With the manuscript of novel #3 out with first readers, Racheline in South Africa for two weeks (and currently in Las Vegas, also for her day job), and me moving from one side of DC to another, we decided to have some fun and write something unrelated to any of our current and ongoing projects.

What we ended up with was what we have working-titled “Conference,” a short story set at a leather conference in San Francisco — because it was that or “BDSM” and I for one didn’t need that among my open browser tabs at my day job.

Because it’s us, “Conference” is about negotiating shifts in relationship structures, and building systems to accommodate all the vagaries of the human heart. In the midst of the chaos of the last two weeks, and the hard (emotional and writing) work the novel demanded, a story about structure and order was the perfect break.

The events of the story are less soothing to our characters, at least at first. Cameron’s only at the conference because Noah, his boyfriend and sub, thinks it’s an awesome opportunity for them to get closer to each other and get more involved in the BDSM community. The conference hasn’t even started yet, though, when Cam runs into an old familiar face, and the week turns into something much more complicated than a vacation.

Cameron’s trying to maneuver through the conference level of the hotel as efficiently as possible so that he can get back to Noah.  Now that he’s picked up their registrations, he feels more than a little bad leaving him with all the unpacking. Sure, it’s his job, and one he’s eager for because of what it means in his head, but it’s a damn boring task, and they both know it.

The hallway, however, is filled with too many people having reunions and showing off their leathers before the event has — other than a few workshops — really even started. Cameron’s still in jeans and a t-shirt from traveling and frankly has no plans to change any time soon.  He just wants people to stop being in his way.

“Cameron Evan Beck, get your perfect ass in here!”

Cameron turns to follow the voice, so familiar and fond coming from one of the workshop rooms, before he even thinks about it. It’s only as Lou, totally dressed in leathers and holding a bullwhip in his hand, pulls him into a hug in front of what’s clearly a single tail and whip workshop, that he starts to realize just how fucked he is.

“This,” Lou says, introducing him to the room before Cameron can even manage to make a sound, “is Dr. Cameron Beck, professor of queer studies at [University].”  There’s only the slightest of dramatic pauses before he adds, “Cameron used to be my boy.”

With that, Lou gives him a wet, smacking kiss on the cheek.

As always, check out what other authors are working on this week at Sneak Peek Sunday! (participating authors write in all genres and at all heat levels))