Tag Archives: coming together

Guest Blogger: Robert Buckley

The late military historian Sir John Keegan posed a question about soldiers in war: How do they do it? How do they function under horrific, terrifying stress? His conclusion in his landmark work, “Face of Battle,” was that soldiers don’t die for their country; they don’t sacrifice themselves, risking death and debilitating injury, for Mom, apple pie, or even the girl/boy next door. They do it for their friends, their band of brothers and recently sisters who face the same perils together. Platoons become families, as much as one’s biological family, and perhaps even more so.

Imagine the sense of betrayal, then, when a family member turns on you? I’ve been a frequent contributor to the Coming Together series. Can’t think of better ways to put licentious literature to work. When I found that “In The Trenches” would be dedicated to Protect Our Defenders, I was onboard in a heartbeat. They are the folks who are trying to expose and prevent sexual violence in the military. I can only hope that soon the culture that looks the other way when a soldier is violated will come around and see that everyone ought to have the right for defend his and her country, notwithstanding gender or sexual orientation, no more than having a different color skin precluded heroic service.

My story, “Once Upon a Thursday,” focuses on a military family too. During the American Civil War a squad of federal soldiers is assigned to protect a train of supply wagons. The wagons carry the makings of a feast for the first official Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

Unfortunately, they get separated from the wagon train and become lost in the woods of Northern Virginia. Taking another cue from Keegan, who determined that the sphere of combat is actually very small and limited to the average soldier, my soldiers are lost, unable to see what’s ahead or behind them, even unsure of what direction to follow. But, as they blunder blindly through the forest they encounter another family, a young woman and seven elderly men, living in a ramshackle tobacco barn.

There is no logical reason for these people to be in the middle of nowhere, but really, there’s no logical reason why young men from faraway places should be blundering through there too. Like war itself, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense.

That these two groups join in a family feast speaks to the human need to make connections, especially in the midst of the chaos of war.

I am very proud to be in this anthology and in the company of some outstanding, imaginative writers.

*****

Grab your copy of Coming Together: In The Trenches here.

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Robert Buckley is a frequent contributor to the Coming Together series of anthologies, including a single-author “Coming Together Presents Robert Buckley.” His stories have also appeared in multiple editions of “Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica.” He is senior fiction editor for the Erotica Readers and Writers Association http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/index.htm, where many of his stories are archived.

Guest Blogger: Kimber Vale

Thanks so much, Lucy, for hosting me today!

I’m so excited to be here talking about Coming Together: In the Trenches. Let me just start by saying that I love Coming Together. They’ve given me the opportunity to say that I, Kimber Vale, write smut for a good cause. How awesome is that? All the proceeds from Coming Together anthologies go to a worthy cause of choice. The wonderful people behind the scenes donate their time and talent to edit, format, create lovely covers for, and publish these fantastic themed collections—and all in the name of charity. I’m so grateful for all they do, and always thrilled to see a Coming Together submission call that sparks a story idea or jibes with a tale I have sitting on my hard drive just waiting for a good home.

Coming Together is the best home.

So, this Veterans Day—and every day—please take the time to connect with those you know who have fought for our freedom. Please spare a thought or a prayer for those brave heroes who are no longer with us. And, if you love a spicy story about a man or woman in army green, please pick up Coming Together: In the Trenches. Sales of this collection benefit Protect Our Defenders, an organization which “educates the public and policymakers on the crisis of sexual violence in the military.”

The contributing authors to Coming Together: In the Trenches provided a sweet mix of historical, contemporary, and high-octane erotic romance for your reading pleasure. He’s a look at what’s inside:

Once Upon a Thursday by Robert Buckley
During the American Civil War a squad of Union soldiers gets lost in the woods of northern Virginia. They find their way to a forlorn tobacco shed wherein dwell an enigmatic woman and a group of elderly men who have no sense of time.

Half a Day from the Front by Skilja Peregrinarius
Claire works in an inn close enough to the front lines to hear the guns in the night. She can’t fight, so she does what she can to support those who do.

This is Me Holding You by Annabeth Leong
As Carin’s life as a soldier again calls her away from her family, her husband Jun searches for a way to bind her to him. In the final hours of her leave, he gifts her with ropes he made himself, twisted from milkweed he gathered while thinking of her.

When He Comes Home by Di Topaz
Natalie catches Vance’s eye at the beginning of her college career. After a four-year game of cat and mouse, she finally admits her feelings for him. Their newfound romance is interrupted when Vance decides to join the Army.

Report on the Heart by Yvette Hines
After a career as an Air Force public affairs sergeant, Maria Locket has separated from the military and moved close to her hometown, where the biggest story she figures will be the local society events. Her plans for a smooth future are interrupted by the unexpected appearance of someone she thought was gone forever.

A Problem with Authority by Lucy Felthouse
Corporal Roxanne Grey has bawled Private Jesse Bagnall out one too many times during drill instruction. Jesse complains to his friends about the Corporal’s mistreatment, loudly enough that she overhears his rant. Commanding him into the guardroom, Roxanne divulges some information which makes it very easy for the two of them to get back on an even keel.

Comando Especial by Kimber Vale
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Rojas commands Navy SEAL trained soldiers in a special anti-narcotics division of the Colombian military, facing deadly enemies on a regular basis. But when Alex’s ex-girlfriend is kidnapped by a ruthless drug lord, the usual high-octane mission becomes personal. If Alex and Luz get out of the dangerous situation alive, Alex doesn’t plan to let Luz walk away a second time.

Dutch & Lobo by Aliyah Burke
A Marine finds passion in the jungle, enlisting the help of his lover to save a fellow Marine. Will Dutch ever see her again or will his memories be all he’s allowed of the mercenary Lobo?

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So come on and get your fatigue freak on! We’ve done our part—now how about you? Read a book for the old Red, White, and Blue!

Kimber Vale writes romance of all stripes, from hetero sci-fi to hot man love. Find her M/M work published under K. Vale. Come for the sex. Stay for the story. www.kimbervale.com

Sunday Snog – A Problem with Authority

Sunday Snog

Coming Together: In The TrenchesWelcome back to Sunday Snog. I’m sharing something a little different this week – a sexy snogging snippet from my story, A Problem with Authority, which appears in Coming Together: In The Trenches. This anthology releases tomorrow, and I’m particularly proud to be a part of it, as the proceeds are going to a worthy charity – Protect Our Defenders. So make sure to grab it for your eReader!

Soon, he could take no more. His hand stung like fuck, and if he didn’t do something with his cock soon he was probably going to come in his underwear. Raining a few more blows down on her for good measure, he then grabbed her by the shoulders, pulled her upright and spun her round.

Her face was red, her eyes wide. But she hadn’t been crying, and she didn’t look angry. In fact, she looked as horny as he felt, her lips parted enticingly. Taking advantage, he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her with all the need and arousal he was experiencing, hoping like hell she wouldn’t decide he’d gone a step too far.

Thankfully, she didn’t. She returned the embrace, slipping her arms around his neck and kissing him back with a bruising ferocity. So it seemed she did like the pain. That was something clearly worth knowing. Their tongues brushed together, explored, tickled and fought until Jesse was dizzy with need. Pulling away, he gasped for air, then said, “Roxanne, I really need to fuck you, but I don’t have a condom.”
A coquettish smile taking over her lips, she replied, “It’s okay, I do.”


Want more information? Head here.

Also, don’t forget to head back to Blissekiss and see what other luscious lip to lip action other authors have posted. Yum!

Sunday Snog – Coming Together with Curves

Sunday Snog

Coming Together with CurvesHere’s a luscious snog from my story The Wrong End of the Stick, which appears in Coming Together with Curves, which will hopefully be on digital shelves very, very soon. It’s a charity anthology edited by myself and Victoria Blisse, and I’m delighted to be part of such a worthy project.

Wordlessly, she did as he said, shifting into the space between his parted legs. He was much taller than her—most people were, actually—so now he was sitting down, they were a similar height.

He slipped his arms around her, pulling her closer. She took the hint and went eagerly into his embrace, putting her own arms around his neck and leaning down just a little to kiss him. By the time their lips met, his were already parted, and, after a couple of seconds of relatively chaste kissing, they quickly moved into something altogether more needy, more passionate. They continued until they were breathless, pulling away to suck in some necessary air.

“Fuck, Bonnie,” Owen said, “I want you. Bad.”

“Mmm-hmm,” she replied, pulling away and kicking off her own shoes, then bending to tug off her socks. Then she met Owen’s eyes. He was studying her carefully, his eyelids hooded, his gaze laden with intent.

“Take off your clothes, sweetheart,” he said.

“Oh, um… can we do it with the lights off?” She hated herself for saying it, but she was pretty sure that even if she was skinny, she’d find it difficult to strip off with confidence.

Owen sighed. “Yes, if you want. But I’m only agreeing to make you happy. I think you’re beautiful and I want to see you naked. I’ll just have to use my hands to explore your body instead of my eyes, won’t I?”

Bonnie gulped. She desperately wanted his hands on her—the growing warmth between her legs was a testament to that. Moving to flick off the light, she started tugging off her clothes as soon as the room was plunged into darkness. She could hear rustling from the direction of her bed, so she knew Owen was doing the same.


There’s more information on this fab anthology here. You can add it to your Goodreads shelves, too.

Also, don’t forget to head back to Blissekiss and see what other luscious lip to lip action other authors have posted. Yum!