Reading With Star: An Intermission

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Note: I made a mistake this week. I accidentally wrote an author’s name in for this week and the end of the month. After consulting with them, I discovered that they only had the one at the end of the month listed. I didn’t want them to scramble to come up with something since they were out of town, so I decided to make an intermission post so to speak. I’d also like to address an idea I had and make a request.

The idea I had was to read and record the excerpts that I post on here for podcasts or videos. Of course, I’ll make sure that the authors are okay with this first. I wanted to get feedback before I officially decided anything. Who knows? Maybe the practice will help me become a narrator. If not, I’ll at least enjoy reading the excerpts.

Now for the request. I really would appreciate adding more authors to the schedule. I have authors scheduled from now until the last Thursday of September. I don’t want this segment to die out. If you want to see an author’s excerpt from an author on here, please feel free to reach out to them. Share these blogs and have them reach out to me!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

Reading With Star: Dream Walker by Michelle Murray

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Dream Walker Land Of Mystica Volume One

Book Blurb: Enter Mystica with Miranda. 

  The Dream Walker, Land of Mystica Series, is a science fiction/fantasy book for middle grade (ages 8 to 12)set in the magical world of Mystica. Travel to Mystica, where there are six wizards, three (3) light and three (3) dark. One day, one of the dark wizards entraps his fellow wizards. The spell backfires, and all of the wizards are trapped in stones. One curious boy finds one of these three (3) stones, and releases Midnight. Midnight is one of the dark wizards. He starts wreaking havoc and war throughout Mystica. On Earth, an average college-aged student named Miranda continues having the same dream over 

and over again. She finds out that she is a Dream Walker. She travels to Mystica to find and release the one wizard who can defeat Midnight. Follow Miranda through the Plains, Ice Caves, the Forest of the Lost, and the Dragonโ€™s Lair. Can Miranda find and release Lightning and save Mystica from the dark wizard Midnight?  

Links

website:Land of Mystica Series | Availabe on amazon (mlmurraymurray.wixsite.com)

Amazon; The Dream Walker, Land of Mystica Series Volume One: Land of Mystica Series Volume One – Kindle edition by Murray, Michelle, Soares, Susan. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/dreamwalkerseries

Barnes and Noble The Dream Walker, Land of Mystica Series Volume 1 by Michelle Murray, Paperback | Barnes & Nobleยฎ (barnesandnoble.com)

Excerpt:

Soon, Mortimer tired of seeking his treasure in the castle. He could find nothing that he didnโ€™t already have in his hidden box. His curiosity overtook him, and he started looking for treasure outside. Mortimer was isolated living in the castle. He didnโ€™t realize or know about the unsettling things happening around in the kingdom. The tales he heard as he wondered around seemed like just that. Weapons polished for fights against dark creatures that roamed the land seemed like bragging pieces for the owners. Fights against neighbors for land, cows, and horses went over his head. He heard the words, but they did not register. He was just a little boy looking for adventure.

            He hunted and searched outside of the castle as far as his little legs could take him before he was missed. Shadows of turrets helped conceal him. The corners of the castle concealed him. In the dirt he dug, his small hands reaching for something underneath the earth. His hands and fingernails were covered in soot and mud. His clothes were splattered with muck. Still, he searched on. Day after day, he hunted.

            Mortimerโ€™s spirits grew low. He had found no new treasures. His sense of adventure and thrill of the hunt lured him to go farther in his search, outside of the castle perimeters.   He walked to the border of the castle lands and the Land Beyond. There was a slow-moving stream. It marked the boundary. It looked so cool and fresh.  Blue water sparkled in the sunshine.  Mortimer had walked all day, and he was hot. Sweat poured down his head and face. Seeing the water, and not wanting to get in trouble for getting dirty again, Mortimer ran straight toward it. Splash! He frolicked in the water, making waves with his hands. 

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Dream Walker: Land of Mystica series Volume 1 by Michelle Murray! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

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Reading With Star: Phoenix Rising by Roux Cantrell

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Phoenix Rising

By: ROUX CANTRELL

COVER DESIGN: PRETTY IN INK

BOOK 1 IN THE ROAD DEVILS MC

https://amzn.to/3GDBI7C

Copy-write by Roux Cantrell

Excerpt:

She wasnโ€™t expecting it when he shoved her into the doorframe. She wasnโ€™t ready when he leaned in. She wasnโ€™t ready for his warm breath whispering in her ear.

โ€œI think thereโ€™s more to you than you let on NIX.โ€ 

He said it sultry, like a lover. His hand eased up her arm forcing it behind her back. He was wound up. Some men got off on violence. Some got off on the unknown. But she would bet her ass Ash wasnโ€™t ready for her. With her free hand, she grabbed his crotch and squeezed. 

It was a war between them. Sexual tension flared to life between both, between a man seeking something he wasnโ€™t sure of and a woman desperately wanting to be honest with him.

F**k it she would see how far heโ€™d go. Leaning into him she licked the side of his throat. She felt the rough skin pebble. His skin tasted of salty sweetness like a rich decadent candy. God, she loved that taste. Her hand still gripped his n**s, she rubbed her thumb along the underside feeling the pulse running through them. Ash leaned in his voice back in her ear, his breath on her skin again. โ€œI thought you wanted me to go?โ€ 

About the Author

Roux Cantrell is a native of New Orleans, she loves all things Nolaโ€”the food, the people, and the spirits (both drinkable and haunting). She loves riding her Harley, she takes at least one long motorcycle trip every year with friends.
Sheโ€™s a big lover of Halloween. So much so that she throws an over-the-top costume party every year where the guests must adorn a costume, or she gets to dress them up. She doesnโ€™t drink wine but loves a good martini.
She has a love for all things book-related, her cat (Monster), black vinyl, and chocolate. Roux had never said in what order those are listedโ€ฆ
Roux loves Poe as much as Dr. Seuss. She prefers the mountains over the beach and Coke over Pepsi. She absolutely believes dessert should be eaten before anything else.

Other Works by the Author

Contemporary Romance

The Gypsy Kings MC

Gypsy
Tabor
Wick
Crow
Romeo
Bones
Wrench
Dagger

The Road Devils MC

Phoenix Rising
Wardog

The Big Easy Murders

No Bounds
No Mercy
Duplicity
Provoked

Stand Alones

Second Chances
Played

Paranormal Romance

The Enforcers

Guarded
Vowed
Hunted- Coming 2021

Legion of Vidar Universe

Stand Alone

Gods of Stone

https://linktr.ee/Rouxcantrell

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Phoenix Rising by Roux Cantrell! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

Reading With Star: Royal Decoy by Heather Frost

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

https://amzn.to/43l7UaS

Blurb:
Clare made a mistake when she saved the princessโ€™s life . . .
In one horrible night, Clare is forced to give up her life as a kitchen maid to become the princessโ€™s decoy. Thrust into a dangerous new world of royals and deadly politics, she must learn how to be the princessโ€™s perfect double to ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard, Bennick. The spark between them is undeniable, though a relationship is forbidden. When a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, it becomes frighteningly clear that some will stop at nothing to end the tenuous peaceโ€”and Clareโ€™s life.
Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his fatherโ€™s ultimate weapon. His name inspires fear in all who hear it, but no one knows his heavily guarded secret. He carries out every brutal order only because his father holds power over the one person he cares about. Graysonโ€™s silent obedience is tested, however, when his father reveals plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.
The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.
Royal Decoy is the first in the Fate of Eyrinthia YA fantasy romance series told from multiple POVs. If you like swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and non-stop action with epic twists, then youโ€™ll love the captivating world of Eyrinthia.

Excerpt from Royal Decoy:

Silence folded around them as Clare and Bennick stood staring at each other. The energy of the training ground hummed through Clare, grounding her somehow, even though they were alone in their corner. The men across the field laughed and shouted as they trained, the snap of wooden training weapons and grunts of exertion puncturing the air, the sounds wild yet somehow predictable.
Clare knew all the anger she felt didnโ€™t belong solely to Bennick. The king, the princess, the commander, even Ramus, the librarian who thought she knew nothingโ€”she was upset with them all, and her fury was a slow burn that scorched her entire body. The emotional upheaval in her life had caused tears yesterday, but today she clung to her anger like a shield.
When Bennick opened his mouth, she already knew she was going to cut off whatever explanation heโ€™d prepared. โ€œMiss Ellingtonโ€”โ€
โ€œCan we begin the lesson?โ€
His tense shoulders strained against his uniform, his gaze intent. โ€œAre you sure you donโ€™t want to talk aboutโ€”?โ€
โ€œQuite sure.โ€
His brows slammed down. It looked like he was going to argue, but then he placed his hands on his narrow hips, his tone carefully measured. โ€œIn the event of an attack, your priority is to stay out of the danger as much as possible. You have guards for a reasonโ€”we do your fighting. You never engage in our fight.โ€
Her jaw firmed. โ€œSo if I see someone coming for your back, I let them stab you?โ€
โ€œYes.โ€
She could do that. She also recalled how Serene had acted in the hallway ambush, her knife drawn and looking for a place to enter the fight.
Clearly, the princess needed this lesson.
Bennick shifted his weight and elaborated. โ€œIf you come into the fight, youโ€™re only going to distract me, or Venn, or whoever is trying to protect you. Then we all die. Fighting is always your last resort. And your last defenseโ€”if running or fighting arenโ€™t possibleโ€”is to pretend youโ€™re dead. Understood?โ€
The finality in his voice needled ice through her blood, but Clare nodded.
A shout on the field jerked her attention. A soldier had just hit the ground and he was cursing hotly, rubbing his abdomen while his sparring partner laughed and swung his practice blade through the air.
โ€œClare?โ€
Her gaze shot back to Bennick. โ€œWhat?โ€
He pursed his lips. โ€œThe second thing to remember is focus. You need to concentrate on the moment youโ€™re living. Let everything else go. Thirdโ€”never freeze. Freeze, and youโ€™re dead.โ€
There was no warning.
Clare sucked in a breath when Bennick snatched her wrists and pulled her arms forward, his fists making unbreakable manacles. Her heart thudded and she tried to jerk back, but he anchored her in place, his fingers flexing to hold her. Her extended arms stiffened. โ€œLet go of me.โ€
โ€œNo.โ€ His head bent, his voice low. โ€œItโ€™s time to learn a vital lesson.โ€
His hold was absolute. The powerlessness she felt sliced cold fear through her. โ€œLet go. Now!โ€
Bennickโ€™s eyebrows drew together. โ€œCalm down. Iโ€™m not going to hurt you.โ€
โ€œThen let go!โ€
โ€œNo. You need to break free.โ€
โ€œWhat?โ€
The corner of his mouth lifted, and for that alone she wanted to hit him. โ€œBreak free,โ€ he repeated. โ€œItโ€™s the only way youโ€™re getting loose, because Iโ€™m not going to let go.โ€


Get your copy of Royal Decoy today! The Kindle versions of books 1 and 2 of the series are on sale for a limited time.
Buy Royal Decoy: https://mybook.to/lvabZJ

About the Author:
Heather Frost is a #1 Amazon bestselling YA author who loves epic stories with breath-stealing romance. She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the Fate of Eyrinthia series. Her books have been Whitney Award Finalists and Swoony Award Finalists. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and call it homework.
When sheโ€™s not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and re-watch Lord of the Rings. She lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains in northern Utah. To learn more about Heather and her books, visit her website: https://www.heatherfrost.com/

Follow the Author:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.frost.author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherFrost/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4983261.Heather_Frost

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/heatherfrost

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-frost

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Royal Decoy by Heather Frost! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me a tip! Thank you so much for reading!

Reading With Star: The Golden Cage by Kate L. Mary

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Universal Buy Link:ย https://books2read.com/u/4NojJN

Blurb:

From an award-winning author and master of world building…

After centuries of oppression, three girls must fight for their freedom on the isolated island of Sansara, a place where girls are trained, ranked, and judged according to their looks and not who they are. Elora, Rose, and Odette have been forced into an unforgiving society that values their appearances, not their dreams. But what will happen when these girls dare to break free?

If you enjoyed The Handmaidโ€™s Tale by Margaret Atwood, then you’ll love The Golden Cage โ€“ a powerful story of resilience and courage in the face of oppression. Buy it now and join Elora, Rose, and Odette in their journey for freedom.

Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s TaleThe TestamentsStation ElevenThe Power, and Vox, this heartbreaking tale of friendship, love and bravery will keep you turning pages!

Excerpt:

Prologue

Rose

After

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, my hands braced against the counter, I studied my reflection. I wasnโ€™t seeing my face as it was now, marred by time and freckles, but was instead remembering the one that used to stare back at me. The face of the girl who existed before my life took a route no one could have predicted. The girl whoโ€™d existed before what was supposed to have been my future was ripped from me in such a horrifying and painful way. 

It seemed as if several lifetimes had passed since that fateful day, but even so, I could remember in vivid detail what it had felt like to be that girl. Could recall the way people had stared at me wherever I went, could recollect with perfect clarity the certainty my beauty had brought to my world. Back then, my future had been full of promise. A life of ease. Of adoration. Of fame. Back then, I had been able to stop conversations by simply stepping into a room. Golden hair, pink cheeks, and blue eyes that shimmered with the kind of self-assurance only beauty could bring a girl growing up in this world. 

It was the same splendor I could see developing in my daughter, Symphony, who had my full lips and high cheekbones, and an oval face and almond shaped eyes coveted by both men and women alike. There was a perfection in the girlโ€™s looks even at the age of five, just as there had been in mine all those years ago. 

Most parents would have rejoiced at such a thing, but I knew better. Understood what my daughter faced as a result of that beauty. What appeared to be a charmed life full of money and adoration was actually something much more sinister. A golden cage. A life of servitude and abuse wrapped in a pretty bow. It was what I would have been forced into if not for the incident, and what my daughter now faced.

I can fix it. It isnโ€™t too late. 

My stomach twisted the way it always did when the thought went through my head. It was wrong, horrible. Symphony would never forgive me, would never understand. I couldnโ€™t do it. 

I blinked, and the reflection in the mirror transformed from the fresh-faced girl Iโ€™d been all those years ago to the woman I was now. I turned my head, bringing the right side of my face into clearer view. For years after the incident, the sight of the scar had sent a jolt through me, almost like I was being burned all over again, but those emotions had long ago morphed from pain and shock to something less offensive. Resignation at first, then acceptance, and finally, gratitude. It was what I felt now as I studied the ugly scar on my cheek. The uneven skin tone, the puckered flesh that had ruined my nearly flawless appearance. 

If I turned my head the other way, I could glimpse the woman who would have been. An exquisite profile and breathtaking beauty that even the blemishes of time could not hide. It was still there, although few people could see it. In a world where beauty was coveted above all things, most people were too distracted by my flaws to see the woman beneath the scar.

I was still looking at the undamaged side of my face when I reached for the drawer, still thinking about the past and what might have been as I slipped my hand inside. When I wrapped my fingers around the scissors, the cold metal against my skin was as shocking as the heat searing my cheek had been all those years ago. My hand trembled as I pulled the scissors free, and tears filled my eyes, blurring my reflection but not wiping the image from my mind. Symphony was asleep now. I could do it. It would be so easy, would be over so fast. I could end things before they started, could save my daughter from a life of pain. Could give her a real future.

Like a dozen times before, the thought pulled a sob from me. It was loud in the quiet bathroom, and I covered my mouth when more threatened, squeezing my eyes shut as shame swept over me. Would it be immoral to do what I was considering, or was it the most moral thing I could ever do? I didnโ€™t know the answer. I just knew with a certainty Iโ€™d never felt about anything else that I did not want my daughter to follow in my friendsโ€™ footsteps. I had to stop it. No matter how much this thing would hurt us both, I had to take this step.

Not now, though. Later. 

I slipped the scissors back into the drawer, blinking away the tears so I could once again see my reflection. Like before, my younger self stared back at me, and it gave me comfort. 

Symphony was only five. There was time. I would wait until she was older and explain. I would tell her about the Institute, about the training and the competition, about the hatred and jealousy, but also about the friendships. I would tell my daughter about the girl who had stolen my beauty, and the future she sentenced herself to on that fateful night.

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of The Golden Cage by Kate L. Mary! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

If you enjoy my content, please consider leaving me aย tip! Thank you so much for reading!

Reading With Star: Complications of Pi by RK Phillips

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Google Play
Scribd
Kobo

Blurb:

What do you get when you mix a female born on March 14th, loves math, is clumsy, and loved by her family and best friend? You get Peyton, nicknamed Pi, of course. Add a dash of a bad break up and you get someone who doesnโ€™t trust when love might find its way into her heart. Peytonโ€™s life might not be perfect, but it is wonderful and routine. She has her career as a mathematics professor, a best friend she has known since college, parents and a brother she is close to, and free time to enjoy peace. That is until the summer day Peyton accompanies her brother to a gala holding a date auction fundraiser. She is instantly attracted to someone up for bid, but is shocked when her brother bids on the individual for himself. They had never liked the same person before. Now what? Misunderstandings, dates involving medical attention, spiteful strangers, and a myriad of other encounters leaves Peyton, a woman who lives her life by the numbers, in the throes of chaos. Who knew one little fundraiser would have such an impact on a math professorโ€™s life?

Excerpt:

Peyton stood in her closet and stared at everything. Her head flicked back and forth, looking at all her clothes and having no idea what to choose to wear. Too dressy and she would be out of place, too casual and it would look like she didnโ€™t care enough. โ€œCome on, girl, get a grip; itโ€™s just coffee. Coffee! In the summer. Just pick something already.โ€ She was tempted to just close her eyes and grab something, but knowing her luck, it would be hot pink polka dots with orange striped pants. Not that she really owned either, but she would still somehow wind up with that combination. With a noise that sounded oddly like a groan and sigh, she picked a simple red sun dress. It tied around the neck with thick straps and fell to her ankles. It gathered right under her breasts and fell out from there. She picked a pair of sandals to go with it and braided her hair into a loose rope and let it fall down the middle of her back. She put on a quick swipe of mascara and lip gloss and called it good. 

By the time she arrived at the shop, her hands were white from the grasp she had on the steering wheel. Her breathing was coming out in pants, and was that mewling she heard exiting her mouth? โ€œIโ€™m a mess. Why did I even agree to do this? Maybe I should just text and cancel and save her from me.โ€ Peyton banged her head on the top of the wheel a couple of times before her senses returned, and she thought of the consequences that she might be walking in there with a red stamp on her forehead. โ€œGeez. Come on, letโ€™s get going, or else the lead in our feet will just crawl up our legs.โ€ Peyton released her safety handle, took her purse, and opened the car door. 

Straightening her shoulder, she walked as tall as she could through the front door and looked around. The butterflies in her stomach picked up flapping around as if someone walked straight through a swarm of them, sending them scattering. There Nikola sat in the back corner, writing in what looked like a notebook. She looked as beautiful as the last two times Peyton had seen her. Long legs were crossed and bare to gaze upon. She was wearing a pair of khaki-colored shorts and a blue tank top. Her hair was all pulled up in a clip and hit just below her shoulders. It reminded her of one of those fancy coffee drinks people took pleasure in. It was like caramel with bits of dark chocolate streaked through it. As Peyton approached, Nikola must have sensed her because her head came up slowly, and as two pairs of eyes met one another, the smile that shone almost melted Peyton to the spot. Peyton stumbled from it and knocked the nearby chair, causing herself to trip a little. When she had righted both herself and the chair, her red cheeks flamed up in even more embarrassment when she saw the merriment and laughter dancing in Nikolaโ€™s eyes and heard the giggle that she had let out. Peyton wanted to die from humiliation and muttered to herself. โ€œGraceful?โ€ The next words she heard had her relaxing a bit. 

โ€œNever had anyone fall for me quite that fast before.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m just glad I didnโ€™t stumble to the floor.โ€ Peyton paused a moment and then continued over to the table, and with caution, pulled out the chair across from Nikola and eased down. โ€œHey.โ€ Despite the unusual ice breaker, shyness still washed over her.

โ€œHey, Peyton. Glad you agreed to meet me. I wasnโ€™t sure if you would show up.โ€ 

โ€œYeah. Honestly, I didnโ€™t know if I would show up, either.โ€ 


โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œNot sure exactly. Iโ€™m not like my brother. He makes waves wherever he goes and dives head first into things. Iโ€™m the one who hides in the background, stays home to read or do whatever, likes my usual things, and randomly takes chances on things.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m happy you took a chance tonight. What made you choose to finally call and then message me?โ€

Peyton looked down at the table before replying. โ€œMy brother and best friend kept pushing me to do it.โ€ 

โ€œHad to be guilted into it, huh?โ€ She smiled when she said it, but Peyton felt as if she might have also been a little hurt.

โ€œNo. Just that I had made such a huge ass out of myself and because of the misunderstanding, I didnโ€™t think you would want to see me.โ€

โ€œWhat misunderstanding?โ€

Flapjacks. I had to bring that up, didnโ€™t I? โ€œUmm.โ€ Peyton could feel the heat begin its return to her cheeks. It must have only been gone for a commercial break. 

โ€œOh, that good, huh? Spill it. You tell me, and then I will go get us something to drink.โ€

Sucking in a deep breath, Peyton got it all out in one long exhale. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid fast. โ€œIthoughtyouandmybrotherwereinterestedineachother.โ€ Blinking eyes stared at her from across the table while the words must have been processing, and then Nikola smiled and let out a little chuckle.

โ€œI figured that out the night we were all at your parentsโ€™ house for dinner.โ€ 

โ€œYeah, well.โ€ Peytonโ€™s mind recalled that night and the reaction she had to her, and her whole body was heating up. 

โ€œYouโ€™re very cute when you blush.โ€

Peyton let a little groan escape before she could stop herself. โ€œThe infamous โ€˜cโ€™ word.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t like the word cute, huh?โ€

โ€œIt makes me think of puppy dogs and babies.โ€

Nikola leaned across the table and lowered her voice. โ€œI was going to say that your pink-tinged cheeks make you sexy, and Iโ€™m imagining all sorts of wicked things over here and how I might be able to turn your whole body that color, but I thought you might rather not hear that, thus the cute comment. But alas, I will refrain from that word.โ€ 

The words wrapped around Peyton, and she would swear she now matched the color of her dress. This woman was intense. โ€œUmmm.โ€ Peyton just stared speechless at the other woman. 

โ€œI see that really got to you. You, dear, are going to be fun to tease.โ€ She licked her bottom lip, and after a pause, finished. โ€œIn more ways than one.โ€ Returning to her original position, Nikola grinned. โ€œHow do you feel about the word adorable?” 

โ€œDepends. How about I go buy us something to drink?โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll go. Donโ€™t want you to have another chance encounter with a chair and spill a hot liquid on yourself. I might be forced to administer first aid.โ€ And those words evoked just the reaction Nikola had aimed for. โ€œWhat would you like to drink, and would you enjoy one of the tasty treats? I know firsthand that all of their pastries are delicious.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re very kind. How about a couple of cookies and a glass of milk? Iโ€™m not really a coffee drinker, and itโ€™s too hot for cocoa.โ€

โ€œMilk and cookies for the beautiful lady it is. I shall return very shortly.โ€ Nikola stood up and, when she got next to Peyton, leaned down and whispered. โ€œDonโ€™t leave.โ€

โ€œI wonโ€™t.โ€ 

โ€œGood.โ€ 

With that, she disappeared, giving Peyton time to regain some control and to quit acting like she was a naรฏve virgin who didnโ€™t know the first thing about flirting and sexual innuendos. There was just something about Nikola that caused all brain function to flitter out of oneโ€™s mind and land somewhere on the floor by oneโ€™s feet. 

Nikola returned carrying two glasses of milk and a plate of cookies. Peyton looked up at her, communicating wordlessly.

โ€œWhat can I say, after you mentioned it, it sounded like the perfect treat. Been awhile since Iโ€™ve had milk and cookies, and I donโ€™t think my body is going to go into shock without a caffeinated drink.โ€ 

โ€œAre you sure? My friend Simone goes into a scary rage mode if her body isnโ€™t served caffeine on a regulated schedule. I swear she probably has alarms set for it. I might not drink them, but I can make them. I learned quickly in college that if she had a late night and an early class, it was better for my health if I woke up earlier than she did and had a cup of coffee ready to go before poking her with a stick and bolting from the room.โ€

โ€œA bear is she?โ€ 

Peytonโ€™s eyes were transfixed as Nikola raised the milk to her lips and took a drink. The glass fogged up momentarily from the warmth of the breath escaping Nikolaโ€™s lips before clearing once more. As the drink was lowered, Peyton watched as the other womanโ€™s tongue swiped over her lips to remove any leftover milk particles. Then that same mouth broke into a smile, and a chuckle came out. 

Peyton shook her head to clear the fog and realized she had been caught staring. โ€œUmmm… what? Oh, bear, right. She was very much so.โ€

โ€œHere, try this!โ€ Nikola broke off a piece of her cookie and held it out to Peyton. She took it and popped it into her mouth and moaned at the taste of the sugar, butter, and chocolate melting over her tongue and the taste of vanilla bursting like drops of water. โ€œGood, isnโ€™t it?โ€ 

โ€œOh my stars, it is!โ€ 

โ€œItโ€™s one of my favorites that they do. They only had one of them left. I wanted to make sure you had a piece, but Iโ€™m selfish enough to not give you all of it.โ€ Peyton tried her hardest not to think about the fact that what also added to the intoxicating taste was the fact that it was from the woman herself. โ€œSo, you and Simone have been friends since college?โ€

โ€œYes, we have. Si and I had a couple of classes together then when an opportunity came up, we ended up becoming roommates in the dorm.โ€

โ€œSi?โ€

โ€œYeah. When she found out that my family calls me Pi, she said she should be Si, then together we were PiSi or SiPi, and the nickname just stuck.โ€

โ€œI noticed that night at dinner your family would call you that. How did you end up with that nickname? It doesnโ€™t seem like the obvious choice from Peyton.โ€

Peyton raised her hands to her face to hide and finished chewing the bite of chocolate chip cookie she had just bitten off.

Nikola reached across the table and removed one of her hands. โ€œNo way. You canโ€™t get out of telling me the story.โ€

โ€œWhy is it that Iโ€™m revealing everything about me, and you havenโ€™t said anything about yourself?โ€

โ€œBecause youโ€™re a very interesting puzzle and I want to solve it.โ€

โ€œTrust me, Iโ€™m not that interesting. Iโ€™m really very basic.โ€

โ€œI highly doubt that.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s true. I work a lot, visit my family when I can, hang out at home or Siโ€™s house, and go out when Damion drags me to one of his functions he needs a date for. What about yourself?โ€

โ€œI do a bit of work and spend time volunteering at several organizations around town. I like to stay busy.โ€ One corner of Nikolaโ€™s mouth lifted up, and she demanded, โ€œNow tell me about Pi.โ€

โ€œWhat kind of work do you do?โ€

โ€œNope. Iโ€™ll tell you later. Answer me.โ€

With a huge sigh, Peyton gave in. โ€œFine. You win. Pie is a dessert that most people enjoy after dinner. It comes in a variety of flavors and textures. There are your fruit pies that are cooked down fruit with sugar and have a crust on the bottom and top usually. Some people get decorative with the top crust making beautiful designs out of it. It can also be made into a cobbler, which in my opinion, is just a big rectangular pie.โ€ She stopped when Nikola went from biting her lips to just chortling and holding her hands to her stomach.

โ€œStop with the definition. I canโ€™t take it.โ€ In response, Peyton just stuck her tongue out at her. That, of course, made things worse, and Nikola just roared harder. 

They were drawing the notice of people around her, which Peyton didnโ€™t like but just ignored. She picked up a cookie and ate it while smiling. She was glad that Nikola didnโ€™t seem to be upset at her avoidance tactics. After a few moments, the woman recovered and wiped her eyes with a napkin. The smile was still in place.

โ€œYou are a nut, Miss Peyton. I would ask if anyone has ever told you so, but knowing your brother, I have my answer.โ€ 

โ€œThis is very true. Damion takes pleasure in reminding me about my oddities.โ€

โ€œHe loves you very much, you know. He talks about you, and when he does, you can see the love and pride he holds for you in his eyes.โ€

In response, Peyton looked down at the table and mumbled. โ€œI know.โ€ Then she cleared her throat and noticed they had finished their treat. โ€œI should go and throw this away and return the dishes. Iโ€™ll be back.โ€ She gathered up the plate, cups, and trash and managed, thankfully, to walk to the trashcan and toss everything but the plate away without falling or causing an incident. The dish she placed in the bin for the dirty ones. She returned and found the other woman just silently watching her with a grin on her face. She sat and didnโ€™t know what to do now that they had finished. โ€œI guess we should be going.โ€

โ€œI suppose so. I have honestly really enjoyed talking with you tonight. I havenโ€™t laughed that hard in a long time.โ€

Peyton stood and grabbed her purse. โ€œStick around, and youโ€™ll be entertained. People are always laughing at me for one reason or another.โ€ They walked towards the exit next to each other. 

โ€œI intend to stick around.โ€ They had arrived at Peytonโ€™s car and paused. 

โ€œUmm. Okay. Well, I guess Iโ€™ll call you.โ€

Nikola raised her hand and cupped Peytonโ€™s cheek. โ€œHow about I call you since I have a feeling if I wait for you it might be awhile.โ€ 

Peyton just shrugged and nodded in one awkward gesture while Nikola continued to hold her cheek. She could feel sweat crawling all over her skin in a mixture of fear and arousal. Before she realized it, her hand had risen and covered Nikolaโ€™s on her cheek. Was the girl going to kiss her? Did she want her to? If she was honest with herself, she really did want the kiss. Nikola leaned in and whispered, โ€œGood night, adorable Pi. I still want the story and will not be detoured.โ€ Then she kissed her on the corner of her mouth, slipped her hand away from Peytonโ€™s, and walked towards her own car. A full two minutes, 120 seconds, passed before Peyton lowered one hand and lifted the other up to the spot where lips met flesh. She was in so much trouble if that one chaste meeting about made her whimper in need and collapse in desire.

All the way home, Peyton relived the night and both groans and laughter serenaded the darkness. She enjoyed hanging out with the beautiful woman; she just wished she didnโ€™t always make an ass of herself. There wasnโ€™t much she could do about part of it. She and inanimate objects had a tenuous relationship at best. When she went to sleep that night, though, it wasnโ€™t the trips, bumps, and bruises she had on her mind. No, it was the smell of rain and the hint of a taste of sweetness.ย 

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Complications of Pi by RK Phillips! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

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Reading With Star: Bondage Buddies by Golden Angel

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Book link –ย www.books2read.com/BondageBuddies

Blurb:

It’s friends-with-benefits, but with rope…

When Master Mitch proposes becoming bondage buddies, Domi can’t find any downsides to such an arrangement. As a single mom with no time for a relationship, she’s content with leaving everything about her desires at the club. And despite his playboy reputation, Mitch is definitely the kind of capable Dom who can give her everything she needs.

Everything is going as planned until one of them catches feelings…

Click Buy Now to start your next binge!

Masters of Marquis Series
1. Bondage Buddies
2. Master Chef
3. Law & Disorder
4. Switch Play
5. Legally Bound
6. Shallow Submission (Coming Fall 2023!)

Excerpt:

Prologue
Mitch
โ€œBondage buddies?โ€ Domi raised her eyebrows, leaning back with her arms crossed over her chest, the position pushing up her breasts even more than the corset she was wearing. She looked skeptical but intrigued.
Barely standing five feet tall, petite in every way, with a riot of dark brown curls that danced around her head, she was a whole bunch of sass and bravado, despite her small stature. Whenever she was at the club, she dressed like she meant business, with full-on goth aesthetic that warred against her fae-like appearance. She looked like a goth-metal fairy most of the time.
Anyone thinking she was a pushover just because she was short or because she was a submissive should be warned by her outfits, but there was always someone who underestimated her. Domi sometimes pushed back just to show she could. It meant a few of the Doms at Stronghold and Marquis, the BDSM clubs they both belonged to, werenโ€™t interested in playing with her.
Right now, they were at Marquis, the club where theyโ€™d met. Heโ€™d been one of the instructors for new submissive members, and sheโ€™d been one of the students. Marquis was the fancier of the two clubs and the only one that provided dinner. A regular restaurant downstairs, but its second floor served as an exclusive kink retreat for dinner and a show and a back hall with fetish-themed hotel rooms. Stronghold was Marquisโ€™ sister club, but they were as different as night and day. It was the original club and far more utilitarian, though it had more room to scene. The atmosphere was completely different, so Mitch had chosen to ask Domi to Marquis instead.
Tonight was as close to a date as Mitch had been on in years. First dinnerโ€”and his proposition to Domiโ€”which would hopefully be followed by some seriously hot play and/or sex while they watched tonightโ€™s show. Giving her his best wicked grin, Mitch leaned across the table where they were sitting at.
โ€œItโ€™s like fuck buddies, but with kink.โ€
She pressed her full lips together, and he was pretty sure she was trying not to smile. The expression on her face was blank, but he could see in her dark eyes, she was thinking about it. His grin widened.
He liked Domi.
Mitch enjoyed her fire and sass. He especially liked it when he managed to push past it and reach the woman underneath. Feel her melt. Then make her fly.
She was a sweet masochist whose need for pain-filled pleasure matched his sadistโ€™s need to deliver it, which was even more of a bonus. Mitch didnโ€™t have to do a hardcore scene every time to be satisfied, but after a while, the need would build until he couldnโ€™t ignore it anymore. Hearing a woman beg and scream, then beg and scream for an entirely different reason, flat out did it for him. He needed her to enjoy it, though, which meant he needed someone like Domi, who loved every second of the wicked things he did to her.
โ€œYou had fun with me during your subbie classes,โ€ he pointed out, winking at her. All the submissives had been fun in their own way, but Domi was the one whose tastes most aligned with his.
Their last class together, when he played doctor, had been his favorite, especially since initially, she had scoffed at the idea of medical play. The little subbie had thought he wouldnโ€™t be able to hurt her the way she wanted. Mitch had thoroughly enjoyed proving her wrong. Theyโ€™d had a discussion then about playing in the club, no commitment, but so far, sheโ€™d proven elusive and hadnโ€™t given him a straight answer.
Which was why heโ€™d finally told her to meet him for dinner and a show at Marquis. He hadnโ€™t been sure if she actually would, but figured sheโ€™d be intrigued enough to come find out what he wanted.
โ€œI didโ€ฆโ€ She tilted her head at him, chewing her lower lip, the uncertainty on her face making her look more vulnerable than usual. Her halo of curls bounced slightly when she shook her head, and his cock sank a little in expectation of rejection, then she surprised him. โ€œNo dating, just sex, right? Here in the club?โ€
โ€œHere or at Stronghold,โ€ he confirmed. Coming to Marquis was more of a special event since membership was incredibly expensive, but as a member of Stronghold, they could visit Marquis one night a month without having to pay extra. He didnโ€™t want to rule out Stronghold since theyโ€™d be able to meet there far more often.
Domi rolled her eyes at him as if to say duh. โ€œThatโ€™s what I meant.โ€
Sliding his feet over to her side of the table, he trapped her legs between his. It wasnโ€™t painful, and she could have easily pulled her legs up if she wanted to, but it was a reminderโ€”he was the Dom, she was the sub. Domi sucked in a quick breath, her gaze flitting up to his, then dropping down to the beer glass in front of her.
That was Domi. Sassy brat right up until she was challenged, then her submissiveness took over. Sometimes, it was a bit more of a fight than others, but deep down, she wanted to submit. It just had to be earned. The challenge never failed to turn him on.
โ€œIf weโ€™re going to play together, youโ€™ll need to be more respectfulโ€ฆ at least in the clubs,โ€ he said firmly. Outside of the club, she could roll her eyes all she wanted. He didnโ€™t care what she did when she wasnโ€™t in his space. He just wanted to play with her when she was.
โ€œSorry, Sir.โ€ Her contriteness only lasted another few moments before she looked back up at him. Still considering, her fingers tapped nervously against her beer glass. โ€œWould there be a club contract? Would we still be able to play with other people?โ€
โ€œIโ€™m fine with or without a contract. As for playing with other people, I just want first dibs.โ€ Mitch grinned at Domiโ€™s slightly confused reaction. โ€œIf weโ€™re both at the club, and neither of us has scened yet, we get first dibs on each other. If Iโ€™m not around, you can play with whoever you want and vice versa. My work schedule can be a little unpredictable, so Iโ€™d rather keep it casual. If you prefer setting times to scene, I can do that, but it will need to be on a week-by-week basis.โ€
โ€œNo, dibs works,โ€ she said, a slow smile curving her lips and bringing out the cute little dimple he liked to see. Mitch enjoyed making people smile and liked making them laugh even more. Domi could be a bit of a challenge, as she was in most things. Any time he got that dimple to peek out, he mentally high-fived himself. She snorted. โ€œDibs. I like that. Thatโ€™s so you. Do you have this arrangement with anyone else?โ€
โ€œNope, just you.โ€ Her expression didnโ€™t change, but he could sense she wasnโ€™t sure how she felt about that. โ€œIt would be hard to have first dibs on more than one person. What if you were both there at the same time?โ€
โ€œThatโ€™s true,โ€ she said, then shrugged, picking up her beer to take a sip. โ€œSo, why me?โ€
โ€œI like the way you scream.โ€ He winked as heat flushed her face, turning her cheeks a dark red, and her eyes widened slightly. God, he loved kink. Only in a BDSM club could that sentence be considered foreplay.
Domiโ€™s tongue flicked out over her lower lip, swiping up a tiny droplet of beer, and Mitchโ€™s cock twitched with interest. She had beautiful lips and a talented tongue, and he would very much like to explore her mouth with his cock again. Soon.
โ€œIs that it?โ€ she asked, her voice huskier. The rise and fall of her breasts in her corset as she took a deep breath was easy to see. His cock was ready to go, but they still had a few details to hash out before he could get his hands on her. BDSM was big on communicationโ€”something that had been drilled into him when heโ€™d taken the Dom class required for Marquis and Strongholdโ€™s membership.
โ€œItโ€™s a big part of it.โ€ His voice became more serious. โ€œWe have complementary kinks. I like torturing you. And neither of us is looking for anything serious.โ€ In fact, Domi often flat out refused to scene with the same guy twice, which was why Mitch wanted to put his offer on the table, so they both knew exactly where they stood. โ€œThere are nights when Iโ€™d just like to be able to come to the club scene and not have to worry about my submissive getting ideas beyond that.โ€
Mitch was always very clear about where he was in life and that he had no interest in a relationship. He didnโ€™t want to hurt anyone, so there were some submissives he wouldnโ€™t scene with because he knew he wasnโ€™t what they were looking for.
โ€œHowโ€™s that going to work out for you if Iโ€™m already scening with someone?โ€ Domi asked, resting her cheek against her hand, leaning onto her elbow.
โ€œIโ€™ll live.โ€ He shrugged. โ€œYou usually donโ€™t jump right into scening with anyone, so I figure I have a pretty good shot at being there when you decide you want to.โ€


Domi
The offer was almost too good to be true, which was why Domi was so cautious.
Sheโ€™d come out tonight because sheโ€™d been so surprised Mitch Elliottโ€”Master Mitch, the Playboy Domโ€”asked her out on what amounted to a date, she had to know why. Her best friend, Rae, would have demanded it, even if Domiโ€™s natural curiosity hadnโ€™t driven her to it. They both needed to know what he wanted.
His offer wasnโ€™t entirely unexpected. It was similar to what heโ€™d told her he wanted when she was still in training, but she hadnโ€™t realized he was quite so serious about it. This was even more tempting than before, and not just because he was hot as hell. Tall, blond, piercing blue eyes, with broad shoulders and muscles in all the right places, he always managed to make her feel both small and safe with him. He was kind of the club clown, always looking for a laugh, but when it came time to take charge, he did so with an intensity that always left her breathless.
His offer appealed to her on a level she hadnโ€™t expected.
Domi preferred stability. She didnโ€™t want a relationship, but jumping from Dom to Dom every time she was at Stronghold didnโ€™t hold a lot of appeal. Sheโ€™d already found most Doms didnโ€™t want to go to Marquis for a single hookup. Marquisโ€™ setup was unique, both where the shows were held and the private rooms. In a lot of ways, she was more comfortable at Marquis than Stronghold since she was more of a voyeur than an exhibitionist. This was where sheโ€™d done all her training, but she hadnโ€™t been able to find any Doms willing to accompany her.
Maybe that was another reason sheโ€™d said yes to Mitchโ€™s invitation. Sheโ€™d been dying to come back to Marquis with someone other than her bestie. Watching the shows with Rae was fun, but it left them both horny and unsatisfied afterward.
โ€œOkay.โ€ She couldnโ€™t think of a single downside. While she was sure there must be one, it wasnโ€™t leaping out at her, so she might as well enjoy herself until she found it. Especially because she wanted to enjoy tonight. She was back in Marquis with a hot Dom who wanted to fuck her into oblivion, and the show was going to be starting soon.
Domi wanted her orgasm.
A wicked grin lit up Mitchโ€™s face, his blue eyes flashing bright with anticipation. He hadnโ€™t been sure of her answer until she gave it, which was nice. Sheโ€™d hate to be predictable.
โ€œLetโ€™s kiss on it,โ€ he suggested, reaching out to grab her wrist and pull her around the leather seat of the curved booth. Domi went willingly, although she pretended to be less eager than she actually felt. Her body was already buzzing from when heโ€™d trapped her legs between hisโ€”she still didnโ€™t know why that was so hot.
When she was close enough, leaning toward him, he lowered his lips to hers.
He was a damn good kisser, and Domi loved kissing. It started gentle but demanding, his lips opening and his tongue sliding between hers. His hand glided down her back, then pulled her toward him, dragging her across the seat. Her short skirt rode up to her hips as he moved her.
One hand dipped down between her thighs, cupping her pussyโ€ฆ He jerked his head back when he realized she wasnโ€™t wearing panties. Blue eyes blazed with desire and satisfaction.
โ€œNo underwear? Good girl.โ€ He practically breathed the words, then his lips crashed down on hers again, rougher and with more intent. Domi whimpered as his fingers slid between her wet lips, exploring her swollen folds and rubbing her needy clit. โ€œDo you consent to sex tonight, sweetheart?โ€
Domi moaned. โ€œYes, Sir.โ€ Please, Sir. She wasnโ€™t going to beg unless he made her. However, if he didnโ€™t fuck her, she was probably going to stage a revolt.
He chuckled. โ€œThank God.โ€ His fingers swirled around her clit as a reward, although she knew he probably would have done so either way. โ€œCondom?โ€
โ€œIf you want.โ€ Domi knew firsthand, condoms werenโ€™t always trustworthy, but she never objected to a man taking responsibility for birth control, even though she had her own. She would have insisted on them if they were just doing a one-night hookup, regardless of his club membership, but since they were going to have dibs on each other, sheโ€™d make an exception for him. Truthfully, she liked the feeling of skin on skin better, anyway.
โ€œThatโ€™s a no, then,โ€ he said, pushing his fingers slightly inside her. Domi shivered, her eyes half closing as her body stretched for him, her wet sheathe welcoming him in.
Not knowing where to put her hands, she left them where they were, one still on the table, the other beside her on the booth where heโ€™d dropped it so he could touch her.
Even with her eyes closed, she knew when the lights dimmed. The show was about to start. The design of the booths made them very private, although not entirely soundproof, and she could hear the murmur of anticipation from everyone else in the room. Marquisโ€™ stage room was set up like a theater in the round, with private booths all around the edge of the room and a large stage in the center where all manner of kinky demonstrations and shows happened. Domiโ€™s arousal surged even more. She loved a good show.
Breaking off the kiss, Mitch swirled his fingers against her clit, his other hand moving up to the top of her corset. Her figure was too slight to really have cleavage, but the corset gave her the closest things to it.
โ€œThis is going to have to come off,โ€ he murmured.
โ€œQuick release,โ€ Domi purred with a flirtatious smile. It was why she liked the steampunk-style corsets. A few quick flicks to undo the front closures, and she was free. Mitchโ€™s eyes lit up with appreciation as the sides of the corset fell away, leaving her upper body naked.


Mitch
Even in the dimmed lights, it was impossible not to appreciate Domiโ€™s naked beauty. Her nipples stood out from the small mounds of her breasts, just begging to be pinched, bitten, and tormented. Her lips were parted, eyes alight, and cheeks flushed with eagerness. Mitch rubbed her clit a little harder, and she moaned, the slick heat of her pussy growing wetter with every stroke of his fingers.
Music, slow and languorous, with throbbing bass, filled the room. The regular lights dimmed even further, and a couple walked onto the slightly raised stage in the middle of the room where all the brightest lights were now focused. The way the lights were aimed kept them out of the darkened booths, though there were also privacy curtains available at each one, including black sheers for those who wanted to see out but didnโ€™t want to be seen. Thick red velvet drapes could enclose the booth completely, turning it into a little oasis of privacy, which would mean not being able to watch the show. Mitch didnโ€™t bother with eitherโ€”he and Domi didnโ€™t care about being seen.
Master Michael, one of the owners of Marquis, and his girlfriend and submissive, Ellie, stepped onto the stage. Like Mitch and Domi, Michael was a sadist, and Ellie was a masochist, a show guaranteed to appeal directly to them.
Michael was tall, muscular in a lanky way, with brown hair that brushed the tops of his cheeks and constantly getting in his eyes. In contrast, Ellie was short, generously curved, with creamy pale skin and nearly black hair. Her short silky robe accented her curves, thanks to the belt tied around her middle, and the skirt fluttered around her thighs. They were an attractive couple with a connection that was palpable.
Walking to the center of the stage, Michael turned to face his sub, leaning down to give her a soft, tender kiss on the lips. Barefoot, Ellie stretched up to meet him, the expression on her face adoring.
Mitch pulled away from Domiโ€™s pussy, ignoring her whimper of disappointment. He pressed his wet fingers to her lips and bit back his own groan when she accepted them, cleaning off her juices with her tongue. The mimicry of what he wanted her mouth to do to his cock was hot as fuck. Curving his other arm around her, Mitch brought her flush against him, so he could more easily play with her breasts. He pulled his fingers from her lips, taking a breast in each hand. They fit into his palms, allowing his fingers to close around the full mounds and reach her peaked nipples.
Rather than teasing her, he gave each one a hard pinch, making her gasp in surprise and pain. His cock jerked at the soft sound, which sheโ€™d tried to muffle. Tightening his grip, he tugged on them, making her arch her back and lean forward, squirming with arousal.
On the stage, Michael had already stripped Ellie out of the robe she was wearing, revealing the weights attached to her nipple rings, pulling them down, and a flash of jewelry between her thighs, likely something to torture her sweet pussy.
Mitch rolled Domiโ€™s nipples painfully, eliciting a high-pitched whine from the back of her throat. Leaning closer to her, he kissed the muscle where her throat met her shoulder and then nipped at it, dragging his teeth over her sensitive skin. His cock was rock hard and pressing against his leathers, begging to be let out.
โ€œI think your nipples could use some jewelry, donโ€™t you?โ€ he whispered, twisting and tugging on the small buds. โ€œI wouldnโ€™t want you to get jealous of Ellie.โ€
โ€œYes, please, Sir,โ€ Domi said, her voice soft and needy. Her back arched, thrusting her breasts forward as though her body was repeating the plea.
He nearly groaned at her eagerness. Only a sweet little masochist would take the pinches and twists to her nipples he was doling out and ask for more.
โ€œKeep watching Master Michael and Ellie,โ€ he murmured into her ear. โ€œDonโ€™t take your eyes off of them.โ€ Releasing the little buds, he grinned when she let out a long breath, her body relaxing from the tension. That bit of relief wasnโ€™t going to last very long, and he knew neither of them wanted it to.
On stage, Michael had secured Ellieโ€™s wrists to a rope hanging down in the center of the stage and her ankles to a spreader bar that forced her legs wide apart. He was wrapping rope around Ellieโ€™s body, focusing on figure eights around her large breasts that made them jut out even more, her pale skin turning pink as they were bound. She was panting, her eyes almost glazed over. With her legs spread, Mitch could see the clamp on her clit.
Reaching into his pocket, Mitch pulled out the clover clamps heโ€™d brought. Their initial pinch wasnโ€™t bad, but tugging on them made them tighten, increasing their bite. Perfect for Domi.


Domi
Normally, watching Master Michael and Ellie wouldnโ€™t be a hardship, especially because being a voyeur to this intense scene was a pleasure unto itself, but not being able to look over and see what Master Mitch had for her was its own form of tortureโ€”which she was sure the jerk knew. Her nipples were already throbbing from his abuse, and her pussy was pulsing in time, clenching with need.
She was so aroused, it took willpower not to reach between her legs and touch herself for relief, but she knew better than to do that next to a Dom. That was a surefire way to an evening without a single orgasm. The best way to get what she wanted was to be a good girl and do what sheโ€™d been told.
So, she watched as Master Michael tied off the end of the rope, leaving Ellie in a rope shirt that covered nothing and added to the torture of her breasts. Domi couldnโ€™t help but wonder if such bondage would be as effective on her since her own boobs were so much smaller than Ellieโ€™s. She would love to try.
Mitchโ€™s hand moved back around her back and cupped the breast farther away from him. Sheโ€™d expected a pinch, but instead, his fingers gently stroked her abused nipple, teasing and making it feel even more sensitive.
It wasnโ€™t until Master Michael picked up the flogger hanging from his belt loop and sent it slashing through the air, the pinch came. Domi cried out just after Ellie, her nipple throbbing from the sharp, stinging pain that jabbed through it. A moment later, Master Michael brought the flogger down on Ellieโ€™s other breast, and Master Mitch quickly clamped Domiโ€™s other nipple.
Gripping the table in front of her, her eyes unfocused as the flogger rose and fell, panting for breath as her body adjusted to the exquisite agony. It hurt so much and felt so good as her pulse pounded in time with Ellieโ€™s cries.
The room echoed with whimpers, moans, and groans from other booths, adding to the show on stage.
โ€œUp, sweetheart,โ€ Mitch ordered. She cried out when he used the clamps to move her, dragging her forward by her nipples, so she was bent over the table.
Tears gathered in her eyes from the sharp pain, then the dull throbbing that replaced it when he let the clamps go. On stage, Master Michael aimed the flogger at the tender undersides of Ellieโ€™s breasts, making her shriek at the impact, then again as the weights on her nipples bounced along with her breasts. Domiโ€™s nipples throbbed in erotic sympathy.
Smack!
Master Mitchโ€™s hand slapped her ass, making her cry out in surprise. Her cheek stung where the blow had landed. Like when heโ€™d pinched her nipples, he wasnโ€™t giving her any warm-up timeโ€ฆ and her body loved and hated him for it.
Smack!
She moaned, lifting her hips up for more.
Smack! Smack!
Thwap!
She shrieked, her pussy pulsing with pain from the particularly hard smack. Oops, sheโ€™d dropped her head, taking her eyes off the show. Jerking her head back up again, she shuddered with the erotic pain as Master Mitch started spanking her again, covering her entire ass with hard swats. Propped up on her elbows, she could feel her breasts swaying beneath her, the clamps tugging on her from the movement.
On stage, Master Michael dropped the flogger and moved to Ellie, quickly undoing the rope and making her cry out as blood rushed back into her tortured breasts. Tears dripped onto the abused mounds, and she screamed, jerking slightly when he removed the weights from her nipples and gave each of them a sharp pinch. The insides of her thighs were glistening with the evidence of her arousal, even as she shuddered and sobbed.
Moving behind her, Master Michael undid the front of his leathers, taking his cock in hand. Retrieving a small tube from his pocket, he squirted shiny liquid onto his cock, and Domi moaned when she realized his intention. Fuck, this was going to be hot.
Ellieโ€™s sobbing breaths turned into another shriek as Master Michael lined his cock up with Ellieโ€™s ass and thrust in at the same time, Master Mitch thrust into Domiโ€™s pussy. She cried out with relief at finally being filled, her muscles clamping around him. One of Mitchโ€™s hands pulled at the back of her hair, keeping her head up, so she was staring right at Master Michael and Ellie. Moving his hands around to Ellieโ€™s front, closing around her tormented breasts and squeezing, he began fucking her ass with a hard, pounding rhythm.
Master Mitch kept one hand in Domiโ€™s curls, the other wrapped around her hip as he fucked her pussy as hard as Master Michael was riding Ellieโ€™s ass. Domi shuddered, bracing herself against his hard thrusts, her breasts bouncing, nipples protesting the abuse whenever the clamps brushed against the table, digging into her flesh. Every slap of Master Mitchโ€™s body against her spanked cheeks reignited the sting from his hand. Her pussy convulsed around him, her passion climbing higher.
Watching the show with a Dom was everything Domi had imagined and more.
Another scream from Ellie echoed around the room. Master Michael had removed the clit clamp, and the fingers of one of his hands were buried in her pussy, rubbing roughly against the sensitive nub, increasing both her pain and her pleasure. Echoing his movement, Master Mitch released one of Domiโ€™s nipples and thrust his hand between her thighs.
Ecstasy exploded inside her, twisting around the stinging pain into its own unique creation that flooded her body. Domiโ€™s cries joined the others filling the room, her orgasm pulsing inside her, along with Master Mitchโ€™s cock. She could feel him throbbing, flooding her pussy with his cum.


Mitch
Fuck.
With a strangled cry, Mitch emptied himself into Domi, the silky walls of her pussy gripping and squeezing the life out of his cock with each pulse of her orgasm. The incredible eroticism of fucking the hell out of her while they watched another couple playing and fuckingโ€ฆ He was definitely going to be bringing her back to Marquis in the future.
Normally, he wouldnโ€™t consider that because it might give a subbie ideas, but this was Domi. If anything, heโ€™d probably have to reassure her he wasnโ€™t getting the wrong idea. Marquis was date-like.
But he had dibs.
He had to admit, it was one of his better ideas.
Whimpering, Domi went limp in front of him, still panting, her pussy quivering around his shrinking cock. On stage, Michael had already removed the restraints from Ellieโ€™s wrists and was bundling her up in his arms to carry her offstage. From the expression on her face, she was still flying high.
The lights around the room went up to the dim setting that had indicated the show was about to start. It would stay that way until everyone left, giving them just enough light to make their exit but keeping the booths completely shadowed. In a few minutes, servers would make the rounds, dropping off water and anything the table had ordered for aftercare and taking orders for those who hadnโ€™t done so beforehand. Knowing Domiโ€™s love for lemon, Mitch had taken the liberty of ordering her a slice of lemon meringue pie.
Sitting down, Mitch pulled Domi toward him, turning her around to face him. She had a similar expression to Ellieโ€™s, and he allowed himself a few moments of smug satisfaction over making her look like that. He got another bolt of enjoyment when he removed the clamp from her right nipple, and she wailed, back arching, hands automatically coming up to fend him off as the blood rushed back into the crushed nubbin. If she hadnโ€™t been totally undone by the scene, she never would have reacted that way.
Easily grasping her wrists in his hand, he leaned forward and took her nipple in his mouth, suckling her through the pain. Little sobs of breath heaved her chest, and she shuddered, slowly coming down from the high. When he removed the one on the left, she was clear-eyed enough not to fight him and moaning in enjoyment as he soothed the sting with his lips and tongue. Mitchโ€™s cock twitched again at the sultry sound, but he knew it wasnโ€™t actually going anywhere.
One slice of pie and two glasses of water later, Domi was completely recovered and happy to agree to schedule future visits to Marquisโ€”no โ€˜dibsโ€™ needed. Which was good since Marquis required a reservation. Mitch walked her to her car, gave her a hard kiss, and said he hoped to see her soon. With a wink, of course.
Strolling back to his own car, he whistled a merry tune.

Author Links:

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Note From Star:

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Bondage Buddies by Golden Angel! Please make sure to check out the links above for more information and to get your copy! Happy reading!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

Reading With Star: Love Under the Stars by R.K. Phillips

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Important Note:

R.K. Phillips is sharing her latest WIP, Love Under the Stars. It currently doesn’t have a cover. I’m really excited to get this new book in my hands. This author is so talented. I just can’t even. I really hope you enjoy!

Book Info:

This is a New Adult book that features the college students that attend the University where Peyton (From Complications of Pi) teaches. You do not have to have read that book prior to this one. This book is about Eve beginning college Spring Semester and meeting a new group of friends and learning what it means to be able to rely on those around her and maybe open her heart up to love.ย 

Book Excerpt:

Then the two girls left to head towards class before they were indeed tardy. Thankfully class wasnโ€™t bad and there wasnโ€™t a lot of conversation practicing because that is when more energy was used up. However, by the end of class, Abigail knew that Eve needed a break and perhaps a nap, especially when there was no resistance to assistance.

โ€œI am not even going to fight or argue with you carrying my stuff. Thank you. I was going to go to the library to study, but I am not sure if I can stay awake. I worry if I go to the dorm to take  a nap, I will oversleep and I donโ€™t want to miss Trig class again.โ€ 

Slowing her steps down a bit, Abigail offered, โ€œWhat if I come over and study while you take a nap. Then I can wake you up in time to go to class.โ€

โ€œOh, I canโ€™t ask you to do that. Plus, I am always complaining about my roommateโ€™s friends coming over. I donโ€™t want to give her any ammunition by having you there. I donโ€™t have the mental fortitude to battle with her right now.โ€

โ€œThen you come over to my place. My roommate is out all day with classes and doesnโ€™t return until later.โ€

โ€œAbby, that is sweet of you to offer โ€“โ€

โ€œGood. Letโ€™s go.โ€ She knew there was a but coming and Abigail refused to allow Eve to voice it.

Letting out a long sigh, Eve relented, โ€œAlright. You win. Again.โ€ 

โ€œHey you won when you came over to my dorm room while I was sick, but it isnโ€™t a contest. I care and want to help out.โ€

โ€œI appreciate that, but I have a hard time letting anyone help because I am so used to taking care of myself and being my own support. When you are it, then there isnโ€™t really an opportunity to lean on anyone. You get sick, you take care of yourself. You have financial problems, you get more than one job or figure things out. Car breaks down, you call a tow and then walk or call for a paid ride. Sorry, that makes it sound like I donโ€™t have friends or anything. I donโ€™t mean it like that.โ€ 

โ€œI understand what you mean. Donโ€™t worry. Well, in our group, we will force you to submit under our ruling thumb and take the help whether or not you want to.โ€ Giggling, Abigail nudged Eveโ€™s shoulder as they walked.

โ€œI have noticed. From day one, Nori has pretty much pulled me along.โ€

โ€œI believe she has adopted you as her sister and thus you are now part of the collective.โ€

Eve stopped and turned to face straight at Abigail and asked quietly while backing up. โ€œAre you all part of the Borg? I will not simulate.โ€

Abigail couldnโ€™t help it, she busted out laughing so hard she had to stop and lean against a tree. 

โ€œYou are laughing, so I am thinking I might be safe. Never saw any of them laugh. Then again, maybe you have more of a processor function that allows you to tap into the humor of humans. I am wondering if maybe I need to run away while I can. You know, change my identity and location.โ€ Eve bit her lower lip in worry.

Abigail held up her hand. โ€œPlease stopโ€ฆ I canโ€™tโ€ฆ breatheโ€ฆโ€ She bent over and of course that shifted the balance of books causing her to collapse to the ground and laugh even more.

โ€œI think maybe your processors are now not functioning properly. Maybe I need to take you to see a doctor or perhaps you need to regenerate and that will help?โ€ 

Eve stood there so serious and without cracking a bit of a smile and that is what really aided in the uncontrollable laughter. Abigail would never have been able to have delivered so many lines without breaking character. She held one finger up in the air to signal Eve to give her a minute.

โ€œI believe that most people hold up the middle finger, not the pointer finger, do they not? Is the Borg different? Does the significance of the first finger indicate something?โ€ 

โ€œStop.โ€

โ€œDrop and Roll? I donโ€™t think rolling around on the cold ground would be good for my health at this point. Actually, it probably isnโ€™t good for you to be sitting on it as well, especially now that you are coughing. I will behave now. Letโ€™s get you up before you relapse and then the rest of your collective comes after me chanting โ€˜Resistance is Futile.โ€™โ€ 

Eve held out her hand to Abigail and once she calmed down and resumed breathing without coughing, Abigail grabbed it and hoisted herself up off the ground. Then she grabbed their bags again and they resumed walking. โ€œYou were amazing. How could you keep going with a straight face?โ€

โ€œDrama class. But, thinking of you as the Borg helped a lot, too.โ€ 

โ€œYou definitely have skills dear.โ€

โ€œThank you.โ€

They chatted for a few as they finished walking to Abigailโ€™s dorm. Then by the time they had climbed up to her room, Eve was really pale and slow. โ€œYou definitely need to lie down and take a nap.โ€ Opening the door, Abigail let their bags slide to the floor next to the desk before helping Eve to sit down on the bed.

โ€œCome on now. Lay back and rest. Here, I will get you a fresh blanket.โ€ Abigail rummaged in her tote and pulled out a soft one and covered up Eve. โ€œGo to sleep and I will wake you up in time for your next class.โ€

โ€œThank you Abby.โ€ In less than three minutes Eve was asleep. Not wanting to be a weird creeper and watch her sleep, Abigail pulled out her own homework to work on. She set the alarm so she didnโ€™t lose track of time and then began working.

When the alarm sounded, Abigail quickly turned it off and stretched. Then she turned to look at the sleeping woman in her bed and admitted to herself that she liked seeing Eve amongst her things. She sat down on the edge of the mattress and spoke softly. โ€œEve, time to wake up for your class.โ€ The woman didnโ€™t stir. Maybe she was a sound sleeper. Abigail reached out and shook Eve gently on the arm. โ€œEve, dear, time to wake up.โ€ That got a little movement and mumbling out of the woman. โ€œCome on now, you will get mad at both of us if you donโ€™t wake up.โ€ Abigail moved part of Eveโ€™s hair and ended up touching her forehead. The girl was warm. She hurried up and dug until she found a thermometer and was glad it was one you could use on the forehead. She looked down and it read 101.1. โ€œYou will have to hate me later, but you arenโ€™t going to class.โ€ Debating on whether or not to make Eve wake up to take some pain reliever and water or to let her sleep, Abigail finally settled for giving her 30-45 minutes and then check her fever again and see where she was at.

One thing was certain, she needed to call the library and let them know that Eve wouldnโ€™t be going to work that night either. She went on the campus website and located the phone number for the library and called them. When someone answered, she asked to speak to someone in charge and then quickly explained the situation. The woman was very nice and understanding and told Abigail to make sure that Eve rested and to reach out tomorrow and update them. 

After that call was done, she knew she wouldnโ€™t be able to concentrate and ended up pacing the floor a bit and doing some quiet cleaning. After almost forty minutes passed, she took Eveโ€™s temperature again and it showed 102.4. Well, that settled it. She grabbed a lukewarm bottle of water and two ibuprofen from the bottle Eve left for her when she was here and set them on the table. Then she sat back down on the bed and peeled the blanket back from Eve and ran her hand up and down the womanโ€™s arm to try and help wake her.

โ€œEve, hun, I need you to wake up enough for me to take some meds.โ€ The other woman didnโ€™t stir. She tried again. Shaking Eve lightly this time to try and stir her, Abigail spoke a little louder, โ€œCome on Eve, please wake up so I donโ€™t have to call someone for help. You are worrying me.โ€ 

With that Eve mumbled and cracked open her eyes just a fraction. โ€œLet me sleep, the monkeys were playing peek a boo.โ€ 

โ€œI need you to sit up so you can take some meds.โ€ Abigail sat down and helped Eve to raise up and prop up against Abigailโ€™s side. Reaching over to the table, she grabbed the two pills and ordered, โ€œOpen up your mouth so you can take these ibuprofen and take this bottle of water.โ€ Eve did as requested, but she started to drop the bottle, so Abigail grabbed ahold of it to help. Once she managed to get the pills down Eve, she helped the other woman to settle back down onto the bed. She really was getting concerned about her. She decided she better text the group. She hated to leave Eve, but she did need to get to her class if one of the others could come sit with Eve.

Abigail: Hey guys. Eve is in my room asleep and has a fever. I am worried. I finally got her to take meds. Anyone free this afternoon to sit while I attend class?

Nori: Poor girl. Why is she in your room?

Melissa: Not the point Nori. I am free Abby. Be there in 15.

A: Thanks Mel.

N: Iโ€™m sorry. I was just curious why she wasnโ€™t in her own was all.

N: Need anything from the cafeteria or the store? 

A: Actually, some water and maybe Pedialyte or Gatorade? Fluids. I need to see what I can do for her. 

N: How high was her temp?

A: 102.4 when I gave her some meds. 

N: Keep a sheet on her rather than a blanket and maybe a cool cloth along her neck. If it goes up any more, we can take her to the health clinic. I will get some stuff and meet Mel back at your room.

A: Thanks. I wouldnโ€™t leave, but I have already missed so much class.

M: Almost there. She probably is having a setback from the flu. I have a mask and a book to read. 

K: Hey. Was in class. Just saw the messages. Let me know if you need something and Logan and I can come over. 

A: Thanks guys.

Abigail put her books into her bag and switched out the fuzzy blanket that was over Eve for a sheet. She wasnโ€™t sure if it would help, but it would probably make Eve more comfortable, so Abigail removed the womanโ€™s shoes and socks. She leaned down and kissed the top of Eveโ€™s head and heard a gentle knocking on the door. 

Opening the door found Melissa on the other side. โ€œHey Mel! Come on in. Thanks for coming by. I am sure she would kick both of our butts if she knew I requested a watcher, but I didnโ€™t want to leave her alone. I need to rush. Make yourself at home as usual. I will be back as soon as my class is done.โ€ 

โ€œNo problem. I am going to take advantage of your roomieโ€™s bean bag chair and read something that isnโ€™t a textbook.โ€ 

Abigail smirked and picked up her book bag and hurried out the door.ย 

Note From Star:

Hope you enjoyed this excerpt of Love Under the Stars by R.K. Phillips. There aren’t currently any buy links for this book, but she does have other works that I fully recommend checking out. Including her debut novel, Complications of Pi. It’s a wonderful sapphic romance that I adore very much. She also has a novel called Nature’s Strike that she will be turning into an amazing series! Give her a follow!

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

Reading With Star: Blackstone: Dahlia by Kate Davison

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Available now at your favorite digital store!

Blurb:


Secrets. Betrayal. Murder. Itโ€™s all a day in the life of a Blackstone.

Thirty years ago, my father killed my mother in a fit of jealousyโ€”or at least that was what I was led to believe. I heard him crying and calling my name as I hid in the back of a closet. I know he was there and assumed the right man is doing the time.

After an anonymous note questions Jesse Blackstoneโ€™s guilt, I find myself pulled back into the past and my hometown where secrets hide, and I try to reconstruct my motherโ€™s life and the events that resulted in her murder.

Now, those who knew my mother back then are turning up dead, and raising more questions than I can answer. And all I know about my life is about to get turned up on its head.

Excerpt:

Nathan opened the car door for me. I slid into the seat. He had a nice SUV. Big. Sturdy. Clean. It wasnโ€™t a new model but was very well cared for. That told me a lot about his character as an adult.
He turned to me as he buckled his seatbelt. โ€œYou look nice.โ€
โ€œThanks. So do you.โ€ Awkward small talk was never my thing. This was painful.
Da Vinci stood on the chair; his head poked out the curtains watching me leave. He threw his head back. Even though I couldnโ€™t hear him, I knew he howled.
Nathan shot me a worried glance. โ€œIs he going to do that all evening?โ€
โ€œI donโ€™t know. He usually isnโ€™t away from me for too long. If I go somewhere that he can go, I take him.โ€
Nathan smiled. โ€œChange of plans.โ€
โ€œWhat?โ€ Shock moved through me as I watched him get out of the car. By this point, Cal had come to the window to try and get Da Vinci to settle.
Nathan knocked and I watched the door open. A moment later, Nathan reappeared with my dog. He carried the leash but didnโ€™t have it fastened to Da Vinci. The dog trotted to the SUV and waited patiently for Nathan to open the back of the truck. Da Vinci jumped into the backseat as if it was part of his normal routine.
I turned around and ruffled his ears and jowls. โ€œYou look very pleased with yourself.โ€
He licked the side of my face as if in agreement.
โ€œEveryone ready?โ€ Nathanโ€™s voice had taken on a cheery tone.
โ€œReady.โ€
And we were off.
We drove out to the boardwalk where Gulf met land. Shops and arcades were situated on one side and the surf rolled in on the other.
Da Vinci tried to look out both windows at once as we parked. All the lights and people had him excited for the excursion. So many new smells and things to investigate.
โ€œYou know heโ€™s thinking this is his best date ever.โ€ I opened my door and jumped out before Nathan could come around to the passenger side. The fact he thought to include my distressed puppy had me feeling all kinds of warm thoughts that I probably shouldnโ€™t have.
Nathan smiled and looked down at Da Vinci. โ€œI know the feeling, buddy.โ€
I swallowed.
No. He didnโ€™t just say that.
We walked out onto the boards and joined the crowds of people out for a stroll. Now, this was what I meant about keeping it casual. I might have been nervous, but walking relaxed me. Kept the jitters at bay.
Nathan had taken Da Vinciโ€™s lead and the dog walked in front of us like a goodwill ambassador for pet adoption. His flat nose stuck up in the air sniffing as if heโ€™d caught a scent.
โ€œHeโ€™s a great dog,โ€ Nathan said as Da Vinci stopped and tried to catch a scent on the breeze. He began to whine.
โ€œYeah, heโ€™s the best.โ€ A sense of foreboding went up my back. Da Vinci was acting weird.
I put my hands down in my pockets and watched as Da Vinci backed up and went on sudden alert.
Then the screaming started.

Note From Star:

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of Blackstone: Dahlia. Please consider clicking the link above and grabbing a copy of this book.

Have an excerpt you want to share? Contact me at nikkiereads@starsbooksandtea.com so we can discuss it!

Reading With Star: Soul of Eli by Pamela Gail

Disclaimer: None of the work in Reading With Star belongs to me. The author owns all right to the book. They have given me permission to share a bit of their work with you.

Choosing a future is never easy.
Eli Sterling is the star pitcher on his high school baseball team. He has a bright future in
the majors, but recently, something has changed.
Heโ€™s angry, moody, and scared.
It seems that no matter how hard he works, he always falls short in someoneโ€™s eyes.
Except for Izzy. She is his best friend and the only one who understands.
As he begins to question everything about who he is and what he truly wants for his
future, the only place he finds peace is in the treehouse that sits between his house and
Izzyโ€™s.
Both a blessing and a curse, their bond keeps him together, even as he slowly spirals out
of control and realizes that not all is what it seems, and learns that itโ€™s okay to reach for
the dream.
Adolescent Angst
Substance Use

https://linktr.ee/authorpamelagail

โ€œEli!โ€ someone yells, gaining my attention.
โ€œHuh?โ€ I question, pulling myself back to reality.
โ€œBell rang,โ€ Jonesy tells me.
I look around at an almost empty classroom. Other than Jonesy and me, all the students have left. Coach is at his desk typing something on his computer.
โ€œYeah, uh, yeah, I know,โ€ I stammer.
โ€œSure, you did,โ€ he laughs.
โ€œYou guys coming?โ€ Bomb questions, poking his head into the classroom. His homeroom is next door, and we usually walk to our next classes together.
Bomb is the best hitter weโ€™ve got. Three years ago, during his freshmen season, he hit seven home runs in three games, earning him the nickname.
โ€œLetโ€™s go,โ€ I bite.
Today, listening to my friends rag on me is not at the top of my list.
โ€œCranky,โ€ Jonesy teases, following me into the hallway. Turning, I take a step toward him, getting in his face.
โ€œYou donโ€™t want to push me today,โ€ I snap.
โ€œYou donโ€™t want to start something you canโ€™t handle,โ€ he returns.
โ€œWanna bet,โ€ I bark, shoving him and causing his back to hit the wall behind him.
He retaliates, taking a step forward and pushing me. โ€œWhat the hell, Eli?โ€ he yells.
Students gather around us, hungry for a fight. I stumble back a few steps, quickly regaining my footing and getting in his face again.
โ€œThat was a mistake.โ€
I raise a fist in one fluid motion and punch him in the nose. Blood spews, splattering our shirts. He staggers backwards, hitting the wall again. The crowd cheers and hollers encouraging us to fight. Jonesy pushes himself away from the wall and takes a step toward me. Heโ€™s tough, Iโ€™ll give him that.
โ€œWhat the fuck is wrong with you?โ€ he yells. Jonesy takes a swing at me, but I see it coming and take a small step to the left. His hits my shoulder with enough force to knock me back.
Quickly, I move towards him, ready to hit him again, but Bomb steps between us. He puts both hands on my chest, blocking my advances. I fight against Bomb as Jonesy attempts to push past him to get to me. Bomb is strong, but not strong enough to hold us away from one another for long.
โ€œStop!โ€ Bomb yells. Cap steps behind Bomb and tries to hold Jonesy back while Bomb holds me in place.
A few teachers shove their way through the mass of students.
โ€œEnough!โ€ One of them yells. She looks at Jonesy. โ€œAre you okay?โ€ Jonesy nods. Heโ€™s not okay. Blood pours from his now crooked nose and covers the front of his shirt. It looks bad. โ€œLetโ€™s get you to the nurse,โ€ she continues, shaking her head at me before escorting Jonesy down the hall.
โ€œWhat the hell is your problem?โ€ Bomb yells, pinning me with a disappointing glare.
โ€œHe was being an ass,โ€ I yell, throwing my hands up as if my statement is explanation enough. Bomb doesnโ€™t get a chance to argue before Coach steps up.
โ€œEverybody get to class,โ€ he bellows over the noise. Kids scramble in every direction. Bomb doesnโ€™t budge. I turn to head for my next class, but Coach grabs my arm. โ€œNot you. Go to class, Bomb,โ€ he commands. Bomb rushes off. โ€œLetโ€™s go,โ€ Coach tells me, leading me toward the office. โ€œDo you know how much trouble youโ€™re in?โ€
โ€œDoes it matter?โ€
โ€œI donโ€™t know what the hell is wrong with you lately, but you better get yourself together, or youโ€™ll be off the team?โ€
โ€œLike thatโ€™ll happen,โ€ I mumble.
โ€œWhat?โ€
โ€œNothing.โ€
Whether he understood me or was trying to get me to repeat it doesnโ€™t matter. He knows Iโ€™m right. The team needs me. Thereโ€™s no way theyโ€™ll go to State with the other pitchers. Theyโ€™re decent but not good enough to take us all the way.
When we walk into the office, Mr. McCaffrey, the principal, is waiting. Word travels fast. Guess it doesnโ€™t hurt that the nurseโ€™s office is next to the main office.
โ€œThank you. Iโ€™ll take it from here.โ€ Mr. McCaffrey tells Coach.
Coach leaves, and Mr. McCaffrey steps aside, motioning for me to step into his office.
โ€œHave a seat, Eli. Tell me what happened.โ€
โ€œHe got in my face.โ€
โ€œSo, you hit Jonesy and probably broke his nose.โ€
โ€œHe got in my face,โ€ I repeat louder.
โ€œDonโ€™t yell at me. Thatโ€™s no excuse for what you did. Your parents are on their way to pick you up. Iโ€™m suspending you for three days.โ€
โ€œWhat? I canโ€™t play ball if Iโ€™m suspended. The team needs me.โ€
โ€œYou should have thought about that before you punched someone.โ€
I stand up, slapping my hands on his desk. โ€œCome on, this isnโ€™t fair.โ€
โ€œSit down, Mr. Sterling,โ€ he insists firmly.
I donโ€™t move, but I speak a little calmer. โ€œJonesy will be fine. I didnโ€™t hit him that hard..โ€
โ€œSit down, now.โ€ Before I can move, thereโ€™s a knock on the door.
โ€œCome in,โ€ he calls.
My parents walk into the office full of anger and disappointment. Great. The next three days are going to be hell. I take that seat Mr. McCaffrey keeps insisting on, and my parents sit in the other two chairs. Mr. McCaffrey explains what happened and then tells them about my suspension.
โ€œWhat do have to say for yourself, son?โ€
I stare at my dad in response. Nothing I can say will make him happy, get me out of trouble, or make anything about this situation better, so I keep my mouth shut.
โ€œAnswer me,โ€ Dad bellows, standing up and looming over me. He thinks he intimidates me.
โ€œWhat do you want me to say?โ€ I yell, getting up and standing toe to toe with him. โ€œJonesy got what he deserved, and Iโ€™d do it again. Get the fuck off my back.โ€
โ€œMy dad grabs my arm and pulls me to the door. โ€œGo to the car. Iโ€™ll deal with you later.โ€ He shoves me into the main office.
Instead of going to the car, I wait outside of Mr. McCaffreyโ€™s door, so I can listen to their conversation. I deserve to know what they say about me.
โ€œIs there anything else we need to do?โ€ My mom asks the principal.
โ€œNo. Eli can return on Monday. Iโ€™ll speak to Coach about how this will affect him playing baseball. He wonโ€™t be able to play in any of the games before Monday, but Coach might want to add his own punishment since he hit a teammate. Also, you can expect to hear from Jonesyโ€™s family. Iโ€™m sure there will be doctor bills involved. That will have to be handled between the two families.โ€
โ€œWe understand. Thank you,โ€ she says in a sickeningly sweet voice as if being all sugary is going to make this better.
It was stupid of me to hit Jonesy. Weโ€™ve been friends and teammates half our life. If it hadnโ€™t happened at school, he would have made up some lie to tell his parents, and eventually, we both would have calmed down, apologized, and moved forward. Now the school is involved, and my parents will probably have to pay his doctor bills. Damn.

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