I'm going into hiding.
Why?
It's a matter of self-preservation.
As fucked up as it sounds, too much good stuff has happened to me.
I've got three moms, nine sisters, three aunts, five brothers, two cousins, an awesome Nieceling, nephrews and a dad.
All of whom support and encourage me. All of whom love me.
Unconditionally.
Then there's Daniel, the fiance'.
A man who only sees me. He only sees Vic and it's refreshing and amazing and every time I think of him or talk to him, I can't stop smiling. He loves me and supports me, makes me laugh, and is one of the biggest reasons why I keep pushing forward, keep breathing, and why I've started singing again.
And then there's my writing.
Many of you were here when I started writing Unthinkable. You pestered me about writing more, you encouraged me, you asked me about the characters, you pointed out things to me. Thorny was the one who told me that I should make writing my new career and while his presence in the book was not widely appreciated by all, when someone saves your life twice, you thank them, very publicly. Suzi, who was determined to have me keep writing until the book was finished and equally determined for me to write Tommy's story, gave me the push that I needed to keep going. Kat, Luci, Lucy/Kat, CJ, Matt, Brad and Becky who were always my cheerleaders in the background were, a lot of times, my audience.
So when I decided to self-pub Unthinkable, I did it for you all. Then people started buying it. Then people started buying Inconceivable, and this thing, this impossible dream that I'd had for myself, this goal that you all told me to reach for, was right there. I was a writer. I was an author, and I absolutely couldn't believe it.
Then I started meeting other authors and then on Goodreads I started getting "fans" and then more and more people were adding my book to their TBR list. Then one of my big sisters, Cherie, told me about my book going up on ARe (All Romance Ebooks) and I did and within 24 hours, I'd sold more than I had any other time. Then days went by and I saw that Unthinkable and Inconceivable were shooting up into the hundreds and all of this time I'm writing A Very Tate Christmas, sort of secretly, because I wanted to surprise all of you. And that's when I got the IM from Daniel:
":O Your book Unthinkable is #9 on the ARe Bestseller list."
To be honest, I thought maybe he was reading it wrong. I was already shocked that it had gotten bestseller status in certain genres but he was making it seem as if it was the main list. I mentioned it to Cherie, who wisely went to look it up, knowing that I wouldn't do it. When she told me it was true, I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me that I'd been "Punk'd" by the very people that were hating on me just months ago.
But Ashton never appeared and my big sis Tay-Tay told me to enjoy my way to the top.
I thought that she was just being her usual loving, big sister self. Because my big sisters are awesome and they love their "baby bro," and I thought she was just being encouraging.
Cherie told me that my book would keep rising.
In my head I thought she was full of shit.
Why were people buying my stuff? This story that I'd written for my online blog friends and online blog family. Why were they interested in these shape shifting cowboys and their mates? I was floored and so overwhelmed that I went to bed before 4am this morning and still woke up at 8.
I only do that when I'm sick or I'm crashing.
So when I woke up and saw a "Wow. Congratz Vic! "Unthinkable" is now #5 on the ARe Bestseller List." I knew then that I needed to go into hiding. Not from writing, but to get my head around the fact that people actually want to read my stuff. That they want to actually buy my stuff and read it.
These same people turn around and buy Inconceivable and find me on GR, Facebook, Twitter, email me and tell me how much they liked or loved my books. And I am floored. I am shocked, amazed and so overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement that I have to go hide myself somewhere, be alone and wrap my head around the fact that good things are happening to me.
That good things keep happening to me.
That I didn't come out and then my world was destroyed.
But that I came out. Admitted the truth that I'd been fighting since I was a kid. Stood up for me, something I don't think I've ever done. Told those in my life to (in the words of Mary J. Blige) "Take me as I am or have nothing at all." I moved. I left the comfort and safety of conforming, of denying and repressing, and I stepped out into the light of truth and acceptance and support and encouragement and oh-my-gosh-is-this-happiness and found out how beautiful it is.
I began healing. I kept writing. I gained more friends, more family, found the love of my life, my soul's mate and kept writing. And wow, people keep buying.
I am amazed. I am overwhelmed. I am so unbelievably grateful. You all who have stuck with me through it all. You all that have joined "The Vickster" maybe a little later on down the tracks but you're on this ride, holding on just as tight as those who were here at the beginning. Even those of you who threw rocks and paint and bombs, grenades, shot bullets at "The Vickster" and never apologized when you saw that your assault was in an area that had already been assaulted or even those of you who assaulted "The Vickster" and continue to keep assaulting "The Vickster," I am thankful to all of you. Because of you, I'm here. I'm stronger. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life.
So, yes, as a matter of self-preservation so I don't "self-sabotage" myself, as I've been known to do when good things start happening, I'm going to go and hide in my Purple Fantasy Den and regroup and then come out (LOL-or rather return) and still be myself.
And keep writing.
So thank you all. Your support is invaluable to me.
Sincerely,
Vicktor Aleksandr B.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Why Meditation is Now Masturbation
Check out this blog post by my friend and big sister, fellow author Cherie Noel, the author of the awesome The Soldier and the State Trooper as well as Kiss and Tell which was a part of the Hot Summer Days Anthology on Goodreads. It will make you laugh and make you think as well when it comes to writing and researching the male orgasm when writing M/M or even M/F romance and fiction and completely redefine the word "meditation" for you as well.
http://chicksndicks.blogspot.com/2011/11/cherie-noel-writing-malemale-orgasm.html
http://chicksndicks.blogspot.com/2011/11/cherie-noel-writing-malemale-orgasm.html
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Nieceling and the Flat Puppies
So since moving to Buffalo, NY with my adopted big sister the "flat puppies" or what's known as "plot bunnies" to other authors, have been flying around the apartment smacking both my adopted sister (who's a published author) and myself in the head.
Most of them are being thrown around by my nieceling and I've been catching them and writing up a storm.
I've started on a series entitled: The Last Men on Earth that's in addition to The Virgin Special Forces series that I'm dedicating to Matt and Brad of the blog 2 Boys In Love. There's the stand alone books: Light the Way, An Agean Task, and Not a Second.
You'd think that's be enough, but beyond those, there's the other 13 stand alone books, then the other six series that I'm writing (Can you say: That's a LOT Vic!).
Ahhh but you see...my brain has said that that's not enough because The Nieceling inspired 2 single title YA books: My Best Friend Shay, Friends Like Mine (which turns into a series but the last two books are 18+), and then there is the Sacred Duets series for YA.
Yep, I think I'm pretty much set as far as writing goes for the next few years.
But can I say how wonderfully exciting that is? Because I can write here and the inspiration is just all over the place, the apartment is littered with "flat puppies," but it's all good because the more inspiration, the more books I write, the more books you all get to read.
Vic
Most of them are being thrown around by my nieceling and I've been catching them and writing up a storm.
I've started on a series entitled: The Last Men on Earth that's in addition to The Virgin Special Forces series that I'm dedicating to Matt and Brad of the blog 2 Boys In Love. There's the stand alone books: Light the Way, An Agean Task, and Not a Second.
You'd think that's be enough, but beyond those, there's the other 13 stand alone books, then the other six series that I'm writing (Can you say: That's a LOT Vic!).
Ahhh but you see...my brain has said that that's not enough because The Nieceling inspired 2 single title YA books: My Best Friend Shay, Friends Like Mine (which turns into a series but the last two books are 18+), and then there is the Sacred Duets series for YA.
Yep, I think I'm pretty much set as far as writing goes for the next few years.
But can I say how wonderfully exciting that is? Because I can write here and the inspiration is just all over the place, the apartment is littered with "flat puppies," but it's all good because the more inspiration, the more books I write, the more books you all get to read.
Vic
Friday, October 7, 2011
Passion's Hero: The Alpha King Update & Sexy Inspiration-NSFW
I have written 34,929 words out of the 80,000 that I projected for Passion's Hero: The Alpha King.
I am taking a break right now, my mind is swirling with big burly wolf shifters, sexy twinks, space travel, other worlds, villains, steamy mansex, family drama, secrets, steamy mansex, animal hybrids, steamy mansex, pet flowers, steamy mansex, unexpected roles, steamy mansex, hidden powers, steamy mansex and steamy mansex.
So I'm answering emails, looking at some gorgeous pictures on my Tumblr, playing Sims 3, and deciding if I want to get up to get something to eat.
On the plus side, I've packed for NOLA! Woohoo!!
I guess I'll go eat and then get back to writing.
I need INSPIRATION!!! (The first and the fourth image should be moving-in a very nice way-if not click on them I guess)
I am taking a break right now, my mind is swirling with big burly wolf shifters, sexy twinks, space travel, other worlds, villains, steamy mansex, family drama, secrets, steamy mansex, animal hybrids, steamy mansex, pet flowers, steamy mansex, unexpected roles, steamy mansex, hidden powers, steamy mansex and steamy mansex.
So I'm answering emails, looking at some gorgeous pictures on my Tumblr, playing Sims 3, and deciding if I want to get up to get something to eat.
On the plus side, I've packed for NOLA! Woohoo!!
I guess I'll go eat and then get back to writing.
I need INSPIRATION!!! (The first and the fourth image should be moving-in a very nice way-if not click on them I guess)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Now You Can Track My Progress and HELP ME!
So we all know that I love to write.
Ahem. *Clears throat and points at "Buy" button on blog page*
And we know that I am now, officially, a published author.
*Waits for applause to die down*
Well, I bet you guys didn't know that I am really, really, really bad about procrastinating.
*Smiles at feigned gasps of shock*
Yes, I know, I know. That is a HUGE shocker!
Anyway the point is, a friend of mine who is also an aspiring writer told me about these nifty little progress meters that I see on like every fave author's website/blog out there. It's a way for the readers to know how far their author has gotten into writing their next book, their favorite book's sequel, or starting a new series.
And for authors like me, it gives my readers (you all-hopefully) a chance to keep me in line and headed in the right direction. Unlike other authors that I know, I THRIVE on the pressure the emails, tweets and comments telling me that you "can't wait" or to "write faster" or "hurry up"....
Okay that last one makes my eye twitch a little bit, but still.
So I found a site that does the progress meters and I put in the information for all of the books that I have blurbs/outlines/chapters for.
Some of these books are finished but I'm either editing them, expanding them, or rewriting them (for whatever reason-maybe I'm going to change one of the main characters to being a totally different race which changes the whole book-yes, I do that. Tommy from Inconceivable started out being Hispanic). So the progress meter you see is where I am in the final projection of the book.
For example: Passion's Hero: The Alpha King is going through a major rewrite/edit. It is currently sitting in my beta readers email. It has been read by another dear friend of mine who has sent me their edits/suggestions and I'm working those in but I am a perfectionist (especially with this series for some reason) so it's finished but only like a tentative completion, which is why it's still on the list and why it shows over 20, 000 words still to be written.
Anyway, so you guys can help me. If you see a book that you want me to finish (*cough* Katharina, The Cowboy's Fireman *cough*), you can send me a NICE nudge to my email or on twitter or on Goodreads or on here and say:
Aye, yo Vic (or Vee) what the fuck's up with ____________?
LOL.
Or you know, whatever variation you choose.
Isn't that convenient and sweet of me?
And plus, it helps me to stay on track because I've found that I'm very easily distracted especially with a sexy policeman in the house *watches a naked Jack walk past from shower...drool*
Wait, what was I talking about?
Oh yeah....
So you all can help me and I surely hope that you do!
The progress meters/bars are on the right side of the blog page ------>
Talk to you all soon!!
Ahem. *Clears throat and points at "Buy" button on blog page*
And we know that I am now, officially, a published author.
*Waits for applause to die down*
Well, I bet you guys didn't know that I am really, really, really bad about procrastinating.
*Smiles at feigned gasps of shock*
Yes, I know, I know. That is a HUGE shocker!
Anyway the point is, a friend of mine who is also an aspiring writer told me about these nifty little progress meters that I see on like every fave author's website/blog out there. It's a way for the readers to know how far their author has gotten into writing their next book, their favorite book's sequel, or starting a new series.
And for authors like me, it gives my readers (you all-hopefully) a chance to keep me in line and headed in the right direction. Unlike other authors that I know, I THRIVE on the pressure the emails, tweets and comments telling me that you "can't wait" or to "write faster" or "hurry up"....
Okay that last one makes my eye twitch a little bit, but still.
So I found a site that does the progress meters and I put in the information for all of the books that I have blurbs/outlines/chapters for.
Some of these books are finished but I'm either editing them, expanding them, or rewriting them (for whatever reason-maybe I'm going to change one of the main characters to being a totally different race which changes the whole book-yes, I do that. Tommy from Inconceivable started out being Hispanic). So the progress meter you see is where I am in the final projection of the book.
For example: Passion's Hero: The Alpha King is going through a major rewrite/edit. It is currently sitting in my beta readers email. It has been read by another dear friend of mine who has sent me their edits/suggestions and I'm working those in but I am a perfectionist (especially with this series for some reason) so it's finished but only like a tentative completion, which is why it's still on the list and why it shows over 20, 000 words still to be written.
Anyway, so you guys can help me. If you see a book that you want me to finish (*cough* Katharina, The Cowboy's Fireman *cough*), you can send me a NICE nudge to my email or on twitter or on Goodreads or on here and say:
Aye, yo Vic (or Vee) what the fuck's up with ____________?
LOL.
Or you know, whatever variation you choose.
Isn't that convenient and sweet of me?
And plus, it helps me to stay on track because I've found that I'm very easily distracted especially with a sexy policeman in the house *watches a naked Jack walk past from shower...drool*
Wait, what was I talking about?
Oh yeah....
So you all can help me and I surely hope that you do!
The progress meters/bars are on the right side of the blog page ------>
Talk to you all soon!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
I HAVE A DATE TONIGHT!!
Okay so apparently I'm UBER nervous about my date tonight because I went to bed this morning at 2 and then I woke up at 7, and I'm still SUPER tired but I can't get back to sleep because I'm worried about what to wear and what to pack in my overnight bag (because let's face it, it's Jack and we ALL KNOW that I'm staying over tonight).
Anyway, with all of this nervous energy in my veins it has cut off what I like to call my "creative juices." I sat for like thirty minutes with a pen in my hand and stared at the page. All I've written for "Damien & Roman: Forever" so far is "Roman's First Steps." LOL.
So I'm guessing that the gods don't want me working on that, so I will instead devote myself to doing a second edit to Passion's Hero: The Alpha King so that I can get that ready for submission. As you all may or may not know The Alpha King is my first M/M book that is Mpreg (Male Pregnancy for those who are unaware). While I enjoy the characters from The Tate Pack Series the characters from the Passion's Hero Series are like my babies, which is why I keep re-reading it and editing it and taking stuff out and putting stuff back in. *Shakes head* I told Jack about this just last night when he was talking me to sleep (seriously how interesting is soccer?) and he told me: "You just said how special this series is to you. It's your baby, to you it will never be perfect enough for publication." I wanted to deny it, but I can't, because it's a futuristic/sci fi/paranormal/mpreg type of book. Complete with shifters and aliens and humanoids and I'm just like really concerned that the readers won't be able to see the planet Tumaro and Edifice and Strawxig and Namprince and all the others the way I do.
*Sigh* I think that it's impossible for me to please myself.....with my writing anyway. LOL.
So, anyway, since I can't "create" anything new, apparently, I will just try to spruce up the old. And try really hard not to stress out about this date tonight.
BTW, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday at the VA, I was in full on Vic mode, complete with Lil' Big Vic and everything. Imagine how freaked out the MRI techs were when I had to strip down! LOL. We had such an interesting conversation about "what" I was and if I were gay. "Yes I am." "So you're a lesbian." "No." "But you just said you were gay." "I am. I should have been born Victor instead of Veronica Victorian, but regardless I love guys and I LOVE cock and a man's ass way too much to ever be anything but a gay man. So I am gay, I'm just a gay man." "Wow. So are you considering the surgery?" "Considering and already starting the process to get it all set up and ready to go." "So you're going to become a man..." "I already am a man inside." "Oh, okay..." "For the most part, I'm bi-gender. So I'm like a man who loves to top...a lot...but who likes to dress in drag every so often." "Huh...so you're kind of different huh?" "And you're just now realizing this?"
LOL. I swear the military personnel at the VA hospital will NEVER be the same. *Shrug* I do what I have to do to educate others. *Wink*
Now on to editing!
{HUGZ AND SQUEEZES AND FIST BUMPS}
V. Vee (my author name-can you guess what it stands for? LOL)
Vic/Vee
Anyway, with all of this nervous energy in my veins it has cut off what I like to call my "creative juices." I sat for like thirty minutes with a pen in my hand and stared at the page. All I've written for "Damien & Roman: Forever" so far is "Roman's First Steps." LOL.
So I'm guessing that the gods don't want me working on that, so I will instead devote myself to doing a second edit to Passion's Hero: The Alpha King so that I can get that ready for submission. As you all may or may not know The Alpha King is my first M/M book that is Mpreg (Male Pregnancy for those who are unaware). While I enjoy the characters from The Tate Pack Series the characters from the Passion's Hero Series are like my babies, which is why I keep re-reading it and editing it and taking stuff out and putting stuff back in. *Shakes head* I told Jack about this just last night when he was talking me to sleep (seriously how interesting is soccer?) and he told me: "You just said how special this series is to you. It's your baby, to you it will never be perfect enough for publication." I wanted to deny it, but I can't, because it's a futuristic/sci fi/paranormal/mpreg type of book. Complete with shifters and aliens and humanoids and I'm just like really concerned that the readers won't be able to see the planet Tumaro and Edifice and Strawxig and Namprince and all the others the way I do.
*Sigh* I think that it's impossible for me to please myself.....with my writing anyway. LOL.
So, anyway, since I can't "create" anything new, apparently, I will just try to spruce up the old. And try really hard not to stress out about this date tonight.
BTW, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday at the VA, I was in full on Vic mode, complete with Lil' Big Vic and everything. Imagine how freaked out the MRI techs were when I had to strip down! LOL. We had such an interesting conversation about "what" I was and if I were gay. "Yes I am." "So you're a lesbian." "No." "But you just said you were gay." "I am. I should have been born Victor instead of Veronica Victorian, but regardless I love guys and I LOVE cock and a man's ass way too much to ever be anything but a gay man. So I am gay, I'm just a gay man." "Wow. So are you considering the surgery?" "Considering and already starting the process to get it all set up and ready to go." "So you're going to become a man..." "I already am a man inside." "Oh, okay..." "For the most part, I'm bi-gender. So I'm like a man who loves to top...a lot...but who likes to dress in drag every so often." "Huh...so you're kind of different huh?" "And you're just now realizing this?"
LOL. I swear the military personnel at the VA hospital will NEVER be the same. *Shrug* I do what I have to do to educate others. *Wink*
Now on to editing!
{HUGZ AND SQUEEZES AND FIST BUMPS}
V. Vee (my author name-can you guess what it stands for? LOL)
Vic/Vee
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Friday, September 9, 2011
A Peek Inside My Twisted Mind
So when I am writing a book, it's not unusual for that book to spin off and become a series. I mean, hell, Passion's Hero: The Alpha King was originally supposed to be just one book named "Passion's Hero" but now it's a 5 book series with a spin-off series: Love's Savior that's 15 books. And yes, every single book already has an outline and a beginning.
So you'd think that'd be enough for me...not even by a little bit. I get the idea for "Markus Fucking Nelson" which is a contemporary book written in first person. Then there's the "Sacred Duets" series that I got an idea for, 5 books, paranormal, elves and magics, with the first book having a transgendered main character (yeah, I went there).
Again you'd think that would be enough and my brain would shut off. No! I decided I wanted to write some online fiction and so "The Tate Pack" series was born. Again, it started off as only one story "Unthinkable" but as you can see I'm currently writing "Inconceivable" there are two more stories: "Unassumed" and "Incapable" to come.
Then my brain, my lovely TWISTED mind that apparently loves to torture me and never let up on the ideas gave me seven, yes SEVEN more books.
*Sigh*
So I thought I'd give you all a peek into my twisted mind and post up four of the descriptions for the new books that I'm going to be writing. In my personal descriptions I have more written but I'm just giving you all some teasers (have to keep you interested). Have fun! LOL. You have been warned.
So you'd think that'd be enough for me...not even by a little bit. I get the idea for "Markus Fucking Nelson" which is a contemporary book written in first person. Then there's the "Sacred Duets" series that I got an idea for, 5 books, paranormal, elves and magics, with the first book having a transgendered main character (yeah, I went there).
Again you'd think that would be enough and my brain would shut off. No! I decided I wanted to write some online fiction and so "The Tate Pack" series was born. Again, it started off as only one story "Unthinkable" but as you can see I'm currently writing "Inconceivable" there are two more stories: "Unassumed" and "Incapable" to come.
Then my brain, my lovely TWISTED mind that apparently loves to torture me and never let up on the ideas gave me seven, yes SEVEN more books.
*Sigh*
So I thought I'd give you all a peek into my twisted mind and post up four of the descriptions for the new books that I'm going to be writing. In my personal descriptions I have more written but I'm just giving you all some teasers (have to keep you interested). Have fun! LOL. You have been warned.
Collegiate Affair:
Young boy meets older gentleman during the summer at a retreat where he works. They begin an affair that turns into a relationship that they both want to extend past that summer. The older gentleman is a professor at a college in the next major city. The young boy finds out that he will be getting scholarship money so that he can attend college, the one he always wanted to go to, which is the exact same college. The two of them try to maintain the secrecy of their relationship in the face of university rules and regulations, the young boy's experience as an older freshman student, the older gentleman's desire for stability and long term and the differences in their families, backgrounds, education and expectations....
Love's Enslavement:
Two young boys, one black and one white grow up together during the time of slavery. Both of them are gay and fall in love with each other, but it is illegal for them, not only because the black boy is a slave but because homosexuality is a crime. They both fight in the Civil War and they lose track of each other. By some miracle they both make it out of the war alive, but the black man loses his arm and goes blind in one eye. The white boy sees him being dropped off in front of a dilapidated house and takes him in to care for him. Their roles reverse then and the white man is taking care of the black man....
www.NewChances.com:
Two men meet online and begin a friendship. They eventually meet up in person and find that trying to bring their love from online into reality is going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. Especially since one of the men has children (wife passed away-she knew he was bisexual), and the other man has a high powered job that keeps him on the road all of the time. They are in love and move in together but there are issues that arise that they were not expecting and have to fight to stay together, especially when someone tries to get the children taken away and tries to get them to break up. The man with the children has to choose his children of course, because they're young, but where does that leave his new love....
Damien & Roman Forever:
An established couple: Damien and Roman. Roman used to be a woman (Rachelle) and has gone through the genital reassignment surgery to become a man. Damien knows this, he supported him through the whole thing. Before Roman got the surgery, the two of them did IVF and gave birth to quads. So they are two men, married, raising children in the "Bible Belt" (Tennessee, Oklahoma or Ohio). Roman works as a screenwriter and as a m/m romance novelist while Damien is an architect. Damien is Caucasian, big and muscled, average looking in heights, though he has a gorgeous body. Roman is African-American, slender, though still muscled, and extremely beautiful. They met through Damien's brother-in-law, Cody, who married Damien's brother, Kelvin. Cody is Roman's best friend. The book is written as if the two men are being interviewed by the reader. They are asked how they met, how they came out, when they fell in love, about their kids, their lives together, if they've ever had any problems together (Roman will share a story about the two of them being out together and one of the kids crying and throwing a fit and pulling away from him and how one woman called security because she thought that the children had either been kidnapped or that they belonged to Damien. She is very nasty and spews out hate speech, both about their sexuality and Roman's race. Roman tells the reader how happy he was to be able to tell her that he used to be a woman and that all four of the children BIOLOGICALLY belonged to him and his husband Damien.), and what their plans are for the future. They talk about the big argument that led to their separation....
So what do you guys think? Would you read any of these books?
{HUGZ AND SQUEEZES}
Vee/Vic
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The "T" in LGBT
So today I was thinking and talking to my newest friend Sidney and we started talking about how transgenders are pretty much invisible in the LGBT community. They aren't really seen in books, rarely seen in movies. They, or rather, we (I have to start owning who I am), are like the dirty little secret of the community.
Why?
I honestly have no theories on this matter. No ideas for why this would be. We are apparently not liked or loved by a lot of people within the community. Maybe we're not fully understood? Either way, I feel much as I did as a teenager when I couldn't find any interracial romance books with a black female and a white man as the main characters. Like I don't exist. Like who I am is so taboo, so unattractive that few will speak of it.
And yes, I know that now there are a lot of interracial M/F books out there with the main female character being black and the main male character being white, but you know what? I've moved past that (Yeah, I did, so deal with it). I have figured out who I am with the help of friends and doctors and soul searching and reading the book "Static" by L.A. Witt that had me shaking and sweating as I had a panic attack and "Hawk's Landing" that had me crying because I could see myself in BOTH books. Now that I know who I am, now that I've embraced it, I want to see myself represented.
And I sort of feel bad because there are others out there who have been dealing with this for years and I'm the rookie, the newborn and I have come in whining and complaining wanting to know where are all of the transgender books and movies? Where are we in the reality shows and the television shows? Why aren't we on "The A-List: New York" on LogoTV? (Yes, that is my current tv obsession) Why is it when I go to publisher sites and author's websites and blogs that I only see four or maybe five books with a transgendered MC?
Where are we? The idea of realizing that I'm once again invisible to a community is heartbreaking. Because I'm not just a bigendered/transgendered female to male, I am also a black one and damn if that doesn't just screw me over even more. When I was a teenager and I told my mother that there weren't any books with a black female and a white male who fall in love and were the main characters, she told me to write it. While I know I can't talk to her about this dilemma, I still hear that same advice in my head: "If no one else is doing it, then you do it. If you want to see more of those types of books, you're an amazing writer, you write it."
I don't just write stories and books though. I write plays, tv shows, movies. So I guess I'll have to start writing and filling in the gaps.
Why?
I honestly have no theories on this matter. No ideas for why this would be. We are apparently not liked or loved by a lot of people within the community. Maybe we're not fully understood? Either way, I feel much as I did as a teenager when I couldn't find any interracial romance books with a black female and a white man as the main characters. Like I don't exist. Like who I am is so taboo, so unattractive that few will speak of it.
And yes, I know that now there are a lot of interracial M/F books out there with the main female character being black and the main male character being white, but you know what? I've moved past that (Yeah, I did, so deal with it). I have figured out who I am with the help of friends and doctors and soul searching and reading the book "Static" by L.A. Witt that had me shaking and sweating as I had a panic attack and "Hawk's Landing" that had me crying because I could see myself in BOTH books. Now that I know who I am, now that I've embraced it, I want to see myself represented.
And I sort of feel bad because there are others out there who have been dealing with this for years and I'm the rookie, the newborn and I have come in whining and complaining wanting to know where are all of the transgender books and movies? Where are we in the reality shows and the television shows? Why aren't we on "The A-List: New York" on LogoTV? (Yes, that is my current tv obsession) Why is it when I go to publisher sites and author's websites and blogs that I only see four or maybe five books with a transgendered MC?
Where are we? The idea of realizing that I'm once again invisible to a community is heartbreaking. Because I'm not just a bigendered/transgendered female to male, I am also a black one and damn if that doesn't just screw me over even more. When I was a teenager and I told my mother that there weren't any books with a black female and a white male who fall in love and were the main characters, she told me to write it. While I know I can't talk to her about this dilemma, I still hear that same advice in my head: "If no one else is doing it, then you do it. If you want to see more of those types of books, you're an amazing writer, you write it."
I don't just write stories and books though. I write plays, tv shows, movies. So I guess I'll have to start writing and filling in the gaps.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
SCREAM
Yeah there is a girl in my head screaming. She's been at it since I typed the words: The End on my first M/M Romance book: "Passion's Hero: The Alpha King" and emailed it to a friend to read before I submit it for possible publishing.
No matter how many times someone tells me I'm a good writer I always freak out over my writing. I write and write and write, because the story and characters play out in my mind and I can't sleep until I get them down on paper, but then when I go and read it back I'm usually shaking my head and saying "This sucks! It's so dry and boring. Why the hell would I write this? Nobody will read this. It's stupid."
You know that saying that says you're your own worst critic? Well I've got that in spades. It's why I've got like five finished books and I just tote them around with me. I tell people about them. I read portions of them to people, but that's it. I even gave one of my books to my aunt to read and edit and her words to me were "It's so good that I forgot I was supposed to be editing, I'll go back and edit it this time."
That should encourage me right? Even with "Unthinkable," I've gotten compliments on here and on GR (I didn't even realize that there were members in the M/M Romance Group who were reading it) about it, and while it lightens my heart I keep hearing the voice of my 9th grade Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. Harris in my head: "Veronica, you're a very pretty young woman. You're a beautiful dancer, your voice is amazing and I've seen you act and you're great, but your writing is dull, boring, your characters lifeless and I say with kindness that you shouldn't seriously consider writing as a career."
And I mean, the woman was a miserable person, but she was a Creative Writing teacher, she would know Creative Writing right? So, I take these small steps and I test the waters. Each time I do anything I scream silently and want to take that step back, but once it's been done, it can't be undone.
So I sent my first M/M book to a friend to read, I'm nervous, to the point of wanting to vomit, but I feel good because I took another step and for me it's a big step. I think I'll just be one of those soldiers who run screaming into battle instead of stalking silently up behind the enemy.
No matter how many times someone tells me I'm a good writer I always freak out over my writing. I write and write and write, because the story and characters play out in my mind and I can't sleep until I get them down on paper, but then when I go and read it back I'm usually shaking my head and saying "This sucks! It's so dry and boring. Why the hell would I write this? Nobody will read this. It's stupid."
You know that saying that says you're your own worst critic? Well I've got that in spades. It's why I've got like five finished books and I just tote them around with me. I tell people about them. I read portions of them to people, but that's it. I even gave one of my books to my aunt to read and edit and her words to me were "It's so good that I forgot I was supposed to be editing, I'll go back and edit it this time."
That should encourage me right? Even with "Unthinkable," I've gotten compliments on here and on GR (I didn't even realize that there were members in the M/M Romance Group who were reading it) about it, and while it lightens my heart I keep hearing the voice of my 9th grade Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. Harris in my head: "Veronica, you're a very pretty young woman. You're a beautiful dancer, your voice is amazing and I've seen you act and you're great, but your writing is dull, boring, your characters lifeless and I say with kindness that you shouldn't seriously consider writing as a career."
And I mean, the woman was a miserable person, but she was a Creative Writing teacher, she would know Creative Writing right? So, I take these small steps and I test the waters. Each time I do anything I scream silently and want to take that step back, but once it's been done, it can't be undone.
So I sent my first M/M book to a friend to read, I'm nervous, to the point of wanting to vomit, but I feel good because I took another step and for me it's a big step. I think I'll just be one of those soldiers who run screaming into battle instead of stalking silently up behind the enemy.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
New Story: Unthinkable
*Here's the new story that I spoke of earlier, I'm thinking clearly enough to post Part One. Enjoy!*
The first thing that Richard noticed were his hands. They were large, manicured, tanned hands. All sorts of naughty ideas went rushing through his mind as he saw those hands coming towards him, he could almost imagine those hands caressing him, holding him down, those long, wide fingers filling him before....
He screamed when he was abruptly jarred out of his fantasy by those same hands grabbing him and pulling him out of the way of the truck barreling down the road. He felt himself flying through the air, towards some unknown destination. Okay, so maybe he wasn't flying but it felt like it, especially when he landed on something hard and then rolled onto something soft, with something large and hard on top of him.
"I'm dead. I just know it. I'm dead," he heard his own breathless voice.
"You're not dead, I just knocked the wind outta 'ya," he heard a deep Southern voice say above him.
Hearing the tinge of amusement in the voice of his savior, he peeked open first one blue eye and then another, before his breath completely escaped him. He was staring into the most amazingly beautiful, clear green eyes. Black hair fell forward onto the forehead of the larger man, his thin lips pulled back into a smile, his thin nose flared slightly as if he were smelling something delicious. Richard felt like wrapping his arms and his legs around the larger man, who appeared to be almost three times as large as his own 5'4" 119lbs frame. He may be very open about his sexuality, but a slut he was not...although, if the stranger asked him to get naked and dance around Times Square, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He waited for the other man to rise off of him, especially with the gathering crowd asking if they were okay, and the not-so-subtle erection he had pressing against the front of his too tight, low-rise jeans. He gasped as he felt a rumble in the larger man's chest and had to give himself a mental shake when he thought he heard the other man breathe the word "Mine".
"You ever plan on getting off of me there cowboy? You know so I can breathe?" he asked flirtatiously, a little shocked at his own audacity, but feeling a little saucy while underneath the muscled stranger, even though he might just get his ass kicked for coming onto the obviously straight man.
"I hadn't planned on it, but I guess if you gotta breathe to live," the larger man rose off of him, stretching out a hand to help him up. Richard rose gracefully with the man's help, two decades of dance training making themselves known. He smiled and nodded at the crowd of people that asked him if he were alright, his gaze continuously returning to his hero, who stood silently beside him, almost in front of him, as if protecting him from being touched by anyone else.
When the last person finally left and walked away, having gone out of their way to check on him and now returning to the hustle and bustle of New York life, Richard turned towards the other man, his eyes drifting up and up and up. He felt his face flush and swallowed deeply.
"Thank you for saving my life," he said shyly.
The other man merely nodded, his gaze intense upon Richard's face. When a long minute passed without a word being spoken, Richard reached down and grabbed his bag, that had amazingly been saved in all of the chaos.
"You Richard Tillson?" the other man asked as he pulled a picture out of his pocket along with an envelope. Richard froze and turned to face the other man. How did this man know his name? He nodded unable to speak.
"I was comin' to yer place when I saw ya' leave. Just kinda followed you, planned on talkin' to ya, or atleast introducing myself when I saw you crossing the street with the car comin' right at 'cha," the other man explained, obviously seeing the fear in Richard's face. "My name is Vernon Tate, you knew my baby sister, Amanda Lynn?"
Richard felt the fear lift off of him at the mention of his best friend, whom he called AL, for her initials, from college and graduate school. He smiled at the other man. So this was AL's older brother? He was hot! He stood at about 6'7", he was all muscle on top of muscle, his neck thick like a linebacker, his skin tanned by the sun, he could remember AL telling him about the family farm down in Texas.
"Yeah! You're Vet?" Richard asked excitedly, his naturally bubbly personality shining through as he thought about his best friend. He sobered instantly, AL and her husband had passed a few weeks back in some kind of weird hunting accident. Some other hunters shooting them when they mistook them for wolves. Richard had been on tour in Paris and by the time the news had reached him, the funeral had already taken place. "I'm so sorry for your loss," he said compassionately. Vernon, or Vet as AL called him, merely nodded, blinking away the moisture in his eyes.
"Um...so why were you looking for me?" he asked as he led Vet over to the benches in the park. He sat down gently, feeling a little sore after his tumble with the other man a few minutes earlier, he crossed one leg over the other and smiled when Vet practically flopped onto the bench, his legs spread wide.
"I don't really know how to say this, but, see Mandy, she and her husband, well they thought quite a bit of you, they felt real bad that you had to miss the wedding but still stayed in contact and she just gave birth to triplets, you know a few months before the...uh...accident and the lawyer said she left instructions for the care of the triplets," Vet paused here, his eyes locking onto Richard's as if imploring him to understand. Richard wasn't stupid by any stretch of the imagination. Contrary to what his father and brothers thought, he had an above average IQ that wasn't diminished or negated because he was gay or because he danced for a living. Even with that it took him a while to really grasp what Vet was saying, but when he did he gasped.
"You HAVE to be joking! AL and Cameron left their triplets to me? Why would they do that? I'm single, unmarried, GAY, and I have a very successful career as a dancer! I mean, well, a somewhat successful career. I'm not working right now, but still!! They lived in Texas and AL said you both came from a very traditional, if slightly unusual family. How are they going to feel about AL leaving her babies to me? And how am I supposed to support them? I'm all by myself? What was AL thinking? I can't-" Richard's words were cut off abruptly when Vet leaned forward and took his lips in a hard and passionate kiss that fried his brain. After a few minutes, when air was essential, the two men separated.
"They left the triplets to you because they trusted you. Both sets of parents are dead. They left money, a house, cars, a college trust fund for all three babies, everything you could possibly need, they left it for you. They trusted you. Besides you really only have partial custody," Vet smirked at the look of trepidation that crossed Richard's face.
"Who am I sharing custody with?" he asked, although he suspected he knew the answer.
"Well, that's why I'm here. You're sharing custody with me and I came here to fetch you and bring you back to Texas to help me raise...well...our children."
The first thing that Richard noticed were his hands. They were large, manicured, tanned hands. All sorts of naughty ideas went rushing through his mind as he saw those hands coming towards him, he could almost imagine those hands caressing him, holding him down, those long, wide fingers filling him before....
He screamed when he was abruptly jarred out of his fantasy by those same hands grabbing him and pulling him out of the way of the truck barreling down the road. He felt himself flying through the air, towards some unknown destination. Okay, so maybe he wasn't flying but it felt like it, especially when he landed on something hard and then rolled onto something soft, with something large and hard on top of him.
"I'm dead. I just know it. I'm dead," he heard his own breathless voice.
"You're not dead, I just knocked the wind outta 'ya," he heard a deep Southern voice say above him.
Hearing the tinge of amusement in the voice of his savior, he peeked open first one blue eye and then another, before his breath completely escaped him. He was staring into the most amazingly beautiful, clear green eyes. Black hair fell forward onto the forehead of the larger man, his thin lips pulled back into a smile, his thin nose flared slightly as if he were smelling something delicious. Richard felt like wrapping his arms and his legs around the larger man, who appeared to be almost three times as large as his own 5'4" 119lbs frame. He may be very open about his sexuality, but a slut he was not...although, if the stranger asked him to get naked and dance around Times Square, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He waited for the other man to rise off of him, especially with the gathering crowd asking if they were okay, and the not-so-subtle erection he had pressing against the front of his too tight, low-rise jeans. He gasped as he felt a rumble in the larger man's chest and had to give himself a mental shake when he thought he heard the other man breathe the word "Mine".
"You ever plan on getting off of me there cowboy? You know so I can breathe?" he asked flirtatiously, a little shocked at his own audacity, but feeling a little saucy while underneath the muscled stranger, even though he might just get his ass kicked for coming onto the obviously straight man.
"I hadn't planned on it, but I guess if you gotta breathe to live," the larger man rose off of him, stretching out a hand to help him up. Richard rose gracefully with the man's help, two decades of dance training making themselves known. He smiled and nodded at the crowd of people that asked him if he were alright, his gaze continuously returning to his hero, who stood silently beside him, almost in front of him, as if protecting him from being touched by anyone else.
When the last person finally left and walked away, having gone out of their way to check on him and now returning to the hustle and bustle of New York life, Richard turned towards the other man, his eyes drifting up and up and up. He felt his face flush and swallowed deeply.
"Thank you for saving my life," he said shyly.
The other man merely nodded, his gaze intense upon Richard's face. When a long minute passed without a word being spoken, Richard reached down and grabbed his bag, that had amazingly been saved in all of the chaos.
"You Richard Tillson?" the other man asked as he pulled a picture out of his pocket along with an envelope. Richard froze and turned to face the other man. How did this man know his name? He nodded unable to speak.
"I was comin' to yer place when I saw ya' leave. Just kinda followed you, planned on talkin' to ya, or atleast introducing myself when I saw you crossing the street with the car comin' right at 'cha," the other man explained, obviously seeing the fear in Richard's face. "My name is Vernon Tate, you knew my baby sister, Amanda Lynn?"
Richard felt the fear lift off of him at the mention of his best friend, whom he called AL, for her initials, from college and graduate school. He smiled at the other man. So this was AL's older brother? He was hot! He stood at about 6'7", he was all muscle on top of muscle, his neck thick like a linebacker, his skin tanned by the sun, he could remember AL telling him about the family farm down in Texas.
"Yeah! You're Vet?" Richard asked excitedly, his naturally bubbly personality shining through as he thought about his best friend. He sobered instantly, AL and her husband had passed a few weeks back in some kind of weird hunting accident. Some other hunters shooting them when they mistook them for wolves. Richard had been on tour in Paris and by the time the news had reached him, the funeral had already taken place. "I'm so sorry for your loss," he said compassionately. Vernon, or Vet as AL called him, merely nodded, blinking away the moisture in his eyes.
"Um...so why were you looking for me?" he asked as he led Vet over to the benches in the park. He sat down gently, feeling a little sore after his tumble with the other man a few minutes earlier, he crossed one leg over the other and smiled when Vet practically flopped onto the bench, his legs spread wide.
"I don't really know how to say this, but, see Mandy, she and her husband, well they thought quite a bit of you, they felt real bad that you had to miss the wedding but still stayed in contact and she just gave birth to triplets, you know a few months before the...uh...accident and the lawyer said she left instructions for the care of the triplets," Vet paused here, his eyes locking onto Richard's as if imploring him to understand. Richard wasn't stupid by any stretch of the imagination. Contrary to what his father and brothers thought, he had an above average IQ that wasn't diminished or negated because he was gay or because he danced for a living. Even with that it took him a while to really grasp what Vet was saying, but when he did he gasped.
"You HAVE to be joking! AL and Cameron left their triplets to me? Why would they do that? I'm single, unmarried, GAY, and I have a very successful career as a dancer! I mean, well, a somewhat successful career. I'm not working right now, but still!! They lived in Texas and AL said you both came from a very traditional, if slightly unusual family. How are they going to feel about AL leaving her babies to me? And how am I supposed to support them? I'm all by myself? What was AL thinking? I can't-" Richard's words were cut off abruptly when Vet leaned forward and took his lips in a hard and passionate kiss that fried his brain. After a few minutes, when air was essential, the two men separated.
"They left the triplets to you because they trusted you. Both sets of parents are dead. They left money, a house, cars, a college trust fund for all three babies, everything you could possibly need, they left it for you. They trusted you. Besides you really only have partial custody," Vet smirked at the look of trepidation that crossed Richard's face.
"Who am I sharing custody with?" he asked, although he suspected he knew the answer.
"Well, that's why I'm here. You're sharing custody with me and I came here to fetch you and bring you back to Texas to help me raise...well...our children."
Why I Hate Being Sick
I had every intention of starting a new story/book on here. You know a free read type, I already have the character names, the background, what's going to happen, I mean I could sit down and write it right now, but I'm sick. And when I'm sick my creative juices don't flow. I mean, I can't even come up with a title for the story. And when all you really have is writing, when you can't write because you're sick....well it kinda pisses you off.
Then of course because I'm half Bajan (that's from Barbados for those who don't know), I have all of these home remedies that I could do to get rid of this cold/fever, but they all require movement on my part and I just don't want to. I'm a bit of a bitch when I'm sick. So usually I try to stay away from people (I do it for their well-being, really). So I will try again, either later today or tomorrow, hopefully I'll be feeling better by then.
9B9QXJEAMCHW
Then of course because I'm half Bajan (that's from Barbados for those who don't know), I have all of these home remedies that I could do to get rid of this cold/fever, but they all require movement on my part and I just don't want to. I'm a bit of a bitch when I'm sick. So usually I try to stay away from people (I do it for their well-being, really). So I will try again, either later today or tomorrow, hopefully I'll be feeling better by then.
9B9QXJEAMCHW
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Passion's Hero meet Love's Savior
So my 5 book paranormal sci/fi homoerotic fiction books series has now become 20 books, with books 6-20 taking on the series subtitle of Love's Savior. It is based around the children conceived from the couples in books 1-5.
I got the idea from my friend Richard.
Of course my mind has already started running wild with all sorts of ideas. But I'm extremely excited.
I've also started another book series: Fated Duets about elves. Also a homoerotic series. The first book is entitled "Special."
This is probably the best outcome and result of my being confined to my bed and wheelchair. I'm finally still long enough to write like I've always wanted to.
When the books get published and have a release date, I will let you all know.
I got the idea from my friend Richard.
Of course my mind has already started running wild with all sorts of ideas. But I'm extremely excited.
I've also started another book series: Fated Duets about elves. Also a homoerotic series. The first book is entitled "Special."
This is probably the best outcome and result of my being confined to my bed and wheelchair. I'm finally still long enough to write like I've always wanted to.
When the books get published and have a release date, I will let you all know.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Passion's Hero: The Beta Prince (Update)
I’m almost finished with book two of the Passion’s Hero series, “The Beta Prince.” I’m amazed at how quickly the books are developing. I was planning on sending book one off and THEN starting on book two, but it’s looking as if I’m going to have two books done before I get a definite response from the publishers.
Meanwhile, I did something a little nutty (I know, no surprise there). I have created Facebook accounts for all of the main characters (the different heroes) from the Passion’s Hero series. Talon Versuthion, Blazell Roughshire, Buckington Roughshire, Percival Taunton, Mailon Saungfreid, Duke Mufariso, Trenton Versuthion, Rico Suavez, Tuvarion Versuthion, Franklin Mufariso, and Sutton Castezi are all on Facebook. They talk and conversate just as if they were real.
Just thought I’d let you all know, just in case you wanted to friend them ahead of time. Once the books get covers I’ll be able to give them all profile pictures, but for now they don’t have any.
Hope everyone has been doing well this last week. Between writing and suffering majorly from insomnia and listening to my idiot doctor who wants to schedule me for an EKG because I “MIGHT” have CHF (Congestive Heart Failure), I haven’t been able to blog like I want, but it’s not because I haven’t thought about it, I have, I just haven’t gotten around to doing it.
Also, if you all want something really good to read (you know while you’re waiting for my books to be published), may I suggest the Midnight Matings Series by Gabrielle Evans, Joyee Flynn and Stormy Glenn or The Brac Pack Series by Lynn Hagen. I’m addicted to both series, I’m talking about buying it as soon as it’s available and downloading it the moment I can “addicted.” Between those and EVERY single book written by Mary Calmes, T.A. Chase, J.L Langley and Stephani Hecht, I spend quite a bit of time reading (usually when I’m trying to get some sleep).
So I hope you all are doing well. Hugs and Kisses! And by the way The Passion’s Hero series is going to be published under the author name: VVee Bailey or just VVee.
Which do you all suggest?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Passion's Hero: The Alpha King
IT'S DONE! IT'S DONE!!!!!!
I FINALLY FINISHED BOOK ONE!
I just have to do my final edits and then I'll be sending them off in the hopes of it being published!
I've already started book two: The Beta Prince. I'm UBER excited!!!
Anyone else as excited as me?
I FINALLY FINISHED BOOK ONE!
I just have to do my final edits and then I'll be sending them off in the hopes of it being published!
I've already started book two: The Beta Prince. I'm UBER excited!!!
Anyone else as excited as me?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Passion's Hero: The Alpha King (Part One)
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Friday, May 13, 2011
Passion's Hero: The Series?
So remember I told you all that I was writing my first ever homoerotic/gay romance? I entitled it: "Passion's Hero" and I am like halfway through the book already. Well, as I'm writing, some of my characters are developing stories on their own and then today as I sat down and actually read back over what I wrote I have found that my book "Passion's Hero" is suddenly: "The Passion's Hero Series". So far it's five books and they all have a skeletal outline.
Whew!
I'm so stinkin' excited about them all.
Will you all read them when I'm finished?
Monday, February 7, 2011
New Story/Book
So I have one book that's almost finished (about four chapters left) that is an interrcial historical romance book set during the Renaissance period between an English duke and an African princess entitled The Duke's African Bride, but I have recently gotten an idea....or two...because that's just how my mind works, for two completely different gay romance/erotica fiction stories. One is contemporary and one is paranormal/futuristic. They've both been swirling around in my head and I have the idea/outline for both, the title for one (Unthinkable), and even started writing the first one. It's just a matter of me deciding if I'm going to actually go for it...I probably will...yeah, I will.
*Sigh* Now that that decision has been made.
I have become addicted to a few writers and I guess you could say that I'm like "reader stalking" them: Mary Calmes, T.A. Chase, Stormy Glenn, Amy Lane, John Simpson, Stephani Hecht, Ally Blue, JL Langley, Madeleine Urban, and Rhianne Aile. I spend a few hours, and a few dollars, finding, buying and reading whatever books that they have, reading their blogs, their sites....it's because I truly do love their stories/books (but to be honest, I'm the same way with Susan Mallery, Lisa Kleypas, Brenda Jackson, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Janette Oke and Lori Wick...I don't generally stalk celebrities or obsess over them or drool over them-well, except John Barrowman, David Tutera, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler and Michael Ealy-but they're the exceptions), I'm different, I'd rather read a really good book, especially a steamy gay one, than watch a movie any day.
I'd rather write one too.
So I guess I should get to it.
*Sigh* Now that that decision has been made.
I have become addicted to a few writers and I guess you could say that I'm like "reader stalking" them: Mary Calmes, T.A. Chase, Stormy Glenn, Amy Lane, John Simpson, Stephani Hecht, Ally Blue, JL Langley, Madeleine Urban, and Rhianne Aile. I spend a few hours, and a few dollars, finding, buying and reading whatever books that they have, reading their blogs, their sites....it's because I truly do love their stories/books (but to be honest, I'm the same way with Susan Mallery, Lisa Kleypas, Brenda Jackson, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Janette Oke and Lori Wick...I don't generally stalk celebrities or obsess over them or drool over them-well, except John Barrowman, David Tutera, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler and Michael Ealy-but they're the exceptions), I'm different, I'd rather read a really good book, especially a steamy gay one, than watch a movie any day.
I'd rather write one too.
So I guess I should get to it.
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Chapter One of My Book "Whole Pieces of a Broken Heart"
Chapter One
Six months earlier
Dr. Matthew Bailey smiled and waved good bye to Mrs. Escaban as she waddled out of the front door of his private obstetrics office. Chuckling softly to himself at the thought that he was the palest Dr. Huxtable in the world, Matthew turned to his last patient of the day and found himself staring….he also found himself not breathing and when he finally took in a breath, it sounded like a gasp. When she looked up at him, Matthew found that his entire body was enflamed with heat. Trying to shake off his weird reaction to the expectant mother, he pasted a smile on his face and tried to ignore his libido.
“Mrs. Riley?” he questioned as he stepped forward with his hand outstretched for a handshake.
“Ms Riley. But please call me Kyra, I mean you’re going to become very intimate with the most private part of me,” the beautiful mother-to-be stated.
Chuckling at her too true statement, Matthew briefly allowed his eyes to take inventory of the treasure in front of him. She was taller than most women, but shorter than his own six foot three stature. He’d put her around 5’8”. She had the most beautiful dark brown skin color, like milk chocolate, his favorite dessert. Her body was curved in all the right places, she wasn’t model thin, but she wasn’t too thick either, she was in a word…perfect, even with her stomach distended with pregnancy.
Seeing her head cocked to the side, with her shoulder length black and brown streaked hair falling over one shoulder, he realized that he was standing there holding her hand and gawking at her like a horny teenager. At least the teenager part is wrong, he admonished himself, as he coughed before showing her into his examining room. She didn’t waddle like the rest of his patients, but that could be because she wasn’t as far along as the rest of his patients. However, she was still very graceful to be pregnant, she walked gracefully even if she weren’t pregnant, she must be a dancer or took ballet at some point, Matt reasoned. Barely glancing at her chart as he asked her to have a seat in the chair in front of his desk, he replayed all that he knew of her case.
25 years old, 14 weeks pregnant, moved here from another base in Virginia with her husband who had that fatal accident a few months back, living in a suburban area right outside of Boston, here for her first sonogram, looking at her face as she looked over the paper he’d placed in front of her about her diet and admitted to himself, and stunningly gorgeous. When she looked up, he hastily looked down as if perusing her chart and ran his fingers through his thick black hair before looking back up at her, his erratic hormones finally under control.
“Well Ms Riley, are you ready to hear your baby’s heartbeat?” he questioned, his friendly doctor smile back on his face.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, and I thought I told you to call me Kyra?” she smiled.
“Okay, well Kyra, let’s go meet this little one.”
The two of them stood up from their seats and walked into the examining room. Matt helped Kyra up onto the examining table and placed the Fetal Doppler on her stomach to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Trying to focus on his job, Matt began to smile as he heard the baby’s heartbeat.
“Well Kyra, your baby is healthy…wait, I mean your babies are healthy,” he said.
“My what?” Kyra screeched.
Matt turned to Kyra. “Ms Riley, you’re having twins,” he stated a smile on his face.
Matt watched in amused silence as Kyra’s eyes closed in shock and then widened in awe. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was talking but no words were forthcoming. Finally her hand touched her baby bump and she swallowed hard.
“I’m having twins? That’s amazing! Not improbable, twins run in my family, on both sides, but I just never thought….I mean…I never figured….this is just incredible! I mean it’s a good thing right? I mean I can handle it financially. I mean, oh my gosh! That‘s why Maria said I was showing really early huh? This is so great!” Kyra stated in a stuttering manner.
Matt just continued smiling as Kyra slowly came to the realization that she was indeed having twins. Turning to him, she threw her arms around him and hugged him with all of her might.
“Oh thank you! Thank you Dr. Matt!!” she exclaimed.
Laughing outright, Matt went against his usual protocol and hugged her back. As the two hugged, the hug slowly changed from one of friendly excitement to something infinitely more intimate. Even though he knew that it was wrong, Matt could not make himself pull away from her. When the two of them finally did separate they were both very much aware of the other. Clearing his throat, Matt smiled nervously at Kyra and opened his mouth to say something about her diet and pregnancy and what to expect when she shocked him by speaking first.
“Well, I guess my libido isn’t dead huh? I haven’t been that attracted to someone for a long time,” she stated matter of factly, pulling her shirt down and cocking her head to the side in wondering amazement.
Matt spluttered in shock. He couldn’t believe that she’d said that! I mean, a person would have to be blind, deaf, dumb, and half-dead to not notice the sexual tension and attraction that was flowing between the two of them, but he’d never remark on it.
“Ms Riley-”he began.
“Kyra,” she corrected.
“Kyra,” he amended, “It is perfectly normal for a pregnant woman’s sexual urges to increase as the pregnancy advances, sometimes it disappears all together. Every woman is different.”
“Dr. Matt,” she chuckled as she started to slide off of the examining table, “I don’t care about other women that you’ve dealt with, I know me and I know my body. What I experienced wasn’t because of the pregnancy; it was because of me finding you extremely attractive.”
Matt could only stare as she stood before him, an angelic smile on her face, making her almost ethereally beautiful. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered that for just a moment she might actually kiss him. He thought about that as his eyes alighted on her full thick lips. He’d seen some big lips, but hers weren’t just big, they were shapely and…..juicy. He could imagine feasting on her lips all day long. As his eyes began to close he watched as her head lifted to receive his kiss. Hearing someone clear their throat had him jumping back quickly and trying desperately to hide his burning red face and calm his pounding heart as he went to respond to his assistant.
“Yes Mrs. Eslinger?” he asked.
“Mrs. Bailey is on the phone for you,” Mrs. Eslinger stated.
“Mrs. Bailey?” he heard Kyra whisper behind him, her words sounding hurt.
“My mother,” he stated to her before turning back to his assistant, “Can you tell her I’ll call her back.” Not daring to look into why he felt that he had to explain himself to his patient…..that he’d almost kissed.
“Yes doctor,” his assistant smiled, and he knew that she’d be grilling him about Miss Riley when the office closed.
“Well doctor, I better let you go,” Kyra said, and as he turned to her, he was shocked again as she kissed him lightly on his lips.
“See you next time doctor,” she smiled as she walked out the door.
Matthew stood in silent shock as she walked out his door before giving into the weakness that had settled into his limbs and collapsed into his chair. The woman was forward, brazen, blunt….in a word, amazing.
“You did what?” her best friend screeched on the phone.
Pulling the phone away from her ear at her best friend’s squeal, Kyra walked around her kitchen collecting all of the things that she needed for her special meal: apples, strawberries, oranges, grapes, chocolate syrup, bananas, pickles, kiwi and sliced turkey mixed together in a bowl. Hmmm, I’ll be glad when this pregnancy thing is over, these cravings are killing me, she thought to herself before turning off the light in her gourmet kitchen and walking on bare feet to her breakfast nook. Sitting down with her legs stretched out on the window seat where she sat, Kyra waited until her best friend Marie finished her Spanish ranting. Hearing her tirade draw to a close with “stupido,” Kyra swallowed the mouthful of her “special” salad and spoke.
“Mi amiga, I couldn’t help myself. He was muy caliente! I felt as if he were mi Corazon, mi amore. He was standing there, looking at me and all I could think about was kissing him to satisfy my curiosity. I think he may be the only man capable of giving me le petite morte,” smiling widely Kyra spoke in Spanish, Italian and French.
She and Maria were both multi-lingual and relished learning new languages just for the heck of it. Maria was born in Madrid, Spain and moved to the States when she was 10. She immediately met Kyra at school and having a heart of compassion and selflessness, the young girl took Maria under her wing and showed her the ropes of attending an American school. The two of them set about teaching the other different aspects of their own culture and their biological languages. Maria taught Kyra Spanish and Kyra taught Maria Italian which was what her father spoke. When they entered high school they both chose to learn French since they knew they would be cheating if they chose Spanish or Italian. After taking four years of the language, for their graduation presents they both asked their parents for a trip to Europe. They backpacked around France, England, and Spain. It was there that they both came to a realization of what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives. Maria loved art, art history, and the culture of the arts and promptly took up Art History in college to become an Art Curator. Many people felt as if she was overlooking her own artistic beauty, at 6’1”, Maria stood out in a crowd, but it wasn’t only her height that got her noticed. With her tan skin, thin frame and beautiful Spanish features, Maria’s parents had pushed her to model. Maria hadn’t wanted to be known for her looks, however, and had gone on to become one of the most successful and well-known authorities on art and artists. She hadn’t regretted one minute of her decision since she made it. She and Kyra took every summer to go to some foreign country and learn some of the language and the culture; it was their own special tradition.
Kyra’s story was a little different. She was raised by her aunt and her grandmother from the time she was eight, since her parents were both killed in the line of duty while serving in the military. The government sent her two checks and she received two Purple Hearts to honor the passing of her parents. Her aunt and grandmother were wise, however and invested the money that Kyra was sent by the government. By the time that Kyra was in high school she had so much money she was known as the “rich girl.” Her aunt married Kyra’s Chemistry teacher when Kyra was a junior in high school and they, along with her grandmother, really hammered into her the importance of being independent. So when Kyra and Maria went off to Europe for the summer, Kyra had no problem navigating her way through the country. Very proud of her African-American & Italian heritage and her culture, Kyra’s family was very pleased when she told them that she was going to become a chef. So when Kyra and Maria returned to the states she set about to become the most sought after chef in the country. To the delight of her family and in the honor of her parents, she’d succeeded. Kyra’s mother was African-American, a dark skinned, sized 10 woman with an amazing singing voice that she’d passed onto her daughter. Kyra’s father was an Italian man, the typical Italian man, he was very smooth and cool and very into his family. Kyra was his pride and joy and he’d spoiled her rotten while he was still alive. He’d taught his daughter Italian and also how to cook. Kyra’s skin color was a beautiful dark brown milk chocolate color, her mother’s African-American pigmentation coming through more dominantly, although Kyra’s hair and cheekbones attested to her father’s Italian influence. The Gargulas had taught her daughter that color didn’t matter and that if she found true love she shouldn’t but a color requirement on it. Kyra had taken that piece of advice to heart.
The two women were inseparable and shared everything with each other. Kyra was there for Maria when Maria got married and then a year later when she had her first child, Kyra’s godson Ricky. Likewise Maria was there for Kyra when she’d married a drill sergeant in the Army, SFC Riley, and then when her husband died tragically when a new soldier, a very eager one, accidentally shot her husband when practicing cadences with his buddies during Basic Training. Maria held Kyra’s hand and stayed with her for two months as she’d grieved and then as she’d found out that her husband had left her a very special surprise….
Kyra turned with wide eyes to Maria. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered. Maria’s eyes had widened also.
“What?” she’d croaked out. “I’m pregnant Mare,” Kyra repeated flopping onto the side of the bathtub.
“What? How?”
“The usual way, Mare,” Kyra chuckled, “Landon and I made love everyday, even the day he was killed.”
Maria turned from the sink where she’d been examining the tests and knelt before Kyra.
“You know it figures that Landon would find some kind of way to leave his mark behind,” Kyra laughed.
The two women had laughed and like that the cloud of grief that had been hanging over Kyra lifted. She still mourned her husband’s death but she knew that he’d want her to move on with her life and it seemed as if fate had chosen her OB to help her do just that.
“Cara mia, you can’t just go around kissing men though,” Maria said furiously.
“I don’t mi amiga, it was only this once. Mi dispiace,” she apologized.
“You have to stop switching languages in the middle of sentences chica,” Maria laughed.
The two women laughed heartily and spoke of pregnancy matters before moving on to their plans for that summer.
“Make sure you check with your doctor that it’s okay. I mean you’ll be six months when we go, but with it being twins... who knows if the rules are different,” Maria advised.
“I will. I have another appointment with him in a few weeks, I’ll ask him then…” Kyra stated. Then she teased, “Or I could just show up to his office and ask him.”
“Kyra!” Maria exclaimed.
“Okay, okay. I’ll wait,” Kyra acquiesced.
The two talked for thirty more minutes before Ricky cried for attention from his mother. They said goodbye with plans to talk the next day before they hung up. Kyra sighed as she absently rubbed her distended stomach. Standing up she walked back into her gourmet kitchen, which looked as if it had come directly from an Italian kitchen, with garlic hanging over the stove and sterling silver pots hanging above the island. The color scheme of the room boasted of an Italian upbringing, with the red cabinets, white countertops, and green appliances. Placing her now empty bowl into the almost full dishwasher, Kyra’s mind drifted to her husband. The choking tears that usually came with his memory didn’t come this time, she saw his smiling face and the conversation that they’d had one week prior to the accident.
Landon flopped onto his back after exploding his seed deep inside of his wife’s womb. Smiling as he heard her gasping for breath, he rolled over onto his side and pulled her to him.
“I want you to always be happy,” he’d begun.
Kyra had begun to giggle because she’d thought he meant sexually.
“Well honey if you keep doing the same moves that you did tonight, you might just get your wish,” she’d said as she ran her hand over his chiseled, hairless, olive colored skin. Landon was a full-blooded Greek man with black hair and blue eyes whose body looked as if he lived in the gym. The two had run into each other at the supermarket that was located just off base. They were instantly attracted to each other and shocking family and friends alike were married within six months of meeting each other when they eloped in Las Vegas. They’d gone back and had a wedding six months after that, in an effort to appease bruised feelings, but they always celebrated the first wedding as their anniversary date.
Landon laughed and tickled Kyra lightly, he stopped when he saw that she was losing her focus and starting to yawn.
“No, honey, I mean that I want you to always be happy in life. I mean sex is a part of it…with you it’s a BIG part of it,” he chuckled when she playfully smacked his shoulder, “but I mean, if anything should happen to me, if I should die or something, you have to promise me that you will do your best to be happy and as quickly as possible.”
Kyra had looked at him confused as to why he would be talking like that, but when he persisted she agreed and in an effort to drive the haunting look from his eyes, she’d made love to him, slowly and thoroughly. She’d forgotten about that conversation right after but soon after the funeral it had come back to her with sudden clarity and hadn’t stopped running through her mind.
Kyra closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. It was an old meditation trick that her mother had taught her in order to keep her emotions at bay. Whenever she thought about Landon she instantly thought about her horrific experience when she was four. She hated thinking about that, it always stirred up what she saw as being unnecessary emotions. Exhaling slowly and raising her arms slowly in the air, Kyra was shocked out of her meditative pose by the sound of her doorbell ringing. Who can that be? She wondered as she walked through the hallways of her home to the front door. Smoothing her hands over her ponytail, Kyra turned on the porch lights and looked through the peephole to see who her late night visitor was. She gasped as she saw that Dr. Matt was standing outside of the door holding what looked to be her attaché case. Smiling at his generosity, she opened the door and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Well…Dr. Matt, it’s so nice to see you again,” she smiled.
“Um, yes, it’s nice to see you again also,” Matt stuttered.
Aww, that’s so cute, he’s all nervous to talk to me. What can I do to ease his worry? Kyra asked herself before having a brilliant and hilarious idea.
“Would you like to come in Dr. Matt?” she questioned.
“Well…I don’t know…I mean, it’s late and-” Matt began.
“Don’t worry I won’t attack you and kiss you like I did earlier, I promise…not unless you ask me to,” she laughed.
Matt blinked before he realized that she was trying to put him at ease. Laughing good-naturedly at their earlier meeting, Matt nodded his head and followed her into the door. Walking behind her to the living room, Matt tried to pay more attention to her home décor than to her beautiful derriere swaying before him. She lived in a very nice home. It was a two story home, with each room having a different color and theme. The hallways were a golden color and were filled with figurines of Greek mythology and paintings of Greek gods and demi-gods. As they passed the dining room and the kitchen on the right, Matt quickly glanced in and saw that the dining room was very classically elegant with cabernet carpet and maroon paneled walls and a huge table that looked as if it could seat a third world country. The kitchen was fit for a gourmet chef and looked as if it came directly from an Italian restaurant. On his left they passed what looked to be the formal living room which was completely white. Raising his eyebrows, Matt promised himself to ask her about that room. The next room on his left seemed to be a ballet studio, with ballet bars, mirrors on both walls and a desk with a boom box sitting on top of it. Following her around a corner on the left, Matt stopped when he saw the informal living room. It was every man’s dream room. With a bar on the left, a refrigerator on the right, what looked to be dark green felt carpet with lines as if the carpet were a football field, Matt could see why footballs were kept in a case on the side beside the refrigerator. His eyes took in the pictures on the walls. They contained Kyra and another man at different sporting events. He stopped perusing the walls completely when his eyes came upon one picture, his breath catching in his lungs he walked closer to the picture.
Catching where he was headed Kyra tried not to laugh.
“Y-y-you met the Boston Red Sox?” he whispered in awe.
Kyra laughed as she took his hand and brought him over to the large photograph on the wall next to her 64 inch television screen. While the first picture showed her, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and Johnny Damon this photograph showed her standing in the middle of the Boston Red Sox at two of the greatest times in their recent history, when they won the World Series in ‘04 and then again in ‘07. Matt turned to stare at her with a look of admiration in his eyes.
“How?” he questioned.
“My mother knew “Papi” from when he was a kid. His family kept in touch with me after my parents died. So when he started playing for Boston I got season passes. I’ve always been a huge BoRSo fan and Papi introduced me to Johnny, Manny, and Pedro,” Kyra stated rolling her r’s as she said Pedro.
“BoRSo?” Matt asked.
“It’s what Maria, my best friend, and I call the Boston Red Sox. Anyway, Papi introduced me to the fellas, I started cooking for them whenever they were in the same city as me, they came to my wedding,” Kyra stated and then pausing she whispered, “they even came to my husband’s funeral.” Then shaking herself out of her reverie she finished with a smile, “I make them promise to not discuss their teams or baseball when they’re all around me, to me they’ll always be BoRSo players. These pictures on these walls remind me of that.”
“I’ve never met a woman who liked sports, much less liked the Red Sox and knew the players. I mean, they’re my favorite team of all time. It’s one of the reasons I asked to be transferred out here, I’ve always loved Boston,” Matt turned to Kyra and got down on one knee while holding her hand, “Will you marry me?” he teased.
Kyra laughed heartily and asked if he wanted a drink to which he accepted, forgetting that he’d come over with the express purpose of delivering her attaché case and leaving, not wanting to be alone with her for fear of his hormones spinning out of control. Following Kyra through the house Matt was consistently amazed at how peaceful her home felt, and how much it felt lived in already. He tried not to smile like a big kid when Kyra poured him a beer in a Boston Red Sox cup, but failed miserably.
“Why do you have beer in your home? You’re pregnant,” he questioned after taking a few big gulps.
Kyra laughed again before answering and he felt his groin stirring to life at the sound. What was it about this woman? He asked himself before focusing back on her.
“I checked online Dr. Matt, they said I could have one beer if I’m craving it, and I’ve been craving beer since I’ve gotten pregnant. Plus, I have family and friends who come by a lot and they all like to drink, so I always make sure that I have some beer in the fridge for them,” she explained before pouring herself a glass of ginger ale.
“Nauseous?” he asked, making a mental note of the symptom.
“Just a little, it comes and it goes,” she replied before taking a sip.
“Well, that’s perfectly common,” he stated although his eyes were cautiously aware of everything.
“I know that, Dr. Matt, my best friend, Maria, explained just about everything when I found out I was pregnant.”
“Oh, really?” Matt asked amused. “So, you really don’t have a need for a doctor like me then huh?” He chuckled softly when Kyra looked as if she were contemplating the idea.
“You know something? You’re right! I don’t need a doctor…” smiling mischievously at him she teased, “but you’re just too cute to fire, so I guess I’ll let you stay on as my doctor.”
The two shared a laugh and then drank their beverages in a friendly silence. When his pager went off, Matt was surprised, for a second he’d almost forgotten where he was, who he was, and his relationship…his professional relationship with Kyra. Looking at the number he sighed, someone was going into labor which meant that he had to go.
“I’m sorry-“ he began.
“Don’t be,” Kyra interrupted, “you’re a doctor, you’re a ‘baby’ doctor, of course you’re going to get paged.” She stood up with him, taking his glass and placing it beside hers on the counter. She turned to walk him to the door and he tried his hardest not to stare at her posterior as she walked but found himself failing at that as well.
“Dr. Matt? Are you checking out my butt?” Kyra’s voice laughed at him from in front of him.
“I’m trying not to,” he answered truthfully and was rewarded with a healthy laugh from her.
“Don’t feel bad, she has a tendency to hypnotize men. That’s how I got my husband Landon,” she said.
The room suddenly got very quiet, this time not a pleasant quiet like from before, but a silence that was thick with emotion and pain.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Matt whispered when they got to the front door and she opened it. “I wish there was more comfort that I could give you, but I’m afraid that I can’t.”
Kyra placed her hand on his arm before she spoke, “It’s okay, your desire to comfort is more than enough. Thank you.”
He nodded his head and turned to walk back out of the door. Stopping suddenly, he turned back to her, “What’s up with the all white living room?” he questioned.
Kyra’s eyes blinked in confusion and then crinkled at the sides as if remembering a very pleasant scenario. “I’ll tell you all about it when you come over for dinner this weekend,” she hinted.
“You want me to come over for dinner this weekend?” Matt asked in confusion.
“Aw! Thanks for asking me Dr. Matt! I’d love for you to come over for dinner this weekend. Let’s make it Saturday at 7pm okay? Okay. G’night!” Kyra smiled before leaning up to kiss the very confused doctor on his lips and pushing him out the door. Closing the door on his still shocked face, Kyra started laughing when she heard his soft but still dazed reply.
“G’night.”
Six months earlier
Dr. Matthew Bailey smiled and waved good bye to Mrs. Escaban as she waddled out of the front door of his private obstetrics office. Chuckling softly to himself at the thought that he was the palest Dr. Huxtable in the world, Matthew turned to his last patient of the day and found himself staring….he also found himself not breathing and when he finally took in a breath, it sounded like a gasp. When she looked up at him, Matthew found that his entire body was enflamed with heat. Trying to shake off his weird reaction to the expectant mother, he pasted a smile on his face and tried to ignore his libido.
“Mrs. Riley?” he questioned as he stepped forward with his hand outstretched for a handshake.
“Ms Riley. But please call me Kyra, I mean you’re going to become very intimate with the most private part of me,” the beautiful mother-to-be stated.
Chuckling at her too true statement, Matthew briefly allowed his eyes to take inventory of the treasure in front of him. She was taller than most women, but shorter than his own six foot three stature. He’d put her around 5’8”. She had the most beautiful dark brown skin color, like milk chocolate, his favorite dessert. Her body was curved in all the right places, she wasn’t model thin, but she wasn’t too thick either, she was in a word…perfect, even with her stomach distended with pregnancy.
Seeing her head cocked to the side, with her shoulder length black and brown streaked hair falling over one shoulder, he realized that he was standing there holding her hand and gawking at her like a horny teenager. At least the teenager part is wrong, he admonished himself, as he coughed before showing her into his examining room. She didn’t waddle like the rest of his patients, but that could be because she wasn’t as far along as the rest of his patients. However, she was still very graceful to be pregnant, she walked gracefully even if she weren’t pregnant, she must be a dancer or took ballet at some point, Matt reasoned. Barely glancing at her chart as he asked her to have a seat in the chair in front of his desk, he replayed all that he knew of her case.
25 years old, 14 weeks pregnant, moved here from another base in Virginia with her husband who had that fatal accident a few months back, living in a suburban area right outside of Boston, here for her first sonogram, looking at her face as she looked over the paper he’d placed in front of her about her diet and admitted to himself, and stunningly gorgeous. When she looked up, he hastily looked down as if perusing her chart and ran his fingers through his thick black hair before looking back up at her, his erratic hormones finally under control.
“Well Ms Riley, are you ready to hear your baby’s heartbeat?” he questioned, his friendly doctor smile back on his face.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, and I thought I told you to call me Kyra?” she smiled.
“Okay, well Kyra, let’s go meet this little one.”
The two of them stood up from their seats and walked into the examining room. Matt helped Kyra up onto the examining table and placed the Fetal Doppler on her stomach to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Trying to focus on his job, Matt began to smile as he heard the baby’s heartbeat.
“Well Kyra, your baby is healthy…wait, I mean your babies are healthy,” he said.
“My what?” Kyra screeched.
Matt turned to Kyra. “Ms Riley, you’re having twins,” he stated a smile on his face.
Matt watched in amused silence as Kyra’s eyes closed in shock and then widened in awe. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was talking but no words were forthcoming. Finally her hand touched her baby bump and she swallowed hard.
“I’m having twins? That’s amazing! Not improbable, twins run in my family, on both sides, but I just never thought….I mean…I never figured….this is just incredible! I mean it’s a good thing right? I mean I can handle it financially. I mean, oh my gosh! That‘s why Maria said I was showing really early huh? This is so great!” Kyra stated in a stuttering manner.
Matt just continued smiling as Kyra slowly came to the realization that she was indeed having twins. Turning to him, she threw her arms around him and hugged him with all of her might.
“Oh thank you! Thank you Dr. Matt!!” she exclaimed.
Laughing outright, Matt went against his usual protocol and hugged her back. As the two hugged, the hug slowly changed from one of friendly excitement to something infinitely more intimate. Even though he knew that it was wrong, Matt could not make himself pull away from her. When the two of them finally did separate they were both very much aware of the other. Clearing his throat, Matt smiled nervously at Kyra and opened his mouth to say something about her diet and pregnancy and what to expect when she shocked him by speaking first.
“Well, I guess my libido isn’t dead huh? I haven’t been that attracted to someone for a long time,” she stated matter of factly, pulling her shirt down and cocking her head to the side in wondering amazement.
Matt spluttered in shock. He couldn’t believe that she’d said that! I mean, a person would have to be blind, deaf, dumb, and half-dead to not notice the sexual tension and attraction that was flowing between the two of them, but he’d never remark on it.
“Ms Riley-”he began.
“Kyra,” she corrected.
“Kyra,” he amended, “It is perfectly normal for a pregnant woman’s sexual urges to increase as the pregnancy advances, sometimes it disappears all together. Every woman is different.”
“Dr. Matt,” she chuckled as she started to slide off of the examining table, “I don’t care about other women that you’ve dealt with, I know me and I know my body. What I experienced wasn’t because of the pregnancy; it was because of me finding you extremely attractive.”
Matt could only stare as she stood before him, an angelic smile on her face, making her almost ethereally beautiful. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered that for just a moment she might actually kiss him. He thought about that as his eyes alighted on her full thick lips. He’d seen some big lips, but hers weren’t just big, they were shapely and…..juicy. He could imagine feasting on her lips all day long. As his eyes began to close he watched as her head lifted to receive his kiss. Hearing someone clear their throat had him jumping back quickly and trying desperately to hide his burning red face and calm his pounding heart as he went to respond to his assistant.
“Yes Mrs. Eslinger?” he asked.
“Mrs. Bailey is on the phone for you,” Mrs. Eslinger stated.
“Mrs. Bailey?” he heard Kyra whisper behind him, her words sounding hurt.
“My mother,” he stated to her before turning back to his assistant, “Can you tell her I’ll call her back.” Not daring to look into why he felt that he had to explain himself to his patient…..that he’d almost kissed.
“Yes doctor,” his assistant smiled, and he knew that she’d be grilling him about Miss Riley when the office closed.
“Well doctor, I better let you go,” Kyra said, and as he turned to her, he was shocked again as she kissed him lightly on his lips.
“See you next time doctor,” she smiled as she walked out the door.
Matthew stood in silent shock as she walked out his door before giving into the weakness that had settled into his limbs and collapsed into his chair. The woman was forward, brazen, blunt….in a word, amazing.
“You did what?” her best friend screeched on the phone.
Pulling the phone away from her ear at her best friend’s squeal, Kyra walked around her kitchen collecting all of the things that she needed for her special meal: apples, strawberries, oranges, grapes, chocolate syrup, bananas, pickles, kiwi and sliced turkey mixed together in a bowl. Hmmm, I’ll be glad when this pregnancy thing is over, these cravings are killing me, she thought to herself before turning off the light in her gourmet kitchen and walking on bare feet to her breakfast nook. Sitting down with her legs stretched out on the window seat where she sat, Kyra waited until her best friend Marie finished her Spanish ranting. Hearing her tirade draw to a close with “stupido,” Kyra swallowed the mouthful of her “special” salad and spoke.
“Mi amiga, I couldn’t help myself. He was muy caliente! I felt as if he were mi Corazon, mi amore. He was standing there, looking at me and all I could think about was kissing him to satisfy my curiosity. I think he may be the only man capable of giving me le petite morte,” smiling widely Kyra spoke in Spanish, Italian and French.
She and Maria were both multi-lingual and relished learning new languages just for the heck of it. Maria was born in Madrid, Spain and moved to the States when she was 10. She immediately met Kyra at school and having a heart of compassion and selflessness, the young girl took Maria under her wing and showed her the ropes of attending an American school. The two of them set about teaching the other different aspects of their own culture and their biological languages. Maria taught Kyra Spanish and Kyra taught Maria Italian which was what her father spoke. When they entered high school they both chose to learn French since they knew they would be cheating if they chose Spanish or Italian. After taking four years of the language, for their graduation presents they both asked their parents for a trip to Europe. They backpacked around France, England, and Spain. It was there that they both came to a realization of what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives. Maria loved art, art history, and the culture of the arts and promptly took up Art History in college to become an Art Curator. Many people felt as if she was overlooking her own artistic beauty, at 6’1”, Maria stood out in a crowd, but it wasn’t only her height that got her noticed. With her tan skin, thin frame and beautiful Spanish features, Maria’s parents had pushed her to model. Maria hadn’t wanted to be known for her looks, however, and had gone on to become one of the most successful and well-known authorities on art and artists. She hadn’t regretted one minute of her decision since she made it. She and Kyra took every summer to go to some foreign country and learn some of the language and the culture; it was their own special tradition.
Kyra’s story was a little different. She was raised by her aunt and her grandmother from the time she was eight, since her parents were both killed in the line of duty while serving in the military. The government sent her two checks and she received two Purple Hearts to honor the passing of her parents. Her aunt and grandmother were wise, however and invested the money that Kyra was sent by the government. By the time that Kyra was in high school she had so much money she was known as the “rich girl.” Her aunt married Kyra’s Chemistry teacher when Kyra was a junior in high school and they, along with her grandmother, really hammered into her the importance of being independent. So when Kyra and Maria went off to Europe for the summer, Kyra had no problem navigating her way through the country. Very proud of her African-American & Italian heritage and her culture, Kyra’s family was very pleased when she told them that she was going to become a chef. So when Kyra and Maria returned to the states she set about to become the most sought after chef in the country. To the delight of her family and in the honor of her parents, she’d succeeded. Kyra’s mother was African-American, a dark skinned, sized 10 woman with an amazing singing voice that she’d passed onto her daughter. Kyra’s father was an Italian man, the typical Italian man, he was very smooth and cool and very into his family. Kyra was his pride and joy and he’d spoiled her rotten while he was still alive. He’d taught his daughter Italian and also how to cook. Kyra’s skin color was a beautiful dark brown milk chocolate color, her mother’s African-American pigmentation coming through more dominantly, although Kyra’s hair and cheekbones attested to her father’s Italian influence. The Gargulas had taught her daughter that color didn’t matter and that if she found true love she shouldn’t but a color requirement on it. Kyra had taken that piece of advice to heart.
The two women were inseparable and shared everything with each other. Kyra was there for Maria when Maria got married and then a year later when she had her first child, Kyra’s godson Ricky. Likewise Maria was there for Kyra when she’d married a drill sergeant in the Army, SFC Riley, and then when her husband died tragically when a new soldier, a very eager one, accidentally shot her husband when practicing cadences with his buddies during Basic Training. Maria held Kyra’s hand and stayed with her for two months as she’d grieved and then as she’d found out that her husband had left her a very special surprise….
Kyra turned with wide eyes to Maria. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered. Maria’s eyes had widened also.
“What?” she’d croaked out. “I’m pregnant Mare,” Kyra repeated flopping onto the side of the bathtub.
“What? How?”
“The usual way, Mare,” Kyra chuckled, “Landon and I made love everyday, even the day he was killed.”
Maria turned from the sink where she’d been examining the tests and knelt before Kyra.
“You know it figures that Landon would find some kind of way to leave his mark behind,” Kyra laughed.
The two women had laughed and like that the cloud of grief that had been hanging over Kyra lifted. She still mourned her husband’s death but she knew that he’d want her to move on with her life and it seemed as if fate had chosen her OB to help her do just that.
“Cara mia, you can’t just go around kissing men though,” Maria said furiously.
“I don’t mi amiga, it was only this once. Mi dispiace,” she apologized.
“You have to stop switching languages in the middle of sentences chica,” Maria laughed.
The two women laughed heartily and spoke of pregnancy matters before moving on to their plans for that summer.
“Make sure you check with your doctor that it’s okay. I mean you’ll be six months when we go, but with it being twins... who knows if the rules are different,” Maria advised.
“I will. I have another appointment with him in a few weeks, I’ll ask him then…” Kyra stated. Then she teased, “Or I could just show up to his office and ask him.”
“Kyra!” Maria exclaimed.
“Okay, okay. I’ll wait,” Kyra acquiesced.
The two talked for thirty more minutes before Ricky cried for attention from his mother. They said goodbye with plans to talk the next day before they hung up. Kyra sighed as she absently rubbed her distended stomach. Standing up she walked back into her gourmet kitchen, which looked as if it had come directly from an Italian kitchen, with garlic hanging over the stove and sterling silver pots hanging above the island. The color scheme of the room boasted of an Italian upbringing, with the red cabinets, white countertops, and green appliances. Placing her now empty bowl into the almost full dishwasher, Kyra’s mind drifted to her husband. The choking tears that usually came with his memory didn’t come this time, she saw his smiling face and the conversation that they’d had one week prior to the accident.
Landon flopped onto his back after exploding his seed deep inside of his wife’s womb. Smiling as he heard her gasping for breath, he rolled over onto his side and pulled her to him.
“I want you to always be happy,” he’d begun.
Kyra had begun to giggle because she’d thought he meant sexually.
“Well honey if you keep doing the same moves that you did tonight, you might just get your wish,” she’d said as she ran her hand over his chiseled, hairless, olive colored skin. Landon was a full-blooded Greek man with black hair and blue eyes whose body looked as if he lived in the gym. The two had run into each other at the supermarket that was located just off base. They were instantly attracted to each other and shocking family and friends alike were married within six months of meeting each other when they eloped in Las Vegas. They’d gone back and had a wedding six months after that, in an effort to appease bruised feelings, but they always celebrated the first wedding as their anniversary date.
Landon laughed and tickled Kyra lightly, he stopped when he saw that she was losing her focus and starting to yawn.
“No, honey, I mean that I want you to always be happy in life. I mean sex is a part of it…with you it’s a BIG part of it,” he chuckled when she playfully smacked his shoulder, “but I mean, if anything should happen to me, if I should die or something, you have to promise me that you will do your best to be happy and as quickly as possible.”
Kyra had looked at him confused as to why he would be talking like that, but when he persisted she agreed and in an effort to drive the haunting look from his eyes, she’d made love to him, slowly and thoroughly. She’d forgotten about that conversation right after but soon after the funeral it had come back to her with sudden clarity and hadn’t stopped running through her mind.
Kyra closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. It was an old meditation trick that her mother had taught her in order to keep her emotions at bay. Whenever she thought about Landon she instantly thought about her horrific experience when she was four. She hated thinking about that, it always stirred up what she saw as being unnecessary emotions. Exhaling slowly and raising her arms slowly in the air, Kyra was shocked out of her meditative pose by the sound of her doorbell ringing. Who can that be? She wondered as she walked through the hallways of her home to the front door. Smoothing her hands over her ponytail, Kyra turned on the porch lights and looked through the peephole to see who her late night visitor was. She gasped as she saw that Dr. Matt was standing outside of the door holding what looked to be her attaché case. Smiling at his generosity, she opened the door and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Well…Dr. Matt, it’s so nice to see you again,” she smiled.
“Um, yes, it’s nice to see you again also,” Matt stuttered.
Aww, that’s so cute, he’s all nervous to talk to me. What can I do to ease his worry? Kyra asked herself before having a brilliant and hilarious idea.
“Would you like to come in Dr. Matt?” she questioned.
“Well…I don’t know…I mean, it’s late and-” Matt began.
“Don’t worry I won’t attack you and kiss you like I did earlier, I promise…not unless you ask me to,” she laughed.
Matt blinked before he realized that she was trying to put him at ease. Laughing good-naturedly at their earlier meeting, Matt nodded his head and followed her into the door. Walking behind her to the living room, Matt tried to pay more attention to her home décor than to her beautiful derriere swaying before him. She lived in a very nice home. It was a two story home, with each room having a different color and theme. The hallways were a golden color and were filled with figurines of Greek mythology and paintings of Greek gods and demi-gods. As they passed the dining room and the kitchen on the right, Matt quickly glanced in and saw that the dining room was very classically elegant with cabernet carpet and maroon paneled walls and a huge table that looked as if it could seat a third world country. The kitchen was fit for a gourmet chef and looked as if it came directly from an Italian restaurant. On his left they passed what looked to be the formal living room which was completely white. Raising his eyebrows, Matt promised himself to ask her about that room. The next room on his left seemed to be a ballet studio, with ballet bars, mirrors on both walls and a desk with a boom box sitting on top of it. Following her around a corner on the left, Matt stopped when he saw the informal living room. It was every man’s dream room. With a bar on the left, a refrigerator on the right, what looked to be dark green felt carpet with lines as if the carpet were a football field, Matt could see why footballs were kept in a case on the side beside the refrigerator. His eyes took in the pictures on the walls. They contained Kyra and another man at different sporting events. He stopped perusing the walls completely when his eyes came upon one picture, his breath catching in his lungs he walked closer to the picture.
Catching where he was headed Kyra tried not to laugh.
“Y-y-you met the Boston Red Sox?” he whispered in awe.
Kyra laughed as she took his hand and brought him over to the large photograph on the wall next to her 64 inch television screen. While the first picture showed her, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and Johnny Damon this photograph showed her standing in the middle of the Boston Red Sox at two of the greatest times in their recent history, when they won the World Series in ‘04 and then again in ‘07. Matt turned to stare at her with a look of admiration in his eyes.
“How?” he questioned.
“My mother knew “Papi” from when he was a kid. His family kept in touch with me after my parents died. So when he started playing for Boston I got season passes. I’ve always been a huge BoRSo fan and Papi introduced me to Johnny, Manny, and Pedro,” Kyra stated rolling her r’s as she said Pedro.
“BoRSo?” Matt asked.
“It’s what Maria, my best friend, and I call the Boston Red Sox. Anyway, Papi introduced me to the fellas, I started cooking for them whenever they were in the same city as me, they came to my wedding,” Kyra stated and then pausing she whispered, “they even came to my husband’s funeral.” Then shaking herself out of her reverie she finished with a smile, “I make them promise to not discuss their teams or baseball when they’re all around me, to me they’ll always be BoRSo players. These pictures on these walls remind me of that.”
“I’ve never met a woman who liked sports, much less liked the Red Sox and knew the players. I mean, they’re my favorite team of all time. It’s one of the reasons I asked to be transferred out here, I’ve always loved Boston,” Matt turned to Kyra and got down on one knee while holding her hand, “Will you marry me?” he teased.
Kyra laughed heartily and asked if he wanted a drink to which he accepted, forgetting that he’d come over with the express purpose of delivering her attaché case and leaving, not wanting to be alone with her for fear of his hormones spinning out of control. Following Kyra through the house Matt was consistently amazed at how peaceful her home felt, and how much it felt lived in already. He tried not to smile like a big kid when Kyra poured him a beer in a Boston Red Sox cup, but failed miserably.
“Why do you have beer in your home? You’re pregnant,” he questioned after taking a few big gulps.
Kyra laughed again before answering and he felt his groin stirring to life at the sound. What was it about this woman? He asked himself before focusing back on her.
“I checked online Dr. Matt, they said I could have one beer if I’m craving it, and I’ve been craving beer since I’ve gotten pregnant. Plus, I have family and friends who come by a lot and they all like to drink, so I always make sure that I have some beer in the fridge for them,” she explained before pouring herself a glass of ginger ale.
“Nauseous?” he asked, making a mental note of the symptom.
“Just a little, it comes and it goes,” she replied before taking a sip.
“Well, that’s perfectly common,” he stated although his eyes were cautiously aware of everything.
“I know that, Dr. Matt, my best friend, Maria, explained just about everything when I found out I was pregnant.”
“Oh, really?” Matt asked amused. “So, you really don’t have a need for a doctor like me then huh?” He chuckled softly when Kyra looked as if she were contemplating the idea.
“You know something? You’re right! I don’t need a doctor…” smiling mischievously at him she teased, “but you’re just too cute to fire, so I guess I’ll let you stay on as my doctor.”
The two shared a laugh and then drank their beverages in a friendly silence. When his pager went off, Matt was surprised, for a second he’d almost forgotten where he was, who he was, and his relationship…his professional relationship with Kyra. Looking at the number he sighed, someone was going into labor which meant that he had to go.
“I’m sorry-“ he began.
“Don’t be,” Kyra interrupted, “you’re a doctor, you’re a ‘baby’ doctor, of course you’re going to get paged.” She stood up with him, taking his glass and placing it beside hers on the counter. She turned to walk him to the door and he tried his hardest not to stare at her posterior as she walked but found himself failing at that as well.
“Dr. Matt? Are you checking out my butt?” Kyra’s voice laughed at him from in front of him.
“I’m trying not to,” he answered truthfully and was rewarded with a healthy laugh from her.
“Don’t feel bad, she has a tendency to hypnotize men. That’s how I got my husband Landon,” she said.
The room suddenly got very quiet, this time not a pleasant quiet like from before, but a silence that was thick with emotion and pain.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Matt whispered when they got to the front door and she opened it. “I wish there was more comfort that I could give you, but I’m afraid that I can’t.”
Kyra placed her hand on his arm before she spoke, “It’s okay, your desire to comfort is more than enough. Thank you.”
He nodded his head and turned to walk back out of the door. Stopping suddenly, he turned back to her, “What’s up with the all white living room?” he questioned.
Kyra’s eyes blinked in confusion and then crinkled at the sides as if remembering a very pleasant scenario. “I’ll tell you all about it when you come over for dinner this weekend,” she hinted.
“You want me to come over for dinner this weekend?” Matt asked in confusion.
“Aw! Thanks for asking me Dr. Matt! I’d love for you to come over for dinner this weekend. Let’s make it Saturday at 7pm okay? Okay. G’night!” Kyra smiled before leaning up to kiss the very confused doctor on his lips and pushing him out the door. Closing the door on his still shocked face, Kyra started laughing when she heard his soft but still dazed reply.
“G’night.”
Labels:
book,
boston,
boston red sox,
children,
death,
doctor,
love,
military,
pregnancy,
twins,
women,
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