Monday, February 1, 2010


This time of year, my folks rent a place near me and play snowbirds for a couple of months, rather than deal with the harshest weeks of winter up north. Since they are far away the rest of the year, I try to spend as much of my free time with them as I can. Problem is, since I work at home, they don't totally get the fact that yes - I am working. I can not come out and play every day. Between doing things with them and carving out time for DH and my kids, I just don't have much left for anything else.
All that to say I must do something I very rarely do - just drop by to say hello. But I will leave you with an excerpt from my March 1 release, Can't Stand the Heat. The hero and heroine have just realized they are locked in a restaurant's wine cellar and that they will probably be there all night. Enjoy...

"I guess we're stuck here, so we might as well make ourselves comfy." The prospect of a night alone with Billy in the tiny, cold room both excited and scared her. "At least we can get drunk. Maybe that’ll keep us warm." She held a bottle to the light, blew off the dust before setting it back in the rack. “All this expensive stuff is way too dry for me.”
His chuckle set her at ease. “You always were a cheap date, honey.”
Until a thought occurred to her. “What if someone locked us in here on purpose? Maybe it’s that bookie.”
A cloud passed over Billy’s face. “Nah. Better not be.” He gave his head a heavy shake. “I'd have to kill somebody if they hurt you."
A zing of excitement made her skin tingle. As infuriating as he could be, he would always protect her.
Billy sat on the floor beside her, held her hand. "I'm so sorry if any of this is my fault."
She gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "I’m sure the door just shut by itself." She prayed she was right.
His expression grew more serious. "I love you, Marissa. Whatever happens, you have to believe I'd never intentionally hurt you. You're the most important person in the world to me."
More than anything, she wanted to trust in him, believe he meant those words, but he had done things to hurt her in the past. He'd gambled with their money, lied to her, even pawned a gold ring he'd given her as a gift. She had no guarantee he wouldn't do it again. Resuming their relationship had been the single biggest reason she'd feared Billy's return to Savannah. She'd forgiven him so many times and each of those times, he had eventually let her down. In the back of her mind, though, she'd always held out hope that he'd change and that they would remarry someday.
Staring at her lips, he stroked a thumb across her cheek. "I want to protect you, hold you every night. Being apart was …" He drew a ragged breath. "It was the worst time of my life."
"Mine, too." She wasn't ready to abandon all her nagging doubts, but how could she deny the chemistry between them? He was nearly everything she wanted her man to be—handsome and muscular, loving and protective. But honesty was non-negotiable. If only he hadn't put his gambling before her. She shivered against the chill air.
Billy cloaked her in a strong embrace, brushed his lips over her forehead, her nose, her mouth. Her eyes slipped lazily shut and she gave in to desire, allowing his tongue entrance. Her nipples peaked and strained against the fabric of her bra. They lay back on the cool floor, but her temperature only rose. His long, muscular body felt so right next to hers. He glided a hand over her hip, gave her backside a squeeze and shifted her on top of him.
His fingers threaded through her hair, massaged her scalp until it tingled, just like she loved. But that was nothing compared to the slow burn between her legs as she slid over the bulge in his pants. She grew slick, just for him.

10 comments:

Cara McKenna said...

Great excerpt, Wynter! For reasons unclear to me, ones that probably condemn me psychologically, I find the prospect of sex in a dusty wine cellar way more thrilling than if it were a king sized bed dripping with satin. I love when an author can ditch the cliche and make passion happen in unlikely places.

Wynter said...

Thanks, Cara. I must have the same psychological issues;-) I love to put my characters in unique places then unleash their libidos.

Sarah said...

Great excerpt! I really like the sound of this one - nothing like getting down & dirty in dirty places LOL

Savannah Stuart said...

Love the excerpt! And I agree w/ the others. A dusty wine celler is totally hot and since I've actually read this scene in it's entirety I know it only gets hotter ;)

Wynter said...

Thanks Sarah & Savannah. My editor told me that was one of the hottest scenes she ever read. Made my day!

Stephanie Adkins said...

Wonderful excerpt, Wynter! And ditto what Cara said up there. A wine cellar would turn me on much more than a satin-cloaked bed. LOL!! Can't wait to read the rest of the book!

Naima Simone said...

Getting down and dirty in a wine cellar in Savannah! Sigh. Even better...

Great excerpt, Wynter! Now go and enjoy the folks!

Wynter said...

Thanks, ladies. Now back to entertaining the family.

Dalton Diaz said...

(fanning self)
Good news for us, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Does this mean your parents stay longer and we get more of these hot excerpts? Please?

Wynter said...

Ha! Maybe so, Dalton!