::waves::

Hey, y'all. Guess who's still kicking? LOL 

Clearly I'm not the best at keeping up with a blog anymore, but in my defense, the past couple years have been a hellscape in my personal life. 

I do have a goal in 2024 to be more present when it comes to my blog, so we'll see how that goes. 

I've just about wrapped up edits on my mega WIP, and I should be submitting that for consideration this year. I know I've said that before but, barring any further curveballs from life, I'm certain it'll happen this year. 

So, here's to 2024 - I hope you'll tag alone with me. 

Psst! Hey, you! Yeah - You!

Hey, y'all! 

It's been a minute, huh?

So 2020 happened. I've been hanging out in my hermit hole since last March. Seriously. I left my house maybe 15 times last year - mostly to pick up prescriptions.  Ah, the glamorous life of a writer!

Last year, we lost my father-in-law, my brother-in-law and his wife, and my sister-in-law had a stroke. We also lost my beloved Lolly cat. Y'all knew her as the fuzzy, Resting Bitch Face Queen of my Instagram account. She ended up with a prolapsed rectum, which, all heartache aside, was honestly one of the most bizarre sights I've ever seen - and I worked in a veterinarian clinic for 10 years. Really - Google that shit. I'll wait.....

............ RIGHT?! Oh, I probably should've told you to search specifically for cats, huh? Oops!

Anyhow.....

My sister contracted Covid and survived it. Our mom, however, was not so lucky. She passed from complications on January 21st 2021, around 9 PM. Y'all know we weren't on good terms, but it's still hard, regardless.  For anyone else trying to navigate the death of an abusive parent, I feel you. 

In more positive news - I'm still writing!! (If you didn't sing that to the tune of Elton's I'm Still Standing, I'm deeply disappointed in you.)

I'm currently working on a behemoth of a WIP titled "Kintsugi." It's a contemporary m/m romance with none of my usual kinks. Okay, maybe there's one or two kinks, but they're small. LOL Right now it's sitting at just over 80K words. I know, I know! I never write books that long! This one has a mind of its own and it just won't quit! I'm in the second round of edits, and the additions keep on rolling. Pray for me, y'all.

I'm also still working on some fanfic dribbles for my AO3 account. 

My ancient laptop, Applestiel, gave up on me last year, and I'm finally replacing it this week. I look forward to a long, happy life with Applstiel: The Second Comming. So, so many meanings.... LOL

My plan is to start blogging more for y'all. Right now, I'm typing this on a tablet and it's THE. MOST. ANNOYING. THING. EVER.

Seriously - why is the damn space bar right above the Home button????? Who designed this thing?

That's all for now! See y'all soon!!!!

Freebie Friday: NSFW Heart of Stars, Part 8 (m/m)

Blurb:

It takes a bloody battle, the death of several of his men, and a near death experience of his own for Afron to see what lies in his heart for Makara. Now the barbarian won't let anything stand in the way of their destiny -- not even the prostitute's petulant (if half-hearted) refusal to see him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I want to please you," he said simply.

"I'm trying to make this all about you, if you hadn't noticed." Afron gave Makara's cock a squeeze.

"So am I." Makara smiled and let the tendrils of Afron's hair slip through his fingers. "I started in this profession because I was good at it. Perhaps it's the only thing I'm good at. But I stayed in it because of you. There have been no others like you. None who have touched my heart and soul. None who didn't leave my bed disappointed."

Afron blinked several times. "None?"

"Only you. You were my first customer. And when the next one chose me... something didn't feel right. I bedded him, but there was no passion to it. No emotion. I knew I was nothing to you, but--"

"No." Afron shook his head hard enough to send his hair fanning out around him. "Even that first night, I knew. When you called out my name--" He closed his eyes as if recalling the sound. "The memory still sends shivers up my spine." And he did shiver. Hard.

Afron opened his eyes again and the lust and desire Makara saw burning in their depths made his heart flutter. "You are very good at this, that's true. But you have other talents. You have a keen intellect, and more of a head for business than you give yourself credit for." He swirled his tongue around Makara's balls again. "You are worth more than you believe yourself to be," he murmured against Makara's flesh.

Makara swiped away tears from his eyes and laid his hand on one of Afron's cheeks. "Thank you."

Afron turned his head to place a gentle kiss on Makara's palm, then licked up all five fingers one by one, ending each caress with a soft suckle on Makara's fingertips.

Makara moaned and sighed as Afron continued those kisses up his body and rose to straddle him, hard cock so near him he could have stretched out his tongue and touched it. The sight made his mouth water, and he licked his lips, yearning for a taste.

Afron ran one hand through Makara's hair, held his cock ready at Makara's lips with the other. "Is this what you want?" He stroked his cock with long, smooth movements, squeezed a drop of pre-come from the tip.

Makara nodded, eyes riveted to Afron's growing cock. He longed to take its length into his mouth, feel it harden and lengthen even more against his throat and tongue.

"Look at me, my Heart of Stars," Afron whispered.

Makara tore his gaze away and looked up. Afron's hand slid from his hair and gripped his chin; Afron ran his thumb across Makara's bottom lip, stopping in the middle to apply a slight downward pressure. Makara breathed in deep through his nose and opened his mouth, closed his eyes in rapture as Afron's cock slid past his lips. He opened his eyes again and gazed up at the perfect spectacle of lust and manhood that was Afron. His Afron.

Afron kept a hand on Makara's face, fingers stroking gently, clenching and unclenching in time with the thrusting of his hips.

Makara licked on the in strokes and sucked on the out strokes, hollowing his cheeks with the force of it, Afron's grunts and groans spurring him on. He jumped and moaned as Afron reached down and took hold of his cock, timing the strokes to match. Makara only wished he could somehow make a copy of Afron, so that he could feel that wondrous cock deep inside him at the same time.

He had heard of some of the Nulphillium members who'd had wooden copies made of their cocks for just such a purpose. He thought of that -- of going with Afron to the specialty carver, watching as Afron stroked himself to hardness so the woodworker could get an accurate measurement. The fantasy nearly made him spend; he sucked hard on Afron's cock to take his mind off doing so.

Afron cried out, increased his pace, driving Makara's head back into the pillows, grip hard and tight on Makara's cock. He pressed his thumbnail into the slit on the back of Makara's cockhead and Makara let out a strangled yelp as stinging, intense pleasure-pain snaked along his shaft and settled into his balls.

"Like that?" Afron panted.

Makara nodded, rewarding Afron's efforts with a scraping of teeth along his cock.

Afron hissed and threw his head back, pounding his own cock faster. He let go of Makara's chin and fisted his hand in Makara's hair. He kept his nail pressed to Makara's slit, alternating with scrapes and gouges that set Makara's flesh on fire and made Makara's cock and balls throb.

Makara slid his hands up Afron's chest, tweaking and twisting Afron's nipples, loving how the barbarian arched to the touch and bit down on his bottom lip. Beads of sweat glistened on Afron's forehead as he hunkered down over Makara's face.

Enthralled as always by the feel of Afron's hard, corded muscles, Makara roamed his hands over Afron's body, up and down Afron's sides, over Afron's powerfully wide shoulders, then around Afron's back, down to Afron's ass. Makara pulled one of his hands away, raised it to his lips, and carefully slid it into his mouth alongside Afron's cock to get it wet. He snaked his hand back around Afron's back and gently parted Afron's cheeks, circled his index finger around Afron's puckered opening.

He'd never penetrated Afron -- Afron had always dictated their acts and he'd been happy to comply -- but Afron's profession of love made him bolder, made him want to touch and partake of Afron's body in every way imaginable. Every erotic act he'd ever read about, every shocking tale of debauchery he'd heard other members of the Nulphillium tell -- he wanted to do them all with Afron. Soon. And often.

Afron stilled at the touch and his eyes went wide. Slowly, he closed his eyes and nodded. He resumed his pace; thrusting against Makara's mouth with a ferocity Makara had never seen from him. His strokes on Makara's cock were just as fierce; it took all Makara's control to keep his mind from tumbling over the edge and stay focused on pleasuring Afron. He tickled his finger around Afron's hole and pressed experimentally, letting just the tip enter Afron's body.

"More," Afron gasped.

Slowly, Makara inched his finger in deeper and deeper, Afron's muscles clenched around him, the heat of the barbarian's body like an aphrodisiac, making his cock even harder. He pumped his finger in and out, loving the way Afron's eyes rolled back and Afron's breathing hitched. In and out... in and out in rhythm with Afron's cock, and then Makara wiggled a second finger inside.

Afron gave a hoarse cry and went rigid as he came in Makara's mouth. Makara savored the feel of Afron's spend as it gushed, hummed happily at the little pulses of Afron's cock against his tongue, reveled in Afron's strong, sturdy grip in his hair. Afron tasted like fruits and spices. Like love.

Afron pulled away, captured Makara's lips in a penetrating kiss, licking his essence from Makara's mouth and groaning at the taste as he had never done before. He slid down Makara's body and took Makara's cock into his mouth. Afron barely managed three bobs of his head before Makara cried out, arching his hips off the bed as he came hard, succumbing to the mind-numbing bliss that spread through him.

Afron collapsed, face pressed to Makara's groin and slid his hands under to squeeze Makara's ass.

Makara lay there in a daze, panting, unable to catch his breath for several minutes. At last, Afron stirred and moved to lie beside him. Afron wrapped his arms around Makara and pulled Makara close. He tipped Makara's face up for a kiss. "Are you all right?"

Makara nodded.

"Speak to me, love," Afron implored softly, nuzzling his lips against Makara's again.

"I never thought... you've never... done that." He traced Afron's lips with his finger. "That was amazing."

Afron nodded. "Another thing that shamed me as I fought the ogres. I had never showed you all the pleasures I'd wanted to." Afron kissed him and Makara slipped his tongue inside Afron's mouth, marveling that he could indeed taste himself, smell himself on Afron's breath.

Afron broke the kiss and tucked Makara's head beneath his chin. "Rest now. Later we will gather your things and leave this place."

Makara yawned, drowsy and lightheaded. "There is a stop I would like to make, if you are inclined to indulge me in something," he murmured, recalling the wooden cocks. "And if there's time."

Afron chuckled. "I find I'm inclined to indulge you in anything, and there will definitely be plenty of time. We must wait for the washer woman, after all."

Washer woman? Makara frowned. "Whatever for?"

"To clean your shiny white sheets, of course."

Makara's face split into a wide grin. Afron appreciated the sheets. "You like them, then?" he asked, wanting to hear the words.

Afron shrugged. "As I said, I have no need for finery." He hugged Makara close. "But I do like the sight of you on them."

"You don't look too bad on them yourself." Makara snuggled against Afron's massive chest, wrapped warm and safe in Afron's strong arms, happier than he had ever known he could be, and content beyond reason. He closed his eyes and let his soul be lulled by Afron's calm, easy breathing, and steady heartbeat. And he thanked the gods for ancient barbarian wisdom.

~The End~

Freebie Friday: NSFW Heart of Stars, Part 7 (m/m)

Blurb:

It takes a bloody battle, the death of several of his men, and a near death experience of his own for Afron to see what lies in his heart for Makara. Now the barbarian won't let anything stand in the way of their destiny -- not even the prostitute's petulant (if half-hearted) refusal to see him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Makara blinked back tears. "I've never been asked anything like this."

Afron smirked. "What makes you think I'm asking now?" He stood and pushed Makara the rest of the way down into the bed, unwrapping the silk sheet from around Makara's waist. He straddled Makara and leaned down, resting his weight on his elbows on either side of Makara.

"Every inch of you belongs to me," Afron whispered. "From your ears" -- he nibbled delicately at one -- "to your lips" -- another nibble -- "to your chest" -- a swipe of his tongue met Makara's flesh -- "to your belly" -- a lingering tickle of the tip of Afron's tongue in Makara's belly button -- "to your marvelous, thick cock."

His kisses stopped there, though. Instead of using his mouth, Afron trailed his fingers along Makara's length, causing Makara to whimper and buck his hips up off the bed. But there was something more Makara needed before he could say yes, and it had nothing to do with the throbbing between his legs. "Do you love me?" he asked.

Afron looked up, a crooked frown on his face. "Is the ring not proof of that?"

"Then say it." Makara reached down and threaded his fingers through Afron's hair. "Say it." He tried to keep the pleading from his voice, tried not to sound so desperate and pathetic, but he wasn't sure he succeeded.

Afron kissed a path up Makara's chest, pausing to sniff Makara's scent, breathe it in deeply until his eyes rolled back in his head and he shivered. When he reached Makara's lips, Afron took hold of Makara's chin and held it in his strong, hard grip. "I love you, Makara, my Heart of Stars."

At last, the dread and worry that had weighed Makara down seemed to dissipate. Afron wanted him -- no matter what. His chest filled with a new, sweet ache and Makara thought he would burst with joy. He wrapped his arms and legs around Afron as Afron's lips claimed his again and again, savagely at first, staking claim, then slowly and thoroughly, enjoying, savoring, and plundering. Makara clung to him, gripping Afron tighter than he ever had.

Afron broke their contact first, pulled back and looked down at Makara for what seemed like a long time, and then lowered his head. Makara hissed as Afron's tongue slithered over his left nipple, trailed down his chest, twisted and turned in his belly button before continuing on down to his cock. Makara thought to stop him -- such an act of submission was something Makara would have never expected or asked for from the strong, domineering barbarian. But the moment the moist heat of Afron's mouth touched him there, Makara was lost. Afron licked the shaft of Makara's cock with long strokes, flattening out his tongue, sending shocks of pleasure through Makara's body.

He cried out and shuddered as Afron dipped lower, tongue swirling around the head of his cock, teasing that sensitive slit on the back. Desperate for more sensation, Makara raised his own hands to his chest, tweaked and pinched his nipples as Afron adorned his cock with delicate nibbles and kisses. "Please..."

Afron looked up, grinning. "Not yet. I have much more in store for you." His jovial visage turned serious for a moment, a frown tugging his lips downward. "Much more to make up for." Wrapping one hand around Makara's cock, he lifted it up and bent his head again, turning his attention to Makara's balls, licking them with those same long, thorough strokes.

Makara writhed and shivered, bucked and cried out. The firm grip of Afron's hand on his cock, combined with the soft, velvety slide of Afron's tongue on his flesh threatened to drive him to madness. He'd never truly been the sole recipient when they'd been together; though Afron always saw to his pleasure, their sessions had never been this one-sided, and he found he didn't quite care for not being able to reciprocate.

Driven by instinct, Makara did something he had never done before -- had never even thought to do. He took control. He reached down to twine his fingers in Afron's hair and tugged.

Afron raised his head, one eyebrow arched, and a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You have an objection?"

To be continued...

Freebie Friday: Heart of Stars, Part 6 (m/m)

Blurb:

It takes a bloody battle, the death of several of his men, and a near death experience of his own for Afron to see what lies in his heart for Makara. Now the barbarian won't let anything stand in the way of their destiny -- not even the prostitute's petulant (if half-hearted) refusal to see him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Afron clenched his jaw and turned away, paced back to the window. "I didn't buy it because I owed you anything," he hissed. "It's not payment." He squared his shoulders and faced Makara. "Open it again, but pay more attention this time, would you?"

Opening the box again, Makara frowned. What was he supposed to be seeing? The ring was beautiful, expensive, but nothing out of the ordinary. He squinted. Was that writing on the band? An inscription, perhaps? Makara pulled the ring out of the box to scrutinize it. "For my Heart of Stars," he read. "What does it mean?"

"Long ago, when the land was splintered and the Many Kings ruled, my people were far more spiritual than they are now. They believed in prophets and signs, destiny and fate. They taught their children that everything a man needed to know, he could find in the stars." Afron pointed to the ceiling. "One day, if a man were lucky, he would meet a woman who carried such knowledge inside her. He would find his Heart of Stars. She would come to him in a time of great turmoil, and he would feel the song of her heart and see the light of their love..." He trailed off and shrugged. "I doubt they gave any thought to a man finding a man, but the same holds true, I believe."

A tiny knot of nervous anticipation formed in Makara's belly, blossoming out to his chest, making breathing near impossible. He couldn't be interpreting this correctly. Afron couldn't be saying what Makara thought. What Makara hoped. "I don't understand."

Afron cocked his head. "Don't you?" He crossed the room and knelt beside the bed. "When the ogres attacked, I felt a fear I have never known, but not for myself. I feared for you, Makara. What would happen to you, if I were gone? Who would see to you, provide for you?" He took the ring from Makara's grasp. "All these years, longing for you, yearning for you, joying in you, dreading the moment my duties pulled me away from you, and I had given you nothing in return beyond coin. No part of me. And the realization of that shamed me." Afron slid the ring onto the middle finger of Makara's right hand where a betrothal band would have gone.

Makara's gaze flicked from Afron's face, down to his own hand where the ring sparkled. He was Afron's Heart of Stars; Afron's mate, Afron's chosen partner. This was more than he had dreamed of, more than he could have ever hoped for. Tears burned the corners of his eyes. "I don't know what to say."

"You need say nothing." Afron wrapped his large, meaty hand around Makara's much smaller one. "It has already been decided. Tonight you'll leave with me, and take your rightful place at my side."

Afron's words sounded so wonderful and perfect, but the knot of anticipation quickly turned into a heavy weight of dread and self-loathing. Afron might be able to dress Makara up with fancy jewels, but a whore remained a whore, no matter how pretty. Nothing would erase what he was, what he had been for the past three years. No one would care he'd only been with Afron. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden to Afron's social status, or worse, cause Afron's status to slip. Makara shook his head, shoulders slumped. "I'm nothing but a whore. You've said it yourself. You cannot attach yourself to someone like me. Not publically. What would your people think?"

"My people may think whatever they wish, but in earshot they will hold their tongues lest they become acquainted with Bloodslinger." Afron growled softly and tightened his hold on Makara's hand. "You belong to me. You will come with me."

"But what I am--"

"What you are is mine. There are no objections here. As I said, it has been decided. You cannot argue with the stars."

To be continued...

Freebie Friday: Heart of Stars, Part 5 (m/m)

Blurb:

It takes a bloody battle, the death of several of his men, and a near death experience of his own for Afron to see what lies in his heart for Makara. Now the barbarian won't let anything stand in the way of their destiny -- not even the prostitute's petulant (if half-hearted) refusal to see him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Makara sighed. No, of course not. Such words would have no meaning to the cold, calculating barbarian, and would only serve to make Makara look even more the fool. "You could have simply sent word you would no longer want my services. You need not have delivered the message in person."

Afron chuckled. "Is that what I said?" He carried his breeches over to the chair in the corner, plucked something from one of the pockets, and returned to the bed. He held out a small metal box. "Or did I say something else?"

Makara wrinkled his brow, confused. "You very clearly just said you didn't want to visit me again."

"Did I?" Afron shook the box. "Take it."

Makara raised an eyebrow at the ornamental thing, and shook his head. "Keep it. I don't want any more of your coin. In fact, your session is over. Please leave." He threw back his head and jutted his chin forward in the best imitation of defiance he could muster, biting his tongue to keep the tears at bay. He would not cry in front of Afron. Not now.

Afron's laughter started slowly -- a subtle, soft sound that at first sent little tremors up his arms and into his shoulders -- but soon he had given into it fully, clutched one arm tight around his middle as the apparent hilarity of the situation doubled him over.

Steely cold hatred wrapped an iron grip around Makara's heart as he glared down at the sheets beneath him. Sheets he had purchased -- at no small price -- to impress Afron. Everything he'd done -- everything he'd lived for -- for the past three years had been all for Afron. All for naught. He stood and snatched up the top sheet, wrapped it hastily around his body and marched to the door. Makara flung the door open and pointed to the hallway. "Get out."

Well, at least that got Afron's attention. Though the barbarian appeared in no hurry to comply, he had stopped laughing and stood looking at Makara with narrow eyes. Afron smirked, sighed, and shook his head. "No."

"I'll call the guards," Makara warned. The last thing he wanted was to make a scene, especially with someone of Afron's weighty influence, but he wouldn't be treated this way.

"I'll kill them." And his menacing tone suggested he should be believed.

Makara threw up his hands. "What do you want from me? I send you away, time and time again. I tell you we're done, yet you keep coming back to my door."

"And you keep opening it," Afron pointed out.

Frowning, Makara shook his head and glanced out the door down the hall. He couldn't deny Afron's logic. If he'd truly wanted Afron to stay away, he could've easily arranged that. Yet he hadn't.

"Three years' span between us, Makara," Afron murmured. "I would wager you know me better than most. Perhaps best of all."

And in all that time you have never once used my name. "Perhaps." What in the name of the gods was Afron getting at? Did he think Makara was a threat to him, perhaps? A loose end he needed to tie up? "I would never use my knowledge against you, surely you know that."

Afron scoffed. "If you even could. Men don't live the life I lead without protection."

Arrogant bastard.

Afron held up the metal box again, gestured to the bed. "Come. Open your gift."

Gift? Afron had never given him a gift. Makara eyed the box with suspicion, but sighed and closed the door. He walked with measured, slow steps to the bed and took the box, stayed on his feet as he opened it, though the moment he lifted the lid, he wished he had sat down. A wide golden band, set with a dazzling array of large, colorful, sparkling jewels greeted him. "This... this had to have cost a fortune."

"Of course it did."

Makara shut the box and handed it back to Afron. "No." He shook his head. "I can't accept this. You don't owe me anything."

To be continued...