Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, mentors, and mother figures out there! Enjoy the day, and if it's a hard day to celebrate, take care of you.

Another wildly busy work week but a lot of projects moved ahead and some were completed. One contrary work thing took an unexpected turn and I'll be trying to figure that one out later today.

Had a decent week of viewing despite the busy schedule. I made it through a full round of my shows, minus one—Dark Winds—because it's not on the streaming service I have anymore. I think it's on another one, but I've been too busy to track it down.

Started the week off with Brokenwood Mysteries. This one ended up being a lot of fun with a couple of interesting secrets being revealed. Truly hope to see more of Trudy and Ray's mom.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. Really not sure what Neville's DI friend is doing on the island but have a feeling it's not going to mean anything good.

Loved the Beyond Paradise holiday special for this past Christmas. I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of the season when it's available in the US.

Enjoyed another episode of Elementary. Interesting to get some backstory of Sherlock's time under the influence. Also intriguing that he stayed somewhat in the background. I like that kind of character progress.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and didn't really have any recollection about this one. I did enjoy seeing Terry use his Batman moves while out of the costume.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and enjoyed both vignettes. I didn't remember either of them so more new-to-me stuff.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella that explores getting back out there after a bad breakup.

Here's the miniblurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far, he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

When Velma stood up to clear the table, Kade finished his last swallow of beer. "Anything I can do to help?" He arched his brows.

Velma waved him off. "Nah. I've got this. You and Howie can crack open another beer and I'll be right back." She scooped up the plates, stacking them with the ease of someone who had worked in a restaurant.

Kade accepted another bottle from Howie and twisted the cap off. "Someone hurt her, didn't they?" He'd been putting the pieces together all through the meal.

She'd brought Howie in for moral support … a human safety net.

Howie lifted his chin. "More like someones, as in two people." He leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. "One was her business partner and the third of our childhood trio. The other is an asshole named Matt Carson."

Kade winced. "Ouch. Let me guess. This Matt dude came between them?" A huge dick move.

Howie snorted. "And then some. He actually tried to take over the business because he had development of the location in mind." His voice took on a hard edge. "Thought he'd get his paws on the property through a relationship and set about stringing both Velma and Margie along."

Kade blinked. "As in…" He couldn't have been hooking up with each one, right?

Howie snarled. "Dating and sleeping with both? Yeah. That's exactly what he did." Peeling the label from the bottle, Howie met Kade's gaze. "Once Velma figured out Matt was a two-timing bastard, she cut ties with him fully expecting Margie to do the same." His hand curled into a fist.

Kade grunted. "Let me guess … She didn't." Ouch.

Howie gave a nod. "Nope. She kept right on seeing him and started flaunting the relationship in front of Vel." He tipped the bottle to his lips and drained half of it. "Velma sucked it up and tried to maintain the partnership and friendship. But it got much worse."

Kade grimaced. "I'm not gonna like this, am I?" A fist to the face would be too good for the schmuck.

Howie huffed out a breath. "I sure as hell didn't." He sighed. "Since I work for the fire department, we rotate going to the council meetings whenever ideas for new development are on the schedule. During one of those committee meetings, I found out Matt started the process of having plans drawn up for a new business that would combine his location with Margie and Velma's."

Kade's eyes went wide. "Did Margie know about this?" What a betrayal if she did.

Howie snarled. "Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Matt convinced her if they got married and she signed her half of the boutique over to him, he could buy out Velma and he and Margie could open their new venue."

Kade shook his head. "He didn't actually plan to buy Velma out, did her?" A ball of anger settled in his gut.

Howie pursed his lips. "Nope. The asshole figured he'd force Velma out by getting her to breach the partnership contract she had with Margie. You see, Margie got a bigger share of the profit because Velma lived at the location. Margie had her grandmother's cottage and didn't need the living quarters." Howie rolled his eyes. "Douce canoe Carson had the big idea to cook up a second set of books, showing Velma had been pocketing a larger percentage then leveraging her out with blackmail. And Margie agreed to go along with the plan."

Kade swallowed down the bile in his throat and chased it with half his beer. "Tell me everything blew up in his face." On a nuclear level.

Howie's lips curved. "Some of it did. I stopped by Margie's to see if I could talk her out of trashing a lifelong friendship for an asshole like Carson. Instead, I overheard everything and recorded the plot to blackmail Vel." His smile widened. "Didn't take much convincing to have a couple of my cop buddies pull Matt into the station and lay everything out for him."

Kade grunted. "Hope it went something like get the fuck out of town or no one will ever find his body." He'd deserve it.

Howie barked out a laugh. "Nothing quite that dramatic, but they made it clear he'd be hard-pressed to stay in business once they put the word out about his underhanded dealing." He sobered. "The part that didn't blow up in his face is Margie. She left with Matt and Velma bought Margie out of their contract—after they agreed on a dollar amount." He met Kade's gaze. "And that's the saga of Velma Arndt." He sat back and picked up his beer, taking a long sip.

Kade did the same, turning over all the information in his mind. The one thing that stuck? He didn't blame Velma one bit for calling in reinforcements.

This story is fun because the sages love these characters. Kade and Velma have a spark and watching it ignite is a joy.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

June is coming to a close and I can honestly say this feels like the longest effing year while at the same time the days are flying off the calendar. It's bizarre and baffling. 2020 is probably going to go down as the year I want to forget but won't be able to. LOL

Rather slow week of television but I did get a few things watched. I started with Kings of Broadway, a charity program on YouTube. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Started season three of Danger Man and thought it would be color episodes, but it's not yet. Enjoyed the first episode.

Caught another episode of Strike Back and Strike Back Declassified. I've only got two episodes left and then I'll have to start a rewatch because I love these characters so much.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and look forward to seeing how it ends. I like this Aussie drama and have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot of familiar faces.

Watched another episode of Gargoyles. It's one I don't remember so it was nice to have something to sink into. I think I'm about a third of the way through the second season.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella that's coming along nicely.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

Kade finished scraping the paint from the window in his bedroom. Screaming pink and some kind of marbled fuchsia and gold gave him a headache. Dee loved bright colors. Turquoise, hot yellow, sunny orange, and bright lime green rounded out the decorating scheme of the apartment. He'd asked Jim about it and the man chuckled.

He nodded toward the alley. "If you look in the garage, there's enough sandy gray to repaint the entire interior." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I figured we'd have to redo the apartment before we could even dream of selling the place. We're lucky you saw past the blinding riot and made an offer."

Kade could kiss Jim for having the foresight to buy a nice beachy neutral. The color looked great in various lights and would give him a good backdrop to add some color. Nothing flashy like Dee's cavalcade of retina-twitching options, but a mix of blues and some pops of green and maybe a splash of red would work well. He thanked his interior designer mother for instilling a sense of good taste in him from an early age.

Putting the putty knife aside, he stood before the window. He loved the sound of the waves drifting onto the shoreline. The water appealed to him. Lake, ocean, river, didn't matter as long as the sound made it to his ears.

Making the move south ended up being a good fit. Okay, he'd only been official for two weeks, but he'd accomplished a lot during his brief tenure. Yeah, he still needed to move his furniture in, but the futon mattress worked as a bed for now. Painting came first, then the big stuff could come in. The most important detail had been covered. The ice cream shop belonged to him. No partners, no personality clashes, no nightmare dissolving of assets. He'd never been married, but he'd bet a divorce settlement would have taken less skin off his hide.

From this point on, sole proprietorship only. At least in his professional life.

"Now the personal … that's something else entirely."

His friendly neighbor piqued his interest. He looked forward to getting to know her better. She didn't give off a married vibe, but maybe she had a boyfriend. He rather hoped not. Easy on the eyes, a killer smile, and loads of curves made her a winning combination. He liked women who were fit but not to the point they were all angles and sharp planes. Velma had toned arms and legs paired with soft rounded hips, which he loved. Her ass looked damned good in shorts. She'd had her hair in a messy bun on top of her head and her eyes showed a range of emotions not to mention a lot of intelligence. Velma definitely caught his attention.

After a quick look at the time, he stripped his shorts off and entered the small bathroom to grab a shower. "No stinky pits for dinner." Humming an old crooner classic, he washed the sweat and paint flecks off then stood under the spray letting the hot water hit the kinks in his shoulders.

Physical labor kept him in good shape along with walks or runs along the beach. He'd put in a lot of extra work during the two weeks he'd been down here and his muscles were protesting. When the water started cooling, he shut the shower off and quickly toweled dry. Digging through his supply of clothing, he snagged a pair of blue cargo shorts and a brand-new white T-shirt. On his way out, he grabbed a sky blue twill button-up and tossed it over his shoulder. Slipping his feet into a nicer pair of his athletic slides, he started across the small thoroughfare separating their back entrances. The smell of grilled chicken seasoned with some kind of spicy mix hit his nostrils and his mouth watered. Eating out had advantages—no clean up—and takeout proved convenient. But he couldn't wait to have a nice, quiet dinner with a beautiful woman. He missed having a good conversation along with his meal.

When he ducked through the well-maintained opening to Velma's patio, his heart sank. She had company…

A tall guy who had the look of a longtime native.

Didn't that suck big ones?

I loved writing this scene. Working in Dee's interior design scheme had me chuckling while I typed.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Well… this has been a crazy week. My daughter had a break on Monday for MLK Jr. Day and hasn't been back to school since. Four snow days in a row. We're supposed to have a warmer weekend so hopefully they'll be back to school this week. She's going stir-crazy and keeps mumbling about the district canceling school for the rest of the year. LOL

Not a bad week in television. MY SHOWS ARE BACK!! The Flash put Barry on trial and, holy crap, he's not in a good place. I'd like to say I cared more about everything happening but I just can't give two craps about the stupid body swap, uber smart big bad here. Eh… at least we're getting some good character development on other fronts.

Gotta say if you're not watching Black Lightning, find it and watch! What a kickass premiere! I'm excited about this show. I'm still holding out hope we eventually get a Vixen scripted drama sometime in the future.

Arrow still ranks as my top DC universe show. Even though James is similar to the uber smart Flash villain scenario, I like how he's got a team of junior villains backing him. I'm holding out hope this one has a satisfactory ending.

Riverdale. Oh, show. Where the hell are you going? I'm kind of thrilled I have no freaking clue what out of left field thing will happen next. Part of the joy in watching this show is the absolutely crazy dark alleys it decides to go down. That said, pitting Archie against Hiram is either the best thing ever or the stupidest move an FBI agent will ever make. Just saying.

Got started on The Punisher and, honestly, it ranks right up there with Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Daredevil. Iron Fist is still the weakest link in this group, but I have faith Danny won't be the most annoying superhero ever in his second season. Maybe.

Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode last week. I know nothing about cricket but it made an interesting murder backdrop. Also, it's so awesome William and Julia are possibly going to start their family. Fingers crossed that actually happens.

Frankie Drake provided a terrific case this week and also had excellent guest stars. So awesome to see George Crabtree around and doing quite well for himself. Also, Laurence Fox can guest star again whenever he wants. I'm totally down with that idea.

Finished the second season of Chicago Fire and, wow, what an ending. Got the third season ready to start today. Definitely glad I don't have to wait through a hiatus to find out what happened to everyone.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella that got a start when a fanfiction writing community suggested writing a story where a character's best-kept secret is revealed. Sounded like a lot of fun.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

Kade finished scraping the paint from the window in his bedroom. Screaming pink and some kind of marbled fuchsia and gold gave him a headache. Dee loved bright colors. Turquoise, hot yellow, sunny orange, and bright lime green rounded out the decorating scheme of the apartment. He'd asked Jim about it and the man chuckled.

He nodded toward the alley. "If you look in the garage, there's enough sandy gray to repaint the entire interior." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I figured we'd have to redo the apartment before we could even dream of selling the place. We're lucky you saw past the blinding riot and made an offer."

Kade could kiss Jim for having the foresight to buy a nice beachy neutral. The color looked great in various lights and would give him a good backdrop to add some color. Nothing flashy like Dee's cavalcade of retina-twitching options, but a mix of blues and some pops of green and maybe a splash of red would work well. He thanked his interior designer mother for instilling a sense of good taste in him from an early age.

Putting the putty knife aside, he stood before the window. He loved the sound of the waves drifting onto the shoreline. The water appealed to him. Lake, ocean, river, didn't matter as long as the sound made it to his ears.

Making the move south ended up being a good fit. Okay, he'd only been official for two weeks, but he'd accomplished a lot during his brief tenure. Yeah, he still needed to move his furniture in, but the futon mattress worked as a bed for now. Painting came first, then the big stuff could come in. The most important detail had been covered. The ice cream shop belonged to him. No partners, no personality clashes, no nightmare dissolving of assets. He'd never been married, but he'd bet a divorce settlement would have taken less skin off his hide.

From this point on, sole proprietorship only. At least in his professional life.

"Now the personal… that's something else entirely."

His friendly neighbor piqued his interest. He looked forward to getting to know her better. She didn't give off a married vibe, but maybe she had a boyfriend. He rather hoped not. Easy on the eyes, a killer smile, and loads of curves made her a winning combination. He liked women who were fit but not to the point they were all angles and sharp planes. Velma had toned arms and legs paired with soft rounded hips, which he loved. Her ass looked damned good in shorts. She'd had her hair in a messy bun on top of her head and her eyes showed a range of emotions not to mention a lot of intelligence. Velma definitely caught his attention.

After a quick look at the time, he stripped his shorts off and entered the small bathroom to grab a shower. "No stinky pits for dinner." Humming an old crooner classic, he washed the sweat and paint flecks off then stood under the spray letting the hot water hit the kinks in his shoulders.

Physical labor kept him in good shape along with walks or runs along the beach. He'd put in a lot of extra work during the two weeks he'd been down here and his muscles were protesting. When the water started cooling, he shut the shower off and quickly toweled dry. Digging through his supply of clothing, he snagged a pair of blue cargo shorts and a brand-new white T-shirt. On his way out, he grabbed a sky blue twill button-up and tossed it over his shoulder. Slipping his feet into a nicer pair of his athletic slides, he started across the small thoroughfare separating their back entrances. The smell of grilled chicken seasoned with some kind of spicy mix hit his nostrils and his mouth watered. Eating out had advantages—no clean up—and takeout proved convenient. But he couldn't wait to have a nice, quiet dinner with a beautiful woman. He missed having a good conversation along with his meal.

When he ducked through the well-maintained opening to Velma's patio, his heart sank. She had company…

A tall guy who had the look of a longtime native.

Didn't that suck big ones.

So far, I like where this one is going. Velma and Kade should have a lot of fun getting their acts together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Okay… getting right to the television part of my post.

The Flash and Arrow premiered!!! Both had excellent season openers. I kind of love where everything is headed and can't wait for this week's episodes. *EEP*

And I'm totally NOT freaking out over whose graveside Oliver and Barry were standing beside. Nope. I'm not. I know who I'd kind of like it to be, but I'll hold off and not speculate too much. LOL

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow had terrific episodes, too. I missed the opener for Sleepy Hollow and still need to watch, but the second ep has me intrigued already.

I also need to watch the double dose of Haven so I'm caught up on that one, too. I've started watching the final episodes of Lost Girl and Strike Back. Two shows I wish didn't have to end. *sniffles*

The conclusion to Doctor Who's two-parter didn't exactly cement the show as awesome for me, so we'll see how things continue. It's still good television so I'll still watch.

But… the best thing of the week? The Walking Dead premieres!!! So looking forward to tonight's episode!!

And that's it for TV. I thought I might do a rambly post about Arrow and The Flash, but you know, they would get a little too spoilery if I attempted to do so.

Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella where my heroine gets firsthand knowledge of my hero's mental checklist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

Velma Arndt glanced out the front window of her beachwear shop and groaned. "Dammit. That can't be the new owner of Ice Caps."

Tall, broad-shouldered, and ripped, the guy had short, dark hair, a well-defined back, and powerful legs if the way he climbed a ladder could be considered anything to go by. Velma fanned her face and continued observing the prime specimen of man working next door to her business. He moved with fluid grace, hanging a new awning to provide shade over the main entrance. His beat-up cargo shorts hung low on his hips, but his ass filled out the rear in a pleasing way. Her eyes slid shut and a sexy image of stripping his shorts off to get a good look at the sculpted globes of flesh had another groan rumbling in her chest.

She turned away from the window. "Geez. I need to find a studly, single tourist and have my wicked way with him." Scratch the itch and carry on.

Hmmm. Maybe the sexy guy hadn't bought the ice cream parlor and only came to do the initial work to get the place ready to reopen. Man, she couldn't get that lucky, could she?

She sure as hell wanted to find out.

Making her way to the front of her shop, she propped the door open and walked outside, shielding her hand from the afternoon sun. If possible, he looked even better without the tinted glass of her windows distorting the view. Mid-thirties by her guess and his hair had streaks of golden brown, lightened by the sun. God, he hit all her hot spots. Please let him be a subcontractor for the new owner.

Velma strolled over, watching him finish with the awning. "Looks great. I love the colors." The bold stripes looked colorful against the pale yellow exterior of the store.

The man swung down from the ladder. "Thanks. Figured it would be noticeable for at least a couple of blocks." He grabbed his shirt from the back side of the ladder and shrugged it over his head.

Much to Velma's disappointment. His droolworthy abs should come with a warning sign—please don't forget a towel.

He stuck his hand out. "Kade Valdossi. I just bought the place from Jim and Dee." He flashed a warm smile.

Velma's heart sank, but she grasped his palm. "Velma Arndt. I'm next door." A zing of awareness shot up her arm. "Nice to meet you." Oh, why did he have to be so damned attractive.

Kade quirked an eyebrow. "You're the sweet, little thing the Rubens raved about?" His mouth curved again. "They didn't tell me you were gorgeous, too."

Velma cracked a smile. "Jim and Dee were great. I hope they're going to enjoy Arizona." The couple decided to try their luck in a drier climate. "Do you plan to live here year-round?"

Kade nodded. "Yep. Moved everything out from Ohio. Lived on the Lake Erie and wanted to stay close to water." He folded up the ladder and stashed it inside the entrance. "Looks like we'll be neighbors… as soon as I get my furniture moved in."

The shops on their strip of beach had residences built-in behind the stores. Most were fairly small, usually a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and small living room set up in a studio style apartment, but this block had expanded units, two or three bedrooms with a separate kitchen, bathroom, and larger living area. Each place also had a patio with privacy fences and small garages facing the alley. For owners who lived beachside year-round, the convenience proved immeasurable.

Velma glanced inside the ice cream parlor. "When do you reopen?" The season wouldn't officially start for another month, but he'd be surprised how busy the locals would keep him.

Kade motioned her to follow him into the store. "I'm thinking sometime next week. The interior only needed a few updates—Jim and Dee took great care of the place—and my first delivery arrives this weekend." He nodded toward the back of the shop. "The apartment needs a little more work, but I have new appliances coming tomorrow so at least I'll be able to cook and keep up with laundry while I'm renovating." He paused and laughed. "I'm kind of excited. I'm tired of eating out all the time—which probably sounds stupid, considering I'm in the business."

Velma chuckled. "Actually, it doesn't sound stupid. It sounds normal."

Velma liked Kade. She wouldn't use him for a booty call, but she could be a good neighbor and invite him to dinner. And no, she absolutely wouldn't be tempted to break her number one rule and get involved with him. Zing of attraction, raging lust, or not.

She met his gaze. "Since you're tired of restaurant fare, why don't you drop by tonight for dinner. I'm planning to do some chicken on the grill and I've got plenty." She'd whip up a salad and maybe add some pineapple to the menu, too.

Kade tilted his head to one side. "I'd love to. What time?" His eyes traveled over her from head to toe.

She warmed under the scrutiny, but hoped it didn't show. "Seven? I'm open until six on weekdays during the off season." She turned to head over to her shop. "Come around back. I'll be on the patio." With a smile and a wave, she ducked out of the ice cream parlor and darted back into her store.

Her heart pounded with excitement and dread. She had to be crazy to start down a path that might end up with complicated roadblocks. And yeah, they'd be her hurdles, but she had damned good reasons for not getting tangled up with relationships. But Kade had an air of decency that drew her in. And the smokin' hot looks didn't hurt either.

God, what an idiot she'd become.

Reaching for her phone, she scrolled through her contacts and hit send. Two rings later, her best friend answered. "Howie… I need a favor. Can you come over for dinner tonight?"

Howie to the rescue, but the sages tell me he's going to have a ringside seat to his best friend's struggle to remain impassive to Kade and Howie will enjoy the show. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Happy Almost Holidays!

The family and I are thisclose to being ready for the merry season. We always wait and decorate the tree a day or two before December 25 so the lights are strung, but nothing else until tomorrow. :D

I'm watching holiday episodes of my favorite TV shows. Warehouse 13, Eureka, Doctor Who, and last year's Arrow episode, Year's End. Up next is Leverage with the Ho, Ho, Ho Job. :D

Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a short story where my two main characters discuss a certain list one has and fun ensues. :D

Here's the tagline:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

Kade heaved a sigh. Velma hadn't let up for days. Prancing around the beach with her hot sky blue bikini top and cut off, white denim shorts? Took her sexy teasing one step too far.

Really, Kade? Dozens of females wearing tiny two pieces flitted back and forth on the sand. Kade roundly cursed his stupid inner voice for pointing out the flaw in his logic. None of the dozens of other women were Velma, the single person on the planet that could make his dick hard with a sultry glance. And she damned well understood her effect on him, too.

That part irritated Kade. After talking to Howie, he got the why of holding back and not getting involved. And Kade enjoyed the flirty banter, but just because he understood Velma's hesitation didn't mean she could use him for kicks without consequences.

He needed to find a moment alone with her and Kade finally caught her in a cabana room.

"Look, Velma, I enjoy the fun and games, but you're pushing it a little, don't you think?"

Velma lowered her gaze. "Maybe." She shrugged. "But like you said, you don't mind, right?"

He smirked. "No, not really. But…" He moved forward, invading her personal space. "There are going to be repercussions."

She snorted. "Like what?"

Kade flexed his fingers and started with her sides. Velmo lost it, laughing and twisting around trying to get away. He kept hold, and she finally grabbed at his hands and dragged him down with her to the sandy floor. He landed on top of her, but broke his fall by bracing his hands on either side of her body.

Velma dragged in several deep breaths, then lifted a brow. "Well, Kade… now that you have me right where you want me… what are you gonna do?"

Kade pondered a moment. "I think I might have to go for number seventeen on my list."

~:~

Velma's eyes widened. "You have a list?" The thought made her heart race, especially since he made it sound like he'd been thinking about her a lot.

Kade huffed out a harsh breath. "Damn right. Don't you?" He lowered down onto an elbow, settling onto his side, but keeping her in place.

Velma chuckled. "Not that I'd ever admit to having."

A big grin crossed his face. "Ah, but you see, you just did." He waggled his eyebrows.

Velma laughed. "Okay, you've got me there." She shoved her hand against his chest. "Now let me up." His close proximity made her want things she shouldn't have.

Kade did a quick back and forth with his head. "Nope. Not quite yet."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why not?"

A slow smile spread across his face. "Because I haven't done this yet."

Her breath caught when his head lowered, his warm mouth capturing hers in a firm kiss. His tongue slipped past her lips before she could even think about it. She moaned and cupped his face, bringing him closer, deepening the embrace. Good god, the man had a hot mouth.

And she wanted to find out exactly how much heat they could generate.

If all goes well, it'll be tons of heat. :D :D

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin