Sunday Snippet: Nothing but the Truth

It's very sauna-like outside with muggy weather and lots of humidity. Makes me want a pool in a big way. Went down a big rabbit hole researching what's available that won't break the bank and discovered some genius ideas. It won't happen this summer, but I have a new goal for next summer!

Hit a wall on my great cleanout project. But I'm determined to get back on it this week. Even if I only get a little done each day it's something. I'm thinking I might make a chart and log increments of time spent. If I see the forward progress it helps.

Ended up having a super busy work week. Several projects came back at the same time and a new one started. It's been a plate-spinning couple of months with so many different things stacking up against each other. I love the variety and I think that helps keep me from losing my mind.

I did end up having a great viewing week. I did a full round of shows and got to include the two I tend to keep on the back burner when things are jammed.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm almost through the first season and this is total comfort viewing.

Watched another episode of Art Detectives and I'm really enjoying this show. Shazia is a lot of fun and the mystery with Mick's dad is intriguing. Looking forward to more.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise. Love to see Selwyn with his daughter. The mystery ended up being excellent and the resolution had a nice twist.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I'm kind of fond of the episodes that don't have murders. This one was kind of madcap and that's always fun.

Watched the season four premiere of Elementary. Watson being ready to kick the shit out of the Holmes patriarch is awesome. I loved her interaction with one of the stooges. And the first glimpse of Holmes the Great? So incredible. Excellent choice of actor to play him. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered, and I enjoyed it. Terry and Max are a great team.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks and definitely plan to stick with this one. Even when I'm annoyed by some of the character bits, it's a fun watch.

Got to get the season ten finale of Peak Practice viewed. Interesting to have Kate back, especially since Will is kind of ready to move on. The vehicle accident played out with lots of tension and the two little girls with Tom ended up being better than I thought it would be.

Last but not least, I got to watch another episode of Reacher. This show, man. It's so good. And that ending. Wow. Reacher's big feet keep stepping in steaming piles. Just saying.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing but the Truth, a novella where the characters decide honesty is the best policy.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Lexa rode a wave of bliss. There's sex and then there's S-E-X in all caps. Being with Quint definitely deserved the second option.

She might have to face another hard truth soon. Quint would be hard to beat when it came to physical and intimate relations. Her nerve endings all but hummed with satisfaction and she hadn't hit her peak yet.

She crested the rise, though. "Unf. So good." She kept one hand on his shoulder and the other planted on his chest.

Her breath came out in short, raspy bursts. Quint's fingers grasped her thighs, and she welcomed the burn of his skin against hers. With one palm he skimmed her torso and reached up to cup a breast. When his thumb brushed over her nipple, the sensation went straight to her core and her hips jerked harder and faster.

She lifted her head and met his gaze. "Come with me, Quint." Her inner walls tightened around his hard length, and she toppled over the edge.

Quint let out a low moan and followed behind her. His thighs went taut, and air hissed out between his teeth. When she collapsed down to her elbows, he wrapped his arms around her and meshed his lips with hers.

When the feeling returned to her limbs, she eased back and rested her forehead against his. "Full truth? That was amazing." Sliding off to one side, she curled up against him, biting back a yawn.

Quint eyed the bed. "We could use some shut-eye." He slowly got to his feet and held a hand out to her.

Lexa didn't hesitate. She clasped his palm and crossed the room with him. Crawling up onto the mattress, she tugged him down beside her. He stretched out on his side, his gaze slowly traveling over her nude form. His turn to view her myriads of scars. He lingered on each imperfection almost with reverence. She didn't shy away from being viewed. He understood the toll battle took on the physical being.

Which meant … he also had a good idea how many wounds went unseen. The ones that marred the psyche instead of the body. Something shifted inside Lexa. A crack opened and she couldn't close it back up if she tried.

And … oddly … for once she didn't want to.

I like writing quiet moments between characters and ending on one for this scene ended up working so well.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

 

Sunday Snippet: Nothing but the Truth

Another heavy workload this week followed by some snow and really cold temperatures. Of course, we're supposed to be in the seventies by Thursday, which means my sinuses are going to hate me. Fun times.

Had a slower viewing schedule this week with television. Needed to focus on one of my projects to get it finished up in quick fashion.

I did get quite a few of my regular shows watched. Caught two episodes of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. One featured information on Europa and the other on Venus. I'm quite enjoying the mix of sciency goodness with the antics of the Peanuts gang.

Started a new-to-me show with Cuffs and liked the first episode. This one should be interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Got two episodes of Silent Witness in, finishing up a two-parter and starting another. I'm very curious about how this will end as the next show will be the season sixteen finale. I'm a little worried about Leo.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Who. I'm kind of dizzy with the loss of Peri and a new companion rolled into the overarching main story. I'm still a fan of how this season is playing out though.

Completed the last episode of The Alaska Triangle and rather enjoyed the focus on a haunted fairground. I wouldn't mind seeing more from this region of Alaska.

Finished up The Muppets and have to admit I really ended up enjoying the season. I'm not sure if I'll start a new muppet series or move on to some of the Marvel universe shows.

I started season two of Harrow and, wow, it got off with a big bang. I'm very intrigued about how the main mystery is going to play out. I like having a case of the week mixed with the background intrigue of who wants Daniel dead.

Enjoyed an episode of Peak Practice and like the sort of slow burn going on with Andrew and the receptionist. I have a feeling that could go to some interesting places.

I watched two MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. I love her ideas and insight into putting huge projects together by starting with small-scaled ideas. This shouldn't be confused with the ideas being small, more like imagining them in miniature scale and then creating a huge piece from that.

I watched the last episode of Paranoid and ended up loving this series. The ending wrapped up everything and the evildoers got theirs. Can't ask for more.

Snuck in two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I'm close to finishing up season two and need to decide if I'm going to move up to three or switch over to new Rugrats. Stay tuned.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and I really, really dislike the new chief of the ED. The guy is a complete ass. Here's hoping he'll get a big helping of something not nice in the near future.

I finished up Queens of Mystery and loved the final episode. Lots of new threads to explore in the next season, which I hope is soon. I even ended up not hating the fiancé by the end. I hope if she'd in the next series, she's a lot less obnoxious.

Started a new series with Aliens in Alaska. I'm not quite ready to let the big state go. So far, I'm enjoying the show and look forward to more.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and got a kick out of Hugh Jackman guest-starring as an attorney. Honestly, he hasn't changed much in the thirty years since this show aired. Amazing.

Also started Young Wallander based on a recommendation from my brother. I'm almost through the first episode and, so far, enjoy it. Season two came out recently so I have some good stuff to look forward to.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing but the Truth, a novella where the characters make a silent pact to be honest with each other because their work involves subterfuge and lies on a regular basis.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Quint loved the way her heated gaze traveled over him. He had several long-healed wounds—a jagged, narrow slice from a blade, a bullet hole, and a pepper of marks from the damage a screwdriver did to his torso. None erased the naked desire in her eyes.

She licked her lips. "Hmm … where to start?" She trailed a finger from his sternum to his waistline before sliding off his lap to unbutton and zip his pants.

Lowering to the floor, she wrestled his fatigues past his hips. He helped by toeing off his boots and kicking them aside while she finished dragging the fabric off his legs and shoving it aside. Her warm fingers circled his shaft and she leaned in, brushing her thumb over the head.

She got a good look at his dick. "Mmmm. Gotta say my imagination didn't do this justice." She glanced up, a sexy smile curving her lips. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Her mouth slid over the tip of his cock and his head fell back. "Aw, fuck. That's good." Damn, pleasurable didn't begin to describe the magic her mouth worked.

She made a humming sound but didn't lose focus. Her lips and tongue kept a steady pressure on his erection and her fingers fondled his balls. She tugged the orbs lightly and his thighs flexed with reaction. He fought the urge to thrust deep and hard. Definitely don't want this to end too soon.

Lexa eased back and swirled her tongue around the head, flicking the underside with rapid strokes. An undercurrent of need and want swelled along his veins and he almost lost the battle for control. His fingers plunged through her hair and his hips lurched upward.

A breath hissed out from between his teeth. "Not like this. I want you to ride me to a finish." He hooked a hand under her shoulder and hauled her upward.

She used one hand to unfasten her bra and the other to shove her leggings past her hips. "Like minds and all that." Her breathing burst out in ragged pants.

Quint helped get her legs free then slid two fingers along her folds, meeting wet, silky essence. He couldn't wait any longer. Grasping her hip, he tugged her forward to straddle his lap. She lifted her butt and sank over him in one, slow movement until his groin met the apex of her thighs.

Heat enveloped his hard length and his head dropped back on the cushions. "Holy balls of fire. You feel good wrapped around me." He didn't want to move, not yet. His brain needed to catch up with his body.

Lexa's eyes slid closed and she moaned. "This is gonna be hard and fast. I can't go slow right now." Her hips rocked and she shuddered.

Quint took one of her hands and braced it on his shoulder. "Ride me, Lexa." He grasped her waist and urged her forward.

Her fingers dug into his skin, her nails scraping the flesh. He didn't care. He wouldn't mind wearing her mark.

And he'd welcome more, as much as she wanted to give.

Lexa and Quint don't think they're in for the long haul, but life has a way of proving people wrong.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing But the Truth

Well… May is starting out with a crazy-busy schedule. I've got two new projects underway along with my regular work. That said, I love being busy so I won't complain.

I got to spend time with two of my best friends from high school. It's so much fun to catch up with them and we're hoping to make this a several times a year thing. Good food and terrific wine… a fabulous way to spend an evening.

Had a semi-decent week of television viewing. I started out with an episode of Blade: The Series and discovered I'd missed this one. Glad I caught up with it… it had several good pieces of information in it.

I caught the penultimate episode of Strike Back and, wow, as usual, it delivered. Gotta say I'm sad we didn't get to see Coltrane in action between the sheets, especially considering we've seen almost everyone else.

Also watched another episode of Classic Roswell and it's another episode I thoroughly enjoyed but didn't quite remember fully. I love revisiting this series.

Caught another episode of Arrow and got to finally discover Oliver's newest family member. The hits really do keep coming for Oliver and I love to watch him react to each one. Also starting to enjoy the futurescape a lot. I'm going to miss this show so much when it ends after the next season. But I'll look forward to having a dark Gotham to visit if Batwoman gets a pickup.

Watched the penultimate—a frequent refrain this week—episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I have to admit I'm disappointed with a couple of things. Miss Hart's seeming underhandedness is a big one and I'm holding out hope it's smoke and mirrors on that end. And, seriously, the character assassination of John Brackenreid makes my head spin. I truly hope the finale swings the pendulum back to normal.

The Murders had a terrific fourth episode. I like the little bit of mystery surrounding Kate and I definitely like Nolan's slow spiral. It looks like the next episode starts to address his issues and I'm totally there for it.

Caught the… you guessed it… penultimate episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and, man, I loved it! This show is so. Much. Fun. Seriously, I'm crossing every appendage I have that there might be a second season.

Watched the first part of Chicago Fire's crossover with Chicago PD. Haven't watched the police episode yet but really wanted to watch Cruz go undercover. I'm not quite sure what to think about Grissom's about face with Severied. That might not go anywhere good. Just saying.

Caught episode seven of Iron Fist and actually enjoyed it a lot. I'm sad to view what's going on with Danny and Colleen but I also think it's an interesting wrinkle in their relationship. Davos, as usual, irritates the ever loving crap out of me. I'm totally hoping Joy is making a long play to get her hands on the bowl but won't hold my breath. As usual, Ward and Misty entertained just by being on screen. I'll miss not having new episodes after this season ends.

Watched an episode of Painkiller Jane and it's another one I didn't get to see on the first run of the series. Glad I caught it. I do like how Jane finally accepts being part of the team and starts to consider them family.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing But the Truth, a novella that started with a writing community challenge of setting a story around the idea of telling nothing but the truth.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Lexa opened a can of worms. The evening could go to some dangerous places. Did she care? Not really. She lived in Recklessville. Okay, usually for work, but why not mix some spontaneity into her personal world? Right, maybe not the best idea—

"Seriously? Leave it at that? I don't think so, Lexa." He shifted, unable to hide the growing erection under his pants when he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

She sucked in a breath. "Truth, right?" She took his quirked brow as a yes and let the alcohol do the talking. "The picture I have of your hard cock is pretty vivid in my mind. So, yeah, it's distracting." She shouldn't have to explain the basics of sexual attraction.

Quint blinked and shook his head. "Fuck. You win. I didn't see this little twist coming at all." He leaned back, no longer attempting to keep the hard ridge of his dick out of sight.

Lexa barely hesitated before she got up and moved to straddle his lap. "If I'm the victor, shouldn't I get some kind of prize for my reward?" She scooched forward, grinding against his groin.

Quint cupped her ass with his hands. "What, exactly, will the claiming involve?" He held her gaze, no doubt seeking any form of retreat or regret.

Lexa answered quickly. "You, me, hot sex, now." She wanted him, if only for tonight within the four walls of this room.

Quint squeezed her butt cheeks. "And it stays here, yeah? We don't carry this out there." His head jerked toward the door and his hands came up to palm her breasts through her shirt.

Lexa nodded and removed her shirt. "Everything stays here. Consider this room sanctuary." She reached down and tugged his shirt up, craving skin-to-skin contact.

Quint dragged the garment over his head then leaned against the cushions. "Then stake your claim." He draped his arms along the back of the couch.

Her gaze feasted on his scarred torso, his battle wounds on display. They didn't detract from the defined cut of muscle covering his frame. Pecs, abs, dented hips. God, what a prime specimen.

And he wanted her to lay claim?

Oh, hell, yes.

Lexa will definitely enjoy the sanctuary but she might not be the only one staking a claim.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing but the Truth

Well, The Last Ship finally dropped another death on me. And of course it's someone I did like. That said, they weren't in my no kill zone so I'm bracing for impact this week. LOL I still think the president is a potential bad buy. There's just some slightly slimy about him, in my opinion.

Killjoys had a terrific episode. I seriously love having everyone show up, even if only briefly. I'm kind of thrilled Fancy didn't end up dying last season, and I realize this isn't the first time we've seen him, but I like watching him in action.

Dark Matter definitely has my interest. I did worry after the "meh" first episode, but since then, they've hit on all cylinders. Loving the interaction between Five and everyone else. I also can't wait to see what happens with the android.

Busy week kept me from sinking back into Strike Back, but I did watch more Babylon 5. One of my favorite things about season two is how things start coming together. Random bits that didn't seem to be important become so. I love that!

That's all for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing but the Truth, a novella built around a prompt of writing a story about telling the whole truth.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Quint's lips curved. "You're looking a little lost, Lexa." He strode to the sofa and sat down. "But, I get it. Without the mantle of protection my reputation provides, I have no idea what to do with myself." Jerking his head toward the chair, he invited her to sit. "But sometimes wearing the persona like a cloak gets old. At least for me, it does." He eyed the bottle and frowned.

He should have snagged it before he sat. She had him off his game.

Lexa bit back a grin and grabbed the spirits. "Me, too. I'm just not sure what you want here." She crossed the floor and plopped down onto the chair. "Or what I want. But sitting at the bar, going through the same old performances, isn't it." Resting the alcohol on her knee, she nodded so Quint knew to share whenever he wanted.

He didn't take the offering… yet. "Agreed. How about we start with saying what we discuss here, stays here." He quirked a brow.

Lexa flashed a smile and relaxed a little more. "I can get behind that." Lifting the decanter by the neck she held it out to him.

Quint took a swig and passed it back to her. She followed suit.

A measure of silence stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, more cautious. Quint didn't have many friends and didn't know how to do intimate conversation.

He settled down a little further on the cushions. "Do you sleep at night?" His curiousity demanded to know if she struggled the way he did.

Lexa lifted a shoulder. "Usually." She waited a beat. "Sometimes with one eye open."

Okay, sounded familiar. Except with him… he always slept with one eye open.

Quint met her gaze. "And when you can't do that, you end up here." He kept his voice neutral, but truly wondered how she dealt with the nasty stuff on a regular basis.

Not that he didn't buy her answer. But he worked the streets same as she did. The danger followed him everywhere, too.

Lexa's eyes widened in surprise. "Most of the time, I land here. But I have a couple other places I can crash if necessary." Placing the bottle on the floor, she leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Your turn. What brought you to The Halfway tonight?"

Shit. Even if they left everything within these four walls, he didn't want to talk about why he'd sought the sanctuary of the bar. The reason a little too fresh and not enough space to process yet.

But she'd been honest with him and he didn't want to lay a line of bullshit her way.

He shifted his position on the sofa. "Can I take a pass on answering that one and get a new question?" Trust didn't come easy and Lexa hadn't earned the full disclosure card yet.

She tilted her head to one side, studying him a moment. A myriad of reactions marred her features, but she recovered quickly.

Straightening, she glanced away. "Yeah, I feel that." A haunted look entered her gaze when she met his again, but she gave him a cheeky smile. "Let's start with something a little more fun. Boxers or briefs?" Her lips twitched.

Quint barked out a laugh. "Neither. I go commando." Silly, he could do.

Lexa quirked an eyebrow. "So…" Her gaze strayed to his torso and groin. "You're not wearing…"

He lifted his chin. "Yep. Bare-assed naked under the pants." Waiting for her reaction, he bit his cheek to keep from laughing again.

Lexa blew out a breath. "Well, hell. That's not distracting or anything." A flush stained her cheeks and she picked up the bottle, downing a healthy gulp.

Quint lifted a brow. "Distracting? How?"

Lexa snorted. "If I have to elaborate, we've got a problem." A sexy laugh rumbled from her throat. "Let's say my active imagination is kicking into high gear and leave it at that."

Quint's eyes went wide and the atmosphere became charged.

This one may end up as part of a series featuring other characters / couples. Love how it's coming together so far.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing But the Truth

May 18, 2014

Hello,

Well, my show finales did not disappoint. S.H.I.E.L.D. did deliver an awesome ending to its first season. And, guys, Arrow pretty much blew me away. The fight scene between Deathstroke / Arrow superimposed on the Slade / Oliver island one counts as one of my very favorites of the entire series. I'm so excited to see where season three goes. As usual, Orphan Black gave me tons of stuff to speculate about and think on. My love for Paul grows every time he's on the screen, I kid you not. I WANT to know more about his background. I'm also completely turned around by Helena. That chick is off the charts insane, but she's also dead on with her observation skills. Seriously, I love her. LOL

Tonight's post is from Nothing But the Truth, a novella where my main characters get the chance to be who they actually are instead of who everything believes them to be.

Here's the tagline:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

Preview snippet…

Lexa tensed when Quint settled onto the barstool next to hers. Of all the nights for him to be in her face, he would pick the one she'd rather not have to maintain her kick ass first, take names second attitude.

She sighed and fought an urge to slump her shoulders in defeat. Instead she tilted her head from side to side, cracking her neck to relieve tension.

Quint shot her a sideways glance. "Looks like you could use a drink." He signaled the bartender. "But wait… you don't accept anything from anyone, right? Bribe, payoff, the gift of help." He sneered at the last part.

Lexa propped an elbow on the counter. "True, but in your case, I'll make an excpetion. You not one to offer anything for free, help included." She nodded toward the bartender and he got an extra shot glass. "Which I didn't need earlier, thank you very much."

Quint snorted. "Right. Tell me another one, Lexa. You didn't even see the second reaver lurking in the shadows."

The bartender filled both shot glasses and Quint tossed his back, tapping the bar for a refill.

Lexa traced her finger around the rim of the tumbler. "Didn't have to see him, Quint. I smelled him. Their stench travels a pretty fair distance. Once I got his partner under wraps and in cuffs, I planned to bag the one hiding behind the warehouse." She lifted the shot and drank it down in a long gulp.

Quint's hand paused, his drink halfway to his mouth. "Whatever you need to tell yourself, Lexa." But his eyes showed a flash of chagrin.

Damn straight, they should. And he'd never admit to being in the wrong. Of course, neither would she. The reputation she'd built over the years prevented her from admitting mistakes. Just one time would be all it took to bring every nut job paranormal idiot to her doorstep.

The bartender refilled Lexa's glass. "If you two are going to get started on a 'who's got the bigger one', take it to a private room." She jerked her head toward the bottles lined up in front of the mirror behind the bar. "If Frank has to replace anything back here, he'll come after both of you, regardless of your bad ass reputations." Her tone softened. "Besides, you both look like you need a night of nothing but the truth, and you can't do that sitting here, surrounded by a million ears."

Quint's lips twitched. "Good point." He glanced at Lexa, his brow lifted.

Lexa slid off her stool. "As long as you're buying, why not." She grabbed the bottle from the counter. "Put this on his tab, yeah?"

She didn't wait to see if Quint agreed or not and made her way to the last room at the end of the long corridor leading to the back exit. Twisting the knob, she entered, placing the bottle on the table by the door and shrugged out of her black trench coat. Flipping the light switch on, she hung the jacket on the row of pegs hanging on the wall, then she picked up the bottle and took a long swallow. She turned around slowly, wiping her mouth, when Quint entered the room and quietly closed the door. Silently, she held the alcohol in his direction.

He took the proffered offering, downing several gulps. He placed the heavy decanter on the table and removed his dark brown trench coat, hanging it beside hers on the wall. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he took a moment to peruse the room, taking in the layout of the furniture—a bed and chest of drawers along the back wall, a television angled in the corner, flanked by two bookcases on either side, a small sofa lined the other wall with a chair situated next to the side for easy conversation.

Quint shot her a glance. "You've been here before."

Lexa shrugged. "A time or two." Her lips twisted. "When going to my place wouldn't have been a good choice."

Quint jerked his head in acknowledgment. "Yeah, nothing like bringing the job home, is there?"

Lexa studied him, not quite certain how to respond. Had they checked their alter egos, their work personas at the door? And if so, what did that mean? She had a naked and exposed feeling, probably because she sometimes didn't know who Lexa Chan should be when the day ended.

This one is very fun to write. The sages like the characters which is always a bonus.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye