Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 549

5 Days to Breaking Leather!

NaNo Day 17:

Viking-2—2472 words

TW—1085 words

One quick note! I received official news yesterday, that my short story, Dreaming by the Sea, was accepted for the Dream Lovers anthology to be published by Cleis Press next May! ~DD

Post a comment and be entered to win a free download of this book!

Next Tuesday, if you head on over to Samhain's bookstore, you're gonna find a new cowboy ménage in town. Something sinfully hot with a trio of brothers who will melt you like butter. To celebrate my new release, I'm going to give you a chance to win every cowboy story I've written for Samhain, beginning with 2009′s Bestselling eBook, Saddled.

All you have to do is show up. That easy. And whether you're reading me on my blog or on Facebook, doesn't matter. Let me know what you like about the cowboys you're taste-testing…

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

"…I couldn't put this story down! It was danger, betrayal, sexy and fun all rolled together into the perfect erotic romance. The plot was brilliant, and the characters unique…The sexual scenes will make you clamp your knees together and dream of a sexy cowboy or two of your own…"

5 Stars, Just Erotic Romance

"…What starts out as an innocent effort to warm Kate up turns into some of the most erotic sex I have ever read along with some of the best dialog I have seen in a book so far this year…The chemistry and interaction between the three of them is well written and keeps you chuckling and turns you on. The characters themselves are so well written you feel for them and you want them to make their alternative relationship work….Saddled is heart-stopping and fascinating!!!!!!!…"

5 Stars, Vixen Reviews

"…Delilah Devlin's storylines never fail to pull readers into the story and SADDLED is no exception…Of course the sex scenes are scorching and adventurous with the perfect blend of emotional turmoil to ensure readers keep Ms. Devlin's name at the top of their 'must read' list."

4.5 Blue Ribbons, Romance Junkies

Slippery when naked…

When Bobby Blackhawk and Cale Yancey see a car slide off the highway and into an icy creek, they've got only minutes to get the beautiful driver out alive. And only one way to save her from hypothermia: take her to their isolated cabin, get naked…and hope like hell that when she wakes up, she doesn't scream the place down.

Katherine Duvall opens her eyes in a strange bed, and the tingles flooding her body aren't entirely due to restored circulation. She's snuggled between two handsome men, one a gruff, gentle giant, the other a sexy, playful Native American. Having just left her fiancé romping with another woman, she's not quite as shocked as she might have been.

In fact, these two lonesome cowboys could be the perfect bookends to satisfy her hunger for revenge and bolster her dented self esteem. It's not long before their raging hormones are melting the snow on the cabin roof.

To their surprise, they find something else is melting, too. Their hearts…

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

Katherine Duvall awoke as sensation flooded her feet and hands—sharp prickling pinches that made her moan.

"Yeah, it's gonna hurt. But it's a good sign sweetheart," a man whispered against her hair. "And there's no frostbite. I checked."

He'd checked? One fact penetrated her pain-filled fog. He'd done a lot more than checked. She was naked. And his bare-naked body was pressed up against her back, a penis nudging her bottom.



"Where are my clothes?" she gasped, choking on outrage and fear.

"Had to shuck 'em. They were soaked."

She remembered the car sliding into the water. But why wasn't she in a hospital? "Where am I?"

"In my cabin. Couldn't chance taking you back to Wellesley. Snow's comin' down too hard."

Her fingers stung, and she pulled her hands from under the covers to peer at them in the inky darkness. "How long have I been here?"

"Maybe an hour. Was worried about you two. You both passed out."

"Both?"

"Bobby went into the creek after you. He's not in much better shape."

She edged carefully away from his body, instantly missing the warmth and rolled onto her back to get her first view of her "rescuer". What she saw didn't do a whole lot to alleviate her fears.

The man lying beside her was enormous—a broad-shouldered shadow. Her heartbeat thudded against her chest as her alarm grew, and she wondered what else he might have done while she'd been out.

"Let me get the lamp. You sound like you're about to freak out."

About to?

He leaned away. A light flickered on from a bedside table, and she got her first clear glimpse of the stranger in the bed beside her. He leaned on his elbows, his expression taut as she stared back. Shaggy, brown hair, thick dark brows over deep-set eyes. His skin was deeply tanned, his chest and abdomen a study in light and shadow as muscles rippled as he breathed. The thick fur covering his chest glinted with red and gold where the light struck it.

Then she caught a glimpse of another body outlined beneath the covers on his opposite side. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"It's not what it looks like," he said softly, a smile turning up the tips of his mouth. "Swear. I had to get you both warm."

She pulled the edge of the blanket higher over her chest and scooted away from him, caught by a hard shiver.

"You're still chilled. The electric blanket's set low. Didn't want to damage tissue as I heated you both up."

A groan sounded beyond the bear-like man. "Goddamn, would you both shut up? Fuck, everything hurts."

"Bobby, you need to wake up. We got a problem here."

The figure huddled under the blanket stirred and rolled toward them with a moan. When he came up on an elbow, air hissed through Kate's teeth. The man was even more attractive than the first, and she was wondering if she'd woken up on the wrong side of heaven. This one wasn't as large but was every bit as ripped. And his wide chest was hairless, his face austere, scraped clean over high cheekbones and a jutting jaw. An Indian by his bronze skin, even without seeing the long black hair that filtered around his shoulders.

Still, they were both naked. And sharing a bed with her. And she didn't know if she was safe or about to be molested. After all she'd felt an erection prodding her bottom.

She took a quick, silent inventory. The parts of her that weren't busy thawing didn't feel any different. She'd know, wouldn't she, if he'd already taken advantage of her?

"We're not going to hurt you, lady," Bobby said. "We saved your life. Get back under the covers and snuggle close. You'll warm up faster. Can't have you getting sick, seeing as how you'll be stuck here for a while."

Her heart stuttered, then began to race. "What? I can't stay here."

"Don't know if you noticed," Bobby replied, "but there's a storm outside. The roads are closed. No one's getting in or out."

She opened her mouth to make another protest, but she shivered again and moaned as the pain intensified in her fingertips.

"You're gonna have to trust us," the big guy said. "If something comes up between us, you'll just have to ignore it. My body's warmer than yours even though I've been stuck between two blocks of ice for an hour."

Color filled her cheeks. She shivered for another few moments and then gave in to the offer of warmth.

Facing away, she settled on her side and held her breath as he snuggled close again. When his arm came over her waist, she jumped but calmed as he shushed her gently.

The embarrassment and fear was a small price to pay for the heat his body generated.

"Just go to sleep," he muttered. "This is as close as I'm gonna get."

It was close enough. Again, his cock was upright and poking at her bottom.

"Don't know how it's staying hard," he whispered. "Your ass is cold."

A gust of laughter surprised her. "Serves you right. Should have kept your underwear on."

"Lady, you always this grumpy?" came Bobby's slurred whisper.

"No. I'm just not used to waking up in bed beside strangers."

Guest Blogger: Paisley Smith

NaNo Day 15:

Viking-2—1958 words

TW—1045 words

I'm super excited about the release of my first lesbian historical romance, Beguiled. Although I've written a few contemporary girl on girl stories, this one was really a book from the heart. I've always been fascinated with women who summoned the courage to break out of society's bonds in order to discover their true selves.

After seeing a segment on the news about the alarming number of women veterans who'd been wounded in the Middle East, I was inspired to write Beguiled. I was astounded by the vast number of women returning from war after losing limbs or being told they'd never walk again. Faced with such a situation, I expected most women would harbor resentment. I was surprised to see how many had risen above their circumstances to not only thrive, but to help others in their same situation.

I wondered what would happen if a woman had been wounded while fighting during the American Civil War. How would the men have treated her when they discovered she was a woman? How would other women view her? How could she ever go back to life as a normal woman after having fought alongside men?

Growing up in the South, Civil War history is just a part of the local scenery, and while authors are often told to write what they know, I also choose to write where I know. I've experienced the deafening sizzle of cicadas in the trees on a sultry summer night. I've smelled earthy red Georgia clay and felt the stifling humidity that hangs oppressively in air so thick you can hardly breathe. I grew up playing on acres of rolling farmland and wading through the cotton stalks when the cotton bolls were so white they'd blind you in the sunlight. So I couldn't think of a better setting for Beguiled than war-torn Georgia. And no better time than the 1860s to write about two enemies—two women—who struggle to find the strength and the courage to be together no matter what it takes.

Here's a taste of Beguiled ~

"I have something that might fit you." I slid off the bed to rummage in the chest of drawers. When I pulled open the bottom drawer, Dalton's scent filled my senses. I breathed it in, longing to feel his strong arms, yearning to feel safe and sheltered again.

Missing…

A lump welled in my throat as I withdrew one of his neatly folded nightshirts. "This was…is…is my husband's," I said. "It should fit you."

Again, those stormy eyes collided with mine and held. The way she studied me with that deliberate stare unnerved me. She winced as she shifted in the bed to drag her shirt out from under her bottom. At once, I moved to help her, placing Dalton's nightshirt on the bed as I gathered up Alice's shirt and dragged it off over her head.

I easily saw how she passed herself off as a man now. Her broad, angular shoulders looked as strong as any man's. Muscular biceps defined the shape of her long arms. But my gaze drew magnetically to her breasts. All peaches and cream, they were small and boasted dark, velvety nipples. I swallowed thickly, realizing I couldn't stop staring — and also realizing Alice didn't seem to care.

Instead, she leaned back slightly as if to give me a better view. Her nipples rose as she inhaled a deep breath. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought she intended her pose to be provocative. Was she that shameless?

A wave of heat settled in my neck, and, hands trembling, I unfolded Dalton's nightshirt and slipped it over Alice's head. At the same time, we both reached for the ties at the neck. Our hands clashed once and then twice, and I let out a nervous laugh. I swatted her hands away. "Let me."

Her hands dropped to her lap, and she watched me as I looped the thin ties into a perfect little bow. I sat beside her once more. "What was it like?" I asked. "Fighting?"

I fell utterly in love with Alice while writing Beguiled. If you'd like to read more of Alice and Belle's love story, you can purchase the book here: Buy the book

Thanks Delilah, for allowing me to introduce your readers to my characters!

Paisley Smith ~ http://paisley-smith.com ~ Aren't you just a little curious?

Princess Poop

NaNo Day 14:

Viking-2—2328 words

TW—1257 words

As you can tell, a very productive day yesterday, despite one very, very naughty little 23-month-old…

I live for her naps. They last at least a couple of hours every day. While she sleeps, I slam pages. Yesterday, she was taking an unusually long nap. I'd sneak by her door and listen—not a peep—and head back to work.

Finally, I knew I couldn't leave her there longer, otherwise I'd never get her to bed that night. When I opened the door, I wanted to back right out and wait hours for her mother to come home. In her boredom, little princess had stripped off her clothes and her diaper. Then she'd pooped in the center of her bed.

That wasn't enough. Apparently, warm poop feels really good between your toes because she couldn't help herself. There wasn't an inch of bed bottom that didn't have little poopy footprints. Still not enough?

She'd decided she was an artist. Bright orangey-brown poop was smeared into the sides of the bed, over the top. And poop makes for a fabulous facial becasue she had in her nose, across her cheeks, in her hair…

Oh yes. One of those moments when I wonder why I didn't tie my tubes after the son. At the time, I was too horrified to think, but now I wished I'd taken one picture as revenge. Someday she would have brought a date to the house and introduced him, and I would have pointed to the picture over the mantle and told him all about Princess Poop.

But y'all don't want to hear about my adventure. You want to know who won yesterday's prizes. I'll wait to hear from Adele, but the winner of my Access Romance contest is…Tracey D! Tracey, congrats and be sure to email me!

Guest Blogger: Adele Dubois

NaNo Day 14:

Viking-2—2130 words

TW—574 words

While Adele is playing here, be sure to catch me at Access Romance for a chance to win a free book! ~DD

Fast Motorcycles, Hot Cars

by Adele Dubois

I like to write about fast motorcycles and hot cars. Most of my books include a Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by a sexy, handsome hero. My REV ME TWICE hero, Tomas, personifies the hunk on a chopper and I hope that readers love him.

My heroines tend to drive convertibles, like I do in real life. For me, there's nothing more exhilarating than driving fast on an open road with the ragtop down. My REV ME TWICE heroine, Crystal, likes to savor the feel of the wind in her hair, the sun shining on her face and the thrilling sensation of speed.

I live vicariously through my sexy, fearless characters in REV ME TWICE and it's stand-alone first REV ME UP. I hope you will, too. If you think my REV books are for you, please leave a comment. One reader will win a motorcycle key ring in the mail to celebrate the release of REV ME TWICE. USA residents only, please. I'll name the winner in the comments section with instructions on how to claim your prize.

Thank you for your support!

REV ME TWICE Summary:

Crystal is a bad, bad girl in the most delicious ways. She tries to be good and is tempted to commit to her Navy MP boyfriend, Tomas, but has no experience with an exclusive relationship or healthy family structure. She likes her life as a cable TV stripping weather girl and sex party host, and resists conforming to the traditional lifestyle Tomas craves. Without her weekly ménages and wild orgies, can she become the partner Tomas wants?

When Crystal receives death threats, a media frenzy erupts. During a break-in, the threatening letters are stolen, erasing evidence that thwarts an arrest. Tomas sports Crystal away on his Harley to protect her, but a deadly crash changes everything. Faced with the choice between self-interest and self-sacrifice, Crystal must decide if she will embrace a new life with Tomas or walk away.

REV ME TWICE: Excerpt

Rose petals washed down the shower drain in whirlpool wisps of pink. Crystal shampooed her hair and glided a soapy washcloth over her nude flesh to smooth away the body paint. Leaning back, she let the warm jets splash rivulets the length of her body. Moment by moment, the steam and moisture soothed her tense muscles and eased her worried mind.

"Crystal!" The bathroom door muffled the sound of her name, but Crystal would have recognized Tomas' voice anywhere. Footsteps rushed up the stairs and down the hall. The bathroom door burst open. Heavy shoes plunked on the floor. Clothes ruffled. The shower stall opened.

Tomas stepped naked inside the oversized square of cool, amber tiles and wrapped his arms around Crystal's waist from behind. He kissed the curve of her shoulder and trailed his lips up the length of her neck. "I'm so glad you're all right," he whispered into her ear. "The police told me what happened." He took the washcloth from her hand and draped it above the shower nozzle. "Let me do that."

After filling his hands with liquid body wash, he smoothed his palms over her torso and up over her chest. Her nipples grew tighter at the circular movements on the slippery skin of her breasts. Tension trickled from her neck and she relaxed her head against Tomas' shoulder. His fingers pinched and pulled her nipples, shooting pleasant sensations down into her groin. The steel-like hardness of Tomas' cock pressed against the tip of her tailbone and between the cheeks of her ass.

While she enjoyed the feel of Tomas against her and delighted in the magic of his hands, something she'd said to the police officers brought an inward smile. She'd called Tomas her boyfriend. That was the first time she'd described him that way.

She shivered lightly after he rinsed his hands and then slid fingers between her legs and into her passage. Was it possible? Could she be… falling in love? The concept both fascinated and terrified her. What did she know about healthy relationships?

Absolutely nothing.

"I'm going to make you come. Hard." Tomas said against her hair. "Then I'm going to fix you something to eat and put you to bed."

Buy The Book!



*****

Adele Dubois Website


Find Adele on Twitter!

Sunday Report Card

NaNo Day 13:

Viking-2—2062 words

TW—0 words

Tomorrow's the half-way point for NaNo, and I'm moving along nicely.

* Since this time last week, I've added 62 pages to Viking-2, and have thoroughly edited through ch 7. My goal was to finish through the rough draft of chapter 17, and I did that, so woohoo!

* I haven't made as much progress with Girls Who Bite as I would like. I am up to page 93 with stories I like so far, but I still have a ton of reading to do.

* I have the first three pages of TW roughed out, but had hoped I'd have the whole first chapter done.

* I finished writing and editing my contribution to Girls Who Bite.

So a mixed bag, mostly good news.

This next week, I want to finish through chapter 20 of the Viking book, plus get through chapter 15 of edits. I want to write through chapter 3 of TW, and I want to done with weeding through the GWB entries. It's a lot, but I can do it. I just have to knuckle down, spend my time wisely, and bribe Mr. Muse with tons of coffee and chocolate. I can diet in December.

Snippet Saturday: Make Me Laugh!

NaNo Day 12:

Viking-2—0 words

TW—0 words

While I'm busy making up for the words I didn't write yesterday, enjoy this excerpt from Bad, Bad Girlfriend. Here's what happens when a desperate woman goes a little too far to get her man's attention (with the help of a magical pair of stilettos).

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

Jolie heard the music, tried to catch the beat, but she'd never been so scared, so embarrassed in her life.

She knew she'd made a huge mistake the minute she'd entered the stripper's dressing room. Lexie had ushered her in after Guppy, the skinny, bespectacled manager of the strip club, let them in the back door and showed them to the women's dressing room. She already wore her costume under a tightly belted trench coat, but getting her first up-close look at the other women awaiting their turns on the stage made her lose her nerve.

She turned back toward the exit.

Lexie stood behind her, her arms crossed over her chest. "No you don't. Not after I paid him a hundred dollars to let you do this!"

"You paid him?"

Lexie shrugged. "He prefers professionals, but he's not above a bribe."

"Great. You had to pay him to let me take off my clothes. Get out of my way."

Lexie's chin firmed, and her eyes narrowed into the meanest look her friend could manage. "You talked me into this. You convinced me this was a good idea. No way are you going to chicken out now."

"They'll laugh at me," Jolie whispered furiously.

The other women, even the curvier ones, weren't as well-padded.

One the women nearest them, eyed Jolie in the glass as she applied a wide streak of eyeliner. "We've had big girls before. Some of the men prefer 'em. Give it a go, hon."

Jolie didn't appreciate the advice and straightened her spine, ready to walk right through Lexie if she didn't get the hell out of her way.

Lexie lifted her chin. "You want a ring, remember? A commitment. You want him to notice you, know you're desirable for more than your cupcakes."

Jolie swallowed, her eyes filling. "I'm scared."

Lexie's militant expression softened. "You'll do fine. In ten minutes, it'll all be over. And you'll know whether the shoes were meant for him."

Jolie nodded slowly. "I couldn't get the pasties to stick, the adhesive didn't work on top of the body lotion I applied."

The stripper eyeing her in the mirror turned and held out her hand. "Give 'em to me. I'll show you my little trick. Works every time."

Reluctantly, Jolie pulled the little gold-glittered pasties from the pocket of her coat and handed them to the woman who towered on a pair of platform PVC boots.

"Get out of that coat. Have to show your boobs. It's just us girls here."

The other girls laughed, but their smiles seemed friendly enough. Jolie didn't like being the center of attention and especially didn't like the fact her "girls" were everyone's focus, but she opened her coat and let Lexie slide it off her shoulders.

"The bra too. Can't paste 'em on top of those cones. Nice bra by the way."

"Thanks," she said faintly. "The Whip and Tickle had a sale."

"Name's Angie," the redhead said, grinning, "since we're about to get friendly."

Jolie's eyes widened. The woman took a small bottle of glue sitting beside her open makeup case, circled the pasty then twisted it onto Jolie's boob.

Jolie held her breath, shocked to her core. Her nipple beaded beneath the little circle and the pasty began to fall away.

"Oh, don't worry about that," Angie said. "Happens all the time to me. It's cold out there." Angie peeled the pasty off the rest of the way, carried it to her mouth and licked it then twisted it back onto Jolie's nipple.

Jolie knew she must have earned a ton of bad karma as the women laughed around her.

"They're just laughing at your expression," Angie said. "We all have our little tricks for keeping these things hiding the pearlies."

Jolie suffered through Angie twisting on the second one, and didn't even blanch when she licked it.

But she didn't dare give Lexie a glance. She could feel her shaking beside her, clinging to her arm as she got ready to let loose with howls of laughter.

"Just remember," Jolie clipped, "I know where you live, Lexie Burns."

"Sorry," Lexie gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. "You should have seen your face."

"Yeah, it was pretty funny," Angie said, her smile stretching. "You're ready. Get that bra closed. You're up next. Give that boyfriend hell."

Lexie tossed Jolie's coat over the back of a chair and grabbed Jolie's waist, pushing her out the door and down the corridor toward the side of the stage. The curtains were closed.

Guppy signaled to her from the far side. "Get in the middle and I'll open 'em up."

Jolie dug in her heels. Lexie pushed harder, and Jolie couldn't get the traction she needed with the tiny stiletto tips scraping across the wooden floor. When she was behind the curtain, Guppy gave her a thumbs-up, and Lexie darted back.

The curtains started to open, but Jolie grabbed both sides and held them closed. "Oh hell no." She'd gotten a glimpse of the crowd when the curtain waved.

The bar was packed. A dozen or more heads and shoulders peering above the edge of the stage. They'd be looking up her ass.

"Let go of the curtain," Guppy yelled.

Jolie shook her head. "No way in hell."

Hands slipped over hers. "Let go, Jolie," Lexie bit out, trying to peel back her fingers. "I paid for ten minutes but you can do five and I won't even make you pay me back."

She squeezed Jolie's hands, but Jolie gripped the fabric tighter.

They stumbled against the curtain, and she felt the curtain give a little from the top.

"You girls tear it down, you're payin' for it!" Guppy yelled. "Still got your credit card, missie."

"Let go!" Lexie growled.

"I changed my mind. Musta lost it. No man's worth the humiliation."

"Give…the shoes…a chance." Lexie dug her fingers under the waistband of Jolie's shorts in the back and tugged.

"You tryin' to give me a wedgie?"

"Worked in high school."

The elastic at the back of her thong popped and Jolie let go to give Lexie a glare when the curtains swished open.

Lexie hid behind the edge as it retreated, leaving Jolie in the center of the stage, pushing the remnants of her thong down her crack. The movement thrust out her chest and the men around the stage began to howl.

Jolie crossed her arms in front to hide herself, but only managed to press more of her boobs over the top of the shiny cups.

"Bump and grind! Bump and grind!" Lexie shouted from the side.

Well, she was already out there in her underwear. What the hell? Jolie closed her eyes and listened for the music again, this time she felt it and took a couple of shaky steps forward. The stage narrowed to a catwalk, lights trimming the edge. Hands reached high, shaking dollar bills. One grabbed her ankle, but she shook him off and continued forward.

She caught a glimpse of two figures closing in from the front of the club, two tall, broad figures wearing dark uniforms.

Dear God, they were here. Gabe's face was tight, hard. His fists curled. And he was coming fast.

The look on his face shouldn't have excited her, but it did. She shook back her hair, turned on her heel and shook her ass for the crowd.

"Jolie!"

She heard his shout, but it only served to spur her on. She turned, squatting near a handsome dude whose eyes ate her up as she bounced and leaned forward.

His fingers slid under the edge of her bra and stuffed a dollar in her cleavage. She gave him a wink and glided up, turning to bend over and stare at him between her legs before easing up again, and rolling her hips, popping them to the music.

"Take a twenty!" another man shouted.

She strolled like a runway model, putting a finger in her mouth and standing in front of him to trace a wet path down her belly to the snap of her shorts.

"Show us some more skin!" he shouted, waving that bill.

Jolie gave him a wink, feeling more assured of her attraction, squatted in front of him and leaned forward to get the money. However, he grabbed for her boob, nearly pulling her from the stage.

A bouncer ran up and pulled him back.

Jolie gave Gabe a sideways glance. You see that, baby? Your precious milk-and-cookies mama is gonna start a riot.

She bent toward the man seated next to the one who'd been hauled backward from the stage. He stuffed a cool, crisp twenty into her shorts. She went to her knees and opened the top toggle of her bra.

Shouts and whistles started and she leaned back, smoothing a hand down her belly and back up then opening another latch. One more to go. Would she have the nerve?

"Jolie, don't do it," Gabe shouted.

But Gabe didn't own her ass. Didn't own her boobs. He hadn't claimed an inch of her skin.

She opened the last clasp and held the edges closed over her breasts, and slowly rose, walking to the end of the stage right in front of Gabe. With his hot, angry stare locking with hers, she opened her bra wide, flashing the crowd and shaking her glitter-topped tits. Take that, Gabe Devine.

A hand reached up and grabbed for her ankle.

Jolie tried to kick it loose, but the man was rising from his seat. "Come here, baby. Rub those titties on my face."

She teetered and let out choked scream, falling toward the man. But he flew backward and another set of arms caught her.

A shoulder hit her belly and she folded over a wide, muscular frame. Gabe's butt flexed beneath her gaze as he stomped toward the doors.

The doors whooshed open and he carried outside and down the steps. Cool, wintery air prickled her skin, drying her sweat immediately.

"Put me down," she said. "It's cold!"

But he didn't slow his pace, not until he reached the squad car and opened the back door and flung her inside.

Jolie landed in a sprawl of legs and arms and climbed up from the floorboard to kneel on the seat, staring back at Gabe who hunched over to glare inside the car.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he blasted.

Jolie shoved both hands on her hips and yelled back, "That it was about damn time I started looking for another man."

"In that place? Did you want to get raped?"

"I wanted someone to notice me."

His eyes narrowed to angry slits. "All you have to do is breathe deep to get a man's attention."

Jolie realized her bra still gaped open and that Tyler was walking up behind Gabe.

"Gonna ride in the back?" he asked Gabe. "Or are we gonna book her?"

"For what?" Jolie said, lifting her chin to dare Tyler to stare. "I didn't break any laws."

"Gimme a minute," Tyler drawled, his gaze sweeping over her chest. "I can start with inciting a riot."

"Indecent exposure," Gabe bit out. He slipped into the back seat and slammed the door closed.

Tyler spoke into the mike up front, telling dispatch they were taking a break. Then he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Wait!" Jolie said as they entered the road. "Lexie's still back there."

"Lexie knows she's in a heap of shit," Tyler said over his shoulder. "She's on her way to her car. If she doesn't pass me in three, we'll go back for her."

A car pulled up alongside them, and Jolie stared at Lexie who gave her a cheerful wave and passed them.

She gulped down several deep breaths and slowly turned back to Gabe. His gaze was glued to her nipples. He lifted a finger and traced the edge of the pasty.

His movement was slow. Too slow. And then she saw his hand was shaking.

She raised her head slowly and locked glances with him.

His face was still tight, his lips pressed into a straight, narrow line. His eyes bored into her, his body radiated hot fury. "You did this on purpose. You knew I'd be there."

She raised her chin. He'd have to drag the details out of her only if he tortured her. Unfortunately, she had a very low pain threshold.

"Almost there," Tyler called over his shoulder.

A muscle alongside Gabe's jaw flexed. When the car slid into her apartment parking lot, he held perfectly still, waiting as Tyler got out and opened the trunk of the car. The door beside her opened and Tyler handed her a blanket, which she wrapped gratefully around her shoulders.

She'd forgotten how cold it was. The air stung her naked breasts.

Tyler opened Gabe's door, and Jolie decided to make a dash for it, running on the stilettos toward the door, trying to beat him to it. But boots slapped the pavement behind her, closing in.

Gabe grabbed her hand, swung her toward him, ducked, and once again she was reeling as he upended her and carried her toward the door.

"How'd you think you'd get inside?" he growled. "Have a key stashed in your underwear?"

She didn't like the nasty edge of his voice, but she opted on the side of caution and kept silent. Besides she could barely catch her breath because she bounced on his hard shoulder as he stomped across the foyer, passed the elevators and stalked up the three flights of stairs.

Jolie was staggered by his strength. He wasn't out of breath. She couldn't help it, but the caveman act was doing it for her.

Moisture flooded her channel but didn't wet a thing because gravity was holding the warm liquid inside her.

Her breasts scraped against the itchy woolen blanket and she prayed they'd get there soon because she was ready to explode. Ready to go wild.

At last he pushed through the door that opened onto her floor and strode toward her apartment. But he didn't put her down; he unlocked the apartment and hurried inside, kicking the door closed behind them.

Then she was sliding downward. He caught her between the door and his large body. He shoved her upward as soon as her heels hit the floor and from the rustling below, she knew what was coming next.

Her shorts opened and he shoved them down. His pants opened and then his cock was pressing at her portal, ramming past her entrance, stretching upward as he brought her down his shaft.

"What the fuck were you doing?" he whispered, leaning into her, his hips beginning to hammer against her, his mouth just above hers, still tight, his teeth bared.

Jolie quivered against him and lifted her legs, clinging to his hips and pressing her chest against his to force him back and give her room to move, but he wasn't having it.

He jerked and tunneled, so close she couldn't drag in enough air. Her head swam, her eyes filled, and only when the tears streaked down her cheeks did he lower his head and cover her mouth.

But he didn't deepen the kiss. His eyes were open, those blue orbs glaring.

She blinked to meet that stare, but couldn't stay stubborn for long because she was coming—fast, hard, her body vibrating and writhing against his in the shallow space between him and door.

The sound of her thrashing, knocking against the door, was overloud, masking her gasps and whimpers.

When she finally hung limp against him, he came out of her and let her slide down to the floor.

He stepped back, stuffed his swollen cock into his pants and zipped up. "Don't go out tonight. You be here. We're not done."

Leah Braemel

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

Vivian Arend

Ashley Ladd

HelenKay Dimon

Lauren Dane

Sasha White

Shelley Munro

TJ Michaels

Shelli Stevens

Jody Wallace

Double the Fun!

NaNo Day 11:

Viking-2—2283 words

TW—0 words

Yesterday, I got word that two short stories I'd written for Cleis anthologies are going to be published! So, I'm sharing pictures of the covers. [Click on the covers to head to Amazon and order them!]

Carnal Machines won't be out until May 1, 2011, but it's never to early to place a great collection on pre-order (hint, hint). My own contribution is called Dr. Mullaley's Cure. It was my first attempt at Steampunk and so enjoyable to write, I'm thinking about doing more.

Remember the award-winning Lesbian Cowboys? Lesbian Cops is another such offering from editor Sacchi Green. I write about two small-town female cops who come together. My female protagonist was hard-edged, but with a wicked edge of humor. I completely loved writing her. This one's coming April 1, 2011.

Guest Blogger: Marie Harte

NaNo Day 10:

Viking-2—1671 words

TW—462 words

A Reader's Top Ten Guide for A Great Romance

by Marie Harte

Thanks, Delilah, for letting me blog here today. I wanted to write something different, so I switched hats from writer to reader. And I was off and running…

As a writer, I like to know what readers want. I'm not so much into trends. I don't like jumping on the vampire bandwagon just because those books might be popular. If I have an actual vampire story in mind, that's something else. I'm talking about common threads that appeal to readers. Strong heroines, alpha males, sexual tension, that kind of thing.

Then I had a thought. Hey, I'm a reader. Why not list what I'm looking for in a story? I can read a three to four hundred page book in one sitting in a few hours, easy. I can't say how many books I read in a month or year, but during my crazy (book-obsessed) days that fluctuate from month to month in between deadlines, I can easily read two or three in a day, especially if the stories are shorter. Of course, a lot of that depends on time, too, because I do have a family and a day job writing.

From what I've read and seen over the years, I have a lot in common with the average Sally Reader. So here's my top ten list of what constitutes a great romance, in no particular order.

1. Likeable characters. The hero and heroine (or hero and hero, whatever floats your boat) don't have to be the nicest people on the planet, but at some point they have to be likeable, and not ten pages from the end. There's nothing worse than trying to read a book about people that are either whiny, annoying, or TSTL (too stupid to live) for 350 pages.

2. Sexual tension. I write erotic romance, and I like to read it. But when the characters hop into bed on page 3, it kind of takes away my enjoyment to see them struggle for it. Now a few authors have made this work by throwing in the requisite plot problems and angst, but by and large the easy hookup doesn't appeal to me.

3. Gratuitous sex. Yes, I feel awful for saying this. Especially since for so many years I read stories where the characters could barely hold hands before the author cut to a new scene. Erotic romance has "erotic" in the title for a reason. It involves sex. But sex for sex's sake shows. When the physical builds the emotional, it works. You can tell when it doesn't.

4. The right angst. I am drawn to tortured heroes and heroines. I think we all are. It's normal to want to see people build themselves back up after being thrown down a peg or two. But when the characters suffer page after page after page, it takes away from the joy to be had in the story. And real or not, rape scenes do nothing for me. I don't like reading about it, and I don't even like references to it with the main characters. Then again, that's a personal pet peeve, but we are talking fiction, a place where anything normally goes. And hey, this is my list.

5. Character growth. I find it common anymore to read a book where one of the two characters grows but the other remains stagnant. It's like the author puts so much into making the heroine a strong woman, she forgets that the hero is more than a foil for the heroine, but an actual part of the story. Let him grow too, damn it!

6. Humor. Just because a book is dark doesn't mean it can't have funny moments. Fiction mirrors reality, right? Well, people do laugh at funerals. Life isn't all one shade, but a rainbow of emotion. Throw it all in there, I say.

7. Believable conflict. There's nothing worse than reading a story where the hero and heroine don't get along because of a simple misunderstanding. One short conversation between the pair would eliminate all problems and make the whole story crumble. That's not believable conflict. Layer stuff in there, make us, the readers, want to see how they solve their problems. A phone call where the heroine admits she threw out his favorite shirt, and she's sorry, and why can't they all just get along, doesn't cut it.

8. Chemistry. The main characters have to have it, or the story won't work. Just because an author creates the pair or threesome or group involved doesn't mean they fit. And yeah, I've read romances where the hero seems better suited to a secondary character and the heroine should be lesbian. It's like the author doesn't know her characters.

9. If everyone's special, no one's special. One author I used to love and now can't read anymore gives all her characters god powers. Yeah, all of them. They're all immortal, so where's the scare factor? Why should the characters worry when they can snap their fingers and have an HEA whenever they want? And seriously, is every character really that handsome, pretty, white, skinny-with-boobs or tall?

10. Don't break the rules. Authors create worlds and a set of rules that go with them. So when I read about a hero who can't do X, then thirty pages in does X, it annoys me, especially if there's no explanation as to why he can do X. It's like the author has forgotten her own rules. Sure there are exceptions to the rules, but if there are too many, why have the rules in the first place?

I love to read and always will. But as my budget gets tighter, my choices in what I read narrow. I might chance a new author when all my favorites have nothing out, but burn me once, and I probably won't be back to read more. Even my favorites have only so much leeway before I'm moving on to someone new. And with the sheer breadth of choices out there, thanks to epublishing and our friend, the Internet, I don't have to search far and wide for a new and temping read anymore.

Happy reading!

Marie

www.marieharte.com

Bleary-eyed Today

NaNo Day 9:

Viking-2—2075 words

TW—0 words—new project, and stalling!

Psst! Yesterday's winner is located at the bottom of this post.

I took a sleeping pill last night because I wanted to be in bed at 6 PM to catch up on rest. I was feeling dizzy and had a headache. Usually, I take a pill and I'm awake about three hours later. This time, I slept 10 1/2 hours straight. Now, I have a back ache.

I have been hitting the keyboard hard these past few weeks. NaNo is just a support. I started a week before that after scaring myself silly with a glance at the word count I had to make to finish everything on time.

So far, one of four things is done. The short story for the Girls Who Bite anthology. The Viking story is well underway—I have about 130 pages to go. I'm at page 73 of Girls Who Bite. I have to keep reading through submissions to piece together the rest of the 260 pages, but I see no problems there. Today, I MUST start the last story due by end of month. It's intimidating me because I like to take time over openings, but I have to jump right in this time.

It's 5:30 AM. As you can tell, I'm a little dull-headed still. Hopefully, I can nudge Mr. Muse from the ether where he sleeps and we can get started soon.

Yesterday's winner of a free download of Unleashing the Tiger is…Ilona! Ilona, congrats! Email me to let me know what addy want the story sent to.

Flashback: Unleashing the Tiger

NaNo Day 8:

Viking-2—2286 words

GWB-Me—1049 words–and complete!

If you post a comment today, you'll be in the running

for a free download of this book!

NaNo's kickin' my ass, but I'm slogging forward. I wrapped up my contribution to the Girls Who Bite anthology, and I've started playing with the order of the stories. I'm not nearly through all the submissions, but a few standouts have made the cut so far. I'm 132 pages from the end of the second Viking story. I'm writing wildly, and hoping that something wonderful is waiting under all that mess for me to polish into gold. Tomorrow, I begin a new story, also due at the end of this month. Is it really the 9th! Frick! Have to up my daily dose of caffeine.

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

"…Delilah Devlin packs a powerful punch with ALTERED STATES: UNLEASHING THE TIGER…Ms. Devlin creates a beautiful romance with a paranormal twist that gives the readers what they are asking for and so much more…"

5 Angels, Fallen Angels Reviews

"…I thought [the choice of hero] was a brave and unusual choice for the author to make…It was definitely worth the read…"

4.5 Stars, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

"…I really liked this book for its very sensuous love scenes…I loved how Khalid's character was portrayed as very alpha yet he was so tender with Casey…This short story moves along swiftly with a mixture of military action, intelligent yet amusing dialogue, and red hot sex to keep the reader thoroughly entertained."

4 Hearts, The Romance Studio

An analyst in a secret government agency, Casey McTaggert's professional life has been dedicated to the capture of one suspected terrorist. Even before she's abducted by Khalid in the midst of a firefight, she's completely fascinated with the man they call the "The Tiger." But what began as a professional obsession quickly becomes lust as his dark, Persian features and harshly hewn body awaken a forbidden passion.

Khalid Razeh can't fight the genetic programming that makes him shift into a tiger any more than he can resist the sensual allure of his lovely hostage. While forcing her to accompany him on one last mission, he fights the overwhelming attraction, knowing that he is walking into a trap that will end in death. Casey's tender lovemaking and growing belief in his innocence are a sweet balm to his wild, savage soul.

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

Khalid watched the woman's mobile mouth curve into a mischievous smile. She had no idea how close he was to pouncing. Her scent beneath the sweat and dirt teased his nostrils like the flick of a cat's tail, tugging at his cock, which jerked against the smooth leather case he'd perched on his lap.

Never had he been so distracted from his purpose. Just another thing he hated about the changes in him. He seemed to have lost control over his ability to shut out physical needs. His mind was no longer the captain of his body.

It was just an added irritant that he really did need her to accompany him. The woman obviously spent too much time in a sheltered cubicle—far from the harsh glare of reality. Her unshakeable enthusiasm and curiosity contradicted the image of the stale, world-weary analyst he would have conjured. She was almost…innocent…in her wonder.

His instinct for self-preservation reared up, reminding him not to relax his guard in her disarming presence. She was a woman—an attractive one despite the wire-rimmed glasses sliding down her nose and the messy knot of blonde hair pulled tight at the back of her head. The prim suit hugged slender curves, almost boyish in their lack of definition. Her legs, however, were extraordinary.

Neat, slender ankles, long straight calves and smooth round knees.

His cock approved, straining against the case.

"Do you know how?" she asked, her eyes shining in the moonlight with a hopeful glitter.

Most assuredly, he knew how. But he did not think he was responding to the correct question. He shook himself and looked around. The truck. "Yes. I can…hotwire it. Cut the engine."

With the M-19 he'd "acquired" back at the wall strung over his shoulder, he bounded from the vehicle, supremely aware of the wag of his rigid cock. He didn't bother to turn away from her. Better she should know her affect on him now. Perhaps it would curb her enthusiasm.



Her gasp was gratifying, but he ignored her and strode barefoot to the dented truck.

Minutes later, he sat behind the wheel, glad to have something else to occupy his attention—besides her ripening arousal.

He could smell it. The scent wafted in the air, a tantalizing mix of baby powder and feminine musk.

She shifted on the seat beside him as he pulled out onto the road and cleared her throat. "Daylight's gonna be upon us soon."

Daylight meant time to rest. The tiger inside him was a nocturnal creature. Besides they'd be more easily spotted in the light of day. Which meant there was time for other horizontal activities. The woman's arousal left his own unabated. A distraction he could alleviate if she were willing.

He watched her from the corner of his eye as she fidgeted and tucked a straggling strand of hair behind her ear. Her movements were jerky. He needed her relaxed. Pliant.

Women loved to talk, he recalled. "You don't sound like you're from Washington," he said, keeping his eyes on the highway stretching before him.

"I'm not. I'm from Oklahoma."

"I don't hear the twang."

"Well, when you're blonde and blue-eyed and you have a thick accent, no one takes you seriously."

"I take you seriously." He turned to give her a look filled with sensual promise. "I thought you should know," he said softly, curious now to see her response.

She blinked rapidly, her expression dumbfounded. "You mean…as a spy-catcher?"

Did she possess no confidence in her sensual appeal? He frowned. "I take you seriously—as a woman I intend to fuck."

Her jaw dropped open.

He fought the urge to smile, not wanting her to think he was only teasing her to amuse himself. "Why do you think I brought you and not one of the soldiers back there?"

"Because I was the only woman and you could more easily subdue me?"

"You weren't the only woman there. But you were the only one who smelled aroused."

"What?"

"Before the attack, the scent was fading, but I caught it still. I was drawn by it. Were you flirting with the soldier who shoved you out of the helicopter?"

"I certainly wasn't flirting. And I certainly wasn't aroused!"

He liked her embarrassed outrage and it amused him how easily she could be riled. "You're aroused now." He dragged a deep breath into his nostrils. "You can't lie to me about that. One good thing about the changes in my body. I have an excellent sense of smell. I can smell arousal and fear. I was curious at first about your absence of fear. Now, I realize it's because you haven't any better sense."

"That's…that's insulting!" she sputtered. "I have plenty of common sense. I'm not really afraid because these things are all new to me. I'm still…processing."

"You sound like a computer."

"I work closely with one."

"You make it sound like a friend."

"It's an AI—we have the most fascinating conversations."

"I bet you do."

A long pause stretched between them, then…

"Besides, we don't have time to fuck."

A smile stretched his mouth. She was thinking about lying with him. "Sure we do. We have to find a place to hide before daylight rises and wait until the stores open. I might get arrested in this condition."

Her gaze dipped to his cock and her cheeks flamed. "Right. An arrest for indecent exposure would cap a really hellish night."

He rolled down his window, letting the cool night air fill the cab, enjoying the brush of it over his skin. But it did nothing to cool his ardor.

Then he saw the gravel track to the right that led to a copse of trees in the distance. He followed the rutted road away from the highway, far from any sign of human habitation, and parked the truck. Determined now, he let himself out of the cab. He smelled water nearby and followed his nose.

A door slammed behind him and Casey followed more slowly into the shadows cast by moonlight filtering through leaves. "Do you need to visit the bushes for some privacy?"

"No. But we'll stay here until the stores open in the next town." He pushed back more branches, forging a trail.

"So, tell me," she said, trailing behind him and sounding a little breathless. "Just how do you think you're going to go into town naked and buy clothes?"

"I'll stay here. You'll go."

Her footsteps ground to a halt. "Why would you trust me not to call the agency?"

Khalid's gaze captured hers. "By the time you leave for the store, you'll do anything I ask."

She gave a short gust of laughter. "And you're going to persuade me how?"

"I'm going to show you what kind of man I really am—you will believe in me." He continued toward the sound of running water.

"I'm not some Pollyanna," she said, stomping in dried leaves. "I don't believe the world's a happy place, and I know what kinds of atrocities 'good' men can commit against each other. Why do you think I'll believe you—and help you, for God's sake?"

He halted again and turned back to face her. "Because you already believe in me—and you're dying to know what happens next. Take off your clothes."

Her eyes widened like saucers in the moonlight. "I will not!"

"Suit yourself." He turned and parted the brush, slipping through it and into a clearing at the edge of a narrow stream.

He wasn't disappointed long. Casey crashed through the vines and branches behind him, emerging with her hair straggling around her shoulders.

Not waiting for her reaction, he set his weapon against a tree and stepped into the stream, wading toward the center. The water came to only mid-thigh, so he knelt and let the fresh coolness sweep between his thighs and around his raging cock.

"You could have mentioned the creek," she grumbled.

"I did not wish to agitate you further. I prefer to begin sex with a clean body."

"I wish you'd stop saying that. You're just doing that to discomfit me."

Khalid couldn't help the grin stretching his lips. "You think I'm wearing this erection because I want to annoy you?"

"It doesn't take much to get a guy going." Under her breath, she added, "I know that much."

"You think I get this way around any woman?"

"Any woman who smells of arousal apparently—or so you said." She sounded grumpy, edgy. She smelled deliciously horny.

"Casey McTaggert, take off your clothes and join with me."

Her hands fisted at her sides. "This is ridiculous. I'm on a mission. I can't compromise myself."

"We are on the same side," he said softly.

"Are we?" she asked, her bottom lip quivering. "I'm not so sure any more."

"You like being right," he said, softly, seductively. "Why do you doubt yourself now?"

"Because…" Her eyes glittered in the darkness. "I'm not used to wanting anything this much."

"Ahhh…" He nodded. "You are missing holes—huge caverns—in your notes. Will you not fill them? Won't you let me…fill them?"

"I don't like being a source of amusement," she said, her voice tight now.

"You think I ridicule you?"

"Look at me," she said, spreading wide her arms. "I'm not exactly…fuckworthy."

She believed it—he could see it in her pink cheeks. "Why not let me be the judge?"

She drew a ragged breath and stepped closer to the edge of the creek. "This is like recreational sex, right? Just to get the tension out?"

"Are you very tense?"

Her quick nod was terse.

"Then, yes. We will have recreational sex. But you still have to remove your clothes."

She swallowed and cast a wild glance around them. "Is the water clean? Cows aren't peeing in it upstream?"

"Where is your optimism? Of course it's clean. I smelled it, too."

"You don't know how unsexy that nose of yours is becoming."

"But you will take off your clothes?"

Her eyes closed momentarily. "You do know I'll have to report everything we do? Even this, however embarrassing."

"By the time you do, this will all be over. Your mission at an end. Your subject completely revealed."

She sighed as though this was a great effort. "How about turning around until I'm in the water."

"It's dark here."

"Along with that awesome hooked nose of yours, I know you also have enhanced night vision."

"I'm going to taste every inch of you, Casey. Do you think I'll keep my eyes closed the entire time?"

She sucked her lower lip between her teeth. "Guess not."

His heart pounded faster when she shrugged off the jacket and turned to hang it on a branch.

"I feel like there ought to be some cheesy music playing."

"I prefer the sound of the water. It's soothing."

"If you say so." She ducked her head and unbuttoned the row of tiny buttons down the front of her blouse, then gave him a quick, nervous glance before opening it and letting it too slip from her shoulders. The pale cups of her bra glowed in the moonlight.

Khalid's balls tightened, drawing closer to his groin. He dropped his hand below the surface of the water and caressed his cock, warming it with his hand.

The skirt quickly followed as did the frayed hose and her plain pumps. When she stood, looking awkward in just her underwear, he turned his back.

The sound of silky garments sliding over smooth skin sent shivers down his neck. His skin prickled with awareness.

The first sloshing sounds had his back stiffening, fighting the urge to turn toward her and gather her close. He needed so badly to sink inside her body—find ease for the ache in his groin, growing more painful by the moment.

But he let her make her own way toward him, timidly, hesitantly.

What he didn't expect was that she would circle him to stand in front of him as he knelt.

Her hands settled on his shoulders. "I'm not sure what happens next…what you want."

His gaze roamed her small, round breasts and the narrow curve of her waist. Afraid to touch her, he gripped his thighs under the water and leaned forward to take her nipple between his teeth.

Her nails bit into his shoulders as his teeth nipped the hardening bud.

"Aw, God," she moaned and leaned closer, pressing her breast deeper into his mouth.

He opened wide, sucking her breast into his mouth, working the nipple with the flat of his tongue. The velvet softness of her areola invited the stroke of his tongue, so he circled it, pausing to gently chew her hardened nipple.

Still, he didn't reach out to hold her. He feared he'd leave bruises if he did now.

"Khalid, please, please," she moaned. She widened her legs and her rich, ripe scent filled his nostrils.

He let go of her breast and moved across to the other, nudging it with his nose while he breathed in her delicate scent. When his teeth closed around this nipple, she shivered and her hands clasped the back of his head.

Khalid liked the way her fingers sank into his hair to curve around his scalp. She combed through his hair, dragging hard when he suckled deeply. He released her breast but continued to lap her skin with his tongue, laving the soft underside of her breasts, then working his way down her quivering belly. Groaning, he traced the contour of her belly button, pressing his tongue hard against the soft button and enjoying the throaty moan it produced.

Then he leaned down to lick his way toward her sex. Crisp, clean hair—curling, but soft—tickled his nose and her legs widened again, inviting him lower still. When he tongued her cream-coated folds, his sex jerked between his legs.

"Oh God," she groaned, her fingers tightening around his head.

Khalid sucked on her outer lips, savoring her salty-musk flavor. His whole body tightened against the overpowering need to plunge inside her…fuck deep into her moist, hot core.

"Inside me," she whispered. She pulsed her hips, her movements a little jerky. "Lick inside me, please, Khalid."

With his own body shivering now with restrained lust, he let go of her thighs and lifted his hands to carefully part her folds. His thumbs opened her like the petals of a fragrant rose. He slipped his tongue between the petals and he hardened the tip to spear inside her.

A deep shudder racked her slender frame and she cried out, her whole body growing rigid as she strained against him. "Please, please…more."

Allah! He'd not known a woman's softness or her many flavors in so long. He'd withheld himself, kept true to his faith. But his hunger, his beast's hunger, overrode his strict personal code to do no harm.

He meant to devour her.