Well, it's homecoming weekend and our football team won the game last night, which is an amazing feat. They came from behind and pulled out the win. The weather took a cool turn and the group we hosted for the pre-festivities had a lovely evening to take pictures.
Had a super-busy week leading up the big group activity, but I did get some solid viewing in. I'm working through Luke Cage and I like the newest season but I'm a little disappointed in pushing the anger angle. I'm hoping it ends up being worth the character assassination. Looking forward to the second season of Iron Fist.
Caught the third episode of Driven, Passionflix's first limited series. I'm really enjoying this one. So far, everything they've released is pretty terrific. Can't wait for the holiday offering this year.
The Last Ship's second episode kicked some serious butt. I hang on the edge of my seat each week to see what happens next. The hour flies by too. Why can't time move that fast when I'm stuck waiting somewhere? LOL
Also got another episode of Peter Gunn's first season out of the way, along with several episodes of Classic Who. Watched the second episode of Penny Dreadful and, holy crap, there's some crazy stuff going on in this show. I love it.
Caught episode five of Wynonna Earp. This show improves with every new twist. Not sure how I feel about Mamma Earp, but I'm in for the ride. Also watched an episode of The Dresden Files. Someday I need to read the books this series was based on.
Caught the next to last episode of Canal Road. As I predicted in something like episode two or three, my money is on the lawyer for setting everything in motion and getting rid of Spencer's family. We'll see if I'm right with the final episode.
I watched the DVD of Hairspray and really liked it. This is a movie I didn't catch the first time around and I had fun watching.
The rest of the week, I filled in with the usual marathons of Murder, She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. I'm pretty sure I've almost made my way through both series with only a few hit-or-miss episodes being left to watch.
That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Strategic Wagers, a sexy short that started with a writing community prompt.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Onyx West and Lev Thorogood, friends and fellow crewmates, have the best kind of friendly rivalry. But when Onyx decides she can best Lev at a game of strategy, something he rarely loses, she pulls out all the stops to win.
And a sneaky peek…
The night started out innocently enough. An offhand wager from Onyx West saying she could win a strategy game against him.
Lev Thorogood quirked a brow. "Strategy isn't your strong suit, Onyx. You tend to fly by the seat of your pants." They'd had these little bets since getting stationed at the same base.
Onyx smirked. "But my lucky streaks are legendary, Lev. Try not to forget that."
How could he? First came cards, the wager that started it all. And Onyx had him there. Her hot runs rarely cooled off long enough to let anyone win, least of all him.
But, oh, man… the fun. His brain flipped all the way to the Broward and the lovely little glimpse she'd given him into her psyche. Even if she didn't mean to provide one.
Onyx cut the deck. "Come on. Someone has to be willing to sit at the table with me."
A chorus of groans went around the rec room. No one had anything left to lose. She'd cleaned everyone out.
Lev pulled out a chair. "Let's change things up a little." He sank down and kicked his feet out, settling in.
Onyx tilted her head. "What do you have in mind?"
Lev flashed a smile. "Something simple. High card wins." Evened up the odds a little.
So he thought.
Onyx grinned. "Okay. What's the bet?" Her nimble fingers shuffled the cards several times.
Lev took a moment to reply. "Best of five? You pick the spoils."
Onyx put the deck in front of him. "Let's go with shots. Alcohol of choice." She tapped the cards.
Lev cut and nodded in her direction. "Done. You draw first." His lips curved when she overturned a three of clubs.
He flipped over a jack of spades.
Onyx slid the cards his way. "Looks like the jack buried my poor little three." She snagged a jack of hearts on her next turn.
Lev came up with a seven of the same suit. "And your jack stomped all over my hearts."
Onyx laughed. "So sorry. I'm a heartbreaker." She gave him a saucy wink.
The play continued with puns and innuendo flying. They got to a point where he owed her three shots and she owed him two. Lev enjoyed the banter and liked the fact the stakes were fairly even.
And he truly loved sitting across from the hottest female in the squadron. Getting caught up in the playful exchange, he could almost ignore the fact they were on a military base in the middle of an asteroid belt. The risqué back and forth with Onyx had him turned on and ready for action.
Until one of the pilots walked by and delivered a cold splash. "Geez, find an empty supply closet somewhere." He rolled his eyes and stalked away.
Onyx cringed. "Damn. Almost forgot we had an audience." She cast her gaze around the room and sank down a little in her seat.
Lev put the brakes on his libido. Too soon. And from the look on Onyx's face—a cross between mortification and disappointment—she'd come to the same conclusion.
Swiping the cards off the table, she met his gaze. "So, yeah, I should hit my rack." She got up and pushed her chair up against the table, regret tingeing her voice and her gaze clouded.
Lev waited until she started to walk past him. "Hey…" He grasped her forearm. "This is just us dialing it back a little and taking some time, okay?" His fingers trailed down to capture hers.
Her brown eyes flared with renewed interest and a little calculated speculation. "Yeah. I think that's a good idea." Squeezing his hand, she tucked the cards in her pocket and made her way to the exit.
Lev moved his feet up onto her seat and scrunched down in his chair. He didn't like to rush things. He needed to know what he might get into with the gorgeous pilot. Onyx had an enter-at-your-own-risk vibe and he kinda wanted to discover why. He loved puzzles… and Onyx should prove to be an interesting one to figure out.
The back and forth with Lev and Onyx is so much fun to write. This hot little game gets steamy between them.
That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.
ML Skye
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