Sunday Snippet: Down and Dirty (Scorched Homeworld Companion Read)

I think we're starting to get used to our state of affairs. For me, it's not a huge change. The household still has three workers deemed essential and one who can work depending on the weather. Financially, we're feeling a pinch but not a hard bite. We're still trying to show support for the restaurants and local businesses to help ease their concerns.

Kind of a slow week for television, mainly because I've been feeling kind of blah. When the weather goes from warm to cold then back again twice in one week, I react poorly. My sleep schedule is way out of whack right now. Bleh.

I finished up Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears. I loved it!! The conclusion ended up being perfect with a callback to the series and Phryne's biggest fear. And the movie let Phryne stay in character so to speak. I won't spoil anything but the romance ended up being exactly right for Phryne and Jack.

I also got to check out the behind the scenes footage and a Q and A with Essie Davis. Fun stuff. If you get a chance, check this movie out on Acorn.

Watched the penultimate episode of season one Peak Practice. I'll finish up the series this week coming up. I can quite decide if I like Will or if I think he's a complete prat. Or … if I actually like him because he's a prat. LOL

Caught the Death to the Daleks arc of Classic Who. I'm not sure how many episodes are left in season eleven, but I'm looking forward to revisiting the fourth doctor in the next series.

I decided to see if I can catch some musicals and concerts that are streaming right now. I watched an amalgamation of Cirque du Soliel, featuring Amaluna and two other shows. I'll be watching another one later this week and then searching for a musical or orchestra concert to watch.

I'm doing a trial with CBS All Access and watched the first episode of Picard. I'm intrigued. The reviews were mixed but I can safely say I kind of want to know what the hell is going on with the Romulans and the Borg and the federation and AIs. I'll be tuning in for another episode for certain.

Caught episode four of Strike Back. I'm very pleased one of the characters got to live to see another day. I love how much Chetri does on the down-low. I also love how Coltrane does what he thinks he should do but changes on the fly when loyalty comes into play. This show … I'm going to miss it so much when it's over.

This week's Strike Back Declassified ended up being really good. Seeing into the thought process is always fun and hearing how they shoot things in long takes amazes me.

Watched two more episodes of Gargoyles. I'd forgotten how much Demona annoyed the crap out of me. I'm getting a crash course during the rewatch. LOL

Caught episode two of The Witcher. Again, this show intrigues me. I'm following along fairly well and I like having the three storylines playing out on the screen. Looking forward to the next episode.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Down and Dirty, a free read that shows how the pool got started in Follow Me.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The tale behind how a certain pool gets started that put Sloan and Molly in the hot seat. And how Specialist Neve Campbell thought she might have caught them in the act.

And a sneaky peek…

Sloan moved with purpose when Molly exited her wounded bird. "You pulled a hot dog move after I ordered you not to." His voice rose with each word. "And what happened, Lieutenant?"

The fact Sloan reported directly to his father didn't faze Molly in the slightest. She held a place of importance in the commander's life, too.

She rolled her eyes. "I cut it a little close. So what?"

The captain made a strangled, choking sound. "A little close? You're insane." He lowered his voice. "Any closer and the deck crew would be welding on new wings, Lieutenant."

Molly looked away and shrugged. "Yeah, well. I told you I needed to let off some steam."

Sloan exploded. "Only crazy people do barrel rolls when the landing bay doors are closing.

Molly's eyes snapped back to his. "I got in, didn't I?" Her face dared him to counter the fact.

Sloan snorted. "Barely, Lieutenant. You barely got in. And you will make the repairs to the landing struts."

Molly's nostrils flared, but she held her temper. "Whatever. Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Sloan snapped. "Fine."

Molly mimicked. "Fine."

Each stalked off in opposite directions.

Neve shook her head. They should just lock themselves in a supply closet and be done with it.

Chief Douglas shot her a look and Neve realized she'd said the thought out loud.

She blushed. "Er, sorry, Chief." Her mouth always seemed to get ahead of her brain.

Keegan cocked his head to the side. "Actually, Specialist. You might be onto something." His eyes followed the CAG's angry progress toward the office. "They're either gonna screw each other or kill each other. Hard to say which."

Neve pondered his words, keeping an eye on Molly when she yanked her flight suit down to her waist then glanced back over her shoulder, her gaze following the CAG's progress away from the flight deck. "No. They won't kill each other. It's a matter of when or where they'll hook up."

The chief grabbed a clipboard and a fresh sheet of paper. "I'll take that action. Date and time, Specialist."

Honestly, this little scene is so much fun. If all goes well, it'll be up on my blog or my Patreon in the near future.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Close Quarters

So, I'm pretty much caught up on the holiday shopping and just in time. We adopted another doggo this week and I ended up with a mild case of the flu. So far, a multi-symptom medication is taking care of the flu and the puppy is chewing her way through anything she can sink her teeth into. We're working on the little shredder to help break her of tearing into everything.

Slow week for television, but I did watch a Classic Who arc. I think I have one left of season nine.

Caught two more episodes of Gargoyles. I had a great conversation with my oldest about the shows we watched together when he was little. Some great memories shared of how much fun we had.

Started Mr. 365, a Passionflix original, but stopped it about halfway through because I'm behind on everything and I wanted to catch Dirty Sexy Saint, the holiday movie for this year. I'll finish up Mr. 365 soon.

I'm in the middle of Dirty Sexy Saint and, so far, love it. I'm so glad I got a founding member's subscription to Passionflix.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Close Quarters, the second novel in the Scorched Homeworld series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After trying to out maneuver 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…

The brush of Sloan's chest across hers and the sting of his teeth on her skin sent shock waves straight to Molly's toes. She welcomed it. The pressure continued to build and Molly waited for the swirl of pleasure to hit.

Sloan's hot breath in her ear sent a delicious shiver down her spine and she edged closer to the precipice. He changed up the pace, thrusting faster, harder. Molly toppled over the edge, pleasure exploding like a starburst and she shattered, moaning Sloan's name.

Her release pulled him into the vortex after two more surges and he came hard, breathing raggedly as he gasped against her throat.

Spent, Sloan collapsed and rolled to his side, hauling Molly against his chest, her face lying over his pounding heart. He caressed her arm as their breathing returned to normal.

When coherent thought was an option, he lifted her chin so he could see her. "We're pulling an all-nighter, aren't we?" He groaned when she chuckled and nodded affirmative.

Amused by his reaction, Molly playfully walked her fingers up his chest. "We could always stay in bed, if you'd prefer." She knew that as much as he'd want to, the neat freak inside him wouldn't allow it.

His grimace confirmed her knowledge. "I didn't think so." She sat up and pulled him along with her. "Let's go, Captain. We've got a lot of work to do." She grabbed a robe from the back of the door and slid it over her shoulders.

Sloan wished she hadn't decided on the robe. It was his favorite—short and silky—and he'd be distracted with her wearing it.

He pulled on some sweats and followed her out into the living area where she was making what passed for coffee. As she reached up to the top shelf to get two mugs he caught a glimpse of the rounded flesh of her behind and decided they would have to take a break every couple of hours or he'd go insane. When he looked back up, Molly was grinning at him… that had been her plan all along.

He gave her his best CAG glare, which only made her laugh.

Keeping his face stern, he gestured to the profusion of paper. "Okay. Where do we start?"

Molly wasn't fooled at all. She spun and danced around the stacks of papers somehow managing to not move a single sheet. The loosely knotted robe slipped open, exposing a line of flesh down her middle.

She didn't fix it, just plopped down on the hastily cleared cushion and grabbed the stack closest to her. "Why don't you go through these and weed out the non-qualified applicants."

She waved the pages at him when he didn't respond and caught him gazing at her barely covered breasts. "Sloan… hello? You do want this mess cleared, right?"

Sloan's eyes snapped back to her face, the evil grin on it told him she knew exactly what that robe did to him.

He shook his head. "You are so bad, Molls." He grabbed the papers with a determined look in his eyes. "We will have at least a third of this room cleared within two hours." He sat down beside her and started to review the first application.

Molly smirked and stood up. "Two hours?" She grabbed another bunch of pages that were already disqualified and looked around for a file to stick them in. "Why two hours?" She found a file on the floor and bent over to pick it up, exposing herself to his perusal.

Sloan didn't say they couldn't have a little fun while they cleaned up her mess. His strangled oath didn't mean he hated the view.

Sloan willed his body not to respond to Molly's blatant teasing. "Because in exactly two hours I'm carrying you back to our bed so I can screw you senseless for torturing me."

He gave her a look, daring her to contradict his statement.

Molly gave him a wide grin. "Is that a promise?" She scribbled 'qualified apps' on the side of a box and shoved it his way. She'd go through those later.

Sloan raised an eyebrow. "Do you doubt me?" He picked the box up and set it beside him, then nodded at the floor. "Get busy… time's a wasting."

He went back to reviewing the next application to the sound of her laughter.

I love writing Molly and Sloan and it's fun to dive into how sharing space changes the dynamic of a relationship.

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

ML Skye