Sunday Snippet: Clubbing on Space Station Delta

Halfway through the month and it's nonstop gangbusters. I'm planning a super-secret thing I can't talk about for this Friday. I seriously hope I can pull this off.

The weather is warming up a little, so the snow is finally melting. That also means it's muddy and squishy outside during the day and slippery and slidey at night. I have a pond in my driveway when it's sunny and an ice rink when it gets dark.

Work projects are steady and still coming. I finished up a nightmare project—I hope—and I'm glad to move on from that one. Completed a copy edit and started a new one. Had some hourly editorial review work I started and finished this week. I had another one going that I'm making headway on and I'm finishing up a developmental edit, which I hope to have completed by next week. I also have a backburner project that I need to jump back into. All in all … yeah, it's been busy.

I did manage to get through my usual slate of shows. I even watched some of the Olympic events, but I'm not really following anyone or anything. The skeleton events fascinate me. My idea of fun is definitely not jumping on a tiny sled while going seventy-plus miles—headfirst—down an icy super-slide of death. That said, kudos to the athletes who make it look easy. And scary.

Started the week with Midsomer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. I've been waiting for this one, because the previews were intriguing. Death by cuckoo clock is a wild way to go. Just saying.

Finished up season six of Foyle's War, and I'd forgotten how bleak the end of the war ended up being for everyone. I mean there was obviously a call for celebration, but the uncertainty for all the characters, or most of them, is very strong.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and quite enjoyed Jack and Nikki realizing they don't have a lot of friends outside of their work. I'm very interested in the little beat about Nikki maybe leaving the Lyell to start a new facility. That could prove interesting for next season.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. It's always fun when Miss Lemon saves the day with research. And really nice to see Poirot support a young woman's dreams.

Elementary ended up being very interesting. I love how much Joan wants to help her former patient, but she also didn't discount the aunt's concerns. And Sherlock's ruthless takedown of the CEO ended up being a chef's kiss moment.

Caught another Batman Beyond episode and I believe I'm near the end of the series run. Not sure what I'll pick up next, but I might dive into another Batman series.

Watched the opening episode for season three of Star Trek: Lower Decks and thoroughly enjoyed seeing Beckett interact with her dad. Also loved seeing everyone else in civilian mode. Season three should be a fun ride.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Clubbing on Space Station Delta, a novella that shows perceptions are made to be changed.

Here's the miniblurb:

Macie Gunn discovers a very different side to Nix Handleman, her commanding officer, when they get some downtime on Space Station Delta. Macie likes what she sees but wonders if Nix will keep the stick out of his ass once they return back to duty. Nix loves taking Macie by surprise but doesn't quite trust her enough to take things further … after all, Macie never met a secret she didn't want to spill. Each has to show some trust in the other's ability to change, and they only have a weekend to do it.

And a sneaky peek…

Macie clocked the moment Nix entered Club Loco, but she played things cool by staying at the bar, twirling her club soda in the glass.

Nix made his way to her side. "Mace, care to dance?" He propped an elbow on the gleaming surface of the bartender's workspace.

Macie lifted on shoulder. "Eh, maybe." Nix should have to work a little after leaving her hanging last night.

Nix's eyebrows arched. "You're not really gonna play the angry card, are you?" He reached out and ran his finger over the coaster under her drink.

Macie frowned. "I'm not pissed…" She lowered her voice. "More like restless and frustrated." Not a good mix.

Nix gave a commiserating nod. "Yeah, I feel that. In fact…" He leaned in closer and put his mouth next to her ear. "I couldn't sleep until I rubbed one off because I kept picturing you sprawled naked on my bed."

His words and voice made her hot and tingly. "Shit." He amazed her a little with the admission.

He grunted. "Yeah, I can't share the details of my dreams. I'd get arrested." He pushed away from the bar and nodded toward the dance floor. "Join me?" He swiveled his hips and moved his feet to the beat of the music.

She definitely saw Nix in a whole different light now.

Sliding off the stool, she grabbed his hand and followed him to the squared off space filled with writhing bodies. Nix kept pushing boundaries, altering her perception of him. He got a little kinky on the dance floor, grinding his groin into her ass, letting her know exactly how much she affected him. Her temperature kept climbing and her body vibrated with need.

An hour later, they found a corner table to quench their thirst and catch their breath.

Nix scooted closer after they gave their order to the server. "I've been trying to imagine what you've got on under your skirt…" His hand slid down to her thigh.

Macie smiled. "Maybe I don't have anything on…" Not true, but she loved the flare of heat in his gaze.

His palm inched under the skirt and a grin spread across his face. "I'm gonna go with red … because, while black is sexy, you're a trailblazer and dance to your own tune." His fingers slipped under the lacy fabric of her panties.

Macie sucked in a breath. "Whew. Not that I don't love seeing this side of you, but I'm a little surprised." She purposefully didn't confirm his guess.

Nix gave her a sly look. "Assumptions can get you into trouble."

Her face flamed. "Point taken. It's hard to wrap my head around the idea you've got something of a kinky nature." And she loved it.

Nix rolled a shoulder. "Figured you'd be okay with it." He removed his hand but left her skirt ruched up.

Macie nodded. "Definitely okay." She tilted her head. "Still a little shocked."

His lips quirked. "Look, I don't blame you. But you know a thing or two about pushing boundaries. This is my way of breaking through and doing something a little wild."

Macie gave a nod. "I think I understand. The question now is, can you trust me to keep my big mouth shut?"

Nix arched a brow. "Can I?"

Macie gave him a slow, wide grin. "Absolutely. You've given me a whole new way to push the envelope." One she would very much enjoy.

Nix leaned in close again. "Then let's get out of here." She started to get up but he halted her progress. "Leave the panties behind."

Her heart tripped over the thought.

She shuddered but complied, slipping the scrap of fabric past her hips and down her legs. She placed the lingerie on the seat between them. Nix flashed a grin because he'd guessed the correct color, then scooped the panties up and tucked them into his pocket.

Macie slid out of the booth and headed toward the exit almost vibrating from the thrill of what would soon follow.

I love writing Macie and Nix. Nix is so much fun because Macie is an apt pupil and he enjoys tilting her world sideways.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

 

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Close Quarters (Scorched Galaxy book two)

February is going to be a wild month. It's already shorter than average and my project load is intense plus I have two birthdays hitting a week apart. A big one for the husband, which involves a super-secret aspect that's challenging to pull off.

Ohio is still deep into its cold spell, which I'm actually okay with. We're also still digging out of the huge snowfall we got last week. It's hilarious that I get stuck in my own driveway. But I do.

As mentioned, work projects are falling out of the sky right now and that's not a bad thing. But it is a bit of a hurdle to manage making sure they're all getting the attention they need. I'd love to have about five more hours each day.

Had a better than normal viewing week. Some of my projects involve tedious busywork, and it's nice to have something on in the background. I even got to one of my back-burner shows.

Started off with Midsommer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It also made me want to take up lawn bowling. I remember playing something like that, along with croquet, when little.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and it's one I remembered well from the original watch. I have one more episode in the sixth season and I'm looking forward to watching it this week.

Watched the second half of Silent Witness and whew! So many twists and turns. And, of course, the obnoxious asshat is the actual target … yet somehow manages to come through partially unscathed. Really loved the team doing what they needed to do regardless of the consequences.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Loved how he got a chance to revisit a murder he wasn't allowed to solve the first time. Lots of twisty turns.

Elementary didn't disappoint with the opening of the fifth season. I love that Joan probably saved her former patient by offering a helping hand. Also love that Sherlock recognized she needed something more.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and kind of loved the teamwork with Gotham PD and taking down the poacher. I'd forgotten about this episode.

Watched the season two finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks and, wow, what a way to end the season. Looking forward to catching what happens next.

Also started another episode of Peak Practice. It's painful to watch Sam completely fall from grace. I might end up forwarded through some of it because it hurts to watch.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Close Quarters, the second book in a spicy space opera trilogy.

Here's the miniblurb:

After trying to outmaneuver their crew mates who bet on whether they'd ever hook up, Molly and Sloan discover an abiding love and embark on a committed relationship. Their biggest problem? Trying to figure out how to live in close quarters without making each other insane.

And a sneaky peek…

Sloan let Molly tug him into the bedroom. She hadn't given him an answer, but he wouldn't complain. If a nice, hot romp got him any closer to having a living space he could at least walk through, he'd be stupid to question it.

But … he wouldn't let incredible sex distract him from his final goal.

Something about being surrounded by reams of paper made his skin itch.

When Molly leaned back on the bed, he removed his shirt, watching as she slid down her pants. "So, what's the plan, Molls?" He shoved his trousers down and Molly sat up, removing her final bits of clothing … still not answering him. "Are you aiming to make me forget the mess in the next room?" Kicking his pants off, he arched a brow.

She shrugged one shoulder and scooted back on the bed. Using her finger, she made a twirling motion, suggesting he get his butt moving and join her on the mattress.

He crawled over top of her and gazed down at her smiling face.

She finally answered with a question. "Is it working?" She made her eyes wide and tried to look innocent.

Sloan shook his head no.

Molly blew out a resigned sigh. "Oh, well, worth a try."

Sloan grinned then leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, teasing them open with his tongue. Once he gained access, the kiss deepened and the familiar fire flared between them. As far as distractions went, she picked a good one.

And … now that Molly had what she wanted—namely a postponement to deal with the chaos—he didn't doubt they'd be working the rest of the night on getting things organized.

A small price to pay to maintain his sanity.

Even if it meant staying up until the wee hours.

I have so much love for this series and I've been working on it for, well, a really long time.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Climate Control

Man, January felt like it flew by but also seemed like it lasted a full decade. It's so weird how that happens. It could also be because I've been fighting a yucky cold and I'm not enjoying that at all.

Ohio has been in the longest cold spell I can remember. Highs only in the teens and lows in the single digits or below zero. Usually, we'll get that for a day or three. But this has been going on for over a week. At least I haven't had to go out much and deal with the brutal temperatures.

Had a fairly busy work week. Finished up the romantasy copy edit and did a little more on the manuscript that needed TLC. I'm digging into the memoir and getting it ready for a copy edit by another editor. I struggled through endnote hell with my regular author's project. Weirdly, I've had significantly more projects with footnotes or endnotes lately. It's not a trend I enjoy, but it's a new challenge, which I do like.

Had an okay viewing week. I made it through a full round of shows, which included starting a new season of one of my regulars. If possible, I might try to add a random backburner show this week.

Started season twenty-five of Midsommer Murders, and the opening episode didn't disappoint. Someone mentioned on BlueSky that this season is filled with humorous moments and that makes me so happy. Looking forward to more.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War with the opening of season six. A full year passed with Christopher no longer working as a policeman. Of course, he got sucked back in and the team is back together.

Watched the first of a two-part Silent Witness and, whew, what an episode. I have a fairly good idea of where this one is going and it's not pretty. Nikki is going to have her hands full when she's back at the Lyell.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I love how many pursuits Hastings has. Hunting, golf, driving, and of course, working with Poirot. And Miss Lemon is a true gem.

Elementary ended it's fourth season with an interesting twist. I kind of enjoyed the whole Moreland Holmes arc. I'm looking forward to what season five brings to the table.

Watched another Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Bruce's dip in the Lazarus pool made a great episode, especially with being able to fight off a group of thugs with Terry. Such a fun episode.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks and enjoyed it. Very fun to see Klingon and Vulcan lower deck crews. And the end scene with the Borg lower deck was kind of funny.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Climate Control, a sexy short that brings a couple together when their ship's climate control goes wonky.

Here's the miniblurb:

When the climate control on their ship goes haywire, Ned and Lakin have to cool things down then heat things up. During the wait for a fix, they discover a mutual attraction, and the temperature goes from chilly to blazing in record time.

And a sneaky peek…

Lakin paused just outside the spray of water, and Ned reached out to clasp her palm. "Come on. Get in here." He gave her a playful tug, dragging her closer to the blast of cold water.

She let out a laugh that she quickly swallowed with a harsh intake of breath once the chilly stream pelted her. "Holy shit, that's cold." She shuddered a little.

Ned's hand slid up her arm. "Yeah, well, you're so hot I'm surprised the water isn't making steam rise off your skin." Good cover for his slip of the tongue.

Lakin Pope made his temperature … and other things … rise whenever she walked into his orbit. Definitely not a hardship to share the shower with her. Even when they each had goosebumps now peppering their bodies.

Lakin ducked her head under the spraying stream. "Whew. Talk about a cool down." She swiped her hand over her hair, clearing it from her eyes.

Ned's lips quirked. "I'd say we maybe have five minutes before everyone else is crowding in here and mucking up our little slice of wonderful." He backed under the water, letting the stream flow over his back and shoulders.

Lakin's gaze went to the changing area. "Not sure we'll even have that long." She grimaced.

Sure enough, the door flung open and four people walked in. Ned shared a wry smile with Lakin and cut the water. She snagged a towel from the shelf and handed it to him, then grabbed one for herself.

Ned wrapped the rectangle around his waist and waited for Lakin to cover her torso. They made their way to their lockers, sidestepping the others in their mad dash to hit the stalls.

Lakin pulled her locker open. "I'm going with the bare minimum." She retrieved a pair of hipster briefs and a sports bra.

Ned nodded. "Yeah, good plan." He grabbed a loose-fitting tank and knit boxers.

Once dressed, he shoved his feet into a pair of nonslip mesh shoes.

Lakin's head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, great choice." She slipped a pair on. "Nothing worse than wearing boots when it's ninety degrees." She took her towel and rough-dried her hair.

Ned shut his locker and jerked his head toward the exit. "Ready to see if we can find somewhere semi-cool to wait out the heatwave?"

Lakin snorted. "A challenge if there ever was one." She inclined her chin. "Maybe if we turn the lights down in quarters, it'll be bearable." She palmed a deck of cards and arched her brows.

Not a terrible idea. Too damn hot to do much else.

Ned grinned. "I think we have a plan." He swept his arm out, indicating she should precede him out of the head.

Lakin smirked but didn't argue. And … if he didn't miss his guess, she added an extra swish to her hips while walking toward quarters.

Which meant he very much enjoyed the view. How did I not notice how great her ass looks?

This is such a fun little story. Lakin and Ned are a cool soon-to-be couple.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye