Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Welcome erotic romance author, Celeste Carrara...





Welcome to my blog, Celeste! I love your cover and this new book sounds great :) Wishing you all the best with the tour and sales. Let's get started with the questions...

1)   What is your writing routine?
My ideas come to me in dreams, as I’m driving my car, or they come from past experience. I have notes written everywhere! When I sit to put a story together, I gather up all the papers, and note pads filled with ideas, and try to make a cohesive story out of them. Everything is always hand written, and then I start writing with my laptop. This is almost a daily routine. At any given time, I am writing 2-3 different stories.

2)   Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?
My favorite romance subgenre to read, and write is paranormal. I know, no surprise there. It has always been a favorite of mine. I’m also a big fan of YA paranormal romance. People often find this shocking considering how explicit my scenes are in my own books. Sometimes I just like a sweet YA romance!

3)   What do you expect from an editor?
I am very lucky to have a fantastic editor. I rely on her for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. For the developmental things, I rely on my beta readers. They are the ones to tell me when a plot isn’t working, or if a character isn’t likeable. Don’t get me wrong my editor will let me know if something needs fixing when it comes to storyline, but I use her expertise in grammar to help me with my run on sentence problem!

4)   What are you working on right now?
Right now I am working on the next full-length novel in my Paranormal City          series. It will be book 5, and is titled Give Me Your Love. I expect to have this out sometime in the fall.

5)   Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?
Always use an editor! No matter how many times you review your story, you will always miss something. It’s usually the simple things, like spelling mistakes!

6) What was your favorite subject in school and why?

I hated school! I really did, but senior year I was able to pick an interesting Science alternative. It was forensics and I loved it!

7) What is your favorite dessert?
I’m not really a dessert person. But, when I do have a craving for something sweet, it’s always the same thing. Pillsbury white cake mix (I make cupcakes with it) and Pillsbury vanilla frosting. I’m a simple girl!

8) High heels, sneakers or flip flops?
Converse sneakers!!

      

Give Me Forever
by Celeste Carrara
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Serena, a twenty five year old newly turned vampire longs for a normal life. Daughter to the king of the Northeastern faction of vampires her life is anything but normal. Her actions are ruled by her duty to her people and her father's demands. Serena's father Sebastian is impossible to please no matter how hard Serena tries. Loyalty and fear keep her trapped in her life.

While tending to business for her father Serena meets Nick, a handsome young realtor whom she finds herself attracted to regardless of the fact that he is human. Even though she knows better she can't seem to stop herself from falling into his arms, and his bed. Nick gives her a glimpse into the normal life she wishes for but how long can she ignore their differences?

When humans start showing up drained of their blood with obvious vampire bites on their bodies Sebastian takes it as a direct challenge to his authority. Someone is gathering his enemies with intentions of stripping him of his title. The only two he can trust to aid him is his daughter Serena, and his assassin Alex. Little did he know that once the two meet all their lives would change forever. No one can change the course of fate. When destiny calls they try to fight it but neither Serena nor Alex can deny the pull of their souls yearning to be joined.

*Adult Material*


 EXCERPT:

With apprehension I answered, “Serena. My name is Serena, and no I don’t believe we’ve met before.” Unsure of what his reaction would be, I waited for his reply.

A look of realization flickered across his features. “I’m honored to meet you Serena.” He took my hand in his and kissed it gently. “I had no idea Sebastian’s daughter would be so exquisite.”

I remained silent, not knowing what to do. The knowledge of who I was would either make him want to get closer or run far away from me. Either way most men treaded very carefully around me and I knew my father was the reason.

“What brings you to a place like this, Serena? I wouldn’t imagine your father approving.” He spoke with a sexy grin that made me wish he would make a move on me.

“It’s my birthday! Besides, I’m actually here often. I’ve never seen you here before. Where you been hiding?” I asked with a flirtatious smile.

“I’ve been out of town for awhile and got back recently. Looks like I have perfect timing. Please tell me you’re here alone and that I’m just catching you after a feeding instead of a celebratory screw.”

Instinctively I moved closer to him, my eyes never leaving his. “I’m here painfully alone.” Our attraction hummed in the air as we stood locked in a heated stare.

Casually, Gage extended his hand out to move a strand of hair away from my face. “No one should be alone on their birthday.”
  
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Celeste Carrara is a self-published author of the erotic paranormal romance series Paranormal City. A stay at home wife and mother, Celeste never dreamed she would be so fortunate to be a full-time writer. She resides in New York City with her husband of over fifteen years and their two children. All of Carrara's books are based in her hometown, her favorite city Manhattan.

As a child she loved reading and used her writing of poetry as a way to escape her troubled childhood. Life got in the way, and her reading took a back seat to raising her kids. After her children became self-sufficient, and she had more time on her hands, her sister told her about a "hot new paranormal romance" she had to read. Celeste jumped in and returned to her love of reading. Always fascinated by all things paranormal, and a lover of romance, Celeste devoured every paranormal romance she could find. She has always liked her books with some spice so it came as no surprise she found erotic romance.

All this reading sparked the writer within. An idea for a story came to her one day and she decided to put it on paper. Soon, the ideas were flowing and she couldn't stop writing. With encouragement from her husband, and best friend, Celeste completed her first novel, Give Me Forever, and hasn't looked back. Currently she is working on more books of the Paranormal City series as well as stand-alone erotic romances.

Website: www.celestecarrara.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/celestecarrara

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celeste-Carrara/140567152736785

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Give-Forever-Paranormal-City-ebook/dp/B0081SO0FE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336599648&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-me-forever-celeste-carrara/1110690801?ean=2940014404808

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Give-Me-Forever/book-W6xzts5bZ0GXbU4Cvonh2g/page1.html?s=rZzaaTcon0C0g9BJm5A11w&r=1

AllRomanceEbooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-givemeforever-988906-139.html

Celeste will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-give-me-forever-by.html

Comments??

Posted by at 13 comments:

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Welcome multi-published erotic romance writer, Becca Dale...




Hi Becca! Long time, no speak :)

So happy to have you come back and visit with me so I can catch up with what you've been doing and what we've got to look forward to. Hope you enjoy my questions, let's get started...

Thank you so much for having me here today, Rachel. I love your website – it is beautiful.

1)  Who is your favourite author and why?

What a tough question to start. There are so many, but I have two who stick out most in my mind. J.R.R. Tolkien for his amazing world building skills and Jude Deveraux for the passion/emotion she gave her characters. Both skills can bring a book to life.

2)  When did you first consider yourself a writer?

LOL – in middle school when I wrote poem after poem to the boy who I assumed would be the love of my life. “In days of old thou would have been a knight in shining armor...” Or maybe even earlier when my friends would beg me to make up stories at sleepovers. When I had my first manuscript published, it confirmed that others might believe it too.

3)  Describe your writing space?

Most often I curl up in my recliner, computer on my lap, TV sounding quietly in the background, dog snoring on his pillow beside me, and hubby reading the paper to my left. All very ordinary.

4)  What are you reading now?

I edit for a living so I don’t have much time to read for recreation these days, but I am in love with Heather Long’s Marine Series so I am rereading them. And I am reading Frank Lloyd Wright: An Autobiography. The talent of this man never fails to fascinate me so I am enjoying a peek into his personal world.

5)  How many books have your written?  Which is your favourite?

Let me see, I just took three out of circulation to polish and re-release as they have my early mistakes, six with The Wild Rose Press – Wilder catalog, six with Decadent Publishing and one more in edits with them for a grand total of sixteen excluding the freebies and the numerous works in progress on my computer. Favorite? Ummm...that is tough. I guess I would have to pick Sweet Temptation because it is passionate and sexy and empowering all at once.

6)  What comes first, plot or characters?

Characters – they come to me and tell me what they want me to say about their lives. They tend to be very pushy and demanding. Ryan’s Treasure took forever to come together because the hero and heroine had a mutual respect and passion going from the start. I really had to work to convince them that the story couldn’t just be about how great they each found the other.

7)  Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?


Not often. Mostly if I can’t write, it’s because I have too much on my plate to sit down and engage my characters.

8)  What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Read, go camping, spend time with my family, garden etc. I am a country girl so anything that puts me outside or reminds me of home, but nothing too strenuous. Mountains are to look at not climb and rivers are for fishing not paddling down. :-D

9)  Tell us about your latest book?

Sweet Satisfaction (just released from TWRP – Wilder catalog) is Book 3 in the Sweet Series about a family who falls in love at first site. Here’s a blurb:

Terrified of her submissive nature, Kate Hastings refuses to give a man control of her life. Somehow, faking a wild and confident personality scares her less than facing reality--the heated longing for her sexy best friend and her deep-seated need for domination. Trouble is, none of the passive men she's dated do it for her.

Victim to a family curse, Connor Wallace can love only one woman his entire life—Kate. Yet, she insists on keeping him firmly in friend mode. Determined to prove he's more than friend material, he sets out to fulfill her greatest fantasies, even if it means tying her up to get her attention.

When passion and protective instincts collide, something has to give, but will the impact lead to broken hearts or sweet satisfaction?


10) What’s next for you?

Ryan’s Treasure – Book 2 in the Sanctuary series is in edits so that will release in the next month or so.

But I have two WIPs that have me fascinated right now. Chocolate Love is an interracial contemporary romance about a mute candy maker and the woman who understands him without words. This one has been a challenge as I have to remember that he can’t just tell her what he is thinking while keeping in mind that no matter how intuitive she is, she will not get it right 100% of the time. Writing dialog without it sounding one-sided is a challenge with them.

Another one is a friends to lovers/secret baby story (conceived during a moment of grief-ridden passion following his parents’ funeral). Love, Lies and Lullabies is about two people who were best friends until he left for Nashville and became a country music sensation. It has been interesting to see how mama bear deals with her passion when she sees the hero’s way of life as a threat to her son. And how the country boy juggles his love for the spirited small town girl and his very public career.

 Click here to enter Becca's giveaway!

Comments??

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Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Welcome Ellora's Cave author, Jennifer Kacey...




Hi Jennifer, so happy to welcome you to my blog and to be a part of your ongoing tour! Just LOVING the cover of your latest release, SEXY!! Let's get started...

1)   When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

 – I loved to read growing up and found romance in college. Thought it was all right, and then I found erotica. Felt like that moment when Dorothy sees Oz in color for the first time. It was a whole new world, and I wanted to devour it one book at a time. I’d had ideas for books before that, but they were a little bit dark, and a whole lot of naughty! I didn’t think anyone would be into it. Boy was I wrong! I found Ellora’s Cave and it’s been a match made in heaven. My editor is amazing and I couldn’t be any luckier even if I had a rabbit’s foot stuffed up my…well you get the picture.

2)   What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

 – Show don’t tell. And I heard this from my editor AND my agent so I’m picking it for both best and worse. I could tell you, “I was cold as I waited on the taxi.” Or I could show you, “I tugged the tattered coat tighter around my body and cussed again when I couldn’t stop shaking. The taxi had to hurry. I didn’t have much more time. They were coming for me…” Same general information, but hopefully the latter has the pit of your stomach in a knot and you want to know more. It’s the best advice because it pulls readers into your story and suspends reality for them. It’s the worst because it’s hard to do ALL the time. I have to train myself to stay firmly in the characters head space while I’m writing. If I get distracted I tend to “tell”, and then I just have to re-write it during edits.

3)   Favorite author/s? 

– Joey W Hill and her Knights of the Boardroom Series. Kele Moon and her Eden Series. Both are BDSM and so hot you need a fire extinguisher to put the flames out when you’re done reading. Love JR Ward, Maya Banks, Shannon McKenna, Shayla Black… Okay, I’m going to stop now. J

4)   What is your typical day? 

– I wake up and get myself and my son ready for the day. Get him to school by 7:45am. Myself to work two minutes down the road. Work at my “real job”, which is a manufacturing plant my husband and I own, until 6pm. It’s actually normally later, but I’m going to say 6pm because I swore I’m going to start doing better about leaving on time. J Oh and don’t worry, my husband picked up our son from school and they went home. Okay, so I get home, cook dinner, do laundry, clean the house, get my boy in bed at 8:30pm, get everything ready for the next day, and then FINALLY at 9:30pm-ish I can finally sit down in my office at home and write. Some nights I only write for an hour or two. Other nights I stay up until 3am because I can’t sleep until I get everything downloaded from my brain into my laptop. I love writing and sleepless nights are worth it sometimes. Glad you can’t ask my husband if he agrees with that statement!

6)   Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?

 – Hands down it would have to be the chick on my cover as Cyn. She IS Cyn now, so I can’t picture anyone else in her place. For Jared, Ryan Reynolds…Dayum that man is hot, and playful, and did I mention hot? For Chris – he’s harder because he’s got such a difficult past. Gerard Butler pops into mind. He’s tall, dark, broody, and his big hands would feel good as they smack my…yep, Gerard Butler it is!

7)   Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came? 

– A little bit of both. I had a rough outline but the story changed as I wrote it. I’ve learned not to strictly adhere to an outline. If the characters tell me to go a different direction – I listen!!

8)   What surprised you the most when you became a published? 

– That the phrase, “The easy part is writing the book.” Is ABSOLUTELY true! It’s hard to get published and you need to have thick skin, plus be extremely motivated to get it all done. Working full time not-withstanding, it’s time consuming, but SO WORTH IT!

9)   Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like? 

– Absolutely! I have a full home office that is mine, mine, mine. It has B&W checkered floor, black furniture and dark purple walls. The color is Sumptuous Purple. If I can’t write Erotica in there, then there’s no hope for me as a writer! I look out of two floor to ceiling windows onto our five acre property. It’s a great place to write.

10)                   What’s next for you? 

– I’ve got a lot in the works right now. A Christmas quickie that falls in between book 1 and 2 of this series that is supposed to be available this fall for pre-order. Book 2 of this series Tentatively titled Together Again, which is Jenna, Nick, and Ian’s story. A stand alone novel titled Final Surrender. Another BDSM Ménage series which will be MMF. A seven book series…wow I really need to get writing! So if you haven’t already, please pick up a copy of Together in Cyn and let me know what you think!

Here’s all of my social media! Would love to connect with you so come see me!!
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Kacey/100002469553420
Twitter – http://twitter.com/#!/JenniferKacey
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jenniferkacey/
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16370223-jennifer-kacey

Website
http://www.jenniferkacey.com/

Together in Cyn Webpage
http://www.jenniferkacey.com/index.php/books/together-in-cyn


Together in Cyn
by Jennifer Kacey

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A small book sitting out on a table shouldn’t incite fear in anyone.

But what if that book was your diary and you learned your two best friends, men you have ached for your entire life, have just read every last word? Pages and pages filled with dark fantasies and forbidden dreams so explicit they leave nothing to the imagination.

And what if those two friends were included in every last one?

This is exactly where Cyn Andrews now finds herself.

Stuck somewhere between wanting to hate Jared and Chris Kennedy for violating her privacy and just plain wanting to be stuck somewhere between them. She could never choose only one brother, so she’s kept her feelings buried for more than a decade, and a past mistake has kept her silent and alone…until now.

Everything she’s ever wanted may have just been handed to her in the form of an invitation to The Library. Not just a building filled with books, but a members only BDSM club the brothers own and have kept hidden from her for years.

Is it pity or desire that fueled the invitation?

What other secrets have they been keeping from her?

Can she protect her heart and face her biggest fear while discovering the art of submitting to two Doms?

It’d be a sin not to find out…


EXCERPT

“What do you mean suited to you? You need someone desperate to be with you, is that it?”

“No. We want someone to submit to us.”

All the air got sucked from the room. Submit. I’d heard the word and read about it for years. Had even experimented once a couple years back. Remembering the last night with Matt and his friend made me turn around and head for the door. Chris took several steps to stop me, but Jared caught his arm and held him back. I wanted something I had already failed at miserably and wasn’t willing to try again. Not with them. They were too important.

“We want you, Cyn. I want to see where this can go. All we’re asking for is a chance. I’m sorry I read your journal without your permission, but if I hadn’t, would you have ever told us you wanted us? Would you have ever flat out just said you wanted me? Be filled so completely you can’t think about anything the next day except what it was like to come so hard you lose consciousness?”

I stopped. Something in his voice made me turn when I was only a few steps away from escaping them and my humiliation. But I knew he was right. I never would have said a word. Their rejection…it would have been too much to bear, so I remained silent. Happy to be their friend, but always on the outside looking in.

Buy Links:

http://www.jenniferkacey.com/index.php/books/together-in-cyn



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I’m going to just jump right in and get the easy stuff out of the way up-front. I am a wife, mother and business owner in Texas with very long black hair and a penchant for high heels and pretty outrageous toe nail polish. I have a very supportive family that I love unconditionally and am fortunate enough to genuinely like and respect them as well.

I started reading romance back in college, liked it so-so, and then I found erotica. Stories a bit on the dark side, a lot on the naughty side, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, it felt like coming home. Finding a genre made just for minds like mine was an amazing revelation, and I swear the characters in my head haven’t stopped hounding me since! 

Something I always love reading about other authors are the funny quirks and idiosyncrasies that make each of us unique, so I thought I’d share a few of mine. These are in no particular order and pretty random, so brace yourselves…

I am a morning person who doesn’t drink caffeine, and I am definitely a glass-half-full kind of girl. I have an extreme case of being left-hand stupid and am bad at all sports that end in “ball”!  Hot weather is my favorite because I'm cold all the time, and I adore lying in the sun. You’ll find a closed sign hanging off my forehead at 10 p.m. pretty much every night when my brain clocks out. What’s weird is I can write ‘til the wee hours of the morning though. Probably because the characters just shove me aside so they can say their piece.

Ooh, and I never procrastinate! If something needs to be done today, it should have been finished yesterday. I call this fantastic; several people, who shall remain nameless, call it having a bug up my A**… I think I’ll stick with fantastic.

I refuse to use a flat sheet to sleep, I love perfume but only one kind, and before I die I want to own flip-flops in every color of the rainbow. And last but not least, the yea or nay on a particular food being deemed good or gross is based off of texture first, taste second.

I hope my writing speaks for itself, and I hope it speaks to you.  The fact that I have the opportunity to share a little piece of myself with you absolutely floors me. On a daily basis I am overwhelmed by the good fortune that is my life, and vowed years ago never to take it for granted.

Best advice I’ve ever been given – find the real you and never settle for anything less!  Well guess what?  I found her!  Lord help the rest of you.



Jennifer will be awarding a "little bit dark. A whole lotta naughty" gift basket worth around $50, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (USA/CANADA ONLY)

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-book-tour-together-in-cyn-by.html
Comments?? 


Posted by at 21 comments:

Friday, 7 June 2013

Welcome Ellora's Cave author, Sarina Wilde...



So thrilled to host Ellora's Cave author, Sarina Wilde to my blog today. Welcome Sarina!

OMG, you have to tell me if it was you or your editor who came up with the "Spare Dick" title!! I can't stop grinning every time I look at your cover - SO great :D

Great to have you here, let's get on with the questions...

1)   What is your writing routine? What is a routine? All kidding aside, I have a full-time job in addition to being in the midst of pursing an advanced university degree—also full-time. Somewhere in all that, I sandwich parenting a teenager and writing. That often means either working late at night or very early in the morning. Did I mention hubby?

2)   Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write? I have to confess I love reading stories about big, tough military guys, but don’t give me any wimpy heroines either. When it comes to writing, I still like my alpha guys (even if they’re having fun with each other), but they might be alphas in personality more than muscle.

3)   What do you expect from an editor? Know your stuff because I know mine. I don’t mind a tough editor, but I would like a rationale for suggested changes. It’s not like I suddenly decided to throw a few words on a page and –oh look – I have a story! I’ve spent time crafting plot and writing. If there’s a problem, I don’t mind changing it, but I do like to know why.

4)   What are you working on right now? I’m cleaning up a final draft of another ménage novel that was originally titled For the Love of Lucas, but –LOL – after titling a story Spare Dick, I guess I’ll have to come up with something a little more off the wall. It’s about two guys who hire a nanny to help with their son. There are a lot of other issues, but that’s the simplest I can make it. I thought about Naughty Nanny, but I’m open to suggestions.

5)   Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists? It’s not enough to be a good writer. The market is flooded with writing thanks to the digital age in which we live. This is a business that requires professional skills such as networking and marketing. That’s tough to learn because most of us would prefer to spend all our time writing (or reading!).

6)   Tease us with a blurb or short excerpt:  Bringing another guy into the bedroom was supposed to spice up Kevin and Jill’s married life. But when Jill insists their third should be someone they don’t know, Kevin’s concerned. His police detective mentality doesn’t want a stranger in their bed.
Then his new partner volunteers for the job. Adam Heller’s more than willing to satisfy Jill’s and Kevin’s every desire. It’s the perfect solution. Jill doesn’t know who Hell is and Kevin has the security of including someone he trusts. What could possibly go wrong?
Their night at a local hotel is hotter than any of them dreamed of—until an early morning page reveals Hell’s true identity. Now, in the midst of investigating a possible serial killer, Hell and Kevin struggle to convince Jill that Hell is more than just a spare dick.
Inside Scoop: Jill’s lusty ménage partners are pretty adventurous and even get up to some male/male action—both within and outside the threesome.

7)   What was your favorite subject in school and why? I loved learning languages. I tackled German and Spanish in secondary school, lived in Switzerland for a year, practiced my Spanish on a couple of cute bartenders in northern Spain then picked up French in college, where I delighted in torturing the professor. Sorry, but after learning German grammar, Spanish and French were a breeze. Nowadays, I’m working on an advanced degree in education, concentrating on becoming a specialist in teaching people how to read. (Building that customer base, don’t you know!)

8)   What is your favorite dessert? Chocolate chip cookies. They are the food of life, edible at any time of day in any amount.

9)   High heels, sneakers or flip flops? Definitely flip flops…or clogs. I wear those when I teach so I can feel taller because I hate high heels.

10)                  Where can readers find you? Spare Dick is available at Ellora’s Cave, on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. You’ll find me on facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for letting my stop by, Rachel!

Comments??
Posted by at 1 comment:

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Welcome Samhain Publishing author, Sarah Castille...



Blurb:
Passion this hot should be illegal.

Katy Sinclair made it to the brink of partnership at her high-powered law firm with hard work, dogged determination, and the ruthless self-discipline to cultivate a conservative public image. But when she follows an evasive witness into a sex club, she can t deny herself a red-hot sexual encounter with the seductive bartender who sets her body on fire. She s sure no one will ever know about her indiscretion until she walks into the courtroom to find her dirty little secret is the opposing counsel in the most important case of her career.

As the managing partner in a struggling law firm, hot-shot attorney Mark Richards can t afford any mistakes that might cost him his biggest client. Like getting involved with his beautiful, determined opponent the mystery woman he hasn t been able to forget. But when Katy s quest for justice leads to death threats, Mark will sacrifice everything to protect her.

Now they re risking their hearts and their lives in a race to catch a killer. Little do they know, the greatest danger lies closer to home.

Warning: The book contains explicit sex, light bondage, violence, murder, steamy shenanigans in the courtroom, naughty sexytimes in the boardroom, and an exceptionally hot hero with a versatile tie. Any objections will be overruled.

EXCERPT

“What about you?” He folded his arms and cocked an eyebrow. “Did you come here with a secret agenda?”
“No secret agenda. When Valerie told me she worked at the club, I was curious so I agreed to meet her here instead of at my office.”
“Brave girl,” he murmured.
Katy cocked an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. She hadn’t been called a girl since she turned eighteen. “That was slightly condescending.”
His eyes crinkled and a smile played at the corners of his broad, sensuous mouth. “The correct response to a compliment is thank you.”
She walked over to another part of the collection and pulled out a dusty bottle. “I hardly think that was—”
“I’m waiting.”
Surprised by his warning tone, she turned to face him.
He sat back in his chair, long, muscular legs spread, corded forearms crossed, dark eyes calm and focused. But despite his casual manner, she sensed power and tension coiled in his lean body, like a cobra ready to spring.
A thrill of fear raced through her, followed by a sharp spike of arousal. She tempered it quickly. No way would she be pushed around even if secretly his commanding tone turned her on. She replaced the bottle in the rack. “I think we’d better get back upstairs.”
His voice softened. “Why are you running away?”
She spun around to face him. “I’m not running away. I…I’ve seen the wine cellar so I thought—”
“You’re afraid.”
Katy folded her arms. “Not at all.”
“Your body says otherwise.”
She froze and then sucked in a breath. “What do you mean by that?”
“Body language. You’re flushed, trembling. Your breathing rate has increased. Your eyes are wide. Your hands are clenched into fists. Your tongue…” He paused and his voice lowered to a husky growl. “Your tongue keeps darting out to lick your lips. If that isn’t fear, sugar, what could it be?”
Arousal, fierce and unfamiliar, shot through her like an electric current, flaming her body, burning a path to her core. Sweat broke out on her heated skin. Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.
Mark’s lips curled into a slow, sensual smile. “Come here, Katy-who-isn’t-afraid.” The sound of his voice, hard and low, sent a chill down her spine.
No, not a chill. A heat wave. A fever. Maybe she was ill. Maybe that’s why her cheeks burned and sweat trickled between her breasts.
But that didn’t explain the deep yearning that had risen up within her. Oh, she wanted to go to him, tear his clothes off, climb onto his lap, run her hands over his broad chest and then lower. It was as if she had been starving for years and he was a banquet waiting to be tasted.
Maybe that was the truth of it.
Giving herself a mental shake, she willed the sensation to go away. What the hell was going on? Was she seriously contemplating having sex with a stranger in the basement of a fetish club?
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Why?”
“Didn’t you want the Meursault?”
Katy nodded and her pulse kicked up a notch.
“Third row down, second bottle from the left.” He pointed above his head.
Katy raised an eyebrow. “A gentleman would get it for me.”
“I’m not feeling like a gentleman right now. Especially after your stirring performance upstairs and the way you’re looking at me now—like you want to devour me.” The heat in his eyes matched his voice, dark and sinful, like a rich Amarone. How long had it been since a man had gazed at her with such desire? After Justin’s birth, Steven had never once looked at her with anything more than mild interest.
Katy lowered her eyes. “I wasn’t… I didn’t mean…”
He cut her off. “Katy.”She looked up into amused brown eyes and then drank in the sight of his hard, muscular body sprawled across the chair; his long legs open and inviting.
Craving, deep and delicious, flooded her veins.
“Come here, sugar. I won’t bite.”
“It’s not the biting I’m worried about.” Nor was it him. Her gut told her he wouldn’t hurt her. If he had wanted to try anything, he wouldn’t have waited this long. No, it was her. She had lost control of herself and she had no idea what this new, lust-driven Katy Sinclair was about to do.
Still, his soft, cajoling voice drew her forward. Although she wanted the wine, she wanted him more. But after ten years on the bench, she didn’t remember how to play the game.
Her heels clicked on the flagstone floor as she closed the distance between them, stopping only a foot away. Even seated, he intimidated her. But God was he sexy. Her pulse raced and her throat turned dry.
He studied her for a long moment, his gaze intense and unwavering. “I’m beginning to wonder if we haven’t met before.”
Katy shook her head. “We haven’t. I’m sure of it. You’re not someone I would ever forget.” Or ever will. She stepped closer, her body now only inches from his. She caught the scent of his spicy aftershave and something raw and purely masculine. A quiver of fear ran through her followed again by the fierce rush of arousal.
“Good girl.”
“I’m hardly a girl.”
He reached out and put his hands on her hips, drawing her close, until she could feel the heat of his breath on her breasts through the thin cotton of her shirt. She bit her lip to stifle a moan.
“Most definitely not,” he murmured.
Inexplicable desires wracked Katy’s body. She wanted to thread her fingers through his hair, straddle his body and press her breasts against his full, sensuous lips.
Her briefcase dropped, unbidden, to the floor. She ran a tentative finger along the square line of his jaw, rough with stubble, but pulled away at his sharp intake of breath.
“Put it back.” He lifted her hand and pressed it against his cheek, trapping it with his own. His skin was warm, firm. So sexy. She felt the slip of arousal between her thighs and drew in a ragged breath.
Get a grip, Katy. This isn’t you.
She eased herself out of his grasp. “You’re going to have to move. I’m not reaching over you.”
“Shame.” He stood with the grace of a man half his size and pulled the chair out of her way.
Katy reached for the bottle. Too high. She looked over her shoulder. Mark’s gaze was fixed firmly on her…ass. She snorted a laugh. “When you’re done, maybe you could give me a hand.”
Mark grinned and walked toward her, stopping so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body across every inch of her back. He put one arm around her waist and pulled her into his broad chest.
“Where do you want it, sugar?” he whispered, his breath warm and moist in her ear.
Red, hot flames of need licked through her body. “Want what?”
“My hand.”
She could think of several places she wanted his hand. Places Steven had rarely touched. Emboldened by his obvious interest, and her own simmering arousal, she let her head fall back on his shoulder and looked up at him. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
His body shook with laughter. “What kind of girl?”
“The kind of girl who tells a man where she wants his hand.”
He stroked the curve of her waist and brushed his lips over her ear. “You don’t have to tell me, sugar. I know.”

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