What I'm Reading Wednesday
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I did finish Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh last week, and managed to finish another book - Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl. I really enjoyed this book! Do I sound surprised? For some reason, knowing it's considered a contemporary romance published by HQN, I thought it was going to be a sweet romance - but no! It was quite steamy! I loved the little role reversal and it was a great story too, with a wounded heroine. Almost got a little teary at the end when she...never mind, no spoilers. A great read!

And just last night I started Release by Beth Kery - already loving it!
WIPs and Chains
Earlier this week, I got distracted from my WIP. It’s been a while since I finished “Sweet Deal” and I got a sudden urge to submit it somewhere. Spent the last couple of days editing and polishing and writing the synopsis and the query blurby thing. It’s not what I consider erotic – no whips and chains or threesomes. Of course, there are hot scenes in it but the sexual journey is not the main journey in this story. I think I know what I want to do, but I decided to check with my goddess agent Laura Bradford for her advice. She said to send it to her - so I did! Geez, I still feel sick every time I submit something.

While I wait to hear back from her, back to my WIP. This story is still moving along nicely and I must say I reached my "climax" (Why can't I type that without getting dirty thoughts?) at the exact page count I planned. However, this crisis scene is going to kill me. I need a good night of insomnia to figure out what's gotta happen here. I did write some today on it, but it's going veeeerrrrry slowly...
Kelly JamiesonComment
SPRING FLING at Ellora's Cave today
Ellora's Cave Chat

If you're not a member, come join! Today starting at noon EST Ellora's Cave authors are chatting, sharing excerpts and giving away prizes!

Raelene Gorlinsky is talking about things like:

We Want to Hear From You

How You Can Hear From Us

Special Products/Programs (free reads, audio books, pricing)

New and Upcoming!

RomantiCon

EC 10th Anniversary (BOGO, Special Editions, RomantiCon)

Calling All Aspiring Erotica Authors

And other informative interviews about audio books, etc.

I'll be there giving away a copy of RIGGER and chatting, anwering any questions you may have for me! Come on have some spring fling reading fun!
Kelly JamiesonComment
Release day!
But not for me!
My critique partner Nara Malone's debut romance The Tiger's Tale is out today with Ellora's Cave!





Never quite fitting in, Marie has always struggled with her identity. Adam has shown her just how sensual she can be, but despite this awakening she still doesn’t feel complete. That’s because she’s not. Orphaned at birth and raised by humans, practical Marie has no idea of her dual heritage as tiger and woman, or the role she must play to save her species.

When Adam discovers that his alluring girlfriend is not only a Pantherian tiger but carries unique genetic traits that could save their species, he asks Ean to join them as the third partner in the traditional Pantherian mating triad. With the future of the species at stake, the sexy shifters have only one week to convince her that not only is she a tiger, but she must mate with both men to save the Pantherians from extinction.


Here's an excerpt:

A soft knock at the door made her wish she could burrow under her warm blanket and hide in the dark with Lilly. It would be Adam. The blue face of the alarm clock marked the time as 5:00 a.m. No one else would call at this hour.

She tossed the blanket aside. Chill bumps sprang up on her arms. A white tank top and white lace panties were more clothes than he preferred her wearing and might as well be nothing in the morning chill. She scooped the bunny up and carried her cradled just below her breasts, flipping on the light with her free hand.

She opened the door to stare into the cosmic swirl of Ean’s eyes. Her stomach responded with an excited flutter. He leaned against the doorframe.

It was freezing outside yet he wore jeans and a blue flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She was thinking he should have a jacket and then recalled just how hot his skin felt pressed against hers. Maybe it was better to keep him as cool as possible.

“You should at least ask who it is.” He stepped in and past her before she could overcome her surprise and find words to send him away. “Why isn’t there a peephole in that door?”

She shivered and shut the door. “I’m not yours to worry over, Ean.”

It came out sounding crankier than she intended. He whirled, his lips pursed briefly, but he let the rudeness go without comment.

He had a notebook, a thick, brown document-sized envelope and a fat manila folder tucked under one arm. Seeing her attention go there, he deposited his bundle on the coffee table. He fished in his pocket and added a flash drive to the stack.

“Homework for you, Marie. I’m sorry about the early hour but time is critical and we can’t keep wasting it.” He turned around, taking in her one room efficiency in a half-turn.

Marie flinched inwardly, aware of the couch still folded out as her bed, the tangled blankets and sheets. They would still be warm from her body.

Ean looked back to her, his eyes wide, shock evident. “Why do you live here instead of Adam’s house?”

She lifted one shoulder and looked away. “I like my space.”

“You like your space?” Ean did another turn. “What space?”

In her arms the bunny scrabbled furiously. Marie hugged her tighter.

“Okay, I don’t want to intrude on his space.” She twisted away from Ean and carried Lilly to her box in the corner. “Go home, Ean. I’m not in the mood for this and it’s too early for whatever that is.” She jabbed a finger toward the papers teetering in an unruly stack.

Ean dropped onto her bed, elbows on knees, fingertips steepled, his chin resting on the tips of his thumbs, contemplating.

“This doesn’t make sense, Marie.”

Marie fussed with Lilly, picking cedar chips from her food dish. She didn’t answer, she couldn’t answer. She could feel the quiver of emotion just there in her throat. One word would give it all away.

He moved so softly she didn’t know he was there until she felt his warmth behind her, his arms gently encircling her, his breath against her face. He nudged back her hair. Anticipation sent a shiver through her. He covered the side of her face with a wet, sloppy lick.

The effect was like a dousing with ice water. She jumped up so fast they banged heads and she backed away from him, rubbing hers. “What is wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He looked embarrassed.

“Look, Ean, this thing with you and Adam isn’t going to work. Just go home, okay?”

He moved toward her again and she kept retreating, swiping at the wet spot on her cheek with the back of her hand.

“Why can’t it work? I know you like me.” He backed her against the refrigerator. “And I know you like being licked.”

That comment started a tingling in the lips of her pussy. A wet trickle dampened her panties. She ducked, bracing for another sloppy lick, but he simply kissed the top of her head.

She tried pushing at his chest and wound up thinking about how broad it was, a sprinkling of red gold hair across it. He had big firm nipples. She ran her tongue over her teeth, remembering the rubbery feeling of a nipple against it, rolling the hard nub between her teeth when they clamped down.

This had to stop!

She pushed him harder and he leaned back, looking down at her with a warm, I-want-you look. She cleared her throat.

“You’ll understand why this can’t work when you’re a little older.”

The barb didn’t work. The tip of his index finger slid along her collarbone. “Your nipples get hard when I lick you.”

She looked down at the two dark circles rising to hard peaks under her thin shirt. He scooped her up in his arms then and headed for the bed. Heat radiated through his cotton shirt. Her knees hooked over one strong muscled arm while his other curved around her shoulders. The need to press her face into his neck and breathe in his scent was nearly overwhelming. She had to bite down on her tongue to resist tasting, right there where his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Now see, this is exactly what I mean. Put me down, Ean. Carrying me without my permission is immature.” She’d meant to sound stern. It came out wobbling and breathy.

He snorted. He did put her down on the futon and sank to his knees beside it. He had that odd look in his eyes again.

“If you lick me I will cut your tongue out!”

He licked his lips instead and glanced around, “We’re getting off track here.”

There was another knock at the door.

“Adam,” Ean said, even as she thought it.

What I'm Reading Wednesday
Well, this is embarrassing, but I'm still reading Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh. I just haven't had time to read a lot in the last week I guess. Or it's a really long book. Sometimes it's hard to tell with an ebook.
Love at the Olympics
I loved watching the Olympics - the athletes are so inspiring with their talent and dedication, some of them with incredible "back stories". But I'm a romance author and the story that really caught my interest is the love story between Canadian speedskaters Charles Hamelin and Marianne St. Gelais.

When Marianne won her silver medal in the 500M short track, tears came to my eyes when I saw the passionate hug she exchanged with Charles after she won. Then Marianne won another silver medal, while Charles failed to qualify in the 1500M race. Cameras showed Marianne wiping tears as she watched that race.

Then Charles raced in the 500 m - watch this video of Marianne watching and cheering him on to a gold medal. I love this! Watch right to the end, your heart will love it.

WIPs and Chains and Read an Ebook Week
Welcome to Read an Ebook week! There are all kinds of events happening on the internet this week. Today I’m at I Do Not Want to Wait I Want the Book Now. Tomorrow at Nine Naughty Novelists it’s our Party on the 9th and we’re celebrating St Patrick’s day (a bit early) and giving away a couple of Irish themed books – one of them is mine, you can probably guess which!

Tuesday night I’ll be at the Samhain café with the 9NN for a little while and we’ll be back Friday evening for a 2 hour 9NN bash with more prizes.

I’m also blogging lots this week here, also at The Bradford Bunch, and 9NN celebrating my critique partner Nara Malone's first release (yes, an ebook) and she has lots of information about ebooks and readers and an awesome contest going on to celebrate Read an Ebook week and her new release!

So... the work in progress...my new story is coming along great! Though I am thrown off my usual pacing strategy because I’m writing this story directly into a publisher’s template. The pages have a lot more words than I’m used to so I’m having to judge the length of my scenes and chapters differently. I actually had to get out a calculator and figure things out and let me just say, math and I are not good friends. I like words much better than numbers. But I think I’ve got it figured out, it’s just different.

Anyway, this story is a bit of a challenge because of my main male character. I’m not sharing details about him just yet but it’s a challenge to show his true character when he doesn’t even realize it himself. There’s a lot of learning and growing in this story, for both my main characters and I love that.

I’m still really liking the story even at that critical one-third mark where I usually start to hate it!

Kelly JamiesonComment
Sneak peak
For Friday reading, here's a sneak peak at my work in progress tentatively titled "Power Struggle":

“I’m hungry. Let’s get something to eat.”
She shifted in her seat to face him. “I didn’t think food was what you had in mind. If I’d known that, we could have left half an hour ago.”
Everything inside him eased and softened and he couldn’t help the broad grin that pulled his mouth. He wanted to grab her and hug her. “It wasn’t what I had in mind,” he admitted. “But I’m trying to slow down here.”
She nodded. “Okay. Where should we go?”
“Mickey D’s. Where else is there?”
“What!” She sputtered a laugh. “In your tux and this dress, we’re going to McDonald’s?”
He grinned. “You bet. I’m craving a Big Mac.”
Shaking her head, she leaned back in her seat. “Okay. Sure.”
Uncaring of the looks they attracted, they ordered at the counter then he carried the tray to a table in the back corner of the restaurant. The smell of the burgers and fries filled his head and tempted him. He handed Tori her hamburger and Diet Coke and then opened the box of his own burger. “Yum,” he said. “I’m addicted to these.”
“Big Macs? Or any kind of burger?”
“Pretty much any kind.” He took a big bite.
“You know it’s not really that healthy. You’re a doctor, for heaven’s sake.”
He smiled as he chewed and swallowed. “I know. Don’t do as I do, do as I say.”
She laughed and shook her head, picking up a French fry. “Okay.”
They talked as they ate, about all kinds of things – families, work, school, living in Santa Barbara. Talking to her was easy and fun and he wanted to know everything about her. By the time they left the fast-food restaurant he felt more in control of himself, a little less like throwing her over his shoulder like a cave man and carrying her back to her place to have his way with her. The thought made him grin.
“What’s so funny?”
He turned to her beside the car having unlocked the door for her. “Me.”
She nodded, lips quirked. “It’s good to laugh at yourself.”
“Yeah. I’m a laugh a minute for myself. Seriously.”
Her expression warmed and heat exploded between them again. He bent his head and kissed her, unable to stop himself. Soft and sweet, her mouth opened for his and heat poured through him, coalescing in his groin, hard and hot. Jesus! He loved her mouth. Loved the softness of her tongue. Loved the graze of her teeth. Loved the way she kissed him back.
“I’m going to take you home now,” he whispered against her mouth, fighting for breath. “And I’m not coming in with you. But I am going to call you. And we are going to go out.”
“Another fabulous dinner date?”
Laughter sprang up inside him as he moved away from her, every nerve ending in his body on fire. Christ, never mind laughing at himself, she made him laugh and he loved it. “Maybe I’ll spring for pizza.”
She laid a hand on his cheek. “That sounds great.”
*****
When Tori was alone in her house, she hopped slowly into her living room and dropped onto her couch. She stared across the room, sitting in the dark, the lights of the city spread below her window out to the blackness of the ocean.
She touched her fingertips to her mouth, where Dev had kissed her.
Dev. His name was Dev. Dev Fillmore. A doctor.
A man.
Why had she made that crack about him being a baby? It had annoyed him, and she’d hated herself for that, and plus, he was so far from a baby, or even a boy, it was ridiculous.
She leaned back into the softness of the couch and closed her eyes, remembering the smell of his skin, a sexy male scent mingled with spicy sandalwood and sage, remembering the roughness of his face against hers, the faint abrasion of his whiskers another reminder of his masculinity, his maturity. Remembering the strength in his hands, the width of his shoulders, the power of his gaze when he’d looked into her eyes and threatened to carry her out of there.
Remembering how she’d melted, how her panties had literally grown wet, how she’d ached between her thighs, how…she’d wanted him to carry her out of there.
Dear god, she’d wanted him to carry her out of there.
She knew her own weaknesses, her own triggers and hot buttons and Dev had been pushing them all evening. Wow.
What I'm Reading Wednesday
Before I talk about what I'm reading (and almost not reading!) let me invite you to come by Leah Braemel's blog today where I am talking about my latest fun way to procrastinate!

After a run-in with the Sony store the other night (the books I wanted were only available in the U.S.!! What's up with that??) I headed on over to All Romance eBooks to make my purchases and ran into some technical difficulties. It was just me being a big techie loser. All is fine and I have a big list of books to be read.

I was too busy watching Olympics to read much (or write much!) but now they're over and I'm feeling the post-Olympic let down and ready to read.

Reading now: Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh. A good solid hot Lora Leigh story.
WIPs and Chains
Well I sure didn't get much writing done this weekend with all the Olympic excitement. Now they're over, life can get back to normal although I'm going to be in serious Olylmpics withdrawal.

I hada look at my half finished Ponzi story. It’s actually more than half done and once again I think – surely I can finish this? But then, I don’t know where it came from but a brand new idea popped into my head. It has a BDSM theme. When I started mapping out my story and my characters, it became incredibly clear and exciting and this is the story I have to work on next.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have contractual obligations that you have to fulfill. Like, you have to write two romantic suspense books over the next year. What would I do? Could I handle that? What if the ideas dry up and there’s just nothing there? What would it be like to have a deadline? I’ve never really had to deal with that and I consider myself a fast and prolific writer, and I’ve never really had much trouble staying motivated. In fact I feel pretty much driven to write. All the time. But what if the pressure made me seize up and not be able to meet the deadline? Maybe some day I’ll experience that For now I’ll just keep writing.
Sixty nine threesome
A three-six-nine is a very short work consisting of three stories of exactly sixty-nine words each. The stories are all written to a common theme, and each has its own title. The piece as a whole also has a title, but the title doesn't count in the word count.

My critique partner,
Nara Malone, being a writer of erotic romance, changed the name of the three-six-nine to a sixty-nine threesome! Gotta love that!

I'm not very good at writing short and I'm definitely not a poet, but I decided to take a stab at a sixty-nine threesome using one of my books as a basis. It could be cheating - but on the other hand, I just used words I took from a longer story that I wrote.

See what you think!

SEXPRESSO NIGHT

Dark Hunger


The softness of his touch, his erection brushing her hip, his gentle smile, made her want to weep with longing for more – forceful hands, demanding kisses, the weight of a hard body pressing her down. She closed her eyes against the dark hunger rising inside her, the craving to be pushed, taken to the edge.
The cool silk slid through her fingers as she held it up. “Here.”


Punishment

“You have to be punished now,” he whispered. He dragged her hands up to the headboard and wrapped her fingers around it. Then he laid his palm on her butt in a heavy caress. Once. She jolted, gasped. Twice. Three times. A warm pink shade bloomed there. He went to his knees beside the bed and licked. Kissed again. Nipped with his teeth.
“You like the burn, don’t you?”

The Gift


A stinging kiss.
Heat radiated over her body in edgy, transporting rapture. A hazy glow surrounded her, lights sparking behind her blindfolded eyelids, every last doubt fled from her mind and only trust remained.
With the pain came strength. The strength to submit. The strength to be helpless and vulnerable. The strength to transform the pain into pleasure. The strength to take what he gave her.
Which was everything.
What I'm Reading Wednesday
Okay, I finished Back in Black by Lori Foster. You know, it was pretty good. I have to say I kind of started out disappointed because she's one of my all time favourite, go-to authors, one of the ones who inspired me to seriously start writing a few years ago, and at first it seemed a little ...I don't know...old fashioned? I'm not sure why I picked that word but it seems to fit. It also seemed like two almost completely separate romance stories, but I liked how the two plot lines came together at the end. The characters were all very distinctive and interesting.

I also finished a book by a new-to-me author but probably not new to many others - Laura Kinsale. I read this book on the recommendation of my critique partner Nara Malone: The Shadow and the Star. Oh my goodness. I couldn't put it down, even as I was frustrated by how long it was taking for Leda and Samuel to get together. Talk about sexual tension! Leda's Victorian morals although also frustrating were entirely appropriate for the time period the book is set in. She completely captivated me at the beginnig of the book, where it was so dark and dreary and sad and her life is on the edge, but she doesn't ever give up or give in. It just tugged at my heartstrings when she did things like "look at her accounts" even though she has no money, and when she foolishly bought souvenirs with her last money and then was angry at herself. I loved Leda and I loved Samuel - what an unusual hero.

This book got so inside my head and occupied my brain and wouldn't leave.

So what should I start tonight...?
WIPs and Chains

I did it! I went back to my “Murder in the Winery” story and I finished it ! I don’t know if being away from it for a while helped the creative process or if I’m just on a roll here, but when I went back to it, I sat down and wrote 5000 words a day, several days in a row. The last scene took a little longer, but it’s actually finished. Once again, it’s just a rough draft (very rough – it is hemorrhaging red spell check ink – there are some places where there are so many typos I’m not even sure what it says, which just shows how fast my brain was moving and my fingers couldn’t keep up LOL).

It’s usually the end of the book where my themes become evident to me. I don’t know if other writers start off with the theme of the story in mind. I have a vague idea, but when the characters get together at the end of the story and start summing things up and expressing their feelings in the story resolution, that’s when it becomes clear to me. I see now that the theme of this story is control, about how control can turn to abuse, and how control can be a sign of self-doubt, weakness, and also worry. And so the new title of this book, which I believe I will keep, is “Letting Go.”

Now to go back through it and make sure that my theme is there throughout the story. Once again, there’s still a lot of work ahead of me, but knowing it’s a completed story feels soooooo good! I love writing!
Kelly JamiesonComment
Extreme Close Up Chapter 33

The only sound in the room was the hum of Carter’s computer. Carter glanced at the door Jack had closed behind them. His eyes flickered from side to side.
Ally again felt Jack’s startled inquiring gaze on her and turned to him.
“He slept with his boss’s wife?” Jack demanded, his eyes flashing.
She gave a short nod, lips pressed together.
“Is that who you found him with?” Jack’s voice rose with incredulity.
“Yes. That’s who I found him with. Jillian Chipman.” She turned her gaze back to Carter, who tugged at the tie knotted at his throat.
“You’re such an asshole, Carter,” Jack muttered, shaking his head.
“You wouldn’t tell Glenn,” Carter said again.
“Try me,” Ally said. “There’s an innocent little girl’s life at stake here, Carter. She hasn’t done a damn thing to deserve this. You, on the other hand, deserve every bit of karma that’s coming your way. And if I can push that karma along a little...even though I know eventually you’ll get what you deserve, anyway…I have no problem with that.” She paused. “No problem at all.”
He stared at her, then dropped his eyes.
“Carter?”
He stared down at his desk, his face tight.
Ally turned back to Jack. “Do you have the number of the clinic?”
Jack pulled out his cell phone. “Right here.”
Ally reached for the phone on Carter’s desk, and entered the number Jack read out. She handed the receiver to Carter.
He snatched it from her with a glare, then spoke to the nurse in terse tones and made an appointment for that afternoon once he’d explained about whom he was calling.

* * *

Ally and Jack emerged from the office building onto the sunny sidewalk. She burst out laughing and flung her arms around him.
He caught her around the waist and couldn’t resist swinging her around in an exuberant circle, attracting amused glances from business people striding up and down the sidewalk.
Her hair swung around her. Her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes glowed and her smile was so bright he needed to put his shades back on.
“You were incredible in there,” he said. ”I can’t believe he did that.”
“Slept with his boss’s wife?” She gave a crooked little smile. “That’s who I found him in bed with. In our home. Grrr.” She gave a little growl then smiled again. It obviously didn’t bother her too much. “The pig. Jillian is Glenn’s second wife. I thought she was a trophy wife – much younger than him, blonde, gorgeous - but Glenn is really nuts about her. Really. And they have a new baby now. It would kill him to know she’d cheated on him with Carter.”
“And you would have told him? Would you do that to Glenn and Jillian?” He eyed her skeptically.
“I’m not sure.” She grimaced. “I’d hate to do it, of course. But Carter didn’t know that.”
Jack grinned again, adoration for this woman swelling up inside him, making his chest tight and painful. God. How could he live without her? What she’d done for him, for Brittany, for Sarah… He almost choked on his love for her. He grabbed her again, pulled her tight against him and tucked her head under his chin, his eyes stinging.
“I love you, Ally.”
“I love you, too, Jack.”
He lifted his head and cupped her face, then kissed her on the mouth, a deep, soul-touching, mind-melting kiss, right there on the sidewalk in downtown L.A., loving the taste of her, the feel of her against him and he knew he never wanted to let her go.

Three months later


Sarah hugged the big Winnie the Pooh bear and smiled at Jack and Ally.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “I love him.”
They smiled back at her. She wore no cap over her wispy blonde hair, and she still looked tiny and thin, but healthier and stronger than the last time they’d seen her. She’d had her bone marrow transplant about six weeks earlier. The match with Carter’s bone marrow had been reasonably good. She’d developed a mild case of GVHD about a week ago, but the drugs seemed to be preventing it from becoming serious or life threatening. She’d also had some infections, and she wasn’t totally out of the woods yet, but she was doing much better.
Brittany, too, smiled at them, standing beside her daughter’s bedside. “I still can’t thank you enough,” she said, her appreciation shining in her eyes.
“We should go,” Jack said. “Our flight leaves in a few hours.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Brittany said. They left Sarah’s bedroom and walked down the hall of Brittany’s small home, out onto her front doorstep.
“I still don’t know what you did to Carter to make him agree,” she told them. “But I really appreciate your help.”
Ally smiled back at her. “I think Jack was actually disappointed he wouldn’t be able to help by donating bone marrow,” she told their old friend wryly. “But we’ve both registered now with the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Who knows, there may be someone else somewhere we can help that way.”
Brittany nodded, eyes glossy. “That’s so awesome.”
“How is Carter doing?” Ally asked. “Have you talked to him since?”
Brittany nodded. “Yes.” She bit her lip. “He’s doing fine. He was sore for a few days, but he really had no problems at all. He actually mentioned meeting Sarah when I talked to him the other day.”
Jack and Ally traded glances. “That’s good,” Jack said cautiously. “Did you...have you got a lawyer?”
Brittany shook her head. “No. I never did. After he agreed to donate, that’s all I cared about. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure I want Sarah to meet him.”
“Oh.” Sadness swept over Ally. “He’s her father...”
“I know, but he’s been such a jerk about this whole thing. Carter has betrayed so many people...and...” Her eyes fell with shame. “I have too. I feel terrible about that. What kind of parents does the poor kid have? Anyway, I don’t want her to be one of Carter’s victims.”
Ally nodded slowly, and looked at Jack. She could tell they were thinking the same thing. “I wish I could say he wouldn’t do that to a helpless little girl, but who knows? We misjudged him so much in the past.”
“The fact that he wants to meet her is a good sign,” Jack said. “Maybe this experience is opening his eyes. Making him realize what’s important.”
“I don’t know if what’s important to Carter will ever be the same as what’s important to you,” Brittany said with a sad smile. “Um...I wanted to say how happy I am that you two are finally together. You two always had some kind of special bond - even in high school.”
Ally and Jack’s eyes met and they smiled.
“Thanks,” Ally said softly.
“And the book you’ve written...” Brittany referred to the children’s book Jack and Ally had collaborated on, inspired by Sarah’s battle. “To donate the profits to the children’s oncology unit - that is so amazing.”
Ally shrugged and made a face. “Who knows. If the book doesn’t sell, it won’t be much of a gesture.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Brittany said. “Just the idea is amazing. I’m glad Sarah had a chance to meet you, as friends.”
“We’ll be back in a couple of months,” Jack said. They were off to Europe that evening, first to Paris, then on to Baghdad. “But you have our e-mail address. Be sure to keep us posted on how Sarah is doing.”
“I will,” Brittany promised.
Jack slid into the driver’s seat of Ally’s car. He’d long since turned in the rental car and settled in at Ally’s home. His home, now, too. Ally climbed in beside him.
“Thanks,” she said.
“For what?”
“For coming here again. I know it was weird at first, but I think we both needed to know she was okay.”
“Yeah. At least I know I’ve done whatever I can for her.” He glanced at her. “What are you smiling about?”
“I love you.” Her heart swelled with love for him so much she almost burst with it.
“I love you too.” He reached for her hand. “Wanna get married in Paris?”
She gaped at him and he smiled back at her.
“What the hell kind of proposal is that?” Her heart danced a wild hip hop rhythm in her chest and her lungs constricted as she stared at him.
His grin broadened and he squeezed her fingers. “You’re right. I should have waited. I had it all planned. The ring is at home, and I know the perfect place in Paris where I planned to go down on one knee. But damn, it just slipped out.”
The corners of her eyes stung and she blinked at him. “You have a ring?”
“Yeah.”
She sniffed and waved a hand. “Okay, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that. I can wait. Go ahead and do the romantic thing in Paris.”
And he did.

THE END
Kelly Jamieson Comments
What I'm Reading Wednesday
I finished Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh. This story was okay for me. There were times when all the conflict didn't make a lot of sense to me and I couldn't quite figure out why everyone was so angry at each other. I also didn't feel satisfied by the threesome sex. Shane seems a very sexy dominant man, but I got no sense of Marty's feelings for him. It's clear how much she loves Khalid, but surely she shoud have some feelings for the other man she's having sex with. Of course, this was a very hot Lora Leigh story, as always.

Now I'm reading Back in Black by Lori Foster. I didn't plan to read this next as I have a big list of books queued up on my reader, but I saw it in the bookstore and I bought the paperback. Lori Foster is a long time favorite author of mine, and I'm enjoying the story. Her characters are always so dimensional and interesting.
WIPs and Chains

I’m done. I’ve fleshed out the characters. Surprise to me: Jake is not a “Chief” archetype, he’s a “Bad Boy”. He showed me that over and over throughout the story. AND he has a deep emotional childhood wound that I didn’t know about. That’s why he’s such a bad boy and a player. It all makes sense now. Why he was so hurt by rejection and betrayal. But Shelby makes sense, too, now that I know how her parents ignored her so they could fight all the time. Now I know why she was willing to enter into this deal with Jake. Now I know why her career is such a challenge to her at times.

The funny thing is, when I started fleshing out the characters and then went back to add things into my story to make sure they were there - they were already there. To my surprise. Am I in some kind of coma when I write, or something?

Anyway, the good thing is that although at about pages 125 – 175 I felt I was writing boring drivel that nobody would ever want to read, I now feel kind of...excited. Like, maybe this story is okay after all. I mean, I hope it’s more than okay, but how would I know? I just wrote it.

I also have a new title which might be the one that actually sticks: Sweet Deal.

Now my process is to put it away and let it simmer. Let the flavours develop, if you will. The longer the better, but I'll leave it alone for at least a month. Then, deeper editing will happen.

And now..on to something else!
Extreme Close Up Chapter 32

All the way to the thirty-five story glass tower that housed Carter’s law firm, Ally hoped and prayed he was there, because she didn’t want to call ahead and let him know they were coming. She also hoped and prayed she could do this. Confronting Carter had never been easy for her.
She’d dressed carefully in a slim-fitting, knee length dress, the gold color flattering with her auburn hair. High heeled pumps of a similar color made her taller and upped her confidence. She needed every bit of it to pull this off.
She eyed Jack as he drove. He wore his dark glasses, his thick sun-bleached hair shaggy and sexy, face and arms bronzed. Unlike her, he hadn’t dressed up, wearing baggy green cargo pants and a black t-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and muscular chest. He looked insanely sexy. She swallowed a sigh of pleasure.
She twisted the strap of her purse between her fingers while Jack found a lucky parking spot on a side street. They walked into the lobby of the building, all gleaming granite, stainless steel and glass. Ally marched right over to the elevator and punched the ‘up’ button, and when they stepped in, she stabbed the button for the thirtieth floor.
“You know where you’re going,” he murmured.
“Yes.” She nibbled her bottom lip, then composed herself to look cool and confident.
Stepping off the elevator, they faced an elegant reception desk of dark wood, the name of the law firm Chipman, Barratt displayed in shiny brass letters. Ally greeted the receptionist. “Hi, Stephanie.”
“Ally!” Stephanie’s eyes widened, then a small crease formed between her brows. Her eyes moved to Jack and recognition lit them. “Hi! Are you here to see Carter?”
“Yes, we are. We have some business. Can we just go on back?” Ally started toward the door to the left of the reception desk without waiting for Stephanie’s somewhat uncertain agreement.
Jack followed behind Ally as she pulled open the door and stepped into the long hallway. She started down the hall, her heels sinking slightly into the plush carpet. She remembered exactly where Carter’s office was.
As they passed by an open door, a man stepped out into the hall, almost bumping into Ally. She stopped. The tall, slightly balding man looked at her face and a broad smile crossed his.
“Ally!”
It was Glenn Chipman, one of the senior partners of the law firm and Carter’s boss. This couldn’t be better.
“Hi Glenn.” She extended a hand to him. He took it and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you.” He studied her. “I haven’t seen you for so long. In fact, not since you and Carter split up. I was so sorry about that.”
She smiled and lifted her shoulders. “Yes, well. I’m fine. How is Jillian? And your new baby?”
His eyes lit up at mention of his wife and child. “They’re doing great. You knew about the baby? He’s nine months old now.”
She nodded, smiling warmly. “Yes, I heard. Congratulations. You must be so proud.”
“I am. The little guy is just amazing. And Jillian is well, too. She’s enjoying being a new mother.”
Ally’s smile felt stretched tight. “That’s great.”
“And you...your book is doing well, I hear.”
“Yes. It is.”
“Congratulations to you, too.”
“Thank you,” she said sincerely, tipping her head. “Well, I’m so glad I ran into you. We’re just here to see Carter on a little business. Glenn, this is my friend Jack Templeton. Jack, Glenn Chipman.”
The two men shook hands and Ally and Jack continued down the hall. She found Carter’s office exactly where she remembered and luck was with them. The door stood open and Carter sat behind his desk, tapping away on the computer keyboard.
She knocked on the open door and stepped in as Carter looked up. His eyes widened, then narrowed, a small crease between his eyebrows.
“Ally!” he exclaimed. “And Jack. What are you doing here?”
Ally smiled and walked across the office. “That’s not much of a greeting.”
Carter’s frown deepened. He didn’t look happy to see them, but that was okay. He was going to be even less happy in a few minutes.
“We wanted to talk to you,” Ally said.
“Oookay.” Carter waved a hand to the chairs in front of his desk and she and Jack sat down.
She took a deep breath. “We came to talk to you about Sarah.”
Carter’s eyes flickered. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Sure there is.” She pasted on a smile. “Jack and I both think you need to do the right thing. You need to acknowledge she’s your daughter. And you need to meet with the oncology clinic and find out if you’re a good donor for her.”
Carter just stared back at Ally blankly. “I’m not going to acknowledge I’m her father,” he replied slowly. “I already said that. No way in hell. She’s not getting a penny out of me and she never will.”
“Carter, you know that’s not what this is about. This is about saving that little girl’s life. You may be the only one who can.”
He shook his head. “I said no, Ally. And if that’s what you came to say, you can go now.”
“No.” Now she shook her head, glanced at Jack. He gave her an encouragingly smile, although he looked both disgusted and expectant.
She looked back at Carter. “Brittany is going to get a lawyer.”
He shrugged. “Let her. She’ll need a damn good lawyer to fight me. Technically, she doesn’t have a chance.”
Technically.
Ally lost patience. “Yes. You said that before. And you may be right. I’m not a lawyer, what do I know? But you know, I’m sick of hearing ‘technically’ this and ‘technically’ that from you. It annoyed me when you defended clients who were clearly guilty, getting them off on technicalities just because you could.”
“That’s what a good lawyer does.”
“Maybe so, but I hate it. Technically, you may not owe Brittany or Sarah anything, but Christ, Carter, what kind of monster are you?”
Ally studied the man she’d once thought she loved. He was a monster. A cold, callous monster. She almost shuddered at the thought that she’d been with him, cared about him. She swallowed, forcing herself to remain calm and controlled.
“It’s not that bad, Carter,” Jack put in. “I found out all about the donor thing. If you end up donating, you probably don’t even have to stay in the hospital overnight. You have a sore back for a few days, have to go back for a few follow up appointments. The risks are very small.”
“I don’t care about that.”
Silence expanded in the room, thick and pulsing.
Then Ally asked softly, “What if Glenn found out about all this?”
She sensed Jack’s head swivel and his gaze on her. She just kept staring steadily at Carter. “I just ran into him in the hall,” she continued. “We had a nice chat.”
The corners of Carter’s mouth tightened, then relaxed. “You wouldn’t tell him,” he said. “And even if you did...it’s not that big a deal. The law is on my side here.”
“The law may be, but how about just plain ethics? How about your reputation? Don’t you care about that?”
He considered that, and she hated him for his coldness. “I don’t really think a hysterical woman who kept a child a secret for nine years is going to make people hate me,” he replied. “Besides, there is some doubt about the paternity of the child.” He glanced meaningfully at Jack. “You did have a relationship with her too.”
“It’s already been proven I’m not the father,” Jack reminded Carter quietly.
“But who knows how many other guys she slept with? After all, if she screwed around on you once, she could have screwed around on you more.”
The muscles in Jack’s jaw tightened.
“We all know you’re the father, Carter,” Ally said. “Are you going to get tested, or not?”
“Not.” He leaned back in his chair. “Look, I’m getting bored with this. And I do have to go to a meeting. You can tell Glenn about it if you want, but I don’t think I’m going to lose my job or my reputation over this.”
Ally paused for three slow heartbeats. Then she said, “How about if I tell Glenn you slept with his wife?”


Extreme Close Up Chapter 33
Hey guess what!

I got another review!!
I don't know what's going on but I like it!
Here's the latest for SEXPRESSO NIGHT:

Two Lips Reviews - 4 1/2 LIPS!
Reviewed by Victoria!


"After you read Kelly Jamieson’s Sexpresso Night, you’ll never think about a cup of coffee in the same way! It takes a strong Dom to know when his sub’s fears are indeed real, and with abundant tenderness, Carter allows Dayna to overcome her fears and see they are meant for each other. If you like a truly tender BDSM romantic story that will make you lust for your next cup of java, pick up Ms. Jamieson’s Sexpresso Night today."