The Relic

Great news!  THE RELIC…my League of Amazing Writers story, featuring my alter ego Magda, is released Monday!

Here’s the blurb:

Finding herself in the wilds of a Penang rainforest wasn’t something Magda was exactly happy about. Being there on a mission to recover an ancient relic that threatened world peace certainly had its appeal, but the heat, the bugs and wild animals quickly cancelled out any of the excitement of the chase. Adding to her misery was the arrival on the scene of the last person she ever wanted to cross paths with. Vincent Stone, her rival in the search for the relic, and her ex-lover. The man who’d ripped out her heart and trampled on it had no business being in the same country as her, let alone the same town.

Vincent isn’t doing much better as he tries to remember why he’d broken it off with her. She made him feel more than anyone else but in his line of work, and with his past history, he didn’t have room for a relationship. But damn, she made him want one.

Click HERE to read an excerpt and to BUY the book

Don’t you just love the cover!

I’m guest blogging over at the Australian Romance Readers Association this week.  I’m talking about our favourite heroes.  If you drop by and leave a comment you’ll go into the draw to win a $10 gift certificate for Total-e-bound.  See you there!

Pairing: m/m/f

Available  in ebook at Loose Id

A woman in Heaven Sent?! Well, yeah, she’s been with them the entire time. Gretchen deserves her HEA!

BLURB:

For years, Gretchen’s main objective has been taking care of the boys of Heaven Sent. When her boys decide to take a hiatus, she decides to do the same.

Before she can begin her summer off, Gretchen has one last public commitment. There, she meets tall, mysterious, and wickedly handsome Archer Thanos. Archer’s company has a video game based on Heaven Sent and he’s has been trying to get in touch with her to discuss it. Their first meeting quickly turns into a discussion of another type … in a nearby hotel room, sending Gretchen headlong into a whirlwind affair she hadn’t anticipated.

Only, someone isn’t exactly thrilled about Gretchen and Archer’s romance. Gretchen’s adorable new assistant, Owen, has been pining for his boss since he started working for her but he hasn’t had the courage to assert himself and tell her he wants her. As a result, Gretchen is completely blind to his feelings for her. And after meeting Archer, Owen knows he has no chance against the handsome devil. His own attraction to the older man is instant and overwhelming, the bisexual urges he hasn’t divulged to Gretchen fully awakening.

Owen thinks he’s not enough for Gretchen. Gretchen thinks Owen is far too young for her. Archer thinks they’re both ridiculous. He knows the three of them are just right for each other, if they can survive the revelations.

*****************************

©2009 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved

“Palm Springs?”

Owen stared at his monitor. “Yeah.”

Jane sighed and perched on the far edge of his desk. “And she just met him this last week?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn. What a life.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh God, would you stop mooning already?”

Scowling, he checked that the office door was closed. “Be a little louder, why don’t you?”

She reached up to smooth a hand over her short, straight black hair. “Oh, no one’s going to hear. Just about everyone’s gone home.”

He turned back to his monitor and tried to ignore her.

He’d known it wouldn’t work. She sat up further on his desk, leaning toward him. “Owen, you know you don’t have a chance with her, right?”

At times like this, he deeply regretted confiding in Jane. But they’d become good friends in the past few months, and he’d needed someone to talk to. Someone who understood. All his other friends were back in Atlanta, and they were too far removed from the business to get it. The only other person was his cousin Ellen. She was way too close to Gretchen for him to tell her anything.

When he didn’t answer her, Jane shook his shoulder.

“Hey.” He scowled up at her.

Her blue eyes narrowed. “She spends most of her time with rockstars, Owen. Gorgeous ones. She eats up handsome, successful men for lunch. She’s got guys like this Archer taking her away on expensive weekends. What could you possibly offer her other than your boyish charm?”

He gave her a mocking sweet smile. “Gee, thanks.”

She smoothed a hand over his hair. “I’m just trying to help you, honey. Mooning over the boss lady is just going to keep you distracted when a girl you can have and should be with comes along.”

He snatched his head away. Women were always petting him, he was used to it, but that didn’t stop it from being annoying when he was peeved. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s talk about this Saturday.” She clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl. “I’ll have to go out shopping for a new dress. You want to come with?”

“Oh yeah, that’s just what I want to do.”

She grimaced. “You know, darling, I have to say that you’re the strangest gay man I’ve ever met.”

That demanded that he give her the look. “I think you’d have to call me bisexual. I like girls too, remember.”

“Yeah. I guess it’s not so outlandish since you work for Heaven Sent after all. Well, once removed.”

Was she trying to depress him more? “Don’t you have a job to do?”

She batted her heavily mascaraed eyes at him, undeterred. “Bored with my company already?”

“Just the topic of conversation.”

“Fine.” She jumped off his desk and patted the folders she’d left in his inbox. “Make sure she sees those. There’s a new director whose work she should look at.”

“Will do.”

“See you later. We’ll make shopping plans.” Giggling at his scowl, she opened the door and left.

Once the door had clicked shut after her, he gave up the pretense of working. Staring morosely at his desk blotter, he began his favorite task since Monday: trying to figure out a way to make Gretchen not go away with this Archer creep for the weekend. So far, no dice. He wasn’t going to do anything drastic, and no one from Heaven Sent had jumped in to demand her attention. The closest was when Chris Faith called for her, but he’d ended up calling her cell and getting his answer. Meantime, he’d had to hear about all her preparations for the trip. He’d even made calls to reserve a private table at a very chic restaurant for her and Archer.

Depressed, he tried to make himself see things a different way. This was a new thing. She hadn’t dated in a long time. She’d barely talked about Archer as more than a sex toy. Maybe that’s all it was. Sex. Still not something Owen wanted to dwell on, but if it was just sex, that meant it would likely blow over soon. He’d heard about her so-called relationships in the past. Nothing that lasted very long. Her career always got in the way. Maybe all Owen had to do was tough it out for a month or so; then she’d get sick of this guy and move on. Yeah, that was a better slant on it.

But it didn’t change the fact that she was going away to get fucked, repeatedly, by this Archer guy.

What did this bozo look like anyway? Owen turned toward his computer and brought up a Web browser. He’d just typed the man’s name in the image browser when a knock sounded. He had enough time to switch windows so that his e-mail was in front before he turned to greet the newcomer.

Whoa. The guy who walked in was movie-star gorgeous. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His golden brown skin set off jet-black hair and matching brows that matched a classy, trimmed Vandyke beard. He wore a casual burgundy shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a hint of chest hair and black slacks over endless legs.

Owen wasn’t sure his own legs would support him if he stood, so he just turned toward the vision. “Hello. May I help you?”

“This is Gretchen Hobbes’s office?”

“Yes. I’m Owen, Ms. Hobbes’s assistant.”

The man stopped in front of his desk and held out his hand. “Owen. Nice to meet you. My name is Archer Thanos.”

Owen’s hand was folded in a warm grip before the name was spoken. He was unable to hide his jump of surprise. “A-archer Thanos?”

“That’s me.”

“I, uh, Gretchen’s told me about you. She said you…” He dropped his gaze to the package in the man’s hand, only to realize that his own hand was still held. He blinked, confused and entranced by the sight of his light tan in contrast to the deep gold-brown of this man’s skin. Yum. He tugged his fingers away so he could reach for the package. The angle made sure that he could check out the man’s other package, a slight bulge in the loose slacks. Yum. “She said you’d be dropping something off.”

Archer held the thick envelope up, just out of Owen’s reach. “Yes. This. It’s a prospectus for a video game.” That smile was just killer. Teeth blinding white in all that darkness. “You play?”

“Huh?”

“Do you game?”

“I’ve, uh, some, but I’m not… Well, that is. Not much.”

The gorgeous man twisted to the side so he could hitch his ass up on the edge of Owen’s desk. He leaned companionably toward Owen as he set the envelope down on the desk blotter. “If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you some samples.” Hands now free, he dipped two fingers into his chest pocket to extract a slim metal business-card case. A gold ring flashed on his finger as he flipped the case open and extracted a card.

Not until the card was hovering before him, held by two longer fingers, did Owen realize he’d just been watching the man move. Instinctively, he reached for the card. “Oh, I… There’s no reason to give me games. I mean, I wouldn’t be making a decision about this.” Jeez, Owen, get a grip! He’d handled plenty of other people with far more class than this. Why did this man have him rattled? Because this guy’s been inside Gretchen. Strangely, with said man sitting before him, the thought turned him on far more than it pissed him off.

“Oh no, my pleasure. No strings attached. Gretchen made that one perfectly clear this past weekend.”

Owen swallowed, dropping his gaze as he took exaggerated care in setting the man’s card down on top of the folder that was already there. “And you’ll be seeing her this weekend as well.” He heard the words before he could take them back.

“She told you about that, did she?”

“She tells me everything.”

When there was too much silence, he braved a glance up. Another speculative look pointed at him. He seemed to be getting a heck of a lot of those lately. This one, however, made his guts quiver into jelly. “As well she should.”

Owen stared into deep brown eyes, getting lost in the silent heat. He didn’t know what to say, and the man didn’t seem in a hurry to leave or break the silence. Finally, Owen cracked. “Actually, Mr. Thanos…”

“Please. Call me Archer.”

Owen nodded as he turned toward his monitor. “Archer. Gretchen wasn’t sure where you’d be going this weekend. Could you give me a location, just in case?”

The man amiably supplied not only the name of the resort, he pulled out his iPhone and forwarded the reservation information to Owen right on the spot. “Will you need anything else?”

Owen shook his head, trying to make his fingers stop trembling. “No. I think that’s more than enough. Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome.”

He needed to be polite. Garnering his courage, Owen turned back and spread his hand over the folder on the desk. “I’ll make sure she gets that.”

“Thank you. Please call if you need any more information. And I mean it about the games. Take a look at our Web site. Any games you want, they’re yours for the asking.” He leaned forward on the desk, fingers steepled to support his weight. “You call me personally.”

Owen stared at his fingers, far too frightened of what might happen if he got lost in that smoldering gaze again. He might just have to throw himself at the man. “Thank you.”

“Well, then. I’ll see you later. Owen.”

Owen nodded and smiled, managing to raise his gaze to the man’s collarbone. It was high enough for him to see the smirk. No shit, you’re acting like a simpering schmuck. But it was the best he could manage.

Once Archer left, Owen just sat there, staring at the door, relearning how to breathe. The man was…ungh. No wonder Gretchen was so taken. Owen was afraid he was going to have to make use of the private bathroom in Gretchen’s office unless he could get control of the hard-on in his pants. He sat back and kept breathing until he brought his heart and groin under control enough to reach over to his keyboard to bring up the image search that he’d started before the man himself had come through the door.

“There’s no way,” he whispered, gazing at a smiling photograph of the man. “There’s no way you’ve got a chance in hell against this guy.”

*********************

Click here for Jet’s website’s main page on Heaven Sent: Revelations

What happens when a conservative girl sneaks in to a BDSM club for a look and makes an impression on the Master trainer? He pulls out all stops to claim her for himself. Her secret fantasy scared her to death so why did his masterful ways prove so irresistible?

Available NOW from Total-E-Bound.

So do you want to read an excerpt?  Read on….EXCERPT from THE MASTER’S PRIZE Copyright 2009 Maggie Nash.

Bloody hell, why did he have to be so damn gorgeous? She’d looked him up on the Internet and the photos she’d found didn’t do him justice at all. The shaggy dark brown hair was the same, but those dark blue eyes rimmed by those incredibly long eyelashes, and that lopsided grin? Oh man, then there was his body. It should be illegal for a man to have shoulders so broad and a bum so muscular you just wanted to sink your teeth into it.

It doesn’t matter.

She still didn’t want to go out with him, especially after the arrogant way he’d been pursuing her. He didn’t seem to understand the meaning of the word ‘no’, and she still didn’t understand why he picked her. She was sure they’d never met in person before. In fact, along with the mask, she’d been careful not to interact with anyone at that club. She wasn’t sure she was ready to explore that particular fantasy for real. Not yet.

Anyway, it was the principle of the thing. She had no time for rich jerks who thought they only had to flash some cash and every woman would jump at being their slave. She’d already done the rich boyfriend thing and it sucked big time. Even if she did fantasise about giving over control of her body to a dominant lover, she always chose her own men on her own terms, and that was the way she liked it. If she kept reminding her self of that fact, she just might believe it too.

Mitch caught her looking and smiled with that impossibly sexy mouth. Oh man, what a smug smile. Even if he did make her insides shiver, she wasn’t putting up with smug. Standing up straight to her full five foot seven in height, she stared him right in the face… around about his chin level actually…and spoke.

“And who might you be?”

The smile didn’t waver even for a millisecond. He was good, but she was better.

“I take it you have the required money with you, Mr….? What did you say your name was?”

Davo stepped in between them, grabbing Elise’s hand. “Elise love, don’t you recognise him? This is Mitchell Collins. He’s the owner of Collins Technology. Of course he has the money, and if he hasn’t got it on him, I know he’s good for it.”

Throwing Davo’s hand back to him, Elise moved to stand beside him so she could keep an eye on her quarry. “Oh? You sell computers or something?” She knew exactly how much he was worth, but there was no way she was letting him know that. Let him put that in his pipe and smoke it!

The corners of his mouth kicked up just a touch. “Something like that, Elise. And please call me Mitch. There’s no need to be so formal under the circumstances now is there?” In a few minutes, we’ll be on quite intimate terms.”

Her mind went into overdrive. Oh shit! This was the man in her fantasy dreams. Oh God, don’t lose it now, Elise. Forcing herself to calm down, she took a deep breath in and blew it out slowly. She could do calm. She was in complete control of herself. And pigs might fly too, but she was sure going to give it a try.

“Why not, Mr. Collins? In a few minutes, it will be all over and we’ll probably never see each other again. Why bother getting familiar?”

Mitch laughed. A deep, throaty, sexy laugh. Damn. Why did that sound make her panties dampen of their own accord?

THE MASTER’S PRIZE

Available NOW from Total-E-Bound.

The Holiday of Purim and “In the Lion’s Den”
Today is Purim, a fun-filled day for Jewish children and adults, alike.

Purim offers religious Jewish children an opportunity to dress up in funny clothes and also as the main characters in the holiday in a manner similar to Halloween, a holiday not celebrated by more orthodox Jews. After all, Halloween is associated with pagan themes, but Purim — as joyous and free wheeling as Mardi Gras — easily fills the need for fun. In fact, one is encouraged to drink until you can’t tell the difference between Haman, the villain and Mordecai, the hero. Purim is celebrated by just about every group of gay and lesbian Jews.

So, how does Purim relate to my story? “In the Lion’s Den”, the first story in BEND IN THE ROAD, is set in the 1880s during the holiday of Purim. The story was submitted for MLR’s cross-dressing anthology and the celebration of Purim has long been associated with cross-dressing and other unique issues.  When I researched the holiday I found that parodies and entertainment that mocked established Judaism were a widespread component of Purim observances. I learned that written records of the Purim shpiel (Yiddish for “Purim play”) could be found in Europe from the 14th century on. Purim shpiels and entertainments at weddings (as in my second story, “From Stage to Stage”) were the sole source of Jewish popular pursuits for centuries. The sarcastic content of Purim plays and the spoofing, cross-dressing, and drunken revelry surrounding them offered an opportunity to explore boundary-crossing matters of gender, sexuality, authority, and relations with the gentile world in a safe setting like the traveling Yiddish theater troupe where cross-dressing was common during its early days. The cross-dressing that appears in “In the Lion’s Den” then, would be acceptable.
Dani, the young protagonist in the story has a fondness for women’s clothing. In this scene, we get a glimpse into his feelings.

SET UP: Dani has been asked to take over the part of Queen Esther in the Purim play because Shmuel who usually plays the part has been injured. This is Dani’s first time performing the cross-dressing female lead.

EXCERPT:

Rivkeh turned to Leah. “Did you finish ironing Dani’s costume?”

“I steamed it. I didn’t want to take a chance and burn it.

Remember what happened to Shmuel’s milkmaid outfit last

year? We had to rush around trying to find some material to

cover that burned hole. You remember, Dani? You teased poor

Shmuel about it. We had to discard the costume after the

performance. What a waste!”

Dani ducked his head beneath the voluminous folds of the

netting. He did indeed remember the costume because he had

snuck it out of the ragbag. The burn marks may have made it

impossible for their public performances, but not for his private

ones. He had folded it up and put it away in one of his drawers.

Before Aryeh had shared his wagon, he would take it out as

often as he could when Yankl had been performing or

rehearsing.

He’d strip to his gotkes and unbutton the top. He hadn’t

dared to strip naked below the long, full skirt, white apron and

low bodice. If he could only feel the soft cotton petticoat

caressing his legs and shmekl, he knew it would be the most

glorious sensation in the world.

He was wrong.

Aryeh’s kisses were the most glorious sensation.

Just thinking of Aryeh’s lips and hands touching him made

his penis harden and his baytsim tighten. He shivered.

“Are you cold, tateleh? Maybe you should leave on the top

of your drawers.”

“I’m fine, Tante. Aryeh and I checked. It fits better without

the top. Shmuel has a different shaped body than me.”

Both Rivkeh and Leah giggled.

“I should think so,” Rivkeh said. “You have such nice broad

shoulders and a trim waist. Shmuel, well, let’s just say you’re

prettier than him!”

The women turned, pinned, draped, hemmed and made

tsking sounds for an eternity it seemed to Dani. Finally, they

were finished.

“Shayna punim! Shayna meydleleh!” Rivkeh clapped her

hands with appreciation. “What do you think, Leah?”

“He makes a beautiful girl, better than Shmuel. Give a look

in the mirror, Danaleh.”

The three quarter mirror was unearthed from beneath the

pile of costumes draped on top of it.

“Look, tateleh.”

Dani stepped in front of the mirror and gasped. Was that

him with the tiny waist and creamy skin? The false set of breasts

was just the right size for a young woman, not exaggerated like

Yossi’s tits. They looked real. The scarf was pinned in such a

way that it concealed the fact that he wore a fall of curls to

augment his own hair. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks were

flushed from all the effort he’d put into getting fitted.

“Wait, I have some pretty ankle high boots that are covered

with gold cloth. They may fit you. They were mine when I was a

young woman and skinny like you.”

Rivkeh dived back into the closet. In a few minutes she

appeared holding aloft a paper box.

“Here, boytshik, try them on. The heel’s a bit higher than

your regular shoes and more dainty.” She turned and waved an

admonishing finger in front of Leah’s face. “Don’t laugh. I was

young once!”

Dani sat down on the chair, untied his boots and pulled

them off.

“Tsa! You’ll need some lighter-weight stockings.” She

started opening up drawers, digging in among hankies, socks,

stockings and other undergarments and wearing apparel. “These will do. I knew we had a pair somewhere.”

In Rivkeh’s hands was a pair of women’s tights, garters and

long drawers.

“Go into the closet, take off your gotkes and put these on.”

She dumped the items in Dani’s arms, a satisfied look on her

face.

Dani’s face, however, was a mask of confusion.

“How do I…?”

Rivkeh raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Such a kop, I have!

Pull up the stockings as high as they’ll go, then tie them with

these pretty ribbons, then pull on the drawers. They’ll probably

reach to your knees you’re so tall. When you’re done, come out

and Leah will help you with your boots. I can’t bend so much

now, you know.” She took in Dani’s face and laughed. “Close

your mouth, boytshik, you’ll catch flies.”

Dani shook his head. “I’ll be right out.”

“No rush. Make sure you tie the garters tightly enough.”

Dani entered the closet. The lamp hanging from the ceiling

cast a soft glow on the jam-packed contents. He found a stool

and sat down. He tugged off his socks and then pulled down his

gotkes. Now he was totally naked beneath the frilly costume.

The feel of the soft material on his bare flesh was incredible.

He’d worn his underwear under the damaged costume. He had

never felt his skin against his outer garments.

He smoothed the hose on his legs, drawing them up to just a

few inches above the knee and wrapped the ribbons around

them. The sensation was exquisite. The tight length of ribbon

and the white hose hugging his legs sent shivers through his

body.

He thrust his legs into the cotton drawers and tied the waist.

The drawers’ little ruffled cuffs hit just above the knee. He

stuck out one trim limb and admired the sleek outline of his calf

and the adorable pink bow around the edge of the drawers.

He unbuttoned the boots. The lace insert on either side of

the flaps slimmed his foot. He couldn’t wait to see the full

effect. Fortunately, a buttonhook hung on a nail by the door.

He tugged on the footwear and, his hands trembling, did up the

boots as tightly as possible, too impatient to stop for Leah’s

help.

He stood up and grabbed onto the shelves for support. It

wasn’t that the shoes were uncomfortable, he just couldn’t stop

his knees from turning into jelly.

He opened the door with trepidation, not knowing what the

full affect would be on Rivkeh and Leah.

He needn’t have worried.

“Gorgeous! Like the Queen of Sheba!” Leah whispered.

“No. Like Queen Esther,” Rivkeh chided. “Walk for us

Danaleh so we can adjust the dress.”

Dani glided down the length of the wagon to the mirror and

halted.

The tips of the boots peeped out from beneath the netted

overskirt and the satin underskirt. The scarf and the billowy

sleeves made his waist tiny.

He gasped.

“Can you breathe with the lacing of the bodice? You move

like a swan.”

He nodded.

“Then go and show everyone what a Queen should look

like!” Rivkeh gave him a little push and he opened the door.

Lifting his skirts high, he gingerly stepped down the three treads

to the ground and made his way to the stage. * * * *
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into Dani’s world.

]]> http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/wp/2009/03/10/in-the-lions-den-from-bend-in-the-road/feed/ 4 http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/wp/2009/02/10/bend-in-the-road/ http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/wp/2009/02/10/bend-in-the-road/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:02:10 +0000 Jeanne Barrack http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/wp/?p=295

Well I got a good one the other day and for the first time ever a reviewer understood my quarky sense of humor. Huraaahh I knew I wasn’t the only one with this odd sense of funny hehe.

Check it out….

Bare Bones by Aline de Chevigny

The Romance Studio
 
Overall rating: 4 Hearts
Sensuality rating: Very sensual
 
Aline de Chevigny has written a rather light hearted story of friends who have known each other for twenty years finally admitting to the love between them. The dialogue is often tongue in cheek funny.
 
For full review:  http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/barebonesdechevigny.htm

–

Victoire