Welcome Douglas Black

Today, I went for a walk. I know that doesn’t sound very exciting. Opening with ‘today, I juggled fire’ or ‘skied backwards down Ben Nevis without clothes on’ would probably have done more to grab your attention. If I tell you that it was so cold I could see my breath, and raining so heavily I was immediately soaked to the bone, you might be more impressed. Or you might wonder what on earth possessed me to go outside when my front garden was doing a good impression of being washed out to sea.

Well, I went for a walk because I have a lot of projects I’m currently trying to finish, and I’m not really succeeding in completing any of them. I also only have two weeks in the UK before I fly to Hong Kong – don’t feel sorry for me, it’s a holiday and I’m desperately looking forward to it, but I am very conscious that time is not on my side. Unfortunately, today’s little jaunt to try to get my head in order didn’t do much with helping me work through my backlog of manuscripts.

You see, not far from where I’m currently staying is a long stretch of woodland with a stream running through the middle. I’ve been meaning to set a story there for ages, but I’ve never got around to it and today, rather than thinking through all the things I have to finish, I started plotting that story instead.

That’s what I do. All the scenes in my novels, novellas and short stories take place in locations I know well. Some of you might already know that, as a Scottish author, I like to use Scotland as a backdrop in most of my books, but I also feature places I’ve travelled to. My new novel, Port In A Storm, is a good example of that because my characters – particularly Jake – don’t stay still for long.

Port is the first novel I’ve had published that, while featuring Scottish characters and the odd location in Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews, also features adventures in ‘foreign’ climes including Africa and Venice, Italy. Those scenes were fun to write, not just because I got to revisit some of my past travels, but also because I like to think my readers will enjoy a spot of armchair sightseeing along with their MM erotic romance.

Other stories in the pipeline are set to take place in France, and Spain – where I set a previous short story, Spanish Heat – but thanks to today’s little jaunt it looks like you might have to wait for those.

First, I might be offering you a story that opens with a character going for a walk in the pissing down rain, being stared at strangely by more suitably-attired dog walkers before sliding in the mud, tripping over a tree root and going arse over elbow into a duck pond.

Not that the last bit happened, of course. Everything I write is pure fiction…

Port In A Storm

Douglas Black

Port In A Storm is a MM erotic novel, written by Douglas Black, and published by Loose Id Publishing in October 2014.

Blurb:

Alex is stuck in a rut. He’s facing a big decision about his future, namely, what to do with it and so far he hasn’t managed to come up with an answer.

Until he meets Jake.

Jake blows through Alex’s world like a hurricane and Alex falls hard and fast for the perpetual traveller with a penchant for secrets and a perfect smile. Jake wants Alex, but life isn’t as simple as that.

Jake never settles in one place for long and already their long-distance relationship is driving a wedge between Alex and his family. With no compromises on offer, Alex’s decision about his future becomes a decision about Jake.

For Alex, the idea of losing Jake doesn’t bear thinking about, but choosing him looks like it will mean throwing away everything Alex knows, including his relationship with his parents. And so, Alex finds himself with another question to answer.

How much would you be willing to give up, to be happy?

Excerpt:

Alex coughed to bring them both back into the room and asked for two twenty-five for the magically appearing muffin. Amy must have passed it across while Alex had been busy making a performance out of pouring a cup of water. His traveler was still smiling that obscenely sexy smile as he held his bag in place with one hand and flipped open his wallet with the other.

Canadian and Australian dollars spilled out across the counter, followed by a handful of coins and a further fluttering of strange, brightly colored bills that even Alex, who had worked in an international airport for three years, couldn’t identify. A smattering of euros came next as the man rummaged with a single hand to extract an appropriate currency. Alex watched in amusement until a single Nuevo Sol coin slid out and started rolling toward him. Then Alex raised his hands and put a stop to the proceedings.

Those brown eyes met his once more, but the smoldering sex look was gone, replaced with one of genuine bafflement. “I swear I have some dollars in here, mate. Just give me a second.”

“Sterling,” Alex corrected.

The man looked between his wallet and Alex as if trying to fit together the pieces of a particularly complex jigsaw puzzle. Alex decided to help him out.

“Pounds sterling, for the muffin.”

After some further long seconds of staring, Alex saw the pieces finally fall into place.

“Shit, mate. Of course. Back in bonnie Scotland.” He laughed a deep, throaty laugh that stoked the fire deep in Alex’s stomach. “Thank fuck those pilots know where I’m supposed to be going.”

The man went back to fumbling in his wallet, and Alex couldn’t help but stare at those long, nimble fingers. Against his wishes, his mind threw out images of them on his skin.

“Oh, bugger this. I’ll have to stick it on a card.” The man produced two American Express cards. One red. One black. The black one looked solid. It definitely wasn’t made of plastic.

Alex had so many questions, so many things he wanted to know about this stranger, but he had to remind himself that no matter how his body was reacting to the man before him, he was still at work.

“You take Amex or…?”

Alex shook his head.

“You don’t take Amex in an airport?” The man looked with ill-disguised longing at the blueberry muffin and the rapidly cooling water.

“No, no. We do, but it’s okay. The muffin’s on the house. Here, let me help you.”

“Oh, cheers, mate. That’s really good of you.”

The man picked up the muffin and took a huge bite as Alex began to assemble the money into separate piles according to country. He counted out five different, neat piles of notes and was about to start on the coins when the man reached out and swept everything back into his wallet, crumpling the notes and wedging in the coins until he had to shoogle it up and down to get it to fold shut again. Alex cringed.

“Looks like you get about a bit.” He cringed again when those words tumbled out uncensored from his lips.

Alex had no real idea why he made the comment. He just knew that he didn’t want the man to leave. His body seemed to have decided that it wanted what it saw in front of it, and Alex’s brain currently didn’t seem to be capable of finding the breaks.

“I meant the currencies…” Alex gestured to the wallet, not wanting to be misconstrued while mentally kicking himself, but the man just raised one eyebrow and smirked at him.

“Quite a bit. Not as much as I’d like to, though.” He looked Alex over once more, winked, and took another bite of muffin before lazily tugging up his jeans. He tipped his shoulders forward and bent over slightly as if checking they were where he wanted them. He looked at Alex again, his body open, like he was presenting it for inspection. Alex didn’t need to think twice before deciding that body would pass any inspection thrown at it, with flying colors.

An even longer excerpt is available on the publisher’s website, here - http://www.loose-id.com/port-in-a-storm.html

Author Biography

Douglas Black was born and raised in bonnie Scotland. An archaeologist by trade, Douglas started writing MM erotica - as a means of avoiding starvation at university - before returning to the genre in 2012.

Welcome to your fantasy.

Author Links

Blog

http://douglasblackerotica.wordpress.com

Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Douglas-Black/e/B00A93HUHO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406885803&sr=8-1

Facebook Author Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Douglas-Black/1632968396841732?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

Twitter

@DBlackErotica

Buy Links

http://www.loose-id.com/port-in-a-storm.html

http://www.amazon.com/Port-Storm-Douglas-Black-ebook/dp/B00OI8HIIW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413369322&sr=8-2&keywords=port+in+a+storm+black

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Port-Storm-Douglas-Black-ebook/dp/B00OI8HIIW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413372435&sr=8-1&keywords=port+in+a+storm+douglas+black

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-portinastorm-1651434-149.html

Mistletop Hop

I'm participating in the Mistletoe Blog Hop. The contest runs through December 23rd. I'll announce the winner on the 24th along with the winners from my 12 Days of Christmas contest.

Just comment to win a copy of Tied Up in Tinsel

Christmas Trees. Holiday Music. Sugar Cookies. Glitter and Bows. And Best Of All... the Mistletoe. Romance books enhance our holiday traditions. Who doesn't love to cuddle under a warm blanket near a fire place on a cold day and read? Hop around with us to celebrate the best romance books of the season.

Read excerpts from some good books. Enter each of the author contests. Tell us what you like to read during the holidays. Find some new-to-you authors to ring in the New Year with.

Blurb:

Trust isn’t something Patience Middleton gives very often, especially in the bedroom. She’s been looked at as a slut for wanting more than a vanilla sex life. When she meets William LaBorde he’s offering more than she can handle. William wants to know all her deepest darkest desires in the bedroom. He’s sexy, sweet and willing to make all her fantasies come true.

Patience gives in briefly until William gives her a familiar look of what she perceives as disgust. William convinces her, his only wish is to make her happy in the bedroom, against the wall or under the Christmas tree.

Things go awry when Patience dream fantasy turns into a nightmare. Can William save the day and will she finally give herself to him; body, heart and soul?

Excerpt:

“What brings you here tonight?” She didn’t notice a wedding band, but that didn’t mean anything. He probably had a small child who wanted one of the hot new toys. She didn’t envy him. She didn’t have the first clue what children liked. If it weren’t for her sister’s request, she’d likely just give Kyle a gift card and be done with it.

Maneuvering the toy department never had been her thing.

“My friend’s child could use some cheering up. Father’s been gone for a bit.”

Was that sadness in his eyes? Her heart swelled; his story touched her. He truly cared for his friend’s child.

“Funny, me too. My nephew. Do you have any children?” Nothing like getting right to the point. Not that she wouldn’t be interested in him if he had children; she’d prefer her man to be completely hers.

What the hell was she thinking? She wasn’t going to be dating this man. She’d just met him. She knew nothing about him except he had a soft side toward children. And she certainly wasn’t going to engage in a relationship with him. She didn’t need the headaches, but cozying up to his big, strong body did sound appealing.

“No kids. You?”

“Nah. I’m not ready for them yet. Maybe in five, six years.” She figured thirty-five was a good age to have children. By then she’d be done traveling or doing whatever the hell she wanted.

“Seems reasonable. I like the idea of children now, but I’d be willing to wait too.” He tilted his head and flashed a grin.

Patience laughed despite herself. He was flirting. She liked that.

“When should we get married?” Again, she couldn’t believe the words slipping from her mouth.

He pretended to look at a watch on his wrist. “I’m free in a few hours. I’m sure there’s a justice of the peace out there willing to perform the ceremony.”

“I believe my calendar is free too.” Patience played along with his game.

“Seriously, though, I’d like to take you to breakfast or coffee after this, if you’re really free.”

How did she answer that? She was free, but should she go with him, alone? He was funny and cute. It was just breakfast, after all. They’d be in a public place.

“Sure, why not?”

“Great! Do me a favor. Keep my spot, and I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” She found it strange that he decided to take off after agreeing to breakfast, but he said he’d be right back. Hopefully no one would get upset when he returned and cut the line. He wouldn’t really be cutting, but those who weren’t here to see him wouldn’t realize that.

She watched as he jogged off into the parking lot. She lost him in the mix of cars.

When twenty minutes passed and he didn’t return, she wondered if William had been real or a figment of her imagination. She didn’t have time to worry, though. The store would open, and she had to fight off the cold numbing her toes.

12 Days of Christmas

Day 3 features Operation: Second Honeymoon. Just comment to win an ebook copy.

Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/operation-second-honeymoon.html#product_tabs_description

Blurb:

On the verge of their tenth anniversary, Cole is planning a surprise gift aboard a boat for his wife Avery. Bathing suits are optional - preferably left behind. The only other thing they need to make this weekend perfect? Owen their next door neighbor.

Out on the open sea, Avery will find herself tied to the rails being tortured in the sweetest ways imaginable. The men take her to delicious heights, only to leave her hanging - if only momentarily. When she demands an orgasm she oversteps the boundaries Cole and Owen have but in place. The two men spank her back into submission. There's nothing like red cheeks to ignite the flames of desire in Cole.

After a tremulous six months of clawing their way back together, Avery is ready to accept the help she needs to fix the marriage her husband has fought so hard to save. Will a weekend of hot, sweaty sex be enough to rescue them?

Excerpt:

Owen inched his body closer. Avery turned to flee from him, but he was much quicker. He wrapped her in an embrace and dunked her under.

When she came up for air, she punched him in his arm, only to be met by a brick wall. The muscles in his biceps were made of steel.

“Ouch.” She shook her fist. “You don’t play fair.”

“Hey, I didn’t ask you to punch me. I could’ve told you to save your energy.”

Somehow she managed to slip away to the other side of the oval pool. Owen lagged behind, Avery couldn’t help but wonder if he sported an erection and that was why he didn’t bother following her. Temptation to look filled her, but she bit her lip instead and diverted her attention to the outside of the pool.

“Whatcha looking at?” Owen swam up beside her.

“Checking on the garden. Wanted to see if the veggies are growing,” she lied. “Hey, I need to ask you something.” Avery turned her head to look at Owen.

“Avery. Avery… How does your garden grow?”

“It’s bare,” she declared. She couldn’t believe the bold words had left her mouth. She’d just told Owen that her pussy was shaved. Cole would freak if he knew she’d been discussing something so private with him.

“Hmmm.” Owen turned and swam away, doing the backstroke.

Avery sneaked a peek of his hard cock outlined by his wet emerald swim trunks. It looked massive.

She groaned. This wasn’t going according to plan.

“I should be going back in. I can’t be away from work for too long.”

“What was that question you wanted to ask?”

“Do you know anything about…?”

“What’s going on here?” Cole asked, entering the backyard.

Oh fuck. What was he doing home so early?

“Hey, man. You’re wife offered the pool so I could cool off. I kinda pushed her in because she was being a sissy about getting wet.”

Cole laughed. “It’s about time someone showed her the proper way to get in.”

As Cole drew closer to the pool, she noticed a mischievous look in his pale blue eyes.

Cole Jackson, what in God’s name are you up to?

“I was just getting out. I have to get back to work.” She struggled up the ladder. For some reason, her legs decided they didn’t want to work anymore. She fell back into Owen’s waiting arms.

“Gotcha.” He smiled, and she felt that jolt of electricity shoot right to her core. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she knew she had to get out of there. She hadn’t felt that attracted to another man in over twelve years.

“Thanks.” Avery moved from his grip and flew up the ladder and out of the pool. She wrapped her slender body in the beach towel and off the deck she went.

“No kiss for your husband?” Cole called after her.

“In the house, honey. I think I’m late for a meeting.” The only meeting she was late for was one with her vibrator. If she didn’t orgasm now, she’d explode.

The ache between her legs needed to be dealt with. Her heart pumped wildly. Her body felt like it’d been teased and tortured and left to fend for itself when it came time for an orgasm. Owen had her libido in overdrive.

Special Guest - Whitley Gray

1)    Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer? Josh Lanyon. I admire his writing voice and productivity. I’d love to be as good as he is some day.
2) What is the hardest part of writing your books? Getting quiet time alone to write. I hate interruptions, as I’m the sort of writer that has to get in the zone and stay immersed. When I’m constantly interrupted, the writing goes poorly.
3) Where do you research for your books? Mostly online, and site visits if necessary. I try to restrict setting to places I’ve been, or to places where I can access someone who has lived/worked there. I also use a component of “write what you know” which helps a lot.
4) Who are your books published with? Loose Id, MLR Press, Redhot Publishing.
5) What do you think makes a good story? Interesting characters and a plot that doesn’t quit. I like a lot of action in the plot to keep the characters busy. There’s romance, but there’s also suspense in there.
6) What book are you reading now? Just started Dead in LA by Lou Harper.
7) What are your favorite TV shows? A friend got me to try The Walking Dead earlier this summer, and I loved it! Now I’m waiting for the next season, just like all the other TWD junkies!
8) What songs are most played on your Ipod? Right now, Eli Lieb’s Young Love, and his version of Radioactive. I love his voice. New add is The Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
9) Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they? Before you even start, get into some online classes and learn the craft. It’ll save you a lot of trial and error, and ultimately heartache.
10) Tell us about your favorite fan letter you have received. A gal that read one of my stories and loved it—the story, the characters, all of it. She asked for career advice, which was flattering but also a bit nerve-wracking.

Blurb

Denver homicide cop and shooting survivor Beck Stryker lives to solve the case that left him with PTSD, chronic pain, and killed his co-investigator four months previous. Now his career hinges on his ability to work with the man who shut down his advances two years ago.

After last parting ways with Beck, psychiatrist-turned-FBI profiler Zach Littman never anticipated seeing the detective again. Being sent to Denver to work on a series of killings that have continued after the only suspect died is bad enough. Discovering the detective in charge is Beck leaves Zach gritting his teeth and girding his loins.

The last thing either of them needs is romantic entanglement with a fellow investigator, but danger is a powerful aphrodisiac. The case heats up, and friction between them ignites a fire neither can ignore, first at work and then in the bedroom. As they zero in on the plot behind the murders, the crosshairs zero in on Beck and Zach.

Excerpt

Beck reached his desk and lowered himself into the chair. A pile of reports sat waiting for his attention. Ridiculous. He was a homicide detective, not a secretary. This was a waste of his skills. Field cases waited, infinitely more interesting and requiring a detective’s intuition.

Across the room, Van met his gaze and looked away. Beck spun his chair toward the windows behind him. Sheets of water rippled down the windows, blurring the building across the street.

After the shooting, Beck’s ex-lover had made it clear as still water that there was nothing left between them. At least Van had understood the pressures of the job, the danger, both on the street and in the department. Homicide was a macho division, and the other detectives were unlikely to accept an alternate orientation. He and Van had agreed to keep their relationship under wraps. Had they had a relationship or just been fuck buddies?

Nights in a soft bed, Van’s hot tongue everywhere until Beck squirmed with need. A firm grip on his cock, stroking.

“What would you like tonight?”

Heat rushed to his groin. Mind-blowing sex—no doubt about that—but was that all they’d had?

They’d never eaten at a restaurant unless it was out of town. They’d never taken a vacation together. Van liked sun and sand and room service; Beck preferred snow and skiing and grilled steaks at the lodge. And they never stayed over at each other’s places.

Sure didn’t sound like a relationship. Hell, when he’d been lying in the hospital with his shattered shoulder pinned together, wondering if his hand would ever work again, he’d turned to Van expecting emotional support, and his lover had gunned down the only thing Beck had left.

Van had left nothing at Beck’s apartment except travel brochures.

The first time Beck had risked his heart, and he’d gotten blown away for his trouble. Staying secreted in the closet precluded Van paying attention to a disabled boyfriend. “It would look strange if I spent extra time with you,” Van had said, and he’d been careful not to visit more often than any of the others. At that point, Beck had wished his injuries had been more severe, that the bullet had hit a few inches to the right and down, preempting Van’s assault on Beck’s heart. Death had sounded better than total bereavement.

Anger had overtaken depression in short order. The first thing he’d done after arriving home was deep-six the tropical-vacation brochures littering the kitchen counter.

In the ensuing weeks, Beck had fought through the pain of physical therapy and the loss of the relationship.

As Beck’s psychologist, Jay had helped him work through most of that. And the painful inquiry about the shootings.

“Hey.” Soft brown eyes gazed down at him, wary, not welcoming. The familiar scent of Van’s bay rum aftershave reached Beck, and his stomach clenched.

“Well. What can I do for you, Detective Gates?”

Van plopped a folder on his desk. “Got a computer request that needs your expertise.”

“Don’t think I can help you.” Beck picked up a pen, tapped it on the folder. “I’m not a computer expert.”

Van’s full mouth thinned, lips pressed together. “It’s a search for vehicle license plates. Need it for the murder book.”

BUY: Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/high-concept.html

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/High-Concept ebook/dp/B00F3H6S1A/ref=zg_bsnr_14044691_7

Website: www.whitleygray.com

Blog: http://whitleygray.blogspot.com/2013/09/high-concept.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitley.gray

Fall Into Romance Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog. The contest is open from  September 13, 12:00am EST (Friday) and will end on September 21, 11:59pm EST.
To enter just leave a comment on why you love to read Romance books. Please be sure to leave your email address in the event you win! :o)

And the prize? $10 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Here is my Erotic Romance. The story deals with loss, grief and depression and how love can conquer all if you allow it.

Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/operation-second-honeymoon.html#product_tabs_description

Blurb:

On the verge of their tenth anniversary, Cole is planning a surprise gift aboard a boat for his wife Avery. Bathing suits are optional - preferably left behind. The only other thing they need to make this weekend perfect? Owen their next door neighbor.

Out on the open sea, Avery will find herself tied to the rails being tortured in the sweetest ways imaginable. The men take her to delicious heights, only to leave her hanging - if only momentarily. When she demands an orgasm she oversteps the boundaries Cole and Owen have but in place. The two men spank her back into submission. There's nothing like red cheeks to ignite the flames of desire in Cole.

After a tremulous six months of clawing their way back together, Avery is ready to accept the help she needs to fix the marriage her husband has fought so hard to save. Will a weekend of hot, sweaty sex be enough to rescue them?

Excerpt:

AVERY WANTED TO wipe that smug look off her sister’s face.

“What’s so funny, Kendall?”

“You and Cole. You’re like dogs in heat. I’m surprised there aren’t a herd of kids running rampant around this yard.”

“We’re very careful. We both want children eventually, but we love our lives too much to have them right now.” She wondered if it sounded selfish. She and Cole shared such an incredible sex life that she worried if she had children, it would go away. She’d heard horror stories where couples had children and their relationships fell apart. While she trusted their love, she still didn’t want to risk losing the amazing sex.

Damn, how she’d wanted Cole to drag her into the kitchen, prop her up on the granite countertop, slide her bikini bottoms over, and slip his hard cock inside her. Once Kendall and Owen made their exit, Avery planned to attack her husband. She craved every last inch of Cole.

“You really should see a sex therapist, Avery.”

“Why, because I enjoy sex with my husband?”

“Yes and no. I’m glad you want sex with only Cole, but you guys go at it like rabbits. It can’t be healthy. Is your connection with Cole that deep on every level? If is it is, I hate you for making marriage look so easy.”

Avery turned and looked to the patio, where Cole stood talking with Owen. She wondered what had them looking so serious. She shrugged. Cole would tell her later. He shared everything.

“Oh, so you’re here today because you’re concerned about me?” Avery turned her attention to her sister sitting in the lounge chair, soaking up the sun’s rays.

“I’m here because you’re my sister and I love you very much. And your husband makes a killer steak.”

“He does, doesn’t he? Cole’s amazing.” God, she felt like a love-struck teen fawning over her favorite actor.

“Jesus, Avery. Are your nipples getting hard from looking at Cole? You really do need to see a sex therapist. I’m officially jealous of you two.”

Blah, blah, blah. She didn’t want to hear any more of her sister’s talk about a sex therapist. Avery wasn’t giving up sex with her husband. She longed to feel his soft lips licking and tugging on her hard nipples. Arousal swarmed over her body; juices seeped out onto her bathing suit. Frustrated over not being about to get the relief she sought, Avery jumped into the cool water and swam to the other end of the pool, where she could be alone. She hung on to the edge of the pool and let her legs float in the water.

The cool water didn’t ease the ache between her legs. She wondered if Cole suffered from a rock-hard dick. Did he wish they were alone so he could fuck her? Most likely. If she knew her husband half as well as she thought she did, he was on the same smoking-hot page as her.

“Steaks are done. Come and get it before it gets you,” Cole called out.

“Coming,” she said.

Good Luck and thanks for dropping by.

Guest Blogging

Today I'm visiting Tina Donahue and giving away a copy of Operation: Second Honeymoon. Drop by for a chance to win!
http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/

Operation: Second Honeymoon

Have you checked out my July release?

Buy Link: 

Blurb:

On the verge of their tenth anniversary, Cole is planning a surprise gift aboard a boat for his wife Avery. Bathing suits are optional - preferably left behind. The only other thing they need to make this weekend perfect? Owen their next door neighbor.

Out on the open sea, Avery will find herself tied to the rails being tortured in the sweetest ways imaginable. The men take her to delicious heights, only to leave her hanging - if only momentarily. When she demands an orgasm she oversteps the boundaries Cole and Owen have but in place. The two men spank her back into submission. There's nothing like red cheeks to ignite the flames of desire in Cole.

After a tremulous six months of clawing their way back together, Avery is ready to accept the help she needs to fix the marriage her husband has fought so hard to save. Will a weekend of hot, sweaty sex be enough to rescue them?

Excerpt:

“You okay in there, honey?”

The knock on the bathroom door startled her.

Damn you, Cole. Why couldn’t you stay outside a few more minutes?

“Just fine. I’m getting changed.”

“With the door locked? Since when do you lock the door, or shut it, for that matter.”

“Sorry, honey.” She hid the vibe in the striped towel and unlocked the bathroom door. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She avoided looking him in the eyes. Avery knew she was a terrible liar.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You seem a bit jumpy today.”

She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

“I’m just fine. How was your day?” Did you go have a quickie with your friend Lynne? As tempted as she was to ask the question aloud, she refrained.

“Not as good as yours obviously. I didn’t have time to play around in the pool.”

“Oh that. That was nothing.” She brushed it off with a swat of her hand. “I really need to get dressed and back to work.”

Avery turned around to find her clothes. As she bent to put her underwear on, Cole came up behind her and rubbed his fingers across her pussy.

“Well, well, well. If my wife isn’t drenched. Did someone come?”

Avery held her breath and tried to think of a good reason for being wet. There wasn’t one.

“I needed a quick orgasm to relieve some job-related stress. I used my finger vibrator for a speedy result.”

“Really? And you knew I was home. I could’ve given that clitty a good tongue licking. What’s up with that?”

“Honey, you know I’d give anything for you to lick my pussy, but I’m superbusy. One swipe of the tongue leads to a bunch of other things that I just don’t have time for.”

“Like a blowjob for me?”

“Exactly. I only needed to relieve some stress, but if you’re going to make a big deal out of this, my quickie will be wasted.” She pretended to be angry. She wanted to get dressed and head back downstairs to the safety of her desk. She didn’t want Cole to know her pulse raced, and she didn’t want to spill the beans about the e-mail she’d read. If she gave it away without proof, he’d deny it. She needed time to collect her thoughts. Instead of devising a plan of attack, she’d planned a seduction. Only she never had time to ask Owen the magic question.

The quick orgasm was exactly what she’d needed to ease the ache in her pussy. Now, as her breathing returned to normal, she had to get dressed.

“Are you sure your relief is only stress-related?”

She stopped breathing. What was Cole suggesting?

“Of course it’s stress-related. Why else would I do it alone?”

“Exactly what I wanted to know.”

He moved closer, and Avery felt his warm breath on her neck. His cock pressed against her skin. Shit, he was rock hard and ready for sex. She didn’t have time right now. She should be working, not standing her in her bathroom naked and about to be taken by her husband. A husband she suspected was cheating on her.

“Cole, I’m confused by what you’re asking.” She feigned innocence. If he was saying what she thought, this conversation could get ugly.

“Avery, you know exactly what I mean. This,” he said while gliding his finger over the folds of her pussy, “this isn’t from being stressed by your job. This is from being so close to Owen. Would you like to fuck him?”

“What? Absolutely not. Why would you ask me something like that? You know I’d never cheat.” Unlike you.

Avery’s chest rose and fell as her heart raced. She didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking.

“I’m not suggesting cheating. I’m suggesting a threesome.”

Special Guest - Em Petrova

Five Things to Say in Bed

By Em Petrova

When writing erotic romance, I often search for new ways to excite the characters as well as my readers. I thought you might enjoy this information! Here are some things he’d like to hear in the sack.

His name: Let your man know you’re not fantasizing about David Beckham (even though you might be) by saying his name. Punctuate it with a few “ooohs” and moans. It’s a good way to ease into dirty talk, which will light his fires!

Fantasies: What’s said between the sheets stays between the sheets, right? So let loose! Maybe you dream about having sex in a new place such as the kitchen or the backseat of the SUV when the kids are at the sitter’s. Maybe you’d love to introduce toys or a third partner. Talk about your fantasies during foreplay and see if some of them don’t come true!

Action: Tell him what he’s doing makes you…[insert dirty line]. For instance, “Oh, Brady, your fingers there are making me so hot.” If swearing isn’t your style, try some romance novel words like “pulse, swell, or throb”. The characters in my erotic romances don’t hesitate to vocalize this way—and it’s especially fun when I have a heroine who has less inhibitions than the hero. Just think what might happen if tell your lover how he makes you feel!

Encouragement: Everyone wants praise, whether it’s your puppy who finally didn’t mess on the floor or your kindergartener who’s learned to read. Your mate is no different. He needs those positive strokes too. For you erotic romance readers, you know the hero’s praise ratchets up the heroine’s desire. And the heroine’s praise makes the hero feel needed and loved. Take a cue from some of those characters and offer encouragement between the sheets and see if he doesn’t work harder to please you!

Dirty Phrases: Simple phrases like:

“oooh, harder”

“Right there”

“Don’t stop”

Go a long way in the bedroom (or office cubicle or restaurant restroom!). Don’t skimp, but overuse these phrases and you’ll sound like you’re making an amateur adult movie!

Make it fun by vocalizing! I’ll leave you with a passage from my latest Loose Id release SLICK RIDER.

Blurb:

Physical therapy assistant Lilly’s job is to keep rodeo star Juss Rossie off his injured leg and from using his bad shoulder to rope more buckle bunnies. Trouble is she wants—just for once in her life—to be one of those rodeo gals who gets the cowboy. Pushing him to the limits of his therapy will take some creative maneuvering, and she finds he responds in the yummiest ways.

Juss hates like hell to be laid up with injuries and off the back of a bull. But being at the mercy of therapist Lilly is torture—especially when she gets in the pool, on the mat, or crawls into bed with him. Can he recover from her mind-blowing advances without losing his heart?

EXCERPT:

The bell for room four pealed for the third time in a quarter of an hour. Lilly Hall whirled around and glared at the light flashing over the door. The normally quiet alarm sounded like a gong in her head.

“Bed four needs something, Lilly. Don’t keep your patient waiting,” her fellow physical therapist assistant Katie said with a grin. Short-staffed as always during late summer. Everyone went on vacation and left the physical therapists to answer call lights.

“He needs something all right.” A kick in the chaps—bound and gagged. The insufferable cowboy was driving Lilly’s patience to the brink. If she heard his country drawl one more time, she was going to do something very bad. Like hog-tie him with a resistance band.

Juss Rossie, star of the rodeo circuit, was injured and on her turf. He was everything Lilly had dreamed he’d be—his game was smoother than aged whiskey and every hard inch of his body spoke of the power and control he exerted over the bulls he rode.

Now he was confined to a sling and a splint after taking a fall from Bushwhacker, one of the meanest, ugliest bulls on the Professional Bull Riders Tour. Juss had ridden it for seven seconds before he was flung off laterally, tearing his knee and dislocating his shoulder and popping several ligaments. They’d brought him in gritting his teeth in pain, refusing to take any pain meds. The first thing Lilly had done was help hold him down while a nurse administered a big fat shot to his tanned butt cheek.

Yes, he was wonderfully tanned—all the way to his toes.

And horribly infuriating.

The light over his door kept flashing. Having a long shift with a frustrating patient made Lilly grind her teeth and remind herself why she loved physical therapy. For two more weeks she was stuck with him in this private rehab center. Unfortunately, Juss Rossie had assigned himself to her every waking moment of those two weeks. Money could do that.

If she was being honest with herself, she’d admit she was like a cat in heat for the panty-drenchingly-sexy cowboy. How many times had she watched him on the Jumbotron being jerked all over the place and wished she could mount a man with that much skill?

As a physical therapist’s assistant, she often traveled to the arena with Doctor Paddington, who personally saw to several of the riders. She’d never seen Juss up close and personal before though. She would have remembered those steely biceps, corded forearms, hard chest…and the hat he would have worn dipped low over those smoldering black eyes that went with a blacker reputation.

They called him Slick Rider because he’d started out riding broncos, and it was rumored he liked to ride bareback. Actually, his reputation was that he preferred everything bare.

A tingle ignited between Lilly’s thighs. She contained the urge to squeeze them together. Getting hot and bothered at work was a pitfall of hanging around so much muscled flesh. An almost constant parade of rodeo riders visited this private center.

Lilly hadn’t ever dated a cowboy, but it was on her bucket list. Still, not one of the cowboys who had visited the center had ever lit a spark in her. She’d spent half of last night dreaming about being with Juss—bent over, pinned beneath him, and riding him.

The last image had finally awakened her, and she’d had to finger herself to get relief. Taking control of a powerful man like Juss was a dream she’d never forget. But the reality paled in comparison to her fantasies.

“Lilly,” Katie warned when Lilly continued to ignore the flashing light.

“Jeez— All right!” She burst through the door of room four.

He lay there like a tanned god. Long, sooty lashes framed gorgeous chocolate-colored eyes that melted every woman in his vicinity. He always wore a goatee, but since coming here he’d trimmed it extra short. Probably because he’d injured the shoulder of his dominant hand—his left—and was forced to use his right.

Her heart squeezed at the sight of his lazy smile. “Glad to know my money is employing the most attentive staff available,” he drawled.

Insufferable man. Fucking gorgeous, yes. But insufferable.

A crease lived between his dark brows, and his mouth was drawn.

But those eyes—there’s something deeper there than he lets on.

She leaned against the door and stared at him. “How’s your pain level on a scale of one to ten, according to that chart?” She gestured toward a mint-green paper taped to the wall, sporting ten faces in various stages of distress.

“Ten,” he said, his eyes unwavering.

“Is that so? I’m sorry to hear it. One would think a big strong cowboy who gets hurled off the backs of two-thousand-pound beasts could handle a little postsurgical pain. Ah, no matter.” She came forward, withdrawing a pen from her pocket but concealing it in her palm.

He waved her away. “Get out of here with that syringe. Damn, girl, you’re a wildcat.”

“Let me show you my claws.” She grinned and uncapped the pen with her teeth.

Realization sparked in his eyes. He leveled his gaze at her. “You gonna try to pump me full of ink for my pain? Try it and you’ll be sorry, Whiskey.”

She jerked to a stop. Confusion settled in her mind, but warmth tightened her belly. He had a nickname for her?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Slick-Rider-The-Quick-ebook/dp/B00DUHRMI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373475988&sr=8-1&keywords=slick+rider+em+petrova

Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/the-quick-and-the-hot-slick-rider.html

Thanks for reading, and a big thanks to Amber Skyze for hosting me!

Em Petrova

~where words mean so much more~

www.empetrova.com