Hi! Very happy to be back on Love Bytes this month with some good news. Last month, you may recall, I reported that a four-book contract had been cancelled when the publisher was unable to fulfill the contract. A few days after that, I realized rights for the Vasquez and James series would be reverting to me very soon. It made me sad, but I felt pretty sure Luki and Sonny could make a return to find readers new and old, I just needed to figure out exactly how I wanted to make that happen. I posted about these developments on my Facebook timeline, trying not to let discouragement and mourning—yes, grief is what it felt like—either gain an upper hand in my emotions or in my post. I got a lot of very kind and encouraging words from readers and fellow authors in the comments, and so appreciated them. People said they were sure I’d find a home for my stories, that new doors would open, and if I hadn’t already been a believer in the power of words, I am now, because minutes later (minutes!) I got a message from an editor I respect who works with another publisher. She wanted to see my work. After many back and forth emails assuring a good fit, we struck an agreement, and both series have a new home.

If you know me, especially if you’ve followed my blog posts over the years, you already know I converse with my characters, and some of them are a little pushy at times. Here’s what happened when I told Luki Vasquez about the move:

Luki: Ms. Sylvre, I had no desire to move. Now we have to pack and everything. Hire a mover… I don’t like it. We were in a damn good neighborhood.

Sonny: Luki, why are you always so mean to Lou. She’s our author. She wants what’s best for us. And we don’t have to hire a mover—I’ll just rent a truck. It will be fun!

Lou: He’s right, Luki. I want what’s best for you. I made sure this move would be good for you. And it isn’t like you have to move house. You still have your wonderful, quirky house on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and you even still have your condo in Port Clifton and your business headquarters in Chicago. You only have to relocate your virtual office for novel-character business. And you get a vacation first—you open for business at your new spot in June.

Sonny: Oh cool! Can we do a little traveling in the meanwhile? We haven’t done much traveling since Paris, really. Somehow our travels have always kind of gone wrong—

Luki: Hawaii was nice!

Sonny (smiling a sweet fond smile, leans over and kisses Luki’s cheek, making him squirm a bit): Oh, honey, Hawaii was fabulous. The wedding, you on a surfboard—

Luki: You naked on the Lanai!

Sonny (laughing): That too, and the discussion about who gets the most out of my orgasms. But no, really. I want to see the world. That trip we took after Paris… well, parts of that were cool. I did love San Antonio, and San Diego. New Zealand was a little weird, meeting the vampire, but Lou’s author friend Anne was sweet to us. Maybe we can go back to some of those places. What do you think, husband?

Luki (grabs Sonny’s braid and pulls him in close): As I’ve said before, Sonny Bly James, I think you are the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to the world, and I will take you anywhere in the world if it will make you happy. (Shoots an ice-blue glare in my direction.) But of course we can only go if Ms. Sylvre agrees.

Lou: We’ll see okay, Luki? I’m kind of busy. Maybe.

Luki: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway back to this move coming up. You could have asked me before you signed us up somewhere else. Where are we gonna park our asses now, anyway?

Lou: A lovely… um, kind of sexy neighborhood called Changeling Press. Super friendly. Very inclusive. Just the sort of place you like.

Luki (chews his lip as he thinks for a moment): Changeling… Changeling… Oh, yeah! I’ve been by there a time or two. But, don’t they say their books are for women? I mean, I’m glad women read our stories, I like to make them happy—

Sonny: We make ’em sad, sometimes, too.

Lou: True, and scared, maybe mad…

Luki: But that’s not my fault, is it, Ms. Sylvre. Not Sonny’s either! And stop changing the subject. The point is I’m a gay guy! I want gay guys to read my books. And bi guys. Maybe even straight guys that don’t have their face on backward!

Lou: Calm down! Gay guys can still read your books. “For women” is Changeling’s schtick. Every company has one. You aren’t going to change your ways, and all the kinds of people who loved you before will love you still. Once your books are out again they can visit you at Changeling, or find you on Amazon—just like usual. And people that didn’t hear of you before will find you. And early next year, Jackie and Brian are coming to Changeling too! The whole family will be together for the first time in a long while. Nice, huh?

Luki (nods seriously): ‘Kay. Yes. That will be good. Jackie and Brian never really got a chance to tell their story before, did they? I suppose you’re going to put them through hell, like you do Sonny and me?

Lou: Uh… well, yeah. Some. But they have some sweet times coming up, too.

Sonny: Oooh! Are they gonna have a wedding? Lou, I’m gonna have to start working on a tapestry for a present… Let’s see….

So the conversation drifted off as Sonny started getting excited about his weaving and Luki started getting excited watching Sonny. You know the kind of thing that happens next, right? Sex. After all this time together they still can’t get enough…

That’s the news from me this month, and you have to admit, it’s a sight more upbeat than last month’s announcement. Stay tuned for updates, and maybe we’ll look in on Luki and Sonny’s vacation from time to time. And we can check out what Jackie and Brian are up to as well. Uh… hold on a minute and let me close the door—I don’t think Luki and Sonny want to see this—but here’s a peek at some sexy from the younger Vasquez and his Dom. Their books are coming out starting early next summer. I think it will be worth the wait!

The hotel headboard was solid and upholstered—no way to secure anything there. In fact, at first nothing looked very promising. But Brian could be creative when the situation called for it. He moved one of the big, brocade armchairs and placed its arched back under the handles of the closet’s accordion doors. He stripped off his shirt, shoes, and socks and tossed them on the bed, then returned to Jackie, adjusting lights to his liking along the way. He brought Jackie to stand facing the chair, stripped his sub of everything except the lacy leather corset, and smacked his ass once, enough to sting and surprise. He watched in satisfaction as Jackie’s cock went from half-hard to fully erect.

Removing his own belt, he looped it around the leather binding Jackie’s wrists and through the two vertical door pulls, tightened it so that Jackie’s hands were on the chair back, and secured it with a simple knot. He stood back to admire the beauty of Jackie bound, even in this simple fashion. “Spread your legs, Jackie. Put them outside the chair legs.” After Jackie followed the instruction, he said, “Oh God, yes. Can you stay in that position okay? Answer out loud.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Brian sucked in a breath in anticipation. Jackie’s cock now trailed a clinging drop of precum, and Brian grabbed his T-shirt from the bed and tossed it down to cover the brocade, thinking ahead. From his small bag by the bed, he retrieved condoms and lube. He spotted his neckties and got inspired. Grinning, he took them back, leaned around Jackie, kissed the corner of his mouth, and drew one of the ties over his mouth, teasing. He had something else in mind, but on the way down Jackie’s gorgeous, freckle-stained body, he dragged the silk over sensitive places—neck, nipples, looped around each hip bone and thigh, then stroked over his perfect cock and dusky balls.

Jackie’s treasure trail barely dusted his skin, and his pubic thatch grew sparse and tightly curled, but Jackie didn’t shave anything. Brian loved it, promised himself he’d bury his nose in it, soon. But now, he put his practiced hands to work binding Jackie’s ankles to the chair legs. It took no time at all to wind the ties down, then up, so that an X decorated the back of each calf, and he adorned it at the top with a knot like a rose, leaving one end loose which could release it instantly.

A framed full-length mirror decorated the outside of the bathroom door, and Brian wanted Jackie to know how beautiful he looked. “Jackie, look at the mirror for me.” Jackie did, and Brian noted with deep joy that Jackie gasped, and his eyes went wide when he took in his own image. “Yes, you’re beautiful. Keep watching.”

Brian stroked his own cock—still imprisoned in his jeans—a few times, then stood behind Jackie, right up against him. He pushed Jackie forward, holding Jackie’s hips back against his own, so Jackie had to bend from the waist over the chair. With Jackie’s head against his bound wrists, he smacked Jackie’s ass with both hands and ended with a squeeze, hard enough to leave the sweet globes marked with a swirl of pink. Watching Jackie’s face as Jackie gazed into the mirror, Brian ran a finger down the crease of Jackie’s perfect ass, teasing the hole just enough to make it pucker and pulse in response, then on down to the balls and forward to wrap Jackie’s cock in his hand. He gathered a little puddle of precum in his palm and brought it to his mouth, licked it clean and then licked his lips, wearing a slight smile. Jackie’s tongue darted out seemingly of its own accord, and Brian knew the sub wanted a taste.

He stood where he was sure Jackie could see what he was doing in the mirror, unzipped his jeans, then stroked his own cock until it glistened with natural lube. He caught it on his fingers, then stepped up beside Jackie and crouched down beside the chair so he could watch as he fed the substance to him. He put his fingers right into Jackie’s open mouth. “Suck, baby,” he said, and Jackie did, his breath catching, and his tongue frantically trying to scrub Brian’s fingers clean. “Okay,” Brian said and removed his hand.

Still crouched down and looking him in the eye, Brian said, you know I’m going to fuck you, right?”

Thank you, Love Bytes, for hosting me and my crazy characters. We might be moving publishers, but we’re sticking around Love Bytes. We like the place and the people we meet! As always, comments are more than welcome, and I’ll do my best to respond. Thanks for stopping by to read!