 The local police in Minneapolis were handling the investigation into Dylan’s life there. Preliminary reports showed no family had been located and no one he’d worked with knew much about him. He was a loner and beyond secretive. His most important interactions were online with Clint and a few other friends. It was logical to think those were the people most able to shed light onto this man, where he might have taken Clint, and what else he might do. “Are they in the same city?” Liam asked. Matt shook his head. “No, different sides of the state. I have a meeting set up with Sills and then Mayle. They live a few hours apart. College buddy of mine works out of the FBI field office in Atlanta, and he’ll go with me.” Jim looked at Liam and rolled his eyes. Candice snickered and shook her head. Even Griff, in the midst of his plunge into depression, smiled. Matt seemed to have a college buddy, peewee softball teammate, or middle-school glee club friend everywhere. “What? I’m a nice guy.” Matt looked around at them. “George Krebs will be at the police station by the time I get to Atlanta. So we’ll start with him, then proceed to the ladies.” He pointed at Griff. “You can sit in and listen. Not a word out of you.” Griff glanced at Liam, who nodded. “That’s how we have to have it, Griff. You know that.” “Yeah,” Griff said. Knowing didn’t make it any easier to sit on the sidelines and watch other people hunt for Clint, however. “Okay, partner, you need some sleep,” Candice said. She stood behind Griff with both hands on his shoulders. When he shook his head, she cut off his next statement. “Don’t even try telling me you can’t sleep or aren’t tired. You haven’t slept in, what, a day? Or more.” “I can’t—” Griff started. “Griff, you can’t function on no sleep,” Liam said. Griff looked at him. “I was going to say I can’t go back there. To that empty house. I just… I can’t.” Candice patted his shoulder a few times. “My condo is five minutes away. I have a spare room, and if we need to get back here fast, we can do that easily.” “I don’t want to put you out,” Griff said. “There are plenty of hotels.” “You’re not staying alone in a hotel. I insist.” Candice was tugging on his arm to nudge him onto his feet. Griff was suddenly extremely tired, exhausted to the point he was having a hard time keeping his vision focused and forcing his eyes open. He nodded. Realistically, he knew he wasn’t functioning even remotely well at this point and would cease to do so at all without at least a few hours’ sleep. Caffeine and determination only went so far. Candice’s condo was nice, but not home. Griff opened the futon in her spare room and stretched out, not expecting to be able to rest much. He felt as if there was a squirrel running laps in his mind. His thoughts flitted from one thing to the other, and nothing stuck with him long enough to make much sense.  Jewel Cave is available in eBook, paperback, Kindle Unlimited and through your library's digital catalog.    
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 This week my snippet is from Scintilla!  Brandon bit his lip and shook his head. “I don’t know. It all happened so fast.” “Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths,” Raul said. When Brandon looked at the door Raul squeezed his knee again. “I’m here and I’m a werewolf. Someone tries to get to you, I rip their arms off—literally. No one is getting into this room unless I let them in and everything you say is between us. Trust me, it’ll help you remember details.” “Okay.” Brandon closed his eyes and pulled in a deep breath, let it out slowly and repeated the process a few times. Raul took his notebook from his pocket. “What color was the hose?” “What does that—?” “We’ll gather details and sort them out later. Trust me.”  There are many more diverse snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Scintilla is available in eBook, paperback, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library's digital catalog.    Neal laid his hands on the counter close enough to Hayden’s they almost touched. Hayden felt the warmth given off by those elegant, strong hands. He liked the way the veins on Neal’s hands stood out slightly and formed a web that continued up his arm to disappear under his shirt. An image of those wonderful hands brushing down Hayden’s torso to rest on his naked hips flashed through his mind. Swallowing and clearing his throat, Hayden nodded and finally managed to get the words he wanted to say out of his mouth. “Yes. It’s…um…I like it…very much.” Neal tapped the back of Hayden’s hand with one finger. His smile broadened, making his eyes sparkle and his face light up. “Thank you. I’ll give that a try today. Extra-large, please.” “I’m sure.” The words slipped out of Hayden’s mouth before he could stop them. Raising his eyebrows, Neal smirked and chuckled. “I…uh…mean it’ll be up in a minute, sir.” Had he really just said that? Out loud? “I look forward to it.” Neal tapped Hayden’s hand again and offered his credit card with his other hand. “I should pay now.” His voice dropped a bit. It was smooth with a hint of coyness. His smile widened and the corners of his eyes crinkled even more. He had thick, dark lashes that accentuated his eyes nicely. Hayden couldn’t do anything but nod as he rang up the order and Neal swiped his card, completing the transaction. Then he stepped to the side to wait for his order. He nodded politely to an irritated woman who looked him up and down before he glanced back at Hayden, expression warm and friendly. His cheeks heating, Hayden fumbled through the next few orders. He managed a few covert glances at the section of the counter where people picked up their orders. More to the point, he was sneaking peeks at Neal. Each time he looked, Neal was turned in his direction, watching. It was disconcerting and exciting all at the same time. There was no way a poor, shy young college student would interest this man for anything beyond a stolen interlude in some hotel room. Or possibly arm candy for an out-of-town event. That didn’t stop Hayden from appreciating Neal or dreaming. Except Neal wasn’t treating Hayden as if he was a poor student. He was acting as if he thought Hayden owned this coffeehouse. When Hayden hit the button on the register to give out some change, his attention was drawn to a memo from the franchise owners. He must have known it at some point, but had forgotten. The family who owned this chain of shops was named Owens, just like Hayden. Neal’s remarks made more sense now. Once he received his order, Neal took a sip and turned to Hayden, holding up his coffee cup. “Excellent choice. Thank you. Sadly, it’s time I get to work. I’ll see you later—if that’s all right with you?” All Hayden could manage to do was stand there and nod. Neal twisted smoothly on his heels and walked to the coffeehouse door. Before he stepped outside, he turned, glanced over his shoulder, and nodded slightly to Hayden again.     Sully walked in front, which was preferable since he had the gun. So far Colt hadn’t seen a sign of Theo having a weapon. Theo gripped Colt’s arm as they followed Sully through the woods. Another five minutes of walking, and Colt was beginning to think he recognized the area after all. Wishful thinking. They turned down a wide path, and Colt was sure he’d been here before—not that long ago. I’ve been here with Mal. Wishful thinking. That’s all it was. Colt had never been here. Not with Mal, not alone, not with anyone. Mal will make sure someone looks for me. Then why did this path and these woods look so familiar? Because you’re grasping at straws. Trying to be somewhere you know and feel safe. They rounded another bend in the path, and Colt had to bite his lower lip to keep from whooping for joy. Not wishful thinking! Sully and Theo, ever the morons, had brought Colt to the hunting shack on Mal’s property. Colt really had recognized the area. Sully shoved the door open and stepped aside so Theo could drag Colt through. “Son of a bitch,” Theo griped. “Where’d my still go?” Colt choked down the words he almost blurted. They both stared at him, and he coughed, then spit on the floor. Assholes almost blew yourselves up. Too bad you didn’t. “What’s your problem?” Sully sneered and kicked the back of Colt’s knees, dropping him to the floor. “I’m queasy, and this place stinks. It’s full of mold and bugs,” Colt whimpered. Sully took his gun out and crouched in front of Colt. He rested his elbows on his knees, the gun held loosely between his legs. “Now you’re going to tell us what sort of gig you have, and then you’ll cut us in. I saw you on TV saying you’re the spokesman for Kensington’s.” Colt watched how Sully waved the gun in circles as he talked. “I work for them. It’s a job. Mr. Kensington doesn’t have time to go out and schmooze the public, so I do it. I get a paycheck. One of the stubs is in my wallet.” “Either way they’ll pay big to have him back,” Theo said. Colt’s phone alarm chimed. “What the hell is that?” Sully snapped. “Man, quit waving that gun around,” Colt blurted out. “Part of my job is to put promotional messages on Twitter. I set the alarm so I don’t forget.” He twisted to the side. “Untie my hands, and I’ll show you.” “You think we’re stupid?” Theo backhanded Colt, knocking him over. “Where’s the phone?” Colt winced and whispered, “Back pocket.” Theo reached between Colt’s legs, grabbed his crotch, and flipped Colt on his stomach, giving his balls a hard squeeze as he did so. Colt tried not to wince, but he couldn’t help it. Theo dug in Colt’s pockets and took out his wallet and phone. Colt rolled to his side and struggled to sit up. He bit his lip to stop any noise from escaping his mouth and watched as Theo took the cash from Colt’s wallet, then threw it in a corner. Theo winked and smirked. “Still too good to enjoy my hands on you.” “Gimme.” Sully waved his fingers at the phone. Theo tossed it to him. Sully poked at the phone a few times before demanding, “What’s the passcode?” Colt sighed. “It’s got a fingerprint thing. Untie me, and I’ll help you use that phone to contact Mr. Kensington. He’s going to want me back, but he’s no dummy. You’ll have to give him proof I’m alive. If I make my regular announcements on Twitter, they’ll know I’m okay.” Colt may not have been very good at physical confrontation, and he was next to useless in a fight, but what he could do was convince people to see things his way if he had to. Fortunately he hadn’t had to use his gift for an actual con in some time. He liked his life here in Tennessee with Mal. He wasn’t going to let these shitheads drive him away or prevent him from fixing things between him and Mal. “Go ahead and untie him,” Sully said with a contemptuous twist of his lips. “He can’t fight his way out of a paper bag.” Theo produced a switchblade and cut the ropes binding Colt’s wrists. Colt brought his arms in front and rubbed his wrists and fingers for a second, then held out his hand. Sully laid the phone in his palm. Colt unlocked the phone and activated the Twitter app. He typed a message while Sully hung over his shoulder. “What is that? There’s nothing in there about booze,” Sully growled. “It’s a contest. Whoever guesses the answer gets a free case. People log in every day for the next clues and to get discounts if they’re not winners,” Colt said. “If I keep sending messages, they’ll know I’m okay. After you get your payout, you tell them where I am, and they’ll come for me. By then you’ll be long gone.” “How do we know he’s telling the truth?” Theo asked. Whiskey and Moonshine is available in eBook, paperback, Kindle Unlimited, audio and through your local library digital catalog.     NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: The Deviation Author, Cover Artist, and Publisher: Rebecca Raine Release Date: December 17, 2025 Tense/POV: first person, present tense, alternating POV Genres: Contemporary MM Romance Tropes: Rock star, first time bi, workplace romance, forbidden love, found family Themes: Pining, coming out, integrity, trust, belonging, loyalty Heat Rating: 4 flames Length: 88 000 words It is Book 3 in a series where each book can be read as a standalone. It does not end on a cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 
When my quiet life fell apart, he turned up the music in my soul. How do I pretend we never happened? Blurb Johnny I did everything my parents wanted: got a respectable job, married my childhood sweetheart, and pushed my rock star dreams into the background. It was enough for me… until my divorce cracked open the cage. Now old cravings rush to the surface, and I ache to satisfy each one. Starting with the gorgeous man I lock eyes with at a musical festival. Calum is all kinds of perfect. As a manager, he could accelerate my music career. As a man, he reignites the fire in my soul. I can’t have him both ways. When my band signs with Calum’s company, we agree to keep our distance. No one can know we’ve met before. How far we’ve gone. How deeply we’ve tasted. Our futures depend on the secrets we must keep. Calum If I’d known who Johnny was the night we met, this never would have happened. Getting involved with a client is forbidden, and I can’t risk my job—or my sister’s security—for some lust-fuelled romance. Working together doesn’t have to be complicated. That’s what I tell myself every time we avoid touching. When his eyes tease, and his lyrics seduce. As our professional successes mount, the connection between us only grows stronger. There are lines we can’t cross. Boundaries we can’t break. But when Johnny is all I want, all I think about… how do I stay away? Excerpt Johnny ambles over to invade my personal space. The warm, freshly showered scent of him creeps into my nostrils, causing me to inhale, but I don’t shy away from his closeness. He’s in a dangerous mood. If I show weakness, he may pounce. “Would you like a drink?” he asks, gesturing with the tumbler that dangles from the fingers of his right hand. “Sure.” It’s a terrible idea, but at the moment I’ll say yes to anything that will put some distance between us. He withdraws to the kitchen, and I suck in a lungful of oxygen. It doesn’t help. His presence lingers in every square inch of air. It strokes my insides, burrowing into my cells and setting them on fire. This is not the meeting I expected. We’re supposed to talk about Ned and how we can be allies in my bid to win him over. This isn’t supposed to be a seduction, and I am definitely not supposed to be gagging for it. Stalking after him, I plant myself in the entrance to the kitchen and glare at the lines of his muscular back. “Why am I here, Johnny?” The clipped words imply irritation, though the truth is probably closer to lustful vexation. He turns, smirking as he delivers the generous glass of scotch to my hand. “Because you can’t stop thinking about me.” My spine stiffens at his knowing drawl. I snatch the drink before escaping back to the living room. It has more room for pacing and I’m unsure what he’ll do if I stay still. “I mean, why did you ask me to come here tonight?” He drains his glass as he returns. Dumping it on the coffee table, he steps into the path I’m wearing through his carpet. I come to an abrupt halt to prevent a head-on collision. His hands lift to cup my face, the calloused fingertips dragging over my cheekbones. The deep brown of his eyes drink me in, and his mouth is a breath away from mine. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says in a rough whisper. There’s no smirk this time. Only need and heat and passion. “I wonder where you are, constantly. What you’re doing. How you taste.” His body crowds mine. Our hips brush together and, holy fuck, we’re both hard as nails. This man is lightning in my veins. The way I want him hurts, and I glory in the sharpness of the need. “I imagine you masturbating to the thought of me,” he whispers, “every time I masturbate to the thought of you.” “Johnny.” The name is a groan, pulled all the way from my throbbing cock and up through my vocal cords. “We can’t do this.” “Sure we can.” His head dips, and I shiver as his lips brush my throat. “I’ll show you.” His hands are on my hips now, tugging me more firmly against him. His mouth chases mine but I turn my head, my eyes drifting closed. “I need…” My words falter as he rocks his hips, rubbing his erection against mine. One hand threads through my hair. Taking it in a firm grip, he angles my face back towards his. His panting breath fills my open mouth. “I need you, too.” And then he’s kissing me. His tongue in my mouth. His body flush against mine. God help me, I kiss him back. Even as I force my arms to stay at my sides and my body to remain still, I can’t resist losing myself for precious moments in his kiss, in the scotch and temptation of him. When a needful moan reverberates from my throat to his lips, he pulls back long enough to smile at me. It’s the smile that shocks me back to my senses. Lifting one hand to his chest, I force myself to push him away. “No, Johnny.” We stand there staring at each other, our chests heaving. “I need Fifth Circle. I need to sign a band and my boss has decided it has to be your band.” His smile dies and he straightens away from my touch. “If I don’t sign you to Rush, I lose my job. If my boss finds out what’s going on between us, I lose my job.” The ramifications of my actions slam into me and I drain the glass of scotch I’m still holding before putting it beside his. “I can’t risk my job. Not for anything.” Not for you. The unspoken words hang between us. His gaze hardens and a bitter grimace curls his lips. “In that case, we’re both shit out of luck.” Picking up the empty glasses, he storms back towards the kitchen. “There may not even be a band anymore.” About the Author 
Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet. Author Links Newsletter Sign-up | Blog/Website Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads 
NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: A Daddy For Christmas 3: Rowan Author and Publisher: Colette Davison Cover Artist: Covers by Jo Release Date: December 16, 2025 Tense/POV: first person, alternating POV Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, BDSM Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, Daddy kink, forced proximity, snowed-in, insta-love, low-angst Themes: Finding Christmas spirit Heat Rating: 4 flames Length: 39 000 words It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. It is part of a multi-author series. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 
Blurb When my brother jets off on a last-minute holiday, leaving me to run our business, my plan to avoid Christmas is left in tatters. 
Excerpt “Look lively. Grumpy boss is on the prowl,” Rubin says. I stand tall and stare in the direction towards Nigel’s office. Damon is standing in the doorway, flicking his gaze around the room. He is so dreamy. Tall, dark hair, a stern expression, and fuck, does he look good in a suit. I don’t know how old he is, but I’d guess he’s in his mid-thirties. If I’m right, he’s around six or seven years older than me, which is perfect. Or it would be, if he weren’t one of my bosses. He’s overdressed compared to everyone else here, but I appreciate the cut of his navy, single-breasted jacket, and his royal blue tie. I’m overdressed, too. As Nigel’s driver, I need to look as smart as his cars. My official uniform is a charcoal-grey suit and a white shirt, which I jazz up with my choice of ties. Today’s is green with tiny candy canes all over it. Damon’s piercing stare falls on me. His irises are dark blue, although from this distance his eyes look like shining lumps of coal. “Rowan. Do you have a minute?” He returns to his office without waiting for an answer. “I will always have a minute for you, handsome,” I mutter under my breath. “Careful not to trip over your hard-on on the way to his office,” Rubin says. I flip him my finger. “I do not have a hard-on.” “Yet.” “I’m professional.” “Oh, yeah. So professional, you’re drooling right now.” “Am not.” “Are too.” I roll my eyes and make my way across the vast, yet cluttered space to the office. I knock before entering. “You needed me?” Damon is staring at the monitor, a vein pulsing in his temple and another throbbing in his neck. Is he stressed about something? Probably the fact that he’s here, rather than taking time off, like he should be. But if he’s here, where is Nigel? He gives me an apologetic look. “I need a favour and you’re the only one I can spare.” Which means he doesn’t need me to drive him anywhere. That’s a shame. “I need you to pick up my costume for the charity ball tomorrow night.” He pushes a Post-It Note across the desk with an address on it. “It’s a bit of a trek, I’m afraid.” “I don’t mind.” I scoop up the Post-It Note and scan the address. Yeah, he wasn’t kidding when he said it was a trek. “Wait. I thought Nigel was going to the charity ball.” Damon sighs. “Nigel’s not here.” His words are clipped and stern. “Fuck, how am I going to get there? It’s in the middle of nowhere.” I clear my throat, drawing his attention back to me. I smile brightly and wave my hand. “Your driver’s standing right in front of you.” “It’s in the middle of nowhere. At night.” I widen my smile. “It’s my job. You do know that because it’s in the middle of nowhere, Nigel booked two rooms for the night, don’t you?” He stares at me. I guess he didn’t know. “Aren’t I lucky that he doesn’t expect me to sleep in the car?” Although I could easily. “I think he was planning on taking the Rolls-Royce. Is that all right with you?” It’s a beautiful car, with a stunning interior ceiling. “This is why we need a PA,” he grates out. “Nah, this is why you’ve got me. If it’s anything to do with getting from A to B, I know what the plan is.” I wave the Post-It Note. “One costume coming up.” He half-smiles. “Thanks, Rowan.” “You’re welcome.” Now get out from behind your desk and give me a hot, steamy, thank-you kiss. A guy can dream. About the Author Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing. Social Media Links Blog/Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner BookBub | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram: @colettedavison Mailing List | Newsletter Sign-Up 
 My teaser this week is from Endosymbiont, book 3 of The Vampire Guard. Kai nodded to the floor and a second trap door. “Who the hell designed this place?” Lucas knelt and grabbed a small ring handle. “That section below our feet is the informational hub, the black box. However, it’s not meant to be recovered in the event of catastrophe. If it disconnects it’ll decompress and be crushed, sinking to the bottom.” Kai pointed down for effect. “Which will, of course cause this room to flood and be crushed, maybe even creating a chain reaction to take down the whole facility. That part wasn’t particularly clear in our intel.” Lucas froze, then looked up. “You’re kidding, right?” When Kai simply shook his head, Lucas sighed dramatically. He cracked open the door and called down, “Anyone down there? Do you need medical attention? For the love of all things holy don’t hit the panic button and crush us all.” A male voice asked, “Who are you?” “We’re part of a team sent here answering a distress call,” Lucas answered. “Team from where?” The three of them looked at each other before Lucas shrugged and said, “It’s an international team.” “Thank God, the U.N. got the message. There isn’t a lot of room down here. I’m Warrant Officer Charlie Madison. Are you armed?” “Tasers.” Lucas opened the door completely, took his holster off and set it to the side then held both hands up for a minute. “Unarmed now.” A man looked up at Lucas. His head was bald but there was a slight stubble of light brown hair. He clearly hadn’t shaved for a few days since there was the start of a beard, also light brown. “Who’s we?” Blair sat on the edge of the entrance and took his Taser off as well. “I’m Blair Turner, tech specialist.” He aimed a thumb at Lucas. “This is Lucas Coate.” He twisted so it was clear he was looking at a third person. “And Kai Richter.” “What about you?” The man pointed at Lucas. “Forensic pathologist.” “What the hell? They send an IT guy and a coroner to rescue us?” Another man appeared. “I married the guy who will run through a hail of gun fire to get into the burning building. I’m tougher than I look,” Blair muttered. “I’m Jagdkommando,” Kai said simply and hoped neither Blair nor Lucas asked. Madison visibly relaxed. “Thank God.” He turned to the other man. “Austrian Special Forces.” “Technically Austrian Armed Forces, Special Operations. Lieutenant Colonel Kai Richter,” Kai corrected. When Madison saluted Kai grinned and returned the gesture. “I’m coming up,” the unnamed man said. A minute later he climbed through the opening. Blair had to scoot back to let him through. “I’m Warrant Officer Gus Kincade.” He looked the three of them over before smartly saluting, and then extended his hand to Kai and gave him a hearty shake. Then he shook hands with Blair and Lucas. His hair was short cropped, curly, and almost black; his eyes and skin were deep brown. Setting the duffle bag down beside him, Blair pulled out the two folded bags. “I need to get the storage drives.” “Come on down.” Madison waved Blair down the rungs. “Two of us can move around down here, three is pushing it.” Forge spoke in a low voice through their earbuds. “Blair, be careful and do not try to take either of them on, even if they are only human. They’ll beat the crap out of you.” Kai patted Blair’s shoulder once and nodded. “That’s what I’m here for,” Kai said in an equally low voice. “To be sure no one will beat the crap out of you.”  Endosymbiont is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.    BOOK BLAST - RECENT RELEASE 
Book Title: The Road to Pienza (The Road to Montepulciano #2) Author and Cover Artist: Garrick Jones Publisher: GRJ Press Release Date: November 6, 2025 Genre: Crime Thriller Themes: Historical fiction; Crime Fiction; Political Thriller; Action Thriller Heat Rating: 5 flames Length: 117 000 words/348 pages It is part of a series, but does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy links Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon UK | B&N 
The action-packed sequel to the best-selling thriller, The Road to Montepulciano Blurb The action-packed sequel to the best-selling thriller, The Road to Montepulciano On the night of the ninth of June 1944, four days after the Allied liberation of Rome, four nuns are murdered in a railway carriage at the Vatican City railway station. Sixteen years later, returning to Tuscany after a gruelling book signing tour of Australia, Damson O’Reilly finds his partner, Giancarlo (no longer a detective but now a well-known and successful lawyer) engrossed in a slander case between Italy’s screen heartthrob, Mario Celestino, and a high-profile, fascist industrialist, Giovanni Scavola. The case uncovers buried secrets, secrets that bring to light the involvement of both men in the WW2 crime and which lead to kidnapping, torture and murder, culminating in a dramatic, bloody outcome that will rock the Italian nation to its core. Excerpt By the time I finished my turn in the bathroom, Kendall was naked, sitting up on top of the bed covers, so I perched on the edge of the mattress next to his knee and lit a cigarette. “Come closer,” he said. By now, I recognised that look in his eye. He ran his hand over my thigh and cupped my balls. I leaned back and moved my knees apart while he gently massaged my chest and stomach, his hand finally coming to rest, encircling the base of my by-now hard cock. “I like this,” he said, jiggling it a little. “What about the rest of me?” “Oh, yeah, that’s all right, too.” His accompanying cheeky wink made me grin. “What you said earlier … I’m the only man who’s ever fucked you?” “Yep.” “Why me?” “As I said, I like this.” He squeezed harder, milking my erection, then leaned over and licked the shiny drop of fluid from the eye of my cock with the tip of his tongue. “I’ve always liked looking at big ones, but yours is the first I’ve ever wanted inside me.” “Kendall—” He laughed, interrupting what I was going to say. “I’m not out to make trouble with you and Giancarlo. I really like him too. What we did in the hotel room in Sydney … I want more of that, and not just watching either.” “Where on earth does this come from? You’ve always seemed rather standoffish to me, especially when it comes to talking about sex.” “I dunno, Damson. Something just clicked between us that first night in Adelaide when I pretended to be drunk and asked you to suck me off.” “You returned the favour, as I remember.” “That’s right, and yours was the first cock I ever had in my mouth, and the first time I’d ever swallowed or even tasted spunk.” “I’m confused.” “I’m aware that I always skirt around my history—my sexual history, that is. You know that I’ve always been into sex with older women. Not sure why—I don’t remember my own mother, I was far too small when she died, so it can’t be that. Fooled around a bit in my teens with lads my own age; that happens at an all-boys’ boarding school. But then, when I joined up, I became fixated on what men had between their legs, especially the big ones, like yours. There was someone for a while, but all we did was swap tongues while we pulled each other off.” “You’ve never seemed to want to swap tongues with me,” I said, by this time my legs wide apart and my erection almost purple because he’d been squeezing the base so tightly. “Can we just be friends, Damson? I don’t want anything more than you as a close mate in my life. Of course, I still want to do this with you—and Giancarlo if that’s on the cards—but I’m not looking for a love affair. Is that all right with you?” I closed my eyes for a moment. “That depends.” “Depends on what?” I wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and pulled him towards me. I guessed the kissing part of what he’d done with his army mate was something he really liked, because before I knew it, I was almost choking on his tongue after he’d nearly sucked mine out of my head. I pushed him onto his back on the bed. The kissing became more languid, sensuous, exploring. He guided my hand down to his balls, then raised his hips. I massaged the rim of his arsehole with my fingers. “Aw, fuck,” he moaned into my mouth. Damned if he wasn’t one of the best kissers I’d ever met. He didn’t even flinch a little bit as I eased my saliva-wetted dick into his body. About the Author From the outback to the opera. After a thirty-year career as a professional opera singer, performing as a soloist in opera houses and in concert halls all over the world, I took up a position as lecturer in music in Australia in 1999, at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, which is now part of CQ University. Brought up in Australia, between the bush and the beaches of the Eastern suburbs, I retired in 2015 and now live in the tropics, writing, gardening, and finally finding time to enjoy life and to re-establish a connection with who I am after a very busy career on the stage and as an academic. 
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 He was met by Linden’s dark eyes and warm smile. “Is there something I can do to help you?” Linden asked. Tyler shook his head. He took in the still-damp dark-chocolate-colored skin of Linden’s forearms and neck. Gone was the suit, replaced by faded, worn jeans, loafers, a knit thermal-type shirt, and a button-down shirt unbuttoned and hanging open with the sleeves rolled partially up. “Ah, no, I don’t think so. We have about ten minutes before the bread is warm, and the chili will be ready by then too,” Tyler said. He paused, considering what he wanted to say next. “Can I ask you something?” Linden nodded and Tyler continued. “What is it about me that makes you so sure I didn’t hurt that man?” Linden leaned against the counter and crossed his arms in front him. “Asking that question, for one thing. Getting a certain sense about people is important to what I do. Yeah, I studied things like facial markers to spot lying, but”—he shrugged—“you just start to learn to read people. Granted, I’d already met and spent a little time with you in a very stressful situation. Never once did you give off that killer vibe. If that makes any sense.” There are more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.
Bait is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited. 
Jaye C. Watts has a new queer sci-fi book out (transgender, poly, non-binary, pansexual, lesbian): The New Worlds. The year is 2293 and the Truth no longer exists. In the future there are many truths, giving rise to many worlds, but each must be kept separate. Born to protect these truths, Axton Bryce patrols the New Worlds Star System—to observe, participate, and gather information. But as she learns the ways of each world, she must also hunt for those who defy their world’s truth: the Outliers. While stationed on a nearby planet, Axton meets the charming Ambassador Bray Wilde. As the two become close, Axton reveals a painful secret—the loss of her first love, exiled as an Outlier. Longing to see beyond their own world, the ambassador proposes a rescue mission—one that will bring both friends and foes, and ultimately a fight for freedom. But first, Axton must make a choice: between a life-long allegiance... and the chance to claim a truth of her own. Warnings: indoctrination, brainwashing, threatening with a weapon (guns & a bomb) Universal Buy LinkExcerpt
I clenched my fists. “Focus,” I told myself. Grabbing my communication cuff, I fastened it around my wrist. “INS communications, activate.” I opened my wardrobe and reached for a freshly pressed uniform. “Aurelia, give me today’s briefing.” It lit up and responded. “Your next assignment will be on the Amorous World for a standard duration of three months. You are scheduled to depart today at zero six hundred Geo Time and arrive at zero eight-forty Geo Time. The latest reports on the Amorous World are available for your review. Do you wish to accept, Mediator Axton Bryce?” I crouched to lace up my boots. “I accept.” “On behalf of Chairman West and the Individual Nations Secretariat, we thank you, Mediator Axton Bryce, for your work in protecting the Truth of many truths.” I rose to my feet, skin prickling at the back of my neck. Though I couldn’t see it, I could feel it: two lowercase t’s under one capital T, branded at the top of my spine—a permanent part of me ever since my Veneration five long years ago. I reached back, digging my nails in, tempted to tear the tattoo right from my skin. “She should have been there,” I whispered. If only she’d kept those thoughts to herself. I grabbed my utility belt and wrapped it around my waist, ensuring the gun was secure. Staring at myself in the mirror, I straightened the collar of my shirt. I’d never been to the Amorous World before. Perfect, I thought. Some fresh scenery was just what I needed. * * * I checked my cuff—zero five fifty-five, right on schedule. Marching across the launch deck, I carried one efficiently packed piece of luggage. I never glanced back when boarding my ship; Brokazaria’s endless acres of skyscrapers would still be here when I returned. Instead, I looked up. The early-morning sky was just waking. Aside from Primus B—the Middle World’s secondary, and thus miniature, sun—not a star was in sight. As I approached my ship, the roar of its engine reminded me that soon the stars would be all around me. I turned and gave the official salute to a line of NI Security standing at attention. In unison, the humanlike Machines returned the gesture, crossing their arms to form a lowercase letter t. Sergeant L43 pumped his eyebrows, prompting me to raise one of mine in response. Hard to believe they were once called “AI.” New Intelligence, we were told, was a much more appropriate term. L43 stepped forward. “Afternoon, miss.” He grabbed my bag, allowing me to ascend the ladder. “Thanks,” I said. I climbed to the top and crawled through the hatch. “Catch!” the NI yelled, tossing up my luggage. With a reflex just quick enough, I caught the bag. “Sergeant!” I scolded. “What if there was something fragile in there?” “You humans,” he replied. “Always afraid something’s gonna break. Your luggage, your bones, your bodies… not to mention your hearts and minds.” I rolled my eyes at the cheeky Machine. “Watch it, L, or I’ll get them to reboot you.” Unperturbed, the Machine grinned and waved. “I’ll miss you, too. Bon voyage!” “See you in three months,” I muttered, closing the hatch behind me. I immediately got busy flicking switches and hitting buttons. Muscle memory took over as I continued the launch prep with complete focus. Not a moment later, a blue light illuminated my cuff, drawing my attention. Blue indicated a direct message from Chairman West himself, Secretary-General of the Individual Nations Secretariat. “Play address,” I said, eager to hear our leader’s words. A ghostlike image projected from my arm, transporting the man’s titanic figure into my control room. Neatly trimmed grays blended inconspicuously into the rest of his dark hair, swept back to frame a chiseled face. Salt-and-pepper stubble outlined a pair of smiling lips—the beginnings of a goatee that never quite came to fruition. As always, a perfectly pressed suit hugged every one of his bulging muscles. “Greetings, my children!” The chairman’s voice rumbled from a gaping grin, complete with gleaming teeth. “Today is a very special day, not only for the New Worlds Star System but for some of our most dedicated Mediators.” My ears perked up as I waited for more. “Today marks two hundred and fifty years of living in an interplanetary alliance, free from the terrors of war, safe from the dangers of Plurality! A quarter of a millennium since the United Nations of the Old World became the Individual Nations of the New Worlds, marking humanity’s Great Dispersion!” A swell of pride surged in my chest. I was part of something big and important. “All of this would not be possible without you,” he declared, “our magnificent Mediators. You have been instrumental in our coordination with each world, fostering the cooperation necessary to manage the complexities of a resource-based economy spanning a system as vast as ours. And!”—the chairman raised a finger, flashing one of his many gold rings—“most importantly, you have upheld the sovereignty of every truth within it.” I gave a humble nod, as though he could see me. “Lastly,” the chairman said, “further congratulations to the Mediators of unit 245. Tomorrow is your quinquennium! Five years of serving as peacekeepers, saviors, Mediators! Father Chairman West and the INS commend you.” His thick forearms crossed in a salute, only to vanish as the feed cut out. I took a moment to absorb his words, stunned by how many years had passed. Then I checked my cuff--Time to go. I finished preparing for the launch, my movements steady and certain. We had done it. Peace among the planets for over two centuries. I paused, letting my mind drift… It had to be worth it. Author Bio
JAYE C. WATTS (he/they) is a queer and trans sci-fi writer living on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory in Victoria, BC, Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a minor in Technology and Society, as well as a diploma in Professional Recording Arts from the Art Institute of Vancouver. When he isn’t writing, Jaye can be found falling down rabbit holes of all kinds thanks to an unquenchable curiosity and lust for learning – homeschooling will do that to you. Jaye also loves classic jazz, mixing cocktails, biking all over the city, and of course, people watching. Author Website: https://www.jayecwatts.com Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jayechristinwatts/ Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/jayecwatts/ Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayecwatts/ Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/156707355-jaye-c-watts Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jaye-C.-Watts/author/B0FVL8XMKW 
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