#ThursThreads - Week 142 - Winners

Week 142 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Cheryl Dragon for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Toni Morrow Wyatt | @Toni1777
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Ruth Long | @Bullishink

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Cheryl says: Very intriguing. There wasn’t a dump of backstory and info, which is great. Just enough detail to keep me reading. Since it is a life or death decision, I wanted more feeling. The character might need to verbalize willingness to give up their life. It was a quick trip to thinking about giving up a limb to life…it says a lot about the character but need a bit more to justify it (which I’m sure was trimmed to meet the word limit :) Great start!!

Nellie Batz | @solimond

Cheryl says: Love bad genie! Pawn shop setting could be anything so definitely draws you in. I know there were word constraints but a little more setting detail just to feel grounded. We get a lot of what she’s feeling but is it a nicer pawn shop or a super nasty part of town? Of course, awesome genie powers means she’s safe and can take when she wants. I do hope, later in the story, she makes whoever stole the bottle repay the pawn guy…and that he’s not forever a frog.

Toni Morrow Wyatt | @Toni1777

Cheryl says: I want to know more…which is always a good thing. What plague? Why her? What does she look like? Those details would help (again…word constraints, I understand). But how bad can she look? And eek, spilling your own blood like that…it’s got to be bad but what is this world’s beauty standard? Sooo many questions. Very glad I’m not that vain! I can see reverse beauty and the beast coming and it’s a cool concept.

Week 142 Winner

Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke

Cheryl says: This one kept it simple and direct yet had a great twist and made me want to find out more. We know why she wants it, we know the problem and the hint of powers is cool. The extreme action she takes solves the immediate problem but there will be consequences or at least a cover up. I’d love to see how that is resolved. The flip of using sex to using violence is awesome but that big of a move must have repercussions later on. Excellent set up and a lot to build on. This gave not too much and not too little…just right!

“I would have to pay what?” Kristin’s eyes bugged as she stared over the paperwork.

“Three hundred fifty thousand and some change,” the irritating man said, his smug expression never wavering.

Kristin looked back to the old house. Peeling paint, a dangling shutter, yellowed windows. Once it’d been a stately place to call home, but now not so much. But three hundred fifty K? Such a huge amount would wipe her out. Unless…. She ran her tongue over her teeth and leveled her gaze on the person standing between her and her family’s legacy—a deed that meant little to the stranger holding it.

Just this once she could use it, just this once couldn’t possibly hurt. She ran her tongue over her teeth once more, before she flashed her most flirtatious smile. The street was deserted, not many lived this way which worked to her advantage.

She cocked her hip, drawing on her feminine wiles. “How about we go inside before I make my final decision. I’d like to see what I’m buying.”

She winked, and the man’s face split into a grin. “Sure sweetheart.”

Kristin hid her revulsion as a long repressed hunger kicked in. The wind rustled and stirred, dark clouds clustering as the two disappeared within the home’s shadows. Minutes later a feral howl pierced the air, shortly after terrified screams.

Kristin had gotten her family’s deed, now the only thing left—figure out how to get fresh blood stains from the wallpaper.

Congratulations THREE TIME WINNER Olivia, Silver, Nellie, and Toni! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 142

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today so get your flash ready to celebrate and write a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 142 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 142:

Number analyzer, deaf albino cat herder, and erotic romance author, Cheryl Dragon.

Cheryl on Facebook

Cheryl on Twitter

Cheryl on Google Plus

Cheryl on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“I would have to pay what?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - Her Devoted Vampire - Halloween Edition

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today in honor of Halloween, I'm offering a bonus scene to Her Devoted Vampire, a paranormal romantic suspense from Evernight Publishing. And the best part is it's 25% off now until Friday! But this scene is extra and Bridget tried to do a Haunted Egg hunt with Fredrick and his werewolf security staff. She's not particularly pleased with the outcome..

“That’s not fair, Fredrick.” Bridget unwrapped her scarf with a savage twist and threw her coat onto a nearby chair. “I’m never having a Halloween egg hunt with werewolves again.”

“Come now, it wasn’t that bad, was it?” Fredrick stuffed his gloves into his pocket and headed straight for the coffee machine on the kitchen counter.

“Are you kidding? By the time I’d found five, Cynthia and Stephen had at least two dozen.”

“Ah, yes, by you did find the Haunted Egg.” He winked over his shoulder at her. “And you know that’s the greatest prize of all.”

“Oh yeah?” Bridget looked at him from under her brows as she flopped down on a couch. “Where’s this special prize?”

“I told you, my dear, you must be patient.”

She grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest. Whatever made her think she could have a fair shot at finding eggs when the werewolves could smell the eggs? She had been a little mollified when she’d uncovered the sparkling “haunted egg” encrusted with real Swarovski crystals and fine pink fresh water pearls. Fredrick had promised her a ‘special prize’ and that took some of the sting away from her paltry nine eggs to her opponents’ two dozen. Each.

“This just sucks.”

“Now, now, there’s no need for that, my lady.” Fredrick appeared before her holding a large basket of flowers and a cup of coffee. “This is for you.”

She gasped. “They’re beautiful.”

Brilliant red geraniums held court with peach colored roses, golden dahlias, and purple irises. White carnations fought for space among jagged marigold blossoms. The jeweled egg she’d found in the garden nestled between the glorious blooms, shining in the lights of the coffee shop.

"Thank you.”

“Your prize, my dear.” Fredrick pointed to the egg.

“The egg?”

“Open it.”

Curious, Bridget grasped the sparkling egg and spun it in her fingers, looking for a way to pull it apart. A tiny hinge on the back allowed her to follow the seam to the front where one of the pearls acted as the catch for a loop of gold wire. She flicked it open and cocked her head at the palm-sized black velvet bag tied with a gold ribbon.

“What is it?”

Fredrick sat beside her and lifted the bag out. He held it up to her nose. “Sniff.”

Bridget inhaled and her senses flooded with the delicious scents of baby powder mixed with orange blossom honey and gardenia. She closed her eyes and reveled in the smell until it drifted away.

She opened her eyes. “Oh glory, what is that?”

“That is Honey Dust.”

“What is it for?”

A dark, predatory smile wreathed his lips. “It’s your prize, my lady. I plan on dusting your body with it and licking every little bit of it off of you.”

She raised her eyebrow. “That sounds like more of a prize for you, than for me.”

“Oh, I promise it will be worth your while.”

Bridget grinned. “Do I get to use it on you, too?”

His laugh rumbled. “Perhaps when I’m done with you. Saucy minx.” Then he snatched her into his arms and hauled her, squealing and laughing, off to their bedroom.

Bridget doesn't believe in vampires or werewolves, but that doesn't stop one from kidnapping her.

Bridget Shanahan’s life seems bleak and boring until she gets mugged and abducted from her favorite coffee shop by the sexiest man she’s ever met. Unfortunately, he’s a lunatic who believes he’s some kind of vampire savior surrounded by a security force of werewolves. And he’s determined to keep her.

Fredrick MacGregor has been having visions of this woman in danger for the last six months. A woman he must protect because she’s the Avatar of the Goddess. However, when he brings her home, she doesn’t believe he's a vampire or that she is the Avatar, and she definitely doesn't want to stay. But the sense of danger persists and he'll do anything to keep her safe, even if it means risking the loss of the only woman who makes his endless life bearable again.

Available at Amazon | Evernight Publishing | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...

#SpankorTreat: Under Her Spell

SPANK OR TREAT 2014

Spank or Treat 2014 is finally here! Visit GoverningAna for the prize list, sign-up sheet, and full instructions. You can win from a prize pool valued at over $1,000, including a Kindle Fire or Nook HD donated by Blushing Books!

Many authors will also offer a contest on their individual blogs.  Your comment on their blogs enters you in both contests! 

How do you play?

• Visit each blog between Friday, October 24th and Sunday, October 26th to read the stories.
•  Leave a comment on each blog. You must demonstrate that you have read the entire story. Copy-and-paste or inappropriate comments will be disqualified. You will receive one entry per blog for the grand prize drawing. Note: You must have a minimum of five entries in order to win a grand prize. 
• If you have visited all of the blogs, visitAna’s blog to sign up for FIVE bonus entries to the grand prize. 
• Deadline is midnight EST (UTC -5) on Sunday, October 26th!
• If you successfully completed a previous challenge (Sci Spanks 2014, Love Spanks 2014, Spank or Treat 2013, Spankee Doodle 2013, Love Spanks 2013, or Spank or Treat 2012), you may add “VIP” to your comments.  You will earn THREE bonus entries toward the grand prize.  (Yes, we will be doing this again.  Yes, if you successfully complete the Spank or Treat 2014 challenge you can become a VIP for our next activity!) 
• If you are a writer of fiction (any kind), add “W” to your comments to be entered in the special author prize drawings. 
• If you are a Spank or Treat 2014 Ambassador, please add “Amb” to your comments to receive your extra prize drawing. 
• Visit Governing Ana or any of the participating blogs on Friday, October 31st to find out the lucky winners. Will it be you? We will also announce prizes on the Spank or Treat Facebook page.

Like these events? Want to support your favorite authors? Become a Spank or Treat Ambassador! In exchange for promoting this event, you will receive one extra prize entry, AND you are still eligible to participate and win prizes! To find out the details, sign up on the Ambassador page or message Ameliah Faith on Facebook.

For more information, updates, and a list of participating authors, please visit Anastasia Vitsky’s blog.

• Like Spank or Treat on Facebook!
• Tweet #SpankOrTreat on Twitter!
• Join the exclusive chat with Spank or Treat authors! Message Anastasia Vitsky on Facebook or any of the authors to receive an invitation

For more spanking fun, visit Saturday Spankings for additional snippets.

Find links to the rest of the Spank or Treat stories at Governing Ana! The more blogs you visit and comment, the more chance to win prizes!

Okay, now to the good stuff. My story Under Her Spell, will be in the Spank or Treat 2014 Anthology, set to be released in November 2014. Keep your eyes out for that. It will include all the stories from the blog event. In the mean time, you can get your hands on The Beltane Witch, the story that introduces Darius and Phinnius Winterbourne.

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Magic, mayhem, and motherhood… a witch’s work is never done, but Sabrina draws the line at the Fae.

After almost two decades as a practicing witch in Cloudburst, Colorado, Sabrina Foxglove is done with men, magic, and the fertility rituals of High Beltane. She’s dealt with all three before and ended up with a young daughter and no partner. Twice. She’s looking forward to a magic-free May Day, with nothing more exciting than making brownies for a kindergarten class and decorating a May Pole. She definitely doesn’t have time for a handsome, Fae-touched man.

After almost two centuries as the human chamberlain to the Fae’s Summer Court, Darius Winterbourne is a man accustomed to getting his way. So when the Summer Queen tasks him with finding a witch to perform the annual rituals and strengthen the ancient warding magicks, he figures it should be easy. He doesn’t expect Sabrina’s hardheaded refusal, her untrained abilities, or his attraction to her. With less than a week to Beltane, he must gain Sabrina’s trust before he loses his home, his position…and his heart.

To have a chance to win my $10 Amazon Gift Card, please leave a comment with your name and email address or Twitter handle with the answer to this question: If you could have any kind of guardian pet like Kendra's morgira demon, what would you choose? You must be 18 years or older to win, please void where prohibited. Good luck and thanks for playing. Happy reading!

#ThursThreads - Week 141 - Winners

Week 141 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Sasha White for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Charley Emma | @lindorfan
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Sasha says: Imaginative, and told a story in 100 words. I got a picture of things, and knew what wasahappening. Good Job!

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

Sasha says: Great job turning an everyday occurrence into a dramatic piece of fiction. I think you should send this to Jill Shalvis or post on her page….She’s a fan of spiders. :)

Week 141 Winner

Charley Emma | @lindorfan

Sasha says: I’m not normally a fan of anything poetry like, but this one amused me. I loved the rhythm of it, and it sort of reminded me of who I felt when I was in school.  Add this, divide that, pencils scribbling, and eerie silence. It’s probably not what you were thinking when you wrote it, but good writing evokes different things for different readers. Good Job!

What's that you say?
You want me to write what?
I would have to pay what?
Goodness it's hot!

Eye's dart around the room
Heads are bent busily
Effortlessly scribbling with aplomb
Pencils scribing their words wisely

Footsteps sounding behind
Head bends quickly
Eyes' focus wildly and find
Lines blurring wickedly

Are they multiplying?
Add this divide by that!
Question after question flying.
Checked the clock and sat.

Oh goodness me, of course!
I was blinded by panic
Screaming myself silently hoarse
Scribbling against the clock satanic

Pencils stop scribbling
Finger's stop tapping
An eerie silence descending
Nothing is multiplying

Congratulations Winner Charley, Anna, and Kelly! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 141

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today so get your flash ready to celebrate and write a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 141 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 141:

World traveler, recovering bartender, and erotic romance author, Sasha White.

Sasha on Facebook

Sasha on Twitter

Sasha on Google Plus

Sasha on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Are they multiplying?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - At the Bridge

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove went to meet her mysterious rescuer at a local coffee shop, but when he pisses her off, she turns to leave. Unfortunately, she trips over her chair and slams her head on a coffee table, knocking herself out. This is where she is now.

Sabrina stood at the foot of a suspension bridge extending into the mists, the cool wetness of spring dripping off the struts of the bridge. Silence of the senses surrounded her. No sounds, tastes, smells or textures shook the stillness. Only foggy sight offered any indication she still existed.

Sabrina frowned.

This had to be a dream because nothing like this stood in Cloudburst. The hazy silhouette of a great tree awaited her at the far end of the bridge, but the distance of the span escaped her estimation. She grasped the guy ropes and squeezed to find some sort of physical purchase, but her hands felt numb.

Where am I and how did I get here?

Memories sifted, as insubstantial as the mists around her. She shook her head to focus her thoughts, but everything swirled away as substantial as smoke. Something was wrong.

Sabrina sought to inhale, to find the scents of spring, but she couldn’t breathe. Panic gripped her mind and her hands tightened on the ropes. Oh Goddess, I can’t breathe! She bent at the waist and tried again, squeezing her eyes shut, but her lungs refused to expand.

Dear Goddess, am I dying? Is that why I’m at the edge of the bridge?

I can’t die! Who would care for her children? Who would protect them?

She wanted to wail her distress, but she had no air to expel sound. She bowed her head and tears fell, scalding her cheeks in fiery trails.

The ropes under her hands vibrated and she stilled, opening her eyes. Raising her head, she stared into the misty expanse of the bridge. A figure materialized half-way along the span, more solid than the rest of this world, and extended his hand out to her. She swallowed hard.

Darius? What is he doing here?

Even in his hazy state, he looked noble and strong. She wanted to believe his appearance meant safety and protection, but standing in the center of the bridge he only represented the unknown.

“Come with me, Sabrina.”

How does he have breath here and I don’t?

“You must focus, my lady. You must make the first step. Come back with me.”

Sabrina shook her head in confusion. Back with him? Back where?

His expression tightened with frustrated concern. “Take the step. Trust me.”

She wanted to scoff, but sound required air. Trust him? I don’t know him.

“Please, Sabrina.”

Available at Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...

New Release - In the Blind by S.J. Maylee

Thank you so much for having me. I’m thrilled to be here talking about my new release, IN THE BLIND. It’s the first book in my new series, CLUB BLIND. The concept is simple and erotic. You won’t be able to see at Club Blind, but you’ll be able to feel, bringing you to new heights of pleasure. When the eyes are blind, it’s amazing what the heart can see.

Today, I’m sharing five things about IN THE BLIND.

1.     Rob, the hero is a much sought after Application Developer. He loves to dominate and he’s crushing on our heroine. He’s thought about her daily. Not only was she easy to talk to, but she has the most beautiful brown eyes, something his best friend hears about constantly.

2.     Jane, the heroine is struggling to lift her recruiting business to the next level. Rob, the guy she met a couple months ago will be perfect for the latest job opening she’s trying to fill and she hopes he’s right for her too. She’s been brave in her professional life and now she’s determined to go after the man she wants, but she can’t seem to find her way.

3.     Club Blind may be a new series, but its stories will interweave with my Love Projects series. In fact, this first book has many clues about my next Love Projects story.

4.     In the Blind is a story within a story. You’ll get to follow Rob and Jane on their path while they get a second chance to find the love their needs are craving.

5.     In the Blind is a hot read. It starts with our heroine having blind passionate sex and ends with … oh, I can’t tell you that, but it’s delicious.

There are a few things to get you acquainted with IN THE BLIND. I hope you get a chance to read it and that you love it like I do. Thank you so much for having me here today. I love talking about my stories.

In the Blind (Club Blind #1)

by: S.J. Maylee

Genre: Erotic Romance with D/s

Length: Novella

Published: October 15, 2014

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-77233-066-3

Goodreads

IN THE BLIND Blurb:

Jane thinks she’s ready to take the risks her business and love life desperately need. Rob’s still punishing himself for a broken relationship that wasn’t meant to last. When the pair let an opportunity pass them by, fate steps in and throws them back together.

An evening of pitch black unrestrained passion at Club Blind opens her eyes to life’s possibilities. Now, if they don’t fight past their personal demons, they might never truly discover what they need most. If they can open their hearts, it might lead them directly to each other where they can discover their truth. If not, they may forever stay in the blind.

Where you can find IN THE BLIND:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

IN THE BLIND Excerpt:

The door continued to open every few minutes. Finally, the woman in front of Jane was taken away. She could see nothing past the door besides black. Until the door closed, she continued gazing into the darkness. How would the loss of sight change the experience? Would she feel more? What would he feel like? Nerves shook through her limbs, and sweat tickled her palms.

The door opened, and she stood straight as a statue. This was crazy. She searched for pockets in her robe. When she found none, she swallowed back a curse.

The escort stopped in front of her. “Are you having second thoughts?” He shifted the goggles higher on his forehead.

“Maybe.”

“Would you like to step back and wait to go or ...” He stepped back and cracked the door open. “Sometimes it helps to hear the sounds of the other participants.”

She closed her eyes and took in the moans and let her mind drift to what her body would feel like to make her make those kinds of sounds.

“I don’t want to pressure you. Tell me what you want.”

“Thank you.” She opened her eyes and took a step towards him. The only way was forward. “I’m ready.”

“Good for you.” He reached out and took hold of her hand. “Come on, I’ll take you to the lucky one, for tonight.” He winked and tugged her forward.

Once the door closed behind them, Jane was surrounded by unending black. She looked around, but there was nothing, no end to the darkness. A nervous shiver danced along her spine, followed by thoughts of haunted houses. What would she find around the next corner? Her escort tugged her forward, bringing her back to the night's purpose.

She needed to remember why she was here. She needed to live in the moment. There was a good chance she was about to touch the man who would give her release.

They slowed, turned a corner, and after a couple more steps they stopped. She swallowed the lump in her throat when her escort placed her hand into another’s.

“Enjoy.” He squeezed her shoulder, and she sensed his presence leave the space.

A pull on her hand forced her feet forward a couple of steps. She stopped just as abruptly when she bumped into a hard chest—the man of the hour. This man would touch her soon, but he wasn’t yet. He was only holding her hand. Her breasts moved with her uneven breathing, and her nipples scraped against his chest.

Why wasn’t he touching her? Was he nervous, too, or having second thoughts? She reached up in curiosity to make sure he wasn’t wearing a pair of night-vision goggles, but only found soft hair. She followed the section of hair to above his shoulder and continued onto smooth skin and around his shoulder to his bicep thick with muscle. Her heart thumped, and her breath quickened as moisture covered her needy pussy.

She breathed deeply, taking in his delicious musky scent. Her hand wandered to his chest and found more of the same, firm skin rounding over firm muscles. A warm hand landed over hers and held her hand tight to his chest. A nose tickled her ear.

“Do you like?”

“Yes,” she admitted.

“I’d like to explore you now, okay?”

“Yes, please.”

She pushed out the breath she held and worked to breathe normally. His hand landed softly on her cheek, fingertips caressed her chin, and then up to her temple. The gentle touches raised a long sleeping yearning within her, and she leaned into his touch.

His thumb swept across her bottom lip. Curiosity wore away her reserve, and she let her tongue reach out and taste his fingers. One digit pushed into her mouth, and she sucked lightly, enjoying his clean taste.

The finger left her mouth, a second of waiting, and then his mouth crushed down on hers. His lips were firm and demanding, feeding her hunger. He ran his fingers through her hair, and then his warm wet tongue swept through her mouth. Back and forth, deep, then gentle, their tongues dueled. She explored more of him as her need to know him intimately soared.

His touch lingered around her shoulders and down her sides. When he found her ass, he kneaded the globes. The kiss ended as abruptly as it started, leaving her wanting.

She heard nothing but the driving rhythm of the music, each track feeding right into another. The current song enchanted her, and her hips swayed. No one could see her, so there was no reason for self-conscious thoughts. The brilliance of the club hit her with full force. It didn’t matter who she was or who he was. Tonight, they celebrated life and the pleasures they could bring their bodies. Everyone deserved pleasure. Even her.

S.J. MAYLEE Bio:

S.J. Maylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age and with it came a deep-seated desire for everyone to find their happily ever after. She’s finding the happy endings for her characters one steamy story at a time.

When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her caring for her garden, laughing with her two young sons, or dancing to her husband’s music. She’s a PMP (Project Management Professional), Nia instructor, and coffee addict.

As a writer she has a tendency to break hearts, but she always glues them back together.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook Page | Google+ | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY:

SJ’s giving away one $20 Amazon gift card and two swag packs (book covers, bookmark, pen, zipper pull, and handmade beaded keychain or purse charm with book cover charm). TO ENTER: answer the question on this blog post and then click on the rafflecopter. QUESTION: Many believe blindness can increase your other senses. What do you think it would be like to be in a pitch black club like Club Blind? a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Burns and Blue Shadows

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, the rescue team came for the hikers and Zach and Lily got them on their way with Lily's SAR partner Randy. Caroline made one more play for Zach and pissed off Lily so much, she accidentally burned her hand on the stove feeding the fire. We're in Lily's POV, but Zach is the first to speak.

“What’s wrong, princess?”

“Everything. Nothing.” She swiped at her eyes with her burned hand and yelped.

“Let me see your hand.” Zach pulled it gently toward him, clucking sympathetically at the reddening burn. “Let’s take care of this first. Then we’ll talk about the everything/nothing problem.”

“Zach—”

“Shh, just give me a moment.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm as his body shifted from his human guise to his white Ice Demon form. Talons grew from his fingertips and his hair turned to tinkling crystals. The scents of cardamom and cloves intensified as he blew on her hand, his breath freezing the skin. She loved his white skin wreathed in blue shadows, but he still wore too many clothes to see his snowy physique properly.

Nothing could shake her excitement or curiosity when he shifted. She’d seen him do it hundreds of times, but it still made her heart pound with delight.

Lily might be worried, but she knows what she wants. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Sarah Wesson.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

#ThursThreads - Week 140 - Winners

Week 140 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Alex Shippe for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Veronica Jorden | @RevolutionaryVJ
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Alex says: Every story in this week’s flash fiction had an impact on me. I enjoyed the variety and the clever way the authors incorporated the prompt. Some authors used poetic license, while other authors used the prompt verbatim. It takes a measure of confidence and life experience and a good dose of imagination to explore the reasons why he, or she, or they should get what they deserve.
With that being said, judging this week’s entries was a definite challenge. Each story offered something different. The quality in the writing was superb. I was transported several times to distant places — some closer than others — and I enjoyed every word. Thank you for letting me read your stories. I had so much fun. It was a privilege and an honor.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Veronica Jorden | @RevolutionaryVJ

Alex says: Super-virus stories have a special place in my heart. They remind me how fragile we are in the presence of an organism we can’t even see. It is a paralyzing feeling, being held under host arrest, and I have to say, this story really captured something special. Bio-warfare is a serious issue, one we shouldn’t take lightly. Contaminating the very moisture in the air is perhaps the most fiendish, indiscriminate form of attack. Still, I wanted to know how anyone, anywhere, could survive rainfall. How would people go about getting treatment? The story didn’t answer that for me, but my imagination surely did. And that’s why I enjoyed this story. Some people are meant to survive, while others are not. There is no higher power at play. There is no natural selection; no one is immune to infection. It’s just luck of the draw. Were you or were you not standing under a rain cloud, and if you weren’t did you get the treatment you needed so that you could, if you wanted to . . . not that anyone seemed all too eager to tempt that fate. Apocalypse survivor guilt is a powerful emotion and a character study RVJ captured well.

Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke

Alex says: The more I read Olivia’s story the more I realized I was descending into madness. The normal every day things we take for granted when flip-flopped anchored the narrator’s psychosis. The imagery — feeble attempts at soothing the few fragmented, incongruent pieces of what remained of the character’s soulless though not gutless humanity; the recollection — feeble tactics at convincing herself that murder was necessary; the ring finger — a bloated sarcophagus filled with broken promises, a license to kill, pointed to the horizon, through the barrel of the gun she stashed under her seat. She was free at last, spiraling in her evil, cheering her double homicide. A good villain is difficult to write. A really badass villain is a treat to read. And that surprise ending...who knew she would keep the gun as a souvenir? Yikes!

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Alex says: I wasn’t sure what to make of this story on the first pass. I recalled the mythology behind Circe. I knew she played an important role in the Odyssey. I knew that Odysseus survived her enchantments. I knew that the men trapped on her island were turned into swine for behaving like pigs. But there was something about the conversation between the archdruid and Circe that left me unsettled. Yes, I wanted the archdruid’s name. I wanted to know if he was Gandalf or Radagast or Merlin or some other such famous wizard from lore. Only after reading the story a second time did I realize why I enjoyed the story so much. It’s October. It’s fire season. It’s been two hundred years since the trees had any reason to celebrate. Eldritch wood is untouched by man. The so-called swine enchanted by Circe’s magic is a metaphor for arsonists who destroy the natural wonders of the world, and the family the archdruid lost. A beautiful, haunting story with subtle details filled with open windows into the human soul. I saw ash and fire, what did you see in this Rorschach?

Week 140 Winner

Sandi Layne | @sandyquill

Alex says: The muffled, dispassionate narrative of this story gave me chills. Early on I had a feeling that Sandi was going to surprise me, and she did. I was riveted. By the time I arrived at the story’s ending I wasn’t sure if I was a Searcher-trainee looking on or if I was reading a report filed by the narrator. And although I’m generally not a fan of sci-fi horror, this story had just the right mix of elements in such a short amount of space. What really had me going round in circles was whether or not the Searchers were motivated by compassion or by scientific curiosity, and that’s when I realized the true horror of the story. Without the Searchers, without their influence, without their presence, there would be no story. Nicely done.

They found The Remnant on an island that had been ignored in prior searches due to its seeming inability to sustain life.

The Searchers sent word Home that survivors had been found. It would have been cause for a celebration save one thing.

“Are they multiplying?” their Leader inquired.

“They did just have a war,” one of their number remarked. “They are likely recovering.”

“And look, they cling to one another so tightly; there is no room for further intimacy. You know their kind require privacy.”

“Usually, yes.”

The small satellite continued in its orbit for a few more cycles until something changed.

“Look,” the Searcher whispered, delight and awe in his tone. “Those two. The dominant male and scarred female, look at them.”

“Ahhhh,” the others chorused. Curious, they focused on those who had not gone off by themselves. “No one protests or calls after. This bodes well.”

The Remnant seemed to celebrate in the pair’s absence and one of the Searchers always minded the male and female, to make sure they were indeed seeking to multiply.

They were. “It is awkward, the way they go about it,” one observed, making notes to send back to Him.

“Look two others are now following their example.”

“We should get them off the island.”

“No. They need to regain their own balance, now that they have taken this step.”

“No, we cannot just leave them there alone. It’s not right. Remember what He said? It’s what—“

“They deserve peace.”

Congratulations FOUR TIME WINNER Sandi, Veronica, Olivia, and Cara! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)