It’s Monday!  Yes, I’m not thrilled either.  But here we are. 🙂

To soothe all the grumpy little bears out there, here’s a spicy little excerpt from MORE THAN A NIGHT.  I’ve fixed the weirdness in the middle chapters that was bothering me, so I’m hoping that a few long days of writing will let me get it in the queue this coming weekend.

Hang in there, and keep the coffee handy!  Also, if you have a sec, scroll down to the most recent post and answer this weekend’s Kringle poll to help me decide how to expand my spicy little holiday series this December!  Thanks!  xoxo

BLURB (work in progress blurb, ahem…):

After a lifetime of isolation caring for her eccentric, chronically ill father in the middle of nowhere, Erin James suddenly finds herself extremely wealthy, but utterly alone.  Her attempts to date are disastrous as she realizes that not only does she have no idea how to talk to men, but most of them only want her for her money. Determined to give herself the physical experiences she’s missed out on, she decides to use her new wealth to hire an escort – no messy emotional entanglements, no embarrassment over her lack of experience. Unsure where to find such a person, she turns to her sympathetic lawyer for advice. Luckily, she seems to know just the right man…

Henry Warren would do anything to keep his ranch afloat, but he’s out of credit and he’s running out of time, with people depending on him. When his lawyer offers an outrageous suggestion – one night with a reclusive client of hers, he’s just desperate enough to agree. He doesn’t expect to find a sweet, funny young woman hot enough to drop him to his knees.

When one night isn’t enough for either of them, Erin proposes a deal that could save Henry’s ranch forever, but will the money that brought them together wind up tearing them apart?

EXCERPT:

I CAN’T BELIEVE I just said that.

The man was offering to give her a night of romance, to wine and dine her, but all Erin could think was, That’s three more hours before I get to feel his body against mine.

From the moment she’d opened the door, she’d known Renee was right.  Everything about Henry Warren radiated solid, honest, and hard-working.  And oh my God, he was hot.  Tall and strong and mouthwatering in clean jeans and a simple button-down shirt.  He smelled terrific, too, like soap and a slight hint of spicy aftershave along with something uniquely his.  She wanted to wallow in it.  It might make her a total slut, but she simply couldn’t wait any longer.  Erin had given herself Henry Warren as the ultimate present, and she didn’t intend to waste a minute.

He was a little shocked, she could tell, and Erin kicked herself for rushing it, but then he smiled, and her mouth went dry as that hand that had been driving her crazy with tiny little rubs into her palm now slid up her arm to cup her face.

“Then, Miss James, I’d say we start with this.”

Giving her plenty of time to back away, Henry lowered his mouth to hers, and there wasn’t anything awkward or slobbery about it.  His lips were warm and firm against hers, and she gasped as she felt his tongue stroke her lower lip.  She felt like she was drowning as he coaxed her tongue out to play with his, patiently, gently, building hunger by degrees.

It wasn’t enough.

Barely aware of what she was doing, Erin sank her teeth into his lower lip, relishing his groan as he froze.  Then, suddenly, nothing was gentle anymore.  Henry hauled her up against him and the crush of his chest against her breasts had her pussy throbbing for more while he ravaged her mouth.  Her arms were around his neck, the softness of his hair under her fingers a visceral delight.

This was more than a kiss.  This was epic.

Henry pulled away, panting.

“Fuck,” he murmured, “We need to slow down.”

“But – ”

“Trust me,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose, and she melted as he moved to explore her jaw and the sensitive skin of her throat, “Tell me what you like.”

Erin put a little space between them, though she didn’t let go.

“I don’t know what I like,” she confessed, unsure.

“You must have fantasies.  Tell me one.”

Every muscle in Erin’s body clenched at the thought of sharing something so intimate with a virtual stranger, and then her body flooded with heat at the thought that he would make it a reality.

“Nothing leaves this room, right?” he reminded her, and she nodded.

His hands were petting her now, down her back to her hips and back up to brush the sides of her breasts, learning her shape.  It was distracting and delicious, and Erin mustered her courage.

“Can I undress you?” she asked.

“Honey, you can do anything you want.”  His low growl wrapped around her like warm caramel. “What happens once I’m naked?”

Erin swallowed.  The hunger in his eyes was making her dizzy.

“Then you undress me, and then – ” She hesitated.

“Go on,” he murmured.

“Then you taste me.  Everywhere,” she finished in a rush.

Henry grinned and pulled her to her feet to stand by the bed.

“We’re going to have to work on your imagination, honey.  That sounds more like just the appetizer course to me.”

While she was puzzling that out, Henry set her hands on his chest.

“I’m all yours.”

Happy Monday, my dear readers!  I spent the weekend up to my ears in paperwork and organizational nonsense so that I could clear out the week to finish up MORE THAN A NIGHT.  The edits are going well – I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!  The first of my TEACH ME TONIGHT shorts with Jane Gaudet is outlined and ready to go, so hopefully next week.

Meanwhile, here’s a little excerpt to drink in with your morning coffee.

 

EXCERPT:

It was insane.  He knew almost nothing about Erin James, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her.  And it wasn’t just the amazing sex.  Her sweet smile and the light of curiosity in her eyes swamped him at the most inappropriate times, and Henry found himself staring into space for long moments.  Myra had actually asked him if he’d hit his head on something last night when he blanked out during dinner.  But he couldn’t help himself – he wanted to know more about her.  Her favorite color, her favorite book, if she liked anchovies on her pizza, what she thought about politics and the weather and life.  It was inappropriate.  It was pointless.  It was scary.

Snap out of it, he ordered his brain sternly, reminding himself that paying for sex was not a good start to any kind of deeper relationship.  She’s probably found someone else anyway.

Henry frowned, thinking about that.  Now that Erin had experimented and found that she was good at sex – a fucking prodigy – she wasn’t going to settle for never doing it again.  What woman would?  He didn’t like how the thought of her with someone else made his skin crawl.  Would she tell the jerkoff that she liked a little graphic encouragement?  Would she run those soft, eager hands over his body with the same greedy wonder?  Would she lie back, sultry and hot, nipples swollen and begging to be sucked, and invite him to taste her as she spread her luscious thighs?  Would she respond as she had with Henry, coming for him again and again?

Lust, anger, and resentment pooled in Henry’s gut, and he cursed his suddenly hard cock and his own stupidity in mooning over a woman he’d had a single night with.  That she paid for.

I have more important things to worry about.  Like everything.

A soft knock on the door had Henry looking up, and he scooted forward to the desk to hide his erection as Myra came in, holding his phone.

“Sorry, I thought it was mine and picked it up by mistake.  It’s Erin for you?”

Myra’s voice held more than just a question, but Henry was frozen, his mind utterly blank.

“She sounds like a nice girl,” continued Myra, handing over the phone with an approving smile and a glint in her eye that promised a thorough interrogation later.

A nice girl I fucked six ways to Sunday.

Henry lifted the phone to his ear as Myra stepped out, shutting the door behind her.

“Hello?” He winced at the gruff sound of his voice, but it was the best he could do.

“Hi.”  Her voice was breathy and very, very nervous.

Henry wanted to tell her this was a bad idea.  She shouldn’t have called.  He shouldn’t have taken the phone.  They shouldn’t have gotten together in the first place.

Instead, what came out was, “I woke up and you were gone.”

Nice going, Warren.

Just a little tease to get the weekend going – lots of words to edit this weekend!!!

 

 

 

 

HENRY KNEW SHE WAS gone from the moment he woke in the empty bed.  No sounds from the bathroom, and her little overnight case was missing from the chair.  As his brain came around to being awake, Henry snuggled into the mattress, breathing in the smells of lemon and Erin and sex.

Not a bad way to wake up.

It would have been better with her curvy little body against his.  Maybe he would have rolled her to her stomach and taken her from behind.  They hadn’t gotten that far last night – Henry was too busy pounding her into every available surface, his face in her breasts, his cock in paradise as she came around him, hot and explosive, again and again.

He groaned and rolled over, catching sight of the white envelope on the table.

“Shit,” he muttered, and let the guilt roll over him.

It was hard to regret such an incredible night, but if weren’t for the fact that he desperately needed this money, he’d leave it behind, an extravagant tip for the hard-working staff.  A discreet knock on the door had him scrambling up.  Too frazzled to find jeans, Henry simply wound the sheet around himself and headed to the door.

It’s not like they’re going to kick you out buck naked.  Hopefully.

The waiter at the door was too well-trained to react to the half-naked man who opened the door, and a bemused Henry stepped back to let him wheel the cart in.  The smell of bacon and coffee was mouthwatering, and the poker-faced waiter deftly set up the meal on the table and then gathered the remains of last night’s repast.

“Mrs. James instructed me to inform you that you’re to make yourself comfortable and stay as long as you wish.”

“Thanks,” mumbled Henry, “Hang on, let me find my wallet.”

But the waiter was moving toward the door, his face studiously blank.

“Already taken care of, sir.  Enjoy your meal, Mr. James.”

Mr. James.

Henry sat down at the table as the door clicked closed behind him.  Though his body was screaming for coffee, he had momentarily lost his appetite.

Erin James was a hot little stick of dynamite in bed, and though he hadn’t gotten to know her, the intelligence and goodwill that shone in her eyes called to every tender-hearted feeling Henry possessed.  He’d bet his last dime that she was as sweet and honest as she seemed when they first met, the kind of woman a guy could easily get attached to.  The kind of woman who would never hurt a fly.

So it felt a little odd that despite their night of earth-shattering pleasure, and the very clear evidence of a white envelope stuffed with cash nearby, Henry hadn’t really felt like a gigolo until just this moment.

 

Happy Hump Day, everyone!  I’m on Anna Markland’s blog today, talking about writing and self-publishing and Bright’s Ferry, so check that out here:

http://annamarklandromanceauthor.blogspot.ca/2013/05/please-welcome-lily-rede.html

And because I heart my readers and know you’re all patiently waiting for me to get my patootie in gear and finish a few things, here’s a hot little excerpt from MORE THAN A NIGHT to atone….

I CAN’T BELIEVE I just said that.

The man was offering to give her a night of romance, to wine and dine her, but all Erin could think was, That’s three more hours before I get to feel his body against mine.

From the moment she’d opened the door, she’d known Renee was right.  Everything about Henry Warren radiated solid, honest, and hard-working.  And oh my God, he was hot.  Tall and strong and mouthwatering in clean jeans and a simple button-down shirt.  It might make her a total slut, but she simply couldn’t wait any longer.  Erin had given herself Henry Warren as the ultimate present, and she didn’t want to waste a minute.

He was a little shocked, she could tell, and she kicked herself for rushing it, but then he smiled, and her mouth went dry as that hand that had been driving her crazy with tiny little rubs into her palm now slid up her arm to cup her face.

“Then, Miss James, I’d say we start right here.”

Giving her plenty of time to back away, Henry lowered his mouth to hers, and there wasn’t anything awkward or slobbery about it.  His lips were warm and firm against hers, and she gasped as she felt his tongue stroke her lower lip.  She felt like she was drowning as he coaxed her tongue out to play with his, patiently, gently, building heat by degrees.

It wasn’t enough.

Barely aware of what she was doing, Erin sank her teeth into his lower lip, relishing his groan as he froze.  Then, suddenly, nothing was gentle anymore.  Henry hauled her up against him and the crush of his chest against her breasts had her pussy throbbing for more while he ravaged her mouth.  Her arms were around his neck, the softness of his hair under her fingers a visceral delight.

This was more than a kiss.  This was epic.

Henry pulled away, panting.

“Fuck,” he murmured, “We need to slow down.”

“But – ”

“Trust me,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose, and she melted as he moved to explore her jaw and the sensitive skin of her throat, “Tell me what you like.”

Erin put a little space between them, though she didn’t let go.

“I don’t know what I like,” she confessed, unsure.

“You must have fantasies.  Tell me one.”

Every muscle in Erin’s body clenched at the thought of sharing something so intimate with a virtual stranger, and then flooded with heat at the thought that he would make it a reality.

“Nothing leaves this room, right?” he reminded her, and she nodded.

His hands were petting her now, down her back to her hips and back up to brush the sides of her breasts.  It was distracting and delicious, and Erin mustered her courage.

“Can I undress you?” she asked.

A spicy little excerpt from MORE THAN A NIGHT, right at the start of Erin and Henry’s assignation.  If I’m a good little writer, look for this at the end of the week!

For a moment Henry wished she were the jaded cougar he’d been expecting, not this fresh, blue-eyed goddess in training whose eyes shone with nerves and confused heat.

He couldn’t be the one to walk away – he needed this, but perversely, a part of him wanted to push her to the point where she kicked him out.  Somehow that would make him feel less cheap about the whole thing.

Erin wasn’t looking at him like he was cheap, though.  She was staring at his bare torso like she’d won the fucking lottery.  It set off something warm and fluttery low in his abdomen that had his dick pounding for her.

“I’ve never touched a naked man before,” she confessed, and the feel of her soft fingers trailing fire down his chest had his breath hitching, “At least, not like this.”

“I’m not naked yet,” he pointed out, wondering how far he could push her before she bolted.

But she brushed those fucking soft knuckles against his stomach and then lower to the heavy bulge behind his zipper and he actually felt dizzy as blood surged to his cock.  Erin slowly undid his belt buckle and unfastened the single button at the top.  Carefully, she pulled his zipper down, the sound loud and shockingly erotic in the quiet room.  He could hear her breath coming fast, her excitement evident from the way her luscious breasts rose and fell under her sweater, from the flush in her cheeks as she sank to sit on the bed before tracing the shaft beneath the cotton with eager fingers.   Through it, Henry struggled to remain passive, to let her explore, never mind that he was going to die if she didn’t touch him skin to skin within the next ten seconds.  That or come all over her with no finesse whatsoever.

Okay, that image isn’t helping.

Erin’s gaze flickered up to his, and whatever she saw in his face must have reassured her, because she finally tugged jeans and boxer briefs down to free his cock, and he felt a purely masculine stroke to his ego at her little gasp.

“What do you think?” Henry had to ask, gritting his teeth as she tentatively wrapped her hand around the thick shaft for a gentle squeeze.

“You’re…bigger than I expected.  Hard, but the skin is so soft…and hot…”

He groaned as her thumb swirled delicately over the crown, rubbing the bead of moisture into the head.

“Does that feel good?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he managed, his eyes drifting shut in pleasure as she stroked him, learning his shape, finding the places that made him shudder, and sharp talons of sensation grabbed hold.

Better than good.  Like heaven and hell wrapped up in one sweet little package.

Henry was shocked back to earth at the feel of petal soft lips tracing the wide collar of his cock, followed by the lap of a wet, curious tongue.  Heat surged through him.

Shit.

He stumbled back, taking a firm grip on himself to fend off the explosion while he frantically thought about feed prices until he had himself under control.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to…”

Erin looked horrified and embarrassed, and Henry realized that in five seconds flat, he could scare her away, make her realize what a huge mistake this was, but…he couldn’t do it.  She wanted him to give her a night of pleasure, and he was damn well going to give it his best shot.  Paid for or not, every woman deserved a first time that was special.  Hell, it should be special every time.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he assured her, “I’m just…you’ve got me a little revved up.  Keep doing that and you might get more than you bargained for your first time.”

“Oh.”

Her eyes drifted down again, and she licked her lower lip as though evaluating his taste.  She licked again.

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered and stepped forward to haul her to her feet and into his arms , his mouth coming down hard on hers.  Erin was stiff for a moment and then moaned and let him in. The hint of his own flavor on her tongue stirred something primal in Henry, as though he’d claimed her and marked her as his own.  The combination of mint and warm Erin was already headily familiar.  He gentled his touch, letting her learn his mouth, feeling fire shudder through him as her tongue shyly came out to play with his and her body relaxed to mold every delicious curve against his hardness.

I need her naked.  Now.

Just a little excerpt to start the weekend – this is shaping up nicely!  I’ll post a spicy excerpt Sunday/Monday, and hopefully get to post some SHINY THINGS this weekend, too – have to get Ali & Leo back on track!

ERIN HAD SWITCHED TO lemonade even though the thought of a couple of shots of tequila appealed after she got back to her condo later that night.  She’d turned down Darren’s request despite his coaxing and promise to look over her portfolio if she played her cards right.  Then he’d pressed a kiss on her with too much slobber and not enough skill, and all thoughts of considering Darren as the first of her meaningless one-night stands flew out the window.

Not meaningless, she thought, Purposeful.

She sipped her lemonade and sank down into the bubbles in the tub.  This was her favorite spot in the whole apartment, with a window that offered up a view of the skyline and a giant Jacuzzi tub where a girl could soak away her troubles.

Though she had nothing to compare it to, Erin’s brain was stuck on the idea of casual sex – a night or two of mutual pleasure that would leave her days open and her life unencumbered by men who saw her as a good candidate for a sugar mama.  Someone who had his own life and didn’t plan to mess up hers.

Someone strong and big and hot, who knew just how to make her toes curl.

This delicious thought was interrupted by bells.  Erin reached out a soapy hand and fumbled for the phone.

“Hi Renee!”

She winced at the excitement in her voice.  Her father’s lawyer, Renee Matlin, was just a few years older than she was, and they’d hit it off immediately.  She’d been invaluable when it came to advice about finding a financial manager to deal with her new wealth and figuring out the next steps of her life.

“You sound echo-y.”

“I’m in the tub.”

“Kinky,” chuckled Renee, “Seriously, this is how several popular adult films start.”

“Oh, hush.”

Erin gathered more bubbles with her free hand, grinning.

“How was Darren?”

“I think he was trying to acquire me into his portfolio,” sighed Erin and Renee laughed.

“That bad?”

“I’m becoming a cliché.  In all my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be a poor little rich girl.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetie.  Maybe the next one will be better.”

Erin settled back into the bubbles, getting comfortable.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a next one for a while.  Dating isn’t really for me, anyway.  I don’t know what I’m doing.  I never meet anyone I want to spend the night with.”

“That takes time,” said Renee, and Erin could just see the pretty redhead pushing her glasses up her nose, as she often did when choosing her words carefully.

Erin knew she was right, but…

“I want sex.”

“What?”  Renee sounded a little shocked.

Oh well.  Erin plowed on.

“You heard me.  Sex.  With a man.  It’s insane.  Forget a real relationship.  All this money and stuff and I can’t find some nice guy to rock my world for a night and then go away without trying to sell me on his latest investment or get me to pay off his student loans for him.”

She faltered a little.

“I spent all those years taking care of Dad, and I never really got a chance…there wasn’t really much opportunity to…do you know what I’m trying to say?”

She braced herself for laughter and derision on the other end of the line, but Renee only said, “Hmmm…” and then was silent for a long moment.

Erin was kicking herself – a smart, worldly woman like Renee would never have this problem – she probably had men lining up to worship at her pretty stiletto-clad feet.  Despite her money and new digs, Erin still felt like the shy girl from the mountains who got nervous whenever a cute boy looked at her twice.

“What if he were only interested in your money for a short period of time?”

“I don’t understand.”  Erin frowned, sitting up a little straighter.

“I mean, if you’re not interested in a relationship, and you want all the cards on the table with a guarantee of pleasure, no strings attached…”

“That’s exactly what I want!” breathed Erin, excited, “At least for now.”

“You know the old saying, anything’s possible if you just throw money at it?”

“Sure, but what – ”

“So, I’m saying that, well, there are services that can be obtained.  Or so I’ve heard.  But as an officer of the law I’d never advise you to pay for sex.  Because that would be wrong.  Legally, that is.  Then again, you’re my client so all of this is confidential.”

“You think I should hire a gigolo?”  Erin burst out laughing.

“I think you should give yourself whatever you need to be happy.  You deserve it.”

You are not hiring a gigolo, Erin Rosalie James.  You can’t just order up a hot guy like he’s takeout, ravish him until dawn, and then send him on his merry way with a pocketful of cash.  Hmmm….tempting…