Weekend Writing Warriors – The Brush Off

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Welcome friends old and new. I’m glad you came. Today, I’m sharing from my second release, UNTANGLE ME.

Ivy is a young event planner and she’s completely smitten with her newest client, the ultra successful businessman, Seth. LAST WEEK: Ivy remembered why she doesn’t go after men like Seth THIS WEEK: I’ve skipped ahead to the next morning when Seth finds Ivy at her office. He’s not ready to let her go. He’s brought her flowers and he’s just asked her to lunch. Let’s see how Ivy gets out of this one.

“I’ll be chained to the desk for the rest of the day. We’re in the middle of planning our next affair.” Her eyes widened for a second and then she turned to place the flowers on the reception desk. She stuck out her hand. “Thanks again for choosing Reed & Company.”

“Another time, then.” He grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed. “Goodbye, Ivy.”

So, do you think this is it for our star crossed lovers? Their connection is definitely real, but it may be a bit tangled. <~ You can <tweet that> if you want. Come back next Sunday for another snippet or find the buy links below and read it today.

Click here to add UNTANGLE ME to your Goodreads TBR list

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn untangleme 300out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

BUY LINKS:

Evernight | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

Thank you so much for visiting me, it means a lot to me that you took the time to visit my little place on the web. Don’t forget to check out the other Weekend Warriors, the Snippet Sunday Facebook Group, and Saturday Spankings too.

UNTANGLE ME by S.J. Maylee Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Happy Holidays everyone. Today is the last day to enter my Release Party GIVEAWAY for UNTANGLE ME. Below I’ve included all the book details, an EXCLUSIVE excerpt, a link to my first review (5-Stars!) and the rafflecopter for my Giveaway. Don’t forget to visit my Appearances page to visit my friends across the web. They have a different excerpt and different guest posts, like my 5-things & 10-things about UNTANGLE ME. Plus, there’s one post that includes some of the inspiration behind the book. They all have my rafflecopter too. Enjoy!

untangleme 300

Untangle Me

by: S.J. Maylee

Genre: Erotic Romance with D/s

Length: Novelette

Published: December 5, 2013

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

UNTANGLE ME BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

click to see UNTANGLE ME on Goodreads

An EXCLUSIVE Excerpt from UNTANGLE ME :

Seth walked out of her office and her life. Ivy was confident she’d done the right thing. A few minutes in his presence and she was working chains and affairs into her sentences. Not only was he was out of her league, but she was pretty sure mister professional would be uncomfortable with her sexual preferences.

“What were you thinking? You don’t have any appointments today,” Candy said.

“It’s for the best. He might be interested now, but not after he gets to know me.” She rubbed at her forehead. “Maybe I will take the rest of the day off. Suddenly, my head is killing me.”

“Good for you. Fridays are the best for taking off early.” She pointed her pen right at Ivy. “Maybe after a day off you’ll start making sense again, because right now, I’m only hearing crazy talk.” She got up and walked into Ivy’s office.

“Nice.”

“You always told me to be honest,” she said as she came back with Ivy’s purse.

“I did. I see now how that’s backfiring on me.” Ivy took her purse. “See you Monday. Call me if anything comes in and don’t forget to check new clients against the black list.”

“Ugh.” Candy threw up her hands. “That’s what I forgot to do last week. I’m so sorry.”

“That’s okay, but don’t forget to go back and check everyone.”

“I’m going to do that today. I promise.” Candy ran around the desk and wrote on the notepad.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s hard when things get busy.”

“Thank you. Now, get out of here and go have some fun.”

“Will do,” she said with the biggest smile she could muster. Ivy grabbed the dollar bill from the vase and walked out of the office.

She hadn’t taken an afternoon off in over a year. It felt like she was playing hooky and she had no idea what to do. All her friends were working. Shopping alone was no fun.

Maybe she could pick up an extra training session at Club Voyage. Ivy had only joined the BDSM club a couple months ago, after an enlightening conversation with her cousin’s girlfriend, but it was the first time her sexual preferences had made any sense. The dues were steep and worth every penny. It was the one luxury she indulged in.

She sent a text to her trainer, Master Marcus and walked out the front door. Sunshine heated her skin. She stopped and smiled up at the sky taking in the moment. What a beautiful day.

“Someone must have canceled on you.”

She lowered her head and spotted Seth standing next to a sleek black car. Heat lit up her cheeks. Maybe if she didn’t move, she could blend into the pavement and disappear, never to be seen again.

“Please tell me someone had the bad taste to cancel because I know you didn’t just lie to me, right?”

“I thought you would have been gone already.” She clasped a hand over her mouth.

“That’s fine.” His easy smile told her he wasn’t lying either. “I’d rather you be honest with me, even if it does hurt my feelings.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure how that slipped out.”

“I’m not sorry. Now you can make it up to me.” He opened his car door. “I’m taking you to lunch.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. His smile was gone. It was no longer a question. She soaked in his command and stepped into his car without thinking it through.

____________________________________________________

Review:

“Untangle Me is a quick, sexy. and easy afternoon read spiced by a touch of BDSM. An enjoyable read with engaging characters.”

BUY LINKS:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

____________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate the release of UNTANGLE ME,
I’m giving away one $15 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

____________________________________________________

Weekend Writing Warriors – No Fairy Tales Here

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Welcome friends old and new. I’m glad you came. Today, I’m sharing from my second release, UNTANGLE ME.

Ivy is a young event planner and she’s completely smitten with her newest client, the ultra successful businessman, Seth. LAST WEEK: Ivy let herself get lost in Seth as she watched him command the room THIS WEEK: I’ve skipped nothing.

Within minutes, his auction of trips to exotic locales and plane rides to Mackinaw City and Door County had earned his charity thousands, and before he was done the wealthy group had given enough to surpass his goal. It seemed they donated to charity with the same amount of thought she put into buying a movie ticket.

The little bit of fun she’d had with Seth over the last week and the desire he’d awakened made Ivy forget her place. She looked down at her shoes. She might be able to afford a nice pair of high heels now, but even they pushed her budget. This group was a fickle bunch, one she couldn’t help work for, but one she no longer wanted in any other part of her life. She had first-hand experience with the damage they created for fun. She wanted Seth, but she wanted nothing to do with his lifestyle.

Their connection is definitely real, but it may be a bit tangled. <~ You can <tweet that> if you want. Come back next Sunday for another snippet or find the buy links below and read it today.

Click here to add UNTANGLE ME to your Goodreads TBR list

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn untangleme 300out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

BUY LINKS:

Evernight | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

Thank you so much for visiting me, it means a lot to me that you took the time to visit my little place on the web. Don’t forget to check out the other Weekend Warriors, the Snippet Sunday Facebook Group, and Saturday Spankings too.

Flash Fiction #52 – and the Christmas Blog Hop

Thanks for stopping. Another picture…another 100 words.

Plus, we’re not just flashing today. A bunch of us are celebrating the season with a Christmas Blog Hop starting today through December 16th.

December 8, 2013

“Is there anyone in here? Call out.”

She’d yet to gather all her memories and she’d be damned if she’d call out before she was ready.

The door behind her cracked and split in two. She turned to her bag and shoved in the picture of her parents.

“The fire’s coming. Let’s go.”

“Not yet.” This fucking world had taken enough from her. “Just one more picture, please.”

He hauled her over his shoulder and tipped her world over. “It’s not worth losing you.”

She wiggled and swung her bag at him.

He slapped her ass. “Enough, I’ve got you.”

________________________________

Hope you enjoyed my flash today!!

For my Christmas Blog Hop giveaway, I’ll be giving away one ecopy of my debut, TAKING CHANCES. Find the rafflecopter below.

takingchances1m

5 Star Review: “Taking Chances, is a must read for anyone who wants a great story, well written, smoking hot smexy scenes and an oh so hot hero.”

5 Star Review: “Taking Chances is SJ Maylee’s debut novel and she does an excellent job of creating interesting characters searching for connection while providing enough kink and spice to heat things up.”

5 Star Review: “it’s well written, there’s no slw moments and it’s packed full of hot sexual tension”

BLURB:

Lydia’s father walked away from her when she was eight. She’s struggled to not let him affect her, but fears she wasn’t loveable enough to make him stay. Jake wants to love one woman, but after scaring the last woman he met outside of the club, he doubts he deserves the right. She protects her heart by sticking with her fantasies and he lives by a set of rules that excludes women who choose a vanilla lifestyle.

The two will be kept in a conference room working together until their special project is complete. If Lydia and Jake hold tight to their bland lives, they’ll always yearn for love that is out of reach. Together they find common ground, passion, and a reason to take chances. Once they discover the grand possibilities of the love they desire, they find themselves in the very place they tried never to be again, facing unguaranteed loved.

BUY LINKS: Evernight | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Enter to win SJ’s Giveaway through this rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the rest of the Christmas Blog Hoppers here or through this list. So, hop and have fun.

1. Naomi Shaw   2. Muffy Wilson 3. Doris O’Connor 4. Michaela Rhua    5. Fierce Dolan  6. J S Morbius 7. Is me 🙂 8. Dariel Raye      9. Raven McAllan

________________________________

Don’t forget to follow the link to get to the other FFF posts. Flasher Fiction Friday. Or click away on the links below.

J S Morbius: http://morbiussworld.blogspot.co.uk/
Doris O’Connor: http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.co.uk/
Michaela Rhua: http://michaelarhuaauthor.blogspot.co.uk
Fierce Dolan: http://www.fiercedolan.com
Naomi Shaw: www.authornaomishaw.com
Muffy Wilson: http://muffywilson.blogspot.com
Pablo Michaels: http://www.pmmanmanromance.com
Leann Mitchell: http://www.leannmitchell.blogspot.com
Raven McAllan: http://www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.com
Michelle Howard: www.michellehowardwrites.com
Dariel Raye: http://www.pendarielraye.blogspot.com

Daily Picspiration – A Bench Out of Reach with Roxanne and Jonathon

– Don’t miss my Release Party for UNTANGLE ME –

I’m back at Daily Picspiration today with a brand new flash and it’s also listed below. This is the fifth flash in the story of Roxanne and Jonathon. I haven’t been telling their story from beginning to end which has been strangely fun. 🙂 Today’s flash enters the story line right in the middle of it all. You can find all the flashes listed in story order on my Roxanne & Jonathon page here.

RandJ banner

A Bench Out of Reach  (Jonathon’s POV)

Jonathon kicked the gravel under his feet. It had already been seven long days since they’d taken him from Roxanne and dropped him at the opposite end of the world. The fates had offered no explanation for their interruption, something they’d always done in the past. They’d only told him to look for the bench. The change in their tactics had festered like a tick under his skin.

The bench he and Roxanne so often shared was nowhere to be found and with each passing day she slipped further and further away.

He worried about Roxanne, he could only hope they were leaving her alone, but if they changed one tactic, he wouldn’t put it past them to change another. The bastards would pay regardless. Every second without his Roxanne felt like an eternity of agonizing deaths.

The rumble of a train in front of him broke into his thoughts. He looked up and watched the passing train. One train car had its large doors wide open. There was nothing inside but a bench.

“Fuck.”

Jonathon took off. His knees pulling up higher and higher with each punishing stride. A spark ran through his legs and he felt the pull. If only he could get to the bench, they’d take him back to his heart’s desire. They’d have to do it, if only he could reach the bench. The train picked up its speed and with each second got further away. He tripped and rolled down the embankment. Stone tore into his palms and burned a stinging path to his heart.

_________________

I have so much more I want to add to this story, more to add to the beginning, middle, and the end. I’ll share another flash soon You’ll have to let me know if you have a preference  on what part of the story you want to read next.

Hope you enjoyed my flash. Visit Daily Picspiration to read a little about each contributing author. You can go back daily for something new and go today to see the pictures that inspired these words.

See all of my flashes at Daily Picspiration here –> http://picspiration.blogspot.com/search?q=S.J.+Maylee

Weekend Writing Warriors – Seth Takes Command

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Welcome friends old and new. I’m glad you came. Today, I’m sharing from my second release, UNTANGLE ME.

Ivy is a young event planner and she’s completely smitten with her newest client, the ultra successful businessman, Seth. LAST WEEK: Seth found Ivy where she stood looking for him at the event and he wrapped his strong hand around her. THIS WEEK: I skipped just a handful of sentences. Seth has asked Ivy a question and she answered … well, you’ll have to read the book to find out. 😉 Here are the very next 8 sentences.

She wanted everything his look promised. Heat spread across her pussy.

“I better start my talk or we’ll never get out of here.” He pulled her a little closer and she relaxed into him, not wanting him to let go, but he did. He strolled to the podium and took command of the room.

Seth captured everyone’s attention. It was like watching the sun drift from high in the sky to reach out into several brilliant shades of rich color. Each shift of his body and rumble of his deep voice pulled her in.

Their connection is definitely real, but it may be a bit tangled. <~ You can <tweet that> if you want. Come back next Sunday for another snippet or find the buy links below and read it today.

Click here to add UNTANGLE ME to your Goodreads TBR list

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn untangleme 300out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

BUY LINKS:

Evernight | Amazon

All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

Thank you so much for visiting me, it means a lot to me that you took the time to visit my little place on the web. Don’t forget to check out the other Weekend Warriors, the Snippet Sunday Facebook Group, and Saturday Spankings too.

Release Day Party for UNTANGLE ME

Click here for the Thankfully Naughty Giveaway Hop!

untangleme 300Welcome to my release day party. I’m so glad you came. UNTANGLE ME is here! I love Evernight Publishing’s Romance on the Go line and now I have a ROTG of my very own. 😀 Below you’ll find a little glimpse at the hero and heroine, the BLURBBUY LINKS. and a GIVEAWAY. I’m also visiting lots of friends who have excerpts and giveaways too. You can find all the links on my Appearances page as they become available. I’m visiting four friends today!

Untangle Me is a novelette. The book may be short, but I don’t skimp on the story or any of the emotion that drives these characters to beautiful places.

The heroine of UNTANGLE ME is Ivy Reed. She is the cousin of Jake Reed, the hero from my debut, TAKING CHANCES. Here is one thought she has in the beginning of this story. 

UTM Quote Ivy newYou can read more from this scene in my post from this past Sunday’s Weekend Writing Warrior’s. I share snippets every Sunday from my published/unpublished books.

Now, here’s a tease from Seth Marsh, the hero from UNTANGLE ME.

UTM Quote Seth 2 new

You’ll have to get your own copy of UNTANGLE ME to find out how Ivy responded.

Although Untangle Me is not a Love Project series book, all my books are connected in some way. Be sure to follow my blog, because in the weeks ahead I’ll be sharing some book extras which will include Lydia and Jake from TAKING CHANCES and Ivy from UNTANGLE ME.

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

____________________________________________________

BUY LINKS:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

____________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate the release of UNTANGLE ME,
I’m giving away one $15 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

____________________________________________________

Weekend Writing Warriors – Untangle Me

Click here for the Thankfully Naughty Giveaway Hop!

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Click the logo for the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Welcome friends old and new. I’m glad you came. Today, I’m sharing something new. My second release, UNTANGLE ME releases this Thursday. Squee!!

This is the story of Ivy and Seth. Ivy is the young event planner that is completely smitten with her newest client, the ultra successful businessman, Seth. This snippet is from the first pages of their story. Seth has just found Ivy where she stood looking for him at the event and he’s wrapped his strong hand around her.

His thumb caressed her back, reminding her she was in his hold. “This is, without a doubt, my most successful event.”

“I’m glad you’re pleased … Seth.” She moaned his name when his fingers gripped her hip. He stilled and she could sense him looking at her. She stood frozen, looking at nothing, trying to figure out how to recapture their earlier repartee.

Their connection was no longer just in a phone call. His touch proved it was real.

Their connection is very real, but it may be a bit tangled. <~ You can <tweet that> if you want. Come back on Thursday for a release day party and giveaway.

Click here to add UNTANGLE ME to your Goodreads TBR list

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn untangleme 300out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

Thank you so much for visiting me, it means a lot to me that you took the time to visit my little place on the web. Don’t forget to check out the other Weekend Warriors, the Snippet Sunday Facebook Group, and Saturday Spankings too.

Cover Reveal: UNTANGLE ME by S.J. Maylee

Click here for the Thankfully Naughty Giveaway Hop!

I was lucky with my first lovely cover. So, when my inbox announced my second cover’s arrival, my heart stopped … Silly me, Sour Cherry Designs rocks and my cover is gorgeous. 😀 Untangle Me releases next Thursday. Stay tuned for a snippet this Sunday. Plus, there will be a release day party on the 5th right here. I’ll have a brand new giveaway to celebrate the release of UNTANGLE ME.

untangleme 300Untangle Me

by: S.J. Maylee

Erotic Romance with D/s

Length: Novelette

Release Date: December 5, 2013

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

BLURB:

Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.

Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.

Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.

Click here to add UNTANGLE ME to your Goodreads list.

Daily Picspiration – Backwards and Forwards with Roxanne and Jonathon

Click here for the Thankfully Naughty Giveaway Hop!

I’m back at Daily Picspiration today with a brand new flash. This is the forth flash in the story of Roxanne and Jonathon. I’ve been telling their story backwards which has been a lot of fun. Below you’ll find them in reverse order, I mean chronological order. I’m really not trying to make this confusing, lol. 🙂

RandJ banner

The date listed on each is the date they were posted at Daily Picspiration and the title links to that post where you can see the inspiration pictures.

The flashes are listed here in the order they occur, from before they meet and right on through to the happy ending. Enjoy.

_________________

November 25, 2013 – A Cold Cute Meet (Jonathon’s POV)

Jonathon wandered the streets. Up and down, he weaved a senseless pattern. He stopped at the top of the hill, turned around, and watched the movement below until it disappeared into the fog.

This time and place was just as monotonous as the last. There was nothing here to capture his interest, no sign of what he was truly looking for. The cars may look faster and the architecture was definitely getting more interesting, but it didn’t deter him.

The fates claimed he’d find her soon. They were determined to prove love wasn’t real, that it couldn’t last. His kind were just a piece in their little game.

Since that day they’d given him a glimpse of her, he couldn’t get her out of his thoughts. He wondered first what her voice would sound like and then he began to think about how soft her hair would be. Then, he worried she wouldn’t like him. Of course, if he believed the fates, it wouldn’t matter because he wouldn’t love her anyway.

A piercing light split through his mind. Moments later, a chill traveled through him and snow kissed his cheeks. He turned in a circle, caring nothing for when and where, only hoping he’d find her in this place, but there was nothing.  He continued to look, there had to be something in this freezing city.

Movement caught his attention and he turned back around. He lost his footing and slipped on the cold pavement, landing right on his ass.

“Are you okay?”

He looked up into the beautiful blue eyes that had been enchanting his dreams.

_________________

September 2, 2013 – A Punishment (Jonathon’s POV)

Waves crashed all around him, but Jonathon felt nothing. He was frozen through with the emptiness breaking apart his heart. Once again the fates had stolen his life.

No longer would he accept where they threw him. No longer would he accept these punishments. No longer would he accept the sentence of his kind.

He had to get back to his Roxanne.

He prayed that she’d wait and hold tight to his last words. It would take everything in him, but he’d get back to their bench. He’d get back to her.

They must have sensed he was about to tell her the story. A story of fiction turned to bitter reality each time the fates chose to punish his kind. However, this time their punishment touched Roxanne as well.

She would be their undoing. He had to believe it would be true.

_________________

August 19, 2013 – The Empty Bench (Roxanne’s POV)

Roxanne stood at the gate, kicking her shoe against the wood. The need to see Jonathon again had burrowed deep. Missing him had become one with each breath and it was burning a hole in her heart. She didn’t know when he’d come back, but he had to. She couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t have Jonathon right by her side.

I’ll meet you at the bench …

She replayed his last words again and again. It had been a week since the wind took him away. Since that dreadful night, she’d been replaying the scene. There had to have been words left unsaid. After replaying all their conversations, she couldn’t figure out what she was missing. Instead, she stood at the gate. Waiting.

He’ll come back. He has to come back.

A tear tumbled off her cheek and splashed her hand. She pushed the gate open and ran. With each foot fall she got closer to the bench.

_________________

August 5, 2013 – Simple Instructions (Roxanne’s POV)

The evidence was right in front of Roxanne. He’d been here. He was real.

Seven years after he disappeared in front of her eyes, he was still fresh in her memories. She might have stopped looking at the things he’d left behind, but she could never forget the time they’d shared together.

Memories flashed before her eyes this evening when a chance encounter with a medium mentioned his name.

Jonathon.

The woman’s candles had warmed the cool room with their spicy scent until they changed when she’d said his name. There was no mistaking the musk of his aftershave. Roxanne cried out when it dissipated.

“Will it come back? Can you get it back?” The crack in her voice matched the feeling in her heart.

“You can get it all back.” The woman reached and touched her hand. “Simply look at what’s left.”

Roxanne had run all the way home to set out each of the items. Nothing new jumped out. She scrunched her face and clamped her jaw tight. It has to be here. Her fingers touched each piece again and landed on the little notebook.

She flipped through the familiar pages, but the last page had something new. The short passage was followed by a simple instruction.

Say it and it will be true.

“Jonathon, come home to me.”

A piercing light filled her room and then was gone, revealing her heart’s desire.

_________________

I have so much more I want to add to this story. As you can see there is lots of story to tell between the flashes, before the first and more to tell even after this last flash. Well, that was actually the first flash I wrote in their story, 😉

I’ll definitely write more about Roxanne and Jonathon, but I’m not sure what I’ll share next. You’ll have to let me know if you have a preference.

Hope you enjoyed my flashes. Visit Daily Picspiration to read a little about each contributing author. You can go back daily for something new and go today to see the pictures that inspired these words.

See all of my flashes at Daily Picspiration here –> http://picspiration.blogspot.com/search?q=S.J.+Maylee