Sunday Snippet: You're Welcome

Geez, August has been a brutal month. The last week in particular. Not sure why, but I struggled hard, couldn't stay focused, and generally feel like I didn't get anything accomplished. Bleh.

Weirdly, the weather has been amazing. We need rain in a big way, but the temperatures were mild, which is a blessing. Actually had to break out a jacket and leggings because it got chilly at night.

Work projects are in a weird state of flux. I have a lot on my plate, and I hopped around multiple projects because of the aforementioned struggle to stay focused. I really hope I can get back on task this week.

I didn't get to watch the season two opener of Reacher, but I did make it through most of my regular shows. The first week of September is a chaos monster so I'm not sure if I'll get to make it through my regular slate of shows. Fingers crossed.

I did start the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the rewatch. Always fun when Phryne and company go on trips.

Caught another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. I liked the mystery and my heart broke for Dom and Jean. But Jean was spot on with telling Dom he might not be ready to be a couple.

Watched the opening to season fourteen Death in Paradise. Still not sure if I'm down with the new guy. He might grow on me, and I do like how Naomi and Darlene hold their own with him.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Very fun to see him solve the mystery while not leaving his apartment. And I do think he quite loves to put Hastings in horribly embarrassing positions.

Caught another episode of Elementary. I really like it when Joan and Sherlock team up to help their extended group. Detective Bell's dilemma being resolved ended up being a lot of fun.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. I didn't fully remember this one, so I enjoyed getting reacquainted with it.

The episode of Lower Decks I watched is hopefully a turning point. Mariner makes me absolutely bonkers, which I'm pretty sure is the whole point. Here's hoping she can dial it back about ten clicks and I can finally settle in and like the character.

I did almost make it through an episode of Peak Practice that I started a couple of weeks ago. Sam is headed for a very bad place, which makes sense since his run is almost finished. Hoping to get the rest of the episode watched this week.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from You're Welcome, a novella where a couple acts on their attraction.

Here's the miniblurb:

Dalyn Harris spends a lot of his time keeping his significant other, Shauna Drake, out of hack. When an old, forgotten prank catches the executive officer by surprise, Dalyn scrambles to keep Shauna's part under wraps—he has no desire to spend their anniversary in a brig cell.

And a sneaky peek…

Shauna wanted to pinch herself. I have to be dreaming. How had she finally landed exactly what she wanted at exactly the time she wanted it.

No, not it … him.

Dalyn's mouth caught hers, and he eased them backward on the mattress. Settling between her legs, his lips left hers and traveled along the column of her throat, down over her shoulder then slowly along her collarbone. Moving lower, his tongue flicked over her nipple before he drew on the taut peak.

Shauna moaned. "Gah. Yes." Her hips rolled upward seeking contact with him.

Dalyn switched sides, his mouth working magic. Shauna slid her hand between them, found his hard length, and circled her fingers around the rigid flesh. Brushing her thumb over the crown, she lightly squeezed then pumped back and forth.

Dalyn groaned. "Uhmmmm. Really wanna take things nice and slow, but I have to be inside you." He licked a trail from her sternum to her lips.

Shauna opened the space between her legs a little wider. "Plenty of time for slow later." Her hands cupped his ass and urged him forward.

Dalyn lined up and thrust smoothly into her. "Ahhhh … so hot." He drew back then surged forward again.

Shauna trailed kisses along his bicep. "Unfff … so good." She flexed her hips, meeting his groin. "Waited too long for this." For reasons … none of which she could remember right now.

Dalyn's head lowered, and his breath fanned across her breasts. He kept his pace steady and certain, adding an occasional bump against her clit. She wrapped her legs around his waist, lifting her pelvis to increase the friction between them.

Dalyn lifted his head and met her gaze. "Tell me when you're close…" He upped the speed, adding more force to his momentum.

Shauna nodded, her eyes sliding shut. Awareness scorched along her nerve endings, her breathing went shallow, and a ball of bliss unfurled in her core.

Her eyes snapped open. "I'm there. So close, Dalyn." One more thrust pushed her over the edge and she toppled into a wave of pleasure.

Dalyn locked his arms and increased his speed. "Yeah, that's it. Coming right behind you." He drove into her, his breath rasping until he burst through his release with a garbled growl.

Shauna propped up on her elbows and caught his lips with hers. Not breaking the kiss, Dalyn shifted to the side and hauled her against him. One hand cupped her face and the other palmed her ass.

Shauna deepened the embrace, pouring everything she felt into the connection with him.

When Dalyn eased back, his forehead rested against hers. "Worth the wait?" His voice scratched the quiet of the room.

Shauna smiled. "Most definitely." Her hand ghosted along his side. "Looking forward to round two."

Dalyn huffed out a laugh. "Yeah. Me too."

I like how this story is coming together. There's a bit of a surprise at the end and it's a fun one.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: You're Welcome

Had a fairly busy week between work and the new venture I'm putting together. The play I'm editing is so much fun. It's deep and twisty and bonkers in the best possible way. I hope I have another chance to edit more plays.

Had a pretty good week trying to catch up to my regular viewing schedule. I'm not quite there yet because other things have been pulling my attention away from screen time. Also, my sleep schedule is all messed up at the moment. Not sure why, but probably hormone-related. Fun.

I watched an episode of Peak Practice and should finish up season eight this week. From what I've reviewed, seasons nine through twelve go a little off the normal path and dive deeper into soap opera territory. I'm okay with that.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Roxane Gay. I truly love listening to her speak. The first one focused on engaging with you readers and I ended up getting a lot out of that one. The second lesson noted the importance of having a day job for stability and I also appreciated what she had to say about that topic.

Started The Umbrella Academy and, so far, I love it. I'm two episodes in and I like the dynamic between the characters and I'm excited to see what comes next. Looking forward to diving deep on this one.

Enjoyed the season finale of The Ready Room. Pretty sure Wil takes over for the next one and I'll look forward to his take on Discovery.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and I have a weird feeling I know where things will end up going with Will and Asher. Fairly sure this might end up being my last season. I do love anything with Dr. Charles, Maggie, and Miss Goodwin. I also love Ethan. We'll see what happens by the end of the season.

Caught another Batman: The Animated Series. I loved Poison Ivy's introduction in this series and also seeing more of Harvey Dent before things happen with him.

Enjoyed a little more of Resisting Roots but didn't get to finish the movie yet.

Watched another Ted Lasso. I'm definitely a fan. Keeley cracks me up and I love where things are going with her. Ted kind of broke my heart yet made me so happy when he benched Jamie. I truly hope there's some kind of redeeming arc for him because I literally loath him at the moment.

Caught another Agatha Christie Hour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the non-mystery aspect of this show because there's still a lot of suspense, which I love.

Started season twenty of Silent Witness and quite enjoyed the opening first part. Looking forward to finishing this one up next week.

Almost finished with season twenty-five of Classic Who. The greatest show in the galaxy will hopefully end on a great note for the season. I'm pretty sure that brings me close to the end of the classic episodes. Not sure if I'll jump to New Who or switch to a different genre for a while.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. I like diving into the mysterious objects they feature and learning new information. The cast of experts is very diverse and I love that.

Caught another episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Loved the pick up from when Fennic went down in The Mandalorian. I seriously love this show.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. There's so much awkwardness that is played to perfection by the three main cast members. I'm excited to see what happens in the next episode.

Watched an episode of Blue Heelers and ended up enjoying it a lot. Wayne actually ended up being a fairly decent guy in this one and that's not always the case.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from You're Welcome, a sexy short that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dalyn Harris spends a lot of his time keeping his significant other, Shauna Drake, out of hack. When an old, forgotten prank catches the executive officer by surprise, Dalyn scrambles to keep Shauna's part under wraps—he has no desire to spend their anniversary in a brig cell.

And a sneaky peek…

Dalyn put his fork down and leaned back in the chair. "Gotta say the galley did a stellar job on that pasta." Considering food prep could be hit or miss on most ships, he definitely wouldn't complain.

Shauna tilted her head. "Are you going to tell me how you pulled this off? I mean, the VIP quarters? That's unheard of." She picked up her glass and took a long sip of wine.

Dalyn smiled. "Helps to have friends and family in high places." And having several favors owed to him.

She shook her head. "Guess I'm not the only one with pull on this ship." Scooting back a little, she propped her feet on his lap.

Dalyn took the hint and massaged the arch on her left foot. "Guess you're not." His lips curved. "I figured if we're going to see where this goes, we don't need an audience." Using his knuckles, he applied firm pressure to her soles.

Shauna groaned and closed her eyes. "If you spoil me, I'll quickly get used to it. But … this goes way beyond anything I expected." She met his gaze. "I'm impressed. Thank you."

He grinned and leaned in close to her. "As you know, I aim to please." His mouth captured hers and she responded by sliding her tongue along his.

Yep. Definitely glad he called in some markers. Kissing her melted his brain.

She slipped her feet off his lap and moved to straddle his thighs. "I've been waiting for this, to be with you, for a long time." Her lips ghosted along his jawline. "I don't want to wait any more."

Dalyn cupped her ass in his hands. "Glad you said that. I don't either." He braced a hand on the table and stood up.

Shauna wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to the bed tucked up against the bulkhead. Settling down on the edge of the mattress, he found her lips again and slowly inched her shirt up. Shauna lifted her arms and eased away, just long enough to remove her top. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders then twisted sideways, tugging him down on top of her.

His mouth moved over her skin and he peeled her bra straps downward. She unclasped the lingerie then searched for the hem of his T-shirt. Using one hand, he yanked the shirt over his head and tossed it aside.

His fingers dipped under the waistband of her warm-ups and worked them down past her hips. Shauna took over, wriggling the garment off her legs. He eased back and shucked his fatigues then settled back over her.

Reaching up, she wound her arms over his shoulders and lifted her chin to meet his lips. The kiss spun out, heating his blood and making his dick rigidly hard. Her palm skimmed over his erection and he hissed out a breath.

Hooking a finger along the hemline of her panties, he inched them down. Shauna worked her hand inside his boxers and grasped his cock. He scooted back and removed the last barriers of clothing then put a knee on the mattress.

Meeting her gaze, he held it a moment. "You're sure?" He didn't doubt she wanted sex as much as he did … but what came after could get complicated.

She gave an emphatic nod. "Absolutely certain." She held out a hand. "Don't make me wait."

He definitely didn't plan to make either of them regret what came next.

This sexy short is coming together after a lengthy break to let the characters figure out what they wanted. They're finally talking to the sages again.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: You're Welcome

June kind of flew by in a rainy, chilly, dreary kind of way. I'm kind of looking forward to July. Not the heat so much, because it did finally get hot, but mainly in a new month clean slate deal.

Not a bad week for television. I'm staying somewhat caught up on everything. Started out with an episode of In the Dark and I'm happy Murphy and Dean are on speaking terms again. I also love how much Max messes up with her.

Watched another episode of Classic Roswell and enjoyed it a lot. I'd forgotten Michael became an emancipated minor in the first season. For some reason, I thought that happened later.

Caught Frankie Drake Mysteries and loved this one. I thoroughly enjoy seeing historical characters woven into the storyline. I also still want the detective and Mary to hookup but have a feeling Frankie is in his sights. Bummer.

Man… Riverdale truly embraces the batshit crazy. And I love it. I still want Hiram to go down hard. And Alice… oh, Alice. What the hell happened to you? I guess I better keep watching to find out.

Watched an episode of Arrow and it's one I've been looking forward to. I enjoy the future flashes almost as much as I loved the flashbacks. How awesome is having Nyssa train Mia? Seriously.

Caught the next episode of Krypton and didn't really see Brainiac possessing Seb coming. A cool twist though. I'm also quite enjoying having the multiple storylines unfold. So glad to see Lyta's mom back on the screen.

Painkiller Jane had a solid episode even for a clip show. Series television doesn't do those much anymore, which isn't a bad thing, but when they're done well, it's fun to watch.

Watched another episode of Durham County, the first season finale, and wow. Kudos to the actor who portrays Ray Prager, Sr. Watching him unravel was seriously compelling. I'm so curious about the actual… original… serial killer though. Maybe that line will be picked up again?

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and I'm still enjoying this one.

Also watched the next episode of Midsomer Murders, which ended up being terrific. The mix of themes with Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty worked out better than expected.

Got two more episodes of Peter Gunn in and also two more of Classic Who. Not a bad way to round out the week.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from You're Welcome, which is probably going to be a working title for this sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dalyn Harris spends a lot of his time keeping his significant other, Shauna Drake, out of hack. When an old, forgotten prank catches the executive officer by surprise, Dalyn scrambles to keep Shauna's part under wraps—he has no desire to spend their anniversary in a brig cell.

And a sneaky peek…

Shauna Drake tested the lever holding the shelf in place. "That oughtta do it." She stepped down the ladder and grabbed the can of paint mixed with a generous amount of water.

"That's a really bad idea."

Shauna jumped and almost spilled the contents of the bucket before whipping around to face Dalyn Harris. "Geez… a little warning next time. You scared the hell out of me." So much for being alone.

Dalyn quirked an eyebrow. "Which is exactly why you should rethink this terrible plan." He held the ladder steady while she climbed back up.

Shauna shot him a sideways glance. "Why would I do that?" She placed the bucket on the shelf then carefully backed down the ladder.

Dalyn frowned. "Because the practical jokes are getting out of hand. You know the next person caught is gonna end up in hack." He moved aside so she could carefully fold up the ladder and put it inside the storage locker.

Shauna eased the door closed. "That's the beauty of this one. Nobody comes down here. It'll be ages before my little surprise is discovered." She dusted off her hands then faced Dalyn again, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you down here?" Hoping he'd specifically come for her, she placed a palm on his chest.

They'd been dancing around each other for almost six months. She wanted to see what happened at the next level. Their friendship proved to be rock solid, something she needed in a potential significant other.

He grasped her hand. "Two reasons." He tugged her closer. "Number one… my gut instinct said you were up to no good." His arms went around her waist.

Shauna grinned. "So you had to come down here? How did you know you'd find me?" She had a good idea but wanted to see what he'd say.

Dalyn chuckled. "Oh, I have my ways." He lightly bumped his forehead against hers.

Shauna smirked. "Hmmm. I see. Should I be worried about these mysterious ways?" She loved the playful side of their relationship.

Dalyn lifted a shoulder. "Worried, no. Because when I know what you're up to I can keep you out of the brig and off the XO's report." Pretty much what he always did.

Considering it brought them together, she wouldn't give him any grief.

Shauna gave a slow nod. "Okay… what's the second reason?"

Dalyn's lips curved in a sexy grin. "Wanted to make sure we're still on for dinner later?" His hands grasped her hips, tugging her a little closer.

Shauna tilted her head to one side. "Definitely. And after dinner? Do we have plans?" God, she hoped so.

The wait and anticipation were at peak limitations.

Dalyn brought his palms up and cupped her face. "We absolutely do. Don't expect to see the inside of your rack until first bells." His mouth caught hers in a hot, steamy kiss.

Shauna's toes curled and she melted against him.

The next three hours couldn't go by fast enough.

Shauna is a fun character and Dalyn gives her just enough room to be who she is without tromping all over her. I like writing that kind of couple dynamic.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: You're Welcome

January 19, 2014

Hiya!

Whew. What a week. I've been wearing my editor hat, trying to keep up with some pressing deadlines. But I have had a little time to write on some current WIPs AND keep up with my heavy slate of TV shows.

First… Arrow returned! Great episode. Seriously, I feel like I'm watching a movie every time it's on. And Banshee did not disappoint either. Also, Lost Girl? I'm sooooo happy it's back. I love the cast to bits!

So, tonight's post is from You're Welcome. It's in the beginning stages and I'm not quite sure where it's going yet, but the snippet basically popped into my head and I had to write it down. J

Here's the tagline:

Dalyn Harris spends a lot of his time keeping his significant other, Shauna Drake, out of hack. When an old, forgotten prank catches the executive officer by surprise, Dalyn scrambles to keep Shauna's part under wraps—he has no desire to spend their anniversary in a brig cell.

And a sneaky peek…

"You're welcome."

Shauna frowned. "For what exactly?"

Dalyn walked into the room. "Keeping your ass out of the brig. Again."

Shauna blinked. "And how did you do that? I haven't done anything to get thrown in hack." She waited a beat. "Lately."

Dalyn smirked. "Exactly. Remember the small arms locker on H deck?" He dropped down onto the chair across from her. "The one you rigged to blow leftover paint… because no one ever goes down there anyway, right?" Shauna snickered. "Oh yeah. That."

Dalyn nodded. "Yes. Guess who's now wearing a lovely shade of red to go with his bloodshot eyes?"

Shauna groaned. "Oh, tell me it's not." It could only be one person.

Dalyn cocked his head. "It is."

"Shit." She shot Dalyn a sideways look. "How the hell did you keep him from coming after me?" Their 2iC loved to write her up on report.

Dalyn smiled, wide. "A trick I learned from the old man. The bait and switch."

Shauna tilted her head. "I didn't know your dad liked to fish."

Dalyn rolled his eyes. "No, Shauna. He picked this up from his Uncle Sam." He leaned in, speaking on low tones. "I nudged Bradshaw toward the newbies, Hot Lips in particular, because she's been trying to one up you for a long time now."

Dalyn's mouth curved again. "Now she'll get to find out, firsthand, how most of your pranks end…"

Shauna finished for him. "In the brig." She got up and rifled through her locker, pulling out a recent novel she'd just finished.

Tucking it in the pocket of her fatigues, she headed for the hatch.

Dalyn quirked a brow. "Where're you going?"

Shauna turned and winked. "To give Hot Lips something to occupy her time. It's the least I can do." She exited, whistling an off-key tune.

Dalyn laughed settled back in the chair.

Shauna ducked back through the hatch. "By the way." She gave him a jaunty salute. "Thank you."

Shaua has another scary brilliant idea on the way to the brig. She'd like to thank Dalyn in a much more intimate manner. Rawr!

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

ML Skye