Lust Undone-Second Excerpt (Adult)

“No!”

Sophia shouted it so loud she startled herself into full wakefulness. She only hoped the walls were thick enough so Logan hadn’t heard her. Waiting to see if the phone rang or a knock sounded on the door, she finally eased back down onto the pillows.

Well, that didn’t work out too well.

No matter what she did, her body wouldn’t relax nor would her mind. When the light tap sounded at her door at twenty after twelve she was through arguing with herself, through finding excuses.

Trembling slightly with anticipation she undid the deadbolt and security lock and pulled the door open. Clint Beaudine was leaning into the frame looking like the world’s original bad boy. He was just as she’d seen him in her mind earlier, except that he was wearing a t-shirt and a sheepskin-lined jacket. His eyes were just as smoldering, his face just as strong-featured and one lock of his thick hair fell over his forehead. His mouth curved in a hungry smile.

“You gonna let me in, chere? I’m freezing my ass off out here.”

As if it was the most natural thing in the world she opened the door wide and stepped aside to let him cross the threshold. He bolted the door, only half turning to do it so he could keep his gaze locked with hers. Sophia backed up two steps, three, and bumped into one of the chairs at the round dinette table. Clint discarded his jacket, still advancing toward her. Then, before she could get a word out, he had his arms around her, his mouth hot and hungry on hers.

His tongue was like a flame in her mouth, scorching her every place it touched, sweeping, gliding, tasting. Her head swam and her bones turned to liquid as he drank and drank and drank from her. His body against her was just as hard as it looked, all steel muscle. And hardest of all was the thick ridge of his cock pressing against her through the worn denim of his jeans, like a brand burning through the layers of cloth.

Her fingers threaded through the heavy silk of his hair, holding his head to hers. She forgot to breathe, forgot anything except this man and the fusion of their mouths. When he finally lifted his mouth a fraction she could see the amber in his eyes gleaming like tiny dancing flames. His licked the outline of her lips then trailed kisses along the line of her jaw and down the column of her neck.

“I’m going to fuck you, chere.”

It wasn’t the lust in his voice that shocked as much as his use of the exact words she’d heard in her almost-dream. Desire skated along her spine and burst into the throbbing walls of her pussy. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could remain upright even within the iron circle of his arms.

Finally he loosened his grip and took a step back.

“We have too many clothes on.”

He turned her around, sat her on the edge of the bed and pressed the switch on the bedside lamp. With the amber glow smoothing over his body he stripped efficiently out of his jeans and t-shirt. No underwear. She should have known he’d go commando. His body as just as magnificent as in her dream only now she could see it all—the sculpted muscles, the same dusting of dark hair on his legs, the lean hips and broad shoulders. And his cock, so utterly magnificent, rising from a very thick nest of curls, the head dark and flared, his sac lying heavy against his thighs.

“Like what you see, chere?” There was no mistaking the slight arrogance in his voice. Clint Beaudine knew what he had to offer a woman. No doubt about it.

Sophia had never in her life desired a man so much, felt such powerful chemistry with another human being. Without thinking she stretched out her arm to reach for his erection. He stepped closer to her and her hand closed around the wide shaft, the skin like soft velvet over the core of steel. Hard didn’t begin to describe its condition.

She rubbed her thumb over the head, spreading the small bead of liquid seeping from the slit. Then stroked up and down, just once, before his fingers clamped around her wrist.

“Later. Right now I have to be inside you.” He bent lower to her. “But trust me, we’ll have time for whatever we want.”

Lust Undone-Night Seekers: Book Three

Available June 15 from Ellora's Cave
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9352-lust-undone.aspx
Blurb

Returning to her home state of Maine to investigate a possible Chupacabra killing, Sophia Black meets Clint Beltaire, lean, dark and sexy. From the moment she meets him the heat between them is incendiary, the sex erotic and the pleasure beyond her imagination. Clint takes her in ways that fulfill all of her fantasies and teaches her ways to please him. The Maine air might be cold but in Sophia’s motel room it’s beyond boiling. Clint works to help her with her case, using his knowledge of the area in which he grew up. And as they learn each others secrets it’s obvious to both of them that they are meant to be together. Mated.

Exccerpt:
Sophia watched her, eyes tracking to the man behind the bar. And unexpectedly her pulse kicked over and heat flashed through her.
What the hell is this?
But the man seemed to carry an electric charge around him. He wasn’t that tall, not even six feet, she guessed. But inside the plaid shirt with the rolled up sleeves she could see the outline of a compact muscular body. Thick dark hair touched the collar of the shirt and she could see it sprinkled on his arms where they were visible. His face was rugged rather than handsome, at least as much as she could tell from that distance. A good case of five o’clock shadow gave him an intriguingly dangerous look. Then he raised his eyes to scan the booth and she felt their impact clear to her toes.
Sophia wriggled in her seat, trying to still the sudden ramped up beat of her pulse in her cunt. Why on earth in the midst of this crisis did her hormones suddenly decide to take a walk on the wild side?
“He and Frenchy sure don’t look anything alike,” she told her sister.
“I know. Hot, isn’t he? Every woman in the county’s been trying to get his attention.” Bec looked up from studying the menus. “And this seems to work out for both of them.” She gave her sister a knowing look and her mouth curved in a tiny smile. “Go on and introduce yourself to him, Soph. You know Frenchy always had a soft spot for you. You can ask him to pass along your greetings.”
“No.” Sophia shook her head. “No need to.”
“Chicken. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a good looking man.”
“Of course not.” She buried herself in the menu.
“Come on.” Rebecca set her menu down and pushed against Logan to slide out of the booth. “Let’s go say hello. It will take your mind off the meeting we just had.” She made a face. “And the one tomorrow morning. Besides, I want to ask about his almost-uncle.”
“I don’t think—”
“Right. Don’t think.” She grabbed her sister’s hand and practically dragged her out of the booth. “He doesn’t bite. I promise.”
Sophia reluctantly let herself be towed across the room by her sister. Her instincts were telling her she was stepping into a danger zone.
Get it together, Black. He’s just some bartender in a town you’ll never be in again after this gig.
The man was polishing a small area of the bar with a cloth when Rebecca rapped on the heavy wood to get his attention.
“Saw you come in, Bec.” His voice had a low, smoky sound to it. “You surely do bring this place some class.”
Rebecca laughed. “Well, now you can double it. This is my sister. Sophia Black, meet Clint Beaudine.”
He dropped the rag, swiped his hand on the leg of his jeans and held it across the bar. “The pleasure is all mine.”
Sophia put her small hand in his large one and nearly jumped at the electric shock that ran through her arm and into her body. She looked at Clint and saw the same reaction reflected in his eyes, an amber-flecked hazel. He squeezed her hand lightly before releasing it.
“A real pleasure.” His words were like a caress skating over her skin.
Sophia couldn’t take her eyes from him. She couldn’t remember a time, ever, that a man had affected her this way.

Who rules the Night? Night Seekers

The Chupacabra has been a legend for decades, stretching from South America to North America, sighted in many place. Ranchers swore they’d killed it only to have it turn out to be a mutated goat or coyote. And the killing spree continued—animals and humans alike. Was it a wolf because of the way the bodies were mutilated? Or a vampire, because each body and three puncture wounds at the neck and was drained of blood? Each time someone was sure he had killed the beast it turned out to be a false alarm, because the killings continued. And the legend continued to grow.

When billionaire Jason Stafford’s wife and daughter were killed by the legendary bloodthirsty Chupacabra and none of the state or federal agencies could trace the half man/half animal, he funded his own team. He chose carefully from the best law enforcement agencies as well as the private sector across the country. Six of the eight selected are shifters themselves, each representing a wolf pack whose members had fallen prey to killers. Each one of them had also been affected by the beast and so had personal reasons to find and kill it. Known simply as The Night Seekers (because they hunt most effectively at night), they work from an isolated ranch property in Texas, with all the latest high tech equipment and any other resources they might need. Their only mission: find and stop the Chupacabra, the bloodthirsty animal who not only kills but literally destroys his victims with his teeth and nails, and has given rise to so many legends. But first they have to discover how their target moves so easily around the entire country, and sift through the hundreds of files compiled on the many cases and sightings.  

Driven by the thirst for revenge and the need to satisfy their lust, each member of the team will have his or her own story, one liberally packed with erotic sex, and in the course of the mission will find a relationship that brings stability to their lives. And with each relationship, the team continues to grow.

Team Members

Jonah Grey: former FBI, a loner and a shifter. The Chupacabra killed the human he was about to mate with

Mark Stafford: former sheriff’s deputy from a Texas border county and also a shifter. The Chupacabra killed his closest friend

Sophia Black: former detective with the State of Maine Highway Patrol. The Chupacabra killed her twin nephews.

Chelsea Roland: private investigator and a shifter. The Chupacabra killed her sister. In the course of her investigation she meets another shifter adrift from his pack, a hunter who frightens her at first.

Dante Martello: former Chicago homicide detective. The Chupacabra killed his wife.

Ricardo “Ric” Garza: former Texas Ranger and a shifter. The Chupacabra killed his mother.

Sam Brody: former Georgia Bureau of Investigation and a shifter. The Chupacabra killed his father.

Logan Tanner: former Montana sheriff and a shifter The Chupacabra killed his brother and sister-in-law.

The Phoenix Agency Returns

And the men are hotter than ever. Check out Jungle Inferno, the rerelease of Book One: Get it at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks.

For Faith and Mark, the telepathic connection they’d shared for years was nothing compared to the scorching physical connection they realized as adults. From the first moment they came together, erotic was too pale a word to describe their relationship. Together they explored each other’s deepest, darkest desires. But now Mark, survivor of an ambush to his Delta Force team, is a prisoner of a terrorist group in the Peruvian jungle, and his telepathic communication with Faith is his only contact with the world. While she searches for help to save him, they survive on dreams that took them beyond all sexual boundaries. Can she persuade the men of Phoenix to undertake a treacherous rescue and bring Mark back to her arms?

 Excerpt:

The sun was a globe of fire creeping up in the sky, turning everything below it into an oven. It was barely nine o’clock in the morning yet Mark Halloran was sure the temperature was already close to triple digits. The humidity was as thick as a rainfall. The roar and grunt of the howler monkeys was already splitting the air as they leaped from tree to tree feasting on the canopy leaves.

How the hell did people live in places like this?

Or work in them.

And this appeared to be a permanent camp, with tents, lean-tos and crude buildings. It also boasted a campfire pit and other amenities they wouldn’t have taken the time for in a transitory situation, unlike the temporary setup where the meeting had taken place. Where they’d been told the Wolf was going to meet with Escobedo’s group. A friend of a former Special Ops soldier Rick Latrobe’s, deep undercover with Escobedo’s group, had risked his life to get the message out that the Wolf was going to make a personal appearance. Unusual for him but this shipment was so large and involved so much money, Escobedo insisted.

Not at his camp, however. Not even the Wolf would be privy to its location. A meeting place not far away was set up. For the Wolf it would be in and out. Just like that. He would arrive with the shipment, Escobedo would bring the money. As soon as both parties were satisfied with the goods, the transaction would take place and that would be that.

Mark had gone to his commanding office, Major John Gregorio, with the information. The major had passed it up the chain and the word had come down to act. The United States government had waited a very long time for a chance at the Wolf. To make it a two-fer upped the ante.

A simple mission. Get in. Take out the bad guys. Get out. One less group of Al Qaeda plotters to worry about. And the arms dealer meeting with them. That was the key. That’s what he and his men had been told. It was a chance to clean out a viper’s nest and take out a key arms player at the same time.

With the weakening of the Tupac Amaru terrorist group and the decline of Shining Path, Al Qaeda had been recruiting heavily and spending big money to rebuild Peru’s terrorist structure. Another foothold in South America for the promised Islamic world.

But someone had leaked the mission, Escobedo’s group was waiting for them and now most of his men were dead. After burning the bodies of Mark’s men they’d cleaned up every trace of what had taken place and moved, all of them including the Wolf, what Mark reckoned was about ten miles away.

He grunted, trying to shift to a more comfortable position. The tent gave him little protection him from the ruthless sun and having his ankle chained to a stake barely two feet away severely restricted his movements. For maybe the thousandth time he wondered what had gone wrong and landed him in this abominable mess.

God, what a mess it had been. One minute they were finding their positions to take their shots, carefully hidden, the target painted. The next they were the targets instead. The noise of the AK47s still echoed in his ears, along with the stench of the blood of his dying men. They’d even gotten the comm guy they’d left at the insertion and extraction point with their gear.

He’d forced himself to look when they dragged the bodies into the center of the camp, piled them together and set them on fire. They stood watching with arrogant, evil grins on their faces, then opened bottles of whiskey to celebrate. Mark was sure it was a sight he’d never forget.

He knew what they wanted—the name of the man who had betrayed them. They could kill him and very well might but the source had to be protected at all costs.

Yet as much as they tortured him, for sport and pleasure as well as information, there were things he hung onto that kept his sanity intact. For one thing, despite his wounds he kept himself alert and counted the bodies. One was missing, Joey Latrobe. The kid. The sniper. Rick’s brother, who’d brought them the information. Mark was convinced he wasn’t dead or they’d have found him. No, badly wounded or not, he’d found a way to hide from them. Now if Mark could only be sure he got away.

Of course he had no idea what shape Joey was in, or even if he could give his rescuers, if there were any, information about the camp.

But what gave him real strength was his connection to Faith. God. Beautiful Faith. The woman of his dreams. How stupid was he to walk away from what they could have to play soldier? No, not that. To defend his country. His sense of honor and patriotism was stronger than almost anything. But now, if he died here in this godforsaken hellhole, the only memory he’d have would be that long weekend they’d shared before he was deployed the first time.

And the erotic dreams that came to wipe away the pain.

When he closed his eyes she was in his arms again, her lush body naked against his, her breasts pressing against his chest. His hands coasted over her satiny skin, fingertips exploring every dip and hollow.

“It’s a good thing you aren’t around when I’m planning a mission,” he murmured, his lips against her throat. “I just look at you and my cock gets so big I’m afraid my pants won’t contain it.”

Her laugh was throaty and musical, and her fingers drifted down to close around his thick erection. “Good. That’s the way I like it.”

She moved her hand in a slow pumping motion and he groaned at the heat that rushed through him. Lowering his head he closed his lips over one taut nipple, pulling it into his mouth. It hardened even more at his touch and when he dragged his teeth over it lightly her grip on his cock tightened.

“Easy.” He released the nipple and lapped around the edge of it. “We don’t want the dance to end when the music has just begun.”

“Ah, but we can always dance again,” she reminded him.

He tasted the skin in the valley between her breasts, doing his best to take control of the situation even as her fingers continued to stroke the hard, thick length of his cock. Light movements that teased him and heated his blood.

But then just being near her did that.

Check me out at www.desireeholt.com 

And let's have a teasing taste of Downstroke

Caution: Adult excerpt

Just released last month from Ellora's Cave and now available at all virtual book stores.

It’s been twenty years since Charley Roper and Dallas Creed parted with great bitterness. In that time she’s made a career for herself with the FBI and private security and he’s been a country rock music icon…tumbled to the bottom and risen again. Now someone’s trying to kill him and Morgan Creed wants Charley to protect his brother and find out who’s after him. When they meet again after all this time it’s obvious the chemistry is still there, stronger than ever. They’re older but are they wiser? Caught up in the bitter wash of memories and the tension of a killer in stalking mode, Charley and Dallas begin a roller coaster ride that is emotional erotic and suspenseful.  Is their love strong enough after twenty years to pull them back together? 

Excerpt:

The night had a magical quality to it, a perfect Texas night with stars blinking against a black velvet sky. A very soft breeze stirred the air, chasing away the last heat of the day. The sense of expectancy in the outdoor concert facility was nearly palpable. Anticipation fairly zapped through the air like bolts of energy. I could even feel it myself, the kind of feeling you got on Christmas morning when you ran downstairs, or when you were right on the brink of the most outstanding orgasm you’d ever had. Seventy-five hundred people moved restlessly in their seats in front of me. An almost equal amount were spread out on the rise of the hill behind me, drinking and staring at the stage with binoculars, even though at the moment there was nothing to see. They were all waiting for the same thing.

The curtain was drawn across the stage, heightening the edge of expectancy. Especially for me, much as I hated to admit it. What was behind there? What was his band like now after they’d tasted success once and were back on top with him again?

I could feel the energy sizzling through the crowd. Well, why not? If nothing else, Dallas Creed had always had an electric presence. Add in the staging, his suck-my-tongue voice and the electricity of his music and you had a knockout winner.

The soft notes of a viola floated in the air from behind the curtain, joined immediately by violins, and I wondered what the hell? Violins? Then I realized it was a synthesizer. And obviously a damn good musician coaxing music from it. The sound that mimicked violins seemed to hold the audience in thrall, as if they were expectantly awaiting a grand moment. The music built and built as the magician behind the synthesizer added the full-throated sounds of woodwinds and the rich tones and powerful chords of an organ, swelling to a crescendo. The last note held and held and held, flowing out into the crowd, pulling at us as if to say, Wait for it, it’s coming.

Then I heard the familiar first downstroke of the rhythm guitars as they began the intro to the first song. The curtain drew back slowly to reveal the band onstage, the bass guitar and keyboards now adding their voices, the drums accenting them with a syncopated beat.

All sound ended abruptly and the crowd stilled for a breathless moment. The band launched into a rich intro to one of Dallas’ hits, an upbeat tune called Cowboys Get It Right, a song I realized the synthesizer had laid the foundation for. The spotlight came up and the man himself jogged onto the stage.

To my dismay, my traitorous heart tripped at the sight of him and an emotion I refused to name clogged my throat. Dallas Creed was definitely a lot older, forty-three to the twenty-three he’d been the last time I saw him in person. Newspaper photos had kept me up with his aging process, but no picture could do justice to the energy still radiating from this man. The energy that had drawn me to him in the first place.

And damn it. I still wanted him as badly as I had years ago. Wanted his hands on me, stroking my body. His mouth on my breasts, sucking them and nipping them the way he used to, the way that drove me so wild. His cock inside me, thrusting in and out with slow, powerful strokes, coaxing me from one orgasm to the next.

Hell and damnation.

Crack the Whip!

Excecrpt:

“So maybe if you tell me how it happened, I’ll answer your question about me.”

“Fair enough.” He set his cup back in the saucer. “Remember Chad Willoughby, my college roommate?”

Katie nodded.

“Chad’s brother was into the life big time. When Chad graduated from law school, he got Chad a guest pass at the private fetish club he belonged to and said he could bring a friend.” He looked down. “I’d…been to a club twice before when we were together. But never did any more than watch,” he added quickly. “That’s when I brought everything up to you. I was fascinated with the lifestyle and wanted us to try some of these things together.” His grin was rueful. “My idea didn’t work out so well, as I remember.”

“No. It didn’t.” If only she hadn’t reacted so badly. “So what happened at the club?

“It seemed I was finally going to experience the things I’d only fantasized about. Chad’s brother arranged for each of us to have a sub for the evening along with a trained instructor.” He paused to sip more coffee.

“And?” she prompted.

“To be blunt about it, I discovered a desire for it I didn’t even know I had. It was the most explosive night I’d ever had sexually. And that’s taking nothing away from what you and I had together.”

“But you wanted more.” Oh, she was sure of that. She felt a trap opening, yawning like a big hole before her. “On a regular basis.”

“I did. A lot more. And more often. I for sure couldn’t look for action anywhere around the Hill Country. You know how conservative the ranching community is. Not even my brothers know about my…preferences.”

Katie gave him a quizzical look. “So what did you do?”

“Joined the club in Tampa Chad’s brother took us to. They have an arrangement for guest privileges in other clubs around the country. I…took a lot of business trips.” He stopped to take another swallow of coffee.

“Your brothers didn’t ask questions?”

He shook his head. “I timed my trips to coincide with legitimate business. Conventions. Meetings. Whatever.” His eyes raked over her face possessively. “But here’s the plain truth. I really wanted you, Katie. I wanted it all. You and the life.”

“Which is what led to the scene in our hotel room.” When she so childishly ran away. It wasn’t just the things themselves he was proposing. It was the total implication, the fear that she could lose herself in him completely. A very dangerous edge.

He grinned. “Yeah. That was some scene. I still remember how you looked, spread out…”

“Stop.” She held up her hand. “That’s not what I meant. Can we stick to the conversation at hand?”

The look he gave her nearly incinerated her dress. “Afraid to talk about it, sugar?”

How about a hot cowboy with a whip?

Just released By The Wild Rose Press/Wilder Roses
Buy here:http://thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=822
Also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Fictionwise and All Romance eBooks

When rancher Reece Halliday met the new manager of his fetish club, Rawhide, he was shocked to see Katie Warren, the woman he'd loved and lost because of his sexual preferences. But a lot of time has passed and Katie has discovered the lure and satisfaction of BDSM—including the pleasurable sting of the single tail whip. Will Reece be able to lure her back into his arms—and bed—when he cracks the whip during their private sessions? 

More about Hard Lovin'

But it at Ellora's Cave

www.jasminejade.com

Release date: May 11

Maybe going off with a stranger was a stupid thing to do but she as finally learning to trust her own instincts. And they told her she’d be safe with Grady Sinclair.

 “Not tonight.” She smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

He held out his hand to her and linked his fingers with hers. An incredible sense of rightness flowed over her, wrapping around her like a blanket. A peace she hadn’t felt since, well, just since. When they reached his pickup—dark grey and definitely well used—Grady leaned her against the passenger door. He stood there for a moment, one warm hand on her knee.

“You sure about this, darlin’?”

“I am.” Oh, yes. Inexplicably, unbelievably sure.

Grady cupped her face and kissed her. He kept it gentle at first but then passion, that wily beast, gripped them both and he sent his tongue deep, drinking her sexy sigh, loving the feel of her breath on his face. They were alone in the night, so he drew her against him loving the way her breasts settled against the worn cotton of his tee shirt.

Raw edgy lust was etched on his face. “Your name. Tell me your name.”

Tell him her name? But that made this so personal.

Well, dummy, this is personal! He’s taking you home to his bed where he’ll probably fuck your brains out. How can you be so stupid? Don’t you ever learn?

But she didn’t feel the risk. Not like there had been with Cal. She felt almost…protected. And what was that all about?

She wet her lips. “It’s Erin. Erin Braddock.”

Damn. Should I have told him my last name? What if he’s heard of my Daddy and calls him? Everyone kisses Rance Braddock’s ass. No. That’s not who he is. I just know that.

“Erin.” It sounded musical on his lips. “Beautiful. Like you. Maybe I’ll write a song about Erin. You’re so damn sweet. I just have to kiss you.”

He cupped her head, his hands gentle, as his mouth lightly touched hers. He seemed to be kissing her by degrees, waiting at each step to see if she’d bolt and run. To see if she could fall into this.  Muted sounds from the crowd filtered outside joining the song of crickets and passing traffic. None of it mattered. Just her and this man, a total stranger but yet not a stranger. Someone who seemed to have been waiting in her heart to come out at the right time.

At last, when they were both gasping, he opened the door of the truck and handed her up into the seat as if she were a piece of precious cargo. He grinned, swept a kiss over her mouth then checked her seat belt and closed the door.

They rode in silence, neither of them seeming to need conversation, comfortable with the quietness. Grady’s room was in a huge old-fashioned house in an older neighborhood in San Antonio.

“I was lucky,” he told her, leading her quietly up an outside flight of stairs. “I got the room with its own entrance. And the only one with its own bathroom. I think it belonged to her son once, or something.”

He unlocked the door, reached inside to flick on a light switch for the bedside lamp and ushered her into a large bedroom furnished with sturdy, time-worn furniture. The only modern touch was a small television on the dresser.

Erin pointed to it. “Is that yours?”

He shook his head. “The landlady provides one for every room. She’s great.” He leaned his guitar case carefully in one corner, then turned to face her, his hands gentle on her shoulders. “Are you sure about this, Erin?”

Mutely she nodded.

“I can still take you back to your truck. Just say the word.”

So different from Cal, who’d never seemed to give her a choice. Or T.J., who tiptoed around her as if she’d shatter any minutes. Grady was making it plain he wanted her but the choice was hers.

“I don’t want to go back,” she told him.

“Good.” He let out a long, slow breath. “Because I have to tell you, I can’t wait to get you in that bed.”

Hard Lovin' - release Date: May 11

Available from Ellora's Cave www.jasminejade.com

Erin Braddock slipped into the dark bar through the back door, squinty against the darkness and found her way to a tiny booth in the corner. The area was so small a second person would be hard pressed to find room in the space but that suited her just fine. She hadn’t come here looking for company. Unless it was the cowboy up on the postage stamp sized stage, alone in the spotlight with his guitar and his smoky voice. Ebony black hair curled down to the nape of his neck and a work shirt and worn jeans clung to his lean body like a second skin. The muscles in his arm flexed as he picked at the strings of the guitar, coaxing a tune from it.

The lights were dim in the smoky club, a sea of black with only himself in the searing white glow of the spotlight. The air was heavy with expectation as he strummed the melody of a love song that whipped its sound over the crowd only to slow like the stroke of a lover’s caress.

You are so out of your mind for doing this.

So what else was new?

She’d just had to get out of the house. Away from the ranch. Away from …everyone. Her father, Rance, who was suffocating her with his protective kindness. T.J. Elliott, the fiancé she couldn’t seem to break away from. The houseful of people all gathered to celebrate a wedding tomorrow.

Hers.

A wedding she didn’t want.

The memories of the nightmare with Cal hadn’t yet faded and her father was suffocating her with his protective kindness. The far too wealthy Rance Braddock was, if nothing else, like a tidal wave that swallowed people up. And then there was T.J. Elliott, her father’s choice for a ‘safe’ and well-connected husband. A way to guarantee her future. No danger there.

Not like Cal, the worst mistake she’d ever made. And she’d wanted safe. Needed it. Her father and T.J. treated her like some child too fragile to be let out on her own.  Well, maybe she was. Look what she’d gotten herself into. And didn’t want to get out of, until she’d had no other choice. Now, at thirty, she suddenly didn’t seem to be able to put one foot in front of the other any more.

Until now.

The bad part about being rescued from a situation like the one she’d been in was people were afraid to take their eyes off of you. She didn’t even seem to have the strength to tell them they could look away. She went along to get along, letting herself be swept up in a courtship she didn’t want and a wedding suddenly bearing down on her like a tornado.

Hard Lovin' - release Date: May 11

So the gypsy rover became a strolling country music minstrel, the lady in the castle became the daughter of a billionaire power-broker rancher, instead of his fastest steed her father called out everyone but the National GUard when his daughter ran off and left her fiance the night before the wedding.

Erin Braddock, daughter of wealthy and powerful rancher Rance Braddock, has been to hell and back. So has wandering cowboy minstrel Grady Sinclair. But the moment they meet chemistry ignites between them, erasing everything else. The sex is scorching, explosive, addictive. They can’t get enough each other. The same talented fingers that coax seductive music from his guitar coax powerful orgasms from her body. Seduced by his music as well as the sinfully sexy man himself, Erin runs away with him. Nights she sits in the bar listening to his come-to-me voice promising her the erotic delights he delivers on when they’re back in their room. But will the past follow them or can they build a future together, in and out of bed?

Stay tuned!

Anyone remember The Gypsy Rover?

It's an old Irish air recorded by many, many artists during the heyday of folk music. It's been running through my brain forever and I had to sit down and write a story based on it.
Let me tease you with the original lyrics:

A gypsy rover came over the hill
Down through the valley so shady.
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady.

Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady.

She left her father's castle gate.
She left her own fine lover.
She left her servants and her state
To follow her gypsy rover.

Her father saddled up his fastest stead
And roamed the valley all over.
Sought his daughter at great speed
And the whistlin' gypsy rover.

He came at last to a mansion fine
Down by the river Claydee.
And there was music and there was wine
For the gypsy and his lady.

"He is no gypsy, my Father," she cried 

"but Lord of these lands all over.
And I shall stay 'til my dying day
with my whistlin' gypsy rover."

Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady.

What do I wish for on Valentine's Day? A hot alpha male

The hero is an alpha male... The hero is a key figure—powerful, mysterious and totally attractive to the heroine....

The term "alpha male" is sometimes applied to humans to refer to a man who is powerful through his courage and a competitive, goal-driven, "take charge" attitude. With their bold approach and confidence "alpha males" are often described as charismatic. While "alpha males" are often overachievers and recognized for their leadership qualities, their aggressive tactics and competitiveness can also lead to resentment by others.

Alpha males take greater risks.

They're also the leaders within their social group. The Alpha Male is the "man with the plan," and women are wired to go for this type of guy.

Human history is the story of alphas, those indispensable powerhouses who take charge, conquer new worlds and move heaven and earth to make things happen. Whether heading a band of warriors, bringing a vital new product to market, guiding a team to glory or steering a giant conglomerate, alphas are hardwired for achievement and eager to tackle challenges that others find intimidating. Along the way, they inspire awe and admiration - and sometimes fear and trembling. Wherever they are and whatever they do, they stand out from the crowd, usually leaving an indelible impression on those whose lives they touch.

Meet Luke Buchanan, hero of Finding Julia.

The morning sped by. She had two-page handouts for everyone that she passed out at the appropriate time and answered questions. But she knew this was all just preparation, a briefing if the company bought her plan. Howard had ordered lunch sent in for everyone, giving Julia a chance to chat informally with the group and prepare for the afternoon.

“Our executive vice president is tied up in a meeting right now,” Howard whispered as the executive staff filed in. “He’s really the one who says yea or nay. He’ll join us as soon as he can.”

Great. Will he expect me to do it all over again for him?

She sighed and began her presentation again.

It was well into the afternoon and she had just pulled out copies of the proposed budget to distribute when the door to the board room opened quietly and Julia’s stomach dropped to the floor. She felt as if an electric surge had slammed into her, plucking at all her nerve endings.

The man who silently took a seat at the end of the table wasn’t necessarily handsome, but he was all male. His liquid brown eyes were framed by the thickest lashes she had ever seen on a man. He had a strong jaw and lines of character etched on his face. His straight brown hair, a hint of silver reflecting in the lights, was worn just little long, giving him a slightly rakehell look.

The classic dark business suit barely concealed the power he radiated. More than that, he exuded an aura of self, of authority, of comfort in his own skin that few men are able to attain. She could think of only three words to describe him. Dark. Edgy. Dangerous.

Careful, Julia. Don’t let your mind wander into dangerous territory. Your judgment where men are concerned leaves a great deal to be desired.

“Let me interrupt a moment.” Manning jumped to his feet. “Julia, this is Lucas Buchanan, our executive vice president. He’s been in another meeting until now.”

“I’m pleased you could join us, Mr. Buchanan.” Julia pasted on her professional smile and hoped her voice sounded firmer to the others than it did to her.

Lucas Buchanan nodded at her. “Luke, please. Sorry to be late. Please don’t let me interrupt.”

She struggled to pick up the threads of what she’d been saying, her brain suddenly addled, and her hands unsteady. Had a man ever affected her like this before? She didn’t think so. Certainly not Charles. It took every ounce of personal discipline to keep focused on her presentation.

Somehow she got through it, even managing to answer questions intelligently. Luke was silent throughout, but his eyes never left her. She knew he would remember and file away everything said. A man like Luke Buchanan didn’t get where he was by not paying attention.

Get it at http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b117245/?si=0

www.desireholt.com

IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT ROMANCE

We read romance. We write romance. People say they love romance. But what IS romance> What is it really?

Is it a room filled with flickering, candles whose scent fills the air with a tantalizing aroma? Is it soft music in the background, win chilling in the cooler, Godiva chocolates open on the bedside table? Is it a night at a fabulous resort overlooking the water with the man of your dreams?

Romance is all this and more. In the books we read and write we incorporate all of these things to create an atmosphere, an ambience, for seduction, for sensuality, for the emergence of love? Silky negligees – or no negligee!! – and flower petal strewn across the bed –hopefully with the thorns removed! It’s all of these – a ride in a horse drawn carriage. A sail into the wind with the sun kissing your skin and strong arms holding you.

But romance is a lot more. Here he is, your wonderful (boy friend, fiancé, husband, partner-pick one) and you wonder if the romance is still in your life. Well, honey, if he does the little things you can bet it does.

What little things you say? How about a foot rub when you’ve walked ten miles at an event for your kids? Or your boss/customer gave you the biggest migraine and your honey runs a hot bath for you, draws a hot tub, and when you’re in bed massages your temples and rubs your neck. Or he makes that trip to the grocery store in the pouring rain for the necessities you suddenly ran out of, and comes back with flowers and a candy bar for along with them. It’s holding your head when you’re sick and your hand when you’re scared.

It’s sitting out under the stars in your own back yard, cuddled together and knowing that the safest place in the world to be is with the person next to you. It’s holidays and special days, smiles in the morning when you hate to get up and at night when the day has just sucked.

And most of all, it’s knowing that at the end of the day, no matter how bad things have been, there’s one person who wraps his arms around you, kisses you with the same passion you had in the frantic early days, and tells you “I love you.” And means it.