The Making of Revelations--A New Take on the Second Coming.

The idea was born many years ago. Over forty, actually. When I was a teenager. Back then, it didn’t have a name, and it had no real shape. But I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell the story of Judas Iscariot. The trouble was I didn’t know how. What drew me to Judas? is probably what you’re asking yourself, and that’s a valid question.

Ask anyone else who Judas is and you’ll get answers that are probably all variations on a theme of betrayal. I’m not sure exactly when I began to question that, but I do know that when I saw Jesus Christ Superstar performed live back in 1971 (or thereabouts), I had an epiphany regarding him. I saw him, not as the bad guy as often portrayed, but someone who not only believed in Jesus but was willing to do what he needed him to do. For without Judas’ “betrayal” of Jesus, the story would not have worked out the way it did. It needed to happen that way. And if you read the Gospel of Judas, he was the only apostle whom Jesus trusted Jesus to do that for him. Gives one food for thought, doesn’t it?

Very interesting, but where’s the story? I wondered. Was I going to take an historical perspective, research the man and his life? Easier said than done, especially back then. We had no Internet. We didn’t even have computers. Research was all done through books. Libraries had card catalogs, a far cry from today when you can log onto your library website and browse their selection, then request what you want. So I looked and I found bupkus (nothing). I had the Bible, of course, but it tends to be limited on information, as well as a bit biased.

So nothing was written, and I let it go, as my thoughts formulated in the back of my head. In the meantime, I was reading, watching… and learning. King of Kings was my first Biblical movie, and I loved it. Jeffrey Hunter’s portrayal of Jesus is very moving, and I was very enamored of the film. Jesus Christ Superstar – I think I know all the words, I’ve listened so many times. I liked the stage version, but the first film not so much.

Besides watching these things and others, I read. Christopher Moore’s Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. What a fabulous book! I loved it! So much I bought the special edition. And I read The Gospel of Judas! Forty years ago I’d never heard of such a thing. Of course I read the DaVinci Code, and watched the movie. And everything began to percolate inside my head…

Then one day it happened. Judas spoke to me, for the first time. And I simply began to write it down, not knowing what he might say, or where his story might lead. It turned out to be quite the story and took me on quite the journey, and led to places that I didn’t expect it to. If he’d have spoken forty years ago, I would not have been ready to receive his message. But my life up until the moment that I first heard him speak prepared me. And the result is Revelations.

The original title was Kyrie Eleison, a tribute to the Mister Mr. song, Kyrie. Kyrie eleison means Christ, have mercy on us. But then fellow author Marie Sexton, who was reading Kyrie for me at the time, suggested a simpler title. A better title. Revelations. So Revelations it became.

I know there are people who will not like Revelations, and by extension, me. People who will not see the message it carries, only that it does not follow what they believe. But ultimately, no matter what you believe, Revelations is a story of love. Love is the message, and love is something that binds us all together.

Revelations is love.

BLURB:

Judas has never been very popular, not in any incarnation that he and Jesus and the others have lived through. But he doesn't care about that. All he cares about is following the instructions of God as set forth in the script that they follow. And Jesus. For Judas has secretly loved the son of God for over two thousand years.

But now he decides that enough is enough, and he's tired of watching Jesus die far too early, and for what? This time Judas is determined to see that Jesus lives a long and happy life, no matter what price he has to pay to accomplish it...no matter if he has to make a deal with the devil himself.

Revelations is a story of what could be, told by those who play it out, time after time after time, unbeknownst to the rest of mankind. They've come back again, for yet another round. But this time is going to be different.  Excerpt:

Prologue: God

It's not always easy to sit on the sidelines and watch what is happening, to resist the urge to intervene in his best interest. My son's that is. Jesus. But I do so, because I know it's for his own good. As well as for the good of mankind. I can't let my concerns as his father override my vested interest in the fate of man. But sometimes that is easier said than done.

 

This morning I am not alone. Someone else is with me, someone with his own agenda, although we are not as diametrically opposed as some would imagine us to be. Good and evil aren't the simplistic concepts some would portray them as being—there are more grey areas there than you might think. And rightly so.

He smirks. Too much for my taste, I have to admit, but sometimes he does have his moments, and he too has a part to play in what is happening in the world of men. Someone needs to fill the role of the villain, after all.

 

The stage is being set for the third act, the scripts have been handed round, and the actors are taking their places. Will this time end any differently than the others? That depends on my son, on Jesus. I'm thinking this will be the time when he'll make the change.

"He'll change nothing," Lucifer interjects, although I've asked him nothing, certainly not inquired as to his opinion.

I glance at him. He's dressed to within an inch of his life, and wears the most ridiculous sunglasses I've ever seen. I decide not to comment on his fashion sense. "I think he might, this time. I think he's ready for change."

Lucifer snorts. "It's been two thousand years, and neither one has exactly caught on yet. Why should this time be any different?" "Care to put your money where your mouth is?"

He eyes me carefully. "I would, but you see you have this whole mystic omnipotent God thing going on. Personally, I don't care for those odds."

I arch an eyebrow. "I may be omnipotent, but Jesus does have free will and he does possess the ability to make his own decisions. You think I'd stack the deck in my son's favor? Just to win a bet with you?"

"Let's say I'm taking no chances." He smiles. "Tell you what, though—give me free rein. Let me do what I want, and you not say anything or do anything to interfere with me? As far as they're concerned, that is."

I open my mouth to object, he hastily interjects. "No killing, I swear to it."

That's better. I still have some measure of control over the serpent.

"So be it." I agree, turning my attention back to where it had been, to my son. I'm smirking now. Openly.

O ye of little faith, watch and learn.

~*~
Now for the give-away: What book did Julie find helpful in writing Revelations? Leave your answer in the comments section by midnight on February 21st to be entered for a chance to win an e-copy of Revelations! Leave your email. Julie will pick a winner, and I'll post the winner in the comments section on February 22nd.

~*~

BUY: Muse It Up
~*~

BIO:

Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, and MuseitUp Publishing, and she has also begun to self-publish at various places on the Internet.

My Links:

My blog: http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com
My facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=527332074
My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

My Publishers:

Museit Up Publishing: http://museituppublishing.com/
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_222

The Joy of a Good Review

Every time someone says "Your book got a review!" I get a case of nerves. Always dreading it'll get the worst rating, that someone will hate my darling and say so right there in black and white. It doesn't get easier. This week was a nice surprise. It's Jock Week over at Joyfully Jay, and the anthology Going For Gold (MLR Press) was up on the block. For three days, I worried. Then it received a 4.5 star review. WHEW! My story, Shoot for Gold received five stars. Talk about palpable relief.
The next time might not be so lucky, though.
What do you do when you get an unfavorable review?

Here's what the Joyfully Jay reviewer had to say:

Shoot For Gold  by Whitley Gray

Matt Justice is at the top of his game and favored to win gold in London in the shooting events. But an unfortunate accident involving lack of concentration, rain, and scaffolding puts his chances in jeopardy. Lucky for him, Levi Wolf, M.D. was nearby when Matt injured himself. Patching Matt’s face up and relieving the tension in his neck put was only the beginning for this pair. The immediate connection between them gives way to a night of passion that gives Matt hope that something may come of their tentative relationship. But Levi’s past haunts him and has for the past three years. Levi has to decide if he can leave the past behind him in order to move on before he loses any chance he may have had with Matt.

I really liked this story. For one, both characters are in their mid to late thirties so they have experience, maturity, and painful pasts. Matt and Levi’s story is one of risk. Taking a leap of faith to see what may or may not happen and risk gaining everything or losing it all. For such a short story, I thought the character building was superb. I really felt a connection between both MCs and liked Norm, Matt’s roommate, who was hilarious, by the way. The story was a little angsty, believable, and so sweet. Overall, it’s one of my favorites of this anthology. 5 stars

BUY: Amazon
~*~
BIO:
Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. At some point, real life intervened, bringing with it responsibilities and a career in the medical field. After years of technical writing, Whitley became enamored of romance and took on the challenge of giving it a try. Inventing characters and putting them through paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way, Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee, quiet, and a storyline featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your need for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.

Whitley
~Cops and doctors in hot water.

Querying for Beginners--or "How to Write a Query Letter"

You’ve finished your manuscript, lovingly polished it to a high shine. You’ve conquered the synopsis. You’ve made a list of publishers and agents to approach. You’re home free, right? Success is at hand.

Not quite.

One more step to complete your submission package. The dreaded query letter.

Aak! You say. A query letter? What’s a query letter? How do I write one?

Well, let’s look at this. Let’s examine the basic structure. It should be 1.5 spaced, 12 point font, and contain your story and the relevant information about you, all in a single page.

 

Let’s start at the top. I've put the how-to in black and my query in blue.

The Demographic Information

This is for the when, what/why, who, where, and salutation:

Date (when)   

Query for Artistic Endeavor (what and why)

Contact Information: Whitley Gray, writing as Graycie White (if using a pen name) (who)

Editor’s Contact Info: Target Editor, Favorite Publishing (where you’re sending it)

Dear Target Editor: (salutation)

Introduction

In this paragraph, you should have the title of the work, the length, the genre, and the state of completion. I strongly suggest not querying before the manuscript is complete and polished. If there’s a particular reason you’re targeting that publisher and/or editor for a particular reason, consider working that in. If a friend published with that publisher will vouch for you, that can be added. Only room for one reason in this intro paragraph, so use the best one for your case. Finally, add your logline (or a version thereof) to introduce your characters. At this point, you want to keep the editor interested and moving on to the next paragraph.

Introduction: I’ve read and enjoyed several of your authors, and feel my contemporary male/male romance would be a good fit for Favorite Publishing. Complete at 20,000 words, Artistic Endeavor is the humorous tale of a commitment-phobic graphic designer and an inexperienced prickly art professor who meet on a blind date.

Paragraph two: introduce your first character. Choose the one whose story it is. Name, a bit about him that is relevant to his attitude toward life at the beginning and then demonstrates his character arc. Here we see Michael:

PGH 2: Michael Esteban has spent most of his adult life enjoying carefree no-strings-attached sex. Settling down is for other people—who needs the emotional baggage? After all, how many “forever” relationships has he seen fall apart? But now that his best friend is making monogamy work, Michael fantasizes what it would be like to have someone who’d support him without question. Looking for a guy who wants more than sex is going to take some work, and Michael will have to rethink his whole approach to dating.

Third paragraph: introduce the other main character in the same way: attitude followed by character arc.

PGH 3: Cobey Miller had his first—and last—sexual encounter in college. After a grope and painfully intrusive fingers, Cobey grabbed his pants and opted for celibacy. College and grad school made a convenient excuse for avoiding his sexuality, but now he’s got a job as a junior professor in the college’s Fine Art program. It’s time to grow up and get some experience with the gay lifestyle. The problem is how to accomplish the goal without getting used and abused. He’s going to need someone to show him the ropes, gently and at his pace.

Next, in paragraph four, you’re going to give a microsynopsis of the main story problem:

PGH 4: When friends introduce them, Cobey’s first thought is to run; Michael is way too experienced. Deflowering virgins isn’t Michael’s thing, but the shy art professor brings out a bit of a protective streak in Michael. A gradual initiation is going to take some time—Michael has to get to know Cobey before he’ll feel comfortable exploring any sort of intimate encounter, and together they’ll discover whether prior acquaintance makes sex better. Michael finds himself falling for Cobey, but will Cobey fall for the first guy he sleeps with?

The final paragraph is to tie up the query. Are you published? Say so. If not, BE HONEST and admit it. We all start somewhere. List any professional organizations. Belonging to these is a mark of your dedication to your craft. Give your marketing platform links: website (if you have one), professional Facebook author page and Twitter if you like.

Final PGH: I am published in erotic and GBLTQ romance, and belong to RWA and the RRW chapter of RWA. I can be found on line at www.whitleygray.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

            Now you’ve got it—the whole letter. Run it by your critique partner, just like you did your MS. Read for typos—twice. Make sure you’ve included your pen name if you intend to use one for this manuscript. Be positive you’ve spelled your name and the names of the publisher, editor, and your characters correctly (Yes, I’ve seen authors misspell the names of their own characters).

Now you’ve got your query letter! Go forth and submit.

Questions? Comments?

~*~

BIO: Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. Years later, inventing characters and putting them through their paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee and a creating an adventure featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your fix for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.
Contact Whitley: whitleygray33(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Meredith Medical Center Special Valentine's Edition: The Whole Story

For the last week, I've posted a special Valentine's Day story, one section daily. Today I've posted the entire story, start to finish. This is a sensual M/F adventure--Enjoy! Comment daily! I'll give away a copy of my anthology Going For Gold on Valentine's Day!

The Complete Story:

Meredith City is a major health care hub, located in the upper Midwest. With a large trauma center, doctors covet the training positions and put up with difficult schedules in exchange for the opportunity. Not all of the opportunities are purely medical…

Dr. Jed Ritter pinched the bridge of his nose. An endless day. Over.

He hoped. As soon as he got out of here and home to a beer or five and unconsciousness.

He unlocked the office and pushed the door open.

Red paper hearts festooned his secretary’s desk. Sitting among them, a clear plastic heart flashed “Be My Valentine” in red LED lights.

Jed blew out a breath and closed the office door. Another reminder of his least favorite day of the year.

In two strides, he crossed the office and grabbed the heart, slid the switch to “off.” He held it over the trashcan, then set it back on the desk. Not fair to Mary to throw it away. His secretary had gone out of her way to cheer him up.

An impossible feat.

Alison had insisted she and Jed marry on Valentine’s Day, saying he’d never forget their anniversary that way.

Five years later, she’d served him with divorce papers on Valentine’s Day. And now, here he was, on the third anniversary of his divorce, alone— on Valentine’s Day. Yep, he’d never forget anything related to this hideous holiday.

He stepped around the secretary’s desk to his office door. Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Jed Ritter, engraved in black on a gold rectangle. Beneath his nameplate, someone had taped a red envelope, addressed in white ink: To the head of the Heart Department.

He pulled it loose and shook his head. He should give Mary a raise. Had to be the most dedicated secretary in the building. He opened the flap and pulled out a card.

A heart, hand-rendered in fuchsia and tangerine, with a Band-Aid across the front. He ran a finger across the painting, then flipped to the inside. A hand-written message. Huh. Not his secretary’s precise script. More like a doctor’s handwriting.

Dear Dr. Ritter,

Today is the cardiologist’s own holiday, and as a heart specialist, your presence is requested at a private celebration.

The Queen of Hearts

What the hell? Who was the Queen of Hearts? And of all the men on the planet, why would she want to celebrate with him? He turned the card over. Nothing on the back.

The Queen had neglected to give him an address. Well, that clenched it. A great excuse for not showing up. Home to beer and bed. He opened his office door and tossed the card on his desk, then pulled off his white coat and hung it on the back of the door.

No pink message slips on his blotter. No cards. No hearts with flashing lights, thank God.

He turned toward the window. The medical office building across the street had left on lights to form the shape of a heart. Jed made a fist and smacked the window.

Damn it, everywhere he looked were reminders of this non-holiday. He wheeled around and marched into the lavatory. One of the perks of being chief: his own private bathroom. The hospital had even put in a shower for those nights he didn’t get home.

And the nights he didn’t go home, unwilling to face his lifeless bachelor apartment.

He cranked on the cold water and splashed his face, then looked up at his reflection.

He jumped.

A woman in a white coat stood behind him, grinning in the mirror. “Hi, Jed. Thought I might find you here.”

Dr. Theodosia Krakowski, known as Tee Kay to her colleagues. To those who wished to keep their testicles, anyway.

Five foot three of dark-haired hazel-eyed firecracker. The only female physician in his department.

He grabbed a towel and scrubbed at his face. Thank God he hadn’t been relieving himself with the door open. “Hey, Tee. What’s up?”

“Had a few questions for you. I need some advice.”

Christ. And just when he thought he’d be out of here. He pivoted and brushed by her as he edged out of the bathroom. Tee smelled good. Really good. Probably had a hot date. “Uh, can it wait? I really need to get out of here.”

He dug in his desk drawer for his car keys. Where had the little suckers gone? He always put them—

“Nope. Can’t wait. Has to be tonight.”

He planted his hands on the desktop and hung his head. Don’t yell. It’s not her fault this is Valentine’s Day. “Okay. Shoot.”

He planted his hands on the desktop and hung his head. Don’t yell. It’s not her fault this is Valentine’s Day. “Okay. Shoot.”

“Have a seat, Jed.”

“That’s not a question. And why do I have to sit? How long is this going to take?”

“Not long.” She closed the office door and thumbed the lock.

Tee gazed at him, hands in the pockets of her white coat. She looked… different. Wait a minute. Her hair was down, not twisted up and skewered with a stick. And lipstick. He let his gaze drop to the view below her knees.

No scrubs. Stilettos. Red as blood and twice as hot. Jed swallowed and dropped into his desk chair. She must have a hot date. Tee usually wore flats or athletic footwear.

“First question. Do you like my shoes?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah.”

Tee unbuttoned her white coat, and pulled it off. A dress the color of claret, strapless and mid-thigh hemline. And it fit Tee like a latex glove. Tee had curves?

“How about the dress?”

“Nice. Very nice.” He shifted in his chair. His cock thought the dress was extraordinary. A good thing he was sitting behind his desk.

Tee stepped toward his desk and put her hands on the edge. Red nail polish. Must be an important date. Tee never wore polish.

“And the manicure?”

“Unexpected, but also nice.” Was she going to insist he comment on everything? She had to know she looked terrific. Looked good, smelled good. Wonder if she tasted good…. Get your mind out of her pants, Ritter.

“You think it’s the kind of look a man would appreciate?” She leaned over, propping her elbows on the glossy wood.

Cleavage. Jed bit back a groan.

“You don’t need me to tell you that.” He didn’t recognize the husky voice as his. Want tiptoed down his spine.

Tee straightened and sidled around the desk. He pulled his chair in. Were the shadows deep enough to cover the erection tenting his pants?

Behind him, the shades clattered down. Tee appeared in his peripheral vision and perched on the left-hand corner of his desk.

His cock gave an excited throb, pushing against his zipper.

Tee lifted a stiletto-clad foot and pushed the chair out from the desk. She glanced at his lap and smiled. “A little uncomfortable?”

Jed’s face heated and he groaned. Busted. “A lot uncomfortable.”

A fingertip lifted his chin. “Would you like my medical opinion about what might help?”

A cold shower. Throwing her on the couch. Bending her over the desk. Another groan escaped.

“Let’s try this.” Tee leaned in and put her lips on his.

Soft, but warm. Felt nice. Very nice. He clasped her waist and eased her into his lap. She didn’t break the kiss, but her arms went around his neck. The pressure on his groin put him somewhere between ache and anguish. Hurt. So. Good.

Had to get relief. Was she going to follow through with this? All the way through? Or would this be yet another bad Valentine’s Day memory?

He licked at her lips, and she obliged, opening. A hot tongue met his. She tasted like dark chocolate and coffee and mint, a warm Valentine treat. He stroked her mouth, teasing and testing. Tee met him thrust for thrust and wriggled in his lap. Friction ran along his cock, building pressure.

Tee nipped his bottom lip, then leaned back. “What do you think? Is this therapy helping?”

“I think it’s worse,” he gasped.

“Let’s try a different remedy.”

Tee slid off his lap. The ache jumped up, his testicles complaining, until her fingers went to his belt. With a clink, she had the buckle open. The button on his pants was next, and his zipper lowered, its faint vibrations tracking along his cock. Warm fingers freed him from his boxers.

“How’s this? Better?” She squeezed gently.

His lips pulled back from his teeth. “Tee, I don’t think this is such a good idea.”

She stroked up the underside of his erection, nails scraping along the vein. Shit. If she kept this up, he’d come in his pants and embarrass himself. And he had to work with her. Hell, he was her boss.

Her thumb ran across the slit, spreading the leaking precome, and he bucked.

“Jed, I think hydrotherapy might help.” Tee dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth.

Holy hell. Hot velvet surrounded him. Tee sucked hard, pulling him in all the way, then relaxed, tongue cradling the underside as she withdrew. She worked her lips over the crown, dipped into the slit with her tongue, then another hard draw to the root. Hard, relax, swirl.

He ran his hands into her hair, and focused on holding off his release. Tee’s hazel gaze locked with his, and she slid back, letting go with a wet pop.

“Better?”

He couldn’t speak— only pant. She couldn’t do this, damn it all. His balls ached like he’d been kneed.

“Poor Jed. It’s hard, isn’t it?” Her pink tongue lapped the ridge.

Hard? Hard and frustrated.

She slowly rose to her feet, propped her hands on the arms of his chair, and leaned forward. His ear got a dose of hot breath and wet tongue.

“What… are you… doing… to me?”

Tee straightened and stepped back. “I did have a couple of other questions.”

“I can’t take any more of your questions.”

“But your advice is important.”

Now what?

Her hand went to the side of her dress, and the red parted. Fascinating. He watched the hemline slide down her legs until the thing sat in a red pool on the floor. She stepped out, and he looked up.

Fuck.

“How about the lingerie? A good choice?”

The lingerie, such as it was, couldn’t be better. A strapless bra and matching thong, rendered in red satin with tiny white hearts. His mouth became a desert, tongue paralyzed.

“Maybe you need a closer look.” She strolled forward, and turned.

Tee had a nice ass. A perfect heart-shaped butt. His hands shook as he ran them over the bare skin. Smooth, warm. The thong had a red bow at the juncture of the string and waistband. He wanted to pull the thing off by the bow.

She turned in his hands and placed her palms on his shoulders, ran them down his chest and started undoing the buttons on his shirt. He grabbed her wrists.

“What are we doing here? I mean, really.”

Tee pulled open the top left drawer of his desk. What in the hell was she doing now?

She tossed something on his blotter.

Jed licked his lips as he picked up the playing card and flipped it over. The Queen of Hearts. Holy shit. Tee was the Queen.

“We’re celebrating.” She leaned down, looked him in the eye. “Got tired of waiting for you to see beyond the scrubs and white coat.”

Strength deserted him. She made short work of his buttons, and then gripped his waistband. “Lift.”

She who must be obeyed. He lifted, and the pants went to his ankles.

“You know what’s great about this thong?”

Everything. Including what it covered. He shook his head.

“Tiny button on the back.” Tee reached behind her, and moved her legs apart. The string fell between her thighs. “Crotchless.”

Tee pulled open another drawer.

What was next? More playing cards? Handcuffs? He sagged in his chair.

A string of red foil hearts rose from the drawer.

Aw, shit. A Valentine? He started to get up, and Tee dangled the string in front of his nose.

Condoms. In heart-shape red foil packages.

Now that was a gift. His cock got hard as a steel instrument.

“I’m going to give you your Valentine, so sit verrrry still.”

Jed froze. Her wish, his command.

Tee tore open a foil heart, then unrolled a red condom down his length. He gritted his teeth, willing his sensitive cock not to command his hips to thrust.

Then the lovely Queen of Hearts straddled him and lowered onto his erection.

Heat surrounded him in a firm erotic grip. This time he thrust. Tee moved up and down, riding him like a Merry-go-round, and he met her down strokes with a firm push into her body. He licked his thumb and reached beneath the thong to her swollen clit, and Tee gasped and grabbed his wrist.

“Come on, Tee. Fair… is… fair.” He punctuated his words with thrusts. He pinched the nub, and she threw back her head and moaned. Her grip relaxed.

She reached behind her, and the bra landed in what was left of his lap. Lovely breasts, full and pink-tipped, danced before him.

He grabbed her waist and held her still. “Oh my God.” He stuck his tongue out and licked her left nipple, then drew it into his mouth. Cherries and cream sang on his tongue. Dessert. A decadent dessert.

“Jed….”

Here we go, sweetheart. If she was the Queen, he’d sure as hell be her King. He took full advantage, suckling until she moaned. Tee slid her hands into his hair and hung on.

Yeah. A little turnabout. He smiled and moved a hand to her nape, pulled her in for a deep kiss. She bounced on his lap, harder, faster, and he resumed massaging her clit. He gently squeezed, and she threw back her head, pulsing around him, shuddering.

Beautiful.

Tension gathered in the small of his back and arrowed down. His testicles drew up and he thrust hard, then dove off a cliff, headlong into a pounding release. The room disappeared in a flash of white.

Hours or heartbeats later, he opened his eyes. Tee had collapsed against his chest, and their damp skin stuck together. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Tee? You Okay?”

“I’m well pleased with the celebration, Jedidiah.” She leaned back, and met his gaze, a grin on her face. “And you can call me Theo.”

How had he never seen how beautiful she was? This incredible woman, right there in his department, and he’d not recognized anything beyond the cardiologist?

“Happy Heart Specialist’s Holiday, your Majesty.”

I hope you've enjoyed this Valentine's story!
Join me for more stories, guests, articles on the craft of writing, and general observations on life.

Whitley Gray

~*~
BIO:
Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. Years later, inventing characters and putting them through their paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee and a creating an adventure featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your fix for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.
Contact Whitley: whitleygray33(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Twitter: @whitleygray ~ Facebook: Whitley Gray

Part 6: Meredith Medical Center Special Valentine's Edition

I'm posting a special Valentine's Day story, one section daily with the final part on February 14th. Today is the sixth installment. Tomorrow I'll post the whole story with Part 7 at the end.
This is a sensual M/F adventure--Enjoy! Comment daily! I'll give away a copy of my anthology Going For Gold on Valentine's Day!

Part 6:
Her hand went to the side of her dress, and the red parted. Fascinating. He watched the hemline slide down her legs until the thing sat in a red pool on the floor. She stepped out, and he looked up.

Fuck.

“How about the lingerie? A good choice?”

The lingerie, such as it was, couldn’t be better. A strapless bra and matching thong, rendered in red satin with tiny white hearts. His mouth became a desert, tongue paralyzed.

“Maybe you need a closer look.” She strolled forward, and turned.

Tee had a nice ass. A perfect heart-shaped butt. His hands shook as he ran them over the bare skin. Smooth, warm. The thong had a red bow at the juncture of the string and waistband. He wanted to pull the thing off by the bow.

She turned in his hands and placed her palms on his shoulders, ran them down his chest and started undoing the buttons on his shirt. He grabbed her wrists.

“What are we doing here? I mean, really.”

Tee pulled open the top left drawer of his desk. What in the hell was she doing now?

She tossed something on his blotter.

Jed licked his lips as he picked up the playing card and flipped it over. The Queen of Hearts. Holy shit. Tee was the Queen.

“We’re celebrating.” She leaned down, looked him in the eye. “Got tired of waiting for you to see beyond the scrubs and white coat.”

Strength deserted him. She made short work of his buttons, and then gripped his waistband. “Lift.”

She who must be obeyed. He lifted, and the pants went to his ankles.

“You know what’s great about this thong?”

Everything. Including what it covered. He shook his head.

“Tiny button on the back.” Tee reached behind her, and moved her legs apart. The string fell between her thighs. “Crotchless.”

Tee pulled open another drawer.

What was next? More playing cards? Handcuffs? He sagged in his chair.

A string of red foil hearts rose from the drawer.

Aw, shit. A Valentine? He started to get up, and Tee dangled the string in front of his nose.

Condoms. In heart-shape red foil packages.

Now that was a gift. His cock got hard as a steel instrument.

“I’m going to give you your Valentine, so sit verrrry still.”

Jed froze. Her wish, his command.


Join me tomorrow for the conclusion of the story! I'll post it from beginning to end, in is entirety.
Want to start at Part One? Click HERE.
~*~
BIO:
Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. Years later, inventing characters and putting them through their paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee and a creating an adventure featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your fix for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.
Contact Whitley: whitleygray33(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Part 5: Meredith Medical Center Special Valentine's Edition

I'm posting a special Valentine's Day story, one section daily with the final part on February 14th. Today is the fifth installment. On February 14th I'll post the whole story with part 7 at the end.
This is a sensual M/F adventure--Enjoy! Comment daily! I'll give away a copy of my anthology Going For Gold on Valentine's Day!

Part 5:
Tee slid off his lap. The ache jumped up, his testicles complaining, until her fingers went to his belt. With a clink, she had the buckle open. The button on his pants was next, and his zipper lowered, its faint vibrations tracking along his cock. Warm fingers freed him from his boxers.

“How’s this? Better?” She squeezed gently.

His lips pulled back from his teeth. “Tee, I don’t think this is such a good idea.”

She stroked up the underside of his erection, nails scraping along the vein. Shit. If she kept this up, he’d come in his pants and embarrass himself. And he had to work with her. Hell, he was her boss.

Her thumb ran across the slit, spreading the leaking precome, and he bucked.

“Jed, I think hydrotherapy might help.” Tee dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth.

Holy hell. Hot velvet surrounded him. Tee sucked hard, pulling him in all the way, then relaxed, tongue cradling the underside as she withdrew. She worked her lips over the crown, dipped into the slit with her tongue, then another hard draw to the root. Hard, relax, swirl.

He ran his hands into her hair, and focused on holding off his release. Tee’s hazel gaze locked with his, and she slid back, letting go with a wet pop.

“Better?”

He couldn’t speak— only pant. She couldn’t do this, damn it all. His balls ached like he’d been kneed.

“Poor Jed. It’s hard, isn’t it?” Her pink tongue lapped the ridge.

Hard? Hard and frustrated.

She slowly rose to her feet, propped her hands on the arms of his chair, and leaned forward. His ear got a dose of hot breath and wet tongue.

“What… are you… doing… to me?”

Tee straightened and stepped back. “I did have a couple of other questions.”

“I can’t take any more of your questions.”

“But your advice is important.”

Now what?

Join me tomorrow for Part Six!
Want to start at Part One? Click HERE.
~*~
BIO:
Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. Years later, inventing characters and putting them through their paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee and a creating an adventure featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your need for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.
Contact Whitley: whitleygray33(at)yahoo(dot)com

Part 4: Meredith Medical Center Special Valentine's Edition

I'm posting a special Valentine's Day story, one section daily with the final part on February 14th. Today is the fourth installment. On February 14th I'll post the whole story with part 7 at the end.
This is a sensual M/F adventure--Enjoy! Comment daily! I'll give away a copy of my anthology Going For Gold on Valentine's Day!

Part 4:
Behind him, the shades clattered down. Tee appeared in his peripheral vision and perched on the left-hand corner of his desk.

His cock gave an excited throb, pushing against his zipper.

Tee lifted a stiletto-clad foot and pushed the chair out from the desk. She glanced at his lap and smiled. “A little uncomfortable?”

Jed’s face heated and he groaned. Busted. “A lot uncomfortable.”

A fingertip lifted his chin. “Would you like my medical opinion about what might help?”

A cold shower. Throwing her on the couch. Bending her over the desk. Another groan escaped.

“Let’s try this.” Tee leaned in and put her lips on his.

Soft, but warm. Felt nice. Very nice. He clasped her waist and eased her into his lap. She didn’t break the kiss, but her arms went around his neck. The pressure on his groin put him somewhere between ache and anguish. Hurt. So. Good.

Had to get relief. Was she going to follow through with this? All the way through? Or would this be yet another bad Valentine’s Day memory?

He licked at her lips, and she obliged, opening. A hot tongue met his. She tasted like dark chocolate and coffee and mint, a warm Valentine treat. He stroked her mouth, teasing and testing. Tee met him thrust for thrust and wriggled in his lap. Friction ran along his cock, building pressure.

Tee nipped his bottom lip, then leaned back. “What do you think? Is this therapy helping?”

“I think it’s worse,” he gasped.

“Let’s try a different remedy.”

~*~
Join me tomorrow for Part 5!
Want to start with part one? Click HERE.

BIO:
Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. Years later, inventing characters and putting them through their paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee and a creating an adventure featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your need for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance.
Contact Whitley: whitleygray33(at)yahoo(dot)com.