Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well! I need to take most of this newsletter to bring you up to speed on what's going on with my health and release schedule, but I also have an extra steamy chapter of Igniting Love at the end to make up for it! 

Let me start off with what isn't affected:

* The sign & ship event is going on as planned. I'd already planned ahead to have my daughter come stay with me to help with shipping everything. She's also hand-making some of the super cool swag. As a reminder, the form to get signed copies from me is closing on August 1st, so if you still want to nab some paperbacks, you can check out the details HERE

*Re-releases on preorder or that are coming soon. The majority of work has already been done on those in terms of rewrites. All that remains are the edits, and I don't have to do the heavy lifting there.

*Igniting Love serialization. I'm finding it easier to concentrate on one chapter at a time of something rather than an entire book. This also leaves open the possibility of doing bonus scenes for other books. Yay!

Now for the hard part. Unfortunately, I need to cancel the preorder and release date for Daddy Marc's Gem. There's also the possibility that I might not be able to meet the deadline for Obsessed, my Ruthless Daddies book. However, both books are still being worked on, and are in various stages of completion. The Club Sensation series is continuing, and I've had the story idea outlined for Obsessed for several months (Miles really is a Grade-A ass lol). The main thing that's changing is my ability to promise you guys hard deadlines. 

The following is an explanation of my health issues, so scroll past to read Chapter 17 if you don't need the boring details ;-) 

Some of you are aware that I have chronic Lyme Disease. As a quick overview, I was bitten in 2001, but didn't know at the time that a tick bite was the cause of my mysterious rash. Since then, I've had various health issues - primarily joint pain and exhaustion - but it wasn't until the end of 2017 when something clearly triggered me. My health took a nose dive that included muscle weakness and loss of fine motor skills that I've never fully recovered from. Long story short, the doctors thought I had everything from multiple TIAs to MS to you name it. 2018 and half of 2019 were a wash for me in terms of my ability to function, so there was very little in the way of new releases from me. 

During all this, I did everything I could to get better. I won't even attempt to take you through the saga with the medical community. The documentary, A Quiet Epidemic, does a much superior job than me! It's on Amazon and YouTube if you want to check it out. Bottom line, I was able to begin managing some of my worst symptoms, be more productive, and be confident that I could set and meet deadlines. 

Fast forward to the end of 2022 through now. In a nutshell, I haven't recovered from last year's major move. Despite all my precautions, the truth is that between pushing myself too hard, and not having a Lyme-literate doctor to work with anymore, I've been sliding downhill ever since. I found a new LLD, which is amazing, but also comes with a catch.

Sorry this is all so medical lol, but I don't know how else to explain it. And rather than just say, 'Hey, sorry. Preorder is canceled because of health issues', I wanted to hopefully help you to understand why it may take me a while to get out all the books I have waiting in the wings for you.

The catch is with the stronger treatments she's put me on. The medications and remedies are a beast. We're doing one thing at a time to see how my body reacts and ramping up from the lowest dose possible, but it's a long, involved process. It's also a process I've been sabotaging because some of the remedies cause harsh side effects as my body adjusts to them (some of you would recognize this as the Herxheimer die-off reaction). What's my answer to handling that situation been? To stop taking my meds so I can keep on working.

And here we are. The last couple of months have been excruciating for me health-wise. After some lecturing from those close to me and the opinion of a cranky doctor, it's become clear that unless I go through with the medical treatments and whatever else it is that I need to do to get better, I can forget about putting out any books ever again.

So, now that I have my head back on straight, I've decided to write and work when I'm feeling strong, but to rest and recuperate as I need to. That being said, I'm hoping that if I stick with the treatments and my body cooperates, I should be back to a regular schedule in the New Year. 

In the meantime, I'm not going anywhere! Just working at half-speed (the exhaustion and brain fog is real, yo). Please don't be shy if you have any questions about upcoming books/releases. I'll also keep you updated here and on my website. 

And now I'll leave you with some scorching hot action between Tom and Eric! 

Read Chapter 1 HERE Read Chapter 2 HERE Read Chapter 3 HERE Read Chapter 4 HERE Read Chapter 5 HERE Read Chapter 6 HERE Read Chapters 7 - 9 HERE Read Chapter 10 HERE Read Chapter 11 HERE Read Chapter 12 HERE Read Chapter 13 HERE Read Chapter 14 - 16  HERE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Anxiety crept through Tom’s gut, his mind racing over what was happening at the council meeting. Ever since he’d spoken to Eric earlier, he’d sensed that something was wrong. At first, Tom thought he might be processing the disappointment of their broken dinner date too seriously, overthinking the cancellation and believing it was an indicator that Eric wasn’t that interested.

But as he mulled over Eric’s words—his manner and tone—he believed him. Something about Eric made Tom want to trust him in all ways, including with his heart. The realization was almost too overwhelming. However, Tom wasn’t about to turn his back on the man who might end up being an important part of his life.

Still, his anxiety had morphed into fear that the problems with Charlene were just a sneak peek at trouble to come. Perhaps the arson fire investigation would get frighteningly out of control. His heart ached over the idea that Eric would be hurt by any of the criminal acts being committed in Mesa. He was desperate to have Eric by his side, in his arms, so that he could know for sure everything was okay.

Tom’s phone rang and he grabbed it, hoping it was Eric. He let out a sigh, relieved that it indeed was him.

“Eric, are you okay?” The words tumbled out of Tom’s mouth before he had the chance to stop them.

“Whoa, what’s this all about?” Eric chuckled. “I was just calling to let you know the meeting is over, and I’m on my way.” His tone softened. “I really need to see you.”

Tom drew in a sharp breath. “Something happened, didn’t it?”

Eric sighed. “Well, yes. You must be psychic.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll explain when I get there. Not to cut you off, but I can’t wait to see you.”

“Same.” Tom swallowed hard. “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”

Tom ended the call, then pondered Eric’s words, his stomach churning. While he was relieved that Eric was clearly interested, he hated that something was going on that was hurting him.

His bleak motel room was already tidied from his earlier expectation of Eric’s arrival, so there wasn’t anything to do but wait. His thoughts drifted to his shift the next day. What if Eric stopped by and the spark of attraction was obvious to everyone? He chewed on his thumbnail, wondering if he should broach the subject with Eric. Although, it sounded as if something much more important was going on.

Finally, a light knock sounded. As soon as Tom opened the door and saw Eric standing in the waning twilight, he knew something was very wrong.

Tom reached out to him. “Come in. Let me hold you.”

Once the door was closed, Eric gathered Tom in his arms, clutching him as if he were a life preserver. In the warmth and strength of Eric’s embrace, Tom felt as though he were the one being protected and comforted, yet he wanted to be the one who made Eric feel safe.

At last, Eric loosened his grip, and slowly let him go, his hands drifting down Tom’s arms until he’d laced their fingers together.

“You must be hungry,” said Eric.

“Are you? Because I can wait if you need to talk.”

Eric sighed with such resignation that Tom thought his heart would break. “This might sound abrupt, but I…I need you. My life is spiraling out of control.” He shook his head, his brow wrinkling. “There’s you, my job, the fires, Charlene, my son... And out of all of that, the only thing keeping me sane right now is you.

He grunted. “It’s so ironic—a relationship was the last thing I thought I needed, but instead it seems as if it’s exactly what I do need.” Eric lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Tom. “I hope I’m not speaking out of turn or moving too fast. I can dial it back if you need me to.” He gave Tom a crooked smile. “But I thought you should know the truth of how I feel.”

Tom couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He pulled Eric closer, until their chests were flush then peered up at him. “You’re going at just the right speed.” He parted his lips in invitation.

“Oh God, you are so…”

The rest of Eric’s words were cut off as he lowered his mouth onto Tom’s lips. Tom surrendered himself to the longing he’d built up all day waiting for Eric’s arrival.

Yes. Mine.

Eric finally released Tom’s hands, clutching his hair with one and grabbing Tom’s ass with the other, squeezing hard. Eric was a powerful, large man, and he lifted Tom up in his arms then walked the few steps to the bed, tossing him down on the mattress.

Like a predator, Eric loomed above Tom, gazing down at him, the raw need obvious in his eyes. He continued to stare, wordless, while he yanked off his shirt. Then off came his shoes and the rest of his clothing, and he stood before Tom gloriously nude. The man was gorgeous, and all male.

“Take off your clothes for me, baby.” The corner of Eric’s mouth tugged into a smile. “I could watch you all day. I’ve started fantasizing about you, what you do when we’re not together, what you like, what you’d like me to do to you.” Eric idly fondled his balls. “Show me how you get off when you’re alone, and I hope, thinking about me.”

Jesus.

Tom trembled, intensely turned on, yet with a dash of shyness filling him. He sucked in a deep breath then grabbed the hem of his shirt. Slowly, he lifted the polo over his head, the one that was supposed to be his dinner date shirt. Tom quickly toed off his well-worn athletic shoes, and a muffled thunk sounded as they hit the floor.

Eric’s eyes tracked Tom’s movements as he went for his belt buckle next, licking his lips, and Tom couldn’t stand the strain of his aching cock in his tight jeans for one more second. He carefully lowered the zipper over his hard, heated length then shoved them past his hips before tossing them on the floor. Soon, he was naked before the hooded eyes of his lover.

Tom let his head fall back as he propped himself up on his elbows, then closed his eyes. He pictured Eric in his mind, his perfectly sculpted muscles, his taut six-pack stomach, and his strong, broad shoulders, his large hands. The last thought caused a dribble of pre-cum to gather at his slit, and he used his right hand to start stroking himself gently at first, then with increased vigor. His hips pumped up and down the longer he gripped his cock and he was afraid he might come.

However, Eric had asked to see what he liked, so Tom needed to show him everything.

Tom lay completely back on the bed and brought his knees up. Eric groaned, but Tom didn’t risk opening his eyes to look in case he lost his nerve. Using his left hand, he put his index and middle finger in his mouth, sucking them noisily while still jerking himself off with his fist. Once his fingers were nice and wet, he pressed them against his opening, working them past the tight muscle guarding his rim.

He let out a low, breathy moan, accepting the burn in his passage as he finger-fucked himself in rhythm with the strokes of his cock. This was too good, too decadent. He’d never put on a show for a man before, so he hadn’t realized how hot exposing himself this way could be.

“Wait, baby, wait.”

Tom’s eyes flew open. He pulled his fingers out of his ass and his hand stilled onhis throbbing dick. Had he done something wrong? He was surprised to see how much closer Eric was to him, almost on the bed.

“I want to do this to you. Will you let me?”

Tom sighed in relief. “Of course. And I’m prepared. I bought some condoms today.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “And lube.”

Eric chuckled. “I see. Well, great minds as they say, so did I. But that’s perfect. We’ll have plenty for whenever we get together. So, when you say condoms, do you mean…?”

Tom’s heart soared at Eric’s ‘get together’ statement, and the heat in the lower part of his belly pooled and built again.

“Yes, I do. Mine are in the nightstand drawer here, if you’d like.” Tom watched as Eric opened the drawer, pulled out one of the foil packets, and the lube. Eric ripped the packet open with his teeth, then rolled the ribbed condom down his generous cock. Once the tube was opened, he squeezed a large amount of slick onto his index and middle fingers, mirroring Tom’s actions.

“Lean back,” he said gently. “Be kind to me. Remember, I’m still new at this.”

Tom was breathless with desire. “You’re doing great. It was incredible last night, too.”

Eric gave Tom a big grin. “Thanks, baby. I just want to make you come again and again because of me. Because of what I do to you.”

“Yes. Yes, Eric, please…”

Tom leaned back, luxuriating in the sensuality of being with Eric. Eric used his fingers to explore between Tom’s butt cheeks, almost hesitantly, and Tom helped things along by lifting his knees again and parting them wider. His dick was hard and leaking, bumping against his own flat belly. With one finger, Eric teased his rim, bringing the nerves alive, making Tom’s cock throb more.

Tom gasped as Eric smeared the opening with the slick dripping from his fingers, then pressed the pad of one against Tom’s hole. After gradually placing more pressure against the tight ring of muscle, Eric slid all the way into his passage. A satisfied groan escaped Tom’s lips.

“Oh yeah, Eric, that’s it. So good.”

Eric encircled Tom’s cock with his large fist, and he mimicked what Tom had done earlier. The intimacy of having jacked off in front of Eric, then having him do it the same way was going to send him over the edge much sooner than he wanted.

Eric kept stroking him, leaning down until he was much closer, almost lying on top of him. His hot, ragged breath wafted across Tom’s ear. “You like that, don’t you baby?”

Tom could only groan in response as he impaled himself on Eric’s finger, pumping his cock through the tunnel of Eric’s fist.

Eric growled, “I need to be inside you. Are you ready?”

Tom sucked in a quick breath. “God yes, you have no idea.”

The sudden loss of Eric’s touch was brutal, but he needed Eric inside him more, To know how it felt to have Eric’s long, thick cock stuffed inside of him. To feel that he was Eric’s completely, to be one with him. Eric pressed the head of his hard length against Tom’s lubed hole, breaching him, stretching his ass more than Tom thought was possible.

Tom gritted his teeth, wincing, and Eric paused. “Are you okay? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Just go slow. It’s been a while and you’re not lacking in the size department.”

“I can stop—”

“No! I want you, want this. Just slow. I think you need to train me with your gorgeous, amazing cock.”

Eric locked eyes with Tom. “I would never, ever do anything to hurt you.”

Tom’s heart flip-flopped. “I know. I trust you.”

Eric bore down again, slowly, and Tom lifted his knees to open himself up more. Tom let out another long groan as Eric’s cock sank into his ass far as he could go. He stopped and held himself there for a few seconds, then leaned in to take a kiss, parting Tom’s lips with his tongue. He swiped through his mouth, exploring him thoroughly before sitting up again.

Eric slowly pulled back until he was almost free, Tom’s rim desperately trying to close. Pausing, Eric grabbed the lube then squirted more on Tom’s stretched hole, as well as his own cock. Eric sank in again, a bit more forcefully this time, Tom reveling in the almost painful, overly full feeling.

Eric gripped Tom’s cock in his fist again, and this time he slowly circled the tip with his thumb, pushing Tom closer than ever to the edge. Eric thrust into his ass over and over, jacking his cock with harsh tugs as he continued pounding into Tom’s ass. Holding back was no longer and option.

With a loud cry, Tom shot his load, cum splashing Eric’s chest, running down his fingers and landing on Tom’s belly. Eric released Tom’s sated dick and thrust into him with short, quick stabs. Within seconds he froze, yelling out his own release, his cock pulsing in Tom’s passage.

Eric collapsed on him, his breathing frantic, sweat and cum pooling between them. They lay in silence, their hearts pounding together as if they were in harmony, Tom smiling against Eric’s shoulder in such contentment. Inevitably, Eric’s cock softened, gradually slipping from Tom’s ass. Eric reached between them to grab the condom, and while he disposed of it, Tom let out a sigh, loving the satisfying burn in his passage.

Eric lay down next to him again, gathering him in a warm embrace. Tom snuggled up to Eric’s large, solid frame, tracing his fingertips across Eric’s chest and through the lush hair decorating his skin.

After a few minutes passed, Eric gave him a gentle squeeze then whispered, “I wasn’t too hard on you, was I?”

Tom smirked at the choice of words. “Oh, you were quite hard, but I loved it.”

Eric chuckled. “That’s a relief. This is still so new to me, but wow.” He chuckled again. “I had no idea what I was missing all these years. But listen, I still want to take you to dinner. I think we need to talk.”

A twinge of fear stabbed through him. Was this about their relationship? Then he remembered that something had obviously upset Eric that day.

God, I’m being a selfish prick. “Do you know of any late-night places around here?”

“Actually, one of my long-time faves is a Texas steakhouse and bar nearby. They serve until midnight.”

“Sounds great, but… Are you sure you want us to be seen together?” Tom waited nervously for Eric’s response.

“That’s one of the things I’d like to discuss. But since I’m asking you to join me, you can rest assured that I have no problem being seen with you.”

“I don’t either, but I’m concerned about your position at work. I don’t want to jeopardize that or bring anything into question.”

Eric laughed, an abrupt sound that left Tom confused. “That’s not really an issue anymore. But had it been, we would’ve still dealt with it.”

Tom stroked Eric’s arm, his stomach clenching with worry over what had happened to Eric. “I guess you have something pretty heavy to tell me.”

Eric sighed. “Yes, I do. But first, I want to kiss you, jump in the shower, and get me a nice, thick, juicy steak.”

Tom lifted his head to lock eyes with Eric. “I’m here for you, I hope you know that.”

Eric gave him a soft smile. “I have no right to expect anything from you, but I was hoping you’d say something like that. I…” A cloud passed over his features. “Let’s talk about it over dinner.

* * * *
© 2023 Morticia Knight

That's it for now! I'll be back soon with more, and I thank you all for your support and understanding :)