Mari Carr's Blog, page 44

Quote of the Day

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. -Thomas Edison

Winter’s Thaw

Winter’s Thaw is available in print for the first time today. And just in time for Summer Fling’s release on Feb. 18.

Winter’s Thaw, Compass Girls, book 1

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes it’s better.

Sienna Compton has it all figured out. Her life’s goals are set and it is all systems go. At least, it was. Until her long-time boyfriend Josh threw a ringer into the master plan, requesting a “break” from their relationship. Now she’s left alone during the long, cold Wyoming winter, questioning what her heart has always believed to be true love.

Daniel Lennon is facing an uncertain future. When a tragic accident leaves him unable to pursue his career as a professional bull rider, he finds himself at Compass Ranch, working to help Sienna’s father, Seth, build his horse breeding business. One look at Sienna has Daniel envisioning things he never imagined wanting—a permanent home, love, marriage—and he’s willing to use all the red-hot tricks in his sexual arsenal to melt the ice surrounding Sienna’s broken heart.

When lust turns to genuine emotion, can Daniel convince Sienna to take a chance on something different and unexpected? Can he persuade her to consider a new path, one that will lead her directly to his arms…forever?

Product Warnings

Roping and riding, past and future, cold winter and fiery desire, lust and love all come together in this new Compass series. Saddle up and hang on. The Comptons are back!

Excerpt:

Daniel lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. He refused to look at his clock again. At last check—no more than five minutes earlier—it had been midnight. He’d ticked off every hour since he’d crawled into bed at nine and he was still no closer to finding sleep.

Eventually, sheer exhaustion was going to have to win out. God knew he couldn’t keep going at this rate. It had been a week since he’d kissed Sienna in the stable. He would have tried to steal more than a few heated kisses from her, but Sienna pulled away when they’d heard someone enter the stable.

Daniel shuddered to think how close Seth had come to catching them. Even though they were standing a proper distance away from each other when Seth approached, he still sensed his boss was suspicious. For one thing, Sienna’s face had been flushed, her gaze roaming everywhere to avoid her father’s questioning stare. She may as well have stamped the word guilty on her forehead.

Since then, Seth had kept a very close eye on where he was and who he was with. Not that Seth had needed to be on his guard. Sienna was doing a good enough job staying away from him without her father’s interference. He hadn’t caught more than a glimpse of her when she came home from work each day. She’d stopped eating dinner with the family and even eschewed riding her beloved mare, Maria.

According to Doug, Sienna was depressed over Josh. Daniel knew that reaction was natural, but it didn’t stop him from wishing she’d open her eyes and see him as a suitable replacement.

“Screw that,” he muttered. He didn’t intend to replace Josh. He wanted to erase him from Sienna’s thoughts forever. He wasn’t sure when his intentions had changed, but somewhere along the way, he’d stopped hoping to just get into Sienna’s pants. Lately, he’d been thinking it might be nice to find a way into her life, but that didn’t seem possible.

For one thing, she’d just gotten out of a relationship. There was no way she was ready to hop right back into one. And secondly, he’d heard her conversation with Josh. They hadn’t broken up—not officially. They’d just taken a timeout. Daniel didn’t think Sienna would let the idiot come back, but, well, dammit, he wasn’t sure.

He released an annoyed breath and forced his eyes shut. He’d never fall asleep at this rate. He tried to clear his mind of Sienna Compton completely.

A knock sounded on his door.

“What the hell?”

He listened again, wondering if he’d imagined it or if it was the cold winter wind knocking a branch against the trailer.

Another knock. Someone was definitely outside.

He rose and slipped on a pair of sweatpants. Opening the door slowly, he was surprised to find Sienna, wrapped in a coat and shivering.

“Sienna? Get in here. It’s freezing out there.”

She quickly climbed the three stairs, passing him as he closed the door.

“Is something wrong?” He couldn’t imagine there was anything—short of bad news—that would bring her to his trailer at this time of night.

She shook her head. “N-no. Everything’s fine.”

“Okay. That’s good.”

She didn’t bother to explain more. Instead, she shrugged off her coat. Underneath she was dressed in a little slip of a nightgown. He hadn’t realized until that moment that her legs were bare. She’d walked all the way over here in a bit of silk and slippers. Obviously she was paying for the decision, given her uncontrollable shivering.

“Jesus, Sienna. What the hell are you wearing? Or not wearing? You’ll be lucky if you don’t get frostbite.”

She rubbed her hands together, blowing on them for heat. “This was a lot s-sexier when my cousins and I p-planned it from the warmth of my bedroom.”

“Sexy?” Her words hit him like a sledgehammer to the forehead. “Did you come over here to sleep with me?”

Her cheeks were red from the cold, but even so, her blush enhanced the color. “If you h-have to ask, then it’s s-safe to say I’m not doing s-so well.”

He laughed. He couldn’t help it. She was here because she wanted to have sex with him? He’d never been offered such a delectable frozen treat. Unfortunately, she mistook his response.

She reached for her coat, intent on putting it back on. “This was a mistake.”

“Oh, hell no. No mistake.” He pulled the coat away from her and tossed it onto his couch. Then he tugged her into his embrace, trying to infuse her trembling form with some of his own body heat. He rubbed her back lightly.

“You’re warm,” she murmured against his chest.

“And your hands are like ice cubes.”

“Sorry.” She tried to step away, but he stopped her, gripping her wrists. He placed her palms on his chest, holding them there.

“Don’t pull away. Let me warm you up.”

They stared at each other for a few hushed moments, as Daniel allowed his gaze to travel over her silky nightie.

“Say something,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “No. You first. Ask me, Sienna. Ask me to touch you, to take you. I promised I wouldn’t do that until—”

“Touch me,” she interrupted.

Daniel didn’t wait for her to say more.

Winter’s Thaw is available from Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Quote of the Day

If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. -Toni Morrison

February!!!

Hallelujah! It’s February. To say I’ve been sort of dying for this month to arrive would be a massive understatement. Timing of my last few projects have made THIS an incredibly exciting month in terms of releases.

On February 4, the print version of Winter’s Thaw comes out. I received my author copies around Christmas. It was an awesome gift!

Winter’s Thaw, Compass Girls, book 1

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes it’s better.

Sienna Compton has it all figured out. Her life’s goals are set and it is all systems go. At least, it was. Until her long-time boyfriend Josh threw a ringer into the master plan, requesting a “break” from their relationship. Now she’s left alone during the long, cold Wyoming winter, questioning what her heart has always believed to be true love.

Daniel Lennon is facing an uncertain future. When a tragic accident leaves him unable to pursue his career as a professional bull rider, he finds himself at Compass Ranch, working to help Sienna’s father, Seth, build his horse breeding business. One look at Sienna has Daniel envisioning things he never imagined wanting—a permanent home, love, marriage—and he’s willing to use all the red-hot tricks in his sexual arsenal to melt the ice surrounding Sienna’s broken heart.

When lust turns to genuine emotion, can Daniel convince Sienna to take a chance on something different and unexpected? Can he persuade her to consider a new path, one that will lead her directly to his arms…forever?

Product Warnings

Roping and riding, past and future, cold winter and fiery desire, lust and love all come together in this new Compass series. Saddle up and hang on. The Comptons are back!

Winter’s Thaw is available from Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Then, begins my TRIFECTA week of releases!

 

On February 17, I was invited to join an exciting anthology with some really incredible writers. We joined together to tackle the theme, Alpha Bad Boy Bikers. Oh hell yeah! My story is book two in my Big Easy series. Haven’t read book one yet? Keep reading!

Crash Point, Big Easy, book 2

Crash Point will be part of the Riding Desire, Alpha Bad Boy Bikers box set, including AMAZING authors Opal Carew, Sarah Castille, Sara Fawkes, Lauren Hawkeye, Adriana Hunter, Marian Tee, Daire St. Denis, Roni Loren, Sharon Page, RG Alexander, Eden Bradley, Avery Aster, and Suzanne Rock. It hits the virtual bookshelves on February 19. 

When they reach the crash point, will love be enough to save them?

Chance has brought Blake Mills back into her life. The textbook bad boy Chloe gave her young body and tender love to ten long years ago. He betrayed her trust, broke her heart, stole from her family…proved just how bad he truly was. Her fury still rages a decade later–so why does she want him more than ever?

Blake never stopped wanting Chloe Lewis. Through years of bad choices, Chloe was his guiding light, leading him away from a life of crime to turn him into the man he’s become, a respectable, decorated member of the NOPD. Now, seeing her again, Blake understands the mere memory of their love, their combustible lust, will never be enough.

Then, on February 18, the next installment of the Compass Girls series arrives! This time, it’s Jade who gets thrown for a loop by love.

Summer Fling

Summertime and the lovin’ is easy…until it’s not.

Compass Girls, Book 3

Too much love and loss taught Jade Compton to protect her heart and her sanity by steering clear of all that romance nonsense. She’s doing just fine, working two jobs, hanging out with her cousins and her best friend, Liam.

But when a combination of unbearable heat wave and a case of the boredom blues knock her down, she longs to do something spontaneous…maybe even a little bit reckless.

Liam Harrison met Jade when she was sixteen—in the local cemetery. If he’s learned anything after eight years of friendship, it’s that Jade has a wild streak a mile wide. And while he doesn’t want to tame the adventurous woman, he wouldn’t mind showing her a few sexy ways to channel some of her impulsiveness. With him. In the bedroom.

When he proposes a sexy, no-strings-attached summer fling, Jade jumps at the chance to spice things up and indulge some pretty kinky fantasies. Then summer ends…and Jade comes to the uncomfortable realization that there’s only one place she’s comfortable in her own skin—Liam’s arms.

Warning:  Excessive heat in this story—in the bedroom, the barn, the kitchen, the bar. Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated!

Available for preorder from Amazon, Samhain and Barnes and Noble.

Wrapping up this incredible week of releases will be the re-release of Blank Canvas on February 19. This story was part of the Midnight Ink anthology for the past three months, but starting Feb. 19, it will be sold individually as well as continuing to be a part of the anthology.

Blank Canvas, Big Easy, book 1

Disillusioned by divorce, Jennifer’s about to discover her wild side, starting with a tattoo from Caliph. And continuing with submission, spankings, wax play…all under the skilled hands of her wickedly sexy tattoo master.

In this story, readers are introduced to Caliph Lewis and his family. Future books in the Big Easy series will stories about other siblings from the close-knit, fun-loving, rather unconventional Lewis family.

What Women Like

Alas…it’s nearly the end of January and so wraps up my month of first chapter sneak peeks. I saved the best for last as far as series go because this duo of books is just plain old, red-hot sexy, fun. Sugar and Spice is the first of two books with Everything Nice riding along after. Sex clubs? Check. Alpha males? Check. Inappropriate (but fun) use of candy? Check!

So as we say goodbye to January, say hello to Sugar and Spice.

Chapter One

“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.”

“I mean, I’d really rather— What did you say?” Ginny looked up quickly, her heart suddenly racing with excitement. She’d been begging her friends to take her to the Way Down Under Club for months. It was a new, super-exclusive sex club and Ginny had been dying to see inside the place since its grand opening. Travers, Taylor and Anderson were all gold-card members—whatever that meant—but they’d been uncharacteristically close-mouthed about the place. Every time she’d tried to invite herself along on one of their visits to the club, she’d been shot down cold. They’d teased her, saying she was too pure or too innocent for the place.

Glancing around, Ginny could see Anderson and Taylor were shocked by Travers’ invitation as well.

“I accept!” she practically shouted before they could talk Travers into changing his mind.

“Good. I’ll pick you up at nine.” Travers gave her a heart-stopping grin that would have caused her to expire on the spot if years of friendship hadn’t left her immune to it.

Still afraid Travers would change his mind, Ginny hopped up from her desk and rushed over to Anderson and Taylor. “Have fun storming the castle, guys. I’ll see you on Monday,” she said as she hugged them both goodbye. “See you later, Travers.”

“Later, Brooks.”

Travers waved as Ginny practically sprinted for the door, still afraid her jokester friend would add a quick “just kidding” to the invite and leave her all alone on her birthday. As she heard the office door close behind her without a peep passing from Travers’ lips, she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she didn’t need chocolate after all.

* * * * *

As Ginny drove home, she was so excited she found it difficult to concentrate on the road. She couldn’t wait until tonight. It bugged her that her friends had always refused to take her to the Way Down Under Club. She’d grown accustomed to being a solid member of their group and their uncharacteristic adamance where the club was concerned had annoyed the hell out of her. Throughout their lives, they’d done everything together. Shared everything together. Everything.

She grinned to herself as she remembered her first kiss. Charlie Anderson, in typical fashion, had been fired up about what he’d deemed an emergency. All the sixth grade boys in their class had had their first kiss and Anderson was worried about their gang of four being left behind…

 

“So then Tommy Elliot said he kissed her.” Twelve-year-old Charlie Anderson picked up a rock and threw it into the creek where he and his best friends were hanging out on a cool Saturday in May.

“Eww, gross! I wouldn’t kiss Charlotte Parkes,” Alex Taylor said.

“Well, Tommy isn’t the only boy who’s kissed a girl in our class,” Ryan Travers added. “Joel Madison has too.”

“You know, I don’t plan to be the only guy in sixth grade who hasn’t kissed a girl. Hey Brooks,” Anderson perked up as he looked at her, “you’re a girl.”

“So what?” Ginny asked belligerently. She took a step closer to Anderson, more than happy to use the fact that she was three inches taller than him to her benefit.

Anderson backed down at her intimidating move, but Travers took up the dare with a grin. “So we could all kiss you.”

“You touch me and I’ll punch you in the gut,” Ginny threatened.

Travers laughed. “No you won’t. Come on, Brooks. Be a pal. I’ll give you my Spider-Man Nerf ball.”

Ginny’s eyes lit up at the offer. She loved Spider-Man more than anything. “You swear you’ll give it to me?”

“I swear,” Travers vowed.

“Well, okay. But just once each. This is gonna be so gross!”

Anderson jumped forward, obviously excited by the prospect. He bent toward Ginny, who didn’t move a muscle. The second their lips touched, they both jumped back and wiped their mouths with the backs of their hands.

Taylor shook his head. “This is stupid. I’m going to the park to play baseball. See you all there.” Taylor picked up his mitt and walked away.

“I’m going with him.” Ginny bent down to pick up her own ball glove, but Travers stopped her.

“I didn’t get to kiss you yet. No kiss, no Spider-Man ball.”

“Oh yeah. Okay, well, hurry up.”

Now that Anderson had achieved his goal, he seemed ready to move on to the baseball game as well. “Yeah, go on Travers. It’s not as gross as I thought it’d be.”

“Speak for yourself,” Ginny retorted, glaring at the tow-headed boy.

Travers reached over, but rather than lean in, he pulled Ginny to him by her shoulders before moving his hands to the side of her face. “Now hold still,” he directed.

Ginny seemed too shocked to do much else as Travers rubbed his lips softly against hers. The kiss, in comparison to Anderson’s lightning-fast attempt, seemed to last for hours and when they finally parted, Ginny could only stare at Travers, dazed.

“Holy cow,” Anderson murmured. “How’d you know to do that?”

Travers grinned, grabbed up his bat and ball and took off in the direction Taylor had just gone. “I taught Charlotte Parkes how to kiss,” he shouted over his shoulder.

 

Ginny laughed aloud as she remembered Travers’ cocky reply. Ryan Travers was a born ladies’ man and she felt a small measure of pride over the fact that she seemed to be the one woman on the planet who wasn’t susceptible to his charms. Probably because she knew him too well. He’d been her best friend for more than half her life and she was looking forward to spending her birthday with him tonight. His sense of fun was infectious and she felt the need to throw back a few drinks, laugh and relax. She’d been disappointed as hell by Liam’s phone call this morning. They’d been dating for a couple months and she’d planned this special weekend away hoping to take their relationship to the next level.

She sighed and muttered to herself. “So much for that.” More and more, Liam seemed to be putting in longer hours at the firm and she wondered if this relationship really was meant to move forward. They had a good time when they went out together, but she wasn’t the type of woman to hop into bed with just anyone. Liam, typical of most of the men she dated, seemed to assume that if the first date went well, it should end in the bedroom. She had no problem negating that belief and she knew it had cost her more than a few second dates in the past.

Ginny took the exit off the interstate and turned left, heading for her home. At a stoplight, she thought of how Travers always seemed to be the one person in her life who managed to pick up the pieces. He had the undeniable ability to make her feel better when she was sad or upset or scared, and once again she felt herself drifting back to another time when he’d been there for her…

 

It was senior prom night and their little gang of four plus dates had headed to Travers’ house. His parents were out of town.

She tapped on Travers’ bedroom door. “Travers,” she whispered. “Are you in there?”

Travers was shirtless when he opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. “What is it, Brooks? Don’t tell me my parents came home.”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. She knew she should be embarrassed for breaking up his make-out session with his date, but he was her best friend and she knew he’d have the solution to her problem. “I did it.”

“Did what?”

“It, Travers, you know. The big It.” God help her if she had to say the word “sex”.

“With Erik Rogers? What the hell is wrong with you? The guy’s a wimp…an idiot.”

Ginny rolled her eyes at his continual insults toward her first real boyfriend. “Dammit, Travers, will you just shut up and listen to me?”

He took a closer look at her face. “Have you been crying? Did that dickhead hurt you? Where is he? I’ll kill the pansy ass!”

Ginny gripped his arm as Travers started down the hallway. “He didn’t hurt me. Well, I mean, not more than I expected. It’s supposed to hurt the first time.”

“Shit,” Travers cursed and looked at the wall. For a second, Ginny thought he might punch it. He was surly and out of sorts all the time nowadays. Anderson thought Travers was stressed out about going off to college and disappointed she wasn’t going with them.

Ginny swallowed back the lump in her throat when she thought of her mother taking pictures of her and Erik tonight before the dance. She’d been wearing a baseball cap to hide the fact her hair was gone. Cancer and chemotherapy were a bitch. When her mother had been diagnosed, Ginny stopped applying to colleges and started studying medical journals, trying to help chart the surest course for her mother to overcome the hateful disease. When the doctor’s bills started arriving, the idea of paying for college became an impossibility. Ginny planned to get a job following graduation and to remain at home to help her father care for her mother.

“Why were you crying, Brooks?”

“It wasn’t what I expected.”

“Sex? What do you mean?”

“Well…” Ginny struggled to find the words to express what was bothering her. “It was always so exciting when Erik and I made out and I really wanted more. And I felt that way tonight too. I mean, it felt good before he, well, you know…got inside me. Then it hurt and then it was over.”

A smug smile crossed Travers’ face and Ginny instantly regretted talking to him.

“You didn’t come, did you?” he asked.

Ginny shook her head. “I thought it was supposed to be this magical thing. Special, you know? I didn’t even have time to pretend to like it. I mean—”

She didn’t have a chance to finish her comment because Travers burst into laughter.

“This isn’t funny!”

He attempted to pull himself together although he snorted back a few chuckles as he spoke. “No, it’s not. An eighteen-year-old girl planning to fake an orgasm with her first boyfriend is not funny.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not like we’re going to get many more chances to try to perfect it. He’s headed to boot camp the day after graduation. That’s just next week.”

“I don’t think you should try again at all. I’ve told you a million times, you and Erik are too different. He’s not right for you. Let the bastard ship off.”

Ginny frowned. “You’re not being helpful.”

He sighed heavily. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I guess I just wish you would’ve waited. Erik’s the wrong guy for you.”

“I’m tired of waiting. You guys have been doing it for ages.”

Travers laughed. “It’s different for us.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’ll get better, Brooks. Most girls don’t come the first time. It’s a problem with the female mind. You all think too much and forget to let go and have fun. I can just imagine everything that was running through your head while old Erik was struggling with the condom. Let’s see, I bet you were worried about the way you looked naked, your prom dress getting wrinkled, getting caught, somebody hearing you, what your mom would say. Have I covered it all?”

Ginny giggled. “You left out the ‘condom breaking, getting pregnant’ one. That’s a biggie.”

Travers gripped her by the back of the neck and placed a kiss on top of her head. “Dear God, tell me the condom didn’t break.”

“It didn’t break.”

“Yeah, well, this little conversation just proves my point. Don’t worry about it, Brooks. I’m sure the sex will get better. Probably not with the eunuch Erik— Oof! Hey, what’d you punch me for?”

“That was for Erik.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “And that was for me.”

* * * * *

“What the hell does that ‘storming the castle’ thing mean? She says it all the time,” Ryan Travers wondered aloud as he watched Brooks leave the office.

“Sadly, I know the answer to that. It’s her favorite line from The Princess Bride. She made me watch it with her one weekend,” Taylor answered.

“Are you nuts?” Anderson yelled, clearly not concerned about Brooks’ Princess Bride fetish. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t take her to that club.”

“Why not?” Travers shrugged.

“Because it’s a sex club, dumbass! This is Brooks we’re talking about. Not one of your Tramps of the Month.”

“You know, if I didn’t resemble that remark so much, I’d punch you in the damn mouth.” He laughed, but Anderson looked ready to pop a blood vessel in his brain. “Listen, why don’t you give me a little credit here? It’s her thirtieth birthday for Christ’s sake and Loser Liam left her high and dry. We all know that she’s been chomping at the bit to get into that club. I’ll take her to the bar section, buy her a few drinks and deliver her home safe and sound. Trust me, she’ll still be our sweet little Brooks in the morning.”

“So you won’t let her leave the bar area?” Anderson asked.

“What are you? Her fucking father? No, I won’t let her leave the bar,” Travers promised.

Taylor looked at them and shrugged. “It is the perfect present,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve been saying. So, you boys better get going or you’ll miss your flight. Have fun screwing yourselves silly with the McDermont twins and don’t worry about a thing here. I’ll show Brooks the time of her life.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Anderson muttered, but he let himself be ushered out the door by his two best friends.

Ryan watched his friends pull out of the parking lot before going back inside and meandering over to Brooks’ desk. He opened her top drawer and helped himself to the last piece of candy. He really should buy a bag or two—or twenty—to replace all the sweets he’d stolen from her over the years, but that thought never seemed to cross his mind when he was at the grocery store.

As he opened up the package of SweeTarts, he spotted an old photograph lying in the drawer. Pulling it out, he grinned to see a picture of him with Brooks and Anderson standing by a campfire and hamming it up for the camera while Taylor snapped the shot. He was amazed to see how little they’d all changed over the years. The photo was from a camping trip at the end of summer after their high school graduation, sort of a last hurrah before the guys went off to college and Ginny started her new job.

Ryan was a bit embarrassed by how often he thought of that night, the memories of it burned on his brain so that it truly did feel as if it had happened yesterday. He’d waited until the other fellas had fallen asleep…

 

“Scoot over, Brooks.”

“Travers, what are you—”

“Shhhh, do you wanna wake up the other guys?” Ryan whispered as he unzipped Brooks’ sleeping bag and attempted to crawl in.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“It’s our last night together.”

“No shit, Sherlock. Why do you think we’re camping out?”

“Well, I thought I’d take care of your problem for you.” Ryan curled up beside her and ran his hand along her rib cage, pleased when she shivered with delight at his touch.

“What problem?”

“Your orgasm problem,” he answered simply as Brooks froze.

“Travers, I am not having sex with you.”

“I never said anything about sex, just orgasms.”

“What’s the diff—”

“Shhhh. No more talking. And do me a favor, Brooks—try to concentrate on what I’m doing and nothing else. Okay?”

He was slightly surprised when Brooks fell silent. She was never one to give in easily and it thrilled him that she trusted him enough to let him proceed without an argument. He even got the sense that she wanted him to touch her.

He reached down and tried to work the boxers she was sleeping in down over her hips. Anderson and Taylor were sacked out on the other side of the campfire.

Once he had her boxers past her knees, he whispered, “Kick them off or they’ll be in the way.”

Brooks complied and Ryan grinned. He wasn’t sure why he felt so compelled to do this, but he’d sensed Brooks’ disappointment ever since prom night and he didn’t want to leave for college without proving to her that sex really could feel terrific. God only knew what kind of clods she’d start dating without him around to weed out the unsavory ones. She sure had shitty taste in men.

Once she was bare from the waist down, Ryan dragged his fingers along her hip and around to her shapely buttocks. She was fit and trim and her ass filled his hand nicely.

“Open your legs,” he whispered and again, Brooks obeyed without hesitation. Ryan sucked in a deep breath and struggled to ignore his raging hard-on. He pushed his waist away from her a bit, afraid she’d feel his erection and freak out.

He grabbed her left leg and positioned it over his right hip. He was aware of the fact he was mostly lying on the cold ground rather than in the sleeping bag, but all he really cared about was that Brooks was covered up. It wouldn’t do for Anderson and Taylor to wake up and find him with his fingers buried in their best friend’s pussy.

They lay side by side, facing each other, and Ryan could feel her accelerated breathing on his cheek. “Relax, Brooks.”

“I’m trying,” she insisted, “but this is weird.”

Ryan chuckled and brought his fingers to her pussy. He slowly pushed his finger through her curls until he found her clit. She hissed in a breath as he touched the sensitive button.

“There it is,” he whispered, increasing the pressure until she began squirming. “You like that?”

“Oh my God, yes,” she replied breathlessly.

Ryan forged on and trailed his fingers down to her wet opening.

Shit, her soaked opening was more like it. She was dripping with juices and her cunt was on fire. Ryan stifled a groan at the thought of what it would feel like to push his cock into that hot pussy. He pushed one, then two fingers inside and Brooks’ hips starting moving against them, trying to force them farther in.

“Easy,” he murmured, but she didn’t seem to hear him. She was gyrating wildly on his thrusting fingers and he was having a hard time holding back his own enthusiasm. She was so incredibly sexy it was all he could do not to come in his pants. When he sensed she was close, he moved his thumb back to her clit and tapped it firmly, twice.

He sensed Brooks wasn’t going to come quietly so he moved fast to cover her mouth with his other hand. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Shhh, wildcat,” he whispered, attempting to soothe her moans as she slowly came down from the peak. Glancing over, he saw that Anderson and Taylor were still sound asleep. Thank God. Brooks would have been mortified if they’d woken up.

Slowly he moved back, loving the sounds of her regretful whimpers as he pulled his fingers from her quivering pussy.

When his hand was free, she hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and for several moments, neither of them said a word.

“Travers,” she whispered, leaning back to look into his face.

“Yeah, Brooks?”

“Thanks.”

He kissed the end of her nose and reverted back to his usual teasing. “Well, we men have a duty to uphold the reputation of all mankind. Couldn’t let you go around thinking we were all crap in bed.”

 

She’d given him a heart-stopping grin and Ryan could still recall the pain he’d felt at leaving her behind. He hadn’t been ready for things to change and he remembered the fear of losing her as a friend—terrified they would drift apart as so often happened.

He shrugged off his wayward thoughts and sighed. Luckily their friendship survived the time and distance and tonight, by God, he was going to show her one hell of a good birthday. She deserved it and besides, that’s what friends were for.

Sugar and Spice is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, Sony, and Audible.

How about a Scoundrel?

One of my all-time favorite series actually started with a dare. I hang out on the Heat Wave yahoo group from time to time and a couple of readers issued a challenge. Basically, they said write us a pirate story where the woman slaps the pirate. I have NO idea how this conversation started or how we got from discussing our love of historical pirate novels to this dare, but…well…I never could turn down a challenge. Picture the kid with his tongue stuck to the lamp post in A Christmas Story. Yeah…that’s me. The first book, Black Jack, was so much fun to write, I went back to write more. So began the Scoundrels series. It’s half historical/half modern-day sex club. I don’t know how it worked, but somehow it did! Guess I got lucky. lol

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 have taken over your ship. Now we’re 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 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, she’d fetch a fair price in ransom.

Her blow and fiery rage ignited his temper and his final destination changed as he pushed her toward the ladder that would take them 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 light blue eyes surrounded by thick, long black lashes. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely pink due to anger and exertion. Her breathing had accelerated, each hastily inhaled breath thrusting her full 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 to play. She’d struck him in front of his men. At that point, she’d 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 captive ladies to return home once their ransoms 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 the lady’s middle and lifted 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 pocket of his jeans. “I feel like an ass.”

Emma laughed. “I owe you a big one for this, Smacker.”

Jack ignored her use of the annoying nickname. After years of friendship, she still persisted in calling him by the silly name. She’d given it to him after they’d gotten more than a bit tipsy at a bar the night Emma turned twenty-one. She’d tripped and spilled her strawberry daiquiri down the front of his shirt. He’d spent the evening smelling like a little girl’s tube of Bonne Bell lip gloss. Emma had teased him the entire night, calling him Lip Smacker. Sadly, fourteen years later, the shortened version of the name still stuck.

“I don’t think there’s a favor big enough in the world to repay me for this.” Jack leaned against the railing of the fake ship, looking out at the empty tables and chairs of the nightclub as he considered the fact they’d soon be filled with clubgoers, all watching his weak attempt at piracy.

“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.”

He looked around and shook his head. “Still find it hard to believe that you plan fetish fantasy shows for a nightclub. I’ve got to admit, when you were making your valedictory speech in high school, this wasn’t exactly where I pictured you ending up.”

“Maybe not, but I bet you knew I’d be organizing awesome parties attended by all the biggest names, right?”

Emma had been the queen of the social scene in high school. Jack thought it had probably surprised more than a few of their peers to discover she had such good grades, given her love of partying. Begrudgingly, he had to admit she was one of the most naturally intelligent people he’d ever met. She had a razor-sharp mind with a quick wit to match. Her photographic memory didn’t hurt either. Quite frankly, it had taken very little work for Emma to maintain her position at the top of their class. Not that it had been a very large class.

They’d both enrolled in USC and moved to Los Angeles from Bumfuck, North Dakota, determined to escape their small town. The third in their small gang of friends, Travis, had come along for the ride as well, mainly because he thought living in L.A. would be a lark. Little did Jack and Emma know their unmotivated, antisocial best friend would find his niche in the City of Angels.

“Yeah, I knew you’d plan awesome parties.” Jack reached up to rub his cheek. “Hey, did you have to slap me so hard?”

She rolled her eyes. “You big baby. It wasn’t that hard. Besides, the sound has to carry through the room to make it authentic.”

Jack crossed his arms. “I hope your actress doesn’t have your right hook or I’m likely to suffer a concussion.”

“Not my fault. If you’ll recall, it was you and Travis who taught me how to fight.”

“You were supposed to use those moves on the frat-boy assholes at college. Not me.”

Emma shrugged. “Looks like I got a bonus from my lessons.”

“Yeah, well, you try to lay another one of those bonuses on my face and I’m gonna return the smack. Only I won’t be aiming at the cheek on your face.”

“Promises, promises.”

Jack tried to ignore the way his cock twitched at her taunt. They weren’t strangers to sexy innuendos, but he’d been friends with her long enough to know they’d never follow through on the teasing.

“Speaking of actresses, where the hell is Jennifer?” Emma glanced at her watch for the twelfth time in an hour. “She’s not usually late.”

“Hey Em!”

Jack and Emma looked up toward the landing that overlooked the stage, where Travis kept his private offices. Jack had teased him more than once about the mafia-style two-way mirror that allowed Travis to watch the show and the audience without being seen.

“What?” Emma yelled.

Jack shook his head and marveled at the fact his friends were running L.A.’s number-one hotspot and not killing each other in the process. The only reason he could surmise for Em and Trav’s somewhat peaceful coexistence was that they had a shared goal. Emma had always been annoyed by Travis’ lack of ambition, while Travis envied Emma’s ability to fit into any social circle. Not that Jack had ever noticed Travis attempting to change his solitary existence. His friend seemed to prefer his safe sanctuary above the club, away from people, taking care of the business end of things from behind his magic mirror. He was more than happy to leave the managing of the club itself to Emma.

“Jen just called. She’s got that same damn stomach virus as Marshall. Looks like you’re out both leads tonight.”

“Fuck!” Emma cursed, turning to kick the mast of the fake ship.

“Hey, take it easy on the props,” Travis hollered. “Took me ages to find a carpenter who could build that thing well enough to please you.”

Emma threw Travis a dirty look, but didn’t reply.

Jack tried to calm the storm—a role he was accustomed to playing with his friends. “So we’ll just find someone else. How about we split that phone list of yours? Start at the top and work our way down. Bet we could knock it out in under an hour.”

She shook her head. “Too late for that now. We’ll never find anyone who can learn the part and get ready in just a few short hours.”

“It’s not like there are scripted lines, Em. Isn’t that what you told me? The woman would just have to fight the kidnapping pirate and allow herself to be ravished onstage in front of a horny audience.” Jack wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and ran his hand along his half-erect, jeans-clad cock. “Hell, you can’t give up now. You promised me a hot captive.”

She snorted. Jack enjoyed the familiar sound. “Christ, Carlysle. It’s not a fucking porno. All you have to do is pretend you’re doing it. Mimic the motions.”

Travis interrupted their conversation. “Doesn’t matter if Jack plays the part or not. Without an actress, we may as well cancel the show.”

Emma scowled. “It’s sold out. Do you know how much money we’d lose?”

Travis rubbed his chin irritably, indicating he knew exactly what they were facing. “Yeah, Em. I think even with my limited math skills, I can work out the equation on that.”

She sighed sadly. “I wasn’t insinuating that—”

“I know,” Travis interjected. His business acumen had taken both Jack and Emma by surprise. The guy was born to run a club—except for the lack of social skills. For that, he had Emma.

“Why don’t you do it?” Jack suggested. The words popped out before he could think better of them. He’d enjoyed practicing his role with Emma and he hadn’t exactly been looking forward to sharing the stage with a stranger.

Travis burst out laughing. “Holy shit. Now I’d pay to see that, and it’s my fucking club.”

Emma scowled at Travis. “Go back into your hole, little worm. Crunch numbers, think up all those grand schemes you’ll make me execute. I’ll deal with tonight’s show.”

Communicating through insults was standard operating procedure for all of them. Travis grinned. “Let me know if you decide to play the damsel in distress. I wanna make sure my video camera’s charged to get the footage.”

“No cameras allowed at Scoundrels,” Emma said.

Travis shrugged. “That’s the beauty of this mirror. You don’t have a clue what I’m doing behind it.”

“Eww. Gross,” Emma called out as Travis headed back into his office and closed the door behind him, leaving them alone once more. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Jack scowled. “Meaning?”

“Meaning there’s no way I’m going to dress up like some damn fool and scream my head off while you have your wicked pirate way with me.”

“I see. But it’s okay for me to make an ass of myself in front of God and everybody.”

Emma sighed. “That’s not what I’m saying. You don’t work here. You may come and have a drink occasionally and take in a show, but you don’t have to see these people day in and day out.”

“So you’re embarrassed about acting in front of the employees? The regulars?” Jack didn’t buy it. Emma had played the lead role in the school’s musical during their senior year. She’d been a natural. In fact, for a while, Jack suspected her decision to move to L.A. had been based on a secret desire to be an actress.

“I’m the manager here. Next to Travis, I’m the boss. I don’t think it would do my reputation any good if I got up onstage and pretended to be a submissive captive.”

Jack struggled not to laugh. “Emma, I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. Regardless of what you do on this stage, I find it hard to believe it will change the way your employees view you. You’re a force to be reckoned with and no one’s in danger of forgetting that.”

“Ha ha. You know, I’m not that hard to work for.”

She was a perfectionist with high standards and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit, both things that Jack respected. She also expected that same level of commitment in others, which he suspected was another reason the club was so successful. Those who could toe Emma’s line were driven, energetic, kindred spirits. Those who couldn’t hack it got out. As a result, Scoundrels had a staff most nightclubs would kill for.

“What’s the real reason you don’t want to do it, Em? I’m not buying this losing face line.”

She sighed. “I’m not sure I can pull off the role. You must admit, submissive isn’t very high on my list of personality traits.”

This time Jack did laugh. Loud and long. “Jesus, Em. It’s not on the list at all.”

She narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

“It’s called acting. You’re familiar with the premise. You managed to play Maria from The Sound of Music. Let’s face it. You aren’t exactly nun material either, but you pulled that off.”

“Fine. You want me to spell it out for you, Mr. Clueless? Then I will. We would have to imitate having sex onstage. You and me. Us,” she said, pointing at him and then herself for effect.

“No shit. Isn’t that sort of the point of the whole little fantasy scenario?”

She rolled her eyes. “You don’t think that would be a little awkward? No, strike that. You don’t think it would be a lot awkward?”

He shook his head. The question didn’t require a moment of thought. “No. I don’t.”

His confident answer took her aback and, if he wasn’t mistaken, seemed to hurt her feelings. “Oh.”

What the fuck was going on inside her head? “We’re friends, Em. We have been forever. I’d feel more comfortable acting out a fantasy onstage with you than with a stranger.”

She nodded, but he got a sense his words weren’t helping much. It was clear she was upset. However, this was Emma Potter. Nothing held her down for long. He watched her shake off whatever was bothering her in an instant. “Right. Well…”

She fell silent for a moment and he remained quiet. Emma was a thinker and nothing he could say or do at this point would change the fact she’d make the decision to participate—or not—on her own.

That didn’t stop him from hoping she’d agree. Even though they’d only played out a small part of the fantasy, he wasn’t going to pretend he didn’t like the idea of dominating Emma…a lot.

“Fine. I’ll do it. It’s a sold-out performance and there are going to be some big-name stars in the crowd. Canceling isn’t really an option I want to consider.”

Her love of the club won out. Jack knew it was foolish to be irritated that she was only participating for work. They were friends. Nothing more. Still…

“Great. Then I think we need to finish the rehearsal.” He was itching to get her beneath him.

She gave him a rueful grin. “You sure you don’t want to improvise? Might come across as fresh and realistic if we aren’t too rehearsed.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You aren’t seriously telling me you let your actors go onstage without running through the act. I know you too well.”

She shrugged, her silence giving her away.

“We’re practicing and that’s all there is to it.”

“Whatever. Let’s get this over with. I have a gazillion things to do before showtime.”

He smiled. “You can’t rush art.”

Emma snorted. “This isn’t art. It’s soft porn.”

“Thought you just said it wasn’t a porno?”

She shrugged. “You know what I mean.”

Jack took Emma by the hand and led her to the ladder. The fake ship was two levels with a narrow balcony that served as the deck. Climbing down the ladder put them on the main stage, which, in this instance, was the pirate captain’s private quarters. There was a large bed positioned sideways at center stage—making it the most important prop and providing the entire audience a perfect view.

Emma and Travis had worked hard on this particular set. Jack remembered stopping by many afternoons to lend his own advice and to watch as the ship was constructed. Typically, each fantasy shows at Scoundrels ran for one month. Because it was unscripted, the show was never the same, featuring different actors each weekend for four weeks, who changed up the lines and actions to keep returning audience members entertained. The actors were given the bare-bones synopsis and told to interpret it however they wanted. So far, it seemed to be an award-winning combination, mainly because Emma only hired truly talented actors with strong improvisational abilities.

This was the last week of the pirate fantasy and Jack knew Emma and Travis had spent a small fortune on marketing, as well as saving their best actors for last. Marshall and Jennifer had a huge fan following and their performance nights never failed to sell out.

Jack gestured for Emma to climb down the ladder. He followed her. When they reached the main stage, he looked at the bed and felt the arousal he’d been holding at bay reappear. No point in trying to hide his emerging erection. She was going to feel it when he pressed against her. Not that he’d apologize for it. After all, the whole purpose of the show was to prompt sexual excitement. “Go lie on the bed.”

Emma gave him a strange look. “What the hell for?”

“I think we should practice the phony sex thing.”

“What about the rest of the show? My heroine is supposed to fight tooth and nail. She’s not going to just hop in the bed and say ‘have at it’.”

He laughed. Emma had more in common with the spunky heroine than she realized. They were both headstrong, stubborn women who wouldn’t bend to any man’s will. Jack’s cock thickened even more. Those attributes were hotter than hell.

“I know you’re going to fight. I can handle that part. The tricky part is going to be the simulated sex. We have to make it look real.”

“The lighting helps with that,” Emma said matter-of-factly. “We’ve got it set up so that certain areas of the bed are in shadow at the beginning. Once you start moving, there are a lot of flashing, colored lights that help enhance the scene until the climax.”

Jack grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

She smirked and slapped him on the arm, well aware of the dual meaning of her words. “I mean the climax of the story, you dork.”

“Get on the bed,” he repeated. He was pleased when she obeyed without kicking up a fuss. She really was determined to play this role.

She was wearing a short skirt with a soft cotton T-shirt. Emma was beautiful in a simple, unassuming way. Her clothing was never ostentatious or flamboyant. The best word he could think of to describe her was classic. She had light brown hair with natural blonde highlights thanks to the California sun, big blue eyes and the slightest smattering of freckles on her nose.

Tonight her outfit would consist of a blouse and long skirt. She’d shown him the costumes earlier. He was looking forward to ripping some of that clothing off her.

He felt certain Emma never would have dialed his number if she’d realized exactly how much he wanted to do this. Last month, he and Travis had finally had a heart-to-heart and come clean about their unusual sexual desires. While they’d been best friends forever, the subject of what they liked in the bedroom—and who they’d like in their bed—had never come up. After consuming a bottle of Jim Beam while watching the fetish show from Travis’ lofty tower office, Jack had confessed why he’d sent his latest love interest walking.

While it was little mystery to his friend that he was a serious dominant in the bedroom, there was one aspect of his nature he’d never shared with Travis. If he hadn’t been three sheets to the wind, he never would have revealed his penchant for sex with a twist at all. The truth was he’d harbored the secret desire to perform before an audience for a long time, but not as an actor. While Emma shone in the spotlight back at school, he’d been content to work in the wings. No, his need wasn’t to be yet another wannabe actor roaming Hollywood Boulevard.

Jack liked sex in public. Not all the time, but more than he realized most women were comfortable with.

Growing up, he’d felt like there was something wrong with him. In North Dakota, his desires would have gotten him drawn and quartered at dawn or committed to a mental hospital. However, in a city of sinners, he no longer felt it was wrong to experiment with that particular fetish and he’d indulged more than a few times with women who’d shared his interest—mainly actresses who thrived on attention. The problem was he’d yet to find a woman who could hold his attention outside the bedroom, unless he counted Emma. He’d never seriously pursued her sexually, though they’d flirted for years. There was a part of him that suspected she’d balk at his fetish. Besides, he valued their friendship too much to risk it.

As far as Jack was concerned, performing onstage at Scandals was an acceptable form of sex in public, even if it was simulated. Nearly perfect. Nearly as exciting.

Travis had understood and confided his own twisted fantasy. While Jack longed for the sexual spotlight, Travis liked to watch. He’d built his office and the club simply to fulfill his need for visual stimulation. Unfortunately, Travis hadn’t found anyone to share his peeping Tom pleasures with. Jack worried Travis would never find a companion. God knew he wouldn’t as long as he continued hiding behind the glass.

Travis had given him shit for hiding his feelings for Emma, calling him to task for wasting so much time. Truth was Jack had taken special care to hide his true nature from her. His deception wasn’t based on shame or anything like that. It was simply something he’d never felt comfortable telling her. Emma was as straight as they came, which made her agreement to participate in this show all the more surprising.

Emma climbed onto the bed, sitting in the center of the large mattress. Jack shook his head. “Lay down, Em. On your back.”

She narrowed her eyes and he knew she was irritated at being commanded to do anything. “This is pointless.”

“Not at all.” He walked to the bed and crawled on. He sensed Emma’s surprise when he continued moving, pushing her until she was caged beneath him. Once he had her where he wanted her, he froze, giving himself time to take stock of her response to his close proximity. Her breathing accelerated slightly and he could see the tiny pulse at her neck racing. Her nipples made an appearance, poking against the material of her T-shirt.

“I’ve watched the fetish shows before,” he said. “And you’re right. The lighting and sound effects are deceptive. Always made me wonder how much was real and how much was make-believe.”

She nodded and licked her lips. A nervous reaction? Or an invitation?

Jack decided he didn’t give a shit. He’d waited a lifetime to kiss her. He bent down and placed his lips on hers.

For a split second, Emma remained motionless. Then she responded. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck, accepting his kisses and his tongue as he invaded her mouth. He lowered until his forearms supported his upper body on the mattress. The switch in position pressed his body closer to hers, her breasts crushed against his chest.

Jack deepened the kiss, unwilling to break the spell. He’d never consciously let himself imagine kissing Emma, knowing he’d want it too bad. Now that his lips were on hers, he kicked himself for being a fool. Suddenly, all the years they’d spent floundering in mere friendship seemed like a huge waste of time.

Her tongue brushed his and he groaned. Lowering his waist, he ground his erection against Emma, letting her feel his arousal, his need.

Her response shook him to his core.

Reaching down, she lifted her skirt so she could raise her legs to wrap them around his waist. He pressed his cock against her panty-covered pussy, the heat he found there undeniable even through the denim of his jeans.

He shifted slightly, humping against her until she was panting. Jack wondered if he could bring her to orgasm with the simple motion and increased his speed. He wanted to see her come more than he wanted his next breath.

A slight shuffling sound from the landing above momentarily caught his attention but Jack blocked it out, not caring if Travis watched. The idea that his friend might be on the landing ramped up his efforts. He lifted his lips from Emma’s and moved away slightly. Her face was flushed, her eyes hungry. She blinked rapidly, confused by his sudden departure.

“I want to watch you come.”

She shook her head, no doubt trying to regain her wits. He refused to let her overanalyze his request.

“I need to know what it looks like.”

He reached down and shoved the thin material of her panties aside. Before Emma could protest, he pushed two fingers into her wet heat. Emma lurched beneath him and he figured out exactly how close she was to climaxing. Her pussy walls contracted around his fingers and, for the first time, he realized he was in danger of blowing too. Christ, he hadn’t come in his pants from simple foreplay since he was a teenager. Right now that reaction seemed like a foregone conclusion.

“God,” Emma cried. “Jack, please.”

He increased the speed and pressure of his thrusting fingers, relishing the tightness of Emma’s sheath. She was trembling as her hips writhed beneath him. She appeared to be oblivious to everything except his fingers in her body, driving her higher, harder.

“Goddamn it, Em. Come, baby. Let me feel your pretty pussy squeeze my fingers. Then think about what it’s going to feel like when I fill you with my hard cock.”

His words were the final nail in the coffin. Emma screamed her release. Jack gritted his teeth against the desire to join her in that bliss, but the idea of spending the rest of the afternoon in sticky jeans held him back—just barely.

As Emma’s climax subsided, he lay still. He hadn’t removed his fingers from her body. He wouldn’t do that—couldn’t. Not yet. He wanted to retain possession of her sweet cunt while they had the conversation that seemed imminent.

After several moments, Emma’s closed eyes began to open slowly. When she saw Jack hovering above her, she winced and shut them once more.

“Closing your eyes isn’t going to change anything.”

“Sure it will,” Emma said, her eyes pressed shut. “I can pretend you’re someone else and we didn’t just make the biggest fucking mistake ever.”

“I’d hardly call what happened a mistake.” He wiggled his fingers inside her cunt and she gasped.

“Jesus. Get out of there,” she demanded.

He laughed. “No. I like it. It’s warm.”

Emma’s gaze rose to meet his, though her eyes remained narrowed, piercing him with a laser stare. He was glad to see his indomitable friend return. “We’re supposed to pretend to have sex. Not actually have it. You pull that shit tonight and we’re likely to lose our business license.”

“I know exactly what my role is, Em. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Apparently I do. Dammit, Jack. What were you thinking? What was I thinking?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes it’s good to be spontaneous. Seems to me you think too fucking much.”

“And you don’t think enough.”

He brushed her clit with his thumb, enjoying her shocked intake of breath. “I think I like watching you come. I think I like the way your body feels under mine and I think I’m going to fuck you until we both pass out tonight after the show.”

She scowled. “Oh yeah? Well, think again.”

She reached down and gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his fingers from her pussy.

Jack didn’t budge. “Stop trying to move my hand.”

“Then take it out,” she demanded.

He shook his head. “No. Now let go of my wrist and put your hands above your head.”

She wanted to deny him. Every particle of her being was itching to fight him. He could see it in the stiff set of her shoulders and the tenseness in her jaw.

“Do it now, Emma, or I’m going to flip you over onto your stomach and spank your ass until it glows bright red.”

Her face flushed a deeper pink and her breathing stuttered for a second. She recovered quickly from his threat. But not quickly enough…

He’d made a discovery about his friend—one that was shaking him to the core and sending even more blood pulsing to his already throbbing cock.

Emma was a closet submissive.

His powerhouse, take-no-prisoners pal was hiding a sexual skeleton in her own closet.

“You try to spank me and I think you’ll find yourself minus a body part or two by the time I’m finished with you.”

He grinned. “Idle threat. You and I both know it.”

His easygoing reply to her heated response threw her. He hadn’t pretended to be less than his dominant self with Emma. For years she’d seen that side of him, listened to his sex tales and teased him about his caveman antics in the bedroom. However, while she’d heard about it, she’d never been the recipient. Jack had foolishly marked her off the list, claiming the friendship was too important to risk on a roll in the hay. In all honesty, he’d never thought they’d be compatible in the bedroom despite the underlying attraction that had always simmered between them.

He’d been wrong.

Black Jack is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony and All Romance Ebooks.

Quote of the Day

Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

- Mark Twain

More fun with series

Today’s featured series is actually more like a duo of books. Even so…they are two of my all-time favorite stories, so what the heck? I’m including them. My first published book with Ellora’s Cave was Kiss Me, Kate. It is followed up by Three Reasons Why and the two stories are about sisters from Madison. How about a peek at Kate?

Chapter One

Mid-May

“Yowza,” Kate muttered as the front door of the farmhouse opened. Recalling herself, she quickly said, “Hi there. I c-called earlier. I’m Jill’s sister. The, uh, house-sitter.” Kate stumbled over her words as a man who could pass for George Clooney’s identical twin brother answered the door. O brother, where art thou been all my life?

“Hello.” Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome spoke in a voice so hot and deep she was sure it could melt chocolate, not to mention what it was doing to her insides. “Ms. Summers?”

“Harper.” She silently remarked how strange it felt to be using her maiden name again and extended her hand. “Kate Harper.”

“Harper.” He shook the hand she offered, his grip strong yet curiously comforting. “Rick McAllister.”

Kate prayed he couldn’t feel her hand shaking. Damn, she was a fool. She needed this job, desperately. Now was not the time to act like a giggling teenager crushing on a movie star. Although with his dark brown hair and cocoa-colored eyes, he could certainly grace her silver screen anytime of the day or night. “You’re doing it again,” she muttered underneath her breath.

“Excuse me?” Rick had heard her mumbles and looked confused.

Mortified, Kate attempted to backtrack quickly. “Nothing, I was just, uh, saying…so you and Jill are friends?”

Rick grinned in a way that let Kate know he wasn’t fooled. “Yep and I don’t mind telling you that your sister makes a Dutch apple pie that can bring a grown man to his knees begging for a crumb of the crust.”

Kate laughed at his description. She constantly heard similar comments from most of the folks in town. Her sister owned and operated a diner on Main Street. It was typically packed for breakfast, lunch and dinner due to Jill’s amazing culinary skills and vivacious personality. Kate couldn’t think of one person in town who wasn’t drawn to Jill and her delicious food—which made it all the more painful to have to admit she was Jill’s baby sister. People expected Kate to be like her and were always disappointed.

“Jill’s cooking is one of the reasons I’ll never succeed in any diet.”

“Why on earth are you dieting?”

Rick looked so sincere in his question, Kate wasn’t sure how to respond. Flustered, she changed the subject. “I, uh, understand you’re leaving town immediately.”

“That’s right.” Rick stepped back from the doorway and gestured for her to enter. “Why don’t you come on in? Would you like something to drink? I’m not sure there’s much left in the fridge except for a couple beers and maybe some lemonade. Wes and I have been trying to clean it out so nothing would spoil. We weren’t sure we’d be able to find someone to stay here on such short notice.”

“Oh, I’m not thirsty. Thanks anyway.” Kate’s eyes took in the spacious foyer. “Wow.”

Rick chuckled behind her. “Is that an impressed ‘wow’ or a horrified one?”

“Impressed,” she answered without thinking. “This house is even better on the inside.” It was an old farmhouse, situated on twenty-five acres just outside the small town where she worked as the high school librarian. She’d driven by the house quite a few times in the past since it sat on the road that led to one of her favorite hiking trails. Every time she drove by, she slowed down to see all the improvements the new owners had made over the years.

Although she’d never actually met Wes Robson or Rick McAllister, she’d certainly heard all about them via the gossip grapevine, a.k.a. Jill. She had seen them in town on various occasions, but only from a distance. She had to say up-close was much, much better.

“Other than Wes and myself, I think you’re the only person to ever actually admit that. We still have quite a bit of work left to do, as you can see. Wes and I have put most of our efforts into maintaining the outside of the house and the outbuildings. I’m afraid neither one of us is much use when it comes to interior decorating. Add to that the fact that our housekeeper quit a couple months ago, we’re two hopeless bachelors when it comes to housework and voila—the mess you see before you.”

“Not a mess.” Kate studied the high ceilings and arched doorways that led to several different rooms. The house was clearly built at a time when people paid attention to detail. She was so sick of the carbon-copy cardboard boxes contractors liked to refer to as “dream homes” nowadays. “A work in progress—and one with a lot of potential.”

“I agree,” Rick added quietly. “We’ve just had a hard time making any progress on that work. Come on in the living room. Wes will be here in awhile. He’s out mowing the yard.”

“I assume you have a riding mower?” Kate wondered if yard chores would be part of her duties if she could convince Rick and Wes to allow her to stay.

“Hell yeah. Pardon my language, but it would be a bit much to do with a push mower.” Then he seemed to realize the reason for her question. “You don’t have to worry about that, though. There’s a teenager who lives down the road. He’ll be taking over the yard work once school lets out in a couple weeks. Jill says you’re a teacher?”

“Librarian, but as it’s at the high school, chances are good I know your new gardener.”

“Scott Miller.”

“Oh yeah, Scott’s a great kid. He’ll do a terrific job.” Kate wondered if Rick knew how much the Miller family could use any money Scott would earn. His mother was a teacher at the same school as Kate and his father had recently been placed on disability. The family had four kids, ages eight to seventeen, and Kate knew money was tight.

“Jill says you’re going through a divorce,” Rick added and Kate felt the usual tightness in her chest that accompanied that statement. The pain of her slime-ball husband’s desertion still stung. She’d come home two months ago to find their house empty and their joint bank account cleaned out.

Madison was a small town and she was sure there was little chance Rick McAllister hadn’t heard all the gory details of how the town’s top lawyer had run out on his dumpy librarian wife and taken off with Madison’s one and only hairdresser. True to the cliché, Kate was the last one to find out about Zachary Summers’ cheating ways. In fact, until she came home to find everything in the house gone—except her books and clothes—Kate hadn’t had a clue Zack wasn’t faithful to her.

Having grown up in Madison, Kate wasn’t surprised by the townspeople’s reactions. Her husband’s exploits were apparently acceptable because they were so expected. She overheard one particularly nasty comment about how it had only been a matter of time before Zack Summers left to find a woman worthy of him. On top of that, Kate sensed most of the women in town were actually pissed off with her for not keeping her husband happy because they now had to travel thirty-five miles to Harrisburg to get their perms and color.

Kate cleared her throat and nodded. “That’s right. Unfortunately divorce is a rather pricey investment and I decided to put my house on the market to help with the cost.” Not that Kate gave a damn about the house. Zack picked out the modern monstrosity, determined to rub his success as an ambulance chaser in the neighbors’ noses, and Kate had hated it since the day they’d moved in.

“I’ve been staying with Jill, but she and I are rather different people and her apartment is a bit small.” Kate didn’t bother to include the fact that, although she loved her sister dearly, Jill was driving her up the wall.

“Well, I have to say Wes and I were starting to give up hope of finding someone to take care of the place. Fact of the matter is we aren’t sure how long we’ll be out of town and we hate to leave the place empty for so long. There are lots of plants inside that need tending, and Rex.”

“Rex?”

“Jill did tell you we have a dog, didn’t she?” Rick asked, looking concerned.

“Uh, no.” And Kate knew exactly why Jill had omitted that fact. Kate was deathly afraid of dogs since being bitten by one in the sixth grade. “Is Rex an outdoor dog?” Silently she prayed he was one of those dogs kept in a pen in the back she only had to throw water and food at once a day.

Rick laughed. “Oh no, although he probably should be. Big old pain in the ass is what he is. He adopted us about a year ago.”

The word “big” reverberated in Kate’s head. “He adopted you?”

“Just walked up to the back door and started scratching. Wes is a softie when it comes to dogs. Started feeding him scraps every night. Next thing I know, there’s a horse of a dog sleeping with me in my bed, hogging the covers.”

“H-horse of a dog,” Kate mumbled as Rick studied her face.

“You’re afraid of dogs,” he said simply and, realizing she wouldn’t be able to deny it, she nodded.

“Hell,” Rick cursed.

Kate sank down on the plush chair behind her, indecision flooding her. A dog. Dammit, they would have a dog. Of everything she could have dealt with while house-sitting, she wasn’t sure about an enormous dog.

Then her mind drifted back to this morning when Jill’s current flavor of the month, Seth, came into the kitchen completely naked. Kate spent more than half the night listening to the man’s moans and groans and her sister’s headboard banging against her bedroom wall. That was when she decided sleeping on the street was preferable to spending one more night under Jill’s roof. There were dogs on the street, she supposed, so if she was willing to cuddle up to a trashcan rather than risk seeing the naked woman tattooed on Seth’s ass again, then perhaps she could handle this. “Dog or trashcan,” she muttered.

“Trashcan?” Rick asked, clearly confused.

“Uh, nothing.” Damn mumbling. A bad habit she couldn’t seem to kick. It was asshole Zack’s fault. He’d left her alone for so much of their marriage, she’d started talking to herself. She seriously had to get it under control. People were going to start thinking she was crazy. “I’m sure Rex and I will get along famously.”

“Really?” Rick asked, obviously unconvinced.

“Really.”

 

Rick looked at the quirky little librarian sitting across from him and wondered for the third time since she entered the house what the hell he was thinking. Kate Harper was an odd bird with her stammering and mumbling. Add to that the fact she was obviously terrified of dogs and he figured he was the biggest fool in the world for even considering letting her house-sit his precious home. However, he and Wes were desperate and Kate was the only person who’d expressed an interest in doing the job. Rick could sense she was anxious for a place to stay despite the problem of Rex. Wes would probably kill him, yet he knew he was going to leave timid Kate holding down their rather messy fort and overly affectionate dog.

Unfortunately, chances were good she would take one look at Rex and run for the hills. When he mentioned Rex’s size, her pale face had gone even whiter, the trembling in her hands seemed to escalate—and he hadn’t exaggerated about the mutt. Wes joked that Rex was half black lab, half mountain lion. Not that he acted it. Rick had never met a gentler dog. If he could get Kate past her initial fear, he had little doubt Rex would claim her heart just as he did everyone else’s he met.

He found himself a bit angry at the toll her husband’s cheating had obviously taken on Kate’s self-esteem. Madison was a small town and he knew all about Zack Summers’ seedy escapades. Poor girl was dressed fit to enter a convent, with no makeup and her long auburn hair pinned up in a tight ponytail. Her oversized t-shirt and baggy jeans shielded her figure from the world’s eyes and he suspected she may be using the big clothes to hide a few extra pounds. Her voice was soft, almost unsure of itself, and despite the fact she was holding up her end of the conversation just fine, Rick sensed her discomfort in his presence.

Of course, like Rex, he was used to women being intimidated by him and his size. In this case, he had to be nearly a half-foot taller than Kate and at least a hundred pounds heavier, so he assumed some of her apprehension was due to the situation and the rest due to him.

Trying to put her at ease, he flashed an easy smile, secretly wishing Wes had been the one to conduct this interview. Wes Robson, his best friend since middle school, was one of those men women flocked to. His charming smile and devil-may-care attitude never failed to leave a trail of horny women in his wake. Where Rick was big and broad and built like a linebacker, Wes was a couple inches shorter and more compact and muscular, like a soccer player.

“Well, Kate.” He sat in the chair across from her and leaned back. “Fact is this was not really an interview, but more an introduction. Jill’s word is certainly good enough for me and having met you, I have no doubts at all you’ll take good care of the house. Would you like to take a tour of the place?”

He watched as the breath Kate had apparently been holding since entering the house escaped and she gave him the first genuine smile he’d seen since meeting her. He was surprised to see how much it transformed her face from plain Jane to plain pretty.

“I don’t know how to thank you for letting me do this.” She rose from her chair so quickly he nearly got whiplash watching her move. “I was at my wit’s end, trying to figure out what to do next. I really couldn’t spend one more minute with Jill. Although God knows I love her dearly. How we managed to co-exist for the first eighteen years of ours lives together is absolutely beyond me. Mind-boggling. Do you have any idea how long you’ll be gone?”

“Hard to say.” He stood up to join her and struggled to take in her rushed speech. As he could only recall the last question, he said, “Anywhere from six months to a year. I suppose Jill told you what Wes and I do?”

“All she said was you were in law enforcement.”

“Drug Enforcement,” he clarified.

“DEA agents. Must be an exciting job.”

“Sometimes,” Rick answered, “but lots of times it’s non-stop, painstakingly boring stake-outs.”

“How will I reach you if there is an emergency?”

“I’ll give you a number to a messaging system Wes and I check in with periodically and we’ll call or email whenever we can. You don’t mind staying out here all by yourself?” Rick kicked himself for asking the question. Fact was, the house, despite its fairly close proximity to town, was basically in the country. Completely isolated. If Kate refused to take the job, he and Wes would have to put Rex in a kennel—which the dog would hate—in addition to worrying about vandals or the old pipes leaking or freezing.

However, the thought of Kate staying out here alone was starting to worry him more than the idea of vandals wrecking his belongings. Deep inside he knew Kate would be just fine. Madison was a small town with little to no crime. It was one of the main reasons they decided to settle here rather than remain in the city after nearly a decade with the agency. He and Wes decided it was time to put down some roots, invest in some property and start looking toward the future rather than merely living in the present. He sensed his time at the DEA was running out. More and more he resented the extended assignments away from this home he had come to love. Once he retired his badge, he was looking forward to doing a bit of farming and operating his own little fix-it shop from the garage out back. He’d stashed away a nice nest egg due to thrifty living and good investments and he was ready to start enjoying it.

“I’m used to being alone.”

Kate’s answer dragged him back from his thoughts before they headed to the foyer and up the stairs. Rick wondered why a married woman would be used to being alone—before remembering Summers’ infamous infidelity. His exploits had been prime fodder for the town gossips since Rick’s move here four years ago.

Had Kate known about her husband’s cheating ways and merely turned her head? Rick couldn’t help but think not, for some reason. Yet, she didn’t seem to possess much self-assurance, if the way she carried herself was any indication. Perhaps she simply hadn’t had the confidence to confront Zack about his steady stream of girlfriends. Rick had encountered the arrogant, annoying lawyer several times and couldn’t picture someone as quiet as Kate married to such an asshole.

“Jill failed to tell me you were so pretty.” He wanted to draw her out of the protective shell she seemed to be encased in.

She snorted with disbelief. “I’m a sure thing, Rick. I need a place to stay—badly. You don’t have to butter me up.”

Rick was overcome by two emotions at once and they stopped him in his tracks. Her words “sure thing” sent all the blood surging to his surprisingly aroused cock. He certainly didn’t feel an attraction to the poor little mouse, did he?

However, the other emotion—anger—won out. “Don’t call me a liar, sweetheart. It’s the one thing you never want to do.”

Kate seemed taken aback by his harsh tone and she blushed. “I-I didn’t call you a liar.”

“You are very pretty.” He repeated the words, daring her to refute them again, yet unsure why he felt compelled to push her on the subject.

“No.” Her voice was showing its first real bit of strength and her back stiffened even more, inviting Rick’s cock to do the same. “I’m not. But thank you for the compliment.” Turning around, she started up the stairs without awaiting his invitation and Rick struggled to follow with his painful erection rasping against the zipper of his jeans. Nope, he thought, Kate definitely did not know about her husband’s cheating.

Once he caught up to her, he led her to the first room on the left. “This is the guest room where you’ll be staying.” As Rick opened the door, he watched Kate’s eyes widen.

“This is the guest room?”

Rick smiled at her awed response. He and Wes worked well into the night trying to make it enticing enough that Kate would agree to stay. When Jill called to suggest her sister as a house-sitter, they threw themselves into making the room presentable and inviting. Given her wide-eyed response, he would say they were successful.

“It’s lovely.” She stepped farther into the room, running her hand along his grandmother’s handmade quilt on the bed. Rick had opened the window earlier to air the room out and with the mid-morning sun shining through and a light breeze blowing in, he had to admit the room did look homey.

“A window seat.” She walked over and was going to sit on the light green cushion when she glanced out into the backyard. “Is that Wes?”

Moving behind her to look over her shoulder, Rick could see Wes hosing off the John Deere tractor. “Looks like he’s finished with the yard. He should be in soon.”

“Are you sure, um, I mean is he okay with the idea of a stranger staying in the house?” Kate was no doubt afraid she could still be denied.

“It was his idea, Kate,” he reassured her. “He’ll be thrilled to have someone here to look after Rex and the plants.”

Kate grinned. “Well, you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll take care of the house like it was my own, I promise. And, of course, R-Rex.”

Rick returned her smile, imagining Kate puttering around his house, walking the dog, cooking and cleaning, sitting on this seat to read a book, rocking on the porch swing in the evenings, sleeping in the room next to his.

The image of a naked Kate sleeping under a cotton sheet in the summer heat flashed through his mind. Christ, first thing he was going to do when he and Wes left town was find himself a willing woman. His libido was playing tricks on him. Kate Harper was definitely not his type. Women who attracted him did not blush or stammer and if Kate knew half the games he liked to play with his lovers, she would hop on Rex’s back and make a break for it.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand, “let’s finish the tour and then you can join Wes and me for some lunch. Give Rex a chance to get to know you.”

At his words, he watched Kate struggle to stifle any qualms she had about meeting the dog and was impressed with her determination. “I can do this,” she mumbled in self-encouragement all the way down the stairs. Her ego may have taken a beating from her soon-to-be ex, but she was clearly a strong woman and Rick had a feeling she’d land on her feet in the long run. He also trusted she would take good care of his beloved farmhouse.

Smiling, he led her downstairs to the kitchen, pleased with the day’s events. If he felt a slight regret niggling at the back of his mind, he chalked it up to the fact he hated to leave Madison, not that he hated to leave this shy, intriguing young woman.

Kiss Me Kate is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and All Romance Ebooks.

Another series sneak peek

Reaching WAY back for today’s first chapter. Retreat was one of my VERY first published books. I remember I was particularly worried this book wouldn’t be accepted for a variety of reasons. One of my happiest memories is of riding home from a family vacation and finding an email (on my iPhone) from my Ellora’s Cave editor. After sending her the synopsis of the story, she’d told me why she didn’t think it would be accepted (all valid reasons), but I sort of begged her to read the first three chapters. Told her if she didn’t want it after that, I’d fall back and regroup on the book. I actually held my breath when I opened the email because I was about 99% sure it was going to be bad news. Best first line of a submission email EVER. It simply said, “As promised, I read the first few chapters of Commitment. I would have gotten back to you sooner, but the story was so great that I couldn’t stop reading. Read the whole damn thing.” I swear I read that line over and over and over at least three dozen times before it sunk it. She bought the book. We changed the title from Commitment to Retreat and the rest as they say…is history. Retreat is the first book in my VERY loosely connected Lowell High School series. Covert Lessons and Mad about Meg also involve teachers who work in that same high school.

Chapter One

“I’m retired.”

“I know that, Jon, and believe me, I wouldn’t be here if there was any other way.”

Jon Walker sighed, turning his back on his former boss, Reilly—his mentor, his conscience and the bane of his existence the last fifteen years.

Walking around his desk, he glanced out the window of his classroom at the beautiful autumn afternoon. The students had gone home for the day, yet reminders of their presence could be still be seen as he stood amidst the skewed rows of desks, forgotten books and scattered love notes left behind. He tried to rekindle the feeling of contentment he’d felt an hour earlier, before Reilly crash-landed back into his life. Since being hired a year ago as a senior English teacher, he’d never stopped relishing the idea that he had finally found his niche in life.

And now, five years after his retirement from the Undercover Intelligence Agency, he was being dragged back into the hell he’d barely escaped with his life and sanity intact. Jon had given ten years of his life to the UIA, a government-sanctioned organization known only to those in Washington with the highest level of security clearance. The UIA—unlike its sister agencies—operated on both home and foreign soil, gathering information and diffusing difficult situations by any means necessary. By any means.

“No.” He could already feel the invisible bonds he thought he’d severed, tightening around his chest like a vise.

“Jon,” Reilly said softly, “just hear me out.”

“Dammit Reilly!” He turned quickly, striding back to his ex-boss to point an angry finger in his face. “There is nothing you can say that would change my mind. I’m done with that life. Done! Do you hear me? This is where I belong now. This is where I want to be.”

“The cult is back,” Reilly whispered.

And with those four words, he felt his blood run cold. “That’s impossible. Rex is dead. He’s been dead for three years and he was rotting in a prison cell a dozen years prior to that. There’s no one left who would—”

“No one?” Reilly posed his statement as a question, though he knew it was merely rhetorical. They both knew there was another.

“Cassandra?” Jon read Reilly’s chagrined expression and shook his head in denial. “My mother? You’re crazy. Cassandra barely escaped with her freedom last time. She would never, I mean… Christ Reilly, what could she possibly hope to gain?”

“What did Cassie ever hope to gain? Money, power, sex.”

He felt a cold laugh pass his lips. “You better hope she never hears you calling her ‘Cassie’. Sort of like uttering Voldemort in Hogwarts.”

Reilly didn’t share his laughter, but Jon continued anyway. “Only thing she hates worse than being called ‘Cassie’ is ‘Mother’.” Jon shook his head and walked back to the windows. “Find someone else.”

“I have,” Reilly answered coolly. “Unfortunately, this mission calls for a team.”

“Night? You’ve signed Night up for this?”

His mentor smirked. “Actually, he signed himself up.”

“Fuck that!” Jon exploded with a pent-up anger he’d spent years struggling to keep under control. “Un-sign him, Reilly. He’s my best friend. You can’t send him back to that.”

“Night was no fan of Cassie. You know that, Jon.”

He knew the man’s words were true and he was hard-pressed not to admit to the same disdain. If a more egocentric and cold-hearted woman than Cassandra Walker existed, he hoped to hell he never met her. Simply knowing Cassandra still lived as a free woman, rather than locked up behind bars, was enough to drive him insane. God help her if they ever met on the street because he wasn’t sure he would be able to keep himself from committing matricide.

Reilly remained quiet for a few moments, obviously attempting to give him a chance to digest the unsavory news he’d just delivered. He studied his mentor’s face and discovered the stress of Reilly’s job was finally catching up to him, noting the deep-set lines around his mouth and eyes that had not been so pronounced when he left the agency. A deep crease between his worried eyes told Jon his former boss spoke the truth. Reilly felt no pleasure in dragging him back into the cesspool of his younger life.

“It doesn’t make any sense.” He crossed the room and sat in one of the student desks, resting his head in his hands.

“None of the sick shit Cassie ever pulled made sense, Jon.” Reilly stood behind the podium at the front of the room. If Jon hadn’t been so angry, he would have been amused by how easily they reverted back to their natural states. For nearly half his life, the man standing before him had been his teacher. Whether the lessons involved how to fire an AK-47, how to break into an impenetrable fortress or even how to control his hot-blooded temper, Reilly never stopped instructing him.

“Why now?” He was genuinely perplexed by Reilly’s news. “Rex has been dead for years. Cassandra made a clean break from the Commitment Church and if your sources are correct, she managed to abscond with more than a lion’s share of the money. She’s an incredibly wealthy woman. Besides which, you and I both know she never bought into Rex’s religious mumbo jumbo.”

“I can’t tell you why, Jon. Only that she has moved back up on the mountain and she’s reorganizing. Night’s doing a bit of reconnaissance up there already. He could probably tell you more about the specifics of what’s happening.”

“Take him off the case.”

“No. And he wouldn’t thank you for asking me to. He’s still one of my top operatives and this case is priority one. No one at the bureau wants a repeat of the last time.”

“Dammit. I know Night. He may seem cool as a cucumber on the outside, but I know what this case will do to him. He can’t go back there.”

“Are you sure it’s Night who can’t go back, Jon? It sounds to me like it’s you who can’t face it all again.”

“I didn’t drag him out of that godforsaken place only to have you drag him back in!”

“You dragged him out?” Reilly’s usually calm voice rose slightly. “That’s funny. I remember it a slightly different way. I seem to recall Night dragging you out.”

Any response he could have given to Reilly’s astute comment seemed to become lodged in the ever-growing lump in his throat. He was saved from having to acknowledge Reilly’s comment when his mentor spoke again.

“Why did you come back here?” Reilly asked, shocking him with the abrupt change in topic.

“What?”

“I’ve never understood why you returned here. You could have settled anywhere in the world. Why here? You never considered this place your home and after all that happened on that mountain, I would think this would be the last place on earth you’d set up housekeeping.”

Jon sighed. He had asked himself the same question every day since returning to this sleepy southern town. He wasn’t sure there was an answer. When he’d retired from the agency and returned to college to get his degree in English education—always in the back of his mind—he knew this was where he would settle down to teach.

Penance, perhaps? For a decade, he and Night had dedicated themselves to the agency, to ridding the world of villains like Rex Thomas. When he’d felt too tired to continue to do that job to the best of his ability, he’d turned to teaching. But the cult of his childhood had played a role in every decision of his adult life and coming back here was no different.

Apparently deciding he wasn’t going to answer his question, Reilly changed the subject again. “Regardless of your feelings on the matter, the fact remains your mother is operating some sort of underground organization again. Back up on that mountain.” Reilly pointed out the window of the classroom and Jon’s eyes followed the line to the colorful mountain range that served as the backdrop to his lessons every school day.

“Christ.” Jon ran his hands through his shaggy black hair. He needed to get it trimmed but hadn’t found the time. His nights were spent planning lessons and grading writing assignments—a pastime others would consider dull in the extreme, but which appealed to him greatly. He was tired of a life lived on the razor-sharp edge of a blade, every minute spent in the struggle to kill or be killed. He couldn’t go back to that—regardless of the fact this case wasn’t simply a case, but his past coming back to haunt him once again. “I can’t help you.”

“Jon—”

Jon’s temper got the best of him again and he felt his grip on calmness slip away. “No, don’t. Don’t say another damn word. I’ve said no and I won’t change my mind.”

“Do you think I wanted to come back here? To disturb this life you’ve created? I’ve never wanted you to have anything else, but how can you close your eyes to what’s happening? What will happen? The seventeen-year-old boy I pulled out of that rubble would never turn his back—”

“Enough! I’m not him! Not anymore.” He rose, stalked to his teacher’s desk and pounded his hand on the hard surface in frustration as the door to his classroom opened.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” a soft voice said from the hallway. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Carly.” Jon crossed the room to where she hovered just outside the door.

Carly James, the school secretary, was the first friend he’d made after returning to Westchester to teach at Lowell High School. The cute brunette had caught his eye on his first day at his new job. She simply walked up to him, introduced herself and in twenty mind-boggling minutes, gave him such a thorough and accurate overview of his new place of employment he was surprised she wasn’t working for the UIA.

“I wanted to see if you were going to the football game tonight, but I can see you’re busy,” she said.

“No, I’m not busy at all,” Jon replied smoothly, despite the fact he felt as if his two worlds were colliding and he was helpless to stop it. “Carly James, this is Mr. Reilly, my, uh, my…” As far as Carly was concerned, he’d spent the first decade of his adult life working in advertising. After growing bored with that, he’d decided to become a teacher. His personnel file confirmed that lie.

“Old colleague from his advertising days,” Reilly finished as Jon watched him produce the charming grin that came easily to the old man when in the presence of beautiful women. Reilly—whose age was a mystery to Jon—could still turn the ladies’ heads. At six foot five, the man was a towering presence with salt and pepper hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to laser straight through anyone who stood in his way. In the past, Jon had emulated that same cocky smile, but seeing it flashed for Carly’s benefit left him feeling like smashing a fist into his mentor’s face.

Shocked by his response, Jon cleared his throat. “Carly is the secretary here.”

“Secretary?” Reilly reached over to take her outstretched hand. Rather than return her intended handshake, he raised her hand and placed a light kiss on the knuckles. Jon could see his romance-reading friend was entranced by the gesture. “Any chance I could steal you away? I’m looking for a new secretary.”

“Are you really?” she asked.

“No, but I could be,” Reilly teasingly answered.

She laughed at his corny joke and again, Jon felt an irrational streak of jealousy attack. “Careful, old man, she’s young enough to be your daughter. Wouldn’t want you to have a heart attack.”

“Jon!” she chastised, clearly surprised by his sudden rudeness.

“Oh, don’t mind him, Ms. James. Or is it Mrs. James?” Reilly’s interest in Carly was now fully engaged thanks to Jon’s revealing, if foolish, comment.

“Ms. I’m divorced.”

“I see.”

Jon sensed the undertones in his mentor’s short response. Clearly, the only person in the room unaware of his less-than-platonic interest in Carly was Carly herself.

Her divorce became final the summer he was hired. When he had first arrived, he’d wanted a simple life devoid of complications, and she’d offered that. Over the past year, they’d filled a void in each other’s lives. He was her handyman, spending a couple Saturdays a month helping with the repairs that never seemed to run out in her old house. When he needed help typing up a test—a skill he’d never mastered—she would do it for him. However, lately he’d found his feelings for her moving beyond simple friendship, despite the fact she seemed content with their “best friends” status.

“I can see you have plans for the evening.” Reilly interrupted his thoughts. “I’ll give you time to consider my proposal and touch base with you later.”

“Proposal?” she asked.

“Property he’s selling,” Jon lied smoothly. “He has some land he thought I might be interested in buying and he invited me to drive out and take a look at it.”

Carly’s eyes widened. “I had no idea you were looking to buy property. How exciting. Where is this land?”

Before he could reply, Reilly answered for him. “Up on Olson Mountain, just past Lindsey Lane.”

Jon jerked at his response. The Commitment Church had owned and operated a fair amount of land on Olson Mountain. Because of poor roads and steep inclines, the area was nearly inaccessible to anyone the cult wished to keep out. Clearly, Reilly hadn’t given up hope that he would take the case and was dangling more information in front of him despite his refusal.

“Oh it’s beautiful out there. I think the school library has several house-plan books, Jon. You should check them out.”

“I haven’t bought the land yet and I didn’t say anything about building a house.” The idea of lying to Carly did not sit easily on Jon’s shoulders.

“I have to be going.” Reilly picked up his jacket. “I’ll be in touch with you later. Perhaps we can drive out to look at the property together—and Ms. James, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we run into one another again before I return home.”

“So do I.” She smiled as Reilly made his way to the door of the classroom.

Once Reilly left, Jon took a deep breath and braced himself for the onslaught. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Jon, you sneaky Pete! Why didn’t you tell me you were planning to buy land? I thought you were happy in your townhouse. Living up on a mountain would be amazing. I bet it has a beautiful view. Can we drive out and look at it sometime?”

Grinning, he shook his head. Not only was Carly friendly and vivacious, she had more energy than a four-year-old. “I haven’t bought the land. I wasn’t even thinking about such a purchase until Reilly came by with the offer. To tell you the truth, I’m perfectly happy in my townhouse and the stress of building my own home isn’t something I need right now.”

“Jon—” she started to protest.

“I’m not going to buy it.”

“Oh.” She was clearly disappointed. No doubt she’d already envisioned helping him pick out carpet and appliances. “Well, I suppose it would be stressful. Joyce and her husband split up right in the midst of building their dream home. She said they would still be married today if it weren’t for their inept contractor and the strain of it all.”

Jon smiled. Carly knew everyone’s story because in addition to her role as secretary, she also served—in an unofficial capacity—as counselor to the entire faculty. Anything told to her in confidence was kept in confidence and she never betrayed a trust. After living so much of his life pretending to be someone other than himself, he found her straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life enlightening. She was exactly what she appeared to be.

“Well, what about the football game?” She returned to her reason for seeking him out.

“I’m in. Wanna go grab a burger beforehand?”

“Sounds great. We can hit that new place next to Lee’s Pizza in the mini-mall. I’ve heard good things about their bacon cheeseburgers.” She paused, groaning. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“I forgot. I’m on a diet.”

“Carly,” he said in a tone he hoped would warn her he didn’t want to go down this road again. Why she thought she needed to lose weight was beyond him. Mercifully, she wasn’t pencil-thin. Give him a girl with curves any day—and she had her curves in all the right places. Although she complained endlessly about what she referred to as her “bubble butt”, Jon simply didn’t see it. She was the perfect hourglass and he’d pointed out to her on more than one occasion that most women would kill for her Marilyn Monroe figure.

Unfortunately, his compliments were continually rebuffed and he tried not to be annoyed that the woman simply could not accept any favorable comments about herself. If there was one thing about her that drove him crazy, it was her low self-esteem.

“Of course, I’ve been on a diet for ten years, so I don’t see what difference a lousy burger is going to make. My metabolism seems to have died a painful death years ago and there’s simply no reviving it. It’s hell getting old.”

“You aren’t old.” He knew his voice sounded gruff, but he was tired of hearing her put herself down. “And you aren’t fat. You’re just right.”

At her eye-rolling dismissal of his words, Jon felt his anger building.

“I’m a practical girl with eyes and mirrors, Jon, and besides, I figure I have something much better than good looks.”

“What’s that?” He tried to calm the fury Reilly seemed to have set loose inside him.

“Common sense. That’s much better than brilliance or beauty.”

“Well,” he answered through gritted teeth, “it seems to me, you have all three.”

“You are such a sweet friend.” She turned as if to leave. That was the other thing that drove him crazy. Whenever faced with a compliment, she became embarrassed and left the room. Unwilling to allow her to retreat this time, he grabbed her arm before she’d taken two steps.

“You are beautiful.” He forced her to look him in the eye with a firm finger under her chin.

“Jon—”

“Say it,” he demanded harshly.

“Say what?” She was clearly shocked by his domineering manner. He’d only ever treated her with kid gloves, but Reilly’s visit upset him more than he cared to admit. He felt shades of his former personality breaking through the cool exterior he’d worked hard to construct. Listening to his gorgeous friend’s ridiculous self-recriminations drove him over the edge.

“I’m beautiful,” he repeated, refusing to back down.

“You’re beautiful.” She gave him an impish smile—however, her joke was wasted on him. He could feel himself slipping into the old Jon.

“I’ve got all night.” His grip on her arm tightened. “Are you going to say it or not?”

“I don’t understand…”

He watched the smallest glimmer of fear creep into her confused eyes but he refused to give her an inch.

“I mean it, Carly. I’ve had it with your comments. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met and if you try to tell me one more time that you’re not, I’ll lose it.”

Carly smiled at his words and he watched as the fear and confusion were replaced by what appeared to be amazement. “That is absolutely, positively the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” she said after a moment.

“Clearly that’s the problem, but that doesn’t stop it from being the truth. Now are you going to say it or am I going to take you over my knee?”

He watched her cheeks flush at his comment. It appeared she was struggling to take a deep breath and the pupils in her lovely blue eyes dilated. Could it be she wouldn’t mind such an occurrence? He felt a serious stirring in his pants that would cause her to blush even more if she spotted it. Usually he was able to keep his one-eyed friend under control around her, careful not to frighten her with his interest.

As he watched her stammering, Jon wondered why he’d started this conversation. What the hell was he thinking? It was that damn Reilly. He’d left him in a state of turmoil, opening a Pandora’s box. The old, dangerous Jon was beginning to reemerge from the wreckage of his earlier life and he felt the new calm, cool and collected Jon quickly losing the ground he’d gained in the last few years.

“I—I’m b-beautiful.” The sincerity of her words was questionable enough, but she sealed her fate when she rolled her eyes and giggled with exasperation at the end of her statement.

“That’s it!” He dragged her toward the chair behind his desk.

“Jon!” She began to struggle.

“Don’t fight me.” He pulled harder as she dug her heels in. “I gave you a chance.”

“Fine. Have it your way. I’m beautiful. I’m the most gorgeous woman on earth. I should be a supermodel or a movie star, I’m so fucking hot. Happy?”

He turned to face her and felt his anger melt away at the humor written on her lovely face. He’d behaved like a brute but rather than run away in fear, she continued to tease him.

Grimacing at his foul behavior, he barked out a brief “sorry” before turning to load his briefcase. He needed to put some distance between them before he did something they’d both regret.

“Wanna tell me what the hell that was all about?” she asked after a few moments of uneasy silence.

He shook his head.

“Jon.” She paused, waiting until he looked at her before finishing her comment. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Still want that burger?”

“Heck yeah. I’m beautiful and hungry.”

Grabbing his briefcase and leather jacket in one hand, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder in a friendly gesture. “You’re beautiful and crazy.”

They’d nearly reached the classroom door when she pulled away. “You wouldn’t really have…” She gestured back to the desk chair. “You know.”

“Spanked you?” He grinned with the lightheartedness she seemed to bring out in him.

She blushed and nodded.

“Oh yeah—and I would have loved every minute of it.” He watched her cheeks grow even redder. “Don’t worry, Blue Eyes, knowing you and that mouth of yours, I have no doubt I’ll get to carry through on the threat eventually. And trust me, you’ll love every minute of it too.”

Ignoring her speechlessness, he winked and continued to guide her out into the hallway before turning off the lights and locking the door.

Retreat is available in ebook and print format at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony and All Romance Ebooks.

A New Author

…in the New Adult genre…here with a brand-new book. I think you should check out the debut story, Unconditional, by Cherie M. Hudson.

She has a future she can’t escape. He refuses to let her face it alone.

Twenty-one. The age when adult life begins. In my case, it’s the age I learned my future sucked, big time, and there was nothing I could do about it. Every minute of every day I face the fact my life is only going to get worse. Why? Because I have early-onset Parkinson’s Disease. I’m not going to let it get me down, but I also can’t let anyone close. That’s not fair to them, or to me. Trust me. So that means my heart and my soul, is off-limits.

But then I get the chance to travel to Australia on a college scholarship program and life royally screws me over. Again. It was meant to be the most exciting ten weeks of my life. It turns out to be the most nerve wracking.

Raphael Jones is an arrogant Australian celebrity, the hottest guy on campus and a pain in my ass. Worst of all, he makes me ache for a life I’ll never be able to have. Especially when he takes me in his arms and does wicked things to my body.

How do I have a hope of surviving ten weeks in Australia when it’s not just the paparazzi who have me in their sights, but Raph as well? Because Raphael Jones is a man who always gets what he wants. And no matter what I say or do, he refuses to accept what I so painfully know: a life and future with me is no life at all.