Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

Brrrr. It's cold outside. Thankfully, we only lost power once during the first gusty windstorm and didn't lose it all while the wind howled over the last three days. And I can live with a couple of inches of snow. Not a huge fan of temperatures in the teens but layers help when I have to take the dogs out.

Had a super-busy work week and I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up with projects. I like to stay steady because it keeps me motivated and focused. When I have too much free time I get lost in a haze.

Not a bad week for viewing. I made a full circuit through my regular shows minus the rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. The power blip caused a delay there.

Started the week with My Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. The mystery ended up being pretty decent.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed. The cast really hits on all cylinders and even though I miss James, I love the vibe of these characters.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I'm kind of happy to see Jack's familial issues. His brother is a piece of work and I'm interested to see where things go with him. Rather like the new colleague. Looking forward to seeing how she fits in.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. I didn't really remember this one so I enjoyed it. Fun to see the commissioner on the suspect board.

Caught another episode of Elementary and quite liked the way Sherlock ended up being on the outs with both Joan and the captain. Fun episode.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I'm nearing the end of the first season and all the players are established for the most part. And the episodes are holding up fairly well.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes so really enjoyed watching both.

Finished out the first season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued and interested in how things are going to play out in the next season, which I'll probably start this week.

Also managed to finish the episode of VIP that I started last week. Looking forward to a new one this week if time permits.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out, a novella that explores what happens when a couple hits their wall of limitation at the same time.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magickal Defense, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong, which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Rafe waited until Dallas healed completely then drifted off for a few hours. He woke up just before dawn and wondered what had happened the previous night.

His hand skimmed her torso, and his mind absorbed the details. "Shit, Marjam had backup." Did I miss a key piece of information?

Dallas could've handled Calla on her own. But the monstrous mercenary gave her a big hurdle to overcome before she could get to Marjam. The guy looked like he ate steroids for each meal … and he had a familiar face.

Rafe grunted when the name came to him. "Hank Willem. Nasty piece of work." And very expensive.

How the hell could Marjam Calla afford Willem's fee?

A question for another time. After Rafe got rid of the images scrolling through his brain. Willem worked Dallas over pretty hard. The asshole had his hands around her throat more than once and used hellfire to keep her busy while Calla tried to escape.

But Dallas prepped in advance and had the warehouse sealed off. Which meant she couldn't call in for help. She'd finally used a sage bomb to subdue Willem then went after Marjam. He didn't go down without a fight, flinging whatever he had close at hand in Dallas's path. He'd clocked her with a trailer awning and left a line of abrasions on her jaw. Then he finally got backed into a corner, giving Dallas a chance to get him cuffed and controlled.

She took Calla out to the SUV and returned for Willem only to find he'd managed to escape the sage containment field.

Dallas woke up and met his gaze. "You know what happened?" She rolled to her side and propped her head on her hand. "Should've used salt to trap the huge goon Calla had covering his ass." She frowned.

Rafe lifted his chin. "His name's Hank Willem. A nasty merc that's way above Marjam's ability to compensate." There had to be another player in the background.

Dallas grunted. "That's what I thought, too." She narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't we know about him?" She waited a moment. "Unless we have a breach in the ministry."

Rafe shook his head. "I don't think so. I mean anything's possible, but I'd guess Willem was a last-minute addition. My information said Calla would be alone." His gut twisted. "You think this is on me?"

Dallas rolled her shoulder. "No, I don't blame you. I'm pissed because I walked into a trap and set myself up to fail by warding the warehouse and cutting communication. Not my idea of fun to battle a huge hulking bruiser only to have him escape." She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Not to mention making me have to mess with my hair." Sliding to the edge of the bed, she stood and headed for the bathroom.

Rafe tracked her movement, getting a look at the uneven and ragged edges of her hairline. "I'll call Adam and let him know you'll be in later than expected." He reached for his phone and dialed their direct superior.

I love how this story is coming together. Rafe and Dallas are pulled right to the edge and it's fun to write that angle.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

With January coming to a close, the first month of the year is in the books. Oddly, I have a good feeling about 2021. I hope I'm right and the year is terrific for everyone.

Ended up with a full slate of work projects this week and I welcomed them with open arms. But they kept me pretty busy so I didn't get a lot of television watched.

I did finish up the second part of the racing episode of Silent Witness. Ended up being very twisty and turny.

I caught a full arc of Classic Who and I'm about halfway through the thirteenth series. I think I like the previous season better than this one so far.

Started a new Queens of Mystery episode and I'm still enjoying this series. I hope they end up doing another one. It's a lot of fun.

As always, I caught the usual mysteries on Ovation and some additional classic episodes of Perry Mason.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out, a novella with characters trying to prop each other up and not always succeeding.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magickal Defense, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong, which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Rafe woke up to an empty bed. "It's good to be home." The memory of the previous night replayed in his mind.

Damn. Good thing Dallas got there when she did. Not that he'd been much help.

He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the mattress. No lingering effects. For him. He didn't know about Dallas.

He rose and found Dallas watching the sun rise. He went out to the small balcony and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him.

But she kept her eyes forward. "Who knew?" She finally angled her head around, her gaze a little dark and stormy. "Who knew where you'd be and why?" She voiced the question quietly but anger tinged her tone.

He pondered a moment. "Three people. You, Gibbon, and his aide. That I know of." He shrugged. "It could be more." He eased away from her and tugged her back inside their room. "You know Gibbon gets chatty sometimes." Especially when he issued the orders.

She quirked an eyebrow. "You didn't tell Adam?" Her voice held surprise more than censure.

Rafe pushed back a little. "You think I should have?" He'd thought about it, but Adam had a lot on his plate right now.

Dallas gave him a pointed look. "Didn't say that. Just trying to figure out the pieces and where they go." She perched on the edge of the bed.

Rafe shook his head. "Adam didn't make the request for the surveillance detail. But once I get an assignment, Gibbon usually lets Adam know—if he feels it's necessary." He sat down beside her. "Or Adam reads about it afterward in the report." He cocked his head. "It's not like you don't know standard operating procedure. What's going on?" She had a reason for poking around that had nothing to do with which piece went where.

I had this story all plotted out and the sages decided to throw me a curve … which ended up being really good.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

Greetings! Ohio has crazy weather patterns rolling through the state again. I'm at the point with winter where I'd be happy if it made up its mind and either stayed cold or got warmer. The back forth is hell on my sinuses.

Great week in television. The Flash had a good episode and I'm interested to see where things go now. In all honesty, the slow reveal of evil plans is getting to the point of annoyance. Get on with it already.

Black Lightning, on the other hand, is staying on form. I like the world building of this show. Keep on keeping on.

Riverdale is going down another dark road and I like it. I have to watch this week's episode but I caught up on last week and Archie continues to fail in spectacular fashion. I love all the bad decisions he makes.

Arrow did not go where I thought it might and I'm happy about that. I'm thrilled with the left turn the plot made. It's always the quiet ones people need to watch out for.

I'm moving along on Chicago Fire and I've started season four. I'm slowly but surely getting caught up to the current season. I love having the crossover episodes on the DVDs and following the storyline all the way through. Nicely done.

I'm caught up for the most part on Murdoch Mysteries. I loved the cooking competition episode. One of my favorite things about Murdoch is taking a modern trend and making it a trope in the show's setting. And it's always fun to have the spy versus spy episodes.

Need to catch up on Frankie Drake Mysteries and I might have time later today. Legends of Tomorrow returns this week and I'm excited to see what's next for the legends.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out, a novella that got a writing community prompt of writing a character who is maxed out and the other tries to talk them through the issue.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magic, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Dallas Kirk entered the sprawling warehouse. "Nothing like a little B and E to get the adrenaline flowing." She kept her tone low and relocked the door behind her, using magick to ward the building.

Nothing would get in or out without her knowledge.

She did a quick rundown of the intel she had on Marjam Calla. The ministry file listed him as a nuisance with the potential to cause disruption with terrorist activities. Marjam had a list of grievances he wanted to turn into causes, but the man's standoffish and abrasive personality didn't attract allies. Any like-minded thinkers usually couldn't stand being in the same room with him for any length of time.

Dallas crept through the cavernous space littered with carnival paraphernalia. Marjam's main source of income came during the warmer months when fairs, festivals, and fundraising events. According to Rafe Quinoza, her partner and life mate, Calla lived in a set of converted storage rooms along the north wall of the building. She trusted Rafe's information and followed the west wall along until she spied the boxlike series of three shipping containers lined up end to end. A few windows had been cut into the exterior walls and lamplight burned in the closest one.

Success!

She shouldn't have too much trouble bagging and tagging Marjam. Movement from the east side of the warehouse caught her attention. A large, burly man emerged from the shadows and raised his hands, drawing power from her wards.

Shit. Definitely not Calla. The man barely cleared average height and this guy stood at least six-four. And he had mercenary for hire written all over him.

The door to Marjam's living space opened and he stepped out into the dim light of the main floor. He flung his arms out, tapping into the magical energy surrounding the building. Her work, her protective barrier, would be turned against her in a matter of moments.

A kick of anger hit Dallas, followed by a moment of fear. Resolution kicked in.

No backup. Her wards blocking communication. Trapped and screwed.

Dallas crouched low and braced for the blast of magick. "Fuck me." When she got out, target in tow, someone had some serious explaining to do.

The Ministry of Magickal Defense had a security breach… or Rafe missed a few key details.

Son of a bitch.

I love where this one is going. Here's hoping the sages continue giving me good stuff.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

So… Mad Max: Fury Road? Kick ass movie. Seriously, an excellent two hours of viewing pleasure. And I'm from the generation that started the whole Mad Max franchise and this movie blows the original ones out of the water. Enough said.

Let's see… Teen Wolf. Can't really say much. I'm sort of waiting to see what happens. This season isn't holding my interest as much as I'd hoped, but I'll reserve judgment until I've seen more.

But my Friday night lineup is kicking everything into high gear. Defiance rocks. I'm always kind of stunned by how quickly the dynamic changes. Same goes with Killjoys. Only two episodes left before a break and I want more. I have a feeling this show will eat my brain in the off season. Not a bad thing. Dark Matter turned in a pretty decent episode, but I can honestly say I'd like tighter writing. First season world building aside, it would be nice to get a little more information on Two, since we've seen a fair amount on the others.

The Last Ship is a little over halfway through its second season and I can't wait to see how things start getting resolved. This is one of those shows I'm stuck between wanting more and being happy a season is short and sweet, leaving me time to savor the goodness before a new one starts. LOL

Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out, a novella where my characters are pitted against each other, but try and hold true to their hearts.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magic, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Dallas Kirk entered the sprawling warehouse. "Nothing like a little B and E to get the adrenaline flowing." She kept her tone low and relocked the door behind her, using magick to ward the building.

Nothing would get in or out without her knowledge.

She did a quick rundown of the intel she had on Marjam Calla. The ministry file listed him as a nuisance with the potential to cause disruption with terrorist activities. Marjam had a list of grievances he wanted to turn into causes, but the man's standoffish and abrasive personality didn't attract allies. Any like-minded thinkers usually couldn't stand being in the same room with him for any length of time.

Dallas crept through the cavernous space littered with carnival paraphernalia. Marjam's main source of income came during the warmer months when fairs, festivals, and fundraising events. According to Rafe Quinoza, her partner and life mate, Calla lived in a set of converted storage rooms along the north wall of the building. She trusted Rafe's information and followed the west wall along until she spied the boxlike series of three shipping containers lined up end to end. A few windows had been cut into the exterior walls and lamplight burned in the closest one.

Success!

She shouldn't have too much trouble bagging and tagging Marjam. Movement from the east side of the warehouse caught her attention. A large, burly man emerged from the shadows and raised his hands, drawing power from her wards.

Shit. Definitely not Calla. The man barely cleared average height and this guy stood at least six-four. And he had mercenary for hire written all over him.

The door to Marjam's living space opened and he stepped out into the dim light of the main floor. He flung his arms out, tapping into the magical energy surrounding the building. Her work, her protective barrier, would be turned against her in a matter of moments.

A kick of anger hit Dallas, followed by a moment of fear. Resolution kicked in.

No backup. Her wards blocking communication. Trapped and screwed.

Dallas crouched low and braced for the blast of magick. "Fuck me." When she got out, target in tow, someone had some serious explaining to do.

The ministry had a security breach… or Rafe missed a few key details.

Son of a bitch.

Dallas is fun to write. And whatever put her in the crapper better get out of the way because she'll definitely mow them down. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

Hi!

YAY! Strike Back got a renewal even though it'll be the last season. I can live with one more ten episode run with Stonebridge and Scott. I'm torn between wanting to see them go out with a bang—Butch and Sundance style—and hoping like hell my two heroes find a way to be happy and live long lives. :D

And Arrow… holy crap. I can't even form coherent thoughts about last week's episode yet. Without getting too spoileriffic, I'm usually not keen on recasting a primary character, even if they've had almost zero screen time, but I'm definitely reserving judgment on this one. Mainly because I can't wait to see where they take the character and how they tie her into the DC 'verse. *rubs hands together gleefully*

Haven keeps impressing me and doesn't always do what I expect. If I haven't mentioned it before, I LOVE shows that keep me guessing. J

Anyway, time for the actual post. Tonight's snippet is from Broken Down and Maxed Out. The manuscript is in the beginning stages, but the sages are throwing out some great stuff. J

Here's the tagline:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magic, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And the preview snippet…

Dallas trudged up the steps to the apartment, weary, worn out, and dying for her bed. But not before she took the longest shower known to man or mage. Her hand drifted to her hair, fingers brushing lightly over the strands. Yep. Still had traces of sage ash and singed ends. She'd probably have to cut several inches off to undo the damage.

Sliding her key in the lock, she shoved the door open and dropped her bag on the floor. The loud clunk echoed in the empty space and the darkness swallowed her, dragging her mood down even further. She shrugged out of her trench coat, the tricks of her trade clanging together when she tossed the jacket over the back of the loveseat. Making a mental note to restock her metal cuffs—and make certain they had sufficient wards in place—she turned toward the bathroom and headed in that direction. She didn't bother flipping the lights on, she didn't need them to find her way.

Dallas turned on the shower, stripped, and finally turned some ambient illumination on by setting the dimmer switch to the lowest notch. She had no desire to see the welts and bruises on her body. And there'd be a shit ton after the beating she'd taken.

Stepping into the shower stall, she let the pounding spray work out the kinks and cramps. Pressing her face against the tiled wall, she blew out a harsh breath. Good cripes, she needed a respite—a nice long break from the batshit crazy ministry business and every damn thing going wrong.

Right. As if.

Lost in the miserable knowledge a vacation wouldn't be on the books any time soon, she jumped when the shower door flew open and braced for a fight. She relaxed when she caught sight of her would be assailant, Rafe.

His gaze swept over her, taking in every minute detail. "Fuck me, Dallas. What the flaming hell happened to you?" He yanked his shirt off and started on his jeans.

Dallas didn't answer, her throat still raw from the earlier fracas, and now choked with emotion. The sight of Rafe, her balm in the shit storm of life, soothed her soul more than any magically enhanced salve. Rafe kicked off his pants and glanced up, got a good look at her face, and ducked inside the steaming mist.

His hands cupped her head, carefully avoiding the abrasions along her jaw. "I'm here, Dal. You can let go now." He drew her forward, wrapping his arms around her. "Use me to get it out."

Her carefully constructed calm shattered and she threw her head back, the scream no less blood-curdling even with her damaged vocal chords. The dam burst and Rafe held her until she'd spent the last of her rage. She grabbed hold of his ass, her fingers digging into the flesh, dragging him closer, and angling her head to nip at his neck.

His breath hissed out when she made contact but his semi-hard erection swelled to its full length. He'd take the edge off her frayed psyche and recharge her to face another day.

She reached behind him and shut the water off. "Hard and fast, Rafe. Now." Her raspy voice made his eyes narrow.

But he heard the plea. His mouth crushed hers and she welcomed the sweep of his tongue against her lips. His hands skimmed her sides then he lifted her, pressing on her ass, urging her to wrap her legs around his torso. Nudging the door open, he exited the shower and carried her, dripping wet, across the floor and into their bedroom.

Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he raised her a little and entered her with a smooth thrust. Dallas moaned, breaking the kiss and bucked against his hips, building some friction.

She tumbled sideways, hauling Rafe atop her. "More, Rafe. I need more." She wrapped her legs around him, drawing him back inside.

He palmed her breasts, his eyes raking over her, taking in each and every injury. "I'll give you everything, Dal. Hang on." He drove into her, pumping his hips back and forth.

His mouth worked magic along her jawline, healing her abrasions. His hard cock pounded her, their magical connection building energy, arcing between them to patch up everything else. She took as much as she dared then gave herself over to the emotional bond, letting the disappointment and disillusionment ebb away. Rafe changed the pace, easing into a sensual rhythm. Dallas got lost in his golden gaze and sank into euphoria. The slid of his skin, the rapid beat of his heart, and the warmth of being joined swallowed her senses and spun her world sideways. She loved Rafe to distraction—right or wrong—and no one could take the feeling away.

Given the botched mission, the ministry could try to separate her and Rafe, but she'd fight tooth and nail if they made the attempt.

Rafe leaned down, his breath hot against her ear. "Stop thinking, Dal." He flicked his tongue over her lobe. "Just feel. Me. You. What we have. Feel." His mouth met hers in a hot kiss.

He flexed his hips, bumping hard against her clit and she broke, coming hard, the release washing over her until her toes tingled. Rafe followed quickly behind, thrusting deep and emptying himself. He collapsed sideways and hauled her close, tucking her head against his shoulder.

He brushed her hair back with his fingers. "Sleep, Dal." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

She snuggled into his embrace and let her eyes drift closed. Rafe would keep watch and she could shut her brain down and finally rest.

Whew. Dallas has a lot on her mind, but some quality time with Rafe never hurts. :D

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye