Sunday Snippet: Variation on Violence (First Breed Nation)

Had a busy week witha new work project landing in my inbox. It's a holiday novel and I'm so excitedbecause I love editing holiday stories! I'm also working on a proofread, whichis a nice complement to a copy edit.

Had a slow week ofviewing due to another loss of a relative. 2023 has been a rough year for theolder generation in my family. I hope the final months are loss free.

I did watch thepremiere episode of Cannes Confidential and thoroughly enjoyed it! It'sgot intrigue and charm and the cast is stellar. Looking forward to the nextepisode.

Also caught anotherepisode of the Madame Blanc Mysteries. I'm slightly disappointed in theangst factor between the main characters but I'll roll through and see whathappens. Very excited Gloria has a new guy even if he's competition for Dom.

Watched an episodeof Peak Practice and found it kind of interesting. I liked getting someadditional screen time for the deaf characters introduced earlier. Also kind ofliked Andrew figuring out what he doesn't want.

Started a newtwo-part Silent Witness and, wow, this one had some twists and aheartbreaking scene that I almost couldn't watch. Kind of looking forward toseeing where it goes.

Caught another Deathin Paradise. Enjoyed the guys trying to avoid bringing Richard in on thecase while he was down with a tropical fever but loved that they ended up doingit anyway.

That's it for thelife update this week. Tonight's post is from Variations on Violence, aFirst Breed Nation novella.

Here's themini-blurb:

Nichol Gothe and Brewster Walters, two detectives in themajor crimes unit, go undercover to bust up a rebel alliance in the undercity.But when Nichol has to use her meta-human ability, Brewster can't decidewhether to trust she's working for justice or turn her in to the task forcecommander. Nichol sends him reeling when she reveals how deeply the secretsociety of freaks and geeks has infiltrated the regular human world.

And a preview snippet…

Hitching his pants up with onehand, Brewster dashed to the door and yanked it open. Grabbing their voyeurbefore he could flee, Brewster dragged him inside and kicked the door shut.Their audience of one growled a curse at Brewster.

"Who the fuck are you?" Brewstertucked his spent cock back into his pants and glared at the guy. "I don't puton a show for anyone, not even paying customers. If I catch you watching again,I'll serve your dick to the rats. Are we clear?"

The guy tried to front with someheavy bravado. "Like to see you try." He sneered in Brewster'sdirection.

Brewster stalked closer, standingtoe-to-toe with the man. He caught and held the man's gaze and planted an imageof his threat.

Five seconds later, the guy let outa strangled cry, his hands going to his groin. "W-wh-what did you do tome?" He pulled the front of his pants and checked to make sure his manlybits were still intact.

Brewster gave him a nasty smirk."Showed you a small try. Pretty sure you don't want the actual act, right?"He turned and walked back in Nichol's direction. "Get the hell out of mysight. I'll be in the chapel at the designated time." The old church actedas a neutral meeting place to conduct business. "Tell Cardinal not to belate." Brewster glanced over his shoulder. "And remind him this oneisn't on the menu."

The guy's head bobbed up and down."Right. Chapel. I'll tell him." His hand inched toward the door.

Brewster added a parting shot."And don't even think about telling him how close you came to losing your dick."

The guy stuttered out anunintelligible response and scurried out of the building.

Nichol choked out a flabbergastedsound. "What. The hell. Was that?" She planted her hands on her hips.

Brewster lifted one shoulder."Playing a role. If I'm supposed to be a badass dealer of human flesh, Ishould play the part, right?" Confidence rolled through him after gettingthe result he hoped for with the scrawny man.

Nichol fanned her face. "Geez,it's kind of a turn-on." She met his gaze. "But … a word of warning …I didn't miss the draw of energy from the air around us. If I caught it, youcan bet someone less dense would clock it also." She put a hand on hischest. "You might need to exercise a little caution."

Brewster leaned in close."Exercise caution? You mean like this?" His mouth covered hers again.

Nichol melted against him, and thekiss spun out of control. He wanted nothing more than a bed and her—preferablynaked—for the foreseeable future. But … they didn't have that kind of time. Hestill had a meeting to get to.

Then again … they had a couple ofhours before that happened.

Brewster pulled back. "Groundrules…" He could very easily get distracted.

Nichol blinked then focused on him."Ground rules?" Her hands skimmed along his torso.

He nodded. "We're undercover.Whatever happens between us can't affect the job."

Nichol huffed out a breath."Pretty sure it'll only lend credibility to the work."

Brewster arched his brows."And when you can't call the shots? What happens then?"

She snorted. "I get pissed andyou put me in my place."

He narrowed his eyes. "With noretaliation?"

Nichol smirked. "Oh, Brewster.Where's the fun in that? Of course, I'll retaliate." She smoothed her handdown his chest. "But never where it'll put us in jeopardy."

He lifted his chin. "Fairenough." He caught her hands in his. "Any objection to getting thehell out of here?" His head jerked toward the door. "And continuingthis somewhere more comfortable?"

Nichol gave him a slow, sexy smile."Not a single one…"

This story iscoming together in a way I didn't expect, which is terrific. Brewster's abilitywent in a completely different direction than the one originally planned and I loveit.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye