What to expect in 2013

As I sit down at my computer on New Years eve I feel nothing but excitement. 

Penning the second series to the Eden, Spencer and Jude saga from Complicated Love has nothing but surprises  The characters have taken me to places I hadn't dreamed about when I started the first series.

Jude has a secret of his own that will come out and Spencer, is he really as nice as he makes out to be? Eden has sorted through her confusion and is moving forward positively but with all the challenges thrown her way, one has to wonder if she'll managed to continue the positive outlook.

Anyway back to my three favourite characters!  I swear it's like have three people live in my head day and night. Like have a split personality. But I must admit I'm enjoying every moment of them and of the story. Please check back for more and I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Wishing you a happy and successful 2013!

Complicated Love

Eden is carrying a secret so dark she feels the need to pay for it by never falling in love again.  Only her friend Olivia since school years knows the whole story.

Eden believes that she doesn’t deserve love but one night on an evening out Eden bumps into Jude, a man fifteen years younger than she is.  The young medical student is infatuated but Eden won’t allow herself to feel anything for him. Instead she takes up the offer to date her boss Spencer who has been pestering her for the past few years. Eden will do anything not to fall in love again but Jude won’t give up that easily and Eden finds it hard to resist him because he reminds her so much of her past. The past she never wants to bring up again.

Jude fights his hardest for her but as time passes he gets the feeling that she doesn’t love him back as much as he loves her and wonders if it is worth the effort . Eden has to make a decision that will change the rest of her life and she wonders in the end if she’s made the right decision.

This is the first in the series please look out for the second series ‘So this is love.’ Coming in early 2013.

 Excerpt

Bag packed Eden sat back on the bed and thought about tomorrow. She was actually looking forward to it. It would be nice to go away for the weekend and do other things besides work. Sort of a refresher, the body’s way of rejuvenating but then again it wasn’t that simple, Eden was still torn.

Just then she heard the door bell ring.

‘Shit!’ It had slipped her mind. ‘Jude! Shit!’ She was supposed to answer the text to let him know she wouldn’t be available but it was too late now.

Quickly she took a glance at herself in the mirror. She still looked great in her grey tweed dress that was just above the knees, the black woolly tights and the black ankle boots really put the outfit together. Her hair was still in its place with a woollen flower headband around it. She rubbed her lips together as if distributing lip-gloss and then hurried downstairs.

‘God I’ve missed you.’ He flung his arms around her before she had the chance to say or do anything.

He squeezed her tight into him and for a moment Eden took in the embrace, enjoying the moment.

‘Jude.’ She pulled away quickly and then closed the door. ‘We need to talk.’

‘About what?’ He smiled down at her, he was lovely, there was no denying that but was that enough. He leaned forward and captured her face into his hands and brought her face forward so that their lips met.

‘Jude.’ She mumbled weakly into him. ‘Jude please.’ She withdrew again weakly. It was so hard trying to resist him.

‘What’s wrong? Have I done something wrong?’

‘Why don’t you come and sit down in the living room.’ She led the way and he followed. She sat down and he took off his coat before doing the same.

‘You’re worrying me. What’s wrong?’ The worry was evident in his eyes.

‘It’s us, this, we have to talk.’ She had to tell him, she’d decided what she wanted and she had to live with the consequences of it. She’d replayed a lot of what Olivia had said and although she was right on many levels, Eden had to do what was best for her.

‘We can’t do this.’ She took his hand in hers.

‘Do what?’

‘This, whatever it is you call this. You can’t keep showing up here. I can’t do this with you.’

‘Is it that man?’

‘What man?’

‘The one who came here the other day?’

‘Spencer, his name is Spencer, and no it isn’t Spencer. This is about us.’

‘I don’t understand. I thought you understood that I love you, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I thought you felt the same way too.’

Eden pursed her lips together; this was harder than she thought it would be. Of course she liked him, she liked him more than anyone, she might even love him, but was that enough?

‘I can’t. I can’t do this. This isn’t what I want.’

His eyes glazed over but he blinked back the threat of tears. ‘Why. What could honestly make you say this? You have to help me understand.’

Eden took a deep breath and squeezed his hand.

‘It’s a lot of things.’

‘Tell me. I have time.’ He wasn’t letting this go.

‘For starters, the age thing. It’s just not right.’

‘Say’s who. No one questions a fifty year old man marrying a twenty five year old.’

‘It’s different.’ She huffed.

‘How?’

‘This is a mans world!’ she sang trying to joke about it. ‘This is a mans world.’

But Jude didn’t share in the joke; he turned to look at her seriously. This wasn’t a joke to him, neither was it to her but she just didn’t see the possibility of a relationship.

‘It’s strange on so many levels.’ She continued.

‘How exactly? I’m not buying that!’

‘First of all we just met. It’s hardly appropriate declaring love for one another so early.’ Although she had to admit the powerful feeling within her must be what love felt like. ‘Secondly, I hardly know you. I know you’re a doctor but I don’t really know you.’

‘Anything else?’ He raised his eyebrows. Eden shrugged; there were many things she quite couldn’t think up just then.

‘About me telling you I love you. You may think I’m naïve but I’m studying for a medical degree. I know what I’m saying and even though it may be impossible to you, it’s possible for me. It’s so real. I just know that this is it, deny if you might, but I know that you feel it too. It’s not something that can be explained it can only be felt. I may be young but I’m so sure of this feeling, I know it deep down in me that I love you.’

Maturity had taught her otherwise. At sixteen that may’ve been true but life experience had taught her otherwise. There was something wonderful about being young and naïve though. You took more chances at life and maybe that was how life was supposed to be; about taking chances, about taking a step of faith and living in the now. 

‘What will it take for you to believe a little? To stop being so afraid and to step out and love? You want to know about me, ask. We have years ahead of us.’ His face lit up somewhat. For someone that young he sure was wise. If she believed in reincarnation he would’ve been an old soul.

‘I am. I’m doing that.’

He took in a deep breath, ‘Really, with that guy – ‘

‘Spencer, his name is Spencer and well…’

‘Are you seriously going to be with that guy?’

Eden felt a tad annoyed; she really wished he would stop calling Spencer that guy.

‘Jude, I’m…I’m trying to understand what I want. It’s been a long while and I’m trying to figure it all out.’

‘And how do you propose to do that?’

Eden wondered if she should tell him about tomorrow. Deep down she knew what she wanted but she wasn’t sure it was even the right thing.

‘I’m going away with him.’

Jude’s face dropped, Eden watched as his face turned red and his eyes widened.

‘He’s booked us a weekend away. I know this might be a shock to you but I really need to do this. Jude, I don’t want you waiting for me. I want you to move on with your life. I want you to be with someone right for you.’

He remained silent and looked into space, Eden had no idea what to expect. A part of her was afraid he would walk out of the door and never come back. Was that what she wanted?

‘Aren’t you going to say something?’ she asked finally.

‘There…there is nothing to say. It is clear that you’ve made your choice.’

‘I haven’t made a choice; I’m only trying to find out what I want.’

‘By going away with Spencer?’ He finally said his name as if he had accepted defeat. ‘I want you to know that I love you.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘I’m not just saying it, I mean it but it’s clear you don’t love me back and – ‘

‘It’s complicated Jude, please – ‘

‘This is why I’m leaving now.’ He got up to go, the pain was like a dagger through his heart. He was about to let the love of his life leave his life for good. There was no other way to convince her that he loved her and that he wanted to be with her. He’d never been so sure of anything in his life but he couldn’t force love.

Eden watched as he stood up and walked towards the door, she followed slowly behind him. Her body felt like lead and the fear in her stomach felt the loss. Was this what she really wanted? Why was she pushing love away? But she knew why, it was better to be safe than sorry.

‘Goodbye Eden.’

‘Jude.’ She reached out and grasped his arm. ‘Give me time.’

‘To do what?’

‘To choose, to find out what I want.’

‘What about me? What about what I want.’

‘Please?’

‘I don’t know Eden, this isn’t what I anticipated. You don’t get to choose, to play with my emotions.’

‘But I’m not…I’m just so confused right now.’ She felt like a tided up knot.

‘I’m not.’ He turned the door handle and walked out the without turning back.

Complicated Love is available at

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All Romance Ebooks

Merry Christmas and a happy 2013

It’s been a year and some months since I published my first novella. It has been an interesting journey and I’m looking forward to 2013.

If there is one thing I’ve learnt is that you can’t please everyone. I once heard a saying that opinions are like butts, everyone has one. So there will be people who like what you write and there will be people who don’t and that’s okay.

When you do what you love you stay true to yourself and even though some people may not like what you do, you do and that’s what counts. When someone doesn’t like what I write then it is clear that that person should not be reading my work and will probably never will again.  The people who do like what I write will, I hope will read more of my work. I’m grateful to all my readers, those who like my work and those who didn’t. They have all taught me something valuable about myself, like never give up and keep writing and improving my craft.  Our world would be a boring place if we were all the same. It’s good to have difference of opinion.

On a different note I’m happy to announce that I do have a new story coming out in the New Year. A love story that I’m so excited to tell. It started as an idea and I wanted to play with the characters a little and it turned out different to what I’d set out for it to be. It will be part of a series. Not sure how long the series will be but I will keep writing it until there is nothing left to write. I guess we all fantasise about the love we desire and even though sometimes in reality it may not be so, at least in our imagination we can make that dream come true.

Finally I just want to say thank you to all my readers and all my followers for an inspiring 2012. I've learnt so much and I’m continuing to learn. May you all have a blessed Christmas and an amazing 2013!

The Man I used to Be

My New novella The Man I used to Be is now available at Amazon, Kobo & Smashwords and will aslo soon be available at B&N, Apple, Sony.

Until the first of November you can get it free from smashwords using the coupon below:

ZP95Y

Craig is a player; he collects girl’s numbers like trophies. It’s fun for him, it makes him feel like the ‘Man’ until the day he meets Papaya. She’s different. He can’t get her into bed that easily, not until she gets to know him better.

Papaya is a beautiful and confident woman and someone Craig really wants to ‘conquer’ so he goes along with the dating thing hoping that one day she will give him the goods.

A month later he gets his wish and it’s more than he expected. Papaya maybe sweet and innocent on the outside but behind closed doors she has a very naughty side. Craig is pleased that he had waited, but after he got what he wanted he does what he does best, walks away to find his next score. But Papaya won’t go away, in fact, she gives him news he never wanted to hear.

The evening he finally agrees to meet up with her to discuss the unwanted news, they have a fight. He leaves on a bad note and on his way to a date Craig is involved in an accident. When he wakes up and finds himself in hospital he’s not quite the same. Something frightening has happened, something supernatural, at least he thinks so. He can’t explain it to anyone, so he takes on his new life as if it is the normal thing to do.

In his new life he learns a lot about Papaya, things that he had either not noticed or not bothered to care about. He also starts to have feelings for Papaya and for the first time he falls in love. But there is a problem, he’s not the person she knows, he’s someone else. Craig has to learn to cope being someone else and hope that he can be with Papaya, even if it is only as friends.

Even though Craig can’t explain what really happened after the accident it taught him a lot and his life changes for the better. Not just for him but for Papaya.

Excerpt

So the day finally came along when she turned around and told me that it was a big day for us. At that point I had no clue what she meant. We’d just got back from another long date, of long talks about the future. Foreign talk but like I said I went along with it. Then when we got to the door, I leaned in to kiss her good night when she said. ‘Tonight’s the night.’

Those words were like magic. Everything in me came to attention. I was alive, buzzing and ready. Tonight is the night; kept ringing in my ears. My breath increased and even my balls swelled. Was it really going to happen?

She pulled me into the dark house then flooded it with light. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders over the little red dress she wore. If she had known how many nights I had masturbated to her image, would she still have wanted me? I was so fucking horny. I could visualise her body naked before me. I moved in close towards her and our lips met. Everything inside me began to explode. Her scent was sweet, her body soft. I ran my hands through her thick hair and let them run down to her back. Her neediness for me was loud and clear. Her breathing so heavy, I could only imagine how wet her pussy was.

We wasted no time. My hands found the zip to the dress and pulled it down, it fell to the floor. She stood before me like a goddess, so full and so beautiful.  

Papaya looked at me and for a moment and smiled. There was a hint of mischievousness in her eyes. She held out her hand and I took it and she guided me upstairs. We paused at the door and she turned to me.

‘Don’t freak out,’ she said.

‘What do you mean?’

It was then that she opened the door to reveal what was on the inside. Wow…who would have thought!

She guided me slowly. I was intrigued, my wand was rock hard. She stripped off my clothes hungrily and I stood stark naked with my cock standing to attention. She walked to the corner of the room and retrieved a very thick rope.  I watched; her sudden confidence astonished me. It was like a switch had suddenly gone on within her and a new person had been revealed

She walked over to the chair that looked like a bar stool and climbed on.

‘Tie me up,’ she said.

Obediently I walked towards her, took the rope and waited. Papaya lifted her legs towards her ears; her middle was so wet I couldn’t wait to dip my cock in. The swelling of my balls threatened to erupt but I held back. I brought my focus to the rope in my hand instead.

‘Put it around my knees and around my back, thread through my arms.’

I did as just that. The rope held back her legs, went round her back, threaded through her arms, tying them up too. Her pussy hole expanded and was drenched.

‘Take those and clip them to my breasts.’ She eyed two clips that looked like pegs. It was an odd sensation as I watched her squirm with pain and pleasure. Who was this woman? I wasn’t complaining, the sight of her tied up was sensational. Her long black hair flowed towards the ground.

I had never done this before but it was great just looking at her that way.

‘Now, do as you please with me!’ she said.

If these were the words I’d been waiting for, for the past month, then I was glad I waited!

Guest Blogger on Romcon

On the 14th of September I will be a guest blog on Romcon. You will be able to read an excerpt to The Trouble With Love is... There will also be an opportunity to get my novella for free. The way to do this is to comment on my blog post that day and you will be given a coupon to smashwords to read my book for free.

I hope that you will take the time and pass by Romcon and comment. I also hope that you will read my book.

I'm truly grateful for my readers, they inspire me to carry on and do the thing I love the most, writing stories. I've realised through this journey that it's a marathon and not a sprint, that I'm always learning and that you get better the more you do it. I've learnt not to take things personally and to appreciate that everyone has an opinion.

I will continue to write and I will continue to enjoy doing so. I'm also just about to finish another novella which I thoroughly enjoyed writing. The idea for this one came about after I had a drifting thought about an ex. I loved it! And I hope others do too!

The Trouble with love is...

Sydney and Phoebe are having relationship trouble. Things had been great for years up until Ryan Scott arrived on the scene.

Ryan is Sydney’s new boss. He’s been called in to shake things up at their magazine in the Leeds office.  Sydney had been weary about having a new boss. She hadn’t had a promotion in years and she felt that the new boss would be a set back to her progress.  But Ryan is different and has a different agenda for Sydney.

At first Sydney finds him hard to read. He seems so serious and uptight. But as time goes by and she spends more time by his side; Sydney begins to feel things for him she’d buried and tried to forget a long time ago.

No matter how hard she tries to shake him from her mind she can’t and Ryan doesn’t let her either.  She has to explore what she’s feeling and honour her feelings. But this comes at the price of loosing her long term relationship.

What Sydney doesn’t know is that Ryan has a secret. Will she throw away everything only to discover things weren’t the way they seemed on the surface?

It’s a journey only Sydney can take a journey that reminds her of her mother and the dreams she once had but had put to one side for her partner Phoebe. In the end Sydney has to decide what the best course of action will be for her life.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords

How to get your ITIN number

Oh my goodness, I finally got my ITIN number and I’m overjoyed! This means that I can now get all the money I make from Smashwords, Amazon, All romance books etc.

I decided to write about something different today. I figured that I’d share this so that it can help more people like me to earn all their money. If you live in the UK like I am, there is a tax treaty that states that you don’t have to pay tax to the US government.

I had asked my royalty payments to be held until I got this sorted out. It’s taken me almost a year but it was worth it! And for those who feel it’s too much trouble, rather go through it and earn the money owed to you than let it go.

This is how I did it.

When my royalties got to $10 on Smashwords I requested a signed letter written on paper. The reason I went with Smashwords is because they are good with this, Amazon on the other hand, not so. So I suggest you request it from Smashwords. You do require this signed letter from the withholding agent (Someone who is paying you).

Once you have the letter you will then need to fill in form W-7 from the IRS website. Again Smashwords have the links to these forms. Just make sure they are updated forms.

You can fill out the forms on computer and then sign it or you can write on the form, which I did. The Reason for submitting the form should be a, and h, and alongside h you should write 'exception 1d royalties'. The treaty article number is 12 (for the UK).

Once you’ve completed your form, you will need a form of identity. For this I used my passport which I think will be the best option. Once you have your letter from Smashwords, filled your W-7 and have your passport you now need to send this on to the IRS.  There are a few ways to do this:

1)     You can get your passport signed by a notary and then send on your letter, certified passport copy and W-7 to the US Embassy. It’s quite expensive to do this and I can’t give you price on that but that’s one option.

2)     You can go to the US Embassy in London and they will check over your form, make sure you’ve filled it in correctly, take a copy of your passport and take the letter and send it on for you to the IRS. I did this; I actually wanted to make sure everything was done properly. I planned it as an outing for my daughter, friend and my friend’s daughter so it worked out well. It also worked out well because the embassy are very strict. Basically you’ll need somewhere to keep your belongings as you will only be allowed in with your passport and forms. A lot of things aren’t allowed in but that’s a story for another time.

3)     You can send your passport, letter and W-7 special delivery to the US embassy in London. They will check your form, letter and take a copy of your passport and certify it and then send it back to you. I can’t advise on this one as I haven’t done it but I’ve heard that it is also a very reliable way of doing this and it’s cheaper.

I was told to give it at least 12 weeks before contacting them. I was lucky that it took 7 weeks.

I’ve now filled in my W-8BEN and will be sending it off to Smashwords, Amazon and All romance Ebooks and a few others I write for. I will update to let you know the outcome.

I’m really excited about this and I hope it helps others to get their full royalties.

Welcome Jessica Frost

Today I'd like to welcome Jessica Frost to my blog. If you don't already know her get to know about Jessica below. I asked her what her favourite book, author is and why. Take a look and see what Jessica enjoys to read.

About Jessica Frost

Jessica Frost has always had a passion for fiction and the written word. Add to that her wild, vivid imagination and her pure romantic tendencies and she soon realized she had the traits needed to become a romance author. She decided to take the very big first step not that long ago and wrote her first erotic romance story. And she has not looked back since. Being a romance writer is a dream come true for her. Having the opportunity to create fantasy worlds where anything and everything can happen is an amazing feeling. She hopes these worlds and the delightful characters she creates will bring hours of enjoyment to her readers as they have done for her.

What makes a story great? By Jessica Frost

Today, I write this essay from the point of view of a reader and writer rather than only a writer and it is great to be in that seat for a change.

Before I begin, I just wanted to say that there was a time after I completed my editing and creative writing education and had begun to work in the publishing industry that I thought I would never ever be able to enjoy a good book like I enjoyed a good wine again. The passion reading had been to me as a child, teen, and young adult had turned into something technical and calculated. That was a sad point in my life because it seemed my rose colored glasses had broken and instead of seeing the heart and soul in the story, I saw only the technical part of it. The grammar, the structure, the style, etc. But thankfully, I was able to overcome that hurdle and returned to my roots of loving a story because in some way it touched my soul and mind.

Some people look for plot, others look for characters, while others look for both when choosing and liking a book. I’m a character lover. If the protagonist somehow connects with me whether in life experiences, philosophy, behavioral habits, mentality, emotional baggage, or anything that happens to us in life, then I will like the story and will read other works from that author.

The same thing goes with the villain. Not that they are in some way my kindred spirit, but I love to hate them. For all of my favorite books, I could say that the reason why I fell in love with the book was because the author molded both the antagonist and protagonist brilliantly into the story. They are the yen and yang of the story. Having both these characters melded perfectly together makes a story and author jump out to me and then I’m hooked.

I think J.K. Rowlings is one of my favorite authors because of this. Her protagonist Harry Potter has become an icon of our times. He is the character our hearts went out to and who we could connect to in a way, and who we cheered would win in the end. The antagonist Lord Voldemort, the character who others did not speak his name was Harry’s perfect alter ego. He was all Harry wasn’t and we loved to hate him. We sat at the edge of our seats with every page that turned wanting and waiting to see him get his just rewards and for Harry to finally be victorious. At least that’s what I did with every installment of the series and why I read each book with fervor, conviction and so much anticipation.

Another author who is my favorite because he has a knack for creating amazing characters, especially antagonists who I love to hate is Stephen King. How he creates and develops his characters in his stories is a rare talent and I applaud him for this gift. It was because of his rare talent and his unforgettable characters like Carrie White in “Carrie”; Annie Wilkes in “Misery” and Jack Torrance in “The Shining” just to name a few that he simply blew me away. He was one of the authors, who after I had read his novel “Carrie” in high school, inspired me to become a writer. I wanted to create characters like these who would slap the reader in the face or shock them out of their pants.

That was my dream and as I got older I realized I am not and will never be Stephen King. No one can create a character like he can because no one has his mind, his heart, and most importantly his soul that he puts into his writing.

But I did have mine. And so I took the path to my self-awareness in my writing and let me words reflect my heart, my mind and soul and I began to create fiction that I could be proud of. It is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it and in the end that was and is what counts, whether it is the reader or author. If you love the story for whatever reason it be--characters, plot, your passion, your blood and sweat in making it, whatever, that’s what counts the most in the end.

I hope that you enjoyed that. Now please take time to have look at Jessica’s new book Beauty’s enchanted beasts

Elizabeth Stuart thought she couldn’t hate the Duke of Norfolk any more than she did. After he wins her in a bet and she’s forced to live in his castle, she learns she was wrong. Penniless and distraught, she moves in, vowing to make him pay.

Richard Albert has loved Elizabeth for so long. When her father asks his help in protecting Elizabeth from the evil sorceress Pondora, he agrees wholeheartedly, not knowing Elizabeth’s father lied about why she’ll be staying with him. Now she thinks he’s evil incarnate.

George Albert’s not happy his brother brought Lady Elizabeth there. Considering the danger that lurks in Castle Norfolk’s dungeon, she’s no safer with them. But after seeing how much Richard loves her and realizing she’s the woman of George’s sexual dreams, whom he so desires, he changes his mind and plans on making every one of his erotic dreams come true.

Soon these three get caught in a web of deceit, sex, and love. Little do they know Pondora has figured a way past the castle’s enchantment and intends on executing her deadly curse.

Publisher: http://www.bookstrand.com/beautys-enchanted-beasts

 

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Excerpt
Elizabeth continued to search, opening doors to empty rooms or storage areas, until she came to a door and, upon opening it, was surprised to see a man sat on a chaise longue reading a book.

“I’m terribly sorry. I thought this was the door leading outside,” she said blushing, trying to close the door behind her.

He instantly stood up, a look of shock plastered on his face. His wide eyes just stared at her while he remained silent. Then he broke eye contact and cleared his throat.

“It’s quite all right.” He approached her with a bright smile. The sparkle in his sharp eyes looked familiar and she lost her breath for a moment. “You must either be Lady Elizabeth or her sister, Ann.”

He took her hand and bowed, bringing her hand to his warm lips. Never breaking his fixed gaze on her, he continued, “But from my brother’s description, you must be the beautiful Lady Elizabeth, no doubt.”

Her cheeks warmed at his compliment and she couldn’t help but stare back at him in a trance. His beautiful azure eyes bewitched her, as did his full lips and strong chin. When she finally acknowledged in her mind she had been gawking, she immediately lowered her gaze to the floor in embarrassment. Words to reply came languidly as time seemed to stop. After taking a shallow breath, she said, “I didn’t realize the Duke of Norfolk had a brother.”

He chuckled. “Younger brother who gives him more headaches than he’d care to have, I’m afraid. Perhaps that is the reason he never mentioned me. My name is George.”

“Oh, well, your brother and I haven’t really spoken often, or for long. We’ve barely conversed.”

His brow lifted in apparent surprise. “Really? And yet here you are, Norfolk Castle your new permanent residence.”

“That, my lord, is your brother’s doing, not mine. I had no say in this arrangement he and my father made.” Her anger rose.

“Ah, yes, the supposed bet. Yes, yes, I had forgotten about that.” He walked around her tapping his index finger on his pursed lips while he looked her over like a prize.

It was obvious the Duke’s brother had his same rude manners and disrespect for women. Yet surprisingly a part of her found George’s admiring attention flattering. Before she could open her mouth to put him in his place, he remarked, “What if there were no bet, my lady?”

“Pardon me?” She frowned, not understanding his question completely.

“What if there really were no bet? Would you have come to live here just the same?” he asked as he came to stand before her a mere few inches away. She could swear she heard his heart beating for how close he stood. His virility seemed to intoxicate her that instant.

“If there were no bet? Well, of course I wouldn’t.”

“Ever?”

“Ever!” she reiterated with a firm tone.

“Even if your life were in danger?” George said, inching his face closer to hers while his gorgeous eyes fixed on her lips.

Her lips throbbed under his hungry stare and her voice cracked. “No, not even then.”

He broke his gaze then and frowned. “I see.” He turned and walked to the window, staring outside with a blank, far-off expression for a moment.

Feeling awkward, and disappointed he had diverted his attention elsewhere, she made her way to the door. “I’m sorry for interrupting you. I’ll be on my way now.”

He turned to look at her. “Where was it you were headed, my lady?”

“I was trying to find the door that led to the garden outside. I saw it from my bedroom upstairs and wanted to take a leisurely walk in it.”

“It’s a beautiful day outside and the perfect time for a walk in the gardens.” He walked up to her and extended his arm for her to take. His brow lifted and a smile spread over his lips. “If my lady would allow me the honor of showing her our prized gardens, I’d love to show them to you.”

Blushing once more, she replied, “I don’t want to be a bother, my lord. You were reading when I interrupted you.”

“Yes, and the book was dreadfully boring. I’d much prefer the company of a beautiful lady.”

Her brow lifted in warning at his wording and he laughed at his gaffe. “I mean I’d much rather accompany a beautiful lady to see our gardens than read a boring book.”

She looped her arm through his. A tiny shock, when her hand made contact with his, traveled through her arm and targeted her chest. Her breath caught in her throat and her legs became weak for a second.

He pulled her in closer, wrapping his arm around her waist, and began to guide her through the door into the corridor.

Being so close to him as they walked made her palms sweaty and her mouth dry. She wished the lump in her throat would dislodge so she could begin to breathe again. Her bodice tightened on her breasts as she tried to expand her chest to take in air. Then an uncontrollable, arousing urge she had never before experienced overcame her.

In fear of the unbounded excitement surging in her body, she desperately wanted to break free from him and run in urgency.

Half way through the year

I can't believe it's already June, it feels like yesterday we were celebrating  Christmas. It will be almost one year since I started this blog. How time has flown by and how much I've learnt and still learning being an erotic writer.

A year and a half ago I hadn't even imagined writing erotica, it wasn't even a genre I read. But then when I did a writing course, our tutor at the time was an erotic writer. I decided to see what she'd written and I found it pretty interesting. I was hooked! It was then I began to devour more erotica, one of my favourite books Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller also got my attention. Apparently it had been banned in the United States for having obscene contents. Ha! If only they saw erotica today and how people are expressing themselves across the internet. It is a lovely time to be writing erotica, look at the likes of 50 shades of Grey, it's everywhere including supermarkets.  I'm digressing which is like me but it is just fun to be part of this world of erotica. Anyway I loved reading it and thought that I would try writing it.

I had been writing for years, some of my work even published for radio, not erotica- in case you're wondering. No I wrote just interesting stories. But adding erotica to my work spiced up the stories even more. Not only was this new, it was something I loved to write, I love to explore and experiment with my characters.  With new things you often wonder if you'll last or not, but I must say, there is no stopping me now.

I have so many stories I want to tell. So many ideas that pop into my head while I'm writing a different story. It's something I will keep doing until the day I die or something along those lines.

Erotica is freeing, it allows you to explore things you might not do in real life. You can play about with your characters, they can try new sex positions. The sky is the limit when it comes to fantasy. For this reason I thoroughly enjoy erotica.

So this is to one year and many more to come. :-)

New Novella out at Amazon

I've been working on a few short stories and working on other bits of writing as well. Just to let you know I have another short story out on Amazon. This one is about a serial killer so be warned!! :-)

Detective Frank Shaw and his partner Ted are called out to a crime scene at 2am in the morning. Another victim has been found and it seems that it has been done by the same killer.

The victims all have the same things in common, blond, glamour models, twenty three and live alone. It becomes worrying to the detectives that it seems to be happening every three weeks. But soon something in the killers pattern changes. Suddenly the killer stops following the three week pattern and is randomly killing women. He seems desperate.

Running out of time the detectives have to find the killer quick and there is one thing all the models have in common that connects them. Facebook. Through searching the profiles of these women it leads them closer to the killer. But as they get closer to catching the killer they find out something more disturbing. Even though there is one killer, it seems the killer has more up his sleeve than they expected.

Amazon UK
Amazon US

What I'm working on

I've been working on two short stories. One of them is a short story from this blog that I've developed, the other one is a murder mystery.

I'm hoping to upload these two short stories of about 10,000 words each at the end of this month. A short glimpse of each will be posted on my site for a taster.

For now, I'm back to writing. Until then.

Author Arianna Skye

I would like to welcome author Arianna Skye to my blog today. Please take time to learn all about her and her book Wings of desire.


Enjoy!
About the Author     

Arianna Skye is the erotic pen name of paranormal romance author, Sidney Ayers. She loves infusing stories with humor. What would the world be without a little bit of laughter? Arianna writes a plethora of genres, ranging from historical, to paranormal, to contemporary.

A native of Michigan, Arianna still lives in the same town she grew up in. No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t seem to get away. Michigan is in her blood, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Get to Know Arianna A bit More

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? I have. There are days where I’d be at work, trying to fit in, but deep in my mind I always got the feeling I never truly was a part of the group. I’ve always felt this way, even during elementary and on into my high school years. I’d try numerous things, most of them stupid, to get attention or get a laugh out of my fellow classmates.

This feeling has plagued me on into my working career. Just a FYI, writing doesn’t pay all my bills, but it is a nice supplement to my not so epic salary. I always feel like a third  wheel and when I tried to make friends with people at work, I only ended up making people more annoyed with me.

Then I rediscovered my passion for writing. I also discovered RWA and some of their local chapters. I even found a local writing group to join as well. Oddly enough, I finally found a group of people just as unique as me. We share similar interests and strive for similar dreams. I finally found a place that I feel I truly belong. I’ve made tons of friends through RWA and my local writing group. It’s rather refreshing and having a group of supportive friends really makes the difference.

I never thought about how this related to my first finished novel, Wings of Desire, but then I realized that Rhiannon, the heroine, pretty much went through similar circumstances. She was raised as an army brat and moved from base to base. Because of the moves, she never really made lasting friendships. Even when she was in college, she never really fitted in. She only has one good friend in Phoenix, where she works as a graphic designer.

Then Cerne Silverwing arrives and sneaks her to Fey. She’s actually a missing faerie princess. The moment she steps foot in this beautiful fairytale land—much to her practical side’s chagrin—she feels warmth and friendship and a feeling of belonging she never felt before.

Can you see the correlation? Have you experienced similar situations? Where do you feel like you most belong and how did you discover it?

To learn more about Arianna/Sidney and her books, you can visit either one of her websites  at http://www.ariannaskye.com/      or     http://www.sidneyayers.com/

Facebook

www.facebook.com/ariannaskyeauthor

www.facebook.com/sidneyayersauthor

Twitter

www.twitter.com/arianna_skye

www.twitter.com/sidney_ayers

Wings of Desire

By Arianna Skye

Not your (grand)mother's fairytale...

Rhiannon Kinsley's life goes from boring to downright crazy when a freak lightning bolt strikes her laptop. To make matters even more bizarre, strange words and symbols flash across the computer screen and she hears a mysterious voice. Time to call the men in white coats! Then Cerne Silverwing, an intriguingly sexy man, appears. He insists she’s a faerie princess whose fate will determine his own. What a crock! Now she knows who really needs those white coats.

With the Dark Faerie forces threatening his kingdom, Cerne kidnaps Rhiannon and brings her to Fey, a land where magic knows no bounds. He's performing a duty to save his kingdom and nothing more—a duty that will bring him his wings and the strengthened magic that comes with them. If he doesn’t unite with the princess as her consort, those wings will never grow. But this princess grew up in the land of laptops and instant messages, and she’s convinced they're both crazy. Despite their differences, the two are thrust together to defeat the whip-wielding Dark Faerie Queen before she takes over the kingdom. Passion and peril aside, will Rhiannon and Cerne discover their true destiny?

Add it to your Kindle

Book Trailer for Wings of Desire: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffEpocW_IP4

New Novella on Amazon

I've just published a new novella titled 'Deadly Sins'. This is a Melisa and Roy series a follow on from The Whitby Ghost. 

Deadly Sins is available on Amazon and from March the 1st it will go free on Kindle Select for 5 days.



Amazon US
Amazon UK

It is an exciting time for Melisa. She is pregnant and she is getting married. But there is a dark cloud that hangs over her life. Melisa is hounded by dreams again, this time actual murders. Melisa experiences each one as it happens.

The man in the black coat has also made himself a persistent feature in her life again. Melisa has become a threat to him. So he does everything in his power to destroy her.

Melisa pairs up with Detective Silverwood to solve the murders. With her dreams she helps guide him towards the killer. But what Melisa doesn't realise is that she is in danger. Her life and child are under threat too.

Author Jeffe Kennedy

Today I'd like to welcome Author Jeffe Kennedy to my blog. She is touring with http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/ and has lots to tell us. Please take your time and get to know more about Author Jeffe Kennedy.

About Jeffe Kennedy

Jeffe (pronounced Jeff- ee) took the crooked road to writing, stopping off at neurobiology, religious studies and environmental consulting before her creative writing began appearing in places like Redbook, Puerto del Sol, Wyoming Wildlife, Under the Sun and Aeon. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow (2001), was a Wyoming Arts Council roster artist, when she lived in Wyoming, and received the state’s 2005 Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award for a woman writer of exceptional talent in any creative writing genre and the 2007 Fellowship for Poetry. Jeffe has contributed to several anthologies, Drive: Women’s True Stories of the

Open Road

. (2002), Hard Ground (2003), Bombshells (2007) and Going Green (2009). Her first book, Wyoming Trucks, True Love and the Weather Channel was published by University of New Mexico Press in 2004. An erotic novella, Petals and Thorns, came out under her pen name of Jennifer Paris in 2010, heralding yet another branch of her path, into erotica and romantic fantasy fiction. Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and frequently serves as a guinea pig for an acupuncturist-in-training.

Who Is Jennifer Paris?

I was doing the “Jeffe Kennedy writing as Jennifer Paris” thing, but Angela James, my editor at Carina, said no, no, no. Since I really don’t want to “flesh out” Jennifer Paris and tweet or blog as her (she was only a cardboard cut-out anyway), I decided to retire her. However, I have one book “Petals and Thorns” that is by Jennifer Paris.

http://jeffekennedy.com/

http://jeffekennedy.com/category/blog/

http://twitter.com/#!/jeffekennedy

http://www.facebook.com/jeffe.kennedy

Interview with Jeffe Kennedy

Hi Jeff Kennedy and welcome to Iris Deorre’s blog spot. First things first, please introduce yourself to us and tell us a little about yourself.

Okay, well, first thing is: my name is Jeffe! I’m a girl, so the extra “e” is important. This happens quite a lot.

What made you choose erotica?

I’m not sure any of us really “chooses” our genre – I think they choose us. Erotica is fun for me. I love the sexiness, but more, it lets me explore extreme intimacy between people. The exchange of power and the giving up of control is fascinating and exciting to me. That’s why I write it.

If you were one of the characters in your books who would you be and why?

Maybe with Taylor from Sapphire. I’d like to be taken over for one night like that.

Is there a book you enjoyed writing more than the others, if so why is that?

Not really. I hate to be all “I love all my kids,” but I really do love writing all my stories. Maybe it’s fairer to say that, the stories I don’t love writing simply don’t get written. There’s more than a couple of those lying in the fragments file…

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a follow-up to Sapphire that I’m calling Platinum. The hero is a Hugh Jackmanesque artist bad boy. SO much fun to write!

Besides writing what else do you enjoy doing?

I love to read, walk and garden. I like movies and travel. Sitting in the sun and drinking wine. I’m a simple pleasures kind of gal.

What does you ideal man look like and what would be his most important traits?

For me, I like them wiry with dark hair. Skinny Irish boys for me! But really, how a man looks doesn’t matter all that much. Someone with passion for life and who doesn’t impose their expectations on me – that’s the winning combination.

What is your favourite movie?

A movie I never tire of and watch over and over is the Keira Knightly version of Pride & Prejudice. Just brilliant.

What is your favourite food?

Does wine count? If I could live on wine, I would.

What irritates you the most? It could be anything, doesn’t matter how strange.

Lately it’s the YDIW attitude. “You’re Doing It Wrong.” I’m getting tired of people telling other people that they’re doing it wrong, whatever IT may be.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

On a white patio overlooking the Aegean? That could be pretty wonderful.

Thank you for joining me today and all the best for the future.

Thank you Iris!

 Take a peek at Jeffe Kennedy's books

Feeding the Vampire

By Jeffe Kennedy

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Date Published: August 3, 2011

ASIN: B005HBYPGW

Through good luck and healthy cowardice, Misty has survived the earthquakes that have torn the world apart, but has no skills to speak of. Or so she thinks. She does have blood, and someone must feed the vampire who has offered his protection and strength in exchange for sustenance. Feeding Ivan is a priority, and Misty finally serves a purpose. But when she awakens tied to his bed, an unwilling gift to Ivan from the townspeople, she discovers he has hungers other than blood. Hungers he expects her to satisfy in the most carnal manner. Under his seductive persuasion Misty discovers she has the power to sustain Ivan in all ways, while experiencing unspeakable pleasure herself.

Barnes and Noble,  Amazon, Ellora’s Cave, ARe

Excerpt

I was compelled to feed him. I had no choice, really.

Earl cleared his throat. “Thank you.” Our town administrator looked around for agreement, but they weren’t meeting his eyes either. Like kids ducking the teacher’s gaze. “Thank you, Misty. We all appreciate your…” He trailed off uncomfortably.

Sacrifice? Surely no one wanted to hear that word aloud. Martyr to the cause?  No, not much better.

Earl shuffled the papers in his lap. Waiting for me to get to it, I supposed. Well, he had just said that feeding Ivan ought to be the first order of business. We couldn’t very well make plans for our community while the guy in charge of our defenses wilted before our eyes, especially since we needed him alert and focused. Me? I was pretty damn expendable. I hadn’t brought much to the table so far, except my survival, which really was accidental. Right place at the right time. Turns out stolid New England was just the right place to be for the particular form this apocalypse took. Granite bedrock and all that.

My boring hometown was a safe haven and everyone wanted in on our resources. The people turning up every day were let in or turned away depending on what they offered. I counted my lucky stars I’d been grandfathered in simply because my neighbors didn’t have the heart to kick me out. Excellent keyboarding skills and a customer-friendly personality didn’t count for much in this economy. Especially without, um, customers or working keyboards.

I couldn’t afford to be a useless mouth to feed. Their hearts would harden—they already had. Tonight was pivotal. We’d acquired a vampire of our own for defense. Everyone felt better about our future—if we could keep him happy. At least I knew how to make blood. You could say I was a natural. And yet, the certainty that had propelled me to my feet seemed to be bleeding away, frightened off by Ivan’s fixed intensity and everyone else’s obvious relief. They waited, restless, for me to just get on with it. Uncomfortable silence.

Hi, I’m Misty and I’m a Fool. I haven’t done anything really unwise in twenty-seven days. Kind of a record for me really. Apparently I was due.

The vampire just stared at me.

I set my yellow pad on the chair and made myself walk across the circle to where he sat in the tacky folding metal chair. My sandals slapped lightly on the tiles, making tinny echoes. Ivan’s roving gaze sent tremors of anticipation up my thighs.

A few murmured conversations resumed. They probably didn’t like the creepy silence any more than I did. I appreciated their polite attempt not to gawk. I’d never seen a vampire feed—probably none of them had either. I stopped in front of Ivan. He leaned back, long legs sprawled out in careless indolence. He tilted his head at my hesitation and held out his hands as if to help me down from a carriage.

“Perhaps we should step out of the room?” I tried.

“I haven’t the strength to stand.” His grave eyes watched me with avid intent.

If I ran, he would definitely find the strength to hunt me down. After all, he’d walked into this room. Heck, he’d arrived at the bridge leading to our sleepy town only last night, offering his protection in return for our shelter and sustenance. He had to have gotten there somehow.

He wrapped his long fingers around my wrists, cuffing them with bands of steel. Exerting steady pressure, he drew me closer, parting his lips. White fangs gleamed with fluorescent highlights. My heart thumped in panic, hot fear filling me.

“Will it hurt?” My voice sounded thready, weak.

Hunger flared in his eyes at the question. “It always does.”

Ivan snapped me against his hard body. The sharp movement splintered any second thoughts. He pulled me astraddle his lap. My cheap cotton dress hiked up alarmingly. The chafe of his dark denim jeans sent tremors up my fully exposed thighs. Shame and terror flashed through me.

Then all thought and emotion burst in flame, immolating me through the fierce violence of his teeth sinking into my throat. The agony of the deep puncture, fear feeding pain, fired through my blood. I struggled like a wild thing, without thought. Animal instinct screamed at me to flee, to escape by any means possible.

The vampire held me trapped. There was no escape for me, the mouse flailing under the cat’s paw.

My will, never my strong point, snapped. The fight ebbed away with the tide of my blood. The steady drop of pressure left me enervated, without resistance. Darkness filled my brain, prickled with sparking stars. I wilted, becoming a bit of detritus washed upon the shore of Ivan’s body.

Pain filled my veins, pumped through my heart. It replaced my blood, spiraling through my body from the insistent penetration of Ivan’s teeth in my throat. Helpless against the crashing waves, I relinquished my last hold on consciousness and sank into the hot, tarry sea of oblivion.

Sapphire

By Jeffe Kennedy

Publisher: Carina Press

Date Published: October 24, 2011

A successful executive, M. Taylor Hamilton is on track with her ten-year plan. Too bad her personal life consists of hitting the gym and grocery shopping. Enter the seductive Adam Kirliss. They may have a working relationship, but everything changes at an office party when he handcuffs her to the rail of a yacht. Taylor writes the adventure off as too much champagne, but when Adam challenges her to a date, she agrees to meet up with him. And follow his rules. They share a night of exquisite intimacy, brimming with both pain and pleasure. But afterwards, fearful of losing her heart, Taylor pulls back emotionally. Adam is determined to prove that she longs for the loss of control he can give her – and the passionate release it provides. How can he make her see that he wants her, and not just her body?

Amazon

Excerpt

Kirliss captured her other wrist and held them close in front of her, his warm fingers massaging her skin, while he studied her face. The boat surged over a wave, disturbing her balance. Kirliss’s unusual eyes caught the light, boring into her.

“This is silly,” she tried.

“Do you want me to make you stay?”

“What?” Taylor choked. She couldn’t let him treat her this way. “No! You’ll do no such—”

She lost her breath entirely when he pressed up against her. Thinking he was trying to embrace her, she pulled away and found herself backed against the brass railing.

By the time she gathered her flustered thoughts, her wrists were handcuffed to the rail behind her. Mortified, a bit afraid and—worse—suddenly and wildly aroused…

Petals and Thorns

RWI More Than Magic Finalist

Genre: BDSM Fantasy 

In exchange for her father’s life, Amarantha agrees to marry the dreadful Beast and be his wife for seven days. Though the Beast cannot take Amarantha’s virginity unless she begs him to, he can and does take her in every other way. From the moment they are alone together, the Beast relentlessly strips Amarantha of all her resistance.

If Amarantha can resist her cloaked and terrifying husband, she gains his entire fortune and will be allowed to return to her family and a normal life. But the Beast seduces her at every turn, exposing, binding, tormenting, and pleasuring Amarantha until she no longer knows her own deepest desires. Increasingly desperate to break the curse that chains his humanity, the Beast drives Amarantha past every boundary. But her desire for a normal life may jeopardize the love that will save them both.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play, BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent. 

Barnes and Noble, Amazon

Excerpt Petals and Thorns

The wedding ceremony took place deep in the woods.

The chapel looked innocent in its white prettiness, as if a normal wedding took place there instead of this monstrous farce.

At first Amarantha had wept. When her father had arrived home on the magnificent stallion, his arms overflowing with luscious red roses and saddlebags full of gold coins, and told the wild tale of the Beast who wanted Amarantha and only her, she’d been at first astonished, then enraged. She’d thought of running away, but her father and sisters had talked Amarantha around. The Beast had promised wealth to restore her father’s fortunes and more. They assured her that the Beast wouldn’t kill her.

“He saw your portrait and finds you beautiful,” her father crooned. “It will be a marriage in name only. You need not lie with him” — he snickered — “if the creature is even able to perform as a man. Likely he is too deformed and wants only a pretty wife to look upon.

“Remember” — the merchant took his youngest daughter’s slender hands in his as they stepped down from the carriage — “if the marriage is not consummated within one week, then he has agreed to have it annulled and to settle upon you half of his fortune! All you must do is retain your chastity for one measly week, and any ninny can

“He only has to take her by force,” Anastasia scoffed.

“No,” a deep voice rumbled behind them. They started like finches when a hawk flies over. No one had heard the Beast arrive.

He stood back, tall and broad shouldered as her father had said, watching from the depths of his cloak. The winter wind caught the black folds, whipping them tight against his massive body, but never stirred around his face. Amarantha couldn’t make out his features, though she thought perhaps she caught the gleam of a white tooth. And was that the shadow of a muzzle?

She shuddered, looking away quickly.

“No, Amarantha,” the Beast said, “I will never take you by force. I will only take you when you ask me to. That one choice, at least, will always be yours.”

Amarantha stirred uneasily inside the confines of her corset. Something about his words seemed…unwholesome somehow.

Angelica laughed brightly and clapped her jeweled fingers together in a graceful flutter. “Then we are saved! For, Sir Beast, though we cannot see you clearly, we understand that you are so hideous that no woman would willingly have you. Perhaps your beastly exterior reflects a similarly feral and corrupt heart?” She waved a languid hand at Amarantha. “Else why resort to blackmail to obtain a bride?”

“Indeed” — the voice sank into a near growl — “sister of my bride. You are undoubtedly correct. But since blackmail has, in fact, won me a bride, I’m anxious to take possession of her. Shall we?”

Amarantha gasped and stepped back when the Beast moved toward her, dark and sinuous. But he only offered her his arm to escort her into the chapel. She took a deep breath, as deep as her tight corset allowed.

After the short ceremony, Amarantha kissed her father and sisters good-bye. She couldn’t seem to hear what they were saying to her, only that she had promised to obey this man. This monster.

“Do you take this man, Sir Beast… Do you promise to love, honor, and obey?” the chaplain had asked.

The word seemed to reverberate in her skull. Obey. Chased by the image of how his eyes had glowed at her sparking amber from the depths of his hood. Love and honor seemed to pale before the other word. Amarantha possessed enough cleverness to avoid shaming him, and she could pretend to love him. Obedience might not be so simple. She almost felt his sigh of satisfaction at her promise, as if something that had pained him suddenly eased.

Amarantha wished she could feel the same.

In his carriage, they rode facing each other, though Amarantha gazed steadfastly out the window as the forest deepened and thickened. The trees grew more gnarled, the roots thrusting up from the soil only to twist away again, diving into the moist ferns covering the soil. Still, it was easier to keep her eyes on the strange landscape than look at her husband’s shrouded form and wonder what horrors it might contain.

“Am I ever to see you?” she asked.

“Do you wish to?”

Amarantha glanced at his black silhouette. Looked away again.

“It occurs to me it might be easier to see you and” — get it over with — “learn to become accustomed to you.”

“Consider that I might be so frightening to you that you would be unable to bear coming near me again.”

Amarantha trembled.

“No” — the Beast chuckled darkly — “these things are best done in stages. I intend to win you over, lovely Amarantha.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.”

“Because you are innocent,” the Beast said, his voice nearly a growl. “And you have not discovered how I can make you feel.”

“I have. You make me feel fear. And revulsion.” She looked out the window. “Despair, perhaps.”

“None of those are real, Amarantha.”

She forced herself to look at him. “I must tell you, I don’t see how I can ever be your wife in truth. I cannot imagine asking you to — ”

“To take your maidenhead? To rend you with my cock so that you scream in agonized pleasure?”

The shock drained Amarantha’s cheeks of color. Even as the image somehow stirred her.

“Sir Beast, you cannot say such things to me.”

“It seems, my bride, that we must stretch your imagination as well. The only thing I may not do is take you by force. Everything else is open to me.” He settled back in a very masculine satisfaction. “If you intend to keep the bargain that saved your father’s life, that is.”

Amarantha bit her lip. Her father had wept even as he handed her into the Beast’s carriage. Had he realized? Her virginity wouldn’t matter at the end of the week if she was dead.

“Amarantha.” The Beast leaned forward. She shrank back, but he only laid a gloved hand over hers. “I swear I will not injure you. Your beauty is precious to me. I would not see it marred in any way.”

She restlessly moved her hands out from under the black leather of his glove. A mistake, since his hand fell to her knee instead, a heavy weight through the thin cloth.

“I will wish to see it, however,” the Beast said, gravel in his voice.

Amarantha’s heart stuttered. “See it?”

“You, in your naked glory. When we reach the house. In exchange, I will not touch you just yet.” He leaned back again. “I mention it now so that you might mull the idea over.”

Amarantha drew in a breath. “I do not think I shall become peaceful with the idea in that space of time.”

“You mistake me, my bride. Peaceful is not how I want you.”

If he’d intended her to think about it, to imagine herself naked and vulnerable in front of his black-cloaked figure, then he succeeded.

keep her legs closed that long. Remember it every day, and the week will fly by. Soon you’ll be at home again with us, our fortunes forever secured.”