Titanic and Icebergs

Iceberg right ahead.

When we hear those immortal words in a film about the Titanic, we stop munching our popcorn and hold our breath.

We know what's coming. The Titanic is about to hit the iceberg and from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same on that grand ship.

Passengers play with the ice chunks fallen on deck; third class cabins on F deck start to flood, while mail clerks scramble to save the sacks of mail.

In first class, passengers feel a "jar" in their staterooms and wonder what the fuss is all about.

The fuss is all about an iceberg four times the size of the Titanic.

Captain Lord Jack Blackthorn, the hero in my novel, Katie O'Reilly, was aware of the danger:

He opened the porthole in his cabin to get a breath of fresh air and a cold breeze blew in, making him shiver. A strange, clammy smell shot up his nostrils.

Ice.

Over the years, scientists and historians have speculated how the iceberg damaged the Titanic. Was it a growler? (A smaller iceberg--melted and mostly underwater.)

Did Captain Smith ignore the iceberg warnings? Iceberg warnings were not unusual in spring, but why did the captain cancel the lifeboat drill? No answer was ever given.

Did Bruce J. Ismay, Chairman and Managing Director of the White Star Line, encourage the captain to put on more speed to reach New York a day earlier?

All of these questions have been studied and written about in books, essays, and commentaries, but that's not what we're about here today.

I find it fascinating that a series of weather events played a crucial part in Titanic hitting that iceberg.

According to the testimonies given by the surviving crew, here's what we do know about what happened in April of 1912:

The captain was continuing at full speed that Sunday night in spite of the iceberg warnings. This was not unusual. For example, if he believed a fog was coming on, according to the thinking of that time, the captain was justified in getting through the ice region as quickly as possible.

We know the ship was heading away from what the captain believed was the iceberg field when he changed course from south to west; but he delayed the change by twenty minutes to travel farther south.

So instead of traveling away from the iceberg, that put the ship on a direct collision course with the berg, a huge mass of ice that had traveled farther south than was ever thought possible.

The cold Labrador Current swirled around the iceberg to form a protective layer, which insulated it from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream and prevented it from melting.

Pushing the iceberg into the shipping lanes.

When the Titanic hit that iceberg, a way of life changed forever.

And 1,517 people lost their lives.

We must never forget that.

Dangerous Desires, by Brenda Williamson ~ Chapter 27

Dangerous Desires

(Click the title to go back to Chapter One)

by Brenda Williamson

(A Free Read ~ A Work in Progress)

Copyright 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Twenty Seven

That night, Valentina slid beneath the sheets of her bed. She had chosen the earlier than normal hour to set her sleep pattern to that of Nathan’s. She had laid back on her pillow and thought over her urges she’d had of sinking her teeth into his neck. When she had slept, nightmares filtered into her dreams and woke her.


Still dark outside, she got up and went to the window. She pushed the drapery aside and found Mollie sitting on the sill.

“You didn’t have to stay in just because I did.” She picked up the cat and cradled her close.

Rattled by the bad dream, she sat on the window seat and stared out at the waning moon. She had dreamt of a man as her prey. He had run from her through the forest. When she caught him, she had sunk her teeth into the warm pulse beating rapidly against his throat. She had never known anything as enlivening. Greed kept her sucking the sweet warm blood, savoring the rich creaminess of it on her tongue.

Then, she looked at the man. As dead as the wild boar, Nathan lay in her arms. She didn’t want to believe it was true, yet instinct told her she was capable of killing a person. Just the taste of his blood on the palm of his hand had showed her that much.

"What if I lose control in his kiss?" she muttered. "In that one moment the night before last, I had consumed the blood off his hand and discarded restraint. What of other people?” Would she… Could she take someone’s life?

No orange glow to signal the rise of the sun, didn’t mean Valentina didn’t know the sun was coming up. She closed the draperies even though rain was eminent. The wind picked up as she dressed. When she walked through the hall, she heard the shutters on the windows banging. Stormy sounds whistled down the chimney.

The weather brought a welcomed cheeriness to her mood. She waltzed into the dinning room with a light step.

"You’re looking very happy this morning." Nathan rose from his chair at the table. "Most people are gloomy with this kind of bad weather."

She sat near him. "That’s because they haven’t an aversion to sunlight."

"And what of rain?”

“I can walk in it for hours.”

"It looks like it will get pretty bad out there. I understand the storms in this area can be ferocious."

"I suppose some are. It’s hard to say what today will be like."

“Then we’ll stroll until the weather chases us back indoors.” He got up from his seat and offered his hand. "Do we take an umbrella or boldly forsake carrying any protection?"

"You wouldn’t mind?"

"I honesty don’t think it will help if it starts to rain." He took her arm. "The wind can be unkind."

"I won’t care."

They went out the door into the dim gray light of the impending tempest. Valentina smiled. Stepping over the threshold without her hat and gloves, and especially her veil always gave her a delightful sensation of freedom.

They walked no farther than to the lawn when Nathan tipped his head back and looked up. “That didn’t long to start raining,” he said.

She lifted her face to feel the water on her skin. The wind whipped her hair around, over her face and across her eyes. Wet strands stuck to her cheeks. Nathan brushed them aside. He kept his hand against her head and stroked along her hairline.

"We’re going to get very wet." His face neared hers.

"I know."

His lips pressed hers without the insistence they kiss longer than a moment. But Valentina wanted much more. She needed him for her travel plans and wanted him in ways that continued to amaze her. A kiss was just the start of all her desires.

She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. The rain came heavier, but she was happy he ignored it. Their involvement drew him closer without a care to the intemperate conditions whirling around them.

He tried shielding her, hunching his body over hers, and she appreciated his thoughtfulness.

"We should go back, don’t you think?" He kept his forehead against hers, blocking the rain. "Unless you’re enjoying this."

"Kissing you?" She sipped at the corner of his mouth. "I enjoy it very much."

"I meant the weather." He cupped her face.

She felt him shiver.

Not wanting him to suffer discomfort, she took his hand. “Let’s go.”

They ran to the house. Inside the foyer, she slipped on the marble floor. Nathan tugged her against him, preventing her from falling.

"You’re soaked." She wiggled away from his drenched body.

"Rain will do that." He smiled.

Since her hand stayed locked in his, she urged him toward the staircase. She hurried up the steps with him in tow, and continued to pull him down the hall in the direction of his room. Nathan went in first. She shut the door.

"You’ll catch a chill in those wet clothes," he told her.

She nodded and stepped forward. "So will you."

She went right to work on undoing the buttons on his jacket. Pushing the garment off his shoulders, she jerked the sleeves down his arms. Carelessly, she let it drop to the floor. Next, she unfastened his shirt. Parting the fabric, she pressed her palms against his muscular chest and swept outward. She felt him shiver as she stirred her palms over his nipples. She caressed him in circling motions up to his shoulders. Then leaning him toward him, she planted her cool lips against his warm ones. When he put his hands on her arms, she thought to pull her tight. Instead, he pushed her back at arm’s length.

She waited for him to say something…act on his on lust. However, Valentina’s patience decreased with the passing seconds and she seriously considered influencing Nathan’s freewill.

..............Read more in Chapter 28

Brenda

http://www.brendawilliamson.com/

NEW RELEASE:

My alter ego, Sineth Killiri's first book, Cowboy Obsession was released Aug 28th.

Librarian Braden Hollace wasn’t open about being gay in a small Texas town, so whenever he saw the gorgeous cowboy across the street from the library, he refused to approach him and shatter his fantasy about the man. Instead, he put his focus on stopping the town council from banning gay literature.

Mayor and handsome, irresistible rancher Eric McCaffrey kept his sexual preferences to himself. He devoted his time to things he found important, and the impending literature ban wasn’t on his list. And he told that very thing to the librarian who called him to protest.


But when Braden and Eric hook up at a nightclub in the city, they never imagined their night of passionate sex could turn into an affair of the heart...


Available from Amber Allure


Back to the Grindstone

Last month I posted a blog about how much I love the summer - the lack of structure, the sleeping in, etc. But in truth, much as I love the summer months, I don't really get much writing done. I'm not exactly sure what stymies me. Maybe it's the very things I love, like the lack of a regular schedule.

Here in Florida, school starts back in August and this is my youngest child's senior year of high school. Which means I am no longer compelled to drive her to school at the crack of dawn. So now I have no excuse for my lack of productivity.

On paper, I am uber productive. I have books 2 and 3 in my Long and Hard series releasing soon. So do any of you authors out there have any tricks of the trade for kicking your butt into gear?

I just got the covers for my next two books in the Long and Hard series so please indulge me. I must post them. All the covers reflect the mood of the story they belong to.

CINDRA'S BOUNTY HUNTER - Hot, New BDSM Erotic Romance from Ellora's Cave!

I'm so excited to announce I have a brand "spankin'" new smokin' hot sci-fi full-length erotic romance coming out Aug 31st with Ellora's Cave called CINDRA'S BOUNTY HUNTER!

Whenever I have a new release, I like to share how I came up with the story, but this time I'm going to do a something a little different. I'm going to let the hero Bladen Sloan (yes, the sex-on-a-stick yummy guy on the cover perfectly portrayed by EC Caveman Angelo!) take over and tell you a little bit about himself instead.


Anytime you're ready, Bladen...



My name is Bladen Sloan and I’m an interplanetary bounty hunter. A damn good bounty hunter at that. There’s not a star system I won’t go to get my man. Or woman, for that matter. I’ve gone up against some of the biggest, baddest, nastiest criminals in the galaxy, and I always capture any bounty I go after.

But then Cindra Mallory walked into my office and life got a a hell of a lot more complicated. I'd distanced myself from women a long time ago, and for good reason. What I do is dangerous, and people get hurt. Sometimes, they even get killed. One look at Cindra with her long, tempting legs, big blue eyes and full, pouty lips and I immediately felt the wall I'd built around me start to crumble. Then she'd made me an offer no man could refuse - ten mind-blowing sexual encounters in exchange for tracking down the man who killed her father.

But it was just sex, right? I could stick to the deal - my help for some mind-blowing sex. What could go wrong?



Blurb:

Cindra Mallory strikes a bargain with sexy bounty hunter Bladen Sloan — in exchange for ten mind-blowing sexual encounters, he’ll track down the man who killed her father. But it’s hard to concentrate on the hunt when every touch from Bladen drives Cindra to new heights of daring and pleasure.

As they travel from planet to planet visiting sex clubs and raves, Bladen finds himself addicted to the fearless, sexual Cindra. Whether she’s begging him to spank her or seducing him in front of a roomful of people, the woman knows what she wants—and Bladen is determined to fulfill all her needs.


Excerpt:

Cindra caught her lower lip between her teeth again. What was she going to do? She needed Sloan’s help to find out where DelCour was hiding or she could kiss the idea of bringing him to justice goodbye. But there was no way in hell she was giving the bounty hunter forty-nine percent. She’d spent practically every credit to her name plus what money her father had left to her hunting DelCour. She needed the bounty so she could finish her graduate program. It was the one thing her father had wanted and she wasn’t going to let him down. But she wasn’t going to let his murderer get away, either. She’d simply have to convince Sloan to take less, or offer him something else instead. But what?

Her body.

She wasn’t as shocked by the answer as she should have been. She’d never been a prude, but she didn’t make a habit of indiscriminately sleeping with guys, either. Her father had always said a bounty hunter did whatever it took to get the job done. She needed to decide right now if she was willing to sleep with Bladen Sloan if it meant bringing down DelCour. Back at the restaurant, she as much as admitted to herself she thought the other bounty hunter was hot. If he was half as good in bed as she thought he might be, having sex with him wouldn’t be an arduous task, that was for sure. Heat was already pooling between her thighs at the delicious prospect. Still, this was one hell of a big step. She didn’t normally proposition men quite this blatantly. Heck, she was practically prostituting herself. Was she really willing to go there? The answer to that was a resounding yes. She would do whatever it took to catch her father’s murderer, and that included sleeping with Bladen Sloan.

She wet her lips. “If we can’t agree on splitting the bounty, perhaps we could work something else out.”

He arched a questioning brow. “What are you suggesting?”

Cindra lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “If you help me track down DelCour, I’ll sleep with you.”

A mix of surprise and intrigue appeared in his amber eyes. She had him, she could tell.

“You’ll sleep with me?”

She gave him her sexiest smile. “That’s what I said.”

He was silent as he considered her words. “While the offer is extremely tempting, Ms. Mallory, I’m afraid I have to refuse.”

She frowned, taken aback. From the way he’d looked at her when she came into the office, she’d been sure he would go for it. “Why?”

Most men wouldn’t turn down an offer like that unless they were gay, married or in a committed relationship, and she wasn’t convinced guys in the last two categories would refuse even then. Intuition told her Sloan wasn’t gay, and since she didn’t see a ring on his finger she assumed he wasn’t married. Which left only one other explanation. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable with something mighty damn close to prostitution.

Damn, she hadn’t considered he might have a problem with that. She’d thought he would be…well…a typical guy.

He gave her a rueful smile. “Because if I took you up on it, I’d feel like I was taking advantage of you.”

Okay, so she had been right about the reason behind his refusal. Great. Not only was Sloan sinfully gorgeous, but he had a conscience, too. Normally, that would have been an attractive quality in a man, but right now it was annoying as hell. She needed help and the only thing she had to offer was her body. She was going to have to convince him to have sex with her. What was the galaxy coming to?

She smiled. “You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me, I assure you. I know exactly what I’m offering you and I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to get you to help me.”

“So I gather.” He was silent for so long she thought she might have to repeat her offer, but then he spoke. “While I appreciate your tenacity, I’m still going to have to decline.”

Cindra ground her jaw. Damn him, and his conscience.

“Fine,” she snapped, getting to her feet. “I’ll track down DelCour myself.”
Head high, she turned and headed for the door. Behind her, Sloan cursed under his breath.

“Wait a minute,” he ordered.

She hesitated, her hand on the knob, then took a deep breath and turned to face him.

He was standing behind his desk, a look that could almost be called concern in his eyes.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you.”

Her pulse quickened. “Then you’ll accept my offer?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I didn’t say that. Please don’t take this the wrong way. While you’re extremely beautiful, I don’t think a single night of sex would be a fair trade for the nineteen percent difference in the bounty, do you? I mean, we’re talking at least ten-thousand credits I’d be giving up.”

Cindra felt color rush to her cheeks. While she knew she should be insulted, she couldn’t help but admire his negotiating skills. Luckily, hers weren’t too shabby either. Especially in conjunction with the feminine wiles in her arsenal.

She crossed the room to stand in front of his desk, adding a little extra sway to her hips. “Then I’ll sleep with you more than once.” She looked at him from beneath lowered lashes. “Is there a particular number you have in mind?”

She could tell from the way his eyes went wide that she’d caught him off guard. Good. That put her firmly back in charge of the negotiations.

“I don’t want to offend you any more by trying to figure out what your going rate would be,” he said. “But even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and say a single night of sex with you is worth a thousand credits, that would still mean you’d owe me…”

“Ten nights of unbelievable sex,” she finished for him. “Deal.”

Sloan’s eyes narrowed. Clearly, he hadn’t expected her to call his bluff. “Let me make sure I understand this. In exchange for my help, you’re agreeing to provide me with ten nights of sex, of my design, and at the time of my choosing?”

Cindra was a little worried by the way he’d worded it, but she gave him a sultry smile anyway. “That’s exactly what I’m agreeing to.”

Sloan didn’t answer, but she could see the battle raging in his eyes. Finally, he inclined his head. “I’ll draw up a contract and we can make it official.”
She found it hard to believe he was going to put something like that into writing, but she said nothing as he typed the terms of their agreement into the computer. She could only hope he was as thorough when it came to looking for DelCour.

Once Sloan printed the contract, he came around the desk and held it out for her signature. She quickly read it and saw he had simply put their agreement into words. There was something about seeing it on paper that made her blush, and her hand trembled a bit as she signed her name. It wasn’t as if the contract would hold up in any council of law in the galaxy anyway. At least she didn’t think it would.

“So, what do we do first?” she asked, handing the signed contract back to him.

He set the contract on the desk then turned to give her a grin. “You.”

Cindra looked up at him in confusion. “Me?”

Taking her hand, he pulled her gently to her feet. She’d known the other bounty hunter was tall, but now that he was standing so close, she realized how tall he really was. The top of her head didn’t come to his chin. That made him at least six-four. Maybe six-five.

“I think it would only be fair for me to get a partial payment up front, don’t you?” he said softly.

Her pulse quickened as she realized what the bounty hunter meant. He wanted to have sex with her. Right now.

“Here?” she asked, looking around the office. Her pussy purred. The unique situation she found herself in was turning her on like crazy. She couldn’t believe she was doing this.

Bladen released her hand to lightly run the tips of his fingers along her bare arm. The touch of his fingers gliding along her skin sent the most delicious shivers up and down her back. “Why not?”

His nearness made it difficult to think. Or speak, for that matter. Damn, he smelled good. Not like cologne either. Just pure, unadulterated masculinity.

“B-but anyone could walk in,” she stammered.

He reached behind him to press a button on his computer. A moment later, a lilting female voice confirmed that the doors had been locked and the office was now secure.

“Not anymore,” he told her.

Cindra chewed on her lower lip, trying to come up with some excuse she could use to avoid having sex with him right that minute, but for some reason nothing would come to mind. Maybe it was because she was flustered. She could never think when she was flustered. Then again, maybe it had nothing to with being off her game at all. Maybe it was because at that moment Bladen lowered his head to cover her mouth with his.

Look for CINDRA'S BOUNTY HUNTER Aug 31 at Ellora's Cave!

Watch the Trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KfLnViR3JI


Buy it at Ellora's Cave!
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9547-cindras-bounty-hunter.aspx


Happy Reading!


*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

Amazual Alaska

I’m writing this as the sea leg of my journey is coming to an end. To be honest, Alaska would not have been my first choice in vacation destination. We’re approaching winter in New England, and if it’s anything like last year, I will soon get my fill of cold and snow. However, this is mom’s dream, with the alternative being an African safari. Since my idea of roughing it is a 2 star hotel, Alaska won.

So...one week in Alaska, and this Naughty Author Chick is completely won over. This is the most beautiful freakin’ place I’ve ever seen, life-sized cutouts of Sarah Palin notwithstanding. I could try to describe what I’ve encountered, but words just won’t do it justice. Lucky for us, I have a camera.

Juneau

Glacier Bay

As I'm writing this, the land portion begins tomorrow, so I’ll post those pics on my next blog turn, two weeks from today.

Announcing Our Newest Naughty Chick - Callie Croix!

  A good friend of mine, Callie Croix, who happens to be a talented, award-winning author, has graciously agreed to become one of the Chicks - yay! You'll love Callie, trust me - she's a sweetheart. Please give her a warm NAC welcome. 

Please tell us a little about yourself. Which publisher(s) do you write for? What genre (s) do you write?

-I love dominant alpha male heroes with a military background, the Boston Red Sox, belly dance, gardening, the Civil War, and military history in general. As Callie Croix I write erotic romance for The Wild Rose Press and Carina Press. As Kaylea Cross, I write military romantic suspense and now some paranormal romance as well.

What is your workday like? Are you a full or part time writer?

-Every day is different, because I have little guys at home. This summer has definitely been a challenge for me! But in a couple weeks my little one will be in Kindergarten full time, and though I’m excited about suddenly having all that time to write, I’m actually worried I’m going to have a hard time letting him go. That makes sense to all you moms out there, right? Tell me I’m not going crazy.

I write part time and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, as I’m also a Registered Massage Therapist and a Board member of a large private scholarship foundation.  Plus I do the whole soccer mom/baseball mom thing and I love it.

  Did you always know you wanted to pen books?

-Always. Ever since I can remember I’ve had stories going on in my head. Maybe it was because we lived on a relatively isolated property in the country when I was little and I was an only child until I was 7, but my brain was always busy conjuring up characters and inventing tales to put them in.

 Tell us about your journey to publication.

-Um…I actually got my first book published. But don’t hate me! I had to rewrite the thing twice before it was worthy enough to be put in front of an editor, and even then it’s still my weakest book to date (in my opinion). The Wild Rose Press was the first publishing house I sent the manuscript to, and thankfully the acquiring editor there loved it.

How many books have you sold to date?  Do you have a favorite?

-My other pen name has sold seven books to date, and this pen name has sold six. My favorite has to be the final book in my military romantic suspense series (under my less naughty name), Absolution. To this day I still have an unhealthy crush on the hero.

How extensive is your research? What are the greatest lengths you’ve gone to in the name of research?

-I research more for my military romantic suspense and paranormals, but for my erotic romances I’ve done plenty of reading on Special Ops soldiers and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to give me a good base for my characters.

The greatest length I’ve gone to in the name of research is singlehandedly interviewing a wall of buff and sweaty airmen in flight suits at an air show last year (aw, poor me!), even though I felt like a retard the whole time. Also, despite my terror of flying, going on a handful of helicopter rides to get the feel of it. And to interview the pilots about the controls, etc. You’re probably rolling your eyes and thinking I was lucky to have the opportunity, but if you knew just how afraid I am of leaving the ground, you might actually be proud of me. I figured I had to go, else my heroes would never respect me. Can’t have that, now can I?

What do you find the most difficult aspect of being an author?

-The self doubt! Oh, man, that’s a killer. Rejections pretty much paralyze my creative side and convince me I can’t write a coherent sentence, but I’m slowly learning to have a thicker skin. Kind of. Okay, not really. Maybe one day I’ll get there.

  Where do you see yourself five years from now?

-Five years from now I’ll be churning out more stories than I am now, and I’ll be able to make more of a financial contribution with my writing. That’s the plan, and since I’m married to an accountant who cares a lot about the bottom line, that will help make him even more supportive of my writing career.

 Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?

-Chocolate. The darkest, richest kind I can find. Bernard Callebaut’s bittersweet chocolate is my absolute fave. If you’re a dark chocolate fan, you should try it. It’s the best ever, I swear. I have an emergency stash above the fridge that everyone in the family knows not to touch. Or else.

Tell us about your current or upcoming release.

-Deacon’s Touch is my first erotic romance release, and it actually started with a dare from my other pen name’s editor. I met her at a TX dude ranch last spring at The Wild Rose Press’s retreat, and at the end of the weekend she invited me to write a story for a series she’d dreamed up (The Dumen Ranch Series), set on that very ranch.

At first I balked, but she wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Oh, come on. Your stuff is getting so hot anyway, I totally know you can do this. Come on, come to the dark side with me!” She’d never written erotic romance either—in fact, she’d only written sweet romances up ‘til then. I was kind of shocked she was going to make the leap, to say the least.

In the end, however, I caved. I went home and outlined a novella using the parameters my editor had set out for me, picked a hero’s name beginning with D (one of the rules), and wrote the story.  My new editor over at the Scarlet Rose line asked me to remove the suspense plot (What?! Remove the suspense? But that’s what I DO!), but she loved the story and heat level. She offered me a contract under the Cowboy Kink series, and I swear I turned beet red when I saw the e-mail. I mean, I was thrilled, don’t get me wrong, but I couldn’t believe I’d written something that qualified as Cowboy Kink. Still can’t, actually. Ah, the beauty of pen names.

Long story short, I now have six erotic romances under contract, one of which is the second story in The Dumen Ranch Series. *blushes* Oh, how far I’ve fallen!

Here’s the blurb for Deacon’s Touch:

After her own engagement goes to hell, workaholic Jessica Talbot dreads her friend’s bachelorette party at a dude ranch in Nowheresville, Texas. But the outlook for the weekend brightens when Deacon Dumen picks her up at the airport. The sexy cowboy awakens every dormant sexual fantasy with nothing more than a friendly smile and a handshake.

 Ex-Air Force Pararescueman Deke Dumen doesn’t know what to make of the sexy yet reserved brunette who breaks through the walls he built after an injury ended his career and a divorce soured him on relationships. As a guest at his family's ranch Jessie is off limits, but the Dom in him rebels at the restriction, even as he realizes his penchant for control in the bedroom would likely scare the holy hell out of her. When Jessie shocks Deke by asking for exactly what he's been craving, he's ready to break the rules and introduce her to his own brand of dominance. Her willing surrender rocks them both to the core. But once the weekend's over, they must decide if it was just a wild fling or the start of something more.

Excerpt (unedited):

Holy hell.

Deke stared into her wide amber eyes and couldn’t look away. He could barely breathe.

He’d expected to see shock. He’d even expected annoyance.

            Anything but the sudden flare of sexual need in her whiskey-colored eyes. The stark craving he saw there punched him square in the gut, so hard it made him dizzy.

            Staring up at him with those amazing eyes, Jessica moistened her lips. He watched the glide of her pink tongue over her lips with predatory interest. She hadn’t moved. Hadn’t so much as leaned away to put some space between them after his blatant declaration. No, she was completely still, gazing up at him. As though waiting for him to do something.

            Well well. Wasn’t that interesting.

            He slid his gaze down to the lush curves of her breasts displayed so prettily for his view by her sexy blouse. Her hardened nipples poked through her thin bra, denting the material. His cock lengthened instantly. Suppressing a growl, he dragged his eyes back to hers and met her hungry stare. But there was vulnerability there along with the heat. She was way too inexperienced to realize what that combination did to someone like him.

Fuck. Sugar, don’t look at me like that.

            She swallowed again, the convulsive movement of her lovely throat broadcasting her anxiety. Yet she still wasn’t backing away. “In...bed?”

Fighting a predatory grin, he nodded. Damn she was a gorgeous little thing. The curious light in her eyes was killing him.

She searched his eyes, a hint of nervousness creeping into her expression. “What...what sort of control?”

            The words were barely a whisper, but they slid over him like a lover’s caress. He leaned in closer until his body brushed hers, breathing in her scent and letting her feel the bulge of his erection against her abdomen as he pressed her lower back against the bar. Trapping her. He dropped his voice to a murmur. “Total control.”

            In answer, her full lips parted slightly and her eyes darkened, the pupils dilating until they practically swallowed the golden irises.

            His body tightened with the need to pin her, dominate her right here and now. He wanted to. Christ, he’d love nothing more than to take her into the back room, tie her to the bed and suck at her nipples and pussy until she begged for release. Make her feel more than she’d ever felt before. Tamping down that primitive side of him, he focused on the lingering uncertainty he sensed in her. “Jessica.”

            She blinked, as if he’d hypnotized her and she was coming out of a trance. “What?”

            “Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

            “Y-yes.”

            He stayed absolutely still. “But you’re not pushing me away.” The tantalizing knowledge kept his attention riveted on her face, made his body burn. He’d have given anything to know what was going on in her head.

            She shook her head, her expression almost mesmerized, loose curls tumbling over her creamy shoulders. Her gaze dipped to his mouth in blatant invitation. The conflicted expression on her face made the beast inside him howl. She knew she should run, yet she wanted him anyway.

            He moved in closer, until only a breath of air separated their lips. The primal side of him roared to life at her quick inhalation, the tremor of anticipation that ran through her. He reached up to toy with a curl that had fallen over her forehead. “You like the thought of giving me that kind of control?”

            She kept staring at him.

“Answer me.”

A pretty blush rose up her neck and face, but she held his gaze. “Yes.”

            The brave whisper unlocked his corded muscles. Her stark honesty undid him.

As he watched, a tiny frown creased her forehead. “But...”

“But what?” He could barely get the words out.
Her eyes searched his. “You wouldn’t...hurt me.”

He imagined the thoughts running through that pretty head. No doubt she wondered whether he got off on tying his partners up and whipping them raw. He swallowed a laugh. “No. But I’ll push your boundaries.” It was how he was wired.

Her sigh of relief tightened something inside him. The interest and growing need in her eyes sparked something far more primal and possessive.

Without warning, the dark hunger he’d held at bay swept over him in a powerful wave, making him light-headed with the need to take her. Testing her resolve, he closed his hands around her slender wrists and held them to the bar top as he leaned down to taste the skin beneath her right ear. Her swift intake of breath made his cock surge.

He kissed the fragile pulse point, savoring the frantic beat of her blood beneath his lips for a moment before nipping gently. She jerked in his hold and made a little sound of arousal when he soothed the tiny sting away with his tongue. A tremor rolled through her body, goose bumps breaking out across her smooth skin. Then slowly she let her head tip back a few inches, offering her throat.

            The subconscious surrender in the movement made his heart pound. He hoped the hell she understood what she was signing up for, because he was more than ready to deliver.

            He could feel the tension gripping her body as he held her there, trailing feather light kisses across her jaw to the corner of his mouth. Keeping her hands in place to introduce her to the sensation of being restrained, he hovered a breath away from her tempting lips. And waited.

            A moment later she closed her eyes and turned her head to kiss him. A slow mingling of lips and tongue, as addictive as a drug. Her timid, yet sensual response went to his head like a fifth of whiskey. Before he could take things further, he pulled back. When she opened her eyes and gazed up at him in silent question, he released her wrists and stepped away. His voice came out rough. “Let’s go.”

            She straightened slowly, watching him with equal parts arousal and indecision. Deke held out his hand and waited. Her gaze slid down to his palm, and he could feel her struggling with herself. She studied his hand, and he knew she was taking in its size, how much stronger it was than hers. What his control over her would mean during sex. If she put her hand in his, she was his for the night.

            Meeting his eyes, she finally lifted her hand and settled it on his palm. Her skin was cool and soft, delicate compared to his. Something to be treasured. He closed his fingers around hers and squeezed, her need and unspoken trust in him easing something in his soul.

Oh, sugar. You’re mine.

Without a word he turned and guided her out of the bar.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.calliecroix.com

Facebook

And here, of course! I look forward to getting to know the rest of you Naughty Chicks.

Thanks to all of you, and especially to Wynter, for having me blog with you.

Callie Croix J

I Hate Him...I Hate Him Not...

One of my favorite books is Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner. *shudder* It had to be one of the freakiest books I’ve ever picked up—and devoured. Now anyone who has talked to me for at least ten minutes discovers that I hate spiders with a passion usually reserved for hot dreams starring Vin Diesel. When we were younger, my sister and I stapled the spider section in the Encyclopedia Britannica together so we wouldn’t flip to it by mistake. When we moved into our house ten years ago, I spied this huge spider—yes, it was huge!—in the basement. And I haven’t been down there in, let’s see…one, two three…yeah, ten years. Yup, it’s that deep.

I reveal all this seemingly random information for a purpose. It just so happens that Say Goodbye is about a serial killer who does women in with spiders. Even now, I don’t know how I made it through that book with her detailed descriptions of Brown Recluses (did I spell that right? I don’t know, but I’m not Google-ing it to find out!), Black Widows and every kind of tarantula possible! But what kept me reading like strawberry cake awaited me on the next page was the villain. Freaky. Creepy. Scary. Disturbed. Did I mention FREAKY??

Even now, months later, he still haunts me. Now that is the earmark of a damn good villain! As writers, it’s so easy to make our antagonists bad because…well, just because they’re villains and they’re supposed to be bad. *raising my hand and waving madly* I’ve so done that in my writing life time. But I’ve discovered that the most interesting, compelling and memorable villains are three dimensional. They have layers. Lisa Gardner’s villain contained all that and then some!

An antagonist should have a history just like the hero and heroine. I need to know what makes him tick. What is his motivation? Even if it is completely irrational, I want to get into his head and be a visitor in his crazy mind. I mean, if he kills women who wear Betty Boop t-shirts because she was his wife in a former life and she left him for another man, I want to read how he rationalizes that! Also, he needs to be scary intelligent. I mean, really, if Barney Fife could nab him with that one bullet in his pocket…I ain’t buying it! In order to be pitted against the hero and heroine he definitely cannot be too stupid to live!

And, oddly, I need to be invested in him as much as I am in the main characters. He should have a stake in the story, and I want to care about whether he reaches his goal or not. Lisa Gardner created a character that was so evil, so devoid of human empathy and emotion, it terrifies me that someone like him may actually exist out there. Yet his past, the pain and horrible abuse he endured caused me to actually feel for him—even though I wanted him to die. How conflicted is that? And I still think about him…I still ache for him, a fictional character, even as I feel just a bit safer that he’s dead. Have I been drawn in to that story, or what?

That’s what I desire as a writer. To create a villain so terrifying, so evil…so heartbreaking…that weeks later he or she will continue to haunt readers. You think it’s too early to ask Santa for an X-mas gift in my stocking…or my next book? *snicker*

Indulgence - A Vacation Story

I'm on vacation. It seems to an epidemic here among the chicks, but it is August after all. As I lolled around our vacation land today, my extended family meeting to share a group of condos up north at a ski resort turned summer resort, I imagined the perfect vacation day for me.

It would start not too early, not too late. And breakfast, a light affair with fresh food, perhaps some smoked salmon and cheese, a hot, rich beverage, and some fruit, would be topped off by a small square of dark chocolate. I am currently reading a book featuring an "orgasm diet," which includes food to optimise the strength and type of one's orgasms (for women). High quality dark chocolate is featured prominently in the diet. The entire venture is much more exciting than the plethora of weight loss programs out there, so I'd definitely include the chocolate in my perfect vacation day.

Next on my perfect day would be a long leisurely walk with someone I love. This could be a romantic love like hubby or a dear girlfriend. Someone with whom I could both talk the entire way, or simply walk next to quietly, no need to speak a word.

I'd follow the walk with an hour long massage. Maybe hour and a half. Then lunch, again with someone or ones I love. Would I be doing the cooking? Maybe, maybe not. It doesn't matter as long as the company while I prepared food was good.

Another walk or hike (not high intensity) would follow. And then some time sitting by a pool, or lake or ocean (doesn't matter) quietly reading a very good book. Is it too indulgent to then work in an acupuncture or reiki session? Nah. It's my perfect vacation dream.

The day would end with dinner out at a wonderful restaurant with more family or friends I loved--a whole crowd of us talking and laughing. And then dancing. There must be dancing. I love to dance.

Finally home and perhaps a chance to test out that new diet I've started. Did that chocolate pay off?

In real life it's the end of the first full day of my actual vacation. So far I've spent a few precious moments talking to people I love and do not see very often. And while I haven't had a square of chocolate, I have had a chocolate frappe. Don't know if that counts. I am happy to report, however, that I have already received an hour-long full body massage. It was amazing and I may even sneak a second before we leave our vacation land.

There has been a few tense moments wrangling kids into good behavior, or at least away from horrid behavior. The massage was somewhere in between those moments and it helped. But what I like about massage and a variety of body work modalities is that is gets things flowing. Movement is good for many things. I'm hoping it is good for my writing. And while I have no writing expectations for this vacation, I am sure the time away will help.

So what is your perfect vacation day like? Does it involve reading or writing words? Does it involve chocolate (wink, wink)? Whatever it is, I hope it brings you joy and happens for you very soon. I am quite sure I'll have more pieces of my dream day this week. The trick is to capture every moment and savor it like the yummy chocolate.

Comedy with slapstick; does it work in books?

I've often heard that slapstick comedy doesn't work in novels. Well, I've read a book or two where they're right--it doesn't. I think it all depends on the way it's told (or shown.)

Here's a scene from my latest release with a touch of slapstick. I think it translates. I'm going to risk it. See what you think.


As she and Sly rushed toward the train station, Morgaine hoped Chad was right, and the smell of moonshine would disguise their scents. She’d poured some in an atomizer and spritzed it on like perfume, hitting all her pulse points. Sly didn’t have much of a pulse, but he sprayed plenty on his black slacks and coat. Now they smelled like a couple of drunks—lovely.

They had slipped out the back, and only the lights of the city and an occasional security spotlight broke the darkness. Their connected hands kept her grounded, but Goddess forbid he release her—even for a second. This test couldn’t be more challenging. Here she was, out in the open in the dark of night!

I’m safe. I’m with Sly. I’m safe.

Sly carried a small duffel bag and Morgaine’s suitcase, insisting the train station was too far for her to carry it herself. She knew he wanted nothing to slow them down. They purposely avoided Vorigan’s block. The logical route to the Back Bay station would have brought them close—too close, so for obvious reasons they took the longer way around.

“Almost there, babe.” Sly squeezed her hand. She liked the nickname he’d begun using for her. They hadn’t taken three more steps when he froze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Shit,” he muttered.

She glanced around until she saw him. It was her first glimpse of the evil V. Malvant, and although she could only see him from the back, she recognized his warped energy right away. His black, stringy hair lay over thin shoulders like the dark, jagged aura that hung over the rest of him.

“Quick, down here.” Sly yanked her arm toward the subway entrance. Before they disappeared down the steps, she saw the other vampire turn and smile cruelly. Yellow light from the streetlamps glinted off his fangs.

“Hurry!” she cried.

They took the steps two at a time all the way to the bottom. A train waited at the platform, but Morgaine doubted they could make it before the doors closed.

Sly scooped her up in his arms, vaulted over the turnstile, and had them safely ensconced inside when the doors shut. Vorigan, seconds behind them, slammed into the windows. Morgaine gasped. Vorigan’s face distorted as he slid down the glass.

As the train pulled away from the station, she heard Sly chuckle. She joined him as he laughed harder. By the time they were well on their way to the next station, they guffawed in cathartic relief.

At last, wiping the tears from her eyes, Morgaine asked, “Now what?”

“Now we take the subway to the next station and change lines. We can board the train at South Station.”

She blew out a deep breath. “So, you think we’ve lost him?”

“Unless he anticipates our next move.”

Suddenly a horrible thought occurred to her. “You don’t think he’s following us, do you?”
She tried to see out the back window, but all was black except for the occasional signal light flashing by.

“No, even he’s not that stupid. The one thing no supernatural creature wants is to be found out.”

“Why is that?”

“I imagine we’d be tazed, drugged, and dissected.”

She shivered.

“Are you cold, love?” He placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

“N-no.” Did he just call me ‘love’ instead of ‘babe’?

The rest of the book can be found on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc. I hope you'll give it a try. It received 5 blue ribbons from Romance Junkies, 4 1/2 starts from RT book reviews, and 4 1/2 and a top pick from Night Owl Romance. Not bad for a light paranormal romance with a touch of slapstick.

There's a $25.00 B&N gc for a lucky commenter!

Guest author Toni Lotempio

Who the heck is: TONI LOTEMPIO
No doubt many of you are wondering, who the heck is this chick, and why should we fork over .99 to read her books?
Well, I can’t tell you why you should read my books, other than that I think they’re pretty good -- but I can tell you a little bit about me so you get to know me – and my works – better.
I’m a native New Yorker, born and bred, but I’ve lived in New Jersey since I was thirteen. I’ve been reading ever since I was three, and writing since I was twelve - the first thing I wrote was a book of fairy tales called TWELVE TALL TALES. I even had another girl in school who was good at drawing illustrate them! (too bad I can’t find what I did with that manuscript- but after 30 years and a ton of moves I’m afraid its GWTW) I got hooked on horror from my dad, who used to take me to horror movies (Black Sunday starring Barbara Steele was the first) and, of course, I was a HUGE Dark Shadows fan growing up – I even ran a fan club for it in High School. I’ve always wanted to be Angelique – a sexy witch! I’d kill fo those big, big, blue eyes! And I can’t wait for the Johnny Depp remake of Dark Shadows! As for reading, I love anything by J.D. Robb! I also read Carol Higgins Clark, Victoria Laurie, Janet Evanovich and Rita Mae Brown, anything by John Saul and the king of suspense, James Patterson religiously. Lately I’ve also become a big fan of Alex Kava and Tess Gerritson. I love both the paranormal and the suspense/thriller/cozy mystery genres. In paranormal I like Mary Janice Davidson, Michelle Rowan( I worship at her altar!), Kimberley Raye, Ashlyn Chase and Charlaine Harris to name a few!

Anyway, I write a lot of different books, and I confess I’m partial to the mystery genre (comes from reading the ENTIRE Nancy Drew series! – I’m not kidding – the ENTIRE series!) Some of my books have been published by small press, but I like to think I saved my best work for the indie market My first indie, NO REST FOR THE WICCA, is a novel about a girl, Morgan Hawkes, who has both wiccan and voodoo heritage. Saddled with guilt over the death of her partner years before, she left homicide and became a “ghost whisperer” – someone who helps trapped spirits travel over to the next plane. But when a string of murders with a decidedly voodoo slant begin occurring, the PSFU (Paranormal Special Forces Unit) enlists her aid to solve the murders, and she finds herself teamed with a hunky Inheritor Vampire – Cole St. John – who sets her mixed blood racing!

And then there’s my latest - RAVEN’S KISS.
Some people might not like Raven at first glance. I didn’t either. She’s bossy, opinionated, and often rude. She’s a moral girl who was turned into a Shapeshifter from a demon’s bite, and she’s a little bitter, to put it mildly. When her boss suggests she take a little “vacation” she runs smack dab into a mystery that she hopes will lead her to finally capture the demon who turned her. Raven discovers a portal that leads her into parallel time – a world where the people she knows lead vastly different lives.She also meets the Recovery Captain in that world – a six foot redheaded Scotsman named Finn McPhee. (fun fact: I named this character after HP Mallory’s son). Although they butt heads at first, they can’t deny their attraction to each other, an attraction that deepens as they get closer and closer to unraveling the mystery surrounding the connection between Raven and a rash of serial killings…..

AS the story progresses, we see the real Raven emerge – a girl who, beneath the gruff exterior, is actually quite a marshmellow when it comes to the people she loves! I like to think she’s a bit like me 
What’s in store for the future? I have a few more novels I’ll be releasing, another YA (with a Dark Shadows tie in, LOL) and adult, toward the end of the year. Also, my latest paranormal is just getting ready to go on sub by my agent, so who knows? (Coming soon to a brick and mortar bookstore near you – I hope, I hope,) So if you want more info, stop by either the blog: www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com or the website: www.tonilotempio.webs.com

I also appreciate hearing from anyone who’s read my books, and feel free to friend me (and my cat,Rocco, the Sci Fi blogging cat!) on FACEBOOK!

Check her blog...she has a contest Friday 8/19!

Guest Author: Toni Lotempio

Who the heck is: TONI LOTEMPIO

No doubt many of you are wondering, who the heck is this chick, and why should we fork over .99 to read her books?

Well, I can’t tell you why you should read my books, other than that I think they’re pretty good :-) but I can tell you a little bit about me so you get to know me – and my works – better.

I’m a native New Yorker, born and bred, but I’ve lived in New Jersey since I was thirteen. I’ve been reading ever since I was three, and writing since I was twelve - the first thing I wrote was a book of fairy tales called TWELVE TALL TALES. I even had another girl in school who was good at drawing illustrate them! (too bad I can’t find what I did with that manuscript- but after 30 years and a ton of moves I’m afraid its GWTW) I got hooked on horror from my dad, who used to take me to horror movies (Black Sunday starring Barbara Steele was the first) and, of course, I was a HUGE Dark Shadows fan growing up – I even ran a fan club for it in High School. I’ve always wanted to be Angelique – a sexy witch! I’d kill for those big, big, blue eyes! And I can’t wait for the Johnny Depp remake of Dark Shadows! As for reading, I love anything by J.D. Robb! I also read Carol Higgins Clark, Victoria Laurie, Janet Evanovich and Rita Mae Brown, anything by John Saul and the king of suspense, James Patterson religiously. Lately I’ve also become a big fan of Alex Kava and Tess Gerritson. I love both the paranormal and the suspense/thriller/cozy mystery genres. In paranormal I like Mary Janice Davidson, Michelle Rowan( I worship at her altar!), Kimberley Raye, Ashlyn Chase and Charlaine Harris to name a few!

Anyway, I write a lot of different books, and I confess I’m partial to the mystery genre (comes from reading the ENTIRE Nancy Drew series! – I’m not kidding – the ENTIRE series!) Some of my books have been published by small press, but I like to think I saved my best work for the indie market  My first indie, NO REST FOR THE WICCA, is a novel about a girl, Morgan Hawkes, who has both wiccan and voodoo heritage. Saddled with guilt over the death of her partner years before, she left homicide and became a “ghost whisperer” – someone who helps trapped spirits travel over to the next plane. But when a string of murders with a decidedly voodoo slant begin occurring, the PSFU (Paranormal Special Forces Unit) enlists her aid to solve the murders, and she finds herself teamed with a hunky Inheritor Vampire – Cole St. John – who sets her mixed blood racing!

And then there’s my latest - RAVEN’S KISS.

Some people might not like Raven at first glance. I didn’t either. She’s bossy, opinionated, and often rude. She’s a moral girl who was turned into a Shapeshifter from a demon’s bite, and she’s a little bitter, to put it mildly. When her boss suggests she take a little “vacation” she runs smack dab into a mystery that she hopes will lead her to finally capture the demon who turned her. Raven discovers a portal that leads her into parallel time – a world where the people she knows lead vastly different lives.

She also meets the Recovery Captain in that world – a six foot redheaded Scotsman named Finn McPhee. (fun fact: I named this character after HP Mallory’s son). Although they butt heads at first, they can’t deny their attraction to each other, an attraction that deepens as they get closer and closer to unraveling the mystery surrounding the connection between Raven and a rash of serial killings…..

AS the story progresses, we see the real Raven emerge – a girl who, beneath the gruff exterior, is actually quite a marshmallow when it comes to the people she loves! I like to think she’s a bit like me.

What’s in store for the future? I have a few more novels I’ll be releasing, another YA (with a Dark Shadows tie in, LOL) and adult, toward the end of the year. Also, my latest paranormal is just getting ready to go on sub by my agent, so who knows? (Coming soon to a brick and mortar bookstore near you – I hope, I hope, :-) So if you want more info, stop by either the blog: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com/ or the website: http://www.tonilotempio.webs.com/

I also appreciate hearing from anyone who’s read my books, and feel free to friend me (and my cat,Rocco, the Sci Fi blogging cat!) on FACEBOOK!

Titanic and the First Cabin Ladies

Katie O'Reilly is no lady.

At least, not a first cabin lady. When Katie boards the Titanic at Queenstown, Ireland with a third class ticket clutched in her hands, she's running away from an unjust charge of larceny in the great house where she was in service.

But Katie has aspirations to be a lady, not a lady's maid.

She discovers there's much to be learned about these first cabin ladies with their silk gowns and dazzling jewels.

Just who were these society ladies and what was their life like aboard the ship of dreams?

Newspapers of the day reported how these women, I mean, ladies, whiled away the days at sea gossiping and dressing numerous times a day while vying with each other for positioning in the social ladder.

However, the world of 1912 was on the verge of change. The Triangle Fire in 1911 made society take notice of unsafe conditions for garment factory workers; women of all classes were engaged in the suffragette movement; and the fad for "dollar princesses" (wealthy American debutantes who married British lords who needed cash) was waning by the time King Edward VII died in 1910.

The Titanic took no heed of these changes and was known for its luxury and wealthy passengers. On board "the ship of dreams," we find a fascinating entourage of first cabin ladies who make cameo appearances in Katie's story:

Mrs. John Jacob Astor, eighteen-year old pregnant bride of the forty-seven-year old millionaire.

Mrs. J.W. Cardeza, wealthy society lady and noted yachtswoman.

Lady Duff Gordon, leading fashion designer.

Mrs. J.J. Brown (Unsinkable Molly Brown), who will have her own post in the future.

I was also fascinated by the fact that Benjamin Guggenheim was traveling with one of his mistresses, Mademoiselle Aubart known as "Ninette. What is even more interesting is that this first cabin lady and her maid both survived.

Guggenheim did not.

Afterward, Mlle. Aubart filed a claim to the White Star Line for her possessions lost aboard the Titanic, which included twenty-four dresses, gloves, opera glasses, jewels, twenty-four pairs of shoes and twelve sets of knickers.

My heroine, Katie Reilly, has one pair of shoes.

And one pair of knickers.

And a cotton chemise.

Captain Lord Jack Blackthorn doesn't care whether she wears silk or cotton:

His pulse quickened when he remembered how she’d looked at him. In her plain cotton chemise, she was beautiful to him, her deep auburn hair shimmering an unbelievable red, her mischievous green eyes, an oval-shaped face with a pretty, pink mouth.

Isn't that what it's all about?

Dangerous Desires, by Brenda Williamson ~ Chapter 26

Dangerous Desires

(Click the title to go back to Chapter One)

by Brenda Williamson

(A Free Read ~ A Work in Progress)

Copyright 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Twenty Six

Nathan rubbed his thumb over the back of Valentina’s hand, fascinated by the coolness of her skin.


"Tell me more about your family,” she asked.

"There’s not much to tell. They’re quite ordinary, and quite a few of them. Besides my brother and sister, and parents, my father had nine siblings, so I have many cousins."

“Do they all live with you?”

“Heavens, no. My sister and brother are both married, yet they live close with their spouses and children. And the others live close too, except for the occasional adventurer. Like my cousin Casey, whose wedding I’m off to attend in Salem.”

"It must be nice to have a large family."

“Sometimes. Lots of hands make for less work. But there are also a lot more chores.” He thought of his days growing up. The bad times when some of his father’s family stayed with them. All the extra mouths to feed. The daily cooking and cleaning that he helped his mother and sister do.

“Are you an adventurer, too?” she asked, a glow in her gaze suggested she had more than a mild interest in his ramblings.

“I get out and about from time to time,” he answered. Truth be told, he’d rather settle down. He had the finances from good investments, but never found any motivation. Staying in his parents home had become habit between his journeys around the country.

“To get away from all your relatives?” She continued with her inquisitiveness.

“No. Never that. My family is considered small to most, so there is no need to hide from them."

"Not as small as mine." She turned her head to look up at a tree when a nightingale sung.

He took the moment to study the length of her slender neck and the profile of her face. Her extreme beauty made him wonder again, why had she no husband? She had not even a mention of suitors, past or present.

When her face came back around, and she looked at him with her dark and dreamy eyes, he kissed her. He considered she’d pull away, but Valentine had a unique way of surprising him with her responses. She wanted kissed, and she made that obvious when she gripped his collar and pulled his mouth firmer to hers.

He let go of her hand and gripped her waist, dragging her against him. She oozed irresistibility and the depths of her passion were endless. She wove her fingers through his hair, twisting to claim control. Her rosewater scented body rubbed him in all the right places, making him hard and hot.

As she nibbled playfully at his ear and brushed her lips along the side of his neck, his slid his grip to her bottom. He squeezed and kneaded her and the gown in a frenzy of anticipation.

Valentina’s aggressive nature erupted.

Wild like an untamed beast, she clawed at his scalp. Her forceful kisses moved over his face and softened with intermittent licks of her tongue. Her fingers clenched on the tendrils of his hair, tugging none too gently. She was an exquisite creature like none he had ever encountered before. The list of attributes seemed ended and so varied. Demure, reticent, energetic, vigorous, withdrawn, passionate, forceful, demanding, but above all, wonderfully feminine to the core.

"The pulse beneath your skin drives me crazy," she gasped the words between breaths and pauses of her suckling of his neck. "I can’t resist."

"Then don’t." He wrapped an arm around her waist.

With every intention of dropping to the lawn, Nathan held Valentina. In his mind, they could make the transition from standing to lying down with a fluid gracefulness. The slow moves into the descent were possible. She’d go with him. Her arms were that frantic in their hold around him.

He’d land on his knees and fall over sideways, cushioning her fall with him. Only she wouldn’t stay prone alongside him. As soon as they stretched out, she’d sit, work open his jacket and his shirt. Her kisses would splash over his chest and to his abdomen. The same lips that expressed a feral need to dominate him would tickle his skin as she headed lower.

While he wasn’t sure how far to proceed, a carnal hunger to have her submission drove his thoughts into a fantasy.

"You’re the one that’s irresistible, Valentina." He rubbed a hand over her bottom as she bent further over him and unfastened his trousers and jerked his cock free. His brain hardly functioned when the sheath of her warm mouth slipped over his erection. Her deep-throated plunge locked around his shaft.


Her moves made her hips sway near his head and he gripped the hem of the gown, bunching it up until the moon’s beams of light glossed the snowy white cheeks of her ass.


He encouraged her to lift a leg over him. When she did, she straddled his mouth. Moans alternated between them, as they took turns in pleasuring the other with the oral stimulant they mastered with their tongues. He licked as far as he could reach into the cream-laden depths of her soft and fleshy center. Her body rocked, forcing his nose into the split of her bottom with each downward plummet.


He hummed against her cunt smashing urgently against his lips. She rode him hard and fast and her mouth on his cock was no less vigilant in intensity. He neared the culmination of his body’s release while already tasting hers dripping into his throat.


"Nathan," she panted. "Nathan, no more."

Nathan had ignored her pleas until he felt the prickle of something sting his neck. He jerked his head back and with a disoriented gaze, looked around at the garden. Valentina’s turned her head away as if she wanted to hide her face. Embarrassment, he decided.

"I’m sorry." He slid his hand along her side. "I don’t know where my mind wandered off to. For a minute I thought you and I... never mind."

"Shall we continue back to the house now?" She took his arm, wearing her composure well.

"Yes. I suppose getting some sleep would be a good idea. It’s been a long day."

She nodded, and a glint of moonlight hit her eyes at an angle that gave her that mysterious look of mischievousness as if she knew exactly what he had been thinking when they kissed.

Shaking off the notion, he escorted her through the house and up to the door of her room. The silence between them gave him a chance to ponder and explore the realm of possibilities. He wanted her, and she him. Yet, something came between those wants. His chivalry to be damned, but what of her teasing moments where she required kissed and touched and then she backed from the desire as if burned?

He picked up her hand and dragged a kiss across her knuckles. "Goodnight, Valentina."

"Pleasant dreams, Nathan." She crossed the threshold, turned and stared at him.

Did she seek his help in acquiring more of his attention upon her? While he debated, she shut the door. He listened to the click of the bolt, blocking him from making another choice.

..............Read more in Chapter 27

Brenda

http://www.brendawilliamson.com/