Cerise DeLand's Blog, page 42

A #Cowboy for Delilah, new #western by Sabrina York! YUM!

The last thing this independent, high-powered lawyer wants is a cowboy in her life, but one steamy kiss from a sexy rancher burns her resolve to a crisp  What a disaster. Delilah glared at her rental car in helpless frustration. She hated the feeling. She was hardly a frail, fragile woman. She prided herself on the fact that she was self-sufficient and didn’t need anyone. Counting on others was, after all, a recipe for disappointment.Hard, cold experience had taught her that.Yet here she was. In the boondocks. In six-inch heels. With a flat tire.Oh, she could change a fricking tire. Hell, she could rip out and refurbish a transmission. But the idiots at the wilderness rental car company hadn’t bothered to put a jack in the trunk. She was resourceful…but not that resourceful.  Even if she could channel her MacGyveresque tendencies, there was nothing out on this barren plain she could use to lever her car up high enough to do the job.So here she stood by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, in six-inch heels and without cell phone service—the epitome of a helpless woman. All she needed was slasher music and she could be the star of a horror flick.A plume of dust blossomed on the horizon and her mood lifted. Oh, thank god. Someone was coming. No one had passed in the two hours since the blowout.Hopefully, it wasn’t a slasher.The plume grew. A beat-up pickup topped one rise, and then the next. The truck rolled to a stop in front of her crippled Honda.Oh. Lovely. Her savior had a gun rack.Delilah covered her mouth and nose as the cloud of dust caught up with the truck and engulfed her. Angie’s birthday party had better be worth all this trouble.She plastered a smile on her face and turned to greet the Good Samaritan. At least, she hoped he was a Good Samaritan. She was quite alone on this deserted stretch of road and—Oh god.He unfolded himself from the cab of his truck, and her breath wedged in her throat. He was enormous. And, judging from his ratty chambray shirt, shit-kicker boots and Stetson, he was a cowboy.She hated cowboys. Selfish, misogynistic sons of bitches. Her fake smile threatened to become a very real grimace.He stepped closer through the lingering cloud of dust, and Delilah’s heart ker-chunked. He was gorgeous. Not only was he tall—which she really liked in a man—he was big. Broad and brawny and muscular. His face was a dream from his heavily lashed brown eyes to the intriguing dent on his chin. She had to remind herself why cowboys and city girls didn’t mix, but even that couldn’t keep her from ogling his forearms. His sleeves were rolled up, just enough to give her a glimpse of defined veins and a sprinkling of dark hair. She loved veiny forearms.Damn. Why couldn’t he have been something other than a cowboy? Or, if he had to be a cowboy, why couldn’t he have been an old one…with Dunlap syndrome—where his belly done lapped over his belt?“Howdy.” His voice was deep and smoky.Delilah couldn’t appreciate the sultry timbre. Of all greetings in the universe, Howdy was her least favorite. “Having some trouble?” He whipped off his Stetson to wipe his brow and thick black curls tumbled out.Curls. Not fair. Why couldn’t he be bald?Delilah cleared her throat. “Flat tire.”He glanced at her car. A dimple exploded on his cheek.Fuck.Dimples were her kryptonite.“Would you like me to change it for you? You do have a spare?”Yeah. There it was. Sure he was superhot, gorgeous and sexy as hell. But his patronizing tone squelched any simmering temptation she might have been harboring.That’s how it was with cowboys, wasn’t it? They saw all women as helpless, idiot creatures stumbling around in six-inch heels, batting their lashes and flashing their boobs and simpering.Delilah was not a simperer. She was a fuck-you, take-no-prisoners, hard-core lawyer, who could take care of herself just fine.But she did have a flat. And no jack. She kinda needed his help.So she batted her lashes. “Um. I think there’s a tire thingy in the…what do you call it? Trunk?” She affected a Southern drawl and thrust out her boobage, just for good measure.It annoyed her that he bought her act. And it kind of didn’t. The bedazzled look in his eyes was a salve to her ego. After Trevor and all. It was nice to know she could still appeal to a man. Even a redneck cowboy.He loped over to her car—yes, loped. She tried not to stare at his ass but his jeans were tight. It was a challenge to look elsewhere. He bent to search the trunk—again, a mighty fine ass—and stood, tipping back his Stetson. His profile, against the bird’s-egg-blue backdrop of the sky, stole her breath.“There’s no jack.”“No what?”He sighed and headed for his truck, pulling out an impressively fancy jack. “This,” he said, “is a jack. You use it to lift the carriage up high enough to change the tire.”It was so sweet the way he made his voice all slow and pedantic. You know, so she could understand. Idiot woman that she was.“Gosh. You’re smart.” She probably didn’t need to gush quite that much, but hell, she hated condescending men. Especially cowboys. But she might as well have fun with this.He knelt and fitted the jack and started cranking. His muscles bunched, forearms bulging with each pump.Delilah sighed, and told herself it was only a pretend sigh, but her gaze was riveted to the sight. “You are such a big, strong man.” He flashed a grin at her. Yeah. Of course he did. Men loved to be told how big and strong they were. She completely ignored the dimples erupting all over his bristled cheek. Did he never shave? “How can I ever repay you?”He stilled. The glint in his eye was horrifying. Crap. Had she gone too far with her helpless female shtick? She was all alone. On a deserted highway. With an enormous Neanderthal cowboy.When he tipped his head to the side, her trepidation vanished. He looked more like a mischievous boy than a mad rapist-slasher. “How about a kiss?”Delilah blinked. “A…what?”“A kiss. Just a little one.”Her brain fogged over. And it wasn’t horror at the prospect of a strange man demanding a kiss on the side of a deserted road that muddied the waters. It was pure exhilaration at the thought of his mouth devouring hers, those arms wrapping around her, that massive chest, warm and hard as he yanked her close…Aw hell.Why was she always attracted to the wrong guys? She wanted a man who liked opera and dreamed of traveling to Italy. Not a guy who listened to Country and Western music, spat chew into a bean can, and whose dream of an exciting evening was a night at the local bar playing pool.“What do you say, ma’am? One kiss, in exchange for my…services?” When she hesitated, he repeated, “A little one.”Why she nodded, she had no clue.Well, she knew why she nodded—because she was incapable of speech.Why she agreed was the mystery. Then again, he was superhot. She ached to know how he tasted…and it wasn’t as though they would ever see each other again. Besides, if things got out of hand, she had mace. And she knew how to use it.At her assent, he sprang into action. It was astounding how quickly he changed that tire. He tossed the flat into the trunk, returned his jack to his truck and wiped his hands.“All done.” Her heart skittered as he stepped closer. “Time for payment.”  
PREORDER NOW! (Available March 18)

COWBOY HEAT STORIES:
 “Mrs. Morgan and the Marshal” by Emma Jay A dalliance with the sexy town marshal makes a woman rancher question which she wants most, her independence or him
“Remember” by Mia Hopkins A jilted bride saddles up with the blazing-hot cowboy stripper hired for her cancelled bachelorette party
“Cowboy Downtime” by Cheyenne Blue Passion ignites at a polocrosse game in the Australian outback—she plays attack, he plays defense, and their sexy wager decides the winner
“Coming Home” by Megan Mitcham A busted-up rodeo champion finds the squirt he tormented in youth transformed into a fiery woman challenging him to become the man she deserves
“Her Captured Cowboy” by Layla Chase A lonely woman, ostracized by Colorado townspeople after years in Indian captivity, takes what she needs from a wandering cowboy
“Back Stage Pass” by Cynthia D’Alba A sexy night with a hired escort, who looks exactly like a woman’s favorite country singer, leaves her with a back stage pass and a lot of burning questions
“Unfinished Business” by Cat Johnson A class reunion gives one woman a second chance with a sultry cowboy from her past
“At the Mercy of the Cowboy” by Amber Lin A new farmhand finds rough living and an even rougher cowboy to soothe away her pain
“Cowboy Adonis” by Michael Bracken When a naked cowboy rises from a stock pond, a nature photographer’s assignment gets personal
“Denim and Lace” by Robie Madison One woman in a pair of rhinestone heels plus two sexy cowboys equals a highly combustible combination
“One Track Cowboy” by Delilah Devlin After tracking two lost hikers, a park ranger and a local rancher lose themselves to a wild passion
“Skin Deep” by Randi Alexander A pretty city girl and a scarred country cowboy discover love waits when you’re ready to look beneath the surface
“Drop Two Tears in a Bucket” by Shoshanna Evers Alone on her Montana cattle ranch after her husband divorces her, a woman finds satisfaction in the arms of the one cowboy she can’t resist
“A Cowboy for Delilah” by Sabrina York The last thing this independent, high-powered lawyer wants is a cowboy in her life, but one steamy kiss from a sexy rancher burns her resolve to a crisp
“Shall We Dance?” by Myla Jackson When a lonely woman gives private dance lessons to a shy, sexy cowboy, she stumbles on passion worth fighting for
WANT MORE COWBOYS? Check out my Pintrest Pagededicated to these steamy hunks!Visit the Cowboy Heat Blog Page
About Sabrina YorkHer Royal Hotness, Sabrina York is the award winning author of over 20 hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to scorching BDSM. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebookor on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazonor wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!
Books by Sabrina YorkA Cowboy for Delilah (Erotic Contemporary for the Cowboy Heat Anthology, Cleis Press)Adam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonBrigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonDark Fancy (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Devlin’s Dare: A Tryst island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Dragonfly Kisses: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Fierce (One Night Stand, Decadence Press)Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)Folly (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Heart of Ash: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary)Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave)  Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Making Over Maris (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Man Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Rebound: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary, Available on Amazon)Rebound is now available on SmashwordsRising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave) Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin' Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)  Smoking Holt: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line)Tristan’s Temptation (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
CURRENT PROMOSFree Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/Newsletter & contest: http://sabrinayork.com/sabrinas-contest-and-newsletter/Enter to win a signed print copy of scorching Regency romance, Dark Fancy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
FOLLOW SABRINALike my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooksFollow me on Twitter @sabrina_york Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_YorkCheck out my Pintrest boards: http://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/Like my Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-York/e/B00856PDEO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382929432&sr=8-2-entCheck out my Barnes & Noble Author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sabrina-york
Follow me on Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/sabrina-york/

She done him wrong, so she'll #DoHimRight and kiss his booboo better! Cerise DeLand's new release coming 3/28

     Nothing worse than a woman who's done a man wrong...and wants to kiss his booboo all better!
     Maybe kiss a few other things he's got, too.
     Well, I have a story for you that is just like that. DO HIM RIGHT about a woman who wrote a rather misinformed bit of info about a famous rodeo performer...and ruined his career.
     Now, she's out to do him right...and correct the error in judgement she made.
     No cover, yet from EC but madly panting in wait.
Will post as soon as I can!
     Shana ruined rodeo champion Chet Stapleton years ago with hastily written words. Now a PR pro, she's engineered a plan to make amends. She'll successfully promote his rodeo, soothe her conscience and leave. Trouble is, she can't keep her hands off the smooth talker or call a halt to their smokin'-hot sex.
     Chet takes one glance at Shana and develops an itch to put his boots under her bed...permanently. He's won awards for taming willful fillies so he can't understand why he can't break Shana's stubborn refusal to open up to him.
     The closer Shana gets to Chet, the more she wants to stay in his life and his bed. But to do that, she'll have to tell him everything—and risk his rejection. One thing is certain, if Shana doesn't put the past to rest, she'll never be able to grab the future—or the cowboy she wants most.

WILD WICKED WEEKEND is what's for February fun for readers in San Antonio!

     The Sensational Six ladies who put on Wild Wicked Weekend (http://wildwickedweekend.com) last weekend are taking a big BREATHER!
      Well, really, if you saw our emails to each other in the past 2 days and if you've been to FB lately, we are not taking too much time off from planning for next year. We are EVERYWHERE!
     No lie.
     Tickled that we are, Desiree Holt, Regina Carlysle, Brenna Zinn, Samantha Cayto, Dalton Diaz and I are—to put it bluntly—tuckered.
    I slept for 11 hours last night, 8 the night before.
   This year we grew by more than 33% in our registration numbers. Next year, to keep it intimate and fun, we'll cap it at 150. Yes, CAP the registration. Could The Menger handle more? Sure. But we six want to be certain that we can deliver what we have done for the past 2 years: a fun, intimate, comfortable, easy, low cost vacation with authors whom you love!
    Really, we figure that is about what we can manage well and deliver a fun party for every reader and fan!
     For those of you who did not go, what did we provide?
    Well, according to our guests, we gave them FAB meals, courtesy of The Menger catering. We had fajitas and guacamole that you could just slather on your skin. We had desserts your grandmother would have devoured.  We had pasta that melted in your mouth. Salads and soups! Wow. And we didn't have to wash any of the dishes! Such relaxation!
    But what really melted in our mouths were our wonderful, fun-loving hosts, Cole, Taylor and Antonio. Yes, you must go to our FB page : #wildwickedweekend and take a look at some of the pix! Great guys and what terrific sports to play Sex Position Gumby (our faces HURT from laughing for 3 hours!) and give out all those baskets and baskets of prizes!
   Did you hear that we had a to-die-for Drag Queen Competition? Oh, they were superb. And the MC was a hoot. Will we have them next year?
    Oh, you must stay tuned to learn!
    One of our guests said she need a week to recover. Darn. I may need more. I even had blisters on the balls of my feet, I stood up and partied so much! Garrr.
   What do you need to know for next year?
    That the Sensational Six are going to deliver another wonderful, (educational???), fun, comfortable, intimate atmosphere at The Menger in February. Hey, even the weather cooperates with us and gave us 70 degrees and walkable joy last week.
    And here is the back page of our schedule to give our wonderful sponsors a big RAH RAH for helping us rock and roll in San Antone!

Regency Romps! My new cover reveal for LADY VARNEY'S RISQUE BUSINESS!

My new branding look and re-release of best-selling
LADY VARNEY'S RISQUE BUSINESSWhat do you think?
Do you like the feel?
The colors?
The white space?
Yes, my own cherry logo, too!
This cover debuts my new branding look for my Regencies, a process that took me a long while, spending (gulp!) HOURS in stock sites.

As a former PR and Advertising exec and owner of my own business for more than 20 years, deciding on a new branding look was one of my first priorities for reissuing Regencies whose rights had been returned to me recently. Yes, I will self-pub these.

Why?
I wanted to experience the opportunity to create one look, one brand, one market outreach that would (hopefully) place me in the minds (and hearts) of Regency romance readers.

When you write for a house, they decide the covers. With a series, the artists in house do try often to give you an individual look, but not always.
Defining yourself across different publishing platforms creates the challenge of giving readers a look to search for and immediately identify as this author's or that.

Too often too, I find that certain graphic designers who are popular are giving their clients within a sub genre the same kind of look.  For Regency, we often have the house in the background or the landscape indicating a manor.

Here, I wanted a look more sweeping, brighter and in keeping with the fact that my Regencies are very sexy and have been, by nature of the houses that published them, considered erotic. Indeed, I hold forth that mine are very similar to many historical romance novels.  While that is for the reader to decide, I nonetheless wanted to position my novels as close to those. And this is the result.

What do you think?  Would you pick up LADY V. and what would you expect the story to be from looking at the cover?

Dark Duke, Your Regency fix from Sabrina York! Hubba hubba!

The Third Book in the Scorching Noble Passions Series by Sabrina York Releases!
Fans of Sabrina York’s steamy Regency series have been eagerly awaiting the release of Dark Duke, the third book (following award winning Follyand Dark Fancy) in which Edward Wyeth, the Dark Duke of Moncrieff, finally meets his match in the form of a flame-haired Scottish spitfire.
Noble Passions: Follow the decadent exploits of friends and enemies as they find love and passion in the glittering world of the Regency—and its dark underbelly. Each book is a stand-alone read.
If you’re new to the series, download Sabrina’s free teaser book at http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/to read blurbs and excerpts for this popular series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone story.
Enter to win a signed print copy of Dark Fancy (Helena and James’ story—Book 2 in the Noble Passions Series) on Goodreads!  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... 
Dark DukeSabrina York Noble Passions, Book ThreeEdward Wyeth, the Dark Duke of Moncrieff’s life has been turned on its end. His well-ordered home has been invaded. By destitute relatives. From Scotland. How on earth can he write Lord Hedon’s salacious novels with hellions battling in the garden and starting fires in the library? But with the onslaught has come a delicious diversion. His cousin’s companion, the surprisingly intriguing Kaitlin MacAllister. He is determined to seduce her. Using her desperate need for funds and her talents as an artist, he convinces her to draw naughty pictures for his naughtier books…and he draws her into his decadent web.
But Kaitlin has a secret. She’s fled Scotland—and a very determined betrothed. When Edward’s cousin is kidnapped and held in her stead, Kaitlin is honor bound to return to her homeland and rescue her—much to Edward’s chagrin.
Because suddenly he can’t bear the thought of Kaitlin marrying another man. He can’t bear the thought of losing her at all.A Romantica® Regency historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.An Excerpt From: DARK DUKECopyright © SABRINA YORKAbout Sabrina YorkHer Royal Hotness, Sabrina York is the award winning author of over 20 hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to scorching BDSM. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebookor on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazonor wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!
CURRENT PROMOSFree Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/Newsletter & contest: http://sabrinayork.com/sabrinas-contest-and-newsletter/Enter to win a signed print copy of scorching Regency romance, Dark Fancy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

FOLLOW SABRINALike my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooksFollow me on Twitter @sabrina_york Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_YorkCheck out my Pintrest boards: http://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/Like my Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-York/e/B00856PDEO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382929432&sr=8-2-entCheck out my Barnes & Noble Author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sabrina-yorkFollow me on Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/sabrina-york/
Books by Sabrina YorkAdam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonBrigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonDark Fancy (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Devlin’s Dare: A Tryst island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Dragonfly Kisses: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Fierce (One Night Stand, Decadence Press)Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)Folly (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Heart of Ash: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary)Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave)  Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Making Over Maris (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming November 6thMan Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Rebound: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary, Available on Amazon)Rebound is now available on SmashwordsRising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave) Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin' Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)  Smoking Holt: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line) Tristan’s Temptation (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

#5 in Sabrina York's Scorching TRYST ISLAND series, out at 99 cents! DO IT!

The Fifth Book in Sabrina York’s Scorching Tryst Island Series Releases!Fans of the Tryst Island Books have been eagerly awaiting the next installment. Not only is it here, it is premiering at a special introductory price as a thank you to loyal readers.  The scorching follow up to bestselling Rebound, Dragonfly Kisses, Smoking Holt andHeart of Ash, Devlin’s Dare will release at a special price of 99¢for two weeks, before going to its regular price of $2.99 on February 15th.
If you’re new to the series, check out the Tryst Island Trailer: http://youtu.be/uJ1rhyeLkAMor download Sabrina’s free teaser book at http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/to read blurbs and excerpts for this popular series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone story.Tryst Island Series—Available on AmazonDEVLIN’S DARE—Book 5 in the Tryst Island Series
A No-Strings Fling Becomes Something For Which He Will Risk AllDevlin Fox has always been a player. A horny bee flitting from flower to flower. He has no idea why the sexy minx he meets on the way to Tryst Island affects him the way she does. Arousal—for her—hits him like a fist to the gut and he can’t stop thinking about her. But Tara Romano doesn’t “do” commitments. For good reason. When she proposes they be “friends with benefits,” Devlin can’t figure out why the idea annoys him so much. It should be the perfect scenario. A gorgeous, alluring woman who only wants him for his body… He wants, needs, more from Tara, so he hits upon a plan to turn their no-strings-fling into something lasting. A series of tantalizing dares—dares Tara cannot resist. Now Available on Amazon
Excerpt from Devlin’s DareBook 5 in the Tryst Island Series
By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
“That’s Devlin Fox?” She glared across the restaurant. It wasn’t bad enough that the gorgeous guy she ran into on the ferry turned out to be friends with the douche in the ascot she’d been running from. No.He had to be her worst enemy too.Damn. Damn damn damn.“You know him?” Bella asked.“He writes a Foodie Blog.” Tara glowered around the table, trying hard not to snarl. Or pout. “He gave Stud Muffin a bad review.”“What?” Cam squawked.Jamie shook her head. “Why did he do that?”Tara crossed her arms over her chest. She’d spent her life learning her craft. Spent her life savings opening her own bakery. Spent years building clientele. Then, with one crappy review, business had tanked. Totally into the toilet. In one fell swoop, many of her regulars had stopped coming in.She wasn’t sure she’d be able to make the bills this month, which was devastating.And all because of him.It was unfair for one man to have so much power. And why had he panned her bakery? “Because I don’t have gluten-free.” She muttered, then added, under her breath, “Big baby.”Still, gluten-free was a huge deal in Seattle. She’d spent the past week working up recipes. And fantasizing about wreaking vengeance on a certain blogger.It had been a mere fantasy, until now. But now… Kaitlin shifted closer, drawing Tara’s attention. “What are you thinking?” she asked in a whisper, her features tight.Tara froze. It didn’t do to thinkaround Kaitlin. Not that the elfin redhead read minds, or at least that’s what she claimed. But she seemed to knowthings.“Nothing.” Tara made it a point to bat her lashes.Kaitlin’s nose rumpled, as though she smelled something nasty. Like a lie.But hell. Tara couldn’t tell Kaitlin what she was really thinking because Kaitlin—the sweet, innocent soul that she was—would try to talk her out of it. Ramble on about Karma and shit.No, Tara couldn’t tell anyone what she was really thinking about.Because she was plotting revenge. She was going to get Devlin Fox back. And she was going to get him good.* * * * *“Hi there.” Devlin turned on the barstool, his trademark smile firmly in place. Everything within him froze. It was her. That little slice of heaven from the ferry. Damn. She was as hot as he remembered.She sidled up next to him and the chatter of the bar receded. Fascination—and something else—rose.“Well hello there.”He liked her scent, something floral and light. He liked her heat as she pressed against his side. She lowered her long lush lashes and peeped up at him through the fringe. Damn, that was sexy. She licked her lips. That was sexy too. “I never got to thank you,” she purred.“Th-Thank me?” Was that her hand? On his thigh?Shit yeah.“For saving me.” Her fingers flexed. “I would have tumbled to my death if you hadn’t grabbed me.”“I doubt you would have tumbled to your death. Disfigurement, perhaps. Dire injury. But not death. Don’t exaggerate.”She laughed, a low chortle. “Well… Thank you.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Can I buy you a drink?”Devlin blinked. He’d been hit on in bars before, but no woman had ever offered to buy him a drink.She might just be a perfect woman. “Sure.”“What’s your poison?”“Whiskey sour.”She signaled to the bartender.“So…I’m Devlin.”“Devlin.” She cooed. Actually cooed. “And you are…?”“Interested.”He jumped a little as her hand skated up his thigh. His pulse skipped. “I…ah…yes. But what can I call you?” He had a pretty good idea where this was headed, and he wanted to know what to cry out as he sank into her steamy depths. It was only polite to know a woman’s name at a moment like that.She pursed her lips, as though she were thinking it over. Or thinking about something else. Her thumb snaked up. Nudged his balls, ever so lightly, and through thick denim, but he felt it like an electrical charge. “Call me Sugar.”“Sugar.” Oh yeah. She was sweet. “Would you…like to go for a walk?”“A walk?” His cock lurched. All thoughts of that drink faded.“It’s a beautiful night…”She looked over her shoulder and then threaded her fingers in his, leading him toward the back of the bar. He didn’t know why they weren’t heading for the front door, but didn’t much care.She was a beautiful woman. She wanted him. And he was just drunk enough to follow her anywhere she led.He shot a glance at Parker who sent him a thumbs up.They barely made it out the back door of the bar before she kissed him. Damn. Backed him up against the wall, raked her fingers through his hair, pulled his head down and took his mouth.And damn, she was a good kisser. She ate him with heat and passion and carnivorous zeal. He responded in kind, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. He nearly passed out when she sucked on it, nibbled it, toyed with it. He couldn’t help imagining her doing the same to his cock.Her palm roved over his chest and made its way down to his hips. He didn’t dare move as she slowly teased the band of his jeans. She pulled back and held his gaze as she popped the snap.“Mmm,” she murmured, reaching in. His eyes crossed as she molded his length. Squeezed. “Such a big boy.” She licked her lips and his brain short-circuited. When she went to her knees before him and blew a hot breath on him through the cotton of his briefs, he nearly lost consciousness. “I want to taste you,” she said. “Take off your pants.”Holy God. Yes.In a frenzy, he kicked off his shoes, and ripped off his jeans, hopping from one foot to the other. He held still, frozen in place, as she hooked her thumbs in his briefs and eased them down revealing his eager cock. She dragged his underwear down until they pooled at his ankles.He heard the catch in her moan. Felt the trace of a warm finger around his swollen head and down to the base. He shuddered.“Ah. Yes,” she said, coming close. Her heat caressed him. His knees knocked. She fisted him. Pumped. Once. Twice. Blood pounded at his temples. Thrummed in his cock. She bent closer. Her damp breath kissed the head. “Such a big dick,” she said.If he’d been in his right mind, her tone would have warned him, but he wasn’t in his right mind. He was a little drunk and a lot horny and there was a gorgeous woman on her knees before him with his cock in her fist. Her mouth hovered over the tip.Yes. Yes. Just a little more…She released him and stood up in a rush. Her beautiful, seductive expression morphed into something bitter. He gaped at her, stunned.“Yeah,” she said, propping her fists on her hips. “You, Devlin Fox, are a big dick.”And then she left. Whirled on her heel and left him standing there, half-naked, leaning against the grimy brick wall behind a grungy bar.And she took his jeans.About Sabrina YorkHer Royal Hotness, Sabrina York is the award winning author of over 20 hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to scorching BDSM. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazonor wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!CURRENT PROMOS
Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/Newsletter & contest: http://sabrinayork.com/sabrinas-contest-and-newsletter/Enter to win a signed print copy of scorching Regency romance, Dark Fancy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

FOLLOW SABRINALike my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooksFollow me on Twitter @sabrina_york Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_YorkCheck out my Pintrest boards: http://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/Like my Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-York/e/B00856PDEO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382929432&sr=8-2-entCheck out my Barnes & Noble Author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sabrina-yorkFollow me on Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/sabrina-york/
Books by Sabrina YorkAdam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonBrigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soonDark Fancy (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Devlin’s Dare: A Tryst island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Dragonfly Kisses: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Fierce (One Night Stand, Decadence Press)Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)Folly (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)Heart of Ash: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary)Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave)  Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Making Over Maris (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming November 6thMan Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Rebound: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary, Available on Amazon)Rebound is now available on SmashwordsRising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave) Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin' Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)  Smoking Holt: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary) Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line) Tristan’s Temptation (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

"Obvious talent and cleverness of DeLand's writing and plotting…" makes her SENSE AND SENSIBILITY a great read!

BUYJeep Diva Reviews had a few heartrendingly wonderful words for my erotic adaptation of Jane Austen's SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.

Oh, be still my foolish heart!

I am so tickled that I did a screen shot and put it here for you. But do please go to Jeep Diva's site as well and enjoy her golden words, not simply for me but about others' works as well. http://www.thejeepdiva.com/ /#comment-16724

Dracula, villain as hero? NBC's new version rocks my world! Yours?

    Dracula, that arch villain, has become a romance hero. While I am no regular reader of paranormal romances, nor even its cousins sci-fi or fantasy, I get a kick out of this Friday night version of the Bram Stoker's infamous villain.
    http://www.nbc.com/dracula/    Always intrigued by the historical figure, the famous leader who held back the hordes of infidels from his domain by pitting them on spikes, I have read the original and a few fictional interpretations of that event. But this version strikes me for its ingenuity—and its wide appeal to many of those whom I "visit" with on Facebook and Twitter.    I ardently appreciate this version of Dracula and thought I would tell you why. (Perhaps you agree!)    I think Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the writers have done a smashingly good job of giving Dracula a pair of motivations that make the audience cheer for him. Aside from the fact that Meyers played that other ruthless "hero" Henry VIII of England recently, he can appear dangerously seductive. Always a good trait for a romance hero!
    Believable as a man out for revenge, this Dracula also has a soft spot for the (seeming) reincarnation of his beloved wife. Hence, we have the merging of Dracula's goal to destroy those who destroyed and turned him into the creature he is with the new goal to be united with his wife/modern-day Mina.  http://www.nbc.com/dracula/    True, it is no small feat for a blood-sucking vampire to find true love or everlasting happiness with that lover. But women who read (and write) romance, whether or not they are like me and avoid paranormal sub-genre, will recognize the signs that there may be a resolution to this impossible love affair.    Jonathan Harker has been transformed here as well. A nice guy, he seemed a suitable match, if a rather boring one for Our Heroine, Mina. Yet, the writers have taken his character and shown him to be opportunistic and easily confused. Never good material for the characterization of The Guy Who Gets The Girl in the End. Now we even see him falling in with The Villains of the piece. His motives may seem "normal" yet we really don't care for him. Our affections are firmly with Our Hero Dracula…and we see that Our Heroine Mina is enthralled by him as well.     The bigger questions are two.  First is will her affection last? If we are to take the last bedroom scene in the season finale to be a true indicator of her desires and her love, then we can say yes. After all, heroines do not go to bed with just any old dude. And this Mina tends to be a clear thinker, seeing Jonathan Harker for what he is and is not, even if she is scurrying to learn precisely what Alexander Grayson/Dracula truly is.    The second big question is of course, can we have a happily ever after for these two lovers. I see possibilities for that answer to be yes. Mina, in her present form, is a scientist, God bless her. And her goal, as she stated it in an early episode, is "to cure death."  If she can, viola! We have Nirvana!    Or rather poor Dracula does…and hence, so does she.    Marvelous resolution to a seemingly impossible problem. This is the stuff of good romance—and the folks at NBC's new version have done a darn good job of making it delicious.

Stripper with Spice by Afton Locke! Oh, yum!

Buy eBook:  http://www.ellorascave.com/stripper-with-spice.htmlThank you for hosting me today. I’m excited to talk about the spice TARRAGON, and my latest release, Stripper With Spice, a contemporary erotic romance.
Ten-Gallon Tarragon
I confess, I’m not aware of ever having eaten tarragon. Apparently, it’s good in soups and sauces. I love the way the word sounds, though. I was surprised to learn this spice is related to the American sagebrush, which makes me think of the Wild West. I haven’t yet written any erotic cowboy stories. With so many authors doing a fantastic job at that, I’m not sure I could compete.
But the West has lived within me since I was 12. For some reason, I became fascinated with it then, reading every book on the subject I could find and plastering my wall with drawings of canyons and cacti. I even bought cowboy boots and a hat. Back then, I’d never set foot out there. When I grew up and got a job, Arizona was my first destination. By now, I’ve been to nearly every western state. I especially enjoyed revisiting Texas for a writer’s conference last year. My eyes about popped out of my head from all the male, western eye candy strutting around in boots. A few years before that, a couple of drop-dead gorgeous dudes in cowboy hats at the Montana airport turned me into a babbling, lust-crazed idiot.
While I’ve never dated anyone from the West, I had a country boyfriend once that was the next best thing. He was tall and looked mighty fine in jeans and a western shirt. He even talked with a slow, country drawl. Best of all were his cowboy boots. He ambled around them so naturally, as if he’d just gotten off a horse. I love the decisive, manly sounds those wooden heels make on the floor. My husband has boots too, and we used to do country western dancing when it was popular. After several attempts to teach me the two step, though, I think he gave up. Unfortunately, the boots have grown dusty as life and work schedules intrude.
Even though my story has an eastern setting, I couldn’t help letting a little western flavor intrude. Carlos’s stage name is Cool Hand Carlos, and he dresses in a sexy cowboy outfit while he does his slow, sultry dance routine. Although Janice has a hard time handling his stripping career, she’s just as entranced by his western stage persona as everyone else. Male performers work magic and each is as unique as a particular spice. Stripper With Spice
Publisher:  Ellora's Cave PublishingRelease Date:  10 January 2014eBook ISBN #:  978-14199-49050Buy eBook:  http://www.ellorascave.com/stripper-with-spice.htmlStay tuned for reviews and more: http://www.aftonlocke.com/spice.html
Watch the Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/cYIzIyett4Y
Blurb Getting back on her feet after unemployment, Janice treats herself to an erotic-romance convention. After winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a young stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.
When Carlos entices her back to the bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.
To convince her he’s more than a fantasy, Carlos teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally tested to the limit, she’ll be torn between clinging to safety and taking a chance on a whole new life.
Excerpt (explicit) Stripper With Spice - Copyright © AFTON LOCKE, 2014 - All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
I chose you.
He looks and sounds so serious and honest, how can I not be completely convinced? His words echo inside my head as he grips both sides of my face and lowers his mouth to mine in slow motion. The thrill bubbles return to my bloodstream as if the elevator cable has just snapped, dropping us to the basement.
Unlike last night’s, this kiss is slow and full of promise. He samples my mouth as if we have all the time in the world. A flash of mint-flavored tongue pierces my soul, tearing a moan from my throat. With one hand still on the button, I raise my other to his shoulder. Feeling the bare, hot skin there fuels my desire, pushing me dangerously close to the edge of self-control.
“Do you want this as much as I do, Janice?”
God, yes. I need more…all of you.
I reply by sliding my hand across the tiger-striped fabric over his back. The warm satin, with muscles moving under it, is just as sexy as bare skin. His hips dance against mine—rubbing, thrusting and teasing. My fingers move to the worn waistband of his jeans at his side, wanting to pull them off. My body throbs, needing him as I’ve never needed anything before.
When he pulls my finger off the close-door button, the door opens to reveal an annoyed looking family of five waiting to get on. The parents, obviously noticing Carlos’ wild vest and our heavy breathing, exchange a disgusted look.Carlos takes my hand and leads me off the elevator. My heart races as we walk down the corridor. Luckily, the carpet absorbs the trembling in my legs so it doesn’t make a sound.
He stops at one of the doors. I fixate on the way he slides his keycard from his back pocket and inserts it into the door reader. It’s something I’ve done myself a million times without thinking, but this is different. This is foreplay.
The door responds with a little click and a flashing green light. I guess we just got the green light for wild, hot sex. My heart accelerates even more. If it goes any faster, he’ll have to call a paramedic. I can read the headline now.Boring financial analyst dies from anticipating sex with a hot cover model.
I check my watch. Fifteen minutes have passed.
“We still have plenty of time.” He ushers me inside and closes the door behind me.
The room is completely dark because the drapes are drawn. It’s as if we’ve entered a private cave, hidden from the world. This is it, I think as Carlos flips on a dim lamp. We’re really going to do this. We’re going to have sex.
“Come in and make yourself comfortable,” he says.
I stay where I am but gaze around the room, noticing with approval how neat he is. His clothes hang in the closet and his toiletries are laid out on one corner of the sink. The smoky-brown bottle probably contains the mysterious mesquite scent. I wish he were a slob so I could tell myself it would never work between us.
It doesn’t take long for my attention to stumble across the centerpiece of the room, the large bed. Is it another stage? Is the perfectly pressed red cover the curtain? Unlike the platforms we shared for the photo shoot and lap dance, this one is completely private.
What if he doesn’t like my performance?
Coming Soon
Rock My Boat
Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.
Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.
Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?
This story will be part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, which will release 10 March 2014.https://www.facebook.com/TallDarkandAlpha

Where readers can find me
Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftonLockeAuthorhttps://www.facebook.com/afton.locke
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aftonlocke
Newsletter - The Love Chronicle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke
Contest
This post is part of the Stripper With Spice Blog Tour.                   The grand prize for the tour is the winner's choice of a wall-mountable black scroll spice rack or The Spice Lover's Guide to Herbs and Spices book (U.S. shipping address only).To be eligible, COMMENT on this post. The comment MUST relate to the spice I’m posting about in at least ONE of these ways: 1) How you cook with it or use it in food OR 2) How you use it as a natural remedy OR 3) How it reminds you of a particular man or intimate encounter

The tour winner will be announced at http://www.aftonlocke.com/SpiceTour.html on January 18th.

Spicy erotica, thrilling suspense, Barcelona with my pix for UNTIL NOON #4 in series by me and Desiree Holt!

BUY LINKS:EC   http://www.ellorascave.com/until-noon.html
Amazon  http://amzn.to/1a0QHFP Desiree Holt and I have had such fun with European set thrillers for our erotic suspense series, NEMESIS.

This time out in UNTIL NOON, we start with a murder and an investigator called to the scene high on a hill top in Montserrat, northwest of beautiful Barcelona.  (Ever been there?)

Oh. You must.

I do describe the monastery atop this extraordinary mountain range in western Catalonia. But nothing is so breath-taking as going there.  And if you can't go soon, why not read about the sights, sounds, delectable foods and museums in our 4th novel in this series?

Nemesis centers around a security company executives, all women, who run investigations and protection services for people all around the world.

In this one, Raul Cordona arrives at a murder scene near the famous Benedictine monastery of Montserrat. He's received a call from Nemesis's home office to look into the suspicious death of a friend of theirs.

When Raul arrives, he meets one of his best friends who happens to be the homicide detective on the case…but Raul also spies a woman he knew intimately for hours two years ago. Sadly, he never knew her name though indeed he knew every marvelous curve of her body. Raul must learn not only why she is at the crime scene but also what happened to the murdered man.

The two challenges combine into a fast paced tale of UNTIL NOON.
Need a nibble??? OF course you do!
Copyright 2014, Cerise DeLand and Desiree Holt. All rights reserved.  
(By the way, these are all my own photos in this blog!)Interior done in gold leaf of Monastery Church at Montserrat

Montserrat, Spain   Raul Cordona eased up on the gas pedal of his rental to climb the winding road to the monastery near the summit of the mountain. He had visited this famous site as a boy twice, once with his class and the last time with his mother. Remembering how she’d gasped in delight when she’d entered the sanctuary, he smiled. He loved the interior of the church, gilded with gold leaf that blinded the eyes. Inside, he always felt at peace.   Today he would feel none. True, Raul had been surprised by the phone call from his boss Adam Malloy in Texas, asking him to end his vacation and seek clues to the death of one of his friends. Adam was like all the other principals in the security firm of Nemesis—they respected their employees’ downtime and Raul had just helped finish a case with two other associates. He deserved a break. But he understood Adam’s concern.   Adam had told him the regional Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, had been called to the scene.    They suspected his friend’s death on this jagged mountainside might not have been an accident. Raul was not only within driving distance of the monastery just outside of Barcelona but was also an expert in homicide detection. As a former detective for Houston PD, Raul had seen scores of murders, analyzed them and occasionally unraveled others’ plans for it. He’d even stopped one Mexican drug cartel henchman from killing his own jefe.  Exterior of Church at Montserrat He pulled his SUV into the parking lot, killed the engine and allowed himself a second to appreciate the stark beauty of the serrated mountains that spilled thousands of feet down to the rolling plain leading to the coast and Barcelona. Buttoning up his jacket, he noted one car surrounded by police tape. The victim’s perhaps? One SmartCar stood in the last space to the right. The only other vehicles were four police cars and an ambulance parked at odd angles. Scanning the ridge of the mountain, he saw a few people in police uniforms and got out of his car.   A brisk wind blew, chilling him to the bone. He hurried up the sidewalk, past the candy factory, the souvenir shop and the church. No tourists wandered about, most likely sent home by the police. At the end of the walkway, a policewoman stopped him to ask for credentials. Summit of Montserrat with funicular building in foreground   He dug from his wallet his employee card for Nemesis but told her that her boss, Homicide Detective Enrique Petron, had put his name on the list of those to be admitted to the cordoned-off area. She didn’t bother to check any paperwork, just waved him toward a rock-strewn path.   He hurried on. Atop one ridge uniformed men stood in groups, talking. Another man took pictures. A group of emergency medical techs stood on a different outcrop, conferring, holding a stretcher between them. Climbing became more difficult with each step. More weeds and stones obscured the path.   Terrain like this made Raul glad he’d worn hiking boots.   At the top of the ridge, the two stretcher-bearers saw him and pointed him down the opposite side. He nodded in thanks and took the steep drop at a more careful pace. At a small clearing, he paused. Below, three men assessed the position of the dead body at their feet. One of them was his boyhood friend Enrique Petron, the Spanish police detective and the other two looked like they might be his assistants,   Raul took one good, hard look at the dead man. Sprawled in an ungainly pose, he looked like a rag doll who’d been throw over the edge. Raul’s gut wrenched, the man’s broken corpse tearing his sense of justice that a human being had died so violently.   Rough terrain of Montserrat.
You would not want to fall down here!   His gaze caught on a sharp movement to the far right of the body. An attractive brunette scrambled down the rock-strewn path, her long curls glistening in the dying rays of the sun. The shimmer blinded him but revived visions of that same chocolate-and-caramel-colored hair drifting through his fingers, sliding over his skin, teasing his cock.   No. Folly to think that she would be here.   He stepped forward, teetered on a slippery stone, then righted himself to stare at her.   She picked her way down the gulley beneath the funicular with a catlike grace that knocked his breath from his chest. He squinted. She couldn’t be his phantom lover. Yet she seemed the right height. Five-five or five-six. The right build. Ample breasts. Lithe figure. One that fit his own with a precision that had shocked him the one night he had enjoyed her over and over again. He wanted to shout at her, make her turn to face him so that he could consign her to his long list of women who never turned out to be his long-lost lover.  But she paused, tipped her head. As if she heard his unspoken demand, she spun and he had to grab a tree branch to keep from yelling at her. Her perfect oval face, her luminous dark eyes, her lips were all the right shape, color, size. No. This can’t be. His cock hardened, lengthened. Oh yes, every part of his body knew this woman. Remembered the hours she had surrendered every bit of herself to him. Recalled how he fit inside her hot creamy folds. In his thirty-four years, only this woman had made him instantly hard—and instantly brain dead. Stifling a curse of frustration, Raul clenched his fist.   After one night with her—and two years hungering for her—this attraction should not occur, Cordona. She stepped out of your bed and your life without a word. Not goodbye. Not thanks. Not even a good “fuck you”.   But of course, he had fucked her. Thoroughly. Three times in the space of the few hours when she had graced his bed in Brussels. And she had loved every mind-blowing second of their encounter.   Just like I did.   “Señor Cordona,” Enrique Petron called to him from the bottom of the crevasse where the body of    Tony Graham lay like a mangled heap of trash. “Por favor.” He beckoned as if the two of them had only recently become acquainted. “Come here, let me ask you your opinion about this.”Enrique and Raul had known each other for two decades, vacationed together often, even partied with women together back in their teens when they were young, loco and stupid. They had met at school in Switzerland. A finishing secondary school for young men, the Citadel of Bern was an elite private institution catering to the brightest offspring of Europe’s diplomatic corps. Raul’s father had been the charge d’affair in the Argentine Embassy to the Vatican, while Enrique’s served in the similar post for the Spanish Embassy. Both older men were security experts, married to American women and their sons had followed in their footsteps. Enrique was the senior detective on the regional Guardia Civil police force, while Raul had left his job three years ago in Houston homicide to track international killers for one of the most renowned global security firms, Nemesis.   Flipping up his collar against the biting wind, Raul made his way down from the craggy trail and praised his own foresight to wear warm clothes. The temperature at this elevation could be twenty or more degrees cooler than along the sunny coast. When Adam Molloy had called him two hours ago from Houston to tell him about this death, Raul had grabbed all his clothes and donned layers to keep him toasty.  View of mountains surrounding monastery facing east
toward Mediterranean and Barcelona. “Tony Graham is…was a good friend of mine,” Adam had told Raul. “I just got a call from his wife that a few tourists spotted Tony’s body on a hillside in Montserrat. We don’t know much yet but I’d like you to take a look at this for me. Nothing official for Nemesis. And I know you’re on vacation after that Paris job with Lane and Isabella, but you are the closest of our operatives to the scene.”Raul had jumped on the opportunity to help Adam. Over the past few years, Adam and his wife Nicole, one of the partners in Nemesis, had pulled quite a few strings for Raul. So before he hung up, he had asked Adam to send any info on Graham to his phone. “A bio. Employment records. Anything you can tell me about his character. And by the way, any idea what he was doing up in Montserrat in October?”   “Not much. His wife, Serena, just told me that he was on a job there in Barcelona. Tony is a private investigator. Owns his own company headquartered in London. Two partners. That’s all I know for now, but I’ll send over whatever I can get my hands on. Thanks for this.”   “No problemo.” Minutes later, Raul had checked out of his beachside hotel north on the Costa Brava and sped south in his rental car to the mountaintop tourist attraction.   The tiny town approximately thirty miles outside Barcelona had only a thousand residents. But high on the treacherous side of the serrated mountains, monks operated a one-thousand-year-old church, a school for boys, a printing press, a candy manufacturing plant and one of the finest, highest net-worth art galleries in Europe.Now in the thirty-degree chill factor, Raul shivered as he descended the slope. Feigning indifference to the brunette who spoke with one of Enrique’s team, Raul wondered what in god’s name she did for a living that she was allowed to poke around at the crime scene of a murdered private investigator. So much for bedding women whose name you do not know.   At Raul’s approach, Enrique walked over to Graham’s body. When he spoke, his voice was at a low pitch. “Notice anything odd about his position?”   “The head is turned at an odd angle.”   “Sí. That’s what I thought too. Even though he fell the distance from the top up there of say forty or fifty feet, would he die?”   “The terrain on this side is not as steep as on the north face. From up there, he would have rolled. I think that means he would break a few bones. But a man so young and fit could stop his fall. Don’t you agree?”   Enrique huffed, bending to examine the body and clucking his tongue.   Raul stole another glimpse of the woman who fascinated him. Dios, she was luscious.Enrique rose. “Sí, sí. I agree. How then would he break his neck that severely?”   “Where is your forensic analyst?” Raul asked, angry at himself for allowing the woman to steal his attentions from business. “What does he say?”Enrique bit off a Spanish epithet. “Not here yet. Still in bed with his new wife.”   “Ah, good for him,” Raul offered with sarcasm. “So you think Graham’s neck was broken before he fell?“   “I’ll let my forensics man tell me. But whatever the answer on his neck, I do question if he fell or if he was pushed.”   Raul flared his nostrils.   Enrique frowned as he studied the body again. “Anything else seem out of sorts about his position?”   “Looks like his trouser pockets are turned out.”   Enrique winced. “True. We’ve searched his coat. He has no wallet.”   Raul’s mind snapped on a sequence of deductions. Raul wanted to laugh. “This is a robbery? Ridiculous.”   Enrique crossed his arms. “That is my thought, but we haven’t found it.”   “How did you ID him?”   “His rental car in the parking lot near the visitors center.” Enrique pointed toward the lot and the auto with police tape around it. “Rental agreement proves it is his.”“And the rental company re-confirms this?” Raul pressed.Enrique nodded. “Sí. That car is not stolen. We asked for the fax of the rental company’s copy of his driver’s license. This is the same man. Anthony Graham, age forty. Resident of London, England.”“Neck broken before he was thrown over the hill. Wallet taken to make it appear like a robbery.” Raul squinted back up the hill, forcing himself to ignore the brunette several paces below. “I’ll look around at the top. See if there are any signs of a scuffle. Better have one of your boys come with me, just in case.”“Right. I want no problems with chain of evidence—or you being here.” Enrique’s eyes danced.“You can cover for me. I know your turn with me in Houston PD did you a lot of good.”   A brief smile flashed on Enrique’s face. “Taught by the best. Go look at the top of the cliff and tell me what you find.” Enrique tipped his head toward the path. “That way you will stop eyeing the candy.”   “Candy?” Irritated that he hadn’t been cool about his interest in the svelte brunette, Raul wanted to ignore any affirmation that he might be attracted to the woman—but couldn’t summon the lie. “How can you tell?”   “Mi amigo, I can smell the way she singes your heart.”   “Hell with that.” Raul chuckled. “Never my heart.”   Enrique waved a hand at him. “No. Your cojones. Did she reject you?”   Reject me? He’d assumed that at first, but as the days marched on, Raul knew she had another reason to run. He’d wondered what it had been. “No, not that.”   “Hmm. If she did, she was the only one to ever do so. Interesting. I will send her up to you.”   Don’t. “Why?”   “She must learn what you know about him.”   “And who is she?” he asked. Damn his soul. It was his eagerness to fuck her again that was not a good idea.   “So. You need an introduction?”   “I do.” Wish to Christ I didn’t.   Enrique teased. “What am I? Your social secretary?”   “Tell me, Petron. You know that you probably have a murder on your hands here. And I have information from my employers about the dead man that can save all of you time and heartache. How can she be here? Why did you allow her?” Raul insisted.  View of Barcelona's Las Ramblas at night
from a roof-top restaurant! “She is a criminal investigator for the European Union.”   Alarms went off in Raul’s head. Whatever her name or her proclivity to fuck a man blind within hours of meeting him, she had the same kind of profession as he did. Any coincidence that might have occurred to him about their meeting two years ago melted away. Until he reviewed what he’d been working on that night he’d pushed between her legs and lost himself, he would be very careful renewing his acquaintance with her. Had she worked for the EU then? Was her interest in him purely personal or had there been another method to her madness? He drove a hand through his hair. Damn if he could recall what he had worked on the night he lost his mind with her in his arms. “You have known her before today?”   “No. I saw her badge. She is, as you say in the States, good to go.”  “Good to be here. Why?”   “She’s investigating the work Graham was doing for a major oil company.”   “Which one?” Raul asked, his gaze devouring the willowy figure of the woman who had lived in his memory for far too long and whose raw sexuality had spoiled him for so damn many other females.As if she too recalled the abandon of their lovemaking, she looked straight into his eyes.   He might never be certain, but at that moment, he felt her tremble in recognition. And enjoy the memory too? 4 Cats Restaurant where Picasso
ate, drank and created logo
for restaurant owners!   Scenes of how she had laughed with him in the bar where they’d met ripped through him. Memories of her warm mouth, ravenous for his. Her body, elegant in her passion, long and reedlike, her breasts, firm mounds. Her pussy, tight as sin, glossed with dark brown hair, fat labia, soaking wet with cream, all for him. The way she came with abandon. The delight in sucking him off as if she’d never tasted any other man. The way she let him have her, on the bed, against the wall. In his shower. Every time, she had come, crying her joy as her sweet cunt milked him dry.   “Did you hear me?” Enrique taunted him.   “No,” Raul admitted, knowing he sounded like a sleepwalker. “Tell me again.”   “Roca Oil. Their main refineries are down on the Barcelona waterfront.”   “Gracias.”  “De nada, my friend. Now go look at that path and stop ogling SeñoritaTerrasona.”   “That’s her name?” Raul asked, steeling himself to sound indifferent.   “Pilar.”
   Pilar. Pilar Terrasona. You and I are going to get to know each other again. This time, I need to know not just your name but what you do for a living and why you are here. That means that this time, lady, you and I are looking at no sex. All business.
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Amazon  http://amzn.to/1a0QHFP Statue to Christopher Columbus
in Barcelona on waterfront!
Don't you want to go there now?