Poetry Train #80
(I tried to find the right picture for this scene, but I couldn’t find anything that really fit, so I’m skipping the eye candy today. Hope you enjoy the poem.)Grace of God…
He sits huddled in a doorway, ragged coat wrapped tight around him and I can’t help but wonder what brought him to this place at this moment in time. Did he make wrong choices somewhere along the way? Maybe he couldn’t handle what we call normal life anymore, being overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of this wild world.
I approach him and offer my hand. He stares at me with disbelieving eyes and I know others have passed him by, ignoring his dirty shivering form. I smile, trying to seem harmless for I have no reason to hold out my hand to him, except there for the grace of God, I could have been him.
If things had gone different, I could be the one huddled in a doorway, wondering where I would sleep that night or where I could get a warm meal. It could be me wandering the streets, becoming invisible to the people rushing here and there. So I hold out my hand, acknowledging him and making him real for an hour or a day.
He takes my hand and we go to the thrift store. I buy him a new coat, a hat and gloves. I offer him work because I can see his pride will not accept charity. I take him to lunch, making sure he eats his fill and then I order more food for him. Who knows when he’ll get to eat next and I want to make sure he has at least two good meals in him before I let him go.
I ask if he needs assistance to get where he’s going. He tells me he’s fine and that I have given him more than enough. I stand on the sidewalk, watching him shuffle away and I can’t help but wish I could have done more for him. He turns back with a smile like he heard my silent thought.
“You have kept me alive for a day and for that I thank you. I ask no more from you and pray only that I see one more day after this.”
Snow begins to fall and I stand, transfixed as he disappears into the white haze. My vision blurs from the tears in my eyes and I blink. When I look again, he is gone. I have errands to run, so I shake myself and stroll away to finish my day. Each day after that, I watch for the man, but he is gone and I begin to wonder if he really ever existed or was he just a reminder of how thankful I should be for my life. There but for the grace of God…
You Love My Blog and a New Cover
I received this award from three people. All of whom are wonderful and I’m honored that they all love my blog so much, they gave me an award for it. 🙂 Sloane Taylor, Jambrea Jo Jones and Vivian Arend are awesome writers in their own right. Sloane has several books out already. Jambrea’s first (but definitely not last) book will be out Dec. 9th and Vivian’s debut book comes out in March (maybe…I’ll get back with the definite release date soon…lol)
I know I’m supposed to do at least seven blogs that I would award this to, but at the moment, my brain is completely fried and I’m not coming up with anything, even though there are ones I check often. Sorry, maybe if I can think of some later on, I’ll list them..lol.
Second item of interest is I’ve got a cover for High Line. And it’s beautiful. 🙂 Anne Cain did another marvelous job on it. I think she really got Garrett and CJ down. Check it out.
Hope you all have a great weekend. I’ll be writing my fingers to the bone to get some stories done. 🙂
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Running around…
Sorry about there not being a picture. 🙂Hit the ground running this morning and just now have a few seconds to say I won’t be posting anything today….lol.
Big event happening tomorrow night, so we have to decorate and set stuff up.
Have a good Wednesday. I’ll make sure to post the next installment tomorrow in a more timely manner.
A New Coming Soon
I had to give you all some eye candy for the day since I’m not doing a poem or anything today. Didn’t have time to write one over the weekend. 🙂 Finished up the second round of edits on High Line and worked on two blurbs for two Loose-Id books I have coming out next year. One you know about…Dreaming of Dragons. The other one is the next announcement I have…lol.
So I’ll be finishing it up in the next couple of weeks along with His Heart’s Home. I also got the first scenes or so of my third Sports book, Defensive Line. (That title came to me last night and I couldn’t believe how fitting it was for the story.) DL is going to be about an injured football star and Jess, the waiter you heard about in Out of Bounds and will get another glimpse of in High Line. Turst me, there’s a lot going on in this story, but I’m hoping it’ll work out in the end. 🙂
I have a couple other stories I’ll be working on as well, but once Ghost is finished, I’ll focus all of my attention on HHH to get that one done by the end of the year. 🙂
I hope you all have a great Monday. It’s cold here and there’s snow on the ground. Yuck!
Sorry….
Sorry…due to unforeseen circumstances, mainly an out-of-town business emergency, I can’t post what I wanted to this morning. 🙁 If I get back in time, I’ll try to do it later on today, but if not, I’ll post it tomorrow.
Have a great day.
Nick of Time
Part Eleven-
Gryphon stared at Pavel and shrugged. “What are we going to do, my friend? There’s something strange going on in this town. When a lycan pack calls a Conclave, you know there is trouble. Wolves are independent to a dangerous degree.”
“Especially this particular pack,” Jess said as he joined the other men in the living room. He grinned at the vampires. “Sorry, couldn’t help but overhearing you.”
“So you thought you’d join us?”
Pavel glared at Jess, but Gryphon detected a small amount of interest sparking in his friend’s eyes.
Jess flopped onto the couch next to Pavel. “Listen, I’m getting the feeling that it’s going to end up being the four of us against the rest of them. No matter what you think, Nick is my family, a member of my pack as far as I’m concerned and I’ll protect him as such. If that means barging into your private conversation, so be it.”
“I told you I’d take care of Nick,” Gryphon growled, tensing with anger.
Jess held up a hand. “I know you did and I do trust you, for the most part, to take care of him, but that doesn’t mean I won’t help out and watch your back. It’s not just humans you have to be careful of. Your fellow vampires didn’t seem all that thrilled with Nick.”
Frowning, Gryphon stood and moved to the balcony doors, watching the morning sun rise. “They didn’t and I’m not sure why.”
“Could it be because of whatever Nick has become?” Pavel crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at the floor.
“The thing is I don’t really know what Nick is now. Earl certainly seemed impressed by him though.” Gryphon made a mental note to go and talk to the owner of the bed and breakfast before they left. “What’s different about the Ashton pack, Jess?”
Gryphon wanted to think about something else for a while and trying to figure out what was wrong with everyone else seemed like a good idea. Jess looked up at the ceiling for a second before answering.
“The Ashton pack is headed by an Alpha female like my mom.”
“Big deal. Obviously that isn’t anything new. Though if you knew that why were you surprised when you found out her Beta was female?” Pavel poked Jess’s thigh with his foot.
“Come on, what woman names her daughter Spike? Even if she is a lycan?”
“True.” Gryphon agreed. “But if being female doesn’t make this pack different, what does?”
“The Ashton pack was founded by a mated pair of lycan. The difference is the male can’t shift, even though he is a lycan. He has no wolf shape. They have three sets of twins, one boy and one girl each, except for their youngest. Somehow he ended up being born without a twin. They vigorously protect their territory from any invasion by other packs. The Alpha doesn’t play politics with the other pack and doesn’t bow to the Lycan council. If she called the Conclave, you can believe the issues facing us are serious.” Jess sat up straight, his expression grim. “I’m afraid we might be getting ready for war.”
“War? Quit being so dramatic, Jess,” Nick teased as he walked out the bedroom Gryphon shared with him.
Gryphon snagged his hand and dragged him down onto his lap, pressing their lips together for a good morning kiss. The minty taste of toothpaste had never turned him on before, but mixed with Nick’s own unique spicy flavor, Gryphon’s cock filled and he deepened the kiss.
“Maybe you two should skip the Conclave and stay in your room,” Jess commented with a laugh.
Nick pulled away, stood and went to punch Jess in the arm. “Shut up.”
The ring of the phone blared into the room. Gryphon grabbed it.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Ericksen?”
“Yes, this is he.”
“It’s Earl at the front desk. The Alpha from the Ashton pack is here to see you. I have breakfast ready in the dining room for your friends if you’d like to meet her there.”
“Please let her know we’ll be right down.”
“Certainly, sir.”
Gryphon hung up and turned to look at his friends. “It seems we won’t have to wonder much longer. The Ashton Alpha is downstairs waiting for us.”
Gryphon watched Nick tuck in his shirt as they made their way down to the lobby. How will the other lycan react to Nick? Gryphon was intrigued at the different reactions to his lover. Maybe the Alpha would be able to tell them what Nick was. Still not trusting most humans, Gryphon didn’t want to ask Earl unless no other option presented itself.
“Hello, I’m Savannah Canis, Alpha of the Ashton pack. I hope you don’t mind us meeting you here like this.” The petite dark haired woman stood, holding her hand out to Jess. “You’ve already talked to my eldest daughter, Spike, and this is my eldest son, Rover.” She gestured to the other two people standing behind her.
“Ma’am.” Jess shook her hand and tilted his head, offering her the submission her position as Alpha afforded her. “I’m Jess Henning. My mother is Alpha of the Winston pack. These are my friends, Nick, Gryphon and Pavel.”
Introductions out of the way, they moved to the dining room for breakfast. Gryphon and Pavel watched as the others filled the plates.
Gryphon waited until everyone was seated before asking, “Why have you called the Conclave, Mrs. Canis? Have you had problems with this Parvo virus Jess’s pack is dealing with?”
“Call me Savannah, please.” A puzzled frown appeared between Savannah’s eyebrows. “Parvo? What are you talking about?”
Before Jess could explain, Gryphon said, “We’ll let Jess tell you in a moment. Why did you call a Conclave?”
Spike growled her displeasure at Gryphon’s seeming disrespect, but Savannah shook her head.
“Spike, it’s okay.” She met Gryphon’s gaze. “You’ll hear the details at the meeting, but we have reason to believe there’s a group of humans interested in harming preters. Three lycan were attacked several days ago and they’re positive the humans knew they were more than wolves.”
“How can they know that?” Gryphon rubbed his jaw. “For the most part, preters keep their other natures secret around humans.”
“It was the worst mistake I ever made,” Spike admitted.
What’s Up?
I’m working on my second set of edits for High Line. I’m hoping to get those finished tonight or at least most of them done before I stop to watch Life. 🙂 I love that show. I don’t watch a lot of regular television, but there are three shows I like to watch plus Dexter on Showtime. I try to dvr The Mentalist, Life and Eleventh Hour. I’m also making myself a note to tape Fringe and check that out.
Hope you all have a great day. 😀
Poetry Train # 79
Storm copyright 2008 T.A. Chase
Murmuring pulls me from my sleep as icy fingers dance down my spine and I lay in my bed. It isn’t your voice that speaks to me. It isn’t your touch that freezes me. Where are you? I can’t remember. You were here when I went to bed. Your arms held me tight as I drifted to sleep, but you’re not here now.
“My soul.”
His voice talks to me, but how can that be? He’s never been able to enter the house, not even when you are not here. Cold fingers pinch my nipple, drawing a gasp from me. I open my eyes to see him sitting on the bed next to me. His dark storm eyes traces the line of my body hidden beneath the blankets.
“You are awake. I was beginning to wonder how you could ignore me.”
I moan as he tugs on both my nipples. There has never been any doubt that if he touched me, I would surrender as I had in the centuries before you caught me.
“Where is…?” I can’t say your name, but I don’t know if it is a spell you have cast on me or if he is blocking me.
“He is gone, love, and the time has come for me to take you home. This is a pretty prison, but you are not meant for such luxuries.”
He buries his hand in my hair and yanks my head back, exposing my neck to his teeth. I shiver as he scrapes his teeth over my skin before sucking a mark up. I want to wrap my arms around his shoulder and offer myself to him, but I am chained to the bed with words. I can only touch you and give my body to you.
“It is this house,” he comments as he stands, holding me in his arms. “You are meant to ride the storms with me, not sit and waste away like this.”
He strolls to the open balcony doors and I see the dark clouds billowing in the distance. You are gone and a storm builds which is how he can enter in to steal me away.
“He loves me,” I whisper, laying my head against his chest.
“I know he loves you. Who wouldn’t if they got a chance to have you? His love will bind you and chain you to this world. Creatures like you and I are not meant to live like the humans who covet us. The moors and the wilds are our home. The storms and winds are our power.” He nuzzles the curls on the top of my head. “Are you ready to return home, my soul?”
I hear my name being called and I glance down to see you standing below the balcony. I hear the pleading and the commands in your voice, yet the wind rushing by my ears destroy what magic might be in them. I remember the softness of your touch and how gentle you are when we make love. I remember how you cry each time you must leave me. I remember the anger in your eyes when I tell you I can’t give you power over the storms that rage around us. I remember the feel of your whip against my skin while I try to explain why my magic would never work for you.
He sets me on my feet and steps away. Folding his arms over his chest, he frowns at me. “You must choose between us. He loves you, but wants the power he thinks you can give him. I want only you to ride the winds with and to run free through the moors on moonlit nights.”
As the winds whip around me and rain lashes my face, I feel power surge through me. I’m confused by the fierceness of the storm and it beats me to my knees. Raising my hands, I allow the water to wash over me and cleanse me of my questions. I stand and walk to him, holding out my hand to him.
“Ride the storm with me.”
Finally Friday
Only eight more hours until the weekend. Yay! Not that I’m necessarily looking forward to this weekend. C and I are helping some friends move and it’s supposed to be raining, possible even snow. Ugh! Oh well, that’s what friends are for, right? lol.
Did some writing last night and watched Eleventh Hour starring Rufus Sewell. It’s actually a pretty good show. I’m enjoying all the different scientific things they come up with and I like Sewell as an actor, though I’ve only seen him play the bad guy in movies before. 🙂
Hope you all have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.
Nick of Time-NSFW
Part Nine- (NSFW…hot manlove)
Nick whimpered and shook his head. It had been stupid to think he would have been able to resist Gryphon for long. He rocked his hips, thrusting his prick through Gryphon’s rough grasp and pressing his ass back against Gryphon’s groin.
“Please,” he whispered, meeting Gryphon’s gaze in the mirror.
Gryphon took his hand off Nick’s cock and Nick murmured in protest. He turned as Gryphon stepped back, resting his own hand on Gryphon’s chest.
“Are you sure?” Gryphon ran his fingers over Nick’s cheek. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m pushing you into sex.”
Nick smiled. “I guess I’m changing my mind. It’s kind of silly to go back to a platonic relationship after we’ve had sex. Sort of like closing the barn door after the horse got out.”
A confused frown appeared on Gryphon’s face and Nick laughed. Obviously the vampire had never heard that saying. Sliding his hand around and into the hair at the back of Gryphon’s neck, Nick pulled his head down and brushed his lips over Gryphon’s.
“Never mind. Just fuck me.”
A shudder wracked Gryphon’s body before he jerked Nick tight to him and took over the kiss. Nick opened, letting Gryphon swipe his tongue in. Their bodies pressed together and he shivered at the caress of the soft fabric of Gryphon’s T-shirt. He took a step back, grabbed Gryphon’s hand and led the vampire from the bath into their room.
“You have too many clothes on.”
Sinking down on the edge of the bed, he reached out for Gryphon’s belt buckle and sighed as Gryphon ran his hands over his shoulders. He loved the feel of Gryphon’s cool skin against his. His trembling hands unfastened Gryphon’s belt and pants, slipping in to cup Gryphon’s cock while pushing down his pants and underwear.
He ignored Gryphon’s wiggling as the vampire tried to finish taking off his pants. Nick stroked Gryphon’s cock, fisting it and pumping in long sweeps. Soon Gryphon stood naked before Nick and Nick licked his lips, wanting to taste his prick on his tongue. Looking up, he met Gryphon’s hot stare.
“Suck me,” Gryphon ordered.
There wasn’t any way Nick would disobey that command. Leaning forward, he fondled Gryphon’s balls while licking a line from the base to the tip of Gryphon’s cock. He sucked just the flared head into his mouth, humming as he savoring the salty taste of sweat and musk.
Gryphon petted his hair, not trying to take control or force Nick to take more than he wanted. He pressed the tip of his tongue to the bundle of nerves right under the crown of Gryphon’s head.
“Shit.” Gryphon jerked, shoving deeper into Nick’s mouth.
He pulled back, took a deep breath and swallowed Gryphon’s prick down, relaxing his throat until his nose was buried in the curls at Gryphon’s groin. Gryphon froze and Nick could feel the strain caused by his not waiting to take Nick without Nick being ready for it. Nick tapped Gryphon’s thigh to let him know it was okay to move.
With a groan, Gryphon started fucking Nick’s mouth and Nick held on, one hand gripping Gryphon’s thigh. He slid the other hand down to play with Gryphon’s balls, rolling them in his palm and tugging on them to draw a hiss from Gryphon.
He winced slightly as Gryphon’s hands fisted in his hair and pulled. Being caught up on the sensations of Nick’s mouth, Gryphon didn’t realize what he was doing and there was no way Nick was going to stop to tell him.
“Soon, honey,” Gryphon forced between gritted teeth.
Nick nodded slightly, relaxing his muscles even more and massaging Gryphon’s shaft with his throat. His own cock rose up and painted his stomach with wet trails. It throbbed and he knew it wouldn’t take more than a touch from Gryphon to push him over the edge.
Gryphon buried his cock in Nick’s mouth and froze before jerking and flooding Nick with hot salty bitterness. He took everything Gryphon gave him, sucking to get every drop he could.
Falling back on the bed, he thrust his hips in the air. “Please.”
It was all he could say, not caring how Gryphon decided to touch him, but needing that touch as much as he needed his next breath of air.
“Poor baby. What do you want? My hand…my mouth?” Gryphon crawled on the bed and settled beside him.
“I don’t care as long as you touch me.”
Gryphon’s playful growl shivered over Nick’s skin as Gryphon nuzzled Nick’s neck and licked over the throbbing vein there. “If I were to bite you, you’d come without me even touching your cock.”
Nick moaned, his body remembering the intense pleasure and pain of Gryphon’s bites. “I’m afraid I’m becoming addicted to vampire bites.”
“That’s all right as long as they are only my bites you need to satisfy your addiction.”
Gryphon scraped a fang over Nick’s skin and Nick’s cock twitched, his climax dancing closer to the surface with each touch of Gryphon’s teeth. He whimpered when Gryphon moved away from his neck to run his tongue around one of Nick’s nipples. A prick of a sharp tooth made him cry out.
“Maybe I’ll drink from over your heart, making sure you know who claims you now.”
Nick reached out, threading his fingers through Gryphon’s blond hair. “Please, you know I’m yours. Bite me already.”
“But you’re so pretty when you beg, honey.” Gryphon leered at him.
“Damn it, Gryphon. Quit teasing me.”
He tried to roll over on top of Gryphon. It would give him something to rub off against, but Gryphon wouldn’t let him and Nick couldn’t get the leverage for it. He was stuck, letting Gryphon control how he came.
“While drinking from that spot is tempting, I’ll save it for another time.”
Gryphon slithered down Nick’s body, placing a little peck on Nick’s leaking cock. He pushed Nick’s legs wider and lay between them, his mouth sucking up a mark on Nick’s inner thigh.
Nick threw his head back and arched, so close to coming his head swam with the pleasure.
Piercing pain lanced up his thigh straight to his prick. The first pull of Gryphon’s lips around the wound shoved Nick into the abyss. His come shot out, covering his stomach and chest. As he shouted his release, blackness welled up and took him over.
