A good story draws you in to where you care about what is happening with the characters, where the reader is invested. “Restoring Love” by Brynette L Turner has you caring about Amina, her family and the two men who are interested in her. The book is listed as contemporary romance – personally I would… Continue reading Restoring Love by Brynette L Turner
SEVEN NEW NOVELLAS! By Dawn’s Early Light by Kristine Raymond Monica Russo was more than ready to start a new life and leave her old one behind. The last thing she expected was for her car to break down in the small town of Celebration. Joe Callaghan has never quite recovered from his disastrous… Continue reading When Sparks Fly – Book Blitz – 7 Novellas around the 4th of July
Mano Jacobs stared at the full, round ass sticking out of his mother’s fridge and stopped dead in his tracks. Clad in a Hawaiian-print sarong, it swung from side-to-side keeping beat with Brother Iz on the radio, as the owner apparently looked for something to eat.
His gaze roved down her legs to her bare feet. White skin—albeit tanned as if she were a local. Not his sister, thank God. That was something he didn’t want to have to deal with right now.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and he noticed a dainty little bracelet with a dolphin charm. Her toes were painted a cool shade of blue that matched the lava wrap she was wearing. His attention traveled back up to her rump. A connoisseur of female rear ends, Mano thought this one particularly fine. Heart-shaped and just the right amount of flesh. It was just the kind of ass he liked to grab hold of.
Lust curled in his gut as he stepped into the kitchen. He padded up behind her as quietly as possible. His eyebrow rose as she sung along, using Hawaiian words like she were Kamaʻāina, or local. Hmm, must be one of his sister’s friends, all of whom were over the age of consent. His lips curved and his body heated with anticipation.
“Good morning.” His voice was abrupt.
She screamed and raised her head, thunking it on the inside of the fridge. He chuckled as she turned around. He took stock of her features and found them to his liking. Long red hair clipped on the back of her head, medium height, and gorgeous hazel eyes. Mano’s gaze slipped down her body and he felt all his blood head south.
The T-shirt she wore was knotted beneath her breasts, emphasizing them and showing him a delectable belly button. Her hips matched her ass. Not too full, but rounded and feminine. He could just imagine taking them into his hands as she rode him.
“Mano?”
He looked up when she said his name but never got further than her full lips. Damn, the woman was a treat he would be glad to unwrap and eat.
“Mano, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Huh?” Oh, that was brilliant. “Do I know you?”
She laughed. Not a tinkle of a laugh, but a full-throated belly laugh. The sound of it shivered along his nerve endings. Every bit of moisture dried up in his mouth.
“Naw. I just know your name and you practically lived at my house before you went to the Air Force Academy.” When he still didn’t say anything, she quirked an eyebrow. “You know, I don’t think Pop ever forgave you for going Air Force.”
He blinked. Then blinked again. The sarcastic tone, the curve of her lips, along with the sparkle in her eyes clicked with a memory in the back of his mind. His world tilted slightly, and he tried to come to terms with the memory of the girl and the woman who stood in front of him.
“Daisy Burton?”
Oh, there was no way this luscious piece of woman was knobby-kneed, computer geek Daisy.
“The one and only. But just as a warning, most people don’t call me that name without being hurt, but I’ll give you a second chance.”
The tone of her voice sparked a memory of the girl, too smart for her own good, with a quick mind and a dry sense of humor. It had been years since he’d seen her or her parents, but he never expected the geek to blossom into a knockout.
As he took another inventory of her looks, he saw her mother’s coloring and her father’s stubborn chin. Mano knew he should keep them in mind when looking at her, but all he could think of was pulling all that red hair out of her clip and running his hands through it. He’d love to see it against the sheets on his bed.
His body was humming with need and he couldn’t seem to pull himself back in control.
Dammit.
“Dee? Good Lord.” He took a step back. Then another. The more distance between them the better. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She swung her hip to shut the fridge door. He tried not to notice the little sexy move but that was just not working. Damn, the girl had gone and grown up on him. It was then he noticed the little belly ring sparkling from her navel. Lord have mercy, he loved belly rings.
“Well, it sure is nice to see you again, Mano. Been, what, eight years and all you can say is ‘what the hell are you doing here’?” She twisted off the cap to her water and gestured toward the table with her head. “Leila and I went shopping at the Aloha Swap Meet this morning. Doing some Christmas shopping.”
He noticed a pile of plastic shopping bags in the center of his mother’s kitchen table, and then he remembered his sister telling him she was going shopping with a friend. She didn’t say that her friend was Daisy Burton. And she definitely didn’t tell him that Daisy had turned into a woman with breasts the perfect size for his hands.
She stepped forward and for a second he panicked. He didn’t know if he could handle Daisy up close and personal. Lusting after Mr. Burton’s pride and joy was just sick. He’d kill Mano if he even knew he was thinking about stripping her bare and licking her from her toes on up. Or that he would like to sink his cock into her, feel her muscles clamp tight. His balls ached and his dick grew hard. Wearing only boxers, Mano knew she could see his erection unless she was blind.
She stopped within inches of him, so close her breasts grazed his bare chest. He sucked in a breath and drew in her scent. Something musky and sensual. It wasn’t a perfume, but maybe lotion she had spread on her flesh before leaving the house. His cock twitched at the thought of her wearing her lotion and nothing else. Well, except for him.
Leaning forward, she placed a hand on his chest. A wave of heat spread through his blood. Her hip grazed the head of his penis. He could feel her breath on his ear and closed his eyes trying to think of something else. Something that didn’t involve her. Like ice water…or who won the 1963 World Series, or something along those lines.
But, with her near, it was impossible to think about anything but the warm woman heating his blood. His senses spun, his mouth went dry, and he had to fight the urge to grab her and drag her to his room.
“I just wanted you to know,” her voice was whisper soft and husky, “we bought some malassadas and they’re on the table.”
She stepped past him and her laughter drifted back to him.
He opened his eyes and turned to watch her go. Damn her. She knew he was hot for her and she used it to tease him. And now she was laughing at him. As he watched her walk up the stairs, her hips swung from side to side. For a second or two, he lost track of his thoughts and stood mesmerized.
“You know, walking around in that condition might be unhealthy.” More laughter followed the comment.
Dearest Angel,
I came home after watching you walk out of the cafe like last time. Itís not getting any easier to let you go.
Not that Iíd ever dare holding you back, but part of me still wishes I could.
These past few days with you have been lovely. No, lovely is the wrong word.
Theyíve been wonderful.
Is wonderful even enough? My vocabulary seems strangely limited at the moment.
Iíd have been happy to do like during your first visit and simply meet you every day for a couple of hours or whatever we could have. Just being with you, sitting in the park or in a cafe, chatting, laughing together, all of that is already ñ lovely, wonderful, a dozen other things. But itís nothing compared to how I felt when I found you at my door Sunday afternoon with your travel bag over your shoulder.
I wanted to ask what happened with your family to make you seek refuge with me, but I suppose I already know. Youíve made it clear that their disapproval about your choice of career is both vocal and ongoing, and I didnít want to twist that knife a little more when I could see on your face just how tired, how hurt you were. Just know that, should you wish to talk about it, Iíll always be here to listen.
You have no idea just how much I wanted to call in sick for the week, knowing youíd be in my home when I was supposed to be at school. If I could have been sure my students would be taken care of in my absence, I would have done it. Unfortunately, weíre short on both teachers and substitutes, and as I told you, I didnít feel right requesting a leave on such short notice. You said it was fine, and I think you meant it, but would you have told me if it had bothered you? I hope so.
I usually stay at school for a little while after the day ends, but this week I think I waited for the final bell with more impatience than my students. Coming home when I knew youíd be there, waiting for me, wasÖ again, what comes to mind is lovely and wonderful. I havenít lived alone for very long, but I must have been lonely, more so than I realized. Coming home when I knew Iíd have someone to cook dinner for, someone to eat with, someone with whom to go out and sit in the yard to talk as night fell on us, even someone in the house with me at nightÖ It felt special. Very special.
Or maybe it was special because it was you.
You must be wondering by now if I found the letter you left here or not, as I havenít mentioned it so far. I did find it, Angel dear. And read it. And read it again. I think Iíve read it five times already, or maybe six. And every time I do, itís the same fire burning inside me, the same need to tell you, yes. To all that, yes.
Yes I too wanted more than a kiss on that last night we spent under the same roof.
Yes I too wondered whether sharing more than a kiss would be for the best.
Yes you were the first person I ever kissed ñ and if Iím completely honest, the first one I ever truly wanted to kiss.
Yes you were the first person I touched, and as innocent as these touches remained, I still feel as though my fingers are burning from the memory of your warmth.
Yes that night when I went to bed I tried to imagine what it would have felt like to touch your actual skin. I wondered about how smooth it would be. I wondered about scars, as you have mentioned them. I wondered if youíd let me caress or kiss them, or whether youíd prefer to hide them from me. I wondered about your hands on me too, and whether the first touch from your fingers might be the one to make me come undone.
I wondered, and I imagined, and I hoped. And now, your letter makes me yearn a little more for your next leave, if that was even possible.
I hope youíll want to stay with me again. I hope thereíll be more kisses for us to share. And more than kisses, too.
There is much more Iíd like to say, but I donít know if theyíre words youíd care to read.
Just know that I remain,
Yours
Samuel
Connelly sat in her car at the entrance to the parking lot and just stared at the house. She still couldn’t believe she was actually considering this. She glanced down at the bathing suit cover and tugged at it, trying to pull it lower toward her knees. She had the top up so the hot sun wouldn’t burn the fair skin on her thighs.
God, what the hell was she doing here?
All week she’d thought of nothing but Nathan and the things he’d said to her at Starbucks. Even thinking about it now had her stomach tightening. Her nipples ached behind the terrycloth cover. She rubbed at the back of her neck, arguing with herself over what to do.
She wanted to go in. She wanted to see and experience more of this dark world, but…God, Nathan was so… He intimidated her, and she didn’t like it. One crook of his finger and she’d be whatever he wanted her to be. That didn’t sit well with her. At all.
She didn’t want to be someone’s beck-and-call girl. She didn’t want someone having that much control over her. Even her husband hadn’t had that much control. Unfortunately, the possibility of sex with Nathan was too good to pass up. But how long could she do this before she became attached? And then got hurt?
“This isn’t good,” she grumbled to herself.
“Hey, gorgeous,” a deep voice said before knuckles rapped against the window.
Connelly screamed and put her hand over her heart. She turned to look out the driver’s side window and at first thought she was looking at Nathan, then realized it was Daniel’s more clean-cut face staring at her with curiosity.
“What the hell are you doing just sitting here?” he asked with amusement. “You have the parking lot blocked.”
She glanced quickly in her rearview mirror and noticed with embarrassment the large black SUV parked behind her. She rolled her window down to talk to Daniel. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t even hear you pull up.”
“You okay?” he asked as his gaze turned from amused to concern. “You look a little green.”
“I’m okay. Just nervous.”
Daniel smiled softly. “No reason to be nervous. Nathan can be a bit demanding, but he’s more interested in your pleasure than hurting you.”
“I know. It’s not that, it’s…”
“Come on, Connie,” Daniel said with a grin. “You only live once, right?”
She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Right.”
“Valet isn’t out today, so pull up and park at the front. I’ll be right behind you.”
Connelly noticed her fingers shook slightly as she pushed the button to roll the window back up. Daniel was right. She fisted her fingers to stop the shaking, then put her car into gear and drove to the parking spaces toward the front of the building.
She did only live once. She hadn’t been having a lot of real fun lately, so this could be her new start. Fun sex with a man or men she would never see outside the confines of the club. Her lips twisted. Unless she ran into them at Starbucks and they put all kinds of wickedly kinky ideas in her head that she couldn’t stop thinking about.
She turned the wheel and pulled into an empty spot next to a blue BMW. Daniel parked next to her and climbed out. Connelly turned off the engine but remained behind the wheel. Why was she being such a wuss today? She wanted to have sex with Nathan. She had since he’d talked her through his bathroom scenario that had her masturbating twice that night before going to sleep as well as several other times the nights after.
She snorted softly. Don’t pleasure yourself, indeed. How the hell would he know anyway?
Her car door opened, and she jumped in surprise. Daniel leaned against the window and grinned down at her. “You never struck me as being a chicken.”
“I’m coming,” she grumbled.
“Not yet, you’re not, but I have no doubt you will be,” he drawled.
Connelly snorted. “Cute.”
Daniel shut her car door, and she let her gaze wander down his tall, broad frame. Although not as muscular as his brother, Daniel was definitely built. His blue T-shirt clung to his hard chest, and his matching swim shorts hung down past he knees. Flip-flops completed the look.
“Here for the party too, I guess,” she said.
“Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t miss it. Never been to a pool orgy.”
Connelly giggled. “Is that what this is?”
“You saw the club, Connie,” he said as he rested his hand at the small of her back and escorted her toward the front door of the massive house. “What do you think?”
“Orgy,” she agreed with a slight nod.
Daniel chuckled and smiled at the man standing at the door, dressed in a tux. “Afternoon, John,” Daniel said.
“Daniel,” John replied as they walked past him and into the entryway. “Your brother is with the other guests by the pool. You’re the last to arrive, so I’m supposed to lock up after you.”
“We’ll leave you to it,” Daniel said as he pushed her toward the hall that lead to the pool area. She didn’t realize she was resisting until Daniel said, “You’re like a child being led to her punishment.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m just not used to this.”
“You’ll be fine.”
They strolled through the open patio doors and out onto a festively decorated pool deck. Japanese lanterns surrounded the deck, which would offer soft light later when the sun went down. A long table set up next to the house was covered with various finger foods and coolers of beer.
About thirty people gathered in several small groups, some talking and eating, some in the pool, a couple already playing in the small scene area that had been roped off.
She spotted Nathan by the deep end of the pool talking with a group of men. He’d apparently already been in the pool, for his hair was wet and slicked back, making his angular features stand out even more. Water glistened on his wide chest, and she had to fight the urge to lick the droplets with her tongue.
That probably wouldn’t be a good way to start the night. Hey, can I lick the water off your chest? Drop your swim trunks, and I’ll lick your cock too.
Her whole body heated with the visions running through her mind. Or maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad start after all. He turned in her direction, and his intense, knowing gaze locked with hers. Amusement danced in his brown eyes.
He said something to the men in his group and then walked over. His confident swagger left her feeling weak in the knees.
“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” he said as he got closer.
“I almost did,” she said.
“I found her in the parking lot, debating with herself. I think she’s a little nervous,” Daniel said.
“She should be,” Nathan drawled. “She masturbated after I told her not to.”
Connelly’s mouth fell open before she quickly closed it back.
“I told you I would know.”
“You didn’t really know. You just said it to see what my reaction would be,” she replied.
“And your reaction gave you away,” Nathan said. “How many times, Connelly?”
She kept her features blank and remained silent.
Nathan continued to stare into her eyes. “You’re supposed to answer your Dom, pet. Honestly.”
She licked her lips, her determination wavering just a tad. “Seven times, I think.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed, and Daniel snickered.
“Seven?” Nathan repeated and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
Her stomach dropped. She licked her lips again, but then her eyes narrowed. Damn prick. Raising her chin, she answered, “No. It was ten.”
“That’s what I thought.” Nathan reached out and grabbed her elbow.
Connelly tried to pull her arm free, but his grip was too tight. “Wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m going to punish you,” he said as he tugged her with him toward a large pole set up at the far side of the pool.
“Punish me?” she exclaimed. “What?”
Nathan turned and gave her a stern look that brought her up short. “I told you not to masturbate, but you did anyway. Ten times. Is that correct?”
Connelly swallowed and, to her surprise, couldn’t stop herself from nodding. He again began pulling her toward her doom. Connelly frantically dug in her heels. Unfortunately, she wasn’t strong enough to stop him. She glanced over her shoulder at Daniel, who stood back and watched with a slightly amused, slightly intrigued look on his face. She scowled. Obviously no help from that department.
Should she use her safe word? Would it do any good? And did she really want to?
Despite her fear at what he might do, her body exploded with excitement she’d never quite felt before. She’d always heard fear could increase sexual desire, but never thought she’d be one of those people. Damned if she wasn’t incredibly turned on at the moment.
Connected series by Bethany Daniel 3 Stars Whiny characters, weak writing and domineering male leads – this series seriously needs a good editor. I love Audible. However, if you’re going to do Audible be sure to get a good reader. Some readers I would happily listen to them read the phone book. I finish an eight… Continue reading Connected series by Bethany Daniel
Personal Experiences, Personal series book 1 by Tracy Lee Personal Experiences by Tracy Lee is a story that pulls you in. The author clearly knows how to write to pull the reader into her world, get to know her characters, even care about what happens to them. It is definitely worth reading. My qualification, however, is… Continue reading Personal Experiences, Personal series book 1 by Tracy Lee
The Governess and the Beast by Karyn Gerrard Snuff novella. The reader is a good one with the breathy tones expected of this kind of story – even the slight accent to assist. It certainly has its hot parts – it is labeled as BDSM erotica however and this is a misnomer there is no… Continue reading The Governess and the Beast by Karyn Gerrard
A Little Turtle's World 