Sunday Snippet: Past All Limits

Whew. The Last Ship had one of the best finales I've seen in a while. I'm so thrilled season four and five are already on tap and we'll get more of this terrific show. I'm honestly excited to see where things go with Tom, who's so broken right now, the Greens and their new family, and the rest of the crew of the Nathan James. Gonna be a very loooonnng wait for 2017.

Still need to catch up on Dark Matter so I haven't seen the finale yet. Hopefully next week I'll have some final thoughts on this season.

I think Gotham starts this week and I'm interested in where things will end up. With so many disturbed and unbalanced people on the loose, Gordon and company will have their hands full.

Fall television will be in full swing soon so there might be more shows added to the roundup.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Past All Limits, a novella that got a start with a scene prompt. After a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting, your characters have to confront each other about their breakup and continued feelings for each other. The result is sex.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Scarlett Jayne and Dare Humphries have issues. Scarlett can't commit and Dare won't wait around. After a nasty breakup, the former couple is thrown together for a groundbreaking at a new training facility. Six months isn't quite enough time for them to be sharing space.

And a snippety peek…

Dare grabbed Miranda's hand. "Would you like to see the progress we've made?" They were less than two blocks from the venue. "Opening night is in two weeks."

Miranda's head tilted and her lips curved in a smile. "I'd like that. I rarely get to see what happens after the papers are signed." She snuggled into his side.

Dare wrapped an arm around her and walked the short distance to the club. His newest rejuvenation project. Part gym, part fight venue, his goal to give the rough and rowdy crowd in Point Pleasant a place to work out their aggression and face some demons lay close to his heart. Growing up, he'd needed a place like No Limits. Too bad he got stuck with brawls and busted knuckles with nothing to show for it except a juvenile record and a strong suggestion he join the military.

Miranda let out a low whistle. "Wow. You don't mess around. This doesn't even look like same building." She moved forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the interior through the blacked out windows.

Dare fished the keys out of his pocket. "Wanna see the inside?" He unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Miranda flashed a smile and gave a nod. "Absolutely." She entered first and stopped short. "Did you hear that?" Glancing over her shoulder, she held a finger to her lips.

Dare frowned. The sound came from the locker room. Short, gasping breaths. A light thumping against a wall. A growl, a grunt, followed by a low moan. He closed his eyes. Dammit. Someone decided to have sex in his building? Fierce anger filled him and he motioned for Miranda to stay by the door.

He prowled through the building, heading toward the locker room. He didn't bother with the lights or with trying to find a weapon, confident he could handle whatever he found, especially if he caught someone in the act of intercourse.

Moving around the corner, Dare walked into the changing area to see his new manager, Logan Jones, with his pants down around his ankles, thrusting into a woman with her legs wrapped around his waist.

Dare heaved an angry sigh. "Jesus Christ, Jones. Don't you have a home you can fuck—" The words died in his throat when the woman lifted her head and Scarlett's gaze clashed with his.

The urge to do bodily harm to his newest employee simmered low in his gut. He didn't have the right to maim the guy. He and Scarlett were through. She could do whomever she wanted. But not here. Not in his house so to speak.

Dare held her bold stare. "Jones, if you want to keep your job, I suggest you put your dick back in your pants and take the lady home." He turned on his heel and walked out.

He refused to show any emotion. Not rage. Not jealousy. Or disappointment. Scarlett deserved none of those sentiments. And he should be over feeling anything for her at all.

He met Miranda by the door and hustled her outside. "I'm sorry about that. Apparently my new manager thought a little late night action would be a good idea." He turned a locked the building up again. "We'll be discussing why it's not first thing tomorrow." He started down the sidewalk but Miranda's hand on his arm stopped his progress.

She tilted her head to the side. "There's more to this, isn't there?"

Hell, yes. So much more. But nothing he wanted to examine too closely.

He shrugged. "Not if I don't want there to be." And he didn't. Really.

Miranda's lips curved in a smirk. "You're a terrible liar, Dare. And I'm not so invested in our little tryst that I can't walk away now." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. "Which I'm going to do… before I'm in too deep." Stepping back, she gave his arm a squeeze. "I'll see you sometime soon." Turning, she walked back toward the restaurant and her car.

Dare watched her, following at a discreet distance to make sure she got to her vehicle safely. The least he could do because a nudge of guilt licked along his spine because he didn't even blink when she decided to cut him loose. He didn't care.

Not like he had when Scarlett walked away.

And didn't that make him the biggest asshole on the planet?

This one isn't a standard romance. It's a little more conflicted. I had a friend ask if there's anything out there that reflects a more true to life experience and the prompt seemed to fit her request. And I'm having a lot of fun writing the characters.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin