I’m hellbent on finishing a book today or  tomorrow, so I don’t have a lot of time to spend online at the moment. I promise, I’ll be checking your comments when I come up for air.

Last night, as a reward for making my word count, I watched the last episodes of The Walking Dead, Season 4. We had them recorded and watched them in blocks. All I can say is wow—fantastic plotting, amazing character arcs, wonderful actors. Look at the flowers, Lizzie.

For me, it’s in my all-time top five series. Now I have the excruciatingly long wait until Season 5 begins. I love this show so much, I find myself dreaming about it (usually involving Norman Reedus’s character, Daryl 😎 ).

Are there shows or movies that linger in your mind and invade your dreams?

Top five things I learned about mixed martial arts while researching In Your Corner, my new sexy fighter romance…

1. Yes, professional and most amateur fighters really do look like “that” i.e. hot, toned and ripped.

The pressure to “make weight” i.e. make the cut off to fight in a lower weight class, means that they cannot afford any excess fat. A 195 lb fighter will dehydrate and starve himself before a weigh-in, often cutting up to 25lbs in a matter of days and then gaining it back before the fight. Hands up everyone who wants to lose 25lbs in two days. Me!

2. Fighters protect the family jewels with shorts that have a built-in carbon flex groin protector.

I was “treated” to a demonstration of the effectiveness of the “carbon flex groin protector” during one of my research trips. As you can imagine, it involved my host, thudding his knee between the legs of his “friend” and saying “see it doesn’t hurt” while his “friend” grimaced and tried not to cry.

More interesting than the groin smash demo, however, were the names given to said equipment. After all, a man can’t put his family jewels in a simple cup. Oh no. Something that precious must be protected with a “Bad Boy Thai Metal Groin Guard” or a HEXPAD Thudd Short with Extended Thigh”. Sounds kinky if you ask me. And I would know. I wrote a kinky book.

3. MMA is about fighting. Not BDSM.

MMA is a sport. It has nothing to do with sex. So put away your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey and don’t be fooled by commentators talking about fighters taking the “dominant” position or forcing opponents into “submission.” The “ground and pound” is a  fight move, it’s not about rough sex. Think sports and you’ll appreciate the skill involved in a good ‘ol “Rear Naked Choke.” And don’t get me started on the “mount.” Just remember…you don’t want to be a bottom in the mount position because you will be in danger of being submitted. Oh Christian…

4. The Submission Master wants you.

Since we’re on the subject of submission, you may not know that fighters train with “dummies.” Often life-like (although sadly not anatomically correct) fight training dummies come in all manner of shapes and sizes, but my personal favorite is…THE SUBMISSION MASTER. Dark and mysterious, The Submission Master “holds its arms and legs up where they belong… not flat out on the floor.” If you prefer blonds, his bestie, Grapple Man, has a lifelike appearance and his skin has the feel and resiliency of human flesh. Or, if you’re feeling kinky, you can have them both.

5. What’s your ring name?

For obvious reasons (see paragraph about male ego above), fighters are not allowed to choose their own ring names. They must “earn” their name as selected by their peers. If you are a good fighter and a popular guy, you might luck out and be named Pulverizer, Axe Murderer, or Terminator. But if you piss off the coach, or you’re the kind of guy who is left standing at the side during the high school dance, you can expect a name like Babalu, Putz or Bambi.

What’s your ring name? Check it out on the Fighter Name Generator below. http://www.bleedingmedia.com/fighter_name_generator.php

Thanks to Delilah for hosting me today!

IN YOUR CORNER BY SARAH CASTILLE

A Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book 2014! “You have to go. I won’t be able to control myself. I’ve wanted you so bad for so long and after I’ve been in the cage…I can’t think straight.” He gives a guttural groan and his fist clenches on my hip.

Primitive. Primal. His need speaks to me. I tighten my grip on his neck and rock up to kiss him. He takes over. His kiss is hard and demanding.

“Mine.” His voice is raw, savage and for a moment I truly believe he may lose control.

He rules in the ring

Two years ago, Jake and Amanda were going hot and heavy. But when Jake wanted more, Amanda walked away. Jake immersed himself in mixed martial arts, living life on the edge. But that didn’t dull the pain of Amanda’s rejection-until a chance encounter throws them together.

A high-powered lawyer, Amanda was a no-strings-attached kind of girl. But two years after her breakup with Jake, she still hasn’t found anyone who gets her heart pumping the way he did. And then he shows up in her boardroom, hot as sin and needing help…

But can he rule her heart?

Jake is darker, sexier, and impossible to resist. As their chemistry builds, Amanda’s not sure if she can stay in control, or if she’s finally willing to let him claim her body and soul.

BUY LINKS:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mkcsql
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1nS1iJn
ITunes: http://bit.ly/TguA90
Kobo: http://bit.ly/TsW4IM

Against the Ropes (Redemption #1): A Publishers Weekly Top Ten Pick for Romance & Erotica and #1 Amazon Erotic Romance Bestseller: Amazon http://amzn.to/1o0sXYe

BIO

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, worked and travelled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies. She writes erotic contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter for info about new releases: http://bit.ly/SDdzWX
Website http://www.sarahcastille.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahcastilleauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sarah_castille
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920675.Sarah_Castille
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/scastilleauthor/
Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahcastille

EXCERPT FROM IN YOUR CORNER

“Don’t move.”

Totally immersed in painting the cupboard, I freeze mid–paint stroke at the sound of Jake’s deep voice behind me.

“What? Am I doing something wrong?”

He closes the distance between us and runs his finger along the back waistband of my gym pants, sending delicious tingles up my spine. Then he slides his hands around my waist, bared by the rise of my T-shirt as I stretch to reach the top of the cupboard with my paintbrush.

“Yes. You look too damn sexy. Do you know what it does to a man when he catches a glimpse of something he isn’t meant to see?”

“I hope it makes him tell the woman she can call off the panic attack and drop her arm,” I mutter as I do just that. “I also hope it makes him decide his hands might be of better use somewhere other than around her waist.”

Jake slides his fingers around to my stomach, resting them just over my mound and his voice drops to a low growl. “I could make use of them here.” Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE: Linda Richter won the free download!

* * * * *

Wedding season is upon us. I love weddings. I adore the glamorous gowns, the profusion of flowers, seeing family and friends brought together in celebration, and most of all I love watching a couple pledge their forever love to one another. Some people are cynical about marriage these days, but I believe in it wholeheartedly. Something I love about romance novels is that you’re guaranteed a happily-ever-after ending, and usually that means a wedding. Of course, a perfect wedding doesn’t mean the years that follow will go smoothly. There are bumps in the road for any couple on their journey through life together—but at the end of a well-crafted story, we know the bond between the hero and heroine is strong enough to carry them through the challenges they are bound to face.

As wonderful as weddings are, preparing for the big day can be fraught with stress. Brides put pressure on themselves to create the perfect event, and there may be budget strains or conflict with family over decisions. And consider the bridesmaids, forced to wear whatever puffy-sleeved tangerine or fuchsia monstrosity the bride chooses for her!

All the drama can make an ideal backdrop for a story. My new novella, Kiss the Bridesmaid (available as part of the Weddings on Main Street boxed set), follows the budding romance of Mari and Jake, a bridesmaid and a wedding photographer, during the months leading up to Mari’s brother’s wedding. For Mari, the stress of preparing for the wedding has nothing to do with money, fashion or squabbles with the other attendants. She’s anxious about her hidden disorder that might make it difficult to stand at the front of the church during the ceremony. Meanwhile, Jake is recovering from a disastrous marriage and only wants to focus on the needs of his young daughter—but he can’t resist falling in love with Mari.

Do you have a favourite wedding story? Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Weddings on Main Street, a collection of all-new novellas by eleven authors.

Amazon link: http://authl.it/B00KV0AZVI
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weddings-on-main-street-tori-scott/1119711535?ean=9780985515485
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id888130300
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/weddings-on-main-street
My website: http://susanrhughes.weebly.com/

Click Cover to Buy

At least that’s what my heroine, Alana Cozins, discovers in my recent release Somewhere Down the Line. My hero, Trey Morison, is a songwriter. Songwriters are a special breed. And while they can be male or female, there’s something about the male perspective in a country song. As a music promoter, I network with songwriters and artists on a daily basis. Most of those I work with are either traditional country artists (no hick hop found on my playlist) or Texas artists.

In my novella, I talk about a Songwriters Showcase. When my editor asked for clarification, I realized a lot of my readers may need a little extra insight.

I can’t attest to what is in other states but in Texas (and in Nashville) they have Songwriters Showcases (or sometimes Songwriters Circles). Showcases are an intimate gathering of songwriters/ musicians at one of the many music venues throughout the state. Usually, one artist acts as the host for the evening and invites others to join him (or her) for a couple hours to ‘showcase’ their latest tunes. This gives them a chance to get a little feedback from their peers and the audience.

As a reward for signing my contract for Somewhere Down the Line, I spent twelve days traveling through the upper half of Texas – particularly in the West Texas Hill Country. I spent much of my time in Llano, Texas. I have friends there and wanted the chance to catch up and see some of the talent first hand I’d been promoting. One place in particular stands out. The Badu House is a special venue. A wine house and pub as well as a restaurant and B&B, The Badu features music nights two or three times a week. On Thursday nights, my friend W.C. Jameson heads up the Songwriter’s Showcase. For two hours he and his co-host, Mike Blakely and a guest take turns playing a wide variety of tunes – mostly in the Americana genre. On Monday nights W.C. hosts the circle at Poodie’s Hilltop – one of the oldest honky tonks in Texas and just minutes from Willie Nelson’s home. The infamous Luckenbach is another great place to catch a Songwriters Showcase.

These events provide a morsel to entice you to learn more about the songwriter and their music. And while I can’t say anything about their lovemaking abilities (I am a happily married woman), I can tell you they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. If you appreciate good music and come across one of these gatherings, I urge you to go experience the special magic of a Songwriters Showcase.

* * * * *

Angela Drake believes in happy endings and the magic of ‘what if’ and second chances. When not living vicariously through her characters, Angela writes about and promotes Texas and classic country music. She is an active member of two local writer’s organizations. Angela enjoys time with her granddaughters, gardening, journaling, and a myriad of artistic pursuits. She shares a home in the Ozarks with her husband, three dogs and two cats. She loves networking with readers and writers through her Facebook, twitter and blog.

Angela’s Links:
Website – http://angeladrake.blogspot.com
FB – https://www.facebook.com/AngelaDrake.author?ref_type=bookmark
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AngelaDrakeA

Buy Links:
Amazon – http://tinyurl.com/nraxsfb
Boroughs Publishing Grp –
http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/somewhere-down-line
All Romance – http://tinyurl.com/ls2yxcz

Have I ever told you about the craziness that is living in the boonies in Arkansas? I’ll give you an example. Last night on neighboring hilltops, families set off fireworks. Since we were planning a celebration tonight because we have birthday, we sat on the porch to enjoy everyone else’s light shows. Of course, it was mostly noise, like the sound of mortars going off (something that made me a little nostalgic for my years in the Army). But they didn’t just set off fireworks; someone decided rifle blasts would be fun too. Do these fools not know that what goes up must come down? We headed back inside with the kids.

Did you fire off your own pretty explosives or go to watch some wonderful fireworks display? I don’t think I’ve seen anything spectacular since I lived in Atlanta.

I have a couple of administrative things to get out of the way…

Kim  Smith is the winner from Saturday’s contest! She’ll get a free download of any of my Samhain downloadable books. Congrats! I’ll be in touch!

If any of you haven’t already subscribed to my newsletter, now’s the time! I’ll be sending out one shortly and will be selecting a winner of a very pretty bracelet. Scroll down the left-hand column of this page to find “NEWSLETTER” and sign up!

More craziness will ensue today. The 9-year-old turns 10. Her mom and stepdad spent last night putting together the Barbie Dream House I bought her. She decided the way she wanted to celebrate was a trip to KFC for dinner. (What kid forgoes Chucky Cheese or putt-putt for KFC?) So we’ll hit KFC and come back to open gifts, blow out candles, and hopefully get a swim in before we start the fireworks. 🙂 Our neighbors will love us.

Fireworks, Rodeo, and Cowboy Romance all for only $.99
in Randi Alexander’s Fourth of July Story ALL HAT NO CATTLE

A year ago today, I was sitting in the stands watching the Black Hills Roundup PRCA Rodeo in western South Dakota. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Lots of cowboys to look at, that’s for sure, but the talent of the riders, ropers, bull fighters, barrel racers, pickup men, and the whole crew was truly inspiring.

The roughstock was incredible, and it wasn’t until the third day of the rodeo that one bullrider stayed on eight seconds. I guess in cowboy language, those were some rank bulls. Some of the sponsors of the rodeo are adult beverage companies, and it got me thinking about all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

It gave me the perfect occupation for Harper Johansen, the heroine of All Hat No Cattle. She works for an adult beverage manufacturer and travels to rodeos across the country representing her company. She’s seen a lot of cowboys, but hasn’t yet run into the perfect one for her; a cowboy who shares her dream of one day owning a ranch.

When Shaw Donahue sees Miss Harper, he’s hooked. She’s got what he’s looking for in a woman, and he intends to prove that despite his current occupation, he’d be the perfect man for her. And he has lots of clever ways to do the proving!

All Hat No Cattle is one of the Red Hot and BOOM! Stories, and I hope you’ll heat up your Fourth of July with a copy of Harper and Shaw’s story.

It’s Independence Day, and Harper Johansen is at the rodeo in South Dakota on business. While she’s deep in cowboy territory, she’s hoping to meet a real cowboy—one who shares her dreams for the future. Shaw Donahue, tall and sexy in his cowboy hat, jeans, and boots, could be that man, and Harper quickly falls for his seductive charm. Until he tells her he’s a roughneck.

Shaw can’t believe his luck. Harper is an accomplished, intelligent businesswoman, and she’s beautiful, sexy, and willing. Until she learns he’s working the local oil field. Before he can explain the reason he’s roughnecking, she pushes him away, telling him they can only be friends. He doesn’t fit into her plans. With four days of rodeo ahead of them, can Shaw convince Harper to value a man for more than his cattle?

Here’s a sexy excerpt to get your holiday fun started:

Shaw used Harper’s key card to unlock her hotel room door. He held it open and she walked in first. The air conditioning hit her like a polar blast. Before the door closed, he spun her toward him and kissed her. He was exceptionally skilled at it, too. His hands caressed her arms, over her shoulders, and up and down her back as his tongue played with hers, coaxing hers into his mouth for her own exploration.

Wherever he touched, tingles burst on her skin. She squeezed her thighs together to intensify the sweet ache in her pussy.

He slowed the kiss and stared down at her. “Are you sure, Harper? This is what you want?”

It didn’t even cross her mind to stop now. Batting her eyes at him, she ripped open the front of his shirt, popping all seven snaps. “That’s how sure I am, cowboy.” Referring to him as a cowboy when he technically wasn’t one didn’t bother her a bit. She liked him. She trusted him. She wanted to have breakfast with him tomorrow. And many mornings after that.

Harper ran her fingers through the soft, brown curls that formed a light thatch on his chest and thinned to a trickle as they headed south to his waistband. “God, I love your hair.” She touched the brim of his hat, and when he bent toward her, she pulled it off and set it on a chair. With her fingers, she combed his hair, letting it go wild.

He shrugged off his shirt and tossed it aside, then pulled off her shirt, boots, and jeans until she stood there in only her pink bra and panties. “You are beautiful, Harper.” He stroked her hair. “Everything about you. I liked just sittin’ and talking with you today. You’re so smart. Makes me wonder if you—”

She brushed her fingers across his lips. “Let’s save the heavy stuff for breakfast.”

He kissed her fingers and picked her up in his arms. “There’s a lot of hours between now and breakfast, Red.” He tossed her on the bed and she bounced a couple times, sliding along the satin comforter.

“Red, huh? Not very original.”

He bent and pulled off his first boot. “My brain wasn’t fast enough that morning in town to ask your name. I had to call you something.”

She loved that he admitted it. Not a cocky cell in that hot body of his. Her gaze drifted over his solid length as he bent and pulled off his other boot. Working the oil field evidently did wonderful things for a man. Bulging biceps, ripped pecs, defined shoulders, and a six-pack that she needed to taste. Her breathing grew ragged as her brain switched off all conscious thought and turned on her primal desire. She wanted him hard and heavy on top of her, pressing her into the mattress.

His hands went to his belt buckle. Her eyes followed. Slowly he undid the belt, unbuttoned his jeans, and slid the zipper down.

Her mouth watered and her hips started circling, needing to see what came next, knowing it was going to be good.

He dropped his jeans, bent over to take them and his socks off, and came back up wearing only his black boxer-briefs and the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. His long, thick cock pulsed in the stretchy material.

“Cowboy.” She held out her hand to him.

He nodded. “Red.” He strolled to the bed. What had she said about him not being cocky? He was confident and bold as he hit the bed, rolled on top of her, grabbed her wrists in his calloused hands, and settled his hard staff in the vee between her legs.

An explosion of desire raced through her and her hips tipped up, welcoming him as cream trickled from her pussy lips, hot and slick.

His nose nearly touched hers and their breath mingled. The brown of his eyes had turned dark, nearly black, and his jaw set in a stubborn clench. “I want you. I’ve never wanted anything this bad, Harper. I’m into you, more intensely than I know is good for me.” Between his eyes, a wrinkle formed.

His words threw her heart into a gallop. To have a man admit something so personal made her want to…

“I want you too, Shaw.” Shivers coursed down her spine. “I want you pulsing inside me, hot and thick and long. I want to scream your name.”

His hips jerked and his hard erection tweaked her clit. “Harper.” He shut his eyes for a few seconds then locked gazes with her. “I gotta taste you first.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth and whispered, “Everywhere.”

~*~*~*~*~

Read the first chapter HERE

And get your copy for only $.99 at:

AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON CAN
AMAZON AU
SMASHWORDS
BARNES & NOBLE
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
KOBO

Thanks for hosting me again, Delilah, and have a great Independence Day weekend everyone!

Randi
“Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied”
RandiAlexander.com
Facebook
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest
YouTube
Authorgraph

In Sinful Rewards, my sizzling new contemporary erotic romance serial from Avon Impulse, Bee, the heroine, receives naughty challenges from a mysterious texter. Every time she accepts one of these toe-curling challenges, she’s given a luxurious reward, a pricey item she covets yet can’t afford on her small salary.

Bee doesn’t know who this texter is. In the first story, readers meet a variety of characters (or suspects – grins). Nicolas is a handsome yet cautious billionaire with a dark secret. Hawke is a tattooed bad boy biker who might or might not be living illegally in the condo complex. Lona is an aging high class escort who knows just a little too much about Bee. Cyndi, Bee’s best friend, is crazy wealthy and she’s frustrated that Bee’s pride won’t allow her to take her help. There’s also the possibility that we haven’t yet met her texter.

In each installment of Sinful Rewards (each installment is priced at a crazy low 99 cents, less than a convenience store chocolate bar and just as yummy), Bee receives one sexy hot challenge with the possibility of one delicious reward. She doesn’t know what this reward is until AFTER she completes the challenge. This means she has to weigh the difficulty (or, in her case, the naughtiness) of the reward against what she could possibly earn.

I love this idea (and secretly Bee does also). It is the wrapped birthday gift scenario. When the gift is wrapped, it could be ANYTHING. It could be an all expense paid trip to Paris, designer shoes, a lifetime supply of Nutella, a 500 page book of puns, anything. On the flipside, if the giver doesn’t know us well, it could be something we don’t want—like yet another toaster (being a white girl married to a wonderful Asian man – rice cooker seems to be the gifted appliance of choice).

If you were given a mysteriously wrapped gift (as big or small as it needs to be), what would you imagine (or hope) would be inside?

All commenters will receive a mysterious surprise!! Please leave your email address in your comment!

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes And Noble | Google | iTunes

Bio:

Cynthia Sax lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say, “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago.

Author Website: http://cynthiasax.com/
Blog: http://tasteofcyn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.sax
Twitter: @CynthiaSax
Sign Up For My Release Day Newsletter:  http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/

Excerpt:

Voices murmur outside the condo’s door, the sound piercing my delightful daydream. I swing the telescope upward, not wanting to be caught using it. The snippets of conversation drift away.

I don’t relax. If the telescope isn’t in the same spot as it was positioned last night, Cyndi will realize I’ve been using it. She’ll tease me about being a fellow pervert, sharing the story, embellished for more dramatic effect, with her stern serious dad or, worse, with Angel, that snobby friend of hers.

I’ll die. It’ll be worse than being the butt of jokes in high school because that ridicule had been about my clothes and this will center around the part of my soul I’ve always kept hidden. It’ll also be the truth and I won’t be able to deny it. I am a pervert.

I have to return the telescope to where it was positioned. This is the only acceptable solution. I tap the metal tube.

Last night, my man-crazy roommate had been giggling over the new guy in three eleven north. The previous occupant had been a gray-haired, bowtie-wearing tax auditor, his luxurious accommodations supplied by Nicolas. The most exciting thing he ever did was drink his tea on the balcony.

According to Cyndi, the new occupant is a delicious piece of man candy, tattooed, buff, and head-to-toe lickable. He’d been completing arm curls outside and she’d enthusiastically counted his reps, oohing and aahing over his bulging biceps, calling to me to take a look.

I’d resisted that temptation, focusing on making macaroni and cheese for the two of us, the recipe snagged from the diner my mom works in. After we scarfed down dinner with Cyndi licking her plate clean, she left for the club and hasn’t returned.

Three eleven north is the mirror condo to ours. I straighten the telescope. That position looks about right but then, the imitation UGGS I bought in second year college looked about right also. The first time I wore the boots in the rain, the sheepskin fell apart, leaving me barefoot in Economics 201.

Unwilling to risk Cyndi’s friendship on about right, I gaze through the eyepiece. The view consists of rippling golden planes, almost like…

Tanned skin pulled over defined abs.

I blink. It can’t be. I take another look. A perfect pearl of perspiration clings to a puckered scar. The drop elongates more and more, stretching, snapping. It trickles downward, navigating the swells and valleys of a man’s honed torso.

No. I straighten. This is wrong. I shouldn’t watch our sexy neighbor as he stands on his balcony. If anyone catches me…

I glance behind me. There’s no one here to catch me. Cyndi won’t know I looked. The hunk in three eleven north won’t know I looked. I’m not harming anyone.

I bend over and take another peek.

The sunlight casts interesting shadows across his stomach, accentuating the ridges of muscle, the dip of his navel. I dart my tongue over my suddenly dry lips. His skin is marred with silver scars, some round, some slashes, this proof of hard living, of survival, arousing me, tightening my nipples and moistening my pussy.

I shouldn’t lust after him. He’s the wrong kind of man, the leaving kind, too virile and feral to stay in one place for long. I can tell this from his stance, from his brazen exhibitionism. He wants me to look at him, to care for him. I tilt the telescope downward. His hips are slim. More scars are etched along the bones. Fine brown hair trails from his navel to…

My mouth drops open. He’s completely naked.