Rainbow Snippet 1/29/2022:

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE.  

This week's Rainbow Snippet comes from Cody's Story, set in the same world as Burning Luck. 

“Care to clue me in.”

“Just…” snickering, Cody shook his head and started unloading their groceries onto the conveyor belt. “If she really thinks she can keep her kids from ever hearing someone cuss, she’s crazy. The old man corrupted me before I was three.”

“Really. What was your first one?”

“Fucking hell,” Cody replied, laughing. “Only I couldn’t say it right, so it came out fuckin’ el.”

Laughing, Bellamy helped unload the cart, already starting to push the encounter with Chase from his mind.

“You should have seen the look on my preschool teacher's face when I accidentally sent crayons scattering in every direction and the words just came flying out of my mouth.”

“Did she call your folks?”

Bellamy wouldn’t have thought it possible for Cody to turn any redder than he already was, but there he was, doubling over and laughing so hard his face turned crimson and the people in the lines beside them started staring their way.

“That was the best part,” Cody said, gasping and hiccupping between words. “She called my mom, who was not having a good day when she came in. Turned out my brother’s teacher had called her in too, after he’d dumped green paint over a little boy's head. My brother’s pouting and dragging his feet and somehow my mom managed to get the pocket of her hoodie caught on the doorknob, which tore, sending her cell phone crashing to the floor. The screen broke and mom let out a stream of profanities the likes of which I’m sure the teacher had never heard.”

Warrior Wednesday: He is mine to protect!

 

Fog meant warm air was drifting up from the south. Some of the chill of the earlier day had been chased away, ushering in a crisp, but comfortable night. Summer would be here before they blinked. If everything went well, there would be lazy days skinny dipping in Derrick’s pond, sunbathing on the lawn, and leaving his brothers wishing for brain bleach if they happened to wander back there when two or more of them were entwined.

“If we do this, if the four of us get together, you can’t ever say shit to him like you did in his room that day, you can’t shame him, and you can’t try and leave him out. Won’t matter how much I love you, I’ll leave and take him with me, and that’ll be it, okay. I mean it when I say he’s mine to cherish and protect.”

“I said the same thing to Devin about you,” Mikal replied, toying with Moon’s hair. They’d hardly stopped touching each other since landing on Devin’s couch. The night would be difficult, with no guarantees they’d be together the one after that, there were still so many things left to iron out.

“Why?”

“Because I couldn’t stand the thought of him putting you down.”

Moon shook his head and brushed a soft kiss over Mikal’s lips, tasting the blueberry iced tea they’d sipped earlier. “He never did, not once,” Moon murmured against Mikal’s lips about to kiss him again when Devin’s voice rang out.

Tantalizing Tuesday: The first kiss - Aiden and Raine

 

Sighing, Aiden looked around the room to see that very little had changed since Raine had moved in. His belongings were still in bags, lined up in a neat row beneath the window.

“You have that chance now,” Aiden whispered. “A fresh start, if you’re willing to stick around and take it.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“What changed your mind?”

“You.”

Aiden’s heart about melted hearing that. Leaning in, he kissed Raine gently, feeling his soft lips move cautiously beneath his own. Raine kissed with a curiosity Aiden mirrored, bodies pressing closer until fingers were carding through hair and their breaths came in choppy gulps once they’d broken apart.  

“Thank you for actually caring enough to listen to me,” Raine whispered.

“I’m here for you anytime you need, or want,” Aiden replied, caressing his cheek and stifling a yawn.

“You look worn out,” Raine said. “I should let you get to bed.”

“Or I could stay.”

Available on Amazon

Rainbow Snippet 1/22/22 More of Devin's Boys

 Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE.  

This week's Rainbow Snippet comes from Devin's Boys, part of a new small-town collection of stories. 

With full bellies, they stretched out on the blanket, heads touching as they stared up at the sky.

“Why’d we stop writing songs about the clouds?” Mikal murmured. Moon felt the touch of Mikal’s nails on his arm and reached for his hand, entangling their fingers.

Sighing, Moon took a moment to ponder that. “Guess we thought we were too grown-up for all that.”

“Know what I think?” Mikal murmured.

“What?”

“We thought wrong.”

Flirtatious Friday: Derrick and Moon, from my current WIP for the All American Boys series.

 

“Come on, you’re gonna catch a chill sitting here.”

“I’m not going back in there.”

“Did I say anything about you going back in the bar.”

“No.”

“Alright then. We gotta go to the parking lot though. My truck’s over there.”

“Hate your truck.”

“No you don’t, you hate that you’re too short to get in it on your own.”

Huffing, Moon tried to blow a hair off his nose only to have it fall over his eye instead. Go figure. “Same difference.”

“I promise to be gentler when I boost you up this time. Wouldn’t do to save you from getting smeared all over the road only to smack your head off the steering wheel and give you another concussion.”

“Least you didn’t break my nose.”

“Hey, I apologized for that too. Who knew you were so light?”

“You couldn’t take one look at me and tell?” Moon squeaked as Derrick ‘helped’ him up by nearly yanking his arm out of the socket. “Oh my god, you’re a menace, you know that!”

“So you keep telling me,” Derrick said, but he was gentler when boosting him up into the cab of the truck, and the heat pouring from the vents was welcome after sitting on the late spring ground. “Where to.”

The disappointed look on his uncle’s face burned bright in his mind, and he knew exactly where Linus would pop up once the bar was closed. “Not home.”

“Well, that eliminated one place and leaves a wealth of possibilities,” Derrick remarked as he put the truck in gear. 

Throwback Thursday: Desolation Angel

 

Dare gets lost in music only he can hear.

Since childhood, it’s rolled through his mind, drowning out the rest of the world. When he comes back to himself he has the notes and lyrics for the songs his band plays. But he wonders if such talent is worth it, when the rest of his life is such a mess.

All Sionn ever wanted was Dare’s attention.

But that won’t happen as long as Dare has his ‘musical dreams’, so he keeps his attraction a secret. Too bad it’s impossible to keep anything secret when you live with your three best friends. When Sionn’s temper reaches breaking point, he sets Dare on a quest to ‘fix’ himself, in the hopes of gaining the love of the man he adores.

But Fate has a funny way of twisting things.

And ‘normal’ is just a state of mind, isn’t it? While Dare struggles to change, secrets are revealed, loyalties are tested, and the band is offered the chance of a lifetime. Can they pull themselves together fast enough to take advantage of it, or will Dare’s desire to be ‘normal’ unravel all their lives?

Available on Amazon

Warrior Wednesday: Worry for a mate brings out all the violent tendencies.

Exclusive first excerpt from Swamp Wolf, Book five of the Comet Lake Chronicles. 

Somewhere underground.

After hours of frantic searching, that was the first thought he received from his mate, and it was better than an I love you in Lucien’s opinion.

“They’re close!” Lucien called out to the others aiding in the search.

Every rock was suspect, every line in the dirt a place to shove a screwdriver.

Are you injured? Lucien thought back.

No, but don’t feel so hot. Chloroform and I don’t agree with one another it seems. Hades is out cold, so are Tobias and Dimitri. There are four jackals, I think, all are whitewashed in wolf scent. We’ve got at least two bears, maybe three, all with an electrical hum around them like they’ve got active collars, though I don’t dare open my eyes to check and be sure.

Why the fuck not?

‘cause I’m supposed to be unconscious so I don’t get hit with the chloroform again.

Then god damnit stay still.

I am. Now I’m listening for the best time to cause a distraction.

Yeah, and when do you expect that to be?

Soon as I can hear someone over top of us.

Do we sound close?

Sounds like you’re getting fuzzy, maybe you need to turn around or something. Brooks there?

Of course Brooks is here, along with the rest of the MC, several members of the council and your folks.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Are they hassling you?

Now is not the time to discuss their feelings on what’s going on.

That’s an evasive tactic if I ever heard one. JD replied, then there was a moment’s pause in which Lucien had no clue what might be happening to his mate.  The feel of you is getting brighter.

“Thank the gods,” Lucien murmured beneath his breath. Not soft enough though as Baz and Brooks converged on him.

“What’s going on, what’s he saying?” Brooks asked, pressing his head to the side of Lucien’s like that would somehow let him hear what JD was thinking.

“He’s going to cause a distraction when he gets the sense we’ll be close enough to hear it, that way, we might have an easier time finding where the entrance is hidden.”

“What the hell is he thinking!” Brooks snapped. “He’s a god damned reckless bastard! Has he given one thought to what happens if we can’t find it before he gets dead.”

“Pretty sure he’s weighed what few options they have at the moment,” Lucien grumbled. “Focus on fussing at him later, once we have him back in our bed. Right now, just focus on finding him.”

If you get yourself killed, I will find a witch doctor to resurrect you just so I can kick your ass. Lucien thought to JD.

Is that even a thing?

Do you want to find out?

Not particularly.  

Good, then you get ready to make that distraction, ‘cause the only thing that’s going to bring our mate’s blood pressure back down is you in his arms, so let’s do this.

Doesn’t feel like you’re blood pressure is too low at the moment.

I’m ready to stick a couple of your knifes into whoever the fuck’s holding you hostage.

Already told you, jackals. JD thought back. Wait a minute, you have my knives.

Of course I do. Figured you might need them. Seeing as how you’re in no shape to do that, then I’ll be sticking them in someone for you. Keep your mind open to me, let my wolf see through the eyes of yours, Lucien urged.

It takes practice to do that, you know, well, except in extreme cases.

I’d call this pretty fucking extreme, wouldn’t you?

Book 1 of the Comet Lake Chronicles can be found here!

Book 2 of the Comet Lake Chronicles, Howl Down the Moon, coming in a few short weeks. 

Tantalizing Tuesday: Fireworks with Zander and Takashi

 

“I’m glad we came out here. It’s way nicer than being stuck inside. We should have stockpiled some hors d'oeuvres and a bottle of champagne and brought them with us though.”

Takashi chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time I went on a picnic. Yes, that’s exactly what we should have done. That way, we could have toasted in the New Year while watching the fireworks.”

“At least we’ll still be able to see the fireworks from here and…whoa.”

Takashi glanced over to see Zander, wide eyed, mouth half hanging open and he grinned when he realized where they were.

Another large statue loomed over the flowers and hedges that surrounded it, only this one was a bit racier, depicting the satyr and the nymph in a passionate embrace, lips fused together, her legs wrapped around his lower half.

“Someone decided to tell the rest of the story after all,” Takashi pointed out.

“That’s…wow.”

Zander had let go of his hand and was slowly circling the statue, inquisitive eyes scanning all the intricate details. A surge of joy shot through him, that he could put that look on Zander’s face with such a simple thing. Finally, Zander made his way back around to Takashi’s side, the full force of his intense grin aimed directly at Takashi.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

Smiling back, Takashi stepped a little closer. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m pretty sure I have a new favorite now.”

Takashi chuckled, hating the edge of bitterness that chipped away at some of the pride he felt.

“Guess you’ll have to ask to come see it every time someone brings you here.”

“Nope,” Zander replied with a small shake of his head, shocking Takashi once again. “This was special. Most people don’t care what I want, or like, or enjoy. To them, I’m just an ornament, another prop for the night like their dress, shoes or car.”

Takashi didn’t know how to respond to that. How could someone keep doing something that so clearly demoralized him? Faint strands of music drifted from the party, so Takashi tugged him forward, surprising them both with his impulsiveness. Zander seemed to recover first, slipping his arms around Takashi’s neck and molding his body against Takashi’s, his head on Takashi’s shoulder, facing inward again. Another impulse hit and Takashi reached up and stroked his hair, assuaging his curiosity about how soft it would be. Time seemed to stand still as they moved, the music fading at times, growing louder at others, and all the while they swayed. Brilliant bursts of color erupted over head and Takashi tilted his head back to look at the sky.

“Happy New Year, Takashi,” Zander murmured against his neck.

When Takashi looked down, he could see the fireworks reflected in Zander’s eyes, a million times more stunning then seeing them against the sky. He couldn’t resist brushing a kiss against Zander’s forehead, recalling what he’d said about never kissing on the lips.

“Happy New Year, Zander,” he murmured, continuing to hold him close. “Thank you for making this my best New Year in a very long time.”

Matesummer Monday: Bonding over hand fishing

 

Snap

The sharp crack of a breaking branch yanked Raine out of the memory and he stumbled to his feet, looking around to see where it had come from. Another snap, the rustling of leaves. Whoever it was, they weren’t even trying to be quiet. A glimmer of blue between the trees, growing closer. He watched as Aiden emerged, using his cane to keep him from sliding down the embankment which, fortunately, wasn’t too steep.

Crossing the river to meet him, Raine wondered what had brought him down there.

“So this is where you disappeared to,” Aiden said when he reached him. “Wow, it’s beautiful down here.”

“Yeah.”

For a moment, Aiden just took it all in, before he spotted the cooler on the other side of the river.

“How many have you caught so far?”

“Four, I want six, figure I’ll make them for supper tonight,” Raine replied.

“Oh.”

Aiden was chewing his bottom lip, like something was wrong and he didn’t quite know how to spit it out.

“It’s okay if you don’t like fish,” Raine told him.

“It’s not that, I love fish, but Gabriel’s moms invited us over for dinner tonight so I could finally meet them,” Aiden explained, disappointment and regret rolling off him.

Ahh, so that was it. The welcome to the family meal, the one Raine wasn’t invited to because no one outside of the three of them even knew he was here.

“Hey, it’s all good, they’re on ice. They can stay that way for another day, it won’t hurt them any. I’ll cook them tomorrow.”

Aiden shifted his weight a bit, leaning a little more on the cane. “I just hate that we’re leaving you home alone. It isn’t fair.”

“But it is my fault,” Raine explained, trying to unruffle his feathers. “Besides, I have no interest in being in a crowded room with strangers. I’d much rather be out here.”

Glancing past him, Aiden’s brow furrowed. “I don’t see a pole.”

“I don’t need one.”

“Then how…”

Raine waved his hands at him, and Aiden’s eyes went wide.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Raine said. “Want to try?”

“Me?” Aiden scoffed. “I can’t even get across the river.”

“Oh, really.” Glancing behind him at the rock path, Raine was suddenly hit with an idea. “Will you trust me to get you across without falling in?”

Aiden glanced from the path to him, nibbling his lip again. “Do you really think you can?”

“No,” Raine said. “I know I can.”

“Then let’s do this,” Aiden said.

“Okay, hold out your arms.” Raine instructed, grasping on to them, helping Aiden form a frame for balance. Slowly, Raine backed onto the first rock, then the second, guiding Aiden to follow.

“Step, now step together,” Raine told him, leading him across the rocks to the bank on the other side.

“Holy shit, how can you just walk across backward and never look to see where the next stone was?”

Chuckling, Raine walked beside Aiden to the large, flat rock he’d been fishing from. “I’m a wild thing, remember. Learning the terrain backwards and forwards is just part of survival, especially when it’s so close to the house.”

“Exactly how much time have you been spending out here?”

Raine shrugged, because time seemed to stand still when he was in the woods. “You guys have your thing in the office, I have my thing out here. Sunshine, fresh air, napping in a bed of leaves. What more could any wolf want?”

“I guess, when you put it that way, I can see the appeal.”

Raine sat, before sprawling out on his belly, leaving Aiden plenty of space beside him. “Get comfortable. Hands out. And relax.”

Settling in beside him, Aiden reached out, not quite as far as he needed to, so Raine reached over, gently correcting him.

“You know how bugs skim the surface of the water, well that’s what I do with my fingers, just one, and watch as the fish come by. When I see one big enough, I reach in and snag it. They’re kind of slimy and wiggle around a lot, just keep a tight hold once you grab one.”

“Somehow, I don’t see myself actually being able to get my hands on one,” Aiden remarked.

“See, the first step is in changing the way you think. You have to stare in there and know for certain that you’re not going away empty-handed. The rest is just instinct.”

“We’ll see,” Aiden said. “I’ve never had much of an opportunity to test my hunting instincts.”

“Guess what, you do now.”

Silently, they waited, a few tiny fins swimming past. Raine could feel Aiden tense, just a little, and reached out mentally to help him keep calm.

“Every move you make can create vibrations. We might not feel them, but the fish can,” Raine said. “Your shoulders are too tense. Exhale, let your body relax until the only things you’re aware of are the rock beneath you, the wind around you, and the fish below you.”

“Told you I can’t do this.”

“And I told you you can.”

Slowly, he could feel Aiden growing more and more relaxed beside him, one finger tracing a zig-zag pattern on the water’s surface. Small silver fish swam past. This time, Aiden didn’t twitch. An undersized bass followed, not before they noticed a larger shape.

“Remember, use your instincts,” Raine thought to Aiden, who reached, seconds later, trying to grasp the fish. He came up empty-handed, except for a couple scales caught beneath his nails.

“I, I touched it,” Aiden thought, excitement radiating off of him.

“Yup, and next time, you’ll catch it.”

They resumed their wait, watching the activity beneath the water. Little snails and mudbugs moving around among the muck and rocks.

“I want to watch you catch one,” Aiden thought. Glancing over at him, Raine saw Aiden watching him intently.

“If you insist,” Raine thought back, grinning.

Focus. Relax. There was clover nearby, wild onions too. Beneath his finger, the feel of the water cool against his skin. Every sense open, grounding him in the moment. His eyes, the fish, his hands, movement without thought. Instinct. He drew his hands from the river, holding the fish.

“That was outstanding!” Aiden declared. “You had the fish before my brain registered that there was one.”

“That’s what I meant by trusting your instincts,” Raine explained as he dealt with the fish. “Processing what you’re seeing takes time and it can cost you your pray. React to the motion. Be one with the moment. Now I want to see you catch one.”

“I’ll do my best,” Aiden replied.

“I know you will.”

Silence. No thought, no movement, nothing but the world around them narrowed down to the river, the rushing sound easily lulling the mind into a tranquil state. Fish came and went without a twitch from either of them. The breeze grew colder in slow increments as the sun passed through the trees on the other side of them. Big shadow, the fish flashed into view and Aiden lunged, struggling for a moment as the fish splashed water in his face. But holy shit, his smile when he kneeled there clutching it was radiant.

“I did it! Oh my god, I actually did it.”

“I knew you would.”

Waiting For Raine Available on Amazon.

Rainbow Snippet 1-15-22: Introducing Devin's Boys

 Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

In this group you’ll find anything from romance and historical fiction to mystery and YA. The common thread is that every story’s main character identifies as LGBTQ+. The snippets could range from zero flames to full-on sexytimes, anything goes content-wise. The only rule is snippets will be 6 sentences long–one for each color in the Pride flag.

I would invite everyone to please come check out the Rainbow Snippets group, click on a link, read and comment on the writing available and get involved yourselves in this awesome exercise. The link to the group can be found HERE.  

This week's Rainbow Snippet comes from Devin's Boys, part of a new small-town collection of stories. 

“I can’t go out there,” Moon declared, frantically scurrying between his amp and his messenger bag, fingers fluttering as he gathered up cords and shoved them in zippered pockets. His boot hit the metal leg of a folding chair, jostling it, and sending a handful of guitar picks scattering across the floor.

Mikal caught the sleeve of his shirt as he scrambled to pick them up. Giving it a little too much of a tug, and spinning Moon around, his best friend crashing into him with a yelp. The impact with the floor knocked half the air out of him. Moon landing on top of him drove out the rest. Mikal lay there gasping and clutching his side while Moon stumbled to his feet, tripped over an errant cord, and smacked into the wall. Judging from the whimper and soft, choking gasp it must have hurt. Cruel as it might be Mikal’s first thought was good.