Yes, I’m still here! I’ve been swamped with work (writing/publishing and the DayJob), but I AM writing. In fact, technically, Heretic (Secrets of Socendor 1) is done, but there are many loose ends to tie up. I’ve started expanding and weaving in/wrapping up those bits. Hell, I wrote over 3400 words today, more than I’ve done in one day for quite a while.
Heretic is still slated for a June 25th release, and it will be the FIRST book published as Katherine Cook. 😀 So stay tuned!
In the meantime… how about a little snippet? It’s the first love scene I’ve written in quite a long time. Unlike my other books (as Mychael Black), my fantasy love scenes will NOT be overly explicit. I will keep them (most of them) during the later Socendor rewrites, but I’ll be toning them down from the original heat levels. I love sex scenes as much as any other reader, but they just don’t fit the style I’m going for as Katherine Cook.
That said, the scene below is between Micheil and his lover Taeral (keep in mind that Heretic is set 25 years before Kalen was even born).
Warmth against him woke Micheil from a deep sleep. He managed to summon a smile and placed his hand on Taeral’s where it lay on his hip. Taeral’s grip tightened a little.
“Are you all right?”
How did he answer? Micheil didn’t know how to explain it. Taeral possessed no magic.
“I… don’t know. The spell is done.”
A gentle nudge urged him to roll over and meet a concerned gaze. As a soldier, Taeral knew danger and fear quite well, but this was something Micheil couldn’t begin to express. As if to let the matter go for now, Taeral simply leaned down for a kiss. Micheil lost himself in it, as much as he could. He adored the man, but something had changed, something not even Micheil understood. Still, the hand moving to his thigh managed to chase away those thoughts for now.
“I won’t pretend to understand,” Taeral murmured as he kissed a path along Micheil’s jaw and down his neck. “Just let me ease your cares for a while.”
In answer, Micheil moved Taeral’s hand closer to where he really wanted it and parted his thighs. A firm squeeze stole his breath, and Micheil whispered his lover’s name.
Taeral hummed in agreement and worked his way down. He pushed Micheil’s shirt up and peppered the skin beneath with kisses. Then those calloused, warrior’s hands rid Micheil of his pants. A moment later, heat enveloped Micheil, stealing his breath and his wits. He threaded his fingers through his lover’s hair and held it out of the way while Taeral toyed and pleasured him with mouth and tongue.
Just before Micheil thought he would climax, Taeral pulled away. Micheil groaned but knew more awaited him. He opened his legs and moaned Taeral’s name as slick fingers entered his body. Taeral’s lips met his own, and then the warrior filled him completely. Micheil let himself finally relax for the first time in days, and Taeral loved him until they both were well and truly spent.
Katherine Cook 