Sunday Snippet: Call the Ball

Today is my middle kid's birthday. Something fun to celebrate in the middle of January when the weather is often full of yuck, which it is today.

It's been a weird, wet week in Ohio. Mostly rain, but we got some snow last night and early this morning. We'll have more snow and rain throughout the week with maybe one day of no moisture falling from the sky. We also had some back-and-forth temperatures again, which makes my sinuses cranky.

Work projects continued with good progress. I have a new project starting this week and a catch-up call with an author on when to get their new book started through the editing process. Also making great progress on the memoir and series developmental edits.

Had a solid week of viewing. I made it through the full slate of shows I normally watch and hope to do the same this week. I'm close to being able to start the new season of at least one of my fave shows and I can't wait.

Started out with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it's one of my favorite ones. I'll be watching the finale this week and then move on to the movie.

Ended up watching the whole episode of Foyle's War, which I actually remembered. It's also the last one in season four, because it only had two episodes. I'll be starting the new season this week.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and, whew, it definitely had some twisty turns. Such a good episode! Starting a new two-parter this week.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Interesting to have a plane involved in the mystery and fun to know Poirot isn't any fonder of flying than he is of sailing.

Watched an episode of Elementary and thoroughly enjoyed watching Moreland and Gregson go head-to-head about Sherlock and Joan. Kind of glad Moreland didn't actually have his employee killed. Also quite love that he didn't clock Joan as being as sneaky as she is.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and loved seeing Inque again. I remembered this one and enjoyed how it ended.

Enjoyed an episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. I'm finally warming up to Mariner. The dual storyline with the chief engineer ended up being a lot of fun.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Call the Ball, a fun story of how a couple ends up together when one gets a bump in rank.

Here's the miniblurb:

Gwen keeps a tightly controlled leash on her feelings for Tag, thinking if she gives up control, she'll get lost in the passion. But when a simple game throws them together, she has to take a chance to see if sparks fly and, if so, how to quench the flame.

And a sneaky peek…

Tag didn't have to say anything else. Everyone—even Biggie—gathered their stuff and left to find other entertainment without argument. Tag had the best group of officers in the galaxy.

He turned to face Gwen. "Still want—" He didn't get to finish the question because Gwen lifted her chin to meet his mouth in another steamy kiss.

Before it got too heated, she eased away. "Yes. I want." She frowned. "But where?" She sent a pained look toward the small space they'd just shared.

The idea of going back in the locker obviously did not appeal.

Tag grasped her hand. "I know just the place." His skin tingled where it touched hers.

She had him hot and raring to go. Might be a one-time thing and he'd be okay with that … even if he wanted more. He wouldn't push her too hard or fast. Not when he'd finally made headway.

They exited the rec room with their fingers barely touching. He liked the contact but didn't want to put her on the spot. Not when the corridors had random crew members milling around.

Taking the steps down to the next deck, he went deeper into the ship. Gwen gave him a side-eye but didn't question him. His lips twitched a little. He hoped she'd appreciate the place he had in mind.

When he stopped outside one of the simulation rooms, she narrowed her gaze.

He quickly keyed in the entry code and undogged the hatch. "It'll be nice and quiet in here and no one should bother us." Ducking inside, he flipped the minimal lighting on then tugged her inside the space and redogged the hatch.

She glanced around. "Why did you pick the sim room?" Walking further into the dimly lit area, she trailed her fingers over the nose of the practice plane.

Tag grinned. "You like to be in control, and this is the closest we'll get to a cockpit right now." He moved up close to her and propped a shoulder on the metal simulator.

Gwen laughed even as her face reddened. "Talk about a variation on a theme." She hooked her fingers over the waistband of his fatigues and put her forehead on his shoulder.

Tag wrapped his arms around her. "I hoped you'd like the location."

Gwen mumbled against his shirt. "I do. It's perfect."

I have a lot of fun with short and sexy stories. Tag and Gwen are a joy to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Call the Ball

Whew! Welcome to December. I had a crazy week of trying to find a working stove… okay, a stove with a working oven. It's funny. We get a new furnace and literally two days later, our oven takes a flying leap. The good news is, I didn't have to cook for the US Thanksgiving and we found a new stove.

Television took a back seat to both work and shopping for kitchen appliances. I did get the Murdoch Mysteries episode finished up and enjoyed it a lot.

I also caught a binge-watch of the Green Hornet. I love the vibe of that show. The movie vibe? Not so much.

Then… I fell down the Gilmore Girls rabbit hole and got sucked into a marathon that's still going on. I'd forgotten how much I really liked this show… even when the characters sometimes drove me bonkers.

I will say it's a great show to watch when insomnia strikes. And, man, the insomnia has been a right pain in my ass this past week. Actually, it's been longer than the week, but it really kicked in on Monday and hasn't backed off yet.

That's pretty much it for the mundane real-life stuff this week. Tonight's post is from Call the Ball, a sexy short that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gwen keeps a tightly controlled leash on her feelings for Tag, thinking if she gives up control, she'll get lost in the passion. But when a simple game throws them together, she has to take a chance to see if sparks fly and, if so, how to quench the flame.

And a sneaky peek…

Tag frowned. "Why does she always clam up around me?" Every single time he entered her vicinity, Gwen got quiet and edgy.

Or snarky and snappish.

He huffed out a breath. "Flies like a seasoned veteran though." The woman could make planes dance to her tune.

Turning around, he found an empty table and settled down in one of the seats. He liked Gwen. She had a solid rep among the pilots and she worked her ass off to earn her promotion, which he helped decide. Her skill in the cockpit gave her high marks. But her people skills lacked polish. And he could help her develop those.

He kicked back in the chair. "If I can get a handle on why she gets skittish around me." He wanted her transition to the senior ranks to go smoothly.

Maybe the rec room antics later would loosen her up a little. If not, he'd have to have a discussion with Gwen to find out if she had issues he didn't know about. Earning her trust mattered, especially when the senior officers had to work so closely together. He enjoyed a great rapport with all of his pilots and he wanted to find an inroad with Gwen.

Barlow Biggles stopped by the table. "Is everyone going to be there tonight?"

Tag nodded. "Yeah, just had West confirm. Party of eight at eight."

Barlow's lips kicked up in a grin. "Nice to have new blood. I hope she's down for having a good time with our crazy bunch." He strolled away to dump his tray.

Tag had no idea if Gwen would enjoy the silly and sometimes juvenile games the senior pilots loved to play. But it would be a good test to see how well she'd fit in. And hopefully give him a clue how to get him to open up a little.

This is a fun little story to dive into. I'll see if I can't get it finished up and out into the world.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Call the Ball

Another week of not losing any favorites on The Last Ship. Now I'm really concerned whoever is next will completely gut me. The Greens need to stay safe, at least long enough for a lovely family reunion. I actually fear something will happen to Mrs. Green because that's so not the obvious choice. I'll say this… if the president or Jacob the asshat reporter tries to harm her, I'll come after them. (In actuality, it'll probably be the blonde advisor—whose name I can't be bothered to remember—who does something awful to Kara, which, yeah, will add her to my list of 'deserves to die in a fire' candidates.)

Killjoys had a terrific episode this week. I'm excited to watch the next episode. Really interested in finding out more about Dutch's history, but I also want to see more about Johnny and D'Av, too. Sprinkling in small details about Pree, Pawter, and Alvis along the way is always welcome, too. I'm a little less into the whole nine thing, but I could become intrigued if they play that out a little over this season and really dive into it during the next season. (hint, hint).

Dark Matter jumped up on the interest chart again. I have a sneaky feeling there's been a switcheroo regarding One and I'm looking forward to finding out if my theory is correct. That said, I'm enjoying the dynamic with the remaining crew and the newcomers. We'll see if that continues. J

Babylon 5 and Strike Back rewatches are ongoing. I'm leaning toward a Banshee binge since I'll finish up Strike Back before B5 is complete. I'm also debating whether to start a few of the Netflix series I've wanted to dive into. Decisions, decisions.

Enough TV. Tonight's post is from Call the Ball, a sexy short built around the prompt of "a grown-up version of 'seven minutes in heaven'". Too much fun!!

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gwen keeps a tightly controlled leash on her feelings for Tag, thinking if she gives up control, she'll get lost in the passion. But when a simple game throws them together, she has to take a chance to see if sparks fly and if so, how to quench the flame.

And a sneaky peek…

Gwen West put her tray in the slot for cleaning and dumped her trash in the bins. Weird how becoming a full lieutenant didn't change much of anything. She still ate at the same time, usually alone, and had the same flight rotation. Oddly, she expected to at least feel different, but no, not so much. The extra bar on her collar looked nice, but everything else stayed pretty much the same.

Okay with her, for the most part. She'd hoped she might… well… gain a little boost of confidence with her promotion. Should have known better. Self-assurance had to come from within, not from a bump in rank or an extra stripe.

Dammit, she used swagger with the best of them. One wrong move tore her bravado to shreds. No, one stupid mistake set her back and she had to suck it up and move the hell on or risk being trapped by her past.

"Yo, West. Glad I caught you."

Tag Locksley. Her heart hammered. Gwen flicked her gaze in his direction, taking in the incredible vision of male perfection. She quickly looked away. Her reaction to her superior officer served as a good reminder… of why a sharply handsome face, sexy voice, and a lean and cut body would definitely get her into trouble.

Risking another quick glance and cursing her accelerated pulse rate, she quirked an eyebrow. "Did you need me for something?" God. Stupid response, Gwen.

Tag flashed a smile. "Not yet. But later, the senior officers are meeting in the lounge." His lips curved in a full grin. "And since you're now a senior officer, you should be there."

Gwen sucked in a breath. Wow. The unofficial gathering spot for blowing off steam used to be off limits. Junior officers always steered clear and she'd been one of those less than a week ago.

Tag shot her a sideways glance. "What? You've got other plans?"

His gravelly voice sent a zing of awareness shooting through her and sounded an alarm in her head. But the incredulous tone stopped her from being completely stupid.

She shrugged. "Nothing specific. What time did you have in mind?" Excitement mixed with wariness.

Gwen wanted to experience the camaraderie with the senior officers, but being the newest in their midst had nervous tension settling between her shoulders.

Tag lifted a shoulder. "Eh, sometime around seven." He planted a hand on the bulkhead not far from her head. "Plan on a late night. We'll be celebrating your new status."

Gwen suppressed a shudder and unglued her tongue from the roof of her mouth. She so needed to get over the crazy attraction for him. Wetting her lower lip, she tilted her head to one side, studying the almost challenging glint in his gaze.

Ducking under his arm, she started toward the exit. "Seven o'clock." Sparing a quick backward glance, she nodded. "I'll make the time to be there."

Sailing through the open doorway, she willed her heartbeat to slow down and prayed she didn't trip over her feet. The last thing she wanted? To appear inane and not up to par with the rest of the officers.

Or Tag Lockesly

Having a good time with this one. Need to find a few more spare moments to finish up and make it shine.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Call the Ball

Greetings!

So, I'm getting ready to celebrate being for twenty-four years as of tomorrow, April 22. Gotta say, I'm happy I found a great man who puts up with my overwhelming need to write and be creative. He might not always get the why of it, but he stands behind me nonetheless.

Happy anniversary, wonderful man!

Tonight's post is from Call the Ball, a manuscript I hope to make both hot and humorous. I'm not always great with the comedy, but Gwen and Tag are bringing it so far. Fingers crossed it continues.

Here's the tagline:

Gwen keeps a tightly controlled leash on her feelings for Tag, thinking if she gives up control, she'll get lost in the passion. But when a simple game throws them together, she has to take a chance to see if sparks fly and if so, how to quench the flame.

And here's the sneaky peek…

Gwen rose from her spot at the table. "I can't believe I let myself get talked into this juvenile game." She glanced around, eyeing everyone in the room. "Whose idea was this anyway?"

Barlow Biggles, also known as Biggie, raised his hand.

Gwen snorted. "Figures. Anything for a cheap thrill, right, Biggie?"

She rolled her eyes, hoping it masked the nervous tension she couldn't shake. Seven damn minutes with Tag Locksley. He'd know. And she didn't think she'd be able to deal with it if he laughed in her face.

Sucking it up, she walked across the room and followed Tag into the closet. The walls immediately closed in when the hatch shut behind her. She needed to get grip. Fast. But how? She figured her standard fallback of snark and sarcasm would be a safe bet.

Whirling around, she paced the small space. "This has to be the lamest of the lame. Who needs a stupid game to get it on with someone?"

Tag leaned a shoulder against the bulkhead. "I think the point is you don't know who you'll end up with." His eyes followed her back and forth motion.

Damned man. Cool and calm, and way too casual. She wanted to bounce his head off the walls.

She shot him a scathing look. "Yeah, I don't like that either."

Tag straightened. "Because it's me, right?" He heaved a sigh. "It figures."

She stopped and faced him. "What?" How did he know? Wait, maybe he didn't. She quickly back-pedaled. "No. Geez, Tag. Calm down."

He gave her a pointed glance. "I'm not the one climbing the walls in here, Gwen. You are."

Shit. He had her there.

She scrambled for a reply. "I don't like to be forced into small spaces, all right?"

His brows scrunched. "You're a pilot. You sit in a cramped cockpit. Try again."

No way would she admit he made her nervous in this particular small space.

She shrugged. "I'm in control there. Here? Not so much."

His eyes narrowed for a moment and he pondered her. She didn't like the knowing look settling in his gaze.

His head tilted back. "Ah. I see." He pushed away from the wall.

She also didn't like his know-it-all tone. Or the way he slowly strode toward her in the cramped area.

She took a step back. "See what, exactly?"

Why the hell didn't they make larger supply closets? She had nowhere to go and Tag crowded into her personal space.

He lifted a shoulder. "Your problem." He paused, halting his progress.

She tilted her head. "I don't have a problem." Not one she'd own up to anyway.

His lips curved. "Yes, you do."

She snorted. "No, I don't. This is juvenile. We're not twelve."

Tag barely bit back a retort. He struggled to keep his lips from twitching and Gwen gave him credit for succeeding. She also thanked the universe he didn't point out she'd acted about five years old since they'd walked into the closet.

Tag changed the subject. "Let's focus on the problem."

Gwen argued. "I do not have a problem." Again, not one she wanted to share with him.

His head shook back and forth. "Gwen, you so do." He moved a step closer.

She held her ground. "Okay, what it is then?" The strong urge to dart around him and get some breathing room briefly flitted through her head.

Tag made sure she couldn't, propping his hands on the bulkhead, boxing her in before speaking. "You need to be in charge." He edged closer. "Well, Gwen. I can let you be in charge. We've got what? Four minutes left? Five?"

She nodded, jerkily, unable to utter a word.

A slow smile curved his lips and he eased closer. "Okay, then, you have the ball. Call it."

Now she really didn't know what to do. His breath fanned her face and his lips hovered over hers, barely a whisper away.

She caved and went with the moment. "Kiss me."

He didn't hesitate. His mouth crushed hers and…oh, holy shit…the man could melt metal with his lips. He cupped her face and she leaned into the kiss. Her hands moved up, skimming over his biceps, before trailing down to grasp his hips. He backed her against the wall, the hard ridge of his cock pressing along her stomach. A muffled moan stuck in her throat and the image of his naked body entwined with hers took up residence in her head. She got lost in the picture of his skin sliding against hers and when he pulled away, she gasped and leaned forward, wanting more.

She blinked. "Why'd you stop?"

He rasped, "Time's up. Game over."

His voice had a whiskey smooth quality to it and he swallowed hard, his tongue jutting out to lick his bottom lip.

"Fuck me." She barely held back a shudder and raised her gaze to his. "Can we—"

He nodded, a quick jerk of his head. "Oh hell, yeah."

The hatch swung open and Tag stepped in front of her, giving her a much needed few seconds to get her scattered self together. She dragged in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, willing her racing pulse to slow down.

Tag snorted and stepped out of the supply closet. "Okay, we're done here. Everyone's had their fun and games." He jerked his head toward the exit. "Move out."

Sorry to leave it there, but needless to say, the temperature is going to rise significantly in the rec room. Oooh, la, la.

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

ML Skye