Author: Kathryn Sparrow
Title: Devil's Bargain
Series: King of Hearts Book 1
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 67500 Words
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: 3rd January 2019
Synopsis
Seth Griffin is forced to live out his wildest dreams at the expense of his best friend, the man he loves.Seth Griffin's life was basically on track. Attend Cornell, double major in Mechanical Engineering and Astronomy, play basketball, and room with his best friend, Kevin. So what if he had a hopeless crush on his gorgeous, straight friend.
When Maynard Frederick Winthrop IV buys all of Seth's family's debt and threatens to foreclose, everything Seth has worked for is in jeopardy. Winthrop offers Seth a deal: spend a week at his mansion, a place that seems to defy logic and violate the laws of physics, performing challenges of Winthrop's choosing. If Seth succeeds, all will be forgiven.
But can Seth do as Winthrop asks, especially when Kevin is the one who will pay the price?
Excerpt
“There’s one thing I don’t understand about you. You’re gay. You’re out. You live in a liberal state, but you rarely hook up, no boyfriends, nothing. What gives?”
What? Why did Winthrop know he was gay or care?
“Excuse me. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Winthrop’s brows climbed. “Believe me. It’s my business. Everyone has needs, but you live like a monk.”
“I’m a double major across two colleges and a varsity athlete. I don’t have time for a boyfriend, and I’m done with hookups.”
Winthrop shook his head, a frown marring his face. “That’s crazy. There are even a couple guys on your team who have offered to blow you, bottom, top, whatever, but you keep refusing. Even on those away games, alone, in a hotel.”
“Look. Enough of this.” Seth slammed his hand down on the table. “I came here. I sat through this meal. It’s done. You clearly have my family and me over a barrel. Isn’t it time to tell me what this is all about?”
“As you wish.”
What? Why did Winthrop know he was gay or care?
“Excuse me. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Winthrop’s brows climbed. “Believe me. It’s my business. Everyone has needs, but you live like a monk.”
“I’m a double major across two colleges and a varsity athlete. I don’t have time for a boyfriend, and I’m done with hookups.”
Winthrop shook his head, a frown marring his face. “That’s crazy. There are even a couple guys on your team who have offered to blow you, bottom, top, whatever, but you keep refusing. Even on those away games, alone, in a hotel.”
“Look. Enough of this.” Seth slammed his hand down on the table. “I came here. I sat through this meal. It’s done. You clearly have my family and me over a barrel. Isn’t it time to tell me what this is all about?”
“As you wish.”
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Bonus Author Post
Writing about sex in Zero-G
By chapter fifteen of Devil’s Bargain, things are getting quite odd. At this point Winthrop tells the MCs Seth and Kevin to get in an elevator. Half an hour later, they step out into a room and start to float. They are in Zero-G. Are they in space? The evidence seems to suggest that, but Seth finds it difficult to believe there is an elevator that leads to space. He also knows there is no technology on Earth that can simulate zero G for long periods of time. I’ll leave it to you to decide.
Writing about sex in zero-G was super fun for me. I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing zero-G so I needed to research. I read articles where people described zero-G. I watched some videos. Ultimately, I had to draw my own conclusions.
I wanted the reader to really feel like they were floating in space with Seth and Kevin. Engineering school and physics class were many, many years ago so I couldn’t do the calculations but I tried to let that learning guide me as I considered actions and reactions.
I decided I was on the right track when one of my critique partners told me she felt motion sick reading the chapter.
“I don’t know how this is possible.” Seth’s voice was a reverent whisper. “It must be fake, but we don’t have the tech to do that.” Seth shook his head slowly in awe.
“I don’t know either, but let’s enjoy it.” Kevin pushed off and did a forward roll in the air, whooping in delight.
Seth tried to do the same, pushed too hard, and ended up ricocheting off the walls of the large room until he managed to snag a handhold near the windows.
The view mesmerized him. Below, North America stretched, colored in greens and browns. White swirls and eddies obscured part of Canada and dotted the rest of the continent. South America’s large green top peaked out from the curve of the Earth. And the ocean, surrounding the land, in deep blue. A perfect marble on a black background.
His breathing quickened. Unforgettable. Whether it was real or not, it amazed him.
He pushed off slower this time, but he aimed poorly, colliding with Kevin, who flung his arms around Seth, catching him mid-room. Momentum pushed them along a third path, but at a slow, easy, steady pace.
“Got ya.” Kevin’s tender smile lit his eyes. “I can’t believe this. My mind just won’t process it. Maybe we’ll meet fairies next.”
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