by Hunter, Kiran; Gregory, Elin; La Roche, Tristram; Hartsock, Dianne; George, Reneé
"So…" he began, his pale grey eyes wrinkled at the corners with concern.
"Greg." I touched his arm. "I saw them."
The breath left him in a sigh. "I'm sorry." He shook his head. "I couldn't say, not in front of the others, see. But at least now I know I'm not going daft. That I’m not the only one."
He was avoiding looking at me now and I wondered exactly what it was that he had seen. "Well, it was quite an experience." I grinned at him. “You don’t get anything as good as that on pay-per-view!”
Even in the dull pre-dawn light I saw his flush. "That Roman, all in his armor, diving out of the heather with a howl—scared me half to death the first time it happened."
"The first time? How many times did you—wait, what? You saw the Roman?"
"Dervacus, yes. All big nose and black eyes with a touch of grey in his hair."
"But I saw the other one," I told him. "Long hair and tattoos and…" I swallowed the memory of the taste of him, "a very big man." I glanced at the stone. “Madoc.”
Greg’s mouth opened and he took a deep breath. “Madoc’s stone, Maen Madoc, it’s called on the maps.” He pointed to it. “See there, on the edge? That bit of carving says ‘Dervacus, son of Justus, lies here’. They…they stoned him.”
We both winced at the thought of stones thudding into flesh, breaking bones. I wondered if Madoc had seen it or had been told about it later. Had he given up waiting, then, for a lover who couldn’t return?
Greg’s expression was stricken. “That’s what I saw last time I came,” he muttered. “That’s why I didn’t want you to come up here. Every other time…" He closed his eyes. "I was too late and they were too many to fight. I saw them cut him down and throw him into the heather. I covered his face and piled the rocks over him, and promised not to forget. I promised to wait.”
I touched his arm again, gripping it hard, pulling him back from the memory of that horrific flash of the past. “That was Madoc. That was then. You’re Greg and…” I gave his arm a shake. “Fate doesn’t have to be set in stone. Maybe good things do come to those who wait and, God knows, Madoc waited long enough. No reason you should. Not now.”
He looked at me then, properly, for the first time. Actually met my eyes rather than studying my ear as we talked, and I saw a little of his loneliness ease into interest and maybe just an enticing little spark of lust.
The air warmed against my cheek and light bloomed around us. But maybe this time it was the sunrise.
“Got any of that rum left?” he asked and grinned as I passed him the hipflask.
Author’s Note: Apologies to Maen Madoc a) for moving it a mile or two, b) for messing around with the timeline and c) for grabbing the opportunity to write about something that actually exists, which nobody would believe if you made it up.
~ About the Authors ~
Tristram La Roche
Tristram La Roche was born in London and spent much of his childhood in Europe. His career has included tourism and yacht charter, as well as a brief period working as a freelance journalist. His interests include travel, art, music, opera, cinema, books and current affairs, and he is passionate about the rights of the GLBT community. On My Knees, his debut romance, was published by Etopia Press. Fixed is his third novella and a fourth will be published late 2011, again by Etopia Press. Tristram lives in London with his husband.
Also by Tristram La Roche
On My Knees
Fixed
The Hun and the General
Find out more about Tristram here:
Website: http://tristramlaroche.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002276172449
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/tristramlaroche
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/tristramlaroche
Reneé George
Author Reneé George has been a medic, a nurse, a website designer, a small press editor, an artist, and a teacher, but writing sexy men is her true passion. Reneé loves creating stories about sexy alpha men who can't get enough of sexy alpha men (with the occasional strong woman in the mix)! She and her family live in a small, mid-western town, sharing their home with two dogs and a very independent cat.
Find out more about Reneé George here:
Website: http://www.romance-the-night.com/Renee_George
Twitter: http://twitter.com/reneegeorge2008
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=745898453
Newsgroup: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/renee_george_news
Dianne Hartsock
Dianne lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play.
She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write her tales. There’s something about being cooped up in the house while it pours rain outside and a fire crackles on the hearth inside that kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which she says is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
Also by Dianne Hartsock
Nathaniel
Phillip’s Watcher
Find out more about Dianne Hartsock here:
Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
FB: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock
Kiran Hunter
Kiran’s early years were spent living in Cyprus and, later, in Hertfordshire and Kent, England. London is home now, but the mountains of Wales often beckon. Kiran’s interests include psychology, philosophy, literature, art and music. Psychological thrillers fill the bookcase and rock music fills the iPod. The darker side of human nature is a constant fascination and the inspiration behind much of what Kiran writes, but sometimes it’s tempting to seek out the light...
Also by Kiran Hunter
Bedevil
Find out more about Kiran Hunter here:
http://kiranhunter.com
http://twitter.com/kiranhunter
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002531505612
http://goodreads.com/kiranhunter
Elin Gregory
Elin Gregory has been story telling for as long as she can remember and writing the stories down for almost as long. She lives in the beautiful area between England and Wales, is married with two grown up children, and looks back fondly on the days when she was limber enough to fence, ride horses, and shoot a longbow.
Also by Elin Gregory
Alike as Two Bees
Find out more about Elin Gregory here:
http://elingregory.com
http://elin-gregory.livejournal.com/
http://elingregory.dreamwidth.org/
http://elingregory.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/ElinGregory
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/2fingerstyping
~ More Halloween Heat Stories ~
Halloween Heat I
Erotic Paranormal M/M
Tristram La Roche, Reneé George, Dianne Hartsock, Kiran Hunter, Elin Gregory
Halloween Heat II
Erotic Paranormal Ménage
Rachel Firasek, Selena Illyria, Dawn Montgomery
Halloween Heat III
Erotic Paranormal Romance M/F
Milly Taiden, Lilly Morgan, C.P. Foster, Lillian Diamante, Antonia Van Zandt
Halloween Heat IV
Erotic Contemporary Romance M/M
Tara Lain, AC Fox
Halloween Heat V
Erotic Contemporary Ménage
Alyssa Turner, Jennifer James, Eden Summers, Vristen Pierce, Ana Maria Pasion
Halloween Heat VI
Erotic Contemporary Romance M/F
Mina Carter, Brooklyn Wilde, Sue Lyndon,
Table of Contents
Copyright Warning
Love Lies Deep
Idle Hands
Costumes
Eden
Set in Stone
~ About the Authors ~
~ More Halloween Heat Stories ~
Table of Contents
Copyright Warning
Love Lies Deep
Idle Hands
Costumes
Eden
Set in Stone
~ About the Authors ~
~ More Halloween Heat Stories ~
Table of Contents
Copyright Warning
Love Lies Deep
Idle Hands
Costumes
Eden
Set in Stone
~ About the Authors ~
~ More Halloween Heat Stories ~