Sunday Snippet: Violating Space

Very intense and bizarre weather this past week. We had a significant warm up, which melted a lot of the snow. Then we had a ton of rain followed by high water and flooding. To top it off, the temperatures dropped again into the teens and twenties and we got more icy rain and snow. Seriously, it's crazy.

Had a very busy work week with projects landing in my inbox. I'm happy to have the work flowing and keeping me busy. Oddly, my writing time is shorter but I'm getting a lot done.

Had a solid week of television viewing. Introduced a couple of additional shows and I'll be adding a new one next week.

Caught two episodes of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life and finished up the first season. I'll start season two this week.

Started a new two-part Queens of Mystery and rather enjoyed the episode. I love the aunts and I'm starting to really enjoy the secondary characters. Matilda is such a great character even if she frustrates me sometimes.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness's opening for season sixteen. Started a new two-parter and enjoyed it.

Watched three episodes of Classic Who. I should finish the arc up this week and move on to the next one.

Caught two more episodes of The Alaska Triangle. I have so much fun watching this show. I really love the haunted places and mysterious forces vignettes.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppets. The show has really grown on me even if it'll never replace the original in my mind.

Watched two more episodes of Harrow. I'm quite enamored with this show and I hope things play out the way I'm expecting them to. There's a twist I didn't quite expect and I love it and it also makes me think things will fall where I think they're going to. I can't wait to find out.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and even though I knew what to expect, the death did not play the way I thought it would. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet.

Enjoyed two more MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. She discussed scale and architecture along with storytelling with light. The light lesson fascinated me. I'm a sucker for well-lit—not to be confused with brightly lit—settings. I'm glad I dropped into this class.

Watched two episodes of Paranoid. I'm quite taken with this show. I love the intrigue and mystery and the dynamic of the forming relationships. I think this one might end up with something of a gotcha and I'm quietly waiting with anticipation to see if I'm right.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. One of my favorites, "Meet the Carmichaels," gave me some happy joy for the week. This show fills me with so much nostalgia.

Finished up season three of Chicago Med and started season four. A lot went down on the three finale. I'm still trying to wrap my head around where everyone currently is in the opening of four.

I watched the last available episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have two behind-the-scenes specials to watch and then I'll have to impatiently wait for anything new.

Finished up an older episode of Blue Heelers. I'll be adding more of these to my weekly lineup. Looking forward to getting back into this one.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Man, this series really brings a great cast of characters together. I'm never bored and I'm glad I'm watching the second season right now because I'm getting to know Pike at the best possible time with the new Trek arriving soon. I can't wait.

That's pretty much it for this week's viewing update. Tonight's post is from Violating Space, a sexy short about a workplace romance where the characters shouldn't be tempting fate.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Reese Claymore has it bad for Eric Matthews but they work in the same department and can't really get together. Doesn't mean Reese can't express her interest—to the point of driving Eric a little insane over it. He decides to prove a point and invades her personal space, but his plan goes awry when he can't resist acting on his crazy impulse.

And a snippety peek…

Eric's opportunity for someday arrived forty-eight hours later. He needed a dozen copies of a new proposal and made his way to the copy room. The whirr of the machine in use met his ears before he popped the door open.

Collated pages slid out fresh from the feed and Reese stood at the machine—sorting reports as they spit out of the unit. When he stepped into the space, she glanced over her shoulder, a quick smile on her lips. Her eyes went wide then got a sultry gleam when she noticed him.

Turning back, she greeted him. "Hey there."

Eric pushed the door closed and moved to stand behind her, getting closer than he should. If he wanted to prove a point, he'd have to get a little up close and personal. The files stopped printing out and Reese gathered up the remaining few, stacking the pages on her pile. Eric held fast and didn't move.

Reese turned and smacked into Eric, dropping the reports to the floor. "Ack. Crap." She stopped down to start gathering them.

Eric helped her pick them up, staying in her space. The light scent of something sexy hit his nostrils. Mmm. He liked the aroma.

She paused and rocked back on her heels. "What are you doing?" Her head tilted to one side.

He held her gaze. "Violating your space to make a point." No reason to not be honest.

Her brows rose. "What would that be?" Her breath rasped out.

Heh. He liked turning the tables. "You know what the point is, Reese." He leaned in when her lips parted; his mouth hovering less than a breath away from hers. "Set a match to flame and someday you'll get burned."

She exhaled slowly. "Ahh. Care to demonstrate?"

Instinct pushed him forward and he caught her lips, slipping his tongue between them, sinking into the embrace. Reese moaned, deepening the kiss, and Eric lost the ability to think. Until voices in the hall had her scrambling away from him with a gasp.

Shit. Making out with a coworker in the copy room. Eric ran his hand through his hair. What the hell am I thinking?

Eric got more than he expected when Reece challenged him and I think he quite liked it.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Curiosity Kills It

I'm a little surprised May is at an end and I shouldn't be. Then again, I spent the entire week getting days mixed up so there's that.

Pretty decent week of television viewing. I started out by finishing the Roswell, New Mexico episode and, frankly, loved it. I like that Maria didn't let Liz off the hook. I'm so glad she knows what's going on now. I also hope she gets over the betrayal and becomes an ally for the alien side. I'm very cautious about Cameron's appearance. Something tells me she's going to be doing a lot of backstabbing but for a good reason. I don't for a moment believe Jesse is as bad off as he makes out to be and we'll be seeing his evil ways rear their ugly heads again. And, finally, Isabel. What a terrific episode for her. I enjoyed the way her connection to Max was explored and explained. I'll look forward to more of this type of storyline for her.

On a fun note, I got to watch my daughter's graduation via YouTube. I can honestly say it was rather nice to sit in a cool house to see her get her diploma rather than sitting in a hot stadium. The circumstances might not have been ideal, but the school put a ton of effort into making the graduation special and I appreciate their work.

I started an episode of The Heart Guy and, well, didn't finish it. The show isn't grabbing me the way I'd hoped. I'll probably come back to it later.

Also caught another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. For a show that's well over twenty years old, some of the storylines are very relevant to today's circumstances.

Caught the beginning arc of the fourth doctor on Classic Who. Four has a long, long run for the show and I'm excited to get started on his tenure.

Watched one episode of Gargoyles and it's another one I didn't remember from my initial viewing. Pretty decent episode with some cat and mouse maneuvers.

Was able to get in another episode of Strike Back and quite enjoyed it. The team now knows what's going on with the blood vendetta and I'm excited for the final three episodes. Can't wait to see how the series ends. The declassified behind the scenes also ended up being really enjoyable.

Caught another episode of The Witcher and I'm getting sucked deeper into the mythology of the show. I thoroughly enjoyed all three storylines, two of which converged together in this episode. I'm interested to see what happens next.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. I'll be starting a new Passionflix movie sometime later tonight and look forward to seeing the first part of Gabriel's Inferno.

Tonight's post is from Curiosity Kills It, a novella that is coming along nicely now that the characters have figured out what they want.

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…

Chuck heaved a sigh of relief when he exited the station after a call-free night. "Could've sworn Pagan would be up my ass about the protocol thing." Yet she'd never mentioned the argument.

She'd steered clear of him, taking her dinner out onto the patio even though the wind gusts had picked up. And she'd gone to the sleeping quarters early instead of watching the latest super hero flick with the rest of the crew. But … she didn't cop an attitude or anything, just quietly went about her business, tucking a book under her arm before calling good night.

After sliding into his vehicle, he paused, watching her stroll to her car. "She seems distracted." Odd, because she usually tried to talk at least one of their coworkers into stopping at the diner around the corner for a huge breakfast.

Shaking his head, he started his truck and headed for home. "Don't beg trouble, dumbass. Who cares why Pagan didn't get in your face?" He definitely counted it as a bonus that she didn't jump his shit.

Cutting through some heavy traffic on the freeway, he focused on driving. Once he cleared the glut of cars, his mind wandered again. Back to Pagan and why she always seemed to give him nothing but headaches.

Not like he didn't get her frustration. She wanted to be able to put the medic back in service if they didn't transport anyone from a scene. Currently, they weren't able to do so, especially if supplies were used on location.

Pulling into his drive, he cut the engine. "Completely get her point of view, but she has to stick to the policy, dammit." At least until the SOP got changed.

Exiting the truck, he waved to his neighbor. Like clockwork, Marcie watered her plants before she left for work in the morning. Chuck went past his house to the storage shed in the backyard. He might as well get the grass mowed; they were due for rain the next day.

Doing the mundane chore should give his mind time to settle and, hopefully, find a new topic to think about.

Pulling the mower out, he yanked on the cord. "I so don't need Pagan taking up space in my head for the next two days."

I'm excited to work on this one again. Pagan and Chuck needed some time to get their heads on straight.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Selling Tickets

Got a solid week of TV viewing in because the weather has been so back and forth it's easier to not plan anything. LOL

Caught another episode of Chicago Fire and, wow, it was terrific. The whole creepy buildup to the reveal played out really well. I have some thoughts on Brett and Casey but won't hold my breath to see what I want there. Loved seeing some good interaction with Kelly and Stella.

Watched the premiere episode of Daredevil's third season. Not a bad start at all. Enjoyed Karen and Foggy the most and liked seeing Matt try to come back. I'm not completely down with him being all pissy about everything but then again why wouldn't he be?

Enjoyed Frankie Drake Mysteries third episode. I kind of miss Frankie having different guys revolve in and out of her life, but she's got chemistry with the detective… even though I'd kind of like Mary to hook up with him.

Riverdale does batshit crazy better than just about any other show out there. As much as I like Mark Consuelos as an actor, I truly loathe Hiram and seriously see nothing redeeming in his characterization. That's usually when I start to lose interest. Here's hoping that doesn't happen with this show.

Watched several more episodes of Blue Heelers. I can't quite decide if I like the detective or not. And Wayne's wife Roz annoys me sometimes. That said, I love the show. Glad I picked it to watch.

Arrow managed to surprise me with the Brothers and Sisters episode. I'm very intrigued with Adrian Paul playing a bad guy. I can't wait to find out what his connection is to Emiko… I have several thoughts about how it might tie into how Oliver spent some of his time in earlier seasons and who he spent that time with. We'll see if I'm right.

Caught the finale of The Murders and it did not disappoint. I so hope this show gets another season and, if so, it needs to have Nolan. Just saying.

Watched another episode of Classic Roswell and enjoyed it again. I like how viewers can almost see the moment Valenti shifts his perspective on possible alien residency in Roswell.

Speaking of Roswell... New Mexico added the actress who plays Rosa as a series regular for season two. I admit this concerns me. Not because I didn't enjoy the actress; more because this is already a huge cast and I'd rather not have my favorites lose screen time. Maria was woefully underused and my hope is Rosa will help bring her into the fold. If not, I might be saying "so long" to Roswell, New Mexico… which actually saddens me because the first season is still eating my brain.

Caught another episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I didn't remember. I liked seeing how Jane's situation ties into the whole neuro craziness while at the same time is a completely different beast altogether.

Durham County is so damn hard to watch sometimes. I mean that in the best possible way. It's such a raw emotional look at the big and little things that make people who they are. Ray senior has got to be one of the worst examples of humanity and I want to know how the hell he got to be such a waste of life. Hopefully there's an answer in the series somewhere.

Watched another episode of Midsomer Murders and it was really terrific. Sometimes, especially with a show that's been on so long, episodes feel like they're a rehashing of previous seasons. This one was definitely not.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and Classic Who. There's something fun about watching black and white television. Maybe it's the nostalgia factor?

In the Dark ripped a huge band-aid off Murphy's life and, boy, did she react. Sometimes I get frustrated with her prickly demeanor but her flaws really are front and center and Jess always has the best way of presenting why it's easy to overlook some of Murphy's abrasive personality traits.

Last but not least, I watched another episode of Blade and I'd remembered it from the first go around. I can't say seeing Marcus's origin story really made me sympathetic to him but I can see how Krista got sucked into the scenario of maybe seeing some shades of gray there.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Selling Tickets, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kurt Trevarthan owns a popular night club and trusts Winnie Clay, one of his oldest friends, to keep things running smoothly. He never dreams he'll have to rely on her when his old man shows up—after a decade away—on the anniversary of Kurt's mom's death, but Winnie comes through and keeps the Trevarthan men from killing each other.

And a snippety peek…

Maybe head out for a couple of weeks.

The words played on repeat in his brain.

"Are you leaving me, Win?"

Where the hell had that question come from?

Winnie rolled her eyes. "Of course not." She tilted her head to one side. "Why would you think I'm not coming back?"

Honestly? He had no idea. But once the notion hit, it stuck like fucking Velcro.

He shrugged. "You know what this date means to me. I thought maybe there was significance behind the timing." She'd been with him for the anniversary so many times.

Winnie's mouth dropped open. "Don't do that, Kurt. Don't pick now to read more into this." She gave him a pointed look. "You're the one who keeps telling me we are what we are and not to expect more." Her tone held no censure, only truth.

A kick of guilt hit him. He did remind her on a regular basis he couldn't—wouldn't—be more than a bed and business partner. Watching his parents pretty much throw away what they had and pretty much destroy the concept of love made Kurt wary of repeating their mistakes.

He couldn't walk the same path if he never let love rule him.

But… he relied on Winnie. Had for more than a decade. And she never failed to come through. He'd be a total ass to give her a rough time for wanting a break.

He cared enough for her to give her what she needed. Except the one thing she really deserves from you.

Pushing the thought aside, he tugged her forward and dropped a kiss on her nose. "You're right. You caught me off guard." Which maybe said more than he wanted to examine right now.

Draping an arm over her shoulder, he tucked her into his side then led her outside and down the steps to his office.

Okay… more like his sanctuary. Soundproof and outfitted with major indulgences, he could probably live in the seven room suite. In fact, he often stayed overnight with Winnie while they worked to make his dream nightclub a reality. He'd finished the renovations down here before he even started the place upstairs.

Keying in the entry code, he let her precede him into the space before he closed the door behind them.

She kicked off her shoes. "I love this place." The plush carpet practically swallowed her bare feet when she walked into the living area.

Pride filled him because he loved it too. "You outdid yourself here, Win. It's pretty much perfect." Her talent never failed to amaze him.

The flow started in the living area, which could double as a reception point if needed. His office sat to the left with a large window of frosted glass beside the door. Winnie included everything he could possibly want… a media room, full kitchen, a home gym, and a spa bathroom. Two rooms lined the back of the building, his bedroom and a space just for Winnie. She never slept on the daybed, preferring to share his, but she'd lined the walls with shelves and used the room as a studio where she puttered with different art forms.

He'd showcased her work in the other two clubs he owned. Clubs she helped get off the ground. Kurt encouraged her to expand her horizons and didn't put limits on her creative endeavors. Yet… concern over her requested time off kicked in again.

I'm going to miss her.

Surprise punched him in the gut. But when he thought about it, they hadn't spent a lot of time apart in the last twelve years. She'd been by his side for so long, he blindly expected her to always be there. Accepted she would be.

And he liked having her there.

Shaking off the wariness, he toed his boots off and followed her into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her. "We should call it day. Have some dinner." He hoped she didn't have other plans.

She would have told me, wouldn't she?

Kurt is about to get a much needed wake-up call and he's not going to like it. Here's to making that scene work on the page as well as it does in my head. LOL

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: All Day Sucker

What an incredible episode of The Last Ship! I loved the whole storm at sea and the cat and mouse game with the Greek ships. My fingers are crossed nothing happens to Master Chief. I'll be very upset if he dies.

Teen Wolf brought back even more former Beacon Hills faces. I'm excited and a little melancholy about tonight's episode. I'll be totally thrilled if Monroe finally dies a spectacular death.

I'm four episodes in on The Defenders and pretty much love it so far. Even Danny isn't as annoying as I thought he'd be. Jessica and Luke make me happy. Not as a couple or anything, I just love their shorthand conversations. And, of course, Matt is pretty much my favorite, always.

Hawaii Five-0 is pretty terrific in season seven. I like the interactions and pretty much like Steve getting some closure with Katherine. I'm not even halfway through the season yet, but here's hoping the remaining episodes are as good.

Gotham returned! I completely missed the premiere date but got caught up the next day. I LOVED the first episode of the season. I'm thrilled the show seems to have found its footing and delivers great television on a consistent basis.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from All Day Sucker, a sexy short free read set in the Black Unicorn Comic 'verse.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Brian and Lucy have competing comic book series, a friendly rivalry, and a terrific, sexy relationship. When Brian is blocked on his next installment, Lucy provides some steamy inspiration to help him get through it.

And a snippety peek…

Brian Wells stared at the monitor, his pen tapping out a chaotic rhythm on the desk with one hand, his fingers of the other on the keyboard. He waited for the words to flow… prepared either way for however his brain decided to send them.

He blew out a breath. "It's never this hard." Bloody blocked when he needed to get his next installment written so Harry could start the mock-up.

Maybe this whole spinoff idea just sucked balls. He could be back in bed with Lucy instead of sitting here hoping the wicked imps of inspiration would cooperate. No. Brian wouldn't put Lucy through another sleepless night.

At least not for anything other than fantastic sex.

She didn't say anything, but he'd kept her awake last night with his tossing and turning. Muddled and fuzzy images rolled through his mind… more like fast-forwarded. His brain couldn't settle on anything specific and that also never happened. Usually, a clear picture would take shape then an entire scene would morph into view. But this next issue didn't want to come easily.

Brian tossed his pen down. "So much for this spinoff being a grand idea." Reg wanted the entire run nailed down before they launched.

Not too much to ask. Black Unicorn routinely had a six-month commitment for publication and Reg liked to have the series ready to go, giving the artists time to work their magic and letting Chelle get her press kits together.

Brian wanted this project to do well. Maybe the characters decided to stop talking to him because they didn't want to be separated. But… they wouldn't be apart for long.

He sighed. "Just a six-issue run." Okay, six issues to start with.

But he didn't plan to keep them in different places forever.

"Argh!" He slouched down, resting his head on the back of his chair then spun around in circles. "Come on. Talk to me."

Writer's block is frustrating and spills over into the personal side of life. It's a good thing Brian has Lucy to set him back on the right path.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Reality Bytes

I hope everyone survived the crazy sales if you ventured out. Me? I stay home and avoid the insane traffic, surly moods, and disappointment. LOL

Thoroughly enjoyed the premiere of The Librarians. I love this show. The Walking Dead had a solid episode. Love the interactions with the Hilltop people and Maggie and Sasha are terrific.

Gotham is truly coming into its own this season. I'm thrilled the show finally found it footing.

I'm so excited for the crossover episodes with Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. It's going to be a fun week!

I started my Great Holiday Show Binge Watch. JAG started the marathon and Doctor Who is up next.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Reality Bytes, a sexy short built on the prompt of write about a reality show where your main characters are cohosts. I decided mine needed off the charts chemistry the producer doesn't want to mess with.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Libby Cowl and Bourne Levison, on-air hosts for the web series, Reality Bytes, snark and snap at each other on screen. But when the cameras aren't rolling, they're all about the hot and sexy, something their producer is not happy about.

And a snippety peek…

Bourne surfed until the sun started setting into the horizon. He loved the waves, the water, and the chill vibe he always achieved when he spent the day in the ocean. But he also had a previous engagement he needed to get to.

Stowing his board in the back of his truck, he showered off the salt and sand then slid behind the wheel. Windows down, he dried off before he arrived at his destination. He found a secluded parking spot, munched on some trail mix, and waited for twilight to turn to dusk.

The subterfuge never bothered him. He rather enjoyed getting his secret agent game on. Especially when it proved his pretty face had nothing on his higher thinking skills.

Yanking on a shirt, he exited the truck and made his way to the back patio of a quaint bungalow. He entered through the sliding door, dropping his overnight bag on the floor. The aroma of takeout Asian wafted toward him from the kitchen.

He smiled. "Libby! I'm home." His best imitation of Desi usually hit the mark.

Libby poked her head around the jamb of the bedroom. "Bourne…" Her gaze did a slow once-over. "You're a little overdressed." She exited, crossing the small hall into the kitchen, giving him a breathtaking view of her nude body.

He tugged his shirt over his head and dropped his shorts.

She gave him a sly grin before retrieving the cartons of food and going back the way she came. "Come and get it while it's hot." A trill of laughter echoed from the bedroom.

His dick already half hard, he muttered, "Can't beat hot food and a hotter woman." Making a beeline for the boho chic of her private sanctuary, he thanked whatever ruled the universe for putting Libby Cowl in the anchor chair next to his.

This one is so much fun! Hope you enjoyed the preview.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

So, first week of April in Ohio and we had a wintry mix of sleet and snow yesterday. *shakes head* Come on, Mother Nature, cut us a break. LOL

On the television front… The Walking Dead set everything up for the finale tonight. I'm actually thinking I won't watch it live. It's been a rough week and my brain might just break if one of my faves doesn't make it out alive.

Missed Gotham on Monday and haven't caught up yet. This plays into the rough week angle. My teenage daughter had her first track meet Monday night and badly sprained her ankle during the warm-ups. The poor kid didn't even get to compete. The good news is she cleared all the hurdles. The bad news? She needs to work on the landings. LOL Needless to say, she's on crutches and miserable but gets to see the orthopedic guy tomorrow. Whew.

The Flash and Agents of SHIELD had great episodes. I liked seeing the fallout from previous episodes on both shows. Time travel always kicks my interest up a notch and The Flash usually pulls off nice twists when it happens. Henry Simmons is terrific at playing Mack and I'm glad he's on Agents of SHIELD.

Arrow added some new layers to relationships and it was cool to see a Flash villain show up in Star City. I kind of liked having Felicity save the day and Curtis was a total riot in the Arrow cave / bunker. I love his character so much.

Legends of Tomorrow surprised me with revealing how Mick survived his encounter with Snart. Very cool to see Sara back in Nanda Parbot and being introduced to Talia. I loved the little seeds / references to Nyssa, too.

I checked into The Magicians and love the kind of twisty things they're doing with the relationships there. Bitten also had a great episode, but I'm truly sad another pack member met his end. I'm very ready for Elena and company to kick ass and end the menacing presence in their lives.

I'll be catching up with Wynonna Earp and Banshee sometime today. Will probably be adding little bits to next week's post on both.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella built on the two word prompt "Bug off". I love a challenge and this one ended up not being as hard as I thought it would.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of Sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style.

And a snippety peek…

"Yes, Linna, I'll cross-check the dates of the campaign. No. No, I don't know what could have happened to result in a loss that big." Orin Murdoch heaved a sigh. "Yes. I'll have something put together for a meeting tomorrow." He hung up and shook his head. "Please, whatever rules the universe, let that woman get hit by a bus in the very near future."

A garbled snort drew his attention and he glanced up to find Edda Case, their marketing genius standing in his doorway. She had her messenger style bag hoisted over her shoulder and her polka-dot trench coat draped over her arm. At least someone got to leave work at a decent hour.

Edda smirked. "If you're talking about Linna, a bus would be too quick." She stepped into the office and made her way to stand in front of his desk. "Now, something along the lines of falling from the top of a skyscraper might be a good way for her to go." She dropped her bag on the floor and grinned.

Orin rolled his eyes. "Seriously, I don't understand what happened to the last campaign. And she's demanding answers." Meaning he'd be here most of the night.

Edda shrugged. "Look, I'm getting ready to meet some friends for either Korean or Thai food, not sure which yet." She grabbed her bag again. "Either way, it's comfort food for me. You should join us." She widened her eyes and nodded.

Orin sighed. "Yeah, sorry, can't." He pointed to the open files on his desk. "I've got the next launch to get in order and, of course, the research for why the last campaign didn't meet expectations." His stomach growled, but he ignored the pangs.

Edda shook her head then leaned forward a little. "If you ask me, we put forward a no-fail plan. There's something not quite right about the low sales." She straightened and met his gaze. "Think about it." Without waiting for a response, she turned and sailed out of his office.

Orin grabbed his pen and tapped it on the edge of the desk. Edda couldn't be thinking someone deliberately tanked the project, could she? Nah. Who in their right mind would pull a stunt like that?

If using possible sabotage as an excuse wouldn't make him look like an inept ass, he'd absolutely use the idea. Instead, he'd run the numbers forwards and backwards and figure out where the breakdown occurred. The grumble from his midsection sounded again and he got up, crossing over to the break room to grab some yoghurt and granola. A terrible dinner, but something to tide him over for an hour or two. He could always order something for delivery later.

Sitting back down, he pondered Edda's invitation. They worked well together but didn't associate outside of the office. Polar opposites would describe their personality types. Edda's brash, bold, and colorful style translated into her work. She dreamed up marketing and advertising that put products front and center and dared people not to see them. Orin didn't have a creative bone in his body, but he thought and worked with the big picture in mind. And numbers were his refuge. Forecasting, projecting, finalizing. He rarely missed the mark.

So what the hell happened to the jump bag project?

Something along the lines of falling from the top of a skyscraper might be a good way for her to go.

Edda's words played over in Orin's brain. He chuckled. Then laughed. He gave Edda props for creativity. And he regretted not taking her up on the offer to have dinner. Even with a group of her friends, he doubted the evening would be anything but fun and enjoyable. Edda might not be his usual type—not that he had a type anymore, considering he couldn't remember his last date—but she drew people to her with vivacious wit and keen intelligence.

Finishing off the yoghurt and granola, he tossed the items in the trash can and settled in to crunch some numbers.

Gotta say this one is very fun to dive into. Hoping to have a finished draft sometime this summer.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Rescue Me

October 12, 2014

Hi!

Wow, what a week in TV. The Flash and Arrow premieres rocked pretty much the whole week. I'm all caught up on Haven, Sleepy Hollow, and Agents of SHIELD. Sons of Anarchy had a solid episode and The Walking Dead premieres tonight!!

YAY!

The cast of Bitten went to the New York Comic Con and images and interviews are lining up on my Tumblr dashboard. I also got my season one DVDs this week. Rewatch ahoy!

Thinking it's a good time to dust of my recap blog and get back doing Arrow and Bitten recaps, along with maybe a weekly roundup to include The Flash. I may also vent my frustration with the new series of Doctor Who… or not. Who knows. LOL

Tonight's post is from Rescue Me, a novella where my characters are getting ready to celebrate their anniversary… if exhaustion doesn't claim them first. J

Here's the tagline:

After twenty-four hours of non-stop runs in two busy station houses, Skylar Darns and Hayes Parrison, two extremely good paramedics, are ready to throw in the towel and have someone rescue them. The one saving grace? They spend the day planning their anniversary celebration—one they may be too exhausted to attend.

And a snippety peek…

Skylar's alarm clock, set for six, didn't wake her up. Nope. Hayes running his fingers back and forth between her legs did the trick. A five-thirty wakeup call on a day they had to work… totally worth it.

She spread her thighs and moaned. "Hayes… you'd better be hard and ready." Her hand sought his erection and the man didn't disappoint. The heavy length filled her palm.

Her eyes popped open and she angled her head to glance over her shoulder. "Mmmm. Definitely hard, but are you ready?"

A slow grin spread across his face. "Always, for you." He grasped her knee with his free hand and draped her leg over his hip.

She lifted her butt and positioned her cleft over the tip of his cock. "One of the many things I love about you." He thrust upward and she gasped before settling down and taking him deep.

I'll just say by the same time the next morning, they won't be quite so playful. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Killing Time

Hello!

I have to take a moment to rave about one of my favorite shows currently on television: Orphan Black. Seriously, I can't say enough about the great writing, acting, and pacing of this wonderful series. It's just so damned awesome and never goes where I think it will, which I LOVE. :D

Anyway, tonight's post is from, Killing Time, a short sexy story about how to keep a stakeout interesting, especially when sexual tension comes into play.

Here's the tagline:

Landry comes up with a great idea to kill time while on a stakeout with her hot co-worker. Her biggest challenge? Getting Thryn to participate in a lively game of truth or strip.

And here's a snippety peek…

Landry yawned for the zillionth time since the beginning of shift. Five hours to go. She decided the time had come to bring out her deck of cards. The boredom gnawed her insides to the point of madness, and Thryn had to be ready for something to pull him away from the book he'd brought.

She reached around and dug her deck out of her back pocket. "Wanna play truth or strip?" She waved the cards back and forth.

Thryn glanced up, a brow lifting in question. "Don't you mean truth or dare?" He marked the place in his book and laid it aside.

Landry snorted. "No, Thryn. What the hell can we dare each other to do in the back of this stupid box…on a stakeout…" She tilted her head sideways. "Unless you want to paint my toenails. I could use a pedicure."

Thryn frowned. "Um yeah, I don't think so." He snagged the deck and shuffled. "How do you see this going?"

A slow smile spread across her face. She maneuvered around him and double locked the doors. They absolutely didn't need an unexpected audience.

Grabbing the cards, she started a deal. "The rules are simple. We play a hand and the loser has to tell a truth or remove an item of clothing."

Thryn picked up his hand. "What if I don't want to answer after you ask a question?"

A slow smile spread across her face. "Then you drop trou…or whatever you have left."

Thryn made a quick rearrangement. "And if I answer everything?"

Landry shook her head back and forth. "Oh, no. You only get to do two truths in a row. Gotta keep things interesting.

Thryn met her gaze and pondered a moment. "Deal."

Landyr's face lit up. "This is gonna be so much fun."

Thryn's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, why is that?"

Landry scooped up her hand and chuckled. "Because I don't plan on losing."

So far, this has been loads of fun to set up, plot, and write. I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Bikini Beach

Happy St. Paddy's Day to all of Irish descent. And well…to those not, too. LOL

Been fighting an all-day headache, the kind that kind of just hangs there and acts annoying. Will keep the post brief because of that. L

Tonight's preview is from another manuscript I just got started, Bikini Beach. Again, the idea came from a prompt posted to one of my writing comms. Seriously love getting a spark from those.

Here's the tagline:

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 here's the snippety peek…

6 am

breep-breep-breep-breep-breep

Talia Ashe threw her pillow to drown out the obnoxious sound of her alarm. Flinging an arm over her eyes, she decided she couldn't face getting up and going in to work. And considering she'd worked past midnight the night before, she shouldn't have to.

Four hours of sleep just didn't cut it and one day couldn't possibly hurt. The delay would piss her partner off, but Hugh could suck donkey balls. If she had to deal with his constant push-push-push to get the job done attitude another day she'd lose her mind.

Or run the risk of maiming him with sharp objects.

Not his fault their client died mid-project and his widow decided to take the reins and change everything. The woman had no clue about production schedules, order fulfillment, or what it took to change the packaging at the very last possible moment. Or what missing the launch date would do to her bottom line. But she didn't have a board of directors to worry about so she could do whatever she pleased.

Stifling a huge yawn, Talia grabbed her phone from the bedside stand and dialed Hugh's number. Expecting the call to go to voice mail, she got a surprise when he answered on the second ring.

"McVey." He sounded tired, but alert.

Shit. She'd have to scramble fast to sound ill.

"Hugh. Ughhh…" She hoped the feigned moan added the right touch. "I think the clam chowder from yesterday's lunch is trying to kill me. Can you manage on your own today?" She braced for the explosion.

"What!?" Hugh didn't disappoint. "Dammit, Talia. Why didn't you have the cobb salad like I did yesterday?"

She rolled her eyes. "Look, it could've been the Thai food we ordered in for dinner. Whatever the culprit, I'm two seconds away from heaving again, so unless you wanna watch me puke all day, I suggest you soldier on and I'll be back in on Thursday." She firmly tamped down the guilty kick in her stomach.

Hugh gave a terse response. "Fine. But your timing couldn't suck worse. Deadline is next week and we still have details to nail down." He heaved a sigh. "Do you need anything? I can stop after I meet with Barclay's widow."

The woman had a name, Minerva, but she and Hugh almost exclusively referred to the bane of their existence by her grieving status. Probably because the woman rarely started a sentence that didn't begin with 'As Paul's widow'…

"Talia, are you okay?"

The genuine concern in Hugh's voice had remorse creeping up again.

Talia quickly answered, "Yeah. Just needed a moment." She definitely didn't want him to stop by…she had no intention of being home. "I don't need anything, but thanks for the offer. See you Thursday."

She didn't wait for a response and pressed end. The unexpected gesture from Hugh threw her a little. They worked for a co-op and had been partnered up for this project based on their individual skills. She'd known him by reputation for a couple of years, but after working with him for a straight six months, he still surprised her sometimes.

The guy didn't have an 'off' button and she could usually deal with it, but the last two weeks had put a strain on her ability to play nice. And after listening to him snap and snarl about everything, most of it directed toward her, she wanted a twenty-four hour break. Hugh acted as the project head and she had more or less been following his lead—working nonstop—but not today.

Today, Bikini Beach called and Talia fully planned to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf, giving her brain a much needed vacation. She'd go back to work on Thursday, fully recharged and ready to face whatever new kind of hell the Widow Barclay could throw at them.

She grabbed her pillow and reset her alarm for 8 am. Settling back down, her eyes fluttered shut and she drifted back to sleep.

Hugh and Talia will find getting out of the office can be a great thing to get the creative juices flowing. But first…they have to clear the air a little. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Kings of the Con (A Black Unicorn Press Short Story)

So…apparently some kind of award show aired tonight. LOL

I ended up watching Doctor Who and The Walking Dead. Can't beat a time travel and zombie combo. Watching classic Who…wow…takes me back to my childhood. And no…I'm not even fifty yet, but I remember watching Doctor Who with my dad on our local PBS station. It's been fun revisiting some of those episodes. J

Tonight's snippet preview comes from the Black Unicorn 'verse. Set at a convention, we get a little glimpse into one of the more fun aspects of what Brian and Lucy do. Although…creating a comic can't be boring, so yeah…take that as you will. :D

The standard tagline for Black Unicorn:

Brian Wells and Lucy Sanderson are the creative duo behind the rising success of Black Unicorn Comics. Surrounded by a close knit group of co-workers they have fun and crazy adventures, keeping their relationship burning hot in spite of it.  

And here's a tag for Kings of the Con:

Brian Wells smells a rat when Lucy's brother Linus starts thinking he's not appreciated at Black Unicorn. He devises a plan to get to the bottom of Els's sudden turn about, but…Lucy's not going to like it.

Here's the snippety peek…

Brian almost made it to Lucy before the fans started pouring out of the room. He jerked his thumb toward the food court and changed his path when she nodded. Once Randy arrived, she'd join him for lunch.

After ordering, he found Zapf sitting at table by himself. Brian plopped down and heaved a sigh.

Zapf finished chewing a mouthful of food and shook his head. "Man, you've got a seriously unhappy face right now. What's up?"

Brian unloaded. "You know how Lucy's biggest fear is Chelle finding a way to hurt Els?" Zapf nodded and Brian continued. "It's not unfounded."

Zapf got a nasty gleam in his eyes and leaned back in his seat. "Dude, I knew it. Luce is rarely wrong. You better spill as soon as she gets here, but know this, no one is gonna let Miss Stiletto Heels get her hooks far enough into Els to do damage." Statement made, he picked up his sandwich and took another huge bite.

Bolstered by the support, Brian did the same, spying Lucy take a place in line to get food. His loosely formed plan took shape in his head and by the time she got her order and joined them, he had everything worked out. Lucy would hate it, but she'd go along. Anything for her brother. And he could count on Zapf to back him up.

 Lucy joined them, taking an empty chair at the table facing Brian. "Okay, panel update can wait. What's going on?"

Zapf chuckled and shook his head, but held silent. Lucy quirked a brow then met Brian's gaze.

He put his sandwich down. "How do you do that?" He grabbed his drink and took a long draw on the straw.

Lucy shrugged. "You have that 'I just ate something really nasty and want to puke' look on your face. Something went down and I'm not gonna like it, right?"

Brian blinked and blew out a sigh. "Your brain scares me."

Zapf jumped in. "I know, right? I tell her that every day." He leaned forward. "Seriously, Brian. Fill us in so we can help."

Brian repeated the conversation he had with Els. While Lucy picked at her food, he outlined his plan to get to the bottom of Chelle's machinations. Other than hissing out a harsh breath, Lucy didn't object to anything. A very good sign. But he needed to be sure.

He grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together. "You gonna be okay with this?"

She shoved her tray away and snorted. "Hell, no. But I'll deal." Her fingers drummed on the table. "Chelle's ego will let you get her right where you want her, but if she won't cough up answers, all bets are off." Her gaze went hard. "I hope you guys have some extra cash if I need bailed out of jail."

Zapf tossed his napkin on the tray and stood up. "Babes, I won't let you do anything stupid." He shot Brian a commiserating glance. "Dude, don't forget to shower after you talk to Miss Prissy Pants." He dug around in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Me? I'm gonna need some extra sustenance to keep the visual images outta my head."  He shuddered then turned toward Lucy. "Can you hold down the fort for a bit?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, Z. I think I can manage."

Brian leaned in close to Lucy after Zapf got back in line for food. "Are you really gonna be okay with this, Luce?" His hand cupped her face. "Because if you aren't…" He let his voice trail off, he truly couldn't think of a quicker way to get information from Chelle.

Lucy leaned into his palm. "I'm so not okay it's not funny, but…Els is the priority. Find out why she's trying to make him think Reg doesn't give a shit about him." Sitting back, she blew out a breath then grabbed her drink and rose from her seat. "I'm heading back to the booth. I'll be there when you've got the whole story." She started off, but stopped and turned back. "I trust you to get to the bottom of everything and promise to behave even if you don't." Her lips twisted in a smirk. "But it might take you and Zapf to keep me from doing bodily harm if she keeps it up."

Brian nodded. He didn't say anything, his mind already going over Chelle's schedule for the day. He had about ten minutes to find what he needed to pull everything off. Grabbing his tray, he stood up and dumped the contents in the closest trash bin then headed for the administrative hub of the convention center.

The sooner he found out what the hell Chelle had planned for Els, the sooner he and Lucy could really enjoy the con season.

Yeah, Chelle's in for a very big surprise in the near future. And hey…pray Brian gets the info, because no one wants to see Lucy go nuclear on Chelle.

Or do they? LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin