EXCERPT - INHABITING THE NIGHT by CAROLINA VALDEZ

COMING OCTOBER 10th
FROM AMBER QUILL PRESS - AMBER ALLURE

LAPD Detective Trent Edwards rents a house in a mountain community near the only reported sighting of his twin brother, who disappeared without a trace. Martin Longhouse, who owns the local fitness center, takes him under his wing and introduces him to townspeople who might have seen him. Soon, the lust that flares between the two men settles into something deeper. But Trent doesn’t know Martin has a secret, nor does he know just who lives in Little Grizzly Lake. Or who and what inhabits the woods at night.

When the secrets unravel, he discovers his rational cop’s mind has a choice—let go of his love for Martin, whose secret he’s uncovered, or open himself up to other realities, other possibilities for his life. Which will he choose…logic or heart?

EXCERPT - GAY

…When Martin finally hit the End Workout button on the digital board and the treadmill belt slowly died, Trent was more than ready to stop. As he stepped down, his breathing shallow and too fast, he said, “Man, I’m really out of shape.”

Martin’s eyes flicked over him slowly. “You’re in pretty good shape as far as I can see.”

Trent paused, wondering if he’d heard the soft words correctly and if Martin intended the statement to be sexual, as Trent wanted it to be. It was risky to be wrong if he’d misunderstood, so he replied, “I’m weak as a kitten.”

“You’ll regain your strength. It just needs a little more time.”

Martin had set up a program for him along the lines of what his physical therapist had advised. He also provided small squishy balls to squeeze to strengthen his hands. He demonstrated some easy stretches for his back and legs, and when a spasm tightened Trent’s scarred leg, Martin called a halt. “Enough for today. Come into the spa area and I’ll smooth out that muscle.”

A couple of men were sitting nude in the spa, and anxiety jolted through Trent. Oh, boy, being in that Jacuzzi naked with Martin would create an embarrassing situation.

Martin must’ve noticed because he chuckled and shook his head. “We’re going in here,” he said and motioned to a massage room off to the side. After they entered, he added, “You can strip or leave your jock strap in place. I’m going to massage your leg. I’ll return in a minute.”

Trent stripped, admitting to himself he’d done so because he wanted to be naked for Martin under that clean white sheet as he lay on his back on the table.

Martin returned with a bottle of oil. He left the door ajar so they’d have privacy without being totally alone. The table couldn’t be seen through the doorway.
Trent worried about making his dick behave, but he’d hurt too long and too much in his ribs, shoulder and leg. He closed his eyes and let Martin work his magic. Martin put a CD in a Sony player and smooth jazz sounded softly in the background. He tucked the sheet in snugly so as to expose the injured leg but not Trent’s sac and dick. Still, the fact of whose hands were tucking made Trent nervous. The room filled with the faint scent of almond oil, and Trent finally relaxed and enjoyed the pure pleasure of deft hands massaging his feet and gliding their way up his lower legs and then to his thighs.

“You have good hands,” he murmured

A silent Martin paused briefly as if taken aback by the comment, and then he continued to work out the kinks in Trent’s leg. When his hands reached under the tucked sheet and followed Trent’s quad muscles right up to his hipbones, Trent’s unruly dick threatened to seriously tent the sheet as it rose under it. He reached to push it down, but Martin stopped him.

“That’s not a problem. Happens all the time. Shows you’re still all man despite the abuse your body has suffered.”

Trent concentrated on relaxing again as the warm hands slid over his muscles to knead and stroke.

“You had a lot of knots in this leg. The oil will help soften the scar and make it more flexible.”

The husky voice triggered visions of Martin reclining on a bed naked, a long hard cock riding up against his belly, his sack straining to keep up, all waiting for the touch of Trent’s hand to encircle his erection. He could imagine the feel of it in his palms as he tugged up and down, faster and faster until Martin convulsed and came.

Damnit, he could feel his cock drooling and knew he was about to come. He pushed up on his elbows and raised one knee. “I think that’s enough. This is feeling a little too good right now.”

Martin stopped, but one corner of his mouth seemed to fight lifting in a smile. “As I said, it shows you’re all man. However, I don’t want to lose my certification as a fitness trainer, so we’ll stop.”

Trent sat up, bunching the sheet around his subsiding hard-on to cover his chagrin that his body had betrayed him…

WATCH FOR ITS RELEASE
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/InhabitingNight.html

Carolina Valdez
http://www.CarolinaValdez.com

WHITE SHADOWS IN DARKNESS - Paperback collection of Carolina's erotic gay shapeshifter/vampire stories, TWILIGHT and INHABITING THE NIGHT.
Coming in late November from Amber Quill Allure

Passion - Heat - Ecstasy
Romance touches all the senses

All for Fall!

This picture was taken yesterday at a fall festival in Central Ohio. The day before I went to an apple festival too.

It's finally happened, the tempertures are dipping in the east, the leaves are turning and pumpkin sightings abound. It's time to build a fire and curl up with a good book on your digital reader. Does a change of seasons affect what you want to read? What makes you chose an author you haven't read yet?

Brit Blaise
Cave Creek Cowboy: Count on Three coming soon

Tommy's Blind Date by Anne Brooke

I'm delighted to announce that my latest gay erotic short story, Tommy's Blind Date, is now published at Amber Allure Press. Thirty-two-year-old IT consultant Tommy Godolphin has been on a series of blind dates, as he doesn’t want to be single any more. None of the dates, however, really hits the spot, and the latest one has proven a complete, if amusing, disaster. When Tommy recounts what happened to his best friend, Jacob, he expects Jacob to laugh with him as usual, but this time the man doesn’t. Instead, Jacob challenges Tommy to go on a blind date with him, to see what, if anything, he might be doing wrong. The evening brings several surprises for them both, but in the morning, what will happen to their friendship?

Here's an extract to get you in the mood! - 

I didn’t remember anything at all about the drive home, though my hands were shaking on the steering wheel and I had to make myself concentrate so I didn’t do anything crazy, like get lost. It seemed all my attention was on the lights from Jacob’s car following me home. I’d always held off getting physical with a bloke until at least the third date, but this…well, this was something different. It made me feel different, wilder even, and I liked it. A hell of a lot.

At home, I scrambled to get the key in the door, but it wasn’t made any easier by Jacob running his hand through my hair and down onto my neck. He kept his fingers there as I unlocked and stumbled indoors. He followed me and kicked the door shut behind him. I switched on the hall light and stared at him.

“Do you want a coffee?” I croaked, but he merely shook his head and glanced down at my prick, now more than obvious as it strained for release.

“No,” he said. “Why would I want that? No, I want to fuck you, and I don’t want to have to wait, whilst making polite conversation. Let’s go straight to your bedroom. We can talk later.”

I didn’t need telling twice and made it up there in record time, with Jacob close at my heels. Once there, I reached for him, but he took hold of my hands and pushed me against the wall.

“Stay there,” he whispered. “We’ll do this my way, Thomas. I’ll make sure you get your share of enjoyment out of our date so you don’t have to be concerned about that, but we’ll do it my way. Okay?”

Unable to speak, I nodded. I was all but gasping and my skin felt hot. I couldn’t take my eyes off him; it was as if I’d never seen him before, not properly, not like this. He sat down on the bed, still holding my gaze. Then he began to speak.

“I like looking at you, Thomas,” he said. “All through our date, I’ve been looking at your face, the way your expression changes with everything you say, how I can see your emotions in your eyes. I like the way you blush when I flirt with you, and how you bite your lower lip when you feel desire, how when I spoke of touching you, the pulse at your temple jumped and you struggled with containing your response in a public setting.

“In fact, if I’m honest, I thought about asking you to the toilets with me in the restaurant and sucking you off in one of the cubicles. I wanted to mess with your hair and make you go back to the table looking like you’d just had sex, so everyone would know what I’d done to you. But then, I thought no. Because I wanted to get my cock right inside you and I didn’t think you’d let me do that, not on a first date, if you’d already got what you wanted from me. I needed you to be frustrated enough I could be in your bedroom, with you desperate to be fucked, right now. By me. Are you desperate for it, Thomas?”

Again, I nodded.

“Tell me,” he said. “Tell me about how you’re feeling and what you want.”

“God,” I swore, still panting, and thrust my head back against the wall, eyes closed. “Yes, please. I’ll do whatever you want. I’m willing. I don’t want to waste time. I need you inside me, right up to your balls. I need to feel you there, please. I swear to you I’m so hot I could come right now just thinking about it. Just do me, Jacob, I’m begging you.”

As I spoke, my prick strained even further against my trousers, if that were possible, and I groaned.

Jacob laughed. “I love to hear the noises you make. You’re incredibly expressive, Thomas, physically, and it’s very sexy. Do you know that?”

I was beyond any kind of conversation by now, and even more so as, at the next moment, I felt Jacob’s fingers outlining the shape of my prick through the linen fabric. I thrust myself into his grasp, but he’d already withdrawn.

“Take off your clothes,” he said. “Slowly, so I can enjoy every second of your unraveling. Because you are unraveling right in front of my eyes, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Tommy's Blind Date has already gained a good review from Jessewave Reviews, who says: “This very delightful, sexy little number proves that sometimes shorter is better and that a story with only 9000 words can be just as satisfying as one that’s much longer.” You can read the rest of that review here!

To find out more or to purchase your copy, please click on the Amber Allure Press link, and have a very enjoyable Sunday!

Anne Brooke

Road Trip

A frequent question fielded by writers is what inspired us to write a particular story. For myself, sometimes I can answer that, and other times I can't. It's not that I don't know, but I can't explain how an inner process that, to me, just IS always works. Maybe I could if it always worked the exact same way every time, but it doesn't.

Sound confusing? Only when I try to dissect it and reduce it to something logical. I think it's better that I just accept inspiration from whatever source whenever it happens. Today, I'm meeting my favorite niece (okay-my only niece but she's still my fave) and we're going to the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC. Will I find inspiration along the way? Undoubtedly, I will, if I keep myself open to it. And that's a key element in the process - being open to it.

What inspires an artist to create a canvas? Or a sculpture? Is it like writing in that an inner voice speaks? Does it matter? I don't feel the need to know the answer. Today is for sharing time, and for sharing the visions of others.

Today, except for this blog, I'm setting aside the old writer's adage to 'write something every day'. Today is for relaxation and recharging. For gathering inspiration and sowing seeds. Like Noel in Open Roads, I'm heading out to clear my head. I know whether I find inspirations instantly, or if one of those little seeds sneaks up on me later, it will be well worth the trip.

May you also find inspiration in your journeys.


KC Kendricks
Visit my website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
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The Continuing Adventures of… Sequels!

Hi everyone!

To celebrate the release of my erotic romance, A Midwinter Night’s Delights, I thought I’d talk about sequels. (For those of you who don’t know, A Midwinter Night’s Delights is the sequel to my 2008 fantasy novella A Midsummer Night’s Delights).

Midwinter follows up on the main characters, Annabelle & Julian. In the last book, these young newlyweds were introduced to a world of sexual pleasure and fantasies before attending a very special Midsummer Ball. (If you haven’t read the first book, that’s okay – each story stands alone as an individual read. And yes, this book is just as hot – if not hotter – than the first book!)

In the sequel, we discover that Annabelle & Julian have taken what they have learned and gone a bit wild. Instead of being shy and repressed, they are more than eager to give in to their desires wherever the mood strikes. They are sent to Vincent’s estate to learn lessons in self-control and discipline. It was interesting to explore a different side to the games that take place at the estate house and watch how the characters reacted as they received their ‘punishments’ throughout the book.

When I wrote the first book, I deliberately left the ending open for a potential sequel. I had already written a trilogy of fantasy romances – the “Royal Desires” series featuring A Most Unusual Princess, Dalton’s Temptation, & The Pauper Prince, so I knew how characters could ‘run away’ with the story, or how certain characters or storylines need to be further explored.

The “Royal Desires” trilogy basically came about because I fell in love with the characters and wanted to continue exploring their lives, interactions, and find out what happened to them. Dalton’s Temptation, (the sequel to A Most Unusual Princess) lets the readers follow up on their lives and see what new trouble Princess Elara causes for Dalton. (Hint: Marriage never tamed her). When I wrote Dalton’s Temptation, I introduced readers to Prince Allan, and it wasn’t long before it became obvious that he needed his own book as well.

After the release of A Midsummer Night’s Delights, some readers asked for prequel – they wanted to know how the Marquis, Vincent, and his wife, Sabrina, met and what their history entailed. Although I have no plans to write a full prequel, I did give the readers what they wanted. In A Midwinter Night’s Delights, Sabrina tells Annabelle how she met Vincent and how they got involved in their naughty games.

So, will there be a third book? Maybe. There’s definitely potential for another chapter in the saga. Will Lono and Lobo (two new characters) unmask and have their own side-story? Perhaps. I haven’t thought about their backgrounds much, but it would be interesting to learn more about them.

I think sequels are popular with readers because they can follow along with characters they’ve known and come to love. They become invested in their trials and tribulations and want to follow along on their adventures.

As a writer, it’s great to revisit characters we’ve invented, and it is fun to write new stories while introducing new characters into the universe we’ve created. We also need to stretch our imaginations and make each story different – show another side to a favorite character, give the hero/heroine a challenge, or have them deal with something unexpected. I think that’s what keeps readers interested – never knowing exactly where the author will take them on their journey.

I welcome feedback about the book from readers and would like to know what you think. For now, here’s a spicy excerpt from A Midwinter Night’s Delights.

Enjoy!

Kelli

Vincent smacked the riding crop across the front of Julian’s bare thighs, narrowly missing his member. “Quiet! You will not speak unless we grant you permission. You will be given several tests as part of your punishments. You need to learn self-control and discipline. Your impulses are taking over and getting the best of you. Now Julian, you wish to speak?”

“Yes. I don’t understand. Why must we be punished for enjoying our natural desires? At the Midsummer Ball, you two opened the door to our needs—”

“True, but we didn’t expect you to rip the door off its hinges and ball everything you saw on the other side,” Vincent interrupted.

“What’s wrong with fucking my wife—”

“Nothing,” Sabrina stated. “As long as you don’t do it where you’re not supposed to, or offer her to any passerby for pleasure.” She strolled over to Annabelle. “You’re awfully quiet, dear. What do you think?”

“Well…”

He turned his head to the right, so he could see Annabelle in profile. The cold air had hardened her nipples.

“I understand it’s not proper to do…those things anywhere with anyone, but…” She smiled shyly. “I do like to feel a man’s meat in me, and sometimes I cannot help myself. Besides it’s fun to play around with different men.”

Sabrina frowned and looked at Vincent. “I see. I hope you feel that way by the end of your time here with us. And you, Julian? What do you think of Annabelle’s admission that she enjoys getting fucked by other men?”

He laughed. “For heaven’s sake, Sabrina. Vincent has screwed Annabelle while I watched, and I balled you in front of him last summer. You yourself have had a romp with Annabelle. So, if you must know, I like to watch others take her.”

“Well, we’ll see about that.” Sabrina crossed to the table and opened a jar of lotion. She scooped out a handful and approached him. “I hope you enjoy this,” she said, smearing it on his cock and balls.

The ice-cold cream sent a tingle through his groin, then everything froze numb. “Ahh!” He twisted against the straps. “It’s freezing.”

“I bet it is. Now keep quiet, Julian, punishment has started.” Sabrina smiled at Vincent. “You can do the rest.”

“With pleasure.” Vincent took a different jar off the table and strolled behind him. He tried to turn around so he could see what Vincent was doing, but the straps held him in place. He felt Vincent part his buttocks, then something wet and slimy was rubbed along his anus. “What is that?”

“Quiet!” Vincent slapped him hard on the buttocks.

He watched as Vincent walked up behind Annabelle. He slid his hand between her buttocks and she squirmed.

“Now you’re ready. I will say this, both of you have changed greatly since you were here last. Julian, I find your attitude crude, arrogant, and insulting. Annabelle, you’ve gone from a delicate flower who was to be tenderly plucked to a woman with a raging need to get fucked. You both need to settle yourselves. The first lesson is to teach you control. You will learn that from now on we control your bodies and say when and where you receive pleasure—if you receive pleasure. You will learn to submit.”

“Submit to what?” Julian asked.

Sabrina hit him with the riding crop and he jumped. “Bring them in. Let’s show Julian how he is going to submit. Perhaps Lono and Lobo will make him understand.”

Vincent left the room. A moment later, he returned followed by two of the biggest men Julian had ever seen. Each stood well over six and a half feet tall. They both wore dark blue masks and black dressing gowns.

“Meet Lobo and Lono.” The men stepped forward, and Vincent grinned. “They are going to punish you. But not with a whip, with these.”

Vincent nodded and the men disrobed. Julian gasped. Each man’s shaft was at least ten inches long. It looked like they had a third arm sprouting from between their legs. He glanced at Annabelle. Her eyes were riveted to their giant wands.

Sabrina gestured for one of the men to approach Annabelle. “She’s first. Let him see what he’ll be getting.”

Sonoran Heat available now!

For those of you who, unlike me, got out of the house and offline this past Labor Day weekend, my May/December desert romance Sonoran Heat debuted at Amber Allure!

Blurb:

Newly single, Tony finds a fresh start with 21-year-old Josh, but worries chasing a man half his age will lead to heartache. It’s hard to resist when Josh intrigues Tony on an intellectual level -- and fires the landscaper's libido hotter than the Arizona desert they call home.

Digital art student by day, Josh waits tables at night, but his true dream is to paint. When he falls for Tony, he starts to rethink his goals and how the sexy older man might fit into them. But Tony’s recovering from a failed relationship, one that lasted nearly as long as Josh has been alive, and Josh must prove that in spite of age and inexperience, his feelings are sincere.

As the desert nights heat up, Tony and Josh explore possibilities both in and out of the bedroom, but when each man faces a difficult choice, they must decide on the future. Whether that future is together, or separate, is a matter of reason versus the heart.
*****

Sonoran Heat, available now! Get it while it's hot at:

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SonoranHeat.html

Twice in a LIfetime, Sutter's Bay #2

This weekend marked the release of my newest story, Twice in a Lifetime. Nearly a year ago my first story in the Sutter's Bay series was released, Sweet Reunion.

When I first wrote Sweet Reunion, I did have a vague idea of one day writing the story for a secondary character (Jude), but I never thought I would be turning it into a series. Since writing Jude's story, though, I've come up with ideas for additional books in the series, and well...it's now the Sutter's Bay series. Sutter's Bay is a fictional Northern California town by the sea.




Sweet Reunion Blurb:

Retired from the police force after a tragic shooting, Jason Sweet hasn’t been back to his hometown, Sutter’s Bay, for fifteen years. With his mother’s final days approaching, Jason returns to make peace with his mother and his past. Part of that past includes former best friend and lover, Danny Yarrow.

Danny’s satisfied with his life as a drama teacher at the local high school, but the one thing missing is the love of a good man. He’s only too happy to be reunited with Jason. They’ve both grown and changed since their broken teenaged relationship. Jason hasn’t had an easy time of it since leaving Sutter’s Bay, but Danny intends to convince his friend and former lover that when it comes to taking chances, their love is worth it.


Twice in a Lifetime blurb:

Five years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter's Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things—living things—would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.

Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won't come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter's Bay, and he can't help but wonder if his luck has changed.

Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?



So, anyway, both are standalone stories so you don't have to read one to read the other. Thanks, until next time.

Blog

August 2010 Amber Allure Top Ten List

Congrats, all!

AMBER ALLURE / August 2010

1. Lift Your Voice - T. A. Chase (Gay / Contemporary)
2. A Bid For Love - T. D. McKinney & Terry Wylis (Gay / Contemporary)
3. A Big Hunk O' Love - Hunter Raines (Gay / Contemporary)
4. Best Laid Plans - Cassie Stevens (Gay / Contemporary)
5. Open Roads - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary)
6. White Out - Heidi Champa (Gay / Contemporary)
7. Sins Of Affection - India Harper (Gay / Suspense)
8. Chain-Male - Angelia Sparrow & Naomi Brooks (Gay / Contemporary)
9. The Manituw - Lisbeth Jenkins (Gay / Contemporary)
10. Cops And Rubbers - A. J. Llewellyn (Gay / Contemporary)