Sunday Snippet: Hush

December 22, 2013

Happy Almost Holidays!

The family and I are thisclose to being ready for the merry season. We always wait and decorate the tree a day or two before December 25 so the lights are strung, but nothing else until tomorrow. :D

I'm watching holiday episodes of my favorite TV shows. Warehouse 13, Eureka, Doctor Who, and last year's Arrow episode, Year's End. Up next is Leverage with the Ho, Ho, Ho Job. :D

Tonight's post is from Hush, a magical erotic fantasy where the main characters gets hexed by a former flame.

Here's the tagline:

Kia Bleu and Chip Strachey have a powerful connection and finally give in to their attraction. When Chip's former flame hexes the couple, they have to learn to communicate without words.

And the preview snippet…

Chip followed Kia into the bathroom.

She whirled around. "What in the flaming hell do you think you're doing?" She paced back and forth, fighting the urge to punch him.

Which in and of itself had her questioning her sanity. Thirty seconds ago, they'd been ready to tear out of the lounge and find the nearest dark corner to make out.

Chip grasped her arm and swung her around. "I'm trying to figure out what the fuck went wrong?"

She jerked free, the touch of his hand sending nervous jolts along her skin. Which, again, did not make sense. She wanted the guy… like right now, get naked so they could set the building on fire, craved him.

He huffed out a breath. "Seriously, Kia. What happened? One moment your tongue's down my throat… I open my mouth to suggest we head someplace more private… and you tell me to fuck off and shut up?" He shook his head. "I know you're not a cock tease, so please, explain this shit to me."

Kia closed her eyes for a five count, and then spun back to face him. "I can't!"

The door burst open and she snarled the same time Chip barked.

"Get out!"

The poor, petite red-head, wearing wobbly heels, turned and nearly twisted her ankle trying to flee. Kia glanced up, catching sight of Sadie hovering close to the exit across the bar. A light bulb went off and Kia wanted to kick herself for being so stupid.

Chip's former flame had hexed them. A curse could be the only explanation for the bizarre reactions they were having to each other.

Chip waited for the door to close then blasted her again. "Can't or won't, Kia? You're so damned stubb—"

Kia clamped her hand over his mouth and pushed him back against the wall by the sinks. An angry glare filled his gaze and she quickly held up one finger, indicating he needed to wait and shut the hell up.

Lifting a brow, she silently asked him to give her a chance by jerking her head towards the door. He inclined his head and she lowered her hand, reaching down to grasp his fingers. No itchy or nervous feeling. As long as they didn't speak… the crawly, scratchy feeling didn't seem to exist.

What a marvelously devious hex.

Kia tugged Chip away from the wall and led him to the door. She made sure he stuck close behind her then cracked the heavy steel open less than an inch. With a quick, stabbing motion she pointed straight ahead. Sadie lingered by the exit, chatting quietly with the bartender.

Chip tensed. His body coiled tightly, ready to spring forward. Kia pushed back, letting the door snick shut. Chip tried to sidestep around her, but she blocked his path, giving her head a violent shake.

Sadie didn't need to know anything just yet. If the woman wanted to play hard ball, Kia would give the evil wench one hell of a game. But she had to have Chip on board.

The big problem? How to pull everything together without uttering a word.

Chip solved the dilemma. He dragged his phone from his back pocket and handed it to her. A slow smile curved her lips and she typed her number into his contact list. She grabbed her cell and held it out. Chip keyed his information, saved it, and returned the device.

Kia quickly tapped out a message. [Operation Hush is now under way. Are you in?] She pressed send.

Chip scanned the note, nodded, and replied. [Tell me to fuck off, storm out of here, then meet me at The Cave. Basement. #2.]

Kia quirked a brow, but lifted her chin in agreement. Another message pinged directly after.

[Give me twenty minutes. Sadie has to think she's winning.]

Kia didn't like it, but couldn't argue the logic. She gave a thumbs up and turned towards the door. She stepped forward then angled back around, grabbing hold of Chip's shirt to haul him close before planting a hot kiss on his lips.

He deepened the embrace and grasped her hips, his hands sliding around to cup her ass. Her brain spun a little out of control and his mouth made her breathless, but no twitchy feeling. Easing back, Kia grinned when she caught the raw desire on Chip's face. She cupped his cheek then trailed her fingers suggestively along his jawline, hoping he'd get the hint of a promise for later she wanted to convey.

He shot her a wink and grabbed her fingers, giving them a squeeze.

Satisfied, Kia blew out a hard breath, then let the small ball of fury catch hold and radiate outward. The crackle of energy had Chip stepping backwards, but not too far.

Kia whirled around and yanked the door open. "Fuck off, Chip. Stay the hell away from me." She stalked across the bar floor and hit the exit, pretending not to notice Sadie's big, fat smirk. Once outside, she allowed the cool, crisp air calm the churning anger burning in her gut and leaned against the rough surface of the brick storefront. Letting her rage spark sometimes caused unforeseen consequences and she didn't want anything getting in the way of her later rendezvous with Chip.

Expelling a heavy, cleansing sigh, she muttered, "This damn plan better work."

Pushing away from the wall, she walked up the block, and made the turn towards The Cave.

So far, this has been tons of fun to write. It's a challenge, but an exciting one.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Beast in the Belfry

Greetings!

I have to open with kudos for one of my favorite shows currently airing on television: Orphan Black. Seriously, the writing, the acting, the pacing…top notch stuff. I can't say enough about how awesome this show is. It always takes me by surprise and never quite goes where I think it will. If you're not watching…give it a whirl. You won't be disappointed. :D

Tonight's post is from The Beast in the Belfry, a novella about a woman cursed to be alone by her mad professor. The funny thing about curses? They're not always made to last and sometimes a stronger magic will render the hex null and void. And man, oh man, is it fun to write. :D

Here's the tagline:

A curse leaves artist Vittoria Blahm disfigured and marred for life. But Cal Gilligan sees the true woman under the scars and he falls hard for her when she saves him from plunging to his death. Vittoria can't quite believe anyone wants her and fears risking her heart to the possibility.

And a preview snippet…

"It's your choice, Vittoria. It should be simple enough to decide if you want to live or die." Hessler Shaouk made a slow circle around the wingback chair.

Vittoria Blahm kept her silent and stony countenance. She wouldn't feed into her professor's madness any more than she already had.

"Hess, dear brother, you know I won't stand by and let you kill her."

Vittoria's eyes focused on the beautiful blonde for one brief moment before she blinked and cast her gaze downward again.

Hessler scowled. "Jejune, my sweet, you have no business meddling in my affairs."

Jejune laid a hand on her brother's shoulder and Vittoria's eyes widened when he slumped to the floor, struggling against unseen bonds.

Jejune knelt beside him. "Maybe not, but no one else will rein you in when necessary."

"Let me go, you damned fool woman." He writhed on the floor, but remained prone. "She needs to die, Jejune. By my hand. She spurned my love."

The lovely blonde sighed. "Vittoria, do you have any feelings for my brother?"

Her hand remained on his shoulder, but Hessler could move his head. He angled slightly to meet Vittoria's gaze.

She answered honestly. "Not the kind he wanted me to have. I respect his work. And his brilliance." She focused on Jejune. "But I'm not attracted to him otherwise."

Resignation settled over Jejune's features and she nodded. "Did you give him any reason to believe you held him in high regard?"

High regard? Vittoria wondered if she'd somehow crossed over into an alternate timeline. No one she knew spoke with such formality.

Her head shook back and forth. "Not intentionally. Your brother sees what he wants to see." And he'd mistaken her thirst for knowledge and technique for something deeper.

To date, she hadn't managed to feel what qualified as love for anyone, always choosing to neatly sidestep emotional entanglements. Too many goals to achieve to get involved in a relationship.

Jejune closed her eyes. "And now? What do you feel for him?"

Again, Vittoria answered with honesty. "Pity."

Hessler went wild at the admission and finally broke free of his sister's binding. He shot to his feet and rushed Vittoria, stopping barely a foot away.

He roared, "You stupid bitch. I don't want your damned pity." Hate and venom laced his words. "I deserve more. Better. What I've shared with you has a price and if you're not willing to pay up, your life is forfeit."

He raised his hand and Jejune rushed to his side, grasping his palm and jerking it hard.

Her voice rose. "You will not kill her. I won't allow it."

Hessler shouted. "I demand recompense."

Jejune spoke softly. "Then curse her to be alone as you are."

A sinister smile graced Hessler's face. "So be it."

A terrible feeling of dread settled over Vittoria, but nothing could prepare her for the horrifying pain a flick of his wrist brought. Her face burned, the left side peeling away or melting or both. Vittoria screamed, agony tearing through her. She struggled against the restraints, the need to flee overwhelming.

A harsh gasp from Jejune gave Vittoria something else to focus on, but didn't end the brutal carnage taking place.

Jejune called her brother out. "Hessler, I demand you stop. You've maimed her sufficiently."

A madness-fueled grin twisted on his face. "I don't think so, dear sister. Not until she's suffered the same amount of pain I have."

Through a haze of agony, Vittoria's eyes went wide when Jejune summoned up a whirlwind of power, sending Hessler flying into the next room. The door slammed shut and Jejune rushed to Vittoria, laying a hand on her face. The pain stopped, but the heartache didn't.

Jejune spoke quietly, "I can't remove the disfigurement. But I can get you away from here." She cut the physical bonds and waved a palm, freeing the invisible ones. "Hessler will have no choice but to leave, I'll see to that, too."

Vittoria said nothing, her mouth and lips marred too badly for speech. Jejune hauled Vittoria out of the chair and dragged her out of the sitting room, through the house, and out to her vehicle.

Shoving Vittoria into the car, Jejune rushed around and got behind the steering wheel. "I'm taking you to the quad. The groundskeepers start early, 6 am, they'll find you."

Vittoria slid her gaze sideways, the pain creeping back in an intense wave. Jejune flicked her wrist and Vittoria fell into blessed unconsciousness.

So far, this manuscript is coming together very nicely. I'm enjoying writing something a little darker with spots of humor. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye