Book Boost + #Giveaway : SOLD! To the Billionaire – The Auction Lot – by L M Somerton #gayromance #erotic #bdsm

The Auction Lot

by

L M Somerton

Sold to the Billionaire Collection

Genres/Tropes: gay, lgbtqi, mm romance, erotic, erotic romance, billionaire, bondage, bdsm, kink, holiday, Christmas, auction, Cornwall, contemporary

The Auction Lot – L M Somerton

The Auction Lot is a novella I wrote for Totally Entwined’s ‘Sold to the Billionaire’ series. There are three other books in the group, another MM and two MF, so if the concept is your thing, there are more goodies to be had.

I don’t often respond specifically to submission calls, but this one grabbed my attention and fitted an idea I’d had bubbling for a while. I was intrigued by the idea of someone selling themselves as an investment in the future and what might happen if their buyer turned out to be the man of their dreams. It also gave me the opportunity to return to one of my favourite settings, Cornwall, where the landscape always becomes a part of the story.

If you’re fond of Poldark (and who isn’t!) I’m afraid there’s no heroic riding across headlands or dips in the sea (because believe me, it’s freezing). There is a storm, a dramatic rescue, an unexploded bomb and a house renovation. There’s also plenty of humour and kinky play.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, you can buy the book via the universal link: https://books2read.com/u/47RZpE

or direct from my publisher at Pride Publishing: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/the-auction-lot

Going once, going twice, sold!

For sub Ethan Peltier, selling himself to the highest bidder will set him up for life.

Merrick Tremayne sees the sub auction as an opportunity to avoid gold diggers and try out the lifestyle he craves. A business transaction with a willing participant is something he understands.

Restoring Merrick’s family home in Cornwall gives the men a chance to get to know each other while they work together. Neither of them expects to fall in love, but the drama of some traumatic events reveals the intensity of their feelings.

Will the auction contract stand, or will they find a way to let each other know that defaulting might be the only option?

https://books2read.com/u/47RZpE

“You’re insane. One hundred per cent certifiable. Who do I call to get you committed?”

“Don’t be such a drama queen, Angus. I need money and a lot of it. This is a win-win situation.”

“I only told you about the auction because it’s intriguing. You weren’t supposed to apply!”

“What did you think I’d do? File it in my ‘useless stuff Angus tells me’ file? Cos that part of my brain is full.” Ethan Peltier prodded his best friend and roommate’s arm. “Hmm, have you been working out?”

“Don’t try to deflect. The closest I get to the gym is that cute coffee shop next door and you know it.”

“The one with the hunky barista?”

“That’s the one—other than lifting a coffee cup, my kind of exercise is more on a one-to-one basis.”

“Slut.”

“Thank you.” Angus preened. “But to get back to the point, messing with serious Doms is never going to be good for your health.”

“I’ve played with all kinds of Doms at the club and I’m not messing with them.”

“There’s a big fucking difference between a night at the Underground and a year as a full-time sub!”

“You know I want any long-term relationship to be in the lifestyle. It’s who I am. Besides, the auction has strict rules, just like the club. Bad behaviour means a lifetime, worldwide ban from any of the good BDSM clubs. Real Doms won’t risk their reputations like that.”

“These guys are mega rich. Big dogs. We’re weak, breakable and a bit chewy.”

“Where do you get this stuff? They aren’t looking for chew toys, though I guess puppy play could be an option. You’re not going to put me off.” Despite his bravado, Ethan was a little nervous. “What’s not to like? A million quid in exchange for a year as some squillionaire rich guy’s sub. My older brother had to remortgage his house to pay for my grandad’s care home until he passed. Kids are expensive, and he has two of them. I have student loans up to my ears.”

“A year! What if you don’t like the dude?”

“I don’t have to like him, just submit to him. I could pay off all my brother’s debts, and he could go back to carpentry and running his dive school instead of working on oil rigs. Diving on the rigs is unbelievably dangerous. We could get a decent headstone for grandad’s grave instead of the basic stone we sold his classic bikes to pay for, and I could pay off my loans and yours. We could go travelling. It would also be a great way of testing whether I want something twenty-four-seven when I meet my forever Dom.”

“If I can’t talk you out of it, I have to curb your enthusiasm. Applying doesn’t mean you’ll be accepted.”

“I have to have a decent chance. I’ve experience as a sub, they can check up on me at the Underground, and I haven’t upset anyone…recently. I don’t have any ties. I’ll graduate before the contract starts and I’m not too offensive to look at. Am I?”

“Be quiet, you two!” a passing librarian whispered at them. “This isn’t a bar and you’re disturbing people.” Ethan glanced around. There was no sign of another human being anywhere at the reading tables. He gave the librarian a head tilt. “Maggie, this place is deserted, and you love us. Go stack something.”

“You little brat! I should take a ruler to your behind.”

Angus snickered. “He’d like that.”

“And yours. Pair of reprobates. Do you ever read anything in here or are you just saving on your heating bill?”

Ethan gestured at his stack of books. “What are they then, goldfish?”

“You’re not reading them though, are you? You’re using them as a wall to hide from me.”

“Never! A degree is hard work. Angus and I are debating complex theories here.”

“Complex my ass. You’ll be discussing your latest conquests or the hot guy from the coffee shop.” She stalked away but Ethan caught her indulgent grin before she turned away.

For a chance to win a copy of The Auction Lot, leave a comment below along with an email addy. Good Luck!

LM lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She’s fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle leanings towards BDSM.

LM is a past winner of the National Leather Association – International’s Pauline Reage Award for best novel and John Preston award for short fiction. She has twice won the Golden Flogger Award for best BDSM novel in the LGBT category. She has received multiple Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards and won the Action and Adventure category of Divine Magazine’s Book Awards.

If you’d like to learn more about me, check me out on social media:

Website: www.lmsomerton.com

(sign up for my newsletter here)

Pride Publishing page: https://www.pride-publishing.com/author/lm-somerton

First for Romance: https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=252

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lmsomertonwrites/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lmsomerton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmsomerton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmsomerton/

TikTok: lmsomerton https://www.tiktok.com/@lmsomerton

#FlashbackFriday Enjoy this #NSFW teaser from #mff #menage Streetlight People #Free to download

We all have hidden desires.
Sometimes we conceal them, even from ourselves.

new adult, mff, menage, erotic romance

 Quick Blurb:

After a miserable day at her part-time job and a few drinks, Andi takes a walk, only to find herself in the arms of her campus crush, Street. As the two get to know each other rather robustly against a storefront window, Street’s girlfriend appears and issues a deliciously steamy proposition.

Andrea soon realizes she’s about to get a crash course in down-and-dirty street smarts that she won’t soon forget, under the smoldering tutelage of Street and his exotic-looking girlfriend Toni. Apparently, you can score anything on the street these days—even a threesome! 

EXCERPT:

 I felt his approval reverberate through his chest and it made me bolder. I darted my tongue out and touched his bottom lip. This was crazy and stupid and likely the most dangerous, idiotic thing I had ever done, and I knew it but I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to. His mouth was like magic. And I realized I was horny as hell. I wanted to have sex. Lots and lots of it. And if it was with Hot Campus Guy, I just might not send him packing come morning. 

His tongue touched mine then swept into my mouth. The next thing I knew, he had me plastered up against the glass window at the front of the store. 

“Wow, you are one little ball of heat,” he said as his body closed in on mine, pressing his chest against my tingling tits. He dropped his hips and thrust forward, forcing me backwards until my ass hit the window. I realized he had a full-fledged hard-on directed squarely at me. Tingling, sweet, wet heat rushed between my legs at the contact. I pressed my pelvis against his rock-hard cock. I think I even growled my own approval. I wanted to fuck this stranger. Right here. With my ass slapping against the cold glass. What the hell was wrong with me? 

All of a sudden I heard another voice—a female one—to my right. “I told you she was pretty.” 

“You were right, but I already knew she was pretty.” The man kissing the hell out of me paused to answer. “And she’s horny.” He continued to kiss me. Not even as an afterthought—he was still kissing me with all the same heat while speaking to… I gasped when I opened my eyes and realized that his girlfriend was the speaker. Little slow here. Foggy alcohol, sex-deprived brain. I think so.

I stiffened. 

“No, don’t stop.” He tried to soothe me. “It’s okay, baby. Kiss me. She doesn’t mind. She picked you.” 

Picked me?  

# # # #

I hope you enjoyed the teaser.

Stay safe and well.

Get your copy of Streetlight People Free
First For Romance
Pride Publishing
Coming to Amazon Soon!

Check out some other freebies Deets HERE!

Mega Lesfic Sale @IHeartLesfic – The sale runs May 27th – May 31st

Have you heard about the mega lesfic sale over at I Heart Lesfic? More than 100 authors have joined forces to discount over 200 books. There are over 40 subgenres of lesbian fiction, ranging from romance to sci-fi to fantasy to mystery and so much more.

Including my erotic, ff, romantic suspense – In the Flesh – Only .99¢

Working undercover, nothing is ever as it seems…

Assigned the unenviable task of taking down the untouchable Travino crime family, undercover ATF Agent Kate Benson and her veteran partner Mike Pennington are thrown into the seedy underworld of organized crime.

Kate is asked to draw on her past experience as a dancer and infiltrate one of Travino’s skin clubs, In the Flesh.

Posing as Vivienne, Kate meets exotic dancer Carly. From the moment they first dance together, she can’t seem to keep her mind or her greedy hands off the dynamic dancer. Together they sizzle on stage and off. She soon realizes she’s falling for Carly but knows from past experience that beginning a relationship built on half-truths is a recipe for failure.

As Kate attempts to straddle the line between doing her job and being as honest as she can be with Carly, while still maintaining her cover, Kate and Mike are caught snooping around the club after hours by none other than the mob boss himself.

And Kate knows there’s not a two-step in the world that can save them now.

For an adult excerpt hop on over to the original Pick a Genre Already

Pride Publishing    *    Amazon

In the Flesh is also featured in Pride Publishing’s Ladies Only anthology, along with stories from Lucy Felthouse, Cari Z, Helena Maeve, & R.A. Padmos.

Pride Publishing   *   Universal Link including Amazon

The I Heart Lesfic sale runs May 27^th through May 31^st.

The sale is so massive there are two pages packed with goodies.

Click here and here to view all the awesome discounted books!

 

 

Out Now – The Anthem Trilogy Book 3: Anthem of Survival – by Thom Collins @realthomcollins

THE ANTHEM TRILOGY BOOK 3: ANTHEM OF SURVIVAL

By

Thom Collins

The Anthem Trilogy:

Anthem of the Sea – book 1

Anthem of the Dark – book 2

Anthem of Survival – book 3

Anthem of Survival

Will they ever escape the past?

Revenge casts a long shadow.

Following two prior attempts on their lives, Daniel and Elijah are together and stronger than ever. Their relationship has weathered the toughest elements and survived. Physically and emotionally scarred, the bond between them can’t be broken. One year on from the devastating events in Anthem of the Dark they have reassessed their priorities and want to spend time out of the spotlight.

Elijah has quit his stand-up career to focus on his new passion: training to be a chef. But for Daniel, there are too many questions he desperately needs answers to. Like who orchestrated the violence in Blackpool a year ago? Whose hatred of him runs so deep they’re ruthlessly prepared to hurt innocent by-standers? He teams up with journalist Keeley Rank to uncover the facts.

Though the truth is well hidden, it is closer than anyone thinks. Someone wants revenge. Someone intent on destroying Daniel anyway she can. When Daniel and Elijah attend a fundraising gala for a victim support charity they are unaware they are about to face their most perilous situation yet. Vengeance is a deadly game and not everyone will survive.

Available in ebook and Paperback

BUY LINKS:

Pride Publishing

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Excerpt:

Daniel Blake, sitting on a shaded terrace in a pair of sun-bleached shorts, strummed a melody on his guitar. The afternoon sun blazed in a cloudless sky and, despite the protective canopy above him, the heat was intense. Beads of sweat ran down his neck, tracking over bronzed skin to the dark mass of chest hair. It glistened on his top lip as he gently chewed the bottom. With his eyes closed, he progressed through the strings. A moment later, he smiled, finally satisfied, and put down the guitar. He reached for the weathered notebook that had been his constant companion all summer and wrote in an eager, untidy hand.

Daniel had been working on the song for two days, both music and lyrics, and, at last, it was done. He had nothing left to add.

He lifted his gaze to the sky and inhaled full into his lungs. Across the terrace, the blue water of the Ionian Sea reflected the white light of the sun, its expanse an ever-changing collage of sapphire and diamond colors. Down the coast, the outline of Corfu Island was a hazy mirage in the heat. This perfect view had been his for six amazing weeks. The idyll would soon be over, but not yet.

Daniel lay back on the lounger and lengthened his arms above his head, stretching the stiffness in his neck. He’d been so absorbed in the song, ensuring every chord and every word were right, he’d ignored his own comfort and now his body ached. A few weeks earlier, he’d made the mistake of writing beside the pool, in the direct glare of the sun, and paid the price. Two painful days in bed with sunburn. Since then, he’d stuck to the shade while working on his music. He lost himself so much in the process it was easy to burn.

Daniel studied his body as he lay there. He’d never looked so good or been this tan before. There’d been no time to sunbathe in the past, he’d always thought it a waste of time. He had had too much to do, too much to achieve, to spend his days lying around a pool. But he’d realized this summer that a tan didn’t just suit him, it helped him feel better.

It wasn’t just the sun. Daily sessions in the pool and long walks on the beach kept him in shape. Coming off Lady Lynda, he’d had every intention of letting his fitness routine go a little, if only for the summer, but it hadn’t worked out that way. He was in better condition now than when he arrived, in mind as well as body.

His legs were strong, muscular and tan. He hardly recognized his own body. He inched down the top of his shorts to admire the contrast in color between the creamy skin below his waist and the coppery tones above. The villa was private and he could have bathed naked if he’d wanted to, except he wasn’t that kind of guy. Besides, tan lines were sexy. He’d always thought so. Who needed to risk a burnt butt and balls?

The one thing that marred the bronze color of his torso was the scars between his hip bones and ribcage, sustained the night Oliver Gill had stabbed him, and from the lifesaving surgery he’d gone through afterward. Before coming to Corfu, the pale scars had been almost unnoticeable on his white skin. His dark body hair just about concealed them. But as his tan deepened, the scars stayed white, becoming more pronounced, forcing him to look at them, to acknowledge them.

Daniel traced his fingers along the lines and indentations. Had he made peace with the disfigurement? No. But as the summer came to an end, he’d learned to accept them.

Daniel sighed and basked in the heat. Life was not so bad, considering what the last two years had thrown at him. Better than that, things were good. Not perfect, too many questions remained unanswered for that, but his optimism grew every day.

The glass doors of the terrace opened behind him and Elijah Mann stepped out, offering him a cold bottle of water.

“It’s hotter than hell out here,” Elijah remarked, shielding his eyes against the sun to gaze across the sea.

Daniel swung his legs over the side of the sunbed and sat up. He drank the chilled, sparkling water and looked with admiration at Elijah’s chunky thighs. While the sun had turned Daniel’s white-boy skin an appealing shade of bronze, Elijah, with his Greek heritage, had gone nut-brown. The beige shorts and blue open-neck shirt he wore today complemented his tan. God, he’s gorgeous. Daniel never had to remind himself what a lucky guy he was.

Elijah dropped onto the other sunbed, knees spread wide, and looked straight at him with soulful brown eyes. His thick blue-black hair fell in an untidy wave across his brow and a three-day beard darkened his jaw. With his natural Greek coloring, Daniel wondered if Elijah had ever looked more handsome. Even more important, he looked happier and healthier than he had in a long time. Less than a year ago he’d been in hospital, fighting for his life. Daniel wouldn’t ever forget how close he’d come to losing him. Those long, terrible hours beside his bed, praying he would recover. Hoping for the best, afraid of the worst.

“How’s it going?” Elijah asked, nodding at his guitar.

“I’m finished,” he answered, smiling.

Elijah’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense. Let me hear it.”

“What’s for lunch?” Daniel asked, feigning indifference.

Elijah leapt forward, grabbing Daniel’s bare waist, tickling the sensitive flesh around his middle. Daniel yelped and fell backward, giggling. Elijah followed through, lying on top of him, fingers still working his waist. Daniel laughed, squirming against his hard body.

“No lunch today,” Elijah said, his face on top of Daniel’s. “Not until you play me your song.”

Thom Collins Bio

Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, Gods of Vengeance and Silent Voices with Pride Publishing. The Anthem Trilogy is out now from Pride Publishing. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and promptly confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

He is currently working on a new novel.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but since taking his first cruise in 2013 he realized that sailing is the way to go.

Links:

Blog

Twitter:   @thomwolf     and   @realthomcollins

Instagram: thomcollinsauthor

Pinterest: Thom Collins

Email: thomcollinsauthor@aol.com

Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services

Kick-Start the New Year with Fantastic Deals @IHeartLesfic Holiday Mega Sale

Sale runs December 26th to December 30th

Check it out all the incredible books @ I Heart Lesfic

https://iheartlesfic.com/holiday-mega-sale/

In the Flesh – is .99¢ @ Amazon and @ Pride Publishing

[lesbian, erotic, romance]

 

Working undercover, nothing is ever as it seems…

Assigned the unenviable task of taking down the untouchable Travino crime family, undercover ATF Agent Kate Benson and her veteran partner Mike Pennington are thrown into the seedy underworld of organized crime. 

Kate is asked to draw on her past experience as a dancer and infiltrate one of Travino’s skin clubs, In the Flesh.

Posing as Vivienne, Kate meets exotic dancer Carly. From the moment they first dance together, she can’t seem to keep her mind or her greedy hands off the dynamic dancer. Together they sizzle on stage and off. She soon realizes she’s falling for Carly but knows from past experience that beginning a relationship built on half-truths is a recipe for failure.

As Kate attempts to straddle the line between doing her job and being as honest as she can be with Carly, while still maintaining her cover, Kate and Mike are caught snooping around the club after hours by none other than the mob boss himself.

And Kate knows there’s not a two-step in the world that can save them now.

 

 

To coincide with this fantastic sale at I Heart Lesfic, the Ladies Only Anthology—in which, In the Flesh, was originally a part of—is also ON SALE at Amazon US and Amazon UK, with stories from: Lucy Felthouse, Cari Z, Helena Maeve, R.A. Pamos and me! 

‘Worth a Shot’ by Cari Z

‘The Woman Next Door’ by Helena Maeve

‘The Tiny Blue House’ by R.A. Padmos

‘In the Flesh’ by HK Carlton

‘Window Dressing’ by Lucy Felthouse

Be sure to check out all the awesome stories and talented lesfic authors during the I Heart Les Fic Holiday Mega Sale, ongoing from December 26th to December 30th. You’ll find some extraordinary deals to heat up your e-reader, from free reads, to .99¢ and up. 

A big thank you to TB Markinson!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Enjoy and Excerpt:

“We’d better get back at it.” Carly pulled her arm. “We need more practice.”

“Are you sure?” Kate whined jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. She let her limb go slack. “I think we should scrap this number and go old school.”

“Bump-and-grind?” Carly’s cute little nose wrinkled in distaste.

“Okay, I’m easy. If you don’t want to do that, how about you simply give me a lap dance?” Though kidding, another steamier, erotic image flitted through Kate’s dirty mind of Carly sitting in her lap, doing figure-eights with her hips, their cunts nearly touching.

“That way, I don’t have to dance. No one will question my skill, or lack thereof. I can sit back and watch you.”

Carly played along. “The audience would love it.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And we might, too.”

Guaranteed, Kate added silently.

“Nice try. Get your fine ass up.” Kate let Carly pull her to her feet. “It’s time for you to dance with me.”

Once they were in hold, Carly peered into her eyes. “But play your cards right, baby, and I’ll give you the lap dance of a lifetime.” As she was speaking, she yanked their bodies together. Kate gasped at the intimate contact as well as the provocative promise. Carly’s gaze snapped to hers.

“Sore muscles,” she lied deftly. “Body parts I haven’t used in a while.”

“All right. Open up a bit.” Carly inserted her knee between Kate’s legs. “This is where I want your focus.”

Kate was trying really hard not to concentrate there.

“These next steps are fast.”

With a guiding hand, Carly turned them in a dizzying series of quick-succession steps across the floor. But Carly’s sexy flare of hip action and innate way she flipped her hair made it much more carnal. The top half of her body was so stiff and immovable, the bottom half fluid yet powerful.

The first try, Kate lost her balance.

“Center your chest to mine.”

Kate realigned in an attempt to imitate the other woman’s tense frame. Better prepared, Kate readied herself for the whirlwind to come.

“Inhale.” Carly pulled their combined frames tall and set out, calling steps and direction as they quick-stepped across the space. “When we stop, I want your feet staggered, like we’re going to do a turn, open step.” When they came to an abrupt halt, Kate watched in the mirrors as Carly raised one knee and did a series of rapid, intricate footwork in the vee of Kate’s stance.

“That was incredible,” Kate cheered.

Carly paused long enough to expend a small smile before she barked more orders. “Hop and together.” She readjusted. “And promenade.”

Breathless, Kate followed, trying not to stumble.

“Stop. Lean into me. Drag your leg slowly up mine. Point your foot.” In a side lunge, Carly slid her leg out on an angle as Kate gradually raked her toe upward. Carly caressed her thigh then eased her foreleg around back. “Tuck your calf to my ass. I won’t let you fall. Put your crotch right up against my pelvis and inner thigh.” She cupped Kate’s backside, roughly pulling her into position. “Yeah, right here.”

Kate’s pussy throbbed.

With the most amazing show of strength, Carly held them both in that suspended position. With a sharp thrust of her hip, Carly bucked Kate from her perch and broke the hold. She immediately grabbed Kate’s head and twisted, lining up their mouths.

Once they were eye-to-eye, Kate realized they were both breathing hard. In slow motion, Carly’s tongue peeked out and she wet her lips. Her gaze dropped to Kate’s mouth. Kate’s stomach clenched as Carly closed the distance.

For a moment, they breathed each other’s air.

Kate tilted her head. Carly slanted hers the other way. Their lips barely touched when, without warning, she straightened and said, “Let’s do it again. Just like that.”

Stunned, both physically and emotionally, Kate struggled to catch her balance. Was she imagining this attraction? Was it all about the fucking dance?

“I promise, it’ll be much hotter when we put it all together.”

Holy fuck! Hotter? Every erogenous zone was already smoldering.

Carly strutted back to the start point and tapped one foot impatiently.

They went over it again and again, each time becoming easier, but still arousing as fuck.

“That one was really good,” Carly praised after another set. She took Kate by the shoulders, turning her to face one wall of mirrors. She pressed her front to Kate’s back, her high breasts flattened, warm and firm. Her pelvic bone rested against Kate’s bum. Kate’s skin prickled everywhere they touched.

Stickler that she was, Carly started to run through some of the finer moves, once again.

Kate tried her best to concentrate on the choreography and not the phenomenal body contouring her back.

“You’ve done so well today, Vivi.” A rush of her warm breath tickled Kate’s ear.

As one, they reached for the ceiling.

“Full extent of the arm, rolling off our fingertips. Arch your back. Press your bum into me. Yes! That’s perfect.” There was a bit of a rasp to her voice.

With their right arms still in the air, from behind, Carly wound her other arm around Kate’s midsection and gave a squeeze. For a moment, their gazes connected in the mirror before Carly’s attention strayed. Kate followed her focus. Her chest heaved from the exertion, nipples straining against the tight-fitting In the Flesh T-shirt. Perspiration made it cling to her.

Slowly, Carly began to lower her arm, but on the descent smoothed her fingers lightly from Kate’s wrist to forearm. Goosebumps erupted everywhere she touched. Especially when she reached the soft, sensitive skin of the inner biceps. This was not part of the routine.

Carly grazed Kate’s underarm. It tickled but also sent a wet rush between her legs. Though Kate was mesmerized by the trip Carly’s hand was taking, she dragged her gaze back to the woman’s in the mirror.

With deliberate slowness, Carly lowered her head and ran her lips from Kate’s shoulder up the side of her neck. All the while, her hand continued the journey downward, skimming the swell of her breast. Kate’s nipples stiffened to hard points. A deep, delicious ache pooled her outer labia.

Carly swirled her fingertips in a circular pattern over Kate’s breast, teasing every nerve ending, sending tendrils of need right to the straining peaks and below. Kate stifled a groan.

Every whorl inched closer to Kate’s stinging nipple.

To Kate’s delight, Carly was also ascending with her other hand, closing in on the opposite breast. Unable to hold it in any longer, Kate moaned in anticipation.

 

 

Guest Post with CF White: Share Your Heart: Raising Awareness for Williams Syndrome #wsawarenessday @CFWhiteUK #shareyourheart

Share Your Heart:
Raising Awareness for Williams Syndrome

Thank you so much for having me on your blog. Today is a rather special day for me – it’s the international Williams Syndrome (WS) Awareness Day, so what better way to celebrate than to tell you all about WS and why it’s important to me, and my three book Responsible Adult serial.

Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects one in twenty thousand births and is caused by a spontaneous and random deletion of 26-28 genes on chromosome #7. The condition itself is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning challenges. But a far more fascinating trait that those who have WS share is their unique personalities. WS people are particularly friendly, overly social, and have an affinity for music. In a nutshell, they are everybody’s friend, will talk the hind legs off a donkey, and love a good boogie. Don’t we all, I hear you say. Well, not like these lot, I can assure you. I’ve been to many a party and gathering with them, because my son was diagnosed with WS at three months old.

It’s been a massive learning curve for me and my family, and we are still at the very beginning of this journey into special-needs parenting. My little trooper has been through life-saving open heart surgery, ongoing painful and invasive hospital stays, constant appointments, whilst also having to deal with those who are not so understanding when it comes to children with learning disabilities. But I wouldn’t change him for the world. His WS makes him exactly who he is, and that’s a fun-loving, hilarious, good-natured, upbeat little boy who is everyone’s friend. I can’t get through a Tesco shop without him having to stop every other customer to say hello and ask them how they are. He might even throw in a hug for good measure, too. He’s a joy to be around and lifts my spirit on a daily basis. It doesn’t mean he’s easy to deal with, not in the slightest. There are downsides to having the condition as well as the ups. But I won’t dwell on those. Not here. Here I will be celebrating Williams Syndrome and all that has come with it.

So why am I telling you about WS and my son? Well, he’s pretty much the very reason why I started writing again. I used to write as a child and into my teen years, but then life took over and I never found the time anymore. Ironically, the moment my free time was ripped from me after my second son was born disabled, I suddenly found myself making the time. I had a lot of it when he was a baby―he never slept. And when I mean never, I’m talking never. He’d be up all night. So to keep myself amused whilst gently rocking him or pacing the living room whilst soothing him, I created stories in my head. Then, when I got the chance, I started writing them down. Slowly but surely, I was working on a couple of novels without really realising it.

My son is the very inspiration behind my Responsible Adult series of books. And, in honour of Williams Syndrome Awareness Day, Misdemeanor, Hard Time and Reformed are all going on a price promotion. So I thought I’d explain not only WS and why it’s a huge feature of the books, but also why certain things were written the way they were.

You see, being so overly social, so friendly, and not seeing the ill in anyone, a WS little boy made for a perfect character. Especially when giving him a bad boy big brother who has a past life full of juvenile delinquency and making him his sole carer. Because I defy anyone to not have their hearts melted by Flynn. And that was the whole premise behind the three-book series. How this little boy sees the good in everyone, when many of us struggle to do the same.

All the characters in the book are flawed. Many are obviously flawed, others their flaws are skin-deep or buried beneath the surface. The whole idea was to show how these flaws make us human, and how Flynn sees beyond them all to the true person beneath. Because that is the beauty of WS. But that can also make these unique individuals extremely vulnerable in a society that isn’t as carefree and wonderful as WS people presume it to be. Like Micky says in Misdemeanor:

“He’s an eternal child. Sees the world like it should be in a fairy tale, minus the evil characters. Everything is bright and beautiful and everyone is his friend.” Micky hesitated. “It’s a real shame that life isn’t like that. Because a world full of Flynns would be the one I wanna live in.”

I wrote Responsible Adult as one book. Since publishing they have been separated into a three-book serial. There simply wasn’t enough room to put all of them into one book. It means there is a cliffhanger at the end of book one, but by the end of the three books, WS shines through. All characters grow, develop, and maybe the world does become like the fairy tale that Flynn always sees it as. Because that is how I want it to be―I want everyone to be accepted for who they are.

Responsible Adult was my way of raising awareness for a condition that has taken over me and my family’s life. It gave me a chance to have a crack at writing again, within a genre I’d come to love, and it’s an extremely dear-to-me series of books. When people say your book is like your baby, well, this is that and then some. Because my baby is actually in it. Something that I oftentimes wish I hadn’t ever done, but am also proud that I did. My hope is that those who read it, who meet Flynn, will see how he manages to brighten the life of his brother and brings out the best in those who come into contact with him.

This series is about having to grow up, having to make sacrifices, having to make tough choices, and having to take responsibility. Micky is nineteen and had to take care of his little brother after the tragic death of his mother. He’s already harbouring many a secret and had a past life of juvenile delinquency in a small town that he cannot escape from. Micky wasn’t ready, nor equipped, to be sole carer to a disabled child. And, although I am a fair bit older than he, and I, at least, made the choice to have a child, I still feel exactly like he does—juggling through life, making decisions and choices I feel completely unqualified to make. But that’s my lot as a mother. And that is Micky’s lot as a big brother.

If you would like to give this series a try, then Pride Publishing have beautifully accepted to honour Williams Syndrome Awareness Day by offering all three books at a price of 99p each on 18th May 2018.

Link here: https://www.pride-publishing.com/serial/responsible-adult.

If you’d like to learn more about Williams Syndrome, then you can find out all the excellent work that the charities in both the UK and US do here:

www.williams-syndrome.org.uk

www.williams-sydrome.org

These charities are solely run by the parents for the parents. They don’t receive government funding, they rely on donations. Without these charities, many families would be completely isolated in their communities, and I salute the brilliant work they do in raising awareness, giving information, and organising gatherings for all our WS people to chat, laugh, and dance at. Just like we all need to do from time to time.

I’ll finish off by asking that we all try to be a little bit like our Williams Syndrome friends. Be nice. Be kind. Be friendly. And, using the WS motto, please, if only for today, share your heart.

Thank you for listening, giving me this opportunity to share a little of my heart with you all.

C F White xx

Responsible Adult Blurb and Excerpts

Responsible Adult Serial

The Responsible Adult series follows bad boy Micky O’Neill as he attempts to better his life to bring up his disabled little brother. A past full of juvenile delinquency and living in a small town rife with idle gossip means Micky struggles to be seen as anything other than a no-hoper from the wrong side of the tracks… until he takes a job at the local supermarket and meets his boss, Dan, a university graduate and self-proclaimed shy, awkward bookworm.

Dan, older and burned from a past relationship, is the one person who sees through Micky’s tough-guy facade to the true heart underneath. With fear and mistrust on both sides, the two must steer their way through a complicated relationship where outside forces are determined to break them up at every turn.

Responsible Adult is a series about growing up and learning that falling in love always brings responsibility.

Misdemeanor (Responsible Adult #1)

“Your parents not around then?” Dan asked, voice full of concern.

“Nah.” Micky shrugged. “Mum passed away. A while back now. And Dad’s, well, Dad’s not round so much anymore.”

“Workaholic?” Dan asked, almost hopeful.

“Something aholic, yeah.” Micky shuffled his feet on the blanket, bunching it up and flattening it back down. “He’s just not good to be around Flynn.”

“So you take care of him by yourself?”

Micky nodded.

“Wow. That’s…” Dan searched for the word. Three years spent lovingly studying the English language hoping to come into good use this time. “Commendable.”

“Not really,” Micky said, ducking his head. “Any sibling would do it.”

“I don’t know about that, mate. My big sister can be a right cow. She would’ve left me on a doorstep somewhere.”

Micky chuckled. He didn’t pay Dan much attention, choosing to watch Flynn and Tamsin as she spun him on the seated roundabout. Dan watched them, too, for a bit, before turning back to Micky.

“He’s a character,” Dan acknowledged. “There a reason he’s so small?”

Micky finally turned his attention on Dan. “Yeah,” he replied, voice tiny and tight. He scraped his teeth over his bottom lip several times, dragging away the congealed moisture forming over them. “He’s got a condition. He’s a little behind in years, too.”

“Oh,” Dan said. He might have that etched onto his gravestone. “What’s the condition?”

“Williams syndrome?” Micky replied, then, with a shrug, shook his head. “Don’t worry. No one’s ever heard of it. It’s pretty rare. One in twenty thousand or so.”

“Oh,” Dan said. Again. For fuck’s sake.

“So, yeah, I’m sorry about earlier. I probably snapped at you.” Micky twirled the glass in his hand. “The friendly thing. One of the things he’s lacking is any stranger danger. They’re a bit overly social, if you know what I mean. Susceptible to being taken advantage of. Scares the crap out of me.”

Micky dipped his head, shaking it from side to side. He shuffled again and Dan sensed he was clamming up after having been so forthcoming. Dan didn’t want Micky to stop talking. He was strangely fascinated by him. It wasn’t just that the bloke was nice to look at, which he evidently was. But his voice had an undertone of something more and Dan desperately wanted to find out what that was.

“How else does it affect him?” Dan wondered aloud.

“Multitude of things.” Micky exhaled. He took a deep breath before responding any further. “Medical stuff like a weak heart. Had two major heart surgeries as a baby. Will probably need another one in his lifetime. He has stomach troubles. Bowel issues. Weak muscles. The eyes. Teeth. Hyperthyroid. Plus he’s got learning difficulties.” Micky’s eyes glazed over as he swished the glass in his hand. “He’s an eternal child. Sees the world like it should be in a fairy tale, minus the evil characters. Everything is bright and beautiful and everyone is his friend.” Micky paused. “It’s a real shame that life isn’t like that. Because a world full of Flynns would be the one I wanna live in.”

Dan paused for a moment, trying to take it all in. What Micky said. Flynn. The condition. The ideal. And how Micky described it all.

“I’m sorry you’re dealing with all that by yourself,” Dan finally said. “I had no idea.”

He’d just been lusting after his body all week. Now Dan knew the bloke had a soft, loving and caring side, what the hell was that going to do to him now?

Hard Time (Responsible Adult #2)

“I think you’re right,” Dan said.

Micky glanced up, finally looking Dan in the eye. Dan smiled and saw the ease of Micky’s shoulders. He nodded at Flynn.

“Wales would be good for him,” Dan explained.

Micky peered back to his brother and watched for a while. He breathed in deeply and scratched at the contents within his pockets. Dan could practically see the thinking process going on behind his eyes. He had to bite his tongue not to demand that Micky spill whatever was on his mind.

“We could go now,” Micky finally said, still looking out at his brother.

Dan glided the hand ruffling through Micky’s hair down to his back and let it drift away. He shuffled and searched his brain for a response. He seriously hoped Micky wasn’t suggesting what he thought he was. Running now could never be an option. He knew that. Micky would know that. The question was, he supposed, did Micky really care at this point?

“What?” Dan urged quietly.

“Fuck all this, Dan,” Micky said more forcefully and scraped his hands out of his trousers to slap down to his thighs. “Why wait around in fucking limbo, letting other people decide what happens to me? To him.” Micky waved a hand in Flynn’s general direction and turned to finally look Dan in the eye. “To us,” he stated poignantly.

“Micky—” Dan cautioned.

“What, Dan?” Micky scorned. “This place is toxic. For me. For Flynn. I’ve never really understood that until now. Until you.” Micky twisted to face Dan and glided a thumb across his cheek. “There’s a shit ton of bad memories on every street corner here. I need to start fresh. You said you’d always come find me. Or wait for me. But will you follow me?”

Reformed (Responsible Adult #3)

“I miss you, Dimples.”

Dan exhaled. Which probably sounded like a hurricane down the phone. At least Micky chuckled.

“I miss you, too, baby.” Dan curled his hand around the wooden pillar and squeezed, regardless of the splinters it could cause to his palm. “Real bad.”

“I’m going to get better, Dan. I promise.”

Dan blinked. Micky sounded like he was slurring, or that could have been the added distance and crackle of signal going in and out of range.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a shit boyfriend. I know I am. When I get back, I’m going to be better. I swear to fucking God, when Flynn gets outta here, I’m gonna get my head screwed on.”

Dan stumbled forward down the front step, doing his utmost to get a better range of signal. Micky’s voice was garbled and not just because he was pouring his heart out.

“Micky, baby.” Dan sat on one of the wooden benches and rested his elbows on his knees. He was shaking. He didn’t like the way Micky was talking.

“And, y’know, screw you good and proper.”

Dan laughed, but it was drowned out by the raucous one that wafted from the open pub door when a man popped out to light up a cigarette. Dan stood and fumbled farther away from the entrance to the edge of the car park.

“Where are you?”

Dan scrunched up his face. He spun to look back at the Old Red Lion. He should tell the truth. But something in Micky’s voice made him twist and bundle farther into the darkened valley.

“At home. Just putting the rubbish out.”

Dan closed his eyes. There was a brief pause the other end of the line. Dan’s hand shook as he held the phone to his ear.

“I love you, Dan. I do. And I’m sorry.”

“Get home, Micky.” Dan trotted faster down the valley, heading toward home, not bothering to go back for the jacket he’d left on the pub chair. “Bring Flynn home. And we’ll talk it all out.” He practically ran the rest of the way. “I love you, too.”

ON SALE .99¢ MAY 18 @ Pride Publishing

WS Awareness Day

Buy Link

Share Your Heart:

Raising Awareness for Williams Syndrome

www.williams-syndrome.org.uk

www.williams-sydrome.org

CF WHITE
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Pre-Order – Reformed – Book 3 in the Responsible Adult Series – by C F White @CFWhiteUK @PridePublishing #gay #erotic #romance

 

REFORMED

Pre-Order your copy now!

Responsible Adult Series – Book 3

Someone has to be responsible.

 Micky O’Neill and Dan Peters now live in Wales, bringing up Micky’s disabled little brother away from small-minded Heathwood and close to Micky’s deceased mother’s family.

Things are fine…until Dan begins his dream career as an English teacher at the local school and Micky, main caregiver to Flynn, is isolated in a village that only serves to remind him of his mother’s absence.

With Flynn’s health deteriorating and his needs becoming more complex, everything is tested to its limits and Dan seeks solace in a friendship with a fellow teacher, sending Micky into further turmoil.

After an accusation is leveled against Micky and it seems he’s slipping back into his old ways, he and Dan are torn asunder. To repair the rift, both have to accept responsibility—for life.

Publisher’s Note: This book is the third and final book in the Responsible Adult serial and is best read in order.

General Release Date: 5th December 2017

Pre-Order Available Now @     Pride Publishing     *     Amazon

*      Also Available in Print

Other Books in the Series

Book 1 – Misdemeanor

                                       Life isn’t always responsible…

 After his mother tragically dies and his deadbeat father goes off the rails, nineteen-year-old Micky is left to care for his disabled little brother, Flynn.

Juggling college, a dead-end job and Flynn’s special needs means Micky has to put his bad-boy past behind him and be the responsible adult to keep his brother out of care. He doesn’t have time for anything else in his life.

Until he meets Dan…

Available Now @      Pride Publishing     *     Amazon

*      Also Available in Print

Book 2 – Hard Time

Love isn’t always responsible.

 After Micky O’Neill is remanded in custody for breaching his court order, his already tempestuous relationship with Dan Peters is tested to the limits.

Having to battle their way through a court case that could end with Micky in jail, social workers breaking up the family home and the return of Micky’s deadbeat father, it seems everything is set to destroy their relationship before it even has the chance to start.

With such high stakes involved, not just for Micky but for once-burned, twice-shy Dan, they both have to learn that falling in love isn’t always responsible.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of physical altercations; references to suicide of a parent; references to spousal abuse; references to parental violence to child and parental neglect; abandonment; estrangement.

Available Now @      Pride Publishing     *     Amazon     

*    Also Available in Print

C.F.White

Author – Pride Publishing 

Author – Loose ID

Author – Indie

Responsible Adult Serial

Misdemeanor (Responsible Adult #1)

Hard Time (Responsible Adult #2)

Reformed (Responsible Adult #3)

 

St. Cross Series

Won’t Feel A Thing (Coming 19 December by Loose ID)

 

The District Line Series

The District Line

Half Time Big Apple

Extra Time Encore

Follow C F

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New Release from Lucy Felthouse – M/M superhero erotic romance, Unseen @cw1985 @PridePublishing

Blurb:

When a scientific procedure has unexpected results, Rory tries to make the best of a bad situation and ends up becoming an accidental superhero.

Medical scientist Rory is working in his top secret underground laboratory in Central London when a procedure has unexpected results. Far from curing his patient, a monkey called Arnold, of an unpleasant disease, he manages to turn the animal invisible! In his panic, Rory accidentally gets some of the serum he injected Arnold with into his own bloodstream, rendering himself invisible, too. With disbelief and confusion filling his brain, Rory finds it impossible to think straight, much less to figure out what precisely happened, and what on earth he’s going to do about it. So, after stripping off his clothes—which remain visible and therefore would give him away—he heads out into the London night for a walk to try and clear his head. Soon, a series of events lead him into a situation where he takes heroic action to protect somebody from hurting themselves, or someone else. And, just when Rory thinks things can’t get any weirder, he’s found, completely naked, in the home of the man he helped the previous evening. How can he explain his way out of this?

Buy links:

Amazon (universal link): http://viewbook.at/unseen

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2uYqe9s

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2x0SyK5

iBooks UK: http://apple.co/2w9UFxY

iBooks US: http://apple.co/2w6Oewk

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2x0mE0d

Pride Publishing: http://bit.ly/2w6GH0l

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35603735-unseen

Excerpt:

Rory carefully placed the empty syringe into a kidney bowl on a wheeled metal table at his side then snapped off his latex gloves and put them next to the bowl. When he turned back to his workstation, though, the monkey he’d just injected had disappeared.

He blinked, as though his eyes were not functioning correctly and that closing and opening them again would do a hard reset. Like doing a restart on his PC when it acted up. Unfortunately, in the case of his eyes, it didn’t help. He tried again, just to be sure. No such luck. The monkey was still not there.

Shaking his head, he looked around the laboratory. It wasn’t very big, and there was nowhere to hide. Not for a creature the size of Arnold, anyway. Even an escaped mouse would be pretty easy to locate. Rory wondered if perhaps he was asleep and dreaming—vivid and bonkers dreams were a constant in his life. A swift pinch of his arm answered that question. Muttering, he rubbed the afflicted area, the cotton of his lab coat soft beneath his fingers.

He frowned, then frowned some more as a thought occurred to him. A thought so unbelievable, so ludicrous that he couldn’t understand why it had even popped into his brain.

Because it’s the only possible explanation.

He shook his head. No, it wasn’t. There was a perfectly rational explanation for Arnold’s sudden disappearance. He wasn’t where he’d left him, but although he was smart, there was no way in hell he could have escaped the lab. It was impossible. Rory reached into his pocket and clasped the hard plastic of his security pass between his fingers and heaved a sigh of relief. The very idea of a monkey—albeit a tame, friendly one—wandering around the City of London didn’t bear thinking about. And neither did the consequences.

Determined to disprove his silly idea, Rory began searching in earnest for Arnold. It took all of five seconds—he wasn’t underneath the workstation, or behind the large storage unit at one end of the long room. All of the cupboards were closed and locked, and the keys still hung securely on a lanyard around Rory’s neck. There was nowhere else the animal could have gone.

Rory scratched his head, the scientist in him still desperate not to resort to believing the thought that was now flashing on and off in his mind in strobe lighting, unwilling to be ignored any longer.

Invisible. You’ve turned Arnold invisible.

No. No way. He was trying to cure a lethal disease, not create some Harry Potter-esque potion for invisibility. But it was a cloak that made them invisible in Harry Potter, wasn’t it, not a potion? He tutted and sighed, then shook his head.

*****

Author Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller), The Persecution of the Wolves and Hiding in Plain Sight. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 160 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter or Facebook. Sign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBub. Subscribe to her newsletter and get a free eBook: http://www.subscribepage.com/lfnewsletter

Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.

Out Now – Anthem of the Sea – Thom Collins @thomwolf @realthomcollins

Blurb:

An ocean of possibility. For love, revenge and murder.

Daniel Blake, a handsome young singer, boards the Atlantic Anthem in Portugal for the final voyage of her maiden season. The state-of-the-art ship is the jewel in the Royal Atlantic cruise fleet. For Daniel, a one-time boy band member and TV talent show winner, it’s an honor to perform aboard such a vessel. Daniel loves the freedom and adventure of the sea. He began his solo career as a cruise ship entertainer and returning to the ocean as a headline act brings him full circle. He isn’t looking for love.

Neither is comedian Elijah Mann. Working at sea has given Elijah’s career the boost it desperately needed. Often considered too good-looking and sexy to be funny, work has been hard to come by since his TV show was canceled. With a potential new career opening up, he must remain focused. But when Elijah meets Daniel the attraction is mutual and instant. As the ship sets sail for England they have three days to get to know each other. Elijah can’t let that opportunity pass.

The voyage home is far from smooth. Also on board is a figure from Daniel’s past. A man who’s been holding a grudge for years, waiting for his moment. As a storm builds in the North Atlantic, Daniel and Elijah discover that the trip of a lifetime could be their last.

LINKS:

Pride Publishing

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Kobo

Barnes and Noble

 

EXCERPT:

The taxi collected Daniel Blake from the hotel on time. He liked that. Punctuality, efficiency and professionalism—three things he valued in all areas of his career. Be on time and be prepared—that had been his motto since he was fourteen years old. Fifteen years later, he continued to live by it.

He helped the driver load his gear into the trunk. There wasn’t much of it. When on the road, he traveled light with just a medium-sized case, a holdall and a suit carrier. He’d arrived in Lisbon the previous morning, disembarking from a cruise ship, where he’d performed for two nights. His shirts would need washing and his suit pressing before his next show. There was plenty of time.

He gave the driver directions to his designated cruise terminal and climbed onto the back seat. Thankfully, the air conditioning was running. Though it was late October, the outside temperature remained in the mid-eighties and it wasn’t even eleven o’clock. Last night he had heard some of the hotel staff complain about the weather turning cold, but for a boy like him, born and raised in the northeast of England, these climates were well above average. Back home, this would be a hot day in June or July.

It was a short drive to the port. Early in the day, but the streets were busy. Three massive cruise ships were anchored in the harbor, discharging thousands of eager tourists into the city. British, American, German, Japanese, they scurried through the streets, clutching backpacks and maps, keen to explore as much as they could of the historic Portuguese city in the few hours they had here.

Daniel smiled at their faces as they zipped by.

Lisbon, his last stop before home.

The car arrived at the port and within ten minutes Daniel stood beside the gangway with his luggage, waiting for the necessary security calls to be made that would allow him to board the ship. The enormous vessel towered above him, casting a huge shadow across the dock. The Atlantic was one of the biggest and most spectacular cruise ships in the world.

There were a lot of criticisms for super ships such as this. He’d heard them described as floating shopping malls, grotesque monstrosities and budget hotels at sea, but for Daniel there was something quite majestic about the craft and its design, to say nothing of the engineering that went into the construction of such a huge vessel.

“Those things are so top heavy,” a jobbing magician once had told him in a bar. “I hear they roll right over in high seas.”

Daniel had laughed at the man’s ignorance. “And when did you last hear of that happening?”

The man had floundered. “I’m just saying that something so uneven can’t be safe, can it? You won’t ever catch me on one of them things. Mug’s game, isn’t it?”

“It’s your loss,” Daniel had told him cheerily. He felt safer at sea, even in the roughest weather, than he ever had on a plane. Motorways too. It might not be the quickest, but without a doubt it was the most luxurious and extravagant way to travel. He loved being at sea.

Waiting for the security guy to return with his passport, Daniel realized he’d drawn some attention.

A slow stream of passengers was returning to the ship. They couldn’t have seen much of Lisbon, coming back already. Among them was an English family. While the parents lit cigarettes before joining the embarkation queue, the daughter, who looked around fourteen, stared directly at him.

“Hi.” He smiled. “Good day out?”

The girl was plump and pretty with wavy brown hair that fell around her shoulders. She wore a sweet, flowery sundress and red Converse shoes. She blushed as she realized she’d been caught gawking.

“Are you…? Oh, my God, you are, aren’t you? You’re Daniel Blake.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged. Don’t shoot me.”

The girl nervously stepped forward, looking at him with wide, hazel eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting to join the ship. I’m performing on board.”

Her jaw fell. “The Anthem? You’re coming on the Anthem?”

He nodded. He didn’t mind being recognized like this. Daniel was famous enough in the UK, but not so much that it ever became an inconvenience. His fame came from a TV talent show. The public had made him and he appreciated all the support he got.

“Oh my God.” The girl’s face became highly animated. “Mam! Dad! Come here. Oh my God, you won’t believe it. Daniel Blake. It’s actually him.”

Her bemused parents stubbed out their cigarettes and came over. They were an attractive-looking couple of around forty. The girl looked a lot like her father.

“I hope she’s not bothering you,” the dad said, looking cautiously between Daniel and his daughter.

“Not a bit,” Daniel assured him. “It’s a pleasure.”

“Daniel is going to be singing on the ship. Can you believe it? How cool is that?” She grinned a mile wide.

“Starting tomorrow,” he said. “Make certain you get yourselves a great seat down front. I can use all the support I can get.”

“I will, I will. I voted for you every week on The One. You were my favorite from the start.”

“So it’s you I need to thank for winning. What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Julieann.”

“Well, thank you, Julieann. Your votes changed my life.”

The girl blushed violently.

The security officer came back to escort Daniel onto the ship. Before boarding, he posed for photographs with Julieann and her family.

“The girls at school will have a fit when they see these on Instagram,” Julieann said proudly as they took a selfie together.

“See you at the shows,” Daniel said as he walked on board. “And don’t forget—front row. Be there. I’ll look out for you.”

“We’ll definitely be there.”

Once on board, he passed his luggage through the security scanner and was equipped with his sea pass ID, the plastic card that would enable him to move around the ship, access his accommodation and run a tab in the bars and shops. He was greeted on the far side of security by a young woman in a blue shirt and khaki shorts. Her soft blonde hair was tied back from her round, attractive face. She was vaguely familiar from his engagement earlier in the season. He checked her name badge to refresh his memory. Belle Hodges, entertainment crew, from South Australia.

“Hi,” Belle said cheerily. “It’s wonderful to have you back on board.”

She extended her hand and he shook it. “It’s great to be back. Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this since I left in May. How has your maiden season gone?”

“Over too quickly and totally ace. I can’t believe it’s been that long since you were here. Yikes, the time has flown. Let me give you a hand with your stuff.”

“That’s okay. I can manage. Just point me in the right direction and I’ll find my way.”

Ignoring his protests, Belle took up the suit carrier.

“You’re in real luck,” she said. “You’ve been allocated a large stateroom on one of the passenger decks. Balcony and all.”

“You’re joking? Wow. Am I sharing with the house band or a football team?”

Belle giggled, wrinkling her nose. “Silly. You’ve got the whole place to yourself.”

“Seriously? What gives? I never get accommodation like that.”

Belle looked around cautiously and lowered her voice. “We had a family thrown off the ship in Gran Canaria so you’ve got their room. They caused a fight in the martini bar and punched an officer who tried to intervene. Captain Rassimov put them off at the next port. No second chances.”

“Good to know we’re in such firm hands.”

“Captain Rassimov is the best,” Belle gushed.

Daniel didn’t doubt it. He’d met the dashing captain on his last trip. Tall, dark, handsome and extremely charismatic, he sent hearts beating fast among the passengers and crew. If he wasn’t so straight, Daniel would fancy him too. Rassimov was the perfect man to master such a grand vessel.

Launched in May, with a rumored cost of over one-point-five billion, the Atlantic Anthem was coming to the end of its inaugural European season. It was the newest and biggest vessel in the Royal Atlantic fleet. Daniel had spent two nights on board when he’d performed a headline set on the maiden voyage. He’d worked for cruise companies all over the world, but he couldn’t fail to be impressed by the Anthem. It was billed as the ship with everything. From his own experience that was certainly true.

As he walked through the decks with Belle, his sense of excitement increased. The interior was truly splendid. Not a penny had been spared, from the lush carpets to the paintings and sculptures that graced every deck. Before coming on board, he’d read all the specs—about the spa and fitness center, two swimming pools and a solarium, the Royal Theater with nine-hundred-sixty seats, the bars—eight of them across the ship—the main dining room plus three specialty restaurants and a twenty-four-hour café. Several public entertainment areas were situated on Decks Four and Five around a jaw-dropping central staircase. Knowing all of that in advance, he still had been blown away when he’d came upon the ship for the first time. And he felt it now, all over again.

Only the most jaded, spoiled and hard-to-please traveler could fail to be inspired by the Anthem.

They rode one of the glass elevators to the tenth floor where Belle led him down a long corridor to his stateroom in the forward section of the ship.

“Last time, I had an interior cabin in the crew quarters.” He laughed.

“Yep, that’s where they like to cram us in. But now you’ve got this.”

Daniel swiped his sea pass card to enter the room. A major step up from crew class, the room was bright and contemporary, to the standard of any good hotel. He had an enormous double bed all to himself and a sitting area with a long, cream leather sofa. There was a dressing table, minibar, TV, private bathroom and balcony.

“I hope I don’t get lost in here,” he joked, dumping his luggage by the wardrobe.

“As long as you’re on stage for your shows tomorrow night, no one will mind what you get up to in here,” Belle said.

“You can put your mind at ease on that count,” he said. “I’ve been performing since I was fourteen and I’ve never missed a show in my life.”

Belle left him to settle in. Daniel unpacked his clothes first and filled a plastic bag with stuff that needed washing immediately—shirts, socks and underwear. Another great thing about working on a luxury cruise liner—everything was to hand. If he left the bag out today, all the items would be washed, ironed and returned by tomorrow.

He went into the bathroom next, laying out his razor, toothbrush and skincare products. He brought everything with him when he traveled. Though he wasn’t particularly vain, it was important to look good in public.

He didn’t have to worry. At twenty-nine years old—five months shy of thirty—he was in prime condition. He’d never looked better. For years he used to hate the way he looked. Everything about him had been out of proportion, especially his face. Eyes, teeth, nose, chin, they were always too big. But throughout his twenties, the rest of his body had caught up. He’d filled out and gained muscle and his face, which had seemed so awkward in his teens, had developed an extraordinary handsomeness. He had a strong jaw with a cowboy cleft, while his mouth was wide and masculine. With sky-blue eyes and thick brown hair, he had become a good-looking man. Very good-looking.

His confidence hadn’t grown to match his looks. A part of him would always be that skinny, peculiar kid. But only he could see it.

Finally unpacked, he relaxed and walked onto the balcony. He had a great view of the city and the people below, streaming like ants around the port terminals. Daniel took a moment to enjoy it all. He loved just about every part of the cruise experience.

Every ship, every voyage, was a new adventure.

The Atlantic Anthem promised a greater adventure than any other.

He couldn’t wait to get started.

Thom Collins Bio

Thom Collins is the author of the novel Closer by Morning, with Pride Publishing. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and promptly confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

The novellas Gods of Vengeance and Silent Voices were published by Pride in early 2017, followed by the novel Anthem of the Sea, the first book in the Anthem Trilogy. He has recently finished writing the second book in a series and is working on the third.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age. Since taking his first cruise in 2013 he realized that sailing is the way to go.

Links:

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Twitter:   @thomwolf and @realthomcollins

Email: thomcollinsauthor@aol.com

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