Let the hopping begin!

 

Welcome to the Wicked After Dark Hop! 
Besides December and all the festivities that happen then, October is my favorite month because it has Halloween! I absolutely love dressing up. I would go to a masquerade party every weekend in a different costume if I could. It's so much fun and it never grows old for me.

I participated in this hop to celebrate Halloween with my soft horror short story, Indian Blood Moon. On the norm I am not a gory, horror or scary story writer. I don’t read stories like that nor do I partake in movies of that nature, but I did have the desire to spread my writing wings, so to speak.

The demon elements in this story came to me first then there had to be someone or something the demons served. When the story started to roll it became fun. The demons were gross, the leader was handsome and sexy enough to lure in the prey. The incantations are creepy. All the ingredients for your basic spooky story are there. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jaxx Steele story if I didn’t add a twist to it. It’s what is what I do. *wink*

For my first ‘horror’ story I thought it came out well and so did the the publisher. So for those who like a little shiver going up their spine but want to be able to sleep at night I recommend Indian Blood Moon. :)

Small town reporter Dante Tyler lives his mundane life wishing for something more. When he was sent to cover a Halloween party for his newspaper he finds that the most horrible encounter of his life turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Excerpt:

A soft gasp left Dante’s lips as the Dom slid his hands down his sub’s back. To the beat of the music, he ground slowly against the submissive’s ass as he held onto his shoulders. The move demanded Dante’s attention, calling to his baser needs that had been asleep from lack of a lover for over two years. He envied the man being dominated by his lover. Visions of himself being bent over like that with a strong and powerful lover behind him worked its way into his mind.

Many times he had been told that he was a large and intimidating looking man. The men he often attracted expected him to top them for that very reason. Dante was an attentive lover and did what his lovers requested of him, but he found that it was difficult for those same men to do him the way he wanted to be done. Not too many men were large enough or strong enough to take him that way. It led to dysfunction in his sex life and rendered his relationships far and few between.

He thought he heard Jack’s voice near his ear trying to cut through his fantasy as he pictured the Dom taking him that way, but it wasn’t until he felt a touch on his hand that he turned his way.

“Huh? I’m sorry, did you say something, Jack?”

“Yeah, I was asking you if you were here alone.”

Dante nodded. “Yes, I am, but I’m actually here working.”

“Working?”

Dante nodded, sipping from his glass. “Yes, I am a reporter and I’m doing a story on this party.”

The sinister gleam in Jack’s smile came and went before he responded. “Sounds like a fun job. Going to parties and writing about them, I could get paid for doing that. Maybe you should have some extra fun to add a little spice to your article.”

Dante looked away from the dance floor to Jack. His voice was soft and smooth, filled with the lust Dante was feeling at the moment. Could he have a little fling with this cute little pirate? He wasn’t really his type, but…

“Maybe I could.”

Jack clicked his glass to Dante’s and smiled. “Well then drink up, my friend and let the party really begin.”

Dante finished the rest of his drink in one long gulp. A rush of heat covered his body like a wave. When it passed, he looked at his cute little pirate to say something but he appeared a little fuzzy. He shook his head and chuckled.

“Something wrong, Dante?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s just been a while since I really drank. I guess the two Long Islands are getting to me.”

“Maybe you just need some air. Come on.”

Jack grabbed his arm and led to the back of the room to a sliding glass door. The cool air hit Dante in the face, but didn’t make him feel better. Jack quickly walked him away from the building.

“Where are we going, Jack?”

Jack didn’t answer him.

Dante could feel the change in the air. The cool breeze told him they were nearing the lake. Although his vision was fuzzy, he could see the lake in the distance getting closer and a group of people standing close by.

“What’s going on? Who are they?”

Still he didn’t answer. Dante tried to yank his arm away from the little pirate, but he had no strength and no coordination as he stumbled along beside him. His internal alarm started ringing and he tried yelling. His cries for help rang loudly in his head, but the echoes sounded so far away to his ears.

“Don’t waste your time screaming, no one can hear you over the music,” Jack finally said.

Jaxx is giving away 3 promo items to 3 lucky hoppers! a baseball style hat, a t-shirt and a coffee mug. Make a comment and you're entered to win!

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Get Indian Blood Moon at Phaze  Amazon Kindle  B&N-Nook and all other Ebook outlets.

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Soft horror anyone?

Let me start by reiterating that I am not a gory, horror or scary story writer by nature. I don’t read stories like that nor do I partake in movies of that nature, but somehow my brain managed to form 2 soft horror romances: Healing the Beast Within and Indian Blood Moon, both available at Phaze. Today’s blog is about Healing the Beast Within.

Cursed for a crime he did not commit, Keith Turner had given up on love. Even after making that decision, he still spent every night being tortured. His brother Kevin was confident that they could find a way to break the curse, but it wasn’t until Keith met Marcello that he ever took Kevin’s ideas to heart.

I was so glad to see curses on the list so I could talk about this book. Beast was my second attempt at ‘horror’ per the challenge I mentioned in my earlier post this month. Indian Blood Moon was your basic good versus evil story. Magnus was a watcher who fought off demons that tried to sacrifice Dante to their demon god. It was a safe story line for my first attempt at horror, but I wanted Healing the Beast Within to be different. I had to step it up and put a little elbow grease into it to get that done. 

I wondered how a man today would handle a curse from way back when. I picked Salem as the setting because of its history of curses, witches and whatnot. It took longer to come up with the story line because I wanted some real history to be woven into it. After some extensive research the story started to flow and bam! Healing the Beast Within came to life.

This story makes your heart pound and gets your blood rushing. You will enjoy the brotherly bond Keith has with his twin brother Kevin and have a love/hate relationship with Marcello after he meets Keith and the beast within him. Here is a look at Keith and Marcello’s first meeting.

Excerpt:

It was just before his lunch hour when Keith finished with his last client of the morning. Instead of waiting in his office, as usual, he went in search of his brother. Kevin’s office was on the other end of the building. As he walked the long corridor, his leisurely gait slowed to a stop. Something out of the ordinary was on the air. He inhaled deeply then turned slowly to look up and down the hall. His brow crinkled in confusion.

Fire? Smoke? Burnt popcorn? No…something else.

He took another breath. Woodsy and spicy scents filled his nostrils. His cock responded to the smell readily. A chill snaked down his back, making his nipples hard and goose bumps rise on his skin.

What is that?

He shook off his anxiety and moved on. The scent grew stronger as he walked along the hallway, the effects causing havoc on his senses. He popped his head into Kevin’s office.

“Kev?”

Keith closed the door and continued to look for his brother. He stopped just outside of exam room one. The unknown aroma was now overwhelming, as it wrapped around him. A sudden burst of heat surged through his body. His cock throbbed mercilessly and pressed against the inside of his pants. The sound of his breathing filled his ears. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and rolled down his temple. He griped the door frame to steady himself. His lab coat grew tight on his back and his tie felt constricting. He yanked at the knot gasping for air.

What the hell is going on?

The smell came from inside the room. He was positive of it. His brother was in the room, Keith sensed him, but Kevin was not alone. The scent did not come from Kevin. It had to be from whoever was with him. It was an intoxicating fragrance, something Keith had never experienced before. His perception was on high alert. The smell was so strong that he could almost taste this person. He was salivating at the thought of savoring him.

Him?

It was a man! Never before could he perceive the scent of another person without being in his other form. His awareness had not been so precise during the day. How could he smell a man now?

The question floated through his consciousness leaving him stunned and more confused, but no answer followed it.

Oh my God! What if I’m changing now? During the day!

Suddenly, he was very aware that anyone could walk down the hall and see. Fear and adrenaline added to the lust that already surged through his blood. It took a huge effort on his part to calm his breathing and will his coursing blood to slow. Success left him wet with perspiration and gripping the doorframe so hard that it splintered beneath his fingers. Once he regained his composure, Keith fixed his clothes and straightened his tie before finally knocking on the door. There was a slight pause before a reply came.

“Yeah! Come in.”

Keith was calmed somewhat by his brother’s voice, but when he opened the door he was struck with wave of consciousness from the unknown man. It was as if he had stepped into a sauna. Keith’s nostrils flared as the scent that drew him down the hall assailed his nose once again. Kevin had his back to him as he kneeled before his patient. Keith’s breathing accelerated immediately as he looked at the patient’s face.

He was an older man with more black than grey in his short cropped hair. Although pain filled the man’s intense brown eyes, Keith could see sparks of intelligence. His strong jaw line was covered in a five o’clock shadow that made him look ruggedly handsome. His skin was dark from the sun. A heavy tan lined his biceps, another rounded his shoulders and one more was at the top of his shoulders. All were visible in the tank top that he wore. The sweat on his chest caused the flimsy shirt to cling to his stocky torso invitingly. The muscles beneath were defined and full from obvious manual labor. The patient gripped the edge of the exam table, his muscles taunt. The man made low grunting sounds as Kevin moved one of his legs up and down. Keith stared transfixed on the hand identical to his own as it massaged the knee, then push the patient’s jean shorts up further.

Keith easily imagined the hand was his. The thought made his nostrils flare again. His eyes closed as he let the scent saturate his entire body. A visual of flipping and bending the man over the table formed in his mind.

“Hey, bro, I’m almost done here. Have you met Mr. Torres?”

Keith’s eyes popped open and the vision vanished. The sound of his brother’s voice broke the trance he was in.

There you go! Hope you enjoy. Jaxx is outa here!

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Get Healing the Beast Within in all forms at Phaze, Amazon Kindle, B&N for Nook and all other ebook venues.