Don't Throw Stones at Glass Shoes

Naughty Nursery Rhymes Rule #1

Don't throw stones at glass shoes. - Cinder

Cinder is the main character in From the Ashes.

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella (m/m version of Cinderella) roughly set in 16th century France.

Roughly? you ask. It's a fairy tale, all of which are roughly set in a previous era. What does this mean? It means that magic and a fairy godmother exist in my story, but probably not in real 16th century France.

Unfortunately if you were looking for a story about a 16th century laundress, you will have to look elsewhere.

If you were looking for a cute, heartwarming m/m fairy tale, look no farther.

Excerpt:

Dancing couples parted effortlessly around them as the elegant man escorted him to the center of the floor. Cinder's cumbersome skirts swayed and swept the floor, threatening to entangle his feet past any hope of grace.

Fighting down panic, Cinder frantically searched his memories for how to waltz. He could do this. He had to do this. He couldn't risk discovery. He quailed at the punishment meted out to servants impersonating nobility. If anyone guessed, he would be beaten or worse.

Fumbling as he tried to remember which hand went where, Cinder placed his right hand on a broad velvet-covered shoulder. Strong, warm fingers enfolded his other hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. The man seemed to sense his unease. The awkward way he held himself, all tense and tight, had to be unmistakable.

Cinder corrected himself several times as he either stepped off with the wrong foot or tried to lead. How was he supposed to do this without harming either one of them? Why couldn't it have been a pavane?

The blasted slippers were so slick that Cinder had to hang on to the other man more than he wanted to just to remain on his feet. He had the distinct impression that the noble got the wrong idea from that.

The man caught his eye and smiled, somewhat more predatorily than Cinder was entirely comfortable with. What was going through the aristocrat's mind? Cinder began to feel like one of the small cakes the footmen carried on silver trays.

Did he want this man to gaze on him in that fashion? Cinder blushed and turned his face awkwardly away. He needed to concentrate on the dance. He didn't have the luxury of sharing soulful glances and chattering like a magpie.

He needed to find some way to extricate himself before he made a mistake and gave himself away. He didn’t normally have to worry so much because everyone already knew he was a girl and would ignore anything he did. But this man saw him with fresh eyes unhampered by the fiction of Cinderella. He would recognize any misstep.

The longer they were together, the more his risk increased. If he could escape quickly enough, the other man might never realize the deception. The noble might not care about an awkward woman he shared one dance with, but as the lie grew ever bigger, the duped man’s anger, if Cinder were discovered, would too.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Breathless Press

Feed, Prey, Love by DH Starr

My friend DH Starr has just released his latest story, Feed, Prey, Love, a darkly erotic vampire love story, the first in a series of erotic paranormal novels. Doug doesn't believe in sparkly vampires. His men are mature, brooding men, harking back to the tales of real vampires.

For the past two years, he has poured his heart and soul into this tale. I, and I'm sure many others, look forward to finally reading Feed, Prey, Love.

Hopefully the next story in the series, The Omega's Mate, will be available soon.

Now for a little something more about the men in Doug's life.





Blurb:

At Whispering Hills where mortals and paranormals coexist peacefully – and romantically - love really does bite!

Talib Eldridge is a vampire who lives with guilt. 100 years ago, he accidentally turned a human to a vampire and has been afraid to get close to anyone for fear of ever losing control as he once did. When he meets Conley Berillo, his commitment to living in isolation is challenged. Immediately drawn to the human, he can’t help but fall in love.

Conley has always felt out of place. Never fitting in with others, he too has lived in isolation. When the existence of paranormal creatures is finally acknowledged, he feels an immediate affinity to the outcasts, still feared and hated by humans. Moving to Whispering Hills in Providence, Rhode Island, he knows immediately that he belongs to this new world. When he meets Talib, that conviction is only solidified.

When Jonah Townsend, the human Talib had turned about a hundred years earlier, re-enters the picture, Talib and Conley’s newfound happiness is threatened. Conley becomes the tool that Jonah uses to get back at Talib and Talib is forced to make a choice. Fight for his own happiness and risk Conley’s life, or put Conley’s safety first and sacrifice what he’s searched and struggled for over two hundred years!





Excerpt:

Without waiting for the server, Talib deposited a twenty on the table and grabbed Conley by the arm, yanking him into a standing position. “Let’s go.”

The walk up the hill involved far less talking than the trip down to breakfast had. By the time they reached the front doors of Whispering Hills, Conley was winded. “Hurry up,” Talib said, leading the way into the building.

Once the door to his apartment closed behind him, Conley grabbed Talib and pressed him against the wall, sliding his hands along the vampire’s taut stomach and chest muscles, pinching Talib’s nipples until they hardened under his touch. He dipped his head into the crook of Talib’s neck and inhaled, taking in the fresh scent of soap which remained on his skin, and then he sealed his mouth to a cord of muscle, running his tongue in circles along the smooth flesh.

Talib moaned, an ahh escaping his mouth, causing his neck to vibrate under Conley’s tongue. “My God, I can feel that all the way down to my toes. You found the most sensitive spot on my body.”

Conley pulled away from Talib’s neck only to whisper one incredulous question, “The most sensitive spot?”

Talib responded by placing his hand on the back of Conley’s head and forcing his mouth back to his neck. “Yes, the most sensitive spot.” He then reached down and grabbed Conley’s ass, pulling them together so straining erection rubbed against straining erection.

After several minutes of kissing and grinding, Conley pulled away from Talib, taking him by the hand and leading him to the bedroom. Pushing him flat onto the mattress, Conley stood and started pulling off his own clothes, stopping only long enough to stare as Talib watched him undress. “What the hell are you doing? Strip.”

“Don’t want to. Enjoying the show too much.” Conley smiled and continued taking off his clothes. As he pulled his shirt over his head, he allowed his body to torque and twist, accentuating each muscle to its fullest. The Adidas pants had an elastic band, so he slid his thumbs underneath the material and slowly worked it lower on his hips.

Talib reached down to rub at the growing bulge at his groin, but he never diverted his eyes from Conley. Encouraged, Conley continued. Rotating his hips like a belly dancer, he used the motion to lower the pants inch by inch while turning at the same time. Once his back was to Talib’s front, he lowered his pants the rest of the way, exposing his ass and the sweet pink center that Talib had used the night before.

The time between Talib’s gasp and his hands gripping Conley’s hips seemed instant, an impressive task since Conley was stripping from six feet away. “The show just got too hot. I’m an audience volunteer. Is there anything I can do to assist?”

Conley chuckled, stepping out of the pants bunched at his feet. Turning in Talib’s arms, he felt his mouth pull up into a smirk and leaned in to give a gentle kiss on the lips. “Yes. Put on a show for me now.”

Talib locked gazes with him, ice blue eyes burning with desire. It took every ounce of willpower Conley possessed to turn and walk toward the bed. Even then, he could practically feel those eyes boring into his back as he took the few steps to his destination.

Safely on the bed, he folded one hand behind his head to prop it up on the pillow and reached down with the other to stroke his now exposed, hard cock.

Talib’s eyes followed the motion of Conley’s hand for a split second then a smile tugged at his lips. Starting with the shirt, he lifted the hem slowly over his torso. While Talib was not bulky like Conley, the cords of muscles interweaved, forming and disappearing in an intricate design along his abdomen and up and down his sides, feeding the fire raging within Conley.

Taking in each new sight, Conley gasped as Talib’s face disappeared beneath the fabric, leaving his entire upper body exposed. The ridge where his pecs connected was accentuated since both of his hands were over his head, yet even stretched out, the perfectly formed chest expanded with Talib’s breathing, the creamy-coffee colored nipples pebbled, standing at attention.

Once again, Conley needed to use all of his energy to keep from dashing off the bed and taking those hard nubs of flesh into his mouth. When Talib finally removed his shirt he had a slight flush to his otherwise alabaster skin.

Silky black hair gently swept Talib’s collarbone, framing his angular face, a perfect complement to his brooding, dark good looks. Conley’s cock lurched in his hand, now fully hard, as a single pearl of precum escaped from the tip. Rubbing his thumb over the clear fluid, he slicked the head and began to run the moisture in circles around the glans. Each pass of his finger sent shivers through him, causing his toes to curl.

Once again, Talib’s eyes darted to Conley’s cock, but he quickly continued the show, fanning Conley’s arousal. With painstaking deliberateness, Talib popped the top button of his jeans. A faint wisp of dark hair appeared on his skin, not quite making it up to his navel. When he opened the second button the dark hair fanned out, cresting at the base of his cock, now visible. Conley followed the line of Talib’s bulge, from the revealed base down his pant leg where the confines of his jeans forced it to lie.

When he looked back up at Talib’s face, he was caught once again by a piercing gaze of blue fire. Stepping forward, Talib pushed his pants over his hips. Once they passed over his ass, they fell to the floor.

Conley gripped the base of his cock, straining almost to the point of pain, afraid he might come from the sudden vision of beauty before him. Talib’s body was a work of perfection, each muscle perfectly aligned to form a square frame. A combination of strength and delicacy. The slight cant from shoulder to waist, the subtle bulge of ass, rounding into upper leg gave him the appearance of strength and masculinity. The expanse of smooth thigh muscles naturally led the eye down to admire solid calf muscles, legs like a gazelle, designed for speed and beauty. That was Talib. Strength and delicacy, all wrapped in one gorgeous package.

Talib smiled then pounced, and Conley found himself pinned on his back, staring up into Talib’s eyes. Before Conley could say or do anything, Talib lowered his head, sealing their lips together. Conley opened, mouth invaded by a hungry tongue, slick and purposeful, massaging, feeding his desire and need.

Pulling out of the kiss, Talib caught his breath then lowered his head once again, placing gentle kisses to Conley’s cheek, neck, collarbone, and then further down, capturing one nipple in his mouth.

The sharp scraping of teeth against his skin caused Conley to lift his head and stare at what Talib was doing. When he saw the lust in those blue eyes, his cock surged up between them with renewed energy. It was the sight of fangs, ever so slightly descended, that caused Conley’s heart to race. “Oh my God. That is so fucking hot. Nibble at me again.”

Talib lowered his head and bit down on Conley’s nipple once more, careful not to draw blood. He then released the taught flesh and gazed at Conley, his fangs shrank back to their normal length. “I can’t feed on you. If you want a shot at me blocking your thoughts, I can’t feed on you.”

For a moment, a debate raged within Conley. The idea of Talib feeding on him was so arousing he thought his skin would catch fire, but he didn’t want to begin a relationship where every passing fancy traveled directly to his new lover. “Okay, I understand.”

“But there are things I can do which are just as good.” Talib lowered his head once more and kissed a trail down Conley’s abdomen, hot breath washing over his skin. When soft lips touched his cock, Conley thought he might come just from the anticipation, but Talib lightly gripped the base, squeezing tightly to prevent his impending release.

Feed, Prey, Love can be found at:

Ai Press: http://ai-press.net/

Amazon.com: 

http://www.amazon.com/Feed-Prey-Love-Whispering-ebook/dp/B007SZR896/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334259089&sr=8-1

All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-feedpreylove-771680-139.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110061974?ean=2940014165105

DH Starr can be found at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001888442469

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/dhstarrontwtr

His blog: http://dhstarr.blogspot.com/

Inspiration for Alexios' Fate

How did I conceive of Alexios' Fate?

That's a good question. As with all of my original stories, I started with an inspiration photo in my Facebook group Inspired Writing. It's a group of authors who write stories based on the current inspiration photo.

This is the photo that set Alexios' tale in motion.

Inspiration for Alexios' Fate

The photo evoked an m/m spin on the story of Andromeda, a young princess whose mother's bragging gets her in trouble with the gods. To punish her mother, Andromeda is chained to a rock and a sea serpent is sent to devour her. Fortunately for her, Perseus shows up just in time to rescue her and whisk her off to be his wife.

My story takes place in Iron Age Greece during the early years of the fifth century BC. To give you some idea of the time frame, Thermopylae and the 300 won't take place for nearly another two decades.

Prince Alexios of Dicaea, at 18 years old, has just come-of-age. His father expects him to make a marriage alliance at an age when he should be choosing a mentor instead. Greek men at that point in history didn't typically marry until they were in their 30s. Needless to say, he is rather put out about this.

But how to get my young prince chained to that rock? Nothing is more effective than the old tried and true hubris (overweening pride). For the Greeks, it was the unpardonable sin.

Even though they did not commit the hubris, Andromeda and Alexios were the subjects of the boasting. The gods often punished the guilty by destroying the very thing they bragged about.

I intended to write a short story about how Prince Alexios finds himself chained to a rock and awaiting his fate at Apollo's hands. But first his father needed to commit hubris and for that I needed a rivalry.

Inspiration for King Lykos

Enter King Lykos... A man who had once drawn Alexios' father's unrequited passion. A man who I had intended merely to spark a bout of one-upmanship that would culminate in Alexios' father speaking the fateful words that would seal his son's fate.

King Lykos is one of the kings invited to Alexios' coming-of-age celebration as a possible father-in-law/mentor. Lykos is a mature bear of a man with confidence in spades, exactly the kind of man a youth would chose to be his mentor. He is in his late 30s, powerfully built with body hair and a beard. He and Alexios hit it off right from the start, much to Alexios' father's disgust.

Interrupted before they can pursue their attraction, Alexios finds himself alone with his slave Galen. He's never really considered Galen in a sexual light, but he's all hot and bothered from being hit on by Lykos. So he takes a closer look at the slightly older man whom he has known for years and decides to experiment.

Inspiration for Galen

Thus begins the romance between the two young men.

The story continued to expand, first from a short story to a novella and then to a novel. As is common with my stories, Alexios' Fate took on a life of its own. Alexios was telling me his story and I rushed to set it to paper as fast as I could.

In the final scene, Alexios is offered up to Apollo and doesn't know if he will survive his fate.

I hope you enjoy reading Alexios' tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Blurb: The mature King Lykos has a sexy confidence that turns Alexios' head. Seduced by Lykos, Prince Alexios discovers a world of men he's never known before.

Meanwhile his slave Galen has gotten tired of waiting in the wings. He sets out to woo Alexios and win his heart.

Even Apollo can't leave Alexios alone. The young prince finds himself pursued by a god and in danger of a perilous love.

How will Alexios follow his heart when he unwittingly wins the favor of a god? Can Alexios escape the fate of Apollo's past lovers and have the man he wants?

http://www.breathlesspress.com/alexios-fate

Excerpt:

After seeing to the fiery steed, he paused to give his own colt some of the fragrant grass and scratch his ears. The shift in his colt's ears alerted Alexios to the presence of someone else in the stable. With a final pat on the withers, he turned toward the intruder, pleased to find Lykos.

Lykos descended on him with fire in his eyes. A shiver raced through his body as Alexios realized he wanted whatever the older man had in mind. Once more his cock stirred to life as Lykos swept toward him like a wave before the storm.

"Ah, there you are. I wondered if I would still find you here. It took me longer to get away from the others than I would have liked."

"You followed me?"

"I asked your brother where you had gone."

He crashed down upon Alexios and bore him back against the side of the stall. The king slipped both hands under Alexios' tunic, grabbed his ass, and tugged their groins together. Alexios thrust against Lykos almost before he could get his hands on the hips surging against him like the tide.

"I knew you wanted me. I watched you get hard on the deck of my ship."

"Maybe that was just the excitement of being on a warship, naked in front of the whole crew."

Lykos threw back his head and laughed, startling several of the drowsy horses. "We shall see about that!"

Blunt fingers massaged and parted the hillocks of Alexios' ass before one probed his hidden valley. Like the advance scout of a conquering king, the digit explored him with a thoroughness that caught him unaware and left him breathless. When Lykos' finger passed over his opening, the tip pressed lightly. His blood thundered in his ears so loud he almost didn't hear the groan that ripped from his throat.

"Like that, do you?" Wine scented breath played along his neck. "I'll show you other things you will like even more," the dark voice promised more of the world of men Alexios had just discovered.

Alexios allowed himself to be turned until he faced the wall. Cool air washed over his lower body as Lykos eased his tunic up to his waist. Something hot and hard slid between his nether cheeks, rubbing up and down his crack. When the head pushed against his hole, he leaned back. He wanted more, but had no idea how to go about getting what his body craved.

A deep chuckle vibrated against his back. "Easy. There will be plenty of time for that. But for now we'll take it slow."

The older man thrust up his cleft a few more times. Lykos shifted and his cock slipped under Alexios' ass to rub on the sensitive skin behind his sac. He pulled Alexios' hips back against his groin until the head of his cock mashed against Alexios' balls. With a groan, Alexios placed his crossed forearms on the wall and rested his head on them, pushing his hips back into Lykos' solid body.

Alexios smiled at the sudden hitch in the older man's breathing. Maybe the control didn't rest solely in Lykos' hands.

"You want me, Prince? I'll give you all you can handle."

"I think you want me too."

"I'll show you what I want you for!"

Hard hands drifted over his hips and thighs, stroking the skin and making his body tingle. He pushed back against the strong body holding him, shoving the head of Lykos' cock into his balls again. Twin moans entwined in the dark air.

"Squeeze your legs together tightly." The sexy rumble commanded instant obedience and a thrill shot down Alexios' spine.

Girls had never had half this effect on him when he fucked them. Why were men so much more arousing? Did he enjoy the take-charge attitude of the man holding him? Did he prefer hard bodies and firm hands over feminine softness? The answer to his questions rose ever-proud before him. Precum leaked down his length and pooled in the dark hairs at the shaft's base.

One hand grasped his hip and held him steady as Lykos drove his engorged cock between Alexios' thighs. The other hand wrapped around Alexios' damp cock, gliding up his shaft to squeeze the head with a gentleness unexpected in hands used to the sword. The firm grip slid back down to the base, the moist friction heaven on Alexios' skin.

His panting breaths matched the gasps of the older man as he thrust with growing fervor into the king's hand. Lykos let him set the pace. He stood while Alexios' hips snapped forward into his hand then drew back against him, rubbing the man's hard cock over the sensitive skin and into his balls.

"Come for me, erômenos."

With an inarticulate cry, Alexios pulsed out string after string of pearly cum. Dazed by his release, he wondered how much cum a man could spend in one day before he ran dry. When the last spasm left him weak, he slumped back against Lykos.

Muscled arms encircled his waist and kept him upright as the older man plunged between his legs with increasing urgency. His balls swung back and forth under the onslaught. Lykos surged forward and buried the entire length of his cock within the sheath of Alexios' sweat slicked skin. Hot cum bathed his balls as the man holding him twitched his hips forward in a series of shallow thrusts.

Lykos' weight on his back bore them both down against the wall, pinning Alexios beneath the king's larger, heavier frame. Content to be held in place while their harsh breathing slowed, Alexios marveled at the speed at which he had yielded to the man.

"You called me 'erômenos.' I'm not your beloved. You aren't my mentor yet."

Lykos nuzzled the back of his neck and nibbled on his ear. "Is there any doubt? Theocritus enjoys bringing a youth to heel. Andronikos doesn't have the taste for taking an erômenos. Philon is too old and his daughters already wed."

After their breathing slowed, the king stirred. Lykos stepped away from him, allowing his tunic to drop back down into place. Alexios' cum covered cock and balls grew clammy. He reeked of sex. He hoped his father and the other kings would think he had indulged with one of the slave girls. His standing with his father, not to mention his father's plans to acquire an advantageous alliance, would suffer if any of the other kings discovered what he had just done. He resolved to garner an alliance with the man who had just shown him a world he wanted to become part of.

"I believe you are competing in three days. When I see you there, naked before everyone, I'll remember that you wore my seed."

Alexios endeavored to settle his tunic to hide the evidence of what they had just done. The cum on his cock and balls made the cloth cling suggestively to him. He searched in vain for something to wipe the thick fluid off. After noticing the amusement on Lykos' face, he settled for washing with some of the water from the large collecting tank. He might not be wearing the man's seed any more, but the smell clung to him and his clothing

.

"Now, my young prince, return to your father's house. I will remain here a little longer."

Lykos aimed a playful swat at Alexios' ass as he left the stable.

http://www.breathlesspress.com/alexios-fate

Greek Love

Zeus & his eromenos Ganymede

Pederasty, one of the social institutions of ancient Greece, is central to my story. Pederasty is a mentor relationship between an older male aristocrat and a youth of the same class. The relationship was more about instruction in the arts of being a nobleman and less about the sexual aspects. "Greek love" is not what most people assume it to be.

"Greek love" is not even Greek in origin. The practice first developed in Crete where it coincided with the youth's coming-of-age when the young man began his military training and induction into the cult of Zeus. The youth, known as erômenos or beloved, was usually in his teens. Some sources say as young as thirteen, but most believe starting at between fifteen and seventeen years of age. The relationship usually ended when the young man reached his mid-20s; although, it could continue until the man was 30 in some cases.

Erastes and eromenos

Alexios is eighteen, a little old, but what can you do with modern mores? We all know that boy has been active for years, but I'm not allowed to comment on that. So there will be no reminiscing with Galen about his youthful escapades. That's probably just as well, Galen would want to kill him by the time he got done listing all the skirts he has lifted!

The older man, known as the erastes or lover, could be as young as his early 20s, but was often in his 30s. Not quite a May/December relationship, more of a Daddy/Son situation in today's terminology. With the Spartans, that was literally how they defined it. He was the youth's mentor.

Erestes courting eromenos

King Lykos is one of the kings invited to Alexios' coming-of-age celebration as a possible father-in-law/mentor. Lykos is a mature bear of a man with confidence in spades, exactly the kind of man a youth would chose to be his mentor. He is in his late 30s, powerfully built with body hair and a beard. He and Alexios hit it off right from the start, much to Alexios' father's disgust.

The erastes courted the youth, not unlike modern couples, with gifts; however, there was one significant difference. He would fondle the young man's cock while grasping his chin, forcing the supposedly modest youth to maintain eye contact. Maybe the ancient aristocrats had a better grasp on the true way to another man's heart.

Pederasty was intended as a way of linking individuals and family lines without requiring a marriage. It was networking at its most basic level, allowing the influence of the older man to smooth the way for the untried youth. The pair was expected to continue to be close once the relationship ended.

Intercrural Sex

The sexual aspects of the relationship varied. Most were sexually active to one degree or another in a society that was culturally bi-curious. Intercrural sex, where the erastes thrust between the creamy thighs of his erômenos, was the norm. This preserved the masculinity of the erômenos and kept even the straight youths from feeling ill-treated.

Mirroring the mortal world, almost all of the Greek gods have male lovers. Most of them had multiple male lovers. Apollo's love affairs with men were often short lived. Hyacinth, a prince of Sparta, was killed by a jealous god. Cyparissus accidentally slew a deer (a pederastic gift) given to him by Apollo and was turned into a cypress tree in his grief. Leucates threw himself to his death when Apollo attempted to carry him off.

The myth of Zeus and Ganymede is one of the few instances of a god loving a mortal man that ended well. Zeus in the form of an eagle abducted the beautiful youth and took him to Mount Olympus. Once there, Zeus made the young man immortal and kept him as his cup bearer.

Alexios finds himself being offered to Apollo and doesn't know if he will survive the experience.

Blurb: 

The mature King Lykos has a sexy confidence that turns Alexios' head. Seduced by Lykos, Prince Alexios discovers a world of men he's never known before.

Meanwhile his slave Galen has gotten tired of waiting in the wings. He sets out to woo Alexios and win his heart.

Even Apollo can't leave Alexios alone. The young prince finds himself pursued by a god and in danger of a perilous love.

How will Alexios follow his heart when he unwittingly wins the favor of a god? Can Alexios escape the fate of Apollo's past lovers and have the man he wants?

http://www.breathlesspress.com/alexios-fate

Alexios' Fate preorder sale: Get 10% off until April 12 with the codeALEXIOSFATEPREORDER04C352FF

Excerpt:

After seeing to the fiery steed, he paused to give his own colt some of the fragrant grass and scratch his ears. The shift in his colt's ears alerted Alexios to the presence of someone else in the stable. With a final pat on the withers, he turned toward the intruder, pleased to find Lykos.

Lykos descended on him with fire in his eyes. A shiver raced through his body as Alexios realized he wanted whatever the older man had in mind. Once more his cock stirred to life as Lykos swept toward him like a wave before the storm.

"Ah, there you are. I wondered if I would still find you here. It took me longer to get away from the others than I would have liked."

"You followed me?"

"I asked your brother where you had gone."

He crashed down upon Alexios and bore him back against the side of the stall. The king slipped both hands under Alexios' tunic, grabbed his ass, and tugged their groins together. Alexios thrust against Lykos almost before he could get his hands on the hips surging against him like the tide.

"I knew you wanted me. I watched you get hard on the deck of my ship."

"Maybe that was just the excitement of being on a warship, naked in front of the whole crew."

Lykos threw back his head and laughed, startling several of the drowsy horses. "We shall see about that!"

Blunt fingers massaged and parted the hillocks of Alexios' ass before one probed his hidden valley. Like the advance scout of a conquering king, the digit explored him with a thoroughness that caught him unaware and left him breathless. When Lykos' finger passed over his opening, the tip pressed lightly. His blood thundered in his ears so loud he almost didn't hear the groan that ripped from his throat.

"Like that, do you?" Wine scented breath played along his neck. "I'll show you other things you will like even more," the dark voice promised more of the world of men Alexios had just discovered.

Alexios allowed himself to be turned until he faced the wall. Cool air washed over his lower body as Lykos eased his tunic up to his waist. Something hot and hard slid between his nether cheeks, rubbing up and down his crack. When the head pushed against his hole, he leaned back. He wanted more, but had no idea how to go about getting what his body craved.

A deep chuckle vibrated against his back. "Easy. There will be plenty of time for that. But for now we'll take it slow."

The older man thrust up his cleft a few more times. Lykos shifted and his cock slipped under Alexios' ass to rub on the sensitive skin behind his sac. He pulled Alexios' hips back against his groin until the head of his cock mashed against Alexios' balls. With a groan, Alexios placed his crossed forearms on the wall and rested his head on them, pushing his hips back into Lykos' solid body.

Alexios smiled at the sudden hitch in the older man's breathing. Maybe the control didn't rest solely in Lykos' hands.

"You want me, Prince? I'll give you all you can handle."

"I think you want me too."

"I'll show you what I want you for!"

Hard hands drifted over his hips and thighs, stroking the skin and making his body tingle. He pushed back against the strong body holding him, shoving the head of Lykos' cock into his balls again. Twin moans entwined in the dark air.

"Squeeze your legs together tightly." The sexy rumble commanded instant obedience and a thrill shot down Alexios' spine.

Girls had never had half this effect on him when he fucked them. Why were men so much more arousing? Did he enjoy the take-charge attitude of the man holding him? Did he prefer hard bodies and firm hands over feminine softness? The answer to his questions rose ever-proud before him. Precum leaked down his length and pooled in the dark hairs at the shaft's base.

One hand grasped his hip and held him steady as Lykos drove his engorged cock between Alexios' thighs. The other hand wrapped around Alexios' damp cock, gliding up his shaft to squeeze the head with a gentleness unexpected in hands used to the sword. The firm grip slid back down to the base, the moist friction heaven on Alexios' skin.

His panting breaths matched the gasps of the older man as he thrust with growing fervor into the king's hand. Lykos let him set the pace. He stood while Alexios' hips snapped forward into his hand then drew back against him, rubbing the man's hard cock over the sensitive skin and into his balls.

"Come for me, erômenos."

With an inarticulate cry, Alexios pulsed out string after string of pearly cum. Dazed by his release, he wondered how much cum a man could spend in one day before he ran dry. When the last spasm left him weak, he slumped back against Lykos.

Muscled arms encircled his waist and kept him upright as the older man plunged between his legs with increasing urgency. His balls swung back and forth under the onslaught. Lykos surged forward and buried the entire length of his cock within the sheath of Alexios' sweat slicked skin. Hot cum bathed his balls as the man holding him twitched his hips forward in a series of shallow thrusts.

Lykos' weight on his back bore them both down against the wall, pinning Alexios beneath the king's larger, heavier frame. Content to be held in place while their harsh breathing slowed, Alexios marveled at the speed at which he had yielded to the man.

"You called me 'erômenos.' I'm not your beloved. You aren't my mentor yet."

Lykos nuzzled the back of his neck and nibbled on his ear. "Is there any doubt? Theocritus enjoys bringing a youth to heel. Andronikos doesn't have the taste for taking an erômenos. Philon is too old and his daughters already wed."

After their breathing slowed, the king stirred. Lykos stepped away from him, allowing his tunic to drop back down into place. Alexios' cum covered cock and balls grew clammy. He reeked of sex. He hoped his father and the other kings would think he had indulged with one of the slave girls. His standing with his father, not to mention his father's plans to acquire an advantageous alliance, would suffer if any of the other kings discovered what he had just done. He resolved to garner an alliance with the man who had just shown him a world he wanted to become part of.

"I believe you are competing in three days. When I see you there, naked before everyone, I'll remember that you wore my seed."

Alexios endeavored to settle his tunic to hide the evidence of what they had just done. The cum on his cock and balls made the cloth cling suggestively to him. He searched in vain for something to wipe the thick fluid off. After noticing the amusement on Lykos' face, he settled for washing with some of the water from the large collecting tank. He might not be wearing the man's seed any more, but the smell clung to him and his clothing.

"Now, my young prince, return to your father's house. I will remain here a little longer."

Lykos aimed a playful swat at Alexios' ass as he left the stable.

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Men in Iron Age Greece

Inspiration for King Lykos

Recently, several friends and I wrapped up the first annual Bear Talk Blog Hop. It all started off with Deanna Wadsworth and me discussing the dearth of bears in m/m romance/erotica. We didn't feel that it necessarily reflected a lack of reader interest. More like everyone was bowing before the current fad—men who shave or wax all the hair off their bodies.

I really only have one novel, Alexios' Fate, and I hadn't written a bear in the story. Or had I? On the surface, I had only written about men. Men in Greece during the fifth century BC. Men who didn't shave. Men who viewed a beard as a sign of virility. In fact these men spent a fair amount of time seeing that their beards were neatly trimmed, even oiled and teased into ringlets.

I only briefly touched on King Lykos' body hair when Alexios first meets him. Why, you ask? Because I wasn't really trying to write a bear character, specifically. Lykos is in his late 30s. He has body hair and a beard. His culture would not understand removing it or acting like it was something other than ordinary. People don't comment on what is considered normal, everyday, or commonplace.

Inspiration for Galen

Even my "beardless youth" characters have body hair. I didn't mention it at all in the novel because, once again, body hair is to be expected on men in Iron Age Greece. Alexios, Galen, and Apollo fall in this category, but they are by no means twinks. They are athletic young men who can't manage a respectable beard yet in the case of Alexios and Galen. Apollo, as a beardless youth, is the idealization of eternal youth.

So let me introduce you to my cast of characters.

Prince Alexios of Dicaea, at 18 years of age, has just come-of-age. His father expects him to make a marriage alliance at a point in his life when he should be choosing a mentor instead. Greek men at that point in history didn't typically marry until they were in their 30s. Needless to say, he is rather put out about this.

King Lykos is one of the kings invited to Alexios' coming-of-age celebration as a possible father-in-law/mentor. Lykos is a mature bear of a man with confidence in spades, exactly the kind of man a youth would chose to be his mentor. He is in his late 30s, powerfully built with body hair and a beard. He and Alexios hit it off right from the start, much to Alexios' father's disgust.

Alexios' slave, Galen, sees his chance and makes a bid for his prince's heart.

And yes, Apollo is real. But he is not some paranormal, omniscient, superior being. He is the anthropomorphism of light, art, healing, and prophecy. The ancient Greeks did not expect omniscience nor demand enlightened beneficence of their gods. Their gods could be just as petty and spiteful as anyone else.

Each of these men wants something different from Alexios. Lykos is looking for a culturally appropriate fling that will likely last for a few years. Galen wants a lover. Apollo, in typical Olympian fashion, is looking for a use 'em and lose 'em one night stand.

http://www.omogenia.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/53643/  

My setting is actually Thrace during the early classical age. Thrace is the portion of Greece closest to the Persian Empire, modern day Turkey. Greece was just hitting its stride as the cultural center of the ancient world. During the early years of the fifth century, Persia is becoming a threat to the Greek world, but has not yet invaded. The first Persian invasion by King Darius I looms on the horizon. The battle of Marathon will take place while Alexios is in his mid-20s. Persia will gobble up Dicaea and all of Thrace, but not reach the prince's new home in Delphi. But as you might expect Delphi will become much sought out by the other Greek city-states in the years leading up to the invasion.

To give you some idea of time frame,Thermopylae and the 300 won't be for nearly another two decades.

Blurb: The mature King Lykos has a sexy confidence that turns Alexios' head. Seduced by Lykos, Prince Alexios discovers a world of men he's never known before.

Meanwhile his slave Galen has gotten tired of waiting in the wings. He sets out to woo Alexios and win his heart.

Even Apollo can't leave Alexios alone. The young prince finds himself pursued by a god and in danger of a perilous love.

How will Alexios follow his heart when he unwittingly wins the favor of a god? Can Alexios escape the fate of Apollo's past lovers and have the man he wants?

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Excerpt:

Alexios' father, still red-faced and with fists clenched, followed him into his room and glared at his slave Galen until the young man left. Demetrios twitched the mantle covering Alexios with contempt, almost as if touching the offending garment sullied his hand.

"Explain to me why my son comes back to me in Lykos' care, wearing another man's mantle? I'm sure the other kings want to know as well!" His voice took on a dangerous quality, "Don't play the wanton and act like you're already his."

Alexios jerked his head up, thrumming with restrained anger. "I am a prince of Dicaea! I belong to no one!"

"See that you keep yourself that way. I intend for you to make a marriage alliance. Whichever of those men becomes your father-in-law will have the mentoring of you." His father stalked to the door before turning. "I expect you to compete with the other youths at the games for your coming-of-age."

Feeling like a prize bull being offered to the highest bidder, Alexios tore the mantle from his body. He stood in no more than he would be wearing when he competed. Alexios realized his father not only wanted him to show his prowess, his father also wanted him on exhibit for the other kings.

"The alliance means so much you don't care if you have to put me on display to get what you want?"

"This alliance is more important than your wounded sensibilities. A betrothal will offer us the support we need to expand. A prince's loyalty is to his father. You will obey me in this!"

In spite of his father, his cock filled as he envisioned being on parade before Lykos and the other men. The fantasy of their eyes watching every move his body made gave rise to a shivery feeling at his core. Would they only have eyes for him or would they compare him to the other oiled bodies competing with him for the laurel? Would the victor also become the prize in some fashion?

The blood left Demetrios' face. "That...that man...excites you, doesn't he? Keep away from Lykos!" his father stuttered with a burgeoning air of alarm.

The dismayed man staggered through the doorway. He shoved past the slave standing in the hall, without thought or seeming awareness of his surroundings. Galen bowed to the king and kept an eye on Alexios' father as he stormed down the corridor.

Alexios still stood in openmouthed shock when Galen reentered the room, trying to fathom what his father's outburst had been all about. Bemused, Alexios wondered why his father wanted to keep him away from Lykos. For a moment, he had thought his father was jealous.

"Master..."

"Never mind him. He's not angry at you."

The air cooled his heated skin as he searched for a tunic to cover his nakedness. Galen reached past him to pick up the garment first. His arm brushed against Alexios' sensitive skin and a shudder ran down Alexios' frame.

Alexios turned and caught the look of surprise on his slave's face. Galen's carefully schooled his features to exhibited polite interest, nothing more.

Alexios gazed at the slave with speculation, contemplating what he knew of the man. Galen saw to all his needs, often before he realized he wanted something. The young man served him with such devotion Alexios had never been forced to rebuke him. In fact, Galen went to greater lengths than necessary, certainly more than duty required. He never wondered about the depth of Galen's dedication before. Why was Galen so diligent?

Taking the chiton from Galen's hands, Alexios replaced the garment on the chest at the foot of his bed. He feasted his eyes on the hale and comely slave. He had intended to slake his lust in one of the slave girls, but his own slave stood before him. Maybe he didn't need to go in search of someone else.

"Do you know what to do with this?" He gestured at his engorged cock.

An enigmatic mix of emotions washed across the young man's face. Distaste, hope, and despair jumbled together to distort the handsome features. Without a word, Galen slid to his knees and his hand stretched out to Alexios' cock.

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