Showing posts with label Stephanie Morris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie Morris. Show all posts
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Excerpt: Unfinished Business by Stephanie Morris (Romance/PG:13)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Excerpt: The Seduction of Hayden (Adult Rating/ Contemporary Romance)
TITLE: The Seduction of Hayden
SERIES: Indulgence series – Book #2
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: BookStrand
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-seduction-of-hayden
Blurb:
Amalía Carabelli has always been certain of one thing since she was a little girl. She wants to get married and she wants to have children. The problem is she can never seem to find Mr. Right. She especially doesn’t expect Mr. Right to come along and rescue her from the grips of a guy who is definitely Mr. Wrong. Amalía sets out to find a way to seduce this Mr. Right. Little does she know that in a few weeks’ time, he’ll be her brother-in-law...
Hayden Davis is only in Rome, Italy, for his sister’s wedding. He has no idea that he will end up coming to the rescue of a woman that may be in more danger with him. But Amalía Carabelli appeals to him in a way that a woman hasn’t in a long time—in a way he definitely looks forward to exploring.
Excerpt:
Amalía growled with frustration. Serious annoyance rose at whomever it was pounding on her hotel door at this awful hour in the morning. Groaning in aggravation, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and half walked, half stumbled to the door. She didn’t bother with the peephole because her eyes were so bleary she wouldn’t be able to see out of it anyway. Opening the door a crack she saw a cheerful Hayden standing on the other side.
“Buongiorno, Amalía.”
Her eyes widened at his first attempt at Italian. Profanity poured from her mouth, but Hayden only smiled.
“I assume that wasn’t hello or good morning in return was it?”
She scowled at his cheerful disposition.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” she asked crossly.
“It is a few minutes before seven.”
Hearing the time aloud made her feel even worse. She was up two hours before she had to be, two whole hours. Closing her eyes, she spoke to Hayden as calmly as she could. “Is the electricity out again?”
“No.”
She paused. “Is the hotel on fire?”
He chuckled. “No.”
She sighed. “Flooded?”
“No.”
Amalía felt her teeth clench as her eyes reopened. “Then why the hell are you standing here at my room so early?
Hayden smiled at her. “Because I want to have breakfast with you, and Leo told me you needed at least an hour to get ready.”
Her eyes closed again and counted to ten before she said something else inhospitable.
“Did my brother also happen to tell you I’m not a morning person?”
“Yes, he did, but he didn’t say you were this bad.”
Her eyes flew open in outrage. “This bad!”
The only thing keeping her from saying more was the fact he stood there looking at her with open curiosity, making her wonder how bad she was. His expression also told her he wasn’t going anywhere. Sighing heavily, she opened the door to let him in.
“Come on in.”
She turned and walked back into her room, not waiting to see if he followed her or not. A whimper fought its way up from her throat, but she held it back as she walked past the bed. It was calling her name. It took everything she had not to crawl back into it. Instead she went over to a chair and collapsed into it, closing her eyes. After a long moment of silence she reopened them to find Hayden nearing her. The expression on his face was indescribable. She could only imagine why he was staring at her the way he way.
“What is it?”
He remained silent for another moment before speaking. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
She rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I have seen what I look like in the morning when I first wake up. You don’t have to sweet talk me.”
He reached out and touched a loose tendril of her hair. “If it is one thing I don’t do it is lie. You are beautiful, whether you see it or not. You don’t need any make-up and fancy stuff to impress me.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “Who says I’m trying to impress you?”
His self-assured expression reminded her so much of Leonardo’s she shook her head.
“Your body does. Your eyes do.”
Denial lay upon her lips, but it would be a lie and both of them knew it. He reached out and pulled her upward until she was standing. She knew he had to be delusional. If he’d been Stefano, she wouldn’t have allowed him into the hotel room until she was presentable. That would include make-up and fancy stuff as Hayden put it. It was somewhat of an unspoken rule that she always looked her best around Stefano. If she didn’t, Stefano hadn’t hesitated to tell her so.
There had been so many times when she'd taken extra care with her appearance only for him to wrinkle up his nose in disapproval. Stefano was a self-centered bastard. How she'd managed to stay with him as long as she had was beyond her. Had she truly been so desperate? Evidently, she had or she wouldn’t have nursed a broken heart for two years. Hayden touched the sided of her face, bringing her out of her thoughts.
“Amalía?”
She shivered at the way he enunciated her name. He said it like no one else ever had, like no one else ever could.
“Yes?” she whispered.
“I want to know if you taste as sweet as you look,” he stated softly. “Can I kiss you, Amalía?” he asked as he drew her nearer.
She knew she should say no. Instead she found herself stretching up to meet him halfway. The first touch of their lips was feathery, but it was enough. In the next instant his mouth covered hers, hot and demanding. His kiss commanded everything of her, forcing aside the docile and compliant Amalía that Stefano would have expected. The thought spurred her on, and she pressed her body closer to his, wanting the contact, craving it. Hayden feasted on her lips as if he needed nourishment. She was more than happy to provide it. She needed to feel more of his touch. Feel her skin against his.
As if he heard her request, he slid his hand under her cotton pajama top, encountering smooth skin. She moaned, pushing her body closer to his, needing the contact. His hand slid higher until it found one of her breasts. She knew she wasn’t a large woman, but she fit into the cup of his palm perfectly.
Already have this book? Then check out the rest of the books in this series!
Indulgence Series
Propositioning the Rich Italian - Book # 1
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://www.bookstrand.com/node/805943
Unfinished Business- Book # 3 in The Indulgence Series
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://www.bookstrand.com/unfinished-business
Excerpt: Exception to the Rules (PG:13 Romance)
TITLE: Exception to the Rules
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=132&zenid=jrmmpve9bfjebiua02asvtv3u6
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Gaea Martin needs a man and quick. Someone that is extremely sexy and willing to play the role of her doting boyfriend to keep her married womanizing boss in his place. Retired Navy Seal, Sebastian Fuller is exactly what she needs.
Escorting Gaea to different parties and media events for her new fashion week campaign is not the hardship Sebastian thought it would be. Kiss her senseless, pretend to be head-over-heels for her and exchange heated glances. No problem.
Until he and Gaea share one night of mind-altering sex. Now Sebastian has to convince Gaea that there should be an exception to the rules.
EXCERPT:
After a good forty-five minutes of checking with the hired staff, the liquor supply and the DJ, Gaea led Bas back into the main room of the club. Kallie stood at the door, welcoming the first of the party goers. From the distance, Gaea couldn’t see who it was. As they walked across the dance floor, she felt Bas’s hand slip from her shoulder to the base of her neck. His long fingers felt a bit ticklish and very warm. Her first reaction was to cringe, but she pushed it aside quickly.
She’d never really thought about all the places a man touched a woman that went beyond casual boundaries. An acquaintance could definitely touch a shoulder, a hand, even an arm. But to touch the face or neck carried with it an unspoken message: I’m entering into the land of intimate here. You’re allowing me to. That means were more than friends, and if you let my hand linger, it means you’re ready to allow me into more private areas. Gaea hadn’t let anyone into her personal space in years, and she wondered if she’d been on a date with Bas, would she have cringed? Or would she have welcomed his touch?
As things were now, she couldn’t shake his touch off. He was simply doing his job. Making it clear to everyone that they were a couple. She didn’t dare to tell him to back off in case Arnold was in sight, because Arnold could be anywhere at any time, watching for just this kind of thing.
In fact, she slowed her pace, looked up to meet Bas’s gaze, and slipped her hand around his waist.
“Hey there,” he murmured.
“You’re good at this,” she whispered.
“I’ve been on dates before.”
“This isn’t one.”
“Not technically, no. But why let a little thing like a perverted, pesky boss get in the way? I’m going to enjoy every minute of tonight, and I hope you are, too.”
“It’s irrelevant whether I enjoy myself or not. I can’t afford to forget I’m working.”
“Who said the two have to be exclusive? You can be attentive, take care of business, and still have some fun.”
She stopped him before he could get carried away. “What planet are you from?”
He shook his head, his expression perplexed. “Why on earth would you strive for a career that you don’t find enjoyable?”
“Enjoyable? Enjoyable isn’t the issue.”
“It isn’t? Are there better criteria?”
“Of course! Money, power. You know, the things that make the world go round?”
“So you get off on money and power, do you?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“You say that like it’s a given.”
“It is. Money and power is what it’s all about.”
“Why?”
“Come on, Bas. Look around you. Those who have the most money and power win.”
“Win what? What’s the prize?”
Gaea looked over at the front door. More people were arriving, and she shouldn’t leave Kallie to greet the crowd on her own. “Can we talk about prizes later? I need to be over there.”
“Sure. But I’m not going to forget where we were.”
“I’m positive you won’t.”
They reached the entrance and Kallie stepped to her side. “Owen Wilson is here, and so is Jessica Simpson. The limos are starting to stack up.”
“Wonderful. Now do me a favor. Go ask Zoey to start serving the hor d’oeuvres and champagne. Have you seen Arnold?”
“He arrived some time ago. He asked me where you were.”
“I’m sure he’s around.”
Kallie gave Bas a big smile, then headed off for the kitchen. Gaea turned to find Jamie Foxx at the door with his latest girlfriend. She settled in for a long hour of greetings, the entire time aware that Bas was close by.
Excerpt: A Matter of Honesty (PG:13 Romance)
TITLE: A Matter of Honesty
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Red Rose Publishing
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=210&osCsid=97cb8b2a36045fc058ed73daf548534f
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Lauryn Anderson is unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. One night away from having to move into a homeless shelter, Lauryn plans to enjoy her last night by staying in a low cost motel. The last thing Lauryn expects when she awakes is to be trapped under a tree waiting to be rescued. Steve Mitchell becomes her hero when he reaches in and pulls her to safety.
Steve Mitchell is taken by Lauryn the instant he gets her to safety. Yet, she is definitely not the type of woman he wants in his or his daughter, Hannah's life. When he realizes just how much she is struggling, he makes Lauryn an offer she can't resist—to become his housekeeper and nanny for his daughter. It isn't long before the attraction between him and Lauryn blossoms. Still, he can't help but wonder what she will do when she discovers the secret he is keeping from her.
EXCERPT:
She paused before speaking, giving herself some time to think. This had to be a hallucination. She was going to wake up any moment now. Although she didn’t want to if it meant Steve was going to disappear. Biting her bottom lip, she was tempted to reach down to pinch herself. But if she wasn’t dreaming it was going to hurt, and she did bruise easily. Then again she didn’t want to pinch herself if it meant Steve was going to disappear. But figment of the imagination or not, if there was one thing she needed right now it was money.
Wanting to find out more about what he was offering before she agreed to anything, she spoke hesitantly. “I’m very good at cleaning and cooking. I did it for my father for years, but I’m not good with animals especially the scaly kind.”
Steve laughed out loud, causing a few people turned to look at them.
She noticed it was a nice laugh and she would like to hear it more. Still she couldn’t believe she was entertaining this idea. They were strangers. But she needed a job.
He leaned closer to her. “Well I promise that cleaning my house will be a lot easier, since I’m a neat person, I also don’t have any pets.”
She looked at him with raised eyebrows. “I think you are a little old to need a nanny.”
He chuckled. “You are right, but my four-year-old daughter isn’t.”
Lauryn’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t hide her shock. She had to force herself to close her mouth. “Daughter?”
He nodded. “Yes, I have a little girl. Her name is Hannah and she is a angel.”
Lauryn remained quiet, not sure what to say. She looked at his hand, didn’t see a ring, and he hadn’t mentioned, a wife, but that didn’t mean anything in today’s world. A lot of men walked around without wedding rings on. But she would find out what was going on in his life relationship wise before she walked into the situation. She’d had enough surprises to last her a lifetime. “Your wife won’t mind will she?”
He smiled. “I’m not married. Never have been.”
“Girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“What about Hannah’s mother?”
He sighed. “She isn’t in the picture. Hasn’t been for a while.”
Relief flowed through her veins, to find Steve wasn’t involved with another woman. Even though she might not stand a chance with him, she could see herself being jealous when it came to Steve. He was a very attractive man. Any other woman in her right mind that was dating him would probably feel the same way.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Time to say goodnight!
Well it is been a blast! Hope you enjoyed the excerpts of my currently http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifreleashttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifed http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwork. I hope I answered all of your questions. If not feel free to contact me offline. Hope everyone had a great weekend and have a wonderful week!
Stephanie
http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/stephaniemorrisbooks
http://www.facebook.com/authorstephaniemorris
http://www.twitter.com/smorrisbooks
Stephanie
http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/stephaniemorrisbooks
http://www.facebook.com/authorstephaniemorris
http://www.twitter.com/smorrisbooks
Excerpt: Hard to Resist (Adult Excerpt/Contemporary Romance)
TITLE: Hard to Resist
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary African American Romance
PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://extasybooks.com/hard-to-resist/
EXCERPT RATING: Adult content (sexual in nature)
BLURB:
The moment Nataleigh Brown laid eyes on Keelan Robinson three words came to mind—tall, gorgeous and egotistical! She had never met a man more insufferable in her entire life. But then Keelan gave her a closer look of the man beneath his cocky exterior.
Keelan might have been born into money but he chose to live in a low-income neighborhood amongst the inner-city kids he taught and urged to make something of their lives. Keelan was too handsome for his own good, had his pick of women…but he chose to pursue Nataleigh.
Nataleigh wasn’t fooled. Keelan wasn’t a man she could get involved with no matter how good he could kiss. She learned a long time ago that good things didn’t happen to a person like her. Nataleigh didn’t bother to dream that a man like Keelan could be the one for her because she didn’t believe in dreams anymore. But then again, she’d never met a man like Keelan…
EXCERPT:
She boldly pressed her front against his back, forcing him to acknowledge her and the sizzling attraction between them. As if he could ignore it. That quick, he grew hard and stiff with wanting her, his erection pressing insistently against the fly of his khaki’s.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
He dropped his head, knowing what would happen the second he did. Her light, unexpected touch caused him to jerk. He closed his eyes when her hands slid down his arms toward his hands. She coaxed him into releasing the dishes.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
When he didn’t obey her command, she lifted his arm high enough for her to duck underneath and squeeze herself between him and the counter until they were aligned from chests to thighs, forcing him to acknowledge her and their undeniable attraction.
Her fiery determination turned him on and he knew he had to do something fast or he’d succumb and take her passionately until neither of them could move. Just as he attempted to take a much needed step away from her, she grabbed his shirt and held him in place.
She rose up on her toes, placing her mouth inches below his. “I want you so badly, Keelan, I ache with it.” She lowered her lashes and nipped lightly at his jaw, then used her soft tongue to soothe the love bite. “Stop treating me like a fragile piece of glass. I won’t break. I’m a big girl. I know what I want.”
Bracing his hands on either side of her hips on the counter to keep from touching her, he shuddered and groaned, holding fast to his dwindling resolve. “Nataleigh—”
“Don’t tell me no.” The plea was filled with a wealth of emotion as her lips traveled up to his ear. “I want the closeness and intimacy of making love with you. My desire for you is so strong it consumes me.”
He squeezed his eyes shut as he battled between right and wrong. The words she’d just spoken were so honest, saying so much about her feelings for him. She wanted him and she was allowing her emotions and passions to run wild and free.
Seemingly taking his silence as agreement, she tugged his shirt from the waistband of his pants, shoved it up and over his head and tossed it to the floor at their feet. She flattened her palms on his bare chest and her breathing deepened as she stroked his taut, heated flesh and trailed her fingers down to his hard abdomen. Arousal surged though his bloodstream and arrowed straight to his groin. His erection pulsed against the fly of his khaki pants.
Bolder still, she dragged her tongue along the shell of his ear, then dipped inside. “I’m wet with the thought of having you deep inside of me, Keelan,” she whispered huskily.
Her thigh lifted high along his thigh so that she cold rub herself against his erection.
“Touch me and you’ll see for yourself.”
Excerpt: The Price of Passion (PG13/Contemporary Romance)
The Price of Passion is the first book in a series titled The Morning After. This series deals with what happens when a couple experiences unexpected consequences after a night of passion.
I hope you enjoy the first book.
TITLE: The Price of Passion
SERIES: The Morning After
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=150&zenid=6vsfkckik6skq0ht1udqpsv995
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Sierra Walker has never met a rancher as charismatic as Kaden Stasso. After an unexpected night of passion, she was now expecting a very special Christmas delivery. But if Sierra gives in to the formidable dad-to-be marriage proposal of convenience only, she knows she'll only be getting herself back into a position she vowed to be in again.
Kaden Stasso won't concede to anything less than marrying the woman who carries his child, for it is deeply engrained in his culture to take care of his own. But this marriage was to be in name only. Yet, neither he nor Sierra could refute the strong connection between them. No matter how much he or Sierra wants to deny it, they both start to realize that the price of passion might be higher than either of them expected.
EXCERPT:
Like Kaden himself, like his own mother had been.
To him, this issue was not debatable.
Sierra carried his baby. She would be his wife. And his child would share his name.
They’d be together on holidays, like a real family was. Kaden would be there on Christmas morning.
Maybe because he had so few good memories of his own Christmases, the thought made him very happy.
Yes, he’d be present for every event of his daughter’s or son’s life—the birth, school events, doctor’s appointments, everything. Just as it should be.
Leah had robbed him of parenthood once; he refused to let it happen again.
There was no room for negotiation.
The fact that Sierra was every bit as manipulative as Leah didn’t matter right now. No child of his would be a bastard, wear the label and be talked about. Not if Kaden had anything to say about it.
“We don’t even know each other,” she complained.
“It’ll happen.”
Reaching up, she grasped his wrists and tried to shove him away. In her eyes, he saw fear. A softer part of him wanted to ease up, tell her that everything would be okay, that he wasn’t the monster she thought him to be. He’d fought against her discomfort concerning men, of him, on their night. And he’d won. But he wasn’t about to do it again.
She was no different than any other woman.
A few months ago, she’d made her bed and invited him to lie in it. He planned to do just that.
“You don’t even approve of me,” she protested.
“Who cares?”
Her eyes drifted closed and her breaths came in uneven, small bursts. “I care.”
“We had a night together where we got along,” he said, recalling her sensual reaction to his touch and the slide of satin as he’d removed her clothing from her body.
He’d cupped her breasts in his hands, relished in their fullness and their response as her nipples beaded, begging for his caress. Even now, his body reacted just to the memory of her low moans. “We approved of each other just fine then.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Oh, but he wanted to. He’d been good enough for her that night, even if that wasn’t the case now.
“You have to see that this is a ridiculous idea.”
“You have to see that it isn’t.” His hold tightened once more on her shoulders. “What sort of mother would intentionally subject her child to being a bastard?”
“A bastard?” she parroted, disbelievingly. “This is the twenty-first century, Kaden.”
“Not in this town.” Even when he’d been young, when several single women had been having children, he’d been teased.
“You’re being archaic.”
“You’re naïve,” he retorted. “We’re in a small town and people will gossip. You’ve heard about my past with Leah. I heard about your pregnancy at the pharmacy. Think about it.” Kaden spent his entire childhood battling the label of not being wanted, getting into more trouble than he knew what to do with.
His mother had been called down to the principal’s office as many times as Kaden had. By the time he’d finished school, he’d been suspended at least two dozen times. He wouldn’t have been looked down on or taunted if he’d had a father.
“It’s more complex than that. I can’t get married again.”
“Why is that?”
Her hazel eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. She had secrets, he saw, and he wanted every one of them discovered.
“It’s just not possible.”
“Not good enough—not good enough for me, not good enough for the child we made.”
He didn’t like the idea of being tied down again anymore than Sierra did. He’d promised himself he’d never let another woman finagle him, but he was prepared to forfeit his sanity for his own flesh and blood. Sierra had no choice but to do the same.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, then said, “This isn’t about you and me anymore.”
Her hazel eyes were wide, revealing, alluring. It had been her eyes that first fascinated him, making him want to know her better. They’d sparkled when she laughed, then later, they’d darkened with a passion that matched his.
“I’ve already sworn not to shut you out. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Every child deserves a father, no matter how you feel about the man you’re pregnant by.”
She sighed. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Possibly.” Despite the statements Leah had launched at him, breaking his heart, he had loved baby Jacob with his entire being, which was still in shambles from losing her. The loss of one baby who meant everything to him strengthened his determination not to lose another, especially one that was truly part of him. “But I’m willing to let you choose the date.”
“You can’t force me to marry you.”
Removing one hand from her hair, he cupped her chin, caressing the soft skin, his thumb brushing the side of her throat and resting where her pulse raced. “Would it be such a terrible thing?” he asked, softly, inquisitively.
I hope you enjoy the first book.
TITLE: The Price of Passion
SERIES: The Morning After
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=150&zenid=6vsfkckik6skq0ht1udqpsv995
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Sierra Walker has never met a rancher as charismatic as Kaden Stasso. After an unexpected night of passion, she was now expecting a very special Christmas delivery. But if Sierra gives in to the formidable dad-to-be marriage proposal of convenience only, she knows she'll only be getting herself back into a position she vowed to be in again.
Kaden Stasso won't concede to anything less than marrying the woman who carries his child, for it is deeply engrained in his culture to take care of his own. But this marriage was to be in name only. Yet, neither he nor Sierra could refute the strong connection between them. No matter how much he or Sierra wants to deny it, they both start to realize that the price of passion might be higher than either of them expected.
EXCERPT:
Like Kaden himself, like his own mother had been.
To him, this issue was not debatable.
Sierra carried his baby. She would be his wife. And his child would share his name.
They’d be together on holidays, like a real family was. Kaden would be there on Christmas morning.
Maybe because he had so few good memories of his own Christmases, the thought made him very happy.
Yes, he’d be present for every event of his daughter’s or son’s life—the birth, school events, doctor’s appointments, everything. Just as it should be.
Leah had robbed him of parenthood once; he refused to let it happen again.
There was no room for negotiation.
The fact that Sierra was every bit as manipulative as Leah didn’t matter right now. No child of his would be a bastard, wear the label and be talked about. Not if Kaden had anything to say about it.
“We don’t even know each other,” she complained.
“It’ll happen.”
Reaching up, she grasped his wrists and tried to shove him away. In her eyes, he saw fear. A softer part of him wanted to ease up, tell her that everything would be okay, that he wasn’t the monster she thought him to be. He’d fought against her discomfort concerning men, of him, on their night. And he’d won. But he wasn’t about to do it again.
She was no different than any other woman.
A few months ago, she’d made her bed and invited him to lie in it. He planned to do just that.
“You don’t even approve of me,” she protested.
“Who cares?”
Her eyes drifted closed and her breaths came in uneven, small bursts. “I care.”
“We had a night together where we got along,” he said, recalling her sensual reaction to his touch and the slide of satin as he’d removed her clothing from her body.
He’d cupped her breasts in his hands, relished in their fullness and their response as her nipples beaded, begging for his caress. Even now, his body reacted just to the memory of her low moans. “We approved of each other just fine then.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Oh, but he wanted to. He’d been good enough for her that night, even if that wasn’t the case now.
“You have to see that this is a ridiculous idea.”
“You have to see that it isn’t.” His hold tightened once more on her shoulders. “What sort of mother would intentionally subject her child to being a bastard?”
“A bastard?” she parroted, disbelievingly. “This is the twenty-first century, Kaden.”
“Not in this town.” Even when he’d been young, when several single women had been having children, he’d been teased.
“You’re being archaic.”
“You’re naïve,” he retorted. “We’re in a small town and people will gossip. You’ve heard about my past with Leah. I heard about your pregnancy at the pharmacy. Think about it.” Kaden spent his entire childhood battling the label of not being wanted, getting into more trouble than he knew what to do with.
His mother had been called down to the principal’s office as many times as Kaden had. By the time he’d finished school, he’d been suspended at least two dozen times. He wouldn’t have been looked down on or taunted if he’d had a father.
“It’s more complex than that. I can’t get married again.”
“Why is that?”
Her hazel eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. She had secrets, he saw, and he wanted every one of them discovered.
“It’s just not possible.”
“Not good enough—not good enough for me, not good enough for the child we made.”
He didn’t like the idea of being tied down again anymore than Sierra did. He’d promised himself he’d never let another woman finagle him, but he was prepared to forfeit his sanity for his own flesh and blood. Sierra had no choice but to do the same.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, then said, “This isn’t about you and me anymore.”
Her hazel eyes were wide, revealing, alluring. It had been her eyes that first fascinated him, making him want to know her better. They’d sparkled when she laughed, then later, they’d darkened with a passion that matched his.
“I’ve already sworn not to shut you out. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Every child deserves a father, no matter how you feel about the man you’re pregnant by.”
She sighed. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Possibly.” Despite the statements Leah had launched at him, breaking his heart, he had loved baby Jacob with his entire being, which was still in shambles from losing her. The loss of one baby who meant everything to him strengthened his determination not to lose another, especially one that was truly part of him. “But I’m willing to let you choose the date.”
“You can’t force me to marry you.”
Removing one hand from her hair, he cupped her chin, caressing the soft skin, his thumb brushing the side of her throat and resting where her pulse raced. “Would it be such a terrible thing?” he asked, softly, inquisitively.
Excerpt: Unfinished Business (PG13/Contemporary Romance)
TITLE: Unfinished Business
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.bookstrand.com/unfinished-business
SERIES: Indulgence – Book 3 of 6
Blurb:
There is one man that Daníella Mangino has never been able to resist or say no to—her ex-husband—Carlo Carabelli. The moment he asked her to marry him, she’d known it would be forever...or so she thought. Still, the last thing she expects is for him to return, asking her for a second chance at their relationship. The timing couldn’t be worse. She has just broken up with her unfaithful boyfriend. But what Carlo Carabelli wants, he gets and he wants her.
Carlo Carabelli regrets the day that he asked his ex-wife Daníella Mangino for a divorce. The car wreck that left him struggling with learning how to walk again had nearly crushed him. He couldn’t be the man for Daníella that he sworn he’d always be. Truth be told, he has never stopped loving her, but he has a secret that once discovered might just mean a permanent end for him and Daníella.
One thing is certain, Daníella and Carlo have unfinished business...
Excerpt:
Daníella went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. The corners of her mouth curved upward when she spotted the secret weapon she needed. As sadistic as it seemed, she took her time heading back up the stairs to her room where the couple was still locked in a passionate embrace. They weren’t going anytime soon from what she’d seen. Why rush?
After pushing the door wide open, she walked over to the writhing couple. Either the woman was a good actress, or Ignacio might have been worth the trouble she’d gone through. Oh well. She would never find out for herself. Daníella took a deep breath and poured the pitcher of ice water on the couple in her bed. A small hysterical giggle bubbled up from her throat as she had the pleasure of watching the couple jerk apart in a mixture of shock and surprise.
She turned around and walked out of the room, the sounds of Italian curses following her out of the room. A moment later Ignacio bellowed.
“Daníella!”
Daníella smiled at the anger and shock coloring his voice.
Good. Now he knew how it felt.
Not breaking stride, she kept walking but heard the sounds of her bed creaking, followed by his footsteps. She was appalled that he had the audacity to come after her. But what else should she expect? Continuing down the stairs, she focused on getting as far away from Ignacio as possible. The sooner he was gone, the better.
“Daníella, where the hell are you going?”
She stopped on the bottom stair before turning to look back at him.
“The question is where are you and your whore going, Ignacio, or did you forget this is my home?”
Daníella had the pleasure of seeing him flush with embarrassment, or it could have been anger. Either way, she didn’t care.
“That’s what I thought. Now, I would appreciate it if the two of you could get dressed and remove yourselves from my apartment.”
Daníella turned back around and went to step off the stairs when Ignacio’s next words stopped her.
“If you had called to let me know you would be home early, we could have saved ourselves this unpleasantness.”
Her mouth almost hit the floor with shock. How dare he try to turn this back on her like it was her fault that she’d walked into her own home to catch him screwing another woman in her bed.
“Excuse me?”
Her tone was so hostile Ignacio stopped on the stairs he’d begun to descend. Ignacio immediately tried to smooth over his approach.
“Oh, come on. I am a man. What do you expect?”
The look of contempt she shot in his direction made him flinch. “I expect you to control yourself and behave like a man, not rut like an animal.”
The woman he’d been in her bed with appeared at the top of the stairs behind him, giving Daníella more ammunition to accuse him with—and fortunately she had the decency to put her clothes on.
“Then again, with a woman who looks like that, how could you?”
It was a direct shot at the woman who now resembled a drowned rat after the ice bath she received. Still, she had the nerve to give Daníella a haughty look.
“Ignacio, who is this awful woman?”
Daníella felt her eyebrows shoot up at the description. “Yes, Ignacio, please tell your whore who this awful woman is?”
A feminine gasp of outrage sounded as Ignacio began stammering, trying to explain his relationship to either woman. Daníella cut him off effectively.
“What lover boy here is trying to say is I’m the woman he’s been dating for over a year and the owner of this apartment.”
Daníella watched the woman frown, but it actually looked more like a pout, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“But, Ignacio, you told me this was your place.”
Daníella almost lost it, grabbing onto the railing for support. The man had actually claimed her apartment for his own?
That was it.
Her teeth were clenched when she spoke. “I sincerely suggest both of you remove yourselves from my home as quickly as you can before I find something hot to douse the two of you with.”
Ignacio seemed to be lacking the little intelligence he had left because he started toward her.
“Daníella, she means nothing to me. This is just a fling.”
Is? Not was?
Her eyes widened in shock—which was more of a response than the one his lover emitted. Either she was used to being degraded, or she had no class. Maybe it was a little of both.
“That may be, Ignacio, but I’m sure this isn’t the first fling and it won’t be the last. But this will be the last time you see me.”
He gave her a pleading look. “What was I supposed to do? You weren’t willing to have sex with me.”
Before she could stop herself, Daníella struck him. She was seething with anger. The fact that he was trying to make this her fault because she had wanted to save herself for the right moment pissed her off.
“Get the hell out of here, Ignacio. Now.”
“But—”
Daníella growled and turned to walk away from the infuriating man before she did resort to violence. Right now she was very close. What she needed more than anything was to get away from this whole situation so she could think clearly. Just a little time to try to figure out why she hadn’t listened to her friend’s advice about Ignacio. Better yet, to figure out why she’d wasted over two years of her time on this loser. She should have known better.
Daníella had barely taken another step before she ran into a warm solid mass. A solid mass that shouldn’t be there, and her first instinct was to fight, especially when solid arms encircled her to keep her from falling backward. Inhaling deeply, she stiffened as soon as a familiar scent drifted over her—one she would recognize as long as she lived.
Excerpt: Compromising Position (PG13/Contemporary Romance)
Come check out my latest release. This is the first book in the Guilty Pleasures series.
Warning: This story contains a case of mistaken identity that results in what may be the most intense, sexiest mistake ever.
TITLE: Compromising Position
SERIES: Guilty Pleasures
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Amira Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.amirapress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=358
Blurb:
Kinsey Maxwell is positive she’s lost her mind, when she agrees to meet the male escort that has been hired for her. But she needs some inspiration for the latest novel she’s working on, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Yet, when she spots her Latin lover for the night cross the room, she realizes this set up might be exactly what she needed.
When Javier Elizondo beckons a cocktail waitress across the bar for a drink, he never expects a gorgeous stranger to approach him instead. A beautiful woman who would ignite a consuming passion he’s never experienced. But once he becomes aware of the fact that Kinsey thinks he’s someone he’s not, Javier quickly recognizes that they are in a very compromising position.
Excerpt:
Kinsey stepped off the escalator in the Omni Hotel, struggling slightly to stay upright on her strappy heels as she spotted the bar on the other side of the lobby, her heart racing. The silk of her dress grazed against her as she walked, making her aware of every brush of her thighs. Three hundred bucks on the mint green strapless dress with an A-line skirt and empire waist that stopped just below the knee was going a bit too far, considering it would be off in less than an hour. But boy, did she look good in it.
Sweet merciful heavens above.
Nerves tumbled through her stomach at the idea of a complete stranger undressing her. What in the heck was she doing? She had to be suffering from mental insanity. Only the terrifying thought of sitting in front of her empty computer screen kept her from spinning around and running back to her car.
She looked around the semicrowded bar. On one of the sets of the deep, soft couches, a group of noisy business women laughed at each other. From the looks of their disheveled clothes and finger-strewn hair, she guessed they’d been tossing back cocktails for some time. On a nearby chair, an older woman with a persona of faded elegance shot a condemning look at the group, leaning close to whisper to the young man beside her. Up by the bar, a piano player was slaughtering a Frank Sinatra classic. There ought to be a law, Kinsey thought. And then she saw him, sitting on a couch, an empty glass on the table in front of him. He raised a signaling hand.
Her knees turned to mush.
Rhonda’s friend hadn’t lied. Astonishingly, good-looking didn’t come close to describing him. Thick, dark hair stopped just at his collar, a few curly locks falling down over his forehead. His face was sharp, angular, his eyes too shadowed under the veil of thick eyelashes for her to see the color.
His skin was bronze, a natural tan from what she could tell. If she had to guess, she would say he was Spanish. That thought gave her pause. While she’d never dated a Spanish man, she had dated outside of her race. Clearly, he didn’t have a problem with her being African American or he wouldn’t have beckoned her. More importantly, he wouldn’t have shown up in the first place.
She took her time doing another perusal of him. Her gaze paused when it reached his mouth…surrounded by a goatee that connected to the low-cut beard covering his jaw.
Have mercy.
An image burned through her mind: her naked, on her back, glancing down to see his mouth on her. And it was going to happen, everything she desired, everything she could think of.
Oh my word.
She inhaled deeply, attempting to fill her lungs with oxygen that seemed so hard to come by. Then she repeated the action.
All right. The game plan was to be classy, composed, casual…For goodness sake.
All she needed to do was walk up to the couch, introduce herself, then go upstairs with the fine specimen of a man. Kinsey reached the couch. Amber. His eyes were light brown, the color of a premium scotch. As he looked her up and down, she was grateful for her dark skin, for her cheeks had to be on fire. Classy, composed, casual.
Heavens above.
He arched a dark brow in his direction.
“Hello. I’m Kinsey.” She offered him her hand.
Warning: This story contains a case of mistaken identity that results in what may be the most intense, sexiest mistake ever.
TITLE: Compromising Position
SERIES: Guilty Pleasures
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Amira Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.amirapress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=358
Blurb:
Kinsey Maxwell is positive she’s lost her mind, when she agrees to meet the male escort that has been hired for her. But she needs some inspiration for the latest novel she’s working on, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Yet, when she spots her Latin lover for the night cross the room, she realizes this set up might be exactly what she needed.
When Javier Elizondo beckons a cocktail waitress across the bar for a drink, he never expects a gorgeous stranger to approach him instead. A beautiful woman who would ignite a consuming passion he’s never experienced. But once he becomes aware of the fact that Kinsey thinks he’s someone he’s not, Javier quickly recognizes that they are in a very compromising position.
Excerpt:
Kinsey stepped off the escalator in the Omni Hotel, struggling slightly to stay upright on her strappy heels as she spotted the bar on the other side of the lobby, her heart racing. The silk of her dress grazed against her as she walked, making her aware of every brush of her thighs. Three hundred bucks on the mint green strapless dress with an A-line skirt and empire waist that stopped just below the knee was going a bit too far, considering it would be off in less than an hour. But boy, did she look good in it.
Sweet merciful heavens above.
Nerves tumbled through her stomach at the idea of a complete stranger undressing her. What in the heck was she doing? She had to be suffering from mental insanity. Only the terrifying thought of sitting in front of her empty computer screen kept her from spinning around and running back to her car.
She looked around the semicrowded bar. On one of the sets of the deep, soft couches, a group of noisy business women laughed at each other. From the looks of their disheveled clothes and finger-strewn hair, she guessed they’d been tossing back cocktails for some time. On a nearby chair, an older woman with a persona of faded elegance shot a condemning look at the group, leaning close to whisper to the young man beside her. Up by the bar, a piano player was slaughtering a Frank Sinatra classic. There ought to be a law, Kinsey thought. And then she saw him, sitting on a couch, an empty glass on the table in front of him. He raised a signaling hand.
Her knees turned to mush.
Rhonda’s friend hadn’t lied. Astonishingly, good-looking didn’t come close to describing him. Thick, dark hair stopped just at his collar, a few curly locks falling down over his forehead. His face was sharp, angular, his eyes too shadowed under the veil of thick eyelashes for her to see the color.
His skin was bronze, a natural tan from what she could tell. If she had to guess, she would say he was Spanish. That thought gave her pause. While she’d never dated a Spanish man, she had dated outside of her race. Clearly, he didn’t have a problem with her being African American or he wouldn’t have beckoned her. More importantly, he wouldn’t have shown up in the first place.
She took her time doing another perusal of him. Her gaze paused when it reached his mouth…surrounded by a goatee that connected to the low-cut beard covering his jaw.
Have mercy.
An image burned through her mind: her naked, on her back, glancing down to see his mouth on her. And it was going to happen, everything she desired, everything she could think of.
Oh my word.
She inhaled deeply, attempting to fill her lungs with oxygen that seemed so hard to come by. Then she repeated the action.
All right. The game plan was to be classy, composed, casual…For goodness sake.
All she needed to do was walk up to the couch, introduce herself, then go upstairs with the fine specimen of a man. Kinsey reached the couch. Amber. His eyes were light brown, the color of a premium scotch. As he looked her up and down, she was grateful for her dark skin, for her cheeks had to be on fire. Classy, composed, casual.
Heavens above.
He arched a dark brow in his direction.
“Hello. I’m Kinsey.” She offered him her hand.
Author Stephanie Morris checking in!
Hello everyone!
So excited to be here! Hope everyone is having a great day so far! I am looking forward to sharing a few excerpts from my current releases as well as giving you a sneak peek of some of my upcoming work.
If you have any questions feel free ask.
Cheers!
Stephanie Morris
http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
ht
So excited to be here! Hope everyone is having a great day so far! I am looking forward to sharing a few excerpts from my current releases as well as giving you a sneak peek of some of my upcoming work.
If you have any questions feel free ask.
Cheers!
Stephanie Morris
http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
ht
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seduction can be oh so sweet....
TITLE: The Seduction of Hayden
SERIES: Indulgence series – Book #2
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: BookStrand
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-seduction-of-hayden
Blurb:
Amalía Carabelli has always been certain of one thing since she was a little girl. She wants to get married and she wants to have children. The problem is she can never seem to find Mr. Right. She especially doesn’t expect Mr. Right to come along and rescue her from the grips of a guy who is definitely Mr. Wrong. Amalía sets out to find a way to seduce this Mr. Right. Little does she know that in a few weeks’ time, he’ll be her brother-in-law...
Hayden Davis is only in Rome, Italy, for his sister’s wedding. He has no idea that he will end up coming to the rescue of a woman that may be in more danger with him. But Amalía Carabelli appeals to him in a way that a woman hasn’t in a long time—in a way he definitely looks forward to exploring.
Excerpt:
Amalía growled with frustration. Serious annoyance rose at whomever it was pounding on her hotel door at this awful hour in the morning. Groaning in aggravation, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and half walked, half stumbled to the door. She didn’t bother with the peephole because her eyes were so bleary she wouldn’t be able to see out of it anyway. Opening the door a crack she saw a cheerful Hayden standing on the other side.
“Buongiorno, Amalía.”
Her eyes widened at his first attempt at Italian. Profanity poured from her mouth, but Hayden only smiled.
“I assume that wasn’t hello or good morning in return was it?”
She scowled at his cheerful disposition.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” she asked crossly.
“It is a few minutes before seven.”
Hearing the time aloud made her feel even worse. She was up two hours before she had to be, two whole hours. Closing her eyes, she spoke to Hayden as calmly as she could. “Is the electricity out again?”
“No.”
She paused. “Is the hotel on fire?”
He chuckled. “No.”
She sighed. “Flooded?”
“No.”
Amalía felt her teeth clench as her eyes reopened. “Then why the hell are you standing here at my room so early?
Hayden smiled at her. “Because I want to have breakfast with you, and Leo told me you needed at least an hour to get ready.”
Her eyes closed again and counted to ten before she said something else inhospitable.
“Did my brother also happen to tell you I’m not a morning person?”
“Yes, he did, but he didn’t say you were this bad.”
Her eyes flew open in outrage. “This bad!”
The only thing keeping her from saying more was the fact he stood there looking at her with open curiosity, making her wonder how bad she was. His expression also told her he wasn’t going anywhere. Sighing heavily, she opened the door to let him in.
“Come on in.”
She turned and walked back into her room, not waiting to see if he followed her or not. A whimper fought its way up from her throat, but she held it back as she walked past the bed. It was calling her name. It took everything she had not to crawl back into it. Instead she went over to a chair and collapsed into it, closing her eyes. After a long moment of silence she reopened them to find Hayden nearing her. The expression on his face was indescribable. She could only imagine why he was staring at her the way he way.
“What is it?”
He remained silent for another moment before speaking. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
She rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I have seen what I look like in the morning when I first wake up. You don’t have to sweet talk me.”
He reached out and touched a loose tendril of her hair. “If it is one thing I don’t do it is lie. You are beautiful, whether you see it or not. You don’t need any make-up and fancy stuff to impress me.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “Who says I’m trying to impress you?”
His self-assured expression reminded her so much of Leonardo’s she shook her head.
“Your body does. Your eyes do.”
Denial lay upon her lips, but it would be a lie and both of them knew it. He reached out and pulled her upward until she was standing. She knew he had to be delusional. If he’d been Stefano, she wouldn’t have allowed him into the hotel room until she was presentable. That would include make-up and fancy stuff as Hayden put it. It was somewhat of an unspoken rule that she always looked her best around Stefano. If she didn’t, Stefano hadn’t hesitated to tell her so.
There had been so many times when she'd taken extra care with her appearance only for him to wrinkle up his nose in disapproval. Stefano was a self-centered bastard. How she'd managed to stay with him as long as she had was beyond her. Had she truly been so desperate? Evidently, she had or she wouldn’t have nursed a broken heart for two years. Hayden touched the sided of her face, bringing her out of her thoughts.
“Amalía?”
She shivered at the way he enunciated her name. He said it like no one else ever had, like no one else ever could.
“Yes?” she whispered.
“I want to know if you taste as sweet as you look,” he stated softly. “Can I kiss you, Amalía?” he asked as he drew her nearer.
She knew she should say no. Instead she found herself stretching up to meet him halfway. The first touch of their lips was feathery, but it was enough. In the next instant his mouth covered hers, hot and demanding. His kiss commanded everything of her, forcing aside the docile and compliant Amalía that Stefano would have expected. The thought spurred her on, and she pressed her body closer to his, wanting the contact, craving it. Hayden feasted on her lips as if he needed nourishment. She was more than happy to provide it. She needed to feel more of his touch. Feel her skin against his.
As if he heard her request, he slid his hand under her cotton pajama top, encountering smooth skin. She moaned, pushing her body closer to his, needing the contact. His hand slid higher until it found one of her breasts. She knew she wasn’t a large woman, but she fit into the cup of his palm perfectly.
Also be sure to check out the first book in the series!
Indulgence Series
Propositioning the Rich Italian - Book # 1
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://www.bookstrand.com/node/805943
A good man is always Hard to Resist (adult content post)
Sometime a good man that is hard to resist comes your way when you least expect it.
TITLE: Hard to Resist
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary African American Romance
PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://extasybooks.com/hard-to-resist/
EXCERPT RATING: Adult content (sexual in nature)
BLURB:
The moment Nataleigh Brown laid eyes on Keelan Robinson three words came to mind—tall, gorgeous and egotistical! She had never met a man more insufferable in her entire life. But then Keelan gave her a closer look of the man beneath his cocky exterior.
Keelan might have been born into money but he chose to live in a low-income neighborhood amongst the inner-city kids he taught and urged to make something of their lives. Keelan was too handsome for his own good, had his pick of women…but he chose to pursue Nataleigh.
Nataleigh wasn’t fooled. Keelan wasn’t a man she could get involved with no matter how good he could kiss. She learned a long time ago that good things didn’t happen to a person like her. Nataleigh didn’t bother to dream that a man like Keelan could be the one for her because she didn’t believe in dreams anymore. But then again, she’d never met a man like Keelan…
EXCERPT:
She boldly pressed her front against his back, forcing him to acknowledge her and the sizzling attraction between them. As if he could ignore it. That quick, he grew hard and stiff with wanting her, his erection pressing insistently against the fly of his khaki’s.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
He dropped his head, knowing what would happen the second he did. Her light, unexpected touch caused him to jerk. He closed his eyes when her hands slid down his arms toward his hands. She coaxed him into releasing the dishes.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
When he didn’t obey her command, she lifted his arm high enough for her to duck underneath and squeeze herself between him and the counter until they were aligned from chests to thighs, forcing him to acknowledge her and their undeniable attraction.
Her fiery determination turned him on and he knew he had to do something fast or he’d succumb and take her passionately until neither of them could move. Just as he attempted to take a much needed step away from her, she grabbed his shirt and held him in place.
She rose up on her toes, placing her mouth inches below his. “I want you so badly, Keelan, I ache with it.” She lowered her lashes and nipped lightly at his jaw, then used her soft tongue to soothe the love bite. “Stop treating me like a fragile piece of glass. I won’t break. I’m a big girl. I know what I want.”
Bracing his hands on either side of her hips on the counter to keep from touching her, he shuddered and groaned, holding fast to his dwindling resolve. “Nataleigh—”
“Don’t tell me no.” The plea was filled with a wealth of emotion as her lips travelled up to his ear. “I want the closeness and intimacy of making love with you. My desire for you is so strong it consumes me.”
He squeezed his eyes shut as he battled between right and wrong. The words she’d just spoken were so honest, saying so much about her feelings for him. She wanted him and she was allowing her emotions and passions to run wild and free.
Seemingly taking his silence as agreement, she tugged his shirt from the waistband of his pants, shoved it up and over his head and tossed it to the floor at their feet. She flattened her palms on his bare chest and her breathing deepened as she stroked his taut, heated flesh and trailed her fingers down to his hard abdomen. Arousal surged though his bloodstream and arrowed straight to his groin. His erection pulsed against the fly of his khaki pants.
Bolder still, she dragged her tongue along the shell of his ear, then dipped inside. “I’m wet with the thought of having you deep inside of me, Keelan,” she whispered huskily.
Her thigh lifted high along his thigh so that she cold rub herself against his erection.
“Touch me and you’ll see for yourself.”
TITLE: Hard to Resist
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary African American Romance
PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:
http://extasybooks.com/hard-to-resist/
EXCERPT RATING: Adult content (sexual in nature)
BLURB:
The moment Nataleigh Brown laid eyes on Keelan Robinson three words came to mind—tall, gorgeous and egotistical! She had never met a man more insufferable in her entire life. But then Keelan gave her a closer look of the man beneath his cocky exterior.
Keelan might have been born into money but he chose to live in a low-income neighborhood amongst the inner-city kids he taught and urged to make something of their lives. Keelan was too handsome for his own good, had his pick of women…but he chose to pursue Nataleigh.
Nataleigh wasn’t fooled. Keelan wasn’t a man she could get involved with no matter how good he could kiss. She learned a long time ago that good things didn’t happen to a person like her. Nataleigh didn’t bother to dream that a man like Keelan could be the one for her because she didn’t believe in dreams anymore. But then again, she’d never met a man like Keelan…
EXCERPT:
She boldly pressed her front against his back, forcing him to acknowledge her and the sizzling attraction between them. As if he could ignore it. That quick, he grew hard and stiff with wanting her, his erection pressing insistently against the fly of his khaki’s.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
He dropped his head, knowing what would happen the second he did. Her light, unexpected touch caused him to jerk. He closed his eyes when her hands slid down his arms toward his hands. She coaxed him into releasing the dishes.
“Look at me, Keelan.”
When he didn’t obey her command, she lifted his arm high enough for her to duck underneath and squeeze herself between him and the counter until they were aligned from chests to thighs, forcing him to acknowledge her and their undeniable attraction.
Her fiery determination turned him on and he knew he had to do something fast or he’d succumb and take her passionately until neither of them could move. Just as he attempted to take a much needed step away from her, she grabbed his shirt and held him in place.
She rose up on her toes, placing her mouth inches below his. “I want you so badly, Keelan, I ache with it.” She lowered her lashes and nipped lightly at his jaw, then used her soft tongue to soothe the love bite. “Stop treating me like a fragile piece of glass. I won’t break. I’m a big girl. I know what I want.”
Bracing his hands on either side of her hips on the counter to keep from touching her, he shuddered and groaned, holding fast to his dwindling resolve. “Nataleigh—”
“Don’t tell me no.” The plea was filled with a wealth of emotion as her lips travelled up to his ear. “I want the closeness and intimacy of making love with you. My desire for you is so strong it consumes me.”
He squeezed his eyes shut as he battled between right and wrong. The words she’d just spoken were so honest, saying so much about her feelings for him. She wanted him and she was allowing her emotions and passions to run wild and free.
Seemingly taking his silence as agreement, she tugged his shirt from the waistband of his pants, shoved it up and over his head and tossed it to the floor at their feet. She flattened her palms on his bare chest and her breathing deepened as she stroked his taut, heated flesh and trailed her fingers down to his hard abdomen. Arousal surged though his bloodstream and arrowed straight to his groin. His erection pulsed against the fly of his khaki pants.
Bolder still, she dragged her tongue along the shell of his ear, then dipped inside. “I’m wet with the thought of having you deep inside of me, Keelan,” she whispered huskily.
Her thigh lifted high along his thigh so that she cold rub herself against his erection.
“Touch me and you’ll see for yourself.”
Sometimes the Laws of Attraction can end up giving us just what we need...
Come meet the sexy-as-sin Courtlandt brothers and the women who can't resist them.
TITLE: Laws of Attraction
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.classactbooks.com/Laws-of-Attraction-by-Stephanie-Morris-_p_161.html
SERIES: The Courtlandt’s of California – Book 1 of 4
Blurb:
Cassandra Edwards has always planned to have it all—a successful career, a wonderful man and a great family. She thinks she is well on her way to accomplishing her goals until her fiancé takes his ring back. She is stunned, disappointed and hurt but realizes some of her dreams are still obtainable even without a good man by her side to do it with. She comes up with a plan to have it all on her own. Unfortunately things don’t go as intended. While her career is taking off, she meets unimaginable obstacles when it comes to getting the family she wants. One thing she is certain of she wants a baby, not a relationship. When she meets Mark Courtlandt, one of her brother’s friends, she knows immediately he is the man who can give her what she wants.
Mark Courtlandt is shocked when Cassandra propositions him. He never expects to be asked to father a child with no commitments or strings attached. The problem is Cassandra is the woman he has been searching for—not just to be the mother of his child either. It isn’t long before he realizes that past hurts in a prior relationship are what have sent her off down this determined path. Knowing a casual relationship with Cassandra will never do, he sets out to show her that when it comes to the laws of attraction she can’t fight what is meant to be.
Excerpt:
The doorbell rang and she made her way downstairs. Looking through the peephole, she saw it was the movers. After giving them a few general instructions she stepped back and let them get to work. She propped the front doors open and stepped outside. The movers began with the boxes. They had just gone inside with the first when Troy’s SUV pulled up followed by another. Troy didn’t have the vehicle shut off before Kevin, Michael, and Zander hopped out of the vehicle.
“Aunt Cassie,” they cried out in unison.
A smile spread across her mouth. She knelt and extended her arms, laughing as they almost knocked her over. Her nephews had definitely grown since she last saw them. It was amazing how things changed from one month to another.
“Okay boys let your aunt breathe.”
The three rascals snuck in another squeeze before moving back. She and Lora embraced before Troy swept her up into arms. Her grip on her brother was just as tight as his was on her. He swung her around and she laughed. When he stood her on her feet she placed a sisterly kiss on his cheek.
“It is good to see you.”
“You too.”
When he pulled back she saw five tall and strong men standing behind her brother. “Are these the guys that are here to help?”
Troy nodded and began introducing the guys that he had brought along. There was Falcon who wasn’t really her type. The fact he wore a wedding ring only confirmed it for her. Chandler was introduced to her next. He looked to be more of her typed than Falcon, but a wedding ring surrounded his finger as well. Introduction to Chad came after that and even though there wasn’t a ring on his finger physically he didn’t attract her. Tyson followed and he was more her type than Chandler but his wedding band dashed her hopes. She might be going the right route by finding an anonymous donor. The first three men she met where either not her type or attached. Not a good start.
It made her wonder if all of the decent men in California were taken. Tyson stepped aside and her breath caught in her throat. The man standing before her was breathtakingly attractive.
“This is Mark.”
He held out his hand. Luckily it was the left. What was even better was the lack of a wedding ring. It gave her hope. The instant the words left her mouth she realized what she was saying. She wasn’t looking for a man…just a baby.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” she murmured.
Mark smiled and she was certain that her heart stopped in mid beat. “The pleasure is mine.”
It took everything that she had to force herself to remove her hand from his and turned her attention to Troy before she got herself in trouble. She wanted to strip off her clothes and jump him, from a mere handshake. Clearing her throat she smiled at her brother.
“The movers have started unloading the truck. I requested that they put the boxes and furniture into the incorrect room. It should make things a lot easier.”
Troy nodded. “Okay then, we can hang back until they finish unloading the truck. After that you can tell us what you would like done.”
She gasped in a mocking fashion. “You are going to let me tell you what to do willingly?”
Troy chuckled. “Enjoy it while you can.”
Lora shook her head before stepping forward. ”Do you have your grocery list ready?”
Cassandra gave her sister-in-law a puzzled look. “I finished it last night.”
Troy groaned and pulled out his wallet. He handed at least a hundred dollars if not more to Lora who pocketed the money.
“If you give it to me. I will go grocery shopping for you courtesy of your brother.”
She finally caught on and laughed. “Made another bet against me Troy?”
“Yes I did. I’m sure I will learn one day.”
She shook her head. “Everyone come on in. I don’t have anywhere for you guys to sit yet, but feel free to check out the house while the movers finish unloading.”
She led the way into the house. Once every one was situated, she headed for her car in the garage. Her purse was still in the glove compartment, a bad habit she was trying to break. She reached in and pulled out her grocery list. When she handed it to Lora, she told her to add beer and a few more snack items to the list for the guys.
After that Lora was out the door with the list. Several minutes later, the movers finished unloading the truck. With a sincere thank you she tipped the movers before sending them off. Turning around, she faced the six guys and three boys that were going to be working for her the next several hours. She convinced Troy and Falcon to put her bed together. Mark and Chad were assigned to rearranging any furniture that needed to be moved. She asked Chandler to assemble the equipment in the office. Tyson was responsible for setting up the bed and furniture in the downstairs guest bedroom. She gave her nephews towels to dust and clean with. It kept them preoccupied while she went upstairs.
She directed Troy and Falcon in setting up her room. Once they had it together, she sent them to organize the other guest room, then went to her office. Mark and Chandler were there. She showed them where she wanted her desk set up, as well as her bookshelves, once she had the room arranged like she wanted it she left the men to arrange the items and assemble everything that needed to be assembled.
She went back downstairs and checked on the boys. She smiled as she watched her nephews. It was so hard to believe that the boys were growing up. She could still remember holding each of them for the first time. It felt like yesterday, but looking at them now she knew that it wasn’t. Her nephews reminded her of Troy and herself growing up. Three years separated her and her brother. There were only two years separating the boys. Michael was the oldest at the age of eight. Lora and Troy were getting ready to celebrate their eleventh year of marriage.
Troy married Lora in his early twenties yet neither one of them had regretted the decision. She had always held out hope to find a man that was as good to her as Troy was to Lora. Her experience with Spencer made her hope dwindle.
Exhaling deeply, she tried to push aside the hurtful memories of the disastrous relationship she’d shared with Spencer. A connection, that in the beginning she thought might lead to something similar to what her brother and his wife, along with their parents had. Unfortunately her relationship with Spencer had fizzled out, or rather imploded, the reason why she decided to focus on her second dream instead—children.
After making sure the boys were okay and didn’t need anything she went back upstairs to her office. She began to unpack her books. Half an hour later she was finished. Just as she was getting ready to start hooking up the computer the doorbell rang. Looking out of the window she saw it was Lora. Running down the stairs she answered the door, calling to the men to come and help with the groceries in the house.
Lora helped Cassandra put away the groceries before going to help her sons dust and clean. Cassandra rubbed her hands together in anticipation because she was going to have the chance to break her new stove in. Cooking was one of her favorite hobbies. She was always trying out or coming up with a new recipe. First she had to locate the pots and pans she needed to cook with. Not to mention the dishes she would need to serve her guests.
Once she had all of the dishes out of the box and put away, she broke down the boxes. Twenty minutes later she started pasta and broccoli boiling and chicken browning. She began cutting up Parmesan for her Alfredo sauce. Smiling to herself she began to hum. She was glad for all of the help that she received today. Things went a lot smoother because of it. Now all she had to do was get the blue-eyed stranger she met today out of her mind. She didn’t come all this way to be distracted by an attractive man…unless he was willing to father her child.
TITLE: Laws of Attraction
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.classactbooks.com/Laws-of-Attraction-by-Stephanie-Morris-_p_161.html
SERIES: The Courtlandt’s of California – Book 1 of 4
Blurb:
Cassandra Edwards has always planned to have it all—a successful career, a wonderful man and a great family. She thinks she is well on her way to accomplishing her goals until her fiancé takes his ring back. She is stunned, disappointed and hurt but realizes some of her dreams are still obtainable even without a good man by her side to do it with. She comes up with a plan to have it all on her own. Unfortunately things don’t go as intended. While her career is taking off, she meets unimaginable obstacles when it comes to getting the family she wants. One thing she is certain of she wants a baby, not a relationship. When she meets Mark Courtlandt, one of her brother’s friends, she knows immediately he is the man who can give her what she wants.
Mark Courtlandt is shocked when Cassandra propositions him. He never expects to be asked to father a child with no commitments or strings attached. The problem is Cassandra is the woman he has been searching for—not just to be the mother of his child either. It isn’t long before he realizes that past hurts in a prior relationship are what have sent her off down this determined path. Knowing a casual relationship with Cassandra will never do, he sets out to show her that when it comes to the laws of attraction she can’t fight what is meant to be.
Excerpt:
The doorbell rang and she made her way downstairs. Looking through the peephole, she saw it was the movers. After giving them a few general instructions she stepped back and let them get to work. She propped the front doors open and stepped outside. The movers began with the boxes. They had just gone inside with the first when Troy’s SUV pulled up followed by another. Troy didn’t have the vehicle shut off before Kevin, Michael, and Zander hopped out of the vehicle.
“Aunt Cassie,” they cried out in unison.
A smile spread across her mouth. She knelt and extended her arms, laughing as they almost knocked her over. Her nephews had definitely grown since she last saw them. It was amazing how things changed from one month to another.
“Okay boys let your aunt breathe.”
The three rascals snuck in another squeeze before moving back. She and Lora embraced before Troy swept her up into arms. Her grip on her brother was just as tight as his was on her. He swung her around and she laughed. When he stood her on her feet she placed a sisterly kiss on his cheek.
“It is good to see you.”
“You too.”
When he pulled back she saw five tall and strong men standing behind her brother. “Are these the guys that are here to help?”
Troy nodded and began introducing the guys that he had brought along. There was Falcon who wasn’t really her type. The fact he wore a wedding ring only confirmed it for her. Chandler was introduced to her next. He looked to be more of her typed than Falcon, but a wedding ring surrounded his finger as well. Introduction to Chad came after that and even though there wasn’t a ring on his finger physically he didn’t attract her. Tyson followed and he was more her type than Chandler but his wedding band dashed her hopes. She might be going the right route by finding an anonymous donor. The first three men she met where either not her type or attached. Not a good start.
It made her wonder if all of the decent men in California were taken. Tyson stepped aside and her breath caught in her throat. The man standing before her was breathtakingly attractive.
“This is Mark.”
He held out his hand. Luckily it was the left. What was even better was the lack of a wedding ring. It gave her hope. The instant the words left her mouth she realized what she was saying. She wasn’t looking for a man…just a baby.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” she murmured.
Mark smiled and she was certain that her heart stopped in mid beat. “The pleasure is mine.”
It took everything that she had to force herself to remove her hand from his and turned her attention to Troy before she got herself in trouble. She wanted to strip off her clothes and jump him, from a mere handshake. Clearing her throat she smiled at her brother.
“The movers have started unloading the truck. I requested that they put the boxes and furniture into the incorrect room. It should make things a lot easier.”
Troy nodded. “Okay then, we can hang back until they finish unloading the truck. After that you can tell us what you would like done.”
She gasped in a mocking fashion. “You are going to let me tell you what to do willingly?”
Troy chuckled. “Enjoy it while you can.”
Lora shook her head before stepping forward. ”Do you have your grocery list ready?”
Cassandra gave her sister-in-law a puzzled look. “I finished it last night.”
Troy groaned and pulled out his wallet. He handed at least a hundred dollars if not more to Lora who pocketed the money.
“If you give it to me. I will go grocery shopping for you courtesy of your brother.”
She finally caught on and laughed. “Made another bet against me Troy?”
“Yes I did. I’m sure I will learn one day.”
She shook her head. “Everyone come on in. I don’t have anywhere for you guys to sit yet, but feel free to check out the house while the movers finish unloading.”
She led the way into the house. Once every one was situated, she headed for her car in the garage. Her purse was still in the glove compartment, a bad habit she was trying to break. She reached in and pulled out her grocery list. When she handed it to Lora, she told her to add beer and a few more snack items to the list for the guys.
After that Lora was out the door with the list. Several minutes later, the movers finished unloading the truck. With a sincere thank you she tipped the movers before sending them off. Turning around, she faced the six guys and three boys that were going to be working for her the next several hours. She convinced Troy and Falcon to put her bed together. Mark and Chad were assigned to rearranging any furniture that needed to be moved. She asked Chandler to assemble the equipment in the office. Tyson was responsible for setting up the bed and furniture in the downstairs guest bedroom. She gave her nephews towels to dust and clean with. It kept them preoccupied while she went upstairs.
She directed Troy and Falcon in setting up her room. Once they had it together, she sent them to organize the other guest room, then went to her office. Mark and Chandler were there. She showed them where she wanted her desk set up, as well as her bookshelves, once she had the room arranged like she wanted it she left the men to arrange the items and assemble everything that needed to be assembled.
She went back downstairs and checked on the boys. She smiled as she watched her nephews. It was so hard to believe that the boys were growing up. She could still remember holding each of them for the first time. It felt like yesterday, but looking at them now she knew that it wasn’t. Her nephews reminded her of Troy and herself growing up. Three years separated her and her brother. There were only two years separating the boys. Michael was the oldest at the age of eight. Lora and Troy were getting ready to celebrate their eleventh year of marriage.
Troy married Lora in his early twenties yet neither one of them had regretted the decision. She had always held out hope to find a man that was as good to her as Troy was to Lora. Her experience with Spencer made her hope dwindle.
Exhaling deeply, she tried to push aside the hurtful memories of the disastrous relationship she’d shared with Spencer. A connection, that in the beginning she thought might lead to something similar to what her brother and his wife, along with their parents had. Unfortunately her relationship with Spencer had fizzled out, or rather imploded, the reason why she decided to focus on her second dream instead—children.
After making sure the boys were okay and didn’t need anything she went back upstairs to her office. She began to unpack her books. Half an hour later she was finished. Just as she was getting ready to start hooking up the computer the doorbell rang. Looking out of the window she saw it was Lora. Running down the stairs she answered the door, calling to the men to come and help with the groceries in the house.
Lora helped Cassandra put away the groceries before going to help her sons dust and clean. Cassandra rubbed her hands together in anticipation because she was going to have the chance to break her new stove in. Cooking was one of her favorite hobbies. She was always trying out or coming up with a new recipe. First she had to locate the pots and pans she needed to cook with. Not to mention the dishes she would need to serve her guests.
Once she had all of the dishes out of the box and put away, she broke down the boxes. Twenty minutes later she started pasta and broccoli boiling and chicken browning. She began cutting up Parmesan for her Alfredo sauce. Smiling to herself she began to hum. She was glad for all of the help that she received today. Things went a lot smoother because of it. Now all she had to do was get the blue-eyed stranger she met today out of her mind. She didn’t come all this way to be distracted by an attractive man…unless he was willing to father her child.
New Book Release! The Price of Passion (Excerpt PG:13)
I am excited to announce my new book release The Price of Passion. It is the first book in the The Morning After series.
TITLE: The Price of Passion
SERIES: The Morning After
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=150&zenid=6vsfkckik6skq0ht1udqpsv995
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Sierra Walker has never met a rancher as charismatic as Kaden Stasso. After an unexpected night of passion, she was now expecting a very special Christmas delivery. But if Sierra gives in to the formidable dad-to-be marriage proposal of convenience only, she knows she'll only be getting herself back into a position she vowed to be in again.
Kaden Stasso won't concede to anything less than marrying the woman who carries his child, for it is deeply engrained in his culture to take care of his own. But this marriage was to be in name only. Yet, neither he nor Sierra could refute the strong connection between them. No matter how much he or Sierra wants to deny it, they both start to realize that the price of passion might be higher than either of them expected.
EXCERPT:
Like Kaden himself, like his own mother had been.
To him, this issue was not debatable.
Sierra carried his baby. She would be his wife. And his child would share his name.
They’d be together on holidays, like a real family was. Kaden would be there on Christmas morning.
Maybe because he had so few good memories of his own Christmases, the thought made him very happy.
Yes, he’d be present for every event of his daughter’s or son’s life—the birth, school events, doctor’s appointments, everything. Just as it should be.
Leah had robbed him of parenthood once; he refused to let it happen again.
There was no room for negotiation.
The fact that Sierra was every bit as manipulative as Leah didn’t matter right now. No child of his would be a bastard, wear the label and be talked about. Not if Kaden had anything to say about it.
“We don’t even know each other,” she complained.
“It’ll happen.”
Reaching up, she grasped his wrists and tried to shove him away. In her eyes, he saw fear. A softer part of him wanted to ease up, tell her that everything would be okay, that he wasn’t the monster she thought him to be. He’d fought against her discomfort concerning men, of him, on their night. And he’d won. But he wasn’t about to do it again.
She was no different than any other woman.
A few months ago, she’d made her bed and invited him to lie in it. He planned to do just that.
“You don’t even approve of me,” she protested.
“Who cares?”
Her eyes drifted closed and her breaths came in uneven, small bursts. “I care.”
“We had a night together where we got along,” he said, recalling her sensual reaction to his touch and the slide of satin as he’d removed her clothing from her body.
He’d cupped her breasts in his hands, relished in their fullness and their response as her nipples beaded, begging for his caress. Even now, his body reacted just to the memory of her low moans. “We approved of each other just fine then.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Oh, but he wanted to. He’d been good enough for her that night, even if that wasn’t the case now.
“You have to see that this is a ridiculous idea.”
“You have to see that it isn’t.” His hold tightened once more on her shoulders. “What sort of mother would intentionally subject her child to being a bastard?”
“A bastard?” she parroted, disbelievingly. “This is the twenty-first century, Kaden.”
“Not in this town.” Even when he’d been young, when several single women had been having children, he’d been teased.
“You’re being archaic.”
“You’re naïve,” he retorted. “We’re in a small town and people will gossip. You’ve heard about my past with Leah. I heard about your pregnancy at the pharmacy. Think about it.” Kaden spent his entire childhood battling the label of not being wanted, getting into more trouble than he knew what to do with.
His mother had been called down to the principal’s office as many times as Kaden had. By the time he’d finished school, he’d been suspended at least two dozen times. He wouldn’t have been looked down on or taunted if he’d had a father.
“It’s more complex than that. I can’t get married again.”
“Why is that?”
Her hazel eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. She had secrets, he saw, and he wanted every one of them discovered.
“It’s just not possible.”
“Not good enough—not good enough for me, not good enough for the child we made.”
He didn’t like the idea of being tied down again anymore than Sierra did. He’d promised himself he’d never let another woman finagle him, but he was prepared to forfeit his sanity for his own flesh and blood. Sierra had no choice but to do the same.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, then said, “This isn’t about you and me anymore.”
Her hazel eyes were wide, revealing, alluring. It had been her eyes that first fascinated him, making him want to know her better. They’d sparkled when she laughed, then later, they’d darkened with a passion that matched his.
“I’ve already sworn not to shut you out. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Every child deserves a father, no matter how you feel about the man you’re pregnant by.”
She sighed. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Possibly.” Despite the statements Leah had launched at him, breaking his heart, he had loved baby Jacob with his entire being, which was still in shambles from losing her. The loss of one baby who meant everything to him strengthened his determination not to lose another, especially one that was truly part of him. “But I’m willing to let you choose the date.”
“You can’t force me to marry you.”
Removing one hand from her hair, he cupped her chin, caressing the soft skin, his thumb brushing the side of her throat and resting where her pulse raced. “Would it be such a terrible thing?” he asked, softly, inquisitively.
TITLE: The Price of Passion
SERIES: The Morning After
AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris
AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com
GENRE/THEME: Contemporary Interracial Romance
PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press
URL TO THE BUYING PAGE: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=150&zenid=6vsfkckik6skq0ht1udqpsv995
EXCERPT RATING: PG-13
BLURB:
Sierra Walker has never met a rancher as charismatic as Kaden Stasso. After an unexpected night of passion, she was now expecting a very special Christmas delivery. But if Sierra gives in to the formidable dad-to-be marriage proposal of convenience only, she knows she'll only be getting herself back into a position she vowed to be in again.
Kaden Stasso won't concede to anything less than marrying the woman who carries his child, for it is deeply engrained in his culture to take care of his own. But this marriage was to be in name only. Yet, neither he nor Sierra could refute the strong connection between them. No matter how much he or Sierra wants to deny it, they both start to realize that the price of passion might be higher than either of them expected.
EXCERPT:
Like Kaden himself, like his own mother had been.
To him, this issue was not debatable.
Sierra carried his baby. She would be his wife. And his child would share his name.
They’d be together on holidays, like a real family was. Kaden would be there on Christmas morning.
Maybe because he had so few good memories of his own Christmases, the thought made him very happy.
Yes, he’d be present for every event of his daughter’s or son’s life—the birth, school events, doctor’s appointments, everything. Just as it should be.
Leah had robbed him of parenthood once; he refused to let it happen again.
There was no room for negotiation.
The fact that Sierra was every bit as manipulative as Leah didn’t matter right now. No child of his would be a bastard, wear the label and be talked about. Not if Kaden had anything to say about it.
“We don’t even know each other,” she complained.
“It’ll happen.”
Reaching up, she grasped his wrists and tried to shove him away. In her eyes, he saw fear. A softer part of him wanted to ease up, tell her that everything would be okay, that he wasn’t the monster she thought him to be. He’d fought against her discomfort concerning men, of him, on their night. And he’d won. But he wasn’t about to do it again.
She was no different than any other woman.
A few months ago, she’d made her bed and invited him to lie in it. He planned to do just that.
“You don’t even approve of me,” she protested.
“Who cares?”
Her eyes drifted closed and her breaths came in uneven, small bursts. “I care.”
“We had a night together where we got along,” he said, recalling her sensual reaction to his touch and the slide of satin as he’d removed her clothing from her body.
He’d cupped her breasts in his hands, relished in their fullness and their response as her nipples beaded, begging for his caress. Even now, his body reacted just to the memory of her low moans. “We approved of each other just fine then.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Oh, but he wanted to. He’d been good enough for her that night, even if that wasn’t the case now.
“You have to see that this is a ridiculous idea.”
“You have to see that it isn’t.” His hold tightened once more on her shoulders. “What sort of mother would intentionally subject her child to being a bastard?”
“A bastard?” she parroted, disbelievingly. “This is the twenty-first century, Kaden.”
“Not in this town.” Even when he’d been young, when several single women had been having children, he’d been teased.
“You’re being archaic.”
“You’re naïve,” he retorted. “We’re in a small town and people will gossip. You’ve heard about my past with Leah. I heard about your pregnancy at the pharmacy. Think about it.” Kaden spent his entire childhood battling the label of not being wanted, getting into more trouble than he knew what to do with.
His mother had been called down to the principal’s office as many times as Kaden had. By the time he’d finished school, he’d been suspended at least two dozen times. He wouldn’t have been looked down on or taunted if he’d had a father.
“It’s more complex than that. I can’t get married again.”
“Why is that?”
Her hazel eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. She had secrets, he saw, and he wanted every one of them discovered.
“It’s just not possible.”
“Not good enough—not good enough for me, not good enough for the child we made.”
He didn’t like the idea of being tied down again anymore than Sierra did. He’d promised himself he’d never let another woman finagle him, but he was prepared to forfeit his sanity for his own flesh and blood. Sierra had no choice but to do the same.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, then said, “This isn’t about you and me anymore.”
Her hazel eyes were wide, revealing, alluring. It had been her eyes that first fascinated him, making him want to know her better. They’d sparkled when she laughed, then later, they’d darkened with a passion that matched his.
“I’ve already sworn not to shut you out. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Every child deserves a father, no matter how you feel about the man you’re pregnant by.”
She sighed. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Possibly.” Despite the statements Leah had launched at him, breaking his heart, he had loved baby Jacob with his entire being, which was still in shambles from losing her. The loss of one baby who meant everything to him strengthened his determination not to lose another, especially one that was truly part of him. “But I’m willing to let you choose the date.”
“You can’t force me to marry you.”
Removing one hand from her hair, he cupped her chin, caressing the soft skin, his thumb brushing the side of her throat and resting where her pulse raced. “Would it be such a terrible thing?” he asked, softly, inquisitively.
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