PRESSKIT: Lickety Split by Damon Suede

• Saddle Sore: the brutal sexiness of the wounded cowboy
• Feed & Seed: on the real life romance fan who's living inside Lickety Split

Excerpt C (1000 words) Patch and Tucker skinnydipping

In this excerpt from Chapter Four, the day after their first awkward, intense sexual encounter Patch takes a dip in the pond not expecting Tucker to show up.

On the big rock near the center, Patch stood again and scraped the water from his wavy hair. He had a memory of his pa balancing him on a horse as a boy. Steady now. The sun felt like heaven through his closed eyes. He turned and dove back in.

Even at its deepest, the water only came up to his chest and the carp at the bottom weren’t something he’d ever eat. The bottom was broken rock at one end and cool mud at the other.

Patch had learned to jerk off against those flat rocks, snuck beers, and smoked the only two cigarettes of his life too. Sophomore year, he’d fooled around on the rockier shore with teammates because it was private and navigable in the dark. Against that tree, he’d kissed his first girl (meh) and blown his first boy (yeah!).

“Afternoon.”

Patch stiffened and straightened, twisted to face the gravelly drawl with a cold twist in his gut.

Tucker stood on the opposite shore in Carhartt overalls and that straw work hat. His muscular arms looked tan and greasy against his white undershirt. “I guess we had the same idea.” He glanced at the sky, the water. “It’s hot as a whorehouse on nickel night.” He shifted his weight but came no closer.

A flicker of Tucker naked in the armchair, glittering eyes gazing down at him, the taste of his semen pinning them both in place… Patch blinked it away, hyperconscious of his wet, bare skin and the distance between them. He went no closer to the pebbly shore.

They eyed each other. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three—

“So…. Uhh.” Tucker took his hat off with one hand and wiped his brow and mouth with the other. “We talking?”

Patch frowned, trapped by his nudity and the water.

“I mean, do we talk about what we done?” Tucker crouched at the water’s edge, his boots sinking into the smooth mud. No one had a right to look that good. “Last night. Or are you fixin’ to run off again?” He said run like a cuss word, painting Patch a coward for having some sense.

Patch started to snap back at him out of habit, but then he thought better of it. “Naw.”

“How you today?” Tucker seemed to be actually asking a legitimate question. “Better?”

He shrugged. “I guess. Sure.” Exposed and motionless, he let Tucker’s gaze rest on him across the water. Whatever had passed between them last night had not vanished in sunlight.

Tucker looked relaxed, and cautious.

Patch swallowed, his shaft fattening underwater. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He crossed his arms. “Which part?” Tucker squinted. “Come to visit? Squirted the side of my trailer? Eaten my load?”

“None. All.” Knowing it was a mistake, certain he would regret it, he pushed through the cool water toward the one person he had no business wanting. He moved as he would’ve for a racy photo shoot, fucking the imaginary lens with his presence, demanding a reaction.

Tucker watched him warily from under the trees still, overalls hanging from one strap. “I guess we are.” A crooked smile bent the edge of his mouth. “Talking.”

The closer Patch got to the shore the more of his torso was revealed: nipples, navel, and gradually the darkened trail down to his pubes. His dick thickened and shifted in the water, swirling around his waist as he advanced. Now his body was clean but his thoughts were everything else.

Tucker stared as if hypnotized. He wiped his lower face, lip to chin, and swallowed. He was sweating now. Was that a boner in his overalls?

Patch strode in slow motion, stirring the calm pond water as if sleepwalking. He shouldn’t want this so much but couldn’t make himself care. Conscious of the picture he made, he crooked a sinful grin just for effect.

Eyes wider, Tucker stood and took a step back. “Well, okay, now. Okay.”

“You afraid of me now?” Patch paused one step before his erection broke the surface. Tucker stood as if rooted to the shore. “Or you gonna come for a swim?”

“I’m good.” Tucker swallowed and his tongue slipped out to taste his lips. He couldn’t seem to look at Patch’s face. “Fine. Y’know.” His hands squeezed and released beside his pockets.

So Patch took the step that brought his knob out of the water and his boner dripped between them. Way too much fun watching the big cowboy squirm. He’d come out here looking for trouble; Patch was happy to give it to him.

On the shady shore, Tucker rocked back on his heels and shifted his straw hat to cover the lump under his coveralls.

Patch couldn’t look anywhere else. Another step. The cool mud sucked at his toes in the water dripped from his skin with each step he shouldn’t take.

How had he gotten here? Naked on the family farm, thigh-deep in stagnant water, walking toward a bear trap. New York City and all its fancy bullshit seemed like the other side of the world. Hot wind pushed through the trees overhead; the kudzu hissed and the live oaks whispered above them.

Tucker stood waiting and wary now, a sexy, lazy no-account who’d only ever wanted to scare him straight. They both knew better, but now they stood a yard apart with disaster churning between them.

 ---------------------------------------------

published by Dreamspinner Press

"Intensely erotic, Lickety Split is a rough-n-tumble cowboy romance as fierce as it is tender. Hot, hip DJ Patch Hastle has taken a rocky road since he ran away from Texas at sixteen, but he could never shake his yearning for Tucker Biggs, the cocky scoundrel he was never supposed to want...This blissful gem of a novel will crack your heart wide open and show you, page after searing page, that maybe, just maybe, you can go home again." Emily Jordan for Salon.com

"Damon Suede writes explosively hot, hypnotically well-written gay romance. In Lickety Split, he once again takes an archetypal gay erotic fantasy and uses his formidable talents to cast it with two utterly real, unforgettable and deeply sympathetic heroes. Simply put, Damon Suede is one of the most talented and versatile writers of gay romance at work today, if not the most." Christopher Rice, NY Times Bestselling Author of A Density of Souls

"Once again Damon Suede delivers a poignant, thought-provoking love story. Lickety Split deals with life-altering misperceptions, second chances, and revisiting a dark past in hopes of forging a bright future. And who doesn’t swoon over a sexy, gruff, take-charge cowboy like Tucker? Do yourself a huge favor and BUY THIS!" Lorelei James, NY Times Bestselling author of the Rough Riders series

"Damon Suede's Lickety Split will leave you longing for a dip in a cool pond, the glow of fireflies, and forbidden nights with the lusty older cowboy of your dreams. Equal parts gritty, elegant and beautifully real, this emotional coming-home story is filled with breathtaking imagery, enticingly flawed characters and a generous helping of earthy, edgy kink. The unlikely romance kept me off balance in such a brilliant way that I didn't want the book to end. This author is always worth waiting for!"  R.G. Alexander, author of the bestselling Finn Factor series

"MUST-READ ROMANCE! If you thought Damon Suede’s firefighters were hot, grab some ice before you read his cowboy! Lickety Split is raunchy, gritty and sweetened with sugar on top...Though the sex is hot, the emotional connection adds another layer. They become elemental to each other...Damon’s typical lush language and abundant humor make this book a must read. His way with words beautifully blends with his storytelling skills." Mary Grzesik​ for HEA/USA TODAY

"What if I told you Damon will deliver his most vexing yet hottest love tangle to date, would you buy it? Well, you should....Suede has a rare and remarkable ability to turn a moment into a force. A rope coils into a promise,  a sweet cup of coffee brews into a storm of emotions, and a two-step becomes a partnership. The power of the love between these two men is boundless and unrestrained...I thought my Kindle was going to spontaneously combust. I know it’s the gorgeous setting sun on the cover but it might as well be flames because this was a scorcher... You best git on this one here right quick. Y’all don’t want to miss this cowboy and his pup." BookUnfunk

"I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting but this was the best kind of surprise. It was hot and heavy but it also had the kind of story that you want to sink your teeth into...A May-December romance that was raunchy and dirty and intoxicatingly addictive, I'm already putting this out there: it's one of my top 2017 favorites! ...goodness, these two were hot together. Like sizzling. And super filthy. And I couldn't get enough of them, so I couldn't believe it was over even after 265 pages. Let me reiterate that there's more to this book than the sex...This is the kind of book where you want them to have a happy ending because they both deserve it. It'll SO put you on the edge. *wink* Five-plus stars. ♥" Dog-Eared Reviews

"A Damon Suede novel never disappoints, and Licktey Split is a delicious treat not to be missed. It’s a sultry, sexy, slow-burn salted with kink and roasted with decadent indulgence that will curl your toes and rattle your spurs." Heidi Cullinan

"Damon Suede is an exceptional storyteller. Whether you’re hearing him speak at a conference or having a one on one chat with him, it’s clear he knows how to arouse emotion in his audience. He’s well-versed in the art of inspiring others, and his writing is no different. Lickety Split is a fantastically well-crafted story that resonates with the reader, evoking a spectrum of emotions from compassion to sizzling excitement, and everything in between...The intimate scenes between Tucker and Patch are as scorching as the Texas heat... Patch and Tucker move through life at different speeds, but when they come together it’s clear that together they set the perfect pace." Charlie Cochet, bestselling author of the Thirds series.

"A story that was off the charts in the HEAT FACTOR. Characters who were immensely likable in some ways — and ways they weren’t....WIN, WIN, WIN. This is off the charts nuclear...the right balance of emotion and hot-as-hell eroticism. Damon crafted some messy, flawed, mostly unapologetic characters and took them through the wringer to a hard-won HEA. That, for me, is always a win. A rollicking good read — enthusiastically recommended." Katie for Back Porch Reader

"I always know going into a Damon Suede book that it’s going to be packed full of emotion and it’s going to be hot as hell. Even so, I was shocked by the things LICKETY SPLIT made me feel... The emotions hit me unexpectedly. I wasn’t prepared for how they snuck up on me at the weirdest times...LICKETY SPLIT is sexually raw and emotionally gritty. It was a fun and consuming ride with these two broken men. So satisfying to see them make each other whole in the end." Fran for Under the Covers

"FIVE STARS! I have a lot to say about this book, but first, I just need to get this out of my system: I loved this book. Like, for reals. Truly, madly, deeply. I wanna marry it. It’s just so dreamy!... This book is full of cool literary devices and I want to read and read again until I find them all. I have it in me to gush about this book a little more. It doesn’t read like literature, even though I just used a bunch of words talking about its literary qualities. This is a romance in contrast to itself, it’s a Dylan song, it’s dancing under the stars, it’s getting to love the person you always wanted, and it’s… beautiful. I sound sappy AF but I don’t care because I loved this book! I don’t even resent the days of book hangover I got. There are a lot of kinky cowboy romances, but there aren’t a lot of books so beautifully in contrast and opposition to themselves. This book balanced the two." Faye for It's About the Book

"(FIVE STARS) Good goddamn!!!...the slow fucken burn. And the sweet fucken kink. Just the right amount. No cheesy ‘Daddy’ script. No formal ‘scenes.’ Just two guys who like to get down in the same beautiful and dirty and marvelous way. No bullshit angst or miscommunications, although that certainly don’t mean it was easy (and yes, I’m writing in a drawl, I can’t not!) I’m honestly kinda in awe. And it was sooooooo fucken HOT! I’ve been know to get bored and skim a sex scene or twelve, but despite the edging going on for dozens of pages, I could not get enough." Sandra for Hearts on Fire Reviews

"Lickety Split is the most remarkable story I have read this year...Tucker and Patch are both very real, very complex characters with natural flaws and many layers... Their feelings are real, and their chemistry is over the top... the sex scenes are masterfully written and very sensual. The writing is truly exceptional. The slow flow, the detailed portrayal of the forming relationship between Tucker and Patch give an amazing depth to the story...This is not your everyday romance. It is raw and brutally honest with gritty feelings and pure sexuality... If you like reading raw, passionate stories, this is a perfect read for you. Highly recommended." Cinnamon for Love Bytes

"Utterly satisfying... This book has to be read slowly, and savored. There's so much between the lines that it's easy to miss a point or five the author is trying to make if you're rushing through it...This book is truly a character study. It's fascinating to watch the interactions between Patch and Tucker, and both of them changing before your eyes. Slowly, carefully, Damon Suede peels back the layers of his characters, showing his readers time and again that he has mastered his craft, creating and exploring two exquisite and completely oppositional characters with depth and heart and determination. There are moments that are utterly breathtaking, and they sneak up on you so unexpectedly that you can't help but sit there with your gaping maw, wondering what just happened.  Read this, savor this. It's masterfully done."   My Fiction Nook

"FIVE STARS! I was really excited to read this book. Let me tell you, it hit all my expectations...There are so many elements to this story, I really don’t know where to start... Well, let me tell you—barns and rope. I’ll let your imagination figure out the rest. Damon Suede can knock it out of the park. Sensual, spicy hot sex...I really liked how the author played these characters out. It wasn’t slow; it wasn’t fast and furious; it was real time...This is without a doubt a true love story. The writing, the emotions, the storyline, I loved it all. Heartwarming moments and regretful realizations make this story memorable. The choices we have, the opportunities we’re given, and the decisions we make are all our own. And the sex, don’t forget about the sex!! I encourage everyone to read this one." Lynn for The Novel Approach

"Once I read the description for 'Lickety Split', I was all in and ready to have the time of my life. I was not disappointed...I was surprised and pleased at the amount of character study the author wrote. This is no simple story. Far from it. Patch and Tucker are both very complex men with insecurities, vulnerabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and both still trying to find their path in the world, albeit in different ways... Lickety Split was way more than I expected it to be. It moved me and made me really think about life, and love. A truly beautiful story about going home and finding what you never knew you'd lost." Christy Duke for Rainbow Book Reviews

"I was introduced to Damon Suede’s unique voice in Hot Head, his bestselling novel featuring firefighters in NYC shortly after the 9/11 attack... Westerns have never been a favorite genre but this was Damon’s version and I couldn’t resist. This May/December romance is set in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere Texas. The main characters aren’t very likable on their own, but as a unit they work for me. Shockingly honest on so many levels—and I’m not talking about the sex which is kinky and deliciously erotic—Lickety Split is an emotional bull ride. The pain of being misunderstood is heartfelt, the realization that things were never as they seemed, and the glimmer of hope for a happy ending left me holding my breath throughout the second half of the book. This is storytelling at its finest. Highly recommended!" Mickie Ashling

"Lickety Split by Damon Suede is, at its simplest, a feel good revelation… Patch and Tucker, in Suede’s capable hands suffer realistic, well-crafted stumbles, moments of bone-crushing self-doubt, difficult realizations born of sincere and heart-wrenching reflection... We see growth and maturity, regret and pure joy, resignation and acceptance... Hear this world! Damon Suede has eclipsed Hot Head. With the right amount of angst and indecision, this is a tale of two men who not only find each other, but more importantly, themselves. You will cheer and curse, grin and marvel at Damon’s clever turn of phrase. But more, you will think about all you should have done in your life... Quick-quick. Slow, Slow." Brita Addams

"A hot, lusty, often cantankerous book that I loved...Suede does an amazing job creating friction between Patch and Tucker... The hate/love cycles between them are peppered with bouts of explosive hate, intense sexual release, truly tender moments and times of confusion. It’s all mixed into a package that’s hard to put down. I’ve never read a book that uses sex like Suede does here... In Lickety Split, though, the sex scenes are epic in nature and provide a lot of insight into Patch and Tucker. They learn a lot about each other through the sex and the reader learns even more. It’s sex that goes far beyond just being hot. This was a hot page-turner and I’ll definitely pluck Suede’s other books off our shelf in the near future." Jeff & Will’s Big Gay Fiction Podcast