PROMO: Baja Clavius

Promo

COVER Baja ClaviusMadeira Desouza has a new gay erotic sci fi tale out: Baja Clavius.

This controversial science fiction adventure depicts gay male time travel agents with very bad behaviors. They are violent and immoral men.

A few hundred years from now, these time travel agents work within a top-secret agency located beneath the crater Clavius on the moon. Their time-travel missions take them to Earth in the past where they ruthlessly manipulate man who are targeted for their roles in the outcomes of historical events such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Amazon eBook | Amazon Paperback 


Giveaway

Madeira is giving away a $20 Amazon gift certificate with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4768/?


EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: Star Trek or Star Wars?

I was at a Las Vegas marijuana dispensary recently where I met Cheech Marin on the publicity tour for his new line of cannabis products. He took one look at me and said, “Wow, you look like George Lucas.” I get that reaction quite often here in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
I much prefer Star Trek, however. During the 1970s I was very fortunate to meet Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry more than once in person. I was writing and producing a radio documentary about Star Trek and somehow convinced Roddenberry to let me interview him for that.

Roddenberry seemed very odd, even by show business standards in Hollywood during that decade. But it’s difficult for me not to hero-worship Roddenberry for all he created and how influential he was as far as how television series and motion pictures depict space operas. He may, indeed, have been a very grumpy guy and not much fun to hang out with, but I wasn’t seeking that.
One fascinating (a Spock would say) element about Roddenberry was what he told me about depicting sexuality in science fiction storytelling. He admitted to me that he had deliberately toned down the depictions of human sexual behavior and moral codes of Captain James T. Kirk and other characters in the original Star Trek. Roddenberry was not hesitant to tell me that he wanted the audience in those days not to be put off by unsavory content. Yet, as a writer told me he believed in a future that would bring more extreme sexual behaviors and moral codes that what he was accustomed to writing about.
I chose to be more fluid with depicting human sexuality than Roddenberry allowed with Star Trek. I depict gay male characters who enjoy sex with men and put them in storytelling situations in which they behave in ways we today would consider to be sexually immoral and in direct violation of many current laws. Roddenberry would not be happy with me for doing that.


Excerpt

MEME4 - Baja ClaviusYesterday I was lost and I died. Today I am alive again. I accept the truth about foregone tomorrows and my resurrections from the dead.

I do not claim to be a believer in a deity or a religion. Yet, I have personally experienced being repeatedly brought back to life after death. Something far more powerful than us human beings resurrected me. And now, everything I have learned about living, dying, and then coming back for more is presented here.

I have been coerced into creating this journal of my experiences. I will suffer if I am less than completely truthful. I will be held prisoner until I have completed this in full.

I work for a top-secret international agency that is so deeply concealed nobody could possibly find it. Baja Clavius is the name of the international base of operations where I live. It is from that base that I travel in time to work assignments on Earth.

Desperate efforts by others to censor this work all have ended in failure. Just to confuse you, others have circulated conflicting versions of this. But I defeated all my enemies who wanted to prevent you for seeing this.

I begin by sharing my memories of being back in my home state of Arizona—on foot trudging through the desert under dark, threatening thunderclouds that do not diminish the hottest day I have ever felt in my entire life. Through an unexpected break in the storm clouds, I see bright white sunlight and the most magnificent color of blue sky. Up there above me a haunting full moon commands my attention.

Sticking out of the landscape under the ominous skies is a mechanical structure apparently made mostly of wood. As I walk closer to the device, it looks to me as though it was created specifically to slow down the process of hanging a man by the neck so that he will experience extended agony before his death.

Hung from a thick brown rope wrapped around a wheel wench is a muscular, shirtless, and barefoot man with his arms unbound struggling desperately to stay conscious as his neck is crushed in the noose. I see his high cheekbones and long dark brown hair that is tied behind his neck into a queue. I watch his bare feet kick the sky.

I notice a pair of unattended video cameras on tripods positioned nearby on the desert floor pointing toward the hanging machine. Why would anyone go to the trouble of videotaping this man’s death by ritual hanging?

I know that I have met him previously. But this man whose name I cannot remember somehow seems to hold a distinct place at the very center of faulty recollections in my brain.

Off in the distance fifty meters or so to the west of my location, I can see four men wearing cowboy attire running away. I must have scared them away when I approached. But they left that helpless man to die on their hanging machine.

He is someone who seems obviously capable of having put up very considerable resistance against this merciless fate. His powerful body attracts my full attention. He looks like he is about thirty years old—the same age as me. His legs wildly swing in all possible directions as I reach the hanging machine. He desperately tries to reach his hands up to his neck as if it somehow were possible to free himself from the noose. But that is impossible! He groans when he sees me as if to try and tell me something.

His faded blue jeans are too tight for him. I stare at his bulging crotch as he dances in the air at the end of a rope. I marvel at his incredible masculinity contrasted with utter vulnerability. This man looks strong and tough. He must certainly be capable of protecting himself against anyone with success. But, not now.

He cannot save himself. He is simultaneously very manly and totally defenseless. This precise opposing combination of traits is, I’m sure, why men watch executions of other men.

His deep, dark eyes remain open, defiantly staring outward into the eerie sky. He resumes his kicking, but much more forcefully now.

His tight blue jeans emphasize his growing bulge. He has attained a full erection ahead of what will be his final ejaculation into his jeans. There is intense humiliation on his face. His body jerks wildly. As he shoots his last load in his pants, his neck cannot withstand the crushing force of the noose. I am stunned because I did not expect to see his body spasms, kicking, and curling of his toes.

Very suddenly, he just stops struggling. His body no longer can fight back against the effects of gravity and the noose that has applied fatal pressure to his vulnerable neck. I watch him desperately try to open his mouth to breathe, but he has no life remaining in him. I am overwhelmed with intense anger and shock as I slump to the ground. I cry without any shame for this stranger. I feel stunned by my sexual attraction to him. It is as if I have lost someone who has been very significant to me and to my life.

Even though I feel instinctively that I have suffered memory loss, I can remember where I work. I especially remember being inside some kind of cylindrical blue machine.

The inside of the circular blue glass machine was filled with a milky white liquid. It was translucent and unpleasant. It smelled like chemicals. I was naked. I felt like I was drowning. But I knew I was not going to drown. Something has taught me that I cannot die. I know with absolute certainty that I do not know death. I live on and on. But, I have so many questions that I cannot answer. Why am I repeatedly resurrected? Will I live forever?


Author Bio

AUTHOR PIC - Madeira Desouza - Baja ClaviusMadeira Desouza is a gay male author. He focuses upon telling stories about mature, masculine men who are sexually attracted to other mature, masculine men. He steers clear of several deeply embedded traits of American gay culture that can be found in film and in print–eccentric or flamboyant behaviors, alkyl nitrites, dance music, trendy clothing, trendy hair, gay men who think age 30 is old, and so forth.

Desouza’s creative works belong within the bara genre. This little word is shortened from barazuko. Translated from Japanese, it means rose-tribe, which is a code phrase for gay men. Originated in Japan decades ago as gay men created works for other gay men, this genre has not yet been widely embraced internationally. Perhaps this is because bara depicts same-sex feelings and sexual attraction to masculine, muscular men who sometimes behave in aggressive, violent, or exploitative ways towards one another.

As both a storyteller and digital artist Desouza explores conflicting and opposing compulsions that all men have. On one side there are impulses men have towards sustaining life, engaging in love, and being attracted to others. In the opposing direction are impulses men have towards being aggressive, engaging in violence, and, causing pain and death. For centuries, artists and storytellers around the world have found inspiration in these two opposing human compulsions that no man is able to resist or impede merely by his conscious will alone.

Author Website: https://bajaclavius.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/madeira.desouza

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/desouzaofvegas/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/machodesouza

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masculine_men_images/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Madeira-Desouza/e/B008HL3B3C/

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PROMO: Brotherhood of Ormarr, Book 4: Malachite

Promo

Malachite

Malachite~

I have a wonderful life. I have no room to complain; between my brothers and their new mates, this is the most alive our home has felt since my parents died. Unfortunately, all of them being mated is making me miserable. When it was just the four of us, it was us against the world. Now they’re paired up and it’s only me and my dragon, Kesia. Until I happen to walk into the Overlord’s Lair and I see him: Quentin. Mine. Mate. As much as I want to win him over without telling him I’m a dragon rider and we’re mates—which I know he’d love—I’m not sure I can. The minute I’m around him I act like an idiot.

Quentin~

Every time the goofy guy walks into my store, he brightens my day, and I look forward to his daily visits. There’s just something about him that draws me to him, to the point he leaves me pining after him the moment he’s gone. But the thing is, I can tell he’s hiding something, and my wild imagination is coming up with the craziest explanations of the secrets he’s keeping. Maybe he’s a vampire that’s come to whisk me away—ridiculous, right? But a guy can dream. And I’ve definitely been dreaming of that big, muscular man wrapping me in his arms at night.

Malachite is the final book in The Brotherhood of Ormarr series. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc concludes in this installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. Malachite is a m/m romance, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Goodreads

About the Series:

SERIES Brotherhood of Ormarr

Being a dragon rider for the Brotherhood of Ormarr is filled with adventure, but danger can lurk behind every corner with the Order of Amsel set out to destroy the riders. Azaran, Zale, Eeli, and Malachite have spent their whole lives training, but will it be enough?

The brothers lost their parents years ago to assassins, but they’ve never been able to figure out who was behind the attack. Follow the journey of these dragon riders, along with their faithful dragons, as they find their mates and discover clues that will lead to the final epic showdown.

The Brotherhood of Ormarr series consists of four books, each with its own HEA. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues into the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. This is a m/m romance series, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Other Books in the Series:Azaran (book one) | Zale (book two) | Eeli (book three) 


Giveaway

Sammi & Michele are giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4770/?


Excerpt

MEME1 - Malachite

Quentin

The hot mound behind me moved a little, jostling me awake, and instead of being afraid of another body in bed with me, I felt safe enclosed in his arms. With my eyes still shut, I smiled and sunk back into Malachite. I was sandwiched between him and Gizmo, who was lying in front of me, pressing his body into my belly—though he seemed to be taking up a lot of room. My arms were under the blanket, and I could feel Gizmo on top of it, but I was hardly paying him any attention since I had a hunk of man meat behind me.

I scooted back into Malachite a little and he groaned, making me grin and open my eyes. The last thing I expected was to find giant bright green eyes staring at me. It only took a split-second to realize those eyes were attached to a face… a scaly face.

“Ahhh!” I yelled and jumped back, hearing an “Ow” behind me as I scrambled out of the covers and over top of Malachite’s huge body. “Wh-what is that?”

Malachite sat up, holding his nose, and looked at the scaly head. “Nice way to wake our mate up, Kesia.”

I glanced between him and the scaly thing as I ducked behind Malachite’s back, then realized he was rubbing his nose. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. You’ve got a hard elbow.”

I winced. “I’m sorry.”

He grinned at me and dropped his hand. “No big deal, I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Sorry.” He waved me away, and my gaze traveled over to the scaly head that hadn’t moved. “Is that thing real?”

He sighed. “I was hoping to maybe ease you into it, but yes, she’s real. This is Kesia, my dragon.”

I blinked at him, then looked at the scaly head and back at Malachite, sure he was playing a trick on me. “Did you say dragon?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

Squinting at him, still suspicious, I turned to the scaly head and leaned over Malachite with my finger stretched out. Right before I touched it, I paused. “Is it going to jump and scare the crap out of me?”

“No, she won’t hurt you.”

Frowning and fully prepared to jump off the bed, I poked the head in the middle of its snout. The thing huffed and opened its mouth, licking its lips. Snatching my hand back, I blinked at it. “Holy shit.” I moved the blanket and pillows that were surrounding it and discovered an entire body attached to the head. It was bright green with glossy wings and sparkling green scales. “Holy crap, Malachite. That’s really realistic. Where did you get it?”

He rubbed my upper back. “She’s real, Quentin.”

Shooting him a glance, I rolled my eyes. “You know I love fantasy stuff, especially dragons, so it’s not nice to pretend it’s real and get my hopes up if you’re only playing a trick on me.”

“Kesia,” he said quietly.

The green scaly dragon stood up on the bed and moved closer to me, and my eyes widened as I veered back in surprise. The freaking dragon stretched its head toward me, and I automatically leaned farther back, not believing what I was seeing. I leaned so far, I slipped off the bed and fell on my ass.

“Oh shit,” Malachite said as he reached for me. “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d fall or I would’ve caught—”

“Malachite!” I yelled, cutting him off. I looked at him with wide eyes and a huge smile. “There’s a fucking dragon in your bed!”

His eyebrows lifted a little, but he chuckled as he pulled me back up beside him. “Her name is Kesia, and she’s couldn’t wait to say hi. She was supposed to wait until I woke up and told you about her, but apparently, she was too impatient. She’s been dying to meet you.”

“She has?” I couldn’t take my eyes off the dragon’s beautiful, bright scales. She was bigger than the average dog with spikes down her back and her wings tucked in at the sides. “You promise you’re not playing a trick on me?”

He laughed. “I promise.”

The freaking dragon scooted closer to me again, then hesitantly leaned toward me. Slowly, I lifted my hand toward her and she pushed her snout into it. The moment my hand touched her scales, I gasped. She was surprisingly soft, and very obviously a real live fucking  dragon. “Holy shit,” I whispered, completely awed. “I’m touching a dragon.”


Author Bios

Sammi Cee was raised in a family of readers. Summer vacations consisted of a good book while sitting lakeside from as far back as she could remember. After growing up and having her own children, her appreciation of how the written word could transport you on an adventure, bring you to tears, or give you hope, took on a whole new meaning.

These days Sammi is watching her children develop into fine young ladies while doing the things she enjoys most: drinking coffee, eating chocolate, and writing her own stories.

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSammiCee/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/cee_sammi

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammi_cee_author/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18471771.Sammi_Cee

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/sammicee

Michele Notaro is married to an awesome husband that puts up with her and all the characters in her head–and there are many. They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with their two young boys and two crazy dogs. She grew up dancing and swimming and taught dance–ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, & modern–for ten years before her kids came along. Now she stays home to write about the sexy men in her head and does PTA everything–as long as coffee is involved. Two other tattooed moms run the PTA with her, and though she wants to rip her hair out from it, she still loves it.

Author Website: https://notarobooks.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): http://bit.ly/2lMPlLk

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/author.notaro/

Author Instagram: https://instagram.com/michelenotaro.author

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16187122.Michele_Notaro

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/michelenotaro

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PROMO: Tales From Ardulum

Promo

Tales from ArdulumJ.S. Fields has a new FF sci fi book out: Tales From Ardulum.

One year after saving the Neek homeworld and redefining the people’s religion, the crew of the Scarlet Lucidity returns to the Charted Systems for a much-needed break. For Nicholas and Yorden, the Systems will always be home, but for Emn and Atalant, too many memories compound with Emn’s strange new illness to provide much relaxation.

TALES FROM ARDULUM continues the journey of Atalant, Emn, Yorden, Nicholas, and Salice as they try to define their place in a galaxy that no longer needs them while battling the artifacts of Ardulan colonization. Other stories include Yorden’s acquisition of the Mercy’s Pledge (and his grudge against the galaxy), Atalant’s exile from her homeworld, Ekimet and Savath’s romance, and many others.

Series Blurb:

The ARDULUM series blends space opera and hard science into a story about two women persistently bound to their past, and a sentient planet determined to shape their future.

Get It On Amazon


Giveaway

J.S. Fields is giving away four prizes with this tour: a collectible soft enamel pin of the Mercy’s Pledge (2), and a high res version of one of the interior illustrations (their choice, pick from Yorden, Nick, Emn, or Atalant) (2). Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4767/?


Excerpt

Tales From Ardulum meme“She is nothing, anymore,” the president responded. “She is Exile.”

“You can’t!” Neek burst towards the door just as it slammed closed. She rebounded and fell back to the floor, her tailbone taking the brunt of the fall. The ship’s engines began to whine, and the floor jostled as the craft left the surface.

Neek ran to the controls and slammed her hands on the stuk interface. Through the viewscreen, she saw capital buildings, the Ardulan Temple, and then treetops as the skiff left the city and moved to the suburbs. She tapped command after command into the computer, but each try brought an angry beep and no change in course. The ship was on autopilot and password locked. She had no control.

Neek swallowed, trying to ease the ache in her throat. Wherever they stashed her, she would find a comm. She would smuggle out handwritten messages if she had to. She wasn’t going to give up. That she had lost the robes, lost the Guard…she could mourn that in time. Saving the forests, that was her job. Helping her people move beyond Ardulum so they could truly participate in the Charted Systems, that was why she did all this, right? That she loved piloting was just a bonus.

Right?

A low tremble went through the ship. Neek had never felt a skiff do that before. Had she lucked out? Was it malfunctioning? Neek sent another query to the computer. The ship was…

Neek blinked. It couldn’t be.

The ship was going up.

Neek frantically queried the computer. The viewscreen still showed treetops, but that silo in the distance…that had been there the first time she’d looked. It had seemed closer for a while, but now, she realized as she squinted, it was far away again. She was watching a prerecorded loop!

“No!” The skiff was clearly going up. Neek’s ears were popping, and there was a funny feeling in her gut. Her planet’s skiffs were not designed to leave even the lower atmosphere. Only settees could do that, and this was no settee. Whatever the president’s engineers had done to make it spaceworthy, it hadn’t been nearly enough.

Neek threw commands at the computer. Land. Coast. Glide. STOP.Each returned with a ping and the perpetual image of treetops. He couldn’t do this. He had no right to do this! What in Ardulum’s name was the president thinking? Neek pounded at the controls, and the recorded loop fuzzed out to reveal space. Endless space.

Text scrolled across the computer screen:

Hours of air left: 233

Gallons of water remaining: 2

Food rations available: none

Communication systems: disabled

Destination: high orbit around planet Neek

Entertainment options: one video available of Heaven Guard airshow #4194, highlighting the double barrel rolls of Guard Four; all Neek holy texts available

Neek screamed. She kicked the console, her boot denting the cheap biometal. The Neek did not leave their planet. They did not live on space stations or strange worlds. They stayed put, to wait for Ardulum’s return. And she…she was meant to rotup here, in Neek space—rot while watching a planet she could see but never again touch. Rot while the Heaven Guard executed flawless formations in Neek’s upper atmosphere, ignoring her gold coffin spinning by. Rot while reading texts she’d had shoved down her throat since she was old enough to read—texts that were slowly destroying her planet.

And…and…

She would never get her settee.

She was only nineteen years old, and she was going to die, alone, in space.

And there was nothing she could do.


Author Bio

J.S. Fields (@Galactoglucoman) is a scientist who has perhaps spent too much time around organic solvents. They enjoy roller derby, woodturning, making chainmail by hand, and cultivating fungi in the backs of minivans. Nonbinary, and yes, it matters.

Fields has lived in Thailand, Ireland, Canada, USA, and spent extensive time in many more places. Their current research takes them to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest each summer, where they traumatizes students with machetes and tangarana ants while looking for rare pigmenting fungi. They live with their partner and child, and a very fabulous lionhead rabbit named Merlin.

Author Website: http://www.jsfieldsbooks.com

Author Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/galactoglucoman

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16484795.J_S_Fields

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/j-s-fields/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/J.S.-Fields/e/B071YWC4VN

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The Brain

Writing

In interest of keeping my promise to write about writing, I decided to share a new tool I ran across. It’s both a software and an app called The Brain.

This is something known as “mind-mapping” software. I’ll be honest, my initial reaction was NO! My mind doesn’t work that way, that’s crazy, no way can I make that work.

Then I recognized a classic case of OFS.

What’s OFS?

It’s Old Fart Syndrome. You know, that thing when an older person automatically rejects something just because it’s new, without even bothering to try it.

So I looked The Brain over and decided to give the free version a shot. And I discovered that this Brain thing makes a really handy outlining tool. (See how I brought that back around to writing?)

Anyway, I’m not too good with it yet, but I think The Brain is going to be a great help as I forcibly re-learn how to be more plotter than pantser.

Think I’ll save those terms for an entry when I’m on my computer, not my phone…

PROMO: Brotherhood of Ormarr, Book 3: Eeli

Promo

COVER - EeliBobbie Rayne & Steph Marie have a new MM paranormal dragon rider book out, book three of the four-part Brotherhood of Ormarr series: Eeli.

Eeli~

I’ve been training my entire life for this; I need to be the best, the best fighter, the best dragon rider in the entire brotherhood. This is what I was born for. The only problem is that my bonded dragon, Bodhi, and I can’t seem to get it together. One minute I think we’re connecting properly, and the next she’s taking off, leading me to the one guy I don’t want to know: Slash. He’s basically the opposite of me in every way, and I don’t get why he’s suddenly everywhere I turn, but I can’t deny how he makes me feel when he looks at me.

Slash~

Three years ago my sister and I had to come to a new town and started new schools without our parents’ unconditional love and support. My uncle’s an uncaring drunk, so I’m doing the best I can to keep us both clothed and fed with only an after school job. If I didn’t have her to live for, the loneliness would be excruciating. Now, with only a few months until graduation, I’ve suddenly made a friend because of my sister, and another guy keeps stumbling into me who I think needs help: Eeli. I don’t understand why no one else sees how oddly he’s behaving, but I can’t deny my attraction for him is growing with every mishap.

Eeli is the third book in The Brotherhood of Ormarr series. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues in the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. Eeli is a m/m NA romance, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Goodreads

About the Series:

SERIES Brotherhood of OrmarrBeing a dragon rider for the Brotherhood of Ormarr is filled with adventure, but danger can lurk behind every corner with the Order of Amsel set out to destroy the riders. Azaran, Zale, Eeli, and Malachite have spent their whole lives training, but will it be enough?

The brothers lost their parents years ago to assassins, but they’ve never been able to figure out who was behind the attack. Follow the journey of these dragon riders, along with their faithful dragons, as they find their mates and discover clues that will lead to the final epic showdown.

The Brotherhood of Ormarr series consists of four books, each with its own HEA. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues into the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. This is a m/m romance series, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Other Books in the Series:Azaran (book one) | Zale (book two) | Malachite (book four – releases June 10th) 


Giveaway

Bobbie & Steph are giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4769/?


Excerpt

MEME1 - EeliBefore I could say anything else, Bodhi released herself from my skin and scampered down my arm, then took off like a shot down the hallway. There was no way I could’ve caught her.

“Bo!” What the heck was she doing? We were in a public building for crying out loud! “Bodhi, stop!”

She ran around a corner, and I heard a scream. Crap. She wasn’t even hiding herself from humans. Now I was going to have to erase some poor human’s memory of her. Bodhi, stay where you are.

Mine.

I rolled my eyes. Did she seriously take off like that for a candy wrapper? It’s trash, Bo, why are you so obsessed with trash?

Not trash; pretties!

Turning the corner, I took in the scene before me. Bodhi was in front of me looking ready to pounce and doing that little butt wiggle thing she did every time she saw a candy wrapper. And a guy had his back against the lockers with his hands in the air like he was being arrested or something. My eyes widened when I realized who it was. Slash. Because of course it was. He was the only other person here as far as I knew. Fantastic.

“Of course, it’d be you,” I muttered with an eye roll.

“Wh-what is that thing?” he asked without taking his eyes off the small dragon.

“That’s Bodhi, she’s my—” I was cut off when Bo suddenly launched herself at him and he screamed and covered his face with his arms. Unfortunately for him, she grabbed onto his forearm with her clawed feet, then flipped herself upside down, hanging off his arm and hugging Slash’s waist with her wings. Her overly playful nature wasn’t coming in handy right now. “—she’s my dragon,” I finished with a sigh.

Slash was screaming and waving his arms, trying to push her off with no luck.

“Slash, just give her your candy.”

He paused his crazy flailing. “Wh-what?”

“Your candy. She wants it. If you hand it over, she’ll leave you alone and you can forget all about this.” When I erase your memory, I added to myself. Maybe I could erase his memory of every crap thing he’d seen me do the past few weeks, too.

Without looking at me, he was trying to peel her off his waist. “I don’t have any candy.”

“Do you have a wrapper?”

“What? No!”

“Are you sure?”

He yelled, “I don’t have any candy!”

“Okay, okay, sheesh.” My brow furrowed. “Bodhi?”

She twisted her neck to look at me, then flipped around to wrap her wings around Slash as she said, Mine.

What’s yours? He doesn’t have any candy.

She looked at me again, then nudged a terrified Slash’s cheek and said, Ours.

It took me a second, but my eyes widened as her meaning finally hit me, and I looked at Slash as he begged, “Please get it off me.”

“Slash?” I whispered to Bodhi. “No. Nope. No. No way. No.”

Ours.

“Eeli! Please help me! Call the police or animal control or something!”

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out as Slash finally looked at me. As soon as our eyes connected, I felt it. That strange pull I’d felt every time I’d been around him lately and chalked it off as some kind of weird fascination with a mix of lust. But that wasn’t all it was. I should’ve known it was more than that, but… but it was Slash.

Swallowing thickly, I exchanged a look with Bo, then whispered to Slash, “She’s not going to hurt you.”

He looked like he was so terrified, he might cry. “How do you know that?”

“She’s my bonded dragon. She’s… just happy to see you.”

“Dr-dragon?” He glanced down at her as she snuggled into his neck, then he whispered, “Dragons aren’t real.”

“Clearly,” I said sarcastically as I finally peeled Bodhi off him.

Slash stayed against the lockers, but moved away a few steps without taking his eyes off her. It was a struggle to keep Bodhi from going after him again.

“Um… so… I’m going to need you to come with us.”

Slash finally looked at me again, and I instantly felt the pull even though he looked angry and ready to murder me with his eyes alone. “Are you kidding me? No way in hell am I going anywhere with you or that thing in your arms.”

Bo sunk into me, and I knew he’d hurt her feelings, so I hugged her to my chest. “Don’t say stuff like that about her. Say whatever you want about me, Slash, but don’t you dare bully Bodhi.”

His eyebrows went up, but all he muttered was, “Whatever. I’m just going to go.” He went to scoop up his backpack from the ground where it’d fallen, but I quickly stepped on the strap so he couldn’t take it.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Oh yeah, Eeli? What’re you gonna do about it?”

Bo jumped from my arms and began pecking at his feet, making him move closer to me as he jumped around and tried to get away. When she had him up against the lockers in front of me again, I pulled out my cell to call Zale.

“Hey.”

“Hey, uh… we have a problem.”

“What’s going on? Where are you?”

“I’m still at school, but uh… can you meet me here? I need your help.” Before he could reply I added, “And bring some rope.”

“Eeli, what’s going on? Are you hurt?” Zale asked at the same time that Slash’s eyes widened as he said, “Rope?”

I didn’t take my eyes off him as I asked my brother, “Is your mate with you?”

“Of course.”

“Bring him, too.”

“Why do you need Davis?”

My blue eyes connected with Slash’s hazel ones, and I said, “Because he has experience with kidnapping people.”


Author Bios

Bobbie Rayne grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and still lives there today. She’s married to her very patient husband, and they have two amazing sons together, as well as two crazy dogs. She spends her time writing, driving her kids all over town, and helping run the PTA.

Her children are one of the reasons she loves YA so much, and one reason why she thinks it’s important to bring LGBTQ+ main characters into fiction. Writing YA has always been a dream of hers, and she truly believes that writing it is good for her soul. Her family means the world to her, but coffee might be high up on that list, too, so if you bring her some, you just might end up with a new best friend.

Author Website: https://notarobooks.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/bobbie.rayne.9

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Steph Marie is a proud mom of two teenage daughters and her pup. She’s always had a love for words and what they can do, their ability to create and transform life. She’s shared her words and stories with people in her immediate life, but never considered writing and publishing Young Adult until her oldest daughter said she wished all teens had the ability to sit around her kitchen table and talk. That night a series was born, and characters haven’t stopped popping up in her head wanting their story told yet. Her favorite things in life outside of her family are a huge cup of coffee, a blanket to snuggle under, and a delicious piece of cake–if you’re nice, she’ll even share.

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/steph.marie.3760430

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephmarieyaau6

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Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17730330.Steph_Marie

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