Friday, 30 December 2011

WELCOME TO DWS PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK :)

My favourite photographer has been snapping like crazy and I think it's time we had a look at his wares...

Absolute Fool

An Affair in Paris

Aqua

Counting the Seconds

Dave Shave

Every Nook

Ice Blue Eyes

Lip Lock

Make sure you check out DWS Photography's page on Facebook and his work on Deviant Art and tune in tomorrow for another exciting instalment of this uber-talented photographer.

Thursday, 29 December 2011

THIRST TRAILER

Made by the wonderfully talented Sharita Lira, here is the amazing trailer from THIRST, available on the
21ST JANUARY 2012....

BLURB:
Four years ago, Gabe met Mike at the annual Downe's Valentine's Day Masquerade Ball. But now Mike is gone and thinks it's about time Gabe moved on, but Gabe's not so sure.

EXCERPT: (UNEDITED)

Valentine’s Day 2011

Gabe stared out of the window as the taxi turned off the country lane they had been travelling down and onto the beginning of the gravel drive that led up to Downe Hall. The music could already be heard through the open windows of the large country house and laughter spilled out with it. He couldn’t believe he was actually doing this… albeit under duress.

The house looked as magnificent as it had on his first visit there four years ago, when he’d been talked into attending the event of the season. The Thomas Downe Annual Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball was legendary and people came from miles around to lose themselves in the splendour of it all; the music, the costumes, the chance to be someone else, for just one night.

The grass verge either side of the drive up to the gates was decorated with life size sculptures of naked men and women, covered with strategically placed white fairy lights, heralding the way to the house.

“That’ll be eighteen fifty.”

Gabe looked at the taxi driver and blinked owlishly. “Huh?”

“The fare,” the man repeated, nodding at the meter. “Eighteen pounds, fifty.”

“Oh, right,” Gabe replied scrabbling in the pocket of his costume for a twenty pound note and handing it to the other man mumbling, “Keep the change.”

“Thanks, mate. Nice costume by the way. You meeting someone in there?” The driver’s question was innocent enough and Gabe knew that he couldn’t know how those words made his gut tighten and his heart ache.

“Not this year,” he replied and opened the door before the man could remark further. Gabe stood looking at the bridge over the moat to the large open gates. He’d spent a fortune on his costume and the ticket itself would have kept him his fridge stocked for six months, even though he hadn’t paid for it, so standing on the drive and watching other party-goers just sail past him was kind of stupid. And then there was the added concern that if he stood there much longer, the organisers might drape him in fairy lights.

Besides, this was where it had all begun, it seemed only fitting that this is where it should end; where he should bury the past and move toward the future. He huffed a joyless laugh through parted lips. The future—what future? Mike seemed to think he was ready to embrace a life without him… but Gabe wasn’t so sure.

Wednesday, 28 December 2011

IT'S MY TURN NOW - 2012 HERE I COME!

This is me :)

I've had a bit of a year this year. Exciting things have happened and not so exciting things. There have been real highs and real lows... unfortunately, I'm still surfing the lows, but hopefully I'm getting there.

I have my kids and what's left of my sanity, and although my ex was hardly ever here, the mere idea that there would be another grown up in the house at some point, seemed to keep me going. Now there's just me. I know, yawn, yawn, get out the violins, pity party for one your table is ready... and there have been times like that.

Depression is not a walk in the park and I was one of those who used to huff and say, "Pull yourself together," until I finally couldn't anymore. Asking for help was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, because I was admitting I couldn't do it all, but I was supermum/superwife wasn't I? Well my ex obviously didn't think so, or he wouldn't be ex would he? Doesn't help that he's all cozy in his new life with his mistress and is father of the year because he now has to spend time with children he pretty much ignored before he moved out.

But you know what? I think that 2012 is going to be my year. I have three books so far coming out in Jan, Feb and March. Have interest in a series and also a YA college based ghost story and am three quarters through my current WIP and have a collaboration coming out with Laura Harner, author of Ty Hard, which I'm really excited about my first experience of self-pubbing.

I'm going to try and get the balance right between who I am and who I want to be and try and learn to love the person I am instead of trying to be the person I think I should be.

That being said... 2012, brace yourself... I'm on me way!

Tuesday, 27 December 2011

THIRST - 21 JANUARY 2012

GET YOUR COPY HERE!

BLURB:

Max is hunting a killer who leaves bodies drained of blood. After being attacked, he never expected to wake up in Carter's bed. Who is this man? What is his dark secret? Is he the one leaving a trail of bodies across the city?

NEW EXCERPT:

Carter watched Max's eyes widen. The subtle reaction provided the only outward indication that he had even heard what Carter had said. Max couldn't know that the vampire was able to read his inward reaction just as clearly. Didn't realize that he could sense the change in the rhythm of the young man's blood as it pumped faster through veins and arteries. Didn't know that he was thirsty, and that he could smell the iron and coppery sweetness in every exhalation that fell from between Max's parted lips.

"You killed them?" Max repeated dully.

"Yes."

"And exactly how did you do that, Carter?"

Carter’s gaze tracked the bob of Max’s Adam’s apple as he swallowed hard. He had to give Max credit. The man was taking his nonchalant admission to killing two people better than he would have expected; but beneath the bravado, Carter could smell fear. The widening of Max’s pupils and the flaring of his nostrils told Carter that he was afraid, and that the man knew he wasn’t lying.

Full lips lifted in a cold smile. "Well now, that's a trade secret." Carter watched as Max's pupils dilated in fear. Taking a deep breath, he filled his nostrils with the fresh scent of adrenaline as it surged through the other man's veins, let it wash over him and spark his senses. The brief thought that he should have fed before he saw Max again skittered across the surface of his brain but he shook the thought away. What was he thinking? He was going to kill Max. Wasn't he? That's what he'd done a million times before. In the eighty-four years since his human death and his vampire birth, not once, not once had he ever questioned a kill. Never had he felt the desire to touch, hold, and caress war with the natural instinct to rip and tear, and feel the blood pump into his mouth and over his tongue. Of course, sex was a part of the hunt and he had always taken more than his fill without a backward glance. His sire had taught him well. Any emotion that may have remained deep inside him had been squashed long ago. Buried beneath a layer of ice where no one could reach it.

Until the eyes staring at him now had gazed blearily into his in that dark alley and that one word had echoed into the night air—Please. Carter frowned as a long forgotten plea skittered across the surface of his mind, so many memories, so many faces, so many voices begging for their lives. What was so different about Max Bowman?

Didn't it remind you of someone else? Doesn't he remind you of someone else? He ignored the nagging whine of his inner voice and swallowed down his retort.

Anger slowly unfurled in his belly and he ran his tongue over his fangs as they descended. Who was this human? What was this boy doing to him? How dare he make him feel? He didn't feel. He was a vampire, he took what he wanted, when he wanted it. The hunt was on his terms, no one else's. He chose his prey, be it based on a pretty smile, a pair of sparkling eyes, or the muscled curve of a firm ass; then he toyed with them, fucked them, and slaked his thirst without a second thought. That's how it had always been, and that's how it should always be.

Carter’s gaze flitted between Max’s eyes and the throbbing artery in his neck and felt a surge of satisfaction when Max gripped the silk sheet in his fist as the fool tried to hide his fear. "Carter?" Max said quietly. "How did you kill them?"

Carter stared at the fluttering pulse in Max's neck and, although his voice was soft, it was as cold as a blue steel blade. "I sucked them dry and threw them in a dumpster in the alley." His gaze moved to Max's lips and his tongue slipped out to moisten his own.

"Does knowing that make you feel better?" His hand lifted from where it was resting against his thigh and he felt rather than heard the intake of breath that Max took as his long fingers brushed slowly over the pulse beating wildly in the young man's throat.

"Does knowing that I can smell your blood on your breath, feel the heat of your fear, hear the pumping of your heart, does knowing any of that make you feel better?" His gaze shifted and locked with Max's. "How about knowing what I did to them, and then knowing that I was going to do the same to you?"

Monday, 26 December 2011

FREE READ

Light so bright it hurts my eyes
Heart so heavy, can't even cry
Noises so loud, my head will explode
My game face is already starting to erode

Tired of this, so tired all the time
What is the reason? Is there no rhyme?
When is enough really enough?
When was it supposed to be this tough?

Sleep sounds so good and so right
Maybe now I'll sleep through the night
The bottle's half empty, the glass half full
How many were in there? Can't seem to recall

Thought I could do it, but I was kidding myself
Just a silly old cow who lost her real self
It's been a ball, but it's time to move on
Off into the unknown... goodnight, it's been fun

Friday, 23 December 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS & TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Yuletide greetings to each and every one of you !!

I don't do Christmas cards so I'm sending you all this little picture from the heart of my bottom, along with my best wishes and Christmas cheer!

Thank you so much for your support of my blog and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

PIRACY!!!

Hmmm... wasn't sure how to tackle this.

I'm fairly new at this and I'm so, so grateful that people are liking what my characters have to say, and the situations they find themselves in. But I would like to point out - and this does sound a bit altruistic - if I wanted to write for free, I'd have left my livejournal account open. At the risk of winging on, I just want to say that although writing is my passion, there is something that I love even more....

They're cute... aren't they (especially while they're asleep). The reason you're looking at them is because, if you share my books on download sites, you're taking money out of my pocket, which I then use to feed, clothe and generally spend on those happy smiling faces. Which then makes my happy smiling face and sense of achievement, fly out of the window. Because at the end of the day... THEY are what it's all about... THEY are the reason for everything.

So please don't share my books - if someone wants to read them - let them buy it like the rest of you. Because the last thing I want to do is stop doing what I love... writing and making THEM smile.

Thank you.

Monday, 19 December 2011

MORE PLEASE MONDAY - ELVIS STYLE...

This... as far as I am concerned... is the most beautiful man who ever walked the earth...

STUFF YOUR STOCKINGS! WHO ARE THE LUCKY TWO?

WOO HOO, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TWO NAMES HAVE BEEN PICKED OUT OF THE HAT TO WIN A COPY OF MR POPSALOS AND A COPY OF TOO MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, BY MY LOVELY CHILDREN, AND THEY ARE....

ANZU - MR POPSALOS

&

SHARON - TOO MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Congratulations! I shall be emailing you personally and sending you your story.

Thank you to everyone for participating, Merry Christmas and I'll see you again next year!!!

Lisa xx

FREE READ - PROMPT #2 - LEE BRAZIL

FREE READ - PROMPT #2

I asked for some prompts to enable me to write a free read of no more than 1000 words a time.

This second prompt comes from the gawgeous Lee Brazil... and this is his prompt...

Black wasn't Avery's color of choice

I hope he likes what I came up with.

Staring at himself in the full length mirror one of the grips had tacked to the wall, he grimaced. Black was not Avery's color of choice, but that's what he was decked out in—from head to toe. The photographer was one of those arty types, lots of shadows and, as Audrey Hepburn once put it, giving face. God spare him from these soul-destroying shoots. Not that he couldn’t do the job. Of course he could, with his eyes nailed shut and his brain dribbling out of his ears, but surely there was more to life than this?

He glanced at the group of black bikini-clad models chosen to back him up and sighed inwardly. They giggled like the airheads they were, having their hair done, chatting with the make-up artists, obviously thinking that modeling was the greatest experience of their life. But then hadn’t he thought the same when he’d started out? Before the sleazy castings, the even sleazier photographers, who thought they could grope your ass and anything else they could get their hands on, all in the name of art? He glared at his reflection, the temptation to scrub at the make up around his eyes and to claw his fingers through his perfectly coiffed hair, was overwhelming. But, of course, he wouldn’t. He was far too professional. Besides, his ass was still burning from the raking over the coals it had had last time he pulled a hissy fit.

“Are you ready, Mr Superstar?”

Avery’s gaze flicked to the reflection of the man who now stood behind him. Marcus Caldwell, make-up artist extraordinaire, confidant to a million bulimic supermodels and general all round pain in the ass. The man’s shoulder-length dark blond hair curled around his face and piercing blue eyes travelled over Avery’s body, and Avery knew the man was making sure not a hair was out of place before he deemed him fit for the camera.

“You tell me,” Avery sneered, “you’re the one staring.” He raised an eyebrow at the flicker of frustration passing across the man’s usually impassive gaze and crossed his arms as they glared at each other in the mirror.

“You’ll do,” Marcus replied, nudging at Avery’s crossed arms. “Don’t do that, you’ll crease the fabric and it’s a four thousand dollar outfit.”

“My God, do you have any idea how much of a queen you are?” Avery said scathingly. “You’re the epitome of the, air quote, Hollywood make-up artist. A living, breathing cliché. You’re parents must be so proud.”

Marcus blew him a kiss in the mirror, “About as proud as yours are of the shit-stabbing clothes-horse that vaguely resembles their son.”

“For God’s sake, you two,” Archie, the photographer snapped, “give it a rest. Avery, we’re ready to go. Put your claws away and let’s get this done. If I over run today I’m taking your balls home with me and serving up to my wife for our anniversary dinner.”

Avery pushed roughly past Marcus and stomped over to the set where the giggling morons were now waiting for him. God give me strength. He positioned himself on his mark and Archie raised his camera… oh well… game on.

Stepping into the elevator, Avery pressed the button for tenth floor and leaned against the faux granite walls as the small tin box carried him up to his apartment. He yawned widely and closed his eyes, he was tired, even his bones ached—especially the one in his foot where the redhead had stomped on it at least a dozen times. He made a mental note to avoid her if he came across her again. The irritating voice advised him that the doors were opening and he stepped out into the hall and turned left, padding down to the end and opening his door.

He threw his keys into the bowl on the table just inside the door and headed straight for the kitchen. Grabbing an ice cold beer from the fridge, he pressed it against his aching forehead and wandered into the living-room, flopping down onto the couch. It wasn’t long before he heard a key in the lock and a soft smile curved his lips. He heard footsteps taking the same path as his had and reached up to take the fresh beer from the hand that appeared over the back of the couch. He took a healthy draw from the bottle and snorted when the rich, warm voice he loved so much rumbled against his ear.

“A living, breathing cliché?”

“Shit-stabbing clothes horse?” Avery sniggered, turning his head and brushing his lips against Marcus’ cheek, reveling in the scrape of stubble against his mouth. Marcus walked around the couch and sank down onto the cushions beside him, and Avery curled into his side, wrapping his arm around Marcus’ waist. “I hate this charade,” he mumbled, rubbing his cheek against his lover’s shoulder.

“Come on, baby,” Marcus soothed. “You know how cutthroat this business is. The agency want you to maintain your air of mystique and the “is he – isn’t he” question that hangs in the air. Makes you more appealing to both sexes.”

“Not anymore,” Avery said, sitting up and gazing into Marcus’ beautiful blue eyes. “I’m tired of it. I want to smile at you on set, instead of scowl. I want to kiss you instead of trade insults. I love you and as of tomorrow, everyone is going to know it. If that means flipping burgers for the rest of my life, I don’t give a shit.” He meant every word. It had been a long time coming and he’d kept up the ruse for long enough. He loved this man and no one was going to stop him from shouting it from the rooftops—not anymore.

“Avery—“

“No, Marc, I’ve made up my mind, now shut up and kiss me. Oh, and one more thing… I hate black.”

“Fairy.”

“Queen.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

RELEASE DAY!! MR POPSALOS AVAILABLE NOW!

BUY LINK

BLURB:

Two weeks before Christmas, Luke meets Jamie, the hottest man he's ever seen. Painfully aware that having a son makes him less dateable, Luke throws Jamie's number away after their one amazing, passion-filled night together, thinking he will never see him again.

Sunday, 18 December 2011

SENSUOUS SUNDAY....get ready to sin....

I thought it might be nice... as the dark nights are drawing in... and it's nearly the silly season, if we spent an evening in the company of beauty... JESSIE PAVELKA... anyone else find him slightly inspiring?

THIRST - 21 JANUARY 2012

BUY LINK

Detective Max Bowman is hunting a serial killer terrorizing the city. A serial killer who leaves bodies drained of blood.

After taking a break in a local bar, he is attacked, robbed and left for dead; waking up in Carter Gray's bed was the last thing he expected.

Who is this man? What is his dark secret? Is he responsible for the trail of bodies across the city?

FIND OUT ON THE 21 JANUARY 2012

Saturday, 17 December 2011

GUEST STAR: PATRICIA LOGAN!!!

A big welcome to my bestie, PATRICIA LOGAN, who is joining me today to talk about her release...A VERY GOOD YEAR...

Release Day!

I don’t know about you, Lisa, but when I finally attain release, it’s thrilling as well as so gratifying! LOL! But seriously, this is my sixth release and “A Very Good Year” is a great way to wrap up the year. I do love the fact that my publisher on this project, Rebel Ink Press, was so flexible with the release date. It is wonderful to work with a publisher that cares about their authors. In this case, “A Very Good Year” was originally scheduled to go live sometime in early 2012. I begged the wonderful E, my editor, and all around greatest, easiest person in the world to work with, if she would be willing to move up my release to December because of other scheduling conflicts and a new biography project. She was thrilled to do it and so far, has granted my every request.

Reflecting on this year, I am so blessed to have been picked up by two new publishers and have projects and contracts in the works with both, for releases next year. I’ve also continued to work with my original publisher and they are releasing my epic “Gypsy Knight” on January 11, 2012. This novel is a departure for me. This is the first title that I have with a female main character, who undertakes a journey with two gorgeous knights, in the year 1291, post crusades. This was the very first book that I have ever written and it was originally a M/F. Last year about this time, I adapted it to a M/M/F and added about 10K words. It is entirely different from my other titles and my first historical. I am honestly kind of terrified about how this one will be seen by my fans. I hope they understand that M/M is still my thing and that it is a genre that I will continue to write and love.

One project, completed and due for release on February 4^th, 2012 is “The Slave’s Mask”. My 30K book is just one-third of a compilation of Valentine’s day stories. My other two thirds are Lisa Worrall with “Behind the Mask” and Sue Brown with “The Layered Mask”. This project is a wonderful historical journey through time beginning with Sue Brown in 1811, followed by me in 1863 and finally Lisa Worrall, in the current day.

Finally, I had a wonderful opportunity fall into my lap on Thanksgiving this year. A dear old friend, Chris Montez, asked me to write his biography. Chris toured with the Beatles in Europe before their fame. As a matter of fact, they were Chris’ opening act! He had such famous tunes as “Call Me”, “Let’s Dance”, “Sunny” and many many others. In Brazil, he had five number one hits and has recorded albums in Spanish as well as English. His musical history and discography read like the 1960’s rock and roll hall of fame. I’m honored to be doing this project with Chris and though we’re just getting started with interviews, it is just a bit daunting. I’m currently buried in 500 page biographies of Keith Richards and Andrew Loog Oldham, the famous promoter of the Rolling Stones, trying to get in the zone of 1960’s rock and roll.

That kind of brings you up to date with ongoing projects. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your marvelous support, both my fantastic fans, dear author friends and marvelous publishers and all the hard working promoters and back stage people in this business. I wish you many blessings this holiday season and hope that this New Year brings you joy and happiness and everything that you wish for. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanza and if I missed anyone, Many Blessings!

You can find me at

Patricialogan.author@yahoo.com

Naughtypassions.blogspot.com

Face Book

Dmitri Hernandez is starting his life over. After his release from captivity and four years in college, he’s just accepted a position as vintner at the Lazy E Vineyard and Dude Ranch. He’s excited about the job, but he’s even more excited by a tall, handsome cowboy that turns him on in every way. Maverick Walker is a true Marlboro man in every sense of the word and Dmitri falls hard for him. The two begin a relationship which only burns hotter until a third man steps into the mix and complicates everything. Carlo Degli Esposti, a famous Italian wine critic and gay playboy, makes his moves on Dmitri right away. Dmitri is suddenly torn between a handsome blond billionaire and a dominating cowboy with a vulnerable side.

Carlo Degli Esposti is turned on by Dmitri’s sexy good looks and smokin’ hot body but the more he gets to know Dmitri, the more he realizes the vintner has devastating secrets buried deep within. As Carlo and Dmitri begin to see more of each other, Maverick backs off. He wants his own lover, not a relationship where he’d have to share Dmitri with the gorgeous Italian. As Dmitri’s nightmarish secrets are eventually uncovered, Carlo realizes he's deeply in love with the handsome vintner and vows to make him the center of his life. Will Dmitri be able to forget the big, beautiful Maverick? Is Carlo enough to fill the hole left in his heart so many years before? Will taking a job in the Texas wine country be the worst decision Dmitri has ever made or will it be a very good year indeed?

Excerpt:

The kiss deepened and Dmitri let Mav take him right down along with him. He’d never been kissed by someone that he wanted to kiss back. Marcus had taken from him. But this was different. Maverick was giving to him and it had Dmitri heady and reeling under the big cowboy’s onslaught. His cock hardened to a steel pole, something he didn’t think he’d ever experienced with Marcus. Something he never wanted to experience with the filthy pedophile. He knew Mav must have felt it because the big man’s own substantial cock was grinding against Dmitri, seeking the inevitable release Dmitri also needed.

Dmitri moaned, vibrating all the way from his chest up and into Mav’s mouth. That was all the encouragement the cowboy needed. He disconnected his lips from Dmitri and leaned his forehead against the smaller man’s. His breathing came in short pants, his chest heaving as he looked into Dmitri’s lust-filled gaze.

“Knew you wanted it,” Mav declared matter of factly. He rocked his cock against Dmitri’s hips again, which were held in place by Mav’s massive paws. “Feel that? Want it too,” he said before diving back down onto Dmitri’s lips. Dmitri could do nothing but open to him, this time eagerly, as he reached up and clutched at Maverick’s shirt, pulling his head down toward him hard.

“Oh God!” Dmitri managed to groan as Mav’s lips left his own, blazing a flaming trail down the side of his jaw to Dmitri’s neck. Dmitri yelped as Mav bit down on the soft skin then moaned as the cowboy’s tongue snaked out and soothed the area. “Yeah,” Dmitri heard himself saying. “Yeah, mm… yeah there,” Dmitri sighed as Maverick latched onto the spot and began sucking softly. A shot of pure lust zinged through Dmitri when Mav groaned in his ear.

“Wanna suck you,” he whispered, his gravelly voice sending shivers down Dmitri’s spine. “Wanna suck the come outta you now, Dmitri. Wanna taste all that spunk you got for me. Come on… You want it?”

I totally love this story and have it on my kindle already! Good luck my lovely, not that you'll need it, it's superb!

Friday, 16 December 2011

GUEST STAR: LAURA TOLOMEI

Hello my lovelies... welcome once again to the sofa and the lovely LAURA TOLOMEI who is stretched out beside me. We are getting set to have a pamper session while she titillates us with a teaser from her new release...

BUY LINK

The pirate v/s the devil: how far can seduction go?

The Pirate’s Surrender

Book 2, the sequel of To Seduce A Soul Mate

By Laura Tolomei

GENRE: Contemporary Gay GLBT Holiday Romance, m/m, m/m/f, m/m/m

ISBN: 978-1-77111-036-5

HEAT LEVEL: 4 flames

PAGES: 205

WORDS: 59.119

RELEASE DATE: Dec.1^st, 2011

PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books

COVER: Martine Jardin

BUY LINK

http://www.lallagatta.com/eng/_piratesurrender.html

BLURB

All right, so he did it! Marin seduced me. And the sex is fantastic, blows my mind every time, no complaints there, if that thing about being his soul-mate didn’t still bug me. Yet there seems no way around it except…but can I do it? Do I want to do it? No, I don’t know if I’m ready to surrender. Me, the pirate, and to the blond devil, no less…talk about fucked up destiny!

Don’t miss the romantic sequel to To Seduce A Soul Mate.

PG EXCERPT

“How did things go for you?” However painful the separation, Martin had never called Drake, in spite of the need killing him inside each time he remembered how much he missed the dark, handsome pirate. But he could not be weak at this delicate point of their game.

“I did a lot of thinking.”

“Did you now?” Martin leaned back on the chair. He had not wanted to press the pirate in a corner, but when he had come out with that ridiculous invitation to his parents’ house, he had not been able to control it. Not that he regretted the things he had said, all true and very much so in their context. No, what was getting to him was the fact he could not handle it—being so close to the pirate and not be able to express his feelings. For they had grown, as he feared they would the moment he agreed to live with his soul-mate. Now simply looking at him was laden with the urge to kiss, hold, have him in any way possible. And he longed to say the words burning in his heart, just could not afford the chance to lose his beloved over them.

Even more frustrating, he had watched Drake developing much the same feelings. Too bad the pirate in him refused to acknowledge them, holding them back behind a wall of apparently impenetrable male strength. It drove Martin mad every time he perceived it, then he got more furious in bed, when the sheer passion of Drake’s response made it crumble miserably, to reveal a depth of emotions that would have frightened Martin had his soul-mate let them free.

Yes, the pirate’s innermost world was as fascinating and intriguing as his breathless outer shell. And Martin could not avoid responding with his own brand of love, something that came out in spite of his efforts to hide it. So he was getting tired of their sex without the awareness of the deep sharing they could have, if only his foolish pirate set aside the stupid conventions clouding his heart and mind.

There seemed no way around it, though. At this point, if life without Drake was a material impossibility, life with him was a daily torture. A thousand times Martin wished he could recover his uncaring attitude, the shield he had used against so many former lovers, instead of having to put up with stomach crunching and heart shattering every time the pirate said or did something adorable, which he often did and the memory played in Martin’s head long after it was over until it clogged his senses. Focusing on anything was proving hard, work unimportant, including the new exciting ventures he was getting into. Sleep, food, drink, everything seemed to lose its appeal compared to the striking longhaired pirate and his shiny black eyes. But love alone was hardly enough to bring the soul-mate out of Drake. That was the reason he had agreed to leave for more than two months, knowing it was either distance or betrayal of his feelings. Naturally, of the two, Martin much preferred to keep his door to Drake wide open.

“I have, particularly since I missed you like hell.”

“Well, well, the pirate admitting to a human frailty.” Martin chuckled. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“All your fault,” Drake teased, then turned serious again. “First you dazzle me with great sex and an amazing life together, then you go and leave me for months, stranded in the middle of the ocean and without any fucking boat in sight.” He raised an accusatory gaze. “Doesn’t work that way, pal.”

“Then how does it work?” He pretended to be amused while his senses were poised on the pirate’s every breath to make certain he caught all the clues Drake saw fit to tell him, especially the unspoken ones.

“That sharing we started before you left…” Pausing, Drake swilled down a generous sip of beer.

“You mean in the sex?” Too tense to do anything besides listening, Martin ignored his can of beer.

“Not only.” He heaved. “There’s something that works between us that I can neither explain nor come to terms with.” He shrugged. “Whatever it is, I want it back.”

“How do you propose we do that?”

“By becoming lovers.” The black eyes flashed in triumph. “Yes, let’s be lovers.”

“Mmmm…is this a promotion?” Martin grinned mischievously. “Do I hear correctly? You want to upgrade me from fucking-friend into lover, right?”

“Yeah.” Watching Drake fidgeting nervously with the can gave Martin the measure of how difficult this admission was for his pirate. It was a step toward greater awareness, and a damn powerful one, too, which acknowledged the undeniable bond that existed between them. “Not that I’m asking for anything official.” Drake was quick to retrace his steps. “Like you said, there are two levels of being—a personal one and a social one. This affects just our personal one, of course.”

“What would it entail?” Very curious now, Martin leaned across the table. “What would be different from what we’re already doing?”

“For one thing, you move into my bed, permanently.” Drake locked black liquid eyes on him. For Martin, the world faded into nothingness. “I want to sleep with you every night if possible. I know sometimes we do it, but I’d like it to become the rule not the exception.” Evidently sensing Martin’s objections, he raised a hand to stop them. “I know you keep your own time and…entertain till late. I’m not asking you to change anything. Simply, whatever time you get home, however many lovers you have to satisfy, just crawl in my bed whenever you’re done.” The pirate leaned forward, too, so their faces almost touched. “I love waking with you at my side, even if I have to rush to work and you keep sleeping.” They kept different hours, another attractive feature of their relationship. “As stupid that it sounds, it makes me feel closer to you. And right now I need the extra comfort.” With a gentle hand, he ruffled Martin’s hair. “Nothing else has to change, actually.” He pulled back slightly. “I’m perfectly happy with the way we live together, with our uncoordinated rhythms, too, and it’s fine if they remain that way. I’d never want to tie you down or pretend an unacceptable compromise—”

“Pirate, you can ask anything you want of me because…” I belong to you. He almost said it, catching himself only at the last second. “You’re worth it.”

“Am I?”

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