The sexiest story I've ever written

 

 

When it comes down to it most novels, and especially romance novels, are about relationships between people. Girl meets boy, decides he's not suitable but that changes over time. My books are no exception – after all, the struggle is what makes it interesting. How does he convince her? How long does she defend?

But it's never that simple is it? Take Morgan Selwood, renegade Supertech. You could say she's a very human cyborg, able to interface with any computer, and prickly and difficult as far as most humans are concerned.

When she is rescued/captured by Admiral Ravindra, commander of an alien battlecruiser, Ravindra soon recognizes that this extraordinary woman could be a very useful military asset. And she is. But over time, she gets under his skin and he begins to see her as a desirable woman. For her part, as she gets to know Ravindra, she starts to see past the admiral's uniform to the man. When they're thrown into desperate danger with only each other to rely on they learn mutual respect, trust, and love.

All of that takes place in Morgan's Choice.

But then I felt the urge to write another part to the story, where it's all about the love part of the relationship. Morgan is a brilliant Supertech, a weapon in Ravindra's armoury, and she finds it difficult to get beyond that fact. Does he really care for her, or is it the supertech he wants?

A Victory Celebration is probably the sexiest story I've ever written/am likely to write. The events take place a short time after the end of Morgan's Choice. Morgan is on Ravindra's flagship as a member of his team. He's still very much a Manesai admiral in a patriarchal, regimented society so she's still something of an outsider with doubts about her position in his life. When Ravindra's fleet wins a decisive battle (with her help) it's time for the boys and girls to celebrate.

Here's a short excerpt:

Oh, bloody hell. I just can't concentrate.

The model hung in mid air, motionless. Morgan broke the connection to the data port, leaned back in the chair and flung the nearest object to hand across the room. "Shit."

"Morgan?" Leila Peris stared at her, a data cube in her raised hand.

Oh, shit. That must've been what she'd thrown. "You caught that?"

Leila nodded.

"Sorry." Morgan lifted a hand. "Just letting out some frustration. What are you doing here? I thought you were on leave?"

Leila put the data cube back on Morgan's desk, leaning forward so she could lower her voice. "I heard you were still on the ship. You won't be joining the admiral?"

Morgan glanced at the two techs. They were bent over their screens. Not that it mattered. The whole ship had to be aware that she and Ravindra were a bit more than friends.

"Not tonight. He'll be celebrating with his men."

"Aren’t you jealous?" Leila asked, propping a hip on the desk. They'd become friends, after a fashion. Leila was a promising engineer who had been involved in building and testing the model ship. She wasn't afraid to ask questions and wasn't afraid of Morgan.

Of course I'm not. "No. I’m not the only woman in his life; never was, never will be. That’s the way it is." Maybe a little bit jealous. But she was nothing if not pragmatic.

"Why don’t you come with us? Girls' night out? We're going out for a really expensive dinner and then maybe to a club to do some dancing. All the local girls will be off trying to latch on to a fleeter so there are plenty of local guys to dance with. And don't worry if you can't dance. We can teach you."

Female company, a good dinner, some dancing. Yes, better than working by herself, mooning about Ravindra. Dancing. Yes, she could dance. The memory made her smile. Would Ravindra mind? Then again, did she care if he did? A resounding ‘no’ to that one. He lived his life, she lived hers.

***

Or maybe not…

 A Victory Celebration is a long short story, a little under ten thousand words

What’s good for the gander has to be good for the goose … or so Morgan thinks. The fleet has won a major battle and Ravindra’s doing his celebratory thing with his officers. Morgan gets a rare invite for a girls’ night out.

Dinner, a little dancing, a little jealous pining… And a whole lot of trouble when Ravindra discovers his lady is out ‘n about… without protection. What started as an innocent night on the town turns into something very, very different.

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