Jeanne Barrack, one of my LAW sisters, is having a birthday flash fiction birthday bash! This means a bunch of authors get together and post 250 word or less hot stories (some of them are serial…so the heat goes on and on…). She’s having her party at the Silver Expressions Blog, home of Liquid Silver Books authors. And let me tell you, the stories are HOT.

I adore Jeanne and wish her the very very best birthday ever!

This week’s friday flash is from a work in progress called Yellow Ribbon. It’s a collection of short stories about the return home for several members of the United States Armed forces. Only one or two of the collection are erotic so it’s not something I’m looking to publish any time soon. Remember all content on this site is © Dawn Montgomery.  I hope you enjoy an excerpt from Coming Home.

Jake tapped a restless beat on the Taxi’s faux leather armrest.  Should I have called her?  Let her know I was coming home early?  A knot of tears formed in his throat.  He stared out the window and blinked away the moisture behind his eyes.  Will she be the same? 

“You know, I just wanted to say something,” the Taxi driver’s rugged voice filled the cab.  He cleared his throat.  “I was in ‘Nam.”  He paused, raising his jowls in pride.  “I just wanted to say thanks for what you’re doin’.”

Jake met the cabbie’s intense stare in the rearview mirror.  It tore something loose in his chest and he glanced away.  “Thank you.”  What do you say to something like that?  He rubbed the back of his neck and longed for home.

The cabbie cleared his throat again.  “We’re almost there.”

Jake nodded.  “Thanks.”  He twisted the corded bracelet his wife had made him between restless fingers.  Nervous excitement coiled tight in his gut and he just wanted to wrap his fingers in her hair and inhale the fragrance of his Annie.  He breathed deep to stop the burn of tears from spilling.  Stale cigarette smoke and the funk of his three day hop clung to his clothes.  Maybe he should have stopped somewhere to change clothes first.  He ran a hand through his short hair and tried to finger comb it into some semblance of order.

“How long have you been gone?”

“Six months.”

“Long time,” the cabbie mused.

“Longest of my life.”  He doubted the cabbie heard his mutter but it didn’t matter anyway.  They were on his street.

I’m out of deadline.  Spaceport:Bounty is edited and in the bag (in the can if it were a movie LOL).  In celebration I am pouring myself a glass of wine and letting the stress of the past two weeks drain out of my body.  Tomorrow I’ll be tackling my Rookery Cove novella: Rookery Cove: Ocean’s Call.

I’d like to get this one in under deadline. Very under. There’s a lot of work involved with a multi-author series. You not only have your own world and character building, but those of everyone else who came before and will continue after you.  I love it, though.  Five multi-author series contracts are set for ‘08 and ‘09 and I’m considering taking on two more.  The LSB Terran Realm series is just fantastic as well as the EC space hunters series.  I love sci fi, as you all know.  LOL.

If you’re interested, I have a free read up now. Romance Junkies has released the new list of free-to-read stories from author volunteers.  Let me introduce you to Loyalty’s Price.

I picked up this rose image off of 123rf.com and loved it.  So every time I have a free read, I’ll post the image with a link to the page.  Have an awesome weekend.

I thought I’d give you guys a taste of my new novel…In Sonoma, Texas things fall under a different jurisdiction.  When the veil had torn open there were three parts of the world flooded with magic recoil.  From the nightmarish chaos, the Paranormal Protection Agency was born.

This world, fictional town, and agency name are all (c) Dawn Montgomery

Sometimes I remember that night with vivid clarity.  I can see the lights of Sonoma’s street lights flicker over James’ laughing face.  The mild Texas winter left us in t-shirts and jeans.  He still wore his windbreaker but it provided little protection, even for a member of the Paranormal Protection Agency.  But they’re like flashes of memory.   His laugh, my sarcastic replies.  I can almost remember using magic with something close to joy.

Other times I relive his death in highlights of horror through my nightmares.

Another corpse.  Another hit.  The scent of magic gone wrong.  I remember splitting up, trying to find the murderer before he got away again.  James.  My partner.  My friend.  His scream of terror.  The gasp of his life extinguishing.  Shadows of a murderer before he launched at me.  I can still feel the roar of fire exploding from my fingers, singing them.

Somehow I won that night.  But it was hollow.  James was dead and I couldn’t bring him back.

And now his murderer has escaped, free to continue his reign of terror.  A PPA worst nightmare.  Serial killer.  MO: Magic.

Forty years ago the veil was torn asunder.  Magic flooded the Earth and protectors rose to defend their own.

My name is Kim Hunter.  I’m a magic user, protector of humanity.

Welcome to Spaceport, where all your needs are met.  But don’t expect it to be easy.  This friday’s flash is an introduction to my characters from Spaceport: Bounty.  Alexis and Mack.  Hot delicious sex ahead.  You’ve been warned.  :)  (more…)

Bound in Fury released a couple weeks ago. Bound Eternally will release on my birthday!!! January 24th. The end to the trilogy, how awesome is THAT???

So for the next two Fridays I’ll have tiny excerpts from the book. I’m so excited! I love this story arc. Bound Eternally, available from Changeling Press on January 24th. Hellhounds, demons, love, lust, betrayal and a fight to the death. What’s not to love?

Blurb:

The Master of the Hunt has sprung his trap. They’ve avoided the worst, or so they think, until betrayal rears its head.

Elena must choose to keep her humanity or release it. Each decision is life or death. She must stop the monster before he kills again.

Death is on his heels, and Drake must make the ultimate choice. As the pieces fall into place, his heart and soul are on the line. When they messed with Elena, they made the wrong choice.

You see, when a demon bonds, it’s eternally.

Click more to see the rest. Copyright Dawn Montgomery. Rated NC-17 excerpt. (more…)

Friday Flash is BACK BABY!!! I’ve been out of the loop for waaaay too long! So here’s a bit of nummy sci fi flash. Hope you enjoy it. Remember all content is copyright to Dawn Montgomery. It is currently unedited. *huge grin* I hope you enjoy.

“Gravity field returned.”

She crossed her arms and fell back against the insulated wall. All the better to stifle the screams of the patients. She forgot which Imperial doctor told her that, but she swore never to see another one.

“How long?” Jake’s voice rumbled.

“I’m afraid you’re going to be with us for some time, yet, Captain.” She smiled.

He rose from his prone position and let his legs hang off the side of the bed and opened his mouth to speak.

“The Captain will have to wear a sling for six weeks or risk disfigurement and/or loss of use for the limb.” Deucalion’s mellow voice interrupted.

Jake’s face could have been made from marble. No expression. Nothing but a small grimace of irritation at Deucalion’s orders.

“How long do I have until we dock with an Imperial prison ship?”

Alena shoved from the wall in surprise. “What?” Shock was quickly followed by hurt. How could he think? Fury rose up and consumed her. How dare he think–

“Come on Alena. I’ve been in the game for a little longer than you have.” He chuckled. “You really had me convinced. Telling me how you felt, reminding me of what we used to mean to each other–” His lips lifted in a half smile.

“You really think I’d betray you?” Facing down hordes of demons would be a helluva lot easier than keeping her voice emotionless, but somehow, she managed.

His ice blue eyes pierced her, held her in place. For just a moment she felt the same panic a bird must feel under the charm of a snake. He slid off the table.

“Imperial vessel approaching.”

Alena’s mouth opened in shock. Jake swooped in and took her lips in a slow, teasing kiss. His tongue teased the tip of hers, keeping just out of her reach. “You’re good, Alena,” he whispered against her lips.

She jerked from his kiss and avoided his gaze. Her breaths came in ragged gasps. How the hell did an Imperial know where she was? There was no point in telling him the truth. “I learned from the best, Jake.”

He punched the wall beside her head and strode to the bridge.

Every step away from her was ripping her heart to pieces. And she was letting it happen.

“Fuck.” She shoved away from the wall and stalked behind Jake. “ Deucalion, bring up the heat signature reading on the Imperial vessel.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Jake blocked her entrance to the bridge. “I’m not letting you take me in.”

“Sometimes you are so damned thick-headed Jake!”

“The vessel houses one confirmed heat signature, Alena.” Deucalion informed them.

“So it’s a scout ship then. That’s not standard protocol.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Slavak knew a lot of things he shouldn’t have, Jake.”

“Like your retirement?” His grimace matched hers.

“Yes. Like my retirement. He knew where we were every step of the way. I know you didn’t give him the information and, according to you, neither did your people.”

Jake nodded slowly. “Slavak knew where you were when I picked you up.”

“Kidnapped.”

“Tomato, tomahto, Kate. He was my source to you.”

“Why didn’t he do the job, then?” Because he wasn’t already on the bounty list. Jake and her father were. Why? “Jake, what was Daddy working on before he died?”

“ Deucalion, evasive maneuvers,” Jake barked.

“Afirmative Captain.”

Jake ducked under the bridge hatch and glanced at her. “You may want to buckle in, Alena. I’m not equipped for a dog fight.”

When the first hit came it shoved her forward into his lap. He picked her up and set her in the chair. They tugged the belts on and she scanned the instrument panel. Experience taught her to ignore a ship’s diagnostics after a hit. Follow the numbers and you’ll always come out on top. Her father taught her that. “We were hit, but received no lasting damage.”

“The Imperial vessel is hailing you, Captain. Would you like me to transmit?”

“Hell no, Deucalion, get us the hell out of here!”

“You didn’t answer me, Jake.”

“Your father found a new metal alloy, Alena. It makes production costs significantly cheaper, is much lighter weight, and virtually undetectable by most security scans.” Jake ran his fingers through his hair.

“I figured it was something like that.” She sighed. The metal bracket holding the garnet. Of course.

“Your Dad had it all figured out and I followed. It was a way to get out of the business for good. I was tired of smuggling food and med supplies to the mining colonies who’d fallen out of favor with the Imperial command.”

“He left you everything, didn’t he?”

“No. His plans are missing. The rest of the Dragons think there’s some lost treasure out there. Some legacy your dad left behind.” Jake rolled the shuttle.

Alena closed her eyes and leaned back. She gasped for breath against the pressure. “So there’s no treasure, his plans are missing, and we’re being chased by a rogue Imperial scout ship.”

His chuckle sounded forced. “Don’t forget about starting an intergalactic war with the Reptilian Armada.”

Alena sighed. “Almost forgot about that one.”

No, this isn’t my flash fiction friday.  :(  More’s the pity.  However, I had to update throw up a little fun piece.  This is unedited, copyright to Dawn Montgomery and hopefully fun! (more…)

It’s that time again! Friday Flash Fiction! I’m so excited to report my Turkey day was a great one. Friends, family, and phone calls. Whatta day. This little piece is from a wip tentatively titled The Last Shift. Green Caspian has crashed her ship on a remote planet. It was supposed to be a quick sweep and grab for biological samples. But things went wrong and she crashed. Now one of the inhabitants is interested in the new arrival. As always this is © Dawn Montgomery and is…unedited. (more…)

 I love nightclubs and the lifestyle required in order to work/run one.  A few years as a bartender taught me nothing was what it seemed.  So what better place to introduce a little heat and a bit o’ paranormal?

(c) Dawn Montgomery, all rights reserved.  Note, following flash piece could contain content adult in nature.  (more…)