Mari Carr's Blog, page 106
March 19, 2011
Saturday Snippet
Last week the fellas stole the stage. This week, the ladies are getting their turns because today's snippets are all about the female…
I thought I'd share a snippet from Saturday Night Special. Riley, the heroine, is one of my all-time favorite characters. She funny, vivacious, and she'd be an awesome best friend. I had a lot of fun writing her story and I wanted to share a bit of it.
Snippet:
After a very late lunch, Riley and Aaron headed back to the spot where the clerk at Sal's said they would find Bubbles. They'd nearly reached the corner when Riley stopped mid-stride.
"Holy shit," she muttered, her gaze falling on Bubbles.
Aaron had gone two steps farther when he spotted the woman as well and halted.
"Jesus," he said.
Riley stood rooted to the spot, blinking several times. The clerk hadn't been lying about Bubbles' love of animal prints, but she hadn't really fully appreciated his joke about them not loving her until this moment.
Aaron walked back toward her. "Wow." His grin proved he was enjoying Riley's reaction.
Riley looked at him and shook her head in disbelief. "Tit Mecca."
"Oh yeah," he agreed. "Not sure I've ever seen…" His words faded away unfinished as he turned to look at the hooker again.
"That woman has managed to squeeze her 34DDD boobs into an extra-small shirt. It's like…"
"Like she's defying gravity," Aaron finished for her. "The animal print certainly accentuates her…"
"Her everything."
Riley studied Bubbles, prying her eyes away from the woman's chest to take in the rest of her. She was tall, close to six feet—not including her hair, which added at least another three or four inches to her towering frame. Her hair was long, teased to within an inch of its life and—as they'd been warned—pink. Hot pink. Her dark skin and eyes betrayed her Hispanic heritage and she was wearing a wildly patterned spandex shirt that barely contained her girls.
Riley could now understand the woman's nickname. Her "bubbles" were very impressive, given the fact the woman possessed such a lanky frame. She wasn't sure how Bubbles was remaining upright with all that weight in front. She had on super-tight pants that outlined her shapely ass and legs, and strangely, despite her crazy outfit and hair, Riley considered Bubbles one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen.
Aaron turned to face her again and from the corner of her eye, she saw his smile grow.
"You doing okay, Riley?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Think I just got my first serious girl crush."
He laughed. "On Bubbles? Jesus, I'm gonna have to get you out of Vegas soon. You're starting to fit in here."
"Didn't know this place was Titty City. Don't you think she looks sort of hot?"
"I'm trying to look at her face, Riley, I swear to God. It's just—those boobs. It's like a train wreck. I can't make myself look away."
She laughed. "Men. So typical. Come on. Let's see if she knows where Bella is."
Saturday Night Special is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony and ARe.
March 17, 2011
Wild Nights
Wild Nights releases today at Ellora's Cave. This is the print compilation of Waiting for Wednesday and Sweet Thursday (books 3 and 4 in the Wild Irish series).
Waiting for Wednesday
Wild Irish, Book Three
Tristan Collins knows Lane Bryce is strictly hands-off. She's smart, funny, kind…and married. But he still looks forward to her once-a-week visits to the family pub where he tends bar. When she fails to arrive one Wednesday, Tris is concerned. When he learns she's in the hospital, brutally beaten after attempting to leave her unhappy marriage, he's enraged. Tris vows to protect her, but doesn't get the chance—Lane checks out of the hospital and disappears without a trace.
A year later, newly divorced Lane is back, and enjoying her independence too much to embark on a relationship. Tris intends to prove she can have freedom and love, and he's not above using seduction to do it. The more she resists, the more he sets her body ablaze with pleasure the likes of which she's never known.
After a lifetime of disappointment, trust doesn't come easily for Lane. But when her ex-husband reenters her life, threatening her independence, her happiness, she could discover too late that Tristan is the one man worthy of not only her trust, but also her love.
Sweet Thursday
Wild Irish, Book Four
In high school, Lily was too shy to do anything about her feelings for her best friends, Justin and Killian. Now she's ready to put to rest her regrets with a proposal that might shock even her oversexed friends—the three of them, together, one night, multiple positions.
K and J are more than a little surprised to see Lily at their ten-year reunion. The plain Jane they remember is now a stunning woman—who wants to have sex with both of them. Who are they to deny her? Even if Killian suspects they might be treading on dangerous emotional territory.
The night stretches into the weekend and, as K suspected, none of them want it to end. But he and Lily know people live in pairs, not trios, and they call a halt now, before it's too late.
Justin, however, knows a good thing when he sees it. He's ready to fight for what he wants…what they all need. He just has to convince Lily and Killian that unconventional can also be extraordinary.
Wild Days is the first print volume and it is also available. It features Come Monday and Ruby Tuesday.
March 15, 2011
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure, book one in the Compass Brothers series, releases today at Samhain.
All roads lead home when that's where you've left your heart.
Compass Brothers, Book 1
Silas Compton always had his eye on Lucy, the veterinarian's daughter. He was even content to wait for the girl of his dreams to grow up before getting anywhere near her with his family's double-edged legacy.
Waiting around led to fooling around with his best friend—and an impulsive eruption of desire that Lucy's innocent eyes weren't meant to see. Figuring Compton Pass wasn't big enough for either the three of them or the pain he'd caused, Silas let loose his tightly reined wanderlust and headed for Alaska.
Ten years later, when an oil rig accident sends him home, he braces himself for the reopening of old wounds. Instead he finds himself in the care—and welcoming arms—of Lucy and Colby, whose marriage has plenty of room for the man they both still love. And forgive with all their hearts.
As things start to unravel at Compass Ranch, Silas must dig deep for the strength to assume his rightful place in the Compton family…and lay the foundation for a future with his lovers. If he can forgive himself.
Product Warnings
This book is overflowing with sexy cowboys who like to saddle up and ride each other as well as the woman of their dreams. The likelihood of becoming addicted to their ranch family is high. With three more stories yet to come, beware. You won't be able to read just one!
Excerpt:
Prologue
Dry brush crackled under the hooves of Silas Compton's roan gelding. It hadn't rained in a while. He could tell it would be a long summer by the clouds of terra cotta dust rising in the wake of his brothers' galloping horses as they raced across the mountain ridge.
Not that he'd know it where he was headed. Alaska would provide a total change of scenery. Exactly what he needed. Pain lanced his chest, causing him to tense in his heirloom saddle. Rainey's ears flicked up. Silas patted the loyal animal's neck, settling into the rhythm of their canter, and wondered how he would survive so far from the land that had been a part of him since he'd been born.
Somehow he would have to make it work.
He sure as hell couldn't stay.
Like the three-legged dog they'd had as kids, he would learn to cope without an integral part of himself. If only he and his puppy had reined in their curiosity and avoided those damn traps…
But they hadn't.
Lucy Silver, the veterinarian's sweet daughter—who'd been dancing through his dirty dreams since he'd been old enough to have them—had spotted Silas making out with her boyfriend in the barn. It'd been like the day he'd watched his puppy scramble toward the razor-sharp jaws lying concealed under a pile of straw all over again.
Removing himself from the equation seemed like the only way he could halt imminent disaster and protect the two people he cared about most outside of his family. He'd already destroyed enough of Lucy's innocence.
Christ, he couldn't explain what had driven him to kiss Colby in the first place.
Impulsive. Rash. Reckless.
Qualities Silas didn't value. The one time he gave in to the dark urges he wrestled, he paid a horrible price. But he'd caught Colby checking out his sweaty muscles as they'd worked together in the heat of the day. Desire had arced between them.
Irresistible. Delicious. Forbidden.
Until the agony on Lucy's face had slammed him back to reality. Silas vowed to leave the couple to mend their fences and live in peace, without the threat of his interference ripping them apart. Lucy and Colby devoured each other with desperate gazes when they thought no one paid attention. It didn't take a genius to figure out their love was the real deal.
He'd go, even if it meant giving up everything familiar and cherished, including his brothers and his two best friends. Because he sure as shit couldn't stay and keep his hands to himself. Not with a double helping of temptation running wild.
Amber rays from the setting sun ignited the prairie below. The glowing grasslands seared into his memory. He'd never lose track of his roots. He'd never forget his heritage, Compass Ranch, even if he couldn't accept his destiny as its head.
His brothers would pick up his slack.
Seth, a year younger than him, whooped then grinned over his shoulder as he spurred his mare faster. Wild as a mustang, he flew over the landscape to the spot they'd claimed as their own. The twins, Sam and Sawyer, followed suit.
They hadn't discussed their plans for the evening. As soon as Silas had made his announcement to the family, the boys had glanced around the dining table—where all important family business was conducted—and nodded. They hadn't objected to his desertion, but strain lined their faces, sorrow dimmed their eyes and the betrayal he feared flashed in the air a split second before they began planning how they'd support him.
Christ, their generosity had made him feel lower than the shit on the bottom of his muck boots because he hadn't had the guts to admit why he really planned to leave. None of them would have been dumb enough to mess with something that wasn't theirs. And if they had, they wouldn't have lied about it on top. Such strong souls would thrive with or without him. But could he cut out something so essential to his being and live so wounded? So lost?
Cut adrift, he might not make it.
Silas gripped the reins too tight. He forced himself to relax his fingers.
One night. He'd give himself these final hours with his brothers to say goodbye to all he treasured. Tomorrow, he'd ride out. Forever.
The driving hoof beats slowed as they approached their destination. By the time they ducked beneath the shelter of the mountain cypresses, the rocky terrain forced them to walk their mounts. None of the teenagers would jeopardize the safety of their animals or their brothers.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to contain the agony lassoing his heart as he realized he'd never be close to the men they'd grow into, their families or the children who'd take their places in the tight-knit community like so many generations before them.
The last damn thing he wanted was to bawl like a sissy.
If his family caught on to his pain, they might not let him go. Luckily, he'd learned from the toughest sons of bitches in the west how to be a real cowboy. If that was the only way he could honor his legacy, he'd man up and do it. Somehow.
They dismounted, reverting to familiar patterns. Seth and Sawyer tied the horses as Sam gathered kindling for their bonfire. Silas patched the pit left from prior visits then dug some supplies from his pack, including hot dogs despite the fact they'd eaten dinner before they left. These days, the four of them could shovel in enough to feed an army.
Or so their mom said.
"Si, you're bleeding." Count on Sawyer to notice.
"It's nothing." Silas faced the youngest, by twenty-two minutes, of his brothers. The kid's twin had already picked up on the vibe. Damn their weird-ass mental connection.
"It's something." Sam sidled up behind him to take a peek. "It's too uniform to be a cut."
"Did you do it?" Damn if Seth didn't tip his hat and glare from beneath his dark brows. When Silas didn't answer, Seth stomped over. "Holy shit. You did. You got a freaking tattoo. Without me? Without us? You asshole!"
Silas dodged his brother's half-hearted punch toward the sore spot between his shoulder blades. The disappointment radiating from the guy in waves did more damage than his fist would have. After Silas's sudden declaration of independence, this looked bad, but he couldn't come clean and admit the craving he'd had to brand himself with some symbol of home before he took off. Not if he had any hope of escaping.
"I had a hard enough time convincing Snake to ink me. If I'd brought you guys with me, he never would have caved. He only did it because I'm eighteen now."
If Silas had told Seth, they wouldn't have been able to stop Sam and Sawyer from tagging along too.
"Well, I suppose that's true. Plus he's probably afraid JD will kill him if he finds out." Sawyer let Silas off easy, as usual.
"Yeah, that's why I took the bandages off. Didn't want him to notice."
Pride for their badass father glowed from the kid. Silas agreed. As head of Compass Ranch—the center of Compton Pass, Wyoming—JD Compton wielded vast financial clout but his personality made him larger than life and, most important, earned him respect by the acre.
"But you gotta let us see it at least," Sawyer insisted.
"Sure." Silas dropped a wedge of firewood on the crackling flame Sam had started, and then stood. All three of his brothers lined up behind him—Seth in the middle, the twins on either side—when he tugged his gray T-shirt over his head, wincing a little at the sting of his sweat in the open wound. The three usually raucous kids didn't make a single peep when he revealed the artwork. "It's swollen and stuff—"
"Whoa." Seth broke the silence.
"It's awesome." Sam laid his palm to the right of the emblem, careful not to touch the raw skin.
"Sweet," Sawyer agreed then added his hand on the left side of Silas's back.
"Does it hurt?" Seth completed their connection, touching the area below the design.
"So bad," Silas gasped, struggling not to drop to his knees.
"I'm still doing it. Next year. The minute I turn eighteen," Seth whispered into the gathering twilight. "Exactly like this."
"Me too," Sam chimed in. "The compass design is fucking great. And the ranch brand is perfect. It matches the one we use."
"I didn't know Snake had this kind of shit in him. The shading is so cool. It looks 3-D." Sawyer's hand shook on Silas's back. "I want one now. Like yours. But without the fancy N."
"You're only fifteen," Silas barked. "Wait a while and make sure it's what you really want."
"I know what I want."
"Things don't always happen like you expect, Sawyer." Silas felt the pressure of his brothers' hands bracing him as he heaved a giant sigh.
"Is that why you're leaving?" The high pitch of Sam's question reminded Silas that even though his youngest brothers had started fooling around with girls in their class, and he'd busted them splitting a six pack they'd swiped from the bunkhouse, they still had more boy than man in them.
"Yeah." He couldn't give them more of the truth than that. It embarrassed him. Angered him. And threatened to drown him in despair.
"Well, some people might flip flop around. Not me. Not going to change my mind." Sawyer stuck to his guns. He'd always been the most determined to prove himself despite being the baby of the group. Maybe because of it. "I'm joining the Coast Guard. Gonna see the world."
"What?" Silas pivoted to stare at the kid, severing the connection with his brothers. He regretted it instantly, but he had to search Sawyer's eyes for the truth. "You've been watching too many freaking commercials. Your place is here, on the ranch."
"No, it isn't," the teenager whispered.
When the other two nodded in agreement, Silas staggered backward.
"You're not planning to stay?" His forehead crumpled as he tried to understand. "None of you?"
"Don't look at us like that." Seth waved his hands in front of his chest. "I figured you'd understand. I need to get the hell out of here. Find my own place. Same as you. Not Alaska though, I hate winter. You're crazy to take on all that snow. Somewhere warm. Maybe I'll head down south. Yeah, that's what I'll do. A fancy S instead of an N on my compass, bro."
"What? No!" Silas couldn't explain. "It's not like that. I mean—"
"We understand, Si." Sam smiled then nodded. "I'd like to go to college. Earn a degree, find a real job. Something where I don't have to dirty my hands to rake in cash. I'll have fancy clothes, a slick apartment and a kickass car. I'll party every night with the hottest girls in the city."
The relief washing over his brothers filled Silas with anxiety and left him reeling. Who would help their father with the ranch? Who would continue their family traditions? Who if not him? Or Seth? Or Sam?
"Oh, no." Sawyer shook his head as he kicked a rock. "Don't give me that look. I told you, I'm not getting stuck here. Fuck that. You think someone should hang around, then stay put. It ain't too late to cancel your plane ticket."
"I-I can't."
"And neither can we." Seth slugged his shoulder. "Come on, start the dogs. I'm starving. Jake slipped me a couple Playboys for doing his chores last weekend so he could bang Misty Trelane."
"Nice! Me first." Sam managed a head start for their brother's backpack as Sawyer launched himself after his twin.
Silas watched them wrestle, laugh and call each other names as though his entire world hadn't been ripped apart. Then he pivoted and stared out to the horizon as the sun set on his childhood.
March 14, 2011
Quote of the Week
"Maybe there is a beast….maybe it's only us." – William Golding, Lord of the Flies
**Just a quick reminder…I'm the guest blogger over at The Forbidden Bookshelf today.
March 13, 2011
Overnight Contest
To celebrate the release of Northern Exposure, book one in the Compass Brothers series, on Tuesday, Jayne Rylon and I are holding an overnight contest. The winner will be announced before nine EST tomorrow.
The rules are simple. In the comments section, tell us which "direction" you'd prefer for a date night.
North – A hike to the top of a gorgeous mountain with a pre-staged dinner in a candlelit tent and two fine cowboys to keep you warm.
South – Quiet night in a secluded cabin with a tall, fun-loving cowboy who's into bondage.
East – Night out on the town, dinner and dancing at a fancy club with successful business executive.
West – Long, romantic walk on the beach, followed by kinky sex at a local BDSM club with a Coast Guard officer.
March 12, 2011
Saturday Snippet
This week, it's all about the male…and one of my favorite male characters is from my latest Samhain release, Power Play. Reed is all man…which is why it's so much fun to watch Frankie bring him to his knees.
Snippet:
"You might want to wipe that cocky grin off your face, Donovan. I'm not sure you understand your place here."
He let the grin morph into a smirk and knew the image irked her. She hadn't played the game by his rules, either. She'd been the mouthiest sub on the East Coast.
She shook her head, clearly disappointed in his effort. "You aren't going to make this easy, are you?"
"Easy on me or easy on you?"
She gave him a wicked smile. "I don't need easy. In fact," she rubbed the tip of her riding crop along the front placket of his pants, outlining his erection "I prefer it hard."
He bit back a groan at the pleasure her feather light touch on his cock provoked. Shit. Suddenly a new worry popped into his brain. There was no way he could withstand much of her torment without erupting far too early. She was hotter than shit in her Dominatrix outfit.
"Stand up, Reed."
He slowly rose, attempting to adjust his pants as he did so. The zipper of his slacks was irritating his cock, and he tried to remember a time when he'd been harder.
She walked away from him, toward her desk. "Take off your clothes. All of them."
For a split second, he thought perhaps this wouldn't be too bad. Maybe she'd put him out of his misery quickly. That thought was washed away when he watched her open her desk drawer and pull out a pair of manacles. Her plan flashed before his eyes. The wrist cuffs were separated by a foot of chain. No doubt she intended to bind him to this damn chin-up bar, naked as the day he was born.
The idea of giving her so much control made him uneasy. He'd never let a woman run the show, never let anyone have free rein over his body. He wasn't sure he could do this. Helpless wasn't a role he'd ever played and he didn't intend to start now.
"Frankie."
She turned to look at him and her face halted his next words. So much was written in her eyes—need, excitement, fear, challenge. She expected him to balk, expected him to refuse her.
"Chickening out, Donovan?"
He was reminded of his fantasy. She'd given him everything, held back nothing. Didn't he owe her the same satisfaction? They'd started this as a way of one-upping each other. It was supposed to be a game. Somewhere along the line, the rules had changed. It no longer felt like they were taking so much as giving.
His hands moved to his shirt, unfastening the buttons. She paused, watching him, waiting for him to say more. Slowly, methodically, he shed his shirt, shoes, socks and pants—all as she observed silently. When he was completely naked, he turned his hands, palms toward her as if to say, I'm yours. Take me.
Power Play is available at Samhain, Amazon, Sony, Barnes and Noble, Fictionwise and ARe.
Now let's hear it for some more boys…
March 7, 2011
Quote of the Week
"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
This week, I'm the guest blogger over at Novelspot in their Behind the Scenes series. Each day for seven days (starting yesterday), I will blog about a different aspect of being a writer. My topics include co-writing, writing menages, where the inspiration for books comes from and books that have influenced me. I hope you will check it out.
March 5, 2011
Saturday Snippet
Today, Jayne Rylon and I are hosting a Twitter-fest, where we feature 140 characters quotes from the first two book in the Compass Brothers series. Follow me at @MariCarr to join the fun! Now…how about a Saturday Snippet?
Today's theme is opening lines and I thought I'd share a snippet from a story that started with just one line. The opening one!
Sugar and Spice snippet
"Hey there, baby. What do you have sweet in those drawers for me today?"
Ginny Brooks narrowed her eyes. "I told you yesterday to stay out of my candy stash. You ate the last of the Tootsie Rolls and I really need a Tootsie Roll today."
"Yikes. That time of the month, Brooks?" Travers joked as he pulled open the top drawer of her desk.
"Get bent." She slapped his hand away before he could grab the last of the SweeTarts.
"What's got your panties in a bunch?" Travers asked as Charlie Anderson came out of his office.
As office manager for her rag-tag bunch of engineers and best friends, Ginny and her desk were situated in the main entryway and surrounded by the three partners' offices. She was used to having no privacy.
She was also accustomed to the way none of them used first names with each other—only last names. Travers had insisted that the others start calling him by his last name in sixth grade since there was another Ryan in their class and he refused to be referred to as Ryan T. Ginny couldn't for the life of her figure out why that request had boomeranged back on the rest of them as well. Nonetheless, she'd been Brooks for nearly two decades. Hell, even her parents called her Brooks.
She spent her days working at Travers, Taylor and Anderson Engineering, or as Ginny liked to tease them, the T and A firm. At the moment, she was wondering why she'd ever thought it would be a good idea to work with friends.
"She just got the brush-off call from her boyfriend," Anderson answered before she could say a word in response to Travers' obnoxious comment.
"The lawyer?" Travers asked and Anderson nodded. "Fucking bastard. I'm glad he dumped you. You don't wanna date lawyers. They're slimeballs."
"Just once, do you guys think you could mind your own business?"
Anderson chuckled. "Where's the fun in that?"
She leaned her head back against her office chair and sighed heavily. "I really need some chocolate."
"Shit, Brooks. Don't you have any in your secret stash? That's why I came out here." Anderson frowned.
"Don't blame me," she replied. "Travers polished off nearly half a bag of Tootsie Rolls yesterday."
Anderson turned his narrowed gaze to his partner and she smirked at Travers.
"Snitch," Travers snarled at her. "It's your damn fault for keeping that candy in the office. It just tempts me. You know I've got a sweet tooth."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh that's right. It's my fault you're a pig. I should have realized. I apologize. From now on, I'll keep the candy hidden in my car."
"Don't you dare!" Anderson barked.
"Don't you dare what?" Alex Taylor asked, coming out of his office no doubt to investigate the commotion.
Ginny rolled her eyes in frustration. How these men ever got any work done was beyond her. They were nosier than a pack of old women.
"Brooks is threatening to cut off the sweets supply."
"Don't you dare!" Taylor yelled, adding his two cents' worth on the subject.
Ginny ignored him and decided she'd better nip the boyfriend misinformation in the bud. "And for your information, I didn't get dumped. Liam was assigned a big case and he has to work through the weekend. That's all."
"Weren't you supposed to go out of town together this weekend?" Travers asked. "I thought you and the asshole lawyer were doing a romantic getaway for your birthday."
"Well…" Ginny attempted to swallow down the lump of disappointment that had been lingering since Liam's call half an hour earlier. "We'll just have to reschedule, I suppose."
Travers slammed his hand down on her cluttered desk. "Dammit, Brooks, we wanted to throw you a big party, but you said you wanted to go away for this stupid weekend with Mr. Shit-for-Brains."
"You know, Travers. He has a name. It's Liam. Would you mind trying to refer to him as such?" Ginny was used to Travers insulting all her boyfriends and usually it didn't bother her. In fact, most of the time she thought it was sort of funny. However, today she wasn't in the mood.
"Well, this is just great," Anderson added, his voice laced with annoyance. "There's no way Taylor and I would have made plans for this weekend if we'd known your boyfriend was going to be such a jerk."
Ginny grinned. "That's sweet, Anderson, but don't worry about me. Believe me, turning thirty is nothing to celebrate."
"You gotta be kidding me!" Travers looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "We partied our asses off for my thirtieth."
Giggling, Ginny shook her head. "Travers, I'm still hung over from your birthday party and that was six months ago."
"Ah crap, Brooks," Taylor said, interrupting her laughter. "We have to leave now or we're going to miss our flight. You sure you don't want us to cancel?"
"What?" Ginny teased. "And stand up the poor McDermont twins? No way, fellas. I'm not having that on my head. You two have been bragging about this debauched double date for weeks. Besides, I'm looking forward to hearing all the disgustingly dirty details on Monday. Go. Have fun and don't behave yourselves. I'll be fine."
"'Course you will," Travers chimed in. "I'm taking you out tonight."
"Travers, you don't have to—" she started.
"To the Way Down Under Club."
Sugar and Spice is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, and Sony.
Check out some opening lines by these authors!
March 2, 2011
WiP Wednesday
It's Works in Progress Wednesday and today I'm sharing a bit of the story I'm working on right now. It has no title and it wasn't even on my horizon until the Heat Wave readers dared me to write a pirate story where the heroine slaps someone. Yep…that's all it took. Suddenly this story appeared and it hasn't left me alone since! This is a very rough draft, so I hope you'll bear with me on the typos. 
Chapter One
"Let go of me!"
"Take it easy, lass. Come peacefully and no one will be hurt."
"No one will be hurt because I'm not going anywhere with you."
Black Jack Carlysle tightened his grip on the young woman's arm. He wasn't accustomed to backtalk from any of his subordinates and he sure as hell wasn't going to listen to it from a mere female.
"I don't think you fully understand your position here. My men and I are taking over your ship. Seizing our reward."
"Stealing is more like it. You haven't earned anything on our ship. You're a thief and a heathen and, ouch! You're hurting my arm."
"I may be all you say and more, my dear, but the fact remains, I am the captain of this ship and you are now part of the spoils of war."
The haughty woman slapped him. Hard. "We'll see about that."
Jack was shocked momentarily. He heard a sharp gasp behind him and knew his men had witnessed her assault. He'd intended to take her below deck and lock her in the room next to his. He knew who she was. As daughter of the territorial governor, he had little doubt she'd fetch a fair price in ransom.
Her blow and fiery rage ignited his temper and his destination changed as he pushed her to the ladder that would take them below—to his cabin.
"You will pay for that, my lady. In my bedroom."
His threat pulled her up short and her struggling ceasing. "You can't be serious. Do you know who I am?"
He chuckled mirthlessly. "I think the question that should be asked is do you know who I am."
Her gaze narrowed, drawing his attention to her light blue eyes surrounded by thick, long lashes. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely pink due to anger and exertion. Her breathing had accelerated, each hastily inhaled breath thrusting her large breasts forward. She'd fill his hands nicely.
No, Jack thought. It wouldn't be a hardship bringing this hellion to heel.
"I know exactly who you are, Black Jack. And if you think I'll quiver at the mere mention of your dreaded name like the rest of the fools on my father's ship, then I fear you're destined for disappointment."
He grinned, pushing her harder than necessary toward the ladder. She stumbled slightly before catching herself. She was provoking him, daring the devil inside to come out and play. She'd struck him in front of his men. At that point, she lost the right to be treated with courtesy. Now he needed to make an example of her. Regardless of how much that idea rubbed against the grain.
He liked to consider himself a gentleman—usually beyond kind with the terrified women they'd kidnapped in the past. More than a few times, he'd had to gently convince the ransomed captive lady to return home once the money had been paid.
Clearly that wouldn't be a problem this time.
She turned to face him once more, but before she could speak, he raised his finger. "Silence, woman!"
He didn't intend to wage this battle in front of his men. It was high time she realized who she was dealing with.
"How dare you speak to me—"
Jack growled. Bending forward, he put his shoulder to his captive lady's middle and lifted her until her upper body hung upside down along his back.
"What the—"
"I've warned you more than once, my lady. Now you're going to pay the piper."
"Awesome," Emma Potter said, wiggling loose from Jack's hold. "That was perfect."
Jack pulled the bandana off his head and stuffed it in the pants of his jeans. "I feel like an ass."
Emma laughed. "I owe you a big one for this, sweet stuff."
Jack ignored her annoying nickname for him. Seven years of friendship and she still persisted calling him by the silly name. She'd given it him one night after they'd gotten more than a bit tipsy at a bar. She'd tripped and spilled her strawberry daiquiri down the front of his shirt. They'd cleaned it up the best they could, but the rest of the night, he'd smelled like a little girl's tube of Bonne Bell lip gloss. Emma teased him the entire night, calling him sweet stuff and sadly, for her, the name stuck.
"I don't think there's a favor big enough in the world to repay me for this." He leaned against the railing of the fake ship, looking out at the empty tables and chairs of the club. He tried not to think about the fact they'd be filled with fetish club goers, all watching his weak attempt at piracy, with the intent of getting turned on by it.
"True that," Emma conceded. "You're a lifesaver, Jack. Really. I was at my wit's end this morning. I bet I made at least fifty phone calls."
"Glad to know I'm so high on your list," he said sardonically, chuckling.
"Believe me, that call list isn't one you want to be on top of."
March 1, 2011
Get Tied Up
The Forbidden Bookshelf is hosting "Get Tied Up" month on their blog in March. They've got some big names lined up and I'm excited to announce that they've invited me to share a post, which will go live on March 14. I thought I'd share the link so you can check out all the fantastic BDSM blogs this month. They are also having a slew of contests as well.
Today is also the first day of the Compass Brothers Virtual book tour. Today Jayne Rylon and I are hanging out a Maya Banks' Facebook Launch party. I'm also the guest blogger over at The Romance Studio. Hope you'll come visit!
