I still haven't gone back and finished Submission by Cherie Feather but I did finish Let Me In by Donna Kauffman, although I have to confess I skimmed a lot of slow moving parts. The love story was very moving though and the ending did have more action.

I also read Cry for Passion by Robin Schone. This book is very intelligent and certainly makes you think about the history of women’s rights. However in terms of the romance, I felt distanced – Jack is a very tragic and wounded man, and normally I love a wounded hero, but his grief over the woman he loved and lost seems to overshadow the feelings developing for Rose. It made it hard to believe that their relationship actually could grow into something deeper than a sexual one. Robin Schone has a unique voice and writing style and does tell an interesting and thought-provoking story with accurate historical perspetive.

I’ve just started Kisses like a Devil by Diane Whiteside.

I got a great review this week for FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS - Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews: Friends With Benefits by Kelly Jamieson - 5 CHERRIES!! I'm so thrilled!

And today I made my first book trailer for my upcoming Amber Quill Press release June 7 - WORTH WAITING FOR.

I've tried a couple of times to make trailers and the hardest part is the music - I
can never find exactly what I want. But this song - Jules by Mark Cally- is perfect. I love it.

And I have to thank my husband for the two photographs of Santa Barbara, California.

Check it out

Monday morning Chloe got the call from Tyler’s agent before Tyler had arrived. “Hi, Joe,” she said cheerfully. “What’s up?”
“Just got a call from Oprah’s people,” he said, excitement edging his voice. “Apparently she had dinner there a few weeks ago?”
“Yes, she apparently did,” Chloe said with a laugh.
“Well, she wants to have Tyler on her show. They’re thinking of coming to the restaurant, doing a bit with him cooking, customers in the restaurant, yadda yadda, then she’ll have him on the show and interview him.”
“Wow. That’s awesome.”
“No shit,” he said. “Is Tyler there?”
She glanced at her watch. “He’s probably on his way. Did you try his cell?”
“Nah. Have him call me when he gets in. Maybe do a conference call so I can talk to both of you at the same time and we’ll get this set up.”
“Hold on. He just walked in.”
Tyler lifted one eyebrow as he entered her office and heard her. She smiled and said, “Joe.” She put the phone on speaker.
Tyler listened as Joe talked, a slow smile spreading across his face. They talked about dates and when they were wrapping up, Joe said, “I just want to make sure you really want to do this, Ty buddy.”
Tyler frowned. “Why are you asking that? Who wouldn’t want to be on Oprah?”
“Just a word of caution. Once you’ve been on Oprah and people see that show, your business is going to literally explode. You think you’re busy now, just wait. I want to make sure you’re prepared for that.”
Tyler nodded, eyebrows pinched together. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“You don’t have to do it, Tyler,” Chloe said softly.
“Yeah, I know.” He met her eyes. “What do you think, Chloe?”
She sighed and shook her head. “Tyler...you have to decide. Obviously there are pros and cons...do you want to think about it before you decide for sure?”
“No.” He gave a short nod. “That’s okay. Yeah, I’ll do it. It’ll be a blast.”
“Great! I’ll see you Thursday for the magazine shoot,” Joe said as they hung up.
“Holy shit,” Tyler said, pressing his fingers between his eyes.
“I know.” She stood and walked around behind his chair to rub his tight shoulders. The big muscles were like boulders. “You’re a star, Tyler.”
It wasn’t a surprise to her that all this was happening. She’d seen this coming long ago, once the attention had started. He was a star. His personality drew people like a magnet. He charmed them, cast them under his spell and then he fed them with his fabulous food and they were all his, devoted adoring fans.
“That feels so good,” he groaned, rolling his head around.
She massaged his shoulders for a few moments longer, digging her fingers into tense muscles, then he spun the chair around and grabbed her, pulled her onto his lap. He buried his face against her neck. “Thank you.”
“For what? The massage?”
He shook his head against her. “For being here. For being you. I couldn’t do this without you, Chloe.”
She smiled and stroked his silky hair. “Sure you could.”
He shook his head again. “No. I always knew it. You’re so important to me.”
Her heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. While Tyler’s success was no surprise, it was still unbelievable that he wanted her...her! Chloe Graham, a total nobody.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him, her breath catching. She wanted to tell him how important he was to her, too, but couldn’t bring herself to say the words...not yet, anyway. Although hope flickered inside her at his words, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that this was too good to be true.
“What do you want to do tonight?” he asked her a moment later. “I feel bad. I work so late every night. We can’t do things like normal people.”
She drew back, her arms still looped around his neck and smiled. “You’re not a normal person, Tyler.”
“You’re saying I’m abnormal?” He lifted a brow.
She laughed. “How about extraordinary?”
“Yeah, I like that better. Come to my place tonight. I’ll make you dinner.”
“Really? Do you want to cook on your day off?”
“I want to cook for you.” He kissed her mouth. “You can help me.”
They spent some time on business, planning, making decisions, then Tyler worked in his own office for the afternoon. Around five o’clock he came back to get her.
“Leave your car here,” he said. “I’ll take you home in the morning and drive you to work.”
Chloe loved Tyler’s house. Perched on a mountain above the city, it looked over the city and the ocean. In his living room, she wandered over to the wall of windows and gazed out. The city fell away beneath her, green trees and red tile roofs, down to meet the ocean where it rolled in. Deep blue water stretched out, faded to a hazy blue at the horizon where it met the sky of the same color.
She turned around and her eyes fell on the black leather couch. She couldn’t help but remember the last time she was there when she’d seduced Tyler. When all this had started.
“Tell me the truth, Chloe,” Tyler said from his open kitchen. “That day you came on to me, here...you really did want me, didn’t you?”
Apparently he was remembering, too.
She wandered over to the gleaming dark granite counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. He handed her a glass of wine.
“Not at first,” she said. “I actually thought I could do that without getting...involved.”
He raised a brow at her. “But after...?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Your ego is big enough, Tyler. Do you really need me to tell you how turned on I got and how much I wanted to keep going?”
He grinned. “Yeah, I do.”
He opened the stainless steel refrigerator and started pulling things out.
“What are you making me?” she asked.
“Tacos.”
“Huh!” She blinked. “Tacos.”
“Yup.” He pulled a pan from the rack that hung over one end of the island and set it on the stove.
“Special, fancy gourmet tacos?”
“Nope. Just tacos.”
They cooked, laughed, and yeah, kissed, and then they ate tacos, dripping hot sauce and guacamole, dropping pieces of lettuce and tomato. Tyler reached out and with one fingertip swiped a drop of sauce from beside her mouth.
She watched in amazement as he devoured six tacos, then she lost count. “Where do you put it all?”
“Good metabolism,” he said with a grin. “This is the kind of food I grew up eating. My parents own a tacqueria in Carpentaria.” She nodded, recalling that. “My sister and my brothers all work there now. It’s a great little place. You can’t get better Mexican food.”
“Why didn’t you stay there too?”
“I needed more,” he said simply. “I love food...I wanted to know more, though. I wanted to know about French food, Italian food, Japanese food...all of it. I wanted to try new things. I mean, create new things, not just eat them. It was like something inside me that had to get out, the creativity I guess.”
She helped him clean up and as they finished, he said, “Next week come with me to meet my family.” Her hands paused as she hung a dish towel. Holy crap. “On Monday I’ll take you there and we can have dinner...better tacos than mine even.”
“That’s hard to believe,” she murmured. He settled his hands on her waist and pulled her against him.
“I know,” he said with a complete lack of modesty, grinning. “But it’s true. My mom makes the best in the world.”
They sat on his couch, the scene of her outrageous seduction, and he talked about his family, then told her stories about the places he’d worked and the crazy people he’d worked with - the chef who’d screamed abuse at the kitchen staff and actually threw knives at them, the cook that came to work drunk and stoned every night, the time Tyler’d caught the hostess giving the chef a blow job in the walk-in, the restaurant in New York which he was sure was a money-laundering operation for the owner who was one day arrested for trafficking.
“I wanted my kitchen to be different,” he said. “I know everyone throws language around and drops the f-bomb all over the place, but I won’t put up with abuse.”
She nodded, lifted her hand to his lean cheek, rough with stubble, and kissed him, a deep, full-bodied kiss. His arms tightened around her, one hand spearing into her hair to hold her head. His tongue filled her mouth and a little groan escaped her. She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and burrowed closer in to his body. His erection pressed against her leg and she wanted to touch him, so without conscious thought her hand slipped down to his lap and stroked his hard length through his jeans. Now he groaned, covered her hand with his and pressed her against his arousal.
She stroked him more and kept kissing him, their kisses growing hungrier and hotter, their mouths eating at each other until he broke the kiss and they stared at each other, panting.
“Do you want to keep making out here on the couch? Or go into the bedroom?” he rasped.
She smiled slowly at him. “I want to finish what I started that afternoon.”

Insatiable Part 20

I’m so happy to report that this week I read a book by a favorite author that didn’t disappoint – love the one you’re with by Emily Giffin. Oh my goodness. This book brought me to tears at the end, and resonated with me for so many reasons. The suspense of wondering what Ellen would do kept me turning the pages, and Ellen’s inner conflicts between attraction, love, passion, comfort, fidelity, and morality had a knot in my stomach as I read. I also love a story that leaves some questions unanswered and keeps me thinking about it long after I've finished reading.

Ellen asks if there are always shades of grey when it comes to matters of the heart, and I say – YES! There is no black and white, right or wrong, good or bad when it comes to love. There are always nuances and layers and shades. That’s why I love writing about love.

Another reason this book spoke to me is because I’ve lived a part of that story. I’ve had that intense relationship and then found a quieter, peaceful love. I’ve had the questions about passion, about highs and lows or easy contentment, questions about “settling”. I’ve wondered about the fork in the road. Like Ellen, I’ve wondered what life would be like if the path had been different, and also like Ellen, I felt I didn’t have the choice at the time. Unlike Ellen, I’ve never been tested to actually have to make that choice, although I’ve dreamed it and imagined it and…I’ve written about it.

This story is so similar in themes to my next release, Worth Waiting For, which is another reason it resonated with me so deeply. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the one you loved passionately, the “one who got away” returned to you? How you would feel? How you would react? If you had the chance to make a choice – what would you choose?

Ainslie in my book has a chance to make that choice and hers turns out differently than Ellen’s in Emily Giffin’s book, although the situation is a little different as well.

Here are a few lines from love the one you’re with:

“But maybe that’s what is all comes down to. Love, not as a surge of passion, but as a choice to commit to something, someone, no matter what obstacles or temptations stand in the way. And maybe making that choice, again and again, day in and day out, year after year, says more about love than never having a choice to make at all.” And -
“Love is the sum of our choices, the strength of our commitments, the ties that bind us together.”

What do you think - is love a surge of passion or choice we make?

Ryan strolled into the kitchen, the newspaper open in his hands.
“Have fun last night?” he asked Tyler with a grin. He held the newspaper in front of Tyler.
Tyler looked up from the lamb loins he was butchering and frowned slightly. Ryan showed him a page of photos from the fundraiser last night. There in the middle of the page, was him holding Chloe bent backward over his arm, their faces close, their eyes locked together in an intimate moment.
His hands stilled for a moment, then he grinned. “Yeah,” he said, looked closer. The caption read, ‘Chef Tyler Gregg and Chloe Graham enjoying a special moment’.
“You and Chloe?” Ryan asked, brows raised.
“Yeah.” He returned to his lamb, a faint smile on his face.
“You and Chloe?” Carlos repeated with interest.
“Check it out.” Ryan walked over to his station and showed him the photo. Carlos grinned too.
“You dog,” he said to Tyler. “How long has this been going on?”
Tyler shrugged. “Not long.”
Everyone else in the kitchen apparently needed to see the photo and make suggestive comments until Tyler finally said, in a mild tone, “Okay, back to work everyone.”
“Has Chloe seen this?” Ryan asked.
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll show her later. Leave the paper in my office.”
“Hey, who the fuck’s been messing in my shit?” Alejandro barked. “Where’s my knife?” He swung around and his eyes searched the kitchen. “Jason, you motherfucker, where the hell’s my knife?”
Tyler’s head came up but he said nothing, glanced sideways at Alejandro and Jason.
“I didn’t touch your fucking knife,” Jason said. “Or your mise...so, fuck off, asshole.”
“Oh, here it is,” Alejandro said, and went back to his station. Tyler grinned and continued butchering. Yup, that was life in the kitchen.
Once he was finished the tasting for the floor staff for that day’s specials, he went leaping up the stairs, newspaper in hand, to find Chloe.
“We made the paper,” he said as he entered her office.
She turned to him, smiling. God she was beautiful. He’d tucked her back into bed that morning when he’d left so she could get more sleep. He, on the other hand, couldn’t have felt more energetic and alive.
Her eyes moved over the page and widened when she saw the photo of them.
“Oh,” she said faintly. “How about that.”
He laughed. “We look damn good, don’t you think?”
She took a deep breath. “This is what it’s like for you, all the time, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” He dropped the paper onto a table behind him. “You’re okay with that, aren’t you, sweetheart?” He crouched beside her chair and smoothed her hair away from her face.
She smiled at him. “Sure. It’s just weird for me. But it’s okay.”
He kissed her softly. “Gotta go. Come see me when you’re leaving, okay?” She nodded and he jumped back down the stairs to the kitchen.
It was a busy night at Insatiable but Tyler felt like he could go forever on adrenaline. He was so pumped from how fucking fantastic last night with Chloe had been. Then Allison, one of the wait staff, came into the kitchen and let out a scream of frustration.
“What the hell, Allison,” Carlos said.
“That bitch at table nine is driving me insane!” she cried. “She had questions about everything on the menu - everything, I tell you - now she’s complaining that the music is too loud, the lighting is too dim, she can’t see her food...and when I went to put her plate down in front of her, she tried to grab it from me and I almost dumped it in her lap.”
Tyler grimaced. Difficult customers were never fun to deal with. “You want me to talk to her?”
“Would you?” Allison wiped the edge of two plates ready for table ten. “Maybe that will settle her down.”
“I’ll go out in a minute,” Tyler said, focused on firing two entrees.
Shortly, he wiped his hands on a towel and walked out into the dining room. He wandered leisurely through the tables, greeting people he recognized, responding to others he didn’t know who recognized him, accepting compliments on the food.
When he reached table nine he stopped. “Good evening,” he said, flashing a smile at the young couple. “How was dinner tonight?”
The woman looked at him, open-mouthed. “Are you the chef?”
He nodded and held out a hand. “Tyler Gregg. Pleased to meet you.”
“Wow,” she said. “Uh...I’m Carrie and this is my fiancé, Trent.” They shook hands. “Dinner was great.” She stared at Tyler with fascination. “Absolutely fantastic.”
“Glad to hear it,” Tyler said. “Is this a special occasion for you two?”
She nodded, smiled and blushed faintly. “We just got engaged, actually,” she said, glancing at Trent, who nodded.
“Congratulations!” Tyler said. “Allow me to treat you both to a glass of champagne.”
“That’s so nice of you...thank you!”
Tyler went over to the bar and had a word with Emilio, then returned to the kitchen. He told Allison what had happened.
“Oh, you probably don’t believe me now,” she said in a huff. “She was a bitch to me, Tyler.”
“I believe you,” he said mildly. It wasn’t the first time that had happened...guests gave the wait staff a hard time but as soon as he, the chef, the big guy, appeared they were all sucky and flattering. Especially women. “They’re getting a free glass of champagne to celebrate their engagement.”
“You’re rewarding her for bad behavior!” Then she laughed. “I feel sorry for the guy, engaged to her.”
“Take them their champagne,” Tyler said. “Maybe you’ll get a nice tip out of it.”
Allison grinned at him. “Thanks, Chef.”
He went back to work, tossing food in sauté pans, flaming brandy over shrimp in a burst of heat, grilling scallops.
Then Chloe came in. “I’m going home now,” she said to Tyler.
“God, Chloe, are you still here!” he exclaimed with annoyance. “It’s eight o’clock!”
She nodded. “Uh...yeah.”
He quickly wiped his hands and led her out of the kitchen and down the hall. “You work too damn much!” he growled at her. “You should be at home, having a nice long bath and doing your nails or something.”
She smiled at him and touched his face gently. “I’m fine, Tyler.”
He studied her for a moment, then bent his head and kissed her. He was still kissing her when Emilio came around the corner.
“Oops,” he said, coming to a halt, eyes wide. “I was just going back for another bottle of Chivas. Sorry.”
He grinned at them and Chloe flushed. Tyler touched her cheek and smiled.
“Everyone knows now, sweetheart.”
Insatiable Part 19

This week I finished Bound and Determined by Shelley Bradley. Having expected bondage, (although ultimately I wasn’t disappointed in the story!) I decided to next read Submission by Cherie Feather. Unfortunately, too many explanations and “definitions” keep taking me right out of the story. I know what “aftercare” is, thank you. If you must explain it, find a better way. And her description of an orgasm: “She just came.” Next paragraph: “He didn’t come...” Sorry, not to discourage anyone who wants to read a story about Domination and submission. I’ll probably finish this, but I had to stop. Instead I started reading Donna Kauffman’s Let Me In. I like many of Donna Kauffman’s books. I think she’s very good at building sexual tension. But I’m getting impatient for a payoff...this one’s moving very slowly.

Big sigh.

What happens when you’re favorite go-to authors disappoint you?

Lately I’ve read a few books by my favs that just haven’t excited me and I’m not sure why. In fact at the bookstore, I picked up the latest release by one of my LONG time favorite authors and started randomly reading. I could tell right away that the male character was exactly like every other male character in her other books, and the conflict between the two of them was the same as every other story. So I didn’t even buy it.

Some authors switch genres, like Lori Foster writing as LL Foster. Except I have to say, I read the first Servant story but it was so dark and didn’t have enough sexing and loving for me, so I haven’t read the next one. In Lori’s most recent romance, she experimented with time travel. That was new and different.

What can authors do to keep things fresh and interesting for their readers?

I blogged today about this at ESPAN (Electronic and Small Press Authors' Network)...

Tyler mixed kosher salt, coarsely ground pepper and ground coffee. He tasted it, knowing it would be harsh, but...“Bleh!” He scowled. “These peppercorns are stale.”
In the dry goods room, he rummaged around for the peppercorns.
“Carlos!” he yelled. “Don’t we have any peppercorns?”
Ryan appeared. “I just did inventory, I’m sure we do.” He peered into the shelves. “Calm down, Tyler.”
Tyler looked at him, puzzled. “I am calm.”
Ryan’s head jerked around. “Uh...yeah. You are. Sorry.” He found the peppercorns and handed them to Tyler. Tyler smiled.
“Thanks, man,” he said. “The ones I have are old and taste like shit.”
He replaced the peppercorns in his grinder. “Anyone else need fresh?” He held up the container. “For God’s sake, don’t use old peppercorns. Please.”
His staff exchanged glances.
“You get laid last night?” Carlos asked him with a grin. He traded a look with Ryan.
Tyler started. “My business,” he said with a one-shouldered shrug. Although he had no intention of hiding his relationship with Chloe, he didn’t want it to start by announcing they’d slept together. They’d go out this weekend, out in the open, and then everyone would know. Yeah.
He continued working on his new creation and slid the pork tenderloins into the oven to roast. Now for the sauce. He went to the bar for inspiration. He wanted a cream sauce...but it needed a kick, a boozy kick. He studied the multitude of bottles lining the mirrored wall behind the bar. Brandy...cognac. Nah. Too...predictable. He grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels and carried it back to the kitchen.
He chopped shallots and tossed them into a sauté pan with butter. They sizzled as he minced garlic, found demi-glace and heavy cream. When the shallots were nicely softened he added the garlic, then poured the Jack Daniels in. Flames shot up, attracting the attention of the others.
“What are you making over there, Chef?” Alejandro called.
“Trying something new,” Tyler muttered, focused on his creation. He added the demi-glace and the cream and left it to reduce. Then he started on something else.
A while later he cut a piece of pork and popped it into his mouth. He closed his eyes, chewed, savored, swallowed. It was good...but not fantastic. It was the rub. He needed to adjust the proportions and add something...thyme. Yeah, thyme. That was it.
By the end of the afternoon he had a new special that blew his mind.
“Chloe!” He pounded up the stairs.
“What do you want me to taste?”
“How did you know?” “I just know.” She smiled. “Should I come down?”
“Yeah. Please.” She followed him downstairs to the kitchen where he cut a piece of perfectly cooked pork, then lifted the fork to her mouth.
She tasted it, swallowed. “Oh, that’s good,” she said. “It’s fabulous! I love it!”
He gazed at her. She always gave him her honest opinion, but today she was so...hot. A night of sizzling sex had loosened her up. He might have a new Chloe on his hands.
She tipped her head to one side. “What?”
He smiled slowly at her. “You are so sexy.”
She blushed and he was aware of the kitchen staff watching.
“Carlos, come try this!” he invited, and Carlos and the others surrounded them for a taste. Everyone expressed complete approval of his new creation and his chest swelled with pride.
“I’ll make it one of tomorrow’s specials,” he told them. “Carlos, what do you think we should serve it with?”
Carlos considered. “Let me taste it again.” He tasted and thought. “Potatoes,” he said. “Something simple.”
“Potatoes!” Tyler said. “No way. I think pasta.”
They argued for a while and then Tyler got his way as usual.
The next day when Tyler did the tasting for the floor staff of the day’s specials, including his new pork tenderloin creation, everyone was unanimous that it was fantastic. But when Tyler tasted it with the pasta he knew it was a mistake.
“Carlos, you were right,” he said, going into the kitchen. “Potatoes, man.”
Carlos grinned. “Thanks, Chef.”
As Tyler walked out to go reprint the specials with the change, he heard Carlos say, “That’s why I like working here.”
Tyler smiled.


* * *


Chloe had RSVP’d to the invitation to the Sea Center fundraiser, never in her wildest dreams imagining “Tyler Gregg and guest” would be her.
She’d gone shopping for a new dress. The strapless fitted bodice was intricate layers of sheer fabric, a sandy-pink color, flowing into a slim but soft skirt that floated around her ankles. She turned on her new snakeskin stilettos in front of the mirror, one way then the other, and bit her lip. Did she look okay for her first public appearance with Tyler?
Her doorbell rang and then the front door opened. Tyler. She hurried out of her bedroom and down the hall, heels tapping on the hardwood floor.
Of course, he was stunningly gorgeous in his tux.
“Oh,” she breathed, eyes moving over him.
He grinned and stuck a finger inside his collar. “I hate wearing this thing, but women do seem to like it.”
Her excitement dimmed, just a tad, at the reminder of how many women Tyler had worn this tuxedo for.
His eyes moved over her in turn, and the way they heated up erased all those other women from her mind.
“You look incredible, Chloe,” he murmured, stepping into her house. “I want to kiss you, but I don’t want to mess you up.”
Did she care about getting messed up? Not in the least. So she set her hands on his chest. Even in her heels she had to go onto her toes to reach his mouth. His hands held her waist lightly, then tightened as she kissed him again, and again.
He moved her away from him. “We won’t make it there if you don’t stop,” he warned, eyes glittering, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth.
“Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” He grinned.
She arched a brow at him and went to find her purse and wrap.
The fundraiser was being held at Fess Parker’s resort in the outdoor rotunda. Arched windows provided views of swaying palm trees and the ocean across the street, and soft evening breezes wafted through the space. Tiny white lights twinkled in potted palms, and flowers scented the air.
Waiters mingled with guests, offering trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Chloe sipped a flute of champagne as she stayed by Tyler’s side. He knew so many people there and chatted and flirted his way around the room. He introduced her to everyone, at times holding her hand, circling his arm around her waist, leaning in to whisper in her ear. This was the kind of party she and Michael had so often attended, the kind of party she’d detested, but Michael had never made her feel this special or included.
And speaking of Michael...there he was. Right in front of them, an attractive brunette on his arm.
As the four of them came face to face, a moment of heavy silence enveloped them.
Then Tyler broke it. “Michael,” he said easily, extending his hand. “Glad to run into you. I owe you an apology.”
Michael took Tyler’s hand somewhat reluctantly and the woman with him frowned.
“Sorry about hitting you, man,” Tyler continued with his most charming smile, and Chloe almost laughed. “Hope there was no damage done.”
Michael scowled and shook his head, his eyes moving between Chloe and Tyler, so close together there was no mistaking their relationship. “Hello, Chloe.”
“Hi, Michael. How are you?”
“I’m fine.” He introduced Tyler and Chloe to his companion and after a few more polite words, they moved on.
“Well, that was awkward,” Tyler said, a smile touching his lips as he sipped his champagne.
“Thanks to you, you pugilist.”
He grinned. “Hey, I was defending you.”
She smiled. “Thank you,” she said softly. “That really is very sweet. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth; that would have saved your knuckles. And Michael’s nose.”
Tyler removed her glass from her hand and set both flutes on a small table. Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her, right in the middle of the party, bending her back over his arm so far she had to grasp his shoulders to keep from falling. When he lifted his mouth and she gazed at him in astonishment, he smiled into her eyes.
Tyler glanced sideways, and following his gaze, Chloe saw Michael watching them. Tyler smiled with satisfaction. She whacked his shoulder lightly, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. He was staking his claim, deliberately, in public and very, very possessively. It made her feel warm and tingly all over and she, in turn, kissed Tyler back.
His big hands slid down her back, briefly over the curve of her behind as he released her slowly. Then he picked up the champagne flutes and handed one back to her, eyes hot and sparkling at her over the glass as he sipped.
Chloe gulped her champagne, the bubbles stinging her throat and nose.
Later, they danced, the soft breeze off the ocean sliding over them, the sky midnight blue velvet sequined with glimmery stars. Palm trees drifted in the breeze. Tyler held her in his arms, close against him, her hand tucked between them as they moved to the music.
She pressed herself against him as they danced, buzzing with sexual excitement and anticipation. She kept remembering the things Tyler had done to her and how it had felt and every time she thought about those things her tummy fluttered.
“I want to take you home,” he whispered in her ear. “I want to lick you right between your legs.” A small moan escaped her. “I want to eat you until you come and then I want to fuck you every way I can, front, back, sideways, until you can’t even walk.”
“Oh God.” The ache between her legs intensified and she almost stumbled as they danced. “Let’s go.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Just a little longer. I want to dance with you more.”
She almost moaned again. “You’re torturing me.” She let her breath out long and slow.
He laughed softly. “I know. But the build-up is half the fun.” He kissed her cheek and she closed her eyes and sank into him. Heat radiated off his big body and she inhaled as she pressed her face against him, loving the warm spice and citrus scent of him.
When the song ended, Tyler led her back to their table, where they’d eaten dinner with some of his friends. Chloe picked up her glass and pressed it to one hot cheek while Tyler sipped his wine. She was acutely aware of the looks they were getting from the others, but couldn’t bring herself to care, she was so buzzed, so high from being with Tyler and wanting him.
She wanted to get up and drag Tyler out of there as they sat talking to other guests. She rested her hand on his thigh, beneath the table cloth, then shifted her fingers up, closer to his groin...just brushing...yeah, he was hard. Then his face changed and he abruptly said, “Let’s go.”
After quickly smiling their good-nights to the others, Tyler all but dragged her out of the rotunda and down a dark path toward the parking lot. Her heels clicked rapidly on the stone path as she hurried after him.
“Slow down, Tyler,” she begged, laughing, as she tried to keep up with him.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I waited too long. I need you, now.”
“I needed you three hours ago,” she replied, and together they almost ran to the car.
They fell into his Jag, laughing, breathless, and Tyler started the car. He leaned over to kiss her, his hand on her face and she kissed him back, long and deep.
“God,” he groaned, moving away from her and slamming the car into gear. The wheels spun and spit gravel as he exited the parking lot. “Are we going to my place or yours?” He glanced sideways at her.
“Oh.” She hadn’t thought about that. “My place.” Then, “Is that okay?”
“Christ, yeah,” he said roughly. “I’d do you on the Breakwater right now if I had to, I don’t care where the hell we go.”

Insatiable Part 18

Another week with not much time for reading, but it's because I started work on a new book. One the weekend I finally broke through the barrier of getting those first words done. Once I do that it's hard to tear me away from it!

I finished Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh. And I'm almost finished Bound and Determined by Shelley Bradley. At first I was disappointed in the story because from the title I thought there would be a lot more bondage. However it's turned out to be a very emotional story and I really like it!

Over the next weeks my Samhain editor is interviewing her writers at her blog, and posting the entire first chapter of one of our books – you can check it out and if you leave a comment you’re entered to win a free book. Today’s my day…Editortera’s Blog You can read the first chapter of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS.

I can't wait to read more about some of my fellow Samhain authors over the next couple of weeks!

Tyler had a feeling he would never get enough of her. He had never tasted anything like her, and when he left her sweet pussy, her taste stayed in his mouth like a craving for more.
But his cock throbbed painfully and he wanted to fuck her, too.
“Do you want to get on top of me?” he whispered. “Or do you want me to fuck you like this?” He lifted his hips over hers and waited, pulsing.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her head tossing on the pillow.
“Okay. Next time you can get on top.” He stroked his cock through her folds, wetting the head with her moisture. She was so wet. He wanted her now, but he needed a condom. He leaned over the side of the bed, and her small hands held his sides as he stretched down, his erection thrusting between them. He found his jeans and dug in the pocket for the condoms he’d shoved in there before leaving home.
He ripped one open and rolled it over his dick impatiently. Chloe watched him, her blue eyes hazy, a soft smile on her full lips.
“I want to see,” she said, sitting up. He grabbed a pillow and thrust it under her, then gently pushed her back onto them. Then, taking his penis in hand again, he stroked her, wetting the latex, then pushed inside her.
“So tight,” he murmured, taking it slow. Her warm velvet pussy squeezed him. Tortured him.
“It’s been a long time,” she said on a sigh.
He tore his gaze away from the sight of his cock easing in and out of her pink, glistening pussy to meet her eyes. “How long?” he asked tightly.
“I...about a year.”
“You and Michael...?”
She shook her head.
Good. He didn’t mind knowing she’d had other faceless, nameless lovers, but he did not want to picture her with Michael.
He pushed in deeper, every muscle in his body bunched tight, straining to stop himself from ramming into her. He was so hard he hurt, so hot he burned. Moisture clung to his forehead, his chest, as he pushed, withdrew, in, out, further each time until he was buried in her. Flames licked over his body and the base of his spine buzzed.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t fit,” she whispered, her hands still on his sides, holding him.
“We fit perfectly.” He kissed her face quickly, hotly. “God...Chloe...”
He withdrew again and slowly thrust all the way, harder this time, then harder again, setting a rhythm that she matched with her hips. She rocked against him, finding her own pleasure again but God, that felt good to him, too! He buried his face in her neck as he pumped into her, the only sounds in the room their gasping breaths and the wet noises of their bodies sliding together. Chloe’s orgasm had her pussy rippling around him just as his balls tightened, his spine tingled and heat flashed over his body. He exploded in a hot, hard, jolting orgasm, pouring himself into her.
He couldn’t expand his lungs, couldn’t get oxygen. He collapsed onto her, oblivious of his heavy weight pressing her into the bed as he struggled for air, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. As the ability to think returned to him, he realized he was crushing her small body beneath him and he rolled to the side, pulling her with him.
Still trying to drag air into his lungs, he tightened his arms around Chloe and pressed her head to his chest. He couldn’t speak, didn’t know what to say. All the easy compliments he’d ever given after sex were stupid and meaningless. There were no words to describe how he felt.
But he did have questions. Long, heart-thudding moments later, he said, “Chloe?”
“Mmmmm?”
“When did you break up with Michael?” After a short pause, she said, “Do we have to talk about him now...here?”
“Just answer the question,” he growled. She moved against him, pressing her face into him.
“I don’t remember,” she whispered into his chest.
He waited. And waited...
“Okay, okay, it was the night that Oprah came to the restaurant.”
His sex-fogged brain took a moment to process that. “It was the night after you attacked me at my place?”
Her head nodded against his chest.
“Jesus.” Mind still working slowly, he then asked incredulously, “Did you tell him about that?”
She lifted her head. “No! Of course not!”
“Oh.”
She stared at him, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, eyes wide. “Why’d you ask that?”
“Uh...something he said.”
Her eyebrows slanted down. “What did he say? Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
She flopped back down onto him. He pushed her hair gently back from her face and stroked her hot cheek. He didn’t know what it meant, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what it meant...right now, anyway. So he let it go.
“Chloe...”
“Now what?” Her smile tickled his chest.
“I can’t tell you how incredible that was.”
“I...thank you. I think it was incredible, too.”
He stroked his hands over her soft body, eyes closed, drifting off to sleep.
“Um...Tyler...can we get under the covers?”
“Oh. Yeah, of course.” They scrambled around, pulled the comforter back, settled themselves with pillows into each other’s arms.
“Your bed is soft,” he murmured drowsily. “And it smells like you...brown sugar and peaches. I’m gonna make a dessert...with brown sugar and peaches...”

* * *


“Okay, spill it. I gotta know. Why did you lie to me about Michael?”
They sat in her bright kitchen drinking coffee the next morning. He watched her closely as she searched for words.
“I’ve told you so many times, Tyler...we can’t be involved. I work for you.”
“I don’t see the problem.” He pressed his lips together.
She sighed. “What’s going to happen when you get tired of me? I know you were only interested in me because I...provoked you that day, and then you only wanted me because you couldn’t have me.”
“Bullshit,” he said. “Yeah, you provoked me, but you just made me realize how blind I’d been about you for so long.”
She shook her head and smiled gently at him. “It’s okay, Tyler, you don’t have to pretend this is more than it is. I know you. You even told me yourself, Mandy was the only girl who’s ever dumped you. You always break up with your girlfriends. I don’t expect this to be any different.” She sipped her coffee. “It’s just going to be really awkward when that happens. I may not be able to work for you after that.”
He stared at her. Okay, he could see why she was thinking that way. It was true, he’d never had any long-term girlfriends. He got tired of them so quickly, they bored him or were too needy, or they were looking for marriage to a rich celebrity chef or a ticket to their own fame.
Was she right? Was he going to do the same thing with Chloe? He’d been so focused on having her, he never thought about what would happen after that.
She was right about one thing. The fact that she was unavailable had definitely frustrated him and increased his determination to have her. He was willing to admit to that.
He lifted his mug to his lips and gulped the hot coffee into his mouth, letting the rich scent of Sumatran Gold fill his nostrils. Thankfully Chloe bought her coffee from Karma Coffee, as did the restaurant - the best coffee in town.
But, watching her sitting there, sipping her coffee, her beautiful face calm and smiling slightly, her gorgeous blonde hair still damp from the shower drying in a silky curtain down her back, he couldn’t imagine himself ever tiring of her.
But then, did he ever think that with other women? He pondered that while Chloe waited patiently for him to respond to her.
He never went into a relationship thinking it would be long-term. That just wasn’t him. But why not? Why not a long-term relationship? It’s not like he couldn’t do it if he wanted. He just never wanted to.
Did he want to now?
He knew for sure he could not, should not make promises to Chloe he couldn’t keep. But right now, he had no intention of leaving her.
He chose his words carefully. “I’ve never felt this way before, Chloe. Right now, I have to be with you. I have to. You want to be with me too.” He said that with certainty and she gave a small nod. “So let’s just go with it and see what happens.”
She gave a crooked smile, and the hint of sadness there twisted his heart. “Like I have a choice,” she said. “Apparently, I can’t resist you. You devil.”
He grinned, relief shifting through him. He leaned over, kissed her hard on the mouth and stood. “I wish we could drive to work together.”
“That would be bad. We don’t need everyone knowing about us.”
He stopped and frowned. The only reason they couldn’t drive together was because she was going to leave about six hours before him. “Why not?”
She stared at him. “Uh...well, don’t you think it’s better if we keep this...um, private?”

“No. I don’t.” He held her gaze. “Why can’t people know about us?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “I just thought...”
“Chloe. I’m not going to sneak around like this is some kind of sleazy affair. If we’re going to be together, everyone’s going to know. And,” he added firmly, “it’s exclusive. Right?”
Her eyes widened. “There’s nobody else, Tyler.”
“Okay, good. Me too. I was thinking.” He moved behind her and ran his hands down the length of her hair. “We should go out on a date.”
She went very still.
“We’ve never gone on a date,” he continued. “I have to go to that fundraiser this weekend. Will you come with me?”

Building Castles - Kelly Jamieson's Blog: Insatiable Part 17

Not much.
Last week was really busy with the release of Friends With Benefits - so I'm half through Lora Leigh's Nauti Intentions. I love Lora Leigh, and this book is as sexy and hot as ever, but I'm increasingly thrown by her point of view shifts. Even minor characters get brief periods with a POV. And while I love her mega alpha heroes, the conflict between Natches and Alex over Janey seems a bit overdone. But I am enjoying it!

Do you ever wonder what happens to the characters after the story ends? I often do, especially if I really love the characters. Of course, my own characters become like real people to me by the end of a story - so I wanted to check in with Kerri and Mitch, just back from their honeymoon in Paris...

Kelly: So tell us all about your honeymoon in Paris!

Kerri: It was soooo romantic. (Glances at Mitch). Until Mitch had an anxiety attack about getting married.

Mitch: I did not have an anxiety attack!

Kerri: What was it then? I swear you were having cold feet because we got married so fast.

Mitch: I think I ate some bad paté. That stuff is disgusting.

Kerri: Can’t say I was fond of it either, but otherwise the food was amazing.

Mitch: Kerri even ate bread.

Kerri: (laughing) Yes I did and you could not believe how much better bread tastes in France. Every day we’d stop in the middle of the afternoon at one of the little brasseries and sit outside and have a glass of wine and watch people. It was so beautiful.

Kelly: I went to Paris a few years ago and I loved it.

Kerri: I loved it too. It really was romantic. I love the history and the old buildings. I loved looking down these narrow old streets, lined with buildings and imagining who lives there. And how many people have lived there over the years. Decades. Centuries.

Kelly: Did you do all the tourist things? Notre Dame? The Louvre? Versailles? The Eiffel Tower?

Kerri: Yes! We even went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Mitch: But you got scared and we had to go down.

Kerri: (frowning) Who knew I was afraid of heights? And all the security made me nervous.

Mitch: Then we looked at a lot of old paintings at the Louvre and Versailles.

Kerri: There’s so much history. It’s mind-boggling to think that people actually lived in a place like that. The Louvre was actually a palace, too, until um…

Mitch: 1672

Kerri: Yes, thank you. In 1672 Louis XIV moved from the Louvre to Versailles, and the Louvr then became a place to display the royal collection.

Kelly: What was the best part of your trip?

Mitch: The sex.

Kerri: Mitch!

Mitch: You deny it?

Kerri: Okay, no. But it was also very romantic sitting at a sidewalk brasserie having dinner one evening at dusk and watching the lights on the Eiffel Tower come on. It’s quite a show. Walking down the Champs-Élysées under the chestnut trees. And then on the way back to the hotel on the subway, some guy just started playing jazz music on a saxophone. He was so good!

Mitch: (grinning) Yeah, that was cool. But actually the best part was no lawyer jokes.

Kerri: Oh, that reminds me! How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?

Mitch: Oh my God.

Kelly: Um…how many?

Kerri: Fifty four.

Mitch: Oh my God.

Kerri: Eight to argue, one to get a continuance, one to object, one to demur, two to research precedents, one to dictate a letter, one to stipulate, five to turn in their time cards, one to depose, one to write interrogatories, two to settle, one to order a secretary to change the bulb, and twenty-eight to bill for professional services.

Kelly: (muffles laughter)

Mitch: Okay. How about this: What did the Yogi say to the hot dog vendor?

Kerri: (frowns)

Mitch: Make me one with everything. (laughs)

Kerri: (Groaning) Very funny.

Mitch: Hey, I think I owe you a few. In fact, I think I owe you a spanking for that last one.

Kerri: Oooh. Are we done here?

If you read Friends with Benefits, out this week with Samhain, watch for the little connection to Insatiable...


Tyler twined his fingers with Chloe’s and lowered her hands. He leaned forward to kiss her mouth again, sliding, open-mouthed kisses and she leaned into the kisses, too. The only parts of them touching, besides their mouths, were their clasped hands. A veil of heat shimmered around them.
“Unbelievable,” he murmured moments later. “Unfuckingbelievable.”
His words thrilled her, let her know he was as aroused and moved as she was.
“I want you to take your clothes off, too,” she whispered boldly.
He nodded, his face tight as he strained to control himself. His hands released hers and lifted behind his neck to grab his t-shirt and yank it off forward over his head. He gripped the shirt in his hands momentarily, sitting before her bare-chested as she studied him with excitement and admiration.
Her gaze moved over wide shoulders, rounded biceps, his firm, smooth chest, down to flat defined abdominal muscles. He was so, so beautiful. She wanted to see more.
He tossed the shirt aside and his hands went to the button of his jeans. He stood up and, with a completely masculine flick of his wrists, undid the button and the zipper, then shoved his pants down along with the black cotton underwear she caught only a glimpse of.
He stood before her naked, dark-skinned, long and lean-limbed, with a huge, throbbing erection.
Her mouth watered at the sight. Her lips parted in anticipation of tasting him. She leaned forward, still kneeling on the couch, but he set his hands on her shoulders.
“Let’s go into your bedroom.”
He lifted her by her upper arms so she stood beside him. She kicked off her shorts and moved into him, twined her arms around his neck and pressed herself to him, naked body to naked body. His skin scorched her and they both gasped at the sensation of skin on skin, from chest to knee. She twined a foot around his calf, trying to get closer, and buried her face in his neck.
It felt so incredibly, arousingly erotic. But it also felt achingly tender and right.
His hands moved to her hair, fingers digging into the twisted coils, trying to figure out how to undo it. She reached up and hooked a finger into the single elastic that held it, yanked it out. Her hair tumbled down over her shoulders and back and he groaned.
“I love your hair, Chloe,” he mumbled, burying his face in it.
“I know.” She smiled.
His hands threaded through her hair, over and over, sending little arcs of electricity through her, and she pressed small kisses to the side of his neck. Her tongue darted out to lick and she felt him the rumble of his groan.
“Bedroom,” he growled. “Now.”
Reluctantly she turned and he followed close behind her, snatching up his jeans from the floor with one hand, holding her hand with the other. She led the way down the short hall to her dark bedroom.
Tyler crossed to the table beside the bed and found the switch for the lamp.
“You want the light on?”
“Oh, yeah.” He pulled her into his arms again. “I want to see you. I want to taste you, smell you, hear you, feel you, and I especially want to see you.”
She smiled, again wrapped herself around him, practically climbing onto him.
His hands stroked over her bare back and down to the curves of her butt, pulling her against his hot, hard erection. Her breath hitched in her throat and another spike of sensation drove through her womb.
“Oh, this is incredible,” she breathed.
“Incredible.” His hands still grasped her cheeks, holding her against him, against his pulsing penis. He kissed her again and her mind spun out of control, delirious and dizzy.
He ate at her mouth with feverish, devouring kisses. She took in his desperation and gave it back to him, trying to press closer, unable to get close enough.
In a fluid movement that reminded her of how he worked in the kitchen, he turned her, moved her back toward the bed, and lowered her down to the soft comforter. Then he followed her down and lay beside her, half covering her, his heavy, hair roughened leg covering hers. He kissed her over and over, one hand on her face, long, consuming kisses and she opened her mouth to him, taking him in, sucking his tongue.
His hand covered one breast, fondled it, twisted the nipple between thumb and fingers, tugged at it until she writhed beneath him in an overload of erotic sensation.
She held onto his shoulders as the room spun around her. Then his hand slid over her abdomen and lower, again through the soft curls, then lower. His fingers stroked her, over her folds, then deeper.
“Chloe, you’re soft,” he murmured against her mouth. His fingers stroked her again. “So soft and smooth.”
She nodded tightly, eyes squeezed closed.
“I love it,” he whispered. His fingers stroked deeper, through the liquid center of her, and he rubbed her moisture all over the smooth outer lips. Sensation built inside her, and her hips lifted against his hand, asking for more in a silent plea.
His mouth on hers barely touched her, his breath warm on her parted lips. He dipped a finger into her, and her inner muscles clenched in anticipation of being entered. “You’re tight,” he murmured. “I can tell already.” Fingers dipping and caressing, he suddenly groaned, “Chloe I have to taste you!”
He thrust away from her in a desperate push, shifting down her body until he lay between her legs. He parted her thighs with his hands, pushed them wide. Then he looked at her.
“Tyler,” she moaned, heat washing over her. “Don’t...”
“I told you I want to see you.” And he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her curls. He kissed the crease of her leg on one side, then the other, and turned his head inward and inhaled deeply. Mortified, Chloe fisted the comforter with both hands and groaned.
“I told you I want to smell you, too,” he continued softly. “And you smell delicious.” She choked on a giggle. “You smell sweet and hot and mouth-watering.”
“Oh, God.”
He inhaled again, then gently kissed her inner thigh. Then his mouth closed over her and sucked. He tasted her with his tongue, with long, luscious licks between her slick folds, over her clitoris that pulsed and jumped at his touch. With each slow lick, each time his tongue touched her clit, little jolts zipped through her and pleasure built inside her, tighter and tighter.
“You’re delicious, Chloe. So fucking delicious. I will never get enough of you.”
His words sent more heat swirling through her bloodstream and her embarrassment disappeared. She opened wider for him. “That’s it,” he murmured, still taking long, slow licks. “Open wider for me.” His hands pressed on her thighs and her legs parted so wide her hips ached.
“You taste like brown sugar, Chloe.”
“What!” Her eyes flew open at the description, and she peered at his dark head between her legs. The ecstasy on his face made her melt into the bed.
“Brown sugar,” he said again. “Sweet and delectable. I thought you would taste like a peach because your breasts taste like peaches, but here, you taste like brown sugar.”
She couldn’t help but giggle. “I sound like a grocery store.”
He lifted his head and his eyes gleamed with humor, his lips shiny with her juices. “Sorry. It’s all about food for me, you know.”
“I know. I love it.”
She bit her lip, immediately wished she hadn’t said that, but he lowered his head to taste her further. This time his tongue went deeper, tasting inside her, and then he closed his lips over her clit and sucked.
Her hips arched off the bed as he sent her over the edge, sucking deeply, ravenously on her. Sensation exploded in her, waves of hot delicious pleasure washed over her again and again until she lay limp and trembling on the bed.
Tyler’s hands still on her thighs, he lifted his head, then licked her more, so softly and gently. He licked his way over to the crease of one leg, kissed her there again and then shifted his body upward so he lay on her, supporting his weight with his arms. He kissed her mouth and she tasted herself.
She expected him to enter her then, but he didn’t, just kept kissing her mouth, her cheek, her neck, her chest. Then he lay down just to the side of her, partially covering her again so his full weight wasn’t on her. His hand came up to cup her breast, just holding it as they both caught their breath.
“I love eating you, Chloe,” he whispered, kissing her mouth again. “I love the taste of you. I knew I would. I wanted this so bad.”
She shivered uncontrollably at his words. They made her feel so special and she closed her mind to what would happen after this. Highs were always followed by crashing lows.

Insatiable Part 16

Today’s supposed to be What I’m Reading Wednesday but it’s also a release week for me so I’m going to have a contest this week on my blog – everyone who signs up for my newsletter
(I hope this link works!)

Click to join KellyJamiesonnewsletter

this week will be entered to win an e-copy of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. I’ll draw Monday April 20 for the winner!


What am I reading?
I finished Wicked Garden by Lorelei James and last night I finished Tied Up, Tied Down also by Lorelei. And I just want to say a big “Yay!!!” to Samhain for publishing a story with a baby as a significant part of the story. I recently had a story rejected by another publisher because they do not publish anything to do with babies, being pregnant or trying to get pregnant because it is not romantic. Well, I disagree and this story just proves it. I loved reading about Kade folling in love with his baby daughter as well as her mother!

I’m also reading “Description” by Monica Wood (a craft book - always something to learn!)

RELEASE DAY!!

Yoga is Kerri Harris’s life, but that doesn’t mean she’s a New Age flake. She’s a successful businesswoman, and it’s about time everyone took her as seriously as her mother-of-two, “real-career” sister. That means adding a new item to her spreadsheet—marriage plan. There’s only one person she trusts to help her check off this task: her best friend Mitch.

Divorce attorney Mitch MacAuley gets the cold shivers at the mere mention of matrimony. After the disasters he’s witnessed from childhood, marriage equals miserable. The last thing he wants is to help Kerri down that road, but he’s never been able to say no to her. He expects to feel pity for her as she goes on one disastrous date after another. The complete surprise? Thinking about Kerri with those other guys makes him crazy.

Her frustration collides with his confusion, leading to a big fight, a hot kiss and a scorching sexual tension that hits them both broadside. Prompting Kerri to propose a new plan…to add the bedroom to their list of BFF benefits.

They quickly find out there’s nothing casual about the heat they generate. In fact, the burn could ruin a perfectly beautiful friendship.

Warning: This story contains a late-night booty call, hot hotel sex and naked yoga!

When my first book came out last fall, knowing it was pretty steamy content, I told my eighty-year old mother-in-law that if she wanted to buy it to support me that would be wonderful, but she should not read it. So that is what she did. I didn’t realize though that she gave it to my husband’s eight-five year old uncle to read. She had to print it off because he doesn’t even have a computer. Now I knew years back that Uncle D read Harlequin romances – I thought it was kinda cute. If he thought my book was a sweet Harlequin he was in for a shock. His reaction (to my M IL, who passed it on to me yesterday) – this is pure porn.

Big sigh.

Then I was showing my new Sony Reader to my MIL, and she asked if I had one of my books in there. I have the one coming out tomorrow loaded in there, so I opened it to the cover, then showed her how the reader works – by pressing this button you turn the page. She would barely look at it, wouldn’t even touch it, in case some of the porn cooties jumped out at her or she saw a word that would sear her eyeballs.

To my family (who don’t read my blog, go to my website or even read my books): I DO NOT WRITE PORN.

Just to make me feel a little better this morning, I got a great review for DREAM GIRL
Between the Lines: WRDF Review of Dream Girl By Kelly Jamieson
I wish I could quote the whole thing but here’s a tidbit: “I’ve never had to write a review about I a book that I enjoyed so much.” And “Ms Jamieson has a wonderful way with words”. Thank you!

Yup, she was busted. Chloe’s mind spun with what Tyler had just told her, even as he deepened her confusion by touching her and kissing her. He was so gorgeous, so big and hard, so hot against her body. She’d been resisting him for so long and lately the only thing keeping him back was the thought of Michael in the background. Because she knew if he didn’t stop because of Michael, she would never be able to.
She was lost. She knew it. Done. He was seducing her with all the finesse and charm he possessed, and she was helpless to resist it. She let out a small moan and gave herself up to it, wanting to experience the heat, the thrill, the excitement of making love with Tyler, like she almost had that afternoon at his house.
She’d never been so turned on as she had been that day with Tyler, and it terrified her. Highs were always followed by crashing lows, and she knew the only thing that could come out of this high was heartbreak. Tyler was not the kind of man to stick with a woman and God knew why he was interested in her, but she didn’t expect it to be any different with her than it was with the long string of broken hearts he’d left in his wake over the years.
But at this moment all she wanted was to feel. She hadn’t felt for so long. Tyler was right. She never laughed, she never cried...until last night. She never lusted for someone, wanted them so much that she ached with it low in her belly. She’d never felt that with Michael. She wanted to ache and shiver and know the pleasure of Tyler filling her up and the ecstasy of coming with him.
“Let go, Chloe,” he urged her, seeming to know what she thinking.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
And she let go.
She opened her mouth under his and her tongue sought his. She slid her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, one hand around the back of his neck, his skin fever hot. Her fingers slid up into his short, silky hair just as she’d always wanted.
She was drifting, mindless, floating in a pool of sensation. All she knew at that moment was the feel of him, the taste of him, the smell of him. She lifted her mouth off his and pressed her face to the side of his neck, inhaled his spicy scent, inhaled again. She couldn’t get enough of him.
His hands were all over her, sliding under her tank top, shoving it up, and her breasts ached for his touch. She shifted beside him to allow him better access and gave a small gasp when his hands cupped her breasts, shaping them, squeezing them gently. His fingers pinched her nipples and sensation shot through her to her womb, making her inner muscles clench and her pelvis arch against him.
“You’re so hot, Chloe,” he murmured, and he lowered his head to take a nipple into his mouth. Her hand still in his hair, she pulled him down to her breast, her head falling back with delight. His mouth opened on the sensitive tip, closed over it and sucked. Sensation streaked through her body, and she almost came. She squeezed her legs together, trying to get enough pressure to complete the build-up but wasn’t quite enough and she groaned with frustration.
“Chloe, did you almost come?” He lifted his head from her breast to gaze at her. She met his eyes, blazing and wicked. She melted inside, a pool of hot liquid between her legs.
“So close,” she moaned. “Make me come, Tyler.”
“Oh, yeah.” Now he groaned, and took her other nipple into his mouth, tasting her, sucking her, licking her. Pleasure cascaded over her, over every sensitive nerve ending, setting her on fire.
“Oh God! Tyler...”
“You taste incredible, sweetheart,” he murmured, mouth on her nipple. He kissed it, then the other one, then again proceed to lick and suck on her tender breasts. They swelled beneath his touch.
Her hips lifted off the couch, her pelvis achingly empty, needing to be filled, and she trembled with the need to come.
“Hey, be patient, sweetheart.” His hands stroked her ribcage and her waist, making her quiver. He pressed his hand to her stomach. “I want to make you come, Chloe,” he said in a low, shaky voice. “I’m going to make you come. I’m going to eat you until you come against my mouth. I want to lick you, drink you up, taste all of you...”
“Oh God!” His words incited her to levels of excitement she had never experienced, desire rocketing through her.
“I’m going to take you into your bedroom and fuck your brains out,” he said. “And then I’m going to do it again. I’m going to fuck you all night. And that probably won’t be enough.”
She was shattering into little pieces at his words, shivering with excitement and longing, desperate for fulfillment. She wanted to taste him too, dazed and drunk with the idea of seeing Tyler come, giving him the ultimate pleasure, and it was going to be in her arms.
“Tyler, Tyler.” She scrambled up onto her knees on the couch beside him. She gripped his t-shirt with her hands and yanked, trying to get him up off the couch. He laughed softly.
His hands cupped her butt, fingers on bare skin, and with only a stroke, he had pushed the hem of her shorts up so that her cheeks filled his hands. “Jesus,” he whispered, caressing her.
His fingers on her bare bottom and the back of her thighs were agonizingly sweet, sending exquisite flames licking up her spine. He kept stroking softly, almost tickling her. His hands slid higher under the shorts, cuddled her cheeks, then trailed down her thighs, again and again. She shifted her knees apart on the couch to give him access to the heat between her legs. His fingers came tantalizingly close. Her eyes were closed, head thrown back, hands still clutching his shirt. When she lifted her heavy lids she saw him watching her.
His eyes glittered with excitement and desire and his face was take-your-breath-away gorgeous. She’d never seen him look like that, so fascinated, so enthralled, and a shiver of power went through her. She’d been avoiding him for so long it was astonishing to realize that he was as crazed and needy as she was.
His eyes moved over her body, to her breasts now partially covered by the tank top, nipples hard points, the shorts now riding low on her hip bones. Then his gaze returned to her face and focused on her mouth, and the heat in his gaze seared her senses.
Burning up, melting down...that’s what was happening. Just what she’d wanted.
Liquid heat pooled between her legs so intensely she was sure moisture was running down her legs. She let go of Tyler’s shirt and slipped her hand between her thighs to feel for it. His gaze followed her hand and his eyes scorched her.
“That’s so hot, baby,” he whispered.
She nodded mindlessly and her eyes fell closed again as she pressed her hand between her thighs, needy and pulsing.
His hands tightened on her butt almost painfully, then tugged the shorts, pulling them down a little. Chloe moved her hand away and almost fell onto him. She opened her eyes again and looked down at herself. The shorts rode low, and soft curls of gold peeked over the waistband.
Tyler followed her gaze and slowly, slowly tugged the shorts lower until the small puff of golden curls was fully revealed to him. The shorts dropped to her knees and she slowly sat back on her heels. Then she grabbed the bottom hem of her tank top with crossed arms and dragged it up and over her head.
She knelt beside him, naked except for the shorts around her knees. Her eyes met his, trembling inside, hopeful that she would meet with his approval, knowing he had much to compare her to.
“You’re beautiful, Chloe,” he whispered, almost reverently. The look of awe on his face sent warmth flooding through her. “I’ve waited so long for this.” He touched her breasts with just his fingertips, trailed his fingers down her abdomen, making her shiver.
He took her hands in his, lifted them to his mouth. He kissed the inside of one wrist, his gaze still locked on hers. The caress to the sensitive skin of her wrist was incredibly erotic. His tongue flicked out and then he sucked gently right over her pulse. He moved his mouth to her other wrist, kissing, licking, sucking. His eyes fell closed and his mouth slid up her arm to her inner elbow, and she thought she was going to die of ecstasy as thick liquid pleasure poured over her and her heart expanded in her chest.
She pressed her thighs together, quivering and wet. “I’m dying, Tyler.”
He smiled against her elbow and licked her again. “Me too.”

Insatiable Part 15

This week I finished La Bonne by Michèle de Lully. As I mentioned last week, it was recommended by a couple of fellow authors and I did enjoy it. I think this is the first f/f/m story I've read that ends in a HEA for the threesome. Very well done.

And I'm almost finished Rode Hard, Put up Wet by Lorelei James. I know I'm late to the Lorelei James fan club, but sign me up! Her characters are so realy, so gritty, so flawed, and her stories are hot but full of emotion...next up is Wicked Garden and Tied up, Tied Down.

The noisy kitchen immediately fell silent except for the sizzle of food cooking.
“Holy shit,” Carlos said.
Tyler shook his hand. Goddamn it, that hurt. His knuckles were going to swell up for sure.
“What the hell!” Michael struggled to his feet. Blood trickled out of his nose and dripped onto his pristine blue and white striped shirt. Tyler turned and grabbed a towel from a rack, tossed it to him.
“You bastard,” Tyler growled. “What the hell do you think you’re doing cheating on Chloe? And coming here...are you out of your mind?”
Michael stared back at Tyler open mouthed, the towel pressed to his nose. “Chloe? What are you talking about? I’m not cheating on Chloe. She dumped me weeks ago!”
Now Tyler was staggered. “What?”
Michael wiped blood off his face. “Jesus Christ, what’s the matter with you? I’ve got blood on my shirt, for Chrissake.”
“She broke up with you?” Tyler asked slowly, his mind struggling to process this information.
“Hell, yeah. I can’t believe you didn’t know...seeing as you’re the reason.” Michael hurled the towel at Tyler, who caught it automatically, and stalked off through the kitchen doors.
The kitchen was still silent, everyone staring at Tyler.
“Get back to work!” Then Tyler, too, stormed out of the kitchen. He started toward his office, then changed his mind and stuck his head back in the kitchen. “Who’s got table twelve?” he demanded.
“Me,” Mitch said.
“Comp their meal,” Tyler barked.
He stomped into his office. What the hell? What did this mean? Chloe kept using the fact that she had a boyfriend to keep him away. But she really hadn’t been seeing Michael. Man, this was too much for him to comprehend.
He knocked his head against the wall once, twice, gritted his teeth.
His first instinct was to grab his car keys and hightail it over to Chloe’s house, but he was so outraged he knew he would scare the hell out of her.
So? She deserved to be scared, the lying little witch.
No, he couldn’t scare Chloe. He played out different scenarios in his mind and then made his decision.
He went back and had a word with Carlos. They’d be okay for the rest of the night without him.
He drove to his house to shower and change. He didn’t want to smell like the kitchen when he saw Chloe. In his bedroom he grabbed a handful of condoms and stuffed them in his pocket.
Then he drove through the dark city to her small house, proud of himself for his control, his body vibrating with repressed energy and anger and lust.
At Chloe’s house he set his finger on her doorbell and held it there until she opened the door, wide-eyed.
“Tyler! What is it? Is everything okay?”
Of course she would immediately assume he was there to get her to fix a problem. He smiled.
She wore shorts - shorts! - that revealed her incredible, smooth legs. They were like boxer shorts, white with pink hearts, and the waistband was folded over so they sat low on her hips. On top she wore a pink ribbed tank top that fit snugly over her breasts, clearly revealing she had on no bra. A strip of smooth golden skin between shorts and tank top tantalized him. Were those her pajamas?
“Did I wake you?” He pushed gently past her into her home. She let him in, biting her lip, eyes wary.
“Uh...no. I was just getting ready for bed.”
“Is that what you slept in last night?” he asked with interest.
Her eyes shifted. “No,” she said slowly. “Why are you here, Tyler?”
“I wanted to see you,” he said. “Offer me a drink.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “A drink?”
“A beer would be great.” He walked in, looking around. “I like your house, Chloe. It’s very...calm.”
“Um, thanks.”
He sat down on her white couch and spread his arms along the back of it, looking at her expectantly. She turned and walked out.
Tone-on-tone white and cream created a calm feeling, different textures adding interest – smooth ivory walls, a white-brick fireplace, creamy jacquard upholstery. Shabby-chic white slipcovers wrapped the furniture, and cushions of different cream and white fabrics created cozy nests. A fat candle on the coffee table dripped and burned with a lazy flame, filling the room with the scent of vanilla. So different from his starkly modern house with stainless steel, black leather and wildly colored art on the walls.
Chloe returned with a beer and a tall glass.
“Aren’t you having anything?”
“I was just going to bed.” Her voice was chilly. “Could you just tell me why you’re here so I can get on with it?”
He grinned. He poured the beer into the glass carefully so the head just came to the top edge, then set it down on the table in front of him. He took a breath and relaxed back against the cushions, then reached for the beer. Chloe hovered beside the couch.
He pulled her down beside him with his free hand, circled her slim shoulders and pulled her close. He’d never seen her wear pink. It was good...it was pink like her lips, like her nipples...
He had to grab hold of his self control, his heartbeat deepening to a drumbeat, his cock hardening. She tensed under his arm and tried to pull away.
“Please, Tyler, what’s going on?”
“I wanted to see you,” he said again. “Is that so bad?”
“Yes! I mean, no...but...”
His fingers slowly stroked her bare arm and he sipped his beer. He didn’t even want the beer. It was just something to slow him down so he didn’t jump her sexy bones.
“What were you doing tonight?” he asked idly, sensuously caressing her soft skin.
She shot him an exasperated glare. “I unpacked, did a load of laundry and worked in my garden,” she said. “Weeding. Sound fascinating?”
He nodded, looking at her indeed with fascination. Her hair was pulled back into a bun that was all loops and spiky ends sticking up, something else he’d never seen. It showed off the curve of her neck and shoulders, but he preferred it down, long and loose so he could touch it.
“You look so different tonight, Chloe.” His eyes roamed over her body in the skimpy clothes.
She tried again to move away from him. Again, he pulled her closer, his arm tightening on her body.
“I’d love to see you weeding.” He pictured her bent over in those little shorts, her curvy ass sticking up. The shorts would probably be so short you could see the bottom curve of her cheeks...
“You’re insane!” she gasped with a choked laugh. “How could you possibly...”
He smiled again. He carefully put his beer down on the table then touched her face, her cheek hot, his fingers cold from holding the frosty glass. She shivered beneath his touch as he drew his fingers down her cheek, over her full bottom lip.
“Last night...” she began, and he shook his head, pressed his fingers on her mouth.
“Forget last night,” he said. “Some time I want you to talk to me about your mother...I want to hear about it, and I think it would be good for you to talk about it. But not now.”
She gazed at him, her eyes huge and smoky blue.
He leaned forward and kissed her softly, lingeringly, once, again...and again.
Her eyes drifted shut as he brushed his lips across hers. She softened against him and hot male triumph shot through him. He was right about her and how she felt about him, how she reacted to him.
He deepened the kiss, opening his mouth over hers and going in, licking at her mouth hungrily but carefully. He didn’t want to scare her. He sensed her nervousness, even as he felt her arousal.
His hand on her cheek slid down to the curve of her neck, over her shoulder, then down to the swell of her breast under the soft cotton. Her nipple tightened against his palm and he hardened in response, his jeans too tight against his aching cock.
“Tyler you’re doing this again.” She set a small hand on his chest and he loved the feel of it. He covered her hand with his, pressed it there, his heart thudding beneath their joined hands.
“Doing what?” His lips trailed over her peach-soft cheek.
“Doing this!” she cried in frustration, her head falling automatically back to allow him access to her ear, her sweet neck. He licked and nibbled his way down to where her neck joined her shoulder and sucked softly there.
She tried again to move away from him. “How many times are we going to have to go through this? You’re driving me crazy.”
“Me too.” He licked her ear, making her shiver. Her nipples tightened even more, poking through her shirt, and flames licked over his body.
She pushed on his chest, the feel of her hands on him there a delicious pressure. He held her against him, muscles in his arms and shoulders taut with the effort.
“For all you know Michael could be here!” she gasped, trying to avoid his mouth.
He smiled against the side of her neck. Perfect.
“I know he isn’t,” he murmured, licking again. God she tasted good. So sweet. “Because I just left him at the restaurant.”
“Huh?”
“Actually, I think I broke his nose.” He licked her shoulder underneath the strap of her tank top. Delectable.
She jolted back in his arms. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He drew back a little and smiled at her. “Michael was having dinner tonight at the restaurant. With another woman.” He couldn’t resist touching her while he talked, so his hands cupped her breasts. She was so stunned she didn’t even try to stop him. “I thought he was cheating on you, so I punched him in the face. He was bleeding pretty good.” Then he frowned. “Damn. Isn’t he a lawyer? He’s probably gonna sue me.”
“He’s an accountant,” she answered automatically, apparently trying to take this in, blinking rapidly at him.
“You’re busted, sweetheart,” he said softly. “He told me you broke up with him weeks ago. Too bad he didn’t tell me that before I plowed him. Oh well.”
He leaned down and took her mouth again.
“Wait,” she begged, jerking her head aside.
“Uh-uh, Chloe. I’m not waiting any longer. You’ve got no excuse now...I’m going to have you and you’re going to love it.”

Insatiable Part 14