A.C. Arthur's Blog, page 8
December 4, 2019
Revisiting the Old, Starting the New
Dear Reader,
It has been a long time since I’ve been at the law firm of Benton and King. OFFICE POLICY was my second published novel and it was first released in 2004. Such a long time ago and yet these characters have stayed with me up until now. I am so pleased to be able to share Cienna and Keith’s story with my new readers and for all of you who’ve read this book before, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane!
In preparing this book to be re-released I made changes throughout and added a little more to a few scenes, however, the central love story, plot and ending remain the same.
With this chance to come back to the law firm where Cienna and Keith began I’ve also revisited Reka and Khalil in CORPORATE SEDUCTION. Yes, the whole gang’s coming back! And y’all know I wouldn’t bring back the old without giving you something new, LAWS OF ATTRACTION is the new story being added to what I’m now calling the After Hours Trilogy.
When I received the rights back to my first six books published, I was excited for the opportunity to share these stories with new readers who may not have known they existed. I could have just started re-releasing from the first book, but I decided to go with OFFICE POLICY because the message that was so prevalent in this book 15 years ago, is an even bigger problem today. Sexual harassment in all its forms is an issue, not just in law firms, but in all of corporate America, Hollywood, the media, the music industry, private business, it’s everywhere and while the #MeToo movement has now shined a new light on the problem, I felt these older stories were even more relevant today.
So, I implore you to enjoy the love stories depicted in these three books, but please take a minute to also absorb the message about the different forms of harassment that are continuing to happen every day, across all industries.
Happy Reading,
ac
It has been a long time since I’ve been at the law firm of Benton and King. OFFICE POLICY was my second published novel and it was first released in 2004. Such a long time ago and yet these characters have stayed with me up until now. I am so pleased to be able to share Cienna and Keith’s story with my new readers and for all of you who’ve read this book before, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane!
In preparing this book to be re-released I made changes throughout and added a little more to a few scenes, however, the central love story, plot and ending remain the same.
With this chance to come back to the law firm where Cienna and Keith began I’ve also revisited Reka and Khalil in CORPORATE SEDUCTION. Yes, the whole gang’s coming back! And y’all know I wouldn’t bring back the old without giving you something new, LAWS OF ATTRACTION is the new story being added to what I’m now calling the After Hours Trilogy.
When I received the rights back to my first six books published, I was excited for the opportunity to share these stories with new readers who may not have known they existed. I could have just started re-releasing from the first book, but I decided to go with OFFICE POLICY because the message that was so prevalent in this book 15 years ago, is an even bigger problem today. Sexual harassment in all its forms is an issue, not just in law firms, but in all of corporate America, Hollywood, the media, the music industry, private business, it’s everywhere and while the #MeToo movement has now shined a new light on the problem, I felt these older stories were even more relevant today.
So, I implore you to enjoy the love stories depicted in these three books, but please take a minute to also absorb the message about the different forms of harassment that are continuing to happen every day, across all industries.
Happy Reading,
ac
October 7, 2019
The Beginning of a New World
BEHIND THE SCENES - The Legion
The basic inspiration for my new paranormal romance series, The Legion, was the movie, The Black Panther. I’m a huge fan of the Marvel Universe, not the comic books, but the movies. So of course, I was in theaters opening weekend for the release of The Black Panther. Because I’d never read the comic books, I really had no idea what to expect from this movie. All I knew was—Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o. Three strong black lead characters were bursting out of this expansive superhero world with beauty, grace and an explosion of black power and elegance. When I left the theater, I knew I’d eventually write a story that captured just a little bit of the magic that movie had exposed.
Fast forward to writing some other books, watching more movies and life in general and more ideas began to stick in my mind. Pictures I’d seen on Pinterest, concepts I thought I might like to touch on, colors, people who had great voices. Really, it was like a hodgepodge of stuff came to me at different times until I figured I just needed to get some things down on paper.
I’d already had a skeleton of a synopsis written from a couple years ago. It was a story about dragons, but back then I’d just started writing about jaguar shapeshifters, so I didn’t want to start wandering around with too many species. I revisited the old synopsis and found it still spoke to me as a story that I wanted to tell, but not in the same way. I wanted to create a world that was not only steeped in fantasy and mythical lure, but also in cultural history and depth. So, the dragon met the African demigoddess.
Awaken the Dragon
The basic inspiration for my new paranormal romance series, The Legion, was the movie, The Black Panther. I’m a huge fan of the Marvel Universe, not the comic books, but the movies. So of course, I was in theaters opening weekend for the release of The Black Panther. Because I’d never read the comic books, I really had no idea what to expect from this movie. All I knew was—Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o. Three strong black lead characters were bursting out of this expansive superhero world with beauty, grace and an explosion of black power and elegance. When I left the theater, I knew I’d eventually write a story that captured just a little bit of the magic that movie had exposed.
Fast forward to writing some other books, watching more movies and life in general and more ideas began to stick in my mind. Pictures I’d seen on Pinterest, concepts I thought I might like to touch on, colors, people who had great voices. Really, it was like a hodgepodge of stuff came to me at different times until I figured I just needed to get some things down on paper.
I’d already had a skeleton of a synopsis written from a couple years ago. It was a story about dragons, but back then I’d just started writing about jaguar shapeshifters, so I didn’t want to start wandering around with too many species. I revisited the old synopsis and found it still spoke to me as a story that I wanted to tell, but not in the same way. I wanted to create a world that was not only steeped in fantasy and mythical lure, but also in cultural history and depth. So, the dragon met the African demigoddess.
Awaken the Dragon
June 16, 2019
A Cougar's Kiss
The Shadow Shifters are back and this time they're not pulling any punches!
Shya Delgado has been sheltered from the world above and left with a residual ailment for which there is no cure. She has spent her life reading and dreaming of what could be and when the sexy renegade cougar shifter is sentenced to guarding a comatose Faction Leader, she begins to dream even more, only these dreams are in real time and what Keller makes her feel is so much more than Shya could have ever imagined.
Keller Cross had a plan for revenge that was sidetracked by the Shifter Assembly Leader. Now, Keller’s stuck babysitting when an alluringly curious jaguar shifter, determined to break free of the shell that was forcibly put around her, dares him to take a chance on desire.
But this unlikely shifter duo will never find happiness as long as the Faction Leader is on his deathbed with the secret to who betrayed the Shadow Shifters locked in his mind. In the midst of their tumultuous passion, Shya and Keller will take the shifters into the next and most deadly stage of their rebellion.
Coming June 28, 2019 in ebook an paperback!A Cougar's Kiss
Shya Delgado has been sheltered from the world above and left with a residual ailment for which there is no cure. She has spent her life reading and dreaming of what could be and when the sexy renegade cougar shifter is sentenced to guarding a comatose Faction Leader, she begins to dream even more, only these dreams are in real time and what Keller makes her feel is so much more than Shya could have ever imagined.
Keller Cross had a plan for revenge that was sidetracked by the Shifter Assembly Leader. Now, Keller’s stuck babysitting when an alluringly curious jaguar shifter, determined to break free of the shell that was forcibly put around her, dares him to take a chance on desire.
But this unlikely shifter duo will never find happiness as long as the Faction Leader is on his deathbed with the secret to who betrayed the Shadow Shifters locked in his mind. In the midst of their tumultuous passion, Shya and Keller will take the shifters into the next and most deadly stage of their rebellion.
Coming June 28, 2019 in ebook an paperback!A Cougar's Kiss
August 2, 2017
They're Back!
A Lion's Heart: A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance
RELEASE DATE: September 29, 2017
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
Shadow Shifter Assembly Leader Roman Reynolds and his mate Kalina, have had a vicious fight on their hands for the last twenty years. The war between the humans and the shifters has grown lethal and to make matters worse, their now grown daughter, Nisa is on the battlefield.
The Rebel
Nisa Reynolds is a soldier. Despite her love and respect for her parents’ position in this fight, Nisa is determined to do things her way. If only she can convince the devilishly sexy white lion shifter traveling with her that her plan is the best option for the shifters survival…if only she were strong enough to fight the passion brewing between them.
The Lion
Decan Canter’s tribe had long since learned to co-exist with the other feline shifter tribes as they all lived in Oasis and believed in saving their race by any means necessary. Having a direct order come to him from the Assembly Leader to escort his daughter across the country, wasn’t something he’d expected, yet he respected the order and had tried his best to obey. But Nisa Reynolds was unlike any other shifter Decan had ever met, and even if it meant dying at the hands of the reputed Roman Reynolds, he had to taste her…only, having her once, was never going to be enough.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the 7th book in the Shadow Shifters series. This book is a standalone novel that takes place 20 years after the last story. However, if you would like to read the previous books in this series, they are as follows:
Temptation Rising
Seduction's Shift
Passion's Prey
Shifter's Claim
Hunger's Mate
Primal Heat
There is also a Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts trilogy which features young adult shapeshifters. These books should be read after Passion's Prey and before Shifter's Claim, if you would like to read in order.
Mine To Claim
Part Of Me
Hunger For You
RELEASE DATE: September 29, 2017
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
Shadow Shifter Assembly Leader Roman Reynolds and his mate Kalina, have had a vicious fight on their hands for the last twenty years. The war between the humans and the shifters has grown lethal and to make matters worse, their now grown daughter, Nisa is on the battlefield.
The Rebel
Nisa Reynolds is a soldier. Despite her love and respect for her parents’ position in this fight, Nisa is determined to do things her way. If only she can convince the devilishly sexy white lion shifter traveling with her that her plan is the best option for the shifters survival…if only she were strong enough to fight the passion brewing between them.
The Lion
Decan Canter’s tribe had long since learned to co-exist with the other feline shifter tribes as they all lived in Oasis and believed in saving their race by any means necessary. Having a direct order come to him from the Assembly Leader to escort his daughter across the country, wasn’t something he’d expected, yet he respected the order and had tried his best to obey. But Nisa Reynolds was unlike any other shifter Decan had ever met, and even if it meant dying at the hands of the reputed Roman Reynolds, he had to taste her…only, having her once, was never going to be enough.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the 7th book in the Shadow Shifters series. This book is a standalone novel that takes place 20 years after the last story. However, if you would like to read the previous books in this series, they are as follows:
Temptation Rising
Seduction's Shift
Passion's Prey
Shifter's Claim
Hunger's Mate
Primal Heat
There is also a Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts trilogy which features young adult shapeshifters. These books should be read after Passion's Prey and before Shifter's Claim, if you would like to read in order.
Mine To Claim
Part Of Me
Hunger For You
May 18, 2017
Kimani Romance Discontinued
On Monday, May 15, 2017, I received a letter from Harlequin stating that the Kimani Romance line would be discontinued as of December 2018. I have been blessed to write for Kimani for more than ten years and will forever be grateful to the editors and staff at Harlequin for that experience. While it is bittersweet that one of the last remaining lines dedicated to African American romance novels will be gone, I have always been of the belief that "one monkey don't stop the show".
With that said, here is an update on the continuation of my series that were started at Kimani.
The Donovans Series was started at Kimani in 2006. I eventually moved this series to my publishing company, Artistry Publishing, where it ended earlier this year. Books 1-5 and 7-8 are no longer available in print via Kimani, but will still be available in ebook format. The Donovan Friends books: GUARDING HIS BODY, SUMMER HEAT and WINTER KISSES, are no longer available in print via Kimani, but will still be available in ebook format. The spin-off series, Donovan Dynasty, will be published by Artistry.
The Mystyx Series (young adult books) w/a Artist Arthur, were published from Kimani TRU and will remain available in ebook format.
The Braddox Continuity was started at Kimani in 2008. My book in this series was SECOND CHANCE, BABY. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Draysons Continuity was started at Kimani in 2013. My book in this series was DECADENT DREAMS. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Wintersage Weddings Continuity was started at Kimani in 2014. My book in this series was EVE OF PASSION. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Taylors of Temptation Series was started at Kimani in Dec. 2016. This series features sextuplets who were taken away from their hometown of Temptation, VA when they were young and as adults are now returning to that town to carry out the last wishes of their parents. The first book in this series is ONE MISTLETOE WISH and is still available from Kimani in mass market paperback and ebook.
In April 2018, book#2, ONE UNFORGETTABLE KISS, will release and in August 2018, book#3, UNTITLED, will be released. These books will be available from Kimani in mass market paperback and ebook formats.
The remaining books in the series: #4 ONE PERFECT NIGHT, #5 ONE LAST KISS and #6 ONE SPECIAL MOMENT will release in paperback and ebook formats from Artistry Publishing sometime in 2019.
The Royal Weddings Trilogy was started at Kimani in May 2017. This trilogy will end in July 2017 and all three books will remain available in mass market paperback and ebook formats through Kimani.
As always, I thank you all so very much for your support over the years. I couldn't have done any of this without you. So, no worries, the best is yet to come!
ac
With that said, here is an update on the continuation of my series that were started at Kimani.
The Donovans Series was started at Kimani in 2006. I eventually moved this series to my publishing company, Artistry Publishing, where it ended earlier this year. Books 1-5 and 7-8 are no longer available in print via Kimani, but will still be available in ebook format. The Donovan Friends books: GUARDING HIS BODY, SUMMER HEAT and WINTER KISSES, are no longer available in print via Kimani, but will still be available in ebook format. The spin-off series, Donovan Dynasty, will be published by Artistry.
The Mystyx Series (young adult books) w/a Artist Arthur, were published from Kimani TRU and will remain available in ebook format.
The Braddox Continuity was started at Kimani in 2008. My book in this series was SECOND CHANCE, BABY. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Draysons Continuity was started at Kimani in 2013. My book in this series was DECADENT DREAMS. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Wintersage Weddings Continuity was started at Kimani in 2014. My book in this series was EVE OF PASSION. It is no longer available in print, but will remain available in ebook format from Kimani.
The Taylors of Temptation Series was started at Kimani in Dec. 2016. This series features sextuplets who were taken away from their hometown of Temptation, VA when they were young and as adults are now returning to that town to carry out the last wishes of their parents. The first book in this series is ONE MISTLETOE WISH and is still available from Kimani in mass market paperback and ebook.
In April 2018, book#2, ONE UNFORGETTABLE KISS, will release and in August 2018, book#3, UNTITLED, will be released. These books will be available from Kimani in mass market paperback and ebook formats.
The remaining books in the series: #4 ONE PERFECT NIGHT, #5 ONE LAST KISS and #6 ONE SPECIAL MOMENT will release in paperback and ebook formats from Artistry Publishing sometime in 2019.
The Royal Weddings Trilogy was started at Kimani in May 2017. This trilogy will end in July 2017 and all three books will remain available in mass market paperback and ebook formats through Kimani.
As always, I thank you all so very much for your support over the years. I couldn't have done any of this without you. So, no worries, the best is yet to come!
ac
May 12, 2017
Prince Ever After Excerpt
His fingers splayed at her lower back as he gathered her closer. Their bodies were touching, wet shirt against wet shirt, so close they were now heartbeat to heartbeat. Her arms were still in the air from her dancing, and she brought them down slowly, letting her hands rest on the soaked material of his suit jacket. She heard thunder.
No, that was the incessant beat of her heart as she realized with a start that he was leaning in closer. His head was moving down, toward hers. She tilted hers back a little, not sure what to expect but wanting to be ready. Yes, she definitely wanted to be ready.
“You should do this more often,” he whispered, his breath warm against her rain-chilled nose.
“Do what?” she asked, more than a little confused at the moment. Was she supposed to be following her mind or her body?
Her mind said she was chilly and getting soaked, now that she’d stopped dancing. Her body, on the other hand said, he was keeping her warm.
“This,” he said in the barest whisper, just before his lips touched hers.
She didn’t say a word. Instead, Val pressed into him, tilting her head to the side to slant her lips over his. Warmth continued to spread throughout her body, even before he parted his lips just enough so that his tongue could slip out. Her lips had been wet from the rain but now they were moist from the touch of his tongue. Her lips parted, exactly what her body—and now, her mind—wanted them to do.
His hands moved farther up her back, holding her tightly as his tongue plunged deeper, exploring in a steady and persistent fashion. Val did some studying of her own. The feel of his arms around her was pleasurable. The scent of his cologne as she inhaled was dreamy. The touch of his tongue was damn—the only word she could come up with at the moment to describe what she felt.
At that moment a big splash of water hit her and Val instinctively pulled back from him. He was frowning and they both looked over to see that a car had just whizzed past them. It had obviously driven through a puddle and spattered the two people who were—no doubt, strangely—standing on the side of the road.
“Guess we should get going,” Roland said.
“Yeah, I guess we should,” Val replied quickly.
Prince Ever After
No, that was the incessant beat of her heart as she realized with a start that he was leaning in closer. His head was moving down, toward hers. She tilted hers back a little, not sure what to expect but wanting to be ready. Yes, she definitely wanted to be ready.
“You should do this more often,” he whispered, his breath warm against her rain-chilled nose.
“Do what?” she asked, more than a little confused at the moment. Was she supposed to be following her mind or her body?
Her mind said she was chilly and getting soaked, now that she’d stopped dancing. Her body, on the other hand said, he was keeping her warm.
“This,” he said in the barest whisper, just before his lips touched hers.
She didn’t say a word. Instead, Val pressed into him, tilting her head to the side to slant her lips over his. Warmth continued to spread throughout her body, even before he parted his lips just enough so that his tongue could slip out. Her lips had been wet from the rain but now they were moist from the touch of his tongue. Her lips parted, exactly what her body—and now, her mind—wanted them to do.
His hands moved farther up her back, holding her tightly as his tongue plunged deeper, exploring in a steady and persistent fashion. Val did some studying of her own. The feel of his arms around her was pleasurable. The scent of his cologne as she inhaled was dreamy. The touch of his tongue was damn—the only word she could come up with at the moment to describe what she felt.
At that moment a big splash of water hit her and Val instinctively pulled back from him. He was frowning and they both looked over to see that a car had just whizzed past them. It had obviously driven through a puddle and spattered the two people who were—no doubt, strangely—standing on the side of the road.
“Guess we should get going,” Roland said.
“Yeah, I guess we should,” Val replied quickly.
Prince Ever After
Excerpt from Loving The Princess
His lips were hot. His tongue licking against hers like flames raging and spurting with energy. Samantha DeSaunters moved her head slightly and he went deeper, his strong hands covering the skin left bare by the low cut of her dress. She felt like she was falling. No, he was tilting her back, leaning into the kiss with as much fervor and…dare she say, desire, as she had felt bubbling up from the pit of her belly.
The world around her ceased to exist as he nibbled on her bottom lip, just long enough for her to catch a breath before he delved deep once more. Her lipstick was done. Her hair, the careful topple of curls that had taken her maid Lucie an hour to arrange, was going to be a complete disaster. And she was certain—as was part of her ingenious plan—that everyone was staring at them.
Well, she hadn’t actually wanted everyone to see. Just Morty Javis and his persistent and unwelcomed advances.
She still wasn’t one hundred percent certain that doing what she had done was the best idea. Especially considering all eyes in Grand Serenity and a few of the neighboring islands were on her and the entire DeSaunters family right now. That’s what happened when there were several attempts on the lives of the royal family, one of which was an explosion at the palace six weeks ago. The act of terror had injured sixteen people who had been innocently attending the annual Ambassador’s Ball.
He was taking a step back now, his lips still on hers as he brought them both to an upright position. He pulled away slowly. So slowly Sam felt like she might have actually been following him to keep the contact going. When she opened her eyes, she found him already staring at her.
Dark brown eyes, bushy brows and slightly parted lips of medium thickness really had her thinking about going in for a second kiss. She didn’t. It was time to get her thoughts in line, if not her traitorous body, which wanted to stay right there in this man’s arms enjoying more of his kisses and possibly whatever else he had to offer, would end up embarrassing them both.
Instead she flattened her palms against the lapels of his suit jacket and prepared to step away. He held her firmly, halting her exit plan.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice low, a tentative smile in place.
He didn’t even blink but instead asked, “Is that what you normally say after kissing a complete stranger?”
Loving the Princess
The world around her ceased to exist as he nibbled on her bottom lip, just long enough for her to catch a breath before he delved deep once more. Her lipstick was done. Her hair, the careful topple of curls that had taken her maid Lucie an hour to arrange, was going to be a complete disaster. And she was certain—as was part of her ingenious plan—that everyone was staring at them.
Well, she hadn’t actually wanted everyone to see. Just Morty Javis and his persistent and unwelcomed advances.
She still wasn’t one hundred percent certain that doing what she had done was the best idea. Especially considering all eyes in Grand Serenity and a few of the neighboring islands were on her and the entire DeSaunters family right now. That’s what happened when there were several attempts on the lives of the royal family, one of which was an explosion at the palace six weeks ago. The act of terror had injured sixteen people who had been innocently attending the annual Ambassador’s Ball.
He was taking a step back now, his lips still on hers as he brought them both to an upright position. He pulled away slowly. So slowly Sam felt like she might have actually been following him to keep the contact going. When she opened her eyes, she found him already staring at her.
Dark brown eyes, bushy brows and slightly parted lips of medium thickness really had her thinking about going in for a second kiss. She didn’t. It was time to get her thoughts in line, if not her traitorous body, which wanted to stay right there in this man’s arms enjoying more of his kisses and possibly whatever else he had to offer, would end up embarrassing them both.
Instead she flattened her palms against the lapels of his suit jacket and prepared to step away. He held her firmly, halting her exit plan.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice low, a tentative smile in place.
He didn’t even blink but instead asked, “Is that what you normally say after kissing a complete stranger?”
Loving the Princess
April 10, 2017
To Marry A Prince Excerpt
He always stood behind this one because it offered the best view of the entire length of the pool. Her bathing suit tonight was gray with pineapples all over it. That shouldn’t have turned him on, but right at this moment Kris wanted nothing more than to taste a fresh, sweet pineapple dripping juice on his tongue and slipping softly into his mouth.
“Why don’t you come on in and join me this time?”
The sound of her voice, moreso than the actual question, effectively halted Kris’s salacious thoughts.
When a wet hand touched his, he realized she’d gotten out of that pool and walked right up to him without him even knowing. So much for being an astute leader. If she were an enemy she would have had the knife safely embedded in his gut by now. His teeth clenched with the displeasing thought.
“Come on. It’s late so I’m sure you’re finished with work for the day. A swim is nice and relaxing. That’s why I try to squeeze this in at least once a day,” she was saying as she’d already started walking.
Kris followed her because he hadn’t had a minute to think of what else to do. She was in front of him, seemingly pulling him along, and he was…he was following. But Kris never followed anyone. He was a leader, had been since birth, that was a fact.
“Since I’ve been here on the island I’ve managed two sessions in this fabulous pool per day. And let me tell you it’s been heaven. The pool in my building back in L.A. is nice, but this scenery combined with the lingering scent of the ocean is total bliss,” she continued and stepped up to walk them past the chaise lounges.
There were doors along this wall that led to changing rooms and extra swim suits for guests.
“Now, I haven’t had a chance to get down to the beach, but judging from that view in my room, that water is going to be heavenly. Maybe when Malayka goes away this weekend I’ll have to trot myself on down there to try it out.”
She stopped then, right in front of one of the doors and looked up to him. Her hair was pulled up in a messy and wet bun with straggling pieces dripping down onto her shoulders. Her face, free of all make-up was perfectly round. Long eyelashes and pretty brown eyes, pert lips, high cheekbones, were all like nothing he’d ever imagined. Yet, every night this was the face he saw before he fell asleep and each morning it was the one he wanted to see as soon as he awoke.
That thought was startling because up until this point, Kris hadn’t dared consider it a fact.
“I’m sure you have swim trunks in your room, but it’s closer to just go in there and grab some that’ll fit so we can dive in,” she said to him. “I’ll wait right here.”
He continued to stare at her, watching as her lips moved and her eyes smiled back at him. She was genuine, at this very moment she wanted him to take a swim with her and Kris, well, he wanted something…different.
Reaching around her he opened the door to the room. Then, he wrapped an arm around her waist and began walking forward, forcing her to move backward.
“Wait…what?” she was saying as he maneuvered her into the room and closed the door behind them.
The lock sounded loudly as he clicked it into place and the smile in her eyes disappeared. It was replaced by something that had Kris growing warmer, instantly.
“You wanted me to take off my clothes. Isn’t that correct
To Marry a Prince
“Why don’t you come on in and join me this time?”
The sound of her voice, moreso than the actual question, effectively halted Kris’s salacious thoughts.
When a wet hand touched his, he realized she’d gotten out of that pool and walked right up to him without him even knowing. So much for being an astute leader. If she were an enemy she would have had the knife safely embedded in his gut by now. His teeth clenched with the displeasing thought.
“Come on. It’s late so I’m sure you’re finished with work for the day. A swim is nice and relaxing. That’s why I try to squeeze this in at least once a day,” she was saying as she’d already started walking.
Kris followed her because he hadn’t had a minute to think of what else to do. She was in front of him, seemingly pulling him along, and he was…he was following. But Kris never followed anyone. He was a leader, had been since birth, that was a fact.
“Since I’ve been here on the island I’ve managed two sessions in this fabulous pool per day. And let me tell you it’s been heaven. The pool in my building back in L.A. is nice, but this scenery combined with the lingering scent of the ocean is total bliss,” she continued and stepped up to walk them past the chaise lounges.
There were doors along this wall that led to changing rooms and extra swim suits for guests.
“Now, I haven’t had a chance to get down to the beach, but judging from that view in my room, that water is going to be heavenly. Maybe when Malayka goes away this weekend I’ll have to trot myself on down there to try it out.”
She stopped then, right in front of one of the doors and looked up to him. Her hair was pulled up in a messy and wet bun with straggling pieces dripping down onto her shoulders. Her face, free of all make-up was perfectly round. Long eyelashes and pretty brown eyes, pert lips, high cheekbones, were all like nothing he’d ever imagined. Yet, every night this was the face he saw before he fell asleep and each morning it was the one he wanted to see as soon as he awoke.
That thought was startling because up until this point, Kris hadn’t dared consider it a fact.
“I’m sure you have swim trunks in your room, but it’s closer to just go in there and grab some that’ll fit so we can dive in,” she said to him. “I’ll wait right here.”
He continued to stare at her, watching as her lips moved and her eyes smiled back at him. She was genuine, at this very moment she wanted him to take a swim with her and Kris, well, he wanted something…different.
Reaching around her he opened the door to the room. Then, he wrapped an arm around her waist and began walking forward, forcing her to move backward.
“Wait…what?” she was saying as he maneuvered her into the room and closed the door behind them.
The lock sounded loudly as he clicked it into place and the smile in her eyes disappeared. It was replaced by something that had Kris growing warmer, instantly.
“You wanted me to take off my clothes. Isn’t that correct
To Marry a Prince
March 2, 2017
Falling For A Donovan v. Beauty & The Beast
One of my favorite Disney movies is Beauty and the Beast. When I began writing FALLING FOR A DONOVAN, I thought of Bailey and Devlin as this fairy tale couple. There was so much misunderstanding about The Beast, so much pain and distrust in his past. And then there was The Beauty, again someone that people who knew her tended to misunderstand. Of course, Devlin is a sexy ex SEAL and Bailey is a gorgeous private investigator, so that added an entirely different dynamic to their relationship. Still, there were times throughout the story when I felt like they were Belle and The Beast, struggling with the outside world and the romantic world they’d created for themselves.
On March 17th Disney will be releasing a live version of Beauty and the Beast. So, on March 17th I will be giving away The Beast stuffed animal that Devlin gave to Bailey in FALLING FOR A DONOVAN and a $20 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is share, post, re-tweet this contest announcement as frequently as possible from now until March 16, 2017. Be sure to TAG ME (@ACArthur & @acarthurbooks) in all tweets, FB & IG posts. I will announce the winner on March 17th!
Visit me on Facebook (@ACArthur), Twitter (@ACArthur) or IG (@acarthurbooks)
, to copy the contest announcement graphic.
On March 17th Disney will be releasing a live version of Beauty and the Beast. So, on March 17th I will be giving away The Beast stuffed animal that Devlin gave to Bailey in FALLING FOR A DONOVAN and a $20 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is share, post, re-tweet this contest announcement as frequently as possible from now until March 16, 2017. Be sure to TAG ME (@ACArthur & @acarthurbooks) in all tweets, FB & IG posts. I will announce the winner on March 17th!
Visit me on Facebook (@ACArthur), Twitter (@ACArthur) or IG (@acarthurbooks)
, to copy the contest announcement graphic.
December 5, 2016
Excerpt from One Mistletoe Wish
“What if I said I want you?” he asked, his breath fanning warmly over her face.
“For…for Christmas?” she asked and felt like a colossal idiot.
He didn’t smile, but shook his head, his hands slipping under her coat to rub along her back. “No. Right now. I want you, Morgan.”
He moved again and Morgan saw his arm lifting. He was going to touch her. No, wait, he was already touching her. She should move. She should put lots of distance between them to keep whatever was about to happen from happening. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. His fingers grazed her jaw, came over her chin, then up to tap her bottom lip.
“You can’t want me,” she said, her body beginning to tremble even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
“I can and I do,” he told her, his other hand falling softly to her hip. “I want to take you right here against this wall. What does wishing on mistletoe tell you about that?”
She wanted to moan, but that wasn’t an answer. Dammit, she couldn’t think of any words and she certainly wasn’t thinking about mistletoe at a time like this. Morgan tried to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly—a known relaxation technique that usually worked—but not this time. His scent permeated every pore of her body and she actually felt dizzy with arousal.
“Gray,” she whispered his name and the tip of his finger touched her tongue.
His other hand went lower, gripping the curve of her bottom and pulling her up close to his arousal. He was thick and hard and she licked his finger, because what else was she supposed to do?
“Don’t,” he said. “Please, just don’t deny this. There are so many things going on, I just need for this to be real. Whatever this is between us needs to be real and not some wish.”
If a huge sprig of mistletoe were dangling over their heads right at this moment, Morgan knew exactly what she’d wish for. Now, whether or not that wish would come true…she didn’t have another second to contemplate.
One Mistletoe Wish
“For…for Christmas?” she asked and felt like a colossal idiot.
He didn’t smile, but shook his head, his hands slipping under her coat to rub along her back. “No. Right now. I want you, Morgan.”
He moved again and Morgan saw his arm lifting. He was going to touch her. No, wait, he was already touching her. She should move. She should put lots of distance between them to keep whatever was about to happen from happening. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. His fingers grazed her jaw, came over her chin, then up to tap her bottom lip.
“You can’t want me,” she said, her body beginning to tremble even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
“I can and I do,” he told her, his other hand falling softly to her hip. “I want to take you right here against this wall. What does wishing on mistletoe tell you about that?”
She wanted to moan, but that wasn’t an answer. Dammit, she couldn’t think of any words and she certainly wasn’t thinking about mistletoe at a time like this. Morgan tried to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly—a known relaxation technique that usually worked—but not this time. His scent permeated every pore of her body and she actually felt dizzy with arousal.
“Gray,” she whispered his name and the tip of his finger touched her tongue.
His other hand went lower, gripping the curve of her bottom and pulling her up close to his arousal. He was thick and hard and she licked his finger, because what else was she supposed to do?
“Don’t,” he said. “Please, just don’t deny this. There are so many things going on, I just need for this to be real. Whatever this is between us needs to be real and not some wish.”
If a huge sprig of mistletoe were dangling over their heads right at this moment, Morgan knew exactly what she’d wish for. Now, whether or not that wish would come true…she didn’t have another second to contemplate.
One Mistletoe Wish
