Sunday Snippet: Therapeutic Recuperation

Well… we're almost to November and I'm really not ready for the month yet. Seriously, I'm wondering where 2018 went. Then again, it's been a bit of a bum year so maybe getting to 2019 sooner rather than later won't be a bad thing.

Had a busy week but got some good television watched. The Last Ship had a great episode. If they end up going where I think they will, the last few episodes could get interesting. Doctor Who's "Rosa" ended up being better than I thought it would be. I read an interesting article about the music of the new incarnation and while I appreciate the opinion of the author, I kind of miss Murray Gold's audible cues. Then again, I'm very much drawn in by musical cues in television shows.

I finished up Driven on Passionflix. I'll be honest, I'm not thrilled with where they left it. I totally get it had to end on a cliffhanger because there are two more books being made into this limited series. So… I'm ready for more. Looking forward to the holiday movie Mr. 365 when it launches in November.

Murdoch Mysteries had a fun episode centering on Henry's wedding. Also caught another episode of Peter Gunn's first season. Penny Dreadful revealed how Vanessa became embroiled with Sir Malcolm and, wow, dark waters run really deep in that relationship. I'm in the middle of a Midsomer Murders episode that usually keeps me company when I'm folding laundry. LOL

Arrow pulled off another amazing episode. I'm truly ready for Diaz to go down. That said, I'm totally onboard for the never-thought-it-could-happen team-ups of Dinah and Laurel and Felicity and the FBI agent chick. I'm also really wondering what the hell is going on with William and Roy. Legends of Tomorrow had a great premiere. This show is just fun, fun, fun. Yet it's also balanced with serious issues. If you're not watching you should be. Just saying.

I'm almost finished with this season of Killjoys. Meeting Dutch's mom turned out to be an interesting stroll through history. I'm also totally there for the RAC shenanigans. Pree and his man mixing it up with them is terrific. I caught another episode of The Dresden Files and had forgotten how terrific Claudia Black's character ended up being. Also watched an episode of Babylon 5 and another episode of Classic Who.

Riverdale… brings the crazy like no other show I'm watching right now. My head almost hurts with how they take things to the edge of unbelievable but somehow stay just shy of actually crossing over into total no effing way. Kudos to the writers!

I watched the second episode of Underbelly Files. Infiltration featured Sullivan Stapleton in what I'd assume would be one of his first roles. Actually turned out to be a great episode. I have one more left before moving on to a new season.

That's it for television this week. Hallmark Channel is gearing up with their holiday movies and I'll probably end up getting sucked in the vortex soon. LOL

Tonight's post is from Therapeutic Recuperation, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt of writing a hurt / comfort story where the hurt—injury, kidnapping, trauma of author's choice—is only a gateway to the comfort—snuggles, talking about feelings, helping with recovery or physical therapy.

Here's the mini-blurb:

An accidental blast on the hangar deck lands Nadine Hewes and Hall Pullion in sickbay. The ship's doctor gets them stable then puts them in the same alcove so they don't drive everyone else nuts while they recuperate, leading the pilots to discover all kinds of interesting things about each other.

And a sneaky peek…

Year 3952

Base Hangar Deck

Moments before the blast

Hall handed the Chief Ben Warden a blown fuel line. "Look, I understand about needing some time for everyone to get with the program, but too many slipups are happening." He should've let Nadine go on with her tirade the other day. "Rooks or not, we can't keep having so many errors." He paused. "Someone's gonna get hurt or killed." And they didn't need to lose anyone else.

The chief couldn't argue. "I know, Lieutenant, believe me. I'm not sure who decided to send a buttload of newbs to my deck, but it sucks." He held the fuel line up to the light and shook his head. "It's not their fault. They're trying to keep up." Tossing the hose into the recycling bin, he grabbed a marker and put Hall's bird out of commission.

Hall sighed. "I know, Chief. But I'm worried about the damage if a big mistake is made." Only a matter of time until it happened too.

Ben's shoulders slumped. "Yeah, I hear you. I'm working on it, slowly but—"

A pop followed by a hiss echoed behind them. Dread seeped into Hall when his gaze tracked the sound to the compression station. A pressure valve had burst and air from the lines leaked in a visible rush.

The chief shouted. "No, no! Don't light the torch—"

Hall barely heard his name before a hand wrapped around his arm, dragging him to the deck. His gaze locked with Nadine's milliseconds before a ball of flames erupted and a deafening explosion followed. His ears ringing, Hall caught the sight of Ben ducking down but not soon enough to avoid injury. The fire singed his hair and a piece of metal lodged in his arm.

And still the chief shouted orders. Get the fire out. Cap the valve.

Hall shook off the dizziness and struggled to his feet. Pain shot through his leg and hip.

Nadine snagged his pants, yanking him back down. "Don't stand. Stay low." She crawled forward, favoring her arm.

Concern shot through him. He rolled to his belly and made his way toward her, using his arms to make progress. Nudging her shoulder, he nodded for her to grab hold of him and together they dragged themselves to relative safety.

Once clear, Hall assessed the damage to the deck and issued his own orders. "Get the chief clear and disconnect the fuel lines. And for fuck's sake, start moving the ravenwings off the deck." Deck crew scurried to carry out their tasks.

Nadine chimed in. "Get the medical teams down here." She worked herself into a sitting position. "Anyone with free hands get busy with triage. Now." She grabbed a tie line from the deck and turned toward him. "Strap my arm to my chest." She winced when he put pressure on her shoulder. "Damn. Hurts like a bitch."

He got the makeshift splint secured but his vision blurred red. Blood. From a wound?

Nadine swiped her good hand over his face, running her palm over his head. Her fingers came away crimson colored.

She frowned. "Hmm. You've got some bleeding from a nasty wound on your head." She stuck the hem of her shirt between her teeth and tore a strip away.

She helped him apply it to the gash, holding pressure with her free hand while he tied the bandage securely.

Nodding, she pinned her gaze lower. "How's the leg?"

As she'd said earlier, it hurt like a bitch.

He slumped against the wall, keeping an eye on the deck crew. "It doesn't feel right, but I’m okay for now." Now that his adrenaline tapered off, his hips throbbed and his knee screamed in agony.

He exchanged a glance with Nadine, who huffed out a short laugh. Neither had full use of their limbs. What a pair.

In unison, they spoke. "Or not."

The humor ended up short-lived. His lungs began burning with each breath and his vision swam again. His eyes dropped and Nadine's voice reached him but sounded like it came from across the deck. "Yeah, shit. The fumes. We forgot about the fumes." Her voice drifted off to the sound of her labored breathing.

Everything went gray then black and he tilted sideways.

I'm having fun with this setup. I like having a traumatic event to push a couple into facing or admitting how they feel.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Taken By Surprise

We're past the halfway mark of October already? Geez, this month is flying by fast. Then again, it's been a somewhat difficult month for me workwise. Brain-draining would be an apt description.

So… television has been an important escape this week. Sunday night shows Doctor Who and The Last Ship ended up being terrific. I'm so happy to be excited for New Who again. The Last Ship kept things interesting. I'm a little confused why the guy got executed at the end, but I have a suspicion it'll be a turning point of some sort.

Arrow's premiere actually blew my mind a little. The fight scene juxtaposition of Oliver in the prison and Felicity in her apartment with Diaz is probably the best choreographed scene I've witnessed to date. Seriously, it's amazing. And, honestly, the rest of the show followed suit, leading right up to the surprise end. I'm excited to see what happens next.

The Flash remained good. Nice to see Cisco, Kaitlyn, and Ralph bonding and helping each other out. Looking forward to more of that. Riverdale… well… went full-on batshit with a whole new twist that I actually can't wait to watch unfold. The thing with Archie in detention isn't bad. I love the whole Veronica getting around her dickhead dad with Cheryl's help. Speaking of Hiram the 'Hole. Does anyone else want to smack the smarm out of him? Every time he's on screen I want to punch him in the face. That's some good acting by otherwise nice guy Marc Consuelos.

In other show news, I caught the first episode of Underbelly Files and enjoyed it. Caught Babylon 5, The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Birds of Prey, and Lexx in sci-fi fare. Pensacola Wings of Gold had a great episode where I wanted to bitchslap the billionaire dude who wanted his daughter saved at all costs. I also caught Strike Back, which had a great episode featuring Grace and her badass skills. And finally, I caught another episode of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. I have a lot of love for that show.

That's it for television this week. Here's hoping my work and sleep schedule get back on track and I can enjoy even more during the near future.

Tonight's post is from Taken By Surprise, a sexy short that got a start with the prompt of writing a short scene or story about one of the main characters forgetting their birthday and the other one remembers it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thompson has a new man, Herrick Edwards, in her life and his birthday is coming up, but they're stuck on a ship with no R&R passes available. Pales isn't great at maintaining a relationship, but she'll take Herrick by surprise and plan a spectacular day.

And a sneaky peek…

Herrick Edwards placed his tray on the table. "Mind if I sit here?" His eyebrow quirked.

Pales Thompson glanced up, her mouth going dry. "Um, yeah, go ahead." She took her feet off the opposite seat, giving him room to sit.

Herrick settled onto the chair and dug into his breakfast. Pales didn't know how to react and didn't like being skittish. Her number one rule after hooking up involved not interacting with her partner one-on-one outside of flying or standard military operations. Her wild night with Herrick remained fresh in her mind and having him blast through her usual wall of protection sent her off kilter. What the hell should I do? Ha. She almost wanted to drag him back to the bunkroom again.

Almost. But doing so would mean getting personally involved and she didn't do relationships. Because she sucked at them.

Herrick swallowed a bite of food. "Relax, Pales. We're in the mess hall." He took a drink of orange juice. "How intimate can we be with fifteen people surrounding us?" His lips curved into a half-smile.

Good point. But still scary. And the fact he acknowledged her absolute trepidation definitely shouldn't make her happy. Because her track record when it came to being part of a couple couldn't be worse.

Pales took a drink of coffee. "Right." Scooping up some scrambled eggs, she shoveled them into her mouth.

Herrick's grin went wide, but he didn't comment. Like he expected her to make the hastiest exit possible. Fine. He could think whatever he wanted. She did not care.

Crunching through her remaining slice of toast, she kept one eye on Herrick while he calmly ate and drank, savoring each sip and bite. Ugh. She shouldn't be so fascinated by the way his mouth worked… except she had firsthand knowledge of what his lips, tongue, and teeth could do.

Her face flamed and Herrick tried to hide a smirk behind his glass of orange juice. Damn the man. She finished her meal quickly because she hated being jumpy, jittery, and jumbled up. Gathering her tray, she rose, ready to dump the contents at the wash station. She only made it two steps before Herrick cleared his throat.

"So… later?"

Her body went hot, a zing of heat shooting straight to her core. She didn't often make promises for future dates, preferring a grab-and-go approach to sex.

Making a quick decision about breaking her number one rule, she didn't look back but nodded. "Sure." She didn't say anything else.

He'd find her. Or she'd find him. They'd slake a need and go their separate ways.

Unless he joined her for breakfast again.

Pales is fun to write because she's so twitchy and Herrick being aware of how utterly freaked out she is also a treat.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Table of Lies

October 14, 2018

Wow, what a difference a week makes. The crisp feeling of fall has definitely arrived and I'm actually a little chilly at the moment. We'll probably have at least one more warm up before we settle into the true briskness of autumn in Ohio. Or… we could have one more nice week and then have a blizzard by Halloween. It's always hard to say. LOL

Got quite a bit of television watched this week. Some shows premiered their new seasons and I'm excited to settle in for the ride.

The Last Ship is crazy good and crazy wild. I'm always stunned when the credits roll because it doesn't seem like an hour should have gone by.

For premieres, I caught the new episodes of The Flash and Riverdale. Gotta say I ended up really enjoying both. Having Nora around could prove pretty interesting. And the whole situation with Archie is way over the top but, honestly, a ton of fun. Can't wait for Arrow this Monday. Also watched Chicago Fire and have mixed feelings on the episode. Maybe more on this next week.

And, of course, the Doctor Who premiere with Thirteen! What a great launch of the new doctor. Can't wait for more. After the disappointment with the last two seasons of Twelve, I'm excited to see where the show goes now.

I continued my rewatch of Babylon 5. The first season is so hit and miss but it also plants a lot of seeds for the following seasons. I'm always finding something new that ties into a future episode.

In other science fiction fare, I watched The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Birds of Prey, Lexx, Wynonna Earp—a Christmas episode, and The Dresden Files. Also caught Luke Cage and Penny Dreadful.

In military fare, I caught another episode of Pensacola Wings of Gold and Strike Back. I'm starting to gel with the new cast of Strike Back and I also need to go back to season two and do some sleuthing. I have a feeling there's a connection that's deeper than I realized. More later on this too.

Caught some mystery shows with The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Murdoch Mysteries, and a couple of episodes of Peter Gunn. I started an episode of Midsomer Murders but didn't get to finish it yet.

I also watched episode five of Driven. I'm actually thrilled with this series and I'm so excited for more from Passionflix.

On a final note, I finished up Canal Road and what a satisfying ending. I'll be starting a new Australian series in the very near future. Looking forward to it!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Table of Lies, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a scene or story involving a lie and set it in one of the character's apartments.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nichelle Stohl finally has her life on course—she's an instructor at the coveted academy of military science and she's testing the relationship waters for the first time since a truly horrible break up. Then she meets Garth Fillion—her boyfriend's brother—and her world tilts sideways.

And a sneaky peek…

Nichelle Stohl opened the final file she needed to grade. "Saved the best for last." She'd chosen to grade Quint Fillion's after she completed the rest of the class's essays.

Dating one of her students might not be the wisest decision she'd ever made, especially since she'd landed a coveted position teaching for the academy of military science, a prestigious branch of the ministry of defense. Being an instructor at her age rarely happened.

Her lips curved. "And most of my students don't know what to do with a twenty-seven-year-old professor." The dean insisted she use the academic title since her rank as lieutenant only listed two grades above the ensigns in her class.

She wouldn't qualify for military promotion until she reached thirty. A stupid rule.

Quint's filled his paper with silly notes in the sidebars, which brought a smile to her face. But the additional commentary didn't distract her from catching the errors on the paper. Quint tended to be sloppy with his answers and left out key details, probably assuming she'd know what he meant.

The problem? As his instructor, she couldn't assume facts not on the page. Fully aware she wouldn't, Quint continued to push the boundaries anyway.

Nichelle marked his errors and filed the test. He wouldn't be pleased with his score, but she couldn't allow him to cut corners. In the field, the chemical compounds they used required precise measurements and focused steps. Leaving one out could potentially wipe out an entire regiment… of their own men.

Quint's lackadaisical approach to his classwork fit directly in to why she so enjoyed being with him. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. Not even the less than stellar score on his essay would keep him out of sorts for long.

She grinned. "And he makes me laugh." So much and very often.

Nichelle needed the humor. She'd decided to test the relationship waters after being cheated on by not one, but two men. Quint affably stated if he ever looked at another woman with lust in his gaze, she should shoot him where he stood—because death by stupidity would take too long.

Her personal and professional life intersecting didn't always sit well with her. Quint sometimes lacked in maturity, but he always treated her with respect. And when she grew frustrated with his antics, he dialed back the joviality and put in the effort needed.

And the man had charm by the truckload. Starting something with him while he took her class… probably a bad idea. But she really liked him. And she tried hard to keep some balance between her head and her heart.

Just in case everything blew up in her face.

She hoped her concerns with his sometimes unfocused answers would be unfounded. But if they proved not to be, she'd deal with the fallout.

This one is coming along. The story is brainstormed and outlined and hopefully the sages won't decide to throw random plot bombs my way when I dig back in to writing.

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

ML Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Submit

October 7, 2018

Well, hello, October! This is one of my favorite months. The weather usually gets cooler.

The leaves start changing. And Halloween is just around the corner! It also means the holiday season is looming fast and furiously. Ugh. I'm not ready this year. LOL

Rough week with work and unexpected scheduling conflicts. I did get to watch some good television though. Caught the third episode of Strike Back's fifth season and had a surprise visit in the form of pictures from Stonebridge and Scott. I'm definitely intrigued! I also think I finally made the connection I needed to make. I'm slow sometimes.

The Last Ship seriously keeps me on the edge of my seat. I'm so sad and angry over a certain loss, but I totally called plot point even if it's a little disappointing. Caught the finale of Chicago Fire just in time for the new season to begin. I'll be behind per usual, but I'm glad I got to watch it.

Luke Cage is pulling some interesting things out of the woodwork. I'll admit I'm a little confused with where they're planning to take this season. That said, I love this show. And there's no Trish to really muck things up. Just saying.

Passionflix's Driven is so good. I watched the fourth episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait for the new holiday movie they have planned.

Murdoch Mysteries started their twelfth season with a fun episode. I always look forward to this series and the new twists and turns Murdoch and Julia and the rest of the cast face.

Caught a few more episodes of Peter Gunn's first season. The noir feel of this show never fails to make me happy. Penny Dreadful is seriously creepy sometimes and I'm kind of on the fence about whether I like it or not. LOL

Caught another episode of The Dresden Files and it was one I remembered liking a lot when it originally aired.

Rounding things out for the week, I caught an episode of Killjoys and love where things are going. I'll be so sad to see this show end next season.

I started the final episode of Canal Road and didn't have the chance to finish it yet. It's on the agenda for tomorrow.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Submit, a novella with a tie-in to Furlough 99.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lena Stoll and Welles Abernate work security on a large space station. While the job pays well, the stress level can quickly skyrocket, but Lena comes up with a great solution—she acts as a dominatrix in her downtime—much to Welles's surprise.

And a sneaky peek…

"Uh-uh, no way. I'm not working a double shift."

Lena Stoll shook her head and turned to leave the communications center of Furlough 99.

Her boss cleared his throat. "Care to tell me why?" He moved to block her path to the door.

Lena blew out a long breath. "Because I pulled two doubles last week and I'm not doing it again this week." She'd reached the end of her patience.

Her coworker, Welles Abernale picked that moment to walk in, stopping behind their CO.

Lena grabbed her opportunity. "Make Welles work the extra time." She walked around both men. "I'm taking a mental health break as of right now." Breezing out of the comm center, she waited until she hit the end of the corridor before making a run for the closest elevator.

Pushing the button, her foot tapped an impatient cadence. She wanted to get to quarters as soon as possible.

Her lips twitched. "I've got someplace to be, dammit." And a month's work of stress to relieve.

Her home away from home and work never failed to rejuvenate her mind and soul. Boarding the lift, she punched the number for the staff residences. The short ride ended and she exited the enclosure. She only lived three doors down and didn't waste time getting into her quarters and grabbing a shower.

Putting the finishing touches on her wardrobe, she added a long black duster and made sure it covered her outfit. She never left anything to chance. Leaving her quarters, she made her way up to the fifth level of the luxe quadrant. Already, the tension from the past month started to drain away.

She made her way to the private chambers of the Marionette and signed in under her pseudonym.

The matron gave Lena a wide smile. "Ramos is ready and waiting for you."

Lena flashed a grin. "And no doubt followed my instructions to the letter." She loosened the buttons of her duster, letting the cover fall off her shoulders. "Time to get to work." On her side gig.

One that could get her fired from her actual job… if she let the matron pay her.

Good thing she didn't.

Honestly, this one is pretty fun to dive into. I'm excited to see where it goes.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Stripped to the Skin

Wow, September flew by. Now that we're into fall the days always seem to go faster, probably because they're shorter and the activities tend to be jam-packed. I love the fall season so I hope I remember to take time to enjoy it.

As usual, the week got stuffed full of last-minute projects, but I did get some good viewing in. I caught The Last Ship on Monday because my brain needed time to recover from homecoming. LOL An excellent episode by the way.

I binge-watched classic Hawaii Five-0 most of the day on Sunday and it helped soothe my garbled mind. Caught another episode of Midsomer Murders and I'm almost through the season. I think I still have about seven more to watch.

Got in another episode of Babylon 5 along with The Sarah Conner Chronicles. To keep with the sci-fi theme, I also watched episodes of Birds of Prey and Lexx. Rounded the week out with Pensacola Wings of Gold and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Caught an all-day marathon of The Garage Sale Mysteries, too.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Stripped to the Skin, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of rewriting a scene from your favorite show but give it a twist. I chose to write one from Battlestar Galactica and instead of oxygen deprivation I went with a malfunction that made the temperature rise.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kaley Pick and Dax Christopher are trapped in an isolation chamber when a ship-wide power outage occurs. The temperature rises and they have to strip to the skin—a perfect time to consummate their growing attraction—except they're not alone. A junior officer is stuck with them and he's not dealing well with the heat.

And a sneaky peek…

Kaley Pick paced the small confines of the isolation area. "Figures one of you asshats brought some kind of contaminant back with you." She didn't like downtime with nothing to do.

Dax Christopher quirked a brow. "So you're sure it wasn't you that stepped in something nasty then?" He propped a shoulder against the wall and let his gaze track her progress.

Stupid man.

The third member of their team, Brad Robinette, added his two cents. "Yeah, Lieutenant, what makes you so sure?" He didn't move from his spot on the tiny sleeping berth against the wall.

"Shut up, Bird Dog." Kaley spoke in unison with Dax.

Robinette rolled his eyes. "Sucks being an ensign to two lieutenants." He swiped a hand over his forehead and pulled his t-shirt away from his body, fanning himself.

Dax moved to sit on the small bench beside the table where they ate their meals. "What's got you all hyped up? We've only got three more hours left in iso." He leaned forward, placing his forearms on the metal top.

Kaley stopped pacing. "You know I hate being confined with nothing to do." She started walking again. "Gives me too much time to think." Which never worked out well for her.

Dax couldn't disagree. "Yeah, okay. But you don't have to get twitchy. It's almost over."

Kaley loved the fact he'd totally call her on being jumpy but understand why.

She snorted. "That's exactly why I'm twitchy." And feeling flushed.

Robinette cut in. "Is it me or is it really hot in here?" He got up and went to the door. "Seriously, I'm sweating buckets." His face pressed against the small glass window, but it didn't seem to help.

Kaley didn't like the way Bird Dog looked. His hair stuck to his skin, his soaked shirt clung to his body, and his breathing had gone shallow. Dammit!

 Dax got up and met Kaley at Robinette's side.

He nodded toward the comm unit. "Try to get in touch with someone." He led Brad to the berth and got him settled. "It is hotter than a sauna in here." He snagged a bottle of water, one of their last ones, and gave it to Robinette.

Kaley picked up the handset. "It's dead. No tone." She hung up and looked out the window.

The observation area appeared to be deserted. Shit. Of course everyone would be scarce when they actually needed someone.

Dax came over to her side and looked out the window. "Looks like the outer door is closed." Meaning no risk of contaminating anyone by leaving before the allotted time. "Let's go out and try the comms." He tried the hatch and it wouldn't budge. "Dammit, it's jammed." He had sweat dripping from his face.

So did Kaley. Sweat on her face, dripping down her back, and between her breasts. Ugh. How did she miss the rise in temperature?

Because she thought her anxiety caused the perspiration. And it skyrocketed with the current hatch situation.

She pushed Dax aside. "Let me take a look." She pulled the panel to the inner mechanisms. "Dax, it's not jammed. It's autolocked." Well, crap.

Dax peered over her shoulder. "Which means malfunction. Perfect."

Kaley sighed and put her head against the hatch. "What a time for the ship's systems to go haywire." A thud hitting the floor drew her attention.

Robinette lay sprawled on the floor beside the berth.

Perfect.

I love to take a scene and turn it on its side or spin it around. Dax and Kaley are fun to write and I love adding little beats between them on the page.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Strategic Wagers

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

Sunday Snippet: Steamed

Whew. What a week. Our high school's homecoming is next weekend and we're in a flurry to get the last-minute accessories for the big event. We usually host about six couples each year and we're getting the menu finalized and nailing down who's bringing what. Like I said. Whew.

Had a semi-productive viewing week for television. The season premiere of The Last Ship didn't disappoint. I loved how much exposition they packed into small moments. I'm so excited for the next episode, even though we lost two of my favorite characters.

I caught the second episode of Birds of Prey. Also caught episodes of Pensacola Wings of Gold and Lexx. I'd forgotten what happened during the most recently watched Lexx. Now I need to see the next episode to see what the fallout was. LOL

Caught a classic movie on DVD, Crazy Love. It's a Myrna Loy / William Powell comedy and it was excellent!

Watched another episode of Strike Back. I'm beginning to like how the team is coming together and it was great to have some references back to the previous incarnation of Section Twenty.

Finally, I watched the next to last episode of season six Chicago Fire. I'll be interested to see what happens in the finale.

That's pretty much it. Caught the usual marathons of Murder, She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night along with a mini-marathon of The Saint.

Tonight's post is from Steamed, a sexy short that started with a writing community prompt of having one main character have enough of the other main character's innuendo and do something about it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Page Wagner and Gannon Bendis pull long range recon duty and Page decides they need to play truth or strip. After several days of sexy banter, Gannon has enough of Page's innuendo and confronts her… in the shower.

And a sneaky peek…

Page Wagner stowed her gear in the duty locker aboard the small cruiser she'd call home for the next week. "Normally, I'd ask who I pissed off to get this temporary assignment." Instead, she said a silent thank-you.

Because… she'd hit the jackpot with partners. Gannon Bendis should be directing their small two-cabin craft to the star system they would be working in right about now. Long-range scan details tended to be boring with lots of charting, recording, and reconnaissance during specific hours and not much of anything else for the duration. She'd gone a full day before being bored to tears—long enough to almost arrive at the location for the scans.

Which meant she could see if any kind of spark existed between her and Gannon. "Not like I don't already have the hots for him." She totally did.

And why wouldn't she?

The man defined the word attractive, at least in her dictionary. About five-ten, with broad shoulders, a defined chest, and arms that made t-shirts look sexy. And his ass? Drool-worthy. Not many people could make fatigues look good, but Gannon absolutely did.

Throw in dark hair and eyes and she might as well tattoo yum on her tongue.

Grabbing a deck of cards, she ducked into the common area and waited for Gannon to secure the cruiser in the specified location. When he entered from the cockpit, she gave him a wide smile. He nodded and made his way to the small food storage area and snagged a quick-heat meal.

Page quirked an eyebrow. "We're all set?" Stupid question, but one to get a conversation rolling.

Gannon gave her a sideways glance. "Would there be a reason we wouldn't be?" He popped the meal into the cooking unit and hit start.

Page's lips curved. "Not particularly. I'm used to flying into an assigned territory instead of flying out." She didn't balk at being relief pilot, but she wouldn't lie either.

Gannon removed the package from the oven and hot-fingered it to the table. "Yeah, we're safe and secure in the first quadrant and I set the modules to record. We'll get an alert if anything pings out there." He peeled the film away from the dinner and the aroma of spicy noodles wafted up from the tray.

Page settled back and shuffled the cards. "And the motion sensors? How far out did you go with the scope?" Mundane topic, but one easily discussed while he ate.

He chewed and swallowed. "Five hundred kilometers in all directions. If we don't get an advance warning with sound, we'll have time to move if we need to." He finished off the entrée and got up to recycle the trash.

Page waited until he sat back down before pouncing with another question. "Care to play some cards?" She shuffled the deck again several times.

Gannon eyes her hands but shook his head back and forth. "Nah. I think I'll grab a book. I brought more than one." He made a move to get up.

Page tsked. "Come on, Gannon. Indulge me." She whipped the cards from one and to the other in slow waterfall. "Let's play truth or strip."

He blinked then frowned. "Such a game doesn't exist." His head cocked to one side. "You're mixing it up, right?"

Page shrugged. "Well, gotta get creative." She shuffled the cards again then set the deck on the table. "Can't do truth or dare because there're only two of us and there's nothing we can dare each other to do." She paused. "Except maybe sending prank messages but, oh, yeah, we're on long-range recon and have to stay radio silent." She flashed a smile.

Gannon nodded. "Okay, point made." He kicked back, folding his arms over his chest.

Page took that a cue to continue. "And strip poker is out of the question." Please take the bait.

Gannon quirked a brow. "Why?"

Page snorted. "Wouldn't be fair."

Gannon reacted by sitting up and placing his forearms on the table. "Why not?"

Page laughed. "You'd end up naked all the time." She paused a moment. "Not that I'd mind. I like eye candy. But I'm nothing if not an equal opportunist." Biting her tongue, she stopped there.

Gannon tilted his head to one side. "You think you're that good?" His tone held plenty of disbelief.

Page tsked. "Not to brag, but, yes. I'm not allowed to sit in at the poker table anymore." She'd been banned within two months of arriving on the Essex.

Gannon settled back in his chair again and kicked his feet out. "Okay, how do you see this equal opportunity nude-fest working?" Clearly, she'd piqued his interest.

Page grabbed the cards again. "Thought you'd never ask." She cut the deck then shuffled. "High card chooses. If you say truth, you have to answer a question honestly. If you don't answer, you have to remove two articles of clothing." Not bad for making something up on the fly.

Gannon considered the rules. "What happens if we decide to pass on answering the question?"

Hmmm. Think fast, Page.

She grinned. "Simple. If either of us passes, we choose which article of clothing the other has to remove."

Score one for the power of creative thinking.

This is a fun little story and I love the dynamic between Page and Gannon. The whole truth or strip trope is something I like to explore as an ice breaker with characters.

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

ML Skye