Michelle Fox's Blog, page 31

Vampire Erotica: Blood Bound Excerpt

The sequel to the bestselling Blood Rush... Myra Danson has to die. The only question that remains is the kind of afterlife she’ll enjoy.
Selling her blood with a side of sex as a blood courtesan was supposed to have been about saving her mom, but now Myra has to go deeper into the vampire world in order to save herself. A hidden past she never knew existed is coming for her and now everyone wants her; dead or alive.
Being blood bound to the handsome vampire Kristos Anastos offers some protection, but her only real hope? To die faster than they can kill her.
An erotic vampire romance novella that completes the story started in Blood Rush. Approximately 30,000 words (also known as half a novel). Warning: Contains sexy vampires along with fast paced action and adventure.
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Chapter OneIn order to live, I have to die.Turning that truth over and over in my mind, I sipped my caramel latte amidst the hustle and bustle of a very busy coffee shop in New York’s Upper East Side. It was late fall now and the crisp air drove people into the small cafe. I watched with mild disinterest as they ordered their favorite brew in harsh New York accents and waited for their orders, hands thrust in pockets because the weather had shifted so suddenly that no one had gloves yet. Yesterday it had been seventy, today it was in the thirties. They left the shop in self-important whirls of light coats meant for warmer weather and hands wrapped around steaming takeout cups, soaking up the heat. What I wouldn’t give for such an easy solution to the chill permeating my life.
When a dark, swarthy man standing in line seemed to spend a little too much time looking at me, I slouched down in my chair, pulling the collar of my coat up to hide my face. It was better if no one noticed me. There were a lot of people who would like to know where I was and whether or not I was dead already. And if I was still alive, they would be only too happy to rectify that oversight.
He stared at me as if he recognized me from somewhere and then abruptly answered his phone, turning his back to me as he spoke. Shaking his head as if irritated, he rushed out of the cafe without even placing an order. I held my breath as he went and didn’t resume breathing until the door shut after him. He hadn’t bothered to look at me again so it must’ve just been a coincidence. Maybe I looked like an old girlfriend. That could happen, right? Surely not everyone was out to get me? But I couldn’t shake a little niggle of suspicion. His expression had been sharply intent.
I probably shouldn’t have even come to the coffee shop, but I was going stir-crazy sitting in the apartment and needed the change of scenery. Every afternoon for the last week, I’d been sneaking down here for a quick caffeine fix. Security relaxed when the sun was at its zenith and I could slip out without raising any alarms. It helped that there was an ATM directly across the street from the apartment building, which made it easy to get cash.
I never had enough cash, which was why I’d signed up to be a blood courtesan in the first place--out of financial desperation. My mom needed money for her cancer treatments and selling sex mixed with blood to vampires was a fast way to earn a large amount of cash. Not to mention it had been the only way to raise funds I could find outside of a bank heist. I didn’t have the skill-set to rob banks, but I did have a blood. It only seemed logical to trade on what assets I had in order to help my mom.
In hindsight, I probably should’ve robbed a bank.
Instead I became a blood courtesan and had been sent out on a paid audition. Then bullets had started to fly and I had the stitches in my hand to prove it. I’d survived that first attack as well as the second one that followed thanks to Kristos.
Just the thought of the handsome vampire sent a tingle through me. In the back of my mind the connection that we shared ever since I’d drank his blood flared to life. I could feel him as if he was right there and pressed up against me. He was sleeping at the moment. While he could walk during the day, he preferred to sleep until the sun set.
Part of the reason why security was so lax during daylight hours was because he was the exception to the rule. I’d learned most vampires didn’t have a choice about when they were up and about. The sun came up and they powered down like someone had abruptly removed their batteries. I’d seen it happen to the men Kristos had brought in to protect me. One second they were awake, and the next they were the equivalent of a poseable doll.
As far as he knew, Kristos was the only day walker of his kind. “We are just like humans, Myra,” he’d said with a sardonic smile, his blue eyes glittering with a mixture of amusement and restrained impatience at my constant stream of questions. “We’re all different.”
“Can some of you fly?” I’d asked, idly running my hand over his chest. We’d been in bed--we were always in bed--and I loved to touch him. He was smooth and hard, like a river rock molded by forces of nature I couldn’t comprehend.
He‘d shrugged and ran his hand down my back, reciprocating. “I’ve heard rumors but never seen it myself.”
I’d traced the outline of his pecs, biting my lip as his nipples hardened at the attention. I loved his chest. “Turn into bats?”
Kristos had shaken his head. “No shape shifting that I’m aware of.”
I smiled at the memory of that conversation. I’d peppered him with so many questions, he’d finally silenced me with a long, drawn out kiss that completely changed the subject.
He was a good kisser and an amazing lover, so I’d allowed him to distract me. But during the day, when he wasn’t there to divide my focus, all the unanswered questions swarmed my mind, stinging me with anxiety and worry.
I gripped my coffee cup a little tighter, wincing when it pulled at the stitches in my hand, and scanned the cafe again. There were maybe five people in the coffee shop now, noses buried in their laptops or smart phones. I relaxed and contemplated the pastries in the display case. A brownie the size of my hand beckoned me with its glistening chocolate ganache icing. My stomach growled at the sight of it.
Sad, but true: When I died, my ability to eat brownies would die with me. That fact had been established fairly early on in my questioning.
My priorities quickly rearranged themselves to include a brownie, a cinnamon scone and a gingersnap that was bigger than the brownie. If I ate it all in one sitting I invited diabetes and a five pound weight gain, but those kinds of health consequences weren’t much of a concern anymore.
Some people might call that an upside to my situation, but I was too wound up about things to take it as a plus. It was more stress eating than anything else.
I took the sugary confections to go, and, clutching the bag against my chest, I made my way back to the apartment. As I went, I scanned both in front of me and behind me for sinister figures or signs of being followed. I hadn’t seen any cause for concern on my previous jaunts to the coffee shop and today was no different. If I was on the vampire world’s most wanted list, they weren’t working too hard to find me.
The safe house wasn’t as nice as the penthouse suite Kristos had taken me to after the first shooting. I shook my head recalling how we’d both thought they were after him, neither of us realizing it was me they wanted until it was almost too late. As it turned out, my father had been (was? I was a little foggy on whether or not he was still out there somewhere) one of a handful of vampires able to sire children the old-fashioned way. I was his daughter and that made me a hot commodity among the fanged set.
The apartment building was in the same block as the coffee shop, but on the opposite end. So it only took a few minutes to walk back. Just as I was about to step into the entrance, a cadre of armed men dressed in black spilled down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. They tried to look casual, but the way they scanned the street--as if they were looking for something and knew exactly how to find it--made me nervous. They walked with a purpose and every so often their hands would go to their sides as if reaching for a gun.
I ducked inside the building and pulled the door shut after me. Thankfully, the glass foyer of the building was tinted--you could see out, but not in. Another plus, access required a key card. Unless they were willing to shoot out the glass, they wouldn’t get in. I worried my bottom lip and watched them gather round the ATM I had used to withdraw cash a few days ago.
One of the men seemed to sense my presence and turned his head sharply, zeroing in on my building. He was blonde with an ugly red scar down the side of his face. His gaze seemed to penetrate the tinted glass.
With a gasp I stepped back. My heart raced as adrenaline shot through me, ready for fight-or-flight. My hand shaking, I pressed the key card against the access pad for the second door and rushed inside to the main lobby. When I looked back, the man was still there, watching, but one of his buddies nudged him forward. With a frown, he moved along with the rest of his group.
They spread out as they went with a few crossing to my side of the street. I could see now that they had ear pieces and were communicating with each other and maybe who ever had sent them. I fled before they reached my door, eschewing the elevator for the stairs. Climbing all twenty flights was out of the question, but I didn’t want to be found waiting for an elevator on the main floor if they somehow gained entry.
By the tenth flight of stairs, my heart pounded like it would explode and my breathing was loud and labored. I staggered into the hallway, thighs burning, and headed for the elevator. It was Kristos who made me think of things like taking the stairs. He helped me keep up with my new action-adventure life style.
“Be ready at all times,” he’d said to me time and time again. “Zig when they think you’ll zag,” was another favorite line.
Hopefully I’d zagged while they were looking for a zig. I shivered even as the sweat trickled down my back from my impromptu workout. That had been close. I should probably stay in for the next few days.Chapter TwoThe elevator delivered me to the top floor with a soft ding. The doors opened and I jumped because Kristos was standing there, waiting for me, his gaze a dark glower.
“Hey, Kristos.” I stepped into the hallway and tried to sound nonchalant.
“Myra,” he said, his voice almost a growl. He took my elbow, fingers digging into me with disapproval, and guided me back to the apartment.
“What are you doing up so early?” I asked, feigning innocence. He was not going to be happy about me sneaking out or the black ops team that had infiltrated the area. I wanted to delay the bad news as long as I could.
He shoved me through the entrance to our living quarters---a four bedroom with a rather mundane view of the street below. We slept in one bedroom and the rest of his team shared the other three. For a billionaire CEO like Kristos, I imagined it was like living in a trailer park.
“You woke me up,” he said.
“I did?”  I thought back to all the times his name had come to mind, wondering which of them had drawn him to consciousness. I still wasn’t used to the link between us. In fact, I hadn’t even noticed it at first. Now, I knew it was there, but didn’t know how it worked. Baby steps, I guess.
“The bond we share,” he gestured to himself and then me, “means I can track you, know what you are feeling.”
“Oh.” I paused wondering how that felt during sex. Did he feel the desire rising in me? Could I feel his? I would have to try it the next time we made love.
“I saw the men on the street from the window. They’re looking for you, tracing your debit card. You know you weren’t supposed to leave the apartment and now they know you’re here.”  His tone was full of reproof.
I opened my mouth to defend my disobedience, but nothing came out. Kristos was right to be upset. Finally, I asked, “How did you know about the debit card?”
“Because they wouldn’t have cared about the ATM otherwise.” With a long suffering sigh, Kristos grabbed my purse and pulled out my wallet. Flipping through it he located my bank card. Holding it up so I could see, he crushed it in his hand. He didn’t even grimace either. Vampires were stronger than humans, I knew that, but it always chilled me to see it up close and personal. He’d thrown Samira out a skyscraper window like she weighed nothing and then the vampire had gotten up and walked off like nothing had happened. She’d been stolen away from Kristos and was supposed to tell her new master I was a vampire. We were counting on that lie to keep me safe. If everyone believed I’d already been claimed, it made me less of a target. In theory at least.
He opened his hand to reveal my now crumpled debit card. “It’s just luck that you weren’t found, that you’re still alive.” Kristos took the bag of pastries from me and opened it. He wrinkled his nose at the sugary scent that rose in the air. “Is this worth it?”
I thought of the chocolate brownie with its luscious ganache icing and gave a half shrug. In an attempt at levity, I said, “Asks the man who was born before chocolate was invented.”
“No, asks the man who is trying to save your life. At great personal cost, I might add.” He was irritated now and fisted his hands in my hair, pulling me in for a stern, admonishing kiss. While he kissed me, he took my purse and dropped it to the floor. The bakery bag followed suit and he paused just long enough to give me a look.
“What? I was hungry.” I did my best to look innocent and my stomach growled on cue.
He bared his fangs at me, but smiled as he did so. “You left me with nothing to eat.”
“I came back, didn’t I?”
“You were never supposed to go out in the first place.” His eyes narrowed. “You realize both our lives are at stake?”
I evaded his gaze. One, he could play mind tricks on me if I looked at him too long and two, I didn’t want him to see that I felt guilty. “I was going crazy in the apartment.”
“Go crazy or go dead, your choice, love. Just try not to take me with you.” He kissed me again and pulled my coat off my shoulders, using it to pin my arms behind my back. “You smell delicious, by the way. What did you eat?”
“Just a caramel latte.” I lifted my head to look up at him, aware that the small movement exposed my throat.
He sniffed the nape of my neck, burying his nose there, his fangs just pricking my skin. “The contrast between bitter and sweet is tantalizing.”
“Mmm,” I moaned as I pressed up against his fangs, wanting them to break my skin. I welcomed the pain; it meant I was still alive. Also the things he did to me while feeding were pretty spectacular.
He refused to bite and pulled back, releasing me as he did so. “I could have sent someone out for your latte.”
I shook my head and removed my coat, draping it over a dining room chair. The compact apartment layout had the dining room just inside the entrance. “It’s not the same.” I’d wanted the freedom to pretend everything was normal. Pretend being the key word. I was probably in the denial phase of my life going to hell.
“Neither is a bullet to the head.” He made a gun with his finger and aimed it at me. “They’ll shoot you and either bury you or make you rise to their bidding like a slave. Is that what you want?”
I sighed. “It’s just the suspense is killing me. Sitting here feels like a mistake.”
His expression became serious. “I can turn you tonight.”
I gulped, the offer making my blood run cold. To his credit, Kristos was giving me a lot of space and time to try and process the inevitable. He’d also set my mom up with medical care in a first class clinic under an assumed name to protect her. He was an all around gentleman...if that could be said for a bloodsucking vampire. I trusted him, except for when I didn’t.
I also wasn’t so sure about this ‘become a vampire’ thing.
He gave me a fatherly kiss on the forehead. “You’re going to have to decide soon, Myra. I can’t keep you safe forever.”
I leaned against him. “Thank you for trying though.”
He hugged me and then his hands began to roam my curves. His fingers tugged at the buttons on my blouse.
I put up a hand to stop him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m up. I’m hungry. We have no place to go and some free time before the others wake. In short, we are alone and I plan to take full advantage of that fact.” A wicked grin spread across his mouth as he spoke. “Consider this your punishment for breaking the rules.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’re letting me off lightly.”
“That,” he peeled my shirt away from my chest, exposing my bra, “remains to be seen.”
Kristos led me to the bedroom we shared, discarding my clothes as we went. By the time we crossed the threshold, I’d lost my shirt, my bra and my pants. He pushed me down on the bed and inched my panties off, tossing them over his shoulder.
I reached for him, wanting to undo his shirt, but he evaded my touch. “Not yet, love. Look into my eyes.”
I hesitated. “That’s such a cliché. I can’t believe you just said that.”
He chuckled. “Just look into my eyes, Myra.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Kristos ran his hands along my stomach and up to cup my breasts. I shivered as he caressed their sensitive tips. “You’ll be missing out.”
I made the mistake of looking up and making eye contact, wanting to see his face. His gaze captured mine in less than a second. I’d been mad when I realized he’d been doing this to me since we met. I’d thought his eyes were irresistible because they were sparkling aquamarine blue, but it really was whatever magic that made a vampire a vampire.
“Come for me, Myra.” His voice sounded distant and distorted as if he spoke underwater. My body, however, heard him crystal clear and bucked as a hard and fast orgasm washed over me. The whole time our eyes were locked on each other, the windows to our souls wide open. His were full of darkness that threatened to spill out and consume me. I imagined mine were like those of a doe cornered by a hunter, wide and brimming with shattered innocence.
Kristos allowed me a second to recover and once my breathing had resumed at its normal rate, he said, “You will come every time I command it, understood?”
I gave a slow nod, bowing to his compulsion. A shiver went through me at his forcefulness, the way he just took my body and made it his. He was a considerate man and attentive to my needs...except when it came to sex, then he just took what he wanted, what he needed without asking. I’d been a virgin when we first met and he’d indoctrinated me into a world where blood and sex were one and the same.
I could never go back.
Want to know what happens next? Read the rest of the story...
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Excerpt of Blood Rush (Vampire Erotica)

 I have a new book out and thought I would share the first chapter here. Enjoy!

In a world where vampires are real, blood is a financial asset and sex mixed with blood commands the highest price... Myra Danson is in desperate need of cash for her ailing mother and when she has the opportunity to join the shadow world of blood courtesans, she jumps before she looks. Soon she’s sharing a bed with the handsome Kristos Anastos, but then bullets start to fly and she finds herself running for her life. Kristos assumes the attack stems from his enemies hoping to destroy him, but it quickly becomes clear that Myra is the real target. Worse, she’s falling in love with Kristos, but is the sexy vampire friend or foe?Blood is money and Myra’s may be worth the most of all. A past she never knew existed has come to claim her and she’ll be lucky if she only ends up dead.Vampire Erotica: Blood Rush Chapter One “What is it that interests you in becoming a courtesan to vampires?” Madame Rouge watched me, assessing. She had the beauty most women would kill for; tall, slender and an oval face with lush, red lips and crystal blue eyes topped off with impossibly long lashes. Her caramel brown hair was pulled up in a bun with long curls spilling down to her shoulders. She was younger than I’d expected with a somewhat archaic manner of speaking. And now she wanted me to explain what it was that made selling my body to vampires my number one career choice. Why would a girl from the backwoods of New York state travel to its glittering capitol, New York City, just to sell her body?I shifted in my chair and tugged the hem of my skirt down to make sure it covered my knees. Her lips curled in amusement at the movement and I froze, realizing it was a mistake. When applying for a job as a courtesan, demure modesty was not an asset.A long silence ensued because I didn’t know how to tell her what she wanted to hear. This job was my one shot to get the medical care that could cure my mom and keep my childhood home. I was a classic sob story, but I didn’t want pity and I was pretty sure it wasn’t a turn-on in the world I sought to join.“Miss Danson?” she prompted. Her body language disengaged from our interview. She no longer leaned forward and she dropped my resume on her desk. A resume that said nothing much about me beyond I was a college student who’d held a string of low paying part-time gigs as I worked my way through school.“I need the money,” I said. “And, I, uh, like sex.” It’s not a lie if you really do like something you’ve never done, right? The theory sounded great to me, I just had no idea how things worked in on a practical level. I hadn’t dated a lot, dividing my attention between college and tending to my mother left little time to socialize.She put her hand back on my application. “Clara said you were experienced, which is why I even agreed to meet with you. I need girls who aren’t afraid of sex and know how to enjoy themselves. The vampires demand it.”I bit back a laugh at the mention of my old High School ‘frenemy’. She hated me. If I hadn’t known it before, I knew it now because she was lying, purposely setting me up for a fall.  I’d told her nothing about my alleged ‘experience’ only asked her how to get in touch with Madame Rouge. Anything else she made up just to screw with me.Focusing back on Madame Rouge, I smiled brightly. “I love sex, sex loves me.” Fake it until you make it, right?She nodded. “Good. Shrinking violets don’t taste good and vampires don’t want hysterical girls who run screaming to the police.” She looked at my application again. “You’ve never slept with a vampire?”I shook my head.This pleased Madame and she smiled. “That raises your price.” At my confused look, she explained, “No scarring at the neck. You’re fresh meat.”I flushed at her phrasing and she laughed. “They find blushing sexy. You’ll be very popular with that fair skin of yours showing every emotion.” She quickly scanned through my application one last time before saying, “I think you’ll do. When can you start?”“As soon as possible.” I needed money like yesterday.She smiled at me again, pleased. “Excellent. How does tonight sound?”“Tonight?” I repeated, my voice squeaking. “I don’t have any clothes.” Or time to find someone to deflower me quick so I didn’t lose my virginity and get the blood sucked out of me on the same night.“We have an extensive closet here for just such an occasion.” She pushed a button on her phone. “Jacques, please bring three outfits with Kristos in mind to my office.”A moment later, Jacques stalked into the office in a shock of pink hair and tight jeans. His mesh tank top displayed a lean, defined frame and left nothing to the imagination. “Make way for fashion, ladies,” he said in a high trill. In his arms, he carried a jumble of clothes which he arranged into outfits on the back of the couch that sat along the far wall of Madame Rouge’s spacious office.The clothes he’d brought looked small and way too revealing. I found myself tugging on the hem of my skirt again, anxious at the thought of exposing so much skin.Madame Rouge waved her hand, the motion languid and elegant. “Jacques meet Myra. She’ll be going out for an audition tonight.”Jacques sighed and looked down his nose at me. He didn’t speak, just sniffed and then resumed fussing over the clothes he’d brought in.“Nice to meet you,” I said, trying to be polite.“Yeah, sure.” He flicked his wrist in my general direction. Then, holding up a yellow dress, he asked, “What about this one?”“I prefer the blue for her. She’s perfect for jewel tones with her alabaster skin and auburn hair.” Madame picked up a blue corset and a skinny band of leather that was supposed to be a skirt.  “But the pink might be good too.” The pink in question was a go-go hooker look consisting of a latex mini dress with matching thigh-high boots. She turned to me, focusing those impossibly clear blue eyes on me, lashes all aflutter. “What do you think, Miss Danson?”“I think none of that is anything fresh meat would wear,” I said, blurting out my gut reaction. It all looked cheap and tawdry to me and yeah, I was selling my body, but I had some standards thank-you-very-much. I was not vampire bait Barbie. Assuming I had any say in the matter. While I would do anything for my mom, I wouldn’t go along to get along either.Madame Rouge didn’t seem too upset by my blunt response, but Jacques stiffened and glared at me with narrowed eyes.She fingered the pink latex and then let it go with a small sigh. “She has a point, I think. Do we have anything more romantic, more flow-y?”Jacques huffed and gathered up the clothes. “I’ll be right back.” He left the room, his cowboy boots making a thudding sound despite the plush carpet.“Sorry,” I called after him with an apologetic look to Madame Rouge. Note to self: Try not to piss everyone off on your first day on the job.Madam Rouge just laughed, a sweet musical sound that probably made birds burn with envy. She was a mesmerizing concoction of feminine perfection and I felt like Bertha the fat, hippy and hairy next to her. “No worries, my dear. I like a girl who has a vision of her brand.”“Brand?”She went to her desk. “Yes, you are a product and how you package yourself determines how well you’ll sell.” She typed something on her computer and turned the screen so I could see. “We set up web pages for each of our girls. We do a pictorial and a bio targeting certain tastes and experiences. We like to offer clients a variety of pleasures.”I leaned in and looked at the page. The girl featured was a blonde named Victoria. She wore a bra that exposed her pink nipples and a barely there thong. Her bio stated she “tasted great with champagne.”What does that even mean?Jacques bustled into the room with a blasé, “I’m back. What do you think of this?”I turned and my jaw dropped at the sight of the dress in his hands. It was a sapphire blue floor length gown in a shiny fabric that looked to be silk. The halter top had a plunging neckline so deep, I wondered if it would show my belly button. He turned it around to show it was backless and then flipped back to the front to display the slit that went straight up the middle of the skirt.“Stunning. You have the best taste,” Madame Rouge said, her voice warm with appreciation. “Miss Danson?”“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, reaching out to touch it.Jacques smiled, pleased with himself and pulled the dress back until it was just out of reach. “I brought some lace thigh-highs to go with it. The slit allows you to play peek-a-boo if you wish.”Peek-a-boo?“That is an excellent detail,” Madame Rouge said. Noting my confusion, she smiled. “Our clients appreciate a little tease. You might think of signing up for a burlesque seminar at some point to hone those skills. Great sex is all about anticipation.”Jacques sniffed and looked over my navy interview suit. “Take off those rags you’re abusing the public eye with and let’s see how this looks.” I flushed at the thought of disrobing in front of them, but noting Madame Rouge’s expectant look, I realized this must be some unspoken test. If you’re going to have sex and engage in bloodletting for a living, I guess you can’t be shy about getting naked. If your boss wants to see the goods, you show the goods.Resigned, I shrugged out of my jacket and slipped off the lace camisole I wore underneath. Leaving my bra on for the moment, I unzipped and wiggled out of my skirt.“Oh my God, you’re wearing mass market underwear,” Jacques said, disgust filling his voice.My blush deepened and spread to my chest. Madam Rouge clasped her hands together, almost applauding. “Oh very, nice Miss Danson. I don’t think we have anyone who blushes quite like you on staff.” To Jacques she said, “Be nice. We can’t all have your exquisite taste.”Jacques gave a petulant ‘humph’ and stared at my underwear as if willing it off my body. When I reached for the dress, he jumped back. “Oh no, not with that made-in-China sweatshop underwear on your body. It comes off or the dress does not go on, honey.”“Do you have something I can wear?”I asked.He held up a finger and wagged it at me. “First, there is no bra with this dress. Second, underwear never comes back so we don’t supply it.”Go commando? I looked at Madame Rouge who raised a perfectly contoured eyebrow. With a sigh I unhooked my bra and tossed it into the pile with the rest of my clothes. Then I slipped off my underwear. There, I was naked. Ta-dah.Madame Rouge took the opportunity to walk around me. “Very nice.” She ran a hand down my back, raising goose bumps as she went. “Soft skin, no marks or blemishes. Oh, they’ll love you.” She stepped in front of me, gaze assessing my chest. “Large, firm breasts. A surprise since your frame is so slight.” She paused to heft a breast in her hand, fingers grazing the tip. When it puckered at her touch, she gave a nod of approval. “Let’s see how the dress looks.”Jacques dropped the dress over my head and arranged it on my body with confident expertise. The neckline plunged almost to my belly button and the key to keeping my breasts covered was tying the halter tight behind my neck. The slit stopped about six inches before my pubic mound. I would have to be careful when I walked or my vagina would play peek-a-boo with everyone I met.Yikes.“Here, put these on and we’ll see how it comes together.” Jacques handed me the thigh highs.They were a sheer black with lace on the top. Very feminine. I pulled them on while Jacques rummaged in a closet next to Madame Rouge’s desk. When he emerged, he handed me a pair of blue mules with kitten heels. I slipped my feet into the shoes and then stood up.Spinning in a slow circle, my arms open, I asked, “What do you think?”“You need a different hair-do,” Madame Rouge said. “But otherwise, I think the dress suits you.” She went back to her phone and dialed. “Savon, we need your skills.”Jacques scooped up my suit and underwear. “I’m going to burn these.”“What? Those are my clothes!” I reached for them, wanting to take them back.He stepped out of reach, tightening his grip on my clothes. “Honey, when you get your first paycheck, these won’t even be good enough to use as cleaning rags. Trust me, you’re not the first girl I’ve dressed.”“What will I wear home?”“You can keep the dress. We’ll deduct it from your paycheck,” Madame Rouge said.Jacques shot an arch look at Madame Rouge. “Besides, are you really saying that you are so attached to a navy suit, which is the height of generic? Because, if so, I suggest Madame reconsider your suitability for this work. There is nothing generic about what we do here.”What could I say to that? Nothing. So I let him go and take my clothes with him.“Jacques knows how to make girls look their best. If you can stand it, take him shopping to set up a work wardrobe,” Madame Rouge said with a kind smile. “He has a heart of gold, if you can get past his sarcasm. He’ll never steer you wrong when it comes to clothes. I wouldn’t put up with him otherwise.”“But of course, I am your favorite,” said an amused masculine voice with a French accent.I turned to see a tall, blond man step into the office. In contrast to Jacques’ flamboyance, he wore all black, which looked severe against his pale complexion.He entered the room with an airy, “I’m Savon. I do the hair and make-up.” He set a large make-up case on the floor and opened it to pull out a hair brush and dryer. “Sit down, s’il vous plait.”I sat in one of the office chairs, carefully arranging the dress so I didn’t flash anyone. Savon fluffed my hair around my shoulders. “Not too fine, not too thick. Your hair is just right. Is this your natural color?”“Yes,” I said.“Lovely.” He ran the brush through my hair, tugging through some snarls.“Thanks.”Ten minutes later I’d been brushed, moussed and blow dried into a ‘down do’ full of swirling body. Savon handed me a mirror so I could see the result and I gasped. “I look like I should be in a Pantene commercial.”He laughed. “Oui, of course you do. I did your hair, didn’t I?” At my nod of agreement, he said, “Now let’s do some make-up.”“Just the eyes and lips, Savon. We don’t want to hide that blush of hers,” Madame Rouge said looking up from the computer. She had returned to her desk and busied herself typing while Savon worked his magic.“Absolutement, Madame,” he murmured in response as he looked through his make-up case. Brandishing a pair of tweezers, he said, “Your skin is like fine porcelain, to cover it with anything would be a sin.” With a deft touch, he plucked my eyebrows. I winced and asked, “Have you worked here long?” What I really wanted to know was how someone ended up with a career making up courtesans, but I wasn’t brave enough to say it so bluntly.“Years and years.” He dropped the tweezers back in his case and selected an eye shadow palette. He did a quick application of eye shadow followed by liner and mascara. The final touch was a subtle lipstick. As he worked, I caught glimpses of myself in the small mirror attached to his make-up case. The lipstick shade matched my natural lip color, giving it just a little something extra.“You’re all set, mademoiselle,” he said cleaning up his supplies. “What does Madame think?”Madame Rouge gestured for me to stand and I did another spin to show off the complete look.“You are a lovely young woman, Miss Danson.”“Yes, really divine.” Savon nodded in agreement.I blushed and looked at my feet. She had to be joking. I doubted I looked as gorgeous as Madame.“Are you unconvinced?” Madame Rouge stood up and pulled out a floor length mirror hidden in a clever compartment behind the bookcase on the side wall.The woman who looked back at me was tall and model pretty. My eyelashes were almost as long as Madame’s and there was a pink glow to my skin. You would never know I had fat pants at home. Or that my idea of dressing up was wearing clean jeans with a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from my senior year trip to London. Somehow I’d been transformed into the supermodel fantasy version of myself. I had thought that would take plastic surgery, but really all I ever needed was the right dress and make-up. Huh. Go figure.“Thank you, Savon. I love what you did with my hair.” I put a hand to my head in wonder. He’d artfully tousled my locks into a sexy bed head.“It’s easy to make good hair look great,” he said with a smile and giving a little bow. “Now, Madame, if you are done with me, I will go, oui?”“Mais oui. Merci, monsieur.” She gave him a distracted wave as he left. Then, pulling a camera out of a desk drawer she said, “We need to take a picture for Kristos’ approval.”“Who is Kristos?”“Your trainer and first client. He’s an affluent man and he loves girls like you, elegant yet passionate. Plus, the fresher the better. Maybe you didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, but it wasn’t that long ago either.” She led me to an empty spot along the wall of her office. “Why don’t you give me a few different poses?”I smiled and clasped my hands behind my back.She lowered the camera, shaking her head. “This is not a school picture, my dear. Remember your brand.”My brand. Right. The virgin pretending she knew something. I slipped one leg in front of the other, stuck my chest out and tried to pout like Marilyn Monroe.She sighed and lowered the camera. “You look constipated.”“Sorry. I don’t really know what I’m doing.” I could feel the hot flush of bewildered embarrassment creeping up my neck.“Yes, I can tell.” She walked over to me and pulled my arm overhead. “Put your arm up like this and look at it as if you are reaching for the most delicious chocolate. The leg should stay in front like you have it and then let your other hand trail down your neck between your breasts. Okay? Now, don’t move.”She snapped several pictures like that and then asked me to turn around and look over my shoulder. “That will work, I think. Let me just email these to Kristos for his approval.”She inserted the memory card into the computer and downloaded the pictures, quickly selecting the two best ones to attach to an email she had already written. I read over her shoulder as she worked.Kristos:I have a fresh one for you. Experienced, but barely. Never been blooded and very sweet. She blushes easily. I would guess she would go well with a Bordeaux or port brandy, but would like your thoughts on that once you’ve had a taste. As always, I trust you will go gently with her audition.Send a car if she meets your approval. She’s here in my office waiting.Regards,Madame RougeOnce the email had been sent, Madame Rouge turned to me, her gaze settling on me with palpable weight. “So, let’s discuss the rules. Your job is to please the client. You back sell behind my back and you’ll be out of a job.”I blinked in confusion. “Back sell?”“Try to negotiate your services directly. Going out on your own is more dangerous than you know.” She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “I offer a certain level of protection to my girls. Our clients pay a membership fee and they know to behave if they want to stay in my good graces. You go it alone and there’s nothing to stop them.”I put a hand to my throat. “Are vampires that dangerous?” We knew so little beyond that they existed. Had I just made a mistake?She watched my hand, eyes gleaming with what appeared to be amusement. “Not generally, but living as long as they have sometimes changes them in a bad way. Or their original time period may have engaged in practices we no longer find acceptable today. I spend a lot of time ensuring clients can be trusted and that they understand the terms of service. When you work with me, you know you’ll come home safe.”I cleared my throat as I processed everything she’d just explained. “So you said I am to please the client, what does that mean? Can I say no to anything?”“You can say no, but I would not make a habit of it if you want to make money. This is no job for prudes. Kristos will be a good introduction to what this work entails. You’ll know after tonight if this is for you.”Her computer gave a soft beep signaling that a new email had arrived. She checked it and nodded in satisfaction. “Looks like Kristos approves. He’s sending a car.”At that, my heart began to race as I realized this was really happening. Madame Rouge either didn’t notice or overlooked my shell-shocked reaction and handed me a stack of papers.“This is your contract. It includes a non-disclosure agreement and outlines payment terms. Also, you’ll see that, if your trainer’s evaluation is poor, we reserve the right to dissolve our relationship with you.” She flipped through the pages, marking an X where I needed to sign. “In other words, do what Kristos says. He’s trained other girls and he knows what he’s doing. Impress him and you impress me, which means more clients for you. Understood?” She gave me an expectant look.I managed a nod as she handed the contract over to me. I tried to read the twisted legalese as I signed, but lacked the mental clarity to focus on the words. Images of what Kristos might look like and what it would be like to let him feed on me consumed my mind. My nerves were on high alert and my hands shook as I made my way through the pages, signing and initialing where she indicated. When I finally finished, Madame Rouge gave me a bright smile. “Congratulations. You are officially a blood courtesan.”

Read the rest: Kindle USA    Kindle UK     Nook     Kobo

Morning Announcements

Happy Saturday morning! Hope you are not snowed in like we are!

I just sent out 20 gift cards to 20 lucky readers on my mailing list. If that sounds awesome to you, sign up for my mailing list to have a shot at future giveaways.

In other news...

My post on One Handed Writers got some love this week--some other sites linked to it which was a pleasant surprise. If you're a writer whose always chafed (like I did!) at the advice to 'write and then write some more' I have some insight on what that actually means.

The rough draft of my novella, Demon of Her Dreams is done. I finished it before Christmas and will start final edits in early January.

While Demon of Her Dreams marinates, I've been working on another novella, this one with vampires. It has been an unruly beast, refusing to stay short and insisting on being a quite long novella in length. The plan is to release it in two parts, just to make the work load more manageable. (It may actually end up being a short novel at this rate, which...yikes! I started out just wanting to make a personal pan pizza and somehow now I'm cooking for the football team. Or something like that anyway. I  haven't had my caffeine yet!)

Once the rough draft of vampire novella part two is written, I will return to werewolves. I have a short story in mind for Chloe and Jackson who first appeared in Make Her Howl and the germ of a longer project. So for those readers who found me because of my werewolves, there's more to come.

Spreading Holiday Cheer...20 Gift Cards Up for Grabs

Happy Holidays! It's a lovely, yet hectic time of year and I want to spread some holiday cheer. I'm holding a special giveaway for my mailing list subscribers. There will be twenty gift cards for twenty lucky readers.

Want in? Next week I'll be sending out details on how you can win one of the twenty gift cards up for grabs.

Sign up for the mailing list here. 

(Note my mailing list is for adults only! You must be 18 or older to subscribe to the list and claim your prize.)

Coming Soon...Cover Reveal for Make Her Howl

My third werewolf story is ready for its final editing round and will be out before Christmas. Check out the cover...

Sale on Sexy Halloween Stories! Plus free reads for everyone!

Some of my erotica writing buddies and I got together and organized a Halloween treat for readers....99 cent Halloween reads!

PLUS anyone who messages me and tells me which book they bought gets two free reads from me. A copy of the shorty short, Cropped, an intensely erotic bdsm story and the much longer, His Royal Cougar, which is action/adventure erotic romance between a prince and a heroine who's a military vet.

This sale runs for three days with different books on different days. There's something for everyone, demons, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and more!

You can follow the Pinterest board for the sale.

The titles and days are listed below...

Wednesday
The Devil's Taint - Julianne Reyer
The Demon in Alice -Virginia Wade
Th Pack: Howling Lust - Ashley Alberti
Alanka by Jessica - Laurelie Lane
Shivers - Selena Kitt

Thursday
Goth Girl and the Sugar Skull Fuck - Burt Maverick
Her Vampire Guardia - Liliana Rhodes
Mating Amelie -Aya Fukunishi/Keith
My Roommate's Girlfriend - Lexie X
The Soul Suckers - Meghan Boehners

Friday
Ghosts of Desire- Michelle Fox
I Conjure Thee (Enslaved to the Djinn) - Elixa Evertt
Spanking the Halloween Marine - Sidonie Spice
Love Eternal - Marlene Sexton

Halloween Story Cover: Ghosts of Desire

Upcoming Releases: His Royal Cougar

I'm so excited to announce that my next release, His Royal Cougar will be available later this month. Check out the cover and blurb!



Ex-military officer turned security expert, Amelia Booker thrives on action and adventure, even if her aging knees to creak in protest. When she saves a Prince’s life, it takes everything to a whole new level. At first, she believes the young prince demands a private audience to thank her, but what His Royal Hotness really wants is some action of his own.

New Free Read: Tango Undone

I have a free quickie available on Smashwords. It's short and sexy, or sultry as one of the reviews its garnered called it.

Having been a dancer--a long long time ago in a galaxy free of cellulite and aching arthritis--I find that a continual theme in my writing is that of submission and domination in dance. The push-pull of dance is such a great study of the dynamics in a bdsm relationship. I'm actually surprised it doesn't show up more often in erotica fiction.

Tango Undone continues to explore dance through the lens of bdsm and I was excited to see two five star reviews for the story today:

"Sultry would be an apt and yet inadaquate term for this hotter than hot dance scene. Very well done and makes me beg for more of her tales."

"This was a very fun, short, poetic, erotica story. I liked it, even though I don't know all of the tango terms (which is kind of nice, makes it mysterious). Definitely made me interested in checking out some of her other books."

What a pleasant surprise! Go check it out and, if you want more dance erotica, Dance for Me is also free.

Learning Photoshop

I've been taking an online Photoshop class, trying to learn how to make my own book covers. Here's my latest attempt (with still so much to learn!).

First I made this:



And I decided it was pretty good. Or rather, it represents the hard limit of my skills and I literally can't do any better.

So I took it and made this:



What do you think?

Now just to finish the story!