bought for his wolves. He damn well knew there were no sexy slumber parties going on.

Ooh, yeah, she texted. Luna’s got her see-thru lingerie on already.

Lie. Luna was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, her hair in a sloppy ponytail. Even then, the crazy bitch looked good.

What are you wearing, pretty kitty? Came Bran’s next text.

Another snorting laugh. Sweat pants and a shirt so faded she almost couldn’t see the logo on it.

Thigh high stockings and my sexy nurse outfit.

Luna looked over at her when she laughed again. “Seriously? I thought this was a no dudes night.”

“I’m not inviting him over,” she said with a grin.

Now Luna was the one to snort out a laugh. “Right. You’re just torturing him with lies about what we’re doing, aren’t you?”

Her best friend knew her so well.

They both laughed all the way to the grocery store where they bought half a dozen flavors of ice cream before heading over to their favorite Chinese restaurant to pick up their order.

And if Cami left her man hanging just to make sure he snuck over later that night to check on them, no one was surprised. Least of all Luna.

The End

Want more of Cami and Luna? Start with No Reservations and see how Cami and Bran first met!

The post Wicked Pride Short – Girls’ Night appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Looking Back on October…

Goodbye, October. I feel like I hardly got to know you. (I KNOW! I say a variation of that every month, but…these months go so fast!)

Things that happened in October:

Possessed, book one in the When Worlds Collide series, was released. That’s right, my friends: NEW SERIES! I plan on writing book 2 in November. Which leads me to…
I’m participating in NaNoWriMo (as I do every year) and I have a TON of books I want to get written. My plan is to knock out book 2 in the WWC series, plus get a good jump on the final Monstrous serial. MOAR ARI!
I started a new THANG on Tuesdays…a series of short scenes giving us a glimpse into the lives of characters you know and love. October’s snippets all revolved around Mason and Natalie from the Anderson High Wolves series. November’s scenes were supposed to be Thanksgiving-related, but Ari and Liam wanted me to write about them. So I did. TUESDAYS! BE THERE!

Looking toward November:

Expect a lot of updates about all things writing. I have BOOKS to write. YES!
I might talk about coffee, too. AHAHAHA. Who am I kidding? It’s going to be all words, all the time! LET’S WRITE!

Here’s to an insanely productive November!

The post Looking Back on October… appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Anderson High Wolves Short – The Exchange

The conclusion of the Anderson High Wolves shorts featuring Mason and Natalie and their weird gift-giving.

The Exchange

Anderson High Wolves

Mason and Natalie

Mason’s grandmother had shooed him out of the kitchen moments ago. She’d taken one look at the sawdust on his clothes and ordered him to get away from her precious pies.

He’d gone, of course. His grandma could be downright scary when it came to her pies and he loved those pies enough to make sure the supply line remained open. Plus, he loved his grandma. If she didn’t want him around, he’d beat a retreat as fast as wolfishly possible.

Natalie came stumbling down the back steps mere moments after he did. Her expression caught between confusion and outrage, flour dusting her collarbone and throat.

He liked that. He could just imagine how it had ended up there. She’d lift one flour-covered hand up to cover her pulse when her heart rate skyrocketed upon seeing him.

Mason knew his eyes had gone to wolf when Natalie stumbled to a halt and that floury hand rose up exactly like he’d seen in his imagination. A growl rumbled out of him and he watched her like a predator watches his prey.

The thought that she might run had him shifting forward to the balls of his feet.

He could smell the sudden rush of adrenaline on her. Her hand couldn’t hide how her heart was pounding now. He could hear it. Smell it. Taste it.

A chase through the woods would be nice. The perfect end to a perfect day.

And when he caught her…

Another harsher growl rumbled out of him.

He wanted to catch her. He wanted to run and chase and catch and play with his food before he devoured it.

Natalie didn’t run. Not away from him, at least.

She stalked toward him, bold as you please, her hand falling away from her throat to leave the ghostly outline on her skin.

Gods above, he loved it. He loved the strength in those seemingly delicate hands. If he stepped out of line, those hands would haul him back.

He didn’t doubt it.

One of the hands in question thumped down onto his chest and he stared at it, the hunger to chase fading as her touch and scent wrapped around him. His mate. His love.

She smelled like apples and cinnamon and Natalie. Three things he adored.

“Grandma said she’d finish up in the kitchen.”

Mason jolted at her words. She didn’t flinch away from his too-sharp stare when he raised his eyes to hers. She stared back, her gaze only dropping to watch her fingers caress him lightly through his shirt.

Damn clothes. He didn’t like the barrier between them.

His need for skin-on-skin contact was high. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and feel those strong curves against him. He wanted to coax those needy sounds he loved from her.

“She said you had something to show me.”

His grin was definitely wolfish. He had something to show her alright.

His love’s eyes narrowed and that caressing finger gave him a sharp poke. “Not that, dork. Your grandma wouldn’t send me out here to check out your trouser snake.”

Given the amount of pheromones he was throwing off, maybe that’s exactly what she had in mind.

Mason blinked. No. His grandma was wonderfully candid about natural urges, but he didn’t think she’d condone him getting naked with his mate on their back lawn.

His wolf disagreed. Having Natalie’s hands on him sounded like heaven and he wanted it.

Mason wrestled his animal side down. Think. Think.

He’d gone into the kitchen for a reason. He’d…he’d…finished his gift for Natalie. He wanted to show it to her.

A mate gift to show his appreciation for his beautiful mate.

Grumbling, his wolf retreated. Natalie deserved to be showered with gifts. If she didn’t like their creation, he’d bring her a fresh kill as a token of his love.

That glorious hand had gone back to petting his chest.

“Mason? Is there somewhere we need to go?”

Brows pulling down, he nodded. Words hovered on the tip of his tongue, but he was dumbstruck by her beauty. And that ghostly handprint on her throat kept drawing his eye.

He adored that spot on her. Loved it. When Natalie was ready, he’d place his mark there. A claim for all the world to see.

His wolf chuffed in agreement.

Capturing her stroking hand, Mason tugged her toward the shed across the yard. Half hidden by trees, it looked innocuous and small.

Inside, he’d poured his heart out to her.

An ode to her beauty. Her strength. Her.

He hadn’t covered it when he’d gone to get her from the kitchen. He hadn’t cleaned up much either.

He should have. The layer of sawdust and shavings under his carving looked messy.

Glancing at her, he stilled.

She didn’t see the mess. She only had eyes for the small statue sitting in the center of the table.

“Oh, Mason. How beautiful,” she breathed.

Mason’s chest expanded and pride filled him. She liked it. It wasn’t perfect—he enjoyed woodworking, but he wasn’t a master at it—but it was unmistakably them. A human woman and a too-large wolf.

Sliding behind her, Mason wrapped his arms around his love.

He smelled salt and saw the tears trembling on the edge of her lashes. Happy tears, he hoped. Nuzzling in, he set his lips against the tempting spot on her throat and let everything Natalie soak into him.

Her scent was his version of nirvana. The feel of her in his arms was home.

She twisted and caught her face in her palms.

“You beautiful man,” she said and found his mouth with hers. “Beautiful, perfect man.”

Mason closed his eyes and sank into the kiss. He’d poured his love for her into the statue as he teased the details from the wood. Now he poured that same love into their kiss.

He loved this woman.

Endlessly.

There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. He’d be there for her through the darkest night. He’d stand beside her through the worst life had to throw at them.

He’d protect her and love her and show her she was the most important thing in the world until she believed it. He wanted his Natalie to wake up every morning knowing she was loved exactly as she was. She’d never need to change for him. She’d never need to be something other than herself.

His mate was perfect.

They were both breathing hard when they finally parted and Mason studied the beauty clinging to him as he worked on filling his starving lungs. He knew his wolf was looking out of his eyes, although he wasn’t pushing any further forward.

Natalie’s lashes fluttered up and she smiled impishly. He loved the sparkle in her. He loved how the tired, defeated look she used to wear had vanished in their time together.

“I love my gift,” she said, her voice soft.

He smiled. He’d had his concerns, naturally. Her gift to him had been light-hearted and fun. His…wasn’t. It was them. He’d meant it from the heart, but he’d worried it had been too much.

“And I love you, you handsome brute,” she went on, the sparkle in her eyes getting brighter.

Going up on her tiptoes, Natalie pressed a kiss to his chin. Then she snuggled into his chest, arms tight around his middle, and hung on.

Dropping a kiss on the crown of her head, Mason did the same.

On the table, the lovingly carved wooden statue of a woman and her wolf looked on in approval.

The End

Mason and Natalie’s story has come to an end, but there are MORE Series Shorts in the works. Check back next Tuesday for a new adventure.

The post Anderson High Wolves Short – The Exchange appeared first on Kelly Apple.

A new series has arrived!

I wasn’t going to start a new series. Did you hear that? I WASN’T GOING TO START A NEW SERIES. Even if I started one, I wasn’t going to publish anything in it until I’d written a couple books.

Guys, I started a new series and book 1 is now available even though I haven’t written book 2 yet.

I have zero explanations for how this happened. Let’s just move on, okay?

The good news is, you can grab Possessed for under a buck. UNDER A BUCK. You’ll get to meet Char and her haunted house and see why she refuses to give it up.

By the by, if I wasn’t in the middle of writing a weird zombie apocalypse love story set on an abandoned cruise ship, I’d totally be writing book 2 right now. Maybe. Anyway. I have it on my list for my November NaNoWriMo writing (*cough* I’m adding it to my list, but let’s not quibble, shall we?) and I’m hoping to zip through it along with the twenty other books I want to write.

Because life isn’t fun if you’re not juggling half a dozen story ideas!

Anyway. Possessed is here. Enjoy!

Possessed

(When Worlds Collide #1)

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Inktera

Add on Goodreads

Release Date: October 26, 2017

Pages: 59

Genre: Paranormal Romance

When she bought her new house, Char James didn't plan to also take on a ghost. It’s rude, creepy, and a downright terrible roommate. Despite that, she’s determined to show it they can live in harmony. Hopefully.

But Char's entire perspective changes when a surprise encounter rocks her world. She learns that sometimes pranks can be helpful, sometimes a ghost isn’t really a ghost...

And sometimes the scariest creature of all is the most protective.

{series page}

{all books}

The post A new series has arrived! appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Anderson High Wolves Short – Just Breathe

Part three of the Anderson High Wolves shorts featuring Mason and Natalie…

Just Breathe

Anderson High Wolves

Mason and Natalie

Mason was up to something. Natalie could feel it.

This was the third day they’d come up to his grandparents’ house this week. That in itself wasn’t strange, but the way he’d kiss her on the forehead and disappear as soon as they arrived was.

Mason did not like to be far from her, after all.

If Natalie had a speck less confidence, she’d worry he was getting bored with her. Yeah, right. That wasn’t it. Her man adored her. He worshipped her.

When he looked at her, she saw forever in his eyes.

So he wasn’t bored.

Which meant he was up to something.

She’d figure out what he was doing once she finished with this crust. Or maybe the crust after that.

Vivienne Armstrong wasn’t likely to let her waltz out of the kitchen with the pies half done, after all.

“Is that one ready for the filling?”

Pulled out of her musings by Vivienne’s voice, Natalie nodded. “How many more do you think we’ll need?”

Grandma pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as she looked in the direction of the ton of apples they’d peeled earlier. “Three should do it.”

Biting her tongue so she wouldn’t groan out loud, Natalie resigned herself to another hour or two making crusts. Normally, she’d love this one-on-one time with Mason’s grandmother. But right now she wanted to abandon their project and head out to find Mason.

“Three it is,” she said cheerfully, determined to put on a happy face.

The narrow-eyed gaze Vivienne had been giving the apple filling transferred to Natalie. Bending her head so she didn’t have to look at the older woman, Natalie set to work on mixing the ingredients for the next batch of crusts.

“Natalie Lombard, you know I absolutely love you, don’t you?”

Without raising her head, Natalie cut her eyes in Vivienne’s direction. That was an odd question.  Hearing it made her eyes well up because she couldn’t think of a time when her own parents had ever just up and said something like that.

“Yes,” she said cautiously.

“Of all my grandkids, I never would have thought Mason would be the one who found his mate this young, but I should have.”

Cutting the butter into the flour suddenly seemed a whole lot less important than hearing what Vivienne had to say. Leaving the pastry cutter in the bowl, Natalie turned toward her. She didn’t say anything, just watched the older woman as she made patterns across the top of a pie with strips of crust.

“Mason’s always been a rock.” She rolled a strip of dough and cut it in half. “He’s the one we all know we can rely on.” Dexterous fingers coaxed the cut edges to furl outward slightly until she had what looked like a perfect rose in her hand. “He’s smart and kind and he’s always willing to lend a hand when needed.”

More roses appeared in quick succession.

Natalie watched her create these masterpieces as she spoke about the man who was the center of Natalie’s world.

“When he decides to do something,” Vivienne went on, laying a trio of her created roses on the edge of the crust Natalie had just finished, “he gives his all. He believes if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”

Natalie’s head bobbed at that. There was no doubt in her mind that was true. Mason didn’t care what others thought of him. He saw a need and he fulfilled it with everything at his disposal.

“He’s making you something, dear. I imagine he’s close to being done.” Vivienne’s too-sharp gaze pinned her in place. “Don’t go ruining it by rushing out to see what he’s up to.”

Uggh. She felt like a kid called into the principal’s office.

Dammit, Vivienne was right. She needed to show a little trust in her man. Patience. Understanding.

Her mate would never do anything to harm her. He cared far too much to inflict casual hurts.

He wasn’t her mother or father.

Letting out a slow breath, Natalie let that soak in. Being up to something wasn’t a bad thing. Surprises weren’t meant to hurt.

She knew this.

Sometimes it was hard to forget the lessons her parents had taught her, though.

“How’s that crust coming?”

The lump in her throat made it too hard to speak. She made a noncommittal sound as she looked down at the mess of flour and butter in the bowl.

Fine. It was coming along fine. She’d finish cutting in the butter and add the rest of the ingredients. She’d make the crust and it would be the best damn crust to come out of this kitchen today.

Another slow breath. In and out.

Just breathe.

This one would be Mason’s pie. She’d pour all her love for him into it and make sure he knew he how very much he was loved.

By her. By his family. By everyone he’d ever extended a hand to help.

The urge to cry was still there, but it was different now. It didn’t hurt.

She didn’t hurt.

Mason Armstrong had made the first and most important chip in her armor. Vivienne Armstrong and her pies dissolved another piece.

Someday, she thought she’d be able to look at the world without seeing it through the distortion of what her parents had done to her.

Someday.

It was a goal she would work towards.

For now, she needed to concentrate on making the best damn pies the Armstrong family had ever tasted.

End

Come back next Tuesday for the final installment of Natalie and Mason’s story.

The post Anderson High Wolves Short – Just Breathe appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Planning for November

November’s THAT month, man. The one where I get to write a whole lot with a bunch of like-minded other folks. Yep, it’s NaNoWriMo!

As always (Ha. I say that, but always isn’t always the case. Although it is this time. OMG. WHAT? I need more coffee!), you can find me under Kelly Apple. If anyone is participating, add me as a writing buddy and we’ll make magic happen.

Or something.

My plan this NaNoWriMo is to write the 3rd part of the Monstrous series. HOWEVER, my plans are never set in stone because I don’t roll that way. While I’d really like to get the final part of Ari’s story told (Monstrous Revelations will open up a whole new world for that lusty nymph and her monstrous friends), sometimes the muse demands something else. Like a story about an abandoned cruise ship and the two people who brave its dangers to escape a zombie apocalypse.

HOLY CRAP! BRB, I have to go write that now!

*ahem* Anyway. NaNoWriMo in November. Ari’s story coming to an end. THINGS ARE HAPPENING!

Speaking of Ari, Monstrous Tales: The Complete Series is currently only available on Amazon. Until I figure out what to do about that (other platforms don’t want it because they’re all tentacle haters or something), it’s going to remain that way. I’m going to be looking into other distribution options, but…well, Amazon is the place for now.

PS – Don’t forget to check back on Tuesdays for the short Anderson High Wolves snippets I’ll be sharing through the end of the month. Mason and Natalie are KILLING ME. Writing these scenes has reminded me how much I adore that world. (And, *ahem*, that I always planned to go back and write follow-up companion books for each of the couples. But that’s another story for another day.)

Missed one of the previous stories? You can find them all at the bottom of the Anderson High Wolves series page.

And just so you don’t forget, here’s a pretty, purple reminder for you…

The post Planning for November appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Anderson High Wolves Short – Misdirection and Deflection

Today’s my birthday and to celebrate I’m giving YOU a gift. Another Anderson High Wolves Mason and Natalie short.

Originally, the little scene with Natalie giving Mason some questionable underwear was supposed to be a standalone snippet. Except…then I wanted Mason to give Natalie something. And that something ended up taking several short scenes to write. The best laid plans, right?

Anyway. I have shorts scheduled through the end of October, by which time Mason and Natalie (probably) will have gotten their gift giving out of their systems. Maybe. I’m looking at this like a short story in four parts. This part features Mason as he works on getting together his gift for his mate.

Misdirection and Deflection

Anderson High Wolves

Mason and Natalie

Mason wasn’t crafty like Natalie was. If she were a wolf, she’d be the one who toyed with her food before eating it. He, on the other hand, went straight for the kill without messing around.

Fingers running over the bumps and whorls of the piece of wood in his grandmother’s shed, he couldn’t help the grin that slid over his face when he imagined Natalie’s reaction to his gift.

She liked gag gifts—the 3D wolf’s head underwear she’d given him not too long ago was proof of that. He’d agonized over what to get her for weeks before he’d chucked the gag gift idea and went with his strengths. A wolf could only be taught so many new tricks, after all.

On the other hand, pulling off his gift idea without her figuring out what he was doing appealed to the hunter in him.

He might not be blessed with the sly craftiness his mate had, but he did enjoy the hunt.

Misdirection and deflection. Make her look to the left while he feinted to the right.

His grandmother had laughed when he enlisted her help. She’d become his willing partner for Operation: Gift Exchange and his respect for her abilities as a hunter in her own right skyrocketed.

Nobody would ever say that age softened the Armstrong family. Not when they saw how expertly Vivienne Armstrong kept Natalie distracted while Mason put together his gift to her.

He wasn’t ashamed to admit he envied Natalie’s proximity to the pies his grandmother had enlisted her to help with, though. His grandma made some good pie.

Damn good.

Stomach sending up a warning rumble of discontent over missing out on pie, Mason ran the sander over the next set of whorls to smooth out the rough edges.

He thought—hoped—Natalie would like his gift. His grandfather had hacked out the rough shape to help him along and Mason had spent every stolen minute he could find refining it.

A cut here, a smooth line there.

His wolf rumbled in approval when he stepped back to admire his work. She’d like it. His mate had a sweetly romantic side under the prickles and thorns she coated herself in.

He’d seen less and less of those thorns since she moved completely out of her parents’ house. She hadn’t cut her mother and father out of her life completely, but she had laid down rules for them if they wanted to continue having a relationship with her. Neither her mother nor father had been happy with how she stood up for herself, but so far they were respecting her wishes.

Mason still saw red when he thought about what Natalie’s mother had tried to force her to do. He disliked her father because he’d gone along with Gina Lombard’s plans, but the bulk of his anger was directed at the woman who’d nearly broken his mate.

Jaw clenched, Mason put the sander down so he wouldn’t ruin his surprise for his beloved. Destroying the smooth lines would be a tragedy after everything he’d done to make this work.

Breathe in. Forget about the past.

Breathe out. Natalie had survived everything thrown at her.

She was strong and brave and she was learning it wasn’t a weakness to lean on someone when times got tough.

His beautiful mate.

He needed her. Now.

Pulling off his eye protection, Mason laid the glasses on the long table pushed against the wall. He tossed a tarp over the gift so the surprise wouldn’t be ruined if Natalie peeked in.

Then he set out to find her.

Natalie Lombard. His strength. His mate.

If he had anything to say about it, she’d be an Armstrong before too long. The next in a line of women who’d chosen to stand by the men in his family.

They’d discussed it already. Natalie wasn’t convinced getting married yet was necessary. She wanted to get a few semesters of college under her belt before they made that commitment.

Part of him was happy to oblige her.

What they had right now was good. She was already his. He was hers. No other woman came close to holding a candle to her beauty and drive. No other female—human or wolf—had ever captured his wolf’s attention the way Natalie did.

But another more primitive side wanted the additional tie. He wanted to be able to call her his wife.

Taking the back steps in a few long strides, Mason was hit by the smell of cinnamon and apples as soon as he opened the door.

Sweet hell, they were making apple pies. Maybe he could flatter his grandma into sending one of those beauties home with them. It wouldn’t last long in his house, not with the hungry horde of his brothers and sisters, but he’d savor every slice he could get.

His grandmother looked up when he walked in, but Natalie didn’t twitch. She had a smudge of flour on her nose and she was concentrating so intensely at the thin round of dough laid out in the pie tin, she never looked up.

Unable to stop his smile, Mason savored the jolt of surprise that went through her when he slid his hands around her hips. “Hello, beautiful,” he murmured.

Vaguely, he was aware of his grandmother giving them her back as she pretended to be engrossed in venting the top of a pie about to go in the oven. She was distant, though. Not a threat, at least.

Every molecule in Mason’s body was focused on Natalie and the bright eyes peering at him over her shoulder.

“Hey, handsome.”

He loved her voice. It slipped over him like silk, teasing his senses and making his wolf want to howl.

“Almost done?” Jesus, his voice had gone rough. He sounded like ten miles of bad road.

Natalie must have heard it because the fine hairs on the back on her neck stood up and a shiver coursed through her. “With this one. I think grandma wanted to make a few more, though.”

He loved that she claimed his grandmother as her own.

Loved it.

Brushing a strand of hair that had fallen out of her pony tail aside, Mason nuzzled the sensitive spot behind Natalie’s ear. “Find me when you’re done.”

His voice might be rough, but hers had gone breathless and soft. “I will.”

Another gentle press of lips against skin and he let her go.

If he stayed focused, he might be able to finish his gift to her by the time the pies were done. He was ready to give it to her. Ready to see her face light up with delight at his creation.

Rumbling out a greeting and a goodbye to his grandma, Mason went back to the shed.

Focus, dedication, and hard work were his mantra for the next few hours.

With a little luck, he’d have his beloved mate’s gift done the next time he saw her.

End

Next week’s short will feature the wily Natalie. See you then!

The post Anderson High Wolves Short – Misdirection and Deflection appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Anderson High Wolves short – Unexpected Gifts

I’ve had the big, brawny Mason in my head for the past couple of days. Mostly because I saw a picture of something and started laughing when I imagined Mason wearing it. I mean…well, you’ll have to read the story to see what I mean. I’m still laughing, okay? STILL LAUGHING OVER IT. HARD.

Okay. Enough of my giggling. ENJOY!

 

Unexpected Gifts

Anderson High Wolves

Mason and Natalie

 

Mason stared at the box sitting in the middle of his bed with something akin to horrified fascination. He loved his mate, he really did, but her gifts to him left him somewhat perplexed.

Last time, she’d bought a subscription to a streaming service and had gleefully told him they were going to spend the weekend watching a handful of series he’d never heard of. They hadn’t necessarily been terrible, but sitting still for that long had almost been torture—one he endured for her with only a little grumbling—and Mason wondered what Nat was up to now.

Squatting, he examined the box from several long strides away.

Not big. The paper it was wrapped in was a roll his mother had stashed in the closet off the hallway. He wasn’t picking up any suspect smells, but Natalie knew how good his nose was. If there was anything with an odor, she was smart enough to hide it elsewhere and leave an IOU in the box.

His love might have strange tastes in gifts, but she was crafty.

Edging closer, he poked it with a finger.

Nothing. Fairly lightweight, too, if the ease of movement was any indication.

Natalie’s sweet scent drifted to him and he smiled without turning. He knew she was leaning against the doorframe, watching him study her gift.

He’d heard her creep up the stairs, her muffled giggles as much a giveaway as her footsteps.

Several months ago, she hadn’t laughed like that. Her world had been brittle and narrow, her eyes haunted. Now her smile was more real. It flashed with ease and the bitchy personality she’d wrapped herself in to keep others away had softened.

This was the Natalie he’d known was hiding under the surface all along.

“It’s not going to bite,” she whispered and Mason clenched his jaw to keep from laughing out loud.

She sounded so excited, he couldn’t help but warm. Being around Natalie heated his blood in every way imaginable, so this wasn’t a surprise.

Not to him at least.

Sometimes, Nat still got that dreamy, faraway look in her eyes when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. It was a look that said she didn’t understand how she’d gotten so lucky.

In truth, the luck was all his.

He’d watched Natalie date her way through the football team and he’d despaired she’d ever see him. Really see him. Not just as the biggest and quietest on the team, but as a man who could match her in the most fundamental way.

When she’d finally opened her eyes, he’d rejoiced. When she’d dropped her shields and let him in, his world had snapped into focus.

Natalie Lombard was his. Body and soul. She’d given her heart to him and he was determined to keep that fragile organ safe until time itself ended.

Beyond, if needed.

Statistically, he knew the odds of finding a mate in high school were low. But then, Werewolf matings were half biology, half instinct and want.

He’d wanted Natalie since the first time he’d seen her as female. He’d bit his tongue and bided his time and his patience had rewarded him with the greatest gift a person could ever receive.

It made enduring weekend long binge sessions of TV shows he’d never heard of worth it.

He loved his mate. Endlessly.

Their freshman year of college would be starting in a few weeks and he rubbed his hand over his jaw as he imagined walking her to class. Holy hell, he wanted to do that. He loved tucking her smaller form against him in public. He loved how she melted into his side, her body warm and soft, her arms tight around his waist.

Poking the box again, he schooled his expression as he glanced over his shoulder. “’S not my birthday.”

Her shrug was pure poetry. It still stunned him that he had her beauty and grace in his house. In his life. In his bed.

“I saw it and couldn’t resist.” Her expression went crafty. “Besides, it’s as much a gift for me as for you.”

Mason couldn’t stop his eyebrow from cocking up. He knew he voice had gone deeper. It rumbled out of his chest when he spoke. “Is it?”

Almost a purr, nearly a growl. Natalie shivered and he saw naked want on her beautiful face.

The only thing he regretted about Nat living with him in his parents’ house was that they were so rarely alone. They had the hours between when his brothers and sisters went to bed and before his mom got up in the morning to show how much they loved one another. They had stolen minutes in the garage and the occasional heavy make out session in his truck when they could wrangle trips without his siblings.

Any gift that was as much for her as for him was bound to want him to show her how much he adored her. In the most carnal way imaginable.

His two youngest sisters were downstairs with his mom right now. Given a werewolf’s sharp hearing, he wasn’t going to have the chance to act on whatever she’d bought him.

Opening the box was probably going to give him a raging case of blue balls.

“Open it,” she said, her voice strangled.

Not able to look away from his mate, Mason snagged the box off his bed even as he pivoted to face her. God, she was beautiful. The light made her blonde hair glow and the flush on her cheeks spoke of vitality and health.

Beautiful, beautiful woman.

She slinked into his room and went to her knees so they were face-to-face. Not that he minded if she stayed standing. Those mile long legs and her generous chest weren’t a hardship to look at.

“Mason.” Her voice was edging into a whine, but he liked how she practically squirmed as she stared at him. “Open it, baby. Come on. You’re killing me.”

He was killing her? Right. She was kneeling in front of her, her expression caught between lustful and eager and she thought he was the problem.

Natalie Lombard was a freaking menace and she was all his.

Sliding his finger under the folded edge on the aside, he pulled the tape free. The opposite side got the same treatment and Nat all but wriggled in place.

Wanting to give her gift all the attention it deserved, Mason tore his gaze away from her to look down as he opened the box.

A smile quirked up the edge of his mouth before he could flatten his lips to keep from laughing out loud.

Natalie was one of a kind. No one other than her would ever think of giving him a pair of boxer briefs with a wolf’s head sitting square over the crotch. Holding the pair up, he couldn’t stop the crack of laughter that escaped.

Based on the positioning of the wolf’s snout, this was not a pair he’d ever wear for anyone but her. He’d never heard of 3D underwear, but that’s what it appeared his mischievous mate had given him.

Natalie’s eyes, brilliant with suppressed laughter appeared over the top of the waistband. “What do you think?”

Using his werewolf speed, Mason leaned in and stole a kiss from her smiling mouth. “I think I won’t be wearing these anywhere my brothers and sisters can see them.”

Her laugh was pure evil. “Aren’t they great? Jenny picked up a pair for Evan, too. You guys can bro-bond at your next dude fest in your bulge-enhancing, wolf’s-head under thangs.”

She gave the last word such a hideous twang he grimaced. “Ahh, thanks.”

There was no way in hell he was wearing these with anyone but Natalie in the room.

His mate had to reap the consequences of her actions. If that meant staring at his dick filling out a wolf’s snout all night, that was the price she was going to pay.

When her lashes fluttered down and she raked him with an appreciative glance, Mason somehow didn’t think it would be a hardship for her.

Saucy minx. She knew exactly what she’d be getting when she bought them.

Snagging her and dragging her close for another kiss, Mason tossed the mildly naughty underwear back on his bed. He’d model them later.

For now, he had a sassy woman to shower with kisses to show his thanks for the unexpected gift.

Natalie was entirely willing to go along with his impromptu plan.

Entirely willing.

End

(And if you’re wondering what the inspiration picture was, allow me to share…

Don’t worry, guys. You can buy them from Amazon for your well-endowed special wolfy somebody!)

The post Anderson High Wolves short – Unexpected Gifts appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Looking Back on September

Yet another month has flown by. Not much to report writing-wise. I’m working on what started as a weird little scene about a family of assassins that somehow morphed into my version of a slow-burn romance between the youngest assassin and her rival. And by “my version,” I mean that they didn’t fall instantly in love/lust. It still happens fast, it’s just not AS fast. YOU FEEL ME?

(Someday, I’ll write a slow burn romance. SOME DAY. Haha. Who am I kidding? I like my romances fast and dirty. I just can’t help myself.)

Anyway. September saw the release of the Anderson High Wolves bundle. The Complete Novella Collection contains half a dozen never-before-published stories about Jenny, Evan, and the crew. On a related note, I’m working on organizing several other short stories (not in the AHW world) to put out over the next few weeks. Well, the next few months, actually. I have A LOT, so keep your eye on the site for them.

I’m off to recoup from a long weekend and knock my characters into line for work this week. Until next month!

The post Looking Back on September appeared first on Kelly Apple.