Sunday, October 29, 2017

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, October 22, 2017

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

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Sunday Snippet: Baring Skin

Well… another homecoming is in the books and life can return to semi-normal, which is still crazy but less so. LOL

Terrific week for television with shows returning for their fall premieres (and one season ender)!

The Last Ship's finale was everything I'd hoped for. The people I wanted to see not make it died in appropriate ways and they didn't touch anyone on my "better not kill" list, so, yeah, I'm thrilled to bits with how the season ended. And it looks like season five will be terrific! Can't wait for next summer.

I honestly didn't know if I'd like The Flash, but it ended up being a great episode. Cisco keeps things interesting and I like where Caitlyn is right now. Same goes for Legends of Tomorrow. Their reboot after messing up all of time is excellent. Can't wait to see what they end up doing for the rest of the season.

Arrow's premiere rocked. I really didn't know how they'd end up resolving the island explosion and it looks like there will be plenty of repercussions. I'm interested in what happened to the few we didn't see in the opening episode, namely the former league crew. I can honestly say it was awesome to see Raisa back with Oliver, too.

Gotham had another terrific episode. This show just keeps getting better and better. I like how they're beginning to weave Bruce's story into Gordon's… finally. I'm pretty "meh" about the Sophia Falcone stuff but we'll see where it goes.

My Netflix queue random pick ended up being Midsomer Murders. I'm enjoying a nice revisit to this show.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Baring Skin, a sexy short that brings the main characters together through a series of unfortunate—or fortunate, depending on your viewpoint—events.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Rachel Maddox and Jack Luthor work together and avoid acting on their attraction, until they catch each other in compromising positions. But when they do finally hook up they have to decide if they can maintain their professionalism on the job or start looking for a place to transfer.

And a snippety peek…

Forty-eight hours later, the next shift day, proved to be a polar opposite to the previous one. All remained quiet, no tones dropped to announce a call, not a wheel turned, radio silence. Rachel took the time to get a solid workout in. Between the station house and the hospital, she didn't have to purchase a gym membership, one of the perks of the job.
Station five had a climbing wall—which doubled as a rappelling unit for rescue training purposes—and she loved taking advantage of the knobby terrain. She'd made it halfway up when Jack entered with Dobby Newsome and Eric Sailor. The guys critiqued her skill and cracked jokes about how much fun she'd have when the dispatcher finally dropped a call in their laps. As usual, Dobby took things a step too far and trotted out the sexist remarks he loved. Today, he focused his comments on her ass.
Eric shook his head. "Dude, if you don't shut up, Rachel is going to kick your ass. And we'll stand back and cheer when she does." He shot Dobby a hard look.
Rachel snorted. "Wouldn't be a fair fight." She finished scaling the wall and started her descent. "Dobby would need at least two guys for backup." Her head angled over her shoulder, checking to see if her barb scored a direct hit.
Score one! Dobby's mouth flattened to a thin line and his hands balled into fists.
Eric grabbed Newsome and tugged him toward the mess hall. "And with that friendly warning, I think we'll go check on the dinner chow." They made their exit, leaving Jack behind.
Rachel met his gaze and rolled her eyes.
Concern flickered in Jack's eyes. "Someday he's going to get hit up against a woman who doesn't have your fortitude or patience." He glanced toward the mess hall. "He's lucky you haven't actually followed through and cut off his balls."
Rachel continued her downward path, but turned slightly. "Aww, your confidence in me is inspiring." She twisted back toward the wall but couldn't maneuver.
Her sports bra got hung up on one of the rappelling hooks.
She struggled a little. "Dammit. Got distracted. I know better." Rocking back and forth a little, she tried to unhook her snagged brassiere.
A tearing sound then cool air hit her skin. Shit! Pretty much total exposure.
She quickly lowered down to the floor, trying not to laugh when Jack averted his gaze.
Rachel covered up as much as she could. "It's not like you walked in on me in the head, Jack." Unlike when she walked in on him. "You're not even gonna sneak a peek?" She couldn't quite keep a note of challenge from her tone.
Jack's shoulders stiffened a little. "Unless you wanna walk around five house with the girls hanging out, I need to find something for you to wear." He walked over to the small lockers situated along the wall, trying to find an open one.
Duly chastised, Rachel unhooked the line rope and shimmied out of the harness while Jack's back remained turned. He came up empty with his search. Unbuttoning his uniform shirt, he shrugged out of it, leaving him in a sleeveless t-shirt. He then turned and held the light blue garment up for her to put on, keeping his gaze averted.
She stepped forward and slid her arms in the sleeves effectively covering her front. "Thank you." Spinning around to put her back to him, she wriggled the shirt around so she could button it up.
Jack reached out and fixed the collar, his fingers brushing over her skin. An electric zing shot along her nerve endings. Whoa.
Jack's fingers curled into his palm when he withdrew his hand. "That should do it for now." His voice had a husky rasp to it.
Rachel gave a brief nod and barely suppressed a shudder of awareness. "Um, yeah. I'll get changed and get it back to you in a few." Now her voice held a throaty purr.
He inclined his chin, acknowledging her retreat. "No rush."
Rachel walked away with a strong desire to hear his voice in the heat of passion—especially if he uttered her name in a gravelly tone. Holy crap. Had she just crossed over into the need to make that happen?
Probably yes.

I like this one and really need to spend the time to get it all finished up. Here's hoping that happens this year.



That's it for this week. Happy reading!


Skylin

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Sunday Snippet: Anything Goes

October 8, 2017

And so the crazypants onslaught begins. October starts the official launch of "let's go Mach II with our hair on fire" season. Homecoming is this weekend and my daughter is hosting nine other couples for pictures and dinner. Then we slide into Halloween, followed by the fall sports banquet, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year, and starting January 11, birthdays for all but one of my immediate family. LOL See… crazypants.

So, moving on to what calms me… television. The Last Ship proved, once again, it's never a good idea to mess with a wolf. Seriously, a few nice reveals were dropped and the episode let Fletch redeem himself… kind of. I'm probably in the minority but I'm not quite ready to forgive his transgressions yet.

Still need to watch Teen Wolf's finale. The past week got crazy busy so I didn't have time.

Finished up The Defenders and, yeah, I pretty much loved it. Looking forward to more from the individual series and also to The Punisher whenever it arrives. Heh, if it hasn't already because I'm that far behind right now.

Almost finished with Hawaii Five-0. Truly can't see how season eight is going to be decent without Chin or Kono. I guess I'll play it by ear.

I'm all caught up on Gotham and I love this show. The soft intro of Bruce's alter ego ended up being exactly perfect. Penguin raining havoc is a joy to watch. And poor Jim is getting ready for another round of the absolute wrong woman for him bingo. Falcone's daughter is probably not what the doctor ordered for the guy. Just saying.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Anything Goes, a novella that started as an exercise to write a story via flashback and keep it interesting.

Here's the mini-blurb:

On the eve of Olivia Barton and Luke Johnston's wedding, their friends and coworkers at the twelfth precinct throw a rehearsal 'roast' for the couple. Their unconventional courtship is chronicled for everyone to enjoy and none of the names are changed to protect anybody.

And a snippety peek…

Luke stopped by a cadet whose attention focused on the wall of academy records. She had her dark hair pulled back in a standard issue ponytail and her profile showed determination and a not a little arrogance. Her finger pointed to a name and tapped it.

He recognized the name.

She slid her gaze sideways, her hazel eyes intense. "This guy has the top score in every category." She pursed her lips then let a slow smirk cross her face. "But not for long."

Luke inclined his chin. "Really? Why is that?" He'd arrived at the shooting gallery for some practice and wore his civilian clothes.

She rocked back on her heels. "Because I intend to beat his record." Her voice oozed confidence.

Enough that Luke wanted to her to try, just to see if she could.

He tilted his head to one side. "You know, I'd like to see that. Mind if I join you in the range?" She narrowed her eyes and he quickly amended. "Just for fun on my part. Besides, you need someone to witness your achievement, don't you…" He glanced at her name tag. "Cadet Burton?" She filled out her uniform with a fit frame that had plenty of curves.

He couldn't wait to see how well she handled a weapon.

Cadet Burton nodded. "Actually, yeah. What's the point, if I don't have someone to back up my claim when I win?" She did a slow once-over of him from head to toe and a hint of heat filtered her gaze. "I think you'll do." Directing her head toward the end of the corridor, she motioned for him to precede her.

Luke bit back a bark of laughter. Cadet Burton didn't lack self-assurance and he'd give her props… especially if she beat the record-holder.

Then again… she had no idea Luke held the top score in every category.

I'm really having a great time with this one. Can't wait to see how everything comes together.



That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Sunday Snippet: Along the Shore

Hello, October. We're getting into the fall season and that means the rest of the year is going to fly by! The beginning of October always marks the start of the holiday season for me. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas / Yule. I'm excited!

The Last Ship had a decent episode. I was so hoping Giorgio got blown up but, alas, not the case. Here's hoping he meets with a satisfying ending sometime in the near future. His whole family can go up in flames and I wouldn't shed a tear.

I haven't watched Teen Wolf's finale yet. I'm not quite ready for its end. But it's going to be terrific. I have no doubt.

Got a few more episodes of The Defenders in. I really didn't see Alexandria's end… if it's an actual ending. You just never know with the Hand.

Hawaii Five-0 said goodbye to Max in a great episode. I'm about halfway through the season and still enjoying.

Gotham's second episode ended up being excellent. I love how everything is coming together. Interesting to see Barbara back on the screen.

That's it for television this week. Looking forward to more of my favorite shows being back soon. Tonight's post is from Along the Shore, a South of the Border tale.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vail Ericsson, a freelance security expert and skilled tracker, can find anyone for a price. But when he trails Ellery Quantrell to Mexico, he discovers she's not an escapee but a target and his role changes from pursuer to protector, whether Ellery wants him as a shield or not.

And a snippety peek…

Oh dear, if looks could kill, she'd be in serious danger right now. Okay, more danger. She hoped someone called the emergency services for the booth owner. Ellery liked the woman, Carmela, and had chatted with her almost every day since Ellery had arrived in Mexico.
She risked another glance at the man who'd come after her. He didn't have the countenance of Ivan's usual entourage of bodyguards and hired protection. Then again, he said he'd been tasked with tracking her down and returning her to Ivan.
No way in hell would she return. Not even for her brother.
The man kept his gaze moving, his body angling back and forth until he got a good look at all the upper levels and balconies. He might not be a standard Ivan goon, but Ellery didn't trust him. Not for a minute. The guy had military or mercenary training. With his build, though smaller than Puchenko's usual slabs of beefy, muscled brutes, he would no doubt hold his own. He had dark hair, a little shaggy on the top, so probably mercenary instead of military. His eyes, a rich, dark brown, had a piercing intensity. They didn't miss anything.
And currently, his gaze landed on her like a physical blow.
He quirked a brow and opened his mouth to speak, but frowned instead. His head snapped around just when a soft pop sounded. A bullet struck the stone slab less than two inches from Ellery. She squeaked but didn't scream. She'd grown too used to bullets flying to be completely freaked out.
But she didn't fight the guy when he dragged her from the seat and shoved her in front of him, marching her toward cover. He ducked into the first building they came to and pushed her against the interior wall while he did a quick assessment of their situation.
They were pinned down inside the small gift shop, unless they could exit out a back entrance. If the store had one. Some of the smaller boutiques received their deliveries at neighboring locations. A wash of anger hit Ellery. She'd been free and clear until one stupid man showed up, leading Puchenko's men right to her.
She tapped him on the shoulder. "Exactly how're you going to get us out of this one, Mr Big Shot?" Snarking at him wouldn't help their circumstances, but damn, the sarcasm gave her a needed boost.
The guy narrowed his gaze. "The name's Vail and I will figure this out." He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the shop owner. "You got a back entrance?"
The man held up his hands and shook his head. He didn't speak English. Ellery translated and asked again in Spanish. The owner smiled and nodded, pointing the way to the rear exit.
Vail tugged her behind him, his longer strides making it hard for her to keep up. Ellery followed for now. She'd find a way to lose him once they got back outside and she could make a break for it.
Attractive or not, Vail had brought the hounds of hell to her door and Ellery wouldn't soon forgive or forget.

I'm having so much fun writing Vail and Ellery and it's nice to revisit Lars and Kiernan, too.



That's it for this week. Happy reading!


Skylin