Just One Taste: Dream Weaver

To further my believe I posted here, I’m going to give the first chapter, or beginning in the case of anthologies, to my works.

Dream Weaver was my first dip in the pool for m/m. The story just came to me after I wrote Soul Reaver. Evernight Publishing accepted it and I kept my fingers flying afteward. Enjoy!

Colin turned the music box in his hands, fingers smoothing over the intricately carved scrollwork. His eyes glanced at the owner of the knickknack store, who was keeping track of his movements. Frumpy and with more wrinkles than he could count, she’d snorted when he walked through the door.

He didn’t blame her much for the discerning eye. The last visit to Rosie’s Charmed Antiques, she’d suggested he buy the item. Magical and enchanting, she promised it would give him his wildest desires. He placed the music box back on the shelf. His life was difficult enough without believing in fairy tales.

He could find pleasure in the palm of his hand, but that didn’t provide the love and companionship his heart beat for. Colin left promiscuity behind in his younger days. The gratification was short-lived when his lover left and he awoke to a cold place beside him in the bed.

“Buy it. You won’t regret it.” The shopkeeper crooned behind the counter. “Your wildest desires.”

“Doubtful.” Still, his fingers lingered on the painted roses adorning the lid. Her words played in his mind and he shook his head.

His wildest desires would never come true. The person he wanted in his life was married and would never look at him twice. An excellent gym partner, but nothing beyond that.

“Try it.”

Colin almost jumped out of his skin, not realizing the shop owner had crept up beside him. The faint smell of incense and honeysuckle clung to her clothes.

“If it doesn’t bring you what you want, I’ll let you return it.” Through her ragged features, a pearly-white smile emerged.

Stepping out into the street, a package tucked under his arm with care, Colin left Rosie’s Charmed Antiques. The woman gave him explicit instructions on how to use the music box to soothe his soul. All she managed to do was to allow him to grasp at a false hope that the love he felt for another would be returned to him.

****

“One more rep, Colin, and we’ll call it a day.”

Nodding, Colin strained to lift the weights back up to his spotting partner Justin. One more came easy when Colin locked onto Justin’s eyes. A deep grey flush with eyelashes to accent them, Colin would do anything to get lost in them for hours.

Colin had met Justin Weaver by accident while looking over the classifieds the gym posted outside the locker rooms. Never quite comfortable with the avid weightlifters, Colin had struggled to find a good partner to workout with to get back into a youthful shape.

Justin was a vision come true. His petite frame, lean yet graceful, had rigid definition Colin only dreamed of possessing a year ago. Toe to toe, Justin got Colin down to a respectable fat body ratio and the friendship grew more than he’d ever hoped.

Finding a partner to share his life with would be easy with his redefined physique, if Colin could forget about his feelings for Justin.

The weights went back in the cradle and Justin helped Colin sit up. He’d spent a good bit of time hedging on buying the music box and their session had been cut short. Colin stepped in just enough to catch an intoxicating whiff of Justin. The musky scent, after a rigorous workout, made him wish he could make Justin forget about the ring of his finger.

Release Day: The Forest Maiden

I love twisting fairytales. My very first naughty fairytale was based on my favorite–Little Red Riding Hood. So for my next endeavor, I went with Snow White. Again, like The Wolves of Argonne, I went the fantasy route with The Forest Maiden. Fantasy setting will always be my first love. As I am huge on research, I looked for the origins of Snow White. The most prominent thing in any of the stories was the apple. That, you see, posed a problem. I found the apple an iconic symbol of the story. My editor, however, had a very valid point when she told me–in so many words–that the apple was overdone. Oh I pouted, I can’t deny it. I thought it was an important element along with the others things in the original story that almost took Snow White’s life. Needless to say, I changed it. I’m not going to say to what but I will say this–I researched the country of origin and what fruit was indigenous to the area. I do like my details.

Enough babbling….on with the meat!

BLURB: Eirlys Edurne wants nothing to do with the prim and proper world her title endows her. When her father attempts to force her to marry a vile Prince from a neighboring kingdom, she takes flight into the forest. Only the thrill of the hunt and the call of wildlife can tame her until a mysterious man invades her campsite.

The guest at her fire mistakes her as one of Earth Mother’s forest maidens. Eirlys uses her feminine wiles to seduce him only to find that her heart has other plans for her mighty warrior. When her father perishes, Eirlys is thrust back into the world she loathes by her stepmother. Will she break free of the woman’s clutches and once again reunite with the man who holds her heart?

Excerpt:

Alone, Eirlys dipped one foot into the pool, swirling the water around to test the temperature. Pleased, she slid down into the bath to her neck, sighing. The water rippled as her arms moved to grab the soap. The lather foamed when she dunked the lavender scented soap into the bath. She inhaled the wonderful aroma, shifting forward onto her knees.

Alone in her part of the castle past the age most of the royal ladies of the court would be married off, she learned the intimate strokes to set her body ablaze. She had no hope of finding a suitable husband, one that allowed her to be the free spirit her father had raised.

Slowly she rubbed the soap against her dark curls as her legs parted. Gentle strokes eased away the tension rippling through her muscles from feeling less than worthy to stand alongside men. She gasped as she brushed against her sensitive nub. The soap dropped from her grasp, and she explored every inch of her private flesh.

Her fantasies did not dwell on a handsome prince whisking her away and making mad passionate love to her under the stars. They bordered on the delightful scents of pine and freshly overturned earth of the forest. The blooming heather and strands of lime-green moss hanging from the branches far over her head blossomed. The mystery man in her vision was a mere shadow against the pale glow of the moon.

Her finger circled her labia, delving in deeper. Pleasure spread like a fiery blaze through her core. Another finger joined the first, and she explored the depths of her pussy. Her palm slapped on the side of the pool as her breath staggered. Again she teased her swollen flower, her legs trembling. She jerked as she came but continued to rub her clit on a wave of ecstasy. She snared her lip with her teeth to stifle the blissful scream edging toward the top of her throat. Her self-gratification was for her and her alone. She would not give any other man the satisfaction of knowing her nightly activities.

The soap traveled along the rest of her skin, washing away any evidence of her arousal. In her heart she believed men could sniff out a woman’s desire in the sack from miles away. She had no want of a man desiring her as a prize to bed.

Ever.

Want another teaser? Follow the link below!

Available for a limited time at Evernight Publishing for $2.99.

Also available for purchase at: Amazon | All Romance | Bookstrand

Now for a little fun in these hard economic times but nothing is completely free, right? If you’d like to win a copy of The Forest Maiden, just do the following in the comment section:

• Tell me your favorite fairytale
• Tell me why, as in, what element is your favorite. Example: I love Little Red Riding Hood because no matter how cunning the wolf thought he was, Red still found a way to defeat him etc.
• Please make sure I have way to contact you by leaving your email address in the comment section along with your answer or attached to your login. Otherwise, I won’t be able to send you a copy.

Good Luck!

A Beautiful Lie by Robin Badillo

Today I have the lovely Robin Badillo and her latest hotness. A Beautiful Lie. While I haven’t dove into this one, I have read Immortal Thirst. I’ll give my mini review of that after I give you a taste of her newest m/m novel.

Blurb:

Jesse Reagan has had more than his share of tragedy, and he may have been dealt another blow when, once again, cancer threatens the sister who raised him. Faced with the possibility of being left behind, Jesse vows to care for her young son, though he’s not convinced he can.

When Trip Cantrell returns to town, he’s blindsided the instant he’s reunited with his kid brother’s lifelong friend, Jesse. His inability to find happiness in the years he’s been gone, suddenly makes sense. Love’s been waiting at home all along.

Life begins to look promising, except for the fact that neither have come out of the closet publicly, and that’s not even their biggest problem. Someone has a secret so shocking they may never find a way past it.

Will they be accepted in their small Texas town, or will secrets, lies, and the threat of tragedy destroy everything?

Some small towns just aren’t meant to hold big secrets.

 

Semi-Adult Excerpt:

Trip could feel the tension radiating from the other man. Following his instincts, he gripped Jesse’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re not alone you know. If you ever want to talk or need help with anything, let me know.”

Jesse turned his head, shocking the hell out of Trip by leaning in to where Trip held his shoulder, slightly brushing his cheek against Trip’s fingers.

Trip tightened his grip, savoring the feel of Jesse’s skin touching his. Was he imagining it?

Jesse slowly lifted his chin as his green eyes, darkening by the second, settled on Trip.

Trip’s heart raced, and his hardening c**k pressed against the zipper of his jeans. Was this really happening?

He inched closer, inhaling deep, losing himself in the aroma of Jesse’s quite memorable cologne. He swallowed hard, his lips tingling at the thought of Jesse’s mouth on his.

Jesse’s chest rose and fell, his breathing grew louder by the second, infiltrating Trip’s mind until his own breaths caught up, matching Jesse’s pants breath for heated breath. Jesse’s eyelids lowered to half-mast, his desire obvious as f**k.

Trip reacted on instinct alone, no thinking, just doing. He pulled Jesse closer until their lips were centimeters apart. Jesse’s exhales warmed Trip’s skin.

The night went silent the instant Jesse’s soft lips grazed Trip’s.

Seconds felt like hours until Trip engulfed Jesse’s mouth all together. With hungry sweeps, Trip dove deeper, sucking, and tangling his tongue with Jesse’s. He cupped the back of Jesse’s neck, and held on as their mouths warred for dominance over the other.

Trip gasped when Jesse’s wandering hand discovered his erection through his jeans. “F**k.”

Hot air poured over Trip’s neck as Jesse’s kisses blanketed his throat.

“I’ve wanted to do that all night.” Trip splayed his fingers through Jesse’s silky, black hair, hoping against hope Jesse would move his mouth lower.

Jesse fumbled with the buttons on Trip’s shirt, and plucked the first few open. He worked his way across Trip’s chest, circling Trip’s erect nipples with his warm, wet tongue. “S**t, Jesse.” Trip struggled to catch his breath. Everything was so intense, moved so fast, Trip could hardly tell if it was real.

He leaned Jesse back, seizing the few stolen moments he hoped were actually happening. His kisses grew heavier, and his need increased. He’d take it as far as Jesse would let him. He had no choice. Please let this be real.

 

Buy Links:

Evernight  | Amazon  | All Romance eBooks  

 

Tyler’s Links:

 Blog | Facebook  | FB Author Page  | Twitter

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Sounds like another hit to me! As I said before, I’ve read Immortal Thirst. I have to say I really, REALLY loved the interaction between Tristan, Gauge, and Caleb. You saw a different dynamic with each character. I love that aspect of it. Nothing worse than reading something where the characters are cookie cutter types. Give me depth and the old tug and pull on each of their action. The sex is amazing… and I felt like a pervy voyeur reading it. The plus side of it was the twist she had between the baddies in the book and the good guys. I’m not saying anything beyond that because I don’t want to spoil it. Let me just say…vampires and hybrid creatures…rawr.