Heroic Occupations

There are plenty of ‘rules’ surrounding suitable occupation for a romance hero and yet I’m sure most of them have been broken.

Heroes shouldn’t be actors, sports starts and worst of all musicians. Apparently being a musician isn’t very heroic.

Hmm. It requires a lot of dedication to be successful and dedication is a heroic trait. Performing in front of an audience requires confidence, and I consider confidence attractive in a man.

While I originally wrote Lucinda’s Lover as a walk on part in another story the Vampires (Phoenix, Thanatos, Sirius and Absinthe) took on a life of their own. I never stopped to think that I was breaking a ‘rule’. I was having fun with my leather pants and eyeliner wearing electric string quartet, and I hoped someone else would also like them. Fortunately my editor at Ellora's Cave did.

Kissing Phoenix
When Lilith fell into lust with musician Aidan she never expected it to last. And she was right. Her doctor has given her months to live, and telling Aidan is the hardest thing she's ever done.

Aidan has been keeping his own secret. He is Vampire...but he can't turn Lilith and save her. The solution he proposes is illegal and dangerous and breaks every rule set up to protect non-humans from humans. He doesn't care. He will do anything to save the woman he loves.

Discovering the kiss of a Vampire and reveling in the erotic thrill, Lilith realizes her feelings are deeper than lust. But is giving up her humanity worth it?

Excerpt.

Kissing Phoenix available on Kindle and at Ellora's Cave.

To find out about my other book visit shonahusk.com, or you can find me on facebook and goodreads.

Shona

BIG DICKS FROM ARKANSAS

Now, don't go crazy on me. It's not what you think - well, it is - but, it isn't. You see this is one of my grandmother's saying. She is 93 years old and when she was young, she heard someone talking about so-and-so being a 'big dick' from Arkansas. She never forgot it. Now,anytime she thinks about somebody being important - she calls him a big dick from Arkansas.
I write erotic romances and have eight releases under my belt. My grandmother reads them all. The other day she asked me if all of my heroes had big dicks. I laughed at her and admitted that 'yes' they did. She looked at me over her spectacles and said that it was probably a good idea because who would want to read a romance novel about a man who had a little dick.
My grandmother critiques my stories and in the beginning she was not so happy about all the sex scenes. She has mellowed out somewhat - even though the oral sex part is not her favorite. My graphic descriptions of luscious blow-jobs is not her cup of tea. But, let me tell you this. Not long ago we went somewhere together. At one point, it was too cold for her to get out of the car and I handed her a book to read to entertain herself. Now, it wasn't one of mine. I won't tell you whose it was - but it was on the New York Times best seller list. I left her reading and went to do my errands. When I came back, I found that she had tossed the book over on my side of the car and it was lying in the floor board. I
took that as a sign that she didn't like the book too much. I asked her what the problem was - now, get this. She said that it wasn't spicy enough for her. I almost died. This was the woman who had intially wanted me to write Christian romances. I laughed at her and told her that she had been reading too many of my stories. She said that I was probably right - that she liked - now get this - she liked stories with big dicks and happy ending. I laughed till I cried.
Big dicks and happy endings. I told the woman who does my computer work about that and she said we ought to incorporate and call our company BD&HE - Big Dicks and Happy Endings. Could anything be more perfect? Now, my grandmother's definition of a happy ending is not the standard masseuse table definition. She literally means that a 'happy ending' is a sweet love story that ends with the hero and heroine riding off into the sunset together. One of my favorite Elvis songs is 'Happy Endings'. I have always pictured myself speaking at a Romance Writer's of America Convention on the topic of - let's say 'big dicks and happy endings' and finishing the speech by breaking into song - - - "Happy Endings. . . Happy Endings - Give me a story with a Happy Ending. When boy meets girl and then - they never part again - but live forever happily - like you and me. If you don't know the song - you should - go buy an Itunes version. There's no one and nothing like Elvis.
Anyway - my grandmother has a unique way of looking at things. She's reading one of my books right now - I'm watching her read as she eats Doritios - she chuckles every once in a while and when she does, I know she's come to one of the big dick parts.

Here's an excerpt for you from "Heart in Chains" - my novel of a Texas Ranger with a big dick
- but he's not from Arkansas
Buy link  - http://sablehunter.com/heartinchains.html
Aliyah jerked awake. She had been touched! Every battle instinct that she had went on red alert. Slipping the knife from her thigh, she flipped her attacker onto his back and held him at her mercy. With one slight move she had the knife right where it could do the most good. The tip end of it nestled at the base of a tender sac - the only thing saving her nemesis was his thin BVD‘s.
About two seconds later, she was awake enough to realize that it was Ty she had way-laid. She remembered where she was and how she got there. Still, opportunity was knocking and Aliyah was nothing if not resourceful. A quick thinker, she decided to play the hand she had been dealt. “All right, Ranger Landon. Do I have your attention?”

Well, good Lord! Did she have his attention? Hell, yeah! She had a knife to his balls. “Undivided.” Better his attention be undivided than his nuts be shelled. “I’m sort of attached to my business, baby.” Even though she pretended to be threatening to castrate him; Ty was harder than ever. She was spread over him like icing on a cake and he could feel her unfettered breasts molding tenderly to his chest. He didn’t know what this was all about, but he did know that she wouldn’t hurt him “What did I do to get your dander up?”
“You must have touched me in your sleep. This is how I react when I’m startled out of my slumber.” She could feel his cock pressing against her. It was hard and throbbing. What if he had been like this all night? Poor baby. Mustering up her courage, she decided to make the most of the situation. “I will do you no permanent damage; if you cooperate.” She kissed him on the end of the nose. It was almost dark in the room; but she could still see his face quiet clearly. To say he looked surprised, was putting it lightly. “You are a living doll, Ranger. Would you like to be my man?”

He chuckled, realizing she was turning the tables on him. With complete disregard for the sharp blade pressed to his twig and berries, and with an effortless twist of his body, Ty rolled her over until he had her pressed securely into the mattress beneath him. “The knife wasn’t necessary, sweetheart, there’s nothing I’d rather be than your man.” Aliyah was careful not to stick him as she pulled the knife from between them. Instead of using it on him, she threw it to the floor. For this she needed both hands. Edging one knee and one leg out from under him, Aliyah put an arm around his neck as if she were about to pull him down for a kiss. Instead, she applied unexpected pressure to a few strategically placed nerves - and flipped the two hundred fifty plus pounds of cowboy to his back. Now, she was on top - astraddle an erection as big and hard as an iron pipe. “Oh, baby!” He laughed. “I’m going to enjoy playing with you.” With slow, caressing movements, he slipped his hands under her tank top. Her skin was as soft as the softest silk, “What did you have in mind, Ah-Lee-Ah?” Right now, he would take a long run on a short pier - anything to get a piece of her. “I’m yours for the taking.”
Moving slightly, she took hold of his hands, pulling them away from the bare skin of her back. She didn’t want him to find the scars - couldn’t bear to see the look of disgust and rejection on his face when he realized exactly who she was and what she’d had to do to survive. Kissing him across his brow, down the bridge of his nose, Aliyah trembled on top of him. “This is for the good of the mission. Our sexual tension - it is causing too much distraction. Now, lay perfectly still - or I will have to temporarily paralyze you.” She smiled so radiantly at him, that he started to volunteer for the paralysis - but, he really, really wanted to participate in this sensual exercise. “Take off your underwear,” she ordered.
Eagerly, Ty raised his hips up and shucked his shorts. “Take off yours,” he urged - more aroused than he could ever remember being.
“My nakedness will not be required for this encounter.” She wiggled around until she fit her damp, silk-covered center over his engorged cock.
Tyler moaned his appreciation of the erotic contact. “I don’t mean to put in, doll-face, - this is your rodeo - but it would all go in a lot smoother if there wasn’t so much material clogging up the works.” He caught his breath as she started to ease herself up and down over his tumescence. Her clit drug deliciously over the hard ridge of his flesh.
Stop! She warned herself, her pleasure was not what this was about. She stilled, knowing that she could not allow any intimacy on her part without revealing to him her sordid history. All the background information that she had dredged up on him, told her that he was a good man - while she was unworthy to latch his shoes.
“I want inside you,” Ty growled, trying to push her brief underwear aside so he could find her hot, creamy center. “Now!” he demanded.
Aliyah captured both of his hands within her own. “We do this my way - or not at all. Understand?” She was talking big, but Aliyah was so excited she was already damp with desire. “I am in control.”
Ty clenched his teeth - he was dying here! “Hell! Fine! Whatever you say! Just please, for God’s sake - take off your top and let me suck on those sweet tits!” His demand fired up her blood. For a moment, she debated the issue, then giving in to both of their needs, she surrendered on that point. Lifting her arms over her head she pulled the tank top off, revealing honey colored breasts tipped with nipples that were puffed up with passion, stiff and distended - reaching for his lips. “Sweet Jesus,” he breathed. “How fuckin’ perfect could you get?!” Reverently, he touched them - one in each hand, testing their weight. Running his palms up the sides of the generous mounds, he circled them languorously, not only enjoying the feel of her skin - but the look in her eyes as he gave her pleasure. “I have never seen more beautiful breasts. Do you like that, Ah-Lee-Ah?”
“Oh, yes,” she sighed as she fought not to scrub her velvety core over him. Her labia lips were cupped over his girth as if they were two pieces of the same puzzle - they fit like a matching set. “But, do you have to say my name like it has seven syllables?” Laughing, she decided to enjoy the moment, so she put her hands over his, pressing them into the flesh of her breasts. “Harder,” she demanded. The Dom in him went on red-alert. Even though she was on top and supposedly in control, her request for a more intense touch told him volumes. His baby was not made of spun glass - she was a flesh and blood woman who could give as good as she got.
He found her nipples with his fingers and began milking them with sure, womb-contracting strokes. Aliyah leaned into his hands, the joy that she was receiving from his touch was a thousand times more than she had imagined. “Suck them, Tyler. I need your mouth on me!” At her bidding, he anxiously brought his lips to her breast.
“Mmmm, I’ve dreamed of getting these into my mouth. Let’s see if they taste as good as they look.” Aliyah closed her eyes in ecstatic bliss as he began to lave and suck and pull and suckle. Ty wasn’t quiet about it either - he expressed his enjoyment in moans and grunts of appreciation. Grasping his head with both hands, she kissed him on top of his soft brown hair repeatedly as he nursed at her breast.
“I want you!” he gritted, letting one nipple pop from his mouth. “I can’t stand it - I’m about to explode!”
She wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anyone or anything in her life - but her sense of decency held her back. Aliyah wasn’t ready to bare her heart and soul - and until she could do that, she would not go all the way with him. Instead, she would give him relief. “I will take care of you.”
Before he could say Judge Roy Bean, she had slid down until her mouth was level with his penis. “Aliyah, what are you doing?” He tried to pull her up, but she held back. “I want to make love to you,” his voice had a hard, desperate edge to it.
“Patience, love,” the endearment slipped out before she caught it. “I am going to make love to you.” The promise in her voice soothed him, but he was still confused as to why she was avoiding his ardor.
Aliyah closed her hand around his gigantic member. “Ty, you are beautiful,” she praised him. “If it were possible, I know you would fill me up and it would feel amazing.” A sad note in her voice gave him pause, and if he hadn’t been about to burst - perhaps he would have pursued her wistfulness. “I am sure that you are an incredible lover,” she continued to praise him. With her lips and tongue she began a sure caress, rubbing her mouth up and down him - tasting, licking, letting her tongue dance over his silk covered steel.
“Let me show you, baby, how good it can be. Please?” Putting his hands under her arms, he attempted to pull her up.
“No,” she was insistent. “My way, remember?” Groaning, he fell back. She rewarded his cooperation by picking his large organ up and taking the head of it in her mouth and bathing it with the warmth of her tongue. She sucked lightly, dipping the end of her tongue deep into the slit, sipping the essence that came out to greet her. “Mary, Mother, Joseph. . .” mumbled Tyler as he succumbed to the pure pleasure he was receiving from her intimate kiss. “That’s right, angel baby - suck me - suck me hard.” Ty’s hips began to buck upward as he sought to push more and more of his tremendous cock into her mouth. Aliyah accepted all that she could; she held her head at such an angle so she could take him down her throat. Considering what she had endured in the past, Aliyah had never thought she would ever willingly put herself in a position like this again. But, with Ty - it was different. She wanted him in her mouth - she wanted to immerse herself in his taste - she wanted to inhale the muskiness of his unique, private odor. She wanted to take within her just as much of him as nature would allow.
Tyler did what she would permit - he stroked her head, he caressed her face, wishing that she would let him show her what he could do! She had no idea how deep he could run his tongue up her channel or how sweetly he could suck on her little clit. She couldn’t fathom how many ways he could take her - driving his rod home with powerful thrusts and sensuous bumps and grinds of his hips - all designed to bring her an endless number of orgasms. But, she refused to let him do anything to make her feel good. So, he lay back and enjoyed her gift.
Tyler felt like his dick was being massaged in hot, whipped cream. Every nerve in his body was screaming with enthusiasm. “That’s it baby, oh God, you’re good.” In the dim light of morning, he stole glimpses at Aliyah as she hungrily sucked his cock. It was one of the most arousing sights he had ever been privileged to see. Her little lips were stretched wide and she worked her tongue over and around his swollen glans like she was consuming a creamy dreamsicle. Her beautiful hair tumbled around her shoulders and hung like a curtain of brown silk. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world. I long to eat your pussy and make you come a thousand times.” She had her eyes closed, as if she were enjoying it as much as he was - not possible. Tyler was in absolute heaven. “I can’t take much more, doll. You’re making me crazy.” He had experienced incredible blowjobs from talented women, but nothing like what he was receiving from Aliyah’s sweet mouth. “Swallow, baby. I go crazy when you swallow.” She held his staff with both hands and swallowed several times - each time putting extra pressure on his dick right where he needed it. “Jesus! I am about to explode like that car bomb would have if you hadn’t been so sweet and brave.”
Aliyah’s heart reverberated with thick, churning emotions. The bittersweet feelings that were cascading through her heart were making this event much more important to her than it was to him - she realized that. He was an experienced, jaded ladies man - and she was - God, she didn’t know what she was. Sex was something she had been forced to endure - but, lovemaking was an overwhelming new experience for Aliyah. In some ways - it hurt. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Shivers of ecstasy warred with the twinges in her heart as she realized that she could never do this again - it was wrong on more levels than she could count. Doubling her efforts, she sought to get Tyler off so she could get out.




Have a great day!
Sable Hunter

I just don't get it

No, it isn't Banned Books Week, which I'm an ardent supporter of not banning books so I celebrate it every year. However, I'm a friend to them on Facebook and they recently shared a story about a woman objecting to a book the child she babysits checked out from the public library. It was a book on having a baby and it didn't pull any punches. It told where babies come from.



A child in her care checked out the book, they got home, and then she realized what the book was.



I'll say again, a child in her care checked out the book, they got it home, and THEN she realized what the book was.



Instead of just taking the book back, she now wants it pulled from the children's section. The book in question was filed in the non-fiction children's section and the author, when contacted, said it was a book meant to be read together (a child plus an adult). It's a picture book.



What was so objectionable? From the article, "The book reads, "The man puts his penis between the woman's legs and inside her vagina. After a while, a white liquid shoots out of the man's penis and into the woman's vagina. The liquid is full of millions of sperm.""



Last time I checked, there's nothing factually wrong there. Nothing romanticized.



How old was the kid in question? 9.



I just don't get it.

The woman didn't supervise the kids in her care getting books. She didn't know what they had checked out. She got home, saw the book, felt it was inappropriate for the kids (which I don't have a problem with, we all make decisions what our children should read), but then she decides to object to it being in the children's library at all (which I don't agree with). It's inappropriate for that kid. Fine. But that doesn't mean it's inappropriate for all kids. Or all 9 year olds. I wouldn't have a problem with my 9 year old reading that. I think the kids who could read that are ready for finding out biology but that's just my opinion.



I recently had a situation where my oldest (11) was given a book at a reading program at the library. I admit, I didn't really look at it. She started talking about it and then I said, "Hmmm I should see what exactly she's reading." So I read the book. I probably wouldn't have chosen this book for the 11 year old to read. But guess what? She enjoyed it. We talked about the subject matter (school shootings) and had a good conversation about the book. It was my fault for not previewing it before hand but I was actually glad she did read it because of her response to it. I didn't go down there and demand the book get put in the Adult Section. Instead, I interacted with my child and I learned something. She's ready for almost any Young Adult book out there.



I'm going to step off my rant box now. But I read that story and I just really don't understand.




Mechele Armstrong

http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/

A Wine Connoisseur, I’m not

Okay, sure. I’ve been to wine tastings. I’ve talked to those ‘in the know’. Wine comes in many flavors and varieties. There are people who can perfectly pair the right wine with food of any type.

Not me.

There are people who can, with a sip, tell you exactly what kind of whine they’re drinking. The little swish in the glass, sniff the bouquet, sip a little.

Not me.

Heck, there are even people who, with a tiny taste, can tell you what year the wine was made.

Me, I’m a cheap wine drinker.

I don’t like Chardonnays, the whites or the reds. I guess I’m a blushing kind of girl. I like my White Zinfandel. But not the expensive stuff.

Nah, that stuff kills my stomach. (which tells you how old I’m getting).

I remember a time when I could drink hard liquor with the best of ‘em. Tequila was my shot of choice.

Now, I prefer the cheap, $3-5 bottles of wine at my local mini-mart. Give me Boone’s Hill Sangria, or Arbor Mist White Zin. Too bad it doesn’t come with the sexy guys from their old commercials.

I guess it’s probably a good thing I’m not a big drinker.

At least I’m a cheap drinker :)

Q4U: Are you a wine connoisseur?

Dragos 2: Scorched

by Amber Kallyn

A rare Argentinean dragon shifter, Cynthianna "Anna" Hernandez has never known trust, peace or safety, not even by fleeing to the deepest wilds of Canada. When bounty hunter Garreth Dragos shows up during a blizzard, things get complicated as their inner dragons decide they're perfect for each other. Things get worse when the dark mage hunting Anna finds them, sending his creatures to return her to his evil clutches. He's willing to sacrifice anything and anybody to further his quest for power. Together, Anna and Garreth must trust in each other or all will be lost to evil.

Read an Excerpt Here

Mortal and Immortal Tryst by Cornelia Amiri

Ancient Celtic mythology embraced the beauty of the ultimate union of feminine and masculine power and energy, Celtic gods and goddess made love, with each other and with humans. In the myth of Cuchulainn and Emer, a human couple, the goddess Fand, wife of the sea god Manannán Mac Lir, lusted for and had a sensuous tryst with Cuchulainn. In the Paranormal/Erotica romance, The Wolf and The Druidess, the god Gwydion falls in love with the human druidess, Seren.

The book begins with, Gwydion’s eyes devoured the golden apple dangling from the leafy tree as he commented aloud. “Like Seren’s hair, dazzling in the sunlight.”

The image of her long, red-amber mane burned in his mind. He plucked the apple and tossed it in his hand while heading toward the salmon pond, yearning to steal another glimpse of her.

But when Seren first meets Gwydion, he isn’t in the form of a god at all.

The white wolf never turned its head. With his gaze fixed on Seren, he stared hungrily, as if he thought of her as a delicious treat.

Seren blinked and wondered if it was all the tall trees amid the darkness and the shadows in the night that caused the beast to appear as if his form shifted. She clutched her chest. Her heartbeat quickened as the wolf’s fur and muscles twisted. The beast’s body emitted sounds like the creaking of joints but much louder. Watching the wolf’s body expand while other features contracted made her stomach lurch. She slid her hand from her chest to her belly. A voice in her head told her what she saw couldn’t be real. She blinked, yet still the wolf changed before her eyes, his gorgeous white pelt shortened until it transformed into bronze tinted skin.

A tall man with cascading golden hair and eyes the gray-blue of a stormy, summer sky stood nude before her. Seren blinked again. The man fluttered his hands in front of his body and suddenly he was clothed in an opened white, gold-speckled druid robe and plaid pants covered his trunk-like legs. Heat emanated from him.

She gawked at the lush bronze skin of his bare, muscular chest beneath his robe. “Druid robe...shape shifted from wolf to…” As realization dawned, she dropped to her knees. ”God Gwydion, it is you?”

“Rise.” With a flutter of his fingers, he gestured for her to stand. “Druidess Seren, bewitched by your charms, I had to follow you to your mother’s cairn.”

It isn’t long before their mutual attraction for each other leads to their own tryst between a human woman and a god.

Heat rose on her skin, as if standing next to a bonfire. Her flesh itched for his touch. Before she knew it, she grabbed him. He wrapped his warm arms around her and she leaned toward him.

Their lips met in a slow, drugging kiss. She slid her palms up and down his broad back.

A searing need built in Seren and she whispered, “We have time before the stag hunt.”

“Let’s go,” Gwydion rasped.

With their arms around each other, they rushed off to her roundhouse. Seren ducked and darted inside. Gwydion followed, grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her arms. He danced his thick fingers down the sides of her tunic and grabbing the hem, hoisted it up, pulled it off her and tossed it the floor. He waved his hands and once more his clothes disappeared. She felt the heat of his gaze upon her breasts and nipples. She roamed her eyes over his nude body, the virile bronze chest with small blond whorls, the hard slab of his stomach, the narrow hips and tight buttocks. But it was the hard, prominent swell of flesh between his lean, muscular legs which drew her full attention.

A deep moan escaped her lips at the heat of his palms pressing against her breasts. Seren burned as he squeezed the tender mounds of flesh and pinched the swollen peaks. His hot lips swooped down and kissed her nipple. She flamed as his tongue whisked and his teeth nudged the sensitive, swollen peaks while his palms molded and shaped her breasts.

“Lay down on your back,” Gwydion said in a husky tone.

The swollen bud between her legs pulsated with need as she dropped to the ground and spread her legs.
He kneeled over her, fully bare. “Seren, squeeze my cock with your soft breasts.”

She watched as he rubbed the fiery tip of his erection over her nipples. He nestled his thick erection between her breasts and slid it back and forth. Her body tingled as she felt the moisture spill from the head of his hard staff.

“Open your mouth.” Gwydion slipped his virile flesh between her lips.

Sliding her mouth up and down his cock, she milked him until he withdrew his aroused flesh. Seren swallowed as her heart pounded.

He rested his warm palms on her thighs and spread her legs until they were shoulder-width apart.
Seren felt his honey-warm fingertips fondle the folds, as he pushed his long finger into her.

“You’re so tight.”

She watched his hand move between her legs, working her into a fervor.

“Fuck my finger, Seren.”

She ground his finger as he slid it in and out. When he withdrew, she felt hollow, empty.

“Why did you stop? Please, Gwydion.”

“Seren, I have something better, magical. Spread your legs as far as you can.”
She watched him peer at the apex of her thighs.

“That’s the most beautiful blossom I’ve ever seen,” Gwydion whispered hoarsely.

He waved his hands as if conjuring an object, but she couldn’t make it out. Seren felt something smooth and hard prod her entrance.

Her passage stretched around the item in his hand.

“What is that?”

“My ash wand.”

As it slid in all the way, she thrust her hips.

“Push it out of you,” Gwydion rasped.

Following his command, she clenched her muscles and thrust.

Gwydion waved his fingers in the air and the wand vanished. “My wand floated in that tight well of yours. Now my cock needs to sink into your hot, wet core.”

Arching her body, she craved his flesh, sought to meld into him, so they could burn together in one blaze. As his hardened erection pressed against the entrance of her sex, she gasped.

He plunged into her moist heat and pleasure filled her as her passage enveloped his flesh. His thick cock sunk deeper into her.

As she whimpered with desire, she thrust her hips and drew him higher into her. Her breath rushed in and out in shallow pants as she strained against the girth and length of his hard heat. As she raised her knees, he moved upon her with slithering strokes. Shivery waves of passion rocked her body.

He pulled out of her and paused for one moment, then plunged into her depths. She gasped and shrieked. The fiery walls of her passage constricted and contracted as he pounded into her. She shrieked at each slamming thrust. A rush of maddening sensations seized her. On the brink of release, she mewed as he thrashed wildly. She clinched. He groaned as he burst inside her and his hot juices flooded her. Seren cried out with uninhibited ecstasy.

When he withdrew his rod, she cuddled against his body, both were glistening with sweat.

“We promised we’d go on the stag hunt.” She rose up on her elbows, leaned over and as she kissed him, spirals of ecstasy shot through her. “They will be waiting for us.”

But the question arises, is the love Seren and Gwydion share strong enough to overcome the social barrier between an immortal god and a mortal woman? Will the warning of danger from beyond the grave destroy the sensual magic brewing between the wolf and the druidess?

For more about this tale of a god who leaves the Otherworld and even risks his life for love, please drop by my website CelticRomanceQueen.com
and please post comments or questions, I'd love to hear from you.
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In a Bind by Francesca Hawley

When I wrote Controlling Interest for the 1-800-DOM-help series, I didn't know I was going to be writing a scene about Japanese rope bondage, also known as kinbaku or in the west, shibari.

I'm a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants. I knew as I got to the end of the story I needed to have a really intimate scene between my hero and heroine, but it was only as I got to that point in the story that I realized I wanted to use rope bondage as a vehicle to express the trust between my hero and heroine and their growing intimacy with one another.

And this is something that requires a LOT of trust. The top binds the bottom using a series of knots and wraps that renders the submissive helpless. Doing this rope work takes time and the full cooperation of the submissive who is being tied. And it just happens to be mega hot.

Since I was fairly new to the topic, I relied on the tried and true method of learning more...research. I found several books about rope bondage including The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage by Midori. This books is detailed, informative and just plain cool. To complete the package, it's also beautifully photographed by Craig Morey. The descriptions of the different tying techniques were clear enough that even I could understand how the knots should be completed. I can't say enough about this book. 

I also used two books by the Two Knotty Boys titled Showing You the Ropes and Back on the Ropes. Both of these books are really super. There are step by step photographs in both of these books. The first book features black and white photos, but book two - Back on the Ropes - features color photos. I have to admit I like color photos better. But all the images provide great detail for the rope bondage beginner. And they let the beginner increase their skills with more complicated ties.

Using the books were really helpful to my research for writing this scene. I also found one video about rope bondage called, How to Perform Rope Bondage from Educational Sex Series (dot) com. It made a difference for me to see how an experienced rigger tied up a willing submissive. So when Controlling Interest reaches the point where Tor ties Mouse up, I was able to really get into the experience from the perspective of the binder and the bindee. I think the scene turned out really hot. At least, I hope so. Let me know what you think!

Blurb for Controlling Interest:

Mozelle “Mouse” Vincent inherits money, a club and her boss’ son as a business partner when society leader Regine Stuart dies. Torin Stuart knows what his late mother’s wishes were for his exclusive BDSM club, Erotically Bound, but he’s pissed that he’s forced to trust Mouse—especially when her inherently submissive nature arouses the sexual Dominant in him.

After baring all in a heated, intense scene, Mouse realizes they still have to work together, but now Tor challenges any business suggestion she makes. When she wants to offer education classes, Tor dares her to organize the class and participate—as a submissive.

To his chagrin, Mouse agrees, but he can’t stand the thought of any other Dom touching her. Suddenly there’s far more at stake than the controlling interest in their club…because love is the ultimate prize in their power exchange.

Eliza March talks about writing characters...

Five Squared : Lessons In Life, and Character Development by Eliza March

When you read a book, what captures your interest? Characters or plot?

If nothing happens to the characters,  then how interesting can the story be? Because character development is driven by goal, motivation and conflict, as readers, we get drawn into the plot so often through what’s happening to the characters. The more obstacles they encounter on the way to their goals, the more vested we become in their goals and as a result we come to care about them, either succeeding or failing, living or dying, winning or failing, loving or losing.

Look at the people who make a difference in your character’s life:

When you look back at decisions the character made, what provoked them what inspired them? When you reflect on where they’re going, what influences their path choices?

To do this we can examine the five important elements of life, career, romance, religion, family, education to discover SELF or the character.

In what order of importance would you place each? Arrange them subsequently as ‘encounters’ one through five, Encounter one should list the elements in the order you place them as they actually effect your character’s life.  Encounter two would be the ideal order of importance to you if the character had a do over.  Then for each encounter up to five change the order the elements. The plot changes as the situations change for the same character. Why? Because given different circumstances, the character develops differently.

This assignment should be done for each of the five encounters to demonstrate the effect of change upon the results of your character’s life. This exercise will force you to examine the events and encounters that have brought the character  to a specific place in your story. A change anywhere changes everything.

List the people and an event impacting each of these five aspects of the character’s life.

I’ve named FIVE elements that I believe are essential to a character’s development. There can be incidents or people who you assign to each. Perhaps you think there are others. Use those.

·       Education

·       Religion

·       Romance

·       Relationships

·       Career

I hope this exercise helps you either in analyzing some of your favorite characters, or in writing well developed characters, or maybe examining yourself – your goals – motivations – conflicts – then finding satisfaction and resolution.

BIO: Ever since I could read, the written word has captivated me. I’ve worked in libraries, written for newspapers, done copy edits, magazine copy and screenplays, but the one thing that always intrigues me is choosing just the right word to express myself. I write erotic romance as ELIZA MARCH and romantic suspense under the name ELIZABETH MARCHAT. To prevent boredom from setting in, I keep my hands in several pots at the same time. Perhaps the characters in my head satisfy my needs to be and do all the things I don't have time for, or wouldn't dare to do. Or would I?

My recent release The Moon, The Madness, and The Magic is a sequel to first book in The Enchanted Mountain series The Lion, The Leopard, and The Wolf. They are now available at Bookstrand as ebooks, along with my other books, and at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in both ebook and print format.

http://bookstrand.com/eliza-march

http://bookstrand.com/elizabeth-marchat

http://elizamarch.blogspot.com/

http://elizamarch.com

http://elizabethmarchat.wordpress.com/

Sex, Erotic Romance and the Pregnant Woman

SEX, EROTIC ROMANCE AND THE PREGNANT WOMAN
I'm sensing a theme here.  I hadn't realized it, but in almost every book I've written the heroine is pregnant by the end of the book.  Why do I seem to have the need to let the seed of my heroes take root and grow? 
In this last book - HOT ON HER TRAIL - the 2nd in my HELL YEAH! series, my heroine is pregnant at the beginning of the book.  I'm progressing here. 
My hero Jacob is attracted to Jessie even before he finds out she is with child.  He walks in on her when she is in an unclothed state and is instantly in a state of lust-shock.  Afterwards, when he finds out she is pregnant - and perhaps the child is his - he is only even more entranced.
I've been pregnant.  And I know that women dread the idea of becoming unattractive or undesirable to their husbands at the time that they need support the most.  So, I did a little research.  I talked to as many men as I could, all ages - and I read articles and I did research on the internet - and I was surprised and gratified by what I found.  Most - not all - mind you, but a large majority of men find a pregnant woman to be extremely sexy. 
     Let's talk about why.  First - obvious things:  the breasts get bigger and more pronounced, the hips widen as they prepare for childbirth and even the vagina itself gets wetter and some say - softer - I didn't really understand that part.  The nipples get more sensitive and that is pleasing to both parties - more women can climax from nipple stimulation alone - or so says the study. 
     The increased attraction may be a biological reaction in men.  Men want to plant their seed.  Most men, even though its the right thing to do - detest having sex with a condom.  I will even admit that I don't like it either - there is nothing sexier that bare skin against bare skin.  I know - I know - diseases, AIDS, STD's - yada yada.  But, Lord help - when you can trust one another enough to go bare, it's absolute heaven. 
     Then, as far as biology goes, there is the alpha male syndrom.  Men get extra protective when a woman is pregnant.  Especially if it is their child.  One man told me that he wanted to just envelop his woman, hold her close and never let her go.  Alot of men are so turned on by their pregnant wives that sex takes on a whole new dimension.  Another man told me that he fantasized about his pregnant wife all day - it made work a bit difficult - he couldn't wait to get home and take her to bed.
     And there's that whole glow thing - that new life shining through.  The whole earth mother, fertility goddess thing is a turn on to many men.  Knowning that a woman is fertile and a receptive place for their seed can be an aphrodisiac.  When I wrote about Jessie and Jacob, I wrote his character from the standpoint that while the baby was important to him - she was the most important.  Both men and women expressed this concern - although, they loved and wanted their child - none of them wanted their place in the hearts of their spouses to be usurped by the baby.  Every man wants to continue to be the most important thing in his woman's life.  The same goes for women.  Undeniably, it is imperative that we feel loved and desired by our men.  We want to be THE essential element to our man's happiness and sexual well-being. 
     I love to read - and I read all the time.  I started counting the number of big-name romance books that featured babies and pregnant women.  The Desire line is rampant with it.  And I like to read them.  So, face it - pregnant women are sexy as hell!  So, if you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant - you don't have to fear that your sex life and sexiness has to be put on the back burner.  Many women are upfront with the fact that they crave sex while they are pregnant and the percentage is even higher for men when their significant other is with child..
     Yea, you may have to get a bit creative during the last few weeks.  Missionary position will probably go out the window, but from the back, especially while laying down - her on top - well, the posibilities are many.  So, in summary pregnancy can be very sexy and pregnant women are very desirable, indeed.
Here is an excerpt from Hot on Her Trail.       

But first here's the blurb.
Jacob McCoy wishes for a wife and a family.  Tis the Season for miracles when a young woman shows up on his doorstep: homeless, in danger and expecting a child - Jacob's child.
Their relationship is complicated by the fact that, A - they've never met before and B - she's a virgin.  Jessie is determined not to be a burden to the McCoy family.  As far as she's
concerned, she is just passing through.  Jacob has a different opinion - he wants
Jessie in his life, in his bed and in his heart.

“We’re not near through.”  Growling with consternation and lust, Jacob sealed her mouth shut with a full-blown devouring kiss.  At first she resisted, but he didn’t give up.  He coaxed and flirted – nipped and licked – putting all of his masculine know-how into play to prove to her that she was the most desirable woman in the world to him.  Gradually, she began to respond, letting her tongue and lips answer his erotic demands.  Just the thought of burying himself inside her had his cock roaring back to life, harder than it had been to start with.   
“Enough!” Jacob shouted.  “I can’t take anymore.” Rolling over, he pushed her backwards, until she was prone.  Jacob didn’t even wait until her head hit the pillow before he was all over her.  Voraciously, he kissed and sucked at her breasts.  At the same time, he massaged her vulva until he was satisfied that she was aroused enough to accept him.  “I want to kiss and lick you till you scream, baby.  But, that’s gonna have to wait.  I’ve got to have you now.  Okay, Jess?” He paused, waiting permission. 
In answer, Jessie opened her legs; making herself completely vulnerable to his demands.  She lifted her knees and spread her legs wide enough that he could see every inch of her pink pussy.  “I’ve never been with a man, Jacob.  The doctor who inseminated me with your sperm said that my hymen is still intact.” she whispered; hoping against hope that she wouldn’t do anything to turn him off. 
She had no idea what her little confessions did to him.  She probably meant them to downplay any expectations that he might have, instead they were inflaming him – inciting him.  He would be her first, and by God, if he had his way – he’d be her last.  “I’m going to stretch you just a little bit, sweetie.”  Slowly, he inserted his forefinger into her swollen vagina.  “God, you’re gonna squeeze me like a vise, baby.”  Despite being untried, her little canal grabbed onto his finger, pulling it deeper inside of her.  “That’s good, sugar.  Now, for two.”  Adding his middle finger, Jacob began an in and out rhythm.  Curling them upward, he massaged the spot that he knew would rock her world. 
“Oh, yes,” Jessie moaned.  Lifting her hips, she begged for more.  “I had no idea it would be so good,” she keened.  Reaching blindly upward, she petted his arm, his stomach, his thigh, anywhere that her hand could reach.  She was starving for the feel of his skin against hers. 
“Now, three.” Jacob was almost blind with lust.  He didn’t know how much longer he could hold out.  Adding his ring finger, he pressed higher; alternating between stimulating her G-spot and stretching her hymen.  
“I think I’m ready for you, don’t you?  Please?” Jessie whimpered.
“Baby, my dick is a hell of a lot bigger than these three fingers.  So you just lay there and let me play.  Soon, you’ll be ready for me.”  By God, it better be soon.  He was literally sweating with the longing to sink deep inside of her.  Watching her beautiful tits jiggle with each pump of her hips, Jacob decided that he was talented enough to try and handle two things at once.  Opening his mouth wide, he enveloped one plump, swollen nipple.  She groaned her bliss.  So, he sucked and licked – laving and nibbling until her peachy nipples were changed to dark, rosy coral.  All the time his hand was busy.  Over and over, in and out, around and around – Jacob finger-fucked her until her body tightened and jerked.  Jacob knew that she was quivering at the precipice.  Dying to show her how special she was, he added praise to his repertoire as he loved on her breasts.  “You are perfect, Jessie.  My little Venus.  So responsive.  I can’t believe that you saved yourself just for me.  You didn’t know that was what you were doing – but, it was.  You’re mine, baby.  All mine.”  His tender words teamed with the sensual assault, piled sensation upon sensation, until Jessie was straining upward; seeking everything that he could give. 
An explosion of sheer pleasure skyrocketed through her body.  “Jacob!” she screamed as the world around her splintered into a myriad of colors and shapes that redefined her reality. 
While her hips were bucking, seeking; Jacob got ready to enter paradise.  “Jessie, honey.  I’ve always worn a comdom, before.  Always   Since you’re already pregnant – can I come inside you bare?”  Holding out her arms, she welcomed him home.  Shaking with a greater need than he could have ever dreamed possible, Jacob guided his cock to the very entrance of her tender, pink core.  Lord, it was going to be one tight fit. 
“Hurry, Jacob.  I feel so empty.  I need you,” she begged.  As the first inch of his massive cock nudged into her hungry channel, Jessie arched her back and bared her throat; offering up all that she was to whatever he chose to do to her.  It was glorious!  This was what she had been made for!  “More, please.  More,” she panted. 
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, only too happy to oblige.  Taking great care, he pushed a little further, making room for himself inside her wet heat.  She began to lift her hips, silently beseeching him to fill the empty places in her heart as well as her body. 
Jacob pressed on in.  She was so little.  Lord he wanted to plunge in and make her his.  But there wasn’t enough of anything in the world to make him want to hurt her.  With barely contained restraint, Jacob pushed in, farther and farther, his thick cock opening her up.  When he encountered the small barrier that was left, he knew that it was time.  “Hold on, baby.  This will only hurt for a second, and then I promise that it’ll feel more wonderful than you’ve ever dreamed.” 
      “I trust you, Jacob.” She looked up at with the clearest, bluest eyes that looked deep into his soul.  She trusted him.  Shutting his eyes, he vowed that she would never regret the faith that she had in him.  Stretching out over her, he supported himself on strong arms and surged into her soft depths.  Ecstasy!  Buried to the hilt, Jacob stilled, reveling in the clench of her vagina around his turgid rod.  God Bless Texas!  This was amazing!  Being inside Jessie was the closest thing to perfection he had ever felt.       
“Kiss me, please.  Kiss me, Jacob.”  There was pain but, it was fleeting.  Left in its place was a renewed desperation to merge herself with this incredible man who was making her believe in miracles.  He moved within her, and the pleasure was indescribable.  It felt like ocean waves pounding on some faraway beach, rolling over one another as they crashed in a powerful crescendo.  Afraid that she was going to be completely swept away, Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips.  “I can’t believe how good this is!  I feel so full!!”
Her pussy began to flutter around him; spasms of delight that made him want to bellow his own pleasure.  He had to hold back, recite the governor’s of Texas in chronological order – anything to keep from coming too fast.  God, he was past excited, and he wanted her first time to be good.  Something she would remember.  Lord, he never wanted her to forget.  He wouldn’t let her forget.  The child in her womb may have always been his, but tonight he had made it his own.  Tonight, he would spill his seed inside of her, staking a claim, branding her as McCoy property.        
“Hold me, Jacob.  Hold me tight.”  Jacob shifted sitting back on his knees, hauling her up until she straddled his lap  That way, he could pull her tight against him and let her have a bit of control.  “Thank you.”
Always so polite.  He wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t devote that much brain power to any other function but pleasure.  “Move on me, sugar.  Rock your little butt, it’ll make your clit feel really good.”  She did as he directed and her moans of delight were music to his ears.  He cupped her butt and helped her move.  She held him tightly, kissing his neck as she bounced on his cock. 
“I love the way you feel inside of me,” she stammered as she began to jerk in his arms.  He felt the muscles of her vagina begin to contract, and she pressed into him, grinding her clitoris against his pubic bone.  “Oh, God!  Jacob!” she screamed as her orgasm hit her like a freight train.  This time, he didn’t try and hold back, but let the fisting of her vagina catapult him into ecstasy.  She came for a long time and he molded her body to his, kissing her face, her neck, her shoulder, bonding with her in the most elemental way possible.  It was fucking incredible!
At her slight movement, he let her pull back.  He wasn’t ready to let her go.  But she wasn’t leaving him.  Instead, she framed his face and let her eyes rove over his face.  Solemnly, she let her lips settle on his and she kissed him softly.  It was a tender kiss.  “Thank you, Jacob.  I’ll never forget this.”
“Neither will I, baby.”  Tightening his arms around her, he picked her up and carried her to his bathroom.  “Sit here, pumpkin.”  He set her on the vanity, next to a sink.  Jessie was fascinated with his bathroom.  It was like a spa.  Everything was made of stone and the shower had to be big enough for a basketball team.  There were benches and hand held sprayers.  Water even came from the ceiling.  When he saw her looking up at it, he chuckled.  “It’s called a rain shower.  Want to try it out?”
“Please.”  Jessie was surprised at herself.  She had just experienced a wonderful climax, yet watching Jacob walk naked around his bathroom made her arousal flare up like a bonfire.  She didn’t know they made men that looked like this.  He was well over six feet and his body was sculpted with hard muscles that she longed to trace with hands and tongue.  As he faced away from her, getting the temperature of the water to his liking, Jessie studied his broad back, tight butt and powerful legs.  “Are we going to shower together?”  She hoped so.
“You had better believe it.”  Reaching for her, he picked her up and the next thing she knew, she was standing under the gentle spray. 
“It does feel like rain!” she exclaimed with delight. 
“Do you like it, baby?”  He wanted to find everything that made her smile, then he wanted to do those things again and again.  She stood before him; so trusting, so happy and so sexy that she took his breath away.  Reaching for his bath gel, he squeezed a dollop into the palm of his hands.  Going to his knees he began to wash her.  Starting at her feet, he picked each one up, soaping and caressing.
Jessie was stunned.  No one had ever treated her with such tender care.  “Uh, Jacob.  You don’t have to do this.”  ‘Lord, please don’t let him stop,’ she prayed.
     “I want to,” Jacob spoke between kisses that he pressed to the top of her foot, the arch, her ankle.  “You’re my baby.”  With both hands, he massaged her calves, her knees and then began working his way upward. 
“Oh, my,” the anticipation of what he was about to do made her knees weak. 
Jacob realized that she was having a hard time standing.  “Take two steps back, Jess.  Sit on the bench and spread your legs for me.”  Following his directions on shaky legs, she sat on the softly molded stone bench.  “You’ve got the prettiest little pussy I’ve ever seen.”
Jessie was mesmerized.  This powerful man was on his knees at her feet.  With a hand on each of her thighs, he spread her legs far enough that he could fit between them. 
Gently, he washed every fold and every crevice.  With one of the hand held attachments, he rinsed, teasing her clit with the concentrated spray.  Gasping at the sensation, she pushed her hips forward, wanting more.  “Jacob, would you?”  She couldn’t believe that she was asking a man to eat her out.  But, she had read about it, and if that wasn’t what he had in mind, she thought she would cry.
Deciding to tease, Jacob asked her – all wide-eyed and innocent.  “Would I what, baby?  What do you want?”
Biting her lower lip, she tried to convey her desire with her eyes.  But, he wouldn’t have it. 
“Talk to me, sugar.  Tell me what you want.  I’ll give you anything in my power.”
This was lesson number one.  He could and would provide for her needs.  That was his job.
Good Grief!  He was going to make her say it.  “Please,” she looked at him in supplication.  “Would you kiss me – down there?”
Her expression made his day.  Laughing, he spread her legs even farther; wide enough for his wide shoulders to fit in between.  “You don’t have to ask me twice, doll.  Not when there’s nothing I’d rather do in the whole wide world.”  God, she was adorable!
“Lay your head back.  This is going to blow your mind.”  Letting his eyes rove over the banquet set before him, Jacob concentrated on his task.  “I love that the lips of your pussy are thicker.  It gives me something to chew on.”  Holding her open with his hands, he showed her what he meant.  Kissing a path from the crease of her thigh to the top of her mound, he rubbed his face from side to side, enjoying the spicy, sweet smell of her.  Then, she jumped when he began to nibble on the lips of her labia.  She felt her cream begin to flow.
“There you go,” he praised her response.  With long licks, he ran his tongue from bottom to top; lapping up her cream and teasing her clit.  Over and over again, he made that incredible journey. 
Jessie was fascinated and more turned on than she ever thought possible.  Involuntarily, her hips began to pump forward and when he took her clitoris in his mouth and began to suck, she almost lost consciousness. 
As he felt her excitement grow, Jacob palmed both breasts, pulling and tweaking at her nipples as she shuddered and shook against him.  He lingered, pressing kisses to every exposed inch of her vagina.  Then, he moved upward, laying his head against her abdomen, unable to forget that a child rested, safely, under her heart. 
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Buy link for book is  http://sablehunter.com/hoht.html
Thanks
Sable

HOT TO THE TOUCH

I love watching heroes and heroines blend together and enjoying the sparks that ensue as they make their way together. My debut title of my new novella imprint, SK MINIS, Hot to the Touch is a testimony of what happens when chance has its way. For more information on SK MINIs/Hot to the Touch, please visit my websites at: http://samaraking.com or http://www.skminis.com.


What's being said about Hot to the Touch?


Samara King is a gifted author, writer, and poet. I enjoy the fact, as a woman, especially a African-African woman, that she embraces her sensuality. Samara is able to give her characters life by making them more human, more real, by infusing them with real personalities and passion. She makes you get caught up in the story. "Hot to the Touch" is a HOT READ!

Mr. Phinesse Demps

Host of Love of Spoken Word & NeoSoul Show

Samara takes you on a sexual adventure that keeps you intrigued from the beginning and wanting to know more. The sex scenes are filled with so much desire and fire that you can feel the passion from eluding from the pages. Romance mixed with mystery is almost spellbinding. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a short story.

Mocha Kia | EditingCouture.com


Upon reading Samara King's book Hot to the Touch, I fell in love with the storyline as well as the characters. I couldn't stop reading it. From the begining to the end, it is non stop action packed thriller and drama all wrapped into one. I recommend anyone to read Samara King's books

Korrita Marron | The Midnight KoKo Show


Excerpt:


Last year....

“Dance with me.”


This wasn.t the first time Belinda Gilles
had heard those words. Normally, she would
shake her head no and keep on her path. She was
a businesswoman, first and foremost. She didn.t
have the time to fraternize with patrons of her
club and made it an unwritten rule for any of her
workers as well. Since planning the first annual
Grown and Sexy Masquerade Ball, she.d found
little time to herself. Her tiredness was a good
one filled with achievement.

“I.m sorry, no.” She had to concede that so
far the night was materializing into a record
climbing turn out. She felt the satisfaction of
months of hard work and preparation to ensure
the Masquerade was a great achievement
success. Her success. The poor girl she.d once
been would never surrender again to poverty.
She had the best. The five-bedroom mansion
she.d shared with Brandon was in one of the most
exclusive neighborhoods in Beverly Hills.


Yet, the empty bed she encountered every
night there kept reality fresh and pressed to her
soul. Money could never buy happiness, and
despite what others thought of her, she could
never forget that life-long lesson.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I.m sorry, but thank you for asking. I
need to get back downstairs.” She passed by the
tall man, not bothering to look up. It was New
Year.s Eve, every lonely soul was out for a good
time. She just couldn.t be on the finishing line of
a one night stand nor did she have the time. She
could feel his gaze on her, watching silently. It
made her body flush. Her senses went into
overdrive.

“You do know how to dance, don.t you?”

Belinda turned her head in the direction of
the man.s smooth voice as it pulled her out of the


deep introspection. There was a subtle note about
his tone that resonated with her. She couldn.t
place exactly what. The realization made her look
into his intense eyes. There was no harm in being
personable. It was part of her job as hostess. She
smiled.

“Who.s asking?” Intrigued, Belinda let her
eyes wander over him, more than liking those big
hands and the striking presence he presented in
the platinum eye mask and the matching designer
suit he wore.

He had to be six-feet with skin the color of
a burnished penny. Broad shoulders, lean
waistline, piercing hazel eyes and that smile.

Usually she didn.t give a damn what the
public thought; everything that she was today was
due to her diligence to overcome her past. Yet,
she felt the need to hear him speak again.


His eyes penetrated into hers, holding her
captive, a feat she.d let no man attempt since her
husband had died almost two years ago.

“Let.s just say a man who.s been watching
you all night.”

Normally she would say “no thanks” and
move on. But there was something so seductive
about him. The sound of his voice lured her
closer. Edgy and dark. She smiled. “I hope you
liked what you saw.”

“I did.”

Lord, she was flirting. She couldn.t
remember the last time she.d done that. The last
time she.d actually wanted to do that. And she
shouldn.t want to now. She was digressing
against the short break she.d intended to take in
the veranda before rejoining the masses
downstairs.


“C.mon – one dance.”

What was the harm? One dance. It’s not
like I’ll ever have to see him again.

“Ok, yes, I.d love to dance with you.”

“Good,” he responded, stepping closer.

The scent of his cologne made her think of
the smell of clean sheets and his eyes made her
think of all the ways they could mess up her bed.

Belinda cleared her throat. Where were
these thoughts coming from?

He pulled her against him, immediately felt
this attraction. A body heat that had nothing to do
with the late seventy degree weather seared
down to her toes. His hands welded her body
against his as they moved to the seductive beat of
jazz. On the private deck they were on, she knew
that he had to be a VIP member of Reign. She

didn't consider that this man could possibly be a
celebrity, or that he was just some man taken with
her because of her name. No, all she could think
of was how good he fit against her. She sighed.

“I like the way you move.”

Belinda grinned, feeling his words surely
as if he'd touched her intimately. “As do I. I can
tell you are a good dancer. How are you enjoying
the ball?”

He gazed down at her. “A lot better now
than I did before you arrived. Holding you feels
good.”

His voice washed over her like the feel of
warm heat. Her muscles became languid as if she
were getting the best massage ever. It’s just a
dance, Belle, nothing more. Still her mind liked
the sensual flow of the moment.

“Thank you.”


They moved in step with one another as if
the other knew the next move. The sexual rhythm
between them was explosive. Her awareness to
his scent, the way his callused hands held hers,
the hard wall of his pecs. She felt the rush
between her legs. This man, a stranger, was
closer than she.d allowed any man to her since
her husband died. Her hands bracketed around his
shoulders and his just at the edge of her lower
back, sending tingles down her spine.

The sweet scent of flowers and the night
air brought the earthy scent of life around her.
When was the last time she.d felt like this? She
couldn.t remember slowing down enough to feel.
Since Brandon died, she.d wanted nothing more
than to forget the loneliness she.d felt. Operating
the club had seen to that. She wasn.t surprised
that she was feeling overwhelmed by each
sensory detail about this man; however,


witnessing the same electrifying attraction
mirrored back in his eyes made her pulse race.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“You.re a beautiful woman. Why are you
up here alone? The party is downstairs. A man
would have to be crazy to leave you here by
yourself.”

She smiled, liking the fact that he didn.t
know who she was, that under her mask for this
moment she could be whoever she wanted. The
impulse to play into her thoughts thrilled her. She
could say whatever she wanted and it would be
their secret. Something within her edged closer
to the forbidden, liking the ability to hide, to
pretend. Just for this moment.


“I came alone. It.s New Year.s Eve and
there are tons of people downstairs. So I can.t
really be alone.”

He grinned. “That.s one way to look at it. I
just can.t believe someone like you would have
that problem.”

“Well believe it. Dating hasn.t been on the
top of my priority list.” She gazed up at him. She
liked the way his eyes shined in the moonlight. It
was as if he were peering into her very soul. “I
could say that the same for you. Why are you
here? Alone?”

“I guess we have something in common.”
He chuckled. “ I haven.t found someone to share
my time with. I.m a lot like you I suppose. I had
previously been detained with something that
took a lot of my time.”


Belinda nodded. Everything about this man
flowed with a smooth cadence that was reeling
her in. His touch on her back was soothing and
enticing. Her spine tingled. She smiled back. “It
would appear you are correct, especially this
evening.”

“Yes.” He continued to watch her. “Could I
be your date this evening?”

She should say no, thank him for the dance
and go back downstairs to see to her guests, but
her feet wouldn.t move. She was enjoying being
held, liking way too much the feel of his
fingertips splayed against her back and the slow
pattern he.d created as he pulled her closer
against him. The words uttered from her mouth
before she could rethink them: “I.d like that.”

They moved slowly side to side, both
watching the other with curiosity, sexual
awareness and a tension between them that


vibrated at a hundred miles per hour. She
couldn.t walk away if she wanted to. He
captivated her. She knew common sense told her
that he was a stranger, but she couldn.t help
feeling like there was something familiar about
him, something welcoming, and he was easy on
her eyes. She didn.t feel so empty anymore.

“Can I tell you something?”

“Yes?”

“I like holding you. There.s something
about you and I don.t know what it is. Like I
know you.”

“Maybe you should tell me your name.”

He grinned. “Maybe you should tell me
yours.”

Joining the Party with a Photographer’s Eye

My latest release, Joining the Party, is a ménage + with m/m. It also is interracial. 3 black men, one Latino man, and one white woman make up the love match. Some people have asked why this combo? Why interracial?

For writers it can be hard to explain when you just know something about your characters. Cassie dictated a lot of the dynamics. Being a photojournalist, she’s seen the worst happen to Louisiana from Katrina to the oil spill. She’s had enough of bad things. She comes home to Lucky Springs, Louisiana and wants to get her personal life going and maybe start an uplifting photography project of her own.

When she finds her neighbors are having sex parties, she’s aroused and caught up. But her photographer’s eye is also stimulated. The racial harmony that plays out in those sex parties inspires her. Race isn’t a source of conflict in this book. The diversity is a thing of beauty to her. She’d fall for her men regardless of what color they are, but they are who they are in part because of their cultural backgrounds. Cassie wouldn’t change a thing.

So finding out about these parties changes her love life in a big way. It also changes her career. She has found a wonderful photo project in the most unexpected place. It’s positive and powerful—just the message she wants to send with her work for a change.

Another question I’ve gotten is will the interracial theme continue throughout the series? The series is set in a small town called Lucky Springs. Louisiana has a rich and varied history being owned by the Spanish, the French, and eventually bought by America. The Port of New Orleans brought more people---the variety is endless. So I’d be pretty vanilla if I ignored all those beautiful options. In book two, the heroine will be biracial and find beauty in men on both sides. The trend will continue for most of the series. It all depends on the characters and how they match up. It's a thrill for me to see how it unfolds.

So here’s a taste of Lucky Springs hospitality!

Joining the Party

Lucky Springs Book 1

Ménage + with m/m, Interracial

Available now!

Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/283-201-119-469-4--joining-the-party-by-cheryl-dragon.html

Blurb:

In a small town, secrets are hard to keep. But when photojournalist, Cassie Hawks, comes home to Lucky Springs, no one says a word about what her neighbors have been up to while she’s been away. Noises next door draw her to peep on a sex party that enthralls her. The passion, the openness and the multicultural mix inspire and arouse her—the home owners most of all. The sexy Meriwether men tempt her into a private party, and she’s hooked. They willingly help her with her photography and keep her coming back for more. But can she stay put and get on board with their big sex parties?

Excerpt:

It was a cool evening, and Cassie threw open the windows of her small house. She’d only been back for two weeks, but Lucky Springs, Louisiana was home. While she enjoyed New Orleans for vacations, her work had taken her there far too many times in recent years.

First Katrina then the oil spill. Both brought photojournalists from all over. She needed a break from the outside world. Lucky Springs was small and filled with friends and family.

Her neighbors on one side were new. In her town, “new” meant in the last five years. Old Roscoe Meriwether had passed away, and his sons, Dominic, Hamilton and Montgomery had moved in. Some thought they would only settle the estate, but they’d opened a business and stayed. There was a fourth man, Alex, she knew from elementary school. Cassie had met all of those attractive men over the years, but one left an intense impression.

Mrs. Jenkins, the neighbor on her other side, informed Cassie that those Meriwether boys had kept Cassie’s yard spotless. Cassie owed them a thank you and a homemade pie. Tomorrow, she’d venture over and be neighborly. No doubt, she should’ve done it sooner.

Her elderly Cajun neighbor could be counted on to have all the gossip and updates including details about the three sexy black men she called “those Meriwether boys”. Cassie was curious, but in a small town she needed the update.

It’d been a long time since Cassie had enjoyed anything like a personal life. Traveling around made it hard to enjoy more than a fling here and there. She was determined to take a break and reconnect with friends and family. There were men here, most of whom she’d known all her life and most of whom didn’t go for career girls who traveled around the world. The small town had a big factory on one end and lots of farms on the other.

Looking out the window, she could see the lights from the Meriwether place in the dark night. They had a big lot while her home used to be a guesthouse on Mrs. Jenkins’ property. Mrs. Jenkins had kept most of the land, and Cassie had a cozy place with low upkeep.

The wind whispered along the houses, and odd moans traveled along from the Meriwether place. Moans and shouts. What were those men up to? Three were related, but Alex was involved with Monty. Hot but gay, that still left two sexy straight men around—all were good to look at.

Curiosity and lack of sex got the better of her. Cassie put on a robe and shoved her feet into old hiking boots by the door before she slipped out into the night. The walk was longer than she’d remembered, but the men had planted lovely additions to the backyard.

The big, screened-in porch was void of people, but a couple of windows were open, letting out the sounds of sex. Quietly, Cassie slipped into the screened area and crouched by an open window. Peering in, she quickly ducked down.

Blinking deliberately, she looked in again. There had to be twenty people, maybe more if the group extended to the front of the house. She’d seen a lot of things in her work. Blood, death, nudity and tears didn’t shock her when viewed through a camera lens. But up close and in her home town, right next door—this shocked her. It could only be called a sex party. An orgy on her own street?

She spotted Alex, the sexy Latino she’d gone to school with. He was tangled with his boyfriend. Monty sported dreads. Like all of them, he was muscled and hot. Cassie was happy for Alex. Mrs. Jenkins had told Cassie people talked about the interracial gay couple. Watching Alex suck his boyfriend’s dark black cock sent shivers through her. The cool night was suddenly humid.

When a girl joined the two men, Cassie held her breath. To her surprise, they welcomed the female addition. Without knowing the rules, Cassie had no idea what she’d see, but she couldn’t look away from the room full of sexual free spirits.

Glancing around for other familiar faces, she spotted a junior high friend, Kitty, who was riding her husband. Cassie knew Neil, the husband, too. They’d all gone to school together.

Maybe they just liked to watch and be watched? The same person, same sex life must get boring after being married so long. Cassie certainly felt the tingling all over while watching the group. This party could keep a marriage spicy. Then another friend from junior high, Violet Ann, joined the couple and sat on Neil’s face. Cassie covered her eyes.

She felt like a peeping Tom, but there was someone she needed to see. The other two brothers were extremely attractive, too. Ham was the rebel, dark skinned with lots of muscle and a firefighter. The lighter skinned brother was Dominic. He was the oldest, bald, tall, with a nice smile and a quiet sense of strength that drew Cassie in. Mrs. Jenkins might be in her seventies, but she had an eye for men of any age. To her credit, she tried to find a good man for Cassie every time she came back. Dominic was first on Mrs. Jenkins’s list.

Cassie’s pussy tightened as she took in his naked body. He was gorgeous!

“Dominic,” someone said from inside.

She slumped down but watched Dom walk over to his other brother. Ham was as muscled and impressive in the buff. Currently, Ham had a sexy white girl Cassie had hated in high school bent over the arm of the sofa, fucking her. Her ass glowed hot pink, but her smile was clear.

When Dom approached, the woman reached for his hard cock, so thick and long, Cassie envied her. Cassie’s insides contracted as she imagined herself in the middle of those brothers. Just then her photographer’s eye took over, and she was hypnotized by the bigger picture.

It wasn’t just the sex, the men were hot but the diversity and contrasts kept her eyes jumping and exploring on different levels. Most, but not all, of the groups were interracial in some way. She’d fit right in between Ham and Dom.

Cassie had to control her hormones. The view made her wet. Black women with white men and the reverse. Latinos, blacks, Cajuns, Creoles and whites—visually it was stunning. The tone-on-tone of skin, along with the passion, popped and sizzled.

Part of her wished she’d brought her camera, but she couldn’t photograph this. She was trespassing and snooping, not an invited guest. The moans of sexual release wafted out to her, and Cassie didn’t know if she wanted to join in, document it or run.

“We should close those back windows and turn on the air,” Alex said.

Footsteps approached.

Cassie darted around the corner and found another exit to the screened porch. Silently, she ran home, hoping no one there noticed her. They had far more erotic business at hand. All the cars out front told her the party was big. No one had looked at all nervous so she couldn’t imagine it was their first time.

Once inside her own home, Cassie locked the doors and closed the windows. She turned on the air then looked outside as if they’d followed her. If Mrs. Jenkins knew anything like that was going on, she hadn’t said a word to Cassie.

Tossing her robe on the couch, she marched into her bedroom in the oversized T-shirt she called a nightgown. Laptop in hand, she hopped on the bed and opened a file always on her desktop. The “ideas” folder housed all her random photo project ideas over the years. Coming home meant she might get a few of them done. She added one more. Multicultural passion in small town Louisiana.

Closing her laptop, she flopped back against her pillows—sexually frustrated. When she shut her eyes, the image replayed with Dominic in center stage. She almost reached for her vibrator but gave up on the idea. What she needed wasn’t batter powered. Not even close.

Cassie was tired of living her life from behind a camera. Work was one thing, but she needed a real life with sex and connections. Maybe if she stayed in one place long enough, the right man would find her?

Maybe they’d invite her to the party? A chill of fear ran through her that they would. Or was it that they wouldn’t?

Her eyes snapped open. Cassie had never done anything like that. She’d have no clue how to act or what to say. She couldn’t do that. It was practically public.

How could she go there tomorrow and be a friendly neighbor just thanking them for looking after her yard when she’d seen them all naked and in an orgy? She’d blush or stare or say the absolute wrong thing. Pictures could be selected, cropped and enhanced. Stories could be edited, but real life just happened, and Cassie wasn’t good on the spot.

Slipping under the flat sheet, she snuggled up with a pillow and hoped she’d feel less ridiculous in her dreams. Somehow, she needed to get a sex life, or she’d be the neighborhood snoop. Being on the outside looking in for her job was one thing, but this was her home. She needed to belong in Lucky Springs, and yet, she’d been left off the invite list.

Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/283-201-119-469-4--joining-the-party-by-cheryl-dragon.html

Hopefully you’ll stop by Lucky Springs! Book 2, Birthday Party Surprise, comes out in April!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day!
Cheryl