Sunday Snippet: On the Circuit

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, father figures, and mentors out there. The weather has been wet and chilly and, honestly, I'm okay with that. When it's ninety in October and I'm complaining… remind me how the temperatures were in June.

Not a bad week of television. Had some deadlines to meet so a little lighter than usual.

Caught Banshee's fourth episode and loved the interaction with Job and Hood. Also liked entire theft scene and Carrie's rescue of Lucas. Very cool visuals there.

I've watched about three more episodes of Blue Heelers and still enjoy the show. I'm a little frustrated with Roz and finding a job. First, she did the mobile beauty thing, which was terrific. Then, when she lost her license, she was offered a job with a cosmetics firm but turned it down to supposedly take a job in the city. When Wayne got shot, she decided to stick around and now she applied for the office staff job at the station. I'm aware that's how things work sometimes, but it's a little whiplashy for me.

Caught Chicago Fire and loved the episode. I've got two more left of season seven and I'm really excited to see where things go. I'm very interested in how the situation with Casey and Brett plays out.

Episode two of Daredevil delivered another solid viewing experience. Again, my favorite parts were with Karen and Foggy. But I enjoyed Matt's story a lot more this week.

Watched another classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how funny Max and Kyle were in the episode where Liz gets to go on a blind date with someone else. And I'd also forgotten how terrific Maria sounded when she finally got to sing.

Frankie Drake Mysteries had a good episode. I'm glad Trudy is sticking around and I loved Mary and Flo's road trip. Also like the mystery this week.

Caught another episode of Riverdale. Gotta say Gladys might be even crazier than Hiram. And, honestly, I'm this close to being done with Hiram. The best part of the episode was Archie and Fred and FP and Jellybean and Jughead. Seriously, loved those scenes. I also loved, loved, loved Betty and Ethel teaming up to brig-break the creepy sisters' home.

Watched another episode of Arrow and, I'll say it again, I'm going to miss this show so much when it's gone. No one does flashbacks and flash forwards better than Arrowverse.

The premiere of Krypton's season two ended up being awesome. I missed this show! Colin Salmon truly seems to be relishing his role as Zod and he's quite good at being smarmy yet evil. I like that about his character. I'm so excited to see what else happens.

Also caught In the Dark. Man… talk about a crazy episode. It's seriously messed up when I'm rooting for the drug dealers to win the day, right? Yeah, I love this show. LOL

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from On the Circuit, a novella that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The popularity of breaking dragons on the rodeo trail lures Reggie Pitch to test her mettle as a bullfighter. She works her way up from green recruit and tries out for the big show with Dwight Merlyn as her trainer, which proves intimidating because not only is he attractive as hell, he's a third generation handler and his family breeds the rankest, meanest beasts on the circuit.

And a preview snippet…

The rider went sailing through the air and landed with a bone-crunching thud in the arena.

"And down he goes." Reggie launched into action, darting to the center of the ring.

She made a big play out drawing the dragon's attention by wiggling her hips, the red hankies tied to her belt loops flouncing up and down. The big beast snorted and ambled its huge body in her direction, tossing its head. The rider had a chance to scurry up and get through the chute and to a safe location. Good.

"Now it's showtime." Reggie did a handstand, keeping a careful eye on the snarling, blue-scaled creature lumbering toward her.

Its golden gaze followed the motion of the red bandanas. Springing into a tumble, she flipped end over end three times getting close to the holding pens. Two more bullfighters came out, looping lassoes around the dragon's neck to help guide it out of the arena.

Reggie did a little exaggerated dance, swinging her hips and kicking up her feet then stood and blew kisses to the retreating animal. The crowd went wild, cheering and shouting their approval for her flirtatious show. Reggie basked, but also paid close attention to the huge, dangerous animal… just like Dwight taught her.

When its tail made a long, slow swish, Reggie drew in a breath, ready for anything. The crowd gasped when the dragon made a quick snap and sent the barbed projectile directly toward her. Dwight had prepared her for such an occurrence and Reggie didn't take her eyes off the incoming blur of motion. She leapt high in the air and did a backward flip, landing well out of reach of the hazardous zone. Wobbling a little on her landing, she made a show of cowering, covering her head for a three count then peeking over her shoulder. The gate slowly closed behind the big dragon and she jumped up and made a dramatic eye roll, dusted off her hands, and made spinning pirouette before holding her arms out to her sides.

The crowd roared, filling the arena with thunderous applause and shrill whistles. Reggie bowed once then turned and ran toward the chutes so the next ride could begin. She had to sit this round out, which didn't bother her a bit. Her heart raced and the blood pumped heavily through her veins.

The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, our newest bullfighter, Reggie Pitch! A welcome addition to tonight's entertainment. Next up…"

I did it! And they loved it!

Reggie cleared the gates and the chute three opened with a red and orange dragon hopping and roiling in circles with the rider clinging to his rope.

Reggie accepted her chilled bottle of water when someone pressed it into her hand. Twisting the lid off, she downed most of the container then paused to thank whoever had given it her. Her gaze met Dwight's and her eyes went wide. Did he approve of her performance?

Did he like the show I put on?

The slow curving half-smile his lips twisted into showed his appreciation, even under the silver and black clown face painted to resemble a snarling wolf. She'd passed his final test. She had a spot in the big show.

Recapping the bottle, she gave him a quick nod. "Thank you." She waited a beat. "For everything."

His chin lifted and a touch of something primal slid into his gaze. A shivery jolt of awareness trickled down her spine. She barely registered the announcer calling out the score for the completed ride.

Dwight pushed away from the stall behind him. "You're up again in two. Chute six." His head jerked toward the last stall on the end.

She lifted her hand and started down the aisle to get ready for the rider's launch. Dwight climbed up on the back of chute four and took his post on the pole next to the gate. He crouched into readiness, his thighs flexing under the shredded trousers of his costume.

Reggie took one moment to admire his physique before shaking her head clear. "Get your game face on, Reg. You can admire his ass when this is all over." Dwight would have her head in a vice if she screwed things up now.

Both of their reputations were on the line and Reggie didn't want to tarnish either one.

But she'd definitely drink to her success—and Dwight's—after the event.

This story is so much fun! I'm still getting the details nailed down but I'm excited about where this one is going.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nowhere Good

Got a solid week of TV viewing in because the weather has been so back and forth it's easier to not plan anything. LOL

Caught another episode of Chicago Fire and, wow, it was terrific. The whole creepy buildup to the reveal played out really well. I have some thoughts on Brett and Casey but won't hold my breath to see what I want there. Loved seeing some good interaction with Kelly and Stella.

Watched the premiere episode of Daredevil's third season. Not a bad start at all. Enjoyed Karen and Foggy the most and liked seeing Matt try to come back. I'm not completely down with him being all pissy about everything but then again why wouldn't he be?

Enjoyed Frankie Drake Mysteries third episode. I kind of miss Frankie having different guys revolve in and out of her life, but she's got chemistry with the detective… even though I'd kind of like Mary to hook up with him.

Riverdale does batshit crazy better than just about any other show out there. As much as I like Mark Consuelos as an actor, I truly loathe Hiram and seriously see nothing redeeming in his characterization. That's usually when I start to lose interest. Here's hoping that doesn't happen with this show.

Watched several more episodes of Blue Heelers. I can't quite decide if I like the detective or not. And Wayne's wife Roz annoys me sometimes. That said, I love the show. Glad I picked it to watch.

Arrow managed to surprise me with the Brothers and Sisters episode. I'm very intrigued with Adrian Paul playing a bad guy. I can't wait to find out what his connection is to Emiko… I have several thoughts about how it might tie into how Oliver spent some of his time in earlier seasons and who he spent that time with. We'll see if I'm right.

Caught the finale of The Murders and it did not disappoint. I so hope this show gets another season and, if so, it needs to have Nolan. Just saying.

Watched another episode of Classic Roswell and enjoyed it again. I like how viewers can almost see the moment Valenti shifts his perspective on possible alien residency in Roswell.

Speaking of Roswell... New Mexico added the actress who plays Rosa as a series regular for season two. I admit this concerns me. Not because I didn't enjoy the actress; more because this is already a huge cast and I'd rather not have my favorites lose screen time. Maria was woefully underused and my hope is Rosa will help bring her into the fold. If not, I might be saying "so long" to Roswell, New Mexico… which actually saddens me because the first season is still eating my brain.

Caught another episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I didn't remember. I liked seeing how Jane's situation ties into the whole neuro craziness while at the same time is a completely different beast altogether.

Durham County is so damn hard to watch sometimes. I mean that in the best possible way. It's such a raw emotional look at the big and little things that make people who they are. Ray senior has got to be one of the worst examples of humanity and I want to know how the hell he got to be such a waste of life. Hopefully there's an answer in the series somewhere.

Watched another episode of Midsomer Murders and it was really terrific. Sometimes, especially with a show that's been on so long, episodes feel like they're a rehashing of previous seasons. This one was definitely not.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and Classic Who. There's something fun about watching black and white television. Maybe it's the nostalgia factor?

In the Dark ripped a huge band-aid off Murphy's life and, boy, did she react. Sometimes I get frustrated with her prickly demeanor but her flaws really are front and center and Jess always has the best way of presenting why it's easy to overlook some of Murphy's abrasive personality traits.

Last but not least, I watched another episode of Blade and I'd remembered it from the first go around. I can't say seeing Marcus's origin story really made me sympathetic to him but I can see how Krista got sucked into the scenario of maybe seeing some shades of gray there.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nowhere Good, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After wiping out a rival fae faction, Adrian Stock plants a hot kiss on Shaun Henrickton, a fellow enforcer, and their world tilts sideways. They've got custom and ritual, protocol, and baggage between them and if they cave to their baser feelings, the outcome can't go anywhere good.

And a preview snippet…

Adrian Stock hurled a huge pile of concrete blocks toward the line of fire demons outside the warehouse. "You'd better let the hostages go." Her aim true, five of the beasts went down and shimmered back to the depths.

Her fellow enforcer, Shaun Henrickton, swept another three up in a whirlwind, increasing the speed of the twirling tower until they blew apart. "Thirty seconds to set the sirens free or the rest of you have the same fate." He conjured another mass of spinning air and expanded his arms.

The lead demon hissed a response. "Do your best. We know what we're up against now." He lifted an arm and the remaining two hellspawns rolled into action, shooting flaming arcs from their fingertips.

Adrian anticipated the counterstrike and moved a vat of water in front of Shaun who flung the whirlwind against it and doused the flames. The demons sizzled and popped before blipping out of sight.

Adrian strode toward the leader and lashed out with a whipcord noose, snagging the firebrand around the throat. "Let them go. Call back your inferno so they can get out." She tightened the bonds, cutting off the demons air supply.

He struggled and sent a line of fire in her direction. Her jacket singed but she darted to one side, twisting the rope more. Jerking hard, she got behind the red-skinned beast.

Pressing her advantage, she snarled in his ear. "Call it back and you can live to shimmer another day." She marched him forward, putting him within range to remove the wall of fire separating the fae creatures from safety.

The demon growled and choked out a command. The burning barrier shrank down until it finally extinguished. He thrashed and fought his confines again, demanding to be let go.

Adrian loosened the noose but didn't plan to let the hell beast get away. "Ranger Band, you're under caution by the ruling houses of the glade. You'll stand for judgment of your actions—" A bolt of heat shot up her arm, stopping her vocal warning.

Son of a bitch. She dropped, landing on her left side to dampen the flickering flames. Her right hand kept a tight hold on the whip, instinct and years of being an enforcer kicking in to keep her quarry.

Shaun raced forward, snagging the weapon from her and twisting hard. The demon's neck snapped and he sank to his knees before faceplanting on the gravel surface of the parking lot. The group of sirens came running out, huddled together. Adrian shook off her ruined coat and ran a palm over the burnt skin of her forearm.

Lucky. The damage could be much worse. If not for Shaun…

She startled when he grasped her hand, looking down to inspect the burned area. "Are you okay? Do you need a healer?" He gingerly turned her arm back and forth, trying to assess how badly she'd been hurt.

Luckily, not too much. And only because of him. They saved each other on a regular basis. Always had each other's backs. But only Shaun knew how much she fear fire and hated dealing with creature who could wield it.

She should be seeing to the sirens, making sure they were unharmed and helping them get back to safety.

But, right now, Shaun held all of her attention. He'd killed the demon, usually a last resort once the warning and reading of charges began. And he'd done it to save her.

Adrian gently pulled her arm away and reached up to cup his face. "I'm fine. I'll get Matilda to take a look later." She shivered a little, the chilly air seeping through her lightweight shirt.

Shaun held her gaze and her heart kicked hard when his revealed the worry, concern, and an unguarded depth of something else. The thing they never talked about for more reasons than either could keep track of. The indefinable feeling they regularly ignored so they could keep working together.

Adrian let the unnamed emotion swell and take hold then threw caution out the door and slid one hand to the back of Shaun's head. "Thank you. I owe you my life." She tugged him closer and pressed her mouth against his.

Big mistake.

What she planned as a brief kiss slid into a deeper embrace, with his tongue sweeping past her lower lip and tangling with hers. Everything except Shaun faded into nothingness; the fire demons, the sirens, the cold snap of the night air, her injury. All were forgotten against the backdrop of swirling awareness coursing through her veins.

One thought took up prominence in her mind.

Shaun Henrickton kissed like a god and rocked her world.

Trouble. I'm in very big trouble.

This is a fun story to write. I love it when characters take a random moment and let it open their eyes.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

Well, hello there, June. To be honest, considering it's only the second day of the month, June isn't starting off too badly. We're actually having a spring in Ohio and it's oddly unsettling. LOL

Not a bad week of television viewing. Finished up the second episode of Banshee and started on the third of the first season. I want to search around and see if the mini-episodes of the origin storyline are available. Definitely filled in some blanks.

Caught two additional episodes of Blue Heelers and started a third. I really do enjoy this show a lot.

I'm almost finished with Chicago Fire's seventh season. I'm up to episode eighteen. I loved the focus on luck and also the interaction with Severied and Foster. Great to see Donna again too.

Gotta say, I'm actually pretty satisfied with Iron Fist's season finale. Well, I guess it's more of a series finale and I freely admit that disappoints me. That said, I'm thrilled with the potential for what could have been the third season's story elements. Misty ended up in a good place even if she's not completely certain where her career is going to take her. Joy and Walker could have some terrific potential for figuring themselves out. Colleen, quite simply, kicks ass no matter what she does. But the best part is where Danny and Ward ended up… on the adventure of a lifetime to figure out what their roles are in the big picture of life. So… I would have been thrilled and happy as hell to have a third season but I'm very okay with how the show ended this iteration of itself.

Caught the camping trip episode of Classic Roswell. I remembered this one and Kyle's snark coming out if full force was so much fun. I also enjoyed the interaction with Jim and his dad. Considering the episode is all about fathers, it was a great piece of the puzzle.

Watched the second episode of Frankie Drake and enjoyed it. The show feels different this season and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'll see how the rest of the season goes.

Caught another episode of Riverdale and, man, it's so… poignant to see Luke Perry on screen. Being behind like I am, I've had time to deal with the loss of the actor but I haven't had the chance to deal with losing the character on the show… because it hasn't happened yet.

Arrow's episode ended up being excellent! Nice to finally have Black Star's name and to know her relationship with Oliver, Felicity, and William. Have to admit, my heart kind of broke when William decided to leave with his grandparents. And… I'm going to miss this show so much when it's over!

Watched the penultimate episode of The Murders and it definitely didn't disappoint. I'm excited to see if this show returns. I'm crossing my fingers because I really love the cast and the storylines.

Discovered I didn't watch the penultimate episode of Painkiller Jane. I'd forgotten this had a full season of twenty-two episodes. I'm ready to see what else happens now.

Caught the third episode of Durham County and, yeah, still dark. I truly love the character dynamics and watching Mike kind of fail at holding shit together is compelling. There's a very fine line he has to walk to stay sympathetic and so far the actor is pulling it off.

Midsomer Murders had a good episode featuring Jones in a way I haven't seen him before. I like it. Looking forward to another episode this week.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and Classic Who. I started the Gunfighters arc and it's not bad at all.

Watched two episodes of In the Dark and both were excellent. Good to see more of Darnell's story and I really like the detective and the bartender maybe getting together. As usual, I'm on the fence with Murphy… just when I get so damn pissed off at her, she had a moment of clarity or remorse and shows her softer side. I'm definitely intrigued and can't wait for another episode.

Caught another episode of Blade and remembered it from the first time around. Watching Krista deal with her mom kind of kicked hard and watching Chase completely screw over the pureblood did not surprise at all. Just saying.

And that's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a novella that got a start with a prompt of writing the anniversary of someone's death.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

"Nix? Time for a road trip." Abbot Isley poked his head into the makeshift lab.

Nixie Grimm glanced up and smiled. "Does that mean?" She bit back the question almost afraid to hope.

Abbot gave a nod. "We've got a lead." He jerked his head, indicating they should leave now.

Nixie put the texts she'd been working on back in the oiled leather case. "Hot damn. Finally." She'd much rather be on the trail of their latest pain in the ass than translating ancient documents… then entering them into a database.

Even the magickal world she lived in had to get digitalized.

It didn't mean she had to be the one to make it happen.

Grabbing her backpack, she exited the room and nearly bumped into Abbot. He held her go bag in one hand along with his.

She grinned. "Remind me to thank you later." He'd know how eager she'd be to get the hell out of the estate house and on the road.

Abbot fell into step beside her and pitched his voice low. "And by thank me you mean seriously hot sex later, right?" He waited until she pushed the door open then followed her out.

She gave him a wide smile and started toward the parking lot. "Probably. After all, you're saving me from a mind-numbing fate." A hand on her shoulder halted her progress.

Abbot shook his head. "We're not going by vehicle, Nix." His gaze flicked toward the catacombs.

Holy shit.

She altered her direction. "How hot is this lead and how far away?" Only the rarest occasion warranted teleporting.

Abbot shrugged. "Solid enough they want us to go right now and by normal means a two-day drive." He trotted down the steps into the tomblike chambers.

Nixie walked beside him while they made their way to the furthest location, a tie-in to the cave system under the estate, the space where the residents could teleport to other places.

Abbot quirked a brow. "Are you ready?"

Nixie nodded. "No, wait." She leaned in closer to him. "Definitely serious hot sex later." Straightening, she waited for Abbot to start the incantation to transport them to their designation.

He made a garbled choking sound then cleared his throat to start the spell.

Nixie bit back a laugh. She lived to mess with Abbot's concentration.

This story will have a few twisty turns but I love where the road leads the characters.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Numb

Where on earth did the month of May go? I realize I noted it was almost over last week, but, honestly, I feel like I blinked and the week flew by.

Another so-so week of television viewing. I had a lot on my calendar and needed to do some serious focusing while working. I did get some quality viewing in.

I started and finished the third episode of Blue Heelers. I like it. The cast is pretty stellar and the storylines are fun for me.

Caught Arrow's emerald archer episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm going to miss this show so much when it's over next season. I'm really hoping some of the cast stays available to do the crossover episodes in the Arrowverse.

Watched another episode of The Murders. This show… I'm very into it. It's not really a shipping kind of show but I'd be totally down with Nolan and Kate hooking up. It would add an interesting layer to their partnership.

Watched what I think is the penultimate episode of Painkiller Jane. One episode left then it's on to a new show on The Roku Channel.

Caught another episode of Durham County. Man, this show is dark. Which I like, don't get me wrong. I spend most of the episode wanting something terrible to happen to Ray Prager. The guy is just… creepy. I'm really hoping to find out why he hates his own kid so much.

Watched another episode of Midsomer Murders. The first episode of series fifteen ended up being terrific. James Callis played twins, one an arrogant jerk and one a rather affable guy… until the murderer is revealed. Great episode.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn. I'd seen both already but they were pretty good so I didn't mind watching again at all.

Watched two more episodes of Doctor Who and finished out The Ark storyline. Looking forward to starting a new group of shows.

Into the Dark's third episode was… pretty good. There are times when the awkward mess Murphy makes of her life is hard to watch but I think that's part of the reason I like the show so much. She's so prickly and obnoxious but she's also got a softer side that she has no idea what to do with.

Started episode two of my Banshee rewatch and I'll have more to discuss next week.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Numb, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of setting the mood, the characters aren't happy or sad, they just don't feel much anymore.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cyan Fitch and Theron Dibney have a great relationship—hot sex, rock solid friendship, and mutual respect. When a mostly lethal virus tears through their community, the couple works side by side to help as many as possible, but it takes a toll. They can't quite get comfortably numb while they face the devastating losses and neither is willing to bend for fear they'll break.

And a preview snippet…

Cyan entered the small cottage she shared with her mother. A wave of grief hit hard, but Cyan pushed it back. She didn't have time to mourn.

Theron shut the door behind him and reached forward, grasping her shoulders. "We can go to my place… if it's too hard here." His hands ghosted down her arms.

She turned and shook her head. "No, I'm okay. I really want you and me… here… together." Ciara's presence rarely graced the small house when she'd been alive—except for when the woman needed sleep—and Cyan didn't want to spend her first night alone.

The specter of her mom would haunt the lab chambers—the one true place the woman called home.

Theron wrapped his arms around Cyan. "Then here's where we'll stay." He held her close, using his palm in soothing circles along her back.

Cyan could stand like this all night, soaking in Theron's strength. Yet… she also needed the recharge only he could give her with his body and full night of sexual healing. Easing back, she gazed up into dark eyes. Exhaustion lurked in the inky depths but hunger and anticipation swirled also.

She cupped the back of his head and dragged his mouth to hers. "No clothes for at least the next twelve hours." Her lips clashed with his and her fingers shoved his jacket off his shoulders.

Theron smiled against her cheek. "I like the sound of that." He undid the belt of her shirt and slid the garment off her.

She let it land at her feet and worked the buttons of his shirt loose. Neither had dressed formally for her mother's burial. Who the hell had time anymore? A button down and a pair of khaki cargo pants fit the bill for Theron. Cyan wore black dungarees and a knit wrap shirt. Her only concession to formality? A pair of low-heeled boots in soft leather, which she toed off while Theron kicked his to the side.

He shrugged out of his shirt and untied the bow at her side before reaching out to gather her close for another lip-lock. Somehow, they made it to her room, free of clothing, and landed on her bed. A glance outside the doorway showed the trail of clothes leading from the middle of the living area to their current location.

Theron's mouth works spellbinding magic. She had no recollection of stripping off while he kept her busy with deep, drugging kisses.

Cyan turned toward Theron and palmed his erection. "Is it stupid to say I can't wait to go slow and take our time?" An oxymoron to be sure.

Theron's mouth closed over the tip of her breast. "Not at all. We've earned this and I'm going to relearn every single bit of you… one inch at a time." He switched sides and flicked his tongue over the other nipple.

Cyan shuddered, relishing the slow burn of desire thrumming in her veins.

I'm hoping to create something of a theme where the physical aspect and the ability to feel on that level is what keep Cyan and Theron going. The emotional shut down and the numbing of their senses also makes it possible for them to do the work they need to and I want to show the contrast between the two.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: On Ice

Wow… I can't believe May is almost over. The whole time speeding up thing has to be true. Or maybe I just try to pack too much stuff into life? Who knows.

Kind of a so-so week of television viewing. I had quite a few irons in the fire and needed some solid focus on a couple of projects. Still, not a bad slate of shows overall.

As usual, I caught two episodes of Peter Gunn. One I remember seeing before the other one I didn't. Also caught two episodes of Classic Who, starting The Ark storyline.

Watched the second episode of In the Dark and while it didn't charm me as much as the first episode did, I enjoyed it. Even though I love how flawed our heroine is, I can see her abrasiveness becoming a tired gimmick at some point. I'll definitely keep watching because I really want to know what happened to her friend.

Caught another episode of Blade and it's one I remembered featuring Chase's rehab after being burned almost to a crisp… literally. I'm about halfway through the season and if memory serves, things start getting really intense from here on out.

Started a rewatch of Banshee. Man… I'd forgotten how crazy the first episode ended up being. This show didn't flinch from violence in any way and it's one of the reasons I couldn't stop watching. Ugh… not because I love violence. More because the characters jumped right out and grabbed my attention. I also fell in love with Job's character at first sight.

Began a new Australian series called Blue Heelers and have almost two episodes watched. I found the show on the TubiTV app but I'm watching on the Freedive app so I can catch the series from the beginning.

Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and it ended up being pretty decent. I'm not sure about the whole Kelly and Stella vibe, but I like that they're still supportive of each other even if they're not together. Also liked Matt being something of a dick to Herrman. I know, I know… why would I like that? Because I want to see how he deals with his trauma of almost being shot.

Caught episode nine of Iron Fist and, holy crap, it didn't disappoint. Danny fighting without the fist and nailing Davos with the syringe blew me away. Colleen fighting the gang of goons kicked ass. Ward and Walker's interaction almost made me laugh out loud, but it also ended up being kind of touching in a bizarre way. The fact that Ward immediately knew Joy needed help speaks volumes, even if Joy doesn't want to hear about it. Watching her fall a full story down was… actually kind of mind-blowing. And, of course, Misty is always an added benefit to the show. The end… well, I'm excited to see where things go.

Watched the premiere episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries's second season. Great episode with lots of good stuff for the women to do. I like Frankie's interactions with her mom and I loved Trudy saving the day.

Picked back up with Riverdale's third season. I'm not all the way through the episode yet but I already want to smack Hiram. I'm really not sure about the whole G&G thing but part of loving this show is embracing the completely batshit crazy storylines. I'm happy to be back in the game so to speak.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from On Ice, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt of write a character that goes alpha on another because their bratty behavior has gone too far and they need a reminder of who is in charge." Kind of a specific prompt, right?

Here's the mini-blurb:

A battle is brewing between opposing magical factions and Paley Knoff and Birk Southampton are charged with readying their troops. Paley thinks Birk is taking the threat too seriously and when he ignores her in favor of adding more training, she pushes him a little too far, leaving him no choice but to put her on ice until she remembers who's in charge.

And a preview snippet…

"We're behind on curriculum. Is that because of the threat from Janus?" The elder mage, Newscome Atwater, called the academic staff meeting to order.

Birk drummed his fingers on his thigh. "The house of Janus doesn't train their people, sending acolytes out to wreak as much havoc as possible." His hand curled into a fist to stop the fidgeting. "If we don't prepare, we're going to lose good people." He couldn't be the only one that deduced the threat level.

Atwater nodded. "I tend to agree."

Paley jumped in. "I don't." She got up and started pacing behind her seat. "The house of Atwater already has the best alignment. Our scholars and acolytes are smart, savvy, and extremely talented." She paused and grasped the back of her seat. "We're holding them back with all the extra hours of training and repetitive bullshit." Her gaze aimed directly for Birk.

He absorbed the intended insult with no visible reaction. But her jibe stung. As she'd meant it to. Retaliation from earlier in the classroom.

Ignoring Paley, Birk addressed the other four mage instructors. "Are the recruits keeping up in the other areas?" Spells, conjuring, and alchemy required less physicality than deflection and projection.

Lydia Norj lifted one shoulder. "So far. And we're moving ahead, just not at our normal pace."

Paley smirked. "Ha! See… the longer training sessions are taking a toll elsewhere." She gave Birk a pointed look. "Told you."

Jim Bakerson held up a hand. "But it's not really. All of us are paying close attention to the individuals and making sure everyone is on the same page before moving on to the next topic."

Camron Michaels nodded. "Yeah, with the higher threat level lurking out there, we're being more cautious than we probably need to be, but I'd rather have it that way. We need scholars to teach and we can't do that if they're dead or injured."

Paley huffed out a loud sigh and directed her attention to the last instructor. "Mabel? Care to share your thoughts?" She pulled her chair out and plopped down hard in the seat.

Mabel Chambers didn't hesitate. "I'm inclined to agree with Paley. We're coddling the scholars and holding them back. They want to spread their magickal wings and see what they can do by gaining experience."

Paley started a happy chair dance in the seat. "Finally. Someone who knows what the Atwater acolytes should be doing."

Newscome held up a hand. "Enough, Miss Knoff. While you raise a good point, I'm still the elder mage here and I gave Southampton the master sage cords for a reason." He pinned Paley with his gaze. "You're the second ranked adept and your opinion holds weight. That said, we'll continue with the extra training sessions and revisit this topic next week." He glanced at the assembled group. "Is that clear for everyone?"

A chorus of nods met his query, with the exception of Paley. She rolled her eyes and got up, strolling out of the room without so much as a farewell.

Birk's lips thinned but he dismissed the others. "Thanks for the input today. Keep going with your classes and let me know if anything comes up." He stood, indicating everyone could leave.

Once they cleared the room, Birk sat back down, letting the anger in. Paley's attitude chafed, especially since they worked so closely together. And it halfway pissed Birk off that she wouldn't let it go.

Atwater rose from his seat at the head of the table. "The voice of dissent often rings the loudest. Sometimes there's a reason or hidden meaning in the conflicting opinion." He started toward the door. "Listen with all of your senses, Birk. You might hear more than you think."

Birk snorted but gave the elder mage a nod. "Yes, Elder Atwater." He got up and made his way out of the room behind Newscome.

He'd listen with his senses all right… to the resounding sound of Paley being a huge pain in the ass.

I love how much Birk absorbs in this scene. Each small dig chips away at his calm.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. It's rainy and chilly in Ohio and a nice day to stay in and be pampered. A few quiet hours alone is on my agenda today.

Had a solid television watching week. Since I watched so many penultimate episodes last week, this week ended up putting me in the finale zone. I started with the final episode of Underbelly: Razor. I'll admit I ended up being pretty satisfied with how things turned out. Kate and Tillie ended up living to ripe old ages for the times and Nellie, oddly enough, had an ending that rather suited her. Big Jim definitely got his due as did Phil the Jew.

Caught two more episodes of Midsomer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed both. I do like John and his wife along with their dog Sykes. Also watched two more episodes of Peter Gunn.

Started a new show from the CW. In the Dark ended up being more than I expected and, honestly, I enjoyed it. The heroine is messy and prickly and I like her flaws. The supporting cast is excellent. I'll watch more and see how it goes. It's been renewed for another season so I hope I like the rest of this one.

Watched another episode of Blade and remembered most of this one. There were a few bits I missed the first time around so it's nice to have those blanks filled in.

Also caught two more episodes of Classic Who and finished out the time meddler episodes. If memory serves, this is really the first sighting of the Master. Kind of like his origin story.

Watched the finale of Strike Back and I'm happy to say everyone I lived that I wanted to see still standing at the end. With the exception of Wyatt's marriage, which I have a feeling didn't survive. I can't wait for the final season now.

Caught Chicago Fire and enjoyed the episode. I'm not sold on Grissom being an okay guy yet but here's hoping they go in that direction. I really don't want to see Severied used as a pawn on the chessboard so I'll be pissed if that happens.

Iron Fist had a decent episode. Danny and Colleen are walking a very fine line and I'm hopeful their relationship can withstand the coming nightmare of dealing with Davos. Joy and Ward had some personal growth and Mary's storyline meshed well with the others. Davos is Davos and I'm still struggling to find some kind of empathy with him. It's not working.

Caught a great episode of Arrow and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm not a big fan of Diggle and Lyla keeping big secrets but I'll hold back from judging too much. Really loved Oliver and Laurel's reckoning with past sins. I love Oliver the most when he's pushing to be better than his parents.

Watched the finale of Murdoch Mysteries and, whew, I'm so glad things worked out the way they did. Miss Hart should probably watch her step and I'm kind of hoping she ends up becoming a good character. Nice to see where everyone is at the end, mostly in great places with their personal relationships.

Caught another episode of The Murders and I'm really loving this show. I'm excited to find out who is messing with Kate and I liked seeing Nolan not dealing with his personal life. Also loved having Kate back him up.

Watched the finale to Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and, wow, I truly hoped the stupid superintendent would get what he deserved. Of course, he didn't and Peregrine might have lost her edge with him. We'll see what happens… if there's a second season. The chemistry between Steed and Peregrine is so delicious.

I'm nearing the end of my Painkiller Jane rewatch and I completely missed the episode I caught the first time around. Glad I got it in. I think there are two episodes left in this season, but I can't remember for certain.

Started another new show for me, Durham County. It's dark and twisty and I think I'm going to like it a lot. The first episode had a good mix of creepy happenings along with some good exposition. Looking forward to more.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a holiday solstice sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a 'thing'.

And a preview snippet…

Masha's eyes widened. She didn't expect anything from him and didn't quite know how to react. The idea he'd thought enough to pick something up gave her… not a bad feeling… more like an unsettled one. Had this thing with Ryce become a thing?

Ryce nudged her shoulder. "The box won't bite, Masha. Go ahead. Take a look inside." He snagged the book, sliding it onto his lap.

Masha eyed it a moment longer before picking it up and popping it open to reveal an alchemized crystal. She let out a little gasp. Reaching with a gentle touch, she removed the crystal from the bed of green satin and turned it over.

She let out a surprised chuckle. "It's a brooch." How incredibly awesome!

She glanced up to catch a look of wonder on Ryce's face. Okay, the kicking boost to her confidence shouldn't matter so much. But she loved how much he seemed to love the gift.

His gaze flashed with something indefinable. "Where did you find this?" His fingers turned another page and the tips slid down the list of ingredients, carefully offset from the hand-drawn image beside it.

She grinned. "You'll never guess. At the dispo center, they have that room where they put all the donated items." Her fingers traced the crystal then played with the clasp on the back. "I had time to kill and spent a morning digging through boxes. Found the book and thought you'd get a kick out of it." She met his gaze. "Because you're always going on about how much of the ancient arts we've lost." The results of the constant struggle and mad power grabs between the dueling houses.

Ryce closed the book. "I do. I love it." He moved some items on the table and placed the tome in the center on prominent display. "I've been looking for something like this for a long, long time." His fingers traced the title, raised up on the leather cover.

He shifted sideways and tucked one foot under his opposite knee. Masha continued to study the brooch. The crystal alchemized two metals, silver and copper. Holding it in her palm, the piece attuned to her, the flow of energy began to transfer. She closed her hand and put it back on its satin bed.

Ryce nodded toward the box. "Oddly enough, I thought it was fortunate to stumble across the brooch given your affinity for the crystal. Now I'm thinking it was fortuitous, because I found it at the same place. The dispo center donation room."

The coincidence couldn't be an accident. Nor the timing. Masha didn't want to delve too deeply, but she might have to.

She met and held his gaze. "Are we having a moment?" The idea made her queasy but she swallowed the fear and let a little hope take its place. "Gotta admit I'm not sure I'm ready for big moments yet." Hell, any kind of moment would be a new thing with them.

Ryce didn't argue. "Is anyone ever ready?" His eyebrows shot up in question.

Masha shrugged. "I don't know about anyone else. I can only speak for myself. And big emotional moments aren't really in my wheelhouse." Hard to let anyone in when the present jammed up against an uncertain future.

Ryce reached over and grasped her hand. "Okay, then, how about starting with small moments? Like this one." He squeezed her fingers. "Thank you for the gift. It means so much and, whether you want it to or not, shows how much you get me." His lips twisted in a lopsided grin.

Her heart swelled to bursting. But, hey, it didn't explode or anything so points for progress there.

Masha returned the smile. "Okay, that wasn't so hard." She scooted forward, closing the space between them. "So… what's next in this grand experiment of having a moment?"

I like the small beats between this couple. They're slowly revealing what they want to say on the page and I enjoy waiting to see what they share with me.

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