Tag Archives: Contemporary

First Kiss Friday with guest Jasmine Haynes

16 Friday Feb 2018

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It’s First Kiss Friday and it’s a pleasure to welcome back my guest Jasmine Haynes who is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author. Today Jasmine will share an excerpt from Fair Game. Take it away Jasmine!

Thanks so much, Sherry, for having me on your First Kiss Friday blog! You always give us such great excerpts, whether they’re yours or from other fabulous authors. And it’s an honor to be here today.

So I have to tell you about Josie and Kyle’s first kiss in Fair Game. This couple are a little different, some might even call them kinky. And they actually get veeeery intimate before they ever kiss. I know, they do it all backwards! But that’s one of the reasons I love them, because they’re sexy and fun-loving…and they aren’t looking for love. But just maybe love is looking for the two of them. And they can’t get away from fate!

So here is Josie and Kyle’s first kiss…after they’ve had a little fun in the dressing room!

Fair Game (Castle Inc, Book 3) Excerpt:

Bastard. He’d made her lose control again, and it was too damn good. He stood in front of the dressing room mirror knotting his tie while she struggled to get all her clothes back on. Her legs felt weak, her head light, and she wobbled as she stepped into her shoes.

That’s exactly how he made her feel, off balance, all wobbly. She was supposed to have come out of this the victor over him. Instead, he’d given her a cataclysmic climax to which her body still thrummed.

He gave the tie a last pat into place and pulled on his suit jacket. “Which one do you want?” He held up the silver bustier, then the red one.

Josie flipped the price tag. “Two hundred dollars?” She puffed a breath out and looked up at him. “Forget it.”

“I liked you in the silver. With the stockings.”

“I do not have two hundred bucks to spend on something like that.” She yanked her jacket up her arms.

“I’m not asking you to pay for it. It’s a present.”

“I don’t accept presents that expensive.” Which her mother thought totally appalling. After all, a woman was worth as much as a man was willing to spend on her. And usually more. Josie had never liked the obligation. A man could think he owned you if he gave you lots of pretty things. That made it too easy for him to take something away, like your sense of self-worth. You were special only if he thought you were special. She wouldn’t depend on a man, and she wouldn’t owe him anything either.

Kyle tipped his head to one side. His eyes seemed bluer, maybe picking up the blue stripe of his tie. Dark-haired guys weren’t usually blue-eyed, they were either brown or hazel, and certainly not that deep shade.

Then he sighed. “Fair enough. How about the stockings?” He flipped over the package she’d stuck the fishnets back into. Reading the price, he held it up for her to see. “This okay?”

She felt kind of stupid, making a fuss about it, since it didn’t seem like a big deal to him. “Yeah. That’s fine.” Jeez, twenty bucks for a pair of nylons with holes in them. “Thank you,” she added, then started gathering all the hangers off the hooks.

“I do think the saleslady will clear those up for you.”

She considered, then put them all back except for one pair of frilly, excessively girly panties. She was just full of ideas these days, and she was having a brilliant one right now.

Outside in the main shop, the saleslady beamed, even if they weren’t carrying the expensive corset. “Oh, you’ve found what you wanted,” she said, the smile in her voice, too.

Okay, so she probably hadn’t heard what was going on in the dressing room for—Josie glanced at her watch—good God, half an hour.

“The stockings were amazing,” Kyle said. If Josie could see his eyes, she knew they’d be sparkling. He handed the package to the woman who headed back behind the glass-topped sales counter.

“And don’t forget this one, honey.” Josie held up the frilly underwear, then batted her eyelashes at him as she laid the hanger on the counter beside the stockings. “They looked perfect on you.” Then she winked at the saleswoman. “They were a tad small, but then he’s such a big man, I don’t think they make them large enough.”

Kyle started coughing, covering his mouth, and dammit, his eyes were still sparkling. Oddly enough, the clerk didn’t lose one centimeter of her smile as she rang everything up.

Outside, Kyle grabbed her hand and pulled her around a corner. “Naughty little bitch,” he said, just before his mouth came down on hers.

Oh my Lord. His mouth. Heaven. She’d never been a smoocher. But God, she could make out with this man for hours. He tasted of breath mints, his lips were warm, his tongue expert. The kiss lasted fifteen seconds, but it left her dizzy. And wanting more.

He shoved the bag of lingerie into her hands. “Payback is coming,” he whispered.

Fair Game Blurb

Between them, everything is fair game…

Josie Tybrook is obsessed with her career and proving herself in the family business. Late for a meeting on the latest project she’s in charge of, she pushes her way onto a packed elevator car. When the elevator lurches slightly, jostling her into the very sexy man standing behind her, Josie can’t resist one single naughty act. And nothing will ever be the same.

After that risqué encounter in a crowded elevator, Kyle Perry wants way more out of Josie than simply having her run his refurbishment project. When she’s determined to keep everything business, Kyle has no choice but to issue a sizzling erotic challenge Josie can’t resist. They embark on a passionate secret affair that quickly escalates to a battle of wills, the sexual challenges heating to the boiling point.

But when Josie is faced with losing everything she’s worked so hard for, will the final battle be for her heart?

Learn all about the Castle Inc series on my website! And read more excerpts!

The Fortune Hunter, Book 1, Faith & Connor

Show & Tell, Book 2, Trinity & Scott

Fair Game, Book 3, Josie & Kyle

Bio

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jasmine Haynes loves giving readers sexy, classy stories about real issues like growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion, heart, humor, and happy endings, even if they aren’t always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series. As Jennifer Skully, she writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedies laced with a heavy dose of mystery. Look for Jennifer’s new series written with Bella Andre, starting with Breathless in Love, The Maverick Billionaires Book 1. Having penned stories since the moment she learned to write, Jasmine now lives in the Redwoods of Northern California with her husband and their adorable nuisance of a cat who totally runs the household. Join her newsletter for updates on contests, new releases, and freebies by going to www.jasminehaynes.com.

Contact:

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/SkullyNews

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First Kiss Friday with guest R.L. Merrill

02 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in 2018, First Kiss Friday

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Today on First Kiss Friday I’d like to welcome my guest, R.L. Merrill, who will be sharing an excerpt from her M/M novel Hurricane Reese. Take it away, Ro!

 

Thank you so much Sherry for having me on First Kiss Friday!

Today I’m sharing with you the first kiss of my two guys thrown together while caring for one ornery octogenarian. Reese Matheson is a newly minted Tony winner for his first musical and he’s decided to come home and take care of his grandfather who suffers from Alzheimer’s. He’d hired live-in caregiver Jude De La Torre while he was on the road and figures the guy can just go stay with family or something when circumstances necessitate Reese moving in. That, however is not the case. Jude is a proud young man who is determined to take care of himself and not put his family out; family who is already caring for his younger siblings while his parents are in the Philippines caring for his grandparents. So he’s been living in his truck for about two weeks at this point when Reese discovers the results of his actions.

Excerpt:

The sound of someone pounding on the car woke Jude the next morning, and the first thing he saw was Reese’s handsome face, which looked furious.

“Open up this door right now.”

The humiliation overwhelmed Jude. He turned away from Reese’s angry face at the window of his Pathfinder and wondered if he could disappear if he just closed his eyes tightly enough. It could happen. He used to play that game with his father when he was a boy. He’d close his eyes, and his father would pretend he’d become invisible. Jude would laugh and laugh while his father looked all over for him.

“Jude, I swear if you don’t open this door, I’ll break the window.”

Jude climbed over the backseat and opened the door, but he refused to speak. He kept his arms wrapped around himself to hide the fact that he was shaking uncontrollably.

“You mind telling me what you’re doing sleeping in your car outside my house? Are you crazy?”

Jude tried to keep the tremor from his voice. “I’m perfectly sane. One could ask you what you’re doing outside before dawn shouting at me.”

Reese blanched, leaned closer, and rested his arm on the roof of the car. “Please don’t tell me you’ve been doing this since I came home.”

“Okay.”

“Okay what?” Reese asked, his voice growing more tense by the second.

“Okay, I won’t tell you that,” Jude replied and bit his lip to keep the nervous laughter at bay. He might have lied when he said he was perfectly sane.

“Why are you smiling? You have been, haven’t you? Dammit, Jude. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Any trace of humor evaporated. Jude raised his eyebrow at Reese.

“What would it have mattered to you? You’d already made up your mind to move in. I was in the process of finding a place when you asked me to come back,” he lied.

“But your family—”

“My family has their hands full. They’re already caring for my brother and sister.”

“You have siblings? Where are your parents?”

“In the Philippines. Reese, what are you even doing out here this early?”

“I was just going to run to the store and grab some coffee. We’re out. And I knew you’d be here soon. I just didn’t know you were already here.”

Reese peered around the inside of the car, furthering Jude’s embarrassment. He looked in the back where Jude had been sleeping and noticed all the neat piles of clothes and books.

“You know, most people who live in their cars are like trolls. Even your piles of clothes are color coded. Hey, you own jeans. I was beginning to think you only wore scrubs.” He chuckled, and Jude’s embarrassment turned to anger. He reached over to pull the door closed, but Reese blocked him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Reese asked, the humor fading from his voice.

“I’m leaving. What does it look like?” Jude tried to tug the door shut, not even concerned about smashing Reese’s perfect hands. It would serve him right.

“The only place you’re going is in the house. No wonder you’ve been so exhausted. You’re going to come in, shower, and get in my bed.”

Jude’s eyes flared, and he started to argue, but Reese held a finger up to his lips.

“As much as I’d love to join you there, now’s not the time. We’ll just take turns. Now grab what you need. You’re moving back in.”

Jude pulled away. “You can’t just order me around. You—”

Reese snaked an arm around Jude’s back and pulled him in for a kiss so quickly that a very stunned Jude could only open his mouth to object before Reese’s tongue filled it. Shocked, Jude tried to push him away, but Reese scooped his other hand under Jude’s ass and pulled him forward to bring their bodies flush against each other, Jude’s legs spread against Reese’s hips. When Jude would have fought harder, Reese bit down on his lower lip and growled low in his chest.

Kissing Reese was everything Jude feared it could be—overwhelming, intoxicating, and probably addicting. Jude forgot about all the reasons he shouldn’t be kissing Reese, slid a hand around his back, and pressed their chests impossibly close together. Jude couldn’t help smiling when Reese moaned his appreciation. Reese may have started the kiss, but Jude met his enthusiasm, stroke for stroke. A sort of quiet chaos built between them as they each finally gave into a chemistry that Jude didn’t quite understand. How could Reese make him so angry, turned on, grounded, and upheaved all at the same time?

Blurb

Tony award-winning musician Reese Matheson’s life resembles a natural disaster, and caregiver Jude De La Torre is caught in the eye of the storm. Can the love these two opposites find together survive caring for an ornery octogenarian with wayward balls and a meddling family insistent upon tradition?

A public break-up is not what Reese expects upon returning from the successful run of his musical in London. All he wants to do is spend time with his beloved grandfather and musical mentor, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Reese knows he doesn’t have much time left before the elder Matheson doesn’t remember him. In classic “Hurricane Reese” form, he moves into the cottage by the sea, displacing Jude, the intriguing caregiver he’d hired two years before. When Grandpa proves too much for Reese to handle on his own, Jude comes to his rescue, taming Grandpa… and the Hurricane as well. Soon all Reese can think about is how to get Jude out of his scrubs and into his bed. Permanently. Will Hurricane Reese destroy everything in its wake, or will this gay odd couple learn to harmonize together?

Buy LInks

eBook: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/hurricane-reese-9305-b

Paperback: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/hurricane-reese-9304-b

Amazon: https://goo.gl/3FTGYR

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2001762376761722/

Spotify Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/user/rlmerrillauthor/playlist/79BaPjDRZXUwVr5tPI9FNC

 

BIO

Once upon a time… a teacher, tattoo collector, mom, and rock ’n’ roll kinda gal opened up a doc and started purging her demons. Several self-published books and a debut gay romance with Dreamspinner Press later, R.L. Merrill is still striving to find that perfect balance between real life and happily ever after. She writes stories set in the places she loves most, such as Hollywood, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Northern California—and Iowa. Ro also loves connecting with other authors online, at the annual Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, and chapter meetings for the Romance Writers of America, of which she’s been a member since 2014.

A sucker for underdogs, Ro has adopted a wide variety of pets including cats, dogs, rats, a snake and fish. Her love of horror is evident the moment you walk in her door and find yourself surrounded by decorative skulls and quirky artwork from around the world. You can find her lurking on social media where she loves connecting with readers, educating America’s youth, being a mom taxi to two busy kids, in the tattoo chair trying desperately to get that back piece finished, or head banging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Connect with Ro:

Website: www.rlmerrillauthor.com

Twitter: @rlmerrillauthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rowritesrocknromance

And stay Tuned for more Rock ’n’ Romance.

First Kiss Friday with guest Jasmine Haynes and a Giveaway!

23 Friday Jun 2017

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Another First Kiss Friday and it’s always a pleasure to welcome back Jasmine Haynes who writes incredible erotica stories. Today, she gives us a the first kiss scene from her eBook, The Girlfriend Experience, which is currently #FREE. Jasmine is also offering a giveaway to one random comment of an eCopy in the Courtesans Tales series entitled Payback. Get busy leaving those comment and get out a fan. You’re going to need it after reading this scene. Happy reading!

Excerpt:

Chase had experienced paid companions, but none had been like Marianna. She wasn’t practiced. She was real.

From her magic picnic basket, she’d pulled a bowl of sliced peaches and two champagne flutes. She plopped a slice in each glass, then handed him one, which he filled, followed by the other. Tapping her flute to his, she saluted—“Cheers”—and swallowed a quarter of the glass, then closed her eyes, tipping her head back. “Oh God, that’s good. I haven’t had champagne like that in ages.”

He’d have thought she had it all the time.

She opened her eyes. “You haven’t tasted.”

“I was watching you.”

She was still a long moment, regarding him, assessing his words. Then she must have decided she liked what he’d said, because she graced him with another of her smiles and held out the plate of drumsticks.

“One drumstick, then a peach slice. It’s to die for.”

He chose a piece of chicken, the scent mouthwatering. Like her. “Delicious,” he said, licking the stickiness from his fingers.

Instead of giving him the peach bowl, she selected a slice, then fed it to him. After the tang of the teriyaki, the juicy peach was heaven. He savored it along with the flavor of her skin, sweet as the peach. He’d never cheated on his wife. He hadn’t had sex with another woman in over twenty years. Since Rosie died, he couldn’t even remember thinking about sex.

But he thought about it with Marianna, enjoying the image as much as he had the peach.

She ate a slice herself, and he took pleasure in the sensual cast of her eyelids, the low, throaty moan of appreciation. Then, going down on her elbow beside him, she pushed the plate of chicken at him. “Eat. I made a lot.”

He ate, but he liked it better when she fed him.

“So tell me what you do.” She nibbled daintily on a drumstick without getting messy.

“Business.” He didn’t want to talk about work. That would only lead to bad memories.

She dropped her chin to give him a look through her eyelashes. “That’s illuminating.”

“Sorry.” He stroked a lock of hair from her cheek. Touching her skin, he wanted more. He wanted her to touch him. “I haven’t done this in a long time. I’m not good at making conversation, and I’m a little nervous.”

“Done this?” She flipped her palm out expressively.

He held her gaze. “Gone out with a woman.”

“Are you recently divorced?”

A pulse beat at his temple. He thought about lying. “My wife died a year ago.”

She gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She laid her hand on the blanket a scant inch from his, their fingers almost touching.

He thought of telling her the truth about why Rosie died. But then maybe he didn’t really know the why of it. He only felt the guilt in his gut. Dammit, he was not going there now. He wanted to pretend for a little while longer that he wasn’t a basket case.

As if she understood how close to the darkness he was at that moment, she smiled gently. “Got any kids?” she asked.

Marianna could only hope the question would save the situation. Chase’s sudden smile dazzled her, the abrupt change amazing. Thank God, because she’d totally blundered that one. Isabel should have told her he was a widower. She wondered why he didn’t wear a ring. You took it off for divorce, but not for death. But hell if she’d ask that.

“I’ve got a daughter,” he said, a beam of light in his eyes. “Krista. She’s a sophomore at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.”

She gasped. “Oh my God, she’s a Poly Dolly.”

He chuckled. “I’ve never heard that one.”

She felt the mood lifting. “I graduated years ago. Maybe they don’t use it anymore. But it’s sure better than being called an Aggie.” In the midst of taking a peach slice from the container, she glanced up in case she’d offended him. “Not that I’ve got anything against Aggies.” Cal Poly had been a big agriculture university even when she was attending.

He snagged a piece of chicken. Another good sign. “Don’t worry, she’s not an Aggie. She’s doing graphic design.”

“So tell me what she looks like.”

He lips creased in a doting-dad smile. “She’s beautiful.” Everything was different about him when he spoke of his daughter. He came to life. His eyes brightened.

“Duh,” she said. “With your DNA, I’m not surprised.”

Chase licked teriyaki from his fingers, and she had the most incredible urge do it for him. Suck his fingers clean. Her face heated. So did everything else.

“Is that a compliment?” he asked.

“Yes, you’re very handsome.” Pretty damn hot, actually.

He blinked, then his mouth curved in a sexy half smile. “Thank you.” His lips glistened with a touch of lingering teriyaki. Marianna wanted a taste of that, too.

He was obviously grieving for his wife. He didn’t want a real girlfriend. He wanted someone to ease the loneliness for a little while. And she’d almost botched everything totally. She’d even had trouble thinking of things to talk about. Which shouldn’t have been a problem since she had to make small talk all the time with potential buyers. Chase unnerved her in a way Brock Ransom hadn’t. Perhaps because this was more like a date. A blind date one of her friends had set her up on.

And because Chase was much more devastatingly attractive.

She searched for something scintillating to say. “So, Cal Poly is my alma mater, but I’m a real estate agent now.” Oh God. She closed her eyes and waited for him to say, But I thought you were a whore.

He didn’t. Instead, he lifted her chin with the tip of his finger, waiting until she opened her eyes.

“I think we should start over.” His eyes were a gorgeous bottle green.

“We should?”

“Yeah. Here I am with a beautiful woman who’s prepared a delicious feast for me and I’m making her struggle to come up with conversation.”

He had the most amazing eyelashes, thick, dark. “It’s not your fault.” It was her job to be scintillating. She sucked at being a courtesan. Though the thought of that particular word under these circumstances brought a smile to her lips.

He raised one brow. “Tell me.”

Her face always gave her thoughts away. Why not tell him? “I was thinking that I sucked at being a courtesan.” Her smile grew, then she laughed.

“An interesting choice of words.” His eyes deepened to an earthier shade.

“Then I realized that’s what I’m supposed to do.”

“You are a very naughty woman.”

She loved the way he said naughty. He stroked a finger down her throat, then slowly pulled away, leaving her skin tingling.

“I haven’t done anything naughty”—she fluttered her eyelashes—“yet.”

Holding her gaze, he dipped into the bowl of peaches and held one out to her. “Eat this.”

Entranced, she took the fruit from his fingers as if he were a hypnotist. A drop of juice slid off her lip. His eyes glued to her, she licked it up.

“Now suck this.” His tone was smoking as he stretched out his hand.

She drew his finger into her mouth and sucked off all the leftover nectar. So good, she had to close her eyes to savor his taste mixed with the peach and teriyaki.

“I would say you were a perfect courtesan,” he whispered.

Her body was suddenly a blaze of sensation, a flush along her skin.

Like Sleeping Beauty, she needed his kiss and she needed it now.

Putting her hand on his face, she gave him her lips.

Tentative, sweet, a delicious combination of peaches, teriyaki, and hot male desperation. She swept her tongue across his lips, asking. He parted for her. She’d never felt so in control of a kiss, not the aggressor so much as the director. Touching his tongue with hers, she quickly backed off, teasing. He watched her, his eyes smoky with desire. She leaned in again and gave him her mouth. When she would have pulled away once more, he slid his fingers through her hair, held her to him, and the kiss became his. He used his tongue, his lips, sipped her, tasted her fully, teased, then rolled her under him.

Angling his head, he took her deeply. The crush of his body heated her inside and out. She forgot it was about money. She forgot he was a stranger. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed as if she were the longtime girlfriend he’d fantasized about. He groaned, holding her still. Just when she couldn’t bear another moment without his hands all over her, he backed off, then laid his forehead to hers, eyes closed.

“Christ,” he murmured, his breath fanning her cheek. “You make me feel starved.”

“I’ve got more food.”

He chuckled, real laughter, no cutting it off. “Food is not what I’m hungry for.”

The Girlfriend Experience (Courtesans Tales, Book 1)

By Jasmine Haynes

Romances to make you blush set in a glitzy, sensual world of powerful people and the courtesans they’ll pay anything to have.

An exclusive and secret agency, for over two hundred years Courtesans has specialized in providing entertainment of a sexual nature. Its clients are rich, powerful, and influential men and women, and one only meets a courtesan through referral from trusted sources. Courtesans facilitates bringing together men and women to satisfy any sexual need imaginable, matching the perfect courtesan with just the right client. The agency prides itself on training its courtesans, male and female, to interpret and fulfill its client’s greatest fantasies, even the secret ones no one dares to say aloud. The price is high, but everyone who’s ever had the pleasure of a date with a courtesan will agree, the fantasy is worth every penny. And sometimes it changes your life.

To Marianna, money is the measure of a person’s worth. Even as a child, she learned that from her father, a self-made man. When an old college friend tells her about life as a courtesan, the fabulous dates, opulent trips, valuable trinkets, and how much a man is willing pay to have a beautiful woman on his arm, Marianna wants it all. Thrust into a world of powerful men, suddenly she holds all the power. And all the worth.

Until she finds herself falling for her “date.”

A widower, Chase has sought to ease his guilt and pain in relationships without commitment or expectation. And especially not love. Until he discovers Marianna and begins to treat her like his girlfriend rather than a paid courtesan.

Now Marianna stands to learn the biggest lesson of all, that money doesn’t buy self-worth. It certainly can’t buy love. And money becomes the reason she’ll lose Chase, the very man who is worth everything.

The Girlfriend Experience is free right now everywhere!  Kindle  iBooks  Kobo  Nook

Courtesans Tales in Order

The Girlfriend Experience
Payback
Triple Play
Three’s a Crowd
The Stand-In
Surrender to Me
The Only Way Out
The Wrong Kind of Man
No Second Chances

Bio:

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jasmine Haynes loves giving readers sexy, classy stories about real issues like growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion, heart, humor, and happy endings, even if they aren’t always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series. As Jennifer Skully, she writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedies laced with a heavy dose of mystery. Look for Jennifer’s new series written with Bella Andre, starting with Breathless in Love, The Maverick Billionaires Book 1. Having penned stories since the moment she learned to write, Jasmine now lives in the Redwoods of Northern California with her husband and their adorable nuisance of a cat who totally runs the household. Join her newsletter for updates on contests, new releases, and freebies by going to www.jasminehaynes.com.

Contact

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/SkullyNews
Website  Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Amazon  Goodreads  Bookbub

First Kiss Friday with guest Jennifer Skully & a giveaway

26 Friday May 2017

Posted by in First Kiss Friday

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Today I’d like to welcome back my friend, author Jennifer Skully. Jennifer and I know each from our local chapter of Romance Writers of America, an organization I am truly grateful for regarding my writing career. Today, Jennifer has a first kiss excerpt from her latest novel, Pretty in Pink Slip, that is available fro preorder and what a first kiss scene it is too! Jennifer is also offering a giveaway to a random comment of the first two ebooks in this series, Desire Actually, After Office Hours, Book 1, and Love Affair to Remember, After Office Hours, Book 2. Read on for her excerpt from her latest novel and don’t forget to leave her a comment to be in the running for the giveaway. Happy Reading!

First Kiss Excerpt:

She wanted to ask so many questions, exactly when he’d gotten divorced, did he date, why he’d never remarried—though that was probably obvious, the workaholic syndrome again.

But none of it was her business. She didn’t want to get all tangled up in his life—he was the CEO after all. Besides, she didn’t need a man in her life telling her what to do or disapproving of her decisions or expecting her to wait on him or correcting her.

So why had she invited him to help her finish the leftovers? Especially now that she couldn’t get rid of him until he was ready to go.

If only it didn’t feel so right and comfortable to have him filling up her living room. If only his body so close to hers didn’t feel divine.

If only she’d woken up Joy instead of letting Brett carry her daughter to bed.

She jumped up then, almost as if she’d do something she’d regret later if she didn’t get away from him.

“More wine,” she explained as she practically ran to the kitchen. Thank God her wineglasses were small; there was just enough left in the bottle to fill them both halfway. It was a cheap brand, and she felt slightly ashamed, but whatever, he knew it now. Her whole existence was about money and how much things cost. She blushed just remembering Joy’s comment about the stuffed animal being 50 percent off, like she was teaching her daughter to be cheap. But really it was about not being wasteful.

Why did having him in her house make her feel like she needed to justify herself? Why did it make her feel like she was less than?

The onslaught of negativity had her marching back into the living room, the wine bottle in her hand. He was still sitting there, larger than life, in her living room, big, bold, and beautiful, making her breath catch. Making her want. “You know, I just have to ask this. Because I don’t understand. What do you really want from me? To promise I’m not going to sue? That I’m not going to screw up the deal with The Nelson Group? That I’ll keep everyone’s secret about how badly Rhonda treats people?”

He rose, slowly, until she felt like he towered over her, and padded across the carpet like a stealthy predator sneaking up on her, stopping only inches away so that his scent invaded her thoughts, her mind.

“What I really want,” he said so softly it was little more than a sexy whisper she felt across her skin, “is to taste every inch of your body.”

The wine bottle slipped from her numb fingers, landing unbroken on the carpet and rolling a few inches.

There wasn’t a breath left in her lungs, and she was suddenly lightheaded, swaying, drifting into him.

He reached out, so very slowly, giving her time to stop him if she wanted to, if she could. But she didn’t have the will to move a muscle.

His big hand slid beneath her hair, wrapped around her nape, pulled her close until she had to tip her head back to see him. He took her lips with a gentleness that set her blood humming in her veins and her skin buzzing. He tasted of the sweetness of wine and sizzling male. She opened her mouth to him without thought, without fight. With need and desire. With carnal loneliness.

God, he was so good. So perfect. Taking and giving, sliding his tongue over hers, setting her on fire and melting her down. There was just his hand holding her, his mouth drawing her in, and his scent draping her like a sensual curtain. He didn’t touch her anywhere else, didn’t press his hard body against hers.

Yet it was like he owned every inch of her that he’d said he wanted to taste.

When he backed off, her lips and body followed him as if they had all the will and she had none. She opened her eyes, realizing only then that she’d closed them.

He regarded her with a steel-gray gaze. “Whatever you decide to do about Rhonda isn’t going to make any difference to how much I want to drag you down onto the carpet right this very minute.” A little flame seemed to blaze in his eyes. “But I’m not going to do that no matter how badly I want it. I won’t bother you again this weekend. You need time to think. Time to separate this—” He pulled her in for one more devastating taste of his mouth. “—and work.”

He bent down, swiping the wine bottle up off the carpet and reaching around her to set it on the kitchen table. “No matter what you decide, today was the best day I’ve had in a long, long time.” He grinned suddenly, like a little boy. “Except the day my granddaughter Valerie was born.”

Then he was gone. Leaving behind only the heady scent of big, hot male.

Pretty in Pink Slip (After Office Hours, Book 3)
By Jennifer Skully

She’s a single mother. He’s a brilliant CEO. And she’s got something he wants. Badly.

Ivy Elliot dreams of being a stay-at-home mom, but in a career-oriented world, she’s reluctant to admit it. Besides, she’s a single mother and quitting work to homeschool her daughter just isn’t an option. Asking for a raise, however, is an alternative. But when she works up the nerve, disaster strikes. Instead of a raise, Ivy gets the dreaded pink slip.

But Ivy is also handed the key to making her dream come true. If she sues the company for the terrible names her boss Rhonda called her when she asked for a raise… she might very well get millions.

She gave her heart and soul to the wrong man once. Can she ever trust enough to give it all again?

Brett Baker has worked his whole life to be able to take a company of his own into the Fortune 500, and he’s sitting on the cusp of his dream. Until Ivy could potentially ruin all his plans by suing the company for discrimination and harassment. He’s got to use every weapon in his arsenal to make sure she doesn’t do that.

Even if it means falling in love with her.

 

Pretty in Pink Slip is as an exclusive preorder on iBooks and will be released on July 14.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pretty-in-pink-slip/id1238924428?mt=11

After Hours Series in Order
Desire Actually
Love Affair to Remember
Pretty in Pink Slip

Bio

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Skully is a lover of contemporary romance, bringing you poignant tales peopled with hilarious characters that will make you laugh and make you cry. Look for Jennifer’s series written with Bella Andre, starting with Breathless in Love, The Maverick Billionaires Book 1. Writing as Jasmine Haynes, Jennifer authors classy, sensual romance tales about real issues such as growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion and heart and humor and happy endings, even if they aren’t always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series. Having penned stories since the moment she learned to write, Jennifer now lives in the Redwoods of Northern California with her husband and their adorable nuisance of a cat who totally runs the household. Join her newsletter for updates on contests, new releases, and freebies by going to jenniferskully.com.

Contact

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/SkullyNews
Jennifer’s Website: www.jenniferskully.com
Blog: www.jasminehaynes.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasminehaynesauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasminehaynes1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Skully/e/B001JRYPCM
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/332472.Jennifer_Skully
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-skully

 

 

First Kiss Friday with guest Pamela Gibson

17 Friday Mar 2017

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Today on First Kiss Friday, I have guest Pamela Gibson who is a member of my local chapter of Romance Writers of America. We hope you enjoy this excerpt and first kiss scene from A Kiss of Cabernet. Happy reading!

A Kiss of Cabernet By Pamela Gibson

The sweetest vintage of all is the one you can’t have…

Napa Valley vineyard manager Paige Reynoso is furious. After a six-year absence, her boss—big-city entrepreneur Jake Madison—has returned, only to announce he’s selling the vineyard. Paige has always dreamed of buying Garnet Hill, which sits on land where her ancestors first settled, but without the cash, she’s out of luck. And then there’s an even bigger problem…she has a serious thing for the surprisingly tempting man who’s just destroyed her dream.

Jake’s in a tight spot. With his other business ventures struggling, he needs cash— fast. The last thing he needs is the too-lovely Paige convincing him the grapes are an effective long-term investment. Or needing Paige herself, whose spirit and heart bring his to life. But as their attraction grows, Jake knows he’s not in a position to offer her anything beyond this moment. Because Jake has a big secret…and it has nothing to
do with sour grapes.

Excerpt

Rain came down in sheets now, and Jake scanned the fields, looking for Paige. He thought he spotted her in the distance, so he ambled in that direction.

He called out to her, but his voice was muffled by the rain. He continued toward the downward slope until he saw her with a full bin at the end of a row. She had taken the farm’s tractor to haul the smaller bin of blending grapes to the barn and was climbing into the seat. The others had already been hauled off to the waiting wineries.

“I’m through here,” she shouted. “Climb on the back of the trailer. I’ll give you a ride.”

Jake found a spot where he could hang onto the full bin for support.

The trip back seemed endless, and both were drenched by the time they stowed the bin. Everyone else had gone home.

“We’ll take these to the winery tomorrow and see if they’re even usable,” said Paige, pulling the doors shut behind her. She was breathless and beaming. Her smile generated as much warmth as a solar plant.

“My God, you’re like the aurora borealis.”

“I’m always happy when harvest ends,” she said. “Aren’t you happy, too?”

“To tell the truth, I’m going to collapse any second.”

They stood looking at each other, and Jake’s fatigue disappeared. Raindrops kissed her face like dew on an open rose. Her wet clothes, molded to her skin, displayed every luscious contour and curve. She was a nymph, risen from the sea, the magnetism of her smile drawing him forward, warming him as surely as a tropical sun. He wasn’t standing in a muddy field in a Napa Valley vineyard. He was barefoot on a deserted Caribbean beach, his toes sinking in sand, watching his woman approach.

His woman.

The pad of his thumb caught a drop meandering down her jaw to her neck, where his lips wanted to be. Forgetting all of his good intentions, he pulled her into his arms, her breasts tight against his chest.

She trembled against him, straining into his body. Her hair smelled like rainwater and damp earth, her body cool and supple. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he covered her mouth with his own, letting the moment take him, forgetting about the rain that pounded around them or the breeze that had turned chilly. He wanted her. Here, now, between growing vines and fallen leaves, in the rain and the mud. Anywhere. And she wanted him, too.

“Let’s get out of this,” he said, pulling her toward the house.

She didn’t move, her anxious eyes searching his face.

“This is madness, Jake.”

“Is it?”

She hesitated and took a deep breath, as if considering her response.

“Come on before we drown.” He tugged at her arm.

Nodding, she took his hand and they ran for the house.

Purchase A Kiss of Cabernet:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Kobo

Author Bio

Pamela Gibson writes on a 32-foot Nordic Tug, a trawler called Sea Bear. Married to a man who has salt water in his veins, they spend half their time cruising and half their time on land. The Sonoma and Napa Valleys are her favorite settings, full of stories waiting to be told. But there will be others, inspired by the cruising lifestyle that took her from Mobile, AL to the East Coast, to the Great Lakes, and down the rivers of middle America back to the Gulf.
Pamela is the mother of two, grandmother to a yellow lab, four rescue cats, a lizard and a fish. She has a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s in public administration, and was lucky enough to win or final in twelve contests while honing her craft.
She’s addicted to chocolate, white sand beaches, and all the trappings of Christmas. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with her and sign up for her newsletter or blog at http://www.pamelagibsonwrites.com or follow her at:

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

 

 

First Kiss Friday with guest Jennifer Skully & a Giveaway!

10 Friday Mar 2017

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Today on First Kiss Friday I’m welcoming my friend Jennifer Skully and her characters from Desire Actually. Jennifer would also like to do a giveaway. One lucky comment will be randomly chosen as the winner of her giveaway. If the comment chosen is a US resident, the reader will received a signed print; if the comment chosen is an international reader, Jennifer will gift an eCopy.

We hope you’ll enjoy this the excerpt. Happy reading and don’t forget to comment for your chance to win!

 

Desire Actually (After Office Hours, Book 1)
By Jennifer Skully

Anything can happen After Office Hours.

What does a red-blooded, All-American male do when his wife asks for a divorce—by email, no less—claiming he’s too vanilla in the bedroom?

He gets a sexy tutor for after-office-hours sessions, of course.

Enter Jordana Davis, a work colleague who offers to share the mysterious secrets of what women really want—Desire, Actually. Grady Masterson is more than willing to listen to every seductive suggestion.

He aces sexting and phone sex as the sparks start to fly between them. Then Jordana imagines that Grady could be the one she hadn’t been looking for. If only he wasn’t taking lessons from her to win back his wife.

How far would you go to win the one you love?

 

cover

First Kiss Excerpt

They approached her car. His was on the other side of the lot. “Goodnight,” he said.

“Goodnight,” she answered, digging in her purse for her keys.

She beeped her remote as he headed for his own car. They hadn’t talked about phone sex, sexting, or his next lesson. There’d only been room for Darlene and his little white lie.

He was a couple of parking spots away when he turned. Opening her door, she threw her purse across to the passenger seat. A light evening breeze picked up her hair, blowing it gently, prettily. Her legs were long and toned beneath the short black skirt she wore.

He didn’t think, he simply acted. In four long strides, he was on her. Grabbing her arm, he hauled her close, a breath whooshing out of her. Then her lips were beneath his.

Her mouth opened, and her taste was as tangy and sweet as her citrus scent. He enveloped her with both arms, the press of her breasts against him, her cherried nipples as tight and hard as she’d described to him every night. He sank into her, teasing the recesses of her mouth, her tongue flirting with his. Then he growled in his throat and devoured her, taking the kiss deep. He tasted her moan, felt it vibrate against him, inside him. The fire in her lips consumed him, engulfed them both. She trembled in his arms. His blood roared in his ears and pulsed in his fingertips where he touched her. He flared to life like a lit match, burning hot, until they were both breathing fast, gasping, and he pulled back just to make sure he hadn’t lost his mind, that she was real.

“Oh my dear James,” she said on a puff of air. “Now that was a kiss.”

Buy Links:

Kindle  |  iBooks  |  Nook  |  Kobo

Bio

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Skully is a lover of contemporary romance, bringing you poignant tales peopled with hilarious characters that will make you laugh and make you cry. Look for Jennifer’s series written with Bella Andre, starting with Breathless in Love, The Maverick Billionaires Book 1. Writing as Jasmine Haynes, Jennifer authors classy, sensual romance tales about real issues such as growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion and heart and humor and happy endings, even if they aren’t always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series. Having penned stories since the moment she learned to write, Jennifer now lives in the Redwoods of Northern California with her husband and their adorable nuisance of a cat who totally runs the household. Join her newsletter for updates on contests, new releases, and freebies by going to www.jenniferskully.com.

Contact

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/SkullyNews

Jasmine’s Website: www.jasminehaynes.com

Jennifer’s Website: www.jenniferskully.com

Blog: www.jasminehaynes.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasminehaynesauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasminehaynes1

 

First Kiss Friday with my guest R.L. Merrill

03 Friday Mar 2017

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Welcome to another First Kiss Friday. For the month of March, I’m giving back to my San Francisco Area Chapter of Romance Writers of America as a few talented authors give us those wonderful first kiss scenes! I must admit, I wouldn’t be where I am today without these magnificent group of authors who go above and beyond to help out their fellow chapter members. To start us off this week, I’d like to welcome my dear friend, R.L. Merrill and her characters from Haunted. I think you’re going to enjoy this excerpt. Happy reading and take it away R.L.!

Thank you for inviting me to share my “First Kiss” this Friday! This kiss comes from my first novel, Haunted. I couldn’t decide which of my couples deserved this spotlight, so I put it to my goddesses on my street team and they overwhelmingly chose Devon and Jaylene.

Haunted by RL Merrill

Haunted is the story of a band from Houma, LA, who has experienced a terrible loss. The band hires tattoo artist Jaylene Charles to come stay with them in New Orleans and design a memorial tattoo. Jaylene helps the boys heal, and helps one man in particular move on from crippling grief to find hope and love.

This scene comes after a pretty big revelation… So I’m going to redact a bit to keep from posting spoilers!

Excerpt:

Devon pounded on the door. “Jaylene, open up, please? I’m sorry. I should have told you. Please.”

I couldn’t hide in here forever but I was so embarrassed. I unlocked the door and trudged over to my bed, sitting with my back to him as he burst in.

“What do you want, Devon? Want to laugh some more?” I was too upset to speak over a whisper. I heard his footsteps coming closer and then he was kneeling in front of me.

“God, no. Jaylene. I wasn’t laughing. I would never laugh at you. I’m so sorry. I just assumed you knew… With all the big-mouthed jackasses around, I thought you knew. God, please just look at me.”

I couldn’t do it. His eyes were always too intense. I told myself I should never have let him get close to me. I was such a fool.

“Hey, chère. I’m sorry. Please? Say something.”

I bit my lower lip to keep from crying. I took in a breath. I couldn’t look at him right now. “Look. I don’t do this well, this…whatever it is we’re doing. I didn’t even want to get involved with you because I thought you were a widower. That’s what I was trying to tell you last night. I don’t play games and I certainly don’t like being the butt of someone’s jokes. So please, just leave me alone so I can process this little humiliation of mine in private?”

He sat back on his heels. “I’m sorry if we screwed up, Jaylene, but please don’t do this. I was going to talk…today. That’s why I had my mama bring the pictures. I thought it would be easier to explain her that way. If you’re upset, be upset with me. Everyone’s gotten so used to not talking about her in front of me. I guess they didn’t know what to tell you. I’m such an idiot. Please, Jaylene. I never meant for you to get hurt.” He put his hand out and rested it on the bed next to me.

I could hear the pain in his voice and I couldn’t bear to be the cause of it. Slowly I turned toward him and he looked up at me with worry. I gave him a weak smile. “At least no one made this into a blonde joke. Then I really would have had to kick someone’s ass.”

The relief sagged through him and he leaned forward, putting his head in my lap and grabbing hold of the sides of my thighs. “I’m so sorry, Jaylene. Please forgive me. That was a terrible thing for me to let happen.”

I gave in to my urge to touch his hair. It was exactly as silky as I’d imagined. “You didn’t do anything, Devon. I’m the one who jumped to conclusions…And then when I heard your song, it was obvious how much you loved her. I felt so guilty, thinking about how attracted to you I was when I was supposed to be helping you…I’m the one who made the mistake, not you.”

He sat up and grinned like he’d just won a prize. In this position, we were almost at eye level with each other. His powerful shoulders and long arms swallowed me. “You’re attracted to me?”

I groaned and he pulled me closer, so my legs had to part for his chest.

“Really? That’s what you took away from what I just said?” He was so on the money, though. I was incredibly attracted to him. With him this close, I was on fire.

He leaned in and kissed the bottom of my throat and then my chest. “So…you’re not attracted to me?”

I groaned even more dramatically and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me. The sexy grin he had on his face froze me in place.

“Devon, you know damn well I’m attracted to you. I’ve been a mess since you first came to my shop and stood there with your sad eyes and your many smiles.”

His eyes lit up even further. “You were? But you were so professional. And then when you came here, you were so close to me, but not—you know what I mean? You asked questions but gave nothing away and I couldn’t tell if I was being out of line or not. But I couldn’t stop wanting to be close to you.”

I was growing dizzy with him so near. I wondered if I’d be able to handle more without spontaneously combusting.

I cleared my throat nervously and said, “Well, now you know. What do you have to say?”

I was shaking, I was so nervous.

He pulled me tighter to him, so our chests were touching and my thighs were spread wide to accommodate him. “I think what I have to say is that I’m dying to kiss you and I’m hoping you’ll let me.”

I licked my lips—and that was all the invitation he needed.

He was on me immediately. His full lips kissed me softly but with just enough pressure to let me know he was barely containing his passion. His arms locked around me and my hands tangled in his hair.

“Jesus, Jaylene, you taste so good. I’ve wanted this so much.” We were both shaking and breathing heavy. His eyes searched mine for any sign I wasn’t totally okay with this.

I brushed his hair back from where it had come loose. I’d never been this affected by a guy before. “I was afraid to want this.”

He grabbed my face in both of his hands. “Why?”

I didn’t know what to say to make him understand. “Devon, you don’t know me. The only guys who have ever shown interest before just thought I was someone I’m not. And I would never think someone like you would even want someone like me.”

He hit me with those eyes again. They penetrated me.

“Jaylene, you amaze me. You are so beautiful…who you are, what you create. Whenever I’m around you, that’s the only place I want to be, like the world could just fall away and that’s alright. Don’t you feel it too?”

I nodded. “I feel like I’m drowning. It scares me.”

A pained look crossed his face. “No, chère. Don’t be afraid of me, of this. Just be here, with me. Please?” He kissed me again. This time he started slow and then moved us back onto my bed. I was on my back with Devon holding himself above me. He slid his leg between mine and I ran my hands timidly along his back, under his t-shirt. His skin was so soft, completely at odds with the hardness underneath it.

And his lips were intoxicating. They were so full and feather-soft. He smelled so damn good. He was invading all of my senses, taking over, and I felt helpless to stop it.

He started to lower himself on top of me—and I started to panic. He was just so much, and while I wanted to be in this moment with him, it scared me.

“Devon, please. Just give me a minute.”

His eyes grew wide and he lifted himself off me. “Of course, chère. Are you okay? Is this okay?”

I nodded and he moved over to lie beside me. I curled up next to him and his arms pulled me close. This was truly the best feeling.

He unwound my hair that was starting to come out of the wrap I’d done this morning. He slowly unbraided it and ran his fingers through the mass, sending delicious shivers through me. We lay there in silence for a while and I felt peaceful.

“Talk to me, chère. Don’t keep me out.” He held me tight to his body. It was just as heavenly as I imagined it would be when I’d thought about curling up with him yesterday.

“I don’t mean to. I’m sorry. This feels really good.” He nuzzled my neck and kissed my shoulder. I guess that meant he agreed with me.

“This feels incredibly good. I could stay here forever.” I giggled at that.

“That would certainly get me in trouble with the guys downstairs. They’re expecting me to get you back with the program, not change the channel.” He chuckled.

“Whatever. They know I’m going to do what I said I would do. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to do what I want to do, too.”

I was smiling so wide my face hurt. “You are very loyal to them.”

He rolled over on his back and sighed. I turned and placed my head on his chest. He brought his arms around me and caressed my shoulder and my back, tracing lines with his fingers. “I guess it’s loyalty. I just do what I say I’m going to do. I wouldn’t bail on them. I just couldn’t come up with any new material and they started to panic. I didn’t feel it. What was I supposed to do? I know Marcus would just keep regurgitating the same shit, but I want us to grow.”

“You guys definitely have a distinctive style. But then you play stuff like you did last night, and that sounds terrific, too. Why does it have to be all the same? I think your fans will love you no matter what you play.”

He rolled over on his side to face me and rested his head on his hand. “Do you really think so?”

I nodded. “Of course! I know it’s hard to mix it up when you’re trying to establish your fan base but once you do, I think fans like to hear a little bit of mixing it up. I mean, think about Guns n Roses. Use Your Illusion was very different from Appetite for Destruction. And of course, Metallica! Their range has blown the doors off of what was expected of them.”

His face showed he was taking in what I’d said. He seemed to be working something around in his head. Then he narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re pretty incredible, you know that?” I rolled my eyes at him and he frowned, hard. “Why do you do that, Jaylene? I’m serious. I love how you always say what you think and don’t let anyone intimidate you. Even if it might not be the popular thing to say.”

I snickered. “Maybe that’s why I was never popular. I couldn’t stand the posturing. I liked what I liked. I still do.” I shrugged. “I never got people who said what they thought others wanted to hear. Not until I went through my grad program. Now I understand but it doesn’t mean I could ever do it.”

He kissed my forehead and continued to play with my hair. It was so relaxing. It helped to ease my anxiety. When he spoke, his deep voice rumbled against my ear and tickled me, giving me chills. “That’s why being with you is so refreshing. So many people who’ve been around us had their own agenda with our music or they were just hoping we’d give them a boost. They’d say anything sounded good, even if it sounded like shit. I mean, there was a time when I thought songs like ‘Mystical Stick’ were the height of sophistication…”

I giggled. I couldn’t hold it in whenever he talked about their more ridiculous songs.

“Oh, you think that’s funny? Better not tell Marcus. He’ll explain the whole concept to you, and why it’s highbrow entertainment. He’ll give you a thorough demonstration,” he said, as he made vulgar faces and gestures. I was really laughing now, and he started to tickle me. “Your laugh is the best medicine, I swear. I could listen to it all day.”

I stopped, suddenly self-conscious. I pushed myself up onto my elbows and looked into his eyes. “Who are you, Devon Boudreaux? Who are you and why are you in here with me?” I looked at him in wonder. I could see so much more than his pain, with him this close to me. He was a completely different person alone. One whom I liked so very much.

“I’m in here with you, Miss Charles, because it nearly killed me to see you so upset. I promise I won’t let that ever happen again. I don’t want to ever be the cause of that again. I just want you smiling and laughing and frowning at me. Even rolling your eyes at me. That part is kind of sexy.”

I gently slapped at his arm and he snaked his hand up my exposed skin and let his fingers drift along my side.

“And I want to see you blowing your bangs out of your face when you get frustrated. And I want to see your face relax when you sleep. And I want to see your eyes light up when I kiss you.”

He leaned in closer to me with his eyes open and staring into mine. He kissed me tenderly, his tongue gently urging me to let him in. I moaned and our tongues met and danced together, reminding me of how good it felt to dance with him last night. Everything about Devon made my body feel more alive. But he still scared me.

I pushed the fear to the back of my mind, where I vowed I would keep it until my time with him was up. I thought about what Mackenzie said and knew that being with Devon made me happy. And I wanted happy. I wanted him. I’d been alone for too long.

Haunted is available on Amazon

Bio:

Once upon a time… A teacher, tattoo collector, mom, and rock ‘n’ roll kinda gal opened up a doc and starting purging her demons. Eleven self-published novels later, with more tucked away in her evil lair, R.L. Merrill is still striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. You can find her lurking on social media, being a mom taxi, or head banging at a rock show in her home, the East San Francisco Bay Area!

Find R.L. Merrill here:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

First Kiss Friday with author Kryssie Fortune

24 Friday Feb 2017

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Let’s give a warm First Kiss Friday to my guest Kryssie Fortune and her characters from Marriage, Mobsters, and the Marine! Happy reading and enjoy.

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Firstly, I need to thank Sherri for letting me drop by and tell you about Abigail and Jared’s first kiss.

Excerpt:

When Abigail’s Great-Aunt Edith died, her will said she and her brother could only inherit her fortune if they married within a year. Lacking self-confidence, and convinced she can attract a husband, Abigail advertises for a husband. Jared’s a former Marine who has just set up his own business, but he needs money to get his family out of a hole. He answers an advertisement, thinking it’s for mercenary work. Instead Abagail asks him to marry her, and he accepts. The don’t share their first kiss until after they’ve married.

Oblivious, Ben chattered on. “Hey, you get to spend the night in the honeymoon suite. It’s bright pink and tacky, if you ask me, but my gran does her best. All the romantic stuff sucks anyway. Got to run. I promised I’d help Mom get the ballroom ready.”

Jared took the seat Ben had vacated. “Tacky, huh?”

Abigail’s cheeks flamed. “No tackier than our arrangement. Sorry, I didn’t expect the ceremony to be so difficult. I see you met Sean Mathews and William Holland. William and his wife live three doors along from me. Sorry, I mean us. Sean’s kind of my surrogate older brother while Adam’s away. I hope they didn’t give you a hard time.”

He covered her hand with his. “Not at all. They just told me how lucky I am to have married you and threatened to set their dogs on me if I hurt you.”

She laughed, clearly thinking he exaggerated, but his face never slipped. “Really? Jared, I’m sorry. That’s awful.”

He shook his head. “I’m glad they’re looking out for you. You did a kind thing for the kid, asking him to sit in with your class.”

He’d never noticed the way her smile turned her from unremarkable to stunning before, but she glowed when he spoke about her class. He vowed to spend the night at her side and see how many times he could make her smile again. What, with those long legs and her smile, she held a promise of something more than dowdy clothes and a self-sacrificing streak.

He stared out to sea for a moment, then spotted Sean and William watching from the beach. Not that he cared. The way his new wife radiated kindness and warmth touched him deeply. He had a sudden need to kiss her, so he leaned over the table and brushed his lips over hers, offering a taste of everything they’d share later. The way she backed off and blushed reminded him of a skittish colt. He liked his women sassy but submissive. His wife was a sweet-natured virgin who blushed at his touch.

He stood and offered her his hand. “Let’s go inside. We can get through this, but it might be a long night.”

With another of her glorious smiles, she took his hand and let him lead her indoors. When they stepped through the door, they realized half of Westhorpe Ridge had gathered to toast their nuptials. William and Sean fastened their dogs’ leashes to a rail outside and followed them in.

The room erupted into good-natured teasing and cheers. Determined to play his part better this time, Jared put his arm around Abigail’s shoulders and pulled her close.

He soon realized she had a kind word for everyone in the room. As he downed another glass of champagne, he felt proud of the woman he’d married. Maybe they could build their relationship on mutual respect and friendship. He wanted nothing to do with love, not when he was just a temporary accessory.

Sometimes later,

Abigail Jared’s gaze meshed with hers, and although neither said a word, shivers ran along her spine. A tingle of need sparked inside her womb, then burst into a bonfire of need. When he helped her to her feet, his strength made her feel small and defenseless. Any minute now, her resolve would shatter, and she’d embarrass herself by begging him to spank her.

Scooping her in his arms, he carried her toward the bed. “That was unexpected but very welcome. You’re quite a surprise, little Abby.”

Usually she protested when people shortened her name, but the way Jared called her by a pet name made her feel fluttery inside. He laid her on the screaming-pink comforter and crawled up her body. He reminded her of a jungle cat claiming its prey, and she liked it.

His lips met hers, and when his tongue delved between her lips, she wondered if he’d taste his own cum. Another sweep of his tongue, and all rational thought faded. She’d do anything this man demanded, but when their kiss ended, she moaned softly.

He chuckled and rolled one of her nipples between his finger and thumb while he explored the other with his teeth and tongue. She wanted him to bite a little harder or twist the nipple he fingered, but instead he moved his hand lower.

Jared’s fingers found her clit, teasing it with gentle strokes that made her writhe on the bed. He pushed her legs wider and kissed his way down her flat stomach before he feasted on the juices pooled in her pussy. She tensed and cried out when his tongue speared her vagina. He took his time, licking and tormenting her until she wanted to beg. She almost regretted making him come in her mouth. He kept lapping at her clit until her hands curled into the comforter and her head tossed to and fro on the pillow.

When she felt him stiffen against her leg, she whimpered for more. He chuckled against her clit, then slid one finger inside her. Hips bucking, she tried to ride his hand. Before she could find the relief she needed, he stopped and kissed his way back to her breasts. She mewled like a hungry kitten, arching her back and rotating her hips, begging him for more.

****

Marriage, Murder, and the Marine is book one of my Heroes of Westhorpe Ridge series. The others are –

Sex, Scandal, and the Sheriff – Sean Mathews, a former seal, gets embroiled in spy scandal that almost costs him the woman he loves.

Buy it here. http://amzn.to/2kJbtmK 

Desire, Deceit, and the Doctor – Adam Montgomery, an army doctor finally comes home to find he has an eleven year old son he didn’t know existed.

Buy it here. http://amzn.to/2kJbtmK

Blurb for Murder, Marriage, and the Marine.

Abigail Montgomery, a small town schoolteacher with zero self-confidence, dreams of the Dickensian Christmas her family never enjoyed. Each month she attends a masked BDSM club, but her next visit will be her last. If she doesn’t marry within the next year, her brother won’t inherit Montgomery Hall. Desperate, she advertises for a husband.

Jared Armstrong, a former Marine sharpshooter and occasional Dom needs to $125,000 to get his family out of a hole. His solution—to marry Abigail Montgomery for her money. His only regret is his wife won’t accept his spanking lifestyle.

Gradually, Abigail comes to dream of making their marriage real, but she promised Jared a divorce two years after their wedding. Can they share some Christmas magic as their relationship faces extortion threats, a kidnapping, and an attempted murder? Or will Jared break her heart when he walks away?

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