To Be Where You Are - K.Z. Snow [Nov 09]

[Maria]

Soon to be released - a new Molten erotic romance book

To Be Where You Are

by: K.Z. Snow

ISBN: 978-1-59578-632-6

Stay tuned to this topic for all the latest on this new Molten

Blurb:


Vampires, voodoo, and two very frustrated men . . .


After seven months of an affair they can only pursue on occasional weekends, Jackson Spey and Adin Swift are more in love than ever. More frustrated, too. Their periods of separation are becoming intolerable. Adin can’t help but feel responsible . . . and he can’t help worrying Jackson’s patience is wearing thin.

Celia, Adin’s live-in girlfriend, has been aware of the men’s relationship from the start. She also knows Adin’s sense of honor will not allow him to walk out on her. Neither stupid nor insensitive, Celia realizes most triangles have a breaking point, and this one has reached that stage.

Just as she’s on the verge of arranging a meeting with Jackson, the wizard is summoned to do a strange favor for a fellow practitioner of magic. Noah Curry’s beloved partner, Perez Pei, has disappeared. Despondent and desperate, Noah uses a unique kind of influence to enlist Jackson’s aid.

As the lovers wonder what Celia’s intentions are and as Adin considers taking drastic measures, the hunt for Perez Pei begins. From his Milwaukee flat to an Illinois farmhouse to a shack in rural Mississippi, Jackson must confront forces, beings, and aspects of his freed sexuality he’s never before had to face.

He doesn’t know if it’s extortion or compassion that drives him to help Noah find Perez. He only knows he can’t give up. If he does, Adin could be lost to him forever.

[Maria]

Excerpt 1:


“Sounds like I woke you.” Propped against the pillows of the guestroom’s bed, Adin’s relief keened toward excitement as soon as he heard his favorite voice in the world—a sandy baritone that seemed to enfold him.

“That’s all right,” Jackson said groggily. “You can wake me anytime.” Unfailingly, as soon as he realized it was Adin on the phone, his tone became as sweet and warm as mulled cider. “Is something wrong? You don’t sound drunk.”

“So those are the only good reasons for calling you late? Either because something’s wrong or I’m tipsy?”

“The word is shitfaced.” Jackson tried to stifle a yawn then gave up and indulged in it. “People who get on late-night calling jags don’t get ‘tipsy’. Trust me, I’ve been there.” His voice got lower, sexier. “And no, those aren’t the only good reasons. Any reason is a good reason.”

Smiling, Adin pressed the phone against his face, as if he could bring Jackson closer to him. “Why don’t you ever call me when you’re shitfaced? Do you talk really dirty then?”

“I don’t get shitfaced anymore. You know that. And I have no idea how I talked, because I couldn’t remember the next day. Maybe I got maudlin. Most people do. That’s another reason not to make drunk-calls.”

“Actually, I think I’d like it,” Adin said. “The dirty and the maudlin. I think I’d like it a lot. If you meant everything you said.”

“With you, yeah, I’d mean it.”

Adin’s hips squirmed slightly. He was tempted to start fondling his cock. “Let’s get off this subject. You’re making me horny.”

“Are you sitting at the computer?” Jackson’s implication was obvious.

Adin tried not to be distracted by it. “No, I’m in the guestroom, lying on the bed. I have to tell you why I called before my mind hazes over.”

“Okay. Then you might have to make me come. Maybe you should start now.”

Adin’s squirminess spread. “Wait, Jackson, just let me—”

“I’ll let you. If you fire up your computer so we can get visually connected. I’m on my way to mine.” Muffled sounds of movement came through the phone. “Damn, Adin, I need—” The rest of the statement broke and faded.

Adin was happy to fill in the blank. “Then you should be happy to hear why I called.” Leaving the guestroom, he ambled into the study. He shucked off his robe before he sat at the desk, leaving him clad in nothing more than a pair of green and blue briefs that had grown mighty snug. “Celia’s coming to see you on Saturday.”

“Oh, shit. Saturday?”

“Yeah, day after tomorrow. Or tomorrow, if it’s Friday now.” Jackson’s response was like a downpour of cold water. “Do you have plans?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Remember that group I told you about, the good-old-boys’ club for Adepts?”

As soon as Jackson’s face appeared on the monitor, a host of feelings washed through Adin—love, lust, and a longing that seemed every bit as dimensional as the room’s furnishings. “Yeah, I remember. Some kind of occult society with a Latin-root name.”

“The Phratry,” Jackson said with a lazy, lecherous smile. His eyelids lowered. They always lowered when he was feeling seductive. “Anyway, the guy who founded it wants to see me about something. I promised I’d go down there on Saturday.”

“And you can’t put it off?” Adin’s gaze moved over Jackson’s face and chest and down to his groin. He was naked, sitting back with his legs spread.

“Noah Curry doesn’t ask to see people for the hell of it, so something’s up. Besides, we’re all sort of honor-bound to make ourselves available to any summons.”

“Summons,” Adin repeated. His snotty tone made him ashamed. He knew he shouldn’t feel resentful. Jackson did have a life, after all.

“A special request for a meeting.”

“How about if Celia met with you on Sunday, then?”

“I might still be gone. I’ll have to let you know.” Jackson grimaced and muttered, “Fuck.” He shifted forward, his face moving closer to the webcam. “Please, please tell Celia this couldn’t be helped. Ask her if she’s free next week. Any day. I’ll make sure I’m available. God, Adin, I’m sorry.”

“So am I.” His disappointment was more crushing than it should have been—the delay would only be a brief one—but it seemed he’d been waiting forever.

“Your hair’s mussed,” Jackson said quietly, his voice gruffer.

“That’s because I’ve been in bed.”

“Do you realize you look hot as hell? You look like you’ve just been fucked. Hard.”

The observation punched the air right out of Adin’s lungs. His dick swelled, pushing against the fabric of his briefs. He stared at Jackson’s heavy eyelids and parted lips and broad, hair-streaked chest, remembering the times when he had been fucked hard—by this very man.


Excerpt 2:


Rugh, his raised hands gripping the bathroom door frame, lifted his head and gave Jackson a lecherous smile. He effectively blocked the doorway.

"Eager to answer nature’s call, are you?" Jackson asked dryly.

"Most definitely."

Jackson groaned inside. Rugh obviously wasn’t standing there because his bladder was full. Jackson tried barging forward, hoping Rugh would ease aside and let him pass, but that didn’t happen. The vampire merely lowered his arms and took a step backward.

"You intrigue me. We’re very much alike, you and I."

"No," Jackson said flatly. "We’re not."

He knew he shouldn’t look into the man’s eyes—Rugh was a very old creature, a superior elder, and the older a vampire, the more paralyzing its gaze—but damned if he would appear weak. So he gathered his own considerable might and met Rugh’s stare.

"Ah, but we are," Rugh said. "You don’t quail before me. Each of us is proud and strong. Each of us is very much a man’s man." A vulpine smile, strangely sensual, spread across his broad mouth. "In more ways than one."

"I suggest you join your ladyfriend."

"And I reject your suggestion."

Jackson knew he had to control his indignation. He couldn’t afford to alienate this couple. Their help was crucially important right now. Besides, he had to get used to being hit on.

Adin had told him to start expecting it, especially when they were together and, therefore, their orientation might be more obvious. Jackson hadn’t experienced any come-ons yet—not that he was aware of, anyway—but he did need to learn how to spurn advances with cool self-possession. Not everybody knew or cared that he’d already chosen a partner.

"I like the look of you," Rugh said quietly. "I know I’d like the feel of you. And I believe you’d like the feel of me." He lifted his hand as gracefully as a priest. It curled around the side of Jackson’s chest, fingers fitting between the low ridges of his ribs. "Meet me later. Let me feed from you."

"Stop touching me. Now."

Rugh ignored the implied warning. "Imagine the encounter, all violent and voracious lust." Sliding his hand up and forward, he rubbed his thumb rubbed over Jackson’s right nipple. His eye color became more brilliant.

Feeling a flare of arousal, Jackson stifled a gasp. He gripped the vampire’s cool wrist, but Rugh’s hand felt welded to his side. Jackson couldn’t move it. Not without taking some extreme action.

"Meet me later, Jackson," Rugh said even more cajolingly, his rich voice like a caress. "I’ll do anything you like, pleasure you beyond your wildest fantasies. I swear you’ll experience an excitement—"

"Rugh, what the fuck are you doing? Get your goddamned hands off of him!"

Only now did Jackson see Adin, who’d come up behind them. He bunched the back of Rugh’s finely cut shirt in both fists and yanked the vampire away. Rugh’s face twisted around his blazing eyes like a hillside disrupted by a lava flow. He spun in a blur and shot Adin backward down the hallway as fast as a fired cannonball. Adin’s left hip connected with a corner of the bookcase, pitching him onto his right side.

Jackson roared in outrage. He dug his gnarled fingers into Rugh’s shoulders, making the vampire wince. The atmosphere became alive, rippling and shimmying like the air in a desert. He shoved Rugh farther back into the hallway.

Then Rugh burst into flames.

Adin called out, "What the hell is going on?"

The fire produced no smoke and touched nothing around Rugh. It carefully licked along the vampire’s limbs and trunk like the tongue of a lover . . . but certainly not the kind he wanted.

Rahenna screamed in the background. Soon, she was at Jackson’s side, clutching his arm, imploring in a rushed, desperate voice, "Please, put it out. Please. I care for him." On the heels of her words, Adin, too, appeared. "Listen to her," he said.

The little blaze did its work almost silently, its demure hiss and crackle too soft to drown out Rugh’s agonized groans. He wasn’t shrieking—he likely didn’t feel pain as acutely as mortals did—but he did writhe. Jackson watched curiously. The vampire’s movements were in slow motion, like an underwater ballet.

"I’ll extinguish it when I’m ready," Jackson said without feeling. "You both know he’ll be fine."

Jackson was controlling the burn, and a controlled fire alone wouldn’t put Rugh down for long. The methods of disabling or destroying a vampire differed from breed to breed and depended in part on the creature’s age. Unless Rugh were subjected to an inferno that reduced him to ash, he’d quickly recover from exposure to most any heat.

Rahenna’s fingers tightened on Jackson’s arm. "Please. Can’t you see he’s in pain?"

"Yes. Maybe it will teach him a lesson." Jackson glanced at Rahenna. "But because he means something to you, I’ll end it."

He slid both hands into the fire. Immediately it died, the flames disappearing as if the surrounding air had vacuumed them away in a single, sudden gulp. Rugh stumbled . . . then slumped against the nearest wall and drew ragged breaths. Grimacing, he began peeling off his melted clothing. The effort weakened him further, and he slid to the floor. Already the blisters on his body had begun to heal, rosy bubbles flattening into tough, tawny skin, overlying hair growing back as dark and lush as ever.

Rahenna glared at Jackson before she knelt beside her lover.

Rugh’s bleary eyes rolled up to look at his attacker. His expression bore no hint of terror or toxic hatred. Instead, one corner of his mouth tipped toward a wry smile. "A wizard," he said hoarsely, "is always a worthy opponent. A wizard in love can be a deadly one."

"The next time you try to hurt Adin," Jackson said in a monotone, "I’ll destroy you. Don’t doubt it."

Rugh coughed. "Never."

Adin rested a hand on his shoulder. Jackson turned to him and tenderly stroked both hands down the sides of his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I’ll probably have a bruise on my ass, though. Hope you don’t mind." He tilted to one side and regarded Rugh. "How could you be so brazen?"

"Ask my hormones." Rugh’s expression became tinged with guilt. "I am sorry, Adin. You do have a lovely behind. What I did was . . . just a reflex. I hope you understand." He pushed off his shoes, which must've been uncomfortably warm, then lowered the zipper on his jeans. His fingers kept flinching away from it. "I think the bastard circumcised me," he muttered.

"You deserved worse than that," Adin said.

With the help of his loving companion, Rugh kept picking scraps off himself. Rahenna collected them in her free hand. She carefully petted the healed areas, perhaps testing them for any lingering rawness or sensitivity.

"How could you have been naïve enough not to expect this?" Rugh asked Adin. He seemed annoyed with his former lover, as if Adin’s shortsightedness were to blame. "Surely your memory hasn’t failed you. You’re still too young."

"Don’t try to lay this at my doorstep, you bastard. Things aren’t the same as they were. You know that." Adin rubbed his hip and winced. "We won’t be sharing lovers anymore, Rugh."

"Pity. You always did have the most exquisite taste." Rugh got to his feet with surprisingly little effort and studied his arms and torso. Occasionally he brushed away or lifted off remnants of charred cloth. He glanced from Adin to Jackson. "Well, you can hardly blame me for trying."

Jackson leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed over his chest, and watched. Rugh did have a magnificent, rugged body, all woven muscle and taut skin. It was understandable how a man like that could think himself irresistible. And he probably did throw a mean fuck. Suddenly uncomfortable, Jackson shifted his position.

"I didn’t expect you’d be quite so averse to my offer," Rugh said to him. "You practically bleed testosterone."

Jackson felt his face flush, as if Rugh had read his thoughts.

"Keep your damned opinions to yourself," Adin snapped.

His reaction almost drew a smile from his lover. Guess I’m not the only one who gets jealous, Jackson thought. "A proposition I can handle," he said to Rugh. "But intentional harm—"

The vampire put up his hands in concession. "I know, I know. There’ll be no more misbehavior."

"You sure?" Jackson asked. The question had a flinty edge.

"Quite," Rugh said, rotating a forearm to regard it. "I apologized, which means I saw the error of my ways. What more can I do?"

"If I come up with something, I’ll let you know." Jackson’s voice remained cold and hard. He wanted to make it clear where he stood.

Rugh sighed and put his hands on his hips. What little clothing remained on his body was, thank goodness, pretty much confined to that area. "I know you’re not feeling very charitable toward me," he said to his host, "but would you mind terribly if I stepped under your shower for a moment?" He held out his arms to display his near-nakedness. "I may need to borrow some clothing while I’m here, as well."

Jackson nodded, reminding himself why he had to play nice. He’d made his point, after all, and pretty effectively. "All right. I’ll grab a couple of things and let Rahenna put them in the bathroom."

"Thank you. I’ll return them before we leave. I can always fly from the car to our hotel room."

Rahenna forked a hand into Rugh’s thick hair. "Well, at least we got that business out of the way. I tried to warn you, even though I didn’t think your appetite would nearly get you incinerated."

"What business?" Jackson asked suspiciously. He glanced at Adin, who glowered at Rugh.

"It was inevitable I’d try to entice you into a tryst. I saw you at Adin’s party, you know, and was quite drawn to you. But I was"—he angled a glance at Rahenna—"busy with other things." Rugh shook out his hair and pushed it away from his face. It sent up a burnt odor, but not strong enough to be offensive. "I always did have a weakness for smart, handsome, well-built men." He smiled charmingly. "Ask Adin."

"Rugh hasn’t had one in a while," Rahenna said, as if she were talking about his favorite entrée. And maybe she was. "I’m afraid I’m the sexual equivalent of methadone. You and Adin, Mr. Spey, are the uncut heroin."

Rugh affectionately kissed her cheek. "Don’t underestimate yourself, my sweet."

"I’ll get you some clothes," Jackson said, standing up from the wall. "Let's hope we understand each other now."

"Wasn’t that line uttered at the Inquisition?" Rugh asked Rahenna. He turned toward the bathroom.

[Gem Sivad]

Way to go, K.Z..

[Alanna Coca]

Oh boy! A new K.Z Snow!!

[Serena Shay]

Congrats K.Z.!

[K. Z. Snow]

That Maria caught me by surprise again. Thanks for the shout-out, guys! Now I have to hustle up ye olde blurbe and excerpte.

To Be Where You Are is, by the way, the sequel to InDescent. That makes it a m/m erotic contemporary with paranormal elements . . . and lots of love.

Still waiting for the cover and release date of Bastards and Pretty Boys, which should come out first. (That book is a stand-alone. There's a blurb and excerpt down the list somewhere!)

[Mike]

Amanda's purple patch.

[brayden]

Congradulations ! K.Z. SNOW

I am new here and I think this is worth of reading.

[K. Z. Snow]

Welcome, brayden, and thank you! I have another book coming out sooner--Sept. 14, in fact. You can find out more about it here: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/for...ead.php?t=9861

[Tina Holland]

Nice cover!

[Tracey West]

Gr8 cover!

[brayden]

Originally Posted by K. Z. Snow

Welcome, brayden, and thank you! I have another book coming out sooner--Sept. 14, in fact. You can find out more about it here: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/for...ead.php?t=9861

thank you

[K. Z. Snow]

Promise I'll post an excerpt, or two, when I get a release date. Hang in there! (And that admonition is for me and my readers! )

[Maria]

Release Date: November 9.

[K. Z. Snow]

TA-DA! As promised, the first excerpt. Another coming shortly.

****RELOCATED TO SECOND POST****

[Hailey Edwards]

Looking forward to reading this one

[K. Z. Snow]

I hope more people are too, Hailey! As usual, it's hard to select excerpts that intrigue yet don't dish up any spoilers.

[Hailey Edwards]

Color me intrigued

I finally got to read Bastards and Pretty Boys last night. I've already been skimming your back list, but I think I want TBWYA the most. So... *pulls up chair to wait*

[K. Z. Snow]

You're such a sweetheart, Hailey. Thank you.

Have you read any of the books leading up to TBWYA? It isn't necessary, but some fans of the central characters have wanted to know the progression of their story.

In case you or anybody else is interested, InDescent is this book's immediate predecessor (as if you couldn't tell from the covers! ). The others are on my blog in the left sidebar, where my book covers are posted. There's a little introductory paragraph above them about the Jackson Spey-Adin Swift relationship arc.

[Hailey Edwards]

Originally Posted by K. Z. Snow

You're such a sweetheart, Hailey. Thank you.

Have you read any of the books leading up to TBWYA? It isn't necessary, but some fans of the central characters have wanted to know the progression of their story.

No, I haven't the other books yet. I kept seeing the excerpts and thinking I really needed to read one of your books, so Bastards and Pretty Boys was my first.

[K. Z. Snow]

To Be Where You Are isn't, strictly speaking, part of a "series" -- you know, where there's all kinds of world-building and such. The two main characters have appeared both separately and together in different books from different publishers, and each of these stories can be read as a stand-alone. But you'll get a better sense of the history and development of the men's relationship (and of them as individuals) if you read some of the earlier titles.

Bottom line: it's helpful but not crucial to read the books in order.

[Hailey Edwards]

Very cool. I plan to blog about this tomorrow, so thanks for putting my ducks in a row

[Gem Sivad]

K.Z. I am eager to read this one. Counting down with you, the clock is ticking :

gem

[K. Z. Snow]

I just left a comment on your blog, Hailey -- naughty me.

[K. Z. Snow]

You're a sweetheart, Gem!

[Hailey Edwards]

Originally Posted by K. Z. Snow

I just left a comment on your blog, Hailey -- naughty me.

I saw you being all sneaky like.

Happy Release Day!

[K. Z. Snow]

Thank you, darlin'. (I don't skulk very well, do I. ) You also got a shout-out at my blog.

[Rachel Fox]

Happy Release Day, KZ.

Rachel

[Hailey Edwards]

Originally Posted by K. Z. Snow

Thank you, darlin'. (I don't skulk very well, do I. ) You also got a shout-out at my blog.

I just saw that. You deserve the praise, you do good work, girlie.

Now, how much longer 'til I get my bookie? *glances at clock*

[Gem Sivad]

Happy Release Day, K.Z.

[Alanna Coca]

Happy Release Day!

[Maria]

Buy it now.

[Cat Kane]

Happy release day, K.Z.!!

[Hailey Edwards]

Originally Posted by Maria

Buy it now.

*clicks*

[Stephanie Adkins]

Happy Release Day!

[K. Z. Snow]

Thanks so much, guys. And congrats to Cat, Jan, and Brenda!

[Kayelle Allen]

Terrific title! I used to caution my kids on paying attention: "Be where you are." Focus. That fits this story perfectly. Congratulations on your new release.

[Jeanne Barrack]

WTG, KZ!!
Jeanne

[K. Z. Snow]

Wow, Kayelle, I wasn't aware the phrase was used that way. It adds a whole new dimension to the title!

Hey, Jeanne. Thanks so much, buddy.