GLOWING CHANUKAH LIGHTS CONTEST

Send the name of the Jewish character in my excerpt to borntowrite@writeme.com to be entered in a drawing for a bunch of holiday goodies! I'll be adding an ebook copy of the first book in my Brothers In Arms series, The Courage to Love, to the goodie bag.

Brothers In Arms is a Regency-set historical romance series from Ellora's Cave about a group of Peninsular War veterans. The books can all be read as stand alones, and each focuses on one m/m/f menage.

EXCERPT from At Love's Command (Brothers In Arms)

BLURB: A child when they were betrothed, Sophia Middleton has been waiting twelve years for Ian Witherspoon to return and marry her. Preyed upon by her vicious father and older brother, Sophie longs for Ian to rescue her.

Ian Witherspoon and Derek Knightly became best friends during the Peninsular War, and returned as lovers. Two more years pass before the desire for a wife and children prompts Ian to recall his little fiancée. Ian is determined to make a marriage work between the three of them. Derek opposes the marriage despite Ian's determination, but how long will he be able to resist love's command?

Sophie's vulnerability hides a core of strength and the combination enthralls and seduces both men. An apt pupil, Sophie learns trust and passion from Ian, and Derek tutors her in the ecstasy of surrender. Love will conquer their fears as they fight those who would tear them apart.
 

* * *

   Derek had to wait at the door of **Daniel’s club while a footman went to see if Daniel was available. When he returned, Derek was shown to the far corner of a back room with great civility. Daniel had trained them well. Amazing really that a Jew was even a member here. But then again, Daniel defied almost every stricture of their society.
 

Daniel was drinking with Simon, heavily by the looks of it. Derek felt a stab of remorse because he knew the reason why.
“Derek,” Daniel said congenially when he sat down across from him. You couldn’t tell from his voice he’d been in his cups, just the glassy look in his eyes.

“Thank you,” Derek said simply.
 

Daniel blinked slowly, then inclined his head with a raised brow. “You’re welcome, although I’m sure I don’t know what the thanks are for. The fabulous cut of my new coat?”
 

Simon laughed as if Daniel were the wittiest man in London. Suddenly Derek realized why Simon was also drunk. “I thank you as well,” he told him. Simon stopped laughing and frowned at Derek.
 

“Do you? Well, that’s original.” Simon shrugged. “Daniel’s little project, really. I was just along for the entertainment.”
 

Daniel looked at him sharply. “Hardly. Why do you want everyone to think you’re a bloody fool? I can’t be the only man in England who sees through that ruse.”
 

“No, you’re not,” Derek agreed, silently accepting the glass the footman brought him with a nod. He raised the glass. “To successful projects, then. And the bloody fools who carry them out.”
 

Daniel and Simon gravely raised their glasses and then took a long drink. Derek sipped his. He wanted to be sober tonight.
“Daniel.” Jason’s voice came from behind Derek and he started with surprise. Daniel smiled sardonically at him.
 

“Saw ‘em coming,” he told Derek. “That’s why I swallowed the whole damned glass.”
 

Derek looked at Jason, and Tony beside him. Both men looked grim. Derek knew why they were here and he narrowed his eyes at them warningly. Jason gave him look for look.
 

“You had damn well better not be drinking to what occurred last night,” Jason growled. “He doesn’t need that kind of encouragement, Derek.”
 

Derek pretended ignorance. “What happened last night?” he asked innocently.
 

“Harold Middleton was found murdered this morning.” Jason looked at Daniel accusingly. “You disappeared the other night right after you and Ian had that mysterious, hushed conversation. A day later Middleton is dead.”
 

Daniel merely raised an eyebrow. “And you are suggesting…?”
 

Jason threw himself down in a chair at Daniel’s right. “God damn it, Daniel. That’s not who you are anymore. You are not that killer anymore.”
 

Daniel casually poured himself a drink. “I am what I am, Jason. You can’t erase the past. We are the sum total of our experiences. That said, I resent your assumption. I’m sure there are hundreds of people in London alone who wanted Middleton dead.” He smiled wickedly. “He was a dead bore already.”
 

Simon burst into laughter, again drawing Jason’s attention. “And did you have to drag Simon into it? He’s not like you.”
 

At the look on Daniel’s face, Derek intervened. “Shut up, Jason. This is none of your affair.” Jason looked as if he were going to argue. “I mean it, Jason. You and Tony wanted Robertson dead. Ian and I wanted Middleton dead. I’m not sorry he met with an unfortunate accident. If he hadn’t, I would have killed him. And that is the end of this discussion.”
 

Simon’s chair scraped back as he stood unsteadily. “And I resent the implication that I don’t have the brains to make my own decisions.” He turned slowly and walked over to pat Daniel’s shoulder. “I’m off to Mrs. Moffat’s. Care to join me?” At the mention of one of the most licentious brothels in London, Jason’s look grew darker.
 

Daniel slumped lower in his chair. “Not tonight, Simon. I’ve had a little too much to be any good to anyone.”
 

Simon chuckled. “I plan on letting someone else do all the work. As a matter of fact, I’m going to lie there and let several someones have a night to remember at my expense.”
 

“Simon,” Tony sighed in resignation, “that is no way to live.”
 

“Tony,” Simon sighed mockingly, “not all of us have the good fortune to have two bloody wonderful fucks waiting at home.”
Jason’s chair fell over as he stood abruptly. Suddenly all five of them were standing, Jason and Tony looking thunderous, Simon unrepentant and Daniel amused. Derek just wanted to go home to Ian and Sophie.
 

“I have the good fortune to have two excellent fucks waiting at home, so everyone settle down. If I don’t leave this place able to fuck them both blind tonight, you will all pay, and I will make it extremely painful. Now sit down, all of you.” Derek made a great show of sitting back in his chair and Daniel followed suit. Jason and Tony reluctantly followed while the few other members of the club in the room glared at them. Simon remained standing. “I wasn’t sitting to begin with, Derek, so fuck you and your wonderful new domestic arrangements. I am still off to Mrs. Moffat’s, where I hope to be fucked blind
as well. Good day, gentlemen.” Simon doffed an imaginary hat and sauntered a little unsteadily out the door.
 

“Well, you certainly pissed him off,” Daniel told Jason as he raised his glass for a sip.
 

Jason started to speak but Tony laid a hand on his arm and he sat back with a frown.
 

“Daniel, we’re worried about you. What happened last night…you’ve worked so hard, Daniel, to forget. We don’t want you to have to go through that again.” Tony spoke eloquently, his genuine concern obvious.
 

Daniel relaxed in his chair and looked at them affectionately. “You needn’t worry about me, Tony. I came to terms with myself a long time ago. That’s all you can do. There is no forgetting. There’s just moving on.”
 

Derek’s heart lurched at Daniel’s words, at the truth of them. He stood up abruptly. “I’m grateful, Daniel. I know how hard it must have been for you, and I appreciate what you did for us. We will never forget. If you ever need anything…” Derek pushed his chair back to the table and then looked hard at Daniel. “You’re right, there is no forgetting, and moving on is so bloody hard it’s almost as painful. But once you do move on… Daniel, you have to. I feel more alive today than I have since we came back. I took the chance. Move on, Daniel. I appreciate what you did, but don’t fall back to it. Move on.”
 

Daniel looked at him with haunted eyes. “Go home, Derek. Go home to Ian and to Sophie. Help her move on too.” He poured another drink with an unsteady hand. “I did it for her, you know, not you or Ian. For Sophie.” He tilted his head back and threw the drink down his throat, then set the glass back on the table delicately. “If I have it in me, then I should use it for that, don’t you think? For the things that really matter.”
 

Derek walked over behind Daniel’s chair and squeezed his shoulder. “It matters, Daniel. It really matters.” He looked at Jason and Tony and knew that both men would stay with Daniel and make sure he was all right. Then he turned and headed home to Ian and Sophie and a new life.

** Daniel Steinberg is introduced in The Courage to Love and will have his own story in 2010.