The only good news this weekend

Sorry to opt out of the round robin this week, but I have to share the only good thing that happened in the past three uber-shitty days.

My author copies arrived! That's right. Yesterday afternoon the UPS guy dropped off a box of my very first book IN PRINT. It's so very pretty! I totally should have been keeping a list of the many, many friends who said, "I'll buy it when it comes out in print." Come 28 April, I'm gonna start holding them to that whether they remember they said it or not. :D

Or, you know, folks could preorder and stuff. That'd be okay, too.

Round Robin Part XI

This is a bit shorter than I wanted, but suffering from a migraine today and unable to take anything for it. I have surgery a week from today to have my diviated septum corrected, so I'm hoping that will calm all the headaches and migraines I suffer.

Now, on with the story...

“Matthew, holy f---“ Cole’s words ended in a hiss as Matthew’s suction tightened around him the same time his hand gently began caressing his balls. Losing the battle, his eyes closed. The walls of his beloved store fell away and he felt as if he were floating in a thick haze of lust.

In the distance, Cole recognized the sound of a meow. Balthazar. A brush of fur on his arm. Damn cat, but he was too lost to really pay much attention. So close.
Matthew’s tongue was magical as it drove Cole closer and closer to the edge. Then he felt the hot lips wrapped around his base and his tip pressed hard against the back of Matthew’s throat. This was not the young man’s first time giving a blow job.

Cole tried to tell Matthew how good it was feeling, but only grunts and moans rose from his throat to convey his thoughts.

One of Matthew’s fingers slipped away from his balls, past his taint, and found the tight hole. One touch had Cole bucking his hips further into Matthew’s mouth. The wonderfully talented mouth didn’t stop sucking as the finger teased the opening before applying pressure to the area.

That was all it took. Cole cried out and felt a sensation of exploding as his cum shot into Matthew’s throat.

It took a few moments for his head to clear. Only then did he hear the hiss of Balthazar, the curse from Matthew, and the sight of flashing lights from a police car outside the windows of the shop.

Worth Repeating

I know I posted this at my last turn on the blog, but as the Rainbow Book Fair is today it bears repeating. If you're in the city tomorrow stop by and shop. When you consider the condition of the publishing industry right now - with bookstores closing and publishing houses cutting staff - it's important now more than ever to support the authors and houses you enjoy. A good turnout tomorrow could mean the opportunity for another fair next year. If you love the manlove, come out and prove it.


Phaze Books has a table at the first ever Rainbow Book Fair in New York City, two weeks from now. We'll have copies of our hottest GLBT titles from authors like Jade Falconer (who will be making an appearance!!!!!), James Buchanan, Mychael Black and Shayne Carmichael, L.E. Bryce, and more. We'll have candy and a drawing for a $50 Phaze Gift Certificate. Look forward to seeing you there.

Visit the site of The Center for directions.

On the road with the boyz

Just like one of the J-rock groups who inspired them ChildsPrey has "switched US distributors" in releasing the last book featuring the band's core members. Their Lover featuring CP drummer Kyoru is now out from Noble Romance.

Here, have a blurb:

Danger brought handsome American Ken O'Neill into the lives of ChildsPrey drummer Kyoru Tanihara and his wife, actress Sasao Miyamoto. Once the need for a full time bodyguard ends Ken stays on as both an employee and friend.

After the men share a scripted kiss in a music video, the trio's relationship takes an unusual turn. Old desires awaken within Kyoru, new fantasies in Sasao, and Ken is afraid his presence may jeopardize his friends' marriage.

Reluctantly, Ken leaves the couple's employ but when another frightening situation draws him back into their lives, Kyoru and Sasao will do all they can to hang on to their friend and convince him they're good for each another in every way imaginable.

* * *

I'm a big believer in making related books stand alone as much as possible and think this one does that pretty well. If you haven't spent time with any of the CP boyz check out the entire catalogue:

Orange Moon, Wnter Song, Under a Silver Moon, Secret Moon (co-written with Anne Cain)

Their Lover

Some good reads as of late...

Here lately, I've been doing a bit of reading. It's not something I usually have the chance to do since I'm typically busy with the kids, writing, or whatever. But I've been trying to make the time.

So what have I been reading?

Some of the past few M/M books I've read that I really enjoyed are:

The Slayer's Apprentice - Zathyn Priest (no, I'm not just being biased here--it's an amazing book)

Perfect Man - Shawn Lane

Poor Boy - Jaime Samms

Soren's Surrender - Anna Leigh Keaton

If you haven't read any of the above books, I highly recommend them. :D

New Release: Lost!

I know, I know. When are we going to get back to the robin? It's coming, I'm sure! For now, I had to share the news (and the cover) to my newest release, Lost!




Price: $2.00
Publisher: Phaze Books
Buy it here.

When Eric begs Ethan to use his psychic skills to help find his drug addict mother, Ethan is reluctant, unwilling to use the gifts that have given him such pain in the past. But Eric is also one of Ethan's few friends and the plea is too strong to ignore.

They embark on the path to find the truth behind Deborah's disappearance only to stumble into the beginnings of hell...for the both of them.

As Eric tumbles down into a dark pit of pain that threatens his very soul, Ethan must fight down his own demons to help Eric see the light at the end of the tunnel.


Doesn't that cover just kick so much ass? *squee* Stella Price is a genius!

There's no accounting for taste

Please excuse this break in programming from the fantastic round robin going on.

I've never been attracted to big, muscle-bound men. As a young teenager seeking romance novels, I would take one look at the Fabio types on the covers and keep searching. Of course, once I got a little older I realized it didn't matter how the heroes looked on the cover or even how the author described them. Long hair? A quick mental haircut solves that problem. Mustache? Get out the razor! I became adept at molding characters into my own personal dream men.

If I had to sum up my type in a nutshell, I'd say long, lean and clean cut. I like short hair. Skinny guys do way more for me than the sculpted Greek gods usually held up as ideal, and I'll pick the nerd over the popular jock any day of the week. I was so pleased with the cover for my latest book Daybreak because I felt it depicted my type of guy much more than other covers I've seen featuring men with arms the size of my thighs. (Not that there's anything wrong with that -- it's just not for me.)

Here's the guy I'm crushing on right now: Broadway actor Matt Doyle, who is currently in Toronto starring in Spring Awakening.




What's your type? And who's your current crush?

Round Robin - Part X

Mathew’s lips were firm and warm where they pressed against Cole’s. His breath smelled of dinner and a hint of something richer. One closed-mouth caress became two and then three.

Cole was so surprised by the sudden move that he forgot to kiss the younger man back. By the time he recovered from shock, Mathew was already pulling away.

A hint of remorse for the lost moment skittered down Cole’s spine and lodged in his balls. Who was he to turn down someone like Mathew? It wasn’t like the opportunity to be with someone so damn pretty came along every day. Hell, he wouldn’t have been celibate for the last six months if he had boys like Mathew throwing themselves at his feet. Or anyone, for that matter.

He opened his mouth to apologize, for what he wasn’t quite sure, and was forced to swallow the words as Mathew dropped to his knees. “What, um—What are you doing, Mathew?”

Mathew’s hands fumbled with Cole’s pants, popping the button for its mooring. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m certainly not whistling Dixie down here.”

“I, um—” Mathew fished Cole’s dick out and stroked it, drying up Cole’s words before they could fully form. It took considerable effort to say, “You don’t have to…” The last thing he wanted was for Mathew to feel like he had to suck him off in a bid to repay him for doing something any decent human being would have done in his place. With that being said, he had to admit he hoped Mathew didn’t stop. It had been so long since he’d felt someone else’s hands on his body.

“What?” Mathew gazed up at Cole through the sparse fringe of his bangs. “Would you rather fuck me?”

God, yes. Just the thought of bending Mathew over and fucking him up the ass until neither one of them could move or speak was enough to make him want to come. However, he’d take anything Mathew was willing to share and be grateful for it. After all, beggars couldn’t be choosers. “I’ll do anything you want.”

Rather than reply, Mathew bent forward and wrapped his sweet pink lips around the tip of Cole’s cock. Moist heat engulfed him, prodded his slit and circled his cockhead before moving farther down his shaft.

Cole closed his eyes and then reopened them, at war with the desire to shut out the outside world and focus on the feel of hot, wet lips mouthing his crown and the overwhelming need to watch Adam swallow him. Things like this did not happen to people like him. He was the man who gave and gave until his lover’s cried “You’re smothering me” and ran out on him, time and again.

He’d come to grips with being alone. Made his peace with the fact that he was not anyone’s idea of a wet dream and settled on being satisfied with his lot in life. However, that didn’t mean he lacked the same needs as everyone else. He still longed for the hard, practiced touch of a man in the dark of the night. Quite frankly, being sucked off by someone like Mathew would fuel untold number of hand parties in the near future.

Cole threaded his fingers through Mathew’s damp hair and held on, praying his knees would hold up through the younger man’s onslaught while Mathew used his mouth, lips and tongue to melt away any reservations Cole may have possessed. There was no way he could dwell on right and wrong when Mathew’s mouth was hot and wet upon him, a tight inferno of siphoning pleasure that no one in their right mind would have been able to resist.

Round Robin Part IX

Oh man, I can't believe it's Round Robin time again! Wow. Does time speed up as you get older, or is it just me? I think that should be someone's doctoral thesis or something O_O

Anyhow, on with my contribution. I have no idea what I'm about to write, so we'll just see what happens, shall we? Heh *g*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm not tired." Matthew swallowed a yawn so it wouldn't give away his lie. The last thing he needed right now was to fall asleep. Until he put a few hundred miles between himself and his aunt and uncle, sleep was a luxury. After what he'd seen them do...

He shivered in spite of himself. He'd never much liked Aunt Coco and Uncle Donald, but they'd taken him in when his mom left. They'd given him a roof over his head, provided a sullen housekeeper to make sure he ate, slept and went to school, and left him pretty much to his own devices. Their only unbreakable rule was "stay out of sight when we have company," a rule he'd never broken until today.

God, if only I could've gotten that damn job. I'd've been able to rent an apartment and move out of their house weeks ago, and I never would've seen--

"Matthew?"

With a violent start, Matthew blinked and focused on Cole's concerned face. "Yeah?"

"Are you all right?"

"Sure, I'm fine. Why? Why would you ask that?"

"You were a million miles away just now." Cole let ouf a deep sigh. Setting his sketch pad on the counter, he took both of Matthew's hands in his. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you. But it's pretty obvious that you're running from something."

Alarm bells clanged in Matthews skull. He fought to keep his panic off his face. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yeah, you do." The corners of Cole's mouth tipped up in a wry smile. "I know it's none of my business who or what has you so scared. But no one knows you're here. You're safe, for now. Rest for a while. Then we'll figure out some way to get you out of here without being spotted. Okay?"

Warmth spread like a wave through Matthew's chest. He ignored it. No way was Cole doing this out of niceness. He wanted something, and Matthew knew damn well what that something was. Cole's palms were damp, his breath coming short and fast. Flushed cheeks and dilated pupils? Oh yeah. As much as Cole had tried to deny it, he wanted Matthew. Badly. It was painfully obvious.

Not that getting fucked by Cole would be any sort of hardship. In fact, the more Matthew thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

Lacing his fingers through Cole's, Matthew stepped closer and tilted his head until he felt the rapid puff of Cole's breath against his lips. Cole trembled, but didn't move, and Matthew was glad.

"What are you doing?" Cole whispered.

Matthew smiled. "Giving you what you want." He closed the distance between them and sealed his mouth to Cole's.

TBC.....

Next O_O

Round Robin -- Part VIII

Cole focused his attention on the remains of his dinner but his hunger had disappeared with Matthew’s jaded words. The guy was awfully young to be so bitter and Cole hadn’t even been able to deny his attraction to the younger man, even if had nothing to do with payment for services rendered.

Balthazar deigned to accept a few more tidbits of pork from him before he pranced over to Matthew to see if he could score any more shrimp.

“Traitor.” Cole couldn’t help but be amused by the cat’s fickleness.

“See, even the cat is looking for something in return for being friendly.” The younger man’s voice held a hint of sadness.

“I’ll get my shirt, it should be mostly dry by now and I need to get going. I have to meet someone.”

Cole glanced out the front window of the shop again. If anything, the rain had grown into a true squall. Sheets of rain and wind driving along in waves and pieces of tree branches tumbled by, tossed like twigs.

“I don’t think either of us is going anywhere for a while. It’s getting worse and worse out there and I’m not really all that thrilled with the idea of swimming to my car.”

Matthew stopped on his way toward the restroom to stare out first one window, then the next one, as if hoping he’d see something better. “Damn. This sucks. I don’t even have a car and I’m sure the guy I’m meeting won’t bother coming out in this.”

Cole busied himself cleaning up the counter and throwing away the take-out boxes. A quick wash and the checkout counter was back to its normal tidy state. Not looking at Matthew took almost every ounce of willpower he possessed but no matter how much he was attracted to him, Cole was not going to let him think he’d intervened because he wanted to fuck the cute blonde.

Counter as clean as it would get, Cole pulled the sketch pad he kept under the register out and flipped to a fresh page. Frames of a new comic series flew from his fingers without thought or effort. Rapidly sketching out a rough storyboard, he nearly forgot the other man was in the shop with him. Only when Matthew stood in front of him again did Cole remember and look up. Exhaustion pinched the corners of his mouth and weariness rolled off him in waves.

“There’s a comfortable chair in the storeroom I use sometimes when I sketch. It’s good for a nap, too. Why don’t you rest for a while and we’ll see if the rain lets up. Usually squalls don’t last too long.”

Round Robin Part VII

"Like it?" Cole's eyebrows met in the middle. "More like finding myself doing it." He scowled and shook his head. "Just one of those things."

Like he was just easing his weight, Matthew shifted a few inches nearer Cole. He fished a bit of pork off Cole's plate. "So how did the cat pay you for rescuing and feeding him?" That's how the world worked. And people either took advantage of you or you took advantage of them.

"Pay me?" Food halfway to his mouth, Cole stopped and blinked.

"Yeah, you know," Matthew shrugged, "'cause everything has a price." He eased a sideways glance at Cole to see what his reaction would be. Even if the world worked that way, lots of people liked to pretend it didn't.

Slowly, Cole put his untouched Mu-Shu wrap down. "Doesn't have to." Turning to rest his hip against the counter, Cole added, "Sometimes people do things because it's just the right thing to do."

Yeah right. The world was about give and take even if Cole deluded himself. "I've never met anyone who just did the right thing."

"I did." Cole crossed his arm over his chest and glared. "How about that?"

That glare was smoking. "No you want something." Still, Matthew could also see the hint of defiance and shame under it. "Everybody wants something."

"I don't want anything." Cole's denial rang hollow to Matthew's ears.

Matthew stepped in, right into Cole's personal space. "You want me." He smirked. "Gonna lie?" He pressed in, letting Cole feel his half hard dick and so he could feel Cole's prick. "Tell me I'm wrong?" He dared Cole to contradict what his body was screaming loud and clear.

Cole took a deep breath. "I didn't stop them from beating the shit out of you so I could get laid." He didn't, however, back away.

"So you don't want me?" Matthew leered.

"Didn't say that either." Another ragged breath shook Cole's frame before he finished, "But that's not why I stopped them."

Well, at least he wasn't a total liar.

Round Robin Part VI

Part V

Ahem. Normally, I don’t get all excited about awards, but Dear Author is running a book tournament—a tournament, with seeding—and it just makes me get all sports-crazed so if anyone wants to feed my ego competitive spirit, you could vote for Collision Course over at Dear Author beginning March 19.

Also, on Saturday March 21, I’m going to be participating with a bunch of authors at a party very serious literary event with brownies, margaritas, wine and readings, at Chicket Books in Princeton, NJ (link).

Now back to the story.

(I want an announcer’s voice to intone this with that kind of breathless anticipation.) Previously on the Round Robin:
Cole was babbling and he made himself stop. "It'll give your shirt time to dry out," he concluded, and then added to himself, And maybe while we're eating I can figure out what you're hiding. Or hiding from.

* * * * *

This guy Cole, Mr. Art Store with his freaky named cat, was much too good to be true. Matthew was still looking for the catch as he watched Cole fold his pancake neatly over his mu shu pork while they ate at the checkout counter of Cole’s art supply store. Hiding a stare under blond bangs in need of a trim, Matthew had been studying Cole since they started eating.

Cole, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to look everywhere but at Matthew. But he’d caught those gazes earlier, the flare of heat and interest, and if the price of rescue was ending up in Cole’s bed it wouldn’t be too bad. Matthew had definitely done worse—would do worse—if he had to.

And it really wouldn’t be too bad. Cole was kind of cute in a nerdy, cat-cuddling way. Auburn hair that had gotten curly in the rain and soft brown eyes, a turned up little nose, and even better, a solid broad chest tapering to lean hips. A little short, a little old, and definitely not the kind of guy Matthew would have expected to ride to his rescue.

Cole’s tongue flicked out to lick the dark drops of plum sauce from his lips and Matthew felt a tug down deep in one place he hadn’t been kicked, thank God. Okay, so maybe the price of rescue would be better than not bad. And Cole wouldn’t ask any more questions and tomorrow morning, Matthew would still be on his way out of town—away from his aunt and uncle—even if he had to do it without the money Tyler had promised him. Matthew wondered if those two assholes had been Tyler’s farewell gift instead.

Cole’s wide pink lips were twitching like he was about to start with his questions again, so Matthew decided to cut him off with one of his own. Around a mouthful of fried rice he asked, “How long have you had it?” He pointed around with his chopsticks.

The cat jumped up on Cole’s shoulder and took a bit of pork from his fingers. “The store or Balthazar?”

“I meant the store.”

“I’ve had them both four years. Balthazar came with the store.”

The steady gold gaze from the cat was a little unnerving, as if Balthazar knew what Matthew had done. Almost done. He offered. I never asked for anything, Matthew told the cat as it slithered down Cole’s arm and stalked across the counter. But the gold gaze seemed more intent on willing the extraction of a piece of shrimp from Matthew’s lo mein than the secrets from his head. He held out a piece and the cat took it gently, a quick rasp of tongue as the shrimp vanished into a purring throat.

“He likes you,” Cole sounded surprised. “He usually takes a long time to warm up to people.”

“I think he just likes the shrimp.”

Cole shrugged. “He was pretty abused as a kitten. He usually sticks to me when someone’s in the store.”

Matthew got it. “You like coming to the rescue, huh?”

Round Robin Part V

You can find Part IV here.

-----------------------------------------------

"Huh?" Cole turned to see what had caught Matthew's gaze, and saw two glowing golden eyes hovering about six feet off the floor. "Oh! Balthazar." The big orange cat meowed loudly at the sound of his name and sat up from his crouch on the shelving unit. "How the hell did you get up there?" Cole reached out and hauled the feline off the shelf. He turned, cat in his arms, to face Matthew once more. "You're not allergic are you?"

Matthew shook his head, snorted what might have been a soft laugh. "No. You have a cat?"

"Yeah."

"In an art supply store?"

"Yeah." Cole set Balthazar on the floor and the cat immediately trotted over to Matthew and began to wind around and around Matthew's feet, purring loudly.

Matthew looked down at Balthazar, but contrary to Cole's expectations, didn't kneel to pet him. Why should I have any expectations? Cole wondered silently. He didn't know this kid from Adam. And yet, he'd let him into his shop, after hours, no one around as a witness if the boy suddenly went apeshit and beat him to death with tub of gesso.

Cole shook his head at himself. Wow. His imagination was really twisted tonight. Besides, if Matthew was dangerous, wouldn't Balthazar have picked up on it? Animals were much better at that stuff than humans.

"I've seen used book stores with cats, but never a place like this. I mean, aren't you afraid he's gonna, you know, break stuff?" Matthew asked, watching as the cat continued to weave around his ankles like some sort of Moebius path.

"No. Listen." This was getting them no where, and frankly Cole was too hungry to care about cats and art supplies and latent homicidal tendencies and strange scars. … Okay, maybe he was still wondering about the long scar down Matthew's otherwise lovely—if rapidly bruising—torso, but he wasn't rude enough to bring it up again. "Are you hungry? I was going to get dinner anyway. There's a good Chinese place a couple of blocks away. My treat."

Matthew's eyes widened and he looked suddenly hunted.

Shit. He hadn't meant for that to sound like he was asking the boy out. He needed to eat or he was just going to get stupider the hungrier he got. "Or we could order in," Cole amended quickly. A flash of lightning lit the darkened street and was soon followed by a low rumble of thunder. "Stupid to go out in this weather if you don't have to. It wouldn't be the first time the Dragon Palace has delivered here, although usually it's lunch. They do awesome mu shu pork and pot stickers." Cole was babbling and he made himself stop. "It'll give your shirt time to dry out," he concluded, and then added to himself, And maybe while we're eating I can figure out what you're hiding. Or hiding from.


------------------------

Next? :)

Round Robin Part IV

I have to agree with Tory. March is halfway over *eek* But at least we're finally getting that great spring weather.

---------------------

“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.” Cole brushed his hands through his hair to push it back from his face. Water dripped on the light coat he still wore. He also noticed several spots on Matthew’s stomach that were already starting to darken. He’ll have some rough looking bruises by the morning.

Matthew’s eyes lowered and he hurriedly pulled on the sweat shirt. He picked up the soaked shirt and took a couple of steps back from Cole. He didn’t respond to the comments, instead asking, “Do you have a bathroom?”

Cole blinked. “Uh, yeah. In the back, down the short hallway on the left.”

The corner of Matthew’s lips twitched up into an almost smile. “Thanks.”

Staring, Cole watched the young man disappear into the back. “Great going, big-mouth. You try to help out a fellow man in need, and end up making his night worse,” he chastised himself.

The sound of the rain becoming harder drew his attention to the storefront window. It was raining cats and dogs. They’ll be stuck here for some time if this keeps up. Good thing he had no particular plans for the night. Though he was getting hungry.

Startled, Cole jumped when Matthew spoke. “Thank you again. I hope you don’t mind that I hung up my shirt to dry some.”

Cole turned and shook his head. “No, that’s fine. I was just thinking that we may be here awhile.”

Matthew looked so small in the oversized sweatshirt, arms crossed over his chest and still not quite meeting his eyes. Those nice eyes looked over Cole’s shoulder and widened.

“What’s that?”

----------------------------

Next?

Round Robin Part III

Sunday again? Wow, March is flying by. On with it!

***

"I'm sure." Cole was even more sure when the mist changed to real rain and there was an ominous rumble of thunder. "Come on, I'm freezing."

Matthew darted one more look around and then hunched his shoulders against the weather. "Yeah, all right. At least until the rain stops."

Glad to have made some progress, even a bit, Cole turned and headed back down the street with Matthew in tow. They reached his small art supply shop in no time. Cole fumbled with the keys and got the door open, hustling both of them in out of the rain.

He watched as Matthew's gaze traveled over the various paints, brushes, pencils, and canvases that lined the walls of the little store.

"Do you draw?" the boy asked. "Or paint, or something?"

Cole nodded. "Mostly I just sketch, but once in a while the urge to paint strikes me." He thought of all the hidden pages of the comic book he'd been working on for months.

"Oh. Cool." Matthew's voice was soft and Cole noticed that his shirt was overly damp and sticking to his thin shoulders.

"I have a dry shirt," Cole offered. "No dry pants, though. But at least you'd be warmer." He bent down behind the register and dug out an old, soft sweatshirt. "Want to put this on?"

Matthew nibbled his lower lip a bit before reaching out a hand to take the shirt. "Um, yeah. Thanks." He stepped back again and stripped his t-shirt off, letting it fall to the floor in a sad little heap.

Cole's eyes widened. Matthew had a thin red scar that ran from chest to waist. It was nearly white in some spots, so it couldn't have been a recent injury, but it was startling enough for Cole to blurt out, "Where'd that come from?"

He kicked himself a moment later for it, but the words were out there and Matthew was looking at him warily.

***

Next!