![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
dark-cygnet.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sga_flashficTITLE: The Reluctant Lover
AUTHOR:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dark_cygnet
CHALLENGE: Harlequin
PAIRING: Beckett/McKay
RATING: PG-13 couple of cuss words
NOTES: I'm not a writer, i just pretend to be one on the internet. This challenge looked so fun that I thought i would try my hand at it. I don't know how Harlequin-y it is but i enjoyed doing it. ::palmsface:: I think i turned Rodney into a girly man. Right now it's the back cover blurb and some excerpts from the 'book'. I plan on writing a full story for this soon. (God help us)
The lovelyelspethsheir was kind enough to beta most of this for me, except for the lock scene. Anything that is good and right can be contributed to her, all the bad goes to me.
The Reluctant Lover
One year ago, Astrophysicist Dr. Rodney McKay had it all—a dream job with Alteran Industries, the grudging respect of his peers, a brilliant mind with the snark to back it up, and his pick of eligible bachelors. Only Rodney didn’t do casual flings…until he met Carson Beckett while on holiday in the Greek Isles. Carson is so tempting that Rodney couldn’t resist him. With the scorching heat between them, he agreed to a quick affair-or anything else-to get Carson in his bed. All too soon, he realized his feelings were becoming more than casual so he fled without telling Carson goodbye.
Now Carson Beckett is back in his life. Can Rodney hold out against the sensual Scotsman who enflames his senses, or will Carson convince him that the best kind of love comes after the commitment?
End Of The World Publishing is pleased to present excerpts from the newest international best seller from Cygnet Dark Swan.
The Reluctant Lover
[WHERE OUR HERO PONDERS]
Brushing the back of his hand across his eyes to wipe away the sweat, Rodney McKay wondered for the tenth time that day why the hell he was on the Greek Island of Santorini, being exposed to god knows what level of radiation and harmful UV rays and being just plain miserable in the scorching heat. Thank god he had thought to bring his 100 proof sunblock. If it got any hotter, his balls would bake right off and he happened to be very attached to them. He twitched at the thought of the cancer probably already forming, muttering under his breath about the rat bastard CEO you worked your ass off for who also happened to be one of the few people who could stand you and even considered you a friend.
Damn John Sheppard and his bright ideas.
*********************************************
[FIRST DATE?]
Dinner had been a pleasant surprise in the respect that Rodney enjoyed himself far more than he thought he would. His social skills were not his best asset, and he had been nervous. The more nervous he felt, the more arrogant he became. He had been afraid that he would scare Carson off. The first few minutes, after being seated on the balcony of the hotel restaurant, were awkward and tense for Rodney but listening to Carson make small talk with that lilting accent soon set him at ease.
Carson was as intelligent as he was charming, and they talked about a variety of things while enjoying the Greek food and a bottle of wine from one of the local vineyards Santorini was known for. They lost all track of time, the dinner only ending because the waiter came over and with a small cough to interrupt them, told them apologetically that the restaurant was closed and the staff was getting ready to leave.
Glancing around the empty dining room, Rodney had given the waiter a sheepish look as Carson grinned at him. Tossing some money on the table with an extra large tip included, they had left.
The air was balmy and sweet with the smell of tropical flowers as Rodney and Carson walked back to their rooms together, neither one talking, just content to enjoy the companionable silence, everything quiet and still. Carson walked close to Rodney, occasionally brushing against his arm, the warmth radiating from him setting off little tremors of awareness that went straight through Rodney from head to toe.
As they got closer to Rodney’s room, he began to get edgy, the fluttering in his stomach feeling like a whole colony of butterflies. Should he invite Carson in for a nightcap?
Coming up to his door, Rodney pulled out his room key, sticking it in the lock as he said over his shoulder to Carson, “I had a really good time tonight.” Turning his head, he looked at Carson, “I hope you did too.”
“Aye, it was lovely, thank you for dinner.”
“Well, it was the least I could do since you were so helpful when I passed out.”
“The correct medical term is fainting, Rodney.” Carson chuckled as he saw the look on Rodney’s face. Leaning in close to Rodney, he said in a low tone, “Regardless of whether or not it was manly hunger that made you faint, I’m just glad I was there to help ye.”
Rodney felt his mouth go dry as Carson’s voice went right through him. How the hell did someone make the word faint sound so sexy? And why did he have to smell so damn good? Flustered, he turned back to the door and jammed the key so hard that it stuck in the lock and wouldn’t turn. ‘Great! As if I didn’t already feel like an idiot, this should just confirm that I am one.’ He tried to pull the key out, but it wasn’t cooperating.
Embarrassed and frustrated, he glared at the door. He was an Astrophysicist, for god’s sake, surely he could take a key and unlock a door. He muttered under his breath, insulting the door’s parentage while viciously yanking at the key. “Oh, well that’s just perfect, isn’t it? What kind of hotel…” he stopped as Carson’s hand came to rest on top of his and gently prevented him from continuing. He froze as he felt Carson’s warm breath ghost across his ear.
“You’re trying too hard, mon. You can’t just go slamming in like that. You have to find your target and slide it in,” he said, putting his words to action, “slowly until it comes to rest fully sheathed in the lock.” Rodney whimpered at the velvet voice combined with that to die for accent. Oh, god, he was still talking about keys, wasn’t he?
The tumblers in the lock clicked and Rodney felt Carson step back, mourning the loss of heat at his back. Taking a deep breath, he turned back around to face the Scotsman, trying to get his heart to stop beating so fast. “So not only do you help people who pass out, but you also have a gift for unruly doors. What else can you do?”
Carson looked at the crooked smile on Rodney’s face, liking the way it lit up the man’s handsome face and glad that he was the one who put it there. He realized that he wanted to see Rodney again. “Well, I’m going to visit some of the sites tomorrow, why don’t you come with me and we’ll see.”
“Will there be hiking?”
“Yes, there’s hiking, but it will be fun, trust me.”
The dubious look on Rodney’s face made him roll his eyes. “Meet me in the lobby at seven am tomorrow…”
“What? Why so early!”
“So we can get some supplies for the day. I don’t want to have to carry ye back if you happen to faint again. Okay?” At Rodney’s nod, he said, “Right, it’s a date then. See ye in the morning. Good night.” Giving a wave, he walked off towards his room.
Rodney stood there for a moment, and then said softly, “It’s a date.”
*********************************************************************
[WHERE OUR HERO ANGSTS]
Nonono, this wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be him, not here, not now. But that was Carson’s voice, and god, he had forgotten how it affected him to hear those smooth, lilting tones in that sexy accent, flashes of memory skittering across his mind as he remembered words whispered to him, Carson’s brogue thickening in the height of passion.
John was in the process of introducing the doctor, when Beckett interrupted him.
“Rodney?”
Stomach knotting, McKay looked up into crystal blue eyes that haunted his dreams. “Carson.”
John was giving Rodney a quizzical look, glancing between the two men. “I take it you two know each other then?”
”Aye, we do, although it’s been a couple of years and we lost touch, wouldn’t you say, Rodney?” The tone of his voice was bland, but his eyes spoke of something entirely different.
Rodney gave a slight shrug of his shoulders as he said, “Yes, funny how that happens, isn’t it.” He saw John’s gaze sharpen as if he could feel the undercurrents swirling about them. Great, just great, John’s got that ‘I’m gonna find out everything’ look on his face.
Feeling suddenly overwhelmed and panicked, Rodney jumped to his feet and started to shuffle Sheppard and Beckett to the door with a flurry of hand movements, saying, as he practically shoved them towards the door, “Yes, yes, well I’m sure John has a lot more things to show you and as you both can see I was in the middle of something, so don’t let me keep you any longer…”
“Rodney!”
John was looking at him like he had lost his mind, which when he thought about it, probably wasn’t that far off. He wondered how John would react if he broke into hysterical laughter.
Beckett placed a hand on John’s shoulder. “No, it’s alright,” he said as he looked back at Rodney, expression unreadable. “I still have to meet with my staff, so we should let Dr. McKay get back to work.”
“There, you see, John. No harm done and I’m sure the good Doctor is anxious to get settled in and get started,” he stated. “Carson and I can catch up later on all that’s been going on since we saw each other last.”
Carson stopped in the doorway. “Aye, that we will, to be sure,” he said as he locked eyes with Rodney, the promise in his voice backed by steel. Rodney swallowed hard, unable to look away.
After they had finally left, Rodney slowly closed the door and slumped against it, rubbing his face with his hands. “God, I am so fucked.”
*************************************************
[OMG, WHERE THE HARLEQUIN ROMANCE TURNS INTO A SILHOUETTE BOMBSHELL NOVEL]
The screeching of tires from around the corner made Rodney look up, only to see a car come barreling down the road at him, brights on, the light blinding him. He froze and threw up his hands as if to stop the car, realizing that he didn’t have enough time to get out of the way and that he was a dead man. Rodney closed his eyes, his last thoughts on Carson, when a large shadow came out of the dark and rammed into his side, knocking him to the ground and rolling with him to the side of the road, only to stop and lie deathly still against the curb.
With a groan, Rodney opened his eyes, feeling dizzy and sick, a heavy weight upon his chest. He tried to focus his eyes but found it hard to do with his head spinning and the night sky above. He tried to move and get up, but couldn’t; the weight…no, the person…on top of him had him pinned to the ground. He lifted his head and looked into the face of Carson Beckett, pale and still, a trickle of blood running from a gash on his forehead.
“Carson!”
The Reluctant Lover coming to all the finer discount drugstores near you!
AUTHOR:
dark_cygnetCHALLENGE: Harlequin
PAIRING: Beckett/McKay
RATING: PG-13 couple of cuss words
NOTES: I'm not a writer, i just pretend to be one on the internet. This challenge looked so fun that I thought i would try my hand at it. I don't know how Harlequin-y it is but i enjoyed doing it. ::palmsface:: I think i turned Rodney into a girly man. Right now it's the back cover blurb and some excerpts from the 'book'. I plan on writing a full story for this soon. (God help us)
The lovely
elspethsheir was kind enough to beta most of this for me, except for the lock scene. Anything that is good and right can be contributed to her, all the bad goes to me.The Reluctant Lover
One year ago, Astrophysicist Dr. Rodney McKay had it all—a dream job with Alteran Industries, the grudging respect of his peers, a brilliant mind with the snark to back it up, and his pick of eligible bachelors. Only Rodney didn’t do casual flings…until he met Carson Beckett while on holiday in the Greek Isles. Carson is so tempting that Rodney couldn’t resist him. With the scorching heat between them, he agreed to a quick affair-or anything else-to get Carson in his bed. All too soon, he realized his feelings were becoming more than casual so he fled without telling Carson goodbye.
Now Carson Beckett is back in his life. Can Rodney hold out against the sensual Scotsman who enflames his senses, or will Carson convince him that the best kind of love comes after the commitment?
End Of The World Publishing is pleased to present excerpts from the newest international best seller from Cygnet Dark Swan.
The Reluctant Lover
[WHERE OUR HERO PONDERS]
Brushing the back of his hand across his eyes to wipe away the sweat, Rodney McKay wondered for the tenth time that day why the hell he was on the Greek Island of Santorini, being exposed to god knows what level of radiation and harmful UV rays and being just plain miserable in the scorching heat. Thank god he had thought to bring his 100 proof sunblock. If it got any hotter, his balls would bake right off and he happened to be very attached to them. He twitched at the thought of the cancer probably already forming, muttering under his breath about the rat bastard CEO you worked your ass off for who also happened to be one of the few people who could stand you and even considered you a friend.
Damn John Sheppard and his bright ideas.
*********************************************
[FIRST DATE?]
Dinner had been a pleasant surprise in the respect that Rodney enjoyed himself far more than he thought he would. His social skills were not his best asset, and he had been nervous. The more nervous he felt, the more arrogant he became. He had been afraid that he would scare Carson off. The first few minutes, after being seated on the balcony of the hotel restaurant, were awkward and tense for Rodney but listening to Carson make small talk with that lilting accent soon set him at ease.
Carson was as intelligent as he was charming, and they talked about a variety of things while enjoying the Greek food and a bottle of wine from one of the local vineyards Santorini was known for. They lost all track of time, the dinner only ending because the waiter came over and with a small cough to interrupt them, told them apologetically that the restaurant was closed and the staff was getting ready to leave.
Glancing around the empty dining room, Rodney had given the waiter a sheepish look as Carson grinned at him. Tossing some money on the table with an extra large tip included, they had left.
The air was balmy and sweet with the smell of tropical flowers as Rodney and Carson walked back to their rooms together, neither one talking, just content to enjoy the companionable silence, everything quiet and still. Carson walked close to Rodney, occasionally brushing against his arm, the warmth radiating from him setting off little tremors of awareness that went straight through Rodney from head to toe.
As they got closer to Rodney’s room, he began to get edgy, the fluttering in his stomach feeling like a whole colony of butterflies. Should he invite Carson in for a nightcap?
Coming up to his door, Rodney pulled out his room key, sticking it in the lock as he said over his shoulder to Carson, “I had a really good time tonight.” Turning his head, he looked at Carson, “I hope you did too.”
“Aye, it was lovely, thank you for dinner.”
“Well, it was the least I could do since you were so helpful when I passed out.”
“The correct medical term is fainting, Rodney.” Carson chuckled as he saw the look on Rodney’s face. Leaning in close to Rodney, he said in a low tone, “Regardless of whether or not it was manly hunger that made you faint, I’m just glad I was there to help ye.”
Rodney felt his mouth go dry as Carson’s voice went right through him. How the hell did someone make the word faint sound so sexy? And why did he have to smell so damn good? Flustered, he turned back to the door and jammed the key so hard that it stuck in the lock and wouldn’t turn. ‘Great! As if I didn’t already feel like an idiot, this should just confirm that I am one.’ He tried to pull the key out, but it wasn’t cooperating.
Embarrassed and frustrated, he glared at the door. He was an Astrophysicist, for god’s sake, surely he could take a key and unlock a door. He muttered under his breath, insulting the door’s parentage while viciously yanking at the key. “Oh, well that’s just perfect, isn’t it? What kind of hotel…” he stopped as Carson’s hand came to rest on top of his and gently prevented him from continuing. He froze as he felt Carson’s warm breath ghost across his ear.
“You’re trying too hard, mon. You can’t just go slamming in like that. You have to find your target and slide it in,” he said, putting his words to action, “slowly until it comes to rest fully sheathed in the lock.” Rodney whimpered at the velvet voice combined with that to die for accent. Oh, god, he was still talking about keys, wasn’t he?
The tumblers in the lock clicked and Rodney felt Carson step back, mourning the loss of heat at his back. Taking a deep breath, he turned back around to face the Scotsman, trying to get his heart to stop beating so fast. “So not only do you help people who pass out, but you also have a gift for unruly doors. What else can you do?”
Carson looked at the crooked smile on Rodney’s face, liking the way it lit up the man’s handsome face and glad that he was the one who put it there. He realized that he wanted to see Rodney again. “Well, I’m going to visit some of the sites tomorrow, why don’t you come with me and we’ll see.”
“Will there be hiking?”
“Yes, there’s hiking, but it will be fun, trust me.”
The dubious look on Rodney’s face made him roll his eyes. “Meet me in the lobby at seven am tomorrow…”
“What? Why so early!”
“So we can get some supplies for the day. I don’t want to have to carry ye back if you happen to faint again. Okay?” At Rodney’s nod, he said, “Right, it’s a date then. See ye in the morning. Good night.” Giving a wave, he walked off towards his room.
Rodney stood there for a moment, and then said softly, “It’s a date.”
*********************************************************************
[WHERE OUR HERO ANGSTS]
Nonono, this wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be him, not here, not now. But that was Carson’s voice, and god, he had forgotten how it affected him to hear those smooth, lilting tones in that sexy accent, flashes of memory skittering across his mind as he remembered words whispered to him, Carson’s brogue thickening in the height of passion.
John was in the process of introducing the doctor, when Beckett interrupted him.
“Rodney?”
Stomach knotting, McKay looked up into crystal blue eyes that haunted his dreams. “Carson.”
John was giving Rodney a quizzical look, glancing between the two men. “I take it you two know each other then?”
”Aye, we do, although it’s been a couple of years and we lost touch, wouldn’t you say, Rodney?” The tone of his voice was bland, but his eyes spoke of something entirely different.
Rodney gave a slight shrug of his shoulders as he said, “Yes, funny how that happens, isn’t it.” He saw John’s gaze sharpen as if he could feel the undercurrents swirling about them. Great, just great, John’s got that ‘I’m gonna find out everything’ look on his face.
Feeling suddenly overwhelmed and panicked, Rodney jumped to his feet and started to shuffle Sheppard and Beckett to the door with a flurry of hand movements, saying, as he practically shoved them towards the door, “Yes, yes, well I’m sure John has a lot more things to show you and as you both can see I was in the middle of something, so don’t let me keep you any longer…”
“Rodney!”
John was looking at him like he had lost his mind, which when he thought about it, probably wasn’t that far off. He wondered how John would react if he broke into hysterical laughter.
Beckett placed a hand on John’s shoulder. “No, it’s alright,” he said as he looked back at Rodney, expression unreadable. “I still have to meet with my staff, so we should let Dr. McKay get back to work.”
“There, you see, John. No harm done and I’m sure the good Doctor is anxious to get settled in and get started,” he stated. “Carson and I can catch up later on all that’s been going on since we saw each other last.”
Carson stopped in the doorway. “Aye, that we will, to be sure,” he said as he locked eyes with Rodney, the promise in his voice backed by steel. Rodney swallowed hard, unable to look away.
After they had finally left, Rodney slowly closed the door and slumped against it, rubbing his face with his hands. “God, I am so fucked.”
*************************************************
[OMG, WHERE THE HARLEQUIN ROMANCE TURNS INTO A SILHOUETTE BOMBSHELL NOVEL]
The screeching of tires from around the corner made Rodney look up, only to see a car come barreling down the road at him, brights on, the light blinding him. He froze and threw up his hands as if to stop the car, realizing that he didn’t have enough time to get out of the way and that he was a dead man. Rodney closed his eyes, his last thoughts on Carson, when a large shadow came out of the dark and rammed into his side, knocking him to the ground and rolling with him to the side of the road, only to stop and lie deathly still against the curb.
With a groan, Rodney opened his eyes, feeling dizzy and sick, a heavy weight upon his chest. He tried to focus his eyes but found it hard to do with his head spinning and the night sky above. He tried to move and get up, but couldn’t; the weight…no, the person…on top of him had him pinned to the ground. He lifted his head and looked into the face of Carson Beckett, pale and still, a trickle of blood running from a gash on his forehead.
“Carson!”
The Reluctant Lover coming to all the finer discount drugstores near you!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 05:01 am (UTC)You... you can't leave it there! What about woobie!carson? and poor Rodney, seeing that! What happens next?? You are going to post the rest right? You are dilligently working for all your fans?
*bites her fingernails*
btw, I know this was pg-13 but outta curiousity, are we gonna get any naughty bits? ;)
Can't wait to see more! *sends Carson and Rodney to inspire cygnet*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 06:43 am (UTC)::pets chi:: now that i know i have one! *g*
Yes, i am working on a full story with this. I've never written a slash sex scene before, but i am going to give it a shot with this fic! ::nods::
Yes, Carson and Rodney inspire me greatly, as do your videos! I've watched them continuously to help me write the boys, so thank you for that! and the feedback, i appreciate it alot. Take care.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 06:41 am (UTC)Although the scene descriptions are priceless.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 06:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 10:53 am (UTC)You really can't leave it there! Ohmygod! *whimper*
The poor boys! More, please, that's a nice idea and story... more... *whimper*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 02:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 06:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 06:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 10:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-18 11:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 12:33 am (UTC)I plan on writing a full story for this soon.
Good. Because you can't leave your readers hanging like this, especially with that ending!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 12:52 am (UTC)check is in the mail(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 02:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 03:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 04:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 02:27 pm (UTC)Yes, i will post a note here if it's allowable and i thought i would
warnlet folks know over at(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 10:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-19 02:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-21 09:47 pm (UTC)And, um, sequel!?! You can't leave it there!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-21 11:52 pm (UTC)I do plan on writing a full story of this, rl at the moment is being a little crazy but i have most of it plotted out and hope to start on it this weekend. By the way, can i just say i love your icon? It rocks!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-22 01:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-22 01:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-29 10:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-02 05:33 pm (UTC)The Reluctant Lover
Date: 2007-09-29 06:09 pm (UTC)I asked some people for help, and they pointed out to me that perhaps going directly to the source would be a good idea :P It honestly didn't even occur to me (my brain melted when I got Internet some years ago :P)
Anyway, thanks for this great story!!!
Chris
Re: The Reluctant Lover
Date: 2007-10-02 05:30 pm (UTC)