Race you to the bedroom.... #HolidayRomance #EroticRomance #RomCom

By Tim Smith (Guest Blogger)

‘Tis the season for that inevitable combination of holidays and romance. The two go together like homemade cookies and hot chocolate, and have long been a staple of books and made-for-TV movies. My latest offering to the list of short holiday reads is Under a Christmas Moon. This is the third installment in an unofficial series I began three years ago with Santa Slept Here, followed by Cupid Says Happy New Year. The two lead characters are the same, and the stories follow their developing relationship, but they don’t need to be read in order.

Scott Burke and Lisa Berger were high school sweethearts once upon a time, but that was fifteen years ago. Sparks were rekindled one year ago, when Lisa found herself stranded in Scott’s hometown on Christmas Eve and they realized they never should have parted. Now they’re planning their first Christmas together as a couple, but a little thing called life keeps getting in the way. Both of their careers keep them busy, especially Lisa’s, and Scott begins to feel like the odd man out in the relationship. Can the two lovers keep the flames burning, or will they decide it isn’t worth the trouble?

I’ve long been a fan of the premise of two people who knew each other once upon a time, but it wasn’t the right time for them to pursue a relationship. They find each other after they’ve been apart, and discover they belong together. That’s the theme with these two characters. Scott became smitten with Lisa when they were in high school fifteen years earlier, but he was too shy to do anything about it. She was also the most popular girl in his class, and he doubted she would ever want to date him. Now that they’ve both grown up and been kicked around by life, they discover they have a lot in common.

Excerpt

Lisa turned off one of the lamps then stood beside Scott with her arm around his waist. They looked at the Christmas tree.

“It looks so pretty, all lit up,” she said.

“Yeah, it does. I’m glad you like colored lights on a tree. I can’t stand the ones that are all white.”

“Me, either. A Christmas tree should be bright and colorful. It needs to scream festivity.”

“Does this one scream loud enough for you?”

Lisa examined the tree for a few moments. “It will after you move that Santa closer to the angel near the top.”

Scott groaned and rolled his eyes. “I give up.”

He took their wine glasses to the kitchen to refill them then returned to the living room. Lisa sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. The blue and yellow flames danced along the faux logs and gave off just enough heat to take away the chill. Scott gave Lisa her glass then sat next to her. He had loaded up the stereo with their favorite holiday CDs.

She sipped her wine. “Our first Christmas together.”

“Second,” Scott corrected. “You were here last year.”

“I meant our first official we’re-a-couple-now Christmas.”

He hugged her. “That’s a nice feeling. Any regrets about leaving Memphis and moving back here?”

“None. Now I’m closer to my family and I get to be with you.”

Scott sipped his wine. “No second thoughts about moving in with me instead of getting a place of your own?”

Lisa set their glasses on the hearth. She pulled Scott close then kissed him. “Not a one. When we reconnected last year and we both realized how much in love we were, it was a no-brainer.”

He reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “It was for me, too.”

Scott embraced Lisa and kissed her, slipping his tongue into her mouth and massaging her lips with his. Her scent kicked his libido into overdrive, and he ran his hands along her back.

She peered into his eyes. “Did you have fun today?”

“Yeah, I did. It was nice having you all to myself. Think we can do that more often?” Cupid Says Happy New Year

“Mm-hmm.” She traced her finger along his jaw. “Remember last year, when we finally made love for the first time?”

Arousal stirred at the memory. “Of course. You were incredibly hot that night.” He hesitated. “And you have been every time since.”

“Thank you for adding that last part.”

She kissed him again then peered into his eyes, giving a sultry look. “Race you to the bedroom,” she teased.

“What do I win if I get there first?”

“Anything you want to do with me.”

“If I lose?”

She flashed a playful smile. “The same thing.”

They went to the bedroom upstairs. Scott undressed in the faint light, then watched Lisa do a leisurely striptease. His gaze devoured her as she pulled her sweater over her head, followed by unhooking and shrugging off her black lace bra, giving her firm breasts their freedom. She unfastened her tight jeans, then wriggled them over her hips, turning away when she tossed them aside before seductively peeling her matching panties over her tight, round ass.

Damn, she knows just how to get to me.

* * *

This is a light romantic comedy with a cute ending, reminiscent of what you see on Lifetime or Ion this time of year. Be forewarned that there is some adult content. If you like this one, check out the first two in the series, Santa Slept Here and Cupid Says Happy New Year. Happy reading!

Extasy link: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2734-4-under-a-christmas-moon/

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082ZWX7SK/

About the Author

Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. He is also a freelance writer, photographer, and blogger. When he isn’t writing he can often be found in the Florida Keys, doing research between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

https://allauthor.com/author/timsmith/

The Ghost of Christmas Future - #MMRomance #CharlesDickens #HolidayRomance

 Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was part of my family’s holiday tradition for as far back as I could remember. An animated television special shown every year (with squinty-eyed character Mr. Magoo playing the role of the miser Scrooge) first introduced me to the story. I was probably ten or eleven when I read the original. Even at that age, I could appreciate the messages embedded in the tale: love is much more important than money; don’t let the joys of the present pass you by. Scrooge’s delight when he discovers that he hasn’t missed Christmas morning after all captured the joyous essence of the season.

When Totally Bound put out a call for a series of M/M paranormal shorts called “Christmas Spirits”, back in 2014, I immediately thought about adapting Dickens’ classic. Like the famous Carol, Tomorrow’s Gifts, my tale revolves around recognizing one’s current blessings.

Michael loves his burly, powerful partner Neil, but he's too embarrassed to share his secret fantasies of submission and surrender. Frustrated and confused, he wonders whether he and Neil really belong together. Then, on Christmas Eve, Michael receives a visit from a sexy Dom, Thorne Wilder, who claims to be his lover from the future. Thorne shows Michael scenes from a wild life of sexual excess that he claims they'll share if he breaks up with Neil. The ghostly Dom satisfies Michael’s kinky needs in ways Neil never has. Should Michael trust the ghost of Christmas future? Or does his true future lie with Neil?

Although Tomorrow’s Gifts is definitely X-rated, I borrowed a lot from Dickens. Like Scrooge, Michael at first denies the reality of his spectral visitor. As in the Dickens book, the scenes that Thorne reveals gradually increase in emotional intensity. Just as the the ghost of Christmas future shows Ebenezer Scrooge a final vision of his own death, Michael’s glimpse of his own mortality – and Neil’s reaction – teaches him his final lesson.

And as in Dickens, the spirits accomplish it all in a single night. Michael wakes on Christmas morning, relieved at having survived and brave enough – just barely – to be honest with his partner about his true desires.

Tomorrow’s Gifts was my first attempt writing M/M erotic romance. I think I broke some rules by introducing a second guy who’s competing for the hero’s attention, and by allowing the hero to actually have lots of hot, kinky sex with him. I hope that doesn’t bother readers too much. If it’s any consolation, Thorne is outrageously good-looking and thrillingly dominant. Anyway – he’s just a ghost!

I’ve written a number of M/M books since then, including the paranormal thriller Necessary Madness and the dark science fiction novel Quarantine. As my “first born”, though, Tomorrow’s Gifts has a special place in my heart – along with A Christmas Carol.

I’ll leave you with an excerpt from Tomorrow’s Gifts, to whet your appetite.

Happy holidays!

Excerpt (Rated R)

“So, Michael. Have you been a good little boy?” Neil loomed over me, one hand against the wall on either side of my head. “Do you deserve the goodies that Santa’s brought for you?” Leaning forward, he trailed a wet tongue up my neck, from my open collar to just below my earlobe. When I squirmed in response, he flattened his pelvis against the lump growing in my jeans and fastened his mouth on mine. The fake beard got in the way. He ripped it off and resumed kissing me, while his hands slipped around me to cup my ass.

I loved the way Neil kissed with his full body, investing his entire being in the process. I snuggled against his red felt jacket, allowing him to take possession of my mouth. His kisses were deep, wet, full of soul. They made me light-headed. They made me hard. I could taste the beer he had drunk at the party and the peppermint candy cane that we’d shared on the way home, but underneath there was the familiar flavour of Neil, my housemate, friend and lover.

I forced my hand between our bodies and fumbled at his zipper. “Oh, are you being a naughty little boy?” he breathed in my ear. “Santa will have to punish you.”

His words thrilled me. Oh, if only he would make good on his threats! I knew from experience that he was only teasing, though. But maybe tonight would be different. With the holiday high, the post-party buzz, maybe tonight he’d give me what I craved.

I wrenched his fly open and wriggled through the opening in his briefs until I had what I wanted—the silky sensation of his cock-skin under my fingers. My own cock throbbed as I stroked him, marvelling at the contrast between the rock-hard flesh underneath and the satin-smooth layer that enclosed it.

I wanted to sink to my knees and suck him, right there in the hallway. I wanted him to fuck my mouth until I gagged then drown me in his cum. Instead, he extricated my hand from his trousers and squeezed it affectionately. “Let’s go to bed, baby. Let’s get naked.”