Thursday, April 30, 2015

Shadow of a Doubt by P.A. DePaul - Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

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The new SBG novel from the author of Exchange of Fire.
When her secretly filmed tryst shows up on the internet, Michelle Alger goes on the run. She has no choice. Not only was her one-night stand the son of a US senator, but he’s been murdered—and she’s the number one suspect. With both the senator and an avenging drug lord on her trail, her life is in danger. There’s only man she can trust. He saved her once, but will he still be her hero six years later? Captain Jeremy Malone and the rest of Delta Squad have the senator’s order: find the mystery woman who killed my son. But to Jeremy, she’s no mystery. Six years ago his team of Green Berets rescued her from the torturous clutches of a Colombian cartel, and he’s never forgotten her. His personal and covert mission: find Michelle before anyone else. When he and Michelle do meet again, the sparks are explosive and consuming. They’re also dangerous as hell. Because with each new bit of evidence, Jeremy suspects that Michelle’s innocence may be a ruse—a beautiful trap set by a woman who has even more secrets yet to bare.


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FOR SHADOW OF DOUBT

Michelle paced the length of the room for the thousandth time. There were exactly eighteen steps from the bathroom door to the sad excuse of a table. Not the biggest rooms here at the OTE. A long moan drifted through the left wall followed by a slam, then rhythmic banging. “Oh, God. Yes,” a woman cried. “Give it to me, daddy.” Whomp. Whomp. Whomp. The cheap picture over the bed rattled with “daddy’s” frantic pace. Michelle rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Really?” she asked the stained tiles. As if her situation wasn’t bad enough, she now had to listen to a bad porno. She glanced at the clock. 5:22 p.m. Her fingertips felt cold. She went to rub her hands together only to find her palms had a thin layer of sweat. How messed up was that? Darn nerves. For years she had fantasized about this moment. So many versions ranging from innocent to completely far-fetched had captivated her dreams. Only Fate would deliver the version where she was holed up in a seedy motel with Big Daddy providing the sleazy soundtrack. “Yes! Right there! Harder!” She tuned out the “Oh-Gods,” and the “That’s-the-spots” and replayed her favorite fantasy. The one where Captain Jeremy Malone sought her out only to find out she had been given a new identity and placed in Witness Protection. Devastated by the government’s unwillingness to tell him where she had been relocated, he made it his personal mission to find her. Though it took years, he finally discovered she became a park ranger in Indianapolis. He immediately requested leave from the military and showed up at her apartment door. She laughed at her foolish daydreams. Even if the man had hunted her down, then what? Her track record since Colombia had been Michelle, zero; Disaster, every time. The looks of disgust on her partners’ faces when they saw her body usually killed whatever passion she had been able to muster through the fear and memories. Only one man had seen beyond carnage and made her feel as if it would be okay. A hoarse shout bled through the thin wall followed by a lot of groaning. Hopefully that signaled the end of “daddy’s” session. Had she done the right thing calling Cappy? How long had he been in Indianapolis? God, had she been this close to him all this time? What if he’s seen the news? Would he call the police, FBI, Army to tip them off? She started to panic. Oh no. What had she done? Knock. Knock. Knock. Michelle jumped at the sound on her door. The blood drained from her face and her heart pounded against her ribcage. No way in this short span of time could it be another drunk with the wrong room. Which meant . . . He’s here. All her insecurities rushed through her brain as she stared at the door. Everything from her thunder-thighs to her lack of makeup and hungover status swamped her. “Michelle?” a muffled, deep male voice called on the other side. She’d know that intonation anywhere. It slid over her, tightening the knot in her stomach. She rubbed the dancing area and snagged on a button. Jerking her head down, she started cussing. She still had on the ugliest uniform ever. Not one ounce of sexiness could be wrung from the drab olive and gray clothing. Sweat pooled under her arms, not helping her confidence and— Wait, what was that? She squinted and dabbed a spot on her shirt. Great. She had on the most god-awful stained uniform ever. This was so far from her fantasy she could only hang her head. About par for the last twenty-four hours. Knock. Knock. “Michelle,” Captain Jeremy Malone said again. “It’s safe to open the door.” No one shouted “POLICE” or “FBI.” That was a good sign, wasn’t it? Didn’t they have to identify themselves first before entering? That meant he was alone, right? She threw her shoulders back and strode across the room. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and opened the thin wood. Holy Cheesus on wheat toast. How could she not recall how HUGE he was? And that was saying something, since she was considered tall. But he had to be at least a half a foot over her head. Not only tall, but ripped with muscles . . . Like no-way-could-this-exist-in-real-life muscles sprouted beneath a tight T-shirt. Since he had worn a helmet the last time they met, she had never gotten to see he had dark brown hair, buzzed in a military crew-cut. His stance was all business; exuding strength and power and don’t-mess-with-me-cause-I-know-eighty-ways-to-kill-you. But one feature commanded her attention—the same one haunting her for years. His eyes. Those wonderfully expressive deep coffee-colored eyes. “Cappy.” She shuddered. After so many years of longing, she was finally staring into their depths . . . and he was staring right back.


** BOOKS FROM THE SBG NOVEL SERIES **

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P.A. DePaul is a multi-genre romance author including paranormal fantasy and romantic suspense. She originally hails from Carroll County and Baltimore County, Maryland, but also lived in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia. She currently resides in a beautiful community just outside Philadelphia.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Fighting For Her Dragon by Julia Mills - Blog Tour with Guest Post and Giveaway

Fighting For Her Dragon

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(Dragon Guards #7)

By Julia Mills

AMAZON US / UK / CA

Fighting For Her Dragon WEB 02282015

WLK synopsis

 
There Are No Coincidences….

Given a fairy tale life by the clan of dragon shifters that rescued her as a little girl, Emma Sinclair long ago accepted she might never solve the mystery of her heritage. Of course, that was before she could feel the traitor’s pain, before she knew he was slipping away. And before the unthinkable happened… he called to her in the language of his kin.

The Universe Does Not Make Mistakes…

Captured by his brothers. Imprisoned in a cave. Bound in silver chains. Andrew knew his days were numbered. He accepted his fate. Knew he was getting what he deserved. Hallucinations of his long dead parents were his only solace in the debris of a wasted life. Then the scent of salt, sun and fresh air entered his prison. The fragrance stirred visions of expressive brown eyes, a smile that rivaled the sun and a voice that was a balm to his tattered soul. He clung to the memory of her. She became his lifeline…his only hope of survival…

Fate Will Not Be Denied…

One doomed dragon shifter. One very special woman. One destiny no one could have predicted. Will they save dragon kin or destroy it?  


WLK excerpt


 “Emma! Emma! Open this damn door!” Devon bellowed. 

This was the third time in two days he’d pounded on her door however on this occasion he seemed really upset, almost desperate. She tried to get up, had tried every time. Wanted to answer the door or at least call out to him. Needed to tell him she had the flu or whatever it was and would talk to him when she felt better. The problem was no matter how hard she tried, not even a finger would move. Her throat was so dry from crying and lack of drink she could only whisper. She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she’d actually left her bed.

All of this had started forty-eight hours earlier with the voice of the traitor sounding in her head and reached its first climax when she’d collapsed on her living room floor. He’d spoken directly into her mind, had been doing so since the moment he touched the land of their lair. As shocking as hearing him like he was a part of her was the fact that he called her his mate had been the trigger for her passing out. On the heels of his mind-boggling revelation, the traitor had begged her to come to him. Then he had reached for her. Not like you reach across the table but through some invisible link she felt in the very depths of her soul and would’ve sworn had never been there before. 

Pain accompanied his pleas. A crippling aching that permeated every cell of her being. It has finally become too much for her to bear. Emma landed face first in front of the couch, barely missing the corner of the coffee table with her head. 

Wave after wave of pain racked her body for hours. When the sun began to shine through the slats of her blinds hanging on the picture window the pain had receded. It had been almost twenty minutes since the last barrage of agony. The longest it had stayed at a dull throb since she’d hit the floor. Working up her courage, Emma rose to her knees. 

Cold sweat peppered her upper lip, wet her spine and ran down her arms. Taking a long deep breath in an attempt to end her panting and hopefully not hyperventilate, she steadied herself and began crawling towards her bedroom. Halfway to her destination, the pain returned with a vengeance. Her muscles knotted, feeling as if they were pulling away from her bones. Cramps like nothing she’d ever experienced set her insides on fire, a blaze that tore through her abdomen and chest forcing the air from her lungs. Spots danced before her eyes before she once again found herself laying on the cold, hard tile.

With no windows in the hallway, Emma could only guess how long she’d been there when she was finally able to pry open her eyelids. Struggling to her knees for the second time, she was determined to make it to her feet and used the wall as a crutch. Finally standing, she put one foot in front of the other, her shaky legs threatened to buckle out from under her as, she finally made it to her bed. Moaning, she fell face forward onto the sage green comforter praying to the Heavens that she never had to move again.

Over the next few hours she floated in and out of consciousness never quite sure if what she heard and saw was real. Andrew’s voice the only constant as she battled whatever force was attacking her body, mind and soul. He would plead with her to come to him, speaking beautiful words in the ancient language of the dragon kin, telling her that she was the only one that could end his torment. Then he would demand, his tone sharp, his words direct, as if he would accept nothing but her complete surrender to his will. In between, he would whisper her name over and over all the while pushing his need into her. 

His eyes peered into her soul. She had no idea how but his mismatched stare followed her from consciousness to restless sleep and back again, ever present, keeping watch over her. When one especially horrific wave of torment came upon her, their gazes locked. The agony she saw reflected in those hauntingly imperfect eyes confirmed her worst fears, it was not her pain but his attacking her. 

Why are you doing this to me?” She whispered, barely able to make out her own words.

Horror overrode the ache in his eyes and seemed to push the agony from his tone. He spoke with command and a clarity that baffled her considering his pain. “I’m not doing anything, a thaisce. It’s our connection…our bond. If you come to me, I hope to free you from my influence.”

 “But…” Her attempt to answer through mindspeak, as he had spoken to her, was cut short by Devon’s first round of knocking at her door.

The next two days was an endless loop of pain, visions and nonsensical conversations with the traitor in her head only interrupted by the few precious moments when she was overtaken by exhaustion. Andrew’s pleas became more insistent, the power he was pushing through more forceful as she continued to explain she was trying to come to him but physically unable. 

You must! It’s the only way I can save you.” Was the last she heard of him. Their bond had gone silent. She had called to him but to no avail, he had simply stopped communicating.

But I still hurt…


WLK Author Bio



Julia Mills - author_picMom of two rockin' girls, Reader of everything, Author of The Dragon Guards series and many more surprises to come! 

I am a sarcastic,sometimes foul-mouthed, not afraid to drink a beer, always southern woman with 2 of the most amazing teenage daughters, a menagerie of animals and a voracious appetite for reading who recently decided to write the storied running through her brain. I read my first book, Dr Suess' Cat in The Hat by myself at 4 and was hooked. I believe a good book along with shoes, makeup and purses will never let a girl down and that all heroes of all the books I have ever read or will ever write pale in comparison to my daddy! I am a sucker for a happy ending and love some hot sweaty sex with a healthy dose of romance. I am still working on my story but believe it will contain all of the above with as much SPICE as I can work into it. CHEERS!

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Guest post with Author Julia Mills 

Tell us a little bit about your writing process. What are your must have things when writing? Do you write with music, TV or do you need silence, etc.

I think I will always be a kid at heart. I need pretty much the same things to write that I needed when I was studying in college.
Some of my favorite things are gummy lifesavers, tootsie rolls, chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels and baby carrots with ranch dip.

Coffee is good to start with but I will always end up with a Diet Coke in my favorite Big Red cup with lots of ice. I LOVE TO CRUNCH ICE WHEN I WRITE!

I have to have noise...it is a must! Movie playing in the background, usually an action film, or music,either something like Fallout Boy, 80's Hair bands or Jazz...pretty eclectic huh?

I write in binges, lots and lots of words and then take a break, I like to finish whole scenes or chapters no matter how long it takes, If I don't it will just drive me crazy until I get up and finish it :)

Most if all, I like to have fun while I write. I believe my mood comes through and I would hate to have ya'll reading me being a crank ;) 

Thanks for hanging out with me! Hope you enjoy Fighting for Her Dragon!!!!!  

Previous Books in the Series

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Her Dragon to Slay (Dragon Guards #1)

Her Dragon's Fire (Dragon Guards #2)

Haunted by Her Dragon (Dragon Guards #3)

For the Love of her Dragon (Dragon Guards #4)

Saved By Her Dragon (Dragon Guard #5)

Only For Her Dragon (Dragon Guard # 6)
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Fourth and Long by Michele Micheal Rakes - Blog Tour with Review, Excerpt and Giveaway



   Title: Fourth and Long
   Author: Michele M. Rakes
   Length:Long Novel
   ISBN:978-1-62300-870-3
  Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs

   Blurb:
Irus Beaumont, cornerback for the Highlanders, has an issue with his nemesis: wideout for the Pirates, Jackson McCoy. Partly jealous over Jackson’s skill and ability to scrub coverage, Irus also struggles against an unbearable attraction to the receiver. Firmly ensconced in the closet, Irus also has a no football player rule, leaving his desires for Jackson unfulfilled. Anti-gay sentiment in the league keeps Irus closeted, even though he’d rather be out and proud.

When Jackson McCoy suffers a gay bashing at the hands of his team mates after winning the national championship, he finds himself traded to the Highlanders. Spring training brings out Jackson’s competitive nature, eliciting the aggression of his new team’s cornerback, Irus Beaumont.

In practice, Irus hurts Jackson badly. The injury places Jackson on the reserve roster. Jacks has plenty of time to contemplate his life, career, and his attraction to the sexy cornerback. Off to Orlando for the best rehab where guilt inspires Irus to call him every evening, Jackson can’t stop thinking about Irus, or what the season holds for his team.

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Excerpt:

The sun shines brilliantly for a spring day in the Pacific Northwest. The warmth is surprising but welcome. The natural grass sparkles as bright and beautiful as a well-manicured golf course. The field’s just waiting to be torn up by a bunch of football-playing foster kids. I’m a little nervous. Not sure what to expect since I’ve never done one of these events. Coach Daily said I’d have a lot of fun, and the kids are great. So here I am.

“Irus, my man! How you been?” A portly black man named Walter advances on me, his cultured Southern accent out of place in the northwestern environment.

“Not too bad,” I say.

“Tough watchin’ those Pirates steal that championship, eh?” Smooth. Dig where it hurts, Walt. Yeah, we all know Walter Park. He’s been around football for a lot of years. No one takes offense at his blunt remarks. The man tells it like it is and sometimes brutally. Today he’s being kind. Sort of.

“Well, you know how it is, shit continues to happen,” I say. “We’ll get ’em next season.”

Walter is a big former defensive lineman. When I say he’s big, I mean he’s gotten larger than when he was playing. I make the mistake of offering to shake the man’s hand. Two sweaty slabs of meat engulf my lone hand. He pumps wildly and leaves me feeling like I’ve got rhino cum all over my palm. When he’s not looking, I swipe my hands down the side of my sweatpants.

“Well, we got some great kids for you to work with, Irus. A great bunch of boys.”

“That’s cool.”

“I’m gonna hook you up with one of the organizers of the event. He’s a wide receiver. Give a defense/offense kind of perspective. Just teach the kids some fundamentals. How to hold the ball, a little pass and catch, nothing too in-depth. Mostly, we need you guys to be role models. Help inspire these kids. Lift them up. Some come from sketchy backgrounds.”

Walter gives me a look, like I’d understand, but my home was never sketchy. The neighborhood maybe, but not the home. A rock-solid foundation. Not traditional, though. Two parents who still love and cheer me on but had nothing to do with the raising of me. My Auntie Linda and Uncle Clyde raised me. He’s a high school football coach, and she’s an English teacher. The summers were spent with my Auntie Beulah in the city. She got me out of the dusty suburbs and introduced me to a whole new way of thinking. Beulah’s the reason I don’t judge people. Well, I try not to judge people. I certainly don’t blame my parents for giving me up. They gave me to Linda and Clyde, who wanted kids but couldn’t have any of their own. Auntie Linda said it was God making everything right. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a loving family.

“I’m just waiting for your receiver to show up. Then I’ll take you to your kids.” Walter peers around, looking for someone.

I follow his glance, not sure who I should be on the lookout for, when I see Jackson McCoy. Lord, why do you always have to test me here?

Damn, McCoy looks fine. Blond hair reflects the sunlight. The strands lift lightly in the breeze. He’s laughing, joking around with some people from the charity organization. He’s always laughing. I see him on the sidelines all the time. A smile. A laugh. Even when they’re down on points. My gaze wanders to his ass, snug in faded, torn blue jeans. Tattoos peek out of short sleeves and muscles stretch the thin fabric of his T-shirt. Butterflies hatch in my stomach. No, this isn’t good. Not here in front of all these kids. Jesus, he makes me antsy. When I’m antsy, I get angry and stubborn. Auntie Linda says so all the time.

Jackson McCoy turns my way. Big aviator glasses hide his eyes, but bruises form halos behind them, and his nose looks broke. He looks like he’s been playing against the defensive line and someone’s earholed him. With a nod to the guy next to him, he makes his way over to me and Walter.

“Hey, Walt,” he calls.

“Jackson, my boy, glad to have you back. You know Irus Beaumont? It’s his first time here. I was hoping you’d help him out with the kids. You know their trust issues.”

“Hey, Iris, how you doing?” My reflection plays in his mirrored aviators.

“It’s I-rus. Rus. Man, do you have a problem?”

A shining grin breaks his face. I feel awash in it, and it pisses me off.

“Come on, boys. Let’s work together all nice like, okay?” Walter gives me a stern look like it’s all my fault this guy continues to antagonize me. He double-checks me, waiting for a response, before he feels comfortable turning away. I get the feeling he’s in a hurry.

“Sure, Walter. I’ll play nice.” The words nearly stick in my throat.

“Good, good. All right now, boys, I gotta run and hook up some more players. Jackson, you know your group. Show Irus here the ropes. Bye, y’all.”

Walter takes off at a good clip for a fat man, his dark skin sweating in the sunlight, absorbing all the heat. Jackson begins to walk in the opposite direction, and I rush to catch up, getting a nice shot of his ass once more. I resist the urge to smack his ass. Instead, I drop a bit of a shoulder into him to check him up. Just like I do on the field. He takes the impact and rolls with it, not taken off his feet.

It was just a baby hit. Just saying hello. His lack of reaction irks me a little.

“What’d he mean by trust issues? You know these kids?” I ask.

“Don’t you? I sent you a packet with their backgrounds. Didn’t you get it?”

Shit, that’s what that was, damn. “It said Jackson McCoy on the envelope, so I stuffed it down the garbage disposal.”

“I hope it plugged up your sink.” Again he hits me with his sparkling smile.

“So you gonna tell me about these kids before we meet them?”

“I’ve met them. I work with these guys a lot. Most of them come from broken homes. Some of them have parents in prison.” He looks at me. “Moms and dads. Some are in foster care, and others are stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

“A rock and a hard place? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jackson stops walking. There’s a group of boys, white, black, and mixed race, who see us coming. There’s recognition on their faces. They all seem to know Jackson, who gives them a small wave, letting them know he’s coming, but it’ll be just a moment.

He turns on me, his voice low and tight. “It means these kids love their parents no matter how hard they hit. They’re not gonna say anything against them.”

“Abuse? Why doesn’t someone step up?”

“We are, Iris. Right now.”

Jackson spins away, and I get a waft of his scent. God, he smells good. This shit isn’t helping. Golden Boy shines so bright in the sunshine. I can’t ignore him. The way his ass moves beneath his jeans. Small and tight. The rigid line of his back. The thin T-shirt revealing the wings of his shoulder blades. I’d love to run my tongue down his spine. Taste the sweat collecting in the furrows of his muscles.

Fuck. I hate that he has this effect on me.

The urge to make the bastard miserable today overtakes my better judgment. I’m gonna have to get under his skin. Mess his shit up good. Rattle his cage a bit. Can’t seem to fluster him on the field. Maybe outside the game I can rankle him. Make him feel as discombobulated as he does me.

Good Lord, if he wasn’t so fine.

A few little kids run up, wrapping tiny arms around Jackson’s legs, and for a moment, I wonder why these kids take to him so well. Jackson drops to his knees, getting grass stains on his faded jeans, and starts talking to them on their level. Seems like he remembers every kid’s name. Asks them questions about school and family members. They talk to him or shrug their shoulders.

An older boy stands off to the side, smoking a cigarette, and he’s clearly the subject of discussion from one or two of the boys. The kid’s a pretty big boy. A redhead with pasty, freckled skin and squinty eyes.

“I’ll take care of it, guys. First I want to introduce you to Iris Beaumont.”

I wave a little. “Irus. Just call me Rus.”

“I know you! I told my momma I want dreads just like yours and to hit as hard as you.” The boy must be about ten or twelve, skinny and dark just like I was, and long-legged.

“Oh, yeah? You run fast?”

“Sure do.”

“Think you can take McCoy out if he goes after the ball?”

The boy looks at Jackson and grins. “Oh, yep.”

Jackson laughs. “All right, Kyler, you get to be on Iris’s side. You go play corner. Get on your island.” Jackson lowers his glasses a bit and winks at me. A thrill surges through my body, but I keep my angry mask in place. Gotta have my game face on whenever he’s around.

Jackson divvies up the rest of the children, some of them jumping around to be on his side because they seem to trust him more than me. I realize he’s already established himself with these kids.

“I’ll be right back,” he says. “Gotta get Jared on board with you. He doesn’t like new men.”

I get the footballs out and let the boys horse around for a while as I watch Jackson out of the corner of my eye. He approaches Jared, who’s almost as tall as him, and points to the cigarette. The kid hands it over, thinking Jackson wants a hit, but Jackson snaps it in half. Jared lashes out, knocking the aviators off Jackson’s face, but that’s about it. Jackson outmaneuvers the kid easily. I rush over, but just stand there staring at Jackson’s face along with the kid.

The kid kneels down and picks up Jackson’s glasses. “I’m sorry, Jacks. Who hit you?” His face is still stern, petulant, and angry. His squinty eyes shift to me. Color burns hot in his cheeks.

“Jared, I’ve talked about you hitting first and asking questions later. What’ve I told you?”

“Only on the field.”

I chuckle. I’m thinking D-line for this kid. I can see him taking out a quarterback. Jackson must be thinking the same thing.

“This guy right here is a defensive player. I’d like you to work with him today,” Jacks says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. The heat of his palm sizzles through me. I fight to not shift under his grasp.

“No. I asked you a question. I’ll work with him if you answer me.”

“Jared—” Jackson starts, drops his hand from my shoulder, and leaves me desperate for his touch.

“How many times you make me talk when I don’t want to? About my mom? My dad? He’s outta prison you know? Comes to take me for visitation. Leaves me to watch his other kids, and you want me to talk about how it makes me feel? You won’t even answer one of my questions? Fuck you, Jacks.”

“Hey now,” I say.

Jackson sighs. “You’re right. You know I’m always here, kid. I’ll always be here.” He glances at me and continues, “Truth is, I got in a fight with the D-line of my team.”

A fight? With the whole D-line?

“Why?” Jared demands.

“Sometimes, people don’t like folks who are different. You gotta admit, I’m different.”

Different? How? Like gay, different? Isn’t that what Els said? Shit. I’ve heard a few ambiguous remarks myself… Fuck, jumping to wishful conclusions here. Now my fantasies are gonna shift into overdrive. The ghost feeling of his warm hand on my shoulder tingles with renewed electricity. The sensation goes straight to my gut. Focus, Irus! This isn’t the time to go all mushy over a pretty blond wideout. No football players. Never.

“Different how?” Jared asks.

“Well, I’m small. I’m always cracking wise—”

“And that’s irritating as hell. At least he gets your name right, Jared,” I interject for some levity.

The kid sort of laughs. “I’m different.”

“Naw, you’re just a redheaded stepchild. They make good offensive linemen,” Jackson says.

“Oh, no, you don’t. This kid’s D-line for sure. He almost sacked your ass.”

Now Jared does laugh. Jackson looks from him to me and back. “Fine, go get ’em, kid.”

Jared shuffles off to join my other D-liners. After I watch him go, I turn back to Jackson. “Fighting with the D-line? You think that’s smart?”

“I fight with you, don’t I? I think it’s rather fun, making you all flustered.” He looks me up and down with an unmistakable heat in his gaze, slips on his shades, and walks away.

I’m fucked.

* * * *

The day warms up nicely. We have the kids gathered along the sidelines. Some are sitting still, while others are like vibrating mechanical monkeys unable to keep all their parts in one place for too long.

Jackson grins at me, clearly entertained by their shenanigans. “We need to get these guys on the field soon.”

“What’re they all ADD?”

Jackson chuckles. “No, they’re just excited. It’s hard to sit still and listen to me explain the game, but some of these little guys are new.”

The kids are jumping around, making tons of noise. Jackson settles them down as a tall figure strides across the field. It’s Big Terry Branson, McCoy’s quarterback.

“What’s he doing here?” I ask.

Jackson turns to look and shrugs. “Don’t know. Last time I talked to him, he wasn’t going to be able to make it.”

Jackson spins around to meet up with Branson about ten yards from where the kids are sitting. They talk for a minute or so. There’s something dark in McCoy’s expression, but when he looks at me, he smiles. The smile that gets under my skin. He and Terry Branson walk up to me. I shake hands with the big man.

“Nice to see you again, Branson.”

“Yeah, sure. Who are you?”

“Terry, don’t be a dick. You know Irus Beaumont.”

I’m surprised McCoy says my name right almost as much as I’m surprised he calls Branson on being a dick.

“Oh, okay. Yeah, nice to meet you, Beaumont. You play for the Highlanders, yeah?”

“That’s right.” I bite my tongue on what I want to say but only because the kids are in earshot.

McCoy introduces Branson. Some of the kids are excited because they know Branson by reputation as the most legendary quarterback in the game. Jared’s less than thrilled. He remains unimpressed with everyone, except maybe McCoy. I get that he trusts McCoy. I just don’t get why.

“Thanks, Jackson. Hey, kids, it’s a beautiful day for football, yeah?” Branson asks.

“Yeah!” they holler as loud as they can. Some of them jump up in their excitement. Man, kids are funny. I can see why McCoy looks so happy when he’s interacting with them.

“Okay, well, why don’t you all sit down, and we’ll go over the fundamentals here,” Branson says. “Now—“

“Terry?” Jackson interrupts. I think he’s trying to stop Branson from going over all the material we just covered.

“Hold on.” Branson looks at him. “Just let me take control here for a moment. All right?”

McCoy shrugs. “Knock yourself out.”

“Okay, kids, let’s talk football.”

This is where he loses half the boys. These guys are savvy. They’re picking up on some sort of tension between Branson and McCoy. The way Branson uses his massive height to hover over McCoy. I’m betting the kids side with McCoy over Branson. Just a hunch. Maybe it’s Branson’s annoying drawl?

“The object of football is to get this ball”—Branson gets one of the kids to toss him the ball—“into your opponent’s end zone for a touchdown. Now, a touchdown’s worth six points. If you get a touchdown, you get a chance to score a PAT. Point after touchdown. It’s a point-after kick through the goalposts.”

Some of the kids look bored, while the younger ones are all ears, still absorbed in Big Terry’s aura, his hero status. I take the time to check out McCoy. His glasses hide much of his expression, but his lips are flat, held tight together. He catches me looking, and instant sunshine in the form of a smile bathes me. Goddamn it. I mean-mug him and turn back to the kids. I hear him laugh. Branson, too into himself, doesn’t even notice.

“Now, you get the ball downfield through a series of downs, the ten-yard increments from the line of scrimmage where the ball and offense lines up against the defense. The defense tries to stop you. If you’re an offensive player, you have to do everything in your power to keep a play alive and make it succeed.”

“How many downs do I get?” a boy in front asks Terry.

The man gives a slight twitch, like a gnat’s buzzing around his head, and continues. “You get four downs to move the ball ten yards. If you don’t by the third down, you punt the ball on the fourth, kicking it away so the other team has to come back deep out of their own end zone. If you succeed in moving the ball on third down or on any of the downs past the line to gain, you get a first down and another chance to move the ball.”

“Terry, they—”

Branson cuts McCoy off. “You’ll get your turn.”

Jackson steps up in Branson’s grill and whispers, “I thought you were too busy for these kids.”

“I had a change of heart. Now move out of the way.”

McCoy holds his ground.

“Jacks?” Jared stands up.

“Sit down. It’s all good. We’ll scrimmage soon, okay?”

Jared nods and sits down. McCoy’s face is flushed. He’s pissed. This ought to be interesting. I’ve never seen McCoy lose his temper. I know how I’d like to see him lose it. Writhing beneath me with my dick buried in his ass.

Man, I need to quit thinking about his ass.

Branson sweeps Jackson out of his way and continues yammering at the kids. “The football field is one hundred twenty total yards. Of that, the end zones are ten yards deep. It’s set up in a grid of five-yard increments. Six feet surrounds the field, and on either side is a series of benches for the players outside that six feet. Inside the six feet is only for situational substitution players and the coaching staff. Between them is the chain gang who keeps track of the ten yards with a length of chain, and the officials who make sure the game play is legal. Then there’s nothing but field with either natural grass or artificial turf. The artificial turf is more durable, but hurts like a son of a gun.”

“What if you can’t get a touchdown?” Jared asks. There’s a tinge of mockery in his voice. I think I like this kid. Branson seems oblivious to the ridicule. Doubtful this man is used to people, let alone children, questioning him.

“If you can get close enough for one, you can split the uprights for a field goal, which is worth three points. If not, you punt it away on fourth down so the other team has to start from deep in their own territory.”

“Split the uprights?” A tiny little blond kid shifts around as if his ADHD meds have worn off.

“The goalposts are in the slingshot design with a crossbar and two uprights. Goalposts are painted yellow.”

“Those ones are white,” Jared says.

Branson stares at him. “Sometimes they’re white.”

McCoy smirks a bit, and Jared grins. He looks like a rat baring his teeth, yellowed from smoking.

“Now, if you’re at first and goal, which means you’re in the red zone and could potentially score a touchdown, you have three chances to score. Second and goal means you’ve failed once but have another shot. After third and goal, the coach has a decision to make. Does anyone know what that is?”

I shoot my hand in the air, making the kids laugh. “I know. I know.”

“Pipe down, Beaumont.”

Jared stands up. “You either kick a field goal, go for it on fourth, or you punt. Look, Jacks already taught us all this shit. Are we gonna scrimmage or not?”

Branson ignores Jared again. This guy’s just making all kinds of friends. Jared looks at me and shakes his head.

“McCoy. Beaumont. Line up and show these kids a little bump and run.”

Well, all right. I can get behind this shit. I’d love to get my hands on McCoy. Branson tells McCoy the call and waits for us to line up opposite.

“Green eighty. Green eighty,” Branson hollers. “Hut. Hut.”

McCoy explodes off the line.

Nuh-uh. Not so fast, man. I get my hands all over him. I press him. Hit his chest, which is hard, and he swings his arm down over mine, sweeping away my hand. Then he’s off downfield, running straight ahead, and I’m with him every step, my arm around his waist as he turns to look for the ball. He jumps, and I go with him, trying to get my hand between him and the ball.

Somehow that sneaky bastard snatches the ball outta the air. I drag him to the ground, landing on top of him, our breaths temporarily knocked out. The feel of his body beneath me, no pads between us, just T-shirts, jeans, and, for me, thin-ass sweats, is exhilarating. Which means I’ve got this shit bad, and I need to step back a bit. Yet I’m looking forward to the next ball to be lobbed downfield. Fuck me. I could do this all day.

“You see how Beaumont had an arm around McCoy? That’s okay as long as he doesn’t turn him away from the ball.”

“He’s trying to disrupt the play,” Jared says, clearly annoyed.

“Right. That’s called defense. It’s pass interference if Beaumont turns him or holds him or, without looking for the ball himself, prevents McCoy from completing the catch. A defensive player must be looking for the ball too, if he’s going to intercept it.”

We run a few more plays, and the kids are amped up, but they’re like a pack of monkeys wanting to take over the field. Branson just won’t let them for some reason.

Once more, Branson sends us downfield. It’s a curl route, meaning McCoy turns around and comes back to Branson for the ball. It’s a short-yardage throw, maybe twelve yards, and I hit McCoy the minute his hands are on the ball, coming over the back of him, trying to punch it out. He holds on to it, sure-handed, and rolls me into a tumble with him. He gets up grinning like a kid.

“That was fun, but we gotta get these kids out here to play.”

“Whatcha gonna do? Tell Branson to take a hike?”

“If I’ve got to, Iris.”

“I-rus! Rus, boy. Rus!”

He grins and jogs upfield, the ball still in his hand.

Damn, if he just wasn’t so pretty.

We get back to Branson, and he’s already running off at the mouth. “We have passing routes, or patterns. Hook: A tight end releases downfield and makes a turn back upfield. Post: a long pass, maybe forty yards or so, where the receiver runs a vertical route and at the last minute cuts a forty-five-degree angle toward the post.”

“A what?” asks the kid scratching his nose with one eye closed, presumably blocking out the sun. His face is screwed up in a look of confusion. These kids are cute.

“Goal post, kid. Goal post.”

“Hey, Terry,” McCoy calls.

Branson jogs over to meet us. “What?”

“I think Walt wanted you to spend more time with the other groups too. You know, spread the wealth type thing, and give other kids the benefit of your expertise.”

“Are you sure?” Branson sort of leans in to him. “I kind of wanted to talk to you later.”

“Give me a call afterward, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

“Hey, kids. Tell Mr. Branson thanks for helping out!”

“Thanks, Mister Branson,” the younger ones chime in, but Jared and a few others simply glare as Branson gives a little wave, running off to ruin someone else’s day.

“Thank God you finally ditched him,” Jared says.

I’m right there with the kid, but Jackson shuts him down. “Show him some respect. He’s a great quarterback.”

“Was a great quarterback. Because of you,” Jared says with a fair bit of disrespect toward Big Terry Branson.




4.5 out of 5 stars

Have you ever wanted someone so bad you almost teetered on the edge of hating them? Or was it more that you hated yourself for wanting that person so badly you couldn't think of anything else? Irus Beaumont wants Jackson McCoy so bad he wants to kill him on the football field or pound him up against a wall until he screams his name. 

Jacks and Irus were rivals on the football field, until Jacks' teammates decided to beat the hell out of him for being openly gay. He's traded to Irus's team, the Highlanders and this is when things really start heating up between both men. Irus is so frustrated the only way he can get Jacks out of his mind is to beat him to a pulp on the football field. Unfortunately this ends up with Jacks hurt and on the injured reserve list with a possible career ending injury. This also changes the course of Irus and Jacks relationship. While at first Irus can't be around Jacks after the first night he stayed with Jacks. Once Jacks is moved down to the rehab center, Irus and Jacks end up talking to each other every night on the phone. 

I would love to say that this was a totally fun and easy book to read, but it does hit some pretty dark points concerning Jackson. Once Jacks starts sharing what his life was like up to the point he's with Irus, there are parts that will break your heart. How Jacks kept so much of what happened to him, to himself, and didn't have more damage shows how much of a survivor he ended up being. Jacks allowing Irus and Frank into his private thoughts and secrets takes a lot of strength on his part. It also takes a lot of strength on Irus's part to stay strong and be there for Jacks through everything. 

I completely enjoyed this story, even meeting the characters from Saving Kane, which I'd not read yet. While this is a follow up to Saving Kane with characters crossing over from that book into Fourth and Long, you can read them independent of each other. Reading them together will just give you a fuller picture of the cross over characters and backstory with Kane and Irus. There were great funny moments in this story but more solid, strong relationship building moments. The moments with Jared or Auntie Buelah being on scene were some of the best in the story, both for humor and for adding the family aspect. 

Overall this was a really good story with fantastic characters who you equally wanted to love or smack upside the head. I utterly loved Jacks through the whole story, and Auntie Beulah had some scenes that made me laugh so hard I snorted my coffee. 

I highly recommend picking up Fourth and Long both as a sports based romance but also for the strong character aspect of this story. 

Author Bio







Michele Micheal Rakes lives in a small town in the shadow of a big mountain. She works as a surgical technologist assisting in the removal of tonsils and testicles. She has three grown children, two psychotic Egyptian Mau’s, a husband with hair down to his ass, two Harley’s, and a ferret named Teeny Tiny Ferret Feet (husband insists her name Little Feet, we all know he’s wrong).



Links to reach Michele Rakes:


@MicheleRakes
https://michelerakes.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/michele-micheal-rakes-author-page/




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