New gay Christmas romance!

I'm super excited to share Charlie and Gavin's holiday romance with you all. I wanted to write a holiday story that has angst and emotion and isn't solely fluff. My goal was also to make it sexy and hot, but to include those warm and cuddly holiday feels as well. I hope I've succeeded. :)

To be home for Christmas, they must bridge the distance between them.

Charlie Yates is desperate. It’s almost Christmas and his flight home from college has been delayed. For days. Charlie promised his little sister Ava he’d be home for her first holiday season since going into remission from leukemia. Now he’s stuck on the opposite coast and someone else grabbed the last rental car. Someone he hasn’t even spoken to in four years. Someone who broke his heart.

Gavin Bloomberg’s childhood friendship with Charlie ended overnight after a day of stolen kisses. With years of resentment between them, they don’t want to be in the same room together, let alone a car. But for Ava’s sake, Gavin agrees to share the rental and drive across the country together.

As they face unexpected bumps along the road, can Charlie and Gavin pave the way to a future together?

Buy now:

All Romance | Amazon.com | Amazon global
Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

Happy-happy! + New Author!

Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there! And happy (almost) Independence Day to all the Americans! It's a week for fireworks and poutine, or fireworks and barbecues, depending on your geography. I intend to enjoy all of the above this week!

And while I have your attention, I must point you to this blog post from MuseItHOT! Publishing. My buddy Brent Archer is featured today and you should totally go check him out. All his links are over there, so I won't bog you down by repeating them here. His sexy post-apocalyptic short story comes out very soon, and there will be many other sexy stories following soon after. If you're looking for bite-sized goodness, you're in for quite the amuse-bouches.

Happy New Year!

Gosh, it's been quiet around the blog this holiday season. I hope that means everyone is busy spending time celebrating with loved ones. I've done a bit more celebrating than is good for me, and I fear that 2014 must start with a resolution to stop eating all that crazy holiday food and get back to the gym more often each week. Oof!

If you're looking for a calorie-free way to ring in the new year, check out the year-end sale at Torquere Books. Just use the code "hello2014" to get 20% off EVERYTHING. But hurry! It's only good through WEDNESDAY! I don't have many titles left there, but you can get Rose & Thorn for a little while longer. (I believe it's about to go out of print, and after that you'll have to wait to pick up it whenever I can make the time to re-release it.) And there's also the anthology I Put a Spell on You where you'll find a short-story of mine that you won't find anywhere else. So go shopping and have a sexy New Year!

Christmas Bestseller

It's been a whirlwind since Where the Lovelight Gleams was released a week ago. I'm thrilled that it's become a bestseller on All Romance Ebooks! This morning it moved up to number 11.

This book has exceeded all my expectations and I'm so delighted and grateful for my awesome readers. Can two actors take their romance offscreen this Christmas, or will it be only in their dreams? Find out at:

Loose Id -- save 10% this week!
Amazon
ARe

Make the yuletide gay!

A reminder to check out all the awesome LGBT holiday romance giveaways at my website! All contests are open until December 22, and there are dozens of books up for grabs from bestselling authors including RJ Scott, Neil Plakcy, EM Lynley and more! Enter to win some sexy holiday cheer:

Sexy Hollywood Hunks Want to Take their Fling Offscreen

Meet Ryan and Cary, the Hollywood stars of my upcoming Christmas romance Where the Lovelight Gleams. 

This Christmas, actor Ryan Drake is pining. He may get to kiss gorgeous Cary Holloway on the set of their hit TV show, Space Academy, but he knows it’ll never happen in real life. Charming Cary–the son of Hollywood royalty–is straight, as evidenced by his starlet girlfriend. But Christmas is a time for unexpected gifts, and Cary accepts Ryan’s invitation to leave the palm trees behind and spend the holiday with his family at their cabin in the Great White North.

Amid the snow and mistletoe, Ryan struggles to keep his longing under wraps. Little does he know, Cary wrestles with his own unspoken desires, and his very identity. Surrounded by family and holiday joy, their warm friendship deepens. Will these two co-stars have the courage to brave Hollywood pressures and take their romance offscreen–or will it be only in their dreams?

Find out December 3!

p.s. Check out the Make the Yuletide Gay holiday book giveaway extravaganza starting tomorrow at my site! Comment to win fantastic holiday stories all month long!

Here Come the Holidays

I love the holiday season. Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza -- you name it, I love it. It's a time of year filled with family, friends and food, which are three of my very favourite things. I love the lights and the pretty wrappings and trees. It's also a time of tradition, and I eat certain treats and watch certain movies that are reserved strictly for December.

Here's another tradition I'm excited about!

Well, I'd like to make it a tradition. :D  I hosted this event a couple of years ago, and I'm bringing it back with a ton of holiday book giveaways! Come by and enter to win awesome LGBT holiday books from bestselling authors.

November 27 to December 22

www.keiraandrews.com

Hope to see you there!

Holiday yumminess

Well, it's that time of year again.... time for way too many rich holiday treats. I personally love to see a table laden with desserts, but maybe that's just me. In any case, allow me to present to you the recipe I'll be making today and bringing over to my parents' house tonight.

Apple Cobbler with Nilla Wafer Crust

8 cups granny smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1/3 cup old fashioned oats or 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup cold margarine
25 nilla wafers, crushed (about 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Toss apples with 1/4 cup of the brown sugar and 1 tsp of the cinnamon. Spoon into 8- or 9- inch baking dish. 

Combine oats, the remaining brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add wafer crumbs, mix well. Spread crumb mixture evenly over apples. 

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm or cooled. Top with whipped topping.

Trust me, with the Nilla Wafers? Delish. Happy baking!

In the holiday spirit

It's actually beginning to feel festive around my house these days. Last year, we visited family overseas so there was no decorating done at home. This year, we're here, so I put away the autumnal decorations and pulled out some of the ol' red-and-green. We even got a tree yesterday, which we haven't done in about four years. I LOVE IT! Pretty multi-coloured lights and a moose puppet as a topper. (Hey, you have your traditions, and I have mine.) I plan to get more accoutrements out later today to continue festive-ing up the place. :-D

And since it is almost Solstice, I think you should go check out my old holiday freebie short story with Jimothy and Ricky (stars of my first novel The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing). It's called Wand'ring Home and if you click that title, it'll take you straight to the pdf. (Ignore the cover art. It's fine, but it's generic, and the only thing it has to do with the story is that boys kiss each other. I've been so busy I've not gotten around to updating it.)

Happy Holidays!

You Show Me Yours....

People who get their Christmas shopping done early really piss me off. Not because they then can lord it over stupid idiots like me who are still remembering who they forgot to buy for on December 26, but because it means that every year that dreaded question starts earlier and earlier.

“So,” someone pins me with a look sometime before freaking Halloween, “Christmas list time. What do you want?”

It’s not that I don’t like presents because I totally do, and the idea that I can make a list of stuff I want and have some expectation of receiving has been pretty damned cool ever since I first picked up crayon and put it to paper to clue Santa in on my deepest desires.

Errr, sometimes being an erotica author has unintended consequences requiring brain bleach.

Okay, where was I? Yeah, so around this time of year, people start asking other people all that same question. I decided to have a little fun with the deepest desires part of making lists, and wrote a novella called Wish List which is coming out from Carina Press on December 3 as part of the Red Hot Holiday anthology. In it, my hero Jonah finds a really unexpected gift that send him scrambling to find out what he really wants from his boyfriend Evan. It’s me, so I don’t think I’ll be ruining the surprise to say that much kinky sex ensues as a result of Jonah’s list.

But that’s not the only thing I wanted to tell you about. I am nothing if not a shameless briber—um generous giver of gifts. There’s a 12 Days of Christmas Blog going on at the USA Today Happy Ever After Blog where you can win some awesome prizes from me or one of eleven other authors with holiday romances hitting or heating up your ereaders, like Jill Shalvis and Molly O’Keefe and Leah Braemel and Anne Calhoun. My blog and prize will be going up this Friday, November 9. Then after that, you can enter to win my corresponding gift (five golden rings equals $50 in gift cards at an e retailer) at my website. The contest runs through November 25 so keep stopping by to check out the other writers who are participating.

So...what’s on your Wish List? 

Never Tell Your Boyfriend Your New Year's Resolutions

Last round for the year!

Bad Company
Nate: I will—
Kellan: Hey babe, do you want more paper?
Nate: You're lucky you're so adorable.
Kellan: It's true. I am.

Bad Boyfriend

Eli: Remind me again why I said I'd stop complaining about living in here in the suburbs.
Quinn: Because this also lives here. (Grabs his hand.)
Eli: Now I remember.

Don’t Tell Your Boyfriend Your New Year’s Resolutions (Part II)

I did this a few books back and now I have new characters who want to play.

No Souvenirs

Shane: Convince Jay to bottom just once.
Kim: Not going to happen. However, considering the autocracy of that…position, I supposed I could see where an agreement to get that need met elsewhere would be acceptable.
Shane: Gee. Way to take the fun out of it, Jay. Would you even give a shit?
Kim: I didn’t say I would want to hear the details.
Shane: Hmph.
Kim: Threeway?
Shane: Did I ever tell you how sexy your brain is?

Life, Over Easy

Simon and Tyler: Get K.A. off her ass and get her to write our damned book.
Mason and John: You? Get in line. She didn’t exactly leave us on solid ground.
K.A.: The four of you could actually give me more to work with.
Simon, Tyler, Mason and John: That’s your job, lady.

Not Knowing Jack

Tony: 1.Do laundry more than once a week.
2. Keep a straight face while telling Brandon about the dangers of drinking and drugs.
3. Do not buy every single thing that I think would look cute on Sarah.
4. Try to sell Bravo a Desperate Gay Househusbands: Amherst reality show.
Jack: What are you mumbling?
Tony: My New Year’s resolutions.
Jack: Most people write them down.
Tony: Can’t risk them falling into the wrong hands.
Jack: Because then you’d be accountable?
Tony: Bite me. What are yours?
Jack: Number one: give more head. Num--
Tony: Fuck writing it down. Engrave it in stone, lock the door and get the hell over here.

Hmmm. I think I can milk this for another post! I’ll do the bad Baltimore boys next time.

A Little Something Underneath the Tree

I want to put sparkling lights and ribbons on everything right now!

I'm so thrilled about the reception readers gave Eli and Quinn. Thanks so much. I really had fun with that story. I'm sure I'll be back to Baltimore soon. Jamie—for all his commitment phobic ways—is just waiting for me to come up with the right man to prove him wrong. And I'm thinking that Eli and Quinn might want to tell me how their spending this first holiday together—without the drama of the Laurents messing things up.

Mel and Bryce seemed to amuse people too. It was a lot of fun writing in first person—especially for a character as sarcastic as Mel. As much as I tried to crack Bryce's noggin, it didn't seem to work. I understood him, but couldn't make him talk to me—except through divas of disco.

So since everything is so bright and shiny, I want to leave you a few presents. These are three videos that have made my days brighter. I can't embed them, because I lack the skills, but I promise they're worth a click. Only number three is NSFW.

First up, this was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. (And a plot bunny to nibble on my brain.) I spotted it at Towelroad, a great blog for gay news and media.

Then this might not be as coy and playful as when Kurt and Blaine sang it on Glee but I loved both their voices and the more grown-up vibe in their version.

Finally, if you haven't discovered Jonny McGovern, you're missing out on some fun. This is his latest song and video. Not only are the lyrics definitely NSFW, I warn you that the song can be an earworm. Yeah, go ahead and start singing "Dickmatized" while finishing up the shopping at K-mart. That should at least get you through some traffic.

I hope everyone's year is ending with light and love. And maybe I'll have a little piece of fic here for you when I'm back in two weeks.

Free book giveaway, and a holiday read

Sonoran Heat earned an honorable mention in this year's Rainbow Awards. I'm celebrating by giving away three digital copies of the honored title, with one of the winners also receiving an autographed print copy! Simply enter by commenting at my author blog here before Midnight EST tonight, December 15th. I will draw three names and announce the winners at my blog tomorrow on Friday, December 16 at Noon EST. Good luck!








While I'm here, if you're looking for a good holiday read, might I recommend....

With a birthday near Christmas, Ryan’s learned to compromise. He loves a straight friend who won’t reciprocate his feelings, and holds a boring job to afford college. At the end of the week, he vents his frustrations through his webcast Alone Time with Ryan. He’s careful not to name names - particularly since each webisode ends with a mock masturbation session.

Greg seeks a fresh start in a new home, but wasn't counting on the holidays being lonely. When gorgeous, young Ryan shows up on Greg’s doorstep, it's a warm ray of light on a cold winter’s day. Greg's attracted, and tempted, but as youth director at the local recreation center, he must conduct his private life carefully. Seducing a college student seven years his junior isn’t the wisest choice, no matter how hot Greg's fantasies are growing by the day - or night.

When Ryan's ode to December birthdays goes viral, his show becomes an overnight sensation, but with exposure comes consequence, and Ryan’s Sagittarian wits won’t get him out of this one. When he turns to Greg in a moment of need, both men must face the consequence of their passion, making for one steamy winter.

*****

"Ryan and Greg are two regular guys looking for someone to love. Katrina created two memorable characters out of these 'ordinary' men by weaving in small details and nuances that made them unique and added layers to their personalities. Burn some cinnamon candles, prepare some luscious hot cocoa and sit down to enjoy this wonderful M/M treat." -- 4.5 Stars from Boylove Addict

"Some of my favorite parts were the tongue in cheek intros to several chapters. After all, who doesn't love a good innuendo? If you're looking for a little holiday cheer, Sagittarius Blues is a choice you won't regret." -- 4 Stars from The Romance Reviews

*****

Get in the holiday spirit with Sagittarius Blues today!

Read an excerpt: http://www.loose-id.com/excerpt.aspx?ID=1290

Buy the E-book: Loose Id, Kindle, Nook, Fictionwise, All Romance


Happy holidays, everyone!

~ Katrina Strauss

New Nook Listings

Two more of my M/M titles were added to Nook in recent weeks. They're both currently marked 17 percent off, making them $4.97 each. One of them also happens to be a Christmas story, so perhaps it would make a nice stocking stuffer for a fellow M/M enabler this holiday season.

Get in the holiday spirit with Sagittarius Blues:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sagittarius-blues-katrina-strauss/1029260674

Or warm up with the hot tent action in Off the Beaten Path:


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/off-the-beaten-path-katrina-strauss/1018735126

In Which I Mention Pie As Often As Possible

Hey, it's that Wednesday before Thanksgiving again when I'm supposed to blog. Before I get to that, I have an announcement.
CONTEST!
If you haven't already visited my website (or one of the others participating) to join in the Men Under the Mistletoe Scavenger Hunt, you still have time. All you have to do is read the excerpts (hey, good m/m fic is what we love around here, right?) answer a few questions on the entry form and you could win $100 USD gift card to the ebook retailer of your choice. You can buy a Kindle for that!Or pie.

Check back here on the Slash and Burn blog December 7 for a visit from all the authors in the anthology, Josh Lanyon, Harper Fox, Ava March and me.

So yeah, in the US it's Thanksgiving. Or as comedian Lewis Black calls it, Christmas Halftime. (between Halloween and Christmas). I have mixed feelings about Thanksgiving. There's all that pressure on eating and family (like none of us have issues there) and there the whole celebration of eating one particular animal and the bizarre ritual pardoning of one. I think I like the way Anya describes it in "Pangs" (the Buffy Thanksgiving episode from season four), "In order to commemorate a past event, you kill and eat an animal. It's a ritual sacrifice. With pie."

I do have a Thanksgiving scene in Regularly Scheduled Life (oh the family stress) and one in Bad Boyfriend which you can read for yourself on December 6, but that's toward the end of the book, so I can't really excerpt it (though it does mention pie).

Despite all my mixed feelings about Thanksgiving, I never have a problem with stopping to be grateful for what I have. In no particular order, this is what I've been grateful for in the four and a half hours I've been conscious today.

Readers
Hey, if I didn't have readers, no one would be over here bothering to read what I'm thankful for anyway. Thank you so much for liking the stories I tell.

Editors
If my editors weren't awesome, I wouldn't have readers. (See above)

My wife

The fact that I can call the woman I've been in love with for twenty-five years my wife and it means something in our home state of New York

Writer friends
Man. Writing is a lonely slog. Having people who get your brand of insanity helps a lot.

Friends who aren't writers
Sometimes it's good to talk to people who aren't all wrapped up in your tiny little fictional world. Perspective is a good thing.

Twitter
How I get a good fix of those friends.

Life
A pain-free, functioning body and mind and the current ability to afford to keep it that way

Tea
*insert a choir back up as I speak that word with reverence*

That totally awesome Buffy Thanksgiving episode "Pangs" which I watch while I bake pies to take to my parents

Parents who are not only cool with but proud of a lesbian daughter who writes gay erotica (as long as she brings the Snickers pie)

I'm going to go be grateful for some more tea now. I've got more words to write and pies to bake. Oh, and one more thing:

Thanks for reading.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

For Cinco de Mayo, I found this delicious video montage of sizzlin' hot Mexican men:



I don't know about you, but my Fifth of May just got a little spicier. The above featured hotties include the following male celebrities, all proudly hailing from Mexico:

Gabriel Soto
Jaime Camil
Aaron Diaz
Kuno Becker
Alfonso de Nigris aka Poncho
Gael Garcia B.
Valentino Lanus
Alfonso Herrera
Eduardo Verastegui

Hmmm, I think I know where I'm going for my next vacation!

Available Now: Sagittarius Blues by Katrina Strauss

It's "Not Quite Christmas" with Katrina Strauss!
Hot holiday romance available now from Loose Id!

With a birthday near Christmas, Ryan’s learned to compromise. He loves a straight friend who won’t reciprocate his feelings, and holds a boring job to afford college. At the end of the week, he vents his frustrations through his webcast Alone Time with Ryan. He’s careful not to name names - particularly since each webisode ends with a mock masturbation session.

Greg seeks a fresh start in a new home, but wasn't counting on the holidays being lonely. When gorgeous, young Ryan shows up on Greg’s doorstep, it's a warm ray of light on a cold winter’s day. Greg's attracted, and tempted, but as youth director at the local recreation center, he must conduct his private life carefully. Seducing a college student seven years his junior isn’t the wisest choice, no matter how hot Greg's fantasies are growing by the day - or night.

When Ryan's ode to December birthdays goes viral, his show becomes an overnight sensation, but with exposure comes consequence, and Ryan’s Sagittarian wits won’t get him out of this one. When he turns to Greg in a moment of need, both men must face the consequence of their passion, making for one steamy winter.

A "Not Quite Christmas" story from Loose Id!
Read an excerpt and buy the e-book at:
http://www.loose-id.com/Sagittarius-Blues.aspx

Pride

I saw a lot of people blogging and posting about how they spent their holiday weekend, so I decided to share my story. My wife and I went to a Gay Pride celebration. In addition to a few sweet little plot bunnies, I had had some other thoughts. At the parade, there were 185 floats plus more walking contingents than I could count. After watching for two and a half hours in the 90+ heat, we decided we'd rather be ashamed and cool in the hotel room than hot and proud on the street. We saw the rest on a cable news channel, with two hosts doing a their inane patter with so much enthusiasm that I felt like I was watching the Rose Bowl. A strange sensation stirred. This was pride.

It didn't stop there. Everywhere I looked there were signs of Pride celebration. The hotel lobby had rainbow flags and even a table display in the six colors to celebrate. Sears arranged its mannequins in same sex couples and made sure there were plenty of rainbow displays. A cookware store had its pots in a rainbow. That feeling welled up again. So what if they were after my money. They were standing with us.

I usually feel like an invisible lesbian. When I'm out with my wife, strangers talking to me refer to her as my sister or my friend. I correct them. I didn't have to. At breakfast our fun chatty waitress leaned in and said, "Happy Pride. Have a great time."

At the street festival, dozens of police kept the peace while draped with rainbow beads, laughing and chatting with people, posing for pictures with those in elaborate costumes. There were hundreds of booths hawking everything from dildoes and leather restraints to Jones soda, hot tubs, time shares and an opportunity for a law enforcement career or the opportunity to serve in the armed forces. Surprising, I know. Because I wasn't in the land of "liberty and justice for all" on the fourth of July, I was in Canada.

I grew up a fierce little patriot. I loved American history. In celebration of the bicentennial (yes, I'm that old), I had my bedroom done in red, white and blue, complete with a tricolored shag rug (I'll wait while you shudder in horror) and a stars and stripes sheet set. The site of the battle of Yorktown awed me as a fourteen year old. Yet on the day when we celebrate the signing of a document that begins "When in the course of human events" I had to find my pride, my sense of belonging, in another country.

Sure I could go to a Pride celebration closer to home. Like the one in Albany, NY where a guy was hospitalized afterward when three guys beat the crap out of him. The police are classifying it simple robbery. Who can forget last year's fun opening of the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, TX where the thirtieth anniversary of Stonewall was celebrated by law enforcement coming into the bar to break some skulls?

As I celebrated the birth of modern gay revolution in another country, I thought about the younger me who believed so fiercely in the power of our history to give us forward momentum to an amazing future. She would have sworn that these words would have been spoken by an American in a debate on gay marriage, "We would risk becoming a country in which the defence of rights is weighed, calculated and debated based on electoral or other considerations." But she'd have been wrong. That was Prime Minister Bill Martin of Canada. I'm afraid he was talking about the "land of the free" to the south of him. I have to thank the governor of Hawaii for proving my point in demonstrating how unworthy of equality gay people like me are.

This summer, I plan to paint my office the same shade of deep blue I once had in my bedroom. (Don't worry. I'm skipping the shag rug. And the sheets.) I wish it was as easy to regain my sense of pride.

Don't Tell Your Boyfriend...

...Your New Year's Resolutions

Chasing Smoke
I will not bring up high school every time Trey and I get into an argument.
-------Daniel Gardner

Thank God, but I'd settle for not bringing it up one time out of four.
--------Trey

Diving In Deep
I promise not to do that in an airport bathroom again.
--------Noah Winthrop

Why the hell not?
--------Cameron

No Souvenirs
I will not take any vacations without very careful planning.
--------Jae Sun Kim

C'mon, it didn't totally suck.
--------Shane

Says the guy with scars from it.

Yeah, but that's not all I got.


Hot Ticket

I will remember that the volume knob has more than one setting.
--------Cade McKuen

Huh? I can't hear you? I think I'm deaf.
-------Elliott

And continue to worship my boyfriend's huge cock.
-------Cade

Cade!

I thought you were deaf.

I can still read.

Oh, right.

Regularly Scheduled Life

I will find a way to get that outdoor shower installed at the beach house without Sean finding out until it's done.
--------Kyle DiRusso

Nice try.
--------Sean

You'll thank me when the families descend on us.

Let's not tell them when we finish the house.

I like the way you think, papi chulo.

Unnamed WIP

I will figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life.
---------John

I will figure out if I want a rest of my life.
---------Mason

Jeez, guys. Dark much?
---------Alex

Collision Course
I will only manipulate people when it's really necessary.
-------Joey Miller

I will only not manipulate people when even if I think it's really necessary. Much better.
-----------Aaron

Stop editing my resolutions.

No.

Fine. Aaron Chase's resolution: I will stop calling people assholes even when they deserve it.

It's not a resolution if you write it for me, princess.

My point exactly.

But yours isn't a resolution. It's got a huge loophole.

But—

Resolutions are for pussies anyway. You aren't going to change so why bother.

But I—

Are you happy right now?

Yeah.

Then what the hell do you need a resolution for?

What if we make it interesting.?

How?

A bet.

I thought you were supposed to want to keep your resolutions.

I do.

So why bet when you know you love losing as much as winning.

Mine?
I will keep trying to make as many readers as possible fall in love with the characters in my head. Clearly, I'm already nuts about them. And no, I'm not working on a menage. ^ ^
---------K.A. Mitchell

Nicky and Ian from An Improper Holiday hope that everyone's Twelfth Night was as pleasurable as theirs was.

Winners!! (And a little something under the tree from Joey and Aaron)

First of all the winners:

Yes, Monday, my tree is purple. Contact me with your email for the gift certificate.

But...Stormcloude, I wanted teal when I first set up housekeeping! And I'd really love to see a bronze tree. If I ever have a house big enough for three trees, I'd like one in cranberry and cream. We have a smaller tree that's all Disney-themed ornaments.

And Nate is the name I drew from the hat for the free story download. And well-deserved, confessing to the Smurfs' album. Ouch. Contact me with what you want. Any story I have out.

Jambrea, thanks for the compliments on An Improper Holiday.


Most of all I loved reading all those traditions and I think that Joey and Aaron from Collision Course might be setting one up for their future Christmases right now. Want to see?



Joey was the most selfish person in the world. He realized this on Christmas Eve Eve, or as most people would call it, December 23. He realized it when he stood in front of a display in Pleasure's Treasures, a sickening twist in his gut reminding him that he still hadn't found anything to buy his boyfriend for Christmas.

With time now easily measured in hours, Joey was desperate, hence the trip to a sex toy shop. The cute guy in the Santa hat and matching micro shorts had been nothing but helpful, if a little touchy feely, and Joey still kept finding gifts for himself. That leather number for Aaron to wear? Strictly something that would make Joey's eyes bulge as he dropped to his knees. The plus size string of anal beads the clerk had shown him? Again, much more pleasure for Joey than Aaron. Flavored condoms? Thank God they didn't need those anymore.

He'd had his family done by Thanksgiving, had no trouble picking out stuff for the kids, much to Aaron's relief. But Aaron? How could Joey be so clueless about what would make his own boyfriend happy? Sheree, Dylan and Darryl had all pronounced Aaron easy to buy for. An action movie, an X-box game, even clothes. But Joey knew that wasn't the answer. He'd considered Aaron's first love, caffeine, but even one of those specialty one-cup pots was out of the question. Not because of price but because Aaron never drank just one cup of coffee. Joey moved down the list to the Ducati. He'd even gone so far as to call Mark—who was still a little pissed—to get a suggestion about what Joey could give Aaron for his bike.

After first sneering at the European name, the best Mark could come up with was a gift certificate to a garage that specialized in Ducs. A gift certificate. Joey might as well hand Aaron cash. There had to be something special, something that would make Aaron's eyes heat up, that smile break slow on his lips and his voice get deep as he said, "Thanks, Joey."

The clerk unhooked the paddle Joey had been running his fingers over. Joey slapped it against his palm. Big sting, nice heat. His ass tightened. But again, that would be a present for Joey, not for Aaron. The door chimed and the clerk turned away to greet a new customer. Joey tested the flexibility of the paddle, felt the light warmth from where it had smacked his skin. So maybe Santa could put this in Joey's stocking. He was a selfish bastard, and he still didn't have anything to give Aaron.

A voice purred in Joey's ear. "Mmmm. Nice. But I like my hand better."

Joey jumped and turned around. "Aaron. You're supposed to be at work."

"Saw your puke green car out front. Hennie's got the truck running, and I've got my radio." Aaron waved it.

Aaron's paramedic uniform was an ugly dark blue polyester, but it was the first thing Joey had ever seen him in and he had a soft spot for it. He flicked a finger against the name badge. Aaron snatched the paddle from his hand and swung it so that it swished in the air.

"You told me you were done. Last minute shopping? Someone on your list I should know about?"

Joey's gaze fixed on the leather in Aaron's hand. One side had metal studs set in it. Jesus. His cock filled at the thought of Aaron using that on bare skin.

Aaron tapped the paddle lightly against the seat of Joey's jeans. "Joey. Question. Answer."

"Uh. No."

Aaron holstered his radio and tapped the paddle against his finger tips. He gave Joey that slow smile, and his gut got as warm and tight as his cock.

What the hell. "Aaron, what do you want for Christmas?"

"Nothing. Anything. I don't care. I told you, it's not a big deal."

The frustration Joey felt must have shown on his face, because Aaron cupped the back of Joey's neck. "How about a blowjob?"

"C'mon. I want to get you something to make you happy."

Aaron's jaw tightened and his eyes looked bleak. The warmth in Joey's belly turned to a heavy doughy ball. What the hell was wrong with that?

He started to turn away, but Aaron held him with that hand on his neck. He bent down and kissed him. "For a smart guy, you can be a total moron."

"Huh?"

"I am happy, don't you get that? Every fucking day. And you know why."

"Oh." Joey grinned as everything got warm inside again. "But I still have to get you something."

"Get me a book of Sudoku. I like to do'em in the can. And sometimes I read that guy. Um, David Sedaris. And," Aaron turned to wave the paddle at the clerk. "You have a place we can test this out?"

The clerk smiled and jerked his chin at a small curtained off space.

"Here? But Hennie's waiting—and that guy—"

"You fucking love the idea of an audience."

Okay, so Joey did. And he loved it even more when Aaron pushed him past the curtain with a swat just hard enough to burn.

Aaron put Joey's hands up on the back wall and ran a hand over the warm spot on Joey's ass. "You want to feel it on skin or should I have him ring it up now?"

"It's still more of a present for me than for you."

Aaron reached around and unbuttoned Joey's shorts. "I think we're both gonna like it."