Sunday Snippets: The Deep End

Greetings on this final day of 2017. I hope everyone had the best of holiday seasons and wish all nothing but wonderful things for the upcoming new year. I have several goals I'll be working toward and I'm kind of excited about starting with a shiny new calendar.

Holiday movies are winding down and I'll be a little sad to see them disappear until the next holiday season. There's something a little magical about Christmas movies. My one wish would be to see some diversity and have Hanukkah, Kwanza, and even Yule or the Solstice represented. I'm fascinated by other traditions and wouldn't mind seeing some movies built around them.

The Doctor Who Christmas special ended up being good. "Twice Upon a Time" tied some things up and delved back into the shows history and, yeah, I'll give credit to Capaldi's final bow. A worthy ending to Twelve's tenure.

Murdoch Mysteries "Home for Christmas" hit all the right notes. This show is in its eleventh season and, honestly, it's only improved with age. The cast is top notch and the revolving round of historical bigwig and the guest stars that portray them rarely disappoint. I'm happy this remains on my watch radar.

I've also been enjoying Frankie Drake Mysteries—another Canadian show. I like the leads and, so far, the mysteries have been entertaining. This is a little similar to Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. If you enjoyed that one, give Frankie Drake a try.

I've started the second season of Chicago Fire and I'm a little disappointed in the whole McLeod storyline. Maybe if I had a little more to go on with why she's hell-bent on getting Boden out I might care a little more. And Benny Severied whispering in her ear isn't quite enough in my book. That said, I love everything else about the first five episodes.

I don't think I've talked about Passionflix, a new $4.99 a month subscription streaming movie service. It's brand new and they're creating original movies—and possibly series down the road a ways—and also offer several classic romantic films with more to come. To date, they have three original movies available for viewers. They're all based on best-selling romance novels and have varying levels of steaminess. The site has a convenient BON—Barometer of Naughtiness—rating system so viewers can find their comfort zone. I've been able to catch the first two, Hollywood Dirt and Afterburn | Aftershock. Guys… it's worth the $4.99 a month for those two alone. I'll be viewing the final new release The Trouble with Mistletoe later today. If you love romance, give this service a consideration.

And that's it for television viewing this week. This year's final post is from The Deep End, a novella that has one of my favorite tropes—sibling rivalry.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Raelin is six months into a relationship with Eames, but isn't feeling the spark… until she meets Eric, Eames' brother. The sibling rivalry takes an ugly turn and Raelin takes a big step back so the men can mend fences.

And a snippety peek…

Eric Bannerman left the interview with high hopes. He liked the company and the guy who ran the operation. It wouldn't be a hardship to work for Rand Bremer's outfit.

Eric blew out a long breath. "Big change, though." Ten years in the navy had led him to a crossroad. "Do I stay or go?"

Lately, he'd been itching to do something new. He loved the structure and routine of military life, but a new challenge sounded appealing.

His phone rang. "Bannerman."

"Bro, we're still on for dinner but can we meet at seven?" Eames rarely if ever bothered with greetings.

Eric didn't care what time they met. "Sure." He just wanted to see his brother and spend some time with him. "Where do I find this Rooster Rue's place?"

Eames gave Eric directions and signed off. "Rae's looking forward to meeting you. You'll love her."

Eric shook his head. His brother used to fall in and out of love every other week when they were in high school. He'd had quite the reputation as a heartbreaker.

"Maybe that's changed."

Eric almost wished he had Eames's ability to connect with women from the word "go". Eric dated but rarely found anyone he wanted to spend time with after the second or third month. His track record included more one-night stands than he'd ever admit to.

Part of the reason involved moving from base to base and being deployed. Neither left a lot of time to develop deep connections and became one of the reasons Eric craved change. He'd like to put down roots, meet someone and maybe start a family.

If he accepted the job with Force Solutions, he could combine his love of travel but have a permanent home base. And he'd be close to his brother. Their parents lived abroad with demanding careers in sales. Neither had been back to the US for longer than a week in almost eight years. Eames stuck around after graduating college and talked up the city. Enough so Eric jumped at the opportunity to interview with Rand.

Finding the restaurant, Eric pulled into the parking lot. "Might as well do some exploring if I'm going to call this place home."

And he'd pretty much decided to do exactly that.

I'm pleased with where I think this one is going. Sometimes the characters run off in a different direction, but Raelin and Eric seem to be playing nicely for now.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Curiosity Kills It

Season's Greetings!

As usual, I'm running around like a crazy woman finishing up everything at the last moment. I'm only halfway through Operation Wrap Shit Up but I'll get it all done. I always do… even if it's not until four a.m. Christmas morning. LOL

Slow week in television, which isn't a bad thing because I had a few editing projects to finish up and I didn't need the distraction. I did manage to finish the first season of Chicago Fire and I can't wait for the second season to start arriving in my mailbox.

I have the Murdoch Mysteries holiday special ready to watch while we're decorating our tree later tonight. I'm looking forward to the Doctor Who special if only to watch the regeneration into a new doctor. Sadly, I never warmed up to Capaldi as the Doctor and I'm ready for a new face.

I still have the Riverdale winter finale to watch and I'm hoping to finish up my wrapping while viewing that episode. Considering I'll probably be going nonstop until the wee hours, I might even watch it more than once. LOL

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Curiosity Kills It, a novella that started with the idea of battling coworkers who become more.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Pagan and Chuck push each other's buttons… and not in a good way. But Pagan has a moment of clarity when she spies Chuck in the shower—they argue so much because they fight a powerful attraction. Hooking up may not be the answer, especially since they work together, but Pagan's curiosity gets the better of her and she has to find out.

And a snippety peek…

Pagan steamed with anger—for a good ten minutes, waiting on Chuck to return. "Screw it." She marched into the dressing area and… no Chuck. "What the hell?"

He might have been dirty, but not that much.

"Damned man is probably staying under the spray to avoid me."

She paced and fumed. Paced…

And fumed.

She had things to say and he would listen. She'd grown tired of his constant "reminders" of what and how she needed to do things. Maybe if he left her alone, she'd adhere to policy.

"Not like I need a babysitter."

She made another circuit of the dressing room. "How freaking long can he spend under the water?" Probably forever if it meant he didn't have to deal with her. "Dammit." She'd talk to him in the shower.

She entered the steam-filled area and stopped short. Whoa. Holy smokes.

Chuck faced the wall, his head resting on the smooth tiles. With his arms stretched out, the water sluiced down his spine. Good God, the man had an incredible back. Broad shoulders, rippled torso, and a tapered waist. And his ass… sculpted to perfection. Long legs with sinewy muscle completed the package.

A wave of lust hit her so hard she backed out as quickly as she'd stumbled in. She grabbed the side of the lockers and sucked in a harsh breath. No way. She didn't even like Chuck. No freaking way could she be lusting after him.

Her body said otherwise—weak knees, quickened pulse, and pounding heart.

The shower shut off and she dashed from the head, running down the corridor to the workout area. She couldn't face him, not with the heady visuals running through her mind. A quick round of reps should do the trick and drive her libido down.

Grabbing a kettlebell she started doing squats.

No way. No way. No. Way.

Her inner voice had a good laugh at her reaction.

Way.

"Shut up."

Needless to say, Pagan avoided Chuck for the rest of the shift.

I like where this one is going and hope to have more ready in the coming year.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Camden General

Whew. What a crazy week. I'm still in the throes of trying to get the house cleaned up so we can decorate our tree. We usually wait until Christmas Eve to add the ornaments, which is a good thing because I've misplaced a package I bought to go along with our superhero theme this year.

I'm behind on my shows again. Between shopping, editing, and writing, I need about four more hours each day to get stuff done. LOL That said, I'm almost through the first season of Chicago Fire and, yeah, I really love the show. I'm going the DVD route because I never watch first run anything on NBC. I'm in about year twenty of a boycott and don't see that changing anytime soon.

I've also been enjoying holiday episodes of my favorite shows. There are so many classic television shows with themed episodes and I'm trying to build my collection. I also discovered a new to us channel on my local feeds and it shows a lot of old favorites. I won't complain. It's fun to revisit stuff I loved back in the day.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Camden General, a novella that explores what happens when a one-time hookup becomes way more personal.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jayden and Whit, two of Camden General's best emergency department staff, come together after losing a patient. Trying to navigate the fallout becomes even more difficult when their one-time hookup turns into a very personal relationship.

And a snippety peek…

Dr. Jayden Betts entered the staff lounge and noticed a new face on the nursing board. She checked the roster and discovered the handsome image belonged to Whit Brackenreid. The name pinged but she couldn't place why.

Shrugging a shoulder, she turned, poured a mug of coffee, and tried to remember where she'd seen the surname. "Too many case files in too short a time." Probably stupid of her to go back through the last six months but she liked to get a feel for the types of cases she'd be dealing with.

Her transfer to Camden General a week ago still had her head in a whirl. "And I've still got that new Doc smell." She added a little creamer to her coffee and stirred.

"What's that, Doctor Betts?" Wendy popped into the room and opened the fridge.

Jayden shook her head. "We've got a new nurse? Does that mean I'm no longer the ED newbie?" She added a hopeful smile and waggled her eyebrows.

Wendy laughed. "Well… kind of but kind of not." She put her dinner in the microwave and moved closer to the table. "Whit's a very familiar face around here—to most of us." She leaned in. "He's a former paramedic making the transition to our side." She put air quotes around the "our side".

Jayden gave an exaggerated sigh. "Damn. That figures. I'm still the local new guy."

Wendy gave her a commiserating pat on the shoulder. "Sorry, Doc. Seems so." She got and retrieved her food. "You'll like Whit. He's smart, quick on his feet—he had to be when he was running squad—and, whoa boy, very easy on the eyes." She dropped down and vented the lid of her meal.

Jayden quirked an eyebrow. "Is there anything there… between you two?" Not really her business, but she didn't like to step on toes.

Wendy shook her head. "Nah. He's a total flirt but not inappropriate. And he's all business during a trauma." She tilted her head to one side. "At least he was when he ran on the fire department." Blowing across her fork, she popped the bite into her mouth.

Jayden nodded. "Good to know." She got up and drained her mug. "Hopefully, we'll have a light evening and I can remember everyone's names." Rinsing her cup, she put it in the strainer and waved to Wendy on the way out of the lounge.

She should have known voicing the desire for a light night would blow up in her face.

I'm truly happy with the possibilities here. If everything comes together for this story, I might have some additional ideas for follow-ups.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Calling Bull

It's amazing what a dusting of snow on the ground can do to boost holiday spirit. We got just a tiny bit last night and it looks so pretty today.

Gotta say the mid-season finales for my shows pretty much pulled out all the stops. The Flash left Barry hanging in a very precarious place. Not sure I'm totally down with where everything is going, but it's fun to watch. Lost a good character on Legends of Tomorrow in the form of two goodbyes. I do appreciate the revolving door aspect of the show and look forward to seeing how the others interact without their friends. The holiday trimmings of the shows provided a nice backdrop.

Arrow killed it. James is setting up quite the legion of doom in Star City. I'm very interested in seeing how that plays out when the season returns. If his little cohort who got him out in the first place tries to harm Felicity or Curtis, I'll be really pissed. Just saying.

Riverdale shook things up with breakups all over the place. Yikes. I have another interesting theory about Alice Cooper. Can't wait to see if I'm right. Oh, and this theory doesn't involve FP, at least not about their past.

I'm all caught up on Gotham. Gotta say it hurt to watch Alfred and Bruce tear each other apart. I get where Bruce is coming from, I do, but the whole being a brat is kind of pissing me off. That said, rock bottom isn't always an easy trip to take so I'll be patient. Sophia is proving to be a formidable force. I had a sneaking suspicion she was more of a puppet master than anyone originally thought. It's also fun to see the stories with Butch and Tabitha and Ed and Lee unfold. Seriously, Gotham upped it game and I'm loving it. Having Harvey walk away though… yeah, that one hurt, too.

Murdoch Mysteries continues to be excellent. I can't wait for the holiday episode. I think I'm looking forward to it more than Doctor Who this year. I really can't wait for the new doctor and new showrunner. Honestly, I'm so very disappointed in where Moffat took the show. It lost the heart I always loved. Yes, I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've started watching my stash of holiday shows. I had to get a new laptop and I'm slowly but surely getting all the episodes transferred over. My Plex server is getting a lot of use this week. Also looking forward to The Trouble with Mistletoe when Passionflix premieres the movie!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Calling Bull, a sexy short where my main characters are very good at calling each other out on their bullshit.

Here's the mini-blurb:

No one knows Ivy better than Ward. A fact she truly hates sometimes. But when he pushes her into a corner, she either comes out swinging or learns to forgive and forget.

And a snippety peek…

Are you trying to kill another partner?

Ward's words rang in Ivy's ears and she gave the punching bag a hard shove. Tears welled in her eyes and she dashed them away.

Damn Ward for making her get emotional in the first place. Stupid, idiot man. Would she never learn? Not like she didn't have two decades of experience dealing with Ward the Walking Wonder's utter perfection.

She should leave the unit. She clearly didn't have her head in the game right now. But having Ward illustrate, point by point, how far down she'd fallen made her want to stick around—if only to prove him wrong. But her recent track record gave him a lot of ammo.

Yeah, high speed chases that end up putting your rookie partner in the hospital have a way of doing that, Ivy. No shit.

Even her inner voice mocked her stupidity. "You've been listening to Ward too long."

"I know you're not talking about yourself. You never listen to me." Ward stepped into the room and closed the door.

God, she truly didn't need more from him today. Too raw, wounded, and close to the edge to have him stuff more recriminations in her face.

She made a strangled, choking sound. "You are such a pain in my ass."

Ward smirked. "Trust me when I say this, Ivy. The feeling is nothing but mutual." He moved further into the room.

And sucked out all the air. "Why are you here?" She met his gaze. "Did you forget something on your long list of Ivy's recent screw-ups?" No doubt he could rattle off a zillion more ways she could get someone else killed.

He lifted his chin. "Considering you should have it memorized, I wonder why I have to keep repeating the same things over and over."

She rolled her eyes. "No one asked you to be my keeper. So why don't you stop?" Because he couldn't help himself. Ever.

Ward advanced another step. "Because you're hanging on by a thread, Ivy." He got up close and personal. "You already crossed the line once. Doing it again is—"

If Ivy didn't care so much for Ward she wouldn't take his words to heart so much. Then again, something has to give soon and Ivy's going to fight it every step of the way.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Call of the Ripper

Happy December! The most wonderful, crazy time of the year is in full swing. I'm excited for the holiday and really need to get my house cleaned up so we can actually celebrate. LOL

The mega-crossover of DC shows occurred this week and it did not disappoint. So many things happened with interesting pairings and twisty turns. Supergirl and Arrow kicked off the fun and the crazy times spilled over into The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Great to see some familiar and new faces. I won't get into much more, but the double wedding ended up being a surprise for me. YAY!

Riverdale continues to go places I don't expect. I have such a love / hate relationship with this show. I'm actually so happy we didn't have any Lodge parent appearances. I loved Hermione last season but this season I'm very "meh" about her. I also loved getting some insight into Sheriff Keller's personal life. I'm not necessarily a big Mayor McCoy fan, but I like the interesting twist with them. I also, somewhat shockingly, liked the beginning of Chuck's redemption. I'll stay tuned to see if that comes to anything.

I need to catch up with Gotham. I had way too much work to get through and took a full break from television on Thursday.

I did manage to catch up with Murdoch Mysteries yesterday and enjoyed both episodes I needed to see.

I'm still watching holiday movies on the Hallmark channels and should get started on television episodes this week. I'll probably begin with the Doctor Who specials. That's kind of my thing; I always begin with those.

That's it for this week's television wrap-up. Tonight's post is from Call of the Ripper, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of write a story where the characters are investigating Jack the Ripper.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Two 'Ripperologists' take a working vacation to experience the essence of Jack's madness. But when a modern day stalker takes an interest in their excursion, the call of the ripper hits a little too close for comfort.

And a snippety peek…

"Sean! Come look at this." Faith turned the laptop toward the hall where Sean would enter from.

He moved closer, bending down to get a good review of the images she found. "We haven't seen these before, have we?"

The pictures were scans of old letters talking about the murders.

She shook her head. "No. And see, there's a Whitechapel address on them." Giddy excitement filled her.

Sean took the computer and settled down beside her. "In the murder area?" He enlarged the picture.

Faith shook her head. "Don't know yet. I'll start comparing maps with the address and maybe use current satellite imagery." Her fingers itched to get started.

Sean chuckled. "Which is my cue to get the hell out of your way and let you get started." He passed the laptop over. "I have a meeting with the Adders. Should be able to nail down the job and get it scheduled for fall." He got up and crossed over to the coatrack.

The relentless rain hadn't stopped for over twenty-four hours.

Faith waved him off and dived into researching the address on the letters.

Two hours later, she growled her frustration and opened a browser tab for her blog.

I love research. That said, going back over one hundred years and trying to "see" what once was is so damned hard. Between old maps and current satellite details, the jumble created in my brain is making it impossible to get a good picture of what the streets of Whitechapel were like during the Ripper's reign of terror.

She posted a scan of the maps along with a captured image of the street level view.

The good news is… after I verify some information I'll have some new details and the usual speculation that goes along with it. Until then… wish me luck.

And pray I don't go insane during the process.

Watch your backs,

Faith

She clicked on update and waited for the post to upload. At least the short entry helped clear her head. And checking comments from her followers would provide a distraction when the grid lines started blurring again.

Her lips curved. "No doubt the regulars will have a bunch of suggestions, too." She had the best audience.

Like-minded people whose fascination with the morbid and macabre rivaled hers. They loved the adventures Faith dragged Sean into—late night library runs, collector and estate sales, and Faith's personal favorite, the candid discussions Sean filmed. They got a lot of traffic from those, especially when Faith offered up real-time commenting from viewers.

The key in the door gave her a reason to take a longer break. Maybe bouncing some ideas off Sean would shake the cobwebs loose.

Oddly enough, this one has been fun to brainstorm and write. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything comes together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: The Cabin

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful one. Ours was low key, exactly the way I like it.

Somewhat of a short week for television. I did enjoy The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Getting some insight into Mick's world made me happy. The big crossover is coming up on Monday and I'm kind of excited to see it.

Arrow's Thanksgiving episode turned out to be excellent. Love having Thea back and hopefully back in true Thea form.

As usual, I'm behind on a few of my binge watch shows but I'm addicted to the Hallmark Channels' holiday movies. I really love having something going pretty much 24 / 7.

Looking forward to the return of Riverdale next week.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from The Cabin, a novella that got a writing community start with a prompt of: Grandpa's cabin.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Whip meets the woman of his dreams when he tries to convince Kari to give his brother another shot at her art class. But when she can't accommodate the request, Whip still wants to pursue a relationship… until his brother tries to get in the way and Kari decides she won't come between them.

And a snippety peek…

Warner Harrington slammed the door and stomped into the kitchen. "Whip, you're not gonna believe what that bitch professor did to me." He waved an envelope with an open letter back and forth.

Whip leveled his gaze on his younger brother. "Why don't you calm down and fill me in." He put the lid on the pasta sauce and turned the burner down.

Warner had cooking duty on Wednesday nights. But Whip stepped in when his brother didn't show up until five minutes ago. Well after six p.m.

Warner paced back and forth. "She's not letting me into her class. And I need the elective or I can't take what I want to next semester." He paused a moment, sniffing the air. "What's on the stove, bro?" Reaching out, he removed the lid and inhaled deeply. "Ah, man. We just had pasta two days ago." He grumbled about needing variety in their diet.

Maybe if he'd been home when he should have been, they wouldn't be having spaghetti a second time this week. Whip resisted the urge to thwap his brother upside the head. One thing at a time and schooling came first.

Whip nudged his brother back on topic. "You said something about your class…"

Warner shoved the letter toward Whip. "Yeah, stupid bitch refused to let me in her class."

Whip grabbed his brother's wrist before taking the page. "What did I tell you about respect, Warn?" He tightened his grip. "Do we need to have the conversation again?" He hated having to play three roles sometimes.

Dad. Mom. Brother. So much easier before Mom died and Dad left.

Warner jerked his hand away. "No, we don't. I'm sorry." He pointed to the letter. "I'm pissed because it's too late to sign up for another elective and I needed this class."

Whip quickly read the rejection. "Okay, look, it says you can pick up your portfolio during her office hours. Maybe I stop by to get it and speak to Ms. Kells and see if she'll reconsider." Putting the letter aside, he went back to getting dinner ready. "Why didn't you have a backup in place like we talked about?" He set the table and indicated Warner should get some glasses for their drinks.

Warner pulled two tumblers down from the cupboard. "Eh, the art class looked like the easiest class for credit. The others had too many assignments and research projects." He filled the cups with tea because Warner didn't remember to stop and get soda yesterday.

Whip brought the food to the table. "Fine. Busting your chops obviously won't do any good since it's too late but, seriously, you've got to get your shit together, Warner."

His brother flashed a smile. "That's what I have you for, bro. You'll go talk to the lady and get it all straightened out." He pulled his chair out and dug into the spaghetti.

Whip shook his head but stayed silent. His brother's confidence in Whip's ability to smooth things over might end up being misplaced. But Whip would try. He couldn't not at least make the attempt. But Warner might end up being sorely disappointed.

Whip's negotiating skills only went so far.

I'm having fun writing the bratty Warner. Whip's going to have to decide what to do about his immature brother.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Breaking Ice

The weather in Ohio is truly crazy. We had flooding from rain yesterday and snow today.

Television this week ended up being pretty terrific. The Flash pulled in a bunch of Harrys to help save the day. Legends of Tomorrow had a fun episode with old Hollywood.

Riverdale had an interesting episode with some changing dynamics. I'm still on the fence with Hiram and whether or not I like him. I'm coming down on the not liking side but he gets some interesting snark lines so that pitches him into the fun column.

Arrow remains probably my favorite show. If the team can't be together, I like having two storylines that run along a similar theme. Also very glad John's secret is out in the open. Having Curtis work on a solution is excellent.

Catching up on Gotham today. I'll be glad to see the last of Professor Pyg. It's good to see Bruce again, too. There's never enough Alfred on the screen. LOL

I'm behind on Murdoch Mysteries. Having issues with my laptop and I usually watch via the website on that device. Here's hoping I get it fixed this week.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Breaking Ice, a sexy short about a couple who gets a second chance to get things right.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Bailee and Oakes have a long history of breaking each other's heart and leaving a long trail of personal drama everywhere they go. But they finally have a shot at being on the same page after going one on one in a charity sparring match, if they can trust themselves to get it right this time.

And a snippety peek…

Oakes stopped outside his new digs, an apartment provided by the small regional start-up that just launched a new brand of athletic supplements. He grabbed his phone and thumbed through the contacts. Had Bailee's name brought up and almost hit send before he remembered they weren't checking in with each other anymore.

He tossed the phone back to the passenger seat. "Dammit. I gotta stop doing that." He'd lost count of the times he'd almost called her.

Old habits die hard.

How could she be an old habit? Maybe because they'd been doing the relationship dance for the better part of five years. On fire for each other for eight or nine months, in splitsville for six, then back to smokin' hot burn the sheets before plunging once again into cold, lonely nights. On and off. On-off. On. Off.

At one point, they might have had a future. He'd made the climb to the pro circuit, landed some endorsements and sponsors. Started talking with some of the companies about sales work. He had the background and experience. Could've  helped Bailee with her business and her journey to a pro spot.

Except she didn't want his assistance. Fine. He could cheer her on from the sidelines.

Her crazy schedule with too many irons in the fire often got in the way of her chances for victory. "Not to mention making it damned difficult to spend time together." He could live with being low man on the totem pole—he understood her need to prioritize her responsibilities.

What he couldn't do, at least not anymore? Act as her personal punching bag when she lost important bouts. Not when he offered to help. Tried to give her a hand up. Wanted to shoulder some of her burden. Bailee Young wanted no part of riding on Oakes's coattails.

He snorted. "And I can respect that. I truly can."

She wanted to walk her path all alone and he finally got it. Moving several states away should give her all the space she'd ever need. And give him a fresh start in a different area. He welcomed the challenge of a new job. Maybe he'd even throw his hat into the arena here, too.

Focusing on work and attaining a new title would fill the void left by Bailee.

Right?

He exited his vehicle. "Guess I'll find out, won't I?" Reaching in, he picked up his phone and messenger bag.

Breakups suck and sometimes distance is the only thing to give perspective. Bailee and Oakes definitely need some distance.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Bonus Score

Ugh… what a week. I've been down with a combination of cold / flu symptoms. I'm pretty sure I've pulled at least three different muscles from coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose incessantly. Bleh.

Not a bad week for television viewing. The Flash had a girls night out that brought Felicity Smoak over from Arrow and entertained in a big way. Legends of Tomorrow kind of disappointed me by bringing Damien Darhk back, even if the fight sequence proved to be very entertaining.

Arrow also had a great episode. Loved getting to know Dinah's former partner and have some background there. I'm fond of the actor who's in the role and look forward to seeing more of that storyline play out. Also liked having Oliver work with Slade. I'm excited to see where that goes, too.

Riverdale turned things up to triple digits. I'm still liking my theory about who the black hood is. Alice's past coming out and her reaction made the whole show for me. I want to see that story explored a little more. My one true hope? The snake charmer ends up being Alice's long, lost sister. How much fun would that be?

Once again, I have to catch up on Gotham. The whole cold / flu thing had me napping when it was on. LOL

The holiday movie overload is ongoing. I thoroughly enjoy the cheesy, sappy, happy fare. I've even watched a couple of them more than once.

Looking forward to more terrific TV this week. Tonight's post is from Bonus Score, a sexy short that's been a lot of fun to brainstorm.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Zeva and Bo meet through a gaming community and hit it off. They start spending time together and a series of wagers over who the better gamer is takes an interesting turn when sexy distractions become part of the strategy. When they decide to settle up once and for all, a bonus score leads to an unexpected win and the crown is claimed.

And a snippety peek…

"Java Jump. Wednesday. Four p.m.?"

Bo Schneider tamped down the kick of excitement when he read the response. He quickly fired back with an affirmative reply. Wednesday at four couldn't get here soon enough.

He shook his head. "Whoa… slow down, Bo." Wouldn't do to get too caught up in the moment.

Then again, he'd had zero luck finding someone who got the gaming aspect of his life. He hoped Zeva turned out to be more in tune than the last five gamer girls he'd gone out with. Those women defined hardcore way differently than he did.

He lifted a shoulder. "Zeva seems different." For one thing… she didn't chat during a campaign, which drove Bo crazy.

If you're playing a MMORP and teammates are counting on you, don't be typing in the text screen asking if anyone else is hungry.

Zeva also liked the single player experience as much as Bo did. Massive multiple online role-play gaming gave him a way to connect with large groups of people from all over the world. And the anonymous aspect helped him grapple with his shyness.

His lips curved. "Enough that I can actually make dates and keep them now."

Hadn't always been the case. He suffered through elementary school and junior high, until he joined a gaming club his freshman year. Having a group of kids who got him boosted his confidence and their encouragement helped him crawl out from under his shell. First by engaging with others online then by meshing the boy behind the keyboard with the man who needed to interact with other humans if he ever wanted to get somewhere in life.

He'd definitely carved a niche. As the head of marketing for a game developer. Immersing himself into a virtual world never failed to spark creative ideas.

"And getting paid to play video games doesn't suck."

He grabbed his keyboard and loaded up an old favorite.

So far, the vibe between Zeva and Bo is a lot of fun. I'm hoping the story comes together the way I keep seeing it play out in my head.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Blatant Affair

Welcome to November! We're almost finished with 2017 and I'm honestly looking forward to a new year. It's been a rough ten months so far.

Excellent television viewing this week. The Flash had a great episode. It's always fun to see Cisco on the hot seat. Really enjoyed his storyline. Also interested in seeing where things go with Joe and becoming a father again.

Legends of Tomorrow didn't have a terrible episode. The homage to ET maybe went a little overboard but still fun.

Riverdale was sort of on the fence for me… until I got a wild hair theory about who the black hood is and now I have to stay tuned to see if I'm right. I'm honestly fairly disappointed with the addition of Hiram to the fold. He made a better villain working from the shadows.

Arrow continues to amaze me. I love the way roles continue to be mixed up and everything is fluid. That keeps me glued to the screen.

Got caught up on Gotham and watched this week's episode. I won't be disappointed to see the end of Professor Pyg but at least the plot is moving forward and I'm down with that.

Having fun watching holiday movies on the Hallmark channels. There's usually something on one of them that catches my interest.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Blatant Affair, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a story featuring blatant fraternization.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valley Cruz and Flynn Boatman fall for each other and don't hide their feelings. But when company policy dictates they can't be together, they'll start a blatant affair no matter the consequences.

And a snippety peek…

Flynn stuck the tip of the needle into his skin and pulled the thread through the gash on his arm. "I hate getting wounded in the field." He'd learned tending to the injuries on his own saved time and effort.

Why hit up an emergency department or urgent care facility when he could do the stitching up?

The bad part? He didn't like the actual poking around on himself. To cope, he sent his brain down memory lane, envisioning Valley's hips sashaying out the door. Ms. Fitzhugh had quite the presence. And, damn, the woman made a solid impression.

He finished up the second stitch. "Wonder what she looks like out of those trashy clothes?" His lips curved when he pictured her naked. "Okay… with normal clothes on." Probably shouldn't get in the habit of imagining his coworkers wearing nothing but skin.

But the idea kept his mind off the next three stitches. He tied off the final one and split the thread with his teeth. Gathering his supplies, he put everything neatly back in his case. After zipping it up, he stood and placed the bag in his locker.

"You know there's an infirmary two corridors over, right?"

His lips twitched. Where was she five minutes ago? He shut the door and turned to find Valley propped against the door jamb. Clad in navy cargo pants that hugged her curves, her fitted t-shirt skimmed the waistline. Without the fake cleavage, her proportions were damn near perfect. She'd scrubbed the overdone makeup from her face and pulled her previously teased hair back into a sleek ponytail. All in all, the transformation made her even more appealing.

He leaned a shoulder against the metal framing. "An infirmary? They must not have covered the location in the new guy welcome package." She rewarded him with a sexy smirk.

She pushed away from the wall and came over to examine his handiwork. "Hmm. Not bad." Her gaze met his. "You've got some field training then?"

Leading questions to get answers? An expression of interest, maybe?

He lifted a shoulder. "I might. A little scratch like this doesn't need a lot of attention."

Valley quirked an eyebrow. "I count a half-dozen stitches. That's more than a scratch." She folded her arms over her chest. "New guy jokes aside, you should at least let Doc Savage give you a quick once-over. There's no telling where that knife has been or what Bright used it for. And Victor pays the good doctor to make sure his operatives stay in top form."

She had a valid point. Pissing off his new boss by not following protocol would be stupid. Not to mention keep him on the newbie list in Valley's eyes.

He gave a quick nod. "Right. Heading two corridors over then." He made to move past her.

Her hand caught his uninjured bicep. "You don't have a weird aversion to doctors, do you?" A quick flash showed her teeth in a smile.

Flynn held her gaze longer than necessary. "Why? You wanna come hold my hand if I do?"

Valley chuckled. "Good one. Keep that up and you'll fit right in around here." She gave him a nudge with her shoulder. "Get going. I promise you'll be just fine."

Pleased he'd made her laugh, Flynn cracked a wide grin. "I'll take your word for it." He turned when he got to the door. "Maybe he'll give me something to get rid of the new guy smell." He left the room to the sound of Valley's laughter.

This one is very fun. I like the idea of having a couple who pretty much puts how they feel out there for everyone to see.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Bikini Beach

Whew. What a week in TV. Lots of good stuff going on.

The Flash had a fun episode. I'm rather interested in the behind the scenes manipulation going on and discovering more about that. Also interested to see what happens with Caitlyn when Katee Sackhoff's character enters the narrative.

Legends of Tomorrow is still terrific. I'm hoping they dive into the big threat looming over them sometime soon.

Arrow ended up being better than expected. I want to know what Diggle has himself into and how bad it's going to bite the team on their asses. Also loved Oliver and Felicity helping William out and discovering they work well as a team. The FBI agent is already annoying me. We'll see if that ends up being a good thing or not.

I missed Gotham and need to catch up. Not sure when I'll get a chance, but it should be soon.

Riverdale, you're killing me. There's so much I'm loving but the one thing I'm not on board with—yet—is Hermione and whatever the hell pod person has taken over her character. I kind of loved the relationship she had with Veronica last season and right now… not so much. We'll see if it smooths out, similar to Alice last year. I trust the show to make it happen.

Finally watched the finale for Teen Wolf and I'm kind of thrilled with how it ended. I'm very happy with everyone's place and how their stories were resolved—with one exception. I so wanted Monroe to die a slow, painful death. The fact she escaped annoys me to no end. Grr.

Got caught up on Murdoch Mysteries. So far, I'm excited for the new season. I have so much love for this show, which considering it's in its eleventh season, is saying something.

I have my holiday television and movie list all put together and ready to watch. The Hallmark Channels launched their festive season this weekend and I plan to catch a bunch of fare on both channels. Seriously, I won't mind overdosing on the merry happenings right now. The world is a crazy place… why not have some happy, happy, joy, joy in life?

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Bikini Beach, a sexy short that sees the characters in a tense work situation and one decides to take a break.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Talia Ashe loves her job, but she's ready to kill her partner, Hugh McVey because he's pushing hard to get a project done and they're down to the wire. She takes a mental health day, to keep from doing Hugh bodily harm, but he ruins it when he shows up on her patch of beach.

And a snippety peek…

10 am

Talia settled in her lounge chair, applied sunscreen, and resisted the urge to check her phone for messages. "I'm not going to cave. I'm not." Hugh could handle one single day of work without her.

She needed this break even if the kick of guilt wouldn't quite go away. Slipping her sunglasses back on, she let the waves rolling onto the shore lull her mind. Something about the roll of water edging the sand helped clear her brain. And dealing with Minerva Barclay definitely created chaos in Talia's head.

Working with Hugh generated a different kind of unrest. Part admiration, part frustration—on two fronts. Since she wouldn't think about work right now, she focused on the personal side. Six months of being up close and in Hugh's pocket while working long hours had Talia's bad idea meter humming at a loud whine. She found immensely attractive. And if she could say that after seeing the good, bad, and ugly sides of him, she'd better hit pause and think hard about what she'd do after the Barclay project ended.

Her lips curved. "Dad's rule number one—never get involved with a coworker." Of course her dad's first marriage, to a fellow hospital staffer during his residency, ended in divorce. "Then again, that's how he met Mom." She'd been his divorce attorney so, yeah, her dad's rules could use some work.

And Talia's mental health day could use less thinking and more zoning out. Digging in her bag, she pulled out her reading device. Nothing like a good romantic adventure to find her happy place. After scrolling through her titles, she found one that should drop her into a state of zen. She opened the file and immediately got hooked by the opening sentence.

Flying through the first chapter, she grinned. "I might have to take another day… just to finish the book."

Right… Hugh would lose his mind if she called in sick a second day.

A laugh bubbled up. "It might just be worth it."

Talia probably won't think it's worth it when Hugh discovers her sitting on the beach.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Bedroom Chronicles

I'm loving the fall weather! Mild temperatures are so lovely and the pretty colors popping on the leaves are incredible.

Another great week in television. I completely forgot to mention Riverdale's premiere. Man… I love the show. I had so many questions after the premiere my head spun for a while.

But first… let's get to this week's shows. The Flash had a great episode. I like the new Cisco. I'm definitely looking forward to more of how Barry and Iris work out their issues. Legends of Tomorrow also had a great showing. I do truly enjoy the character's interactions.

Okay, Riverdale. Loved, loved, loved the premiere. I like where things are going and while I could do without Hiram, I'll be interested to see what kind of havoc he'll create. Having Archie take a darker path is also going to be fun. And whenever Dark Betty makes an appearance I notice. I loved her giving the lowdown to Cheryl. Speaking of… wow, Cheryl's got some issues, yeah? All in all, I'm excited to see what else happens. The dark hood killer will hopefully not take out any of my faves. I'm already a little miffed one of the characters I like might not be with us anymore.

Gotham keeps getting better. It always seems to throw in a twist I'm not expecting and I love it. Nice to see Lee back, whatever her drama might be.

Arrow is also throwing some nice twists into their plotlines. I'm down with Oliver being a dad, but I was very much hoping he would make Raisa William's guardian so he can still do his second job.

Continuing on with Midsomer Murders and also got my holiday movie and show list started. I plan to completely overdose on holiday fare this year.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Bedroom Chronicles, a novella that walks a bit of a different line for me.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Birk musters out of the military, he drops in on his best friend, Klint and his wife Elsie. They welcome Birk into their home and eventually their bed because Elsie can't think of anyone better than her husband's oldest friend to fulfill their deepest fantasy. But sometimes the best laid plans go awry and dealing with the fallout is a challenge.

And a snippety peek…

Elsie shook off the nervous tension and settled into Klint's arms. He cupped her face and slanted his mouth over hers. It didn't take her long to get lost in the hot and steamy kiss. Klint moved his hand down to get a handful of her ass cheek. He gave it a firm squeeze then trailed his fingers over her hip to ease between her legs. Wet and silky moisture met the fluttery stroke of his fingertips.

Klint made a low groan. "Ohhh, you're hot, aren't you, Else?" His thigh wedged up close to her core.

Elsie moaned. "Mmm-hmm." Her gaze slid sideways and she caught sight of Birk in their wingback chair, stroking his hard and substantial length.

A voyeuristic treat for Elsie. His long fingers fisted the girth and pumped up and down in a slow, steady pace. Between the visual feast in front of her and the friction from Klint's hair-roughened leg, Elsie's senses overloaded. She made a soft mewling sound and Klint soothed her, his lips ghosting over her shoulder before he eased behind her on the bed, tugging her back between his legs. His hot breath fanned her neck and he arranged her so her thighs splayed wide over his. He didn't waste time, skimming hands up to fondle her tits. Elsie hummed with satisfaction.

Birk licked his lips, blowing out a harsh breath. "God, you're sexy." His gaze met Klint's. "Both of you look amazing." Klint dropped a hand and his fingers worked over her clit.

Elsie moaned. "Mmm, Klint, feels good." He inserted two fingers into her warm passage.

She nudged her ass back, wriggling against the hard-on Klint sported.

He pinched her nipple. "Look at Birk, baby. He's stroking that huge dick just for you." His fingers strummed over her clit.

She gasped. "He's beautiful. I love the way he's looking at me." Birk's heated gaze drifted from where Klint worked her over up to her breasts then finally to meet hers.

Klint's lips pressed close to her ear. "Like he wants to eat you? Or fuck you?" He pierced her core with two fingers again.

She squirmed, her internal muscles clenching on the probing digits, her mind flashing with an image of being impaled on the thick cock instead of watching Birk's fist firmly tugging up and down on the solid flesh. Birk looked ready to do either… or both. A shudder rippled through her.

She moaned. "God, I'm so close." Having someone watch her so intently turned up her libido several notches.

Klint flicked his tongue against her ear, growling low. "Are you ready to come? Ready to let Birk see you shatter in my arms?" His fingers increased their speed. "Or do you want to watch him spill while I'm buried deep inside you?" He made a long, slow drag over her clit.

Her head dropped back and a low purr escaped. "I want your cock buried deep. Take me from behind so we can both watch." She caught his lips in a hard kiss and angled around, giving Birk a perfect view of her wet-lipped pussy when she bent down to engulf Klint's hard shaft between her lips.

Her head bobbed up and down, her fingers trailing down to slide between her silky folds.

Birk moaned. "It's so hot watching you suck his dick and play with your pussy. I won't last much longer." He worked only the tip of his cock, swirling his palm over it and tapping a finger atop the slit. "Please, fuck her. I need to see you claim her." He directed his plea to Klint, but Elsie gave a nod of agreement. She wanted her husband to put on a show for his best friend.

Birk's fingers circled the shaft again, ready to coerce his release. Elsie lifted her head, meshed her mouth with Klint's for a long, wet kiss then she scrabbled around and got into position on all fours. She wiggled her ass, enticing Klint to go deep.

She met Birk's gaze, her tongue flicking out to wet her lips. "He's poised to enter. Are you ready?" Her voice sounded raspy and thick with passion.

Birk nodded. "So ready. Can he play with your magnificent tits?" His gaze lingered on her breasts, dangling close to the mattress.

A slow smile spread across her face. "Oh, yes. He always does." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Now, Klint."

He complied, grasping her hips and thrusting forward. Once seated, he palmed a heavy globe, kneading the flesh and worrying the taut nipple between two fingers. Birk's eyes went dark and his tongue swiped across his lower lip.

She groaned. "God, feels so good." She met Birk's gaze again. "He's so deep. His balls are slapping against my ass." Something Elsie loved—Klint had magnificent testicles.

Birk reached down and fondled his sac, tugging hard on the dick in his other hand. "I can hear it." He glanced up to Klint. "She looks amazing, taking your cock, pushing back to get it all." He squeezed his shaft hard, pulling and up down with a faster pace. "You're a lucky man, my friend." He gasped the words, edging closer to the brink.

Klint agreed. "She's so tight, fits over me like a glove. And hot. Her pussy's so hot around me." He moved to her other breast, fondling the flesh, lifting it for Birk's viewing pleasure.

Birk groaned and his eyes slid shut. "Jesus, I can almost feel the heat over here." His eyes flew open. "I'm there. Tell me you're close." He let go of his balls, a hand grasping the arm of the chair.

His ass lifted, his hard shaft thrusting inside his fist, the tip popping out on each downward movement. Anticipation of seeing the milky eruption, and the hard length pounding her from behind, pushed Elsie close to the edge.

She encouraged him to let go. "Oh, yeah, Birk, come for us. Let us watch you shoot your load." Her breath rasped out and Klint, sensing her impending orgasm, pinched her nipple, tweaking it hard. A shudder tore through her and she backed her ass up against his groin.

He pistoned faster. "Tell me you're close, babe. I want a triple score here." He palmed her boobs again, alternating between the two. "Let it go. I'm right behind you."

She met Birk's gaze again. "Ready?"

He nodded. She held his stare and let the thundering climax hit full force.

Elsie quivered with the intense sensations. "God. It's good. So, so, good."

Her words pushed Klint and Birk to their releases. Birk gave a strangled gasp and the dick in front of her spilled creamy semen from the tip, dripping down to splash against his thighs, coating his fingers with the glistening liquid. The cock buried deep within her core erupted, coating her with its seed. Klint didn't let up, coaxing aftershocks from her until he got too soft to thrust. He collapsed backwards, hooking an arm around her waist to haul her close. His mouth met hers in a powerful kiss, his tongue conducting a thorough exploration. Elsie basked in his love and returned the embrace, thankful the man she married never failed to give her everything she'd ever wanted.

She eased away and leaned in close to whisper, "Do you mind?" Her unvoiced question received a quick nod and she held out a hand to Birk, beckoning him to the bed.

He stopped beside them and she trailed a finger through the pearly substance on his thighs, then brought it to her lips, licking the moisture into her mouth.

He groaned. "God, that's so hot."

She smiled. "May I?" She wanted more.

He edged a little closer and she shifted around, angling low to lap at the skin until she cleaned the area. Reaching up she grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, her tongue darting out to remove all traces of his ejaculate. Sucking his forefinger between her lips, she bit down gently drawing a gasp from him.

His voice rumbled. "If you keep that up, I'll be hard as a rock again."

She released his digit and met his gaze. "Stamina and quick recovery? You might be the second most perfect man I've met." Klint would always have the top spot.

Birk chuckled. "I'm pretty damned sure you're the perfect woman. Thank you." He glanced toward Klint. "And thank you, for sharing what you two have with me." His hand cupped her cheek, but he addressed her husband. "May I?" His thumb traced over her lips.

Klint gave a feral grin. "By all means. But save some of that essence for me." His arm wrapped around her.

Elsie's core quivered when what they spoke of hit her. A steamy flash of an idea inserted itself into her brain when she lifted her chin and opened her mouth, inviting the quick thrust of Birk's tongue inside. He sealed their lips and delved deep, swirling the slick muscle against hers. She framed his face with her hands, drawing him close, inviting him up onto the bed by leaning backwards. He placed a knee on the mattress and broke the kiss, raising an eyebrow in question. She didn't ask Klint's opinion, instead she took Birk's hand and made room for him.

Leaning in close to Klint, her lips hovered over his. "If you're wanting to share…" Her mouth meshed with his and she thrust her tongue inside, letting him get a good taste of Birk before easing away. "Let's share everything." Turning toward Birk, she dipped her head in the direction of Klint's cock. "And if you're so inclined, you can have a taste of each of us, combined of course." The kinky nature of the suggestion had her getting wet again.

Birk's gaze flew to Klint's. "Are you down with this idea?"

Klint nodded. "Whatever Elsie is willing to share, I'm willing to provide." He eased back against the pillows and got comfortable.

Elsie and Birk spread out on either side of Klint. Their heads met and she held Klint's dick up. Birk started low, licking Klint's balls. Not to entice, but to savor the mingled combination of their essence. When the testicles were clean, Elsie kissed Birk, then leaned up and locked lips with Klint, lingering over the embrace. Birk went to work on the shaft, licking the final traces of their coupling off then cleaning her fingers holding the flaccid cock. Again, she met Birk for an intimate kiss. And again she shared the familiar act with Klint. Her body thrummed with lust, desire, and a deep yearning for more.

And the men already admitted they had something of a past, maybe a little more than what they'd let her in on.

Wanting to test her theory, she asked a bold question. "How far can we go here?" Her gaze landed on Klint because she wouldn't do anything he didn't find comfortable.

Klint supplied the answer. "As far as we want. I trust Birk with impunity. As long as he's willing to participate, knowing full well we're always committed to each other first." His eyes showed a willingness to take things wherever she wanted.

She slid her gaze to Birk. "I've never experienced anything like what we've just shared. I know we just met last night, but you've been Klint's best friend for decades. And if you're willing to be part of our sex lives, I want to extend the invitation." She paused. "As long as our antics won't damage your relationship. True friends are so hard to find." She placed a hand on Birk's arm. "Ones that last are even rarer." She'd never want to be the cause of strife between the two.

Birk glanced at Klint. "You're sure about this?"

Klint shrugged. "I wouldn't have let you near my cock and balls if I wasn't. It's been a long time since anyone of the male sex has touched me." He tilted his head to one side. "Actually, you're the last one. And that was ten years ago."

Birk nodded. "Yeah. I haven't had a desire to be with anyone. I'm perfectly content with a warm, willing woman, but I'm not afraid to push past my usual boundaries."

Elsie joined in. "Then it's settled? We'll take the next few days to explore all the possible options. Live out a few fantasies?" She went serious. "Do we need some ground rules?" Navigating multiple partners hadn't been included in any discussions of their fantasies.

Klint made a suggestion. "I think the important thing is no secrets. We have to be honest about our comfort levels. For example, I'm not sure I want a dick in my ass. I won't say a firm never, but I don't have a big desire for it." He glanced toward Elsie. "That said, if it's something you're dying to witness, I'd have to reconsider. Because I'll do just about anything to make you happy." He gave her a sheepish smile.

She grabbed his hand. "And I love you for it. But I'd never want you to do something you're not cool with just to make me happy." Mutual desire made their marriage strong, not capitulation.

Birk raised a hand. "I'd consider being the bottom. It's something of a kinky fantasy I've always had, so I'll put it on the table." He met Klint's gaze. "But only if you're willing."

Klint gave the thought consideration. "I'm willing. If Elsie has no objections." He shifted his attention to her.

She shuddered. "I'm actually getting wet thinking about it." And hot… seriously hot imagining her husband taking the prime specimen on their bed.

Klint reached forward, his hand drifting between her legs. He slid his fingers along her folds.

He inserted two and came away with glistening moisture. "Yes, you are. You naughty woman." He withdrew and licked her juices off a digit, then guided his hand to Birk. "Taste?"

Birk sucked the silky fluid from the Klint's fingers. "Mmm. She's sweet, isn't she?" He glanced in Elsie's direction, a satisfied smile on his face.

Klint agreed. "Very."

Elsie smiled. "Okay then. Before this gets out of hand, I'd like to share a wish. Can we all sleep here tonight? I'd kind of like to be surrounded by hot, male flesh on both sides."

The men had no problem accommodating her request. But first… they all needed showers.

Longer than usual preview, but I'm kind of excited about this story. The sages are champing at the bit to dive back in.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin