Rhian Cahill's Blog, page 31

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

 

I got tagged twice for this. The lovely Jennifer Bernard grabbed me and I couldn’t refuse her because she writes sexy firemen. Then fellow Momentum author Nathan Farrugia nabbed me.

 

What is your working title of your book?

Catch’n'kiss

 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It’s the sixth book in the Party Games series and like the rest it came from a childhood game only I put an adult twist on it.

 

What genre does your book fall under?

Erotic Contemporary Romance

 

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh I always struggle with this question. Plus there’s the fact that I don’t watch TV or movies all that often so I don’t know who’s ‘hot’ right now or who’d ‘fit’ the role of Dan or Jody

 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

If you don’t run he can’t catch you.

 

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It will hopefully be contracted by Samhain Publishing like the rest of the Party Games series.

 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It’s not finished but it will probably be about four weeks of work when I’m done.

 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Well the rest of the Party Games series for a start but anything by Mari Carr or Lexxie Couper.

 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

It was a natural progression from the first four Party Games books that I wrote with Lexxie Couper and the original idea came from a conversation I had with Mari Carr one day. I suddenly wondered what it would be like to put an adult twist on all those ‘innocent’ childhood games we used to play. Once I mentioned my idea to Lexxie the series took on a life of its own and the rest is history.

 

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If you’re into a smokin’ hot hero who is determined to catch his heroine and kiss the daylights out of her this one’s definitely for you.

 

Now I have to name five authors to continue The Next Big Thing Blog Hop next week -

Mari Carr – Sami Lee – Nicole Austin – Bianca D’Arc – Ainslie Paton

 

Guest blogger – Lila Dubois

As a special Christmas treat I have Lila Dubois visiting me on my blog today. She’s in Ireland for the holidays, and very cold, but she has a new book which I’m excited to share with you.

The Harp and the Fiddle is a contemporary romance set in Ireland, where I’m spending my holidays. It’s a beautiful, haunting tale of love and redemption set against the backdrop of a haunted castle in Ireland. It’s a contemporary romance with hot sex, rather than an erotic romance with a little plot thrown in.

Caera Cassidy has spent two years building the historic—and haunted—Glenncailty Castle into one of the most sought-after hotels and performance venues in Ireland. But she can’t say it’s her dream. She lost that years ago when what she thought was love led her to a dark place not even her music could reach.

Once in a while, though, it’s safe to pretend. And that’s what she’s doing when she plays her harp on the empty stage in the castle’s theater.

When American folk musician Tim Wilcox spots the mysterious woman at the front of the theater, he’s enraptured. Not only by her virtuoso skill and ethereal voice, but by her dark beauty—and the shadows in her blue eyes when she insists she’s no musician.

Wary of repeating the mistakes of her past, Caera tells herself she can indulge in the pleasure of Tim’s company, his touch, without risking her heart. But she hadn’t counted on Tim’s determination to convince her she’s worthy of her gifts. Or on lingering souls who live in the castle, who are growing restless, ready to warn her that deadly mistakes are not meant to be repeated…

 

The Harp and the Fiddle

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And here’s a yummy excerpt:

You can also read the full first chapter on my website: The Harp and the Fiddle

Copyright © 2012 Lila Dubois

All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

As he stood in the soaking rain, he decided his day officially couldn’t get any weirder. It had started yesterday in JFK airport. Since then he’d traveled, he’d talked, he’d played beautiful music with a beautiful woman who disappeared the moment his back was turned. He’d followed an unknown feeling into an unused part of a castle, only to find a foreboding bricked over doorway that seeped cold air and activated his fight-or-flight response.

And now he was chasing a dark-haired angel into the rain.

Yep, it couldn’t get any weirder.

“Caera, wait!”

The exterior lights of the castle didn’t illuminate more than a few feet of the wet ground. In her dark sweater she was nearly invisible, but Tim heard the crunch of her feet on stone. He had no idea where he was. She’d gone out the rear door of the pub, exiting into what he assumed were the gardens at the back of the castle.

Squinting at the ground, he could make out the texture of the crushed stone path and carefully followed it as it curved.

“It’s raining, you should go inside.”

Tim jumped. “Holy crap! You surprised me.”

Her voice had come from his right, off the path. He took a tentative step that direction. The rain pounding down on his shoulders and skull was gone, replaced by the occasional fat drop. He stretched a hand up, touched a leaf of the tree they stood under.

“‘Holy crap’? That’s quite a thing to say.” Her soft lilt seemed right for the dark, rainy night.

“I’ve had quite the day.”

“Oh?”

“I think I encountered a ghost in your castle.”

“You went to the west wing?”

“So it is a ghost. I thought maybe Sorcha was playing for atmosphere or something. Do you all know about the cold, the ghost?”

“You don’t live for years at Glenncailty without an encounter at the walled room.”

“Is Ireland really like this, all mysterious women and old haunted castles?”

“Mysterious women?”

As they spoke, Tim had been inching his way towards her, using her voice to guide him. Her breathy question came from directly in front of him, so close he thought he could feel the words, cold on the wet skin of his neck.

“Yes, I met a beautiful woman playing a harp, but when I turned around she was gone.”

“I had work to do.”

“You didn’t introduce yourself.”

The swish of wind and rain cocooned them, filling the space between his comment and her eventual reply.

“There was no reason for me to be playing. I didn’t know how to introduce myself after you’d caught me where I shouldn’t be.” Her sigh was loud enough to be heard over the rain. “With a hotel full of fine musicians, I had no place on that stage.”

Tim laughed. He couldn’t help it. He threw back his head as the mirth rumbled out of him. “You’re kidding, right? You’re genius on the harp. I’ve never heard anyone jam on a harp before today, and you’re saying you don’t think you’re good enough? That’s just nuts. Plus, you sing like an angel. You had the whole bar eating out of your hand. It was magical.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that.” Caera’s words cracked like a whip, catching Tim by surprise.

“What? Why?” Had no one ever told her how musically gifted she was? It seemed impossible that she wouldn’t know how special she was. A person could have all the technical musical skill in the world, but if they didn’t have that certain presence, that real understanding of what music was, the technical skill kept them stuck in a studio. Caera belonged in front of an audience.

“Don’t say things like that,” she demanded, her tone both angry and almost…afraid.

Her anger sparked his. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s the truth.”

“I don’t play for anyone but myself; it doesn’t matter if I’m good.”

“Of course it does. You should be playing and singing with us tomorrow night, not selling the tickets.”

“Stop.”

Her hand pressed against his chest, as if to push him away. Tim caught her wrist, holding her palm flat against him. When his fingers touched her bare skin, awareness sparked to life between them.

He searched for and found her waist with his free hand and drew her forward. Now he could see her, just the outline of her body—dark against the gray shadows. Her sweater was damp and heavy under his hand, making him aware of how wet and cold he was.

She drew in a breath, one of those soft girl sounds. Tim tightened his hand on her hip. Her frustrating denial of her music was forgotten under the pressing need to kiss her.

“Was that your boyfriend you ate dinner with?” Tim’s voice was husky. The rain felt like shield, protecting them from the night, from other people, from reality.

“Rory? No, he works with me.”

“Good.” Tim drew her captured hand up to his face. Her fingers brushed his cheek as they curled into her palm, her hand fisting to avoid contact.

“Why?”

In reply, Tim kissed her closed fingers. They were cold, wet against his lips. Under the warmth of his kiss, they opened, her hand cupping his cheek.

“May I kiss you, Caera Cassidy?”

Tim had never asked a woman if he could kiss her. He’d always just gone in for the kiss or been the kissee, but in the dark, rain-filled Irish night, it felt right to ask this woman who seemed as wild and untamed as the rain itself.

“If I say no?” Her fingertips pressed into his cheek, her body swayed forward into his, their hips pressed together.

Tim cupped the back of her head with both hands and kissed her.

The Harp and the Fiddle

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Guest Blogger – Mari Carr

 

Please welcome Mari Carr. She has a release today!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fix You is OUT TODAY! This is the first book in Mari Carr’s new Second Chances series.

What if love can’t heal all wounds?

Second Chances, Book 1

After too many years of secretly loving her best friend, Zoey realizes she’s been shortchanging herself. It’s time to take action. This New Year’s Eve heralds the year she’s going to tell Rob the truth. Even if he is on the road, reaching for musical stardom with his band.

Her plan is derailed when she discovers a lump in her breast—and it’s not “nothing to worry about”. How can she ask Rob to take a chance on love when her future is so uncertain?

Rob has spent his entire life chasing his dream, but the moment he hears Zoey’s voice on the phone, he realizes he’s been running the wrong race. Zoey never sounds like she’s been crying. Ever. Without a second thought, he books a flight for home, determined to give her everything she needs. A shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold…and nights of intensely emotional, passionate sex.

His biggest challenge, though, is convincing his best friend that he’s in it for the long haul. Because he finally knows what he wants, and it’s not fame and fortune. It’s her—and her love.

Warning: This book runs the emotional gamut between scorching-hot passion and the pain and fear associated with cancer. Keep a box of tissues next to your glass of ice water.

Excerpt:

Rob stared down at Zoey’s face as she slept. Her eyes were still puffy from last night’s tears. Neither of them had moved from the couch. Instead, he’d lain down next to her and held her as she silently wept. Pinpricks attacked the arm he’d wrapped around her, his hand numb from lying in the same position for so long. He didn’t bother to move. It felt too good holding her like this.

Some truths were crashing down on him. He’d been an ass, living his life like he had all the time in the world. Their time on this planet was far from infinite, and yet he’d squandered years of it, working on his career, focusing solely on making it big.

For what? Fame? Money? Why the hell did he need that shit?

He’d always taken it for granted that Zoey would be here for him. How the fuck was he supposed to go on without her? The moment she’d told him about the cancer, the light had gone on.

I’m in love with her. Christ. I’ve been in love with her since the first day I laid eyes on her.

Zoey stirred. Rob’s heart began to race as her eyes opened slowly. He wasn’t wasting a second more. He couldn’t. He just couldn’t.

She was disoriented for a moment before she lifted her gaze and smiled.

With his free hand, he stroked her face softly. “Zoey.” Her name fell from his lips on a hushed whisper, his chest constricting under the weight of every emotion under the sun—love, fear, happiness, panic, a raging case of nervousness.

What if she didn’t feel the same way?

“Yeah?”

He took a deep breath. Fear wasn’t going to hold him back another second longer. “I’m going to break my promise.”

“What promise?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he bent his head and kissed her. Time froze as their lips met. Rob was transported back to that day in the park, to the truth that should have been obvious all those years ago. He’d been a blind, inexperienced boy back then, but now…his eyes were wide open.

It was her. Zoey. For him, it had always been her.

The kiss was a gentle touch at first, but when Zoey’s lips softened and accepted his, he deepened it. Her small hand cupped his cheek, exploring his face hesitantly before growing bolder, stroking it.

The smell of cinnamon enveloped them, her candle still burning from the night before. He knew in his heart that from now on, that scent would always make him think of her. Of this moment.

His heart lodged in his throat when he realized the magnitude of what was happening, of what he wanted to happen next. He was kissing his best friend. And she was kissing him back.

Encouraged, he opened his mouth, stroking his tongue against hers. The kiss grew harder, hungrier. For several minutes—hell, it could have been hours for all Rob knew—they simply kissed, learning each other’s taste, texture. Her skin was soft beneath his fingers as he caressed her delicate cheek. Her breathing grew heavier, the heat of it warm against his skin.

When he finally moved away, she was there, looking at him, studying his face. Hers was the picture of confusion, wariness…and desire. He latched onto the last like a dying man clinging to life. She wanted him.

“Still weird?” He needed the joke, needed to get his bearings. His emotions were too raw, too new, too close to the surface.

She shook her head slowly. “No. Not even close.”

“Good. I’ve been practicing.”

She laughed uneasily. “You’re insane. What the hell prompted that?”

He knew her. Knew she’d try to twist this into something innocent, funny. He wouldn’t let her. He ran his hand through her dark hair, overwhelmed by the need to touch her. “Just figured it was past time. You mind if we talk about this after?”

“After what?”

He let his body answer the question. Turning so they lay face to face on the couch, he placed his lips back on hers. He didn’t want to push her. After all, she’d just received life-altering, horrible news. He’d keep things easy, let her set the pace.

She didn’t resist his kisses. Her hand traveled along his shoulders and down his arm before landing on his chest. Her lips pressed against his harder. Then she moved away, an infinitesimal distance.

“Touch me,” she whispered, her hand fisting in the cotton of his shirt.

He didn’t need to be told twice. His hands roamed along her sides, drifted beneath her T-shirt.

She shivered when he caressed the bare skin of her waist. He stoked her arousal, kissing her harder as he explored every bit of bare flesh he could reach beneath her shirt. He forced air into his lungs, fought to keep his hands steady as he touched her.

The slight tremor in his hands seemed to distract her. She was the first to pull back. “Robbie, are you sure—?”

“After,” he repeated. He gripped her hip, dragging her closer. There was no way she could misconstrue how far he’d go if she was willing. His cock was hard, ready.

She bit her lip and he could sense she was struggling to make a decision. He wouldn’t force her into anything she wasn’t ready for. Hell, he’d be perfectly content to spend the next dozen years or so simply kissing her. Making up for so many wasted years. “Zoey—”

She shook her head and closed her eyes, but not before he read the hungry need there. Then she lifted one leg and wrapped it around his thigh. She thrust closer. It was an outright invitation. “After,” she whispered, her voice steadier than he expected.

 

Fix You is available at Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

 

Want more about Mari and her books? Head over to her website – www.maricarr.com

 

Current Contests

If you’re looking for the December Escape Party CLICK HERE!

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Merry Menage Giveaway Hop – Winner!

 

The winner of my Merry Menage Giveaway Hop prize is……

ANDIE WARDLOW

CONGRATS ANDIE!
I’ll be emailing you shortly about your prize.

Thanks to all who entered. I hope you had fun hopping around.

 

Release Day – New Year’s Kisses

 

The second of my holiday novellas  is available now! And to celebrate the release of New Year’s Kisses I’m teaming up with the other five December Escape Artists (that’s what us Escape Publishing authors call ourselves. You of course, as the readers are Escapees.)

 

 

For this whole week if you leave a comment on this post you’ll be in with a chance to win a $10 Amazon GC and one of my backlist titles. And if you want more chances to win you can follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook.

 

 

She didn’t plan to fall in love, but he’s not accepting anything less.

 

Emily has a five year plan, and romance isn’t on it. Unfortunately no one told Wade Johnson that.

 

Wade never thought he’d need to resort to blackmail to get a date. But if that’s what it’ll take to convince Emily Warner to join him, that’s what he’ll do – and make it a date neither of them will ever forget.

 

New Year’s is all about new beginnings and Emily and Wade are about to discover the best beginnings start at year’s end.

 

Excerpt -

 

Emily Warner threw another skirt back into her closet and cursed Wade Johnson. The man had her questioning every decision she’d ever made right down to the clothes in her wardrobe. Indecision was not her thing. She was a take-charge-get-it-done kind of woman. Except when it came to Wade. Her shoulders drooped and her head fell forward as all the air left her chest. How had one man managed to shake her confidence with such profound effect? If only she hadn’t needed that favour. But she couldn’t put on a Christmas concert for the children without a Santa. Refusing his offer of help to avoid a date hadn’t seemed fair.

She’d met Wade months ago, their attraction mutual and obvious, but Em had a five year plan and nowhere was there mention of a man, least of all one who made her stomach drop and her mind wander through a white picket fence and down the garden path. With her plan firmly in place, she’d rejected every advance he made in the hope he’d give up and move on to greener, more amenable pastures. She should have known better. A man like Wade couldn’t be brushed aside so easily. He was like a dog after a bone and now that he’d finally sunk his teeth into her, she doubted either of them would come out unscathed.

Cursing the man and his rotten timing – and her treacherous libido – Em dove back into her closet with the determination to wear the first thing she put her hands on. Whatever she pulled out next would be it. No more waffling. The black dress she came out with was the sexiest piece of clothing she owned. Wasn’t that just typical of her current off-the-track life plan that it would be the outfit she’d grab?

“Dammit.” Emily tossed the dress across the end of her bed and stared at it, muttering. “Dammit, dammit, dammit.”

She didn’t have to wear it. Except she’d made a decision and she would stick to it. She’d be damned if Wade Johnson was going to make her second guess one more thing. Head high, she spun on her heel, and stomped to the bathroom. He’d arrive in less than an hour and she needed every second of that to pull herself together. Heaven forbid he see her flustered. The man would pounce on any weakness she showed and Emily Warner never showed anything but calm, cool certainty. Her shoulders drooped slightly. Until Wade.

Steam from her shower still hovered in the bathroom and she had to swipe a towel across the mirror to clear the fog. Emily studied the face in front of her, but only saw the same woman she’d seen every day for years. Nothing had changed outwardly, but internally… Inside something was different. Cracked. It didn’t matter how much she denied it or fought it, there was no way to hide from the impact Wade had on her. He made her think of things she’d put aside years ago. Made her remember what it was to yearn for something she didn’t have and thought she didn’t want. Not yet anyway. And now he had her questioning the plan.

With a sigh, Em pulled the towel from her head and picked up her comb. Her short hair was practical for work and the natural curl gave her a feminine look, but if she were being honest she’d have to admit the style was quite boyish. The robe she wore hung off her slender shoulders, emphasising the less than curvaceous body beneath. More proof she didn’t live up to the image of most men’s fantasies. With another sigh, she began to run the wide-toothed comb through her tangled curls. It didn’t take long to remove the knots and fluff the waves into place. Reaching for her make-up bag, she pulled out her meagre supply and set to work on her face. She may lack curves in the places men lusted after, but her face was her saving grace.

She’d been called classically beautiful. What that meant Em wasn’t sure, but her deep blue eyes and long lashes were often called bedroom eyes, and drew more than a few compliments. Her full red lips had been described as kissable by a number of guys she’d dated over the years. Personally she thought they were over-large and took up too much of her face. To counteract her large mouth, Emily emphasised her eyes and down-played her lips. The one place she didn’t worry about make-up was at work; she never knew when one of the children would plaster a paint covered hand on her cheek, so it was best to not have to worry about cosmetic repairs at all.

The old cuckoo clock that had been her grandmother’s whirred to life out in the living room. With a squeak of hinges and a time-worn voice, the little cuckoo sprang from his house and chirped seven times. She was down to thirty minutes before Wade arrived. He hadn’t told her where they were going or what they were doing but considering it was New Year’s Eve and he’d asked her to dress semi-formal Em expected to be attending a party or perhaps an upscale restaurant. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of spending hours with him. From the few conversations they’d engaged in over the last few months she knew he was intelligent and didn’t doubt he’d be a charming companion for the evening. It was how charming he’d prove to be that had her worried.

Slicking on a coat of lip gloss she rolled her lips together to spread the layer evenly. She bypassed her foundation and blush and opted for a single swipe of mascara on her lashes. The temperature hadn’t lowered a great deal and she’d learned not to risk melted make-up disasters long ago. Sydney’s summers were best dealt with naturally and today was no exception. If the weathermen were to be believed there’d be no relief from the heat in the next few days and her car’s climate control system had registered a stifling thirty-eight degrees when she’d arrived home at five o’clock.

Emily checked her reflection one more time. Happy with both her hair and face, she made her way back to the bedroom and the black dress awaiting her. She pulled a matching bra and panties set out of her top drawer while she eyed the slinky material draped over her quilt. The fabric shimmered in the low light and Em couldn’t help but wonder what Wade would think when he saw her. A smile tugged at her lips. She’d never be a traffic stopper with her overly slender body, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look good. Knowing how to play up her best assets had served her well in the past.

Not that she was out to impress him.

She slipped the belt of her robe free and shrugged out of the satin negligee she’d spent far too much money on last birthday. It wasn’t often Em spoiled herself, the plan didn’t allow for it for a start, but she’d never been one to indulge in frivolous things. While she hadn’t needed a new robe Em had found it impossible to pass up and consoled her practical side by saying it was a birthday gift to herself after exceeding the first year’s goal in her five year plan.

Stepping into the lace underwear Em thought about how far she’d come. From high school drop-out to business owner in less years than it took most to get their degrees. Years spent with her nose buried in books earned her not only a high school certificate, but a degree in early childhood education and a business degree with a minor in accounting: all things necessary to make her childcare centre such a success that parents put their children’s name down on the waiting list before they were born. By most people’s standards she’d already made it. But Emily wasn’t quite done yet.

Two more years and she would have achieved her goal a whole year ahead of time. Then she’d be able to step back and enjoy the results of all her hard work. Until then she couldn’t afford to be distracted by a good looking man, no matter how he made her insides churn. She’d go on this date and make it perfectly clear that she wasn’t interested in anything more. Emily chewed her bottom lip as she bent forward to fit her breasts into the cups of her bra properly. The delicate lace hugged her size-A mounds, barely covering her nipples. She didn’t normally wear such a low-cut undergarment, but the dress’s scooped neckline made the risqué underwear a necessity. And Emily excelled at doing what was necessary.

Emily reached for her dress and lowered the zipper. Carefully, she lifted the fabric over her head and shimmied until the soft material floated down her body. The silky caress of cool cloth sent a shiver down her spine. Twisting, she managed to get the zip up to her shoulders before contorting herself like a pretzel to close it the rest of the way. With another small shimmy the dress rippled and slid into place. Satisfied with her outfit if not precisely comfortable, Em searched the cupboard for her black sandals then headed for the living room.

She checked her phone in the hope of finding a message from Wade telling her he had to cancel, but there was no little envelope icon on the screen. It was probably best if she just accepted she was going on a date with Wade Johnson no matter how much she’d fought against it. Resigned to the inevitable Emily sighed and sat on the couch to wait for him to arrive.

 

You can purchase New Year’s Kisses from -

 

ESCAPE PUBLISHING  ~  AMAZON  ~  KOBO

 

 

Each of us is giving away a prize so be sure to check out these other great authors-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Schwartz - http://authorjennyschwartz.com/

Blog - http://authorjennyschwartz.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorjennyschwartz

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Jenny_Schwartz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridget Gray - http://www.bridgetgray.com.au/?page_id=18

Blog - http://www.bridgetgray.com.au/?page_id=18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coleen Kwan - http://www.coleenkwan.com

Blog - http://www.coleenkwan.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serenity Woods - http://www.serenitywoodsromance.com

Blog - http://serenitywoods.blogspot.com

Facebook - https://facebook.com/serenitywoodsromance

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Serenity_Woods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caitlyn Nicholas - http://www.caitlynnicholas.com

Blog - http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CaitlynNicholasAuthor

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Caitlynnicholas

 

 

End of World Countdown Blog Party!

 

Come and join International Heat and special guest for the blog party to end all blog parties.

 

 

 

Snippet Saturday – Author’s Choice

 

 

My apologies for last week’s snippet being missing. My site was hacked and I’m in the process of rebuilding it and I completely forgot that all the scheduled post I’d done for Snippet Saturday were lost in the hack.

 

Anyway, this week is author’s choice so I’m sharing a snippet of my Christmas novella – Christmas Wishes. Enjoy.

 

 

She glanced over at the storeroom door. He still hadn’t come out and Talli began to panic that he’d left while she was getting changed. Weaving through the chairs, she headed across the room. Before she knocked, Talli put her ear to the door, but she couldn’t hear anything. Straightening, she brought her hand up and tapped her knuckles on the door twice.

“Dean?”

Scuffling came from behind the barrier before it opened an inch.

“Are you ready?” Talli glanced at the big clock on the wall behind her. “We’ve got ten minutes before they start bringing in the parents.”

“I can’t wear this getup in public,” Dean growled.

“It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is.”

“Oh, c’mon.”

“See for yourself.” Dean cracked the door wider and his big hand shot out to wrap around her wrist. With a hard yank, he pulled her inside and slammed the door.

Talli stumbled forward and grabbed a shelf to keep from face-planting on the linoleum floor. “Jesus, Dean, take it easy.” She gained her balance and spun around.

She tried not to laugh, and only managed by sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. He looked like a red and green candy cane. The tunic-style top molded to his chest like paint. Every ridge, every slope, every gorgeous centimeter of his buff torso was outlined for the entire world to see. Laughing was suddenly the furthest thing from her mind. He tugged at the hem. “It’s too small. The damn thing is made for a midget.”

Dean certainly wasn’t a midget. At six foot five inches he fell more in the giant category. Talli surveyed the top. It should have reached his thighs but the shirt barely brushed his belly. Overall it wasn’t that bad, definitely too small, but it should be okay as long as he didn’t move around too much and split a seam. Her gaze was drawn to the section of flesh just below the shirt and above the green pants. He’d be flashing his washboard abs for anyone caring to look and the tights were a little…

Oh god.

Talli tried not to stare. Tried to take a breath, but couldn’t. Tight didn’t begin to describe the pants. She’d thought his chest was well displayed. His top half had nothing on the bottom. He was packing to the right. And oh dear lord was he packing. Sweat broke out on her skin, warmth pooled in her lower belly, and all her girly bits stood at attention. Like every other part of him, Dean’s cock was on the large size. Extra large. Her mouth watered, her sex clenched, and her breasts grew heavy, her nipples hardening.

This was the closest she’d come to seeing Dean naked since the eighth grade when they’d gone skinny dipping in the local lake. He hadn’t been as well developed then. Or as big. She swallowed, her throat dry as a desert and just as rough. A strangled moan caught in her chest. All the air seemed to have been sucked from the tiny room. Talli licked her lips and tried to speak. The noise that emerged sounded like a frog – one suffering from strep throat.

Dean moved closer. He leaned down and put his face next to hers, his mouth brushed her cheek, his warm breath flowing over her skin, tickling her ear. “You keep looking at me like that and there’s absolutely no way I’m going to be leaving this room without getting arrested.”

Her gaze met his as a shiver traveled down her spine. Heat blazed in his dark brown eyes, the amber flecks sparking. “I…I…” Talli had no idea what she meant to say.

He stepped away and swept his hand through the air from his chest to his thighs. “I’m not going out there in these.”

Talli shook her head. “No, no, you can’t go out there dressed like that.” Not if I and every other female in the room are going to remain sane.

Her gaze searched the room and landed on the jeans crumpled on the floor. They were rucked up as though he’d pushed them down and stepped straight out. Only something wasn’t right. She moved her gaze across the floor to Dean’s bare feet. Slowly she raised her eyes up his legs. The green material stretched over his calves, drew thinner over his knees and clung to his thick thighs and narrow hips. And that’s when it hit her.

No panty line.

As a woman she was intimately acquainted with panty lines. Talli glanced at his jeans and back again. She sucked in a breath as a shudder racked her, quickly followed by a wave of heat.

“Are you commando?” she whispered.

 

You can purchase Christmas Wishes from -

 

ESCAPE PUBLISHING  -  AMAZON  -  iBOOKS

 

The authors with snippets up this week -

 

Lissa Matthews

Leah Braemel

Myla Jackson

Caris Roane

Jody Wallace

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

HelenKay Dimon

Shiloh Walker

Delilah Devlin

Eliza Gayle

Lauren Dane

Felicity Heaton

Shelli Stevens

 

The Smutketeers 12 days of Xmas

 

(Click the graphic above)

 

Come join me over on the Smutketeers blog for day 2 of The Smutketeers 12 days of Xmas Bash!

 

There’s lots of prizes to be won!

 

Merry Menage Giveaway Hop!

As you can see things are a little empty around here. I won’t go into the details (because I’ll probably cry all over again) but I’ve been force to rebuild my website. So all you have to do to be in the running for my prize – winners choice of backlist title – is sign up for my newsletter, my blog, or like my Facebook page. Simple. You can find the sign up for my newsletter and blog in the right hand sidebar and my Facebook page HERE!

Come join our Merry Menage Giveaway Hop hosted by Day Dreaming, My Secret Romance and The Book Tart!

Need a new bedtime story to light your fire? Looking for something with a little heat to warm you during the cold holiday season? Feel like decking the halls naughty style? Well then, come join us as we stand under the mistletoe for this wickedly sexy giveaway hop! The more the merrier! Have no worries, we’ll help you trim your trees, deck yours halls, and spark that fire!

 

This is a blog hop!

1.
My Secret Romance
26.
Cassandra Carr (INT)
51.
Louisa Bacio (INT)



2.
Day Dreaming Book Reviews
27.
Romancing the Book (INT)
52.
Jessica Scott (US(



3.
The Book Tart (INT)
28.
Romance After Dark (INT)
53.
Kindlehooked



4.
Amber Lin
29.
DC Juris
54.
Nicole Flockton



5.
Reginamayross’s Blog
30.
M.A. Stacie (INT)
55.
Kharisma Rhayne



6.
Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe (INT)
31.
Mari Carr
56.
Riverina Romantics (INT)



7.
Blackraven’s Reviews (INT)
32.
Delighted Reader (INT)
57.
Eliza Gayle (INT)



8.
AJ’s Reading Nook (INT)
33.
Vanessa Morgan (INT)
58.
Dakota Trace (INT)



9.
The Readers Roundtable (INT)
34.
Tattooed Book Review (US)
59.
Milly Taiden (INT)



10.
Dark Divas Reviews (INT)
35.
Full Moon Bites (INT)
60.
Kylie Scott (INT)



11.
HEA Romances With a Little Kick (INT)
36.
Holly Adair
61.
Jennifer Labelle – Labelle Books (INT)



12.
Gabrielle Bisset, Erotic Romance (INT)
37.
Book Lovin’ Mamas
62.
Susan Frances, Romantic Adventures



13.
Leah Braemel
38.
CS Maxwell ~ Where’s My Muse? (US)
63.
Shelley Munro (INT)



14.
Vanessa @ The Jeep Diva (Int)
39.
Liz Crowe (INT)
64.
Suzi Love



15.
Sandra Bunino (INT)
40.
Krista Ames
65.
Kallysten (INT)



16.
Other Worlds & Realities
41.
Paige Tyler
66.
Naomi Bellina (INT)



17.
Aine @ House Millar (INT)
42.
Lolita Lopez
67.
Aria Kane (INT)



18.
Kelly Jamieson
43.
Nicole Morgan
68.
Nona Raines (INT)



19.
PG Forte
44.
Bonnie Bliss (INT)
69.
Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost (INT)



20.
Crystal Jordan (INT)
45.
Moira Keith (INT)
70.
Queentutt’s World of Escapism (INT)



21.
Rhian Cahill (INT)
46.
Lorraine Beaumont
71.
Samanthe Beck



22.
Under the Covers (INT)
47.
Cari Quinn (INT)
72.
Sharing Links and Wisdom (INT)



23.
Shadowed Hearts – A. Sangrey Black
48.
Cocktails and Books (int)
73.
Waves of Fiction (INT)



24.
Not Now…Mommy’s Reading (INT)
49.
I am a book addict…and proud of it (INT)
74.
Sweet & Sassy Kellie Kamryn



25.
Hot Listens (INT)
50.
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews