New release, ladies & gents! “Buddy Holiday”, a Festivus novella from Loose Id and a sequel to “Tomcat Jones”.
I’m really excited. T.J. is tremendous fun to write. In these books, “anything can happen — and usually does”. The holidays can be pretty stressful, and a good laugh (with a healthy dose of steam) is the way I love best to relax.
Last but most definitely not least: this one’s for all the folks who loved Tomcat and wanted to see more of him. Love to each and every one of you! Buddy Holiday, at Loose Id.
Blurb:
T.J.’s a man–okay, a shape-shifting tomcat–with a plan. He intends to ask his wizard lover MacGowan to officially move in with him and make this the best Festivus ever. Unfortunately–or not unfortunately, really–he keeps getting distracted by MacGowan’s hot bod. You know how tomcats are. Purrrr.
That aside, T.J.’s got a minefield’s worth of hurdles to jump before he can give MacGowan the keys to his apartment. That list includes meddling Nereids, pointedly absent friends, and a Psychokitty with a decided inclination to meddle in the affairs of cats and men. As the cherry on top, MacGowan’s almost too busy stressing out over learning to be a “real” wizard to pay attention to T.J.
Still, this tomcat has learned that home is where the heart is, and he’s going to hang onto his magical relationship with MacGowan with all four sets of claws, come what may. (And a lot may come, including them if they’re lucky).
Aaaaaand, have an excerpt!
When the door flew open with enough force to bounce off the facing wall, T.J. dodged without breaking stride.
MacGowan, alone on the couch in an otherwise hallelujah-thank-you-baby-Jesus empty apartment, dropped a tangle of knotted twine and rough-cut agate beads he’d held, and yelped. “T.J.?”
“Who else? Santa Claus? Sandy Paws?” T.J. bounded to MacGowan, batted the scratchy ball of rope yarn out of MacGowan’s lap, caught the wizard by the wrists, and hauled his lover to his feet. “Up and at ‘em, handsome. Didn’t you get the memo? It’s the most…wonderful time…of the year—”
MacGowan laughed breathlessly and caught T.J. to stop him midspin. “Whoa, cowboy, calm down.”
T.J. shrugged; he could roll with that. Overcome with enthusiasm and energy, he nuzzled at the tempting, still-faintly sun-kissed length of MacGowan’s neck, found his sweet spot, and burst into rich purrs.
MacGowan could no more resist that rumble than a cat could say no to a scratch behind the ears. Resistance melted away from him. He arched his neck and moaned under his breath. “You drive me crazy when you do that.”
“I know,” T.J. said. He purred his way up beneath MacGowan’s ear and nibbled.
“I’m not complaining—God, believe me, I’m so not complaining—but what’s gotten into you?”
“What, a man can’t be touched by the holiday spirit?”
“Sure he can. I’m wondering how many of what other kinds of spirits you’ve been into tonight, though.” MacGowan twisted about and peered at the floor. “Hey, hey, don’t step on that, would you? I spent all afternoon tying those knots.”
“What is it?”
“Homework.” MacGowan’s cheeks colored. He toed the floor. “Since I’m good with my hands, Mr. Jontan thinks I might have a knack for knot magic. He calls it String Theory.” MacGowan audibly pronounced the capitals. Back when he’d first started spending more time reading dust-encrusted books of magical lore and less working on his tan, MacGowan had discovered he could do interesting things with punctuation.
T.J. particularly enjoyed his interrobangs, especially the ones with less “interro” and more “bang.”
“Never fear. Didn’t you know I’m as light on my feet as a cat?” T.J. completed the spin to his satisfaction. He nudged MacGowan. “C’mon, twinkle those toes for me. One-two-three, one-two-three.” He stretched up on tiptoe to plant a hearty smack of a kiss on MacGowan’s sweet mouth. “I’d like to buy the world a Coke—no, wait, wrong schmaltzy commercial. Still, tidings of comfort and joy, MacGowan!”
“T.J.? You’re babbling.” MacGowan, taller and stronger, brought T.J. to an amused, only slightly weirded-out standstill. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I like it. I think. Before I start unliking it, how about filling me in? Mmm.”
There was, T.J. considered, no better way to silence a man than to keep his mouth otherwise occupied. However, about halfway through, right between teasing MacGowan’s lips apart and slipping him the good stuff, MacGowan’s message filtered through.
T.J. broke the seal with a pop. “Wait. They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Oh-ho. Ho-ho-ho.” T.J. took MacGowan’s face in his hands, thumbs stroking over his cheekbones. He saw no reason to say no to a third kiss before he broke the good news. “The guys have cleared out. All of them. Tonight, one night only, as their Festivus gift to us, this entire apartment is ours.”
“Wait.” MacGowan blinked, seeming dazed and confused. T.J. flattered himself briefly that it was due to the efficiency and thoroughness with which he’d been kissed. That was probably even true, since MacGowan touched his slightly swollen lips and blinked again before he spoke. “No Arden. No Shavey. No Mr. Jontan?”
“No, no, and no.” T.J. blazed a grin up at MacGowan. “What do you say to that?”
MacGowan sat heavily on the couch, squashing his twine ball underfoot and apparently neither noticing or caring. “I say…wow. It’s a Festivus miracle. No wonder you’re as hyper as that one time you got into the fresh catnip.”
“Can you blame me?”
“God no.” He tugged at T.J., tipping him off balance. “Let me show you how little I blame you.”
T.J. went happily a-tumbling down. Draped atop MacGowan, one of his favorite places in the world—no, his top favorite, the best of all cozy spots ever, whether in man shape or feline form. There, he was in prime position to taste MacGowan’s mouth at leisure. Even better, he could nudge a knee between MacGowan’s and wedge his thigh up against MacGowan’s groin. “So, now you know what’s gotten into me. And the verdict is?”
Buddy Holiday
Written by Willa Okati
Possesses an abundance of crazy ideas, writes constantly, and drinks an insane amount of coffee. Grooves to the beat of a different marching band and loves coming up with fun, quirky heroes and tales with unusual twists. You can find Willa at http://www.willaokati.com or on twitter as "willaokati". She'd love to see you there!
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Tags: New Book, Willa Okati
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