Hello all!
Thank you all so much for joining me today at Man2Mantastic as we celebrate the release of Catch a Tiger by the Tail, book 6 in the THIRDS series, which is out today!! Woohoo!
Ethan and Calvin should know by now that there’s no escape from mortifying situations or crazy shenanigans. Not when you're friends with, and on the same team as, Dexter J. Daley.
Poor Ethan especially can't keep from getting caught up in Dex's gravitational pull of mayhem.
For instance, what's starts as an innocent, and private search in his office, turns into more than poor Ethan can take:
Where did he even start?
Ethan didn’t know the first thing about bondage. The closest he’d ever come to tying anyone up was when he apprehended perps. From the looks of things, he’d have to do some research. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Calvin. He also wanted it to be good for his partner. Seeing as how said partner was in the canteen, Ethan decided to take a moment to look some stuff up and get a general idea about how much research would be involved. He put his browser in privacy mode and started typing. The amount of websites out there on the subject was staggering. How did he know which ones he could trust? He came across something called Shibari, and it immediately piqued his interest. Tapping on one of the images of a blond man tied up very elegantly with red rope stirred something inside Ethan, not to mention in his pants.
Oh my. He could see his partner tied up like this, the ropes a sharp contrast to his fair skin. It was artistic, which suited Calvin.
“The Art of Shibari?”
Ethan nearly jumped out of his skin. He’d been so absorbed in the images in front of him that he hadn’t seen or heard Dex approaching. “What’s wrong with you?” Ethan growled quietly.
“According to some, lots, but let’s talk about more exciting things, like bondage.” Dex leaned his elbows on Ethan’s desk and wriggled his eyebrows. “You’re just full of surprises. So, I take it you and Cal have been getting jiggy with it? Doing the horizontal mambo. Playing hide the sausage.”
Ethan groaned. “Please stop.” His face was burning, and he quickly swiped his hand on the desk to close the image of the tied-up blond man.
“I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say this is for Cal. I knew he had a freaky side.”
Ethan arched an eyebrow at his friend.
“The quiet ones always do,” Dex replied with a wink.
Ash walked into the room, and Ethan didn’t have time to minimize the Shibari website before Ash saw it. Damn it!
“You guys are finally banging. Good for you. Cal likes it kinky, huh?” Ash leaned over to study the open website. “Fuck, man. You need a goddamn engineering and medical degree to figure that shit out. Your boy couldn’t be into something simpler, like blindfolding or something?”
Oh my God, was Ash talking to him about sex? Did someone put something in the water? Had Dex finally cracked him? What was going on around here? Ethan was about to reply when Cael popped his head into the office.
“Hey, what’s going on?” He squeezed in between Dex and Ash, giving Ash a poke on his side and making him chuckle. “Whatcha all looking at?”
Really? Anyone else?
“Should I even ask?” Sloane mumbled as he stepped up beside Dex.
And now his day was complete. Ethan covered his face with his hands. This couldn’t be happening. Maybe he should signal Letty and Rosa, get the whole team in here. They could help him take notes.
“It’s like an Avon party but with sex toys,” Dex stated cheerfully. “Do they have those? I bet they do.”
Cael shoved Dex to one side and tapped away at Ethan’s desk interface. “Actually, check this website out. They have top-quality stuff. It’s a little pricier than some of the other websites but worth every penny. Trust me. They’ve also got experts on hand to answer any questions you might have. I think one’s a Shibari expert. If you sign up for their rewards program, you get a free pair of handcuffs. If they can hold Ash, they can hold Calvin.”
Ash and Dex protested simultaneously. “Cael!”
Cael blinked innocently. “What? You should get a pair, Dex. They’re Therian-strength. Oh, and they have body paint that tastes like Fruit Roll-Ups.”
Dex looked horrified. “I do not want to hear about what this fiend gets up to in the bedroom with my innocent little brother.”
“Innocent?” Ash laughed, receiving a glower from Cael. He cleared his throat. “No, you’re right. It’s all me.”
Cael rolled his eyes. “It’s just sex.”
He opened up different product windows, and Ethan was ready to hide under his desk. Were those dildos? Oh my God. Really, Cael? Really?
“At home in my drawer I have this huge d—”
Ash clamped a hand over Cael’s mouth, his face crimson. “Dictionary. A huge dictionary. Cael’s teaching me new words, such as… delitescent. Adjective. This entire conversation should have remained delitescent.”
“I’m a little scared right now,” Dex whispered hoarsely, turning to Sloane. “Hold me.”
Sloane put his arm around Dex and patted his head. “There, there.” He turned his attention to the website. “Hey, check if they sell black leather chaps.”
Dex perked up. “Ooh, assless please.”
Ethan jumped to his feet and started pushing whoever he got his hands on. Out, everybody out! You weirdos. Get out of my office.
In fact, it seems like poor Ethan just can't get a break:
Ethan opened his mouth, when he heard a key being inserted and turned. The door burst open and a couple came barreling through, their hands tugging at each other’s shirts while their mouths tried to devour each other. Ethan cupped himself, his eyes wide. Then he realized who it was.
“Holy shit!” Dex gave a start and flung a hand to his chest. Sloane looked just as alarmed. “You two scared the fuck out of me!”
Calvin threw a hand up. “Dude, seriously?”
Sloane closed the door behind them, his face as red as Ethan’s felt. This was becoming a very disturbing habit.
Dex turned his face up to the ceiling. “Why me? Why’s this keep happening to me?”
“I think the answer’s pretty obvious,” Calvin muttered.
“It is?” Dex frowned in thought.
“You attract crazy,” Calvin replied sincerely. “Like bees to honey.”
“Thanks.”
Sloane turned to Dex, his expression wary. “I’m all for getting adventurous, but I gotta say, I’m a little concerned right now.”
“Really?” Dex folded his arms over his chest, his expression uninspired.
Sloane shrugged. “Just saying. I mean, that’s twice now.”
“I’m not doing it on purpose!” Dex spun toward them. “Sorry, fellas, but you’re going to have to find yourselves another utility closet. This one’s spoken for.” Dex frowned at Ethan. “Dude, pull your pants up.”
Ethan nodded, then realized he’d need his hands to do that. His hands were kind of occupied at the moment. He motioned behind Dex.
“He wants you to turn around,” Calvin said.
“Oh, so now you’re feeling modest?”
And then there's:
“Is he gone?”
Ethan listened carefully. From the sounds of it, Ash had left Unit Alpha. He was most likely heading to the canteen. That’s where Ethan would check if he was looking for Dex. He gave Dex a nod and was going to roll away from his desk so he could get out, when the chair got snagged on something. Dex tried to push at Ethan’s knees and seemed to forget how low the desk was. He hit his head, cursing up a storm as he fell forward, his hands gripping hold of Ethan’s thighs and his face landing on the chair between Ethan’s legs.
Sloane and Calvin chose that exact moment to walk in.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Dex said, trying to push Ethan away.
It did not look good. Oh my God, stop moving. You’re making it look worse! Ethan felt his face going up in flames. Why did every encounter with Dex end up with someone in a compromising position?
“I don’t even have words.” Sloane shook his head, clearly at a loss.
“I fell!” Dex squawked.
Ethan finally got his chair unstuck, and Dex hit the carpet face-first. He scrambled to his feet and ran over to Sloane. With his most charming smile, he took Sloane’s hand in his.
“Babe. Darling. Snookums. I can explain.”
Sloane eyed him dubiously. “You know, if this is your way of saying you want a foursome, I gotta say I’m not really the sharing type.”
“It was an accident.”
“Awful lot of ‘accidents’ lately.”
At Dex’s unimpressed expression, Sloane held his hands up.
“Just saying.”
“Not funny,” Dex muttered.
Sloane smiled and gave Dex’s ear a tug. “It is a little.”
***
Hopefully Ethan and Calvin can get some alone time without Dex wreaking havoc.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Genre: Gay Paranormal Romance, Shifters
Length: Novel, 216 Pages
Published: Feb 5th, 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Ebook ISBN-13: 9781634769099
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781634769082
Calvin Summers and Ethan Hobbs have been best friends since childhood, but somewhere along the line, their friendship evolved into something more. With the Therian Youth Center bombing, Calvin realizes just how short life can be and no longer keeps his feelings for his best friend a secret.
Unfortunately, change is difficult for Ethan; most days he does well to deal with his Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety. Calvin’s confession adds a new struggle for Ethan, one he fears might cost him the friendship that’s been his whole world for as long as he can remember.
As partners and Defense Agents at the THIRDS, being on Destructive Delta is tough at the best of times, but between call-outs and life-threatening situations, Calvin and Ethan not only face traversing the challenges of their job, but also working toward a future as more than friends.
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
GIVEAWAY
TOUR SCHEDULE
This story is mainly about Ethan Hobbs and Calvin Summers. Partners on THIRDS Destructive Delta Team. Ethan is the explosives expert and Cal their sniper.
Ethan has selective mutism so its hard for him and he doesn't like change, but Calvin has been with him since they were children, as friends. Cal has been Ethan's only friend until Destructive Delta, so seeing them care for him is perplexing to Ethan. If not embarrassing and completely funny, for the most part.
When things turn up a notch for Ethan and Cal though, Ethan is afraid he'll lose his best friend.
This book has been the most emotionally for me. I think I cried through most of it. Being in Ethan's head and hearing his struggle was heartbreaking, but gives you such a great understanding of him and the things he wishes he could say. It's even a struggle with his own family, which has put a rift between him and his oldest brother. Neither understands the other and its so painful.
Calvin past isn't all sunshine and rainbows, not even Ethan knows all of it, and when some truths come to light, Ethan can't help but feel guilty.
Along with this story line one runs parallel for big brother Seb and Rafe. Again, just lots of pain and heartache, but I can't wait to see where it all leads too. Their bound to get some HEA's
Yes, this book is filled with heartbreak, but don't let it deter you. Dex is involved, there's bound to be plenty of laughs. I love watching these guys grow together, in friendship and love.
Of course, we're left with a giant cliffy, Charlie style. I can't wait to see how this will go and how the story will close out. It's going to be bittersweet. Until next time....
**Read ahead for an exclusive interview with Charlie and a sneak peek of what's to come**
Exclusive Interview with Charlie Cochet
1: What's your favorite restaurant?
Any restaurant that sells tasty food! Japanese and Korean are my top faves.
I could eat it every day and never get bored of it. So yummy!
2: What's your favorite room to decorate?
My office! It's the room I spend the most time in so I need to have it just the way
I like it with all my bits and pieces. I love refreshing it, picking color swatches, and
coordinating all my accessories. Right now my theme is mint/teal, gold, and white
with plashes of pink.
3 If one song could be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
You know it would be an eighties soundtracks. Some classic rock. AC/DC, Def Leppard,
Queen, Scorpions, Poison, Bon Jovi, Bowie. So much awesome!
4: Marilyn, Audrey, or Jackie?
Ooh, that's a tough one. I'm going to go with Audrey. Asides being a very talented lady,
she was also a humanitarian, and a UNICEF ambassador. She was smart, a strong woman,
and a survivor.
5: If money were no object, what's one thing you'd buy?
Wow, that's really tough. If it wasn't a thing, and more doing, I'd find a way to
spread the wealth. If it's an object, I guess my dream home somewhere.
6: Best coffee table book?
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes. I love those two!
7: What's your favorite way to spend lazy Sundays?
Relaxing on the couch with a fuzzy blanket to watch a good movie or two.
8: Where do you look for an obscure source of inspiration?
Real life. It's way stranger than fiction.
9. How far do you go to research for your books?
If I can travel some place to get the details right then I try to do that. If not I ask folks
who live there, Google earth and map the heck out the place from every angle, and
go to official state websites. Whatever i can get my hands on, or um, screen on.
10. What was your favorite book to write?
Probably Hell & High Water. I had so much fun with that one. We were introduced to
Dex for the first time, so it was eighties music, Cheesy Doodles, and gummy bears all
the way. LOL
11. Do you have a favorite character?
I don't think I could pick an ultimate favorite. I love them all for different reasons.
I will say that Dex is one of my top favorites.
12. Are any of your characters based of people you know personally?
Some of my characters possess traits from people I know. There's no one character
solely based on someone, but they certainly have quirks, hobbies, or talents based on
folks I know. Dex's love for gummy bears is based on someone I've known personally
for a long time.
13. When THIRDS is over, do you plan on crossing any characters over to another story/series?
I have certain ideas percolating. I've designed the series in such a way that it allows me
to branch off into other stories/series. The initial THIRDS series may not be the last we
see of Dex and Sloane. And I'm sure the rest of the cast might make little cameos in
certain books.
14. Anything new and exciting you have going on that we may expect in the future??
I have a full schedule of exciting new things happening. Right now I'm writing a fun,
cozy mystery, edits for Smoke & Mirrors (THIRDS, Book 7), and then I'll be writing
the next THIRDS book which is Seb and Hudson. Plus I have conferences I'll be attending,
and some exciting new releases coming this way like my Dreamspun Desires amnesia story
Forgive and Forget, and a quirky Science Fiction novella called Love in Retrograde.
Here's a snippet from Smoke & Mirrors (THIRDS, book 7).
“Where is the file?”
“How about we start small,” Dex offered. “What do I call you?” He needed to figure a way
out of this. There had to be a door somewhere behind the Therian. The guy hadn’t just
materialized out of thin air. Of course first Dex would have to get himself out of the chair.
It was steel and bolted to the floor.
“Don’t act cute with me, Agent Daley.” The wolf Therian smiled pleasantly. “And you can
call me Mr. Wolf.”
Mr. Wolf. Right. “Now who’s being cute?”
Wolf chuckled. “I do appreciate a man with a good sense of humor. You’re very charming.”
He looked Dex over and smiled warmly. “You’re taller than I imagined, and your photo
hardly does you justice. You’re far more handsome in person.” He motioned to his own
eyes. “Beautiful color. Absolutely stunning.”
Dex leaned forward, his lips curling up wickedly. “You trying to get information out of me
or date me?”
Wolf chuckled. “I can see you’re going to be a handful. All right, Agent Daley—May I call
you Dex? Agent seems so formal.”
“Sure.”
“Dex, your little “I’m just a ditzy blond” act isn’t going to fly with me. I know perfectly well
who you are and what you’re capable of.”
Dex sat back with a smile. “Do you now. FYI, I’m more of a dirty blond.”
Wolf arched an eyebrow at him. The man wasn’t quite sure what to make of Dex.
Despite Wolf’s calm and nonthreatening demeanor, something in his eyes warned Dex
to tread lightly.
Wolf cleared his throat before continuing. “Dexter Justice Daley, born August 18th, 1980.
Only child to Gina and John Daley. Adopted by Anthony Maddock. Adopted brother,
Cael Maddock. You were an HPF officer before becoming a detective like your father
before you. Then you testified against your partner for shooting an unarmed Therian
youth in the back. Your boyfriend at the time, Louis Huerta, walked out on you.
“You were hired by the THIRDS and appointed a Defense agent for Unit Alpha’s Destructive
Delta. Your Team Leader is Sloane Brodie, a First Gen jaguar Therian who spent the
majority of his youth in the First Gen Research Facility being prodded and poked like a
lab rat. You’ve been together for a year and roughly two and a half months—he had a few
commitment issues to work out. This month he moved in with you. He thinks you need to
eat healthier, and you do. You consume copious amounts of caffeine, sugar, and red meat,
have a somewhat unusual obsession with the eighties, and enjoy karaoke. Have I left
anything out?”
Who was this guy, and how did he know so much? Dex smiled widely. “Yeah, I love dancing,
sadly can’t hold my liquor, and give great head.” Wolf’s eyebrows shot up before his
expression returned to its previous impassive state. Dex could use this. He held Wolf’s
gaze. “Did you know I can make my boyfriend purr in Human form? And I don’t mean
figuratively. I mean, I can literally make him purr.”
Wolf peered at him before brushing some non-existent lint from his suit jacket. “Not possible.”
“Oh, but it is,” Dex replied, his voice low and husky. “I’m good with my mouth.”
Wolf smoothed down his tie before meeting Dex’s gaze. He carried on as if he hadn’t heard
Dex. “I know you would risk everything for your loved ones. Your career, your heart, your
life. You have a fierce sense of justice. I know at this very moment you’re considering your
options and how you can get out of that chair. Those are Therian strength zip ties, Dex.
You won’t be going anywhere, and unlike most, I won’t underestimate you. You’re quite
good at discovering your opponent’s vulnerabilities. Fortunately for me, I have none.
I know you play the fool, act the class clown, hiding who you really are.”
Dex cocked his head to one side and smiled. “And who’s that?”
“A very dangerous man.”
Christopher Allan Roberts thought he had a promising future: captain of the football team with the promise of a scholarship to play for Alabama, his high school sweetheart and best friend for as long as he could remember, Amanda, by his side, and the love and support of his family. One night, one mistake changed everything. Chris moves to New York, adrift and alone. A walk one night brings him to the flashing lights, loud music and thrumming bodies at Club Berlin. A flyer in the men's room promises fame and fortune for anyone willing to go on camera and have sex, with another man. Money is money, and how hard could it be, right? Christopher Allan Roberts becomes Kris Alen, All Cocks' newest addition, a gay for pay porn star.
A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning
Georgia; Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. She now calls Texas home
from her small town on the outskirts of the DFW Metroplex. Most days you can
find her curled up with her kindle and a good book alongside a glass of
something aged and red or a steaming cup of coffee! 
