Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.
Sahel: by Larry Benjamin
Waiting for the light to change so I could cross, I stared at the row of dilapidated houses—some with porches newly painted bright colors, others, lacking hope, were shrouded in their original dusty brick and crumbling brownstone—all squeezed together and leaning to the left as if in defiance of the hill on which they sat, which leaned to the right.
The light changed and I hurried across the street. I was practically shaking with fright and excitement. Tonight, I would ask Sahel to marry me. My nerves were as jangly as the wind chimes on the porch. The ring in my pocket seemed to be burning a hole in my pocket.
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Adel, Part 4: by Grace R. Duncan:
It took him a few days to get time, but finally on the third evening, he sat in a chair opposite Bathasar in front of the malik’s fire, sipping wine.
“Tell me what is on your mind, my friend,” Bathasar said, with a smile.
Adel scowled at him. “I can’t want to spend a bit of time with my friend?”
Bathasar laughed. “I know you too well, Adel. You prefer to spend your time more constructively than that. Though you ought to loosen up a little and enjoy yourself more.”
Adel shrugged. “I take time to read before bed.”
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My Guardian Angel Is A Cockblocker, CH 6: by Andrew Q. Gordon:
“Uncle Duncan.” It took a moment for Alex to notice the two other people in the room.
Nicholas sat near his desk and the other person had his back turned, but Alex’s chest seized when he recognized him. Duncan pushed back the material of his long trench coat drawing Alex’s attention away from the others.
“Out having fun?” His uncle’s question held more sneer than interest.
“I was.” He’d thought the night couldn’t get worse, but it had. “What do you want?”
Anger flashed for an instant then quickly disappeared. “Is that how you address me?”
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Myths, Secrets and Love 12: by Elyzabeth M. Valey:
“Relax, Rodric. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”
Rodric grunted. A tick made his eye twitch as he looked around the dirt coated streets. A whore tried to grab his arm and he shoved her away without an apology. How could he not be anxious when they were in uncharted territory? After the incident in Fairy land Arjä had directed him to this place. How she knew of it was beyond him. Of course, he’d heard of it. Any pirate and ill reputed sailor had, but no one ever stepped on Fire Island unless they had a very good reason.
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The Wretched Extra Dose: by BLmortica:
Ladies and gentlemen of Finnsbury Park, please respect the premises and avoid crowd surfing and moshing at all times. None of the aforementioned activities will be tolerated. Thank you
“Yeoooohhhhh!” Seemingly on cue, Nicolai screamed at the top of his lungs and gave horns to the audience the moment the curtains parted in front of us.
With the first drum beat I was already on ten, swinging my hair around like a demonic madman. Riding on some of the white powder I’d sniffed through my nostrils and pure adrenaline, I plucked those strings in rhythm with my partner in percussion as if my life depended on it. And despite my fingers having splinters from yesterday, the day before that and so on, no way would I give this up; the chance to be a heavy metal rock star, play in front of thousands of screaming teenagers, and get paid for it. Fucking well I might add.
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Darkest Before Dawn; by Shelly Schulz:
“That’s rich,” She muttered and got to her feet. “Shooting you ain’t neighborly, but you breakin in is?”
“Details, details.” He said from the doorway. She could hear him on the stairs. That she had seen spun circles in her mind, thinking hard about the new information. She could uproot, they could run. In all respects they should leave. It wasn’t smart to stay in one place, let alone with someone who could also pull ‘party tricks’ as Darren called them.
She stared at the heap of wood that was the kitchen table and pinched the bridge of her nose.
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Sunrise: by Victoria Adams:
J’dol took another swallow of the retched brew Sian called coffee. He did his best not to spit it across the room.
Sian faced him, holding a package of bacon and staring at him with a confused look. “What do you mean, No, I didn’t?”
He placed daisy covered the mug on the table. “You said, of course I’d understand as I’m the one who travelled forwards in time.”
“Uh-huh.” She dropped the package on the counter and moved to the table. “Somehow I think I’m going to need to sit down to hear this.”
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Controller – Chapter 17 : by Jon Keys:
The door was locked and my lights off. I huddled on the bed wrapped in a thick blanket. I’d showered twice, and still felt like I couldn’t get clean. I’d never experienced anything like this. My naiveté had been ripped away, and the mental anguish had been much worse than I’d expected.
There was a soft knock at the door. I want them to leave me alone. Can’t they get that?
“Nate. It’s Eli. Let me in. I need to know you’re okay.”
“Me too, Nate. Let us in.” The voice this time was Jaimie.
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It’s All in the Tips #7: by; A.R. Von:
I’m beyond grateful it’s now closing time. Marcia and Darla have locked up and have already done the ‘last call for alcohol’. There’s no way I would be able to ignore the pull, or force currently tugging me toward the bars piano.
This piano is the type you’d have seen long ago in a saloon, with gambling cowboys and all that good stuff. Apparently Linc has never been able to bring himself to get rid of it. Something about it being in his family for centuries, well at least that’s what he tells me.
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Dallas in Wonderland II: Chapter Four: by Julie Lynn Hayes:
Today’s session had ended as badly as any other. Why had Dallas dared to hope differently?
Hell if he knew.
Dallas didn’t have to work again until tomorrow night. Which worked out well for his sister, Paris, who’d begged his services as a babysitter for her son. Dallas didn’t mind watching the precocious eight-year-old and never had. Campbell had worked a long shift and crashed immediately afterward. He’d probably come across the hall and join them when he awoke. He and Oz got on like gangbusters, luckily. The boy needed some stability in his life. Living with ditzy Paris couldn’t be easy, Dallas knew only too well.
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In Sickness, Part 2: by Sarah Hayes:
Stein’s foot paused in mid tap. His fingers rested in a crooked angle against his collar. The silence that followed was off-putting. “Yes?” At least he was back to full words and sentences, short as that was. No more grunting, thank goodness.
“It’s time to get back in bed, okay? You need your rest.” Marie offered up a tired smile, as if she’d been more than happy to play nurse to his sick self.
“Do I?”
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Diventado: Becoming; by JC Wallace:
Owen’s eye widened as Turk took down Malcolm in three moves. That raw power and skill made him weak in the knees. If Owen hadn’t been scared shitless—and about to collapse onto the floor—he would have strolled right up and planted a scorching kiss on those gorgeous lips. Then he would reward Turk for his skills. Unfortunately, the thing inside of Owen got off on sucking the power out of humans through his dick. The realization that he’d never have sex again was almost as disappointing as knowing that he was going to have to die to kill the Incubus.
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Trouble Comes in Threes – #3: by; M.A. Church:
Rat-a-tat-ta… rat-a-tat-ta.
Jesus Christ, was that gunfire?
Voomp!
Okay, that sounded like something exploding. Someone start WWIII and forget to tell me?
“Incoming!”
“Take cover!”
What the hell?
“Captain, we’re outnumbered and cutoff from base. Retreat! We gotta retreat!”
“Abandon ship!”
Aw shit, that’s the TV. Stupid me left the son of a bitch on last night. Sounds like some kind of war movie. And why the hell can’t I open my eyes? Huh, maybe because I have my arm thrown over my face? Idiot.
Rat-a-tat-ta… rat-a-tat-ta.
I must be dreaming, or I just can’t get totally awake.
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The Find Among The Flames: by Lily Sawyer:
Tom’s job as a firefighter was a dangerous one, for sure, and it was never a dull one. They just never knew what they were walking into when the alarm went off.
“Hey Tom, what are you going to make for dinner?” Pete, one of Tom’s fellow firefighters and friends asked him. Each member of the station took turns cooking. Some were better at it than others.
“I’m trying something new—chicken and asparagus with cheddar cheese. I made it for Ben the other day and he loved it.”
“Sounds good. You’re a great cook. You should write a cookbook.”
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Catherine’s Revenge – Ch 14: by Nephylim:
“Did you not once say you have a special connection with your brother? I believe you called on it at one time.”
“Well, I can’t say for sure what it is, or what it means, but as twins we have always been very close. When we were younger we finished each other’s sentences and knew what the other was thinking. We still know how we’re feeling no matter how far apart. If I’m down or ill, Ash will call and vice versa.”
“Can you feel his sickness within you? Can you feel Catherine’s hand around his heart, her power possessing him?”
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Lost Inside: Chapter 5: by Cia Nordwell:
“It would never work. Your father’s plan to modernize the Tigers, I mean.”
Velaku cocked his head to one side. “Why not?”
“Birth defects and rising infant mortality rates aren’t enough to convince them, even when they had concrete research results from Tiger scientists and doctors. They cannot see past the way things were done to anything else, much less anything better.
“Sully the bloodlines or deign to ask for help without precedent? Tigers do not accept anything new or different. Hell”—Benny pointed at the Falcon’s house—”you have a perfect example of their reaction right there. What about…
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Uncool – #9: by Tali Spencer:
It didn’t take that long to jog down Locust Street toward the river, turning corners and dodging pedestrians and traffic until I reached the wall of blackened century old bricks and discreet signage marking the last traces of the Chase family’s stamp on the city.
The Steelyard had ceased to be one in the middle of the last century, though Great Valley Steel had kept this property and a skeleton warehousing operation. The property’s location recommended it, but nothing else. Even when I’d first seen the place, the buildings had been outdated and the land gritty with industrial debris.
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Pancakes and Passion Chapter 07: Why Not Take a Photo?: by Lily Velden
And still they stood there gawping like a pair of fish out of water.
I really would have to speak to Billy and Jason. Did they never get naked with their girls? By their stares it appeared they’d never seen an erect cock before.
“Why not take a photo? It lasts longer,” I muttered sarcastically, looking from one to the other pointedly.
My jibe was meant to wake the girls from their stupor.
It did.
Just not in the way I anticipated.
“Yeah. Oh yeah. Brilliant idea,” giggled Wingman, nodding in furious agreement while delving into her shorts pocket for her phone.
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Hope – Chapter 20: by Chris T. Kat:
I hurled myself through the door, and at least had enough common sense to put Shane down on the floor before I knelt in front of the toilet and retched. Death spell echoed in my mind in a constant loop, one I couldn’t find my way out of.
I was dimly aware of Shane standing next to me, pressing up against my side. Somehow the physical contact helped. Even though he was in the wrong body—too small, too much fur, too… just too different—he was alive.
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Thwarted – Part XXIV: by Renee Stevens:
“You’re going to what?” Gary set his coffee down and stared at his son.
“Live with Mark.” Trey smiled at Mark and turned to face his dad. “Before you even start, I already know what you’re going to say.”
“You think so?” Gary laced his fingers together on top of the table.
“Yep. You’re going to tell me that we’re moving way too fast”—Trey shrugged—“but you’re not telling us anything we haven’t already thought about.”
“Then why not wait?” Diane glanced at Mark. “Please don’t misunderstand, we’re glad Trey found someone, but shouldn’t you get to know each other better first?”
Wednesday Briefs 
Reblogged this on L.M. Brown and commented:
Check out who is flashing this week!