Sunday Snippet: Reflex Reaction

Whew! My daughter's third prom is down and out of the way. She's the junior class president so I had chaperone duties and, wow, let me tell you… I ran my ass off last night. LOL And, of course, the weather ended up being a complete downer. Rainy and actually pretty chilly for the end of April. However, I think this year's dress is pretty much my favorite.

Anyway… while I'm putting my feet up, I'll dive into this week's television viewing. I Finished up Iron Fist and it didn't disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed Ward and Joy's conversation. I'll be really happy to see Davos taken down. I want to be sympathetic, but yeah, not really feeling it. Misty and Colleen need their own show. Just saying.

Caught the Classic Roswell episode, "Heat Wave" and it's one I really loved when it aired the first time. Still loved it this time around too.

Watched the Arrow Elseworlds episode. Quite enjoyed it even though it's the only one I've seen in the crossover event. I'll have to catch The Flash and Supergirl when they make it to a streaming platform. It really annoys me that full season's aren't available on the network's app. Or at least keep the crossover on for the full season.

Also caught another episode of Murdoch Mysteries. Based on a little google fu, it looks like there will be another season, which makes me very happy.

Watched episode three of The Murders and I like where this show is going. I'm kind of happy to know why Nolan isn't a big fan of Paul in guns and gangs. I'm also glad to have a little more insight into Kate's relationship with her mom.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries is such a great spinoff. I really hope there ends up being another season of this one. The second episode had terrific chemistry between all of the characters and I'm such a fan of the secondary ones.

I have some things to discuss about Roswell, New Mexico's finale and I'll save those for later. Caught an episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I like the first time around. Answers start revealing themselves about Jane's ability. I truly do wish this series had a second season if only for more of those.

Underbelly Razor's penultimate episode dropped some big moves and is titled the same. With one more episode left in this incarnation, I'm excited to see how things end for the women.

Watched a Midsomer Murders episode and, well, found it kind of odd. Then again, with fourteen seasons in front of it and several more to go, there has to be an odd one here and there, right?

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and I don't remember seeing either of them previously. I'm such a fan of how Peter's group of friends and colleagues add so much to the show.

Okay… Roswell, New Mexico's season finale. Wow. Seriously. It's been a long time since a show gave me a gut-punch feeling and I'm not quite sure how I feel about having one. The episode had so much going on, but all the episodes usually do. The acting ended up being stellar, from, I'm not kidding, everyone. As for where things went? I'm honestly still working through how I feel. I'm thrilled there's a second season, which hopefully means a solution for the thing that happened. I haven't decided if I trust this showrunner yet. So far, I've loved everything from the characters to the plot points, even with the somewhat neglected Maria, and pulling a shock-value move makes me slightly twitchy, hence my inability to fully trust how things will play out. That said, you can bet my ass will glued to the screen when the second season premieres, so there's that. I might have more about the season overall on my sister blog Universes Altered.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Reflex Reaction, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of "write the story of when one character shows up for another character's first date and makes them an offer they can't refuse". My imagination went wild with this one.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Rory Crame longs for more than her small hometown can provide. She escapes, leaving her childhood sweetheart, Gib Larrison, behind. Seven years later she returns, older and wiser, with a better appreciation for what she walked away from—especially Gib, who doesn't seem at all interested in rekindling their romance.

And a snippety peek…

Rory Crame drove down the main drag in the quaint city she used to call home. "Wow… looks like Mom was right about the upgrades." Speaking of her mom… Rory hit the call button on her phone and waited for her mom to answer.

Seven years since she'd left to pursue her dreams or really taken more than a cursory look around the little burg when she visited. Okay, not exactly little. The city population stood at about twenty-five thousand. As the county seat, a lot of overflow came in from the surrounding villages.

Her mom answered. "Hello? Rory? Are you here yet?" God, she loved the sound of Dinah Crame's voice.

Rory smiled. "I'm here, Mom. Heading over to Fifth… to my new home." She'd purchased the old service station for her work studio and residence.

The pumps were long gone and the previous owner spent a small fortune to remove the holding tanks and repave the area in front of the building. A downturn in the economy gave her the opportunity to buy the building outright using the money from her dad's life insurance policy and the savings she'd set aside. She got the success she'd dreamed of, but lost the grounded feeling of being surrounded by people she loved.

Her mom's voice cut through her thoughts. "Can I meet you there? We could have a late lunch. I know you want to get inside and start planning your space, but you need to eat, too."

Rory hesitated. She wanted to spend time with her mom but didn't know if she wanted to face everyone yet. Other than holiday visits, she'd kept a very low profile around the town, keeping mainly to her mom's place a few miles outside the city limits. Especially after leaving the way she had.

She caved. "Sure, Mom. Let's grab something as long as it's not fast food." After all, she came back to see and be seen.

Who are you kidding? There's only one person you want to see.

"Shut up." Rory's inner voice could be a pain in the ass.

And it sounded a lot like her mom.

But… Rory needed to own the fact she'd returned home because she harbored a hope of seeing him. Gib Larrison. To make amends and maybe—if the universe aligned the planets just right—seeing if sparks would fly again.

She suffered no illusion they'd pick up where they left off—she'd burned that bridge when she left. Burned. More like full-on nuked any chance they had then threw napalm on for good measure.

She pulled into what would become her living and working space, her residence studio, and rested her forehead on the steering wheel.

"Rory? I asked if three o'clock worked for you?" Concern filled her mom's voice. "Are you okay?"

Rory smiled. "Just tired, Mom. Three is good. I'm parked out front, just honk when you get here." She ended the call after promising she'd lock up behind her when she entered the old station.

Her mother's worry came through loud and clear. Dinah wanted Rory to stay at home—the one she'd grown up in after her parents divorced. Rory loved the old house, but needed space to call her own shots. And she definitely didn't want to become her troubleshooting mom's new project.

Cutting the engine, Rory exited her SUV and took a moment to picture what the station would like when she finished the renovations.

She made her way to the main entrance, put the key into the slot and unlocked the door. "Here's to turning the page and starting a new chapter."

I have the main story outlined here and I like where things are going. Here's hoping the sages play nice and don't decide to make a bunch of changes. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Reality Bytes

April 21, 2019

To all who celebrate Easter, I hope it's a good holiday. Another weird weather week in Ohio. I know, big shock, right? Actually turned on the AC one day because the house was stuffy and humid. The next day, I turned it off because the temperature dropped thirty degrees again. Needless to say, it's a combination of AC and furnace for the next few weeks.

Decent television week. I did get to finish Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and it was… soooo good. I'll finish up the other three episodes, but I'm pretty sure I'd like to see more. Here's hoping they'll do another season.

Caught another episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I remembered from the original run. I'll admit I was disappointed there weren't more episodes even though fandom in general thought the show fared poorly against the source material.

Watched another episode of Underbelly: Razor and, yeah, the women are starting to feel the burn from the law. I wanted to empathize with Tillie but couldn't quite get there. She's just not drawing my sympathy and I can't really explain why. Kate, though, I kind of sympathize with. Nellie… is Nellie. Not quite sure what I feel for her plight.

Finished up Midsomer Murders and enjoyed the rest of the episode. I'm almost through the fourteenth series and I'm still liking the show. There's never a shortage of interesting little bits worked into the stories.

Roswell, New Mexico… the penultimate episode. Holy crap. So much happened. Questions were answered but a ton of new ones popped up from those answers. I really need another season because there's no way it can have a satisfying end with only one more episode to go. I need to know how Maria's mom fits into the situation at Caufield, if she even does, or at the very least, I need to know why she's so scrambled. And, dammit, I need Maria to know what's going on and put her two cents in. I dipped my toe into the fandom waters and, yeah, I'll probably steer clear. I love the potential interactions with everyone, including Alex, Michael, and Maria. While I'm not a full-on fan of triangles, I do like messy and awkward feelings that have to be resolved somehow. I also love how many different definitions of family there is to wade through on the show. The kind of big thing I'm dreading is a possible death in the last episode. I've got a gut feeling of who it might be and I’m not ready for it.

Also, I'm sad to see Jenna go, if she really does. Here's hoping she might make her way back in the future. The interactions between Jenna and Liz were so damn good, as in there was awkwardness but none of the bitchy-girl, fur-flying stuff that's so lame. Kudos for that!

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and both were ones I hadn't seen. Pete and Edie remind me of Nick and Nora. Weird, I know. I think it's a vibe thing. Nora totally had Nick's number and I think Edie is the same way with Peter.

Watched episode four of Blade. Nice to come back to this after a long hiatus. I'm looking forward to more one season wonders on the CW Seed app.

Caught Strike Back and loved so much about this episode. Nice to have Zarkova back among the group. So cool to see Chetri pretty much rescue herself. And Alexander ending up in Moscow was better than expected. Wyatt and Novin are never boring and Mac needs to keep his choose better times to get sexed up. That's a lot of information to pack into a one-hour nutshell.

Watched the beginning of the next arc of Classic Who. This one is about the time meddler and I'm interested to see where it goes. Got a surprise when the guy from the Dalek episodes showed up. Didn't see that coming.

Caught a majorly great episode of Chicago Fire. Watching the women deal with the terrible accident in Indiana while the guys held a chili cook-off worked really well. The fact that the doom and gloom crew won—and one of the members is the dude from the Sonic commercials—kind of made my day.

Also started an episode of Iron Fist and it's full of Misty right now so I'm loving the hell out of it. Just saying.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Reality Bytes, a sexy short that started with a writing community prompt of "reality show; characters are the cohosts". I wanted to have fun with the idea and well…

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…

Libby finished her last bite of food and settled back against the pillows. "That hit the spot." The popcorn chicken and jojos couldn't be considered their usual fare but held up pretty well in her bed.

Bourne quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah, it did. And the view can't be beat." He ogled her from his spot at the foot of the mattress. "Can't say I've ever had a naked dining partner before."

Libby tilted her head to one side. "You're not complaining, are you?" From that state of his erection, she'd guess not.

Bourne barked out a laugh. "Hell, no." He pointed to his groin. "As you can see, I love the way your kinky brain works." Lifting the tray separating them, he set it aside. "What gave you the idea?"

Libby shrugged. "Since we're on the down low, I wanted to do something just for us." She grabbed his hand and tugged him up to sit beside her. "Naked dinner in bed seemed like fun." And it had been, heightening the sensuality they shared.

Bourne turned and braced his arms on either side of her. "It was." He scooted closer. "And it saves time. I've got you right where I want you." He leaned in and trailed kisses along her shoulder.

A familiar desire took hold of Libby. Bourne turned her on more than anyone else. She'd pretty much hit the jackpot with him.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she wriggled down, hauling him with her. "Funny… I was thinking the same thing." Her lips caught his and her tongue slid inside his mouth to explore.

Bourne groaned and shifted his position, settling between her legs. "I love it when we're so in sync." His hard shaft teased at her core.

Libby rocked her hips, letting her wet folds slide along his length. "Mmm. What am I thinking now?" Her skin tingled with awareness, the rough scrape of his stubble making her hot.

Bourne slanted his mouth over hers, mumbling, "That you want my big dick buried deep." He flexed his ass, letting his cock nudge inside her pussy.

She smiled against his lips. "You know me so well." She flicked her tongue out, catching his lower lip. "Don't make me wait."

Bourne kissed her and moved forward, driving his shaft with a smooth thrust. Libby moaned, always loving the first penetration. Bourne filled her physically and engaged her emotions, something she craved more of. She wanted to go public with their status, but they couldn't. Not yet.

Maybe if they committed on a deeper level instead of skulking around all the time, she'd push for more. Les could blow a gasket or not. If Bourne gave her the go, she'd announce their first official date on the air.

Bourne kicked up his pace and Libby pushed everything else aside, homing in on the exquisite friction and heat he generated with his staccato thrusts. Her hands gripped his ass, urging him on.

She'd enjoy these stolen moments with him instead of wishing for more.

I really am having a great time writing Libby and Bourne. I loved the prompt and had the first scene pop into my head almost fully formed.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Read Between the Lines

It's been a busy, busy week. I've got a new long-term project in a new to me genre and I’m excited to get started. Also finished up a couple of copy editing projects that were fun to work on.

About normal television viewing. I finished up the rewatch of Roswell, New Mexico. I'm serious when I say this show is kind of consuming me right now. Also caught the newest episode and it's everything I expected as to the reveal of the fourth alien but it also surpassed my expectations in so many ways. I don't know if there's going to be a triangle with Michael, Maria, and Alex but I actually like where things are right now. I'm not a huge fan of triangles but this has potential to be really interesting.

Caught another episode of Underbelly: Razor and really liked where things went. Wally leaving Kate came at just the right time and I'm interested to see how she fares without him. I'm also excited to see where Tillie and Nellie end up. Probably not in the best circumstances.

Watched two more episodes of Peter Gunn. This is such a great show for inspiration when I want to write something with a flair of noir. It's moody and stylish and the mix of grim and dark with humor is excellent.

Caught an episode of Strike Back and my heart goes out to Wyatt. At the same time, I'm totally down with Coltrane going rogue. It's such a section twenty thing to do. And the responses from the team? Perfect. I'm kind of hoping Katrina sees used-to-be Pavel as the evil force he is and switches allegiance again. We'll see what happens.

Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and loved how the group came together for Foster. Doctor Asshat definitely got the message. At least I hope he did.

Iron Fist had a great episode. I love watching Ward try to navigate through emotions. Joy, I'm not so sure about. I can't quite decide if I understand and sympathize where she's coming from or if I want to write her off the way I've written Trish off in Jessica Jones.

Caught an episode of Classic Roswell and Alex and Liz broke my heart all over again. I did love, love, love the way they took Topolski down though.

Watched an episode Murdoch Mysteries. The reporter lady drives me nuts but I loved how she handled getting William and Julie to recognize how much George contributed to their book. The murder case also entertained.

Caught the second episode of The Murders and I really like the partnership between Nolan and Kate. I want to know more about both characters.

I started Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and I'm excited to see how this show stacks up to Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

That's pretty much it for TV this week. Tonight's post is from Read Between the Lines, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "dear sir".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lexa Bode finds a letter Kers Jarvis wrote to his father at the tender age of seven. Her heart breaks for the handsome firefighter. The missive covers so much, but the young Kers leaves a lot unsaid, things his old man wouldn't see, but Lexa does—she can't miss it, she considers subtext her second language.

And a snippety peek…

Lexa Bode riffled through the bottom drawer of Chief Kent Jarvis's desk. "That stupid form has to be somewhere in this desk." She hauled the gigantic OSHA binder from the drawer and flipped to the back pages, hoping to find the elusive compliance document.

A rumpled white envelope caught her attention. Slipping it from between two sheets of paper, she glanced at the front. A child's handwriting graced the surface in carefully written print. Precise and pristinely legible, the letter had been addressed to Captain Kent Jarvis and the return address showed as his son Kers.

Lexa sat down at Kent's desk, her better sense warring with the intense desire to read whatever the envelope held. "What the hell? I'm dying of curiosity." Retrieving the letter, she scanned the contents, reading all about a day in the life of a ten-year-old Kers.

Her lips quirked even as her heart broke a little at the "Dear sir" beginning. A stoic little Kers… writing formal words to his father. She tucked the letter into her pocket and went back to her desk with the unwieldy binder.

After finding and uploading the stupid form, she hesitated before putting the letter back. "One more time." She read it again and experienced the same feeling as the first time… humor mixed with sadness at how much Kers covered up. "Chief Jarvis wouldn't get it. What Kers was trying to say." He'd see a little boy trying to be a big man… but Lexa spoke subtext.

Hell, she practically grew up with it as a second language. Every time her dad came back from deployment and needed "space" to get his head back on straight. She'd become an expert at reading between the lines and hearing what didn't get said.

After working with Kent and listening to his proud and glowing praise of his Kers, Lexa had no doubt the elder Jarvis loved his son with fierce fatherly love. But something painful existed between the two men. Kent often put Kers off when he called and Lexa couldn’t figure out why.

She snorted. "Not that it's any of my business." Her heart went out to each man though.

Tucking the letter back into the binder, she returned it to the drawer in Kent's desk. Just in time too… the chief entered the office with steam practically rolling out of his ears.

Lexa quirked a brow. "You ran into the deputy commissioner, didn't you?"

I honestly love this story. Fire chiefs are near and dear to my heart; my dad retired as one.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quixotic Cake Capers

So… not a bad week overall. A little slower, which I truly appreciate. I did have a sick kid, but she's on the mend now. A quick trip to pick her up from work had to happen but otherwise, she's feeling much better.

Had some decent television viewing. Mainly some repeat watches of current favorite shows and catching up on a few marathons. I did catch a few new episodes also.

Chicago Fire had a terrific episode. I have to say I'm not a fan of the boys fighting amongst themselves. New guy breaking the ice is going to be one of my favorite bits from the series.

Watched Iron Fist and things are moving along. Nice to see a little progress with Ward but I have a dreadful feeling his trust will bite him on the ass. Thrilled to finally see what the hell is up with Mary and, boy, the reveal didn't disappoint. Looking forward to the next episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Roswell. I'd forgotten about the Native American angle. Looking forward to the next episode.

Also watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I don't know if this is the last season, but they seem to be tying off a lot of loose ends. If it is… it's been a wonderful twelve years.

I started casually watching Blue Bloods. It's not really a show I want to add to my roster, but marathons are on every day and I've seen pretty much of the first five seasons. I'm now paying more attention and trying to catch up on season six and onward. I do love the family angle of this show.

Started a new Canadian show, The Murders, mainly because Dylan Bruce is one of the regulars. That said, I loved the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

With no new episode of Roswell, New Mexico this week, I started another rewatch. This show… man, I can't get enough of it right now. I might have to start a recap series on my fandom blog. Stay tuned. I'll let everyone know if it happens.

That's pretty much my week in television. Tonight's post is from Quixotic Cake Capers, a sexy short with a fun little twist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tori Plum decides a making a cheesecake for Gray Calhoun isn't beyond her capabilities even though she's definitely not a domestic goddess. Seventeen tries later, she's ready to call in the troops or throw in the towel.

And a snippety peek…

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

"Shit!" Gray Calhoun rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.

After swiping snooze on his alarm for the third time, he'd almost left it too long to even grab a shower before he had to leave for his conference.

Turning the water on, he ran a hand over his head. "Gonna have to make a strict rule of no sex the night before an early flight." Yeah, right. As if.

Stepping into the shower stall, he winced when the stinging spray hit his back. Tori's teeth left some marks last night.

Tori Plum. Sexual dynamo. Erotic goddess. A woman with an imagination that never quit.

And she's all mine. "How did I get so lucky?" He lathered up his washcloth and gingerly scrubbed down.

Last night, per usual, she'd blown his mind, not to mention his dick. Using a technique she'd read about, her mouth worked its magic in new and wondrous ways. Who knew a guy could come from barely there suction, lots of tongue play, and waiting until the last possible moment to grip the head of his cock with her lips to send him bucking into an incredible orgasm?

He huffed out a breath. "I do. Now." Jeez, and it didn't stop there.

Nope. She managed to get him hot and hard again in record time. Of course, giving him access to go down on her helped. He loved sliding his tongue between her slick folds to give her a gasping release. She followed up by lowering her hot core over his hard shaft and rocking her hips until she drained him dry.

And now his dick rapidly got hard again. "Argh. Can't have that." Switching the water to cold, he stayed under until his hard-on went down.

As much as he'd love a repeat of last night, he had to get to the airport. He didn't take long to dry off, get dressed, and grab the bag he'd packed the night before. Tori no longer occupied the bed and Gray made his way to the kitchen, following the smell of coffee and something not quite as pleasant.

Tori had breakfast made… or what might have resembled breakfast if a thin sheen of smoke didn't linger in the air and the smell of blackened bread didn't coat the inside of his nostrils. Holy fuck. The toast looked like it might disintegrate if he touched it.

Tori frowned. "Dammit. I'm sorry." She scooped the charred remains into the trash can and met his gaze. "Thought I'd help with breakfast since I kept you up late last night." She referred to the mind-blowing sex, which she called research.

He called it donating his time for scientific study and didn't mind one damn bit.

Tori edited and assessed erotic and romance novels, working with authors from start to finish. She also wrote amazing books on top of helping others launch theirs.

Domestic diva didn't fall under her purview and normally he couldn't care less. Today, he would've loved escaping without the acrid aroma of burnt offerings lingering in his nose. The foul scent would probably last throughout his entire flight.

Breakfast on the go, it is. "Uh, thanks. I'll figure something out on the way." With a quick glance at his phone, he considered his options.

Tori lifted a shoulder. "Yeah, probably a good idea." She poured a mug of coffee and stirred some sweetener into it.

The dejected look on her face almost had him asking for a cup, but he needed to get going. He'd grab a bagel and coffee at the airport. His stomach would definitely thank him for it.

He wrapped an arm around her. "I love you for thinking of me, but stick to the microwave." He dropped a kiss on her nose, grabbed his suitcase, and left so he didn't miss his flight.

I kind of love this scene. It needs a few little tweaks, but overall it came together better than I'd hoped.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quitters Never Cheat

Man… another week full of crazy sauce. In all honesty, I could do with a bit of slowing down and a tiny amount of smooth sailing. That said… I won't hold my breath. And it's not like anything majorly negative is going on. It's only being busier than I normally am.

Not a bad week in television. My current obsession with Roswell, New Mexico continues and I rewatched the first nine episodes. This week's episode didn't disappoint and my conspiracy theory side is having a heyday about the fourth alien. I'm such a big fan of how… messy… the relationships are. Awkward interactions abound and I'm totally here for watching all that unfold. So far, I'm also a big fan of how those touchy moments are being portrayed. I love how the core characters are letting the subtext shine and mixing it with lots of snark and offbeat comments. This show… if you're not watching it, give it a whirl. You won't be disappointed.

Caught another episode of Murdoch Mysteries and loved how the show title got worked into the book William and Julia are writing. It makes me wonder if the twelfth season might be the last. If so, I'll fondly say goodbye and look forward to rewatching from the start.

Watched the Arrow "Unmasked" episode and thoroughly enjoyed. I should be to the point where I can catch up on the crossover event with The Flash and Supergirl. I'm behind on The Flash but, sadly, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would.

Caught a great episode of Painkiller Jane. I remembered this one and enjoyed the second viewing. I actually wouldn't mind a reboot or reimagining of this concept at some point.

Started from the beginning of Peter Gunn and watched the first two episodes. I finally found another streaming source that has all of the first season episodes. This is such a great show to watch when the mood to write noir strikes me.

Watched another episode of Underbelly: Razor. Things move fast in this series and I kind of enjoyed watching Kate get served even when she did the right thing. Communication would go a long way in her world. Tillie and Nellie are probably next and I'll look forward to seeing how the cracks and chips start showing in their armor too.

Caught one of my favorite episodes of The Sarah Conner Chronicles. I truly loved how Jessie's gambit finally got revealed and the sole purpose she brought Riley back to the past came into play. And I also liked how Derek is finally edging toward knowing they're working at cross purposes. Good stuff.

Watched the final episode of Birds of Prey and I'm glad I took the time to rewatch this single season show. The last scene is more than worth watching the entire series for.

Started the sixth episode of Strike Back's sixth season. Gotta say the Mac and Wyatt interactions are terrific in this episode. Also love Coltrane's bits so far. I really want to see him rip into the DEA agent for blowing their cover. He's too smart not to know she had a big ass hand in doing that.

And that's it for this television this week. Tonight's post is from Quitters Never Cheat, a novella that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Robbin Rhayne, a talented sculptor, believes she has to suffer for her art. Ewan Arthur makes her almost reconsider the concept—sex has never been better with anyone—until he wants more and she won't commit. Several years later she runs into Ewan again and the spark is still there… too bad they're both in relationships with other people.

And a snippety peek…

Ewan waited five minutes after seeing Stan drag Robbin into the cabana. He didn't like the dark thundercloud look on the guy's face. He'd check to make sure she could hold her ground then take off. No need to stay since Stephie had given him the thumbs-up after meeting with her bosses.

Making his way to the cabana, he poked his head inside and saw red. "I suggest you let go of her before things get out of hand here." Stan had a hard grip on Robbin's forearm and a firm grasp on her shoulder.

Stan tossed an angry look over his shoulder. "Who the hell are you?" His fingers tightened on Robbin's arm. "This is none of your business."

Ewan whipped his phone out and hit the record button. "I'm making it my business. Mind if I record this in case the lady decides to file assault charges?" Mother fucker better let go soon or Ewan's fist would be flying.

Stan whirled around, dragging Robbin in front of him. "Butt the fuck out, asshole. The lady happens to be my girlfriend and she won't be filing any charges. Not like she'll even remember what happened." He sneered in her direction.

Ewan resisted the urge to faceplant the guy on the nearest flat surface. "Kind of my point, dickhead. Look. At. Her. Arm." Chafed and red from his grip, no doubt she'd bruise up tomorrow.

Stan glanced at Robbin's arm and let go, wheeling away from her. "Shit. Shit. I didn't mean to hurt her. She got up in my face and then started—" He broke off, probably realizing how stupid he sounded. "Doesn't matter. I didn't mean to hurt her." He flicked his gaze in Ewan's direction. "Do you really need to save that recording?"

Ewan barely kept his mouth from dropping open. "Uh, yeah. Unless she tells me to delete it, it's staying on my phone." He moved forward, putting himself between Robbin and her asshole boyfriend. "You okay?"

Her gaze glanced toward him but didn't stay. She nodded, rubbing her arm and rolling her shoulder. "I just want to go home."

Stan growled. "Well, I'm not ready to leave yet, so you're stuck, babe." He made a move toward her again.

Ewan held up a hand. "I don't think so, buddy. You can fuck off if you think she's going back out there." Seriously, she could barely stand up straight. "She can't even function right now."

Stan snorted. "Not my problem. Maybe if she didn't try to drink the entire bar in one sitting, she'd be in better shape."

Ewan bit back his anger. "You might consider why she did that." The whole group heard Stan's less than supportive stance on her work. "Can't you see how much pain she's in?" And, maybe Ewan needed to own his part in making her hurt.

Stan blinked. "From what? I barely touched her."

Ewan begged to differ. "I've got video proof that says otherwise, but I'm talking about the total lack of respect you showed her out there, man. Everyone's talking about it."

Stan glanced toward the pool area. "Fuck. That's just perfect. She brought all that on herself." He flicked a gaze in Robbin's direction. "Find your own way home. I've got damage control to do." Ducking out of the cabana, he didn't even look back.

Robbin swayed forward, her knees buckling, and Ewan caught her before she hit the ground. "Hey, let's get you out of here. I'll call a cab to get you home."

Her eyes filled with tears but she blinked them away. "Yeah, thanks." She stood and straightened her shoulders then swayed again. "I screwed everything up." Her eyes slid closed and she tilted to one side.

Ewan tucked her against his shoulder while dialing for a cab. "Come on, Robs. Let's get you home."

And just like that… he ended up smack in the middle of her world again.

I'm quite happy with how this story is unfolding. Robbin and Ewan are complicated characters and finding their way back to each other is a challenge… and fun to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Whew. Very long week where focus became a huge hurdle. Without getting into a whole too much information thing, hormones are a total pain in the ass and not a lot of fun to deal with. Bleh.

Decent viewing week in television. Caught another episode of Endeavour and it ended up being pretty terrific. Two more episodes of season five then a wait for season six.

Next up… Roswell, New Mexico. This show has been eating my brain in a really good way. I caught up on all the back episodes and started a rewatch already. Seriously, I haven't had a show do this to me since Battlestar Galactica and Arrow. I'm going to be so disappointed if Roswell, NM doesn't get a second season.

Started an episode of Midsomer Murders and it's rather interesting to see Jones sporting a beard. The character looks so different, especially when glasses are added to the mix.

Caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles and it's one I'd forgotten about. Only six or so more episodes before the end of the line. Also caught the next to last episode of Birds of Prey. I'll finish up that series and head back to Blade on CW Seed.

Watched the fifth episode of Strike Back and loved the twist and reveal of who Kingfisher actually is. Gotta say I didn't see it coming and loved not knowing. Things will get very tricky now, or more tricky because this show doesn't do anything else. With luck, the DEA agent will meet with a satisfying end. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Chicago Fire and have to comment how nice it is to not have the squirrely deputy commissioner in my face anymore. I'll keep saying that in the hopes he'll never grace the screen again. I'm still kind of "bleh" about Stella and Kelly's breakup. A little too contrived and disappointing.

Watched a Classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how much of an ass Kyle is in the first season. Geez.

Also caught a couple Classic Who episodes. Getting ready to watch the Time Meddler episodes, which should be fun.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a scene with dancing, a kitchen, and a belt. The implied abuse angle is definitely there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Of all the bars in the city, I walk into the one Prosper Bates works in.

Her dad taught Drew everything he knew about music. He should've recognized her right away. She had Monroe's eyes and the slight cleft in her chin matched his.

But… Monroe hadn't seen his daughter in a long, long time.

Drew nodded toward the door. "Are you leaving? Can I walk you somewhere?" He paused a moment. "Or do you maybe drive to work?" He shouldn't make assumptions.

She tilted her head to one side, a small curve to her lips. "Do you really have no place better to be at three thirty in the morning?"

He lifted a shoulder. "Not really." Did he sound as lame as he thought? "I, uh, well—" He broke off, chuckled, and started over. "I work nights so I'm up until all hours. Three thirty is about the middle of my day." God, what a dickhead thing to say.

Prosper leaned in closer to him. "I'll let you in on a little secret; it's pretty much the same for me." She moved back behind the bar and flipped a switch, dimming the lights. "And I'm not headed home, but you can join me if you want." She grabbed her jacket and small purse and came back around to his side. "I always stop in at Wakeman's Diner after work and get some much needed home cooking." Heading for the door, she quirked an eyebrow.

An invitation he wouldn't refuse. Even if it might put him in a tough spot.

He gave her a quick nod. "I'd love to. Is that the converted railroad depot?" If so, only a few blocks north of the bar.

She exited the building and swept her arm in that direction. "It is. And they have the very best home fries you'll ever eat." Draping her jacket over her shoulders, she waited on him to join her on the sidewalk then locked the door.

He sent her a sideways glance. "Does George live here?" He hadn't seen the owner leave.

She shook her head. "Nope. He always uses the back entry to come and go. And he scoots out pretty quick."

He fell into step beside her. "Wait, did he leave you there alone with me? What if I'd been an ax murderer?"

Prosper laughed. "You wouldn't have made it through the front door. George is a retired cop. He reads people better than anyone I've ever met." She stopped outside the diner's main door. "And, for the record, I don't ask people I just met to hang out with me after work. This is a first." She tugged the door open and breezed into the warmly lit restaurant.

Drew paused a moment, enjoying the way she greeted the employees with a bright smile and a hearty wave. "Man, I'm already in over my head here." But he wanted to know more, everything, about her.

Entering behind Prosper, he settled across from her in the booth she'd chosen. She held up two fingers and the waitress gave her a thumbs-up then spoke to the cook. She grabbed a pot of coffee and two mugs and started in their direction.

Drew raised his eyebrows. "What was that all about?"

Prosper flashed a quirky grin. "I ordered for us. Trust me. You're going to love it."

Drew honestly didn't doubt her word. The food could taste like sawdust and he probably wouldn't notice.

Drew is going to fall hard and Prosper will break all her rules. This one is fun to write!

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quid Pro Quo

March 17, 2019

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate. I'm not big on drinking green beer, but I do have Irish—apparently from County Cork and County Down—on both sides of my family so I love to visit some of the traditions around this time.

Once again, we've had crazy back and forth weather. A lovely high in the upper seventies on Thursday with a thirty degree drop to the mid-forties on Friday. Lots of wind and rain Thursday night. Everyone who just got over the nasty upper respiratory ick that went around is probably going to end up with it again. Bleh.

Had a decent week for television. Caught another episode of Chicago Fire. Gotta say I'm a little "meh" about the whole Stella and Severied breakup. Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, her accusation of Kelly being jealous kind of put me off. First… because she's the one who went a little crazy when Kelly's former flame came back to town and second, because Kelly never really tried to keep her from hanging out with creepy friend dude. The distant thing, I definitely feel. But if she knows Kelly… and she does… his go-to coping mechanism is to be kind of aloof and alone, not to mention he's been giving her some space because of creepy friend dude. So, yeah, the whole breakup thing? Not thrilled with it. Too forced, in my opinion. Casey's situation, though, really played out well. I enjoyed the whole storyline of the reporter getting her story with his help.

Caught an episode of Iron Fist. Actually loved Ward and Joy's interactions with everyone. Ward is such a dickhole but I love how it's played. Kudos to the actor because he's perfect for the part. Danny and Colleen make me happy even when they're not really communicating well. The whole Mary or whatever her name is better start making sense soon. I'm a little lost with that arc.

Watched another Passionflix movie, The Protector, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm truly thrilled to be a founding member of this group. If you haven't checked out a subscription, please do. And if you're not big on streaming subscriptions, maybe think about getting a DVD. Their original movies and programs are excellent.

Also caught another episode of Classic Roswell. The one where Liz's journal goes missing and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed that episode. Michael started growing on me after this one.

Watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and I'm getting into the story of William and Julia's endeavor to write a book. The case this week also intrigued me. I love having some backstory with William.

Caught another episode of Arrow and it's one I've been waiting to see. "Slabside Redemption" didn't disappoint. I've been excited to see how the prison storyline would end and I'm quite happy with how it played out. My one and only "meh" moment? Stanley's escape. That means we'll be seeing him again, right?

Watched another episode of Roswell, New Mexico. This show is starting to eat my brain in the best way. It's messy and I love it. There's nothing uncomplicated about any of the relationships. I'd love to see a better and stronger Maria and Liz vibe because I loved that friendship in the original. The Rosa storyline is starting to grow on me and I'm hoping the whole illegal alien thing smooths out soon. On one hand, I like the topical aspect to making Liz's dad illegal. On the other, I struggle a little because it's so very different from the classic version. We'll see if that one starts growing on me.

Caught another Painkiller Jane episode I either missed or forgot about the first time around. "Breakdown" ended up being a terrific episode. I loved how it ended.

Started another episode of Underbelly: Razor. This show goes to some interesting places and I'm kind of interested in where this episode will end and who will be left standing. Hopefully will have time to finish it soon.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quid Pro Quo a sexy short that started with the prompt of "one character gets hurt; the other provides comfort".

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abel Reynolds gets injured and laid up for a couple of days, Lark Munroe decides to provide a little quid pro quo check in on him, except she's got way better ideas to pass the time than Abel ever did.

And a snippety peek…

Lark eyed the binder with Abel's paperwork… and the bag containing two dinners sitting in her passenger seat. "Am I taking blatant advantage here?" Maybe.

The reports didn't take long to pick up and she drove right past the local hangout that had Abel's favorite burger combo. She'd opted for grilled chicken. The delicious aroma coming from the boxes made her stomach growl in anticipation.

Turning into Abel's driveway, she cut the engine. "God, I hope he lets me stay." She tucked the binder under her arm and grabbed the food.

She paused before she popped the door open. What the hell am I doing? Finding reasons to spend time with Abel. Away from work and prying eyes. Not that hard to figure out.

But what if he guessed? Would be it be so bad if he did? Possibly.

Because she wanted Abel in a big way and taking advantage of and using his injury as a way to maybe hookup might not be the best idea she'd ever had. Then again, as a catalyst, it might work.

And I can always fall back on the returning the favor thing.

She exited the car, made her way to the door, and knocked once. She didn't wait for a response, letting herself in like she'd done earlier. Handing him the binder, she waved the takeout bag back and forth.

Abel quirked a brow. "Is that the three-meat burger I'm getting a whiff of?" His stomach growled, leaving no doubt she'd made the right call.

Her lips curved. "Yep." Placing the dinners on the coffee table, she started taking the boxes out. "It's your favorite, right?" She'd heard him order it often enough.

He nodded. "Oh, yeah. Perfect blend of beef, lamb, and sausage." Rubbing his hands together, he took the container from her.

Lark put hers on the table and glanced up. "Hope you don't mind. Thought I'd join you." Hopefully, she kept just the right amount of casual in her tone.

He shifted his position on the couch, wincing a little. "Uh, no. Don't mind at all." He reached over and grabbed a pillow to settle it on his lap.

She narrowed her eyes, but when he put the container on it she shrugged off the move. Made sense for comfort if nothing else. She snagged his glass and refilled it then grabbed some water for hers.

Sitting in the chair next to the couch, she grinned. "See, way better than boring soup heated in the microwave."

Abel paused mid-bite. "How'd you know that was my plan?"

She laughed. "The cans lined up on the counter are a dead giveaway."

He gave her a sheepish grin and took a huge bite of his burger.

So far… so good.

I'm having a good time writing Abel and Lark. She's got the perfect opportunity to test the waters away from work so there's a little downtime if things don't go well. But… I think they'll go along just fine. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin