Sedonia Guillone

If this isn’t just one of the best covers ever, I don’t know what is! I’m getting so excited for this release!

This post is reproduced from my guest spot on Madelynne Ellis’ blog. Right now she’s doing a sexy Advent Calendar which is really fun and cool!

Behind the book:

In Delicious Love Triangle, Hana is a clothing designer. She is a popular designer of of looks for the fashion tribes of Tokyo and works for one particular shop that features her work. The fashion tribes are a phenomena in Tokyo. The various styles originate spontaneously and are a vibrant part of the culture of young people in that city, changing every few weeks, literally. The looks there differ from anything we’re used to seeing in fashion – they’re fun, whimsical and very visually alive, incorporating so many different elements into one outfit. My favorite name of one of the types of fashion is Gothic Lolita. You can imagine. When I did my research for this story in order to portray the heroine, Hana, I went to http://www.style-arena.jp/en/ . However, the story opens with Hana being laid off from the store where she works because the owner’s new wife wants her position. Well, as the story unfolds, Hana finds a new, much, much better position!

In addition to be a clothes designer, Hana is a talented mangaka (Japanese for graphic novel artist). This is an example of one of her sketches.

Delicious Love Triangle

No sex between roommates! This is the rule that Hana and her two best friends, Hiko and Shinji live by. So, Hana decides, it’s not really breaking the rule to ask her two handsome buddies to pose in erotic positions for her while she sketches what she hopes to be the manlove graphic novel that will launch her career as a manga artist. After all, Hiko and Shinji are both straight. Even better, they’re both agreeable to the plan. It’s the perfect arrangement until…

Seeing Hiko and Shinji together arouses Hana to no end. How will she be able to control herself watching their naked bodies entwined, watching them engage in acts that are the stuff of her wildest fantasies? What’s more, bit by bit, the three of them are starting to break their most important rule.

Hiko and Shinji have both been in love with Hana for a long time and out of their love for her, they’ve respected her stupid rule about no sex. But when Hana asks them to pose for her, they see their perfect chance to do away with regulation and get the woman they love into a position of their own.

Content warning: Contains male/male sexual acts, voyeurism, exhibitionism and multiple partner sex.

Excerpt:

Ohhh. Hana covered her mouth to stifle her cry. Then she blinked. Was this possible? Keeping her hand firmly over her mouth she sank to her knees in the hallways and leaned forward as much as she dared. Her heart leaped into her throat. Had Hiko really just rolled on top of Shinji? Were they really naked in the bed together, their mouths locked together in a deep hot kiss?

The soji was slid back the few inches she’d left it when she’d gone back to her room to draw, fully expecting that Shinji would leave after her to go to his room. How absolutely wrong she’d been.

Her heart pounded, sending heated blood down every vein in her body. She could just feel it, like darts of fire. The searing warmth concentrated at the apex of her thighs, which pulsed now, and her breasts felt suddenly full and heavy, her nipples grazing her camisole.

Like lovers, her two friends undulated in the bed, their bodies entwined. Hana blinked again, still thinking the vision would dispel. But it didn’t. Hiko’s muscular body and pale skin contrasted with the tan hue of Shinji’s slim, leanly muscled frame. Shinji’s legs were locked around Hiko’s hips, the soles of his feet resting on the backs of Hiko’s sloping thighs. Like every yaoi manga she’d ever read, the two men sighed and moaned, and
emanated passion.

Guilt assailed her. She was violating their privacy, spying on them like this. But then, they shouldn’t have left the door slid back, right? She started to turn, pulled back by another masculine moan. Her gaze whipped up to the bed. Hiko had pulled from Shinji’s kiss and now nibbled at the other man’s collarbone. One of Hiko’s large hands spanned Shinji’s hip.

The throbbing in Hana’s pussy intensified. She sat, frozen, staring at them, feeling her eyes stretched open as wide as they’d go. Hiko’s tongue came out and licked across Shinji’s dark nipple. Shinji arched his back, as if to push his flesh deeper into Hiko’s mouth. Hana stifled another moan, lest her friends catch her spying. Her cheeks burned mercilessly, both with excitement and guilt, yet she couldn’t have moved even if
someone had set her on fire.

Gleaming ribbons of cum still streaked the two men’s muscles. Hana realized Shinji had climaxed all over Hiko when she’d passed by the door on her way to the kitchen for a drink of water. Hiko skimmed thick fingertips over Shinji’s stomach, gathering the milky fluid. Lifting his mouth from Shinji’s chest, he leaned back. Hana’s mouth gaped open. In all the years she’d known Hiko and Shinji, she’d never seen either of them naked. Hiko’s erection pointed upward with the angle of his body. Thick and veined, it jutting from a nest of inky black pubic hair that fanned around it and funneled into a thin trail up to his navel.

She gulped, her eyes feeling as if they were bulging from her head. She shifted her a few inches and felt then how swollen and moist her pussy was. Her gaze locked onto Hiko’s movements. He was smoothing the cum up and down the shaft of his cock. He gathered more cum and reached down, between Shinji’s legs. Ohhh. His thick fingertips worked over Shinji’s hole while Shinji groaned and arched his back. Shinji was a natural uke, the way he submitted to the man who was preparing to take him.

Oh, I just love Les Byerley’s latest cover for this upcoming release for Ai Press – to launch the new erotica line, Dark Sins. It’s just gorgeous in my humble opinion. Please stay tuned for an excerpt. But here’s the blurb to give you an idea of the story:

Laura’s nights are spent in tormented ecstasy, but who is this supernatural master who commands her and makes her submit to his will?

Three people, a private investigator, a hypnotist and a professor with a curious specialty, receive a summons to try and unravel the mystery of the ‘Dark Slave’. All three are involved in the world of SM but the revelations that await them are stranger and more erotic than they could ever have imagined. A tangled web of domination over beautiful submissives is slowly revealed and acted out while Laura’s fate hangs in the balance.

Little by little, I’m getting Delicious Love Triangle finished. Oftentimes, I need to put a piece down for a while, work on other things, then pick it back up again. I don’t know why it works this way but it does. I can be locked up on a piece for what feels like forever, then when I come back to it, a whole bunch will spill out in a short time. Oh well. Mine is not to question, but to obey the muse. Anyway, here is a short but hot excerpt from the work in progress. But before that, I’ll just remind you of the blurb so you have a sense of the story:

No sex between roommates! This is the rule that Hana and her two best friends, Hiko and Shinji live by. So, Hana decides, it’s not really breaking the rule to ask her two handsome buddies to pose in erotic positions for her while she sketches what she hopes to be the manlove graphic novel that will launch her career as a manga artist. After all, Hiko and Shinji are both straight. Even better, they’re both agreeable to the plan. It’s the perfect arrangement until…

Seeing Hiko and Shinji together arouses Hana to no end. How will she be able to control herself watching their naked bodies entwined, watching them engage in acts that are the stuff of her wildest fantasies? What’s more, bit by bit, the three of them are starting to break their most important rule.

Hiko and Shinji have both been in love with Hana for a long time and out of their love for her, they’ve respected her stupid rule about no sex. But when Hana asks them to pose for her, they see their perfect chance to do away with regulation and get the woman they love into a position of their own.

Content warning: Contains male/male sexual acts, voyeurism, exhibitionism and multiple partner sex.

Excerpt:

Ohhh. Hana covered her mouth to stifle her cry. Then she blinked. Was this possible? Keeping her hand firmly over her mouth she sank to her knees in the hallways and leaned forward as much as she dared. Her heart leaped into her throat. Had Hiko really just rolled on top of Shinji? Were they really naked in the bed together, their mouths locked together in a deep hot kiss?

The soji was slid back the few inches she’d left it when she’d gone back to her room to draw, fully expecting that Shinji would leave after her to go to his room. How absolutely wrong she’d been.

Her heart pounded, sending heated blood down every vein in her body. She could just feel it, like darts of fire. The searing warmth concentrated at the apex of her thighs, which pulsed now, and her breasts felt suddenly full and heavy, her nipples grazing her camisole.

Like lovers, her two friends undulated in the bed, their bodies entwined. Hana blinked again, still thinking the vision would dispel. But it didn’t. Hiko’s muscular body and pale skin contrasted with the tan hue of Shinji’s slim, leanly muscled frame. Shinji’s legs were locked around Hiko’s hips, the soles of his feet resting on the backs of Hiko’s sloping thighs. Like every yaoi manga she’d ever read, the two men sighed and moaned, and emanated passion.

Guilt assailed her. She was violating their privacy, spying on them like this. But then, they shouldn’t have left the door slid back, right? She started to turn, pulled back by another masculine moan. Her gaze whipped up to the bed. Hiko had pulled from Shinji’s kiss and now nibbled at the other man’s collarbone. One of Hiko’s large hands spanned Shinji’s hip.

The throbbing in Hana’s pussy intensified. She sat, frozen, staring at them, feeling her eyes stretched open as wide as they’d go. Hiko’s tongue came out and licked across Shinji’s dark nipple. Shinji arched his back, as if to push his flesh deeper into Hiko’s mouth. Hana stifled another moan, lest her friends catch her spying. Her cheeks burned mercilessly, both with excitement and guilt, yet she couldn’t have moved even if someone had set her on fire.

Gleaming ribbons of cum still streaked the two men’s muscles. Hana realized Shinji had climaxed all over Hiko when she’d passed by the door on her way to the kitchen for a drink of water. Hiko skimmed thick fingertips over Shinji’s stomach, gathering the milky fluid. Lifting his mouth from Shinji’s chest, he leaned back.
Hana’s mouth gaped open. In all the years she’d known Hiko and Shinji, she’d never seen either of them naked. Hiko’s erection pointed upward with the angle of his body. Thick and veined, it jutting from a nest of inky black pubic hair that fanned around it and funneled into a thin trail up to his navel.

She gulped, her eyes feeling as if they were bulging from her head. She shifted her a few inches and felt then how swollen and moist her pussy was. Her gaze locked onto Hiko’s movements. He was smoothing the cum up and down the shaft of his cock. He gathered more cum and reached down, between Shinji’s legs. Ohhh. His thick fingertips worked over Shinji’s hole while Shinji groaned and arched his back. Shinji was a natural uke, the way he submitted to the man who was preparing to take him.

I’m glad to know my instincts are good. I had a good feeling about D.H. Starr when he submitted this story to me. It’s the perfect M/M romance if I must say so myself. But don’t take my word for it, friends. Daisemae at Night Owl Romance Reviews gave Meant for Each Other A Reviewer Top Pick! Here’s what she had to say:

“Meant for Each Other is the first book I’ve read by D.H. Starr. As a huge fan of homoerotic romances, I’m always excited to read books that are written by new authors to me. I’m very pleased to say that I loved this book and I’m definitely going to be looking for more …books written by this author in the future. I adored the easy writing style and the smooth, fluid way the story progressed. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the main characters and was unable to pull myself from the book once I started. I loved, loved, loved the relationship that the main characters had with one another. Getting to witness their relationship evolve from best friends to lovers was amazing and I thought that Mr. Starr did a phenomenal job with this transition. At no time did I feel like their relationship was rushed, but instead the story was so well paced, and told so well, I couldn’t help but get a little emotional myself (In a good way) throughout the book.”

Isn’t that awesome? And I’m glad to say that his second book with Ai Press, Reward of Courage is in the works and will come out very early in 2011!! So please visit Ai Press and subscribe to our site or join the newsletter so we can tell you as soon as Reward of Courage is released. Thank you so much! Warmly, Sedonia

My boyfriend and I watched this film the other day. Departures (Okuribito). I have to say it’s simply one of THE best films I have ever seen.

Directed by Yojiro Takita, Departures won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film in 2009. As well it should have. Beautifully acted with a moving score, it explores the depths of love and loss. Truly a film that has everything.

Daigo Kobayashi (increidbly played by Masahiro Motoki) is a cellist whose symphony is disbanded due to financial problems. He moves with his wife back to his hometown and lives in the house his mother left to him when she died two years earlier. In need of work, Daigo reads a job opportunity in the paper for the position of NK, “Assisting Departures”. Thinking it’s an ad for a travel agency position, he applies only to find out the job is assisting the “departed” by preparing their bodies for encoffinment. Daigo reluctantly takes the job because the pay is so good, yet hides his new employment from his wife. As he learns the ritual process of encoffinment, discovering the tenderness and compassion with which the passage of death is treated, he begins to like his job, finding in it a kind of satisfaction he has never before known. The story becomes interwoven with his own past in the town and his grief of having been abandoned by his father as a young boy.

If this sounds morbid, I assure you it isn’t. Even just writing about the film, I start to cry because it was so beautiful. The ceremony of encoffinment itself made me feel like our own treatment of death in this society just completely is lacking in wisdom and compassion. The ritual as I saw it in the film, is so much more for the wellbeing of the soul who has departed even though it does help the loved ones left behind as well. I don’t want to give away more of this film because I could just go on but you can rent it easily and I feel that if you do, you’ll understand what I mean. Although the movie is not a sad one, if you watch it, make sure you have plenty of tissues because you will be moved to tears.

Hi Friends – Ai Press is having a Buy 2 Get One Sale! Good for e-books bought directly from Ai Press. Offer not valid at reseller sites.

Once you’ve purchased two titles, I’ll e-mail you to tell me the third title of your choice (equal or lesser value) and I’ll send it to you directly. Offer good from now until Thanksgiving. Here’s the address: www.ai-press.net Thank you! Sedonia Guillone, owner, Ai Press

Meant for Each Other
Author: DH Starr
Genre: Gay; Contemporary
Length: Super-novel
Word count: 89, 364
ISBN-13: 978-1456346003
ISBN-10: 1456346008
Price: 5.79

Release date: November, 2010
Cover Art: Les Byerley

PDF | MOBI | LIT

Sometimes your first love is the one that was meant to be.

Craig Harper and Jeremy Finn were best friends growing up. They attended the same school, spent all of their time together, and hung out with the same group of people. It wasn’t until the day before Jeremy and his family moved across the country that they discovered their attraction to one another.

Fifteen years later, they reunite by chance in New York City. Both are in relationships and have established a routine in their lives. But routines and relationships are shaken as they begin to spend time together once again. Old feelings and connections are still strong and the passion that pulls them together is a powerful, soul-searing call neither man can deny.

As each deals with the issues in their own relationships, they begin to question whether the comfort of what they know is more powerful than the pull of what they could have been…and what they might become. Struggling to find the answer, only their hearts can reveal if they are meant for each other.

Excerpt:

Craig spent the rest of the day walking around the room, helping kids with their work. Finally, at dismissal, when the last kid had been picked up, Jeremy took Craig back inside. “You have a natural way with the kids. They adore you.”

Happiness flooded Craig at the compliment. “Well, they’re kind of hard not to love. They’re so cute and damn if they aren’t smart as hell too.” I can’t believe how a simple compliment from him causes my heart to race. “So, we have a couple of hours to kill before we’re supposed to meet the boys downtown at The Bulls and Bears.”

Jeremy walked over to the far corner of the room and stood in front of a bulletin board covered with student work. Craig followed him. “Are these the stories your kids wrote?”

“Yeah. I’ve left spaces next to each one for their pictures.” Jeremy kept his eyes focused on the board as he spoke. “I’ve never had anyone take an interest in my class before. No one. I mean my parents ask about school and Andrew listens to my stories, but you really care about the kids.”

Craig watched Jeremy as he continued to inspect the wall, surprised to find the flush had moved from his neck to his cheeks. When Jeremy turned to face him, two smoldering eyes caught him in a lust-filled gaze. Before he had a chance to speak, Jeremy grabbed him and gave him a fierce kiss. Unable to resist, not wanting to, Craig wrapped his arms around Jeremy and kissed him back, opening his mouth to Jeremy’s invading tongue.

They remained together for several minutes, gripping each other as the intensity of their kiss increased and their straining erections pressed against each other through the fabric of their pants.

The wall connected with Craig’s back and Jeremy leaned his body even tighter, to create more pressure and friction. Craig allowed him to take charge, his own hands carelessly running along lateral muscles and resting on Jeremy’s waist.

Jeremy’s hands were far from gentle. He wrapped one hand behind Craig’s neck and pulled him close, sealing their lips together in a fervent kiss. His other hand worked its way inside Craig’s shirt, lightly pinching the sensitive nipple, rolling the nub of flesh between his thumb and forefinger and leaving Craig helpless to do anything but enjoy.

When Jeremy ended the kiss, they both stood panting for a moment, simply staring at each other.

Craig was the first to speak. “Jesus, Jeremy. What if someone saw us?”

Jeremy laughed. “They couldn’t. See, the door is on this wall and we’re standing in the corner here. They would have to come into the room to catch us and no one ever comes in once school lets out.”

“But—”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t help myself when I’m around you. And watching you interact with my kids and the way you understand me and what I do…it’s a huge turn on. You have no idea how good it makes me feel to know you appreciate what I do.” Jeremy’s lips were red and swollen from their kisses, making them appear even more pouty and kissable. Since it was obvious that his cock was tenting his pants, Craig didn’t bother hiding as he reached into the front and readjusted himself. Jeremy laughed and did the same.

“Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy kissing you, but you’re with Andrew and I’m with Robert.”
Jeremy finished tucking his shirt back into his pants, his skin returning to a normal pallor. “I know. We’re going to have to work harder at controlling ourselves. Let’s say we’re even. You pulled me into a kiss the other day. I initiated this one.”

Craig had to work to suppress a laugh, the thought of them competing to see who could trap the other in the most compromising kiss caused all his work at readjusting himself to be undone. “This isn’t a competition, Jeremy.”

Jeremy shuffled from foot to foot. “I like kissing you.”

Four words, four very dangerous words which could make the difference between a lasting friendship, or losing one forever. Craig held Jeremy’s gaze. “Maybe we should grab a bite to eat before meeting the guys.”
Jeremy nodded, grabbed his things, and led Craig outside. The fresh air helped to dissipate the heat between them and made regular conversation easier. “Do you like Thai food?” Jeremy’s voice had returned to its normal cheerful tone.

Meant for Each Other by up and coming hot m/m authot, D.H. Starr will be out VERY soon. I promise! In the meantime, though, Les Byerley’s brilliant and beautiful cover for this book is in a contest. Please go and vote here!. Thank you and here’s a little teaser from Meant for Each Other due out very soon from Ai Press!

(Unedited. May differ slightly from final version)

Jeremy stood a little straighter, his shoulders squaring from their previously slumped position. “Oh, well, Andrew goes in on the weekends a lot too. I know where the glasses are. You must want to get changed.

Craig nodded. “Yeah, I’ll just be a minute.” He headed into his room, kicked off his shoes, stripped off his shorts, jock-strap, and socks, and stepped into the shower. The initial shock of cold water helped to break the heat from his run and from his flirting with Jeremy. As the water slowly warmed, so did his muscles. He leaned his head back, allowing the water to soak through his hair and run down over his head.

When he removed his head from the water and wiped his eyes, he shouted out loud in shock.

Jeremy had pulled the curtain aside and was standing in the bathroom, naked. “Mind if I join you? I caught a whiff of myself and I stink.” Craig didn’t have a chance to respond before Jeremy stepped into the shower next to him. “Shit, Craig, this is hot.”

He wasn’t sure whether Jeremy was referring to the water temperature or the fact that the two of them were standing naked together. Deciding to busy himself rather than contemplate his situation, Craig grabbed a loofah and pomegranate body wash and began to scrub at his skin. The scent of citrus filled the room, carried through the air by the steam. It both refreshed and stimulated his senses. Raising his arm to scrub at his lateral muscles and down to his waist, his body brushed against Jeremy’s, slipping with wet soapiness. The sensation shot straight through him, causing his penis to slowly lengthen and thicken.

“Hey, mind if I grab that other loofah?” Jeremy didn’t wait for an answer, instead, he just leaned across Craig’s body, chest sliding against chest, and grabbed it. Craig inhaled sharply at the contact. Jeremy’s body had seemed lanky, but under the spray, with the light gleaming off his skin, each ripple of muscle became highlighted. Craig admired the line splitting his abdomen into two halves and the ridges revealing his washboard stomach. His pec muscles weren’t large, but they were smooth and tan, dotted by nickel sized nipples which seemed to have a gravitational pull. It was work, but Craig managed to keep his mouth from clamping down on one.

Glancing down was his undoing. Jeremy’s cock swayed heavily in front of him, jutting out at a slight angle, not hard, but filling out. Long, with a perfect head, the pink skin under the ridge stretched, looking pure and clean. If Craig were to take that into his mouth, he imagined it would taste sweet, with a hint of salty, and it would smell of Jeremy. His own penis continued to grow until it nudged Jeremy’s leg. Shocked by the contact, he shot his head up and was caught in one of the most heated gazes he could remember.

Jeremy’s amber eyes seemed alight with a fire beneath the surface. Unable to draw his eyes away, Craig stood, his erection now at full-mast, saluting the statue of perfection standing before him. Jeremy glanced down, licked his lips, then returned his eyes to gaze at Craig once again. “I can’t reach my back. Would you mind soaping me?”

Jeremy turned around, revealing the lean cant of his body, shoulders rounding over a sturdy frame and a slow slant of muscle into narrow hips, only to round into two firm mounds of ass. Craig’s own cock was merely inches away from Jeremy’s crease, throbbing with excitement. Shaking his head, he poured body wash onto his loofah and worked up a lather, then ran the mesh up and down Jeremy’s back, starting at his shoulders and moving in circular motions to massage as he worked his way down Jeremy’s body.

When he got half way down Jeremy’s back, Jeremy leaned forward, placing his forearms on the wall in front of him and resting his head on them. At this angle, his ass was positioned at an inviting angle. A dusting of dark hair ran from the base of his spine and disappeared into the crack of his ass, giving his slender frame a highly masculine appearance. Craig made quick work of washing the remainder of Jeremy’s back, making sure to keep his hands and the loofah away from the treasure displayed before him.

Once he finished, Jeremy stood up. “Here, switch, I’ll do you.” He glanced down once again as Craig stepped aside and allowed Jeremy to stand under the spray of the water. His eyebrows raised slightly as he bit his lower lip. “Lean forward like I did, it will make it easier for me to get your whole back.

Craig obeyed, leaning forward as Jeremy had. Even with the patter of water against the walls, the floor, and the plastic lining of the shower, Craig heard Jeremy’s gasp. I know what he’s just noticed. The thought of Jeremy admiring his mounded ass and the network of muscles perfectly aligned to give him a symmetrically pleasing physique caused his own cock to lurch. This was too much. He had fantasized about something like this, but never imagined it would really happen. And now that it was happening, he couldn’t do anything to satisfy the lust coursing through him. The irony of the situation was torture.

Just when he thought he couldn’t become any more aroused, Jeremy began scrubbing at his back, taking care to vigorously work the suds into his skin, applying just the right amount of pressure for the loofah to scrape away old skin, leaving his body shining and fresh. As Jeremy continued washing him, Craig felt something press against him from behind. It was subtle at first, but then the pressure increased. Jeremy had closed the distance between them and his cock was pressed against his ass. He was fully erect and his movements rubbed his hard shaft back and forth against his wet skin. Luckily he didn’t try to work his cock into his crease because Craig wouldn’t be able to stop himself if Jeremy were that close to fulfilling his greatest desire.

As if sensing his inner struggle, Jeremy stepped back. “C’mon, wash the suds off.”

The sense of loss overwhelmed Craig and he groaned, his voice carrying through the bathroom.

Craig turned, not caring that his cock was arched all the way up so it ran parallel to his abdomen. Jeremy stood aside and allowed Craig to stand under the spray of the water. The silkiness of the suds as they ran down his back, over his ass, and along the length of his legs only heightened his pleasure.

Once clean, Craig lifted his eyes and stared at Jeremy. Jeremy’s lips curled up in a hint of a smirk, giving him a devilish appearance, but there was a seriousness to his expression as well. Any intensity which indicated there was nothing amusing about this moment for him.

I’m so looking forward to the writing workshop I’m conducting this weekend. There will fourteen authors attending and we’ll talk about all kinds of fun stuff like cutting fluff out of the plot, making it tight, working on Point of View to keep it consistent scene to scene, stuff like that. Oh, and of course, there will be the erotic stuff – now’s my chance to advise authors on the words for the naughty bits that I feel don’t work in erotic romance and the ones that do!
Aside from that, I’m busy at work on Beautiful Samurai, Old Ghosts, third in the Toshi Genjin/John Holmes mystery series. I’ve been doing my research on Tokyo – neighborhoods, weather, etc. because alas, I’ve never been there and so much know as much about it as is humanly possible.

Oh, and before I forget, coming to Ai Press, hopefully in November, is D.H. Starr’s Meant for Each Other. It’s in edits right now and will be a sexy, angst and romance-filled tale that M/M readers are sure to love!