50 Shades of a Naughty Sector: Marshall Dudley's POV

Here it is! Marshall Dudley’s point of view. Let me preface this by saying this is a scene from TOXIC (I won’t say whether it’s Part One or Part Two) but Marshall may have embellished slightly as to how it all unfolded. Then again, he might just be telling the truth. ;)

TOXIC

*(Skyla visiting Marshall past midnight. She is markedly late for their dinner date.)

Marshall’s POV:

“Finally,” Skyla says, striding in after a rather noisy pounding session where her fist felt the need to test the resolve of the door.  

“Come in,” I say, after the fact. If it were anyone else I’d be less than amused by the infraction, but it’s not anyone else—it’s my future bride.

She barrels past me into the kitchen with a slick of mud on the side of her face, a tear or two on her sweater, and a muddied imprint of her bottom on the back of her jeans.

“You’re absolutely filthy—and I most definitely approve.” I give a wicked grin, and head in her direction. “I might be moved to bathe you.” I slide my finger down her cheek. “Oh, how I’ll scrub,” I say, losing myself in the exasperation on her face. Her fits of vexation animate me on a primal level. That alone is reason to remain on this spinning rock long after I’m needed. I’ve found a new destiny and it very much involves a one, Skyla Laurel Messenger.

“You’re right, I am filthy.” She jams her fingers into her hair and further instigates the tumbleweed effect that’s forming. “I’m disgusting, don’t look at me. And, for sure, no scrubbing.”

“You, my love, are far from disgusting. Although, if you prefer, we can continue this conversation somewhere devoid of light—horizontally if you wish.”

She pinches her lips with a brief look of disdain.

There’s an overall war torn appeal to her this evening but by no means does it distract from her beauty—in fact, it amplifies it immeasurably—makes her all the more alluring with that, ‘I might kill you and eat you for breakfast’ look in her eye.

“I’m moved to run a bath for you,” I confess. “You could sit on my lap while I offer you a shoulder massage.” I offer an impromptu preview of the bliss to come, and she rolls her head back in ecstasy. Skyla lets out a moan that raises the temperature in the room by fifty degrees. “I’m sure we could both let out a little pent up frustration in the process.”

“No need.” Her eyes spring wide and she jumps out of reach. “I’ve got Logan for that.”

An image of her locked in the Pretty One’s arms infuriates me, and I’m reminded why it is she’s late in the first place.

“I was expecting you hours ago. This far from pleases me,” I inform. “I’ll be sure to let Logan in on my displeasure as well.” A slow brewing anger stirs in me and I’m well aware of the spark of envy that has lit this inferno. The way those Oliver dolts monopolize her time you’d think the war were being decided by whoever manages to impale her first. “Let the record show, I disapprove of your nocturnal wanderings.”

She gags in lieu of a response. “Excuse me—I had a war to fight.”

“Which you lost.”

“Which my mother lost because she flipped the switch before your frat brother could give me the heads up on how to take the region.”

“She’s not one to make things easy.” I withhold a grin.

“What are you laughing at?” She snaps.

“Dare I say, you.” There’s nothing I relish more than my beloved worked up in a frenzy. It’s almost worth the contention just to watch her writhe in a hotbed of agitation. She’s viral, this one. “You, Skyla, certainly know how to bring the passion to the table with your virulent outbursts of both the emotional and physical variety—and how I look forward to more of the physical.”

“We’ll see about that.” She moves past me deeper into the kitchen and lifts the lid off a pot.

Was I just privy to a sprig of carnal hope?

For a moment I consider abandoning the meal and running her up to the bedroom instead. There is no greater aggression that begs to be unleashed, than after a bout of good old-fashioned warfare.

Skyla leans into the pot and indulges in a guttural moan that sends my testosterone rising, among other things.

“Smells like heaven!” she says, pressing her hand to her chest as though it were the first aroma she has ever enjoyed—and with her mother’s disastrous kitchen tinkerings it just might be. “What is it?”

“Squirrel—caught two in the yard.” I broaden my chest with the proclamation. “A man with good aim is difficult to come by,” I purr. “And, I assure you, that skill is best employed in the bedroom. I’m more than willing to demonstrate later—show, don’t tell, and all those good lascivious adages.”

“I’ll pass,” she says, lacking the enthusiasm I was hoping for. “And really? Squirrel? That’s freaking gross.”

Good Lord, she’ll never appreciate my culinary skills if I keep confessing what’s on the menu—best leave some mystery in this arena of our relationship.

“That’s not freaking gross,” I inform. “That, my love, is dinner.” I flip the dishtowel up over my shoulder, eluding to the fact I’ve far more interesting things to sling but she doesn’t flinch. “And, where were you after the war?” I even my tone. I know very well where she was and with whom. “I was beside myself with worry.”

“With Logan and Gage, thank you very much.” She goes over and lands on the sofa before seductively flicking off her heels. She lies back on her elbows and glimpses at me from under those long, dark lashes. Whether or not she realizes it, she’s a vixen of the highest order.

“You my dear kitten are impossibly titillating.”

She purses her lips. “I don’t know what the hell you just said, but it sounds disastrous.” Her eyes close a moment from sheer exhaust.

“Never you mind your pretty little head. What’s important is that you’re no longer with the twisted Olivers—you’re here.” I slink my way over. “And might I note that you lose each time you’re in their presence. Accept the fact they’re cursed and move on. I suggest you find someone of noble character, someone who comes from victory, like me.” I hover over the couch and inspect her from this aerial vantage point—her golden hair slightly frazzled, her silver eyes partially closed. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was beckoning me to lie next to her.

Dear God up in Heaven—she’s giving me the come hithers.

I hurdle the back of the sofa and land next to her with the deftness of a feathered wing. “I want to hear all about your time in the Ethereal Plane. Tell me everything.” Conversation is the height of foreplay to human women. After six thousand years of observation I know this well—it’s almost an unfair advantage.

Her ribbon lips curve into a delicious smile as she places her head in my lap and takes up my hand. She looks up at me, pure as the driven snow and my entire being electrifies at her touch.

Skyla starts in on a long sordid tale of intrigue and mystery, peppering the lopsided conversation with the occasional stray thought.  

I run my gaze over her supple neck, the perfect hourglass that her hips afford. My mouth desires to trace out the landscape of her every curve. I crave to have her, right down to her tiny beautiful feet. How I yearn for the moment she graces my chambers night after luscious night with all of the affection we can afford. We’ll charge the air with our ferocity. I can almost feel her skin burning against mine, the singe of her thighs smoothing over me as I make her my wife with a pronounced finality.

“I can hear you,” she flat lines.

A smile rides up my cheek. “Though the deep drink of our love tarry—wait for it.”

“As I was saying…” Skyla carries on with the stamina of an auctioneer as she details the events of the past several hours. She strings out a single sentence without interruption for five solid minutes regarding Delphinious, the weather, Jock Strap—and Harrison-I-Specialize-In-All-Things-Illegal.   

My fingers ache to touch her but I veer from her skin and indulge in her luscious curls instead. Such amazing beauty, such stunning attributes—I would say, they broke the mold when they created her, but in truth, it was her mother’s egotistical need to duplicate that led to Skyla’s beauty. The only difference being, Candace is severely lacking in the gentle soul department—fortunately for me, her offspring is not. Skyla glows from the inside with a radiant beauty.

“And, that’s how it ended,” she sighs into me. “You know…” She burrows the back of her head deeper into my lap and rouses more than my curiosity. “Sometimes I feel as if I’m all alone.”

“You have me.” I probe her with a heavy gaze. “For the rest of your days I will be here for you—someone to trust, to lean on—to have and to hold from this day on.”

She reaches up and presses her fingers to my lips. “Those sound an awful lot like wedding vows.”

I snatch her hand and hold it to my mouth. “One day they will be. You will be everything to me, Skyla. A lover.” I press my lips to her ring finger. “A friend.” I kiss another slender digit, dipping it just past my lips. “My spouse.” I plunge her entire forefinger into my mouth and run my tongue along the back as she slips it out. “Where shall we spend our honeymoon?” Tasting her flesh has invigorated me to the prospect.

“No honeymoon,” she’s quick to assert. “But, well…” She folds her arms tight across her chest. “Since I’m not seeing Gage—and Logan wants to wait until the end of the faction war before we see where our ‘feelings’ lie—I suppose I’m open.”

“Open?” My jaw goes slack.

“You know…” She shrugs. “For your wooing—no kissing though. You’ll have to woo without lingual contact.”

“No kissing.” I repeat as though I meant it. “Fantastic.” I marvel. “What shall we do to commemorate our first day of coupledom?”

“Let’s hop in that mirror of Demetri’s and see what’s cooking on the other side.” She prods me in the ribs as if I were cattle. “You’re a Sector—you can get us out of any number of messes. Come on.” She shakes me by the collar in what can only be described as a partial assault. “I’ll be fun.”

“Absolutely not.” I grit my teeth at the idea. “There’s an off chance it might have diminishing effects on my powers. I can’t risk getting caught with my proverbial pants down. I won’t have it. In fact, I should give you a good tongue lashing for entertaining the idea.” A lewd smile begs to glide across my face. “Shall I start now?”

“No.” A tiny dimple ignites on her left cheek and it takes all of my celestial reserve not draw her up and cover my mouth over hers. “And,” she continues, “I seriously doubt you’d have anything to be ashamed of with your pants leveraged to the ground. In fact, I’m betting you’d draw an awful lot of attention.” She runs her tongue over the rim of her lips and gently moves her neck over my hips. “Something tells me you’re a real crowd pleaser. You’re a giver, aren’t you, Marshall? And, I can tell you have a lot to give.”

I’m stunned into silence.

I pluck a twig from her sweater. “Shall we run upstairs and get you into something a little more comfortable?”

“Let’s see—” She runs her fingers through my hair as though she were considering far more than relaxing in my briefs. Her breathing grows erratic. I can feel her desire rising for me like an aria. The only thing we’ll be feasting on this evening is ourselves. There could be no better meal. “I bet your bed falls under the category of something more comfortable.” 

“If you insist.”

A knock erupts at the door before I can seize the moment and steal her away.

“Give me a second—I’ll get rid of them.” I rise in haste nearly depositing her to the floor.

“It’s probably just Gage,” she says, averting her eyes at the thought.

“Like I said, give me a second—I’ll remove them from the planet.”

We head to door and I swing it open ready to behead whichever Oliver has the misfortune to darken my doorway, however, there’s no sign of an Oliver for miles—its Shelly.

 “Expecting company?” Skyla cuts me a sharp look. Clearly she’s reduced to cinders at the thought of Shelly warming my bed at night.  

“What’s going on?” Michelle asks, wide-eyed and stunned to see Skyla by my side.

“Just hanging out,” Skyla says with a touch of ownership over yours truly.

This is panning out better than I could have expected. Shelly showing at this late hour has incited my love to a fit of jealous rage. She’ll want nothing more than to make me hers before I’m snatched away by my former mistress.

“You wanna come in?” Skyla offers. “We were just about to play a game.”

“What?” I balk.

“Sure,” Shelly growls, as the two of them ignore my clear surprise.

“Shelly, you can’t stay.” I turn her by the shoulders and begin to usher her right back from where she came. “Ms. Messenger and I are calling it a night. We’ve a game to play in private.” I slide a secret smile over to Skyla. Let the record show the boudoir adventure was her brilliant epiphany.  

Shelly’s face rounds out in horror as she struggles to remain inside. I give a generous shove and bid her goodnight before securing the door behind her.

“You.” I take Skyla in my arms and press a warm kiss over her lips until she pulls away. I absorb her form, her features as if she were the only sustenance I needed to survive, and truthfully she just may be.

“Now where were we?” she whispers, running her lips along the underbelly of my jaw while procuring an involuntary groan from deep within me.

“I believe we were headed upstairs.”

Gage Oliver's point of view

Wow! I cannot even begin to thank you enough for all of your awesome support for ETHEREAL and for helping me name Celestra Book 7 ~*TOXIC*~! I am forever in your debt. In addition to that, here is the point of view from Gage (our winner). I’ll be posting Marshall, Logan, and yet another Gage very soon as an extra special thank you.

I’ve included the scene I’m flipping from EXPEL—in the event you wanted to compare Skyla’s POV with that of our not-so-beloved Gage. ;) I jest. Mostly.

All issues that may arise from this POV have been addressed in TOXIC. And, oh, how they shall arise.

Enjoy~!

(Excerpt from EXPEL Chapter 71)

Skyla’s point of view:

Marshall radiates a quiet repose. He bleeds most of the hour with a dry routine, espousing numbers, letters, and formulas as though he were reading a recipe from the back of a box, not his usual engaging demeanor. During the final ten minutes, he stares blank and wide in my direction as though he were looking through me, but the explosion of lust emanating from his being suggests he is rather focused on my person.

He hands a couple of students a stack of graded papers to pass out and takes a seat on the corner of his desk, openly pillaging me with a come hither look in his eye.

Chloe raises her hand, clears her throat to get his attention.

“Hands down.” He doesn’t bother breaking contact with me to reprimand her, doesn’t blink, just takes me in, absorbs every nuance. I can feel something shifting, crackling down on a molecular level. He’s calling me, encoding himself into my genetic design, grafting his soul onto mine. A strange pull takes over and I want to suction to him like a magnet. I seal my fingers over the rim of my desk and hang on, try to stop myself from doing something foolish like falling on my knees before him, begging him to take me in front of the entire class and Gage.

Ellis swivels in his seat. “I’m, like, really tripping out right now,” he gives a low guttural laugh. His eyes shine glassy pink.

I try to revert my energy to Ellis, his perfectly straight nose, his small bowtie lips, but I snap back to Marshall and gasp. Marshall has become a full glorious breath in an oxygen-deprived world. This spell—this bondage he’s placed me in is far too strong to ignore, and nothing in me wants to ignore anything about Marshall right now. Oddly, it doesn’t feel like I’m being controlled, it feels genuine and right.

I can feel Gage shifting from behind—the tension rising like mercury in the desert. “You have five fucking seconds to knock this shit off.” He booms over to Marshall.

The entire class takes in a collective gasp and turns towards Gage, but I can’t pry my eyes off Marshall. I’m so close to giving in, going over and drinking down a warm pool of kisses straight from his mouth.

Marshall’s lips curl into me. His chin dips into his chest while he molds my body with his eyes.

Gage spikes out of his seat, bullets to the front of the class. He picks up the metal stool Marshall usually lounges on and launches it out the back window at superhuman speeds—nearly decapitating the entire third row in the process.

A growl of thunder rolls into the classroom, accompanied with a hurricane level wind.

Gage clocks Marshall onto the floor and the two of them roll around like tigers, nothing but fists, a tangle of legs moving so fast I can’t tell which is which.

Ellis and a couple of other guys struggle to pull them apart.

Marshall pats his lip with the back of his hand and examines the crimson stain on his flesh before staggering to his feet.

“Your stay here,” Marshall seethes into Gage, “has just been markedly reduced.”

The bell rings.

“Take him directly to principal Rice. Inform her of the attack and let her know we’ll need the windows boarded up at once.” Marshall waves them off as they speed Gage out the door.

“He’s going to kill Gage because he loves you,” Chloe whispers the words in my ear like a necrotic poem. “The only thing better than me never having Gage is you never having him. All’s well that ends well,” she drips like a song.

I’m probably going to kill Chloe—and Logan is already dead.

Marshall and I will be the last ones standing.

Dear God.

What if that was the plan all along.

~*Gage Oliver’s point of view:

I press my hand into the small of Skyla’s back as we walk into Dudley’s class. Another hour with the clown who thinks he’s going to marry Skyla Messenger.

Right. I’ll go to the grave before that happens. Hell—I’ll come back from the grave to make sure it doesn’t happen. I’d gladly hand her to Logan before that atrocity ever takes place.

I slip a kiss beneath her ear before taking a seat behind her.

A dull laugh rattles through me at the thought of ever willingly handing her to Logan. That’s about as unlikely as Dudley.

Ellis walks in and nods over to me, stoned out of his freaking mind, per usual. Oddly enough, he considers himself a contender, too. Still can’t believe he thinks he’s got some emotional bond with her. The only bond they share is the weed she helps him hijack from his former self. Ellis’ definition of a relationship is a one-night stand. And, a lasting relationship is defined by whether or not he remembers her name in a week.

Skyla spins around, sinks those crystal cut eyes into me and smiles before returning to her desk—pretending to take notes. Sometimes I look over her shoulder for the hell of it and catch her drawing our names in a heart—spelling out Mrs. Oliver. I wonder if I’m the Oliver she has in mind. Judging by the way she kisses me, I’m pretty damn sure I am.

Chloe catches my attention and I cut her a look—blink a half-smile in her direction.

She licks her lips like an afterthought and flashes a wicked grin.  She wants to meet later, talk to me about ‘some things’ as she put it—and I will—but the last thing I want is Skyla seeing us together. Just the thought of me with Chloe sets her off, and I need Skyla to trust me.

Skyla’s hair spills over my desk and I gently wrap a strand around my finger. It’s spun gold—nothing but extravagant beauty growing from her scalp. No wonder Chloe can’t stand her, she’s perfect. There’s not a damn thing wrong with an inch of Skyla Messenger’s body—and what I would love to do to that body.

I envision us on the beach—Rockaway with its shadowed sand, the navy slick of the ocean rising from behind. Skyla stands before me, wiggles her hips as she shakes off her shorts, tosses her top in the air like confetti.

The curve of a smile plays on my lips as I sink down in my seat.

I picture Skyla pulling me in, taking off her bathing suit top—pressing her soft skin against mine.

Dudley clears his throat and shakes me out of my midday delight.

Probably reading my mind again. Bastard. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what he’s thinking. Half the time he doesn’t bother to hide the boner he has for Skyla. The dude is freaking sick.

I get back to my happy place there on the beach with a mostly disrobed Skyla at the ready. She slips her hands up my shirt and helps me take it off to even out the playing field. I hook my fingers in her panties and send them sailing to the floor.

The sound vacuums out of the room and I snap out of my fantasy. I catch Dudley staring in this direction again, only his efforts aren’t pinpointed at me this time. He’s locked eyes with Skyla and the entire room is fascinated by their nonverbal exchange.

What the hell?

 I sit up and glance over at Chloe.

She gives a little smile and darts her hand in the air.

There you go. If anyone can break the spell it’s Bishop. She’s an expert at inserting herself between Skyla and just about anyone. I should know.  

“Hands down,” Dudley barks. He doesn’t bother breaking his gaze, just keeps digging into Skyla with those fireballs he sees the world through.

Ellis spins around and whispers something to her. His eyes are so glossed over I doubt he realizes Dudley is in the middle of a wet daydream.

I glare over at the so-called teacher.

Who the hell does he think he is? He’s taking her in like she’s a fucking glass of water, drinking her down to the dregs right here in the middle of class.

He zeros in on her, you could feel the lust radiating off him like a furnace. His face entertains the slight impression of a dirty smile, and I can only imagine what the hell is going through that mind of his. God knows thousands of years of perversion are hard at work.

“You have five fucking seconds to knock this shit off,” I warn.

He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t waver from his all out mental molestation, just keeps at it like he’s doing her in real time, right here in front of the student body—namely me. 

Five.

I spike out of my seat and bolt on over. The silver chair he slouches on day after day stands in my way so I sail it out the window—a clear demonstration of what I’m about to do to his head.

A roll of thunder rattles from outside, a gust of wind cools down the room. I don’t need much encouragement to rearrange his face but the rush of fresh air inspires me.

I pull back and lock one over on him. His jaw gives a satisfying pop beneath my knuckles so I pummel him again.

He knocks me back and we roll onto the floor.

I kick and thrash his Sector ass all over the place.

Harrison shouts at the two us before plucking us apart like a bouncer.

“Your stay here,” Dudley grits the words between his teeth, “has just been markedly reduced.”

The bell gives an earsplitting cry overhead.

“Take him directly to principal Rice.” Dudley touches his lip and examines my handiwork. “Inform her of the attack and let her know we’ll need the windows boarded up at once.”

A couple of guys harness me from behind and navigate me towards the door.

I catch Chloe whispering something to Skyla. She’s a rose full of thornes—add a couple horns and a tail, and you’ve got Chloe.

She locks eyes with me for a moment and pinches a smile. Chloe prefers me with my hands tied behind my back, much like I am now.

That’s exactly what she told me last week when she saw me naked.

Something TOXIC is brewing

Since TOXIC is officially at the editor’s, I wanted to celebrate and thank all of you for your beyond awesome support. So here’s an entire chapter that I would love to share with you. I thought since the boys get so much attention during the Tuesday Teasers I’d focus on someone a little more, well, toxic—Chloe.

Enjoy~!

*(Skyla accepts a ride from Chloe rather than Gage.)

Chapter 26

Shut Up and Drive

Chloe glides her hand over the wheel with an erotic display of affection.

The night lights up in an electrical blaze as a storm begins to rage overhead. I haven’t seen this kind of climactic action in weeks. I’m not sure if this is a natural phenomenon or perhaps Chloe and Gage have harnessed the power to dictate the weather much like Marshall and Demetri. After all, who knows what cash and prizes they were awarded once they shipped Logan and me off to the fluid factory? This snazzy new sedan Chloe seems to have scored recently might have been just the incentive she was looking for to lure me over to the stone of sacrifice. I’d like to think I was worth more than a mid-sized luxury vehicle that doesn’t even have the modern day boast of hybrid slapped on its rear fender. I’d like to think I was worth more than the sum total of scrap metal on earth to Gage but then I would have never pegged him for a set up to begin with. I would have bet my life on the fact I could trust Gage Oliver, and in a way I did.

“Come on Skyla—entertain me.” Chloe stares out the windshield in a daze as the rain surges its aggressive assault over Paragon. “Why don’t you dish about how you can’t believe Gage put a spear through your gut.”

I glance out the passenger window as we pass the familiar streets en route to the Landon asylum for lunatics and killers alike—me included since I’m riding in a car with Chloe who I might very much like to kill again.

Driving in a car with Chloe.

Honestly? I’ve abandoned any morsel of good sense I might have had. But in my defense, I was forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. Besides, I need to get home a.s.a.p. to begin my dream date with Logan.

“By the way,” I start, “I’m totally unaffected. You and Gage can live happily ever after for all I care.” The lie jags from my mouth thick and unnatural like talking though a mouthful of peanut butter. “And, technically speaking, it was you who speared me.” Literally.

“You’re always so black and white,” she snarks.

“I’m being sarcastic Chloe. Maybe you’re the one who can’t see past the analogy in the room.”

“I can look past a lot of things thanks to this Noster eyeball your Sector friend was kind enough to gift me. Why do you think he gave me such a spectacular specimen?”

“Because he was trying to please me.” Marshall would do anything in the world I asked as long as he were able. “Again, you can’t see past the deeper meaning of things.”

“And, again, Skyla—you can’t see past yourself.” She pulls in high on the driveway right behind Tad’s free ride from Althorpe, the establishment at which he is a modern day indentured servant. “But then,” she says, shaking her head, “for some bizarre reason, Dudley, too seems beyond smitten with you.” She mock shoots herself in the temple. “Fill me in on the powers of your persuasion. Do tell—I mean we’re practically sisters now that we’re living together. And one day, I might even become your sister-in-law just to piss you off.”

“What about Gage?” I’m stunned to hear she’d choose a Landon over an Oliver, especially the shady Oliver in question.

Chloe presses into her seat for a moment. Her face flashes with surprise as though she had just caught herself off guard.

Strange.

Chloe Bishop is a fully devout follower in the church of all things Gage. How she could possible forget the first commandment—to worship ad nauseam and commit herself to full throttle obsessive behavior is beyond me.

“What’s the matter Chloe?” I revel in the taunt. “Gage still locking you out physically? You running a little short on cash to buy his affections? That is how you got Brielle to befriend me, right? A thousand cool crisp bills?”

Her dark hair coils around her face, her sharp features gleam with pride under the glimmer of the porch light.

“You know…” I tilt my head into the vibrating window as I feel the rain drum through my temples like a cheap replica of Marshall’s special brand of oscillating love. “I thought all I felt for you was hatred, but to be honest, you’re not worth the energy.”

“The feeling’s mutual.” She’s quick to add.

“In fact, I feel nothing but pity. You spend all of your energy destroying others so you can steal the good things from their lives and claim them as your own. You played so well into Demetri’s plan of killing my father—Ethan, bringing me to Paragon. Why have a well-placed boyfriend at all? Why the big ruse of the diary? Why put him on your shit list in the back of your diary and not Logan? Why have Gage by my side twenty-four seven whispering his profession of love to me, outfitting me with tokens of his affection? Touching me like he meant it. What were you so afraid of? Was it Logan and me you were trying to keep apart all along? The Counts did that without your foolish aid. I really don’t get you Chloe. I don’t get your stupid games or why the hell you’ve invited yourself to live at my house and date my stepbrother. Why are you so richly invested in taking me down? Obviously I missed something because nothing about you makes any sense.”

“You killed me.”

“Only after a long list of grievances you imparted on me and my family—killing my father toping off the list,” I fire back. “I’m onto you Chloe. I know for a fact there is a bigger picture brewing. I will find out whatever the hell has you so riled up against me. And even though I haven’t a clue what you have planned next on your make-Skyla-miserable to-do list, I can tell you with confidence that you will not prosper. You will never take me down. I will not lie under your feet, not now, not ever. I will win. I’ll have love and happiness and the very last word on any lame-ass decision the Faction Council tries to make after the war. You, and the rest of the Counts, will be beneath Celestra. I will stamp out your wickedness once and for all.”

“Are you done?” She flips her hair, bored with the conversation.

“Not by a long shot. When I’m done, you will wish you never knew me—that you ran in the opposite direction once you heard the whisper of my name.” I pause and take her in. “All you’re good for is manufacturing drama, and manipulating people. I guess that’s the sort of thing Gage is into. I wish you a very unhappy life together.”  

I open the door and Chloe snatches me back by the wrist.

“I will have a very happy life, Skyla. For the record, I never once paid Gage for his time or affections.” Her chest heaves into her words. “I paid him for yours.”

 I kick the door wide open and run like hell inside the house.   

Happy INDIEpendence day!!!

UPDATE: Winner of the signed book is... Alanna866
Winner of the e-book is Andrea @The bookish babes! Leave your email in the comments and we'll get the prizes to you!


In honor of this great weekend, the Indelibles thought it would be a great time to honor those fellow Indies among us and give homage to their handwork and beautiful writing. In that vein I officially dub this M. Leighton INDIEpendence day on my blog! 

If you haven't had the privilege of reading M. Leighton's novels I would hope you would quickly rectify that. She's written everything from Vampires to Mermaids, to non paranormal romance. I think what endears me most to this sweet writer is at the heart of every one of her stories is a hawt romance. And really? What's better than that?


Here are some of M. Leighton's titles. Be sure to give her novels a try by reading the sample chapters that Amazon provides. Trust me, you won't be sorry!  Happy reading~!  

If you would like to win a SIGNED copy of any one of M. Leighton's books (winner's choice) simply leave a comment. A Kindle edition will also be given away. So TWO winners with TWO great prizes!! 


Questions for M. Leighton? Questions for me? Or tell us about an indie book that rocked your world! Leave a comment to win!   


contest ends midnight 7-5-12 


Happy Fourth everyone~! 

ETHEREAL is FREE plus Tuesday teasers...

ETHEREAL is free! Link: FREE!


(From Facebook with love;)


Welcome back to the Tuesday Tease! ETHEREAL is FREE! I’ve never had a free book before so I’m rather excited. If you could give it a shout out or two I would be forever in your debt. :)

I’ve included a few extras because I was late in posting. BTW, Gage is so hard to tease without spoiling storylines. Yikes! Sorry!

Onto the teasers!


EPHEMERAL (The Countenance 1)

*(Laken trying to keep her thoughts from Wesley)

I suppress all thoughts of Cooper and his hyper willingness to accept my beliefs. Trying to keep Cooper down is far more difficult than submerging my family. It’s like trying to bury a pocket of air in the deepest part of the ocean—impossible, irresponsible on some level.



TOXIC (Celestra Series Book 7)


*(Skyla, Gage and Chloe)

“So where were we?” I say to Gage. “Oh, that’s right, you were going to tell me everything.” I blink a quick smile at him as Chloe sits across from us.

“Oh,” Chloe squeals with delight, “I was so hoping I could be privy to this conversation. Go ahead and dish, Gage—tell her everything.” Chloe’s entire face glows at the prospect. “Nothing but the truth.”


*(Skyla listening to Marshall (who by way was very naughty this week in edits)

“I thought I understood love, knew the lay of the land, all of its inroads.” He sighs hard over my head and lands a kiss to my temple. “I knew nothing of it until I met you, Skyla. You’ve redefined love for me. It’s sacred—anointed with the highest regard and blessing.”

I’ve never heard words like that from Marshall. His placating sexuality, his wry wit and humor all gone, nothing but the naked form of a man underneath, declaring his love for me.

*(Skyla and Logan)

I lie down and place my head in his lap, gaze up at his divinely anointed features. “You are a thing of beauty, you know that?” I whisper captivated by Logan. “It was you in the vision I had—the one waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Never Gage.” My stomach tightens at the thought.

Logan sags in defeat, offers a depleted smile as he combs his fingers through my hair. “I won’t deny the fact we’re going to happen.”

*(Skyla with Wesley from EPHEMERAL!!!) yes, this has me excited. ;)

“You may not kiss me. You may never kiss me. I will rip your balls through your asshole and shove them down your throat if you ever even think of doing that again.” I might be moved to renege on my offer to not go ape shit all over his Countenance and really make him resent the fact he didn’t tie me up. Of course, they’d probably skin both Logan and I, because God knows he’d involve himself in any altercation that might include me.

*(Skyla and Gage near Mom and Tad. This is SO not what it seems Or is it? ;)

I seize up. God forbid the contents fly out of the bag like candy from a piñata. Mom and Tad are going to think Gage and I are involved in some heavy hitting sexcapades.
For a minute I envision myself strapped and secured to the four posts of my bed with Gage at the helm wielding a whip. A torrent of fire explodes inside me, and I sway on my heels.


If you've enjoyed the books please feel free to leave a review at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the like. It is much appreciated!


I'm hoping for a July release of EPHEMERAL and an August release for TOXIC. *hopes* I'll keep you updated!


As always, happy reading~! 

Skyla Goes To Hollywood Part Two…

Well it finally happened! My fab agent Rachelle Gardner arranged for a meeting with the wonderful Suzanne Jaskow of Unsupervised productions last week and we had a fantastic time!!!

First, I had never been to the Fox studio lot before so already I knew I was in for an adventure. The lot was huge and gorgeous. There were beautiful wall murals on the sides of the studio buildings, gorgeous topiaries at every turn, and the entire lot had an old Hollywood feel.

The day went something like this: meet Rachelle at the mall. Fun, right? Head over to Fox together. Trek across miles of what feels very much like a college campus. Locate the awesome office of my wonderful producers and find the wonderful, amazing, Suzanne! Head over to the caf for a lunch of salads and diet coke. Zip my lips so nothing ridiculous has the chance to escape. Mostly listen, but interject when extremely necessary and enjoy a heavenly conversation of all things film, movies, and TV!

What about Celestra? We touched on that, too. Right this minute the project is with a writer who is working to convert it into a pilot!!! Exciting, right? Evidently these things take time, lots of time, but that’s perfectly fine with me. I’ve got all the time in the world, and I’d love to see it happen.

We talked a little further about the project and potential sales channels were mentioned such as CW and MTV. <----- Pretty awesome, right?

After lunch, Rachelle and I walked around the lot for a while and even paid a visit to the gift shop where I splurged on a 20^th Century Fox coffee mug that I’ve been using religiously ever since. ;)

Fun Times. 

Book updates! I’ve finally concluded my endless polishing marathon of EPHEMRAL and am ready send it off to the editor and betas this week! *breathes *

Also in the back of EPHEMRAL I’ll be debuting a new series that is not even remotely Celestra related and I’m super happy about that. I was thirsting for a book that I could unleash my inner snark on and I think I’ve found it. *hopes*  I cannot wait to share Talon and Levi with you, also Vampires are involved. An insanely good time is being had by me and my keyboard.

As for Celestra, I am now all about TOXIC Book 7 and am 1000% committed to walking Skyla and friends to the e-book store later this summer. I’m planning to dedicate every hour in June shaking, scraping, polishing that book until it glows in the dark. Hopefully by the end of the month I’ll be ready to send it off for edits. It’s a long book but I’m ready for the challenge.

As soon as I hit publish on TOXIC, I’ll be penning book 8 and once that’s done, I’m jumping right into the new series with Skyla. I hope you’ll join me. This wild ride is not nearly over. 

Have any burning questions? I'll be glad to answer if I can.    

   

Placeholder cover for EPHEMERAL

Welcome! Here's the working cover for my new series,  EPHEMERAL (The Countenance Book 1).

The book is under the editing knife as we speak. Laken my new MC had a brief cameo in VEX as the girl in the blue tube, and Wesley, her boyfriend, is featured in Celestra Book 7! The Countenance is a spin off series of Celestra and has loose ties to themes and characters. I anticipate The Countenance to be a trilogy, but it might span out to four books.  


Here's the preface~  Happy reading!

Preface

I used to believe in things, in people, in places, and names—concrete forms of life that ended at some point in the unknowable future. I used to believe memories were infallible, that they could never collapse around you like a house of cards, burn to cinders before ever touching the ground.


People vanish all the time. Other people. You hear about it on the news, see their smiling faces staring back at you on milk cartons—their pictures plastered around town like wanted posters. But it was a world within a world, and innately you knew this could never really happen.


I used to believe in death. I used to believe once they put you in that box and tucked you away for one very long night under six feet of soil it was finished. The sunlight, fresh air, a warm embrace, they would never be yours again. It was the final vanishing act—your curtain pulled down and covering your casket. That was the day it would all start anew. Staring into the face of God, awaiting your final judgment.


But I was wrong about everything.


I had my name, my life, and my eternal judgment revoked in one passing hour at the hands of madmen who share my bloodlines.


They took everything but my memory. They tried and failed, and now I am nothing more than a liability, a spark in a bed of dried timber, waiting to unleash an inferno. I don’t know how long I can go before they stop me or if they even care.


I used to believe so easily and now I strain the most insignificant detail from each passing day as if it were poison.


I know one solid truth. Everything about this new world is a lie.


I’m going to infiltrate their ranks—dismantle their kingdom—take them down until they all vanish, evaporate like smoke from the planet, erase any memory of them as if they had never happened.


Or I’ll die trying.


And I just might.  

Hope you enjoyed!


Thoughts on the cover? I'd love to hear!