Author Name: Ari McKay
Book Name: Herc’s Mercs: The Harder They
Fall
Series: Herc’s Mercs
Book: Five
This book can be read as a standalone
Release
Date: January 6, 2016
Blurb:
Chris Hardison never expected the simple
consulting gig to put him on somebody’s hit list, but Hercules Security’s
resident computer whiz never does anything by halves. Now he’s on the run,
guarded by gorgeous Jason Hekili, the newest member of Herc’s crew. But Chris and
Jason have a past, and holing up in a safe house together is as complicated as
it is dangerous.
Jason
still wants Chris even though his broken heart hasn’t healed. He isn’t sure he
can trust Chris, but when a crime syndicate targets Chris for assassination,
Jason has to put his life on the line to protect Chris or risk losing their
second chance for happiness before it even begins.
Pages or Words: 44,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay
Fiction, M/M Romance, Thriller, Action/Adventure
Excerpt:
It took him a few minutes to find the
right place, and his heart lurched when he saw Jason sparring with a tall,
broad-shouldered Native American merc. He hovered in the doorway of the
training room, torn between wanting to run over, fling himself at Jason, and
beg for forgiveness, or wanting to flee.
Jason had changed. Gone were the thick,
dark waves that Chris had loved to run his fingers through; Jason had shorn it
all off in favor of a buzz cut, and Chris wanted to cry at the loss. Jason’s
shoulders were broader, and he was even more muscular overall. After working
with mercs for so long, Chris knew the difference between bodybuilder muscles
and working muscles, and he could tell Jason had gotten those hard muscles from
work. Jason’s body wasn’t the only thing that looked harder; Jason’s face looked
different as well. More closed off, more distant. It was enough to make Chris
want to turn and run. How could he possibly stand a chance with this
Jason?
Before he could slip away unnoticed, the
other merc knocked Jason on his ass. Jason let out a grunt when he hit the
floor, but he didn’t grimace or show any other sign of pain. He simply bounded
to his feet and turned—and spotted Chris.
For a long moment, he simply stood there,
holding Chris’ gaze, and something that Chris thought might be hope brightened
his eyes. Then Jason turned away, said something to his sparring partner, and
headed toward the far side of the room.
Chris’ heart plummeted at that clear
rejection signal, but he knew he deserved it. He lifted his chin and squared
his shoulders. Jason had seen him, so he couldn’t just sneak out like this had
never happened, and he hadn’t come all this way to give up so easily anyway.
The other merc’s eyebrows climbed as he watched Chris march across the room,
and Chris heard him say something about going to the showers, but Chris’
attention was focused entirely on Jason.
“Jason, I’d like
to talk,” he said firmly as he approached.
Jason draped a towel around his neck, his
spine straightening before he turned slowly to face Chris. Up close, Chris
could see that a slender, pale line of a scar now bisected Jason’s right
eyebrow. The line mercifully skipped over his eye, but picked up again on his
cheek, running down to the sharp line of his jaw. It made his cheekbones look
even more pronounced and pulled the line of his lips slightly crooked, though
that wasn’t easy to judge, since he was clenching his jaw.
“I believe you agreed six months ago that
there was nothing more to say,” Jason replied, his voice ragged, betraying
emotions that didn’t show on his face. “And you didn’t want to subject yourself
to a long, awkward ride.”
“A lot can change in six months,” Chris
pointed out, aching to reach out and touch Jason but knowing he didn’t have
that right yet. “You have. So have I.”
“Is that so?” Jason regarded him with
narrowed eyes, a muscle twitching slightly in his jaw. It was something Chris
recognized at once as a “tell,” an indicator that Jason wasn’t nearly as
unaffected by Chris’ presence as he was trying to appear; sometimes the little
things he’d learned from being around people in the physical side of the
security business were quite useful.
“Yes, that’s so,” Chris replied quietly.
This was the part where he laid himself utterly bare and held nothing back,
which was terrifying, but it was necessary if he wanted any hope of winning
Jason back. “I’ve had plenty of time to think about what an idiot I was. I’m
sorry I hurt you, and I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. You didn’t do anything
wrong. It was all me and my stupid insecurities getting in the way. Letting you
go was the biggest mistake of my life.”
Jason’s eyes widened slightly as if he was
surprised at Chris being so blunt and forthcoming. At first, he stared back at
Chris, seeming to search for something. Finally he gave a terse nod. “I’m glad
you realize that,” he said quietly.
“I do, and I’m willing to do anything to
make up for my stupidity.” Chris took a little step closer, gazing up at Jason
hopefully. “I’ve missed you so much, Jason. I haven’t been able to stop
thinking about how good we were together. I came here to see if there was any
way you’d consider giving me a second chance.”
Again,
Jason didn’t answer immediately, and this time, there was no mistaking the pain
in the look he gave Chris. “There’s a problem with that.” He glanced away from
Chris and frowned. “Trust has to go both ways.”
Meet the author:
Ari
McKay is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who collaborate on
original m/m fiction. They began writing together in 2004 and finished their
first original full-length novel in 2011. Recently, they've begun collaborating
on designing and creating costumes to wear and compete in at Sci-Fi
conventions, and they share a love of yarn and cake.
Arionrhod is an avid costumer, knitter, and all-around craft fiend, as well as
a professional systems engineer. Mother of two human children and two dachshunds
who think they are human, she is a voracious reader with wildly eclectic
tastes, devouring romance novels, military science fiction, horror stories and
Shakespeare with equal glee. She is currently preparing for the zombie
apocalypse.
McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most
of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video
games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills
of a gnat, she's relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse
Where to find the author:
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover
Artist: Kris Norris
Tour Dates & Stops: January 5, 2016
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