Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 536

Snippet Saturday: Handy Men

This is a brand new story! And since I will be flying to LA this next week, I wanted to give you a preview of what's coming. Handy Men releases next Wednesday.

Two very handy men mend a divorcée's broken heart…

Rather than cry over spilt milk, a newly divorced woman throws caution to the wind and decides to seduce her neighbor's handsome handy man.

Jeff isn't stupid—Pamela tossed those screws into her sink to get his attention! The fact she's beautiful and vulnerable convinces him she needs "special" attention. When he has her hot and horny, he surprises her with his partner Casey and a threesome.

What starts for Pamela as a wild, no-holds-barred fling quickly gets stickier as the guys push for something longer lasting.

The impulse came like a flash of lightning—hot and searing—all the way to the bone. An idea born of a need she hadn't felt in a long, long time…and inspired by one red-hot handyman in butt-hugging jeans and a t-shirt.

The man fired the militant gleam in her eyes as she brushed bronzing powder across her cheeks and swiped carmine "eat me" red lip stain across her mouth. She didn't give herself time to rethink the decision, reaching for the phone before her usual, cautious self reasserted control. No more couch potato cry-ins for her. No more self-imposed exclusion while she figured out what to do with the rest of her life. Today, a new Pamela Dwyer was reaching for the damn gusto.

The anger felt good. Especially after the shock she'd received moments ago when she'd surfed the web for the latest gossip about her ex.

One glance at Andrew's Facebook page, and Pamela's confusion over what the hell had happened to her life dried up. He'd blocked her from his page, but his profile picture had been changed from Andrew's handsome, craggy face to the soft innocence of his newborn son's.

The picture said it all. And no doubt every one of their friends here in Austin, who'd rallied around her when he'd left, would now pour out their congratulations to him while privately agreeing he'd done the only thing he could do to be happy.

Tears had stung her eyes, but she'd refused to let them fall. Instead, she'd blinked them away, closed out the screen and glanced through the blinds at her immaculate lawn. The perfect lawn and landscaping to surround the perfectly appointed house she'd won in the divorce settlement.

But back to that lightning strike…

Across the street, a man had stood atop a ladder while he fished leaves from old Mr. Johnson's gutters. It wasn't the fact the old man had spent money to hire someone to do odd jobs around his place that caught her attention, although that was plenty unusual all by itself. It was the way the sunlight glinted on the younger man's hair. Glints of gold she could see from over thirty feet away. And once her attention was snagged by that nagging glow, her gaze couldn't help but trail down the long, lean, buff lines of his healthy frame.

From the back, the man was perfection. Then he'd turned to the side, no doubt to say something to Mr. Johnson who hovered at the bottom of the ladder. The old skinflint would supervise the handyman to make sure he got every nickel's worth of his money. However, not a hint of irritation shone in the handyman's expression. His smile had been quick—a flash of white teeth against a tanned face.

Pamela had breathed deeply, enjoying the surge of heat flowing through her veins. So much better than the cold, hollow feeling in her womb. Arousal had bloomed, fresh and unexpected, washing over her, lapping away the disappointment. Leaving her…expectant. Feeling younger than her thirty-eight years.

There were times in a woman's life when she had to grab the bull by the horns or she'd never taste passion again. Pamela decided then and there that her time was now.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell chimed.

Christ, do I really have the guts? She'd had twenty minutes to get icy-cold feet.

She held her hand in front of her face and blew against her palm then sniffed. Mouthwash still works.

Before opening her door, Pamela bent over, shook her head then straightened, giving her straight blonde hair an extra fluff. She pasted on a smile—not too wide or eager—one she'd practiced in front of the bathroom mirror to make sure it reflected just the right amount of casual interest. She didn't want to scare him away. At least not before she had a chance to practice being a femme fatale.

However, after opening the door, her smile faltered just a bit. Up close, the repairman was more of a rangy lion than a bull, and even more attractive than her secretive glances through the blinds had revealed. Thickly muscled arms and a broad chest stretching a green Handy Men tee filled her vision.

Maybe she should have targeted someone more in her league—and at least fifteen years older. However, when she'd seen him working on the rain gutters of her neighbor's house, watched the way he moved gracefully up and down the ladder, a plan had begun to form. One she was too invested in to back out of now.

"Your neighbor said you were havin' trouble with a garbage disposal?"

Her greedy glance shot up to meet his, and she noted the crinkles of amusement at the sides of his eyes. Blue eyes with golden coronas around the pupils. Yum.

Realizing her mouth hung open, she snapped her jaw closed. "Uh, yes. Trouble with the disposal. That's why you're here."

It was the truth, so she didn't stutter over it. However, she didn't mention she'd thrown a handful of screws into the sink to make sure the old disposal seized. Her plan to lure him into her house was working like a charm. She wished her ex could see her now. Plain Pam, reliable Pam, boring, defective Pam had a few tricks left.

"I'm Jeff McCaffrey," he said, and held out his hand.

Blowing out a little breath to release her tension, she gave him her hand and shook. "Pamela," she said quickly.

His palms were calloused and large. She slid her hand slowly from his, enjoying the scrape. Even if things didn't work out, she'd have plenty of sensory details to savor later to go along with the lovely picture he made.

"Um…" He lifted the toolbox with a flex of impressive biceps and raised his eyebrows.

It took a second to register that he needed her to move away from the door. Feeling flustered, she stood back and waved him inside. She closed the door behind him and followed eagerly on his heels into the hallway.

He halted abruptly.

Unable to stop her forward momentum, Pamela held out her hands to brace herself—and cupped his ass.

His head swiveled to glance back at her, a slight, dazed smile curving his mouth.

She paused a second too long before removing them, but his ass was too much temptation. "Sorry about that," she muttered, palms and face burning. Lord, she was thirty-eight, and he had her blushing like a teenager. Her flirting skills were woefully rusty.

He cleared his throat and pointed toward the door on the left. "The kitchen?"

"Yeah," she said, sounding a little winded, but her fingers tingled and her skin felt on fire. She hadn't wanted to come on to the younger man like a cougar in heat, but he was fine-fine-fine.

He swung open the door and walked to the counter, setting his toolbox beside the sink. "What sort of noises was it makin'?"

"Crunchy?"

"Crunchy?" His lips twitched.

She shrugged. He was the "Mr. Fix-It". He'd figure out soon enough what the problem was. Maybe he'd think the screws in the disposal had gotten there by accident.

He reached beneath the cabinet next to the sink and flipped the switch. Metallic grating made her wince. The poor thing ground worse than her ex's teeth.

Without looking back, he said, "Don't touch the switch. I don't have my tongs, so I'm gonna stick my hand down there to see what's happenin'."

In his hand went, and he turned slightly to the side, his gaze meeting hers while a frown drew his honey-brown brows together. When he pulled free, he held a screw. "Wonder how that happened?" he drawled.

She grinned brightly. "Serendipity?"

"Wha—?"

So maybe not a brain surgeon, but the calculated stare he returned told her he wasn't stupid. He pulled out another and laid it on the countertop, and then another. "Somethin' you wanna tell me, Pamela?"

She held her breath, ready to blurt the truth, but then she'd sound exactly like what she was—a woman desperate for a man's attention. Instead, she pouted. "You're not my doctor. I don't have to tell you the truth." Then she shrugged, overwhelmed by the urge to blurt something cute. "I needed a screw."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors' blogs:

Selena Blake

Leah Braemel

Mari Carr

Taige Crenshaw

Lauren Dane

HelenKay Dimon

McKenna Jeffries

Lissa Matthews

TJ Michaels

Emma Petersen

Shelli Stevens

Jody Wallace

Drastically Reduced Prices

First! Thank you to everyone who bid on my two auction items during Operation Auction in support of Fatin and her family! My bootcamp+ sold for $202.50 and the totebag of books went for $122.50! Congratulations to the winners!

Now, doesn't the title of this post sound like one of those Ginsu knives commercials?! What's this all about? Ellora's Cave is running a sale. For a limited time only, you can purchase books from the ten authors listed on this ad at online bookstores like Kindle and B&N for a greatly reduced price. The list of my particular titles affected by this sale is at the bottom of this post!

A Long Howl Good Night – $4.45

Bad, Bad Girlfriend – $4.45

First Knight – $4.45

Fun With Dick and Jayne – $4.45

Jane's Wild Weekend – $4.45

Knight of My Dreams – $4.45

Lockdown – $4.45

Raw Silk – $5.20

Ride a Cowboy – $4.45

Silver Bullet – $5.20

Sin's Gift – $4.45

Warlord's Destiny – $4.45

Handy Men (coming April 6) – $2.49

March Wrap-up

March was even better than February!

The high points of the month were:

* I revised and submitted a Quickie to Ellora's Cave! HANDY MEN will release on April 6th!

* I wrote and submitted a BDSM novella to Ellora's Cave! BEGGING FOR IT was accepted and contracted! I'll let you know as soon as I have a release date.

* I wrote and posted the latest installment of my free, serialized story, BAD MOON RISING! Be sure to check out my "Extras" page.

* I revised and expanded a previously published short story into a short novella. As soon as I have edits back, I will get moving on the process of self-publishing HER SOUL TO KEEP, along with a story from my sister, Myla Jackson.

* I wrote and posted a short story at Everything Erotic.

* I attended the NOLA Reaching for the Stars conference.

In April, I hope to accomplish the following:

* Write the sequel to TRUE HEART for Samhain.

* Write a lesbian novella for another EC anthology.

* Attend the Romantic Times convention in LA!

Two Reminders & Official Release!

I have two reminders before we get to the guts of today's entry! ~DD

Last Day of Auction to Support Fatin!

For Readers: A tote back with the reader's choice of three signed print books, an Amazon gift card for $25.00, and various promo gifts from Delilah Devlin. Delilah does ship internationally! Bid Here

For Writers: Co-founder of RosesColoredGlasses.com and multi-published author, Delilah Devlin offers a one-on-one plotting bootcamp, with critique of the partial, when written, plus a second critique after revisions. The writer may work at his or her own pace. Bid Here

Four Sworn needs your vote! Deadline March 31st!

Four Sworn has been nominated for Best Erotic Romance (Non-Traditional Lifestyle) in 2010!

But it needs your vote to win! Here's the link to the page. Be sure to check out the list of all the nominees in all their wonderful categories, then go vote for Delilah's!

The Romance Reviews Voting Page

Blog Tour Kickoff!

What is it about lesbian cops that pushes all the right buttons? It's not just the uniform, with handcuffs and weapons, or the confidence, authority, and sense of danger. There's something more as well, an irresistible force that these writers have channeled into fiercely erotic stories of policewomen in or out of uniform, on patrol or undercover, in charge or in need of healing, on the case or under the sheets.

The action can be gut-level tough, as in Jove Belle's "Hollis" where anti-terrorism boot camp surges over the inevitable edge into BDSM, or heart-wrenching as in Evan Mora's "A Cop's Wife" when death threats sharpen the need for life-affirming sex to a keen edge, or quirky as well as steamy while Teresa Noelle Roberts's cop finds a way to maintain respect for her own "Dress Uniform" while indulging her anime-girl lover's cos-play kink. Delilah Devlin, Andrea Dale, R. G. Emanuelle, Cheyenne Blue, and all the other contributors offer their own sizzling visions of the complexity and depth, the strength and vulnerability, and above all the commanding, overwhelming sex appeal of Lesbian Cops.

The editor of the compilation, Sacchi Green, kicks off a blog tour today! You can check out her schedule and click on the first link to an interview with Sacchi! Sacchi's Blog

Guest Blogger: Meg Benjamin

Meg's blog is below, but I have an important message to share first! Operation Auction, in support of Fatin and her family, is still ongoing, but the chance to win my offerings ends later today. I have two things you might be interested in bidding for! ~DD

For Readers: A tote back with the reader's choice of three signed print books, an Amazon gift card for $25.00, and various promo gifts from Delilah Devlin. Delilah does ship internationally! Bid Here

For Writers: Co-founder of RosesColoredGlasses.com and multi-published author, Delilah Devlin offers a one-on-one plotting bootcamp, with critique of the partial, when written, plus a second critique after revisions. The writer may work at his or her own pace. Bid Here

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Next month I'm traveling to Los Angeles to attend my first Romantic Times convention. This is, frankly, a Very Big Deal. RT draws both writers and readers, unlike some other writing conferences that are mainly devoted to writers. At RT you can expect to meet and talk to people who might actually buy your books instead of trying to find out how to meet your editor or your agent. And because I'm going to be meeting readers, I needed to pick up some promotional materials, "promo" for short.

This was a hot topic among the Nine Naughty Novelists, seven of whom are attending the convention. What would we bring? The possibilities were endless: pens, magnets, Post-its, keychains, bubble blowers, chocolates, etc., etc., etc. At first I didn't even want to think about it, but one morning I came across the only piece of promo I'd ever hung onto for any length of time: a bar of sandalwood-scented soap.

Soap became my first promo item. I found a site online where I could buy small bars for not a whole lot of money. I found another site that sold organza bags for ditto. I chose a scent (cherry almond) that seemed unlikely to make people think it was edible (as opposed to, say, chocolate mint). I printed up cards to go in each bag with my name, Web site, and last two book titles. And I spent a couple of evenings in front of the television stuffing soap into bags (at least my hands smelled great).

Okay, all well and good. And then somebody on one of my discussion loops mentioned book thongs. Book thongs? When I Googled them, I found directions for making what amounted to a beaded bookmark using waxed linen thread. Seemed easy enough, so I hied myself off to Michaels and bought a few supplies. Little did I know. It turns out I have a great affinity for bright shiny things (sort of like a magpie) and a hitherto unknown fascination with stringing beads. The book thongs took over my life. I bought a large jar of miscellaneous beads at an antique mall. I started checking the Sunday ads for bead specials at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I bought a stamp with my name so that I could attach a label to each thong to identify me. To date I've made about a hundred of these suckers, and I may reach over a hundred by the time I head to LA. If nobody wants them, I'm going to have enough stocking stuffers for the rest of my life.

If you're a good businesswoman, you're supposed to keep careful track of how much you spend on promo each year so that you don't exceed a particular percentage of your profits. One of these days, I'll probably sit down and add everything up. But to tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid of doing that—I have a sneaking suspicion that the total is going to be really depressing. Still, I found a new hobby and my house will probably smell like cherry almond for a while.

In the meantime, anybody want a book thong?

Guest Blogger: Lucy Felthouse

Yum! Of course, the title caught me, and then that hint of nipple. What can I say? I'm so easy! Had to invite Lucy here. She appears in this volume! ~DD

Our readers asked for it, and now we're pleased to present Volume II of first-time lesbian encounters inspired by Katy Perry's hit song! Seven returning authors continue to arouse, plus six new authors will not disappoint.

This diverse collection travels the globe and the ages. No two settings or circumstances are alike, proving that women from every walk of life and culture are curious and eager to explore their full sexuality…with each other.

Buy links:

Ravenous Romance

All Romance Books

Info about Lucy:

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story – so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour – Steamy Stories About Men and Women in Uniform. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk.

Catch me having fun with whipped cream!

So, sue me! I had to make that sound sexier than it really is. I'm blogging at the Whipped Cream Reviews blog today. Stop by and say hello. I don't want to be lonely. ~DD

And a reminder!

Tonight, I have two back-to-back events:

* Night Owl Romance, live chat with Lorie O'Clare at 8 PM EST!

* After Midnight Fantasy authors' chat at Writerspace at 9 PM EST!

Sunday Report Card

Report Card

Although real life sank two days like a torpedo (Wednesday's trip to the Wax Museum and the medical drama with my daughter on Thursday), I still managed to get some stuff done.

* On Monday, I did a marathon and wrapped up my BDSM story, and then revised and shipped the sucker to my editor. By Friday, I had a contract and a title: Begging For It.

* On Friday, I shipped a partial (three chapters and a synopsis) to an editor I had chatted with regarding my medieval fantasy. I am hoping for feedback. He did say to send it "raw" and he would offer suggestions for what needs to happen with the story to make it saleable. We'll see. I've been stuck on the project for a while.

* Yesterday, I completed a revision of a previously published short story I plan to include in a Kindle anthology. I added 19 pages (mostly sex and angst), and shipped it for critique.

Not shabby for the week, huh? And I got a lovely bit of news, via surfing the EC site last night—Handy Men will release on April 6th!

Special Events

I do have some things happening this week if you just want to hang out and maybe win something…

Tonight at 8 PM EST, I'll be live at the Writerspace chatroom. I'm giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate and a signed copy of Ravished by a Viking to two lucky winners!

Tomorrow night, I have two back-to-back events:

* Night Owl Romance, live chat with Lorie O'Clare at 8 PM EST!

* After Midnight Fantasy authors' chat at Writerspace at 9 PM EST!

I hope you'll join me. We always have fun!

Lesbian Cops is out!

[Don't miss the winner announcement at the bottom of this post!]

My horoscope today: "You are fortunate in that you have a clear vision of what you want out of life, Delilah. Many people never truly know what it is they are meant to be doing. Even with the distinct advantage that you have, however, you may still find it difficult to "live your bliss," as the expression goes. Too many people, all of them well meaning, try hard to impose their opinions on you. Stand firm. You better than anyone know what's best for you."

When a horoscope is good, I thank the cosmos for the good advice. When it's bad, I quickly hit delete and thank goodness I don't believe a word of it! Today, I'm grateful.

Anyway, Lesbian Cops, the latest erotica anthology from Cleis Press (the same folks who are publishing Girls Who Bite), is out on Amazon.com early!! Click on the cover for the Buy Link!

Yeah, the cover is a little strange, but hey, the stories HAVE to be hot, right?

What is it about lesbian cops that pushes all the right buttons? It's not just the uniform, with handcuffs and weapons, or the confidence, authority, and sense of danger. There's something more as well, an irresistible force that these writers have channeled into fiercely erotic stories of policewomen in or out of uniform, on patrol or undercover, in charge or in need of healing, on the case or under the sheets.

The action can be gut-level tough, as in Jove Belle's "Hollis" where anti-terrorism boot camp surges over the inevitable edge into BDSM, or heart-wrenching as in Evan Mora's "A Cop's Wife" when death threats sharpen the need for life-affirming sex to a keen edge, or quirky as well as steamy while Teresa Noelle Roberts's cop finds a way to maintain respect for her own "Dress Uniform" while indulging her anime-girl lover's cos-play kink. Delilah Devlin, Andrea Dale, R. G. Emanuelle, Cheyenne Blue, and all the other contributors offer their own sizzling visions of the complexity and depth, the strength and vulnerability, and above all the commanding, overwhelming sex appeal of Lesbian Cops.

From my short story, The Only Game in Town, about the budding relationship between a bicycle cop and a patrolwoman:

The next few days were a little strained around the guys. Word got around. Sly glances followed me everywhere. But since I didn't rise to any of their innuendos, the excitement faded and they found someone else to hound.

This day, I'd parked my car at the Stop 'n' Go. It might be small-town Louisiana, but bandits still preferred the ease of a quickie robbery when they were low on cash. The store had been hit twice in the past six months and the sheriff had promised a "presence" to the owner. So in between calls, I parked in the hot sun at the edge of the parking lot, running my AC with the window open to ease the humidity inside the vehicle.

The whir of spokes catching the wind whizzed by my car. Little black shorts hugging a nicely rounded backside caught my attention.

Ramona halted at the edge of the curb next to the shop's front door and eased off her helmet. Sweat stained the center of her back, her hair lay in wet tangled spikes around her head. She glanced my way and gave me a smile that set my heart beating faster, and then entered the store.

I opened my car door and dumped the fresh cup of coffee I'd bought just a few minutes before then headed inside.

"Back so soon?" Dolores asked from her seat behind the counter.

I gave a quick glance around the aisles but didn't find my quarry. "That cup went right through me," I said, making my way to the restroom in the back.

Once the door swung shut behind me, I quietly locked it.

A toilet flushed. The stall door opened. Ramona stepped out and her eyes widened. "Didn't hear you come in, Cath."

"I won't keep you long."

She walked to the sink, soaped up and cleansed her hands, then used a paper towel to wipe the sweat from her face. "What is it you want?"

I leaned against the bathroom door and folded my arms over my chest. "You said we should take some time to know each other, but that's never gonna happen if you're avoiding me."

She met my glance in the mirror. Challenge glittered in her golden brown eyes. "Is that what you think I'm doing? Why'd I come here when I could have chosen a dozen other businesses to stop in?"

I raised a brow. "Maybe because it's public and you could say you weren't avoiding me and get away with it?"

She grunted, her lips twisting. "Again, what is it you want?"

This wasn't going well. Again, I felt like I had two left feet. "How about a yes or no?" I blurted. "Wanna go out?"

She gave a feminine grunt. "No."

The disappointment cut, but I nodded, firming my chin, and began to turn.

"There's not anywhere in public we can go together, Cath. The sheriff wouldn't like it if we paraded a date. But I'd like you to come over for dinner."

"Your place?" I said, forcing the words past a tightened throat.

"Yeah. Tonight." She sauntered forward and tucked her fingers under the sharp edges of my buttoned collar. Her hand twisted, cinching it around my throat and pulling me down.

I'd kissed women before. Even kissed a few men. This was hotter than I'd ever had—even with two layers of Kevlar between our chests.

Her mouth smoothed over mine then suctioned. Her lips were thick and juicy, her tongue rimming me. I waited, not charging in, and was rewarded when her tongue pushed against mine. Just a touch, and then it was gone. I tasted mint. She had to taste the coffee I'd guzzled all day.

She leaned back, her mouth open and air gusting as she licked her lips. "Tonight."

She strode past me. I heard the snick of the lock as she opened it. The door whooshed closed.

"Oh, fuck."

And someone today is going to be particularly grateful for the gooey goodness that is The Hillbilly Calendar! Drumroll…the winner is…Estella!

A Question…

[Psst! Yesterday's contest runs through today. I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning! So be sure to post a comment for a second chance to win!]

I woke up late today. I was a little worn out.

Yesterday, I spent the day trying to find a doctor to accept the red-headed hellion as a patient. She has stomach issues and no insurance. Yesterday, things came to a head when the clinic she has been going to told her she needed to go to her family care doctor even though she was in pain and becoming dehydrated. Well, she was going to them because she didn't have a family doctor! Every doctor we contacted had waiting lists of three to five weeks for new patients. So, I took her to the emergency room. And guess what? They couldn't run any tests either, even though I had my checkbook handy.

Red and I were seriously discussing sending her to Ireland. She has dual citizenship, and there, she has a right to health care. It may still, in the long run, be cheaper for me to pay for a round trip ticket for her to go there for testing and any surgery she may need. But we did find another group doctor clinic. I had to be the mean mama at the front desk, asking them what the hell we were supposed to do to get her seen by someone when she's in pain.

And we don't need health reform? Shame, shame, shame!

So, off my soapbox. Y'all know I don't get political here. And I do have a very important question to ask you.

If you were to write a book, what would you choose as the topic? (Now, you could choose fiction or non-fiction—just something you would be passionate about writing!)