military romance – Behind Closed Doors

Lovers Promise to Always Meet Under the Mistletoe for #ScintillatingSunday #RomanticSuspense

Welcome to this week’s Scintillating Sunday Showcase hosted by the Mile High Muses. This is a weekly blog hop showcasing eight words, sentences or paragraphs the participants find scintillating. The hop is open to all romance and erotic romance authors of all heat levels. There is something for everyone during this fun showcase and this week I thought I’d share the opening paragraphs from the POV of my heroine in Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. A few weeks back I shared the opening 8 paragraphs from the hero.

At the end of the post you can click on the special photo that will take you to the linky list of all the participants. This version of WordPress does not allow me to post the list here so the fun meme is the next best thing.

So here’s my eight for this week…

“Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is the Northern Star. Rogue wave hit disabling the vessel. Engine room taking on water. Sinking fast. All eight are abandoning ship into life rafts. We’ve lost all power. Last known position nearly thirty nautical miles east of St. Matthew. Repeat. Mayday, mayday, mayday. Northern Star is taking on water. Entire crew is heading for life rafts. All in survival suits.”

Her stomach clenched. She knew the wives of five of the fisherman on that boat. Two of them worked with her at the hospital. As one of the few registered nurses on the island, Jolene knew all the local families. Any kind of emergency brought them all together and it looked like today was going to be a doozy. Better get rolling. No point in trying to go back to sleep. Might as well head in and start my shift early.

She tossed the covers back and slowly slid her swollen feet into her fuzzy slippers. There was no way she’d walk barefooted over the freezing hard wood floors this time of year. Although at eight and a half months pregnant, the cold often felt good when they were as swollen as they were at the moment. She stopped her shuffle to the bathroom and slipped her right foot out of the slipper and onto the floor. The chill radiated up from the floor, taking her breath away, and that was before her sole even made contact. She shoved her foot back into the warm slipper and continued on with her morning routine.

The hot water of the shower worked out all the kinks in her back as she ran the washcloth over her ever-expanding belly. “Well, little one. Your daddy is heading out on another day to save lives. Don’t you worry, though. He’ll be here for our kiss under the mistletoe. This same time next year, you’ll be joining us there, but this time you’ll just have to settle for kicking him through my belly.”

In response, she watched as a little foot made its way across her stretched skin and gave her another kick. She smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks. These were the things Steve missed out on when he was underway. It’d taken them nearly ten years to finally get pregnant, and now she had to experience all the little things alone. Keeping a detailed baby journal helped her husband stay in the loop as did their Skype calls, but somehow it wasn’t the same.

Six other times she’d managed to conceive, only to have their excitement dashed a few months later with miscarriages. This pregnancy was the only one nearly to term and so far everything had gone without a hitch—for the baby that is. Jolene suffered from debilitating morning sickness for her entire first trimester leaving her on bed rest for most of it. Two weeks ago her doctor dropped another bomb. She had gestational diabetes. It wasn’t unexpected, but just one more thing to add to the list of issues she had to go through alone.

As the steamy water continued to work on her muscles, she remembered the weekend they conceived their baby. Steve surprised her in the middle of her shift at the hospital with a dozen pale purple roses. He had won the lottery in his unit and gotten an extra two days of liberty. Lucky for her, the other nurses had been more than willing to cover the remainder of her shift.

As soon as they’d made it through the door of their condo, he had tossed her over his shoulder and bolted toward the bedroom. “I’m going to taste every inch of your body until you beg for mercy.”

* * * *

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe Blurb

When Steve Sanders became a US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer nearly twenty years ago, he knew he’d have to put his life on the line with each mission. Unfortunately, only three days before Christmas, Steve has to come face to face with the real possibility he’d break his promise to his wife and not return back to her and their unborn child.

Jolene Sanders is nearing the end of a difficult pregnancy and looking forward to finally spending their wedding anniversary with her husband. However, her holiday spirits are shattered when a distress call from a sinking fishing vessel calls the Coast Guard into action and puts her husband’s life on the line once again.

Left behind in a life raft during the rescue, Steve’s fate is now at the mercy of the wicked Bering Sea. Will this truly be his last mission, or will a miracle bring him back to meet his wife under the mistletoe?

Available only from Amazon (ebook and print)

Universal Link: getBook.at/Mistletoe

So there you have it! I hope you had a great time here at this stop. Click on the photo below to go to the list to find your next stop!

Happy Reading!

~Tammy

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What to Do with Extra Military Leave for #ScintillatingSunday #RomanticSuspense

Yay! I made it back again this week. It was touch and go there for a day or two as my “Evil Day Job” took over and sidelined me from quite a few things on my author to do list. No worries! I’m here and ready to share another eight paragraphs from my new special release Meet Me Under the Mistletoe.

In cause you’re new to Scintillating Sunday Showcase, let me bring you up to speed. This is a weekly blog hop for erotic romance and romance authors of all heat levels. It’s hosted my the Mile High Muses and they’ve asked all participants to share EIGHT words, sentences, or paragraphs of one of our stories we feel is scintillating. The definition varies and that’s why you’ll see a variety of different posts each week. It’s also a great way to learn about authors new to you, or get sneak peeks at the works in progress of the authors you’re already following.

Okay enough of the yammering. Here’s my eight…

“Open your eyes, Jo. I need you to look at me.”

She did as he asked. Her hazel eyes positively glowed in the dim light of the room. Her pupils dilated even further and pulled him in.

This moment he craved every second they’ve been apart from each other. The connection between them deepened beyond physical at that instant and he finally allowed himself to let go completely. His orgasm slammed through his body as he exploded deep inside her. Even though his knees nearly buckled from the intensity of it, he kept pumping into her, filling her with his seed.

He rested his forehead against hers as their breathing slowed and the hot water rained down upon their flushed bodies. “God, I missed you.”

She brushed her hair off her forehead as he placed her down on her feet. She settled her back against his chest, her head under his chin. “I can tell.”

He kissed her forehead and reached for the shampoo. He loved to wash her hair while she clung to his body after sex. Caring for her like this made him feel just a little less guilty for leaving her alone for a month or more at a time.

She reached around and rested both her hands on his thighs as he lathered her hair. “You sure know how to treat a gal. I may just have to marry you one day.”

He chuckled. “You say that every time I come home on leave. Am I away so long you forget we’re already married?”

****

I hope that’s enough to spark your interest in this one. Sassy Vixen Publishing has released it exclusively on Amazon for the next three months only. Next month I’ll have special signed print copies to hand out to readers at the Emerald City Writer’s Convention in Bellevue, WA. I can’t wait to find out what you all think of Jolene and Steve’s love story!

Now for the hopping part! Since I have the WordPress version that doesn’t allow java, I had to come up with a way for you all to find the list of the participants. All you have to do is click on the following graphic and it will take you to the list. Easy peasy! Go on and click away and have fun!

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Meet Me Under the Mistletoe for #ScintillatingSunday #MilitaryRomance

Welcome to the Scintillating Sunday Showcase blog hop. For those of you who are stopping in for the first time, this is a weekly hop open to all romance and erotic romance authors. We get to showcase excerpts from our books or works in progress that we feel are scintillating. We can choose 8 words, sentences or paragraphs to tease you a bit and hopefully entice you to want to learn more. I’m excited to share the first 8 paragraphs from my holiday novelette Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. I’m releasing this one as a stand alone next month.

Enough yapping! Here’s my eight…

December 22nd, Present Day US Coast Guard Air Station

Cold Bay, Alaska

“Pon pon, pon pon, pon pon, this is COMSTA Kodiak. An unknown distress call was received on channel 16 FM. All mariners transiting the area are requested to keep a sharp lookout and report all sightings to this or any Coast Guard station. This is COMSTA Kodiak, out.”

Petty Officer Steve Sanders grabbed his gear from the ready station to check through it once again. His gut told him this wasn’t going to be an average day for the crab fleet. Starting in the middle of the night, the US Coast Guard Communication Station in Kodiak picked up multiple calls from vessels throughout the King Crab fishing grounds. Up until now, none had sent out a distress call, but with another storm building up strength over the Bering Sea, it was only a matter of time before his unit would be sent into action.

Glancing over his shoulder at the teddy bear dressed in a Coast Guard swimmer wet suit, he smiled. In less than a month, he’d be a father and his team never let a day go by without reminding him. Once he found a pack of diapers along with his own “survival kit” complete with nose plugs, tongs and thick rubber gloves stuffed in his locker. Another instance it was a box of chocolate cigars, half with pink wrappers and the other with blue. The day before he left for his current three-month stint in Cold Bay, his unit on Kodiak threw a couples’ baby shower for him and his wife Jolene. The teddy bear was a gift from the Commander, and Jolene made sure to pack it in his duffel when he wasn’t looking. It was simply her way of reminding him to come home safe for her and their child.

A handwritten gift tag dangled from a red velvet ribbon tied around the bear’s neck. It read, “Meet me under the mistletoe and I’ll make all your Christmas wishes come true.” Every single year since he was a fifteen year-old freshman in high school and he dared a then thirteen year-old Jolene to meet him under the mistletoe, they’d never missed a chance to get that first holiday kiss. Of course, if the fiery brunette would’ve punched him instead of kissed him that first time, who knows where his life would be now?

That first kiss began an annual tradition neither of them ever dreamed of breaking. To them it meant as much as their wedding vows during their handfasting ceremony on Christmas Eve. At the stroke of midnight, they had been pronounced spouses for life under a large bouquet of mistletoe of course. Now here he was only three short days before another anniversary with his soul mate and expecting their first child. Life couldn’t get much better than that.

The SAR alarm sounded off, piercing his quiet moments of reflection. His heartbeat quickened as the adrenaline surged through his body. It’s go time! The rest of his search and rescue team hustled as details of the emergency sounded over the address system.

“Fishing vessel Northern Star has sent out a mayday. Vessel is taking on water. Eight crew members in survival suits boarding two life rafts. Last known position twenty-five nautical miles east of St. Matthew Island. Repeat. Fishing vessel Northern Star listing and taking on water. Crew evacuating into life boats.”

He slung his equipment bags over both shoulders and jogged toward the waiting helo. If luck was on their side, the impending storm would hold back a bit longer and the rescue should go off without a hitch. However, the Bering Sea had a life of its own, and at any moment their luck could change on a dime. As part of his routine on each mission, he bowed his head in prayer. Goddess, I ask you help us find these sailors and bring them home safe. Please hold back the waves until all are safe aboard with us and headed home.

* * * *

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Behind Closed Doors With @MtnMoxieGirl Amber Lea Easton’s Reckless Endangerment #romance #suspense #ASMSG

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors! Today is Throwback Thursday and I have a very special treat for you all today. My friend, fellow Siren author and fabulous editor of the Muses anthology is here today to talk about her romantic suspense novel Reckless Endangerment. Technically this one was released in April 2013 so it is a “throwback.” I thought it would be fun to dip back into catalog for today’s post. I’ll just let her take the reigns. Sit back and enjoy!

~Tammy

Behind Closed Doors…I love the name of this blog. What really goes on behind closed doors? Do we really know someone from their appearance and social persona, even if we regularly associate with them? Image is just that, a snapshot of who we are.

In my novel, Reckless Endangerment, Hope Shane appears to the world—and even to those closest to her—to be a badass reporter who needs no one and has more ambition in her little finger than most do in their entire bodies. But she’s more than that. She’s a woman who wants to fight for her marriage, who mourns the loss of too many friends she’s seen killed in a warzone, and who wishes people could see beyond the public persona.

Can you relate to that? Have you ever felt like you were living up to a standard that was exhausting to maintain? Maybe you’re not perfect, but guess what? No one really is. It’s easy to judge by appearances but it’s rarely accurate.

Michael Cedars is decorated war hero who has an image in his mind of who he is supposed to be in life, but all of that is erased when war wounds leave him partially paralyzed. The difference between his new reality and his expectations of himself as a man push him toward the edge. The very image he’d projected to the world no longer serves him and he doesn’t like his options. Yet everyone in his life is tugging at him to do this, be that, look ahead…and all he wants to do is give up.

Everyone struggles. People all have their challenges, but life moves forward sometimes at a faster pace than we can handle. So we plaster on the smile, live up to the image we choose to project, while we figure out exactly who we are and what we’re going to do about it. Fight, surrender, adapt, or mourn? Often it’s all of the above all done behind closed doors.

Blurb of Reckless Endangerment:

Heroes come in many forms–soldiers who fall and rise and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Sometimes heroes fall and take the ones they love down with them. Colonel Michael Cedars and reporter Hope Shane fell in love in a war zone, but then the world blew up, and splintered their lives in two.

Michael Cedars returns home from Afghanistan wounded and unsure where he fits in this ‘new normal’ of civilian life. Unsure if he’ll walk again, he questions his abilities as a man, husband, and father. Accustomed to giving orders, he’s thrown into a world where he doesn’t know the rules anymore and no one is respecting the officer in the room.

Hope isn’t one who gives up easily—not on her marriage and not on the innocent victims of a human trafficking ring she’s investigating. As the danger of her story intensifies, she struggles with her own post-traumatic stress disorder and a husband who resists her love.

Danger intensifies as Hope searches for truth and justice. Everyone she loves is at risk. Will her reckless pursuit of the human trafficking ring jeopardize their lives?

Michael knows she needs him, but doubts his ability to be the hero she still believes him to be. Is he still the man she married or has he become a liability that could get her killed?

Excerpt:

“You’re a selfish bastard.” She shoved her hands through her hair and counted silently to twenty. “Say what you want, I don’t care because I’d rather fight with you than mourn you. I’d rather you hate me than feel nothing.”

“I do hate you.”

Blowing a strand of hair from her face, she grabbed the ouzo bottle, opened it and slammed cabinet doors looking for a glass.

“I know you’re lying,” she said.

“Get the hell out of here,” he yelled.

“Where are your goddamn glasses?” she asked between clenched teeth.

“How would I know? I’ve been here less than six hours.”

“Who needs a glass, right?” She took a long swig of the liquor. The alcohol burned her throat but felt damn good. She took another swig before meeting his gaze.

“Is that how you’re dealing with your guilt? Drinking it away?” he asked.

She held the bottle out toward him. “Want a taste?”

He looked at her through narrowed eyes, muscle working overtime in his jaw.

“C’mon, babe, look at it this way…maybe a taste will kill you,” she said.

For the first time since entering the room, a flicker of humor shot through his eyes. With a shrug, he grabbed the bottle and drank without breaking eye contact.

“I’m still alive,” he said.

“Sorry to disappoint you…again.” Needing to touch him, she reached for the scar that zigzagged across his forehead.

He flinched away from her touch.

“You need to leave. You don’t owe me anything,” he said without looking at her face.

She caught her lower lip between her teeth and studied his bent head before answering. “This isn’t about owing you anything.”

He met her gaze then, annoyance flashing in the brown depths. But there was something else there, too…pain so intense she took a step back.

“What is wrong with you?” he asked. “Just because I’m in this chair doesn’t mean that you can bully me.”

“Am I bullying you?” She grinned at the idea of bullying him. He’d always been the badass Marine with more arrogance than necessary. Her independence clashed with his attitude more often than not, but that had been a good thing. Maybe—just maybe—he’d missed it. “I brought you fast food and alcohol. We even had a fight. I think you like that I’m here. I’m livening things up. You looked pretty bored when I walked in.”

He grabbed her hand before she could snag another fry. He squeezed her fingers so hard she thought her bones would snap. “Look at me. I’m not the man you married. I’m not even a Marine anymore. Look at me.”

She only saw the man she loved who stared back with desperation in his eyes. She saw his hair thicker and longer than she’d ever seen it before and liked it. She saw his teeth sink into his lower lip and wanted them sinking into her skin. She only saw Michael.

“You’re still the sexiest man on the planet,” she said.

“You’re delusional.” He dropped her hand as if the mere touch of her skin sickened him.

“Maybe I am.”

“What are you getting out of this?”

“A headache.”

“I can’t. I’m changed. We’ll never be able to be like we were.” He looked at his legs. “Not like how you remember me anyway. I’m different now.”

“So am I. We’re all different.”

“It’s more than that and you know it. You and me…sex…there will be…expectations.”

“I see, so I should pretend you don’t exist because you feel awkward about sex? You must not think much of me, Colonel.” She bit out his rank between clenched teeth.

“When I see you that’s what I want, are you satisfied now? Right now I would like to throw you up against that counter, rip those jeans from you and fuck you. I remember how we were together. That’s what I want. I can’t do that. Do you hear me? I can’t have what I want and seeing you is torture for me. I can’t have you.”

Silence quaked in the room.

She put both of her hands on his knees, conscious that he couldn’t feel her touch. “You keep talking about what you’ve lost, but you haven’t lost me. Don’t you see that? You may not be a Marine anymore and you may not be able to walk anymore, but you have me. I love you. I need you. Can’t that be enough? And you have your son. What about him? He needs you, too. You haven’t lost him.”

“I wish you hadn’t come here.”

“Too bad, I’m here. Deal with it.” She moved onto his lap and moved her hands over his shoulders. “What’s the problem?”

“Stop this,” he whispered.

“You want me to kiss you. You want to kiss me back.” She could see it in his eyes, the need, the desire, the question. “Is that what you want, Michael?”

“What would that prove?”

“Does it have to prove something? Can’t a kiss be a kiss?”

“No.”

“Typical man.” She leaned within a fraction of his lips. “Don’t you remember high school? Don’t you remember when a kiss meant everything?”

In a sudden move, he grabbed the back of her head and ground his lips against hers. She knew the intensity was meant to shock her so she matched it with her own. She sat on his lap and plunged her tongue into the recesses of his mouth until he moaned. His free hand squeezed her breast through the thin material of her blouse but, instead of hurting, it ignited her blood.

The Michael she knew still lived inside this man. She felt him in the warmth of his mouth, the strength of his hands on her body, the restrained power of his touch.

She couldn’t stop touching him, hands moved through his hair, over his face, along his shoulders. Alive. Here. She fought back a Hallelujah.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://getBook.at/REALEaston

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/Z4F3qj

All Romance Ebooks: http://goo.gl/d7RRSt

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/14lTKrb

Contact information:

http://www.amberleaeaston.com,

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston

and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/MtnMoxieGirl

Author Bio:

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of both nonfiction and fiction. She spent years working in journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial sector. She has three published romantic suspense novels—”Kiss Me Slowly”, “Riptide”, and “Reckless Endangerment”—and a contemporary romance novella, “Anonymity.” Her memoir about surviving the suicide of loved one, “Free Fall”, published in September 2013.

Easton is also an editor and professional speaker. Links to radio interviews can be located on her website, http://amberleaeaston.com, and her videos about romance writing have been showcased internationally on the Writers and Authors television network.

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She gives thanks daily for the view outside her window and healthy children. As long as she’s writing, she considers herself to be simply “a lucky lady liv’n the dream.”

#SaturdaySpotlight is On @HouseofTaboo And Her New Release #erotic #paranormal #LGBT #shortstory

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors! This week has been a flurry of activity in my household. Between edits on The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3) and publishing my alter ego’s very first short story I don’t think I got very much sleep. Trying a new genre frightened the daylights out of me, but these characters just wouldn’t keep quiet. I had to tell their story. Well, I should say LIA had to tell their story.

For those of you stopping in for the first time, I should explain a bit who Lia is. You see, she’s me and I’m her. Lia writes the M/M and menage erotica and erotic romances while I (Tammy Dennings Maggy) handle the poetry, M/F and F/F erotica and erotic romance. There is one more alter ego, Stephanie Ryan. She’s in charge of the “good girl” genres including YA, NA, mainstream romance and mainstream fiction. She’ll get her moment in the spotlight in a few months, but for now it’s Lia’s turn. Let’s take a look at the video Sassy Vixen Publishing made up to introduce her and her blog The House of Taboo.

As Lia, I get to have all sorts of naughty fun and explore the more taboo characters and tales. Through her I’m able to go a bit deeper into the minds of “our” characters. With Forbidden Destiny and the full novel Call of the Thunderbird, I found within the Native American culture, LGBT individuals were historically honored, revered and respected by all members of the tribe. Called “Two Spirits” these beautiful people were not male, nor female but contained the spirits of both. As such, they could connect with others and the Great Spirit and a different level. Because of their spirituality, many were looked to as healers and shaman within their communities. Unfortunately, when the New World was conquered…errrr..colonized, Two Spirits were attacked. The Europeans imposed their morals and beliefs onto the Native Americans. Some tribes ended up shunning the very people they once held in high regard. Sound familiar?

In Forbidden Destiny, we meet Abraham and Ethan. Both are Two Spirit but live completely different lives. Where Ethan grew up accepted and encouraged to be whoever he wished to be, Abraham did not. He had to keep his true self hidden from his family and the local tribe members. Even though Abraham’s tribal Elders embraced the old traditions, his parents didn’t. Because he didn’t want to bring shame to his family, or make trouble for them with the Elders, Abraham did as his parents asked and tried to fit in with the non-Native community.

BLURB

Ethan Quaderer is the Great Thunderbird, the creature of Native American legend. From childhood, Ethan soared high across the land, as one with the majestic bald eagles—only larger and more powerful. Great Thunderbird has one mission, to save the Native American people. But first, he must find his Chosen, his soul mate.

Abraham Tuttle grew up in a household where being different was unacceptable. Forbidden. He hid his true nature, a Two Spirit—not male or female, but both. For many Native American tribes, being Two Spirit is a blessing, one to be honored and revered. Not so for Abraham.

Through the Thunderbird dreams each finds the happiness they long for. One dreams of the Great Warrior who’d someday rescue him. The other dreams of the one he’s searched for through many lifetimes.

Dreams turn into reality when both men come face to face in the real world. Can Abraham find it within himself to let go of his past and embrace his future with Ethan, or will his doubts and fears of who and what he really is cause him to lose the only one who could ever complete him heart and soul?

Want to find out more? Get your own copy of Forbidden Destiny for only 99 cents from All Romance ebooks, Smashwords, and Amazon.

About the Author

Lia Michaels is the alter ego of bestselling poet and erotic romance author Tammy Dennings Maggy. With so many characters clamoring for their stories to be told, the job became a bit overwhelming for one sassy vixen to handle. Lia “volunteered” to explore the world of M/M erotic romance as well as menage. Tammy will still tell the M/F and F/F stories but don’t be surprised if the two of them collaborate from time to time. With Lia, very few topics will be taboo so look for more fantasy and paranormal tales from her. She’ll leave the more contemporary stuff to Tammy but still encourage her to push the limits!

Where to find Lia

The House of Taboo (Website/blog)

Sassy Vixen Publishing LLC

Amazon Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Facebook Fan Page (House of Taboo)

Facebook Author Fan Page

Facebook Personal Page

Twitter

Goodreads

#TheVixen Gets Wild and Wicked with Author Tyler Robbins (@Robin_Badillo) #LGBT #eroticromance #military

It’s Wild and Wicked Hump Day and what better way to celebrate than to have the fabulous Tyler Robbins here today. She’s sharing an excerpt from her new release Aftermath: Guts and Glory. This is yet another fabulous M/M erotic romance from this author who just happens to be the alter ego of my friend Robin Badillo. The two of us can have a hell of a party with all our alter egos in one room. Oh the stories we could tell! Enough about our wild parties over at the House of Taboo. Let’s get on to the business at hand.

Blurb

When the brother he idolized is killed in action in Afghanistan, Kyle Barrett is rocked to his core. With his only confidant gone, Kyle struggles to deal with the loss, while fighting to keep his hidden sexuality a secret from his parents.

If only he didn’t have to face them alone.

Army veteran, Ryder Bishop has returned from his final tour in Iraq, when severe PTSD forces him to seek help through a new counseling program back home in Texas.

Just when Ryder thinks he’s reached the end of his rope, he meets Kyle, and their lives take a remarkable turn.

Can the grieving brother and damaged soldier find the peace they so desperately need? Or will they become another statistic when the aftermath of war hits too close to home?

They might have shipped the soldier home, but his demons have come with him.

Alternative PG Excerpt

“Some of these guys come from Liberty County, others from Houston. This is the only center implementing this program, but if it turns out to be successful, they might start popping up everywhere.”

Kyle half-assed listened to Reesa, while trying to come up with an excuse to cut out early, and find somewhere to be alone. He nodded, for no other reason than to appease her.

“If that happens, I plan to be a part of it. That’s why I changed my major to behavioral science.”

Kyle paused. Now she had his attention. “Wait? You’re not going to be a nurse?”

Reesa took a deep breath. “I want to make a difference for Wade.” She looked around the room. “And these people need someone willing to make a difference for them, too.”

“What about what you need?”

She squeezed his hand. “This is what I need, Kyle.”

Kyle searched her green eyes. Her sincerity warmed him somehow, but he still didn’t get how she’d be able to handle all the emotional crap that had to go along with getting too involved. It was hard enough living with Wade’s death. How could she deal with the same kind of emotions coming from so many other people? Complete strangers?

He nodded, not to agree, but to eliminate the concern that now filled her eyes. “I guess if anyone could do something like that, it would be you.”

“Good. I’m glad you think that. It means a lot to me.” Reesa’s attention quickly turned to someone across the room, and her face instantly brightened. “Hey, stranger.” She let go of Kyle’s hand and darted away.

Kyle’s gaze followed her, and he froze the second he saw who she had spoken to. The guy from the basketball court. Ryder.

Kyle’s insides fluttered as Ryder glanced over at him.

Reesa dragged Ryder by the arm. His initial resistance was clearly futile, and the bashful grin did little to hide the pink tinge on Ryder’s cheeks.

“Kyle, this is my new friend, Ryder.”

Kyle’s palms moistened. “Yeah. We’ve already met.”

Ryder gave Kyle a quick nod. “Are you hoping for a rematch?”

“Rematch?” The inflexion of Reesa’s inquisitive tone rivaled the look of intrigue highlighting her green eyes.

“Yeah, we played a game of one on one at the courts by my apartment the other night.” Ryder’s nostrils flared, and he appeared a bit smug. “I believe I won. Right?”

Kyle’s mouth watered at the memory of Ryder’s glistening abs when he’d lifted his shirt to wipe the perspiration from his brow. “He barely won. And that was only because it was right after—” The words caught in the back of Kyle’s throat, and a sudden feeling of nausea swept over him. He fidgeted and glanced down at Reesa, his mood darkening right on the spot. “Um, it was Tuesday evening.” He swallowed hard, doing his best not to throw up as an acidic burn now scorched the back of his throat.

Reesa’s auburn brow arched, and her lips turned up into shaky smile. “Oh. Okay.” The thought of that day had understandably struck a nerve for her, too.

“Yeah, well maybe we can have that rematch after you’ve rested up or something. Maybe a nap would help.”

Was that a jab at Kyle’s baby-faced looks?

Ryder’s boyish smirk remained plastered across his face, easing Kyle’s angst immediately.

“Whatever, man.” Kyle managed a chuckle. “You just got lucky, that’s all.”

“Oh, is that your story?” Ryder seemed to physically gravitate toward Kyle, or was it Kyle’s imagination—or wishful thinking?

Ryder’s cologne wafted toward him, a scent Kyle could spot anywhere. “I guess we’ll just have to see.”

“Okay, boys.” Reesa took them both by the arm, and walked between them. “I say we go to lunch and discuss this little rematch further.”

Kyle glanced at Ryder over the top of Reesa’s head. The instant he found Ryder already looking in his direction, Kyle’s face warmed, and he quickly looked away.

There was something about the other man’s gaze, something sincere and exciting, and the more Kyle thought about it, the more he liked it.

Where to Find Tyler and Her Work

Evernight Author Page

Amazon Author Page

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

About the Author

Tyler Robbins is the pen name of author Robin Badillo, who lives in a small Texas town and is the mother of four nearly grown kids, two boys and two girls.

Tyler enjoys stepping out of her comfort zone and pushes the envelope on the stories she writes every chance she gets. She hopes her readers are just as thrilled as she is with the chances she’s taking.
Always the optimist, Tyler is a firm believer that gray hair is merely God’s graffiti!!

#WildAndWicked Wednesday with @kendallmckenna, #tattoos, and Her Recon Diaries #LGBT #Marines #eroticromance

Welcome to hump day here at Behind Closed Doors. One of our favorite guests is back with us again today. Author Kendall McKenna has agreed to share a bit more about what makes her Marine heroes so HAWT. This time she’s chosen a specific body adornment that I love…tattoos! I’ll just turn over the blog and let her share some fabulous photos of her sinspirations. Enjoy! ~Tammy

You know Kendall McKenna has a new book coming out when she shows up here, bearing hot men! For those of you who haven’t encountered me before, I’m an author of M/M Erotic Romances.

Still with me?

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Tattoos. Not everyone likes tattoos, but I have certainly seen a distinct uptick in the number of us who do, over the last several decades. While I was growing, only bikers, criminals and military personnel had tattoos. They all tended to appear the same, heavy in the blacks, blues and reds.Excellent! Let’s get started.

I was twelve years old when my mother got her first tattoo. My father followed. My family is very conservative. My father is a retired cop, my mother a homemaker. Both of my siblings and I have tattoos. It really does seem as though more of my friends and co-workers have tattoos, than don’t. At least one.

I’ve always liked tattoos. I’m thrilled that the stigma surrounding tattoos has all but disappeared. Culturally, we’ve come to recognize tattoos in much the same way as the societies that originally developed them. They’re body art, they’re symbols of our individuality, outward symbols of our souls, they’re self-expression that we wear on our skin like shields, or like pages of our personal books.

My specialty is in writing realistic U.S. Marines in realistic military-related situations. As strange as it may seem, none of my Marines have tattoos. You would think that with my love of ink, and the fact that I write about Marines, that all of my characters would have tattoos. Up until now, some of my characters didn’t have anything they felt the need to wear on their skin. Others will be getting their tattoos in upcoming stories, for ritualistic reasons. But one character, who has been with me from the beginning and as finally gotten his own story, has always had tattoos.

If you’ve read my books, you’ll know that Jonah and Kellan from Brothers In Arms and Fire For Effect, don’t have tattoos. Jonah, the career Marine, would be more likely to get one, than the Ivy League, WASP-y Kellan, but Jonah also isn’t going to just get the Corps logo or some other cliché. Noah & Lucas from Strength of the Pack will eventually get tattoos, because Noah can’t wear either a ring, or his dog tags, while in wolf form. He and Lucas getting matching tattoos will let him carry something of Lucas with him while he’s a wolf. That’ll be a short story when I get around to writing the anthology.

That brings me to Staff Sergeant Corey Yarwood. Corey first showed up in Brothers In Arms. He makes a quick appearance in Fire For Effect. But on July 4^th, Corey finally gets his very own story. The Final Line is the story of Corey’s battle with PTSD, while providing witness testimony in two criminal investigations. And, he gets to fall in love.

Giving himself a mental kick in the ass, Corey admitted he was going to show off what he had and hope Sean wanted to get a closer look. His jeans were faded to the perfect shade. They hugged his ass and rode low on his hips. The button front black shirt he selected had short sleeves that barely fit over his biceps, leaving the muscles of his arms on full display. Corey left several buttons open, revealing the skin of his chest and the edges of his dog tags.

Checking himself in the mirror, he saw the lower edge of his First Recon skull and crossbones tattoo on his right shoulder. The eagle, globe and anchor over his heart was partially visible, too. He hoped Sean liked tattoos.

Not to worry, Corey, Sean loves tattoos!

“You’re a cheap date,” he muttered before he could stop himself.

Sean snorted into his drink. “I’m easy, too.”

“Not for me, you’re not.” Corey couldn’t make himself look at Sean.

They were silent for several interminable moments before Sean leaned in and said quietly, “Do you even know how fucking hot you look, tonight? I’m getting hard just looking at you.”

Corey grinned, heat pooling in his belly and his cock pushing steadily against his fly. Finally, he met Sean’s eyes. “I clean up pretty good for a grunt, huh?”

“Are you good with your tongue?” Corey asked, blatantly staring at Sean’s pouty mouth. He wondered if they could skip the hand jobs and just have Sean wrap those sinful looking lips around his dick.“I knew last night you cleaned up well,” Sean replied. “But this is something else.” He traced a finger over the edge of the tattoo on Corey’s arm. “I want to take that shirt off of you and get a good look at your ink. I probably couldn’t stop, though, and I’d end up running my tongue over the one on your chest.” Sean stared blatantly at Corey’s chest where his shirt stood open to reveal part of the Marine Corps logo.

Sean gave a husky laugh, his eyes sparkling. “I really like this side of you.”

Corey has typical Marine Corps tattoos because he is making a statement of defiance to all those who disapprove of his life choices, and his orientation. By permanently marking himself with the symbols of his beloved Corps, he’s telling the world he is a Marine, down to his bones. He’s got a warrior’s soul. At the same time, his tattoos align him with his fellow warriors. He has chosen his family, and he wears their coat of arms – their sigil – on his skin.

Sean picks up on that quickly. He likes tattoos, sure, but he figures out early on what Corey’s ink means to him, and he accepts those symbols in the very same way he accepts all things about Corey.

Corey lifted his hand and reached blindly behind himself. He found Sean’s soft hair and wove his fingers through it, drawing his face down close.

Sean cooperated, nuzzling the sensitive spot behind Corey’s ear. His hand moved quickly on Corey’s cock, squeezing firmly. Corey moved his legs restlessly and Sean secured him by hooking his own leg over Corey’s. It felt so fucking good, Corey’s orgasm had already begun to build up inside of him.

“I’m not going to last,” he groaned, chest heaving as he breathed heavily through parted lips. “Christ, you’re gonna make me come quick.”

“Good,” Sean replied, sounding pleased with himself. He kissed his way down Corey’s neck. “Don’t try to hold back.”

Corey flexed the muscles in his thighs and Sean groaned against his shoulder, even as the thrusts of his hips became stronger and faster. Sean’s hard-on slid easily between Corey’s legs, gliding against his taint. The thick head bumped Corey’s balls, making them tingle and dragging his climax up faster.

Sean shifted again and Corey was forced to release the back of his head. He turned to watch Sean lick the point of his shoulder before dragging the flat of his tongue down Corey’s bicep. When he reached Corey’s tattoo, Sean firmed the tip of his tongue and used it to trace the edges of the ink.

He watched in fascination as Sean worshiped his tattoo while stroking his dick. Corey pushed his hips into Sean’s tight grip. His balls tightened. Heat spooled out from the base of his spine and flooded his pelvis. He was so fucking close.

“I love your tats,” Sean said against Corey’s ink, his soft lips and hot breath sending a shiver through Corey’s body. “What does this one stand for?”

Corey struggled to focus. He knew he needed to answer Sean but all he wanted to do was fuck Sean’s hand and come his brains out. “It’s the 1^st Recon logo,” he gasped.

“You’re proud of being Recon, aren’t you?” Sean traced the skull in Corey’s tattoo. “It’s a big deal, isn’t it?” At least Sean sounded breathless now, too, as he slid his cock between Corey’s clenched thighs.

“Yeah,” he gasped, just before his lower belly tightened and his dick pulsed in a few times. “Oh fuck, I’m gonna come.”

“Good, I wanna feel you,” Sean replied, panting through parted, red lips.

Corey stared at Sean’s mouth. He wanted those lips pressed to his own. It felt like Sean was miles away, as he mouthed at Corey’s arm. He wanted Sean closer. Corey tried to tell him. He wanted to ask Sean to kiss him. Hell, he’d fucking beg for it, if he could just form the words.

Sean’s shrewd hazel eyes flicked up to Corey’s and he must have seen something. He slid up Corey’s body, slightly, his brows furrowing slightly. “What, Corey, what do you need?”

“Kiss me.” Corey’s voice was much more desperate than he’d planned. He’d be embarrassed later. “Please kiss me.”

Corey likes to kiss. A lot. But to learn more, you’ll have to read the book when it’s release by MLR on July 4th.

If you’d like to learn more about me, or any of the stories I mentioned in my post, you can check out my website: www.kendallmckenna.com

Now is your chance to win free stuff! This is your chance to enter to win an e-book copy of any the three Recon Diaries titles!

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