Monday, January 30, 2012

Tuesday Tales - January 31, 2012

Drew’s alarm woke him at six AM; way too early considering he’d not gotten in until almost two. He’d originally planned on leaving the club at eleven last night since he knew he had to work today, but after laying eyes on Lady Beth sleep was less of a priority. She’d left at one thirty, so he had as well. The thought of leaving before her hadn’t been an option.

Walking into his bathroom, he turned on the shower a little cooler than normal hoping it would wake him up faster.  It did help. And as he woke up, and the fog from his brain lifted, he remembered the look on her face when he’d offered to walk her to her car. It had been a mix of shock and panic. He’d felt an immediate need to make it better, but was at a loss. She wasn’t his Mistress. They were just friends, or that’s what he was hoping for anyway. It wouldn’t be appropriate to touch her in any way without her permission at this point.

He rinsed the shampoo out of his hair, turned off the water, and grabbed his towel. On a positive note, she’d not sent him away. Friends was not what he wanted, but he could work with it. She’d been hurt. He could understand that too. His last girlfriend hadn’t understood his needs as much as he’d tried to explain them to her, and she’d lashed out at him. That last fight they’d had was the driving force behind his exploration into BDSM. He needed someone who understood what he needed, what he craved. Trying to fake it wasn’t working for him anymore.

With five minutes to spare, Drew pulled up the station house. There were a few guys milling about, but everything looked pretty normal. “Parker!”

He turned, and looked up. Shawn Madison, his fellow lieutenant at station five, was leaning over the railing. “Morning, Madison,” Drew shouted back.

Shawn pushed off the railing, standing to his full height again. “Captain wants to see us in his office.”

“Let me run to my locker, and I’ll be right up.”

It wasn’t unusual for Captain Franks to want to meet with both Shawn and Drew. Three were few times where one of them wasn’t on duty, and it was his way of keeping us up to date on whatever was happening in our city. What was unusual was that it was happening minutes after he walked in the door. Seven o’clock in the morning was an odd time to have a meeting, especially when the captain didn’t usually get in until eight.

As I headed upstairs to my meeting, I passed Johnson and Rodriguez, two of our EMTs. “Morning, Lieutenant,” Johnson said, pausing for a moment before they passed by me.

It was moment too long apparently. “Get to work you two,” came the captain’s billowing voice from above. “Don’t you have some lives to save?”

They smiled and have the captain a halfhearted salute. “Yes, sir.”



                Shaking my head, I bound up the remaining stairs and followed Captain Franks into his office. Once the door was closed firmly behind me, he took a seat behind his desk. He looked first at Shawn and then me. “I know you were off yesterday, Parker, so I’ll bring you up to speed. There was a five alarm fire yesterday at one of the abandoned warehouses on Crawford Street.”

That got my attention. We didn’t have many five alarms in our neck of the woods. Two and three alarms were fairly common, but in my last eight years as a firefighter there’d only been one other five alarm fire and it had claimed thirteen lives. That wasn’t an experience I ever wanted repeat. “Was anyone hurt?”

“No, thankfully. If there were any homeless inside, they got out before the fire took over. We were just lucky it didn’t spread to nearby buildings.”

“Another ten minutes and it would have,” Shawn interjected. “The building next door has a nice black singe to prove it.”

“Be that as it may,” Captain Franks said, “we have bigger problems at the moment.” He sighed and handed us each a folder. “I made copies for each of you. The fire marshal is almost positive this wasn’t an accident. “ Both Shawn and I started flipping through our folders as he talked. “There’s clear evidence of accelerant usage in multiple locations. Someone wanted that building to burn and burn fast.”

Drew was trying to read and listen at the same time. The pictures from the scene spoke volumes, however. You could see the burn patterns where the fire crawled up the wall rapidly. It was a fireman’s worst nightmare.

“How’d they get the report done so quickly?” Shawn asked. “Usually it takes days to get this stuff back.”

“That’s true. These are only preliminary reports, but from what they’ve found it matches the specs from the four alarm across town last week. The Fire Marshall will need another day or two to confirm, but it looks like we man have a serial arsonist on our hands.”

To check out other Tuesday Tales authors, go to http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com/.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - January 29, 2012

For today's six sentences, here's a little preview of Chris's family. Behind Closed Doors - available February 9, 2012


A screen door opening and out came Chloe. Chris turned around to meet her bright smile. “Uncle Chris!” she squealed.
He bent down and picked up the four-year-old and she hugged him. “And how are you today, Miss Chloe?”
She giggled. “We’re going to the football game to see Uncle Gage play.”

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday - 1-27-12

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?
He sat there naked as the day he was born.

She’d left him here, sitting on this metal box, and he didn’t know why. When they’d come here, it was supposed to be something fun for both of them. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He heard noises coming from the rooms around him that didn’t sound all that pleasant. Then again, he couldn’t see anything outside of this room given the lack of windows.

Something rattled outside the door, drawing his attention. The door opened, and there she was; beautiful, sexy, decked out in leather, and holding a riding crop.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tuesday Tales - Skip

I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know that I'll not be posting a Tuesday Tales post this week. My 4th novel, Need, is due with in the next couple of days and I have to concentrate on that right now. I'll be back next week, however, so you can find out more about Drew and Lady Beth's story. :)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - January 22, 2012

Behind Closed Doors - Release date: February 9, 2012

Pushing that nagging voice away, she planted a quick kiss on his lips and then lay back down on the pillow, giving him what she hoped was a sultry smile. “If that’s the case, you’re wearing way too many clothes.”

Chris belly laughed, quickly removing his shirt and unbuckling his jeans, pushing them down his legs. Then he threw them in the corner, leaving him only in his underwear.

He was back on top of her. “Better?”


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Behind Closed Doors - Chapter 1

My new romantic suspense novel, Behind Closed Doors, will be released in just 19 short days. I thought I'd post the first chapter, so you all could get a preview of the story and meet Elizabeth and Chris.



Chapter 1



Elizabeth Marshall drove her red Honda Civic into the little town of Springfield, Ohio. The simple name was one of the things that attracted her. It wasn’t complicated, and that was exactly what she needed in her life right now: no complications.

She wanted a fresh start, far away from all the memories of the city she’d left behind. Away from the person everyone thought she was. A person she’d really never been, before or after. At the age of twenty-seven, she would be reborn. Reborn into someone she could be proud of again. Someone who didn’t pretend to be something she wasn’t. Someone her parents could be proud of.

Springfield was big enough to have all the basic necessities without any of the flashy extras you’d find in larger cities. It was just over an hour away from the place she’d called home for the last ten years. Far enough away that she didn’t think anyone here would recognize her, but near enough that she could visit her parents’ graves whenever she wanted. In some ways she was glad they couldn’t see her now. Yes, she missed them, but they’d also missed the mess her life had become. She felt moisture pool in her eyes as she thought of them, and knew that if she didn’t redirect her thoughts soon she’d be a bawling mess by the time she arrived at her destination.

Her destination. As she wove through the side streets, she focused on her surroundings. Springfield felt like a completely different world. No longer would she have to attend cocktail parties or ladies’ teas. Her hair and make-up didn’t have to be perfect before going outside to retrieve the morning paper. Here she could just be herself.

In her search for the perfect place to start this new chapter in her life, she’d stumbled upon an old home that had been turned into apartments. When she’d received the e-mail back from Mrs. Weaver, her new landlady, she knew this was the place for her. The three-story building had been around for over one hundred years, but it looked to be in good repair. She loved old buildings. It was one of the few things she’d enjoyed about where she’d called home for the past five years. In her new home, Mrs. Weaver occupied the bottom level, Elizabeth would be on the second floor. The third floor had an occupant as well, although she hadn’t thought to ask for details.

She felt good about having her own space. I need my independence, she reminded herself.

Even with that mantra, it was hard to block out what had led her to this small town surrounded by corn and soybean fields, but there was a new life waiting for her here in Springfield, she just knew it.

With a few more turns, she found the road she was looking for and followed it, as the houses once again became farther and farther apart. There was a line of trees to her right and a soybean field on her left when a mailbox came into view. Sitting back off the road, she could see the large Victorian house tucked between two soybean fields, surrounded by a small grove of trees.

As she drove up the long gravel driveway, she noticed someone looking out the first-story window.

“You can do this,” she said to herself, figuring if she said it enough she could make it true.

Pulling her loose, button-down shirt tighter around her, she got out of the car and went to the trunk. There wasn’t much to retrieve, just two bags. That was all her life consisted of now. All she had chosen to bring with her. The rest of her old life was either in storage, or had been donated to Goodwill. She didn’t need reminders. She had enough of those all on her own.

A woman with salt and pepper hair met her at the door and opened it wide. She looked to be in her mid to late sixties, old enough to be Elizabeth’s mother if she were still alive.

“Hello, my dear. You must be Elizabeth,” she said, reaching out to take one of her bags.

“It’s okay, I’ve got it. They’re not that heavy.” You could also use the exercise, her inner voice chastised.

The woman waved her concerns away and took the bag. “Nonsense. I may be old, but I’m not completely useless. Not yet anyway.” Then, extending her hand, she introduced herself. “I’m Janice Weaver, but you can call me Jan. Everybody does.”

Taking the offered hand, Elizabeth said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

She took a quick survey of her surroundings, noting that the pictures online hadn’t done the place justice, and followed Jan into a foyer decorated in cream and soft blue. The ceiling towered high above her, creating an open and inviting space. She loved it already, and she wasn’t even in her apartment yet.

“Over there is my apartment should you ever need anything,” Jan said, pointing to a door just to the right. Elizabeth nodded. “And you’re up here.” She continued up the stairs as Elizabeth followed, eager to see her new place.

At the top of the stairs were two more doors: one to the right and one to the left. Jan stopped at the door on the right and retrieved a single key from her pocket.

As Jan put the key into the door, curiosity got the better of Elizabeth. Looking over her shoulder she asked, “What is the other door for?”

Jan turned slightly to see what she was talking about. “That’s the staircase leading to the third floor apartment.”

Then, as if the brief conversation hadn’t occurred, Jan opened the door, motioning for Elizabeth to go inside.

Elizabeth looked around, very pleased. While there was a certain modern flair to the place, it was like stepping back in time. The architecture was beautiful with a vast wooden arch separating her living room from her new kitchen.

“Do you like it?” Jan asked from behind her.

She’d been so caught up she hadn’t even heard Jan approach. That hadn’t happened in a long time. She was usually overly aware of her surroundings. It just reaffirmed her decision. “I love it.”

Jan smiled and Elizabeth relaxed a little, but old habits were hard to break. While it might be true the danger was gone, one didn’t just forget being afraid.

An hour later, Elizabeth stepped back to admire the small air mattress she’d just blown up in the middle of her new bedroom. It was only big enough for one person, but it would do until she could get a bed delivered. She needed to pick up some sheets and blankets. Sleeping directly on the vinyl didn’t hold great appeal. Not even for one night.

Next she went to the kitchen. It was a nice size and had everything she needed, including a dishwasher, and there were plenty of cabinets lining the walls, waiting to be filled with food and dishes, both of which she currently lacked.

There’s no time like the present.

Jan had given her directions to the nearest market, so she grabbed her purse and started to leave, but just as she was about to descend the stairs, she heard an angry male voice say, “I don’t care what you have to do, Terry, just get it done.” Every word was punctuated by heavy footfalls coming up the stairs, closer to her apartment.

Elizabeth’s breathing quickened as her chest tightened, and she automatically huddled in on herself. The man’s voice changed in her mind. It wasn’t some stranger anymore; it was Jared, her husband.

She leaned her forehead against the wall next to the door, trying to push the memories away. He’s not here. He’s not here, she kept repeating to herself.

Just she was starting to calm, the door only a few feet away was wrenched opened and then slammed shut. It didn’t take much to put together that the man must be her new neighbor or one of them at least. She hadn’t thought to question Jan about the third-floor residents and felt stupid for not asking more questions.

It was too late now. She was here, and she wasn’t going to let something like a disagreeable man chase her out of her new home. She would deal with her neighbor even if he didn’t seem like a nice man. Maybe she could avoid him altogether. It wasn’t as if they really had to cross paths, right? She’d learn his schedule and then avoid him. That would work.

With renewed determination, she opened her door and ran down the stairs and out to her car, her speed of flight having nothing to do with the man upstairs. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

***

This day had to be one of the worst of Christopher Daniels’s life. His assistant had just up and quit without notice, and then his foreman, Terry, had failed to order enough materials to finish the interior drywall for the house they were in the process of building. On top of all that, he’d managed to run over a nail somewhere along the way and had to change a flat halfway home.

It was two o’clock, and he had more work than he wanted to contemplate waiting on his desk for him, but for just a few minutes, he was going to try and not think about it. Yeah, right, he thought as he pulled out the lunchmeat, cheese, and mayo from his refrigerator, took the bread out of the cabinet, and hurriedly made a sandwich before taking a huge bite.

Leaning back against the counter, he forced his mind to think of something else, anything else but work, and settled on the new neighbor Jan had told him about. She’d said the woman seemed nice enough and had moved down from Columbus, but that was all Jan knew. He really wished she had gotten more information so he could have had his brother Paul run a background check or something. But that wasn’t Jan Weaver. She was a great woman, just too trusting.

Chris had known Jan and her husband, Charles, since he was a kid. They’d lived across the street from his parents until they’d bought this house fifteen years ago. Fate had brought them together again when Chris’s short-lived marriage had come to an end right around the same time Charles’s health had taken a turn for the worse. In exchange for decreased rent, Chris helped out with minor repairs when needed. Living here was beneficial for both of them.

He hadn’t had a downstairs neighbor for three months, and it was going to take some getting used to. No more running out in just my boxers, he thought, laughing to himself.

It had happened years ago, but Jan never let him forget it. He’d been living here only a few months when, on his way in, he’d dropped some papers. Later that night he was getting ready to climb into bed with his usual mound of paperwork, when he’d realized something was missing. Instead of putting his clothes back on, he decided to duck out into the hallway and check.

Unfortunately, the papers were just out of reach and as he stretched to pick them up, he heard his door click shut, locking him out of his apartment. He’d had to run down the stairs in nothing but his boxers to retrieve the spare key from Jan. It was embarrassing enough, but at least there hadn’t been anyone else living here at the time to add to his humiliation.

That was three years ago. In that time he’d separated himself from all distractions. All he had left was his work, Terry being the only one he’d become friendly with, and his family, of which he considered Jan a part.

He looked at the clock. Only twenty minutes had passed since he’d walked in the door, but it was all he could afford.

Popping the last of his sandwich into his mouth, he took a glass from the cabinet and quickly filled it with water before downing it in one gulp. He placed it in the sink, retrieved his cell phone from off his belt, and dialed as he walked out the door.

***

By the time Elizabeth made it back, it was almost seven. It had taken her a lot longer to find everything she needed because she’d had to go to three places before finally finding the bedding she was looking for. What she’d found was perfect. It was mostly white, but with red and gray clovers all over it, a far cry from the browns and creams Jared had insisted upon.

Thankfully, the rest of her trip had gone smoother. She’d found a nice little restaurant and had dinner there. Then she went to the grocery store and filled her cart, anxious to get home, put everything away, and make her house feel like a home.

With her arms full, she managed to get the front door to open and get the first load up the stairs. It was the first time Elizabeth was thankful for all those years Jared had made her go to the gym. No. She was having such a good day she would not let her thoughts wander down that path. Resolute, she marched back down the stairs and was just reaching for the doorknob when Jan came out. “Did you need some help, dear?”

“Uh, no. I—”

She was almost knocked over when a large man came barreling through the door. He didn’t seem to notice Elizabeth at all, as he focused on Jan. “You can’t leave the front door unlocked like this. It just isn’t safe.”

His voice was gruff, and she instantly recognized it as the one she’d heard this afternoon. It was not as angry as it has been before, but still intimidating. She backed toward the stairs without thinking. It was then that he noticed her, appraising her from head to foot, and his scrutiny made her uncomfortable. Even though she was completely clothed, she felt the need to cover herself.

He was huge, taller than Jared or her father. His hair was a dark brown, only a shade darker than his eyes, and he looked dangerous, more dangerous than her husband, and her frightened expression must have been apparent. She closed her eyes tight, willing everything to go away: her memories, her fear, this man before her.

Jan said, “Chris, you have perfect timing.” She walked over to the man and placed her hand on his arm. “Elizabeth,” she said, motioning in her direction, “just went shopping and needs some help getting everything up to her apartment. You’ll be a good neighbor and help her now, won’t you?”

The man looked down at Jan with an expression she didn’t understand. Then he sighed, turned to her, and in that same gruff voice said, “Come on. Let’s get your stuff inside. I’ve got work to do.”

Before she could say anything, he was back out the door and halfway to her car. She looked over at Jan. “Go on,” she said. “He won’t bite.”

Cautiously, she followed him outside where he was already unloading what was left and had most of it in his arms before she reached his side. “I . . . I’m sorry. You don’t . . . have to help me,” she said, almost hoping he’d drop everything and leave her alone.

“I said I’d help and I’ll help,” he replied curtly. “I think I got everything. You might want to check.”

He stood, waiting, so she glanced in quickly. “Yes. That’s looks like everything,” she said, and he gave her a firm nod before marching back into the house.

By the time she caught up with him, he was waiting impatiently outside her apartment door, and she fumbled with the key several times before finally managing to get it into the lock and open the door.

As soon as she stepped over the threshold, he brushed past her as if he owned the place and went straight to her kitchen. She stood stunned for a few seconds. How did he know her place so well? Elizabeth fought with her nerves once again before following him. Of course, he knows the layout of your apartment, she told herself. He lives upstairs. It’s probably the same. That’s all.

He turned, catching her off guard, and she stumbled backward, but he managed to catch her in time. As soon as she was upright, however, he released her as if she were poison, shoving his hands roughly into his pockets.

“If you don’t need anything else then,” he said, already walking to the door.

She watched his retreating back, not understanding what had happened. When he’d touched her it had felt, well, odd. Not unpleasant, just strange. But he’d acted like she’d hurt him. His eyes had held a pain that she didn’t understand. It didn’t make any sense.

She had no idea how long she stood there just looking at the closed door before making herself move. She put all of the groceries away and made her air mattress look as inviting as possible before deciding to go ahead and get ready for bed. It was early, but she had nothing else to do. She didn’t have a television and she had no friends here.

Sinking down into her makeshift bed under her new sheets, she rolled over to watch the last of the sun fall below the horizon outside her bedroom window. She could see the tops of a few trees, but not much else. The view was so different from the view from her old bedroom window where she could see nothing much more than the house next door. One day was behind her. Tomorrow she would find some furniture and after that, look for a job. Even though she didn’t need one thanks to Jared’s careful planning and his life insurance settlement, but it was something she needed for herself.

This would work—her new apartment, her new life. All she had to do was avoid her new neighbor and pray no one figured out who she was. She could do that.

She hoped.


Paperbacks are available for pre-order now through The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House. Ebooks will be available for download on the day of release, February 9, 2012.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday - 1-20-12

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

She felt him before she saw him.
Light was streaming in from beneath the closed door, but other than that the room was dark. She’d tried to adjust her eyes, to get ready for what she knew was coming, but it was useless. This was his territory.
She took a deep breath, waiting.
Suddenly, his body pressed up against her back and his hand came up to cover her mouth. Even though she knew he’d been there, that it’d only been a matter of time, a silent scream died in her throat.
“Did I keep you waiting long?” he whispered.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Tuesday Tales #2

I'm back this week again for another Tuesday Tales. If you missed last week's post and the start of this 'tale', click here to see what you missed.


Beth Davenport tried not to focus on all the eyes staring at her when she walked into the club. It had been three months since she’d stepped foot here. She knew there would be stares and whispers. Her best friend and fellow Domme, Nicole, had warned her about the rumors floating around. They were surprisingly accurate as far as rumors go except no one knew how she’d come to find out about Ben’s lies. Only Nicole knew the truth, and she wanted to keep it that way.

                Domme or not, finding out a large portion of the life you’d been living for the last three years was a lie left Beth broken in a lot of ways. She wasn’t even sure why she was here tonight other than Nicole’s hounding over the last two weeks. Putting herself back out into the dating world was the last thing she wanted right now. The thought of trusting someone again wasn’t something she was ready for, but Nicole had convinced her that she needed to get out and mingle with her friends, people who shared her same interest.

                So here she was, sitting with Nicole and a group of their friends. Beth was the only Dominant in their group without a sub. It was slightly awkward, but she tried to ignore it and have a good time. Nicole was right, Beth had missed her friends, and she wasn’t going to let what Ben did tarnish that.

                “I think you have an admirer,” Nicole whispered in her ear, jarring her from her thoughts.

                “What?”

                “There’s a guy across the room who’s been staring nearly nonstop for the last fifteen minutes. I’d say he’s interested.”

                Beth didn’t even bother to look. “I’m not.”

                “Oh come on. He looks yummy, and I happen to know he’s a sub.”

                “That doesn’t change anything. I’m not ready to get back into the dating pool again,” she said, shaking her head.

                “Well you don’t have to date him, you know,” she said teasingly.

                “I’m not into playing with random subs and you know it. And even if I was, I don’t think I could do even that after everything.”

                She frowned. “You have to get back on the horse sometime.”

                Beth sighed in defeat. “I know. Maybe in a month or so…”

                Nicole’s hand on her arm stopped her mid-sentence. “I don’t think he’s going to wait a month or so. He’s coming over.”

                “What do you mean he’s coming over? Here?”  Nicole nodded, and turned back to their group, effectively leaving her to fend for herself.

                Beth took a deep breath and prepared for whatever this guy was going to try and sell her. But he surprised her. Instead of coming over and trying to sweet-talk her, he sat down a couple of feet away and said nothing.

                She decided to ignore him and turned back to focus on her friends’ conversation. Ignoring him turned out to be more difficult that she’d originally thought. Although he didn’t attempt to engage her in conversation, she felt his presence beside her. Even with her eyes purposely averted, she knew he wasn’t a small man. She’d seen enough to know he was tall and nicely proportioned.

                But no matter how much she inwardly acknowledged is presence, she outwardly ignored him. That was until she finished off her drink. As she was getting ready to stand and go get a refill, he moved first. “May I, ma’am?”

                Her eyes rose to look at him for the first time and she felt the moisture dry in her throat. Cute did not begin to describe the man sitting beside her. He was tall and lean, but she wouldn’t call him lanky with his broad shoulders and muscled arms. His hair was a light brown and he was clean shaven, but it was his eyes that drew her in; they were the most amazing baby blue.

                “May I get you a refill on your drink, ma’am?” he asked again.”

                “Y…yes,” she stuttered. Then catching herself, she spoke again more confidently. “Yes, you may.”

                His hand extended, waiting for the glass. Beth handed it to him trying to keep her composure. “What would you like?”

                “The bartender knows,” she said, trying to get him away from her as quickly as possible before she did something stupid. Submissive males bought Femdoms drinks all the time at the club. It wasn’t unusual, but her stomach still did flip flops as she watched him walk away from her.

                He came back a few minutes later and handed her a small glass with half coke and half sprite. She rarely drank, and never at the club. Whenever she came here, she was either playing with Ben or she was alone where she’d have to drive home. Either way, she didn’t drink.

                After taking the glass from him, she turned back to her friends. Nicole had a smirk on her face that Beth desperately wished she could wipe off. Maybe she could borrow one of the club’s floggers.

                Unfortunately, for the next hour, the man continued to sit beside her in silence as she chatted with her friends and was brought up to date on what was going on in their lives. He was making her uneasy. Every one of her nerve endings seemed to be aware of him. She didn’t like it.

                Finally, she couldn’t take it any longer and turned to face him. “What’s your name?” she demanded.

                “Drew. Drew Parker.”

                “Well, Drew Parker, I don’t know what you’re looking for, but let me spell out exactly what I’m not looking for. I’m not looking for a submissive and I don’t play with random partners.”

                “I understand.”

                She quirked an eyebrow. “You understand?”

                “Yes, ma’am.”

                “So if you know I’m not looking for a relationship or a play partner then why are you sitting here?”

                “I’d like to get to know you if you’re agreeable. “

                “You want to be friends?”

                “Yes, ma’am”

                “Why?”

                He shrugged. “You seem interesting.”

                Beth gave him a hard look trying to decide if he was telling the truth or not. “Do you have a Mistress?”

                “No, ma’am. I’m pretty new to the lifestyle.”

                “How new?”

                “A couple months.”

                “Have you ever played with a Domme before?” Why she was asking was beyond her. It wasn’t like she ever planned on playing with him.

                “No, ma’am.”

                Again, she had no idea why she was pressing for information, but the questions just kept coming. “No vanilla girl out there for you?”

                “I’ve tried vanilla relationships and they don’t work for me. I want a woman to take control.”

                The image of him tied to a bench completely at her mercy flashed in her mind before she squashed it. No. She would not go down that path.

 If he wanted to be friends, she could try she supposed. But no seeing him outside of the club or at munches. This would have to be a lifestyle friendship only. If he had questions about the lifestyle or help in finding a Domme, she could maybe give him advice. That was it though. She wasn’t ready to get tangled up in another web of emotional attachment.

Taking a deep breath, she held out her hand. “I’m Lady Beth,” she said, formally introducing herself.

“It’s nice to meet you Lady Beth.”

I'm hoping to be back next week for another installment of this story, but no promises. I'm working under a deadline for my July release of the second book in my Finding Anna series, Need. It will depend on how far I am in that story next Monday if I get to post my Tuesday Tales next week.

If you'd like to check out some other stories, go to the Tuesday Tales blog for a preview and links.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - January 15, 2012

Only 25 more days until Behind Closed Doors is released! :)


From the moment he saw her, he knew he was in trouble with a capital T. What she wore had him shifting uncomfortably in his seat the entire drive.

What got him most of all was that the outfit was completely appropriate for work. Carol had been all about pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable, especially with the clothing she wore. Elizabeth was driving him crazy without having gone through much effort. So why am I ready to press her down into the seat and devour her?








Friday, January 13, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday - 1-13-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

As she turned the corner, her jaw dropped. She could not believe he’d brought her here. What had he been thinking? There were naked people.


She felt him step up behind her, his arms tightly circling her waist. “What do you think?”


“Um…” Words failed her. The people in the pictures were intertwined highlighting the differences in their bodies whether that was size, color, or gender. It was…different.


“Isn’t it beautiful,” he said as if it were a foregone conclusion. “The contrast is amazing visually. I love this artist.”


Yes, the contrast was interesting, but she couldn’t get past the…naked.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Tuesday Tales - #1

Last week I was invited to participate in a group called Tuesday Tales. Each participating member posts a story or part of a story to their blogs. The post can be as long or as sort as the person wants. It can be any genre, any 'heat level'. The only catch is that the blogger must incorporate the 'prompt word' for the week into their post. Each week it's something different.

The first 2-3 sentences are posted to the main blog site http://tuesdaytales1.blogspot.com/ with links to all the participating blog stories. If you see something you like, click on it!

I've decided to experiment a little. I'll be posting this story a little at a time depending on the weekly word prompt and the amount of time I have each week. This is going to be a BDSM story, and will eventually involve both sexual and psychological play.

Here is part one. I hope you enjoy.


~ ~ ~


                Drew Parker had finally drummed up the nerve to come here by himself last month. The thought of him walking into a kink club period had made him anxious. The thought of going there alone terrified him.
                In the end, however, he’d done it. He’d made that leap into the unknown. The only comfort was that he’d been to a few local munches and befriended another male submissive. John had a Mistress, Allison. She was nice, and had even offered to play with Drew at the club if he wanted. He just wasn’t sure he was ready for that step yet. Right now, he was content to watch.  This was all so new to him.
                 Tonight was a pretty typical night. The main room was scattered with people talking and sipping on drinks, most of which were nonalcoholic. Submissives were in various states of undress. Some were on leashes kneeling on the floor next to their Masters. Others were sitting beside or on top of their Master or Mistress’s laps.
                There was very little play that occurred in the main room. Occasionally a spanking would occur or some other light impact play, but anything other than that tended to take place upstairs. Drew had walked back there a few weeks ago to take a look around. He’d seen most of the equipment before on-line and knew what it was used for. Some of it appealed to him. Some of it didn’t.
Although he had the desire to submit to a Mistress, he wasn’t looking for just the physical. Maybe that sounded cheesy, but he’d done the whole sex only thing in the vanilla world. There was physical gratification, yes, but he’d never truly felt connected to a woman before. He knew part of that was his desire to give up control to his partner, but he was twenty-eight and at this point he wanted someone he could share more than just sex.
He knew it was going to be an uphill battle. Male subs were utterly outnumbered when it came to female dominants. But as his friend John had reminded him multiple times, if he didn’t put himself out there, he’d never find her.
Drew watched as John sat at his Mistresses feet with his head in her lap. It wasn’t demeaning in any way. It was affectionate, and I wanted that.
“Get me a drink, my boy,” Mistress Allison instructed Drew.
He was quick to his feet. “What would you like, Mistress?”
She rattled off something, but Drew’s attention had shifted to the door. He vaguely registered John leaving the area, but that was where his acknowledgement stopped. Standing just inside the door, removing a wrap from her shoulders to keep out the evening chill was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. She wasn’t tall, but the black heels she wore added a good three to four inches to her stature. Her long hair was pulled up into a high pony tail and looked almost black. The black corset and jeans she wore accented her curves to the point where Drew was afraid he may be drooling. 
The woman walked with confidence over to the bar and ordered a drink. She chatted with the bartender, and he seemed to know her even though Drew knew he’d not seen her at the club since he’d been coming. His eyes followed her as she walked to a booth across the room and sat down with another group of people similar to the one he was with.
Suddenly John sat down next to him on the couch having returned with his Mistress’s drink. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
“What?” Drew asked, reluctantly pulling his gaze away from the beautiful Domme.
“Don’t what me. You are staring at Lady Beth.”
Then what  he said registered. “What do you mean I shouldn’t get  my hopes up? She is a Domme right?”
“Oh yes, definitely a Domme.”
“She doesn’t like male subs?”
“Yes,” he said, drawing out the word.
Drew sighed, frustrated. “Then what’s the issue?”
He lowered his voice so no one around us could hear what he was saying, although Drew doubted that John would tell him anything ninety percent of the club didn’t already know.  One of the things he learned quickly was that word traveled fast in this small community, especially if it was something bad. “She used to come here with her sub all the time. They’d been together for years from what I heard, before Mistress and I started getting involved in local events. Then, three months ago, they both suddenly stopped coming. They’d been regulars at the club, at munches, play parties, and then…nothing.”
“What happened,” Drew asked, intrigued.
“He traveled a lot for his business. Sometimes he was out of town for weeks at a time going to all sorts of places. Apparently, his trips weren’t business related, at least not completely. Lady Beth found out he had a wife and daughter in Florida, and they’d been married for five years.”
“That’s insane. It’s like something you hear on T.V. or something.”
“I know. He and Lady Beth had been together for almost three years. He’d lied to her all that time.”
Drew’s gaze drifted back to Lady Beth. He couldn’t imagine what it would have been like for her.
“I don’t know if she’s ready to dive back into a relationship, man, and I know that’s what you want.”
It was true. Drew did want a relationship, but he was willing to work at it. One step at a time, right? So the first thing he had to do was find a way to introduce himself.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - January 8, 2012

All this month, I'll be giving you six sentences from my upcoming novel Behind Closed Doors. Paperbacks are available for pre-order now. Ebooks downloads will become available on release day, February 9th.


Chris was trying very hard to keep his mind on what he was doing. What in the world had that woman been thinking opening the door looking like that? Her hair looked like she’d just taken a tumble between the sheets, and even though she’d thrown a loose-fitting shirt over her yoga pants, it didn’t lessen the effect. She still drove him crazy.

All he wanted to do was fix this drain of hers and get as far away from here as possible. He didn’t

need this type of distraction, especially from his neighbor.



Friday, January 6, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday - 1-6-12

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

He shifted slightly to the right to get a better angle. “Now tilt your head back just a little.”


“Like this?”


 Her voice sounded like a purr to his ears. “Yes. Perfect,” he said, snapping a few more pictures. “Now slowly remove your jacket. “


The jacket slid down her arms, caressing her skin as it went, revealing the tiny straps of her dress and her pale skin. He was trying very hard to concentrate on what he was doing as the jacket released its finally hold on her arms and fell to the bare floor.

“What's next?” she asked.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - January 1, 2012

A new year, and a new book for Six Sentence Sunday. Today's six sentences come from my upcoming novel Behind Closed Doors due out February 9th, 2012.


She backed toward the stairs without thinking. It was then that he noticed her, appraising her from head to foot, and his scrutiny made her uncomfortable. Even though she was completely clothed, she felt the need to cover herself.

He was huge, taller than Jared or her father. His hair was a dark brown, only a shade darker than his eyes, and he looked dangerous, more dangerous than her husband, and her frightened expression must have been apparent. She closed her eyes tight, willing everything to go away: her memories, her fear, this man before her.




Paperbacks are now available for pre-order. Ebooks will be available for download beginning February 9th.

Summary

Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

Then one night, the world she lived in came crashing down. Six months later with her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield, Ohio to start a new life where no one knows who she is or about her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below his in the small Victorian house, she makes him reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything his ex-wife is not, and it doesn’t help that she is his wet dream come to life.

He is determined to resist her charms; however, when someone sends threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?