Dirty Birdies Flock Hop

Welcome to the Dirty Birdies Flock Hop, great to see you here and hopefully you'll enjoy some of the things you see here, as Eye Candy is the delicious theme.

So please hang out and leave a comment, there's a Grand Prize of a gift voucher to the ebook retailer of your choice as well as tons of stuff being given away, including, from me, the first two novels (pdf ebooks) in my Hot Ice series - Hired and Cross-Checked, to really get you in the mood for some steamy, sexy man action. (Details of how to enter at the end of this post.)

HOT ICE is a series jam packed full of eye-candy. These novels are all stand-alone reads, though if you do read them in order you'll see characters from the other books enjoying small cameos.

My latest addition to the series is High-Sticked and is the only m/m story. I'm incredibly excited to see what readers make of Todd 'Pretty' Carty and Matthew Foster's high-octane romance and their struggle against the opinions of the world. Todd is beautiful, model material, and everyone wants a piece of him, so Matthew is commissioned to take photographs of him, in New York, ready for Todd heading up the next big Armani advertising campaign. Though of course Armani have no idea what their hot new face is going to reveal about himself...

I really enjoy writing a series, and this book in particular because Todd was a star in Teamwork and, without giving away the plot from that book, he was in need of some extra attention after I wrote The End, hence High-Sticked and another hot guy was dreamed up.


This is my first full length m/m novel and I really threw myself at it. I wondered initially if I might find it a very different experience, penning m/m romance and sex scenes, but actually I didn't. Love is love and getting hot and sweaty to express desire is the same, for me as an author, no matter what mix of character genders are in the bedroom.

I especially like this cover because there is one incredibly hot scene in Matthew's kitchen when he's just had a shower and wrapped only in a white towel, let's just say Todd makes the most of the easy access. Keep reading to enjoy an excerpt from that moment...

Blurb

Dating Todd “Pretty” Carty was a trailblazing, headline-grabbing ride that shocked and divided a team, a sport and a nation. While controversy ruled, our feelings exploded and we couldn’t deny the desire that sizzled between us. Nothing, however, was easy outside the bedroom. Not when my world-class, fearless athlete wanted to shout from Everest that he was in love with another man.

But laying my heart on the line and having my picture dominating the papers was worth it. Everything about Todd turned me on. His bold hockey skills, his courageous attitude and the way he melted in my arms when I kissed him. I melted too, because he knew how to press my buttons, remind me of the man I used to be and take me to those places where ecstasy ruled.

The world might have trouble accepting us, but we’d committed to each other, mind, body and soul, and nothing could change that.

Excerpt

I opened my apartment door an inch so he could let himself in. There were eleven flights of stairs for him to climb. But that was okay, because it would give me time to put on coffee and pull on jeans.
My hand was shaking as I spooned granules into my coffeemaker and I pursed my lips in annoyance. I couldn’t be this on edge. It wasn’t cool. I had to keep it together. Todd was probably coming to ask for the jersey back or change his mind about one of the pictures going to Armani. Well it was too late on both accounts. The jersey was mine and the shots were already submitted.
I flicked the switch on the coffee machine and rubbed my fingertips over my forehead. His mood was going to be dark, judging by his actions on the ice this week and the tone of his voice just then. But it was tough. Just because he was the golden boy of the Rangers didn’t mean he would automatically get what he wanted. That wasn’t how it worked.
“Matthew.”
I startled at the sound of his deep voice then turned sharply and saw him standing in the kitchen doorway, filling it with the width of his shoulders.
“Fuck, you must have run up those damn stairs,” I said, frowning and feeling cross that I hadn’t thrown on jeans first rather than attending to the coffee. I felt far too exposed and vulnerable standing in front of Todd in just a towel - my cock felt far too exposed and vulnerable.
“Yeah, I did. Run that is.”
He wasn’t even vaguely out of breath.
“I thought you were in L.A.?”
“I just landed.”
“And you came here?”
He tightened his lips and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. “I had to see you.”
I rested back against the counter. Crossed my arms over my bare chest and dug my fingers into my biceps. I was aware of my toes curling on the hardwood floor. “Why?”
“You hate me.” He held out his hand, gesturing at my stance. “I can tell you do,” he added.
“I don’t hate you.” I shook my head stiffly. Hate Todd. Never.
“But I behaved like a complete asshole. I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again.” He took a step toward me. “Matthew, I am so sorry.”
My throat suddenly felt tight, as did my belly. “Sorry for what? The kiss or telling me to leave?”
“Not the kiss. I’m not sorry for kissing you. No way.” He hooked his thumbs into the belt loops of his cream-colored pants, sucked in a deep breath and looked down at his brown leather sneakers.
The coffeepot clicked and started its low gurgling routine. I studied the way Todd’s black top stretched over his pecs, the gray scarf that hung in a loose twist around his neck and the dark beanie perched on his head, covering his soft, trademark blond hair. An annoying swell of lust expanded in my chest and I willed the feeling not to travel down to my cock.
But damn! Why does he have to look so edible?
“I’m sorry for telling you to leave,” he said, looking back up at me. “You must think I’m fucking pathetic.”
“No, I just think you’re confused about your sexuality.”
“I’m not.” He took three fast paces toward me. Stopped when he was so close I could have reached out and touched him. “I’m not confused at all. I like guys, I like you.” He paused. “All this running around with women over the years, okay, I’ve been attracted to them, a few I even thought could be special. But, Matthew, there is something about you, and that kiss. Fuck!” He tugged off his beanie and chucked it at the counter. It landed on a box of biscuits.
“For the first time in my life I feel I can get the satisfaction I’ve been hunting for and never fucking finding.” He paused and pulled in a deep breath. “I feel, with you, I can be the person I’m meant to be.” He shook his head and his eyes looked heavy and tired. “Matthew, I’m gay, bi, whichever slot you want to put me in. I’ve accepted that about myself now, more than accepted it, I’ve known it for a while and I’m proud of it.” He moved closer still. “So please say I haven’t ruined my chances with you because of a knee-jerk reaction to something so powerful it took away my damn ability to think.”
My mind was swimming. “Todd, this is a lot to take in.”
“I know. It is for me too.” He shoved a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up in a messy but still über-trendy kind of way. “That’s the first time I‘ve said it out loud.”
“What?”
He swallowed, pulling his lips tight as he did so. “That I’m gay, into guys.” He hesitantly rested his fingertips on my forearm.
I gave a hint of a smile. He deserved recognition for his admission.
“And whatever this is,” he said, “between us. It’s the first time I’ve been honest enough with myself to go for it, and I’m excited and nervous but damn well determined to see it through.”
His touch left my arm, wound up through my black coils of chest hair and settled at the hollow of my throat. Each part of my flesh that connected with his fizzed and burned, a heated trail of longing that was sending blood racing to my cock. There was no way I could stop an erection now. I was hardening by the second.
“Todd,” I managed, my voice shaky as his presence engulfed me entirely. I could smell his tangy cologne, feel his body heat seeping into my skin. He was all I could see, hear, think about. He filled my mind, my thoughts. If I wasn’t careful he would wheedle into a very delicate place in my soul. “Please, don’t make me want you. It’s not fair, I just can’t—”
“Shh.” He pressed his index finger over my lips. “Want me all you want, Matthew. You’ve damn well got me.”

High-Sticked is available from Ellora's Cave Amazon US Amazon UK and all other good retailers. And if you want a chance to win the first two books int the series leave me a comment telling me who your favourite piece of eye-candy is from the big screen and leave your email address - I'll pick a winner and announce it here on the 29th of June!

If you want to find out more about my critically acclaimed Hot Ice series here are the details, and rest assured, book 6 (m/f) is my current work in progress.

Lily x