Sunday Snippet: Muse it Up

Another week of not losing any favorites on The Last Ship. Now I'm really concerned whoever is next will completely gut me. The Greens need to stay safe, at least long enough for a lovely family reunion. I actually fear something will happen to Mrs. Green because that's so not the obvious choice. I'll say this… if the president or Jacob the asshat reporter tries to harm her, I'll come after them. (In actuality, it'll probably be the blonde adviser—whose name I can't be bothered to remember—who does something awful to Kara, which, yeah, will add her to my list of 'deserves to die in a fire' candidates.)

Killjoys had a terrific episode this week. I'm excited to watch the next episode. Really interested in finding out more about Dutch's history, but I also want to see more about Johnny and D'Av, too. Sprinkling in small details about Pree, Pawter, and Alvis along the way is always welcome, too. I'm a little less into the whole nine thing, but I could become intrigued if they play that out a little over this season and really dive into it during the next season. (hint, hint).

Dark Matter jumped up on the interest chart again. I have a sneaky feeling there's been a switcheroo regarding One and I'm looking forward to finding out if my theory is correct. That said, I'm enjoying the dynamic with the remaining crew and the newcomers. We'll see if that continues. J

Babylon 5 and Strike Back rewatches are ongoing. I'm leaning toward a Banshee binge since I'll finish up Strike Back before B5 is complete. I'm also debating whether to start a few of the Netflix series I've wanted to dive into. Decisions, decisions.

Enough TV. Tonight's post is from Muse it Up, a novella prompted by the idea of a writer meets a new bartender at their favorite hangout.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nate Shaunessey can't get in the groove to write his new supernatural series. When he meets the new bartender, Hunter Gant, at his local pub, a muse is born. The only problem? Nate's afraid to tell her she's his latest inspiration.

And a snippety peek…

Nate entered The Library, climbed up onto a stool, and slumped over the counter. Defeated by his lack of a muse, he wanted a shot of something strong to wash away the bitter aftertaste of no progress for the third day. He'd never had a novel give him flaming fits the way his current one wanted to.

A shot of tequila landed in front of him and he glanced up to find a new bartender behind the counter. A smokin' hot looker.

She smiled. "You look like a tequila kind of man." She wiped the surface beside him with a towel. "I'm two for three on guessing tonight. Did I peg you right?"

Nate grinned. "Consider yourself three for four. Tequila is never a bad choice." He downed the shot.

The woman lifted a brow. "No salt or lemon? Gotta say I'm impressed." She poured him another.  "The name's Hunter Gant. Nice to meet you."

Nate stuck out his hand. "Nate Shaunessey." She had a firm grip and gorgeous eyes. "You're new here, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Yep. Started last night." She propped her arms on the counter. "You look like you needed the double."

Nate's lips quirked. "Been a long and unproductive day." He lifted the glass. "A double is exactly what I needed."

Hunter cocked her head. "Author, agent, or editor?"

He blinked and she laughed.

"They don’t call this place The Library for nothing. I hadn't worked more than hour before I realized a very bookish group called this place their home away from home."

He chuckled. "You're good." And fascinating. "And it's author, although not much of one today."

Hunter sent him a quick grin. "Blocked or distracted?"

Nate sighed. "A little of both, to be honest. I've hit a wall and can't seem to scale it."

Another patron took a stool at the other end of the bar, drawing Hunter's attention. "Be right back." She leaned in. "I think this guy's a vodka man."

Nate's lips curved upward. What an interesting woman, and he didn't really know much about her. He loved her look, though. Shoulder length hair pulled back in a serviceable ponytail, leaving her flawless face on display. Moss green eyes that filled with humor or understanding and drew people in.

Ideas started rolling through his head and Nate fought an urge to leap off his seat and dash back to his house.

Not yet. Too many details warred for space in his mind and he'd have to let them settle before he could focus on building a story. But at least he had concrete picture and images floating around.

Because of Hunter Gant.

Nate had found his new muse and he barely knew anything about her.

I'm enjoying how the pieces are coming together for this story. Can't wait to finish up and get it out there.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Monumental Headache

Well, The Last Ship didn't kill any of my favorites last week. On one hand, this makes me very happy. On the other, I'm now wondering when, who, and how much it will destroy me when they take out a crewmember. LOL

Killjoys continues to rock my world. I love the show so much. I also love seeing so many familiar faces from other genre shows. Same goes for Dark Matter. After a "meh" opening episode, this week's turned out to be so much better with the possibility of a few cast shake-ups. I'm a little iffy on where things are going but I'm in for the ride.

The rewatch of Babylon 5 is up to the start of season two. I'm also in season two of Strike Back. Summer is great for sinking into and revisiting old favorites.

Tonight's post is from Monumental Headache, a novella that started with the two word prompt of "Screw you."

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cadee Walsh has a high stress job and needs to blow off steam. She spends the night with Worth Pettigrew, recharging from the incredible sex. Imagine her mortification when she finds out he's her new boss.

And a snippety peek…

Worth hated to drop truth bombs, but bad news sucked no matter the delivery. "He saw me coming out of your house the morning after." Of course, Worth had no idea he'd be running into Cadee two hours later.

But Matt didn't care about the actual facts, only what he perceived as encroachment on his territory.

Cadee cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean, he saw you leave my house? Matt doesn't live anywhere near me." Her head straightened and her eyes went wide. "Oh, hell, no." She got up and paced back and forth.

The truth and scope of Matt's obsession settled over her, slowly, one tick of the secondhand at a time. Her face went through a range of emotion, realization, disappointment, fear, disgust, and finally anger. She sank back down onto one of the chairs, her gaze stony and determined when she raised it to meet Worth's.

She nodded toward a vacant seat. "I need to hear the rest." Her tone brooked no argument.

But Worth didn't trust their conversation wouldn't be overheard. He jerked his head toward the door and Cadee frowned but got up and followed him out into the hallway. She didn't pry or prod him for details, but stopped by her office to get her purse and jacket then met him outside in the parking lot.

Worth handed her a card with an address on the back. "Meet me here in ten." He popped the door open and slid behind the wheel of his vehicle.

He waited until Cadee pulled out into traffic before checking to see if they had an observer. Sure enough. Matt stood at the main doors with his arms folded over his chest. Worth backed out of his space, exited the lot, and merged into traffic. Watching his rearview mirror, he made sure no one tailed him.

I'm having some fun with this one. Cadee and Matt's unconventional first meeting adds a layer of conflict and it's interesting to write around.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Mixed Signals

Ahhh, The Last Ship makes me so very happy. And none of my favorites ended up dead in the last episode so there's that, too. I won't hold out too much hope for a death free episode tonight. Best to be prepared, right?

Killjoys came back with a bang. Gotta say I'm super happy to see it back on my screen. Here's hoping the whole season is as terrific as the premiere.

Dark Matter… eh, I was a little disappointed in the opener. That said, there are some interesting developments, especially given the ending. I'll reserve judgment before deciding if season two is a bust.

The finale for Wynonna Earp rocked. Fingers are still crossed for a second season. Some great seed were planted for future threads and I hope Syfy gives this show a chance.

Babylon 5 rewatch continues. I'm almost through the first season and so many little things I missed on the other viewings are popping up. I love when that happens.

Strike Back is also entertaining me with the same things happening. I catch small things I missed when I watched the first time.

That's it for TV this week. Hope everyone enjoys the fireworks shows if they like that kind of thing. Me? I'm happy watching them on what else… television. J

Tonight's post is from Mixed Signals, a novella where a friendly fire shooting has my couple revisiting their relationship.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Avery and Trigg, both undercover cops, can't keep their relationship going. Their work makes it hard to stay connected. When mixed signals results in Avery shooting Trigg in a friendly fire incident, she wants to set the record straight and maybe test the waters to pick up where they left off.

And a snippety peek…

Trigg closed his eyes and growled. "Probably not." His lids popped open and he met her gaze. "That's another reason you and me… a very bad idea." One his brain fought tooth and nail.

But his heart had armor-coated protection—especially against Avery. The one woman that had the power to raise him to the heights of ecstasy and send him to the depths of depravity, usually at the same time. Trigg didn't have the energy or the mental capacity to go a round with her right now.

He reached out, grasping her hand. "Look, I'm loaded down with pain meds and can't think straight at the moment." He squeezed her fingers. "Can we revisit this topic after I get sprung?" His thumb brushed over her palm.

Avery dragged her lower lip between her teeth, but nodded. "Sure. But I'd like to keep you company, if you don't mind. It's gotta be boring as hell in here." She slid her gaze to the side, almost shyly.

Trigg blinked, not quite certain the morphine drip hadn't caused a hallucination. Avery didn't do timid. Bold. Brash. Utterly daring. Yes. All of those. The change in temperament threw him and he kind of wanted to explore the new side she revealed.

Later. When he didn't feel like complete shit. But he could use the company.

He shifted his position and gave her a smile. "Having you stick around will definitely bust the boredom." A yawn escaped before he could prevent it. "But I gotta warn you. I drop off in the middle of conversations." He'd be happy when that didn't happen anymore.

Avery laughed. "Duly noted. I won't hold it against you." She dragged the chair close to his bed and settled onto the cushion.

Trigg leaned back and pressed the button to turn up the volume on the television. "I'm not fond of most of the crap that's on, but there's a terrific sci-fi show that starts in ten minutes." He glanced sideways. "You game?"

Avery gave him a slow grin. "As if you have to ask. And if it's the one I'm thinking of, I love it." She kicked her feet up on the lower edge of his mattress.

Trigg turned his attention back to the television. They'd always had a love for the same type of entertainment—action movies, science fiction fare, or creepy thrillers. The fact she continued to enjoy the same things comforted him.

And he could use the small measure of rightness the idea brought.

I love the whole idea of a couple who breaks up but can't let go because they're meant to be together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Lucky Seven

So… premiere for The Last Ship? Everything I expected and more. I have so much love for this show. I'm also going to have a huge bar tab by the time the season ends if episode one is any indication. I almost sit on the edge of my seat hoping like hell none of my favorite characters will meet their end.

And of course, some of them do. LOL

I've got a bunch of theories about this season, which I won't share to avoid possible spoilage… but I don't trust the president at all. One specific moment in the premiere episodes turned the table with how I feel about that guy. Just saying.

Currently watching the finale of Wynonna Earp and my fingers are crossed for a second season. Have no clue if Syfy will be cooperative and make that happen or not.

Still rewatching Babylon 5 and Strike Back. I'd forgotten how much Strike Back crammed into each episode, especially during the first season. Contrast the breakneck pace with Babylon 5's slower build in its first season. I sometimes miss having a nice, long arc to settle into a show and really get to know the characters.

Killjoys and Dark Matter return soon and I'm patiently waiting to get back into the gritty realm of both. Bring it on.

Tonight's post is from Lucky Seven, a novella that started as a writing exercise. I was challenged to write ten lines of dialog between two characters who had drunken sex the previous night and weren't going to talk about it… ever. Then build the story from there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Daisy and Shae work for the same company and they end up overindulging at a corporate casino night, waking up next to each other the following morning. What starts as an awkward one night stand turns into something neither expects, or is really looking for.

And a snippety peek…

Shea wandered down the corridor toward the elevators. Daisy Helm. Hot damn.

He paused, his finger hovering over the button. Brief flashes of last night auto-played in his mind. Daisy in her sweet, sexy silver dress. Everyone else has a little black dress, but not me. I need some shimmer and shine when I'm on the town. His lips curved. She had such a sassy mouth on her. An image of said mouth wrapped around his dick popped up onto the big screen in his brain. Blood rushed to his groin and his cock expanded, making an obvious outline under the tuxedo pants. He draped his jacket over his arm and held it at waist level. No need to show anyone his aroused state.

Arousal. Daisy almost glowed when engaged in passionate pursuits. An image of her splayed out under him, a fine sheen of perspiration covering her skin had his eyes sliding shut. Jesus. A painted canvas of her au natural would look incredible, hanging in his bedroom. But only if he could play a recording of the breathy, gasping sound she made during an orgasm.

He punched the button. "Christ, I need to get a grip." Reliving the night with Daisy only served to rev up his libido.

Not good when less than twenty-four hours from now he'd face her in the workplace, fully clothed and all prim and proper. He'd have to forget how they were beautifully naked, rolling on the sheets having smoking hot sex. Or how perfectly Daisy fit against his body and how exquisitely she received his hard thrusts.

Exquisitely? Geez, she'd turned him into a damned poet. And yet he wanted more.

Now.

Turning on his heel, he strode back to the room they'd shared and used his keycard to open the door. The sound of the shower greeted him, along with the tangled sheet Daisy must've tossed haphazardly on the bed. He considered leaving, but his feet walked toward the bathroom.

Propping a shoulder against the jamb, he waited until the water turned off before clearing his throat. Daisy gave a startled yelp and popped her head around the edge of the curtain. Her eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to speak, but then she surprised him by tugging the barrier all the way open, revealing her delectable nude form.

She stepped out of the tub and grabbed a towel. "Why are you here?" She nodded toward the empty enclosure. "Did you want a shower, too?"

He pushed away from the wall. "In a moment. I want—" He didn't know what the hell to say.

More time? To drag her back to bed and keep her there for another few hours? What sounded great in his head sure wouldn't impress her if he spoke the words aloud.

A slow smile curved her lips. "Get a shower, Shea." She dropped the towel. "I'll be waiting in bed." Strolling out of the bathroom, she left the door open.

Shea blinked but stripped off his clothes. No way would he argue.

Gotta say this one is fun to jump into. I love how it's all coming together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Little Black Book

Well, tonight is the rescheduled premiere date for The Last Ship. I fully respect TNT's decision to postpone the airing and I'm very much looking forward to watching the start of season three.

Wynonna Earp's lead-in to the finale blew my mind. I'm not sure if the show will have a second season, but I'm so hoping it does. That said, I don't trust Syfy the way I used to. At least I know Killjoys and Dark Matter will be showing up soon.

Orphan Black. Wow. Seriously, just wow. While I'm incredibly sad next season will be the last, I'm also kind of excited because I know it'll far surpass anything I expect or can anticipate. As for the finale, once again, Rachel proved she's the biggest bitch on the planet. I'm rather looking forward to a major toppling of her reign of terror. I can always keep my fingers crossed that what she thinks she wants and deserves ends up being her total undoing, right?

Still working my way through the first seasons of Babylon 5 and Strike Back. Someday, when I have copious amounts of spare time, I want to get back into recapping and sharing my joy for my favorite shows. There's something fun and rewarding about interacting with other fans.

Tonight's post is from Little Black Book, a sexy short with something of a cat and mouse premise.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kalyn Miles is footloose and fancy free and likes it that way. She does what and who she wishes. Her current object of desire is Sid Mortimer, but he'll have nothing to do with her—especially since she wants to add him to her little black book.

And a snippety peek…

Sid fought the urge to fist pump the air. He'd managed to put a chink in Kalyn's armor without tearing her down. He had no claim on her or her body. No right to make demands or pass judgment. Sid might consider Brad Bradley one slimy step up from a toad, but women flocked to the man's side. He didn't blame Kalyn for getting caught in the net.

But he could sit back and use her repulsion to his advantage. And get his point across. She could sleep with a different guy every night—her choice, no skin off his back. But none of those men would be him—the one she wanted at the top of her list. Arrogance didn't enter into his warning. He could give her exactly what she wanted. A onetime deal. A good, hard fuck and nothing more. But she wouldn't have him. She'd get a hard dick, a mind-blowing orgasm, and not much else. He laid his cards on the table and walked away, not because he aimed to hurt her, but as a reminder of what he wanted.

Her and only her. His sharing days were over.

He'd played the musical bed game and thoroughly enjoyed every moment… until he didn't anymore. A hot body with a nice rack and sweet curves like Kalyn's definitely got his libido to stand up and take notice. But he'd keep a tight rein on his sex drive, so much easier knowing she'd unleashed all her female goodness on Bradley. Not only because the idea stung his ego more than a little, but also because he had infinitely more patience than Kalyn did.

She needed more time, which he'd provide. Although maybe not happily.

A firm grip on his shoulder had him turning away from the bar.

Kalyn tilted her head and shaded her eyes with her hand. "I have a proposition for you, if you're willing to compromise just a tiny bit." She trailed her fingers down to his forearm.

Sid hid his surprise, stepping away and crossing his arms over his chest. "Okay, I'm listening." He met and held her gaze. "No promises, and whatever you have in mind better be good."

If Kalyn's not careful, she's going to back herself into a corner. Sid's got the upper hand right now and he likes having it.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Liar's Lament

YAY! The Last Ship premieres tonight and I’m very excited! In other television news, it's definitely summer and I've only got two active shows going until later this evening.

Wynonna Earp is crazy good. I need to watch this week's episode, but last week's twist caught me off guard. In a totally great way.

Orphan Black's lead-in to the finale proved excellent as always. Rachel continues to grate on my nerves, but kudos to her for playing Evie Cho and outmaneuvering her with such brutal precision. And, of course, the surprise at the end made the episode kick ass awesome.

I started a rewatch of Babylon 5 and Strike Back. I know, opposite ends of the spectrum but both are terrific shows. I need to find something else to watch after these. Any suggestions… let me know.

Tonight's post is from Liar's Lament, a novella built around the prompt of writing a story that involves a lie.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Harper Scrytch kicks Rhett Barrison to the curb and runs like hell to avoid a romantic entanglement. Four years later she arrives back in town to make amends only to discover Rhett has moved on… unless he hasn't.

And a snippety peek…

Dani wrapped an arm around Rhett. "She seemed to buy the couple act." She took a long swallow of her beer. "You sure you want to play it this way?"

Rhett glanced down. "For now. Yes." He cut through the crowd of people, making a hole for Dani to follow through. "I don't even want to think about getting tangled back up with Harper Scrytch. The woman leaves a trail of blood wherever she goes." He placed his beer on the table.

Dani clicked her tongue against her teeth. "I don't know, Rhett. I get why you're wary, I do, but she doesn't strike me as stupid. She'll figure out we're not together sooner or later." She stepped away and took a seat.

Rhett lifted a shoulder. "Yeah, she will. But she'll twist herself for a couple of days first." He could use the time to wrap his head around her return.

Thank the universe for Dani. When he'd called, asking for a huge favor, she didn't hesitate to agree. A lot could be said for ending things on good terms—something Harper might want to think about.

He settled onto the chair across from Dani. "I'll take the extra time to decide how to handle her return." His lips quirked. "Not like I can up and sail out of town like she did." Picking his beer up, he took a long swallow.

Dani covered his hand with hers. "Looks like you’re the one tied up in knots. It might be simpler to hear her out and see why she came back." Pushing her bottle toward him, she got up to brush a kiss over his temple. "Call me if you feel like talking about it." She angled around the table and made her way to the exit.

Rhett shook his head. If only he and Dani didn't work better as friends. She had her head on straight and didn't flit off to unknown parts when something freaked her out. But Harper plied every string Rhett had, playing him like a maestro. He had to admit he did the same with her.

He drained his beer and reached into his pocket, pulling the five out. Tracing his fingers over the bill, he contemplated his next move. Dani's advice to hear Harper out made sense, but his gut roiled with tension.

Or maybe anticipation. Sometimes he couldn't tell the difference when it concerned Harper.

Sitting the five on the table, he got up, leaving the remaining bottle on the table and making his way to the door. If he planned to face Harper, he needed a clear head.

And about two more days to come to terms with the fact he still and always would love her.

I'm kind of excited to see where Rhett and Harper take me. And considering they're keeping secrets and not being honest with each other, the journey should be a lot of fun.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Laundry Night

Whew. Even though the television pickings are fairly slim for the next week or so, still some great stuff to watch.

Orphan Black, once again, didn't disappoint. One of the things I love about this season is how nuanced the layers are. Every time something is resolved, a new snag reveals itself. The enemy of yesterday is the ally of today. Terrific writing and stellar acting make the entire show shine.

Wynonna Earp still makes me happy. I'm intrigued by the little seeds dropped here and there and look forward to more of the origin backstory.

The Last Ship starts next week and I can't wait to see where things go. I'm kind of holding out hope some underhanded tactics are being used regarding Rachel, but I won't hold my breath. This show loves to kill off my favorite characters. LOL

I'm sadly not overly excited about some of the other newer shows. Preacher didn't really grab me with the trailers and I never got into Fear the Walking Dead. I do look forward to the return of Killjoys and Dark Matter, which should provide some good fodder for my blog posts.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Laundry Night, a sexy short built around a writer's group prompt of: choking, apartment laundry room, mismatched socks. I could not resist the challenge of this one. LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dixie Stores has a thing for her hot neighbor Neece Bovary, but he's heard all the rumors about her series of bad—and sometimes loud—breakups. Determined to win him over, Dixie breaks a cardinal rule and folds his laundry, mismatching the socks to get his attention, but gains the wrong kind when the innocent prank goes awry.

And a snippety peek…

Dixie couldn't breathe. Her eyes watered and her lungs burned. She stumbled out from behind the soda machine, waving her hands frantically. Stupid potato chips. She should've known better than to eat junk food.

Neece quickly strode to her side. "Dixie? Are you okay?"

She jerked her head back and forth, lifting her hands to her throat. The need for oxygen made everything go fuzzy and gray. Neece whipped her around and pressed his hands against her diaphragm, dislodging the food clogging her windpipe. Dixie gagged, but dragged blessed air into her lungs, coughing and sputtering with tears streaming down her face.

Neece pressed a tissue into her hands and she wiped her eyes then quickly blew her nose. Her throat raw and scratchy, she coughed one last time, finally clearing the last of the offensive food. Neece put some change into the vending machine and selected water.

When the bottle dropped, he retrieved it, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her. "Here, take a drink, but go slowly."

She complied and sipped, the blissfully cool liquid soothing her sore throat. She swallowed, relieved to find the scratchy feeling gone.

She lifted her gaze. "Thank you." The close call left her a little shaky and she braced her shoulders against the wall. "I'm never eating potato chips again."

Neece crossed his arms over his chest. "I take it you're the one who decided to play laundry fairy?"

Dixie lowered her gaze. "Seemed like a fun idea at the time."

Neece rolled his eyes. "Let this be a lesson learned. Never fuck with someone else's clothes."

Dixie slapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, I almost choked to death for you. I think that earns me some slack here." She started sorting his socks again, matching them correctly this time. "Or maybe dinner." Why not go for broke?

Neece barked out a laugh. "Yeah, right. How does you messing with my laundry and me saving your life equate to me buying you dinner?" He started putting the matched pairs in the basket.

His hand brushed hers and Dixie glanced upward. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and she chuckled. The man seriously did crazy things to her libido.

She tilted her head to one side. "You know… you're right. How about I buy you dinner?" One finger trailed along his forearm. "We could make dessert optional." She made the double meaning clear by straightening her head and holding his gaze.

Neece leaned in close, his breath fanning against her ear. "Now we're talking." He caught her hand in his. "And dessert is my favorite part of the meal."

Dixie got what she wanted, but definitely not the way she expected. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin