Sunday Snippet: Think Twice

Greetings!

It's been a truly long week, but Strike Back remains a bright spot. I'm utterly fascinated by Dalton and how much she's crossing the line (if there is a line LOL)

I've also been rewatching Farscape on Pivot. I love it when newish channels air one of my favorite shows. Farscape ranks in my top five of all time winners.

The characters in my post tonight remind me of John and Aeryn, or maybe it's more the dynamic they have in seasons three and four. Think Twice is very much about not playing games and committing to a relationship, even though everyone and everything pretty much stands in the way.

Here's the tagline:

When Judd Millian asks Pru Watson to work with him to take out the evil invading their city, she doesn't hesitate to say yes. But when he wants something more, she hesitates, unable to commit to an answer. The indecision drives a wedge between them, but Pru won't let Judd get sucked into the worst part of her past.

And the preview snippet…

Judd stopped pacing. "Think twice. I'm serious, Pru." He grasped her upper arms. "Think twice before you answer."

Pru glanced away, knowing a pithy comeback wouldn't suffice. Yet the weight of saying yes scared the hell out of her.

Judd squeezed flesh that wouldn't bruise. "Because this thing…whatever it is between us could be the greatest thing we've ever experienced—"

Pru finished the thought. "Or it could end all we know."

She did get it. More than she wanted to. Make or break, she had to move or lose.

Judd heaved a sigh. "Exactly…so be damned certain of your decision. No more second guessing."

Her most notable trait and biggest downfall. How many times had she jumped two steps forward only to stumble three back?

Pru shook her head. "I deserved that."

Judd growled. "It's not about what you deserve, Pru. It never was. How can you not get that by now?"

She lifted a shoulder. "Guess I'm a little too slow sometimes."

Judd lifted her chin. "You know that's not true. And it's not what I meant." He brushed the hair back from her face. "Our timing is always off…and we've had so many chances that missed the mark. This has to be right…for both of us." Dropping his hand, he stepped back. "And I'm going to leave now, before I end up talking you into something you might not want." He reached for the knob.

Pru took two seconds, more time than she truly needed, because she'd had the answer for so long, just didn't have the guts to act on it.

She moved quickly, her palm covering his. "Don't go, Judd." She grasped his hips and turned him away from the door. "I want you to stay." She lifted her gaze to meet his. "We're better together. Work. Play. Everything. You and me."

Judd's eyes slid closed and he hauled her close. "Well, it's about damned time you finally said it."

Pru laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. "I know. And guess what? It feels exactly right." She glanced up. "We feel exactly right."

Judd's head lowered, his mouth meeting hers, his agreement shining through the kiss.

This isn't quite the happy ending, but it's getting closer. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quiver Full of Arrows

August 18, 2013

Hi,

I'm going to bore everyone with all my Strike Back talk, but holy hell, the hits keep coming. Poor Scott can't catch a break. I do have one wild hair theory of what I want for him at the end of the show's run, but I'll keep mum so I don't jinx it. :D

While on the subject of hits that keep coming, in Quiver Full of Arrows, the hero and heroine take more than a few physical and emotional blows. They can't quite trust each other, at least not at first, but they definitely form a reliance that grows into solid belief and faith—something neither is used to having with another person. J

Here's the tagline:

Frey Witter, codename Crossfire, is sent to bring in mercenary for hire, Solaris Polanski, aka, Moon Shadow for a covert mission. He's got one little problem. Solaris answers to no one—and she used to work for the other side.

And a preview snippet…

Three soft whirring sounds rapidly flew past her head followed by the snick and thwap of the arrows hitting their marks. Her three targets dropped like stones, keeling over sideways with heavy thuds. A white hot rage rolled through Solaris at the loss. She let out a frustrated yell.

A man emerged from the shadowy recesses by the railway turnstile. He made a slow circle around her and stopped directly in her line of vision. Even with her left eye swelling almost closed she admired the firm cut of his jaw and the way he carried himself and kept his weapon at the ready.

He lowered his crossbow. "Solaris Polanski?"

She lifted her chin. "Haven't heard that name in a long time." Most of her recent underworld acquaintances called her Moon Shadow. "Who the hell are you?"

He laid his weapon aside. "Frey Witter, codename Crossfire."

Codename. Not what she wanted to hear. An assassin sent to take her out, or bring her in?

She played her hand carefully. "Well, Crossfire, thank you ever so much for completely fucking up my operation." She snarled. "Did you have to kill them?"

He quirked a brow. "There's a problem with that?"

Solaris growled. "Yes, there's a problem, you moron. You just screwed a month long game of cat and mouse to find their cache of smuggled diamonds. I let those stupid apes grab and bring me here." She fought down an urge to punch something—or someone. "They'd just about given me everything I needed—except the location of the stash." She jerked her head toward the bodies. "You killed them before they could give it up."

Frey lowered his weapon and stalked over to grab one of the men and drag him under the light. "You wanna know where the location is, look at big picture, Moon Shadow. What's he wearing? What's it covered with? What type of boots does he have on?"

Solaris narrowed her good eye. He shouldn't know her alias. Only the dregs of humanity and people who could pay her price had it.

She tilted her head to the side. "Where are you going with all this?" She had to buy some time, keep him talking before she made a move.

He sighed. "Think about it. While you were getting the shit kicked out of you—brilliantly, I might add—you missed crucial details." He lifted the leg of the dead man. "He's got caked sand in the soles of his boots, they all do. That means they've been out to the shore recently." He dropped the guy's foot. "That string of caves along the coast would make a damned convenient place to drop off and pick up smuggled diamonds."

She snorted. "They wouldn't be so obvious?"

Frey lifted a brow. "Really? You're not dealing with highly intelligent people here. Like you said—a bunch of trained apes. They have to be obvious, or get lost trying to pull their heads out of their asses."

Solaris studied him for a moment. "Hmm. Looks like I'm dealing with intelligence now." She stopped speaking and snapped her mouth shut.

Frey bit back a grin, no doubt realizing he'd thrown her off balance. Again. Thankfully, he said nothing. He gathered up his arrows, leaving the tips inside the victims. Solaris watched him, silently. He wanted to his message to be loud and clear.

Shoving the quills back in his quiver, he strode over to her side. "Are you gonna pretend to stay all tied up or what?"

Solaris's mouth didn't drop open, but she had to fight to keep it shut. The guy knew too much about her. She needed to find out a little about him.

Letting the ropes binding her hands fall to the floor, she asked. "Why did you kill them? You could have made a buttload if you'd ransomed them." She rubbed her wrists, trying to get the feeling back in her fingers.

Frey's lips twisted. "I don't need them and they'd get in the way." He dropped to his knees, loosening the bindings at her feet.

Get in the way of what?

She slowly rose from the chair. "So why are you here?" She crossed over to the small backpack she'd had with her when the goons grabbed her from the street.

Rifling through, she found an ice pack, activated it, and gingerly placed it over her swollen eye.

He spoke softly. "I came for you."

She whirled around. "Me? What the hell for?"

He reached back and retrieved an arrow, notching it in his crossbow. Solaris scrambled quickly, trying to think who might want her dead. The list would take days to get through.

She took a direct approach. "Who are you? And why, exactly, are you here?"

Frey casually aimed the weapon at her heart. "I'm here to bring you in. The Agency has need of your services." His grip didn't waver on the trigger. "If you refuse, I've got orders to take you out." Glancing up, he held her gaze several moments. "What call should I make?"

Ohhh…I've had so much fun writing this one. It's still early stages, but the urge to get more on the page is strong. Stay tuned. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Place of Honor

Hello!

Strike Back is BACK on my television!! And within two minutes of tuning in I wanted to throw stuff at the screen. That's a great show, folks!!

Tonight's post isn't really tied into the show with the exception that like Dalton, Wiley will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal, even if it means everything goes totally sideways. It makes writing Place of Honor so much fun. J

Here's the tagline:

A band of bounty hunters go after urban legends, bagging, tagging, and removing the threat from cities, towns, villages, and sprawling rural landscapes. Wiley Star has a score to settle and Hex Harrigan can't deny her quest for vengeance—but when Wiley lands on the wrong end of a double cross, it's up to Hex to track her whereabouts and save the day, which proves difficult because his personal feelings keep getting in the way.

And the preview snippet…

Wiley stopped inches from the door and cocked her head to the side, finally getting what had Hex in such a foul mood. He had grave concerns about her safety. Not just as a leader, but on a deeper, personal level. How did she miss when their flirtatious attraction turned to more?

Maybe because she spent too much time focusing on her need for vengeance.

And since the opportunity to even the score landed on her radar—so close she could almost touch it—the raging necessity scaled back to something less than all-consuming and she had the mental capacity to see beyond the thirst for blood and savagery.

She couldn't walk away from her chance to get back a little piece of herself, but she could leave Hex with more than a pissy attitude and dismissive wave.

Turning, she faced him. "Look, I won't be gone that long." Not if everything went to plan. "And I have to come back. No one else can have my place of honor as the biggest pain in your ass."

Hex's lips quirked. "I'll hold the spot open." He paused then added. "And look forward to having you back."

He rose and moved to stand in front of her. "Good hunting, Wiley. I really do hope you find what you're looking for."

His jaw clenched, but sincerity filled his gaze.

The sentiment cost him, but she appreciated the gesture. She grabbed his arms and hauled him forward. "Thank you." The hug lasted a little too long, but she didn't care. They could joke and pretend everything would be fine, but she might not make it back. Leaving on good terms mattered—because Hex mattered.

On impulse, she lifted her chin, brushing her lips along his jaw before meeting his mouth in a kiss. She kept it brief, but hoped the promise shone through.

If she laid this particular ghost to rest, they had a shot for something great. Easing away, she took a step back and his hand came up to cup her face. He didn't speak, his thumb trailing over her bottom lip before he nodded, quick and terse. He got the message.

Wiley grinned and made her way to the door, lighter and less tense than when she entered.

Hex might hate letting her go, but he wouldn't keep her. Giving her some freedom to move guaranteed she'd do damned near anything to make it back.

Because she wanted to find out if they could set the world on fire.

Wiley and Hex might just do exactly that, if the sages are kind and keep feeding me the words. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Pit and the Pyre

August 4, 2013

I gotta say we're having the most incredible weather right now. August in Ohio tends to be hot, sticky, humid, sweltering, and generally horrible. We're four days into the month and haven't hit above eighty degrees. It's honestly been the most pleasant summer I can remember, even with a buttload of rain. J

On a more random note, I'm actually rather 'meh' about the choice for the twelfth doctor. In all honesty, it's going to be hard for me to picture someone who had a prominent role on Torchwood—a sister show of Who—as anyone BUT that character. And the guy had a featured guest role in the Pompeii episode, so again, it effs up my continuity. And yeah, yeah, Eve Miles had a featured guest role on Who and went on to play Gwen, so what the hell am I bitching about, right? I guess it's because she didn't end up playing a third role in both shows.

Enough about television. LOL

Tonight's post is from The Pit and the Pyre and will probably end up being a novella. This story has one of my kinky tropes, a forbidden love with a small twist. The main characters have a history and that's always fun for me to write. J

Here's the tagline:

Virgo Sohn walks through five years of hellfire to get back to Gunn Gladstone, but she finds him married to Glynne Allmore. Accepting the hand dealt, Virgo refuses to explain the circumstances of her return until Glynne succumbs to a raging virus and Gunn feels he should join her on the pyre.

And the preview snippet…

Virgo waited until the cavern emptied and walked down to Gunn's location. "Nice service. She deserved that."

Gunn didn't look up and remained seated at the side of the pyre. "She deserved more than I ever gave her." His hand toyed with the long match that would send Glynne onward to the afterlife.

Virgo pulled a chair from the first row and dragged it forward, setting it a few feet from Gunn's. "That's not fair, Gunn. You did your best." And he had, staying with Glynne throughout the brief illness, not to mention sticking by her when Virgo returned.

Gunn reached out and placed the kindling thatch at the base of the pyre. "Somehow my best is never quite good enough." He heaved a sigh and a broken sound escaped.

Virgo understood his despair, but the pity-fest irritated her. Gunn had still had a leadership role to play and if he wallowed in misery, no one would follow him.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "You should really climb out of the pit, Gunn. You don't belong there." He actually belonged by her side, but the idea wouldn't rest well with him.

Gunn shrugged. "I don't know, Virgo. Sometimes I think I deserve to be burned on a pyre." His head rose and he met her gaze. "I loved Glynne, but I loved you more. She knew it. And I knew it."

Virgo's heart broke for him and she grasped his hand. "And yet she still married you. Because she thought you might have a chance. That's both brave and stupid." And strong, because Virgo wouldn't have been able to ever accept second place in Gunn's heart.

Gunn snorted. "I was the stupid one. Thinking I could build a life on a lie." He gently pulled his hand away. "You can't build a life that way. No one can and make it good."

Virgo let him keep the distance he wanted. She understood his need for a little space.

But she couldn't let him think he'd completely failed. "Maybe not, but you tried. And you were happy—for a while anyway."

His gaze met hers again and he nodded. Bending forward, he struck the long match against the stone hearth under the pyre and held the flame to the kindling thatch. Once the fire caught hold, he eased back in the chair and worried the wooden remnant between his fingers. Lost in thought, he stayed silent, and Virgo gave him a few moments to say his last goodbyes. When he exhaled a long, drawn out breath, she finally broke the quiet.

"You might think you should burn on the pyre with her, but it won't take away the wrong." She moved to the edge of the seat, leaning in closer to Gunn. "Only time can take it away, and learning to own the pain and damage you've done."

Gunn's head whipped around. "I already own it, Virgo. Even moment of anguish I caused her, every agonizing second she spent wondering, and waiting for me to leave"—his hand shot out, gripping her arm in a tight grasp—"because you came back. Like a tidal wave of destruction." His fingers bit into her flesh. "Why? Why are you here?"

She yanked free and put some space between them. He'd just asked the blazing question everyone wanted answered. And she couldn't provide him with one.

Not yet.

He had to be ready to listen and hear the truth. And he couldn't possibly do either while his spouse lay burning to ash, taking her final journey. Virgo rubbed the area his fingers had dug into and welcomed the discomfort. The pain and damage she caused went so much deeper than anything he'd ever been responsible for, but the tingling twinge under her skin reminded her she'd grown past the harm of her youth.

She slowly met his gaze to find him waiting, his brow raised. Ah yes, he'd asked her a question.

Giving him a gentle smile, she answered with one of her own. "Gunn, don't you think the better place to start would be how am I here?"

Did I mention I have a slight kink for mysterious returns? LOL So much fun to write. :D

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: On Ice

July 28, 2013

Greetings!

It's been a great writing week…for organizational stuff. LOL I've spent almost every day working on taglines, plotting story ideas, adding to characterization charts, and fixing small details in several thisclosetobeing finished manuscripts.

I feel so productive!!

Tonight's post (a little later than usual) is from the short story On Ice. I've got this one pretty much plotted out and partially written, but this is one of my favorite scenes. J

Here's the tagline:

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 classes, 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…

Paley paced back and forth. If Birk didn't let her out of the stupid cell within the next twenty-four hours she'd go mad. Mid-turn she finally heard the jangle of keys and a low incantation. Thank fuck.

Whirling around, she found Birk with his hand on the door, but he didn't move to open it. She tilted her head sideways. Surely he didn't plan to tease her and not let her out.

Birk quirked a brow. "Thought it time to check on you and see if you're truly back on track."

More like pissed beyond all belief, but she'd let him have his moment.

He smirked. "Feels good, doesn't it? That rush of anger burning through your veins."

Well, shit. She'd been had. Birk figured it out, why she'd been such a bitch and kept pushing at him non-stop. She smiled sheepishly.

His head bobbed up and down. "Wondered when it would hit you. I assumed it would take a week, but you proved me wrong." He swung the door open and stepped inside the cell. "Henner said another day would send you over the edge."

Paley shot her warden a sideways glance. The man shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. Maybe he'd secretly had her back the whole time?

Birk quirked a brow. "So…Paley…wanna get out?"

She heaved a sigh of relief. "I thought you'd never ask. Hell, yes, I want out of here." She started forward, but Birk's hand shot out, grabbing her arm.

Moving around, he blocked her path. "Good, but let's get a few things straight. Who's the Master Sage?"

Grr. Figured Birk would be an ass about letting her out. "You're the Master Sage, Evan." She'd play the good soldier and follow along.

Birk's lips twitched. "Good, and who's the higher ranked adept?"

Paley rolled her eyes. "That would be you, Birk."

He smiled. "Good, good. And what does that mean, Paley?"

She huffed out a breath. No way could she get around it. The man had her over a fire. But she had to try. "Come on, Birk. We each know the answer."

He frowned. "No, Paley, I don't think we do. You're gonna have to convince me otherwise."

Dammit. She'd said everything else he wanted. Why wouldn't he cut her slack here?

She couldn't quite admit what he wanted to hear. "Shit, Birk. Come on." She tried moving past him.

He didn't budge.

She didn't either.

Birk held her gaze for several moments then turned to leave, nodding at Henner. The big man's shoulders slumped, but he rose, ready to lock her back in.

Paley growled. "Fine. You're in charge, Birk. Happy now?"

A broad smile crossed Birk's face and he jerked his head toward the stairs leading up to the bar, dismissing Henner.

Tugging her forward, Birk rested his hands on her hips. "Not quite yet." Leaning in, he pressed his lips close to her ear. "Who's the best man for you, Paley?"

A shudder chased down her spine and she didn't hesitate to answer. "Birk Southampton." She nudged his face and leaned back. "Never any doubt about that one."

Birk caught her lips in a hard kiss. "It's a good thing, because you and I are gonna be here a little while longer." His hands slid down to cup her ass. "Wanna do the honors, or shall I?"

Paley chuckled. "Please, allow me."

She flicked her wrist and the door clanged shut, a dark shadowveil enveloping the cell. Lifting her chin, she meshed her mouth with his and moved them toward the cot in the corner. By the time she came up for air, the small berth had transformed into a full sized bed and she laughed, falling backwards, dragging Birk down with her.

Scooting back, she made some room. "Have I said how much I love you, lately?"

Birk yanked his shirt over his head and crawled toward her. "No, but you've sort of been on ice, so we'll let it slide for now."

Paley barked out a laugh and decided her time in lock up well worth the headache.

Seriously, it's not quite fleshed out completely, but oh…such a joy to write!!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Muddy Up the Waters

Hello!

Whew. Whirlwind weekend in Columbus, Ohio. My husband's region won their company's highest honor and we got a lovely dinner with fun entertainment and a night in a downtown hotel. Caught up with some old friends and finally, finally got to see my brother's house just south of the Brewery District. He's only lived there ten years and it's my first visit. LOL

Tonight's post features a brief scene from Muddy Up the Waters. Fiona and Warrick play a wicked game of one-upmanship and tend to be on opposite sides when completing their fae related duties. They love each other, but sadly never seem to get their timing right.

Tagline:

Fiona and Warrick can't quite get their timing together long enough to be on the same page when it comes to making a commitment. Instead they spend expend their energy on playing a game of who can hurt who the most…until one decides enough is enough.

And the preview snippet…

Warrick sneered. "That's right. Walk away, Fiona. Run and hide instead of facing your truth."

Fiona paused mid-step. "And what truth is that, Warrick?" She slowly turned and faced him.

He smirked. "The one where I'm what you want even if you're too godsdamned stubborn—no terrified—to admit it."

Fiona exhaled on a hiss. He scored big time with that one.

She tilted her head to the side. "Is that what you want, Warrick? For me to own how I feel?" She straightened. "What about you, hmm? I don't hear you making any loud declarations."

He opened his mouth, but snapped it shut again.

She quirked a brow. "What? Nothing to say?" She angled back toward the door. "I thought so. End of conversation." She took a step to leave.

Warrick grabbed her arm and swung her around. "No. Not end of." His grip tightened. "You want a loud declaration. Try this one. I'm tired. Of the bullshit. The back and forth. The you hurt me so I hurt you insanity we put each other through." He made a low growling sound. "Hell, what we put other people through." He paused, disgust creeping into his eyes. "Do you even remember the name of the last guy you screwed?"

She couldn't. Mick. Mike. Mark. Something with an 'M'. She wouldn't respond anyway. Warrick on a roll? He'd bulldoze through whatever she offered as a reply. And hit the reason on the head. The damned man always did.

"Fi, do you know the guy's name?" He loosened his hold, sliding his hand down her arm to grasp her wrist.

She barely suppressed a shudder. When Warrick spoke in low tones—smooth, seductive, sexy—his voice made her hot. She fought the urge to rip his shirt open and press her ear against his chest just to listen to the sound.

His fingers lifted her chin. "No answer?"

She shrugged. "Does it matter? I screw who I want."

He snorted. "No, you don't. Because it's not me."

Her eyes widened. "Really? What about you? That hot blonde you had wrapped around you the other night didn't measure up then?"

He shrugged. "Nope. She truly didn't. I wanted a fiery red-head whose prickly-thorned barbs make my dick hard." He cupped her face. "My perfectly imperfect woman."

Okay. Damn the declarations. Admissions were absolutely awesome.

Don't worry, the epic moment isn't the end of the story. It's a brief interlude when Fi and Warrick get it almost right. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Mister Mysterious

Hi!

Finally got a hot and steamy day after about a zillion days of rain. I finally remembered what it feels like to get that humid blast of heat when I go outside. LOL Can't say I missed that overly much. J

Tonight's post is from the novella Mister Mysterious. I'm actually not sure what genre this will fall under, but I'm working with the tentatively named Urban Noir. There's a little bit of mystery and magic at play and the main characters have a history that will haunt them a little in the story.

Here's the tagline:

Marlow Spence loses her sister to a sinister spellbinder who believes the siblings have the power to control dreams. When Tharn Oliver shows up on her doorstep, there can be only one reason—Leo Tolstoy is back and he wants Marlow.

And a preview snippet…

Thunder crashed and lightning flared when Marlow got up to answer the knock, not sure what to expect. The weird daily deliveries had her on edge. No card or note, but each gift had some kind of meaning to her.

Hand on the knob, she took a deep breath, bracing for anything.

Except Tharn Oliver.

"Shit." She huffed out a sigh and her shoulders slumped.

Tharn nodded. "Hello, Marlow."

Geez, he looked good. And with two words had her heart thumping in her chest and lust boiling in her veins. Down, girl. You're not happy to see him.

"Why are you here?" He couldn't possibly know about the random items she'd received.

He propped a shoulder on the door jamb. "Got word Tolstoy is alive." He waited a beat. "Through channels, not officially."

Okay. She'd visit the cryptic statement later. Her gut churned with the implication of what her presents now represented.

"Fuck."

Tharn inclined his head. "Exactly." He straightened and took a step forward.

Marlow blocked his path. "Again, why are you here?" She wanted time to process the idea her sister's killer still lived. Tharn would not help.

He snorted. "You're not stupid. Let me in."

She shook her head. "Oh no. Uh uh. Been down that road and I'm not going back." She grabbed the door, ready to shut it in his face. "You wanna settle a score, find some other way. Do not suck me back in." Tolstoy could do that without Tharn's assistance.

Tharn's eyebrow rose. "And if he comes after you?"

She bit her tongue to keep from saying he already had. "Bang. I'm dead."

Tharn hissed out a harsh breath. "No. I won't let it happen."

Closing her eyes, Marlow resisted the urge to shout, choosing to speak quietly. "You weren't supposed to let it happen to my sister either. But guess what? It did." She blinked and met his gaze. "Because you and I…couldn't keep our hands off each other."

Leo is going to make life very interesting for Tharn and Marlow, and honestly? They kinda need the help. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye