Basically....

This.

Dahlinks!

It seems like it's been forever since I've posted. Which is probably true (thank you for not beating me up about it) but I have to admit, life's been so calm and normal that I haven't had anything to share! I'm sorry. Next time, I'll just give y'all pictures to ogle instead of abandoning you. I promise.

Next time! This time, I come bearing excerpt! YAY! Which seems to be the trend for the last two posts as well so I'm on the right track. The story chunk I'm sharing is the last of a mini series very dear to my heart. The first story of my Asher series is also the first story I ever published. That was three years ago when I was 18! I love saying that. I got to achieve a life goal at 18. How many people can really say that? Also, the title makes me giggle at myself because I can still see my 18 year old self, wide-eyed that the story was even read let alone accepted and thinking there would be no others.

Asher and the Elevator Romp. Can you tell I was thinking one shot? Either way, the characters, particularly Asher, gained a lot of love, bringing up the second story, Asher and the Threesome (subtle, I so am it), followed swiftly by a third, Promise. Promise is a free story but my site is down for redesign and maintenance so unfortunately, I can't link to it right now but you can still read on and come back for it later :) But after Promise came Unreal, which is in the process of being re-released and that's when I realized that I had made a real series here, even if it was a miniature version.

Bear in mind that right up until this last story, all the others had been short shorts. Then came No Man's Land (my title - it could change!). It's to date the longest thing I've written, which for me, is a fantastic accomplishment. It's a lovely-sized novella full of angst and drama and relationship. Wee! So, here it is, the end of my little series that could. Thanks for all the love, folks. The boys and I appreciate it :)

This is an unedited piece - forgive me for errors!

All the booze in my belly roiled into one big ball and shot up. I moaned and started sliding off the couch.

Hector swore, moving toward me but Derek was somehow there first, gathering me up in familiar arms. I snuggled against him out of habit then almost hit him when he ruined it by speaking. “C'mon, princess, don't puke here or you're cleaning it up.”

“F-F-Fuck...” I tried to cuss at him but my throat was clogging up with something disgusting and I moaned instead. The room became a blur as Derek ran for the bathroom. My bedroom flashed before me, pitch black save for a gray-blue gleam of moon and snow and city light from the window. Then my bathroom lit up and there, oh there, was the toilet.

Derek set me down and I shoved the lid up just in time. My stomach cramped; I heaved so hard. Squeezing my eyes shut, I gagged until there was no way anything could still be in my stomach....and then I kept gagging. When my body finally stopped trying to turn inside out, I fell backwards onto my butt and Derek flushed the toilet, slapping the lid down as well.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back until I nudged something solid but kinda bumpy. I peeked, noted the shower door and closed my eyes again before speaking. “'Kay. Maybe I'm a li'l drunker than I thought.”

“Ya think?” The whip of sarcasm stung but I was too out of it to care.

“Where's Hector?”

“Left. Probably to hold his own drunk lover over the toilet,” Derek grunted and his voice was a lot closer than it had been. I cracked my heavy eyelids and found Derek crouching in front of me, frowning hard.

I sighed. I wasn't up to another fight. Not with the nastiness on my tongue. “Please, yell later. Help me brush my teeth?”

“I'm not going to yell,” Derek protested but he helped me to my feet. I think we both held back a flinch at the sight of only two toothbrushes in the holder. He got my brush all gelled up since my hands were shaky and it was all I could do to stay upright.

“Yesh, oo ar',” I mumbled as I brushed. I spit. “You look ready to bust a nut and not in the good way.” I shoved the brush back in to start the whole process over again.

Standing beside me, clearly ready to catch me if I somehow managed to fuck something this simple up, Derek crossed his arms defensively. “You were only supposed to get your hair taken care of and maybe shoot the shit, not get fucked-up wasted.”

I spat for the last time, put the brush back and cupped my fingers beneath the water. “One, body started hurting and I forgot my pills so I had to do something. Two, I haven't seen Philip in awhile so we got carried away.” I drank some of the water then swished the rest in my mouth before spitting again. Feeling refreshed and actually kinda sober, I shut the water off and turned to grab my towel from the rack. My foot slipped as I moved and Derek grabbed the back of my shirt, saving me from face-planting on the floor.

Okay, yeah, only kinda sober.

“Is there a three?” Derek kept hold of me and in resignation, I dried my wet hands on my jeans.

“Do you think there is?”

“It's never just two reasons.”

No, it never was. I tipped my head forward and sighed. “And three, I'm really, really tired of being mad.”

He reeled me back until my back lined up against his front. Perfect. I'd forgotten how perfectly we fit. “So don't be mad.” Derek nipped my ear and I shuddered on contact. “I'm not mad.”

“You were.”

“Not anymore.” His tongue dipped into the curve of my ear then slid along the rim, I arched into his touch, startled at the sudden shift in action. But my dick didn't care. It swelled up fast enough to make my wobbly brain even dizzier.

I swallowed, my newly-cleaned mouth going dry. “D-Derek?”

His mouth went from my ear to my neck, his teeth threatening to do more than just graze. I went onto my toes and moaned. “I miss you, Ash.”

“Bedroom please,” I whispered, unwilling to argue with whatever change had hit him. If this was an alien in my boyfriend's body, at least it'd still be his dick. Drunk logic, oh yes, it was the best kind.

Life Upheaval and Other Things That Sound Like Excuses

I really like dramatic titles, don't you?

Man, is it me, or am I never here anymore? I miss Slash and Burn, I miss you all! Amanda does such a brilliant job keeping this site all pretty and hip and I'm like that hermit that's a friend of a friend that lives in the downstairs room and only comes out at 2 am for grilled cheese sandwiches.

Or something. Ahem.

Where have I been, you may not be wondering but I'll tell you anyway. I'm currently in a Life Upheaval (and both words deserve capitals). I have quit my old job (huzzah!) and immediately fell into a new one because I don't do anything without some kind of stable next step.

Usually. I'm not a fan of spontaneity when it comes to my real life. I like to do things on impulse but I really like being stable. Perhaps a bit too much but that's a discussion meant for warm, dark nights and cigarettes. But with this new job currently comes the juggling act that I knew was coming by the end of this year whether I was ready or not.

I'm on the fast track to getting my debt finally taken care of and MOVING! Omg, say it with me now, babies, I'm MOVING OUT! ...As soon as I see how much my check will likely be and I find a place. Which is proving to be the hardest part. Because I work in the OC and if you're not a SoCal resident or if you've never watched anything based in Southern California (hey, it could happen!), the OC is Orange County which is by far one of the most expensive bloody counties in the southern region. Sigh. Oh, life.

Anyway, I don't want to bore you to tears with the details but that's where I am. Real Life has firmly and rudely taken over. I'm carving out writing time in oh-look-time-thank-you-God-increments. I can't say it always works out but I try.

But hey, this stuff was bound to happen. And despite everything, my brain is ticking away with the words. I have a WIP I have seriously high hopes for, another idea and perhaps another tickling my muse in bad places. So no lie, it may be awhile before you see me up and running again but I promise, I'm getting there :)

Ah and my time is up because I am also sniffly with a sudden head cold-that-may-be-allergies-but-I-dunno-what-I-could-possibly-be-allergic-to and it's past midnight on the west side. So, see you next time y'all! Same Bat time, same Bat station.

Dead Brains Anonymous

I see from Amanda's post that I'm not the only one with uncooperatie brain syndrome. My reason, however, is different. I'm making tiny baby steps in breaking a block that's literally been almost completely unbreakable.

They're really tiny baby steps but they're steps and that is all that matters. I'm also hoping to share really good news soon.

Well...hmm, I do believe I can share some of it. I have another Asher story coming out soon from Torquere. November I believe and it's the final one, a giant novella that I'm calling No Man's Land.

I've also received an offer to renew the previous stories, starting wtih the very first one, Asher and the Elevator Romp (oh the memories!), Asher and the Threesome and Unreal.

Hopefully, further good news is on the way. Meanwhile, I'm going to go to bed because I have been awake for far too long and then there are words to be written.

Anyway, y'all have a good one. See you in the funny pages!

Now Available: Pain Management

Tag and Reese have been friends forever, seeing each other through the good times and the bad, including the untimely death of Reese's lover. Until one drunken indiscretion threatens to change everything.

But there is more than friendship on the line. Can Reese put the pain of his loss behind him and take a chance on a future with Tag, or will one hot night together be all Tag ever has of the man he's loved for as long as he can remember?

Buy it here!

In Ur Room, Stuffin' Ur Stockin'

Howdy!

So I'm utterly startled that it's my day but when doesn't that happen? I'm zonked from work, yada, yada...but 'tis the season so I present ye with some stuffing for your stocking!

For my wee contest, all you have to do is post a comment telling me about how you spend your holidays. Whether its Christmas, Hanukkah, or the many other celebrations of the *many* other different religions, I want to know what you do with your family.

The winner will receive a free copy of my new release from Cobblestone, Just a Game. Remember to leave your email! The end date is the 19th, 4 PM EST.


Bon chance, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah *deep breath* and Happy New Year's!

EDIT: So I know I originally said winner (singular) but I've decided to do winner(s) instead because two of the stories just made me smile so wide.

The winners are.....*drumroll* N.C. Jenks and booklover0226! Winners, I'll be emailing you with your copies in just a second. Thanks for playing everyone. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Coming Soon: Just a Game

Oh, lookie, its my day. Well, for once I'm prepared. Got a short story coming from Cobblestone in November. So, I brought the sexy cover for y'all to ogle and a snip.

Enjoy :)




“What’s so wrong with getting a flight tomorrow again?” There was a quiet...something in Sid’s voice that made Charlie’s spine shudder.

Charlie thumped his head against the glass and almost jumped out of his skin when lightning zigzagged across the sky, illuminating the gray world outside. “Shit,” he hissed, blinking away the edge of white dancing around his vision. “I just have a schedule.” Charlie tossed the words in Sid’s general direction. “We handle the surfboard people out here, get home tonight, and then start wearing down that ditzy heiress-turned-fashion designer tomorrow.”

Charlie didn’t need to see Sid’s face to know his mouth had twisted in that familiar smirk.

Sid’s voice rang with barely leashed mockery. “For someone who makes a living pulling ideas out of his ass, you’re awfully worried about something so easily adjusted.”

Charlie’s shoulders went tight no matter how hard he tried to keep them from doing so. “Don’t do this, Sid.”

“Don’t do what?”

The sound of feet thumping carpet should not have been so loud. Charlie stared hard out the window as Sid’s heat eased closer. This time, he didn’t jump when lightning flashed, but that could have been because Sid’s mouth was dangerously close to his ear and Charlie had gone blind to the chaos outside. Instead, he watched Sid’s reflection close in. The room’s light threw them into a slight shadow, but he knew that face well enough without illumination.

“Don’t follow your little rules anymore? This self-imposed fucking distance? Guess what, Charlie boy. You can’t run away in a hotel room.” There was a nasty smile wrapped in Sid’s words as he drove in the fact that Charlie had been so desperate to ignore. “You can’t run away at all anymore.”

Fuck.