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.
After my first love, no matter what relationship I had, it got compared to it – compared to him in some way. Mainly the kiss – Was it better? Was it worse? Did it need more or less tongue? How did our height compare?
Regardless of whether my first love was a sinner or a saint, or who broke up with whom; the fact remained that, we shared a number of firsts. And they became the benchmark for every relationship that followed.
I’m not saying that my first love was the first man I was in a clinch with – hell no.
Let Me In: Chapter 22 By Carol Pedroso
“Listen very carefully, I will say this only once,” Cade addressed the crowd of reporters standing in the small front yard.
“My mate is deaf and mute. He can read lips and either sign to you or send his thoughts into your mind. If anyone here doesn’t wish for him to ‘speak’ to their mind leave now.”
No one moved so Cade continued, “Now, this is how this is going to work. I am going to give you a statement, then my mate will. Then and only then will we be answering your questions.
Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
“I can’t believe we’re sitting here waiting for your guest. I’m hungry and he’s late.” Finn stomped back and forth, fiddling with the gaslight knobs and edges of gilded portraits along the wall.
“Don’t be upset with me. I didn’t arrange any of this,” I said.
Father’s voice rose over mine. “Listen to me carefully. I will not accept any defiance from you tonight, Nathan. Present yourself as a dignified young man.”
“Yes, sir.”
I refrained from mentioning Finn’s boorish manners, but as the eldest, he held the privilege of speaking his thoughts without knowing the sting of reprimand.
Don’t Look Back #58 (11.3) by Julie Lynn Hayes
They decided to take the sedan. Lee drove, with Marshall beside him, and Roy in the backseat.
Marshall had trouble wrapping his head around the idea this would be the last time they went to Milly’s. The last time they would see their friends and neighbors, people he’d come to know and like over the past eight years, ever since Burnham became his home. More than that, these people were like his extended family. Everyone in Burnham looked out for everyone else, presenting a close-knit united front to the rest of the world. The thought they might now despise him and Lee, might have some pretty nasty things to say to them and about them, was a painful one.
Lee reached for Marshall’s hand and held it clasped in his on top of his thigh. “We can do this,” Lee said softly. He squeezed Marshall’s hand gently. Marshall returned the squeeze.
Fortitude: Part Forty-two by Cia Nordwell
“We did it.” Teddy and I sat facing each other in the carriage on the way back to my parent’s house. I had my hands folded together, but Teddy was sitting on his to hide the trembling. We were both riding a natural high, but the prospect of what we were about to do loomed high.
“You did it.” He’d led us through the dusty tunnels, eventually leading down to the cell. Better, we’d found keys just inside a heavy, wooden door that led to the cells. I’d snagged them and tried each key on the door until one opened
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The Adored One: Chapter 3 by Kazy Reed
“You don’t need to be afraid,” Philip answered. “Once you have saved Max, and your task is complete, you will spend eternity as an Adored One.”
“So, I’ll be whisked away, up through the Pearly Gates to float around?”
“Something like that,” the dark angel laughed. “There are no gates, though. Just peace.”
I tried to think of the place where my father had gone. “What’s it like? Heaven, I mean.”
Michael beamed. “Words cannot describe it! Imagination cannot render a likeness of its beauty. A million hearts could not contain the love and happiness that flows in God’s presence.”
I’ve rarely seen father so angry, or heard him laugh so loud. What’s going on? I’m so confused. I hear Jandra and Tian speaking in the other room but my whole attention is on stopping myself from shaking apart.
I will never give up my bonded, and if my father demands it I will have to choice but to stand against him. That is something I have never dared to do and I fear the first time will be the last time. In truth I don’t know why we still live. Is he playing with us? But my mother…. She would not be part of my death, and she knows me well enough to think I would let Tian face the executioner alone.
Stormlords: Part 3 by Ravon Silvius
“Would you like to come with me?” The man asked. His voice was deep, reverberant in Rowen’s chest. Around them, the storm raged, thatch blowing off of soaking roofs and water pouring from eaves and out of overfull water jars.
Rowen opened his mouth, but of course he could not speak. He shut it, blinking slowly. Was this death?
“Will you come?” The man moved farther away, hovering, and looked up. “If you don’t, the storm will probably kill you.”
Rowen could not speak. But he reached out, and the man smiled.
“Come then.” He knelt down, grabbing Rowen and hoisting him like a child. Pain from the sunburns screamed across his body, but he could not cry out. If this was death, it was not what he had expected.
Wednesday Briefs 