You’ve heard all the rules: open with action, open in the middle of things, open with excitement, with things blowing up, with body parts flying. Me? I’m a fan of softer, but no less engaging, openings. Like these first couple of pages from A GENTLEMAN’S BARGAIN.

Before we get into it, though, I should tell you that this book is written under my pseudonym, Hunter Raines, and is male/male romance. You’ve been warned.

—

“So, what do I wear for this?”

“Socks. Anything else will only get in the way.”

David Leone fixed his friend with a hard glare as his fingers went to his belt. “I don’t know how I let you talk me into this. Remind me to have my head examined when we’re done here.”

Charlie Tyler’s snort filtered through the darkened room. “Which head would that be?”

David scowled. The bastard was enjoying this, damn him. “Keep that up and you won’t be getting a tip.”

At the sound of his friend’s low chuckle, David sucked in a deep breath and whipped off his belt. To distract himself, he allowed his gaze to skitter over the sparse furnishings in the private room. One of six identical service chambers in the Manly Man Salon and Spa, it had obviously been decorated with the intent of putting a client at ease. Soft blue walls and colorful art depicting nature scenes closed in on him from all sides. Pristine white towels draped a low bed. Above it, a giant spotlight and a mirror that magnified his eyes to the size of saucers hovered in waiting. The overhead lights were turned down low, casting a pale neon glow across sterile metal tweezers, scissors and other instruments of torture David couldn’t name.

Charlie tapped a tube filled with a gooey white cream against the palm of his hand. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Can’t you put me out for this? Dentists gas their nervous patients, you know.”

“Oh, for the love of God, Dave. It’s just a bit of wax.”

David gaped, wondering for the millionth time whether he was insane for letting the man anywhere near his precious family jewels. Sure, they’d known each other for nine years, but friendship only went so far. “Right. Just a bit of molten wax poured over my balls.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Wanna see my license? Maybe talk to some former clients and get firsthand testimonials? Relax. I know what I’m doing.” When David made no move to strip further, Charlie motioned toward the bed. “I don’t charge by the hour, pal. Hurry it up.”

With a scowl, David shucked the rest of his clothes and tossed them in a corner, not caring where they landed. “Funny, I never pegged you for a sadist.”

“That’s because you never let me fuck you. College would have been way more fun if you had.”

It was David’s turn to snort. He’d moved to Lexington from New York City to attend the University of Kentucky. He could have requested a private room–God knew he could afford it–but he’d wanted to make friends. He’d lucked out in a big way when Charlie had been assigned as his roommate. They hit it off immediately, not only as two gay men straddling the line between youth and adulthood and struggling to make sense of a world that didn’t really know what to make of them, but also on a deeper, more instinctive level. Within a couple of months, they were inseparable. Charlie had become the brother David never had.

Fucking Charlie would have been as taboo as crawling under the covers with his cousin Jim. To his credit, Charlie never tried anything, either. Unlike cousin Jim, who got himself a bloody nose for his efforts on a junior high camping trip.

—

If you enjoyed this tiny peek at David’s naughty bits and want to learn more about what’s in store for him,, pick up A GENTLEMAN’S BARGAIN at Amber Allure.

And don’t forget to visit the blogs of the other authors participating in Snippet Saturday this week:

It’s been a good week. Work is busy but not overwhelming, and things at home are wonderful. We’re all settled in to our new house and really enjoying it. We quickly developed a routine, too. Although I have a gorgeous office, I spend most of my time in hubby’s office, curled up in a corner of the leather couch, with a blanket, the cat, and my laptop. I get lots of writing done while he works, and we still get to hang out together.

So, on the writing front… I started a new project last weekend, tentatively titled RISE AND FALL. Originally, I thought I’d write something for EC’s “Dance of Desire” call for submissions, but I’m not sure that’s really what I’m writing. I’m developing the project organically, and at this point I couldn’t tell you if it’ll end up being 15,000 words or 50,000 words, super spicy or mild. I’m letting the characters tell the story and take me wherever they will. As my good friend Isabella Jordan says, I’m “writing fearlessly” — and absolutely loving it.

I guess I’m rediscovering the joy in writing for the sake of writing. Not writing to a deadline, or to a call, or to someone else’s idea of what I should be writing. I’m not worried about where I’ll sell the story, or when I’ll have a new release out. I’m just writing.

I plan on setting the draft aside for at least a month when I’m done, because I’d like to come back to it and edit with fresh eyes. That’s something else I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time to when writing to a deadline.

I’m averaging between 1000 and 1400 words about 6 nights a week, and I’m amazed how quickly that all adds up. 1000 words never felt like much to me before (especially since I used to write 3-4k a night in my most productive days — but even then, I only wrote about twice a week, so I ended up with the same number of words I’m getting now).

My goal is 250 words, 5 nights a week. I’m not pressuring myself to produce, but I always end up with more. And with the 250 word goal, I don’t feel overwhelmed, and I never think, “Oh, I don’t have time to write tonight.” 250 words takes me about 15 minutes. I’ve ALWAYS got 15 minutes. If I stop there, great. If not, even better.

So… yeah. A good week.

Image by Churl

My writing process has changed. I used to be a plotter, but lately, I find that trying to outline makes everything grind to a halt. So I’m embracing my organic writing abilities. I’m loving the discovery process–getting to know my characters, learning what makes them tick, putting them in situations new to me (and them) and watching them react.

So last night, I started working on a new novella. Today, I wrote 1,150 words and in the process, learned that my heroine performed a heroic act that she can’t escape, and that her father, who’s six feet under, still haunts her. (Not in a paranormal kind of way, despite my tendency to write in that genre.)

The hero remains veiled to me, with the exception of one careless remark he made to the heroine that gives me a hint about how his background is going to conflict with the situation in which she finds herself.

Word count total: 1,441 words (8% of projected 18,000 words)

Today’s Snippet Saturday theme is “The First Meeting Between a Character and a Villain.” I love this theme, because the possibilities are endless! So many options… I scanned through my books, and ultimately decided to share a scene from IN THE DARK, one of the stories that’s part of the NOTHING TO FEAR omnibus available at Loose Id.

This scene is unique, in that it comes very close to the end of the book. And yes, it is the first face-to-face encounter between the hero and the villain — the man who’s kept him from his wife for so long, he almost lost her. And at this point, he’s willing to do anything it takes to get his life back.
—

O’Grady slept in the last room at the end of the hall and, like his daughter, didn’t bother to lock the bedroom door. And why would he? Miguel’s job was to keep intruders away — and failing that, to sound the alarm before he died.

Evan didn’t hesitate this time. He cocked the gun, pressed it to O’Grady’s temple, and switched on the bedside lamp. A female shriek accompanied the flare of light. Evan cast the woman only a brief glance. One look at her glazed eyes and sallow skin, and he knew he didn’t have to worry.

O’Grady often brought drug addicts to his bed. Occupational hazard, he called it.

The woman darted a quick look at the gun, then sat up and pulled the bedsheet over her naked breasts, knowing better than to make another sound.

“Good girl.” Evan ground the barrel into O’Grady’s temple and had the satisfaction of seeing the older man’s ruddy complexion blanch. “Your daughter wasn’t nearly as smart.”

A flicker of terror shone in O’Grady’s blue eyes. He got it under control quickly, but not before Evan had a good glimpse of the man’s discomfort. “What do you want?”

“Two things. First, the name of your government contact. Second, you’re going to make a call. He’s going to come here. Now.”

O’Grady snorted, some of his bravado returning. “We have a meeting later tonight. You were invited, if I’m not mistaken. Your first one, too. Why not wait until then?”

Evan shrugged. “It doesn’t work that way. Not anymore.”

“I should have known better than to trust you.” O’Grady moved a fraction of an inch away from the gun, but Evan caught him by the back of the neck.

“You should have,” he agreed, his voice deadly calm. The finger pressed against the trigger remained still. It would only take a tiny muscle spasm to fire. “The name.”

“No.”

Evan grunted. “I’ll ask you one last time. The name. Please.” He drew out the last word in a sarcastic tone.

“Why should I?”

Evan released O’Grady’s pudgy neck and dug into the pocket of his jeans until he found what he was searching for. He pulled out a silver chain. An elaborate cross hung at the end of it.

O’Grady’s eyes widened when he recognized it. “Felicia.” His face paled further. “What have you done?”

Evan dangled the chain in front of O’Grady’s eyes, making sure the man could see the bright blood coating the clasp. “You think I came alone, Shamus? My friends have Felicia. They’re waiting on word from me to decide what they’re going to do to her.”

Sweat coated O’Grady’s forehead. He lifted a hand to wipe it away, then remembered the gun and dropped it into his lap. “W-who do you work for?”

Evan dropped the silver chain. It landed on the bedsheet, leaving a red smear on the white linen. He slipped his free hand into the other pocket and offered O’Grady his phone.

“Make the call.”

—

If you enjoyed that glimpse into Evan’s dangerous life, check out NOTHING TO FEAR, available now at Loose Id.

And don’t forget to visit the blogs of the other authors participating in Snippet Saturday this week:

I don’t have a writing mentor in real life. No professors, or experienced writers who have taken me under their wings. And yet, I do have a mentor. She just doesn’t know it.

Holly Lisle, for those of you who aren’t familiar with her, writes fabulous fantasy and sci/fi novels, and she’s taken forays into paranormal romantic suspense and young adult fiction. She also writes books on writing, for authors who want to make a living at this. She pulls no punches, but what I admire most about her is the dedication she has to helping other authors improve their craft, and their marketability.

Anyway, all this background is just to say that Holly does a fabulous job of leisurely chatting about what she’s working on, and how her writing went on any particular night. At the risk of boring you all, I’d like to do the same. It will help my thoughts gel, and it’s a nice way to get closure after a day’s work.

So, having said all that… I started a new project today. I’m in the early stages, still discovering my characters, my plot, and my world, but I’m having a lot of fun with it. I surprised myself tonight when my 2-hour brainstorming session resulted in some rather unexpected revelations that will make for a much richer, more conflict-driven book. I’m extremely excited to write, but I have more planning work before I’ll feel comfortable putting words on paper.

While you’re surfing the net, you may want to read…

• Stop Saying “Someday” to Your Writing (somedaysyndrome.com)
• Alice Hoffman Is Ready to Rumble (mediabistro.com)
• ISBW Special #43 – Holly Lisle Interview (murverse.com)

My good friend and fabulous romance novelist, Beth Kery, has a new release coming out next week, and I’m delighted to share a bit of info with all of you.

If you like your romance spicy, emotionally rich and satisfying, then read on!
Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Restraint-Beth-Kery/dp/0425227693/
Excerpt: http://www.bethkery.com/sweet-restraint

SWEET RESTRAINT
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Format: Trade Paperback

This time, he’ll never let her go…

Chicago Special Agent Shane Dominic was in love with Laura Vasquez until the day she left him and married another man. Thirteen years may have passed, but Laura’s never disappeared from his fantasies, or destroyed his desire to learn the truth about why she left him. When her husband, the criminal mastermind behind an international ring of thieves, is murdered, Shane knows this is his one last, desperate chance to learn Laura’s secrets. And he’s not above using their scorching hot passion for one another and a little domination to do it.

One look at Shane, and Laura’s own memories come back to haunt her. Her feelings run deep, but she’d never divulge her secrets—a desperate vow that’s compromised when Shane stuns her by taking her as his captive to a secluded cabin. Here, she will finally belong to him, be subjected to his every torturously erotic whim, and be forced to trust him with a shocking truth she’s hidden for so long—one that will expose them to a danger closing in on the both of them.