Sunday Snippet: Sh*t Happens

May 31, 2015

Wow. School's out for summer where I'm located and I have to say now that my kids are older; we're busier in the summer sometimes than during the school year. LOL

Okay, I've forgiven Orphan Black for killing off one of my favorite characters. But as I figured, the show still blows my mind. Seriously, I'm always amazed by what I see on my screen.

Bitten turned up the crazy with this week's episode. I forgot how truly creepy the show was this past season. Alestair taking over Clay's body was something of a joy to watch though. Kudos to both actors for pulling the swap off.

Really looking forward to Defiance's return in a week or two. Watched a catch up marathon, which got me revved up for the new episodes. I have a character or two I'd be happy to see meet their end the season. LOL

And I'm almost done with mainlining Teen Wolf. I'm slowing down so I don't have long to wait for new episodes. Very excited to see how the rest of season four plays out.

Enough TV… tonight's post is from Sh*t Happens, a sexy short where my main characters work out a little conflict between them.

Here's the tagline:

Nyla White, an up and coming cage fighter, has buttloads of potential but her 'Sh*t happens' attitude prevents her from attaining the top spot. Erik Stevens, her trainer, pushes her to use her emotions to own her talent, which Nyla is hesitant to do—because she's got strong feelings for Erik.

And a preview snippet…

Erik burst through the double doors. "What. The hell. Was that horrific display?" His face couldn't reach a darker shade of red.

Nyla went too far in the cage tonight. She'd shocked everyone, including herself, with the wild, frenetic battle. But injuring her opponent meant she lost the match, something she hated. And Erik should get that fact and realize she didn't need or want him in her face right now.

She shrugged, hoping to ward off more vitriol. "Shit happens, Erik." A sad commentary on her life, but true nonetheless.

Erik went ballistic. "No, Nyla. It doesn't. And you need to come up with a better response to your bullshit stupidity." He slapped his hand on the wall. "We trained hard for this match and you totally fell apart out there. That's not just shit happening. It's a complete lack of control." He got quieter with each word spoken.

Nyla closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. "I know, Erik. I don't have an explanation. And when I can't figure out the why, I fall back on something tried and true." She met his gaze. "Shit happens."

He exhaled, long and loud. "Take tonight and tomorrow off. Be ready first thing Monday morning to review the match and work on every wrong move you made out there." Turning, he headed for the exit. "And don't even think about skipping out and holing up somewhere to lick your wounds." He glanced back over his shoulder. "I'll send a tracker out if I have to."

Nyla resisted the urge to flip him off. "I'll be in the facility bright and early Monday morning."

Erik left and Nyla let the quiet envelope her. She didn't relish sitting through an agonizing critique of her performance, or listening to Erik lose his mind over each and every mistake. But she would, mainly because he trained the best and he saw something in her, enough latent ability to reach the pinnacle at the top. She couldn't let him down and miss her chance to be a champion.

I can't wait to see what they get into on Monday. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Same Time Next Year

May 24, 2015

For all those in the US, Happy Memorial Day when it gets here tomorrow.

Now for the good stuff. Orphan Black… I'm so very angry with you, right now. *side eyes the show runners* All I have to say is the loss better be worth it, which I figure it will be, but yeah, still sad.

The Bitten on Friday was one of my favorite episodes from season two. I'm thinking they planted some seeds for season three, which we are getting. Yay!!

Finished season three, part two of Teen Wolf and wow… I'm going to miss a few characters. I'd rather have both back and NOT have to insane Kate to deal with, but okay, I'll reserve full judgment. LOL

Looking forward to the new episodes of my previously listed shows. Bring on June!

Tonight's post is from Same Time Next Year, a novella where my main characters set a date to meet, but have no idea what's coming their way.

Here's the tagline:

After commiserating over failed hook-ups, Tessa Gem and Hart Cantley make a date for the following year at the same time, but they have no idea their fae collective will be at war when they meet again.

And a preview snippet…

Tessa tilted her head to the side. Hmmm. Hart Cantley. She hadn't seen him since she graduated hunter training with his brother Joplin. He looked damned attractive; his dark head bent forward, the stubble of his jaw blending into the shadows of his corner booth. She grabbed her coffee and strolled over to his table.

Getting closer, she noticed his sour demeanor. Maybe now wouldn't be the best time to get reacquainted. She paused, waffling, then took the three steps she needed to reach him.

Setting her cup down, she cleared her throat. "Hart? Hart Cantley?" When he glanced up, she continued. "Tessa Gem. I went through hunter training with your brother, Joppy."

Recognition crept into his gaze. "Tessa, hi." He nodded toward the empty seating area. "Please, join me." He slid over a little to give her some room. "But I warn you, I may not be good company." A haunted look took residence in his eyes.

She snagged her coffee and settled into the booth. "Rough night?" He didn't seem hungover, which she wished she could claim.

He frowned. "Didn't start out that way, but yeah, as of an hour ago I have a whole different viewpoint." His gaze shifted and he studied her a moment. "You, on the other hand, have a freshly laid glow." His lips curved in a brief smile. "I think you win the prize for best morning after." Picking up his mug, he took a large gulp.

She lifted a shoulder. "I can't complain. And at least the glow covers up the wicked hangover I've got going on." Her gut twisted a little. "I don't actually remember much of last night, but I know I had a good time."

He snorted. "Wish I could say the same."

He didn't elaborate and her interest piqued. Tessa fought a losing battle to mind her business. The burning desire to discover what had him out of sorts took center stage in her brain.

A guy like Hart always had his shit together. At least Joplin raved about his brother's awesome track record. Seeing Hart on the downside kicked her curious nature into high gear.

She nudged his leg with her foot. "Wanna talk about it?" Bringing her cup up, she blew across the top, hoping she came across as sympathetic and not super-nosy.

Hart heaved a sigh. "I slept with someone I shouldn't have last night." His voice dropped to a low tone. "I didn't find out until this morning she's my soon-to-be stepsister, Rhonda." A shudder went through him.

Tessa's mouth dropped open. "Ouch." And holy shit, that would teach her to push for information. "Are you sure you want to discuss this? I can mind my own business, if you don't." And keep her mouth shut, since the situation reeked of family drama.

Hart rolled his eyes. "I seriously doubt it'll matter. The woman seems to thrive on making things awkward." He shoved his cup away.

Tessa leaned in. "Okay, then I have to ask. Why?"

He grumbled. "Why couldn't she have been up front instead of playing a stupid game?" His shoulder lifted. "I have no idea. And she has a completely fucked up reason to keep her identity a big secret."

Tessa had to ask. "Why did she?" She braced for his answer, instincts screaming it would be a doozy.

Hart shook his head. "This is the best part. She wanted to see if we had chemistry." He repeated the word. "Chemistry. Apparently she had the notion a double wedding might be nice." His mouth thinned to a flat line. "I mean her dad is marrying my mom, maybe lightning would strike twice."

Tessa choked on her coffee. "Holy shit." Doozy didn't describe the reason.

Completely bat shit came much closer.

Hart nodded. "Exactly."

Tessa quirked an eyebrow. "I take it matrimonial bliss isn't on your agenda." Not that she blamed him.

Hart's eyes widened. "Right now? Hell, no." He slid his mug back in front of him. "And I don't even want to attend my mom's wedding now. I don't get why Rhonda even thought I'd want to interact with her after the stunt she pulled." Hart shot her a sideways glance. "Do I look like I get off on crazy?"

Tessa bit back a laugh. "I'm the wrong person to ask, because I don't do normal." She tilted her head to one side. "But my guess would be, Rhonda wanted to test the waters and knew you'd never go for it if you knew who she was."

Hart agreed. "She'd be right. But it's not like I'm a prize or anything. The whole double wedding thing makes my head ache."

Tessa grinned. "Okay, that part I get." She leaned back, studying him for several long moments. "I'd totally take a shot with you." She paused. "But I'd be brutally honest about what I wanted, which is definitely not marriage."

He scoffed. "Right." Then he straightened when she continued to hold his gaze. "Wait, you're serious?" He shook his head. "Are you sure you're not some long, lost cousin? Because that's how my luck runs lately." He glanced away. "But I'm truly tempted to take you up on the offer."

Tessa frowned. "There's no way we're related. My family history is pretty straight forward." She checked the time, wishing she didn't have to head out so soon. "But if you're tempted, let's meet back here one year from now and see if there's still a spark."

His eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"

She snorted. "Relax, Hart. It's not like I expect you to be celibate the whole time. But yeah, I'm serious."

He pondered her words, but stayed silent.

Tessa backpedaled a little. "Look, if we find someone else in the meantime, no worries. But the way my luck is running, that won't happen."

He narrowed his eyes. "Why not now?" His voice went rough and seductive.

The door opened and her driver walked in. "Because that's my cue to ship out of here." She rose and hoisted her bag over her shoulder, ready to leave. "I'm headed for Detroit to track the vampire uprising."

Hart scrambled up after her. "Okay. One year from now, we'll meet back here." He stuck out his hand. "It's a date."

She laughed and grasped his palm. "Try not to fall into bed with any other potential family members."

He rolled his eyes but gave her a wide grin.

Hart definitely won't have to worry about Tessa's taunt because their happy little world is headed for big conflicts.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Reflection of a Kiss

Whew. How about that Arrow finale? I'm pretty happy with season three overall and look forward to four. Now we'll find out what happens with The Flash and then patiently wait for Legends of Tomorrow. If you haven't seen the trailer, go find it and watch. :D

Orphan Black? So much love for the show. I was actually pretty thrilled to see some Paul and Sarah interaction. My fingers are crossed he stays firmly on her side. And the Helena one-liners were totally golden. On a freakish note, I'm really interested in what's going on with the women the Castor clones have slept with. I kind of want Gracie to be okay.

Bitten and Lost Girl are rolling right along. Looking forward to having Defiance and Dominion back on my television, and I hope Killjoys and Dark Matter prove to be good viewing fare. Nothing beats new episodes of my favorite shows in the summer months.

And last but not least, my mainlining of Teen Wolf continues. I'm up to the second part of season three and quite engrossed. Each season seems to be better than the one before, which always makes me happy.

So… enough TV talk. Tonight's post is from Reflection of a Kiss, a sexy short where my main characters realize they need to grab moments when they can.

Here's the tagline:

Pryce Baker and Fisk Darrison, two hunters in the middle of a supernatural war, have many different types of kisses. It's not easy maintaining a relationship in the middle of enemy territory, but they take the time to reflect on what they have and make it work.

And a preview snippet…

Pryce entered the lair and finally broke her silence. "Seven hell beasts… not bad." She tucked her crossbow in its slot and shrugged out of her jacket.

Fisk lifted a shoulder. "All in a day's work." He stowed his weapons in the space next to hers.

She tossed her coat on the pegged shelf. "Oh yeah? That last one would've jumped my ass if you hadn't set up the shot and called out the warning." She laid a hand on his arm. "That was some great hunting." She stepped back, letting him remove his vest and thermal shirt.

Fisk lifted a brow. "Is that praise I hear? Coming from you?" With the way they'd been sniping and snarling lately, she kind of surprised him.

Pryce smirked. "Ha. Ha. You know I give credit when it's due." She paused and met his gaze. "And, Fisk, it's more than past due." She glanced away, a guilty flush staining her cheeks.

The same gnarly shame kicked him in the gut. They wasted so much time being pissed off at each other when they should be living and loving. Sometimes hard to do unless they made the time for each other.

Fisk decided to try mending fences on his side, too. "Oh, really?" He did a quick scan of the outer deck area, found it empty, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Prove it."

Pryce snorted a laugh, but leaned in and bussed his lips with hers. "Kick ass job, Fisk. You deserve a medal." She winked and stepped back.

The icy finally broken, Fisk flashed a grin. "I'll settle for first turn in the showers. You can handle things here, right?" Considering the rest of their ranks hadn't returned yet, she wouldn't have much to do.

Pryce laughed and he loved the sound. She didn't get to see playful side of him often, not lately.

She gave him a shove. "Sure. Get moving before McBain finds something he needs you to do, or sign, or fix." Her hand smacked his ass. "You've got a five minute head start before I join you, so enjoy the quiet time while you can." Her voice pitched low. "And, Fisk, don't make plans for later."

He let a slow grin spread across his face. "Wouldn't think of it." Grabbing fresh clothes, he strolled down the corridor, fighting an urge to make a mad dash for the showers. Screw it. He took off at a jog. He could at least get the water nice and steamy for when Pryce joined him.

So far, these two are great fun. For a sexy short, it's coming together in a big way.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Rack and Ruin

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I've been watching a James Bond marathon on Cloo all weekend so yeah, I'm having an excellent Mom's Day. :D

Great week of television. Gotham had a pretty great finale. For a show with something of a wobbly premise, I actually enjoyed most of it. The Flash and Arrow, again, kicked major ass. I don't know, I've really enjoyed how both seasons have played out. Had some reservations about The Flash, but I'm quite pleased with the show.

Orphan Black continues to deliver quality episodes. I kind of love the addition of the Castor collective. Really creeped out by Virginia and Gracie's mom, though. I don't wish either of those ladies a happy day… ever. LOL

Looking forward to whenever Strike Back graces my screen again and patiently waiting for The Last Ship to return. Also about halfway through season three (part one) of Teen Wolf. If I thought the first two seasons were a little crazycakes, I'm totally blown away by the bat shit insanity of three so far. LOL

Tonight's post is from Rack and Ruin, a novella with my main characters give free rein to their vices only to discover they might need something else.

Here's the tagline:

Vespa Thorn, a maintenance tech for the United Prime, is an addictive gambler—whenever, wherever, she'll go all in. Hale Walterson, a UP special forces solider has a problem with sex—he can't get enough of it. Vespa wants Hale, but he's the one thing she won't bet on, until he challenges her to keep up with him.

And a preview snippet…

Vespa Thorn held court at a corner table, with smoke from her cigar hanging over her head. She drew two cards, clamped her teeth down on the stogie, and shifted it between her lips. Laying her cards face down, she used both hands to shove her pile of chips into the center of the table.

Glancing up she met each player's gaze before declaring. "I'm all in, boys." She settled back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest.

Hale Walterson shook his head. Vespa never did anything on a small scale. But she could figure out what needed fixing on a piece of equipment, sometimes just by listening to the device run. Then she found the correct spell to make it hum.

Her blonde head tilted sideways when one of her opponents questioned her bet. She didn't say a word, simply quirked an eyebrow. The guy shut up and Hale went back to observing Vespa.

The woman fascinated him and she flirted up a storm, but Hale doubted she could keep up with him even if she showed a true interest. Not when the cards always seemed to call. Tonight, for instance, she didn't even change out of her coveralls, just yanked the top down and tied the arms around her waist. If the head of technical maintenance caught her, she could very well lose her job. Yet she couldn't resist a new game, usually held in some backroom in a high end hotel such as The Harley.

He glanced at the time. Shit. Speaking of hotels, he had a suite reserved and two extremely hot and ready women waiting for him. The entire reason he never called Vespa on her bad habit came down to the fact she didn't say jack about his.

As a special forces solider in the Mage Ministry of Defense, he had something of a code of ethics he should adhere to. But the driving need for sexual release held him in thrall and he used every pass he got to explore his wilder nature. Shoving away from the wall, he worked his way through the tables toward the exit.

Sending one last look over his shoulder, he bit back a smile when Vespa threw up her hands and stood, shaking her hips in a victory dance. Judging from the number of chips on the table, she scored a huge win.

Tugging the door open, he did a quick scan of the corridor and ducked out, quickly closing the thick panel to keep the noise and smoke at bay. Straightening his jacket, he walked out into the main concourse and took the escalator up to the seventh level, where his suite waited, stocked with two of his favorite things—whiskey and women.

The next forty-eight hours were his to indulge in both.

Vespa loves a good wager and Hale might just lose if he keeps betting against her interest. Should be fun to see where this one goes.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Price Paid

Happy May! We had terrific weather this weekend and I feel like spring has finally arrived. YAY!!

On the TV front, Arrow and The Flash kind of blew my mind. I'm not sure the final episodes can get any more mind bending. LOL Of course, Orphan Black is always twisty and freaky, but the sibling reveal adds a very cool layer. Won't go into specifics here so I don't spoil anyone, but I'm looking forward to seeing more about the new wrinkle.

Bitten and Lost Girl are such a great pair-up on Syfy. And I'm eagerly awaiting Killjoys and Dark Matter. I'd love Syfy to be my place to be on Fridays again. Been way too many years since that's happened.

Starting on Teen Wolf season three and gotta say, I truly enjoy the show. So far, it's lived up to its hype.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Price Paid, a novella where my characters have to find their way back to each other after a betrayal.

Here's the tagline:

Reva Bane's actions lead Mitch Vanderman to a lot of harm, but seeking atonement shouldn't cause so much pain. Then again, betrayal sometimes demands a price paid in blood, and Reva is willing to shed some if he'll finally forgive her.

And a preview snippet…

Alonzo frowned. Mitch Vanderman. God damn. Barax called it.

He waited for Mitch to walk around the corner before crossing the street and letting himself into Reva's townhouse. The darkened interior didn't faze him. He knew the layout well. Striding from the foyer, he ambled down the long hallway and hit the steps, taking them two at a time. He made a sharp left and burst into Reva's room, flipping the overhead light on.

Reva shot up, blinking against the brightness. "What the flaming fuck?" Naked, she leaped out of her bed, weapon drawn, and made a running dive toward him.

He grasped her forearm and stopped the blade from making contact. "Hold up, Reva." He twisted sideways, narrowly missing a knee to his groin.

She growled. "Jesus, Alonzo. You could've just said hello." She jerked away and grabbed a robe, wrapping it around her nude form. "Why are you even here?"

He crossed the floor and settled on the edge of her bed, crossing his arms over his chest. "You mean after three in the morning?" He pinned her with his gaze. "I had to verify with my own eyes that you do indeed have a new lover." His lips curved when the color drained from her face.

Her guilt confirmed, by his reckoning. And he didn't even have to mention Mitch's name.

Reva blew out a harsh breath. "Shit. Who else knows?" She dragged a shaky hand through her hair.

He quirked an eyebrow.

Her eyes widened. "Everyone?" A low groan escaped from her lips.

Needless to say, Reva's going to have some serious tap dancing to do and it doesn't go well.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye