Congratulations to the Winners of my Personal Leave Jarheads Contest

First prize -- a print copy of Personal Leave -- Nicole

Second Prize -- an ebook copy of Personal Leave -- Sylvie

Third prize -- a trio of rubber duckies, jarheads style -- Merry

The novel will be released by Torquere Press December 13, 2006 -- just in time for the holidays! Personal Leave takes place between Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and there's a bit of a tease for it just below the contest instructions. You can pre-order a copy that will be sent out before December 13 and signed by me!

Personal Leave

Alex "Rigger" Roberts and Jim "Rock" South are starting to build a solid life together, even as hard as that is for a Marine and a flight nurse. They have pizza, beer, a dog, and lots and lots of communication in bed.

The only thing Rock doesn't really communicate well about is his family or his past. Rig thinks that's a little strange, as close as he is to his own tight-knit, loving family, and he sets out to pry a few details out of his studly Marine.

When a death in Rock's family has them leaving North Carolina for New England, Rig gets more than he bargained for. There's bad blood there, and when things boil over, Rig has Rock's back, deciding that his Marine is better off without a family like that.

Things aren't exactly smooth for Rig's family, either, and a family tragedy leaves him wondering if life will ever be the same. Rig tries to deal with is problems on his own, like he always has, but Rock proves to him soon enough that it's better to have someone there to pick up the pieces.

Sean Michael gives us a true slice of Jarheads life in Personal Leave, a hot and moving tale of two men who laugh, love and live together. Take some time to yourself and read it today!

Personal Leave excerpt

"Hey, Momma. Yeah, he's home. Nope, doesn't look any worse for wear. Yeah, we're eating fine." Rig grinned at Rock as Momma chattered on and on, just jabbering away like she didn't talk to him once a week.

He plopped down on the sofa and stretched out, the rain hammering the house, Grimmy snoring like a freight train. Yep. Perfect Sunday. Well, except for the fact that Momma'd been talking for an hour and Rock was starting to rumble some. Impatient man.

Rock glared over from the easy chair, turning pages of his magazine without even looking at them. Those blue eyes weren't furious or anything, but they weren't happy. Rock looked pointedly at his watch.

He mouthed over, "I know. She's chatty."

Rock rolled his eyes and growled a little. The man went back to his magazine, but a moment later tossed it at the coffee table. Then Rock reached over, fingers tickling the sole of Rig's foot. Oh, shit. He snorted, foot jerking back, toes curling. The corner of Rock's mouth twitched and Rock reached for his other foot, one hand holding onto his toes before it was treated to the same tickling touch.

He laughed, apologizing to Momma even as he chuckled again. "Momma. Momma, I... I gotta..."

"You boys. Tell Jim I said hello."

"Goodbye, Momma," Rock called out, fingers sliding from his sole to his ankle, the touch just a little harder now.

"Uh-huh. Bye Momma. Love you." He clicked the phone off, dropped it. "You ass. She knew something was up."

Rock's eyebrow went up. "Something is up. And you've been on the phone with her all fucking day."

"Not all day, butthead. Just a while." He shook his head, stretched. "Thanks for the rescue, though. She might've gone on 'til church started."

"I wasn't rescuing you," Rock pointed out, hand warm where it was wrapped around his ankle. He was given a wicked look and then his foot was tickled again.

"No tickling, Rock. Damn. No tickling." He started laughing, tugging at Rock's hand, toes curling. Bastard.

Rock just laughed, hand holding his foot still as the tickles continued. Those blue eyes twinkled at him.

"B...bitch." Rig twisted, reaching for the sofa arm and tugging himself across the couch. He caught Rock by surprised, and managed to drag his Blue halfway out of his easy-chair thanks to the grip on his foot. Rock's laughter got louder and he pressed his mouth to Rig's sole, blowing a long raspberry on it.

"Blue!" He hooted, fighting not to kick Rock in the teeth, laughing so hard it almost hurt.

Rock's own laughter kept those lips dragging over his skin and then his ankle was bitten and Rock was climbing up over him on the couch.

"Hello there, marine." He leaned up, stretching to get a kiss.

"Hello there, yourself." Rock moved slowly, mouth finally closing over his in a kiss that stole his breath.

"Mmmhmm." Rig groaned, one leg wrapping around Rock's hip and dragging them closer together. Yummy.

One of Rock's hands settled on his hip, wrapping around it like Rock was staking his claim. The other one, settled in the cushion next to his head, keeping the bulk of Rock's weight off him.  The kiss got deeper, Rock's tongue pushing in.

Oh. Oh, fuck yeah. Hello. He wrapped his lips around Rock's tongue, sucking good and hard. Rock's hips picked up the rhythm, sliding against him. Those blue eyes just stared into his, every fiber of Rock right there with him. Oh, hell. Horny fucker. Rig was fucking made for this.

© 2006 Sean Michael