It’s Wednesday, Hump Day, that midweek slump. Today I’m adding some zing to your week by sharing an excerpt from my short romance Wild Ride.
A good girl meets bad boy romance!
She’s in for one Wild Ride…
Blurb
Fresh from being dumped for being too boring, shy and geeky Cynthia Goode decides to shake up her dull life by entering a provocative contest at a popular country western bar. She doesn’t win first prize at the Naughty Nightie mechanical bull riding contest, but she does win the attention of sexy biker Brody Cruz.
Living out what she thinks is a fantasy, she lets Brody take her home for a night she won’t forget.
Excerpt
She warmed, from his touch, his words and the way he was gazing at her. His stare moved from her eyes lower. She realized he was looking at her mouth and she fluttered her eyes closed and leaned into him. Cynthia was done pretending she didn’t want him. She so did. Brody brought his lips to hers and her breath caught in her throat. His mouth was warm, his kiss possessive and assured, unlike anything else she’d ever experienced. Her palms grew moist and she twisted the leather skirt in her hands as Brody plunged his fingers into her hair and tilted her head back.
“I didn’t think I’d meet someone like you tonight.” His voice was a raspy whisper. He let her go, but their gazes held.
The intensity of his stare made her feel vulnerable, but also aroused. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d meet a man like Brody tonight. Or any other night. She leaned against the wall for support and stepped into her skirt.
“Let’s get you home.” He reached for her hand and pulled her toward the motorcycle parked near the front of the building. The big machine was black with lots of chrome that glinted in the lights of the parking lot. Brody hopped astride the bike and handed his helmet to her. “Put this on.”
“What will you wear?” She gnawed her lip. She hated taking his only helmet.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve ridden countless times without a helmet. Mainly back when I was young and stupid like Eric.” He shrugged.
She put it on and fastened it under her chin, but she had to ask for his help in adjusting the strap so it fit her. Hiking her skirt up her thighs, she straddled the big machine and sat on the seat behind Brody. He let go of the handlebars and turned to take both her hands in his. “Wrap your arms around me like this. Put your feet on those pegs. Hang on tight.”
She did as he told her, but gulped and nodded. If she wasn’t already tipsy, she was intoxicated now on the thrill of the situation. Brody kicked up the kickstand then rocked the bike and backed it out of the space. He turned the ignition and the powerful engine roared to life. The seat vibrated beneath her and Brody masterfully maneuvered the machine out of the parking lot. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head against his shoulder. She clung to him. This was bound to be a wild ride.
Today I’m sharing a teaser from book one in the Talk Nerdy to Me series, Nerdy Words. If you like cosplay and romance novels, this is an excerpt you’ll want to read!
Blurb
When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Excerpt
“Do you even know who I’m supposed to be?” I asked. I hoped he didn’t think I’d just come to the bar in this get up. I mentally crossed my fingers that he’d figure it out without any hints from me.
“Of course, I know who you are, Lady Indy. Your costume is perfect,” he praised as his eyes raked over me.
“Well, you can thank Jamie. She let me borrow her hat, pants, and belt.” My cheeks heated under his appreciative stare. I guess I had my answer as to whether or not Dustin would like my outfit.
“Hmm. Maybe she deserves a raise. Thanks to her help, I get to indulge in a fantasy.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“You’re making a lot of assumptions tonight.” I made a tsking sound, even though my pulse leapt. The thought of learning Dustin’s fantasies was a total turn on.
“I can’t help it. All I can think about is peeling those clothes off and worshiping your sexy body,” he said as he pulled me closer.
He planted a kiss on the side of my neck. As his mouth traveled lower his thumbs stroked the base of my throat. I rolled my lips inward and stifled a moan. God, I wanted him. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this night. I was already becoming rapidly turned on.
Dustin pulled back and cupped my face. Our gazes held and his eyes looked soft. I shifted my gaze to flicker over his face. His expression was gentle and a little hopeful.
“You haven’t ever let anyone in, right? Because your mom told you how important it was to stay single, so you didn’t repeat her mistake? Well, I’ve not let anyone in since Madison. Since you’ve been told to avoid relationships, you probably don’t know how to let someone in. I’m rusty, since it’s been so long for me, but maybe we can take this slow and figure out how to let each other in?”
My skin prickled with fear. What he’d said was sweet and, in a way, I wanted to let him in. In another, very real, very strong way, I wanted to get out. I wanted to leave and not look back. Dustin’s heart had been scarred badly. I didn’t want to add to that wound, but worried that somehow, I would. Even if my intentions started out good, deep in my bones I knew that I’d add to the battle scars on his heart.
“I…I don’t know if I can, Dustin, and I realize that’s an incredibly shitty thing to tell you after you’ve shared so much with me. It’s just a lot of pressure to put on someone who has no relationship experience.”
He shifted, pulled away from me slightly. His expression turned darker. I thought I read hurt and maybe anger on his face. He turned and I watched his jaw flex. “Can you at least think about it? Think about whether what we have when we’re together is worth taking a chance?”
His expression softened, the anger gone and replaced by tenderness. He trailed his fingers down my arm and I resisted the urge to let out a shiver. His touch made my resolve slip. Damn it, was that enough? The physical thing we had going on, was that enough to take a risk? I didn’t know the answer. All I knew was that I wanted to both lean into his touch, bask in it, and flee this situation. God, I was a chicken shit. But, all he’d asked me to do was consider it. I could at least do that. I owed him that, after he’d bared so much of himself to me.
“I can think about it, Dustin. I want it to be worth it, I do…”
“I get what you’re saying and also what you’re not saying.” He moved his hands from my body and shifted, putting distance between us. I straightened my hat and tried not to get the wrinkles out of my blouse. Dustin busied himself straightening the office. It seemed like he was doing it so he didn’t have to speak or even look at me. I probably deserved his reserved behavior, but it still stung a little.
“Maybe I should take off. We’ve been back here a while. I should let you get back to work.” I fiddled with the fedora on my head, feeling more than a little ridiculous wearing the get up now. Somehow the mood between us had shifted and I didn’t know what to say or how to make it better. I couldn’t tell him that, yes, I’d give us a chance. I didn’t know how I felt about that. It would be unfair to make a promise before I knew what I wanted. “I’ll call you.” I hated the way the phrase sounded, lame and like I was making excuses.
Nerdy Words, the first book in my new series Talk Nerdy to Me, is out today!
About the series:
Imagine a bar where the wait staff dress up like their favorite comic book characters, where drinks are served in chemical beakers, where patrons can play a round of Dungeons and Dragons or other table-top role-playing games. Picture how fun it would be to hang with friends in big booths and play video games while sipping on an awesome craft beer. Imagine watching people in a glass enclosed room acting out dramas from their favorite live action role playing story lines. Imagine there’s a space for the folks who want to enjoy a drink while perusing their favorite comic books.
All of that and more await the patrons of the city of Cascade Falls, Washington’s newest watering hole, the ultra-hip, geek-themed bar called Nerdvana. Talk Nerdy to Me is a series set around the romances that blossom between sexy, geeky heroes and sassy, smart heroines who meet in the geek-themed bar.
Nerdy Words blurb:
When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
Excerpt
“Come out with me tonight, Liv. You need to have more fun and I want to check out that new bar I’ve been telling you about.”
“Oh, yeah. What’s it called again, Nirvana? Is it some kind of spiritual place?” I asked Jamie. She was always on the cutting edge of the bar scene, and well, everything else.
“Nerdvana,” she corrected me. “As in, a haven for geeks and all things geekery.”
“Um, that could be…interesting.” I stepped out into the cool air and light drizzle the Pacific Northwest is known for. I readjusted the wool hat on my head, pulling it down further to keep my curly hair from frizzing.
“I’m glad you said that because I’m on my way there now. Meet me at Nerdvana in twenty minutes?”
I stifled a sigh. “You assume I have nothing better to do.”
“Come on. Don’t harsh my mellow.”
“Where is this place?” I asked around a laugh.
“Evergreen Peak.” The neighborhood she referred to housed some of the city’s most prominent nightlife.
“Okay, text me the address. I’ll see you there in about twenty minutes,” I said before hanging up.
When Jamie’s text arrived on my phone, I put the address in the GPS and walked a couple blocks toward the bus stop that would take me to my destination. I took a seat and gazed out the window. I stared at the scenery that whizzed by. The lush greenery and historic architecture a subtle reminder of how much I loved the small city of Cascade Falls.
Despite the picturesque landscape, I couldn’t fully focus on it. Somehow Jamie always got me to do things I’d rather not. Like go out in public on a work night, even when the prospect of being among people sounded about as appealing as a cavity search. It wasn’t that I didn’t like people. I was just nowhere near as extroverted as my bubbly best friend. Forgetting about my intense desire to recoup and decompress at home, I shifted my thoughts to my evening. It would no doubt be fun. Just by being with Jamie guaranteed a good time. But still, the idea of my PJs and a starchy dinner had been the one thing that kept me going at work all day. So much for that dream.
My job wasn’t stressful, exactly. I wasn’t cut out for interacting with that many people day in and day out. My work study position at one of the university’s libraries was something I could scratch off my bucket list. I have always been drawn to the smell of old books and quiet spaces. The romantic in me thought the library would be the perfect place to marry those two loves. In reality, working at the library is nothing like that. On any given day there’s a constant stream of noise, the stereotype that library workers are dowdy curmudgeons who sit behind a desk and shush people all day couldn’t be further from the truth. But a big part of me loves it, and it pays the bills while I attend the Cascade Falls University.
Realizing we were approaching my destination, I pulled the cord to request the driver to stop. I got off down the street from where my cell phone told me Nerdvana was located. After checking the cross streets at the intersection, I walked half a block until I stopped in front of a beautiful building rich with old architectural details. I craned my neck to take in the three-story structure. Sure enough, the neon sign that hung from the side of the building read ‘Nerdvana’ in red glowing letters. I looked left and right on the street and didn’t see Jamie, so I figured she must have already gone inside.
As soon as I crossed the threshold into the bar the soft sounds of electronic music greeted me. I nodded in time to the rhythm. The tune’s slow bass beat was heavy on the use of a soothing synthesizer. As I took in the sounds at Nerdvana, my eyes adjusted to the blue glow that bathed the bar. I scanned to the left and saw a group of guys sitting in a big, oversized booth. When a couple of them let out a whoop of excitement I realized where the bluish light that ensconced the bar was coming from. Half a dozen booths lined the side of the bar, and each booth had a flat screen mounted to the wall. Mario and Luigi bounced across the TV directly to my left. So Nerdvana was a video game bar? Quite a few were scattered around various Cascade Falls neighborhoods.
As I walked toward the bar, I took in some of the other details and realized much more than video games took place in the space. It truly appeared to be a haven for geeks. To the right of the large glass and titanium bar was a wooden staircase that appeared to lead to a lower level. A basement in a bar? Interesting. A sign hung in the open doorway above the staircase that read “RPG leagues forming soon” and I knew just enough about the table-top role playing games to know they weren’t for me.
I walked up to the bar and leaned on the shiny, silver surface and hoisted my barely five-foot frame onto a big, black leather chair. It was comfortable, but clearly the leather gaming chair had been modified into a bar stool. Clever. Between the oversized furniture and the overall gamer feel of the bar, I felt out of my element. I was much more bookish than game oriented. Give me a classic literary tome over a joystick or pair of dice any day.
When a pretty brunette dressed like Princess Leia in the gold bikini appeared behind the bar, I’d made up my mind. I’d hate it here. Scantily-clad waitstaff. Video games. The tech bro vibe. Why had my best friend brought me here? And where the hell was Jamie, anyway?
“What can I get you?” the Leia impersonator asked.
I looked at the plethora of taps behind her. Nerdvana carried a wide variety of craft beer, but I was in the mood for something different tonight.
“I’ll take a gin and tonic.”
“Do you want a beaker for two dollars more?”
“A beaker?”
Her question roused me from my musings, and it caught me off guard. I wracked my brain. Beaker. What the hell was that? A nerd-themed tapas I didn’t know anything about? Leia held up a glass lab beaker and raised her eyebrows at me. Holy shit. For two bucks more I could drink my alcoholic beverage from a lab beaker. What the hell, as Jamie constantly reminded me, we only live once.
“Um, sure.”
I glanced around again wishing Jamie would materialize and keep me company. The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I plopped my debit card down as a form of payment. I tipped my drink back and took a sip. The gin and tonic was nice and stiff, which was good since it set me back fifteen bucks.
“Liv, you made it!”
I turned toward the bubbly voice I knew and loved. The blue light in the bar made Jamie’s blonde hair glow almost platinum. At least the top half of her hair looked light blonde. The tips of her asymmetrical bob shone a bright hot pink. I’d always admired Jamie’s funky sense of style.
“Hi, can I get a whiskey sour, but can you go easy on the alcohol? I don’t drink much,” she said with uncharacteristic sheepishness. Princess Leia nodded and offered her a beaker. Jamie took her drink in the larger container as well. The bartender passed the sour—light on the whiskey—to her. Of course my friend didn’t drink much, she didn’t need alcohol to loosen her inhibitions. I wasn’t even aware that she had any, honestly. Jamie and I clinked beakers.
“To nerd heaven,” I said with a wry smile.
“Isn’t it awesome? Oh, good news! I think I might have found a job.”
“Great. Where at?” I asked as I sipped my drink.
“Here.” She gave a saucy shake of her head, which caused the stud in her nose to gleam in the light.
Jamie went through things like jobs, college majors and lovers like most people went through underwear. It seemed like she was always trying something new only to quickly grow bored and pick up something else. Life was too short for serious commitments, or so she believed.
“Really? That’s awesome.” I told her about the new job and meaning it. “Will you have to wear one of those barely there outfits?” I asked as I nodded toward Princess Leia as subtly as possible.
“Please. When have you ever known me to give two fucks about a barely there outfit?”
“True.” I bit back my smile as I took another sip of my cocktail.
“Besides, you’re the last person I would expect to question wearing costumes.”
“You know I’m all about expressing yourself through clothes,” I indicated the rust colored vintage crushed velvet blazer I wore and my black top hat. “It just reeks of sexism to see a bartender wearing next to nothing.”
“Oh. My. God. Please don’t go down this rabbit hole.” She shook her head. “I’ll have you know that according to Quinn, it’s completely optional. I don’t have to dress up, but really, who wouldn’t want to get paid to dress in costume?”
“And who’s Quinn?” I asked, feeling completely out of the loop. What was it about this place? It seemed like I’d stepped into a different universe ever since I’d crossed the threshold.
“She’s one of the owners. She’s right there.”
I trained my gaze to where she gestured discreetly to a woman that looked like a fifties era pin-up model, but with an edge. Her black hair was styled in a rockabilly pompadour, she wore a black dress with a cherry print, and her waist was cinched by a wide scarlet belt. Her lips were painted fire engine red, but even from across the room I could tell the color complemented her bronze skin and sloe eyes. Her left arm was covered in a full sleeve tattoo.
Her fierce look had my attention right away. I’d always gravitated toward people who didn’t dress like the status quo. That was one of the things that Jamie and I had bonded over instantly. It was obvious that Quinn had a style all her own. I’ve always loved shoes, so I dropped my gaze down to her feet. Girlfriend was rockin’ adorable vintage black and white patent spectator pumps.
“Damn, I want her heels.”
“Will you get off shoes for a minute and listen? This might be the solution to most of my problems. Remember, my parents, the ultimatum.” She paused and screwed her face up as if just saying the words had put a bad taste in her mouth.
“Um, as if I could forget the stipulation that might rob me of my awesome roommate?”
“Anyway,” Jamie said dismissively, swirling the liquid in her beaker. “I struck up a conversation with Quinn back by the larping room before you got here. She’s going to talk with her partner and give me a yes or no tonight.”
“The what room? You’re telling me there’s a room dedicated to larping here?”
“Ah, I knew spilling that there’s a live action role playing room here would get you to focus on something besides shoes.”
I just looked at her as though she had suddenly sprouted a second head covered with blonde and fuchsia colored hair. I wasn’t a larper, but I knew enough about it to be impressed that there was now a bar in Cascade Falls with a dedicated space for larping.
“Come on, I’ll show you. Grab your drink.”
I gripped my beaker and wobbled behind her. As we walked through the bar I saw more booths with TVs displaying video games and gaming consoles from days gone by. It looked like every vintage gaming system was represented on the various TV screens, from Atari and Sega to Nintendo, Xbox, and Playstation.
As we neared the back of the building, I spied a quiet corner that featured comfy-looking brown leather chairs and teak bookshelves built into the walls. The serene nook seemed more my pace. Until I noticed that a couple of people were flipping through glossy pages and sipping beers from beakers.
“Are those comic books?”
“Yeah, isn’t it amazing? But look over here,” Jamie said and directed my gaze to a space in the left corner of the bar. “That’s the larping room,” she explained as she pointed at a glass area.
The two-story room was completely enclosed in glass walls. I titled my head back and discovered there was no ceiling. Instead, a small cat walk and balcony stretched across the top of the glass room. A few people had gathered to peer into the larping room to watch the performance. A group of men were inside the glass room dressed in fifteenth century garb—complete with breast shields, swords, and capes—and they seemed to be acting out some sort of drama.
“Okay, I think I finally get why this place is called Nerdvana. It’s like a damn nerd wet dream in here.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
At the sound of the deep male voice close to me I jumped, nearly dropping my beaker in the process. I turned my head to address the speaker but had to drag my eyes up at least a foot to look him in the face. Once I met his stare, my mouth wouldn’t work anyway.
Momentarily stunned by his arresting pale blue irises, I opened and shut my mouth several times before any sound would finally come out. It’d been several years, but I’d never forget that face. I started to greet him, but he broke eye contact.
Before I could string together enough syllables to form a coherent sentence, he turned his attention to Jamie. It figured. Between her sparkling personality and brown almond-shaped eyes men—and women— constantly hit on Jamie. The fact that she was a D-cup probably didn’t hurt her chances either. But still, I wished the spark of recognition I’d felt when our eyes had connected had gone both ways. Of course, maybe he just didn’t recognize me. I’d changed a lot since that summer.
“Are you Jamie? My business partner let me know she gave you an impromptu interview earlier. I’m Dustin Bradshaw,” he told her and thrust his hand out toward her.
Dustin Bradshaw.
As if I could ever forget that name. I dropped my gaze to their clasped hands. It was only a professional handshake, nothing more, but I felt like an idiot, just standing on the sidelines watching the two of them. I shifted my gaze to the ink on the outside of Dustin’s right forearm. In what looked to be an homage to the original 1UP gaming system, he sported a tattoo of the gray square controller on his flesh. My brother was a gamer and I had to appreciate the details of Dustin’s tattoo. The depiction of the controller was accurate down to the twin green circles and blue cross-shaped button. Seeing it made memories come back in a rush.
I’d used my fingertip to trace the details of that tattoo on a warm summer night four years ago. God damn it, why was I thinking about what had happened between us when he hadn’t even bothered to spare a second glance at me? All this clearly one-sided reminiscing made me uncomfortable, like every inch of my skin was exposed under a microscope. The fact that Dustin hadn’t acknowledged me made it all that much worse. I wanted to run from this bar like the building was on fire. Of course, I wouldn’t.
I’m so excited to announce I’m finally releasing a new series I’ve worked on for years. The time has come and I can’t wait for everyone to meet the cast of characters at the geek-themed bar Nerdvana.
Imagine a bar where the wait staff dress up like their favorite comic book characters, where drinks are served in chemical beakers, where patrons can play a round of Dungeons and Dragons or other table-top role-playing games. Picture how fun it would be to hang with friends in big booths and play video games while sipping on an awesome craft beer. Imagine watching people in a glass enclosed room acting out dramas from their favorite live action role playing story lines. Imagine there’s a space for the folks who want to enjoy a drink while perusing their favorite comic books.
All of that and more await the patrons of the city of Cascade Falls, Washington’s newest watering hole, the ultra-hip, geek-themed bar called Nerdvana. Talk Nerdy to Me is a series set around the romances that blossom between sexy, geeky heroes and sassy, smart heroines who meet in the geek-themed bar.
When Olivia Sands walks into the hottest bar in Cascade Falls, she’s swept away by the cosplayers, gamers, and larpers. The atmosphere at Nerdvana is truly a haven for geeks, and Olivia can picture herself spending every weekend at the nerd-themed hangout. Or at least, she could before she finds out the bar’s owner is none other than Dustin Bradshaw, her first crush and the man who fled her life with no explanation four summers ago.
Of course, the years have done nothing to eliminate the magnetic pull between them, and now that they’re thrown together again they’re helpless to fight their attraction. Between working on her bespoke costume business Cosplaymates, attending grad school, and planning her future, Olivia doesn’t have time for dating. But Dustin will stop at nothing to finally make her his, once and for all.
Nerdy Words is book one in Talk Nerdy to Me, a series centering around the romances that blossom between bar staff and customers at Nerdvana.
I’ve talked about how I’m finding more quiet time away from the city lately, and spending that time in nature has made me nostalgic for the days when I lived in a small town. Sure, there are drawbacks from living outside of a city, like not having access to arts and culture like museums and theaters. But, the allure of wide open spaces and the sweet serenade of birds over traffic and construction noise are powerfully persuasive.
Although I have no immediate plans to leave the city, I can visit a small town (based on the one I grew up in) called Clear Lake and so can you. Good With His Hands is about a hot small town mechanic and the reluctantly relocated journalist who fall for each other despite their differences and amid some small town gossip drama 😀
Here’s an excerpt if you’d like to know a little more about Jake and Gabby.
Every woman wants a man who is good with his hands…
He’s a sexy bad boy mechanic with a reputation. She’s a guarded reporter with too much to lose to play with fire. She tries to resist him but one touch from him changes everything.
Recent college graduate Gabby Richards has big plans for her life. At the top of those plans is landing a job for a major magazine in Chicago. While Gabby is busy mapping out her career as a journalist, her father gets seriously injured. Upon hearing of his accident, Gabby drops everything, including her career plans, and heads home to her small, rural town of Clear Lake, but vows to return to Chicago as soon as her father is well.
On her first day back in her hometown she has a run-in with the town’s sexy new mechanic, Jake Harrison, and meeting him turns everything upside-down. Despite her wishes to remain single, she doesn’t see the harm in going on a few dates with him. Soon Jake is helping Gabby confront her past and bringing out a side of her that has remained hidden for years. Even though she wants to remain focused on her career and return to her city life, she begins to wonder if it’s possible to have it all—career, her dream life in Chicago, and Jake Harrison.
“Sorry, do I have something on my face?” Gabby asked him earnestly.
Jake merely chuckled and shook his head.
“Then what’s wrong? Why are you staring and how come you’re not eating?”
“I love how you’re always so subtle,” Jake said with a laugh. “I was just wondering why you don’t like Clear Lake. What is it about this place that you claim bothers you so much? I say claim because from the way you’re chowing down on that sandwich, and the sparkle I saw in your eyes when you talked about your stories, you seem pretty happy to me. I think you’re determined not to like this town, for some reason, but it’s not working.”
Gabby felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach and she put the half-eaten gargantuan sandwich on her plate. Despite the fact that she didn’t like where Jake was going with the conversation, she felt he deserved some kind of answer. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell him the truth. It was so personal. She lifted her gaze from her Big Henry up into his concerned blue eyes.
“There are a lot of things about Clear Lake I’d rather forget. When I look around, I don’t see anything but a lot of bad memories and things I wish had never happened. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you, but it’s the truth,” she said as she threw her napkin down next to her plate.
“So you don’t have to worry about bad memories in Chicago? To you, it’s safe, in that respect, that’s why you’re so determined to run back there the first chance you get,” he said matter-of-factly.
Gabby was shocked at how rude he was being. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t know what to say to him. Jake could never understand what it felt like to lose a parent, to watch them suffer and waste away and know there was nothing you could do to help them or stop it from happening.
She felt tears spring in her eyes, and at the risk of having Jake see her cry, she bolted for the restroom, while muttering an ‘excuse me’ over her shoulder. She nearly bumped into their waitress in her hurry to reach the bathroom.
Gabby leaned over the sink and took several deep breaths, determined not to cry. She wanted to get angry at Jake, she wanted to march straight out to their table and give him a piece of her mind. She wanted to tell him what an ignorant comment he’d made and that their date on Saturday was off.
However, she didn’t want to make a scene in the dining area and be the talk of the town for weeks. If not months, she thought sardonically. She decided the silent treatment would be better and probably a lot more effective.
When she went back out to the booth, Jake was throwing some cash down on the table to pay their tab. Gabby headed for the door and was waiting inside the hot truck for him when he got outside and cranked the engine to life.
“I’m sorry if what I said upset you.”
Gabby sat staring out the passenger window, feeling all her resolve to tell Jake off fade away. “It’s not just what you said Jake. It’s okay. I don’t expect you to know what it feels like to lose a parent. You probably can’t even imagine the pain of driving by the hospital where your mom spent weeks lying in a bed under fluorescent lighting when she should have been at home, gardening, cooking dinner and living her life.
“I don’t expect you to understand how everywhere I go and everything I see is overtaken by memories. I don’t expect you to know what it’s like to not only be haunted by what has happened, but also what could have been,” she wiped a tear that had rolled down her cheek and faced Jake. “So, you’re right in one respect, Jake. Chicago is safe, there are not bad memories, there are not good memories. It’s just a place. It’s some place I can just be Gabby, not poor Gabby who lost her mom to cancer, not a sob story, I’m just me. Like I said, you probably can’t get that.”
Jake let out a long sigh and Gabby thought to herself, I sure told him.
“It’s funny you say that I wouldn’t understand Gabby, when I understand perfectly. I lost my mom too. Not to cancer, a car accident. I don’t know what’s worse, watching your parent slip away, little by little, or to have her suddenly taken away, like my mom was.
“I know exactly what you’re saying about the memories, Gabby. I felt the same way after my mom died and I had to pass by the stretch of road where she was hit. It was like a knife in my stomach every time I saw that spot. Then my grandpa died and when I found out my dad didn’t want to take over the business and move here, I jumped at the chance.
“I left my hometown for the same reasons you’re trying to leave yours, Gabby and I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I have. Sooner or later the pain resurfaces, I may not have to see the spot where my mom died every day, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s not around anymore. Maybe you can find a way to still be connected to your mom. I started running as a way to connect with mine, when I’m running, it’s like…I can feel her presence.”
He reached for her hand and pulled her toward him across the bench seat.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, I was only trying to help,” he said as he stared deep into her hazel eyes.
“It’s not your fault, Jake,” she said in a husky voice.
She was so close to him she could smell the shop fluids on his uniform, and feel the heat radiating from his body. She felt Jake remove his hand from hers and she experienced a pang of disappointment. When he placed his hand on the back of Gabby’s bare neck, her heart raced. Jake angled his head toward hers and she parted her lips in anticipation of his kiss.
Gabby grasped his shoulders and felt Jake’s surprisingly soft embrace. Maybe it was the emotions of the moment, but his kiss wasn’t as insistent as it normally was. Despite it being a mellower kiss, her heartbeat accelerated, her anger totally evaporated now. She let out a contented sigh and was about to wind her fingers through his hair when someone honked their horn. Startled, she and Jake broke apart.
“Way to go, Jake,” a man called from a vehicle nearby.
He continued to grin goofily at the couple as he walked into the barbeque joint. Gabby felt her cheeks flame in response to their audience. So much for keeping her dates with Jake a secret and not being the talk of the town.
I would love nothing more than to pack my bags and jump on a cruise ship. And, maybe I’m extra nostalgic for cruising this summer because last year around this time I was on a cruise ship.
Ah, what a difference a year makes.
If you’re like me and are jonesing for a nautical adventure, you can live vicariously through my novel Caribbean Caliente. It’s set on a cruise ship, during the early 2000s, and there’s LOTS of dancing and just plain joy in this book. If this sounds like something you could get on board with (see what I did there?) read on for the blurb and an excerpt.
She didn’t plan to fall for a man on what was supposed to be her honeymoon…
After Justus Kendall found her fiance cheating on her, she ended the relationship, but took the honeymoon with her best friend.
On a boat, in the middle of the Caribbean, she meets Miguel Amores, a Latin dancer and entrepreneur from Miami. A chance encounter leads to a dance competition and reveals their scorching chemistry. Justus and Miguel soon find out they’re compatible on and off the dance floor, knowing there’s no future, yet unable to deny their attraction.
When the cruise is over they agree to go their separate ways, but neither can forget about those seven days of Caribbean heat.
“This round show us you know how to dance to current music. Bust out your newest dance moves. DJ Wild, are you ready?” The DJ let loose with an air horn as an affirmative.
What’s Your Fantasy by Ludacris blasted through the speakers and Justus felt a blush creep up her neck. She was supposed to dance in front of all these people with Miguel to a song with lyrics that talked about licking someone from their head to their toes? And of course, Mr. Sexy Dancer himself was grinding his hips toward her in a way that made her want to squirm.
As the rap song continued to describe sexual fantasies, she couldn’t help but picture Miguel in some of the scenarios. Miguel with tortoise framed glasses playing the teacher and she the student. Miguel as a sexy vampire and her the helpless human unable to resist his otherworldly charms. Maybe the sexy situations depicted in the song weren’t that far-fetched after all. The music suddenly stopped and she wasn’t sure if she was happy or disappointed. She’d been so intent on the fantasies laid out in the song lyrics she’d danced on auto-pilot. The audience came through for them. She and Miguel made it to the final round.
“Our last round will be our most difficult,” Antnonio intoned grimly. “We’ll be judging our remaining couples with a full song, and you’ll have to infuse freestyle into this next type of dance.”
“Man, this prize better be pretty sweet. They’re making us work our asses off for it,” she murmured to Miguel.
He bit back a laugh. “I happen to know what the prize is, and I’m making sure you get it.”
Damn, this man is competitive.
“DJ Wild, what’s our final dance style? Give us a hint.”
The DJ played a snippet of the song I Touch Myself, and of course, the crowd erupted into cheers at the lyrics.
“So the dance style is cheesy 90s songs?”
Miguel burst out laughing. “You’re bad, but I like it.” He arched a brow at her and she relished the devilish look in his eye.
“The style, ladies and gentlemen, is solo dancing.” Antonio threw his hands in the air. “I know! We pulled out all the stops with this last dance. So, to be clear you will dance solo, but will be judged as a couple. How do you do that? I’m glad you asked…” he ate up the audience’s laughter. “The couples will dance near each other, but not touching, not together. Imagine if you will that you’re in a crowded night club, you’re dancing…DJ Wild, help me out here,” Antonio snapped his fingers and the DJ put on a thumping track. The assistant cruise director swayed to the beat. “Now imagine you’re in a crowded night club, dancing, alone. And suddenly, across the dance floor you see that one person. Your eyes meet. Come on, ladies, gentlemen, you know what I mean. Make us feel that electricity.”
“Sure, nothing too difficult there, only have the pressure of tons of strangers watching. Oh, and I’m totally sober. Typically if I danced the way he’s talking about, I’d be tipsy.”
“Justus,” Miguel sputtered her name around chuckles. “You should do stand up.”
“I’m not that funny. I’m just snarky.” She shook her head and smiled at him as they took their positions on the floor. “Ready to help me win this thing?”
“Hell yeah.”
When the song about masturbation came over the speakers, at least Justus was prepared for it this time. And, she knew exactly what she would do to win this competition. She turned toward Miguel and held his gaze. The crowd, the noise, the lights, all of it faded away. It was only her, and him, and the music. Justus moved her body and ran her hands up and down her torso. She popped a hip left, then right and tossed her hair over her shoulders. In return Miguel, rolled his hips and stared her down.
They took small steps toward each other, but danced at least six feet apart. There was no way they could touch each other, but their eyes did all the things their hands and lips couldn’t do in that moment. She bent at her waist, then popped her booty out and ran her hands along the outer edge of her jean clad ass cheeks. Her face flushed and her breathing was shallow and quick. It wasn’t only from the movement. The intense sexual tension between her and Miguel was as thick as a rope. It pulsed between them and took on a life form of its own.
Miguel matched her sexy move with one of his own. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, each one coming loose of its hold, his gaze never leaving hers. She was faintly aware of the shouts and catcalls from the women on the sidelines. That was the first reminder she had that people were watching them. That this was all a competition. It wasn’t a real thing. It wouldn’t end with her in his arms, his mouth and body crushed against hers. Her footsteps faltered, but she caught the nearly imperceptible shake of Miguel’s head. He held her stare and freed the remaining two buttons from his shirt and shrugged it off.
The screams and whistles from the observers almost tuned out the music. Her gaze took in the copper hued skin, stretched taut over muscles. The smattering of chest hair that led to the trail that ended at the waistband of his jeans. God damn, her fingers burned to touch him. It was more than her fingers that wanted to touch him. Her mouth salivated at the thought of the trace of salt she’d taste if her tongue followed the trail of that hair into his pants. She dropped to her knees and tossed her hair back and forth, swaying her torso to the music. The thought of what she’d rather be doing on her knees played out in her movements. Justus looked at him and slowly rimmed her lips with the tip of her tongue. Heat burned in Miguel’s eyes and without breaking their gaze he thrust his hips in a seductive rhythm. The invasive squawk of an air horn broke their lusty spell.
“Wow. Like…wow, right? I’m just speechless. That was crazy.” Antonio fanned himself with his hand and looked at the audience.
Miguel walked to her and extended his hand and helped pull her to her feet. “I’m impressed,” he murmured and pressed himself against her. She felt how impressed he was. Without breaking their gaze he bent and picked up his shirt, but didn’t put it back on. The two of them walked to the side of the dance floor and stood next to the other couple remaining in the competition.
“As amazing as all our couples have been, there can only be one winner. Are we ready to vote?” The crowd roared. Antonio gestured to the other couple and the crowd broke into mealy applause. That had to be a good sign for her and Miguel, right? Antonio stood in front of them and gestured for the crowd to vote for them. The noise was deafening.
“Couple eight has won. Now, for your prize.” Antonio treated the crowd to a broad grin, drawing the suspense out and loving it. “You win two free excursion trips of your choice. We’ve got the trip to our private island coming up, so you can do any side trip you want there. Horseback riding on the beach, helicopter tour. Your choice.”
Justus squealed and turned to Miguel. He’d won this for her. Overcome with joy she threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips. Laughter, shouts, and whistles surrounded her.
What the hell did I just do?
“Well someone’s very happy to win.” Antonio’s Captain Obvious comment was met with laughter.
Heat flooded her face and she followed Antonio to the side where he took her details and gave her two vouchers for the excursions. She couldn’t even look at Miguel. Yes, they’d performed a semi-pornographic dance routine, but hell, she’d just planted one on him in front of a huge crowd. Surely she’d compromised him in some way, since he taught and gave lectures on the boat. Antonio asked Miguel something and she used that as her excuse to break free from him. She ran across the floor and found Krystal in the crowd.
“Holy shit. I need a cigarette after watching that.” Krystal treated her to a high five, then wrapped her in a quick hug.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m mortified. I need to get the hell out of here.”
It’s Thursday. I don’t know about you, but I need help remembered what day it is. Quarantine has definitely got me…a little confused.
If you need a pick me up to get through the rest of this week, I’m sharing a sexy snippet from my latest release, Exclusively Hers.
There’s never been another man like him in her life. Heroic. Daring. Gorgeous.
When reporter Cassie Pierce interviews Aidan West at the scene of an accident, she’s mesmerized by his deep blue eyes and intense, laser-like focus. The fact that he pulled a pregnant woman and her small son from a wrecked vehicle after it plunged into a lake impresses her too. After the interview, Aidan makes one request, that she only refers to him as an anonymous Good Samaritan.
Dying to tell this story, she agrees to Aidan’s mysterious terms. Although everything between Aidan and Cassie is supposed to be all business, there’s an undeniable pull that’s impossible to resist. When Cassie agrees to go out with him she realizes Aidan has another side. His intense focus carries over to his love life. Aching to further explore the explosive chemistry between them, Cassie does something she’s never done before: becomes romantically involved with someone she’s interviewed.
As parts of Aidan’s past resurface her journalistic instinct flares, putting her in the uncomfortable position of choosing between love or a career-launching exclusive story.
Snippet:
“I had a great time tonight. It’s funny, but this didn’t feel like a first date.”
“It didn’t to me either. Normally things can seem…forced. I never felt that once tonight.”
“Me either,” he said and cupped her chin.
They gazed into each other’s eyes a few moments until he tilted her head back and put his mouth to hers. Cassie started to part her lips, but it appeared Aidan was going for a short, quick kiss. He broke their hold, but wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her head to his chest.
“I had a great time,” he said again. “But I should probably go before things get any farther.”
“Why? Who says things can’t go any further?”
He was quiet a moment and she felt his grip around her shoulders loosen slightly.
“You’ve been drinking. I don’t want you to do something that you’ll regret later.”
“Look at my eyes,” she lifted her head from his chest. “You’re in security. You’ve probably had to handle your share of intoxicated people when they get loud and rowdy. Do I look drunk to you?”
His clear blue irises stared into hers for several moments.
“No, you don’t look drunk.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
“I like you and I want to see you again. You’re a good woman, Cassie. I don’t want to screw anything up because I can’t control myself around you.”
“So, a good woman can’t enjoy sex with someone she’s attracted to and has a good time being around? Come on, Aidan. I see what kind of person you are, with your intense, astute ways. I know control is important to you. It seems like you take pride in restraining yourself, but this is one time you can give in and let go of it.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong.”
She knitted her brows together, unsure of his meaning.
“I am going to keep my control tonight.”
He wrapped his hands around either side of her head and drew her mouth to his. The second kiss was so different from the first. He wasn’t timid. It wasn’t the soft, reverential peck of man trying to test the waters. This was the hot, insistent kiss of a man in charge who knew what he wanted and had no problem claiming it. The pressure of his lips and commanding stroke of his tongue promised an experience just shy of sinful.
It was arousing as hell.
She let out a soft sigh when his tongue caressed hers. Cassie walked her fingers up the wide wall of his chest until she reached the smooth, firm column of his neck. She slid her hands around it and toward the back until she made contact with the hair at his nape. She entwined several of the thick, wavy strands through her fingers.
He tilted her head back further and broke free from the kiss. She shivered as he trailed his lips down her jaw and along the side of her neck. His mouth nibbled on the sensitive spot, making her squirm beneath his hold. Her breathing was quick and shallow. She was sure that he could feel the speed of her pulse as he kissed the base of her throat.
I’m taking part in the Mid-Week Tease Blog Hop today and sharing a snippet from my sexy short story Special Delivery.
Who says good things come in small packages? Corina believes beauty isn’t about size—it’s about attitude—and Zach can’t get enough of her confidence or her curves.
Curvy and proud of it, photographer Corina Saunders seeks to empower other females by shooting boudoir photos of plus-sized women in her home studio. When a charity needs a photographer to photograph twelve sexy men for a hunk-of-the-month calendar, she gladly volunteers her services. Sparks fly during the photo shoot when she snaps pictures of sexy delivery man Zach Moreno’s strategically placed package. When they cross paths again at a charity ball and bachelor auction, Corina surprises everyone—including herself—by placing the highest bid on Zach, the sexiest bachelor up for grabs.
Thanks to the frenzied atmosphere of the auction—and the complimentary champagne—she’s helpless to fight the insane chemistry between her and Zach any longer and the two celebrate her winning bid. With abang. Afterwards, Corina’s mortified that she had sex with Zach in a cramped supply room at the bachelor auction. How can she face him again? Then again, after bidding an incredible six-thousand dollars to win him at the auction, she can’t afford to skip out on the date. Besides, the sex was unbelievably hot, and she really shouldn’t deprive herself that one indulgence. After all, what harm could come from one innocent picnic in the park lunch date?
She ran her hands over his shirt, vest and tuxedo jacket. She wanted to rip the finery off his body and expose his chiseled form. He ended their kiss abruptly and pulled back to look her in the eyes.
As if reading her mind, Zach said, “God, I’d love nothing more than to tear that dress off your delicious body.”
He thought her body was delicious? The thought made her giddy and even hornier. “As much as I’d love that, this dress does have a zipper. It’s right here, you see,” she said pointing to the zipper that was hidden in a seam along the left side of her gown.
“That will take too much time,” Zach said as he edged the hem of her dress up her leg. “We’ll have to be quick, and neat,” he added, almost as an afterthought. Once he’d bunched the heavy-beaded material of the gown over her hips, he knelt in front of her.
“God, those are hot,” he told her as he ran his fingertips over the top of her thigh- high stockings. He placed a soft kiss at the top of her thigh, where the silky material of the nylons met her flesh.
Corina trembled at the feel of his hot, wet mouth on her skin. She used his hands, which were wrapped around the back of her thighs, for support. He moved his fingers up and gripped her bare ass, hard.
“Oh, my God, you’re wearing a thong,” he said around a groan as he pulled the flimsy piece of material down her hips. “You’re so beautiful, and not just here,” Zach told her and brushed his fingertips over her labia.
Her clit throbbed in response to his words and the softness of his touch. She leaned her head against the door when she felt him explore her wet pussy. His touch was slow and soft. It was as though he were testing her. Teasing her. Corina wanted and needed more. She writhed against his hand, craving a release. He must have sensed her urgency, because he used the pad of his thumb to stroke the hard pearl of flesh at the base of her sex. He circled the slippery bud in a deliberate stroke that caused her to cry out.
“Please,” she begged softly. She was dying to moan, but she couldn’t risk the two of them getting caught. “Zach, please…”
“Please, what?” He released his hold on her throbbing, wet flesh. Standing to his full height again, he slipped her thong in the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket. “Tell me what you need, Corina,” he challenged as he stared into her eyes.
“This,” she whispered as she reached for the waistband of his trousers.
Is bidding on men for charity sexy? I think it is, and I hope readers find it appealing. I’ve always been fascinated with charity auctions. For at least a decade now it’s been a secret dream of mine to attend a bachelor auction. Sadly, no one’s ever invited me to such an event so it remains a fantasy of mine.
Maybe it’s just my competitive nature, but the idea of outbidding everyone and winning a date with a gorgeous hunk is right up my alley. Also, there’s just something about a bachelor auction that creates a sexually-charged atmosphere.
No, really. Think about it. There are the handsome men, adding to the sexy drama is the immediacy of the situation, there’s also the hot men doing their strut down the stage, there’s the bidding, and oh, have I mentioned the gorgeous men?
I guess it should surprise no one that in my latest release Special Delivery, I explore my bachelor auction fantasy. In the book, my female character Corina wins a date with Zach, the hottest bachelor up for grabs at a charity auction. The two have an instant, fiery connection and what happens after the auction is sizzling to say the least.
Read on for the book blurb and an excerpt!
Who says good things come in small packages? Corina believes beauty isn’t about size—it’s about attitude—and Zach can’t get enough of her confidence or her curves.
Curvy and proud of it, photographer Corina Saunders seeks to empower other females by shooting boudoir photos of plus-sized women in her home studio. When a charity needs a photographer to photograph twelve sexy men for a hunk-of-the-month calendar, she gladly volunteers her services. Sparks fly during the photo shoot when she snaps pictures of sexy delivery man Zach Moreno’s strategically placed package. When they cross paths again at a charity ball and bachelor auction, Corina surprises everyone—including herself—by placing the highest bid on Zach, the sexiest bachelor up for grabs.
Thanks to the frenzied atmosphere of the auction—and the complimentary champagne—she’s helpless to fight the insane chemistry between her and Zach any longer and the two celebrate her winning bid. With abang. Afterwards, Corina’s mortified that she had sex with Zach in a cramped supply room at the bachelor auction. How can she face him again? Then again, after bidding an incredible six-thousand dollars to win him at the auction, she can’t afford to skip out on the date. Besides, the sex was unbelievably hot, and she really shouldn’t deprive herself that one indulgence. After all, what harm could come from one innocent picnic in the park lunch date?
“So, what do you have in store for me, Corina?” Zach asked, and tightened his grip on her hip.
The two were dancing together at the charity ball following the auction. He hadn’t left her side since she’d stepped forward to claim her prize after bidding on him, not that she was going to complain about that.
“What if I said I haven’t decided yet?” Corina asked.
She knew all the bubbly she’d consumed had something to do with her saucy answer. Zach smirked and raised an eyebrow at her reply.
“Let me know if you need help, I might have an idea or two about what I’d like to do with you. Of course, a sexy redhead like you probably doesn’t need suggestions from me.”
The song came to an end and they stopped moving briefly in the silence while they waited for the next melody to start. In that moment, Zach held her still in his arms and locked his gaze on her. A shiver traveled down her spine. How was she supposed to respond to his innuendo? Sexy talk wasn’t her strong suit. In an attempt to make the situation less sexually charged, she brought up their impending outing.
“Right…about our date, why don’t you tell me what you like? Do you enjoy spending time in nature?”
“Yes, I love the outdoors. Just what did do you have in mind?” Zach pressed again.
“With a body like yours, I figured you had to get a lot of fresh air and exercise.” As soon as the words tumbled from her lips, Corina placed a hand over her mouth as though to ensure she didn’t say anything else embarrassing. Alcohol had caused the filter on her mouth to cease working completely.
“So you’ve noticed my body, huh?”
“Yeah, I mean…you looked pretty fit at the photo shoot.” Mortified by her words, she broke eye contact and directed her gaze across the dance floor. “I mean…never mind. Back to our date. I’ve planned a simple picnic lunch, at Forest Park. And afterward, I thought we could walk around, and visit the museums,” she said about one of the most notable green spaces in the city of St. Louis.
“That sounds fun. But, you get me all day, you know? Since you’ve planned lunch, why don’t I plan dinner?”
“Okay. Are you going to give me a hint about what we’re doing for dinner?” Corina asked when the two stopped dancing momentarily as the band introduced the next song.
“Nope,” he said simply as he swept her up into his arms again.
The musicians played a slower number, and Zach pulled her body closer.
“You know, technically our date on Saturday won’t be our first.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we chatted during the calendar shoot, so that was our ice- breaker. Then I rang your bell,” he said and bobbed his eyebrows up and down. “And I met your dog. That’s a pretty serious step. Then tonight, this is practically our third date.”
“And everyone knows what happens on the third date,” Corina said around a giggle that ended with a hiccup.
She’d really had too much to drink. She looked up into Zach’s eyes and noticed the dark irises seemed to glitter like onyx. He narrowed his gaze at her. Now she’d gone and done it. She must have embarrassed him with her blathering.
“Of course I know what most people do on the third date. But, sometimes you meet someone and the connection is there and you just can’t wait that long,” he purred.
He ran his hand along the lush curve of her hip and settled his fingertips at the top of her ass. His electrifying caress caused a bloom of desire to unfurl inside her. The tips of her nipples hardened and tingled from the intimate position of his hands on her body. She pressed herself even closer against to him, and loved the feel of his solid chest as it pressed against her breasts. She repositioned her hips, which caused her thigh to graze his pelvic region. When she felt the rigid length of his cock against her leg, her pulse leapt and her sex clenched in response.
Corina brought her gaze up to his and she read the blatant sexual look on his face. God help her, she wanted to rip his clothes off and jump him right in the middle of the dance floor at the sophisticated event. She rolled her lips inward as she thought about placing that big, thick cock in her mouth. She wanted to feel the friction as its smooth head glided across her tongue. She pictured the way his slim hips and plump ass would look while he pumped into her mouth. Unable to help herself, a soft moan escaped her lips as the fantasy played out inside her mind.
His fingertips dig dug into the meaty flesh of her hip, and she knew his mind had to be traveling down a similar path. Zach gave her a slow, almost imperceptible nod. Corina was panting for breath, but it had nothing to do with the sexy dance she’d just shared with him. She decided to take the lead and show Mr. Out of My League an evening he wouldn’t soon forget. Turning her head to the side, she placed her mouth beside Zach’s ear.
“Follow my lead,” she told him and then released herself from his grasp.
Scanning the crowd for Anderson, she found him at a table occupied by a few of the night’s bachelors and their bidders. Anderson’s arms flailed in an animated way in front of him. She knew he was regaling people with a wild story, one of the men enraptured by her brother’s shenanigans was Trey, the hot fireman from the photo shoot who’d commented on Anderson’s good looks. She was thankful for the attention the men were paying Anderson, because she didn’t want her brother to see what she was about to do next.
Corina excused her way through the throng of guests on the crowded dance floor and snaked between a series of tables to get to the back of the enormous banquet room. As casually as she could, she turned her head and looked backward over her shoulder to ensure Zach was keeping up with her. He was. The roar of rushing blood reverberated in her ears above the music and gaiety of her surroundings.
She slipped into a dimly lit hallway and then through a door to a tiny closet used for storage. She’d been the photographer at a wedding at this banquet hall years ago and she still remembered the layout. Inside the small space there were extra folding chairs, tables and other supplies. Zach was close behind her and crossed the threshold of the closet seconds after her. She’d barely had time to shut and lock the door before Zach’s hands were all over her body. Using his powerful chest, he leaned toward her and wedged her there, between him and the door. His mouth, warm and insisting, found hers and he plowed all ten of his fingers into her hair when as he kissed her.
Too turned on to care about her mussed appearance or the fact that she’d spent an hour creating the glamorous waved hairstyle, Corina moaned in response and ground her breasts against him. He growled and tilted her head back further. His kiss became even more passionate and erotic as he plunged his tongue into her mouth over and over.
She ran her hands over his shirt, vest and tuxedo jacket. She wanted to rip the finery off his body and expose his chiseled form. He ended their kiss abruptly and pulled back to look her in the eyes.
As if reading her mind, Zach said, “God, I’d love nothing more than to tear that dress off your delicious body.”
He thought her body was delicious? The thought made her giddy and even hornier. “As much as I’d love that, this dress does have a zipper. It’s right here, you see,” she said pointing to the zipper that was hidden in a seam along the left side of her gown.
“That will take too much time,” Zach said as he edged the hem of her dress up her leg. “We’ll have to be quick, and neat,” he added, almost as an afterthought. Once he’d bunched the heavy-beaded material of the gown over her hips, he knelt in front of her.
“God, those are hot,” he told her as he ran his fingertips over the top of her thigh- high stockings. He placed a soft kiss at the top of her thigh, where the silky material of the nylons met her flesh.
Corina trembled at the feel of his hot, wet mouth on her skin. She used his hands, which were wrapped around the back of her thighs, for support. He moved his fingers up and gripped her bare ass, hard.
“Oh, my God, you’re wearing a thong,” he said around a groan as he pulled the flimsy piece of material down her hips. “You’re so beautiful, and not just here,” Zach told her and brushed his fingertips over her labia.
Her clit throbbed in response to his words and the softness of his touch. She leaned her head against the door when she felt him explore her wet pussy. His touch was slow and soft. It was as though he were testing her. Teasing her. Corina wanted and needed more. She writhed against his hand, craving a release. He must have sensed her urgency, because he used the pad of his thumb to stroke the hard pearl of flesh at the base of her sex. He circled the slippery bud in a deliberate stroke that caused her to cry out.
“Please,” she begged softly. She was dying to moan, but she couldn’t risk the two of them getting caught. “Zach, please…”
“Please, what?” He released his hold on her throbbing, wet flesh. Standing to his full height again, he slipped her thong in the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket. “Tell me what you need, Corina,” he challenged as he stared into her eyes
This month we’re celebrating the men and women (and animals too!) that rock a uniform–whichever uniform that may be. Military, Police, Firefighter and all others who serve and protect. So…Who’s Your Hero? Stop by each blog for a giveaway and to find out who OUR favorite fictional and real life heroes are…
My favorite real life heroes are firefighters, their bravery knows no bounds. Although, in all honesty, it’s hard to pick a favorite amongst the real life heroes in uniform. I’m just thankful to live in a world where brave men and women are willing to risk their lives to help others, so for all the members of military, police, firefighter and paramedics out there–THANK YOU!
Currently, my favorite fictional hero (at least one I’ve created) is Aidan West, the hero in my latest release Dominant and Daring. He’s a hero in every meaning of the word, since the book starts with him rescuing a pregnant woman and her three-year-old son from a car accident. Read a brief snippet of his heroic act, then be sure to visit the other blogs to read more about heroes.
Blurb There’s never been another man like him in her life. Heroic. Intense. Gorgeous.
When reporter Cassie Pierce interviews Aidan West at the scene of an accident, she’s mesmerized by his deep blue eyes and laser-like focus. The fact that he pulled a pregnant woman and her small son from a wrecked vehicle after it plunged into a lake impresses her too.
Even though the interview between Aidan and Cassie is supposed to be all business, there’s an undeniable pull between them that proves too much to resist.
When Cassie agrees to go out with him she realizes Aidan has another side. Dominant. His intense focus carries over to the bedroom and she discovers Aidan doesn’t like to give up control. Aching for the pleasure that she knows he can give her, Cassie does something she’s never done before: submit.
Excerpt
“I’ve already interviewed one of the emergency personnel and I’d really love to get your account of the accident. Starting with how you were able to act so quickly. Can you go over the sequence of events for me? How were you able to unbuckle the child from its safety seat and pull the mother out as well?”
“I…honestly I’m not sure I can answer that completely. It all happened pretty fast. Like I told one of the officers, I was jogging along the shoulder. I was looking in the other direction when I heard the squeal of the tires on the pavement.
“The next thing I remember was seeing the woman’s car spinning out on the slick road. She lost control and the car crashed through the guardrail and went into the lake nose first.”
He closed his eyes and paused as though he were replaying the scene in his mind. His brows were knitted together and Cassie recalled the intense way he’d stared at her moments before. A raindrop hit him between the eyes and trickled down his nose. He wiped at his face with the blanket. It almost looked as if he’d just wiped away a tear, though she knew it was just a droplet. She got the sense that a man like him didn’t become upset easily, but it appeared he was struggling with something now. When he opened his eyes and looked at her again, he wore a tortured expression that hadn’t been there before.
“Even with the windows of the car rolled up I could hear the noise from inside. The child was crying. The mother was screaming, ‘It’s okay, baby! Mommy’s here.’ When she saw me swim up to the driver’s side of the car, she insisted that I get the little boy out of the backseat first.
“I hesitated, for like a split-second. I wanted to get her free first.” He stared into her eyes. “It’s not because I didn’t think the child’s life was any less important. Far from it. It’s just…”
He looked away from her. She studied his profile and admired the way his Roman nose balanced his strong jaw and masculine facial features. When he didn’t continue right away, she wondered if perhaps her assessment of him hadn’t been incorrect. Maybe he wasn’t as stoic as he’d seemed moments earlier. She placed her free hand on his forearm.
“It’s okay, that part can be off the record. You were running on adrenaline. I know that your actions might not have been the same as when you were acting from a more level-headed place.”
“It’s nothing like that. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit this part to you. I don’t have kids of my own, but I do have nieces and nephews. I’ve never been able to work the buckles on those damn child car seats.
“I thought if I could get the mom free first, she could help me get the kid out of his seat.” He gave a sheepish grin. “Somehow I unbuckled that little one from his seat without any fumbles. Make no mistake about it, there’s no way I would’ve left that little boy or his mother in that car.”
“That’s what you were worried about? You are extremely brave. I defy anyone who reads this article to call Aidan West anything less than a hero.”
“About that. I have one request in regards to the article.”
“Anything the hero asks.” She smiled.
“Can you please not print my name?”
“What? Why not? You should be proud of what you did this evening.”
“I am, but I don’t need recognition or a lot of praise for doing the right thing.”
Heat spread along her chest and settled into her tummy. The warm and fuzzy feeling was fleeting. She’d interviewed a lot of people throughout her career. In her experience, people tended oversell their accomplishments and gloss over their faults. She’d never met someone who didn’t want to be acknowledged in the newspaper for saving a gnat, much less saving the lives of a pregnant woman and her small son.
If she hadn’t been a journalist, and trained to be skeptical, his modesty would’ve been refreshing. As it was, she found it odd and her reporter’s instincts told her there was something he wasn’t telling her. Aidan West was human, and as such he had an ego. It defied logic and human nature that he wouldn’t want to be recognized, no matter how trivially, for his good deed. There was something else at play, something else he was holding back and she was determined to find it.
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