Delaney Diamond's Blog, page 19

Meet Cameron Bennett and Simone Brooks…

It’s release day!

Cameron Bennett and Simone Brooks’ story is now available. I’m excited for a couple of reasons. First, I worked on this trilogy with my good friends, Candace Shaw and Sharon C. Cooper. Each of us has written a novella about the three siblings, two men and one woman–Cameron, Harper, and Mason. For the next few days, each book is only $1.99 before going to the regular price of $2.99.

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Google Play

Kobo

All Romance Ebooks

Smashwords
Keep reading to learn more about the novella I wrote.

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ABOUT THE CHARACTERS

The idea for the A Passionate Love storyline came about after conversations with two of my friends–one female, one male.My girlfriend is going through a divorce. Why? She believes it’s because she earns significantly more money than her husband, and her job and higher salary have always been a bone of contention between them. I wish I could write a happy ending for them.

My male friend has had to swallow his pride and accept that since his wife earned her masters, her salary is now double that of his. Talking to him gave me a good feel for the male perspective in this type of situation which, nowadays, is happening more frequently.

Because of both those conversations, I decided that one of the conflicts in the story would center around the fact that Simone Brooks is much wealthier than Cameron Bennett.

I’m not a plotter. I free write my stories, so details about the characters are revealed to me during the process of writing. Cameron revealed himself as a 33-year-old “old soul.” At least, that’s the way Simone described him. He has a huge vinyl record collection and is conservative when it comes to spending money.

Then there’s Simone, 30 years old and the complete opposite. She comes from a wealthy family. She’s a cousin to the Johnsons of Seattle. They don’t make an appearance, but those of you familiar with the series will recognize some of the references.

As you can well imagine, Simone is used to the finer things in life and has no trouble spending a lot of money. Either on herself or on her man. Cameron makes an excellent living as a nightclub owner, but his income pales in comparison to the wealth Simone is accustomed to. Toss in a meddling mother, and you have a recipe for disaster.

But this is a romance, so of course there’s a happy ending. The relationship is a little rocky at first, but I hope you’ll be rooting for this couple. I think they’re great together, and hope you do, too.

Happy reading!

BLURB

Simone Brooks and Cameron Bennett should not be together. She’s a wealthy socialite looking for a suitable husband. A man with the right pedigree and an economic status that matches her own. He’s part owner of the hottest nightclub in Atlanta with his siblings. Someone who loves cooking, the outdoors, and women, not necessarily in that order. 

After one night together, their sizzling chemistry makes it difficult to stay away. Then comes the hard part—navigating their differences to salvage a relationship that, while it may be imperfect, overflows with love and passion. 

EXCERPT

She didn’t really have to use the bathroom. She just wanted to get away from the loud music and laughter for a few minutes.

It was darker inside the club, and with the dance floor a couple of floors below, the music was not as loud. Only the distant beat of a hip hop song could be heard as blue, purple, and red strobe lights flashed across the ceiling.

A wave of dizziness hit and Simone placed a steadying hand to the wall. Groaning inwardly, she reluctantly admitted her sister was right. She shouldn’t have been drinking on an empty stomach. Maybe she should find the bathroom. Moving along the carpeted hall with slow, careful steps, she dragged her hand along the wall, eyes searching for the restroom sign.

Up ahead a man stood near one of the pillars, wearing a dark brown suit, forearms on the balustrade, head bouncing to the music as he surveyed the action below.

Simone paused.

She couldn’t see his face. Craning her neck to get a better look in the dimly lit interior, she only saw the back of his closely shorn head and the height and shape of his body. He was a big guy, with a wide neck and broad shoulders.

Inexplicably, her heart began to race. She blinked a few times and quietly circled behind him.

Now she could see his profile, and had a good look at a strong jaw. Her heartbeat quadrupled, pounding so fast she placed a restraining hand against her chest. What the heck was wrong with her?

She continued to move, silently cursing when she staggered. She shook her head briskly to clear the dizziness, but doing so only worsened the disorienting feeling and she flailed her hands to regain balance.

The movement caught the stranger’s eye, and he turned suddenly. Simone managed to face him, legs spread apart to keep her balance. She placed a hand to her queasy stomach.

He left the railing and came toward her, his face furrowed in concern. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

“I…” She couldn’t even talk, and he remained silent, giving her ample opportunity to fully examine him.

He looked like an African god dropped into modern society, wearing a chocolate suit and matching tie. Even under the conservative attire, she could tell he had a firm body. All man, he was easily six foot three. He had a dark brown complexion, as if he’d been dipped in maple syrup, a beautifully broad nose, and lips so thick and luscious-looking they were downright indecent.

Dark brown eyes scoured her frame, dragging down the length of her body with the same intense inspection she gave him. His right eyebrow lifted a fraction higher over his eyes, and her nerve endings heightened at the attention, the hairs on her arms standing on end.

“Ma’am, are you okay?”

The sound of his voice again—deep and decadent as the finest chocolate—made her insides tremble.

Opening her mouth to speak, Simone flayed her hands in a flustered, inane movement that affirmed how rattled she was by him. Finally, she regained control of her limbs and pointed up. “I-I’m at the rooftop party.”

He nodded his understanding. “Oh, you’re a guest at the divorce party?”

“I’m throwing the party for one of my friends.” 

“Oh.” He came forward, his smile friendly, its brilliance rivaling the colorful strobe lights that crisscrossed the ceiling. “I’m one of the owners of Club Masquerade. I hope you’ve been enjoying yourself.”

Simone wanted to say what a good time they were having, and how pleased she was with the service they’d received so far. She opened her mouth to speak those very words, but they didn’t come.

The building nausea chose that very moment to make its presence known in a horribly embarrassing way. Instead of words issuing from her mouth, the liquid contents of her stomach bubbled up and spewed from her lips—all over his black shoes.

Buy it now: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo | All Romance Ebooks | Smashwords

Print copies go on sale September 23, 2016.

GIVEAWAYS

I have a couple of giveaways for you. Goodreads members, visit the giveaways page and enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of the book. It’s open to U.S. and Canada entrants.

You also have a chance to win by entering a scavenger hunt I and my co-authors have set up. Open to U.S. entrants only.

PRIZE 1: One entrant will win

– $75 in gift cards

– an autographed copy of For the Love of You by Candace Shaw, book 1 of the Precious Moments series

– an autographed copy of Blue Roses by Sharon C. Cooper, book 1 of the Reunited series

– an autographed copy of Unforgettable by Delaney Diamond, book 1 of the Johnson Family series

PRIZE 2: The authors will each select one winner from the scavenger hunt participants to receive an autographed copy of one of their books.

HOW TO ENTER: Click the link and follow the instructions on the form.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: 11:59 pm EST on September 24, 2016.

ELIGIBILITY: Open to U.S. entrants only. Winners will be contacted via email.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

***

PINTEREST

For those of you who like to see the visuals, visit the Pinterest page for the novel to see the images that helped me write the story.

Filed under: Giveaways, Writing

What’s new from special guests Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java and Rae Lamar

Four Authors. Four Stories. For Love.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve had a special guest on my blog, but I was super excited to have the following authors visit and share their new release.

If you follow me on Goodreads, you already know I’m a fan of Nia Forrester and Jacinta Howard, and now I have the pleasure of checking out the work of two more amazing authors. Please welcome Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java and Rae Lamar to the blog!

They’re here to promote they’re friends-to-lovers collection, Because My Heart Said So.

Acceptable Losses by Nia Forrester

Quentin is in the middle of a separation from his wife that seems to have no conclusive end in sight, while Lena is stuck in Single Girl Hell. The only respite either of them have is their regular coffee dates, while working on shared projects at a very demanding job. Sick of hearing about Lena’s semidisastrous attempts to couple-up, Quentin decides to fix her up. With his brother. Seems like a perfect solution; after all, his brother is a decent enough guy and Lena deserves that. Perfect… until it appears that the fix-up might actually work.

“So …” he began, “this is …”

“Awkward,” Lena finished for him. “I know. I’m sorry. I had no idea that …” She stopped and sighed. “Just … I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Quentin said, wondering why it was that he wasn’t angry at her.

She at least knew on Friday when he leaned in and kissed her that there was one very good reason that they shouldn’t. And yet, he wasn’t mad.

Lena gave a small, derisive laugh. “No. It is definitely not okay, Quentin. I mean, I’m here with your brother. And on Friday night …”

“Let’s not talk about Friday night,” he interrupted her.

A look crossed her face then that was unmistakable. It was hurt.

“Of course,” she said. “We should just forget it ever happened. It was wrong, and it shouldn’t have …”

“No, Lena, I didn’t mean … What I mean is …”

He took two steps toward her, and then stopped. He didn’t know what he meant. But he did know that what happened on Friday, he didn’t like hearing described as ‘wrong.’ Shit, it was complicated, no doubt about that. But it didn’t feel wrong. Kissing her, being that close to her actually felt very, very right.

Nia Forrester is the author of the Commitment series. Nia lives and writes in Washington DC where, by day, she works on public policy and by night, she crafts women-centered fiction that examines the complexities of life, love and the human condition. Visit her at niaforrester.com.

Blind Expectations by Jacinta Howard

Aristotle once said the only thing constant in life is change. Or was that Confucius? Whatever. People are fluid—they come into your life for a while, and when it’s time for them to float on, Leah has no qualms waving goodbye. The only exception is her neighbor and best friend, Trevor. When all else fails in her crazy world, Trevor is always there, reliable, steady… real. But then one night a heated argument leads to a revelation that shakes Leah to the core. Suddenly, Leah is forced to make a choice. But will her heart survive her decision?

“I’m sitting on your lap,” she breathed, eyes still closed. “And we keep kissing.”

“Yes, you are. And yes, we do.”

She heard the smile in his voice and opened her eyes.

“Seems like you enjoy it,” he grinned, biting the corner of his lip. “I know I do. You taste good as hell, Leah. Even better than I knew you would.”

Jacinta Howard is the author of women’s and new adult fiction. Since 2014, she’s released four novels, including the well-received Love Always Series. She also released the USA TODAY Must-Read Romance, Happiness in Jersey, as well as the emotional new adult novel, Finding Kennedy. Visit her at JacintaHoward.net.

Blackbirds by Lily Java

Once upon a time Sydney Tarr and Elliott Vance were friends: fast friends, ride or die, pledge of allegiance, take it to the mat, “friends.” And the fact that Sydney loved her friend more than she should didn’t matter until finally… one unusual and spectacular night, it did. It mattered very much. Still, not every story is a fairy tale is it? Friends do part—sometimes forever—but, not always.

Elliott had the smoothest skin she’d ever seen on a man. Dark and brown, it looked like it had been painted onto him with oil and a thick brush. Sydney had the urge to photograph him, but that was an urge she had about a thousand times a day with a lot of people. What was different about this was her urge to see more of him. The shirtless Elliott. The sleeping Elliott. Elliott at play.

Lily Java is a freelance writer and novelist who writes women’s fiction in many genres. Her debut suspense novel, Sticky Moon, was released in 2014. When she isn’t writing, Lily raises money for the arts planning events in iconic landmarks throughout her beloved hometown: New York City. Lily is a true ambivert, who enjoys solitude as much as she likes meeting or talking with other passionate readers and writers. Visit her at LilyJava.com.

Blur by Rae Lamar

Jade Warner is back home. The bad part? Starting over. The best part? Reconnecting with Kyle Malone. Picking up where they left off years ago, it feels just like old times…except for the mutual attraction and questionable feelings, which are all brand new. For Jade and Kyle, it’s unthinkable to hook up given the history of their fail-safe friendship, but anything can happen when you live under the same roof…

“Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever find the right guy.”

Kyle watched as Jade stabbed a shrimp with her fork and stuck it in her mouth. “Your first mistake is labeling him ‘right’ because what the hell does that even mean? There is no right or wrong, Jade…it’s about finding the one who makes you feel most alive.”

Rae Lamar is a mild-mannered consultant by day and fiction writer by night who calls Atlanta home. She is the author of Dawn of Aris and The Aris Effect along with other works of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. On a perfect day, she can be found on the top floor of a swanky beach resort, sitting on the balcony of an ocean-front suite with a book in her hands and food at her fingertips. SN: She rarely has perfect days. Visit her at raelamar.com.

__________

Visit the 4 Writers 4 Love at their book landing page and check out the book trailer. Also visit their Pinterest page to see images of characters and places mentioned in Because My Heart Said So!

Purchase Because My Heart Said So at Amazon

Filed under: Special Guests

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Introducing…Ronnie and Diego #FridayReads

Book 5 of the Love Unexpected series, One of the Guys, is about Ronnie Taylor and Diego Molina. But before I dive into an update, I have a few things to share with you. 

Just Friends and The Rules made Romance in Color’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards for the top books in 2015! Of course I was very flattered and excited to get the news. I’m in good company among some great authors. Visit Romance in Color for the entire list of winners. 

The Hawthorne Family series was my first African-American family series. Just like the Hot Latin Men series, I’m working on a box set that will include all four books and will put it on sale for a limited time.

The set will go on sale for 99 cents on July 1st. Mark your calendars!

CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS

Goodreads members, visit the giveaways page and enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of One of the Guys. It’s open to U.S. and international entrants.

You also have a chance to win by entering my contest. Open to U.S. and international entrants.

Prize: two entrants will receive a $25 gift card and autographed copy of One of the Guys

Deadline to enter: June 30, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST

Eligibility: You must be a newsletter subscriber. You can subscribe to my newsletter here =>  SUBSCRIBE. Please make sure that you enter the email address you use to subscribe to my newsletter. 

How to enter: Click the link and fill in the form. Winners will be contacted via email.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

 

Introducing…Ronnie and Diego

I have a little bit of a girl crush on Ronnie Taylor because she’s so different from my other heroines. She’s a smart-mouthed mechanic who loves sports and hangs out in barbershops. But despite the tomboyish exterior, she’s still a woman. Like the rest of us, she wants to feel desired just the way she is, and although she can take care of herself, doesn’t mind if a man is willing to look out for her. That’s where Diego Molina comes in.

Diego owns the towing company located on the same lot as Ronnie’s mechanic shop. He’s a terrible flirt and no matter how many times Ronnie shoots him down, he comes right back at her with a smart remark or inappropriate comment. He also sees Ronnie in a different way than other men. He appreciates all facets of her appearance and personality and loves the fact that she can go from a T-shirt and jeans to a figure-hugging jersey dress. After pursuing her for over a year, he finally gets a chance with her.

Along the way, you’ll meet Ronnie’s father, Ezekiel. He’s old-fashioned and a bit overprotective, but he and Ronnie have a great rapport, and she wants him to find love again. Tomas and Talia from The Wrong Man make an appearance, along with brief appearances by Ryan and Shawna from The Blind Date and Sophie from The Right Time.

Overall, I think you’ll like this couple. They’re a perfect match. They both carry baggage that creates trust issues in their new relationship, but of course, they work through it eventually and get to their happily ever after…

BLURB

He makes her feel like a woman…

Mechanic Ronnie Taylor spends most of her time with men. As such, she’s always been tough, but Diego Molina makes her feel the opposite of tough. The big Cuban is brash, bold, and gets under her skin. She finally has to admit the reason he annoys her isn’t because she dislikes him. It’s because she likes him a little too much.

When Diego turns the tables on Ronnie, he uncovers the sensual woman hiding underneath. But past regrets threaten to derail their new relationship. Before they can get to forever, they must trust that they’ve found what they’ve been looking for all along.

EXCERPT

“I need to talk to you.”

He groaned and let his head fall back. “What do you want to complain about today, Veronica Pain-In-My-Ass Taylor?” He stuck a toothpick in his mouth and folded his arms over his chest.

She dragged her eyes from the way his muscles bulged into more prominence.

“Haha, very funny.” Pressing her hands onto her narrow hips, Ronnie glared at him. “Why do you always have to park your truck like that and take up the limited parking available for customers?”

“Is that what I did?” He scanned the almost empty parking lot they shared, chewing on the toothpick so it bobbed up and down between his full lips.

“You know good and well that’s what you did. I’ve told you plenty of times before. Since you bought this place, you’ve created a mess. You take up extra parking spaces, you block my garage bays—”

“Only when they’re empty,” he pointed out.

“You have no right to do that! Your guys leave trash in the back lot, and when are you going to move all those abandoned cars?”

At least ten cars sat in the fenced lot at the back of the buildings that hadn’t been picked up by their owners, and he appeared in no hurry to get rid of them.

“Let me handle my business, and you handle yours.”

“I try to handle mine, but as you can see”—she made a broad, sweeping gesture to showcase the lot—“someone doesn’t understand how to be a good neighbor.”

He tossed the toothpick to the ground and narrowed his eyes on her. “Are you the one leaving bad reviews for my business online?”

“Of course not!” The accusation stung. Not only was it unethical, her business and his were intertwined. She benefited if he did well.

Diego didn’t only bring her customers. He used Taylor Automotive to fix up cars he’d towed that were abandoned by their owners, and he in turn sold them for a profit. From what she could tell, that was a nice side business in addition to the towing company.

“I would be disappointed in you if you did.” Diego came closer and she held her breath. Dropping his voice, he said, “However, your whining and bitching is getting out of hand.”

“Under the circumstances, I’m very calm.”

“I’ve seen calm, and you’re not it. I’ve told you before I could fix you up and knock that bad attitude right out of you.”

“First of all, I don’t have a bad attitude.” Except with him. He provoked the worst in her. “Second of all, I thought I made myself clear that you’re not my type.”

“You’ve never tried my type.”

“How do you know what I’ve tried?” Ronnie asked, knowing she entered dangerous waters with the direction of the conversation, but unable to stop the slide into the unknown.

He sucked air between his teeth. “Ay no, you’ve never been with a Cuban man, mami. That much I know. It will change your whole life. You know what they say, once you go Cuban, you never go back.” He chuckled to himself, rubbing a hand over his shirt, and she couldn’t help but notice his massive hands and broad chest.

“That’s not the saying.”

“It is now.” His voice was low when he spoke next. “I keep telling you, a little horizontal salsa will do you some good.”

The air squeezed from her lungs and Ronnie’s chest tightened. She took a quivering breath. “I promise you, that will never happen,” she said, in her coolest voice possible.

The lids of his eyes lowered over his pupils as he did a lazy scan of her body. The brazen inspection made her feel uncomfortable in her own skin. A sensation, light and airy like a shadow, crept over her, compelling the hairs on her neck to stand on end.

“Oh, mami, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Not even if pigs fly and hell freezes over.” Icicles dripped from her voice.

“So that’s a maybe?”

She laughed a little. If there was one thing she could say about Diego, he was consistent. For over a year she’d had to deal with his lascivious smile and cavalier attitude. No matter how many times she shot him down, he came right back with a new line.

“That’s a never.” She moved closer to him and stood on tiptoe to get in his face, their heads mere inches apart. She made her face into a mask of sweetness and lowered her voice to a seductive purr. “Stop parking your damn truck in the customer parking spaces or I’m calling the landlord.” She often threatened to sic the landlord on him but never actually had.

He moaned and shivered, like a man who’d experienced something so exquisite he could barely stand it. “Oh Veronica, I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

Diego dropped his eyes to her chest, but this time the brazen inspection didn’t only fill her with unease. Heat burned her cheeks, and her traitorous breasts tightened in excitement at the attention. Fortunately, he couldn’t see their reaction under the loose-fitting gray overalls.

Ronnie curled her fingers into fists. There was no getting through to him. “Ugh!”

She swung around and stormed away. Yanking open the door, she hurried inside her shop. The sound of his amused laughter only disappeared when the door finally closed behind her.

____________

Pop on over to Pinterest so you can see my inspirations for the story and a few pics that demonstrate my personal obsession with short hair.[image error]

Have a great weekend!

Buy it now: Amazon | Print version (preorder) | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks | iBooks | Google Play | Smashwords | Kobo

Read the other books in the series, for heroes and heroines who find love…when they least expect it.

        





Filed under: Giveaways, Writing

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…The Right Time is now available! #FridayReads

Book 4 of the Love Unexpected series is about Sophie Bradshaw and Ransom Stewart. Sophie is Brenda and Jay’s friend from An Unexpected Attraction, so you’ll get to catch up with them, and Ransom is Ryan’s brother from The Blind Date, so you’ll get to catch up with him and Shawna. Pop on over to Pinterest to see my inspirations for the story. 

CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS

I have a couple of giveaways for you. GoodReads members, visit the giveaways page and enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of the book. It’s open to U.S. and international entrants. 

You also have a chance to win by entering my contest. Open to U.S. and international entrants.

Prize: two entrants will receive a $25 gift card and autographed copy of The Right Time

Deadline to enter: March 19, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST

Eligibility: You must be a newsletter subscriber. You can subscribe to my newsletter here =>  SUBSCRIBE. Please make sure that you enter the email address you use to subscribe to my newsletter. 

How to enter: Click the link and fill in the form. Winners will be contacted via email.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

I’m already hard at work on the next book in the series, One of the Guys. Until then, I hope you enjoy Ransom and Sophie’s story. Have a great day!

BLURB

She’s just what he needs…

What happens in the Bahamas should stay in the Bahamas. That was the plan, until the woman Ransom Stewart hooked up with made an appearance at his law firm. He knows he should stay away from her. He knows he should leave her alone. But for some reason, he can’t.

Revenge sex. That’s what Sophie Bradshaw told herself the night with Ransom was all about. One night, to punish her boyfriend for years of neglect that culminated in a painful betrayal. She knows she should stay away from Ransom. She knows she should leave him alone. But for some reason…she can’t.

Chapter 1 Excerpt

Days like this made it hard for Sophie Bradshaw to remember why she enjoyed being a flight attendant, for nine years, despite meeting crappy passengers like the man in 2B.

Matthias Ditka thought the entire crew was there to do his bidding. Each time he asked for a refill of vodka, he yelled the request and rudely yanked the small bottle from their hands with an ungracious utterance of “About time.” The obnoxious behavior only increased with the length of the flight.

Sophie groaned when the call light came on again. “What does he want now?” she grumbled.

He’d managed to spoil her anticipation of the trip to the Bahamas, an arrangement she’d maneuvered by calling in a favor to swap routes with another flight attendant.

“Probably wants us to rub his feet.” Jalinda, one of the other flight attendants, rolled her eyes.

This was Sophie’s first time working with Jalinda, but she liked her a lot. Their similar temperament and the other woman’s sense of humor made the trip much more enjoyable.

“You take him this time, or I may end up punching him in the face,” Jalinda added.

Sophie laughed out loud and slammed a hand over her mouth. “I would love to see that.”

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and walked down the first-class aisle. She stopped at the seat where a burly bearded man sat holding an empty mini vodka bottle.

“I need another one of these, pronto,” he said, way too loud.

Sophie leaned forward and spoke quietly. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m going to have to cut you off.”

“Cut me off?” he bellowed, causing heads to turn and Sophie to wince. “This is first class.”

“I understand. However, we can’t simply—”

He grabbed her hand and yanked her forward. The fingers around her wrist tightened so much, pain shot up her arm. “Listen here, missy. Either you or the other waitress can bring me something else to drink. I don’t care who does it. Do it now, or I’ll go back there and get the drink myself.”

His breath reeked of the liquor he’d consumed since takeoff, and she suspected he’d been drinking before then.

“You’re hurting me. Let go.” Sophie fisted her right hand, prepared to land a solid punch across the side of the man’s face if he didn’t release her by the time she counted to five in her head.

One.

“Are you going to do as I ask? I am a customer and paid a small fortune for this damn seat.”

“Please let go of my arm.”

Two.

“I’ll let go when you give me the answer I want.”

Three.

“Let her go.”

The low tenor came from a few feet in front of her. Sophie had been completely oblivious to anyone moving toward them, and her gaze collided with that of a tall male, the hottie from a few rows back. His large frame dominated the aisle.

He smelled inviting. She detected a fresh, almost minty fragrance coming from him, and he looked liked he’d just stepped out of the pages of GQ, with a clean-shaven face, thick, dark hair neatly combed back from his face, and a powder-blue shirt that clung to his trim physique. A navy tie with black trousers, and black oxfords completed the look.

Despite his civilized appearance, he exuded an underlying roughness as he glared down at the grip the passenger had on her wrist, his body obviously tensed, jaw set in an inflexible line.

“Who’s going to make me let her go?” Matthias stared up at the younger man.

Thick, dark eyebrows snapped together. “I am. Believe me, I’m itching to let off some steam, and it would give me great pleasure to use you to do it.”

Matthias quickly dropped Sophie’s hand, and she gladly stepped back from him, rubbing her wrist.

“Are you okay?” The man searched her face.

He had nice lips. She seldom noticed a man’s lips, but his were thin with an appealing curve. Then there were his striking blue eyes, bright and clear, almost see-through, like glass. An empty hole in his right earlobe suggested he wore an earring, which was interestingly incongruous with his otherwise preppy appearance.

She nodded. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“I just want another drink. Is that so wrong?” the irate passenger hollered.

“She said she was cutting you off, and from the looks of it, you definitely don’t need anything else to drink.”

“Who are you, her daddy?” the wider man growled.

Her savior bent at the waist, getting right in the face of the burly passenger, and said, “I’m the guy who’s going to stuff that empty bottle up your ass.”

“Thank you so much, sir,” Sophie interrupted quickly. While she appreciated the assistance, the last thing she wanted was an incident on the plane. Despite her desire to punch the prick in the face herself, flight attendants must maintain their cool at all times.

She placed a restraining hand on her savior’s shoulder. His hard, muscular shoulder. Tempted to rub her palm up and down his arm, she snatched away her hand. “I can take it from here.”

He straightened, and the way his gaze traveled over her face sent her pulse beating faster and out of control. This man rattled her.

“Thank you,” she said, settling into a cool, professional voice. She fixed a smile on her face. “Please have a seat.”

He didn’t move, his body still taut, as if ready to spring into action at her command. His gaze lingered on her a little longer, dragging from her eyes down the vest and skirt of her cranberry uniform. She straightened her back, skin tingling under the blatant inspection.

Then she saw it—a softening of his features. Interest. He blinked. Mutual attraction shimmered on the air between them. Then he leaned closer, and her body tensed, tightening like the string pulled taut on a bow.

“He shouldn’t have put his hands on you.”

His breath hit the corner of her mouth, and he held her gaze to punctuate the statement. Neither moved. Time halted.

Then, as if none of that had happened, he turned and walked the few rows back to his seat. Sophie let the trapped air out of her lungs, releasing the tension from her shoulders and back.

A round of applause went up through the cabin, and Matthias’s face flushed a bright shade of crimson. Sophie smiled reassuringly to the applauding passengers and then walked briskly toward the galley.

“What happened?” Jalinda asked, filling a glass with ice to complete another drink request.

Sophie rubbed her red wrist. “Mr. Dickhead grabbed me.”

Jalinda’s eyes widened. “What? You need to write that up.”

Protocol dictated that any disturbance had to be written up and reported.

“I will.”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. 5A came over and stopped him.”

Jalinda shot a look around the dividing wall and then wiggled her brows at Sophie. “Oh yes, I remember him when he came on board. He is hot.”

“I guess,” Sophie said, pretending to be uninterested.

“What are you, blind?”

“He’s all right.”

“Oh, come on. He is H-O-T.”

“Don’t you have a passenger to take care of?” Sophie asked.

Jalinda rolled her eyes and went to deliver the drink.

As soon as her back was turned, Sophie checked the passenger manifest and saw the name of the passenger who’d come to her aid.

Ransom Stewart.

An unusual, but strong name. Brash. Commanding. Just like him.

Peeking around the dividing wall, she took another look at Ransom. He seemed absorbed in whatever he was writing, head bent over a spiral-bound notebook, brow furrowed as he concentrated. He’d been writing since he came on the flight.

Idly, she wondered what he did for a living. Something corporate, like banking. Of that she was certain.

Jalinda started down the aisle and Sophie hurriedly replaced the manifest and began prepping for the lunch service.

She had work to do. Enough drooling over a man she’d never see again.

______________

Introductory sale price, $2.99 for a limited time!

Chapter One | Buy it now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks  | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Google Play

Amazon.ca | Amazon.fr | Amazon.uk  | Amazon.de

Read the other books in the series, for heroes and heroines who find love…when they least expect it.


     
Filed under: Giveaways, Writing

Hot Latin Men boxed set and a giveaway!

Before I share the details of the Hot Latin Men box set and giveaway, I just want to express a HUGE Thank you to all of you for making The Rules such a success! Many of you have said that it’s your favorite of the Johnson Family series, and the 90 four-star and five-star reviews have proven how much you enjoyed Gavin and Terri’s story. I am very, very happy. :D

Congratulations to the six newsletter subscribers who each won an autographed copy of the book. They’ve already been contacted. If you didn’t win and would like another shot, visit Goodreads for a chance to win a copy until November 19th.

Terri Slade learned the hard way to play by her own set of rules. Rule number one, maintain control. Rule number two, never fall in love. Then she met Gavin Johnson and broke both her rules.

Gavin Johnson has lived a charmed life full of adventure. In Terri he thinks he’s found a kindred spirit and even considers settling down. But when the truth about her past is revealed, their perfect relationship falls apart, and Gavin’s left to wonder if he ever really knew her at all.

Chapter One | Buy it now:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks  | Amazon.ca  |  Amazon.de |  Amazon.fr | Amazon.uk

*********

Five years ago on November 12th, the first book in the Hot Latin Men series was published – The Arrangement. Today there are four books and one short story in the set. Purchasing each book separately would cost $15.95, but starting today you can get them all in a limited edition boxed set for only 99 cents!

I’m doing a book blitz to promote the box set’s release and having a couple of giveaways.

Giveaway #1 is to celebrate the release of the set, open to U.S. and international entrants, and coordinated by Indie Sage PR. Giveaway #2 is a celebration of my five-year anniversary as a writer and open to U.S. entrants only.

Keep reading for the details.

THE ARRANGEMENT (Hot Latin Men, #1)

An indecent proposal leads to a short term arrangement…

Brazilian millionaire, Leonardo da Silva, is still seething from when his wife, Alexa, walked out on him four months ago. Now she’s in his office asking for a business loan to help her brother. Instead of a loan, he’s willing to give her the money, but only if she resumes her role as his wife for the next two months. She reluctantly agrees, and she soon finds herself wishing their arrangement was permanent. But when she finds out about Leonardo’s betrayal, there may be no way for them to mend their broken marriage.

FIGHT FOR LOVE (Hot Latin Men, #2)

A former pro wrestler fights to hold onto the woman he lost, but still loves, and the son he never knew existed. Science teacher Rebekah Jamison lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Atlanta. Devastated by a tabloid scandal nine years ago, she ended her marriage to the man her parents never approved of.

Rafael Lopez, former professional wrestler and “Sexiest Athlete Alive,” regrets the lapse in judgment that caused him to lose his wife. He shows up unannounced one day with some startling news, but he gets a surprise of his own. He finds out he’s a father. To get to know his son, he whisks him and Rebekah off to his home in the Hollywood Hills for the summer.

PRIVATE ACTS (Hot Latin Men, #3)

This story contains a chef whose sassy mouth and swaying hips catch the eye of a sexy Latin artist determined to tame her. Miguel Delgado fell hard the first time he saw a beautiful woman on stage during a karaoke competition at a bar in Ecuador. Interested in a short, casual affair, he turns on the charm. But she won’t give him the time of day.

Samirah Jamison has met her match—in the form of a tall, hard-bodied sculptor who won’t leave her alone. She’s not running scared. She’s just trying to keep a level head and stay out of trouble for once. But it’s really, really hard to be good…when you’re used to being bad.

THE ULTIMATE MERGER (a short story) (Hot Latin Men, #3.5)

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

SECOND CHANCES (Hot Latin Men, #4)

Renaldo da Silva’s near-perfect life in Brazil comes to a halt when he finds out about his wife’s betrayal. Now he doesn’t want to have anything to do with her. But because he needs her help finalizing the biggest deal of his career, he’s forced to make her a multi-million dollar offer and delay their divorce.

Sabrina da Silva can’t forgive herself after a reckless night destroys her marriage. She agrees to help her husband and then disappear from his life for good. But with passion still smoldering between them, it’s not easy for either to walk away. Will passion be enough to overcome the ultimate test of their love?

Excerpt from SECOND CHANCES

Her gaze traveled over his face, and she could see the pain in his eyes—the source of his fury. Any number of women would have been happy to be in her position, but she’d thrown it all away with a reckless act.

She’d hurt the only man she’d ever loved, wounded his pride, and tossed everything he’d ever given her back in his face. If only she could take it back. She wanted to ease his pain, and selfishly, she wanted to stop her own, too.

She lifted a tentative hand to touch the smooth skin of his face. “Renny…”

His nostrils expanded, and a tremor shook his body at her touch.

“Deus,” he said, his voice a thickened groan.

His face contorted, and she sensed the internal struggle within him. He didn’t want to want her, but he did. They were both helpless to the pulse and beat of the intensity between them.

“Renny, honey,” she whispered, “forgive me. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Hesitantly, she edged closer, and when he didn’t withdraw, she pressed a light kiss to his neck. He still didn’t move, so she pressed another one, and another to his Adam’s apple, traveling to the other side of his throat with tender kisses across his skin.

Desire blossomed inside of her as another tremor, stronger this time, wracked his body. Then, with a guttural groan, he wrapped his strong arms around her waist and his mouth landed on hers—not soft and tender like hers, but hot and demanding.

She leaned into him, her heart soaring. He wanted her and she wanted him. She’d never had any desire to cheat; that night had been an anomaly. Renaldo was all she needed, all she wanted.

With no resistance from her, he pulled her into the doorway of one of the buildings and drew her closer, sandwiching her between him and the wall, making her breasts swell against the press of his hard chest.

Sabrina let her purse fall to the ground to freely lock her arms around his neck. She opened her mouth, swaying under the force of sexual desire that claimed her body. Renaldo groaned, smoothing his hands up the back of her thighs, dragging the hem of her dress with them. His hands roamed possessively over her hips and the bare cheeks of her buttocks, exposed because of the thin piece of fabric nestled between them.

How she’d missed him, missed his touch.

He buried his face in the curve of her neck, his heavy breaths heating her skin as his hand skimmed across the damp material between her legs. Sabrina angled her hips toward him, opening her thighs wider to make it easier for him to caress her there, where her wet body pleaded for more.

She found his mouth again and initiated another kiss, but he took control by darting his tongue between her lips, scraping past her teeth to make masterful, erotic strokes. His mouth moved over hers with fluid control, yet it was a demanding, all-consuming kiss. She shivered in his arms as their tongues tangled and their moist lips devoured each other.

It had been so long since she’d felt this rush, this heat. His taste and scent were intoxicating.

His hand went to the back of her knee and lifted her leg so that it hooked around his waist, and she could feel the pressure of his hard length on her abdomen.

What rushed through her was indescribable, dizzying, and a tiny sound left her throat. Her need for him was unprecedented, and she rocked her hips against his, gasping into his mouth, moaning and aching for relief. She wanted him here, now, against this wall, with a desire so explosive she no longer cared what he thought of her.

“I need you…need you, Renny.”

The admission was a breathless whisper that bared the truth to him. She feverishly kissed his lips, his chin, and dragged his lower lip between her teeth. She caressed his head, ruffling the short, silky strands with her fingers.

His breathing was shaky as he directed his mouth to her jaw line, down to the erratic pulse at her throat, his kisses moist and hot. He dragged his hand to the front and slid it between her legs, moving it slow, sliding backward, then forward, before his finger flicked her clit again. She trembled, clutching his shoulders, and he made circles on the damp crotch of her panties, drawing out the torture. The oppressive ache in her loins was too much. She needed him, as much as she needed the blood in her veins.

Sabrina reached between them and covered his raging hard-on with her palm, the heavy weight of it filling her hand. She was reaching for the zipper on his pants, when all of a sudden he pulled back.

Buy it now: Amazon • B&N • Kobo • Google Play • iBooks • Smashwords • ARe

 

GIVEAWAY #1

(open to U.S. and international entrants)

Enter using the Rafflecopter => a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

GIVEAWAY #2

(open to U.S. entrants only)

PRIZES:

one (1) lucky entrant will win

a $50 Visa gift card
a signed copy of the Hot Latin Men series, in hard cover with a dust jacket; only 5 will be printed
a signed copy of The Wrong Man, part of the Love Unexpected series
a signed copy of Still in Love 
Delaney Diamond tote bag
a spa gift basket containing the following: moisturizing bath and body gel, soothing bath salts, creamy body butter, refreshing body spray, an aromatherapy pillar candle, soft terrycloth slippers, an aromatherapy drawer sachet and a relaxing bath pillow.

four (4) lucky entrants will win

a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card
a signed copy of the Hot Latin Men series, in hard cover with a dust jacket; only 5 will be printed

ELIGIBILITY: You must be a subscriber to my newsletter. Subscribe here => NEWSLETTER

HOW TO ENTER: Use the form below.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: November 19, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST.

If you already have the Hot Latin Men series, make sure you tell a friend about the box set or gift them a copy so they can enjoy the books as one complete set. Thanks in advance for helping me spread the word!
Filed under: Giveaways, Writing Update

New Release – THE RULES!

Hello blog followers, your weekend read is here. Book 4 of the Johnson Family series has arrived! In this installment you’ll learn more about Gavin Johnson, the so-called prodigal son who has been globetrotting for years, indulging in extreme sports like B.A.S.E. jumping, free diving, and race car driving. You’ll also meet Terri Slade, Alannah’s friend, who has a secret and painful past.

The Rules according to Terri are 1) Maintain control and 2) Never fall in love. But Gavin has a rule of his own. He never takes no for an answer. This leads to an interesting cat and mouse chase in the beginning of their relationship. Haha.

Both Gavin and Terri are strong-willed and neither thinksthey’re looking for a serious relationship. But as you read the story, you’ll see that they don’t need just any relationship, they need each other. Gavin offers Terri the security and love she’s craves, and she provides realness and the escape from his life that he’s been searching for.

And did I mention the strong chemistry? Their involvement stems from their strong attraction to each other, but there’s so much more beneath the surface than a physical attraction. You get to see this couple fall in love.

Below is the blurb and an excerpt from Chapter one. Gavin is at Trenton’s penthouse, where he meets Terri for the first time. I hope you enjoy this latest installment of The Johnson Family series.  

BLURB

Terri Slade learned the hard way to play by her own set of rules. Rule number one, maintain control. Rule number two, never fall in love. Then she met Gavin Johnson and broke both her rules.

Gavin Johnson has lived a charmed life full of adventure. In Terri he thinks he’s found a kindred spirit and even considers settling down. But when the truth about her past is revealed, their perfect relationship falls apart, and Gavin’s left to wonder if he ever really knew her at all.

EXCERPT

Gavin tossed a can of their family’s Full Moon brew to his brother and grabbed one for himself.

The music came on again, indicating someone had entered the condo. The dog jumped up and started dancing around, and Trenton’s face transformed into a big grin when Alannah appeared.

Yep, nauseating.

Gavin couldn’t deny Alannah was a cutie, though, with her freckles and sweet smile. But recently she’d transformed from a quiet, conservative woman into a confident hottie. Today she wore her long hair in a high ponytail, had a yoga mat tucked under an arm, and wore pale pink yoga gear that hugged her slender curves.

Right behind her, another woman, dressed similarly, followed. This woman practically burst out of her exercise clothes with a video-vixen body—a veritable gift from the gods to his eyeballs. Her breasts strained against the top, large and hefty enough to overflow in his hands if he cupped them. Her legs, which looked as sturdy as columns, were clad in black yoga pants.

Not too tall, not too short, she moved with effortless grace, hips swinging from side to side in a way that made his loins heavy and his mouth water. An eye-catching woman. Her brand of sex appeal inspired the average man to make bad decisions—like hand over his heart and empty his wallet. Fortunately, he was not average.

“Hey Gavin, how are you?”

Alannah’s bright smile rivaled Trenton’s as she sidled over to his brother.

“Hey, Alannah,” Gavin muttered. He watched as Trenton enfolded her in his arms and they kissed, loud and long, as if no one else was in the room and they hadn’t seen each other this morning.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just here for the food.”

“Sorry.” Alannah giggled, blushing. “I’m being rude. This is my friend, Terri Slade. Terri, this is—”

“Gavin Johnson.” Terri extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

A smooth, cool voice slipped into his ears, containing a hint of sultriness that sent a shiver down his neck.

“The pleasure is all mine.” He took her hand. Slender fingers touched his, and a tingling sensation suffused his palm.

Terri looked him directly in the eyes, as though challenging him. She had a firm handshake, but extremely soft hands and white-tipped, manicured nails. Everything about her seemed well put together. Ebony hair pulled back into a short French braid, arched brows above dark brown eyes, full lips, and a honey-brown complexion with a fine dusting of makeup.

And her body…Gavin stifled a groan, unable to resist making another sweep of her build, and bit into the sandwich. Chewing slowly. He tried not to stare, but it was nigh on impossible when she had curves galore, just the way he liked his women, with hips, breasts, and meat on her bones.

“You staying for dinner?” he asked.

“No. Hanging out for a bit, then I’m heading home.”

“Make sure you guys are out of my kitchen when I come back out so I have room to work,” Alannah said, picking up her dog. “Come on, Terri.” Both women headed down the hall.

Gavin watched them disappear, Terri pulling up the rear and her heart-shaped backside swinging like a clock’s pendulum in the most provocative way. What a beautiful view.

Trenton chuckled. “Come on, man.” He dropped onto the black sofa in the living room and propped his feet on the ottoman.

Gavin sat in the matching chair and glared at his brother. “You no good…you’ve been holding out on me.”

“What do you mean?” Trenton asked innocently.

“Terri!” Gavin said in a fierce whisper. He took a sip of beer and then set the can on the table beside him. “Whatin the hell is wrong with you? I’ve been here for months and you never introduced me to all that fineness?”

Trenton shrugged. “I didn’t think—”

“No, you didn’t think. At all. Your head is so full of Alannah, you forgot about me.”

“She doesn’t run in our circles, and I already hooked you up with several women since you’ve been here. What happened to Sharon?”

“She’s crazy.” Gavin stuffed the last bite of the sandwich into his mouth and dusted crumbs from his hands. “She’s ready for marriage and kept dropping hints. When a bridal magazine ‘accidentally’ fell out of her shoulder bag, I knew it was time to move on.”

Trenton chuckled. “She always did have a thing for you.”

“Lucky me.”

The women came back with the Yorkie scampering behind them. The three of them entered the kitchen, and he leaned toward Trenton.

“What’s the deal with Terri?”

“She and Alannah are good friends. They’ve known each other a couple of years.”

“You ever…?”

“Hell no!”

“Don’t act like you’ve never slept with two friends.”

“We’re talking about Alannah.”

“Right, right, Mother Theresa. I forgot.” Gavin sipped his beer.

“I’m not talking about her personality. I’m saying I wouldn’t sleep with one of her friends.” Trenton shot him a glare like he couldn’t believe Gavin suggested such a thing.

“If it’s that serious, why don’t you just marry her then?”

“Maybe I will.”

Gavin’s gaze jetted to his brother’s unsmiling face. “Are you serious?” he whispered.

“Thinking about the future, that’s all.” Trenton shrugged and his eyes gravitated to the kitchen where Alannah was removing pots and pans in preparation to cook.

“Listen, I love Alannah, okay. She’s a great woman, but don’t rush into anything. You’re still young, and there’s plenty of ass out there.”

At almost thirty-three, Gavin didn’t feel anywhere near ready for marriage, and he was two years older than Trenton.

“I’ve had plenty of ass,” Trenton said drily. He swigged his beer.

Gavin stared at his brother. “So you’re saying you’re done?”

“I told you that already.”

“I thought you were just saying that. You know, basically she’d be your main woman, but on the side you’d still have…” His voice trailed off at Trenton’s vehement head shaking.

“She’s not the main one. Alannah is the only one.”

Stunned, Gavin didn’t know what to say at first. “Okay, then,” he finally managed. Trenton had clearly lost his mind, but he doubted the monogamy decision would last. “So what’s the deal with Terri?”

“There’s no deal. She’s a friend of Alannah’s.”

“What does she do?”

“Works at a salon doing nails or something.”

“She got a man?”

“I think so.”

“I sense you’re holding out on me,” Gavin said. “What’s the problem? Is she a nice girl or something? Cause I don’t like the nice—”

“No, she’s not nice.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Trenton sighed and rubbed a hand back and forth across his head. “She’s Alannah’s friend. Don’t cause problems for me.”

“Don’t worry, little brother. I won’t.”

Trenton glanced at the kitchen to ensure the women weren’t paying attention and they weren’t, busy talking and laughing as Alannah prepared to cook. “You better not,” Trenton said in a low voice. “Cause when you’re gone on your next adventure, I’ll be the one stuck here in the dog house.”

Gavin laughed and shook his head. “Everything will be fine. I won’t mess up your perfect little relationship. You and Alannah can remain blissfully living in sin, all right?”

Trenton shot him a dark look but didn’t respond, and Gavin’s eyes strayed to Terri, the kind of woman not easily overlooked, no matter the setting.

He had to get to know her better.

Ebook sale price of $2.99.

Regular retail price of $4.99.

Preorder print sale price of $7.99.

Regular retail price of $9.99.

Buy it now:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Google Play

Have a great weekend!!!

Filed under: Writing Update

Still in Love: Episode 11 (last episode)

It’s D-day! Today is the conclusion of Still in Love. Let’s see how things end for Nadine and Cortez, shall we?

Still in Love is a serial novel unfolding on my blog through the summer. If you missed an episode, click the links below to catch up.

Episode 1    Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Episode 9   Episode 10

BLURB

Three years ago, Nadine Alesini divorced her husband and left Buenos Aires with her daughter in tow. Now she’s back and forced to spend time with the man she left behind.

Cortez Alesini long ago accepted that his music career aided in the demise of his marriage. So he didn’t expect that he and Nadine would spend passionate nights together while she’s back in his country, causing them to question if they gave up too soon. But the reappearance of someone from his past immediately causes friction, and may destroy any chance they have at a true reconciliation.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tomorrow. They would leave him tomorrow.

Cortez brushed his hand over Antonella’s thick curls. She sat wedged beside him in her pajamas on the sofa. They were in the living room where he, she, and Gabriela watched television. Gabriela sat on the chair perpendicular to the sofa with a morose expression on her face. She was going to miss her cousin.

“You have to go to bed so you can get up in the morning,” Cortez said quietly.

Antonella shook her head stubbornly, refusing to budge from his side.

This happened every time she came for a visit. She never wanted to leave. He never wanted her to leave. They should be used to the ritual by now, but it only grew more painful each time.

“You’ll be back in the winter,” he said.

She always visited for a month in July during her summer vacation, the middle of winter here. Maybe by then Nadine would have forgiven him for what he’d done, and he could try again to convince her to come back. For them to start over. Even if Erich was his son.

His head fell back against the back of the sofa at the futility of his thoughts. He couldn’t do that to her. He’d made his bed, and now he had to lie in it.

“Come on, you two. Let’s go.”

Cortez turned off the television.

“Papá.” She didn’t have to say another word. The despair came through loud and clear in her pleading tone. Antonella’s eyes, beautiful and dark like her mother’s, implored him to do something. To make this visit different.

He wanted to fight and yell at the unfairness of the situation, but he had to be an adult. Be firm with his daughter, knowing it would be another six months before he could touch and kiss her sweet face again.

He cradled her head in his palms. “The time will go quickly. Before you know it, you’ll be back again, okay?”

She nodded, but her lower lip trembled as she tried to keep from crying.

He took both girls upstairs to their rooms and made sure they climbed into their beds. When he left them, they were under the covers, but he suspected they wouldn’t go to sleep anytime soon. Last year he’d peeked into the room on the last night and found them wide awake, sitting on Antonella’s bed, talking.

He hesitated at Nadine’s bedroom. It was dark under the door. She was probably fast asleep. Antonella took after him in that she didn’t need much sleep. Nadine, on the other hand, preferred to get as much as eight hours per night, and since they had to leave early in the morning, she was probably already asleep.

He proceeded down the long hallway and around the corner to his suite, his thoughts on the bike ride this afternoon. The pervasive loneliness he’d grown accustomed to had been temporarily alleviated—if only for a little while. He loved when his daughter came to visit, but having Nadine here, too, had made this particular trip that much more special.

In his room, Cortez changed into pajama pants and lay flat on his back on the bed. He stared up at the dark ceiling. Reflecting on the close moments they’d shared, the room seemed to fill with the sound of her laughter. He saw her smiling at him as she popped the last grape in her mouth. Then he saw her beneath him, begging him to prolong the pleasure. Begging him not to stop as he sank deeper and deeper.

Could he give it all up? Hadn’t he done that before—given up, because he thought it was the right thing to do?

What had she said in the studio? You didn’t exactly fight for us to stay, did you?

Cortez sat up, heart darting into a strong gallop.

Essentially, he was repeating the same behavior by letting her go without a fight because he thought it was the right thing to do. But it wasn’t. Not when they loved each other.

He hopped off the bed, intending to barrel down to her room and wake her up. But when he yanked open the door, Nadine stood on the other side, dressed in a loose-fitting pair of shorts and matching tank top, hand in the air as she was about to knock.

Cortez didn’t ask any questions. He already knew why she was standing outside his bedroom door. He saw it in her eyes.

He pulled her into the room and slammed the door.

Nadine backed into the wall. “It’s going to be hard,” she whispered, her voice pained and trembling. She swallowed.

Cortez walked slowly toward her, holding her gaze. When he stood directly in front of her, he held her face in his hands, rested his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes.

“Nadine,” he breathed.

“But you’re mine. You’re my husband.” Her voice sounded stronger. “If Erich is your son, we’ll work through it. I—I don’t want anything or anyone to come between us again.”

Cortez lifted his head. “Are you sure you can work through this?” he asked, even though he’d been about to go to her room and ask her to do that very thing.

She nodded.

“Say it,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I need to hear it. Tell me when you leave here, you’re coming back. Tell me you won’t make me live another year without you. Tell me again that you love me.”

She smiled through the tears. “I’m coming back. I can’t live another year without you—the man that I love. Mi esposo.” She’d called him her husband.

Cortez’s hand slipped into her soft hair. Dragging her tight against him, he kissed her.

The reason his love life had been so barren since the divorce—why he hadn’t pursued a relationship with the telenovela actress, the Brazilian socialite, or any woman, for that matter—was because they weren’t this woman.

Cortez groaned as he kissed her, tenderly at first, the velvety softness of her lips moving slowly under his. He groaned, pressing his mouth harder against hers, and she kissed him back with an equal amount of fervor.

No other woman looked like her. Not a single one of them made his heart race, his blood boil, or forged an automatic smile onto his face. Not a single woman in his entire life had ever made him want to write music, sing out loud, or slow dance in an empty room, just the two of them. No one but his Nadine, the woman who’d captured his heart and held it firmly in her possession since that day in the café.

He pushed down her shorts and hauled her underwear with it. As she pulled the top over her head, he fastened his mouth over one full breast and the nipple sprang to a hard bud in his mouth.

By the time she’d tossed the top aside, he had her against the wall, sucking her very delicious breast, her moans like music to his ears as her fingers tossed his hair into disarray.

They maneuvered down his zipper and lowered his pants, and he pressed her into the wall. With her bottom seated in his hands, he surged up into her wet flesh, her gasp right in his ear.

“Mi esposa,” he rasped. “Hasta que la muerte nos separe.” Til death do us part.

Their hips rocked together, chests pressed up against each other, her legs tight around his waist. Her fingers clutched his shoulders and her breathy whispers of incoherent words spurred him on. With each thrust, his body tightened and edged toward a total lack of control.

He felt the moment she came undone in his arms, even before her impassioned cry alerted him to her orgasm. She chanted his name as if they were the words to a song. The heart of her clutched him, the tight, wet heat too good to withstand.

With a brusque grunt, his body stiffened, and he join her in his own intense climax.

****

As they lay in the bed together. Cortez kept both arms wrapped around Nadine. He didn’t want to let her go or wake up and learn this was a dream.

“When do you find out if he’s yours?” she asked. Her breath brushed his collarbone.

“We take the test on Monday and we’ll know in a few days.”

She went quiet, and he threaded his fingers through her soft hair. He smoothed the short strands away from her face.

“Antonella and I will stay a few extra days.”

“What about school and work?”

“She’ll be fine, and I’ll call my boss and let him know there’s been a delay.”

He brushed a thumb across her cheek. “I wish…I don’t want you to be hurt by this. I will do my best to protect you.”

“You don’t have to protect me,” she said quickly. She gazed at him with such love in her eyes, he had no doubt of her sincerity. “We’ll face it together. We can handle anything together.”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Cortez asked, “Have I told you how much I love you, mi esposa?”

He nuzzled her neck.

He heard the smile in her voice when she spoke. “You might have mentioned it.”

  Epilogue

Eleven months later

From the kitchen, Nadine looked out at the dramatic sunset on the back patio and pressed her face into the baby’s neck, inhaling his scent of baby and powder.

“He is getting so big,” Philippa said, a wide smile on her face.

“Pretty soon I won’t be able to carry him.” They both laughed. “You’re almost ready?” Alec and Catarina were coming by later for dinner. Tomorrow, they were all heading out to Gustavo’s estancia for the weekend. Cortez’s parents were celebrating their fiftieth anniversary.

Philippa nodded. “Sí, señora. Go sit down. Rest. And don’t worry about anything.” She shooed Nadine from the kitchen.

With a soft chuckle, Nadine hurried from the room. She bundled her son in a white blanket and put a soft hat on his head before stepping out into the crisp spring air. He liked to be outside and gurgled happily against her breast, gnawing on his fisted fingers as he examined the environment.

Nicolás Alesini had arrived six weeks early on a cool winter’s night in August. At three months old, he was a bundle of energy, kicking fearlessly and smiling with a beautiful, toothless grin.

Although she suffered from sleep deprivation, she couldn’t be happier. If she never slept again, she’d be just fine.

“Where’s my little man?” Cortez’s voice boomed behind her.

“I don’t even think you see me anymore,” Nadine teased.

“Of course I do,” he said, lifting Nicolás from her arms. He planted a soft kiss on her lips, and then held out a wrapped box she hadn’t noticed when he first appeared. “A little something for you.”

“What’s this about?” She held the box to an ear and shook it.

“Nada mucho.” He shrugged.

“Your idea of nothing much is not the normal person’s idea of nothing much.” The other day he’d bought her a new Audi in glacier white, because he wanted her to have something safe to drive the kids around in if Joachim wasn’t available. That had been a nada mucho gift, as well.

She opened the box and inside was a bracelet with three gold discs, each embedded with a birthstone of one of their children—a ruby for Nicolás, a pearl for Antonella, and an emerald for Cortez, Jr.

“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

After fastening the bracelet around her wrist, she pulled his neck down and gave him a loud, appreciative smack on the lips.

They sat on one of the cushioned benches, and Cortez rocked his gurgling son in his arms.

The past year had been busy, to say the least. The first hurdle they’d crossed was getting the test results to determine if Erich was Cortez’s son. A courier had hand-delivered the envelope, and she and Cortez had sat together on the sofa in his office, holding hands. When he’d opened the envelope, her eyes focused right away on the words is excluded as the biological father. She’d never known such relief.

Fabiana had tried to claim Cortez as her son’s father when she found out the real father couldn’t financially support her the way she wanted. She’d hoped to cause a rift between Nadine and Cortez by offering Cortez a child. Her plan failed. Miserably.

Furthermore, two months after her return to Atlanta, Nadine discovered that the persistent queasiness she’d experienced for two days straight were symptoms of an unforeseen pregnancy. She and Cortez had not exactly been careful each time they made love, but being that they’d had difficulty conceiving before, this baby had come as a surprise.

Her excitement was second only to Cortez’s. By the time he’d arrived in Atlanta to move them back to Argentina, the entire Alesini family was preparing for the baby. She’d stayed busy, nervous even though she knew that the chances of having another stillborn were statistically very low. She worked with an assistant—whom Cortez had insisted on hiring and which she eventually was glad he did—getting Antonella back in school, going on doctor visits, preparing the nursery, and planning a wedding. Cortez had been adamant that they be married before their son was born, and Nicolás had almost spoiled their plans, arriving only two days after their small wedding.

Antonella came racing up from the shores of the lake, where she’d been feeding the ducks.

“Hi, Nico.” She kissed her little brother on the cheek. She looked forward to the days when he would be walking and talking and promised to teach him how to horseback ride and roast marshmallows on an open fire.

Nadine scooted over and her daughter plopped down between them.

She looked over Antonella’s head at Cortez, holding their son who’d settled against his father’s chest and fallen asleep. Cortez reached over and brushed her cheek with his free hand. She kissed his fingers and then looked out again at the sunset.

The vibrant reds and oranges that dyed the evening sky had recaptured her attention. She smiled to herself. Content.

She was home.

The End

______________

Still in Love has come to an end. :( I hope you enjoyed this novella as it unfolded. Our Fridays together have been fun, and I loved, loved getting the feedback and interacting in the comments of my blog. Thank you for all the private messages and shout outs on Facebook and Twitter, as well.

Normally I write questions for you to answer, but since this is the last week, I thought I’d do something a little different. Feel free to leave a comment about the story, or if you have a question for me, write it in the comments field.

I’ll respond, but I may be a little slow today. I’m on the road. My nephew, my road dog who I often took on trips with me, is going off to college, and I’m going with his parents to drop him off and make sure he gets settled. *sniff, sniff* There will definitely be some waterworks when we have to leave him. So proud of him, though.

In a few weeks, I’ll have a writing update and a little something-something from the Johnson Family series. Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay in the loop. => SUBSCRIBE

Have a great weekend!

Filed under: Writing

Still in Love: Episode 10

The Alesinis’ love story is coming to a close. Next week is the last episode. Let’s see what they’re up to today.

Still in Love is a serial novel unfolding on my blog through the summer. If you missed an episode, click the links below to catch up.

Episode 1    Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8   Episode 9

BLURB

Three years ago, Nadine Alesini divorced her husband and left Buenos Aires with her daughter in tow. Now she’s back and forced to spend time with the man she left behind.

Cortez Alesini long ago accepted that his music career aided in the demise of his marriage. So he didn’t expect that he and Nadine would spend passionate nights together while she’s back in his country, causing them to question if they gave up too soon. But the reappearance of someone from his past immediately causes friction, and may destroy any chance they have at a true reconciliation.

Chapter Nineteen

Fabiana was gone, but her appearance had destroyed what little peace Nadine had managed to claim.

To think, hours after discussing a possible reconciliation and anticipating her daughter’s squeals of excitement when she told her they’d be moving back to Buenos Aires, she discovered that her ex-husband had fathered a child with another woman.

“Congratulations.” She barely got the words past numb lips.

“I don’t know that he’s mine.” Cortez’s voice was grave and emotionless. He stood beside the leather sofa in his office, watching her as she paced back and forth.

“You don’t know that he’s not.” The bottom had officially fallen out of Nadine’s little dream world. Please let this be a bad dream. Maybe if she pinched herself she’d wake up.

“Nadine—”

“This is what you wanted.”

“No.” The fingers of both his hands tensed into tight fists.

“Maybe not with her, but you wanted another child.” She knew the truth, even if he denied it.

“We wanted another child. You and me.”

She let out an uneven breath, fighting the jealousy and hurt of knowing Fabiana would give him what she couldn’t.

“This shouldn’t change anything between us,” Cortez said.

“Is that what you think?” Nadine laughed softly. Everything had changed as far as she was concerned.

“Just because she had a baby doesn’t mean that you and I can’t—”

“She didn’t have a baby. You both did. Can you honestly tell me that some part of you isn’t excited about being a father again?”

He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know what I feel.”

“You know exactly what you feel.” She saw the guilt as it flooded his eyes. He didn’t want to be happy, but some small part of him was. “You don’t want to say the truth because you’re worried about hurting me.”

“We’re going to work through this.”

“How? I don’t even know if I can trust you. You lied to me.”

“I never lied to you.”

“You said there was nothing going on between the two of you.”

“When we were married,” Cortez clarified. “And immediately after the divorce, the photos in Ibiza meant nothing.”

“You conveniently omitted telling me you had an affair with her. Her, of all people!” She didn’t expect him to live like a monk, but the thought of him and Fabiana together twisted her insides.

“It wasn’t an affair. It was…nothing. A moment of weakness.”

“Is that the euphemism men use now when they screw other women?”

His cheeks flushed dark red. “I regretted it afterward.”

“Too bad you didn’t stop before it happened.”

Cortez took a step toward her, his body taut with tension. “I made a mistake. I am not proud of it. It shouldn’t have happened.”

“How many times did you make that mistake? How many times did you have a moment of weakness?”

“Nadine…”

“Tell me. I want to know.” She tilted her chin higher, bracing for the answer.

“I can’t recall.”

“So did you regret it every time you did it?” she asked snidely.

His jaw hardened, but he didn’t respond.

Pacing away from him, Nadine crossed her arms over her chest. She stared out the window at the plush grounds. There was a good view of the lake from here. The sun turned the surface of the water into sparkling jewels. The sight pained her, knowing she may never see it again.

Twisting around to face Cortez, she asked, “Why her?”

He sighed. “No specific reason,” he said in a heavy tone. “Why not her? She was here. She was available. She was willing. And I was—” A vein in his temple popped into prominence. “Alone.”

“So you’d have me believe.”

“It’s true. I had needs, Nadine.”

“Obviously,” she said bitterly.

Silence filled the room as they both eyed each other, and Nadine felt her happiness slipping further away, as her heart filled with pain and dread.

Finally, Cortez’s voice broke through the quiet. “She and I went out a few times to industry events, but the night that we were…intimate…was the anniversary of our divorce. I was not in the best mood on that particular night. Thinking too much, drinking too much. I’m not making excuses, but…” He shrugged. “I hadn’t been with anyone since you left me, and I haven’t been with anyone since the night with her.”

“Are you telling me that you haven’t had sex with anyone else except Fabiana?”

“I am telling you the truth when I say that.”

“What about the telenovela actress you were dating a few months ago? And the Brazilian socialite whose daughter wanted to be a singer? There were rumors about the two of you having an affair.”

“You seem to know a lot about my personal life,” he said quietly.

Nadine’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I can’t help it if occasionally I catch a story about you in the tabloids.”

“The American tabloids? I barely make the press here anymore, so somehow I doubt that’s true.” He didn’t have to say anything else. They both knew she’d been checking up on him. “I didn’t have a relationship with any of those women. Whatever you heard or read is incorrect. Except for Fabiana, there has been no one.”

She hadn’t expected that answer. “In three years?”

“That is correct. I know you find that hard to believe, but it’s the truth.”

The thought that his periods of abstinence had anything to do with her was an enticing thought, but the issue of Fabiana still hung over their heads.

Nadine stared down at her fingers. “I can’t watch you with your new baby, and Fabiana is going to need your support. You’re going to be a father again. You should be celebrating because this is a happy occasion.”

Cortez came toward her. “Don’t make any final decisions yet. We were talking, we were making love.” He cupped her face, his long fingers fanning over her cheeks, a burning urgency in his eyes. “We can figure this out together. We can work through it.”

She pulled his hands away from her face. “No, we can’t.”

“Yes, we can. I love you.” The desperate tone of his voice lashed her conscience.

She couldn’t look at Cortez’s joyous face when he held his son in his arms, and she knew she’d hurt him with the next words, but she couldn’t face Fabiana. Seeing her would be a reminder of her own failures and her own loss, one that she’d only newly come to accept.

Nadine shook her head vehemently. “If Erich is your son, we can’t work through this, because you’re ignoring an important fact.” He was asking too much, and there was no point in lying to him. “I won’t want to.”

His face shuttered at the finality of her words.

Chapter Twenty

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Cortez stared out the window of Fabiana’s luxury apartment. The two-bedroom, two-bath was situated on a quiet street in Recoleta, the most affluent neighborhood in the city. A few blocks over was the famed Recoleta Cemetery, a popular tourist attraction that contained the graves of prominent people—Eva Perón, presidents of Argentina, and even Napoleon’s granddaughter.

The large, rectangular living room appeared more spacious because of the high ceilings—from which suspended an extravagant chandelier—and ivory walls, simply decorated with a large framed photo of Erich on one side and six small black and white framed photos of Argentina’s main tourist attractions on the other.

At the tap of Fabiana’s heels on the hardwood floor, Cortez turned around. She’d just put Erich down for a nap after his feeding.

“He’s fast asleep,” she said.

She appeared a little anxious, twisting her fingers together even though she smiled as she approached him. No doubt she picked up on his serious mood, despite his playfulness with Erich earlier.

“We have to do this,” he said.

“We don’t have to do anything.” Her face tightened into an unnatural smile.

“Enough,” Cortez said through gritted teeth. He didn’t want to argue with her. He didn’t want to fight. He simply wanted answers.

“Forgive me if I want to pretend that my ex-lover isn’t accusing me of being a whore.”

“I never called you a whore.” And did one night really constitute being lovers?

“Isn’t that what it means when you question a woman on whether or not the child she carried is yours?” She placed both hands on her hips and stared at him. “Did you question Nadine and suggest that Antonella is not yours?”

“Of course not.”

“Of course not. Oh! Meine güte, your perfect American wife would never betray you with another man. Are you so sure about that?” She tilted up her chin in defiance.

“Antonella is mine,” he said evenly, refusing to let her bait him into an argument about the paternity of his daughter.

“Erich is yours.”

“I need proof.”

“You insult me.” Her eyes flashed in anger.

“The longer you delay, the more I doubt.”

“Because you want to go back to your ex-wife!” she spat. She marched over to the wall, arms crossed, and stared the photo of her son. “Are you sleeping with her?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Fabiana swung to face him, strain evident on her face. “You are, aren’t you?”

“None of your business.” Cortez struggled to keep his temper in check, but he would not allow her to stray off topic. “If Erich is my son, I want to know without having any doubts.”

“Don’t you love him?”

“I want to know without a doubt—”

“Do you love him!” she screamed, shaking, fists clenched. Her face crumbled, the wound of his rejection open and plain to see.

The boy was animated and lively, and his smile was like turning on a light in a dark room. But Cortez had to know the truth. He couldn’t give of himself completely with doubt niggling the back of his mind, like a bothersome pebble in the bottom of a shoe.

Tears swelled in Fabiana’s eyes. “He is yours.” Her voice wobbled.

“If you don’t come with me, I’m taking him to a doctor and having the test done myself.”

If she came, too, they could also test her. Having the mother also do a swab made the tests more conclusive, but it was clear she wanted to put up a fight.

Fabiana stared down at the floor.

“He deserves to know who his father is,” Cortez said. “His father deserves to know him. Is Erich my son?” His stomach tightened in the ensuing silence.

Watery eyes looked up at him. “I don’t know.”

Cortez stilled. It was the most honest answer she’d given him about the situation. “Why don’t you know?” he asked in a perfectly controlled voice.

She licked her lips. “I was angry at you for rejecting me, treating me like that night we spent together meant nothing.” Her cheeks reddened in humiliation. “You just tossed me aside when you were done.”

“I never tossed you aside.”

“Yes, you did!” The fingers of one hand curled into a fist. “You used me to make yourself feel better because of her.” Her voice was filled with bitterness and anger. “Then you just let me go. So I slept with someone else. While I was in Germany, I discovered I was pregnant.”

“You’ve known all along he could be the father.”

“Yes,” she admitted, shamefaced.

Cortez wanted to smash something. Instead, he asked, “Where is he now?”

“He lives in Palermo.”

“Who is he?”

“A friend of a friend. No one, really. He’s nothing like you. He has no money, no…” Her voice trailed off as the avaricious reason behind her focus on Cortez revealed itself.

He turned away so she wouldn’t see the utter disgust in his face.

“It’s not just about the money, Cortez. You know that. I have feelings for you.”

He twisted back in her direction. “And you hate Nadine, though she has never done anything to you.” Fabiana had used Erich as a ploy to drive away Nadine and sink her claws into him. More than ever he regretted his weakness that night. His need to forget and seek comfort had caused him to make a grave mistake.

Fabiana curled her upper lip. “You act as if she is so perfect. She left you. I would have never done that.”

Cortez took two steps toward her, anger coursing through him like a high-voltage current. Fabiana looked up at him with defiance, but she took a step back.

“Have nothing to say about my wife,” he said in a dangerously quiet voice, enunciating each word so there was no misunderstanding. She was his wife. Their divorce and time apart had not diminished his love for her, and he knew in his heart no one could ever take her place. “Especially when you had the audacity to show up at her house, unannounced, claiming me as the father of your child when you know there is another possibility. Nadine would never do that.”

Fabiana’s cheeks blushed a bright red.

Cortez rolled his neck to relieve the tension. “The sooner we get this straightened out, the better. I’ll call you with the arrangements, and in a few days, we’ll know the truth.

Fabiana lowered her eyes to the floor again. “All right,” she said in a whisper.

After one last glance at her, Cortez left.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nadine watched Cortez detailing his motorcycle in the driveway. He rubbed conditioner into the hand-stitched leather seat, his movements slow and careful. He could have one of his employees do it, but he loved that gold and titanium beast of a machine. He’d had it custom-made and imported from Ecosse not long before they split.

She had to admit, the motorcycle was a thing of beauty. Back when he’d bought it, she’d remarked that he must be going through an early midlife crisis, but he’d been undeterred by her comments and even invited her to ride with him. She’d refused, complaining that it was too dangerous. And what would Antonella do if something happened to both of them?

Fabiana’s visit yesterday had created a mild rift between them—one she still didn’t quite know how to overcome. This morning he disappeared without saying where he was going, but she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d gone to see her and his…alleged son. The thought of losing the little closeness they’d managed to recapture needled her chest.

She walked onto the driveway and Cortez looked up from buffing extra cleaner from the seat. “I don’t think you can shine it anymore,” she said.

Holding the microfiber cloth, he stepped back and surveyed his handiwork. The sunlight glinted off the titanium, and the leather looked as new as the day he’d purchased the bike.

His mouth twisted at the corner. “You’re probably right.”

“Do you ride often?”

“Every now and again.”

She came a little closer. “You’re taking it out now?”

He nodded and warmth entered his eyes. “Come ride with me.”

“No way.” Nadine laughed a little.

“Why not?”

“You’re not serious.”

“Yes, I am.”

She pointed. “That thing is not safe.”

“Then why did you let me buy it?” As if she could have stopped him.

“You talked me into it. You can be very persuasive.” Just like he’d convinced her to marry him and adopt this country as her home.

“Can I be very persuasive right now?” The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened as he smiled. “The old Nadine would ride with me.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you challenging me?”

“I’m challenging the old Nadine to make an appearance. I know she’s still in there—somewhere,” he needled.

She had an overwhelming urge to be close to him, to recapture some of what they’d had before Fabiana’s reappearance. “Promise not to go too fast.”

“I promise. You’ll be safe with me.”

Fifteen minutes after he gave her a few pointers, Cortez handed over a gold and titanium-colored helmet to match the bike. He chose to ride without one, donning only a pair of dark sunglasses to protect his face. He looked sexy in an older, rock-star kind of way—with the shades, black T-shirt, and his muscular thighs clad in a pair of worn jeans, straddling the big steel horse. Nadine placed her hands on his hips, her heartbeat pounding erratically with a combination of nerves and excitement.

They pulled out of the driveway, onto the neighborhood street and rode through the development. Through the security gate they went and onto the roadway. She had no idea where they were going, but as promised, Cortez cruised along at a moderate pace through traffic. He maneuvered the vehicle with such finesse and ease Nadine’s fear diminished and she relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

Riding a motorcycle was a completely new experience. Without the metal insulation of a car’s protection, she had a heightened sense of awareness of the environment around them. Wind brushed across her arms and denim-covered legs, and she felt every dimple and turn in the road. She even smelled the freshly mowed grass they passed and the roasting meats and fragrant spices from the open doors of restaurants.

They traveled the very busy Avenue de Mayo in the heart of the city, and followed it down to Plaza de Mayo. It was the city’s main square and commemorated the beginning of the revolution in the country’s independence from Spain. Argentina was known for their protests as much as the French, but surprisingly there were no protesters that day. Only tourists milled around, snapping photos and taking selfies with the obelisk in the center as a backdrop. Feeling particularly light-hearted, Nadine waved at them and some waved back.

They wound their way through cars and past the government buildings and towering hotels—modern structures dropped into the cityscape to accommodate the many visitors that arrived every year.

Then they went outside the city, away from the traffic and the noise. Out on the open road, Nadine felt freer than she’d felt in a long time. Like a shot of caffeine in the veins. She even let out a little whoop and tossed her head back.

She felt the tremble in Cortez’s belly as he laughed, and when he turned his head to the side, she saw his face had softened into a smile. She couldn’t help leaning into him, pressing her breasts against the strength of his back. She reveled in their closeness and the joy of the moment as the wind whipped around them. She blocked from her mind the possibility that anyone could take this away from her. This oneness with him, the machine, and the open road.

On the way back, the sun was going down, and Nadine held on tight, breasts taut and swollen now. Bowed across his back, a sense of peace and tranquility filled her spirit—something she hadn’t experienced in Atlanta. In all honesty, the only time she ever felt this way was in Argentina with Cortez.

She closed her eyes and for a moment she recalled the early days of their marriage—just the two of them against the world. Fighting together for his success. Celebrating with each unit of a song sold. Holding hands and smiling at each other when someone recognized him or shyly asked for an autograph. At the time, it had all been so new and exciting. Everything they’d sacrificed had finally paid off and he had become the successful singer he’d always dreamed of being. Even bigger and more popular than they’d ever imagined.

With the hum of the engine and wind gliding across her limbs, Nadine inhaled the leathery scent of the bike and the maleness of Cortez—selfishly wishing, just for a moment, that those days of struggle and excitement had never come to an end.

______________

Feel free to answer any or all of these questions in the comments. 

QUESTION: Last week many of you expressed doubt that Cortez was Erich’s father. You all screamed for a DNA test. Lol. Now that we know for sure another man could be the father and know the whole story, do you think Fabiana’s perception that Cortez used her is accurate?

QUESTION: How do you think Cortez handled the conversation with Fabiana? Was he too harsh or was his firmness necessary to get through to her? Was there anything else he could have done or said?

Come back next week for the last episode and find out if baby Erich is Cortez’s son, and find out how Nadine and Cortez overcome the latest obstacle to their reconciliation.

***Subscribe to my newsletter to get an email alert for each episode. => SUBSCRIBE

Filed under: Writing

Still in Love: Episode 9

Still in Love is a serial novel unfolding on my blog through the summer. If you missed an episode, click the links below to catch up.

Episode 1    Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7   Episode 8

BLURB

Three years ago, Nadine Alesini divorced her husband and left Buenos Aires with her daughter in tow. Now she’s back and forced to spend time with the man she left behind.

Cortez Alesini long ago accepted that his music career aided in the demise of his marriage. So he didn’t expect that he and Nadine would spend passionate nights together while she’s back in his country, causing them to question if they gave up too soon. But the reappearance of someone from his past immediately causes friction, and may destroy any chance they have at a true reconciliation.

Chapter Seventeen

If kisses were wine, Nadine would be drunk off the potency of Cortez’s kisses right now. She was giggling, actually giggling, as he chased her onto the private balcony outside the master suite and trapped her against the ornate ironwork. Early morning quiet greeted them, the sun just beginning to break, casting orange rays to illuminate the scattered clouds in the sky. She’d always loved to watch the sunrise from this spot.

They’d been up most of the night and had not too long before taken a shower together. She wore Cortez’s shirt, but he was completely naked, his hard body flush against her back, arms folded around her midsection in an embrace that was simultaneously sensual yet playful. She popped the last red grape from their platter of fruit into her mouth and laughed, tossing her head back as he growled in mock anger against the side of her neck.

“Codiciosa,” he said.

“I am not greedy. If I didn’t eat it, you would have.”

“What should I eat now, then?” he asked, his voice wickedly suggestive.

Nadine twisted her head around in time to see his lids lower to half-mast over his eyes. His hand slid between her thighs, and her breath hitched. Arching back against him, she rubbed her bottom against his crotch.

A low rumble erupted from his chest.

“I have something you can eat,” she said.

“I bet you do.”

Two fingers swirled in the moist cleft between her legs, and she released a long, heavy moan.

“This thing you have for me—is it moist?” Cortez asked, in a conversational tone.

Rocked by a shiver of pleasure, Nadine gripped the railing with both hands. “Yes,” she choked out.

He inserted the two fingers into her body and she gasped and groaned louder, widening her legs and reaching back to loop an arm around his neck. His thumb joined in the mischief, flicking against her clit as his fingers continued to slide back and forth. Turning her face into his neck, Nadine trembled and whimpered his name.

“Have I ever had this thing you’re offering?” The tenor of his voice dropped to a gruff, sexy drawl.

“Yes,” she moaned, fisting her hand behind his neck. “You’ve had it plenty of times, and you love it.”

He released her long enough to draw her into the room and strip his shirt from her body. Then they stretched out on the bed, and he used his mouth to take his fill between her legs. Her gasping cries countered his groans of pleasure, her trembling thighs held apart by his strong hands. His tongue tunneled into her, tasting the dew between her legs and delving into the wet crevices with enthusiastic groans.

She came apart with a quivering moan and had barely caught her breath when he rolled her onto her stomach. Her spine curled back to receive him, and he planted himself inside of her. The bunched-up silken sheets cushioned her breasts and teased her nipples with a delicate friction as over and over he pulled back and plunged deep, curling her toes and making her gasp out loud.

Each time he disappeared into her body, his hips smacked against the cushion of her ass. Cortez gripped her hips and squeezed, his fingers tightening in the tender flesh with each masterful thrust. And Nadine matched his long strokes, her uneven cries muffled in a pillow filled with his masculine fragrance, as he muttered under his breath in Spanish, voice guttural on each ragged draw of air.

Nadine’s body broke apart for the fourth time in less than twenty-four hours, a powerful climax tightening her muscles and leaving her spent and gasping with Cortez collapsed on top of her.

His heavy body was a comfort she never thought she’d experience again. Tears came to her eyes as she considered how they’d drifted so far apart in their grief, but now she felt closer to him than she’d felt in a long, long time.

****

Cortez stood at the French doors watching Nadine sip a morning brew of yerba mate tea. She wore a pair of khaki-colored linen pants and a matching shirt. She’d slept later than usual today, but that had been his fault. For the second night in a row, he’d kept her up most of the night. He smiled to himself as he watched her. He wanted to shout from the rooftops, but they had decided not to let anyone else in the house know they were sleeping together. Partly because they didn’t want to give Antonella false hope. She’d be happy if they reconciled, but this chapter in their relationship was too new.

They also savored the secrecy. They’d turned their little “affair” into a private game. She cast flirting glances at him over dinner. He pinched her bottom as he strolled through the kitchen on his way to the back yard.

Last night she’d slept in his room again. In the wee hours of the morning, she’d eased from the warmth of his body, and he’d slipped an arm across her waist, murmuring his discontent as he held her close for a little bit longer. Still, he didn’t hold onto her for long. That was part of the game. So with a soft kiss he’d released her so she could get dressed. Before she sneaked from the room, she cast one last lazy, sexy glance in his direction, her face filled with undisguised affection. She left quietly, tiptoeing out the room to make the trek down the hall.

In two days she and Antonella would be leaving, and they needed to have a serious talk about their future. Even before that, they needed to discuss the one thing that he knew could send her spiraling back into her old ways.

“Are you going to stand there all morning?” Nadine asked without looking at him.

He walked over to the table and sat down. “How did you know I was standing there?”

“I always know when you’re nearby,” she said.

“How?”

“I feel it,” she said simply. She smiled at him, her face glowing the way it used to. The happiness was slowly coming back, and he was almost afraid to broach the topic he wanted to. He didn’t want to see those onyx eyes dulled.

She frowned and touched his face with a soft hand. “What’s the matter? You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

“We need to talk.”

Her hand fell away. “This must be serious.” Already the light dimmed in her eyes.

“Before you get upset, I want you to hear me out.” His stomach knotted. Talking about the death of their son was still difficult for him, and after she’d dodged the conversation last night, he knew it had to be done. “I want you to come see him.”

Her face shut down, and she immediately scraped back her chair and stood.

Cortez stood as well, and caught her arm.

“I said no!” Nadine hissed. She yanked away. “Why are you bringing this up again? Why are you trying to hurt me?”

“I’m not trying to hurt you.” He kept his voice level in the face of her stormy response.

She was shaking. “You asked me last night and I said no.”

“It’s been a long time since he passed, Nadine. You need to—”

“Don’t tell me what I need to do!” she shouted. Her eyes had gone wild and her breathing erratic. She jabbed a finger at him. “You were not the one who had to—to…” Her voice shook.

“No, I didn’t, but I was there.” He remained steady and calm in the face of her agitation. “It killed me, too.”

She pressed her hands over her face.

“Antonella has been to the grave with me,” Cortez said quietly.

“What?” She stared at him aghast. “You took her there? Why?”

“Because she needed to know about her brother.”

“She’s a baby.”

“She is not a baby. She’s twelve years old and growing into a beautiful young woman who is smart and funny, just like her mother. Her first trip back, one of her cousins mentioned júnior, and she asked me about him. I explained what happened and I took her to see him. Every time she comes to visit, we go to place flowers on the grave.”

“She never said a word to me.”

“She didn’t want to upset you.”

Wringing her hands together, she digested that information.

Her dark eyes met his. “I don’t think I can do it,” she said in a low voice.

“You can.” He took her hands and squeezed them between his. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll be there with you.”

 

Chapter Eighteen

This was a terrible idea, and the closer they drove to the gravesite, the more apprehensive Nadine became. She absentmindedly tugged at the buttons on her shirt, not even aware she was doing it until Cortez took her hand in his to stop the fidgeting.

From the driver’s seat, his eyes were filled with worry, but he smiled reassuringly. She couldn’t manage to do the same and glanced out the side window, tightening her fingers around his hand.

She’d only been to the gravesite once, and that was the day of the funeral—the darkest day of her life when they placed their son in the ground. She hadn’t cried that day. Not even once, remaining stoic in the face of whispered condolences from friends and looks of pity from family. Moving away to the States had dulled the pain to a much more manageable ache. But she idly considered that opening the door and flinging her body from the car would be far less painful than the enormous gaping hole of a wound that now threatened to engulf her.

When they pulled up outside the cemetery, she stayed in the car, still unsure if she’d made the right decision. Cortez walk around the front of the vehicle, opened her door, and extended his hand.

“Come,” he said.

Pulling in a thick breath, Nadine exited the car and took his hand in a tight grip. Holding close to his side, she trudged along on lead feet. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, and ahead of them on the path, an older woman knelt in the grass and placed flowers in front of a tombstone. Strange to think that a landscape so lush, with the grass spread out before them like a thick green carpet, housed death and sadness and gloom on every acre.

They walked for what seemed like miles before they arrived at the Alesini family plot and stopped in front of their son’s gray marble headstone. Engraved in white letters was the date he died and written in Spanish, “In loving memory of our precious son Cortez Alesini.”

Her body went numb to thwart collapsing under the pain, and her eyes misted over with unshed tears. “Do you come here often?”

“Not as much anymore.”

Birds chirped nearby.

“It’s not fair. He was so tiny.” She drew in a tremulous breath. Could she have done something different?

As if he read her mind, Cortez said, “There was nothing you could do. Remember what the doctor said.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.

Nadine lowered to her knees on the grass, kissed her palm, and pressed it to the top of the tombstone. Her head fell forward as grief overcame her. Cortez came down beside her and pulled her into his embrace, and for the second time in as many days, she cried in his arms.

This time she sobbed aloud, the wailing cry of a mother’s loss. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. Clinging to her ex-husband, she pulled the comfort and support that she’d refused from him years ago.

He held her close without a word until the sobbing stopped and no more tears fell.

They left soon afterward, and Nadine realized that the deep sadness she thought she’d feel had been alleviated somewhat. The pain of losing her son still hurt, but Cortez had been right. She’d needed to come here to see the grave and properly grieve his passing. To finally move on.

His thumb rubbed back and forth across the back of her hand.

She hardly noticed the scenery that whizzed the car. “You’ve done a good job keeping up his grave.” Her voice was a little husky from crying, and she knew her eyes were red and swollen.

Cortez continued to rub his thumb across her hand.

“We need to keep it that way.”

His thumb stopped moving and he glanced away from the traffic to look at her.

Yes, we. Did he understand what she meant? She finally felt ready to start again and would be coming back to Buenos Aires.

“I never stopped loving you,” he said.

“Funny thing,” she said with a watery smile, “I never stopped loving you, either.”

She slid over and kissed his cheek.

****

Cortez glared at the door when a rap on the other side interrupted his phone conversation with the head of A&R. He’d given strict instructions not to be disturbed. The sooner he wrapped up this phone call, the sooner he could join Nadine and the girls at the pool.

“Hold on,” he said into the receiver. He rose from the leather couch on one side of the office. Marching over to the door, unlocked it, and snatched it open. “Sí.”

On the other side, Philippa informed him that Fabiana Dietsch waited for him in the foyer and insisted on seeing him. Surprised by the unexpected visit, he didn’t say anything at first. He hadn’t heard from her since she took off for Germany months ago. Because of their history, and an odd expression on Philippa’s face, Cortez was on alert.

“One moment.” He went back to the phone. “I have everything I need for now. We can finish this conversation later.” He hung up. “What’s going on, Philippa?”

The woman’s round face was creased in worry. “I think you should see for yourself, señor.”

With those ominous words, she took off, and Cortez followed her. On the way to the front of the house, he spotted Nadine and the girls at the pool. Antonella and Gabriela were splashing around, while Nadine sat in the shade on a lounger, reading a book.

He had to get Fabiana out of there. Her presence would only upset Nadine.

Fabiana, a slender woman of German and Argentinean descent, stood in the open foyer wearing an orange pantsuit. Her ginger-colored hair was pulled back into a sleek updo that underscored her high cheekbones and narrow features. She looked almost exactly the same as the last time he’d seen her, except for one very major detail. She held a sleeping baby in her arms, bundled in a blue blanket and blue cap.

“Fabiana, what are you doing here?”

“Mein liebling.” Her gaze assessed him fondly.

The endearment took him aback. They hadn’t seen each other in about a year, and she hadn’t been so affectionate then. She’d been downright irate that he hadn’t been willing to make a commitment. Hence the reason she’d quit Musica Fuerte and they’d gone their separate ways because, in her words, “she was no man’s whore.” He had understood her frustration but been unwilling to alleviate it because he hadn’t wanted a relationship.

Fabiana was not the kind of woman he could see himself spending the rest of his life with, but she had been the ideal companion in two very specific ways. She looked great on his arm the few times they’d gone out, and she actually enjoyed attending the industry events. Because she’d worked in the music business for years, she knew a lot of the players and could comfortably hold a conversation with them on just about any hot topic.

“A friend told me your ex-wife is back in Buenos Aires.” She made the statement calmly and without a flicker of emotion.

Cortez looked at the child and looked at Fabiana. “That’s correct.” Her presence made him uneasy, as if he shouldn’t relax too much. “I didn’t know you were back in the country.”

“I have been back for some time. Keeping a low profile.”

Very unusual for her. Fabiana liked to see and be seen.

“How was your trip? How are you?”

“Fine, considering.”

She placed a hand on her stomach, the suggestive movement immediately sending a sensation like crawling ants down Cortez’s spine. His eyes dropped to where her fingers lay splayed across her midsection.

“Considering…?”

“I came back to have a baby.” A wide grin spread across her face, her features lighting up with excitement. In the depths of her eyes, he also saw hesitation.

“A baby?” Cortez croaked. He looked at her stomach, still covered by her hand, as if protecting the life that no longer resided there. His gaze landed on the child in her arms, and panic beat in his skull.

“Yes.” She looked genuinely ecstatic. “As you know, I went to see my family in Germany, but I hadn’t felt well the entire time I was there, and I went to see a doctor. That’s when I found out that I was pregnant, and then our little tiff seemed so silly.” She laughed easily, as if recounting the story to an old friend and not the man she’d shocked almost speechless with her news.

He couldn’t believe how she’d mischaracterized their argument. She’d hurled insults at him—one of many being that he was still in love with his ex-wife, peppered with copious amounts of expletives. Even after they had calmed down enough to speak in reasonable tones, he’d seen the simmering anger in her eyes and the disappointment that he refused to offer her more.

“I want you to meet Erich Alesini,” she said, coming closer. Still smiling, she walked over and placed the sleeping infant in Cortez’s arms. He stared down at the child in bewilderment, examining the tiny nose, the plump cheeks, and the rosy little mouth.

His heart beat faster and something inside him shifted. Traitorous feelings emerged from out of nowhere and filled his chest. Excitement. Joy.

“Isn’t this wonderful?” Fabiana breathed. “Antonella has a little brother. And you have a son.”

Cortez looked up, prepared to argue against what she’d just said, but caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned and saw the last thing he’d ever wanted to see.

Nadine, with wounded eyes looking back at him from a stricken face.

______________

Feel free to answer the question in the comments:

QUESTION:  Just when Nadine and Cortez seem about to patch things up, this happens! Do you think their fragile reconciliation can survive this new hurdle in their relationship? 

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Still in Love: Episode 8

Still in Love is a serial novel unfolding on my blog through the summer. If you missed an episode, click the links below to catch up.

Episode 1    Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4   Episode 5   Episode 6   Episode 7

BLURB

Three years ago, Nadine Alesini divorced her husband and left Buenos Aires with her daughter in tow. Now she’s back and forced to spend time with the man she left behind.

Cortez Alesini long ago accepted that his music career aided in the demise of his marriage. So he didn’t expect that he and Nadine would spend passionate nights together while she’s back in his country, causing them to question if they gave up too soon. But the reappearance of someone from his past immediately causes friction, and may destroy any chance they have at a true reconciliation.

Chapter Fifteen

Looking down into his ex-wife’s upturned face, Cortez could tell his words surprised her. He rubbed his temple. “I didn’t know how to help you, and you seemed to get all the care and consideration you needed from my family.”

Immediately after she came home from the hospital, the women in his family had been attentive and considerate, forming a protective perimeter around her. They offered comfort, soothing voices, and a type of empathy and understanding that often made him feel he was in the way. Friends, family, band mates—everyone asked him how she was doing. After a few pats on the shoulder and murmured sympathetic words, no one inquired after his state of mind.

They may have been expecting, but she was the one who had lost a baby. Friends and family assumed she suffered from greater distress because of her physical connection to their child, so how could he compare his loss to hers? And what could he offer except trite platitudes?

So perhaps he had shut down. It was the only way he knew to cope with his grief and not inflict more heartache on her. He thought she’d needed strength, and as a result hadn’t shown his own vulnerability. Now he realized what a mistake he’d made.

“For better or worse. Somewhere we went wrong,” Nadine murmured.

They should have been able to make their marriage work, but their worse was more terrible than anything he could have imagined. The changes in her had torn him apart. She hadn’t been the same woman he married—the one who laughed and teased or came to drag him out of the studio in the middle of the night because, as she put it, why am I sleeping alone even when you’re in town?

His mischievous, playful, sensual wife had been replaced by a depressed woman who’d jumped at the chance of divorce. Not once had she given any indication she didn’t want that option. So when she dropped a bombshell and told him she planned to leave the country, he hadn’t put up a fight. If being here made her so miserable, how could he in good conscience demand she stay?

“At the wedding, you asked me if I was happy. I wasn’t completely honest with you,” Nadine said.

He waited.

“I’m not happy, Cortez. I want to be, but I’m not.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Not like I used to be.”

“When we were together.”

Her voice dropped even lower—so low he almost didn’t hear her. “Before it happened.”

Before the stillbirth.

The delivery had started fine, and they’d fully expected to hold their newborn son in their arms. But the umbilical cord had compressed during labor, cutting off their son’s oxygen and nutrients. She’d been forced to complete the delivery, knowing that he had already died. Still, Cortez had hoped that maybe the monitors and the doctor had made a mistake. Maybe when Cortez, Jr. came out, he would belt out a loud cry with strong lungs and prove everyone wrong. He’d seen the same hope in her eyes die the minute the doctor held up the tiny, lifeless body. They’d both been heartbroken.

“When we lost him…” Nadine’s voice wobbled, and she pressed her lips together in an obvious attempt to keep them from trembling.

Cortez took her soft hand in his but remained quiet, giving her time to pull herself together.

Taking a deep breath, she continued. “Being in the public eye made the situation so much worse. I don’t know how the press even got hold of the story.”

“There are moles in the hospital—everywhere, really. Heartless people who can be bribed to divulge information for a few pesos.”

News of the death of their son had been blasted in sensational headlines that worsened their private pain.

“I know.” She nodded. “I—” He waited for her to gain control of her emotions. She opened her mouth again, but instead of words coming out, she burst into tears.

Cortez immediately pulled her into his arms.

“It’s okay.” He whispered soothingly to her in Spanish, rubbing her back as she quietly wept for a few minutes.

Sniffling, she lifted her head from his chest. “I’m sorry.” She touched the damp spot on his shirt.

“It’s not ruined.” He swiped the dampness from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.

The gentle touch sent her body quivering into awareness, and Nadine stepped out of his arms. She needed distance, but when she looked up at him to make a run-of-the-mill suggestion about forgiveness, the intense way he looked down at her made the words stick in her throat.

“I couldn’t sleep for months after you left me,” he said softly. “This house…I hated it. I still hate it. Because you’re not here. Do you have any idea what it’s like for me to be apart from you and our daughter?”

“I have an idea,” Nadine said quietly. The past few years she’d hidden from the emptiness and longing, but coming back had made her face her feelings for him.

The air around them became charged, and her mouth suddenly became parched and desperate for moisture.

A spark of heat flashed in his eyes. “Nadine,” Cortez groaned huskily. He sounded helpless. Overcome.

That was all it took. That husky, pleading sound of his voice touched a chord deep inside of her and dismantled any reservations she had.

They moved at the same time. Not one before the other, but simultaneously reaching for each other.

Chapter Sixteen

Nadine pressed against Cortez and wrapped her arms around his neck. Immediately, her body came awake with little firestorms of pleasure.

Their mouths fused together, his lips bruising hers in the intensity of the kiss. The rich, robust flavor of the coffee he’d drunk filled her mouth, along with the unmistakably unique flavor of Cortez.

Grabbing her bottom, he hauled her tight against his pelvis, and a silent gasp traveled up her chest, loins moistening at the erotic promise of his solid erection straining against her stomach. Her fingers burrowed into the lush thickness of his hair, holding him tight to get more. She wanted his mouth on her naked skin—licking and tasting with unreserved passion. Making her wet and hungry in the way only he knew how.

She sucked on his lip and grazed the sensitive inside with her teeth, eliciting a groan from deep inside of him. He shifted his head sideways and kissed her with all the sizzling desire that had been missing during the latter part of their marriage. They’d lost this ravenous, searing passion that consumed them both and had her pressed up against him so tightly they could have been bound together with industrial-strength glue. Cortez edged her toward the sofa and she followed his lead.

Later she wouldn’t have any recollection of how they’d undressed. One minute she had clothes on, the next they were both naked and she straddled his powerful thighs on the sofa. The hard length of him extended between them and pressed against her belly like a long, hot rod, while his hands cupped and massaged her soft ass.

Their mouths reconnected, moving over each other in a deep, intimate kiss that stirred her blood and made the flesh between her legs pulse and ache. His hands glided up her sides and shaped the curve of her waist before skating even higher to cup her breasts. Her back arched as he squeezed them together and his thumbs glided in rough, deliberate circles around her taut brown nipples. He made them sting, he made them ache, and he had her so turned on she couldn’t think straight.

His mouth joined the torture as he tongued the tips and nibbled on her sensitive flesh. Nadine arched her spine at an even deeper angle and he pulled her tighter against him, sucking one breast—devouring it, really—as though he wanted to pull the entire globe into his mouth.

“Harder,” Nadine breathed, tilting her head back, losing herself in the suction of his mouth.

Cortez obliged. He moved to the other breast, sucking without mercy, and dragged his teeth along the hard peak the way that she liked. The act made her cry out and tremble from the unbearable ache of needing him.

He lifted his head and left a trail of moist heat on her swollen breasts. His mouth climbed higher to her collarbone as one hand slid between her legs. His fingers massaged her lower lips, gliding in the moisture as he circled her swollen clit. A gasp tumbled from her lips and her body became even wetter under the caress of his fingers. Helplessly she twisted, moaning and gripping his hair. She should be worried about hurting him, but all she could do was hold on and draw him even closer.

Cortez licked behind her ear, the heavy rasp of his softly spoken words and the warmth of his breath wreaking havoc against the arch of her neck.

“I need you…Cort…” Nadine panted.

He whispered to her in Spanish, words of longing and praise, and the sound of his husky voice turned her impatient. She couldn’t wait any longer. She was too desperate, too eager. With one hand on his shoulder and the other on his hard length, Nadine raised up on her knees and settled onto him in a slow, sensuous glide. He was thick and solid between her legs, and her wetness eased the entry until she was fully seated, forcing them both to let out husky groans that echoed in the quiet of the chamber-like room.

Fingers digging into his shoulders, she began to ride. She writhed on his hips, taking great pleasure in the power of his masculine form between her legs. Breathlessly panting, she felt almost reborn as she was bound to him so intimately again. Cortez gripped the soft flesh of her bottom and aided her movements up and down on his shaft. The noises in the back of his throat vibrated in the air and were the sounds of a man clearly indulging in the greatest of pleasures.

They continued to devour each other, compelled to do so by the basest of urges—luxuriating in a torment of moist kisses and sweet, demanding bites. Pushing the damp tendrils from his forehead, Nadine showered eager kisses on his face and tasted the familiar saltiness of his skin on her tongue.

The speed of their humping bodies increased to a more frantic pace, and the first sign of an orgasm stung in the base of her belly.

His eyes darkened with a lusty sexiness that made her heart trip and stumble in her chest. His lashes swept low as he concentrated, leaning back against the sofa to gain more leverage. With one hand on her waist and the other at the back of her neck, Cortez held her in place. His jaw set in a hard line. The muscles of his abs rippled as he worked his hips. He owned her, pushing air from her lungs with each mighty thrust.

The gradually unfurling tension abruptly released, and Nadine let out a small scream as ripples of pleasure burst throughout her entire body, sending shivers through every muscle. Breathing heavily, she fell forward against him and trembled as aftershocks rippled through her blood. Spent, exhausted, she felt annihilated from such a delicious, rigorous exercise.

Cortez stirred beneath her and that’s when she realized he hadn’t come. She lifted her head and searched his face. “You didn’t…?”

“Not yet,” he said in a grim tone. Before she could say another word, he maneuvered her onto her back.

The first time had been for her. How he managed to withhold his own climax, she had no idea, but by the determined set of his mouth, she knew that this time he aimed to get his own orgasm—hard and fast.

Cortez stretched her hands above her head and fastened his mouth over hers. The soft but firm movements of his kiss wrenched a moan from her chest, and Nadine parted her lips wider to accept his invasion. His tongue went deeper, tangling with hers, filling her with tingles as he stroked the roof of her mouth. He devoured her with a hunger that stole her breath and recreated tremors of pleasure down her hips and along her inner thighs. He had complete control of her now. She was beneath him and held down by him, and she whimpered in anticipation of what he would do next.

One hand continued to hold her prisoner as he hefted his heavy erection in his hand. Pressing her feet into the cushioned chair, Nadine angled her hips upward, seeking another orgasm and anxious to receive him.

He entered her without preamble. Swift. Hard. The action was punctuated by a low grunt and a Spanish curse. It was so sudden she didn’t even have time to cry out. He drew back again and shoved into her. Her wet body welcomed him. Again and again. Using a slow tempo at first, and then increasing speed with rapid succession. All Nadine could do was fling her head back, mouth falling open as she took each pump of his body into hers.

The sofa creaked beneath them. The sounds of their harsh breaths filled the air.

She’d missed this out of control passion. She’d missed his hard body, missed the sensation of his hair-roughened thighs licking at the sensitive skin of her legs. She’d missed his mouth, his hands, his scent. She’d missed the way he made love to her. The way he made her feel—beautiful, desired, irresistible.

Heat flared in her abdomen and the pressure mounted inside of her again, each successive stroke compounded the pending climax. She tightened her legs around Cortez’s lean waist, thrusting upward, thighs trembling as she strained toward satisfaction.

He gave her no reprieve, lowering his head to the beaded tip of one breast, tongue circling, teeth nipping, lips sucking on the chocolate nipple. The relentless torture of his mouth on her flesh was the final blow that sent her careening over the edge. With her body taut and arched in a silent plea against his mouth, she succumbed to the climax that assaulted the quivering flesh between her legs. Her voice cracked on a raw scream as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over her body and flooded her senses.

Cortez followed behind, pumping so fast, his breath came in short spurts against the side of her neck. He grunted and his fingers bit into her wrists. Then a loud roar of satisfaction tore from his throat and his entire body shuddered before he collapsed on top of her.

Afterward, they lay facing each other, their breathing slowly returning to normal. Their sweat-slick bodies clung to each other, limbs intertwined to save space on the narrow sofa. One of Nadine’s legs was trapped between his, and they each had an arm wrapped around the other. They were in that sleepy, satisfied state after great sex.

“Do you hear it?” Cortez asked, a husky, deep sound to his voice. He brushed a thumb across her brow and flicked a damp tendril of hair behind her ear.

“Hear what?” Nadine asked.

He smiled at her. “My heart is singing,” he whispered.

She melted. The onset of tears pushed against the corners of her eyes. “Me, too. Mi corazón canta tambien.”

______________

Feel free to answer any or all of these questions in the comments:

QUESTION: Now that you know their full back story, do you think Nadine and Cortez had a legitimate reason for splitting up? Why or why not?

QUESTION: What (if anything) could they have done differently after they lost their son?

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