Archive for Wednesday WiPs
Wednesday Work in Progress…
Today is usually when I share a snippet of a story I’m working on, but the story I’m working on is Los Angeles, book 5 in the Fallen series. It’s not that I don’t want to share. I’m just not sure if it’s something you’d like to have a sneak peek at or not. đ
But I am running on a very tight deadline for LA, so I won’t be able to post the extra little scene for Finding Peace that I wanted to do for tomorrow. đ If I get what I need to get finished tomorrow, I might be able to post it on Friday. If not, then it’ll just get added to the book when it’s published.
On Tuesday of next week, I’ll see what you all might want to read next as a blog story. đ So get your thinking caps on.
I hope you all have a great Wednesday.
Wednesday’s Work in Progress…
First of all, I have a post up at Amber Kell’s for her birthday bash. It’s a little snippet of Ronnie and Lucius from Embrace My Reflection and Bring Him Gold. Check it out here.
And secondly, I thought I’d post a little glimpse at From Yesterday, which is the third book in the Rupert’s Legacy series I have at MLR Press. The first two books are Joy of the Season and Replacing Memories. I think I shared something from this story once before when I started working on it, but it kind of got pushed to the back burner for some other stories. I decided to see if I can get it finished by the end of the year. (Which really isn’t that far off any more…lol)
So here you go:
From Yesterday copyright c. 2013 T.A. Chase
Carlos tightened his grip as Miguel snuggled closer. He rested his cheek on the top of Miguelâs head. âIâm supposed to text him when I get done visiting you. He lives here on the grounds, so Iâm having coffee at his place.â
âYouâll tell me everything, right?â Miguelâs low request touched Carlosâ heart.
âWithin reason, hermanito. You know I donât kiss and tell, plus I donât think Phillip would like me spilling all his personal business to people heâll see every day.â Carlos leaned back into the cushions, humming softly.
He understood why Miguel had asked him that. His brother was never going to get another chance at romance or a date. All the advances science had made in the medicines for HIV/AIDS didnât matter if Miguelâs body rejected them. The doctors had told them it would only be a matter of time now. The only thing they could do was keep Miguel comfortable and as pain free as possible. He was happy that they hadnât given them a timeline.
Putting a timeline to dying was a horrid practice in Carlosâ opinion. Too many people gave up hope when told they only had four months to live. Carlos saw it as a nurse as well. Yet there were people who, when told they were going to die soon, fought with every ounce of energy in them and they live longer than doctors thought.
He wished Miguel could do that, but his little brother had been fighting most of his life. He was getting tired and losing hope. Carlos wanted to beg Miguel to keep up the battle, yet he knew it was for selfish reasons. He didnât want to lose his brother. Not this soon when they both had so much life to experience.
Closing his eyes, Carlos relaxed, enjoying being with Miguel, even if they werenât talking. It was nice to spend time together without having to worry about their family causing problems.
âCarlos,â Miguel murmured, causing him to open his eyes.
âYes?â He shifted a little, pins and needles racing along his arm like it had fallen asleep.
âHow long were we asleep?â Miguel moved away from him.
Carlos rubbed his eyes before checking his watch. âAbout thirty minutes,â he relayed the information. âNot very long, but I feel better.â
Miguel laughed, then yawned. âSo do I, though I think Iâd like to go and try to take another one in my bed this time. Walk me to my room? Then you can go have coffee with Phillip.â
âI can do that.â
They walked to Miguelâs suite where Carlos made sure his brother had everything he might want near the bed. Before he left, he turned to say, âDonât forget. Iâm still here. If you need me for anything, just text and Iâll come back.â
âGet out of here. If itâs not too late when you leave, you can stop back by to say good-bye.â Miguel motioned him out of the room.
âAll right.â He shut the door behind him before strolling back to the front desk. Sarah was still there. âMiguelâs lying down in his room. Iâm still going to be on the grounds, so if something happens, you can text me.â
âNo problem, Carlos. Iâm sure everything will be fine tonight.â Sarah smiled. âHave fun and tell Phillip I said hi.â
âI will.â He rushed from the building, not wanting to have to deal with any more comments about Phillip, even the purely innocent ones, which he wasnât entirely sure Sarahâs was by the way.
Leaning against his car, he pulled out his phone then sent Phillip a text. A minute later, a message appeared on the screen.
B there in 5.
K.
Carlos put his phone in his pocket, then let his head fall back as he soaked up the waning beams of fall sunlight. Heâd been working a lot of hours lately, trying to store up time for when the inevitable happens.
âAre you okay?â
He jerked when a hand landed on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he saw Phillip standing in front of him. Carlos held his breath as Phillip reached out to rub his thumb over Carlosâ cheek. It was wet when he showed it to Carlos.
âIâm fine,â Carlos reassured him, wiping his face with his sleeve. âJust a momentary lapse. I canât show them to Miguel yet.â
Phillipâs expression said he understood. âAt some point soon, itâll be time for you to share tears with him. When it comes, donât hide them from Miguel. He needs to know heâll be missed after heâs gone.â
Carlos threw himself into Phillipâs embrace. Burrowing his face into the manâs shirt, he sighed when Phillip wrapped his arms around him. They didnât talk, simply breathed together, and Carlos discovered his heart easing away from the depth of despair threatening to suck him under.
Finally, he took a deep breath of Phillipâs clean scent, then stepped back. âThank you,â he whispered.
New Cover…
I know that usually I share a Work in Progress on Wednesday, but Devon and I just finished up Blindsided to submit, so I don’t really have anything to share today. At least not writing-wise.
I do want to share this very pretty cover Trace at Amber Allure did for me. Between Love and Hate will be out in January. It’s a short story, but I think there will be more to be discovered about Kip and Si. They were very interesting men.
I hope you like the cover and come back tomorrow for the next installment of the blog story. I think Zane is about to meet Quinn, and he’s not going to be impressed any more than the rest of us are with the kid. lol.
Have a great Wednesday.
Wednesday Work in Progress-NSFW
You all might recognize these two. One of the stories I’m working on at the moment is Hearts on the Line. I’m adding three more chapters to the end, so they can get to Mexico and have a good life. đ Hopefully…lol.
But I thought I’d share with you a little snippet of what I’m adding.
Hearts on the Line copyright 2013 T.A. Chase
Excerpt:
After three hours of solid planning, he sent Synder and Fanco out to guard the perimeter, and told the others to grab some shuteye. The watches would be for four-hour shifts, then they would switch off. They would stay at the house for one more day and night, then leave at sunrise the third day.
Unfortunately, traveling at night would get them noticed a lot sooner so close to the DMZ than by day, and Addison wanted to go as long as possible before any of the UEA figured out they had AFF deserters in their midst. He was willing to take the risk of being spotted in the daylight.
âIâm going to rest.â Addison stood, and poked Baxter in the shoulder. âWhy donât you come with me?â
Baxter headed out of the kitchen as Addison looked over at Markeo, who just winked at him while making a shooing motion. Thank God, his men were open-minded enough to accept what was going on between Baxter and him. Of course, Addison admitted to himself, that ultimately it didnât matter what they thought. He would love Baxter even in the face of any opposition.
He stared at Baxterâs back as they climbed the stairs to the second floor, where they took the room at the front of the house. The children were in the back, closer to the stairs and easier escape in case someone attacked the house. As far as he and his men were concerned, the children were more important than their lives.
He stripped off his gear, piling it close to the door, but keeping his rifle with him. Baxter did the same, putting his equipment with his. Addison didnât give Baxter a chance. He tackled the man onto the bed, and smiled as Baxterâs surprised laughter burst out.
They wrestled until Addison had Baxter pinned to the mattress. He settled between the manâs legs, then rocked his groin into Baxterâs.
âOh God,â Baxter groaned, pushing back against Addison. âCan we fuck, sir?â
Addison nuzzled along Baxterâs jaw, then nipped his chin. âWhat did I tell you about calling me sir?â
âSorry.â He didnât sound sorry.
âYes, weâre going to fuck. Iâm going to pound your ass because I want you so badly, my love.â He dove in to take Baxterâs mouth with determination.
While dueling with Baxter for control over the kiss, Addison started fumbling with the Velcro that kept his clothes on. He growled low in frustration at not being able to get Baxter naked as fast as he wanted.
He grunted when Baxter flexed, and he wound up on the bottom with Baxter straddling his hips. Before he could do anything about it, Baxter tore his shirt off and tossed it over his shoulder. Addison lifted his hands to run his fingers over Baxterâs muscular chest, but Baxter rolled off the bed to start taking off his pants.
âYou need to get naked, Addison. If weâre going to fuck, I need you without clothes.â
âFuck. Youâre right.â Addison jumped to his feet and stripped, stumbling around when his pants got caught up on his boots. âShit!â
Baxter chuckled while dropping to his knees. âSit. Iâll get these off for you.â
He dropped to the edge of the bed, trailing his hands over Baxterâs board shoulders and caressing the outside shell of the manâs ears. Baxter shook his head, and Addison smiled. He slid his hands to rub his thumbs over Baxterâs flat copper colored nipples. Loving how they hardened beneath his touch, Addison pinched them, then added a little twist.
Hissing, Baxter yanked off Addisonâs boots, then threw them out of the way. Addison spread his thighs as Baxter pushed into his personal space before dipping his head to suck Addisonâs cock down.
âHoly fuck,â he swore as the head of his shaft hit the back of Baxterâs throat.
Baxter didnât stop when Addison gripped his head and started thrusting into his mouth. Addison figured his lover would stop him if he got too rough, but he couldnât help moving. The feel of Baxterâs tongue on his cock was something Addison would never forget, and something he wanted to feel again and again.
Wednesday Work in Progress…
Today’s WiP is Between Love and Hate. It’s a story I’m doing for Amber Allure and we already have the picture picked out for the cover. Yay! Â I’ve been working on this one a lot lately because Kip and Si have been talking to me, even though I have a couple other stories that need to be finished…lol. Can’t help which character talks to me the loudest.
So here’s another little excerpt from Between Love and Hate. copyright c. 2103 T.A. Chase
Excerpt-
After they ordered something to eat, she took a big breath, and asked, âWhere were you for eighteen years?â
Stiffening, Kip set his fork down before he looked at her. âI was living a normal life. Since I was four, Iâd been in movies and on TV. Nothing about my life could have been called typical. I decided I wanted to be a normal teenager for a while.â
Of course, that was a lie because by then heâd already started drinking to the point of being drunk most of his time. Heâd moved out of his parentsâ house, wanting his own freedom to do whatever he wanted. He had a lot of money, and his parents couldnât access the majority of it. Thank God.
His drinking had been bad enough, then when he started doing coke and heroin, he began spending a lot more money. But still his accountant had managed to keep him from blowing through his entire earnings. Royalties were a wonderful thing, and even with him out of the publicâs eye.
Kip had been lucky that once he disappeared from Hollywood, the paparazzi lost interest in him, so he didnât have to worry about anyone finding out about his addiction.
âMr. James, I know you entered a rehab facility two years ago. When you got out, you were cast in this movie by a director who was close to you when you were younger.â She leaned forward in her chair to stare at him.
He shouldâve known she was just waiting for him to relax before she went for the jugular. Yet why did he feel ambushed? Kimberley did her due diligence to dig up what heâd been doing in those eighteen years, which is what any good reporter would do. Even an entertainment reporter could sniff out a breaking news story.
Taking a deep breath, Kip pursed his lips, trying to decide what he could say. It wasnât like he wanted to lie about his past or being gay. Neither part of his life was a secret he wanted to keep. He knew a lot of people would think he became a druggie because he was ashamed of being gay, but it was simply the fact that he was young, bored, and fucking rich. There wasnât anyone to stop him when he made the left turn straight into the abyss of chasing the dragon.
âYou know, Kimberley, if you wanted to know about that time in my life, you couldâve asked me straight out. No need to lull me into a false sense of security. Iâm not hiding that part of my past.â
âThen why hasnât there been any mention of it before in any of the interviews youâve done since you returned to Hollywood?â She folded her arms over her chest, looking like she didnât completely believe him.
He laughed. âBecause no one asked. Trust me, honey. Iâm not interested in hiding anything. Not when doing so would damage my image, and what Iâm going to tell you will make me more of a hero to all those kids who might look up to me.â
Kimberley sighed, and Kip couldnât tell if it was because sheâd heard the same âI have nothing to hideâ from other stars or because she liked his smile. He didnât really care whichever one it was.
âI went into rehab two years ago because I was addicted to H and coke. Iâve learned not to be ashamed of the craving that strung me out to the point where the only living I was doing was when I was coming down from a high. Pain and need were the only emotions strong enough to convince me that I still existed in this shitty world going on around me.â
Kip fidgeted with the silverware on the table while he remembered the agony of going through detox. Letting go of the knife, he ran his fingers over his sleeve, feeling the bumps of the needle scars. The make-up people on the lot had a hard time covering them during the shoot, yet he never considered seeing if he could do anything about making them less obvious. They helped him remember where heâd been and just how far heâd fallen.
âWhen did you start using?â Kimberley shifted in her chair, a hint of excitement on her face.
Yes, she was getting a scoop, though it wasnât anything Kip considered earth shattering.
âYou know, this isnât big news. There are a thousand stars who found themselves addicted to drugs or alcohol. Iâm nothing new.â Kip had to point it out.
âTrue, but youâre the apple of Hollywoodâs eye right now and youâre quite a mystery. A child star who disappears off the radar for eighteen years, then makes good when he returns to the movies.â She winked at him. âI need to capitalize on your popularity to help my career.â
At least she was honest.
âI started drinking when I was ten or eleven. Hell, it didnât matter to a lot of people as long as they got to hang with me. Which sounds weird and pathetic, but there you go. Any notoriety is good for some people.â Kip shook his head when he thought about all the people in his entourage when he was younger. Not one of them tried to stop him either. As long as he was paying for everything, it was fine.
Wednesday Work in Progress…
Yay! I’m finally going to share something with you…lol. It’s been a while because I was working on New York, which is finished and the contract signed. Woot!
Now I’m working on Blindsided, Book 4 of the International Men of Sports series. This one is rugby in Australia. đ My guy is Liam Holmes, and he’s the rugby player. Devon’s guy is a lifesaver (lifeguard) at one of the local beaches.
So here’s a little excerpt from my part of Blindsided:
copyright 2103 T.A. Chase & Devon Rhodes
Liam raced through his house, grabbing shit from his kitchen table, then sniffing it before stuffing it into his duffle. Once all his practice clothes were packed, he set the bag down by the door before swearing softly to himself.
âWhere did I put those damn boots?â He stomped through the rooms, trying to figure out where heâd tossed his boots after his last practice. Retracing his steps, Liam remembered heâd threw them in the corner of his bedroom. Heâd been in a hurry to change into his bathers, and head to the beach.
He checked the clock, then went to collect them. After tying the laces together and hanging them around his neck, he bent to pick up his duffle, then headed outside. As he opened the door, two small figures dashed in.
Freezing, he blinked, trying to work out if he actually saw what he thought he saw. A noise caused him to turn, and there, in the middle of his living room, sat two kittens. One black and one orange.
âWhat the hell are you doing? This isnât your house.â After walking over, he crouched down in front of them.
The orange kitten nudged his hand to get him to pet it. So he scratched its ears while studying the other one. The black kitten stared back at him like he was the one trespassing in its domain.
A horn honked outside, and he sighed as he herded them into his bathroom. It was the only place besides the bedrooms that had a door, and he didnât want to leave them in the house while he was gone. Heâd decide what to do with them when he got back.
After picking up his kit again, he left his house to see his teammateâs truck idling at the kerb. He waved at him before shutting then locking the door. Liam dashed down the walk to where Leon was.
âHey mate, howâs it going?â He asked as he tossed his kit and boots in the bed of the vehicle before climbing in.
Leon grunted, but didnât answer him. Liam wasnât insulted or anything, since heâd learnt after riding with Leon for a week or so that the man didnât really like to talk to anyone. It didnât matter whether it was a new guy or some guy heâd known for the entire five years heâd played for the club.
âI appreciate you driving today. My ride needs new tires and shit before I can drive it.â
âNo problem.â Leon put the vehicle in drive, then pulled away from the kerb.
âDo you know any bloke that wants some cats? Two just ran into my house, and Iâm not sure theyâll be easy to get rid of.â Liam frowned as he thought about the two invaders.
Leon shook his head, but that didnât surprise Liam. Leon was the most solitary man Liam had ever met. Heâd been excited to find out that Leon only lived a few houses down from him on the block, figuring they would be able to hang out and heâd have a friend in Melbourne. Then he discovered that Leon didnât socialize with anyone, so it was basically driving to and from the club.
Heâd ask some of the other guys who had kids if theyâd want a pet. His parents had allowed him to have all the pets he wanted, but playing rugby had taken up so much of his time while growing up that he didnât think it was fair because he wouldnât be around that much.
They got to the club, and after they parked, Liam grabbed his stuff out of the back. Then he followed Leon into the stadium where the club played. The locker room was loud as the men laughed and joked while they changed into their practice unis. Liam wandered through the milling crowd to his locker where he tossed his bag in.
He quickly stripped, then pulled on his own practice stuff. After tying his boots, he stomped his feet to adjust them. Looking around, he saw the other guys were gathering around to head out onto the pitch. He fell in next to Teo Maulo, one of the flankers for the club.
âDo you know anyone who wants a cat, mate,â he asked as they walked out onto the pitch.
Teo shot him a quick glance. âWhy? You got cats to give away?â
As they started stretching, Liam nodded. âYeah. Two of them just walked into my house like they owned the place just before Leon showed to pick me up.â
âLeonâs a bit of a piker, but heâs a good bastard,â Teo commented as he motioned to where Leon stood at the edge of the pitch. âHave to say though, I donât know anyone who wants pets, but I can check with my family.â
Snorting, Liam said, âThanks. I know you have a big bunch to talk to. Iâm sure someone would like them.â
Wednesday Work in Progress….
I don’t have anything to share at the moment. I’m out of town, but I just wanted to let you all know that I’m thinking of you and writing while I’m visiting family. đ
Don’t worry. There will be an installment tomorrow. I made sure of it before I left.
Have a great day.
Wednesday WIPs….
Again I don’t really have a work in progress to share with you, unless you’d like me to share my Tiffany story with you. đ It’s got girl cooties though, so maybe not, huh? Â lol
So I’m still working on that story, but I wanted to give you a heads up that my new serial for Total e-Bound, Every Shattered Dream, is going to start with Part One being released this Friday. Part One is free at TEB’s website, though it might be like 99 cents at Amazon. Amazon gets a little weird about pricing sometimes. The other four Parts will be 99 cents or $1. I’m sure if you’re familiar with Bailey Bradford’s serial or Sarah Master’s one, you know how it works.
Plus Detroit, my first Fallen book, under Tiffany Aaron, will be out on Friday as well for general release. Get all your m/f reading friends to check it out. đ
Well, I have to go. I’m running late, and need to get writing to accomplish everything I want to get done today. Have a great Wednesday.
Wednesday Work in Progress….
Well, to be honest, I don’t have any T.A. stories in progress right at the moment. I’m still finishing up my Tiffany story, New York, for my Fallen series. As soon as I get that done, I’ll be finishing up Remove the Space Between Us. It’ll be the first book in a new series called Rags to Riches. The stories in this series are about your average guy (or maybe not so average..lol) falling in love with a rich and powerful man. They’ll have to deal with the money difference, and sometimes the difference in attitude about money and power. đ I know the billionaire trope has kind of been overdone lately, but for me, these stories aren’t about rich men coming in to sweep a poor guy off his feet. It’s more about the poor guy showing the rich guy that there’s something more out there than just working and money.
Also, because I watched Shark Week last week, and when I do, I always get plot bunnies running through my head, I wrote down a couple scenes for a story about a reporter and a shark attack victim. I’m hoping to find a way to fit it in to my schedule. lol Not sure when that’ll be, but I’m going to try.
Well, I hope you all have a great Wednesday. I just thought I’d update you on what’s going on, so that you don’t wonder what I’m writing. đ
Wednesday Work in Progress…
Thought I’d give you another peek at Teivel and To Hell With the Devil. đ Re-reading this really makes me want to finish it…lol. Have to figure out how to fit it into my schedule to get done.
To Hell With the Devil copyright 2013 c. T.A. Chase
Excerpt:
I shift on the hard seat of the horrific throne I was led to after I killed the devil. I really need to get a grip on my temper because killing Achan had to have been the worst mistake of my entire stupid life. Now Iâm surrounded by demons, imps and other denizens of hell. All of whom expect me to tell them what to do.
I sigh and rest my elbow on the arm of the throne, propping my chin on my palm. Achan had seriously bad taste in furniture. My new seat of power is made from human bones with skulls acting as feet for it. Sick twisted bastard.
My ass grows numb. I feel it spreading and flattening. Hell no. I might be stuck in this psychotic asylum, but I wonât let my body go to seed. Iâm brooding about how to get a gym down here when something tugs on my pant leg.
I stare down in astonished fascination at the horned toad talking to me. Who the hell knew toads grew to that size? It stands on two feet and its large gelatinous lips flap at me for a minute. I canât understand a fucking word it says.
âWhat,â I ask as it stares at me with what I suppose is a look of anticipation.
Spit lands on my face when it speaks again. Wiping it off my cheek with disgust, I shake my head.
âI have no clue what youâre saying.â Looking around the room at the other hellish host, I point to the toad. âDo any of you have a fucking idea what he might be saying?â
Feet, hooves and claws shuffle. No one meets my gaze. Damn my temper. I killed the only person who could have told me what I needed to know.
âMaster, I might be of assistance.â
A high squeaky voice grates on my nerves and makes me grit my teeth.
âNot if you continue to talk like that you wonât. Like fingernails on a chalkboard.â I feel a brush on my shoulder. Nothingâs there. âWhere the hell are you?â
âIâm beside you, Master, but Iâm merely a spirit and have no corporal body.â The shrillness of the voice has been tempered to a level I can tolerate. âYou simply need to touch the imp and take his language into your head.â
âSimply? Of course, why didnât I think of that?â
âMaybe you should have thought about your actions before you killed Achan, Master.â Thereâs a hint of sarcasm in the disembodied voice.
Great. My assistant is a freaking comedian.
âNo shit, Sherlock. Just so you know, I donât think before I act and I never apologize. Understand those two things about me and weâll be best friends.â I grimace, reach out to lay the tip of one finger on the toadâs head. âIs there a spell I need to intone or anything like that?â
âThis isnât a fantasy movie. You think about what you want and it shall be given to you.â
âI want an overstuffed arm chair in a nice shade of periwinkle blue. One of my best colors. This stupid throne is going to give me middle age spread and Iâm not even in my late twenties yet.â
Swoosh. My ass sinks into the cushion of a blue armchair. I grin. âThis is more like it.â Wrinkling my nose, I touch the toad again. âI want to understand what this thing is saying to me.â
My head wants to explode. Too much information appears in my brain. Jerking away from the toad, I fist my hands in my hair and moan. Taking deep breaths, I calm down enough to get a grip on the words tumbling around in my head. When I no longer want to cry out from the pressure, I sit back and stare at the toad.
âAll right, Jeremiah, what do you want?â
The toadâs enormous cranium tilts like itâs puzzled by what I say. âWhoâs this Jeremiah?â
âHeâs a bull frog.â I wave a hand. âNever mind. What do you want?â
âIâm not a bull frog. Iâm an imp. I wonder if you would be willing to lift the curse on me.â A webbed appendage flaps at me.
âWhat did he do?â I lean closer to where I assume the spirit still hovers.
âHe broke Achanâs favorite glass. It was the one he got at Disney World. It had Mickey Mouse on it.â The spiritâs voice seems to shrug. âHe was unnaturally attached to that glass.â
âThatâs fucked up. Turning some guy into a horned toad for breaking a glass.â
âYes. Well, it wasnât really the breaking part that pushed Achan over the edge. It was more the trying to slit his throat with a shard of it part.â
I squint at the toad. Its innocent expression doesnât fool me. âI think you need to stay in that form for a while. Teach you not to mess with the master of hell, no matter who he is.â
I reach out and grip his slimy wrist in my hand, jerking the imp as close as I could stand him to be without passing out from his foul smell. âIf it ever crosses your mind to try and kill me, be aware that Iâll simply kill you, not turn you into a toad.â
With a causal toss, I fling the imp across the room. Splat goes the toad, I think. A long suffering sigh issues from the non-existent person beside me. I glare at the spot where I think it stands.
