For this week I chose to focus on Burned because it’s officially re-releasing on Tuesday. Woohoo! (yes, I can hear all of you going “finally”)

Each Purgatory story focuses on a different fetish and Burned is all about Fire Play. I’ve heard many people call that odd. Me not so much but I’m weird like that. I’ve been to a few fire shows and observed some BDSM fire play on more than one occasion and I find it hypnotically fascinating.

I’ll let you be the judge.

Excerpt:

She peered into the crowd amidst the haze of fake smoke and the neon lights coming from the performance stage seeing nothing but a sea of faces she didn’t recognize scattered among some of the regulars. The crowd had surpassed Gabe’s expectations, and she’d been running ragged all night long. Every hour a new group had come on stage and she’d held her breath, hoping not to see Zane.

Now the crowd at the bar had thinned to almost nothing, which meant only one thing. The main act was about to start, and she had an unobstructed view of the stage. Just great.

She busied herself with gathering the empties and either throwing the bottles in the recycling bin or stacking the glasses on the trays she’d arranged in the corner. With any luck she wouldn’t even notice the show. Yet the moment the first streaks of fire lit up the darkened club Ruby turned, unable to stop, and stared. She was doomed.

The girls were first, and she reveled in the familiar glow and imagined the heat streaking across her arms every time one of them stroked her skin with a firestaff. Chills raced up and down Ruby’s spine and her hands shook with rising need.

Who was she kidding? She couldn’t not watch. She made a beeline to the other bartender to tell him she was taking a break.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. You want to watch the show.” He grinned. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand your fascination with fire.”

Ruby shrugged. He wasn’t the first person to say that. “I’ve always loved it. The heat…the beauty. It’s mesmerizing.”

“Uh huh. And painful.”

“Half the time I don’t even feel it that way. I focus on my breathing and the warmth. All it takes is the right person wielding it to make you soar.”

“I think I’ll take your word for it.” He waved her away with his hand and she moved towards the stairs. She didn’t have to worry about the crowd—they’d all moved front and center of the stage as she made her way through the staff area to the side. She’d be able to watch unseen from here and would have plenty of time to get away before anyone spotted her.

Another woman had joined in, this one a spinner using two implements lit on the ends. Neither of the women wore more than pasties over her nipples and the skimpiest of panties that hid very little. Not only did it draw the crowd, but it cut down on accidents happening if your clothes caught fire. Annoyed with herself, Ruby shook the thoughts of fire safety from her head and focused on the actual flames.

The heat only ran along arms and legs for a split second, but she moaned every time. It wasn’t hard to conjure the memory of the delicious warmth on her own skin as the fire caressed her body. How long had it been since she’d last played? Forget Doc, she’d definitely have to look up Gabe tonight and see if he was up to a nice long session after hours. She’d save the payback for setting her up for another night.

Zane walked onto the stage and yanked Ruby from her thoughts. His presence invaded her from head to toe. Her nipples tightened painfully and her sex squeezed sharply. She hadn’t exactly forgotten how breathtaking he was, but time had allowed her some distance. No longer.

Firelight gleamed across his shaven head and lit up the multitude of tattoos that emphasized his bare torso. Muscles bunched and flexed in rhythm with the music so she almost missed the glint across his pecs. Oh, wow, that was new. He’d added nipple rings since the last time she’d seen him. As if he needed anything else to make him hotter. She forcibly closed her gaping mouth. If she wasn’t careful she’d be drooling long before his show ended.

Not that she’d come to see the man.

He carried his personal firestaff and moved closer to the women, maneuvering the flames over and around their writhing bodies in an erotic dance. The fire from all the implements swirled and swayed until they blended and the eye could no longer tell where each one started or where they ended.

Before long her body thrummed and pulsed in sync with their movements, as she stood mesmerized. When the girls switched out their tools for the short fire breathing sticks, Ruby turned her focus to Zane and his performance. His movements seemed effortless, but she knew better. He kept his gaze on the fire at all times so he could study its patterns. He controlled it, dominated it every second.

As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she’d never seen a fire performer with his natural abilities. He probably understood fire even better than she did. Yet he’d taken the time to learn to wield it as if he’d been born to it. Gabe had a proficiency for fire play like nobody’s business, but his skill paled in comparison to the possessive style Zane exhibited. What would it be like to let him control both the fire and her pleasure? If only he didn’t want to force her submission…

I hope you’ve enjoyed this snippet and will follow the trail below for lots more from some incredible authors.

Megan Hart — Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Leah Braemel
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Zoë Archer

Jennifer is near and dear to my heart. She’s so messed up and confused sometimes but she’s also fiercely independent and determined to overcome her shortcomings. If she could only learn how. And that’s where her friends come in.

Excerpt:

Jennifer stood at her car door, legs trembling and hands shaking. She needed to get in her car and drive far away from here as fast as possible. When Daegan discovered her gone, he was not going to be happy. He’d probably come looking for her, and she couldn’t face him now. Unfortunately, her body was being uncooperative. With her key at the ready, she reached for the lock, and her hand shook harder. Tears streamed down her cheeks and into her mouth and none of it mattered.

She’d run. She’d done exactly what he said she would. Her head buzzed with the words he’d spoken the night before. Disappointment slashed deep.

So what. She didn’t owe him a thing. She’d agreed to his offer in the heat of the moment before she’d had time to think about it. It wasn’t like her to make spur-of-the-moment decisions. Over the years, she’d learned to carefully consider all of her options and not rush into anything with the potential to backfire on her. Jennifer laughed through the tears. What a joke. She was like her mother always said. Fickle.

“One minute you want one thing, and the next it’s something else. Which one is it, Jennifer?”

She heard her mother’s voice in her head as if it’d been yesterday, not a decade ago. How long had it been since she’d talked to her mother? A sob sounded in her throat. She had to get out of there before someone found her like this. She tried again to put the key in the lock, and the keys slipped from her hand.

“Fuck!”

Jennifer slid to the ground and plopped on her butt. She couldn’t drive across town like this. Maybe she could hide in the studio until she got herself under control. Yeah right. The minute Daegan found her car in the parking lot, the first place he’d look was the stupid studio. Thanks to his role as contractor, he had access to the entire building. There was nowhere for her to go. With trembling hands she fished her cell phone out of her purse and turned it on.

Who are you going to call?

She had no one. Story of her fucked-up life. For now her life consisted of her career. Friends were hard to come by, but she kind of had a few. She considered Chase and Murphy her friends, even if they’d betrayed her with that asshole and allowed him to say she couldn’t work. Jennifer swiped at the tears that continued to flow. There’d be no talking to them. She’d watched them interact with Eve when they didn’t realize she was looking. Her friend submitted to them on a level she couldn’t comprehend. No matter what they asked for, she gave willingly. And with a smile on her face. Hell, the woman practically glowed.

Eve. That’s it. She jerked open the cell phone and dialed the number she knew by heart before she had a chance to change her mind.

On the fourth ring, Jennifer’s hope wilted. Not available. Then Eve answered.

“It’s-a-Jennifer,” she spat, knowing there was no way to hide her distress.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right? You sound like you’re crying.”

Regret lanced through Jennifer. This was a dumb idea. She began to pull the phone away from her ear and disconnect.

“Don’t you dare hang up on me, young lady. Where are you?” The demand in Eve’s voice startled her. She’d never heard the other woman talk like that before.

“Downstairs,” she whispered.

“Good, don’t move. Seriously, if you don’t wait for me, I’ll have Murphy track you down and whip your hide. You know he’ll do it.”

Jennifer nodded her head and felt a ghost of a smile cross her face. “Okay,” she mumbled. “I’m in the parking lot.” She folded the phone and pushed it into her pocket. She had about two minutes before Eve found her, and she didn’t know what to do. There’d be no hiding the tears or getting cleaned up. With one last glance at her car and her only chance for escape, she turned and shuffled back toward the building.

Eve burst through the door, and all the emotion inside Jennifer boiled over. “I tried to run,” she blurted.

Her friend wrapped her arms around her. “Of course you did, sweetie.”

She held up her shaking hands. “Fingers wouldn’t work. Can barely hold the keys.” She knew the words tumbling from her mouth made little sense, but they were the best she could do at the moment.

“Come back inside, and you can tell me what happened.” Eve ushered her through the front door and steered her in the direction of the studio. “In here.” She pointed to Chase’s private office, and Jennifer hesitated.

“Don’t worry. Chase and Murphy aren’t here.”

“But Daegan—”

“Won’t dare come in here without an invitation. Trust me.”

Trust her. Eve had no idea how foreign those words were to her. And what the hell was up with everyone today pushing her to trust them? Jennifer gritted her teeth against the desire to spit on that word.

“Have a seat. I’ll grab us both a drink. I think we’re going to need it.”

Jennifer nodded before collapsing into the closest chair. Eve reached into the credenza behind Chase’s desk and pulled out a bottle of vodka and two tumblers. Desperate to think of anything other than what had happened with Daegan, she sat mesmerized while watching Eve go about retrieving ice, pouring generous shots of the alcohol into the glasses, and restoring things back to their original order. Even in the face of a crisis, the woman had efficiency down to a science.

She swatted at the fresh tears trickling down her face before Eve could see them.

“Here, drink this. It’ll help.” The other woman thrust a glass into her hand and waited while she gulped at the clear liquid. Instantly the fiery burn singed her throat, and Jennifer began to cough uncontrollably. She grabbed the box of tissues Eve had set out on the coffee table and swiped at her watering eyes and worked to get herself under control. After a few minutes, the burn receded, and she was left with a warm sensation low in her belly. In a not so ladylike fashion, Jennifer blew her nose and lifted her lashes to find Eve waiting patiently across from her.

“Better?”

She nodded.

“Good. Now tell me what happened. Every detail from the beginning. I want to help you.”

“Why?”

“Jesus, Jennifer. Why not? We work together all the time. My men care about you a lot, and that means something to me. I’m actually flattered you called me.”

“I didn’t have anyone else.”

Eve winced.

“I mean…”

Her friend held up her hand. “I know what you mean, and I’m still flattered. Leaning on anyone is hard for you.”

She wasn’t sure that was meant as a question or not. Either way she had no desire to go down that road. “Daegan wants to dominate me.”

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Megan Hart — Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Leah Braemel
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Zoë Archer
Lacey Savage

Half goth nightclub and half fetish club, Purgatory is an exciting place. It gives it’s patron a free space to explore whatever kink they may possess. For the voyeur it’s an amazing experience. This excerpt is from the second book, Displayed. Em’s fetish is exhibitionism and here’s a glimpse into both the club and Emerson.

Excerpt:

“Em, are you really going to go through with this?” Katie yelled over the loud industrial music pounding through the club.

“Of course I am. It’s what I’ve been working up to for months now. Why would I back out now?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Because maybe when you take off that mask and Rio gets one look at the real you, you’ll be a dead woman.”

Em looked at her friend’s frightened expression, trying not to laugh. It had taken a long time getting to know the people here at Purgatory before she’d built up the nerve to tell anyone who she really was. Now she was tired of hiding, and ready to unveil her identity once and for all. She didn’t want to think about the public humiliation Rio could put her through if he made a scene. She worried too much about him as it was.

“You know they don’t allow masks at the private after-hours party. If I want to take the next step in my journey, and I do, then I have no choice but to reveal myself. Rio be damned.” If the man wasn’t already damned. She looked up to the second floor landing where he stood, watching one of the play stations. Master D’s station, of course. She couldn’t tell what he was doing tonight, but she knew it was one of the more hardcore stations they offered where they did things like violet wand or needle play.

From this vantage point, she stared at Rio’s profile. Wavy dark hair, tanned skin from working outdoors with her brother, and all black leather—from the vest to the pants that hugged what she knew was the most perfect ass on the planet, to the black leather boots he wore on his feet.

Here in this environment, he made it impossible to read his body language. She found him guarded, more often than not with a stern expression. Some went so far as to refer to him as El Diablo, the devil himself.

“Em, last dance of the night and I have a slot center stage with no one to fill it. You want it?” Gabriel, the club manager, had sneaked up behind her while she ogled Rio for the umpteenth time that night. She tore her gaze away and turned to Gabe with a smile on her face.

“You want me?”

“Ahh, my dear, you have no idea. Everyone wants the elusive Em.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Why is that?”

She shrugged. She wouldn’t get into her insecurities with Gabe. Here in the club things were different for her. She wasn’t the sweet little Emerson whom no one ever spoke to.

No, here she was bold and wanton, and reveled in the attention of the many patrons who liked to watch her dance. Even Rio. He’d been cool about it, of course, never showing too much interest, but there’d been a few times where she’d caught his gaze as he watched her play. She’d thought the heat in his eyes matched the arousal coursing through her body at his perusal, but so far he’d been aloof, never approaching her.

“So, darlin’, do you want to take the chains?”

She’d been eyeing that platform for a long time, wondering what it would be like to get up there, helpless in front of everyone.

“Yes, actually I do.” Already her body hummed with anticipation. What better way to kick off the rest of her night than by putting herself out there in a new way?

“Come with me then and I’ll get you set up.”

She followed Gabe through the crowd as they headed for the cage in the middle of the room. The energy of it all vibrated through her core, turning her on. She’d certainly come a long way from the first night she’d stepped into the club. Gabe held his hand up and she allowed him to lead her onto the small stage.

Her stomach tightened, partly from nerves, but mostly excitement. She looked down at her outfit, grateful that she’d chosen to go bold and daring tonight. The miniscule leather skirt didn’t quite cover her ass, and the fishnet halter-top allowed a peek at her nipples that were currently straining against the fabric.

At the top of the steps, Gabe motioned for her to step into the small space.

“Raise your arms for me, Em.” She did as he asked and he placed the manacles around her wrists, fastening her arms to the chains hanging from the top corner of the cage. Emerson spread her legs and allowed him to fetter her ankles as well.

“You comfortable?”

She nodded. Excitement coursed through her.

Gabe stood back and appraised her appearance. “You picked the perfect outfit for tonight. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had something like this in mind to begin with.” Heat flared in his eyes as he reached for the hem of her skirt. For a split second his fingers flirted with the crack of her ass before he rubbed his palms down the back of her thighs and up again, lifting her skirt to reveal her bare bottom and get the show started.

The crowd around her roared their approval as a shot of excitement rushed through her chest and straight to her clit. Large, strong hands massaged her ass as her body writhed in tempo with his movements. God, she loved this. Her head buzzed with the rhythm of the music and the heady sensations of Gabe stroking her ass while everyone watched and chanted for more.

When Gabe pulled his hand away she didn’t expect the loud smack across her skin that came next. The stinging pain caught her breath until his hand returned and smoothed the pain away.

“I’ll bet your pussy’s soaked right about now.”

“Maybe.” Hell yeah, she’d felt a liquid rush from the moment she’d stepped up to the platform.

“Ahh, darlin’, your teasing days are over now, aren’t they? If you stay for the private session, one of these Doms here tonight is going to show us all just how tasty you are.”

Emerson’s muscles jolted deep inside her. Gabe had no idea how much she longed to take her education and experience to the next level. As much as she wanted Rio to be the one to do it, she wasn’t waiting for him anymore. It was now or never.

Another resounding smack on her opposite cheek brought her focus back to the here and now, and the crowd cheering in front of her. Automatically her hands fought at the bindings around her wrists, her mind shrieking for her to touch herself.

“Everyone in the VIP area is watching you right now. Speculating…planning. But don’t worry. Dan came up with the perfect idea for your introduction tonight. Something more civilized than just fighting over you.” Gabe’s breath tickled the back of her neck every time he spoke, only increasing the madness building inside her—and he knew it.

“Who is watching me?” She couldn’t see the area behind her and she didn’t have the guts to ask him if Rio watched.

“Everyone.” With a final smack to her ass, Gabe strode from the platform, leaving her body on fire and pulsating with the music. Just the way the patrons liked it.

Emerson bucked and swayed her hips to the beat of the music as the image of Rio standing behind her, staring at her, burned into her brain. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d seen her naked butt in the club, but it was the first time she’d gone to the cage to be chained. From everything she’d heard, that’s how he liked his submissives. Chained and helpless…

Be sure to follow the trail for more snippety goodness:

Megan Hart — Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Jody Wallace
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McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
Zoë Archer

This is a brief and slightly explicit excerpt from Power Play, my new BDSM romance that is second in the Pleasure Playground series.

*erotic content below*

Excerpt:

Unease gripped Jennifer’s stomach at the same time fire erupted between her legs. She’d had no idea how hard this would be without her sight. She’d never once allowed someone to blindfold her, and this was much worse. She couldn’t just reach up and rip a cloth from her eyes and watch her world rebalance. Absolutely nothing would take away the darkness until morning.

She took a deep breath and let her mind wander to her normal comfort zone, the place where she was in control despite what happened to her body. On autopilot as if she were at a modeling job, she pushed her hands through the leather restraints and grabbed on to the metal bars. Although no amount of previous experience stopped the tremors shaking her muscles like jelly.

Daegan’s big hand cupped her pussy and pressed a finger against her clit with steady pressure that shot pleasure straight to her core. Her head buzzed with sensation.

“Do you really want to stop now?” he asked. She opened her mouth to answer and no words came out. If she said yes, it would only be another lie on top of all the other lies she’d used to try and convince them both she didn’t want this.

“How do you feel, Jennifer?”

“I don’t…”

He growled before she could finish.

“Yes, you do. Your legs are shaking, your pussy is dripping, and I’ll bet your clit aches for me to move my hand like this.” He swept his wicked fingers in a short tight circle over and over again. More pressure built. Her insides tightened in a bright coil. The orgasm she’d fought earlier climbed ever closer. Much more and she’d lose all control, becoming mindless to the pleasure.

Then he stopped as quickly as he started.

“Submission isn’t about learning to overcome fear. It’s simply accepting it. Fear is your body’s natural response to the unknown, and it’s not going away. Fear excites you, doesn’t it, love?”

Oh God, she didn’t want to admit it. Everything excited her. The more depraved, the better. She wasn’t afraid of what he’d do to her physically. In fact, if she believed he simply wanted a physical relationship, she’d be all for it. She’d overhead Chase and Eve discussing Daegan’s sadist tendencies. But this… She’d never felt this.

“I don’t understand it,” she admitted. He wanted the truth, and that was her truth. Nothing less and nothing more.

“Do you even want to understand it? You hide too much. You push people away. You run away like a jackrabbit if someone gets too close. You’ll never get very far like that. Is that what you want?”

His words hit a nerve far too deep. She struggled with the loops around her hands as tears burned her eyes. With no small amount of time, she finally managed to free one hand and started to lift from the bench.

A hand pressed against her back, pinning her in place. Then he covered her with his warm, hard body, setting off a tingling sensation inside her despite her intentions to resist.

“You’ve got nowhere to go this time.”

“I feel stupid, Daegan. I have no idea how to be what you want me to be. I’m not—”

For lots more snippety goodness be sure to follow the trail below:

Megan Hart — Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Leah Braemel
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels

The following scene is a lead up to Eve’s first shoot as a plus sized model for Chase and Murphy. She is transitioning from receptionist to model and is hoping it leads to much much more. To say she’s in a little over her head might be an understatement.

As often happens when I post an excerpt, this is NSFW.

Excerpt from Midnight Playground:

Precisely at nine a.m. sharp, Eve swiped her employee card through the security pad on the back door of the building that housed the photo studio. Both Chase?s and Murphy?s cars were already in the parking lot. She?d carefully chosen one of the most conservative business suits she owned, along with the most outrageous pair of four-inch heels she possessed.

Underneath said outfit was a completely different story. After the first few weeks of working at Altered Ego, she?d begun to change how she dressed underneath her plain skirts and blouses. She?d been determined to feel sexy despite her size and ordered all new lingerie. On days she felt particularly scandalous, she would wear no panties underneath her skirt and a thin lace bra that did little to hide her hard nipples poking underneath.

Today was not one of those days.
She?d picked matching black lace panties and bra. Chase had given her no indication of when the shoot would begin if she accepted, so she’d decided to come prepared just in case. At the front entrance, she grasped the handle on the frosted glass door and pulled it open. Eve half expected Chase and Murphy to be standing in the lobby waiting for her. Instead the hum of the aquarium in the corner greeted her along with the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

Mmm. A super shot of caffeine sounded like the perfect way to start her day. No messages sat on her desk, and everything remained exactly as she?d left it the afternoon before. Eve dropped her bag and the folder on her desk and headed in the direction of the small kitchen. She hadn’t gotten three feet away when the intercom buzzed.

“Eve, did you bring the Smith folder with you this morning?” The tone of Chase?s question told her nothing. She wasn’t surprised. He probably excelled at card games with that damned poker face of his.

She rushed as fast as she could on four-inch heels back to her desk, depressed the intercom button, and spoke. “Yes, sir, it’s here on my desk.”

“Could you please bring it in?”

“Of course.” Oh boy, here we go. He hadn?t even let her get her morning coffee before she had to face him with her answer. Eve scooped up the folder and headed for Chase?s office. No doubt he and Murphy would be waiting and Chase would have told him everything about their conversation from the night before.

Outside his door, she plastered on her hopeful smile and entered his space. Chase didn’t look up from his computer, nor did he greet her in any way. She waited a few seconds, unsure how to proceed.

“I’ve got the file here for you. I—”

“Good.” He interrupted. “Just leave it there in my box.”

Shocked by his disinterest, Eve dropped the file, turned, and walked out the door. After everything she’d put herself through in anticipation of seeing him this morning, the letdown of being summarily dismissed crippled her.

Coffee forgotten, she fell into her chair and stared at her computer screen. Why hadn’t he said anything? He didn’t even ask if she’d signed the agreement. And where the hell was Murphy? She?d already noticed that his office was empty this morning and had assumed he?d be waiting with Chase. She poked her head over the partition and stared in the direction of the studio. Sure enough the door was closed tight and the busy light was on. She leafed through the appointment book to see what was scheduled, only to find they had nothing until eleven o?clock this morning.

So why then was Murphy shut in the studio and Chase sitting in his office staring at the screen? She had half a mind to head into the dressing room and take a peek, but the chance of getting caught was too great. Certainly her boss would not be pleased if he discovered her spying on a session.

Hours passed as Eve went about her morning routine. Answering calls and sorting through e-mails as well as what was delivered by the mailman. Every time Eve moved, the lace of her bra rubbed across her nipples until they’d gone beyond sensitive to wildly aroused. Constant images of Chase and Murphy surrounding her flooded her mind. Simply every move, every thought kept her continuously on edge until she thought she’d go mad.

She’d glance at the clock and squirm endlessly in her chair, the wait excruciating. She’d expected Chase to give her a hard time this morning, to try and talk her out of the job. Them ignoring her had never crossed her mind. It served as a stark reminder that this was simply a job. Not a date. Not a love affair. A job that she?d signed a contract to do.

Still, her panties stayed wet and her budded tips brushing against fabric made it difficult for her not to moan. Not exactly the kind of professional behavior they probably expected. Sweat dotted her forehead as she crossed and uncrossed her legs.

Fuck.

If it wasn’t her nipples, it was her clit. Eve inhaled a slow, steady breath and sat completely still. If she could slow her pulse, she could certainly get things back under control. This kind of wanton behavior was not her. She picked up the bottle of water on her desk and with shaky hands brought it to her lips. Cool water splashed down her throat. She wished she could dump it over her head. Maybe then she’d stop thinking about being touched. Or imagining what Chase looked like underneath his clothing.

Not once in all of her spying had he so much as removed a shirt. Didn?t stop her from noticing the way the muscles moved and bunched the cloth as he worked, though. God, what the hell was wrong with her?
Eve gave up trying to slow her breathing and gulped for much-needed air instead. Perspiration trailed down her spine and into the edge of her skirt. If they didn?t say something soon, she?d have to go to the restroom and get herself off. Whatever it took to take the edge off. Why wait? So far nothing had happened and she owed them nothing. Chase and his fucking computer could take a flying leap for keeping her at bay like this. Making her wonder what he planned to do.

She smoothed down the edge of her skirt and straightened her spine. Five minutes in the bathroom was all she needed. Maybe less. Screw Chase and the horse he rode in on. She didn?t need this bullshit. She fucking needed relief. A few seconds later, only three feet lay between her and relief as she headed for the restroom.

“Come into the studio,” Chase commanded from the doorway.

Midnight Playground is available now and look for the next in this new series, Power Play in November!

For more snippety goodness be sure to follow the trail:

Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Mandy M Roth
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Alison Kent
HelenKay Dimon
Shelli Stevens
Lauren Dane
Lacey Savage
TJ Michaels
Shiloh Walker

Almost exactly one year ago I made the decision to self publish a book I loved that according to popular opinion, was a hard sell. You see it’s a fae book and I have a serious thing for all things faery and dragon. I started writing in this world back in 2006 and after a long break I was anxious to get back to it. So I wrote Slave to Pleasure and it changed everything.

Within thirty days of release, Slave to Pleasure became an amazon best seller and quickly out sold every other book I’ve ever written. I was shocked and thrilled all at the same time. For this I owe the many people who have bought and read this book my deepest thanks. You make it much easier for me to sit down at my computer every day and write more.

For the excerpt I have chosen a moment where Nissa learns that having faith makes all the difference in what you can do.

Just believe.

Excerpt:

They had her trapped, but there was still one place to go where they couldn’t follow. She glanced to the tree line and judged the distance. She’d probably make it in under thirty seconds. She wouldn’t get far before they caught her, but she only needed a few minutes to give it one last try.

A check in the other direction showed Roane and Erik deep in conversation. If she was lucky, she might get twenty seconds on them before they noticed she’d run. She had to try. Magic stirred inside her and she frantically tried to hold it in. If they were paying attention, and she’d bet they were, they’d sense the magic and be on her before she could get her butt off the stool.

Her feet bounced as she contemplated her choices. Go for it and possibly leave here forever, or stay and take her chances with becoming a sex slave. Nissa focused on the group of men once more. Decision made, she dug in her heels and ran. Her bound hands slowed her speed, but she reached the edge of the forest before anyone noticed.

“Nissa!” Someone yelling her name was the last thing she heard before she disappeared into the trees.

Blood roared in her ears as the magic she’d been suppressing uncoiled and broke free. With the loud noises behind her gaining ground, she’d never make it far enough to have even a minute to create a portal.

“She’s pulling magic. You’d better grab her quick!”

Nissa dove into the heavy brush several feet from the path, hoping beyond hope they would pass by her. Heavy footsteps pounded into the dirt as half a dozen men ran past her hiding spot without slowing down. On a heavy sigh she let out the breath she’d been holding and started the magical pattern her mother had taught her. Over and over she gathered and pulled and nothing happened. Tears threatened to fall and a cry of anguish tore from her throat. This had to work, damn it. She jerked hard on her power, ripping magic from every cell and fiber she found, desperate for something to happen.

She gasped and stumbled backward when the air around her shimmered and a pathway opened in front of her. Tears streamed down her cheeks at what she’d created. Her mother had been right. All she’d needed was to have a little faith in herself.

Her breath hitched. Her mother. She’d likely never see her again if she went through with taking the path to the other side. But if she stayed, she’d be watched every minute by the ruthless hunters. Not to mention the problem of Cirdan, who would eventually find out about her magic and would do everything in his power to get his hands on her—torture being his favored choice for getting what he wanted.

Nissa’s back stiffened and her resolve grew as she pushed herself from the ground and into the portal. Her mother would never forgive her if she didn’t fight for her freedom no matter what.

Read more about Slave To Pleasure

For more snippety goodness, be sure to follow the trail:

Anne Rainey
TJ Michaels
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Lauren Dane
Helen Kay Dimon
Vivian Arend
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
Jody Wallace
Denise A. Agnew
Beth-Ann Mason

Melody is a newly created sex demon who is obsessed with AC/DC. Not unlike myself who uses AC/DC as my go to music to cure any bad mood. I love her sarcasm, her newly awakened interest in all things sexual, and her naivete in the seriousness of being a demon tasked with collecting souls.

The story opens with her having to go through a kind of job performance review. If you’ve ever sat through one of them you know how nerve wracking they are. This snippet starts at the tail end of that scene.

But before you get to the excerpt, how about a little mood music?

Excerpt:

“Melody, you have five days. Five days to meet this month’s quota, or else.” She didn’t want to know what the “or else” was. She knew for certain it would be far worse than anything she could imagine. “Do you really understand this is your final opportunity? Either you become the productive little Sex Demon you were made to be, or I’ll be forced to terminate your contract and turn you over to the gatekeeper for the appropriate eternal punishment.” He scribbled something in a folder and then slammed it shut.

She didn’t need to hear anything more. She may not want to steal the vile souls required of her, but the other option would be far worse. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

“Good girl.” His puffed up and twisted lips curved into a bit of a smile as she got up to leave. “You go on back home now and take care of business. Five days, Melody. I’m not kidding about this.”

Right. Five days to collect five souls, or I’m going to find out that hell does have more fury than a woman scorned.

Melody’s boss sent her away with a wave of his hand, hurtling her through a dense fog and rematerializing her in…water. “What the—?” She opened her eyes and found herself flat on her ass in the fountain outside her apartment building. “Hell’s bells.” She scrambled to her feet, pulling her micromini down over her exposed bottom as she did. “Harold, that is so not funny!”

“Who’s Harold, dear?” She jerked at the voice, looking up to see her neighbor Mrs. Mavis staring down her nose with a disapproving look. “Melody, what are you doing in the fountain? You’re going to catch a cold like that.”

Melody climbed out with her head high, trying not to think about her new Botticelli leather boots that were now ruined.

“It’s hot out here. I just needed to cool off.” She stepped from the fountain onto the walkway, trying to skirt her way around the nosy woman. But no, Mrs. Mavis blocked her way.

“Melody, it is not appropriate for a woman like you to go around dressed like—like that, especially after fooling around in our fountain.” Her brows drew together in a disapproving frown. “Look at yourself. You’re flashing your goods to everyone in that shirt.”

Melody glanced down and yep, sure enough with her white top soaking wet, her nipples poked at the material for all to see. Why did it have to be a big deal? It’s not like the world would end because Melody Evans’s hardened nips were visible.

“You needn’t worry, Mrs. Mavis, I’m headed home now to change.” Frustrated with the woman’s insistence on butting into her life, she wrapped her arms around her waist, effectively pulling the shirt tighter. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get dry.” She’d tried to hold the sarcasm, she really had, but her meddlesome neighbor never let up. Mrs. Mavis glared. Her face flushed red and Melody thought smoke might billow from the woman’s ears any second.

“Ooh—” Mrs. Mavis’s breath swooshed and she took two steps back. “You’re a naughty girl.” Melody stood back up, shaking her head.

“Mrs. Mavis, you have no idea.” She stepped to the left, and this time Mrs. Mavis let her pass. The annoying woman gave her a hard time every chance she got, so of course, she couldn’t resist giving a little back whenever she could. Hell, it probably gave her something to talk about at her women’s group each week. She could just hear it now.

The devil has a hold on that one. Watch out for her; she’s on the highway to hell for sure.

Melody laughed all the way back to her apartment, shaking her head and sashaying her hips. She stopped and admired her fire engine red door before going in. The neighbors had gone ballistic when she’d painted it. However, five hundred extra dollars to her landlord last month had gotten her the permission she needed to paint it any damn color she wanted. But what really chapped their uptight asses was the new pitchfork doorknocker she had added just last week. She couldn’t help herself. It was too easy.

She eased into her apartment, soaking in the heat as it flashed across her chilled skin. With a little twist of power, she turned on the stereo that sat on her dining-room table. The whole place flooded with the blaring rock and roll of AC/DC belting out “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Her heartbeat picked up, matching the tempo of the song as she removed the wet T-shirt and tossed it to the laundry pile in the corner. Her hips wiggled to the beat as she shimmied out of the tight wet skirt and added it to the pile. She kept the heat set at a comfortable one hundred and four degrees, and it warmed her while she removed her boots and peeled off her ruined thigh-highs. Ever since she became a demon, she couldn’t keep warm enough. That was one of the few things she enjoyed when making trips down there.

Naked, she danced around the room, forgetting her responsibilities and focusing on the thrumming need between her legs. Her fingers smoothed across the baby soft skin of her belly to the nest of blond curls covering her sex. She delved through the wet folds and rubbed the hood of her clit with the pad of her fingertips, arching into her hand, reaching for more friction. The music, the heat, the sensations all swirled in her head leading her down the wicked path of self-indulgence she loved so much. She kneaded her hard clit between her thumb and forefinger, rough the way she needed, and moisture flooded her pussy, coating her fingers.

Sensual energy buzzed through her blood as her climax approached. The music pounded in her veins, heightening the pleasure. With her free hand, she pinched and massaged her nipples, alternating between her breasts.

“Oh yes. Yes!” Finally.

As her body shook with a small tremor signaling the imminent explosion, a cold freezing blast struck her full force, halting her hands and sensations.

Melody, five days. Five souls. Focus.

Harold’s voice in her head brought her crashing back down. Nooo. The satisfaction her soul screamed for had been denied once again. “Aahh,” she snarled in frustration. “Harold, you are such a prick.”

Now cold and disappointed, she headed for the shower. Time to dress for the mission, get a damn soul, and get Harold off her back. While she showered, she contemplated where she would hunt for a victim today. The seven deadly sins weren’t hard to find. She lived in Charlotte, after all. And with Halloween approaching, lots of parties with costume contests, alcohol galore, and wall-to-wall potentials engaging in all sorts of depraved activities were in abundance. In fact, she’d overheard a group of people talking about a new club in town.
Hmmm. What was the name of it? Dungeon something. A new BDSM club. That ought to be interesting. Melody sat down in front of her computer to do a little search and find what she needed.

“If you want blood, you’ve got it.”

Don’t forget to follow the trail to more snippety goodness.

Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Shelley Munro
HelenKay Dimon
Eliza Gayle

Today’s theme is reunions and I have chosen a snippet from one of my latest releases, Kane. Kane is the 2nd book in my black cougar trilogy. This is not a family reunion or a long lost lovers reunion. Instead its a reunion of two people who have only been apart for a few weeks and who are struggling with the hatred for each other as well as the annoying desire they seem to have.

Excerpt:

One black-booted foot entered a few seconds before he peered around the door. When he didn’t see her he pushed inside a little bit more and took the final step into the room she needed. Without hesitation she started
the chant. Quietly at first.

When in the circle that is mine
Safety’ gone and evil roams
Hold this being from within
So heed this call.

She whispered the words again and again, stronger each time until her voice was loud and clear and Kane stood in the doorway staring at her.

“What have you done?”

She glanced down at his feet and stared. He followed her gaze and a stream of curses flew from his mouth as he realized he’d stepped right into her circle and she’d just bound him to it.

“You bitch.”

Her lips spread into a grin she hoped was as wicked as she felt. “Don’t try foreplay with me, you’ll find yourself neutered faster than you can say that word again.”

“You can’t hold me here.”

His arrogance wiped the smile from her face as her brow arched in his direction. “Hmm, let’s see. You’re stuck there and I’m roaming free. In my book that means I do whatever the hell I want and you can’t do a thing about it.”

A low snarl sounded from his throat as sharp canines peeked from beneath a curled lip. “What do you want then? A chance to beg for your life?”

It would be a cold day in hell before she begged for anything from him, but she thought about his other question. What did she want?  Just him dead, right?  She looked at him, really looked at him.  It had been weeks since she’d seen him last, and unfortunately he looked even better than she remembered. His spiked, short hair had grown out since then and it was messier and in need of a comb, or maybe her fingers running through it.

His eyes, glaring at her, were dark, like coal in anger. She stood too far away to make out the flecks of gold she’d seen before. The grim line of his lips against the square, firm jaw made her want to laugh out loud. He was damned irresistible right now. It wasn’t right for him to look so—so sinful. He made her think of sex. Sex on the floor, sex on the wall, sex damn near any which way she could get it.

She let out a slow, unsteady breath. She had to stop thinking about him like that; the time for fun was long gone.

“I’m tired of playing with you, cat. It’s time to end this.”

“What exactly is this?” His hands gestured around them. “You’re a criminal, Lara. One who now has a death sentence against her.”

“I’m not the one who deserves to die.” Her anger fired hot and she practically spat at him. “You and yours are the only criminals as far as I’m concerned. You’re just afraid for someone to finally expose you for what you really are.” She turned away from him. What she felt when she looked at him and what she knew were at odds, and it drove her crazy. Nerve endings sizzled as desire warred with the facts her brain wouldn’t let her forget.

“You aren’t making any sense. Make me understand what this is all about.”

She whirled back around and stalked across the room, careful not to get too close to the circle, which could weaken. “Tell me something, Kane. Before you kill, do you even take the time to learn something about your victim?”

“What the hell kind of question is that? I don’t take lives because I enjoy it. I do it because it has to be done, it’s a duty—a job. Without order and rules our secrets can’t be maintained. And then people like you start hunting us, wanting to kill all of us because of fear of the unknown. We aren’t evil, you know. Hell, I’m standing in a spell you created with black magic, talk about evil. You of all people should understand different. So what exactly is your damage?”

“My damage?” She wanted to reach through the barrier holding him and slap the crap out of him, maybe knock some sense into that pretty boy head of his. What had she been thinking? “How can you be sure you aren’t killing the innocent? Do you ever question the validity and integrity of your precious council?”

“Why should I? Every case is presented and voted on by unbiased members of our clan. It’s their duty to ensure everyone a fair trial and our system has worked well for a very long time.”

“Like with me?” His blind faith burned in her gut worse than a wicked case of indigestion that wouldn’t go away no matter how many antacids you popped.

“I witnessed your treachery with my own eyes. The evidence is cut and dry.” His voice had lowered, and if she didn’t know better she could have sworn she detected a thread of sadness. In fact, now that she thought about it, he didn’t seem all that angry about being trapped. Did he not believe she would really kill him? Would she?

“You’re nothing but a liar. An animal that wouldn’t see the truth if it bit him on the ass.” Power flared through her as the edge of her control frayed.

“That’s right, honey. I’m an animal and right now I can smell just how full of shit you are. You think you can hide your wet little pussy from me? That I can’t sense arousal?”

Lara ground her teeth at his gall. He was baiting her, messing with her head while he came up with a plan, or until she made a mistake and did something stupid. Neither of which would happen.  She’d lived for years making these plans with not a shred of doubt, until she’d run into Kane. She met his gaze, searching for a sign of what she didn’t know. Tension filled the room as they both realized this discussion had nowhere to go. Neither believed in the other. Problem for her was she’d suffered doubts and did her best to overcome them. Now,
with him here, her need to kill him had eroded and been replaced with something else. Something softer.

She broke the showdown, unable to stay focused when he looked at her with equal parts—I’m going to kill you, I’m going to fuck you.  Instead she watched the serene slash of his lips. He didn’t smile at her, but he quit frowning. Always the level-headed brother, able to take things in stride and move on, or so she’d heard repeatedly.

She imagined those full lips of his would be soft and patient when they pressed up against her skin. That image made her nipples tighten against her t-shirt, and she prayed he wouldn’t notice. He already knew too much. When her thoughts strayed to his neck and chest, the spots she wanted to lick the most, she thought she heard a noise not unlike a purr. A low rumble, so quiet she wondered if she was mistaken.

She had to be. He had hunted her. He wanted—

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not safe.”

“Like—like what?” Something had gone all wrong.  Now that he was here, she felt her control slipping fast.

Another rattling sound came from his chest, louder than before. Damn, he really is purring. Goosebumps rose along her flesh and a shiver trembled down the length of her body before she could stop it.

“Like you want to eat me more than kill me.” He whispered the words so low she leaned in closer to hear them.

Want to read more about Kane? You can read another excerpt on the book page as well as see a brief behind the scenes tidbit from me here.

Don’t forget to follow the trail to all the other snippety goodness.

Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
TJ Michaels
Eliza Gayle
Ashley Ladd