The Ex's Boyfriend on sale NOW

 Mark has always been a Dominant. The Top in every relationship. Just ask Leon, his very ex-boyfriend, because that’s what he told Mark he was.

Okay, Mark’s only had the one relationship so the ‘always’ was a reach, but it didn’t matter. It was more than over with now, and Leon was long gone. That is until Leon felt it necessary to show off his new boyfriend, a gorgeous mountain called Rogan, by evidently telling him that Mark was stalking, bullying, badgering, harassing and get this, abusing him.

“He’ll kill you, Mark, because he loves me and wants to protect me.”

From whom? Skinny little Mark? What a joke. Because all Mark has ever done was exactly what Leon told him to do and that now included staying as far away from Leon as he could get. But how can he do that when Leon is hell-bent on proving all the lies he’s told Rogan about Mark were true, and by any means possible except the actual truth? Thankfully, it seems Rogan’s not quite as clueless about Leon’s wild imagination as Mark has always been. In fact, the big, beautiful man has come to Mark’s rescue a couple of times and has made it clear, Leon and he are not a thing. At least, not anymore.

Which is good since Mark is going to need Rogan’s help. Mainly because something else is out to get Mark. Something not Leon.

This something isn’t even human…

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The Ex's Boyfriend is OUT

Mark has always been a Dominant. The Top in every relationship. Just ask Leon, his very ex-boyfriend, because that’s what he told Mark he was.

Okay, Mark’s only had the one relationship so the ‘always’ was a reach, but it didn’t matter. It was more than over with now, and Leon was long gone. That is until Leon felt it necessary to show off his new boyfriend, a gorgeous mountain called Rogan, by evidently telling him that Mark was stalking, bullying, badgering, harassing and get this, abusing him.

“He’ll kill you, Mark, because he loves me and wants to protect me.”

From whom? Skinny little Mark? What a joke. Because all Mark has ever done was exactly what Leon told him to do and that now included staying as far away from Leon as he could get. But how can he do that when Leon is hell-bent on proving all the lies he’s told Rogan about Mark were true, and by any means possible except the actual truth? Thankfully, it seems Rogan’s not quite as clueless about Leon’s wild imagination as Mark has always been. In fact, the big, beautiful man has come to Mark’s rescue a couple of times and has made it clear, Leon and he are not a thing. At least, not anymore.

Which is good since Mark is going to need Rogan’s help. Mainly because something else is out to get Mark. Something not Leon.

This something isn’t even human…

Buy links HERE

COVER REVEAL - The Ex's Boyfriend

Mark has always been a Dominant. The Top in every relationship. Just ask Leon, his very ex-boyfriend, because that’s what he told Mark he was.

Okay, Mark’s only had the one relationship so the ‘always’ was a reach, but it didn’t matter. It was more than over with now, and Leon was long gone. That is until Leon felt it necessary to show off his new boyfriend, a gorgeous mountain called Rogan, by evidently telling him that Mark was stalking, bullying, badgering, harassing and get this, abusing him.

“He’ll kill you, Mark, because he loves me and wants to protect me.”

From who? Skinny little Mark? What a joke. Because all Mark has ever done was exactly what Leon told him to do and that now included staying as far away from Leon as he could get. But how can he do that when Leon is hell-bent on proving all the lies he’s told Rogan about Mark were true, and by any means possible except the actual truth? Thankfully, it seems Rogan’s not quite as clueless about Leon’s wild imagination as Mark has always been. In fact, the big, beautiful man has come to Mark’s rescue a couple of times and has made it clear, Leon and he are not a thing. At least, not anymore.

Which is good since Mark is going to need Rogan’s help. Mainly because something else is out to get Mark. Something not Leon.

This something isn’t even human…

OUT October 29

The Boy Next Door

 Something I played with a little while ago. Here's the blurb:

Brendon moved in with his grandmother shortly after she bought a new condo. Being her last name was different from Brendon’s, and Brendon’s name wasn’t on the lease, it made the perfect hiding place. Sure, it was a coward’s way out of an abusive and loveless relationship, but Brendon has never been brave. Plus, it isn’t only Lyman he’s running from. Brendon has a secret few know about. Bravery for him is simply getting up in the morning and facing the day.

Take his grandmother’s next-door neighbor, for instance. The man was huge. Brandon knew he was joking when he complained about “losing his job” as his grandmother’s handyman due to Brendon’s arrival. But the guy was towering over him in that particular moment and Brandon nearly peed his pants. However, when Brandon saw the kind of collection the man had in his apartment peeing his pants was really the least of his worries. He was convinced his grandmother lived next door to a terrorist.

But getting to know Victor was easier and far more pleasant than Brendon thought it could be. Kind, patient, gentle and funny, Victor began to steal Brendon’s fears away ―along with his heart. With a little meddling from an old lady ― okay, a lot of meddling ― Brendon finds himself in Victor’s arms and in love.

Unfortunately, Brendon’s secret might just tear that new and fragile love completely apart. And when Lyman shows up to make sure Brendon’s new love is aware of it, Brendon isn’t sure the arsenal a pissed off Victor has will be used to protect him ―or kill him.

And here are the first few pages.

Brenden pressed end on his phone and took a last look around his now very empty apartment.  He was shocked how little time it had actually taken to clear it all out.  He was grateful to have found homes for most of his things; the rest had been hauled out by the Salvation Army.  The only thing he was taking with him; a barrowed suitcase and a few boxes, all but one of which were jammed in the back of his friend, Lisa's, SUV.

He had no real time left, Lisa had wanted to be on the road two hours ago, always fearful Lyman would show up.  But he still took a moment to walk the small rooms one more time.  Just to make sure I left nothing behind, he told himself.  But of course it was a lie.  He knew there was nothing at all in any of the space.  There was debris, maybe a stray item here and there, Lisa had friends coming over momentarily to clean now that they were done.  But anything of his life here, the long, long year he had spent here?  No, nothing.

Lots of memories.  Some not so good. He supposed he would take those with as well.

He had told the landlord if there was any damage deposit left it belonged to Lisa, her address the only one he gave him.  She had been a true blessing in all of this.  With her support – well – badgering was more the word to use, he had been able to make the break.  He knew it was cowardly to do this when Lyman was out of town but he also knew he would never have been able to leave any other way.  Lyman would never have let him.  And this way Lyman would never find him.  That was important.

He had just hung up from his grandmother on his mother’s side, letting her know he was finally on his way.  A different city, a different life.  Since he was moving in with her his name would not be on any lease so there was no address for anyone to find.  Since he was an EBook author full time now he could do his work from anywhere and anywhere away from Lyman was where he was going to be.  Thankfully his grandmother had also just moved from her cute little house to a condo.  It was just added security.  However, since Lyman had never asked about Brenden’s past, he never knew Brenden’s grandma even existed so there really was no problem.  Still, it felt good to know she was basically untraceable. Which would make Brenden invisible.

He stood in the bedroom of that shabby apartment looking down at the carpet stain he was never able to get out, a faded mark now, tannish in color, a combination of blood and coffee, faint but noticeable.  It would most likely still cost him some of that deposit.  He slowly moved his head side to side, reliving the incident, which happened pretty much right after he met Lyman.  He shivered and touched his fingers lightly to the scar on the left side of his face from the thrown coffee mug.  Every time he thought of that occasion he would always imagine hearing his mother saying “an inch over and it would have put your eye out”. 

Fuck, he missed her. 

But Lyman hadn’t really been aiming at him that morning or at least that was the story Lyman told.  Sure he had been angry at something Brenden had said…or done. Oddly enough he couldn’t remember that particular detail. But Lyman had frantically assured him afterward he simply slipped and Brenden had been in the way.  A trip to the hospital and six stitches later Brenden was back scrubbing at that stain, tears streaming down his face because Lyman had left a note saying it was “fucking over” and “you’re a fucking cunt” and other horrible things Brenden evidently chose at the moment to forget as well.  Lyman was gone.  In thinking about it now, it would have been good if the asshole had stayed gone.  But of course he didn’t.  He was back late the next day, sufficient time for Brenden to freak out but not enough time to think he was much better off without him.  The idiot Brenden was at the time had only been happy to see him.  It was easy to go along with that story, easy to accept there would be no real apology, only a whisper from Lyman that it would never happen again.  Wasn’t that apology enough?  Sure, it didn’t explain the offensive note but Brenden could easily forget about that too.

And had it been the only time something like that happened it would have been forgettable.

However back then even Lyman was still sensitive to some things.  He never said the words but Lyman apologized for days afterwards by coming over early to take Brenden to work, taking him out to lunch and dinner, even surprising him a couple of times with a single rose laying on his bed.  But it hadn’t taken long for Lyman to end up believing his own shit because the story went from Lyman slipping and Brenden being in the way to Brenden’s clumsiness that was to be held responsible.  Lyman even went as far as to suggest he should move in with Brenden, to keep him safe, as if what happened to him had nothing to do with Lyman at all.  It really should have raised a red flag – or twelve.  But it didn't.

 And it got steadily worse.

It became apparent that Lyman intended Brenden be placed in a bubble, to be taken out at only Lyman’s discretion and choice.  There were just too many perverts and homophobes out there who had it in for either Lyman himself or Brenden by way of wanting to kidnap, rape or maim.  The act of a simple greeting would have Lyman accusing Brenden of flirting “embarrassingly like a fucking whore”.

But he put up with all of it.  Until the rape.  That was the last straw.

He had been thinking about simply ending it with Lyman, had even tried to on several occasions.  But Lyman would do one of several things.  The first number of times, Lyman “fell apart” and begged Brenden to stay with him, swore he would change, he would go to counseling, read self-help books, anything to keep Brenden from walking away. And to his credit, he did hold up his end of each bargain… but only to a point.  For a good month the man worked hard at his anger, at his obsession over Brenden, his insane jealousy.  But there was always some hot guy out there no matter where they went, that was either ogling at Brenden or Brenden himself was looking at him.  It had been somewhat gradual but it got to a point where Brenden and Lyman never went out together anymore because Brenden just didn't want to deal with it.  As a couple it was easier if they just stayed in.  Brenden wasn’t sure when that also translated into Brenden himself always staying in.

The downward spiral after that wasn't all that slow though.  Once Lyman had Brenden convinced going outside for fun was a mistake he started to work on Brenden's job.  He would grill Brenden on his day, not because he was interested in conversation but more in who it was that was after Brenden’s ass.  There had to be someone.  Brandon would even catch Lyman checking Brenden's messages, texts, and emails, all in an effort to "protect" Brenden.  At one point he insisted Brenden quit that job and come work where Lyman worked so Lyman could keep an eye out for him. 

Brenden knew how crazy Lyman could get so usually he would evade the subject, change it or say he would think about it.  But he had no intention of leaving where he worked. 

Then Brenden had a break.  His seventh ebook did enormously well.  He was commissioned to write a sequel and the deadline made it impossible to keep his job.  Lisa freaked when she heard.  It was when her friendly support turned into harassment to leave Lyman.  She had seen the bruises.  She knew abuse when she saw it and she was frightened he would hole up in the apartment and the only person who would ever see him again was Lyman.  It was all a ploy on his part to keep Brenden all to himself.  The man was fucking crazy. 

Yes. He was fucking crazy. But he also knew what Brenden was. Not only that but he knew what Brenden had done, had seen it. Oh yes, Lyman witnessed the change and then what happened after. And that was a huge problem.

“Want me to tell the police, Brenden? I will, you know. You walk out that door and you’re as good as fucking dead. Worse yet, they’ll lock you up, boy. Fucking throw away the key. You understand me? I will tell everyone what you did. What you do! You leave me, Brenden, and that’s what I’ll do.”

But now it was over.  Lyman was out of town for a few days for a business seminar his job held every year for the higher ups of the company. Employees only. As hard as he tried to figure out a way to bring Brenden with, he couldn’t, and Lisa took that opportunity to force Brenden's hand.  She handled everything, from the doling out of his furniture to lining up the Salvation Army to pick up the rest. From the pizza and beer party for the people who hauled everything out of the apartment in a matter of two days to making a sole trip to his grandmother’s house to make sure that end was ready as well. She had been a whirlwind of energy.  All Brenden had to do was to pack what he could absolutely not live without. 

Surprisingly, there just wasn’t all that much.

Oh, he was well aware of Lisa's many covert calls to his grandmother over the last several weeks leading up to Lyman’s trip and between the two of them they were able to convince him he needed to move to his grandmother's new condo.  She had lived there all of two months herself, having just sold her home.  Certainly the fact she resided in a city two plus hours away was very attractive. 

Brenden had taken Lyman's phone calls off and on through the few days he was gone.  Oddly, yet thankfully, there hadn’t been that many.  Brenden still kept them light though, knowing Lyman could sometimes seem to read his mind.  Brenden hadn’t even really slept in the last three days knowing Lyman would somehow figure out what was going on and he would be on the next flight home to stop him. But it would have still been too late because the day Lyman left town Lisa had swooped in with her team of friends and cleaned out his apartment in nothing flat.  And now, on the day before Lyman was due to return, Brenden was already gone. 

Brenden sighed and walked back to the entry door.  He picked up the last box, threw his apartment key on the kitchen counter and walked out, closing that door physically and mentally for the last time.

So, what do you think? 

The Ex's Boyfriend - A Ghost Story

 Blurb:

Mark has always been a Dominant. The Top in every relationship. Just ask Leon, his very ex-boyfriend, because that’s precisely what he told Mark he was.

Okay, Mark’s only had the one relationship so the ‘always’ was a reach, but it didn’t matter. It was more than over with now, and Leon was long gone. That was until Leon decided he wanted to show off his new boyfriend, a gorgeous mountain called Rogan, by evidently telling him that Mark was stalking, harassing and get this, abusing him.

“He’ll kill you, Mark, because he loves me and wants to protect me.”

From whom? Skinny little Mark? What a joke. Because all Mark has ever done was exactly what Leon told him to do and that now included staying as far away from Leon as he could get. But even that crashed and burned when Leon became hell-bent on proving all the lies he's told Rogan were true, and by any means possible except the actual truth. Thankfully, it seems Rogan’s not quite as clueless about Leon’s wild imagination as Mark has always been. In fact, the big, beautiful man has come to Mark’s rescue a couple of times and has made it clear, Leon and he are not a thing. At least, not anymore.

Which is good. Because something else is out to get Mark. Something not Leon.

This something isn’t even human…

Excerpt:

They took the elevator to the sixth floor and headed cautiously down a deserted hall. Okay, maybe it was only Mark who walked warily. Rogan marched slightly ahead of him and seemed to barge down the hall with his chest puffed out like some storybook bodyguard protecting the prince.  However, no apparitions flew out at them this time, no lights exploded trying to kill them. When they got to Mark's apartment, Rogan snatched the set of keys Mark dug out of his pocket and opened the door of 612 and attempted to turn on the light.

“It doesn’t work,” Mark remarked. “It never has.”

As if that might have been important in the whole scheme of things, Rogan turned to him. “Really? Why?”

“I have no idea. They have never been able to fix it, either.”

Rogan grumbled a string of profanities against landlords as he pulled out his phone. “Hey Raptor. Flashlight.” The phone shot out a bright beam and Rogan shined it into the apartment. “Where is a switch that does work?”

“Right here.” Mark glanced around the apartment before he tiptoed over to the switch in the kitchen and turned it on. The apartment lit up enough to see that everything was normal―so to speak. The destroyed TV was right where it had been when they left, debris still everywhere. Not the chaos Mark had walked into with Leon, but shivers of that time chased through him as well. “What I don’t get is why you don’t even have a scratch on you.”

“That is a mystery,” Rogan murmured. “What’s even more an unknown is why you were basically sliced in the first place. Cut, I would understand. But sliced?” He walked over to the large, jagged piece laying against the wall, the piece that had been laced with blood but no longer appeared to be and picked it up. “This should never have been sharp enough to do that.” He brought it over for Mark to see.

“Fuck,” Mark whispered as he gazed at the piece of plastic. “It’s… like a knife.” And it was. The six-inch, razor-edged side appeared paper thin, to the point of it being see-through. As if someone had purposely honed it down to that sharpness. “But… didn’t it have blood on it?”

Rogan narrowed his eyes and glared back at the plastic as if it had just lied to him. “You’re right. It did. Exactly my point.”

“Which is?”

Rogan glanced briefly at Mark. “This isn’t right. I mean, how does something like this even happen?” Rogan’s lips pursed together.

“So, what are you saying?”

“I’m not sure.” Rogan gazed down at Mark. “And I don’t like not knowing. I will find some answers. That I promise.” He sighed. “Now what do we need to take with us so we can get out of here?”

Mark packed a backpack while Rogan kept watch. Mark would have thought it laughable if he wasn’t so panicked. It was one thing to be bullied by Leon. Quite another by a ghost.

“The extra apartment key is in the kitchen drawer,” Mark told Rogan as he threw the backpack over his shoulder.

Rogan immediately reached over and grabbed the backpack. “Go get it. I got this.”

Heat climbing Mark’s face he walked quickly to the drawer. “I can carry it. I’m not a princess.”

Rogan smirked but remained silent as he adjusted the backpack and held out a hand to accept the key. “Thanks,” he said, winking at Mark when he dropped the key in his hand.

“I don’t know what you plan on doing but have at it.”

Rogan grimaced as if he were guilty of something and shook his head.

When they arrived at Mark’s dad’s house, Rogan insisted on walking Mark in. “I didn’t keep you safe like I promised. He deserves an explanation.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m not some fragile teenager on a date. Besides, I can take care of myself.”

“I know that. But security is my job, and I should have…”

“Should have what?”

“Known.” He knocked on the door.

“Known? How? Why?”

But Rogan remained silent. Except it was clear he was battling something in his head.

“Whatever,” Mark mumbled. “Just… I can take care of myself.” Mark went to knock as well but the door flew open in front of him, Mark’s dad standing on the other side.

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Rob snarled, startling both Mark and Rogan.

“Sir!” Rogan nearly shouted back, gaining the older man’s attention. Then he lowered his voice probably realizing how loud he was being. “Mr. Corda. Sorry to wake you…”

“What the hell happened to you?” Rob grabbed Mark and pulled him into the house. “Why the bandages?” He turned his attention back to Rogan. “Why is my son covered in bandages?”

Mark took immediate offence. “Dad, I’m standing right here! Ask me!”

“Um… sir…” Rogan interrupted. “it’s a long story.”

The Ex's Boyfriend excerpt

 

He slammed the glass back down and started to walk toward the door, but, oh fuck, Ben was front and center.

Pissed.

As.

Hell.

“Where you going, Mark?” He knew his name? Crap. Course the idiot said it like he was spitting out an obscenity.

Mark figured he really didn’t expect an answer.

He moved around Ben and kept walking, hoping, praying, the dumb drunk would give up.

Ben grabbed Mark by the arm again and swung him around, twisting his arm behind and up Mark’s back, forcing Mark into Ben’s chest.

Guess not.

“Hey! Fucker! I was talking to you!”

Ben was tall. And big. So, Mark had to shift his gaze up to see the man’s face.

“You turn me down,” Ben ground out as he gave Mark a little shake, sending searing pain through his trapped arm. “and now you’re just ignoring me?”

His words were more than slurred and, unfortunately, the liquor was making him bold, and Mark just could not break free. “Let go, you asshole! You’re fucking drunk.” He wanted to tell him he was hurting him but stopped short of blurting that out, thinking Leon would somehow hear. Or Rogan would. “Leave me alone.”

“I don’t think so, you fucking tease. Swinging that ass of yours and then laughing when someone takes notice.” He managed to grab one of Mark’s butt cheeks with his other hand.

“What are you talking about? I don’t do that…”

“Yes, you do. Pretending to be with that guy who just left? He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

This was definitely becoming more problematic. “Let go…” Mark struggled harder even though it hurt his arm, but then Ben stopped as he brought his face down into Mark’s.

“But don’t worry, I’ll take care of ya.” Ben laughed and leaned over to kiss Mark’s throat.

Mark thrashed again and shouted, “Get off me, you asshole!”

Suddenly Ben jerked back and glanced over to a man who had just stepped up.

“Come on, Ben,” the newcomer whispered. “You’re making a scene again. Why do you get like this? Let the guy go. They’re going to call the cops.”

“This is the guy I told you about…” Ben slurred.

Say what, now? The guy he talked about? Oh shit…

Mark kicked at Jimmy distracting Ben enough to let go. Mark was able to push Jimmy back and ran. But Ben came after him and somehow grabbed him by his hair. Mark swung around with all his might, hair painfully ripping from his head. “Let go!” he shouted as he once again batted Ben’s hands away.

But Ben wasn’t giving up. Mark pitched himself to the side to avoid Ben’s left fist and unfortunately slammed into a tall table, knocking it over as he went down, glasses and liquid going everywhere. Several people who were standing at the table had to step back, one of them screamed as glass broke. Mark made it to his feet, intending to get away, except Ben was there with a fist to Mark’s stomach and Mark was back on the floor on his ass.

Even in pain, he had to get up. But Ben was again making for him so he rolled, risking being cut by broken glass, thinking to avoid the man. Except Ben moved faster than a drunk man should be able to. He knocked Mark all the way down and pinned him to the floor on his stomach by sitting on Mark’s thighs.

“Damn, Ben,” Jimmy ground out from somewhere off to Mark’s left. “Downstairs you might be able to do this kind of thing, but not up here.”

Mark twisted to try to dislodge the drunk. Unfortunately, besides being big and strong, the man was also heavy, and Mark just could not shake him. Except, suddenly, with a frantic twist of Mark’s body, Ben’s weight was gone. There had been a scuffle and Ben was no longer grinding Mark into the floor.

Mark wasn’t going to wait around and find out what the drunk had in store for him next. He once again scrambled to his feet and swung around just in time to see Ben coming off Rogan’s fist and flopping to the floor himself.

Rogan?

Mark was too shocked to even move as a disappointed groan came up from the people around him.

“When someone says no,” Rogan growled down at Ben who sat rubbing his jaw, probably not even comprehending what had happened. “They mean no.”

Ben glared up at Rogan and hissed. “You fucker!” he shouted as he shot to his feet and came at Rogan. But a raised knee at the exact right moment put Ben back on the floor with an uff, rolling in pain, clutching his privates.

Ben’s friend, Jimmy, stepped up and told Rogan he would take Ben home. Then he turned to Mark. “Look, Ben’s just drunk right now. He’s… well, different when he’s sober.” Shaking his head, he bent over to the groaning Ben, helped him to his feet and took him away. This time, they actually left the building. It was then Mark saw the bartender standing off to the side and wringing his hands.

“Should I call the police?” he fretted. “I would much prefer we don’t because they already hate this place…”

“No,” Rogan commanded the bartender, but then glanced at Mark. “Unless you want to press assault charges. You have plenty of witnesses.” The big man’s gaze darted around the group still gathered, a scowl on his beautiful face.

Mark shook his head. “No. I don’t want to press charges.” He should though. He was shaking, his body hurting all over, from his hair to his stomach to his abused and surely bruised ass. This is the guy I was talking about… He was being stalked. Oh God. Was this how Leon felt? His heart panged hard with guilt.

Rogan took the few steps to Mark. “Are you alright?” He asked as he reached down to pull up Mark’s pants. Had they been hanging down? How fucking embarrassing. Then, boldly, as if the two of them were lovers, Rogan ran his fingers through Mark’s hair a few times. “It’s a little wild,” he explained.

Overwhelmed, Mark finally slapped his hands away and stepped back, not liking at all his body’s reaction to the man’s touch. “Yes, I’m fine…” His voice was hoarse, mainly because he was fighting back tears. He ran his own hand over his hair and glanced up at Rogan. “Th- thank you for…” But the fact he needed rescuing was upsetting. Something Leon would certainly hate and be all over him about if they were still dating. Which they weren’t of course, and hadn’t for some time. Still, he glanced around, fearing the man had to have witnessed the whole thing because he always did and would slam Mark with some condescending judgement of Mark’s character.

And, oh fuck, there he was, sneering at him from behind Rogan. Mark’s heart dropped.

“You are so wretched, Mark,” Leon seethed. “God, why did I ever think you were hot?”

Rogan grimaced and spoke immediately through clenched teeth. “Leon, shut up!”

“Shut up? Shut—up? Me? He’s supposed to be a fucking Dominant, Rogan. A man in charge. All he is, and he proved it just now, is sad and pitiful! And you’re supposed to be my boyfriend! Why the fuck are you off rescuing trash like this?”

“Leon, go sit down. I mean it.” He turned his head slightly to meet the much smaller man’s gaze. “Now.” He barely raised his voice at all, but the commanding tone had a shiver chasing up Mark’s back wishing Rogan’s commands were aimed at him instead. He could hardly breathe as he gawked at the taller man. What the hell was happening to him? Damn it. Leon was right. Mark had no control over anything. Even his own body. And who was he kidding? Neither Leon nor Rogan missed Mark’s “reaction”. Because Leon was now just glaring at Mark, trying hard to murder with his eyes. While Rogan raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Bastard.

It was time to get the hell gone, away from this madness. “I have to… Damn. I just have to go.” Mark turned and ran toward the exit. Once he got outside, he continued to run, just in case someone followed him out.

But who would follow him? Certainly not Leon.

And not Rogan.

Thankfully, his apartment was only about a couple blocks from this downtown bar. Which was another reason Mark had questioned Leon’s intentions. Why make sure Mark knew he would be at a club essentially just down from where Mark lived? It just seemed so… contrived.

Fuck! Why did he think meeting up with Leon would have been any kind of a good idea, no matter what the lying son of a bitch had in mind? What a fucking nightmare tonight turned out to be. And it had nothing to do with the knowledge Leon wasn’t coming back to him. He no longer wanted him. Far from it. Not after that huge, ridiculous fiasco back there. Mark had never known Leon to be so cruel, so flat out evil.

Of course, if he were being honest with himself, he knew that wasn’t necessarily true either. Leon had been anything but loving toward the end of their relationship.

He slowed to a walk and just breathed in the cool night air. It was better this way. It was totally finished. No more questions. Mark would no longer avoid Leon at work either. He would do his job and ignore the man. It was the only good outcome from this.

Why, Leon? Why did you do that? After everything we’ve been to one another?

Five minutes later he arrived at his very dated apartment complex and dug in his pocket for his key. There had been talk of a total renovation or even demolition of the place since it was in a fairly prime location for some modern, expensive high-rise to go in. It would be just his luck to get kicked to the curb by his landlord too. As it was, he could afford the rent of his one bed, one bath tiny little space. Just big enough for one. Because, after all, he was alone.

Fuck, he hated alone.

The Ex's Boyfriend

 No blurb yet but I do have a lead-in and an excerpt from my new work in progress:

There was something out to get Mark and unfortunately for him it wasn’t his ex, Leon - or Leon's new boyfriend, Rogan.

Because this something wasn’t human...

Rogan took out his Phonite scanner once he was inside of Mark’s apartment. He stood where the debris of the TV had been, gone now because he had gathered it up and taken it out to the bed of his truck in order to dispose of it properly. He turned the scanner on. It hummed and immediately started sending out its pulses of light to read the room.

He believed he would only need one each of the Polarization Array and Variance Sequencer which he had brought up with him piece by piece on his several trips taking out the various shards of the destroyed TV. Small spaces like this rarely needed more than that. It depended on the strength and size of the energy being dealt with and even though the building itself was large, typically the energy in a specific part of it was not. 

But that wasn’t the case here. In fact, far from it. At least according to his readings.

They couldn’t be accurate.

“What is going on?” he murmured to himself, turning the scanner off and then back on again. “This has never malfunctioned before.” But to be fair, the scanner was rather old. He needed to deal with that and had been working on its replacement, a smaller, more powerful reader. Again, his own invention, he even used a new material he developed he liked to call dragon breath. It was a combination of mostly Crytonum and Ethorus with a sprinkling of common Pyrogen which was the reason for its name.  The chemical make-up of the “breath" allowed the conductive Isorus, the liquid that detected the poltergeist type energy, to move more freely and therefore, function better. So much better than the Phonite in the scanner he now held. And age probably thickened the Phonite. It honestly could be the reason the reading seemed wrong. He wished he would have brought the new scanner with him and tried it, compare it to these readings because they were still off the charts. Maybe he still would. 

And maybe he should call Anna.

The other thing Rogan should have done was to ask Mark if there had been any other incidences before this one, but he hadn’t. Since Mark had never mentioned anything, Rogan simply believed there hadn’t been. But with readings like this?

 Unfortunately, the scanner also indicated his equipment should be positioned closer to the bedroom which was upsetting. He didn’t like that the negative energy suggested by not only his readings but what it was Mark saw just might be concentrated on Mark while he was sleeping. 

But it didn’t matter. 

Once he got enough arrays up here and was satisfied they had done the job of isolating and then holding the bundles of energy associated with that sighting, he would disperse it with a burst from his Duotronic Pulse Degenerator which would break it up and send it back into the universe where it belonged, and that would be the end of it.

Simple, efficient, and usually successful.

It took a few trips back to his truck for more equipment and then the better part of an hour to set it all up. But he was finally ready to turn on all his devices when the door opened, and Mark walked in. Rogan’s heart ramped up and he smiled, excited to explain his equipment and to have Mark witness how they worked. He couldn’t wait to brag that he had come up with the concepts himself and had scientific patents on all of them. “Hey there,” he called out to him, eager to see admiration in Mark's pretty eyes. “Just getting started.”

Except Mark appeared stressed and disheveled, his eyes slightly bloodshot as he took in his living room littered with wires and flashing gadgets, gizmos and contraptions. It was overwhelmingly sci-fi, yes, Rogan was well aware, and he was working on condensing some of the pieces and parts, like his scanner. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a simple task, and his life rarely gave him the time necessary for it anyway. Still…

“What is all this?” Mark demanded.

“My… equipment.” His heart was doing more than just ramping up and being tongue tied was not him. This honestly should be easy, telling Mark about himself. He was proud of his accomplishments, that the world was just starting to take notice. Mark, however, did not seem at all enthralled. He seemed angry. Rogan was a little embarrassed now of all the room he had sucked up in the small space. He was suddenly seeing the mess he made in the living room through Mark’s eyes and it all seemed… archaic ― not the ahead of it's time, state-of-the-art equipment it truly was.  “Um… I’m… I’m in the process of locating that―" he cleared his throat― "well, negative energy you saw last night to disperse it. Get―rid of it―I guess.” Then he thought about the possible size of what it was he detected. It wasn’t feasible, his readings had to be flawed. But he figured he still should ask if Mark had had any other kinds of paranormal experiences. “I do need to ask a question,” Rogan continued. But in that moment Mark took on a posture of extreme impatience. Intense irritation. What was going on? “Mark... wait. This is not… the question I was going to ask but… are… are you alright?” Mark was simply staring at him, anger in his beautiful eyes.

“Oh fine. I’m Peachy.” Mark smirked.

Peachy?

“So,” Mark huffed. “How do you propose to do that? How are you going to get rid of this… this negative energy?” He did air quotes when he said the last part, making it clear Mark was mocking him.

Rogan was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Something was terribly wrong, but he pointed to one of his inventions anyway, deciding to ride out whatever this storm was. “This is a… well, I call it a Polarization Array. I have several of them set up all around the room.” He pointed to various spots. “It… they basically separate the good, or normal energy from the stuff associated with abnormal sightings or paranormal anomalies, like the face you saw last night. Once the energy is discerned, the array, for want of a better verb, captures and holds it.” 

One of Mark’s eyebrows rose. “Really? Like Ghost Busters?”

“Ghost… no. Not like that at all, actually.” This was far from encouraging. Still, Rogan continued to walk to another small box sitting on the floor next to the bedroom door. “And this is my Variance Sequencer. Sometimes… well, we miss some of the so-called bad energy and this automatically adjusts the arrays to pick up on it so that anything that might not be attached directly to the main disturbance is captured too. Sometimes that residual stuff can later redevelop as poltergeists. We’ve… we’ve had that happen…”

“Impressive,” Mark deadpanned. 

What the fucking hell was going on? “Mark―”

“I mean, that’s quite the story but then this is an amazing display of fake equipment. I should be flattered you would go to all this trouble just to get me into bed.” He glared at Rogan. “Tell me, were you going to actually have to fuck me to win the bet or was getting me all hot and bothered enough to climb into bed with you sufficient? But then ― there would have to be proof, right? How were you planning on doing that?”

“What? What the fuck are talking about? I didn’t―”

“Wait! Pictures! Of course. That’s it. Pictures would prove it, right? I get naked, you take pictures, because one of these things has to be a camera and wah-la! Bet won. One question. What would you have gotten if you um… how do I say this―got it done?”

“Mark―”

“Yeah, well, I guess it doesn’t matter. Not gonna happen, just so you know. Although, given all this, I have to admit, the rest of the story was looking pretty amazing. I will give you that.”

“What do you mean story? There is no story. Mark, what happened? What are you talking about?”

He stood there his eyes glassy. “Pack up and get out.”

“What? Wait…” Totally not the reaction he had expected. Confusion, maybe. Being overwhelmed and dazed, speechless, perhaps. But this all-out rage? Was this part of the paranormal energy in this place? Had it somehow affected Mark?

“You heard me. None of this―” he waved a quick hand toward Rogan’s equipment, “―ridiculous fantasy shit is going to wow me into believing you saved me so I fall right into bed with you.”

Saved him? “Again. Mark, please, what are you talking about?”

“I’m not stupid,” he yelled “I know all about your little bet with Leon. His cruelness I understand, but you? Which actually brings up another question. How the hell did you get me to see that face? Congratulations on that, by the way. Totally real looking.” He once again indicated the machinery around his living room. “And this? Same thing. It looks fucking real. Like out of some science fiction movie. All the sounds and lights, that―pulsey thing over there. Again, really impressive.”

“Mark, I seriously do not know what you mean. Leon has nothing to do with this and I don’t understand about the getting you into bed ―”

“It didn’t work. That’s all you need to understand.” Mark choked out as he dropped his gaze to the floor. Rogan’s heart broke for the expression of total defeat and rejection on the smaller man’s face. “I’m going to be gone for little while. I… I have to go pick up some stuff.” He shifted his gaze once more to again scowl at Rogan. “But when I get back, I want you and your hocus-pocus mumbo-jumbo fucking circus gone.”

And he left. Before Rogan could figure out anything else to say. Not that Mark would listen. Fuck. Circus? He called what I do a circus? Rogan just stood there, his scanner in hand, wondering what the fuck had just happened. Mark had mentioned Leon, though. It obviously had something to do with that little fucker. He shook his head. But why would Mark believe anything that lying son-of-a-bitch had to say? It made no sense. He glanced down at all his equipment he had painstakingly laid out ready to combat this entity that had scared Mark last night, now contemplating having to remove it all again. What should he do? Continue? Use the time Mark was gone to at least make him safe until he could get to the bottom of what insanity must have taken place today? 

No. He had to leave. He needed to honor Mark’s dictate even if the ‘why’ was a lie. Fortunately, experience told him what Mark saw last night, although scary, was still a harmless, unorganized, bunch of past energy that got stuck. The fact his scanner was reading something different, something far larger and more intense, scary for even him, simply had to be a mistake. In fact, it might be the energy wasn’t even here any longer. At least not in this apartment. That had been one of the issues with trying to rid larger buildings like this of paranormal activity. The energy tended to move around. His equipment might not even pick up anything within range to capture. So the anxiety he was feeling was not because of this, right?

Then what was it?

Because his heart hurt. 

Fuck!

What could that whiny brat Leon have said to cause this?

One thing was certain. After he packed up, he would pay that little jerk a visit and he was going to find out.

The Superior Jewel - On Sale Now

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The Superior Jewel is OUT

 

Ryan was shocked when he saw the man who had rescued him from a psychotic co-worker three months ago, a man Ryan had been having very sexy dreams about ever since, standing on the same yacht as he was. Learning the man’s name was Jansen Branwyth should have rung a few bells, but Ryan was never one to keep up with the rich and powerful.

Now this big, gorgeous man seemed to be in hot pursuit, relentlessly and expertly, backing the confused Ryan against a hard wall. Deliciously turned on by the man’s erotically suggestive flirting, Ryan finds himself now in competition with his former, incredibly beautiful girlfriend, vying for Jansen’s attention. As the heat ramps up, so does Ryan’s self-doubt, forcing Jansen into making it perfectly clear who he intends on taking with him off the boat, even if he must chase down, subdue and throw that certain someone over his shoulder to do it. 

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The Superior Jewel - Friday, Feb 26

 Ryan was shocked when he saw the man who had rescued him from a psychotic co-worker three months ago, a man Ryan had been having very sexy dreams about ever since, standing on the same yacht as he was. Learning the man’s name was Jansen Branwyth should have rung a few bells, but Ryan was never one to keep up with the rich and powerful. 

Now this big, gorgeous man seemed to be in hot pursuit, relentlessly and expertly, backing the confused Ryan against a hard wall. Deliciously turned on by the man’s erotically suggestive flirting, Ryan finds himself now in competition with his former, incredibly beautiful girlfriend, vying for Jansen’s attention. As the heat ramps up, so does Ryan’s self-doubt, forcing Jansen into making it perfectly clear who he intends on taking with him off the boat, even if he must chase down, subdue and throw that certain someone over his shoulder to do it. 

COMING FEBRUARY 26

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