My Sexy Saturday ~ Evil Elf Visits Starbucks

January 17, 2015 by Alexis Duran

Welcome to another sizzling episode of My Sexy Saturday. The theme this week is “I’m so sexy”, in which we get to introduce those characters who are hot, hot, hot and probably know it. My sexy character, Zeke the elf with evil intentions, definitely knows it. I’m sharing seven paragraphs from my contemporary m/m fantasy, Dark Heart. Not yet published but hopefully (fingers crossed) soon to see the light of day.

***

The door opened, a gust of wet wind blew in, and time stopped. Ezekiel stood in front of the door as it closed. He’d changed his clothes. He wore jeans and a close-fitting black leather jacket. Unlike the musketeer coat, it showed off his slim waist as well as his broad shoulders. His black silk shirt was open at the neck. Sunglasses hid the magical eyes, but there was no mistaking the evil elf.

He scanned the shop a bit then walked straight for Ian’s table. He stopped so close Ian could smell the salt air and deep woods piney scent wafting off his skin, like he’d taken a bath in the ocean and toweled off with cedar bark. His hair looked shorter, or more styled, with the bangs hitting the high line of his cheekbone, the back brushing the collar of his jacket.

“Good afternoon. Mind if join you?” he asked in soft, melodious voice.

“Yes, I do. Go away.” Ian looked around. Everyone else was oblivious to the dark elf in their midst. They tapped on phones, stared at computers, rustled papers. Dijeree and the barista laughed. Ezekiel sat down directly across from Ian. He pushed his glasses back into his hair, unveiling the eyes.

“Why do you resist me, Ian?” he said. He grabbed one of Ian’s hands from the table before Ian could snatch it away.

“Because I . . . you . . . you want to kill me.”

The elf laughed. It was a warm, friendly sound. His eyes gleamed under the fluorescent lights and shifted colors – blue, grey, silver. He turned Ian’s hand over, smoothed out the clenched fingers and ran a finger along his palm. “I do not want to kill you. I want to take you away from this ordinary, depleted life. I want to make love to you. I want to fuck you until you can’t walk straight.”

***

Time for another play date with the writers of My Sexy Saturday. Wether you’re a reader, writer or both, there’s plenty of steamy fun to be had by clicking the link and checking out the amazing selection of excerpts. Writers of sizzling hot fiction will share either 7 words, 7 lines or 7 paragraphs from one of their works.

My Sexy Saturday ~ Resolutions

January 10, 2015 by Alexis Duran

Happy Saturday! It’s been a while since I’ve participated in the My Sexy Saturday blog hop, so it’s appropriate I’m coming back for the Resolutions themed hop. One of my many resolutions is to share, play and participate more with all the lovely readers and writers online.

My seven paragraphs this week are from an untitled story in my long-planned, yet to be written Recovery Romance series. There’s a resolution that needs to be made, but has Damien hit his bottom yet?

***

Damien hoped to hell Mason wouldn’t be home when he crept guilt-ridden into their apartment. Give him time to shower at least, burn the clothes, come up with some excuse…no, there was no point in stories any more. Like a politician wracking up blowjobs from interns, it was better to come clean than lie.

He pushed away from the brick wall and continued up the slope. His debauched adventure had ended on the unfashionable side of Capitol Hill. He lived on Queen Anne and had a long slog home. He hoped Seattle’s salty breeze would clear his head and blow away some of the strange man funk that clung to him like sticky cobwebs. That was the worse thing. It didn’t mean anything of course, this forgotten sex, but now he’d have to get checked again for STDs and Mason would give him that contemptuous, holier than thou attitude for weeks and…shit.

Sunday. Mason was due back last Friday night. Damien had even planned a nice dinner to kick off their epic three-weeks-apart fucking reunion. He wasn’t much of a cook but he could do spaghetti sauce. He’d bought fresh tomatoes, garlic, the works.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He pushed his fingers into his hair and muttered under his breath, well aware of people stepping to the far side of the sidewalk to avoid him. Little dogs barked angrily as he lurched past.

This was bad. Mason had arrived from Paris Friday night to an empty apartment. He’d waited, worried, freaked out. He had two full days to get into a complete froth. Damien’s head hurt thinking about it. His feet hurt because he hadn’t been able to find his socks and his sneakers chafed his heels after the first mile of his walk of shame.

Maybe, maybe it was time to admit he had a problem. For real. Maybe he should go straight to an AA meeting instead of home to face his lover’s pain. Anything, even walking over hot coals or listening to old bums pontificate about their higher power sounded better than watching Mason’s heart break again, see the suffering cloud his beautiful eyes and know it was entirely due to Damien’s lack of control.

But no way was Damien going anywhere looking and smelling like he did. The one time he’d gone to AA to get Mason off his back, he’d been well turned out and had looked down on all the mangy losers assembled in the basement of the sad Baptist church. Now the losers would be looking down on him, thanking their higher power they’d never fallen as low as he obviously had. No. He’d just have to convince Mason he was too sick and damaged to fight. Put off the confrontation, think of some way to make up. He had to. Without Mason, he wouldn’t survive.

***

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ Solstice Threeve

December 28, 2014 by Alexis Duran

Welcome to the last Weekend Writing Warriors hop of the year. I hope you’ve enjoyed participating in this hop as much as I have. It’s a great place to make friends and discover some truly great fiction. Here’s to another year of awesomeness!

This week I’m continuing with my little short story featuring Liam and Axel from To Catch a Threeve. Last week Axel came home to find Liam installing a rather large and, in Axel’s opinion, odd symbol of the season in the middle of Axel’s house.

***

“Do you like it?” Liam grinned over his shoulder at Axel.

“I, uh—” Axel’s gaze travelled over the dark green mass that filled the corner and stretched out to nearly the middle of the room. He took in the strands of red ribbons, sprays of dried cranberries, rows of tiny tin bells, sugarpine cones coated with crystalline pitch, what looked to be pieces of Axel’s family silverware, all wrapped around the tree in a confusing mass of colors, shapes and sizes. Most alarming were the candles stuck to the branches with wax and twine.

“What is it?”

“It’s a Solstice Tree, our offering to the goddess Moon on the night she rules the sky.”

Axel released Liam and stepped back – a cold shiver ran up his spine.

“A threeve tradition, is it?”

***

If you’re interested in the story and would like to find out if Liam and Axel work through this little challenge, I’ll be posting the full story on New Year’s Eve.

Thanks for stopping by. Merry midway between Holidays!

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com

Midwinter Madness Flash Hop

December 21, 2014 by Alexis Duran

Welcome to another flash fiction blog hop hosted by the magnificent House of Manlove. Click this link to find more awesome winter/holiday themed short reads for your enjoyment!

Flash fiction is quite the challenge for me, and when I first wrote The Wrong Elf, it was way over the 1200 word limit. Rather than abandon the longer version, I had the brilliant idea to “flesh it out” and offer it as a free holiday giveaway! So, if you like the flash version, please click this link to download the Xtended version from Amazon. And if you know anyone who enjoys steamy m/m reads, please feel free to pass the word. It will be free through Christmas Day.

Now, the story. Flash version.

The Wrong Elf

By Alexis Duran

Ordering at the last minute from a discount catalogue exposed a person to certain risks. Out of stock. Wrong color. Doesn’t fit. None of those disappointments compared to this cock-up.

Avery knelt in the torn wrapping paper and snowdrift of packing peanuts, still gripping the scissors. He considered cutting his throat with them. Another miserable, lonely Christmas, and all because he’d wasted his holiday money on a stupid elf.

It had seemed like an awesome way to counter a pathetic winter break spent alone in his fraternity house. He’d specified male on the order form. No substitutions. And yet, here before him stood a female elf and not even a particularly attractive one. She was stocky and sported the hint of a mustache. She reminded him of his eighth grade gym teacher.

He reread the order form. The tag line under Your Very Own Elf! said Guaranteed to make wishes come true.

This elf didn’t even speak English.

“Here’s my wish,” Avery said. “Turn yourself into a hot guy elf.”

She grinned at him, the tassel on her cap bobbing as she rocked onto the toes of her pointy shoes.

He shook out the papers and discovered a pamphlet that appeared to be the instruction manual, written in a language he didn’t recognize.

He sighed. The elf watched his every move, cheerful as the moment he’d unwound her bubble wrap.

“How about getting me a pizza?” he suggested. She cocked her head to the side and walked around him, thoughtful now.

“Back in the box, elf. If I hurry I can get Fed Ex to pick you up before they close.” He hesitated over refund or replacement. Was it worth the trouble of trying again?

“Nothing personal, but you’re not what I had in mind, so stand still, okay?” Avery held up a sheet of bubble wrap and smiled at her. She shook her head, grinned and before he could stop her, waltzed out the door.

“Hey!” He ran into the hall, but she’d vanished. “What about my refund?”

It hadn’t occurred to him an elf he’d bought and paid for might just up and leave. He wasn’t responsible for a malfunctioning product, was he? Not only did she not grant wishes, she didn’t even follow simple orders. He decided to call the company’s help line and complain. Even on Christmas Eve some drone would be manning the phones.

Avery was flat on his back in bed with the phone pressed to his ear, listening to “Frosty the Snowman” for the hundredth time, when a commotion in the hall drew his attention. There was a couple thuds, a grunt, some singing in a lilting foreign language, and then his door burst open, kicked by his wayward elf, whom he’d discovered from the packing material was called Griselda 1819191.

She had a large sack over her shoulder. It wasn’t pizza.

Avery sat up, alarmed. The sack was moving.

“Griselda, what did you do?”

She grinned and dumped the writhing sack on the floor. The sack grunted. Avery winced. Griselda bowed.

“Take it back,” he commanded. She rocked onto her toes and back again.

“Oh, this can’t be good.” Avery slid from the bed to kneel beside the sack. Growling sounds emerged. Better get this over with, Avery thought. He untied the knot at the top and pulled down the sides.

Furious brown eyes glared at him. The mouth was duct tapped. Dylan from Art History. Crap. Sure he’d fantasized about Dylan, but kidnapping wasn’t in his erotic repertoire. His heart sank into his slippers.

He gripped the edge of the tape and jerked it loose.

“I’m so sorry. The elf malfunctioned.”

“Get me out of this bag,” Dylan said in a menacingly calm voice.

Avery grabbed the end of the bag and dragged it away. Griselda had wound duct tape all around Dylan, pinning his arms to his sides and his legs together. He wore flannel pjs and a t-shirt.

“Untape me, Avery.”

He knows who I am? Avery’s elation was quickly replaced by fear. He knows who I am!

He scrounged for the scissors and began cutting away the tape, careful not to nick the skin. “I don’t know what happened, honest. The elf is broken and the manual is in some foreign language.”

Dylan fumed silently until he was freed. He tore the last strips of tape from his clothes and leapt to his feet. “Expect a visit from the cops,” he said and made for the door. Griselda blocked his way.

“Call off your elf.”

“Let him go,” Avery pleaded. Griselda leaned against the door, looking very immovable.

“She’s one strong fucking elf,” Dylan commented. “Where’s the manual?”

Avery held it up. “It’s in Russian or something.” Dylan snatched it from him.

“It’s in Czech. You ordered an elf from a company called We B Wishes?”

“They had a bunch of five star reviews.”

Dylan shook his head and stared at the manual. Avery was reminded of all the hours spent last semester staring at the blond sophomore as Dylan poured over the text book, taking notes and occasionally nibbling delectably on the end of his pen. He looked especially sexy all messed up and sweaty from his recent abduction. Avery had to admit, he had wished for a hot encounter with Dylan, but not like this. He wanted Avery to want him, not hate him. Stupid elf.

“Says here, guaranteed to make wishes come true.” Dylan narrowed his eyes at Avery. “What did you wish for?”

“You read Czech?”

“Answer the question.”

“I, uh,” Avery swallowed a growing lump in his throat. “I sure didn’t say it out loud. I wanted company. Hot company. I swear on Santa’s beard I did not ask Griselda to kidnap you.”

Dylan dropped his eyes and thumbed through the manual. “She could’ve just asked.”

“I told you. She’s defective.”

“Or hyper-efficient.”

Avery stood and brushed peanuts from his knees. “What are you still doing on campus?”

“No family to speak of. Thought I might as well get some work done. It says here you can get her to go to sleep by saying, uh, not sure how to pronounce it, jit spat.”

Griselda crossed her arms over her chest, slid to the floor and fell promptly to sleep leaning against the door.

“We can drag her out of the way,” Avery said. “Maybe get her back in the box.”

“You’re going to send her back?”

“She’s dangerous! Besides.” It was Avery’s turn to blush. “She was supposed to be male.”

“That’s what you wish for?” Dylan cocked an eyebrow. “A discount elf?”

“I thought I did. I guess a magic elf knows better. I wished for—” The small bedroom suddenly felt cramped and overheated. “You.” His cheeks flamed red and he stared down at Dylan’s bare feet. The oddly perfect toes curled and uncurled. Dylan rocked up on them until he could look straight into Avery’s eyes, then down again. He was rather elf like, Avery decided.

“In an odd coincidence, when Griselda broke into my room, I was online with Santa’s Wish Shop, placing a request for the cute guy in Art History to ask me out.”

Avery’s pulse pounded so loud in his ears he thought he might have misheard.

“You forgive me for the duct tape and sack episode?”

“I’m willing to blame the elf, if you promise to ask nice next time.”

“I swear.” Avery put his hand over his thudding heart and decided next time was now. “Dylan, would you like to spend Christmas Eve with me?”

“Well, since I’m here—” He sat on the bed and leaned back on his elbows. Avery sat beside him and looked gratefully at the snoozing Griselda. Maybe he hadn’t been sent the wrong elf after all.

Click the cover to download the Xtended version and find out what happens next! Free through Christmas Day.

For more free fun, don’t forget to check out the rest of the flashers on today’s blog hop:

velvetpanic Heloise West | mmromantic historical

Azalea Moone

Jennah Scott

N.D. Wylders – M/M Author

amelia bishop

C.V. Madison | Dreamer of Words

Chris McHart

Weekend Writing Warriors #38

November 30, 2014 by Alexis Duran

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the blog hop that has it all. Much like a Thanksgiving smorgasbord, here you can sample romance, science fiction, mystery, YA, fantasy, sweet potatoes- you name it, we’ve probably got it. If not this week, then next week or the next.

This week I’m overindulging on mystery. My NaNoWriMo scheme to write on several stories has floundered on the shores of reality, but it’s a good reality. I received an acceptance and revision suggestions which swept aside my vision of a purely playful November. Details coming soon.

So today we continue with Detectives Lucas Fortier and his partner Sandra Teasdale still discussing the wreck of his love life as they approach the crime scene.

***

“I never liked him,” Sandra said.

“You told me to marry him before he got away.”

“That had nothing to do with him, everything to do with me. You’re such a grouch when you’re not getting laid regular.”

“Better get used to having a grouch for a partner for a long, long time,” Luke said. Gloom settled over him- dating wasn’t on his to-do list either.

Officer Red Oxford greeted them at apartment number 317. “Morning, detectives, fine day for a murder investigation, eh?”

***

From the Nightstand ~ Author Interview with K. Ferrin

November 10, 2014 by Alexis Duran

Today I’m kicking off a new feature on my blog. I’ll be spotlighting books, authors and interesting literary phenomena on hopefully a regular basis.

Author extraordinaire K. Ferrin is doing me the favor of being my first featured guest! Read on to find out about K. and then check out her new release, Desidirium.

Welcome to Chateau Alexis, K.!

What are some of your absolute favorite things other than writing & reading?

K: Traveling is probably my favorite thing to do outside of writing and reading. I also love camping, mountain biking, movies, and dinner with friends.

If you could read only one book for all the rest of your days (a horrifying terrible thought, I know!) which book would it be?

K: Horrifying indeed! I’m going to break the rules a bit here and say it would be the Lord of the Rings books. It’d have to be the entire trilogy though, I couldn’t handle having only one of the three!

Give us one of your absolute favorite lines from a book you’ve read.

K: There are so many! Recently a line from Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina stuck with me. “That’s the secret to performance: conviction. The right note played tentatively still misses its mark; but play boldly and no one will question you.” So applicable to so much in life! I also fell in love with several lines from I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan. “The road to Hell, you say, is paved with good intentions. Charming. But actually it’s paved with intriguing questions.” Or: “For you, my darlings, freedom to do what you like is the discovery of how unlikable what you like to do makes you. Not that that stops you doing what you like, since you like doing what you like more than you like liking what you do…” – That one makes me laugh every time.

Halloween or Christmas?

K: Halloween, full stop. It’s just plain fun! My husband and I put on a large party every year and deck the house out in some theme. I’m a bit of a history buff so they always include some element of history. This year our theme was Witches and the decor included excerpts from the Maleus Maleficarum (one of the definitive guides to identifying and destroying witches during the Salem Witch Trials), pictures and biographies of some of the victims of the trials and similar.

What are your favorite times/places to write?

K: I adore writing either while in motion (such as on a cross country train) or with a view (on a patio overlooking the ocean). Given unlimited funds this is how I’d do all of my writing! Day to day I’d have to say the mornings are best, where I’m most creative and fresh.

Who is your favorite character from your books?

K: I can’t say too much about her yet, but Port is a character in my current WIP, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She’s got an interesting backstory, has some serious skill with knives, and some impressive tenacity in the face of … well, stuff.

If you were the last person on earth, what would you do?

K: Outside of scavenging for or growing food I’m sure I’d do a serious amount of reading. I’d also do a lot of writing, you know, recording the story of humanity for whoever/whatever comes next. I’d also clear out all the roads around town, find the fastest coolest car, and have my own super cool track I could speed around on as long as there was fuel.

How can people find you?

Blog: www.kferrin.com

Twitter: @ScrivK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScrivK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8334310.K_Ferrin

During the daylight hours K. Ferrin runs a web development and business consulting company. But when the working-day ends the world of business and technology shifts into one of magic, myth and adventure. K. Ferrin writes fantasy of all kinds-some epic, some dark, some young adult and some for mature readers. She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and their two dogs. You can find Magicless and Desiderium on all major online book retailers.