In my magical M/M romance Strikes Twice, Marty is a new air wizard looking for a purpose and he’s convinced he can help a troubled man with a debilitating electrical curse. Az, cursed and cranky, has some doubts. They don’t get off on the right foot.
Here’s an excerpt from the novel. In this scene, Marty and Az are outside on the Primrose University campus and they’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. Well, technically they get off an incredibly sexy foot which then goes wrong, then really wrong—and now they’re at odds. Marty’s having some trouble acting professional while trying to convince Az he can handle himself around unpredictable magic energy. Then Az tests Marty’s resolve.
Marty
I can’t help but notice how hot Az looks in the sunlight. Who wears a leather jacket in the summer? He’s dressed in layers and black from head to toe. I tell myself he looks stupid, but…
At least six feet tall and packed with solid muscle, Az Serrano practically towers over me. His bronze skin must be a genetic gift because despite the summer season and sunny day, he’s extremely covered up. How is he not sweating and panting in the heat? Maybe his bad attitude fends off the heat. Isn’t he hot?
Yes, very hot, my brain supplies instantly. Not what I meant. Az should look hot temperature-wise, but instead, he looks sexy hot.
I force myself to focus and start clearing the air.
“You’re going to hear me out. This is professional.”
“Really?” That evil smirk and glint in his eyes only makes him less hot, I tell myself firmly. “Tell that to your eyes, they keep undressing me.”
“No, my eyes are doing no such thing. If anything, they’re putting more layers on you, Az. You must be delusional. Az the delusional ass. Has a nice ring, doesn’t it? Or maybe just Az the ass. Hey, Az…” Eager to get off this topic, I let the unusual name distract me. “What kind of name is Az, anyway?”
“Short for Azure,” he grits out because even pulling basic information out of him is apparently too much.
“Is that so, Azur—”
“Nope. Don’t even try. Only my tias and abuelas call me Azure. Are you my tia or my abuela, Marty?”
“Okay fine, just curious.” I raise my hands and remind him why I’m really here. “Let’s talk about the study you canceled.”
“You wouldn’t last a day on this study, so there’s no point in pretending otherwise.”
“I have what it takes to contribute,” I grit through clenched teeth.
“No, you’re an overconfident newbie who’s going to run away scared at the first unexpected zap.”
“Bring it on.”
“Oh yeah?” To test my resolve, the lunatic reaches out and touches my wrist, sending an electric shock coursing through my body. I grit my teeth. The jolt isn’t strong, but it’s a struggle to not react. Especially since the smartest thing for an air caster to do is to not get shocked.
But he needs to know he can’t scare me away that easily. I’m not running away. I’m not afraid of a challenge and I can do this job.
“See? I didn’t run away at the first unexpected shock.” I stand my ground, but he still doesn’t look impressed.
“Handling an unpredictable curse is vastly different from a single zap of electricity,” he says.
“Bring. It. On.” I repeat, not about to come this far and back down now.
“Fine, you think you can handle yourself around wild electricity? Prove it.”
—
And that’s all for now. Does Marty pass Az’s test? Do they play an absurdly serious game of tag on the campus lawn? Can Marty unravel the curse? Find out in Strikes Twice. This was a really fun one to write as Marty and Az are both so feisty and they wind each other up so easily.
Gay Paranormal Romance 