Another erotic antho to love: “Smut in the City”

Smut in the City, edited by Lucy Felthouse and Victoria Blisse

Sultry, smouldering sex in the city is the theme of this erotic anthology, edited by Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse.

Smut in the City

From the stifling heat of the London Underground to the crumbling walls of Rome’s Colosseum, Smut in the City has it all. Whatever your interpretation of sultry urban sex, there’s something nestling between the covers for you. Lusty couples, horny office workers, hunky bakers and gardeners, tourists and the Mafia are portrayed for your titillation in this exciting collection of stories from erotica’s finest authors.

eBook:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0096DIBW6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B0096DIBW6&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096DIBW6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0096DIBW6&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-smutinthecity-932965-144.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smut-in-the-city-victoria-blisse/1112800818?ean=9781782342205&itm=1&usri=lucy+felthouse

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Smut-in-the-City/book-nlHVrGCnk0u0_Njv_ifIqA/page1.html?s=3hvWWcXIW0mx1hZURTGefg&r=1

Print:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178234182X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=178234182X&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/178234182X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=178234182X&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20

Excerpt:

Within the Crumbling Walls

By Lucy Felthouse

Exiting the Colosseo Metro station, Libby shot a grin at her boyfriend, Ciaran. “I don’t think we’ll have any trouble finding it, do you?”

“Hmm?” Ciaran frowned, then turned his gaze in the direction that Libby was pointing. He gave a sheepish smile. “No, I don’t think we will. Shall we put the map away?”

Libby nodded, and Ciaran spun round so she should take the map and load it into his backpack. Zipping it back up, she patted it twice to signal she was done. Ciaran turned and held out his hand. She took it, and together they took their lives in their hands crossing the busy Roman road and walked to the Colosseum.

Despite the early hour, the queue was already considerable, and the couple exchanged a wry look. But then Libby remembered something. “Hey, don’t look so glum babe. We can skip the queue, remember?”

Ciaran frowned. “We can?”

Pulling a small credit card shaped and sized item from her pocket, she replied, “Yes! Our Roma cards mean we can get in quicker. That was one of the selling points the rep kept going on about when she was trying to flog them to us.”

Ciaran slapped his forehead theatrically, then retrieved his own card from his pocket. “Of course!” He used his not inconsiderable height to peer over the heads of the group in front of him. “Okay, I see it. There’s a separate line for Roma Pass holders, and it’s moving tons quicker. Hurrah!”

He made his way through the crowd, using a combination of touches on people’s backs and the words “excuse me.” Libby followed quickly in his wake. Soon they were at the back of the very short and swiftly-moving queue. People passed through, showing their cards to a very stern-looking Italian man, who nodded and pointed them towards another line.

This time they scanned their cards through some kind of barcode reader, and finally, they were in. Within the crumbling walls of the ancient Colosseum, probably the most famous landmark in Rome. Looking around, Libby could see why.

Photos and videos didn’t do it justice. She wasn’t sure if Colosseum translated to colossal or not, but it was certainly the most apt word to describe the place. It really was huge—and they hadn’t even seen the best part yet. Following Ciaran from the ticket booth area—which was literally within the great walls—they passed out into the open area in the middle. Libby gasped. It was amazing.

They were at ground level, with two or three levels above—she wasn’t sure which—and of course, the one below. Where the gladiators, warriors and fierce creatures would have been kept before being forced to fight in the arena.

Realising Ciaran was gaping at the sight before them too, she encouraged him forward. “Come on, we’re kind of in the way here.” Looking left, she saw an area which was fenced off and held warning signs urging the public not to enter. Libby snorted. The whole place was falling to pieces, how could they possibly deem one section more dangerous than another?

Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the right and saw an area which would allow them a better view of the arena floor. She grabbed Ciaran’s hand and pulled him with her.

Leaning on a barrier and looking out, Libby saw that arena “floor” was not an accurate description. At one end of the enormous structure, a wooden base had been erected, but the rest of the oval was open, displaying what lay beneath. It looked like a labyrinth, and suddenly she became aware of an English-speaking tour guide telling his group the history of the place. She eavesdropped for a while, then fell to thinking how lucky she was to have been born in this day and age. She’d never know anyone who’d be thrown to their deaths in such a place—or be forced to watch them killed in such a brutal manner.

*****

Lucy Felthouse: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk

Victoria Blisse: http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk

*****

Your blog hostess: Best-selling, award-winning author Sue Swift, a.k.a Suz deMello, has written over fifteen novels,

Sue Swift/Suz deMello

plus several short stories and non-fiction articles. She writes in numerous genres including romance, mystery, paranormal, historical, contemporary comedy and erotica. She’s a freelance editor who’s worked for Total-E-Bound, Ai Press, Liquid Silver Books and Etopia Press. She also takes on private clients.

Her books have been favorably reviewed in PW, Kirkus and Booklist, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.

A former trial attorney, she resides in northern California. Her passion is world travel, and she’s left the US over a dozen times, including stints working overseas for many months. Right now, she’s working on her next manuscript and planning her next trip.

Her blog is at http://www.fearlessfastpacedfiction.com. Find her reading picks @ReadThis4fun on Twitter, and befriend her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SueSwift ). Her sites are at http://www.sue-swift.com and http://www.suzdemello.com.

https://www.amazon.com/author/sueswift

https://www.amazon.com/author/suzdemello

 

Hot M/M erotica: Tristram LaRoche’s The Hun and The General

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Tris’ bestselling work. The Hun and the General is way-fun stuff, gay historical romance. If you’ve read my blogs here and there, you know that I love historical romance, more so because of the history. Writing historicals is an excuse for wandering around the web and libraries researching the clothes people wore and the food they ate. Going to museums to discover how beds were constructed in days gone by. Looking at the cabinets where they put their jewelry and admiring said jewelry.

Here’s the blurb for The Hun and the General:

Livianus is bored and longs for action. His reward for serving Rome is the governorship of a quiet corner of Gaul, but as he whiles away his days at his sumptuous villa, his thoughts turn to Attila the Hun, the feared barbarian with whom Livianus once enjoyed an intimate friendship. When a desperate emperor asks him to return to Pannonia to broker a truce with Attila, Livianus’s old passion flares.

Attila is losing the will to go on. He is tired of being a tyrant but his people’s future depends on him. The arrival of Livianus renews Attila’s spirit as he prepares to march on Constantinople. Livianus has nothing to bargain with, but when the emperor’s sister delivers a proposition for Attila, a new and brighter future seems to lay directly ahead. For the people, and especially for the two men.

But the deadly hand of the emperor isn’t interested in peace, and as their plans are destroyed, only one course of action remains open to the Hun and the general.

And here’s an excerpt:

Livianus sat on a stool at the side of the bath and watched Caecilius bathe. “I would join you but I can’t face the heat.”

“But you’ll swim with me?”

“That I will certainly do. I seem to spend half my time in the pool—it’s the only way to cope with the summers. The lack of activity makes me soft.”

“The soothsayers tell us these heat waves are the forerunners of a great disaster.”

“Do they ever have anything good to say? Doom mongers, that’s all they are. I’m surprised they have anyone’s ear in this day and age.”

“They’ve been right before.”

“We’ve all been right before. But we’ve been wrong more often.”

Caecilius lay on his back and floated to the surface. His body had lost none of its tightness, the water swilling over his stomach muscles like a stream over smoothed stones. He laid his head back in the water, and his hips broke the surface. The water flattened his pubic hair to his skin, making his thick cock look even longer than Livianus remembered.

Livianus felt his eyebrows arch. “Let’s swim. You’re as clean as you’re going to get,” he said, rising to his feet and adjusting his toga. “One good thing about this place is the spring that flows from the hills behind the villa. I have the best pool in Gaul.”

Caecilius climbed from the bath and shook off the excess water. He grabbed a towel and walked naked alongside Livianus. Out of the corner of his eye, Livianus saw Caecilius’s cock swinging like a loose stirrup, and a knot began to form in his groin.

“The rumors about this place are true,” said Caecilius, looking around.

“Rumors? About my villa? By Jupiter, have they nothing better to talk about?”

Caecilius chuckled. “You still swear on the old gods.”

“I feel my soul is safer that way.”

“Don’t forget you’re a hero. The people need to know that our heroes are well rewarded.”

“Ah, to encourage others to lay their lives on the line when the emperor requires it.” Livianus gestured toward the pool steps. “After you.”

Caecilius dropped his towel on the floor and descended the steps until the water reached his waist. “You’ve grown cynical in your retirement. Perhaps it doesn’t agree with you after all.” He lunged into the water, glided to the center, then turned onto his back. “What would you say if I told you I’d come to take you away from here?”

“I’d say about time. They call it retirement but it’s no better than a slow death. God, I thought Paestum was dull!” Livianus dived into the water and swam to his friend’s side. Caecilius hadn’t aged at all since they last met. Not a single gray hair on his head or chin. His brown eyes radiated youth and strength. “How long is it since we were together?”

“Four years. Maybe five.”

“Seems longer.” Livianus scooped his friend’s head toward him with a hand and pressed their lips together. “I’ve missed you, Caecilius,” he said as he tore his lips away. “Is it true you’ve come for me?”

“I carry an order bearing the seals of Theodosius and Valentinian—”

“Both emperors? I can barely imagine the scale of the sacrifice they wish me to make. Suddenly Gaul appeals to me.” He laughed and swam around his friend.

“How long did you spend in Pannonia? Two years?”

“Three. Why do you ask?”

At that moment, Publius and another slave, an African, brought out towels and clothes.

“Ah, lunch beckons,” said Livianus, swimming for the steps. “I have a good cook, I’m happy to say. With any luck we’ll have sparrows and make you feel at home.” He climbed from the water and turned, allowing Publius to rub him down.

Caecilius emerged from the pool and received the same treatment from the other slave. “I don’t know why you complain, Livianus. I could get used to this.”

“That’s because you don’t have it. Your life is still full of purpose. I can see from your muscles that you are still active, and I can tell from your cunning that you debate with the best of them.” Livianus slipped into a fresh toga and lifted his feet one at a time so Publius could slide sandals onto them. “Are you going to tell me what our esteemed leaders want of me? Or do I have to drag it out of you?” He slipped an arm through his friend’s and sauntered toward the dining room.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“I jest, Caecilius. I have so much time on my hands, and have for what seems an eternity, that I never rush anything these days.” He cleared his throat. “But I am curious as to why you should ask me about Pannonia.”

Caecilius stopped walking and looked at the frescoed ceiling. “There’s no way to dress this up, my friend. I wish I could.” He lowered his eyes and looked directly at Livianus. “You are to return to Pannonia.”

Livianus’s heart skipped a beat, and his head spun as if he’d drunk too much wine in the midday sun. “Return to Pannonia? But I don’t understand.”

Caecilius grasped his arm, and they passed between twin marble columns into the dining room. “You don’t look well.”

“Must be the shock.” Livianus slapped his forehead with the back of his hand for dramatic effect.

Caecilius took Livianus’s weight. “Slave, some wine.”

Publius served wine while Caecilius guided Livianus onto a couch. Caecilius pressed a goblet to Livianus’s lips.

“Don’t fuss. I’m fine.” Livianus drank, then peered at Caecilius over the rim of his goblet. “Pannonia?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Attila is preparing to attack Constantinople.”

“Never!”

“We are certain of it.”

“Attila is no fool. He knows that even the might of the Huns is no match for the great Theodosian walls. Laying siege has never been his strong point.”

“Let us pray that is the case, but he prepares his hordes as we speak.”

“Then he’s taken leave of his senses and his people will slay him.”

“The emperors, the senate, cannot take that chance. In any case, he could be replaced by an even greater monster.”

Livianus slammed his goblet on the table beside the couch. “He is no monster!”

“I beg to differ, Livianus. He’s swept across the empire slaying, burning, and robbing, and you—”

“And I, yes I, have spent time with him. I have lived with the Huns, hunted with them, learned their ways, their language. Just because they are different from us does not make them any less creatures of the gods.” Livianus clenched his fists and pressed them into the seat cushion. “If Attila is even considering a march on Constantinople, it means he’s been provoked.”

“Provoked?”

“When my last embassy to Pannonia departed, we had achieved peace.”

“A great peace, but at a cost.” Caecilius crunched into a roast sparrow.

“Ah! So that’s it.” Livianus got to his feet and crossed to the other side of the central table, then turned and looked at Caecilius. Suddenly, the sight of the Roman stuffing his face turned his mouth bitter. He planted his hands on the table and glowered at Caecilius. “Tell me exactly what Theodosius has done to bring this upon us.”

Caecilius tossed bones onto his plate and wiped his mouth. “We couldn’t go on paying three hundred and fifty pounds of gold a year just to keep the peace.”

“What did Theodosius reduce it to?” A pointless question, since any reduction was a betrayal.

“He didn’t reduce it. He stopped it.”

“Stopped it? After all that effort?”

“As soon as the walls were completed.”

Livianus straightened and drummed the table with his fingers. “Then he must have expected retaliation.” He looked for his friend’s nod of agreement. “He thought he was safe behind his barricade. So what’s changed?”

“We’ve been losing ground on all fronts, Livianus. The empire is dying. If Attila attacks before this winter, our troops are too scattered and too few. All Attila would have to do, as you have so astutely realized, is lay the city to siege and wait.”

Livianus rubbed his chin. “What a sorry state Rome has become.” He shook his head and pulled on his lower lip. “And I suppose I’m to go and broker a new peace, is that so?”

“I carry all the documents. You will be restored to the army with the title Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces.”

“And no doubt I shall be duly rewarded when I return, assuming I return triumphant?”

“Of course. Theodosius himself—”

“Theodosius himself is all but bankrupt, you’ve told me that already.” He waved a hand dismissively. “This that I do, I do for the people of Rome and the empire I have loved, not for the emperor—not even for both of them.”

“So you will go?”

“Yes, I will go. But tell your masters in Ravenna and Constantinople that this time it will cost them a lot more than a governor’s seal and a villa at the arse end of the empire.”

***

Like what you read? Here’s where you can buy the book:

All Romance EBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thehunandthegeneral-648816-145.html

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Hun-General-ebook/dp/B006GHC3HE

And here’s where you can learn more about the illustrious author:

http://tristramlaroche.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002276172449

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TristramLaRoche

Enjoy!

**Suzie in Italy #12: Rome: The Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Vatican

Our second day in Rome was dominated by the Colosseum, the Forum and nearby Palatine Hill. We also found an opportunity to wander across the Tiber and walk around a bit on one of its islands.

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At the Colosseum, you can get your photo taken with the cheesy “gladiators.”

A nice view of the Tiber, below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is what’s left of the famous Circus Maximus (right):

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The Roman Empire plundered the world, and their successor, the Roman Catholic Church, continued the tradition. Most people think of the Sistine Chapel in relation to the Vatican Museum, but it holds vast treasures which put the Sistine, as interesting as it is, to shame. We checked it out on our last day in Rome.

As with many other palaces, museums etc in Italy, every inch was decorated.

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Some of the art seemed cross-cultural–this decorated end of a chariot spar reminded me of Viking art.

The Romans were a playful yet brutal people. To “celebrate” the opening of the Colosseum, over nine thousand animals were killed. And yet, they created works of art like this charming sculpture:

We got a great view of the Italian Alps from one of the museum’s upper floors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Vatican Museum was quite a slog. After, we went to a nearby restaurant for pizza, and noticed the local version of the CSI investigating a traffic collision:

Odd to see the victim’s handprints on the car that hit her!

After that charming interlude, we headed back to St. Peter’s Square but decided not to struggle through the basilica–next time!

That night, we packed up and headed to a Fiumicino hotel because we had to get to the airport early…and so ended our amazing trip to wonderful Italy. Laura and I are already picking out sights we want to see next trip!

**Suzie in Italy #11: Back to Roma

Laura and I were blessed by excellent weather on our trip with the exception of one day: the day we left Venice. I felt as though the sky was weeping along with us as we left that wondrous place. I really didn’t want to go.

Nevertheless, we dutifully boarded a train for Rome. By the time we’d traveled through Florence, the weather had cleared and we had a nice trip through the Tuscan countryside. We arrived in Rome late in the day, found our place and then went for Indian food. While in Italy we not only ate the local cuisine, but had Indian and Chinese as well. Why not? And then after dinner, we encountered an Asian martial arts exhibition in one of the smaller piazzas.

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************The next day, we went to one of my favorite places, the Galleria Borghese, home to the best Berninis in the world. For those of you who don’t know Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s art, well, you have a treat in store. He was one of the most popular artists of his day, and his sculptures are magnificent. The Galleria doesn’t allow photography inside, but it’s a lovely building, with frescoes and other examples of wonderful decorative art everywhere. No surface is left without decoration.

Tourists and locals enjoy the beautiful park in which the gallery is located.

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Then we went to the Spanish Steps, where we got a great view.

We went to the Pantheon and then grabbed some dinner. And that was our first full day in Rome.