The Final Word: WARNING: NAUGHTY CONTENT

I have really enjoyed being with all of you today.  It's such a wonderful opportunity for a new writer like me to be able to connect with lots of people.  I like to surround myself with friends and since becoming a published author, I have been the recipient of so much support and kindness.  It makes me proud of the career path I've chosen and keeps me going even when I feel like a bumbling idiot.  I hope you've enjoyed reading my posts today as much as I've enjoyed writing them.  And I do hope that you'll consider hopping over to my personal blog, "The Southern Belle from Hell", from time to time so that we can keep in touch.  I can also be found on Facebook under Alexandra Christian and Lexxx Christian, The Southern Belle from Hell. 

And as a reward for being so patient with me today, another excerpt from "Masquerade!" 

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Instantly his lips kissed lightly across her collarbone, lingering in the tiny cup formed at its center. Ever so softly he traveled down her front weaving a maze of burning kisses, then nudging the loose fabric encasing her breasts aside to kiss around the swells of each breast. Her nipples were so sensitive that the smooth silk scraped against them like fine grained sandpaper. It was almost painful until he freed them with a gentle tug then captured one of the swollen buds between his lips. She moaned with the delicious agony as he suckled at first one and then the other, tugging the prickled flesh against his teeth.

"Wait…" she panted. "There are so many people…"

"Look around, love," he murmured.

She opened her eyes and blinked, trying to clear them. In the dim firelight of the room, she could see that what she had thought were merely masked dancers taking their revelry was really a seething crowd caught up in a dance of sexual decadence. Their bodies were so contorted around one another, that in some cases Blythe couldn’t tell where one person ended and the other began. Some were couples, others threesomes and still more were simply being passed from one group to another. Hands and mouths caressed bare flesh, their moans simply fading into the dark symphony. He smiled wickedly, watching her eyes glaze over with a lustful gleam.

"There is no shame in taking pleasure. Why hide it?" His hand slid along her thigh where he still held her against him. The train of the gown was slit nearly to her waist, making it easy for him to gain access to her most hidden places. "They are beautiful, are they not?"

"Yes," she sighed, feeling his fingertips, so cool against her hot skin, creeping farther back until they reached the edge of her sex. She gasped but didn’t recoil. "So beautiful."

"Doesn’t it arouse you to think that some of them are watching you now," he purred against her ear just as he slid the tip of a finger between the outer lips of her sex. "Each of them getting more turned on as they watch your body tense and hear your desperate whines."

The sinuous digits delved deeper, collecting the slippery drops of fluid that clung to the tiny petals. He slid the pads of his fingertips around the opening of her sex, massaging gently until she was arching against him involuntarily. With an evil chuckle he pulled away, leaving her empty, her sex clutching for something to grasp hold of.
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Alright, my lovelies.  It's been a pleasure.  I hope to see you over at my blog soon where you'll be leaving comments about how you bought "Masquerade" on 12/17 and have now Been Belled!

An Interview with Blythe McLachlan

Alright, you can tell that I'm a horrible blogger.  I always have a difficult time coming up with topics, so I've decided to take a friend's advice and "interview" the heroine of my new short, "Masquerade."  Perhaps a little corny, but what better way to get to know the naughty little vixen? 

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Blythe McLachlan walks into the Starbucks looking like a bit like an unmade bed.  Her black hair is pulled back into a messy chignon, highlighting her delicate china doll features.  At first I am intimidated by the way she barrels through the door and up to the counter to order a Caffe Americano with one sugar, but I'm soon put at ease when she offers a wide smile and a hug rather than a cold handshake.

AC:  Blythe!  You look a bit rushed this morning.

BM:  I know right?  I was so afraid that I was going to be late.  I rushed out of the house without deodorant I think! 

AC:  But the important thing is that you're here.

BM:  I wouldn't have missed it.  After all, it's your fault anyway. 

Blythe laughs and gives me a knowing look that leaves me no doubt as to what she's been doing to cause her tardiness. 

AC:  So I take it that you're enjoying your newfound lifestyle?

BM:  Without a doubt.  In fact, I find myself wondering why I didn't discover polyamory a long time ago. 

AC:  So you consider yourself polyamorous?
BM:  Most definitely.  Polyamory means having more than one intimate, loving relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of all parties.  Will, Lucien and I have a great relationship.  I don't love either of them any more or less than the other.  We're one anothers' best friends.

AC:  So it isn't just about the sex?

BM:  Well, I admit that I was initially attracted to Lucien for purely sexual reasons.  But over time, our relationship has become so much more than just sex.  We love and support one another.

AC:  Isn't there a problem with jealousy?

BM:  I'm sure that in the beginning Will had a few pangs, but once everyone realized that no one was going to be neglected, we were able to put the jealousy behind us.  Lucien doesn't live with us, so Will and I still have somewhat of a "home turf advantage."  I think that helps because Will knows that no matter what, I'm first and foremost his wife. 

AC:  Do you think that Lucien gets jealous of that?

BM:  He's mentioned us all moving in together a few times.  And I think I would like that, but I'm not sure that Will is ready for that strong of a commitment.  We haven't come out as a poly triad to most of our friends, so I think he's still a little skittish of that.  It's that sweet Southern boy mentality.  Lucien, on the other hand, is a loudmouth Yankee and doesn't give a shit about what other people think.  So Lucien may feel a little more jealous, but he understands that Will is my primary partner.

AC:  Am I allowed to ask about the sex?

BM:  You're the author.  I think you can ask pretty much whatever the Hell you want.

AC:  (laughs)  Well I assume that Will and Lucien aren't gay?

BM:  There might be two men in the world who are more self-conscious about being touched by another man, but they'd be hard to find  (laughing).  It's kind of cute, really.  When we're all in bed together, and we're going to sleep, they actually map out where they're going to put their hands to be sure that they aren't going to accidentally fondle one another in the night. 

AC:  There must be something comforting about lying between two men at night.

BM:  I highly recommend it to every woman.  You'll never sleep better than you do with one man cuddling you from the front, breathing softly against your hair while the other one curls up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and letting you lean against his chest.  I used to get cold at night, but not anymore.  Lucien's like having a bonfire in bed with you.  I always tease him that I could roast marshmallows on his ass.

AC:  One last thing.  I have to ask you about the double penetration thing.  Is it really possible?

BM:  I could never reveal all my secrets, Lexxx. 

Blythe gives me a wink and a mischiveous little smile that tells me she won't be revealing all her intimate details with me.  But then again, I'm the author and already know anyway.

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So what are you waiting for??  Make sure you comment and leave an email addy so I can choose that lucky winner.  "Masquerade" will be hitting AllRomance Ebooks, Bookstrand, B&N.com and Amazon on December 17th! 

What the Hell is Southern Gothic? WARNING... SOME NAUGHTY CONTENT

According to wikipedia, "Southern Gothic is a subgenre of Gothic fiction unique to American literature that takes place exclusively in the American South."  Most people think of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles or Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series.  Though it's actually a much older genre than that.  Anne Rice and indeed the creators of "True Blood," wouldn't exist without folks like Thomas Wolfe and William Faulkner.  They knew way back then one inalienable truth-- the South is fuckin' creepy.  Like any other place in the world, lots of times we only see the stuff that's appropriate for postcards.  Outsiders are rarely exposed to the grimy underbelly.  And down here-- underbelly is good eatin'.  A history of slavery, pirates, serial killers, voodoo, hoodoo and religious fanaticism combined with a general spooky atmosphere make the American South a breeding ground for evil goings-on.  And that is a most delectable treat for a writer.  I don't have to look any further than my own family picture album to find artistic inspiration. 

My stories are almost always set in the South.  It's what I know.  I understand the people and places and it's just easier.  My next release from Rebel Ink Press, "Masquerade," is set in a stone house out in the middle of nowhere.  I never reveal what city they're in, it doesn't matter.  Anyone who has ever been to the South knows that every small town has a dirty little secret everyone is in on but no one will acknowledge.  The mansion in "Masquerade" is actually based on a house in a neighboring town that was rumored to be the home of key parties, orgies and even Satanic worship in its heyday.  It was set way back in the woods, but you could see the driveway from the street.  I remember driving by it and asking my mother about it.  She'd always say something like "That was Mr. So and So's house" and quickly change the subject.  I always suspected there was something interesting going on there, but it wasn't until I was older that I heard all the rumors of deviance.  Do I believe them?  I'm still not sure, but it makes for a Hell of a story...
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And now, that excerpt I promised...

Now that she was alone, her apprehension grew exponentially. When they’d started out, some light had still been left by the setting sun, but now night had settled in casting an inky blue cowl over the trees. She really was in the middle of nowhere, but surely Will wouldn’t have taken her someplace unsafe. He may be angry, but she believed him when he said he loved her. Wiping the tears that still clung to her cheeks, Blythe approached the gate.

The ironwork was impressive, though a bit too Edgar Alan Poe for her taste. Twisting spires ended in mean-looking points that were meant to deter unwanted visitors. The stone walls were covered in ivy and continued as far as she could see in both directions.

"Where the hell am I?" she said, pushing at the gate. It was surprisingly heavy and at first wouldn’t budge, but after a few more tries the gate swung open with an earsplitting creak. "Follow the path up to the door," she repeated, looking around in the dark for the so-called path. As if in answer to her prayers, the moon came out from behind the clouds, lighting up a narrow stone path that snaked through the trees. Her heart pounded in her chest almost painfully, but she took a deep breath and started to walk.

The path wound through the forest for a quarter of a mile before she came to a break in the trees. Opening up before her was a vast courtyard surrounding a hulking mansion built of rough stone. Blythe paused, looking up at the place with its intimidating darkness. She’d lived in this town nearly her whole life and had never seen a place like this, or even heard of one. Lights were on inside and as she got closer she could hear people talking, their words traveling on the breeze softly so that she couldn’t make out what they were saying. The path led her around the courtyard and through a garden to a side door where the scent of jasmine and rose

hung thick in the air. She wondered why she wasn’t supposed to go to the front door like everyone else.

She stood there for a long time, wondering if she should just wait or knock on the door. What if this was all some sadistic joke, perpetrated by her husband for the purpose of humiliating her in retaliation. But Will wasn’t like that. They had been together for far too long for him to rear an emotionally abusive head. Blythe trusted him implicitly. She’d just gotten the courage to knock lightly when the door swung open. A woman in a long, black medieval style gown stared out at her, looking expectant.

"Oh. Hello there. My name is"

"We don’t use names here," the woman replied curtly. "You’re expected."

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Aaah... nothing like a creepy old housekeeper to really set the mood, huh?  If you're intrigued, don't forget to leave a comment along with an email address, as I will be choosing one lucky commentor to win a free copy of "Masquerade" when it comes out on December 17th!  Also, please join me over at my blog, "The Southern Belle from Hell," to keep the party going!

Presenting... Alexandra Christian

I thought I'd start this crazy blog party with a little introduction.  My name is Alexandra Christian, or Lexxx if you like (yes, those three Xs are on purpose), and it's lovely to see you all today.  I'm an author of mostly paranormal erotic romance and horror.  In case you don't know what that means, I write about not-so-nice girls getting it on with out of this world heroes.  Vampires, werewolves, selkies, angels and demons-- and that's just recently!  My first novel, Hellsong, was published just over a year ago with Sugar and Spice Press and ever since, I've been working my sweet Southern ass off to churn out as much sin and debauchery as I can. 

A while ago, I christened myself The Southern Belle from Hell and I think it's a title that suits me well.  I live in a small town in South Carolina-- incidentally, it's the same town I've lived in my entire life.  The rich Southern culture, fried foods and a healthy dose of superstition have colored my personality and my writing style. I have an extremely tolerant husband, also an author, who is the epitome of the Southern male with his buttery thick accent, laidback swagger and simple sweetness that makes women of all ages swoon.  Of course, how we ended up together is a miraculous wonder.  I'm a closeted goth schoolteacher and when we go out, he looks like my chaperone, but it works!

I think I've always been a writer.  As a child, my favorite thing was to create these intricate dramas for me and my friends to act out.  I was reknowned in my neighborhood for playing Pretend.  This led me early in life towards being an actress-- which i pursued for quite some time.  And from time to time, I still long for the stage and make myself available to the local community theater.  In high school and college, I began to dabble in earnest with writing.  I joined some online writers' groups and managed to meet two of my best friends in the world writing fan fiction.  Once I became addicted to the positive feedback, I decided that come Hell or Hiawatha (as my husband says), I was going to be a writer.  It also helped that I had my big sister, who at that time was in the midst of getting her own writing career started, harping on me to write something original.  I finally started taking her advice and a few years ago, I met author Dahlia Rose who encouraged me to try the eBook market.  And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Now I know I said earlier that I was an author of PARANORMAL erotic romance.  So of course my next release has nothing to do with the paranormal.  Unless you count the number of orgasms... It's a contemporary romance short from Rebel Ink Press entitled "Masquerade."  Check out the blurb...

“What's your fantasy?”

Blythe McLachlan had the perfect life until the night he said those three little words that could make or break a relationship. When Blythe tells her husband about her fantasy of a hot menage, he's less than pleased. But when he drops her off at a mysterious masquerade ball, she finds that the boundaries of love can be crossed and rules are made to be broken.

Coming up in my next post, I'll give you a little sample of "Masquerade," but until then, don't forget to leave me a comment or two along with an email address because I will be choosing one lucky commentor to receive a FREE copy of "Masquerade" when it drops on December 17th!  What could be more perfect than curling up on the couch with your new Christmas Kindle and reading some hot menage action?  I can't think of anything better.

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Hungry for more Lexxx?  Come find her over at her blog, "The Southern Belle from Hell."

Blurb & excerpt for Courtesans and Thieves (plus giveaway)

Also coming your way this month is a historical Halloween romp called Courtesans and Thieves. This novella will release on Halloween from Liquid Silver Books.

Blurb:

Audrey Harper wants nothing more than to experience life before she consigns herself to taking care of everyone else in her family. A Halloween masquerade fits the bill. As a French courtesan she intends to lure an unsuspecting man into her bed, find a few moments of bliss and leave before the clock strikes midnight.

Justin Redding’s life as a junior accountant is as far from exciting as he can get. As a result, he supplements his income and thirst for adventure by stealing jewelry from the area’s wealthy upper crust. He’s admired Audrey from afar and convincing her father that he’s good enough is uppermost in his mind. Disguising himself as a masked avenger is the only way to win her heart.

What happens next is a heady jaunt through a crowded 1880s ballroom, a shadowy pumpkin patch and perfumed sheets. But unraveling lies and secret identities might trap the pair in a sticky web, dissolving the moonlit love affair before love’s bloom can take root.

Excerpt from Chapter One:

1880 Noblesville, Indiana

“I am not a child!” Audrey Harper resisted the urge to stomp her foot as, once again, her father ushered her from his office and closed the door behind him, leaving her in a smaller, outer reception area, staring at his door. A soft snicker filled the air and a heated blush crept into her cheeks. Justin Redding, her father’s junior partner in the bookkeeping business, was undoubtedly watching every moment of her humiliation.
Well, he could choke on his own tongue for all she cared. She wouldn’t give him the time of day let alone the satisfaction that she heard him. There was one thing she wanted in the world and it did not involve him.

In spite of her resolve, she cast a glance over her shoulder and gave him the tiniest eyebrow arch, daring him to say more. A conservative, brown-tweed suit fit his lean frame to perfection with the collar of his linen shirt so starched she was surprised he could move his neck at all. When he caught sight of her gaze, he stood, and the strong morning sunshine winked off the links of a silver watch fob on his waist coat. An expensive trinket on an accountant’s salary. She tore her focus from the accessory to his face.

“Did you need something further, Miss Harper?” His voice, deep and smooth as her father’s imported brandy, flowed over her and was just as warming. A mocking grin lifted the corners of his lips and one of his eyebrows quirked in query. “I believe your father has asked you to go along home.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m aware of what he asked, thank you, Mr. Redding. The last time I checked, I wasn’t deaf, nor am I dumb. I can decipher commands, especially if they come from my parent.”

Justin chuckled and the rich notes tickled places deep inside she’d rather not give life to--at least not here. Maybe in the privacy of her room. He’d ignored her awkward teenaged advances when she’d been a stupid girl of eighteen and him a young man of twenty-three. Granted, he probably didn’t remember her as that shy, slightly overweight, freckled girl. She kept close to the house much of those years, especially following after her brother’s death. Now, Justin didn’t deserve a response to his casual flirting--yet he never missed an opportunity and she always looked forward to his attempts.

“Well-spoken as always. No wonder your father is about to tear his hair out keeping you in line.” Slowly, as if he prowled the outer office like a panther, he came around the polished, cherry wood desk.

“I don’t need any man to keep me in line, thank you.” Swallowing hard, she turned around, her hands behind her back and resting on the cool metal of the doorknob.
“Be that as it may, isn’t your father planning to match you with an unwilling victim, I mean beau, at the Halloween party this evening?”

“How can you know that?” Even though it was true, she held his limpid brown gaze and dared him to contradict her.

“Your father becomes chatty during lunch.” Justin’s grin flashed even white teeth. “He also invited me to the bash should I wish to attend.” Another few strides brought him close enough that she felt the heat rolling from his body.

“Will you come?” Her voice sounded breathless to her ears and she wondered how she came across to him. Did she appear a desperate twenty-seven-year old woman, on the edge of a trapped life yet wanting so much more?

“I haven’t decided, but I am considering it.” He edged another foot forward until his knee bumped hers, so close the tiny gold flecks in his eyes danced in amusement at her. “I don’t have a costume.”

“Ah, that is a problem.” Her heart thumped against her ribs, trying to escape, beating out a warning, yet even as it did, gooseflesh rose on her arms. Her chest clenched and tiny pulses of pleasure curled in her belly to be in such proximity to him. The doorknob slipped under her suddenly sweaty palms.

“Indeed.” A tiny trace of a Southern drawl clung to his words, but he didn’t possess the consummate charm of a gentleman. He was a rogue to the core.

Another step brought him so intimately close a mere inch of space separated their bodies. Audrey couldn’t breathe. It felt as if the confining corset would snap her in half. She greedily swept her gaze along the strong cut of his jaw, the rugged face that spoke of hard work and secrets, the dark, sloping brows. His raven black was kept short and held rigidly in place by slick pomade. As a rule, she didn’t care for beauty products on men. Why couldn’t they embrace their masculinity and be confident in it? A thought niggled its way into her brain that he’d be much more handsome if that hair were allowed to meander over his head in gentle waves, free so she could run her fingers through it.

Stop dreaming, Audrey. He works for your father and is no good besides.

“Do you want to know what I think, Miss Harper?” His warm exhalation caressed her lips like heated silk, recalling her attention to the conversation.

“I’m not sure.” The common sense part of her mind urged her to slap his face for his intrusion, but the part of her that begged for adventure compelled her to hold her ground.

His grin was slow and sensual, and very much that of a jungle cat on the hunt. “You don’t need a man to keep you in line. You need a man to be your equal, one who will give you as much as you’ll take and demand you give just as much.” His eyes darkened to the hue of black coffee. “You need a man who will satisfy your every desire, even those locked away in your heart of hearts--the ones you never tell a living soul.”

“What makes you think I have hidden desires?” It was all she could do not to throw her arms around his neck.

Comment for a chance to win book swag and a $5.00 Amazon gift card.