 Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "blade”. Today we are with Nic and Casey in the second book of the Fighting the Odds Series, The Bulldog. We'll be checking in this these two for the rest of December then heading back to Demeter. Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. **Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Nic cursed under his breath as he wove through the thick Las Vegas traffic. His mind kept processing what Jace told him. The words mob and mafia ricocheted around his brain. This was Casey. Sweet, timid-until-her-button-was-pushed-then-wild-in-the-sack Casey.
There was no way she could be this Annabelle Jace was talking about. But however many times he tried to convince himself she wasn’t, the truth hammered itself home. She was. He turned a sharp left into the parking lot of the motel on the slip Jed wrote for him. The Jeep shivered in protest. He pulled into first spot he could find and killed the engine. With a growl he hopped out and stalked towards the office. He threw open the door then froze. Casey stood at the check out window, talking softly through the plexiglass window to a man with long, thinning hair. His scraggly beard looked like it hadn’t seen a razor blade in three years. “Casey,” Nic called out. He watched her whole body stiffen. He even caught the attention of the man behind the glass. She didn’t turn around. She just kept talking. The room wasn’t that big. There was no way she missed what he said. He snarled. “Okay, Annabelle.” She spun around at him. “How do you know that?” He stalked across the room until he hovered over her, meeting her wide-eyed gaze. “I told you. I have friends in high places. So, care to explain why you took off this morning? Or why you lied to me?” She raised herself on her tiptoes until the tip of their noses nearly touched. “To save your life.” “You don’t need to protect me. I can take care of myself. And you.” She shook her head. “You have no idea what you’re up against. The smart thing for you to do is let me go.” He hissed at her. “So all I was good for was a one night stand? I was just someone for you to fuck?” He could see the shimmer of tears glisten in her eyes. “No. You’re much more than that. Please, Nic. I’m begging you. Let me go. If he catches you, there won’t be anything left for Jed to bury. Don’t do that to your brother and your friends. They love you.” “He who?” Nic demanded. She didn’t answer. She shoved past him and bolted for the door. She was gone before he could flinch.
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 Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "crazy”. Today we are with Nic and Casey in the second book of the Fighting the Odds Series, The Bulldog. We'll be checking in this these two for the rest of December then heading back to Demeter. Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. **Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Nic slowed his pace as they reached the rail of the observation deck away from the rest of the people. He let go of her then leaned against the railing.
Casey leaned against him as she took in the sight below. The distant mountains were a dark shadow in the twilight. The rainbow lights of Vegas spread out below them. “This is beautiful,” she murmured as she hugged his arm. She looked up to find him gazing at her instead of the city. “I’m glad you like it. Jed used to bring me up here all the time after Mom died. He used to let me scream my heartbreak over the city. He would let me go crazy. No one could hear me from up here over the ruckus of the amusement rides. It helped.” “I’m sorry about your mother.” He shrugged. “It was cancer. She’s not in pain anymore. I haven’t been here since I moved to Dallas but it’s the best view of the city.” She cocked her head at him. “I noticed you didn’t pay. Should we expect security to throw us out, bad boy?” He chuckled. “I’m flattered you think I’m some devious character but no. I sort of have a life time free pass here.” “Wow, you must be one hell of a fighter to get carte blanche to a place like this.” “More like got beaten down by the head of security for most of my life. Jace Whitman? That guy from the gym with the champion belt who hangs with my brother all the time? Head of security at the Stratosphere. And Jed’s best friend since high school. He’s been a big brother to me for years so I get some of the perks from being picked on. So I’m not so much of a bad boy. More like I have friends in high places.” She ran her thumb across his lower lip. “Oh, I don’t know. You’re not like the guys I normally associate with.” His breath hitched at her touch. “And what kind of men are those.” “Business minded. Laser focused. Dedicated to a profit.” “So rich.” “Yes.” “Fuck, baby. You’re downgrading.” She caressed his cheek then dropped her hand to his chest. She trailed a finger across his shirt. She felt him stiffen at her touch. “I think I’m upgrading. There isn’t enough money in the world that compares to how you make me feel when you just look at me.”  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "potshot”. Today we are with Nic and Casey in the second book of the Fighting the Odds Series, The Bulldog. We'll be checking in this these two for the rest of December then heading back to Demeter. Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. **Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Photo courtesy of Valeria Boltneva https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-wine-glasses-1123260/ Casey sucked in a nervous breath as she settled into the chair Nic pulled free for her. She felt like a girl on her first date. The butterflies threatened to escape from her belly. She had been on plenty of dates to higher class places than this. For reasons she didn’t understand, this fighter undid her. The whole concept terrified her. She had enough on her plate as is.
She took the menu offered to her and hid behind it to get a second or two to calm her nerves. She glanced around it to see Nic studying his. The waitress stopped and smiled at them. “Can I get you something from the bar?” “A merlot,” Casey answered, her voice just a squeak. “What do you have on tap?” Nic added. Their voices were a buzz to Casey as the two of them discussed craft beers. She set her menu down on the table then knitted her fingers together as she gnawed on her lower lip. Her whole body stilled when a warm hand encompassed hers. “Is everything okay?” Nic questioned. His amused smile from earlier was gone. “It’s nothing. This is perfect. You’re perfect. I’m afraid of screwing the night up.” “Beautiful, there is nothing you could do to screw this up.” She smirked at him. “Aren’t you a sweet talker? Do you say that to all the girls you wine and dine?” Nic clutched his hands to his heart in such a dramatic fashion that it should have won him an Academy Award. “Was that a potshot? I am wounded that you would feel that way about me.” His comment broke the tension springing tight through Casey. She laughed as she tossed her napkin at him. He caught it in midair. “Right. Sexy fighter like you? I’m sure you have women banging down your door.” He grinned at her as set the napkin beside his on the table. “You think I’m sexy, huh?” She shook her head exasperated. “You’re incorrigible.” “Yes, I am. But to be honest, I don’t remember the last time I was on a date. I didn’t date in Dallas. I didn’t have time between working and training. So my womanizing days are behind me.” Casey winked at him. “So you admit you were a womanizer.” Nic’s cheeks pinked a little as he looked away. “Yes. When Reese lived here before he moved to Iowa. But that was a long time ago.” “Reese? That guy at the gym when we were…” Her voice trailed off as she felt her cheeks flame hot. It wasn’t the only part of her anatomy getting warm. The memory of him bring her to such a all-consuming rush made her crave to do it again. “One and the same.”  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "thanksgiving”. This not the story I wanted to share. I have a book due before it but the prompt wouldn’t fit. So, here is Demeter in the third book of The Gods of DC Series! And her man? You’ve met him before. 😉 Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Photo by Bich Tran from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/writings-in-a-planner-636246/ It should have been a time of Thanksgiving. It really should have.
Demeter stared at the calendar hanging from her kitchen wall, the mauve flowered wallpaper a stark contrast to the photo of orange calico kittens frolicking in a basket. She gripped the red marker between her fingers a little tighter. There were only three more weeks until her precious daughter, Persephone, would be home. There were already signs of the seasons changing every time Demeter thought about it. The temperatures peaked above freezing when Demeter planned out Persephone’s homecoming, taking particular care to avoid pomegranates. The fruit had been a touchy subject between them for thousands of years. It was best to ban them from the house altogether. If that wasn’t enough, the Pantheon had been blessed with the birth of two new demigods and Demeter was a great aunt once again. Annabella was the first to arrive, her near black hair and big, dark eyes made her a miniature image of her mother, Juliet. A little over a month later, Marcus followed her. He was the hairiest baby Demeter had ever seen but also the happiest. It was easy to see he got his looks from his father, Mack. His demeanor? Not so much. Yet all the joy fell from Demeter’s heart and tension returned when she discovered that Penelope was not in the Underworld ruling as its queen like she was supposed to be. She was in the mortal world at her husband’s side while Hades set up his new mixed martial arts promotion. And it wasn’t a rumor. She heard it directly from Ares, Hades’s partner, during her last visit to see Annabella. In fact, it was the first time she had seen her nephew since the little girl had been born. Persephone was in her world and she had no idea. That bastard, Hades, kept her to himself and didn’t bother to let Demeter know. The last she heard, the promotion was just some ideas on paper. In reality they were in the final planning stages of their first show. The marker in her hand bowed dangerously against her grip. Hades. Ares. Mack. She spit the names like curses. They were all neck deep involved with this charade. They all could have called her, shot her a text or sent an e-mail. All she wanted to do was see her daughter. Was that so wrong? Demeter sighed as she stepped away from the calendar and set the marker on the counter. The last she heard, the three of them set up shop in Ares’s fight club in London. That’s where Persephone would be. That’s where she was heading now.  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "suddenly”. We’re jumping ahead in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Athena and Mack will be hitting the virtual shelves on Christmas Day! Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  It was then that Athena told Mack about their lunch date with the king and queen of the gods. Mack’s warm, tender embrace turned hard and cold in an instant. It grew even more frigid when she suggested he wear a suit.
Of course he didn’t own one. She glanced at them as they reached the cement staircase that led to the front door. She just hoped the magic she cast to make him one held out. It was real fabric but that didn’t mean that it wouldn’t suddenly disappear. Her wits weren’t exactly about her when she conjured it into existence. Artemis ducked around the two of them then pressed a knuckle to the doorbell. Despite how dressed up Mack and Athena were, Artemis chose to wear her usual black outfit. And she bitched the entire time they got prepared about going in the first place. “Little eager, are we?” Athena teased. “The faster we get in there, the faster we get this over with,” Artemis muttered. “I agree with her,” Mack added as he pointed to the goddess of the hunt. Athena rolled her eyes as the large front door opened. A butler scanned each of them with a critical eye before he gave a huge sigh. “Senator and Missus Lynch are in the dining room waiting for you. Don’t dawdle.” The three of them scuttled away across the foyer away from the ancient servant. Artemis tossed a dirty look over her shoulder. “Dawdle? Does that son of a bitch understand who he’s talking to?” “He does,” Athena chided. “He’s been tending to Dad since we were on Olympus. And he’s not wrong. When it comes to Zeus and Hera, we’re known to try to avoid the inevitable.” The three of them came to a stop when they reached the dining room doors. Zeus stood at his place at the head of the table, the large paned glass window leading to the garden illuminating the room behind him. Hera sat at his left, a wine glass already to her lips. The bottle it came from was half empty beside her plate. “It’s good for you to join us,” Zeus greeted, the hint of frost in his voice. Athena and Mack took to the right side of the table while Artemis sauntered to the left. She plopped into a seat leaving an empty chair between her and Hera. Hera glowered at her before taking another sip of wine. Mack held out a hand past Athena and offered it to Zeus. “Mack Bradshaw.” Zeus stared at it for a long moment before he shook it. “Alastair Lynch. This is my wife, Elizabeth.” “Dad,” Athena interrupted. “He knows who you both are. You don’t need to put up pretenses.” Zeus snarled. “And why does he know that?” “Because the demon he’s about to fight revealed it,” Athena replied as she fought the cringe building up inside her.  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "tragic”. We’re jumping ahead in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Athena and Mack will be hitting the virtual shelves on Christmas Day! Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Her head raised as they approached, her eyes narrowing as she took in Mack. She rose to her feet, her glare piercing the werewolf.
Mack let go of Athena then crossed his arms over his chest to return her stare. The tension in the air was thick. “Hey, Sis,” Athena greeted. Artemis pointed the blade at Mack. “You will leave my animals alone. Got it? I find out you feasted on any of them, I will gut you like fish. I don’t care if you’re sleeping with my sister. I’m fact, that gives me even more incentive to kill you.” Mack shrugged. “All I want to do is change. Your animals don’t even appeal to me.” Artemis scowled at him. Then she waved her hand, the knife glinting in the sun. “There is a black bear out there. Bastard poachers tagged him. He’s suffering, I can sense it but I can’t find him so I can end his pain. If you find him, he’s yours. Actually, you’d be doing me a favor.” Mack nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” He turned from the goddesses and strode towards the woods. Athena glanced at her sister then jogged after him. Mack frowned at her as she caught up to him. He shook his head. “Go back.” “I want to go with you,” she protested. “Athena, go back with your sister. It isn’t safe. If the craze takes me over and I attack, it could be tragic.” She grabbed his forearm and stopped, forcing him to stop with her. She caressed his face with her other hand. “I want to stay with you until you change. I’ll ghost if you try to hurt me.” He stared at her for a long moment. Then he turned his face into her hand to press a kiss into her palm. “Alright. I’m holding you to it.” She slipped her hand into his and followed as he led her into the forest. They wove through the trees until the branches nearly blocked out the sun. Mack slowed his pace then let her go. He grinned at her as he tugged his shirt off then handed to her. He took his time to unfasten his belt then unzip his jeans. It was sheer torture for Athena to watch him slowly shimmy from the denim then kick the pants off. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his briefs then shoved them down also. He gathered his briefs and jeans from the forest floor then offered them to Athena. She gaped at him as she took in his nakedness in the dim light of the setting sun. She had never seen anything as beautiful as this man in her entire existence. She wanted to wind herself around him and never let go. He tucked his clothes in her arms. “Like what you see?” “It’s amazing,” she answered, her voice just a breath. “It is every time I see you, clothes or no clothes.”  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week is a picture prompt. We’re jumping ahead with Athena and Mack in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Athena strode down the sidewalk, her dress flats clicking on the pavement. She glanced up to the sky to watch the pure white light pierce through the white fluffy clouds. She was surprised she got out of the Pentagon before the sun set. She expected to be there well after dark.
But at the first break in the paperwork she grabbed her purse and headed out with the rest of the office. Some strange pull deep in her core begged her to go home. It was an urge she just couldn’t fight. She pulled her cell from her bag and tapped on the news app. The war was proceeding as planned. She’d kick up her feet and have a glass of wine as soon as she got home. Then she’d figure out how to quench the need she had for Mack out of her system before it drove her insane. She crossed the street with those around her then picked up her pace. It was not a couple more blocks. Her breaths escaped in ragged gasps. It wasn’t from exhaustion. Whatever lust held her in its grasp was growing not dying. She wasn’t going to make it home. She stopped short of her door with as gasp. Mack sat on the stoop watching traffic pass. His head swiveled in her direction like a predator eyeing it’s prey. A voice in her head demanded to know why he was there. He took off without a word. Instead she sprinted the last few steps until she was in his arms, his mouth hot and wet on hers. She clung to him as his hand palmed her ass to press her tighter to him. Right there on the sidewalk in front of her neighbors and who knows who else.  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "green". We’re jumping ahead in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Athena and Mack will be hitting the virtual shelves on Christmas Day! Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  “So, a goddess, huh?” his deep, rich voice questioned still full of sleep.
She sucked in a breath. “Yep.” “It’s a little hard to believe.” She lifted her head to look at him, a scowl on her face. “What’s so hard to believe? You’re a werewolf. It’s not like that’s easy to believe.” “Yeah. But during a full moon I turn into a terrifying beast. Can’t refute that. But it’s not like you can sweep me off to heaven to prove…” Athena snarled. That was enough. She glared at him as she concentrated. There were several pieces that had to fall into place. Before he could finish his sentence, they were standing in Olympus. Mack’s eyes widened as he took in the lush green gardens, marble pillars, the ancient artifacts. He glanced down at his body now clad in just blue jeans. He stared at her then continued to study everything around him. Athena smoothed her chiton then tucked a blonde curl that slipped from the gold band wrapped around her head. “You were saying?” “Umm...yeah. I get it. Way to show and tell.” She smirked at him. “Fantastic.” He shook himself to his senses then strode across the thick grass to her. He gripped her hips and pulled her tight to him. Her breath shuddered as she felt his erection pressed tight against her belly. “Athena.” “That’s my name, yes.” His voice dropped low. It was sex incarnate. “Has anyone ever fucked you here?” She trembled in his arms. “Until you, I was a virgin. So, no.” “Hmm. Sounds like we need to fix that.” Mack’s mouth descended on hers, stealing her breath. He arched his hips against her. She felt the all familiar heat he brought her fill every pore of her. She didn’t know who might show up on Olympus to find them in a compromising position. The gods had a bad habit of hopping in and out randomly to get a taste of home. At the moment she didn’t care. She could feel the all consuming madness taking her over again. Athena. She bolted out of her haze, tearing her lips from Mack’s. Her eyes grew wide as she focused on the voice that filled her head. Athena, where the fuck are you? She pulled out of Mack’s grasp and took his hand. “We have to go.” Mack frowned at her then growled. “What the fuck?” “My brother is in my townhouse looking for me. He ghosts all over the fucking place. And trust me, Ares is not the one we want finding you and me in the middle of sex. Eternity is too long to keep getting crap from him about it.”  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is "debut". We’re jumping ahead in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Athena and Mack will be hitting the virtual shelves on Christmas Day! Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  Artemis motioned to the door. “I do need to go, though. The sun is about to set and you know how testy Apollo is when I’m late.”
Athena cracked a grin at her. “Because you always are.” Artemis laughed as she wrapped Athena in a hug. “Take care and get this fixed before I have to do it for you. Okay?” Athena squeezed her back. “Got it. Thanks.” “No problem.” Athena watched as Artemis strolled to her motorcycle. She didn’t shut the door until the goddess was speeding down the road. She shuffled to the couch and sunk into it as her thoughts immediately fled to Mack. She should be infuriated and she was in a sense. But her need to see him again, to feel his lips against hers, to touch him overwhelmed any anger she held towards him. She remembered the contract she saw lying on his end table. She slipped her cell out of her purse and swiped it open. She chose Ares from her contacts then quickly tapped out a text. When is your next fight? She waited for a few moments. For all she knew he was in bed with Juliet. He sure as hell wasn’t working. There was a skirmish in the Middle East he was supposed to flame up so she could take over. That was four days ago before he reconciled with Juliet. Sometimes her brother was just useless. She jumped up, startled, as the cell vibrated out a reply. When the hell have you cared about my fighting career? It’s not my debut, sis. Her fingers flew across the screen. Can’t I support my brother? Ares’s answer came quicker this time. You haven’t before. I fight in seven weeks. Athena sighed as her heart weighed heavy in her chest. She couldn’t wait that long to be with Mack. She could try to drive to Georgia to find him but it would be a needle in the haystack kind of situation. Hell, she could just ghost there but it would be the safe effect. She glanced down at the phone as it shuddered again. But I have faceoff with the son of a bitch I have to fight tomorrow night at one of the bars downtown. She smiled even though she wanted to punch him for calling Mack a son of a bitch. You do? The answer popped up almost immediately. The promoter wants photos for marketing and I guess making us pose in front of a crowd will get a rise enough for him to sell tickets. Athena’s fingertips struck the cell. Can I come? Sure. You can keep Juliet company. Starts at 7. We’ll pick you up. Okay. Athena set her phone in her lap as she grinned. She only had one more night of agony while she craved her mystery man in the swamp. Tomorrow night at the bar she wasn’t going to let him go.  Hi everyone! Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week is a picture prompt. We’re jumping ahead with Athena and Mack in the second book of The Gods of DC Series, Love and War. Click here to check out the other amazing Tuesday Tales. *Warning - there are adult situations and language.**  She glanced at the sitting room across the hall when she heard a fit of giggles. All she saw was a foot dangling over the back of the couch with a flip flop dangling precariously off a baby pink manicured big toe.
Demeter scurried back with a tray and placed it in the middle of the table between the two women. A carafe and a decadent chocolate cake topped with strawberries sat in the middle surrounded by two mugs, plates, forks, a bowl of sugar and a small pitcher of cream. Athena took a mug and filled it with the dark, hot liquid. She doctored it with a little cream then took a sip. She watched as Demeter cut each of them a slice of cake then scooped it onto the plates. She pointed to the sitting area. “Seems Persephone is busy on her phone. Is she texting friends?” Demeter took a sip of her own brew with a snarl. “No. She’s texting her husband. The old coot finally gave up his flip phone for a smartphone.” Athena bit back a laugh. “Dad finally talked Hades into bracing modern technology?” “Persephone did so they could message each other all the time. Granted, I think he did it out of revenge also.” Athena frowned at her confused. “How so?” Demeter gave her a sly smile behind her cup. “I have a tendency to have five hour mother/daughter chats with Persephone during the winter. Every day. I guess Hades gets a little irritated with that.” Athena chuckled. “Can’t imagine why.” Demeter took a sip of coffee then set her mug on the table to pass Athena a piece of cake. “So what was it that you wanted me to take a look at?” |
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