Happy Wednesday! I’m deep in the midst of a whole bunch of editing this week. I already did final edits on a novella and first-round edits on a novel, both back from publishers. I have a paid gig that I’m really excited about and enjoying (it’s not every day I get to work with an author who is quickly becoming a favorite writer and client, so I count myself really fortunate). Finally, I have 2 chapters and a short story to beta read.
I’m also reading, reading, reading this week. I have 3 books due for reviews next week, but I just picked up BrewGirl by Eliza David as my treat to myself (she had me at “a feminist falls for a chauvinist”). It’s funny, smart, and exactly what I needed.
On to this week’s WIPpet. Last week, Bryce gave Cat an unexpected semi-public kiss. I’ve skipped over what follows, but I’m fairly sure you can work it out from this week’s snippet. It was about as awkward as you might imagine. Note: Cat and Bryce are both 19. The mention of Bryce’s parents is about Bryce not being out to them, not about their age. Warning for swearing.
WIPmath: (3 x 9) – (1 + 6) = 20 sentences
Cat withdrew, causing Bryce to wince and grunt, and they lay next to each other, panting. After a couple of minutes, Bryce looked over at Cat. A look of alarm crossed his face, and he sat up.
“What’s wrong?” Cat asked, thinking maybe Bryce had heard his parents’ cars.
“Cat…” Bryce’s eyes crinkled with worry. “You’re all red.”
Cat laughed. “Yeah, of course I am. We just had sex. That’s supposed to happen. Even I know that.”
Bryce shook his head. “No. Look at yourself.” His voice trembled.
When he looked down, Cat gasped. His pale brown freckles were mingled in with pinprick red spots, all over his chest and down his belly. “Shit.”
Having sex must have caused a few surface blood vessels to burst. It wouldn’t kill him, but he needed to get home for his meds as soon as possible. Whether it was from the heat or the strain of sex, he didn’t know, and it didn’t matter anyway.
Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!
Oh, no, poor Cat! It would be quite awful to be “allergic” to sex — here’s hoping the reaction isn’t all the time. 🙂
Nope, not all the time, fortunately. At least, not if he takes precautions. 🙂
I really like the way humor shapes this love affair, which leaves me wondering how Bryce will react over time because he’s really upset. . . and if Cat’s comment, “It didn’t matter anyway” will prove true. Nice twist on the relationship. Red spots. Oh, dear. And does Cat take other precautions????
Well, he’s wrong that it doesn’t matter. And yes, even though they’re each other’s first, they do take other precautions. Cat just wasn’t being exactly wise about making sure to have his meds handy (or better still, use them first).