A little sneak peek into Ryu

 

“It says here that you love soft things and story time, cuddling, and watching movies, that you don’t like when things are dark or scary, and that there is a night light in the basket for you. I’ll plug it in for you before bedtime. You love to put things in your mouth, especially lollypops and binkys, but you’ll suck on anything you’re given. Really? I can see us having a bit of fun with that. It also says you love to color, which I’d already guessed from the coloring book and crayons I unpacked. You sleep with your stuffy and get cranky when you stay up too late. When you’re naughty, timeouts work best, but no spanking. You don’t have to worry about that little one, I never hit my boys. It also says that too much sugar makes you hyper, so snacks before bedtime should be as close to sugar-free as possible. That might be a problem until I can go grocery shopping.”

“Snacky?” Ryu said, having heard the most important word to him at the moment.

“Let me guess, you’re hungry?”

Ryu nodded, smiling and wiggling a little closer to Kissmass Daddy, glad he was no longer being grumpy, talking loud, or scowling at him.

“Joy.”

Grumbling, he reached for the basket and pulled it onto the floor, his hands parting the bits of paper and other things tumbling about, until he came up with a baggie of the yogurt-covered strawberries Ryu loved. Clapping, he giggled and reached with grabby hands, opening and closing them until Daddy handed them over. Ryu had no sooner removed one of the fat berries when Kissmass Daddy took it and the baggy back again.

“Snacky!” Ryu whined, reaching to get them back.

“Wait,” Daddy barked, making him jump and clutch his ice bear stuffy.

His lower lip trembled as he tried to sort out why Daddy was suddenly upset with him again.

“No. No, it’s okay, no need to cry little one,” Daddy said, lowering his voice as he reached to brush the first tear from Ryu’s cheek. “I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I’m sorry. I’m worried you might choke on these if I let you eat them this way. I’m going to take them into the kitchen and cut them in half, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Ryu sucked faster on the binky and nodded his head, still uncertain, but Daddy had said he was sorry, which meant everything would be okay. He soon brought back a plate with Ryu’s berries and carefully placed it in his hands.

“I’m afraid I don’t have plastic ones anymore,” Kissmass Daddy said. “You’ll have to be careful until I can get some, okay.”

Ryu nodded and pulled out his binky, setting it carefully on the plate with the berries so it wouldn’t get any yuckies on it.

“Okay, I be careful,” Ryu said before gobbling down the first few pieces.

“Whoa, whoa, slow down,” Daddy said, catching Ryu’s hand and holding it gently when he went to reach for the next one. “I’m not going to take them from you again, I promise. Take your time and chew them carefully, please.”

Up close, Daddy’s eyes were kind and filled with worry. They weren’t angry or scary at all.

Ryu can be found here: Amazon.com: A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu eBook : Dorine, Layla: Kindle Store

Happy Holidays

 

The Holidays Are Here!

A Daddy for Christmas: Ryu: https://books2read.com/u/m22WL7

When a Secret Santa matchup sends Ryu to the wrong Daddy, will it be a pleasant surprise for both of them or will grumpy Kissmass Daddy Hank prove why he's been alone for over a year?

Age Gap
Binky stealing kitty
Fun with lollipops

A Little Christmas: Ajay’s Secret: https://books2read.com/u/47wnMq

Walker Remington hates the holiday season. He didn't always feel that way, but tragedy has a way of changing things and making a man bitter. Carols, lights, the sight of people with their packages and bags all tip him over into Bah Humbug mode, that is, until Ajay comes along. With his piercings and wildly colored hair, he is everything Walker is not. Young, fun-loving, and on the hunt for a Daddy, something Walker has been before, and longs to be again, if only he'll stop sabotaging every chance he's offered.

Age Gap
Found Family
Snowy Paintball Wars

A Daddy for Christmas 2: River: https://books2read.com/u/4Np6rY

River is a ray of sunshine from the tips of his curly pink hair to the soles of his pink Converse. He is an unapologetic blend of sassiness and snark and he's not about to tone it down for anyone, including the colorful new Daddy who has caught his eye. Lux might be an art teacher, but River has made an artform out of making sparks fly and with Christmas right around the corner, there's nothing he'd like more than to celebrate the season by rolling up a bit of Christmas Magic after a few nights of rolling in the sheets.

As the holiday approaches, these two colorful souls bond over cocoa, snickerdoodles and family drama, and all while making a whole slew of sparkling Christmas memories to rival the brightest lights on the tree.

A Little Christmas 3: Zachy: https://books2read.com/u/315ZgM

Zachy doesn't mean to be naughty, and with Christmas coming up, he's doubling his efforts to be good, despite nagging feelings that it's much too late for his efforts. Will this overly excitable little finally find the Daddy of his dreams beneath the tree, or will Santa skip Zachy's house again this year, and leave him with nothing to celebrate.

Exuberant Little
Floundering Daddy
A deal that changes everything

A Little Christmas 4: Song: https://books2read.com/u/b5EylG

Song is a brand new little, a drummer in a heavy metal band, and a playful soul who just wants to be loved. When he meets Zachy, Zachy's Daddy Gage and his Papa Cooper, Song makes his first friend in the little community. Will the magic of the holiday season see that friendship morph into more?

Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
Naughty Santa Daddy
Grilling in the snow

Twisted Chassis Holiday: https://books2read.com/u/4E2QLe

Pillow forts. Fairy lights. The magic of the season is alive in this return to Foggy Basin and the lives of Haven and Maddox. From risking their 'tastybuds' on jellybeans that may, or may not be the flavor they look like, to destination planning their next big adventure, they pass their time with snark and steamy innuendos; while celebrating the season with their rescue pets, Loki-Bear and The Notorious S.O.X. Laughter, snow, and berry blue implements of pleasure round out this return to Twisted Chassis.

Six Stingers Stinging: https://books2read.com/u/bwDNrZ

When you just happen to be a jellyfish shifter, things can get a little, well, tingly whenever you touch the wrong person too much. Talk about a dating faux-pas. Leaving your partner with itchiness, burning, and reddish-purple welts all over sensitive areas tended to result in being ghosted. At least my new sea turtle buddies are immune to my venom and interested in being more than just friends with benefits. Merry flippin' Christmas to me on that point, there might be a bit of tinsel and bows in my future after all.

Island Living
Tentacular Fun
What is up with that couch?

Leo in Lace: https://books2read.com/u/3LOjVX

Booking a holiday retreat for me and my best friend has plenty of benefits, including the obvious ones. Booking it in a snowy paradise, well that’s just a bonus when you’re both snow leopards. At least until our cabin for two turns out to be a cabin for three.

Fated Mates
OMG those are not stuffed kitties
Only one bed

A Daddy for Christmas 3: Nova: https://books2read.com/u/3nzNX9

How was he supposed to enjoy his vacation if they were already blowing up his phone before he reached his holiday destination? Nova considered not answering the line of texts and questions, but it wasn’t worth the mess that would be waiting for him when he got home. Best to just deal with things as they arose, if he could get his hapless new co-worker to follow simple instructions. So far, it’s not looking good.

Island holiday vacation
Surfer Daddy
Sunshine and a giant sandbox

A Very Denarius Christmas: https://books2read.com/DenariusChristmas

It’s time for A Very Denarius Holiday!

The brothers haven’t celebrated in centuries but this year they have four reasons to – Griffin, Luna, and twins Kane & Hunter. Ionus and Alex’s home is full of mischief and love. Four wild dragonettes, add in a silly Uncle Odem and it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen next.

Join us for their first Christmas and celebrate the new lives and mates that have brought so much joy to the Denarius brothers’ lives.

Leo in Lace is Live!

 

Snow Leopard Shifters

Fated Mates

Double Booked Cabin

One Bed

Fainting

Yule Celebration

 

Excerpts:

“Easy, Mav, easy, it’s all good; we’ll figure it out.”

 

“Figure…?”

 

If figuring it out meant I was about to be an entree, this was going to go down as one of the most fucked-up vacations in history. My mouth had gone so dry my tongue was plastered to the roof, which might not have been so bad if my feet were working, but those traitorous bastards had turned to lead.

 

No running for me.

 

Not that I harbored the belief that I could outrun that fierce kitty, and damn did he look ready to pounce. Until he shimmered. Twisted. Contorted like the first one had done. Leaving me faced with two naked men sprawled across the bed that I’d planned to spend the next two weeks sleeping in.

 

Waiter, check please.

 

That was the last shock I could handle. The very last one.

 

The room spun as my vision grew spotty and dark before the floor rushed up to greet me.

 

There were no thoughts left after that.

 

^^^

 

“Oh shit!” I yelped, scrambling so fast I fell off the bed. “Is he dead? Did he have a heart attack? Oh my goddess, what do we do?”

 

“Mav…”

 

“He’s dead, isn’t he? We’re gonna get arrested and have our faces splashed all over the front page of the newspaper back home, and it won’t be for our cookies this time either!” I screeched. “What are our folks gonna say? I just know mine will try to blame it all on you when I’m the one who scared the poor guy to death. Number 723 in the long list of reasons they have for why we shouldn’t be friends or business partners, you just watch.”

 

“Mav, I don’t think…”

 

“What are we gonna do now, Briar? Do we move the body? Hide the body? Eat the body? Oh eww, please say we don’t have to eat the body. I don’t think I can. I’ll puke, Briar, I know I will.”

 

Leo in Lace: Double Booked for the Holidays: https:// www.amazon.com/Leo-Lace-Double-Booked-Layla-Dorine-ebook/dp/B0FNQDBB8N

Saturday Snippet #1 From Daddy's Little Chaos Gremlin

 

You tell him that I want his face on my video screen in thirty minutes or he can consider himself fired with no chance in hell of receiving a reference from me. As it is, I’d like to speak to Kelly when I’m finished with Ryan to see why the fuck he suggested him for the position in the first place if this is the bullshit he was known to pull. Why are we only hearing about this shit now when he’s been on assignment for the past twelve days? I needed to know these things before I trusted the safety of my one of my clients to an incompetent who allows a kid without proper documentation into Katana’s dressing room on just his word that he’s Katana’s son! Was he smoking something that I need to know about? If that’s the case, then he’s still fired but at least it’s half a good god damned reason for that kind of abject stupidity.

 

“Oh yeah, Daddy is pissed,” Tristan murmured.

 

“Is there anything that we can do to make it better?” I asked.

 

“Not until he’s finished with them. Then we can crawl in his lap and cuddle with him and have a little suckie, that really helps calm his nerves and settle him down when someone’s upset him,” Tristan explained. “If Mr. Phillip was here with his blood pressure cuff, it would prolly burst trying to get a reading on Daddy’s.”

 

I giggled at that, because I could picture the dial spinning with an angry red face at the center, steam streaming out of its ears as the needle fall off.

 

“Can you see it in your head?” Tristan asked.

 

“Uh-huh,” I replied. “With an angry face and steam and everything. You should draw him a picture.”

 

“Let’s draw it together,” Tristan suggested as he let go of me so he could retrieve his sketchpad and some colored pencils.

 

With the contents spread out in front of us, we stretched out side by side on pillows we hastily plunked onto the floor, a blanket over our feet to keep them warm as we started drawing. I really needed to get some socks the next time I was at a store that sold them. The weather was warm enough now, but when winter rolled around, I knew I’d want something between my feet and the wooden floors.

 

That’s how he found us when he returned to the living room, his hair standing out on one side like he’d been running his fingers through it.

 

“Oh good, I see you’ve found something to keep you occupied,” he said, looming over us for a moment. “I’m afraid I need to retire to the bedroom for a little while to deal with a bit of incompetence. There’s fruit and a few sandwich squares left in the fridge, though damn it all, those were made with the deli meat.”

 

I leapt up to give him a hug, snuggling against him when he wrapped me in his embrace and sighed. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “I can eat the fruit and a square won’t hurt me any if I’m hungry enough to have one.”

 

“It will be the last time you have to eat that crap, either of you,” he said as he opened an arm so Tristan could join us. “Just let me deal with this mess and you’ll be back to having my undivided attention.”

 

“Okay, Daddy,” Tristan said. “We’re coloring a picture for you.”

 

He hugged us tighter at hearing that and kissed the tops of both of our heads. “You guys have already made things a thousand times better.”

 

“Then we’ll have to shoot for a million when you’re done,” I said, feeling a little snarky.

 

When he threw his head back and laughed while squeezing us tighter, I knew it had gone over well. The few Daddies I’d known had never minded a teensy-weensy bit of snark from their boys, as long as no lines were crossed. It seemed like Mr. Roman might be okay with that too, as long as I didn’t go overboard.

 

“All right you two, back to your drawing while I go get ready to take a bite out of someone’s ass.”

 

“Wish it was mine,” Tristan muttered, prompting another round of laughter from Mr. Rowan.

 

“Go on now, get,” he said, turning us loose only to smack us both on our asses as we walked away. Nothing too hard, but it did sting a little, just like I imagined his teeth might if he ever bit into my bottom.

Daddy's Little Chaos Gremlin can be found here!

Twisted Tuesday and a brand-new release and exclusive excerpt as Amethyst Storms is live!

 

Introducing the Primordial Protectors Series

In the beginning, there was no man, only beasts roamed the Earth. Dragons were the dominant species. They lived in clans and ruled their lands with heavy hands. Over time, accords were made and allegiances formed, strengthening the numbers in many kingdoms. Eventually, anger and greed consumed them and those who refused to choose a side met an untimely demise.

As war ravaged Denarius’ lands, Griffin, leader of the Clan, the chosen protectors of the sacred gems, was forced to join his troops in battle to keep all he loved and held dear safe. Luna, Griffin’s queen, gathered their five eggs and retreated to the sanctity of their horde, a location only she and her mate knew of. It was there she waited for his return, which never came.

These five heirs to the throne, each the color of the precious stones they represented, were the chosen ones to guard the gems. They would harness a power within themselves, and through their birthright, would rebuild what was lost and bring peace to the warring world once more.

Gods, help us all...

We hope you enjoy the first installment, as well as all the dragon magic, mischief and mayhem to come.

Book 1: Amethyst Storms

Final day to purchase for $3.99

Amethyst Storms can be purchased here!

The Primordial Protectors of Clan Denarius have been tasked with protecting the gems, the heart of their existence, from falling into the wrong hands.

Ionus, eldest Denarius brother, has spent decades training his stubborn siblings and keeping them in line. But he longed for the freedom to take time off from worrying about them and focus on seeking that which his heart truly craves.

His mate.

If they even exist…

Alexander is a free-spirited omega. A rock climbing, cave spelunking adventurer on a quest to visit the most untouched cavernous terrains in the world. Much to his grandfather’s dismay, he leaves his GPS behind and is soon lost in a twisted maze of caves deep below the surface.

When all attempts to find his way out fail, Alexander comes face to face with a world he never knew existed and creatures he never imagined.

What would Gramps say about that? Possibly something about being dropped on his head one too many times.

A fierce dragon protector meets a thrill-seeking human who takes too many risks and somehow manages to capture his ardent heart. Could this be the mate he’s dreamed of or his worst nightmare?

Amethyst Storms is book 1 in the Primordial Protectors series. What happens when a fierce stickler of a dragon meets a thrill seeking human. Sounds like an ad for man seeking man, right? Well, we can promise you it’s anything but that.

Amethyst Storms Exclusive Excerpt

Wiggling backward took effort, but at least I could tick that one off and press forward into the wider cavern that lay before me. Kneeling, I reached to retrieve my pack only to discover that the spot where I’d left it was empty.

Okay, seriously?

I searched the area around the hole, despite being certain of where I’d placed it. After all, I’d been certain about the weird outcropping too and look how the hell that had turned out.

Son of a bitch.

My water, my food, my binoculars, plus everything I needed to set up basecamp, including the compact thermal blanket I carried were in there. No way in fuck was I going to be able to remain up here without it. I’d wedged my pack in good, too. No little fuckin’ weasel would have been able to drag it out of there. Even a badger wouldn’t have deemed it worth the effort.

A bear however…

Dammit.

Sniffing, all I smelled was sunshine, brush, and the deep mineral scent of warm rock. The rank scent of bear tended to permeate everything, lingering even after the animal had gone on its merry way. If one had sniffed out my pack and dragged it away to get at the contents, there would have been signs in addition to the scent, like claw marks on the stone around the crevice.

But there were none.

Son of a bitch.

Okay Alex, think, think.

I still had my phone and plenty of daylight left. I could press forward, check the cave, see if it went through or led to anything worth exploring, and if not, repelling down would be faster than the trek up. It would be a bitter pill to swallow, but I could lick my wounds at the closest motel or B and B, grab fresh supplies in the morning, and try to find the correct location after I’d hunted up a video tutorial so I could brush up those land nav skills Gramps had been on me about.

Fuckin’ Gramps.

Fuckin’ GPS.

And fuck whatever the hell had stolen my fuckin’ backpack.

In case you missed it, the word of the day was fuck.

Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck.

I was practically sing-songing it as I made my way deeper into the cave, following the winding twists and turns and dodging a couple bats. At least there had been no more false starts after the first one.

The cave was narrowing though I could see the barest hint of something glowing ahead. The brilliant purple mesmerized me as it pulsed and winked, my attention so focused on it, I hit a wall, literally. There was only a jagged gash between rocks now, just enough that the glow shimmered along the edges, like little hands, waving as it danced along the rock. It took a great deal of scrunching and sucking in my breath before I could wiggle through the gap, my eyes growing wide at the sight of the bright, shimmering circle of stones.

Mesmerized, I reached as if to touch one, when a loud roar thundered, it’s echo shaking the cavern walls and bringing down a shower of dust.

Holy fuckin’ hell. Behind the stones where the faces of five angry dragons, glaring at me like they wanted to have me for a mid-afternoon snack.

One me.

Five of them.

I wouldn’t even make a decent hors d’oeuvre.

Fuck my life.

Looked like I really should have listed to Gramps after all. 

And now I present to you the cover reveal for Emerald Waves

Grab it at the low #Preorder price of $3.99 while you can.

Coming Tuesday 9/19/2025

 

 Book 2, Emerald Waves is Caro and our beloved Dragon Archivist Emerson's story.

What on earth were the fates thinking?

 

https://books2read.com/Primordial2

 

#eggpreg #mpreg #shifter #Dragons #Knotting #nesting #Fantasy #paranormal #magic #kindleunlimited #readmoreromance #MMRomanceBooks #QueerBookstagram #GayBookstagram #romancestagram #QueerReads #bookloversunite #booknerd #booksofinstagram #booktok #bookwormlife #fantasybooks #fantasybookseries #fantasyfiction #fantasyreads #fantasyromance #readersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram

 

Musical Monday...Coming to a stage near year: Echoes of a Muted Song!

Johnny's back along with Jagger and the rest of the Damaged Saints, including manager Draven, who's got his eyes on a sinfully wicked singer with bright, golden-brown eyes that remind him of honeycombs and sunshine. 

Wild and uninhibited, Johnny gives the performance of a lifetime every time he gets up on the stage. He's been doing it for so long that the nights have blurred into an endless series of shows, parties, and partners, none of which make him truly happy anymore.

For all he's been able to accomplish, the one thing he's never done before was fall in love.

Until now.

Sudden, swift and unexpected, it's something he's ill equipped to handle, especially when the person he's fallen for isn't even a hundred percent certain he's into guys. It's more like he's dipping his toes into the pool with Johnny as his very eager, very willing partner. Only now that they've reached a point where Johnny's feeling are involved, he's not sure if his heart can handle living in limbo until Draven makes his decision.

Excerpt

“Behave.” I growled and felt him shiver.

He’d sure as hell heard that. Then that brat had the nerve to grin, wink and press a kiss to my lips before whispering. “Now what would be the fun in that.”

Oh we were fixing to have fun, tonight, I thought as I escorted him in, one hand pressed to the small of his back, which he promptly tugged down to cup his ass before grinning at me again. So of course I pinched it, he’d damn near invited me to pinch it by putting his hand there, so when he jumped, I just gave him the same smirk he was giving me.

“Game on.” He hissed, grinning as he tugged me out on the dance floor.

Between the beat and the roll of his shoulders, it was easy to get lost in the rhythm of the dance and the way he had eyes only for me. Talk about a rush. After so many years of performing, I could feel when there were eyes on me, I didn’t have to see them, and yet, even when he spun away, he watched me over his shoulder as he straddled my leg, grinding against my thigh as I held him in place with my fingers splayed across his belly. It was impossible to ignore how well we fit together when he leaned back, hooked one hand behind my neck, and rode me like a stripped pole, to the point where someone actually did toss a bill at him while others cheered and whistled.

“They’re gonna go to bed tonight dreaming about what you get to touch,” Johnny said as he spun so he was in my arms, our lips millimeters away from touching.

“You’re damn right,” a nearby dancer said, inciting the fury of his partner, who smacked him on the arm before stalking away.

And he’s gonna go to be alone tonight, I thought as I tongue fucked Johnny right there for the world to see. At this point I didn’t care if I was going to die from terminal finger cramps after issuing a million takedown notices. I’d never felt such a sense of rightness and certainty than when Johnny Amaral was in my arms. 

Echoes of a Muted Song is available for Preorder and will go live on May 30th. 

Preorder Echoes of a Muted Song here.

Other Rockstar Romance books by Layla Dorine

Desolation Angel

Halfway to Someday

Tattered Angel

Bleeding Dawn

Damaged Saints

Broken Chorus

Devin’s Boys

Musical Monday - Special Guitars and Family sale with Exclusive Excerpts

 

😍Limited Time Only!🥰 🤩 $1.99 Each! 😢 Guitars and Family! 😢 Each Book is on Sale!😹 😍🥰😹🌈🎼🎸💜❤️‍🩹

#darkreads #darkromance #romanceauthor #romancebooks #romancewriter #lgbtqbooks #loveislove #lovewins #loveyourself #morallygraycharacter #dysfunctionalfamily #internalconflict #unexpectedresponsibility #internalizedhomophobia #siblingangst #loner #selfdestruction #selfloathing #grief #painfulhomecoming #stuckinthemiddle #awesometherapist #strugglingtoacceptlove #bikerslife #brokenrocker

🤩😢🌈🎸💚🩷❤️‍❤️‍🩹

One of the things that’s been an almost constant theme in both Guitars and Cages and now Guitars and Choices, is the idea of the hero’s journey. While Asher may seem like a very unlikely hero, and in fact would consider there to be absolutely nothing heroic about himself, he really is the driving force that brings the family back together in Guitars and Cages and keeps them together as the story continues.

Flawed, bent, a little bit broken, Asher loves his family fiercely, despite what they might do to one another and to him. In fact, one of the biggest conflicts, for him, is how to remain loyal to all of them without taking sides and ultimately, losing one of them in the process. Loss scares him, he’s seen enough of it and so he holds tight even when maybe he should back away, and in dealing with older brother, Cole, he gets a bit burned for it, time and time again. In Guitars and Choices, he finally begins to step away from that, mostly because he has a great support system to show him how a loving family should function and how not to end up ripping one another apart even when they disagree. He’s also coming to see the importance of living his life openly and honestly, and with Conner by his side, there is so much growth in Guitars and Choices that I can’t wait for readers to see where he’s at by the end of the novel.

😍🥰🤩😢😹🌈❤️‍🩹💚

😭Need a Good Cry? 😭 😿Readers have labeled Guitars and Cages an Ugly Cry book! 😿 🎼Asher is a mess! 🎸 🩵A scarred, beautiful, disaster of a wretch💙 ‍🔥 You’ll hate him before it’s through.💞 But you’ll fall in love with him too. ❤️ 😹You may even cry WITH him and cheer for him to get his happy ending. 🌈 💔Watch him try to resist the love his heart longs for.❤️‍🩹

Guitars and Cages: Asher Logan is a bartender and a pretty wicked guitar player, when he isn’t wrecking his hands fighting in a cage. With a past he keeps hoping to outrun, Asher’s been on a downward spiral for longer than he can remember. When his sister-in-law leaves Rory, his eight-year-old nephew, in his care, Asher is forced into two things he’s never been good at: sobriety and responsibility. As he struggles to care for Rory, his own life begins to unravel.

When Asher’s brother, Alex, turns up, presenting as a girl and announcing her new name is Alexia, it further complicates matters, as does the arrival of his new neighbor, Conner. When the siblings’ older brother, Cole, reacts violently to Alexia, Asher is placed squarely in the middle of a family conflict which compels him to confront who he pretends to be versus who he really is. Asher must choose who to trust and who to finally walk away from. Warning: Self-harm, suicidal ideology, transphobia, accident/injury/death, cage fighting, fire, attempted suicide, threats of violence, dysfunctional family, mentions of past trauma, abusive parent (past)

Guitars and Cages can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJYPXPQR

Excerpt from Guitars and Cages:

“Uncle Asher, Uncle Asher!”

Oh God, one more hour of rest, please, is that too much to ask? One more hour, and then I swear, I’ll get up and take the kid to the park or the zoo or the aquarium or the movies or wherever the hell it is that he’s gonna beg for me to take him today. I’ll get him McDonald’s, an ice-cream sundae, a slice of his favorite pizza, anything for sixty more minutes of sleep. And yet still the bouncing continued, as well as the loud repeating of my name. Apparently, silence wasn’t making the point and the kid wasn’t gonna go away without some sort of verbal acknowledgement from me. I groaned, and he began his singsong chant again. When the hell did they grow outta that shit, anyway?

“Uncle Asher, Uncle Asher, Uncle Asher, Uncle Asher!”

Every word punctuated with a bounce, goddammit all; whoever said you had to die to be in hell was a bloody fool.

“Rory!” I roared, realizing as he toppled from the bed and landed on the floor with a thud that I’d likely scared the hell out of him.

Silence, oh blessed, blessed silence.

“Uncle Asher?” he asked hesitantly now, and much, much quieter. I groaned, as the silence had been far too fleeting.

“Rory, is the apartment on fire?” I asked, refusing to pull the pillow away from my face and acknowledge the sunlight that I knew was shining into the room.

“No.”

“Are the cops at the door?”

“No,” he responded with a bit of a sigh.

“Is the whor... err, my girlfriend at the door?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t caught my little slip.

“Uh-uh,” he said solemnly. Well, that was a good thing, anyway; I was beginning to not be as fond of her as I’d once been.

“So, is the Super at the door demanding rent?” I asked, figuring that was a bit of a long shot since I’d paid the rent at the start of the week.

“Nope,” he said, and I could feel him climb up and sit on the edge of the bed.

“Has the zombie apocalypse started?”

“Uhh no, but wouldn’t that be awesome?”

I chuckled into the pillow. Awesome wasn’t quite the word I’d use, but hell, if several people I knew managed to get themselves turned into walking corpses at the very least I could shoot them in the head and actually get away with it.

“Have aliens landed on the roof?” I asked him, and now he was laughing.

“Don’t they only land in cornfields?” he replied, and I groaned and let out a long-suffering sigh.

“So let me get this straight. There’s no mass hysteria, no flames, no one at the door, and no zombies on the streets, and yet you’re waking me up a whole hour before I told you it was okay?”

“Well, yeah, but you gotta get up or you’re gonna be in trouble,” Rory said in a quiet voice that sort of scared me. It certainly got the pillow from over my face, and I opened my eyes, blinking at the soaking-wet form of him sitting on my bed. Why was he soaking wet and fully dressed and getting water all over the place? And did I really want to know?

“What did you do?” I groaned. I don’t wanna know, I don’t wanna know, I don’t wanna know, a voice inside my head practically screamed as I could hear what sounded like running water hitting the floor in the other room. I threw the sheet aside and bolted toward the sound—too fast, because as soon as I hit the next room I went skidding across the damned linoleum floor and crashing into the kitchen cupboards.

😍🥰🤩😢😢😹🌈🌈🌈🎼🎸🎸💜💚🩷❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Guitars and Choices: Staying in the city could cost him his life but going home means facing a buried past and truths long hidden. Asher Logan has been a lot of things: runaway, guitarist, cage fighter, and cowboy, but the one thing he’s always avoided was being a father to his young son. Now faced with returning to his family's ranch, he’s forced to deal with the knowledge that the move would put him right down the road from Shawn. Still, it’s better than staying in the city, with drunken, bitter older brother Cole, whose anger and prejudices have made him difficult to be around.

Add in the fact that Asher’s new boyfriend, Conner, is eager to make the move with him, and there’s little argument that he can make against it. But returning home means facing demons, and the barn he’s avoided since the day his father caught him and his first love together in the hay. Speaking of his father, when the old man finds out Asher is back, he knows it will only be a matter of time before he demands Asher come to the prison to see him. Moving means facing a buried past and truths long hidden, but staying in the city isn’t good for anyone, least of all Asher’s young nephew, Rory. It’s a hard road to face, filled with tough choices, and an old secret that just might provide more questions than answers. Warning: Self-harm/suicidal ideology, accident/near drowning, mentions of death/grief, dysfunctional family, and transphobia

Guitars and Choices can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLJ2Q7QK

Excerpt from Guitars and Choices:

“You worry too much,” Asher whispered to Conner, whose plate was piled high with a little bit of everything.

Conner chuckled. “When it comes to you, I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” Asher grumbled as he popped the tab on his soda and took a long drink. The cold felt good on his parched throat.

Rory was dismantling his cheeseburger, so Asher reached over and put it back together.

“Come on, I like it that way,” Rory protested.

“And that’s fine at home, where we can chuck you in the shower after you’ve covered yourself in ketchup and pickle juice. Unless you wanna take a bath in the duck pond, you’ll keep it all together.”

“Fine.” Rory pouted until Alexia reached over and tousled his hair; then he was all flailing hands and squeals of protest as he tried to brush it back down.

Asher grinned. “Now you look like a porcupine.”

Scowling at his uncle, Rory gave up trying to fix his hair. His eyes lit up as they landed on the can of whipped cream sitting in a bowl of ice on the table. Before anyone could stop him, he’d snatched it up and sprayed Asher, leaving his face a sticky mess. Silence descended over the table for half a second, before everyone cracked up.

“Now you look like a, um….” Rory turned to Alexia. “What was that monkey we saw at the zoo?”

“Saki monkey,” Alexia told him, nearly falling out of her chair. “And you do, Asher, oh my God, I wish I had my sketchbook.”

A couple of subtle clicks told him that sketchbook or no, this moment would not be soon forgotten. Asher blinked and reached up to wipe his face, only to have Conner catch his hand and stop him.

Conner ran a finger through the sticky cream on Asher’s cheek, then sucked it from his finger. “You make a good dessert.”

Asher’s eyes widened and he felt his neck flush. Suddenly it was far too warm for a fall day and his jeans were feeling too tight.

Conner smiled and dipped a paper towel in a Dixie cup of water to wipe off the remaining mess.

“Now you’re helpful,” Asher muttered, but held still and let Conner finish cleaning him up. Not like he really wanted to move; he was waiting for his jeans to feel less restricting, shocked that such a simple act had affected him so much. Of course, it was hard for him to look at Conner at all without feeling some level of desire.