Title: In The Spotlight
Author: Shona Husk
Genre: Adult, M/M Romance
Published: October 25, 2016
Published By: Escape Publishing
 A diva who lives for the spotlight, a sailor deeply in the closet, a love that will change them both.
Ripley Malone is returning to Perth in triumph. A principal ballet dancer in a production that has critics raving, he is an unqualified success, and all the small-minded people that made his life hell can kiss his lycra-covered ass. But behind the makeup and the glitter and the costumes, Ripley is beginning to tire, tire of the competition, the drive, the endless parade of meaningless lovers. For Pierce Lovell, joining the Navy was a way out of rural Victoria, but becoming a submariner comes with its own set of challenges. The close living quarters and long months away are awkward enough without adding any extra tension around his sexuality. The fear is probably in his head, but he isn’t taking any chances with his career. He gets by on anonymous one-night-stands every time they come to shore and keeps his heart well-shielded. But one night with Ripley opens the tantalising possibility of more. Through a mistake Ripley is injured. He can’t dance. His wings are clipped and he crashes down and hits the earth hard. Pierce knows their affair can’t possibly end in anything but heartache, but he can’t stay away. As Ripley heals and reassesses his life, he is determined not to make the same mistakes again. That means letting someone see the vulnerable side of him. But vulnerability for Pierce could cost him everything. |
In The Spotlight Excerpt © Shona Husk 2016
Four hours later the alarm went off. There was an arm wrapped around him and a body pressed against him. Pierce hadn’t expected to sleep, but he must have crashed. Now he didn’t want to move. He couldn’t call in sick. He had to turn up and prove he was sick to get the day off, which didn’t achieve anything. He closed his eyes again and tried not to enjoy the sensation of waking up with someone too much.
‘Whose dumb idea was it to get up early?’ Ripley rolled over and silenced the alarm.
‘Yours.’ Pierce sighed. An extra hour of sleep would’ve been nice.
‘Mmm. Yes.’ Ripley moved closer, pressing his body against Pierce’s back. He placed a kiss between his shoulder blades. ‘I didn’t want you to be running out the door without leaving me a number or a glass slipper or something.’
He really wanted his number? ‘I’ll give you my number.’
‘Good.’ His hand skimmed lower.
Pierce was fully awake and it took Ripley about three seconds to discover that.
‘Why couldn’t you work in the city …’ his hand was moving and there was a nice hardness pressing against Pierce’s ass.
He rolled over to face the dancer, not wanting to accidentally give him the wrong idea.
‘What time do you start?’
‘Ten-ish with class, then full rehearsal and individual coaching … then I get a few hours off before performing. I’m going back to sleep when you leave.’
Ripley would be dancing all day, it was no wonder he looked so good with his clothes off. ‘I would be too. What’s the show?’
‘Beastly … I am the beast.’
Pierce laughed.
Ripley pushed him onto his back and straddled him. ‘I can be horrible.’
‘This doesn’t feel horrible.’
‘Let me expand your repertoire beyond quick and dirty. Have a fling with me.’ His lips were dangerously close.
It was hard to think. He was going to get third-degree burns. He was going to end up with scars. But Ripley was offering him everything he wanted. And in three weeks’ time he was going to going through withdrawal and wanting to die.
At least he would’ve lived first.
 Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.
With over forty books published, ranging from sensual to scorching, she writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance. |
Hosted By:
Sexy Romance Novels 