Sunday Snippet: Red-Eyed Monster

Happy Almost Halloween! Gotta say it's been a week. Several work projects hit at once—which I'm not complaining about—and a couple of disasters decided to show up on my doorstep. It's been a low-bandwidth week for me.

I didn't get a lot of viewing time in, mainly due to the work projects and the distractions from the washing machine going kaput, a trip to the ED for one of my grown kiddos, and having another one out of town and calling to check in several times.

I did get a few things watched. Finished up the Umbrella Academy and, wow, didn't quite expect how things went down. Looking forward to seeing the next episode.

Caught some Classic Rugrats with the Thanksgiving episode. I'd actually forgotten about this one and I'm glad I got to watch it again. I might have to set up a bit of countdown and try to catch all the holiday episodes between now and the solstice.

Watched another Batman: The Animated Series. It's always fun when they have Alfred step out of his comfort zone and this episode definitely makes him stray. That's two in a row and I'm here for it.

Enjoyed an episode of Ted Lasso. I love Roy and Keeley so much. Nate is getting a wee bit annoying. Jamie is … I'm not sure. If he doesn't act like a raging ass, I might be able to stomach seeing him. LOL

Caught another episode of Suspects and loved how it all came together. Some really interesting bits popped and I love the pacing. Great show.

I started another episode of Endeavor but I'll have to finish it when I have higher brain capacity. It has a focus on the space race and I love that.

Watched the second part of Silent Witness and whew, this one ended up being very twisty. Kind of bummed about how it ended but not surprised.

Enjoyed another Classic Who episode. I like the setting for this arc and look forward to the next episode.

Sci Fi Science looked into how to blow up a planet. Had a lot of fun watching this episode. I love so much that fans are featured in each episode.

Started the next episode of Ms. Marvel and love it so far. I'm hoping to finish it up in the near future.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Red-Eyed Monster, a twisty retelling of Hansel and Gretyl.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Psyche Hood and Errol Winkham are best friends, growing up together in the enchanted realm. A sinister darkness and red-eyed metal monster is moving in and Psyche drags Errol out to pick up the trail, little knowing she's playing right into the evil wizard's plan. He wants the red-eyed monster to rain fire down on Errol so Psyche will be alone and his for the taking.

And a preview snippet…

Marcus paced the confines of his bungalow. "Where the hell is she?" Pissed off, he directed his beast to skirt the outer edge of the village while he reached out with his mind to find Psyche.

His blood ran hot when he discovered her location. "Bah! She's with the boy toy again." His hatred of Errol deepened another level. "Probably his idea to take the night off." No doubt to slake his lust with the woman Marcus considered his.

He sneered. "She should've been mine." He'd come very close to binding her to with the dark arts.

He almost succeeded. Her belief in the importance of knowing what dark magick could do led her to a logical conclusion that one should experience the outcome of its use. He'd been happy to guide her in her first forays into wielding the dark power.

But her stupid father put a stop to her visits to Marcus. Then Padrick had him black-balled into exile. But Marcus would have retribution … by seducing Psyche and getting her to succumb to the black arts. She'd belong to him and rule the enchanted forest by his side.

His lips curved upward. "I sense the dark pull in her and I'll bring her over to my way of thinking." She'd become the dark mistress to his dark master. "But first I have to get her away from her constant shadow." But how?

Guiding the beast back to its lair, Marcus decided to leave some signs on its next outing. "Yes, that will do nicely." He'd arrange to drop clues that would lead Psyche and Errol right to Marcus's doorstep.

A laugh rumbled out of his throat. "And directly into a trap for each of them." He settled behind his desk to begin the plot to lure his prey into the snare.

Which would move him one step closer to having Psyche right where he wanted her.

Marcus might get what he wants but holding on to it will be his challenge.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Red Cap

Had a bit of a rough week and felt under the weather for most of it. I did make progress on two of my work projects so not a total loss.

I didn't quite get all the way through my full streaming schedule, but I got a decent amount of viewing completed.

I started the second season of Ted Lasso and quite enjoyed the first episode. I'm interested to see where things go with the psychologist.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and loved the cloak and dagger aspect of the episode. Very twisty and turny and an excellent resolution.

Started season six of Endeavor and enjoyed the first episode. Not sure I like the new DCI but I'll see where things go. I don't like not having all the guys together but a shake up now and then is probably good for the show.

Watched another episode of Silent Witness and had no idea Clarissa had a husband. Good to see how they interacted. Interesting premise and I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. It's a bit spooky and I liked the first episode. Looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

Sci Fi Science had a fun topic of traveling to a parallel universe. I like to see how a theoretical physicist puts ideas together that could one day possibly happen.

Enjoyed another episode of Ms. Marvel. This group of characters is a joy to watch. I love the way Kamala interacts with everyone and the show nails the entire awkwardness of being a teenager pretty well.

The finale of Only Murders in the Building did not disappoint! I'm so excited to start season two because I have to know what happens next for our trio of characters.

Started season four of Blue Heelers. Nice to see Roz again even if the circumstances were sad. I'm a little disappointed I won't have new episodes to watch after this season unless I want to jump to eleven.

I'm in the middle of an Umbrella Academy episode and should have it finished up later today. Things are really spiraling and that's not a bad thing.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Red Cap, a novella that loosely retells Red Riding Hood with a bit of a gender swap.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Magan Drone, a red-capped tree nymph, is ordered to protect Cass Warrison, an earth sprite tasked with guarding the land from the wolf-shifter clan. Magan isn't thrilled with the duty—she and Cass share a complicated past—but her handy skill with a crossbow can stop an evil prophecy from coming to light. She'll do her job and save the day, but no way will she let Cass back into her life.

And a preview snippet…

Cass headed back after completing a circuit of the western edge of the enchanted woods. Not much activity tonight, but he had an uneasy vibe he couldn't quite shake. And he had a shadow. One wearing a red cap and keeping to the trees.

A faint sound caught his attention. He cocked his head and listened. Rustling leaves and a pained cry for help had him changing direction and backtracking several meters.

"Please, is there someone there? I've twisted my ankle and need help."

Cass came upon a lovely blonde sprawled on the ground, her pant leg tangled up in some underbrush. "What happened?" He crouched low and winced when he got a look at the swollen foot joint. "Ack, that looks painful." Untangling the fabric of her pants, he freed her leg from the brambles.

She nodded. "It is. I heard something rustling around, got spooked, and started running." She carefully tried to move and grimaced. "Don't think I can put weight on this."

Cass helped her stand and tucked his shoulder under her arm. "Did you see what made the noise?" He hadn't heard anything, but with another person—who would remain nameless—loitering around that might explain things.

She shook her head. "No, but I caught a scent, like damp fur. Thought maybe a shifter crossed into the enchanted woods."

Cass shot her a quick glance. "What makes you think that?"

She nodded toward a lane leading to one of the cottages. "My great aunt mentioned seeing some movement and warned me to be careful. When I started running, I could hear someone following me."

Cass lifted his chin. "I haven't seen you around. I would've remembered you. You're staying with your aunt?" He walked toward the lane, helping the blonde hobble along.

She gave a quick nod. "I arrived yesterday to visit for a bit. Auntie doesn't have any relatives here. I'm from a different enchanted area where she grew up." She paused a moment then held her free palm out. "Siera Gilmore."

Cass clasped her hand. "Cass Warrison. Nice to meet you, even if it's under less than optimal circumstances." He escorted to the cottage door. "Do you need help wrapping your ankle?"

She shook her head. "I'll be fine. Auntie can help." Her hand twisted the knob but she angled her head around. "If you'd like to drop by in a day or so, I'd love to see you again. Maybe make some lunch for you as a thank-you."

Cass grinned. "I'd like that." He waited for her to enter the cottage before turning to head home.

A brief flash of red above him spiked his irritation. "Why are you following me?" His gaze went to the trees and Magan dropped down from the lower limbs.

She rolled her eyes. "As if. I happened to be out here first and then you came stumbling along." Her crossbow had an arrow notched and her cap faced backward, a sure sign she'd come prepared to hunt.

Cass frowned. "Fine. Let's assume you're out here for the same reason I am. Doesn't explain why you followed me to the cottage?" She could've continued with her patrol.

Magan shrugged. "Maybe I wanted to see how you handled blonde, breathy, and brainless, especially since intelligent brunettes don't interest you."

Dammit, she needed to stop throwing that incident in his face. He'd been drunk and stupid and he'd inadvertently used her. His unintentional terrible timing and the way he'd hurt her notwithstanding, he didn't warrant the scathing treatment she threw at him all. The. Time.

"Look, Magan—"

She casually leveled her crossbow at his groin. "Don't insult me by apologizing. Again." She tilted her chin upward. "Your personal shortcomings do not interest me. And my curiosity is appeased. Blonde Ambition back there is welcome to your brand of lame romance." She swung the crossbow up and hoisted it on to her shoulder. "Have a lovely evening, Cass. Try not to get ensnared in any traps." She made a jump and grabbed a low-hanging limb, swung up into the trees then poked her head out from under the leaves. "And maybe ask yourself why neither of us heard a thing yet your new girlfriend claims she got chased by a nonexistent shifter … after being warned to stay out of the woods." She didn't wait for a comeback, nimbly moving through the branches and out of sight.

Cass balled his hands into fists. "Damn her. She's nothing but a sharp-tongued viper with a stupid red cap." He discounted her parting salvo.

If Siera didn't know the area, she wouldn't know which paths to stick to or what to look for as telltale signs the shifter were trying to encroach on the woods.

And maybe you're thinking with your dick again.

Cass really hated it when his internal voice sounded like Magan Drone.

I'm having a lot of fun writing this story. Cass did Magan wrong—not purposefully, but he did—and she takes every opportunity to poke him with a sharp, pointy stick.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Rapier's Edge

I should not have made a joke about having snow before Halloween in my last post. Apparently, there's a chance we might have some in the early part of the week. If it happens, it'll probably be a dusting and won't last long, but, geez, I'm not quite ready to drag out my cold-weather clothes yet.

Had a good week with my work projects and made a tiny bit of progress on my future endeavor. I also got some writing time in, which makes me happy. I have some home projects that need attention this week so I might not have as much time to write as I'd like.

Had a decent viewing week and made a full circuit through my usual programs. Caught the first season finale of Ted Lasso and I'm excited to start season two this week.

Watched the second episode of Suspects and enjoyed the twists this one took. I like the cast and characters and the pacing is excellent. Definitely going to continue watching this one.

Finished up series five of Endeavor and loved where things ended up. I'm looking forward to starting series six this week.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and, whew, what a ride. I loved how twisted up everything got before the final act. Considering I'm in season twenty, it's nice to still love this show.

Watched the final part of Classic Who's arc with Leftbridge-Stewart. Thoroughly enjoyed for the most part. Should be starting a new multi-part arc this week.

Started Sci-Fi Science and liked the first episode. I've seen bits and pieces of this show and I'm excited to watch it through from start to finish.

Loved the second episode of Ms. Marvel. I have a feeling this will end up being one of my favorite Marvel shows. The characters are a lot of fun.

Caught the penultimate episode of Only Murders in the Building and, wow, it blew my mind in the best possible way. I can't wait to see the finale this week.

The Umbrella Academy had a great episode. Things are coming together and I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out in the next episode. I did not think Klaus would end up being one of my favorite characters but he totally is. I love him in all his screwed up glory.

Watched the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery in season three. I'm glad to have everyone back together, but it's always nice to see the crew shine under Saru's leadership.

Also caught another episode of Batman: The Animated Series. This one featured the Joker again and it might be sacrilegious but he's my favorite Mark Hamill character of all time.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Rapier's Edge, a novella that starts with the main characters thinking the other one killed their mentor.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wen Buxton, a fae agent, finds Jacob Franklin standing over a dead body. He resists her siren call and refuses to answer questions during her interrogation. Wen has a sneaking suspicion all isn't what it seems with the covert mercenary.

And a preview snippet…

Bury my friend…

Jacob barely contained his anger and disbelief. She had to be playing him. Havish would never support her method of striking first. He always taught to seek and understand both sides of a conflict before taking action.

His captor tried a different tactic. "Dammit, I don't want to play hardball with you." She straightened and ran a hand through her stick-straight hair. "I don't like using my call to cause harm. But it's that or I take you in and let the docs do their thing." Her shoulders twitched with a shudder.

A piece of the mystery clicked into place.

She either worked for the Council of Fae Affairs or some kind of sinister organization that liked to exploit the fae. He'd have to push to find out which.

Moving his gaze back to the wall, he snorted. "Do your worst, sweetheart." He hoped his brain and body could handle it.

She growled low in her throat then let loose with a wailing cry. Her pull carried strength but Jacob doubled down—just as his grandmother taught him—and managed to suffer through the sound waves.

She finally ended the song and almost collapsed, sinking to her knees on the concrete floor.

Dragging in air, she glanced up. "Who the hell are you?" Her eyes were narrowed in frustration and maybe a little awe.

Jacob smirked. "No one you want to know." To keep her off guard, he began a shift, choosing the form of a bird.

Free from her restraints—and his clothes—he soared up into the rafters of the warehouse. Her startled gasp rose up to join him and a perverse pleasure filled his mind. He flew back down to land in front of her and changed back, reaching for his fatigues.

She didn't look away from him when he jammed his feet into the pants and tugged them up.

Her gaze drifted upward when she stood. "Are you zeta or gamma?" Referring to his status as a shifter.

Zetas had packs. Gammas didn't.

Not inclined to answer, he yanked his shirt over his head. "I've had enough of this. I suggest you take me to whoever you work for." The faster he discovered who wrote her paychecks the sooner he could mourn his friend.

 She tilted her head to one side. "And if I don't?" Her brow rose in a challenge.

Jacob shrugged. "I tie you up and leave you here. Doesn't matter to me." It did, but she didn't need to know how much. "I'm going to find out who killed Havish and you better hope it's not you." He didn't see the uppercut coming when it landed under his chin to snap his head back.

Damn. His teeth gnashed together.

She set her jaw and snarled. "I didn't kill him, asshole. That man raised me from the age of four." Pain laced her voice and she whirled past him, stalking to the metal door leading outside. "You coming or what?" She exited the building without waiting for a reply.

Jacob learned two more things.

She loved Havish as much as he did … and she packed a hell of a punch.

I have a lot of love for this story and I'm so close to having it complete! I'm hoping to have it ready to release early next year.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Ramona for the Win

Had a truly fall-weather week … to the point we had to turn the heat on. We'll probably get another brief spell of warmer temperatures before things settle down into actual fall. Or, we could have snow before Halloween. It's Ohio.

Busy work week with several projects going at the same time. I did get through a round of my usual viewing schedule.

Ted Lasso didn't disappoint with Rebecca's reveal and the catalyst for her finally making it happen ended up being so good. I rather hope Rupert dies in a fire or maybe gets hit by a double-decker bus in the near future. What a twat. Keeley continues to make me laugh out loud and I have so much love for her.

Caught another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour, which ended up being quite a fun episode even if the whole point was to gaslight one poor guy into handing over something that didn't even belong to him.

I picked up where I left of with Endeavor in season five and caught back up with the characters. I'm looking forward to more and seeing where things go.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and thoroughly enjoyed the twists in the episode. I'm not quite sure who the culprit is and that's always fun for me.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. Loved seeing Three's car pulled out of mothballs and the interactions between the brigadier and the Doctor. So much fun.

Finished up the first season of Strangest Things and I'm looking forward to the second. I love seeing how they try to figure out what the relics are and how they were used.

Started Ms. Marvel and loved the first episode. I'm very excited to dive into this series. Kamala and Bruno are awesome!

Only Murders in the Building had an awesome episode with the Superfans. Seriously, I loved so much about how everything played out. Okay, except at the end. Now I can't wait to find out what happened to the bassoonist. I have so many theories, but two stand out and I'll share if either one of those is correct.

Finished up season three of Blue Heelers and said good-bye to Wayne. I'm actually kind of glad it was indeed a random act as the episode title suggested. I'm kind of bummed out that I'll only be able to watch one more season in order then I'll have to skip to the later seasons. Streaming sucks sometimes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed being a good literary citizen in this one and I enjoyed what she had to say. Kindness doesn't cost a red cent and being considerate of others is sometimes a lost gesture that should be the norm instead of the exception.

The Umbrella Academy had another terrific episode. I love how much chaos there is and also how the characters end up being there for each other even when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats and laughed out loud more than once and remembered doing the same when watching with the kiddos.

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and the introduction of the Clock King. I loved this episode when it originally aired and enjoyed it again this time around.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ramona for the Win, book three in an as of yet unnamed series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ramona and Melick finally have their personal relationship on solid ground, but the timing couldn't be worse. The academy is under attack and it falls to Ramona to save the day by infiltrating the rival's headquarters by using the downed dragon. She's confident she can get inside and stop the assaults—if Melick will get out of her way.

And a preview snippet…

Melick appreciated Ramona's tactics. Get his mind of her impending departure and have fun at the same time. He could always count on her to go hard with sex when she didn't want to think too hard.

He didn't want to either.

Depositing her on the bed, he didn't waste time, muttering a quick incantation to remove their clothes.

Ramona raised her eyebrows. "Not like you to cheat." She waited a beat. "I like it." Scrambling backward, she beckoned to him. "Where were we?"

Melick grinned and crawled up beside her. "Right about here…" His mouth covered her again and her hands went around his neck.

He cupped her ass and angled around so she straddled his thighs. She broke the kiss and planted her palms on his chest. Rising up, she moved her hips forward and sank down slowly, exactly the way he loved.

Grasping her waist, his palms skimmed up her sides. "Great to be on the same page with this." He flexed his hips, going a little deeper.

Ramona made a low purring sound. "MmHmm. The one place we always see eye-to-eye." She rocked back and forth with exquisite slowness.

Melick cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples. Ramona's head lolled back and she shuddered. Her fingers curled into her palms and Melick rose up to pull a taut peak between his lips.

Ramona upped the pace, her breath rasping out in short bursts. She reached back with one hand to fondle his balls. Tingling pleasure spread out drifting down his thighs and up along his spine.

He groaned and thrust upward. "You know that drives me wild." His hips bucked against hers.

Ramona's lips twisted. "I like you wild. Give me more." Her pelvis rotated side to side.

Her inner muscles tightened and added friction around his shaft. Melick dug his feet into the mattress and pumped harder, giving her what she asked for.

Ramona hummed. "Yeah, that's it. I'm so close." Her fingers dug into his chest.

Melick urged her on. "Let it go, Ramona. Come for me." He grasped her thighs, hanging on by a thread.

She shuddered and gasped, rocking her hips back and forth. "Now, Melick. Come with me."

Stars burst behind his eyelids and he let her take him with her. His orgasm thrummed through his veins and his nerve-endings crackled on a blissful wave. No matter what else happened between them, this would never change.

Ramona collapsed atop his chest and nuzzled his throat. "We needed that." She shifted sideways and snuggled up close.

Melick wrapped an arm around her. "We did. Now it's rest and recharge time. We can jump back in to planning how to get your dragon under control later."

Ramona yawned and gave a nod. "Later is good."

With a quick spell, Melick dimmed the lights and let sleep claim him.

This series is so much fun. Ramona and Melick are rarely on the same page but they're always in the same chapter.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Raid at Midnight (an Under the Black Raven Banner novella)

Welcome to spooky month! October is one of my favorite months, even if it means holiday season is hiding around the corner. So far, we've had some fall-like weather and that's making me very joyful right now.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Work projects are ongoing and I needed some quiet time to focus on those. But I made a full circuit of my standard streaming schedule.

Once again, Ted Lasso delivered a full-on episode. I'm nervously awaiting the moment when Rebecca reveals why she really hired Ted and dying to see the fallout. Keeley rules at being a mess but not staying that way. I love how she's absolutely not afraid of Rebecca because it never occurred to her to be so. This show. It's so good.

I tried to watch the behind the scenes feature for Brokenwood Mysteries but couldn't seem to get it to play. I'll try again this week.

Started a new show and watched the first episode of Suspects. So far, I'm hooked. I enjoyed the characters and watching the case unfold.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness and liked the twist the episode took. I kind of thought I had the right killer but the history part I didn't quite see coming.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm ready for the Doctor's reunion with Leftbridge-Stewart. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't happen in the next installment.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. This one featured the enigma machine and delved into the history of how the encryption finally got cracked.

Finished the first season of The Book of Boba Fett and I have to say, I ended up loving this show! I hope there's another season.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. What a mess Oliver and Mabel got into. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Started season nine of Peak Practice. Gotta say Andrew kind of annoys me when he darts off to figure himself out. I guess it's something of a character trait with him. Loved how Joanna and Sam held the line and got through the ordeal of having their patients down with an unknown virus.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on getting published and what to expect from the traditional side of publishing and also delved a little into the small, independent presses and self-publishing. Good information.

The Umbrella Academy had a stellar episode. Pieces are falling into place and plots mixed with subplots are popping up. Allison's concern about Leonard is definitely warranted and I'm very interested in what Vanya's power is. I loved the interactions with Five and Luthor and Klaus and Diego and, of course, the standoff with ChiChi and Hazel ended up being terrific. This show is amazing.

Started season three of Star Trek: Discovery. Gotta say I'm kind of blown away. Can't wait to have Michael back with her crew and hopefully with the addition of a few more members. Excellent premiere!

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and got another episode without a feature rogue's gallery villain. I really enjoy the slice of life ones.

I'm also in the midst of watching more Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. I might have it finished up this week, but I won't make any promises.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Raid at Midnight, an Under the Black Raven Banner novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity Jones joins an elite group of civilian protectors in a battle-torn land. She's the daughter of an ace fighter pilot who tore up the skies in the first epic war. Emory Cavendish is the lead pilot and his crew pulls off amazing feats, largely thanks to Verity, which drives their commanding officer mad to the point of putting Verity in danger.

And a preview snippet…

The next day, Verity spotted Emory when he entered the hangar and went to the communication room. She wiped her hands and made her way over then knocked on the jamb.

He glanced up. "Verity, what can I do for you?" He dropped a folder on the desk and propped his hip on the side.

Verity moved into the space. "I don't like the sound of one of the birds." Her stomach clenched a little but she soldiered on. "I need to take it up to really get a feel for what's wrong." Probably an impossible request, but she had to try.

Emory's eyes widened. "Wait. You're a pilot?" He straightened and moved away from the desk.

She shrugged. "Since age fourteen. Learned to fly before I learned to build planes." Something her dad said would make her a better mechanic.

Emory didn't take more than a second to ponder her request. "Whitcomb will hate it, but let's go." He moved past her into the hangar.

Thrilled, Verity couldn't believe her luck. She loved flying. And Emory didn't seem fazed when she pointed out which plane sounded off. He opened the big doors and motioned for her to get inside the plane and move it out to the runway strip. She slowly maneuvered the bird out onto the grass landing area and followed Emory's motions until he gave her the all clear to take off.

Once airborne, she made several circular passes of the estate, altering her trajectory and altitude. And she figured out the problem—the throttle needed an adjustment. She landed just as the sun started sinking low in the sky and moved the plane back inside the hangar. Once she had the helmet off, she sucked in a breath. Whitcomb had fire coming out of his ears, shaking his fist at Emory.

By the time she finished a post-flight check, Emory stood waiting at the bottom of the short set of steps with the colonel by his side.

She handed him the helmet. "The throttle needs an adjust—"

Whitcomb cut her off. "You are not authorized to fly my aircraft. I won't have you ever doing it again. Women do not belong in the cockpit." His face all but boiled in a raging shade of red.

Verity stood her ground. "Understood. If I may make one point. I didn't want to put any of your pilots at risk when I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Going up myself only put my life in danger." And, of course, the plane, but Whitcomb would be complete ass to argue that fact.

The colonel opened his mouth then snapped it shut and stormed off.

Emory gave her props. "Took guts to put the CO in his place." His lips curved in a half-smile.

Verity basked in the praise. "Thank you. For letting me take her up." She glanced around.

An empty hangar meant she could show her appreciation. Throwing caution to the wind, she wrapped her arms around him and planted her mouth against his.

Emory surprised her by taking the kiss deeper and cupping her ass in his hands.

She eased away and tempted fate a little more. "Can we maybe move this encounter to my quarters?" She wouldn't do anything to put his position in jeopardy.

Emory grinned. "Are you sure? Because I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

She gave an emphatic nod and Emory grabbed her hand and headed for the exit.

This series is finally coming together and I'm excited to finish everything up and launch it into the bookosphere.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye