First Time Fiction – Morning After

This year we’re doing a monthly post about First Times: First Kiss, First Meeting, First Argument, etc. This month we’re focused on First Morning After. The except below is from DUDE WITH A COOL CAR, book 2 of the Concrete Angels MC series. Cooper DeVille is an undercover US Marshal, and he just spent the night with Karma, the Concrete Angels MC’s Enforcer. And he’s realizing that he wants her more than he originally thought. ~~~~~~~ Cooper I’d never slept so well in my life. Even as a kid I’d be up every few hours, my mind refusing to calm down for long. As an adult, it had gotten worse with the stresses of the job and the few undercover stints. But lying wrapped around Karma shut my mind down and sent me into a deep, dreamless sleep. I’d never experienced it before, but I knew I needed more. She made me feel safe, content, and protected even though I was wrapped around her. I woke feeling refreshed and sharper than usual, and I realized I was already addicted to her. “Good morning, Coop. Did you sleep well?” I opened my eyes to find her standing beside the bed with a large mug of steaming coffee, wearing nothing but a short, peach-colored silk robe. I wasn’t sure which image was more delicious—the hot coffee or woman in a robe barely clinging to her curves. Both. Both is good. “I did sleep well. How ’bout you?” I frowned, dismayed that she’d both gotten up before me and I never noticed her leave the bed. “Aren’t you still tired?” She shook her head as she handed me the coffee. “I don’t need much sleep.” I sipped the coffee and groaned. “Oh, glory, that’s good. Thank you, Ma’am.” She grinned. “You’re welcome. I’d bet dollars to doughnuts you’re having a better wake up than most of the Concrete Angels. We made sure to set out all the hangover remedies last night, and I’m sure Grub added the raw eggs and small shots of hair-of-the-dog this morning.” I grimaced. “Oh, yeah, I remember those mornings. Thank Goddess I’m done with that part of my life. Those kinds of morning suck.” She tilted her head and gave me a perplexed smile. “You invoke the Goddess a lot for a…man. Why is that?” I shrugged. “It made more sense to me. If the divine is supposed to be loving, protective, nurturing, and life-giving, it makes sense it has a female energy. Most of the men I’ve met are angry, threatening, destructive, and violent, even with their kids. I’d rather have a warrior goddess watching my back than an angry, vengeful god any day.” I shrugged and sipped more coffee. My views on such things weren’t met with a lot of enthusiasm so I usually kept them to myself. But Karma smiled and I felt like I’d passed some sort of test. “So, what are you going to do today?” I shrugged. “I’m gonna talk to Numbers to see what places she dug up to trace the money. Once I know what she’s done, I’ll be able to start making inroads to the places she can’t get to. I have a hunch about where your money has gone, but I won’t know until I see what Numbers found.” Karma nodded as she rose and headed for the bathroom. “Smart. No point in re-inventing the wheel.” “Exactly.” I set the mug down on the side table and swung my feet to the floor. “Are you gonna take a shower, Ma’am?” I hurried after her, hoping for the chance to see her naked under the hot water. “Yes, that was my plan.” “Would you like me to wash your back?” I waggled my eyebrows and grinned as she laughed. “That would be great. As long as you let me wash yours.” “Yes, Ma’am.” I ducked around her and turned on the water in the shower, adjusting the temperature to be comfortable for both of us. Then I dried my hands and turned to her. “Let me take you out of that robe, Ma’am.” She turned her back and shrugged out of the soft, orange silk. I loved the way it slid over her skin with a soft hiss and my cock saluted both the sound and the sight. Damn, I wanted to brush up against her back and rock my hips with my cock between her butt cheeks. I loved how she’d wiggled her ass last night, making sure my dick fit in her crack as we slept. It had turned me on and comforted at the same time. I hung the robe on a hook and handed her into the shower. She sighed as she stepped under the spray and my dick flexed in appreciation. I stepped in behind her, grateful she had a large upright shower. Nothing worse than trying to be sexy in a coffin box with nozzles. Karma dropped her head under the water to wet her hair down and I took the time to grab the puff and fill it with bodywash. “Let me wash you, Ma’am.” “You may.” It might seem weird to enjoy taking orders, but her commands filled me with a sense of purpose and belonging that I hadn’t felt since I was a kid. My mom had been frail with a rare bone pathology that made her body brittle. She wasn’t weak by any stretch of the imagination, but one little bump against a kitchen drawer could shatter her arm. I’d learned to always make sure she was stable and free of obstacles so she could enjoy life. I served her and it brought me joy and satisfaction to do it right. When she died, I’d felt adrift. I needed to serve Karma to feel content and complete again. I needed to ensure her pleasure and comfort to secure my own, and it brought back the good memories of serving my mother with my superior strength. My mom was…

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First Time Fiction – First Kiss

This year we’re doing a monthly post about First Times: First Kiss, First Meeting, First Argument, etc. This month we’re focused on First Kiss. The except below is from THE VALKYRIE’S SWORD, book 2 of the Warbler Peninsula series. Balder is a former assassin with the fanatical group Sword of God and Svanhild is a banished Valkyrie. She’s starting to like him despite her initial thoughts about him. ~~~~~~~ A Shield Maiden defying Odin? He’d never heard such a thing, but Svanhild didn’t strike him as someone who doubted herself or refused to speak up when something was wrong. If she found someone unworthy of Valhalla, he suspected there was a damn good reason. I’d never qualify for the sacred halls of warriors. He shoved the morbid thoughts away and sat up straight. “I’m sorry. That’s a hard place to be, separated from your confederates.” He knew the feeling well, yet didn’t regret the change. “Would it be untoward of me to say I’m rather glad Odin sent you here to this world?” Her brows lowered. “Why?” “So I had the chance to meet and share this meal with you.” She blinked slowly. “Balder, are you flirting with me?” He swallowed hard and nodded his head. “I think I am.” “Why?” “Uh…” He’d never expected that question. “Because you’re beautiful and I like your company.” He added a half smile. “Besides, I already swooned twice with you. Surely that means we’re meant to be like in some old romantic tale, right?” She stared for a few more moments as if she didn’t quite understand his words. Eventually, she shook her head and snorted. “You did swoon, but I’m not convinced it was my beauty that made you do it.” “Oh come on. Chalk it up to being so breathtaking as to make all the men fall at your feet.” He’d never flirted for himself before, but he enjoyed the hell out of bantering with Svanhild. “This is the most surreal moment of my life. And I’m a Valkyrie.” “What’s surreal? Me flirting with you?” She nodded as she finished her sandwich and brushed the crumbs off her hands. “Hasn’t anyone ever flirted with you before?” Balder gaped at her. She shook her head and gestured to his mug. “Do you want some more tea?” “Yes, thank you.” He handed her the mug, but didn’t try to touch her. More than likely she’d lop off my hand. “Come on, seriously? No one, ever?” “No, not ever, Balder.” She threw the comment over her shoulder as she took their mugs to the kitchen. Not ever? What the hell was wrong with those men? More than likely she lopped off more than their hands. He levered himself up and shuffled over to the fireplace. The heat increased as he closed in on the hearth and he sighed with pleasure. He’d always enjoyed a real fire in a hearth. He settled himself near the grate and shook his head, both at his temerity to flirt with Svanhild and at her lack of experience in it. Perhaps she’d been too intimidating, but he found her intelligence and sharp wit intoxicating. He didn’t expect her to respond favorably to a former assassin offering her something as tender as flirtation, but he couldn’t seem to stop. I don’t want to stop. Emotions are dangerous, a weakness easily exploited to cripple and distract. The voice blared out its warning in the back of his head and he gritted his teeth against its ferocity. He closed his eyes and tightened his hands into fists, holding back the howling fury and insanity. Shut the fuck up. I’m done listening to you. Emotions weren’t dangerous or crippling. Instead, they gave people drive. He’d seen the ferocity of people fighting to save or protect their loved ones, and the love made them stronger, more determined. He wanted someone to fight for him, someone he could defend and protect. He’d once been able to feel something other than anger and righteousness, but the negative emotions had taken all his energy and focus for decades. I’m so tired. Tired didn’t begin to cover his exhaustion. Anger took so much energy, he wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep. The voices increased in volume and drowned out all the lovely emotions, making him swallow against losing his meal. “Balder, are you all right?” He opened his eyes and stared at the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, her expression creased with concern. I need her. “Help me please…” The voices shrieked, demanding he fight and kill the warrior woman who crouched beside him. She set the mugs aside and grabbed one of his hands, drawing him into her embrace. His back hit her chest and fire seared through their clothes, burning through his chest. Oh sweet mercy, what’s happening to me? He might have whimpered as Svanhild’s arms tightened and the fire between them flared higher. He couldn’t move, yet he wanted to writhe against the intense pain in his core. Begone! A new voice thundered the order and a vision of a warrior woman with wild hair and leather armor filled his mind’s eye. You have no place here and no one will mourn your passing. Leave this man in peace or face me. He is under my protection. She slammed her sword against her round wooden shield and raised her chin. The voices retreated, taking the fiery pain with them and Balder came back to himself, panting and sweating in Svanhild’s embrace. She was singing a tune he almost remembered. Something soft and comforting, yet with a Viking edge to the words. Norwegian sounds flowed over him and he sank into the familiar syllables. Balder tilted his head back and looked up at her. Winter-gray eyes met his, but instead of cold, he found the heat of hearth fires and the comfort of thick woolen blankets. He wanted more. He freed one of his arms and reached for her face,…

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