Enjoy this peek into Blind Beauty.
*****
Thank you for having me!
Hello everyone! I’m here
today with two guests that play an important part in Blind Beauty: Deidre and Mortimer Brandywine. I tried to reach the
protagonists, James and Richard, but both men seem to be occupied at more
pleasurable activities and have not answered my notes.
Fortunately, Morti, who’s
Richard’s step-brother and his lovely wife have offered to answer some
questions regarding the men.
Welcome and thank you for doing this Deidre and Morti.
“You’re welcome.”
You both know Richard, as he’s your step-brother, Morti, but, please
tell us, how did you meet James?
M: We found him wandering
near our home during a snowstorm. He was going around in circles with his
horse. Deidre noticed him first.
Deirde nods
enthusiastically.
D: “Yes, it was impossible
not to notice. The lad was wearing a great coat but there was something about
him… exotic. Don’t you think Morti?”
The couple shares a knowing glance
and Deidre’s cheeks flush profusely.
Ahem, so I take it you invited him inside and then what happened?
M: “That’s kind of private.”
D: “We warmed him up.”
Deidre bursts out laughing and I raise my eyebrows in question. Morti
clears his throat loudly and shifts in his seat.
Why was he lost in the forest? I ask, quickly changing topics.
M: “Ah, he was on his way to
his new home. He’s bought a house in the outskirts of the forest. He,” Morti pauses.
“He had trouble with his family back home.”
What sort of trouble?
M: “Well, it seems he was called
some things--”
“They called him ugly!” Deidre
jumps in, gesticulating wildly. “Can you imagine? James Macintosh ugly?”
He’s not?
The couple glare at me.
D: “Of course, not. He’s the
sweetest looking thing you’ll ever set eyes on. His hair is spun gold, his eyes
blue as a midsummer sky, his lips plump and sweet as honey, and he’s hard in
all the right places.” Deidre chuckles and winks.
M: “He’s definitely
something special,” Morti agrees. “He’s very enthusiastic.”
The glimpse of a smile appears on Morti’s face, and he seems distant
for an instant, as if remembering something pleasant.
You’re happy that he’s with your brother?
M: “Happy? We’re very happy.
We’re so excited for them. Even if society frowns upon that sort of thing in
this day and age, everyone should be free to love whomever they please.”
Deidre nods. I notice her squeeze her husband’s hand.
So, tell me about your
brother, Richard, what’s he like?
D: “Oh, Richard is such a
looker,” Deidre sighs dreamily. Catching her husband’s disapproving glare, she
straightens her posture and gives me a nervous smile. “Of course, Morti is the
handsomer of the two, but Richard is quite the looker. He’s a carpenter, you
know? So he’s spent a lot of time cutting down trees and carving them and
making beautiful things out of them.”
How about his character?
Morti frowns. “Richard has a
nose for trouble. Always has, and well, the things he and James have had to go
through just goes to show. Richard wouldn’t have ended with those thieves if
he—“
D: “Morti, don’t start with
that again.”
M: “All right, all right.
Richard is a good man, a very good man. If he sees someone in need he’ll go out
of his way to help, but sometimes, precisely because of this, he can be a bit
naïve and get into a load of trouble.”
D: “It’s true. That thing in
the village—“ Deidre drops her gaze. “At least, everything got sorted.”
M: “Yes, yes, it did.” Morti
smiled at Deidre. “Do you need anything else, Elyzabeth?”
“No, that’ll be all. Thank you Morti and Deidre.”
M: “Thank you. I hope
everyone enjoys learning James and Richard’s story. They deserve happiness.”
Blurb:
James Macintosh is hours away from his new home. He is ready to start a
secluded life away from all the rumors, insults and disgusted faces concerning
his appearance. However, a meeting with a mysterious woman and her child,
mingled with a sudden harsh snowstorm will set him down a very different path than
the one he had originally envisioned.
Richard
Randywine is an accidental fugitive living with a band of rowdy thieves. A good
man at heart, he has gotten used to hiding his emotions behind his strapping
muscles and brute strength. Yet, when the thieves ambush an unsuspecting
rider, Richard is forced to drop his mask and step forward.
Will
both men be able to see what lies before them or will they be blind to the
possibility of happiness?
Excerpt:
He climbed atop
his horse, as told. His back molded to Richard’s, his body betraying him as it
molded into the other man’s embrace. Richard pulled him hard against him, his
body enveloping him in an almost suffocating hug.
“Go,” he whispered
huskily into his ear, his breath fanning it. James pressed his thighs against
Faith’s flanks, hoping the animal would understand, considering the strange
position she was in. She did, for she set off at a trot in the direction
Richard indicated. They galloped in silence, trees whirring past them, snow
flying when they swept past. James eyes widened and he barely controlled the
urge to order Faith to stop as he realized their impasse.
“Richard, the
hoof prints, the snow.” James pointed at the visible trail. “They’ll track us
down as easily as the king’s hounds trace a fox.”
Richard’s breath
was warm in his ear. His hair tickled his temple and James had to suppress a
shiver.
“I know.”
Richard chuckled. “Don’t worry. I have a plan, besides wishing that they’ll
wake up during the night and we’ll be miles away by then or that it snows
heavily again.”
James wished he
didn’t have to worry, but he couldn’t relax. The problem wasn’t so much the
thieves that could pursue them at any moment, but the man behind him. He was
too close, too comforting, and all too desirable. James shifted in his seat
again, trying to find a comfortable position. One in which he wasn’t pressed up
tightly against Richard’s groin. One in which he didn’t imagine he felt the
length of his cock hard against him. Because, he was convinced it was his
imagination. Otherwise, how could a man like Richard be interested in him? It
didn’t make any sense. In his experience, men like Richard were ladies’ men.
They seduced, fucked and discarded women. He wasn’t a woman and he’d been
rejected too many times in his life. He didn’t need this. He didn’t need more
pain. Richard’s fingers brushed against his side, the fingers digging into his
flesh and distracting him as arousal flared in every centimeter of his flesh.
“What got you
into thievery?” he asked, attempting to forget how close their bodies were.
Richard grunted
in reply and he fell silent once more, fishing his mind for a topic of
conversation. It came up blank. He thought about asking Richard to stop. Faith
was probably tiring though she didn’t show it and surely, they were safe by
now. He should ask. James knew he should, but he couldn’t. He was losing his
mind, falling prey to the liquid fire that was consuming him inside and
outside. He wasn’t sure if the man was hard, but he was. His cock was stiff and
throbbing, the idea of taking or being taken by Richard flashing through his
mind every time Faith bounced.
What would it
feel like?
Flesh both silky
and hard as steel brushing against him, an intimate caress, deep and longing.
They’d become one man, writhing, gasping, and moaning. James’ breath hitched,
the tightness in his breeches becoming uncomfortable. He clenched his teeth
together and grasped the reins so tightly the material cut into his hands. He
scrambled to regain his bearings, to remember whom he was with and what had
occurred in the last 48 hours. He couldn’t trust Richard, but neither could he
trust his treacherous body. He was not a beautiful man. Surely the thief didn’t
want him. The thief. That’s right,
Richard was a thief. He had no morals, no scruples, no—James groaned as Faith
skipped over a fallen log, throwing Richard’s body against him, the erection he
was sure he was imagining grinding against his bottom.
Available at:
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Author Bio:
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Defined as weird since she was about eight, Elyzabeth honors the title by making up songs about her chores, doodling stars and flowers on any blank sheet of paper and talking to her dog whenever he feigns interest.
Losing the battle to the voices in her head is her favorite pastime after annoying her younger sister with her singing. Writing stories full of passion and emotion where love conquers all is her happy pill and she'll forgo sleep to make her readers live the dream.
Stalk me at:BlogWebsite
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Thank you for having me, Doris!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the character interview. They seem such a hoot. And love the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kiru! :)
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