Tantalizing Tuesday - Sunny's Hope by Nola Cross

Today we've got a snippet from Nola Cross's latest release - Sunny's Hope.
***

When Sunny returned to the bed, she saw Ben had turned on to his back. She crawled in facing him, but was barely able to make out his profile in the dim room. Snuggling up close, she let her gaze drift over the strong line of his nose, his firm lips and chin. His light-colored hair, mussed with sleep, stuck up in endearing wisps from his scalp.

You must have been a darling little boy.

An unexpected wave of tenderness washed over her, and it was all she could do not to reach out and stroke his cheek. The stress and pain of the last two days had torn them apart in some ways, but now she could see that it had woven them more closely together in other ways. They’d come through something terrible, and their relationship had survived, seemed to have gotten stronger even, surpassing sexual attraction and simple friendship, and promising something more complex and enduring.

Of course, Jasmine’s road to recovery still lay ahead. No doubt that would put a strain on many areas of both their lives. Anxious questions tumbled through her head. How long before her daughter came fully awake? Would she be impaired, and if so, how badly? Would she ever be completely normal again?

Would Ben get tired of her need to focus on her daughter’s care? And if Sunny was fully involved in Jasmine’s therapies, her recovery, would she have any emotional energy left for a love life with Ben?

She sighed, suddenly overwhelmed and sad. Things had looked so promising for them. She longed to go back in time to that afternoon at the snow park when he’d pulled her close and kissed her with such heated passion.

“See anything you like?” Ben’s voice was a quiet rumble in the dark.

Sunny gave a squawk of surprise. “You were awake all this time?”

“I woke up when you left the bed. I guess I’m not used to people coming and going at all hours.”

“I would hope not.”

A few seconds went by.

“I’d like to get used to it, Sunny.” He rolled on his side so they were facing each other. She felt his fingers graze the side of her face. Even though she couldn’t see him clearly, she guessed there was a mischievous light dancing in his blue eyes.

“What are you saying, Ben?”

“Only that it feels right to have you here beside me.”

“Oh. Yes.”

They were silent. Sunny tried to pry her mind open far enough to consider the implications of his statement. She couldn’t begin to field all the questions that arose. On top of all the unknowns surrounding Jasmine’s health, it was just too much. Too soon.

“I can’t think about that right now,” she finally said.

“That’s all right. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

The quiet promise in his words brought unexpected tears to her eyes. Wasn’t this guy almost too good to be true? His quiet reassurance filled her with a renewed sense of hope. With Ben as her champion, she could go forward. Together they could face anything.

“Ben?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you make love to me?”

“What about your neck?”

“We can be careful.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’ll let you know if I’m uncomfortable.”

“Come here then,” he whispered, and pulled her close.

In the dark, his lips found hers, moving gently but with purpose on her mouth, and his hand coasted slowly down her body and back up again, finding her breast.

“Yes,” she murmured as he caressed her flesh, through the soft layer of flannel at first and then with her top pushed up. His hand was warm, possessive, arousing and soothing at the same time. Eventually her sensitive nipples responded, pebbling against his palm, and she couldn’t stop the low moan that curled in her throat.

“You like that?” He pressed a kiss to her hairline as his hand continued its explorations. Soft pinches and tugs made her squirm with pleasure.

“Mmm. Yes. Don’t ever stop.”

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon - Nook - Beachwalk Press

Can their bright new love survive?

It's a new year and Sunny Williamson and Ben Stillman have just fallen in love. The future holds so much shining promise for them and their two kids. Then, after a wonderful family day together, tragedy strikes. They are all involved in a serious car crash, and both Sunny and her little girl, Jasmine, are injured. While Sunny's injuries are fairly minor, Jasmine hovers in a coma from which she may never fully recover.

Can Sunny—a grade-school teacher—accept the unthinkable idea that her daughter may have permanent brain damage? Can she fend off her slimy ex-husband, who is only out to profit from their misfortune? And will Ben always be tormented by a terrible sense of guilt, wondering if there was something he could have done to prevent the collision?

As Sunny and Ben struggle to come to terms with the calamity, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Will their bright new love survive or shatter like delicate ice?

Content Warning: contains scenes of sensual sex and adult language

Tantalizing Tuesday - Dating in the Dark by Tracey Rogers

Good morning and welcome to Tantalizing Tuesday. Today I'm sharing an excerpt of my latest release, Dating in the Dark, Book 1 in the Sweet Delights Series.
Enjoy!

    “I need something delicious and naughty,” Sophie Rose said, exaggerating each word slowly, lacing each syllable with a need that said she wanted it now. Because she did. Badly. “Something rich and decadent that will melt on my tongue so I can taste it all day. And please, please—make it huge.”
    “Would you like that with or without cream?” a husky, very male voice said.
    Heat surged to her face with the force of scalding water, her mouth forming a wide O. She dropped her pen, fumbling with both hands to regain hold of the phone she’d nearly tossed like a hot potato.
    Speaking of hot.
    That was not the voice she was expecting. Not that anyone had ever talked dirty to her before, but Lord he had the perfect voice for it. Or had she subconsciously dialed Make-MeMelt? Because it really had been one of those weeks.
    With her colleagues now looking quizzically in her direction, she closed her gaping mouth and offered a weak smile. Not that she was fooling them. She would share her moment of mortification later. They would love this. Pushing with her toes, she swiveled the chair around until she faced the window. Her white shirt suddenly seemed a bit tighter over her heated skin. She took a small breath, ignored the race of her pulse, and fought to regain composure.
    “I’m so sorry, I thought you were Sweet Delights,” she said in a lowered tone as she cringed inwardly.
    “I am.”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “Sweet Delights—that’s me,” he drawled.
    Sweet Delights indeed. The name suddenly conjured up images of naughtiness that had nothing to do with delicious cakes and pastries. Treat Day Friday had suddenly taken on a new meaning.

Blurb
Can you find what you need hidden within the dark?

Hiding out in his sister's bakery to recover from a recent injury isn't an ideal solution for newly unemployed meteorologist Damian Trent. Especially since he doesn't like cake. But hiding anywhere is preferable to facing the media frenzy revolving around his life. He has no intention of being seen by anyone. That is, until he hears a honey-toned voice over the phone.

Public relations agent Sophie Rose has a boss who makes her working week a hellish one. He drives her to her need for sugar, so the recently opened Sweet Delights Bakery is perfect for her much needed Friday treat. But one day when she calls to place an order, she gets an unexpected surprise.

Sophie's keen to dump her V-plates, though only the right man will do. Damian, with his sexy, yet familiar sounding voice, seems the ideal person for her to gain some much needed experience with. But why do they need to date in the dark?

Content Warning: contains sensual sex

Thank you for reading :-)
~ Tracey

Tantalizing Tuesday - Book of Love by Constance Bretes

Constance Bretes has a new release coming December 15th, and it's titled Book of Love. Check out this teaser.
***

“Colstrip Auto Care,” Chris said into the phone.

“Hello, Chris. This is Janice.” There was silence on the other end. “I was wondering if I could get you to stop over at the library. I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Well, is it really necessary?” he asked.

“It’s important, I think,” she replied.

“Okay, I’ll stop by after I get out of work today, about five. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that would be fine. Thanks, Chris.” She hung up the phone.

He sounded like he did not want to meet with me or talk to me. She knew she’d made a vow that she wouldn’t bother him again, but this was important to her and she needed to get him to vote for her proposals.

She had butterflies in her stomach as five o’clock came and Chris arrived at the library.

“Hi, Chris,” Janice said.

“Hello. What’s this all about?” he asked pensively.

“I wanted to take you downstairs to the basement and show you something,” she said.

They walked down the stairs, Chris following Janice. When she turned on the light a rat slithered across the floor, and she let out a shriek. Chris looked around the room.

“We have all these books here,” Janice said. She lifted one of the old books and opened it to the pages and within where some were eaten away. “The vermin and bugs have been attacking these, and in some cases, the books have disintegrated. See here? This is a book about Colstrip back in the 1800s and we can’t even open the book to read it because it has totally disintegrated inside. Some of these books are real gems. This is one of a first edition, Samuel Clemens, do you know of him?” she asked.

“No.”

“His pen name is Mark Twain. He wrote Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.”

“Oh,” Chris replied.

“Look at his book. It’s totally destroyed, and it would have been worth a lot of money now, if it had survived.”

Janice went over to the ladder and stepped up on it to show Chris the books on the top shelf. The ladder gave way, and she came crashing down. Chris caught her before she fell to the floor.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern in his tone.

“Um, yeah, I think so.” She put her feet on the floor and turned, facing Chris, her breasts against his chest. His arms were around her waist, holding her tightly. His breath mingled with hers, and he was looking down at her lips.

Oh, she wanted him to kiss her. Please, please kiss me. The sweet, intoxicating musk of his body overwhelmed her. He bent slightly toward her, and his lips touched hers softly. She kissed him back, lingering, savoring every moment. She felt the kiss all the way through her body as she put her arms around him. A loud rustling noise broke their kiss with a start.

Chris looked around and saw that there were rats in the corner rattling paper. He turned back to her. “Are we finished here?”

“Yes, I think we are,” Janice responded, hoping she had convinced him that there was work to be done in the basement.

When they went upstairs, he turned around and asked her huskily, “What was the purpose of our little meeting, Janice?”

Janice thought about how she should answer the question then said, “I submitted the request to the mayor’s office for several things, and I heard that you would probably be the one person that would oppose spending any money for the project I’m suggesting, so I wanted to show you the benefit of my proposal and the problems we are faced with currently.”

Chris had a gentle smile on his face as he looked at her. “Good persuasion, Janice. Does that include the kiss too?”

Janice looked down at her feet, embarrassed. “No, the kiss was not a part of the persuasion. At least, not on my part.”

He put a finger under her chin and brought her face up to look at him. “You’ll probably get what you want, but I’d also include in your proposal to have an exterminator come in and get rid of the termites,” he said, with a slight smile. He turned and walked out.

COMING SOON!

A librarian, a mechanic, and a psychotic ex. What could go wrong?

When her marriage came to a devastating end, Janice Meyers moved to Montana to try to escape her past and get a fresh start. She's sworn off men, but she didn't anticipate meeting Chris.

After the death of his wife, Chris Jamisen focused all his time and energy on running his auto repair shop and raising his children. He's not looking for love, and when he first meets Janice, the town's new librarian, he never imagines they might embark on a relationship. Sure, he'll admit he finds the smart, sexy blonde attractive, but the frustrating woman expects miracles from him. Her vehicle is practically beyond repair, but she insists he has to keep it running.

As Chris gets to know Janice, he begins to develop feelings for her, but he's reluctant to pursue a relationship. He's Native American, and he worries about the complications of a biracial relationship. He's experienced prejudice first hand, so he knows how difficult it can be.

When Janice's ex-husband shows up seeking revenge, things could reach a horrible end. Will Chris save Janice in time? And will he and Janice be able to set aside their painful pasts and give their relationship a chance?

Content Warning: contains some sexual content

Tantalizing Tuesday - Grading on Curves by Tara Mills

This week, we've got a spicy scene from Grading on Curves by Tara Mills.
****

With the end of the school year right around the corner, Mia only got to see Curt once that

following week and that was for a hasty meal Monday night before he ran back to the school to set up for his classes the next day. He was simply too busy to give her anything else at the moment, what with a flurry of late assignments coming in, reviewing the last quarter with his classes, setting pop quizzes, and planning his final test. She had to cope without him.

It wasn’t easy. Now she understood the full and unpleasant meaning of the expression pining. She was pining for her lover—big time.

Every evening Mia took her phone into her bedroom when she turned in, knowing Curt would call to say goodnight. It was his Tuesday call that transformed every one afterward into a sexy little secret between them. There was an understanding now that they’d both be in bed by then.

“What color is it?” he asked softly.

Mia pressed the phone against her ear with her shoulder and pulled her bedside drawer open, her hand closing around the vibrator hidden inside. “Baby blue.”

“Is it loud?”

“Not under the covers.”

“Put it under the covers and turn it on. I want to see if I can hear it.”

She did and held her breath, waiting for the verdict before finally asking, “Well?”

“Pretty quiet. Make a little noise for me.”

“I always do.”

“I know, and I love it.” God, that seductive tone of his always got her going.

Mia laughed. “What are you doing?”

“Wishing this was your hand and that was me between your legs. Pretend it’s me, okay?”

“That would take a stretch of the imagination.”

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

“Talk me through this.”

His low chuckle in her ear made her quiver. “Squeeze your breast, and tell me what you feel like under the covers.”

“Soft, full, yet empty at the same time.”

“We can’t have that. Turn it back on.”

She gave the vibrator a twist and it hummed to life.

“Good girl. Let’s make you moan. Moan for me, Mia.”

AVAILABLE NOW

Beachwalk Press, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, All Romance eBooks, Bookstrand, Barnes & Noble, Coffee Time Romance, iTunes, and WHSmith/UK.

One-on-one instruction never felt so right—or so wrong.

There’s nothing unusual about Mia Page’s attraction to the young science teacher at the middle school. After all, she’s not the only one who finds him enticing. But when he pulls her son aside to ask for her phone number, she knows she’s in serious trouble. Since her divorce four years earlier, she’s been out of circulation, choosing to focus on parenting instead, and she’s not entirely sure she can handle an entanglement with the sexy Mr. Walden.

There are also other reasons why getting involved with Curt would be a bad idea. He’s two years shy of thirty, and she’s on the downside of that unmentionable number. He’s adamant about never having kids, and she has a son. Even the guy’s romantic gifts are suspect. Energy saving light bulbs? He has to be kidding.

On the other hand, he’s fun, sweet, and smart. He stimulates her intellectually, emotionally, and Lord help her, physically, opening her eyes to life outside her comfortable world. Yet their differences quietly gnaw at Mia even while she succumbs to their undeniable chemistry.

As their romance deepens, so do Mia’s fears that Curt will eventually hurt her. On edge, all it takes is an innocent comment to provoke her into drawing first blood. Mia recklessly wounds Curt, learning only too late that this blade cuts both ways. Frantic to make amends, she fears it might be too late to admit the feelings she’s tried so hard to suppress.

Tantalizing Tuesday - Dessert First by Lisa Knight

Welcome back to another teaser Tuesday. Today we have a snippet from Lisa Knightls latest release-Dessert First!
***
When the doors closed for the day Ben and Abby were the last ones left in the café. He had offered to do some personal training in regard to the coffee machine and assured his mum that he would lock up when they were done.

After about an hour she’d mastered the cappuccino and the latte, yet was still a little sketchy on all of the others. It didn’t help that Ben was planting soft kisses along the base of her neck while she tried to remember the coffee to milk ratios and pour boiling hot liquids into cups and mugs to make them look semi-presentable.

In the end Abby gave up on the coffee and turned around to face Ben, whose lips moved instantly to hers.

He wrapped his arms around her and deepened their kiss, penetrating her mouth with his tongue. Abby’s head began to spin and she became lost in Ben’s encompassing presence. Her hands traveled to his butt and his breathing quickened as she wandered over the firm muscles of his behind, then up and under his t-shirt. His skin was hot and slightly damp in the heat of the summer evening, and she let her hands explore the vastness of his wide torso, surely twice the width of her own frame.

She gasped as Ben’s hands cupped her breasts and his fingers gently toyed over the front of her bra. His mouth moved from her lips onto her neck and he began a journey of kisses up to her jaw, which seemed to have a direct link to her groin, causing her to cry out.

Abby tugged at Ben’s t-shirt, wanting to touch more of his bare skin, and he pulled it up over his head before doing the same with hers. It suddenly occurred to Abby that there could well be a crowd of people on the street watching their every move. With a nervous peep toward the windows, she breathed a sigh of relief to see that the blinds were pulled. Ben must have done it earlier when he’d flipped the sign on the door to ‘closed.’ She hadn’t even noticed. She’d been so preoccupied with all that coffee.

Having removed her shoes due to an unwelcome blister on her little toe, Abby stood before Ben wearing only jeans and her bra. She took a moment to absorb the glory of his well defined abs and couldn’t quite decide if this was real or if she was somehow in an episode of Bondi Rescue, her absolute favorite show back home.

Ben kissed her again, and suddenly everything took on a rather urgent role and there was a flurry of clothes discarded to the floor. Abby ran her hands over Ben’s stomach, unable to fathom that all those muscles were actually real. As she explored further down his body she decided that she definitely must be dreaming. No man was this spectacular, this glorious, this huge.

“Oh God, Abby,” Ben murmured breathlessly, pressing against her, pinning her between himself and the countertop. Fleetingly, she noted the contrast of the heat of his body compared to the cool stone bench against her bare skin before her mind began to swim and she was unable to think of anything except having all of him. Now.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Does being in love mean giving up everything?

Overwhelmed by shame after a dodgy one-night stand, Abby Henderson finds herself in Niagara Falls and hopes sexy barista Ben Pryor can help extinguish her ever present guilt. When a letter arrives from home, turning her life upside down, she realizes her holiday fling actually feels a lot more like the real thing.

Long-distance romance proves harder than Abby thought, and with crazy advice from fortune tellers to 'follow the scent', she finds herself forced to choose between her rising career and the man she loves.

Content Warning: contains some sexual content and explicit language

Amazon - Nook - Beachwalk Press

Tantalizing Tuesday - Counting Cowboys by Lacey Wolfe

Welcome to this weeks tease! On November 17th, 2014, Counting Cowboys will be live. How about another sneak peek into this story. This time a little more sexy.
****

She sipped through her straw, the liquid quenching a thirst she hadn’t realized she had. “So, let me get this straight—I’m offering myself to you, and you’re turning me down?”
He balled his hands into fists. “Yup.”
She glanced around. “Wonder if anyone else might want to…”
Her words trailed off because he now stood beside her. His hand wrapped around her neck and tilted her face up. “You will not be going home with someone else.”
Then his mouth found hers. Her eyes widened, shocked he was kissing her, but when she closed them, her mouth opened. Her tongue tangled with his. If she’d been turned on before, it was nothing compared to the flood that was building below the belt. She was ready to wrap her legs around his waist just so she could feel his hard erection against her, but doing that in the middle of Long Necks might not be appropriate.
His fingers tightened in her hair, and he kissed her harder. She clung to his arms, and he leaned her back farther in her chair. Hopefully she wouldn’t fall off the back of this thing. That would be embarrassing.
Tucker broke the kiss and stared at her with a longing in his eyes. “That was better than I expected.”
“Oh, yeah?” She looked around. “Is there someplace a little more private where we could kiss? Nothing more, I promise.”
* * * *
Lauren giggled as Tucker pressed her back into the side of his truck. He nudged her legs apart and stepped between them.
“This is as private as I could get us.”
“I think you could’ve found somewhere else.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder.
“This is safe.”
She curled her hands around his neck, and he knew he was a goner as her green eyes stared at him. Fuck. Why the hell had he wanted to keep this tame? He should be taking her back to his place, tying her to his bed, and having his way with her.
He claimed her lips with a greed he hadn’t been expecting. She moaned and tightened her grip on his neck. He dug his nails into her side as he pressed his cock into her stomach, making sure she knew what it was she did to him.
Her breasts were against his chest. Breaking the kiss, he trailed his lips down her neck so he could take a peek through the top of her blouse. Seeing her creamy breasts in the black bra, he groaned. Were her nipples hard for him? Damn, if they weren’t outside, he’d find out.
Lauren grabbed his face and brought his lips back to hers. Ah, a woman who knew what she wanted…and it was him. He placed both hands on his truck on either side of her body. It was best to keep them off her, or else he’d begin stripping her in the back parking lot of Long Necks.
She tangled her hands in the hem of his shirt, tugging it out of his waistband. If she touched him, this would be over. He’d haul his truck door open, lay her on the seat, and spread her legs apart. Her fingers caressed his belly button, teasing him as she dipped them a little lower then back up.
Okay, he had to stop this. He was about to spill in his pants like a thirteen-year-old boy who’d just seen his first nudie magazine.
He tore away from her, taking several steps back. Whatever they had between them, it was strong. He stared at her, her lips swollen from the passion.
“We’ve got to stop.”
She nodded. “I think you’re right. I don’t know what came over me.” She looked around, taking a deep breath.
“God, you’re so beautiful.”
“Me?”
“How could you not know? You’re perfect. I can’t find anything wrong with you.” He stepped closer.
“Complimenting me like that isn’t good. I might want to kiss you again.”
“No more kissing.”
“No more kissing.” She pushed away from the truck, adding more distance between them.

COMING NOVEMBER 17TH!

Can a hot cowboy convince Lauren to stay in Texas and take another chance on love?

Tucker Carver likes to have fun and has no intention of settling down anytime soon. He handles the business side of Carver Ranch for his family, and on the day he’s scheduled to meet with their accountant, he instead meets a beautiful woman who changes everything.

Lauren Ford packed up and moved to Texas to start over after her fiancé had an affair with her best friend. Her father’s retiring and has offered to let her take over his accounting firm. When she meets Tucker she’s immediately taken with him, despite his reputation as a ladies’ man. Knowing she isn’t looking for love, or even if she wants to stay in Texas, she decides to have fun with Tucker and keep her feelings at bay.

After one taste of Lauren, Tucker has other plans. Lauren is the woman he wants, but for some reason she’s resisting. And it doesn’t help when her ex-fiancé shows up in town wanting her to go back to Georgia with him. Can Tucker convince her that his feelings are true, or will he lose her forever?


Content Warning: contains adult language and explicit sexual scenes

Tantalizing Tuesday - Sex, Love & Aliens, Volume 1

Today, we've got a teaser from the book Sex, Love & Aliens. This anthology contains four sexy novellas and we'll be sharing an excerpt from each one of those.

Tangled Webs Excerpt:

Turning away from her position, Gia caught sight of movement from the corner of her eye. This time she looked out the window and in her garden was a Ba'Tua male.

"Holy hell, what's he doing here?"

Gia headed for the door just as Cedun was removing his Montgomery Industries t-shirt by the side of the pool. Her mind was sluggish and her coordination impaired, and she slammed into the edge of the door as she scurried through it.

"Shit!" The curse escaped her mouth as she kept moving, her hand rubbing the injured section of her side. "Cedun, what the hell are you doing in my backyard?" In her haste, she didn't see the hose on the deck and tripped.

She did notice the bright violet of his eyes—wide and startled—and the bronzed rippling muscles as she cartwheeled, flailing for something to grab onto, then she was falling backward. It's all so slow! A thunk sound married with the explosion of pain in her head.

The water closed around her and invaded her mouth and lungs. Her chest burned as the water weighed her down. Just as it all seemed too much, strong, vise-like arms slid around her middle, hauling her up to the surface.

"Do not struggle, Gia. Let me help you." He did, hauling her out of the pool and laying her flat on the concrete.

Then he rolled her over as she hacked and coughed. Water gushed from her mouth and nose, and she moaned once the indignity was over.

"Now, De' Gia, tell me why you ran out of the house and threw yourself into the pool. De' Valerie told me that you had been removed from your post. It cannot be that which is distressing?"

"Job," she corrected, quietly hoping to stop his liquid voice. Her head and chest ached viciously, and all she wanted was bed. "I want to go to bed."

Cedun stilled. "Is that not precipitous?" A smiled crept over his face, and it turned her insides to molten lava.

Clarity speared her. Their grasp of the English language was literal. She said she wanted to go to bed and was speaking to him, ergo, he thought sex. Horror filled her.

Cedun was probably the most relaxed and least repressed of all the Ba'Tua she'd met. Gia also suspected he'd been involved with Valerie for some time. After all, Valerie was still young at forty-two.

Gia groped for his t-shirt, meaning to push him away. The realization of being so close to Cedun's muscular and unclothed chest flooded her as her hands made contact with hard and well-formed naked flesh. He'd removed that covering before her fall into the pool. Heat flared beneath her fingers as her heart rate sped up. "Cedun, I didn't mean…"

He chuckled. "I laugh with you, De' Gia."

She struggled to free herself. "Go laugh with someone else."



The Spaceship Captain's Wife Excerpt:

Why am I doing this to myself? Damn, if I didn't need the money… But he did.

As the girl came to kneel beside her father, Ric realized he'd rather face a laser pistol-wielding hijacker than this woman. The traditional charado robe that consisted of many layers of light, sheer fabric did nothing to hide the outline of her body. His mouth went dry and sweat stung his eyes.

The older woman offered him a light meal of native Darooian nuts and fruit. Ric shook his head. He didn't want to risk polluting himself with radiated food. But this transaction was too important for him to offend them.

"Forgive me, I am far too full of…of joy to eat," Ric said.

Marit's woman gazed at him for a moment. Her shrewd eyes narrowed with doubt, but she nodded and pulled the offered tray away.

The kneeling girl was so still he couldn't even tell if she was breathing. His host was watching the silent female with an unfathomable sorrow. Then he turned to study Ric without speaking for a drawn out length of anxiety-filled time. Ric fidgeted nervously.

Oh damn, I hope I haven't blown this. I'll lose the ship without this deal. Ric tried to hide his worry from the other man by keeping his face expressionless.

"We only eat food that arrives in bio locked containers. Our offering is safe. Kateri has not left this house since she was a girl of ten. She has spent half her life hiding from death, it's long past time she was allowed to live," said Marit in the gentle tone. There was no anger or censor on his face, just sadness.

The quiet girl flinched. The movement was subtle, but Ric was used to watching for the slightest tells during negotiations. The girl's posture stiffened.

So she was twenty. He relaxed a bit. She was a decade younger than he was, but at least she wasn't some underage child.

Embarrassed, Ric looked away. "Forgive me," he said, unsure if he was apologizing for the planet's destruction or his behavior.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Caution is an admirable trait. Integrity is another thing I respect. She will make a good wife…"

Marit paused as a string of quickly spoken Dar, their language, interrupted him. Her outraged voice drifted up from under the veils and proved she had a bit of spirit.

The older man's fatherly tone ebbed between anger and softness. Ric only caught a few words, but he was almost positive the girl hadn't known she was part of the conditions for this export.

When she was silent, Ric could see her shaking. The strangest urge to comfort her came over him, but he shoved it away. Perhaps it was the camaraderie of being tricked, but the protectiveness her reaction stirred in him didn't go away.

She muttered something, and he fought to suppress his grin. He had the most inappropriate urge to peek under her veil and see her expression. Was she seething with rage, or was she pouting? He wanted to know. The veil tormented his naturally overactive Metrician curiosity.

"Kateri is a good girl, dutiful. She is…uncomfortable leaving her family behind," said the anxious man democratically.

Ric cleared his throat awkwardly. He could respect the answer. If he truly cared about anyone, he wouldn't want to leave them to die either. A planet hadn't died since the days of old Earth. Pain squeezed his heart in a metaphoric vise. Guilt. His people treated their world like it was garbage, and yet Metricia would live on long after Daroo was space dust.

"Don't look so dour, Captain Aydric Julius. We will die with our gods, but our daughter will live on for us and remember our names. Saving her life is worth risking my soul," Marit said quietly. "She is the most precious gem in your cargo."

Ric nodded. No one had ever loved him as this man loved his daughter. It was astounding and humbling to be entrusted with her life. He'd never wanted such a responsibility thrust on him, but now that it was, he couldn't turn them down.

Is she willing to marry a stranger? What am I getting myself into?

Ric could tell the girl was looking at him. He wanted to talk to her and make sure she was willing. He didn't believe in much, but his honor mattered to him.



His Human Excerpt:

"Why do you want to go to Earth so bad?" Elara asked.

Rogue didn't answer readily, instead, he appraised her, his gaze lingering on her sweat-soaked blouse. "You haven't been here long, woman, but surely long enough to see this planet rivals the hell that the humans make us read about. It's dry here, hot enough to melt the skin right off your body during certain seasons. Those tunnels you saw dotting the landscape, those were burrowed by one of US-2's many creatures. Leave my side, and they'll snatch you up and swallow you whole. It'd probably be an easier death than you deserve."

"Excuse me?" Elara glared at him. "Did you keep me alive to insult me to death?"

"Why would you sign up to take men as slaves, take them to a war they can't even understand?"

"I'm not the bad guy here!" Her voice echoed through the cave, the sound suddenly making her feel more brave.

"Neither am I. Unless I'm crossed." He stood, still nude, his well-muscled body towering over her. "Now that you're my captive, perhaps you can appreciate what we are fighting for. Freedom." With that, the clone walked away from her. She glanced away, trying to avoid looking at the well-carved butt cheeks as the massive soldier walked away. He had a perfect body. The kind of body that was built to kill.

Elara's mind spun. Not only had two clones tried to rape her, but her epic plan to seduce Rogue didn't work. He'd never before had a woman, and she still couldn't please him. Yet he'd protected her from those men.

As far as Rogue was concerned, she wasn't sure what happened. He'd seemed so close to coming. He'd moaned, but then he'd been disgusted by her, shoving her away. She should have been happy that his cum didn't fill her mouth, but it also meant her death.

But if he was going to kill her, why didn't he just leave her to those men?

Finally alone, the terror of the day washed over her. She'd watched her peers murdered, she'd gone down on her captor, and she'd nearly been raped by two killers. Tears leaked down her cheeks, quickly dried by the intense heat on US-2.

Just as soon as he'd left, Rogue returned. His strong hand pulled her out of the fetal position to face him. When he saw her tears, he sneered in disgust. "I'm leaving to retrieve rations. Don't try to escape."

Hope bloomed within her. Of course she'd try to escape. Was this clone daft? She just never thought she'd be left alone to try.

Elara thought back to the initial attack on the space shuttle. The interior had sustained damage, but clearly the clones had been careful, obviously planning to try to take it to Earth themselves.

Rogue pulled on his military cargo shorts, not bothering with a shirt. He pulled a sachet of lotion out of his pocket and slathered it over his hard chest and chiseled stomach. It was a body meant to punish.

She barely heard Rogue's final warning before he departed. Something about danger. Duh. Elara may have been surrounded by a planet of rebel clones, but she was a military captain, specially chosen for this very mission. Her femme fatale Plan A had failed, but now she had no other choice but to try to ass kick her way off this planet. She was sure as dead anyway, might as well die trying.



Gravitation Excerpt:

Niah's leg must be healing nicely if he was able to move around to her side of the cold fire pit. She should be feeling fear because now he could easily overpower her. Kill her. Only he did neither. He just laid there with his hand on her hip and his eyes staring deeply into her own.

This was wrong. So horribly wrong.

And yet…it didn't feel wrong.

And that scared her more than anything.

"Shh," he whispered, and his hand ran soothing circles across her hip bone.

Bree closed her eyes because she couldn't stand looking at him anymore, couldn't face the attraction she was developing. And somehow she must have fallen asleep because the next time she opened her eyes it was daylight.

She sat up quickly, looking around. Niah was gone. His leg splints were in a nice pile, the only testament that he'd been there. She ignored the stab of pain that pierced through her and told herself it was better this way. He had gone back to his people, to where he came from. It was time she went to where she belonged.

As she gathered her things and slipped her backpack over her shoulders, she thought about when she asked him to save one life as a thank you. Well, it seemed like he'd done just that.

He'd spared hers.

AVAILABLE NOW - and 99 cents for a limited time!

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Tantalizing Tuesday... The Weekend Surprise

Woo hoo! I'm excited to be celebrating another release with Beachwalk Press. If you've read The Weekend Proposition you've met the Cannon Brothers. Here's a sexy teaser from my latest release...

The Weekend Surprise

A chance meeting or a calculated encounter? Someone is in for a surprise.

Brooklyn Conservatory student Sammy Falcone lives a quiet and modest life. She's busy studying classical music, playing her cello, and trying to make ends meet. After she learns of her deceased mother's secret that may involve the Cannon family, she heads to a wedding to catch a glimpse of the privileged clan, never expecting to come face-to-face with them.

Tyler Cannon must abandon his wild, partying ways and step up to help his brother Spencer run the family advertising business. When he meets Sammy at his brother's wedding he's immediately taken by the reserved beauty. Her innocence and simple lifestyle intrigue him enough to become a one-woman man.

Sammy is drawn to Tyler's charm and the attention he shows her. Once she gets to know him, the secrets of her mother's past are no longer important. The problem is Spencer has been suspicious of her from the beginning. Will Spencer's overprotectiveness of his family ruin her chances with Tyler? And if the truth comes out, will Sammy be able to convince Tyler that she never meant his family any harm?

TEASER...

 She put the fruit to her full, kissable lips and sucked the first cherry into her mouth.

Is she trying to make me come? He was never going to get rid of the hard-on he had for her at this rate.

“You’re really sexy when you take charge. I like to consider myself an independent woman, but I won’t lie. With you, I could relinquish some of that independence and let you take control.”

“I think the alcohol has lowered your inhibitions.” He leaned closer to her, taking her chin between his fingers. “I like it.”

“You have no idea.” She licked her lips, the scent of the cherry lingered on her breath. “There are all sorts of new and thrilling ideas swirling through my head right now.”

“Hmm...” He brushed his mouth against hers. “I take it you like the martini.”

“Very much.” She held the toothpick in front of him. “Do you want my cherry?”

 “Fuck,” he whispered. “Don’t say things like that.”

“Oh!” She laughed, but the blush in her cheeks gave her away when she realized what
she had just asked. “I meant this one, I mean...”

“Shh.” He took her wrist and brought the cherry to his mouth. “Yes, I want your cherry.”

Sliding it off the toothpick, he held it between his teeth. He leaned into her mouth, pressing his to hers, and pushing the fruit between her lips. Taking his time, he savored her taste, exploring her slowly and deeply.

She sighed when he released her chin, moving his hand down to caress her throat. The longer he kissed her, the more of her he wanted to touch. Trailing his hand lower, he swept his fingers along her silky tank top, feeling her aroused nipples brush against his palm as he moved his hand to rest on her exposed thigh.

“We have to stop,” he mumbled against her lips. “We’re in public.” 

“I always seem to forget that when I’m with you.” 

Both books stand alone and are available now...

The Weekend Proposition

The Weekend Surprise

Beachwalk Press Buy Link

Amazon

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Tantalizing Tuesday - Love Songs by Constance Bretes

Welcome to this weeks Tantalizing Tuesday from Constance Bretes and her story Love Song coming October 20th.
***

Rehearsal that afternoon went by swiftly. Before Jennifer could get out the door, Jake came around from the drums and asked, “Jenn, are you hungry?” Jennifer stood there speechless for a few minutes. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight.”

“Oh, I’d love to have dinner with you,” Jennifer finally answered after breaking the trance of staring at him.

“Would you mind having steaks and potatoes cooked on the grill?”

“That’s my favorite meal.”

They walked from the studio over to Jake’s house and entered the front door. Jake went to the refrigerator and pulled out the steaks. He selected two large Idaho potatoes and wrapped them in foil. He then went out the back door to his grill and put everything on.

Jennifer followed him outside and asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Nope. It’s all set.”

They sat at the picnic table on the deck behind the house while they waited for the steaks and potatoes to get done.

“So, Jenn, what’s really going on with you?” Jake asked. “What are you hiding or running from?”

Jennifer looked startled by the question. “Um, nothing really.”

“It just seems odd to me that you suddenly dropped out of sight a few years ago. Now you’re here trying to decide what you want to do with your life. Something caused you to drop out like that.”

“I didn’t really just drop out of sight. I had planned it for several months prior to going to Africa and working for the World Hunger Organization. I grew tired of doing the tours, the singing engagements, and concerts. I had no personal life to speak of because I was always in the spotlight and couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without a big crowd hanging about, and I was always on the road. It was okay, and it had its moments, but I wanted to do something more with my life. I was so focused on all the glamour in my life that I felt like I was becoming a very shallow person. I wanted to show others, and myself, that I was a caring person and can help those who need help. The World Hunger Organization gave me the chance to do that.”

“It was very commendable for you to do that, but you never needed to prove anything to me.” Jake looked steadily into her eyes. “Would you ever consider staying here?”

If you would have me. “I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to sort out. I have all these houses that my parents left me, and I feel really overwhelmed with the sheer number of decisions I have to make.”

“Are the other houses the same size as the one here?”

“No, they’re twice the size of the ranch. Plus, my dad collected antiques and he has a number of pieces that are very valuable. My mother had expensive tastes, and I have to figure out what I’m going to do with all her stuff.”

“Do you think you would sell all the houses?” Jake watched her closely.

“If I decide to continue my singing career and start touring and recording again, I’d probably keep the house in Los Angeles and possibly this one. I just don’t know yet what I’m going to do.” They sat in silence for a few minutes.

“I’ll be back in a minute with the plates and silverware.” He got up and went inside the house. He came back out with the plates, silverware, and glasses filled with iced tea.

The food was finally done, so he brought the steaks and potatoes over to the table and they started to eat.

“Mmm, this steak is delicious, Jake. What did you marinate it in?” Jennifer asked, hoping to change the subject.

“That’s my secret sauce, and I don’t divulge it.” Jake stopped long enough to drill her with a steady stare.

She laughed. “Well, it’s really good.”

“This is not the only delicious meal I can make. I don’t suppose you have ever even had any experience in meal preparation, huh? I remember you hadn’t when we were going together,” he said mischievously.

“Oh, what you don’t know about me, Jake,” Jennifer responded demurely. “I can cook just as good a meal as you.”

“You’ll have to prove it,” Jake challenged.

“Is that you trying to get me to have you over for dinner?”

Jake threw his head back and laughed. “Yep.”

“Okay, you’re on. How about tomorrow night after rehearsal?”

“Tomorrow will work for me. It’ll give you time to come up with some concoction and call it cooking.” He smiled at her.

“Some concoction, huh? Boy, are you gonna be sorry.” Jennifer chuckled.

“Are you trying to tell me that you’re now some culinary artist?” Jake asked.

“No. But I’ve learned a few things about cooking.”

“Hope my stomach can handle it.”

They both burst out laughing.

Finally Jennifer brought up the subject of Kaitlin. “How come you broke up with Kaitlin?”

“How’d you know about that?”

“She stopped by the house this morning. She was upset and threatened me because she thinks I’m the reason you broke up with her. Right after I started rehearsing with you guys, she walked me out to the car and told me that she expected you two would be announcing your engagement soon.” Jennifer watched Jake’s reaction.

“Jenn, there was nothing going on with Kaitlin and me except friendship. There was no intimate relationship between us.” He looked deeply into her eyes.

“So, why did you end it with her?” Jennifer wanted to know. She also sensed that he was searching for a reaction from her.

“You and some other folks have told me that she was after more than I was willing to give.”

In her heart, she was secretly glad that his relationship with Kaitlin had ended, but it also reminded her of his stance on marriage. She doubted he’d ever want to settle down.

After they finished their meal, they took the dishes inside, rinsed them off, and put them in the dishwasher. Jennifer looked up at Jake. “Thank you for dinner. I enjoyed it.”

“I’d like to do this more often.” He smiled at her and put his hands on her waist.

“What, dinner together?” Jennifer asked.

“And that too.” Jake looked deeply into her eyes.

Suddenly the song Maybe Later echoed out. Jennifer looked at him confused.

He smiled and cocked his head. “My ringtone.” He went into the other room to grab his cellphone and answer it.

When he came back, she asked him, “You have me on your ringtone?”

“Yep.” He smiled.

He came to her and drew her close to him. She lifted her head up to meet his kiss. His kiss started gentle and slight, then became stronger and more forceful as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. He kissed her jawline, her cheeks, and back to her mouth again. His hands gently caressed her arms and to her breasts.

Jake pulled back and asked, “Are you ready for this, Jenn?”

“Oh yeah,” Jennifer whispered.

COMING OCTOBER 20TH

Separated by fame, reunited through music.

When Jennifer Summers returns to the U.S. after spending two years in Africa, she has some decisions to make. Should she resume her singing career or continue to live a secluded life out of the spotlight in the hopes that her stalker won't be able to locate her?

Years ago Jake Ackerson let Jennifer go so she could pursue her dreams. When she suddenly returns to their hometown he's determined to rekindle his relationship with the woman he never stopped loving.

Jake's band is temporarily without a singer, and Jennifer agrees to take the position, but in doing so she is once again pushed into the limelight, and she knows it's only a matter of time before danger strikes.

Will Jake be able to protect her, and can he convince her to put past hurts aside and give their relationship another shot?

Content Warning: contains some sexual content

Tantalizing Tuesday - Demon Hunter by Jacquie Underdown

This week on Tantalizing Tuesday, we have Jacquie Underdown and her upcoming release Demon Hunter.
***

Sammy slowly leant closer and pressed her lips to his. All Jonty’s angst, all his desire, was communicated in a single sigh of acceptance. He opened her lips with his, found her tongue. She loved his warmth, his taste, the rough prickle of his chin. She had ached for this ever since that first kiss. Her entire body buzzed with a delicious energy, a want, a need. His strong hands gripped her hips, then slid up her spine to her neck where he pulled gently on the hair at her nape.

She looked into his eyes. “How can what is happening between us be wrong? It feels so pure.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Does it have to be complicated?”

He shrugged. “I can’t see any other way.”

Sammy ran her thumb along his full bottom lip. His eyes languidly closed. She couldn’t resist leaning in, taking that very lip between her own, and kissing him again, exactly as she imagined.

“Tasting you is easy enough,” she said.

He smiled. “Easy, and it feels so incredibly good.”

Sammy stood before him and lowered onto his lap. She circled her arms loosely around his neck and kissed him again. “How about we do whatever feels incredibly good then?”

He rested his forehead against hers. His lips lightly grazed her as he spoke. “But once I start with you, I—I won’t be able to stop. I will cross the line.”

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip and whispered, “I won’t want you to stop.”

She felt his cock tighten against his jeans and push into her thigh. She rocked against it, relishing the way it made him release a shuddering sigh and close his eyes. Slowly, she reached for her shirt and lifted it over her head. Her breasts bounced, her nipples instantly tightening as she released them from her bra.

The cool air against her sensitive tips, and his lascivious gaze, sent shivers up her spine. Using her knees, she lifted her body so her breasts were at the perfect height for his lips. She edged closer and dipped her breast toward his mouth. He eagerly parted his lips, received her nipple in his warm mouth, and sucked. Gently at first. She gasped as he swirled his tongue over its surface, sending surges of pleasure down to her yearning sex. He grabbed her other breast in his hand and hungrily devoured it with his mouth.

Sammy’s breaths grew deeper as her mind succumbed to the fog of intense arousal. All she wanted, needed, demanded, was his bulging cock inside her.

“Denying this attraction between us won’t stop it,” she managed to say, breathless. “Whether you wanted to or not, you’ve already crossed the line. The line is far behind us, left it in the dust of this lust. You and me, meeting, being here now, is beyond our control. It’s bigger than you and I. Bigger than our physical shells. It’s deeper. It’s unstoppable. Tell me you feel it too.”

Jonty nodded. “I feel it in my heart.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “This yearning for you makes me ache, right here.”

Sammy found the button on his jeans, undid it, and slid the zipper slowly down. She pulled his underwear lower, reached in, and released his steely erection. Grasping its thick base, she slid her hand along the immense length of him, up then down. He blew a long hiss of air from between his lips as he watched her hand gripping him.

She brushed her lips against his ear. “How about we simply try? No promises.” She slid her hand from root to tip again. His chest was heaving, his face slack with pleasure.

Jonty growled, abruptly stood, and lifted Sammy into his arms. He kissed her with an urgency she was barely capable of matching.

Coming October 20th, 2014

Sometimes finding love at the wrong time and in the wrong place can be exactly what is needed.

Sammy has dedicated her life to helping others. She doesn’t have an enemy in the world, so why is she suddenly on the Dark Walkers most-wanted list?

Jonty, a soldier from the future, has been sent back to the twenty-first century to eliminate the Dark Walkers. He hates this time period and wants nothing more than to get in, perform his duties, avoid all distractions, and get out. But that changes when he meets Sammy. There is something about her, beyond her beauty and courage, which he can’t resist.

When Sammy is saved by Jonty, it’s insta-boom-lust. There is nothing complicated about how this strong, sexy man makes her feel. And she knows Jonty feels the same way, so why does he resist her?

With humanity under threat, and both their lives in danger, there are greater things at stake than a little romance. Or is there? Destiny may have other plans. And their deep sexual attraction may just be the key to saving them all.

Content Warning: contains steamy sex, mature language, and some violence