Breathless Press Authors
REVIEWS NEEDED!!
Genre: Paranormal
Heat Rating: 2
Publisher: Breathless Press
Formats Available In: Print
Word Count: 93,868
Blurb:
A psychic who’s afraid of ghosts and a millionaire with a haunted past and a hidden power find that only love can catch a spirit. With love, all things are possible—especially if you need to catch a Spirit.
Psychic Allison Dupuis has a soft spot for Logan Mitchell, even though she’s never met him. All it takes is one encounter for the millionaire’s true emotions to slip through Allison’s shields, and she is intrigued. He needs her help, but Allison soon discovers that the kind of help Logan needs is the kind she isn’t willing to give. Logan has a ghost, and Allison doesn’t work with spirits anymore.
But the ghost is the least of Logan’s problems. Born an empath, Logan is constantly barraged with human emotions. And while his talent has come in handy in the business world, it’s about to drive him insane. Literally. Logan has OCD, and his ability triggers unbearable attacks that have him counting and cleaning until he collapses from exhaustion.
Sex and money. That’s all anyone wants from him. Even worse, he’s plagued with recurring visions of his future wife’s death, so Logan has spent his entire life avoiding love. He’s given up hope of ever having a normal life, until he meets Allison. She’s everything he’s ever dreamed of, and now he has to decide if loving her is worth risking her life.
If she’ll even have him. Allison’s lost too much already — her mother to cancer, her father to suicide. But, Logan is so charming and so real, she can’t help but fall for him. Now she has to overcome her fear of commitment…and ghosts…or face spending the rest of her life alone.
Book Links:
Excerpt:
She sensed them as they drew closer to her—many different spirits, their energy buzzing on varying frequencies.
“One at a time, guys. Please.” she said. But they didn’t listen. These were the spirits of the mentally ill, after all. Taking turns wasn’t their concern, and they all rushed her. She felt their presence closing in on her like an avalanche, and she was consumed. Every mental illness imaginable was thrown into her psyche as she tightened her grip on Gage’s hand and slumped down in her chair.
“Allison! Allison, are you okay?” Gage’s voice was a distant echo as she fought to hold on to herself. She was slipping. Sliding into the depths of despair and the spirits were pulling her down.
“It’s… No… There’s a light… You need to… You need to go to it.” She tried to help the spirits cross over, but they wouldn’t listen. There were too many. Twenty at least, and they were so consumed by their own illnesses they thought of nothing else. Paranoia, depression, anxiety. Allison felt it all, and it was going to kill her. The pressure. So hard to breath. Her hands cradled her head as the migraine overtook her. Sharp, pounding pain had her crumpled on the floor as she drew her knees into her chest and rocked back and forth.
“Make it stop. Please, just make it stop.” She was paralyzed. Frozen by the anguish of the tortured souls that forced themselves upon her. Hot tears streamed down her face and blood trickled from her nose. She gasped for air as she heard a faint voice call, “Get her out of here!”
About The Author:
Carrie Pulkinen has always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with her passion for writing and her father’s insatiable love for monster movies, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for an exciting storyteller.
When she’s not writing stories of amazing sex with devilishly handsome men, Carrie likes to read, take pictures, and play with her kids. She also enjoys hearing from her readers, who can write to her at carrie.pulkinen@hotmail.com.
If you enjoyed this story, Sweet Release, her first published work is also available from Breathless Press.
Author Interview
A Few of My Favorite Things- Getting to know the authors of Breathless Press
Hi, we’re here this morning with Kayla Jameth, author of ”From the Ashes”.
A knight and a former princess, Kayla Jameth now spends her time writing m/m romance. A true Renaissance woman, she has done everything from cross stitch like a proper lady to welding with the best of them. An eclectic life has left her with a unique understanding of the world inhabited by men and an appreciation for the difficulties faced by men in m/m relationships. It is her devout wish that her experiences translate into a richer telling of such tales.
- What’s your favorite thing about writing?
I really enjoy creating a world that fits my story. One that has internal logic and is as historically accurate as I can manage it. I like weaving in bits of culture, exotic settings, and maybe even a little magic.
- Most writers are also readers. What’s your favorite book?
Favorite? Hm… Just about anything CJ Cherryh writes. Of them all I think Angel with the Sword is my favorite.
- Everyone reaches a point where they are at an impasse and need to do something besides write for a while. What’s your favorite activity to clear your head?
I love cuddling up with my kids and reading. Or sometimes, I just chat with a friend on Facebook.
- It’s Friday night (Yes, I know it’s Wednesday morning, bear with me, please!) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long week?
I cuddle up in my chair with a glass of wine and a good book. Frequently, I have either a child or a cat curled up in my lap.
- Plain and simple- your favorite hero and why?
Luke Skywalker. Cutie saves the world.
- Here’s a lightning round-
Favorite song? Adam Lambert’s Sleepwalker
Band? I have to have a favorite? I like Hiroshima, Def Leppard, Loreena McKennitt, Niyaz… I am very eclectic in my tastes
Genre of fiction? M/M romance, SciFi and Fantasy
Movie? The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Color? Purple
Food? Really? Sushi, Thai curry and spring rolls, Indian korma and kheer
Beverage? Dreamsicle – Amerreto, OJ, and vanilla ice cream
Candy? Divinity
Television show? I haven’t watched TV in years, but I loved Dr. Who when David Tennett was the doctor.
Book store? Borders – they actually had a GLBT section and serious hard core yaoi.
- I get to make up one of my own? Where do I get my inspiration from?
Just about everything I’ve written, with the exception of my Samurai Champloo slash and my Cinderfella “From the Ashes”, has come about in response to a photo challenge.
I like trying to come up with a good, plausible story for how my characters reached the point where the photo was taken. I enjoy “solving” the puzzle.
Most of my published stories are historical or contain historical elements. Alexios’ Fate, the first in the Apollo’s Men series, is a historical as Homer would have penned it. By this, I mean that Alexios’ world is exactly how he thinks it to be: the gods and all their lesser brethren are real.
“From the Ashes” is a Cinderfella in the traditional fashion. Cinder has a fairy godmother.
“Legends” recreates a Roman orgy. “Morning Star” references Aphrodite, Adonis, and Lucifer.
Sometimes the magic is real, sometimes only implied. But the stories are always “real”.
Author Interview
A Few of My Favorite Things- Getting to know the authors of Breathless Press
Hi, we’re here this morning with Raven McAllan, author of Deck Mac Hall (Insert bio here)
Raven lives in Scotland, along with her husband and their two cats—their children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in her books.
She is used to sharing her life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge.
A lover of reading, she appreciates the history inside a book, and the chance to peek into the lives of those from years ago. Raven admits that she enjoys the research for her books almost as much as the writing; so much so, that sometimes she realizes she’s strayed way past the information she needs to know, and not a paragraph has been added to her WIP.
1. What’s your favorite thing about writing? Letting my imagination run free. (And the research. All of it)
2. How do you decide where to set your books? Those that are in this world anyway? This is something I love. If they are in this world, I usually chose somewhere I know. Then I can be sure I’ve got my facts right. And it’s a good excuse to visit places! If they are not in this world, then my imagination is let run riot!
3. Everyone reaches a point where they are at an impasse and need to do something besides write for a while. What’s your favorite activity to clear your head? Drink wine and eat chocolate. Doesn’t clear my head but I like it. Or I go for a walk.
4. It’s Friday night (Yes, I know it’s Wednesday morning, bear with me, please!) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long week? TMI lol. But it involves wine and chocolate and well…
5. Plain and simple- your favorite hero and why? Whoever is the latest. I fall in love with them all. If I don’t like the hero, sadly I don’t read (or write) the book
6. Best advice given to you? You can do it if you really want to
7. Best advice you’d give to an aspiring writer? Write as you can, not as you think you should.
8 Here’s a lightning round-
Favorite city? Hong Kong and Singapore, I can’t chose between them
Place you want to go back to? A/A Plus Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Vietnam…. You’ve guessed I love travelling.
Genre of fiction? Nothing scary, I’m a wuss
Food? Chocolate
Beverage? Champagne
Candy? Does chocolate count here as well?
Book store? Whichever one I’m in
Greatest invention? Spell check
Author Interview
A Few of My Favorite Things- Getting to know the authors of Breathless Press
BIO:
Lisa A. Adams writes from a little plot of country, tucked away in the North Carolina Sandhills. Having been an avid reader and a history major in college, writing historical fiction seemed to be the next step for her to try. When she’s not writing, Lisa can be found in her sewing room or watching The History Channeland jotting down notes for her next writings. Hundreds of stories have been sketched out and are simply awaiting their place in line
When asked about her family, Lisa will be the first to tell you that they are the backbone of not only her writing career, but anything she chooses to pursue as well. She has been married to her husband for ten years and has five wonderful children, a loveable mop dog, and two very spoiled cats.
The Legionnaire’s Prize is her debut release and the first book in her Caledonia’s Captives series. Look for book two in the series, which will be released soon.
1. What’s your favorite thing about writing?
Meeting the characters and listening to their stories. I generally start with some type of place or idea in my head, then suddenly my characters appear and things just start popping out onto paper.
2. Most writers are also readers. What’s your favorite book?
Okay, now that’s not fair. Asking an avid reader what their favorite book is, is like asking me which child I like best. I have read so many great books over the years. I truly couldn’t pick just one, or even just one from each genre. I do have favorite authors that I read religiously though. I haven’t read a book yet from Stephen King that I didn’t like. Anything by Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, Rick Riordan, Lorna Barrett… they all rank pretty high up there on my list.
3. Everyone reaches a point where they are at an impasse and need to do something besides write for a while. What’s your favorite activity to clear your head?
I quilt. I can’t sew clothes for anything, but sewing a straight ¼ inch seam is easy enough. The rhythm of the sewing machine lets me drown everything else out and just focus on things, whether its writing related, or in my personal life. Another good thing I’ve found is mowing the lawn. You literally can’t hear anything else, so it’s a good time to think.
4. It’s Friday night (Yes, I know it’s Wednesday morning, bear with me, please!) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long week?
Meeting up with some old friends and co-workers of mine for a “Book Club” at Yesterday’s Pub and Grill. I’ll just let the cat out the bag on this one. We usually don’t talk about a single book. The name was a code word that we used at our job so others wouldn’t know and the name just stuck.
5. Plain and simple- your favorite hero and why?
King Leonidas in the battle of Thermopylae. Such courage, bravery, and if he looked anything like Gerard Butler in the movie rendition… well, you get the idea J
6. Here’s a lightning round-
Favorite song? I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett
Band? Not much of a band person really, but my favorite singer is Melissa Etheridge.
Genre of fiction? Believe it or not, it’s not romance. I love horror and suspense.
Movie? Any disaster movie! Day After Tomorrow, Twister, The Core, 2012… I love them all!
Color? Red
Food? Alice Springs Chicken at Outback Steakhouse
Beverage? Pepsi and coffee daily, Rum and Coke for celebrations
Candy? Plain m&m’s
Television show? Game of Thrones, True Blood, Glee, and Switched at Birth are the only shows I ever watch. I don’t have time for more than that.
Book store? Barnes and Noble
A Few of My Favorite Things- Getting to know the authors of Breathless Press
Hi, we’re here this morning with Ivy Bateman author of Baby, You’re Cold Inside.
When she was just nine, this girl began her journey for a life on the stage. Attempts were made, classes were taken, lessons were well learned but, at the end of the day, a decision to live life off the stage was made. But all was not lost. While at college she met the love of her life and his support and strength has helped her to see that she has talent waiting around many corners.
When the stage beckons, she answers its call, and her new passion for writing has enhanced many of her theatre dreams and as well as the occasional book, she now occasionally writes a play.
The love of her life generously reads everything she writes and although he may not always be her muse, he is always her biggest fan.
Baby, You’re Cold Inside is Ivy’s third book with Breathless Press. Her first release with
Breathless Press, Between the Lines, was released in January, 2012. This was followed by The Fifth Story in September, 2012.
1. What’s your favorite thing about writing?
I think that my favorite thing about writing is coming up with new characters. If I really have fun writing someone, they end up, in a way, telling me what to say for them instead of the other way around. It’s very exciting.
2. Most writers are also readers. What’s your favorite book?
Archangel by Sharon Shinn. I read it at least once a year. It’s so beautiful and moving. I love Gabriel and his strength, but I also love his wife Rebecca who is just as strong and remains that way.
3. Everyone reaches a point where they are at an impasse and need to do something besides write for a while. What’s your favorite activity to clear your head?
I’m in no way fantastic, but I like to play guitar when I need a break. Or, go out for coffee with a friend or watch something silly with my husband or daughter. All of those are great
4. It’s Friday night (Yes, I know it’s Wednesday morning, bear with me, please!) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long week?
Grab a glass of wine, a bag of chips and put on a DVD. Ah…bliss…
5. Plain and simple- your favorite hero and why?
Aragorn. He’s so noble and brave and doesn’t just fight for the girl; he fights for everyone.
6. Here’s a lightning round-
Favorite song?: Electric Blue by Icehouse
Band?: Icehouse (for the 80′s girl in me), and currently, Mumford and Sons.
Genre of fiction? sci/fi or paranormal.
Movie?: Return of the King
Color?: Blue
Food?: bacon with a side of bacon
Beverage?: coffee
Candy?: dark chocolate
Television show?: Corner Gas
Book store?: Chapters
Book Feature: Mage’s Bane
Hello there! I’m happy that my first paranormal release is sharing its celebration with Breathless Press’s birthday month. Mage’s Bane was one of the stories that I enjoyed writing from start to finish. It has urban fantasy flair along with a romance long overdue of being cashed in. Riaz and Ari are two characters I loved from the minute they first argued in my head. The rest is history as they say.
BLURB:
Being a rogue Akasha Mage is no easy feat for Aribelle Delano. Neither is summoning Riaz, a Djinni that makes her knees go weak in a way that would shame her ancestors.
A new threat of demons intent on killing Ari for nefarious purposes has her putting all her trust in Riaz, who swears to protect her in the face of evil. But she’s been taught that fully trusting Riaz is unwise, and he’s constantly looking for a way to break free of her control.
Ari must face the new demonic threat and handle the Sultan of Old Magic who dominates her mind…and eventually, her body and soul as well. Together, her and Riaz must find a way to stop the demons and their summoner, even if that means breaking the rules that have been in place between the Akasha and Djinn for millenniums.
EXCERPT:
I stumbled into the musty room, trying to see through the hazy shimmer. I kept attempting to blink it away with no success. A cold sweat gave me clammy skin, and I was sure it was because of the venom being pumped faster by my erratic heartbeat. I was slightly nervous by the Djinn healing to come. The demon venom threatened to kill me at any moment, but I was actually more worried about Riaz’s hands on me, touching me in my most intimate spots. Even though I’d known him a quarter of my life, I couldn’t rid myself of this childish discomfort…or was it anticipation? This isn’t a big deal at all, so stop acting like it is.
It wasn’t like it was the first time. Riaz had healed me once before when I was a teenage girl. I’d tried to be a smart ass and show off to the big, bad Djinni my new driver’s license-as if he cared about mortal things-and I got showy-flashy with my driving. I plunged us off the highway and down a steep embankment, hitting damn near every tree on the way down. The rescue crews and newspapers called me a lucky girl for over a year.
Had it not been for Riaz’s healing touch, I’m pretty sure internal bleeding would’ve taken me out at the tender age of eighteen. I’d been pretty out of it, but I remember Riaz had been fast-acting on keeping me alive. I know I hit my head pretty hard because after all his insults calling me a foolish girl, I thought I saw compassion in his eyes. I even thought I heard him telling me not to die and leave him. Well, I figure he said that out of fear he’d waste away on earth as nothing more than a specter.
He saved me to save himself then. But this particular night, I expected him to demand I send him back while I rotted away from demon venom. Just to prove he didn’t care I needed him, I thought he might make me beg for my life. But he did none of that as he silently trailed behind me. I turned-a bit unsteadily-to see him close and lock the door with a tight-lipped expression.
The fast motion sent me into a dizzy state, causing my stomach to churn. I covered my mouth until the wave of nausea passed. Good lord, I’ll be mortified if Riaz sees me puking or hears me spilling my guts in the bathroom like some college frat party.
It was bad enough he’d probably never let me live any of this down. After a few deep breaths, I was finally okay enough to remove my hand and place it against my stomach.
“Take your shirt off and lay across the bed.” Riaz’s authoritative voice caused my pulse to jump a notch. Hesitantly, I lifted my grubby shirt over my head and let it fall to the floor. I glanced at him to see what emotion-if any-Riaz felt and sighed. All I saw was indifference-and me half-naked before him.
In fact, he didn’t even try to catch an eyeful of skin as any normal male would. Granted, Riaz was no normal male, but most males, human or not, would soak up the exposed skin of a female. I wondered how he could look at me with irrelevance when I stood before him in only a bra. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him at any given moment.
It was unfair he had a willpower I didn’t possess. I mean, I wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but I assumed-hell, I don’t know what I assumed. Riaz was ancient. He’d had at least fifteen Akasha Mage handlers before me over the eras, so me parading around fully naked would only get a raised eyebrow and him asking if I’d fallen off the deep end again. I hated that the attraction was one-sided in our relationship.
It was immoral for an Akasha to become sexually involved with her Djinni. It would never end well for either party, and according to my former mentor, Yasmin, it was forbidden. But I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever gotten intimate with any of his past mages. Someone must have slipped up to realize that bonking a Djinni wasn’t the best tactic in any given situation.
A peek at Brandon and Percy from ‘Shelton’s Homecoming’.
Brandon made a dash for the café door, dodging raindrops. He caught sight of Percy in the window and his heart jumped. It never failed to baffle and thrill him that the handsome, successful man wanted to be with him, a college nobody. Sure, he was graduating next semester, but the future was still shaky.
He shook out his coat then hurried to Percy’s table. His lover remained unaware of him and Brandon bit a plump lip, an affectation he’d cultivated in his youth, knowing it drove the boys wild to kiss him. Now he did it unconsciously in moments of stress.
Percy glanced up and his lovely eyes darkened with excitement. Suddenly weak, Brandon slid into the booth opposite him. “Well?”
His darling’s happiness spilled out in smiles and a soft laugh. He slid a brochure across the table. “He’s agreed! I thought we could fly out in the fall, after you grad—”
“No,” he interrupted, then rushed to explain when Percy’s face paled, pointing to the print on the bottom of the pamphlet he’d read a thousand times the past week. “It says Reverend Louis needs a ten day leeway. I’ll marry you next Saturday, honey. I don’t want to wait one damn day longer.”
Percy didn’t say anything, though his eyes were moist when he picked up Brandon’s hand. Brandon swallowed and blinked away his own tears when his usually reserved boyfriend, at least in public, kissed each fingertip then pressed a passionate kiss on his palm.
Hi folks! ::waves:: DC Juris here. For those who don’t know me, I’m a transgender fella who writes GLBTQ and heterosexual romance – mostly contemporary and fantasy.
Today I wanted to share a bit about my August 31 release, “Bad Moon Rising”
Blurb:
Bryce never expected to find himself smack in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, and he certainly never expected to meet the man of his dreams along the way. But there’s more than zombies in the way of his happily ever after. Richard comes with baggage, in the form of his on again, off again bipolar lover Cole, who is off his meds and descending into his own mental hell at an alarming rate. Will the three men be able to work out their romantic feelings? Oh yeah…and then there’s that little issue of the zombies…
Excerpt:
I jerked awake to the sound of glass shattering. A quick glance around told me it wasn’t our window, but something outside, nearby. Fuck! The car! I jumped up but Richard caught my arm and yanked me down next to him.
“Stay down!”
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
“Looters,” Cole revealed. “They’re going up and down the street, searching cars.”
Well, at least they wouldn’t steal it, since we had the keys, and the chances of them sticking around to do any real damage to it seemed pretty slim, too. All we had to do was wait it out, and they’d go away.
Dolly stood and paced to the door, walking back and forth in front of it like she was on guard duty.
On the street, yelling broke out, and gunshots echoed in the night. Richard cursed.
Our visitors had apparently been discovered. Shouts of run and look out descended into just inarticulate screaming and then the unthinkable: Dolly started barking.
Cole lunged for her, but the damage had already been done. The people outside started banging on our door, pleading to be let in. “What do we do?” I looked to Richard, who was shaking his head.
“Nothing.”
“But if we don’t let them in, they’ll be infected,” I argued. Those were people outside–we had to help them. What if the roles were reversed? What if that had been me outside?
“And if we do let them in, we’ll be infected.” He reached for one of our backpacks and started shoving things inside. “We can’t stay here. Cole, shut that damned mutt up!”
“I’m trying!” Cole struggled with Dolly, trying to get her calmed down and quiet.
Richard shoved a bag at me, hitting me square in the chest and bringing me back to reality. “Pack light. We’ll be walking.”
“The car–”
“Is compromised. We’ll never get near it. Hurry up. Cole!”
Cole scrambled back to us, dragging Dolly behind him. Outside the shouting and banging intensified. Someone must’ve gotten smart, because a brick came careening through an exposed part of the door glass near the top. It sailed through the air, barely missing Richard’s head.
“Time to go!” Richard shoved Cole toward the back door. “Bryce, help me with the boards!”
I grabbed up a discarded hammer and handed it over to him while I fished in my bag for the crowbar I’d brought. We struggled with the boards, hacking and pulling. Richards face turned red with his exertion, and I felt the warmth of my own efforts spreading out from my arm muscles, making my chest tight and painful.
“Hurry up, guys!” Cole shouted.
Sophia, Hermione’s aunt (From To Please A Lady) is feeling neglected on the genlteman front.
“You saw us together.” It was a statement, not a question.
Sophia shook her head.
“Then you heard.”
“I heard.” She confirmed.
“Ah, and?”
How could she answer that? Honesty was perhaps the only way to go. Come on Sophia, she chided herself gently; show Hermione you were not upset—well not in the way she thinks you may have been.
“I was envious.” She said frankly. “And wished I could,” she hesitated.” Experience even one tenth of what I imagined you were.”
She watched as her niece’s eyes opened wide.
“Envious? Of Me? Or of Berry and Ran?”
Sophia shook her head; it was hard to explain just what she had felt.
“Not of any of you, but of what I heard. Tis hard to be single, unattached and my age. I would relish one man hard inside me,” she said frankly. “To have two would be as if all my Christmas’s had come at once. To experience two together.” She stopped and put her hands to her flushed cheeks. This was frank indeed, and she was not sure if she should continue.
It seemed Hermione had no such compunction.
“To experience two together?” she prompted.
“I can not comprehend.” Sophia finished.
Her niece looked at her, love and what seemed like compassion in her eyes.
“But would like to?’ she was asked.
“I would like to break my drought in any which way.” Sophia replied frankly. She held her breath. Would Hermione be willing to help?
This features Marcus and Charlie, from my m/m BDSM romance, “Relearning the Ropes.”
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-relearningtheropes-599429-145.html
Marcus paced into the kitchen. “You sent the flowers?”
“Yes, Master.” Charlie closed the laptop, folded his hands on the table, and gave Marcus his full attention.
“Good. Good. And you remembered the note I told you to include? You offered him money, if he needs it?”
Charlie nodded. “Yes, Master.”
“Good.” Marcus crossed the room and dropped a kiss on the top of Charlie’s head. “Thank you for handling that.”
“You’re welcome, Master.” Charlie frowned as Marcus moved away to make a cup of coffee. His Dom was hurting, and for the life of him, Charlie didn’t know how to make it better. They’d received the news of Grant’s passing last night, and since then, Marcus had been so distraught, not just over Grant, but for Grant’s partner, Jonathan.
Marcus sat down across the table. Dark circles rimmed his bloodshot eyes. He hadn’t slept at all last night.
Charlie’s breath caught in his throat as Marcus raised the mug with shaking hands. He’d never seen his Master so upset and it made him ache.
Marcus finished his coffee and cleared his throat. He sat there for a moment, just gazing off into the space behind Charlie, as Charlie mentally fumbled for something to say. Marcus leaned forward, braced his elbow on the table, and pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers.
“Master?” Charlie stood hesitantly, and moved to Marcus’ side. He laid a hand on his Master’s shoulder.
Marcus looked up, tears standing in his eyes. “I’ve got to fix it,” he murmured. “I’ve got to find a way to fix it for Jon.”
Charlie shook his head. He bit down on his tongue to keep from letting his own tears fall. God, it hurt him to see Marcus in so much pain. “You can’t fix this, Master.”
Marcus gasped and yanked Charlie into his arms. “This won’t happen to you, ever. I swear it. You won’t be left in limbo again, if something happens to me. I’ll make sure of it. I’ll make plans. I’ll—”
“Master?” Charlie pushed against Marcus’ shoulders and pulled out of his arms. “No matter what plans you make, you’ll still be gone, and things will still be broken for a while. The only thing that can fix that is time. For Master Jonathan, for me, for anyone. You truly can’t fix it, Master.”
Marcus sagged back in his chair. “I want to. I need to. What good am I as a Dom if I can’t make this right?”
Charlie took his hand. “Maybe, Master, the point is just that you want to, and that you’re sad you can’t. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe it’s the thought that counts, now more than ever.”
Marcus smiled up at him sadly. “I wish you weren’t right.”
“I wish that too. But you know I am.” Charlie brushed a tear from Marcus’ cheek.
“So what do we do?” Marcus chuckled bitterly. “Here I am, the big, bad Dom, asking my sub what to do.”
Charlie sighed. “We just give them our love, Master. That’s all we can do.” He stepped in, let Marcus pull him close.
Marcus pressed his face against Charlie’s chest. “Why do I feel like that’s not enough?”
“Because it isn’t, Master. It never will be enough to fill the void Grant left, but it might fill in some of the cracks and gaps, and keep everything from crumbling apart. That’s what you do, when something breaks. You shore it up. You glue it back together. It’s never the same again, and maybe there’s itty bitty pieces missing, but it’s still whole, and that’s what matters.” Charlie wrapped his arms around Marcus’ neck in a hard, fierce hug, digging his fingernails into the fabric of Marcus’ jacket.
“I love you,” Marcus murmured.
And Charlie whispered it back, and he wasn’t entirely sure if they were saying it to each other, or to Grant and Master Jonathan. And it didn’t matter.
For Tom and Talon, from Danny and John, with love.