“I probably need to apologize,” she said nervously.
He set his menu down, folding his hands on top of it. “Take your time.”
#MuseMon
Subject: “Sorry/Not Sorry”

This is it, ladies and gentlemen! The end times! The apocalypse! Pastor Al Purifoy and his deacons have the inside scoop on the exact date that the world is coming to an end, and now they’re tasked with choosing who gets let in on the secret.
It turns out to be a little more difficult than they thought, weeding out the less-than-worthy of God’s grace, and with a spitfire named Lydia along for the ride, it’s going to get bumpy!
Read Shall We Gather (FREE!) on Smashwords or Wattpad.

Captain’s Choice is a series of one-off fics set in and around The Memory Keeper series of stories. In this particular installment, Killian and Emma are parents to Meriel, age 3 1/2, and Finn, who’s a rather restless toddler. You’ll see that Papa Killian has him well in hand . . .
*thump*
“What was that?” Emma’s voice was muffled in the pillow, and she didn’t open her eyes.
*thump*slide*thump*
“There it goes again,” she grumbled, giving Killian a push. “It’s your turn.”
“Uuugh. Have a heart, love,” he groaned. “I just got to sleep.”
“So did I,” came the muffled reply. “It’s your turn.” She still didn’t open her eyes.
Killian ran a hand through his hair, sitting up.
“Can’t go, love. I’m naked.”
“Me, too. Not an excuse.”
He sighed, reaching for his breeches and sliding them on. Then he padded over to the door, and down the hall to the nursery. The moonlight from the open window fell across Meriel as she lay sound asleep, with one hand stretched across the bed. Killian walked over, pulling the covers up around her. He attempted to pull her arm back in and fold it over her chest, but she wouldn’t let him budge it, even in her sleep. He didn’t want to risk waking her, so he smoothed her hair and left her as she was.
He yawned, running his hand through his hair again, and turned to the crib.
“Oh, bloody hell.”

“I knew getting too close would get me burned, but I craved your warmth.”
#musemon
#WIP
In my short story, CASHING IN, we meet a woman who has a very singular mission: to find Death.
When she finally tracks him down at an arcade in a shopping mall, he decides to indulge her, but first he asks “Why?”
Read the short story for free here.

In my Once Upon A Time fanfiction, Pandora’s Pain, Storybrooke is visited by a lone woman, who’s looking for a very particular box. Unfortunately, this woman carries a curse that affects the lives of anyone near her, sending them back to relive the most troubled time in their life.
In this scene, Killian and Emma have a quiet moment alone before all hell breaks loose – and Emma decides to ask a difficult question . . .
They stood in silence for several minutes, just watching the sun sink into the sea. Killian had been right about that, too – it was incredibly romantic. She sighed, lifting her head from where she’d leaned it back against his chest.
“Why the long sigh, Swan?” he asked. “You’re not turning pensive on me, are you?”
“Maybe a little bit,” she confessed. “Just thinking about what life must be like – looking at this every day.”
“And now you know why the sea is any sailor’s first love,” he replied. “I suppose his ship is his second.”
And you gave up your ship for me, she thought. A glance over her shoulder at his face said he was probably thinking the same thing.
“It’s all right, Swan,” he said with a half-smile. “I don’t regret that trade.” Continue reading