Hurts So Good
I know some folks do soundtracks for their stories and
while I sometimes am inspired by lyrics in a song, or the feeling of the music,
I don’t often have specific songs that goes with a story. However, Hurts So
Good by John Cougar Mellencamp is the theme song for Bruised. Though in this
case, the characters came first, with their story for me to tell, not the song.
The inspiration for Bruised came from this guy I saw briefly and the thought that
flitted through my head – wouldn’t he bruise beautifully? As soon as I had
Billy in my head, the song Hurts So Good immediately began to play on repeat in
my mind (and then on the computer whenever I was writing.) In fact to this day,
all I have to do is think about Bruised, or Billy and Johnson and that song
starts up in my head.
It doesn’t hurt the association between the song and
story, that Johnson is a mechanic, an everyday working guy and I associate
Mellencamp’s songs (especially the earlier ones) with that kind of everyday
guy. Johnson is just a guy, but he can make Billy hurt so good.
There’s only one or two other stories I can think of
that have a song that strongly associated with them, and those are because they
were inspired in some way by the song. So Bruised is special that way!
Sean Michael
Smut fixes everything
Excerpt:
“I’m the beat-up Jeep,” he said pointing
to his baby, which wasn’t much to look at but which ran like a dream. ’Sides,
no one looked twice at her, and she’d never once been stolen.
Billy nodded and climbed up into the Jeep.
“Ah, the CJ7s. My best friend Mike had one when we were kids. Loved toodling
around in it. Damn thing ran like a top.”
“She’s a good ride.” Johnson stroked the
steering wheel before starting her up, just like he always did. “So where am I
taking you?” He turned to Billy and smiled, ignoring the voice in his head that
had suggested he tack on ‘my place?’ to the end of that. Slow down Johnson, you just met the man.
The black hat was tipped up, blue eyes
hidden behind dark glasses. Fuck, that was a hot goddamn look. “If you could
drop me at Eleventh and Blackthorne? I’m itching for some chili and cornbread,
and I’ll walk home after a beer or two.”
“It’s authentic there, is it?” he asked,
pulling out of the lot and turning left.
“It’s not Momma’s, but it’ll do a good ole
boy in a pinch, and they serve their beer ice cold and the music’s good.” He
got another of those smiles, slow and honey-sweet. “They have a blackberry
cobbler that’s better than sex, when you add the ice cream.”
“Better than sex? Now that’s something a
man’s gotta try to believe.” He gave Billy another smile and a bit of a wink,
flirting like crazy. Hell, Billy was the one who’d brought up sex and if he
couldn’t make it to the party at Dottie’s, he could still get some flirting in.
Unless his ’dar was way off, Billy was as queer as he was. A gay cowboy. Who’d
have known?
“Well, you’re welcome to join me, if
you’re at loose ends. ’S not healthy for a man to drink alone.” The offer
sounded honest enough, although he couldn’t imagine that drawl sounding…not.
Johnson revised his evening plans. He
could have dinner and a couple of drinks with Billy, and if that didn’t lead
anywhere, he was still good to go for the later parties. Not Dottie’s, but he
could find a place or two where he might get lucky. “You do make it sound like
a good deal.”
“Yeah? Excellent.” Another
smile.
Visit the next stop on the tour to read more of this story!
Blurb for Bruised:
Johnson and Billy come
from different parts of the country, different backgrounds and different places
in their lives. Maybe different is exactly what they both need.
Johnson figures it’s got to be a sign when cowboy Billy
shows up at his garage after hours, just as he’s about to go find someone to
spend the night with. He’s horny enough that a lot of guys would look good, but
Billy seems special somehow.
Billy thinks Johnson’s the hottest ticket he’s seen since he
moved to California from Texas, and after a good meal and some good fun, he
takes Johnson home. They both find out they’re getting more than they bargained
for. Can Johnson and Billy figure out why they feel so connected and can they
make it last once reality sets back in?
Publisher's Note: This
book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and
re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.
Like the sound of Bruised
Buy it here: Totally Bound Buy Link
About Sean Michael:
Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and
"Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of
"Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organising
his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small
secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs.
While collecting vast
amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours
between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channelling the long
lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to
"Chicago".
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is
attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex
toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories,
thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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