Weekend Writing Warriors ~ His Prey Drew Closer

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Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors.  Well, we decided on a title so I finally get to announce my upcoming release!  Betwixt and Between, an m/m urban fantasy, will be available on June 30.  I’ve shared a few snippets from this story over on My Sexy  Saturday, but I think this is the first time I’ve posted an excerpt here, so I might as well start at the beginning.

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Even as the first haunting chords drifted up the cement stairwell, Ezekiel detected a nibble on his bait. He pressed his bow more firmly to the strings on his violin and drew his elbow back. His prey drew closer.

He’d had his doubts about setting up in midday and in such a busy, public spot, but a tug at his instincts had guided him here. Over the centuries, he’d learned to never ignore that tug. The music echoed nicely, penetrating the dull roar of the Pike Street Market above and the viaduct below. From the open staircase, he had a partial view of the waterfront and Puget Sound beyond.

He’d set up on a landing below street level on the stairs that led from the waterfront to the market. On a rainy Tuesday in February, the market wasn’t the teeming morass of humans it usually was, and Ezekiel easily sensed the motions of the liosa as it descended the stairs.

He threw a little more passion into Smetana’s symphonic poem, Vltava, and the lines cast out by the music shimmered darkly in the dull light.

***

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post ten 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

My Sexy Saturday ~ Betwixt and Between

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Welcome to My Sexy Saturday.  This week’s theme is My Sexy Forever, which just happens to coincide nicely with my upcoming release, an m/m urban fantasy called Betwixt and Between, coming out June 30th.  I’ve shared a few snippets before back when the working title was Dark Heart.  You might remember it from the post Evil Elf Visits Starbucks.  Ian and Zeke, the dark elf, might be destined to be together forever, but they’re hitting some major roadblocks along the way, the main one being Zeke’s evil nature.

Ian speaks first:

“Uh, Zeke, there was a time when… I thought we might be… But now, I have to say I kind of hate you.”

“That’s not true. You are free of the hatred that has plagued our kind.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Ian, my love. You were right. We are two parts of a whole. We must be joined.” Zeke’s hand traveled up Ian’s side, brushed his nipple and returned to the waist of his jeans. Zeke leaned over him. Melted snow dripped from his hair onto Ian’s face and neck. Ian shuddered. Not from the cold on his skin but from tremors deep inside.

“No,” he whispered.

Zeke bent down and kissed his lips. Warm and firm. Zeke tasted of wood smoke and wine. Ian let Zeke delve deep into his mouth with his tongue, but didn’t respond. Not with his lips, anyway. Blood rushed to his cock, and he was instantly so hard it hurt. He turned his head away. Zeke kissed his neck, sucking lightly on the delicate spot beneath his ear.

“It’s not going to work, so you might as well… Stop,” Ian said, barely able to breathe.

***

Don’t forget to continue the hop to check out more sexy snippets from the other participants.  Seven words, seven lines or seven paragraphs of steamy fun await at My Sexy Saturday main page.

My Sexy Saturday ~ No Glamour

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Welcome to My Sexy Saturday– the blog hop that’s guaranteed to warm up your weekend.  This week’s theme is Sexy Me Twice. Again I was challenged to find just the right thing, so I decided to go with a sweet reunion scene.  These seven paragraphs are from one of my many WIPs, To Kill a King, follow up to my high fantasy m/m novella, To Catch a Threeve.

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“Now that you’re sheriff, are you going to replace me with someone more respectable?”

“Never.” The glowering anger returned and Axel pulled him in roughly for a kiss. As usual when their lips met a tingling fire raced along beneath Liam’s skin and his groin muscles tightened. He held Axel’s waist and ground against him, everything besides his lover’s body falling from his awareness. Axel smelled like rain, mud and spicy sweat and his lips tasted like sweet brandy.

Liam opened his mouth and Axel slipped his tongue in, probing deep as one hand travelled up to Liam’s neck and pulled him in closer, forcing his back to arch. Liam held on tight to avoid losing his balance as Axel’s presence overwhelmed and enfolded him. He reached up and tore at the clasp holding Axel’s cloak in place. With a click the heavy wool slid to the floor. The surcoat presented a greater challenge. Liam slipped his hands into the wide armholes and ran his hands up Axel’s back, enjoying the feel of muscles tighten and flex.

Axel ended the kiss, but kept his lips close to Liam’s mouth. “I like you so much better this way,” he murmured.

“Helpless in your arms?”

“No glamour. You. You’re perfect the way you are. I wouldn’t change a thing.” He lowered his head and kissed Liam’s nape, his dirty, wild hair brushing Liam’s cheek. Embarrassed by compliments and not sure what to say, Liam decided to avoid the topic by diverting Axel’s attention. He grabbed Axel’s wide leather belt and tugged at the large buckle.

“I missed you,” he said.

***

Don’t forget to continue the hop to check out more sexy snippets from the other participants.  Seven words, seven lines or seven paragraphs of steamy fun await at My Sexy Saturday main page.

My Sexy Saturday ~ Keep Looking

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Welcome to My Sexy Saturday.  This week’s theme is “I’ve got you, Babe.” I had a hard time coming up with an excerpt to match the theme, maybe because I’m always busy tearing my couples apart.  So this week’s seven is from an upcoming contemporary fantasy: title-yet-to-be-announced, in which my lovers, Zeke and Ian, got each other, but only oh-so briefly.

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“I’ve searched for you my whole life.” Ian fingered sweaty strands of hair from Zeke’s face.

“Keep looking. Promise me you will keep looking.”

“If you don’t leave, I won’t have to.”

“It’s not my choice.” Zeke let go of Ian’s hand and his body faded,everything except the eyes.

***

Don’t forget to continue the hop to check out more sexy snippets from the other participants.  Seven words, seven lines or seven paragraphs of steamy fun await at My Sexy Saturday main page.

Virtual Blog Tour Starts Today!

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Hey friends, fans, and random internet wanderers, today is the start of my Blood of Salar book blog tour. I’ll be visiting several blogs this week and answering a whole bunch of questions.  Every  stop provides an opportunity to enter a giveaway for a Loose Id Gift Card and copy of Touch of Salar, Book 1 in the Masters and Mages series.  This is a separate giveaway from the book blast of last week, so feel free to enter again!

I’m over at The Hat Party today, a great place to join the tour.

Alexis Duran in Fab Hat

Tour Dates & Stops: March 16 – 20, 2015
16-Mar
Rainbow Gold Reviews
The Hat Party
Love Bytes

17-Mar
MM Good Book Reviews  (With a 5 Star Review!)
Amanda C. Stone

18-Mar
Molly Lolly
Kimi-Chan

19-Mar
Inked Rainbow Reads

5 Star Review at Inked Rainbow Reads

BFD Book Blog

20-Mar
Prism Book Alliance  (In which I discuss the Ten Authors I most admire)
Velvet Panic
Up All Night, Read All Day

Contest open until the 27th.

 

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ He Couldn’t Say No

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Welcome to another round of Weekend Writing Warriors. This has been quite the week for me; new book, new job, new allergies in full bloom. WWW has become my little comfort zone where I get to catch up with the characters I’ve become so involved with, discover new stories and new authors, and chat with my virtual buddies.  Glad you joined me!

This week I thought I’d go all wacky and actually post the  8 opening lines from my new m/m fantasy, Blood of Salar.

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Breaking one of the new rules he’d imposed as headmaster of the Order of Ka’alar, M’lan slipped out of his monk’s cell well before dawn and made for the edge of the temple grounds alone. Black shadows striped the moonlit path. Though trying to be quiet, he tripped often over gnarled roots and loose stones.

He knew perfectly well it was no longer safe to stray far from the protective eye of Ka’alar, and that was why he’d imposed the rule that no monk should wander in the forest without a companion. The rebellion that had started in the south of Rakkan now encroached on the local provinces, and instability eroded the control of the authorities. But M’lan’s calling to heal was stronger than his concern for his safety. When messages reached him pleading for medicine, he couldn’t say no.

If the king’s men discovered that the monks of Ka’alar Temple smuggled herbs and elixirs to the peasants, they might shut the temple down.

***

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FYI, if you haven’t read Touch of Salar, Book 1 in the Masters and Mages series, I’ll be doing a book blast next Tuesday where I’ll be giving away a copy of Touch, plus a Loose Id GC so you can immediately buy Blood (or whatever your heart desires).

Blood of Salar blurb:

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, knowing that only his love can master the mage.

Info:

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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