Sunday Snippet: Juvenile Behavior

Seasons' Greetings!

For whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you have a joyous time filled with cheer and merriment. We'll be low key per usual with a trip to my dad's and hopefully some FaceTime with my brother in Arizona.

The weather is still playing back and forth. We have a bit of snow and it's pretty cold right now. The temps are supposed to warm up into the forties and fifties over the next few days.

Finished up two projects this week and have one on my plate. January looks to be shaping up with multiple projects and I'm so grateful for those. The short break gives me some time to finish getting my side project ready to launch and I hope to do that next week during the holiday.

Only a semi-good week of viewing. I had some big cleaning projects to work on and got a good bit of that completed. Still working on a few others and hope to have them finished before the end of the year.

Watched another episode of Mr and Mrs Murder. I remember parts of this one but hadn't seen the entire episode. Ended up being pretty good.

Also watched an episode of London Kills. The plot thickens regarding the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how that ends up being resolved. Also enjoying Billie so much on this show.

Enjoyed the one hundredth episode of Death in Paradise. So lovely to have Camille back for a brief stay. Also nice to see Spirit Richard. This also marks, in my opinion, when Catherine and Selwyn take on larger roles in the show. Looking forward to rounding out season ten with the last two episodes.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Juvenile Behavior, a novella that gives a couple an opportunity to see if they'd make a good match.

Here's the miniblurb:

Freddie and Owen, top adepts putting cadets through their paces at the Mage Academy, are very much in love but refuse to act on their attraction. But when the Mage Principal has enough of their antics, he strips them of their rank and tenure and pushes them to act like grown-ups instead of juvenile delinquents.

And a preview snippet…

Freddie entered the house through the servants' entrance and made her way to the kitchen. "Hi, Helen." She gave the older woman a hug.

Helen released her, leaning back to get a look at Freddie. "I suggest you go right in to see your uncle." Her lips twisted in a frown.

Freddie tilted her head to one side. "Has he been treating you poorly?" Stupid question, because of course he would.

Roderick treated everyone with terrible disregard.

Helen tsked. "No and we'll talk later." She shooed Freddie toward the main house.

Freddie knocked once and entered her uncle's suite. "What do you want, Uncle?" Her brows drew together at his appearance.

Debauched didn't quite cover the description. Roderick wore a pajama-and-robe set with leather slippers on his feet. His eyes were bloodshot, and stubble covered his face. Unlike Owen, who looked sexy with some scruff on his face, Roderick looked ill kept and disheveled.

Roderick sneered in her direction. "What did you think you'd accomplish by siccing your boy toy on me?" He growled the words.

Freddie's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?" As if she'd willingly make anyone talk to her uncle.

Roderick snorted. "I'm talking about that Parker weanling barging in here and all but accusing me of neglect where you're concerned." He got up and paced back and forth. "Didn't take two seconds to figure out he's fucking you." His face twisted in a grimace. "Had the gall to suggest I look into setting the codicil aside." He barked out a laugh. "As if I'd ever do that."

Freddie blinked but otherwise hid her surprise and anger … at both men.

Owen had no right to confront her uncle behind her back. But … at least he gave enough of a damn to call Roderick out for the bullshit way he hoarded the fortune. And Roderick summoning her to the manor to give her shit about something Owen did pissed her off.

She widened her stance and folded her arms over her chest. "First of all, I didn't send Owen. He a grown-ass man and makes his own decisions." Even if said decisions were terrible. "Second, what he doesn't realize is how much of an asshat you are or how much you love the precious Rudd money." She dropped her arms and leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk. "Grandfather would lose his shit if he knew how much of his fortune you've already gone through." At the rate her uncle spent money, he'd be broke within a decade.

Roderick huffed out a breath. "Yeah? Well, Granddad would lose even more of his shit if he knew you were letting a Parker bang you." He made another grimace of distaste.

What she had with Owen amounted to so much more than banging. Even if she'd tried to only focus on the sex at first. She'd been engaged in a losing battle on that front.

Freddie shrugged, feigning indifference. "Maybe so, but I don't care about the family money. You're the one with that affliction." And he'd raise an unholy stink if his precious funds ended up going to charity.

Roderick gave her a cold smirk. "You're right. And since I do care, you'll end the farce with Parker now." He slapped his hand on the desk for emphasis.

Freddie made a bold statement. "It's not a farce. I love him. But your worry is moot. It won't be long before Owen and I go back to being nothing but work colleagues." She made to turn and leave, but Roderick gestured with his hands, using a binding spell on her.

I should have seen that coming.

He leaned forward. "Make sure that's how it plays out, dear niece. I don't mind playing dirty when I have to."

Freddie snarled. "Resorting to threats isn't necessary, dear uncle. I don't break my word." She tried to move, but the spell still held her. "Let me go or I'll make sure you never successfully get it up for the rest of your life." She could play just as dirty as her uncle.

He released her and she exited his study shaking with rage. She made her way to the kitchen and met Helen's hug. Blinking back tears, she accepted the comfort for a few moments. Then she eased back and exhaled slowly.

Helen's gaze went dark and stormy. "That went as well as I thought it would. But using a binding spell? That's lower than low." Helen didn't hide being livid over Roderick's treatment of Freddie. "One day that man will get his comeuppance." Placing a palm on Freddie's cheek, Helen's lips curved in a sad smile. "And I understand your anger at Owen, but I also think that Parker is a keeper."

Freddie's eyes widened. "You talked to him?"

Helen nodded. "I did. Such a charming man." She waited a beat. "He loves you, Freddie. It's obvious."

Freddie's shoulders slumped. "I love him, too. But he shouldn't have come here. The only thing he achieved is to stir up Roderick's ire and make him angry. Any thought I had of possibly living a quiet life with Owen is gone."

Helen hugged her again. "We'll see about that, Freddie. Just enjoy him for now." She squeezed Freddie's hand. "And don't be too hard on him."

This is a fun story even with some heavy family drama. Freddie and Owen are a cool couple to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye