Rec

Last week I read a book that I absolutely fell in love with. RW Day's A Strong and Sudden Thaw was a moving and riveting coming of age/gay romance/sci-fi-ish adventure. The story takes place in Virginia about 100 years after a second ice age (approximately the 22nd or 23rd century). So even though it's the future, in this world people are living more like pioneers. Teenaged David is a farmer's son whose life is turned upside down when he meets Callan, the new 23-year-old healer in town.

Aside from the cold, the community is struggling with a dragon problem -- wait, don't stop reading! Honestly, I'm not big on fantasy at all, but the fantasy elements worked so, so well. I probably would never have bought this book if it hadn't been recommended, and I'm so glad I listened to my friend's glowing praise. I just can't tell you how much I loved this book. I found myself going back and rereading certain passages as I went along, which is something I rarely do the first time I read a book.

David is one of my favourite fictional characters in some time. So empathetic and brave, and it was simply magical to read about his discovery of feelings for Callan -- and the discovery of his true self. I loved Callan, too, and I really hope the rumours I've heard of a sequel are true.

I can't remember the last time I've seen the stirrings of first love portrayed so beautifully. Day has a way of turning a phrase perfectly, and this book was by turns poignant, romantic, thrilling and completely heartbreaking. (Don't worry, my inner sap was very happy with the ending.) Absolutely the best book I've read this year.

Brand New Cover: Secrets & Lies

I'm excited to share my new cover art and the very rough blurb of my June release, Secrets and Lies, with you all. Croco Designs did a fabulous job with the cover. :)

Blurb

After the near genocide of his race, Teague Johnson now spends his life hiding in plain sight. In a city of populated by humans and nightfeeders alike, he and his brother are forced to cloak themselves in forged histories in order to blend in among the hierarchy of society.

When he’s not working at Oasis, the sex club he and his brother own, Teague keeps to himself. He relies on strangers to feed his sexual desires, but anything more intimate is off limits. A nosy boyfriend snooping around in his business is the last thing he needs.

Kyle Drake’s arrival at the club makes Teague rethink his favorable stance on one night stands. From the very first touch, Teague can’t get enough of Kyle. Their weekly trysts give Teague a reason to anticipate the future — until Kyle unexpectedly disappears.

A visit from an old friend thrusts Teague’s life under a microscope and endangers everything he holds dear. Allegiances are tested, and the lines of friendship blur in a race to stop an inhuman killer. Kyle’s fate hinges on Teague’s ability to untangle the intricate web of secrets and lies before it’s too late.

Manlove, Angst & Monsters, coming Tuesday!

Closer, book four in my Bay City Paranormal Investigations series, is coming out Tuesday May 20 from Samhain! Yay! Isn't Anne Cain's cover GORGEOUS??

Here's the blurb and an excerpt to get you in the mood *g*

Enjoy!

After nine months of tumult, Sam Raintree is ready for some peace and quiet. A beach vacation with his boss and lover, Dr. Bo Broussard, promises to provide the serenity and reconnection they both need. Bo’s business and his children command a good deal of his time, and Sam is looking forward to two weeks of his lover’s undivided attention.

Then a new case for the Bay City Paranormal Investigations team puts a crimp in Sam’s plans. Fort Medina, a seventeenth-century citadel guarding the mouth of Mobile Bay, is less than five miles from their vacation beach house. Bo invites the group to stay with them while investigating the place, promising Sam he won’t get involved. But Sam knows better. Sure enough, Bo can’t resist joining the investigation, and talks Sam into doing the same.

Events take an alarming turn as Bo’s behavior becomes more erratic each day. Puzzled and frightened, Sam scrambles for an explanation while the man he loves turns into a volatile and unpredictable stranger.

When the truth comes out, it may already be too late to save Bo from a force neither of them can control.

ADULT EXCERPT:

Two hours later, clean, dressed and sated—temporarily, at least—Sam and Bo sat side by side on the rattan love seat on the upstairs porch, watching a thunderstorm roll in across the water. Over the Gulf of Mexico, the sky loomed black and ominous. The sun still shining on the inland side lent a weird green glow to the rippling water and turned the sand blinding white.

As the first scattered raindrops clinked on the blue metal roof of the house, a bolt of lightning cut a brilliant zigzag between the clouds and the water. A moment later, thunder rumbled across the sky. The sun was blotted out as the storm rushed in and the rain began in earnest.

“I love this porch,” Sam declared, not for the first time. The house had deep covered porches running all the way around both levels. The second story had proven to be the perfect spot from which to watch the brief but violent storms that buffeted the beach most afternoons. Sam had been captivated from the first by the fiercely beautiful spectacle. “I love the sound of the rain on the roof.”

“Mm-hm.” Bo laid his head on Sam’s shoulder and squeezed Sam’s thigh. “Wonder how everyone’s doing at work?”

“You’re not supposed to be thinking of work. You’re supposed to be relaxing.”

“I am relaxing. But you know how busy we’ve been lately. I’m just worried about my team, that’s all.”

Winding Bo’s braid around his hand, Sam gave a gentle tug, forcing Bo’s head back so Sam could look him in the eye. “Stop worrying. I’m sure they’re fine.”

Bo bit his lip in that unconsciously sexy way which always made Sam’s insides twist. “I’m sure you’re right. But maybe I should check on them, just to make sure.”

Sam was already shaking his head before Bo finished speaking. “No, you shouldn’t. Andre’s in charge, and you know as well as I do that he’s perfectly capable of handling whatever comes up. Plus Danny’s full time now, which means everybody else is free to concentrate on the active investigations.”

Bo nodded, the furrows smoothing from his brow. He’d hired Danica “call me Danny” McClellan as a receptionist-slash-secretary after the Sunset Lodge case touched off a barrage of new cases. A fifty-one-year-old widow with a grown daughter, Danny had over twenty years of secretarial experience under her belt. Since she’d joined the group, the office had become more organized and well run than it had ever been. Between her and Andre, Sam had no doubt the rest of the crew would be fine in his and Bo’s absence.

Smiling, Bo slid a hand around the back of Sam’s head and brought their mouths together. They shared a languid kiss as the thunder boomed and the rain pelted the roof. When they broke apart, Bo rose to his feet.

“I’m just going to call real quick,” he said, leaning down to peck Sam on the nose. “I’ll be right back.”

“Bo, come on…”

“It won’t take but a minute.”

Before Sam could argue, Bo had the sliding glass door open and was already inside. Sighing, Sam stood and followed him into the enormous master bedroom.

Bo was sitting on the side of the king-sized bed, dialing the phone. Sam wandered over and sat beside him as he pressed the handset to his ear.

“Workaholic,” Sam murmured, bending to mouth the curve of Bo’s bare shoulder.

Bo ignored him, but Sam saw the gooseflesh pebbling Bo’s arms. He grinned.

“Hi, Danny,” Bo said into the phone. “It’s Bo… Yes, we’re having a wonderful time, thank you for asking. Is Andre there?… Okay, thanks.” He elbowed Sam, who was tracing a single finger up and down his spine. “Stop that.”

“Oh, am I distracting you from the work you’re not supposed to be doing?” Dipping his finger below the waistband of Bo’s indecently tiny cut-offs, Sam caressed the top of Bo’s crease with a feather-light touch. “Oops.”

Bo glared and opened his mouth, no doubt to reprimand Sam, then snapped it shut again. Sam heard Andre’s deep voice faintly through the mouthpiece of the phone.

“Hi, Andre.” Bo sounded just breathless enough to make Sam feel mischievous. “No, we’re fine. Having a…oh…a wonderful time.”

Stop that! he mouthed, pushing on Sam’s chest. His pupils were dilated and a pink flush colored his cheeks. Grinning, Sam shook his head, ducked under Bo’s arm and caught one brown nipple between his teeth. Bo squeaked.

“No, I’m okay,” Bo said in answer to whatever Andre had asked. “Sam doesn’t think I ought to be calling y’all, so he’s being a pain in the ass.”

Letting go of Bo’s nipple, Sam sat up. “I was a pain in the ass earlier, in the shower,” he called loudly enough for Andre to hear. “Right now I’m being a pain in the nipple, to punish him for working on vacation.”

Masculine laughter drifted from the mouthpiece. Groaning, Bo covered his eyes with his free hand. “Ignore him, Andre. I’m not working, just checking in.” He dropped his hand from his face and aimed a halfhearted kick at Sam’s ankle. “So how’s everything going? Y’all doing okay?”

Bo fell silent, listening. He leaned back on one hand, legs falling open. Judging by the intent expression on Bo’s face, Sam figured whatever Andre was saying must be pretty interesting. Sam, however, couldn’t care less. All he cared about right then was the denim-clad V between Bo’s thighs.

Sliding to the floor, Sam knelt between Bo’s legs, bent forward and rubbed his cheek against Bo’s crotch. Bo’s scent, clean and musky and deliciously male, made his head spin.

“Fuck,” Bo hissed as Sam’s tongue traced the swell of his cock through the shorts. “No, Andre, not that… The case sounds interesting. What are the details?… Oh no, I swear I won’t interrupt our vacation with work. Sam would kill me.”

Damn right. Staring up into Bo’s glazed eyes, Sam undid the battered shorts and pulled out Bo’s hardening prick. He licked at the head, tearing a harsh gasp from Bo’s throat.

Bo’s hips lifted in silent invitation. Not one to waste an opportunity, Sam worked the shorts down Bo’s legs and pulled them off. Bo flopped onto his back, legs bending up and spreading, the phone still pressed to his ear.

“Uh. Yeah. S-so you’re starting—Jesus, Sam—you’re starting the day after tomorrow?… Uh-huh… Well, then why don’t you—” Bo broke off, letting out a sharp cry when Sam stopped sucking his balls and bit one firm butt cheek hard.

Sam indulged in a moment of smug satisfaction before taking Bo’s now-full-blown erection into his mouth. He shut his eyes and let Bo’s taste and smell and the feel of his skin fill his senses.

Through the rush of his lust-quickened pulse in his ears, Sam thought he heard come on out and plenty of room and a not-quite-coherent promise not to do something or other before the phone bounced off the carpet and Bo’s fingers tangled in his hair.

A thread of suspicion wormed through the haze of desire fogging Sam’s brain. He ignored it. Whatever Bo had just agreed to, he’d find out—and they’d probably argue about it—later. Right now, he wanted to wring as much pleasure as possible from this one perfect moment.

Something told him it might be his last chance for a while.

Man-on-Man Muse

Two out of my last three releases have been M/M novels. I didn't plan it that way. I simply wrote the stories that my muse demanded that I write. The muse is a fickle thing. If she doesn't get her way or get fed on a regular basis, she gets all bitchy and refuses to talk to me. I guess I could think of her like my boyfriend's haughty half-Himalayan/half-farm cat kitties (always referred to as "the girls.") One took after the Persian half of the Himalayan breed, the other took after the Siamese half, but both of them are spoiled princess. The Fancy Feast cat has nothing on these two. Of course, I treat my kitties like rag dolls. They're the fluffies I pick up and hug, or pet, or share my lap with. The girls think this behavior is scandalous! And both, having Siamese heritage, will be sure to tell you about it. They even have these "harumph!" looks they get that make you just want to break down in giggles, because really... they're cats. How high-and-mighty can they get? Quite a lot.

So, in order to keep my muse happy, I not only worked on my action figure come to life series, Live Action Hero, from Changeling Press (points to cover on the right), but I also worked on my novel Cowboy Up from Ellora's Cave. (points to top cover). Both released earlier this month, and I have to say that my muse is very, very happy.

Of course now Hugh & Talon (from Live Action Hero 3 - Mission: Possession) are giving me fits.

Come talk to a few of our boyz

I can't help but think pop star Akanishi Jin has been channeling our Hideki or even Mr. Shu's Kenichi, by writing this new song...Love Juice

This coming Sunday May 18 from 3--8 pm est you can come over to the Samhaincafe chat loop and talk with Kiyoshi, Ryuhei and my favorite beloved bastard Sakurai.

Edit--I forgot to post a few freebies for anoyne who didn't see them:

Anne Cain totally blew me away with the incredible
animation and artwork she did for these guys.

Her yaoi manga which is a sweet prequel to our Samhain short story
Blood Brothers is available on our website. Note: It is
Not safe for work, or anyone under 18 as it contains graphic m/m images.



We have a free short prequel to our Samhain novel Soul of the Night
featuring Ryuhei and Kiyoshi for your reading pleasure posted on our
blog. Again this is for mature readers as it contains
graphic m/m scenes:


And last but not least Anne animated a killer video trailer for Soul
of the Night. This one is suitable for all ages 14 and up.

Book Signing

Come on down!

Thursday May 29, 20087:30 pm

I, James Buchanan, will be signing copies of The Good Thief, so come on down!

Blurb: Working construction provides Caesar with a great way to cover up his realjob; stealing whatever he can get his hands on. Which is why the guy he hasa fling with could be really bad for business. Nate is a cop, and Caesarworries that he might be tempting fate if he sees Nate again, even if hewants to. When Caesar discovers something far worse than some petty thievery on one ofhis jobs, though, he knows he has to report it to Nate, and the two of themtry to find a way to keep Caesar safe until he can testify, even as thesparks fly between them. Can Nate protect Caesar and teach him that thereare ways to be a good guy as well as a thief?

Info on the venue: A Different Light

8853 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood CA 90069

310-854-6601

Since 1979, A Different Light Bookstore has been committed to serving theGay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender community. We have been bookstore,social hall, sanctuary and life-line. With our world-famous stores in SanFrancisco and West Hollywood - and, now, online - our commitment extendsbeyond the West Coast to the rest of the country and the world.

You Wrote That Where?

Actually, I write everywhere. I always have a notebook on me; I get twitchy if I’m too far away from a pen and paper. So when I said I wrote the blow-job scene for the Round Robin in line for Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World, I wasn’t kidding.

And that wouldn’t be the only blow-job or sex scene I’ve written while hanging with The Mouse. I love Disney World. We go at least once a year, but at some point the santitized fun needs a little subverting. I can only listen to so many toddler tantrums while in line. Sometimes I even get disappointed if the lines are too short. What’s better than writing my favorite kind of story in my favorite place to be? Over the years, I figure I’ve done at least a novel’s worth of writing while weaving along the convoluted queues.

This year I ran into an unexpected hazard and not just because my notebook was a magic charm to get the bus to come as soon as I set pen to paper. No, this was far more perilous. One gorgeous day, I sat on a bench in Hollywood Studios waiting for the new parade to start, scribbling away on my new story. Street performers taking on exaggerated personas from 1930’s Hollywood entertained the preparade crowds. One performer in the guise of a director came over and, despite my protests and desperate clutch, ripped the notebook from my hands and said he was going to read it. He flipped through several pages.

But I was saved from permanent banishment from the wonder that is WDW because my tiny scrawl is more indecipherable than a doctor’s--and because Aaron and Joey hadn’t done it yet. I don’t know exactly how disguised the word cock would be even in my hummingbird scratch.

So did the character's prying curtail my porning efforts? Not at all. I came home with a good start on my new book and a deep resolve never to try to write more neatly. I don’t know which characters’ exploits will grace the pages of my notebook on our Christmas trip, but I’m thinking about tying the notebook around my neck.

And Tango Makes Three

Before we started the round-robin, I was going to post about this beautiful children's book, And Tango Makes Three. I borrowed it from a friend and mean to get a copy for myself. It's a true story about a penguin family of two daddies and their chick, Tango. They live in the Central Park Zoo. Coincidentally, now that the round-robin is finished and we're back to regular posting, I received the following link from another friend. She titled the email "People are stupid." Truer words have rarely been spoken. Some idiot has revived the so-called controversy of this book: "Penguin tale tops list of 'challenged' books".

I suggest that those who don't already have a copy conisder buying one. It's a sweet story and the artwork is lovely. Even if you don't want to keep it for yourself, I have no doubt that a public library would love to have the donation for their children's section. I think I'll buy two. :)

Coming soon...

Counting down to my latest M/M book, Fallen Angels, from Loose-Id. It's looking to be a June 3rd release date. *yay* As soon as I recieve my cover, I'll get it posted here :) Meanwhile, here's the blurb and a hot little excerpt.
Have a great week!

Blurb:
Adam Hardy’s assignment was clear: Infiltrate the pseudo-biker gang Fallen Angels and bring back the dirt on their big boss, Lucifer.

Nowhere in the mission statement did it tell him to fall for their leader, Mammon, named after the fallen angel of greed.

Marc, aka Mammon, thought that a quick dip would sate the lust he held for the newest Fallen Angel. After all, Adam would never be his now that Lucifer has taken an interest in the pretty boy. Intent on making him a golden boy.

Who knew sex and the unexpected bond of trust would bring the two men together as they try to take Lucifer down and out of their lives forever. Can the two survive all the obstacles thrown at them?


Excerpt:

I never experienced longing this intense. All my instincts screamed to run. To escape. Isn’t that why I’d suffered the pain getting loose from my bindings? Now, I blew my entire plan, by kissing my enemy. All right, we’d already had sex three times. Intimate times. But this…what I did now was different. I was fucking insane.

I’d been surprised to find myself hard and wanting by the time I managed to pin Marc. Even more so when he responded in kind. It was the complete look of defeat that broke my resolve. At first, I wanted to comfort him. Soothe away the hurt and distrust.

As the kiss deepened, his hips bucked up, rubbing against me. I moaned, and my hold loosened. Beneath his sweaty, masculine flavor, I tasted blood. His. Mine. We’d both shed our share in the fight. Distantly, I knew if this was a trick, I was screwed because I had little fighting strength left in me. Adrenaline had been the only thing that kept me running. Now, I felt it shift into lustful desire. The kind that drove a person crazy if it wasn’t appeased.

I took the risk and shifted my grip from Marc’s wrists to entwining my fingers with his, trusting that his reactions were real and not deception. He squeezed my hands, almost comforting, instead of threatening. He could easily flip me and have the advantage, but didn’t. He was busy delving deep into my mouth, his tongue aggressively dominating mine.

I pulled away, breathless. “I should be running, not kissing.”

Marc’s pelvis ground up into my weight. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

My eyes closed against my will, reveling in the feel of Marc responding to me. He appeared as desperate for this as I felt. “We’re fucking insane.”

“Insane. Yes.” He lifted his head and nipped at my bottom lip. I groaned as pleasure and pain merged. “Fucking. We’ll get there in a few.”

“We shouldn’t be doing this.” I shook my head and gazed into his arresting dark eyes. “We need to…” My protests were cut off when he kissed me again. The urge to resist melted, as did my sanity.

Marc took charge as he had our previous times together. I didn’t mind. In fact, I enjoyed it. The word submissive came to mind, but in reality it didn’t fit. I delighted in a little pain with my pleasure during sex, relished in having a strong lover. One who knew what he wanted and had no qualms in taking it. But that was the extent to any submissive nature inside me.

My hands released his and slid down Marc’s torso. He wore a T-shirt when I’d attacked. Now, it was nothing more than rags hanging sexily on him. But it had to go; the feel of his skin was more important. I finished ripping the material from his body with a groan as my gaze fell to his beautiful, smooth skin. Already he had a bruise or two surfacing, but that just made him sexier. Trophies of the battle.

My fingers found the button to his jeans and clumsily tore at it. Marc moaned into my mouth when the treasure I sought fell into my hand.

His cock throbbed in my grasp, the flesh soft and hot. My thumb brushed over the tip, and his wetness clung to my skin. Marc’s body jerked in response, and then he thrust forward in my grip.

“So good,” he muttered into my ear.

Since I still wore only my boxers, Marc easily freed my cock and turned us on our sides, facing each other. My teeth nibbled at his neck, our hips thrust in time to one another. Our breath became rapid, and moans increased. Fire burned deep in my groin. Heat blazed my nerves as sweat coated my body.

I licked Marc’s neck, and his salty sweat deliciously coated my taste buds. I wished the tightness of Marc’s hand was his ass, but there was no way I’d stop this to get the condoms from the bedroom.

“So close,” I moaned, speeding up my pace.

Marc cried out my name as he shot his jizz onto my stomach. I followed suit with a yell of release before collapsing, weak as a newborn kitten.

Happy Mother's Day!

So, it's Mother's Day. In a few short hours, I'll be with my immediate and extended family, having a very nice brunch.

... I really hope there's champagne. A lot of it.

I digress. I actually get along well with my family, and naturally this includes my mom. We get along so well, in fact, that about eight months ago I decided to come out of the M/M romance closet and tell her what I wrote in my spare time.

It went about as you'd expect. *sigh* She's my mom and we love each other, but even the closest of mothers and daughters don't always see eye to eye. My mom has always been supportive of my desire to write, but somehow I don't think she'd envisioned me writing gay erotic romance. I've given her countless blog articles on the growing popularity of the genre, and her response is always the same: "Hmm. That is very interesting." I even went as far as to give her a paperback copy of Tabula Rasa (available now at Torquere Press yay go buy!!), which she dutifully read.

"You must have done your research," was her comment after she finished it.

"You mean about rodeo?" I asked, knowing that's not what she meant at all.

"Yes. About rodeo." Then she graced me with a tight-lipped smile. "How did you learn all of those... things?"

"Research," I confirmed, and left it at that.

Oh, Mommy. Even watching Brokeback Mountain couldn't prepare her for reading about two guys sucking each other off. But you know what? She pretended she was okay with it, because she loves me.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Fun in the greenhouse (or why I want to watch)

Over the last weekend I attended the Des Moines Science Fiction Society's (DMSFS) annual convention DemiCon. (http://www.demicon.org/). One of the panels I was on talked about the hot men of science fiction. And of course, you know Captain Jack and his young sidekick Ianto were among the topics of conversation.

But the conversation went something like this.

Other panelist to me: "Captain Jack, the character, may sleep with anything, but the actor John Barrowman is completely gay."

Me: "So."

Other panelist: *looks at me as if I've lost my mind.* "He's gay." (As if I, a M/M author has no clue what that means.)

Me: "I can watch! I'll probably even take notes."

Other panelist proceeds to look at me like I've grown a second head.

And maybe that's why in one of the Torchwood episodes, when Gwen finds Jack and Ianto playing "hide and seek" in the greenhouse, I found it hilarious that they offer to have Gwen join them. (And why if I were Gwen, I would have said hell yeah in a heartbeat.)

So what is it about "watching."?

Aside from the million nuances I'm sure I'd pick up that would help my writing, I think it boils down to having two very handsome men feeling secure enough to express their physical appreciation/lust/love/whatever you want to call it sexually and being secure enough to do so in front of an audience. I'll be shallow for a moment. Eye candy is eye candy. Two of them are even better. Two of them naked and having sex, even better! (the best!). And I think watching that, especially since men really are different from women and it would be fascinating to see their physical desires play out. I don't have to join them to appreciate the beauty of the male form and the beauty that can be found in sex, no matter the gender of the participants.

Also, I happen to be an unashamed admirer of the human form. I can see why my partner thinks Gwen is gorgeous (and she does have a lovely accent, too.). There's also the lure of the forbidden. I can watch and know that they wouldn't want me touching, but I can think about it. The brain is the largest sex organ in the human body, after all. I can imagine being between (behind, beside, name your preposition and I can be there) the two men, participating, enhancing their pleasure and my own.

No, it's not something that I'll ever do in real life, most likely. But I can fantasize, and that, is the allure of watching. Because it's like a movie screen for your mind.

So who would you want to watch?

Mmm...inspiration

Here, have a cowboy. *grins* A dear friend sent this fine specimen to me because he knows I have a particular weakness for older cowboys. *happy sigh*

Speaking of cowboys... Jack and Ty make their debut May 31st in the first of their Chaser series from Torquere Press - Breakdown 1: Nowhere to Run. A May/December romance with countrified cowboys. Can't ask for more than that, eh? ;)

Read the entire story!

Download in PDF or DOC

lovers-thrall-by-slash-burn-authors.doc

loversthrall-by-slash-burn-authors.pdf

Round Robin: The End

Sam raced to the door and flung it wide. Ken fell inside, hitting the tile, just as Absolom landed on the threshold. Sam had no time to help Ken up, or ask why he was there, as the large, dark vampire loomed like a specter of death in the doorway. “I’ve come to offer you a trade. The life of your lover for the sword. You have exactly thirty seconds to choose which you’d like to sacrifice.”

“Um, pardon me for saying so, but it seems as if I have the sword and Ken both, while you have neither. How is that a trade?”

Absolom smirked. In the time it took Sam to blink, his menacing image blurred. One minute he was standing at the door and the next he was in the living room, with Ken trapped in his grip. One razor-sharp fingernail pressed against Ken’s throat, a tiny trickle of blood oozing from the small cut. “Now what do you have, my boy? And you’re down to fifteen seconds.”

Sam stalled for time. “If you want the damn sword so bad, why don’t you just take it? You know where it is.”

“This is true, but the sword must be given. I cannot steal it without dire consequences.”

That made no sense to Sam, since the sword was virtually powerless as far he knew, but he wasn’t about to bicker over whether or not Absolom had the capability to walk into his home and steal a weapon that had been in his family for generations. At the moment, he didn’t really give a shit why the loon wanted it. He could take the damn thing and floss his pearly white teeth with it, for all Sam cared. He wasn’t going to sacrifice Ken’s life for a hunk of metal.

“Fine.” Sam glanced away from Absolom’s cinnamon red eyes and met Ken’s wide, frightened gaze. “Let Ken go and it’s yours.”

Absolom jerked Ken’s hair back, pulling his chin up, and pressed the tip of his fingernail more deeply into the wound on Ken’s neck. “Bring it to me. Now.”

Ken whimpered. “Please, Sam. Do what he says.”

“I’m going. I’m going.” Sam held his hands up and began to back toward the mantle. He kept an eye on the two men, fully aware that it would be a mistake to turn his back on Absolom. He plucked the sword off the mantle, the metal heavy in his hands, and carried it back. “Here. Take it and leave us in peace.”

Absolom eyed the sharp edge of the blade, and then sneered at Sam. “Do you take me for a fool, boy? Hand it to me with the handle out.”

Fuck. Sam carefully grasped the blade and turned the handle toward Absolom. “Just let Ken go and fucking take it already.” He held his breath as the other man’s grip lessened on Ken’s throat. If this was going to work he would have to time it perfectly.

He bowed his head, feigning subservience in order to put the other man at ease, and watched out of the corner of his eye. The moment Ken’s foot lifted to move, he flipped the blade up in the air and swung, slicing Absolom’s head from his body. Ken dove for the floor, shouting. For a split second, nothing happened and Sam feared he’d fucked up.

Then a thin line of red appeared across the alabaster skin of Absolom’s and grew into a cascade of deep crimson spilling down the front of the other man’s torso. The expression on Absolom’s face changed—his eyes widening, and his mouth going slack—and then the head slid from his body and toppled to the floor at Ken’s feet with a wet splat.

Ken scrambled to his feet and threw himself at Sam, trembling. “Jesus, fuck, that was nasty. Who was that asshole? I thought I was a goner there for a minute.”

“It doesn’t matter who he was. All that matters is that you’re safe.” Sam petted Ken’s fine, blonde hair and kissed his forehead. “What are you doing here anyway, baby? You should be at the hospital.”

“I don’t know. One minute I was asleep, having the strangest dream about drinking deep, coppery red wine, and the next I was here.” Ken shook his head. “I really don’t know, but I feel okay now. I’m a little shaken up, understandably, but I feel fine. Great, in fact.” He pressed closer in Sam’s arms. The hard ridge of an erection poked Sam’s hip. “There’s something seriously wrong with me. All I can think about was how close I came to getting my throat slit, and yet I don’t think my cock has ever been so damn hard.”

“You’re perfectly normal, baby. It’s just your body’s way of wanting to prove you’re still alive. That’s all.” Sam could well empathize with Ken’s predicament.

The scent of blood perfumed the air. The fragrance of Ken’s need joined the heady bouquet and twisted it into a potently erotic scent sure to make any vampire stand hard and proud. Sam’s body couldn’t resist. His cock was reacting to the adrenaline coursing through his blood, the feel of Ken’s firm little body in his arms, and the bloodlust he couldn’t control. He wanted nothing more than to throw Ken to the ground and jackhammer his tight ass, but there were more pressing matters that needed to be taken care of first. Absolom needed to take a dirt nap.

Sam pulled away from Ken. “Wait here, baby. I’ll be right back, and then I’ll take care of you.”

Ken’s forehead wrinkled. “Where are you going? You can’t go out into the sun.”

“Not for long, no, but the sun hasn’t completely risen yet. I just need to be out long enough to get this SOB’s ass out of my house.”

“Why?” Ken’s gaze followed Sam across the room, where he lifted Absolom’s body and slung him over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “He’s dead, right?”

“Yeah, but I’d feel a lot more comfortable if there was nothing left of him but ash.” Sam started for the door, and then remembered he’d forgotten the head. “Hey, Ken? Would you grab his head and hand it to me, please?”

“All right.” Ken stood and trudged over to where Absolom’s head rested on the carpet. Sneering, he lifted it by the dark tips of hair, and held it out away from his body as he carried it to Sam. “Here.”

“Thanks, babe.” Sam took the head. “You try to release, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Ken used the hand that hadn’t touched Absolom’s head to scrub the lower half of his face. “Hurry, Samuel. I need you.”

Sam frowned and headed for the front door. He and Ken needed to talk. Unfortunately, it would have to wait until after Sam disposed of Absolom, and then fed Ken the sustenance he needed to fully recover from the evening’s events. Hopefully, another little taste or two of Sam’s blood would keep Ken from having any lasting effects from the ordeal he’d been through.

After dumping Absolom’s body off the side of his porch—and only managing to make his skin itchy from the sun exposure to the sun, rather than singed—Sam entered the house and went looking for Ken. He found him stretched out on the mattress of Sam’s bed, naked and stroking one fist up and down the length of his slender, ruddy cock.

“What’re you doing?”

Ken quirked a single eyebrow. “That should be obvious.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m pretty sure I told you to relax, not to make yourself at home.”

Ken grinned. “Getting off is the quickest way to relax me.”

“Mm hmm,” Sam muttered, although it was damn hard to be upset when presented with such a beguiling view. Ken was a gorgeous specimen of manhood, all golden skin and lean muscle. It was damn hard to remember what he was supposed to be aggravated about when all the blood in his body was trying to squeeze into his cock.

“You could help me with this, you know? It is your fault.”

“How do you figure that?” Sam crawled onto the bed, his gaze fixated on the way Ken’s hand moved up and down, stroking his hand from base to tip, milking glistening drop of precum from the slit.

“You’re the one running around naked. What did you think was going to happen? Now shut up and suck my cock.”

Sam’s pride flared at the order, but his cock didn’t mind it one bit. He moved closer, damn tempted to fulfill Ken’s request, and licked his lips. He could almost taste Ken’s bitter flavor spilling over his tongue. Instead of bending to suck Ken’s cock into his mouth, Sam stretched out beside Ken, lying with his head angled toward Ken’s lower body.

Catching on to what Sam wanted, Ken flipped onto his side and faced Sam. He ran a smooth hand up the inside of Sam’s thigh and then trailed his fingernails lightly over Sam’s balls.

Sam shivered, his sac wrinkling in response to the attention. He reached down and grabbed his cock, holding it steady while he used the sharp edge of a fingernail to slice a thin cut along the shaft. He winced at the quickly-vanishing sting, but was satisfied by the results and the way Ken’s scent intensified at the sight of his blood. Crimson fluid welled up and trickled down the sides of his shaft, even as the fragile skin mended and sealed closed.

Impatient, he gripped the base of his cock and tapped the blunt against Ken’s rosy red lips. “You wanted it. Now suck it.”

Ken didn’t need to be asked twice. He dived onto Sam’s cock like it was a melting ice cream cone, licking and slurping up the blood and moaning like a whore.

“Fuck, yeah. That feels good.” Sam closed his eyes and relished the sweet sensations of Ken’s tongue working his cock before the urge to take a more active role overcame him.

He shifted his upper body and pulled Ken’s uppermost thigh over his shoulder, opening the other man to his desires. Ken moaned and wiggled, bucking his groin closer to Sam’s face. Sam buried his nose against the other man’s sac and inhaled. Ken smelled so fucking good, musky with just a hint of sweat, the way a man should. Beneath it all, Ken’s blood pumped furiously, a call to Sam’s baser instincts. He wanted to sink his teeth into Ken’s femoral artery and glutton himself on the sweet ambrosia, then turn Ken over on his stomach and fuck him until they both collapsed in a satiated heap of arms and legs. Instead, tongued Ken’s balls, and batting them around with the tip of his tongue. His sucked one fragile orb into his mouth and the other, rolling them on his tongue.

Ken moaned his pleasure around Sam’s cock and sucked faster, bobbing his mouth up and down the rigid length. Saliva dripped down Sam’s shaft and moistened his balls, making them slide through Ken’s palm with no friction as the other man massaged and caressed them with a firm hand—just the way Sam liked. No one could suck cock better than Ken, when he set his mind to it.

Ken dragged his mouth up Sam’s shaft and let the swollen tip pop free. Cool air raced over Sam’s wet cock as Ken panted. “Stop teasing and suck me. Please, God. I need to cum.”

Before the last word slipped from Ken’s luscious lips, Sam leaned in and swallowed Ken’s cock to the root at the same time he slid the tip of a dry finger into Ken’s tight ass. Ken bucked and moaned, pushing the tip of his cock against the back of Sam’s throat. He relaxed his jaw and tightened his mouth, moving in a furious pace meant to get Ken off with as little fuss as possible.

As good as sex with Ken could be, Sam was exhausted. Daylight didn’t usually bother him so strongly, but he could feel sleep chasing him, weighing him down. All he wanted to do was get off, make Ken cum, and then go to sleep. They could fuck like bunnies later.

The suction around Sam’s cock increased until it bordered on painful. Pleasure coiled tight in his groin, his balls lifting to hug the base of his shaft. Pleasure boiled inside him, growing ever larger until it spilled out, coating the warm, wet mouth around him. Ken kept sucking, pulling the fluid from Sam’s body, as he shook through the spasms of release.

Spent, Sam rolled over into his back and dragged Ken’s body atop him. He gripped the other man’s ass and pulled him down, plunging Ken’s cock into his mouth. Squeezing the firm globes of Ken’s ass, Sam pushed and pulled until Ken got the idea and started to move on his own, fucking Sam’s willing mouth and taking what he needed.

The smell of Ken’s arousal rose and swirled around them like a fine mist. Ken’s asscheeks flexed and relaxed under Sam’s palms, his cock growing more rigid. Sam angled his head back to take Ken deeper, and concentrated on loosen his throat muscles. On the next pass, when Ken’s crown butted the back of his throat, Sam swallowed. Ken moaned and froze, the tip of his cock buried in Sam’s throat, and started to cum.

Sam held still until the urge to breath became too urgent. He pushed against Ken, urging the other man to get off him. When that didn’t work, he gripped Ken’s thighs and rolled them over.

Ken grunted and then bashfully ducked his head. “Sorry. It just felt so good.”

Sam flipped around and rested his head on the pillow beside Ken’s. “I’ll live.” Or perform a reasonable facsimile of it. After all, it wasn’t as if he were truly alive by human standards.

Satiated from his orgasm, and on the verge of sleep, Sam recalled his need to clarify a few things with Ken. He didn’t really feel like talking now, but what he needed to say couldn’t be put off any longer. He petted Ken’s flat stomach. “Hey, Ken?”

“Hmm?” Ken murmured drowsily. His eyelids lifted, and he gazed up at Sam with sleep-heavy eyes the color of the clear, summer sky.

“I, um, know we were a little lax about putting labels on our relationship when we started sleeping together, but with everything that’s happened, I just need to make sure you understand that I’m not looking for anything serious. I care about you—I enjoy the time we spend together—but I’m not in love with you.”

Ken stared at him for a moment before he burst out laughing. “Sweet Jesus. Is this where I have to explain my intentions to you?” He shook his head. “I like you, Sam. You’re a great guy, with a delicious fucking cock, but I’m not in love with you either. It’s just sex—amazing fucking sex—but nothing more than that.”

“Thank God.” Sam exhaled in relief.

“So, we’re good?” Ken rolled onto his back and stretched, displaying the delicious way the muscles in his chest and torso flexed under the golden surface of his velvety skin.

“Yeah,” Same said, cuddling up against Ken’s warmth. “We’re good, babe.”

He rested his head on Ken’s shoulder and snuggled close. He felt like an ass for making assumptions, especially since he’d been dead wrong, but he’d wanted to clear the air between them once and for all. As much as it pained him to admit it, Absolom may have had a point when he’d accused Sam of being selfish. He didn’t like to be alone, so he strung men along until one of them decided to move on. It wasn’t a crime, and he never mistreated anyone or held them against their will, but he didn’t want to lead Ken on and then chance hurting the other man further down the road. Although his passion for Ken’s body had only seemed to swell with time, rather than ebb as it had with most mortals, that didn’t mean it never would.

As sure as the sun rose and set, the time would come when one of them wanted something more than a physical relationship. The thought of Ken leaving him caused a deep-seated ache in Sam’s chest, but he shoved the fleeting emotion away before it could take root. He’d deal with their eventual demise when it happened, and in the best way he knew how. It was only a matter of time.

We interrupt this round robin to bring you breaking news...

My second novel, Easy, is now available in PRINT from MLR Press! Wooo-hooo!!!!
Buy it from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Blurb:
Dan Corazon is a man with a secret. Stevie Sanger is fighting a past that won't leave him alone. They want each other from the moment they meet, and that attraction quickly blossoms into something deeper, something that could become permanent. But first, they need to overcome all the obstacles in their way. Dan's fear of his own nature, Stevie's belief that he's not good enough for Dan. The unresolved pieces of Stevie's past. Building the relationship they both want may be a challenge too big for either of them. But nothing worth having is ever easy.

Click here to read an excerpt!

Thanks for indulging the interruption to the way-cool vampire story, I'm super excited about this :D
I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.