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Greetings Readers!

Jaxx Steele here to wish you Happy Holidays and to share another one of my Christmas stories with you: The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

This is one of my favorites. Like most authors My books are kind of like my children. I know you’re not supposed to have favs among your children, but even though you love them all the same there has to be a time when you like one more than the other. Come on, where are all the parents? You guys know I know what I’m talking about. 

The Johnston family is not so different from the ones we may know or even your own. Lovell comes home every holiday to spend time with his sister and mom even though they drive him crazy. They have their traditions and yearly fights over the same things and depart a loving family until next time.

Lovell Johnston is gun shy of relationships because of a personal defect. His job as owner of an internet website that hooks up other people enables that because he has lots of online friends, but none in the real world. He comes home every Christmas to get away from the hustle and bustle the season brings to a big city to have a little peace in a quiet suburb. 

This story is meant to remind us all that sometimes—just sometimes—the people who know you best really do know what’s best for you. Enjoy!

Lovell Johnston was home for the holidays when he met Avery Lockhart. He had made up his mind a long time ago that when he got into another relationship it was going to last. Avery was perfect for him everything he could ask for in a man. He was handsome, educated, sexy, available and totally interested in him. The only thing was Lovell lived in the city and Avery lived in his home town. Would the distance and fear of being a holiday booty call be enough to keep them apart when all they wanted to do was be together?

 Excerpt:

“You know, if you spent more time with live people your manners would be better.”

He looked up at her as he chewed, but didn’t reply. They ate silently for a few moments before she spoke again.

“So, I heard that you met Avery over at the store.”

“Uh-huh,” he said between bites of chicken.

She picked up her mug. “So what did you think?”

He blew the steam off the top of his own mug before taking a long gulp. “He was nice.”

“Uh-huh, well I think he’s a cutie. Don’t you think so?”

Hell yeah!

“He’s alright.”

“Good, I’m glad you approve. I was thinking of asking him out.”

Lovell almost choked on his last bite of food. “You were what? No, no, Andie, I-- I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Well, why not? He’s single, handsome, has a job and he’s an educated man. That makes him prime eligible bachelor material. A woman doesn’t run across a good man like that every day, you know.”

Hmm, neither does a man.

“Don’t you think I should nab him before someone else does?”

“I-- I, well, Andie,” he paused not knowing what to say. “What if you’re not his type?” he blurted out.

His sister laughed. “Believe me, honey, I can be whatever type he will need. That will not be an issue.”

“Oh.”

She stood and took their plates to the sink and used the small pot on the stove to refill his mug.

“Lovell, will you be up for a while?”

He nodded blowing and then sipping from his mug again. “Mmm hmm.”

“Well, I have secret Santa gifts for my co-workers and all the gifts for the children on the burn unit to wrap still. I knew I wouldn’t have time to pick up some more wrapping paper from the store so I asked Avery to deliver them here.”

He put his mug down with a thud. Avery is coming here? 

“I have to go to work in a bit so I can’t wait.”

She didn’t just say Avery was coming here…did she?

“Maybe you can put in the good word for me while he’s here.”

Lovell picked up his mug and emptied it in one gulp to wet his dry mouth ignoring the heat. “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just go pick those things up for you, Andie, instead of him coming here?”

“It’s too late for that now, Lovell. I called this morning while you were asleep and he said he’d be here after Mr. Brent returned from his lunch break.” She looked at her watch. “I have to go. There are some leftovers in there if you get hungry again.” She kissed the top of his head and left him alone.

He wanted to see Avery again more than anything, but his sister was interested in him, too. What if he really wasn’t interested in Lovell? He could have just read the signs wrong and Avery was just being nice to him. If Avery was really interested in Andie and not him, well… Well, it didn’t matter. He lived in the city and his sister was here in town. If it worked out between her and Avery, well, then good for her. She deserved a good guy like Avery and she was right. He was handsome, and nice, and sexy, and he had a good job…nice butt…and a bulge in front of his pants looked more than adequate. Who didn’t want a man like that? He sighed looking at the clock over the stove and then headed for his room.

He hoped a long hot shower would wash away all the crazy ideas floating in his head. The water felt good. He stood beneath it for what seemed like hours and it almost worked. All thoughts went down the drain save one: I wonder what Avery would look like with this water washing over him? He shook his head hard to dislodge the lone thought and then turned the water off. Stepping out he wrapped a towel around his waist and heard the banging at the door.

“Shit!”

He ran from the bathroom to the living room and swung open the door.

“Well, now that’s the type of greeting worth waiting in the cold for.”

The Gift that Keeps on Giving is available at Red Rose Publishing

Make your comments below and be entered to win when one of my Christmas stories. Commentors choice!

 

Until next time…

Jaxx Steele has left the building!

www.jaxxsteele.com

Let the Candy Cane Kink hopping begin!

Hello Hoppers!
Welcome to Candy Cane Kink! I love this time of year. Everyone wants peace and love for their fellow man, cookies are freely passed around (I love cookies) and no other time do strangers say hello and great you well wishes for the new year. I enjoy Christmas time so much I have written 3 Christmas stories with several more to come. I will share a different one with you during this hop.  Leave your comments below and be entered into the pot to win one of my Christmas stories. Commentors choice! So come back on the 17th and the 21st for a greater chance at winning.

It was Christmas time again and Evan was celebrating the same ole way. Not hanging with the fellas or enjoying a secret Santa exchange at a party, but back at his sister's house. This year, however, would be a little different for Evan. This year he would learn that being a Good Samaritan had tangible benefits as well.

Excerpt:

“Holy shit!” Evan said in a shushed whisper as his cup made a thud on the counter. “That’s Mimi’s boyfriend? Hell! Ray wasn’t even that cute.” He opened the cabinet and shifted the contents about until he found one that resembled his own. “She said she was going to see him tonight, so why would she leave before he even got here?” He snatched a paper towel from the nearby spool to remove any water spots. “What the hell am I supposed to do with him until she gets back?”

Evan moved to the freezer and dropped two ice cubes into the glass.

He grabbed the other ingredients from the refrigerator to make the man’s drink and retrieved a fresh bottle of cognac from an adjacent cupboard to finish it off. Before leaving the kitchen, Evan refilled his cup and gulped down the amber liquor, then poured more. The swing door leading to the living room was only partially open when Evan reversed and went back to the counter. He put the drinks down and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“You have reached Mariah. I can’t get to the phone, but if you leave your name and a brief message—”

“Great.”

Evan closed his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket before the message finished. He shook his head and left with the drinks. “Sorry it took so long, Nikolai. I had to find something to mix your drink with. I hope eggnog is all right. I even added some extra cinnamon to it to boost the flavor,” Evan explained handing him one of the snifters.

“Yeah, nog is fine. Thank you.”

Nikolai sat in the other high backed chair. He had taken off his coat, and seemed relaxed with his right boot resting on his left knee. Nikolai’s position gave Evan a good view of his the bulge in front of his jeans. The blue button down shirt he wore tucked neatly into the waist was separated by a large belt buckle with a Batman symbol on it. Small tuffs of blond curls peeked out the top of the collar. The same blond hair covered his head in a short neat cut that gave him a sweet boyish look. Evan turned away from him and returned to his chair.

“This is really good. Thanks, uhh...”

“I’m sorry, Nikolai. My name is Evan. I’m Mariah’s brother.”

Evan leaned forward and the tingle in his hand intensified when Nikolai grasped it in a firm handshake. He looked up from their hands and Nikolai’s gaze locked onto his. Nikolai’s eyes were blue and extremely intense. They bore into his core, pulling on something very primal deep inside of him.

“Nice to meet you, Evan. I didn’t even know Mariah had a brother.”

“Well she just told me about you, so she probably just hasn’t had the chance to mention me.”

“Yes, I guess so. But you know,” he paused to pull Evan closer to him, “now that you’ve said something I do see a family resemblance.”

“Really? Most people who knew our parents said Mariah looked more like our father and I resembled our mother.”

“Well I don’t know about that, but I do see that you guys have the same beautiful eyes. Whose feature is that?”

“Uh, well, that would be my father. He was the one with the dark eyes.”

“Dark? I’d say that was an understatement.” He ogled Evan further.

“Your eyes are as dark as the night sky. They even sparkle when you speak, as if there were stars there.”

Evan looked down at his hand. Nikolai had squeezed it gently as he spoke. The pressure sent a shock to his loins awakening them immediately. Slowly he pulled his hand out of Nikolai’s and sat back in his chair. Evan reluctantly took a closer look of the man out the corner of his eye. Nikolai had leaned forward to rest on his knees as he indulged in his drink.

The fire lit the room enough for him to get a good look at him. The man was fine as hell and the crackling light emphasized his handsome features. Red, blue and green Christmas lights flashed on and off over his white skin accentuating his strong Russian nose, angular jaw line and slender lips. Flames danced invitingly in his gaze. Evan could have sworn he saw a spark of lust in those brilliant blue eyes that focused on him. He hid a disbelieving snicker in his glass.

Must be the liquor talking to me. Why would Mariah’s new boyfriend be looking at me with interest in his eyes?

Evan cleared his throat and tore his eyes away. He sipped from his glass then gestured toward him. “So Nikolai, tell me a little about yourself.”

“Well, I just recently moved to this pleasant little town of yours, and I think I like it. It’s big change from Chicago, but I’m getting used to it. I’m thirty-three years old, six foot two and a hundred and eighty-five pounds. My favorite color is brown, my favorite food is homemade macaroni and cheese with bacon bits in it and I’m a Leo. Did I leave anything out?” Nikolai asked with a laughing grin.

Evan chuckled in his cup before taking a drink. “That’s funny, but I meant stuff like, where did you and my sister meet or what do you guys like to do together. You know, stuff like that about you.”

“Oh. Well, when you ask me a question you need to be more specific and less sexy. It distracted me.”

Christmas Nick for Everyone is available now at Phaze

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!

Stop by Jaxx’s website for excerpts. Friend him on Facebook. Follow him on Twitter. 

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!

Check out Jaxx’s website, friend him on Facebook or follow his Twitter

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