Flash Fiction Friday: Just the Two of Us

Flash Fiction Friday

Thanks for stopping in this Friday for another dose of Flash Fiction. 

This week's picture is a photo by Dan Skinner and is used with his permission. 

Just the Two of Us

"Donovan, we need to talk." Sage leaned against Mickey.

"I'm listening." Cool air brushed his cheek, ruffled his hair.

"I'm ready." He grinned broadly.

"I knew you'd get here. He'll be good for you." The wind picked up, whipped his hair about. "I love you."

"So, this is good–bye?"  

"One last thing. Tell him if he's not prince fucking charming the rest of your life, I'll come back and haunt him."

"I'm sitting right here. I can hear you two." Mickey completed the heart Sage drew with a sweep.

"I want you to." The wind faded leaving them alone.

Like my flash? 

Check out these others:

Bonni Sansom: http://bonnisansom.blogspot.com/

SJ Maylee: http://SJMaylee.com

Lee Brazil: http://leebrazilauthor.blogspot.com/

Yvonne Nicolas: http://yvonnenicolas.wordpress.com/

Cyril J. Michael: http://authorcyriljmichaels.blogspot.ca/

Venus Cahill: http://www.venusbookluvr.blogspot.ca/

Gemma Parkes: http://gemmaparkes.blogspot.com/

Havan Fellows: http://havanshawthaven.blogspot.com/

SLira aka Michael Mandrake: http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com

Jp Archer: http://jp-archer.blogspot.com/

Kendel Davi: http://kendeldavi.wordpress.com/

Naomi Shaw: http://midnightfantasieswithnaomishaw.blogspot.com 

Do you enjoy m/m romance? 

Try one of my Best Selling full length novellas from Breathless Press at All Romance e-books.  

BLURB

Mischa knew his brothers were up to something. He didn't know it would lead him to Donovan Holloway and change his carefree lifestyle forever.

Donovan Holloway, advertising executive, newly made vice president of the company where he's worked for twenty years, grew up in a free love hippie commune, taking care of the parents who should have been taking care of him. He's worked hard to put himself through school and achieve the American dream. All he's ever wanted was a normal family life—house in the suburbs, two cars, two kids, a shaggy dog. A family to come home to—to care for, and to care for him.

Mischa Blake is the green eyed, liberally-pierced, black-haired, Mohawk-wearing spoiled youngest son of a Hollywood producer and his actress wife. Mischa has made a terrible mistake. In a fit of childish pique, he's accepted a dare from his older brothers. The dare? Live on his own, supporting himself completely for a year without accessing his trust fund. No problem. Except Mischa has never worked a day in his life, hasn't finished college, and has absolutely no skills that he can bring to the table.

So when he sees Donovan's ad for a housekeeper/gardener, he has nothing to lose by applying, because really...how hard can it be?

See More at http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-keepinghouse-546365-145.html

New Excerpt: Trapping Drake

Now Available from 

Breathless Press, All Romance E-books, and Amazon

Drake Fallon's impulsive decision to stop and help a stranger change a tire leads to intriguing possibilities. 

What he doesn’t know is that there are two J. Cahils.

After miserable years looking for love in other places, Jesse and Jay Cahil have accepted that for them, illicit passion is the only one. They've built a life, a home together.

A chance encounter on a rainy night brings something Jesse never expected- an attraction for another man. Still, he's committed to the love he has for his twin, Jay, and he pushes Drake Fallon away.

Drake is intrigued by the vulnerable man he met in the downpour. Though Jesse claims to be involved, Drake is certain the relationship can't be fulfilling or Jesse wouldn't have returned his kiss with such passion.

Jay Cahil is devastated when his lover whispers another man's name in his dreams. When Drake calls, how can Jay resist meeting the man who's crept into his twin's dreams?

EXCERPT 

 Pulling into the drive, he turned to face Jesse, who had one hand on the door handle and an uncertain look on his face. Cautiously, sensing that Jesse wasn't immune to him, Drake gave in to his earlier temptation. He reached out and ran his hand down the side of that gorgeous face. When Jesse leaned into his touch, Drake's pulse sped up and he curled his finger around the back of Jesse's neck, threading his fingers into the still-damp blond locks. Tilting Jesse's head up, he leaned down, staring deep into the blue eyes, looking for any sign that his kiss was unwelcome. Jesse's eyes widened, and he expelled a sweet rush of air that hotly caressed Drake's lips. Drake sighed and brought their mouths together. Pausing, he again gave the skittish Jesse a chance to pull away. When no objection came, he tilted his head and caressed the full lower lip with his own, adoring the soft warmth, reveling in the delicate intimacy.

With a breathy whimper, Jesse's mouth opened slightly and Drake took full advantage. He swept his tongue inside, tracing hungrily over smooth velvety surfaces, teasing and massaging Jesse's timid tongue with his own. The sweet flavor and delicious heat, the residual taste of raspberry and dark chocolate intoxicated him, and he wanted more. He moaned loudly and pulled Jesse closer, pressing his mouth open wider, coaxing a response from the trembling man in his arms.

A sudden flash of bright light from a passing car startled him and Jesse shoved him away, breathing heavily. "Oh my God," he whispered, huge eyes locking on Drake's face. "I can't."

"Jesse? I'm sorry I got carried away. It's just...you're so damn sexy. I know I overstepped. Look. It's late. Can I see you again?"

"No. Not I can't sleep with you. I want to. But I can't. There's someone else."

Drake jerked back as if slapped. "Someone else? And you couldn't call him to help you, I suppose?"

"You assume it's a him?"

Drake snorted in response. He damn well knew the someone else was a him. No straight man wore three-inch heels in the rain, no matter how fucking short he was. Not to mention, he'd likely have been punched square in the jaw at the first touch if Jesse weren't gay.

"I know it's a him. Just like I know you can't be all that in love with him if you can kiss me like that."

***

BONUS: This story includes the first chapter of the sequel, Setting the Trap, coming soon from Breathless Press. 

Love Is Always Write - I'm In!

Submitted my story the other day for the Good Read's Love Is Always Write event. It's sponsored by the M/M Romance group over there- you have to join to read the free stories, but it's a fun little place.

The mods won't let me share the whole story yet.

But we were told teasing was allowed.

That's pretty cool.

Because I like teasing.

So here's the first bit- This is the picture that the prompt is based on. Yes- those are twins. 

Men and Romance: Sara York Shares Her Views

Welcome back readers!  This is our third post discussing the "men can't write romance" post I spotted on a social networking site last month. Remember to leave a comment with your two cents, or buck fifty, or whatever, to be entered to win the $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the month.

Sara York Speaks on Men and Romance

Men and Romance, few people think the two have much in common, especially when it comes to writing. Men are supposed to be action oriented, and show no emotions. They seem unencumbered by the baggage of traditional romance so how could they write it? It’s simple, our assumptions about men are wrong. We place men in an archetype, expecting the lines around them to never fuzz or cross but humans are much more complex than archetypes allow.

Throughout history there have been men who have penned romance stories. Bards and storytellers through the ages have spun tales that incited the romantic in others. In more recent history men like Leigh Greenwood, who has a healthy backlist, hide behind gender-neutral names, disguising the fact that they are men. Then there is Jennifer Wilde, really Tom E. Huff, who also wrote straight romance. There are more, like J.W. McKenna, S. L. Carpenter, and Chris Tanglen. Some men prefer to stay hidden behind women’s names in the straight romance genre, in the gay genre it seem to sway the other way, where it’s okay for men to write romance.

I love writing male characters, whether it’s straight guys or gay men, I love delving into the intricacies of men. Men are deeper and more emotional than society gives them credit. Men are very romantic but I think part of our problem in believing that men can be romantic is our notion of romance. When we believe that romance has to be a certain way, look and feel exactly as it does in our thoughts then we miss out on the opportunity of true romance.

Romance isn’t an activity or an event, it’s the twisting and turns of our emotions and our excitement that brew together leaving us breathless when our partner comes home from a trip, or the pleasure of a call or text from your lover. We place value on those little treasures because of the way we think of our partners and ourselves. So romance is manufactured in your mind and not the other person in your relationship. You decide if something is romantic and for far too long women have had a set script for romance thus blocking out the true romance of men right in front of them.

Men exhibit romance in many ways, through thoughtful gestures to words and touches of love. When you can see the depth of their romance it’s not too hard to believe that men can write romance. Every day, millions of men are being romantic, but all too often their gestures are brushed aside. It’s time to start seeing your man for how he really is and say good by to archetypes, allowing men to show, embrace and write romance.

Truth or Dare Give Away # 2

Truth or Dare Give Away 

To recap: You match six pieces of dialogue to the person who said it. 

Email me the correct answers at lee(dot)brazil@ymail.com. 

Havan and I will conduct a random draw from among those who correctly match ALL six bits of dialogue to the correct character.

The winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Truth or Dare. 

(International players accepted, must leave contact email to win, must respond to notification of winning within seven days of April 29 or prize will be forfeit.)

That's it!   Ready for the second round of questions? 

1. "Come on, Mischa. I drove your Porsche over here today. You can have it back, and we'll forget about the dare, if you come home today."

2. "Nah, you don't, not really. You just got it form Brandon. I got it from all three of you."

Shh...now, you can leave me a comment if you want, 

to let me know you're playing, but..don't give the answers! 

Check back on 

 April 22 for more dialogue

and 

April 29 for the winner!