Summoned Magus Malefica (The Coven Series) M/M Paranormal Romance by J.P. Jackson ➱ Release Tour with Giveaway
Excerpt: Summoned by J.P. Jackson
Setup: Dev, having just discovered the summoning
board has granted him his first wish, has also found a new friend, a fellow
witch – and a handsome one at that!
Tully patted the cushion right next to him.
“Come, I don’t bite. Sit. Chat.”
Dev rolled his eyes. “I probably seem desperate.” He
sighed.
“Ha. Not at all.” Tully chuckled. “Okay, maybe a
little. Come on, handsome, sit next to me. Tell me everything.” Tully grinned
as he raised the glass to his lips and took another sip.
Dev wandered over and sat on the cushion next to
Tully, glanced at him and his glacier-blue eyes and half grinned. He reached
for his own glass and had a sip.
“Oh. That’s really good.” The wine was chilled, but
the alcohol burned his throat pleasantly. Sour cherries made his cheeks pucker,
but a hint of spicy black pepper warmed him. Dev took another sip.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Rescuing me. Don’t get the wrong idea, my family is
everything, and despite the constant chaos, they mean well. It’s just…they
don’t understand.”
“As I said to you earlier, families are complicated.
Mine is. Why should yours be any different?” Tully chuckled. “So is anyone in
your family magical?”
Dev nearly spit his wine out, being mid sip when
Tully asked him. “No, they think my interest in all of this is nuts. They have
no idea.”
“Well, if I’m being honest, magic is nuts. Wait. The
more you learn and experience the better it gets, I promise.”
Dev hung on every word from Tully, staring into his
incredible eyes. After a couple of silence-filled minutes, he summoned up the
nerve to respond. “I’ve been reading and practicing runes and tarot and…well
everything for years. You know,” Dev started and then stopped. He studied
Tully’s face, trying to determine if baring his soul, sharing his hopes would
be handled with care. For so many years, Dev’s interests had been branded as
silly and a waste of time. The only person he ever opened up to was Cam, and
even his best friend often made fun of him.
Tully picked up on his hesitation, put his hand on
Dev’s thigh, and inched closer. “It’s okay. You can tell me as much or as
little as you want. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to think you’re
crazy.”
“This is all so weird.” Dev took a deep breath and
exhaled. That simple gesture released so much stress. A weight he’d been
carrying around for years. Dev glanced at Tully, an awkward grin plastered
across his face.
“Have you tried to release another magical burst
yet?” Tully asked, his hand still on Dev’s leg.
“God, no. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I
don’t know what happened to begin with.”
“Well, we can work on that.” Tully winked. “It’s
tricky, this magic stuff, and you know it has a cost, right?”
“No, I…” Dev tilted his head. “What do you mean ‘a
cost’?”
“Nothing comes for free in this life, including
magic.” Tully grinned, leaned forward, and placed his glass down. “So, there’s
energy everywhere, right?” Tully’s hands waved in front of him. “Every single
living thing has pulsating energy. Animals are different from humans, plants
are way down the evolutionary totem pole, so to speak, but they all still
contain that zap. A buzz, a spark of life. That energy? As a witch, you’ll come
to sense it, be able to harness it, and eventually wield it.” Tully waggled an
eyebrow and put his hand back on Dev’s thigh. “But you have to be careful. All
life forms have an expendable amount. A finite resource, if you will. So you
can’t cast spells or use your abilities endlessly. You’ll drain yourself and
everything around you if you’re not careful, and then…well…that’s lights out
for you, and anything else around you.”
“Jesus. Really? That’s…frightening. So, blow a fuse
and you die?” Dev’s eyes widened.
“Well, all energy is eventually replaced. So you cast
a small spell, you’re drained a little, but by morning your reserves are back
up. You cast a bigger spell and you lose more energy. Energy takes time to
replenish. But despite the recovery, the leaching takes its toll. A witch’s
lifespan isn’t long. We tend to deplete ourselves. We’re lucky if we live to
seventy.”
That was a punch in the gut.
“Well shit, that’s a shame.” Dev didn’t want Tully to
think the concept of witches draining themselves to death might be somewhat
frightening, so he resorted to making it into a flirty thing with a wicked
smirk and a bit of the devil in his eyes as he stared into Tully’s. He swore
immersing himself in those blue eyes would never get tiring.
“Look at you, taking this all in stride.” Tully
winked. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were flirting, Dev.”
Dev laughed. His foot tapped under the worn and
weathered coffee table. “I might look calm on the outside, but…” Dev rolled his
eyes. “But my stomach is in knots, even now.”
“Why? Good lord, why?” Tully squeezed Dev’s thigh and
leaned forward. “I hope I’m not adding!”
“No! No, not at all. If anything…” Dev blushed and
turned away as he continued, his foot beating out a furious rhythm. “No, you’re
the hunk who flew in and exposed a hidden world I had hoped and believed
existed, but couldn’t find—”
“Oh, you’ve not seen anything yet.” Tully’s lips
formed a half-knowing smile. “Hunk, huh?” Tully moved his hand closer to Dev’s
crotch.
“Ooooh, yeah.” Dev noted the movement. Part of him
said, No, no, not yet, but a larger
part of his brain screamed, Farther, go
higher! Dev grabbed his glass and took a large swig, then put the stemware
down. His movement was clunky. Heat flushed across his chest making him all
flustered. Dev needed to get a hold of his emotions.
“Well, that’s flattering, thank you, but the feeling
is mutual. You’re damn handsome. So beautifully dark in comparison to my
pale-ass skin.”
“Okay, now I know you’re putting me on.”
“No, I’m not. Geez, Dev, you kidding me?” Tully took
a sip, swirled the wine in the glass then set it down. He glanced up at Dev
with his crystal eyes. “You’ve got the darkest, thickest hair I’ve ever seen,
and your eyes are mesmerizing.” Tully leaned in closer. “May I?” Tully asked.
“Uh, sure,” Dev granted permission, but to what, he
wasn’t sure.
Tully leaned in and rubbed his face against Dev’s
beard.
“You’re beard drives me wild,” Tully whispered while
cheek to cheek with Dev, then returned to his own spot with a beguiling grin.
“Oh boy.” Another wave of heat flushed over Dev’s
face. This couldn’t be happening. It was a stomach churning thrill to be
sitting here with Tully. But, wow, all of this? Within one night? How’d Dev get
so lucky? His pants were so tight right now.
Magic. Tully. Wine. Sitting with Tully on the couch
right now, Dev didn’t care, but he wanted this night to go on forever. Dev
cleared his throat and sat there, staring off, trying to focus and put things
right in his head.
“Dev, everything okay?” Tully asked.
“Oh yeah, sorry, more than okay.” And from out of
nowhere, Dev found an ounce of courage, something he didn’t have in situations
like these, and he asked, “Can I kiss you?”
Dev’s cheeks blazed with fire, astonished at what
came out of his mouth.
What are you doing?
“I thought you’d never ask.” Tully inched forward.
Dev leaned in and Tully met him half way. Dev closed
his eyes as his lips met Tully’s. The rough rasp of Tully’s beard against his
own, the heat, and warmth from Tully proved too much.
Dev let out a repressed moan. Months had passed since
his last date, and that ended with a good night kiss after an awkward and
silent dinner. Being close to another guy, especially one so good-looking had a
hardening effect down under.
Tully took charge, grabbed Dev’s face in his hands
and pulled Dev in close.
Everything on the coffee table slid away from them as
their kiss deepened.
Tully pulled away first, his cheeks flushed.
Dev’s eyes were half-lidded.
“Wow, another burst.”
“Sorry, what?” Dev glanced around, confused.
Tully chuckled. “Look at the coffee table.” Tully
nodded his chin toward the old rustic plank of wood. Everything sitting on its
surface had been pushed outwards. The glasses hadn’t tipped over, but the wine
sloshed around their insides. “Just like our first encounter at the coffee
shop. Can’t you feel the energy when you release?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dev
furrowed his brow, causing lines to crease his forehead.
“You did that, man. You’re telekinetic.” Tully
squinted. “Let me try something?” Tully’s eyes were bright and excited, and he
still had a grin from ear to ear.
“Ah, sure?” Dev asked, insecure and embarrassed, yet
his heart thumped in his chest, and his palms had gone hot and sweaty. He
rubbed them on his jeans.
Tully gave Dev a wink. “Trust me. Okay?”
“Okay.” Dev, overexcited, struggled to inhale.
Tully picked up the two wine glasses and walked them
over to the kitchen counter. He went over to one of his bookcases and pulled
out several books, placed the stack on the coffee table close to where Dev sat.
“Now, where were we?” Tully turned, facing Dev so that
he straddled Dev’s lap, facing him.
“Oh boy,” Dev whispered.
Tully grabbed Dev’s face again. Dev’s heart continued
to beat, but the rhythm pumped so fast he swore the organ would burst out his
chest. The heat and warmth from Tully’s thighs against his own and his hands on
Dev’s cheeks kept him focused on the electrical sensations coursing through his
body.
Tully’s lips pressed against his. They were warm, and
Tully’s beard scratched against his skin, which accelerated Dev into overdrive.
He grabbed Tully’s waist and pulled him in closer, pushing Tully’s mouth open
with his tongue wanting to taste more.
Dev slid his hands up underneath the tight grey
T-shirt and ran his hands over Tully’s furry stomach. Dev continued to push his
hands up to Tully’s chest. His pectoral muscles were well developed, and the
fur continued. Dev laced his fingers through the hair covering Tully.
Oh my god, I could
never get bored of this.
Dev lost himself in his own exploration and hadn’t
noticed Tully’s hand had slipped between his legs until his crotch got grabbed,
giving Dev’s concrete-hard erection a gentle squeeze.
The heat raging from Tully’s hand pressed up against
his groin set fire to Dev’s inhibitions. He desperately wanted Tully to rip his
pants open and free him, stroke him, touch him with no clothing as a barrier.
In that moment, petting Tully’s hairy chest, while Tully gave his dick another
squeeze, Dev’s mind exploded.
The books on the coffee table flew off in all
directions.
Tully pulled away but kept his hand on top of Dev’s
groin. He smiled with a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement and
his lips moist from Dev’s tongue.
“I thought so. So, you’re an aurologist.”
Dev sucked in air and then exhaled, shuddering.
Making out with Tully made his head spin.
“I’m a what?” He continued to stroke Tully’s fur.
“Your energy comes from your soul. For me, I get
energy for magic from the earth, specifically metal. You however, you take the
vigor from the very essence of your life. Your soul. Aurologists are triggered
by emotions. Not exactly common, mister. Like one out of every hundred or so.
Me, I’m a dime a dozen.”
Dev pulled Tully in again and gave him a deep, wet
kiss. Dev turned so his mouth was a hair’s breadth away and whispered into
Tully’s ear, “I don’t think you’re common, not even remotely.”
Tully’s bewitching grin never waned.
“So, wanna get naked?” Tully asked.
“Dear god, yes.”
What inspired you to
write this book?
I had an image of a young East Indian guy in my head and he
started to get really vocal. I had never written a book with sexy fun times in
it before – romantic and relationship arcs sure – but never actual sex, and so
I thought…this is guy. This is the time. So I paired him up with a really
flippant best friend, and a sexy hot redhead, and then let the story take me
where it needed to go.
What can we expect
from you in the future?
Oh my goodness. I have far too many thumbs in different pies
right now.
1.)
I am ¾ of the way done with the sequel to Magic
or Die, called Blood and Sacrifice. I really hope to have that done soon.
2.)
I have an anthology of short stories that is
coming out late this year, maybe early next year. Each story in the collection
represents an individual’s experience with the supernatural/paranormal, and
features a main character that’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
– 5 stories – LGBTQ.
3.)
I am part of an organizing committee that is
hosting an online queer literature convention on May 08, 2021. It’s called
IQARUS (International Queer Authors & Readers United in Stories) http://iqarusbookcon.com/
4.)
I have a secret project I’m working on right now
– but I will tell you it’s dark, it’s queer, it’s a little sexy, a little
disturbing, and has demons in it.
5.)
I’ve already outlined the sequel to Summoned.
The next book will be called Cursed, and focuses in on Dev’s best friend Cam,
and wayward werewolves.
6.)
I also have a blog where I post updates on my
writing, book reviews and blitzes/cover reveals from authors who I think my
readers would enjoy. https://jpjacksonwrites.wordpress.com/
Do you have any “side
stories” about the characters?
In my head? Absolutely. On my character development sheets?
Yes but in point form only that helps me understand who the character is. I do
have one short story (it will be in the anthology) called Dragged to Hell,
about a drag queen who is possessed by a demon and can see the ghosts of the
dead, and they whisper secrets to her. Her name is Azadore Necrophilia Hex, and
she also appears in Blood and Sacrifice – the sequel to Magic or Die – so that
short story is part of the same universe. It’s kinda of Azadore’s origin story.
Can you tell us a
little bit about the characters in Summoned?
Sure!
The main character is Devid (Dev) Khandelwal. He’s a first
generation born Canadian. His parents emigrated from India. Dev has two sisters
(fraternal twins), and his home life is chaotic, loud, and messy. Dev’s passion
is the occult and has studied it for years, but has never had a single magical
thing happen. In a last ditch effort, he buys a summoning board from a local
pagan store. He hopes that by invoking the magic there, he’ll finally
experience the Shadow Realm.
Cam Habersham is Dev’s best friend. They’re like brothers,
have known each other since grade school and do everything together. Cam is
flippant and sarcastic, but extremely handsome and is often chasing after the
guys. Dev convinces Cam to do the summoning board with him, and Cam reluctantly
agrees, although his glib attitude swirls up a maelstrom of issues.
Toliver (Tully) Mack is a witch from the local coven who is
sent to watch over Dev. Dev and Tully end up together, but face some struggles
along the way.
Byron Radcliff is a sociology professor at the University of
Alberta where Dev is almost set to graduate. Little does Dev know that his
favorite professor is also the high priest of the local all-male coven, and has
been watching Dev for the past four years.
Addas Khoury is Byron’s lover and also a member of the coven.
He was bitten by a werewolf during a coven skirmish with a well-known,
trouble-making werewolf pact. He’s close to shifting, but everyone knows witch
magic and werewolf blood don’t mix. As soon as Addas shifts it’s a death
sentence, and Byron is going to do anything in his power to save him.
Everton Lilch is the werewolf who infected Addas. He was
captured by the coven and held hostage for months, while the coven used his
blood for experiments to help fix Addas. Everton and Cam find themselves thrust
together in the witch’s holding cells beneath the coven house. They form a
rather unusual bond.
Sound like fun?
Thanks for hosting my new release!
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