Stevie MacFarlane's Blog, page 17

Match Me If You Dare

The four book set of Sugar Babies, Inc. is now on available.  Here's a peek into Book 2, Match Me If You Dare.

Marcus learned two important lessons in life; trust your gut and never hide your true nature. The first made him a best-selling author, and the second kept him single. Dragging his twin brother Ty to a match-making party was a split-second decision. Sam, owner and CEO of Sugar Babies, Inc., made frequent offers to find him the perfect woman. 'Perfect woman' was an oxymoron and if such a creature existed, he wasn't interested. It was difficult to justify spanking a well-behaved young lady and Marcus had no intention of giving up his favorite past-time. If nothing else, the party might help get the sassy red-head in the death- defying heels out of his head.

Excerpt:
    “Still trying to rule the world with a pair of shoes, I see,” Marcus noted, looking down at her feet.
    “I am not trying to rule anything,” Susan insisted.  “I like high heels, so sue me.  Now about that drink…”
    “There’s dancing out on the veranda.  I think you and I will take a little stroll out there,” he informed her firmly, taking her arm, “and have a little talk.  How tall are you anyway, without those weapons?”
    “I’m five feet eight and hardly what you would call short,” she sassed grumpily, forced to go with him or make a scene.
    “You’re also a liar.  Now what’s the truth?”
    “Okay, if you want to get nitpicky about it, I’m five four.  There does that make you happy?  Do you have a height fetish or what?” she hissed as he guided her out the French doors.
    “As if happens, I do have a fetish, but it has nothing to do with height.  I enjoy spanking naughty young ladies who misbehave.”
    “No kidding,” she shot back as he twirled her into his arms and began to move to the slow, soulful music.  “Who would have guessed it, I mean with you being here and all?”
    “Funny,” he replied, snagging her closer.  “What brings you to a Sugar Babies party?  You’re obviously not submissive.  Are you hoping to be their first dominant female?” he asked, smiling. Not that she could see it.  She was much too close to watch his face. 
    Susan struggled slightly, trying to put a little space between them but he was obviously not having it.  They were pressed together from her thighs to her breasts, so close she could hear his heart beating.  Damn, why did he have to smell so delicious?
    “Money,” she answered shortly, finally relaxing in his arms.  There was no point in fighting a losing battle, and Susan did not like to lose.
    “Well, at least you’re honest about that,” he murmured into her hair.
“I want you,” he told her simply, as if he had the world by the tail and had only to state his desires to achieve them. 
    It was true; she felt him against her belly, hard and apparently unashamed of it.  Truth be told, she was quite wet herself.  Imagine responding to his caveman approach, she thought in surprise. If ever a man needed to be taken down a peg or two, this was that man, she decided. 
    “Why me?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.  For some reason this guy was getting to her.  “Why not Kelsey or someone similar?” she asked, genuinely curious. 
    “Apart from the obvious?” he asked, as his erection became even more prominent than it had been.
    Good grief, she thought, how much bigger would it get?  Sighing, she decided to just enjoy the sensation of being blatantly desired, as tremors rocked her core.
    “Yes, apart from the obvious.”
    “Kelsey’s a charming little girl and I expect she will need some minor correction from time to time.  She will be compliant for the most part and a sweet little bundle to come home to.  I’m sure my brother is making his move, even as we speak.  Ty’s a gentle man unless something riles him and then he can be a force to be reckoned with, but I doubt Kelsey has the disposition to truly make him angry.  I, however, have a darker side to my nature.”
    “Do tell,” she drawled sarcastically.  “Is there more?”
    Marcus laughed with a rich deep rumble in his chest that weakened her knees, and she found herself clutching his shoulder. 
    “Of course there’s more.  Do you think I’m so shallow that I would pick the first girl who agreed to be spanked?”
    “How would I know?  You’re here for exactly that and I’m here for the money.  I think it’s pretty clear what we both want.”
    “What a cynic,” he said, shaking his head.  “All right, allow me to elaborate.  There have been a number of women in my bed over the years that enjoyed a little slap and tickle, so to speak.  I want a relationship, a woman who will be a partner.  If I were looking for a one night stand believe me I could find it or buy it.  No, I want a relationship that is long term.  I am a dominant man, I admit it, and I have no desire to spend months courting a woman who will run screaming to her mama the first time I correct her poor behavior.  It’s best to be upfront and open about what I expect.  I will be the undisputed head of my own home, no exceptions.  My woman will be loved to within an inch of sanity in the bedroom and cherished and protected outside of it as well.  She will also be disciplined as I see fit, if she breaks the rules.  It’s really very simple.”
    “I see,” Susan said, with a smirk she made no effort to hide.  In her mind ‘boots’ would last about ten minutes in her bed and she’d have him eating out of her hand.  “So, that brings us back to the original question, why me?”
    “To put it delicately, my body responds to yours in a way it hasn’t for another woman in a very long time.  I’ve thought about you constantly since we met in the bookstore.  You’re beautiful, obviously, but more than that you’re sassy and opinionated and quite funny.  With your attitude, I’m sure you will spend a great deal of your time over my knee, which I will enjoy immensely and you will abhor, but that’s as it should be.”
    “What if I’m good, very, very good?” she asked, walking her fingers up his chest and looking at him from under her lashes as the music came to a stop.
    “I will still spank you, frequently, but it will be a different kind of spanking. But for some reason I can’t picture you being good,” he whispered in her ear.  “Oh there is one other thing,” he told her, straightening.  “You do have a perfect ass.”
    “Yes, there is that,” Susan agreed, looking over her shoulder and checking out her butt.
    Marcus laughed, wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight against him.  His head lowered and his lips took hers in a kiss so possessive and fierce she was dizzy within a heartbeat.  Gripping his jacket she held on for dear life as the world spun away.  He released her far too quickly and her head dropped weakly to his chest.
    “Shit,” she mumbled.
    “Exactly,” he replied as he began steering her toward the door.

Loose Morals by Darling Adams

When Sasha Deschamps unwittingly attracts the attention of a strange man on her late night walk home from work, she winds up with a supernatural guest she can’t get rid of. The dominant immortal demands her complete submission and cooperation, refusing to free her until she has performed an act of magick, one which she does not know how to even begin.
 
Charlie sees the power in Sasha and believes she has the ability to undo the curse placed on him by a jealous lover over one hundred years before. He also loves toying with the feisty witchling, doling out humiliating punishments while arousing a lust in her that leaves them both hungry for satisfaction.
 
Emotionally detached to the point of amorality, his motto has been “friendly with many, close to none”, but he finds himself falling for Sasha, believing he might be able to trust a woman again. When he discovers she is actually the reincarnated witch who cursed him, though, his world turns on end. Can he believe she has returned to his life to heal the rift between them? Or will he walk away from her again, as he did so many years ago?
 
Publishers Note: This book contains elements of BDSM including spanking, bondage and erotic sex scenes.
 
BUY NOW at Amazon  Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble ARe

Excerpt:
Charlie held Sasha up as her legs buckled and she gave herself over to her beautiful climax. If orgasming was an Olympic sport, he’d bet anything on Sasha taking the gold. Truly, to be able to give herself over to such powerful pleasure was a special talent—no, an art.
When her bottom had stopped jerking, he stopped spanking and admired her lovely form draped limply over his arm. Her hair fell like a shimmering curtain around her face, her little hands reached for the floor, but she didn’t quite reach it.
He lifted her upright and gently turned her to face him, pulling her close.
She looped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his chest, her entire body trembling.
He kissed the top of her head. “Sweet little witchling,” he murmured endearingly. I love you. He wouldn’t allow himself to say the words, but he thought them. How had she so thoroughly captured his heart in such a short amount of time?
He felt waves of bliss rolling off her and he realized with surprise, that her pleasure was enough. He didn’t need his own release. Even if she never managed to lift the curse, he could be content with this. Even the ache in his balls did not sour the moment. In fact, he accepted the throb, almost relishing it, perhaps the way his little witch liked her spankings.
He lifted her face from his shirt and kissed her deeply, trying to express the emotion he felt for her.
She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back.
“Go put on something pretty, I’m taking you to dinner,” he said when they broke apart. He had the urge to spoil her a little, or show off, like some crazy caveman who just dragged a woman home and wants to show he’s a good provider.

About the Author:
 
Darling Adams is a naughty author who loves writing about hot alpha males, Dominance, submission and power exchanges.
 
She also writes spanking romance under the name Renee Rose.
 
 
Connect with the author online:
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeRoseAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reneeroseromance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8445701.Darling_Adams

A Sweet and Sassy Excerpt

To celebrate the release of my Sugar Babies, Inc. boxed set, over the next few days I will be posting some of my favorite excerpts, one from each book.  In A Sweet and Sassy Match, Sam explains to Johanna what type of man he is on their very first 'real' date.

Sam was waiting outside the restaurant when the cab pulled up.  Opening her door he flipped the driver a twenty before she could even get her purse opened.  Taking her hand, he assisted her from the cab, right into his arms.  With one arm around her waist, Jo was flush against him as he lifted her still captured hand and softly kissed the back.
    “You’re late.”
    “I know, I’m sorry,” she mumbled, her eyes staring up into his.
    “It’s alright, this time,” Sam replied, turning her toward the restaurant’s entrance.  Just before she walked through the door ahead of him, his large hand smacked her quickly on the butt.  “Don’t let it happen again,” he warned her, his voice deep and quiet.
    Jo froze about two feet inside the door.  “Did you just slap my ass?” she questioned him as a flush spread over her cheeks.  Her accusing indigo eyes were wide as she looked over her shoulder.
    Sam simply wrapped an arm around her waist and propelled her farther into the interior, signaling the hostess, who escorted them to a private table in the corner.  “Shhh,” Sam said quietly.  “We’ll talk in a moment.”
    Jo let him seat her against her better judgment.  Her bottom felt just the tiniest sting under her thin skirt and skimpy panties.  Studying him as he thanked the hostess and settled in his chair, she again was struck by his confidence and stature.  The waiter appeared before Jo could speak.
    “Would you like a cocktail before dinner?” Sam asked smoothly, his eyes smiling at her impatience.
    “No,” Jo answered crisply, her fingernails drumming softly on the table.
    “I’ll have a Beam on the rocks, and bring the lady a glass of white wine,” Sam told the waiter, ignoring Jo’s attitude.  As the waiter turned away, Sam reached across the table, taking Jo’s hand in his and putting a stop to her restless fingers.  “You look lovely tonight,” he said sincerely.  “Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me.”
    Jo swallowed as she looked into his reassuring gaze.  Her hand tingled where his thumb stroked the back. She tried to pull it away from him, but he wouldn’t allow it, settling his other hand over the top of hers, trapping it between his large hands. 
    “I’m not sure I’m staying for dinner,” she informed him.  “Not unless you answer my question.”
    The waiter returned with their drinks, and Jo used that to extract her warm hand and wrap it around the wine glass, taking a gulp of the drink she had not wanted.  Sam said they would be ready to order in a few minutes and sat back in his chair as soon as they were alone.  He knew exactly what question Jo was referring to.  Her lovely face was flushed, her hands trembling slightly as she held her glass.  Her indigo eyes were troubled and she chewed softly on her bottom lip.  He was delighted.  Most women would have laughed it off, a little slap and tickle, an inane sexual prelude to possible activities later in the evening.  Jo knew exactly what it was, a reprimand for her tardiness. Her reaction to that small spank would tell him many things.  It would determine just how much he shared with her about his business and how quickly.  By the end of the evening, he would know if the feelings she inspired were a fluke and he should move on, or if she might be the one he had been searching a lifetime for.  Taking a sip of his drink, he looked directly into her eyes as he spoke, and it was not an apology.
    “The answer to your question, Jo, is yes.  I did smack your ass.  You were late.”
    “I apologized for that,” Jo insisted indignantly.
    “Yes, and I accepted, but you need to know there are consequences in life, Jo.  There will always be consequences with me for tardiness or other unacceptable behavior.”
    To say Jo was flabbergasted would be an understatement.  After she collapsed back against her chair, her mouth dropped open and then snapped shut.  For several moments she digested his words as Sam calmly waited for her response.
    “Don’t you think that attitude is a little outdated, even old-fashioned maybe?” she asked when she finally found her voice.
    “Absolutely,” he agreed, without an ounce of uncertainty.  “I’m sure the feminists of this world would like nothing better than to string me up as a bad example.”
    “Then why would you…?”
    The waiter appeared to take their order, and for the next several minutes, Sam discussed with her what choices she would like.  After they decided, the waiter disappeared and the conversation continued.  Jo found herself listening intently, intrigued.  No matter how off base Sam appeared to be, she had to respect his confidence and determination.
    “I know who I am, Jo.  And I know what kind of woman I’m looking for.  I have no doubt that when I find her I will make her very happy.”
    Jo snorted.  “What woman would be happy to be controlled 24/7?  I can’t think of anyone I know who would want to be under some man’s thumb, with consequences for what he would consider misbehavior.”
    “You’re wrong, Jo,” Sam said, pausing while their salads were served, and grinning when Jo ordered another glass of wine.  “What you’re referring to would be the absolute other end of the spectrum.  That would be a master/slave relationship where every aspect of the woman’s life would be controlled and monitored.  I have no desire for that type of relationship.  I’m talking about something entirely different.”
    Jo speared a cherry tomato and considered.  “How would it be different, in what way?  You obviously want to be the one in charge, handing out smacks for infractions.  Maybe that would progress to actual beatings over time?”
    Sam’s eyes narrowed, pinning her in place.  “That would never happen, Jo.  I protect and cherish what is mine,” he growled.
    “Sorry,” she told him softly, a quiver of fear trembling in her tummy.  “I’m just trying to understand your position.”
    “I know it’s difficult to comprehend if you have no previous experience with it.  Think of it as a loving and benevolent father, putting his daughter’s well-being above all else.  Cherishing and protecting her, guiding her and yes, providing discipline when it is needed.”
    `”I’m afraid that would be a stretch for me, Sam,” Jo informed him with a bitter twist to her lips.  “My father was nothing like that.  The only thing he cared about was having a good time with an endless parade of women.  He finally deserted us when I was thirteen, and while he never physically abused me or my mother, he made it perfectly clear that we were an impediment to the life he wanted.  Cherishing, protecting and guiding, well that was not something he had time for,” she finished, unaware of just how much she had revealed. 
“What money he did make was for his personal enjoyment.”
    “Jo, I’m so sorry,” Sam whispered, reaching across the table and firmly taking her hand. 
    Jo laughed, not aware of how hollow it sounded.  “Don’t feel sorry for me, Sam.  My mother and I did all right.  Student loans and part time jobs put me through college, and I manage to take care of any of my mother’s expenses that she can’t afford.”
    “It must have been difficult for you, taking on so much responsibility at such a young age.  I take it your mother isn’t in good health?”
    “No, she’s not,” Jo answered, finishing her wine and looking around for the waiter.
    Their dinner arrived and they continued to talk while they ate.  Sam was charming, and Jo found herself relaxing and enjoying herself, despite the somewhat rocky start to their evening.  Jo tried to get more information out of him about his business, but Sam just smiled and told her, “Soon.”  Now what the hell did that mean?
    When their waiter came to clear away their plates, Jo asked for another glass of wine.  Sam looked at her in surprise and instructed the waiter to bring them coffee.
    “Don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Sam asked, choosing to ignore, for the moment, Jo’s mutinous expression as she picked up her purse and pulled out her wallet.
    “Yes, so?” she asked, pulling out a twenty dollar bill.  “I can buy my own wine, Sam, if it’s a problem.”
    “Buying you a glass of wine isn’t a problem, Jo.  The problem would be in sending you home drunk, and you’ve already had three glasses.  Now put your money away and stop trying to push my buttons.  Believe me, you won’t like the results.”
    “Push your buttons?” Jo gasped, the slight buzz she had making her voice louder than she intended.
    “Yes,” Sam insisted firmly just as the waiter appeared with the coffee.  Sam thanked him and slid Jo’s coffee closer to her.  “Now be a good girl and drink that.  Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing?  You’re curious Jo.  Wondering about that spank I gave you earlier?  Wondering if I truly mean everything I’ve told you tonight?  You’re thinking only a crazy woman would agree to the kind of dynamics I’ve described.  After all, what woman would want a man so totally devoted to her that he paid attention to every little detail of her life?  What woman would want a man who knew her so well that nothing slipped by him?  If she was upset or angry or hurt, he would know it and do everything humanly possible to help her. 
“A man who would care for her as if she were the most precious thing in his world, because she is.”
    Jo squirmed in her seat.  It was clear he meant exactly what he said.  Butterflies danced in her tummy as her heartbeat thumped at her temples.  Her panties were damp and it appalled her.  God, yes, she thought him attractive, but now doubly so.  She couldn’t imagine someone taking care of her for a change, and it was a heady thought and oh so tempting. She actually couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked her what they could do for her.  Had there ever been someone to hold her when she cried, or to reassure her when she was worried or weary?  Her hands trembled as she picked up the coffee cup and obeyed him.  Jo knew she’d had too much to drink, but hadn’t been able to stop herself from ordering another one.  This evening was nothing like she had expected, and she was truly rattled.  After several sips of the strong brew, she pulled herself together.
    “That’s quite a lovely picture you paint, Sam, especially for someone like me. But you already knew that, didn’t you?  I don’t know how, but you did,” Jo told him, tipping her head to one side and looking quizzically at him.  “The problem at the heart of such a relationship would be the loss of control, for me at least.  I don’t think I could just throw myself into your arms and say, here I am, take care of me.”
    “You’d be surprised at what a freeing experience that can be, Jo,” Sam said, looking into her deep blue eyes and trying not to notice how much darker the circles under them looked in only a short time.  “Yes, it would involve giving up some control.  I would expect a woman of mine to listen to me and trust that I always have her best interests at heart, especially when it comes to her health and safety.  But as I said before, I’m not looking for a slave.  There are two kinds of people in this world, Jo, the givers and the takers.  The best relationships are formed when you have two givers, both parties working together to build the best union possible.”
    “And you would be the giver of spankings?” she asked, leaning back in her chair and forcing her eyes to meet his squarely, despite her shaking hands.
    “Yes,” Sam replied firmly.  “Among other things, I would administer any discipline if it was called for.
    “Suppose, just for curiosity’s sake, you were to do something I didn’t like.  Would I be able to ah…discipline you?” Jo asked, pretty sure she already knew the answer to that one.
    Sam laughed.  “I’m flexible sweetheart, but not that flexible.  Are you ready to go?”
    “Yes,” Jo sighed, looking at her watch.  “I need to call a cab.”
    “I’ll take you home,” Sam replied, signaling for the check.
    Jo thought about arguing the point, but she just didn’t have it in her.  Between the wine and the mind-boggling conversation, she was a little off kilter.
    Sam paid the bill, left a generous tip for the waiter and helped Jo into her coat.  His vehicle was parked only a few feet from the restaurant’s entrance, and within minutes, he had her safely in the passenger seat and buckled up.
    Jo gave him her address, and he quickly entered it into his GPS before pulling away from the curb.  Sinking onto the comfortable leather seats, Jo was quiet.  It was raining lightly and the swish of the wipers made her slightly dizzy.  Finally after a few minutes she laid her head back and closed her eyes. 
    “Sam?” she whispered.
    “Yes.”
    “Why did you tell me all this tonight, on our first date?  There was always the possibility that I would just walk out.”
    “I’m not exactly sure how to answer that question, Jo, or even if I can.  There’s just something about you that calls to me.  I felt it the moment I looked at you in that café,” he told her, reaching over and gently taking her hand in his.  “Something just sort of clicked, and I knew you were meant to be mine.  I can’t explain it any better than that.”
    Jo squeezed his hand and kept silent.  She liked this man, Sam Barringer.  She wasn’t sure she agreed with his philosophy, but his motives were flattering.  Physically, he was eye candy.  He was also incredible focused and determined.  Jo wondered if she was up to the challenge he presented.
    “When are you going to tell me about your business?” Jo asked quietly.
    “We’ll talk about it on Saturday.”
    “What’s Saturday?” Jo asked baffled.
    “Our second date,” Sam replied.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from A Sweet and Sassy Match.  The boxed set is available on Blushing Books, Amazon and Barnes & Nobel at a 50% savings off the cost of the individual books.

Thanks for stopping by,
Stevie

Guest Author, Sue Lyndon

Sue Lyndon is a multi-published author of erotic BDSM romance and spanking romances. She enjoys a good book in any genre, loves Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, and runs on coffee and chocolate.
http://www.suelyndon.com

Maid to Submit is a short story of approximately 8,000 words.


Ally's all dressed up and eager to spend Halloween night with her spanko boyfriend, Mark, but on her way out the door her roommate regretfully informs her that she saw Mark having lunch with another woman. Ally's heartbroken, but she's also angry...angry enough to hurl toilet paper through all the trees in front of Mark's house, among other naughty things. She doesn't plan on being caught red-handed, but she soon finds herself being tossed over Mark's shoulder and carried into his house.


Mark insists they talk about whatever has Ally so upset, and if he has to hold her captive--or spank her--until she settles down enough to listen, so be it. He informs a stunned Ally that the busty blonde he had lunch with was...his mother! Now he's got his hands full with an apologetic French maid who is very much in need of correction. He's understanding that Ally has some trust issues because of her past, but he certainly won't tolerate such naughty, irresponsible behavior from the woman he loves. He informs her that she's to endure a thorough inspection followed by a hard spanking on her bare bottom, and that's just the beginning of her punishment.


Will Mark get his errant maid to submit to an ordeal that is sure to leave her blushing?


Note: This story contains a naughty French maid who looks good in handcuffs, a no-nonsense firefighter with a twitchy palm, bare bottom spankings galore, and other erotic scenes sure to make your e-reader sizzle. Please don't buy this book if such material offends you.
 
Excerpt:
She surveyed his illuminated lawn and hurled the tote bag beside a large tree on the edge of the clearing. With a sense of determination, she retrieved the box of plastic forks. Starting in the center of his yard, she began sticking forks in the grass, making a wide row of fifty before starting a new row. By the time she finished, she was breathless from constantly bending over, but all five hundred of the forks were sticking straight out of his lawn. God bless Jen and her love of buying everything, including plastic utensils, in bulk.
“How do you like that, Mark?” she muttered as she jogged back to the tote bag. “Fork you and your busty blonde friend.” She beamed inwardly with satisfaction. She almost wished she could stay hidden in the woods overnight, just to watch him bend over and pull out every single plastic fork the next day.
The toilet papering job was a work of art. Ally’s older sister, Leanne, had taught her how to gingerly grasp the end of a toilet paper roll and hurl it high over tree branches when they were in high school. Though years had passed since their last naughty escapade, she still had an arm for throwing. She used every last square of toilet paper, winding it through each tree in his front yard until the job was complete. Standing back, she surveyed the scene with pride, knowing Leanne would approve.
Grasping the bottle of ketchup, Ally headed for the concrete walkway that led from his driveway to his front door. Using long, elegant cursive strokes, she painted, “Cheater cheater pumpkin eater,” across the entire length of the walkway.
Just as she stood up to inspect her handiwork, someone grabbed her from behind and placed a hand firmly over her mouth. She dropped the bottle of ketchup and screamed.

I've linked the cover to buy on
 Amazon US
This book is available on Amazon UK as well.
*Read for free with Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited*
 
Other Titles Available on Kindle Unlimited:
 
Mine by Christmas
Marry Me in Montana

BTW, I read Marry Me in Montana over the weekend.  It's a sweet, super sexy short story!

Happy Anniversary My Love

In honor of our anniversary, I'm re-posting something I used for a blog tour last summer, with a few changes.

It was a dark and stormy night...no seriously, it was.  We got married on November 1, 1975 at an eight o'clock candlelight service.  It was snow/raining and cold, although the church was beautiful, sigh.
My dress cost a whopping $55.00, the veil was $27.00 and I borrowed the shoes, giant crystal platform shoes so I wouldn't look too ridiculous standing next to Bill, who had to wear his 'dress boots'.  Is there even such a thing?  The flowers Keriann and I got after hours on Friday night, dumpster diving at all the local florists, her idea by the way.   Keriann played her guitar and sang for the service, which was one of the nicer touches.

The Bridesmaids were my nieces, wearing used dresses remade from my other sisters wedding and they were butt ugly.  I would worry about saying that, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog.

Bill's suit cost more than my dress, $110.00 from Anderson Little and when he and his groomsmen went to pick it up the morning of the wedding, they stopped for a little bar hopping.  For some strange reason, Bill told them that I would cook a spaghetti dinner for them all if they just came to my house. NOT!  I was busy playing beauty parlor and it didn't take me long to toss their drunken asses out with stern orders to sober up.  By the end of the argument, Bill and I weren't even speaking.

I wasn't sure if he would show up at the church or not, but I trucked my pretty little ass there, just in case.  We had previously decided that instead of my walking up the aisle to him, we would walk up together and boy was I glad to see him waiting there for me when I came upstairs from the Brides Room.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" I asked, not bothering to conceal my attitude.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" he shot back, sticking out his arm for me to hold, and away we went.
I'm not sure I know of another bride and groom who weren't speaking when they got to the church, but we managed to say 'I do", and he really did kiss me, lol.

The reception was at the fire barn and we were supposed to go away for a night, but by the time it was over and we went home we were both so tired he carried me over the threshold, we ordered subs and watched a monster movie on TV.

Last night as we were snuggled on the chaise watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bill leaned over and kissed me.
"I'm glad we've had all these years together," he said nuzzling my ear.
"Me too."


I don't know what it is with me and weddings.  All of my books either have them, or plan them.  Seriously, it's not like mine was so great and in fact if I hadn't been so in love with the groom, I probably would have skipped the whole thing.
I guess that's why I put so much thought into my fictional weddings.  I want my girls to have beautiful weddings to go with their love stories.

We went all out when our daughters were married.  My youngest had eighteen attendants!  Our oldest wore a dress that made me cry the first time I saw it, twenty foot train, cut out hearts trimmed with seed pearls, well you get the picture.  Thank God fictional weddings are so affordable, lol.

Stevie Welcomes Sheri Savill

This week please help me welcome guest author,Sheri Savill to my blog.

Sheri's book, Bound and Inked was released May 20, 2014

BLURB: Janna Sommers is a brave woman who knows just what she wants: a tattoo -- a full sleeve black and grey tattoo, to be specific. It's an ambitious goal
for anyone's first ink, but when she meets handsome and gifted tattoo artist Mark Temple, she finds herself yearning for something more than one of his original designs.

As she willingly places herself in Mark's experienced -- if sometimes cruel -- hands, she finds herself submitting to a strong and uniquely creative dominant, one who arouses intense physical sensations in her -- both pleasure and pain.
Bound to his tattoo table, will she also allow herself to be used as a living canvas for Mark's ... darker desires? Will she allow herself to be marked, indelibly and forever, as his?

NOTE: This is an erotic romance novella depicting consenting adults engaging in
tattooing, piercing, extensive BDSM content, bondage, sexual scenes including
anal, and more. If any of these things offend you, this is not the book for you.
Approximately 24,000 words.

[This novella was previously published as Marked for Submission. Please be aware that this is the same story, but also features a few brand-new chapters and other new material, a new cover, and a new title. The book has also been completely re- edited to provide you with a more satisfying reading experience.]

Excerpt:
Mark’s dark gaze from the end of the table mesmerized her, made her feel somehow instantly compliant. As if she had no real choice anymore.
His hands held both of her ankles, the pressure steady, strong, totally confident.
“OK,” she said. “Yes. I trust you.”
“Good.” A sly smile spread across his lips. “First thing is, if you want to stop at any time, you tell me ‘stop’ and it’s over. Got it?”
“All right.”
Mark pulled each ankle outward, spreading her legs, and then cinched a black leather strap over each and pulled it tight. Her ankles were now about four feet apart, putting her feet off the edges of the table and making her feel very…exposed. And turned on again. He moved past her and came to stand behind her at the head of the table where she couldn’t see his face. Then he leaned down to whisper over the top of her head. The lamp glared. The heat radiated. It made her pussy wet just hearing his low, calm voice that close.
“I’m going to bind your arms back, Janna,” he said. “To keep you…still. I don’t want you moving at all while I work on you.”
“OK,” she said, quietly.
“And, no matter what, you don’t talk unless I ask you something. Got that?”
“Yes…Sir.”
She heard a drawer open in the cabinet behind her somewhere and resisted the urge to even try to turn her head to see what he was doing. She heard a rustling and then the drawer slid shut.
“Arm up,” he commanded. He waited.
Unsure, she started to lift her right arm. He grabbed her wrist impatiently, and she felt him pull her entire arm up over her head and back, even as he was careful not to disturb the set-in stencil surrounding her upper arm.

About The Author:
SHERI SAVILL is the author of dark BDSM erotic romance, and yes, humor both kinky and vanilla. She is a real-life submissive who was into BDSM way before it was cool. A career in media and journalism (reporter, editor, DJ, copywriter) drove her to the brink of insanity, so she became an attorney and web developer.

Known for her irreverent blog, Savill is heavily tattooed, pierced, super geeky, easily annoyed yet fun-loving, and caffeinated. She speaks often of a treasured "letter from Dave Barry" that no one has actually seen. Award-winning sex author and columnist Violet Blue called Savill's BDSM parody "painfully, hilariously timeless."

When she's not charging her portable electronic devices, Savill spends her time writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she had written. She scored a 780 out of 800 on a standardized writing test of some sort and, just as she predicted, has never had to use calculus in her entire adult life.

Sheri's books are available at:
Amazon
Blushing Books
Barnes & Nobel
itunes
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance
Google Play

Visit her website at  sherisavill.com
 

JUST A LITTLE UPDATE

Hi all, I just wanted to tell you about a couple of exciting things that are going on.

Starting next Tuesday I will be hosting another author on my blog each week. My first guest is Sheri Savill, so stop back and check out her book, Bound & Inked .

I also wanted to let you know I have finished The Trouble With Abby , the latest O'Malley book.  I really had fun with this one and it may be my new fav!  Abby turned out to be quite a unique character and has a few surprises for The O'Malley's.  I'll be submitting it to the publisher on Monday and hopefully it won't be to long before it's released.

Blushing Books will also be releasing a boxed Sugar Babies, Inc. set.  As soon as I have a date for either of these I'll be sure to post it.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Hugs,
Stevie

And The Winner Is...

The winner of the Grand Prize for the Fall Into Romance Blog Hop, a $75 Amazon gift card is Yolanda Matias.  Congratulations, Yolanda.

The winner of the $10 Amazon gift card provided by yours truly is, Linda Kish!  Woot, way to go, Linda.  I will be sending your gift card to you shortly.

I am sincerely grateful to all those who took time out of their busy schedules to visit my page.  A special thank you to Jane Wakely for putting together this fun hop and all the amazing authors who participated.

Hugs,
Stevie

Fall Into Romance Blog Hop

Welcome to the Fall Into Romance Blog Hop.  Each author participating will be offering a prize for visiting their blog.  I will be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. Simply leave a comment that includes you email address or sign up for my newsletter using the link on the right to enter. The winner will be announced by Wednesday, September 24th.  There is also a grand prize provided by the blog hosts of a $75.00 Amazon gift card and you may enter once on any blog in this hop using the Rafflecopter link.  Mine is at the bottom of this page.


www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com

For my post I've decided to share a sample from chapter one of my WIP (work in progress).  This book is a spin-off from The O'Malley books.  I don't have a working title yet, but it's from Abby and Connor's story.  I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter One

      Abigail Stevens was standing on the top rung of a six foot step ladder arranging boxes of designer shoes when Connor McCabe entered the back room of her new shop and frowned.  She was barefoot, her heels kicked off at the base of the ladder, so she hadn’t totally lost her mind but it was still incredibly reckless as far as he was concerned. 

      They’d talked about this very thing, more than once. Taking chances, leaving the doors unlocked when she was there alone, were not acceptable.  Once the store was open for business it couldn’t be avoided.  There would be times she was on her own, but at least there would be customers coming and going, not a solitary woman behind paper covered windows late at night.

      He calmed his breathing, forcing the frustration he felt deep.  She was ignoring every directive he’d given her and he didn’t like it, not one bit.  Abby was over an hour late getting home, her glittery cell phone was lying on the counter in the main part of the shop, far out of reach should she need it, and he’d been standing there a good three or four minutes and she still didn’t realize she wasn’t alone.  By now, had his intentions been evil, he could have had most of her clothes off or slit her throat.   At the very least he could be driving away in her car with her cell and purse!  No, this wasn’t something he could ignore. She was small, fragile and she thought she was kick-ass tough, touting her black belt like it was a prize she’d won, as if it could protect her from someone like him, a former Navy Seal who’d been standing unnoticed for what, six minutes now, he realized, glancing at his watch.  He topped her by more than a foot, outweighed her by better than a hundred pounds and could move so quickly and quietly she’d never know what hit her.

      Instead, he stood by the ladder, ready to offer aide if she needed it.  Brushing her long dark ponytail over her shoulder, she made her way down the rungs, feeling for each step with her bare toes.  When she settled on the one about two feet from the bottom, Connor snaked an arm around her waist and plucked her off, swinging her up and into his arms. She screamed and struggled instinctively as he held her, staring into her frightened eyes.

      “Jesus Connor,” she swore, slapping him on the shoulder as she relaxed in his hold.  “You scared the crap out of me!”

      “Daddy’s not very happy with you,” he informed her sternly.

      “Connor, we talked about this,” she sighed in frustration.  “You’re only my Daddy when we’re playing, and right now I’m working, so put me down,” she insisted, with a stare that was meant to intimidate him, yet somehow failed miserably.

      “So right now, I’m Connor?” he asked with slightly evil intent in his blue eyes.

      “Yes!”

      “Good,” he snapped, putting his booted foot on the second rung of the ladder and flipping her in his arms.  He had her face down over his knee in a heartbeat.

      “Wait,” she screamed, frozen for a moment.  “Why is that good?”

      Connor smiled as he patted her bottom.  “It allows me to be harsher,” he replied. “A daddy would never punish his little girl so harshly, as your man, it’s acceptable.”

      “Acceptable to whom?” she screeched.

      “To me,” he replied, tightening his grip on her waist.

      “No, wait,” she pleaded, back peddling like mad.  “You can be my daddy now, if you want to.”

      “Too late,” he said, smiling as his hand began to fall.  He didn’t pull her jeans or panties down, he didn’t need too.  There was more than enough power in his large hand to instill his feelings about this.  One swat covered her entire ass, and he had no intention of holding back.

She was crazy foolish as far as he was concerned and he would make her aware of that now.

He didn’t count the slaps that rained down on her bottom; he didn’t care how many it took for her to learn this lesson.  He would spank her each and every time she ignored her personal safety and it wasn’t news to her, they’d discussed it many times and a few in this very manner.  Why she didn’t take his warnings seriously, he had no idea, but she soon would.

      Abby struggled, swore and promised retribution of immense proportions as Connor turned her butt into a raging inferno.  Her hair hung almost to the floor, her feet kicked uselessly and she tried to pinch his calf.  Finding no extra skin, she used her nails to dig him.  In response, Connor moved to the back of her thighs.

      “Stop, please,” she finally begged, giving into the pain as her tears fell.  “At least tell me why,” she demanded on a wail.

      “Why?” he asked, truly shocked as his hand paused.  “You tell me, little girl,” he shot back, waiting.

      Abby racked what was left off her brain.  The entire episode caught her so off guard it was hard to focus.  That added to her now scorching ass, made concentration difficult.

      “The ladder?” she asked, as she twisted her head, trying to make eye contact.  Maybe if he saw her big brown tearful eyes he would relent. It had worked before.

      “That’s a start,” he replied, smacking her bottom a good one.

      “Oh,” she yelped, struggling to handle the sting and think.  “Um… the door being unlocked?”

      “What else?” he asked as he nodded and walloped her again.

      “I don’t know,” she wailed, drooping over this thick thigh.

      “Where’s you cell?” he demanded, spanking her three times, hard.

      “Out there on the counter,” she cried.

      “And is it of any use to you, say now when you’re at the mercy of a very determined man?” he questioned with three more cracks.

      “No,” she sobbed.  “Please stop Con, I get it, I really do.”

      “Obviously you don’t,” he insisted, spanking her again and again.  “Your purse is out there, lying open with your wallet and keys in plain sight,” he growled, his huge hand resting for the moment on her burning butt.  “And you’re alone.”

      “I’m not alone,” she shouted, regretting it immediately as he spanked the tops of the thighs.  “Bridget’s with me.”

      “Really, I don’t see her,” he drawled, pausing.

      “She was here, she just ran out to get coffee,” Abby sighed sniffling.

      “Oh, ‘Miss I can get distracted by anything that sparkles’ is you protection, your back-up?” he snorted.   “Is there a reason you couldn’t have locked the door behind her? Why you couldn’t have waited until she got back before balancing on the top of a six foot ladder?”

      “I ah…I…”

      “I didn’t think so,” he snapped, resuming his blistering cracks to her ass with a steady rhythm. 

      “Please Con, please,” she cried.  “I’m sorry, so sorry,” she sobbed, her small body trembling.

      Connor turned her over and planted her sore bottom on his thigh, holding her in place as she tried to hop down.  Grasping her chin, he forced her to look at him.

      “I will not tolerate this, Abigail.  I know what having your own shop means to you and I support you 100%, but not under these circumstances,” he barked as her eyes studied his face.

      Cropped blonde hair, clear blue eyes and a chiseled jaw that currently had a tick in it were not very reassuring. Abby had no doubt that this scene would be replayed each and every time she disobeyed him on something he took seriously.  Part of her wanted to tell him to fuck off and mind his own business, even though it would certainly ensure her spanking wasn’t over.  However, it was another part of her that stopped her.  Inside, despite the painful discipline, there was the gooey warm feeling his dominance brought out.  His no nonsense attitude when it came to her well-being both frustrated her and turned her on right down to her pink toenails. 

      Connor loved her, she had no doubt, and this wasn’t some macho, alpha act.  This was who he was, overprotective, demanding, bossy and used to being obeyed.  He was also loving, gentle and fun.  It was a lethal combination as far as her heart went and as much as he pissed her off, she wouldn’t change one hair on his head.

      “Why didn’t you call me when you knew you were going to be late?” he asked, softly.

      Abby wasn’t fooled by his change of tone or the accusing look in his eyes.  One smart-ass comment and he would resume spanking her with a vengeance.

      “The time just got away from me baby,” she answered truthfully wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt.  “I have so much to do before I open and it’s only two weeks away.  A major shipment of stock is coming in on Saturday and I don’t even have a place to put it.  Shelves have to be put up and there are displays to get ready.  I haven’t even unpacked my computer system or register yet, I had no idea everything would take so long.”

      “Why haven’t you asked for help?” he scowled.

      “It’s my responsibility.  You’re working for Mason now and at the pub.  I’ll…”

      “You’ll swallow your pride and ask for help, is what you’ll do,” he informed her lifting her to the floor.  “Put your shoes on and hand me the rest of those boxes.”

      A half an hour later all the shoes were neatly on the upper shelves arranged according to style and size.  Bridget still wasn’t back and it was no surprise when Dell walked into the shop.

      “Anyone see my bride?” he asked, looking around.  “She was supposed to be home an hour ago and I can’t reach her on her cell.

      “No,” Connor replied, lifting a heavy box onto a display case in the main part of the store, “but she better hope you find her before I do.”

      “What did she do now?” Dell asked, sighing.

      “She was supposed to be here with Abby and I found this one by herself doing all sorts of naughty things,” he replied, indicating a blushing Abby

      Abby elbowed him away from the box and managed to make him grunt.

      “Hey,” he yelled, “for someone who just got her bottom roasted, you’re pretty fresh.”

      “She went to get coffee,” Abby offered, pulling Styrofoam out of the box Connor had sliced open.

      “How long ago?” Dell asked, checking his watch.

      “Oh, may half an hour ago,” Abby replied

      “Maybe an hour and a half,” Connor corrected, giving Abby a stern look.

      “An hour and a half,” Dell asked, looking at his watch.  “There’s a coffee shop around the corner.  Where was she parked?”

      “Out back,” Abby replied, feeling a little worried herself, now that she really thought about it.

      Dell headed through the store to the back entrance.  In the weak glow from one security light he saw Bridget lying crumpled on the pavement as soon as he pushed open the heavy steel door.  Her leg was at an odd angle and there was no sign of her car.

      “Call 9-1-1 and tell them we need an ambulance and call Rory,” he shouted in through the open door as he ran to his wife.  Abby and Connor were right behind him as she fumbled with her cell.

Copyright 2014 Stevie MacFarlane
Don't forget to enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize and be sure to visit the other authors participating.  You're sure to have fun!
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Little White Lies

Maggie O'Malley Cassidy has a problem. Well, actually several problems. She's a widow, raising three children and trying to make ends meet. Well, if the ends didn’t exactly meet, at least they got close enough to wave to each other.  She has the unfortunate habit of skirting the truth now and then, not really a problem unless she got caught, but still a very tiny character flaw that she planned to work on just as soon as she got a free minute. But by far, her biggest problem was Nicholas Kord who has just found out that her oldest son, Jason, is also his only son. I mean really, who would have thought he'd show up after fifteen years and go all paternal on a child he hadn't even known existed. What were the odds of that coming back to bite her in the ass?

Nicholas Kord has his life on track; he is an accomplished attorney, and considered his trip home to be Best Man at his brother's wedding a long-overdue opportunity to reconnect with family and have a good time as well. He is still single and in all honesty, the man oozes sex appeal.

Nick was crazy about Maggie, always had been and always would be. When he saw his son for the very first time, he knew exactly who Jason belonged to and what Maggie had done. He was furious at first, but came to realize that a good portion of the blame fell on him. If he hadn't been so stubborn years ago, things might have turned out differently, but Nick is also a realist. The past cannot be relived; it's the present and future that matter. He still loves Maggie and he means to have her, one way or another, and he intends to cure her of her bad habits along the way. As far as he's concerned, Maggie had gotten her way for far too long, and it hadn't served her well. Her children need a father and whether she knows it or not, she needs a husband who will provide guidance and love; he can be all that and more. Nick has no problem applying a firm hand or taking a wooden spoon to Maggie's adorable butt when she misbehaves, which seems to be quite frequently. Who would have thought one knock on her door would change everything forever?

I know I promote this book shamelessly, but there's a good reason for that.  It's my favorite, and it is in this book the reader gets to meet The O'Malleys.  This is also where I met them for the first time.  Where did they come from?  I have no idea, but I was mesmerized as they appeared one by one, until I had an entire family who made me laugh, cry and sweat it out when one of the men approached their woman with that certain gleam in their eye.

Each time I write a new book, I wait for the feeling I got when I wrote this one.  That "I don't care if I sell one copy, this is who I am and I'm proud of what I've written" feeling.  I got it again when I wrote 'The O'Malley Brides'.  For me, it's all about family.  It's what matters to me on a personal level.  A book has to touch my heart in some way and all the sex and spanking, no matter how hot it is, won't make up for that emotional connection if it's missing.

Besides, I got another 5* review on this yesterday. (grin)
So here's the first chapter and if you've read this far, I hope you enjoy it.
Hugs,
Stevie

Chapter One

Nicholas Kord leaned lazily against the pickup truck. He never flinched when Maggie Cassidy’s hard hat went whizzing past his ear. His long legs were crossed as his strong arm deflected the missile, his eyes never leaving the petite auburn-haired beauty. Nods and elbows passed around the work site, and Maggie knew the attention of every man there was focused on her. She had been foreman at Kord Contracting for a long time. Smart and hardworking, she demanded the best from her crew. Those traits had earned her the respect of her coworkers, but she never had been hot-headed or lost her temper on the job. Her professional attitude had kept more than one of the crew from pursuing her after her husband died. Maggie was a beautiful woman, but she made it crystal clear that she was not interested in a personal relationship. Now here she was, hurling her hard hat at the boss’s brother. Her clipboard hit the dirt as she stomped over to face him.

Most of the men had met Nick at one time or another, but lately he’d been hanging around a lot. Most often, Maggie nodded icily and ignored him, but not today.

Several hats were shoved back, and all work slowed as ears strained to hear their conversation. Maggie never noticed, but Nick did. When she came closer, his hand shot out with whipcord strength, and Maggie found herself hauled around to the other side of the truck before she could get a word out.

Pinned effectively against the dusty pickup, Maggie shoved at the strong arms on either side of her, but Nick just grinned and leaned down to speak into her ear.

“Maggie, Maggie, you’re making a spectacle of yourself.”

Struggling for breath, she brought up both her hands and shoved so hard against the muscular chest in front of her that she lost her balance.

Nick was not one to miss an opportunity. Quickly moving in closer, he brought his hard body into contact with hers from knee to shoulder and trapped her hands between them.

If Maggie had been out of breath before, her head was swimming now. Heat penetrated every pore. The feel of his hips pressed against her belly stole every rational thought, and her struggles ceased. Her hands unconsciously gripped his shirt and hung on for dear life as her knees turned to jelly. In desperation, she tipped her head back, amber eyes pleading with icy blue ones.

“Please,” she whispered hoarsely.

Nick froze. He stared down at the woman before him. A pulse beat rapidly at the hollow of her slender throat. Her body quivered against his, and while he could sense the desire flowing through her, he could almost taste the fear.

Shoving away from her with a curse, Nick raked a hand through his glossy, black hair. He paced several yards away, bent down, picked up a handful of rocks, and began throwing them one at a time. Muscles bunched and rippled as again and again the rocks sailed far into the empty lot.

Maggie failed to see the humor in a grown man reduced to throwing stones to relieve his frustration, but more than one of her crew smiled as though they understood completely. Several breathed a sigh of relief and went quietly back to work.

When he had exhausted his supply of stones, Nick wiped his hands on his jeans and stuffed them deep into his pockets before he approached her. His jaw ached from clenching his teeth, and Maggie saw the tic in his cheek.

Dear God, she thought, this isn’t fair. The closer he got to her, the more her heart rate increased. The few minutes she had to compose herself might never have been, now that he was in front of her again. Her eyes searched the rugged planes of his face, looking for, if not sympathy, at least understanding. All she saw was determination and anger.

“God damn it, Maggie. It doesn’t have to be like this,” he ground out, mere inches from her now.

Maggie swallowed. This wasn’t the first time Nick had confronted her. Ever since Christmas, when he first set eyes on Jason, he dogged her every move. Endlessly calling, pleading, and threatening. It had to stop. She couldn’t go on like this. Her home life was affected, the children sensed her turmoil, and now she couldn’t even do her job.

“Nick,” she began softly. “I don’t know what you want from me—”

“The hell you don’t,” he growled. “I want the truth, Maggie. The truth you denied me fifteen years ago. Do you know that truth Maggie, or have you lied for so long that you don’t remember? Have you forgotten how it was for us? Have you forgotten the passion, the fire, the love? I sure as hell haven’t. We had a son, and damn you, Maggie, you kept him from me.”

The hands pushed so deeply in his pockets were now somehow fastened on her shoulders. It was all he could do not to shake her, so great was his pain. The fact that they’d spent New Year’s Eve locked in each other’s arms was the only thing that kept him from throwing her over his shoulder right now and carting her off somewhere more private. She hadn’t told him fifteen years ago that she was pregnant; how could he trust her to tell him if she were in the same condition now? They hadn’t used any protection—they hadn’t had time. He’d stopped in to give her a message from his brother, and before he knew it they were on the couch like a couple of teenagers. Well, he knew one thing. The passion was still there, even if they were at war.

“I had a son. Me! Jason is my son,” she shouted, not caring who overheard them, fury in every line of her body. “How dare you stroll into my life like you never left, demanding and accusing? I gave Jason something you never did—a father, and if he were still alive none of this would be happening.”

Maggie was crying; tears streamed down her face, and her small body trembled.

Her words tore at Nick’s heart, and for a moment he almost surrendered. Maybe she had done what she thought was right at the time. He couldn’t deny that Jim Cassidy had been a good man, but as far as he was concerned they’d built their marriage on a lie, a lie that had cost Nick dearly.

“You never gave me a chance, Maggie,” he roared in frustration. “I never even suspected. One minute we were going to be married, and the next you up and married Jim.”

“I wrote you,” she shot back, wiping the back of her hand across her damp cheeks. “I wrote you more than once. You sent every damn letter back.”

“I know, and I was wrong, but I saw you and Jim together. You were crying in his arms, telling him you didn’t know how to tell me something. What the hell was I supposed to think?”

“You weren’t supposed to think anything. You were supposed to love me, trust me,” she cried, turning her back to him as she struggled for control.

Nick let her go. She was right. He hadn’t trusted her, but damn it he had been twenty-one years old, and to find her in another man’s arms had almost killed him.

“Maggie, we’ve both made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean we have to go on making them,” he said gently, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Can’t we start over? The feelings are still there, you can’t deny that.”

“Nick,” she began, twisting her hands in agitation. “About New Year’s Eve—that was a mistake, and—”

Nick spun her around to face him before she could finish.

“No, Maggie, that wasn’t a mistake. As a matter of fact, it was the first thing we’ve done right in fifteen years. I won’t let you get away with denying it. You wanted me too.”

Memories of that night flooded Maggie’s senses, threatening to weaken her resolve. For some reason, Nick had more power over her now than he had back then. Toughen up, lady, before you blow it, she told herself. Before it was just you, now your whole family is at stake.

“We had some fun together, Nick, but that doesn’t mean—”

“Fun! Fun? Is that what you call it?” he asked in amazement. “Maggie, we made love; but you can call it anything that’ll make you feel better about it,” he drawled sarcastically.

Fire flamed in Maggie’s face. Her hand shot up with surprising strength to slap him, but he caught it sharply and used it to pull her against him. His arm swung back behind her effectively pinning her against his tall frame.

“Listen, Nick—”

“No, you listen. It seems to me you’ve made all the decisions here, and while I won’t hold the past against you, from now on Jason has a mother and a father. I won’t be shut out any longer. Do I make myself clear?” he ground down at her, blue eyes blazing.

Maggie struggled to get out of his grasp and failed.

“You don’t have any right to tell me how it’s going to be,” she snapped, flinging her head back. “I’ve done just fine without you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, honey; I do have rights. I’m a lawyer, a very tough, successful lawyer. Don’t let these clothes fool you. I’m just as comfortable in a three piece suit, and I’ll haul your ass into court so fast your head will spin.”

“For what?” she demanded, really feeling threatened now.

“Blood tests, DNA matching, whatever it takes to prove Jason is mine. There’s not a court in this country that will deny me. I didn’t abandon my son. I was denied him, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to make it right.”

Maggie could feel the rage in Nick even if his words were deceptively soft. Panic kept her silent, pure panic, but a surge of adrenalin followed right on its heels. The woman Nick held suddenly became a wildcat, hands and feet flying. Before he could get a better hold she delivered a sharp smack to the side of his head, and it was all he could do to block another one.

“Don’t you dare threaten me,” she screamed furiously as she delivered a kick with her steel-toed boots that barely missed.

“Settle down,” he commanded sharply, amazed at the strength of her diminutive form. Nick was well over six feet tall, and while he was incredibly strong for someone whose job wasn’t exactly physically demanding, Maggie was small and quick.

“Stop it, Maggie,” he thundered, just about at the end of his patience.

The tone of his voice succeeded in halting her for a moment but not long enough for Nick to get a grip on this bundle of fury.

“Maggie,” he panted, yelping when her foot finally did connect with his shin. “Damn it woman,” he warned. “Stop it right now, or I swear I’ll blister you right here in front of God and everybody!”

“Go ahead,” she screamed in outrage, “and I’ll have you arrested Mr. Hot Shot Lawyer!”

“Ah, but I have bail money,” he grunted when he finally managed to get her into a position where she couldn’t do any more damage—her back to his chest, arms pinned, and one long leg wrapped around both of hers. “I’m sure the boys down at the station would love to take a few pictures of that delectable behind of yours. Maybe I’d even have to come down and match up my hand to the prints I’m going to leave there,” he told her, grinning as he kissed the top of her head. “Go ahead and have me arrested sweetheart, but don’t plan on sitting down for a month.”

Maggie’s eyes were shut as she tried to catch her breath. Unable to move a muscle, the clearing of a throat made her eyes snap open. Jesus, she moaned under her breath.

“You want me to get the boss man, Maggie?” Charlie Brooks asked, twisting his hat in his hands, not sure how to handle the situation. Maggie was her own woman. She didn’t like interference, but all the same, if it had been anyone but the boss’s brother, Charlie would have jumped in first and asked questions later.

“Thanks, Charlie, that won’t be necessary,” Mason’s deep voice boomed from behind Nick. “I’m right here.”

Mason Kord surveyed the scene before him without betraying a single thought. Eye to eye with his older brother, a silent communication passed between them, and his big shoulders relaxed.

“Let her go, Nick,” he ordered softly, patting his brother on the back in understanding. I can’t begin to comprehend what’s going on here, but you cannot come on my job site and assault my foreman, who also happens to be a very good friend.”

Surprisingly, Nick released her, nodding to Mason.

Maggie jumped away and stumbled. Mason’s arm shot out to catch her, sliding consolingly around her shoulders.

“Are you all right?” he bent to inquire, looking straight into her eyes.

“Yes,” she huffed, brushing the dust off her and trying to pull her hair into some semblance of order, “but I want him arrested,” she told the big man beside her.

Mason stepped back slightly in surprise.

“Arrested? Just what the hell has been going on out here?” he demanded of Nick.

“Ask the lady,” Nick responded, turning his head away to hide his grin.

“Maggie?”

“He threatened me!”

“Threatened you with what?” Mason asked, wondering at the high color of Maggie’s face.

“Threatened to—” Maggie’s furious eyes met Nick’s, his raised eyebrow daring her to go on.

“He was going to—”

Nick was openly grinning now, arms folded across his massive chest, rocking back on his heels. He was the picture of the superior male, and Maggie choked on the words.

“Never mind. Just keep him off my work site from now on,” she shouted. Storming away she bent down to retrieve her hat. If she hadn’t glanced behind her to catch him openly admiring her backside, she might have kept on walking, but the smug man so infuriated her that she marched right back to him. That he topped her by at least a foot didn’t intimidate her in the least, especially now that Mason is here, a little voice whispered.

“Don’t think you’re going to get away with this,” she informed him, a slim finger poking his chest. “You can just get on a plane, and go right back where you came from. There’s nothing here that belongs to you.”

“You’re wrong, honey,” he whispered, his eyes a penetrating blue now. “There’s plenty here that’s mine, and I won’t walk away from it ever again.”

Maggie’s throat went dry. How could one look from him, a softly spoken word, affect her so? Turning, she stumbled away from him before he saw the response in her eyes. Damn you, Nick, damn you.

* * *

Mason steered Nick to the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. For a moment he watched the crew listening attentively to what Maggie was saying. He hoped today’s display hadn’t cost her any authority with the men. Maggie was thought of as an equal on the job, and having Nick reduce her to a screaming, flailing bundle of femininity wasn’t going to reinforce that.

Glancing at Nick’s hard profile, Mason sighed and started the truck.

“Care to talk about it?” he inquired, not wanting to intrude but prodding nonetheless.

“Not especially,” Nick responded.

“Look Nick, I don’t mean to butt in but—”

“Then don’t, Mace.”

For a while, there was silence between the brothers. Mason drove the five miles into the city and pulled into the parking lot at Casey’s Tavern. By unspoken agreement they entered the dimly lit bar, Nick going directly to a table while Mason ordered a couple of beers.

Mason straddled his chair and poured the brew into glasses, watching the slight tremble in Nick’s hand as he reached for his drink. The sprinklings of silver at Nick’s temples and the tiny lines in his face were more pronounced than they’d been a few months ago. Mason couldn’t say that Nick had been happy before, but he’d been content. That was before he’d learned about Jason.

Mason could understand his brother’s pain. Mason’s wife, Rebecca, was expecting their first child, and already Mason loved it. The thought of someone keeping that child from him was enough to send waves of panic through him. Always impulsive and independent, Rebecca had been a spitfire from the get-go. He had been through many sleepless nights worrying about this exact situation. Rebecca hadn’t been interested in marriage, and Mason had always been afraid that a passionate encounter would result in a child. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a child; she just didn’t want a husband. The thought of that had been unacceptable to Mason, and it took a lot of patience, love, and a few trips over his knee to bring her around. Now that she was pregnant, she had calmed down somewhat, and he was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

Nick drained his glass and nodded to the barmaid for two more. The pretty blonde responded immediately and winked as she brought them over.

“There are other women in the world you know,” Mason stated offhandedly, observing the admiration in her face.

“Yes, there are,” Nick admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “If Maggie doesn’t want me, I’ll handle that, but I want contact with my son.”

“I know you do, and I don’t blame you, but you can’t force her. You have to take things slow and easy.”

“For Christ’s sake, Mace, if I went any slower I’d be backing up. I’ve done everything but stand on my head to get through to her. I’ve called, I’ve dropped in, and I’ve even sent flowers. She won’t bend an inch. My practice is starting to suffer, and I’m going to have to make a decision soon. Either I go back to Colorado and give up my son, knowingly this time, or I move back here and force her to accept me as Jason’s father.” Nick’s eyes darkened with pain.

“Mace, I love Maggie. I have since we were kids. If I’d known she was pregnant, this never would have happened.”

“I realize that, Nick, but there are other people involved now. What about Jason’s feelings? How do you think he’s going to feel when he finds out Jim wasn’t his real father, and Todd and Caitlin are only his half siblings? This is going to affect the whole family. Is he going to blame Maggie for not telling him the truth? Jason is at a difficult age right now. Something like this could really affect his stability,” Mason said, sighing deeply.

“I’ve thought about that, Mace, and I just don’t see how perpetuating this lie is going to help anyone involved. It’s not like I’m some criminal. I happen to be a respected professional.”

“Yeah, well, you certainly didn’t look too professional twenty minutes ago,” Mason drawled.

Nick laughed.

“No, I guess I didn’t. You have no idea how mad that woman makes me.”

“You think not? It seems to me you’ve stepped between me and Rebecca on more than one occasion.”

“Only because I didn’t want to have to represent you in court.”

Now it was Mason’s turn to laugh.

“I’d never hurt her,” Mason defended himself.

“I was figuring on you being the victim,” Nick stated smoothly, finishing his beer and standing up to leave.

“Yeah, right. By the way, what did you threaten Maggie with?”

“I told her I would blister her butt right there if she didn’t straighten out. She took it as a threat; actually, it was more of a promise. On one hand, I can’t believe she managed to reduce me to that level, and on the other hand, well, let’s just say that’s the hand that wants to do the blistering.”

“I get that part, believe me,” Mason told him finishing his own beer. “Just don’t do it at work. It would be kind of hard to explain to OSHA if they happened to be around.

“Right,” Nick agreed with a grin.

“So, where to from here, Nick?” Mason asked as they got into the truck.

“I guess you can drop me off at your place. I really appreciate you letting me use the apartment.”

“No problem, we only keep it for out of town clients or family now, but that’s not what I meant and you know it. What are your plans as far as Maggie is concerned?”

“I’m not giving up, if that’s what you’re asking. What happened with us over the holidays wasn’t planned, but it sure wasn’t a mistake either. Mace, when she came into my arms that night the years just melted away,” Nick sighed.

“I really can’t blame you,” Mason told him smiling. “Maggie is one hell of a woman. Just take it easy on her. She’s had it tough.”

“I’ve been trying too. I think the kids really like me. Caitlin is absolutely priceless, and she’s done a great job with both boys. I can’t fault her there. I have no problem taking on the entire family, but she won’t give an inch.”

“I wish I had some advice for you, Nick, but I’m still trying to find a balance with Rebecca. Just when I think I don’t have anything to worry about, she up and shocks the hell out of me with some new escapade. I go between wanting to wrap her in cotton to keep her safe and wanting to roast her ass till she can’t sit for a week.”

Nick struggled with laughter. The rueful tone of Mason’s voice was more than he could take. Little Rebecca was more than his match. He’d seen grown men quail at his brother’s temper, yet the petite blonde, who barely came to his shoulder, gave back as good as she got. Unbelievable.

“You better talk to the doctor about that,” Nick said grinning. “You might have to find a new hobby until the baby comes.”

“Already did,” Mason laughed. “Doctor Maxwell knows Rebecca pretty well, and he suggested a wooden spoon—not much force, but it will give a hell of a sting. I don’t actually intend to use it, but she doesn’t know that.”

“Hey, how about picking me up tomorrow?” Nick asked. “I think it’s about time I rented my own car.”

“You’re staying then?”

“I don’t have much choice. I’m not ready to give up, so I guess I’ll give that Irish temper of hers a chance to cool off. If she still won’t see reason, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands, one way or another.”

“Well, Rebecca and I are rooting for you. See you in the morning, bro.”