Showing posts with label promo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promo. Show all posts

8/27/2014

Beat the Heat #mmromance #FREE

Always complaining about the weather aren't I? Just wait till the snow falls again! 

Just in case in your neck of the woods, like here, it's to effing hot to do anything outside, 

Here's a little Hump Day pick up 


Click on over to 


and get your copy today. 

5/04/2013

New Extended Excerpt: Loving Jacob




Enjoy a sexy new expanded excerpt for Loving Jacob

Prologue

Malcolm Jenner kept one eye on the silent, dark-haired man standing at the rear of the room as he made his way toward the glass door leading to the riotous explosion of color that was Penny's garden. Jacob didn't look like he was doing very well. Against the smooth blue paint of the walls his face was pale, his violet eyes red-rimmed and damp-looking. Disarrayed dark curls testified to the fact that he'd been running his fingers through them, a habit that Malcolm remembered well from their time together. Malcolm had no intention of allowing Jacob to leave the reception until he'd spoken to him, but the other man did a very creditable job of keeping people between them and avoiding eye contact with Malcolm.
Malcolm eased his way around the room, dodging chatting guests in their wedding finery and caterers in black pants and white shirts alike, moving ever closer to his target. He'd asked his brother Rick, the neurosurgeon, to keep Jacob occupied and unobtrusively lead him to the patio doors. They now stood engaged in conversation. Rick watched Malcolm's approach and attempted to keep Jacob from noticing him.
Malcolm slipped behind the other two and reached out to grasp Rick's hand in a quick shake. "Thanks, Rick, I'll take him from here."
Jacob whirled around, dark curls scattering. He raised his face and Malcolm's heart ached at the pain in his eyes. He extended a slightly shaky tanned hand to brush the hair away from Jacob's forehead, but pulled it back quickly when Jacob flinched.
"Jake, baby, I'm so sorry. I know how hard it must be to be here without Peter. Come outside and talk…" He trailed off as Jacob began shaking his head.
"No. No, I can't be around you right now. I don't want to talk to you, Malcolm." Tears leaked in a tiny silvery stream from Jacob's eyes and his slightly muscled frame appeared to vibrate.
The slender hands that had once stroked his flesh with urgent need rose to push him away, then ran again through the long black hair nearly touching his shoulders. Malcolm wanted to embrace the other man, to absorb all the hurt this day had brought his beloved, and replace it with warmth and security.
"I have to talk to you. There are things you need to know; things we need to discuss." Malcolm's heart broke for many reasons: to see the desolation on Jacob's face and because he knew that deep inside he actually felt a glimmer of happiness that Jacob was unattached again. He knew it had to be difficult for Jacob to be here, surrounded by Peter's family at his sister's wedding. He had a distinctly uncharitable wish that some of the obvious sorrow and anxiety Jacob so clearly felt was on his behalf.
"Not today, Malcolm. I’m here today because Peter would have wanted me to come. He'd have been here himself." Jacob didn't seem like he could handle much more stress on top of the wedding and Malcolm was willing to wait; he had, after all, been waiting for Peter and Jacob to end their relationship for the past five years, hadn't he? He had been highly skeptical that it would even last that long, had been positive that Jacob's relationship with Peter had been a deliberate attempt to hurt Malcolm. He frowned. He hadn't ever wished for Peter's death, though. The car accident that had taken Peter's life a year ago had been traumatic for Jacob and he'd wished fervently that he could've been there to help the other man through the devastation of the loss. Loss was something he had felt fully capable of dealing with.
"I was surprised that you accepted the invitation. Penny and I both were. We appreciate your coming." Malcolm cast a nervous glance over Jacob's shoulder into the garden. Especially since it gave me the chance to be here with you, to establish contact again.
"Of course I came. This is about family. Peter would have wanted me to come. Family was everything to him," Jacob replied, his voice steady. "Penny practically raised him, you know, after their parents died."
Malcolm understood that too. How could he not? For so many years family duty and responsibility had been his guiding force. Every decision he'd made had been considered from their perspective. What would his father, the neurosurgeon, think? What would his mother, the society wife, have to say? How would their society friends and neighbors view his actions? Since he'd married Penny twenty years ago, her brother Peter had been a part of his family. At one time, he'd considered his responsibilities to his family more important than even this man before him today. That time had passed, though it had taken a boot in the ass from an unlikely source for him to see it.
"How about if I come by in the morning with breakfast? Will someone be staying with you? I don't think you should be alone after this." Attending Peter's sister's wedding without his husband of five years had been a surprising action on Jacob's part. He and Penny had fully expected that Jacob would say good riddance to bad rubbish without a backward glance at his deceased spouse's remaining family. Hardly a charitable view, but Jacob had plenty of reasons to dislike him and Penny.
Jacob nodded and gestured toward a fair-haired man in his midthirties. "Peter's cousin, James, is staying at the condo with me. He's taking care of things." The condo he referred to had been Peter's when they first met and Peter had kept it as a vacation rental property after moving to Vermont to teach in the education department at the University of Vermont.
As though sensing he was the topic of conversation, the blond man turned in their direction, and upon seeing Jacob talking to Malcolm, broke off his conversation with the group of people where he stood and headed in their direction.
"All right, early tomorrow morning. I'll bring you breakfast from the Black Forest Deli. I really want to talk to you and clear the air between us." He wanted more than that, but was unwilling to speak of the want and desire that pulsed through him in the blond man's presence. Mentioning the gooey cherry stollen from the deli they had frequented as a couple was a deliberate and, he admitted, slightly underhanded way of bringing their past to the present. In the months that their affair had run hot, he had made a habit of gifting Jacob with the sweet treat on lazy Sunday mornings after long nights of steamy sex.
"Excuse me," the blond interrupted them. "Jacob is needed in the other room."
"Thank you, James." Jacob nodded and took the other man's hand in a white-knuckled grip that didn't escape Malcolm's notice. Good, Jacob had feelings for him still, even if they weren't the warm, fuzzy kind of feelings he'd once denied wanting from Jacob. That white-knuckled grip denoted the strength of the feelings involved. Given half a chance, he'd turn Jacob's hatred into love again. He could battle anything but indifference.
"I'll see you in the morning, Malcolm."
James's blue eyes burned into Malcolm's. He possessively raised Jacob's hand to press it into the crook of his arm. Stepping fractionally closer to the younger man, he smiled disdainfully. "Not too early, Jenner. We need our sleep."
Malcolm followed the other two men with his gaze as they left the room, locking on that spot where the two hands clasped together. Fuck. Had Jacob already moved on from Peter's death? Not again, he vowed. You're coming back to me, where you belong. He wouldn't take a backseat to another man in Jacob's life ever again. Once before, that beautiful man had been his and he would be again. Malcolm had learned a lot in the last five years and most of that learning had been done the hard way.
He'd never felt for another man the same level of attraction he felt for Jacob.  Just being in the same room with the slight dark-haired man sent prickles of awareness rushing through his body and thickened his cock in anticipation. Though he'd tried like hell to deny it, he'd known when he first set eyes on the younger Jacob, newly hired to work in the technology department at his office, that they were meant to be together, and this time he would do anything and everything in his power to guarantee that outcome. He'd made the mistake once before of putting another's needs before his love's; of believing that only he could direct their future. The duty and responsibility that his parents had drummed into him from birth to carry on the family name had been fulfilled. The price it had cost him had been more than he would have willingly paid if he'd been aware of the consequences of honoring his family name above all others.
So yeah, he'd bring up the past any chance he got, remind Jacob as often as possible how good things had been between them from the start.
Chapter One
Five Years Earlier
Malcolm gritted his teeth and reminded himself that an office fling with a man who had to be at least ten years his junior was out of the question. He and Penny had long since relinquished any pretense of monogamy in their marriage and reached an amicable agreement to conduct their affairs discreetly out of respect for their son and their friendship. Fucking purple-eyed twinks in the elevator at work? Not discreet.
He kept his gaze focused on the gleaming silver metal of the doors as the elevator made its excruciatingly slow way up to the third floor. His glance flicked to the reflection beside his. The younger man stood casually, shoulders propped against the wall, licking pink lips. His purple gaze in the hazy reflection was focused…fuck…on Malcolm's obvious erection beneath his dark dress pants. Discretion. Discretion. He snarled at his libido. There will be no casual hookups with people from the office, he warned his eager cock. He shifted to the side slightly, hoping to hide the evidence of his arousal from the other man. Damn it. That kid had the sexiest eyes he'd ever seen. He wanted like hell to see them glaze over as he fucked the tight ass hinted at by the khaki pants he wore. He didn't go much for the intimacy of face-to-face encounters, but for the sight of those eyes and that mouth in the throes of orgasm, he'd make an exception. His tendency toward quick casual encounters disguised his preference for male partners and kept word of his homosexuality from getting back to his parents, his partners in the firm, and out to the public.
A law office, like any other place of business, was a microcosm of the world at large. Malcolm knew from being on the receiving end of gossip from his secretary Marge that every action and interaction between employees was fodder for the gossip mill. Being the subject of water cooler gossip lacked appeal and offended his sense of dignity, as did the knowledge that he apparently couldn't control his urges around the tech guy.
He threw in the towel and gave up the fight against his attraction to the young man from the technology department. Malcolm caught that sultry purple gaze on his cock for what must have been the hundredth time. The slight young man brushed against him in an intentional teasing slide while he tried to exit the elevator on the second floor.
Impulsively, Malcolm grabbed Jacob's hand and pulled him back inside the otherwise-empty space. He kept that small, soft hand locked in his own as he allowed the heavy metal doors to slam shut and the elevator to rise to his own floor. There he slapped his palm against the button that prevented the doors from opening. He'd had all the titillation he could stand. Malcolm swept the young man into his embrace. He tilted Jacob's head upward with one hand and dropped his mouth passionately, almost brutally, to kiss the other man. His other hand tangled in the black curls that had taunted his senses over the past weeks. He forced the soft pink lips apart, then swept his tongue inside. Instantly he was absorbed in the heated, slick haven of Jacob's mouth. The honeyed sweetness drew him further in and his tongue eagerly sought the textures and flavors that had been hidden there. Fuck. He could drown in the wet heat he found behind those soft lips. It was addictive. Jacob didn't even try to escape the kiss; in fact, he seemed to be doing his best to encourage it. He brushed his tongue against Malcolm's, sweeping it gently along the roof of his mouth, seeking and finding the sweetest spots. Both men were panting heavily when they separated.
Malcolm pulled back and spoke harshly. "Is that what you're after, little boy? You want a quick fuck in the elevator to start the week off right?"
Jacob gasped and tried to pull away, but Malcolm wouldn't let him. "No! Well, yeah, but that's not all I want." The young man seemed to be a bit dazed and shook his head as though to clear it. His shaking hand rose to push through the tangled black curls that Malcolm could picture so easily coiling around his cock while Jacob knelt on the dull gray carpet sucking him off, as he had every intention would happen very shortly.
"Well, that's all I'm offering. Take it or leave it." Malcolm drew his hand down the length of his cock, which had pulsed to aching life during the elevator trip. Jacob wore light, spicy citrus cologne that seemed to linger in Malcolm's nostrils long after the encounter between them had ended and being in the elevator with the sexy younger man had a predictable effect on his dick.
"Look, I'm very busy. I have a few minutes for you now, but…" He let his arousal-roughened voice trail off, waiting to see if Jacob took the bait. Jacob's purple-hued gaze locked on his hand gliding up and down, pressing against his throbbing cock behind the zipper of the black dress pants he wore. That gaze was an added caress that fired his blood even hotter and he swore softly. "Fuck. You want it. I can see it in your eyes, feel it in you every time you come near me."
Jacob licked his lips, but remained silent. Malcolm flipped open the button of his pants and began lowering the zipper carefully. The metallic clink of the zipper filled the spaces between their labored breaths. He spoke harshly. "I have a meeting with a client in ten minutes. I need to take care of this. You can watch, or you can help; take your pick."
He pushed aside the black cotton of the briefs he wore and drew his thick cock out of his pants, watching that silky pink tongue slick over Jacob's lips again. He wanted to feel that tongue tracing his shaft and flickering over its sensitive crown. Slowly he trailed his hand up from his heavy swollen balls to the precum-slickened head and squeezed gently, his eyes still locked on Jacob's face. The younger man breathed heavily, eyes hot, molten purple liquid. Malcolm stroked himself more quickly, silently urging Jacob to his knees, willing him to take his dick into his mouth.
He groaned in approval when Jacob dropped in seeming obedience to the unspoken command. Malcolm pulled his hand away from his cock and wound his fingers through the wild curls that had teased his senses since he'd first noticed the boy. He used his handful of silky hair to guide the pink mouth where he wanted it, rubbing the soft, moist lips against his tip before pressing, gently seeking entrance.
"You have done this before, right?" He couldn't help asking as the youthful innocence and enthralled look of wonder in the purple eyes gazing up at him gave him pause. A blow job from a novice might not be the best idea. He could wait to feel those sweet lips closing around him if he would have the privilege of teaching this gorgeous man how to suck a man's cock.
Jacob's tongue flicking in a velvety caress, first across his lips, then Malcolm's swollen crown, vanquished any intention of preserving that innocence. "No teeth…" was all he managed to choke out before a blazing hot mouth engulfed his hardness with enthusiasm. Rough swirling strokes of Jacob's tongue along his crown and under the rim convinced him that giving in to his urges made sense. He groaned his pleasure as the silken heat of that agile tongue burned wet trails from the rim of his cock up, over the throbbing head and down again to the base. He jerked, hands pulling and clenching tight in the silky black curls. Malcolm guided Jacob in a rhythm that set his balls to buzzing and a hot warmth spreading out from the base of his spine. The sensations rocketed up through his aching length and he found release in a series of convulsive spurts of cum that Jacob sucked up and swallowed without pause.
Enough experience guided those lips and that tongue to erase any doubts Malcolm may have had about starting something with Jacob. However innocent Jacob may appear, he was clearly old enough and knew enough to satisfy a lover in this way. Malcolm felt absolutely certain that this was just the start of something.
As the aftershocks of pleasure rippled through his body, Malcolm pulled Jacob to his feet and brought him in for another kiss. He fastened his trousers and then set the other man aside before pressing the button to open the doors of the elevator. He strode forward, leaving Jacob gasping for breath as he collapsed back against the wall of the elevator. He looked back over his shoulder and bit back a groan at the sexy sight of those dazed purple eyes, the wildly tousled black curls, and the passionate flush on the delicate cheekbones. So much for discretion.  He'd just have to hope the last ten minutes hadn't caught anyone's attention on the security cameras. Not that anyone in security would gossip about anything seen or heard on the security tapes.  Confidentiality was key in legal work and anyone who discussed the surveillance tapes or shared their contents without being legally obligated to do so would be terminated.
"Meet me here at six." He tossed the directive over his shoulder and hurried past the empty reception desk to pause at the office suite marked with his name on a brass plate. That shiny brass plate signaled his only rebellion to date from parental control. His father, the neurosurgeon, had wanted him to go into medicine and join his practice. In an unprecedented act of rebellion that had earned him a few frosty glares, Malcolm had elected to attend law school. Difficult as his parents had found it to accept, the sight of blood made him physically ill. A career in medicine was not an option. Announcing his desire to practice law had been difficult, but his family had accepted his career choice before he graduated law school. After all, it was an entirely respectable career with prospects for public service and prosperity. He was sure that announcing that he was gay wouldn't have gone over nearly as well. His brother became the neurosurgeon in his place with alacrity. In every other aspect, his life followed the blueprint the Jenners had laid out for their eldest son at birth: excel at school and in sports, attend prestigious universities, get married and have children, and above all, do nothing to embarrass your parents.



REVIEWS
 
Mrs. Condits gives Lee Brazil's Loving Jacob FOUR & a HALF Sweet Peas -".... Loving Jacob by Lee Brazil completely threw me for a loop and I loved it!..." Mrs. Condit Reads Books


    Pick up the Sequel to Trapping Drake today! 



    "I"m not the type of guy who lets someone else control my life, Jesse."

    4/05/2013

    Back List: It's Simple, SImon




    IT'S SIMPLE, SIMON

    available at 





    Simon Carter has achieved unimaginable success and he owes it all to a man from his past. 

    "It's Simple, Simon. You lack ambition."






    Chase Garvin's jibe had sent Simon Carter on unexpected paths and brought him unimaginable success. No longer a penniless musician, the highly paid investment banker is going home for the first time in years. He plans to rest, relax, and spend a little time rubbing his ex-lover's nose in his success. A visit to the Renaissance Fair brings this not-quite-so-simple- Simon nose to nose with his past and somehow revenge doesn't seem quite so attractive.

    Chase Garvin, Denver, Colorado's very own Pie Man, is still incredibly handsome. What's more, the more mature Chase is very appreciative of Simon's talents.







    When the old attraction flares between them, 

    Simon and the Pie Man get caught up in tasting the wares, 

    and neither counts the pennies.



    REVIEWS 

    How could I not be intrigued by a gay twist on a classic nursery rhyme? I picked this book up because I wanted to see if it was possible to make a good story out of a not so good rhyme. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the author managed to make it into a story I actually got into and wanted to read. – Reviewed by Andrea at Jessewave

    the journey was exquisite. It was a lovely balance of yearning and confidence, independence and compromise, love and hate. Through their experiences, we come to appreciate how love doesn’t always come easy, but if it’s right, the challenges are worth it in the end. – Reviewed by Doug at Top 2 Bottom Reviews










    https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-it039ssimplesimon-932995-145.html

    2/08/2013

    Coming Soon: Holidays With Jacob


    Releasing February 15, 2013 

    Holidays With Jacob
    Pre-order at BREATHLESS PRESS



    In Loving Jacob they were torn apart, then brought together again for a fresh start. Follow Malcolm Jenner and Jacob Renault through a year of special days as their relationship grows.
    Join Malcolm and Jacob as they forge their relationship amid the ashes of the past. From making love again for the first time, to letting go of past ties, these two men still make mistakes, but the past has taught them to be honest with one another and to consider each other's needs in addition to their own wants and desires.
     Celebrate a year of holidays, joys, failures, and triumphs as Malcolm and Jacob learn that it takes more than love to build a relationship that lasts. 

    Excerpt
    Malcolm stopped him with a hand on his forearm. "Let's take a walk on the beach while there's still some light and clean up later." He managed to make the suggestion sound casual though he felt as though his heart were beating out of his chest in a visible cartoon character manner. He patted nervously at his pocket for the items he'd placed there earlier.
    Jacob nodded and twisted his wrist so that their hands were clasped together. Malcolm's heartbeat stuttered as he caught a brief glimpse of the fine scars that criss-crossed their way up Jacob's arm. They hadn't been good for each other all those years ago. What made him think that this time around would be any different? Hand in hand they descended the shallow steps to the sand from the deck. He started to speak a few times, and bit back the words. He wasn't sure how to phrase what he wanted to say. Damn it.
    "Malcolm, what's going on here?" Jacob's voice was soft, tentative. He seemed very young and insecure suddenly, more so than Malcolm had ever seen him.
    Bracing his spine and turning to face Jacob, Malcolm took a deep breath before finding his voice, husky with emotion. "If I tell you the truth…"
    Jacob's gaze locked with Malcolm's. "Malcolm, you're creeping me out here. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but this is all just a little, well, creepy. The truth would be fine. Go ahead. I can handle it."
    Malcolm smiled. He rubbed his thumb over the scars at Jacob's wrist. He felt on comfortable footing again. "But, is it more than you want?"
    Jacob flushed and swallowed visibly, but answered without hesitation. "No. I want this." He gestured to the romantic moonlight with their clasped hands, towards where the incoming tide washed away the remains of the day. He hesitated briefly then rushed on as though determined to get the words out. "I love you. I always have, since the very first time in the elevator." Jacob laughed, a little darkly. "Hell, I moved back here from Vermont, gave up a good teaching position with the university, for a second chance with you, Malcolm. Whatever your truth is, I can handle it."
    Malcolm paused in astonishment. On reflection, he realized that it was true, and recognized that on a certain level he had known all along that this was the case. The soft glow in Jacob's eyes hadn't appeared there suddenly, it had been there all along. The knowledge gave him the courage he needed to speak himself.
    "I love you, too. I want to be with you. That is my truth."


    10/28/2012

    Character Spotlight: Nate Hawthorne of Truth Deeper Than Logic




    Please give a warm welcome to Nathan Hawthorne the hero from ­­Truth Deeper Than Logic today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

    Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author?

    I was perhaps a little excessive in my grief over Daniel's death...I believe Lee was captivated by the urban legends of black panthers stalking men in American forests.

    Q: What was it that drew you to your mate?

    He's was just too cute...running through the woods...I know, that's not nice, but well, I was in panther form and he just smelled right.

    Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner?

    Oh, let's see...that time on the floor of the cabin...

    Q: Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man?

    Definitely commando...in fact, I really prefer naked in general. You humans with your preference for clothing don't know what you're missing.

    Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick he/she can play?

    That damn, beautiful, sexy little toy...

    Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed?

    His ears...I just breathe across them and he quivers in my arms...

    Q: What was one of the most embarrassing thing your author did to you in Truth Deeper Than Logic?

    Me? Well, strolling into a board room all set to wage property war only to discover that my opponent was the man I'd been lusting after for months....

    Q: Anything else you would like to add?

    Yes. I never ate anyone. Those rumors are completely false. It's the wilderness. Humans are clumsy. Just because they go into the woods and never return doesn't mean I ate them.

    Thank you for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Breathless Press Blog.

    Thank you for letting me set the record straight.


    BLURB
    His lover's death filled Nate Hawthorn with rage. From that time were born legends of bloodthirsty cats and killer bears, of humans entering the woods and never leaving.

    Legend exaggerated, and he had calmed down and accepted the transiency of human life. Fragile, defenseless, but curious, brave, and loving. He'd allowed their presence in his valley in the beginning because they intrigued him with their resourceful cleverness in turning their fragile bodies into a strength rather than the weakness he'd taken them for.

    When Daniel died, he'd chosen to live among them for simple reasons. He felt closer to his lover walking among his descendents. He took a warped pride in the growth and the progress of the town Daniel had started, in the prosperity of Daniel's people even as their growth and progress had overtaken his woods. Perhaps some fatalistic part of him believed that the circle of life would one day claim him, had known that they would one day kill him.

    When Seth Greenwood, a junior architect with a local firm who dreamed of bigger things, pinned his hopes for career advancement on a project that required the use of Nate's land, Nate realized how much he wanted to live. And how very much he wanted Seth.
    .
    BUY LINKS

    10/27/2012

    Spookapolooza








    Click on over to the TRS party site at


    and join the fun! 

    Talk books, chat with your favorite authors, and be entered to win a NOOK. 

    Lots of other prizes being offered as well! 


    8/01/2012

    Breathless Press Birthday Bash Begins!

    It's Finally Here!

    Birthday Month has arrived! 

    Click on over to he all new Breathless Press website to celebrate our third birthday! 

    There are 12 birthday freebies- a dozen short stories just for our readers, 
    available no where else on the web! 



    And after you're done loading your cart with the free party favors, check out our other titles. All Breathless Press titles are 30% at the Breathless Press Website for the month of August...including preorder titles such as 






    5/13/2012

    The Man Trap June Giveaway

    Good morning! Time to announce the winners! 
    1st draw- pendant and ebook- Angel Martinez
    2nd draw- ebook - jayhjay

    Winners have been notified by email and 7 days to claim there prizes. 

    Thank you to everyone who participated. AMara has more fantastic jewelry designs at 




     The Man Trap

    Fabulous Giveaway



    Contest Runs from May 18 to June 1st

    1 winner will receive pendant and an e-copy of the book
    2 winners will receive an e-copy of the book

    Hot Air Balloon Ride pendent.....

     _DSC4784

    Rules

    1. Must leave comment and email address to enter the drawing.
    2. Comment must answer the question: What would be your perfect first date?
    3. Entrants must respond to email contact within 7 days to claim prize
    4. Those who sign up for the news letter will be entered twice in the drawing. (This includes all current newsletter subscribers)
    5. Winners will be announced on the original post on June 1st, and notified  via email. (This Post!)
    6. Winners will be selected via random number draw. 



    The Man Trap by Lee Brazil
    Breathless Press
    Contemporary M/M
    Available June 1st, 2012

    Alexi is the reason, other than an unrequited crush on Brad Pitt, that Simon can say with certainty that he is bisexual.  He let Alexi go once;  it's a mistake he's determined not to repeat. 

    Excerpt: Alexi and Simon's first "date"

    ... "Shouldn't I get to have a say in this decision you've made not to explore what's been between us since high school?" His voice was level and calm in the darkness, but I could tell by the tension in his grip my answer was important.
    "I just can't, not with a kid involved." The excuse sounded lamer and lamer every time I said it, especially out loud.
    "Let me be the judge of what's appropriate for my child, Simon. Turn here. I have a place in mind where we can go and talk."
    We drove in silence for a while. I followed Alexi's directions and steered into a parking lot. We had arrived at our destination. Bemused, I turned to face him. "A winery? At this hour of the day?"
    His joyous smile chased away some of the depression that had been my constant companion for the past month. A dreamy expression deepened the gray of his eyes. "Yes! This is something I've always wanted to do, and..." The determined look on his face made me brace myself for his next words. "You can't run away if we're up there."
    Up there? What the fuck did he mean?
    Never underestimate the power of a pretty smile. Forty-five minutes later, I clung to Alexi's hand, visions of death floating through my head. We sipped hot cocoa as a magnificent, terrifying, beautifully colored balloon inflated above the basket that would carry us and a few other passengers in an hour-long sunrise tour of the Temecula wine country.
    I am not afraid of heights. I fly regularly, look out the windows of high-rise buildings, and I've even stood at the top of the Washington Monument as it swayed under my feet while I gazed out across D.C. A hot air balloon, though, was something else. A fragile bit of nothing between me and a freefall through the frigid morning air to earth. No engine, no seatbelt, no protective barrier to prevent disaster.
    I forced myself to release Alexi and pretended interest in the inflating operation. The focus helped me gulp down the rising nausea. A few other couples stood about waiting as well and in short order we were on board and rising gracefully into the early morning gloom. As though by unspoken agreement, we all headed to separate corners, ensuring each couple the utmost privacy. The gentle breeze ruffled our hair, and I shoved aside my doubts about a relationship with Alexi, determined to enjoy the moment. The sheer ethereal beauty of the rising sun over the orchards and vineyards below swept fear away and I tugged Alexi back against my chest, resting my chin on the top of his head as together we absorbed the moment. Silky black curls tickled my nose and cheeks as locks of hair clung to the bristle of five o'clock shadow. The scent of his citrusy aftershave or shampoo, whatever it was, teased my nostrils. I inhaled deeply, pretending to myself that the fresh air was what sent ripples of pleasure through my body.
    I waved away the glass of champagne and orange juice, the traditional breakfast of balloonists, according to the pilot, but Alexi accepted it willingly. I held him in my arms as we floated leisurely above the rolling hills with their lush vineyards dappled with ranch buildings and country estates, all colored by the brilliant glow of reds and oranges from the rising sun. Drifting here and there, time had no meaning, and as we dipped close to the top branches of a gnarled citrus grove, the pilot harvested a few sun-kissed fruits.
    Sipping his champagne, Alexi turned in my arms and gazed up into my eyes. His touch skimmed along the bristle of my jaw, and I tensed a bit, and then relaxed under the soothing touch. He twined his fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck and tugged lightly to bring my lips down to his. In this dream-like setting, I gave no consideration to the pilot, the other passengers or the flimsiness of the basket we stood in. I settled back against the edge and pressed our lips together. His were cool, wet and sweet from the icy champagne. As my lips parted over his, a few drops of the bubbly champagne passed from his mouth to mine, followed by tiny darting forays of tongue. I cannot deny Alexi's kiss aroused me, the evidence of my interest ground firmly against him, and a hard cock rubbing against my thigh left no doubt about how affected Alexi was. This kiss transcended the physical; Alexi in my arms felt right in ways no one else ever had. In this atmosphere, rejecting the possibilities the future held felt foolish beyond compare.
    In the glow of the early morning, with the peace of the dawning day before us, anything seemed possible. Alexi withdrew his mouth slowly from mine, pausing to breathe across my lips, words I could barely decipher over the noise of my heart. "I have more than a hundred different kisses I've saved to share with you, Simon. That was one."
    Feebly, my brain made a last attempt to force logic on my heart, "Gregory..."
    Warm moist lips trailed from my chin across my jawline, and I winced, seriously regretting the failure to shave.
    "Six months, you said."
    Six months? What the hell was he talking about? Mellowed by the experience, wits dulled by the passion between us, I couldn't fathom his meaning. "What?"
    "You said you never had a relationship that lasted more than six months. Give me six months. In six months, if we're still dating, we'll add Gregory to the equation. Until then..." He tapped a finger against my mouth to keep it shut, I suppose so he could keep talking, but apparently he overestimated my ability to function while he touched me, because I immediately stopped listening. That warm touch, the gentle pressure, enticed. I couldn't resist. I had to taste. I licked and curled my tongue around the digit, then sucked his finger gently into my mouth. His eyes widened and he stopped talking abruptly, before jerking away suddenly.
    I agreed. I would have agreed to anything at all to experience those hundred kisses. As our mouths came together again, I decided that instead of firing Jeannie, I would give her a raise.





    If you enjoyed this teaser, then check out these 

    Keeping HouseTelling the TruthMark's Opening GambitTrapping DrakeThe LibrarianGiving UpLoving Jacob

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    5/08/2012

    Tantalizing Tuesday #3


    Welcome back to Tantalizing Tuesday!  
    Have a little bit of an issue this morning. *shakes head* 
    These boys. Just an FYI- picture him with longer hair...





    "I've got nothing to say."
    "I have," Blayne snapped sharply. "Someone has to make you see the mess you're making of your life!"
    Aaron tossed his head, sending waves of hair tumbling through the rough wood slats of the park bench. He clamped his lips shut, holding in the bitter retort that trembled on his tongue. Don't feed the trolls in the park;  they'll never leave you alone.
    "Who answered your phone?" Blayne continued relentlessly. "A new trick? Can't you ever sleep alone?"
    The unjust accusations struck especially hard since he'd spent the last three months very much alone. Fury and inexplicable pain roared to life. "Fuck you, Blayne. We spent one night together. Great sex does not entitle you to pass judgment. Think what you like; I am not a slut."
    "Oh? So that wasn't you I picked up in that bar?" Blayne's lips twisted.
    "I'm off." Aaron swung his feet off the bench and sat upright. He winced as the splintered wood pulled at his hair. He didn't give a damn about the physical pain though. "I wasn't alone in that bar looking to get laid. If that makes me a slut, then what does it make you?"


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    5/01/2012

    Tantalizing Tuesday #2 - My Unexpected Guest



    Welcome readers to another Flash Fiction event!  
    Tantalizing Tuesdays has a 200 word limit, and writers select their own photos. 

    Here's my inspiration photo....*sighs* 




    My Unexpected Guest 

    "I'm not some too stupid to live heroine in a bloody horror movie!" He railed, glaring. Crystal tears trickled down his pale cheeks in defiance of his words.
    I smiled. A pointed lingering visual journey from his high heeled leather boots, the delightfully tight denim jeans, the glitter of a ring at his bared navel, the too short, too tight shirt, brought me back to his beautiful face. His cheeks were bright red with emotion, and I let the mockery fade from my glance. He pleased me.
    "Of course you aren't, my love. I would never have caught you if it weren't for my vast experience in these woods."
    The hapless youth seated at my feet didn't seem any less alarmed.  The intensity of his gaze on my mouth charmed me. Oh yes..."The teeth." I sighed.
    "What are you?" His breathy whisper sent shivers of awareness straight to my soul. His being spoke to me, and he didn't even know.
    "I am time stopped, death gone astray." He stared, uncomprehending. "I am pain...and ecstasy." Leaning forward, I flicked his plump, soft lip with my tongue. "I am yours, for the length of your existence in this world...and then... you are mine."


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    Molly Synthia: http://mollysynthia.com


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    Check out Mark's Opening Gambit-


    Teaser EXCERPT: 

    Images of the last few hours flicked rapidly through his mind. He'd enjoyed himself. Every bit of the evening, from playing chess with Johnny to watching Mason orgasm in the front seat of the car, had been incredible. "Mason, I just can't. I can't tell you how bad it would be for me if my parents found out about this."

    As he pulled the Jetta into the parking space next to Mark's BMW, Mason spoke again. "I swear, they won't find out. Honestly, Mark, I think this could really be something special between us. Give me a second chance?"

    It was the temptation of that husky voice calling his name during orgasm, the sensual mastery of the kiss Mason pressed upon him, that caused him to agree. His capitulation was most emphatically not due to any emotional need to be with Mason.
    "No more sex in public places?"

    "No more public sex," Mason assented readily.

    Mark regretted Mason's agreement as much as he regretted making the demand.


    Be Yourself

    To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955
    The Romance Reviews