by Graylin Rane
The tears streaked down my face as I let go. The man holding me wasn’t Jorge and yet, it felt right. “I need—no, wait. I want my children’s approval.”
“I understand.”
We brushed our teeth before getting showered, separately. I even managed to glance at the powered showerhead without feeling guilty.
Chapter Five
Once dressed, I called Amy. “I need a family party planned.”
“That was quick.” She was groggy. “Either you’ve already fallen in love or getting laid for the first time in years screwed up your judgment.”
I was over blushing, for now. “A little of both.”
She announced my new sexually active status to her husband. “Good. About damn time. You want me to call the kids?”
“I’ve got that covered.”
Arranging the family dinner was easy once Carlos was involved. He called his siblings, they made travel plans, and he would host us at the restaurant. In two weeks, Anteros would meet my family.
Until then, he had to pass Amy’s inspection. The knock on the door came thirty minutes after we got dressed.
She burst through the open door, leaving her husband to shrug his shoulders behind her. I felt a breeze as she passed me by, scanning the room for my living statue.
“Get into your suits, people. I’m up before 2 p.m. This means drinks by the pool.” She finished speaking as Anteros walked around the kitchen counter. “Holy shit. You’re the hottest man I’ve ever seen. Julia, you’re aware he looks eighteen?”
“Oh, yeah.” I couldn’t keep the lust out of my voice.
Amy laughed. “Good.” She walked over and hugged him. Even resisted the urge I know she had to smack his ass. If her husband hadn’t been there, she would’ve asked him to strip. She still might’ve.
Once in the bedroom changing into swimsuits, Anteros looked more comfortable. His muscles weren’t bunched up like they appeared when Amy blew in the door.
“Don’t let her intimidate you, she’s protective.” I was feeling that way about him at that moment.
He laughed, kissing me. “My darling, I’m thousands of years old. I’d like her approval, but you’re the only person whose opinion matters to me.”
“Thousands of years?” He could pass for a high school kid. Something I knew I would have to explain to my kids. They looked older than my new man. Maribel would be the exception. She’d give me thumbs up.
“Yes. I wear it well.”
I smacked his ass.
“Anytime, beautiful. Any time.” He kissed me so hard I thought about making love to him with my friends outside.
He did too. “We could leave the blinds open, that way you wouldn’t have to tell her how I was, she’ll hear it.”
A flush warmed my cheeks. No way would I do that. Amy would grab her phone and make it a ring tone.
He was amused. “Teasing, my dear. Let’s go impress your friends.”
We did. Amy was so enamored of him. She spent the entire afternoon listening to him speak about living in Ancient Greece. Even her husband approved. He pulled me aside at one point saying, “He looks at you the way I look at Amy. You may have reservations about him, but I don’t see a single one on his face.”
Amy pulled her man away, shoving off to the guys’ end of the pool. I don’t know what they discussed. Probably, how crazy we were.
“There’s a brain inside that body.” Amy was surprised.
“Yes.” Frankly, so was I.
“A good one. He likes literature, poetry, history, mythology, and everything you do.”
“It’s not history or mythology to him, Amy. He was there.” Glancing across the pool as light highlighted each small wave, I caught a wink from him. “He met Aristotle and Plato, saw Shakespeare’s plays performed for the first time, heard the greatest composers of music as it was originally intended.”
“All that knowledge packed into a hot as hell twenty-something body with zero percent body fat. I’m jealous.” She sounded a little green with envy.
“If the kids approve….” I let the thought trail.
“They will. He’s falling for you, and you’re lit up and happy. It’s all they want. Maribel may ask you to send pictures of him in a speedo.” She laughed.
My daughter would do that. “I hope they like him. It’s been moments, yet it matters to me.”
“It only takes moments.” She splashed me.
We ordered dinner. The deliveryman, used to me answering the door, raised his eyebrows when he saw Anteros, jeans hanging loose on his hips and nothing else. Amy and I peeked around the kitchen corner, laughing like teenagers.
“Girls, you did that on purpose. The poor child looked stricken with something.” His eyes were filled with joy. He really hadn’t been around people for a while.
“We promise to only do that a few more times.” Amy crossed her fingers behind her back.
“Amy,” I teased. “Once more. Maybe.”
When they left, we were full and happy. It was the most joyful night in that house for years. I treasured it. Amy made me swear to marry him the second he asked as she left.
He heard her. “We can marry when you are ready.”
I hadn’t thought of that before. “How many wives have you had?”
“God or human?”
“Maybe I don’t want to know.”
“I’ll answer if you ask.” He saw I was crawling back into my shell.
“Take me to bed so I’ll forget the question.” I fought back tears. I didn’t want to share him. Even in the past.
“Yes, my lady.” He picked up me and carried me to bed.
We made love all night. The next day, I couldn’t walk, so he carried me to the hot tub. I returned to work that afternoon, Amy by my side. We covered every gruesome story in South Florida for the next two weeks. I was confident and loving my nights beside Anteros. We watched movies, television, read books, and made love.
I was happy. It was time to meet my family. If sparks were going to fly, the fourth was the best time for it. At that point, I still cared what they thought, but I would’ve kept my man even if they had a problem with it. He brought joy back to my heart. I clutched my handbag a little tighter.
I grabbed for his hand. “I will stay with you, no matter what they say.”
He kissed my palm, making me swerve on the road. “I know. You won’t be happy without their approval, not completely.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence.
Seated at the table in front me were all of my children—sons, daughters, in laws, and grandchildren. Carlos and his staff covered the place with ribbons; each place setting had a cupcake with a small American flag in it. The love in the room was palpable. Standing to make a toast, as Jorge no longer could, I got choked up.
“No, Mom. Dad made me promise.” Carlos put his hand on my shoulder as he joined me. “Family. It’s the most important thing in our lives because we are connected by love. Papa knew this most of all. He fought to keep us all together, only allowing the girls to move to Spain if their grandparents were down the road. Tonight, I’ve seen something I didn’t know was possible. Another man looking at my mother with the same love and devotion as my father.”
Anteros stood up next to me as my knees gave way. “I’ve got you.”
His cheeks were damp. “Are you crying?”
“I’m a god. There’s a breeze.”
My family welcomed my new love that night. Eating food, laughing, and telling childhood stories as we used to. He listened intently to all of them, whispering to me, “I’m learning about your life through the people who love you.”
I knew at that moment I was his, for my lifetime and eternity. We finished dinner, walking hand in hand to the beach, and made out under the fireworks.
Candy Man Delivery Service:
Tastes Like Chocolate – Release 1/18/2014
Irish Cream Dreams – Release 3/10/2014
White Chocolate Cherry – Summer 2014
<
br /> Apple Cinnamon Swirl – Early Fall 2014
Hot Caramel Passion – Halloween 2014
Dark Chocolate Peppermint – Christmas 2014
Coming Home by Graylin Fox
Your Biggest Fan by Graylin Fox
The Princess of the Summer Fae (previously Contagion, Bloodlines, and The Legacy) – new revised version release date TBD in 2014
Death Dealer by Rane Sjodin
Graylin Rane Fox / Rane Sjodin
Graylin Rane Fox / Rane Sjodin is a fantasy, and suspense author and poet. She began writing poetry in 1993 with her first poem published in 1995. In 2008, her characters demanded a larger format and she began to expand her stories into the short fiction market.
Graylin Fox: Decadent Publishing published, Coming Home, an urban fantasy 1/1/11. Her short story series, Summer Fae, began with Contagion and continued with Bloodlines in 2012. The full series will be released as a single novel. In summer of 2011, Decadent Publishing released Your Biggest Fan, a psychological thriller.
Graylin Rane: Self-publishing her Candy Man Delivery Service Stories, some in conjunction with the Red Hot authors begun in January 2014. There will be six stories in this series for 2014. More Red Hot to come in the future!
Rane Sjodin: Dark Urban Fantasy is a passion of Rane’s. Her Arcane Court Series began with Death Dealer on 10/28/13. It continues with Red Lady in fall of 2014. There will be a number of standalone offshoot novellas set in this world as well. Look for Arcane Court on the covers.
Her poetry can be found both in print and electronically. Lessons was published by The Stray Branch, #8, Fall/Winter 2011. Unconditional Love published by Moon Washed Kisses in their debut edition. Dark Encounter was published in Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Summer 2010 Issue. Folded In Darkness was published by Dark Horizons. Issue 57, September 2010. Blood Bound was published by House of Horror, Issue 17. It was chosen to be in House Of Horrors 2010 Anthology.
She lives close to the beach where she practices psychology during the week. Her life is full of friends, family, and four-legged furry creatures. Graylin Rane can be found at RaneSjodin.com and GraylinFox.com.
Red Hot & BOOM! Series Blurbs and Links
A Slow Burn
Tigris Eden
In the Fictional town of Beauville, anything is possible.
Annabelle Macon left home to become somebody. When fired from her job in New York, she’s anxious to come home. Home is where the heart is, and her heart has always been set on Jackson Storme. But when opportunity presents Anna with an exciting new job back in New York, she doesn’t know what to do.
Sheriff Jackson Storme is happy being deemed a player. He hasn’t found the one woman to call his own, and that’s okay with him. When his baby sister pulls up to the Fourth of July picnic and her passenger steps out, Jackson realizes his woman has made herself known.
Will Anna and Jackson’s fire only burn for one night, or can he convince her that the best burn is a Slow burn…
http://www.authortigriseden.com/stories-from-beauville.html
********
Return to Her
Alexandra O’Hurley
Cheated on and dumped, Cassie Summers feels nothing but relief. She’d stayed too long, and honestly, it was her attraction to her ex’s roommate Mason that kept her hanging on past the expiration date. Mason makes her heart beat faster and her panties damp. Too bad he’s only a friend, as she’s not his type.
Mason Parker’s Southern charm and good looks let him through a lot of doors—and into beds. A protective instinct a mile wide pushes Mason to be Cassie’s shoulder when his roommate skips town, and he has to face his real feelings for her. Can he find the patience to just be the friend Cassie needs while she gets over her ex?
When Mason’s called for duty and has to ship out for a year, he knows he can’t leave without telling her exactly how he feels. Amid the fireworks on the Fourth of July, they’ll make their own sparks and give in to the crushing need both have for one another.
http://www.alexandraohurley.com/p/red-hot-and-boom.html
********
Sparks Fly
Mari Carr
I Do is the easy part. Happily ever after? Not so much.
Evan and Annie are deeply in love, but that hasn't stopped tension from creating cracks in their relationship. Determined not to fail his wife, Evan takes action before those cracks become craters, damaging their marriage irreparably. Over the Fourth of July weekend, he'll reignite Annie's passion with his own brand of fireworks.
Stand back and watch the sparks fly.
www.maricarr.com/books/
********
Naughty Girls Do
Jodi Redford
Lexie Winters is on a mission—to lose her good girl image and tempt resident bad boy, Ash Bodry, into her bed. Tired of being treated like his kid sister, it’s past time for her to play dirty. She has her work cut out for her though when it comes to the sinfully sexy yet incredibly frustrating man.
As far as Ash is concerned, Lexie is strictly off limits. Not only are they friends, her dad just happens to be the sheriff, and years ago the man steered Ash away from a life of crime. No way is he repaying that favor by giving into his wicked fantasies of Lexie. But when the little vixen strolls into his tattoo parlor and requests a very naughty piercing, Ash’s honorable intentions are tested to their limits.
Now that Lexie’s hammered the first chink in Ash’s defenses, and he’s sweating bullets, there’s no chance in hell she’s settling for his hands off policy. Even if it means some flirty strip tease action and late night skinny dipping to convince him that this newfound naughty girl will do whatever it takes to get her man.
http://www.jodiredford.com/More_Books.html
********
For Liberty
Rene Folsom
While deployed overseas, his mission classified, the heartfelt letters Maximus writes are the only bits of communication Liberty receives during the year he is away. Her memories of him, along with a box full of letters, become her most prized possessions—that and the life growing inside her.
It’s not until communication stops, and the scheduled return of her Army hero comes and goes, that Libby begins to freak out. Her worry for his welfare, along with concern over her current situation, wreaks havoc on her once-solid nerves.
While she’s waiting for his return with bated breath, she clings to hope and remembers the words he once wrote: “A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind.” The infamous quote is a constant reminder of why he chooses to fight: For Liberty.
http://renefolsom.com/2014/04/for-liberty/
********
White Chocolate Cherry
Graylin Rane
Julia is getting ready for work, her camerawoman and best friend Amy by her side, when a notice is left at her door. She’s been chosen to receive a sculpted chocolate man picked personally by Eros to fulfill her romantic and sexual needs.
While other women would jump at the offer, Julia is torn. It’s been three years since she lost her beloved Jorge after twenty-five years of wedded bliss. How would she explain a chocolate man to her six kids?
Anteros is carved perfection, luscious, and gorgeous with a surprise for her. He loves books and discussing history, he backs away when she feels a loyalty pull to her lost husband, respects her devotion to family. Time and patience pay off as Julia slowly opens her home, her body, and her heart.
http://www.graylinfox.com/candy-man-delivery-service-stories/white-chocolate-cherry/
********
Firecracker
Desiree Holt
Dani DeLuca is known as Firecracker, as much for her hot rides as a barrel racer as for her long, luxurious red hair. When she takes first place in the Fourth of July Golden Spur Rodeo she decides it’s time to celebrate with some real fireworks. And who better to create those sparks than Chad Bailey, bull breeder, and Brody Hunter, champion bull rid
er. Dani’s never experienced a ménage but she’s sure if she did Chad and Brody would be the ideal candidates.
Chad and Brody have been rodeo friends with Firecracker for a long time but they’ve never taken it beyond that. For one thing they didn’t want to ruin a great relationship. For another, they were all too aware that she didn’t play on the circuit. But over some time sparks have been simmering between them, sparks that are just waiting to be ignited.
The two men take Dani to a classy hotel for an elegant dinner and night of celebration. But all through dinner the air around them crackles with sexual electricity and when they give in to the desires gripping them all, the Fourth of July fireworks have nothing on the sparks between Dani, Chad and Brody.
www.desireeholt.com
********
Come With Me
Sable Hunter and Ryan O’Leary
Lacy spends her time planning events at a country club. Her latest and greatest project is the big Fourth of July celebration. Fireworks lighting up the sky – Red Hot and Boom! She loves the excitement and the spectacular display of sparkles and heat gives her a thrill. The only problem is… Lacy has never had any fireworks of her own. Despite having to listen to her friends tell of their sexual escapades, she has never experienced the big ‘O’. According to the only man she’s ever given herself to, Lacy is frigid. Is something wrong with her or has she just not met the right man for the job?