Lucy Felthouse's Blog, page 92

*****

Scout’s Honor by Maia Dylan

BLURB:

As the manager of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the safety of the men under his control was the most important thing to Cooper. That was until Dr. Honor Jennings stepped from a helicopter and proceeded to show him that playing it safe wasn’t always the best way forward.

When Honor arrived onboard the rig, she was fully prepared to uncover the safety breaches an anonymous source had advised her were taking place. She was completely unprepared for her reaction to the rig manager. The cold-blooded murder she witnessed came as a downright shock!

Can Cooper keep Honor safe with a murderer on the loose and a storm keeping them isolated from the mainland, or will the risk prove too much and cost them everything?

*****

EXCERPT:

“Don’t be a prick, Greg.” Honor could hear the snarl in her own voice and didn’t give a shit. Her Irish heritage wasn’t just responsible for her hair and her coloring. It was a healthy contributor to her fiery nature and quick temper, too. “We both know you have no authority or right to freeze wages. If you think the guys on this rig are going to pay any attention whatsoever to your over inflated ego and blustering, you really are as thick as Mr. Cooper said you are.”

Greg’s gaze slid to her and glared. “Honor, you’re here at our request to satisfy the curiosity of our board, and no other reason.” He slid a knowing glance at Joey. “Perhaps you might find something else to hold your attention while we are out here and let me and my team take care of this mess. I know from personal experience, you aren’t above taking some time out on the job and seeking, shall we say, a more intimate knowledge of those you are working with.”

Honor felt the heat rise in her cheeks, and cursed that particular aspect of her heritage, but she refused to give this bastard the satisfaction of seeing her wilt beneath his accusation. She felt the man next to her tense, and could tell Cooper was about to say something. Never one to let another fight her battles, Honor stepped forward.

“For Christ’s sake, Greg…” Honor heard the contempt in her own tone. “If you want everyone in the room to know you and I fucked once, just say it. Innuendo was never one of your strong points, and apparently good taste in men was never one of mine.” Joey’s quick laugh morphed into a cough. “Putting aside my little mistake, and yes, I do mean little, investigating this morning’s incident and getting to the bottom of exactly what is going on here will more than hold my attention. I’m not here at JPG’s request, and your board did everything they could to ensure I wasn’t on that chopper, yet here I am. And why is that? Because the Ocean Energy Safety Institute has a state mandate to investigate health and safety violations in this industry at sea. So I would suggest you pull up your big boy panties and deal with it. This rig will remain under a stop-work until the OESI and Mr. Cooper are satisfied.”

Honor kept the fact someone had been anonymously sending inspection outcomes and incident summaries to the OESI for the past few weeks to herself. She had no desire to see someone who was trying to do the right thing get punished for it.

Greg’s face had turned an interesting shade of purple. “Remember you’re walking a very thin line with the OESI yourself, Dr. Jennings. But there is one thing we can agree on. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get the hell off this rig and back to civilization.”

“Then why don’t we start with the site inspection.” Cooper spoke from beside her, and when Honor turned to look at him, she was thankful to see he was no longer scowling at her. Her breath caught once more at how spectacularly hot he was.

He had golden eyes the color of honey, surrounded with thick, long lashes any woman would have coveted. High cheekbones, square jaw with the right amount of stubble, and despite the hardhat he wore, she could see his black hair was thick. Cooper wore a set of coveralls that had SCOUT DRILLING embroidered on the left side, but they did little to detract from his broad shoulders, sculpted chest, and narrow hips. Hell, even the oil that marred the coveralls looked sexy on the man.

“That sounds like a great place to start,” Honor agreed, ignoring the fact she felt a little breathless.

“So, why don’t you follow me, Mr. Frederickson and clones, and we’ll see about getting you the correct PPE,” Joey announced, walking to the internal door on the opposite side of the room. “We shouldn’t compound the issues we have on the Discovery by not following protocol and wearing the correct protective personal equipment now should we.”

Greg and the other two men followed Joey, and from the stiff way Greg walked out of the room, she knew he was pissed and couldn’t help the wave of satisfaction that rolled through her.

Cooper huffed a laugh, and she turned back to look at him. The grin on his face had heat pooling within her. “I have gotta ask: What the hell was a woman like you doing with an asshole like him?”

Honor grinned back and shrugged her shoulders. “I thought Greg was quite specific, but if you’re asking me how the hell it happened? Well, we all make mistakes, right? Mine happens to be a six foot, narcissistic asshole who works in the same industry as I do, and is currently through that door pulling on coveralls, steel caps, and a hard hat.”

Cooper looked at her for a long time. “You handled his bullshit though. I was going to punch him in the face with the intention of breaking his nose.”

Honor laughed. “Effective, but potentially career limiting. I’m not sure what the powers that be at Scout Drilling would have to say about it, but I think there might be laws or policies against laying out a senior manager of the petroleum company you’re under contract with.”

The door opened, and the others stepped into the room. “Let’s get this over with. I want to be back on the mainland as soon as possible. I hate these goddamn submersibles.”

Cooper’s gaze hadn’t moved from her. “And yet the compulsion remains strong, and I can’t help thinking it could be worth the punishment.” He turned back to face the JPG team. “Follow me.”

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I write the kind of books that I love to read. Love stories between strong men and their independent soulmates. Usually, their path to Happily Ever After is a bumpy one, but there is always a Happy Ever After.

In the world’s I create there is someone (or two, or three) for everyone! Love comes in many forms and I believe it is all beautiful and should be celebrated!

I live, love and write in New Zealand, married to my husband of eleven years with two beautiful children who I truly believe were sent as a blessing, but sometimes to try my patience, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

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Published on May 10, 2018 01:00

Mid Week Tease: She’d gone from long-term singleton to owner of a harem… #reverseharem #whychoose

mid-week-tease-button Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Mid Week Tease! This week I’m sharing more from Mia’s Wedding, the second book in The Heiress’s Harem series, which released yesterday. I hope you enjoy it!

In the few weeks since the death of her father—which had been expected, but the knowledge had made it no less devastating—her life had been turned upside down. Not only had she had crippling grief to deal with, as well as the responsibility and paperwork that went with administering the estate, but she’d had a huge curveball thrown at her, too. Her father’s will, as she had expected, named her as sole beneficiary—excepting some sizeable charitable donations—but there had also been a caveat, something which had been added in more recently. In order to inherit, she had to marry a suitable—his words—man within twelve months of her father’s burial, otherwise her vile, greedy cousin, Quinn, would get everything.

Thrown into tailspin, Mia had, at first, tried to get the amendment to the will disqualified. Her father had been so ill, and on so many medications when he’d changed it that she’d thought perhaps he wasn’t of sound mind, wasn’t making sensible decisions. Unfortunately, the family solicitor had assured her that all the relevant checks had taken place, and that the latest version—and its caveat—were legally binding. Which had left Mia with no choice but to find a husband—no way was Quinn getting his grubby paws on her childhood home and the estate. He had no interest in keeping the business interests going, interests which a lot of people relied on for their livelihoods—Mia included. All he’d do was run things into the ground, sell up, and fritter the proceeds away.

Soon after she’d received the shocking news, two things had happened: her luck had changed, and things had got crazy. She’d met Elias, who was definitely “suitable” husband material, but had also discovered he was into sharing women with his best friend, Alex. In the meantime, she’d been rapidly falling in love with Thomas—who, being the estate gardener, would not meet the stipulations laid out in her father’s will and therefore wasn’t a candidate for marriage.

Fast forward to now, and somehow she was in a loving and very satisfying relationship with Thomas, who, after she’d divulged everything, had given his blessing for her to marry Elias, as well as seeing Alex. She’d gone from long-term singleton to owner of a harem of men in a matter of weeks, and she could still scarcely believe it. It was early days yet, and although Thomas was okay with Elias and Alex being on the scene, she hadn’t yet mentioned Thomas to them. But, given the sharing thing had been their suggestion, she’d be surprised if they had an issue with not being the only two members of her collection. However, when this much testosterone was flying around, anything could happen. She just hoped she was right and that telling Elias and Alex about Thomas wouldn’t screw everything up. Not only was she incredibly fond of both men, and looking forward to seeing what a future with them in her life would be like, but becoming Elias Pym’s wife would solve her biggest and most pressing problem: securing her inheritance.

Buy Mia’s Wedding: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/mias-wedding/

Don’t forget to check out all the other blogs taking part!

***

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Published on May 09, 2018 01:00

Stepping Stones by Elizabeth Morgan (@EMorgan2010) #giveaway

Blurb:

There’s nothing like a wedding to bring the family together….

If not for her baby sister’s impending marriage, Margaret West would never return home. But after six long years, she finds herself a maid of honour who must answer to the people she left behind.

If her parents’ interrogation doesn’t drive her to drink, facing her foster brother, Adrian, just might. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé is the vicar who will conduct her sister’s ceremony.

Everyone demands to know why she ran off. But the more time she spends at home, the more Margaret realizes even she doesn’t know the real reason.

Length: 32,000 words/118 pages| Content: Contemporary Romance| Publisher: Elizabeth Morgan

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2H3fWf8

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Hzquni

Barnes&Noble: https://bit.ly/2qzZKf6

iTunes: https://apple.co/2HiWheP

Smashwords: https://bit.ly/2qyr7GG

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2JMyPVn

Also available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

~ * ~

Excerpt:

“When is Aidy getting here?” Jessica grabbed the large bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it closer to her plate.

“I think his flight is due in at three.” My mother placed a dish of bacon on the table and took a seat beside me. “He will be in time for the wedding rehearsal; don’t worry.”

My stomach clenched. “Wedding rehearsal?” I coughed, trying to clear the chunk of toast lodged in my throat. “What wedding rehearsal?”

“Today at four. We’re running through the service.” Jess scooped egg onto her plate. “I told you.”

Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat, and try as I may, I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No.” I patted my chest. “No, you never mentioned a rehearsal.”

“Oh.” She placed the bowl back in the middle of the table. “I could have sworn I did.”

“Nope, you didn’t. Believe me, I would have remembered otherwise.” I grabbed my mug and knocked the coffee back before finishing my piece of toast.

“Well, it’s no big deal.” Edward took the bowl of eggs and helped himself.

“Just a quick run-through.”

“Will everyone be there?” Forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at them both, hoping like hell my question would pass as innocent and genuine curiosity.

“Anyone who is involved in the wedding itself will be.”

Great. So that meant Jessica, Edward, the parents, and the bridesmaids, plus me. Plus Adrian and…. “Will Vicar Taylor be there?”

Oh, God, did my voice just go higher?

“Yes, Margaret, William will be there. He is the one who is marrying Jessie and Edward, so he needs to be there.” My father skewered some bacon and tomatoes onto his fork.

Grimacing, I reached out and grabbed another piece of toast. “Just a question, Pa.”

A stupid one, but a question, nevertheless…

“It is normal for people to have wedding rehearsals, Margaret. Just because you—”

Jess picked up the coffeepot. “Does anyone want more coffee?”

I straightened, my focus fixed on Pa. “I’m aware.”

“Maggie?”

My father’s shoulders went rigid. He lifted his head, and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss the way the muscle in the side of his neck ticked. Arguing with my father in front of Jessica and Edward was not an option, so I looked away.

“Please.” I held out my mug, and Jess poured the dark liquid.

I could kick myself. A wedding rehearsal hadn’t even crossed my mind. Having to stand at the altar before William on the actual wedding day would be hard enough, but having to do it twice…my stomach churned.

“So, will Adrian come straight to the church?” Edward cut the awkward silence.

“Yes. He will get a taxi to the church, and then we will bring him and his luggage back here.” My mother held her mug out to Jess.

“Adrian is staying here? Tonight?” I added sugar to my coffee. “Won’t it be crowded? I thought—”

“No more crowded than it was in your childhood.” My father took a bite of his toast.

More and more good news. Of course he would be staying here; it was his family home, after all. I guess it was stupid of me to hope he would go to a B&B, but my parents wouldn’t have allowed it even if he’d suggested it. I hadn’t seen him in six years, hadn’t spoken to him.

And yet, in a couple of hours, I would be locked in the same house with him.

~ * ~

About the Author:

Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.

Like her tagline says; A pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”

And that she does, so look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com

Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Poldark? American Horror Story? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.

Where to find Elizabeth Online:

Website: www.e-morgan.com

Blog: www.xxxxmyworldxxxx.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @EMorgan2010

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FCvgPz

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ElizabethMorgan

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizabethMorgan/

Blood Series Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBloodSeries/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethm2012/boards/

Zazzle: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/elizabeth_morgan

~ * ~

Giveaway!

Stepping Stones re-release also marks my final title being reclaimed and self-published. Yes, that’s right; I am officially, 100% a self-published Author and loving it.

So to celebrate I’m giving two lucky readers the chance to win all 8 of my titles in ebook format. That’s right you can win an ebook copy of each of my following titles and yes, that includes today’s re-release;

Stepping Stones

Razel Dazzle

Creak

On the Rocks

Truth or Dare?

All 3 books in The Blood Series;

She-Wolf

Cranberry Blood

Blood Secrets

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning these titles is leave some entries on the below rafflecopter. Yes, it’s that simple. Thank you in advance and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Published on May 09, 2018 01:00

New Release: Mia’s Wedding (The Heiress’s Harem #2) #reverseharem #whychoose

Hi folks,

I’m ecstatic to announce that Mia’s Wedding, book two in The Heiress’s Harem series, is out now! It’s been a long time coming due to other writing commitments that I had to fulfil, but I am now working on the third book, Mia’s Choice, so the wait won’t be nearly as long. It’s currently slated to release on the 5th July and is up for pre-order already.

Also, it’s worth noting that if you buy your books from somewhere other than Amazon, if you haven’t pre-ordered, your purchase window is very small. I’ll be pulling the book from these sites today and putting the book into Kindle Unlimited as soon as they’ve disappeared from the other sites, so do be quick if you’d like to purchase there. Kindle Unlimited readers, please add the book to your wishlist – you’ll be able to read it as part of your subscription hopefully in the next couple of days.

Anyway, here’s what it’s all about!

Planning a wedding is stressful enough, and that’s without a harem of gorgeous men to deal with.

Mia Harrington has had a difficult time of it lately—her father’s illness and subsequent death, then finding out she must get married if she is to inherit what’s rightfully hers. Fortunately, she’s tough and resourceful, and has emerged relatively unscathed from this period, as well as finding herself a suitable husband.

However, things are far from simple. Mia might be planning to marry investment banker Elias Pym, but she’s also having a relationship with his best friend, Doctor Alex Cartwright, and is in love with her gardener, Thomas Walker. Add to that broken dates, flashy proposals, a sexy Asian tech billionaire, and a nosey housekeeper, and you’ve got a situation hectic enough to drive even the most capable person to distraction. Can Mia juggle her men, her job, and the wedding arrangements, or is her happily ever after over before it has even begun?

Mia’s Wedding is the second book in The Heiress’s Harem reverse harem romance series.

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon AU

Amazon CA

Amazon DE

Barnes & Noble

iBooks UK

iBooks US

Kobo

Smashwords

Happy Reading!

Lucy x

Sponsored Advertisements:

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Published on May 08, 2018 01:00

Spotlight on Pieced Together by Lori King (@lorikingbooks @romancerebels69) #downanddirty #getdirty

Down and Dirty

Coming May 22!!

Published by: Romance Rebels Publishing

Cover Artist: Sinfully Sweet Designs

*****

BLURB:

Get in, get down…and get filthy with these sexy, hardworking, blue-collar heroes who don’t mind when things get a little dirty at work or at play.

This collection of 22 brand new stories from USA Today and International Best-Selling authors is full of scorching hot romance tales that will be sure to leave you breathless for more. These men work hard and play even harder.

From cops to mechanics, miners to brewmasters, they aren’t afraid to go all in. At the end of the day, when they find the woman who completes them, they learn love and life can be as messy as their day jobs…and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Featuring stories from: Lori King, Maia Dylan, Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Cecile Tellier, London Saint James, Bella Settarra, Rose Nickol, RL Merrill, Ashley Malkin, Lucy Felthouse, Scarlett J Rose, Sydney Lea, CR Moss, Samantha A. Cole, Danielle James, Ava Campbell, Eva Moore, Kimberlie L. Faye, Sabrina Sol, Nikki Prince, and Mia Hopkins

PREORDER LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/Storm-Corps-Series-565188477165130/

*****

Pieced Together By Lori King

BLURB:

Two fractured souls must lean on each other to heal physically and emotionally….

Karly Stephens got her heart shredded, when the man she thought was supposed to be her forever, cheated on her. To avoid dealing with her tattered life, she threw herself into work.

Injured and battle-weary Marine, Garret Lole, agonizes when his team deploys overseas without him. When Karly is assigned to be Garret’s nurse, unexpected sparks fly.

Despite her scarred soul, Karly is drawn to Garret in every possible way. Like puzzle pieces scattered on the floor, they must figure out how to trust in themselves and each other. Picking up the pieces might mean a whole new world for both of them.

*****

EXCERPT:

Karly felt like all the wind had been knocked out of her body. The man in front of her was over six feet of deliciousness wrapped in sexy muscles. His blonde hair curled slightly on top, but he kept it cropped short. It was his green eyes that truly captivated her, and she couldn’t find her voice for a moment.

“Are you my nurse?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling through her and making her insides shiver.

Breathlessly she nodded and murmured, “I am.”

“Damn. If I’d known a bum knee would bring me an angel I would have done it years ago.” He said, cocking his head and letting his eyes roam down her body. “What’s your name?”

“Karly.” She couldn’t have explained why she responded at all to the rude question, but she was on autopilot. Her body didn’t seem to be responding to anything but him. “Nurse Stephens.”

“Well Nurse Karly Stephens, I’m Lance Corporal Garrett Lole of the United States Marines and I’m more than happy to make your acquaintance.”

He reached for her hand, steadying himself on one crutch as he kissed her knuckles his eyes never leaving hers. She could feel the touch of his lips on her skin like a shot to the gut.

“You’re a Marine?” she repeated, realizing the instant it left her lips that she sounded stupid. “That’s great, my Dad is a Marine. 4th LAAD Battalion. Retired now, but he put in twenty-seven years before his hearing loss kicked him out.”

“No shit. I’m 4th LAAD Battalion.” Garrett’s eyes lit up and the smile he gave her made her weak kneed.

“That’s great.” She heard herself repeating, trying to avoid visibly cringing at her own ridiculousness. She never acted like a smitten teenager, she was notorious for being serious and single. Clearing her throat she held up the file in her hands, “Are you going to let me discharge you?”

“Nurse Karly Stephens, I’ll let you do anything you want with me.” His flirting was making it hard for her to think, and she grew irritated.

“Well right now, I just want to discharge you so I can go give a strep test to the four year old in the next room before his mom comes looking for me. Sound good?” she told him, stepping around him into the room and putting her file down. “Looks like you’re up for surgery. We can get you scheduled, just stop by the—”

“Admin office.” He interjected, “Yeah the doc told me that. I was just trying to figure out if the surgery was really necessary or not. I’m supposed to deploy in a few days and I really can’t leave my team hanging.”

“I’m sure a Marine with a bum knee is exactly what they want in Iraq.” She said, propping her hip against the only countertop in the room.

“I don’t know that I’ll be in Iraq.”

“Does it matter? Is there a good place for a Marine with a…” she looked at the paper again, “Handle bar tear to his left meniscus?”

Garrett’s green eyes shifted from a grassy color to a deep forest green and he gave her a panty dropping grin, “Underneath a nurse named Karly?”

It was too much. As attractive as he was, she had no interest in being a notch on a bedpost. “No thank you. Now, Dr. Aguiar has prescribed a muscle relaxer and pain meds, here are the instructions on how to take them safely. Please make sure you’re careful, mixing too much of these meds can be very dangerous.”

“Are you concerned for my safety, Karly?” he asked, moving a little closer. On his crutches, the move was less than seductive, and she giggled.

“Yes, you’re pretty awkward on those crutches, but don’t worry. After six to eight weeks on them you’ll get the hang of it.”

“So I’m having surgery then. No possibility of parole?”

She shook her head, “Nope. Of course, you can get a second opinion, but Dr. Aguiar is the best there is.”

“Then what the hell is she doing working for the VA?” he asked, taking the papers and folding them in half before he shoved them in his back pocket.

“She has to do a little charitable work here and there.” Karly responded, winking at him as she moved back around him and opened the door. “Please remember to stop by the admin office.”

He stood there for a second and then moved into the doorway, pausing before he passed her fully. Reaching out to cup her cheek, he stroked his thumb over her lips. “Until later, Nurse Karly Stephens.”

She watched him as he made his way down the hallway, his tall form struggling on the crutches as if his muscles couldn’t wait to break free of their confinement. He was as good looking from the back as he was from the front that was for sure, but he was also cocky, and she hated cocky.

Shutting the door behind her, she hurried off to the next patient, her mind still buzzing with the tempting flirtations of a sexy Marine.

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori King is the author of more than thirty Amazon best-selling romance novels, as well as a full-time wife and mother of three boys. Although she rarely has time to just enjoy feminine pursuits; at heart she is a hopeless romantic. She spends her days dreaming up Alpha men, and her nights telling their stories. An admitted TV and book junkie, she can be found relaxing with a steamy story, or binging in an entire season of some show online. She gives her parents all the credit for her unique sense of humor and acceptance of all forms of love. There are no two loves alike, but you can love more than one with your whole heart.

With the motto: Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance, she will continue to write as long as you continue to read. Thank you for taking the time to indulge in a good Happily Ever After with her. Find out more about her current projects at http://lorikingbooks.com, or look her up on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoriKingBooks or Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoriKingBooks.

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Published on May 07, 2018 01:00

Spotlight on Rescuing Trent by Rose Nickol (@RoseNickol @romancerebels69) #downanddirty #getdirty

Down and Dirty

Coming May 22!!

Published by: Romance Rebels Publishing

Cover Artist: Sinfully Sweet Designs

BLURB:

Get in, get down…and get filthy with these sexy, hardworking, blue-collar heroes who don’t mind when things get a little dirty at work or at play.

This collection of 22 brand new stories from USA Today and International Best-Selling authors is full of scorching hot romance tales that will be sure to leave you breathless for more. These men work hard and play even harder.

From cops to mechanics, miners to brewmasters, they aren’t afraid to go all in. At the end of the day, when they find the woman who completes them, they learn love and life can be as messy as their day jobs…and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Featuring stories from: Lori King, Maia Dylan, Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Cecile Tellier, London Saint James, Bella Settarra, Rose Nickol, RL Merrill, Ashley Malkin, Lucy Felthouse, Scarlett J Rose, Sydney Lea, CR Moss, Samantha A. Cole, Danielle James, Ava Campbell, Eva Moore, Kimberlie L. Faye, Sabrina Sol, Nikki Prince, and Mia Hopkins

PREORDER LINKS:

*****

Rescuing Trent By Rose Nickol

BLURB:

Trent Simmons had spent his life helping others.. While recovering from the injury that got him discharged from the service, he met the woman he thought he was going to spend his life with, but it was not meant to be. He spent the next several years infiltrating a human trafficking slavery ring recusing countless women.

Pricilla Wilder had decided she was happy living alone. She had watched her mother raise two children on her own and do a wonderful job. She didn’t need a man in her life. Then an insane madman targeted her and her sister trying to extract revenge on their father.

Trent was assigned to be one of Pricilla’s bodyguards. The woman was smart, and sexy. Trent can’t ignore the feelings she awakens within him—feelings he thought had died years ago. Can he convince her to give him a chance or will fate once again destroy his world?

*****

EXCERPT:

Pricilla woke the next morning and found Trent up and dressing. “Good morning baby. I was going to let you sleep a while longer. There’s no reason for you to be up this early.”

She rolled to her side to watch as he sat to pull his boots on. “Why are you up? How early is it?” The sun was shining bright so it couldn’t be too early, could it?

“Early. I need to go help the men with the horses. We have a couple more coming to board today, and we’re down a couple men today,” Trent explained as he finished dressing.

Priss maneuvered to sit on the side of the bed, pulling the sheet with her as she went so that it was wrapped toga-style around her front. “Can I help?” She didn’t know much about working with horses, but she wanted to find out and spend more time with Trent. The thought of waiting in the house by herself was boring.

“I thought you might want to catch up on your rest, but if you want to come hang out, sure.”

“Let me take a quick shower, and I’d love to come,” Priss was out of the bed and heading for the shower before he could change his mind.

“I’ll meet you down in the kitchen,” Trent said with a laugh as the bathroom door closed behind her.

Priss hurried through the shower, excited to be able to help. She’d always wanted a horse when she was growing up, but living in the city prevented that. When she got to the kitchen, Trent had started breakfast. “I can do that,” she told him as she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I got this. You do the coffee, and it should all be ready at once.”

Trent and Priss were just sitting down to eat when a knock came at the door. “Trent, Ms. Welch showed up early, and she’s demanding you come out and help her personally.” The man at the door told Trent.

Trent rolled his eyes and nodded to the man. He turned to Priss, “That didn’t take long. I figured she’d show up once she heard I was here. She’s a repeat customer and her father boards several horses here. I have to go help her Priss. She and her father are some of our best customers. Go ahead and finish here. Come on out to the barn when you’re done.” Trent told her as he headed out the door after giving her a hard kiss on the lips. Priss watched Trent go out the door without even having coffee. That wasn’t right.

She explored the kitchen until she found a thermos and some containers for the food. She packed everything up and headed to the barn with it. If this woman were rude enough to interrupt breakfast Priss would show her how it was done. Looking around to make sure she had everything, she gathered what she had packed and marched out to the barn.

She saw a large horse trailer and a fancy little car parked beside it when she got to the barn. She could hear the sound of voices coming from the far end of the barn and headed that direction. She passed a couple of the ranch hands as she went and couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“I don’t know why Trent lets Elizabeth treat him like that. You’d think she owned the ranch instead of him and Martin. I know their business is good, but nothing’s worth the way she treats him.”

Even more determined to check this woman out, Priss continued single-mindedly towards the sound of the voices. What she saw stopped her in her steps. Trent was kissing the woman. A very beautiful, model thin, perfectly groomed woman. And it was a very passionate kiss. The woman had her arms wrapped around his neck and was plastered against him.

She must have made a noise because the woman released him and stepped back. “I’ve missed you too lover. It’s been too long. You should have phoned and let me know you were back in town. When I heard about Martin, I had to come. He means as much to me as my father.”

Priss watched the scene before her wondering if she’d been wrong about Trent. She dropped the basket and turned, running back to the house. When she got to the house, she ran up the stairs. She went straight to the bedroom and quickly grabbed her stuff. What did she do now? She didn’t know anyone here and wasn’t going to wait for Trent to finish with his lover.

She threw her bag over her shoulder and ran down the stairs and out of the house. She couldn’t be there when Trent came back in. He wasn’t going to use her that way. She started running, not sure where she was going. She just knew she had to get out of there. Now.

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rose Nickol is an author of Erotica with and without BDSM. She has twenty plus books published with more to come. When she’s not writing Rose enjoys crocheting and spending time with her family. She has one daughter and two fur children, a nine-year-old dog and a one year old kitten. Life at her house is never quiet.

FACEBOOK I TWITTER I INSTAGRAM

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Published on May 06, 2018 01:00

Spotlight on Destiny Happened by London Saint James (@LSJRomance @romancerebels69) #downanddirty #getdirty

Down and Dirty

Coming May 22!!

Published by: Romance Rebels Publishing

Cover Artist: Sinfully Sweet Designs

*****

BLURB:

Get in, get down…and get filthy with these sexy, hardworking, blue-collar heroes who don’t mind when things get a little dirty at work or at play.

This collection of 22 brand new stories from USA Today and International Best-Selling authors is full of scorching hot romance tales that will be sure to leave you breathless for more. These men work hard and play even harder.

From cops to mechanics, miners to brewmasters, they aren’t afraid to go all in. At the end of the day, when they find the woman who completes them, they learn love and life can be as messy as their day jobs…and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Featuring stories from: Lori King, Maia Dylan, Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Cecile Tellier, London Saint James, Bella Settarra, Rose Nickol, RL Merrill, Ashley Malkin, Lucy Felthouse, Scarlett J Rose, Sydney Lea, CR Moss, Samantha A. Cole, Danielle James, Ava Campbell, Eva Moore, Kimberlie L. Faye, Sabrina Sol, Nikki Prince, and Mia Hopkins

PREORDER LINKS:

*****

Destiny Happened by London Saint James

BLURB:

Desi

Of course, I noticed Mr. Shirtless. With a bod like his, who wouldn’t? But his hot-factor didn’t matter. What did? My asshat ex and the need to make him jealous. So, I strolled up to the panty-melting stranger as though I knew him and laid one on him, hoping said asshat would see I’d moved on just fine without him. Only, he never saw me kissing another man.

Kash

I spotted her—honey-blonde hair gleaming in the sun as she came my way. I’d flirt. Smile. Maybe get her number. I sure the hell didn’t expect her to toss her arms around my neck, mashing her body against mine, and kiss the ever-loving shit out of me. Then, she stopped. Stepped back. Blushed. Whispered “Sorry” and blended into the crowd.

I never got her name that day. Or her number. However, fate had other plans and Destiny happened…again.

*****

EXCERPT:

Desi

“Stupid, stupid, stupid…”

My breathless mutterings were meant for no one but me. Because seriously, I was stupid. Look up the word in the dictionary and you’d see a big ol’ picture of my dumb face. I’d just kissed a stranger and ran. A ‘kiss and run’ if you will. Not only was I stupid, but I might also be insane. Like, total zonkers!

Why did I do what I did?

Okay. The why was simple. Or, at least, I thought it was at the time. I wanted to make my ex jealous. Show the douche-canoe I’d moved on just fine without his no good ass. Let him know he’d been easy to forget. Prove I was so over him, it wasn’t even funny.

You’re probably thinking the ex? Let me back up a bit.

When a group of Oktoberfester’s shifted, most of them watching the hip-wiggle/ass-jiggle Linds was doing, someone started catcalling. This had me looking in the direction of the whistles, and that’s when I became aware of Mr. Shirtless. With the chiseled cheekbones of a Greek God, he stood a few feet away in low-slung denim—glistening in the sun.

Hello! With a rock-hard bod like his, who wouldn’t notice?

I’m pretty sure he hadn’t been the whistler, but I was certain he had been watching Lindy. Then his gaze slid to me as I took him in. Honestly, the man’s abs alone should be bronzed. It was like I’d stepped into one of those hot guy calendar shoots, his more than a six-pack rippling.

And did I mention glistening? I think I did, but it’s worth mentioning again.

That man’s midsection with the V-cut was enough to bring a grown woman to her knees in adoration. But just as I was about to stop myself from gawping at all those large, well-defined muscles flexing as the tall, dark-haired hottie wiped sweat from his bare chest, someone else redirected my attention.

Jenner.

Of all the places the asshat could be, there he was, mixed in with a group to Mr. Shirtless’s left! He shouldn’t have mattered. I shouldn’t have allowed the sight of him to burrow under my skin, but there was no helping it. Jenner had his arm curled around the shoulders of that woman as they strolled along a line of vendors—she smiling up at him all happy while he winked down at her.

Heat, and not from the sun, prickled along the back of my neck.

Seeing them out together—him more attentive to her than he’d ever been with me—pissed me the hell off. Thus, I made a rash decision and did something completely nuts. I strolled up to Mr. Shirtless like I knew him and laid one on him.

Or maybe he laid one on me.

Either way, we kissed. Hard. With tongue. And he smelled good. Clean sweat and something a bit caramel-spiced. And the way my stranger pulled me into him—alpha male possessive—God help me. Though, the real ‘holy wow’ moment came when I realized the man had developed an impressive erection while thrusting his tongue against mine, and he wasn’t afraid to use it.

Truth here. Stranger or not, when he pressed himself against me—hard and commanding—lightning struck my core.

Let’s just say, lip-locking with Mr. Shirtless had been, well… kind of mind-blowing. And after, when he looked into my eyes—his the color of chocolate swirled with honey gold—I think I lost my ability to breathe.

Then, Bam! Reality hit me.

Not only had I made a complete and total fool of myself, but my spur-of-the-moment decision hadn’t worked. Jenner and the skank had strolled on by—engrossed in each other. He never noticed me nor my brilliant public display of kissing the lips off another man.

Slowing to more of a power walk than a run, I glanced around. “Shit!” I’d been so hell-bent to just go, I’d gone in the complete opposite direction of where I’d left Lindy.

Body jittery with adrenaline, I turned around and started on my way back to her.

“Hey, babe. There you are.” Lindy strolled up, handed me a strip of chicken teriyaki on a stick, and frowned. “Where did you go? I lost you for a little while.”

“Jenner,” I said, disgusted. “He’s here.”

“Is that why you’re all flushed? Did the buttmunch say something to you?”

“No. I kind of strolled up to some random hot guy and kissed him to make the asshole jealous, but he didn’t even notice.”

Lindy’s eyes went wide. “Say what?”

With a nod, I spilled. Jenner with the woman. How they looked together. Mr. Shirtless. The PDA. The entire crazy tale.

When I was done, my bestie grabbed my shirt sleeve. “Show me the guy.”

“No way.” I shook my head. “I made a complete fool of myself and added to it by running away, Linds. I can’t take you to see him. I’m embarrassed enough as it is.”

“Come on. We’ll just stroll but keep our distance, and you can point him out.”

I groaned. “What if he sees me?”

“We’ll be sneaky.” She tugged at me. “Let’s go.”

“All right. This way.”

Being careful not to be noticed, I led Linds over toward Pops Brats, only I didn’t see Mr. Shirtless.

“He’s not around,” I said.

“Damn it.” Lindy sounded disappointed.

And me? Well, I couldn’t be sure if I was relieved my sexy stranger was no longer there or despondent I’d never see him again.

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

London Saint James has lived in many places, but never felt “at home” until she met the real-life man of her dreams and settled down in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. London lives with her husband and their fat cat who thinks he owns them.

As an award-winning, international bestselling author, London is living her childhood dream. She knew all the scribbling she did, that big imagination of hers, and all those clamoring characters running around in her head would pay off someday.

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Published on May 05, 2018 01:00

Sequel-ing – A Guest Post by Kay Jaybee (@kay_jaybee)

Sequel-ing – The Retreat (The Perfect Submissive Trilogy- Part Two)

A huge thank you to Lucy for inviting me to her brilliant blog today, to talk about my recently re-released novel The Retreat– (Part Two of The Perfect Submissive Trilogy.)

To be honest, even though many years have passed since I first put finger to keyboard, and wrote The Retreat, I’m still in something of a state of shock that I ever created it. I never dreamt I’d ever be asked to write a follow up story to any of my books, let alone be requested to pen a trilogy!!

The feeling of joy I felt when I realised that I wasn’t the only one who loved the adventures Miss Jess Sanders experienced in The Fifth Floor (previously known as The Perfect Submissive) was something I’ll never forget.

In the first book of the trilogy, The Fifth Floor, Jess arrives on the page as a naive young woman with a future awaiting her that she could never have previously imagined- a future as a professional submissive working in the Fables Hotel, Oxfordshire.

When we rejoin Jess in The Retreat, her submissive status has been established, and she has just begun to accept her new role in life when…

Blurb-

Just as Jess Sanders is adjusting to her new life as the submissive in residence on the fifth floor of The Fables Hotel, her employer, Mrs Peters, makes a startling announcement. She has agreed to loan Jess, and her dominatrix Miss Sarah, to one of their most demanding clients; Mr David Proctor.

Whisked away by the mysterious Kane to The Retreat, a house hidden in a remote part of Scotland, Jess and Miss Sarah find themselves teaching a new submissive how to meet Proctor’s exacting rules.

As Jess comes to terms with the techniques of The Retreat’s overpowering dominatrix, Lady Tia, she discovers that Proctor’s motives may not be all they seem. Just who or what is Fairtasia? And why does Jess feel like she’s walked into a warped fairy tale?

In order to get back to the fifth floor, Jess is going to have to be far more than just a perfect submissive…

Taken away from Fables by David Proctor, Jess and her mistress, Miss Sarah, soon find themselves in a strange mixed up fairytale. They have been told they are heading to Scotland to help train a young woman called Alisha to be a submissive for The Retreat – but as they’re journey begins, it soon becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface…and Proctor has another agenda altogether.

Here’s an extract to whet your appetite- Jess and Miss Sarah are on a private plane, travelling from London to Aberdeen.

… Alisha, who held a Red Riding Hood-style wicker basket, curtseyed towards her employer, proffering it in his direction. As he swished back the chequered tablecloth that had been laid across its top, the broad smile that crossed Proctor’s face plunged Jess’s heart to her feet.

The brown bodice of her dress squeezed Jess’s chest up and out, so that her cleavage was displayed to its best advantage. Her nipples were only just hidden by the keenness of its elasticated top, which was so tight she could already feel its pattern imprinting on her skin. The skirt, on the other hand, which was cut into strips of wispy netting, only just covered her backside. If Cinderella had worn an outfit like this when she was cleaning, then with every stretch and bend to dust or sweep she would have shown off her arse to perfection.

Miss Sarah, positively regal in her ankle-length, puff-skirted dress, also had her breasts compressed to the point of popping out from its faux satin material. The thunderous expression on her face, however, was far from the serene visage normally associated with fairy tale princesses.

‘Alisha, I think you could learn a great deal from these women.’ David took the basket from her hands and extracted a strip of red ribbon. ‘Use this to secure Miss Sanders’ wrists. She will put them together for you without argument.’

Mindful of Mrs Peters’ final instruction – Do Fables and yourself proud – Jess obediently placed her palms together in front of her waist, and watched Alisha wrap the wide ribbon around her wrists with rather more expertise than expected. Not her first time at doing this, then …

‘Miss Sarah, to me, please.’

The dominatrix, every inch of her displaying a haughty indifference to the men watching, moved to Proctor’s side.

Rummaging in the basket, purely for effect Jess thought, David produced what he’d been searching for, and held it up like a trophy. ‘Miss Sarah, I’d like you to teach Alisha how to use this to bring your submissive to the point of ecstasy, but slowly. Make it last. Make her wait.’

Jess, her blood pumping with the speed of a delayed train trying to make up time, felt her throat close on itself as her superior lifted a heavily frosted cupcake from Proctor’s palm. Of course, what else would Red Riding Hood have in her basket?

‘Kane, I know they didn’t impress you before, but this will be good.’

Jess didn’t know whether to be flattered or bemused by Proctor’s faith in her. No one had ever tried to stimulate her with confectionery before, and she wished her brain hadn’t already filled itself with visions of Miss Sarah rubbing the icing star that was stuck in the top of the cake over her breasts in a steady, rotating motion.

Obviously wanting to get this charade over with as soon as possible, Miss Sarah took charge. ‘Alisha, if you’d step this way, I will talk you through what I do, as I do it.’

In a tone that brooked no argument from anyone, Miss Sarah went on. ‘Turn around, Miss Sanders. Lift your tethered hands and hold onto the back of the chair before you.’

Jess had been so sure that it would be her chest that would be the focus of the cake’s attention that the order to turn sent a flare of disappointment rippling through her breasts as they were pressed against the back of the leather chair.

‘Alisha, I require your assistance as well as your complete attention for this lesson. As you can see, Miss Sanders’ skirt is cut into many lengths, so just lifting it up in one piece is not an option. Use one of your hands to hold all the strips of netting out of the way.’

As Alisha’s fingers gently gathered up all the stray pieces of skirt, Jess felt the heady frisson of unfamiliar digits holding the fabric in the small of her back, and four sets of eyes levelling themselves on her posterior.

‘Thank you, Alisha. Now, observe.’ Miss Sarah contained her smile as Jess’s backside quivered a fraction at the first touch of the stiff, sharp-edged, icing star. Trailing it in a misshapen figure of eight from one buttock to the other, using the anus as the cross-over point, Miss Sarah noted how each pass forced Jess to focus harder on not fidgeting her feet.

‘If you look closely, Alisha, you will see different points on the arse produce different reactions from our submissive, as does the amount of pressure applied and the manner in which we hold the cake.’

Miss Sarah swivelled the cake around in her fingers, so she was now holding its top and pushing the sponge base against Jess’s butt. ‘I suspect, however, that I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.’

Not giving Alisha the chance to reply herself, David interjected sharply, his brusque tone betraying his own arousal. ‘This is all very new to Alisha, if you would continue.’

Filing his overreaction away to be considered later, Miss Sarah kept her attention on the younger woman. ‘Now that I have flipped the cake around, if I press it while keeping it moving, the crumbs will leave a trail across her flesh. Get the amount of pressure correct and the cake won’t be destroyed.

‘You will also notice, if you get in close, that despite being extremely horny, Miss Sanders isn’t moving or making a sound. She has, after all, been very well trained. She is diverting her feelings away from the climax she craves by the clenching of her toes, and the digging of her fingernails into the chair against which she is leaning. Do you see?…’

I hope you enjoyed that mini snippet. A hint of fairytale before Jess’s life becomes really complicated, and the fairytales take on a far darker tone.

You can buy The Retreat from all good retailers including-

AmazonUK

AmazonUS

AmazonAU

AmazonCA

Barnes&Noble

iBooksUK

iBooksUS

Kobo

Smashwords

(The Perfect Submissive Trilogy does not have to be read in order, but you will get more out of Jess’s story if you read The Fifth Floor before The Retreat)

Happy reading.

Many thanks.

Kay xx

*****

Bio

Kay Jaybee was named Best Erotica Writer of 2015 by the ETO

Kay received an honouree mention at the NLA Awards 2015 for excellence in BDSM writing.

Kay Jaybee has over 180 erotica publications including, The Retreat- Book2: The Perfect Submissive Trilogy (KJBooks, 2018), Making Him Wait (Sinful Press, 2018), The Fifth Floor- Book1;The Perfect Submissive Trilogy (KJBooks, 2017), Wednesday on Thursday, (KDP, 2017), The Collector (KDP, 2016), A Sticky Situation (Xcite, 2013), Digging Deep, (Xcite 2013), Take Control, (1001 NightsPress, 2014), and Not Her Type (1001 NightsPress), 2013.

Details of all her short stories and other publications can be found at www.kayjaybee.me.uk

You can follow Kay on –

Twitter- https://twitter.com/kay_jaybee

Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/KayJaybeeAuthor

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3541958-kay-jaybee

Brit Babes Site- http://thebritbabes.blogspot.co.uk/p/kay-jaybee.html

Kay also writes contemporary romance and children’s picture books as Jenny Kane www.jennykane.co.uk and historical fiction as Jennifer Ash www.jenniferash.co.uk

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Published on May 04, 2018 01:00

Get Nine Erotic Romances for Just 99c/p Each! @tirgearr #tirgearr #99c #eroticromance #LPRTG #SSRTG #ASMSG

Hi folks,

As some of you may know, I’ve got a couple of books in the City Nights series, and I’ve edited most of the others, so it’s a collection very special to me. If you don’t know, this is basically a series of standalone erotic romance novellas set in cities all over the world. My contributions are set in Paris and Budapest, with more bubbling away in the back of my brain.

And, during May, you’ll be able to snap them up at an absolute steal of a price. Currently, the first nine books in the series are 99c/p on Amazon, which includes my book, One Night in Paris. After that, the next bunch will be on sale, and so on… you get the idea.

So, if you want to travel to the following cities from the comfort of your armchair, get your one-clicking finger ready!

Boise
Paris
Rome
New Orleans
San Francisco
Amsterdam
Edinburgh
Madrid
Dublin

Links to the series pages on Amazon: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Happy Reading!

Lucy x

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Published on May 03, 2018 03:13

Spotlight on Crashing Hard by Kimberlie L. Faye (@kimberlielfaye @romancerebels69) #downanddirty #getdirty

Down and Dirty

Coming May 22!!

Published by: Romance Rebels Publishing

Cover Artist: Sinfully Sweet Designs

*****

BLURB:

Get in, get down…and get filthy with these sexy, hardworking, blue-collar heroes who don’t mind when things get a little dirty at work or at play.

This collection of 22 brand new stories from USA Today and International Best-Selling authors is full of scorching hot romance tales that will be sure to leave you breathless for more. These men work hard and play even harder.

From cops to mechanics, miners to brewmasters, they aren’t afraid to go all in. At the end of the day, when they find the woman who completes them, they learn love and life can be as messy as their day jobs…and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Featuring stories from: Lori King, Maia Dylan, Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Cecile Tellier, London Saint James, Bella Settarra, Rose Nickol, RL Merrill, Ashley Malkin, Lucy Felthouse, Scarlett J Rose, Sydney Lea, CR Moss, Samantha A. Cole, Danielle James, Ava Campbell, Eva Moore, Kimberlie L. Faye, Sabrina Sol, Nikki Prince, and Mia Hopkins

PREORDER LINKS:

*****

Crashing Hard By Kimberlie L. Faye

BLURB:

He’s a lifesaver

EMT Ryan Murphy is smart, sexy, and arrogant when it comes to his job and his personal life. Saving lives and looking hot while doing it isn’t always easy or glamorous. No one is immune to his charms except for one stubborn and uptight nurse, and he’d love nothing more than to get under more than just her skin.

She’s a lifesaver

Helena Carter is an experienced emergency room nurse and can handle any situation with calm, stalwart determination but just hearing Ryan’s husky voice is enough to make her look like it’s her first day on the job. He may be irresistible but she isn’t going to admit that fact to anyone else, especially him. He’s cocky, sarcastic, and nothing she’s interested in. Besides, the last thing she wants is a relationship right now, right? She fell in love once before and was taken for all she had. She’s not about to make the same mistake again. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself.

After one scorching night of passion leads to a few misunderstandings, could the delicate pulse of their relationship come to a lethal halt? Can they get past this or will the new romance take a turn for the worse and crash hard?

*****

EXCERPT:

Ryan waved over to the waiter, who winked and held his finger up and mouthed one minute. Ryan gave him a thumbs up. “I’m gonna order a real pizza.”

Helena’s eyes widened. “What would a real pizza consist of in your book?”

The white tips of his perfect teeth tugged on his plush bottom lip before he answered. What she wouldn’t give to tug on his lip with her own teeth. “Extra pepperoni, extra mozzarella cheese, and well done. I don’t like my toppings slipping off my pizza.” He winked again, and she smiled despite herself. No matter how many times he winked at her, it never got old.

“Well, I’ll have what you’re having. Hawaiian pizza is just…yuck.”

The waiter sauntered over to Ryan’s side and leaned in close to him. “What can I get for you? Your order is my command.”

Helena watched with rapt fascination as Ryan ordered, seemingly oblivious to the fact the waiter was flirting with him.

“You got it, hun.” The waiter waggled an eyebrow at him before strolling away.

“What? You look surprised by something.” Ryan crossed his arms and stretched his long, thickly muscled legs just under the table. He fidgeted, and his leg rhythmically tapped hers until she grabbed his thigh under the table. He stopped and ran his large, warm hand over hers on his thigh.

“You…your leg is banging mine,” she stammered.

He moved quick and whispered in her ear, “Is there something else you’d like me to bang instead?”

Her stomach flipped, and heat suffused her entire body. She squeezed his thigh and pulled her hand away and cleared her throat. “The waiter was flirting with you.”

“Yeah, so what?” He stretched his arms behind his head and was sitting back, relaxed with outstretched legs, and Helena wondered, for a split second, what it would be like to straddle him on the seat.

Helena took a nice, big gulp of her ice cold beer. She couldn’t get her mind out of the gutter when she was around him. “It didn’t make you feel uncomfortable?”

Ryan shook his head. “No, why would it? I’m flattered but not interested in him.” His mug froze part way to his lips, and his eyes widened. “You thought I would be rude or offended by his interest?”

Helena fidgeted in her seat. He was right, of course. She did think he would be an asshole about it. She looked down and picked at the invisible lint on her pants. “Uh, yeah, I guess I did think you would be rude,” she sighed and smiled sheepishly, “I’m sorry.”

His grin made her heartbeat quicken. “You’re forgiven as long as you help me eat this pizza.” The flirty waiter placed the pizza down with a flourish and perched his hands on his hips.

Ryan’s eyes widened. “Wow, that was fast.”

“Like I said, hon, your wish is my command.” He raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in Helena’s direction. “You’re a lucky girl.”

“Oh, we’re not together.” She reached over to take a slice of pizza and almost knocked over her beer, catching it before it soaked everything on the table.

The waiter pointed at her and bent toward her as if to impart some secret information. “Well, you should be because he is hawt.”

Ryan coughed. “Umm, I’m right here and can hear you.”

The cheeky waiter turned with a flourish and walked away with the expertise of a runway model and muttered over his shoulder, “I know you can hear me.”

“Then can you bring us some hot pepper flakes?” Ryan and Helena spoke at almost the same time. They started to laugh, and the waiter whistled low and walked away to retrieve a bottle of red pepper flakes from a recently vacated table.

Helena dragged a steaming slice of pizza onto her plate without almost spilling or knocking over anything and thanked the waiter when he handed the bottle to her. She sprinkled the flakes all over her slice. “You’re not what I expected, Ryan.”

He bumped his shoulder into hers. “So does that mean you like me?”

She winked at him and gave him a sly smile. “Maybe?” She caught Rosa’s wide-eyed expression and held back a giggle. She never giggled. Giggling was for little girls but after a large beer, she was giggling like a school girl. Yeah, she was flirting with the last guy she should be, but what could it hurt? She was an adult and had every right to lead on whoever she wanted. Heaven knew Ryan did, didn’t he?

“Well, I like a woman who isn’t afraid of eating something spicy.” He nodded his head at her slice of pizza, almost covered entirely with a layer of hot pepper flakes.

A chunk of hot cheese bathed in tomato sauce landed with a thump on her left breast before she even got a bite to her mouth. She looked down at it with a wince. It was hard to be flirty and sexy when you had a clump of hot cheese searing a hole through your shirt and bra. It might as well be lava and she bit her lip and resisted the urge to swear profusely and yank her shirt off. She’d have to grin and bear it and deal with the first degree burn later.

“I’d be more than happy to lick that off your shirt.” Ryan’s husky murmur caressed the shell of her ear and tickled her ear drum. Goosebumps erupted all over her and suddenly the idea of yanking her shirt off didn’t sound half bad.

She bit back a smile and took the napkin he offered to her and wiped the mess off her shirt. “I’m sure laundry detergent will do the job just fine.” She dipped a napkin into her ice water and wiped the cheese off, and a red sauce stain was left behind, bright and obnoxious. “I can’t seem to eat anything without wearing it.”

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

She’s an avid reader and writer and finally took the plunge into indie writing/publishing. She has found the experience rewarding and life-changing. Some of her favorite genres to read are urban fantasy, historical romance, and suspense. She has a fascination with Greek mythology.

Kimberlie lives in New England with her soul mate, two beautiful daughters, a dog, two needy cats, and a plethora of chickens.

Oh, and she likes chocolate.